Enhancement of fluorescence using nanoplasmonic and photonic structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arya, Akash; Tagore, Amit K.; Dantham, Venkata R.

2018-05-01

Two different nanoplasmonic structures have been synthesized using wet-chemistry method and demonstrated the enhancement of fluorescence of dye molecules. The difficulties associated with the plasmonic enhancement of fluorescence are discussed and to overcome these, an efficient approach has been proposed to enhance the fluorescence of a few molecules with the help of a high quality factor photonic microstructure (whispering gallery mode microresonator). The fabrication details of microresonators and experimental arrangement for enhancing the fluorescence are reported here.

Hot carrier-enhanced interlayer electron-hole pair multiplication in 2D semiconductor heterostructure photocells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barati, Fatemeh; Grossnickle, Max; Su, Shanshan; Lake, Roger K.; Aji, Vivek; Gabor, Nathaniel M.

2017-12-01

Strong electronic interactions can result in novel particle-antiparticle (electron-hole, e-h) pair generation effects, which may be exploited to enhance the photoresponse of nanoscale optoelectronic devices. Highly efficient e-h pair multiplication has been demonstrated in several important nanoscale systems, including nanocrystal quantum dots, carbon nanotubes and graphene. The small Fermi velocity and nonlocal nature of the effective dielectric screening in ultrathin layers of transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) indicates that e-h interactions are very strong, so high-efficiency generation of e-h pairs from hot electrons is expected. However, such e-h pair multiplication has not been observed in 2D TMD devices. Here, we report the highly efficient multiplication of interlayer e-h pairs in 2D semiconductor heterostructure photocells. Electronic transport measurements of the interlayer I-VSD characteristics indicate that layer-indirect e-h pairs are generated by hot-electron impact excitation at temperatures near T = 300 K. By exploiting this highly efficient interlayer e-h pair multiplication process, we demonstrate near-infrared optoelectronic devices that exhibit 350% enhancement of the optoelectronic responsivity at microwatt power levels. Our findings, which demonstrate efficient carrier multiplication in TMD-based optoelectronic devices, make 2D semiconductor heterostructures viable for a new class of ultra-efficient photodetectors based on layer-indirect e-h excitations.

High performance and reusable SERS substrates using Ag/ZnO heterostructure on periodic silicon nanotube substrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lai, Yi-Chen; Ho, Hsin-Chia; Shih, Bo-Wei; Tsai, Feng-Yu; Hsueh, Chun-Hway

2018-05-01

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate with a higher surface area, enhanced light harvesting, multiple hot spots and strong electromagnetic field enhancements would exhibit enhanced Raman signals. Herein, the Ag nanoparticle/ZnO nanowire heterostructure decorated periodic silicon nanotube (Ag@ZnO@SiNT) substrate was proposed and fabricated. The proposed structure employed as SERS-active substrate was examined, and the results showed both the high performance in terms of high sensitivity and good reproducibility. Furthermore, the Ag@ZnO@SiNT substrate demonstrated the self-cleaning performance through the photocatalytic degradation of probed molecules upon UV-irradiation. The results showed that the proposed nanostructure had high performance, good reproducibility and reusability, and it is a promising SERS-active substrate for molecular sensing and cleaning.

Demonstrated high performance of gas-filled rugby-shaped hohlraums on Omega

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Philippe, F.; Tassin, V.; Depierreux, S.; Gauthier, P.; Masson-Laborde, P. E.; Monteil, M. C.; Seytor, P.; Villette, B.; Lasinski, B.; Park, H. S.; Ross, J. S.; Amendt, P.; Döppner, T.; Hinkel, D. E.; Wallace, R.; Williams, E.; Michel, P.; Frenje, J.; Gatu-Johnson, M.; Li, C. K.; Petrasso, R.; Glebov, V.; Sorce, C.; Stoeckl, C.; Nikroo, A.; Giraldez, E.

2014-07-01

A direct experimental comparison of rugby-shaped and cylindrical shaped gas-filled hohlraums on the Omega laser facility demonstrates that higher coupling and minimal backscatter can be achieved in the rugby geometry, leading to significantly enhanced implosion performance. A nearly 50% increase of x-ray drive is associated with earlier bangtime and increase of neutron production. The observed drive enhancement from rugby geometry in this study is almost twice stronger than in previously published results.

Enhanced transmission in rolled-up hyperlenses utilizing Fabry-Pérot resonances

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kerbst, Jochen; Schwaiger, Stephan; Rottler, Andreas; Koitmäe, Aune; Bröll, Markus; Ehlermann, Jens; Stemmann, Andrea; Heyn, Christian; Heitmann, Detlef; Mendach, Stefan

2011-11-01

We experimentally demonstrate that the transmission through rolled-up metal/semiconductor hyperlenses can be enhanced at desired frequencies utilizing Fabry-Pérot resonances. By means of finite difference time domain simulations, we prove that hyperlensing occurs at frequencies of high transmission.

Enhanced Light Emitters Based on Metamaterials

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-03-30

program period in Queens College of CUNY (Nov 2012 – May 2014), we successfully demonstrated growth of ultrasmooth silver films using germanium wetting...of CUNY (Nov 2012 – May 2014), we successfully demonstrated growth of ultrasmooth silver films using germanium wetting layer, use of a high...progress made during the program include: - Realization of ultrasmooth sub-wavelength thick silver films for hyperbolic metamaterials - Using high

Collaborative effects of wavefront shaping and optical clearing agent in optical coherence tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Hyeonseung; Lee, Peter; Jo, YoungJu; Lee, KyeoReh; Tuchin, Valery V.; Jeong, Yong; Park, YongKeun

2016-12-01

We demonstrate that simultaneous application of optical clearing agents (OCAs) and complex wavefront shaping in optical coherence tomography (OCT) can provide significant enhancement of penetration depth and imaging quality. OCA reduces optical inhomogeneity of a highly scattering sample, and the wavefront shaping of illumination light controls multiple scattering, resulting in an enhancement of the penetration depth and signal-to-noise ratio. A tissue phantom study shows that concurrent applications of OCA and wavefront shaping successfully operate in OCT imaging. The penetration depth enhancement is further demonstrated for ex vivo mouse ears, revealing hidden structures inaccessible with conventional OCT imaging.

Plasmon enhanced fluorescence studies from aligned gold nanorod arrays modified with SiO{sub 2} spacer layers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Damm, Signe; Fedele, Stefano; Rice, James H., E-mail: james.rice@ucd.ie

Here, we demonstrate that quasi self-standing Au nanorod arrays prepared with plasma polymerisation deposited SiO{sub 2} dielectric spacers support surface enhanced fluorescence (SEF) while maintaining high signal reproducibility. We show that it is possible to find a balance between enhanced radiative and non-radiative decay rates at which the fluorescent intensity is maximized. The SEF signal optimised with a 30 nm spacer layer thickness showed a 3.5-fold enhancement with a signal variance of <15% thereby keeping the integrity of the nanorod array. We also demonstrate the decreased importance of obtaining resonance conditions when localized surface plasmon resonance is positioned within the spectralmore » region of Au interband transitions. Procedures for further increasing the SEF enhancement factor are also discussed.« less

Monolithic stacked blue light-emitting diodes with polarization-enhanced tunnel junctions.

PubMed

Kuo, Yen-Kuang; Shih, Ya-Hsuan; Chang, Jih-Yuan; Lai, Wei-Chih; Liu, Heng; Chen, Fang-Ming; Lee, Ming-Lun; Sheu, Jinn-Kong

2017-08-07

Monolithic stacked InGaN light-emitting diode (LED) connected by a polarization-enhanced GaN/AlN-based tunnel junction is demonstrated experimentally in this study. The typical stacked LEDs exhibit 80% enhancement in output power compared with conventional single LEDs because of the repeated use of electrons and holes for photon generation. The typical operation voltage of stacked LEDs is higher than twice the operation voltage of single LEDs. This high operation voltage can be attributed to the non-optimal tunneling junction in stacked LEDs. In addition to the analyses of experimental results, theoretical analysis of different schemes of tunnel junctions, including diagrams of energy bands, diagrams of electric fields, and current-voltage relation curves, are investigated using numerical simulation. The results shown in this paper demonstrate the feasibility in developing cost-effective and highly efficient tunnel-junction LEDs.

Quantitative Single-Molecule Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering by Optothermal Tuning of DNA Origami-Assembled Plasmonic Nanoantennas.

PubMed

Simoncelli, Sabrina; Roller, Eva-Maria; Urban, Patrick; Schreiber, Robert; Turberfield, Andrew J; Liedl, Tim; Lohmüller, Theobald

2016-11-22

DNA origami is a powerful approach for assembling plasmonic nanoparticle dimers and Raman dyes with high yields and excellent positioning control. Here we show how optothermal-induced shrinking of a DNA origami template can be employed to control the gap sizes between two 40 nm gold nanoparticles in a range from 1 to 2 nm. The high field confinement achieved with this optothermal approach was demonstrated by detection of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) signals from single molecules that are precisely placed within the DNA origami template that spans the nanoparticle gap. By comparing the SERS intensity with respect to the field enhancement in the plasmonic hot-spot region, we found good agreement between measurement and theory. Our straightforward approach for the fabrication of addressable plasmonic nanosensors by DNA origami demonstrates a path toward future sensing applications with single-molecule resolution.

Amphetamine margin in sports. [Effects on performance of highly trained athletes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Laties, V.G.; Weiss, B.

The amphetamines can enhance athletic performance. That much seems clear from the literature, some of which is reviewed here. Increases in endurance have been demonstrated in both man and rat. Smith and Beecher, 20 years ago, showed improvement of running, swimming, and weight throwing in highly trained athletes. Laboratory analogues of such performance have also been used and similar enhancement demonstrated. The amount of change induced by the amphetamines is usually small, of the order of a few percent. Nevertheless, since a fraction of a percent improvement can make the difference between fame and oblivion, the margin conferred by thesemore » drugs can be quite important.« less

Development of AlN/Epoxy Composites with Enhanced Thermal Conductivity.

PubMed

Xu, Yonggang; Yang, Chi; Li, Jun; Mao, Xiaojian; Zhang, Hailong; Hu, Song; Wang, Shiwei

2017-12-18

AlN/epoxy composites with high thermal conductivity were successfully prepared by infiltrating epoxy into AlN porous ceramics which were fabricated by gelcasting of foaming method. The microstructure, mechanical, and thermal properties of the resulting composites were investigated. The compressive strengths of the AlN/epoxy composites were enhanced compared with the pure epoxy. The AlN/epoxy composites demonstrate much higher thermal conductivity, up to 19.0 W/(m·K), compared with those by the traditional particles filling method, because of continuous thermal channels formed by the walls and struts of AlN porous ceramics. This study demonstrates a potential route to manufacture epoxy-based composites with extremely high thermal conductivity.

Development of AlN/Epoxy Composites with Enhanced Thermal Conductivity

PubMed Central

Xu, Yonggang; Yang, Chi; Li, Jun; Zhang, Hailong; Hu, Song; Wang, Shiwei

2017-01-01

AlN/epoxy composites with high thermal conductivity were successfully prepared by infiltrating epoxy into AlN porous ceramics which were fabricated by gelcasting of foaming method. The microstructure, mechanical, and thermal properties of the resulting composites were investigated. The compressive strengths of the AlN/epoxy composites were enhanced compared with the pure epoxy. The AlN/epoxy composites demonstrate much higher thermal conductivity, up to 19.0 W/(m·K), compared with those by the traditional particles filling method, because of continuous thermal channels formed by the walls and struts of AlN porous ceramics. This study demonstrates a potential route to manufacture epoxy-based composites with extremely high thermal conductivity. PMID:29258277

Rational Design of Branched Nanoporous Gold Nanoshells with Enhanced Physico-Optical Properties for Optical Imaging and Cancer Therapy.

PubMed

Song, Jibin; Yang, Xiangyu; Yang, Zhen; Lin, Lisen; Liu, Yijing; Zhou, Zijian; Shen, Zheyu; Yu, Guocan; Dai, Yunlu; Jacobson, Orit; Munasinghe, Jeeva; Yung, Bryant; Teng, Gao-Jun; Chen, Xiaoyuan

2017-06-27

Reported procedures on the synthesis of gold nanoshells with smooth surfaces have merely demonstrated efficient control of shell thickness and particle size, yet no branch and nanoporous features on the nanoshell have been implemented to date. Herein, we demonstrate the ability to control the roughness and nanoscale porosity of gold nanoshells by using redox-active polymer poly(vinylphenol)-b-(styrene) nanoparticles as reducing agent and template. The porosity and size of the branches on this branched nanoporous gold nanoshell (BAuNSP) material can be facilely adjusted by control of the reaction speed or the reaction time between the redox-active polymer nanoparticles and gold ions (Au 3+ ). Due to the strong reduction ability of the redox-active polymer, the yield of BAuNSP was virtually 100%. By taking advantage of the sharp branches and nanoporous features, BAuNSP exhibited greatly enhanced physico-optical properties, including photothermal effect, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), and photoacoustic (PA) signals. The photothermal conversion efficiency can reach as high as 75.5%, which is greater than most gold nanocrystals. Furthermore, the nanoporous nature of the shells allows for effective drug loading and controlled drug release. The thermoresponsive polymer coated on the BAuNSP surface serves as a gate keeper, governing the drug release behavior through photothermal heating. Positron emission tomography imaging demonstrated a high passive tumor accumulation of 64 Cu-labeled BAuNSP. The strong SERS signal generated by the SERS-active BAuNSP in vivo, accompanied by enhanced PA signals in the tumor region, provide significant tumor information, including size, morphology, position, and boundaries between tumor and healthy tissues. In vivo tumor therapy experiments demonstrated a highly synergistic chemo-photothermal therapy effect of drug-loaded BAuNSPs, guided by three modes of optical imaging.

3D printed high performance strain sensors for high temperature applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rahman, Md Taibur; Moser, Russell; Zbib, Hussein M.; Ramana, C. V.; Panat, Rahul

2018-01-01

Realization of high temperature physical measurement sensors, which are needed in many of the current and emerging technologies, is challenging due to the degradation of their electrical stability by drift currents, material oxidation, thermal strain, and creep. In this paper, for the first time, we demonstrate that 3D printed sensors show a metamaterial-like behavior, resulting in superior performance such as high sensitivity, low thermal strain, and enhanced thermal stability. The sensors were fabricated using silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs), using an advanced Aerosol Jet based additive printing method followed by thermal sintering. The sensors were tested under cyclic strain up to a temperature of 500 °C and showed a gauge factor of 3.15 ± 0.086, which is about 57% higher than that of those available commercially. The sensor thermal strain was also an order of magnitude lower than that of commercial gages for operation up to a temperature of 500 °C. An analytical model was developed to account for the enhanced performance of such printed sensors based on enhanced lateral contraction of the NP films due to the porosity, a behavior akin to cellular metamaterials. The results demonstrate the potential of 3D printing technology as a pathway to realize highly stable and high-performance sensors for high temperature applications.

Enhanced, targeted sampling of high-dimensional free-energy landscapes using variationally enhanced sampling, with an application to chignolin

PubMed Central

Shaffer, Patrick; Valsson, Omar; Parrinello, Michele

2016-01-01

The capabilities of molecular simulations have been greatly extended by a number of widely used enhanced sampling methods that facilitate escaping from metastable states and crossing large barriers. Despite these developments there are still many problems which remain out of reach for these methods which has led to a vigorous effort in this area. One of the most important problems that remains unsolved is sampling high-dimensional free-energy landscapes and systems that are not easily described by a small number of collective variables. In this work we demonstrate a new way to compute free-energy landscapes of high dimensionality based on the previously introduced variationally enhanced sampling, and we apply it to the miniprotein chignolin. PMID:26787868

850-nm Zn-diffusion vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers with with oxide-relief structure for high-speed and energy-efficient optical interconnects from very-short to medium (2km) reaches

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Jin-Wei; Wei, Chia-Chien; Chen, Jason (Jyehong); Yang, Ying-Jay

2015-03-01

High-speed and "green" ~850 nm vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) have lately attracted lots of attention due to their suitability for applications in optical interconnects (OIs). To further enhance the speed and its maximum allowable linking distance of VCSELs are two major trends to meet the requirement of OI in next generation data centers. Recently, by use of the advanced 850 nm VCSEL technique, data rate as high as 64 Gbit/sec over 57m and 20 Gbit/sec over 2km MMF transmission have been demonstrated, respectively. Here, we will review our recent work about 850 nm Zn-diffusion VCSELs with oxide-relief apertures to further enhance the above-mentioned performances. By using Zn-diffusion, we can not only reduce the device resistance but also manipulate the number of optical modes to benefit transmission. Combing such device, which has excellent single-mode (SMSR >30 dB) and high-power (~7mW) performance, with advanced modulation format (OFDM), record-high bit-rate-distance-product through MMF (2.3 km×28 Gbit/sec) has been demonstrated. Furthermore, by selective etching away the oxide aperture inside Zn-diffusion VCSEL, significant enhancement of device speed, D-factor, and reliability can be observed. With such unique VCSEL structure, >40 Gbit/sec energy-efficient transmission over 100m MMF under extremely low-driving current density (<10kA/cm2) has been successfully demonstrated.

High-performance ternary blend polymer solar cells involving both energy transfer and hole relay processes.

PubMed

Lu, Luyao; Chen, Wei; Xu, Tao; Yu, Luping

2015-06-04

The integration of multiple materials with complementary absorptions into a single junction device is regarded as an efficient way to enhance the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of organic solar cells (OSCs). However, because of increased complexity with one more component, only limited high-performance ternary systems have been demonstrated previously. Here we report an efficient ternary blend OSC with a PCE of 9.2%. We show that the third component can reduce surface trap densities in the ternary blend. Detailed studies unravel that the improved performance results from synergistic effects of enlarged open circuit voltage, suppressed trap-assisted recombination, enhanced light absorption, increased hole extraction, efficient energy transfer and better morphology. The working mechanism and high device performance demonstrate new insights and design guidelines for high-performance ternary blend solar cells and suggest that ternary structure is a promising platform to boost the efficiency of OSCs.

Microcavity Enhanced Raman Scattering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petrak, Benjamin J.

Raman scattering can accurately identify molecules by their intrinsic vibrational frequencies, but its notoriously weak scattering efficiency for gases presents a major obstacle to its practical application in gas sensing and analysis. This work explores the use of high finesse (≈50 000) Fabry-Perot microcavities as a means to enhance Raman scattering from gases. A recently demonstrated laser ablation method, which carves out a micromirror template on fused silica--either on a fiber tip or bulk substrates-- was implemented, characterized, and optimized to fabricate concave micromirror templates ˜10 mum diameter and radius of curvature. The fabricated templates were coated with a high-reflectivity dielectric coating by ion-beam sputtering and were assembled into microcavities ˜10 mum long and with a mode volume ˜100 mum 3. A novel gas sensing technique that we refer to as Purcell enhanced Raman scattering (PERS) was demonstrated using the assembled microcavities. PERS works by enhancing the pump laser's intensity through resonant recirculation at one longitudinal mode, while simultaneously, at a second mode at the Stokes frequency, the Purcell effect increases the rate of spontaneous Raman scattering by a change to the intra-cavity photon density of states. PERS was shown to enhance the rate of spontaneous Raman scattering by a factor of 107 compared to the same volume of sample gas in free space scattered into the same solid angle subtended by the cavity. PERS was also shown capable of resolving several Raman bands from different isotopes of CO2 gas for application to isotopic analysis. Finally, the use of the microcavity to enhance coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) from CO2 gas was demonstrated.

Large surface-enhanced Raman scattering from self-assembled gold nanosphere monolayers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fontana, Jake; Livenere, John; Bezares, Francisco J.; Caldwell, Joshua D.; Rendell, Ronald; Ratna, Banahalli R.

2013-05-01

We demonstrate an average surface-enhanced Raman scattering enhancement on the order of 108 from benzenethiol molecules using self-assembled, macroscopic, and tunable gold nanosphere monolayers on non-templated substrates. The self-assembly of the nanosphere monolayers uses a simple and efficient technique that allows for the creation of a high-density, chemically functionalized gold nanosphere monolayers with enhancement factors comparable to those produced using top-down fabrication techniques. These films may provide an approach for the future development of portable chemical/biological sensors.

Heterogeneous engineered cartilage growth results from gradients of media-supplemented active TGF-β and is ameliorated by the alternative supplementation of latent TGF-β.

PubMed

Albro, Michael B; Nims, Robert J; Durney, Krista M; Cigan, Alexander D; Shim, Jay J; Vunjak-Novakovic, Gordana; Hung, Clark T; Ateshian, Gerard A

2016-01-01

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) has become one of the most widely utilized mediators of engineered cartilage growth. It is typically exogenously supplemented in the culture medium in its active form, with the expectation that it will readily transport into tissue constructs through passive diffusion and influence cellular biosynthesis uniformly. The results of this investigation advance three novel concepts regarding the role of TGF-β in cartilage tissue engineering that have important implications for tissue development. First, through the experimental and computational analysis of TGF-β concentration distributions, we demonstrate that, contrary to conventional expectations, media-supplemented exogenous active TGF-β exhibits a pronounced concentration gradient in tissue constructs, resulting from a combination of high-affinity binding interactions and a high cellular internalization rate. These gradients are sustained throughout the entire culture duration, leading to highly heterogeneous tissue growth; biochemical and histological measurements support that while biochemical content is enhanced up to 4-fold at the construct periphery, enhancements are entirely absent beyond 1 mm from the construct surface. Second, construct-encapsulated chondrocytes continuously secrete large amounts of endogenous TGF-β in its latent form, a portion of which undergoes cell-mediated activation and enhances biosynthesis uniformly throughout the tissue. Finally, motivated by these prior insights, we demonstrate that the alternative supplementation of additional exogenous latent TGF-β enhances biosynthesis uniformly throughout tissue constructs, leading to enhanced but homogeneous tissue growth. This novel demonstration suggests that latent TGF-β supplementation may be utilized as an important tool for the translational engineering of large cartilage constructs that will be required to repair the large osteoarthritic defects observed clinically. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Heterogeneous engineered cartilage growth results from gradients of media-supplemented active TGF-β and is ameliorated by the alternative supplementation of latent TGF-β

PubMed Central

Durney, Krista M.; Cigan, Alexander D.; Shim, Jay J.; Vunjak-Novakovic, Gordana; Hung, Clark T.; Ateshian, Gerard A.

2016-01-01

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) has become one of the most widely utilized mediators of engineered cartilage growth. It is typically exogenously supplemented in the culture medium in its active form, with the expectation that it will readily transport into tissue constructs through passive diffusion and influence cellular biosynthesis uniformly. The results of this investigation advance three novel concepts regarding the role of TGF-β in cartilage tissue engineering that have important implications for tissue development. First, through the experimental and computational analysis of TGF-β concentration distributions, we demonstrate that, contrary to conventional expectations, media-supplemented exogenous active TGF-β exhibits a pronounced concentration gradient in tissue constructs, resulting from a combination of high-affinity binding interactions and a high cellular internalization rate. These gradients are sustained throughout the entire culture duration, leading to highly heterogeneous tissue growth; biochemical and histological measurements support that while biochemical content is enhanced up to 4-fold at the construct periphery, enhancements are entirely absent beyond 1 mm from the construct surface. Second, construct-encapsulated chondrocytes continuously secrete large amounts of endogenous TGF-β in its latent form, a portion of which undergoes cell-mediated activation and enhances biosynthesis uniformly throughout the tissue. Finally, motivated by these prior insights, we demonstrate that the alternative supplementation of additional exogenous latent TGF-β enhances biosynthesis uniformly throughout tissue constructs, leading to enhanced but homogeneous tissue growth. This novel demonstration suggests that latent TGF-β supplementation may be utilized as an important tool for the translational engineering of large cartilage constructs that will be required to repair the large osteoarthritic defects observed clinically. PMID:26599624

Extreme absorption enhancement in ZnTe:O/ZnO intermediate band core-shell nanowires by interplay of dielectric resonance and plasmonic bowtie nanoantennas.

PubMed

Nie, Kui-Ying; Li, Jing; Chen, Xuanhu; Xu, Yang; Tu, Xuecou; Ren, Fang-Fang; Du, Qingguo; Fu, Lan; Kang, Lin; Tang, Kun; Gu, Shulin; Zhang, Rong; Wu, Peiheng; Zheng, Youdou; Tan, Hark Hoe; Jagadish, Chennupati; Ye, Jiandong

2017-08-08

Intermediate band solar cells (IBSCs) are conceptual and promising for next generation high efficiency photovoltaic devices, whereas, IB impact on the cell performance is still marginal due to the weak absorption of IB states. Here a rational design of a hybrid structure composed of ZnTe:O/ZnO core-shell nanowires (NWs) with Al bowtie nanoantennas is demonstrated to exhibit strong ability in tuning and enhancing broadband light response. The optimized nanowire dimensions enable absorption enhancement by engineering leaky-mode dielectric resonances. It maximizes the overlap of the absorption spectrum and the optical transitions in ZnTe:O intermediate-band (IB) photovoltaic materials, as verified by the enhanced photoresponse especially for IB states in an individual nanowire device. Furthermore, by integrating Al bowtie antennas, the enhanced exciton-plasmon coupling enables the notable improvement in the absorption of ZnTe:O/ZnO core-shell single NW, which was demonstrated by the profound enhancement of photoluminescence and resonant Raman scattering. The marriage of dielectric and metallic resonance effects in subwavelength-scale nanowires opens up new avenues for overcoming the poor absorption of sub-gap photons by IB states in ZnTe:O to achieve high-efficiency IBSCs.

Experimental results on the enhanced backscatter phenomenon and its dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Chensheng; Nelson, William; Ko, Jonathan; Davis, Christopher C.

2014-10-01

Enhanced backscatter effects have long been predicted theoretically and experimentally demonstrated. The reciprocity of a turbulent channel generates a group of paired rays with identical trajectory and phase information that leads to a region in phase space with double intensity and scintillation index. Though simulation work based on phase screen models has demonstrated the existence of the phenomenon, few experimental results have been published describing its characteristics, and possible applications of the enhanced backscatter phenomenon are still unclear. With the development of commercially available high powered lasers and advanced cameras with high frame rates, we have successfully captured the enhanced backscatter effects from different reflection surfaces. In addition to static observations, we have also tilted and pre-distorted the transmitted beam at various frequencies to track the dynamic properties of the enhanced backscatter phenomenon to verify its possible application in guidance and beam and image correction through atmospheric turbulence. In this paper, experimental results will be described, and discussions on the principle and applications of the phenomenon will be included. Enhanced backscatter effects are best observed in certain levels of turbulence (Cn 2≍10-13 m-2/3), and show significant potential for providing self-guidance in beam correction that doesn't introduce additional costs (unlike providing a beacon laser). Possible applications of this phenomenon include tracking fast moving object with lasers, long distance (>1km) alignment, and focusing a high-power corrected laser beam over long distances.

Development and Testing of a High Stability Engine Control (HISTEC) System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Orme, John S.; DeLaat, John C.; Southwick, Robert D.; Gallops, George W.; Doane, Paul M.

1998-01-01

Flight tests were recently completed to demonstrate an inlet-distortion-tolerant engine control system. These flight tests were part of NASA's High Stability Engine Control (HISTEC) program. The objective of the HISTEC program was to design, develop, and flight demonstrate an advanced integrated engine control system that uses measurement-based, real-time estimates of inlet airflow distortion to enhance engine stability. With improved stability and tolerance of inlet airflow distortion, future engine designs may benefit from a reduction in design stall-margin requirements and enhanced reliability, with a corresponding increase in performance and decrease in fuel consumption. This paper describes the HISTEC methodology, presents an aircraft test bed description (including HISTEC-specific modifications) and verification and validation ground tests. Additionally, flight test safety considerations, test plan and technique design and approach, and flight operations are addressed. Some illustrative results are presented to demonstrate the type of analysis and results produced from the flight test program.

Strong Photoluminescence Enhancement in All-Dielectric Fano Metasurface with High Quality Factor.

PubMed

Yuan, Shuai; Qiu, Xingzhi; Cui, Chengcong; Zhu, Liangqiu; Wang, Yuxi; Li, Yi; Song, Jinwen; Huang, Qingzhong; Xia, Jinsong

2017-11-28

All-dielectric metamaterials offer great flexibility for controlling light-matter interaction, owing to their strong electric and magnetic resonances with negligible loss at wavelengths above the material bandgap. Here, we propose an all-dielectric asymmetric metasurface structure exhibiting high quality factor and prominent Fano line shape. Over three-orders photoluminescence enhancement is demonstrated in the fabricated all-dielectric metasurface with record-high quality factor of 1011. We find this strong emission enhancement is attributed to the coherent Fano resonances, which originate from the destructive interferences of antisymmetric displacement currents in the asymmetric all-dielectric metasurface. Our observations show a promising approach to realize light emitters based on all-dielectric metasurfaces.

Angular color uniformity enhancement of white light-emitting diodes integrated with freeform lenses.

PubMed

Wang, Kai; Wu, Dan; Chen, Fei; Liu, Zongyuan; Luo, Xiaobing; Liu, Sheng

2010-06-01

We demonstrate a freeform lens to enhance the angular color uniformity (ACU) of white light-emitting diodes (LEDs) whose phosphor layers were coated by freely dispersed coating processes. Monte Carlo ray tracing simulation results indicated that the ACU of the modified LED integrated with the freeform lens significantly increased from 0.334 to 0.957, compared with the traditional LED. Enhancement of ACU reached as high as 186.5%. Moreover, the ACU of the modified LED was not only at a high level, but also stable when the shape of the phosphor layer changed. The freeform lens provided an effective way to achieve white LEDs with high ACU at low cost.

Model of resonant high harmonic generation in multi-electron systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Redkin, P. V.; Ganeev, R. A.

2017-09-01

We extend the 4-step analytical model of resonant enhancement of high harmonic generation to the systems possessing resonant transitions of inner-shell electrons. Resonant enhancement is explained by lasing without inversion in a three-level system of ground, excited and shifted resonant states, which are coupled to the fundamental field and its high harmonics. The role of inelastic scattering is studied by simulation of an excited state’s population dynamics. It is shown that maximal gain is achieved when the energy shift between the excited state and resonant state is close to the energy of the fundamental photon. To prove the concept we demonstrate the enhancement of harmonics in the In plasma using different pumps.

Generation of tunable, high repetition rate optical frequency combs using on-chip silicon modulators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nagarjun, K. P.; Jeyaselvan, Vadivukarassi; Selvaraja, Shankar Kumar; Supradeepa, V. R.

2018-04-01

We experimentally demonstrate tunable, highly-stable frequency combs with high repetition-rates using a single, charge injection based silicon PN modulator. In this work, we demonstrate combs in the C-band with over 8 lines in a 20-dB bandwidth. We demonstrate continuous tuning of the center frequency in the C-band and tuning of the repetition-rate from 7.5GHz to 12.5GHz. We also demonstrate through simulations the potential for bandwidth scaling using an optimized silicon PIN modulator. We find that, the time varying free carrier absorption due to carrier injection, an undesirable effect in data modulators, assists here in enhancing flatness in the generated combs.

Mass enhancement versus Stoner enhancement in strongly correlated metallic perovskites: LaNiO3 and LaCuO3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, J.-S.; Marshall, L. G.; Goodenough, J. B.

2014-06-01

Measurements of physical properties, including transport and magnetic properties, specific heat, and thermal conductivity, have been performed on high-quality samples of LaNiO3 and LaCuO3 synthesized under high pressure. Some measurements, such as thermoelectric power and magnetic susceptibility, have been made under high pressure. The availability of a complete set of data enables a side-by-side comparison between these two narrowband systems. We have demonstrated unambiguously the mass enhancement due to electron-electron correlations in both systems relative to the recent density functional theory results. Correlations in these narrowband systems also enhance the magnetic susceptibility. Ferromagnetic spin fluctuations give rise to a strong Stoner enhancement in the magnetic susceptibility in the quarter-filled LaNiO3. Although we are able to tune the bandwidth by either chemical substitutions or by applying hydrostatic pressure on LaNiO3, the Stoner enhancement does not lead to the Stoner instability.

The Effectiveness of Teachers' Use of Demonstrations for Enhancing Students' Understanding of and Attitudes to Learning the Oxidation-Reduction Concept

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Basheer, Ahmad; Hugerat, Muhamad; Kortam, Naji; Hofstein, Avi

2017-01-01

In this study we explored whether the use of teachers' demonstrations significantly improves students' understanding of redox reactions compared with control group counterparts who were not exposed to the demonstrations. The sample consisted of 131 Israeli 8th graders in middle schools (junior high school). Students' attitudes and achievements as…

Enhancing the pictorial content of digital holograms at 100 frames per second.

PubMed

Tsang, P W M; Poon, T-C; Cheung, K W K

2012-06-18

We report a low complexity, non-iterative method for enhancing the sharpness, brightness, and contrast of the pictorial content that is recorded in a digital hologram, without the need of re-generating the latter from the original object scene. In our proposed method, the hologram is first back-projected to a 2-D virtual diffraction plane (VDP) which is located at close proximity to the original object points. Next the field distribution on the VDP, which shares similar optical properties as the object scene, is enhanced. Subsequently, the processed VDP is expanded into a full hologram. We demonstrate two types of enhancement: a modified histogram equalization to improve the brightness and contrast, and localized high-boost-filtering (LHBF) to increase the sharpness. Experiment results have demonstrated that our proposed method is capable of enhancing a 2048x2048 hologram at a rate of around 100 frames per second. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time real-time image enhancement is considered in the context of digital holography.

Polarization-selective optical transmission through a plasmonic metasurface.

PubMed

Pelzman, Charles; Cho, Sang-Yeon

2015-06-22

We present the design, fabrication, and experimental characterization of a nanoslit-based metasurface that offers polarization-selective optical transmission for advanced imaging applications. The metasurface consists of an array of meta-atoms, constructed with two orthogonally coupled subwavelength apertures. Highly enhanced optical transmission was achieved by selective excitation of surface plasmon waves on the metasurface. By rotating the orientation of the linearly polarized incident beam, switching of enhanced optical transmission bands through the metasurface was experimentally demonstrated. This demonstration is a significant step towards developing advanced multispectral imaging devices.

Plasmonic crystal enhanced refractive index sensing

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Stein, Benedikt; Devaux, Eloïse; Genet, Cyriaque, E-mail: genet@unistra.fr

2014-06-23

We demonstrate experimentally how the local anisotropy of the dispersion relation of surface plasmon modes propagating over periodic metal gratings can lead to an enhancement of the figure of merit of refractive index sensors. Exploiting the possibility to acquire defocused images of the Fourier space of a highly stable leakage radiation microscope, we report a twofold increase in sensing sensitivity close to the band gap of a one-dimensional plasmonic crystal where the anisotropy of the band structure is the most important. A practical sensing resolution of O(10{sup −6}) refractive index units is demonstrated.

Polarization-selective optical transmission through a plasmonic metasurface

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pelzman, Charles; Cho, Sang-Yeon, E-mail: sangycho@nmsu.edu

2015-06-22

We present the design, fabrication, and experimental characterization of a nanoslit-based metasurface that offers polarization-selective optical transmission for advanced imaging applications. The metasurface consists of an array of meta-atoms, constructed with two orthogonally coupled subwavelength apertures. Highly enhanced optical transmission was achieved by selective excitation of surface plasmon waves on the metasurface. By rotating the orientation of the linearly polarized incident beam, switching of enhanced optical transmission bands through the metasurface was experimentally demonstrated. This demonstration is a significant step towards developing advanced multispectral imaging devices.

Enhancing the Curie temperature of ferromagnetic semiconductor (Ga,Mn)As to 200 K via nanostructure engineering.

PubMed

Chen, Lin; Yang, Xiang; Yang, Fuhua; Zhao, Jianhua; Misuraca, Jennifer; Xiong, Peng; von Molnár, Stephan

2011-07-13

We demonstrate by magneto-transport measurements that a Curie temperature as high as 200 K can be obtained in nanostructures of (Ga,Mn)As. Heavily Mn-doped (Ga,Mn)As films were patterned into nanowires and then subject to low-temperature annealing. Resistance and Hall effect measurements demonstrated a consistent increase of T(C) with decreasing wire width down to about 300 nm. This observation is attributed primarily to the increase of the free surface in the narrower wires, which allows the Mn interstitials to diffuse out at the sidewalls, thus enhancing the efficiency of annealing. These results may provide useful information on optimal structures for (Ga,Mn)As-based nanospintronic devices operational at relatively high temperatures.

Enhanced production of green tide algal biomass through additional carbon supply.

PubMed

de Paula Silva, Pedro H; Paul, Nicholas A; de Nys, Rocky; Mata, Leonardo

2013-01-01

Intensive algal cultivation usually requires a high flux of dissolved inorganic carbon (Ci) to support productivity, particularly for high density algal cultures. Carbon dioxide (CO2) enrichment can be used to overcome Ci limitation and enhance productivity of algae in intensive culture, however, it is unclear whether algal species with the ability to utilise bicarbonate (HCO3 (-)) as a carbon source for photosynthesis will benefit from CO2 enrichment. This study quantified the HCO3 (-) affinity of three green tide algal species, Cladophora coelothrix, Cladophora patentiramea and Chaetomorpha linum, targeted for biomass and bioenergy production. Subsequently, we quantified productivity and carbon, nitrogen and ash content in response to CO2 enrichment. All three species had similar high pH compensation points (9.7-9.9), and grew at similar rates up to pH 9, demonstrating HCO3 (-) utilization. Algal cultures enriched with CO2 as a carbon source had 30% more total Ci available, supplying twenty five times more CO2 than the control. This higher Ci significantly enhanced the productivity of Cladophora coelothrix (26%), Chaetomorpha linum (24%) and to a lesser extent for Cladophora patentiramea (11%), compared to controls. We demonstrated that supplying carbon as CO2 can enhance the productivity of targeted green tide algal species under intensive culture, despite their clear ability to utilise HCO3 (-).

Utilization of Fc Receptors as a Mucosal Vaccine Strategy against an Intracellular Bacterium, Francisella tularensis1

PubMed Central

Rawool, Deepak B.; Bitsaktsis, Constantine; Li, Ying; Gosselin, Diane R.; Lin, Yili; Kurkure, Nitin V.; Metzger, Dennis W.; Gosselin, Edmund J.

2013-01-01

Numerous studies have demonstrated that targeting Ag to Fc receptors (FcR) on APCs can enhance humoral and cellular immunity. However, studies are lacking that examine both the use of FcR-targeting in generating immune protection against infectious agents and the use of FcRs in the induction of mucosal immunity. Francisella tularensis is a category A intracellular mucosal pathogen. Thus, intense efforts are underway to develop a vaccine against this organism. We hypothesized that protection against mucosal infection with F. tularensis would be significantly enhanced by targeting inactivated F. tularensis live vaccine strain (iFt) to FcRs at mucosal sites, via intranasal immunization with mAb-iFt complexes. These studies demonstrate for the first time that: 1) FcR-targeted immunogen enhances immunogen-specific IgA production and protection against subsequent infection in an IgA-dependent manner, 2) FcγR and neonatal FcR are crucial to this protection, and 3) inactivated F. tularensis, when targeted to FcRs, enhances protection against the highly virulent SchuS4 strain of F. tularensis, a category A biothreat agent. In summary, these studies show for the first time the use of FcRs as a highly effective vaccination strategy against a highly virulent mucosal intracellular pathogen. PMID:18390739

Microscopy mineral image enhancement based on improved adaptive threshold in nonsubsampled shearlet transform domain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Liangliang; Si, Yujuan; Jia, Zhenhong

2018-03-01

In this paper, a novel microscopy mineral image enhancement method based on adaptive threshold in non-subsampled shearlet transform (NSST) domain is proposed. First, the image is decomposed into one low-frequency sub-band and several high-frequency sub-bands. Second, the gamma correction is applied to process the low-frequency sub-band coefficients, and the improved adaptive threshold is adopted to suppress the noise of the high-frequency sub-bands coefficients. Third, the processed coefficients are reconstructed with the inverse NSST. Finally, the unsharp filter is used to enhance the details of the reconstructed image. Experimental results on various microscopy mineral images demonstrated that the proposed approach has a better enhancement effect in terms of objective metric and subjective metric.

Detection of nerve gases using surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrates with high droplet adhesion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hakonen, Aron; Rindzevicius, Tomas; Schmidt, Michael Stenbæk; Andersson, Per Ola; Juhlin, Lars; Svedendahl, Mikael; Boisen, Anja; Käll, Mikael

2016-01-01

Threats from chemical warfare agents, commonly known as nerve gases, constitute a serious security issue of increasing global concern because of surging terrorist activity worldwide. However, nerve gases are difficult to detect using current analytical tools and outside dedicated laboratories. Here we demonstrate that surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) can be used for sensitive detection of femtomol quantities of two nerve gases, VX and Tabun, using a handheld Raman device and SERS substrates consisting of flexible gold-covered Si nanopillars. The substrate surface exhibits high droplet adhesion and nanopillar clustering due to elasto-capillary forces, resulting in enrichment of target molecules in plasmonic hot-spots with high Raman enhancement. The results may pave the way for strategic life-saving SERS detection of chemical warfare agents in the field.Threats from chemical warfare agents, commonly known as nerve gases, constitute a serious security issue of increasing global concern because of surging terrorist activity worldwide. However, nerve gases are difficult to detect using current analytical tools and outside dedicated laboratories. Here we demonstrate that surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) can be used for sensitive detection of femtomol quantities of two nerve gases, VX and Tabun, using a handheld Raman device and SERS substrates consisting of flexible gold-covered Si nanopillars. The substrate surface exhibits high droplet adhesion and nanopillar clustering due to elasto-capillary forces, resulting in enrichment of target molecules in plasmonic hot-spots with high Raman enhancement. The results may pave the way for strategic life-saving SERS detection of chemical warfare agents in the field. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr06524k

Final Report: Novel ALD-Coated Nanoparticle Anodes for Enhanced Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Groner, Markus

2009-04-16

The Phase I effort is described in detail in the Phase I report given below. The key accomplishments of the Phase I project were (1) the demonstration of high stability LiCoO2 cathodes using ALD-coated LiCoO2 particles, as well as on ALD-coated LiCoO2 electrodes and (2) the demonstration of high stability of graphite anodes using ALD-coated graphite electrodes.

Field Demonstration of Biologically Active Zone Enhancement (BAZE) for In Situ RDX Degradation in Groundwater

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-07-01

Used Defense Site GAC granular activated carbon HA health advisory HFCS high fructose corn syrup HMX octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro 1,3,5,7... fructose corn syrup (HFCS) by injection is another innovative alternative and was demonstrated at Milan Army Ammunition Plant. Data needed for comparison...tetrazocine HPLC high pressure liquid chromatograph HVAC heating, ventilation, and air conditioning ID inside diameter IW injection well MNX

Ag-ZnO nanostructure for ANTA explosive molecule detection

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shaik, Ummar Pasha; Sangani, L. D. Varma; Gaur, Anshu

2016-05-23

Ag/ZnO nanostructure for surface enhanced Raman scattering application in the detection of ANTA explosive molecule is demonstrated. A highly rough ZnO microstructure was achieved by rapid thermal annealing of metallic Zn film. Different thickness Ag nanostructures are decorated over these ZnO microstructures by ion beam sputtering technique. Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopic studies carried out over Ag/ZnO substrates have shown three orders higher enhancement compared to bare Ag nanostructure deposited on the same substrate. The reasons behind such huge enhancement are discussed based on the morphology of the sample.

Resonant Raman scattering from silicon nanoparticles enhanced by magnetic response.

PubMed

Dmitriev, Pavel A; Baranov, Denis G; Milichko, Valentin A; Makarov, Sergey V; Mukhin, Ivan S; Samusev, Anton K; Krasnok, Alexander E; Belov, Pavel A; Kivshar, Yuri S

2016-05-05

Enhancement of optical response with high-index dielectric nanoparticles is attributed to the excitation of their Mie-type magnetic and electric resonances. Here we study Raman scattering from crystalline silicon nanoparticles and reveal that magnetic dipole modes have a much stronger effect on the scattering than electric modes of the same order. We demonstrate experimentally a 140-fold enhancement of the Raman signal from individual silicon spherical nanoparticles at the magnetic dipole resonance. Our results confirm the importance of the optically-induced magnetic response of subwavelength dielectric nanoparticles for enhancing light-matter interactions.

Enhancement of high harmonics from plasmas using two-color pump and chirp variation of 1 kHz Ti:sapphire laser pulses.

PubMed

Ganeev, R A; Hutchison, C; Zaïr, A; Witting, T; Frank, F; Okell, W A; Tisch, J W G; Marangos, J P

2012-01-02

We have investigated resonance effects in high-order harmonic generation (HHG) within laser-produced plasmas. We demonstrate a significantly improved harmonic yield by using two-color pump-induced enhancement and a 1 kHz pulse repetition rate. Together with an increased HHG output, the even harmonics in the cutoff region were enhanced with respect to odd harmonics. We report the observation of a resonance-induced growth in intensity of 20th harmonic in silver plasma (2×), 26th harmonic in vanadium plasma (4×), and 28th harmonic in chromium plasma (5×).

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wester, W., editor

Fermilab is executing Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) as outlined by order DOE O 413.2B in order to enhance and realize the mission of the laboratory in a manner that also supports the laboratory’s strategic objectives and the mission of the Department of Energy. LDRD funds enable scientific creativity, allow for exploration of “high risk, high payoff” research, and allow for the demonstration of new ideas, technical concepts, and devices. LDRD also has an objective of maintaining and enhancing the scientific and technical vitality of Fermilab.

Immersion Condensation on Oil-Infused Heterogeneous Surfaces for Enhanced Heat Transfer

PubMed Central

Xiao, Rong; Miljkovic, Nenad; Enright, Ryan; Wang, Evelyn N.

2013-01-01

Enhancing condensation heat transfer is important for broad applications from power generation to water harvesting systems. Significant efforts have focused on easy removal of the condensate, yet the other desired properties of low contact angles and high nucleation densities for high heat transfer performance have been typically neglected. In this work, we demonstrate immersion condensation on oil-infused micro and nanostructured surfaces with heterogeneous coatings, where water droplets nucleate immersed within the oil. The combination of surface energy heterogeneity, reduced oil-water interfacial energy, and surface structuring enabled drastically increased nucleation densities while maintaining easy condensate removal and low contact angles. Accordingly, on oil-infused heterogeneous nanostructured copper oxide surfaces, we demonstrated approximately 100% increase in heat transfer coefficient compared to state-of-the-art dropwise condensation surfaces in the presence of non-condensable gases. This work offers a distinct approach utilizing surface chemistry and structuring together with liquid-infusion for enhanced condensation heat transfer. PMID:23759735

Nanopatterned organic semiconductors for visible light communications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Xilu; Dong, Yurong; Zeng, Pan; Yu, Yan; Xie, Yujun; Gong, Junyi; Shi, Meng; Liang, Rongqing; Ou, Qiongrong; Chi, Nan; Zhang, Shuyu

2018-03-01

Visible light communication (VLC) is becoming an important and promising supplement to the existing Wi-Fi network for the coming 5G communications. Organic light-emitting semiconductors present much fast fluorescent decay rates compared to those of conventional colour-converting phosphors, therefore capable of achieving much higher bandwidths. Here we explore how nanopatterned organic semiconductors can further enhance the data rates of VLC links by improving bandwidths and signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) and by supporting spatial multiplexing. We first demonstrate a colour-converting VLC system based on nanopatterned hyperbolic metamaterials (HMM), the bandwidth of which is enhanced by 50%. With regard to enhancing SNRs, we achieve a tripling of optical gain by integrating a nanopatterned luminescent concentrator to a signal receiver. In addition, we demonstrate highly directional fluorescent VLC antennas based on nanoimprinted polymer films, paving the way to achieving parallel VLC communications via spatialmultiplexing. These results indicate nanopatterned organic semiconductors provide a promising route to high speed VLC links.

High Resolution Ultrasound Superharmonic Perfusion Imaging: In Vivo Feasibility and Quantification of Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Acoustic Angiography.

PubMed

Lindsey, Brooks D; Shelton, Sarah E; Martin, K Heath; Ozgun, Kathryn A; Rojas, Juan D; Foster, F Stuart; Dayton, Paul A

2017-04-01

Mapping blood perfusion quantitatively allows localization of abnormal physiology and can improve understanding of disease progression. Dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound is a low-cost, real-time technique for imaging perfusion dynamics with microbubble contrast agents. Previously, we have demonstrated another contrast agent-specific ultrasound imaging technique, acoustic angiography, which forms static anatomical images of the superharmonic signal produced by microbubbles. In this work, we seek to determine whether acoustic angiography can be utilized for high resolution perfusion imaging in vivo by examining the effect of acquisition rate on superharmonic imaging at low flow rates and demonstrating the feasibility of dynamic contrast-enhanced superharmonic perfusion imaging for the first time. Results in the chorioallantoic membrane model indicate that frame rate and frame averaging do not affect the measured diameter of individual vessels observed, but that frame rate does influence the detection of vessels near and below the resolution limit. The highest number of resolvable vessels was observed at an intermediate frame rate of 3 Hz using a mechanically-steered prototype transducer. We also demonstrate the feasibility of quantitatively mapping perfusion rate in 2D in a mouse model with spatial resolution of ~100 μm. This type of imaging could provide non-invasive, high resolution quantification of microvascular function at penetration depths of several centimeters.

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy of half-mustard agent.

PubMed

Stuart, Douglas A; Biggs, Kevin B; Van Duyne, Richard P

2006-04-01

The detection and identification of chemical warfare agents is an important analytical goal. Herein, it is demonstrated that 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (half-mustard, CEES) can be successfully analysed using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). A critical component in this detection system is the fabrication of a robust, yet highly enhancing, sensor surface. Recent advances in substrate fabrication and in the fundamental understanding of the SERS phenomenon enable the development of improved substrates for practical SERS applications.

ZnO-based microrockets with light-enhanced propulsion.

PubMed

Dong, Renfeng; Wang, Chun; Wang, Qinglong; Pei, Allen; She, Xueling; Zhang, Yuxian; Cai, Yuepeng

2017-10-12

Improving the propulsion of artificial micro-nanomotors represents an exciting nanotechnology challenge, especially considering their cargo delivery ability and fuel efficiency. In light of the excellent photocatalytic performance of zinc oxide (ZnO) and chemical catalytic properties of platinum (Pt), ZnO-Pt microrockets with light-enhanced propulsion have been developed by atomic layer deposition (ALD) technology. The velocity of such microrockets is dramatically doubled upon irradiation by 77 mW cm -2 ultraviolet (UV) light in 10% H 2 O 2 and is almost 3 times higher than the classic poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-Pt microrockets (PEDOT-Pt microrockets) even in 6% H 2 O 2 under the same UV light. In addition, such micromotors not only retain the standard approach to improve propulsion by varying the fuel concentration, but also demonstrate a simple way to enhance the movement velocity by adjusting the UV light intensity. High reversibility and controllable "weak/strong" propulsion can be easily achieved by switching the UV irradiation on or off. Finally, light-enhanced propulsion has been investigated by electrochemical measurements which further confirm the enhanced photocatalytic properties of ZnO and Pt. The successful demonstration of ZnO-based microrockets with excellent light-enhanced propulsion is significant for developing highly efficient synthetic micro-nanomotors which have strong delivery ability and economic fuel requirements for future practical applications in the micro-nanoscale world.

Ultra-high enhancement of light focusing through disordered media controlled by mega-pixel modes (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Hyeonseung; Lee, KyeoReh; Park, YongKeun

2017-02-01

Developing an efficient strategy for light focusing through scattering media is an important topic in the study of multiple light scattering. The enhancement factor of the light focusing, defined as the ratio between the optimized intensity and the background intensity is proportional to the number of controlling modes in a spatial light modulator (SLM). The demonstrated enhancement factors in previous studies are typically less than 1,000 due to several limiting factors, such as the slow refresh rate of a LCoS SLM, long optimization time, and lack of an efficient algorithm for high controlling modes. A digital micro-mirror device is an amplitude modulator, which is recently widely used for fast optimization through dynamic biological tissues. The fast frame rate of the DMD up to 16 kHz can also be exploited for increasing the number of controlling modes. However, the manipulation of large pattern data and efficient calculation of the optimized pattern remained as an issue. In this work, we demonstrate the enhancement factor more than 100,000 in focusing through scattering media by using 1 Mega controlling modes of a DMD. Through careful synchronization between a DMD, a photo-detector and an additional computer for parallel optimization, we achieved the unprecedented enhancement factor with 75 mins of the optimization time. We discuss the design principles of the system and the possible applications of the enhanced light focusing.

Large-Scale Campus Computer Technology Implementation: Lessons from the First Year.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nichols, Todd; Frazer, Linda H.

The purpose of the Elementary Technology Demonstration Schools (ETDS) Project, funded by IBM and Apple, Inc., was to demonstrate the effectiveness of technology in accelerating the learning of low achieving at-risk students and enhancing the education of high achieving students. The paper begins by giving background information on the district,…

Plasmonic Colloidal Nanoantennas for Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectrocopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dill, Tyler J.

Plasmonic nanoantennas that a support localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) are capable of confining visible light to subwavelength dimensions due to strong electromagnetic field enhancement at the probe tip. Nanoantenna enable optical methods such as tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS), a technique that uses scanning probe microscopy tips to provide chemical information with nanoscale spatial resolution and single-molecule sensitivities. The LSPR supported by the probe tip is extremely sensitive to the nanoscale morphology of the nanoantenna. Control of nanoscale morphology is notoriously difficult to achieve, resulting in TERS probes with poor reproducibility. In my thesis, I demonstrate high-performance, predictable, and broadband nanospectroscopy probes that are fabricated by self-assembly. Shaped metal nanoparticles are organized into dense layers and deposited onto scanning probe tips. When coupled to a metal substrate, these probes support a strong optical resonance in the gap between the substrate and the probe, producing dramatic field enhancements. I show through experiment and electromagnetic modeling that close-packed but electrically isolated nanoparticles are electromagnetically coupled. Hybridized LSPRs supported by self-assembled nanoparticles with a broadband optical response, giving colloidal nanoantenna a high tolerance for geometric variation resulting from fabrication. I find that coupled nanoparticles act as a waveguide, transferring energy from many neighboring nanoparticles towards the active TERS apex. I also use surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) to characterize the effects of nanoparticle polydispersity and gap height on the Raman enhancement. These colloidal probes have consistently achieved dramatic Raman enhancements in the range of 108-109 with sub-50 nm spatial resolution. Furthermore, in contrast to other nanospectroscopy probes, these colloidal probes can be fabricated in a scalable fashion with a batch-to-batch reproducibility of 80%. This body of work serves as an important demonstration that bottom-up engineering can be used for batch fabricatation of high-performance and high-reliability devices using inexpensive equipment and materials.

Enhanced thermoelectric performance of graphene nanoribbon-based devices

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hossain, Md Sharafat, E-mail: hossain@student.unimelb.edu.au; Huynh, Duc Hau; Nguyen, Phuong Duc

There have been numerous theoretical studies on exciting thermoelectric properties of graphene nano-ribbons (GNRs); however, most of these studies are mainly based on simulations. In this work, we measure and characterize the thermoelectric properties of GNRs and compare the results with theoretical predictions. Our experimental results verify that nano-structuring and patterning graphene into nano-ribbons significantly enhance its thermoelectric power, confirming previous predictions. Although patterning results in lower conductance (G), the overall power factor (S{sup 2}G) increases for nanoribbons. We demonstrate that edge roughness plays an important role in achieving such an enhanced performance and support it through first principles simulations.more » We show that uncontrolled edge roughness, which is considered detrimental in GNR-based electronic devices, leads to enhanced thermoelectric performance of GNR-based thermoelectric devices. The result validates previously reported theoretical studies of GNRs and demonstrates the potential of GNRs for the realization of highly efficient thermoelectric devices.« less

Tip-enhanced Raman mapping with top-illumination AFM.

PubMed

Chan, K L Andrew; Kazarian, Sergei G

2011-04-29

Tip-enhanced Raman mapping is a powerful, emerging technique that offers rich chemical information and high spatial resolution. Currently, most of the successes in tip-enhanced Raman scattering (TERS) measurements are based on the inverted configuration where tips and laser are approaching the sample from opposite sides. This results in the limitation of measurement for transparent samples only. Several approaches have been developed to obtain tip-enhanced Raman mapping in reflection mode, many of which involve certain customisations of the system. We have demonstrated in this work that it is also possible to obtain TERS nano-images using an upright microscope (top-illumination) with a gold-coated Si atomic force microscope (AFM) cantilever without significant modification to the existing integrated AFM/Raman system. A TERS image of a single-walled carbon nanotube has been achieved with a spatial resolution of ∼ 20-50 nm, demonstrating the potential of this technique for studying non-transparent nanoscale materials.

Tunable Nanoantennas for Surface Enhanced Infrared Absorption Spectroscopy by Colloidal Lithography and Post-Fabrication Etching

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Kai; Duy Dao, Thang; Nagao, Tadaaki

2017-03-01

We fabricated large-area metallic (Al and Au) nanoantenna arrays on Si substrates using cost-effective colloidal lithography with different micrometer-sized polystyrene spheres. Variation of the sphere size leads to tunable plasmon resonances in the middle infrared (MIR) range. The enhanced near-fields allow us to detect the surface phonon polaritons in the natural SiO2 thin layers. We demonstrated further tuning capability of the resonances by employing dry etching of the Si substrates with the nanoantennas acting as the etching masks. The effective refractive index of the nanoantenna surroundings is efficiently decreased giving rise to blueshifts of the resonances. In addition, partial removal of the Si substrates elevates the nanoantennas from the high-refractive-index substrates making more enhanced near-fields accessible for molecular sensing applications as demonstrated here with surface-enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA) spectroscopy for a thin polymer film. We also directly compared the plasmonic enhancement from the Al and Au nanoantenna arrays.

Achieving superresolution with illumination-enhanced sparsity.

PubMed

Yu, Jiun-Yann; Becker, Stephen R; Folberth, James; Wallin, Bruce F; Chen, Simeng; Cogswell, Carol J

2018-04-16

Recent advances in superresolution fluorescence microscopy have been limited by a belief that surpassing two-fold resolution enhancement of the Rayleigh resolution limit requires stimulated emission or the fluorophore to undergo state transitions. Here we demonstrate a new superresolution method that requires only image acquisitions with a focused illumination spot and computational post-processing. The proposed method utilizes the focused illumination spot to effectively reduce the object size and enhance the object sparsity and consequently increases the resolution and accuracy through nonlinear image post-processing. This method clearly resolves 70nm resolution test objects emitting ~530nm light with a 1.4 numerical aperture (NA) objective, and, when imaging through a 0.5NA objective, exhibits high spatial frequencies comparable to a 1.4NA widefield image, both demonstrating a resolution enhancement above two-fold of the Rayleigh resolution limit. More importantly, we examine how the resolution increases with photon numbers, and show that the more-than-two-fold enhancement is achievable with realistic photon budgets.

NMR signal enhancement by effective SABRE labeling of oligopeptides.

PubMed

Ratajczyk, Tomasz; Gutmann, Torsten; Bernatowicz, Piotr; Buntkowsky, Gerd; Frydel, Jaroslaw; Fedorczyk, Bartlomiej

2015-09-01

Signal amplification by reversible exchange (SABRE) can enhance nuclear magnetic resonance signals by several orders of magnitude. However, until now this was limited to a small number of model target molecules. Here, a new convenient method for SABRE activation applicable to a variety of synthetic model oligopeptides is demonstrated. For the first time, a highly SABRE-active pyridine-based biocompatible molecular framework is incorporated into synthetic oligopeptides. The SABRE activity is preserved, demonstrating the importance of such earmarking. Finally, a crucial exchange process responsible for SABRE activity is identified and discussed. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

High-performance ternary blend polymer solar cells involving both energy transfer and hole relay processes

DOE PAGES

Lu, Luyao; Chen, Wei; Xu, Tao; ...

2015-06-04

The integration of multiple materials with complementary absorptions into a single junction device is regarded as an efficient way to enhance the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of organic solar cells (OSCs). However, because of increased complexity with one more component, only limited high-performance ternary systems have been demonstrated previously. Here we report an efficient ternary blend OSC with a PCE of 9.2%. We show that the third component can reduce surface trap densities in the ternary blend. Detailed studies unravel that the improved performance results from synergistic effects of enlarged open circuit voltage, suppressed trap-assisted recombination, enhanced light absorption, increasedmore » hole extraction, efficient energy transfer and better morphology. As a result, the working mechanism and high device performance demonstrate new insights and design guidelines for high-performance ternary blend solar cells and suggest that ternary structure is a promising platform to boost the efficiency of OSCs.« less

Flexible holey graphene paper electrodes with enhanced rate capability for energy storage applications.

PubMed

Zhao, Xin; Hayner, Cary M; Kung, Mayfair C; Kung, Harold H

2011-11-22

The unique combination of high surface area, high electrical conductivity and robust mechanical integrity has attracted great interest in the use of graphene sheets for future electronics applications. Their potential applications for high-power energy storage devices, however, are restricted by the accessible volume, which may be only a fraction of the physical volume, a consequence of the compact geometry of the stack and the ion mobility. Here we demonstrated that remarkably enhanced power delivery can be realized in graphene papers for the use in Li-ion batteries by controlled generation of in-plane porosity via a mechanical cavitation-chemical oxidation approach. These flexible, holey graphene papers, created via facile microscopic engineering, possess abundant ion binding sites, enhanced ion diffusion kinetics, and excellent high-rate lithium-ion storage capabilities, and are suitable for high-performance energy storage devices. © 2011 American Chemical Society

Interactive Read-Alouds--An Avenue for Enhancing Children's Language for Thinking and Understanding: A Review of Recent Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lennox, Sandra

2013-01-01

Enhancing young children's early literacy achievement is a top priority in many countries. There is a considerable body of research demonstrating young children's language development as a critical factor in reading and later academic success. Implementation of high quality literacy instruction has the potential to improve literacy…

Microbubble and ultrasound radioenhancement of bladder cancer

PubMed Central

Tran, W T; Iradji, S; Sofroni, E; Giles, A; Eddy, D; Czarnota, G J

2012-01-01

Background: Tumour vasculature is an important component of tumour growth and survival. Recent evidence indicates tumour vasculature also has an important role in tumour radiation response. In this study, we investigated ultrasound and microbubbles to enhance the effects of radiation. Methods: Human bladder cancer HT-1376 xenografts in severe combined immuno-deficient mice were used. Treatments consisted of no, low and high concentrations of microbubbles and radiation doses of 0, 2 and 8 Gy in short-term and longitudinal studies. Acute response was assessed 24 h after treatment and longitudinal studies monitored tumour response weekly up to 28 days using power Doppler ultrasound imaging for a total of 9 conditions (n=90 animals). Results: Quantitative analysis of ultrasound data revealed reduced blood flow with ultrasound-microbubble treatments alone and further when combined with radiation. Tumours treated with microbubbles and radiation revealed enhanced cell death, vascular normalisation and areas of fibrosis. Longitudinal data demonstrated a reduced normalised vascular index and increased tumour cell death in both low and high microbubble concentrations with radiation. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that ultrasound-mediated microbubble exposure can enhance radiation effects in tumours, and can lead to enhanced tumour cell death. PMID:22790798

Strong antenna-enhanced fluorescence of a single light-harvesting complex shows photon antibunching

PubMed Central

Wientjes, Emilie; Renger, Jan; Curto, Alberto G.; Cogdell, Richard; van Hulst, Niek F.

2014-01-01

The nature of the highly efficient energy transfer in photosynthetic light-harvesting complexes is a subject of intense research. Unfortunately, the low fluorescence efficiency and limited photostability hampers the study of individual light-harvesting complexes at ambient conditions. Here we demonstrate an over 500-fold fluorescence enhancement of light-harvesting complex 2 (LH2) at the single-molecule level by coupling to a gold nanoantenna. The resonant antenna produces an excitation enhancement of circa 100 times and a fluorescence lifetime shortening to ~\

Strong antenna-enhanced fluorescence of a single light-harvesting complex shows photon antibunching

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wientjes, Emilie; Renger, Jan; Curto, Alberto G.; Cogdell, Richard; van Hulst, Niek F.

2014-06-01

The nature of the highly efficient energy transfer in photosynthetic light-harvesting complexes is a subject of intense research. Unfortunately, the low fluorescence efficiency and limited photostability hampers the study of individual light-harvesting complexes at ambient conditions. Here we demonstrate an over 500-fold fluorescence enhancement of light-harvesting complex 2 (LH2) at the single-molecule level by coupling to a gold nanoantenna. The resonant antenna produces an excitation enhancement of circa 100 times and a fluorescence lifetime shortening to ~\

Nanoparticle-enhanced synergistic HIFU ablation and transarterial chemoembolization for efficient cancer therapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

You, Yufeng; Wang, Zhigang; Ran, Haitao; Zheng, Yuanyi; Wang, Dong; Xu, Jinshun; Wang, Zhibiao; Chen, Yu; Li, Pan

2016-02-01

High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is being generally explored as a non-invasive therapeutic modality to treat solid tumors. However, the clinical use of HIFU for large and deep tumor-ablation applications such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is currently entangled with long treatment duration and high operating energy. This critical issue can be potentially resolved by the introduction of HIFU synergistic agents (SAs). Traditional SAs such as microbubbles and microparticles face the problem of large size, short cycle time, damage to mononuclear phagocytic system and unsatisfactory targeting efficiency. In this work, we have developed a facile and versatile nanoparticle-based HIFU synergistic cancer surgery enhanced by transarterial chemoembolization for high-efficiency HCC treatment based on elaborately designed Fe3O4-PFH/PLGA nanocapsules. Multifunctional Fe3O4-PFH/PLGA nanocapsules were administrated into tumor tissues via transarterial injection combined with Lipiodol to achieve high tumor accumulation because transarterial chemoembolization by Lipiodol could block the blood vessels. The high synergistic HIFU ablation effect was successfully achieved against HCC tumors based on the phase-transformation performance of the perfluorohexane (PFH) inner core in the composite nanocapsules, as systematically demonstrated in VX2 liver tumor xenograft in rabbits. Multifunctional Fe3O4-PFH/PLGA nanocapsules were also demonstrated as efficient contrast agents for ultrasound, magnetic resonance and photoacoustic tri-modality imagings, potentially applicable for imaging-guided HIFU synergistic surgery. Therefore, the elaborate integration of traditional transarterial chemoembolization with recently developed nanoparticle-enhanced HIFU cancer surgery could efficiently enhance the HCC cancer treatment outcome, initiating a new and efficient therapeutic protocol/modality for clinic cancer treatment.

The Impact of parasitic loss on solar cells with plasmonic nano-textured rear reflectors.

PubMed

Disney, Claire E R; Pillai, Supriya; Green, Martin A

2017-10-09

Significant photocurrent enhancement has been demonstrated using plasmonic light-trapping structures comprising nanostructured metallic features at the rear of the cell. These structures have conversely been identified as suffering heightened parasitic absorption into the metal at certain resonant wavelengths severely mitigating benefits of light trapping. In this study, we undertook simulations exploring the relationship between enhanced absorption into the solar cell, and parasitic losses in the metal. These simulations reveal that resonant wavelengths associated with high parasitic losses in the metal could also be associated with high absorption enhancement in the solar cell. We identify mechanisms linking these parasitic losses and absorption enhancements, but found that by ensuring correct design, the light trapping structures will have a positive impact on the overall solar cell performance. Our results clearly show that the large angle scattering provided by the plasmonic nanostructures is the reason for the enhanced absorption observed in the solar cells.

Nanoantenna-Microcavity Hybrids with Highly Cooperative Plasmonic-Photonic Coupling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Jui-Nung; Huang, Qinglan; Liu, Keng-Ku; Singamaneni, Srikanth; Cunningham, Brian T.

2017-12-01

Nanoantennas concentrate electromagnetic energy into deep-subwavelength volumes (hotspot), which benefits a wide range of applications such as spontaneous emission enhancement, nonlinear optics, nanolaser, and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). To increase hotspot intensity, methods for sculpting individual nanoantenna resonance have been previously explored. Here, we study a nanoantenna-microcavity hybrid approach for highly cooperative hotspot enhancement, combining gold nanorods (AuNRs) for nanometer-scale light concentration and a resonant photonic crystal (PC) slab for efficient near-field excitation and optical feedback. We experimentally validate the predicted synergistic hybrid enhancement with SERS, and demonstrate that coupling to the modest-Q PC guided resonance (PCGR) boosts the hotspot intensity of the AuNR by at least one order of magnitude in comparison to the Fabry-Perot cavity enhanced (~5X) AuNR. These results exhibit a dissimilar hybrid cooperativity versus previously reported nanoantenna-cavity systems, and pave the new way to further facilitate light-nanoantenna interaction for many applications.

Plasmonic photoluminescence for recovering native chemical information from surface-enhanced Raman scattering

PubMed Central

Lin, Kai-Qiang; Yi, Jun; Zhong, Jin-Hui; Hu, Shu; Liu, Bi-Ju; Liu, Jun-Yang; Zong, Cheng; Lei, Zhi-Chao; Wang, Xiang; Aizpurua, Javier; Esteban, Rubén; Ren, Bin

2017-01-01

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy has attracted tremendous interests as a highly sensitive label-free tool. The local field produced by the excitation of localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) dominates the overall enhancement of SERS. Such an electromagnetic enhancement is unfortunately accompanied by a strong modification in the relative intensity of the original Raman spectra, which highly distorts spectral features providing chemical information. Here we propose a robust method to retrieve the fingerprint of intrinsic chemical information from the SERS spectra. The method is established based on the finding that the SERS background originates from the LSPR-modulated photoluminescence, which contains the local field information shared also by SERS. We validate this concept of retrieval of intrinsic fingerprint information in well controlled single metallic nanoantennas of varying aspect ratios. We further demonstrate its unambiguity and generality in more complicated systems of tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) and SERS of silver nanoaggregates. PMID:28348368

Enhanced Production of Green Tide Algal Biomass through Additional Carbon Supply

PubMed Central

de Paula Silva, Pedro H.; Paul, Nicholas A.; de Nys, Rocky; Mata, Leonardo

2013-01-01

Intensive algal cultivation usually requires a high flux of dissolved inorganic carbon (Ci) to support productivity, particularly for high density algal cultures. Carbon dioxide (CO2) enrichment can be used to overcome Ci limitation and enhance productivity of algae in intensive culture, however, it is unclear whether algal species with the ability to utilise bicarbonate (HCO3 −) as a carbon source for photosynthesis will benefit from CO2 enrichment. This study quantified the HCO3 − affinity of three green tide algal species, Cladophora coelothrix, Cladophora patentiramea and Chaetomorpha linum, targeted for biomass and bioenergy production. Subsequently, we quantified productivity and carbon, nitrogen and ash content in response to CO2 enrichment. All three species had similar high pH compensation points (9.7–9.9), and grew at similar rates up to pH 9, demonstrating HCO3 − utilization. Algal cultures enriched with CO2 as a carbon source had 30% more total Ci available, supplying twenty five times more CO2 than the control. This higher Ci significantly enhanced the productivity of Cladophora coelothrix (26%), Chaetomorpha linum (24%) and to a lesser extent for Cladophora patentiramea (11%), compared to controls. We demonstrated that supplying carbon as CO2 can enhance the productivity of targeted green tide algal species under intensive culture, despite their clear ability to utilise HCO3 −. PMID:24324672

Uniform TiO2-SiO2 hollow nanospheres: Synthesis, characterization and enhanced adsorption-photodegradation of azo dyes and phenol

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Na; Liang, Yimai; Lan, Shi; Liu, Lu; Ji, Guijuan; Gan, Shucai; Zou, Haifeng; Xu, Xuechun

2014-06-01

TiO2-SiO2 hollow nanospheres with remarkable enhanced photocatalytic performance have been fabricated by sol-gel method. The hollow sphere possesses both high phototcatalytic activity and adsorption capability. The as-prepared samples were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, FTIR, XPS, BJH and TGA/DSC. The experiment results show that, the photocatalyst calcined at 500 °C with Ti/Si ratio of 5:1 (denoted as 5T/S-500) displayed superiorities in both textural and functional properties with the enhanced degradation efficiency on azo dyes (methylene blue, methyl orange) and phenol. The high adsorption capability of organic poisonous contaminants onto 5T/S-500 in aqueous solution demonstrated that the photocatalyst can remove the contaminants from water effectively even without illumination. The TEM and SEM morphologies demonstrated unique hollow and coarse structure of 5T/S-500. Structural analysis showed that Si was doped into the lattice of TiO2 and SiO2 nanoparticles can work as a surface modifier on TiO2. The surface area of 5T/S-500 is 1105 m2/g, 14.5 times as great as that of the pure hollow TiO2 nanosphere, confirms the effect of SiO2 on the improvement of specific surface area. The high photocatalytic activities and high adsorption ability for organic poisonous contaminants demonstrate that the nanocomposite of TiO2-SiO2 is a promising candidate material for future treatment of contaminated water.

Vertical viewing angle enhancement for the 360  degree integral-floating display using an anamorphic optic system.

PubMed

Erdenebat, Munkh-Uchral; Kwon, Ki-Chul; Yoo, Kwan-Hee; Baasantseren, Ganbat; Park, Jae-Hyeung; Kim, Eun-Soo; Kim, Nam

2014-04-15

We propose a 360 degree integral-floating display with an enhanced vertical viewing angle. The system projects two-dimensional elemental image arrays via a high-speed digital micromirror device projector and reconstructs them into 3D perspectives with a lens array. Double floating lenses relate initial 3D perspectives to the center of a vertically curved convex mirror. The anamorphic optic system tailors the initial 3D perspectives horizontally and vertically disperse light rays more widely. By the proposed method, the entire 3D image provides both monocular and binocular depth cues, a full-parallax demonstration with high-angular ray density and an enhanced vertical viewing angle.

Highly undersampled contrast-enhanced MRA with iterative reconstruction: Integration in a clinical setting.

PubMed

Stalder, Aurelien F; Schmidt, Michaela; Quick, Harald H; Schlamann, Marc; Maderwald, Stefan; Schmitt, Peter; Wang, Qiu; Nadar, Mariappan S; Zenge, Michael O

2015-12-01

To integrate, optimize, and evaluate a three-dimensional (3D) contrast-enhanced sparse MRA technique with iterative reconstruction on a standard clinical MR system. Data were acquired using a highly undersampled Cartesian spiral phyllotaxis sampling pattern and reconstructed directly on the MR system with an iterative SENSE technique. Undersampling, regularization, and number of iterations of the reconstruction were optimized and validated based on phantom experiments and patient data. Sparse MRA of the whole head (field of view: 265 × 232 × 179 mm(3) ) was investigated in 10 patient examinations. High-quality images with 30-fold undersampling, resulting in 0.7 mm isotropic resolution within 10 s acquisition, were obtained. After optimization of the regularization factor and of the number of iterations of the reconstruction, it was possible to reconstruct images with excellent quality within six minutes per 3D volume. Initial results of sparse contrast-enhanced MRA (CEMRA) in 10 patients demonstrated high-quality whole-head first-pass MRA for both the arterial and venous contrast phases. While sparse MRI techniques have not yet reached clinical routine, this study demonstrates the technical feasibility of high-quality sparse CEMRA of the whole head in a clinical setting. Sparse CEMRA has the potential to become a viable alternative where conventional CEMRA is too slow or does not provide sufficient spatial resolution. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Effect of molecular weight of polyethylene glycol on the rheological properties of fumed silica-polyethylene glycol shear thickening fluid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Mansi; Verma, Sanjeev K.; Biswas, Ipsita; Mehta, Rajeev

2018-05-01

The steady-shear viscosity and dynamic visco-elastic behavior of suspensions of 20 wt% fumed silica-polyethylene glycol (PEG200) shear thickening fluid (STF) with different concentrations of various molecular weight PEG (4600, 6000 and 10000) has been studied. The results demonstrate that with an increase in the molecular weight of dispersing medium, the shear thickening parameters are significantly enhanced. In steady-state rheology, addition of PEG6000 as an additive results in high shear thickening at both low and high temperatures whereas in dynamic state, PEG4600 gives high values of all dynamic parameters. Additionally, long polymer can interconnect several particles, acting as cross-links which explain the mechanism of the enhancement in viscosity. Interestingly, compositions having PEG10000 as additive exhibits shear thinning rheology. Long polymer chains increases hydrodynamic forces thus aggregation of particles increases. Also, the results demonstrate the effect of high molecular weight PEGs on the elasticity and stability of the STF, which is important with regard to high impact resisting applications.

Impact of emerging technologies on future combat aircraft agility

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nguyen, Luat T.; Gilert, William P.

1990-01-01

The foreseeable character of future within-visual-range air combat entails a degree of agility which calls for the integration of high-alpha aerodynamics, thrust vectoring, intimate pilot/vehicle interfaces, and advanced weapons/avionics suites, in prospective configurations. The primary technology-development programs currently contributing to these goals are presently discussed; they encompass the F-15 Short Takeoff and Landing/Maneuver Technology Demonstrator Program, the Enhanced Fighter Maneuverability Program, the High Angle-of-Attack Technology Program, and the X-29 Technology Demonstrator Program.

Water-Assisted Highly Efficient Synthesis of Impurity-Free Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hata, Kenji; Futaba, Don N.; Mizuno, Kohei; Namai, Tatsunori; Yumura, Motoo; Iijima, Sumio

2004-11-01

We demonstrate the efficient chemical vapor deposition synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes where the activity and lifetime of the catalysts are enhanced by water. Water-stimulated enhanced catalytic activity results in massive growth of superdense and vertically aligned nanotube forests with heights up to 2.5 millimeters that can be easily separated from the catalysts, providing nanotube material with carbon purity above 99.98%. Moreover, patterned, highly organized intrinsic nanotube structures were successfully fabricated. The water-assisted synthesis method addresses many critical problems that currently plague carbon nanotube synthesis.

2014 Fermilab Laboratory Directed Research & Development Program Plan

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wester, W., editor

2016-05-26

Fermilab is executing Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) as outlined by order DOE O 413.2B in order to enhance and realize the mission of the laboratory in a manner that also supports the laboratory’s strategic objectives and the mission of the Department of Energy. LDRD funds enable scientific creativity, allow for exploration of “high risk, high payoff” research, and allow for the demonstration of new ideas, technical concepts, and devices. LDRD also has an objective of maintaining and enhancing the scientific and technical vitality of Fermilab.

Dynamical Cooper pairing in nonequilibrium electron-phonon systems

DOE PAGES

Knap, Michael; Babadi, Mehrtash; Refael, Gil; ...

2016-12-08

In this paper, we analyze Cooper pairing instabilities in strongly driven electron-phonon systems. The light-induced nonequilibrium state of phonons results in a simultaneous increase of the superconducting coupling constant and the electron scattering. We demonstrate that the competition between these effects leads to an enhanced superconducting transition temperature in a broad range of parameters. Finally, our results may explain the observed transient enhancement of superconductivity in several classes of materials upon irradiation with high intensity pulses of terahertz light, and may pave new ways for engineering high-temperature light-induced superconducting states.

Controlling Chain Conformations of High-k Fluoropolymer Dielectrics to Enhance Charge Mobilities in Rubrene Single-Crystal Field-Effect Transistors.

PubMed

Adhikari, Jwala M; Gadinski, Matthew R; Li, Qi; Sun, Kaige G; Reyes-Martinez, Marcos A; Iagodkine, Elissei; Briseno, Alejandro L; Jackson, Thomas N; Wang, Qing; Gomez, Enrique D

2016-12-01

A novel photopatternable high-k fluoropolymer, poly(vinylidene fluoride-bromotrifluoroethylene) P(VDF-BTFE), with a dielectric constant (k) between 8 and 11 is demonstrated in thin-film transistors. Crosslinking P(VDF-BTFE) reduces energetic disorder at the dielectric-semiconductor interface by controlling the chain conformations of P(VDF-BTFE), thereby leading to approximately a threefold enhancement in the charge mobility of rubrene single-crystal field-effect transistors. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

All-optical Photonic Oscillator with High-Q Whispering Gallery Mode Resonators

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Savchenkov, Anatoliy A.; Matsko, Andrey B.; Strekalov, Dmitry; Mohageg, Makan; Iltchenko, Vladimir S.; Maleki, Lute

2004-01-01

We demonstrated low threshold optical photonic hyper-parametric oscillator in a high-Q 10(exp 10) CaF2 whispering gallery mode resonator which generates stable 8.5 GHz signal. The oscillations result from the resonantly enhanced four wave mixing occurring due to Kerr nonlinearity of the material.

Pixel-level plasmonic microcavity infrared photodetector

PubMed Central

Jing, You Liang; Li, Zhi Feng; Li, Qian; Chen, Xiao Shuang; Chen, Ping Ping; Wang, Han; Li, Meng Yao; Li, Ning; Lu, Wei

2016-01-01

Recently, plasmonics has been central to the manipulation of photons on the subwavelength scale, and superior infrared imagers have opened novel applications in many fields. Here, we demonstrate the first pixel-level plasmonic microcavity infrared photodetector with a single quantum well integrated between metal patches and a reflection layer. Greater than one order of magnitude enhancement of the peak responsivity has been observed. The significant improvement originates from the highly confined optical mode in the cavity, leading to a strong coupling between photons and the quantum well, resulting in the enhanced photo-electric conversion process. Such strong coupling from the localized surface plasmon mode inside the cavity is independent of incident angles, offering a unique solution to high-performance focal plane array devices. This demonstration paves the way for important infrared optoelectronic devices for sensing and imaging. PMID:27181111

Raman enhancement on ultra-clean graphene quantum dots produced by quasi-equilibrium plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition.

PubMed

Liu, Donghua; Chen, Xiaosong; Hu, Yibin; Sun, Tai; Song, Zhibo; Zheng, Yujie; Cao, Yongbin; Cai, Zhi; Cao, Min; Peng, Lan; Huang, Yuli; Du, Lei; Yang, Wuli; Chen, Gang; Wei, Dapeng; Wee, Andrew Thye Shen; Wei, Dacheng

2018-01-15

Graphene is regarded as a potential surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrate. However, the application of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) has had limited success due to material quality. Here, we develop a quasi-equilibrium plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition method to produce high-quality ultra-clean GQDs with sizes down to 2 nm directly on SiO 2 /Si, which are used as SERS substrates. The enhancement factor, which depends on the GQD size, is higher than conventional graphene sheets with sensitivity down to 1 × 10 -9  mol L -1 rhodamine. This is attributed to the high-quality GQDs with atomically clean surfaces and large number of edges, as well as the enhanced charge transfer between molecules and GQDs with appropriate diameters due to the existence of Van Hove singularities in the electronic density of states. This work demonstrates a sensitive SERS substrate, and is valuable for applications of GQDs in graphene-based photonics and optoelectronics.

Fireworks Algorithm with Enhanced Fireworks Interaction.

PubMed

Zhang, Bei; Zheng, Yu-Jun; Zhang, Min-Xia; Chen, Sheng-Yong

2017-01-01

As a relatively new metaheuristic in swarm intelligence, fireworks algorithm (FWA) has exhibited promising performance on a wide range of optimization problems. This paper aims to improve FWA by enhancing fireworks interaction in three aspects: 1) Developing a new Gaussian mutation operator to make sparks learn from more exemplars; 2) Integrating the regular explosion operator of FWA with the migration operator of biogeography-based optimization (BBO) to increase information sharing; 3) Adopting a new population selection strategy that enables high-quality solutions to have high probabilities of entering the next generation without incurring high computational cost. The combination of the three strategies can significantly enhance fireworks interaction and thus improve solution diversity and suppress premature convergence. Numerical experiments on the CEC 2015 single-objective optimization test problems show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. The application to a high-speed train scheduling problem also demonstrates its feasibility in real-world optimization problems.

Highly sensitive surface enhanced Raman scattering substrates based on Ag decorated Si nanocone arrays and their application in trace dimethyl phthalate detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zuo, Zewen; Zhu, Kai; Ning, Lixin; Cui, Guanglei; Qu, Jun; Cheng, Ying; Wang, Junzhuan; Shi, Yi; Xu, Dongsheng; Xin, Yu

2015-01-01

Wafer-scale three-dimensional (3D) surface enhancement Raman scattering (SERS) substrates were prepared using the plasma etching and ion sputtering methods that are completely compatible with well-established silicon device technologies. The substrates are highly sensitive with excellent uniformity and reproducibility, exhibiting an enhancement factor up to 1012 with a very low relative standard deviation (RSD) around 5%. These are attributed mainly to the uniform-distributed, multiple-type high-density hot spots originating from the structural characteristics of Ag nanoparticles (NPs) decorated Si nanocone (NC) arrays. We demonstrate that the trace dimethyl phthalate (DMP) at a concentration of 10-7 M can be well detected using this SERS substrate, showing that the AgNPs-decorated SiNC arrays can serve as efficient SERS substrates for phthalate acid esters (PAEs) detection with high sensitivity.

Nanoporous adsorption effect on altering Li+ diffusion pathway by a highly ordered porous electrolyte additive for high rate all-solid-state lithium metal batteries.

PubMed

Li, Wenwen; Zhang, Sanpei; Wang, Bangrun; Gu, Sui; Xu, Dong; Wang, Jianing; Chen, Chunhua; Wen, Zhaoyin

2018-06-19

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) have shown extraordinary promise for all-solid-state lithium metal batteries with high energy density and flexibility but are mainly limited by the low ionic conductivity and their poor stability with lithium metal anode. In this work, we propose a highly ordered porous electrolyte additive derived from SSZ-13 for high-rate all-solid-state lithium metal batteries. The nanoporous adsorption effect provided by the highly ordered porous nanoparticles in the poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) electrolyte are found to significantly improve the Li + conductivity (1.91×10 -3 S cm -1 at 60°C, 4.43×10 -5 S cm -1 at 20°C) and widen the electrochemical stability window to 4.7 V vs Li + /Li. Meanwhile, the designed PEO-based electrolyte demonstrates enhanced stability with the lithium metal anode. Through systematically increasing Li + diffusion, widening the electrochemical stability window and enhancing the stability of the SSZ-CPE electrolyte, the LiFePO4/SSZ-CPE/Li cell is optimized to deliver high-rate capability and stable cycling performance, which demonstrates great potential for all-solid-state energy storage application.

Solution Process Synthesis of High Aspect Ratio ZnO Nanorods on Electrode Surface for Sensitive Electrochemical Detection of Uric Acid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahmad, Rafiq; Tripathy, Nirmalya; Ahn, Min-Sang; Hahn, Yoon-Bong

2017-04-01

This study demonstrates a highly stable, selective and sensitive uric acid (UA) biosensor based on high aspect ratio zinc oxide nanorods (ZNRs) vertical grown on electrode surface via a simple one-step low temperature solution route. Uricase enzyme was immobilized on the ZNRs followed by Nafion covering to fabricate UA sensing electrodes (Nafion/Uricase-ZNRs/Ag). The fabricated electrodes showed enhanced performance with attractive analytical response, such as a high sensitivity of 239.67 μA cm-2 mM-1 in wide-linear range (0.01-4.56 mM), rapid response time (~3 s), low detection limit (5 nM), and low value of apparent Michaelis-Menten constant (Kmapp, 0.025 mM). In addition, selectivity, reproducibility and long-term storage stability of biosensor was also demonstrated. These results can be attributed to the high aspect ratio of vertically grown ZNRs which provides high surface area leading to enhanced enzyme immobilization, high electrocatalytic activity, and direct electron transfer during electrochemical detection of UA. We expect that this biosensor platform will be advantageous to fabricate ultrasensitive, robust, low-cost sensing device for numerous analyte detection.

Characterization method for relative Raman enhancement for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy using gold nanoparticle dimer array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sugano, Koji; Ikegami, Kohei; Isono, Yoshitada

2017-06-01

In this paper, a characterization method for Raman enhancement for highly sensitive and quantitative surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is reported. A particle dimer shows a marked electromagnetic enhancement when the particle connection direction is matched to the polarization direction of incident light. In this study, dimers were arrayed by nanotrench-guided self-assembly for a marked total Raman enhancement. By measuring acetonedicarboxylic acid, the fabricated structures were characterized for SERS depending on the polarization angle against the particle connection direction. This indicates that the fabricated structures cause an effective SERS enhancement, which is dominated by the electromagnetic enhancement. Then, we measured 4,4‧-bipyridine, which is a pesticide material, for quantitative analysis. In advance, we evaluated the enhancement of the particle structure by the Raman measurement of acetonedicarboxylic acid. Finally, we compared the Raman intensities of acetonedicarboxylic acid and 4,4‧-bipyridine. Their intensities showed good correlation. The advantage of this method for previously evaluating the enhancement of the substrate was demonstrated. This developed SERS characterization method is expected to be applied to various quantitative trace analyses of molecules with high sensitivity.

Self-assembled vertically aligned Au nanorod arrays for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection of Cannabinol

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Milliken, Sarah; Fraser, Jeff; Poirier, Shawn; Hulse, John; Tay, Li-Lin

2018-05-01

Self-assembled multi-layered vertically aligned gold nanorod (AuNR) arrays have been fabricated by a simple preparation process that requires a balance between the particle concentration and the ionic strength of the solvent. An experimentally determined critical AuNR concentration of 2.0 nM and 50 mM NaCl produces well-ordered vertically aligned hexagonally close-packed AuNR arrays. We demonstrate surface treatment via UV Ozone cleaning of such samples to allow introduction of analyte molecules (benzenethiol and cannabinol) for effective surface enhanced Raman scattering detection. This is the first demonstration of the SERS analysis of cannabinol. This approach demonstrates a cost-effective, high-yield and simple fabrication route to SERS sensors with application in the screening for the cannabinoids.

Enhanced photoluminescence from single nitrogen-vacancy defects in nanodiamonds coated with phenol-ionic complexes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bray, Kerem; Previdi, Rodolfo; Gibson, Brant C.; Shimoni, Olga; Aharonovich, Igor

2015-03-01

Fluorescent nanodiamonds are attracting major attention in the field of bio-sensing and bio-labeling. In this work we demonstrate a robust approach to achieve an encapsulation of individual nanodiamonds with phenol-ionic complexes that enhance the photoluminescence from single nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers. We show that single NV centres in the coated nanodiamonds also exhibit shorter lifetimes, opening another channel for high resolution sensing. We propose that the nanodiamond encapsulation reduces the non-radiative decay pathways of the NV color centers. Our results provide a versatile and assessable way to enhance photoluminescence from nanodiamond defects that can be used in a variety of sensing and imaging applications.Fluorescent nanodiamonds are attracting major attention in the field of bio-sensing and bio-labeling. In this work we demonstrate a robust approach to achieve an encapsulation of individual nanodiamonds with phenol-ionic complexes that enhance the photoluminescence from single nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers. We show that single NV centres in the coated nanodiamonds also exhibit shorter lifetimes, opening another channel for high resolution sensing. We propose that the nanodiamond encapsulation reduces the non-radiative decay pathways of the NV color centers. Our results provide a versatile and assessable way to enhance photoluminescence from nanodiamond defects that can be used in a variety of sensing and imaging applications. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c4nr07510b

Amphetamine margin in sports

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Laties, V.G.; Weiss, B.

The amphetamines can enhance athletic performance. That much seem clear from the literature, some of which is reviewed here. Increases in endurance have been demonstrated in both humans and rats. Smith and Beecher, 20 years ago, showed improvement of running, swimming, and weight throwing in highly trained athletes. Laboratory analogs of such performances have also been used and similar enhancement demonstrated. The amount of change induced by the amphetamines is usually small, of the order of a few percent. Nevertheless, since a fraction of a percent improvement can make the difference between fame and oblivion, the margin conferred by thesemore » drugs can be quite important.« less

High sensitivity contrast enhanced optical coherence tomography for functional in vivo imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liba, Orly; SoRelle, Elliott D.; Sen, Debasish; de la Zerda, Adam

2017-02-01

In this study, we developed and applied highly-scattering large gold nanorods (LGNRs) and custom spectral detection algorithms for high sensitivity contrast-enhanced optical coherence tomography (OCT). We were able to detect LGNRs at a concentration as low as 50 pM in blood. We used this approach for noninvasive 3D imaging of blood vessels deep in solid tumors in living mice. Additionally, we demonstrated multiplexed imaging of spectrally-distinct LGNRs that enabled observations of functional drainage in lymphatic networks. This method, which we call MOZART, provides a platform for molecular imaging and characterization of tissue noninvasively at cellular resolution.

High-field dynamic nuclear polarization in aqueous solutions.

PubMed

Prandolini, M J; Denysenkov, V P; Gafurov, M; Endeward, B; Prisner, T F

2009-05-06

Unexpected high DNP enhancements of more than 10 have been achieved in liquid water samples at room temperature and magnetic fields of 9.2 T (corresponding to 400 MHz (1)H NMR frequency and 260 GHz EPR frequency). The liquid samples were polarized in situ using a double-resonance structure, which allows simultaneous excitation of NMR and EPR transitions and achieves significant DNP enhancements at very low incident microwave power of only 45 mW. These results demonstrate the first important step toward the application of DNP to high-resolution NMR, increasing the sensitivity on biomolecules with small sample volumes and at physiologically low concentrations.

Intriguingly high convective heat transfer enhancement of nanofluid coolants in laminar flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xie, Huaqing; Li, Yang; Yu, Wei

2010-05-01

We reported on investigation of the convective heat transfer enhancement of nanofluids as coolants in laminar flows inside a circular copper tube with constant wall temperature. Nanofluids containing Al 2O 3, ZnO, TiO 2, and MgO nanoparticles were prepared with a mixture of 55 vol.% distilled water and 45 vol.% ethylene glycol as base fluid. It was found that the heat transfer behaviors of the nanofluids were highly depended on the volume fraction, average size, species of the suspended nanoparticles and the flow conditions. MgO, Al 2O 3, and ZnO nanofluids exhibited superior enhancements of heat transfer coefficient, with the highest enhancement up to 252% at a Reynolds number of 1000 for MgO nanofluid. Our results demonstrated that these oxide nanofluids might be promising alternatives for conventional coolants.

Jumping-Droplet-Enhanced Condensation on Scalable Superhydrophobic Nanostructured Surfaces

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Miljkovic, N; Enright, R; Nam, Y

When droplets coalesce on a superhydrophobic nanostructured surface, the resulting droplet can jump from the surface due to the release of excess surface energy. If designed properly, these superhydrophobic nanostructured surfaces can not only allow for easy droplet removal at micrometric length scales during condensation but also promise to enhance heat transfer performance. However, the rationale for the design of an ideal nanostructured surface as well as heat transfer experiments demonstrating the advantage of this jumping behavior are lacking. Here, we show that silanized copper oxide surfaces created via a simple fabrication method can achieve highly efficient jumping-droplet condensation heatmore » transfer. We experimentally demonstrated a 25% higher overall heat flux and 30% higher condensation heat transfer coefficient compared to state-of-the-art hydrophobic condensing surfaces at low supersaturations (<1.12). This work not only shows significant condensation heat transfer enhancement but also promises a low cost and scalable approach to increase efficiency for applications such as atmospheric water harvesting and dehumidification. Furthermore, the results offer insights and an avenue to achieve high flux superhydrophobic condensation.« less

Enhanced ultraviolet electroluminescence and spectral narrowing from ZnO quantum dots/GaN heterojunction diodes by using high-k HfO{sub 2} electron blocking layer

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mo, Xiaoming; Long, Hao; Wang, Haoning

2014-08-11

We demonstrated the capability of realizing enhanced ZnO-related UV emissions by using the low-cost and solution-processable ZnO quantum dots (QDs) with the help of a high-k HfO{sub 2} electron blocking layer (EBL) for the ZnO QDs/p-GaN light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Full-width at half maximum of the LED devices was greatly decreased from ∼110 to ∼54 nm, and recombinations related to nonradiative centers were significantly suppressed with inserting HfO{sub 2} EBL. The electroluminescence of the ZnO QDs/HfO{sub 2}/p-GaN LEDs demonstrated an interesting spectral narrowing effect with increasing HfO{sub 2} thickness. The Gaussian fitting revealed that the great enhancement of the Zn{sub i}-related emissionmore » at ∼414 nm whereas the deep suppression of the interfacial recombination at ∼477 nm should be the main reason for the spectral narrowing effect.« less

Shot-noise-limited optical Faraday polarimetry with enhanced laser noise cancelling

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li, Jiaming; Department of Physics, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202; Luo, Le, E-mail: leluo@iupui.edu

2014-03-14

We present a shot-noise-limited measurement of optical Faraday rotations with sub-ten-nanoradian angular sensitivity. This extremely high sensitivity is achieved by using electronic laser noise cancelling and phase sensitive detection. Specially, an electronic laser noise canceller with a common mode rejection ratio of over 100 dB was designed and built for enhanced laser noise cancelling. By measuring the Faraday rotation of ambient air, we demonstrate an angular sensitivity of up to 9.0×10{sup −9} rad/√(Hz), which is limited only by the shot-noise of the photocurrent of the detector. To date, this is the highest angular sensitivity ever reported for Faraday polarimeters in the absencemore » of cavity enhancement. The measured Verdet constant of ambient air, 1.93(3)×10{sup −9}rad/(G cm) at 633 nm wavelength, agrees extremely well with the earlier experiments using high finesse optical cavities. Further, we demonstrate the applications of this sensitive technique in materials science by measuring the Faraday effect of an ultrathin iron film.« less

Sensitivity Enhancement of FBG-Based Strain Sensor.

PubMed

Li, Ruiya; Chen, Yiyang; Tan, Yuegang; Zhou, Zude; Li, Tianliang; Mao, Jian

2018-05-17

A novel fiber Bragg grating (FBG)-based strain sensor with a high-sensitivity is presented in this paper. The proposed FBG-based strain sensor enhances sensitivity by pasting the FBG on a substrate with a lever structure. This typical mechanical configuration mechanically amplifies the strain of the FBG to enhance overall sensitivity. As this mechanical configuration has a high stiffness, the proposed sensor can achieve a high resonant frequency and a wide dynamic working range. The sensing principle is presented, and the corresponding theoretical model is derived and validated. Experimental results demonstrate that the developed FBG-based strain sensor achieves an enhanced strain sensitivity of 6.2 pm/με, which is consistent with the theoretical analysis result. The strain sensitivity of the developed sensor is 5.2 times of the strain sensitivity of a bare fiber Bragg grating strain sensor. The dynamic characteristics of this sensor are investigated through the finite element method (FEM) and experimental tests. The developed sensor exhibits an excellent strain-sensitivity-enhancing property in a wide frequency range. The proposed high-sensitivity FBG-based strain sensor can be used for small-amplitude micro-strain measurement in harsh industrial environments.

Sensitivity Enhancement of FBG-Based Strain Sensor

PubMed Central

Chen, Yiyang; Tan, Yuegang; Zhou, Zude; Mao, Jian

2018-01-01

A novel fiber Bragg grating (FBG)-based strain sensor with a high-sensitivity is presented in this paper. The proposed FBG-based strain sensor enhances sensitivity by pasting the FBG on a substrate with a lever structure. This typical mechanical configuration mechanically amplifies the strain of the FBG to enhance overall sensitivity. As this mechanical configuration has a high stiffness, the proposed sensor can achieve a high resonant frequency and a wide dynamic working range. The sensing principle is presented, and the corresponding theoretical model is derived and validated. Experimental results demonstrate that the developed FBG-based strain sensor achieves an enhanced strain sensitivity of 6.2 pm/με, which is consistent with the theoretical analysis result. The strain sensitivity of the developed sensor is 5.2 times of the strain sensitivity of a bare fiber Bragg grating strain sensor. The dynamic characteristics of this sensor are investigated through the finite element method (FEM) and experimental tests. The developed sensor exhibits an excellent strain-sensitivity-enhancing property in a wide frequency range. The proposed high-sensitivity FBG-based strain sensor can be used for small-amplitude micro-strain measurement in harsh industrial environments. PMID:29772826

A dynamic nuclear polarization strategy for multi-dimensional Earth's field NMR spectroscopy.

PubMed

Halse, Meghan E; Callaghan, Paul T

2008-12-01

Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) is introduced as a powerful tool for polarization enhancement in multi-dimensional Earth's field NMR spectroscopy. Maximum polarization enhancements, relative to thermal equilibrium in the Earth's magnetic field, are calculated theoretically and compared to the more traditional prepolarization approach for NMR sensitivity enhancement at ultra-low fields. Signal enhancement factors on the order of 3000 are demonstrated experimentally using DNP with a nitroxide free radical, TEMPO, which contains an unpaired electron which is strongly coupled to a neighboring (14)N nucleus via the hyperfine interaction. A high-quality 2D (19)F-(1)H COSY spectrum acquired in the Earth's magnetic field with DNP enhancement is presented and compared to simulation.

Ventromedial prefrontal cortex stimulation enhances memory and hippocampal neurogenesis in the middle-aged rats

PubMed Central

Liu, Albert; Jain, Neeraj; Vyas, Ajai; Lim, Lee Wei

2015-01-01

Memory dysfunction is a key symptom of age-related dementia. Although recent studies have suggested positive effects of electrical stimulation for memory enhancement, its potential targets remain largely unknown. In this study, we hypothesized that spatially targeted deep brain stimulation of ventromedial prefrontal cortex enhanced memory functions in a middle-aged rat model. Our results show that acute stimulation enhanced the short-, but not the long-term memory in the novel-object recognition task. Interestingly, after chronic high-frequency stimulation, both the short- and long-term memories were robustly improved in the novel-object recognition test and Morris water-maze spatial task compared to sham. Our results also demonstrated that chronic ventromedial prefrontal cortex high-frequency stimulation upregulated neurogenesis-associated genes along with enhanced hippocampal cell proliferation. Importantly, these memory behaviors were strongly correlated with the hippocampal neurogenesis. Overall, these findings suggest that chronic ventromedial prefrontal cortex high-frequency stimulation may serve as a novel effective therapeutic target for dementia-related disorders. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.04803.001 PMID:25768425

Using surface lattice resonances to engineer nonlinear optical processes in metal nanoparticle arrays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huttunen, Mikko J.; Rasekh, Payman; Boyd, Robert W.; Dolgaleva, Ksenia

2018-05-01

Collective responses of localized surface plasmon resonances, known as surface lattice resonances (SLRs) in metal nanoparticle arrays, can lead to high quality factors (˜100 ), large local-field enhancements, and strong light-matter interactions. SLRs have found many applications in linear optics, but little work of the influence of SLRs on nonlinear optics has been reported. Here we show how SLRs could be utilized to enhance nonlinear optical interactions. We devote special attention to the sum-frequency, difference-frequency, and third-harmonic generation processes because of their potential for the realization of novel sources of light. We also demonstrate how such arrays could be engineered to enhance higher-order nonlinear optical interactions through cascaded nonlinear processes. In particular, we demonstrate how the efficiency of third-harmonic generation could be engineered via cascaded second-order responses.

Fast Pulling of n-Type Si Ingots for Enhanced Si Solar Cell Production

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Kwanghun; Park, Sanghyun; Park, Jaechang; Pang, Ilsun; Ryu, Sangwoo; Oh, Jihun

2018-07-01

Reducing the manufacturing costs of silicon substrates is an important issue in the silicon-based solar cell industry. In this study, we developed a high-throughput ingot growth method by accelerating the pulling speed in the Czochralski process. By controlling the heat flow of the ingot growth chamber and at the solid-liquid interfaces, the pulling speed of an ingot could be increased by 15% compared to the conventional method, while retaining high quality. The wafer obtained at a high pulling speed showed an enhanced minority carrier lifetime compared with conventional wafers, due to the vacancy passivation effect, and also demonstrated comparable bulk resistivity and impurities. The results in this work are expected to open a new way to enhance the productivity of Si wafers used for Si solar cells, and therefore, to reduce the overall manufacturing cost.

Fast Pulling of n-Type Si Ingots for Enhanced Si Solar Cell Production

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Kwanghun; Park, Sanghyun; Park, Jaechang; Pang, Ilsun; Ryu, Sangwoo; Oh, Jihun

2018-03-01

Reducing the manufacturing costs of silicon substrates is an important issue in the silicon-based solar cell industry. In this study, we developed a high-throughput ingot growth method by accelerating the pulling speed in the Czochralski process. By controlling the heat flow of the ingot growth chamber and at the solid-liquid interfaces, the pulling speed of an ingot could be increased by 15% compared to the conventional method, while retaining high quality. The wafer obtained at a high pulling speed showed an enhanced minority carrier lifetime compared with conventional wafers, due to the vacancy passivation effect, and also demonstrated comparable bulk resistivity and impurities. The results in this work are expected to open a new way to enhance the productivity of Si wafers used for Si solar cells, and therefore, to reduce the overall manufacturing cost.

Reversed oxygen sensing using colloidal quantum wells towards highly emissive photoresponsive varnishes

PubMed Central

Lorenzon, Monica; Christodoulou, Sotirios; Vaccaro, Gianfranco; Pedrini, Jacopo; Meinardi, Francesco; Moreels, Iwan; Brovelli, Sergio

2015-01-01

Colloidal quantum wells combine the advantages of size-tunable electronic properties with vast reactive surfaces that could allow one to realize highly emissive luminescent-sensing varnishes capable of detecting chemical agents through their reversible emission response, with great potential impact on life sciences, environmental monitoring, defence and aerospace engineering. Here we combine spectroelectrochemical measurements and spectroscopic studies in a controlled atmosphere to demonstrate the ‘reversed oxygen-sensing’ capability of CdSe colloidal quantum wells, that is, the exposure to oxygen reversibly increases their luminescence efficiency. Spectroelectrochemical experiments allow us to directly relate the sensing response to the occupancy of surface states. Magneto-optical measurements demonstrate that, under vacuum, heterostructured CdSe/CdS colloidal quantum wells stabilize in their negative trion state. The high starting emission efficiency provides a possible means to enhance the oxygen sensitivity by partially de-passivating the particle surfaces, thereby enhancing the density of unsaturated sites with a minimal cost in term of luminescence losses. PMID:25910499

Plasmonic Resonance Enhanced Polarization-Sensitive Photodetection by Black Phosphorus in Near Infrared.

PubMed

Venuthurumilli, Prabhu K; Ye, Peide D; Xu, Xianfan

2018-05-22

Black phosphorus, a recently intensely investigated two-dimensional material, is promising for electronic and optoelectronic applications due to its higher mobility and thickness-dependent direct band gap. With its low direct band gap and anisotropic properties in nature, black phosphorus is also suitable for near-infrared polarization-sensitive photodetection. To enhance photoresponsivity of a black phosphorus based photodetector, we demonstrate two designs of plasmonic structures. In the first design, plasmonic bowtie antennas are used to increase the photocurrent, particularly in the armchair direction, where the optical absorption is higher than that in the zigzag direction. The simulated electric field distribution with bowtie structures shows enhanced optical absorption by localized surface plasmons. In the second design, bowtie apertures are used to enhance the inherent polarization selectivity of black phosphorus. A high photocurrent ratio (armchair to zigzag) of 8.7 is obtained. We choose a near-infrared wavelength of 1550 nm to demonstrate the photosensitivity enhancement and polarization selectivity, as it is useful for applications including telecommunication, remote sensing, biological imaging, and infrared polarimetry imaging.

Plasmon-Induced Selective Enhancement of Green Emission in Lanthanide-Doped Nanoparticles.

PubMed

Zhang, Weina; Li, Juan; Lei, Hongxiang; Li, Baojun

2017-12-13

By introducing an 18 nm thick Au nanofilm, selective enhancement of green emission from lanthanide-doped (β-NaYF 4 :Yb 3+ /Er 3+ ) upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) is demonstrated. The Au nanofilm is deposited on a microfiber surface by the sputtering method and then covered with the UCNPs. The plasma on the surface of the Au nanofilm can be excited by launching a 980 nm wavelength laser beam into the microfiber, resulting in an enhancement of the local electric field and a strong thermal effect. A 36-fold luminescence intensity enhancement of the UCNPs at 523 nm is observed, with no obvious reduction in the photostability of the UCNPs. Further, the intensity ratios of the emissions at 523-545 nm and at 523-655 nm are enhanced with increasing pump power, which is attributed to the increasing plasmon-induced thermal effect. Therefore, the fabricated device is further demonstrated to exhibit an excellent ability in temperature sensing. By controlling the pump power and the UCNP concentration, a wide temperature range (325-811 K) and a high temperature resolution (0.035-0.046 K) are achieved in the fabricated device.

Microwave meta-atom enhanced spintronic rectification

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gou, Peng; Xi, Fuchun; Qian, Qinbai

2015-04-06

An artificial meta-atom (MA), or alternatively, a plasmonic antenna, has been demonstrated to significantly enhance the microwave spin rectifying photovoltage by more than two orders in magnitude (∼280) in the ferromagnetic resonance regime. The large enhancement is attributed to the unique structure of the MA which magnifies both microwave electric (∼5) and magnetic (∼56) fields in the same near-field spatial region. Our work develops the interdisciplinary direction with artificial and natural magnetism and may find promising applications in high-frequency or opto-spintronic devices and wireless microwave energy harvesting.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Latychevskaia, Tatiana, E-mail: tatiana@physik.uzh.ch; Fink, Hans-Werner; Chushkin, Yuriy

Coherent diffraction imaging is a high-resolution imaging technique whose potential can be greatly enhanced by applying the extrapolation method presented here. We demonstrate the enhancement in resolution of a non-periodical object reconstructed from an experimental X-ray diffraction record which contains about 10% missing information, including the pixels in the center of the diffraction pattern. A diffraction pattern is extrapolated beyond the detector area and as a result, the object is reconstructed at an enhanced resolution and better agreement with experimental amplitudes is achieved. The optimal parameters for the iterative routine and the limits of the extrapolation procedure are discussed.

Wavelength and intensity dependence of recollision-enhanced multielectron effects in high-order harmonic generation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abanador, Paul M.; Mauger, François; Lopata, Kenneth; Gaarde, Mette B.; Schafer, Kenneth J.

2018-04-01

Using a model molecular system (A2) with two active electrons restricted to one dimension, we examine high-order harmonic generation (HHG) enhanced by rescattering. Our results show that even at intensities well below the single ionization saturation, harmonics generated from the cation (A2+ ) can be significantly enhanced due to the rescattering of the electron that is initially ionized. This two-electron effect is manifested by the appearance of a secondary plateau and cutoff in the HHG spectrum, extending beyond the predicted cutoff in the single active electron approximation. We use our molecular model to investigate the wavelength dependence of rescattering enhanced HHG, which was first reported in a model atomic system [I. Tikhomirov, T. Sato, and K. L. Ishikawa, Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 203202 (2017), 10.1103/PhysRevLett.118.203202]. We demonstrate that the HHG yield in the secondary cutoff is highly sensitive to the available electron rescattering energies as indicated by a dramatic scaling with respect to driving wavelength.

Enhancing Efficiency of Perovskite Solar Cells via Surface Passivation with Graphene Oxide Interlayer.

PubMed

Li, Hao; Tao, Leiming; Huang, Feihong; Sun, Qiang; Zhao, Xiaojuan; Han, Junbo; Shen, Yan; Wang, Mingkui

2017-11-08

Perovskite solar cells have been demonstrated as promising low-cost and highly efficient next-generation solar cells. Enhancing V OC by minimization the interfacial recombination kinetics can further improve device performance. In this work, we for the first time reported on surface passivation of perovskite layers with chemical modified graphene oxides, which act as efficient interlayer to reduce interfacial recombination and enhance hole extraction as well. Our modeling points out that the passivation effect mainly comes from the interaction between functional group (4-fluorophenyl) and under-coordinated Pb ions. The resulting perovskite solar cells achieved high efficient power conversion efficiency of 18.75% with enhanced high open circuit V OC of 1.11 V. Ultrafast spectroscopy, photovoltage/photocurrent transient decay, and electronic impedance spectroscopy characterizations reveal the effective passivation effect and the energy loss mechanism. This work sheds light on the importance of interfacial engineering on the surface of perovskite layers and provides possible ways to improve device efficiency.

Development of high-sensitive, reproducible colloidal surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy active substrate using silver nanocubes for potential biosensing applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hasna, Kudilatt; Lakshmi, Kiran; Ezhuthachan Jayaraj, Madambi Kunjukuttan; Kumar, Kumaran Rajeev; Matham, Murukeshan Vadakke

2016-04-01

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has emerged as one of the thrust research areas that could find potential applications in bio and chemical sensing. We developed colloidal SERS active substrate with excellent sensitivity and high reproducibility using silver nanocube (AgNC) synthesized via the solvothermal method. Finite-difference time-domain simulation was carried out in detail to visualize dipole generation in the nanocube during localized surface plasmon resonance and to locate the respective hot spots in AgNC responsible for the huge Raman enhancement. The prediction is verified by the SERS analysis of the synthesized nanocubes using Rhodamine 6G molecule. An excellent sensitivity with a detection limit of 10-17 M and a very high enhancement factor of 1.2×108 confirms the "hot spots" in the nanocube. SERS activity is also carried out for crystal violet and for food adulterant Sudan I molecule. Finally, label-free DNA detection is performed to demonstrate the versatility of SERS as a potential biosensor.

Morton neuroma: evaluation with MR imaging performed with contrast enhancement and fat suppression.

PubMed

Terk, M R; Kwong, P K; Suthar, M; Horvath, B C; Colletti, P M

1993-10-01

To evaluate clinically suspected Morton neuroma with contrast material-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) images. Fifteen patients with clinically suspected Morton neuroma underwent examination with conventional T1- and T2-weighted MR imaging and a combination of fat suppression and administration of gadopentetate dimeglumine. A T1-weighted spectral presaturation with inversion recovery sequence was used for fat suppression. In six patients, a tumor that conformed to the clinical findings was seen in the interdigital space; surgical findings in these patients correlated closely with the imaging findings in all patients. Patients without positive findings on MR images tended to have less typical clinical findings and received nonsurgical treatment. In all patients, the lesions were best depicted with the combination of contrast-enhanced imaging and fat suppression; conventional MR images either entirely failed to demonstrate the lesions or demonstrated the lesions less clearly. In patients who need imaging confirmation of a clinically suspected Morton neuroma, the combination of fat suppression and contrast enhancement provides reliable high-contrast images.

Elevated gold ellipse nanoantenna dimers as sensitive and tunable surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy substrates

DOE PAGES

Jubb, A. M.; Jiao, Y.; Eres, Gyula; ...

2016-02-15

Here we demonstrate large area arrays of elevated gold ellipse dimers with precisely controlled gaps for use as sensitive and highly controllable surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates. The significantly enhanced Raman signal observed with SERS arises from both localized and long range plasmonic effects. By controlling the geometry of a SERS substrate, in this case the size and aspect ratio of individual ellipses, the plasmon resonance can be tuned in a broad wavelength range, providing a method for designing the response of SERS substrates at different excitation wavelengths. Plasmon effects exhibited by the elevated gold ellipse dimer substrates aremore » also demonstrated and confirmed through finite difference time domain (FDTD) simulations. A plasmon resonance red shift with an increase of the ellipse aspect ratio is observed, allowing systematic control of the resulting SERS signal intensity. Optimized elevated ellipse dimer substrates with 10±2 nm gaps exhibit uniform SERS enhancement factors on the order of 10 9 for adsorbed p-mercaptoaniline molecules.« less

Enhanced perfume surface delivery to interfaces using surfactant surface multilayer structures.

PubMed

Bradbury, Robert; Penfold, Jeffrey; Thomas, Robert K; Tucker, Ian M; Petkov, Jordan T; Jones, Craig

2016-01-01

Enhanced surface delivery and retention of perfumes at interfaces are the keys to their more effective and efficient deployment in a wide range of home and personal care related formulations. It has been previously demonstrated that the addition of multivalent counterions, notably Ca(2+), induces multilayer adsorption at the air-water interface for the anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl-6-benzenesulfonate, LAS-6. Neutron reflectivity, NR, measurements are reported here which demonstrate that such surfactant surface multilayer structures are a potentially promising vehicle for enhanced delivery of perfumes to interfaces. The data show that the incorporation of the model perfumes, phenylethanol, PE, and linalool, LL, into the surface multilayer structure formed by LAS-6/Ca(2+) results in the surface structures being retained up to relatively high perfume mole fractions. Furthermore the amount of perfume at the surface is enhanced by at least an order of magnitude, compared to that co-adsorbed with a surfactant monolayer. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Stratification of TAD boundaries reveals preferential insulation of super-enhancers by strong boundaries.

PubMed

Gong, Yixiao; Lazaris, Charalampos; Sakellaropoulos, Theodore; Lozano, Aurelie; Kambadur, Prabhanjan; Ntziachristos, Panagiotis; Aifantis, Iannis; Tsirigos, Aristotelis

2018-02-07

The metazoan genome is compartmentalized in areas of highly interacting chromatin known as topologically associating domains (TADs). TADs are demarcated by boundaries mostly conserved across cell types and even across species. However, a genome-wide characterization of TAD boundary strength in mammals is still lacking. In this study, we first use fused two-dimensional lasso as a machine learning method to improve Hi-C contact matrix reproducibility, and, subsequently, we categorize TAD boundaries based on their insulation score. We demonstrate that higher TAD boundary insulation scores are associated with elevated CTCF levels and that they may differ across cell types. Intriguingly, we observe that super-enhancers are preferentially insulated by strong boundaries. Furthermore, we demonstrate that strong TAD boundaries and super-enhancer elements are frequently co-duplicated in cancer patients. Taken together, our findings suggest that super-enhancers insulated by strong TAD boundaries may be exploited, as a functional unit, by cancer cells to promote oncogenesis.

IL-2 activation of STAT5 enhances production of IL-10 from human cytotoxic regulatory T cells, HOZOT.

PubMed

Tsuji-Takayama, Kazue; Suzuki, Motoyuki; Yamamoto, Mayuko; Harashima, Akira; Okochi, Ayumi; Otani, Takeshi; Inoue, Toshiya; Sugimoto, Akira; Motoda, Ryuichi; Yamasaki, Fumiyuki; Nakamura, Shuji; Kibata, Masayoshi

2008-02-01

Interleukin (IL)-10 is an immunosuppressive cytokine produced by many cell types, including T cells. We previously reported that a novel type of regulatory T (Treg) cells, termed HOZOT, which possesses a FOXP3+CD4+CD8+CD25+ phenotype and dual suppressor/cytotoxic activities, produced high levels of IL-10. In this study, we examined the mechanisms of high IL-10 production by HOZOT, focusing on Janus activating kinase (JAK)/signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) signaling pathway. We prepared five different types of T cells, including HOZOT from human umbilical cord blood. Cytokine productions of IL-10, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were compared among these T cells after anti-CD3/CD28 antibody stimulation in the presence or absence of IL-2. Specific inhibitors for JAK/STAT, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), and nuclear factor for activated T cell (NFAT) were used to analyze signal transduction mechanisms. IL-10 production by HOZOTs was greatly enhanced by the addition of IL-2. Little or no enhancement of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha production was observed under the same conditions. The enhancing effect of IL-2 was specific for both HOZOT and IL-10-secreting Treg cells. T helper type 2 cells, whose IL-10 production mechanisms involve GATA-3, failed to show IL-2-mediated enhancement of IL-10. Similar enhancing effects of IL-15 and IFN-alpha suggested a major role of JAK/STAT activation pathway for high IL-10 production. Further inhibitor experiments demonstrated that STAT5 rather than STAT3 was critically involved in this mechanism. Our results demonstrated that IL-2 selectively enhanced production of IL-10 in HOZOT primarily through activation of STAT5, which synergistically acts with NF-kappaB/NFAT activation, implying a novel regulatory mechanism of IL-10 production in Treg cells.

Broadband enhancement of photoluminance from colloidal metal halide perovskite nanocrystals on plasmonic nanostructured surfaces.

PubMed

Zhang, Si; Liang, Yuzhang; Jing, Qiang; Lu, Zhenda; Lu, Yanqing; Xu, Ting

2017-11-07

Metal halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) as a new kind of promising optoelectronic material have attracted wide attention due to their high photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield, narrow emission linewidth and wideband color tunability. Since the PL intensity always has a direct influence on the performance of optoelectronic devices, it is of vital importance to improve the perovskite NCs' fluorescence emission efficiency. Here, we synthesize three inorganic perovskite NCs and experimentally demonstrate a broadband fluorescence enhancement of perovskite NCs by exploiting plasmonic nanostructured surface consisting of nanogrooves array. The strong near-field optical localization associated with surface plasmon polariton-coupled emission effect generated by the nanogrooves array can significantly boost the absorption of perovskite NCs and tailor the fluorescence emissions. As a result, the PL intensities of perovskite NCs are broadband enhanced with a maximum factor higher than 8-fold achieved in experimental demonstration. Moreover, the high efficiency PL of perovskite NCs embedded in the polymer matrix layer on the top of plasmonic nanostructured surface can be maintained for more than three weeks. These results imply that plasmonic nanostructured surface is a good candidate to stably broadband enhance the PL intensity of perovskite NCs and further promote their potentials in the application of visible-light-emitting devices.

Improving surface-enhanced Raman scattering effect using gold-coated hierarchical polystyrene bead substrates modified with postgrowth microwave treatment.

PubMed

Yuen, Clement; Zheng, Wei; Huang, Zhiwei

2008-01-01

We report a novel postgrowth microwave heating implementation by selectively modifying hierarchical polystyrene (PS) bead substrates coated with gold (Au) films to effectively improve the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) effect on the analytes. The SERS signal of probe molecule rhodamine 6G (Rh 6G) on the microwave-treated Au-PS substrates can be improved by 10-fold, while the detection limit of Rh 6G in concentration can be enhanced by two orders of magnitude compared to the as-growth substrates. The high-quality SERS spectrum of saliva can also be acquired using the modified substrates, demonstrating the potential for the realization of the high-performance SERS substrates for biomedical applications.

Growth graphene on silver-copper nanoparticles by chemical vapor deposition for high-performance surface-enhanced Raman scattering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Xiumei; Xu, Shicai; Jiang, Shouzhen; Wang, Jihua; Wei, Jie; Xu, Shida; Gao, Shoubao; Liu, Hanping; Qiu, Hengwei; Li, Zhen; Liu, Huilan; Li, Zhenhua; Li, Hongsheng

2015-10-01

We present a graphene/silver-copper nanoparticle hybrid system (G/SCNPs) to be used as a high-performance surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate. The silver-copper nanoparticles wrapped by a monolayer graphene layer are directly synthesized on SiO2/Si substrate by chemical vapor deposition in a mixture of methane and hydrogen. The G/SCNPs shows excellent SERS enhancement activity and high reproducibility. The minimum detected concentration of R6G is as low as 10-10 M and the calibration curve shows a good linear response from 10-6 to 10-10 M. The date fluctuations from 20 positions of one SERS substrate are less than 8% and from 20 different substrates are less than 10%. The high reproducibility of the enhanced Raman signals could be due to the presence of an ultrathin graphene layer and uniform morphology of silver-copper nanoparticles. The use of G/SCNPs for detection of nucleosides extracted from human urine demonstrates great potential for the practical applications on a variety of detection in medicine and biotechnology field.

Drifting toward Mental Health: High-Risk Adolescents and the Process of Empowerment.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ungar, Michael; Teram, Eli

2000-01-01

Interviewed 41 high risk adolescents to examine the link between the process of empowerment and mental health. Respondents demonstrated how aspects of power that enhance the construction of health-promoting identities form a base for personal and social resilience in youth. Participants in the study articulated the interdependence between their…

Effective mobility enhancement of amorphous In-Ga-Zn-O thin-film transistors by holographically generated periodic conductor

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jeong, Jaewook; Kim, Joonwoo; Jeong, Soon Moon

In this study, we demonstrate a mobility enhancement structure for fully transparent amorphous indium-gallium-zinc-oxide thin-film transistors (a-IGZO TFTs) by embedding a holographically generated periodic nano-conductor in the back-channel regions. The intrinsic field-effect mobility was enhanced up to 2 times compared to that of a reference sample. The enhancement originated from a decrease in the effective channel length due to the highly conductive nano-conductor region. By combining conventional and holographic lithography, the performance of the a-IGZO TFT can be effectively improved without varying the composition of the channel layer.

Effective mobility enhancement of amorphous In-Ga-Zn-O thin-film transistors by holographically generated periodic conductor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jeong, Jaewook; Kim, Joonwoo; Kim, Donghyun; Jeon, Heonsu; Jeong, Soon Moon; Hong, Yongtaek

2016-08-01

In this study, we demonstrate a mobility enhancement structure for fully transparent amorphous indium-gallium-zinc-oxide thin-film transistors (a-IGZO TFTs) by embedding a holographically generated periodic nano-conductor in the back-channel regions. The intrinsic field-effect mobility was enhanced up to 2 times compared to that of a reference sample. The enhancement originated from a decrease in the effective channel length due to the highly conductive nano-conductor region. By combining conventional and holographic lithography, the performance of the a-IGZO TFT can be effectively improved without varying the composition of the channel layer.

Effects of acoustic manipulation on the real-time inflectional processing of children with specific language impairment.

PubMed

Montgomery, James W; Leonard, Laurence B

2006-12-01

This study reports the findings of an investigation designed to examine the effects of acoustic enhancement on the processing of low-phonetic-substance inflections (e.g., 3rd-person singular -s, possessive -s) versus a high-phonetic-substance inflection (e.g., present progressive -ing) by children with specific language impairment (SLI) in a word recognition, reaction time (RT) processing task. The effects of acoustic enhancement on the processing of the same morphemes as well as an additional morpheme (comparative -er) were examined in an offline grammaticality judgment task. The grammatical function of 1 of the higher-phonetic-substance inflections, -ing, was presumed to be hypothesized relatively early by children; the function of the other, -er, was presumed to be hypothesized relatively late. Sixteen children with SLI (age(M) = 9 years;0 months) and 16 chronological age (CA; age(M) = 8;11) children participated. For both tasks, children listened to sentences containing the target morphemes as they were produced naturally (natural condition) or with acoustic enhancement (enhanced condition). On the RT task, the children with SLI demonstrated RT sensitivity only to the presence of the high-substance inflection, irrespective of whether it was produced naturally or with enhancement. Acoustic enhancement had no effect on these children's processing of low-substance inflections. The CA children, by contrast, showed sensitivity to low-substance inflections when they were produced naturally and with acoustic enhancement. These children also showed sensitivity to the high-substance inflection in the natural condition, but in the enhanced condition they demonstrated significantly slower RT. On the grammaticality judgment task, the children with SLI performed worse than the CA children overall and showed especially poor performance on low-substance inflections. Acoustic enhancement had a beneficial effect on the inflectional processing of the children with SLI, but it had no effect on CA children. The findings are interpreted to suggest that the reduced language processing capacity of children with SLI constrains their ability to process low-substance grammatical material in real time. This factor should be considered along with any difficulty that might be attributable to the grammatical function of the inflection.

Susceptibility weighted imaging of cartilage canals in porcine epiphyseal growth cartilage ex vivo and in vivo.

PubMed

Nissi, Mikko J; Toth, Ferenc; Zhang, Jinjin; Schmitter, Sebastian; Benson, Michael; Carlson, Cathy S; Ellermann, Jutta M

2014-06-01

High-resolution visualization of cartilage canals has been restricted to histological methods and contrast-enhanced imaging. In this study, the feasibility of non-contrast-enhanced susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) for visualization of the cartilage canals was investigated ex vivo at 9.4 T, further explored at 7 and 3 T and demonstrated in vivo at 7 T, using a porcine animal model. SWI scans of specimens of distal femur and humerus from 1 to 8 week-old piglets were conducted at 9.4 T using 3D-GRE sequence and SWI post-processing. The stifle joints of a 2-week old piglet were scanned ex vivo at 7 and 3 T. Finally, the same sites of a 3-week-old piglet were scanned, in vivo, at 7 T under general anesthesia using the vendor-provided sequences. High-contrast visualization of the cartilage canals was obtained ex vivo, especially at higher field strengths; the results were confirmed histologically. In vivo feasibility was demonstrated at 7 T and comparison of ex vivo scans at 3 and 7 T indicated feasibility of using SWI at 3 T. High-resolution 3D visualization of cartilage canals was demonstrated using SWI. This demonstration of fully noninvasive visualization opens new avenues to explore skeletal maturation and the role of vascular supply for diseases such as osteochondrosis. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Narrow band perfect absorber for maximum localized magnetic and electric field enhancement and sensing applications

PubMed Central

Yong, Zhengdong; Zhang, Senlin; Gong, Chensheng; He, Sailing

2016-01-01

Plasmonics offer an exciting way to mediate the interaction between light and matter, allowing strong field enhancement and confinement, large absorption and scattering at resonance. However, simultaneous realization of ultra-narrow band perfect absorption and electromagnetic field enhancement is challenging due to the intrinsic high optical losses and radiative damping in metals. Here, we propose an all-metal plasmonic absorber with an absorption bandwidth less than 8 nm and polarization insensitive absorptivity exceeding 99%. Unlike traditional Metal-Dielectric-Metal configurations, we demonstrate that the narrowband perfect absorption and field enhancement are ascribed to the vertical gap plasmonic mode in the deep subwavelength scale, which has a high quality factor of 120 and mode volume of about 10−4 × (λres/n)3. Based on the coupled mode theory, we verify that the diluted field enhancement is proportional to the absorption, and thus perfect absorption is critical to maximum field enhancement. In addition, the proposed perfect absorber can be operated as a refractive index sensor with a sensitivity of 885 nm/RIU and figure of merit as high as 110. It provides a new design strategy for narrow band perfect absorption and local field enhancement, and has potential applications in biosensors, filters and nonlinear optics. PMID:27046540

Design, Optimization and Fabrication of a 28.3 THz Nano-Rectenna for Infrared Detection and Rectification

PubMed Central

Gadalla, M. N.; Abdel-Rahman, M.; Shamim, Atif

2014-01-01

The increasing energy demands of the world's population and the quickly diminishing fossil fuel reserves together suggest the urgent need to secure long-lasting alternative and renewable energy resources. Here, we present a THz antenna integrated with a rectifier (rectenna) for harvesting infrared energy. We demonstrate a resonant bowtie antenna that has been optimized to produce highly enhanced localized fields at the bow tip. To benefit from this enhancement, the rectifier is realized between the overlapped antenna's arms using a 0.7 nm copper oxide. The thin film diode offers low zero bias resistance of 500 Ω, thus improving the impedance matching with the antenna. In addition, the rectenna prototype demonstrates high zero bias responsivity (4 A/W), which is critical in producing DC current directly from THz signals without the application of an external electric source, particularly for energy harvesting applications. PMID:24599374

Design, Optimization and Fabrication of a 28.3 THz Nano-Rectenna for Infrared Detection and Rectification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gadalla, M. N.; Abdel-Rahman, M.; Shamim, Atif

2014-03-01

The increasing energy demands of the world's population and the quickly diminishing fossil fuel reserves together suggest the urgent need to secure long-lasting alternative and renewable energy resources. Here, we present a THz antenna integrated with a rectifier (rectenna) for harvesting infrared energy. We demonstrate a resonant bowtie antenna that has been optimized to produce highly enhanced localized fields at the bow tip. To benefit from this enhancement, the rectifier is realized between the overlapped antenna's arms using a 0.7 nm copper oxide. The thin film diode offers low zero bias resistance of 500 Ω, thus improving the impedance matching with the antenna. In addition, the rectenna prototype demonstrates high zero bias responsivity (4 A/W), which is critical in producing DC current directly from THz signals without the application of an external electric source, particularly for energy harvesting applications.

Tapered fiber based Brillouin random fiber laser and its application for linewidth measurement.

PubMed

Gao, Song; Zhang, Liang; Xu, Yanping; Lu, Ping; Chen, Liang; Bao, Xiaoyi

2016-12-12

A one-end pumping Brillouin random fiber laser (BRFL) based on a 5-km tapered fiber (TF) is demonstrated. The enhanced Rayleigh scattering and the increased power density from tapering in the TF provide good directionality and a high degree of coherent feedback. Both the transmitting and TF enhanced Rayleigh scattered pump lights formed effective bi-direction pumping for the Brillouin gain in the standing cavity configuration in the distributed way as the gain and random feedback in the same fiber. The linewidth of the laser shows ~1.17 kHz while the relative intensity noise (RIN) has been verified to be suppressed comparing with that of the two-end pumping of the standard single mode fiber (SMF). Furthermore, utilizing the proposed laser, a high-resolution (~kHz) linewidth measurement method is demonstrated without long delay fiber (>100km) and extra frequency shifter thanks to the acoustic frequency shift from fiber itself.

Design, optimization and fabrication of a 28.3 THz nano-rectenna for infrared detection and rectification.

PubMed

Gadalla, M N; Abdel-Rahman, M; Shamim, Atif

2014-03-06

The increasing energy demands of the world's population and the quickly diminishing fossil fuel reserves together suggest the urgent need to secure long-lasting alternative and renewable energy resources. Here, we present a THz antenna integrated with a rectifier (rectenna) for harvesting infrared energy. We demonstrate a resonant bowtie antenna that has been optimized to produce highly enhanced localized fields at the bow tip. To benefit from this enhancement, the rectifier is realized between the overlapped antenna's arms using a 0.7 nm copper oxide. The thin film diode offers low zero bias resistance of 500 Ω, thus improving the impedance matching with the antenna. In addition, the rectenna prototype demonstrates high zero bias responsivity (4 A/W), which is critical in producing DC current directly from THz signals without the application of an external electric source, particularly for energy harvesting applications.

Novel Raman Techniques for Imaging and Sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Edwards, Perry S.

Raman scattering spectroscopy is extensively demonstrated as a label-free, chemically selective sensing and imaging technique for a multitude of chemical and biological applications. The ability to detect "fingerprint" spectral signatures of individual molecules, without the need to introduce chemical labelers, makes Raman scattering a powerful sensing technique. However, spectroscopy based on spontaneous Raman scattering traditionally suffers from inherently weak signals due to small Raman scattering cross-sections. Thus, considerable efforts have been put forth to find pathways towards enhancing Raman signals to bolster sensitivity for detecting small concentrations of molecules or particles. The development of coherent Raman techniques that can offer orders of magnitude increase in signal have garnered significant interest in recent years for their application in imaging; such techniques include coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering and stimulated Raman scattering. Additionally, methods to enhance the local field of either the pump or generated Raman signal, such as through surface enhanced Raman scattering, have been investigated for their orders of magnitude improvement in sensitivity and single molecule sensing capability. The work presented in this dissertation describes novel techniques for performing high speed and highly sensitive Raman imaging as well as sensing applications towards bioimaging and biosensing. Coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) is combined with holography to enable recording of high-speed (single laser shot), wide field CARS holograms which can be used to reconstruct the both the amplitude and the phase of the anti-Stokes field therefore allowing 3D imaging. This dissertation explores CARS holography as a viable label-free bio-imaging technique. A Raman scattering particle sensing system is also developed that utilizes wave guide properties of optical fibers and ring-resonators to perform enhanced particle sensing. Resonator-enhanced particle sensing is experimentally examined as a new method for enhancing Raman scattering from particles interacting with circulating optical fields within both a fiber ring-cavity and whispering gallery mode microtoroid microresonators. The achievements described in this dissertation include: (1) Demonstration of the bio-imaging capability of CARS holography by recording of CARS holograms of subcellular components in live cancer (HeLa) cells. (2) Label-free Raman microparticle sensing using a tapered optical fibers. A tapered fiber can guide light to particles adsorbed on the surface of the taper to generate scattered Raman signal which can be collected by a microRaman detection system. (3) Demonstration of the proof of concept of resonator-enhanced Raman spectroscopy in a fiber ring resonator consisting of a section of fiber taper. (4) A method for locking the pump laser to the resonate frequencies of a resonator. This is demonstrated using a fiber ring resonator and microtoroid microresonators. (5) Raman scattered signal from particles adhered to microtoroid microresonators is acquired using 5 seconds of signal integration time and with the pump laser locked to a cavity resonance. (6) Theoretical analysis is performed that indicates resonator-enhanced Raman scattering from microparticles adhered to microresonators can be achieved with the pump laser locked to the frequency of a high-Q cavity resonant mode.

Nanoimprinting on optical fiber end faces for chemical sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kostovski, G.; White, D. J.; Mitchell, A.; Austin, M. W.; Stoddart, P. R.

2008-04-01

Optical fiber surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensors offer a potential solution to monitoring low chemical concentrations in-situ or in remote sensing scenarios. We demonstrate the use of nanoimprint lithography to fabricate SERS-compatible nanoarrays on the end faces of standard silica optical fibers. The antireflective nanostructure found on cicada wings was used as a convenient template for the nanoarray, as high sensitivity SERS substrates have previously been demonstrated on these surfaces. Coating the high fidelity replicas with silver creates a dense array of regular nanoscale plasmonic resonators. A monolayer of thiophenol was used as a low concentration analyte, from which strong Raman spectra were collected using both direct endface illumination and through-fiber interrogation. This unique combination of nanoscale replication with optical fibers demonstrates a high-resolution, low-cost approach to fabricating high-performance optical fiber chemical sensors.

Self-assembled vertically aligned Au nanorod arrays for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection of Cannabinol.

PubMed

Milliken, Sarah; Fraser, Jeff; Poirier, Shawn; Hulse, John; Tay, Li-Lin

2018-05-05

Self-assembled multi-layered vertically aligned gold nanorod (AuNR) arrays have been fabricated by a simple preparation process that requires a balance between the particle concentration and the ionic strength of the solvent. An experimentally determined critical AuNR concentration of 2.0nM and 50mM NaCl produces well-ordered vertically aligned hexagonally close-packed AuNR arrays. We demonstrate surface treatment via UV Ozone cleaning of such samples to allow introduction of analyte molecules (benzenethiol and cannabinol) for effective surface enhanced Raman scattering detection. This is the first demonstration of the SERS analysis of cannabinol. This approach demonstrates a cost-effective, high-yield and simple fabrication route to SERS sensors with application in the screening for the cannabinoids. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Advanced composite structural concepts and materials technologies for primary aircraft structures: Advanced material concepts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lau, Kreisler S. Y.; Landis, Abraham L.; Chow, Andrea W.; Hamlin, Richard D.

1993-01-01

To achieve acceptable performance and long-term durability at elevated temperatures (350 to 600 F) for high-speed transport systems, further improvements of the high-performance matrix materials will be necessary to achieve very long-term (60,000-120,000 service hours) retention of mechanical properties and damage tolerance. This report emphasizes isoimide modification as a complementary technique to semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (SIPN's) to achieve greater processibility, better curing dynamics, and possibly enhanced thermo-mechanical properties in composites. A key result is the demonstration of enhanced processibility of isoimide-modified linear and thermo-setting polyimide systems.

An opto-electro-mechanical system based on evanescently-coupled optical microbottle and electromechanical resonator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Asano, Motoki; Ohta, Ryuichi; Yamamoto, Takashi; Okamoto, Hajime; Yamaguchi, Hiroshi

2018-05-01

Evanescent coupling between a high-Q silica optical microbottle and a GaAs electromechanical resonator is demonstrated. This coupling offers an opto-electro-mechanical system which possesses both cavity-enhanced optical sensitivity and electrical controllability of the mechanical motion. Cooling and heating of the mechanical mode are demonstrated based on optomechanical detection via the radiation pressure and electromechanical feedback via the piezoelectric effect. This evanescent approach allows for individual design of optical, mechanical, and electrical systems, which could lead to highly sensitive and functionalized opto-electro-mechanical systems.

High spatial resolution fiber optical sensors for simultaneous temperature and chemical sensing for energy industries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Aidong; Huang, Sheng; Li, Shuo; Zaghloul, Mohamed; Ohodnicki, Paul; Buric, Michael; Chen, Kevin P.

2017-05-01

This paper demonstrates optical fibers as high-temperature sensor platforms. Through engineering and onfiber integration of functional metal oxide sensory materials, we report the development of an integrated sensor solution to perform temperature and chemical measurements for high-temperature energy applications. Using the Rayleigh optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR) distributed sensing scheme, the temperature and hydrogen concentration were measured along the fiber. To overcome the weak Rayleighbackscattering intensity exhibited by conventional optical fibers, an ultrafast laser was used to enhance the Rayleigh scattering by a direct laser writing method. Using the Rayleigh-enhanced fiber as sensor platform, both temperature and hydrogen reaction were monitored at high temperature up to 750°C with 4-mm spatial resolution.

Classifying low-grade and high-grade bladder cancer using label-free serum surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and support vector machine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yanjiao; Lai, Xiaoping; Zeng, Qiuyao; Li, Linfang; Lin, Lin; Li, Shaoxin; Liu, Zhiming; Su, Chengkang; Qi, Minni; Guo, Zhouyi

2018-03-01

This study aims to classify low-grade and high-grade bladder cancer (BC) patients using serum surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra and support vector machine (SVM) algorithms. Serum SERS spectra are acquired from 88 serum samples with silver nanoparticles as the SERS-active substrate. Diagnostic accuracies of 96.4% and 95.4% are obtained when differentiating the serum SERS spectra of all BC patients versus normal subjects and low-grade versus high-grade BC patients, respectively, with optimal SVM classifier models. This study demonstrates that the serum SERS technique combined with SVM has great potential to noninvasively detect and classify high-grade and low-grade BC patients.

Enhanced Efficiency and Stability of Perovskite Solar Cells via Anti-Solvent Treatment in Two-Step Deposition Method.

PubMed

Li, Minghua; Yan, Xiaoqin; Kang, Zhuo; Liao, Xinqin; Li, Yong; Zheng, Xin; Lin, Pei; Meng, Jingjing; Zhang, Yue

2017-03-01

The low-cost inorganic-organic lead halide perovskite materials become particularly promising for solar cells with high photovoltaic conversion efficiency. The uniform and pinhole-free perovskite films play an important role for high-performance solar cells. We demonstrate an antisolvent treatment by controlling the PbI 2 morphology to enhance the perovskite conversion and photophysical properties, including high absorption, crystallinity, and rapid carrier transfer. The fabricated perovskite solar cells show tremendous PCE improvement to about 16.1% from 12% with less hysteresis, and retain over 90% initial PCE after 30 days in ambient and dark atmosphere. In prospect, this antisolvent treatment will be a feasible route to prepare high-quality perovskite films including favorite photophysical properties.

Lasing in strongly scattering dielectric microstructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Florescu, Lucia

In the first part of this thesis, a detailed analysis of lasing in random multiple-light-scattering media with gain is presented. Random laser emission is analyzed using a time-dependent diffusion model for light propagating in the medium containing active atoms. We demonstrate the effects of scatterers to narrow the emission spectral linewidth and to shorten the emitted pulse duration at a specific threshold pump intensity. This threshold pump intensity decreases with scatterer density and excitation spot diameter, in excellent agreement with experimental results. The coherence properties of the random laser are studied using a generalized master equation. The random laser medium is treated as a collection of low quality-factor cavities, coupled by random photon diffusion. Laser-like coherence, on average, is demonstrated above a specific pumping threshold. We demonstrate that with stronger scattering, the pumping threshold for the transition from chaotic to isotropic coherent light emission decreases and enhanced optical coherence for the emitted light is achieved above threshold. The second part of this thesis presents a study of lasing in photonic crystals (PCs). The emission from an incoherently pumped atomic system in interaction with the electro-magnetic reservoir of a PC is analyzed using a set of generalized semiclassical Maxwell-Bloch equations. We demonstrate that the photonic band edge facilitates the enhancement of stimulated emission and the reduction of internal losses, leading to an important lowering of the laser threshold. In addition, an increase of the laser output at a photonic band edge is demonstrated. We next develop a detailed quantum theory of a coherently pumped two-level atom in a photonic band gap material, coupled to both a multi-mode wave-guide channel and a high-quality micro-cavity embedded within the PC. The cavity field characteristics are highly distinct from that of a corresponding high-Q cavity in ordinary vacuum. We demonstrate enhanced, inversionless, and nearly coherent light generation when the photon density of states (DOS) jump between the Mollow spectral components of atomic resonance fluorescence is large. In the case of a vanishing photon DOS on the lower Mollow sideband and no dipolar dephasing, the emitted photon statistics is Poissonian and the cavity field exhibits quadrature coherence.

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Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-01

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Parasite-mediated upregulation of NK cell-derived gamma interferon protects against severe highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus infection.

PubMed

O'Brien, Kevin B; Schultz-Cherry, Stacey; Knoll, Laura J

2011-09-01

Outbreaks of influenza A viruses are associated with significant human morbidity worldwide. Given the increasing resistance to the available influenza drugs, new therapies for the treatment of influenza virus infection are needed. An alternative approach is to identify products that enhance a protective immune response. In these studies, we demonstrate that infecting mice with the Th1-inducing parasite Toxoplasma gondii prior to highly pathogenic avian H5N1 influenza virus infection led to decreased lung viral titers and enhanced survival. A noninfectious fraction of T. gondii soluble antigens (STAg) elicited an immune response similar to that elicited by live parasites, and administration of STAg 2 days after H5N1 influenza virus infection enhanced survival, lowered viral titers, and reduced clinical disease. STAg administration protected H5N1 virus-infected mice lacking lymphocytes, suggesting that while the adaptive immune response was not required for enhanced survival, it was necessary for STAg-mediated viral clearance. Mechanistically, we found that administration of STAg led to increased production of gamma interferon (IFN-γ) from natural killer (NK) cells, which were both necessary and sufficient for survival. Further, administration of exogenous IFN-γ alone enhanced survival from H5N1 influenza virus infection, although not to the same level as STAg treatment. These studies demonstrate that a noninfectious T. gondii extract enhances the protective immune response against severe H5N1 influenza virus infections even when a single dose is administered 2 days postinfection.

Selectively enhanced photocurrent generation in twisted bilayer graphene with van Hove singularity

PubMed Central

Yin, Jianbo; Wang, Huan; Peng, Han; Tan, Zhenjun; Liao, Lei; Lin, Li; Sun, Xiao; Koh, Ai Leen; Chen, Yulin; Peng, Hailin; Liu, Zhongfan

2016-01-01

Graphene with ultra-high carrier mobility and ultra-short photoresponse time has shown remarkable potential in ultrafast photodetection. However, the broad and weak optical absorption (∼2.3%) of monolayer graphene hinders its practical application in photodetectors with high responsivity and selectivity. Here we demonstrate that twisted bilayer graphene, a stack of two graphene monolayers with an interlayer twist angle, exhibits a strong light–matter interaction and selectively enhanced photocurrent generation. Such enhancement is attributed to the emergence of unique twist-angle-dependent van Hove singularities, which are directly revealed by spatially resolved angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. When the energy interval between the van Hove singularities of the conduction and valance bands matches the energy of incident photons, the photocurrent generated can be significantly enhanced (up to ∼80 times with the integration of plasmonic structures in our devices). These results provide valuable insight for designing graphene photodetectors with enhanced sensitivity for variable wavelength. PMID:26948537

Controlling Plasmon-Enhanced Fluorescence via Intersystem Crossing in Photoswitchable Molecules.

PubMed

Wang, Mingsong; Hartmann, Gregory; Wu, Zilong; Scarabelli, Leonardo; Rajeeva, Bharath Bangalore; Jarrett, Jeremy W; Perillo, Evan P; Dunn, Andrew K; Liz-Marzán, Luis M; Hwang, Gyeong S; Zheng, Yuebing

2017-10-01

By harnessing photoswitchable intersystem crossing (ISC) in spiropyran (SP) molecules, active control of plasmon-enhanced fluorescence in the hybrid systems of SP molecules and plasmonic nanostructures is achieved. Specifically, SP-derived merocyanine (MC) molecules formed by photochemical ring-opening reaction display efficient ISC due to their zwitterionic character. In contrast, ISC in quinoidal MC molecules formed by thermal ring-opening reaction is negligible. The high ISC rate can improve fluorescence quantum yield of the plasmon-modified spontaneous emission, only when the plasmonic electromagnetic field enhancement is sufficiently high. Along this line, extensive photomodulation of fluorescence is demonstrated by switching the ISC in MC molecules at Au nanoparticle aggregates, where strongly enhanced plasmonic hot spots exist. The ISC-mediated plasmon-enhanced fluorescence represents a new approach toward controlling the spontaneous emission of fluorophores near plasmonic nanostructures, which expands the applications of active molecular plasmonics in information processing, biosensing, and bioimaging. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Emission Enhancement of Sound Emitters using an Acoustic Metamaterial Cavity

PubMed Central

Song, Kyungjun; Lee, Seong-Hyun; Kim, Kiwon; Hur, Shin; Kim, Jedo

2014-01-01

The emission enhancement of sound without electronic components has wide applications in a variety of remote systems, especially when highly miniaturized (smaller than wavelength) structures can be used. The recent advent of acoustic metamaterials has made it possible to realize this. In this study, we propose, design, and demonstrate a new class of acoustic cavity using a double-walled metamaterial structure operating at an extremely low frequency. Periodic zigzag elements which exhibit Fabry-Perot resonant behavior below the phononic band-gap are used to yield strong sound localization within the subwavelength gap, thus providing highly effective emission enhancement. We show, both theoretically and experimentally, 10 dB sound emission enhancement near 1060 Hz that corresponds to a wavelength approximately 30 times that of the periodicity. We also provide a general guideline for the independent tuning of the quality factor and effective volume of acoustic metamaterials. This approach shows the flexibility of our design in the efficient control of the enhancement rate. PMID:24584552

Ag nanoparticle-functionalized ZnO micro-flowers for enhanced photodegradation of herbicide derivatives

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Yan; Wu, Shumin; Li, Xianliang; Meng, Hao; Zhang, Xia; Wang, Zhuopeng; Han, Yide

2017-07-01

We demonstrate a general strategy to design step by step the Ag nanoparticle-functionalized ZnO micro-flowers (Ag/ZnO composites). XRD patterns confirmed the presence of Ag nanoparticles in ZnO/Ag composites, and the SEM and TEM results further demonstrated that Ag nanoparticles were highly dispersed and anchored onto the surface of each ZnO nanosheets. By using the ZnO/Ag composites, the photodegradation of two herbicide derivatives, metamitron and metribuzin, were studied. The enhanced photocatalytic performance was ascribed to the fact that the Ag deposition could reduce the recombination probability of electron-hole pairs, and the photocatalytic mechanism were also investigated in this paper.

Enhanced photovoltaic performances of graphene/Si solar cells by insertion of a MoS₂ thin film.

PubMed

Tsuboi, Yuka; Wang, Feijiu; Kozawa, Daichi; Funahashi, Kazuma; Mouri, Shinichiro; Miyauchi, Yuhei; Takenobu, Taishi; Matsuda, Kazunari

2015-09-14

Transition-metal dichalcogenides exhibit great potential as active materials in optoelectronic devices because of their characteristic band structure. Here, we demonstrated that the photovoltaic performances of graphene/Si Schottky junction solar cells were significantly improved by inserting a chemical vapor deposition (CVD)-grown, large MoS2 thin-film layer. This layer functions as an effective electron-blocking/hole-transporting layer. We also demonstrated that the photovoltaic properties are enhanced with the increasing number of graphene layers and the decreasing thickness of the MoS2 layer. A high photovoltaic conversion efficiency of 11.1% was achieved with the optimized trilayer-graphene/MoS2/n-Si solar cell.

Cardioprotective effects of 70-kDa heat shock protein in transgenic mice.

PubMed

Radford, N B; Fina, M; Benjamin, I J; Moreadith, R W; Graves, K H; Zhao, P; Gavva, S; Wiethoff, A; Sherry, A D; Malloy, C R; Williams, R S

1996-03-19

Heat shock proteins are proposed to limit injury resulting from diverse environmental stresses, but direct metabolic evidence for such a cytoprotective function in vertebrates has been largely limited to studies of cultured cells. We generated lines of transgenic mice to express human 70-kDa heat shock protein constitutively in the myocardium. Hearts isolated from these animals demonstrated enhanced recovery of high energy phosphate stores and correction of metabolic acidosis following brief periods of global ischemia sufficient to induce sustained abnormalities of these variables in hearts from nontransgenic littermates. These data demonstrate a direct cardioprotective effect of 70-kDa heat shock protein to enhance postischemic recovery of the intact heart.

A high-performance channel engineered charge-plasma-based MOSFET with high-κ spacer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shan, Chan; Wang, Ying; Luo, Xin; Bao, Meng-tian; Yu, Cheng-hao; Cao, Fei

2017-12-01

In this paper, the performance of graded channel double-gate MOSFET (GC-DGFET) that utilizes the charge-plasma concept and a high-κ spacer is investigated through 2-D device simulations. The results demonstrate that GC-DGFET with high-κ spacer can effectively improve the ON-state driving current (ION) and reduce the OFF-leakage current (IOFF). We find that reduction of the initial energy barrier between the source and channel is the origin of this ION enhancement. The reason for the IOFF reduction is identified to be the extension of the effective channel length owing to the fringing field via high-κ spacers. Consequently, these devices offer enhanced performance by reducing the total gate-to-gate capacitance (Cgg) and decreasing the intrinsic delay (τ).

Plasmon mode excitation and photoluminescence enhancement on silver nanoring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuchmizhak, Aleksandr A.; Gurbatov, Stanislav O.; Kulchin, Yuri N.; Vitrik, Oleg B.

2015-12-01

We demonstrate a simple and high-performance laser-assisted technique for silver nanoring fabrication, which includes the ablation of the Ag film by focused nanosecond pulses and subsequent reactive ion polishing. The nanoring diameter and thickness can be controlled by optimizing both the pulse energy and the metal film thickness at laser ablation step, while the subsequent reactive ion polishing provides the ability to fabricate the nanoring with desirable height. Scattering patterns of s-polarized collimated laser beam obliquely illuminating the nanoring demonstrate the focal spot inside the nanoring shifted from its center at a distance of ~0.57Rring. Five-fold enhancement of the photoluminescence signal from the Rhodamine 6G organic dye near the Ag nanoring was demonstrated. This enhancement was attributed to the increase of the electromagnetic field amplitude near the nanoring surface arising from excitation of the multipole plasmon modes traveling along the nanoring. This assumption was confirmed by dark-field back-scattering spectrum of the nanoring measured under white-light illumination, as well as by supporting finite-difference time-domain simulations.

Enhancement of minority carrier injection in ambipolar carbon nanotube transistors using double-gate structures

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kim, Bongjun; Liang, Kelly; Dodabalapur, Ananth, E-mail: ananth.dodabalapur@engr.utexas.edu

We show that double-gate ambipolar thin-film transistors can be operated to enhance minority carrier injection. The two gate potentials need to be significantly different for enhanced injection to be observed. This enhancement is highly beneficial in devices such as light-emitting transistors where balanced electron and hole injections lead to optimal performance. With ambipolar single-walled carbon nanotube semiconductors, we demonstrate that higher ambipolar currents are attained at lower source-drain voltages, which is desired for portable electronic applications, by employing double-gate structures. In addition, when the two gates are held at the same potential, the expected advantages of the double-gate transistors suchmore » as enhanced on-current are also observed.« less

Selective Enhancement of Nucleases by Polyvalent DNA-Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles

PubMed Central

Prigodich, Andrew E.; Alhasan, Ali H.

2011-01-01

We demonstrate that polyvalent DNA-functionalized gold nanoparticles (DNA-Au NPs) selectively enhance Ribonuclease H (RNase H) activity, while inhibiting most biologically relevant nucleases. This combination of properties is particularly interesting in the context of gene regulation, since high RNase H activity results in rapid mRNA degradation and general nuclease inhibition results in high biological stability. We investigate the mechanism of selective RNase H activation and find that the high DNA density of DNA-Au NPs is responsible for this unusual behavior. This work adds to our understanding of polyvalent DNA-Au NPs as gene regulation agents, and suggests a new model for selectively controlling protein-nanoparticle interactions. PMID:21268581

A rapid green strategy for the synthesis of Au "meatball"-like nanoparticles using green tea for SERS applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Shichao; Zhou, Xi; Yang, Xiangrui; Hou, Zhenqing; Shi, Yanfeng; Zhong, Lubin; Jiang, Qian; Zhang, Qiqing

2014-09-01

We report a simple and rapid biological approach to synthesize water-soluble and highly roughened "meatball"-like Au nanoparticles using green tea extract under microwave irradiation. The synthesized Au meatball-like nanoparticles possess excellent monodispersity and uniform size (250 nm in diameter). Raman measurements show that these tea-generated meatball-like gold nanostructures with high active surface areas exhibit a high enhancement of surface-enhanced Raman scattering. In addition, the Au meatball-like nanoparticles demonstrate good biocompatibility and remarkable in vitro stability at the biological temperature. Meanwhile, the factors that influence the Au meatball-like nanoparticles morphology are investigated, and the mechanisms behind the nonspherical shape evolution are discussed.

Small-signal modeling with direct parameter extraction for impact ionization effect in high-electron-mobility transistors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Guan, He; Lv, Hongliang; Guo, Hui, E-mail: hguan@stu.xidian.edu.cn

2015-11-21

Impact ionization affects the radio-frequency (RF) behavior of high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs), which have narrow-bandgap semiconductor channels, and this necessitates complex parameter extraction procedures for HEMT modeling. In this paper, an enhanced small-signal equivalent circuit model is developed to investigate the impact ionization, and an improved method is presented in detail for direct extraction of intrinsic parameters using two-step measurements in low-frequency and high-frequency regimes. The practicability of the enhanced model and the proposed direct parameter extraction method are verified by comparing the simulated S-parameters with published experimental data from an InAs/AlSb HEMT operating over a wide frequency range. The resultsmore » demonstrate that the enhanced model with optimal intrinsic parameter values that were obtained by the direct extraction approach can effectively characterize the effects of impact ionization on the RF performance of HEMTs.« less

High efficiency and enhanced ESD properties of UV LEDs by inserting p-GaN/p-AlGaN superlattice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Yong; Li, PeiXian; Yang, Zhuo; Hao, Yue; Wang, XiaoBo

2014-05-01

Significantly improved electrostatic discharge (ESD) properties of InGaN/GaN-based UV light-emitting diode (LED) with inserting p-GaN/p-AlGaN superlattice (p-SLs) layers (instead of p-AlGaN single layer) between multiple quantum wells and Mg-doped GaN layer are reported. The pass yield of the LEDs increased from 73.53% to 93.81% under negative 2000 V ESD pulses. In addition, the light output power (LOP) and efficiency droop at high injection current were also improved. The mechanism of the enhanced ESD properties was then investigated. After excluding the effect of capacitance modulation, high-resolution X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscope (AFM) measurements demonstrated that the dominant mechanism of the enhanced ESD properties is the material quality improved by p-SLs, which indicated less leakage paths, rather than the current spreading improved by p-SLs.

Enhancing light emission in flexible AC electroluminescent devices by tetrapod-like zinc oxide whiskers.

PubMed

Wen, Li; Liu, Nishuang; Wang, Siliang; Zhang, Hui; Zhao, Wanqiu; Yang, Zhichun; Wang, Yumei; Su, Jun; Li, Luying; Long, Fei; Zou, Zhengguang; Gao, Yihua

2016-10-03

Flexible alternating current electroluminescent devices (ACEL) are more and more popular and widely used in liquid-crystal display back-lighting, large-scale architectural and decorative lighting due to their uniform light emission, low power consumption and high resolution. However, presently how to acquire high brightness under a certain voltage are confronted with challenges. Here, we demonstrate an electroluminescence (EL) enhancing strategy that tetrapod-like ZnO whiskers (T-ZnOw) are added into the bottom electrode of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) instead of phosphor layer in flexible ACEL devices emitting blue, green and orange lights, and the brightness is greatly enhanced due to the coupling between the T-ZnOw and ZnS phosphor dispersed in the flexible polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) layer. This strategy provides a new routine for the development of high performance, flexible and large-area ACEL devices.

Waveguide-loaded silica fibers for coupling to high-index micro-resonators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Latawiec, P.; Burek, M. J.; Venkataraman, V.; Lončar, M.

2016-01-01

Tapered silica fibers are often used to rapidly probe the optical properties of micro-resonators. However, their low refractive index precludes phase-matching when coupling to high-index micro-resonators, reducing efficiency. Here, we demonstrate efficient optical coupling from tapered fibers to high-index micro-resonators by loading the fibers with an ancillary adiabatic waveguide-coupler fabricated via angled-etching. We demonstrate greatly enhanced coupling to a silicon multimode micro-resonator when compared to coupling via the bare fiber only. Signatures of resonator optical bistability are observed at high powers. This scheme can be applied to resonators of any size and material, increasing the functional scope of fiber coupling.

Slow light enhanced optical nonlinearity in a silicon photonic crystal coupled-resonator optical waveguide.

PubMed

Matsuda, Nobuyuki; Kato, Takumi; Harada, Ken-Ichi; Takesue, Hiroki; Kuramochi, Eiichi; Taniyama, Hideaki; Notomi, Masaya

2011-10-10

We demonstrate highly enhanced optical nonlinearity in a coupled-resonator optical waveguide (CROW) in a four-wave mixing experiment. Using a CROW consisting of 200 coupled resonators based on width-modulated photonic crystal nanocavities in a line defect, we obtained an effective nonlinear constant exceeding 10,000 /W/m, thanks to slow light propagation combined with a strong spatial confinement of light achieved by the wavelength-sized cavities.

Enhanced weak-signal sensitivity in two-photon microscopy by adaptive illumination.

PubMed

Chu, Kengyeh K; Lim, Daryl; Mertz, Jerome

2007-10-01

We describe a technique to enhance both the weak-signal relative sensitivity and the dynamic range of a laser scanning optical microscope. The technique is based on maintaining a fixed detection power by fast feedback control of the illumination power, thereby transferring high measurement resolution to weak signals while virtually eliminating the possibility of image saturation. We analyze and demonstrate the benefits of adaptive illumination in two-photon fluorescence microscopy.

Acid additives enhancing the conductivity of spiro-OMeTAD toward high-efficiency and hysteresis-less planar perovskite solar cells

DOE PAGES

Li, Zhen; Tinkham, Jonathan; Schulz, Philip; ...

2016-10-28

A general doping strategy, using a wide range of acids with different p K a values as additive, is demonstrated to enhance the conductivity of spiro-OMeTAD, the dominant hole transport material in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Here, hysteresis-less planar PSCs with ≈19% efficiency and better open-circuit voltage and fill factor is achieved with acid doped spiro-OMeTAD.

Morphologically manipulated Ag/ZnO nanostructures as surface enhanced Raman scattering probes for explosives detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shaik, Ummar Pasha; Hamad, Syed; Ahamad Mohiddon, Md.; Soma, Venugopal Rao; Ghanashyam Krishna, M.

2016-03-01

The detection of secondary explosive molecules (e.g., ANTA, FOX-7, and CL-20) using Ag decorated ZnO nanostructures as surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) probes is demonstrated. ZnO nanostructures were grown on borosilicate glass substrates by rapid thermal oxidation of metallic Zn films at 500 °C. The oxide nanostructures, including nanosheets and nanowires, emerged over the surface of the Zn film leaving behind the metal residue. We demonstrate that SERS measurements with concentrations as low as 10 μM, of the three explosive molecules ANTA, FOX-7, and CL-20 over ZnO/Ag nanostructures, resulted in enhancement factors of ˜107, ˜107, and ˜104, respectively. These measurements validate the high sensitivity of detection of explosive molecules using Ag decorated ZnO nanostructures as SERS substrates. The Zn metal residue and conditions of annealing play an important role in determining the detection sensitivity.

Face recognition using an enhanced independent component analysis approach.

PubMed

Kwak, Keun-Chang; Pedrycz, Witold

2007-03-01

This paper is concerned with an enhanced independent component analysis (ICA) and its application to face recognition. Typically, face representations obtained by ICA involve unsupervised learning and high-order statistics. In this paper, we develop an enhancement of the generic ICA by augmenting this method by the Fisher linear discriminant analysis (LDA); hence, its abbreviation, FICA. The FICA is systematically developed and presented along with its underlying architecture. A comparative analysis explores four distance metrics, as well as classification with support vector machines (SVMs). We demonstrate that the FICA approach leads to the formation of well-separated classes in low-dimension subspace and is endowed with a great deal of insensitivity to large variation in illumination and facial expression. The comprehensive experiments are completed for the facial-recognition technology (FERET) face database; a comparative analysis demonstrates that FICA comes with improved classification rates when compared with some other conventional approaches such as eigenface, fisherface, and the ICA itself.

Integration of stable isotope and trace contaminant concentration for enhanced forensic acetone discrimination.

PubMed

Moran, James J; Ehrhardt, Christopher J; Wahl, Jon H; Kreuzer, Helen W; Wahl, Karen L

2013-11-15

We analyzed 21 neat acetone samples from 15 different suppliers to demonstrate the utility of a coupled stable isotope and trace contaminant strategy for distinguishing forensically-relevant samples. By combining these two pieces of orthogonal data we could discriminate all of the acetones that were produced by the 15 different suppliers. Using stable isotope ratios alone, we were able to distinguish 8 acetone samples, while the remaining 13 fell into four clusters with highly similar signatures. Adding trace chemical contaminant information enhanced discrimination to 13 individual acetones with three residual clusters. The acetones within each cluster shared a common manufacturer and might, therefore, not be expected to be resolved. The data presented here demonstrates the power of combining orthogonal data sets to enhance sample fingerprinting and highlights the role disparate data could play in future forensic investigations. © 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Phosphorescent Organic Light Emitting Diodes Implementing Platinum Complexes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ecton, Jeremy Exton

Organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) are a promising approach for display and solid state lighting applications. However, further work is needed in establishing the availability of efficient and stable materials for OLEDs with high external quantum efficiency's (EQE) and high operational lifetimes. Recently, significant improvements in the internal quantum efficiency or ratio of generated photons to injected electrons have been achieved with the advent of phosphorescent complexes with the ability to harvest both singlet and triplet excitons. Since then, a variety of phosphorescent complexes containing heavy metal centers including Os, Ni, Ir, Pd, and Pt have been developed. Thus far, the majority of the work in the field has focused on iridium based complexes. Platinum based complexes, however, have received considerably less attention despite demonstrating efficiency's equal to or better than their iridium analogs. In this study, a series of OLEDs implementing newly developed platinum based complexes were demonstrated with efficiency's or operational lifetimes equal to or better than their iridium analogs for select cases. In addition to demonstrating excellent device performance in OLEDs, platinum based complexes exhibit unique photophysical properties including the ability to form excimer emission capable of generating broad white light emission from a single emitter and the ability to form narrow band emission from a rigid, tetradentate molecular structure for select cases. These unique photophysical properties were exploited and their optical and electrical properties in a device setting were elucidated. Utilizing the unique properties of a tridentate Pt complex, Pt-16, a highly efficient white device employing a single emissive layer exhibited a peak EQE of over 20% and high color quality with a CRI of 80 and color coordinates CIE(x=0.33, y=0.33). Furthermore, by employing a rigid, tetradentate platinum complex, PtN1N, with a narrow band emission into a microcavity organic light emitting diode (MOLED), significant enhancement in the external quantum efficiency was achieved. The optimized MOLED structure achieved a light out-coupling enhancement of 1.35 compared to the non-cavity structure with a peak EQE of 34.2%. In addition to demonstrating a high light out-coupling enhancement, the microcavity effect of a narrow band emitter in a MOLED was elucidated.

Large-area, uniform and low-cost dual-mode plasmonic naked-eye colorimetry and SERS sensor with handheld Raman spectrometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Zhida; Jiang, Jing; Wang, Xinhao; Han, Kevin; Ameen, Abid; Khan, Ibrahim; Chang, Te-Wei; Liu, Gang Logan

2016-03-01

We demonstrated a highly-sensitive, wafer-scale, highly-uniform plasmonic nano-mushroom substrate based on plastic for naked-eye plasmonic colorimetry and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). We gave it the name FlexBrite. The dual-mode functionality of FlexBrite allows for label-free qualitative analysis by SERS with an enhancement factor (EF) of 108 and label-free quantitative analysis by naked-eye colorimetry with a sensitivity of 611 nm RIU-1. The SERS EF of FlexBrite in the wet state was found to be 4.81 × 108, 7 times stronger than in the dry state, making FlexBrite suitable for aqueous environments such as microfluid systems. The label-free detection of biotin-streptavidin interaction by both SERS and colorimetry was demonstrated with FlexBrite. The detection of trace amounts of the narcotic drug methamphetamine in drinking water by SERS was implemented with a handheld Raman spectrometer and FlexBrite. This plastic-based dual-mode nano-mushroom substrate has the potential to be used as a sensing platform for easy and fast analysis in chemical and biological assays.We demonstrated a highly-sensitive, wafer-scale, highly-uniform plasmonic nano-mushroom substrate based on plastic for naked-eye plasmonic colorimetry and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). We gave it the name FlexBrite. The dual-mode functionality of FlexBrite allows for label-free qualitative analysis by SERS with an enhancement factor (EF) of 108 and label-free quantitative analysis by naked-eye colorimetry with a sensitivity of 611 nm RIU-1. The SERS EF of FlexBrite in the wet state was found to be 4.81 × 108, 7 times stronger than in the dry state, making FlexBrite suitable for aqueous environments such as microfluid systems. The label-free detection of biotin-streptavidin interaction by both SERS and colorimetry was demonstrated with FlexBrite. The detection of trace amounts of the narcotic drug methamphetamine in drinking water by SERS was implemented with a handheld Raman spectrometer and FlexBrite. This plastic-based dual-mode nano-mushroom substrate has the potential to be used as a sensing platform for easy and fast analysis in chemical and biological assays. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr08357e

High efficient anti-cancer drug delivery systems using tea polyphenols reduced and functionalized graphene oxide.

PubMed

Wang, Xiaoqian; Hao, Liying; Zhang, Chaoliang; Chen, Jiao; Zhang, Ping

2017-03-01

Targeted drug delivery is urgently needed for cancer therapy, and green synthesis is important for the biomedical use of drug delivery systems in the human body. In this work, we report two targeted delivery systems for anticancer drugs based on tea polyphenol functionalized and reduced graphene oxide (TPGs). The obtained TPGs demonstrated an efficient doxorubicin loading capacity as high as 3.430 × 10 6  mg g -1 and 3.932 × 10 4  mg g -1 , and exhibited pH-triggered release. Furthermore, the kinetic models, adsorption isotherms, and possible loading mechanisms were investigated in details. Compared to TPG1 and free doxorubicin, TPG2 is biocompatible to normal cells even at high concentrations and promotes tumor cells death by delivering the doxorubicin mainly to the nuclei. These results were confirmed using cell viability tests and confocal laser microscopy. Moreover, apoptosis tests showed that the mechanism of cancer cell death induced by TPG1 and TPG2 might follow the similar mechanisms. Taken together, these results demonstrate that TPGs provide a multifunctional drug delivery system with a greater loading capacity and pH-sensitive drug release for enhanced cancer therapy. The high drug payload capability and enhanced antitumor efficacy demonstrate that we developed systems are promising for various biomedical applications and cancer therapy.

Multiple phytochromes are involved in red-light-induced enhancement of first-positive phototropism in arabidopsis thaliana

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Janoudi, A.K.; Gordon, W.R.; Poff, K.L.

1997-03-01

The amplitude of phototropic curvature to blue light is enhanced by a prior exposure of seedlings to red light. This enhancement is mediated by phytochrome. Fluence-response relationships have been constructed for red-light-induced enhancement in the phytochrome A (phyA) null mutant, the phytochrome B- (phyB) deficient mutant, and in two transgenic lines of Arabidopsis thaliana that overexpress either phyA or phyB. These fluence-response relationships demonstrate the existence of two responses in enhancement, a response in the very-low-to-low-fluence range, and a response in the high-fluence range. Only the response in the high-fluence range is present in the phyA null mutant. In contrast,more » the phyB-deficient mutant is indistinguishable from the wild-type parent in red-light responsiveness. These data indicate that phyA is necessary for the very-low-to-low but not the high-fluence response, and that phyB is not necessary for either response range. Based on these results, the high-fluence response, if controlled by a single phytochrome, must be controlled by a phytochrome other than phyA or phyB. Overexpression of phyA has a negative effect and overexpression of phyB has an enhancing effect in the high fluence range. These results suggest that overexpression of either phytochrome perturbs the function of the endogenous photoreceptor system in unpreditable fashion. 25 refs., 3 figs.« less

Longitudinal DSC-MRI for Distinguishing Tumor Recurrence From Pseudoprogression in Patients With a High-grade Glioma.

PubMed

Boxerman, Jerrold L; Ellingson, Benjamin M; Jeyapalan, Suriya; Elinzano, Heinrich; Harris, Robert J; Rogg, Jeffrey M; Pope, Whitney B; Safran, Howard

2017-06-01

For patients with high-grade glioma on clinical trials it is important to accurately assess time of disease progression. However, differentiation between pseudoprogression (PsP) and progressive disease (PD) is unreliable with standard magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques. Dynamic susceptibility contrast perfusion MRI (DSC-MRI) can measure relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) and may help distinguish PsP from PD. A subset of patients with high-grade glioma on a phase II clinical trial with temozolomide, paclitaxel poliglumex, and concurrent radiation were assessed. Nine patients (3 grade III, 6 grade IV), with a total of 19 enhancing lesions demonstrating progressive enhancement (≥25% increase from nadir) on postchemoradiation conventional contrast-enhanced MRI, had serial DSC-MRI. Mean leakage-corrected rCBV within enhancing lesions was computed for all postchemoradiation time points. Of the 19 progressively enhancing lesions, 10 were classified as PsP and 9 as PD by biopsy/surgery or serial enhancement patterns during interval follow-up MRI. Mean rCBV at initial progressive enhancement did not differ significantly between PsP and PD (2.35 vs. 2.17; P=0.67). However, change in rCBV at first subsequent follow-up (-0.84 vs. 0.84; P=0.001) and the overall linear trend in rCBV after initial progressive enhancement (negative vs. positive slope; P=0.04) differed significantly between PsP and PD. Longitudinal trends in rCBV may be more useful than absolute rCBV in distinguishing PsP from PD in chemoradiation-treated high-grade gliomas with DSC-MRI. Further studies of DSC-MRI in high-grade glioma as a potential technique for distinguishing PsP from PD are indicated.

Helicity-Selective Enhancement and Polarization Control of Attosecond High Harmonic Waveforms Driven by Bichromatic Circularly Polarized Laser Fields.

PubMed

Dorney, Kevin M; Ellis, Jennifer L; Hernández-García, Carlos; Hickstein, Daniel D; Mancuso, Christopher A; Brooks, Nathan; Fan, Tingting; Fan, Guangyu; Zusin, Dmitriy; Gentry, Christian; Grychtol, Patrik; Kapteyn, Henry C; Murnane, Margaret M

2017-08-11

High harmonics driven by two-color counterrotating circularly polarized laser fields are a unique source of bright, circularly polarized, extreme ultraviolet, and soft x-ray beams, where the individual harmonics themselves are completely circularly polarized. Here, we demonstrate the ability to preferentially select either the right or left circularly polarized harmonics simply by adjusting the relative intensity ratio of the bichromatic circularly polarized driving laser field. In the frequency domain, this significantly enhances the harmonic orders that rotate in the same direction as the higher-intensity driving laser. In the time domain, this helicity-dependent enhancement corresponds to control over the polarization of the resulting attosecond waveforms. This helicity control enables the generation of circularly polarized high harmonics with a user-defined polarization of the underlying attosecond bursts. In the future, this technique should allow for the production of bright highly elliptical harmonic supercontinua as well as the generation of isolated elliptically polarized attosecond pulses.

The Iron Project & Iron Opacity Project: Updates on Photoionization, Electron-Ion Recombination of Fe XVII and Ca XV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eissner, W.; Nahar, S.; Pradhan, A.; Hala, H.; Zhao, L.; Bailey, J.

2016-05-01

We have carried out converged close coupling (CCC) calculations for photoionization of Ne-like Fe XVII and demonstrate orders-of-magnitude enhancements in cross section due to successive core excitations. Convergence criteria are: (i) inclusion of sufficient number of residual ion Fe XVIII core states and (ii) high-resolution of myriad autoionizing resonances. We discuss verification of the conventional oscillator strength sum-rule in limited energy regions for bound-free plasma opacity. We will also report preliminary results from a larger R-matrix calculations of photoionization cross sections and electron-ion recombination rates of Ca XV where Rydberg series of resonances are included for core excitations to 28 states of n=2,3 complexes in contrast to previous 7 states of n=2 complex. The new results show existence of high-peak resonances of n=3 complex and enhanced background in high energy photoionization and a corresponding enhancement in the recombination in the high temperature region. Partial support: NSF, DOE, Ohio Supercomputer Center.

Sensitive Detection of Protein and miRNA Cancer Biomarkers using Silicon-Based Photonic Crystals and A Resonance Coupling Laser Scanning Platform

PubMed Central

George, Sherine; Chaudhery, Vikram; Lu, Meng; Takagi, Miki; Amro, Nabil; Pokhriyal, Anusha; Tan, Yafang; Ferreira, Placid; Cunningham, Brian T.

2013-01-01

Enhancement of the fluorescent output of surface-based fluorescence assays by performing them upon nanostructured photonic crystal (PC) surfaces has been demonstrated to increase signal intensities by >8000×. Using the multiplicative effects of optical resonant coupling to the PC in increasing the electric field intensity experienced by fluorescent labels (“enhanced excitation”) and the spatially biased funneling of fluorophore emissions through coupling to PC resonances (“enhanced extraction”), PC enhanced fluorescence (PCEF) can be adapted to reduce the limits of detection of disease biomarker assays, and to reduce the size and cost of high sensitivity detection instrumentation. In this work, we demonstrate the first silicon-based PCEF detection platform for multiplexed biomarker assay. The sensor in this platform is a silicon-based PC structure, comprised of a SiO2 grating that is overcoated with a thin film of high refractive index TiO2 and is produced in a semiconductor foundry for low cost, uniform, and reproducible manufacturing. The compact detection instrument that completes this platform was designed to efficiently couples fluorescence excitation from a semiconductor laser to the resonant optical modes of the PC, resulting in elevated electric field strength that is highly concentrated within the region <100 nm from the PC surface. This instrument utilizes a cylindrically focused line to scan a microarray in <1 minute. To demonstrate the capabilities of this sensor-detector platform, microspot fluorescent sandwich immunoassays using secondary antibodies labeled with Cy5 for two cancer biomarkers (TNF-α and IL-3) were performed. Biomarkers were detected at concentrations as low as 0.1 pM. In a fluorescent microarray for detection of a breast cancer miRNA biomarker miR-21, the miRNA was detectable at a concentration of 0.6 pM. PMID:23963502

Giant Electric Field Enhancement in Split Ring Resonators Featuring Nanometer-Sized Gaps

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bagiante, S.; Enderli, F.; Fabiańska, J.; Sigg, H.; Feurer, T.

2015-01-01

Today's pulsed THz sources enable us to excite, probe, and coherently control the vibrational or rotational dynamics of organic and inorganic materials on ultrafast time scales. Driven by standard laser sources THz electric field strengths of up to several MVm-1 have been reported and in order to reach even higher electric field strengths the use of dedicated electric field enhancement structures has been proposed. Here, we demonstrate resonant electric field enhancement structures, which concentrate the incident electric field in sub-diffraction size volumes and show an electric field enhancement as high as ~14,000 at 50 GHz. These values have been confirmed through a combination of near-field imaging experiments and electromagnetic simulations.

Proof of concept : examining characteristics of roadway infrastructure in various 3D visualization modes.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2015-02-01

Utilizing enhanced visualization in transportation planning and design gained popularity in the last decade. This work aimed at : demonstrating the concept of utilizing a highly immersive, virtual reality simulation engine for creating dynamic, inter...

Resveratrol enhances exercise training responses in rats selectively bred for high running performance.

PubMed

Hart, Nikolett; Sarga, Linda; Csende, Zsolt; Koltai, Erika; Koch, Lauren G; Britton, Steven L; Davies, Kelvin J A; Kouretas, Dimitris; Wessner, Barbara; Radak, Zsolt

2013-11-01

High Capacity Runner (HCR) rats have been developed by divergent artificial selection for treadmill endurance running capacity to explore an aerobic biology-disease connection. The beneficial effects of resveratrol supplementation have been demonstrated in endurance running and the antioxidant capacity of resveratrol is also demonstrated. In this study we examine whether 12 weeks of treadmill exercise training and/or resveratrol can enhance performance in HCR. Indeed, resveratrol increased aerobic performance and strength of upper limbs of these rats. Moreover, we have found that resveratrol activated the AMP-activated protein kinase, SIRT1, and mitochondrial transcription factor A (p<0.05). The changes in mitochondrial fission/fusion and Lon protease/HSP78 levels suggest that exercise training does not significantly induce damage of proteins. Moreover, neither exercise training nor resveratrol supplementation altered the content of protein carbonyls. Changes in the levels of forkhead transcription factor 1 and SIRT4 could suggest increased fat utilization and improved insulin sensitivity. These data indicate, that resveratrol supplementation enhances aerobic performance due to the activation of the AMPK-SIRT1-PGC-1α pathway. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Max CAPR: high-resolution 3D contrast-enhanced MR angiography with acquisition times under 5 seconds.

PubMed

Haider, Clifton R; Borisch, Eric A; Glockner, James F; Mostardi, Petrice M; Rossman, Phillip J; Young, Phillip M; Riederer, Stephen J

2010-10-01

High temporal and spatial resolution is desired in imaging of vascular abnormalities having short arterial-to-venous transit times. Methods that exploit temporal correlation to reduce the observed frame time demonstrate temporal blurring, obfuscating bolus dynamics. Previously, a Cartesian acquisition with projection reconstruction-like (CAPR) sampling method has been demonstrated for three-dimensional contrast-enhanced angiographic imaging of the lower legs using two-dimensional sensitivity-encoding acceleration and partial Fourier acceleration, providing 1mm isotropic resolution of the calves, with 4.9-sec frame time and 17.6-sec temporal footprint. In this work, the CAPR acquisition is further undersampled to provide a net acceleration approaching 40 by eliminating all view sharing. The tradeoff of frame time and temporal footprint in view sharing is presented and characterized in phantom experiments. It is shown that the resultant 4.9-sec acquisition time, three-dimensional images sets have sufficient spatial and temporal resolution to clearly portray arterial and venous phases of contrast passage. It is further hypothesized that these short temporal footprint sequences provide diagnostic quality images. This is tested and shown in a series of nine contrast-enhanced MR angiography patient studies performed with the new method.

Simultaneous Chemical and Refractive Index Sensing in the 1-2.5 μm Near-Infrared Wavelength Range on Nanoporous Gold Disks.

PubMed

Shih, Wei-Chuan; Santos, Greggy M; Zhao, Fusheng; Zenasni, Oussama; Arnob, Md Masud Parvez

2016-07-13

Near-infrared (NIR) absorption spectroscopy provides molecular and chemical information based on overtones and combination bands of the fundamental vibrational modes in the infrared wavelengths. However, the sensitivity of NIR absorption measurement is limited by the generally weak absorption and the relatively poor detector performance compared to other wavelength ranges. To overcome these barriers, we have developed a novel technique to simultaneously obtain chemical and refractive index sensing in 1-2.5 μm NIR wavelength range on nanoporous gold (NPG) disks, which feature high-density plasmonic hot-spots of localized electric field enhancement. For the first time, surface-enhanced near-infrared absorption (SENIRA) spectroscopy has been demonstrated for high sensitivity chemical detection. With a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of octadecanethiol (ODT), an enhancement factor (EF) of up to ∼10(4) has been demonstrated for the first C-H combination band at 2400 nm using NPG disk with 600 nm diameter. Together with localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) extinction spectroscopy, simultaneous sensing of sample refractive index has been achieved for the first time. The performance of this technique has been evaluated using various hydrocarbon compounds and crude oil samples.

High-Efficiency Nanowire Solar Cells with Omnidirectionally Enhanced Absorption Due to Self-Aligned Indium-Tin-Oxide Mie Scatterers.

PubMed

van Dam, Dick; van Hoof, Niels J J; Cui, Yingchao; van Veldhoven, Peter J; Bakkers, Erik P A M; Gómez Rivas, Jaime; Haverkort, Jos E M

2016-12-27

Photovoltaic cells based on arrays of semiconductor nanowires promise efficiencies comparable or even better than their planar counterparts with much less material. One reason for the high efficiencies is their large absorption cross section, but until recently the photocurrent has been limited to less than 70% of the theoretical maximum. Here we enhance the absorption in indium phosphide (InP) nanowire solar cells by employing broadband forward scattering of self-aligned nanoparticles on top of the transparent top contact layer. This results in a nanowire solar cell with a photovoltaic conversion efficiency of 17.8% and a short-circuit current of 29.3 mA/cm 2 under 1 sun illumination, which is the highest reported so far for nanowire solar cells and among the highest reported for III-V solar cells. We also measure the angle-dependent photocurrent, using time-reversed Fourier microscopy, and demonstrate a broadband and omnidirectional absorption enhancement for unpolarized light up to 60° with a wavelength average of 12% due to Mie scattering. These results unambiguously demonstrate the potential of semiconductor nanowires as nanostructures for the next generation of photovoltaic devices.

Enhancement of caffeic acid phenethyl ester on all-trans retinoic acid-induced differentiation in human leukemia HL-60 cells

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kuo, H.-C.; Kuo, W.-H.; Lee, Y.-J.

2006-10-01

All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) induces complete remission in a high proportion of patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL); however, the response is sometimes very slow. Furthermore, relapse and resistance to treatment often occur despite continued treatment with ATRA. Thereafter, combination treatment strategies have been suggested to circumvent these problems. The present study demonstrates that caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), a major component of honeybee propolis, enhanced ATRA-induced granulocytic differentiation in HL-60, a human promyelocytic cell line. The differentiation was assessed by Wright-Giemsa stain, nitroblue tetrazolium reduction, and membrane differentiation marker CD11b. In addition, CAPE enhanced ATRA-induced cell cycle arrest atmore » the G1 phase by decreasing the association of cdk2-cyclin E complex. Finally, it was demonstrated that CAPE promoted the ATRA-mediated nuclear transcription activation of RAR{alpha} assessed by EMSA assay and enhanced the expression of target genes including RAR{alpha}, C/EBP{epsilon}, and p21 protein resulting in the differentiation development of leukemia. It is suggested that CAPE possesses the potential to enhance the efficiency of ATRA in the differentiation therapy of APL.« less

BPELPower—A BPEL execution engine for geospatial web services

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Genong (Eugene); Zhao, Peisheng; Di, Liping; Chen, Aijun; Deng, Meixia; Bai, Yuqi

2012-10-01

The Business Process Execution Language (BPEL) has become a popular choice for orchestrating and executing workflows in the Web environment. As one special kind of scientific workflow, geospatial Web processing workflows are data-intensive, deal with complex structures in data and geographic features, and execute automatically with limited human intervention. To enable the proper execution and coordination of geospatial workflows, a specially enhanced BPEL execution engine is required. BPELPower was designed, developed, and implemented as a generic BPEL execution engine with enhancements for executing geospatial workflows. The enhancements are especially in its capabilities in handling Geography Markup Language (GML) and standard geospatial Web services, such as the Web Processing Service (WPS) and the Web Feature Service (WFS). BPELPower has been used in several demonstrations over the decade. Two scenarios were discussed in detail to demonstrate the capabilities of BPELPower. That study showed a standard-compliant, Web-based approach for properly supporting geospatial processing, with the only enhancement at the implementation level. Pattern-based evaluation and performance improvement of the engine are discussed: BPELPower directly supports 22 workflow control patterns and 17 workflow data patterns. In the future, the engine will be enhanced with high performance parallel processing and broad Web paradigms.

Endothelial-derived interleukin-6 induces cancer stem cell motility by generating a chemotactic gradient towards blood vessels.

PubMed

Kim, Hong Sun; Chen, Yu-Chih; Nör, Felipe; Warner, Kristy A; Andrews, April; Wagner, Vivian P; Zhang, Zhaocheng; Zhang, Zhixiong; Martins, Manoela D; Pearson, Alexander T; Yoon, Euisik; Nör, Jacques E

2017-11-21

Recent evidence suggests that the metastatic spread of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) requires the function of cancer stem cells endowed with multipotency, self-renewal, and high tumorigenic potential. We demonstrated that cancer stem cells reside in perivascular niches and are characterized by high aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity and high CD44 expression (ALDH high CD44 high ) in HNSCC. Here, we hypothesize that endothelial cell-secreted interleukin-6 (IL-6) contributes to tumor progression by enhancing the migratory phenotype and survival of cancer stem cells. Analysis of tissue microarrays generated from the invasive fronts of 77 HNSCC patients followed-up for up to 11 years revealed that high expression of IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) (p=0.0217) or co-receptor gp130 (p=0.0422) correlates with low HNSCC patient survival. We observed that endothelial cell-secreted factors induce epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and enhance invasive capacity of HNSCC cancer stem cells. Conditioned medium from CRISPR/Cas9-mediated IL-6 knockout primary human endothelial cells is less chemotactic for cancer stem cells in a microfluidics-based system than medium from control endothelial cells (p<0.05). Blockade of the IL-6 pathway with a humanized anti-IL-6R antibody (tocilizumab) inhibited endothelial cell-induced motility in vitro and decreased the fraction of cancer stem cells in vivo . Notably, xenograft HNSCC tumors vascularized with IL-6-knockout endothelial cells exhibited slower tumor growth and smaller cancer stem cell fraction. These findings demonstrate that endothelial cell-secreted IL-6 enhances the motility and survival of highly tumorigenic cancer stem cells, suggesting that endothelial cells can create a chemotactic gradient that enables the movement of carcinoma cells towards blood vessels.

Enhancing the specificity of polymerase chain reaction by graphene oxide through surface modification: zwitterionic polymer is superior to other polymers with different charges.

PubMed

Zhong, Yong; Huang, Lihong; Zhang, Zhisen; Xiong, Yunjing; Sun, Liping; Weng, Jian

Graphene oxides (GOs) with different surface characteristics, such as size, reduction degree and charge, are prepared, and their effects on the specificity of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are investigated. In this study, we demonstrate that GO with a large size and high reduction degree is superior to small and nonreduced GO in enhancing the specificity of PCR. Negatively charged polyacrylic acid (PAA), positively charged polyacrylamide (PAM), neutral polyethylene glycol (PEG) and zwitterionic polymer poly(sulfobetaine) (pSB) are used to modify GO. The PCR specificity-enhancing ability increases in the following order: GO-PAA < GO-PAM < GO-PEG < GO-pSB. Thus, zwitterionic polymer-modified GO is superior to other GO derivatives with different charges in enhancing the specificity of PCR. GO derivatives are also successfully used to enhance the specificity of PCR for the amplification of human mitochondrial DNA using blood genomic DNA as template. Molecular dynamics simulations and molecular docking are performed to elucidate the interaction between the polymers and Pfu DNA polymerase. Our data demonstrate that the size, reduction degree and surface charge of GO affect the specificity of PCR. Based on our results, zwitterionic polymer-modified GO may be used as an efficient additive for enhancing the specificity of PCR.

High-performance LED luminaire for sports hall

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Xuan-Hao; Yang, Jin-Tsung; Chien, Wei-Ting; Chang, Jung-Hsuan; Lo, Yi-Chien; Lin, Che-Chu; Sun, Ching-Cherng

2015-09-01

In this paper, we present a luminaire design with anti-glare and energy-saving effects for sports hall. Compared with traditional lamps using in a badminton court, the average illuminance on the ground of the proposed LED luminaire is enhanced about 300%. Besides, the uniformity is obviously enhanced and improved. The switch-on speed of lighting in sports hall is greatly reduced from 5-10 minutes to 1 second. The simulation analysis and the corresponding experiment results are demonstrated.

Plasmonically enhanced hot electron based photovoltaic device.

PubMed

Atar, Fatih B; Battal, Enes; Aygun, Levent E; Daglar, Bihter; Bayindir, Mehmet; Okyay, Ali K

2013-03-25

Hot electron photovoltaics is emerging as a candidate for low cost and ultra thin solar cells. Plasmonic means can be utilized to significantly boost device efficiency. We separately form the tunneling metal-insulator-metal (MIM) junction for electron collection and the plasmon exciting MIM structure on top of each other, which provides high flexibility in plasmonic design and tunneling MIM design separately. We demonstrate close to one order of magnitude enhancement in the short circuit current at the resonance wavelengths.

Real-time trace gas sensor using a multimode diode laser and multiple-line integrated cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy.

PubMed

Karpf, Andreas; Rao, Gottipaty N

2015-07-01

We describe and demonstrate a highly sensitive trace gas sensor based on a simplified design that is capable of measuring sub-ppb concentrations of NO2 in tens of milliseconds. The sensor makes use of a relatively inexpensive Fabry-Perot diode laser to conduct off-axis cavity enhanced spectroscopy. The broad frequency range of a multimode Fabry-Perot diode laser spans a large number of absorption lines, thereby removing the need for a single-frequency tunable laser source. The use of cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy enhances the sensitivity of the sensor by providing a pathlength on the order of 1 km in a small volume. Off-axis alignment excites a large number of cavity modes simultaneously, thereby reducing the sensor's susceptibility to vibration. Multiple-line integrated absorption spectroscopy (where one integrates the absorption spectra over a large number of rovibronic transitions of the molecular species) further improves the sensitivity of detection. Relatively high laser power (∼400  mW) is used to compensate for the low coupling efficiency of a broad linewidth laser to the optical cavity. The approach was demonstrated using a 407 nm diode laser to detect trace quantities of NO2 in zero air. Sensitivities of 750 ppt, 110 ppt, and 65 ppt were achieved using integration times of 50 ms, 5 s, and 20 s respectively.

A large-scale superhydrophobic surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) platform fabricated via capillary force lithography and assembly of Ag nanocubes for ultratrace molecular sensing.

PubMed

Tan, Joel Ming Rui; Ruan, Justina Jiexin; Lee, Hiang Kwee; Phang, In Yee; Ling, Xing Yi

2014-12-28

An analytical platform with an ultratrace detection limit in the atto-molar (aM) concentration range is vital for forensic, industrial and environmental sectors that handle scarce/highly toxic samples. Superhydrophobic surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) platforms serve as ideal platforms to enhance detection sensitivity by reducing the random spreading of aqueous solution. However, the fabrication of superhydrophobic SERS platforms is generally limited due to the use of sophisticated and expensive protocols and/or suffers structural and signal inconsistency. Herein, we demonstrate a high-throughput fabrication of a stable and uniform superhydrophobic SERS platform for ultratrace molecular sensing. Large-area box-like micropatterns of the polymeric surface are first fabricated using capillary force lithography (CFL). Subsequently, plasmonic properties are incorporated into the patterned surfaces by decorating with Ag nanocubes using the Langmuir-Schaefer technique. To create a stable superhydrophobic SERS platform, an additional 25 nm Ag film is coated over the Ag nanocube-decorated patterned template followed by chemical functionalization with perfluorodecanethiol. Our resulting superhydrophobic SERS platform demonstrates excellent water-repellency with a static contact angle of 165° ± 9° and a consequent analyte concentration factor of 59-fold, as compared to its hydrophilic counterpart. By combining the analyte concentration effect of superhydrophobic surfaces with the intense electromagnetic "hot spots" of Ag nanocubes, our superhydrophobic SERS platform achieves an ultra-low detection limit of 10(-17) M (10 aM) for rhodamine 6G using just 4 μL of analyte solutions, corresponding to an analytical SERS enhancement factor of 10(13). Our fabrication protocol demonstrates a simple, cost- and time-effective approach for the large-scale fabrication of a superhydrophobic SERS platform for ultratrace molecular detection.

High Performance Computing Software Applications for Space Situational Awareness

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giuliano, C.; Schumacher, P.; Matson, C.; Chun, F.; Duncan, B.; Borelli, K.; Desonia, R.; Gusciora, G.; Roe, K.

The High Performance Computing Software Applications Institute for Space Situational Awareness (HSAI-SSA) has completed its first full year of applications development. The emphasis of our work in this first year was in improving space surveillance sensor models and image enhancement software. These applications are the Space Surveillance Network Analysis Model (SSNAM), the Air Force Space Fence simulation (SimFence), and physically constrained iterative de-convolution (PCID) image enhancement software tool. Specifically, we have demonstrated order of magnitude speed-up in those codes running on the latest Cray XD-1 Linux supercomputer (Hoku) at the Maui High Performance Computing Center. The software applications improvements that HSAI-SSA has made, has had significant impact to the warfighter and has fundamentally changed the role of high performance computing in SSA.

An adaptive discontinuous Galerkin solver for aerodynamic flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burgess, Nicholas K.

This work considers the accuracy, efficiency, and robustness of an unstructured high-order accurate discontinuous Galerkin (DG) solver for computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Recently, there has been a drive to reduce the discretization error of CFD simulations using high-order methods on unstructured grids. However, high-order methods are often criticized for lacking robustness and having high computational cost. The goal of this work is to investigate methods that enhance the robustness of high-order discontinuous Galerkin (DG) methods on unstructured meshes, while maintaining low computational cost and high accuracy of the numerical solutions. This work investigates robustness enhancement of high-order methods by examining effective non-linear solvers, shock capturing methods, turbulence model discretizations and adaptive refinement techniques. The goal is to develop an all encompassing solver that can simulate a large range of physical phenomena, where all aspects of the solver work together to achieve a robust, efficient and accurate solution strategy. The components and framework for a robust high-order accurate solver that is capable of solving viscous, Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) and shocked flows is presented. In particular, this work discusses robust discretizations of the turbulence model equation used to close the RANS equations, as well as stable shock capturing strategies that are applicable across a wide range of discretization orders and applicable to very strong shock waves. Furthermore, refinement techniques are considered as both efficiency and robustness enhancement strategies. Additionally, efficient non-linear solvers based on multigrid and Krylov subspace methods are presented. The accuracy, efficiency, and robustness of the solver is demonstrated using a variety of challenging aerodynamic test problems, which include turbulent high-lift and viscous hypersonic flows. Adaptive mesh refinement was found to play a critical role in obtaining a robust and efficient high-order accurate flow solver. A goal-oriented error estimation technique has been developed to estimate the discretization error of simulation outputs. For high-order discretizations, it is shown that functional output error super-convergence can be obtained, provided the discretization satisfies a property known as dual consistency. The dual consistency of the DG methods developed in this work is shown via mathematical analysis and numerical experimentation. Goal-oriented error estimation is also used to drive an hp-adaptive mesh refinement strategy, where a combination of mesh or h-refinement, and order or p-enrichment, is employed based on the smoothness of the solution. The results demonstrate that the combination of goal-oriented error estimation and hp-adaptation yield superior accuracy, as well as enhanced robustness and efficiency for a variety of aerodynamic flows including flows with strong shock waves. This work demonstrates that DG discretizations can be the basis of an accurate, efficient, and robust CFD solver. Furthermore, enhancing the robustness of DG methods does not adversely impact the accuracy or efficiency of the solver for challenging and complex flow problems. In particular, when considering the computation of shocked flows, this work demonstrates that the available shock capturing techniques are sufficiently accurate and robust, particularly when used in conjunction with adaptive mesh refinement . This work also demonstrates that robust solutions of the Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) and turbulence model equations can be obtained for complex and challenging aerodynamic flows. In this context, the most robust strategy was determined to be a low-order turbulence model discretization coupled to a high-order discretization of the RANS equations. Although RANS solutions using high-order accurate discretizations of the turbulence model were obtained, the behavior of current-day RANS turbulence models discretized to high-order was found to be problematic, leading to solver robustness issues. This suggests that future work is warranted in the area of turbulence model formulation for use with high-order discretizations. Alternately, the use of Large-Eddy Simulation (LES) subgrid scale models with high-order DG methods offers the potential to leverage the high accuracy of these methods for very high fidelity turbulent simulations. This thesis has developed the algorithmic improvements that will lay the foundation for the development of a three-dimensional high-order flow solution strategy that can be used as the basis for future LES simulations.

Toward practical SERS sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Yiping

2012-06-01

Since its discovery more than 30 years ago, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has been recognized as a highly sensitive detection technique for chemical and biological sensing and medical diagnostics. However, the practical application of this remarkably sensitive technique has not been widely accepted as a viable diagnostic method due to the difficulty in preparing robust and reproducible substrates that provide maximum SERS enhancement. Here, we demonstrate that the aligned silver nanorod (AgNR) array substrates engineered by the oblique angle deposition method are capable of providing extremely high SERS enhancement factors (>108). The substrates are large area, uniform, reproducible, and compatible with general microfabrication process. The enhancement factor depends strongly on the length and shape of the Ag nanorods and the underlying substrate coating. By optimizing AgNR SERS substrates, we show that SERS is able to detect trace amount of toxins, virus, bacteria, or other chemical and biological molecules, and distinguish different viruses/bacteria and virus/bacteria strains. The substrate can be tailored into a multi-well chip for high throughput screening, integrated into fiber tip for portable sensing, incorporated into fluid/microfluidic devices for in situ real-time monitoring, fabricated onto a flexible substrate for tracking and identification, or used as on-chip separation device for ultra-thin layer chromatography and diagnostics. By combining the unique SERS substrates with a handheld Raman system, it can become a practical and portable sensor system for field applications. All these developments have demonstrated that AgNR SERS substrates could play an important role in the future for practical clinical, industrial, defense, and security sensing applications.

Fabrication of a self-assembled and flexible SERS nanosensor for explosive detection at parts-per-quadrillion levels from fingerprints.

PubMed

Liyanage, Thakshila; Rael, Ashur; Shaffer, Sidney; Zaidi, Shozaf; Goodpaster, John V; Sardar, Rajesh

2018-04-30

Apart from high sensitivity and selectivity of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based trace explosive detection, efficient sampling of explosive residue from real world surfaces is very important for homeland security applications. Herein, we demonstrate an entirely new SERS nanosensor fabrication approach. The SERS nanosensor was prepared by self-assembling chemically synthesized gold triangular nanoprisms (Au TNPs), which we show display strong electromagnetic field enhancements at the sharp tips and edges, onto a pressure-sensitive flexible adhesive film. Our SERS nanosensor provides excellent SERS activity (enhancement factor = ∼6.0 × 106) and limit of detection (as low as 56 parts-per-quadrillions) with high selectivity by chemometric analyses among three commonly military high explosives (TNT, RDX, and PETN). Furthermore, the SERS nanosensors present excellent reproducibility (<4.0% relative standard deviation at 1.0 μM concentration) and unprecedentedly high stability with a "shelf life" of at least 5 months. Finally, TNT and PETN were analyzed and quantified by transferring solid explosive residues from fingerprints left on solid surfaces to the SERS nanosensor. Taken together, the demonstrated sensitivity, selectivity, and reliability of the measurements as well as with the excellent shelf life of our SERS nanosensors obviate the need for complicated sample processing steps required for other analytical techniques, and thus these nanosensors have tremendous potential not only in the field of measurement science but also for homeland security applications to combat acts of terror and military threats.

Characterization of cap-shaped silver particles for surface-enhanced fluorescence effects.

PubMed

Yamaguchi, Tetsuji; Kaya, Takatoshi; Takei, Hiroyuki

2007-05-15

Surface-enhanced fluorescence has potentially many desirable properties as an analytical method for medical diagnostics, but the effect observed so far is rather modest and only in conjunction with fluorophores with low quantum yields. Coupled with the fact that preparation of suitable surfaces at low costs has been difficult, this has limited its utilities. Here we report a novel method for forming uniform and reproducible surfaces with respectable enhancement ratios even for high-quantum-yield fluorophores. Formation of dense surface-adsorbed latex spheres on a flat surface via partial aggregation, followed by evaporation of silver, results in a film consisting of cap-shaped silver particles at high densities. Binding of fluorescence biomolecules, either through physisorption or antigen-antibody reaction, was performed, and enhancements close to 50 have been observed with fluorophores such as R-phycoerythrin and Alexa 546-labeled, bovine serum albumin, both of which have quantum yields around 0.8. We attribute this to the unique shape of the silver particle and the presence of abundant gaps among adjacent particles at high densities. The effectiveness of the new surface is also demonstrated with IL-6 sandwich assays.

A novel rail defect detection method based on undecimated lifting wavelet packet transform and Shannon entropy-improved adaptive line enhancer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hao, Qiushi; Zhang, Xin; Wang, Yan; Shen, Yi; Makis, Viliam

2018-07-01

Acoustic emission (AE) technology is sensitive to subliminal rail defects, however strong wheel-rail contact rolling noise under high-speed condition has gravely impeded detecting of rail defects using traditional denoising methods. In this context, the paper develops an adaptive detection method for rail cracks, which combines multiresolution analysis with an improved adaptive line enhancer (ALE). To obtain elaborate multiresolution information of transient crack signals with low computational cost, lifting scheme-based undecimated wavelet packet transform is adopted. In order to feature the impulsive property of crack signals, a Shannon entropy-improved ALE is proposed as a signal enhancing approach, where Shannon entropy is introduced to improve the cost function. Then a rail defect detection plan based on the proposed method for high-speed condition is put forward. From theoretical analysis and experimental verification, it is demonstrated that the proposed method has superior performance in enhancing the rail defect AE signal and reducing the strong background noise, offering an effective multiresolution approach for rail defect detection under high-speed and strong-noise condition.

Nanofluidic fuel cell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Jin Wook; Kjeang, Erik

2013-11-01

Fuel cells are gaining momentum as a critical component in the renewable energy mix for stationary, transportation, and portable power applications. State-of-the-art fuel cell technology benefits greatly from nanotechnology applied to nanostructured membranes, catalysts, and electrodes. However, the potential of utilizing nanofluidics for fuel cells has not yet been explored, despite the significant opportunity of harnessing rapid nanoscale reactant transport in close proximity to the reactive sites. In the present article, a nanofluidic fuel cell that utilizes fluid flow through nanoporous media is conceptualized and demonstrated for the first time. This transformative concept captures the advantages of recently developed membraneless and catalyst-free fuel cell architectures paired with the enhanced interfacial contact area enabled by nanofluidics. When compared to previously reported microfluidic fuel cells, the prototype nanofluidic fuel cell demonstrates increased surface area, reduced activation overpotential, superior kinetic characteristics, and moderately enhanced fuel cell performance in the high cell voltage regime with up to 14% higher power density. However, the expected mass transport benefits in the high current density regime were constrained by high ohmic cell resistance, which could likely be resolved through future optimization studies.

Fabrication of Gold-coated 3-D Woodpile Structures for Mid-IR Thermal Emitters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Shengkai; Moridani, Amir; Kothari, Rohit; Lee, Jae-Hwang; Watkins, James

3-D metallic woodpile nanostructures possess enhancements in thermal radiation that are both wavelength and polarization specific and are promising for thermal-optical devices for various applications including thermal photovoltaics, self-cooling devices, and chemical and bio-sensors. However, current fabrication techniques for such structures are limited by slow speed, small area capability, the need for expensive facilities and, in general, are not suitable for high-throughput mass production. Here we demonstrate a new strategy for the fabrication of 3D metallic woodpile structures. Well-defined TiO2 woodpile structures were fabricated using a layer-by-layer nanoimprint method using TiO2 nanoparticle ink dispersions. The TiO2 woodpile was then coated with a high purity, conformal gold film via reactive deposition in supercritical carbon dioxide. The final gold-coated woodpile structures exhibit strong spectral and polarization specific thermal emission enhancements. The fabrication method demonstrated here is promising for high-throughput, low-cost preparation of 3D metallic woodpile structures and other 3D nanostructures. Center for Hierarchical Manufacturing, NSF.

Cold plasma welding of polyaniline nanofibers with enhanced electrical and mechanical properties.

PubMed

Ye, Dong; Yu, Yao; Liu, Lin; Lu, Xinpei; Wu, Yue

2015-12-11

Joining conducting polymer (CP) nanofibers into an interconnected porous network can result in good mechanical and electrical contacts between nanofibers that can be beneficial for the high performance of CP-based devices. Here, we demonstrate the cold welding of polyaniline (PAni) nanofiber loose ends with cold plasma. The room-temperature and atmospheric-pressure helium micro-plasma jet launches highly charged ion bullets at a PAni nanofiber target with high precision and the highly charged ion bullet selectively induces field emission at the sharp nanofiber loose ends. This technique joins nanofiber tips without altering the morphology of the film and protonation thus leading to significantly enhanced electrical and mechanical properties. In addition, this technique has high spatial resolution and is able to selectively weld and dope regions of nanofiber film with promising novel device applications.

Cold plasma welding of polyaniline nanofibers with enhanced electrical and mechanical properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ye, Dong; Yu, Yao; Liu, Lin; Lu, Xinpei; Wu, Yue

2015-12-01

Joining conducting polymer (CP) nanofibers into an interconnected porous network can result in good mechanical and electrical contacts between nanofibers that can be beneficial for the high performance of CP-based devices. Here, we demonstrate the cold welding of polyaniline (PAni) nanofiber loose ends with cold plasma. The room-temperature and atmospheric-pressure helium micro-plasma jet launches highly charged ion bullets at a PAni nanofiber target with high precision and the highly charged ion bullet selectively induces field emission at the sharp nanofiber loose ends. This technique joins nanofiber tips without altering the morphology of the film and protonation thus leading to significantly enhanced electrical and mechanical properties. In addition, this technique has high spatial resolution and is able to selectively weld and dope regions of nanofiber film with promising novel device applications.

Sleep is not just for the brain: transcriptional responses to sleep in peripheral tissues.

PubMed

Anafi, Ron C; Pellegrino, Renata; Shockley, Keith R; Romer, Micah; Tufik, Sergio; Pack, Allan I

2013-05-30

Many have assumed that the primary function of sleep is for the brain. We evaluated the molecular consequences of sleep and sleep deprivation outside the brain, in heart and lung. Using microarrays we compared gene expression in tissue from sleeping and sleep deprived mice euthanized at the same diurnal times. In each tissue, nearly two thousand genes demonstrated statistically significant differential expression as a function of sleep/wake behavioral state. To mitigate the influence of an artificial deprivation protocol, we identified a subset of these transcripts as specifically sleep-enhanced or sleep-repressed by requiring that their expression also change over the course of unperturbed sleep. 3% and 6% of the assayed transcripts showed "sleep specific" changes in the lung and heart respectively. Sleep specific transcripts in these tissues demonstrated highly significant overlap and shared temporal dynamics. Markers of cellular stress and the unfolded protein response were reduced during sleep in both tissues. These results mirror previous findings in brain. Sleep-enhanced pathways reflected the unique metabolic functions of each tissue. Transcripts related to carbohydrate and sulfur metabolic processes were enhanced by sleep in the lung, and collectively favor buffering from oxidative stress. DNA repair and protein metabolism annotations were significantly enriched among the sleep-enhanced transcripts in the heart. Our results also suggest that sleep may provide a Zeitgeber, or synchronizing cue, in the lung as a large cluster of transcripts demonstrated systematic changes in inter-animal variability as a function of both sleep duration and circadian time. Our data support the notion that the molecular consequences of sleep/wake behavioral state extend beyond the brain to include peripheral tissues. Sleep state induces a highly overlapping response in both heart and lung. We conclude that sleep enhances organ specific molecular functions and that it has a ubiquitous role in reducing cellular metabolic stress in both brain and peripheral tissues. Finally, our data suggest a novel role for sleep in synchronizing transcription in peripheral tissues.

Navy/Marine Corps innovative science and technology developments for future enhanced mine detection capabilities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Holloway, John H., Jr.; Witherspoon, Ned H.; Miller, Richard E.; Davis, Kenn S.; Suiter, Harold R.; Hilton, Russell J.

2000-08-01

JMDT is a Navy/Marine Corps 6.2 Exploratory Development program that is closely coordinated with the 6.4 COBRA acquisition program. The objective of the program is to develop innovative science and technology to enhance future mine detection capabilities. The objective of the program is to develop innovative science and technology to enhance future mine detection capabilities. Prior to transition to acquisition, the COBRA ATD was extremely successful in demonstrating a passive airborne multispectral video sensor system operating in the tactical Pioneer unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), combined with an integrated ground station subsystem to detect and locate minefields from surf zone to inland areas. JMDT is investigating advanced technology solutions for future enhancements in mine field detection capability beyond the current COBRA ATD demonstrated capabilities. JMDT has recently been delivered next- generation, innovative hardware which was specified by the Coastal System Station and developed under contract. This hardware includes an agile-tuning multispectral, polarimetric, digital video camera and advanced multi wavelength laser illumination technologies to extend the same sorts of multispectral detections from a UAV into the night and over shallow water and other difficult littoral regions. One of these illumination devices is an ultra- compact, highly-efficient near-IR laser diode array. The other is a multi-wavelength range-gateable laser. Additionally, in conjunction with this new technology, algorithm enhancements are being developed in JMDT for future naval capabilities which will outperform the already impressive record of automatic detection of minefields demonstrated by the COBAR ATD.

Genome-wide characterization of mammalian promoters with distal enhancer functions.

PubMed

Dao, Lan T M; Galindo-Albarrán, Ariel O; Castro-Mondragon, Jaime A; Andrieu-Soler, Charlotte; Medina-Rivera, Alejandra; Souaid, Charbel; Charbonnier, Guillaume; Griffon, Aurélien; Vanhille, Laurent; Stephen, Tharshana; Alomairi, Jaafar; Martin, David; Torres, Magali; Fernandez, Nicolas; Soler, Eric; van Helden, Jacques; Puthier, Denis; Spicuglia, Salvatore

2017-07-01

Gene expression in mammals is precisely regulated by the combination of promoters and gene-distal regulatory regions, known as enhancers. Several studies have suggested that some promoters might have enhancer functions. However, the extent of this type of promoters and whether they actually function to regulate the expression of distal genes have remained elusive. Here, by exploiting a high-throughput enhancer reporter assay, we unravel a set of mammalian promoters displaying enhancer activity. These promoters have distinct genomic and epigenomic features and frequently interact with other gene promoters. Extensive CRISPR-Cas9 genomic manipulation demonstrated the involvement of these promoters in the cis regulation of expression of distal genes in their natural loci. Our results have important implications for the understanding of complex gene regulation in normal development and disease.

Reduction of Decoy Receptor 3 Enhances TRAIL-Mediated Apoptosis in Pancreatic Cancer

PubMed Central

Wang, Wei; Yang, Shanmin; Su, Ying; Zhang, Hengshan; Liu, Chaomei; Li, Xinfeng; Lin, Ling; Kim, Sunghee; Okunieff, Paul; Zhang, Zhenhuan; Zhang, Lurong

2013-01-01

Most human pancreatic cancer cells are resistant to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-mediated apoptosis. However, the mechanisms by which pancreatic cancer cells utilize their extracellular molecules to counteract the proapoptotic signaling mediated by the TNF family are largely unknown. In this study, we demonstrate for the first time that DcR3, a secreted decoy receptor that malignant pancreatic cancer cells express at a high level, acts as an extracellular antiapoptotic molecule by binding to TRAIL and counteracting its death-promoting function. The reduction of DcR3 with siRNA unmasked TRAIL and greatly enhanced TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Gemcitabine, a first-line drug for pancreatic cancer, also reduced the level of DcR3. The addition of DcR3 siRNA further enhanced gemcitabine-induced apoptosis. Notably, our in vivo study demonstrated that the therapeutic effect of gemcitabine could be enhanced via further reduction of DcR3, suggesting that downregulation of DcR3 in tumor cells could tip the balance of pancreatic cells towards apoptosis and potentially serve as a new strategy for pancreatic cancer therapy. PMID:24204567

Plasmonic enhancement of second-harmonic generation of dielectric layer embedded in metal-dielectric-metal structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kang, Byungjun; Imakita, Kenji; Fujii, Minoru; Hayashi, Shinji

2018-03-01

The enhancement of second-harmonic generation from a dielectric layer embedded in a metal-dielectric-metal structure upon excitation of surface plasmon polaritons is demonstrated experimentally. The metal-dielectric-metal structure consisting of a Gex(SiO2)1-x layer sandwiched by two Ag layers was prepared, and the surface plasmon polaritons were excited in an attenuated total reflection geometry. The measured attenuated total reflection spectra exhibited two reflection dips corresponding to the excitation of two different surface plasmon polariton modes. Strong second-harmonic signals were observed under the excitation of these surface plasmon polariton modes. The results demonstrate that the second-harmonic intensity of the Gex(SiO2)1-x layer is highly enhanced relative to that of the single layer deposited on a substrate. Under the excitation of one of the two surface plasmon polariton modes, the estimated enhancement factor falls in a range between 39.9 and 171, while under the excitation of the other surface plasmon polariton mode, it falls in a range between 3.96 and 84.6.

Robust nanogenerators based on graft copolymers via control of dielectrics for remarkable output power enhancement

PubMed Central

Lee, Jae Won; Cho, Hye Jin; Chun, Jinsung; Kim, Kyeong Nam; Kim, Seongsu; Ahn, Chang Won; Kim, Ill Won; Kim, Ju-Young; Kim, Sang-Woo; Yang, Changduk; Baik, Jeong Min

2017-01-01

A robust nanogenerator based on poly(tert-butyl acrylate) (PtBA)–grafted polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) copolymers via dielectric constant control through an atom-transfer radical polymerization technique, which can markedly increase the output power, is demonstrated. The copolymer is mainly composed of α phases with enhanced dipole moments due to the π-bonding and polar characteristics of the ester functional groups in the PtBA, resulting in the increase of dielectric constant values by approximately twice, supported by Kelvin probe force microscopy measurements. This increase in the dielectric constant significantly increased the density of the charges that can be accumulated on the copolymer during physical contact. The nanogenerator generates output signals of 105 V and 25 μA/cm2, a 20-fold enhancement in output power, compared to pristine PVDF–based nanogenerator after tuning the surface potential using a poling method. The markedly enhanced output performance is quite stable and reliable in harsh mechanical environments due to the high flexibility of the films. On the basis of these results, a much faster charging characteristic is demonstrated in this study. PMID:28560339

Ultrasensitive detection and characterization of molecules with infrared plasmonic metamaterials

PubMed Central

Cheng, Fei; Yang, Xiaodong; Gao, Jie

2015-01-01

Infrared vibrational spectroscopy is an effective technique which enables the direct probe of molecular fingerprints, and such detection can be further enhanced by the emerging engineered plasmonic metamaterials. Here we experimentally demonstrate ultrasensitive detection and characterization of polymer molecules based on an asymmetric infrared plasmonic metamaterial, and quantitatively analyze the molecule detection sensitivity and molecule-structure interactions. A sharp, non-radiative Fano resonance supported by the plasmonic metamaterial exhibits strongly enhanced near-field, and the resonance frequency is tailored to match the vibrational fingerprint of the target molecule. By utilizing the near-field nature of the plasmonic excitation, significantly enhanced absorption signal of molecules in the infrared spectroscopy are obtained, enabling ultrasensitive detection of only minute quantities of organic molecules. The enhancement of molecular absorption up to 105 fold is obtained, and sensitive detection of molecules at zeptomole levels (corresponding to a few tens of molecules within a unit cell) is achieved with high signal-to-noise ratio in our experiment. The demonstrated infrared plasmonic metamaterial sensing platform offers great potential for improving the specificity and sensitivity of label-free, biochemical detection. PMID:26388404

Electroactive biodegradable polyurethane significantly enhanced Schwann cells myelin gene expression and neurotrophin secretion for peripheral nerve tissue engineering.

PubMed

Wu, Yaobin; Wang, Ling; Guo, Baolin; Shao, Yongpin; Ma, Peter X

2016-05-01

Myelination of Schwann cells (SCs) is critical for the success of peripheral nerve regeneration, and biomaterials that can promote SCs' neurotrophin secretion as scaffolds are beneficial for nerve repair. Here we present a biomaterials-approach, specifically, a highly tunable conductive biodegradable flexible polyurethane by polycondensation of poly(glycerol sebacate) and aniline pentamer, to significantly enhance SCs' myelin gene expression and neurotrophin secretion for peripheral nerve tissue engineering. SCs are cultured on these conductive polymer films, and the biocompatibility of these films and their ability to enhance myelin gene expressions and sustained neurotrophin secretion are successfully demonstrated. The mechanism of SCs' neurotrophin secretion on conductive films is demonstrated by investigating the relationship between intracellular Ca(2+) level and SCs' myelination. Furthermore, the neurite growth and elongation of PC12 cells are induced by adding the neurotrophin medium suspension produced from SCs-laden conductive films. These data suggest that these conductive degradable polyurethanes that enhance SCs' myelin gene expressions and sustained neurotrophin secretion perform great potential for nerve regeneration applications. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Topographically Engineered Large Scale Nanostructures for Plasmonic Biosensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiao, Bo; Pradhan, Sangram K.; Santiago, Kevin C.; Rutherford, Gugu N.; Pradhan, Aswini K.

2016-04-01

We demonstrate that a nanostructured metal thin film can achieve enhanced transmission efficiency and sharp resonances and use a large-scale and high-throughput nanofabrication technique for the plasmonic structures. The fabrication technique combines the features of nanoimprint and soft lithography to topographically construct metal thin films with nanoscale patterns. Metal nanogratings developed using this method show significantly enhanced optical transmission (up to a one-order-of-magnitude enhancement) and sharp resonances with full width at half maximum (FWHM) of ~15nm in the zero-order transmission using an incoherent white light source. These nanostructures are sensitive to the surrounding environment, and the resonance can shift as the refractive index changes. We derive an analytical method using a spatial Fourier transformation to understand the enhancement phenomenon and the sensing mechanism. The use of real-time monitoring of protein-protein interactions in microfluidic cells integrated with these nanostructures is demonstrated to be effective for biosensing. The perpendicular transmission configuration and large-scale structures provide a feasible platform without sophisticated optical instrumentation to realize label-free surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensing.

Reduction of decoy receptor 3 enhances TRAIL-mediated apoptosis in pancreatic cancer.

PubMed

Wang, Wei; Zhang, Mei; Sun, Weimin; Yang, Shanmin; Su, Ying; Zhang, Hengshan; Liu, Chaomei; Li, Xinfeng; Lin, Ling; Kim, Sunghee; Okunieff, Paul; Zhang, Zhenhuan; Zhang, Lurong

2013-01-01

Most human pancreatic cancer cells are resistant to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-mediated apoptosis. However, the mechanisms by which pancreatic cancer cells utilize their extracellular molecules to counteract the proapoptotic signaling mediated by the TNF family are largely unknown. In this study, we demonstrate for the first time that DcR3, a secreted decoy receptor that malignant pancreatic cancer cells express at a high level, acts as an extracellular antiapoptotic molecule by binding to TRAIL and counteracting its death-promoting function. The reduction of DcR3 with siRNA unmasked TRAIL and greatly enhanced TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Gemcitabine, a first-line drug for pancreatic cancer, also reduced the level of DcR3. The addition of DcR3 siRNA further enhanced gemcitabine-induced apoptosis. Notably, our in vivo study demonstrated that the therapeutic effect of gemcitabine could be enhanced via further reduction of DcR3, suggesting that downregulation of DcR3 in tumor cells could tip the balance of pancreatic cells towards apoptosis and potentially serve as a new strategy for pancreatic cancer therapy.

Water-Assisted Highly Efficient Synthesis of Impurity-Free Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes-``Super-Growth''

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hata, Kenji

2005-03-01

We demonstrate an extremely efficient chemical vapour deposition synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes where the activity and lifetime of the catalysts are enhanced by water [1]. Water-stimulated enhanced catalytic activity results in massive growth of super-dense and vertically-aligned nanotube forests with heights up to 2.5 millimeters that can be easily separated from the catalysts, providing nanotube material with carbon purity above 99.98%. Moreover, patterned highly organized intrinsic nanotube structures were successfully fabricated. The water-assisted synthesis method addresses many critical problems that currently plague carbon nanotube synthesis. [1] K. Hata, et al., Science, 306, 1362 (2004).

Enhanced structural color generation in aluminum metamaterials coated with a thin polymer layer

DOE PAGES

Cheng, Fei; Yang, Xiaodong; Rosenmann, Daniel; ...

2015-09-18

A high-resolution and angle-insensitive structural color generation platform is demonstrated based on triple-layer aluminum-silica-aluminum metamaterials supporting surface plasmon resonances tunable across the entire visible spectrum. The color performances of the fabricated aluminum metamaterials can be strongly enhanced by coating a thin transparent polymer layer on top. The results show that the presence of the polymer layer induces a better impedance matching for the plasmonic resonances to the free space so that strong light absorption can be obtained, leading to the generation of pure colors in cyan, magenta, yellow and black (CMYK) with high color saturation.

Nanoscale resonant-cavity-enhanced germanium photodetectors with lithographically defined spectral response for improved performance at telecommunications wavelengths.

PubMed

Balram, Krishna C; Audet, Ross M; Miller, David A B

2013-04-22

We demonstrate the use of a subwavelength planar metal-dielectric resonant cavity to enhance the absorption of germanium photodetectors at wavelengths beyond the material's direct absorption edge, enabling high responsivity across the entire telecommunications C and L bands. The resonant wavelength of the detectors can be tuned linearly by varying the width of the Ge fin, allowing multiple detectors, each resonant at a different wavelength, to be fabricated in a single-step process. This approach is promising for the development of CMOS-compatible devices suitable for integrated, high-speed, and energy-efficient photodetection at telecommunications wavelengths.

A collimated focused ultrasound beam of high acoustic transmission and minimum diffraction achieved by using a lens with subwavelength structures

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lin, Zhou; Tu, Juan; Cheng, Jianchun

An acoustic focusing lens incorporated with periodically aligned subwavelength grooves corrugated on its spherical surface has been developed. It is demonstrated theoretically and experimentally that acoustic focusing achieved by using the lens can suppress the relative side-lobe amplitudes, enhance the focal gain, and minimize the shifting of the focus. Use of the lens coupled with a planar ultrasound transducer can generate an ultrasound beam with enhanced acoustic transmission and collimation effect, which offers the capability of improving the safety, efficiency, and accuracy of targeted surgery implemented by high intensity focused ultrasound.

Grain Size Threshold for Enhanced Irradiation Resistance in Nanocrystalline and Ultrafine Tungsten

DOE PAGES

El Atwani, Osman; Hinks, Jonathan; Greaves, Graeme; ...

2017-02-21

Nanocrystalline metals are considered highly radiation-resistant materials due to their large grain boundary areas. Here, the existence of a grain size threshold for enhanced irradiation resistance in high-temperature helium-irradiated nanocrystalline and ultrafine tungsten is demonstrated. Average bubble density, projected bubble area and the corresponding change in volume were measured via transmission electron microscopy and plotted as a function of grain size for two ion fluences. Nanocrystalline grains of less than 35 nm size possess ~10–20 times lower change in volume than ultrafine grains and this is discussed in terms of the grain boundaries defect sink efficiency.

Hyper-Cross-Linked Additives that Impede Aging and Enhance Permeability in Thin Polyacetylene Films for Organic Solvent Nanofiltration.

PubMed

Cheng, Xi Quan; Konstas, Kristina; Doherty, Cara M; Wood, Colin D; Mulet, Xavier; Xie, Zongli; Ng, Derrick; Hill, Matthew R; Shao, Lu; Lau, Cher Hon

2017-04-26

Membrane materials with high permeability to solvents while rejecting dissolved contaminants are crucial to lowering the energy costs associated with liquid separations. However, the current lack of stable high-permeability materials require innovative engineering solutions to yield high-performance, thin membranes using stable polymers with low permeabilities. Poly[1-(trimethylsilyl)-1-propyne] (PTMSP) is one of the most permeable polymers but is extremely susceptible to physical aging. Despite recent developments in anti-aging polymer membranes, this research breakthrough has yet to be demonstrated on thin PTMSP films supported on porous polymer substrates, a crucial step toward commercializing anti-aging membranes for industrial applications. Here we report the development of scalable, thin film nanocomposite membranes supported on polymer substrates that are resistant to physical aging while having high permeabilities to alcohols. The selective layer is made up of PTMSP and nanoporous polymeric additives. The nanoporous additives provide additional passageways to solvents, enhancing the high permeability of the PTMSP materials further. Through intercalation of polyacetylene chains into the sub-nm pores of organic additives, physical aging in the consequent was significantly hindered in continuous long-term operation. Remarkably we also demonstrate that the additives enhance both membrane permeability and rejection of dissolved contaminants across the membranes, as ethanol permeability at 5.5 × 10 -6 L m m -2 h -1 bar -1 with 93% Rose Bengal (1017.6 g mol -1 ) rejection, drastically outperforming commercial and state-of-the-art membranes. These membranes can replace energy-intensive separation processes such as distillation, lowering operation costs in well-established pharmaceutical production processes.

Development of an engineered cementitious composite to enhance bridge approach slab durability.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-06-01

The strength and durability of highway bridges are two of the key components in maintaining a : high level of freight transportation capacity on the nations highways. : The CFIRE project 04-09 demonstrated the feasibility of a new hybrid engineered...

Buffer layer enhanced stability of sodium-ion storage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Xusheng; Yang, Zhanhai; Wang, Chao; Chen, Dong; Li, Rui; Zhang, Xinxiang; Chen, Jitao; Xue, Mianqi

2017-11-01

Se-Se buffer layers are introduced into tin sequences as SnSe2 single crystal to enhance the cycling stability for long-term sodium-ion storage by blazing a trail of self-defence strategy to structural pulverization especially at high current density. Specifically, under half-cell test, the SnSe2 electrodes could yield a high discharge capacity of 345 mAh g-1 after 300 cycles at 1 A g-1 and a high discharge capacity of 300 mAh g-1 after 2100 cycles at 5 A g-1 with stable coulombic efficiency and no capacity fading. Even with the ultrafast sodium-ion storage at 10 A g-1, the cycling stability still makes a positive response and a high discharge capacity of 221 mAh g-1 is demonstrated after 2700 cycles without capacity fading. The full-cell test for the SnSe2 electrodes also demonstrates the superior cycling stability. The flexible and tough Se-Se buffer layers are favourable to accommodate the sodium-ion intercalation process, and the autogenous Na2Se layers could confine the structural pulverization of further sodiated tin sequences by the slip along the Na2Se-NaxSn interfaces.

Idiopathic and diabetic skeletal muscle necrosis: evaluation by magnetic resonance imaging.

PubMed

Kattapuram, Taj M; Suri, Rajeev; Rosol, Michael S; Rosenberg, Andrew E; Kattapuram, Susan V

2005-04-01

Idiopathic and diabetic-associated muscle necrosis are similar, uncommon clinical entities requiring conservative management and minimal intervention to avoid complications and prolonged hospitalization. An early noninvasive diagnosis is therefore essential. We evaluated the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics of muscle necrosis in 14 patients, in eight of whom the diagnoses were confirmed histologically. Two experienced musculoskeletal radiologists performed retrospective evaluations of the MRI studies of 14 patients with the diagnoses of skeletal muscle infarction. In 10 cases gadolinium-enhanced (T1-weighted fat-suppressed) sequences were available along with T1-weighted, T2-weighted images and STIR sequences, while in four cases contrast-enhanced images were not available. Eight patients had underlying diabetes and in six patients the cause of the myonecrosis was considered idiopathic. T1-weighted images demonstrated isointense swelling of the involved muscle, with mildly displaced fascial planes. There was effacement of the fat signal intensity within the muscle. Fat-suppressed T2-weighted images showed diffuse heterogeneous high signal intensity in the muscles suggestive of edema. Perifascial fluid collection was seen in eight cases. Subcutaneous edema was present in seven patients. Following intravenous gadolinium administration, MRI demonstrated a focal area of heterogeneously enhancing mass with peripheral enhancement. Within this focal lesion, linear dark areas were seen with serpentine enhancing streaks separating them in eight cases. In two cases, a central relatively nonenhancing mass with irregular margins and peripheral enhancement was noted. The peripheral enhancement involved a significant part of the muscle. No focal fluid collection was noted. We believe that the constellation of imaging findings on T1- and T2-weighted images and post-gadolinium sequences is highly suggestive of muscle necrosis. We consider certain specific findings on gadolinium-enhanced images to be characteristic. The findings reported here should provide radiologists with useful information in making the diagnosis of skeletal muscle necrosis without resorting to invasive procedures.

Cardioprotective effects of 70-kDa heat shock protein in transgenic mice.

PubMed Central

Radford, N B; Fina, M; Benjamin, I J; Moreadith, R W; Graves, K H; Zhao, P; Gavva, S; Wiethoff, A; Sherry, A D; Malloy, C R; Williams, R S

1996-01-01

Heat shock proteins are proposed to limit injury resulting from diverse environmental stresses, but direct metabolic evidence for such a cytoprotective function in vertebrates has been largely limited to studies of cultured cells. We generated lines of transgenic mice to express human 70-kDa heat shock protein constitutively in the myocardium. Hearts isolated from these animals demonstrated enhanced recovery of high energy phosphate stores and correction of metabolic acidosis following brief periods of global ischemia sufficient to induce sustained abnormalities of these variables in hearts from nontransgenic littermates. These data demonstrate a direct cardioprotective effect of 70-kDa heat shock protein to enhance postischemic recovery of the intact heart. Images Fig. 1 Fig. 3 PMID:8637874

Short-term music training enhances verbal intelligence and executive function.

PubMed

Moreno, Sylvain; Bialystok, Ellen; Barac, Raluca; Schellenberg, E Glenn; Cepeda, Nicholas J; Chau, Tom

2011-11-01

Researchers have designed training methods that can be used to improve mental health and to test the efficacy of education programs. However, few studies have demonstrated broad transfer from such training to performance on untrained cognitive activities. Here we report the effects of two interactive computerized training programs developed for preschool children: one for music and one for visual art. After only 20 days of training, only children in the music group exhibited enhanced performance on a measure of verbal intelligence, with 90% of the sample showing this improvement. These improvements in verbal intelligence were positively correlated with changes in functional brain plasticity during an executive-function task. Our findings demonstrate that transfer of a high-level cognitive skill is possible in early childhood.

35Cl dynamic nuclear polarization solid-state NMR of active pharmaceutical ingredients

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hirsh, David A.; Rossini, Aaron J.; Emsley, Lyndon

In this paper, we show how to obtain efficient dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) enhanced 35Cl solid-state NMR (SSNMR) spectra at 9.4 T and demonstrate how they can be used to characterize the molecular-level structure of hydrochloride salts of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in both bulk and low wt% API dosage forms. 35Cl SSNMR central-transition powder patterns of chloride ions are typically tens to hundreds of kHz in breadth, and most cannot be excited uniformly with high-power rectangular pulses or acquired under conditions of magic-angle spinning (MAS). Herein, we demonstrate the combination of DNP and 1H– 35Cl broadband adiabatic inversion crossmore » polarization (BRAIN-CP) experiments for the acquisition of high quality wideline spectra of APIs under static sample conditions, and obtain signals up to 50 times greater than in spectra acquired without the use of DNP at 100 K. We report a new protocol, called spinning-on spinning-off (SOSO) acquisition, where MAS is applied during part of the polarization delay to increase the DNP enhancements and then the MAS rotation is stopped so that a wideline 35Cl NMR powder pattern free from the effects of spinning sidebands can be acquired under static conditions. This method provides an additional two-fold signal enhancement compared to DNP-enhanced SSNMR spectra acquired under purely static conditions. DNP-enhanced 35Cl experiments are used to characterize APIs in bulk and dosage forms with Cl contents as low as 0.45 wt%. These results are compared to DNP-enhanced 1H– 13C CP/MAS spectra of APIs in dosage forms, which are often hindered by interfering signals arising from the binders, fillers and other excipient materials.« less

35Cl dynamic nuclear polarization solid-state NMR of active pharmaceutical ingredients

DOE PAGES

Hirsh, David A.; Rossini, Aaron J.; Emsley, Lyndon; ...

2016-08-24

In this paper, we show how to obtain efficient dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) enhanced 35Cl solid-state NMR (SSNMR) spectra at 9.4 T and demonstrate how they can be used to characterize the molecular-level structure of hydrochloride salts of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in both bulk and low wt% API dosage forms. 35Cl SSNMR central-transition powder patterns of chloride ions are typically tens to hundreds of kHz in breadth, and most cannot be excited uniformly with high-power rectangular pulses or acquired under conditions of magic-angle spinning (MAS). Herein, we demonstrate the combination of DNP and 1H– 35Cl broadband adiabatic inversion crossmore » polarization (BRAIN-CP) experiments for the acquisition of high quality wideline spectra of APIs under static sample conditions, and obtain signals up to 50 times greater than in spectra acquired without the use of DNP at 100 K. We report a new protocol, called spinning-on spinning-off (SOSO) acquisition, where MAS is applied during part of the polarization delay to increase the DNP enhancements and then the MAS rotation is stopped so that a wideline 35Cl NMR powder pattern free from the effects of spinning sidebands can be acquired under static conditions. This method provides an additional two-fold signal enhancement compared to DNP-enhanced SSNMR spectra acquired under purely static conditions. DNP-enhanced 35Cl experiments are used to characterize APIs in bulk and dosage forms with Cl contents as low as 0.45 wt%. These results are compared to DNP-enhanced 1H– 13C CP/MAS spectra of APIs in dosage forms, which are often hindered by interfering signals arising from the binders, fillers and other excipient materials.« less

High-performance and environmentally stable planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells based on a solution-processed copper-doped nickel oxide hole-transporting layer.

PubMed

Kim, Jong H; Liang, Po-Wei; Williams, Spencer T; Cho, Namchul; Chueh, Chu-Chen; Glaz, Micah S; Ginger, David S; Jen, Alex K-Y

2015-01-27

An effective approach to significantly increase the electrical conductivity of a NiOx hole-transporting layer (HTL) to achieve high-efficiency planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells is demonstrated. Perovskite solar cells based on using Cu-doped NiOx HTL show a remarkably improved power conversion efficiency up to 15.40% due to the improved electrical conductivity and enhanced perovskite film quality. General applicability of Cu-doped NiOx to larger bandgap perovskites is also demonstrated in this study. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Kinetically Controlled Synthesis of Pt-Based One-Dimensional Hierarchically Porous Nanostructures with Large Mesopores as Highly Efficient ORR Catalysts

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fu, Shaofang; Zhu, Chengzhou; Song, Junhua

2016-12-28

Rational design and construction of Pt-based porous nanostructures with large mesopores have triggered significant considerations because of their high surface area and more efficient mass transport. Hydrochloric acid-induced kinetic reduction of metal precursors in the presence of soft template F-127 and hard template tellurium nanowires has been successfully demonstrated to construct one-dimensional hierarchical porous PtCu alloy nanostructures with large mesopores. Moreover, the electrochemical experiments demonstrated that the resultant PtCu hierarchically porous nanostructures with optimized composition exhibit enhanced electrocatalytic performance for oxygen reduction reaction.

Optimizing laser crater enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

PubMed

Lednev, V N; Sdvizhenskii, P A; Grishin, M Ya; Filichkina, V A; Shchegolikhin, A N; Pershin, S M

2018-03-20

Raman signal enhancement by laser crater production was systematically studied for 785 nm continuous wave laser pumping. Laser craters were produced in L-aspartic acid powder by a nanosecond pulsed solid state neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser (532 nm, 8 ns, 1 mJ/pulse), while Raman spectra were then acquired by using a commercial spectrometer with 785 nm laser beam pumping. The Raman signal enhancement effect was studied in terms of the number of ablating pulses used, the lens-to-sample distance, and the crater-center-laser-spot offset. The influence of the experiment parameters on Raman signal enhancement was studied for different powder materials. Maximum Raman signal enhancement reached 11 fold for loose powders but decreased twice for pressed tablets. Raman signal enhancement was demonstrated for several diverse powder materials like gypsum or ammonium nitrate with better results achieved for the samples tending to give narrow and deep craters upon the laser ablation stage. Alternative ways of cavity production (steel needle tapping and hole drilling) were compared with the laser cratering technique in terms of Raman signal enhancement. Drilling was found to give the poorest enhancement of the Raman signal, while both laser ablation and steel needle tapping provided comparable results. Here, we have demonstrated for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, that a Raman signal can be enhanced 10 fold with the aid of simple cavity production by steel needle tapping in rough highly reflective materials. Though laser crater enhancement Raman spectroscopy requires an additional pulsed laser, this technique is more appropriate for automatization compared to the needle tapping approach.

Ebola Virus VP35 Interaction with Dynein LC8 Regulates Viral RNA Synthesis

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Luthra, Priya; Jordan, David S.; Leung, Daisy W.

2015-03-04

Ebola virus VP35 inhibits alpha/beta interferon production and functions as a viral polymerase cofactor. Previously, the 8-kDa cytoplasmic dynein light chain (LC8) was demonstrated to interact with VP35, but the functional consequences were unclear. Here we demonstrate that the interaction is direct and of high affinity and that binding stabilizes the VP35 N-terminal oligomerization domain and enhances viral RNA synthesis. Mutational analysis demonstrates that VP35 interaction is required for the functional effects of LC8.

High-contrast terahertz wave modulation by gated graphene enhanced by extraordinary transmission through ring apertures.

PubMed

Gao, Weilu; Shu, Jie; Reichel, Kimberly; Nickel, Daniel V; He, Xiaowei; Shi, Gang; Vajtai, Robert; Ajayan, Pulickel M; Kono, Junichiro; Mittleman, Daniel M; Xu, Qianfan

2014-03-12

Gate-controllable transmission of terahertz (THz) radiation makes graphene a promising material for making high-speed THz wave modulators. However, to date, graphene-based THz modulators have exhibited only small on/off ratios due to small THz absorption in single-layer graphene. Here we demonstrate a ∼50% amplitude modulation of THz waves with gated single-layer graphene by the use of extraordinary transmission through metallic ring apertures placed right above the graphene layer. The extraordinary transmission induced ∼7 times near-filed enhancement of THz absorption in graphene. These results promise complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor compatible THz modulators with tailored operation frequencies, large on/off ratios, and high speeds, ideal for applications in THz communications, imaging, and sensing.

Ultrasonic imaging of seismic physical models using a fringe visibility enhanced fiber-optic Fabry-Perot interferometric sensor.

PubMed

Zhang, Wenlu; Chen, Fengyi; Ma, Wenwen; Rong, Qiangzhou; Qiao, Xueguang; Wang, Ruohui

2018-04-16

A fringe visibility enhanced fiber-optic Fabry-Perot interferometer based ultrasonic sensor is proposed and experimentally demonstrated for seismic physical model imaging. The sensor consists of a graded index multimode fiber collimator and a PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) diaphragm to form a Fabry-Perot interferometer. Owing to the increase of the sensor's spectral sideband slope and the smaller Young's modulus of the PTFE diaphragm, a high response to both continuous and pulsed ultrasound with a high SNR of 42.92 dB in 300 kHz is achieved when the spectral sideband filter technique is used to interrogate the sensor. The ultrasonic reconstructed images can clearly differentiate the shape of models with a high resolution.

A Highly Sensitive Fiber Optic Sensor Based on Two-Core Fiber for Refractive Index Measurement

PubMed Central

Guzmán-Sepúlveda, José Rafael; Guzmán-Cabrera, Rafael; Torres-Cisneros, Miguel; Sánchez-Mondragón, José Javier; May-Arrioja, Daniel Alberto

2013-01-01

A simple and compact fiber optic sensor based on a two-core fiber is demonstrated for high-performance measurements of refractive indices (RI) of liquids. In order to demonstrate the suitability of the proposed sensor to perform high-sensitivity sensing in a variety of applications, the sensor has been used to measure the RI of binary liquid mixtures. Such measurements can accurately determine the salinity of salt water solutions, and detect the water content of adulterated alcoholic beverages. The largest sensitivity of the RI sensor that has been experimentally demonstrated is 3,119 nm per Refractive Index Units (RIU) for the RI range from 1.3160 to 1.3943. On the other hand, our results suggest that the sensitivity can be enhanced up to 3485.67 nm/RIU approximately for the same RI range. PMID:24152878

Regulation of HIV-Gag Expression and Targeting to the Endolysosomal/Secretory Pathway by the Luminal Domain of Lysosomal-Associated Membrane Protein (LAMP-1) Enhance Gag-Specific Immune Response

PubMed Central

Lucas, Carolina Gonçalves de Oliveira; Rigato, Paula Ordonhez; Gonçalves, Jorge Luiz Santos; Sato, Maria Notomi; Maciel, Milton; Peçanha, Ligia Maria Torres; August, J. Thomas; de Azevedo Marques, Ernesto Torres; de Arruda, Luciana Barros

2014-01-01

We have previously demonstrated that a DNA vaccine encoding HIV-p55gag in association with the lysosomal associated membrane protein-1 (LAMP-1) elicited a greater Gag-specific immune response, in comparison to a DNA encoding the native gag. In vitro studies have also demonstrated that LAMP/Gag was highly expressed and was present in MHCII containing compartments in transfected cells. In this study, the mechanisms involved in these processes and the relative contributions of the increased expression and altered traffic for the enhanced immune response were addressed. Cells transfected with plasmid DNA constructs containing p55gag attached to truncated sequences of LAMP-1 showed that the increased expression of gag mRNA required p55gag in frame with at least 741 bp of the LAMP-1 luminal domain. LAMP luminal domain also showed to be essential for Gag traffic through lysosomes and, in this case, the whole sequence was required. Further analysis of the trafficking pathway of the intact LAMP/Gag chimera demonstrated that it was secreted, at least in part, associated with exosome-like vesicles. Immunization of mice with LAMP/gag chimeric plasmids demonstrated that high expression level alone can induce a substantial transient antibody response, but targeting of the antigen to the endolysosomal/secretory pathways was required for establishment of cellular and memory response. The intact LAMP/gag construct induced polyfunctional CD4+ T cell response, which presence at the time of immunization was required for CD8+ T cell priming. LAMP-mediated targeting to endolysosomal/secretory pathway is an important new mechanistic element in LAMP-mediated enhanced immunity with applications to the development of novel anti-HIV vaccines and to general vaccinology field. PMID:24932692

High capacity demonstration of honeycomb panel heat pipes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tanzer, H. J.

1989-01-01

The feasibility of performance enhancing the sandwich panel heat pipe was investigated for moderate temperature range heat rejection radiators on future-high-power spacecraft. The hardware development program consisted of performance prediction modeling, fabrication, ground test, and data correlation. Using available sandwich panel materials, a series of subscale test panels were augumented with high-capacity sideflow and temperature control variable conductance features, and test evaluated for correlation with performance prediction codes. Using the correlated prediction model, a 50-kW full size radiator was defined using methanol working fluid and closely spaced sideflows. A new concept called the hybrid radiator individually optimizes heat pipe components. A 2.44-m long hybrid test vehicle demonstrated proof-of-principle performance.

Test-Enhanced Learning in Competence-Based Predoctoral Orthodontics: A Four-Year Study.

PubMed

Freda, Nicolas M; Lipp, Mitchell J

2016-03-01

Dental educators intend to promote integration of knowledge, skills, and values toward professional competence. Studies report that retrieval, in the form of testing, results in better learning with retention than traditional studying. The aim of this study was to evaluate test-enhanced experiences on demonstrations of competence in diagnosis and management of malocclusion and skeletal problems. The study participants were all third-year dental students (2011 N=88, 2012 N=74, 2013 N=91, 2014 N=85) at New York University College of Dentistry. The 2013 and 2014 groups received the test-enhanced method emphasizing formative assessments with written and dialogic delayed feedback, while the 2011 and 2012 groups received the traditional approach emphasizing lectures and classroom exercises. The students received six two-hour sessions, spaced one week apart. At the final session, a summative assessment consisting of the same four cases was administered. Students constructed a problem list, treatment objectives, and a treatment plan for each case, scored according to the same criteria. Grades were based on the number of cases without critical errors: A=0 critical errors on four cases, A-=0 critical errors on three cases, B+=0 critical errors on two cases, B=0 critical errors on one case, F=critical errors on four cases. Performance grades were categorized as high quality (B+, A-, A) and low quality (F, B). The results showed that the test-enhanced groups demonstrated statistically significant benefits at 95% confidence intervals compared to the traditional groups when comparing low- and high-quality grades. These performance trends support the continued use of the test-enhanced approach.

Opioid modulation of reflex versus operant responses following stress in the rat.

PubMed

King, C D; Devine, D P; Vierck, C J; Mauderli, A; Yezierski, R P

2007-06-15

In pre-clinical models intended to evaluate nociceptive processing, acute stress suppresses reflex responses to thermal stimulation, an effect previously described as stress-induced "analgesia." Suggestions that endogenous opioids mediate this effect are based on demonstrations that stress-induced hyporeflexia is enhanced by high dose morphine (>5 mg/kg) and is reversed by naloxone. However, reflexes and pain sensations can be modulated differentially. Therefore, in the present study direct comparisons were made of opioid agonist and antagonist actions, independently and in combination with acute restraint stress in Long Evans rats, on reflex lick-guard (L/G) and operant escape responses to nociceptive thermal stimulation (44.5 degrees C). A high dose of morphine (>8 mg/kg) was required to reduce reflex responding, but a moderate dose of morphine (1 mg/kg) significantly reduced escape responding. The same moderate dose (and also 5 mg/kg) of morphine significantly enhanced reflex responding. Naloxone (3 mg/kg) significantly enhanced escape responding but did not affect L/G responding. Restraint stress significantly suppressed L/G reflexes (hyporeflexia) but enhanced escape responses (hyperalgesia). Stress-induced hyperalgesia was significantly reduced by morphine and enhanced by naloxone. In contrast, stress-induced hyporeflexia was blocked by both naloxone and 1 mg/kg of morphine. Thus, stress-induced hyperalgesia was opposed by endogenous opioid release and by administration of morphine. Stress-induced hyporeflexia was dependent upon endogenous opioid release but was counteracted by a moderate dose of morphine. These data demonstrate a differential modulation of reflex and operant outcome measures by stress and by separate or combined opioid antagonism or administration of morphine.

Non-Enhanced MR Imaging of Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformations at 7 Tesla.

PubMed

Wrede, Karsten H; Dammann, Philipp; Johst, Sören; Mönninghoff, Christoph; Schlamann, Marc; Maderwald, Stefan; Sandalcioglu, I Erol; Ladd, Mark E; Forsting, Michael; Sure, Ulrich; Umutlu, Lale

2016-03-01

To evaluate prospectively 7 Tesla time-of-flight (TOF) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and 7 Tesla non-contrast-enhanced magnetization-prepared rapid acquisition gradient-echo (MPRAGE) for delineation of intracerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in comparison to 1.5 Tesla TOF MRA and digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Twenty patients with single or multifocal AVMs were enrolled in this trial. The study protocol comprised 1.5 and 7 Tesla TOF MRA and 7 Tesla non-contrast-enhanced MPRAGE sequences. All patients underwent an additional four-vessel 3D DSA. Image analysis of the following five AVM features was performed individually by two radiologists on a five-point scale: nidus, feeder(s), draining vein(s), relationship to adjacent vessels, and overall image quality and presence of artefacts. A total of 21 intracerebral AVMs were detected. Both sequences at 7 Tesla were rated superior over 1.5 Tesla TOF MRA in the assessment of all considered AVM features. Image quality at 7 Tesla was comparable with DSA considering both sequences. Inter-observer accordance was good to excellent for the majority of ratings. This study demonstrates excellent image quality for depiction of intracerebral AVMs using non-contrast-enhanced 7 Tesla MRA, comparable with DSA. Assessment of untreated AVMs is a promising clinical application of ultra-high-field MRA. • Non-contrast-enhanced 7 Tesla MRA demonstrates excellent image quality for intracerebral AVM depiction. • Image quality at 7 Tesla was comparable with DSA considering both sequences. • Assessment of intracerebral AVMs is a promising clinical application of ultra-high-field MRA.

MR-monitored LITT as a palliative concept in patients with high grade gliomas: preliminary clinical experience.

PubMed

Reimer, P; Bremer, C; Horch, C; Morgenroth, C; Allkemper, T; Schuierer, G

1998-01-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical utility of laser-induced thermotherapy (LITT) as a palliative treatment for patients with high-grade gliomas. Four consenting patients with recurrent high grade III/IV gliomas near the primary language or motor areas were palliatively treated with LITT (2-5 W, 3-13 minutes; Neodym YAG Laser, Dornier, Friedrichshafen, Germany). Temperature monitoring was performed by T1-weighted turbo-fast low-angle shot (FLASH) imaging at 1.5 T (Siemens Magnetom SP 4000, Siemens, Erlangen, Germany). MRI studies before LITT included contrast-enhanced conventional scans and functional activation studies to localize the primary motor cortex or language areas using an echo-planar imaging (EPI) spin-echo (SE) sequence. Follow-up studies consisted of contrast-enhanced conventional scans as well as diffusion studies (contrast-enhanced Fourier-acquired steady-state technique and EPI-SE) and perfusion studies (EPI-SE with .2 mmol of gadolinium (Gd)/kg body weight) to differentiate post-therapeutic effects from residual or recurrent tumor growth. Local tumor control was achieved in areas with laser energy deposition with clinically stable conditions > or = 6 months. Conventional contrast-enhanced scans demonstrated strong enhancement surrounding ablated tumor components, which showed a reduction in CBV/CBF. Perfusion studies were useful to discriminate granulomatous tissue enhancement from residual or recurrent tumor growth. Careful application of LITT may evolve as an alternative palliative concept for patients with end-stage high-grade cerebral gliomas reducing clinical symptoms from circumscribed areas of pathology.

Academic Enhancement Site

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

DeJong, Judith A.; Holder, Stanley R.

2006-01-01

This off-reservation boarding school serves over 600 students in grades 4-12; approximately 85% of the students reside in campus dormitories. After having documented significant improvement on a number of outcomes during a previous High Risk Youth Prevention demonstration grant, the site submitted a Therapeutic Residential Model proposal,…

[Quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy trace gas detection system based on the Fabry-Perot demodulation].

PubMed

Lin, Cheng; Zhu, Yong; Wei, Wei; Zhang, Jie; Tian, Li; Xu, Zu-Wen

2013-05-01

An all-optical quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy system, based on the F-P demodulation, for trace gas detection in the open environment was proposed. In quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy (QEPAS), an optical fiber Fabry-Perot method was used to replace the conventional electronic demodulation method. The photoacoustic signal was obtained by demodulating the variation of the Fabry-Perot cavity between the quartz tuning fork side and the fiber face. An experimental system was setup. The experiment for detection of water vapour in the open environment was carried on. A normalized noise equivalent absorption coefficient of 2.80 x 10(-7) cm(-1) x W x Hz(-1/2) was achieved. The result demonstrated that the sensitivity of the all-optical quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy system is about 2.6 times higher than that of the conventional QEPAS system. The all-optical quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy system is immune to electromagnetic interference, safe in flammable and explosive gas detection, suitable for high temperature and high humidity environments and realizable for long distance, multi-point and network sensing.

Fast Purcell-enhanced single photon source in 1,550-nm telecom band from a resonant quantum dot-cavity coupling

PubMed Central

Birowosuto, Muhammad Danang; Sumikura, Hisashi; Matsuo, Shinji; Taniyama, Hideaki; van Veldhoven, Peter J.; Nötzel, Richard; Notomi, Masaya

2012-01-01

High-bit-rate nanocavity-based single photon sources in the 1,550-nm telecom band are challenges facing the development of fibre-based long-haul quantum communication networks. Here we report a very fast single photon source in the 1,550-nm telecom band, which is achieved by a large Purcell enhancement that results from the coupling of a single InAs quantum dot and an InP photonic crystal nanocavity. At a resonance, the spontaneous emission rate was enhanced by a factor of 5 resulting a record fast emission lifetime of 0.2 ns at 1,550 nm. We also demonstrate that this emission exhibits an enhanced anti-bunching dip. This is the first realization of nanocavity-enhanced single photon emitters in the 1,550-nm telecom band. This coupled quantum dot cavity system in the telecom band thus provides a bright high-bit-rate non-classical single photon source that offers appealing novel opportunities for the development of a long-haul quantum telecommunication system via optical fibres. PMID:22432053

Fast Purcell-enhanced single photon source in 1,550-nm telecom band from a resonant quantum dot-cavity coupling.

PubMed

Birowosuto, Muhammad Danang; Sumikura, Hisashi; Matsuo, Shinji; Taniyama, Hideaki; van Veldhoven, Peter J; Nötzel, Richard; Notomi, Masaya

2012-01-01

High-bit-rate nanocavity-based single photon sources in the 1,550-nm telecom band are challenges facing the development of fibre-based long-haul quantum communication networks. Here we report a very fast single photon source in the 1,550-nm telecom band, which is achieved by a large Purcell enhancement that results from the coupling of a single InAs quantum dot and an InP photonic crystal nanocavity. At a resonance, the spontaneous emission rate was enhanced by a factor of 5 resulting a record fast emission lifetime of 0.2 ns at 1,550 nm. We also demonstrate that this emission exhibits an enhanced anti-bunching dip. This is the first realization of nanocavity-enhanced single photon emitters in the 1,550-nm telecom band. This coupled quantum dot cavity system in the telecom band thus provides a bright high-bit-rate non-classical single photon source that offers appealing novel opportunities for the development of a long-haul quantum telecommunication system via optical fibres.

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy studies of yellow organic dyestuffs and lake pigments in oil paint.

PubMed

Mayhew, Hannah E; Fabian, David M; Svoboda, Shelley A; Wustholz, Kristin L

2013-08-21

Identifying natural, organic dyes and pigments is important for the conservation, preservation, and historical interpretation of works of art. Although previous SERS studies have demonstrated high sensitivity and selectivity for red lake pigments using various pretreatment conditions, corresponding investigations of yellow lake pigments and paints are relatively sparse. Here, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy is used to identify a variety of yellow organic dyestuffs and lake pigments in oil paint. High-quality SERS spectra of yellow dyestuffs (i.e., turmeric, old fustic, Buckthorn berries) and corresponding paints could be obtained with or without sample pretreatment using microliter quantities of HCl and methanol at room temperature. However, the SERS spectra of yellow lake pigments (i.e., Stil de Grain, Reseda lake) and their corresponding oil paints were only observed upon sample pretreatment. Ultimately, we demonstrate a reliable sample treatment protocol for SERS-based identification of turmeric, old fustic, Buckthorn berries, Stil de Grain, and Reseda lake as well as for microscopic samples of the corresponding oil paints.

Laser-assisted focused He + ion beam induced etching with and without XeF 2 gas assist

DOE PAGES

Stanford, Michael G.; Mahady, Kyle; Lewis, Brett B.; ...

2016-10-04

Focused helium ion (He +) milling has been demonstrated as a high-resolution nanopatterning technique; however, it can be limited by its low sputter yield as well as the introduction of undesired subsurface damage. Here, we introduce pulsed laser- and gas-assisted processes to enhance the material removal rate and patterning fidelity. A pulsed laser-assisted He+ milling process is shown to enable high-resolution milling of titanium while reducing subsurface damage in situ. Gas-assisted focused ion beam induced etching (FIBIE) of Ti is also demonstrated in which the XeF 2 precursor provides a chemical assist for enhanced material removal rate. In conclusion, amore » pulsed laser-assisted and gas-assisted FIBIE process is shown to increase the etch yield by ~9× relative to the pure He+ sputtering process. These He + induced nanopatterning techniques improve material removal rate, in comparison to standard He + sputtering, while simultaneously decreasing subsurface damage, thus extending the applicability of the He + probe as a nanopattering tool.« less

1D Bi2S3 nanorod/2D e-WS2 nanosheet heterojunction photocatalyst for enhanced photocatalytic activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vattikuti, S. V. Prabhakar; Shim, Jaesool; Byon, Chan

2018-02-01

The development of high-activity, long-life, precious-metal-free photocatalysts for redox reactions in photoelectrochemical cells and fuel cells remains challenging. The synthesis of high-activity heterostructured photocatalysts is crucial for efficient energy conversion strategies. Herein, a novel photocatalyst based on 1D Bi2S3 nanorods self-assembled on 2D exfoliated tungsten disulfide (e-WS2) nanosheets has been developed for the degradation of methyl orange (MO) dye in aqueous solution. We demonstrate a novel and facile hydrothermal method for the synthesis of a Bi2S3 nanorod/e-WS2 nanosheet heterostructure. The photocatalytic properties of the heterostructure under visible light were investigated. Enhanced photocatalytic activity was attributed to the presence of strong surface active sites, as well as the specific morphology of the composite. We also observed the fast transfer of electron-hole pairs at the material interface. This work demonstrates a non-noble semiconductor photocatalyst for the degradation of pollutants and evolution of H2.

M2+ Doping Induced Simultaneous Phase/Size Control and Remarkable Enhanced Upconversion Luminescence of NaLnF4 Probes for Optical-Guided Tiny Tumor Diagnosis.

PubMed

Li, Youbin; Li, Xiaolong; Xue, Zhenluan; Jiang, Mingyang; Zeng, Songjun; Hao, Jianhua

2017-05-01

Doping has played a vital role in constructing desirable hybrid materials with tunable functions and properties via incorporating atoms into host matrix. Herein, a simple strategy for simultaneously modifying the phase, size, and upconversion luminescence (UCL) properties of the NaLnF 4 (Ln = Y, Yb) nanocrystals by high-temperature coprecipitation through nonequivalent M 2+ doping (M = Mg 2+ , Co 2+ ) has been demonstrated. The phase transformation from cubic to hexagonal is readily achieved by doping M 2+ . Compared with Mg-free sample, a remarkable enhancement of overall UCL (≈27.5 times) is obtained by doping Mg 2+ . Interestingly, owing to the efficient UCL, red UCL-guided tiny tumor (down to 3 mm) diagnosis is demonstrated for the first time. The results open up a new way of designing high efficient UCL probe with combination of hexagonal phase and small size for tiny tumor detection. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Laser-assisted focused He + ion beam induced etching with and without XeF 2 gas assist

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Stanford, Michael G.; Mahady, Kyle; Lewis, Brett B.

Focused helium ion (He +) milling has been demonstrated as a high-resolution nanopatterning technique; however, it can be limited by its low sputter yield as well as the introduction of undesired subsurface damage. Here, we introduce pulsed laser- and gas-assisted processes to enhance the material removal rate and patterning fidelity. A pulsed laser-assisted He+ milling process is shown to enable high-resolution milling of titanium while reducing subsurface damage in situ. Gas-assisted focused ion beam induced etching (FIBIE) of Ti is also demonstrated in which the XeF 2 precursor provides a chemical assist for enhanced material removal rate. In conclusion, amore » pulsed laser-assisted and gas-assisted FIBIE process is shown to increase the etch yield by ~9× relative to the pure He+ sputtering process. These He + induced nanopatterning techniques improve material removal rate, in comparison to standard He + sputtering, while simultaneously decreasing subsurface damage, thus extending the applicability of the He + probe as a nanopattering tool.« less

Above 400-K robust perpendicular ferromagnetic phase in a topological insulator

PubMed Central

Tang, Chi; Chang, Cui-Zu; Zhao, Gejian; Liu, Yawen; Jiang, Zilong; Liu, Chao-Xing; McCartney, Martha R.; Smith, David J.; Chen, Tingyong; Moodera, Jagadeesh S.; Shi, Jing

2017-01-01

The quantum anomalous Hall effect (QAHE) that emerges under broken time-reversal symmetry in topological insulators (TIs) exhibits many fascinating physical properties for potential applications in nanoelectronics and spintronics. However, in transition metal–doped TIs, the only experimentally demonstrated QAHE system to date, the QAHE is lost at practically relevant temperatures. This constraint is imposed by the relatively low Curie temperature (Tc) and inherent spin disorder associated with the random magnetic dopants. We demonstrate drastically enhanced Tc by exchange coupling TIs to Tm3Fe5O12, a high-Tc magnetic insulator with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. Signatures showing that the TI surface states acquire robust ferromagnetism are revealed by distinct squared anomalous Hall hysteresis loops at 400 K. Point-contact Andreev reflection spectroscopy confirms that the TI surface is spin-polarized. The greatly enhanced Tc, absence of spin disorder, and perpendicular anisotropy are all essential to the occurrence of the QAHE at high temperatures. PMID:28691097

Hierarchical Protein Free Energy Landscapes from Variationally Enhanced Sampling.

PubMed

Shaffer, Patrick; Valsson, Omar; Parrinello, Michele

2016-12-13

In recent work, we demonstrated that it is possible to obtain approximate representations of high-dimensional free energy surfaces with variationally enhanced sampling ( Shaffer, P.; Valsson, O.; Parrinello, M. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. , 2016 , 113 , 17 ). The high-dimensional spaces considered in that work were the set of backbone dihedral angles of a small peptide, Chignolin, and the high-dimensional free energy surface was approximated as the sum of many two-dimensional terms plus an additional term which represents an initial estimate. In this paper, we build on that work and demonstrate that we can calculate high-dimensional free energy surfaces of very high accuracy by incorporating additional terms. The additional terms apply to a set of collective variables which are more coarse than the base set of collective variables. In this way, it is possible to build hierarchical free energy surfaces, which are composed of terms that act on different length scales. We test the accuracy of these free energy landscapes for the proteins Chignolin and Trp-cage by constructing simple coarse-grained models and comparing results from the coarse-grained model to results from atomistic simulations. The approach described in this paper is ideally suited for problems in which the free energy surface has important features on different length scales or in which there is some natural hierarchy.

Broken symmetry dielectric resonators for high quality factor Fano metasurfaces

DOE PAGES

Campione, Salvatore; Liu, Sheng; Basilio, Lorena I.; ...

2016-10-25

We present a new approach to dielectric metasurface design that relies on a single resonator per unit cell and produces robust, high quality factor Fano resonances. Our approach utilizes symmetry breaking of highly symmetric resonator geometries, such as cubes, to induce couplings between the otherwise orthogonal resonator modes. In particular, we design perturbations that couple “bright” dipole modes to “dark” dipole modes whose radiative decay is suppressed by local field effects in the array. Our approach is widely scalable from the near-infrared to radio frequencies. We first unravel the Fano resonance behavior through numerical simulations of a germanium resonator-based metasurfacemore » that achieves a quality factor of ~1300 at ~10.8 μm. Then, we present two experimental demonstrations operating in the near-infrared (~1 μm): a silicon-based implementation that achieves a quality factor of ~350; and a gallium arsenide-based structure that achieves a quality factor of ~600, the highest near-infrared quality factor experimentally demonstrated to date with this kind of metasurface. Importantly, large electromagnetic field enhancements appear within the resonators at the Fano resonant frequencies. Here, we envision that combining high quality factor, high field enhancement resonances with nonlinear and active/gain materials such as gallium arsenide will lead to new classes of active optical devices.« less

Polypropylene/Polyaniline Nanofiber/Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite with Enhanced Electrical, Dielectric, and Ferroelectric Properties for a High Energy Density Capacitor.

PubMed

Cho, Sunghun; Kim, Minkyu; Lee, Jun Seop; Jang, Jyongsik

2015-10-14

This work demonstrates a ternary nanocomposite system, composed of polypropylene (PP), redoped PANI (r-PANI) nanofibers, and reduced graphene oxides (RGOs), for use in a high energy density capacitor. r-PANI nanofibers were fabricated by the combination methods of chemical oxidation polymerization and secondary doping processes, resulting in higher conductivity (σ≈156 S cm(-1)) than that of the primarily doped PANI nanofibers (σ≈16 S cm(-1)). RGO sheets with high electron mobility and thermal stability can enhance the conductivity of r-PANI/RGO (σ≈220 S cm(-1)) and thermal stability of PP matrix. These findings could be extended to combine the advantages of r-PANI nanofibers and RGO sheets for developing an efficient means of preparing PP/r-PANI/RGO nanocomposite. When the r-PANI/RGO cofillers (10 vol %) were added to PP matrix, the resulting PP/r-PANI/RGO nanocomposite exhibited high dielectric constant (ε'≈51.8) with small dielectric loss (ε″≈9.3×10(-3)). Furthermore, the PP/r-PANI/RGO nanocomposite was used for an energy-harvesting device, which demonstrated high energy density (Ue≈12.6 J cm(-3)) and breakdown strength (E≈5.86×10(3) kV cm(-1)).

Broken symmetry dielectric resonators for high quality factor Fano metasurfaces

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Campione, Salvatore; Liu, Sheng; Basilio, Lorena I.

We present a new approach to dielectric metasurface design that relies on a single resonator per unit cell and produces robust, high quality factor Fano resonances. Our approach utilizes symmetry breaking of highly symmetric resonator geometries, such as cubes, to induce couplings between the otherwise orthogonal resonator modes. In particular, we design perturbations that couple “bright” dipole modes to “dark” dipole modes whose radiative decay is suppressed by local field effects in the array. Our approach is widely scalable from the near-infrared to radio frequencies. We first unravel the Fano resonance behavior through numerical simulations of a germanium resonator-based metasurfacemore » that achieves a quality factor of ~1300 at ~10.8 μm. Then, we present two experimental demonstrations operating in the near-infrared (~1 μm): a silicon-based implementation that achieves a quality factor of ~350; and a gallium arsenide-based structure that achieves a quality factor of ~600, the highest near-infrared quality factor experimentally demonstrated to date with this kind of metasurface. Importantly, large electromagnetic field enhancements appear within the resonators at the Fano resonant frequencies. Here, we envision that combining high quality factor, high field enhancement resonances with nonlinear and active/gain materials such as gallium arsenide will lead to new classes of active optical devices.« less

Implementation of spatial overlap modulation nonlinear optical microscopy using an electro-optic deflector

PubMed Central

Isobe, Keisuke; Kawano, Hiroyuki; Kumagai, Akiko; Miyawaki, Atsushi; Midorikawa, Katsumi

2013-01-01

A spatial overlap modulation (SPOM) technique is a nonlinear optical microscopy technique which enhances the three-dimensional spatial resolution and rejects the out-of-focus background limiting the imaging depth inside a highly scattering sample. Here, we report on the implementation of SPOM in which beam pointing modulation is achieved by an electro-optic deflector. The modulation and demodulation frequencies are enhanced to 200 kHz and 400 kHz, respectively, resulting in a 200-fold enhancement compared with the previously reported system. The resolution enhancement and suppression of the out-of-focus background are demonstrated by sum-frequency-generation imaging of pounded granulated sugar and deep imaging of fluorescent beads in a tissue-like phantom, respectively. PMID:24156055

G-quadruplex enhanced fluorescence of DNA-silver nanoclusters and their application in bioimaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Jinbo; Zhang, Libing; Teng, Ye; Lou, Baohua; Jia, Xiaofang; Gu, Xiaoxiao; Wang, Erkang

2015-07-01

Guanine proximity based fluorescence enhanced DNA-templated silver nanoclusters (AgNCs) have been reported and applied for bioanalysis. Herein, we studied the G-quadruplex enhanced fluorescence of DNA-AgNCs and gained several significant conclusions, which will be helpful for the design of future probes. Our results demonstrate that a G-quadruplex can also effectively stimulate the fluorescence potential of AgNCs. The major contribution of the G-quadruplex is to provide guanine bases, and its special structure has no measurable impact. The DNA-templated AgNCs were further analysed by native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the guanine proximity enhancement mechanism could be visually verified by this method. Moreover, the fluorescence emission of C3A (CCCA)4 stabilized AgNCs was found to be easily and effectively enhanced by G-quadruplexes, such as T30695, AS1411 and TBA, especially AS1411. Benefiting from the high brightness of AS1411 enhanced DNA-AgNCs and the specific binding affinity of AS1411 for nucleolin, the AS1411 enhanced AgNCs can stain cancer cells for bioimaging.Guanine proximity based fluorescence enhanced DNA-templated silver nanoclusters (AgNCs) have been reported and applied for bioanalysis. Herein, we studied the G-quadruplex enhanced fluorescence of DNA-AgNCs and gained several significant conclusions, which will be helpful for the design of future probes. Our results demonstrate that a G-quadruplex can also effectively stimulate the fluorescence potential of AgNCs. The major contribution of the G-quadruplex is to provide guanine bases, and its special structure has no measurable impact. The DNA-templated AgNCs were further analysed by native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the guanine proximity enhancement mechanism could be visually verified by this method. Moreover, the fluorescence emission of C3A (CCCA)4 stabilized AgNCs was found to be easily and effectively enhanced by G-quadruplexes, such as T30695, AS1411 and TBA, especially AS1411. Benefiting from the high brightness of AS1411 enhanced DNA-AgNCs and the specific binding affinity of AS1411 for nucleolin, the AS1411 enhanced AgNCs can stain cancer cells for bioimaging. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Experiment details, Tables S1-3 and Fig. S1-4. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr03092g

Increased Production of Fatty Acids and Triglycerides in Aspergillus oryzae by Enhancing Expressions of Fatty Acid Synthesis-Related Genes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tamano, Koichi; Bruno, Kenneth S.; Karagiosis, Sue A.

2013-01-01

Microbial production of fats and oils is being developedas a means of converting biomass to biofuels. Here we investigate enhancing expression of enzymes involved in the production of fatty acids and triglycerides as a means to increase production of these compounds in Aspergillusoryzae. Examination of the A.oryzaegenome demonstrates that it contains twofatty acid synthases and several other genes that are predicted to be part of this biosynthetic pathway. We enhancedthe expressionof fatty acid synthesis-related genes by replacing their promoters with thepromoter fromthe constitutively highly expressedgene tef1. We demonstrate that by simply increasing the expression of the fatty acid synthasegenes wemore » successfullyincreasedtheproduction of fatty acids and triglyceridesby more than two fold. Enhancement of expression of the fatty acid pathway genes ATP-citrate lyase and palmitoyl-ACP thioesteraseincreasedproductivity to a lesser extent.Increasing expression ofacetyl-CoA carboxylase caused no detectable change in fatty acid levels. Increases in message level for each gene were monitored usingquantitative real-time RT-PCR. Our data demonstrates that a simple increase in the abundance of fatty acid synthase genes can increase the detectable amount of fatty acids.« less

Cavity-enhanced Raman microscopy of individual carbon nanotubes

PubMed Central

Hümmer, Thomas; Noe, Jonathan; Hofmann, Matthias S.; Hänsch, Theodor W.; Högele, Alexander; Hunger, David

2016-01-01

Raman spectroscopy reveals chemically specific information and provides label-free insight into the molecular world. However, the signals are intrinsically weak and call for enhancement techniques. Here, we demonstrate Purcell enhancement of Raman scattering in a tunable high-finesse microcavity, and utilize it for molecular diagnostics by combined Raman and absorption imaging. Studying individual single-wall carbon nanotubes, we identify crucial structural parameters such as nanotube radius, electronic structure and extinction cross-section. We observe a 320-times enhanced Raman scattering spectral density and an effective Purcell factor of 6.2, together with a collection efficiency of 60%. Potential for significantly higher enhancement, quantitative signals, inherent spectral filtering and absence of intrinsic background in cavity-vacuum stimulated Raman scattering render the technique a promising tool for molecular imaging. Furthermore, cavity-enhanced Raman transitions involving localized excitons could potentially be used for gaining quantum control over nanomechanical motion and open a route for molecular cavity optomechanics. PMID:27402165

Review of Recent Progress of Plasmonic Materials and Nano-Structures for Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering

PubMed Central

Wang, Alan X.; Kong, Xianming

2015-01-01

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has demonstrated single-molecule sensitivity and is becoming intensively investigated due to its significant potential in chemical and biomedical applications. SERS sensing is highly dependent on the substrate, where excitation of the localized surface plasmons (LSPs) enhances the Raman scattering signals of proximate analyte molecules. This paper reviews research progress of SERS substrates based on both plasmonic materials and nano-photonic structures. We first discuss basic plasmonic materials, such as metallic nanoparticles and nano-rods prepared by conventional bottom-up chemical synthesis processes. Then, we review rationally-designed plasmonic nano-structures created by top-down approaches or fine-controlled synthesis with high-density hot-spots to provide large SERS enhancement factors (EFs). Finally, we discuss the research progress of hybrid SERS substrates through the integration of plasmonic nano-structures with other nano-photonic devices, such as photonic crystals, bio-enabled nanomaterials, guided-wave systems, micro-fluidics and graphene. PMID:26900428

Terahertz metasurfaces with a high refractive index enhanced by the strong nearest neighbor coupling.

PubMed

Tan, Siyu; Yan, Fengping; Singh, Leena; Cao, Wei; Xu, Ningning; Hu, Xiang; Singh, Ranjan; Wang, Mingwei; Zhang, Weili

2015-11-02

The realization of high refractive index is of significant interest in optical imaging with enhanced resolution. Strongly coupled subwavelength resonators were proposed and demonstrated at both optical and terahertz frequencies to enhance the refractive index due to large induced dipole moment in meta-atoms. Here, we report an alternative design for flexible free-standing terahertz metasurface in the strong coupling regime where we experimentally achieve a peak refractive index value of 14.36. We also investigate the impact of the nearest neighbor coupling in the form of frequency tuning and enhancement of the peak refractive index. We provide an analytical circuit model to explain the impact of geometrical parameters and coupling on the effective refractive index of the metasurface. The proposed meta-atom structure enables tailoring of the peak refractive index based on nearest neighbor coupling and this property offers tremendous design flexibility for transformation optics and other index-gradient devices at terahertz frequencies.

Reconciling findings of emotion-induced memory enhancement and impairment of preceding items

PubMed Central

Knight, Marisa; Mather, Mara

2009-01-01

A large body of work reveals that people remember emotionally arousing information better than neutral information. However, previous research reveals contradictory effects of emotional events on memory for neutral events that precede or follow them: in some studies emotionally arousing items impair memory for immediately preceding or following items and in others arousing items enhance memory for preceding items. By demonstrating both emotion-induced enhancement and impairment, Experiments 1 and 2 clarified the conditions under which these effects are likely to occur. The results suggest that emotion-induced enhancement is most likely to occur for neutral items that: (1) precede (and so are poised to predict the onset of) emotionally arousing items, (2) have high attentional weights at encoding, and (3) are tested after a delay period of a week rather than within the same experiment session. In contrast, emotion-induced impairment is most likely to occur for neutral items near the onset of emotional arousal that are overshadowed by highly activated competing items during encoding. PMID:20001121

Review of Recent Progress of Plasmonic Materials and Nano-Structures for Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering.

PubMed

Wang, Alan X; Kong, Xianming

2015-06-01

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has demonstrated single-molecule sensitivity and is becoming intensively investigated due to its significant potential in chemical and biomedical applications. SERS sensing is highly dependent on the substrate, where excitation of the localized surface plasmons (LSPs) enhances the Raman scattering signals of proximate analyte molecules. This paper reviews research progress of SERS substrates based on both plasmonic materials and nano-photonic structures. We first discuss basic plasmonic materials, such as metallic nanoparticles and nano-rods prepared by conventional bottom-up chemical synthesis processes. Then, we review rationally-designed plasmonic nano-structures created by top-down approaches or fine-controlled synthesis with high-density hot-spots to provide large SERS enhancement factors (EFs). Finally, we discuss the research progress of hybrid SERS substrates through the integration of plasmonic nano-structures with other nano-photonic devices, such as photonic crystals, bio-enabled nanomaterials, guided-wave systems, micro-fluidics and graphene.

A facile route towards large area self-assembled nanoscale silver film morphologies and their applications towards metal enhanced fluorescence

DOE PAGES

Hohenberger, Erik; Freitag, Nathan; Rosenmann, Daniel; ...

2017-04-19

Here, we present a facile method for fabricating nanostructured silver films containing a high density of nanoscopic gap features through a surface directed phenomenon utilizing nanoporous scaffolds rather than through traditional lithographic patterning processes. This method enables tunability of the silver film growth by simply adjusting the formulation and processing conditions of the nanoporous film prior to metallization. We further demonstrate that this process can produce nanoscopic gaps in thick (100 nm) silver films supporting localized surface plasmon resonance with large field amplification within the gaps while enabling launching of propagating surface plasmons within the silver grains. These enhanced fieldsmore » provide metal enhanced fluorescence with enhancement factors as high as 21 times compared to glass, as well as enable visualization of single fluorophore emission. This work provides a low-cost rapid approach for producing novel nanostructures capable of broadband fluorescence amplification, with potential applications including plasmonic and fluorescence based optical sensing and imaging applications.« less

Photonic crystal enhanced fluorescence using a quartz substrate to reduce limits of detection

PubMed Central

Pokhriyal, Anusha; Lu, Meng; Chaudhery, Vikram; Huang, Cheng-Sheng; Schulz, Stephen; Cunningham, Brian T.

2010-01-01

A Photonic Crystal (PC) surface fabricated upon a quartz substrate using nanoimprint lithography has been demonstrated to enhance light emission from fluorescent molecules in close proximity to the PC surface. Quartz was selected for its low autofluorescence characteristics compared to polymer-based PCs, improving the detection sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of PC Enhanced Fluorescence (PCEF). Nanoimprint lithography enables economical fabrication of the subwavelength PCEF surface structure over entire 1x3 in2 quartz slides. The demonstrated PCEF surface supports a transverse magnetic (TM) resonant mode at a wavelength of λ = 632.8 nm and an incident angle of θ = 11°, which amplifies the electric field magnitude experienced by surface-bound fluorophores. Meanwhile, another TM mode at a wavelength of λ = 690 nm and incident angle of θ = 0° efficiently directs the fluorescent emission toward the detection optics. An enhancement factor as high as 7500 × was achieved for the detection of LD-700 dye spin-coated upon the PC, compared to detecting the same material on an unpatterned glass surface. The detection of spotted Alexa-647 labeled polypeptide on the PC exhibits a 330 × SNR improvement. Using dose-response characterization of deposited fluorophore-tagged protein spots, the PCEF surface demonstrated a 140 × lower limit of detection compared to a conventional glass substrate. PMID:21164826

M-shaped grating by nanoimprinting: a replicable, large-area, highly active plasmonic surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrate with nanogaps.

PubMed

Zhu, Zhendong; Bai, Benfeng; Duan, Huigao; Zhang, Haosu; Zhang, Mingqian; You, Oubo; Li, Qunqing; Tan, Qiaofeng; Wang, Jia; Fan, Shoushan; Jin, Guofan

2014-04-24

Plasmonic nanostructures separated by nanogaps enable strong electromagnetic-field confinement on the nanoscale for enhancing light-matter interactions, which are in great demand in many applications such as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). A simple M-shaped nanograting with narrow V-shaped grooves is proposed. Both theoretical and experimental studies reveal that the electromagnetic field on the surface of the M grating can be pronouncedly enhanced over that of a grating without such grooves, due to field localization in the nanogaps formed by the narrow V grooves. A technique based on room-temperature nanoimprinting lithography and anisotropic reactive-ion etching is developed to fabricate this device, which is cost-effective, reliable, and suitable for fabricating large-area nanostructures. As a demonstration of the potential application of this device, the M grating is used as a SERS substrate for probing Rhodamine 6G molecules. Experimentally, an average SERS enhancement factor as high as 5×10⁸ has been achieved, which verifies the greatly enhanced light-matter interaction on the surface of the M grating over that of traditional SERS surfaces. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Feasibility of dose enhancement assessment: Preliminary results by means of Gd-infused polymer gel dosimeter and Monte Carlo study.

PubMed

Santibáñez, M; Guillen, Y; Chacón, D; Figueroa, R G; Valente, M

2018-04-11

This work reports the experimental development of an integral Gd-infused dosimeter suitable for Gd dose enhancement assessment along with Monte Carlo simulations applied to determine the dose enhancement by radioactive and X-ray sources of interest in conventional and electronic brachytherapy. In this context, capability to elaborate a stable and reliable Gd-infused dosimeter was the first goal aimed at direct and accurate measurements of dose enhancement due to Gd presence. Dose-response was characterized for standard and Gd-infused PAGAT polymer gel dosimeters by means of optical transmission/absorbance. The developed Gd-infused PAGAT dosimeters demonstrated to be stable presenting similar dose-response as standard PAGAT within a linear trend up to 13 Gy along with good post-irradiation readout stability verified at 24 and 48 h. Additionally, dose enhancement was evaluated for Gd-infused PAGAT dosimeters by means of Monte Carlo (PENELOPE) simulations considering scenarios for isotopic and X-ray generator sources. The obtained results demonstrated the feasibility of obtaining a maximum enhancement around of (14 ± 1)% for 192 Ir source and an average enhancement of (70 ± 13)% for 241 Am. However, dose enhancement up to (267 ± 18)% may be achieved if suitable filtering is added to the 241 Am source. On the other hand, optimized X-ray spectra may attain dose enhancements up to (253 ± 22) %, which constitutes a promising future alternative for replacing radioactive sources by implementing electronic brachytherapy achieving high dose levels. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Dynamic contrast-enhanced breast MRI at 7 Tesla utilizing a single-loop coil: a feasibility trial.

PubMed

Umutlu, Lale; Maderwald, Stefan; Kraff, Oliver; Theysohn, Jens M; Kuemmel, Sherko; Hauth, Elke A; Forsting, Michael; Antoch, Gerald; Ladd, Mark E; Quick, Harald H; Lauenstein, Thomas C

2010-08-01

The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of dynamic contrast-enhanced ultra-high-field breast imaging at 7 Tesla. A total of 15 subjects, including 5 patients with histologically proven breast cancer, were examined on a 7 Tesla whole-body magnetic resonance imaging system using a unilateral linearly polarized single-loop coil. Subjects were placed in prone position on a biopsy support system, with the coil placed directly below the region of interest. The examination protocol included the following sequences: 1) T2-weighted turbo spin echo sequence; 2) six dynamic T1-weighted spoiled gradient-echo sequences; and 3) subtraction imaging. Contrast-enhanced T1-weighted imaging at 7 Tesla could be obtained at high spatial resolution with short acquisition times, providing good image accuracy and a conclusively good delineation of small anatomical and pathological structures. T2-weighted imaging could be obtained with high spatial resolution at adequate acquisition times. Because of coil limitations, four high-field magnetic resonance examinations showed decreased diagnostic value. This first scientific approach of dynamic contrast-enhanced breast magnetic resonance imaging at 7 Tesla demonstrates the complexity of ultra-high-field breast magnetic resonance imaging and countenances the implementation of further advanced bilateral coil concepts to circumvent current limitations from the coil and ultra-high-field magnetic strength. 2010 AUR. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Single photons to multiple octaves: Engineering nonlinear optics in micro- and nano-structured media

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-05-18

generation and amplification of ultrafast IR pulses. Both efforts took advantage of microstructured nonlinear media, e.g. quasi -phasematched (QPM...enhance the wave-mixing efficiency, especially for low-power devices. Because errors in fabrication of waveguides and quasi - phasematching gratings are... experimental demonstration of optical parametric chirped pulse amplifiers (OPCPA) in apodized aperiodic QPMgratings for high repetition rate, high

Microfluidic multiplexed partitioning enables flexible and effective utilization of magnetic sensor arrays.

PubMed

Bechstein, Daniel J B; Ng, Elaine; Lee, Jung-Rok; Cone, Stephanie G; Gaster, Richard S; Osterfeld, Sebastian J; Hall, Drew A; Weaver, James A; Wilson, Robert J; Wang, Shan X

2015-11-21

We demonstrate microfluidic partitioning of a giant magnetoresistive sensor array into individually addressable compartments that enhances its effective use. Using different samples and reagents in each compartment enables measuring of cross-reactive species and wide dynamic ranges on a single chip. This compartmentalization technique motivates the employment of high density sensor arrays for highly parallelized measurements in lab-on-a-chip devices.

Integrated Computational Materials Engineering Development of Alternative Cu-Be Alloys

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-08-01

Be alloy replacement in highly loaded wear applications . ● Development bushing designs for the enhancement of dynamic wear performance...Material Properties and Tribological Characterization Cu-Based and Co- Based Alloy Concept Selection Requirements Definition Bushing Design and...properties and cost for highly loaded bushing applications ● QuesTek’s NAVAIR-funded SBIR Phase II program demonstrated the feasibility of designing Be-free

Creating Small Learning Communities: Lessons from the Project on High-Performing Learning Communities about "What Works" in Creating Productive, Developmentally Enhancing, Learning Contexts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Felner, Robert D.; Seitsinger, Anne M.; Brand, Stephen; Burns, Amy; Bolton, Natalie

2007-01-01

Personalizing the school environment is a central goal of efforts to transform America's schools. Three decades of work by the Project on High Performance Learning Communities are considered that demonstrate the potential impact and importance of the creation of "small learning environments" on student motivation, adjustment, and well-being.…

Sensitivity and resolution in frequency comb spectroscopy of buffer gas cooled polyatomic molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Changala, P. Bryan; Spaun, Ben; Patterson, David; Doyle, John M.; Ye, Jun

2016-12-01

We discuss the use of cavity-enhanced direct frequency comb spectroscopy in the mid-infrared region with buffer gas cooling of polyatomic molecules for high-precision rovibrational absorption spectroscopy. A frequency comb coupled to an optical enhancement cavity allows us to collect high-resolution, broad-bandwidth infrared spectra of translationally and rotationally cold (10-20 K) gas-phase molecules with high absorption sensitivity and fast acquisition times. The design and performance of the combined apparatus are discussed in detail. Recorded rovibrational spectra in the CH stretching region of several organic molecules, including vinyl bromide (CH_2CHBr), adamantane (C_{10}H_{16}), and diamantane (C_{14}H_{20}) demonstrate the resolution and sensitivity of this technique, as well as the intrinsic challenges faced in extending the frontier of high-resolution spectroscopy to large complex molecules.

Doping-enhanced radiative efficiency enables lasing in unpassivated GaAs nanowires

PubMed Central

Burgess, Tim; Saxena, Dhruv; Mokkapati, Sudha; Li, Zhe; Hall, Christopher R.; Davis, Jeffrey A.; Wang, Yuda; Smith, Leigh M.; Fu, Lan; Caroff, Philippe; Tan, Hark Hoe; Jagadish, Chennupati

2016-01-01

Nanolasers hold promise for applications including integrated photonics, on-chip optical interconnects and optical sensing. Key to the realization of current cavity designs is the use of nanomaterials combining high gain with high radiative efficiency. Until now, efforts to enhance the performance of semiconductor nanomaterials have focused on reducing the rate of non-radiative recombination through improvements to material quality and complex passivation schemes. Here we employ controlled impurity doping to increase the rate of radiative recombination. This unique approach enables us to improve the radiative efficiency of unpassivated GaAs nanowires by a factor of several hundred times while also increasing differential gain and reducing the transparency carrier density. In this way, we demonstrate lasing from a nanomaterial that combines high radiative efficiency with a picosecond carrier lifetime ready for high speed applications. PMID:27311597

Graphene Oxide by UV-Ozone Treatment as an Efficient Hole Extraction Layer for Highly Efficient and Stable Polymer Solar Cells.

PubMed

Xia, Yingdong; Pan, Yufeng; Zhang, Haijuan; Qiu, Jian; Zheng, Yiting; Chen, Yonghua; Huang, Wei

2017-08-09

The hole extraction layer has a significant impact on the achievement of high-efficiency polymer solar cells (PSCs). Here, we report an efficient approach to direct UV-ozone treatment by larger device performance enhancement employing graphene oxide (GO). The dramatic performance enhancement of PSCs with the P3HT:PCBM blend as an active layer was demonstrated by the UV-ozone treatment of GO for 30 min: best power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 4.18%, fill factor of 0.63, J sc of 10.94 mA cm -2 , and V oc of 0.61 V, which are significantly higher than those of the untreated GO (1.82%) and highly comparable PEDOT:PSS-based PSCs (3.73%). In addition, PSCs with UV-ozone-treated GO showed a longer stability than PSCs with PEDOT:PSS. The significant enhancement of PCEs of PSCs can be attributed to the fact that ozone molecules can oxidize GO into CO 2 and leave highly conductive graphene particles. We suggest that this simple UV-ozone treatment can provide an efficient method for highly efficient GO hole extraction in high-performance PSCs.

Polyvinylpyrrolidone- (PVP-) coated silver aggregates for high performance surface-enhanced Raman scattering in living cells.

PubMed

Tan, Xuebin; Wang, Zhuyuan; Yang, Jing; Song, Chunyuan; Zhang, Ruohu; Cui, Yiping

2009-11-04

A biocompatible and stable surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) probe has been successfully synthesized through a simple route with silver aggregates. Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), a biocompatible polymer, was utilized to control the aggregation process and improve the chemical stability of the aggregates. Extinction spectroscopy and TEM results show the aggregation degree and core-shell structure of the probe. It is found that when we employ 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (4MBA), crystal violet (CV), Rhodamine 6G (R6G) or 4,4'-bipyridine molecules as Raman reporters, the SERS signal from the proposed probe can remain at a high level under aggressive chemical environments, even after being incorporated into living cells. In comparison with the traditional probes without the PVP shell, the new ones exhibit strong surface-enhanced effects and low toxicity towards living cells. We demonstrate that the PVP-coated silver aggregates are highly SERS effective, for which the fabrication protocol is advantageous in its simplicity and reproducibility.

Enhancing stability and efficiency of perovskite solar cells with crosslinkable silane-functionalized and doped fullerene

DOE PAGES

Bai, Yang; Dong, Qingfeng; Shao, Yuchuan; ...

2016-10-05

The instability of hybrid perovskite materials due to water and moisture arises as one major challenge to be addressed before any practical application of the demonstrated high efficiency perovskite solar cells. Here we report a facile strategy that can simultaneously enhance the stability and efficiency of p-i-n planar heterojunction-structure perovskite devices. Crosslinkable silane molecules with hydrophobic functional groups are bonded onto fullerene to make the fullerene layer highly water-resistant. Methylammonium iodide is introduced in the fullerene layer for n-doping via anion-induced electron transfer, resulting in dramatically increased conductivity over 100-fold. With crosslinkable silane-functionalized and doped fullerene electron transport layer, themore » perovskite devices deliver an efficiency of 19.5% with a high fill factor of 80.6%. Furthermore, a crosslinked silane-modified fullerene layer also enhances the water and moisture stability of the non-sealed perovskite devices by retaining nearly 90% of their original efficiencies after 30 days’ exposure in an ambient environment.« less

Enhancing stability and efficiency of perovskite solar cells with crosslinkable silane-functionalized and doped fullerene

PubMed Central

Bai, Yang; Dong, Qingfeng; Shao, Yuchuan; Deng, Yehao; Wang, Qi; Shen, Liang; Wang, Dong; Wei, Wei; Huang, Jinsong

2016-01-01

The instability of hybrid perovskite materials due to water and moisture arises as one major challenge to be addressed before any practical application of the demonstrated high efficiency perovskite solar cells. Here we report a facile strategy that can simultaneously enhance the stability and efficiency of p–i–n planar heterojunction-structure perovskite devices. Crosslinkable silane molecules with hydrophobic functional groups are bonded onto fullerene to make the fullerene layer highly water-resistant. Methylammonium iodide is introduced in the fullerene layer for n-doping via anion-induced electron transfer, resulting in dramatically increased conductivity over 100-fold. With crosslinkable silane-functionalized and doped fullerene electron transport layer, the perovskite devices deliver an efficiency of 19.5% with a high fill factor of 80.6%. A crosslinked silane-modified fullerene layer also enhances the water and moisture stability of the non-sealed perovskite devices by retaining nearly 90% of their original efficiencies after 30 days' exposure in an ambient environment. PMID:27703136

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hornemann, Andrea, E-mail: andrea.hornemann@ptb.de; Hoehl, Arne, E-mail: arne.hoehl@ptb.de; Ulm, Gerhard, E-mail: gerhard.ulm@ptb.de

Bio-diagnostic assays of high complexity rely on nanoscaled assay recognition elements that can provide unique selectivity and design-enhanced sensitivity features. High throughput performance requires the simultaneous detection of various analytes combined with appropriate bioassay components. Nanoparticle induced sensitivity enhancement, and subsequent multiplexed capability Surface-Enhanced InfraRed Absorption (SEIRA) assay formats are fitting well these purposes. SEIRA constitutes an ideal platform to isolate the vibrational signatures of targeted bioassay and active molecules. The potential of several targeted biolabels, here fluorophore-labeled antibody conjugates, chemisorbed onto low-cost biocompatible gold nano-aggregates substrates have been explored for their use in assay platforms. Dried films were analyzedmore » by synchrotron radiation based FTIR/SEIRA spectro-microscopy and the resulting complex hyperspectral datasets were submitted to automated statistical analysis, namely Principal Components Analysis (PCA). The relationships between molecular fingerprints were put in evidence to highlight their spectral discrimination capabilities. We demonstrate that robust spectral encoding via SEIRA fingerprints opens up new opportunities for fast, reliable and multiplexed high-end screening not only in biodiagnostics but also in vitro biochemical imaging.« less

Photoexcited Graphene Metasurfaces: Significantly Enhanced and Tunable Magnetic Resonances

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fan, Yuancheng; Shen, Nian -Hai; Zhang, Fuli

Artificially constructed metamaterials or metasurfaces with tailored resonant elements provide a revolutionary platform for controlling light at the subwavelength scale. Switchable or frequency-agile meta-devices are highly desirable in achieving more flexible functionalities and have been explored extensively by incorporating various materials, which respond to external stimuli. Graphene, a two-dimensional material showing extraordinary physical properties, has been found very promising for tunable meta-devices. However, the high intrinsic loss of graphene severely obstructs us from achieving high-quality resonance in various graphene metamaterials and metasurfaces, and the loss compensation can be considered as a straightforward strategy to take further advantages of enhanced light–graphenemore » interactions. Here, we demonstrate that the photoexcited graphene, in which the quasi-Fermi energy of graphene changes corresponding to optical pumping, can boost the originally extremely weak magnetic resonance in a graphene split-ring metasurface, showing remarkable modulations in the transmission. In conclusion, our work pioneers the possibilities of optically pumped graphene metasurfaces for significant enhancement of resonances and feasible modulations.« less

Photoexcited Graphene Metasurfaces: Significantly Enhanced and Tunable Magnetic Resonances

DOE PAGES

Fan, Yuancheng; Shen, Nian -Hai; Zhang, Fuli; ...

2018-02-27

Artificially constructed metamaterials or metasurfaces with tailored resonant elements provide a revolutionary platform for controlling light at the subwavelength scale. Switchable or frequency-agile meta-devices are highly desirable in achieving more flexible functionalities and have been explored extensively by incorporating various materials, which respond to external stimuli. Graphene, a two-dimensional material showing extraordinary physical properties, has been found very promising for tunable meta-devices. However, the high intrinsic loss of graphene severely obstructs us from achieving high-quality resonance in various graphene metamaterials and metasurfaces, and the loss compensation can be considered as a straightforward strategy to take further advantages of enhanced light–graphenemore » interactions. Here, we demonstrate that the photoexcited graphene, in which the quasi-Fermi energy of graphene changes corresponding to optical pumping, can boost the originally extremely weak magnetic resonance in a graphene split-ring metasurface, showing remarkable modulations in the transmission. In conclusion, our work pioneers the possibilities of optically pumped graphene metasurfaces for significant enhancement of resonances and feasible modulations.« less

High-polarization-discriminating infrared detection using a single quantum well sandwiched in plasmonic micro-cavity.

PubMed

Li, Qian; Li, ZhiFeng; Li, Ning; Chen, XiaoShuang; Chen, PingPing; Shen, XueChu; Lu, Wei

2014-09-11

Polarimetric imaging has proved its value in medical diagnostics, bionics, remote sensing, astronomy, and in many other wide fields. Pixel-level solid monolithically integrated polarimetric imaging photo-detectors are the trend for infrared polarimetric imaging devices. For better polarimetric imaging performance the high polarization discriminating detectors are very much critical. Here we demonstrate the high infrared light polarization resolving capabilities of a quantum well (QW) detector in hybrid structure of single QW and plasmonic micro-cavity that uses QW as an active structure in the near field regime of plasmonic effect enhanced cavity, in which the photoelectric conversion in such a plasmonic micro-cavity has been realized. The detector's extinction ratio reaches 65 at the wavelength of 14.7 μm, about 6 times enhanced in such a type of pixel-level polarization long wave infrared photodetectors. The enhancement mechanism is attributed to artificial plasmonic modulation on optical propagation and distribution in the plasmonic micro-cavities.

High-Polarization-Discriminating Infrared Detection Using a Single Quantum Well Sandwiched in Plasmonic Micro-Cavity

PubMed Central

Li, Qian; Li, ZhiFeng; Li, Ning; Chen, XiaoShuang; Chen, PingPing; Shen, XueChu; Lu, Wei

2014-01-01

Polarimetric imaging has proved its value in medical diagnostics, bionics, remote sensing, astronomy, and in many other wide fields. Pixel-level solid monolithically integrated polarimetric imaging photo-detectors are the trend for infrared polarimetric imaging devices. For better polarimetric imaging performance the high polarization discriminating detectors are very much critical. Here we demonstrate the high infrared light polarization resolving capabilities of a quantum well (QW) detector in hybrid structure of single QW and plasmonic micro-cavity that uses QW as an active structure in the near field regime of plasmonic effect enhanced cavity, in which the photoelectric conversion in such a plasmonic micro-cavity has been realized. The detector's extinction ratio reaches 65 at the wavelength of 14.7 μm, about 6 times enhanced in such a type of pixel-level polarization long wave infrared photodetectors. The enhancement mechanism is attributed to artificial plasmonic modulation on optical propagation and distribution in the plasmonic micro-cavities. PMID:25208580

Enhanced coupling of light into a turbid medium through microscopic interface engineering

PubMed Central

Thompson, Jonathan V.; Hokr, Brett H.; Kim, Wihan; Ballmann, Charles W.; Applegate, Brian E.; Jo, Javier; Yamilov, Alexey; Cao, Hui; Scully, Marlan O.; Yakovlev, Vladislav V.

2017-01-01

There are many optical detection and sensing methods used today that provide powerful ways to diagnose, characterize, and study materials. For example, the measurement of spontaneous Raman scattering allows for remote detection and identification of chemicals. Many other optical techniques provide unique solutions to learn about biological, chemical, and even structural systems. However, when these systems exist in a highly scattering or turbid medium, the optical scattering effects reduce the effectiveness of these methods. In this article, we demonstrate a method to engineer the geometry of the optical interface of a turbid medium, thereby drastically enhancing the coupling efficiency of light into the material. This enhanced optical coupling means that light incident on the material will penetrate deeper into (and through) the medium. It also means that light thus injected into the material will have an enhanced interaction time with particles contained within the material. These results show that, by using the multiple scattering of light in a turbid medium, enhanced light–matter interaction can be achieved; this has a direct impact on spectroscopic methods such as Raman scattering and fluorescence detection in highly scattering regimes. Furthermore, the enhanced penetration depth achieved by this method will directly impact optical techniques that have previously been limited by the inability to deposit sufficient amounts of optical energy below or through highly scattering layers. PMID:28701381

Improved linearity in AlGaN/GaN metal-insulator-semiconductor high electron mobility transistors with nonlinear polarization dielectric

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Tao; Xu, Ruimin; Kong, Yuechan; Zhou, Jianjun; Kong, Cen; Dong, Xun; Chen, Tangsheng

2015-06-01

We demonstrate highly improved linearity in a nonlinear ferroelectric of Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)-gated AlGaN/GaN metal-insulator-semiconductor high electron mobility transistor (MIS-HEMT). Distinct double-hump feature in the transconductance-gate voltage (gm-Vg) curve is observed, yielding remarkable enhancement in gate voltage swing as compared to MIS-HEMT with conventional linear gate dielectric. By incorporating the ferroelectric polarization into a self-consistent calculation, it is disclosed that in addition to the common hump corresponding to the onset of electron accumulation, the second hump at high current level is originated from the nonlinear polar nature of ferroelectric, which enhances the gate capacitance by increasing equivalent dielectric constant nonlinearly. This work paves a way for design of high linearity GaN MIS-HEMT by exploiting the nonlinear properties of dielectric.

Dynamic nuclear magnetic resonance field sensing with part-per-trillion resolution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gross, Simon; Barmet, Christoph; Dietrich, Benjamin E.; Brunner, David O.; Schmid, Thomas; Pruessmann, Klaas P.

2016-12-01

High-field magnets of up to tens of teslas in strength advance applications in physics, chemistry and the life sciences. However, progress in generating such high fields has not been matched by corresponding advances in magnetic field measurement. Based mostly on nuclear magnetic resonance, dynamic high-field magnetometry is currently limited to resolutions in the nanotesla range. Here we report a concerted approach involving tailored materials, magnetostatics and detection electronics to enhance the resolution of nuclear magnetic resonance sensing by three orders of magnitude. The relative sensitivity thus achieved amounts to 1 part per trillion (10-12). To exemplify this capability we demonstrate the direct detection and relaxometry of nuclear polarization and real-time recording of dynamic susceptibility effects related to human heart function. Enhanced high-field magnetometry will generally permit a fresh look at magnetic phenomena that scale with field strength. It also promises to facilitate the development and operation of high-field magnets.

First refraction contrast imaging via Laser-Compton Scattering X-ray at KEK

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sakaue, Kazuyuki; Aoki, Tatsuro; Washio, Masakazu

2012-07-31

Laser-Compton Scattering (LCS) is one of the most feasible techniques for high quality, high brightness, and compact X-ray source. High energy electron beam produced by accelerators scatters off the laser photon at a small spot. As a laser target, we have been developing a pulsedlaser storage cavity for increasing an X-ray flux. The X-ray flux was still inadequate that was 2.1 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 5}/sec, however, we performed first refraction contrast imaging in order to evaluate the quality of LCS X-ray. Edge enhanced contrast imaging was achieved by changing the distance from sample to detector. The edge enhancement indicates that themore » LCS X-ray has small source size, i.e. high brightness. We believe that the result has demonstrated good feasibility of linac-based high brightness X-ray sources via laser-electron Compton scatterings.« less

Incorporation of ionic liquid into porous polymer monoliths to enhance the separation of small molecules in reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.

PubMed

Wang, Jiafei; Bai, Ligai; Wei, Zhen; Qin, Junxiao; Ma, Yamin; Liu, Haiyan

2015-06-01

An ionic liquid was incorporated into the porous polymer monoliths to afford stationary phases with enhanced chromatographic performance for small molecules in reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The effect of the ionic liquid in the polymerization mixture on the performance of the monoliths was studied in detail. While monoliths without ionic liquid exhibited poor resolution and low efficiency, the addition of ionic liquid to the polymerization mixture provides highly increased resolution and high efficiency. The chromatographic performances of the monoliths were demonstrated by the separations of various small molecules including aromatic hydrocarbons, isomers, and homologues using a binary polar mobile phase. The present column efficiency reached 27 000 plates/m, which showed that the ionic liquid monoliths are alternative stationary phases in the separation of small molecules by high-performance liquid chromatography. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Pt3Co concave nanocubes: synthesis, formation understanding, and enhanced catalytic activity toward hydrogenation of styrene.

PubMed

Wang, Chenyu; Lin, Cuikun; Zhang, Lihua; Quan, Zewei; Sun, Kai; Zhao, Bo; Wang, Feng; Porter, Nathan; Wang, Yuxuan; Fang, Jiye

2014-02-03

We report a facile synthesis route to prepare high-quality Pt3Co nanocubes with a concave structure, and further demonstrate that these concave Pt3Co nanocubes are terminated with high-index crystal facets. The success of this preparation is highly dependent on an appropriate nucleation process with a successively anisotropic overgrowth and a preservation of the resultant high-index planes by control binding of oleyl-amine/oleic acid with a fine-tuned composition. Using a hydrogenation of styrene as a model reaction, these Pt3Co concave nanocubes as a new class of nanocatalysts with more open structure and active atomic sites located on their high-index crystallographic planes exhibit an enhanced catalytic activity in comparison with low-indexed surface terminated Pt3Co nanocubes in similar size. Copyright © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Ultrahigh Oxidation Resistance and High Electrical Conductivity in Copper-Silver Powder.

PubMed

Li, Jiaxiang; Li, Yunping; Wang, Zhongchang; Bian, Huakang; Hou, Yuhang; Wang, Fenglin; Xu, Guofu; Liu, Bin; Liu, Yong

2016-12-22

The electrical conductivity of pure Cu powder is typically deteriorated at elevated temperatures due to the oxidation by forming non-conducting oxides on surface, while enhancing oxidation resistance via alloying is often accompanied by a drastic decline of electrical conductivity. Obtaining Cu powder with both a high electrical conductivity and a high oxidation resistance represents one of the key challenges in developing next-generation electrical transferring powder. Here, we fabricate a Cu-Ag powder with a continuous Ag network along grain boundaries of Cu particles and demonstrate that this new structure can inhibit the preferential oxidation in grain boundaries at elevated temperatures. As a result, the Cu-Ag powder displays considerably high electrical conductivity and high oxidation resistance up to approximately 300 °C, which are markedly higher than that of pure Cu powder. This study paves a new pathway for developing novel Cu powders with much enhanced electrical conductivity and oxidation resistance in service.

Enhanced in vivo visualization of the microcirculation by topical application of fructose solution confirmed with correlation mapping optical coherence tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Enfield, Joey; McGrath, James; Daly, Susan M.; Leahy, Martin

2016-08-01

Changes within the microcirculation can provide an early indication of the onset of a plethora of ailments. Various techniques have thus been developed that enable the study of microcirculatory irregularities. Correlation mapping optical coherence tomography (cmOCT) is a recently proposed technique, which enables mapping of vasculature networks at the capillary level in a noninvasive and noncontact manner. This technique is an extension of conventional optical coherence tomography (OCT) and is therefore likewise limited in the penetration depth of ballistic photons in biological media. Optical clearing has previously been demonstrated to enhance the penetration depth and the imaging capabilities of OCT. In order to enhance the achievable maximum imaging depth, we propose the use of optical clearing in conjunction with the cmOCT technique. We demonstrate in vivo a 13% increase in OCT penetration depth by topical application of a high-concentration fructose solution, thereby enabling the visualization of vessel features at deeper depths within the tissue.

Characterizing substrate–surface interactions on alumina-supported metal catalysts by dynamic nuclear polarization-enhanced double-resonance NMR spectroscopy [Characterizing substrate-surface interactions on alumina supported metal catalysts by DNP-enhanced double-resonance NMR spectroscopy

DOE PAGES

Perras, Frederic A.; Padmos, J. Daniel; Johnson, Robert L.; ...

2017-01-23

The characterization of nanometer-scale interactions between carbon-containing substrates and alumina surfaces is of paramount importance to industrial and academic catalysis applications, but it is also very challenging. Here, we demonstrate that dynamic nuclear polarization surface-enhanced NMR spectroscopy (DNP SENS) allows the unambiguous description of the coordination geometries and conformations of the substrates at the alumina surface through high-resolution measurements of 13C– 27Al distances. We apply this new technique to elucidate the molecular-level geometry of 13C-enriched methionine and natural abundance poly(vinyl alcohol) adsorbed on γ-Al 2O 3-supported Pd catalysts, and we support these results with element-specific X-ray absorption near-edge measurements. Furthermore,more » this work clearly demonstrates a surprising bimodal coordination of methionine at the Pd–Al 2O 3 interface.« less

Characterizing substrate–surface interactions on alumina-supported metal catalysts by dynamic nuclear polarization-enhanced double-resonance NMR spectroscopy [Characterizing substrate-surface interactions on alumina supported metal catalysts by DNP-enhanced double-resonance NMR spectroscopy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Perras, Frederic A.; Padmos, J. Daniel; Johnson, Robert L.

The characterization of nanometer-scale interactions between carbon-containing substrates and alumina surfaces is of paramount importance to industrial and academic catalysis applications, but it is also very challenging. Here, we demonstrate that dynamic nuclear polarization surface-enhanced NMR spectroscopy (DNP SENS) allows the unambiguous description of the coordination geometries and conformations of the substrates at the alumina surface through high-resolution measurements of 13C– 27Al distances. We apply this new technique to elucidate the molecular-level geometry of 13C-enriched methionine and natural abundance poly(vinyl alcohol) adsorbed on γ-Al 2O 3-supported Pd catalysts, and we support these results with element-specific X-ray absorption near-edge measurements. Furthermore,more » this work clearly demonstrates a surprising bimodal coordination of methionine at the Pd–Al 2O 3 interface.« less

Urea removal coupled with enhanced electricity generation in single-chambered microbial fuel cells.

PubMed

Wang, Luguang; Xie, Beizhen; Gao, Ningshengjie; Min, Booki; Liu, Hong

2017-09-01

High concentration of total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) in the form of urea is known to inhibit the performance of many biological wastewater treatment processes. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have great potential for TAN removal due to its unique oxic/anoxic environment. In this study, we demonstrated that increased urea (TAN) concentration up to 3940 mg/L did not inhibit power output of single-chambered MFCs, but enhanced power generation by 67% and improved coulombic efficiency by 78% compared to those obtained at 80 mg/L of TAN. Over 80% of nitrogen removal was achieved at TAN concentration of 2630 mg/L. The increased nitrogen removal coupled with significantly enhanced coulombic efficiency, which was observed for the first time, indicates the possibility of a new electricity generation mechanism in MFCs: direct oxidation of ammonia for power generation. This study also demonstrates the great potential of using one MFC reactor to achieve simultaneous electricity generation and urea removal from wastewater.

Lightening the load: perceptual load impairs visual detection in typical adults but not in autism.

PubMed

Remington, Anna M; Swettenham, John G; Lavie, Nilli

2012-05-01

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) research portrays a mixed picture of attentional abilities with demonstrations of enhancements (e.g., superior visual search) and deficits (e.g., higher distractibility). Here we test a potential resolution derived from the Load Theory of Attention (e.g., Lavie, 2005). In Load Theory, distractor processing depends on the perceptual load of the task and as such can only be eliminated under high load that engages full capacity. We hypothesize that ASD involves enhanced perceptual capacity, leading to the superior performance and increased distractor processing previously reported. Using a signal-detection paradigm, we test this directly and demonstrate that, under higher levels of load, perceptual sensitivity was reduced in typical adults but not in adults with ASD. These findings confirm our hypothesis and offer a promising solution to the previous discrepancies by suggesting that increased distractor processing in ASD results not from a filtering deficit but from enhanced perceptual capacity.

Resonantly enhanced multiple exciton generation through below-band-gap multi-photon absorption in perovskite nanocrystals.

PubMed

Manzi, Aurora; Tong, Yu; Feucht, Julius; Yao, En-Ping; Polavarapu, Lakshminarayana; Urban, Alexander S; Feldmann, Jochen

2018-04-17

Multi-photon absorption and multiple exciton generation represent two separate strategies for enhancing the conversion efficiency of light into usable electric power. Targeting below-band-gap and above-band-gap energies, respectively, to date these processes have only been demonstrated independently. Here we report the combined interaction of both nonlinear processes in CsPbBr 3 perovskite nanocrystals. We demonstrate nonlinear absorption over a wide range of below-band-gap excitation energies (0.5-0.8 E g ). Interestingly, we discover high-order absorption processes, deviating from the typical two-photon absorption, at specific energetic positions. These energies are associated with a strong enhancement of the photoluminescence intensity by up to 10 5 . The analysis of the corresponding energy levels reveals that the observed phenomena can be ascribed to the resonant creation of multiple excitons via the absorption of multiple below-band-gap photons. This effect may open new pathways for the efficient conversion of optical energy, potentially also in other semiconducting materials.

Signal enhancement and Patterson-search phasing for high-spatial-resolution coherent X-ray diffraction imaging of biological objects.

PubMed

Takayama, Yuki; Maki-Yonekura, Saori; Oroguchi, Tomotaka; Nakasako, Masayoshi; Yonekura, Koji

2015-01-28

In this decade coherent X-ray diffraction imaging has been demonstrated to reveal internal structures of whole biological cells and organelles. However, the spatial resolution is limited to several tens of nanometers due to the poor scattering power of biological samples. The challenge is to recover correct phase information from experimental diffraction patterns that have a low signal-to-noise ratio and unmeasurable lowest-resolution data. Here, we propose a method to extend spatial resolution by enhancing diffraction signals and by robust phasing. The weak diffraction signals from biological objects are enhanced by interference with strong waves from dispersed colloidal gold particles. The positions of the gold particles determined by Patterson analysis serve as the initial phase, and this dramatically improves reliability and convergence of image reconstruction by iterative phase retrieval. A set of calculations based on current experiments demonstrates that resolution is improved by a factor of two or more.

Signal enhancement and Patterson-search phasing for high-spatial-resolution coherent X-ray diffraction imaging of biological objects

PubMed Central

Takayama, Yuki; Maki-Yonekura, Saori; Oroguchi, Tomotaka; Nakasako, Masayoshi; Yonekura, Koji

2015-01-01

In this decade coherent X-ray diffraction imaging has been demonstrated to reveal internal structures of whole biological cells and organelles. However, the spatial resolution is limited to several tens of nanometers due to the poor scattering power of biological samples. The challenge is to recover correct phase information from experimental diffraction patterns that have a low signal-to-noise ratio and unmeasurable lowest-resolution data. Here, we propose a method to extend spatial resolution by enhancing diffraction signals and by robust phasing. The weak diffraction signals from biological objects are enhanced by interference with strong waves from dispersed colloidal gold particles. The positions of the gold particles determined by Patterson analysis serve as the initial phase, and this dramatically improves reliability and convergence of image reconstruction by iterative phase retrieval. A set of calculations based on current experiments demonstrates that resolution is improved by a factor of two or more. PMID:25627480

A novel method for real-time edge-enhancement and its application to pattern recognition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ge, Huayong; Bai, Enjian; Fan, Hong

2010-11-01

The coupling gain coefficient g is redefined and deduced based on coupling theory, the variant of coupling gain coefficient g for different ΓL and r is analyzed. A new optical system is proposed for image edge-enhancement. It recycles the back signal to amplify the edge signal, which has the advantages of high throughput efficiency and brightness. The optical system is designed and built, and the edge-enhanced image of hand bone is captured electronically by CCD camera. The principle of optical correlation is demonstrated, 3-D correlation distribution of letter H with and without edge-enhancement is simulated, the discrimination capability Iac and the full-width at half maximum intensity (FWHM) are compared for two kinds of correlators. The analysis shows that edge-enhancement preprocessing can improve the performance of correlator effectively.

Functional brain response to food images in successful adolescent weight losers compared with normal-weight and overweight controls.

PubMed

Jensen, Chad D; Kirwan, C Brock

2015-03-01

Research conducted with adults suggests that successful weight losers demonstrate greater activation in brain regions associated with executive control in response to viewing high-energy foods. No previous studies have examined these associations in adolescents. Functional neuroimaging was used to assess brain response to food images among groups of overweight (OW), normal-weight (NW), and successful weight-losing (SWL) adolescents. Eleven SWL, 12 NW, and 11 OW participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging while viewing images of high- and low-energy foods. When viewing high-energy food images, SWLs demonstrated greater activation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) compared with OW and NW controls. Compared with NW and SWL groups, OW individuals demonstrated greater activation in the ventral striatum and anterior cingulate in response to food images. Adolescent SWLs demonstrated greater neural activation in the DLPFC compared with OW/NW controls when viewing high-energy food stimuli, which may indicate enhanced executive control. OW individuals' brain responses to food stimuli may indicate greater reward incentive processes than either SWL or NW groups. © 2015 The Obesity Society.

UV-enhanced CO sensing using Ga 2O 3-based nanorod arrays at elevated temperature

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lin, Hui-Jan; Gao, Haiyong; Gao, Pu-Xian

Monitoring and control of gaseous combustion process are critically important in advanced energy systems such as power plants, gas turbines, and automotive engines. However, very limited gas sensing solutions are available in the market for such application due to the inherent high temperature of combustion gaseous atmosphere. In this study, we fabricated and demonstrated high-performance metal oxide based nanorod array sensors assisted with ultra-violet (UV) illumination for in situ and real-time high-temperature gas detection. Without UV-illumination, it was found surface decoration of either 5 nm LSFO or 1 nm Pt nanoparticles can enhance the sensitivity over CO at 500 °Cmore » by an order of magnitude. Under the 254 nm UV illumination, CO gas-sensing performance of Ga 2O 3-based nanorod array sensors was further enhanced with the sensitivity boosted by 125 %, and the response time reduced by 30 % for La 0.8Sr 0.2FeO 3(LSFO)-decorated sample. The UV-enhanced detecting of CO might be due to the increased population of photo-induced electron-hole pairs. While for LSFO-decorated nanorod array sensor under UV illumination, the enhancement is through a combination of sensitizing effect and photocurrent effect.« less

UV-enhanced CO sensing using Ga 2O 3-based nanorod arrays at elevated temperature

DOE PAGES

Lin, Hui-Jan; Gao, Haiyong; Gao, Pu-Xian

2017-01-23

Monitoring and control of gaseous combustion process are critically important in advanced energy systems such as power plants, gas turbines, and automotive engines. However, very limited gas sensing solutions are available in the market for such application due to the inherent high temperature of combustion gaseous atmosphere. In this study, we fabricated and demonstrated high-performance metal oxide based nanorod array sensors assisted with ultra-violet (UV) illumination for in situ and real-time high-temperature gas detection. Without UV-illumination, it was found surface decoration of either 5 nm LSFO or 1 nm Pt nanoparticles can enhance the sensitivity over CO at 500 °Cmore » by an order of magnitude. Under the 254 nm UV illumination, CO gas-sensing performance of Ga 2O 3-based nanorod array sensors was further enhanced with the sensitivity boosted by 125 %, and the response time reduced by 30 % for La 0.8Sr 0.2FeO 3(LSFO)-decorated sample. The UV-enhanced detecting of CO might be due to the increased population of photo-induced electron-hole pairs. While for LSFO-decorated nanorod array sensor under UV illumination, the enhancement is through a combination of sensitizing effect and photocurrent effect.« less

UV-enhanced CO sensing using Ga2O3-based nanorod arrays at elevated temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Hui-Jan; Gao, Haiyong; Gao, Pu-Xian

2017-01-01

Monitoring and control of the gaseous combustion process are critically important in advanced energy systems such as power plants, gas turbines, and automotive engines. However, very limited gas sensing solutions are available in the market for such applications due to the inherent high temperature of the combustion gaseous atmosphere. In this study, we fabricated and demonstrated high-performance metal oxide based nanorod array sensors assisted with ultra-violet (UV) illumination for in situ and real-time high-temperature gas detection. Without UV-illumination, it was found that surface decoration of either 5 nm LSFO or 1 nm Pt nanoparticles can enhance the sensitivity over CO at 500 °C by an order of magnitude. Under the 254 nm UV illumination, the CO gas-sensing performance of Ga2O3-based nanorod array sensors was further enhanced with the sensitivity boosted by 125% and the response time reduced by 30% for the La0.8Sr0.2FeO3(LSFO)-decorated sample. The UV-enhanced detection of CO might be due to the increased population of photo-induced electron-hole pairs, whereas for LSFO-decorated nanorod array sensor under UV illumination, the enhancement is through a combination of the sensitizing effect and photocurrent effect.

The incomplete angler: effects created by visual omission.

PubMed

Findlay, John M

2008-01-01

The Fisherman, a picture painted by Jean-Louis Forain, demonstrates an interesting interaction between low and high level perceptual processing. The isolation and tranquillity of the fisherman in the picture are enhanced by the absence of his reflection, yet perceivers are rarely aware of the omission.

Modulation of calcium carbonate precipitation by exopolysaccharide in Bacillus sp. JH7.

PubMed

Kim, Hyun Jung; Shin, Bora; Lee, Yun Suk; Park, Woojun

2017-08-01

Extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) is proposed to facilitate calcium ion supersaturation through its nucleation effect during the microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) process. However, the supersaturation effect of Ca 2+ via EPS in MICP has not been clearly demonstrated. Enhanced exopolysaccharide production of the alkali- and halotolerant MICP-capable bacteria, Bacillus sp. JH7, was achieved through glycerol addition. This was demonstrated by measuring cellular precipitation and Congo red binding. Interestingly, field emission scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry analysis demonstrated that there was no MICP under glycerol-amended conditions. Although glycerol promoted exopolysaccharide capture of Ca 2+ ions, Ca 2+ embedded onto EPS did not participate in MICP formation. The pH was reduced in glycerol-added media, which led us to analyze high acetate production under our test conditions. Purified glycerol-induced exopolysaccharide showed a higher capacity of Ca 2+ capture than the control. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed that three genes involved in exopolysaccharide production were highly upregulated by glycerol. The amounts of three detected monosaccharides (arabinose, glucose, and mannose) were altered by glycerol. Cell hydrophobicity measurements indicated that glycerol could confer more hydrophilic characteristics to cells, which might enhance Ca 2+ binding onto EPS. Unexpectedly, our data demonstrated, for the first time, that glycerol could promote exopolysaccharide and acetate production under our test condition, which could inhibit MICP by reducing the availability of free Ca 2+ .

Evaluation of the North Stanley Polymer Demonstration Project. [Tertiary oil recovery; polymer-enhanced waterflooding; Oklahoma

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Harpole, K.J.; Hill, C.J.

1983-02-01

A review of the performance of the North Stanley Polymer Demonstration Project has been completed. The objective of the cost-project was to evaluate the technical efficiency and economic feasibility of polymer-enhanced waterflooding as a tertiary recovery process in a highly heterogeneous and vertically fractured sandstone reservoir that has been successfully waterflooded and is approaching the economic limits of conventional waterflooding recovery. The ultimate incremental oil recovery from the project is estimated to be about 570,000 barrels (or approximately 1.4% of the original oil-in-place). This is significantly less than the original recovery predictions but does demonstrate that the project was technicallymore » successful. The lower-than-anticipated recovery is attributed principally to the extremely heterogeneous nature of the reservoir. One of the major objectives of this evaluation is to present an updated economic anlaysis of the North Stanley Polymer Demonstration Project. The updated economic analysis under current (mid-1982) economic conditions indicates that the North Stanley project would be commercially feasible if polymer injection had begun in 1982, rather than in 1976. Overall project operations were conducted efficiently, with a minimum of operational problems. The North Stanley polymer project provides a well-documented example of an actual field-scale tertiary application of polymer-augmented waterflooding in a highly heterogeneous reservoir.« less

Single-pulse enhanced coherent diffraction imaging of bacteria with an X-ray free-electron laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fan, Jiadong; Sun, Zhibin; Wang, Yaling; Park, Jaehyun; Kim, Sunam; Gallagher-Jones, Marcus; Kim, Yoonhee; Song, Changyong; Yao, Shengkun; Zhang, Jian; Zhang, Jianhua; Duan, Xiulan; Tono, Kensuke; Yabashi, Makina; Ishikawa, Tetsuya; Fan, Chunhai; Zhao, Yuliang; Chai, Zhifang; Gao, Xueyun; Earnest, Thomas; Jiang, Huaidong

2016-09-01

High-resolution imaging offers one of the most promising approaches for exploring and understanding the structure and function of biomaterials and biological systems. X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) combined with coherent diffraction imaging can theoretically provide high-resolution spatial information regarding biological materials using a single XFEL pulse. Currently, the application of this method suffers from the low scattering cross-section of biomaterials and X-ray damage to the sample. However, XFELs can provide pulses of such short duration that the data can be collected using the “diffract and destroy” approach before the effects of radiation damage on the data become significant. These experiments combine the use of enhanced coherent diffraction imaging with single-shot XFEL radiation to investigate the cellular architecture of Staphylococcus aureus with and without labeling by gold (Au) nanoclusters. The resolution of the images reconstructed from these diffraction patterns were twice as high or more for gold-labeled samples, demonstrating that this enhancement method provides a promising approach for the high-resolution imaging of biomaterials and biological systems.

Single-pulse enhanced coherent diffraction imaging of bacteria with an X-ray free-electron laser

PubMed Central

Fan, Jiadong; Sun, Zhibin; Wang, Yaling; Park, Jaehyun; Kim, Sunam; Gallagher-Jones, Marcus; Kim, Yoonhee; Song, Changyong; Yao, Shengkun; Zhang, Jian; Zhang, Jianhua; Duan, Xiulan; Tono, Kensuke; Yabashi, Makina; Ishikawa, Tetsuya; Fan, Chunhai; Zhao, Yuliang; Chai, Zhifang; Gao, Xueyun; Earnest, Thomas; Jiang, Huaidong

2016-01-01

High-resolution imaging offers one of the most promising approaches for exploring and understanding the structure and function of biomaterials and biological systems. X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) combined with coherent diffraction imaging can theoretically provide high-resolution spatial information regarding biological materials using a single XFEL pulse. Currently, the application of this method suffers from the low scattering cross-section of biomaterials and X-ray damage to the sample. However, XFELs can provide pulses of such short duration that the data can be collected using the “diffract and destroy” approach before the effects of radiation damage on the data become significant. These experiments combine the use of enhanced coherent diffraction imaging with single-shot XFEL radiation to investigate the cellular architecture of Staphylococcus aureus with and without labeling by gold (Au) nanoclusters. The resolution of the images reconstructed from these diffraction patterns were twice as high or more for gold-labeled samples, demonstrating that this enhancement method provides a promising approach for the high-resolution imaging of biomaterials and biological systems. PMID:27659203

Single-pulse enhanced coherent diffraction imaging of bacteria with an X-ray free-electron laser.

PubMed

Fan, Jiadong; Sun, Zhibin; Wang, Yaling; Park, Jaehyun; Kim, Sunam; Gallagher-Jones, Marcus; Kim, Yoonhee; Song, Changyong; Yao, Shengkun; Zhang, Jian; Zhang, Jianhua; Duan, Xiulan; Tono, Kensuke; Yabashi, Makina; Ishikawa, Tetsuya; Fan, Chunhai; Zhao, Yuliang; Chai, Zhifang; Gao, Xueyun; Earnest, Thomas; Jiang, Huaidong

2016-09-23

High-resolution imaging offers one of the most promising approaches for exploring and understanding the structure and function of biomaterials and biological systems. X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) combined with coherent diffraction imaging can theoretically provide high-resolution spatial information regarding biological materials using a single XFEL pulse. Currently, the application of this method suffers from the low scattering cross-section of biomaterials and X-ray damage to the sample. However, XFELs can provide pulses of such short duration that the data can be collected using the "diffract and destroy" approach before the effects of radiation damage on the data become significant. These experiments combine the use of enhanced coherent diffraction imaging with single-shot XFEL radiation to investigate the cellular architecture of Staphylococcus aureus with and without labeling by gold (Au) nanoclusters. The resolution of the images reconstructed from these diffraction patterns were twice as high or more for gold-labeled samples, demonstrating that this enhancement method provides a promising approach for the high-resolution imaging of biomaterials and biological systems.

RF Photoelectric injectors using needle cathodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lewellen, J. W.; Brau, C. A.

2003-07-01

Photocathode RF guns, in various configurations, are the injectors of choice for both current and future applications requiring high-brightness electron beams. Many of these applications, such as single-pass free-electron lasers, require beams with high brilliance but not necessarily high charge per bunch. Field-enhanced photoelectric emission has demonstrated electron-beam current density as high as 10 10 A/m 2, with a quantum efficiency in the UV that approaches 10% at fields on the order of 10 10 V/m. Thus, the use of even a blunt needle holds promise for increasing cathode quantum efficiency without sacrificing robustness. We present an initial study on the use of needle cathodes in photoinjectors to enhance beam brightness while reducing beam charge. Benefits include lower drive-laser power requirements, easier multibunch operation, lower emittance, and lower beam degradation due to charge-dependent effects in the postinjector accelerator. These benefits result from a combination of a smaller cathode emission area, greatly enhanced RF field strength at the cathode, and the charge scaling of detrimental postinjector linac effects, e.g., transverse wakefields and CSR.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Moran, James J.; Ehrhardt, Christopher J.; Wahl, Jon H.

We analyzed 21 neat acetone samples from 15 different suppliers to demonstrate the utility of a coupled stable isotope and trace contaminant strategy for distinguishing forensically-relevant samples. By combining these two pieces of orthogonal data we could discriminate all of the acetones that were produced by the 15 different suppliers. Using stable isotope ratios alone, we were able to distinguish 9 acetone samples, while the remaining 12 fell into four clusters with highly similar signatures. Adding trace chemical contaminant information enhanced discrimination to 13 individual acetones with three residual clusters. The acetones within each cluster shared a common manufacturer andmore » might, therefore, not be expected to be resolved. The data presented here demonstrates the power of combining orthogonal data sets to enhance sample fingerprinting and highlights the role disparate data could play in future forensic investigations.« less

Enhancing the photon-extraction efficiency of site-controlled quantum dots by deterministically fabricated microlenses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaganskiy, Arsenty; Fischbach, Sarah; Strittmatter, André; Rodt, Sven; Heindel, Tobias; Reitzenstein, Stephan

2018-04-01

We report on the realization of scalable single-photon sources (SPSs) based on single site-controlled quantum dots (SCQDs) and deterministically fabricated microlenses. The fabrication process comprises the buried-stressor growth technique complemented with low-temperature in-situ electron-beam lithography for the integration of SCQDs into microlens structures with high yield and high alignment accuracy. The microlens-approach leads to a broadband enhancement of the photon-extraction efficiency of up to (21 ± 2)% and a high suppression of multi-photon events with g (2)(τ = 0) < 0.06 without background subtraction. The demonstrated combination of site-controlled growth of QDs and in-situ electron-beam lithography is relevant for arrays of efficient SPSs which, can be applied in photonic quantum circuits and advanced quantum computation schemes.

Etched Polymer Fibre Bragg Gratings and Their Biomedical Sensing Applications

PubMed Central

Rajan, Ginu; Bhowmik, Kishore; Xi, Jiangtao; Peng, Gang-Ding

2017-01-01

Bragg gratings in etched polymer fibres and their unique properties and characteristics are discussed in this paper. Due to the change in material and mechanical properties of the polymer fibre through etching, Bragg gratings inscribed in such fibres show high reflectivity and enhanced intrinsic sensitivity towards strain, temperature, and pressure. The short-term and long-term stability of the gratings and the effect of hysteresis on the dynamic characteristics are also discussed. The unique properties and enhanced intrinsic sensitivity of etched polymer fibre Bragg grating are ideal for the development of high-sensitivity sensors for biomedical applications. To demonstrate their biomedical sensing capabilities, a high-sensitivity pressure transducer that operates in the blood pressure range, and a breathing rate monitoring device are developed and presented. PMID:29027945

Sensitivity enhancement of the high-resolution xMT multi-trigger resist for EUV lithography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Popescu, Carmen; Frommhold, Andreas; McClelland, Alexandra; Roth, John; Ekinci, Yasin; Robinson, Alex P. G.

2017-03-01

Irresistible Materials is developing a new molecular resist system that demonstrates high-resolution capability based on the multi-trigger concept. A series of studies such as resist purification, developer choice,and enhanced resist crosslinking were conducted in order to optimize the performance of this material. The optimized conditions allowed patterning 14 nm half-pitch (hp) lines with a line width roughness (LWR) of 2.7 nm at the XIL beamline of the Swiss Light source. Furthermore it was possible to pattern 14 nm hp features with dose of 14 mJ/cm2 with an LWR of 4.9 nm. We have also begun to investigate the addition of high-Z additives to EUV photoresist as a means to increase sensitivity and modify secondary electron blur.

Radio-frequency oxygen-plasma-enhanced pulsed laser deposition of IGZO films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chou, Chia-Man; Lai, Chih-Chang; Chang, Chih-Wei; Wen, Kai-Shin; Hsiao, Vincent K. S.

2017-07-01

We demonstrate the crystalline structures, optical transmittance, surface and cross-sectional morphologies, chemical compositions, and electrical properties of indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO)-based thin films deposited on glass and silicon substrates through pulsed laser deposition (PLD) incorporated with radio-frequency (r.f.)-generated oxygen plasma. The plasma-enhanced pulsed laser deposition (PEPLD)-based IGZO thin films exhibited a c-axis-aligned crystalline (CAAC) structure, which was attributed to the increase in Zn-O under high oxygen vapor pressure (150 mTorr). High oxygen vapor pressure (150 mTorr) and low r.f. power (10 W) are the optimal deposition conditions for fabricating IGZO thin films with improved electrical properties.

Enhancing the platinum atomic layer deposition infiltration depth inside anodic alumina nanoporous membrane

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Vaish, Amit, E-mail: anv@udel.edu; Krueger, Susan; Dimitriou, Michael

Nanoporous platinum membranes can be straightforwardly fabricated by forming a Pt coating inside the nanopores of anodic alumina membranes (AAO) using atomic layer deposition (ALD). However, the high-aspect-ratio of AAO makes Pt ALD very challenging. By tuning the process deposition temperature and precursor exposure time, enhanced infiltration depth along with conformal coating was achieved for Pt ALD inside the AAO templates. Cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy and small angle neutron scattering were employed to analyze the Pt coverage and thickness inside the AAO nanopores. Additionally, one application of platinum-coated membrane was demonstrated by creating a high-density protein-functionalized interface.

Graphene-based textured surface by pulsed laser deposition as a robust platform for surface enhanced Raman scattering applications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tite, T.; Donnet, C.; Loir, A.-S.

We have developed a surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-active substrate based on gold nanoparticles-decorated few-layer (fl) graphene grown by pulsed laser deposition. Diamond-Like Carbon film has been converted to fl-graphene after thermal annealing at low temperature. The formation of fl-graphene was confirmed by Raman spectroscopy, and surface morphology was highlighted by scanning electron microscopy. We found that textured fl-graphene film with nanoscale roughness was highly beneficial for SERS detection. Rhodamine 6G and p-aminothiophenol proposed as test molecules were detected with high sensitivity. The detection at low concentration of deltamethrin, an active molecule of a commercial pesticide was further demonstrated.

Electrically detected magnetic resonance in a W-band microwave cavity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lang, V.; Lo, C. C.; George, R. E.; Lyon, S. A.; Bokor, J.; Schenkel, T.; Ardavan, A.; Morton, J. J. L.

2011-03-01

We describe a low-temperature sample probe for the electrical detection of magnetic resonance in a resonant W-band (94 GHz) microwave cavity. The advantages of this approach are demonstrated by experiments on silicon field-effect transistors. A comparison with conventional low-frequency measurements at X-band (9.7 GHz) on the same devices reveals an up to 100-fold enhancement of the signal intensity. In addition, resonance lines that are unresolved at X-band are clearly separated in the W-band measurements. Electrically detected magnetic resonance at high magnetic fields and high microwave frequencies is therefore a very sensitive technique for studying electron spins with an enhanced spectral resolution and sensitivity.

Highly periodic laser-induced nanostructures on thin Ti and Cu foils for potential application in laser ion acceleration

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Das, Susanta Kumar, E-mail: skdasfpy@kiit.ac.in; Andreev, Alexander; Braenzel, Julia

2016-03-21

The feasibility of femtosecond laser-induced periodic nanostructures on thin Ti and Cu foils (thickness down to 1 μm) is demonstrated. At pulse durations of 120 fs and a wavelength of 400 nm, periods of 61 nm to 320 nm were obtained. Particle-in-cell simulations of laser ion acceleration processes with such nanostructured targets indicate their potential for high energy particle physics applications. In particular, a measurable enhancement of the proton cut-off energy and a significant enhancement of the number of accelerated particles compared to non- or weakly structured targets of same thickness and material are expected.

Enhanced Beetle Luciferase for High-Resolution Bioluminescence Imaging

PubMed Central

Nakajima, Yoshihiro; Yamazaki, Tomomi; Nishii, Shigeaki; Noguchi, Takako; Hoshino, Hideto; Niwa, Kazuki; Viviani, Vadim R.; Ohmiya, Yoshihiro

2010-01-01

We developed an enhanced green-emitting luciferase (ELuc) to be used as a bioluminescence imaging (BLI) probe. ELuc exhibits a light signal in mammalian cells that is over 10-fold stronger than that of the firefly luciferase (FLuc), which is the most widely used luciferase reporter gene. We showed that ELuc produces a strong light signal in primary cells and tissues and that it enables the visualization of gene expression with high temporal resolution at the single-cell level. Moreover, we successfully imaged the nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of importin α by fusing ELuc at the intracellular level. These results demonstrate that the use of ELuc allows a BLI spatiotemporal resolution far greater than that provided by FLuc. PMID:20368807

Detection of chemical residues in food oil via surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Kexi; Huang, Qing

2016-05-01

Highly ordered hexagonally patterned Ag-nanorod (Ag-NR) arrays for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection of unhealthy chemical residues in food oil was reported, which was obtained by sputtering Ag on the alumina nanotip arrays stuck out of conical-pore anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates. SERS measurements demonstrate that the as-fabricated large-scale Ag-nanostructures can serve as highly sensitive and reproducible SERS substrates for detection of trace amount of chemicals in oil with the lower detection limits of 2×10-6 M for thiram and 10-7 M for rhodamine B, showing the potential of application of SERS in rapid trace detection of pesticide residues and illegal additives in food oils.

Cascaded VLSI neural network architecture for on-line learning

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thakoor, Anilkumar P. (Inventor); Duong, Tuan A. (Inventor); Daud, Taher (Inventor)

1992-01-01

High-speed, analog, fully-parallel, and asynchronous building blocks are cascaded for larger sizes and enhanced resolution. A hardware compatible algorithm permits hardware-in-the-loop learning despite limited weight resolution. A computation intensive feature classification application was demonstrated with this flexible hardware and new algorithm at high speed. This result indicates that these building block chips can be embedded as an application specific coprocessor for solving real world problems at extremely high data rates.

Cascaded VLSI neural network architecture for on-line learning

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Duong, Tuan A. (Inventor); Daud, Taher (Inventor); Thakoor, Anilkumar P. (Inventor)

1995-01-01

High-speed, analog, fully-parallel and asynchronous building blocks are cascaded for larger sizes and enhanced resolution. A hardware-compatible algorithm permits hardware-in-the-loop learning despite limited weight resolution. A comparison-intensive feature classification application has been demonstrated with this flexible hardware and new algorithm at high speed. This result indicates that these building block chips can be embedded as application-specific-coprocessors for solving real-world problems at extremely high data rates.

Molecular complexation of curcumin with pH sensitive cationic copolymer enhances the aqueous solubility, stability and bioavailability of curcumin.

PubMed

Kumar, Sunny; Kesharwani, Siddharth S; Mathur, Himanshi; Tyagi, Mohit; Bhat, G Jayarama; Tummala, Hemachand

2016-01-20

Curcumin is a natural dietary compound with demonstrated potential in preventing/treating several chronic diseases in animal models. However, this success is yet to be translated to humans mainly because of its poor oral bioavailability caused by extremely low water solubility. This manuscript demonstrates that water insoluble curcumin (~1μg/ml) forms highly aqueous soluble complexes (>2mg/ml) with a safe pH sensitive polymer, poly(butyl-methacrylate-co-(2-dimethylaminoethyl) methacrylate-co-methyl-methacrylate) when precipitated together in water. The complexation process was optimized to enhance curcumin loading by varying several formulation factors. Acetone as a solvent and polyvinyl alcohol as a stabilizer with 1:2 ratio of drug to polymer yielded complexes with relatively high loading (~280μg/ml) and enhanced solubility (>2mg/ml). The complexes were amorphous in solid and were soluble only in buffers with pHs less than 5.0. Hydrogen bond formation and hydrophobic interactions between curcumin and the polymer were recorded by infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, respectively. Molecular complexes of curcumin were more stable at various pHs compared to unformulated curcumin. In mice, these complexes increased peak plasma concentration of curcumin by 6 times and oral bioavailability by ~20 times. This is a simple, economic and safer strategy of enhancing the oral bioavailability of curcumin. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Metabolic Regulation of Carotenoid-Enriched Golden Rice Line.

PubMed

Gayen, Dipak; Ghosh, Subhrajyoti; Paul, Soumitra; Sarkar, Sailendra N; Datta, Swapan K; Datta, Karabi

2016-01-01

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is the leading cause of blindness among children and is associated with high risk of maternal mortality. In order to enhance the bioavailability of vitamin A, high carotenoid transgenic golden rice has been developed by manipulating enzymes, such as phytoene synthase ( psy) and phytoene desaturase ( crtI ). In this study, proteome and metabolite analyses were carried out to comprehend metabolic regulation and adaptation of transgenic golden rice after the manipulation of endosperm specific carotenoid pathways. The main alteration was observed in carbohydrate metabolism pathways of the transgenic seeds. The 2D based proteomic studies demonstrated that carbohydrate metabolism-related enzymes, such as pullulanase, UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase, and glucose-1-phosphate adenylyltransferase, were primarily up-regulated in transgenic rice seeds. In addition, the enzyme PPDK was also elevated in transgenic seeds thus enhancing pyruvate biosynthesis, which is the precursor in the carotenoids biosynthetic pathway. GC-MS based metabolite profiling demonstrated an increase in the levels of glyceric acid, fructo-furanose, and galactose, while decrease in galactonic acid and gentiobiose in the transgenic rice compared to WT. It is noteworthy to mention that the carotenoid content, especially β-carotene level in transgenic rice (4.3 μg/g) was significantly enhanced. The present study highlights the metabolic adaptation process of a transgenic golden rice line (homozygous T4 progeny of SKBR-244) after enhancing carotenoid biosynthesis. The presented information would be helpful in the development of crops enriched in carotenoids by expressing metabolic flux of pyruvate biosynthesis.

Metabolic Regulation of Carotenoid-Enriched Golden Rice Line

PubMed Central

Gayen, Dipak; Ghosh, Subhrajyoti; Paul, Soumitra; Sarkar, Sailendra N.; Datta, Swapan K.; Datta, Karabi

2016-01-01

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is the leading cause of blindness among children and is associated with high risk of maternal mortality. In order to enhance the bioavailability of vitamin A, high carotenoid transgenic golden rice has been developed by manipulating enzymes, such as phytoene synthase (psy) and phytoene desaturase (crtI). In this study, proteome and metabolite analyses were carried out to comprehend metabolic regulation and adaptation of transgenic golden rice after the manipulation of endosperm specific carotenoid pathways. The main alteration was observed in carbohydrate metabolism pathways of the transgenic seeds. The 2D based proteomic studies demonstrated that carbohydrate metabolism-related enzymes, such as pullulanase, UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase, and glucose-1-phosphate adenylyltransferase, were primarily up-regulated in transgenic rice seeds. In addition, the enzyme PPDK was also elevated in transgenic seeds thus enhancing pyruvate biosynthesis, which is the precursor in the carotenoids biosynthetic pathway. GC-MS based metabolite profiling demonstrated an increase in the levels of glyceric acid, fructo-furanose, and galactose, while decrease in galactonic acid and gentiobiose in the transgenic rice compared to WT. It is noteworthy to mention that the carotenoid content, especially β-carotene level in transgenic rice (4.3 μg/g) was significantly enhanced. The present study highlights the metabolic adaptation process of a transgenic golden rice line (homozygous T4 progeny of SKBR-244) after enhancing carotenoid biosynthesis. The presented information would be helpful in the development of crops enriched in carotenoids by expressing metabolic flux of pyruvate biosynthesis. PMID:27840631

A small interfering RNA targeting Lnk accelerates bone fracture healing with early neovascularization.

PubMed

Kawakami, Yohei; Ii, Masaaki; Matsumoto, Tomoyuki; Kawamoto, Atsuhiko; Kuroda, Ryosuke; Akimaru, Hiroshi; Mifune, Yutaka; Shoji, Taro; Fukui, Tomoaki; Asahi, Michio; Kurosaka, Masahiro; Asahara, Takayuki

2013-09-01

Lnk, an intracellular adapter protein, is expressed in hematopoietic cell lineages, which has recently been proved as an essential inhibitory signaling molecule for stem cell self-renewal in the stem cell factor-c-Kit signaling pathway with enhanced hematopoietic and osteogenic reconstitution in Lnk-deficient mice. Moreover, the therapeutic potential of hematopoietic stem/endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) for fracture healing has been demonstrated with mechanistic insight into vasculogenesis/angiogenesis and osteogenesis enhancement in the fracture sites. We report here, Lnk siRNA-transfected endothelial commitment of c-kit+/Sca-1+/lineage- subpopulations of bone marrow cells have high EPC colony-forming capacity exhibiting endothelial markers, VE-Cad, VEGF and Ang-1. Lnk siRNA-transfected osteoblasts also show highly osteoblastic capacity. In vivo, locally transfected Lnk siRNA could successfully downregulate the expression of Lnk at the fracture site up to 1 week, and radiological and histological examination showed extremely accelerated fracture healing in Lnk siRNA-transfected mice. Moreover, Lnk siRNA-transfected mice exhibited sufficient therapeutic outcomes with intrinstic enhancement of angiogenesis and osteogenesis, specifically, the mice demonstrated better blood flow recovery in the sites of fracture. In our series of experiments, we clarified that a negatively regulated Lnk system contributed to a favorable circumstance for fracture healing by enhancing vasculogenesis/angiogenesis and osteogenesis. These findings suggest that downregulation of Lnk system may have the clinical potential for faster fracture healing, which contributes to the reduction of delayed unions or non-unions.

DEEP: Discover, Explore, and Enjoy Physics & Engineering via High Impact Educational Experiences at Texas A&M and Beyond

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Erukhimova, Tatiana; Fry, Edward

2014-03-01

We will present the first results of an innovative program at Texas A&M University that aims to enhance the learning and research experiences of undergraduate and graduate students through their participation in high-profile outreach activities: principally the Texas A&M Physics and Engineering Festival and the Physics Shows. The goals are to enhance students' knowledge of fundamental physics concepts through collaborative hands-on research and educational activities, to teach them effective communication skills and responsibility, and to enhance their opportunities for interactions with their peers and professors outside the classroom. The program activities include (i) students working side-by-side with their peers and professors on research, concept, design, and fabrication of physics demonstration experiments, (ii) presentation of these exhibits during the Festival and Shows in teams of several students and faculty members, (iii) assessment of students teamwork, and (iv) incorporation of new demonstrations in core curriculum classes. Texas A&M Physics and Engineering Festival is a major annual outreach event at TAMU attracting over 4000 visitors and featuring over 100 interactive exhibits, public lectures by prominent scientists, and various hands-on activities. This program is supported by Tier One Grant from Texas A&M University.

Enhanced voltage-controlled magnetic anisotropy in magnetic tunnel junctions with an MgO/PZT/MgO tunnel barrier

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chien, Diana; Li, Xiang; Wong, Kin; Zurbuchen, Mark A.; Robbennolt, Shauna; Yu, Guoqiang; Tolbert, Sarah; Kioussis, Nicholas; Khalili Amiri, Pedram; Wang, Kang L.; Chang, Jane P.

2016-03-01

Compared with current-controlled magnetization switching in a perpendicular magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ), electric field- or voltage-induced magnetization switching reduces the writing energy of the memory cell, which also results in increased memory density. In this work, an ultra-thin PZT film with high dielectric constant was integrated into the tunneling oxide layer to enhance the voltage-controlled magnetic anisotropy (VCMA) effect. The growth of MTJ stacks with an MgO/PZT/MgO tunnel barrier was performed using a combination of sputtering and atomic layer deposition techniques. The fabricated MTJs with the MgO/PZT/MgO barrier demonstrate a VCMA coefficient, which is ˜40% higher (19.8 ± 1.3 fJ/V m) than the control sample MTJs with an MgO barrier (14.3 ± 2.7 fJ/V m). The MTJs with the MgO/PZT/MgO barrier also possess a sizeable tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) of more than 50% at room temperature, comparable to the control MTJs with an MgO barrier. The TMR and enhanced VCMA effect demonstrated simultaneously in this work make the MgO/PZT/MgO barrier-based MTJs potential candidates for future voltage-controlled, ultralow-power, and high-density magnetic random access memory devices.

Selection of enhanced antimicrobial activity posing lactic acid bacteria characterised by (GTG)5-PCR fingerprinting.

PubMed

Šalomskienė, Joana; Abraitienė, Asta; Jonkuvienė, Dovilė; Mačionienė, Irena; Repečkienė, Jūratė

2015-07-01

The aim of the study was a detail evaluation of genetic diversity among the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains having an advantage of a starter culture in order to select genotypically diverse strains with enhanced antimicrobial effect on some harmfull and pathogenic microorganisms. Antimicrobial activity of LAB was performed by the agar well diffusion method and was examined against the reference strains and foodborne isolates of Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella Typhimurium. Antifungal activity was tested against the foodborne isolates of Candida parapsilosis, Debaromyces hansenii, Kluyveromyces marxianus, Pichia guilliermondii, Yarowia lipolytica, Aspergillus brasiliensis, Aspergillus versicolor, Cladosporium herbarum, Penicillium chrysogenum and Scopulariopsis brevicaulis. A total 40 LAB strains representing Lactobacillus (23 strains), Lactococcus (13 strains) and Streptococcus spp. (4 strains) were characterised by repetitive sequence based polymerase chain reaction fingerprinting which generated highly discriminatory profiles, confirmed the identity and revealed high genotypic heterogeneity among the strains. Many of tested LAB demonstrated strong antimicrobial activity specialised against one or few indicator strains. Twelve LAB strains were superior in suppressing growth of the whole complex of pathogenic bacteria and fungi. These results demonstrated that separate taxonomic units offered different possibilities of selection for novel LAB strains could be used as starter cultures enhancing food preservation.

Performance and durability of high emittance heat receiver surfaces for solar dynamic power systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Degroh, Kim K.; Roig, David M.; Burke, Christopher A.; Shah, Dilipkumar R.

1994-01-01

Haynes 188, a cobalt-based superalloy, will be used to make thermal energy storage (TES) containment canisters for a 2 kW solar dynamic ground test demonstrator (SD GTD). Haynes 188 containment canisters with a high thermal emittance (epsilon) are desired for radiating heat away from local hot spots, improving the heating distribution, which will in turn improve canister service life. In addition to needing a high emittance, the surface needs to be durable in an elevated temperature, high vacuum environment for an extended time period. Thirty-five Haynes 188 samples were exposed to 14 different types of surface modification techniques for emittance and vacuum heat treatment (VHT) durability enhancement evaluation. Optical properties were obtained for the modified surfaces. Emittance enhanced samples were exposed to VHT for up to 2692 hours at 827 C and less than or equal to 10(exp -6) torr with integral thermal cycling. Optical properties were taken intermittently during exposure, and after final VHT exposure. The various surface modification treatments increased the emittance of pristine Haynes 188 from 0.11 up to 0.86. Seven different surface modification techniques were found to provide surfaces which met the SD GTD receiver VHT durability requirement. Of the 7 surface treatments, 2 were found to display excellent VHT durability: an alumina based (AB) coating and a zirconia based coating. The alumina based coating was chosen for the epsilon enhancement surface modification technique for the SD GTD receiver. Details of the performance and vacuum heat treatment durability of this coating and other Haynes 188 emittance surface modification techniques are discussed. Technology from this program will lead to successful demonstration of solar dynamic power for space applications, and has potential for application in other systems requiring high emittance surfaces.

Holes generation in glass using large spot femtosecond laser pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berg, Yuval; Kotler, Zvi; Shacham-Diamand, Yosi

2018-03-01

We demonstrate high-throughput, symmetrical, holes generation in fused silica glass using a large spot size, femtosecond IR-laser irradiation which modifies the glass properties and yields an enhanced chemical etching rate. The process relies on a balanced interplay between the nonlinear Kerr effect and multiphoton absorption in the glass which translates into symmetrical glass modification and increased etching rate. The use of a large laser spot size makes it possible to process thick glasses at high speeds over a large area. We have demonstrated such fabricated holes with an aspect ratio of 1:10 in a 1 mm thick glass samples.

Kinetically Controlled Synthesis of Pt-Based One-Dimensional Hierarchically Porous Nanostructures with Large Mesopores as Highly Efficient ORR Catalysts.

PubMed

Fu, Shaofang; Zhu, Chengzhou; Song, Junhua; Engelhard, Mark H; Xia, Haibing; Du, Dan; Lin, Yuehe

2016-12-28

Rational design and construction of Pt-based porous nanostructures with large mesopores have triggered significant considerations because of their high surface area and more efficient mass transport. Hydrochloric acid-induced kinetically controlled reduction of metal precursors in the presence of soft template F-127 and hard template tellurium nanowires has been successfully demonstrated to construct one-dimensional hierarchical porous PtCu alloy nanostructures with large mesopores. Moreover, the electrochemical experiments demonstrated that the PtCu hierarchically porous nanostructures synthesized under optimized conditions exhibit enhanced electrocatalytic performance for oxygen reduction reaction in acid media.

Dual-carbon enhanced silicon-based composite as superior anode material for lithium ion batteries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Jie; Liu, Dai-Huo; Wang, Ying-Ying; Hou, Bao-Hua; Zhang, Jing-Ping; Wang, Rong-Shun; Wu, Xing-Long

2016-03-01

Dual-carbon enhanced Si-based composite (Si/C/G) has been prepared via employing the widely distributed, low-cost and environmentally friendly Diatomite mineral as silicon raw material. The preparation processes are very simple, non-toxic and easy to scale up. Electrochemical tests as anode material for lithium ion batteries (LIBs) demonstrate that this Si/C/G composite exhibits much improved Li-storage properties in terms of superior high-rate capabilities and excellent cycle stability compared to the pristine Si material as well as both single-carbon modified composites. Specifically for the Si/C/G composite, it can still deliver a high specific capacity of about 470 mAh g-1 at an ultrahigh current density of 5 A g-1, and exhibit a high capacity of 938 mAh g-1 at 0.1 A g-1 with excellent capacity retention in the following 300 cycles. The significantly enhanced Li-storage properties should be attributed to the co-existence of both highly conductive graphite and amorphous carbon in the Si/C/G composite. While the former can enhance the electrical conductivity of the obtained composite, the latter acts as the adhesives to connect the porous Si particulates and conductive graphite flakes to form robust and stable conductive network.

Demonstration of the feasibility of large-port-count optical switching using a hybrid Mach-Zehnder interferometer-semiconductor optical amplifier switch module in a recirculating loop.

PubMed

Cheng, Q; Wonfor, A; Wei, J L; Penty, R V; White, I H

2014-09-15

For what we believe is the first time, the feasibility of large-port-count nanosecond-reconfiguration-time optical switches is demonstrated using a hybrid approach, where Mach-Zehnder interferometric (MZI) switches provide low-loss, high-speed routing with short semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) being integrated to enhance extinction. By repeatedly passing signals through a monolithic hybrid dilated 2×2 switch module in a recirculating loop, the potential performance of high-port-count switches using the hybrid approach is demonstrated. Experimentally, a single pass switch penalty of only 0.1 dB is demonstrated for the 2×2 module, while even after seven passes through the switch, equivalent to a 128×128 router, a penalty of only 2.4 dB is recorded at a data rate of 10 Gb/s.

Emotion improves and impairs early vision.

PubMed

Bocanegra, Bruno R; Zeelenberg, René

2009-06-01

Recent studies indicate that emotion enhances early vision, but the generality of this finding remains unknown. Do the benefits of emotion extend to all basic aspects of vision, or are they limited in scope? Our results show that the brief presentation of a fearful face, compared with a neutral face, enhances sensitivity for the orientation of subsequently presented low-spatial-frequency stimuli, but diminishes orientation sensitivity for high-spatial-frequency stimuli. This is the first demonstration that emotion not only improves but also impairs low-level vision. The selective low-spatial-frequency benefits are consistent with the idea that emotion enhances magnocellular processing. Additionally, we suggest that the high-spatial-frequency deficits are due to inhibitory interactions between magnocellular and parvocellular pathways. Our results suggest an emotion-induced trade-off in visual processing, rather than a general improvement. This trade-off may benefit perceptual dimensions that are relevant for survival at the expense of those that are less relevant.

Carbon nanotubes for voltage reduction and throughput enhancement of electrical cell lysis on a lab-on-a-chip.

PubMed

Shahini, Mehdi; Yeow, John T W

2011-08-12

We report on the enhancement of electrical cell lysis using carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Electrical cell lysis systems are widely utilized in microchips as they are well suited to integration into lab-on-a-chip devices. However, cell lysis based on electrical mechanisms has high voltage requirements. Here, we demonstrate that by incorporating CNTs into microfluidic electrolysis systems, the required voltage for lysis is reduced by half and the lysis throughput at low voltages is improved by ten times, compared to non-CNT microchips. In our experiment, E. coli cells are lysed while passing through an electric field in a microchannel. Based on the lightning rod effect, the electric field strengthened at the tip of the CNTs enhances cell lysis at lower voltage and higher throughput. This approach enables easy integration of cell lysis with other on-chip high-throughput sample-preparation processes.

Slow light enhanced gas sensing in photonic crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kraeh, Christian; Martinez-Hurtado, J. L.; Popescu, Alexandru; Hedler, Harry; Finley, Jonathan J.

2018-02-01

Infrared spectroscopy allows for highly selective and highly sensitive detection of gas species and concentrations. Conventional gas spectrometers are generally large and unsuitable for on-chip applications. Long absorption path lengths are usually required and impose a challenge for miniaturization. In this work, a gas spectrometer is developed consisting of a microtube photonic crystal structure. This structure of millimetric form factors minimizes the required absorption path length due to slow light effects. The microtube photonic crystal allows for strong transmission in the mid-infrared and, due to its large void space fraction, a strong interaction between light and gas molecules. As a result, enhanced absorption of light increases the gas sensitivity of the device. Slow light enhanced gas absorption by a factor of 5.8 in is experimentally demonstrated at 5400 nm. We anticipate small form factor gas sensors on silicon to be a starting point for on-chip gas sensing architectures.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hohenberger, Erik; Freitag, Nathan; Rosenmann, Daniel

Here, we present a facile method for fabricating nanostructured silver films containing a high density of nanoscopic gap features through a surface directed phenomenon utilizing nanoporous scaffolds rather than through traditional lithographic patterning processes. This method enables tunability of the silver film growth by simply adjusting the formulation and processing conditions of the nanoporous film prior to metallization. We further demonstrate that this process can produce nanoscopic gaps in thick (100 nm) silver films supporting localized surface plasmon resonance with large field amplification within the gaps while enabling launching of propagating surface plasmons within the silver grains. These enhanced fieldsmore » provide metal enhanced fluorescence with enhancement factors as high as 21 times compared to glass, as well as enable visualization of single fluorophore emission. This work provides a low-cost rapid approach for producing novel nanostructures capable of broadband fluorescence amplification, with potential applications including plasmonic and fluorescence based optical sensing and imaging applications.« less

Application of Terahertz Field Enhancement Effect in Metal Microstructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakajima, M.; Kurihara, T.; Tadokoro, Y.; Kang, B.; Takano, K.; Yamaguchi, K.; Watanabe, H.; Oto, K.; Suemoto, T.; Hangyo, M.

2016-12-01

Applications of high-field terahertz pulses are attractive in physics and terahertz technology. In this study, two applications related to high-intensity terahertz pulses are demonstrated. The field enhancement effect by subwavelength metallic microstructures is utilized for terahertz excitation measurement. The spin precession dynamics in magnetic materials was induced by a terahertz magnetic field. Spin precession was amplified by one order of magnitude in amplitude by the enhanced magnetic terahertz field in orthoferrite ErFeO3 with metal microstructures. The induced spin dynamics was analyzed and explained by LLG-LCR model. Moreover, a detection method for terahertz pulses was developed using a cholesteric liquid crystal at room temperature without any electronic devices. The beam profile of terahertz pulses was visualized and compared to other methods such as the knife edge method using pyroelectric detector and micro-bolometer array. The liquid crystal terahertz imager is very simple and has good applicability as a portable terahertz-sensing card.

Effect of film thickness on localized surface plasmon enhanced chemical sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kassu, Aschalew; Farley, Carlton; Sharma, Anup; Kim, Wonkyu; Guo, Junpeng

2014-05-01

A highly-sensitive, reliable, simple and inexpensive chemical detection and identification platform is demonstrated. The sensing technique is based on localized surface plasmon enhanced Raman scattering measurements from gold-coated highly-ordered symmetric nanoporous ceramic membranes fabricated from anodic aluminum oxide. To investigate the effects of the thickness of the sputter-coated gold films on the sensitivity of sensor, and optimize the performance of the substrates, the geometry of the nanopores and the film thicknesses are varied in the range of 30 nm to 120 nm. To characterize the sensing technique and the detection limits, surface enhanced Raman scatterings of low concentrations of a standard chemical adsorbed on the gold coated substrates are collected and analyzed. The morphology of the proposed substrates is characterized by atomic force microscopy and the optical properties including transmittance, reflectance and absorbance of each substrate are also investigated.

Resonant silicon nanoparticles for enhancement of light absorption and photoluminescence from hybrid perovskite films and metasurfaces.

PubMed

Tiguntseva, E; Chebykin, A; Ishteev, A; Haroldson, R; Balachandran, B; Ushakova, E; Komissarenko, F; Wang, H; Milichko, V; Tsypkin, A; Zuev, D; Hu, W; Makarov, S; Zakhidov, A

2017-08-31

Recently, hybrid halide perovskites have emerged as one of the most promising types of materials for thin-film photovoltaic and light-emitting devices because of their low-cost and potential for high efficiency. Further boosting their performance without detrimentally increasing the complexity of the architecture is critically important for commercialization. Despite a number of plasmonic nanoparticle based designs having been proposed for solar cell improvement, inherent optical losses of the nanoparticles reduce photoluminescence from perovskites. Here we use low-loss high-refractive-index dielectric (silicon) nanoparticles for improving the optical properties of organo-metallic perovskite (MAPbI 3 ) films and metasurfaces to achieve strong enhancement of photoluminescence as well as useful light absorption. As a result, we observed experimentally a 50% enhancement of photoluminescence intensity from a perovskite layer with silicon nanoparticles and 200% enhancement for a nanoimprinted metasurface with silicon nanoparticles on top. Strong increase in light absorption is also demonstrated and described by theoretical calculations. Since both silicon nanoparticle fabrication/deposition and metasurface nanoimprinting techniques are low-cost, we believe that the developed all-dielectric approach paves the way to novel scalable and highly effective designs of perovskite based metadevices.

Enhancing Vowel Discrimination Using Constructed Spelling

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stewart, Katherine; Hayashi, Yusuke; Saunders, Kathryn

2010-01-01

In a computerized task, an adult with intellectual disabilities learned to construct consonant-vowel-consonant words in the presence of corresponding spoken words. During the initial assessment, the participant demonstrated high accuracy on one word group (containing the vowel-consonant units "it" and "un") but low accuracy on the other group…

SUPPLEMENTAL ULTRAVIOLET-B RADIATION DOES NOT REDUCE GROWTH OR GRAIN YIELD IN RICE

EPA Science Inventory

Negative effects of enhanced UV-B radiation have been demonstrated in plants, but impacts under realistic field conditions remain uncertain. Adverse impacts to major crops, such as rice (Oryza sativa L.), that are grown in areas with currently high ambient levels of UV-B, could h...

Integration of Technology in Teaching and Learning: Comprehensive Initiatives Enhance Student Engagement and Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nebbergall, Allison

2012-01-01

As technology increasingly transforms our daily lives, educators too are seeking strategies and resources that leverage technology to improve student learning. Research demonstrates that high-quality professional development, digital standards-based content, and personalized learning plans can increase student achievement, engagement, and…

Enhancing the Decision-Making of Extraverted College Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kreitler, Crystal M.; Dansereau, Donald F.; Barth, Timothy M.; Ito, Sachiyo

2009-01-01

Previous studies have demonstrated that many college students, specifically those high on extraversion are prone to risky and sometimes unethical decision-making. The present study examined the impact of a decision-making "tool" that incorporated the use of standard ethical perspectives on students' attitudes and intentions. This "fill in the…

Vocational Education's Role in Dropout Prevention. ERIC Digest.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Imel, Susan

Appropriately implemented vocational education programs can help achieve National Education Goal 2--increasing the high school graduation rate to at least 90 percent. A 3-year study of dropout prevention in 10 demonstration sites has resulted in an enhanced vocational education program model described in "Vocational Education for the 21st…

Impaired Timing and Frequency Discrimination in High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bhatara, Anjali; Babikian, Talin; Laugeson, Elizabeth; Tachdjian, Raffi; Sininger, Yvonne S.

2013-01-01

Individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) frequently demonstrate preserved or enhanced frequency perception but impaired timing perception. The present study investigated the processing of spectral and temporal information in 12 adolescents with ASD and 15 age-matched controls. Participants completed two psychoacoustic tasks: one determined…

Data-Enhanced Leadership. The Soul of Educational Leadership Series. Volume 7

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Blankstein, Alan M.; Houston, Paul D.; Cole, Robert W.

2010-01-01

Offering key concepts about how the informed use of data can translate into highly effective school leadership, this seventh volume in "The Soul of Educational Leadership" series demonstrates how educational leaders can apply data strategically to strengthen school leadership and significantly improve professional learning, students' learning…

Photonic chirped radio-frequency generator with ultra-fast sweeping rate and ultra-wide sweeping range.

PubMed

Wun, Jhih-Min; Wei, Chia-Chien; Chen, Jyehong; Goh, Chee Seong; Set, S Y; Shi, Jin-Wei

2013-05-06

A high-performance photonic sweeping-frequency (chirped) radio-frequency (RF) generator has been demonstrated. By use of a novel wavelength sweeping distributed-feedback (DFB) laser, which is operated based on the linewidth enhancement effect, a fixed wavelength narrow-linewidth DFB laser, and a wideband (dc to 50 GHz) photodiode module for the hetero-dyne beating RF signal generation, a very clear chirped RF waveform can be captured by a fast real-time scope. A very-high frequency sweeping rate (10.3 GHz/μs) with an ultra-wide RF frequency sweeping range (~40 GHz) have been demonstrated. The high-repeatability (~97%) in sweeping frequency has been verified by analyzing tens of repetitive chirped waveforms.

Limb-Enhancer Genie: An accessible resource of accurate enhancer predictions in the developing limb

DOE PAGES

Monti, Remo; Barozzi, Iros; Osterwalder, Marco; ...

2017-08-21

Epigenomic mapping of enhancer-associated chromatin modifications facilitates the genome-wide discovery of tissue-specific enhancers in vivo. However, reliance on single chromatin marks leads to high rates of false-positive predictions. More sophisticated, integrative methods have been described, but commonly suffer from limited accessibility to the resulting predictions and reduced biological interpretability. Here we present the Limb-Enhancer Genie (LEG), a collection of highly accurate, genome-wide predictions of enhancers in the developing limb, available through a user-friendly online interface. We predict limb enhancers using a combination of > 50 published limb-specific datasets and clusters of evolutionarily conserved transcription factor binding sites, taking advantage ofmore » the patterns observed at previously in vivo validated elements. By combining different statistical models, our approach outperforms current state-of-the-art methods and provides interpretable measures of feature importance. Our results indicate that including a previously unappreciated score that quantifies tissue-specific nuclease accessibility significantly improves prediction performance. We demonstrate the utility of our approach through in vivo validation of newly predicted elements. Moreover, we describe general features that can guide the type of datasets to include when predicting tissue-specific enhancers genome-wide, while providing an accessible resource to the general biological community and facilitating the functional interpretation of genetic studies of limb malformations.« less

Expression of Terminal Effector Genes in Mammalian Neurons Is Maintained by a Dynamic Relay of Transient Enhancers.

PubMed

Rhee, Ho Sung; Closser, Michael; Guo, Yuchun; Bashkirova, Elizaveta V; Tan, G Christopher; Gifford, David K; Wichterle, Hynek

2016-12-21

Generic spinal motor neuron identity is established by cooperative binding of programming transcription factors (TFs), Isl1 and Lhx3, to motor-neuron-specific enhancers. How expression of effector genes is maintained following downregulation of programming TFs in maturing neurons remains unknown. High-resolution exonuclease (ChIP-exo) mapping revealed that the majority of enhancers established by programming TFs are rapidly deactivated following Lhx3 downregulation in stem-cell-derived hypaxial motor neurons. Isl1 is released from nascent motor neuron enhancers and recruited to new enhancers bound by clusters of Onecut1 in maturing neurons. Synthetic enhancer reporter assays revealed that Isl1 operates as an integrator factor, translating the density of Lhx3 or Onecut1 binding sites into transient enhancer activity. Importantly, independent Isl1/Lhx3- and Isl1/Onecut1-bound enhancers contribute to sustained expression of motor neuron effector genes, demonstrating that outwardly stable expression of terminal effector genes in postmitotic neurons is controlled by a dynamic relay of stage-specific enhancers. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Magnetosheath High-Speed Jets: Coupling Bow Shock Processes to the Magnetosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hietala, H.

2016-12-01

Magnetosheath high-speed jets (HSJs) - dynamic pressure enhancements typically of 1 Earth radius in size - are the most common dayside transient. They impact the magnetopause many times per hour, especially during intervals of low interplanetary magnetic field cone-angle. Upon impact they cause large amplitude yet localized magnetopause indentations, and can couple to global dynamics by driving magnetospheric waves that alter radiation belt electron populations, and by affecting subsolar magnetopause reconnection. Previous observational studies have provided considerable insight into properties of the HSJs. Similarly, recent hybrid simulations have demonstrated the formation of jets downstream of the quasi-parallel shock with properties resembling the observed ones. Yet these studies were based on differing definitions of transients, have used varying terminology, methodology, data sets/simulations, and yielded, not unexpectedly, differing results on origin and characteristics of jets. In this talk we will present the first results towards a more unified understanding of these jets from a dedicated International Space Science Institute (ISSI) team. In particular, we compare the three selection criteria used in the recent observational statistical studies: (i) high dynamic pressure in the Sun-Earth direction with respect to the solar wind; (ii) enhancement of the total dynamic pressure with respect to the ambient magnetosheath plasma; (iii) enhancement of density with respect to the ambient plasma. We apply these criteria to global kinetic simulations and compare what structures they pick out. Consequently, we can effectively demonstrate where the different criteria agree and where they disagree.

Improved light output of plastic scintillator by a modified self-assembled photonic crystal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Liang; Zhu, Zhichao; Liu, Bo; Cheng, Chuanwei; Liu, Jinliang; Ruan, Jinlu; Zhang, Zhongbin; Ouyang, Xiaoping; Gu, Mu; Chen, Hong

2017-11-01

In this investigation, we have demonstrated that a modified self-assembled photonic crystal with conformal high refractive index material TiO2 can achieve a great enhancement of light extraction efficiency. A 2.26 fold wavelength- and angle-integrated enhancement ratio can be achieved. The conformal layer increases the number of leaky modes and thus improve the extraction efficiency. The enhancement is attributed to the leaky modes based on the individual microspheres with conformal layer. Their low quality factors with a broadband characteristic are advantageous to the broadband enhancement for the emission spectra of plastic scintillator. Furthermore, the dense conformal layers have excellent combination with the self-assembled microspheres and the whole preparation process cannot destroy the plastic scintillator, which is beneficial to the practical application.

Fuzzy entropy thresholding and multi-scale morphological approach for microscopic image enhancement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Jiancan; Li, Yuexiang; Shen, Linlin

2017-07-01

Microscopic images provide lots of useful information for modern diagnosis and biological research. However, due to the unstable lighting condition during image capturing, two main problems, i.e., high-level noises and low image contrast, occurred in the generated cell images. In this paper, a simple but efficient enhancement framework is proposed to address the problems. The framework removes image noises using a hybrid method based on wavelet transform and fuzzy-entropy, and enhances the image contrast with an adaptive morphological approach. Experiments on real cell dataset were made to assess the performance of proposed framework. The experimental results demonstrate that our proposed enhancement framework increases the cell tracking accuracy to an average of 74.49%, which outperforms the benchmark algorithm, i.e., 46.18%.

Personal photograph enhancement using internet photo collections.

PubMed

Zhang, Chenxi; Gao, Jizhou; Wang, Oliver; Georgel, Pierre; Yang, Ruigang; Davis, James; Frahm, Jan-Michael; Pollefeys, Marc

2014-02-01

Given the growth of Internet photo collections, we now have a visual index of all major cities and tourist sites in the world. However, it is still a difficult task to capture that perfect shot with your own camera when visiting these places, especially when your camera itself has limitations, such as a limited field of view. In this paper, we propose a framework to overcome the imperfections of personal photographs of tourist sites using the rich information provided by large-scale Internet photo collections. Our method deploys state-of-the-art techniques for constructing initial 3D models from photo collections. The same techniques are then used to register personal photographs to these models, allowing us to augment personal 2D images with 3D information. This strong available scene prior allows us to address a number of traditionally challenging image enhancement techniques and achieve high-quality results using simple and robust algorithms. Specifically, we demonstrate automatic foreground segmentation, mono-to-stereo conversion, field-of-view expansion, photometric enhancement, and additionally automatic annotation with geolocation and tags. Our method clearly demonstrates some possible benefits of employing the rich information contained in online photo databases to efficiently enhance and augment one's own personal photographs.

The impact of surface composition on Tafel kinetics leading to enhanced electrochemical insertion of hydrogen in palladium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dmitriyeva, Olga; Hamm, Steven C.; Knies, David L.; Cantwell, Richard; McConnell, Matt

2018-05-01

Our previous work experimentally demonstrated the enhancement of electrochemical hydrogen insertion into palladium by modifying the chemical composition of the cathode surface with Pb, Pt and Bi, referred to as surface promoters. The experiment demonstrated that an optimal combination of the surface promoters led to an increase in hydrogen fugacity of more than three orders of magnitude, while maintaining the same current density. This manuscript discusses the application of Density Functional Theory (DFT) to elucidate the thermodynamics and kinetics of observed enhancement of electrochemical hydrogen insertion into palladium. We present theoretical simulations that: (1) establish the elevation of hydrogen's chemical potential on Pb and Bi surfaces to enhance hydrogen insertion, (2) confirm the increase of a Tafel activation barrier that results in a decrease of the reaction rate at the given hydrogen overpotential, and (3) explain why the surface promoter's coverage needs to be non-uniform, namely to allow hydrogen insertion into palladium bulk while simultaneously locking hydrogen below the surface (the corking effect). The discussed DFT-based method can be used for efficient scanning of different material configurations to design a highly effective hydrogen storage system.

In High-Light-Acclimated Coffee Plants the Metabolic Machinery Is Adjusted to Avoid Oxidative Stress Rather than to Benefit from Extra Light Enhancement in Photosynthetic Yield

PubMed Central

Martins, Samuel C. V.; Araújo, Wagner L.; Tohge, Takayuki; Fernie, Alisdair R.; DaMatta, Fábio M.

2014-01-01

Coffee (Coffea arabica L.) has been traditionally considered as shade-demanding, although it performs well without shade and even out-yields shaded coffee. Here we investigated how coffee plants adjust their metabolic machinery to varying light supply and whether these adjustments are supported by a reprogramming of the primary and secondary metabolism. We demonstrate that coffee plants are able to adjust its metabolic machinery to high light conditions through marked increases in its antioxidant capacity associated with enhanced consumption of reducing equivalents. Photorespiration and alternative pathways are suggested to be key players in reductant-consumption under high light conditions. We also demonstrate that both primary and secondary metabolism undergo extensive reprogramming under high light supply, including depression of the levels of intermediates of the tricarboxylic acid cycle that were accompanied by an up-regulation of a range of amino acids, sugars and sugar alcohols, polyamines and flavonoids such as kaempferol and quercetin derivatives. When taken together, the entire dataset is consistent with these metabolic alterations being primarily associated with oxidative stress avoidance rather than representing adjustments in order to facilitate the plants from utilizing the additional light to improve their photosynthetic performance. PMID:24733284

Beyond dipolar regime in high-order plasmon mode bowtie antennas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cuche, Aurélien; Viarbitskaya, Sviatlana; Kumar, Upkar; Sharma, Jadab; Arbouet, Arnaud; Girard, Christian; Dujardin, Erik

2017-03-01

Optical nanoantennas have shown their great potential for far-field to near-field coupling and for light confinement in subwavelength volumes. Here, we report on a multimodal configuration for bright and polarization-dependent bowtie antenna based on large and highly crystalline gold prisms. Each individual prism constituting an antenna arm sustains high order plasmon modes in the visible and near infrared range that allow for high field confinement and two-dimensional optical information propagation. We demonstrate by scanning two-photon luminescence (TPL) microscopy and numerical simulations based on the Green dyadic method that these bowtie antennas result in intense hot spots in different antenna locations as a function of the incident polarization. Finally, we quantify the local field enhancement above the antennas by computing the normalized total decay rate of a molecular system placed in the near field of the antenna gap as a function of the dipole orientation. We demonstrate the existence of a subtle relation between antenna geometry, polarization dependence and field enhancement. These new multimodal optical antennas are excellent far field to near field converter and they open the door for new strategies in the design of coplanar optical components for a wide range of applications including sensing, energy conversion or integrated information processing.

Use of high-resolution 3.0-T magnetic resonance imaging to characterize atherosclerotic plaques in patients with cerebral infarction

PubMed Central

XU, PENG; LV, LULU; LI, SHAODONG; GE, HAITAO; RONG, YUTAO; HU, CHUNFENG; XU, KAI

2015-01-01

The present study aimed to evaluate the utility of high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the characterization of atherosclerotic plaques in patients with acute and non-acute cerebral infarction. High-resolution MRI of unilateral stenotic middle cerebral arteries was performed to evaluate the degree of stenosis, the wall and plaque areas, plaque enhancement patterns and lumen remodeling features in 15 and 17 patients with acute and non-acute cerebral infarction, respectively. No significant difference was identified in the vascular stenosis rate between acute and non-acute patients. Overall, plaque eccentricity was observed in 29 patients, including 13 acute and 16 non-acute cases, with no significant difference identified between these groups. The wall area of stenotic arteries and the number of cases with plaque enhancement were significantly greater in the acute patients, but no significant difference in plaque or lumen area was identified between the 2 patient groups. Lumen remodeling patterns of stenotic arteries significantly differed between the acute and non-acute patients; the former predominantly demonstrated positive remodeling, and the latter group demonstrated evidence of negative remodeling. In conclusion, patients with acute and non-acute cerebral infarction exhibit specific characteristics in stenotic arteries and plaques, which can be effectively evaluated by high-resolution MRI. PMID:26668651

Paper-based SERS swab for rapid trace detection on real-world surfaces.

PubMed

Lee, Chang H; Tian, Limei; Singamaneni, Srikanth

2010-12-01

One of the important but often overlooked considerations in the design of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates for trace detection is the efficiency of sample collection. Conventional designs based on rigid substrates such as silicon, alumina, and glass resist conformal contact with the surface under investigation, making the sample collection inefficient. We demonstrate a novel SERS substrate based on common filter paper adsorbed with gold nanorods, which allows conformal contact with real-world surfaces, thus dramatically enhancing the sample collection efficiency compared to conventional rigid substrates. We demonstrate the detection of trace amounts of analyte (140 pg spread over 4 cm2) by simply swabbing the surface under investigation with the novel SERS substrate. The hierarchical fibrous structure of paper serves as a 3D vasculature for easy uptake and transport of the analytes to the electromagnetic hot spots in the paper. Simple yet highly efficient and cost-effective SERS substrate demonstrated here brings SERS-based trace detection closer to real-world applications.

Graphene induces spontaneous cardiac differentiation in embryoid bodies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahadian, Samad; Zhou, Yuanshu; Yamada, Shukuyo; Estili, Mehdi; Liang, Xiaobin; Nakajima, Ken; Shiku, Hitoshi; Matsue, Tomokazu

2016-03-01

Graphene was embedded into the structure of mouse embryoid bodies (EBs) using the hanging drop technique. The inclusion of 0.2 mg per mL graphene in the EBs did not affect the viability of the stem cells. However, the graphene decreased the stem cell proliferation, probably by accelerating cell differentiation. The graphene also enhanced the mechanical properties and electrical conductivity of the EBs. Interestingly, the cardiac differentiation of the EB-graphene was significantly greater than that of the EBs at day 5 of culture, as confirmed by high-throughput gene analysis. Electrical stimulation (voltage, 4 V; frequency, 1 Hz; and duration, 10 ms for 2 continuous days) further enhanced the cardiac differentiation of the EBs, as demonstrated by analyses of the cardiac protein and gene expression and the beating activity of the EBs. Taken together, the results demonstrated that graphene played a major role in directing the cardiac differentiation of EBs, which has potential cell therapy and tissue regeneration applications.Graphene was embedded into the structure of mouse embryoid bodies (EBs) using the hanging drop technique. The inclusion of 0.2 mg per mL graphene in the EBs did not affect the viability of the stem cells. However, the graphene decreased the stem cell proliferation, probably by accelerating cell differentiation. The graphene also enhanced the mechanical properties and electrical conductivity of the EBs. Interestingly, the cardiac differentiation of the EB-graphene was significantly greater than that of the EBs at day 5 of culture, as confirmed by high-throughput gene analysis. Electrical stimulation (voltage, 4 V; frequency, 1 Hz; and duration, 10 ms for 2 continuous days) further enhanced the cardiac differentiation of the EBs, as demonstrated by analyses of the cardiac protein and gene expression and the beating activity of the EBs. Taken together, the results demonstrated that graphene played a major role in directing the cardiac differentiation of EBs, which has potential cell therapy and tissue regeneration applications. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Fig. S1-S3, Tables S1-S4, and Movies S1-S4. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr07059g

Floating compression of Ag nanowire networks for effective strain release of stretchable transparent electrodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pyo, Jun Beom; Kim, Byoung Soo; Park, Hyunchul; Kim, Tae Ann; Koo, Chong Min; Lee, Jonghwi; Son, Jeong Gon; Lee, Sang-Soo; Park, Jong Hyuk

2015-10-01

Manipulation of the configuration of Ag nanowire (NW) networks has been pursued to enhance the performance of stretchable transparent electrodes. However, it has remained challenging due to the high Young's modulus and low yield strain of Ag NWs, which lead to their mechanical failure when subjected to structural deformation. We demonstrate that floating a Ag NW network on water and subsequent in-plane compression allows convenient development of a wavy configuration in the Ag NW network, which can release the applied strain. A greatly enhanced electromechanical stability of Ag NW networks can be achieved due to their wavy configuration, while the NW networks maintain the desirable optical and electrical properties. Moreover, the produced NW networks can be transferred to a variety of substrates, offering flexibility for device fabrication. The Ag NW networks with wavy configurations are used as compliant electrodes for dielectric elastomer actuators. The study demonstrates their promising potential to provide improved performance for soft electronic devices.Manipulation of the configuration of Ag nanowire (NW) networks has been pursued to enhance the performance of stretchable transparent electrodes. However, it has remained challenging due to the high Young's modulus and low yield strain of Ag NWs, which lead to their mechanical failure when subjected to structural deformation. We demonstrate that floating a Ag NW network on water and subsequent in-plane compression allows convenient development of a wavy configuration in the Ag NW network, which can release the applied strain. A greatly enhanced electromechanical stability of Ag NW networks can be achieved due to their wavy configuration, while the NW networks maintain the desirable optical and electrical properties. Moreover, the produced NW networks can be transferred to a variety of substrates, offering flexibility for device fabrication. The Ag NW networks with wavy configurations are used as compliant electrodes for dielectric elastomer actuators. The study demonstrates their promising potential to provide improved performance for soft electronic devices. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr03814f

Enhanced pid vs model predictive control applied to bldc motor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gaya, M. S.; Muhammad, Auwal; Aliyu Abdulkadir, Rabiu; Salim, S. N. S.; Madugu, I. S.; Tijjani, Aminu; Aminu Yusuf, Lukman; Dauda Umar, Ibrahim; Khairi, M. T. M.

2018-01-01

BrushLess Direct Current (BLDC) motor is a multivariable and highly complex nonlinear system. Variation of internal parameter values with environment or reference signal increases the difficulty in controlling the BLDC effectively. Advanced control strategies (like model predictive control) often have to be integrated to satisfy the control desires. Enhancing or proper tuning of a conventional algorithm results in achieving the desired performance. This paper presents a performance comparison of Enhanced PID and Model Predictive Control (MPC) applied to brushless direct current motor. The simulation results demonstrated that the PSO-PID is slightly better than the PID and MPC in tracking the trajectory of the reference signal. The proposed scheme could be useful algorithms for the system.

Enhancing NMR of insensitive nuclei by transfer of SABRE spin hyperpolarization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pravdivtsev, Andrey N.; Yurkovskaya, Alexandra V.; Zimmermann, Herbert; Vieth, Hans-Martin; Ivanov, Konstantin L.

2016-09-01

We describe the performance of methods for enhancing NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) signals of "insensitive", but important NMR nuclei, which are based on the SABRE (Signal Amplification By Reversible Exchange) technique, i.e., on spin order transfer from parahydrogen (H2 molecule in its nuclear singlet spin state) to a substrate in a transient organometallic complex. Here such transfer is performed at high magnetic fields by INEPT-type NMR pulse sequences, modified for SABRE. Signal enhancements up to three orders of magnitude are obtained for 15N nuclei; the possibility of sensitive detection of 2D-NMR 1H-15N spectra of SABRE complexes and substrates is demonstrated.

Enhanced photoluminescence from single nitrogen-vacancy defects in nanodiamonds coated with phenol-ionic complexes.

PubMed

Bray, Kerem; Previdi, Rodolfo; Gibson, Brant C; Shimoni, Olga; Aharonovich, Igor

2015-03-21

Fluorescent nanodiamonds are attracting major attention in the field of bio-sensing and bio-labeling. In this work we demonstrate a robust approach to achieve an encapsulation of individual nanodiamonds with phenol-ionic complexes that enhance the photoluminescence from single nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers. We show that single NV centres in the coated nanodiamonds also exhibit shorter lifetimes, opening another channel for high resolution sensing. We propose that the nanodiamond encapsulation reduces the non-radiative decay pathways of the NV color centers. Our results provide a versatile and assessable way to enhance photoluminescence from nanodiamond defects that can be used in a variety of sensing and imaging applications.

Giant enhancement in Goos-Hänchen shift at the singular phase of a nanophotonic cavity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sreekanth, Kandammathe Valiyaveedu; Ouyang, Qingling; Han, Song; Yong, Ken-Tye; Singh, Ranjan

2018-04-01

In this letter, we experimentally demonstrate thirtyfold enhancement in Goos-Hänchen shift at the Brewster angle of a nanophotonic cavity that operates at the wavelength of 632.8 nm. In particular, the point-of-darkness and the singular phase are achieved using a four-layered metal-dielectric-dielectric-metal asymmetric Fabry-Perot cavity. A highly absorbing ultra-thin layer of germanium in the stack gives rise to the singular phase and the enhanced Goos-Hänchen shift at the point-of-darkness. The obtained giant Goos-Hänchen shift in the lithography-free nanophotonic cavity could enable many intriguing applications including cost-effective label-free biosensors.

Proline accumulation in baker's yeast enhances high-sucrose stress tolerance and fermentation ability in sweet dough.

PubMed

Sasano, Yu; Haitani, Yutaka; Ohtsu, Iwao; Shima, Jun; Takagi, Hiroshi

2012-01-03

During bread-making processes, yeast cells are exposed to various baking-associated stresses. High-sucrose concentrations exert severe osmotic stress that seriously damages cellular components by generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Previously, we found that the accumulation of proline conferred freeze-thaw stress tolerance and the baker's yeast strain that accumulated proline retained higher-level fermentation abilities in frozen doughs than the wild-type strain. In this study, we constructed self-cloning diploid baker's yeast strains that accumulate proline. These resultant strains showed higher cell viability and lower intracellular oxidation levels than that observed in the wild-type strain under high-sucrose stress condition. Proline accumulation also enhanced the fermentation ability in high-sucrose-containing dough. These results demonstrate the usefulness of proline-accumulating baker's yeast for sweet dough baking. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

High-performance enhancement-mode Al2O3/InAlGaN/GaN MOS high-electron mobility transistors with a self-aligned gate recessing technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Kai; Kong, Cen; Zhou, Jianjun; Kong, Yuechan; Chen, Tangsheng

2017-02-01

The paper reports high-performance enhancement-mode MOS high-electron mobility transistors (MOS-HEMTs) based on a quaternary InAlGaN barrier. Self-aligned gate technology is used for gate recessing, dielectric deposition, and gate electrode formation. An improved digital recessing process is developed, and an Al2O3 gate dielectric grown with O2 plasma is used. Compared to results with AlGaN barrier, the fabricated E-mode MOS-HEMT with InAlGaN barrier delivers a record output current density of 1.7 A/mm with a threshold voltage (V TH) of 1.5 V, and a small on-resistance (R on) of 2.0 Ω·mm. Excellent V TH hysteresis and greatly improved gate leakage characteristics are also demonstrated.

Novel optical gyroscope: proof of principle demonstration and future scope

PubMed Central

Srivastava, Shailesh; Rao D. S., Shreesha; Nandakumar, Hari

2016-01-01

We report the first proof-of-principle demonstration of the resonant optical gyroscope with reflector that we have recently proposed. The device is very different from traditional optical gyroscopes since it uses the inherent coupling between the clockwise and counterclockwise propagating waves to sense the rotation. Our demonstration confirms our theoretical analysis and simulations. We also demonstrate a novel method of biasing the gyroscope using orthogonal polarization states. The simplicity of the structure and the readout method, the theoretically predicted high sensitivities (better than 0.001 deg/hr), and the possibility of further performance enhancement using a related laser based active device, all have immense potential for attracting fresh research and technological initiatives. PMID:27694987

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering from metal and transition metal nano-caped arrays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Huanhuan; Gao, Renxian; Zhu, Aonan; Hua, Zhong; Chen, Lei; Wang, Yaxin; Zhang, Yongjun

2018-03-01

The metal and transition metal cap-shaped arrays on polystyrene colloidal particle (PSCP) templates were fabricated to study the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) effect. We obtained the Ag and Fe complex film by a co-sputtering deposition method. The size of the deposited Fe particle was changed by the sputtering power. We also study the SERS enhancement mechanism by decorating the PATP probe molecule on the different films. The SERS signals increased firstly, and then decreased as the size of Fe particles grows gradually. The finite-difference time domain (FDTD) simulation and experimental Raman results manifest that SERS enhancement was mainly attributed to surface plasma resonance (SPR) between Ag and Ag nanoparticles. The SERS signals of PATP molecule were enhanced to reach a lowest detectable concentration of 10-8 mol/L. The research demonstrates that the SERS substrates with Ag-Fe cap-shaped arrays have a high sensitivity.

Formation of embedded plasmonic Ga nanoparticle arrays and their influence on GaAs photoluminescence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kang, M.; Jeon, S.; Jen, T.; Lee, J.-E.; Sih, V.; Goldman, R. S.

2017-07-01

We introduce a novel approach to the seamless integration of plasmonic nanoparticle (NP) arrays into semiconductor layers and demonstrate their enhanced photoluminescence (PL) efficiency. Our approach utilizes focused ion beam-induced self-assembly of close-packed arrays of Ga NPs with tailorable NP diameters, followed by overgrowth of GaAs layers using molecular beam epitaxy. Using a combination of PL spectroscopy and electromagnetic computations, we identify a regime of Ga NP diameter and overgrown GaAs layer thickness where NP-array-enhanced absorption in GaAs leads to enhanced GaAs near-band-edge (NBE) PL efficiency, surpassing that of high-quality epitaxial GaAs layers. As the NP array depth and size are increased, the reduction in spontaneous emission rate overwhelms the NP-array-enhanced absorption, leading to a reduced NBE PL efficiency. This approach provides an opportunity to enhance the PL efficiency of a wide variety of semiconductor heterostructures.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kvon, Evgeny Z.; Kamneva, Olga K.; Melo, Uirá S.

The evolution of body shape is thought to be tightly coupled to changes in regulatory sequences, but specific molecular events associated with major morphological transitions in vertebrates have remained elusive. In this paper, we identified snake-specific sequence changes within an otherwise highly conserved long-range limb enhancer of Sonic hedgehog (Shh). Transgenic mouse reporter assays revealed that the in vivo activity pattern of the enhancer is conserved across a wide range of vertebrates, including fish, but not in snakes. Genomic substitution of the mouse enhancer with its human or fish ortholog results in normal limb development. In contrast, replacement with snake orthologsmore » caused severe limb reduction. Synthetic restoration of a single transcription factor binding site lost in the snake lineage reinstated full in vivo function to the snake enhancer. Our results demonstrate changes in a regulatory sequence associated with a major body plan transition and highlight the role of enhancers in morphological evolution.« less

Spatial resolution enhancement of terrestrial features using deconvolved SSM/I microwave brightness temperatures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Farrar, Michael R.; Smith, Eric A.

1992-01-01

A method for enhancing the 19, 22, and 37 GHz measurements of the SSM/I (Special Sensor Microwave/Imager) to the spatial resolution and sampling density of the high resolution 85-GHz channel is presented. An objective technique for specifying the tuning parameter, which balances the tradeoff between resolution and noise, is developed in terms of maximizing cross-channel correlations. Various validation procedures are performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method, which hopefully will provide researchers with a valuable tool in multispectral applications of satellite radiometer data.

Ultrafast properties of femtosecond-laser-ablated GaAs and its application to terahertz optoelectronics.

PubMed

Madéo, Julien; Margiolakis, Athanasios; Zhao, Zhen-Yu; Hale, Peter J; Man, Michael K L; Zhao, Quan-Zhong; Peng, Wei; Shi, Wang-Zhou; Dani, Keshav M

2015-07-15

We report on the first terahertz (THz) emitter based on femtosecond-laser-ablated gallium arsenide (GaAs), demonstrating a 65% enhancement in THz emission at high optical power compared to the nonablated device. Counter-intuitively, the ablated device shows significantly lower photocurrent and carrier mobility. We understand this behavior in terms of n-doping, shorter carrier lifetime, and enhanced photoabsorption arising from the ablation process. Our results show that laser ablation allows for efficient and cost-effective optoelectronic THz devices via the manipulation of fundamental properties of materials.

Enhancement of OCT images with vinyl polysiloxane (VPS)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kang, Hobin; Darling, Cynthia L.; Fried, Daniel

2016-02-01

Several studies have shown that optical coherence tomography (OCT) can be used to measure the remaining enamel thickness and detect the location of subsurface lesions hidden under the sound enamel. Moreover studies have shown that high refractive index liquids can be used to improve the visibility of subsurface lesions in OCT images. In this study, we demonstrate that vinyl polysiloxane (VPS) impression materials which are routinely used in dentistry can be used to enhance the detection of dentinal lesions on tooth occlusal surfaces. Lesion presence was confirmed with polarized light microscopy and microradiography.

Enhanced field emission from hexagonal rhodium nanostructures

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sathe, Bhaskar R.; Kakade, Bhalchandra A.; Mulla, Imtiaz S.

2008-06-23

Shape selective synthesis of nanostructured Rh hexagons has been demonstrated with the help of a modified chemical vapor deposition using rhodium acetate. An ultralow threshold field of 0.72 V/{mu}m is observed to generate a field emission current density of 4x10{sup -3} {mu}A/cm{sup 2}. The high enhancement factor (9325) indicates that the origin of electron emission is from nanostructured features. The smaller size of emitting area, excellent current density, and stability over a period of more than 3 h are promising characteristics for the development of electron sources.

3D nanostar dimers with a sub-10-nm gap for single-/few-molecule surface-enhanced raman scattering.

PubMed

Chirumamilla, Manohar; Toma, Andrea; Gopalakrishnan, Anisha; Das, Gobind; Zaccaria, Remo Proietti; Krahne, Roman; Rondanina, Eliana; Leoncini, Marco; Liberale, Carlo; De Angelis, Francesco; Di Fabrizio, Enzo

2014-04-16

Plasmonic nanostar-dimers, decoupled from the substrate, have been fabricated by combining electron-beam lithography and reactive-ion etching techniques. The 3D architecture, the sharp tips of the nanostars and the sub-10 nm gap size promote the formation of giant electric-field in highly localized hot-spots. The single/few molecule detection capability of the 3D nanostar-dimers has been demonstrated by Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Hafnium-Based Contrast Agents for X-ray Computed Tomography.

PubMed

Berger, Markus; Bauser, Marcus; Frenzel, Thomas; Hilger, Christoph Stephan; Jost, Gregor; Lauria, Silvia; Morgenstern, Bernd; Neis, Christian; Pietsch, Hubertus; Sülzle, Detlev; Hegetschweiler, Kaspar

2017-05-15

Heavy-metal-based contrast agents (CAs) offer enhanced X-ray absorption for X-ray computed tomography (CT) compared to the currently used iodinated CAs. We report the discovery of new lanthanide and hafnium azainositol complexes and their optimization with respect to high water solubility and stability. Our efforts culminated in the synthesis of BAY-576, an uncharged hafnium complex with 3:2 stoichiometry and broken complex symmetry. The superior properties of this asymmetrically substituted hafnium CA were demonstrated by a CT angiography study in rabbits that revealed excellent signal contrast enhancement.

Bending the cost curve and increasing revenue: a family medicine model that works!

PubMed

Katz, Bernard J; Needham, Mark R

2012-12-01

This article attempts to illustrate ways in which family physician practices are able to demonstrate high value, enhanced quality, and streamlined costs, essential components of practice sustainability. Specific examples are provided to assist practices to consider questions and information that allow for skillful engagement during contract negotiations, consider increasing practice revenues by adopting practice enhancements that make sense for the location of the practice and community needs, develop workflow analyses, and review opportunities for expense reduction. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Photochemistry on soft-glass hollow-core photonic crystal fibre

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cubillas, Ana M.; Jiang, Xin; Euser, Tijmen G.; Taccardi, Nicola; Etzold, Bastian J. M.; Wasserscheid, Peter; Russell, Philip St. J.

2014-05-01

Hollow-core photonic crystal fibre (HC-PCF) offers strong light confinement and long interaction lengths in an optofluidic channel. These unique advantages have motivated its recent use as a highly efficient and versatile microreactor for liquid-phase photochemistry and catalysis. In this work, we use a soft-glass HC-PCF to carry out photochemical experiments in a high-index solvent such as toluene. The high-intensity and strong confinement in the fibre is demonstrated to enhance the performance of a proof-of-principle photolysis reaction.

Aplanatic Three-Mirror Objective for High-Magnification Soft X-Ray Microscopy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Toyoda, M.; Jinno, T.; Yanagihara, M.

2011-09-09

An innovative solution for high-magnification microscopy, based on attaching afocal optics for focal length reduction, is proposed. The solution, consisting of three spherical mirrors, allows one to enhance a magnification of a laboratory based soft x-ray microscope over 1000x, where movies with diffraction-limited resolution can be observed with an x-ray CCD. The design example, having a numerical aperture of 0.25, was successfully demonstrated both a high magnification and a large field of view.

Jumpstarting commercial-scale CO 2 capture and storage with ethylene production and enhanced oil recovery in the US Gulf

DOE PAGES

Middleton, Richard S.; Levine, Jonathan S.; Bielicki, Jeffrey M.; ...

2015-04-27

CO 2 capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technology has yet to be widely deployed at a commercial scale despite multiple high-profile demonstration projects. We suggest that developing a large-scale, visible, and financially viable CCUS network could potentially overcome many barriers to deployment and jumpstart commercial-scale CCUS. To date, substantial effort has focused on technology development to reduce the costs of CO 2 capture from coal-fired power plants. Here, we propose that near-term investment could focus on implementing CO 2 capture on facilities that produce high-value chemicals/products. These facilities can absorb the expected impact of the marginal increase in the costmore » of production on the price of their product, due to the addition of CO 2 capture, more than coal-fired power plants. A financially viable demonstration of a large-scale CCUS network requires offsetting the costs of CO 2 capture by using the CO 2 as an input to the production of market-viable products. As a result, we demonstrate this alternative development path with the example of an integrated CCUS system where CO 2 is captured from ethylene producers and used for enhanced oil recovery in the U.S. Gulf Coast region.« less

Nicotinamide inhibits the growth of P. falciparum and enhances the antimalarial effect of artemisinin, chloroquine and pyrimethamine.

PubMed

Tcherniuk, Sergey O; Chesnokova, Olga; Oleinikov, Irina V; Oleinikov, Andrew V

2017-09-01

Nicotinamide (vitamin B3) - is a water soluble amide derivative of nicotinic acid, which has been used at high doses for a variety of therapeutic applications. However, its antimalarial effect has not been intensively explored. In this work we analysed the effect of nicotinamide alone and in combination with artemisinin, chloroquine andpyrimethamine on the growth of blood stages of P. falciparum. Our results demonstrate that nicotinamide effectively inhibits the growth of blood stage parasites with IC 50 of 6.9±0.1mM and 2.2±0.3mM for CS2 and 3G8 strains, respectively. The combination of nicotinamide with artemisinin, chloroquine and pyrimethamine demonstrated synergistic effects at IC 10-90%. Treatment of uninfected red blood cells with high dose of nicotinamide (60mM) did not provoke the significant LDH release, demonstrating its non-toxicity for erythrocytes. Nicotinamide acts below the level of tolerance and reduces the effective concentration of anti-malarial drugs due to synergism. These in vitro results suggest that nicotinamide might be useful not only as a vitamin supplement but also as an enhancer of the anti-parasitic effect of common antimalarial drugs including artemisinin, chloroquine and pyrimethamine. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Heat Transfer Enhancement in High Performance Heat Sink Channels by Autonomous, Aero-Elastic Reed Fluttering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jha, Sourabh; Crittenden, Thomas; Glezer, Ari

2016-11-01

Heat transport within high aspect ratio, rectangular mm-scale channels that model segments of a high-performance, air-cooled heat sink is enhanced by the formation of unsteady small-scale vortical motions induced by autonomous, aeroelastic fluttering of cantilevered planar thin-film reeds. The flow mechanisms and scaling of the interactions between the reed and the channel flow are explored to overcome the limits of forced convection heat transport from air-side heat exchangers. High-resolution PIV measurements in a testbed model show that undulations of the reed's surface lead to formation and advection of vorticity concentrations, and to alternate shedding of spanwise CW and CCW vortices. These vortices scale with the reed motion amplitude, and ultimately result in motions of decreasing scales and enhanced dissipation that are reminiscent of a turbulent flow. The vorticity shedding lead to strong enhancement in heat transfer that increases with the Reynolds number of the base flow (e.g., the channel's thermal coefficient of performance is enhanced by 2.4-fold and 9-fold for base flow Re = 4,000 and 17,400, respectively, with corresponding decreases of 50 and 77% in the required channel flow rates). This is demonstrated in heat sinks for improving the thermal performance of low-Re thermoelectric power plant air-cooled condensers, where the global air-side pressure losses can be significantly reduced by lowering the required air volume flow rate at a given heat flux and surface temperature. AFOSR and NSF-EPRI.

Porous-Nickel-Scaffolded Tin-Antimony Anodes with Enhanced Electrochemical Properties for Li/Na-Ion Batteries.

PubMed

Li, Jiachen; Pu, Jun; Liu, Ziqiang; Wang, Jian; Wu, Wenlu; Zhang, Huigang; Ma, Haixia

2017-08-02

The energy and power densities of rechargeable batteries urgently need to be increased to meet the ever-increasing demands of consumer electronics and electric vehicles. Alloy anodes are among the most promising candidates for next-generation high-capacity battery materials. However, the high capacities of alloy anodes usually suffer from some serious difficulties related to the volume changes of active materials. Porous supports and nanostructured alloy materials have been explored to address these issues. However, these approaches seemingly increase the active material-based properties and actually decrease the electrode-based capacity because of the oversized pores and heavy mass of mechanical supports. In this study, we developed an ultralight porous nickel to scaffold with high-capacity SnSb alloy anodes. The porous-nickel-supported SnSb alloy demonstrates a high specific capacity and good cyclability for both Li-ion and Na-ion batteries. Its capacity retains 580 mA h g -1 at 2 A g -1 after 100 cycles in Li-ion batteries. For a Na-ion battery, the composite electrode can even deliver a capacity of 275 mA h g -1 at 1 A g -1 after 1000 cycles. This study demonstrates that combining the scaffolding function of ultralight porous nickel and the high capacity of the SnSb alloy can significantly enhance the electrochemical performances of Li/Na-ion batteries.

High resolution clear native electrophoresis for in-gel functional assays and fluorescence studies of membrane protein complexes.

PubMed

Wittig, Ilka; Karas, Michael; Schägger, Hermann

2007-07-01

Clear native electrophoresis and blue native electrophoresis are microscale techniques for the isolation of membrane protein complexes. The Coomassie Blue G-250 dye, used in blue native electrophoresis, interferes with in-gel fluorescence detection and in-gel catalytic activity assays. This problem can be overcome by omitting the dye in clear native electrophoresis. However, clear native electrophoresis suffers from enhanced protein aggregation and broadening of protein bands during electrophoresis and therefore has been used rarely. To preserve the advantages of both electrophoresis techniques we substituted Coomassie dye in the cathode buffer of blue native electrophoresis by non-colored mixtures of anionic and neutral detergents. Like Coomassie dye, these mixed micelles imposed a charge shift on the membrane proteins to enhance their anodic migration and improved membrane protein solubility during electrophoresis. This improved clear native electrophoresis offers a high resolution of membrane protein complexes comparable to that of blue native electrophoresis. We demonstrate the superiority of high resolution clear native electrophoresis for in-gel catalytic activity assays of mitochondrial complexes I-V. We present the first in-gel histochemical staining protocol for respiratory complex III. Moreover we demonstrate the special advantages of high resolution clear native electrophoresis for in-gel detection of fluorescent labeled proteins labeled by reactive fluorescent dyes and tagged by fluorescent proteins. The advantages of high resolution clear native electrophoresis make this technique superior for functional proteomics analyses.

Manipulability impairs association-memory: revisiting effects of incidental motor processing on verbal paired-associates.

PubMed

Madan, Christopher R

2014-06-01

Imageability is known to enhance association-memory for verbal paired-associates. High-imageability words can be further subdivided by manipulability, the ease by which the named object can be functionally interacted with. Prior studies suggest that motor processing enhances item-memory, but impairs association-memory. However, these studies used action verbs and concrete nouns as the high- and low-manipulability words, respectively, confounding manipulability with word class. Recent findings demonstrated that nouns can serve as both high- and low-manipulability words (e.g., CAMERA and TABLE, respectively), allowing us to avoid this confound. Here participants studied pairs of words that consisted of all possible pairings of high- and low-manipulability words and were tested with immediate cued recall. Recall was worse for pairs that contained high-manipulability words. In free recall, participants recalled more high- than low-manipulability words. Our results provide further evidence that manipulability influences memory, likely occurring through automatic motor imagery. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Two estrogen response element sequences near the PCNA gene are not responsible for its estrogen-enhanced expression in MCF7 cells.

PubMed

Wang, Cheng; Yu, Jie; Kallen, Caleb B

2008-01-01

The proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) is an essential component of DNA replication, cell cycle regulation, and epigenetic inheritance. High expression of PCNA is associated with poor prognosis in patients with breast cancer. The 5'-region of the PCNA gene contains two computationally-detected estrogen response element (ERE) sequences, one of which is evolutionarily conserved. Both of these sequences are of undocumented cis-regulatory function. We recently demonstrated that estradiol (E2) enhances PCNA mRNA expression in MCF7 breast cancer cells. MCF7 cells proliferate in response to E2. Here, we demonstrate that E2 rapidly enhanced PCNA mRNA and protein expression in a process that requires ERalpha as well as de novo protein synthesis. One of the two upstream ERE sequences was specifically bound by ERalpha-containing protein complexes, in vitro, in gel shift analysis. Yet, each ERE sequence, when cloned as a single copy, or when engineered as two tandem copies of the ERE-containing sequence, was not capable of activating a luciferase reporter construct in response to E2. In MCF7 cells, neither ERE-containing genomic region demonstrated E2-dependent recruitment of ERalpha by sensitive ChIP-PCR assays. We conclude that E2 enhances PCNA gene expression by an indirect process and that computational detection of EREs, even when evolutionarily conserved and when near E2-responsive genes, requires biochemical validation.

A Cell-targeted Photodynamic Nanomedicine Strategy for Head & Neck Cancers

PubMed Central

Master, Alyssa; Malamas, Anthony; Solanki, Rachna; Clausen, Dana M.; Eiseman, Julie L.; Gupta, Anirban Sen

2013-01-01

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) holds great promise for the treatment of head and neck (H&N) carcinomas where repeated loco-regional therapy often becomes necessary due to the highly aggressive and recurrent nature of the cancers. While interstitial light delivery technologies are being refined for PDT of H&N and other cancers, a parallel clinically relevant research area is the formulation of photosensitizers in nanovehicles that allow systemic administration yet preferential enhanced uptake in the tumor. This approach can render dual-selectivity of PDT, by harnessing both the drug and the light delivery within the tumor. To this end, we report on a cell-targeted nanomedicine approach for the photosensitizer silicon phthalocyanine-4 (Pc 4), by packaging it within polymeric micelles that are surface-decorated with GE11-peptides to promote enhanced cell-selective binding and receptor-mediated internalization in EGFR-overexpressing H&N cancer cells. Using fluorescence spectroscopy and confocal microscopy, we demonstrate in vitro that the EGFR-targeted Pc 4-nanoformulation undergoes faster and higher uptake in EGFR-overexpressing H&N SCC-15 cells. We further demonstrate that this enhanced Pc 4 uptake results in significant cell-killing and drastically reduced post-PDT clonogenicity. Building on this in vitro data, we demonstrate that the EGFR-targeted Pc 4-nanoformulation results in significant intra-tumoral drug uptake and subsequent enhanced PDT response, in vivo, in SCC-15 xenografts in mice. Altogether our results show significant promise towards a cell-targeted photodynamic nanomedicine for effective treatment of H&N carcinomas. PMID:23531079

Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging Reveals Stress-Induced Angiogenesis in MCF7 Human Breast Tumors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Furman-Haran, Edna; Margalit, Raanan; Grobgeld, Dov; Degani, Hadassa

1996-06-01

The mechanism of contrast enhancement of tumors using magnetic resonance imaging was investigated in MCF7 human breast cancer implanted in nude mice. Dynamic contrast-enhanced images recorded at high spatial resolution were analyzed by an image analysis method based on a physiological model, which included the blood circulation, the tumor, the remaining tissues, and clearance via the kidneys. This analysis enabled us to map in rapidly enhancing regions within the tumor, the capillary permeability factor (capillary permeability times surface area per voxel volume) and the fraction of leakage space. Correlation of these maps with T2-weighted spin echo images, with histopathology, and with immunohistochemical staining of endothelial cells demonstrated the presence of dense permeable microcapillaries in the tumor periphery and in intratumoral regions that surrounded necrotic loci. The high leakage from the intratumoral permeable capillaries indicated an induction of a specific angiogenic process associated with stress conditions that cause necrosis. This induction was augmented in tumors responding to tamoxifen treatment. Determination of the distribution and extent of this stress-induced angiogenic activity by contrast-enhanced MRI might be of diagnostic and of prognostic value.

Enhanced and Facet-specific Electrocatalytic Properties of Ag/Bi2Fe4O9 Composite Nanoparticles.

PubMed

Wang, Kai; Xu, Xiaoguang; Lu, Liying; Wang, Haicheng; Li, Yan; Wu, Yong; Miao, Jun; Zhang, Jin Zhong; Jiang, Yong

2018-04-18

Ag/Bi 2 Fe 4 O 9 nanoparticles (BFO NPs) have been synthesized using a two-step approach involving glycine combustion and visible light irradiation. Their structures were characterized in detail using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscope, scanning electron microscopy, and scanning transmission electron microscopy techniques. Their electrocatalytic properties were studied through enzymatic glucose detection with an amperometric biosensor. The Ag deposited on selective crystal facets of BFO NPs significantly enhanced their electrocatalytic activity. To gain insights into the origin of the enhanced electrocatalytic activities, we have carried out studies of Ag + reduction and Mn 2+ oxidation reaction at the {200} and {001} facets, respectively. The results suggest effective charge separation on the BFO NP surfaces, which is likely responsible for the enhanced electrocatalytic properties. Furthermore, enhanced ferromagnetism was observed after the Ag deposition on BFO NPs, which may be related to the improved electrocatalytic properties through spin-dependent charge transport. The facet-specific electrocatalytic properties are highly interesting and desired for chemical reactions. This study demonstrates that Ag/BFO NPs are potentially useful for electrocatalytic applications including biosensing and chemical synthesis with high product selectivity.

Enhanced efficiency and stability of inverted perovskite solar cells using highly crystalline SnO 2 nanocrystals as the robust electron-transporting layer

DOE PAGES

Zhu, Zonglong; Bai, Yang; Liu, Xiao; ...

2016-05-11

Here highly crystalline SnO 2 is demonstrated to serve as a stable and robust electron-transporting layer for high-performance perovskite solar cells. Benefiting from its high crystallinity, the relatively thick SnO 2 electron-transporting layer (≈120 nm) provides a respectable electron-transporting property to yield a promising power conversion efficiency (PCE)(18.8%) Over 90% of the initial PCE can be retained after 30 d storage in ambient with ≈70% relative humidity.

Sleep is not just for the brain: transcriptional responses to sleep in peripheral tissues

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Many have assumed that the primary function of sleep is for the brain. We evaluated the molecular consequences of sleep and sleep deprivation outside the brain, in heart and lung. Using microarrays we compared gene expression in tissue from sleeping and sleep deprived mice euthanized at the same diurnal times. Results In each tissue, nearly two thousand genes demonstrated statistically significant differential expression as a function of sleep/wake behavioral state. To mitigate the influence of an artificial deprivation protocol, we identified a subset of these transcripts as specifically sleep-enhanced or sleep-repressed by requiring that their expression also change over the course of unperturbed sleep. 3% and 6% of the assayed transcripts showed “sleep specific” changes in the lung and heart respectively. Sleep specific transcripts in these tissues demonstrated highly significant overlap and shared temporal dynamics. Markers of cellular stress and the unfolded protein response were reduced during sleep in both tissues. These results mirror previous findings in brain. Sleep-enhanced pathways reflected the unique metabolic functions of each tissue. Transcripts related to carbohydrate and sulfur metabolic processes were enhanced by sleep in the lung, and collectively favor buffering from oxidative stress. DNA repair and protein metabolism annotations were significantly enriched among the sleep-enhanced transcripts in the heart. Our results also suggest that sleep may provide a Zeitgeber, or synchronizing cue, in the lung as a large cluster of transcripts demonstrated systematic changes in inter-animal variability as a function of both sleep duration and circadian time. Conclusion Our data support the notion that the molecular consequences of sleep/wake behavioral state extend beyond the brain to include peripheral tissues. Sleep state induces a highly overlapping response in both heart and lung. We conclude that sleep enhances organ specific molecular functions and that it has a ubiquitous role in reducing cellular metabolic stress in both brain and peripheral tissues. Finally, our data suggest a novel role for sleep in synchronizing transcription in peripheral tissues. PMID:23721503

Welding of Semiconductor Nanowires by Coupling Laser-Induced Peening and Localized Heating.

PubMed

Rickey, Kelly M; Nian, Qiong; Zhang, Genqiang; Chen, Liangliang; Suslov, Sergey; Bhat, S Venkataprasad; Wu, Yue; Cheng, Gary J; Ruan, Xiulin

2015-11-03

We demonstrate that laser peening coupled with sintering of CdTe nanowire films substantially enhances film quality and charge transfer while largely maintaining basic particle morphology. During the laser peening phase, a shockwave is used to compress the film. Laser sintering comprises the second step, where a nanosecond pulse laser beam welds the nanowires. Microstructure, morphology, material content, and electrical conductivities of the films are characterized before and after treatment. The morphology results show that laser peening can decrease porosity and bring nanowires into contact, and pulsed laser heating fuses those contacts. Multiphysics simulations coupling electromagnetic and heat transfer modules demonstrate that during pulsed laser heating, local EM field enhancement is generated specifically around the contact areas between two semiconductor nanowires, indicating localized heating. The characterization results indicate that solely laser peening or sintering can only moderately improve the thin film quality; however, when coupled together as laser peen sintering (LPS), the electrical conductivity enhancement is dramatic. LPS can decrease resistivity up to a factor of ~10,000, resulting in values on the order of ~10(5) Ω-cm in some cases, which is comparable to CdTe thin films. Our work demonstrates that LPS is an effective processing method to obtain high-quality semiconductor nanocrystal films.

Welding of Semiconductor Nanowires by Coupling Laser-Induced Peening and Localized Heating

PubMed Central

Rickey, Kelly M.; Nian, Qiong; Zhang, Genqiang; Chen, Liangliang; Suslov, Sergey; Bhat, S. Venkataprasad; Wu, Yue; Cheng, Gary J.; Ruan, Xiulin

2015-01-01

We demonstrate that laser peening coupled with sintering of CdTe nanowire films substantially enhances film quality and charge transfer while largely maintaining basic particle morphology. During the laser peening phase, a shockwave is used to compress the film. Laser sintering comprises the second step, where a nanosecond pulse laser beam welds the nanowires. Microstructure, morphology, material content, and electrical conductivities of the films are characterized before and after treatment. The morphology results show that laser peening can decrease porosity and bring nanowires into contact, and pulsed laser heating fuses those contacts. Multiphysics simulations coupling electromagnetic and heat transfer modules demonstrate that during pulsed laser heating, local EM field enhancement is generated specifically around the contact areas between two semiconductor nanowires, indicating localized heating. The characterization results indicate that solely laser peening or sintering can only moderately improve the thin film quality; however, when coupled together as laser peen sintering (LPS), the electrical conductivity enhancement is dramatic. LPS can decrease resistivity up to a factor of ~10,000, resulting in values on the order of ~105 Ω-cm in some cases, which is comparable to CdTe thin films. Our work demonstrates that LPS is an effective processing method to obtain high-quality semiconductor nanocrystal films. PMID:26527570

Linear Covariance Analysis For Proximity Operations Around Asteroid 2008 EV5

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wright, Cinnamon A.; Bhatt, Sagar; Woffinden, David; Strube, Matthew; D'Souza, Chris

2015-01-01

The NASA initiative to collect an asteroid, the Asteroid Robotic Redirect Mission (ARRM), is currently investigating the option of retrieving a boulder from an asteroid, demonstrating planetary defense with an enhanced gravity tractor technique, and returning it to a lunar orbit. Techniques for accomplishing this are being investigated by the Satellite Servicing Capabilities Office (SSCO) at NASA GSFC in collaboration with JPL, NASA JSC, LaRC, and Draper Laboratory, Inc. Two critical phases of the mission are the descent to the boulder and the Enhanced Gravity Tractor demonstration. A linear covariance analysis is done for these phases to assess the feasibility of these concepts with the proposed design of the sensor and actuator suite of the Asteroid Redirect Vehicle (ARV). The sensor suite for this analysis includes a wide field of view camera, LiDAR, and an IMU. The proposed asteroid of interest is currently the C-type asteroid 2008 EV5, a carbonaceous chondrite that is of high interest to the scientific community. This paper presents an overview of the linear covariance analysis techniques and simulation tool, provides sensor and actuator models, and addresses the feasibility of descending to the surface of the asteroid within allocated requirements as well as the possibility of maintaining a halo orbit to demonstrate the Enhanced Gravity Tractor technique.

Tip-enhanced near-field Raman spectroscopy with a scanning tunneling microscope and side-illumination optics.

PubMed

Yi, K J; He, X N; Zhou, Y S; Xiong, W; Lu, Y F

2008-07-01

Conventional Raman spectroscopy (RS) suffers from low spatial resolution and low detection sensitivity due to the optical diffraction limit and small interaction cross sections. It has been reported that a highly localized and significantly enhanced electromagnetic field could be generated in the proximity of a metallic tip illuminated by a laser beam. In this study, a tip-enhanced RS system was developed to both improve the resolution and enhance the detection sensitivity using the tip-enhanced near-field effects. This instrument, by combining RS with a scanning tunneling microscope and side-illumination optics, demonstrated significant enhancement on both optical sensitivity and spatial resolution using either silver (Ag)-coated tungsten (W) tips or gold (Au) tips. The sensitivity improvement was verified by observing the enhancement effects on silicon (Si) substrates. Lateral resolution was verified to be below 100 nm by mapping Ag nanostructures. By deploying the depolarization technique, an apparent enhancement of 175% on Si substrates was achieved. Furthermore, the developed instrument features fast and reliable optical alignment, versatile sample adaptability, and effective suppression of far-field signals.

Gap-Mode Surface-Plasmon-Enhanced Photoluminescence and Photoresponse of MoS2.

PubMed

Wu, Zhi-Qian; Yang, Jing-Liang; Manjunath, Nallappagar K; Zhang, Yue-Jiao; Feng, Si-Rui; Lu, Yang-Hua; Wu, Jiang-Hong; Zhao, Wei-Wei; Qiu, Cai-Yu; Li, Jian-Feng; Lin, Shi-Sheng

2018-05-22

2D materials hold great potential for designing novel electronic and optoelectronic devices. However, 2D material can only absorb limited incident light. As a representative 2D semiconductor, monolayer MoS 2 can only absorb up to 10% of the incident light in the visible, which is not sufficient to achieve a high optical-to-electrical conversion efficiency. To overcome this shortcoming, a "gap-mode" plasmon-enhanced monolayer MoS 2 fluorescent emitter and photodetector is designed by squeezing the light-field into Ag shell-isolated nanoparticles-Au film gap, where the confined electromagnetic field can interact with monolayer MoS 2 . With this gap-mode plasmon-enhanced configuration, a 110-fold enhancement of photoluminescence intensity is achieved, exceeding values reached by other plasmon-enhanced MoS 2 fluorescent emitters. In addition, a gap-mode plasmon-enhanced monolayer MoS 2 photodetector with an 880% enhancement in photocurrent and a responsivity of 287.5 A W -1 is demonstrated, exceeding previously reported plasmon-enhanced monolayer MoS 2 photodetectors. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Medium Chain Triglycerides enhances exercise endurance through the increased mitochondrial biogenesis and metabolism.

PubMed

Wang, Ying; Liu, Zhenzhen; Han, Yi; Xu, Jiping; Huang, Wen; Li, Zhaoshen

2018-01-01

Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT) is a dietary supplement and usually used along with medications for treating food absorption disorders including diarrhea, steatorrhea and liver disease. It has been shown that MCT plays a role in lowering weight, and decreasing metabolic syndrome, abdominal obesity and inflammation. However, it is still unknown whether MCT enhances exercise endurance. Here, we demonstrated that MCT containing diet improves high temperature induced exercise performance impairment. We found that MCT up-regulates the expression and protein levels of genes involved in mitochondrial biogenesis and metabolism. Further investigation demonstrated that the increased mitochondrial biogenesis and metabolism is mediated through the activation of Akt and AMPK signaling pathways and inhibition of TGF-β signaling pathway. Collectively, our findings indicate a beneficial effect of dietary MCT in exercise performance through the increase of mitochondrial biogenesis and metabolism.

Approach to high quality GaN lateral nanowires and planar cavities fabricated by focused ion beam and metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy.

PubMed

Pozina, Galia; Gubaydullin, Azat R; Mitrofanov, Maxim I; Kaliteevski, Mikhail A; Levitskii, Iaroslav V; Voznyuk, Gleb V; Tatarinov, Evgeniy E; Evtikhiev, Vadim P; Rodin, Sergey N; Kaliteevskiy, Vasily N; Chechurin, Leonid S

2018-05-08

We have developed a method to fabricate GaN planar nanowires and cavities by combination of Focused Ion Beam (FIB) patterning of the substrate followed by Metal Organic Vapor Phase Epitaxy (MOVPE). The method includes depositing a silicon nitride mask on a sapphire substrate, etching of the trenches in the mask by FIB with a diameter of 40 nm with subsequent MOVPE growth of GaN within trenches. It was observed that the growth rate of GaN is substantially increased due to enhanced bulk diffusion of the growth precursor therefore the model for analysis of the growth rate was developed. The GaN strips fabricated by this method demonstrate effective luminescence properties. The structures demonstrate enhancement of spontaneous emission via formation of Fabry-Perot modes.

Optically tuned terahertz modulator based on annealed multilayer MoS2.

PubMed

Cao, Yapeng; Gan, Sheng; Geng, Zhaoxin; Liu, Jian; Yang, Yuping; Bao, Qiaoling; Chen, Hongda

2016-03-08

Controlling the propagation properties of terahertz waves is very important in terahertz technologies applied in high-speed communication. Therefore a new-type optically tuned terahertz modulator based on multilayer-MoS2 and silicon is experimentally demonstrated. The terahertz transmission could be significantly modulated by changing the power of the pumping laser. With an annealing treatment as a p-doping method, MoS2 on silicon demonstrates a triple enhancement of terahertz modulation depth compared with the bare silicon. This MoS2-based device even exhibited much higher modulation efficiency than the graphene-based device. We also analyzed the mechanism of the modulation enhancement originated from annealed MoS2, and found that it is different from that of graphene-based device. The unique optical modulating properties of the device exhibit tremendous promise for applications in terahertz switch.

Battery operated preconcentration-assisted lateral flow assay.

PubMed

Kim, Cheonjung; Yoo, Yong Kyoung; Han, Sung Il; Lee, Junwoo; Lee, Dohwan; Lee, Kyungjae; Hwang, Kyo Seon; Lee, Kyu Hyoung; Chung, Seok; Lee, Jeong Hoon

2017-07-11

Paper-based analytical devices (e.g. lateral flow assays) are highly advantageous as portable diagnostic systems owing to their low costs and ease of use. Because of their low sensitivity and detection limits for biomolecules, these devices have several limitations in applications for real-field diagnosis. Here, we demonstrate a paper-based preconcentration enhanced lateral flow assay using a commercial β-hCG-based test. Utilizing a simple 9 V battery operation with a low power consumption of approximately 81 μW, we acquire a 25-fold preconcentration factor, demonstrating a clear sensitivity enhancement in the colorimetric lateral flow assay; consequently, clear colors are observed in a rapid kit test line, which cannot be monitored without preconcentration. This device can also facilitate a semi-quantitative platform using the saturation value and/or color intensity in both paper-based colorimetric assays and smartphone-based diagnostics.

Nanoparticle-Functionalized Porous Polymer Monolith Detection Elements for Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering

PubMed Central

Liu, Jikun; White, Ian; DeVoe, Don L.

2011-01-01

The use of porous polymer monoliths functionalized with silver nanoparticles is introduced in this work for high-sensitivity surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection. Preparation of the SERS detection elements is a simple process comprising the synthesis of a discrete polymer monolith section within a silica capillary, followed by physically trapping silver nanoparticle aggregates within the monolith matrix. A SERS detection limit of 220 fmol for Rhodamine 6G (R6G) is demonstrated, with excellent signal stability over a 24 h period. The capability of the SERS-active monolith for label-free detection of biomolecules was demonstrated by measurements of bradykinin and cyctochrome c. The SERS-active monoliths can be readily integrated into miniaturized micro-total-analysis systems for on-line and label-free detection for a variety of biosensing, bioanalytical, and biomedical applications. PMID:21322579

Common path in-line holography using enhanced joint object reference digital interferometers

PubMed Central

Kelner, Roy; Katz, Barak; Rosen, Joseph

2014-01-01

Joint object reference digital interferometer (JORDI) is a recently developed system capable of recording holograms of various types [Opt. Lett. 38(22), 4719 (2013)24322115]. Presented here is a new enhanced system design that is based on the previous JORDI. While the previous JORDI has been based purely on diffractive optical elements, displayed on spatial light modulators, the present design incorporates an additional refractive objective lens, thus enabling hologram recording with improved resolution and increased system applicability. Experimental results demonstrate successful hologram recording for various types of objects, including transmissive, reflective, three-dimensional, phase and highly scattering objects. The resolution limit of the system is analyzed and experimentally validated. Finally, the suitability of JORDI for microscopic applications is verified as a microscope objective based configuration of the system is demonstrated. PMID:24663838

Biomcompatible gold nanorods conjugated with photosensitizers assisted for photostability and photodestructive ability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuo, Wen-Shuo; Chen, Shean-Jen

2012-02-01

Light-exposure-mediated higher temperatures that markedly accelerate the degradation of indocyanine green (ICG) in aqueous solutions by thermal decomposition have been a serious medical problem. In this work, we present the example of using gold nanorods (Au NRs) simultaneously serving as photodynamic and photothermal agents to destroy malignant cells. Au NRs were successfully conjugated with hydrophilic photosensitizer, indocyanine green (ICG), to achieve photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT). We also demonstrated that Au NRs conjugated with ICG displayed high chemical stability and acted as a promising diagnostic probe. Due to its stability even via higher temperatures mediated by laser irradiation, the combination of PDT and PTT proved to be efficiently killing cancer cells as compared to PDT or PTT treatment alone and enhanced the effectiveness of photodestruction and was demonstrated to enhance its photostability.

Syndecan-4 enhances PDGF-BB activity in diabetic wound healing.

PubMed

Das, Subhamoy; Majid, Marjan; Baker, Aaron B

2016-09-15

Non-healing ulcers are a common consequence of long-term diabetes and severe peripheral vascular disease. These non-healing wounds are a major source of morbidity in patients with diabetes and place a heavy financial burden on the healthcare system. Growth factor therapies are an attractive strategy for enhancing wound closure in non-healing wounds but have only achieved mixed results in clinical trials. Platelet derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) is the only currently approved growth factor therapy for non-healing wounds. However, PDGF-BB therapy is not effective in many patients and requires high doses that increase the potential for side effects. In this work, we demonstrate that syndecan-4 delivered in a proteoliposomal formulation enhances PDGF-BB activity in diabetic wound healing. In particular, syndecan-4 proteoliposomes enhance the migration of keratinocytes derived from patients with diabetes. In addition, syndecan-4 proteoliposomes sensitize keratinocytes to PDGF-BB stimulation, enhancing the intracellular signaling response to PDGF-BB. We further demonstrated that co-therapy with syndecan-4 proteoliposomes enhanced wound closure in diabetic, hyperlipidemic ob/ob mice. Wounds treated with both syndecan-4 proteoliposomes and PDGF-BB had increased re-epithelization and angiogenesis in comparison to wounds treated with PDGF-BB alone. Moreover, the wounds treated with syndecan-4 proteoliposomes and PDGF-BB also had increased M2 macrophages and reduced M1 macrophages, suggesting syndecan-4 delivery induces immunomodulation within the healing wounds. Together our findings support that syndecan-4 proteoliposomes markedly improve PDGF-BB efficacy for wound healing and may be useful in enhancing treatments for non-healing wounds. Non-healing wounds are major healthcare issue for patients with diabetes and peripheral vascular disease. Growth factor therapies have potential for healing chronic wounds but have not been effective for many patients. PDGF-BB is currently the only approved growth factor for enhancing wound healing. However, it has not seen widespread adoption due to limited efficacy and high cost. In this work, we have developed an enhancing agent that improves the activity of PDGF-BB in promoting wound healing in animals with diabetes. This co-therapy may be useful in improving the efficacy of PDGFBB and enhance its safety through lowering the dose of growth factor needed to improve wound healing. Copyright © 2016 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Can self-verification strivings fully transcend the self-other barrier? Seeking verification of ingroup identities.

PubMed

Gómez, Angel; Seyle, D Conor; Huici, Carmen; Swann, William B

2009-12-01

Recent research has demonstrated self-verification strivings in groups, such that people strive to verify collective identities, which are personal self-views (e.g., "sensitive") associated with group membership (e.g., "women"). Such demonstrations stop short of showing that the desire for self-verification can fully transcend the self-other barrier, as in people working to verify ingroup identities (e.g., "Americans are loud") even when such identities are not self-descriptive ("I am quiet and unassuming"). Five studies focus on such ingroup verification strivings. Results indicate that people prefer to interact with individuals who verify their ingroup identities over those who enhance these identities (Experiments 1-5). Strivings for ingroup identity verification were independent of the extent to which the identities were self-descriptive but were stronger among participants who were highly invested in their ingroup identities, as reflected in high certainty of these identities (Experiments 1-4) and high identification with the group (Experiments 1-5). In addition, whereas past demonstrations of self-verification strivings have been limited to efforts to verify the content of identities (Experiments 1 to 3), the findings also show that they strive to verify the valence of their identities (i.e., the extent to which the identities are valued; Experiments 4 and 5). Self-verification strivings, rather than self-enhancement strivings, appeared to motivate participants' strivings for ingroup identity verification. Links to collective self-verification strivings and social identity theory are discussed.

Late-Transition-Metal-Modified β-Mo 2C Catalysts for Enhanced Hydrogenation during Guaiacol Deoxygenation

DOE PAGES

Baddour, Frederick G.; Witte, Vanessa A.; Nash, Connor P.; ...

2017-10-26

Molybdenum carbide has been identified as a promising bifunctional catalyst in the deoxygenation of a variety of pyrolysis vapor model compounds. Although high deoxygenation activity has been demonstrated, complementary hydrogenation activity has been limited, especially for lignin-derived, aromatic model compounds. The ability to control the relative site densities of acidic and hydrogenation functionalities represents a catalyst design challenge for these materials with the goal to improve hydrogenation activity under ex situ catalytic fast pyrolysis (CFP) conditions. Here in this paper, we demonstrate that the addition of Pt and Ni to Mo 2C resulted in an increase in the H*-site densitymore » with only a minor decrease in the acid-site density. In contrast, the addition of Pd did not significantly alter the H* or acid site densities. High conversions (>94%) and high selectivities to 0-oxygen products (>80%) were observed in guaiacol deoxygenation under ex situ CFP conditions (350 °C and 0.44 MPa H 2) for all catalysts. Pt addition resulted in the greatest deoxygenation, and site-time yields to hydrogenated products over the Pt/Mo 2C catalyst were increased to 0.048 s -1 compared to 0.015-0.019 s -1 for all other catalysts. The Pt/Mo 2C catalyst demonstrated the highest hydrogenation performance, but modification with Ni also significantly enhanced hydrogenation performance, representing a promising lower-cost alternative.« less

Late-Transition-Metal-Modified β-Mo 2C Catalysts for Enhanced Hydrogenation during Guaiacol Deoxygenation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Baddour, Frederick G.; Witte, Vanessa A.; Nash, Connor P.

Molybdenum carbide has been identified as a promising bifunctional catalyst in the deoxygenation of a variety of pyrolysis vapor model compounds. Although high deoxygenation activity has been demonstrated, complementary hydrogenation activity has been limited, especially for lignin-derived, aromatic model compounds. The ability to control the relative site densities of acidic and hydrogenation functionalities represents a catalyst design challenge for these materials with the goal to improve hydrogenation activity under ex situ catalytic fast pyrolysis (CFP) conditions. Here in this paper, we demonstrate that the addition of Pt and Ni to Mo 2C resulted in an increase in the H*-site densitymore » with only a minor decrease in the acid-site density. In contrast, the addition of Pd did not significantly alter the H* or acid site densities. High conversions (>94%) and high selectivities to 0-oxygen products (>80%) were observed in guaiacol deoxygenation under ex situ CFP conditions (350 °C and 0.44 MPa H 2) for all catalysts. Pt addition resulted in the greatest deoxygenation, and site-time yields to hydrogenated products over the Pt/Mo 2C catalyst were increased to 0.048 s -1 compared to 0.015-0.019 s -1 for all other catalysts. The Pt/Mo 2C catalyst demonstrated the highest hydrogenation performance, but modification with Ni also significantly enhanced hydrogenation performance, representing a promising lower-cost alternative.« less

Highly efficient phosphor-converted white organic light-emitting diodes with moderate microcavity and light-recycling filters.

PubMed

Cho, Sang-Hwan; Oh, Jeong Rok; Park, Hoo Keun; Kim, Hyoung Kun; Lee, Yong-Hee; Lee, Jae-Gab; Do, Young Rag

2010-01-18

We demonstrate the combined effects of a microcavity structure and light-recycling filters (LRFs) on the forward electrical efficiency of phosphor-converted white organic light-emitting diodes (pc-WOLEDs). The introduction of a single pair of low- and high-index layers (SiO(2)/TiO(2)) improves the blue emission from blue OLED and the insertion of blue-passing and yellow-reflecting LRFs enhances the forward yellow emission from the YAG:Ce(3+) phosphors layers. The enhancement of the luminous efficacy of the forward white emission is 1.92 times that of a conventional pc-WOLED with color coordinates of (0.34, 0.34) and a correlated color temperature of about 4800 K.

Principle, system, and applications of tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, MingQian; Wang, Rui; Wu, XiaoBin; Wang, Jia

2012-08-01

Raman spectroscopy is a powerful technique in chemical information characterization. However, this spectral method is subject to two obstacles in nano-material detection. One is diffraction limited spatial resolution, and the other is its inherent small Raman cross section and weak signaling. To resolve these problems, a new approach has been developed, denoted as tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS). TERS is capable of high-resolution and high-sensitivity detection and demonstrated to be a promising spectroscopic and micro-topographic method to characterize nano-materials and nanostructures. In this paper, the principle and experimental system of TERS are discussed. The latest application of TERS in molecule detection, biological specimen identification, nanao-material characterization, and semi-conductor material determination with some specific experimental examples are presented.

Enhanced light extraction in tunnel junction-enabled top emitting UV LEDs

DOE PAGES

Zhang, Yuewei; Allerman, Andrew A.; Krishnamoorthy, Sriram; ...

2016-04-11

The efficiency of ultra violet LEDs has been critically limited by the absorption losses in p-type and metal layers. In this work, surface roughening based light extraction structures are combined with tunneling based p-contacts to realize highly efficient top-side light extraction efficiency in UV LEDs. Surface roughening of the top n-type AlGaN contact layer is demonstrated using self-assembled Ni nano-clusters as etch mask. The top surface roughened LEDs were found to enhance external quantum efficiency by over 40% for UV LEDs with a peak emission wavelength of 326 nm. The method described here can enable highly efficient UV LEDs withoutmore » the need for complex manufacturing methods such as flip chip bonding.« less

Facile synthesis of gold coated copper(II) hydroxide pine-needle-like micro/nanostructures for surface-enhanced Raman scattering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Long, Kailin; Du, Deyang; Luo, Xiaoguang; Zhao, Weiwei; Wu, Zhangting; Si, Lifang; Qiu, Teng

2014-08-01

This work reports a facile method to fabricate gold coated copper(II) hydroxide pine-needle-like micro/nanostructures for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) application. The effects of reaction parameters on the shape, size and surface morphology of the products are systematically investigated. The as-prepared 3D hierarchical structures have the advantage of a large surface area available for the formation of hot spots and the adsorption of target analytes, thus dramatically improving the Raman signals. The finite difference time domain calculations indicate that the pine-needle-like model pattern may demonstrate a high quality SERS property owing to the high density and abundant hot spot characteristic in closely spaced needle-like arms.

Enhanced x-ray imaging for a thin film cochlear implant with metal artefacts using phase retrieval tomography

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Arhatari, B. D.; ARC Centre of Excellence for Coherent X-ray Science, Melbourne; Harris, A. R.

Phase retrieval tomography has been successfully used to enhance imaging in systems that exhibit poor absorption contrast. However, when highly absorbing regions are present in a sample, so-called metal artefacts can appear in the tomographic reconstruction. We demonstrate that straightforward approaches for metal artefact reconstruction, developed in absorption contrast tomography, can be applied when using phase retrieval. Using a prototype thin film cochlear implant that has high and low absorption components made from iridium (or platinum) and plastic, respectively, we show that segmentation of the various components is possible and hence measurement of the electrode geometry and relative location tomore » other regions of interest can be achieved.« less

Visible continuum pulses based on enhanced dispersive wave generation for endogenous fluorescence imaging.

PubMed

Cui, Quan; Chen, Zhongyun; Liu, Qian; Zhang, Zhihong; Luo, Qingming; Fu, Ling

2017-09-01

In this study, we demonstrate endogenous fluorescence imaging using visible continuum pulses based on 100-fs Ti:sapphire oscillator and a nonlinear photonic crystal fiber. Broadband (500-700 nm) and high-power (150 mW) continuum pulses are generated through enhanced dispersive wave generation by pumping femtosecond pulses at the anomalous dispersion region near zero-dispersion wavelength of high-nonlinear photonic crystal fibers. We also minimize the continuum pulse width by determining the proper fiber length. The visible-wavelength two-photon microscopy produces NADH and tryptophan images of mice tissues simultaneously. Our 500-700 nm continuum pulses support extending nonlinear microscopy to visible wavelength range that is inaccessible to 100-fs Ti:sapphire oscillators and other applications requiring visible laser pulses.

Enhancing electron transport in molecular wires by insertion of a ferrocene center.

PubMed

Sun, Yan-Yan; Peng, Zheng-Lian; Hou, Rong; Liang, Jing-Hong; Zheng, Ju-Fang; Zhou, Xiao-Yi; Zhou, Xiao-Shun; Jin, Shan; Niu, Zhen-Jiang; Mao, Bing-Wei

2014-02-14

We have determined the conductance of alkane-linked ferrocene molecules with carboxylic acid anchoring groups using the STM break junction technique, and three sets of conductance values were found, i.e. high conductance (HC), medium conductance (MC) and low conductance (LC) values. The enhancing effect of the incorporated ferrocene on the electron transport in saturated alkane molecular wires is demonstrated by the increased conductance of the ferrocene molecules, attributed to the reduction of the tunneling barrier and the HOMO-LUMO gap induced by the insertion of ferrocene. Furthermore, the electron-withdrawing carbonyl group on the unconjugated backbone has little or no influence on single-molecule conductance. The current work provides a feasible approach for the design of high-performance molecular wires.

Improving mathematics teaching and learning experiences for hard of hearing students with wireless technology-enhanced classrooms.

PubMed

Liu, Chen-Chung; Chou, Chien-Chia; Liu, Baw-Jhiune; Yang, Jui-Wen

2006-01-01

Hard of hearing students usually face more difficulties at school than other students. A classroom environment with wireless technology was implemented to explore whether wireless technology could enhance mathematics learning and teaching activities for a hearing teacher and her 7 hard of hearing students in a Taiwan junior high school. Experiments showed that the highly interactive communication through the wireless network increased student participation in learning activities. Students demonstrated more responses to the teacher and fewer distraction behaviors. Fewer mistakes were made in in-class course work because Tablet PCs provided students scaffolds. Students stated that the environment with wireless technology was desirable and said that they hoped to continue using the environment to learn mathematics.

Carbon-Based Nanostructures as Advanced Contrast Agents for Magnetic Resonance Imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ananta Narayanan, Jeyarama S.

2011-12-01

Superparamagnetic carbon-based nanostructures are presented as contrast agents (CAs) for advanced imaging applications such as cellular and molecular imaging using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Gadolinium-loaded, ultra-short single-walled carbon nanotubes (gadonanotubes; GNTs) are shown to have extremely high r1 relaxivities (contrast enhancement efficacy), especially at low-magnetic field strengths. The inherent lipophilicity of GNTs provides them the ability to image cells at low magnetic field strength. A carboxylated dextran-coated GNT (GadoDex) has been synthesized and proposed as a new biocompatible high-performance MRI CA. The r1 relaxivity is ca. 20 times greater than for other paramagnetic Gd-based CAs. This enhanced relaxivity for GadoDex is due to the synergistic effects of an increased molecular tumbling time (tauR) and a faster proton exchange rate (taum). GNTs also exhibit very large transverse relaxivities (r2) at high magnetic fields (≥ 3 T). The dependence of the transverse relaxation rates (especially R2*) of labeled cells on GNT concentration offers the possibility to quantify cell population in vivo using R2* mapping. The cell-labeling efficiency and high transverse relaxivities of GNTs has enabled the first non-iron oxide-based single-cell imaging using MRI. The residual metal catalyst particles of SWNT materials also have transverse relaxation properties. All of the SWNT materials exhibit superior transverse relaxation properties. However, purified SWNTs and US-tubes with less residual metal content exhibit better transverse relaxivities (r2), demonstrating the importance of the SWNT structure for enhanced MRI CA performance. A strategy to improve the r1 relaxivity of Gd-CAs by geometrically confining them within porous silicon particles (SiMPs) has been investigated. The enhancement in relaxivity is attributed to the slow diffusion of water molecules through the pores and the increase in the molecular tumbling time of the nanoconstruct. The universality of the strategy has been demonstrated for GNTs, gadofullerols and clinically-used MagnevistRTM. In summary, primary nanoscale confinement of Gd3+ ions in US-tubes has resulted in a new class of CAs which could revitalize low-field contrast-enhanced MRI, while extending and complementing current high-field MRI technology, as well. The observed boost in relaxivity upon a secondary nanoscale confinement of Gd-CAs within SiMPs suggests that additional unforeseen nanoscale effects may have the potential to further boost performance of MRI CAs.

Enhanced light absorption by mixed source black and brown carbon particles in UK winter

PubMed Central

Liu, Shang; Aiken, Allison C.; Gorkowski, Kyle; Dubey, Manvendra K.; Cappa, Christopher D.; Williams, Leah R.; Herndon, Scott C.; Massoli, Paola; Fortner, Edward C.; Chhabra, Puneet S.; Brooks, William A.; Onasch, Timothy B.; Jayne, John T.; Worsnop, Douglas R.; China, Swarup; Sharma, Noopur; Mazzoleni, Claudio; Xu, Lu; Ng, Nga L.; Liu, Dantong; Allan, James D.; Lee, James D.; Fleming, Zoë L.; Mohr, Claudia; Zotter, Peter; Szidat, Sönke; Prévôt, André S. H.

2015-01-01

Black carbon (BC) and light-absorbing organic carbon (brown carbon, BrC) play key roles in warming the atmosphere, but the magnitude of their effects remains highly uncertain. Theoretical modelling and laboratory experiments demonstrate that coatings on BC can enhance BC's light absorption, therefore many climate models simply assume enhanced BC absorption by a factor of ∼1.5. However, recent field observations show negligible absorption enhancement, implying models may overestimate BC's warming. Here we report direct evidence of substantial field-measured BC absorption enhancement, with the magnitude strongly depending on BC coating amount. Increases in BC coating result from a combination of changing sources and photochemical aging processes. When the influence of BrC is accounted for, observationally constrained model calculations of the BC absorption enhancement can be reconciled with the observations. We conclude that the influence of coatings on BC absorption should be treated as a source and regionally specific parameter in climate models. PMID:26419204

Changes in blood glucose and salivary cortisol are not necessary for arousal to enhance memory in young or older adults.

PubMed

Gore, Jane B; Krebs, Desiree L; Parent, Marise B

2006-06-01

Emotional arousal enhances memory, and this memory-enhancing effect may involve neurochemicals released by arousal, such as glucose and cortisol. Physiological consequences of arousal change with age, and these changes may contribute to age-related memory decline. The present study examined whether emotionally arousing pictures would affect glucose and cortisol levels and enhance memory in young and older adults. Blood glucose and salivary cortisol were measured once before and six times after young and old adults viewed either 60 highly arousing or 60 relatively neutral pictures. Recall for the stimuli was measured 75 min later. The results indicated that recall was impaired in older adults. Arousal as measured by self-report enhanced recall in both young and older adults. However, arousal did not affect glucose or cortisol levels in either group. These findings demonstrate that changes in blood glucose or salivary cortisol levels are not necessary for arousal to enhance memory.

Progressive Loss of Function in a Limb Enhancer during Snake Evolution.

PubMed

Kvon, Evgeny Z; Kamneva, Olga K; Melo, Uirá S; Barozzi, Iros; Osterwalder, Marco; Mannion, Brandon J; Tissières, Virginie; Pickle, Catherine S; Plajzer-Frick, Ingrid; Lee, Elizabeth A; Kato, Momoe; Garvin, Tyler H; Akiyama, Jennifer A; Afzal, Veena; Lopez-Rios, Javier; Rubin, Edward M; Dickel, Diane E; Pennacchio, Len A; Visel, Axel

2016-10-20

The evolution of body shape is thought to be tightly coupled to changes in regulatory sequences, but specific molecular events associated with major morphological transitions in vertebrates have remained elusive. We identified snake-specific sequence changes within an otherwise highly conserved long-range limb enhancer of Sonic hedgehog (Shh). Transgenic mouse reporter assays revealed that the in vivo activity pattern of the enhancer is conserved across a wide range of vertebrates, including fish, but not in snakes. Genomic substitution of the mouse enhancer with its human or fish ortholog results in normal limb development. In contrast, replacement with snake orthologs caused severe limb reduction. Synthetic restoration of a single transcription factor binding site lost in the snake lineage reinstated full in vivo function to the snake enhancer. Our results demonstrate changes in a regulatory sequence associated with a major body plan transition and highlight the role of enhancers in morphological evolution. PAPERCLIP. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Enhanced light absorption by mixed source black and brown carbon particles in UK winter

DOE PAGES

Liu, Shang; Aiken, Allison C.; Gorkowski, Kyle; ...

2015-09-30

We report that black carbon (BC) and light-absorbing organic carbon (brown carbon, BrC) play key roles in warming the atmosphere, but the magnitude of their effects remains highly uncertain. Theoretical modelling and laboratory experiments demonstrate that coatings on BC can enhance BC’s light absorption, therefore many climate models simply assume enhanced BC absorption by a factor of ~1.5. However, recent field observations show negligible absorption enhancement, implying models may overestimate BC’s warming. Here we report direct evidence of substantial field-measured BC absorption enhancement, with the magnitude strongly depending on BC coating amount. Increases in BC coating result from a combinationmore » of changing sources and photochemical aging processes. When the influence of BrC is accounted for, observationally constrained model calculations of the BC absorption enhancement can be reconciled with the observations. In conclusion, we find that the influence of coatings on BC absorption should be treated as a source and regionally specific parameter in climate models.« less

Sensitive Detection of Biomolecules by Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering using Plant Leaves as Natural Substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharma, Vipul; Krishnan, Venkata

2017-03-01

Detection of biomolecules is highly important for biomedical and other biological applications. Although several methods exist for the detection of biomolecules, surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has a unique role in greatly enhancing the sensitivity. In this work, we have demonstrated the use of natural plant leaves as facile, low cost and eco-friendly SERS substrates for the sensitive detection of biomolecules. Specifically, we have investigated the influence of surface topography of five different plant leaf based substrates, deposited with Au, on the SERS performance by using L-cysteine as a model biomolecule. In addition, we have also compared the effect of sputter deposition of Au thin film with dropcast deposition of Au nanoparticles on the leaf substrates. Our results indicate that L-cysteine could be detected with high sensitivity using these plant leaf based substrates and the leaf possessing hierarchical micro/nanostructures on its surface shows higher SERS enhancement compared to a leaf having a nearplanar surface. Furthermore, leaves with drop-casted Au nanoparticle clusters performed better than the leaves sputter deposited with a thin Au film.

High-order harmonic generation driven by inhomogeneous plasmonics fields spatially bounded: influence on the cut-off law

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Neyra, E.; Videla, F.; Ciappina, M. F.; Pérez-Hernández, J. A.; Roso, L.; Lewenstein, M.; Torchia, G. A.

2018-03-01

We study high-order harmonic generation (HHG) in model atoms driven by plasmonic-enhanced fields. These fields result from the illumination of plasmonic nanostructures by few-cycle laser pulses. We demonstrate that the spatial inhomogeneous character of the laser electric field, in a form of Gaussian-shaped functions, leads to an unexpected relationship between the HHG cutoff and the laser wavelength. Precise description of the spatial form of the plasmonic-enhanced field allows us to predict this relationship. We combine the numerical solutions of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation (TDSE) with the plasmonic-enhanced electric fields obtained from 3D finite element simulations. We additionally employ classical simulations to supplement the TDSE outcomes and characterize the extended HHG spectra by means of their associated electron trajectories. A proper definition of the spatially inhomogeneous laser electric field is instrumental to accurately describe the underlying physics of HHG driven by plasmonic-enhanced fields. This characterization opens up new perspectives for HHG control with various experimental nano-setups.

Chemicals to enhance microalgal growth and accumulation of high-value bioproducts

PubMed Central

Yu, Xinheng; Chen, Lei; Zhang, Weiwen

2015-01-01

Photosynthetic microalgae have attracted significant attention as they can serve as important sources for cosmetic, food and pharmaceutical products, industrial materials and even biofuel biodiesels. However, current productivity of microalga-based processes is still very low, which has restricted their scale-up application. In addition to various efforts in strain improvement and cultivation optimization, it was proposed that the productivity of microalga-based processes can also be increased using various chemicals to trigger or enhance cell growth and accumulation of bioproducts. Herein, we summarized recent progresses in applying chemical triggers or enhancers to improve cell growth and accumulation of bioproducts in algal cultures. Based on their enhancing mechanisms, these chemicals can be classified into four categories:chemicals regulating biosynthetic pathways, chemicals inducing oxidative stress responses, phytohormones and analogs regulating multiple aspects of microalgal metabolism, and chemicals directly as metabolic precursors. Taken together, the early researches demonstrated that the use of chemical stimulants could be a very effective and economical way to improve cell growth and accumulation of high-value bioproducts in large-scale cultivation of microalgae. PMID:25741321

Distributed Optical Fiber Sensors with Ultrafast Laser Enhanced Rayleigh Backscattering Profiles for Real-Time Monitoring of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Operations.

PubMed

Yan, Aidong; Huang, Sheng; Li, Shuo; Chen, Rongzhang; Ohodnicki, Paul; Buric, Michael; Lee, Shiwoo; Li, Ming-Jun; Chen, Kevin P

2017-08-24

This paper reports a technique to enhance the magnitude and high-temperature stability of Rayleigh back-scattering signals in silica fibers for distributed sensing applications. With femtosecond laser radiation, more than 40-dB enhancement of Rayleigh backscattering signal was generated in silica fibers using 300-nJ laser pulses at 250 kHz repetition rate. The laser-induced Rayleigh scattering defects were found to be stable from the room temperature to 800 °C in hydrogen gas. The Rayleigh scatter at high temperatures was correlated to the formation and modification of nanogratings in the fiber core. Using optical fibers with enhanced Rayleigh backscattering profiles as distributed temperature sensors, we demonstrated real-time monitoring of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) operations with 5-mm spatial resolution at 800 °C. Information gathered by these fiber sensor tools can be used to verify simulation results or operated in a process-control system to improve the operational efficiency and longevity of SOFC-based energy generation systems.

Simultaneously Enhancing Light Emission and Suppressing Efficiency Droop in GaN Microwire-Based Ultraviolet Light-Emitting Diode by the Piezo-Phototronic Effect.

PubMed

Wang, Xingfu; Peng, Wenbo; Yu, Ruomeng; Zou, Haiyang; Dai, Yejing; Zi, Yunlong; Wu, Changsheng; Li, Shuti; Wang, Zhong Lin

2017-06-14

Achievement of p-n homojuncted GaN enables the birth of III-nitride light emitters. Owing to the wurtzite-structure of GaN, piezoelectric polarization charges present at the interface can effectively control/tune the optoelectric behaviors of local charge-carriers (i.e., the piezo-phototronic effect). Here, we demonstrate the significantly enhanced light-output efficiency and suppressed efficiency droop in GaN microwire (MW)-based p-n junction ultraviolet light-emitting diode (UV LED) by the piezo-phototronic effect. By applying a -0.12% static compressive strain perpendicular to the p-n junction interface, the relative external quantum efficiency of the LED is enhanced by over 600%. Furthermore, efficiency droop is markedly reduced from 46.6% to 7.5% and corresponding droop onset current density shifts from 10 to 26.7 A cm -2 . Enhanced electrons confinement and improved holes injection efficiency by the piezo-phototronic effect are revealed and theoretically confirmed as the physical mechanisms. This study offers an unconventional path to develop high efficiency, strong brightness and high power III-nitride light sources.

Enhancing superconducting critical current by randomness

DOE PAGES

Wang, Y. L.; Thoutam, L. R.; Xiao, Z. L.; ...

2016-01-11

The key ingredient of high critical currents in a type-II superconductor is defect sites that pin vortices. Here, we demonstrate that a random pinscape, an overlooked pinning system in nanopatterned superconductors, can lead to a substantially larger critical current enhancement at high magnetic fields than an ordered array of vortex pin sites. We reveal that the better performance of a random pinscape is due to the variation of the local density of its pinning sites, which mitigates the motion of vortices. This is confirmed by achieving even higher enhancement of the critical current through a conformally mapped random pinscape, wheremore » the distribution of the local density of pinning sites is further enlarged. Our findings highlight the potential of random pinscapes in enhancing the superconducting critical currents of applied superconductors in which random pin sites of nanoscale defects emerging in the materials synthesis process or through ex-situ irradiation are the only practical choice for large-scale production. Our results may also stimulate research on effects of a random pinscape in other complementary systems such as colloidal crystals, Bose-Einstein condensates, and Luttinger liquids.« less

Solar-blind-ultraviolet extraordinary transmission for ultrasensitive photoconductive detector based on plasmonic subwavelength interdigital electrodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peng, Nan; Huang, Feng; Chu, Sheng; Chen, Hao

2016-12-01

The solar-blind-ultraviolet (SBUV) detection industry demands high sensitivity as well as easy processability for its semiconductor devices. Photoconductive detectors have the simplest structure. However, the electrodes covering the illuminated side cause optical shielding losses, resulting in a relatively low sensitivity of such devices. Through finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulation, we demonstrated that surface-plasmon-based enhanced SBUV transmission is achievable for Al interdigital electrodes (IDEs) with a period  ⩽200 nm and an interval  ⩾140 nm. Under this parameter setting, a larger interval and smaller period leads to further enhancement of SBUV transmission. Particularly, we have found that different possible dielectric environments, such as Ni insertion, Al oxidization, and MgF2 anti-oxidation, would not exert fatal effects on this enhancement. Besides, such an enhancement is maintained under the angle of incidence within 10°, which is large enough for practical SBUV detection. Our research reveals the feasibility of high sensitivity by a simple photoconductive device, showing profound significance for an applicable SBUV detector.

EXPRESSION OF INDUCIBLE HSP70 ENHANCES THE PROLIFERATION OF MCF-7 BREAST CANCER CELLS AND PROTECTS AGAINST THE CYTOTOXIC EFFECTS OF HYPERTHERMIA

EPA Science Inventory

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are ubiquitous proteins that are induced following exposure to sub-lethal heat shock, are highly conserved during evolution and protect cells from damage through their function as molecular chaperones. Some cancers demonstrate elevated levels of Hsp70 ...

Enhancing MPLS Protection Method with Adaptive Segment Repair

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Chin-Ling

We propose a novel adaptive segment repair mechanism to improve traditional MPLS (Multi-Protocol Label Switching) failure recovery. The proposed mechanism protects one or more contiguous high failure probability links by dynamic setup of segment protection. Simulations demonstrate that the proposed mechanism reduces failure recovery time while also increasing network resource utilization.

Flexible shrink-induced high surface area electrodes for electrochemiluminescent sensing.

PubMed

Pegan, Jonathan D; Ho, Adrienne Y; Bachman, Mark; Khine, Michelle

2013-11-07

Photolithographically defined metallic thin film on commodity shrink-wrap is leveraged to create robust electrodes. By thermally shrinking the film, electrodes are reduced by 20× in footprint for improved resolution and conductivity with >600% enhancements in electrochemically active surface area; as electrochemiluminescent sensors, they demonstrate improved limits of detection.

76 FR 53902 - Agency Information Collection Request. 30-Day Public Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-08-30

... performance of the agency's functions; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (3) ways to enhance the... Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are working collaboratively to address the high pregnancy rate of women between the ages of 15-19 by demonstrating the effectiveness of...

The Impact of Principal Leadership Behaviors on the Efficacy of New and Experienced Middle School Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Walker, Jeffrey A.

2009-01-01

This study investigated characteristics and behaviors of middle school principals that enhance the efficacy of new and experienced middle school teachers. Existing research has established a positive relationship between high levels of teacher efficacy and increased student achievement. Prior research has also demonstrated a positive link between…

An Interview Reflection on "Intelligent Tutoring Goes to School in the Big City"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Koedinger, Kenneth R.; Aleven, Vincent

2016-01-01

Our 1997 article in "IJAIED" reported on a study that showed that a new algebra curriculum with an embedded intelligent tutoring system (the Algebra Cognitive Tutor) dramatically enhanced high-school students' learning. The main motivation for the study was to demonstrate that intelligent tutors that have cognitive science research…

Enhancing photovoltaic output power by 3-band spectrum-splitting and concentration using a diffractive micro-optic

DOE PAGES

Mohammad, Nabil; Wang, Peng; Friedman, Daniel J.; ...

2014-09-17

We report the enhancement of photovoltaic output power by separating the incident spectrum into 3 bands, and concentrating these bands onto 3 different photovoltaic cells. The spectrum-splitting and concentration is achieved via a thin, planar micro-optical element that demonstrates high optical efficiency over the entire spectrum of interest. The optic (which we call a polychromat) was designed using a modified version of the direct-binary-search algorithm. The polychromat was fabricated using grayscale lithography. Rigorous optical characterization demonstrates excellent agreement with simulation results. Electrical characterization of the solar cells made from GaInP, GaAs and Si indicate increase in the peak output powermore » density of 43.63%, 30.84% and 30.86%, respectively when compared to normal operation without the polychromat. This represents an overall increase of 35.52% in output power density. As a result, the potential for cost-effective large-area manufacturing and for high system efficiencies makes our approach a strong candidate for low cost solar power.« less

Enhancing immunogenicity and transmission-blocking activity of malaria vaccines by fusing Pfs25 to IMX313 multimerization technology.

PubMed

Li, Yuanyuan; Leneghan, Darren B; Miura, Kazutoyo; Nikolaeva, Daria; Brian, Iona J; Dicks, Matthew D J; Fyfe, Alex J; Zakutansky, Sarah E; de Cassan, Simone; Long, Carole A; Draper, Simon J; Hill, Adrian V S; Hill, Fergal; Biswas, Sumi

2016-01-08

Transmission-blocking vaccines (TBV) target the sexual-stages of the malaria parasite in the mosquito midgut and are widely considered to be an essential tool for malaria elimination. High-titer functional antibodies are required against target antigens to achieve effective transmission-blocking activity. We have fused Pfs25, the leading malaria TBV candidate antigen to IMX313, a molecular adjuvant and expressed it both in ChAd63 and MVA viral vectors and as a secreted protein-nanoparticle. Pfs25-IMX313 expressed from viral vectors or as a protein-nanoparticle is significantly more immunogenic and gives significantly better transmission-reducing activity than monomeric Pfs25. In addition, we demonstrate that the Pfs25-IMX313 protein-nanoparticle leads to a qualitatively improved antibody response in comparison to soluble Pfs25, as well as to significantly higher germinal centre (GC) responses. These results demonstrate that antigen multimerization using IMX313 is a very promising strategy to enhance antibody responses against Pfs25, and that Pfs25-IMX313 is a highly promising TBV candidate vaccine.

Enhanced Flux and Electrochemical Cleaning of Silicate Scaling on Carbon Nanotube-Coated Membrane Distillation Membranes Treating Geothermal Brines.

PubMed

Tang, Li; Iddya, Arpita; Zhu, Xiaobo; Dudchenko, Alexander V; Duan, Wenyan; Turchi, Craig; Vanneste, Johann; Cath, Tzahi Y; Jassby, David

2017-11-08

The desalination of inland brackish groundwater offers the opportunity to provide potable drinking water to residents and industrial cooling water to industries located in arid regions. Geothermal brines are used to generate electricity, but often contain high concentrations of dissolved salt. Here, we demonstrate how the residual heat left in spent geothermal brines can be used to drive a membrane distillation (MD) process and recover desalinated water. Porous polypropylene membranes were coated with a carbon nanotube (CNT)/poly(vinyl alcohol) layer, resulting in composite membranes having a binary structure that combines the hydrophobic properties critical for MD with the hydrophilic and conductive properties of the CNTs. We demonstrate that the addition of the CNT layer increases membrane flux due to enhanced heat transport from the bulk feed to the membrane surface, a result of CNT's high thermal transport properties. Furthermore, we show how hydroxide ion generation, driven by water electrolysis on the electrically conducting membrane surface, can be used to efficiently dissolve silicate scaling that developed during the process of desalinating the geothermal brine, negating the need for chemical cleaning.

Phase-Separated Polyaniline/Graphene Composite Electrodes for High-Rate Electrochemical Supercapacitors.

PubMed

Wu, Jifeng; Zhang, Qin'e; Zhou, An'an; Huang, Zhifeng; Bai, Hua; Li, Lei

2016-12-01

Polyaniline/graphene hydrogel composites with a macroscopically phase-separated structure are prepared. The composites show high specific capacitance and excellent rate performance. Further investigation demonstrates that polyaniline inside the graphene hydrogel has low rate performance, thus a phase-separated structure, in which polyaniline is mainly outside the graphene hydrogel matrix, can enhance the rate performance of the composites. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Mammographic enhancement with combining local statistical measures and sliding band filter for improved mass segmentation in mammograms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Dae Hoe; Choi, Jae Young; Choi, Seon Hyeong; Ro, Yong Man

2012-03-01

In this study, a novel mammogram enhancement solution is proposed, aiming to improve the quality of subsequent mass segmentation in mammograms. It has been widely accepted that characteristics of masses are usually hyper-dense or uniform density with respect to its background. Also, their core parts are likely to have high-intensity values while the values of intensity tend to be decreased as the distance to core parts increases. Based on the aforementioned observations, we develop a new and effective mammogram enhancement method by combining local statistical measurements and Sliding Band Filtering (SBF). By effectively combining local statistical measurements and SBF, we are able to improve the contrast of the bright and smooth regions (which represent potential mass regions), as well as, at the same time, the regions where their surrounding gradients are converging to the centers of regions of interest. In this study, 89 mammograms were collected from the public MAIS database (DB) to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed enhancement solution in terms of improving mass segmentation. As for a segmentation method, widely used contour-based segmentation approach was employed. The contour-based method in conjunction with the proposed enhancement solution achieved overall detection accuracy of 92.4% with a total of 85 correct cases. On the other hand, without using our enhancement solution, overall detection accuracy of the contour-based method was only 78.3%. In addition, experimental results demonstrated the feasibility of our enhancement solution for the purpose of improving detection accuracy on mammograms containing dense parenchymal patterns.

Alkylamine capped metal nanoparticle "inks" for printable SERS substrates, electronics and broadband photodetectors.

PubMed

Polavarapu, Lakshminarayana; Manga, Kiran Kumar; Yu, Kuai; Ang, Priscilla Kailian; Cao, Hanh Duyen; Balapanuru, Janardhan; Loh, Kian Ping; Xu, Qing-Hua

2011-05-01

We report a facile and general method for the preparation of alkylamine capped metal (Au and Ag) nanoparticle "ink" with high solubility. Using these metal nanoparticle "inks", we have demonstrated their applications for large scale fabrication of highly efficient surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates by a facile solution processing method. These SERS substrates can detect analytes down to a few nM. The flexible plastic SERS substrates have also been demonstrated. The annealing temperature dependent conductivity of the nanoparticle films indicated a transition temperature above which high conductivity was achieved. The transition temperature could be tailored to the plastic compatible temperatures by using proper alkylamine as the capping agent. The ultrafast electron relaxation studies of the nanoparticle films demonstrated that faster electron relaxation was observed at higher annealing temperatures due to stronger electronic coupling between the nanoparticles. The applications of these highly concentrated alkylamine capped metal nanoparticle inks for the printable electronics were demonstrated by printing the oleylamine capped gold nanoparticles ink as source and drain for the graphene field effect transistor. Furthermore, the broadband photoresponse properties of the Au and Ag nanoparticle films have been demonstrated by using visible and near-infrared lasers. These investigations demonstrate that these nanoparticle "inks" are promising for applications in printable SERS substrates, electronics, and broadband photoresponse devices. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2011

High Electrochemical Sensitivity of TiO2- x Nanosheets and an Electron-Induced Mutual Interference Effect toward Heavy Metal Ions Demonstrated Using X-ray Absorption Fine Structure Spectra.

PubMed

Zhou, Wen-Yi; Li, Shan-Shan; Song, Jie-Yao; Jiang, Min; Jiang, Tian-Jia; Liu, Jin-Yun; Liu, Jin-Huai; Huang, Xing-Jiu

2018-04-03

Mutual interference is a severe issue that occurs during the electrochemical detection of heavy metal ions. This limitation presents a notable drawback for its high sensitivity to specific targets. Here, we present a high electrochemical sensitivity of ∼237.1 μA cm -2 μM -1 toward copper(II) [Cu(II)] based on oxygen-deficient titanium dioxide (TiO 2- x ) nanosheets. We fully demonstrated an atomic-level relationship between electrochemical behaviors and the key factors, including the high-energy (001) facet percentage, oxygen vacancy concentration, surface -OH content, and charge carrier density, is fully demonstrated. These four factors were quantified using Raman, electron spin resonance, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy spectra, and Mott-Schottky plots. In the mutual interference investigation, we selected cadmium(II) [Cd(II)] as the target ion because of the significant difference in its stripping potential (∼700 mV). The results show that the Cd(II) can enhance the sensitivity of TiO 2- x nanosheets toward Cu(II), exhibiting an electron-induced mutual interference effect, as demonstrated by X-ray absorption fine structure spectra.

A Common Molecular Motif Characterizes Extracellular Allosteric Enhancers of GPCR Aminergic Receptors and Suggests Enhancer Mechanism of Action

PubMed Central

Bernstein, Robert Root; Dillon, Patrick F

2014-01-01

Several classes of compounds that have no intrinsic activity on aminergic systems nonetheless enhance the potency of aminergic receptor ligands three-fold or more while significantly increasing their duration of activity, preventing tachyphylaxis and reversing fade. Enhancer compounds include ascorbic acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, cortico-steroids, opioid peptides, opiates and opiate antagonists. This paper provides the first review of aminergic enhancement, demonstrating that all enhancers have a common, inobvious molecular motif and work through a common mechanism that is manifested by three common characteristics. First, aminergic enhancers bind directly to the amines they enhance, suggesting that the common structural motif is reflected in common binding targets. Second, one common target is the first extracellular loop of aminergic receptors. Third, at least some enhancers are antiphosphodiesterases. These observations suggest that aminergic enhancers act on the extracellular surface of aminergic receptors to keep the receptor in its high affinity state, trapping the ligand inside the receptor. Enhancer binding produces allosteric modifications of the receptor structure that interfere with phosphorylation of the receptor, thereby inhibiting down-regulation of the receptor. The mechanism explains how enhancers potentiate aminergic activity and increase duration of activity and makes testable predictions about additional compounds that should act as aminergic enhancers. PMID:25174918

Superparamagnetic PLGA-iron oxide microcapsules for dual-modality US/MR imaging and high intensity focused US breast cancer ablation.

PubMed

Sun, Yang; Zheng, Yuanyi; Ran, Haitao; Zhou, Yang; Shen, Hongxia; Chen, Yu; Chen, Hangrong; Krupka, Tianyi M; Li, Ao; Li, Pan; Wang, Zhibiao; Wang, Zhigang

2012-08-01

Organic/inorganic, hybrid, multifunctional, material-based platforms combine the merits of diverse functionalities of inorganic nanoparticles and the excellent biocompatibility of organic systems. In this work, superparamagnetic poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microcapsules (Fe(3)O(4)/PLGA) have been developed, as a proof-of-concept, for the application in ultrasound/magnetic resonance dual-modality biological imaging and enhancing the therapeutic efficiency of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) breast cancer surgery in vitro and in vivo. Hydrophobic Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles were successfully integrated into PLGA microcapsules by a typical double emulsion evaporation process. In this process, highly dispersed superparamagnetic Fe(3)O(4)/PLGA composite microcapsules with well-defined spherical morphology were obtained with an average diameter of 885.6 nm. The potential of these microcapsules as dual contrast agents for ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging were demonstrated in vitro and, also, preliminarily in vivo. Meanwhile, the prepared superparamagnetic composite microcapsules were administrated into rabbits bearing breast cancer model for the evaluation of the in vivo HIFU synergistic ablation efficiency caused by the introduction of such microcapsules. Our results showed that the employment of the composite microcapsules could efficiently enhance ultrasound imaging of cancer, and greatly enhance the HIFU ablation of breast cancer in rabbits. In addition, pathological examination was systematically performed to detect the structural changes of the target tissue caused by HIFU ablation. This finding demonstrated that successful introduction of these superparamagnetic microcapsules into HIFU cancer surgery provided an alternative strategy for the highly efficient imaging-guided non-invasive HIFU synergistic therapy of cancer. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Primary dedifferentiated liposarcoma of the axilla arising in a mixed, well-differentiated and myxoid liposarcoma.

PubMed

Campbell, Garth S; Lawrence, Thomas J; Porter, Scott E; Rezeanu, Luminita

2012-01-01

We describe a case of mixed liposarcoma of the axilla presenting as a high grade undifferentiated sarcoma with areas of well-differentiated and myxoid liposarcoma. MRI demonstrated a lobulated, septated intermuscular mass with marked heterogeneous gadolinium enhancement. A small focus of the tumor demonstrated fat suppressed signal more characteristic of well-differentiated liposarcoma. Pathologic analysis following wide local excision revealed a large, high grade sarcomatous component with highly pleomorphic cells with a thin rim of well-differentiated and myxoid liposarcoma on histologic examination. Dedifferentiated liposarcomas arising outside of the retroperitoneum are very rare, as are dedifferentiated liposarcomas arising from a histologically mixed liposarcoma. In this regard, this case illustrates an unusual combination of tumor location and histology which, to our knowledge, has not previously been reported.

Primary Dedifferentiated Liposarcoma of the Axilla Arising in a Mixed, Well-differentiated and Myxoid Liposarcoma

PubMed Central

Campbell, Garth S.; Lawrence, Thomas J.; Porter, Scott E.; Rezeanu, Luminita

2012-01-01

We describe a case of mixed liposarcoma of the axilla presenting as a high grade undifferentiated sarcoma with areas of well-differentiated and myxoid liposarcoma. MRI demonstrated a lobulated, septated intermuscular mass with marked heterogeneous gadolinium enhancement. A small focus of the tumor demonstrated fat suppressed signal more characteristic of well-differentiated liposarcoma. Pathologic analysis following wide local excision revealed a large, high grade sarcomatous component with highly pleomorphic cells with a thin rim of well-differentiated and myxoid liposarcoma on histologic examination. Dedifferentiated liposarcomas arising outside of the retroperitoneum are very rare, as are dedifferentiated liposarcomas arising from a histologically mixed liposarcoma. In this regard, this case illustrates an unusual combination of tumor location and histology which, to our knowledge, has not previously been reported. PMID:22690275

Morphology engineering of ZnO nanostructures for high performance supercapacitors: enhanced electrochemistry of ZnO nanocones compared to ZnO nanowires.

PubMed

He, Xiaoli; Yoo, Joung Eun; Lee, Min Ho; Bae, Joonho

2017-06-16

In this work, the morphology of ZnO nanostructures is engineered to demonstrate enhanced supercapacitor characteristics of ZnO nanocones (NCs) compared to ZnO nanowires (NWs). ZnO NCs are obtained by chemically etching ZnO NWs. Electrochemical characteristics of ZnO NCs and NWs are extensively investigated to demonstrate morphology dependent capacitive performance of one dimensional ZnO nanostructures. Cyclic voltammetry measurements on these two kinds of electrodes in a three-electrode cell confirms that ZnO NCs exhibit a high specific capacitance of 378.5 F g -1 at a scan rate of 20 mV s -1 , which is almost twice that of ZnO NWs (191.5 F g -1 ). The charge-discharge and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements also clearly result in enhanced capacitive performance of NCs as evidenced by higher specific capacitances and lower internal resistance. Asymmetric supercapacitors are fabricated using activated carbon (AC) as the negative electrode and ZnO NWs and NCs as positive electrodes. The ZnO NC⫽AC can deliver a maximum specific capacitance of 126 F g -1 at a current density of 1.33 A g -1 with an energy density of 25.2 W h kg -1 at the power density of 896.44 W kg -1 . In contrast, ZnO NW⫽AC displays 63% of the capacitance obtained from the ZnO NC⫽AC supercapacitor. The enhanced performance of NCs is attributed to the higher surface area of ZnO nanostructures after the morphology is altered from NWs to NCs.

Morphology engineering of ZnO nanostructures for high performance supercapacitors: enhanced electrochemistry of ZnO nanocones compared to ZnO nanowires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Xiaoli; Yoo, Joung Eun; Lee, Min Ho; Bae, Joonho

2017-06-01

In this work, the morphology of ZnO nanostructures is engineered to demonstrate enhanced supercapacitor characteristics of ZnO nanocones (NCs) compared to ZnO nanowires (NWs). ZnO NCs are obtained by chemically etching ZnO NWs. Electrochemical characteristics of ZnO NCs and NWs are extensively investigated to demonstrate morphology dependent capacitive performance of one dimensional ZnO nanostructures. Cyclic voltammetry measurements on these two kinds of electrodes in a three-electrode cell confirms that ZnO NCs exhibit a high specific capacitance of 378.5 F g-1 at a scan rate of 20 mV s-1, which is almost twice that of ZnO NWs (191.5 F g-1). The charge-discharge and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements also clearly result in enhanced capacitive performance of NCs as evidenced by higher specific capacitances and lower internal resistance. Asymmetric supercapacitors are fabricated using activated carbon (AC) as the negative electrode and ZnO NWs and NCs as positive electrodes. The ZnO NC⫽AC can deliver a maximum specific capacitance of 126 F g-1 at a current density of 1.33 A g-1 with an energy density of 25.2 W h kg-1 at the power density of 896.44 W kg-1. In contrast, ZnO NW⫽AC displays 63% of the capacitance obtained from the ZnO NC⫽AC supercapacitor. The enhanced performance of NCs is attributed to the higher surface area of ZnO nanostructures after the morphology is altered from NWs to NCs.

Tunnel vision: sharper gradient of spatial attention in autism.

PubMed

Robertson, Caroline E; Kravitz, Dwight J; Freyberg, Jan; Baron-Cohen, Simon; Baker, Chris I

2013-04-17

Enhanced perception of detail has long been regarded a hallmark of autism spectrum conditions (ASC), but its origins are unknown. Normal sensitivity on all fundamental perceptual measures-visual acuity, contrast discrimination, and flicker detection-is strongly established in the literature. If individuals with ASC do not have superior low-level vision, how is perception of detail enhanced? We argue that this apparent paradox can be resolved by considering visual attention, which is known to enhance basic visual sensitivity, resulting in greater acuity and lower contrast thresholds. Here, we demonstrate that the focus of attention and concomitant enhancement of perception are sharper in human individuals with ASC than in matched controls. Using a simple visual acuity task embedded in a standard cueing paradigm, we mapped the spatial and temporal gradients of attentional enhancement by varying the distance and onset time of visual targets relative to an exogenous cue, which obligatorily captures attention. Individuals with ASC demonstrated a greater fall-off in performance with distance from the cue than controls, indicating a sharper spatial gradient of attention. Further, this sharpness was highly correlated with the severity of autistic symptoms in ASC, as well as autistic traits across both ASC and control groups. These findings establish the presence of a form of "tunnel vision" in ASC, with far-reaching implications for our understanding of the social and neurobiological aspects of autism.

Enhancing superconducting critical current by randomness

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Y. L.; Thoutam, L. R.; Xiao, Z. L.; Shen, B.; Pearson, J. E.; Divan, R.; Ocola, L. E.; Crabtree, G. W.; Kwok, W. K.

2016-01-01

The key ingredient of high critical currents in a type-II superconductor is defect sites that pin vortices. Contrary to earlier understanding on nanopatterned artificial pinning, here we show unequivocally the advantages of a random pinscape over an ordered array in a wide magnetic field range. We reveal that the better performance of a random pinscape is due to the variation of its local density of pinning sites (LDOPS), which mitigates the motion of vortices. This is confirmed by achieving even higher enhancement of the critical current through a conformally mapped random pinscape, where the distribution of the LDOPS is further enlarged. The demonstrated key role of LDOPS in enhancing superconducting critical currents gets at the heart of random versus commensurate pinning. Our findings highlight the importance of random pinscapes in enhancing the superconducting critical currents of applied superconductors.

A highly sensitive and temporal visualization system for gaseous ethanol with chemiluminescence enhancer.

PubMed

Arakawa, Takahiro; Ando, Eri; Wang, Xin; Kumiko, Miyajima; Kudo, Hiroyuki; Saito, Hirokazu; Mitani, Tomoyo; Takahashi, Mitsuo; Mitsubayashi, Kohji

2012-01-01

A two-dimensional gaseous ethanol visualization system has been developed and demonstrated using a horseradish peroxidase-luminol-hydrogen peroxide system with high-purity luminol solution and a chemiluminescence (CL) enhancer. This system measures ethanol concentrations as intensities of CL via the luminol reaction. CL was emitted when the gaseous ethanol was injected onto an enzyme-immobilized membrane, which was employed as a screen for two-dimensional gas visualization. The average intensity of CL on the substrate was linearly related to the concentration of standard ethanol gas. These results were compared with the CL intensity of the CCD camera recording image in the visualization system. This system is available for gas components not only for spatial but also for temporal analysis in real time. A high-purity sodium salt HG solution (L-HG) instead of standard luminol solution and an enhancer, eosin Y (EY) solution, were adapted for improvement of CL intensity of the system. The visualization of gaseous ethanol was achieved at a detection limit of 3 ppm at optimized concentrations of L-HG solution and EY. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Near-vacuum hohlraums for driving fusion implosions with high density carbon ablatorsa)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berzak Hopkins, L. F.; Le Pape, S.; Divol, L.; Meezan, N. B.; Mackinnon, A. J.; Ho, D. D.; Jones, O. S.; Khan, S.; Milovich, J. L.; Ross, J. S.; Amendt, P.; Casey, D.; Celliers, P. M.; Pak, A.; Peterson, J. L.; Ralph, J.; Rygg, J. R.

2015-05-01

Recent experiments at the National Ignition Facility [M. J. Edwards et al., Phys. Plasmas 20, 070501 (2013)] have explored driving high-density carbon ablators with near-vacuum hohlraums, which use a minimal amount of helium gas fill. These hohlraums show improved efficiency relative to conventional gas-filled hohlraums in terms of minimal backscatter, minimal generation of suprathermal electrons, and increased hohlraum-capsule coupling. Given these advantages, near-vacuum hohlraums are a promising choice for pursuing high neutron yield implosions. Long pulse symmetry control, though, remains a challenge, as the hohlraum volume fills with material. Two mitigation methodologies have been explored, dynamic beam phasing and increased case-to-capsule ratio (larger hohlraum size relative to capsule). Unexpectedly, experiments have demonstrated that the inner laser beam propagation is better than predicted by nominal simulations, and an enhanced beam propagation model is required to match measured hot spot symmetry. Ongoing work is focused on developing a physical model which captures this enhanced propagation and on utilizing the enhanced propagation to drive longer laser pulses than originally predicted in order to reach alpha-heating dominated neutron yields.

High Dynamic Range (Δn) Two-Stage Photopolymers via Enhanced Solubility of a High Refractive Index Acrylate Writing Monomer.

PubMed

Alim, Marvin D; Glugla, David J; Mavila, Sudheendran; Wang, Chen; Nystrom, Philip D; Sullivan, Amy C; McLeod, Robert R; Bowman, Christopher N

2018-01-10

Holographic photopolymers capable of high refractive index modulation (Δn) on the order of 10 -2 are integral for the fabrication of functional holographic optical elements that are useful in a myriad of optical applications. In particular, to address the deficiency of suitable high refractive index writing monomers for use in two-stage holographic formulations, here we report a novel high refractive index writing monomer, 1,3-bis(phenylthio)-2-propyl acrylate (BPTPA), simultaneously possessing enhanced solubility in a low refractive index (n = 1.47) urethane matrix. When examined in comparison to a widely used high refractive index monomer, 2,4,6-tribromophenyl acrylate, BPTPA exhibited superior solubility in a stage 1 urethane matrix of approximately 50% with a 20% higher refractive index increase per unit amount of the writing monomer for stage 2 polymerizations. Formulations with 60 wt % loading of BPTPA exhibit a peak-to-mean holographic Δn ≈ 0.029 without obvious deficiencies in transparency, color, or scatter. To the best of our knowledge, this value is the highest reported in the peer-reviewed literature for a transmission hologram. The capabilities and versatility of BPTPA-based formulations are demonstrated at varying length scales via demonstrative refractive index gradient structure examples including direct laser write, projection mask lithography of a 1″ diameter Fresnel lens, and ∼100% diffraction efficiency volume transmission holograms with a 1 μm fringe spacing in 11 μm thick samples.

Modulation of the Major Paths of Carbon in Photorespiratory Mutants of Synechocystis

PubMed Central

Huege, Jan; Goetze, Jan; Schwarz, Doreen; Bauwe, Hermann; Hagemann, Martin; Kopka, Joachim

2011-01-01

Background Recent studies using transcript and metabolite profiles of wild-type and gene deletion mutants revealed that photorespiratory pathways are essential for the growth of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 under atmospheric conditions. Pool size changes of primary metabolites, such as glycine and glycolate, indicated a link to photorespiration. Methodology/Principal Findings The 13C labelling kinetics of primary metabolites were analysed in photoautotrophically grown cultures of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to demonstrate the link with photorespiration. Cells pre-acclimated to high CO2 (5%, HC) or limited CO2 (0.035%, LC) conditions were pulse-labelled under very high (2% w/w) 13C-NaHCO3 (VHC) conditions followed by treatment with ambient 12C at HC and LC conditions, respectively. The 13C enrichment, relative changes in pool size, and 13C flux of selected metabolites were evaluated. We demonstrate two major paths of CO2 assimilation via Rubisco in Synechocystis, i.e., from 3PGA via PEP to aspartate, malate and citrate or, to a lesser extent, from 3PGA via glucose-6-phosphate to sucrose. The results reveal evidence of carbon channelling from 3PGA to the PEP pool. Furthermore, 13C labelling of glycolate was observed under conditions thought to suppress photorespiration. Using the glycolate-accumulating ΔglcD1 mutant, we demonstrate enhanced 13C partitioning into the glycolate pool under conditions favouring photorespiration and enhanced 13C partitioning into the glycine pool of the glycine-accumulating ΔgcvT mutant. Under LC conditions, the photorespiratory mutants ΔglcD1 and ΔgcvT showed enhanced activity of the additional carbon-fixing PEP carboxylase pathway. Conclusions/Significance With our approach of non-steady-state 13C labelling and analysis of metabolite pool sizes with respective 13C enrichments, we identify the use and modulation of major pathways of carbon assimilation in Synechocystis in the presence of high and low inorganic carbon supplies. PMID:21283704

Enhancing Food Processing by Pulsed and High Voltage Electric Fields: Principles and Applications.

PubMed

Wang, Qijun; Li, Yifei; Sun, Da-Wen; Zhu, Zhiwei

2018-02-02

Improvements in living standards result in a growing demand for food with high quality attributes including freshness, nutrition and safety. However, current industrial processing methods rely on traditional thermal and chemical methods, such as sterilization and solvent extraction, which could induce negative effects on food quality and safety. The electric fields (EFs) involving pulsed electric fields (PEFs) and high voltage electric fields (HVEFs) have been studied and developed for assisting and enhancing various food processes. In this review, the principles and applications of pulsed and high voltage electric fields are described in details for a range of food processes, including microbial inactivation, component extraction, and winemaking, thawing and drying, freezing and enzymatic inactivation. Moreover, the advantages and limitations of electric field related technologies are discussed to foresee future developments in the food industry. This review demonstrates that electric field technology has a great potential to enhance food processing by supplementing or replacing the conventional methods employed in different food manufacturing processes. Successful industrial applications of electric field treatments have been achieved in some areas such as microbial inactivation and extraction. However, investigations of HVEFs are still in an early stage and translating the technology into industrial applications need further research efforts.

The use of high-speed imaging in education

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kleine, H.; McNamara, G.; Rayner, J.

2017-02-01

Recent improvements in camera technology and the associated improved access to high-speed camera equipment have made it possible to use high-speed imaging not only in a research environment but also specifically for educational purposes. This includes high-speed sequences that are created both with and for a target audience of students in high schools and universities. The primary goal is to engage students in scientific exploration by providing them with a tool that allows them to see and measure otherwise inaccessible phenomena. High-speed imaging has the potential to stimulate students' curiosity as the results are often surprising or may contradict initial assumptions. "Live" demonstrations in class or student- run experiments are highly suitable to have a profound influence on student learning. Another aspect is the production of high-speed images for demonstration purposes. While some of the approaches known from the application of high speed imaging in a research environment can simply be transferred, additional techniques must often be developed to make the results more easily accessible for the targeted audience. This paper describes a range of student-centered activities that can be undertaken which demonstrate how student engagement and learning can be enhanced through the use of high speed imaging using readily available technologies.

Photoelectrochemical enhancement of ZnO/BiVO4/ZnFe2O4/rare earth oxide hetero-nanostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

She, Xuefeng; Zhang, Zhuo; Baek, Minki; Yong, Kijung

2018-01-01

Over the decades, researchers have made great efforts to turn the world into a cleaner place through efficient recycling of industrial waste and developing of green energy. Here we demonstrate a prototype heterostructure photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell fabricated using recycled industrial waste. ZnFe2O4 (ZFO) nanorod (NR) clusters were synthesized on the BiVO4@ZnO hetero-nanostructures using recycled rare earth oxide (REO) slags as Fe source. The NR-based PEC cell exhibited a significantly enhanced photon to hydrogen conversion efficiency over the entire UV and visible spectrum. Further study demonstrates that the photo-carrier separation and migration processes can be facilitated by the cascade band alignment of the heterostructure and the clustered nanostructure network. In addition, the life-time of the photo-carriers can be enhanced by the REO passivation layer, leading to a further increased PEC performance. Our results present a novel approach for high efficiency PEC cells, and offer great promises to the efficient recycling of industrial waste for clean renewable energy applications.

The Role of Citicoline in Neuroprotection and Neurorepair in Ischemic Stroke

PubMed Central

Álvarez-Sabín, José; Román, Gustavo C.

2013-01-01

Advances in acute stroke therapy resulting from thrombolytic treatment, endovascular procedures, and stroke units have improved significantly stroke survival and prognosis; however, for the large majority of patients lacking access to advanced therapies stroke mortality and residual morbidity remain high and many patients become incapacitated by motor and cognitive deficits, with loss of independence in activities of daily living. Therefore, over the past several years, research has been directed to limit the brain lesions produced by acute ischemia (neuroprotection) and to increase the recovery, plasticity and neuroregenerative processes that complement rehabilitation and enhance the possibility of recovery and return to normal functions (neurorepair). Citicoline has therapeutic effects at several stages of the ischemic cascade in acute ischemic stroke and has demonstrated efficiency in a multiplicity of animal models of acute stroke. Long-term treatment with citicoline is safe and effective, improving post-stroke cognitive decline and enhancing patients’ functional recovery. Prolonged citicoline administration at optimal doses has been demonstrated to be remarkably well tolerated and to enhance endogenous mechanisms of neurogenesis and neurorepair contributing to physical therapy and rehabilitation. PMID:24961534

Manipulating stomatal density enhances drought tolerance without deleterious effect on nutrient uptake.

PubMed

Hepworth, Christopher; Doheny-Adams, Timothy; Hunt, Lee; Cameron, Duncan D; Gray, Julie E

2015-10-01

Manipulation of stomatal density was investigated as a potential tool for enhancing drought tolerance or nutrient uptake. Drought tolerance and soil water retention were assessed using Arabidopsis epidermal patterning factor mutants manipulated to have increased or decreased stomatal density. Root nutrient uptake via mass flow was monitored under differing plant watering regimes using nitrogen-15 ((15) N) isotope and mass spectrometry. Plants with less than half of their normal complement of stomata, and correspondingly reduced levels of transpiration, conserve soil moisture and are highly drought tolerant but show little or no reduction in shoot nitrogen concentrations especially when water availability is restricted. By contrast, plants with over twice the normal density of stomata have a greater capacity for nitrogen uptake, except when water availability is restricted. We demonstrate the possibility of producing plants with reduced transpiration which have increased drought tolerance, with little or no loss of nutrient uptake. We demonstrate that increasing transpiration can enhance nutrient uptake when water is plentiful. © 2015 The Authors. New Phytologist © 2015 New Phytologist Trust.

High electromechanical strain and enhanced temperature characteristics in lead-free (Na,Bi)TiO3-BaTiO3 thin films on Si substrates.

PubMed

Tanaka, Yoshiaki; Okamoto, Shoji; Hashimoto, Kazuya; Takayama, Ryoichi; Harigai, Takakiyo; Adachi, Hideaki; Fujii, Eiji

2018-05-18

Here, we demonstrate the high electromechanical strain and enhanced temperature characteristics in the c-axis-oriented lead-free (Na,Bi)TiO 3 -BaTiO 3 (NBT-BT) polycrystalline thin film prepared on Si substrates by rf magnetron sputtering. The effective transverse piezoelectric coefficient, e 31 * , estimated from the electromechanical strain measured under high electric field, reaches a high level of -12.5 C/m 2 , and is comparable to those of conventional Pb(Zr,Ti)O 3 films. In-situ X-ray diffraction measurement and electron diffraction analysis revealed the electromechanical strain of the NBT-BT film to originate predominantly in elongation of the tetragonal (P4bm) crystal lattice in the c-axis direction. In addition to the large e 31 * , the NBT-BT film exhibits enhanced permittivity maximum temperature, T m , of ~400 °C and no depolarization below T m , as compared to bulk NBT-BT having T m ≈ 300 °C and a depolarization temperature of ~100 °C. We conclude that the enhancement of temperature characteristics is associated with the distorted P4bm crystal lattice formed by deposition-induced stress and defects. We believe that the present study paves the way for practical applications of lead-free piezoelectric thin films in electromechanical devices.

"Comet tail sign": A pitfall of post-gadolinium magnetic resonance imaging findings for metastatic brain tumors.

PubMed

Mitsuya, Koichi; Nakasu, Yoko; Narita, Yoshitaka; Nakasu, Satoshi; Ohno, Makoto; Miyakita, Yasuji; Abe, Masato; Ito, Ichiro; Hayashi, Nakamasa; Endo, Masahiro

2016-05-01

A highly enhanced cap attached to the surface of metastatic tumors in the brain parenchyma is occasionally encountered on magnetic resonance (MR) images. This atypical enhanced cap tends to occur in severe peritumoral edema and may produce the characteristic bulge of a metastatic mass lesion termed the "comet tail sign" (CTS). The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the features of the CTS using MR imaging and pathological findings, and to clarify its clinical relevance. We selected 21 consecutive cases of newly diagnosed metastases from MR imaging studies that demonstrated the CTS; all had diffuse peritumoral edema. The MR T2-weighted images showed similarly homogenous and high intensity signals in both the tail and peritumoral edema. Fourteen of the 21 patients underwent surgical resection of their tumors, and 12 tails were separately removed for pathological examination, no tumor cells which revealed. We speculate that the CTS does not contain neoplastic tissues but is observed as a result of the leakage of contrast medium from the tumor body into the interstitial space of the white matter. Although CTS is a peculiar and uncommon enhancement pattern, it has clinical significance in determining the extent of the margin for invasive local treatments, such as surgical resection or stereotactic radiotherapy; this is particularly true in and near the eloquent areas.

High drug payload curcumin nanosuspensions stabilized by mPEG-DSPE and SPC: in vitro and in vivo evaluation.

PubMed

Hong, Jingyi; Liu, Yingying; Xiao, Yao; Yang, Xiaofeng; Su, Wenjing; Zhang, Mingzhu; Liao, Yonghong; Kuang, Haixue; Wang, Xiangtao

2017-11-01

Curcumin (CUR) is a promising drug candidate based on its broad bioactivities and good antitumor effect, but the application of CUR is potentially restricted because of its poor solubility and bioavailability. This study aims at developing a simple and effective drug delivery system for CUR to enhance its solubility and bioavailability thus to improve its antitumor efficacy. Curcumin nanosuspensions (CUR-NSps) were prepared by precipitation-ultrasonication method using mPEG2000-DSPE and soybean lecithin as a combined stabilizer. CUR-NSps with a high drug payload of 67.07% were successfully prepared. The resultant CUR-NSps had a mean particle size of 186.33 ± 2.73 nm with a zeta potential of -19.00 ± 1.31 mV. In vitro cytotoxicity assay showed that CUR-NSps exhibited enhanced cytotoxicity compared to CUR solution. The pharmacokinetics results demonstrated that CUR-NSps exhibited a significantly greater AUC 0-24 and prolonged MRT compared to CUR injections after intravenous administration. In the biodistribution study, CUR-NSps demonstrated enhanced biodistribution compared with CUR injections in liver, spleen, kidney, brain, and tumor. The CUR-NSps also showed improved antitumor therapeutic efficacy over the injections (70.34% versus 40.03%, p < 0.01). These results suggest that CUR-NSps might represent a promising drug formulation for intravenous administration of CUR for the treatment of cancer.

Designing Hybrids of Graphene Oxide and Gold Nanoparticles for Nonlinear Optical Response

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yadav, Rajesh Kumar; Aneesh, J.; Sharma, Rituraj; Abhiramnath, P.; Maji, Tuhin Kumar; Omar, Ganesh Ji; Mishra, A. K.; Karmakar, Debjani; Adarsh, K. V.

2018-04-01

Nonlinear optical absorption of light by materials is weak due to its perturbative nature, although a strong nonlinear response is of crucial importance to applications in optical limiting and switching. Here we demonstrate experimentally and theoretically an extremely efficient scheme of excited-state absorption by charge transfer between donor and acceptor materials as a method to enhance the nonlinear absorption by orders of magnitude. With this idea, we demonstrate a strong excited-state absorption (ESA) in reduced graphene oxide that otherwise shows an increased transparency at high fluence and enhancement of ESA by one order of magnitude in graphene oxide by attaching gold nanoparticles (Au NP) in the tandem configuration that acts as an efficient charge-transfer pair when excited at the plasmonic wavelength. To explain the unprecedented enhancement, we develop a five-level rate-equation model based on the charge transfer between the two materials and numerically simulate the results. To understand the correlation of interfacial charge transfer with the concentration and type of the functional ligands attached to the graphene oxide sheet, we investigate the Au-NP—graphene oxide interface with various possible ligand configurations from first-principles calculations. By using the strong ESA of our hybrid materials, we fabricate liquid cell-based high-performance optical limiters with important device parameters better than that of the benchmark optical limiters.

Local phase separation of co-solvents enhances pretreatment of biomass for bioenergy applications

DOE PAGES

Mostofian, Barmak; Cai, Charles M.; Smith, Micholas Dean; ...

2016-08-02

Pretreatment facilitates more complete deconstruction of plant biomass to enable more economic production of lignocellulosic biofuels and byproducts. Various co-solvent pretreatments have demonstrated advantages relative to aqueous-only methods by enhancing lignin removal to allow unfettered access to cellulose. However, there is a limited mechanistic understanding of the interactions between the co-solvents and cellulose that impedes further improvement of such pretreatment methods. Recently, tetrahydrofuran (THF) has been identified as a highly effective co-solvent for the pretreatment and fractionation of biomass. Here, to elucidate the mechanism of the THF water interactions with cellulose, we pair simulation and experimental data demonstrating that enhancedmore » solubilization of cellulose can be achieved by the THF water co-solvent system at equivolume mixtures and moderate temperatures (≤445 K). The simulations show that THF and water spontaneously phase separate on the local surface of a cellulose fiber, owing to hydrogen bonding of water molecules with the hydrophilic cellulose faces and stacking of THF molecules on the hydrophobic faces. Furthermore, a single fully solvated cellulose chain is shown to be preferentially bound by water molecules in the THF water mixture. In light of these findings, co-solvent reactions were performed on microcrystalline cellulose and maple wood to show that THF significantly enhanced cellulose deconstruction and lignocellulose solubilization at simulation conditions, enabling a highly versatile and efficient biomass pretreatment and fractionation method.« less

Busulfan-conditioned bone marrow transplantation results in high-level allogeneic chimerism in mice made tolerant by in utero hematopoietic cell transplantation.

PubMed

Ashizuka, Shuichi; Peranteau, William H; Hayashi, Satoshi; Flake, Alan W

2006-03-01

In utero hematopoietic cell transplantation (IUHCT) is a non-ablative approach that achieves mixed allogeneic chimerism and donor-specific tolerance. However, clinical application of IUHCT has been limited by minimal engraftment. We have previously demonstrated in the murine model that low-level allogeneic chimerism achieved by IUHCT can be enhanced to near-complete donor chimerism by postnatal minimally myeloablative total body irradiation (TBI) followed by same-donor bone marrow transplantation. Because of concerns of toxicity related to even low-dose TBI in early life, we wondered if a potentially less toxic strategy utilizing a single myelosuppressive agent, Busulfan (BU), would provide similar enhancement of engraftment. In this study, mixed chimerism was created by IUHCT in a fully allogeneic strain combination. After birth, chimeric mice were conditioned with BU followed by transplantation of bone marrow cells congenic to the prenatal donor. We demonstrate that: 1) low-level chimerism after IUHCT can be converted to high-level chimerism by this protocol; 2) enhancement of chimerism is BU dose-dependent; and 3) BU reduces the proliferative potential of hematopoietic progenitor cells thus conferring a competitive advantage to the non-BU-treated postnatal donor cells. This study confirms the potential of IUHCT for facilitation of minimally toxic postnatal regimens to achieve therapeutic levels of allogeneic engraftment.

Stable and Efficient CuO Based Photocathode through Oxygen-Rich Composition and Au-Pd Nanostructure Incorporation for Solar-Hydrogen Production.

PubMed

Masudy-Panah, Saeid; Siavash Moakhar, Roozbeh; Chua, Chin Sheng; Kushwaha, Ajay; Dalapati, Goutam Kumar

2017-08-23

Enhancing stability against photocorrosion and improving photocurrent response are the main challenges toward the development of cupric oxide (CuO) based photocathodes for solar-driven hydrogen production. In this paper, stable and efficient CuO-photocathodes have been developed using in situ materials engineering and through gold-palladium (Au-Pd) nanoparticles deposition on the CuO surface. The CuO photocathode exhibits a photocurrent generation of ∼3 mA/cm 2 at 0 V v/s RHE. Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) analysis and X-ray spectroscopy (XPS) confirm the formation of oxygen-rich (O-rich) CuO film which demonstrates a highly stable photocathode with retained photocurrent of ∼90% for 20 min. The influence of chemical composition on the photocathode performance and stability has been discussed in detail. In addition, O-rich CuO photocathodes deposited with Au-Pd nanostructures have shown enhanced photoelectrochemical performance. Linear scan voltammetry characteristic shows ∼25% enhancement in photocurrent after Au-Pd deposition and reaches ∼4 mA/cm 2 at "0" V v/s RHE. Hydrogen evolution rate significantly depends on the elemental composition of CuO and metal nanostructure. The present work has demonstrated a stable photocathode with high photocurrent for visible-light-driven water splitting and hydrogen production.

Dynamic nuclear magnetic resonance field sensing with part-per-trillion resolution

PubMed Central

Gross, Simon; Barmet, Christoph; Dietrich, Benjamin E.; Brunner, David O.; Schmid, Thomas; Pruessmann, Klaas P.

2016-01-01

High-field magnets of up to tens of teslas in strength advance applications in physics, chemistry and the life sciences. However, progress in generating such high fields has not been matched by corresponding advances in magnetic field measurement. Based mostly on nuclear magnetic resonance, dynamic high-field magnetometry is currently limited to resolutions in the nanotesla range. Here we report a concerted approach involving tailored materials, magnetostatics and detection electronics to enhance the resolution of nuclear magnetic resonance sensing by three orders of magnitude. The relative sensitivity thus achieved amounts to 1 part per trillion (10−12). To exemplify this capability we demonstrate the direct detection and relaxometry of nuclear polarization and real-time recording of dynamic susceptibility effects related to human heart function. Enhanced high-field magnetometry will generally permit a fresh look at magnetic phenomena that scale with field strength. It also promises to facilitate the development and operation of high-field magnets. PMID:27910860

Super-strengthening and stabilizing with carbon nanotube harnessed high density nanotwins in metals by shock loading

PubMed Central

Lin, Dong; Saei, Mojib; Suslov, Sergey; Jin, Shengyu; Cheng, Gary J.

2015-01-01

CNTs reinforced metal composites has great potential due to their superior properties, such as light weight, high strength, low thermal expansion and high thermal conductivity. The current strengthening mechanisms of CNT/metal composite mainly rely on CNTs’ interaction with dislocations and CNT’s intrinsic high strength. Here we demonstrated that laser shock loading the CNT/metal composite results in high density nanotwins, stacking fault, dislocation around the CNT/metal interface. The composites exhibit enhanced strength with excellent stability. The results are interpreted by both molecular dynamics simulation and experiments. It is found the shock wave interaction with CNTs induces a stress field, much higher than the applied shock pressure, surrounding the CNT/metal interface. As a result, nanotwins were nucleated under a shock pressure much lower than the critical values to generate twins in metals. This hybrid unique nanostructure not only enhances the strength, but also stabilize the strength, as the nanotwin boundaries around the CNTs help pin the dislocation movement. PMID:26493533

Improved linearity in AlGaN/GaN metal-insulator-semiconductor high electron mobility transistors with nonlinear polarization dielectric

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gao, Tao; Science and Technology on Monolithic Integrated Circuits and Modules Laboratory, Nanjing Electronic Devices Institute, Nanjing 210016; Xu, Ruimin

2015-06-15

We demonstrate highly improved linearity in a nonlinear ferroelectric of Pb(Zr{sub 0.52}Ti{sub 0.48})-gated AlGaN/GaN metal-insulator-semiconductor high electron mobility transistor (MIS-HEMT). Distinct double-hump feature in the transconductance-gate voltage (g{sub m}-V{sub g}) curve is observed, yielding remarkable enhancement in gate voltage swing as compared to MIS-HEMT with conventional linear gate dielectric. By incorporating the ferroelectric polarization into a self-consistent calculation, it is disclosed that in addition to the common hump corresponding to the onset of electron accumulation, the second hump at high current level is originated from the nonlinear polar nature of ferroelectric, which enhances the gate capacitance by increasing equivalent dielectricmore » constant nonlinearly. This work paves a way for design of high linearity GaN MIS-HEMT by exploiting the nonlinear properties of dielectric.« less

β-Ga2O3 on insulator field-effect transistors with drain currents exceeding 1.5 A/mm and their self-heating effect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Hong; Maize, Kerry; Qiu, Gang; Shakouri, Ali; Ye, Peide D.

2017-08-01

We have demonstrated that depletion/enhancement-mode β-Ga2O3 on insulator field-effect transistors can achieve a record high drain current density of 1.5/1.0 A/mm by utilizing a highly doped β-Ga2O3 nano-membrane as the channel. β-Ga2O3 on insulator field-effect transistor (GOOI FET) shows a high on/off ratio of 1010 and low subthreshold slope of 150 mV/dec even with 300 nm thick SiO2. The enhancement-mode GOOI FET is achieved through surface depletion. An ultra-fast, high resolution thermo-reflectance imaging technique is applied to study the self-heating effect by directly measuring the local surface temperature. High drain current, low Rc, and wide bandgap make the β-Ga2O3 on insulator field-effect transistor a promising candidate for future power electronics applications.

Ultrahigh Oxidation Resistance and High Electrical Conductivity in Copper-Silver Powder

PubMed Central

Li, Jiaxiang; Li, Yunping; Wang, Zhongchang; Bian, Huakang; Hou, Yuhang; Wang, Fenglin; Xu, Guofu; Liu, Bin; Liu, Yong

2016-01-01

The electrical conductivity of pure Cu powder is typically deteriorated at elevated temperatures due to the oxidation by forming non-conducting oxides on surface, while enhancing oxidation resistance via alloying is often accompanied by a drastic decline of electrical conductivity. Obtaining Cu powder with both a high electrical conductivity and a high oxidation resistance represents one of the key challenges in developing next-generation electrical transferring powder. Here, we fabricate a Cu-Ag powder with a continuous Ag network along grain boundaries of Cu particles and demonstrate that this new structure can inhibit the preferential oxidation in grain boundaries at elevated temperatures. As a result, the Cu-Ag powder displays considerably high electrical conductivity and high oxidation resistance up to approximately 300 °C, which are markedly higher than that of pure Cu powder. This study paves a new pathway for developing novel Cu powders with much enhanced electrical conductivity and oxidation resistance in service. PMID:28004839

Applications of High-Q Microresonators in Cavity Optomechanics and Nonlinear Photonics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Wei C.

Optical microresonators confining light to small volumes are indispensable for a great variety of studies and applications. This thesis is devoted to a study of cavity optomechanical and nonlinear optical phenomena in high-Q microresonators with different materials and structures. Based on that, it proposes and demonstrates several novel schemes and device platforms that exhibit great potential for various applications ranging from frequency metrology and quantum photonics, to information processing and sensing. The thesis starts with a demonstration of a high-frequency (above 1 GHz) regenerative optomechanical oscillator based on a 2-mum-radius high-Q silicon microdisk resonator in the silicon-on-insulator platform with an ultra-low threshold pump power at room temperature and atmosphere. It then continues to explore the cavity optomechanics in single-crystal lithium niobate. A compact lithium niobate microdisk optomechanical resonator with high optical and mechanical qualities, large optomechanical coupling, and high mechanical frequency is achieved, enabling the demonstration of regenerative oscillation in the ambience. Meanwhile, I propose and investigate a novel approach for single molecule detection that utilizes the optical spring effect in a high-Q coherent optomechanical oscillator to dramatically enhance the sensing resolution by orders of magnitude compared with conventional resonator-based approaches. In particular, a high-Q silica microsphere is employed to experimentally demonstrate the detection of single Bovine Serum Albumin proteins with a molecular weight of 66 kDalton at a signal-to-noise ratio of 16.8. On the other hand, the thesis focuses on the theoretical and experimental investigation of the generation of high-purity bright photon pairs in a silicon microdisk based on the cavity enhanced four-wave mixing. The device is able to produce multiple photon pairs at different wavelengths in the telecom band with a high spectral brightness of 6.24 x 107 pairs/s/mW 2/GHz and photon-pair correlation with a coincidence-to-accidental ratio of 1386+/-278 while pumped with a continuous-wave laser. Finally, an intriguing approach is proposed for dispersion dynamic tuning and micro-engineering, by taking advantage of the optical forces in nano-optomechanical structures. The proposed approach exhibits great potential for broad applications in dispersion-sensitive processes, which not only offer a new root towards versatile tunable nonlinear photonics, but may also open up a great avenue towards a new regime of nonlinear dynamics coupling between nonlinear optical and optomechanical effects.

Advanced Gas Sensors Using SERS-Activated Waveguides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lascola, Robert; McWhorter, Scott; Murph, Simona Hunyadi

2010-08-01

This contribution describes progress towards the development and testing of a functionalized capillary that will provide detection of low-concentration gas-phase analytes through SERS. Measurement inside a waveguide allows interrogation of a large surface area, potentially overcoming the short distance dependence of the SERS effect. The possible use of Raman spectroscopy for gas detection is attractive for IR-inactive molecules or scenarios where infrared technology is inconvenient. However, the weakness of Raman scattering limits the use of the technique to situations where low detection limits are not required or large gas pressures are present. With surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), signal enhancements of 106 are often claimed, and higher values are seen in specific instances. However, most of the examples of SERS analysis are on liquid-phase samples, where the molecular density is high, usually combined with some sort of sample concentration at the surface. Neither of these factors is present in gas-phase samples. Because the laser is focused to a small point in the typical experimental setup, and the spatial extent of the effect above the surface is small (microns), the excitation volume is miniscule. Thus, exceptionally large enhancements are required to generate a signal comparable to that obtained by conventional Raman measurements. A reflective waveguide offers a way to increase the interaction volume of the laser with a SERS-modified surface. The use of a waveguide to enhance classical Raman measurements was recently demonstrated by S.M. Angel and coworkers, who obtained 12- to 30-fold sensitivity improvements for nonabsorbing gases (CO2, CH4) with a silvered capillary (no SERS enhancement). Shi et al.. demonstrated 10-to 100-fold enhancement of aqueous Rhodamine 6G in a capillary coated with silver nanoparticles. They observed enhancements of 10- to 100-fold compared to direct sampling, but this relied on a "double substrate", which required non-specific interactions between the surface coating and additional nanoparticles suspended in solution to which the analyte had been coupled. Clearly, for a gas sensor, such a scheme is not feasible, and in any event the reliance on the random configuration of the nanoparticles and the analyte is not expected to lead to efficient enhancement. Here, we report the creation of capillary coatings of self-assembled, aggregated high aspect ratio metallic nanoparticles (e.g. rod, wires) with a solution-phase technique. Self-assembly offers the possibility for a high density of SERS hot spots, which are often observed at the junction of adjacent particles. Shaped nanoparticles also enhance self-assembled deposition, and allow further control of the optical properties of the coating through manipulation of the morphology. SERS enhancements for gases are reported relative to mirrored capillaries and free-space measurements.

78 FR 20120 - Cooperative Research and Development Agreement: Joint Technical Demonstration of Tactical Data...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-04-03

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Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-09-14

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Pantropic retroviruses as a transduction tool for sea urchin embryos

PubMed Central

Core, Amanda B.; Reyna, Arlene E.; Conaway, Evan A.; Bradham, Cynthia A.

2012-01-01

Sea urchins are an important model for experiments at the intersection of development and systems biology, and technical innovations that enhance the utility of this model are of great value. This study explores pantropic retroviruses as a transduction tool for sea urchin embryos, and demonstrates that pantropic retroviruses infect sea urchin embryos with high efficiency and genomically integrate at a copy number of one per cell. We successfully used a self-inactivation strategy to both insert a sea urchin-specific enhancer and disrupt the endogenous viral enhancer. The resulting self-inactivating viruses drive global and persistent gene expression, consistent with genomic integration during the first cell cycle. Together, these data provide substantial proof of principle for transduction technology in sea urchin embryos. PMID:22431628

Unsaturated fatty acids lactose esters: cytotoxicity, permeability enhancement and antimicrobial activity.

PubMed

Lucarini, Simone; Fagioli, Laura; Campana, Raffaella; Cole, Hannah; Duranti, Andrea; Baffone, Wally; Vllasaliu, Driton; Casettari, Luca

2016-10-01

Sugar based surfactants conjugated with fatty acid chains are an emerging broad group of highly biocompatible and biodegradable compounds with established and potential future applications in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries. In this work, we investigated absorption enhancing and antimicrobial properties of disaccharide lactose, monoesterified with unsaturated fatty acids through an enzymatic synthetic approach. After chemical and cytotoxicity characterizations, their permeability enhancing activity was demonstrated using intestinal Caco-2 monolayers through transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and permeability studies. The synthesized compounds, namely lactose palmitoleate (URB1076) and lactose nervonate (URB1077), were shown to exhibit antimicrobial activity versus eight pathogenic species belonging to Gram-positive, Gram-negative microorganisms and fungi. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Enhanced water window x-ray emission from in situ formed carbon clusters irradiated by intense ultra-short laser pulses

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chakravarty, U.; Rao, B. S.; Arora, V.

Enhanced water window x-ray emission (23–44 Å) from carbon clusters, formed in situ using a pre-pulse, irradiated by intense (I > 10{sup 17} W/cm{sup 2}) ultra-short laser pulse, is demonstrated. An order of magnitude x-ray enhancement over planar graphite target is observed in carbon clusters, formed by a sub-ns pre-pulse, interacting with intense main pulse after a delay. The effect of the delay and the duration of the main pulse is studied for optimizing the x-ray emission in the water window region. This x-ray source has added advantages of being an efficient, high repetition rate, and low debris x-ray source.

Enhanced Carbon Concentration in Camelina: Development of a Dedicated, High-value Biofuels Crop

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

None

2012-01-01

PETRO Project: UMass is developing an enhanced, biofuels-producing variant of Camelina, a drought-resistant, cold-tolerant oilseed crop that can be grown in many places other plants cannot. The team is working to incorporate several genetic traits into Camelina that increases its natural ability to produce oils and add the production of energy-dense terpene molecules that can be easily converted into liquid fuels. UMass is also experimenting with translating a component common in algae to Camelina that should allow the plants to absorb higher levels of carbon dioxide (CO2), which aids in enhancing photosynthesis and fuel conversion. The process will first bemore » demonstrated in tobacco before being applied in Camelina.« less

High targeted migration of human mesenchymal stem cells grown in hypoxia is associated with enhanced activation of RhoA

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Introduction A feature which makes stem cells promising candidates for cell therapy is their ability to migrate effectively into damaged or diseased tissues. Recent reports demonstrated the increased motility of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) grown under hypoxic conditions compared to normoxic cells. However, the directional migration of hMSC cultured in hypoxia has not been investigated. In this study we examined the in vitro transmembrane migration of hMSC permanently cultured in hypoxia in response to various cytokines. We also studied the involvement of RhoA, a molecule believed to play an essential role in the migration of MSC via reorganization of the cytoskeleton. Methods We compared the directional migration of human hMSCs grown permanently under normal (21%, normoxic) and low O2 (5%, hypoxic) conditions until passage 4 using an in vitro transmembrane migration assay. A series of 17 cytokines was used to induce chemotaxis. We also compared the level of GTP-bound RhoA in the cell extracts of calpeptin-activated hypoxic and normoxic hMSC. Results We found that hMSC cultured in hypoxia demonstrate markedly higher targeted migration activity compared to normoxic cells, particularly towards wound healing cytokines, including those found in ischemic and myocardial infarction. We also demonstrated for the first time that hMSC are dramatically more sensitive to activation of RhoA. Conclusions The results of this study indicate that high directional migration of hMSCs permanently grown in hypoxia is associated with the enhanced activation of RhoA. The enhanced migratory capacity of hypoxic hMSC would further suggest their potential advantages for clinical applications. PMID:23295150

The high mobility group protein 1 enhances binding of the estrogen receptor DNA binding domain to the estrogen response element.

PubMed

Romine, L E; Wood, J R; Lamia, L A; Prendergast, P; Edwards, D P; Nardulli, A M

1998-05-01

We have examined the ability of the high-mobility group protein 1 (HMG1) to alter binding of the estrogen receptor DNA-binding domain (DBD) to the estrogen response element (ERE). HMG1 dramatically enhanced binding of purified, bacterially expressed DBD to the consensus vitellogenin A2 ERE in a dose-dependent manner. The ability of HMG1 to stabilize the DBD-ERE complex resulted in part from a decrease in the dissociation rate of the DBD from the ERE. Antibody supershift experiments demonstrated that HMG1 was also capable of forming a ternary complex with the ERE-bound DBD in the presence of HMG1-specific antibody. HMG1 did not substantially affect DBD-ERE contacts as assessed by methylation interference assays, nor did it alter the ability of the DBD to induce distortion in ERE-containing DNA fragments. Because HMG1 dramatically enhanced estrogen receptor DBD binding to the ERE, and the DBD is the most highly conserved region among the nuclear receptor superfamily members, HMG1 may function to enhance binding of other nuclear receptors to their respective response elements and act in concert with coactivator proteins to regulate expression of hormone-responsive genes.

Hydration Effects on Skin Microstructure as Probed by High-Resolution Cryo-Scanning Electron Microscopy and Mechanistic Implications to Enhanced Transcutaneous Delivery of Biomacromolecules

PubMed Central

Tan, Grace; Xu, Peng; Lawson, Louise B.; He, Jibao; Freytag, Lucia C.; Clements, John D.; John, Vijay T.

2010-01-01

Although hydration is long known to improve the permeability of skin, penetration of macromolecules such as proteins is limited and the understanding of enhanced transport is based on empirical observations. This study uses high-resolution cryo-scanning electron microscopy to visualize microstructural changes in the stratum corneum (SC) and enable a mechanistic interpretation of biomacromolecule penetration through highly hydrated porcine skin. Swollen corneocytes, separation of lipid bilayers in the SC intercellular space to form cisternae, and networks of spherical particulates are observed in porcine skin tissue hydrated for a period of 4–10 h. This is explained through compaction of skin lipids when hydrated, a reversal in the conformational transition from unilamellar liposomes in lamellar granules to lamellae between keratinocytes when the SC skin barrier is initially established. Confocal microscopy studies show distinct enhancement in penetration of fluorescein isothiocyanate-bovine serum albumin (FITC-BSA) through skin hydrated for 4–10 h, and limited penetration of FITC-BSA once skin is restored to its natively hydrated structure when exposed to the environment for 2–3 h. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of a 4–10 h hydration period to enhance transcutaneous penetration of large biomacromolecules without permanently damaging the skin. PMID:19582754

An enhanced method to determine the Young’s modulus of technical single fibres by means of high resolution digital image correlation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huether, Jonas; Rupp, Peter; Kohlschreiber, Ina; André Weidenmann, Kay

2018-04-01

To obtain mechanical tensile properties of materials it is customary to equip the specimen directly with a device to measure strain and Young’s modulus correctly and only within the measuring length defined by the standards. Whereas a variety of tools such as extensometers, strain gauges and optical systems are available for specimens on coupon level, no market-ready tools to measure strains of single fibres during single fibre tensile tests are available. Although there is a standard for single fibre testing, the procedures described there are only capable of measuring strains of the whole testing setup rather than the strain of the fibre. Without a direct strain measurement on the specimen, the compliance of the test rig itself influences the determination of the Young’s modulus. This work aims to fill this gap by establishing an enhanced method to measure strains directly on the tested fibre and thus provide accurate values for Young’s modulus. It is demonstrated that by applying and then optically tracking fluorescing polymeric beads on single glass fibres, Young’s modulus is determined directly and with high repeatability, without a need to measure at different measuring lengths or compensating for the system compliance. Employing this method to glass fibres, a Young’s modulus of approximately 82.5 GPa was determined, which is in the range of values obtained by applying a conventional procedure. This enhanced measuring technology achieves high accuracy and repeatability while reducing scatter of the data. It was demonstrated that the fluorescing beads do not affect the fibre properties.

Increased Peptide Contacts Govern High Affinity Binding of a Modified TCR Whilst Maintaining a Native pMHC Docking Mode

PubMed Central

Cole, David K.; Sami, Malkit; Scott, Daniel R.; Rizkallah, Pierre J.; Borbulevych, Oleg Y.; Todorov, Penio T.; Moysey, Ruth K.; Jakobsen, Bent K.; Boulter, Jonathan M.; Baker, Brian M.; Yi Li

2013-01-01

Natural T cell receptors (TCRs) generally bind to their cognate pMHC molecules with weak affinity and fast kinetics, limiting their use as therapeutic agents. Using phage display, we have engineered a high affinity version of the A6 wild-type TCR (A6wt), specific for the human leukocyte antigen (HLA-A∗0201) complexed with human T cell lymphotropic virus type 111–19 peptide (A2-Tax). Mutations in just 4 residues in the CDR3β loop region of the A6wt TCR were selected that improved binding to A2-Tax by nearly 1000-fold. Biophysical measurements of this mutant TCR (A6c134) demonstrated that the enhanced binding was derived through favorable enthalpy and a slower off-rate. The structure of the free A6c134 TCR and the A6c134/A2-Tax complex revealed a native binding mode, similar to the A6wt/A2-Tax complex. However, concordant with the more favorable binding enthalpy, the A6c134 TCR made increased contacts with the Tax peptide compared with the A6wt/A2-Tax complex, demonstrating a peptide-focused mechanism for the enhanced affinity that directly involved the mutated residues in the A6c134 TCR CDR3β loop. This peptide-focused enhanced TCR binding may represent an important approach for developing antigen specific high affinity TCR reagents for use in T cell based therapies. PMID:23805144

Crystalline silicon photovoltaics via low-temperature TiO 2/Si and PEDOT/Si heterojunctions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nagamatsu, Ken Alfred

The most important goals in developing solar cell technology are to achieve high power conversion efficiencies and lower costs of manufacturing. Solar cells based on crystalline silicon currently dominate the market because they can achieve high efficiency. However, conventional p-n junction solar cells require high-temperature diffusions of dopants, and conventional heterojunction cells based on amorphous silicon require plasma-enhanced deposition, both of which can add manufacturing costs. This dissertation investigates an alternative approach, which is to form crystalline-silicon-based solar cells using heterojunctions with materials that are easily deposited at low temperatures and without plasma enhancement, such as organic semiconductors and metal oxides. We demonstrate a heterojunction between the organic polymer, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT), and crystalline silicon, which acts as a hole-selective contact and an alternative to a diffused p-n junction. We also present the use of a heterojunction between titanium dioxide and crystalline silicon as a passivating electron-selective contact. The Si/TiO2 heterojunction is demonstrated for the first time as a back-surface field in a crystalline silicon solar cell, and is incorporated into a PEDOT/Si device. The resulting PEDOT/Si/TiO2 solar cell represents an alternative to conventional silicon solar cells that rely on thermally-diffused junctions or plasma-deposited heterojunctions. Finally, we investigate the merits of using conductive networks of silver nanowires to enhance the photovoltaic performance of PEDOT/Si solar cells. The investigation of these materials and devices contributes to the growing body of work regarding crystalline silicon solar cells made with selective contacts.

Self-assembled gemcitabine-gadolinium nanoparticles for magnetic resonance imaging and cancer therapy.

PubMed

Li, Lele; Tong, Rong; Li, Mengyuan; Kohane, Daniel S

2016-03-01

Nanoparticles with combined diagnostic and therapeutic functions are promising tools for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Here, we demonstrate a theranostic nanoparticle that integrates an active gemcitabine metabolite and a gadolinium-based magnetic resonance imaging agent via a facile supramolecular self-assembly synthesis, where the anti-cancer drug gemcitabine-5'-monophosphate (a phosphorylated active metabolite of the anti-cancer drug gemcitabine) was used to coordinate with Gd(III) to self-assemble into theranostic nanoparticles. The formulation exhibits a strong T1 contrast signal for magnetic resonance imaging of tumors in vivo, with enhanced retention time. Furthermore, the nanoparticles did not require other inert nanocarriers or excipients and thus had an exceptionally high drug loading (55 wt%), resulting in the inhibition of MDA-MB-231 tumor growth in mice. Recent advances in nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems have spurred the development of "theranostic" multifunctional nanoparticles, which combine therapeutic and diagnostic functionalities in a single formulation. Developing simple and efficient synthetic strategies for the construction of nanotheranostics with high drug loading remains a challenge. Here, we demonstrate a theranostic nanoparticle that integrates high loadings of an active gemcitabine metabolite and a gadolinium-based magnetic resonance imaging agent via a facile synthesis. The nanoparticles were better T1 contrast agents than currently used Gd-DTPA and had prolonged retention in tumor. Moreover they exhibited enhanced in vivo antitumor activity compared to free drug in a breast cancer xenograft mouse model. The strategy provides a scalable way to fabricate nanoparticles that enables enhancement of both therapeutic and diagnostic capabilities. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

An Overview of an Experimental Demonstration Aerotow Program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Murray, James E.; Bowers, Albion H.; Lokos, William A.; Peters, Todd L.; Gera, Joseph

1998-01-01

An overview of an experimental demonstration of aerotowing a delta-wing airplane with low-aspect ratio and relatively high wing loading is presented. Aerotowing of future space launch configurations is a new concept, and the objective of the work described herein is to demonstrate the aerotow operation using an airplane configuration similar to conceptual space launch vehicles. Background information on the use of aerotow for a space launch vehicle is presented, and the aerotow system used in this demonstration is described. The ground tests, analytical studies, and flight planning used to predict system behavior and to enhance flight safety are detailed. The instrumentation suite and flight test maneuvers flown are discussed, preliminary performance is assessed, and flight test results are compared with the preflight predictions.

Unraveling the Raman Enhancement Mechanism on 1T'-Phase ReS2 Nanosheets.

PubMed

Miao, Peng; Qin, Jing-Kai; Shen, Yunfeng; Su, Huimin; Dai, Junfeng; Song, Bo; Du, Yunchen; Sun, Mengtao; Zhang, Wei; Wang, Hsing-Lin; Xu, Cheng-Yan; Xu, Ping

2018-04-01

2D transition metal dichalcogenides materials are explored as potential surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy substrates. Herein, a systematic study of the Raman enhancement mechanism on distorted 1T (1T') rhenium disulfide (ReS 2 ) nanosheets is demonstrated. Combined Raman and photoluminescence studies with the introduction of an Al 2 O 3 dielectric layer unambiguously reveal that Raman enhancement on ReS 2 materials is from a charge transfer process rather than from an energy transfer process, and Raman enhancement is inversely proportional while the photoluminescence quenching effect is proportional to the layer number (thickness) of ReS 2 nanosheets. On monolayer ReS 2 film, a strong resonance-enhanced Raman scattering effect dependent on the laser excitation energy is detected, and a detection limit as low as 10 -9 m can be reached from the studied dye molecules such as rhodamine 6G and methylene blue. Such a high enhancement factor achieved through enhanced charge interaction between target molecule and substrate suggests that with careful consideration of the layer-number-dependent feature and excitation-energy-related resonance effect, ReS 2 is a promising Raman enhancement platform for sensing applications. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Results of the Clarus demonstrations : evaluation of enhanced road weather forecasting enabled by Clarus.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2011-06-14

This document is the final report of an evaluation of Clarus-enabled enhanced road weather forecasting used in the Clarus Demonstrations. This report examines the use of Clarus data to enhance four types of weather models and forecasts: The Local Ana...

Combining Diffusion Tensor Metrics and DSC Perfusion Imaging: Can It Improve the Diagnostic Accuracy in Differentiating Tumefactive Demyelination from High-Grade Glioma?

PubMed

Hiremath, S B; Muraleedharan, A; Kumar, S; Nagesh, C; Kesavadas, C; Abraham, M; Kapilamoorthy, T R; Thomas, B

2017-04-01

Tumefactive demyelinating lesions with atypical features can mimic high-grade gliomas on conventional imaging sequences. The aim of this study was to assess the role of conventional imaging, DTI metrics ( p:q tensor decomposition), and DSC perfusion in differentiating tumefactive demyelinating lesions and high-grade gliomas. Fourteen patients with tumefactive demyelinating lesions and 21 patients with high-grade gliomas underwent brain MR imaging with conventional, DTI, and DSC perfusion imaging. Imaging sequences were assessed for differentiation of the lesions. DTI metrics in the enhancing areas and perilesional hyperintensity were obtained by ROI analysis, and the relative CBV values in enhancing areas were calculated on DSC perfusion imaging. Conventional imaging sequences had a sensitivity of 80.9% and specificity of 57.1% in differentiating high-grade gliomas ( P = .049) from tumefactive demyelinating lesions. DTI metrics ( p : q tensor decomposition) and DSC perfusion demonstrated a statistically significant difference in the mean values of ADC, the isotropic component of the diffusion tensor, the anisotropic component of the diffusion tensor, the total magnitude of the diffusion tensor, and rCBV among enhancing portions in tumefactive demyelinating lesions and high-grade gliomas ( P ≤ .02), with the highest specificity for ADC, the anisotropic component of the diffusion tensor, and relative CBV (92.9%). Mean fractional anisotropy values showed no significant statistical difference between tumefactive demyelinating lesions and high-grade gliomas. The combination of DTI and DSC parameters improved the diagnostic accuracy (area under the curve = 0.901). Addition of a heterogeneous enhancement pattern to DTI and DSC parameters improved it further (area under the curve = 0.966). The sensitivity increased from 71.4% to 85.7% after the addition of the enhancement pattern. DTI and DSC perfusion add profoundly to conventional imaging in differentiating tumefactive demyelinating lesions and high-grade gliomas. The combination of DTI metrics and DSC perfusion markedly improved diagnostic accuracy. © 2017 by American Journal of Neuroradiology.

Multiple Sensor Camera for Enhanced Video Capturing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nagahara, Hajime; Kanki, Yoshinori; Iwai, Yoshio; Yachida, Masahiko

A resolution of camera has been drastically improved under a current request for high-quality digital images. For example, digital still camera has several mega pixels. Although a video camera has the higher frame-rate, the resolution of a video camera is lower than that of still camera. Thus, the high-resolution is incompatible with the high frame rate of ordinary cameras in market. It is difficult to solve this problem by a single sensor, since it comes from physical limitation of the pixel transfer rate. In this paper, we propose a multi-sensor camera for capturing a resolution and frame-rate enhanced video. Common multi-CCDs camera, such as 3CCD color camera, has same CCD for capturing different spectral information. Our approach is to use different spatio-temporal resolution sensors in a single camera cabinet for capturing higher resolution and frame-rate information separately. We build a prototype camera which can capture high-resolution (2588×1958 pixels, 3.75 fps) and high frame-rate (500×500, 90 fps) videos. We also proposed the calibration method for the camera. As one of the application of the camera, we demonstrate an enhanced video (2128×1952 pixels, 90 fps) generated from the captured videos for showing the utility of the camera.