Subnanometer Molybdenum Sulfide on Carbon Nanotubes as a Highly Active and Stable Electrocatalyst for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.

PubMed

Li, Ping; Yang, Zhi; Shen, Juanxia; Nie, Huagui; Cai, Qiran; Li, Luhua; Ge, Mengzhan; Gu, Cancan; Chen, Xi'an; Yang, Keqin; Zhang, Lijie; Chen, Ying; Huang, Shaoming

2016-02-10

Electrochemically splitting water for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) has been viewed as a promising approach to produce renewable and clean hydrogen energy. However, searching for cheap and efficient HER electrocatalysts to replace the currently used Pt-based catalysts remains an urgent task. Herein, we develop a one-step carbon nanotube (CNT) assisted synthesis strategy with CNTs' strong adsorbability to mediate the growth of subnanometer-sized MoS(x) on CNTs. The subnanometer MoS(x)-CNT hybrids achieve a low overpotential of 106 mV at 10 mA cm(-2), a small Tafel slope of 37 mV per decade, and an unprecedentedly high turnover frequency value of 18.84 s(-1) at η = 200 mV among all reported non-Pt catalysts in acidic conditions. The superior performance of the hybrid catalysts benefits from the presence of a higher number of active sites and the abundant exposure of unsaturated S atoms rooted in the subnanometer structure, demonstrating a new class of subnanometer-scale catalysts.

Single molecule junction conductance and binding geometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kamenetska, Maria

This Thesis addresses the fundamental problem of controlling transport through a metal-organic interface by studying electronic and mechanical properties of single organic molecule-metal junctions. Using a Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM) we image, probe energy-level alignment and perform STM-based break junction (BJ) measurements on molecules bound to a gold surface. Using Scanning Tunneling Microscope-based break-junction (STM-BJ) techniques, we explore the effect of binding geometry on single-molecule conductance by varying the structure of the molecules, metal-molecule binding chemistry and by applying sub-nanometer manipulation control to the junction. These experiments are performed both in ambient conditions and in ultra high vacuum (UHV) at cryogenic temperatures. First, using STM imaging and scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) measurements we explore binding configurations and electronic properties of an amine-terminated benzene derivative on gold. We find that details of metal-molecule binding affect energy-level alignment at the interface. Next, using the STM-BJ technique, we form and rupture metal-molecule-metal junctions ˜104 times to obtain conductance-vs-extension curves and extract most likely conductance values for each molecule. With these measurements, we demonstrated that the control of junction conductance is possible through a choice of metal-molecule binding chemistry and sub-nanometer positioning. First, we show that molecules terminated with amines, sulfides and phosphines bind selectively on gold and therefore demonstrate constant conductance levels even as the junction is elongated and the metal-molecule attachment point is modified. Such well-defined conductance is also obtained with paracyclophane molecules which bind to gold directly through the pi system. Next, we are able to create metal-molecule-metal junctions with more than one reproducible conductance signatures that can be accessed by changing junction geometry. In the case of pyridine-linked molecules, conductance can be reliably switched between two distinct conductance states using sub-nanometer mechanical manipulation. Using a methyl sulfide linker attached to an oligoene backbone, we are able to create a 3-nm-long molecular potentiometer, whose resistance can be tuned exponentially with Angstom-scale modulations in metal-molecule configuration. These experiments points to a new paradigm for attaining reproducible electrical characteristics of metal-organic devices which involves controlling linker-metal chemistry rather than fabricating identically structured metal-molecule interfaces. By choosing a linker group which is either insensitive to or responds reproducibly to changes in metal-molecule configuration, one can design single molecule devices with functionality more complex than a simple resistor. These ambient temperature experiments were combined with UHV conductance measurements performed in a commercial STM on amine-terminated benzene derivatives which conduct through a non-resonant tunneling mechanism, at temperatures varying from 5 to 300 Kelvin. Our results indicate that while amine-gold binding remains selective irrespective of environment, conductance is not temperature independent, in contrast to what is expected for a tunneling mechanism. Furthermore, using temperature-dependent measurements in ambient conditions we find that HOMO-conducting amines and LUMO-conducting pyridines show opposite dependence of conductance on temperature. These results indicate that energy-level alignment between the molecule and the electrodes changes as a result of varying electrode structure at different temperatures. We find that temperature can serve as a knob with which to tune transport properties of single molecule-metal junctions.

High resolution thickness measurements of ultrathin Si:P monolayers using weak localization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hagmann, Joseph A.; Wang, Xiqiao; Namboodiri, Pradeep; Wyrick, Jonathan; Murray, Roy; Stewart, M. D.; Silver, Richard M.; Richter, Curt A.

2018-01-01

The key building blocks for the fabrication of devices based on the deterministic placement of dopants in silicon using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) hydrogen lithography are the formation of well-defined dopant delta-layers and the overgrowth of high quality crystalline Si. To develop these capabilities, it is of critical importance to quantify dopant movement in the sub-nanometer regime. To this end, we investigate Si:P delta-layer samples produced by fully exposing a Si surface to PH3 prior to Si encapsulation with dramatically different levels of dopant confinement. We examine the effect of delta layer confinement on the weak localization signal in parallel and perpendicular magnetic fields and extract the delta-layer thickness from fits to the Hikami-Larkin-Nagaoka equation. We find good agreement with secondary ion mass spectroscopy measurements and demonstrate the applicability of this method in the sub-nanometer thickness regime. Our analysis serves as detailed instruction for the determination of the conducting layer thickness of a Si:P delta-layer by means of a high-throughput, nondestructive electrical transport measurement.

Imaging single cells in a beam of live cyanobacteria with an X-ray laser.

PubMed

van der Schot, Gijs; Svenda, Martin; Maia, Filipe R N C; Hantke, Max; DePonte, Daniel P; Seibert, M Marvin; Aquila, Andrew; Schulz, Joachim; Kirian, Richard; Liang, Mengning; Stellato, Francesco; Iwan, Bianca; Andreasson, Jakob; Timneanu, Nicusor; Westphal, Daniel; Almeida, F Nunes; Odic, Dusko; Hasse, Dirk; Carlsson, Gunilla H; Larsson, Daniel S D; Barty, Anton; Martin, Andrew V; Schorb, Sebastian; Bostedt, Christoph; Bozek, John D; Rolles, Daniel; Rudenko, Artem; Epp, Sascha; Foucar, Lutz; Rudek, Benedikt; Hartmann, Robert; Kimmel, Nils; Holl, Peter; Englert, Lars; Duane Loh, Ne-Te; Chapman, Henry N; Andersson, Inger; Hajdu, Janos; Ekeberg, Tomas

2015-02-11

There exists a conspicuous gap of knowledge about the organization of life at mesoscopic levels. Ultra-fast coherent diffractive imaging with X-ray free-electron lasers can probe structures at the relevant length scales and may reach sub-nanometer resolution on micron-sized living cells. Here we show that we can introduce a beam of aerosolised cyanobacteria into the focus of the Linac Coherent Light Source and record diffraction patterns from individual living cells at very low noise levels and at high hit ratios. We obtain two-dimensional projection images directly from the diffraction patterns, and present the results as synthetic X-ray Nomarski images calculated from the complex-valued reconstructions. We further demonstrate that it is possible to record diffraction data to nanometer resolution on live cells with X-ray lasers. Extension to sub-nanometer resolution is within reach, although improvements in pulse parameters and X-ray area detectors will be necessary to unlock this potential.

In-Plane Multimagnetron Approach

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

Johnson, Grant E.; Laskin, Julia

2017-04-01

Nanoparticles (NPs) and sub-nanometer clusters containing controlled amounts of different atoms are of interest for a variety of potential applications including catalysis,1, 2 optics,3, 4 magnetics,5-7 sensors,8, 9 and biotheraputics.10, 11 Alloy NPs may possess enhanced physical and chemical properties compared to single metal species due to the additional interplay between their different elemental components. By reducing the quantity of expensive precious metals in alloy NPs by substituting cheaper base metals, it may also be possible to achieve equivalent or even superior performance to pure noble metal NPs for applications such as heterogeneous catalysis at substantially reduced material costs.12 Inmore » addition, alloying of elements that are immiscible in bulk form is possible in NPs because the enthalpy of mixing decreases and becomes negative at small particle sizes.13, 14 As a result, a substantially broader array of alloy species may be generated in the form of NPs and sub-nanometer clusters.« less

Depth-resolved dual-beamlet vibrometry based on Fourier domain low coherence interferometry

PubMed Central

Choudhury, Niloy; Chen, Fangyi; Wang, Ruikang K.; Jacques, Steven L.; Nuttall, Alfred L.

2013-01-01

Abstract. We present an optical vibrometer based on delay-encoded, dual-beamlet phase-sensitive Fourier domain interferometric system to provide depth-resolved subnanometer scale vibration information from scattering biological specimens. System characterization, calibration, and preliminary vibrometry with biological specimens were performed. The proposed system has the potential to provide both amplitude and direction of vibration of tissue microstructures on a single two-dimensional plane. PMID:23455961

Probing Gap Plasmons Down to Subnanometer Scales Using Collapsible Nanofingers

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

Song, Boxiang; Yao, Yuhan; Groenewald, Roelof E.

Gap plasmonic nanostructures are of great interest due to their ability to concentrate light into small volumes. Theoretical studies, considering quantum mechanical effects, have predicted the optimal spatial gap between adjacent nanoparticles to be in the subnanometer regime in order to achieve the strongest possible field enhancement. In this paper, we present a technology to fabricate gap plasmonic structures with subnanometer resolution, high reliability, and high throughput using collapsible nanofingers. This approach enables us to systematically investigate the effects of gap size and tunneling barrier height. Finally, the experimental results are consistent with previous findings as well as with amore » straightforward theoretical model that is presented here.« less

Probing Gap Plasmons Down to Subnanometer Scales Using Collapsible Nanofingers

DOE PAGES

Song, Boxiang; Yao, Yuhan; Groenewald, Roelof E.; ...

2017-06-09

Gap plasmonic nanostructures are of great interest due to their ability to concentrate light into small volumes. Theoretical studies, considering quantum mechanical effects, have predicted the optimal spatial gap between adjacent nanoparticles to be in the subnanometer regime in order to achieve the strongest possible field enhancement. In this paper, we present a technology to fabricate gap plasmonic structures with subnanometer resolution, high reliability, and high throughput using collapsible nanofingers. This approach enables us to systematically investigate the effects of gap size and tunneling barrier height. Finally, the experimental results are consistent with previous findings as well as with amore » straightforward theoretical model that is presented here.« less

Is It Homogeneous or Heterogeneous Catalysis Derived from [RhCp*Cl2]2? In Operando-XAFS, Kinetic and Crucial Kinetic Poisoning Evidence for Subnanometer Rh4 Cluster-Based Benzene Hydrogenation Catalysis

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

Bayram, Ercan; Linehan, John C.; Fulton, John L.

2011-11-23

Determining the true, kinetically dominant catalytically active species, in the classic benzene hydrogenation system pioneered by Maitlis and co-workers 34 years ago starting with [RhCp*Cl2]2 (Cp* = [{eta}5-C5(CH3)5]), has proven to be one of the most challenging case studies in the quest to distinguish single-metal-based 'homogeneous' from polymetallic, 'heterogeneous' catalysis. The reason, this study will show, is the previous failure to use the proper combination of (i) operando spectroscopy to determine the dominant form(s) of the precatalyst's mass under catalysis (i.e., operating) conditions, plus then and crucially also (ii) the previous lack of the necessary kinetic studies, catalysis being amore » 'wholly kinetic phenomenon' as J. Halpern long ago noted. An important contribution from this study will be to reveal the power of quantitiative kinetic poisoning experiments for distinguishing single-metal, or in this case subnanometer Rh4 cluster-based catalysis from larger, polymetallic Rh(0)n nanoparticle catalysis, at least under favorable conditions. The combined operando-XAFS (X-ray absorption fine structure) spectroscopy and kinetic evidences provide a compelling case for Rh4-based, with average stoichiometry 'Rh4Cp*2.4Cl4Hc', benzene hydrogenation catalysis in 2-propanol with added Et3N and at 100 C and 50 atm initial H2 pressure. The results also reveal, however, that if even ca. 1.4% of the total soluble Rh(0)n had formed nanoparticles, then those Rh(0)n nanoparticles would have been able to account for all the observed benzene hydrogenation catalytic rate (using commercial, ca. 2 nm, polyethyleneglycol-dodecylether hydrosol stabilized Rh(0)n nanoparticles as a model system). The results 'especially the poisoning methodology developed and employed' are of significant, broader interest since determining the nature of the true catalyst continues to be a central, often vexing issue in any and all catalytic reactions. The results are also of fundamental interest in that they add to a growing body of evidence indicating that certain, appropriately ligated, coordinatively unsaturated, subnanometer M4 transition-metal clusters can be relatively robust catalysts. Also demonstrated herein is that Rh4 clusters are poisoned by Hg(0), demonstrating for the first time that the classic Hg(0) poisoning test of 'homogeneous' vs 'heterogeneous'catalysts cannot distinguish Rh4-based subnanometer catalysts from Rh(0)n nanoparticle catalysts, at least for the present examples of these two specific, Rh-based catalysts.« less

Frequency noise suppression of a single mode laser with an unbalanced fiber interferometer for subnanometer interferometry.

PubMed

Šmíd, Radek; Čížek, Martin; Mikel, Břetislav; Číp, Ondřej

2015-01-12

We present a method of noise suppression of laser diodes by an unbalanced Michelson fiber interferometer. The unstabilized laser source is represented by compact planar waveguide external cavity laser module, ORIONTM (Redfern Integrated Optics, Inc.), working at 1540.57 nm with a 1.5-kHz linewidth. We built up the unbalanced Michelson interferometer with a 2.09 km-long arm based on the standard telecommunication single-mode fiber (SMF-28) spool to suppress the frequency noise by the servo-loop control by 20 dB to 40 dB within the Fourier frequency range, remaining the tuning range of the laser frequency.

Nanoposition sensors with superior linear response to position and unlimited travel ranges

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Sheng-Chiang; Peters, Randall D.

2009-04-01

With the advancement in nanotechnology, the ability of positioning/measuring at subnanometer scale has been one of the most critical issues for the nanofabrication industry and researchers using scanning probe microscopy. Commercial nanopositioners have achieved direct measurements at the scale of 0.01 nm with capacitive sensing metrology. However, the commercial sensors have small dynamic ranges (up to only a few hundred micrometers) and are relatively large in size (centimeters in the transverse directions to the motion), which is necessary for healthy signal detections but making it difficult to use on smaller devices. This limits applications in which large materials (on the scale of centimeters or greater) are handled with needs of subnanometer resolutions. What has been done in the past is to combine the fine and coarse translation stages with different dynamic ranges to simultaneously achieve long travel range and high spatial resolution. In this paper, we present a novel capacitive position sensing metrology with ultrawide dynamic range from subnanometer to literally any practically desired length for a translation stage. This sensor will greatly simplify the task and enhance the performance of direct metrology in a hybrid translational stage covering translation tasks from subnanometer to centimeters.

Single-atom Catalysis Using Pt/Graphene Achieved through Atomic Layer Deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Shuhui; Zhang, Gaixia; Gauquelin, Nicolas; Chen, Ning; Zhou, Jigang; Yang, Songlan; Chen, Weifeng; Meng, Xiangbo; Geng, Dongsheng; Banis, Mohammad N.; Li, Ruying; Ye, Siyu; Knights, Shanna; Botton, Gianluigi A.; Sham, Tsun-Kong; Sun, Xueliang

2013-05-01

Platinum-nanoparticle-based catalysts are widely used in many important chemical processes and automobile industries. Downsizing catalyst nanoparticles to single atoms is highly desirable to maximize their use efficiency, however, very challenging. Here we report a practical synthesis for isolated single Pt atoms anchored to graphene nanosheet using the atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique. ALD offers the capability of precise control of catalyst size span from single atom, subnanometer cluster to nanoparticle. The single-atom catalysts exhibit significantly improved catalytic activity (up to 10 times) over that of the state-of-the-art commercial Pt/C catalyst. X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) analyses reveal that the low-coordination and partially unoccupied densities of states of 5d orbital of Pt atoms are responsible for the excellent performance. This work is anticipated to form the basis for the exploration of a next generation of highly efficient single-atom catalysts for various applications.

Single-atom Catalysis Using Pt/Graphene Achieved through Atomic Layer Deposition

PubMed Central

Sun, Shuhui; Zhang, Gaixia; Gauquelin, Nicolas; Chen, Ning; Zhou, Jigang; Yang, Songlan; Chen, Weifeng; Meng, Xiangbo; Geng, Dongsheng; Banis, Mohammad N.; Li, Ruying; Ye, Siyu; Knights, Shanna; Botton, Gianluigi A.; Sham, Tsun-Kong; Sun, Xueliang

2013-01-01

Platinum-nanoparticle-based catalysts are widely used in many important chemical processes and automobile industries. Downsizing catalyst nanoparticles to single atoms is highly desirable to maximize their use efficiency, however, very challenging. Here we report a practical synthesis for isolated single Pt atoms anchored to graphene nanosheet using the atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique. ALD offers the capability of precise control of catalyst size span from single atom, subnanometer cluster to nanoparticle. The single-atom catalysts exhibit significantly improved catalytic activity (up to 10 times) over that of the state-of-the-art commercial Pt/C catalyst. X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) analyses reveal that the low-coordination and partially unoccupied densities of states of 5d orbital of Pt atoms are responsible for the excellent performance. This work is anticipated to form the basis for the exploration of a next generation of highly efficient single-atom catalysts for various applications.

Cryo-Electron Microscopy of Viruses Infecting Bacterium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chiu, Wah

2010-03-01

Single particle cryo-EM can yield structures of infectious bacterial viruses with and without imposed icosahedral symmetry at subnanometer resolution. Reconstructions of infectious and empty phage particles show substantial differences in the portal vertex protein complex at one of the 12 pentameric vertices in the icosahedral virus particle through which the viral genomes are packaged or released. In addition, electron cryo-tomography of viruses during infecting its bacterial host cell displayed multiple conformations of the tail fiber of the virus. Our structural observations by single particle and tomographic reconstructions suggest a mechanism whereby the viral tail fibers, upon binding to the host cell, induce a cascade of structural alterations of the portal vertex protein complex that triggers DNA release.

Frequency Noise Suppression of a Single Mode Laser with an Unbalanced Fiber Interferometer for Subnanometer Interferometry

PubMed Central

Šmíd, Radek; Čížek, Martin; Mikel, Břetislav; Číp, Ondřej

2015-01-01

We present a method of noise suppression of laser diodes by an unbalanced Michelson fiber interferometer. The unstabilized laser source is represented by compact planar waveguide external cavity laser module, ORIONTM (Redfern Integrated Optics, Inc.), working at 1540.57 nm with a 1.5-kHz linewidth. We built up the unbalanced Michelson interferometer with a 2.09 km-long arm based on the standard telecommunication single-mode fiber (SMF-28) spool to suppress the frequency noise by the servo-loop control by 20 dB to 40 dB within the Fourier frequency range, remaining the tuning range of the laser frequency. PMID:25587980

Absolute Distance Measurement with the MSTAR Sensor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lay, Oliver P.; Dubovitsky, Serge; Peters, Robert; Burger, Johan; Ahn, Seh-Won; Steier, William H.; Fetterman, Harrold R.; Chang, Yian

2003-01-01

The MSTAR sensor (Modulation Sideband Technology for Absolute Ranging) is a new system for measuring absolute distance, capable of resolving the integer cycle ambiguity of standard interferometers, and making it possible to measure distance with sub-nanometer accuracy. The sensor uses a single laser in conjunction with fast phase modulators and low frequency detectors. We describe the design of the system - the principle of operation, the metrology source, beamlaunching optics, and signal processing - and show results for target distances up to 1 meter. We then demonstrate how the system can be scaled to kilometer-scale distances.

Photomask quality evaluation using lithography simulation and precision SEM image contour data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Murakawa, Tsutomu; Fukuda, Naoki; Shida, Soichi; Iwai, Toshimichi; Matsumoto, Jun; Nakamura, Takayuki; Hagiwara, Kazuyuki; Matsushita, Shohei; Hara, Daisuke; Adamov, Anthony

2012-11-01

To evaluate photomask quality, the current method uses spatial imaging by optical inspection tools. This technique at 1Xnm node has a resolution limit because small defects will be difficult to extract. To simulate the mask error-enhancement factor (MEEF) influence for aggressive OPC in 1Xnm node, wide FOV contour data and tone information are derived from high precision SEM images. For this purpose we have developed a new contour data extraction algorithm with sub-nanometer accuracy resulting in a wide Field of View (FOV) SEM image: (for example, more than 10um x 10um square). We evaluated MEEF influence of high-end photomask pattern using the wide FOV contour data of "E3630 MVM-SEMTM" and lithography simulator "TrueMaskTM DS" of D2S, Inc. As a result, we can detect the "invisible defect" as the MEEF influence using the wide FOV contour data and lithography simulator.

Imaging and Force Recognition of Single Molecular Behaviors Using Atomic Force Microscopy

PubMed Central

Li, Mi; Dang, Dan; Liu, Lianqing; Xi, Ning; Wang, Yuechao

2017-01-01

The advent of atomic force microscopy (AFM) has provided a powerful tool for investigating the behaviors of single native biological molecules under physiological conditions. AFM can not only image the conformational changes of single biological molecules at work with sub-nanometer resolution, but also sense the specific interactions of individual molecular pair with piconewton force sensitivity. In the past decade, the performance of AFM has been greatly improved, which makes it widely used in biology to address diverse biomedical issues. Characterizing the behaviors of single molecules by AFM provides considerable novel insights into the underlying mechanisms guiding life activities, contributing much to cell and molecular biology. In this article, we review the recent developments of AFM studies in single-molecule assay. The related techniques involved in AFM single-molecule assay were firstly presented, and then the progress in several aspects (including molecular imaging, molecular mechanics, molecular recognition, and molecular activities on cell surface) was summarized. The challenges and future directions were also discussed. PMID:28117741

Imaging proteins at the single-molecule level.

PubMed

Longchamp, Jean-Nicolas; Rauschenbach, Stephan; Abb, Sabine; Escher, Conrad; Latychevskaia, Tatiana; Kern, Klaus; Fink, Hans-Werner

2017-02-14

Imaging single proteins has been a long-standing ambition for advancing various fields in natural science, as for instance structural biology, biophysics, and molecular nanotechnology. In particular, revealing the distinct conformations of an individual protein is of utmost importance. Here, we show the imaging of individual proteins and protein complexes by low-energy electron holography. Samples of individual proteins and protein complexes on ultraclean freestanding graphene were prepared by soft-landing electrospray ion beam deposition, which allows chemical- and conformational-specific selection and gentle deposition. Low-energy electrons do not induce radiation damage, which enables acquiring subnanometer resolution images of individual proteins (cytochrome C and BSA) as well as of protein complexes (hemoglobin), which are not the result of an averaging process.

Imaging proteins at the single-molecule level

PubMed Central

Longchamp, Jean-Nicolas; Rauschenbach, Stephan; Abb, Sabine; Escher, Conrad; Latychevskaia, Tatiana; Kern, Klaus; Fink, Hans-Werner

2017-01-01

Imaging single proteins has been a long-standing ambition for advancing various fields in natural science, as for instance structural biology, biophysics, and molecular nanotechnology. In particular, revealing the distinct conformations of an individual protein is of utmost importance. Here, we show the imaging of individual proteins and protein complexes by low-energy electron holography. Samples of individual proteins and protein complexes on ultraclean freestanding graphene were prepared by soft-landing electrospray ion beam deposition, which allows chemical- and conformational-specific selection and gentle deposition. Low-energy electrons do not induce radiation damage, which enables acquiring subnanometer resolution images of individual proteins (cytochrome C and BSA) as well as of protein complexes (hemoglobin), which are not the result of an averaging process. PMID:28087691

Thermometry with Subnanometer Resolution in the Electron Microscope Using the Principle of Detailed Balancing.

PubMed

Lagos, Maureen J; Batson, Philip E

2018-06-13

We measure phonon energy gain and loss down to 20 meV in a single nanostructure using an atom-wide monochromatic electron beam. We show that the bulk and surface, energy loss and energy gain processes obey the principle of detailed balancing in nanostructured systems at thermal equilibrium. By plotting the logarithm of the ratio of the loss and gain bulk/surface scattering as a function of the excitation energy, we find a linear behavior, expected from detailed balance arguments. Since that universal linearity scales with the inverse of the nanosystem temperature only, we can measure the temperature of the probed object with precision down to about 1 K without reference to the nanomaterial. We also show that subnanometer spatial resolution (down to ∼2 Å) can be obtained using highly localized acoustic phonon scattering. The surface phonon polariton signal can also be used to measure the temperature near the nanostructure surfaces, but with unavoidable averaging over several nanometers. Comparison between transmission and aloof probe configurations suggests that our method exhibits noninvasive characteristics. Our work demonstrates the validity of the principle of detailed balancing within nanoscale materials at thermal equilibrium, and it describes a transparent method to measure nanoscale temperature, thus representing an advance in the development of a noninvasive method for measurements with angstrom resolution.

Subnanometer Motion of Cargoes Driven by Thermal Gradients Along Carbon Nanotubes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barreiro, Amelia; Rurali, Riccardo; Hernández, Eduardo R.; Moser, Joel; Pichler, Thomas; Forró, László; Bachtold, Adrian

2008-05-01

An important issue in nanoelectromechanical systems is developing small electrically driven motors. We report on an artificial nanofabricated motor in which one short carbon nanotube moves relative to another coaxial nanotube. A cargo is attached to an ablated outer wall of a multiwalled carbon nanotube that can rotate and/or translate along the inner nanotube. The motion is actuated by imposing a thermal gradient along the nanotube, which allows for subnanometer displacements, as opposed to an electromigration or random walk effect.

Activation of surface lattice oxygen in single-atom Pt/CeO 2 for low-temperature CO oxidation

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

Nie, Lei; Mei, Donghai; Xiong, Haifeng

While single-atom catalysts can provide high catalytic activity and selectivity, application in industrial catalysts demands long term performance and the ability to regenerate the catalysts. We have investigated the factors that lead to improved catalytic activity of a Pt/CeO2 catalyst for low temperature CO oxidation. Single-atom Pt/CeO2 becomes active for CO oxidation under lean condition only at elevated temperatures, because CO is strongly bound to ionic Pt sites. Reducing the catalyst, even under mild conditions, leads to onset of CO oxidation activity even at room temperature. This high activity state involves the transformation of mononuclear Pt species to sub-nanometer sizedmore » Pt particles. Under oxidizing conditions, the Pt can be restored to its stable, single-atom state. The key to facile regeneration is the ability to create mobile Pt species and suitable trapping sites on the support, making this a prototypical catalyst system for industrial application of single-atom catalysis.« less

Subnanometer and nanometer catalysts, method for preparing size-selected catalysts

DOEpatents

Vajda, Stefan , Pellin, Michael J.; Elam, Jeffrey W [Elmhurst, IL; Marshall, Christopher L [Naperville, IL; Winans, Randall A [Downers Grove, IL; Meiwes-Broer, Karl-Heinz [Roggentin, GR

2012-04-03

Highly uniform cluster based nanocatalysts supported on technologically relevant supports were synthesized for reactions of top industrial relevance. The Pt-cluster based catalysts outperformed the very best reported ODHP catalyst in both activity (by up to two orders of magnitude higher turn-over frequencies) and in selectivity. The results clearly demonstrate that highly dispersed ultra-small Pt clusters precisely localized on high-surface area supports can lead to affordable new catalysts for highly efficient and economic propene production, including considerably simplified separation of the final product. The combined GISAXS-mass spectrometry provides an excellent tool to monitor the evolution of size and shape of nanocatalyst at action under realistic conditions. Also provided are sub-nanometer gold and sub-nanometer to few nm size-selected silver catalysts which possess size dependent tunable catalytic properties in the epoxidation of alkenes. Invented size-selected cluster deposition provides a unique tool to tune material properties by atom-by-atom fashion, which can be stabilized by protective overcoats.

Subnanometer and nanometer catalysts, method for preparing size-selected catalysts

DOEpatents

Vajda, Stefan [Lisle, IL; Pellin, Michael J [Naperville, IL; Elam, Jeffrey W [Elmhurst, IL; Marshall, Christopher L [Naperville, IL; Winans, Randall A [Downers Grove, IL; Meiwes-Broer, Karl-Heinz [Roggentin, GR

2012-03-27

Highly uniform cluster based nanocatalysts supported on technologically relevant supports were synthesized for reactions of top industrial relevance. The Pt-cluster based catalysts outperformed the very best reported ODHP catalyst in both activity (by up to two orders of magnitude higher turn-over frequencies) and in selectivity. The results clearly demonstrate that highly dispersed ultra-small Pt clusters precisely localized on high-surface area supports can lead to affordable new catalysts for highly efficient and economic propene production, including considerably simplified separation of the final product. The combined GISAXS-mass spectrometry provides an excellent tool to monitor the evolution of size and shape of nanocatalyst at action under realistic conditions. Also provided are sub-nanometer gold and sub-nanometer to few nm size-selected silver catalysts which possess size dependent tunable catalytic properties in the epoxidation of alkenes. Invented size-selected cluster deposition provides a unique tool to tune material properties by atom-by-atom fashion, which can be stabilized by protective overcoats.

Cryogenic colocalization microscopy for nanometer-distance measurements.

PubMed

Weisenburger, Siegfried; Jing, Bo; Hänni, Dominik; Reymond, Luc; Schuler, Benjamin; Renn, Alois; Sandoghdar, Vahid

2014-03-17

The main limiting factor in spatial resolution of localization microscopy is the number of detected photons. Recently we showed that cryogenic measurements improve the photostability of fluorophores, giving access to Angstrom precision in localization of single molecules. Here, we extend this method to colocalize two fluorophores attached to well-defined positions of a double-stranded DNA. By measuring the separations of the fluorophore pairs prepared at different design positions, we verify the feasibility of cryogenic distance measurement with sub-nanometer accuracy. We discuss the important challenges of our method as well as its potential for further improvement and various applications.

The edge- and basal-plane-specific electrochemistry of a single-layer graphene sheet

PubMed Central

Yuan, Wenjing; Zhou, Yu; Li, Yingru; Li, Chun; Peng, Hailin; Zhang, Jin; Liu, Zhongfan; Dai, Liming; Shi, Gaoquan

2013-01-01

Graphene has a unique atom-thick two-dimensional structure and excellent properties, making it attractive for a variety of electrochemical applications, including electrosynthesis, electrochemical sensors or electrocatalysis, and energy conversion and storage. However, the electrochemistry of single-layer graphene has not yet been well understood, possibly due to the technical difficulties in handling individual graphene sheet. Here, we report the electrochemical behavior at single-layer graphene-based electrodes, comparing the basal plane of graphene to its edge. The graphene edge showed 4 orders of magnitude higher specific capacitance, much faster electron transfer rate and stronger electrocatalytic activity than those of graphene basal plane. A convergent diffusion effect was observed at the sub-nanometer thick graphene edge-electrode to accelerate the electrochemical reactions. Coupling with the high conductivity of a high-quality graphene basal plane, graphene edge is an ideal electrode for electrocatalysis and for the storage of capacitive charges. PMID:23896697

Synthesis of Highly Active Sub-Nanometer Pt@Rh Core-Shell Nanocatalyst via a Photochemical Route: Porous Titania Nanoplates as a Superior Photoactive Support.

PubMed

Zhan, Wen-Wen; Zhu, Qi-Long; Dang, Song; Liu, Zheng; Kitta, Mitsunori; Suenaga, Kazutomo; Zheng, Lan-Sun; Xu, Qiang

2017-04-01

Sub-nanometer Pt@Rh nanoparticles highly dispersed on MIL-125-derived porous TiO 2 nanoplates are successfully prepared for the first time by a photochemical route, where the porous TiO 2 nanoplates with a relatively high specific surface area play a dual role as both effective photoreductant and catalyst support. The resulting Pt@Rh/p-TiO 2 can be utilized as a highly active catalyst. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Acoustical and optical radiation pressure and the development of single beam acoustical tweezers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thomas, Jean-Louis; Marchiano, Régis; Baresch, Diego

2017-07-01

Studies on radiation pressure in acoustics and optics have enriched one another and have a long common history. Acoustic radiation pressure is used for metrology, levitation, particle trapping and actuation. However, the dexterity and selectivity of single-beam optical tweezers are still to be matched with acoustical devices. Optical tweezers can trap, move and position micron size particles, biological samples or even atoms with subnanometer accuracy in three dimensions. One limitation of optical tweezers is the weak force that can be applied without thermal damage due to optical absorption. Acoustical tweezers overcome this limitation since the radiation pressure scales as the field intensity divided by the speed of propagation of the wave. However, the feasibility of single beam acoustical tweezers was demonstrated only recently. In this paper, we propose a historical review of the strong similarities but also the specificities of acoustical and optical radiation pressures, from the expression of the force to the development of single-beam acoustical tweezers.

Subnanometer Cobalt-Hydroxide-Anchored N-Doped Carbon Nanotube Forest for Bifunctional Oxygen Catalyst.

PubMed

Kim, Ji Eun; Lim, Joonwon; Lee, Gil Yong; Choi, Sun Hee; Maiti, Uday Narayan; Lee, Won Jun; Lee, Ho Jin; Kim, Sang Ouk

2016-01-27

Electrochemical oxygen redox reactions are the crucial elements for energy conversion and storage including fuel cells and metal air batteries. Despite tremendous research efforts, developing high-efficient, low-cost, and durable bifunctional oxygen catalysts remains a major challenge. We report a new class of hybrid material consisting of subnanometer thick amorphous cobalt hydroxide anchored on NCNT as a durable ORR/OER bifunctional catalyst. Although amorphous cobalt species-based catalysts are known as good OER catalysts, hybridizing with NCNT successfully enhanced ORR activity by promoting a 4e reduction pathway. Abundant charge carriers in amorphous cobalt hydroxide are found to trigger the superior OER activity with high current density and low Tafel slope as low as 36 mV/decade. A remarkably high OER turnover frequency (TOF) of 2.3 s(-1) at an overpotential of 300 mV was obtained, one of the highest values reported so far. Moreover, the catalytic activity was maintained over 120 h of cycling. The unique subnanometer scale morphology of amorphous hydroxide cobalt species along with intimate cobalt species-NCNT interaction minimizes the deactivation of catalyst during prolonged repeated cycles.

Observation of a Rare Earth Ion–Extractant Complex Arrested at the Oil–Water Interface During Solvent Extraction

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

Bu, Wei; Yu, Hao; Luo, Guangming

2014-09-11

Selective extraction of metal ions from a complex aqueous mixture into an organic phase is used to separate toxic or radioactive metals from polluted environments and nuclear waste, as well as to produce industrially relevant metals, such as rare earth ions. Selectivity arises from the choice of an extractant amphiphile, dissolved in the organic phase, which interacts preferentially with the target metal ion. The extractant-mediated process of ion transport from an aqueous to an organic phase takes place at the aqueous–organic interface; nevertheless, little is known about the molecular mechanism of this process despite its importance. Although state-of-the-art X-ray scatteringmore » is uniquely capable of probing molecular ordering at a liquid–liquid interface with subnanometer spatial resolution, utilizing this capability to investigate interfacial dynamical processes of short temporal duration remains a challenge. We show that a temperature-driven adsorption transition can be used to turn the extraction on and off by controlling adsorption and desorption of extractants at the oil–water interface. Lowering the temperature through this transition immobilizes a supramolecular ion–extractant complex at the interface during the extraction of rare earth erbium ions. Under the conditions of these experiments, the ion–extractant complexes condense into a two-dimensional inverted bilayer, which is characterized on the molecular scale with synchrotron X-ray reflectivity and fluorescence measurements. Raising the temperature above the transition leads to Er ion extraction as a result of desorption of ion–extractant complexes from the interface into the bulk organic phase. XAFS measurements of the ion–extractant complexes in the bulk organic phase demonstrate that they are similar to the interfacial complexes.« less

Signature of hydrophobic hydration in a single polymer

PubMed Central

Li, Isaac T. S.; Walker, Gilbert C.

2011-01-01

Hydrophobicity underpins self-assembly in many natural and synthetic molecular and nanoscale systems. A signature of hydrophobicity is its temperature dependence. The first experimental evaluation of the temperature and size dependence of hydration free energy in a single hydrophobic polymer is reported, which tests key assumptions in models of hydrophobic interactions in protein folding. Herein, the hydration free energy required to extend three hydrophobic polymers with differently sized aromatic side chains was directly measured by single molecule force spectroscopy. The results are threefold. First, the hydration free energy per monomer is found to be strongly dependent on temperature and does not follow interfacial thermodynamics. Second, the temperature dependence profiles are distinct among the three hydrophobic polymers as a result of a hydrophobic size effect at the subnanometer scale. Third, the hydration free energy of a monomer on a macromolecule is different from a free monomer; corrections for the reduced hydration free energy due to hydrophobic interaction from neighboring units are required. PMID:21911397

Fast, High Resolution, and Wide Modulus Range Nanomechanical Mapping with Bimodal Tapping Mode.

PubMed

Kocun, Marta; Labuda, Aleksander; Meinhold, Waiman; Revenko, Irène; Proksch, Roger

2017-10-24

Tapping mode atomic force microscopy (AFM), also known as amplitude modulated (AM) or AC mode, is a proven, reliable, and gentle imaging mode with widespread applications. Over the several decades that tapping mode has been in use, quantification of tip-sample mechanical properties such as stiffness has remained elusive. Bimodal tapping mode keeps the advantages of single-frequency tapping mode while extending the technique by driving and measuring an additional resonant mode of the cantilever. The simultaneously measured observables of this additional resonance provide the additional information necessary to extract quantitative nanomechanical information about the tip-sample mechanics. Specifically, driving the higher cantilever resonance in a frequency modulated (FM) mode allows direct measurement of the tip-sample interaction stiffness and, with appropriate modeling, the set point-independent local elastic modulus. Here we discuss the advantages of bimodal tapping, coined AM-FM imaging, for modulus mapping. Results are presented for samples over a wide modulus range, from a compliant gel (∼100 MPa) to stiff materials (∼100 GPa), with the same type of cantilever. We also show high-resolution (subnanometer) stiffness mapping of individual molecules in semicrystalline polymers and of DNA in fluid. Combined with the ability to remain quantitative even at line scan rates of nearly 40 Hz, the results demonstrate the versatility of AM-FM imaging for nanomechanical characterization in a wide range of applications.

Stability, resolution, and ultra-low wear amplitude modulation atomic force microscopy of DNA: Small amplitude small set-point imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Santos, Sergio; Barcons, Victor; Christenson, Hugo K.; Billingsley, Daniel J.; Bonass, William A.; Font, Josep; Thomson, Neil H.

2013-08-01

A way to operate fundamental mode amplitude modulation atomic force microscopy is introduced which optimizes stability and resolution for a given tip size and shows negligible tip wear over extended time periods (˜24 h). In small amplitude small set-point (SASS) imaging, the cantilever oscillates with sub-nanometer amplitudes in the proximity of the sample, without the requirement of using large drive forces, as the dynamics smoothly lead the tip to the surface through the water layer. SASS is demonstrated on single molecules of double-stranded DNA in ambient conditions where sharp silicon tips (R ˜ 2-5 nm) can resolve the right-handed double helix.

High-Resolution “Fleezers”: Dual-Trap Optical Tweezers Combined with Single-Molecule Fluorescence Detection

PubMed Central

Whitley, Kevin D.; Comstock, Matthew J.; Chemla, Yann R.

2017-01-01

Recent advances in optical tweezers have greatly expanded their measurement capabilities. A new generation of hybrid instrument that combines nanomechanical manipulation with fluorescence detection—fluorescence optical tweezers, or “fleezers”—is providing a powerful approach to study complex macromolecular dynamics. Here, we describe a combined high-resolution optical trap/confocal fluorescence microscope that can simultaneously detect sub-nanometer displacements, sub-piconewton forces, and single-molecule fluorescence signals. The primary technical challenge to these hybrid instruments is how to combine both measurement modalities without sacrificing the sensitivity of either one. We present general design principles to overcome this challenge and provide detailed, step-by-step instructions to implement them in the construction and alignment of the instrument. Lastly, we present a set of protocols to perform a simple, proof-of-principle experiment that highlights the instrument capabilities. PMID:27844430

A tunable single-monochromator Raman system based on the supercontinuum laser and tunable filters for resonant Raman profile measurements.

PubMed

Liu, X-L; Liu, H-N; Tan, P-H

2017-08-01

Resonant Raman spectroscopy requires that the wavelength of the laser used is close to that of an electronic transition. A tunable laser source and a triple spectrometer are usually necessary for resonant Raman profile measurements. However, such a system is complex with low signal throughput, which limits its wide application by scientific community. Here, a tunable micro-Raman spectroscopy system based on the supercontinuum laser, transmission grating, tunable filters, and single-stage spectrometer is introduced to measure the resonant Raman profile. The supercontinuum laser in combination with transmission grating makes a tunable excitation source with a bandwidth of sub-nanometer. Such a system exhibits continuous excitation tunability and high signal throughput. Its good performance and flexible tunability are verified by resonant Raman profile measurement of twisted bilayer graphene, which demonstrates its potential application prospect for resonant Raman spectroscopy.

TEMPORAL EVOLUTION OF SUB-NANOMETER COMPOSITIONAL PROFILES ACROSS THE GAMMA/GAMMA' INTERFACE IN A MODEL Ni-Al-Cr SUPERALLOY

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sudbrack, Chantal K.; Noebe, Ronald D.; Seidman, David N.

2005-01-01

Early-stage phase separation in a Ni-5.2 Al-14.2 Cr at.% superalloy, isothermally decomposing at 873 K, is investigated with atom-probe tomography. Sub-nanometer scale compositional profiles across the gamma/gamma'(L12) interfaces demonstrate that both the gamma-matrix and the gamma'-precipitate compositions evolve with time. Observed chemical gradients of Al depletion and Cr enrichment adjacent to the gamma'-precipitates are transient, consistent with well-established model predictions for diffusion-limited growth, and mark the first detailed observation of this phenomenon. Furthermore, it is shown that Cr atoms are kinetically trapped in the growing precipitates.

Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis at a Low Pressure on Subnanometer Cobalt Oxide Clusters: The Effect of Cluster Size and Support on Activity and Selectivity

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

Lee, Sungsik; Lee, Byeongdu; Seifert, Sönke

2015-05-21

In this study, the catalytic activity and changes in the oxidation state during the Fischer Tropsch (FT) reaction was investigated on subnanometer size-selected cobalt clusters deposited on oxide (Al2O3, MgO) and carbon-based (ultrananocrystalline diamond UNCD) supports by temperature programmed reaction (TPRx) combined with in-situ grazing-incidence X-ray absorption characterization (GIXAS). The activity and selectivity of ultrasmall cobalt clusters exhibits a very strong dependence on cluster size and support. The evolution of the oxidation state of metal cluster during the reaction reveals that metal-support interaction plays a key role in the reaction.

Ultrafast selective transport of alkali metal ions in metal organic frameworks with subnanometer pores

PubMed Central

Zhang, Huacheng; Hou, Jue; Hu, Yaoxin; Wang, Peiyao; Ou, Ranwen; Jiang, Lei; Liu, Jefferson Zhe; Freeman, Benny D.; Hill, Anita J.; Wang, Huanting

2018-01-01

Porous membranes with ultrafast ion permeation and high ion selectivity are highly desirable for efficient mineral separation, water purification, and energy conversion, but it is still a huge challenge to efficiently separate monatomic ions of the same valence and similar sizes using synthetic membranes. We report metal organic framework (MOF) membranes, including ZIF-8 and UiO-66 membranes with uniform subnanometer pores consisting of angstrom-sized windows and nanometer-sized cavities for ultrafast selective transport of alkali metal ions. The angstrom-sized windows acted as ion selectivity filters for selection of alkali metal ions, whereas the nanometer-sized cavities functioned as ion conductive pores for ultrafast ion transport. The ZIF-8 and UiO-66 membranes showed a LiCl/RbCl selectivity of ~4.6 and ~1.8, respectively, which are much greater than the LiCl/RbCl selectivity of 0.6 to 0.8 measured in traditional porous membranes. Molecular dynamics simulations suggested that ultrafast and selective ion transport in ZIF-8 was associated with partial dehydration effects. This study reveals ultrafast and selective transport of monovalent ions in subnanometer MOF pores and opens up a new avenue to develop unique MOF platforms for efficient ion separations in the future. PMID:29487910

Ultrafast selective transport of alkali metal ions in metal organic frameworks with subnanometer pores.

PubMed

Zhang, Huacheng; Hou, Jue; Hu, Yaoxin; Wang, Peiyao; Ou, Ranwen; Jiang, Lei; Liu, Jefferson Zhe; Freeman, Benny D; Hill, Anita J; Wang, Huanting

2018-02-01

Porous membranes with ultrafast ion permeation and high ion selectivity are highly desirable for efficient mineral separation, water purification, and energy conversion, but it is still a huge challenge to efficiently separate monatomic ions of the same valence and similar sizes using synthetic membranes. We report metal organic framework (MOF) membranes, including ZIF-8 and UiO-66 membranes with uniform subnanometer pores consisting of angstrom-sized windows and nanometer-sized cavities for ultrafast selective transport of alkali metal ions. The angstrom-sized windows acted as ion selectivity filters for selection of alkali metal ions, whereas the nanometer-sized cavities functioned as ion conductive pores for ultrafast ion transport. The ZIF-8 and UiO-66 membranes showed a LiCl/RbCl selectivity of ~4.6 and ~1.8, respectively, which are much greater than the LiCl/RbCl selectivity of 0.6 to 0.8 measured in traditional porous membranes. Molecular dynamics simulations suggested that ultrafast and selective ion transport in ZIF-8 was associated with partial dehydration effects. This study reveals ultrafast and selective transport of monovalent ions in subnanometer MOF pores and opens up a new avenue to develop unique MOF platforms for efficient ion separations in the future.

Simulation-based Discovery of Cyclic Peptide Nanotubes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ruiz Pestana, Luis A.

Today, there is a growing need for environmentally friendly synthetic membranes with selective transport capabilities to address some of society's most pressing issues, such as carbon dioxide pollution, or access to clean water. While conventional membranes cannot stand up to the challenge, thin nanocomposite membranes, where vertically aligned subnanometer pores (e.g. nanotubes) are embedded in a thin polymeric film, promise to overcome some of the current limitations, namely, achieving a monodisperse distribution of subnanometer size pores, vertical pore alignment across the membrane thickness, and tunability of the pore surface chemistry. Self-assembled cyclic peptide nanotubes (CPNs), are particularly promising as selective nanopores because the pore size can be controlled at the subnanometer level, exhibit high chemical design flexibility, and display remarkable mechanical stability. In addition, when conjugated with polymer chains, the cyclic peptides can co-assemble in block copolymer domains to form nanoporous thin films. CPNs are thus well positioned to tackle persistent challenges in molecular separation applications. However, our poor understanding of the physics underlying their remarkable properties prevents the rational design and implementation of CPNs in technologically relevant membranes. In this dissertation, we use a simulation-based approach, in particular molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, to investigate the critical knowledge gaps hindering the implementation of CPNs. Computational mechanical tests show that, despite the weak nature of the stabilizing hydrogen bonds and the small cross section, CPNs display a Young's modulus of approximately 20 GPa and a maximum strength of around 1 GPa, placing them among the strongest proteinaceous materials known. Simulations of the self-assembly process reveal that CPNs grow by self-similar coarsening, contrary to other low-dimensional peptide systems, such as amyloids, that are believed to grow through nucleation and elongation. We also establish a generic route that does not require complex chemical synthesis pathways or elaborated design rules to direct the self-assembly of binary mixtures of polymer conjugated cyclic peptides towards nanotubes with specific stripped patterns. The study of the molecular transport properties shows that bioinspired single point amino acid mutations can be effectively used to regulate the ion flow rate over an order of magnitude depending on the size and polarity of the functional groups inserted in the nanotube lumen. Our computational framework circumvents synthetic challenges, and lays the foundation for developing artificial nanochannels for separation applications.

Regulating Ion Transport in Peptide Nanotubes by Tailoring the Nanotube Lumen Chemistry.

PubMed

Ruiz, Luis; Benjamin, Ari; Sullivan, Matthew; Keten, Sinan

2015-05-07

We use atomistic nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations to demonstrate how specific ionic flux in peptide nanotubes can be regulated by tailoring the lumen chemistry through single amino acid substitutions. By varying the size and polarity of the functional group inserted into the nanotube interior, we are able to adjust the Na(+) flux by over an order of magnitude. Cl(-) is consistently denied passage. Bulky, nonpolar groups encourage interactions between the Na(+) and the peptide backbone carbonyl groups, disrupting the Na(+) solvation shell and slowing the transport of Na(+). Small groups have the opposite effect and accelerate flow. These results suggest that relative ion flux and selectivity can be precisely regulated in subnanometer pores by molecularly defining the lumen according to biological principles.

In Situ Study of Silicon Electrode Lithiation with X-ray Reflectivity

DOE PAGES

Cao, Chuntian; Steinrück, Hans-Georg; Shyam, Badri; ...

2016-10-26

Surface sensitive X-ray reflectivity (XRR) measurements were performed to investigate the electrochemical lithiation of a native oxide terminated single crystalline silicon (100) electrode in real time during the first galvanostatic discharge cycle. This allows us to gain nanoscale, mechanistic insight into the lithiation of Si and the formation of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). We describe an electrochemistry cell specifically designed for in situ XRR studies and have determined the evolution of the electron density profile of the lithiated Si layer (Li xSi) and the SEI layer with subnanometer resolution. We propose a three-stage lithiation mechanism with a reaction limited,more » layer-by-layer lithiation of the Si at the Li xSi/Si interface.« less

Figuring large optics at the sub-nanometer level: compensation for coating and gravity distortions.

PubMed

Gensemer, Stephen; Gross, Mark

2015-11-30

Large, precision optics can now be manufactured with surface figures specified at the sub-nanometer level. However, coatings and gravity deform large optics, and there are limits to what can be corrected by clever compensation. Instead, deformations caused by stress from optical mounts and deposited coatings must be incorporated into the optical design. We demonstrate compensation of coating stress on a 370mm substrate to λ/200 by a process of coating and annealing. We also model the same process and identify the leading effects that must be anticipated in fabrication of optics for future gravitational wave detectors and other applications of large, precisely figured optics, and identify the limitations inherent in using coatings to compensate for these deformations.

Sub-nanometer surface chemistry and orbital hybridization in lanthanum-doped ceria nano-catalysts revealed by 3D electron microscopy.

PubMed

Collins, Sean M; Fernandez-Garcia, Susana; Calvino, José J; Midgley, Paul A

2017-07-14

Surface chemical composition, electronic structure, and bonding characteristics determine catalytic activity but are not resolved for individual catalyst particles by conventional spectroscopy. In particular, the nano-scale three-dimensional distribution of aliovalent lanthanide dopants in ceria catalysts and their effect on the surface electronic structure remains unclear. Here, we reveal the surface segregation of dopant cations and oxygen vacancies and observe bonding changes in lanthanum-doped ceria catalyst particle aggregates with sub-nanometer precision using a new model-based spectroscopic tomography approach. These findings refine our understanding of the spatially varying electronic structure and bonding in ceria-based nanoparticle aggregates with aliovalent cation concentrations and identify new strategies for advancing high efficiency doped ceria nano-catalysts.

Unraveling the mechanism of selective ion transport in hydrophobic subnanometer channels.

PubMed

Li, Hui; Francisco, Joseph S; Zeng, Xiao Cheng

2015-09-01

Recently reported synthetic organic nanopore (SONP) can mimic a key feature of natural ion channels, i.e., selective ion transport. However, the physical mechanism underlying the K(+)/Na(+) selectivity for the SONPs is dramatically different from that of natural ion channels. To achieve a better understanding of the selective ion transport in hydrophobic subnanometer channels in general and SONPs in particular, we perform a series of ab initio molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the diffusivity of aqua Na(+) and K(+) ions in two prototype hydrophobic nanochannels: (i) an SONP with radius of 3.2 Å, and (ii) single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with radii of 3-5 Å (these radii are comparable to those of the biological potassium K(+) channels). We find that the hydration shell of aqua Na(+) ion is smaller than that of aqua K(+) ion but notably more structured and less yielding. The aqua ions do not lower the diffusivity of water molecules in CNTs, but in SONP the diffusivity of aqua ions (Na(+) in particular) is strongly suppressed due to the rugged inner surface. Moreover, the aqua Na(+) ion requires higher formation energy than aqua K(+) ion in the hydrophobic nanochannels. As such, we find that the ion (K(+) vs. Na(+)) selectivity of the (8, 8) CNT is ∼20× higher than that of SONP. Hence, the (8, 8) CNT is likely the most efficient artificial K(+) channel due in part to its special interior environment in which Na(+) can be fully solvated, whereas K(+) cannot. This work provides deeper insights into the physical chemistry behind selective ion transport in nanochannels.

Electronic Structure Control of Sub-nanometer 1D SnTe via Nanostructuring within Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes.

PubMed

Vasylenko, Andrij; Marks, Samuel; Wynn, Jamie M; Medeiros, Paulo V C; Ramasse, Quentin M; Morris, Andrew J; Sloan, Jeremy; Quigley, David

2018-05-25

Nanostructuring, e. g., reduction of dimensionality in materials, offers a viable route toward regulation of materials electronic and hence functional properties. Here, we present the extreme case of nanostructuring, exploiting the capillarity of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) for the synthesis of the smallest possible SnTe nanowires with cross sections as thin as a single atom column. We demonstrate that by choosing the appropriate diameter of a template SWCNT, we can manipulate the structure of the quasi-one-dimensional (1D) SnTe to design electronic behavior. From first principles, we predict the structural re-formations that SnTe undergoes in varying encapsulations and confront the prediction with TEM imagery. To further illustrate the control of physical properties by nanostructuring, we study the evolution of transport properties in a homologous series of models of synthesized and isolated SnTe nanowires varying only in morphology and atomic layer thickness. This extreme scaling is predicted to significantly enhance thermoelectric performance of SnTe, offering a prospect for further experimental studies and future applications.

Fabrication of Subnanometer-Precision Nanopores in Hexagonal Boron Nitride

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

Gilbert, S. Matt; Dunn, Gabriel; Azizi, Amin

Here, we demonstrate the fabrication of individual nanopores in hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) with atomically precise control of the pore shape and size. Previous methods of pore production in other 2D materials typically create pores with irregular geometry and imprecise diameters. In contrast, other studies have shown that with careful control of electron irradiation, defects in h-BN grow with pristine zig-zag edges at quantized triangular sizes, but they have failed to demonstrate production and control of isolated defects. In this work, we combine these techniques to yield a method in which we can create individual size-quantized triangular nanopores through anmore » h-BN sheet. The pores are created using the electron beam of a conventional transmission electron microscope; which can strip away multiple layers of h-BN exposing single-layer regions, introduce single vacancies, and preferentially grow vacancies only in the single-layer region. We further demonstrate how the geometry of these pores can be altered beyond triangular by changing beam conditions. Precisely size- and geometry-tuned nanopores could find application in molecular sensing, DNA sequencing, water desalination, and molecular separation.« less

Fabrication of Subnanometer-Precision Nanopores in Hexagonal Boron Nitride

DOE PAGES

Gilbert, S. Matt; Dunn, Gabriel; Azizi, Amin; ...

2017-11-08

Here, we demonstrate the fabrication of individual nanopores in hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) with atomically precise control of the pore shape and size. Previous methods of pore production in other 2D materials typically create pores with irregular geometry and imprecise diameters. In contrast, other studies have shown that with careful control of electron irradiation, defects in h-BN grow with pristine zig-zag edges at quantized triangular sizes, but they have failed to demonstrate production and control of isolated defects. In this work, we combine these techniques to yield a method in which we can create individual size-quantized triangular nanopores through anmore » h-BN sheet. The pores are created using the electron beam of a conventional transmission electron microscope; which can strip away multiple layers of h-BN exposing single-layer regions, introduce single vacancies, and preferentially grow vacancies only in the single-layer region. We further demonstrate how the geometry of these pores can be altered beyond triangular by changing beam conditions. Precisely size- and geometry-tuned nanopores could find application in molecular sensing, DNA sequencing, water desalination, and molecular separation.« less

Absolute measurement of subnanometer scale vibration of cochlear partition of an excised guinea pig cochlea using spectral-domain phase-sensitive optical coherence tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Subhash, Hrebesh M.; Choudhury, Niloy; Jacques, Steven L.; Wang, Ruikang K.; Chen, Fangyi; Zha, Dingjun; Nuttall, Alfred L.

2012-01-01

Direct measurement of absolute vibration parameters from different locations within the mammalian organ of Corti is crucial for understanding the hearing mechanics such as how sound propagates through the cochlea and how sound stimulates the vibration of various structures of the cochlea, namely, basilar membrane (BM), recticular lamina, outer hair cells and tectorial membrane (TM). In this study we demonstrate the feasibility a modified phase-sensitive spectral domain optical coherence tomography system to provide subnanometer scale vibration information from multiple angles within the imaging beam. The system has the potential to provide depth resolved absolute vibration measurement of tissue microstructures from each of the delay-encoded vibration images with a noise floor of ~0.3nm at 200Hz.

Toward highly sensitive surface-enhanced Raman scattering: the design of a 3D hybrid system with monolayer graphene sandwiched between silver nanohole arrays and gold nanoparticles.

PubMed

Zhao, Yuan; Yang, Dong; Li, Xiyu; Liu, Yu; Hu, Xiang; Zhou, Dianfa; Lu, Yalin

2017-01-19

We report a novel graphene-metal hybrid system by introducing monolayer graphene between gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) and silver nanohole (Ag NH) arrays. The design incorporates three key advantages to promote the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensing capacity: (i) making full use of the single-atomic feature of graphene for generating uniform sub-nanometer spaces; (ii) maintaining the bottom layer of Ag nanoarrays with an ordered manner for facilitating the transfer of graphene films and assembly of the top layer of Au NPs; (iii) integrating the advantages of the strong plasmonic effect of Ag, the chemical stability of Au, as well as the mechanical flexibility and biological compatibility of graphene. In this configuration, the plasmonic properties can be fine-tuned by separately optimizing the horizontal or vertical gaps between the metal NPs. Exactly, sub-20 nm spaces between the horizontally patterned Ag tips constructed by adjacent Ag NHs, and sub-nanometer scale graphene gaps between the vertically distributed Au NP-Ag NH have been achieved. Finite element numerical simulations demonstrate that the multi-dimensional plasmonic couplings (including the Au NP-Au NP, Au NP-Ag NH and Ag NH-Ag NH couplings) promote for the hybrid platform an electric field enhancement up to 137 times. Impressively, the as-prepared 3D Au NP-graphene-Ag NH array hybrid structure manifests ultrahigh SERS sensitivity with a detection limit of 10 -13 M for R6G molecules, as well as good reproducibility and stability. This work represents a step towards high-performance SERS substrate fabrication, and opens up a new route for graphene-plasmonic hybrids in SERS applications.

Unraveling the mechanism of selective ion transport in hydrophobic subnanometer channels

PubMed Central

Li, Hui; Francisco, Joseph S.; Zeng, Xiao Cheng

2015-01-01

Recently reported synthetic organic nanopore (SONP) can mimic a key feature of natural ion channels, i.e., selective ion transport. However, the physical mechanism underlying the K+/Na+ selectivity for the SONPs is dramatically different from that of natural ion channels. To achieve a better understanding of the selective ion transport in hydrophobic subnanometer channels in general and SONPs in particular, we perform a series of ab initio molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the diffusivity of aqua Na+ and K+ ions in two prototype hydrophobic nanochannels: (i) an SONP with radius of 3.2 Å, and (ii) single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with radii of 3–5 Å (these radii are comparable to those of the biological potassium K+ channels). We find that the hydration shell of aqua Na+ ion is smaller than that of aqua K+ ion but notably more structured and less yielding. The aqua ions do not lower the diffusivity of water molecules in CNTs, but in SONP the diffusivity of aqua ions (Na+ in particular) is strongly suppressed due to the rugged inner surface. Moreover, the aqua Na+ ion requires higher formation energy than aqua K+ ion in the hydrophobic nanochannels. As such, we find that the ion (K+ vs. Na+) selectivity of the (8, 8) CNT is ∼20× higher than that of SONP. Hence, the (8, 8) CNT is likely the most efficient artificial K+ channel due in part to its special interior environment in which Na+ can be fully solvated, whereas K+ cannot. This work provides deeper insights into the physical chemistry behind selective ion transport in nanochannels. PMID:26283377

Assessing the concept of structure sensitivity or insensitivity for sub-nanometer catalyst materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Crampton, Andrew S.; Rötzer, Marian D.; Ridge, Claron J.; Yoon, Bokwon; Schweinberger, Florian F.; Landman, Uzi; Heiz, Ueli

2016-10-01

The nature of the nano-catalyzed hydrogenation of ethylene, yielding benchmark information pertaining to the concept of structure sensitivity/insensitivity and its applicability at the bottom of the catalyst particle size-range, is explored with experiments on size-selected Ptn (n = 7-40) clusters soft-landed on MgO, in conjunction with first-principles simulations. As in the case of larger particles both the direct ethylene hydrogenation channel and the parallel hydrogenation-dehydrogenation ethylidyne-producing route must be considered, with the fundamental uncovering that at the < 1 nm size-scale the reaction exhibits characteristics consistent with structure sensitivity, in contrast to the structure insensitivity found for larger particles. In this size-regime, the chemical properties can be modulated and tuned by a single atom, reflected by the onset of low temperature hydrogenation at T > 150 K catalyzed by Ptn (n ≥ 10) clusters, with maximum room temperature reactivity observed for Pt13 using a pulsed molecular beam technique. Structure insensitive behavior, inherent for specific cluster sizes at ambient temperatures, can be induced in the more active sizes, e.g. Pt13, by a temperature increase, up to 400 K, which opens dehydrogenation channels leading to ethylidyne formation. This reaction channel was, however found to be attenuated on Pt20, as catalyst activity remained elevated after the 400 K step. Pt30 displayed behavior which can be understood from extrapolating bulk properties to this size range; in particular the calculated d-band center. In the non-scalable sub-nanometer size regime, however, precise control of particle size may be used for atom-by-atom tuning and manipulation of catalyzed hydrogenation activity and selectivity.

Subnanometer Ga2O3 tunnelling layer by atomic layer deposition to achieve 1.1 V open-circuit potential in dye-sensitized solar cells.

PubMed

Chandiran, Aravind Kumar; Tetreault, Nicolas; Humphry-Baker, Robin; Kessler, Florian; Baranoff, Etienne; Yi, Chenyi; Nazeeruddin, Mohammad Khaja; Grätzel, Michael

2012-08-08

Herein, we present the first use of a gallium oxide tunnelling layer to significantly reduce electron recombination in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSC). The subnanometer coating is achieved using atomic layer deposition (ALD) and leading to a new DSC record open-circuit potential of 1.1 V with state-of-the-art organic D-π-A sensitizer and cobalt redox mediator. After ALD of only a few angstroms of Ga(2)O(3), the electron back reaction is reduced by more than an order of magnitude, while charge collection efficiency and fill factor are increased by 30% and 15%, respectively. The photogenerated exciton separation processes of electron injection into the TiO(2) conduction band and the hole injection into the electrolyte are characterized in detail.

Reaction of positronium with doped ions in silica-based glasses in the size determination of subnanometer structural open spaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Inoue, K.; Kataoka, H.; Nagai, Y.; Hasegawa, M.; Kobayashi, Y.

2013-10-01

Positron annihilation spectroscopy is employed to estimate the size of subnanometer-scale open spaces in insulating materials. In most cases, the size is estimated from the lifetime of long-lived ortho-positronium (o-Ps) by pickoff annihilation using a simplified model. However, reactions of Ps with surrounding electrons other than the pickoff reaction, such as spin conversion or chemical reaction, could give a substantially underestimated size using the simplified model. In the present paper, we report that the size of the open spaces can be evaluated correctly by the angular correlation of positron annihilation radiation (ACAR) with a magnetic field using the spin-polarization effect on Ps formation, even if such reactions of Ps occur in the material. This method is applied to the subnanometer-scale structural open spaces of silica-based glass doped with Fe. We demonstrate the influence of the Ps reaction on size-estimation of the open spaces from the o-Ps lifetime. Furthermore, the type of reaction, whether spin conversion or chemical, is distinguished from the magnetic field dependence of the Ps self-annihilation component intensity in the ACAR spectra. The Ps reaction in silica-based glass doped with Fe is a chemical reaction (most likely oxidation) rather than spin conversion, with Fe ions. The chemical quenching rate with Fe ions is determined from the dependence of the o-Ps lifetime on the Fe content.

Determination of the dominant catalyst derived from the classic [RhCp*Cl₂]₂ precatalyst system: Is it single-metal Rh₁Cp*-based, subnanometer Rh₄ cluster-based, or Rh(0) n nanoparticle-based cyclohexene hydrogenation catalysis at room temperature and mild pressures?

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

Bayram, Ercan; Linehan, John C.; Fulton, John L.

Determining the kinetically dominant catalyst in a given catalytic system is a forefront topic in catalysis. The [RhCp*Cl₂]₂ (Cp* =[η⁵-C₅(CH₃)₅]) system pioneered by Maitlis and co-workers is a classic precatalyst system from which homogeneous mononuclear Rh₁, subnanometer Rh₄ cluster, and heterogeneous polymetallic Rh(0) n nanoparticle have all arisen as viable candidates for the true hydrogenation catalyst, depending on the precise substrate, H₂ pressure, temperature, and catalyst concentration conditions. Addressed herein is the question of whether the prior assignment of homogeneous, mononuclear Rh₁Cp*-based catalysis is correct, or are trace Rh₄ subnanometer clusters or possibly Rh(0) n nanoparticles the dominant, actualmore » cyclohexene hydrogenation catalyst at 22 °C and 2.7 atm initial H₂ pressure? The observation herein of Rh₄ species by in operando-X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy, at the only slightly more vigorous conditions of 26 °C and 8.3 atm H₂ pressure, and the confirmation of Rh₄ clusters by ex situ mass spectroscopy raises the question of the dominant, room temperature, and mild pressure cyclohexene hydrogenation catalyst derived from the classic [RhCp*Cl₂]₂ precatalyst pioneered by Maitlis and co-workers. Ten lines of evidence are provided herein to address the nature of the true room temperature and mild pressure cyclohexene hydrogenation catalyst derived from [RhCp*Cl₂]₂. Especially significant among those experiments are quantitative catalyst poisoning experiments, in the present case using 1,10-phenanthroline. Those poisoning studies allow one to distinguish mononuclear Rh₁, subnanometer Rh₄ cluster, and Rh(0) n nanoparticle catalysis hypotheses. The evidence obtained provides a compelling case for a mononuclear, Rh₁Cp*-based cyclohexene hydrogenation catalyst at 22 °C and 2.7 atm H₂ pressure. The resultant methodology, especially the quantitative catalyst poisoning experiments in combination with in operando spectroscopy, is expected to be more broadly applicable to the study of other systems and the “what is the true catalyst?” question. The authors would like to thank Finke Group members and Prof. Saim Ö zkar for their valuable input as this work was proceeding. This work was supported at Colorado State University by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Division of Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences, vial DOE Grant SE-FG402-03ER15453. The work at PNNL was also supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Division of Chemical Sciences, Geo-sciences & Biosciences. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is a multiprogram national laboratory operated for the DOE by Battelle. XSD/PNC facilities at the Advanced Photon Source and research at these facilities are supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Basic Energy Sciences; a Major Resources Support Grant from NSERC; the University of Washington; the Canadian Light Source; and the Advanced Photon Source. Use of the Advanced Photon Source, an Office of Science User Facility operated for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science by Argonne National Laboratory was supported by the U.S. DOE under Contract No. DE-AC02- 06CH11357.« less

Single resonance monolithic Fabry-Perot filters formed by volume Bragg gratings and multilayer dielectric mirrors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lumeau, Julien; Koc, Cihan; Mokhun, Oleksiy; Smirnov, Vadim; Lequime, Michel; Glebov, Leonid B.

2012-02-01

High efficiency reflecting volume Bragg gratings (VBGs) recorded in PTR glass plates have shown un-preceded performances that make them very good candidates for narrowband spectral filtering with sub-nanometer spectral widths. However, decreasing the bandwidth to value below 30-50 pm is very challenging as it requires increasing the thickness of the RBG to more than 15-20 mm. To overcome this limitation, we propose a new approach which is a monolithic Fabry-Perot cavity which consists from a reflecting VBG with a multilayer dielectric mirror (MDM) deposited on its surface. A VBG with a grating vector perpendicular to its surface and a MDM produce a Fabry-Perot resonator with a single transmission band inside of the reflection spectrum of the VBG. We present a theoretical description of this new class of filters that allow achieving a single ultra-narrowband resonance associated with several hundred nanometers rejection band. Then we show the methods for designing and fabricating such filter. Finally, we present the steps that we followed in order to fabricate a first prototype for 852 nm and 1062 nm region that demonstrates a 30 pm bandwidth, 90+% transmission at resonance and a good agreement with theoretical simulation.

MSTAR: an absolute metrology sensor with sub-micron accuracy for space-based applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Peters, Robert D.; Lay, Oliver P.; Dubovitsky, Serge; Burger, Johan P.; Jeganathan, Muthu

2004-01-01

The MSTAR sensor is a new system for measuring absolute distance, capable of resolving the integer cycle ambiguity of standard interferometers, and making it possible to measure distance with subnanometer accuracy.

Complex biomembrane mimetics on the sub-nanometer scale

DOE PAGES

Heberle, Frederick A.; Pabst, Georg

2017-07-17

Biomimetic lipid vesicles are indispensable tools for gaining insight into the biophysics of cell physiology on the molecular level. The level of complexity of these model systems has steadily increased, and now spans from domain forming lipid mixtures to asymmetric lipid bilayers. We review recent progress in the development and application of elastic neutron and X-ray scattering techniques for studying these systems in situ and under physiologically relevant conditions on the nanometer to sub-nanometer length scales. Particularly we focus on: (i) structural details of coexisting liquid-ordered and liquid-disordered domains, including their thickness and lipid packing mismatch as a function ofmore » a size transition from nanoscopic to macroscopic domains; (ii) membrane-mediated protein partitioning into lipid domains; (iii) the role of the aqueous medium in tuning interactions between membranes and domains; and (iv) leaflet specific structure in asymmetric bilayers and passive lipid flip-flop.« less

Complex biomembrane mimetics on the sub-nanometer scale

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

Heberle, Frederick A.; Pabst, Georg

Biomimetic lipid vesicles are indispensable tools for gaining insight into the biophysics of cell physiology on the molecular level. The level of complexity of these model systems has steadily increased, and now spans from domain forming lipid mixtures to asymmetric lipid bilayers. We review recent progress in the development and application of elastic neutron and X-ray scattering techniques for studying these systems in situ and under physiologically relevant conditions on the nanometer to sub-nanometer length scales. Particularly we focus on: (i) structural details of coexisting liquid-ordered and liquid-disordered domains, including their thickness and lipid packing mismatch as a function ofmore » a size transition from nanoscopic to macroscopic domains; (ii) membrane-mediated protein partitioning into lipid domains; (iii) the role of the aqueous medium in tuning interactions between membranes and domains; and (iv) leaflet specific structure in asymmetric bilayers and passive lipid flip-flop.« less

Differential optical shadow sensor for sub-nanometer displacement measurement and its application to drag-free satellites.

PubMed

Zoellner, Andreas; Tan, Si; Saraf, Shailendhar; Alfauwaz, Abdul; DeBra, Dan; Buchman, Sasha; Lipa, John A

2017-10-16

We present a method for 3D sub-nanometer displacement measurement using a set of differential optical shadow sensors. It is based on using pairs of collimated beams on opposite sides of an object that are partially blocked by it. Applied to a sphere, our 3-axis sensor module consists of 8 parallel beam-detector sets for redundancy. The sphere blocks half of each beam's power in the nominal centered position, and any displacement can be measured by the differential optical power changes amongst the pairs of detectors. We have experimentally demonstrated a displacement sensitivity of 0.87nm/Hz at 1 Hz and 0.39nm/Hz at 10 Hz. We describe the application of the module to the inertial sensor of a drag-free satellite, which can potentially be used for navigation, geodesy and fundamental science experiments as well as ground based applications.

High-Speed Scanning Interferometer Using CMOS Image Sensor and FPGA Based on Multifrequency Phase-Tracking Detection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ohara, Tetsuo

2012-01-01

A sub-aperture stitching optical interferometer can provide a cost-effective solution for an in situ metrology tool for large optics; however, the currently available technologies are not suitable for high-speed and real-time continuous scan. NanoWave s SPPE (Scanning Probe Position Encoder) has been proven to exhibit excellent stability and sub-nanometer precision with a large dynamic range. This same technology can transform many optical interferometers into real-time subnanometer precision tools with only minor modification. The proposed field-programmable gate array (FPGA) signal processing concept, coupled with a new-generation, high-speed, mega-pixel CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) image sensor, enables high speed (>1 m/s) and real-time continuous surface profiling that is insensitive to variation of pixel sensitivity and/or optical transmission/reflection. This is especially useful for large optics surface profiling.

Effect of Electric Field Gradient on Sub-nanometer Spatial Resolution of Tip-enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

PubMed Central

Meng, Lingyan; Yang, Zhilin; Chen, Jianing; Sun, Mengtao

2015-01-01

Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) with sub-nanometer spatial resolution has been recently demonstrated experimentally. However, the physical mechanism underlying is still under discussion. Here we theoretically investigate the electric field gradient of a coupled tip-substrate system. Our calculations suggest that the ultra-high spatial resolution of TERS can be partially attributed to the electric field gradient effect owning to its tighter spatial confinement and sensitivity to the infrared (IR)-active of molecules. Particularly, in the case of TERS of flat-lying H2TBPP molecules,we find the electric field gradient enhancement is the dominating factor for the high spatial resolution, which qualitatively coincides with previous experimental report. Our theoretical study offers a new paradigm for understanding the mechanisms of the ultra-high spatial resolution demonstrated in tip-enhanced spectroscopy which is of importance but neglected. PMID:25784161

Helium Ion Microscopy (HIM) for the imaging of biological samples at sub-nanometer resolution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Joens, Matthew S.; Huynh, Chuong; Kasuboski, James M.; Ferranti, David; Sigal, Yury J.; Zeitvogel, Fabian; Obst, Martin; Burkhardt, Claus J.; Curran, Kevin P.; Chalasani, Sreekanth H.; Stern, Lewis A.; Goetze, Bernhard; Fitzpatrick, James A. J.

2013-12-01

Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) has long been the standard in imaging the sub-micrometer surface ultrastructure of both hard and soft materials. In the case of biological samples, it has provided great insights into their physical architecture. However, three of the fundamental challenges in the SEM imaging of soft materials are that of limited imaging resolution at high magnification, charging caused by the insulating properties of most biological samples and the loss of subtle surface features by heavy metal coating. These challenges have recently been overcome with the development of the Helium Ion Microscope (HIM), which boasts advances in charge reduction, minimized sample damage, high surface contrast without the need for metal coating, increased depth of field, and 5 angstrom imaging resolution. We demonstrate the advantages of HIM for imaging biological surfaces as well as compare and contrast the effects of sample preparation techniques and their consequences on sub-nanometer ultrastructure.

Helium Ion Microscopy (HIM) for the imaging of biological samples at sub-nanometer resolution.

PubMed

Joens, Matthew S; Huynh, Chuong; Kasuboski, James M; Ferranti, David; Sigal, Yury J; Zeitvogel, Fabian; Obst, Martin; Burkhardt, Claus J; Curran, Kevin P; Chalasani, Sreekanth H; Stern, Lewis A; Goetze, Bernhard; Fitzpatrick, James A J

2013-12-17

Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) has long been the standard in imaging the sub-micrometer surface ultrastructure of both hard and soft materials. In the case of biological samples, it has provided great insights into their physical architecture. However, three of the fundamental challenges in the SEM imaging of soft materials are that of limited imaging resolution at high magnification, charging caused by the insulating properties of most biological samples and the loss of subtle surface features by heavy metal coating. These challenges have recently been overcome with the development of the Helium Ion Microscope (HIM), which boasts advances in charge reduction, minimized sample damage, high surface contrast without the need for metal coating, increased depth of field, and 5 angstrom imaging resolution. We demonstrate the advantages of HIM for imaging biological surfaces as well as compare and contrast the effects of sample preparation techniques and their consequences on sub-nanometer ultrastructure.

Bimetallic Ag-Pt Sub-nanometer Supported Clusters as Highly Efficient and Robust Oxidation Catalysts

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

Negreiros, Fabio R.; Halder, Avik; Yin, Chunrong

A combined experimental and theoretical investigation of Ag-Pt sub-nanometer clusters as heterogeneous catalysts in the CO -> CO2 reaction (COox) is presented. Ag9Pt2 and Ag9Pt3 clusters are size-selected in the gas phase, deposited on an ultrathin amorphous alumina support, and tested as catalysts experimentally under realistic conditions and by first-principles simulations at realistic coverage. Insitu GISAXS/TPRx demonstrates that the clusters do not sinter or deactivate even after prolonged exposure to reactants at high temperature, and present comparable, extremely high COox catalytic efficiency. Such high activity and stability are ascribed to a synergic role of Ag and Pt in ultranano-aggregates, inmore » which Pt anchors the clusters to the support and binds and activates two CO molecules, while Ag binds and activates O-2, and Ag/Pt surface proximity disfavors poisoning by CO or oxidized species.« less

Ion selectivity of graphene nanopores

DOE PAGES

Rollings, Ryan C.; Kuan, Aaron T.; Golovchenko, Jene A.

2016-04-22

As population growth continues to outpace development of water infrastructure in many countries, desalination (the removal of salts from seawater) at high energy efficiency will likely become a vital source of fresh water. Due to its atomic thinness combined with its mechanical strength, porous graphene may be particularly well-suited for electrodialysis desalination, in which ions are removed under an electric field via ion-selective pores. Here, we show that single graphene nanopores preferentially permit the passage of K + cations over Cl - anions with selectivity ratios of over 100 and conduct monovalent cations up to 5 times more rapidly thanmore » divalent cations. Furthermore, the observed K +/Cl - selectivity persists in pores even as large as about 20 nm in diameter, suggesting that high throughput, highly selective graphene electrodialysis membranes can be fabricated without the need for subnanometer control over pore size.« less

Prize for Industrial Applications of Physics Talk: Low energy spread Ion source for focused ion beam systems-Search for the holy grail

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ward, Bill

2011-03-01

In this talk I will cover my personal experiences as a serial entrepreneur and founder of a succession of focused ion beam companies (1). Ion Beam Technology, which developed a 200kv (FIB) direct ion implanter (2). Micrion, where the FIB found a market in circuit edit and mask repair, which eventually merged with FEI corporation. and (3). ALIS Corporation which develop the Orion system, the first commercially successful sub-nanometer helium ion microscope, that was ultimately acquired by Carl Zeiss corporation. I will share this adventure beginning with my experiences in the early days of ion beam implantation and e-beam lithography which lead up to the final breakthrough understanding of the mechanisms that govern the successful creation and operation of a single atom ion source.

Single-Molecule Microscopy and Force Spectroscopy of Membrane Proteins

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Engel, Andreas; Janovjak, Harald; Fotiadis, Dimtrios; Kedrov, Alexej; Cisneros, David; Müller, Daniel J.

Single-molecule atomic force microscopy (AFM) provides novel ways to characterize the structure-function relationship of native membrane proteins. High-resolution AFM topographs allow observing the structure of single proteins at sub-nanometer resolution as well as their conformational changes, oligomeric state, molecular dynamics and assembly. We will review these feasibilities illustrating examples of membrane proteins in native and reconstituted membranes. Classification of individual topographs of single proteins allows understanding the principles of motions of their extrinsic domains, to learn about their local structural flexibilities and to find the entropy minima of certain conformations. Combined with the visualization of functionally related conformational changes these insights allow understanding why certain flexibilities are required for the protein to function and how structurally flexible regions allow certain conformational changes. Complementary to AFM imaging, single-molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) experiments detect molecular interactions established within and between membrane proteins. The sensitivity of this method makes it possible to measure interactions that stabilize secondary structures such as transmembrane α-helices, polypeptide loops and segments within. Changes in temperature or protein-protein assembly do not change the locations of stable structural segments, but influence their stability established by collective molecular interactions. Such changes alter the probability of proteins to choose a certain unfolding pathway. Recent examples have elucidated unfolding and refolding pathways of membrane proteins as well as their energy landscapes.

Neutrons measure phase behavior in pores at Angstrom size

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

Bardoel, Agatha A; Melnichenko, Yuri B

Researchers have measured the phase behavior of green house gases in pores at the Angstrom-level, using small angle neutron scattering (SANS) at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory's High Flux Isotope Reactor. Yuri Melnichenko, an instrument scientist on the General Purpose Small Angle Neutron Scattering (GP SANS) Diffractometer at ORNL's High Flux Isotope Reactor, his postdoctoral associate Lilin He and collaborators Nidia Gallego and Cristian Contescu from the Material Sciences Division (ORNL) were engaged in the work. They were studying nanoporous carbons to assess their attractiveness as storage media for hydrogen, with a view to potential use for on-board hydrogen storagemore » for transportation applications. Nanoporous carbons can also serve as electrode material for supercapacitors and batteries. The researchers successfully determined that the most efficiently condensing pore size in a carbon nanoporous material for hydrogen storage is less than one nanometer. In a paper recently published by the Journal of the American Chemical Society, the collaborators used small angle neutron scattering to study how hydrogen condenses in small pores at ambient temperature. They discovered that the surface-molecule interactions create internal pressures in pores that may exceed the external gas pressure by a factor of up to 50. 'This is an exciting result,' Melnichenko said, 'as you achieve extreme densification in pores 'for free', i.e. without spending any energy. These results can be used to guide the development of new carbon adsorbents tailored to maximize hydrogen storage capacities.' Another important factor that defines the adsorption capacity of sub-nanometer pores is their shape. In order to get accurate structural information and maximize sorption capacity, it is important that pores are small and of approximately uniform size. In collaboration with Drexel University's Yury Gogotsi who supplied the samples, Melnichenko and his collaborators used the GP SANS instrument to study how the size and shape of pores in sub-nanometer porous carbons varies, depending on the manufacturing conditions. While small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) can do the job too, Melnichenko says, the SANS method broke new ground in analyzing the shape and behavior of pores at subnanometer size, when subjected to varying synthesis temperature. 'We found that these very small pores are in fact spherical, and that when we change the synthesis conditions, they become elongated, even 'slit-like', and all of this on a subnanometer scale,' Melnichenko said.« less

Low-energy electron holographic imaging of individual tobacco mosaic virions

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

Longchamp, Jean-Nicolas, E-mail: longchamp@physik.uzh.ch; Latychevskaia, Tatiana; Escher, Conrad

2015-09-28

Modern structural biology relies on Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), X-ray crystallography, and cryo-electron microscopy for gaining information on biomolecules at nanometer, sub-nanometer, or atomic resolution. All these methods, however, require averaging over a vast ensemble of entities, and hence knowledge on the conformational landscape of an individual particle is lost. Unfortunately, there are now strong indications that even X-ray free electron lasers will not be able to image individual molecules but will require nanocrystal samples. Here, we show that non-destructive structural biology of single particles has now become possible by means of low-energy electron holography. As an example, individual tobaccomore » mosaic virions deposited on ultraclean freestanding graphene are imaged at 1 nm resolution revealing structural details arising from the helical arrangement of the outer protein shell of the virus. Since low-energy electron holography is a lens-less technique and since electrons with a deBroglie wavelength of approximately 1 Å do not impose radiation damage to biomolecules, the method has the potential for Angstrom resolution imaging of single biomolecules.« less

Application of atomic force microscopy to microbial surfaces: from reconstituted cell surface layers to living cells.

PubMed

Dufrêne, Y F

2001-02-01

The application of atomic force microscopy (AFM) to probe the ultrastructure and physical properties of microbial cell surfaces is reviewed. The unique capabilities of AFM can be summarized as follows: imaging surface topography with (sub)nanometer lateral resolution; examining biological specimens under physiological conditions; measuring local properties and interaction forces. AFM is being used increasingly for: (i) visualizing the surface ultrastructure of microbial cell surface layers, including bacterial S-layers, purple membranes, porin OmpF crystals and fungal rodlet layers; (ii) monitoring conformational changes of individual membrane proteins; (iii) examining the morphology of bacterial biofilms, (iv) revealing the nanoscale structure of living microbial cells, including fungi, yeasts and bacteria, (v) mapping interaction forces at microbial surfaces, such as van der Waals and electrostatic forces, solvation forces, and steric/bridging forces; and (vi) probing the local mechanical properties of cell surface layers and of single cells.

Metal adatoms generated by the co-play of melamine assembly and subsequent CO adsorption.

PubMed

Wang, Li; Chen, Qiwei; Shi, Hong; Liu, Huihui; Ren, Xinguo; Wang, Bing; Wu, Kai; Shao, Xiang

2016-01-28

Molecular self-assembly films are expected to tailor the surface process by the periodic nanostructures and add-on functional groups. In this work, a molecular network of melamine with featured pores of subnanometer size is prepared on the Au(111) surface, and is found to be able to trap the gold adatoms and concomitant single vacancies generated under the impingement of CO molecules at room temperature. DFT calculations suggest that the strong CO-Au adatom interaction as well as the high adhesion of the Au adatom inside the melamine pore could well be the driving force behind such process. This study not only sheds light onto the interactions between gasses and the metal surface that is covered by molecular self-assembly films, but also provides a novel route to manipulate the monoatomic surface species which is of catalytic interest.

The structure of human tripeptidyl peptidase II as determined by a hybrid approach.

PubMed

Schönegge, Anne-Marie; Villa, Elizabeth; Förster, Friedrich; Hegerl, Reiner; Peters, Jürgen; Baumeister, Wolfgang; Rockel, Beate

2012-04-04

Tripeptidyl-peptidase II (TPPII) is a high molecular mass (∼5 MDa) serine protease, which is thought to act downstream of the 26S proteasome, cleaving peptides released by the latter. Here, the structure of human TPPII (HsTPPII) has been determined to subnanometer resolution by cryoelectron microscopy and single-particle analysis. The complex is built from two strands forming a quasihelical structure harboring a complex system of inner cavities. HsTPPII particles exhibit some polymorphism resulting in complexes consisting of nine or of eight dimers per strand. To obtain deeper insights into the architecture and function of HsTPPII, we have created a pseudoatomic structure of the HsTPPII spindle using a comparative model of HsTPPII dimers and molecular dynamics flexible fitting. Analyses of the resulting hybrid structure of the HsTPPII holocomplex provide new insights into the mechanism of maturation and activation. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Tunneling Plasmonics in Bilayer Graphene.

PubMed

Fei, Z; Iwinski, E G; Ni, G X; Zhang, L M; Bao, W; Rodin, A S; Lee, Y; Wagner, M; Liu, M K; Dai, S; Goldflam, M D; Thiemens, M; Keilmann, F; Lau, C N; Castro-Neto, A H; Fogler, M M; Basov, D N

2015-08-12

We report experimental signatures of plasmonic effects due to electron tunneling between adjacent graphene layers. At subnanometer separation, such layers can form either a strongly coupled bilayer graphene with a Bernal stacking or a weakly coupled double-layer graphene with a random stacking order. Effects due to interlayer tunneling dominate in the former case but are negligible in the latter. We found through infrared nanoimaging that bilayer graphene supports plasmons with a higher degree of confinement compared to single- and double-layer graphene, a direct consequence of interlayer tunneling. Moreover, we were able to shut off plasmons in bilayer graphene through gating within a wide voltage range. Theoretical modeling indicates that such a plasmon-off region is directly linked to a gapped insulating state of bilayer graphene, yet another implication of interlayer tunneling. Our work uncovers essential plasmonic properties in bilayer graphene and suggests a possibility to achieve novel plasmonic functionalities in graphene few-layers.

Relaxometry imaging of superparamagnetic magnetite nanoparticles at ambient conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Finkler, Amit; Schmid-Lorch, Dominik; Häberle, Thomas; Reinhard, Friedemann; Zappe, Andrea; Slota, Michael; Bogani, Lapo; Wrachtrup, Jörg

We present a novel technique to image superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles via their fluctuating magnetic fields. The detection is based on the nitrogen-vacancy (NV) color center in diamond, which allows optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) measurements on its electron spin structure. In combination with an atomic-force-microscope, this atomic-sized color center maps ambient magnetic fields in a wide frequency range from DC up to several GHz, while retaining a high spatial resolution in the sub-nanometer range. We demonstrate imaging of single 10 nm sized magnetite nanoparticles using this spin noise detection technique. By fitting simulations (Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process) to the data, we are able to infer additional information on such a particle and its dynamics, like the attempt frequency and the anisotropy constant. This is of high interest to the proposed application of magnetite nanoparticles as an alternative MRI contrast agent or to the field of particle-aided tumor hyperthermia.

Heteroepitaxial growth of Pt and Au thin films on MgO single crystals by bias-assisted sputtering

DOE PAGES

Tolstova, Yulia; Omelchenko, Stefan T.; Shing, Amanda M.; ...

2016-03-17

The crystallographic orientation of a metal affects its surface energy and structure, and has profound implications for surface chemical reactions and interface engineering, which are important in areas ranging from optoelectronic device fabrication to catalysis. However, it can be very difficult and expensive to manufacture, orient, and cut single crystal metals along different crystallographic orientations, especially in the case of precious metals. One approach is to grow thin metal films epitaxially on dielectric substrates. In this work, we report on growth of Pt and Au films on MgO single crystal substrates of (100) and (110) surface orientation for use asmore » epitaxial templates for thin film photovoltaic devices. We develop bias-assisted sputtering for deposition of oriented Pt and Au films with sub-nanometer roughness. We show that biasing the substrate decreases the substrate temperature necessary to achieve epitaxial orientation, with temperature reduction from 600 to 350 °C for Au, and from 750 to 550 °C for Pt, without use of transition metal seed layers. Additionally, this temperature can be further reduced by reducing the growth rate. Biased deposition with varying substrate bias power and working pressure also enables control of the film morphology and surface roughness.« less

Micro-Droplet Detection Method for Measuring the Concentration of Alkaline Phosphatase-Labeled Nanoparticles in Fluorescence Microscopy

PubMed Central

Li, Rufeng; Wang, Yibei; Xu, Hong; Fei, Baowei; Qin, Binjie

2017-01-01

This paper developed and evaluated a quantitative image analysis method to measure the concentration of the nanoparticles on which alkaline phosphatase (AP) was immobilized. These AP-labeled nanoparticles are widely used as signal markers for tagging biomolecules at nanometer and sub-nanometer scales. The AP-labeled nanoparticle concentration measurement can then be directly used to quantitatively analyze the biomolecular concentration. Micro-droplets are mono-dispersed micro-reactors that can be used to encapsulate and detect AP-labeled nanoparticles. Micro-droplets include both empty micro-droplets and fluorescent micro-droplets, while fluorescent micro-droplets are generated from the fluorescence reaction between the APs adhering to a single nanoparticle and corresponding fluorogenic substrates within droplets. By detecting micro-droplets and calculating the proportion of fluorescent micro-droplets to the overall micro-droplets, we can calculate the AP-labeled nanoparticle concentration. The proposed micro-droplet detection method includes the following steps: (1) Gaussian filtering to remove the noise of overall fluorescent targets, (2) a contrast-limited, adaptive histogram equalization processing to enhance the contrast of weakly luminescent micro-droplets, (3) an red maximizing inter-class variance thresholding method (OTSU) to segment the enhanced image for getting the binary map of the overall micro-droplets, (4) a circular Hough transform (CHT) method to detect overall micro-droplets and (5) an intensity-mean-based thresholding segmentation method to extract the fluorescent micro-droplets. The experimental results of fluorescent micro-droplet images show that the average accuracy of our micro-droplet detection method is 0.9586; the average true positive rate is 0.9502; and the average false positive rate is 0.0073. The detection method can be successfully applied to measure AP-labeled nanoparticle concentration in fluorescence microscopy. PMID:29160812

Micro-Droplet Detection Method for Measuring the Concentration of Alkaline Phosphatase-Labeled Nanoparticles in Fluorescence Microscopy.

PubMed

Li, Rufeng; Wang, Yibei; Xu, Hong; Fei, Baowei; Qin, Binjie

2017-11-21

This paper developed and evaluated a quantitative image analysis method to measure the concentration of the nanoparticles on which alkaline phosphatase (AP) was immobilized. These AP-labeled nanoparticles are widely used as signal markers for tagging biomolecules at nanometer and sub-nanometer scales. The AP-labeled nanoparticle concentration measurement can then be directly used to quantitatively analyze the biomolecular concentration. Micro-droplets are mono-dispersed micro-reactors that can be used to encapsulate and detect AP-labeled nanoparticles. Micro-droplets include both empty micro-droplets and fluorescent micro-droplets, while fluorescent micro-droplets are generated from the fluorescence reaction between the APs adhering to a single nanoparticle and corresponding fluorogenic substrates within droplets. By detecting micro-droplets and calculating the proportion of fluorescent micro-droplets to the overall micro-droplets, we can calculate the AP-labeled nanoparticle concentration. The proposed micro-droplet detection method includes the following steps: (1) Gaussian filtering to remove the noise of overall fluorescent targets, (2) a contrast-limited, adaptive histogram equalization processing to enhance the contrast of weakly luminescent micro-droplets, (3) an red maximizing inter-class variance thresholding method (OTSU) to segment the enhanced image for getting the binary map of the overall micro-droplets, (4) a circular Hough transform (CHT) method to detect overall micro-droplets and (5) an intensity-mean-based thresholding segmentation method to extract the fluorescent micro-droplets. The experimental results of fluorescent micro-droplet images show that the average accuracy of our micro-droplet detection method is 0.9586; the average true positive rate is 0.9502; and the average false positive rate is 0.0073. The detection method can be successfully applied to measure AP-labeled nanoparticle concentration in fluorescence microscopy.

Progress toward an aberration-corrected low energy electron microscope for DNA sequencing and surface analysis.

PubMed

Mankos, Marian; Shadman, Khashayar; N'diaye, Alpha T; Schmid, Andreas K; Persson, Henrik H J; Davis, Ronald W

2012-11-01

Monochromatic, aberration-corrected, dual-beam low energy electron microscopy (MAD-LEEM) is a novel imaging technique aimed at high resolution imaging of macromolecules, nanoparticles, and surfaces. MAD-LEEM combines three innovative electron-optical concepts in a single tool: a monochromator, a mirror aberration corrector, and dual electron beam illumination. The monochromator reduces the energy spread of the illuminating electron beam, which significantly improves spectroscopic and spatial resolution. The aberration corrector is needed to achieve subnanometer resolution at landing energies of a few hundred electronvolts. The dual flood illumination approach eliminates charging effects generated when a conventional, single-beam LEEM is used to image insulating specimens. The low landing energy of electrons in the range of 0 to a few hundred electronvolts is also critical for avoiding radiation damage, as high energy electrons with kilo-electron-volt kinetic energies cause irreversible damage to many specimens, in particular biological molecules. The performance of the key electron-optical components of MAD-LEEM, the aberration corrector combined with the objective lens and a magnetic beam separator, was simulated. Initial results indicate that an electrostatic electron mirror has negative spherical and chromatic aberration coefficients that can be tuned over a large parameter range. The negative aberrations generated by the electron mirror can be used to compensate the aberrations of the LEEM objective lens for a range of electron energies and provide a path to achieving subnanometer spatial resolution. First experimental results on characterizing DNA molecules immobilized on Au substrates in a LEEM are presented. Images obtained in a spin-polarized LEEM demonstrate that high contrast is achievable at low electron energies in the range of 1-10 eV and show that small changes in landing energy have a strong impact on the achievable contrast. The MAD-LEEM approach promises to significantly improve the performance of a LEEM for a wide range of applications in the biosciences, material sciences, and nanotechnology where nanometer scale resolution and analytical capabilities are required. In particular, the microscope has the potential of delivering images of unlabeled DNA strands with nucleotide-specific contrast. This simplifies specimen preparation and significantly eases the computational complexity needed to assemble the DNA sequence from individual reads.

Progress toward an aberration-corrected low energy electron microscope for DNA sequencing and surface analysis

PubMed Central

Mankos, Marian; Shadman, Khashayar; N'Diaye, Alpha T.; Schmid, Andreas K.; Persson, Henrik H. J.; Davis, Ronald W.

2012-01-01

Monochromatic, aberration-corrected, dual-beam low energy electron microscopy (MAD-LEEM) is a novel imaging technique aimed at high resolution imaging of macromolecules, nanoparticles, and surfaces. MAD-LEEM combines three innovative electron–optical concepts in a single tool: a monochromator, a mirror aberration corrector, and dual electron beam illumination. The monochromator reduces the energy spread of the illuminating electron beam, which significantly improves spectroscopic and spatial resolution. The aberration corrector is needed to achieve subnanometer resolution at landing energies of a few hundred electronvolts. The dual flood illumination approach eliminates charging effects generated when a conventional, single-beam LEEM is used to image insulating specimens. The low landing energy of electrons in the range of 0 to a few hundred electronvolts is also critical for avoiding radiation damage, as high energy electrons with kilo-electron-volt kinetic energies cause irreversible damage to many specimens, in particular biological molecules. The performance of the key electron–optical components of MAD-LEEM, the aberration corrector combined with the objective lens and a magnetic beam separator, was simulated. Initial results indicate that an electrostatic electron mirror has negative spherical and chromatic aberration coefficients that can be tuned over a large parameter range. The negative aberrations generated by the electron mirror can be used to compensate the aberrations of the LEEM objective lens for a range of electron energies and provide a path to achieving subnanometer spatial resolution. First experimental results on characterizing DNA molecules immobilized on Au substrates in a LEEM are presented. Images obtained in a spin-polarized LEEM demonstrate that high contrast is achievable at low electron energies in the range of 1–10 eV and show that small changes in landing energy have a strong impact on the achievable contrast. The MAD-LEEM approach promises to significantly improve the performance of a LEEM for a wide range of applications in the biosciences, material sciences, and nanotechnology where nanometer scale resolution and analytical capabilities are required. In particular, the microscope has the potential of delivering images of unlabeled DNA strands with nucleotide-specific contrast. This simplifies specimen preparation and significantly eases the computational complexity needed to assemble the DNA sequence from individual reads. PMID:23847748

Growth of multi-component alloy films with controlled graded chemical composition on sub-nanometer scale

DOEpatents

Bajt, Sasa; Vernon, Stephen P.

2005-03-15

The chemical composition of thin films is modulated during their growth. A computer code has been developed to design specific processes for producing a desired chemical composition for various deposition geometries. Good agreement between theoretical and experimental results was achieved.

Performance prediction for silicon photonics integrated circuits with layout-dependent correlated manufacturing variability.

PubMed

Lu, Zeqin; Jhoja, Jaspreet; Klein, Jackson; Wang, Xu; Liu, Amy; Flueckiger, Jonas; Pond, James; Chrostowski, Lukas

2017-05-01

This work develops an enhanced Monte Carlo (MC) simulation methodology to predict the impacts of layout-dependent correlated manufacturing variations on the performance of photonics integrated circuits (PICs). First, to enable such performance prediction, we demonstrate a simple method with sub-nanometer accuracy to characterize photonics manufacturing variations, where the width and height for a fabricated waveguide can be extracted from the spectral response of a racetrack resonator. By measuring the spectral responses for a large number of identical resonators spread over a wafer, statistical results for the variations of waveguide width and height can be obtained. Second, we develop models for the layout-dependent enhanced MC simulation. Our models use netlist extraction to transfer physical layouts into circuit simulators. Spatially correlated physical variations across the PICs are simulated on a discrete grid and are mapped to each circuit component, so that the performance for each component can be updated according to its obtained variations, and therefore, circuit simulations take the correlated variations between components into account. The simulation flow and theoretical models for our layout-dependent enhanced MC simulation are detailed in this paper. As examples, several ring-resonator filter circuits are studied using the developed enhanced MC simulation, and statistical results from the simulations can predict both common-mode and differential-mode variations of the circuit performance.

Aloe vera Induced Biomimetic Assemblage of Nucleobase into Nanosized Particles

PubMed Central

Chauhan, Arun; Zubair, Swaleha; Sherwani, Asif; Owais, Mohammad

2012-01-01

Aim Biomimetic nano-assembly formation offers a convenient and bio friendly approach to fabricate complex structures from simple components with sub-nanometer precision. Recently, biomimetic (employing microorganism/plants) synthesis of metal and inorganic materials nano-particles has emerged as a simple and viable strategy. In the present study, we have extended biological synthesis of nano-particles to organic molecules, namely the anticancer agent 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), using Aloe vera leaf extract. Methodology The 5-FU nano- particles synthesized by using Aloe vera leaf extract were characterized by UV, FT-IR and fluorescence spectroscopic techniques. The size and shape of the synthesized nanoparticles were determined by TEM, while crystalline nature of 5-FU particles was established by X-ray diffraction study. The cytotoxic effects of 5-FU nanoparticles were assessed against HT-29 and Caco-2 (human adenocarcinoma colorectal) cell lines. Results Transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopic techniques confirmed nano-size of the synthesized particles. Importantly, the nano-assembled 5-FU retained its anticancer action against various cancerous cell lines. Conclusion In the present study, we have explored the potential of biomimetic synthesis of nanoparticles employing organic molecules with the hope that such developments will be helpful to introduce novel nano-particle formulations that will not only be more effective but would also be devoid of nano-particle associated putative toxicity constraints. PMID:22403622

Impact of Wide-Ranging Nanoscale Chemistry on Band Structure at Cu(In, Ga)Se 2 Grain Boundaries

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

Stokes, Adam; Al-Jassim, Mowafak; Diercks, David

The relative chemistry from grain interiors to grain boundaries help explain why grain boundaries may be beneficial, detrimental or benign towards device performance. 3D Nanoscale chemical analysis extracted from atom probe tomography (APT) (10’s of parts-per-million chemical sensitivity and sub-nanometer spatial resolution) of twenty grain boundaries in a high-efficiency Cu(In, Ga)Se 2 solar cell shows the matrix and alkali concentrations are wide-ranging. The concentration profiles are then related to band structure which provide a unique insight into grain boundary electrical performance. Fluctuating Cu, In and Ga concentrations result in a wide distribution of potential barriers at the valence band maximummore » (VBM) (-10 to -160 meV) and the conduction band minimum (CBM) (-20 to -70 meV). Furthermore, Na and K segregation is not correlated to hampering donors, (In, Ga) Cu and V Se, contrary to what has been previously reported. In addition, Na and K are predicted to be n-type dopants at grain boundaries. An overall band structure at grain boundaries is presented.« less

Bimodal exciton-plasmon light sources controlled by local charge carrier injection.

PubMed

Merino, Pablo; Rosławska, Anna; Große, Christoph; Leon, Christopher C; Kuhnke, Klaus; Kern, Klaus

2018-05-01

Electrical charges can generate photon emission in nanoscale quantum systems by two independent mechanisms. First, radiative recombination of pairs of oppositely charged carriers generates sharp excitonic lines. Second, coupling between currents and collective charge oscillations results in broad plasmonic bands. Both luminescence modes can be simultaneously generated upon charge carrier injection into thin C 60 crystallites placed in the plasmonic nanocavity of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM). Using the sharp tip of the STM as a subnanometer-precise local electrode, we show that the two types of electroluminescence are induced by two separate charge transport channels. Holes injected into the valence band promote exciton generation, whereas electrons extracted from the conduction band cause plasmonic luminescence. The different dynamics of the two mechanisms permit controlling their relative contribution in the combined bimodal emission. Exciton recombination prevails for low charge injection rates, whereas plasmon decay outshines for high tunneling currents. The continuous transition between both regimes is described by a rate model characterizing emission dynamics on the nanoscale. Our work provides the basis for developing blended exciton-plasmon light sources with advanced functionalities.

Impact of Wide-Ranging Nanoscale Chemistry on Band Structure at Cu(In, Ga)Se 2 Grain Boundaries

DOE PAGES

Stokes, Adam; Al-Jassim, Mowafak; Diercks, David; ...

2017-10-26

The relative chemistry from grain interiors to grain boundaries help explain why grain boundaries may be beneficial, detrimental or benign towards device performance. 3D Nanoscale chemical analysis extracted from atom probe tomography (APT) (10’s of parts-per-million chemical sensitivity and sub-nanometer spatial resolution) of twenty grain boundaries in a high-efficiency Cu(In, Ga)Se 2 solar cell shows the matrix and alkali concentrations are wide-ranging. The concentration profiles are then related to band structure which provide a unique insight into grain boundary electrical performance. Fluctuating Cu, In and Ga concentrations result in a wide distribution of potential barriers at the valence band maximummore » (VBM) (-10 to -160 meV) and the conduction band minimum (CBM) (-20 to -70 meV). Furthermore, Na and K segregation is not correlated to hampering donors, (In, Ga) Cu and V Se, contrary to what has been previously reported. In addition, Na and K are predicted to be n-type dopants at grain boundaries. An overall band structure at grain boundaries is presented.« less

Increase in capacitance by subnanometer pores in carbon

DOE PAGES

Jackel, Nicolas; Simon, Patrice; Gogotsi, Yury G.; ...

2016-11-21

Electrical double-layer capacitors (EDLCs, also known as supercapacitors or ultracapacitors) store energy by electrosorption of ions at the electrode/electrolyte interface. In addition, to achieve a high-energy storage capacity, electrodes with a high surface area and well-developed pore structure in the range from several Angstroms to several tens of nanometers are required.

Scanning transmission electron microscopy and its application to the study of nanoparticles and nanoparticle systems.

PubMed

Liu, Jingyue

2005-06-01

Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) techniques can provide imaging, diffraction and spectroscopic information, either simultaneously or in a serial manner, of the specimen with an atomic or a sub-nanometer spatial resolution. High-resolution STEM imaging, when combined with nanodiffraction, atomic resolution electron energy-loss spectroscopy and nanometer resolution X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy techniques, is critical to the fundamental studies of importance to nanoscience and nanotechnology. The availability of sub-nanometer or sub-angstrom electron probes in a STEM instrument, due to the use of a field emission gun and aberration correctors, ensures the greatest capabilities for studies of sizes, shapes, defects, crystal and surface structures, and compositions and electronic states of nanometer-size regions of thin films, nanoparticles and nanoparticle systems. The various imaging, diffraction and spectroscopy modes available in a dedicated STEM or a field emission TEM/STEM instrument are reviewed and the application of these techniques to the study of nanoparticles and nanostructured catalysts is used as an example to illustrate the critical role of the various STEM techniques in nanotechnology and nanoscience research.

Porosity control in nanoporous carbide-derived carbon by oxidation in air and carbon dioxide

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

Osswald, S.; Portet, C.; Gogotsi, Y., E-mail: gogotsi@drexel.ed

2009-07-15

Carbide-derived carbons (CDC) allow a precise control over the pore size through the selection of the carbide precursor and varying of the synthesis conditions. However, their pore volume is limited by the carbide stoichiometry. While activation of carbons derived from various organic precursors has been widely studied, this process may similarly be able to increase the pore volume and specific surface area of CDC. Oxidation of carbide-derived carbon in air and CO{sub 2} at different temperatures and times allows for significant increase in pore volume and specific surface area as well as control over average pore size with subnanometer accuracy.more » The effect of activation and associated changes in the pore volume and surface area on the hydrogen uptake are also discussed. - Graphical abstract: Carbide-derived carbons (CDC) provide great potential for sorption of toxicants and gas storage applications. Activation of CDC in air and CO{sub 2} at different temperatures and times is applied in order to maximize pore volume and specific surface area, and control the average pore size with subnanometer accuracy.« less

Optical fiber bundle displacement sensor using an ac-modulated light source with subnanometer resolution and low thermal drift

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shimamoto, Atsushi; Tanaka, Kohichi

1995-09-01

An optical fiber bundle displacement sensor with subnanometer order resolution and low thermal drift is proposed. The setup is based on a carrier amplifier system and involves techniques to eliminate fluctuation in the light power of the source. The achieved noise level of the sensor was 0.03 nm/ \\radical Hz \\end-radical . The stability was estimated by comparing the outputs of two different sensors from the same target for 4 ks (67 min). The relative displacements between the fiber bundle ends of the two sensors and the target surface varied in the area of 400 nm depending on the ambient temperature variation at 2 deg C. However, the difference in output between the two sensor systems is within 2 nm for more than 1 hour of measurement. It is expected that it would be reduced to within the area of 0.1 nm if the ambient temperature were controlled to within +/-0.1 deg C. It is concluded that the stability of the sensors is sufficiently good to be used with nanotechnological instruments.

Towards sub-nanometer real-space observation of spin and orbital magnetism at the Fe/MgO interface

PubMed Central

Thersleff, Thomas; Muto, Shunsuke; Werwiński, Mirosław; Spiegelberg, Jakob; Kvashnin, Yaroslav; Hjӧrvarsson, Björgvin; Eriksson, Olle; Rusz, Ján; Leifer, Klaus

2017-01-01

While the performance of magnetic tunnel junctions based on metal/oxide interfaces is determined by hybridization, charge transfer, and magnetic properties at the interface, there are currently only limited experimental techniques with sufficient spatial resolution to directly observe these effects simultaneously in real-space. In this letter, we demonstrate an experimental method based on Electron Magnetic Circular Dichroism (EMCD) that will allow researchers to simultaneously map magnetic transitions and valency in real-space over interfacial cross-sections with sub-nanometer spatial resolution. We apply this method to an Fe/MgO bilayer system, observing a significant enhancement in the orbital to spin moment ratio that is strongly localized to the interfacial region. Through the use of first-principles calculations, multivariate statistical analysis, and Electron Energy-Loss Spectroscopy (EELS), we explore the extent to which this enhancement can be attributed to emergent magnetism due to structural confinement at the interface. We conclude that this method has the potential to directly visualize spin and orbital moments at buried interfaces in magnetic systems with unprecedented spatial resolution. PMID:28338011

Towards sub-nanometer real-space observation of spin and orbital magnetism at the Fe/MgO interface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thersleff, Thomas; Muto, Shunsuke; Werwiński, Mirosław; Spiegelberg, Jakob; Kvashnin, Yaroslav; Hjӧrvarsson, Björgvin; Eriksson, Olle; Rusz, Ján; Leifer, Klaus

2017-03-01

While the performance of magnetic tunnel junctions based on metal/oxide interfaces is determined by hybridization, charge transfer, and magnetic properties at the interface, there are currently only limited experimental techniques with sufficient spatial resolution to directly observe these effects simultaneously in real-space. In this letter, we demonstrate an experimental method based on Electron Magnetic Circular Dichroism (EMCD) that will allow researchers to simultaneously map magnetic transitions and valency in real-space over interfacial cross-sections with sub-nanometer spatial resolution. We apply this method to an Fe/MgO bilayer system, observing a significant enhancement in the orbital to spin moment ratio that is strongly localized to the interfacial region. Through the use of first-principles calculations, multivariate statistical analysis, and Electron Energy-Loss Spectroscopy (EELS), we explore the extent to which this enhancement can be attributed to emergent magnetism due to structural confinement at the interface. We conclude that this method has the potential to directly visualize spin and orbital moments at buried interfaces in magnetic systems with unprecedented spatial resolution.

Direct Observation of Interfacial Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya Interaction from Asymmetric Spin-wave Propagation in W/CoFeB/SiO2 Heterostructures Down to Sub-nanometer CoFeB Thickness

PubMed Central

Chaurasiya, Avinash Kumar; Banerjee, Chandrima; Pan, Santanu; Sahoo, Sourav; Choudhury, Samiran; Sinha, Jaivardhan; Barman, Anjan

2016-01-01

Interfacial Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (IDMI) is important for its roles in stabilizing the skyrmionic lattice as well as soliton-like domain wall motion leading towards new generation spintronic devices. However, achievement and detection of IDMI is often hindered by various spurious effects. Here, we demonstrate the occurrence of IDMI originating primarily from W/CoFeB interface in technologically important W/CoFeB/SiO2 heterostructures using Brillouin light scattering technique. Due to the presence of IDMI, we observe asymmetry in the peak frequency and linewidth of the spin-wave spectra in the Damon-Eshbach (DE) geometry at finite k wave-vectors. The DMI constant is found to scale as the inverse of CoFeB thickness, over the whole studied thickness range, confirming the presence of IDMI in our system without any extrinsic effects. Importantly, the W/CoFeB interface shows no degradation down to sub-nanometer CoFeB thickness, which would be useful for devices that aim to use pronounced interface effects. PMID:27586260

Probing conformational dynamics by photoinduced electron transfer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Neuweiler, Hannes; Herten, Dirk P.; Marme, N.; Knemeyer, J. P.; Piestert, Oliver; Tinnefeld, Philip; Sauer, Marcus

2004-07-01

We demonstrate how photoinduced electron transfer (PET) reactions can be successfully applied to monitor conformational dynamics in individual biopolymers. Single-pair fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) experiments are ideally suited to study conformational dynamics occurring on the nanometer scale, e.g. during protein folding or unfolding. In contrast, conformational dynamics with functional significance, for example occurring in enzymes at work, often appear on much smaller spatial scales of up to several Angströms. Our results demonstrate that selective PET-reactions between fluorophores and amino acids or DNA nucleotides represent a versatile tool to measure small-scale conformational dynamics in biopolymers on a wide range of time scales, extending from nanoseconds to seconds, at the single-molecule level under equilibrium conditions. That is, the monitoring of conformational dynamics of biopolymers with temporal resolutions comparable to those within reach using new techniques of molecular dynamic simulations. We present data about structural changes of single biomolecules like DNA hairpins and peptides by using quenching electron transfer reactions between guanosine or tryptophan residues in close proximity to fluorescent dyes. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the strong distance dependence of charge separation reactions on the sub-nanometer scale can be used to develop conformationally flexible PET-biosensors. These sensors enable the detection of specific target molecules in the sub-picomolar range and allow one to follow their molecular binding dynamics with temporal resolution.

The effect of the morphology of supported subnanometer Pt clusters on the first and key step of CO 2 photoreduction [Morphology effect of supported subnanometer Pt clusters on first and key step of CO 2 photoreduction

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

Yang, Chi -Ta; Wood, Brandon C.; Bhethanabotla, Venkat R.

2015-09-04

In this study, using density functional theory calculations, we investigate the influence of size-dependent cluster morphology on the synergistic catalytic properties of anatase TiO 2(101) surfaces decorated with subnanometer Pt clusters. Focusing on the formation of the key precursor in the CO 2 photoreduction reaction (bent CO 2 –), we find that flatter (2D-like) Pt clusters that “wet” the TiO 2 surface offer significantly less benefit than 3D-like Pt clusters. We attribute the differences to three factors. First, the 3D clusters provide a greater number of accessible Pt–TiO 2 interfacial sites with geometries that can aid CO 2 bond bendingmore » and charge transfer processes. Second, binding competition among each Pt–CO 2 bonding interaction mitigates maximum orbital overlaps, leading to insufficient CO 2 binding. Third and also most interestingly, the 3D clusters tend to possess higher structural fluxionality than the flatter clusters, which is shown to correlate positively with CO2 binding strength. The preferred morphology adopted by the clusters depends on several factors, including the cluster size and the presence of oxygen vacancies on the TiO 2 surface; this suggests a strategy for optimizing the synergistic effect between Pt clusters and TiO 2 surfaces for CO 2 photocatalysis. Clusters of ~6–8 atoms should provide the largest benefit, since they retain the desired 3D morphology, yet are small enough to exhibit high structural fluxionality. Electronic structure analysis provides additional insight into the electronic motivations for the enhanced binding of CO 2 on TiO 2-supported 3D Pt clusters, as well as suppressed binding on flattened, 2D-like clusters.« less

Reaction Mechanism for Direct Propylene Epoxidation by Alumina-Supported Silver Aggregates. The Role of the Particle / Support Interface

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

Cheng, Lei; Yin, Chunrong; Mehmood, Faisal

2013-11-21

Sub-nanometer Ag aggregates on alumina supports have been found to be active toward direct propylene epoxidation to propylene oxide by molecular oxygen at low temperatures, with a negligible amount of carbon dioxide formation (Science 328, p. 224, 2010). In this work, we computationally and experimentally investigate the origin of the high reactivity of the sub-nanometer Ag aggregates. Computationally, we study O 2 dissociation and propylene epoxidation on unsupported Ag 19 and Ag 20 clusters, as well as alumina-supported Ag 19. The O 2 dissociation and propylene epoxidation apparent barriers at the interface between the Ag aggregate and the alumina supportmore » are calculated to be 0.2 and 0.2~0.4 eV, respectively. These barriers are somewhat lower than those on sites away from the interface. The mechanism at the interface is similar to what was previously found for the silver trimer on alumina and can account for the high activity observed for the direct oxidation of propylene on the Ag aggregates. The barriers for oxygen dissociation on these model systems both at the interface and on the surfaces are small compared to crystalline surfaces, indicating that availability of oxygen will not be a rate limiting step for the aggregates, as in the case of the crystalline surfaces. Experimentally, we investigate Ultrananocrystalline Diamond (UNCD)-supported silver aggregates under reactive conditions of propylene partial oxidation. The UNCD-supported Ag clusters are found to be not measurably active toward propylene oxidation, in contrast to the alumina supported Ag clusters. This suggests that the lack of metal-oxide interfacial sites of the Ag-UNCD catalyst, limits the epoxidation catalytic activity. This combined computational and experimental study shows the importance of the metal-oxide interface as well as the non-crystalline nature of the alumina-supported sub-nanometer Ag aggregate catalysts for propylene epoxidation.« less

Soft chemical synthesis of silicon nanosheets and their applications

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

Nakano, Hideyuki; Ikuno, Takashi

2016-12-15

Two-dimensional silicon nanomaterials are expected to show different properties from those of bulk silicon materials by virtue of surface functionalization and quantum size effects. Since facile fabrication processes of large area silicon nanosheets (SiNSs) are required for practical applications, a development of soft chemical synthesis route without using conventional vacuum processes is a challenging issue. We have recently succeeded to prepare SiNSs with sub-nanometer thicknesses by exfoliating layered silicon compounds, and they are found to be composed of crystalline single-atom-thick silicon layers. In this review, we present the synthesis and modification methods of SiNSs. These SiNSs have atomically flat andmore » smooth surfaces due to dense coverage of organic moieties, and they are easily self-assembled in a concentrated state to form a regularly stacked structure. We have also characterized the electron transport properties and the electronic structures of SiNSs. Finally, the potential applications of these SiNSs and organic modified SiNSs are also reviewed.« less

SERS-Active Nanoinjector for Intracellular Spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vitol, Elina; Orynbayeva, Zulfiya; Bouchard, Michael; Azizkhan-Clifford, Jane; Friedman, Gary; Gogotsi, Yury

2009-03-01

We developed a multifunctional nanopipette which allows simultaneous cell injection and intacellular surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) analysis. SERS spectra contain the characteristic frequencies of molecular bond vibrations. This is a unique method for studying cell biochemistry and physiology on a single organelle level. Unlike the fluorescence spectroscopy, it does not require any specific staining. The principle of SERS is based on very large electromagnetic field enhancement localized around a nano-rough metallic surface. Gold colloids are widely used SERS substrates. Previously, the colloidal nanoparticles were introduced into a cell by the mechanism of endocytosis. The disadvantage of this method is the uncontrollable aggregation and distribution of gold nanoparticles inside a cell which causes a significant uncertainty in the origin of the acquired data. At the same time, the nanoparticle uptake is irreversible. We present a SERS-active nanoinjector, coated with gold nanoparticles, which enables selective signal acquisition from any point-of-interest inside a cell. The nanoinjector provides a highly localized SERS signal with sub-nanometer resolution in real time.

Proximity effect on hydrodynamic interaction between a sphere and a plane measured by force feedback microscopy at different frequencies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carpentier, Simon; Rodrigues, Mario S.; Charlaix, Elisabeth; Chevrier, Joël

2015-07-01

In this article, we measure the viscous damping G″, and the associated stiffness G', of a liquid flow in sphere-plane geometry over a large frequency range. In this regime, the lubrication approximation is expected to dominate. We first measure the static force applied to the tip. This is made possible thanks to a force feedback method. Adding a sub-nanometer oscillation of the tip, we obtain the dynamic part of the interaction with solely the knowledge of the lever properties in the experimental context using a linear transformation of the amplitude and phase change. Using a Force Feedback Microscope (FFM), we are then able to measure simultaneously the static force, the stiffness, and the dissipative part of the interaction in a broad frequency range using a single AFM probe. Similar measurements have been performed by the Surface Force Apparatus (SFA) with a probe radius hundred times bigger. In this context, the FFM can be called nano-SFA.

A PDMS microfiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer and determination of nanometer displacements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martincek, Ivan; Kacik, Daniel

2018-01-01

A polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI), integrated between single-mode optical fibers (SMFs), is proposed and demonstrated experimentally. One arm of the interferometer consists of a microfiber of diameter 7 μm and length 270 μm; the second is an air arm. Due to the good elastic properties of PDMS microfiber, the length of the air arm of MZI can be changed by changing the distance between SMFs. The change in length of the air arm results in a change in the transmission characteristics of the MZI; thus, the relative displacement can be measured in the range 10-250 nm. By measuring the peak-to-peak amplitude of the difference in transmission powers (in dB), the smallest displacement by prepared MZI was determined as being on the order of a few nm for a ratio of intensities of 0.135. For a higher ratio of intensities of transmission functions, the smallest displacement could be determined on the order of subnanometers.

From tunable core-shell nanoparticles to plasmonic drawbridges: Active control of nanoparticle optical properties

PubMed Central

Byers, Chad P.; Zhang, Hui; Swearer, Dayne F.; Yorulmaz, Mustafa; Hoener, Benjamin S.; Huang, Da; Hoggard, Anneli; Chang, Wei-Shun; Mulvaney, Paul; Ringe, Emilie; Halas, Naomi J.; Nordlander, Peter; Link, Stephan; Landes, Christy F.

2015-01-01

The optical properties of metallic nanoparticles are highly sensitive to interparticle distance, giving rise to dramatic but frequently irreversible color changes. By electrochemical modification of individual nanoparticles and nanoparticle pairs, we induced equally dramatic, yet reversible, changes in their optical properties. We achieved plasmon tuning by oxidation-reduction chemistry of Ag-AgCl shells on the surfaces of both individual and strongly coupled Au nanoparticle pairs, resulting in extreme but reversible changes in scattering line shape. We demonstrated reversible formation of the charge transfer plasmon mode by switching between capacitive and conductive electronic coupling mechanisms. Dynamic single-particle spectroelectrochemistry also gave an insight into the reaction kinetics and evolution of the charge transfer plasmon mode in an electrochemically tunable structure. Our study represents a highly useful approach to the precise tuning of the morphology of narrow interparticle gaps and will be of value for controlling and activating a range of properties such as extreme plasmon modulation, nanoscopic plasmon switching, and subnanometer tunable gap applications. PMID:26665175

Helium Ion Beam Microscopy for Copper Grain Identification in BEOL Structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van den Boom, Ruud J. J.; Parvaneh, Hamed; Voci, Dave; Huynh, Chuong; Stern, Lewis; Dunn, Kathleen A.; Lifshin, Eric

2009-09-01

Grain size determination in advanced metallization structures requires a technique with resolution ˜2 nm, with a high signal-to-noise ratio and high orientation-dependant contrast for unambiguous identification of grain boundaries. Ideally, such a technique would also be capable of high-throughput and rapid time-to-knowledge. The Helium Ion Microscope (HIM) offers one possibility for achieving these aims in a single platform. This article compares the performance of the HIM with Focused Ion Beam, Scanning Electron and Transmission Electron Microscopes, in terms of achievable image resolution and contrast, using plan-view and cross-sectional imaging of electroplated samples. Although the HIM is capable of sub-nanometer beam diameter, the low signal-to-noise ratio in the images necessitates signal averaging, which degrades the measured image resolution to 6-8 nm. Strategies for improving S/N are discussed in light of the trade-off between beam current and probe size, accelerating voltage, and dwell time.

Functional Annotation of Ion Channel Structures by Molecular Simulation.

PubMed

Trick, Jemma L; Chelvaniththilan, Sivapalan; Klesse, Gianni; Aryal, Prafulla; Wallace, E Jayne; Tucker, Stephen J; Sansom, Mark S P

2016-12-06

Ion channels play key roles in cell membranes, and recent advances are yielding an increasing number of structures. However, their functional relevance is often unclear and better tools are required for their functional annotation. In sub-nanometer pores such as ion channels, hydrophobic gating has been shown to promote dewetting to produce a functionally closed (i.e., non-conductive) state. Using the serotonin receptor (5-HT 3 R) structure as an example, we demonstrate the use of molecular dynamics to aid the functional annotation of channel structures via simulation of the behavior of water within the pore. Three increasingly complex simulation analyses are described: water equilibrium densities; single-ion free-energy profiles; and computational electrophysiology. All three approaches correctly predict the 5-HT 3 R crystal structure to represent a functionally closed (i.e., non-conductive) state. We also illustrate the application of water equilibrium density simulations to annotate different conformational states of a glycine receptor. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Contact-free calibration of an asymmetric multi-layer interferometer for the surface force balance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Balabajew, Marco; van Engers, Christian D.; Perkin, Susan

2017-12-01

The Surface Force Balance (SFB, also known as Surface Force Apparatus, SFA) has provided important insights into many phenomena within the field of colloid and interface science. The technique relies on using white light interferometry to measure the distance between surfaces with sub-nanometer resolution. Up until now, the determination of the distance between the surfaces required a so-called "contact calibration," an invasive procedure during which the surfaces are brought into mechanical contact. This requirement for a contact calibration limits the range of experimental systems that can be investigated with SFB, for example, it precludes experiments with substrates that would be irreversibly modified or damaged by mechanical contact. Here we present a non-invasive method to measure absolute distances without performing a contact calibration. The method can be used for both "symmetric" and "asymmetric" systems. We foresee many applications for this general approach including, most immediately, experiments using single layer graphene electrodes in the SFB which may be damaged when brought into mechanical contact.

Helium isotope enrichment by resonant tunneling through nanoporous graphene bilayers.

PubMed

Mandrà, Salvatore; Schrier, Joshua; Ceotto, Michele

2014-08-21

Graphene is impermeable to gases, but introducing subnanometer pores can allow for selective gas separation. Because graphene is only one atom thick, tunneling can play an important role, especially for low-mass gases such as helium, and this has been proposed as a means of separating (3)He from (4)He. In this paper, we consider the possibility of utilizing resonant tunneling of helium isotopes through nanoporous graphene bilayers. Using a model potential fit to previously reported DFT potential energy surfaces, we calculate the thermal rate constant as a function of interlayer separation using a recently described time-independent method for arbitrary multibarrier potentials. Resonant transmission allows for the total flux rate of (3)He to remain the same as the best-known single-barrier pores but doubles the selectivity with respect to (4)He when the optimal interlayer spacing of 4.6 Å is used. The high flux rate and selectivity are robust against variations of the interlayer spacing and asymmetries in the potential that may occur in experiment.

Imaging Plasmonic Fields with Atomic Spatiotemporal Resolution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Jianxiong; Saydanzad, Erfan; Thumm, Uwe

2018-06-01

We propose a scheme for the reconstruction of plasmonic near fields at isolated nanoparticles from infrared-streaked extreme-ultraviolet photoemission spectra. Based on quantum-mechanically modeled spectra, we demonstrate and analyze the accurate imaging of the IR-streaking-pulse-induced transient plasmonic fields at the surface of gold nanospheres and nanoshells with subfemtosecond temporal and subnanometer spatial resolution.

Sub-nanometer pore formation in single-molecule-thick polyurea molecular-sieving membrane: a computational study.

PubMed

Park, Seongjin; Lansac, Yves; Jang, Yun Hee

2018-06-07

A polymeric network of 1-(4-tritylphenyl)urea (TPU) built via layer-by-layer cross-linking polymerization has been proposed to be an excellent mesh equipped with single-molecule-thick pores (i.e., cyclic poly-TPU rings), which can sieve glucose (∼0.7 nm) out of its mixture with urea for hemodialysis applications. Monte Carlo search for the lowest-energy conformation of various sizes of poly-TPU rings unravels the origin of narrow pore size distribution, which is around the sizes of dimer and trimer rings (0.3-0.8 nm). Flexible rings larger than the dimer and trimer rings, in particular tetramer rings, prefer a twisted conformation in the shape of the infinity symbol (∞, which looks like two dimer rings joined together) locked by a hydrogen bond between diphenylurea linker groups facing each other. Translocation energy profiles across these TPU rings reveal their urea-versus-glucose sieving mechanism: glucose is either too large (to enter dimers and twisted tetramers) or too perfectly fit (to exit trimers), leaving only a dimer-sized free space in the ring, whereas smaller-sized urea and water pass through these effective dimer-sized rings (bare dimers, twisted tetramers, and glucose-filled trimers) without encountering a substantial energy barrier or trap.

High-speed classification of coherent X-ray diffraction patterns on the K computer for high-resolution single biomolecule imaging.

PubMed

Tokuhisa, Atsushi; Arai, Junya; Joti, Yasumasa; Ohno, Yoshiyuki; Kameyama, Toyohisa; Yamamoto, Keiji; Hatanaka, Masayuki; Gerofi, Balazs; Shimada, Akio; Kurokawa, Motoyoshi; Shoji, Fumiyoshi; Okada, Kensuke; Sugimoto, Takashi; Yamaga, Mitsuhiro; Tanaka, Ryotaro; Yokokawa, Mitsuo; Hori, Atsushi; Ishikawa, Yutaka; Hatsui, Takaki; Go, Nobuhiro

2013-11-01

Single-particle coherent X-ray diffraction imaging using an X-ray free-electron laser has the potential to reveal the three-dimensional structure of a biological supra-molecule at sub-nanometer resolution. In order to realise this method, it is necessary to analyze as many as 1 × 10(6) noisy X-ray diffraction patterns, each for an unknown random target orientation. To cope with the severe quantum noise, patterns need to be classified according to their similarities and average similar patterns to improve the signal-to-noise ratio. A high-speed scalable scheme has been developed to carry out classification on the K computer, a 10PFLOPS supercomputer at RIKEN Advanced Institute for Computational Science. It is designed to work on the real-time basis with the experimental diffraction pattern collection at the X-ray free-electron laser facility SACLA so that the result of classification can be feedback for optimizing experimental parameters during the experiment. The present status of our effort developing the system and also a result of application to a set of simulated diffraction patterns is reported. About 1 × 10(6) diffraction patterns were successfully classificatied by running 255 separate 1 h jobs in 385-node mode.

Imaging of radiation damage using complementary field ion microscopy and atom probe tomography.

PubMed

Dagan, Michal; Hanna, Luke R; Xu, Alan; Roberts, Steve G; Smith, George D W; Gault, Baptiste; Edmondson, Philip D; Bagot, Paul A J; Moody, Michael P

2015-12-01

Radiation damage in tungsten and a tungsten-tantalum alloy, both of relevance to nuclear fusion research, has been characterized using a combination of field ion microscopy (FIM) imaging and atom probe tomography (APT). While APT provides 3D analytical imaging with sub-nanometer resolution, FIM is capable of imaging the arrangements of single atoms on a crystal lattice and has the potential to provide insights into radiation induced crystal damage, all the way down to its smallest manifestation--a single vacancy. This paper demonstrates the strength of combining these characterization techniques. In ion implanted tungsten, it was found that atomic scale lattice damage is best imaged using FIM. In certain cases, APT reveals an identifiable imprint in the data via the segregation of solute and impurities and trajectory aberrations. In a W-5at%Ta alloy, a combined APT-FIM study was able to determine the atomic distribution of tantalum inside the tungsten matrix. An indirect method was implemented to identify tantalum atoms inside the tungsten matrix in FIM images. By tracing irregularities in the evaporation sequence of atoms imaged with FIM, this method enables the benefit of FIM's atomic resolution in chemical distinction between the two species. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

High-speed classification of coherent X-ray diffraction patterns on the K computer for high-resolution single biomolecule imaging

PubMed Central

Tokuhisa, Atsushi; Arai, Junya; Joti, Yasumasa; Ohno, Yoshiyuki; Kameyama, Toyohisa; Yamamoto, Keiji; Hatanaka, Masayuki; Gerofi, Balazs; Shimada, Akio; Kurokawa, Motoyoshi; Shoji, Fumiyoshi; Okada, Kensuke; Sugimoto, Takashi; Yamaga, Mitsuhiro; Tanaka, Ryotaro; Yokokawa, Mitsuo; Hori, Atsushi; Ishikawa, Yutaka; Hatsui, Takaki; Go, Nobuhiro

2013-01-01

Single-particle coherent X-ray diffraction imaging using an X-ray free-electron laser has the potential to reveal the three-dimensional structure of a biological supra-molecule at sub-nanometer resolution. In order to realise this method, it is necessary to analyze as many as 1 × 106 noisy X-ray diffraction patterns, each for an unknown random target orientation. To cope with the severe quantum noise, patterns need to be classified according to their similarities and average similar patterns to improve the signal-to-noise ratio. A high-speed scalable scheme has been developed to carry out classification on the K computer, a 10PFLOPS supercomputer at RIKEN Advanced Institute for Computational Science. It is designed to work on the real-time basis with the experimental diffraction pattern collection at the X-ray free-electron laser facility SACLA so that the result of classification can be feedback for optimizing experimental parameters during the experiment. The present status of our effort developing the system and also a result of application to a set of simulated diffraction patterns is reported. About 1 × 106 diffraction patterns were successfully classificatied by running 255 separate 1 h jobs in 385-node mode. PMID:24121336

Boron Nitride-supported Sub-nanometer Pd 6 Clusters for Formic Acid Decomposition: A DFT Study

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

Schimmenti, Roberto; Cortese, Remedios; Duca, Dario

A periodic, self-consistent planewave DFT study was carried out to explore the potential use of Pd 6 clusters supported on a boron nitride sheet as a catalyst for the selective decomposition of formic acid (HCOOH) to CO 2 and H 2. The competition between formate (HCOO) and carboxyl (COOH) paths on catalytic sites, with different proximities to the support, was studied. Based on energetics alone, the reaction may mainly follow the HCOO route. Slightly lower activation energies were found at the lateral sites of the cluster as compared to top face sites. This is particularly true for the bidentate tomore » monodentate HCOO conversion. Through comparison of results with similar studies on HCOOH decomposition on extended Pd surfaces, it was demonstrated that the existence of undercoordinated sites in the sub-nanometer cluster could play a key role in preferentially stabilizing HCOO over COOH, which is a common CO precursor in this reaction. A hydrogen spillover mechanism was also investigated; migration toward the boron nitride support is not favorable, at least in the early stages of the reaction. However, hydrogen diffusion on the cluster has low barriers compared to those involved in formic acid decomposition.« less

Boron Nitride-supported Sub-nanometer Pd 6 Clusters for Formic Acid Decomposition: A DFT Study

DOE PAGES

Schimmenti, Roberto; Cortese, Remedios; Duca, Dario; ...

2017-04-25

A periodic, self-consistent planewave DFT study was carried out to explore the potential use of Pd 6 clusters supported on a boron nitride sheet as a catalyst for the selective decomposition of formic acid (HCOOH) to CO 2 and H 2. The competition between formate (HCOO) and carboxyl (COOH) paths on catalytic sites, with different proximities to the support, was studied. Based on energetics alone, the reaction may mainly follow the HCOO route. Slightly lower activation energies were found at the lateral sites of the cluster as compared to top face sites. This is particularly true for the bidentate tomore » monodentate HCOO conversion. Through comparison of results with similar studies on HCOOH decomposition on extended Pd surfaces, it was demonstrated that the existence of undercoordinated sites in the sub-nanometer cluster could play a key role in preferentially stabilizing HCOO over COOH, which is a common CO precursor in this reaction. A hydrogen spillover mechanism was also investigated; migration toward the boron nitride support is not favorable, at least in the early stages of the reaction. However, hydrogen diffusion on the cluster has low barriers compared to those involved in formic acid decomposition.« less

Atomically Thin Femtojoule Memristive Device

DOE PAGES

Zhao, Huan; Dong, Zhipeng; Tian, He; ...

2017-10-25

The morphology and dimension of the conductive filament formed in a memristive device are strongly influenced by the thickness of its switching medium layer. Aggressive scaling of this active layer thickness is critical toward reducing the operating current, voltage, and energy consumption in filamentary-type memristors. Previously, the thickness of this filament layer has been limited to above a few nanometers due to processing constraints, making it challenging to further suppress the on-state current and the switching voltage. In this paper, the formation of conductive filaments in a material medium with sub-nanometer thickness formed through the oxidation of atomically thin two-dimensionalmore » boron nitride is studied. The resulting memristive device exhibits sub-nanometer filamentary switching with sub-pA operation current and femtojoule per bit energy consumption. Furthermore, by confining the filament to the atomic scale, current switching characteristics are observed that are distinct from that in thicker medium due to the profoundly different atomic kinetics. The filament morphology in such an aggressively scaled memristive device is also theoretically explored. Finally, these ultralow energy devices are promising for realizing femtojoule and sub-femtojoule electronic computation, which can be attractive for applications in a wide range of electronics systems that desire ultralow power operation.« less

The study on the parallel processing based time series correlation analysis of RBC membrane flickering in quantitative phase imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Minsuk; Won, Youngjae; Park, Byungjun; Lee, Seungrag

2017-02-01

Not only static characteristics but also dynamic characteristics of the red blood cell (RBC) contains useful information for the blood diagnosis. Quantitative phase imaging (QPI) can capture sample images with subnanometer scale depth resolution and millisecond scale temporal resolution. Various researches have been used QPI for the RBC diagnosis, and recently many researches has been developed to decrease the process time of RBC information extraction using QPI by the parallel computing algorithm, however previous studies are interested in the static parameters such as morphology of the cells or simple dynamic parameters such as root mean square (RMS) of the membrane fluctuations. Previously, we presented a practical blood test method using the time series correlation analysis of RBC membrane flickering with QPI. However, this method has shown that there is a limit to the clinical application because of the long computation time. In this study, we present an accelerated time series correlation analysis of RBC membrane flickering using the parallel computing algorithm. This method showed consistent fractal scaling exponent results of the surrounding medium and the normal RBC with our previous research.

Polarization mode beating techniques for high-sensitivity intracavity sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rosales-Garcia, Andrea

Several industries, including semiconductor, space, defense, medical, chemical and homeland security, demand precise and accurate measurements in the nanometer and sub-nanometer scale. Optical interferometers have been widely investigated due to its dynamic-range, non-contact and high-precision features. Although commercially available interferometers can have sub-nanometer resolution, the practical accuracy exceeds the nanometer range. The fast development of nanotechnology requires more sensitive, reliable, compact and lower cost alternatives than those in existence. This work demonstrates a compact, versatile, accurate and cost-effective fiber laser sensor based on intracavity polarization mode beating (PMB) techniques for monitoring intracavity phase changes with very high sensitivity. Fiber resonators support two orthogonal polarization modes that can behave as two independent lasing channels within the cavity. The fiber laser incorporates an intracavity polarizing beamsplitter that allows for adjusting independently the polarization modes. The heterodyne detection of the laser output produces a beating (PMB) signal, whose frequency is a function of the phase difference between the polarization modes. The optical phase difference is transferred from the optical frequency to a much lower frequency and thus electronic methods can be used to obtain very precise measurements. Upon changing the pathlength of one mode, changes iu the PMB frequency can be effectively measured. Furthermore, since the polarization nodes share the same cavity, the PMB technique provides a simple means to achieve suppression of common mode noise and laser source instabilities. Frequency changes of the PMB signal are evaluated as a function of displacement, intracavity pressure and air density. Refractive index changes of 10 -9 and sub-nanometer displacement measurements are readily attained. Increased refractive index sensitivity and sub-picometer displacement can be reached owing to the high finesse and resolution of the system. Experimental changes in the refractive index of air as a function of pressure are in good agreement with theoretical predictions. An alternative fiber laser configuration, which incorporates non-reciprocal elements, allows measuring the optical activity of enantiomeric mixtures using PMB techniques. The sensitivity attained through PMB techniques demonstrates a potential method for ultra-sensitive biochemical sensing and explosive detection.

CD-SEM real time bias correction using reference metrology based modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ukraintsev, V.; Banke, W.; Zagorodnev, G.; Archie, C.; Rana, N.; Pavlovsky, V.; Smirnov, V.; Briginas, I.; Katnani, A.; Vaid, A.

2018-03-01

Accuracy of patterning impacts yield, IC performance and technology time to market. Accuracy of patterning relies on optical proximity correction (OPC) models built using CD-SEM inputs and intra die critical dimension (CD) control based on CD-SEM. Sub-nanometer measurement uncertainty (MU) of CD-SEM is required for current technologies. Reported design and process related bias variation of CD-SEM is in the range of several nanometers. Reference metrology and numerical modeling are used to correct SEM. Both methods are slow to be used for real time bias correction. We report on real time CD-SEM bias correction using empirical models based on reference metrology (RM) data. Significant amount of currently untapped information (sidewall angle, corner rounding, etc.) is obtainable from SEM waveforms. Using additional RM information provided for specific technology (design rules, materials, processes) CD extraction algorithms can be pre-built and then used in real time for accurate CD extraction from regular CD-SEM images. The art and challenge of SEM modeling is in finding robust correlation between SEM waveform features and bias of CD-SEM as well as in minimizing RM inputs needed to create accurate (within the design and process space) model. The new approach was applied to improve CD-SEM accuracy of 45 nm GATE and 32 nm MET1 OPC 1D models. In both cases MU of the state of the art CD-SEM has been improved by 3x and reduced to a nanometer level. Similar approach can be applied to 2D (end of line, contours, etc.) and 3D (sidewall angle, corner rounding, etc.) cases.

The role of chemical structure on the magnetic and electronic properties of Co{sub 2}FeAl{sub 0.5}Si{sub 0.5}/Si(111) interface

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

Kuerbanjiang, Balati; Nedelkoski, Zlatko; Ghasemi, Arsham

2016-04-25

We show that Co{sub 2}FeAl{sub 0.5}Si{sub 0.5} film deposited on Si(111) has a single crystal structure and twin related epitaxial relationship with the substrate. Sub-nanometer electron energy loss spectroscopy shows that in a narrow interface region there is a mutual inter-diffusion dominated by Si and Co. Atomic resolution aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy reveals that the film has B2 ordering. The film lattice structure is unaltered even at the interface due to the substitutional nature of the intermixing. First-principles calculations performed using structural models based on the aberration corrected electron microscopy show that the increased Si incorporation in the filmmore » leads to a gradual decrease of the magnetic moment as well as significant spin-polarization reduction. These effects can have significant detrimental role on the spin injection from the Co{sub 2}FeAl{sub 0.5}Si{sub 0.5} film into the Si substrate, besides the structural integrity of this junction.« less

B11-: a moving subnanoscale tank tread

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Ying-Jin; Zhao, Xiao-Yun; Chen, Qiang; Zhai, Hua-Jin; Li, Si-Dian

2015-09-01

We present a concept that an elongated, planar boron cluster can serve as a ``tank tread'' at the sub-nanometer scale, a novel propulsion system for potential nanomachines. Density functional calculations at the PBE0/6-311+G* level for the global-minimum B11-C2v (1A1) and B11C2v (2B2) structures along the soft in-plane rotational mode allow the identification of their corresponding B11-C2v and B11C2v transition states, with small rotational energy barriers of 0.42 and 0.55 kcal mol-1, respectively. The energy barriers are refined to 0.35 and 0.60 kcal mol-1 at the single-point CCSD(T) level, suggesting that the clusters are structurally fluxional at room temperature. Molecular dynamics simulations show that B11- and B11 behave exactly like a tank tread, in which the peripheral B9 ring rotates almost freely around the B2 core. A full turn of rotation may be accomplished in around 2 ps. In contrast to molecular wheels or Wankel motors, the peripheral boron atoms in the tank tread behave as a flexible chain gliding around, rather than as a rigid wheel rotation. This finding is beyond imagination, which expands the concepts of molecular wheels and Wankel motors.We present a concept that an elongated, planar boron cluster can serve as a ``tank tread'' at the sub-nanometer scale, a novel propulsion system for potential nanomachines. Density functional calculations at the PBE0/6-311+G* level for the global-minimum B11-C2v (1A1) and B11C2v (2B2) structures along the soft in-plane rotational mode allow the identification of their corresponding B11-C2v and B11C2v transition states, with small rotational energy barriers of 0.42 and 0.55 kcal mol-1, respectively. The energy barriers are refined to 0.35 and 0.60 kcal mol-1 at the single-point CCSD(T) level, suggesting that the clusters are structurally fluxional at room temperature. Molecular dynamics simulations show that B11- and B11 behave exactly like a tank tread, in which the peripheral B9 ring rotates almost freely around the B2 core. A full turn of rotation may be accomplished in around 2 ps. In contrast to molecular wheels or Wankel motors, the peripheral boron atoms in the tank tread behave as a flexible chain gliding around, rather than as a rigid wheel rotation. This finding is beyond imagination, which expands the concepts of molecular wheels and Wankel motors. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: A short movie extracted from the molecular dynamics (MD) simulation for B11- optimized structures of the C2v (1A1) global minimum (GM) and C2v (1A1) transition state (TS) of B11- and those of their corresponding B11 neutral clusters at the PBE0/6-311+G* level; the total electron localization function (ELF) of the GM of B11-C2v (1A1); chemical bonding in the C2v TS of B11- as revealed from the ELF and adaptive natural density partitioning (AdNDP) analyses; the structural evolution of B11 during the peripheral rotation; and the Cartesian coordinates for the GM structures of B11-C2v (1A1), B11C2v (2B2), and their C2v TS states at the PBE0/6-311+G* level. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr03732h

Size-selective reactivity of subnanometer Ag 4 and Ag 16 clusters on a TiO 2 surface

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

Chen, Po-Tuan; Tyo, Eric C.; Hayashi, Michitoshi

Size-selected Ag 4 and Ag 16 clusters on a titania surface have been studied for their potential in CO oxidation using theoretical calculations and X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy. The first peak at the measured Ag K-edge of Ag 16@TiO 2 is more prominent in air than in carbon monoxide environment, but no variation was found between the spectra of Ag 4@TiO 2 in air and in carbon monoxide environments. Density functional theory calculations show a preference for molecular oxygen adsorption for Ag 4@TiO 2 and that for a dissociative one on Ag 16@TiO 2, while carbon monoxide reactions withmore » adsorbed oxygen reduced the Ag 16@TiO 2 cluster. The dissociated oxygen atoms increased the oxidation state of Ag 16 cluster and resulted in the prominent first peak in Ag K-edge spectrum in quasi-particle theory calculations, with the subsequent carbon monoxide oxidation reversing the character of Ag K-edge spectrum associated with the reduction of the cluster. Finally, the results provide insight into the size selectivity of supported subnanometer silver clusters in their interactions with oxygen and carbon monoxide, with implications on the cluster catalytic properties in oxidative reactions.« less

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

Platero-Prats, Ana E.; Li, Zhanyong; Gallington, Leighanne C.

Here, we explore the dynamic structure and reactivity of Cu species supported on NU-1000. By combining pair distribution function (PDF) analysis and difference envelope density (DED) analysis ofin situsynchrotron-based X-ray scattering data, we simultaneously probe the local structure of supported Cu-species, their distribution within NU-1000 and distortions of the NU-1000 lattice under conditions relevant to catalysis and catalyst activation. Our analyses show that atomic layer deposition (ALD) of Cu in NU-1000 (Cu-AIM) leads to the formation of Cu-oxo clusters within the small pores that connect the triangular and hexagonal channels. Exposure of Cu-AIM to a reducing atmosphere at 200 °Cmore » produces metallic Cu 0of two distinct particle sizes: ~4 nm nanoparticles and small sub-nanometer clusters. The size of these nanoparticles appears to be constrained by NU-1000 pore dimensions, with evidence of the sub-nanometer clusters being bound within the triangular channels flanked by pyrene rings. This supported Cu 0–NU-1000 system is catalytically active for gas-phase ethylene hydrogenation. Exposure of the catalyst to oxidative atmosphere re-oxidises the Cu species to a Cu 2O cuprite phase. The dynamic restructuring of the system in different chemical environments underscores the importance of probing these systemsin situ.« less

A general approach to homogeneous sub-nanometer metallic particle/graphene composites by S-coordinator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Senhao; Wang, Wei; Gu, Shangzhi; Zhang, Guoxin; Song, Ningning

2018-05-01

In this study, sulphur-modified reduced graphene oxide (S-rGO) was employed as substrate to investigate the growth mechanism of metal and metallic nanoparticles (NPs). It is observed that the monodispersed Au, SnO2, FeO(OH) and Co3S4 NPs in sub-nanometer (sub-nm) with narrow size distribution were successfully anchored on S-rGO, respectively. The results indicate that the S contained radicals, viz. the Cdbnd S and Csbnd Ssbnd C functional groups play an important role in determining the homogeneous distribution of NPs on S-rGO by providing active sites for the NPs anchoring and nucleation. In additional, as anode materials for lithium ion batteries (LIBs), the as-synthesized sub-nm sized Co3S4/S-rGO and SnO2/S-rGO composites show excellent Li storage performance. It could be stabilized at ca. 600 mAh/g after formation cycle with the coulombic efficiency of 98%. It is expected that the strategy of growing sub-nm sized metallic component onto graphene by applying sulphur functionalities could be utilized as a general method to prepare monodispersed graphene-based NPs with other metals, especially with transition metals in sub-nm sizes.

Size-selective reactivity of subnanometer Ag 4 and Ag 16 clusters on a TiO 2 surface

DOE PAGES

Chen, Po-Tuan; Tyo, Eric C.; Hayashi, Michitoshi; ...

2017-03-08

Size-selected Ag 4 and Ag 16 clusters on a titania surface have been studied for their potential in CO oxidation using theoretical calculations and X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy. The first peak at the measured Ag K-edge of Ag 16@TiO 2 is more prominent in air than in carbon monoxide environment, but no variation was found between the spectra of Ag 4@TiO 2 in air and in carbon monoxide environments. Density functional theory calculations show a preference for molecular oxygen adsorption for Ag 4@TiO 2 and that for a dissociative one on Ag 16@TiO 2, while carbon monoxide reactions withmore » adsorbed oxygen reduced the Ag 16@TiO 2 cluster. The dissociated oxygen atoms increased the oxidation state of Ag 16 cluster and resulted in the prominent first peak in Ag K-edge spectrum in quasi-particle theory calculations, with the subsequent carbon monoxide oxidation reversing the character of Ag K-edge spectrum associated with the reduction of the cluster. Finally, the results provide insight into the size selectivity of supported subnanometer silver clusters in their interactions with oxygen and carbon monoxide, with implications on the cluster catalytic properties in oxidative reactions.« less

Orientation-dependent imaging of electronically excited quantum dots

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nguyen, Duc; Goings, Joshua J.; Nguyen, Huy A.; Lyding, Joseph; Li, Xiaosong; Gruebele, Martin

2018-02-01

We previously demonstrated that we can image electronic excitations of quantum dots by single-molecule absorption scanning tunneling microscopy (SMA-STM). With this technique, a modulated laser beam periodically saturates an electronic transition of a single nanoparticle, and the resulting tunneling current modulation ΔI(x0, y0) maps out the SMA-STM image. In this paper, we first derive the basic theory to calculate ΔI(x0, y0) in the one-electron approximation. For near-resonant tunneling through an empty orbital "i" of the nanostructure, the SMA-STM signal is approximately proportional to the electron density |φi) (x0,y0)|

Orientation-dependent imaging of electronically excited quantum dots.

PubMed

Nguyen, Duc; Goings, Joshua J; Nguyen, Huy A; Lyding, Joseph; Li, Xiaosong; Gruebele, Martin

2018-02-14

We previously demonstrated that we can image electronic excitations of quantum dots by single-molecule absorption scanning tunneling microscopy (SMA-STM). With this technique, a modulated laser beam periodically saturates an electronic transition of a single nanoparticle, and the resulting tunneling current modulation ΔI(x 0 , y 0 ) maps out the SMA-STM image. In this paper, we first derive the basic theory to calculate ΔI(x 0 , y 0 ) in the one-electron approximation. For near-resonant tunneling through an empty orbital "i" of the nanostructure, the SMA-STM signal is approximately proportional to the electron density φ i x 0 ,y 0 2 of the excited orbital in the tunneling region. Thus, the SMA-STM signal is approximated by an orbital density map (ODM) of the resonantly excited orbital at energy E i . The situation is more complex for correlated electron motion, but either way a slice through the excited electronic state structure in the tunneling region is imaged. We then show experimentally that we can nudge quantum dots on the surface and roll them, thus imaging excited state electronic structure of a single quantum dot at different orientations. We use density functional theory to model ODMs at various orientations, for qualitative comparison with the SMA-STM experiment. The model demonstrates that our experimentally observed signal monitors excited states, localized by defects near the surface of an individual quantum dot. The sub-nanometer super-resolution imaging technique demonstrated here could become useful for mapping out the three-dimensional structure of excited states localized by defects within nanomaterials.

Multiwavelength generation in a random distributed feedback fiber laser using an all fiber Lyot filter.

PubMed

Sugavanam, S; Yan, Z; Kamynin, V; Kurkov, A S; Zhang, L; Churkin, D V

2014-02-10

Multiwavelength lasing in the random distributed feedback fiber laser is demonstrated by employing an all fiber Lyot filter. Stable multiwavelength generation is obtained, with each line exhibiting sub-nanometer line-widths. A flat power distribution over multiple lines is obtained, which indicates that the power between lines is redistributed in nonlinear mixing processes. The multiwavelength generation is observed both in first and second Stokes waves.

Image-based overlay measurement using subsurface ultrasonic resonance force microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tamer, M. S.; van der Lans, M. J.; Sadeghian, H.

2018-03-01

Image Based Overlay (IBO) measurement is one of the most common techniques used in Integrated Circuit (IC) manufacturing to extract the overlay error values. The overlay error is measured using dedicated overlay targets which are optimized to increase the accuracy and the resolution, but these features are much larger than the IC feature size. IBO measurements are realized on the dedicated targets instead of product features, because the current overlay metrology solutions, mainly based on optics, cannot provide sufficient resolution on product features. However, considering the fact that the overlay error tolerance is approaching 2 nm, the overlay error measurement on product features becomes a need for the industry. For sub-nanometer resolution metrology, Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM) is widely used, though at the cost of very low throughput. The semiconductor industry is interested in non-destructive imaging of buried structures under one or more layers for the application of overlay and wafer alignment, specifically through optically opaque media. Recently an SPM technique has been developed for imaging subsurface features which can be potentially considered as a solution for overlay metrology. In this paper we present the use of Subsurface Ultrasonic Resonance Force Microscopy (SSURFM) used for IBO measurement. We used SSURFM for imaging the most commonly used overlay targets on a silicon substrate and photoresist. As a proof of concept we have imaged surface and subsurface structures simultaneously. The surface and subsurface features of the overlay targets are fabricated with programmed overlay errors of +/-40 nm, +/-20 nm, and 0 nm. The top layer thickness changes between 30 nm and 80 nm. Using SSURFM the surface and subsurface features were successfully imaged and the overlay errors were extracted, via a rudimentary image processing algorithm. The measurement results are in agreement with the nominal values of the programmed overlay errors.

Subnanometer to nanometer transition metal CO oxidation catalysts

DOEpatents

Vajda, Stefan; Fortunelli, Alessandro; Yasumatsu, Hisato

2017-12-26

The present invention provides a catalyst defined in part by a conductive substrate; a film overlaying a surface of the substrate; and a plurality of metal clusters supported by the layer, wherein each cluster comprises between 8 and 11 atoms. Further provided is a catalyst defined in part by a conductive substrate; a layer overlaying a surface of the substrate; and a plurality of metal clusters supported by the layer, wherein each cluster comprises at least two metals.

Nanoliter-droplet acoustic streaming via ultra high frequency surface acoustic waves.

PubMed

Shilton, Richie J; Travagliati, Marco; Beltram, Fabio; Cecchini, Marco

2014-08-06

The relevant length scales in sub-nanometer amplitude surface acoustic wave-driven acoustic streaming are demonstrated. We demonstrate the absence of any physical limitations preventing the downscaling of SAW-driven internal streaming to nanoliter microreactors and beyond by extending SAW microfluidics up to operating frequencies in the GHz range. This method is applied to nanoliter scale fluid mixing. © 2014 The Authors. Published by WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Nanoscale wear and machining behavior of nanolayer interfaces.

PubMed

Nie, Xueyuan; Zhang, Peng; Weiner, Anita M; Cheng, Yang-Tse

2005-10-01

An atomic force microscope was used to subnanometer incise a nanomultilayer to consequently expose individual nanolayers and interfaces on which sliding and scanning nanowear/machining have been performed. The letter reports the first observation on the nanoscale where (i) atomic debris forms in a collective manner, most-likely by deformation and rupture of atomic bonds, and (ii) the nanolayer interfaces possess a much higher wear resistance (desired for nanomachines) or lower machinability (not desired for nanomachining) than the layers.

Addressing the characterisation challenge to understand catalysis in MOFs: the case of nanoscale Cu supported in NU-1000.

PubMed

Platero-Prats, Ana E; Li, Zhanyong; Gallington, Leighanne C; Peters, Aaron W; Hupp, Joseph T; Farha, Omar K; Chapman, Karena W

2017-09-01

We explore the dynamic structure and reactivity of Cu species supported on NU-1000. By combining pair distribution function (PDF) analysis and difference envelope density (DED) analysis of in situ synchrotron-based X-ray scattering data, we simultaneously probe the local structure of supported Cu-species, their distribution within NU-1000 and distortions of the NU-1000 lattice under conditions relevant to catalysis and catalyst activation. These analyses show that atomic layer deposition (ALD) of Cu in NU-1000 (Cu-AIM) leads to the formation of Cu-oxo clusters within the small pores that connect the triangular and hexagonal channels. Exposure of Cu-AIM to a reducing atmosphere at 200 °C produces metallic Cu 0 of two distinct particle sizes: ∼4 nm nanoparticles and small sub-nanometer clusters. The size of these nanoparticles appears to be constrained by NU-1000 pore dimensions, with evidence of the sub-nanometer clusters being bound within the triangular channels flanked by pyrene rings. This supported Cu 0 -NU-1000 system is catalytically active for gas-phase ethylene hydrogenation. Exposure of the catalyst to oxidative atmosphere re-oxidises the Cu species to a Cu 2 O cuprite phase. The dynamic restructuring of the system in different chemical environments underscores the importance of probing these systems in situ.

Addressing the characterisation challenge to understand catalysis in MOFs: the case of nanoscale Cu supported in NU-1000

DOE PAGES

Platero-Prats, Ana E.; Li, Zhanyong; Gallington, Leighanne C.; ...

2017-04-03

Here, we explore the dynamic structure and reactivity of Cu species supported on NU-1000. By combining pair distribution function (PDF) analysis and difference envelope density (DED) analysis ofin situsynchrotron-based X-ray scattering data, we simultaneously probe the local structure of supported Cu-species, their distribution within NU-1000 and distortions of the NU-1000 lattice under conditions relevant to catalysis and catalyst activation. Our analyses show that atomic layer deposition (ALD) of Cu in NU-1000 (Cu-AIM) leads to the formation of Cu-oxo clusters within the small pores that connect the triangular and hexagonal channels. Exposure of Cu-AIM to a reducing atmosphere at 200 °Cmore » produces metallic Cu 0of two distinct particle sizes: ~4 nm nanoparticles and small sub-nanometer clusters. The size of these nanoparticles appears to be constrained by NU-1000 pore dimensions, with evidence of the sub-nanometer clusters being bound within the triangular channels flanked by pyrene rings. This supported Cu 0–NU-1000 system is catalytically active for gas-phase ethylene hydrogenation. Exposure of the catalyst to oxidative atmosphere re-oxidises the Cu species to a Cu 2O cuprite phase. The dynamic restructuring of the system in different chemical environments underscores the importance of probing these systemsin situ.« less

Strategies for alignment and e-beam contact to buried atomic-precision devices in Si

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wyrick, Jonathan; Namboodiri, Pradeep; Wang, Xiqiao; Murray, Roy; Hagmann, Joseph; Li, Kai; Stewart, Michael; Richter, Curt; Silver, Richard

STM based hydrogen lithography has proven to be a viable route to fabrication of atomic-precision electronic devices. The strength of this technique is the ability to control the lateral placement of phosphorus atoms in a single atomic layer of Si with sub-nanometer resolution. However, because of limitations in the rate at which a scanning probe can pattern a device, as well as the ultimate size of contacts that can be fabricated (on the order of a micron in length), making electrical contact to STM fabricated devices encased in Si is nontrivial. One commonly implemented solution to this challenge is to choose the exact location on a Si surface where a device is to be patterned by STM and to design fiducials to aid in navigating the probe to that predetermined location. We present results from an alternate strategy for contacting buried devices based on performing the STM lithography fabrication first, and determination of the buried structure location after the fact using topographically identifiable STM fabricated fiducials. AFM, scanning capacitance, and peak force Kelvin microscopy as well as optical microscopy techniques are evaluated as a means for device relocation and to quantify the comparative accuracy of these techniques.

Oscillatory magnetic tweezers based on ferromagnetic beads and simple coaxial coils

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trepat, Xavier; Grabulosa, Mireia; Buscemi, Lara; Rico, Fèlix; Fabry, Ben; Fredberg, Jeffrey J.; Farré, Ramon

2003-09-01

We report the design and validation of simple magnetic tweezers for oscillating ferromagnetic beads in the piconewton and nanometer scales. The system is based on a single pair of coaxial coils operating in two sequential modes: permanent magnetization of the beads through a large and brief pulse of magnetic field and generation of magnetic gradients to produce uniaxial oscillatory forces. By using this two step method, the magnetic moment of the beads remains constant during measurements. Therefore, the applied force can be computed and varies linearly with the driving signal. No feedback control is required to produce well defined force oscillations over a wide bandwidth. The design of the coils was optimized to obtain high magnetic fields (280 mT) and gradients (2 T/m) with high homogeneity (5% variation) within the sample. The magnetic tweezers were implemented in an inverted optical microscope with a videomicroscopy-based multiparticle tracking system. The apparatus was validated with 4.5 μm magnetite beads obtaining forces up to ˜2 pN and subnanometer resolution. The applicability of the device includes microrheology of biopolymer and cell cytoplasm, molecular mechanics, and mechanotransduction in living cells.

Extractables analysis of single-use flexible plastic biocontainers.

PubMed

Marghitoiu, Liliana; Liu, Jian; Lee, Hans; Perez, Lourdes; Fujimori, Kiyoshi; Ronk, Michael; Hammond, Matthew R; Nunn, Heather; Lower, Asher; Rogers, Gary; Nashed-Samuel, Yasser

2015-01-01

Studies of the extractable profiles of bioprocessing components have become an integral part of drug development efforts to minimize possible compromise in process performance, decrease in drug product quality, and potential safety risk to patients due to the possibility of small molecules leaching out from the components. In this study, an effective extraction solvent system was developed to evaluate the organic extractable profiles of single-use bioprocess equipment, which has been gaining increasing popularity in the biopharmaceutical industry because of the many advantages over the traditional stainless steel-based bioreactors and other fluid mixing and storage vessels. The chosen extraction conditions were intended to represent aggressive conditions relative to the application of single-use bags in biopharmaceutical manufacture, in which aqueous based systems are largely utilized. Those extraction conditions, along with a non-targeted analytical strategy, allowed for the generation and identification of an array of extractable compounds; a total of 53 organic compounds were identified from four types of commercially available single-use bags, the majority of which are degradation products of polymer additives. The success of this overall extractables analysis strategy was reflected partially by the effectiveness in the extraction and identification of a compound that was later found to be highly detrimental to mammalian cell growth. The usage of single-use bioreactors has been increasing in biopharmaceutical industry because of the appealing advantages that it promises regarding to the cleaning, sterilization, operational flexibility, and so on, during manufacturing of biologics. However, compared to its conventional counterparts based mainly on stainless steel, single-use bioreactors are more susceptible to potential problems associated with compound leaching into the bioprocessing fluid. As a result, extractable profiling of the single-use system has become essential in the qualification of such systems for its use in drug manufacturing. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of an extraction solvent system developed to study the extraction profile of single-use bioreactors in which aqueous-based systems are largely used. The results showed that with a non-targeted analytical approach, the extraction solvent allowed the generation and identification of an array of extractable compounds from four commercially available single-use bioreactors. Most of extractables are degradation products of polymer additives, among which was a compound that was later found to be highly detrimental to mammalian cell growth. © PDA, Inc. 2015.

Anomalous Dynamical Behavior of Freestanding Graphene Membranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ackerman, M. L.; Kumar, P.; Neek-Amal, M.; Thibado, P. M.; Peeters, F. M.; Singh, Surendra

2016-09-01

We report subnanometer, high-bandwidth measurements of the out-of-plane (vertical) motion of atoms in freestanding graphene using scanning tunneling microscopy. By tracking the vertical position over a long time period, a 1000-fold increase in the ability to measure space-time dynamics of atomically thin membranes is achieved over the current state-of-the-art imaging technologies. We observe that the vertical motion of a graphene membrane exhibits rare long-scale excursions characterized by both anomalous mean-squared displacements and Cauchy-Lorentz power law jump distributions.

Heterodyne common-path grating interferometer with Littrow configuration.

PubMed

Wu, Chyan-Chyi; Hsu, Cheng-Chih; Lee, Ju-Yi; Chen, Yan-Zou

2013-06-03

This paper presents a heterodyne common-path grating interferometer with Littrow configuration (HCGIL). The HCGIL can effectively overcome environmental disturbance effect and the DC offset and the amplitude variation of the measurement signals. Experimental results match well with the HP5529A results for long-range measurements. Results also show that the estimated measurement resolution is 0.15 ± 0.027 nm. The stability of the HCGIL is -0.41 ± 0.23 nm. Therefore, the HCGIL has potential for subnanometer resolution and long-range applications.

Single-trial laser-evoked potentials feature extraction for prediction of pain perception.

PubMed

Huang, Gan; Xiao, Ping; Hu, Li; Hung, Yeung Sam; Zhang, Zhiguo

2013-01-01

Pain is a highly subjective experience, and the availability of an objective assessment of pain perception would be of great importance for both basic and clinical applications. The objective of the present study is to develop a novel approach to extract pain-related features from single-trial laser-evoked potentials (LEPs) for classification of pain perception. The single-trial LEP feature extraction approach combines a spatial filtering using common spatial pattern (CSP) and a multiple linear regression (MLR). The CSP method is effective in separating laser-evoked EEG response from ongoing EEG activity, while MLR is capable of automatically estimating the amplitudes and latencies of N2 and P2 from single-trial LEP waveforms. The extracted single-trial LEP features are used in a Naïve Bayes classifier to classify different levels of pain perceived by the subjects. The experimental results show that the proposed single-trial LEP feature extraction approach can effectively extract pain-related LEP features for achieving high classification accuracy.

Lipid extraction from isolated single nerve cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Krasnov, I. V.

1977-01-01

A method of extracting lipids from single neurons isolated from lyophilized tissue is described. The method permits the simultaneous extraction of lipids from 30-40 nerve cells and for each cell provides equal conditions of solvent removal at the conclusion of extraction.

Comparison of bioavailable vanadium in alfalfa rhizosphere soil extracted by an improved BCR procedure and EDTA, HCl, and NaNO₃ single extractions in a pot experiment with V-Cd treatments.

PubMed

Yang, Jie; Teng, Yanguo; Zuo, Rui; Song, Liuting

2015-06-01

The BCR sequential extraction procedure was compared with EDTA, HCl, and NaNO3 single extractions for evaluating vanadium bioavailability in alfalfa rhizosphere soil. The amounts of vanadium extracted by these methods were in the following order: BCR (bioavailable V) > EDTA ≈ HCl > NaNO3. Both correlation analysis and stepwise regression were adopted to illustrate the extractable vanadium between different reagents. The correlation coefficients between extracted vanadium and the vanadium contents in alfalfa roots were R NaNO3 = 0.948, R HCl = 0.902, R EDTA = 0.816, and R bioavailable V = 0.819. The stepwise multiple regression equation of the NaNO3 extraction was the most significant at a 95 % confidence interval. The influence of pH, total organic carbon, and cadmium content of soil to vanadium bioavailability were not definite. In summary, both the BCR sequential extraction and the single extraction methods were valid approaches for predicting vanadium bioavailability in alfalfa rhizosphere soil, especially the single extractions.

Sub-nanometer glass surface dynamics induced by illumination

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

Nguyen, Duc; Nienhaus, Lea; Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801

2015-06-21

Illumination is known to induce stress and morphology changes in opaque glasses. Amorphous silicon carbide (a-SiC) has a smaller bandgap than the crystal. Thus, we were able to excite with 532 nm light a 1 μm amorphous surface layer on a SiC crystal while recording time-lapse movies of glass surface dynamics by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Photoexcitation of the a-SiC surface layer through the transparent crystal avoids heating the STM tip. Up to 6 × 10{sup 4} s, long movies of surface dynamics with 40 s time resolution and sub-nanometer spatial resolution were obtained. Clusters of ca. 3-5 glass formingmore » units diameter are seen to cooperatively hop between two states at the surface. Photoexcitation with green laser light recruits immobile clusters to hop, rather than increasing the rate at which already mobile clusters hop. No significant laser heating was observed. Thus, we favor an athermal mechanism whereby electronic excitation of a-SiC directly controls glassy surface dynamics. This mechanism is supported by an exciton migration-relaxation-thermal diffusion model. Individual clusters take ∼1 h to populate states differently after the light intensity has changed. We believe the surrounding matrix rearranges slowly when it is stressed by a change in laser intensity, and clusters serve as a diagnostic. Such cluster hopping and matrix rearrangement could underlie the microscopic mechanism of photoinduced aging of opaque glasses.« less

Stable and simple quantitative phase-contrast imaging by Fresnel biprism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ebrahimi, Samira; Dashtdar, Masoomeh; Sánchez-Ortiga, Emilio; Martínez-Corral, Manuel; Javidi, Bahram

2018-03-01

Digital holographic (DH) microscopy has grown into a powerful nondestructive technique for the real-time study of living cells including dynamic membrane changes and cell fluctuations in nanometer and sub-nanometer scales. The conventional DH microscopy configurations require a separately generated coherent reference wave that results in a low phase stability and a necessity to precisely adjust the intensity ratio between two overlapping beams. In this work, we present a compact, simple, and very stable common-path DH microscope, employing a self-referencing configuration. The microscope is implemented by a diode laser as the source and a Fresnel biprism for splitting and recombining the beams simultaneously. In the overlapping area, linear interference fringes with high contrast are produced. The frequency of the interference pattern could be easily adjusted by displacement of the biprism along the optical axis without a decrease in fringe contrast. To evaluate the validity of the method, the spatial noise and temporal stability of the setup are compared with the common off-axis DH microscope based on a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. It is shown that the proposed technique has low mechanical noise as well as superb temporal stability with sub-nanometer precision without any external vibration isolation. The higher temporal stability improves the capabilities of the microscope for studying micro-object fluctuations, particularly in the case of biological specimens. Experimental results are presented using red blood cells and silica microspheres to demonstrate the system performance.

Theoretical and experimental insights into the origin of the catalytic activity of subnanometric gold clusters: attempts to predict reactivity with clusters and nanoparticles of gold.

PubMed

Boronat, Mercedes; Leyva-Pérez, Antonio; Corma, Avelino

2014-03-18

Particle size is one of the key parameters determining the unexpected catalytic activity of gold, with reactivity improving as the particle gets smaller. While this is valid in the 1-5 nm range, chemists are now investigating the influence of particle size in the subnanometer regime. This is due to recent advances in both characterization techniques and synthetic routes capable of stabilizing these size-controlled gold clusters. Researchers reported in early studies that small clusters or aggregates of a few atoms can be extremely active in some reactions, while 1-2 nm nanoparticles are catalytically more efficient for other reactions. Furthermore, the possibility that small gold clusters generated in situ from gold salts or complexes could be the real active species in homogeneous gold-catalyzed organic reactions should be considered. In this Account, we address two questions. First, what is the origin of the enhanced reactivity of gold clusters on the subnanometer scale? And second, how can we predict the reactions where small clusters should work better than larger nanoparticles? Both geometric factors and electronic or quantum size effects become important in the subnanometer regime. Geometric reasons play a key role in hydrogenation reactions, where only accessible low coordinated neutral Au atoms are needed to dissociate H2. The quantum size effects of gold clusters are important as well, as clusters formed by only a few atoms have discrete molecule-like electronic states and their chemical reactivity is related to interactions between the cluster's frontier molecular orbitals and those of the reactant molecules. From first principles calculations, we predict an enhanced reactivity of small planar clusters for reactions involving activation of CC multiple bonds in alkenes and alkynes through Lewis acid-base interactions, and a better catalytic performance of 3D gold nanoparticles in redox reactions involving bond dissociation by oxidative addition and new bond formation by reductive elimination. In oxidation reactions with molecular O2, initial dissociation of O2 into basic oxygen atoms would be more effectively catalyzed by gold nanoparticles of ∼1 nm diameter. In contrast, small planar clusters should be more active for reactions following a radical pathway involving peroxo or hydroperoxo intermediates. We have experimentally confirmed these predictions for a series of Lewis acid and oxidation reactions catalyzed by gold clusters and nanoparticles either in solution or supported on solid carriers.

Advanced STEM microanalysis of bimetallic nanoparticle catalysts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lyman, Charles E.; Dimick, Paul S.

2012-05-01

Individual particles within bimetallic nanoparticle populations are not always identical, limiting the usefulness of bulk analysis techniques such as EXAFS. The scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) is the only instrument able to characterize supported nanoparticle populations on a particle-by-particle basis. Quantitative elemental analyses of sub-5-nm particles reveal phase separations among particles and surface segregation within particles. This knowledge can lead to improvements in bimetallic catalysts. Advanced STEMs with field-emission guns, aberration-corrected optics, and efficient signal detection systems allow analysis of sub-nanometer particles.

SUN: A fully automated interferometric test bench aimed at measuring photolithographic grade lenses with a sub nanometer accuracy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bourgois, R.; Hamy, A. L.; Pourcelot, P.

2017-10-01

SUN is a test bench developed by Safran Reosc to measure spherical or aspherical surface errors of litho-grade lenses with sub-nanometer accuracy. SUN provides full aperture high resolution interferometric measurements. Measurements are performed at the center of curvature using high precision transmission sphere (TS), and Computer Generated Holograms (CGH) for aspheres, in order to light the surface at normal incidence. SUN can measure lenses with diameter up to 350mm and a radius of curvature varying from 60 to 3000 mm.

Current–Voltage Characterization of Individual As-Grown Nanowires Using a Scanning Tunneling Microscope

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Utilizing semiconductor nanowires for (opto)electronics requires exact knowledge of their current–voltage properties. We report accurate on-top imaging and I–V characterization of individual as-grown nanowires, using a subnanometer resolution scanning tunneling microscope with no need for additional microscopy tools, thus allowing versatile application. We form Ohmic contacts to InP and InAs nanowires without any sample processing, followed by quantitative measurements of diameter dependent I–V properties with a very small spread in measured values compared to standard techniques. PMID:24059470

PHILOSOPHY FOR NSLS-II DESIGN WITH SUB-NANOMETER HORIZONTAL EMITTANCE.

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

OZAKI,S.; BENGTSSON, J.; KRAMER, S.L.

2007-06-25

NSLS-II at Brookhaven National Laboratory is a new third-generation storage ring light source, whose construction is on the verge of being approved by DOE. When completed, NSLS-II with its ability to provide users with a wide range of spectrum, ranging from IR to ultra-high brightness hard x-ray beams will replace the existing two (20+ years old) NSLS light sources. While presenting an overview of the NSLS-II accelerator system, this paper focuses on the strategy and development of a novel <1 nm emittance light source.

Ionically self-assembled monolayers (ISAMs)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Janik, John

2001-04-01

Ionically self-assembled monolayers (ISAMs), fabricated by alternate adsorption of cationic and anionic components, yield exceptionally homogeneous thin films with sub-nanometer control of the thickness and relative special location of the component materials. Using organic electrochromic materials such as polyaniline, we report studies of electrochromic responses in ISAM films. Reversible changes in the absorption spectrum are observed with the application of voltages on the order of 1.0 V. Measurements are made using both liquid electrolytes and in all-solid state devices incorporating solid polyelectrolytes such as poly(2-acylamido 2-methyl propane sulfonic acid) (PAMPS).

Current-voltage characterization of individual as-grown nanowires using a scanning tunneling microscope.

PubMed

Timm, Rainer; Persson, Olof; Engberg, David L J; Fian, Alexander; Webb, James L; Wallentin, Jesper; Jönsson, Andreas; Borgström, Magnus T; Samuelson, Lars; Mikkelsen, Anders

2013-11-13

Utilizing semiconductor nanowires for (opto)electronics requires exact knowledge of their current-voltage properties. We report accurate on-top imaging and I-V characterization of individual as-grown nanowires, using a subnanometer resolution scanning tunneling microscope with no need for additional microscopy tools, thus allowing versatile application. We form Ohmic contacts to InP and InAs nanowires without any sample processing, followed by quantitative measurements of diameter dependent I-V properties with a very small spread in measured values compared to standard techniques.

Effects of Surface Nonuniformities on the Mean Transverse Energy from Photocathodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karkare, Siddharth; Bazarov, Ivan

2015-08-01

The performance of photoinjectors is limited by the lowest value of the mean transverse energy of the electrons obtained from photocathodes. The factors that influence the mean transverse energy are poorly understood. In this paper, we develop models to calculate the effect of spatial work-function variations and subnanometer-scale roughness and surface defects on the mean transverse energy. We show that these can limit the lowest value of mean transverse energy achieved and that atomically perfect surfaces will be required to further reduce the mean transverse energy obtained from photocathodes.

Metrology system for the Terrestrial Planet Finder Coronagraph

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shaklin, Stuart; Marchen, Luis; Zhao, Feng; Peters, Robert D.; Ho, Tim; Holmes, Buck

2004-01-01

The Terrestrial Planet Finder (TPF) employs an aggressive coronagraph designed to obtain better than 1e-10 contrast inside the third Airy ring. Minute changes in low-order aberration content scatter significant light at this position. One implication is the requirement to control low-order aberrations induced by motion of the secondary mirror relative to the primary mirror; sub-nanometer relative positional stability is required. We propose a 6-beam laser truss to monitor the relative positions of the two mirrors. The truss is based on laser metrology developed for the Space Interferometry Mission.

Electronic Transport Behaviors due to Charge Density Waves in Ni-Nb-Zr-H Glassy Alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fukuhara, Mikio; Umemori, Yoshimasa

2013-11-01

The amorphous Ni-Nb-Zr-H glassy alloy containing subnanometer-sized icosahedral Zr5 Nb5Ni3 clusters exhibited four types of electronic phenomena: a metal/insulator transition, an electric current-induced voltage oscillation (Coulomb oscillation), giant capacitor behavior and an electron avalanche with superior resistivity. These findings could be excluded by charge density waves that the low-dimensional component of clusters, in which the atoms are lined up in chains along the [130] direction, plays important roles in various electron transport phenomena.

[Traditional Chinese medicine pairs (III)--effect of extract of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma and Puerariae Lobatae Radix on intestinal absorption in rats].

PubMed

Chen, Yi-hang; Li, Meng-xuan; Meng, Zhao-qing; Yang, Jiao-jiao; Huang, Wen-zhe; Wang, Zhen-zhong; Wang, Yue-sheng; Xiao, Wei

2015-08-01

This study focused on the intestinal absorption of traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) to reveal the scientific connotation of the compatibility of TCM pairs. The single pass intestinal perfusion (SPIP) was used in rats to compare the absorption of single extracts from Puerariae Lobatae Radix, single extracts from Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, combined extracts from Puerariae Lobatae Radix and Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma and Puerariae Lobatae Radix and Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma mixture in rats. The content of puerarin, ginsenoside Rg1, ginsenoside Re and ginsenoside Rb1 in liquid were tested by HPLC. The speed constant (Ka) and apparent permeability coefficients (Papp) were calculated and compared. Specifically, the order of puerarin Ka and Papp values from high to low was Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma and Puerariae Lobatae Radix mixture > single extracts from Puerariae Lobatae Radix > combined extracts from Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma and Puerariae Lobatae Radix; the order of ginsenosides Ka and Papp values from high to low was Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma and Puerariae Lobatae Radix mixture > single extracts from Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma > combined extracts from Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma and Puerariae Lobatae Radix. The combined administration of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma and Puerariae Lobatae Radix may improve the absorption in the intestinal tract.

Associations between bacteremia from oral sources and distant-site infections: tooth brushing versus single tooth extraction.

PubMed

Mougeot, Farah K Bahrani; Saunders, Sabrina E; Brennan, Michael T; Lockhart, Peter B

2015-04-01

To determine the impact of antibiotic prophylaxis (AP) on the incidence of bacteremia caused by oral bacterial species associated with infective endocarditis (IE) and prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) and to compare the incidence of following tooth brushing versus single tooth extraction. Bacterial species in blood following single tooth extraction, with or without AP, and tooth brushing(1) were compared with IE- and PJI-associated bacteria reported in the literature. Of the 98 bacterial species identified in blood following single tooth extraction and tooth brushing, 32(1) and 12 were species were associated with IE and PJI, respectively. AP decreased the frequency of IE- and PJI-causing oral bacterial species in blood; however, single tooth extraction versus brushing resulted in bacteremia with IE- and PJI-causing species with similar frequencies: 65% versus 56% for IE, and 31% versus 28% for PJI. Although AP significantly decreased the incidence of bacteremia, the similarity between the incidence of bacteremia following brushing and extraction undermines AP as an effective strategy for the prevention of these distant-site infections. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Unveiling Stability Criteria of DNA-Carbon Nanotubes Constructs by Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Computational Modeling

DOE PAGES

Kilina, Svetlana; Yarotski, Dzmitry A.; Talin, A. Alec; ...

2011-01-01

We present a combined approach that relies on computational simulations and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) measurements to reveal morphological properties and stability criteria of carbon nanotube-DNA (CNT-DNA) constructs. Application of STM allows direct observation of very stable CNT-DNA hybrid structures with the well-defined DNA wrapping angle of 63.4 ° and a coiling period of 3.3 nm. Using force field simulations, we determine how the DNA-CNT binding energy depends on the sequence and binding geometry of a single strand DNA. This dependence allows us to quantitatively characterize the stability of a hybrid structure with an optimal π-stacking between DNA nucleotides and themore » tube surface and better interpret STM data. Our simulations clearly demonstrate the existence of a very stable DNA binding geometry for (6,5) CNT as evidenced by the presence of a well-defined minimum in the binding energy as a function of an angle between DNA strand and the nanotube chiral vector. This novel approach demonstrates the feasibility of CNT-DNA geometry studies with subnanometer resolution and paves the way towards complete characterization of the structural and electronic properties of drug-delivering systems based on DNA-CNT hybrids as a function of DNA sequence and a nanotube chirality.« less

Fullerene-like (IF) Nb(x)Mo(1-x)S2 nanoparticles.

PubMed

Deepak, Francis Leonard; Cohen, Hagai; Cohen, Sidney; Feldman, Yishay; Popovitz-Biro, Ronit; Azulay, Doron; Millo, Oded; Tenne, Reshef

2007-10-17

IF-Mo1-xNbxS2 nanoparticles have been synthesized by a vapor-phase reaction involving the respective metal halides with H2S. The IF-Mo1-xNbxS2 nanoparticles, containing up to 25% Nb, were characterized by a variety of experimental techniques. Analysis of the powder X-ray powder diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and different electron microscopy techniques shows that the majority of the Nb atoms are organized as nanosheets of NbS2 within the MoS2 host lattice. Most of the remaining Nb atoms (3%) are interspersed individually and randomly in the MoS2 host lattice. Very few Nb atoms, if any, are intercalated between the MoS2 layers. A sub-nanometer film of niobium oxide seems to encoat the majority of the nanoparticles. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy in the chemically resolved electrical measurement mode (CREM) and scanning probe microscopy measurements of individual nanoparticles show that the mixed IF nanoparticles are metallic independent of the substitution pattern of the Nb atoms in the lattice of MoS2 (whereas unsubstituted IF-MoS2 nanoparticles are semiconducting). Furthermore the IF-Mo1-xNbxS2 nanoparticles are found to exhibit interesting single electron tunneling effects at low temperatures.

Directional emission from dye-functionalized plasmonic DNA superlattice microcavities

PubMed Central

Park, Daniel J.; Ku, Jessie C.; Sun, Lin; Lethiec, Clotilde M.; Stern, Nathaniel P.; Schatz, George C.; Mirkin, Chad A.

2017-01-01

Three-dimensional plasmonic superlattice microcavities, made from programmable atom equivalents comprising gold nanoparticles functionalized with DNA, are used as a testbed to study directional light emission. DNA-guided nanoparticle colloidal crystallization allows for the formation of micrometer-scale single-crystal body-centered cubic gold nanoparticle superlattices, with dye molecules coupled to the DNA strands that link the particles together, in the form of a rhombic dodecahedron. Encapsulation in silica allows one to create robust architectures with the plasmonically active particles and dye molecules fixed in space. At the micrometer scale, the anisotropic rhombic dodecahedron crystal habit couples with photonic modes to give directional light emission. At the nanoscale, the interaction between the dye dipoles and surface plasmons can be finely tuned by coupling the dye molecules to specific sites of the DNA particle-linker strands, thereby modulating dye–nanoparticle distance (three different positions are studied). The ability to control dye position with subnanometer precision allows one to systematically tune plasmon–excition interaction strength and decay lifetime, the results of which have been supported by electrodynamics calculations that span length scales from nanometers to micrometers. The unique ability to control surface plasmon/exciton interactions within such superlattice microcavities will catalyze studies involving quantum optics, plasmon laser physics, strong coupling, and nonlinear phenomena. PMID:28053232

Aviation accident forensic assessment : comprehensive single-extraction urine screening procedure : final report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1996-05-01

This paper describes a new single extraction screening procedure that was developed to identify as many drugs as possible in urine, with minimal effort and cost. Urine specimens are hydrolyzed and the specimen is then extracted using commercially pur...

Recent developments in heterodyne laser interferometry at Harbin Institute of Technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, P. C.; Tan, J. B. B.; Yang, H. X. X.; Fu, H. J. J.; Wang, Q.

2013-01-01

In order to fulfill the requirements for high-resolution and high-precision heterodyne interferometric technologies and instruments, the laser interferometry group of HIT has developed some novel techniques for high-resolution and high-precision heterodyne interferometers, such as high accuracy laser frequency stabilization, dynamic sub-nanometer resolution phase interpolation and dynamic nonlinearity measurement. Based on a novel lock point correction method and an asymmetric thermal structure, the frequency stabilized laser achieves a long term stability of 1.2×10-8, and it can be steadily stabilized even in the air flowing up to 1 m/s. In order to achieve dynamic sub-nanometer resolution of laser heterodyne interferometers, a novel phase interpolation method based on digital delay line is proposed. Experimental results show that, the proposed 0.62 nm, phase interpolator built with a 64 multiple PLL and an 8-tap digital delay line achieves a static accuracy better than 0.31nm and a dynamic accuracy better than 0.62 nm over the velocity ranging from -2 m/s to 2 m/s. Meanwhile, an accuracy beam polarization measuring setup is proposed to check and ensure the light's polarization state of the dual frequency laser head, and a dynamic optical nonlinearity measuring setup is built to measure the optical nonlinearity of the heterodyne system accurately and quickly. Analysis and experimental results show that, the beam polarization measuring setup can achieve an accuracy of 0.03° in ellipticity angles and an accuracy of 0.04° in the non-orthogonality angle respectively, and the optical nonlinearity measuring setup can achieve an accuracy of 0.13°.

Comparison of single extraction procedures and the application of an index for the assessment of heavy metal bioavailability in river sediments.

PubMed

Sakan, Sanja; Popović, Aleksandar; Škrivanj, Sandra; Sakan, Nenad; Đorđević, Dragana

2016-11-01

Metals in sediments are present in different chemical forms which affect their ability to transfer. The objective of this body of work was to compare different extraction methods for the bioavailability evaluation of some elements, such as Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn from Serbian river sediments. A bioavailability risk assessment index (BRAI) was used for the quantification of heavy metal bioavailability in the sediments. Actual and potential element availability was assessed by single extractions with mild (CaCl 2 and CH 3 COONH 4 ) and acidic (CH 3 COOH) extractants and complexing agents (EDTA). Aqua regia extraction was used for the determination of the pseudo-total element content in river sediments. In different single extraction tests, higher extraction of Cd, Cu, Zn and Pb was observed than for the other elements. The results of the single extraction tests revealed that there is a considerable chance of metal leaching from the sediments assessed in this study. When the BRAI was applied, the results showed a high risk of heavy metal bioavailability in Serbian river sediments.

[Study on biopharmaceutics classification system for Chinese materia medica of extract of Huanglian].

PubMed

Liu, Yang; Yin, Xiu-Wen; Wang, Zi-Yu; Li, Xue-Lian; Pan, Meng; Li, Yan-Ping; Dong, Ling

2017-11-01

One of the advantages of biopharmaceutics classification system of Chinese materia medica (CMMBCS) is expanding the classification research level from single ingredient to multi-components of Chinese herb, and from multi-components research to holistic research of the Chinese materia medica. In present paper, the alkaloids of extract of huanglian were chosen as the main research object to explore their change rules in solubility and intestinal permeability of single-component and multi-components, and to determine the biopharmaceutical classification of extract of Huanglian from holistic level. The typical shake-flask method and HPLC were used to detect the solubility of single ingredient of alkaloids from extract of huanglian. The quantitative research of alkaloids in intestinal absorption was measured in single-pass intestinal perfusion experiment while permeability coefficient of extract of huanglian was calculated by self-defined weight coefficient method. Copyright© by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.

Single-Rooted Extraction Sockets: Classification and Treatment Protocol.

PubMed

El Chaar, Edgar; Oshman, Sarah; Fallah Abed, Pooria

2016-09-01

Clinicians have many treatment techniques from which to choose when extracting a failing tooth and replacing it with an implant-supported restoration and when successful management of an extraction socket during the course of tooth replacement is necessary to achieve predictable and esthetic outcomes. This article presents a straightforward, yet thorough, classification for extraction sockets of single-rooted teeth and provides guidance to clinicians in the selection of appropriate and predictable treatment. The presented classification of extraction sockets for single-rooted teeth focuses on the topography of the extraction socket, while the protocol for treatment of each socket type factors in the shape of the remaining bone, the biotype, and the location of the socket whether it be in the mandible or maxilla. This system is based on the biologic foundations of wound healing and can help guide clinicians to successful treatment outcomes.

Metal fractionation in olive oil and urban sewage sludges using the three-stage BCR sequential extraction method and microwave single extractions.

PubMed

Pérez Cid, B; Fernández Alborés, A; Fernández Gómez, E; Faliqé López, E

2001-08-01

The conventional three-stage BCR sequential extraction method was employed for the fractionation of heavy metals in sewage sludge samples from an urban wastewater treatment plant and from an olive oil factory. The results obtained for Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn in these samples were compared with those attained by a simplified extraction procedure based on microwave single extractions and using the same reagents as employed in each individual BCR fraction. The microwave operating conditions in the single extractions (heating time and power) were optimized for all the metals studied in order to achieve an extraction efficiency similar to that of the conventional BCR procedure. The measurement of metals in the extracts was carried out by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The results obtained in the first and third fractions by the proposed procedure were, for all metals, in good agreement with those obtained using the BCR sequential method. Although in the reducible fraction the extraction efficiency of the accelerated procedure was inferior to that of the conventional method, the overall metals leached by both microwave single and sequential extractions were basically the same (recoveries between 90.09 and 103.7%), except for Zn in urban sewage sludges where an extraction efficiency of 87% was achieved. Chemometric analysis showed a good correlation between the results given by the two extraction methodologies compared. The application of the proposed approach to a certified reference material (CRM-601) also provided satisfactory results in the first and third fractions, as it was observed for the sludge samples analysed.

Nonlocal response in plasmonic waveguiding with extreme light confinement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Toscano, Giuseppe; Raza, Søren; Yan, Wei; Jeppesen, Claus; Xiao, Sanshui; Wubs, Martijn; Jauho, Antti-Pekka; Bozhevolnyi, Sergey I.; Mortensen, N. Asger

2013-07-01

We present a novel wave equation for linearized plasmonic response, obtained by combining the coupled real-space differential equations for the electric field and current density. Nonlocal dynamics are fully accounted for, and the formulation is very well suited for numerical implementation, allowing us to study waveguides with subnanometer cross-sections exhibiting extreme light confinement. We show that groove and wedge waveguides have a fundamental lower limit in their mode confinement, only captured by the nonlocal theory. The limitation translates into an upper limit for the corresponding Purcell factors, and thus has important implications for quantum plasmonics.

Electrochromic Behavior of Ionically Self-Assembled Thin Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Janik, J. A.; Heflin, J. R.; Marciu, D.; Miller, M. B.; Davis, R. M.

2001-03-01

Ionically self-assembled monolayers (ISAMs), fabricated by alternate adsorption of cationic and anionic components, yield exceptionally homogeneous thin films with sub-nanometer control of the thickness and relative special location of the component materials. Using organic electrochromic materials such as polyaniline, we report studies of electrochromic responses in ISAM films. Reversible changes in the absorption spectrum are observed with the application of voltages on the order of 1.0 V. Measurements are made using both liquid electrolytes and in all-solid state devices incorporating solid polyelectrolytes such as poly(2-acylamido 2-methyl propane sulfonic acid) (PAMPS).

Low-temperature field ion microscopy of carbon nanotubes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ksenofontov, V. A.; Gurin, V. A.; Gurin, I. V.; Kolosenko, V. V.; Mikhailovskij, I. M.; Sadanov, E. V.; Mazilova, T. I.; Velikodnaya, O. A.

2007-10-01

The methods of high-resolution field ion microscopy with sample cooling to liquid helium temperature are used in a study of the products of gas-phase catalytic pyrolysis of hydrocarbons in the form of graphitized fibers containing carbon nanotubes. Full atomic resolution of the end cap of closed carbon nanotubes is achieved for the first time. It is found that the atomic structure of the tops of the caps of subnanometer carbon tubes consists predominantly of hexagonal rings. A possible reason for the improvement of the resolution of field ion images of nanotubes upon deep cooling is discussed.

Helium Ion Secondary Electron Mode Microscopy For Interconnect Material Imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ogawa, Shinichi; Thompson, William; Stern, Lewis; Scipioni, Larry; Notte, John; Farkas, Lou; Barriss, Louise

2010-04-01

The recently developed helium ion microscope (HIM) is now capable of 0.35 nm secondary electron (SE) mode image resolution. When low-k dielectrics or copper interconnects in ultra large scale integrated circuits (ULSI) interconnect structures were imaged in this mode, it was found that unique pattern dimension and fidelity information at sub-nanometer resolution was available for the first time. This paper will discuss the helium ion microscope architecture and the SE imaging techniques that make the HIM observation method of particular value to the low-k dielectric and dual damascene copper interconnect technologies.

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

Masuda, Takuya; PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency; Yoshikawa, Hideki

In situ electrochemical X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) apparatus, which allows XPS at solid/liquid interfaces under potential control, was constructed utilizing a microcell with an ultra-thin Si membrane, which separates vacuum and a solution. Hard X-rays from a synchrotron source penetrate into the Si membrane surface exposed to the solution. Electrons emitted at the Si/solution interface can pass through the membrane and be analyzed by an analyzer placed in vacuum. Its operation was demonstrated for potential-induced Si oxide growth in water. Effect of potential and time on the thickness of Si and Si oxide layers was quantitatively determined at sub-nanometer resolution.

Ellipsometric Analysis of Contaminant Layer on Optical Witness Samples from MISSE

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Norwood, Joseph K.

2007-01-01

Several optical witness samples included in the Materials for International Space Station Experiment (MISSE) trays have been analyzed with a variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometer or VASE. Witness samples of gold or platinum mirrors are extremely useful as collectors of space-borne contamination, due to the relative inertness of these noble metals in the atomic oxygen-rich environment of LEO. Highly accurate thickness measurements, typically at the sub-nanometer scale, may be achieved with this method, which uses polarized light in a spectral range of 300 to 1300 nanometers at several angles of incidence to the sample surface.

Interaction potentials of anisotropic nanocrystals from the trajectory sampling of particle motion using in situ liquid phase transmission electron microscopy

DOE PAGES

Chen, Qian; Cho, Hoduk; Manthiram, Karthish; ...

2015-03-23

We demonstrate a generalizable strategy to use the relative trajectories of pairs and groups of nanocrystals, and potentially other nanoscale objects, moving in solution which can now be obtained by in situ liquid phase transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to determine the interaction potentials between nanocrystals. Such nanoscale interactions are crucial for collective behaviors and applications of synthetic nanocrystals and natural biomolecules, but have been very challenging to measure in situ at nanometer or sub-nanometer resolution. Here we use liquid phase TEM to extract the mathematical form of interaction potential between nanocrystals from their sampled trajectories. We show the power ofmore » this approach to reveal unanticipated features of nanocrystal–nanocrystal interactions by examining the anisotropic interaction potential between charged rod-shaped Au nanocrystals (Au nanorods); these Au nanorods assemble, in a tip-to-tip fashion in the liquid phase, in contrast to the well-known side-by-side arrangements commonly observed for drying-mediated assembly. These observations can be explained by a long-range and highly anisotropic electrostatic repulsion that leads to the tip-selective attachment. As a result, Au nanorods stay unassembled at a lower ionic strength, as the electrostatic repulsion is even longer-ranged. Our study not only provides a mechanistic understanding of the process by which metallic nanocrystals assemble but also demonstrates a method that can potentially quantify and elucidate a broad range of nanoscale interactions relevant to nanotechnology and biophysics.« less

Cardiac and Vascular Synergic Protective Effect of Olea europea L. Leaves and Hibiscus sabdariffa L. Flower Extracts.

PubMed

Micucci, Matteo; Malaguti, Marco; Toschi, Tullia Gallina; Di Lecce, Giuseppe; Aldini, Rita; Angeletti, Andrea; Chiarini, Alberto; Budriesi, Roberta; Hrelia, Silvana

2015-01-01

This study was aimed at investigating the cardiovascular effects of an Olea europea L. leaf extract (OEE), of a Hibiscus sabdariffa L. flower extract (HSE), and of their 13 : 2 w/w mixture in order to assess their cardiac and vascular activity. Both extracts were fully characterized in their bioactive compounds by HPLC-MS/MS analysis. The study was performed using primary vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) to investigate the antioxidant and cytoprotective effect of the extracts and their mixture and isolated guinea-pig left and right atria and aorta to evaluate the inotropic and chronotropic activities and vasorelaxant properties. In cultured HUVECs, OEE and HSE reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species formation and improved cell viability, following oxidative stress in dose-dependent manner. OEE and HSE exerted negative inotropic and vasorelaxant effects without any chronotropic property. Interestingly, the mixture exerted higher cytoprotective effects and antioxidant activities. Moreover, the mixture exerted an inotropic effect similar to each single extract, while it revealed an intrinsic negative chronotropic activity different from the single extract; its relaxant activity was higher than that of each single extract. In conclusion OEE and HSE mixture has a good potential for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical application, thanks to the synergistic effects of the single phytochemicals.

Cardiac and Vascular Synergic Protective Effect of Olea europea L. Leaves and Hibiscus sabdariffa L. Flower Extracts

PubMed Central

Micucci, Matteo; Gallina Toschi, Tullia; Di Lecce, Giuseppe; Aldini, Rita; Angeletti, Andrea; Chiarini, Alberto

2015-01-01

This study was aimed at investigating the cardiovascular effects of an Olea europea L. leaf extract (OEE), of a Hibiscus sabdariffa L. flower extract (HSE), and of their 13 : 2 w/w mixture in order to assess their cardiac and vascular activity. Both extracts were fully characterized in their bioactive compounds by HPLC-MS/MS analysis. The study was performed using primary vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) to investigate the antioxidant and cytoprotective effect of the extracts and their mixture and isolated guinea-pig left and right atria and aorta to evaluate the inotropic and chronotropic activities and vasorelaxant properties. In cultured HUVECs, OEE and HSE reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species formation and improved cell viability, following oxidative stress in dose-dependent manner. OEE and HSE exerted negative inotropic and vasorelaxant effects without any chronotropic property. Interestingly, the mixture exerted higher cytoprotective effects and antioxidant activities. Moreover, the mixture exerted an inotropic effect similar to each single extract, while it revealed an intrinsic negative chronotropic activity different from the single extract; its relaxant activity was higher than that of each single extract. In conclusion OEE and HSE mixture has a good potential for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical application, thanks to the synergistic effects of the single phytochemicals. PMID:26180582

The energy landscape of glassy dynamics on the amorphous hafnium diboride surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nguyen, Duc; Mallek, Justin; Cloud, Andrew N.; Abelson, John R.; Girolami, Gregory S.; Lyding, Joseph; Gruebele, Martin

2014-11-01

Direct visualization of the dynamics of structural glasses and amorphous solids on the sub-nanometer scale provides rich information unavailable from bulk or conventional single molecule techniques. We study the surface of hafnium diboride, a conductive ultrahigh temperature ceramic material that can be grown in amorphous films. Our scanning tunneling movies have a second-to-hour dynamic range and single-point current measurements extend that to the millisecond-to-minute time scale. On the a-HfB2 glass surface, two-state hopping of 1-2 nm diameter cooperatively rearranging regions or "clusters" occurs from sub-milliseconds to hours. We characterize individual clusters in detail through high-resolution (<0.5 nm) imaging, scanning tunneling spectroscopy and voltage modulation, ruling out individual atoms, diffusing adsorbates, or pinned charges as the origin of the observed two-state hopping. Smaller clusters are more likely to hop, larger ones are more likely to be immobile. HfB2 has a very high bulk glass transition temperature Tg, and we observe no three-state hopping or sequential two-state hopping previously seen on lower Tg glass surfaces. The electronic density of states of clusters does not change when they hop up or down, allowing us to calibrate an accurate relative z-axis scale. By directly measuring and histogramming single cluster vertical displacements, we can reconstruct the local free energy landscape of individual clusters, complete with activation barrier height, a reaction coordinate in nanometers, and the shape of the free energy landscape basins between which hopping occurs. The experimental images are consistent with the compact shape of α-relaxors predicted by random first order transition theory, whereas the rapid hopping rate, even taking less confined motion at the surface into account, is consistent with β-relaxations. We make a proposal of how "mixed" features can show up in surface dynamics of glasses.

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

Nguyen, Duc; Girolami, Gregory S.; Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801

Direct visualization of the dynamics of structural glasses and amorphous solids on the sub-nanometer scale provides rich information unavailable from bulk or conventional single molecule techniques. We study the surface of hafnium diboride, a conductive ultrahigh temperature ceramic material that can be grown in amorphous films. Our scanning tunneling movies have a second-to-hour dynamic range and single-point current measurements extend that to the millisecond-to-minute time scale. On the a-HfB{sub 2} glass surface, two-state hopping of 1–2 nm diameter cooperatively rearranging regions or “clusters” occurs from sub-milliseconds to hours. We characterize individual clusters in detail through high-resolution (<0.5 nm) imaging, scanning tunnelingmore » spectroscopy and voltage modulation, ruling out individual atoms, diffusing adsorbates, or pinned charges as the origin of the observed two-state hopping. Smaller clusters are more likely to hop, larger ones are more likely to be immobile. HfB{sub 2} has a very high bulk glass transition temperature T{sub g}, and we observe no three-state hopping or sequential two-state hopping previously seen on lower T{sub g} glass surfaces. The electronic density of states of clusters does not change when they hop up or down, allowing us to calibrate an accurate relative z-axis scale. By directly measuring and histogramming single cluster vertical displacements, we can reconstruct the local free energy landscape of individual clusters, complete with activation barrier height, a reaction coordinate in nanometers, and the shape of the free energy landscape basins between which hopping occurs. The experimental images are consistent with the compact shape of α-relaxors predicted by random first order transition theory, whereas the rapid hopping rate, even taking less confined motion at the surface into account, is consistent with β-relaxations. We make a proposal of how “mixed” features can show up in surface dynamics of glasses.« less

Wide coverage biomedical event extraction using multiple partially overlapping corpora

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Biomedical events are key to understanding physiological processes and disease, and wide coverage extraction is required for comprehensive automatic analysis of statements describing biomedical systems in the literature. In turn, the training and evaluation of extraction methods requires manually annotated corpora. However, as manual annotation is time-consuming and expensive, any single event-annotated corpus can only cover a limited number of semantic types. Although combined use of several such corpora could potentially allow an extraction system to achieve broad semantic coverage, there has been little research into learning from multiple corpora with partially overlapping semantic annotation scopes. Results We propose a method for learning from multiple corpora with partial semantic annotation overlap, and implement this method to improve our existing event extraction system, EventMine. An evaluation using seven event annotated corpora, including 65 event types in total, shows that learning from overlapping corpora can produce a single, corpus-independent, wide coverage extraction system that outperforms systems trained on single corpora and exceeds previously reported results on two established event extraction tasks from the BioNLP Shared Task 2011. Conclusions The proposed method allows the training of a wide-coverage, state-of-the-art event extraction system from multiple corpora with partial semantic annotation overlap. The resulting single model makes broad-coverage extraction straightforward in practice by removing the need to either select a subset of compatible corpora or semantic types, or to merge results from several models trained on different individual corpora. Multi-corpus learning also allows annotation efforts to focus on covering additional semantic types, rather than aiming for exhaustive coverage in any single annotation effort, or extending the coverage of semantic types annotated in existing corpora. PMID:23731785

Investigating the synthesis of ligated metal clusters in solution using a flow reactor and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Olivares, Astrid; Laskin, Julia; Johnson, Grant E

2014-09-18

The scalable synthesis of ligated subnanometer metal clusters containing an exact number of atoms is of interest due to the highly size-dependent catalytic, electronic, and optical properties of these species. While significant research has been conducted on the batch preparation of clusters through reduction synthesis in solution, the processes of metal complex reduction as well as cluster nucleation, growth, and postreduction etching are still not well understood. Herein, we demonstrate a prototype temperature-controlled flow reactor for qualitatively studying cluster formation in solution at steady-state conditions. Employing this technique, methanol solutions of a chloro(triphenylphosphine)gold precursor, 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane capping ligand, and borane-tert-butylamine reducing agent were combined in a mixing tee and introduced into a heated capillary with a known length. In this manner, the temperature dependence of the relative abundance of different ionic reactants, intermediates, and products synthesized in real time was characterized qualitatively using online mass spectrometry. A wide distribution of doubly and triply charged cationic gold clusters was observed as well as smaller singly charged organometallic complexes. The results demonstrate that temperature plays a crucial role in determining the relative population of cationic gold clusters and, in general, that higher temperature promotes the formation of doubly charged clusters and singly charged organometallic complexes while reducing the abundance of triply charged species. Moreover, the distribution of clusters observed at elevated temperatures is found to be consistent with that obtained at longer reaction times at room temperature, thereby demonstrating that heating may be used to access cluster distributions characteristic of different stages of batch reduction synthesis in solution.

Extraction of a single Stokes line from a Brillouin fibre laser using a silicon oxynitride microring filter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zulkifli, M. Z.; Chong, W. Y.; Melloni, A.; Morichetti, F.; Harun, S. W.; Ahmad, H.

2013-09-01

Extraction of a single channel Brillouin Stokes line generated by pumping a length of single mode fibre is demonstrated using a silicon oxynitride microring resonator. The high Q-factor microring resonator has a steep slope transmission profile with an extinction ratio of 20 dB and a free spectral range of 0.4 nm. Experimental results show that extraction of a single Brillouin Stokes line can be achieved with a side mode suppression ratio of more than 12 dB. Additionally, Brillouin Stokes line selection can be achieved by controlling the microring resonance wavelength by thermal tuning.

Development of a simultaneous multiple solid-phase microextraction-single shot-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry method and application to aroma profile analysis of commercial coffee.

PubMed

Lee, Changgook; Lee, Younghoon; Lee, Jae-Gon; Buglass, Alan J

2013-06-21

A simultaneous multiple solid-phase microextraction-single shot-gas chromatography mass spectrometry (smSPME-ss-GC/MS) method has been developed for headspace analysis. Up to four fibers (50/30 μm DVB/CAR/PDMS) were used simultaneously for the extraction of aroma components from the headspace of a single sample chamber in order to increase sensitivity of aroma extraction. To avoid peak broadening and to maximize resolution, a simple cryofocusing technique was adopted during sequential thermal desorption of multiple SPME fibers prior to a 'single shot' chromatographic run. The method was developed and validated on a model flavor mixture, containing 81 known pure components. With the conditions of 10 min of incubation and 30 min of extraction at 50 °C, single, dual, triple and quadruple SPME extractions were compared. The increase in total peak area with increase in the number of fibers showed good linearity (R(2)=0.9917) and the mean precision was 12.0% (RSD) for the total peak sum, with quadruple simultaneous SPME extraction. Using a real sample such as commercial coffee granules, aroma profile analysis was conducted using single, dual, triple and quadruple SPME fibers. The increase in total peak intensity again showed good linearity with increase in the number of SPME fibers used (R(2)=0.9992) and the precision of quadruple SPME extraction was 9.9% (RSD) for the total peak sum. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Helium Ion Microscope: A New Tool for Sub-nanometer Imaging of Soft Materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shutthanandan, V.; Arey, B.; Smallwood, C. R.; Evans, J. E.

2017-12-01

High-resolution inspection of surface details is needed in many biological and environmental researches to understand the Soil organic material (SOM)-mineral interactions along with identifying microbial communities and their interactions. SOM shares many imaging characteristics with biological samples and getting true surface details from these materials are challenging since they consist of low atomic number materials. FE-SEM imaging is the main imagining technique used to image these materials in the past. These SEM images often show loss of resolution and increase noise due to beam damage and charging issues. Newly developed Helium Ion Microscope (HIM), on the other hand can overcome these difficulties and give very fine details. HIM is very similar to scanning electron microscopy (SEM) but instead of using electrons as a probe beam, HIM uses helium ions with energy ranges from 5 to 40 keV. HIM offers a series of advantages compared to SEM such as nanometer and sub-nanometer image resolutions (about 0.35 nm), detailed surface topography, high surface sensitivity, low Z material imaging (especially for polymers and biological samples), high image contrast, and large depth of field. In addition, HIM also has the ability to image insulating materials without any conductive coatings so that surface details are not modified. In this presentation, several scientific applications across biology and geochemistry will be presented to highlight the effectiveness of this powerful microscope. Acknowledgements: Research was performed using the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL), a national scientific user facility sponsored by the Department of Energy's Office of Biological and Environmental Research and located at PNNL. Work was supported by DOE-BER Mesoscale to Molecules Bioimaging Project FWP# 66382.

Phase Transition of H 2 in Subnanometer Pores Observed at 75 K

DOE PAGES

Olsen, Raina J.; Gillespie, Andrew K.; Contescu, Cristian I.; ...

2017-10-30

In this paper, we report a phase transition in H 2 adsorbed in a locally graphitic Saran carbon with subnanometer pores 0.5–0.65 nm in width, in which two layers of hydrogen can just barely squeeze, provided they pack tightly. The phase transition is observed at 75 K, temperatures far higher than other systems in which an adsorbent is known to increase phase transition temperatures: for instance, H 2 melts at 14 K in the bulk, but at 20 K on graphite because the solid H 2 is stabilized by the surface structure. Here we observe a transition at 75 Kmore » and 77–200 bar: from a low-temperature, low-density phase to a high-temperature, higher density phase. We model the low-density phase as a monolayer commensurate solid composed mostly of para-H 2 (the ground nuclear spin state, S = 0) and the high-density phase as an orientationally ordered bilayer commensurate solid composed mostly of ortho-H 2 (S = 1). We attribute the increase in density with temperature to the fact that the oblong ortho-H 2 can pack more densely. The transition is observed using two experiments. The high-density phase is associated with an increase in neutron backscatter by a factor of 7.0 ± 0.1. Normally, hydrogen produces no backscatter (scattering angle >90°). This backscatter appears along with a discontinuous increase in the excitation mass from 1.2 amu to 21.0 ± 2.3 amu, which we associate with collective nuclear spin excitations in the orientationally ordered phase. Film densities were measured using hydrogen adsorption. Finally, no phase transition was observed in H 2 adsorbed in control activated carbon materials.« less

Phase Transition of H 2 in Subnanometer Pores Observed at 75 K

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

Olsen, Raina J.; Gillespie, Andrew K.; Contescu, Cristian I.

In this paper, we report a phase transition in H 2 adsorbed in a locally graphitic Saran carbon with subnanometer pores 0.5–0.65 nm in width, in which two layers of hydrogen can just barely squeeze, provided they pack tightly. The phase transition is observed at 75 K, temperatures far higher than other systems in which an adsorbent is known to increase phase transition temperatures: for instance, H 2 melts at 14 K in the bulk, but at 20 K on graphite because the solid H 2 is stabilized by the surface structure. Here we observe a transition at 75 Kmore » and 77–200 bar: from a low-temperature, low-density phase to a high-temperature, higher density phase. We model the low-density phase as a monolayer commensurate solid composed mostly of para-H 2 (the ground nuclear spin state, S = 0) and the high-density phase as an orientationally ordered bilayer commensurate solid composed mostly of ortho-H 2 (S = 1). We attribute the increase in density with temperature to the fact that the oblong ortho-H 2 can pack more densely. The transition is observed using two experiments. The high-density phase is associated with an increase in neutron backscatter by a factor of 7.0 ± 0.1. Normally, hydrogen produces no backscatter (scattering angle >90°). This backscatter appears along with a discontinuous increase in the excitation mass from 1.2 amu to 21.0 ± 2.3 amu, which we associate with collective nuclear spin excitations in the orientationally ordered phase. Film densities were measured using hydrogen adsorption. Finally, no phase transition was observed in H 2 adsorbed in control activated carbon materials.« less

Rotavirus architecture at subnanometer resolution.

PubMed

Li, Zongli; Baker, Matthew L; Jiang, Wen; Estes, Mary K; Prasad, B V Venkataram

2009-02-01

Rotavirus, a nonturreted member of the Reoviridae, is the causative agent of severe infantile diarrhea. The double-stranded RNA genome encodes six structural proteins that make up the triple-layer particle. X-ray crystallography has elucidated the structure of one of these capsid proteins, VP6, and two domains from VP4, the spike protein. Complementing this work, electron cryomicroscopy (cryoEM) has provided relatively low-resolution structures for the triple-layer capsid in several biochemical states. However, a complete, high-resolution structural model of rotavirus remains unresolved. Combining new structural analysis techniques with the subnanometer-resolution cryoEM structure of rotavirus, we now provide a more detailed structural model for the major capsid proteins and their interactions within the triple-layer particle. Through a series of intersubunit interactions, the spike protein (VP4) adopts a dimeric appearance above the capsid surface, while forming a trimeric base anchored inside one of the three types of aqueous channels between VP7 and VP6 capsid layers. While the trimeric base suggests the presence of three VP4 molecules in one spike, only hints of the third molecule are observed above the capsid surface. Beyond their interactions with VP4, the interactions between VP6 and VP7 subunits could also be readily identified. In the innermost T=1 layer composed of VP2, visualization of the secondary structure elements allowed us to identify the polypeptide fold for VP2 and examine the complex network of interactions between this layer and the T=13 VP6 layer. This integrated structural approach has resulted in a relatively high-resolution structural model for the complete, infectious structure of rotavirus, as well as revealing the subtle nuances required for maintaining interactions in such a large macromolecular assembly.

State-Resolved Metal Nanoparticle Dynamics Viewed through the Combined Lenses of Ultrafast and Magneto-optical Spectroscopies.

PubMed

Zhao, Tian; Herbert, Patrick J; Zheng, Hongjun; Knappenberger, Kenneth L

2018-06-19

Electronic carrier dynamics play pivotal roles in the functional properties of nanomaterials. For colloidal metals, the mechanisms and influences of these dynamics are structure dependent. The coherent carrier dynamics of collective plasmon modes for nanoparticles (approximately 2 nm and larger) determine optical amplification factors that are important to applied spectroscopy techniques. In the nanocluster domain (sub-2 nm), carrier coupling to vibrational modes affects photoluminescence yields. The performance of photocatalytic materials featuring both nanoparticles and nanoclusters also depends on the relaxation dynamics of nonequilibrium charge carriers. The challenges for developing comprehensive descriptions of carrier dynamics spanning both domains are multifold. Plasmon coherences are short-lived, persisting for only tens of femtoseconds. Nanoclusters exhibit discrete carrier dynamics that can persist for microseconds in some cases. On this time scale, many state-dependent processes, including vibrational relaxation, charge transfer, and spin conversion, affect carrier dynamics in ways that are nonscalable but, rather, structure specific. Hence, state-resolved spectroscopy methods are needed for understanding carrier dynamics in the nanocluster domain. Based on these considerations, a detailed understanding of structure-dependent carrier dynamics across length scales requires an appropriate combination of spectroscopic methods. Plasmon mode-specific dynamics can be obtained through ultrafast correlated light and electron microscopy (UCLEM), which pairs interferometric nonlinear optical (INLO) with electron imaging methods. INLO yields nanostructure spectral resonance responses, which capture the system's homogeneous line width and coherence dynamics. State-resolved nanocluster dynamics can be obtained by pairing ultrafast with magnetic-optical spectroscopy methods. In particular, variable-temperature variable-field (VTVH) spectroscopies allow quantification of transient, excited states, providing quantification of important parameters such as spin and orbital angular momenta as well as the energy gaps that separate electronic fine structure states. Ultrafast two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy (2DES) can be used to understand how these details influence state-to-state carrier dynamics. In combination, VTVH and 2DES methods can provide chemists with detailed information regarding the structure-dependent and state-specific flow of energy through metal nanoclusters. In this Account, we highlight recent advances toward understanding structure-dependent carrier dynamics for metals spanning the sub-nanometer to tens of nanometers length scale. We demonstrate the use of UCLEM methods for arresting interband scattering effects. For sub-nanometer thiol-protected nanoclusters, we discuss the effectiveness of VTVH for distinguishing state-specific radiative recombination originating from a gold core versus organometallic protecting layers. This state specificity is refined further using femtosecond 2DES and two-color methods to isolate so-called superatom state dynamics and vibrationally mediated spin-conversion and emission processes. Finally, we discuss prospects for merging VTVH and 2DES methods into a single platform.

Linear, Single-Stranded Deoxyribonucleic Acid Isolated from Kilham Rat Virus

PubMed Central

Salzman, Lois Ann; White, Wesley L.; Kakefuda, Tsuyoshi

1971-01-01

Kilham rat virus (KRV) was grown in a rat nephroma cell line and was purified by two isopycnic centrifugations in cesium chloride. The virus contains single-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) with a molecular weight of approximately 1.6 × 106. The DNA was extracted from the virion by both phenol extraction and by 2% sodium dodecyl sulfate at 50 C. KRV DNA, extracted by both procedures, was observed in an electron microscope by using a cytochrome c or diethylaminoethyldextran monolayer. The DNA was also exposed to exonuclease I, an enzyme which hydrolyzes specifically linear, single-stranded DNA. Hydrolysis of 70 to 80% of the DNA was observed. Both the enzymatic and the electron microscope studies support the conclusion that extracted KRV DNA is a single-stranded, linear molecule. The length of the DNA was measured in the electron microscope and determined to be 1.505 ± 0.206 μm. Images PMID:4327590

Tunable Single-Cell Extraction for Molecular Analyses.

PubMed

Guillaume-Gentil, Orane; Grindberg, Rashel V; Kooger, Romain; Dorwling-Carter, Livie; Martinez, Vincent; Ossola, Dario; Pilhofer, Martin; Zambelli, Tomaso; Vorholt, Julia A

2016-07-14

Because of cellular heterogeneity, the analysis of endogenous molecules from single cells is of significant interest and has major implications. While micromanipulation or cell sorting followed by cell lysis is already used for subsequent molecular examinations, approaches to directly extract the content of living cells remain a challenging but promising alternative to achieving non-destructive sampling and cell-context preservation. Here, we demonstrate the quantitative extraction from single cells with spatiotemporal control using fluidic force microscopy. We further present a comprehensive analysis of the soluble molecules withdrawn from the cytoplasm or the nucleus, including the detection of enzyme activities and transcript abundances. This approach has uncovered the ability of cells to withstand extraction of up to several picoliters and opens opportunities to study cellular dynamics and cell-cell communication under physiological conditions at the single-cell level. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Immature HIV-1 lattice assembly dynamics are regulated by scaffolding from nucleic acid and the plasma membrane

PubMed Central

Pak, Alexander J.; Grime, John M. A.; Sengupta, Prabuddha; Chen, Antony K.; Durumeric, Aleksander E. P.; Srivastava, Anand; Yeager, Mark; Briggs, John A. G.; Lippincott-Schwartz, Jennifer; Voth, Gregory A.

2017-01-01

The packaging and budding of Gag polyprotein and viral RNA is a critical step in the HIV-1 life cycle. High-resolution structures of the Gag polyprotein have revealed that the capsid (CA) and spacer peptide 1 (SP1) domains contain important interfaces for Gag self-assembly. However, the molecular details of the multimerization process, especially in the presence of RNA and the cell membrane, have remained unclear. In this work, we investigate the mechanisms that work in concert between the polyproteins, RNA, and membrane to promote immature lattice growth. We develop a coarse-grained (CG) computational model that is derived from subnanometer resolution structural data. Our simulations recapitulate contiguous and hexameric lattice assembly driven only by weak anisotropic attractions at the helical CA–SP1 junction. Importantly, analysis from CG and single-particle tracking photoactivated localization (spt-PALM) trajectories indicates that viral RNA and the membrane are critical constituents that actively promote Gag multimerization through scaffolding, while overexpression of short competitor RNA can suppress assembly. We also find that the CA amino-terminal domain imparts intrinsic curvature to the Gag lattice. As a consequence, immature lattice growth appears to be coupled to the dynamics of spontaneous membrane deformation. Our findings elucidate a simple network of interactions that regulate the early stages of HIV-1 assembly and budding. PMID:29114055

Enhanced water transport and salt rejection through hydrophobic zeolite pores.

PubMed

Humplik, Thomas; Lee, Jongho; O'Hern, Sean; Laoui, Tahar; Karnik, Rohit; Wang, Evelyn N

2017-12-15

The potential of improvements to reverse osmosis (RO) desalination by incorporating porous nanostructured materials such as zeolites into the selective layer in the membrane has spurred substantial research efforts over the past decade. However, because of the lack of methods to probe transport across these materials, it is still unclear which pore size or internal surface chemistry is optimal for maximizing permeability and salt rejection. We developed a platform to measure the transport of water and salt across a single layer of zeolite crystals, elucidating the effects of internal wettability on water and salt transport through the ≈5.5 Å pores of MFI zeolites. MFI zeolites with a more hydrophobic (i.e., less attractive) internal surface chemistry facilitated an approximately order of magnitude increase in water permeability compared to more hydrophilic MFI zeolites, while simultaneously fully rejecting both potassium and chlorine ions. However, our results also demonstrated approximately two orders of magnitude lower permeability compared to molecular simulations. This decreased performance suggests that additional transport resistances (such as surface barriers, pore collapse or blockages due to contamination) may be limiting the performance of experimental nanostructured membranes. Nevertheless, the inclusion of hydrophobic sub-nanometer pores into the active layer of RO membranes should improve both the water permeability and salt rejection of future RO membranes (Fasano et al 2016 Nat. Commun. 7 12762).

Strong interaction between dye molecule and electromagnetic field localized around 1 Nm3 at gaps of nanoparticle dimers by plasmon resonance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Itoh, Tamitake; Yamamoto, Yuko S.

2017-11-01

Electronic transition rates of a molecule located at a crevasse or a gap of a plasmonic nanoparticle (NP) dimer are largely enhanced up to the factor of around 106 due to electromagnetic (EM) coupling between plasmonic and molecular electronic resonances. The coupling rate is determined by mode density of the EM fields at the crevasse and the oscillator strength of the local electronic resonance of a molecule. The enhancement by EM coupling at a gap of plasmonic NP dimer enables us single molecule (SM) Raman spectroscopy. Recently, this type of research has entered a new regime wherein EM enhancement effects cannot be treated by conventional theorems, namely EM mechanism. Thus, such theorems used for the EM enhancement effect should be re-examined. We here firstly summarize EM mechanism by using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), which is common in EM enhancement phenomena. Secondly, we focus on recent two our studies on probing SM fluctuation by SERS within the spatial resolution of sub-nanometer scales. Finally, we discuss the necessity of re-examining the EM mechanism with respect to two-fold breakdowns of the weak coupling assumption: the breakdown of Kasha's rule induced by the ultra-fast plasmonic de-excitation and the breakdown of the weak coupling by EM coupling rates exceeding both the plasmonic and molecular excitonic dephasing rates.

Enhanced water transport and salt rejection through hydrophobic zeolite pores

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Humplik, Thomas; Lee, Jongho; O'Hern, Sean; Laoui, Tahar; Karnik, Rohit; Wang, Evelyn N.

2017-12-01

The potential of improvements to reverse osmosis (RO) desalination by incorporating porous nanostructured materials such as zeolites into the selective layer in the membrane has spurred substantial research efforts over the past decade. However, because of the lack of methods to probe transport across these materials, it is still unclear which pore size or internal surface chemistry is optimal for maximizing permeability and salt rejection. We developed a platform to measure the transport of water and salt across a single layer of zeolite crystals, elucidating the effects of internal wettability on water and salt transport through the ≈5.5 Å pores of MFI zeolites. MFI zeolites with a more hydrophobic (i.e., less attractive) internal surface chemistry facilitated an approximately order of magnitude increase in water permeability compared to more hydrophilic MFI zeolites, while simultaneously fully rejecting both potassium and chlorine ions. However, our results also demonstrated approximately two orders of magnitude lower permeability compared to molecular simulations. This decreased performance suggests that additional transport resistances (such as surface barriers, pore collapse or blockages due to contamination) may be limiting the performance of experimental nanostructured membranes. Nevertheless, the inclusion of hydrophobic sub-nanometer pores into the active layer of RO membranes should improve both the water permeability and salt rejection of future RO membranes (Fasano et al 2016 Nat. Commun. 7 12762).

Low-cost, high-sensitivity SERS nano-bio-chip for kinase profiling, drug monitoring and environmental detection: a translational platform technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Yi; Liu, Logan

2014-03-01

The interaction of biomolecules and solid-state nanomaterials at the nano-bio interfaces is a long-lasting research topic in nanotechnology. Historically, fundamental problems, such as the electron transfer, energy transfer, and plasmonic interaction at the bio-nano interfaces, have been intensively studied, and revolutionary technologies, such as molecular electronics, peptide chips, nanoplasmonic sensors, have been created. With the combined effort of molecular dynamics simulation and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, we studied the external electric field-induced conformation changes of dodecapeptide probes tethered to a nanostructured metallic surface. Through this study, we demonstrated a reversible manipulation of the biomolecule conformations as well as an in situ eletro-optical detection of the subnanometer conformational changes at the bio-nano interfaces. Based on the proof-of-concept established in this study, we further propose a novel nanophotonic peptide phosphorylation sensor for high-sensitive peptide kinase profiling. We have also demonstrated the same SERS nano-bio-chip can be used for environmental monitoring applications, such as detection of contaminants in drinking water at ultralow concentrates. The fabrication of this nanosensor is based on a single step, lithography-less nanomanufacturing process, which can produce hundreds of these chips in several minutes with nearly 100% yield and uniformity. Therefore, the demonstrated research can be readily translated into industrial mass productions.

Amplified Thermionic Cooling Using Arrays of Nanowires

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yang, Eui-Hyeok; Choi, Daniel; Shcheglov, Kirill; Hishinuma, Yoshikazu

2007-01-01

A class of proposed thermionic cooling devices would incorporate precise arrays of metal nanowires as electron emitters. The proposed devices could be highly miniaturized, enabling removal of heat from locations, very close to electronic devices, that have previously been inaccessible for heat-removal purposes. The resulting enhancement of removal of heat would enable operation of the devices at higher power levels and higher clock speeds. Moreover, the mass, complexity, and bulk of electronic circuitry incorporating these highly miniaturized cooling devices could be considerably reduced, relative to otherwise equivalent circuitry cooled by conventional electromechanical, thermoelectric, and fluidic means. In thermionic cooling, one exploits the fact that because only the highest-energy electrons are thermionically emitted, collecting those electrons to prevent their return to the emitting electrode results in the net removal of heat from that electrode. Collection is effected by applying an appropriate positive bias potential to another electrode placed near the emitting electrode. The concept underlying the proposal is that the thermionic-emission current and, hence, the cooling effect attainable by use of an array of nanowires could be significantly greater than that attainable by use of a single emitting electrode or other electron- emitting surface. The wires in an array according to the proposal would protrude perpendicularly from a planar surface and their heights would be made uniform to within a sub-nanometer level of precision

Step-height standards based on the rapid formation of monolayer steps on the surface of layered crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Komonov, A. I.; Prinz, V. Ya.; Seleznev, V. A.; Kokh, K. A.; Shlegel, V. N.

2017-07-01

Metrology is essential for nanotechnology, especially for structures and devices with feature sizes going down to nm. Scanning probe microscopes (SPMs) permits measurement of nanometer- and subnanometer-scale objects. Accuracy of size measurements performed using SPMs is largely defined by the accuracy of used calibration measures. In the present publication, we demonstrate that height standards of monolayer step (∼1 and ∼0.6 nm) can be easily prepared by cleaving Bi2Se3 and ZnWO4 layered single crystals. It was shown that the conducting surface of Bi2Se3 crystals offers height standard appropriate for calibrating STMs and for testing conductive SPM probes. Our AFM study of the morphology of freshly cleaved (0001) Bi2Se3 surfaces proved that such surfaces remained atomically smooth during a period of at least half a year. The (010) surfaces of ZnWO4 crystals remained atomically smooth during one day, but already two days later an additional nanorelief of amplitude ∼0.3 nm appeared on those surfaces. This relief, however, did not further grow in height, and it did not hamper the calibration. Simplicity and the possibility of rapid fabrication of the step-height standards, as well as their high stability, make these standards available for a great, permanently growing number of users involved in 3D printing activities.

Extracting Models in Single Molecule Experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Presse, Steve

2013-03-01

Single molecule experiments can now monitor the journey of a protein from its assembly near a ribosome to its proteolytic demise. Ideally all single molecule data should be self-explanatory. However data originating from single molecule experiments is particularly challenging to interpret on account of fluctuations and noise at such small scales. Realistically, basic understanding comes from models carefully extracted from the noisy data. Statistical mechanics, and maximum entropy in particular, provide a powerful framework for accomplishing this task in a principled fashion. Here I will discuss our work in extracting conformational memory from single molecule force spectroscopy experiments on large biomolecules. One clear advantage of this method is that we let the data tend towards the correct model, we do not fit the data. I will show that the dynamical model of the single molecule dynamics which emerges from this analysis is often more textured and complex than could otherwise come from fitting the data to a pre-conceived model.

Single-step microwave-assisted hot water extraction of hemicelluloses from selected lignocellulosic materials - A biorefinery approach.

PubMed

Mihiretu, Gezahegn T; Brodin, Malin; Chimphango, Annie F; Øyaas, Karin; Hoff, Bård H; Görgens, Johann F

2017-10-01

The viability of single-step microwave-induced pressurized hot water conditions for co-production of xylan-based biopolymers and bioethanol from aspenwood sawdust and sugarcane trash was investigated. Extraction of hemicelluloses was conducted using microwave-assisted pressurized hot water system. The effects of temperature and time on extraction yield and enzymatic digestibility of resulting solids were determined. Temperatures between 170-200°C for aspenwood and 165-195°C for sugarcane trash; retention times between 8-22min for both feedstocks, were selected for optimization purpose. Maximum xylan extraction yields of 66 and 50%, and highest cellulose digestibilities of 78 and 74%, were attained for aspenwood and sugarcane trash respectively. Monomeric xylose yields for both feedstocks were below 7%, showing that the xylan extracts were predominantly in non-monomeric form. Thus, single-step microwave-assisted hot water method is viable biorefinery approach to extract xylan from lignocelluloses while rendering the solid residues sufficiently digestible for ethanol production. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Mapping flexible protein domains at subnanometer resolution with the atomic force microscope.

PubMed

Müller, D J; Fotiadis, D; Engel, A

1998-06-23

The mapping of flexible protein domains with the atomic force microscope is reviewed. Examples discussed are the bacteriorhodopsin from Halobacterium salinarum, the head-tail-connector from phage phi29, and the hexagonally packed intermediate layer from Deinococcus radiodurans which all were recorded in physiological buffer solution. All three proteins undergo reversible structural changes that are reflected in standard deviation maps calculated from aligned topographs of individual protein complexes. Depending on the lateral resolution (up to 0.8 nm) flexible surface regions can ultimately be correlated with individual polypeptide loops. In addition, multivariate statistical classification revealed the major conformations of the protein surface.

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

Attota, Ravikiran, E-mail: Ravikiran.attota@nist.gov; Dixson, Ronald G.

We experimentally demonstrate that the three-dimensional (3-D) shape variations of nanometer-scale objects can be resolved and measured with sub-nanometer scale sensitivity using conventional optical microscopes by analyzing 4-D optical data using the through-focus scanning optical microscopy (TSOM) method. These initial results show that TSOM-determined cross-sectional (3-D) shape differences of 30 nm–40 nm wide lines agree well with critical-dimension atomic force microscope measurements. The TSOM method showed a linewidth uncertainty of 1.22 nm (k = 2). Complex optical simulations are not needed for analysis using the TSOM method, making the process simple, economical, fast, and ideally suited for high volume nanomanufacturing process monitoring.

Positronics of subnanometer atomistic imperfections in solids as a high-informative structure characterization tool.

PubMed

Shpotyuk, Oleh; Filipecki, Jacek; Ingram, Adam; Golovchak, Roman; Vakiv, Mykola; Klym, Halyna; Balitska, Valentyna; Shpotyuk, Mykhaylo; Kozdras, Andrzej

2015-01-01

Methodological possibilities of positron annihilation lifetime (PAL) spectroscopy applied to characterize different types of nanomaterials treated within three-term fitting procedure are critically reconsidered. In contrast to conventional three-term analysis based on admixed positron- and positronium-trapping modes, the process of nanostructurization is considered as substitutional positron-positronium trapping within the same host matrix. Developed formalism allows estimate interfacial void volumes responsible for positron trapping and characteristic bulk positron lifetimes in nanoparticle-affected inhomogeneous media. This algorithm was well justified at the example of thermally induced nanostructurization occurring in 80GeSe2-20Ga2Se3 glass.

Invited review article: high-speed flexure-guided nanopositioning: mechanical design and control issues.

PubMed

Yong, Y K; Moheimani, S O R; Kenton, B J; Leang, K K

2012-12-01

Recent interest in high-speed scanning probe microscopy for high-throughput applications including video-rate atomic force microscopy and probe-based nanofabrication has sparked attention on the development of high-bandwidth flexure-guided nanopositioning systems (nanopositioners). Such nanopositioners are designed to move samples with sub-nanometer resolution with positioning bandwidth in the kilohertz range. State-of-the-art designs incorporate uniquely designed flexure mechanisms driven by compact and stiff piezoelectric actuators. This paper surveys key advances in mechanical design and control of dynamic effects and nonlinearities, in the context of high-speed nanopositioning. Future challenges and research topics are also discussed.

High-resolution interferometic microscope for traceable dimensional nanometrology in Brazil

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malinovski, I.; França, R. S.; Lima, M. S.; Bessa, M. S.; Silva, C. R.; Couceiro, I. B.

2016-07-01

The double color interferometric microscope is developed for step height standards nanometrology traceable to meter definition via primary wavelength laser standards. The setup is based on two stabilized lasers to provide traceable measurements of highest possible resolution down to the physical limits of the optical instruments in sub-nanometer to micrometer range of the heights. The wavelength reference is He-Ne 633 nm stabilized laser, the secondary source is Blue-Green 488 nm grating laser diode. Accurate fringe portion is measured by modulated phase-shift technique combined with imaging interferometry and Fourier processing. Self calibrating methods are developed to correct systematic interferometric errors.

Fourier fringe analysis and its application to metrology of extreme physical phenomena: a review [Invited].

PubMed

Takeda, Mitsuo

2013-01-01

The paper reviews a technique for fringe analysis referred to as Fourier fringe analysis (FFA) or the Fourier transform method, with a particular focus on its application to metrology of extreme physical phenomena. Examples include the measurement of extremely small magnetic fields with subfluxon sensitivity by electron wave interferometry, subnanometer wavefront evaluation of projection optics for extreme UV lithography, the detection of sub-Ångstrom distortion of a crystal lattice, and the measurement of ultrashort optical pulses in the femotsecond to attosecond range, which show how the advantages of FFA are exploited in these cutting edge applications.

Dynamics of heavy carriers in the ferromagnetic superconductor UGe2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Storchak, V. G.; Brewer, J. H.; Eshchenko, D. G.; Mengyan, P. W.; Parfenov, O. E.; Tokmachev, A. M.

2018-04-01

Superconductivity and ferromagnetism in a number of uranium-based materials come from the same f-electrons with a relatively large effective mass, suggesting the presence of a band of heavy quasiparticles, whose nature is still a mystery. Here, UGe2 dynamics in both ferromagnetic and paramagnetic phases is studied employing high-field μ +SR spectroscopy. The spectra exhibit a doublet structure characteristic to formation of subnanometer-sized magnetic polarons. This model is thoroughly explored here and correlated with the unconventional physics of UGe2. The heavy-fermion behaviour is ascribed to magnetic polarons; when coherent they form a narrow band, thus reconciling heavy carriers with superconductivity and itinerant ferromagnetism.

Positronics of subnanometer atomistic imperfections in solids as a high-informative structure characterization tool

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shpotyuk, Oleh; Filipecki, Jacek; Ingram, Adam; Golovchak, Roman; Vakiv, Mykola; Klym, Halyna; Balitska, Valentyna; Shpotyuk, Mykhaylo; Kozdras, Andrzej

2015-02-01

Methodological possibilities of positron annihilation lifetime (PAL) spectroscopy applied to characterize different types of nanomaterials treated within three-term fitting procedure are critically reconsidered. In contrast to conventional three-term analysis based on admixed positron- and positronium-trapping modes, the process of nanostructurization is considered as substitutional positron-positronium trapping within the same host matrix. Developed formalism allows estimate interfacial void volumes responsible for positron trapping and characteristic bulk positron lifetimes in nanoparticle-affected inhomogeneous media. This algorithm was well justified at the example of thermally induced nanostructurization occurring in 80GeSe2-20Ga2Se3 glass.

Directional Etching of Silicon by Silver Nanostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharma, Pradeep; Wang, Yuh-Lin

2011-02-01

We report directional etching of nanostructures (nanochannels and nanotrenches) into the Si(100) substrates in aqueous HF and H2O2 solution by lithographically defined Ag patterns (nanoparticles, nanorods, and nanorings). The Effect of Ag/Si interface oxide on the directional etching has been studied by etching Ag/SiOx/Si samples of known interface oxide thickness. Based on high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) imaging and TEM-energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectra of the Ag/Si interfaces, we propose that maintenance of the sub-nanometer oxide at the Ag/Si interfaces and Ag-Si interaction are the key factors which regulate the directional etching of Si.

Evaluation by latent class analysis of a magnetic capture based DNA extraction followed by real-time qPCR as a new diagnostic method for detection of Echinococcus multilocularis in definitive hosts.

PubMed

Maas, Miriam; van Roon, Annika; Dam-Deisz, Cecile; Opsteegh, Marieke; Massolo, Alessandro; Deksne, Gunita; Teunis, Peter; van der Giessen, Joke

2016-10-30

A new method, based on a magnetic capture based DNA extraction followed by qPCR, was developed for the detection of the zoonotic parasite Echinococcus multilocularis in definitive hosts. Latent class analysis was used to compare this new method with the currently used phenol-chloroform DNA extraction followed by single tube nested PCR. In total, 60 red foxes and coyotes from three different locations were tested with both molecular methods and the sedimentation and counting technique (SCT) or intestinal scraping technique (IST). Though based on a limited number of samples, it could be established that the magnetic capture based DNA extraction followed by qPCR showed similar sensitivity and specificity as the currently used phenol-chloroform DNA extraction followed by single tube nested PCR. All methods have a high specificity as shown by Bayesian latent class analysis. Both molecular assays have higher sensitivities than the combined SCT and IST, though the uncertainties in sensitivity estimates were wide for all assays tested. The magnetic capture based DNA extraction followed by qPCR has the advantage of not requiring hazardous chemicals like the phenol-chloroform DNA extraction followed by single tube nested PCR. This supports the replacement of the phenol-chloroform DNA extraction followed by single tube nested PCR by the magnetic capture based DNA extraction followed by qPCR for molecular detection of E. multilocularis in definitive hosts. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Analysis and evaluation of single-use bag extractables for validation in biopharmaceutical applications.

PubMed

Pahl, Ina; Dorey, Samuel; Barbaroux, Magali; Lagrange, Bertille; Frankl, Heike

2014-01-01

This paper describes an approach of extractables determination and gives information on extractables profiles for gamma-sterilized single-use bags with polyethylene inner contact surfaces from five different suppliers. Four extraction solvents were chosen to capture a broad spectrum of extractables. An 80% ethanol extraction was used to extract compounds that represent the bag resin and the organic additives used to stabilize or process the polymer films which would not normally be water-soluble. Extractions with1 M HCl extract, 1 M NaOH extract, and 1% polysorbate 80 were used to bracket potential leachables in biopharmaceutical process fluids. The objective of this study was to obtain extractables data from different bags under identical test conditions. All the bags had a nominal capacity of 5 L, were gamma-irradiated prior to testing, and were tested without modification except that connectors, if any, were removed prior to filling. They were extracted at 40 °C for 30 days. Extractables from all bag extracts were identified and the concentration estimated using headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and flame ionization detection for volatile compounds and for semi-volatile compounds, and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for targeted compounds. Metals and other elements were detected and quantified by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analysis. The results showed a variety of extractables, some of which are not related to the inner polyethylene contact layer. Detected organic compounds included oligomers from polyolefins, additives and their degradation products, and oligomers from the fill tubing. The concentrations of extractables were in the range of parts-per-billion to parts-per-million per bag under the applied extraction conditions. Toxicological effects of the extractables are not addressed in this paper. Extractables and leachables characterization supports the validation and the use of single-use bags in the biopharmaceutical manufacturing process. This paper describes an approach for the identification and quantification of extractable substances for five commercially available single-use bags from different suppliers under identical analytical conditions. Four test formulations were used for the extraction, and extractables were analyzed with appropriately qualified analytical techniques, allowing for the detection of a broad range of released chemical compounds. Polymer additives such as antioxidants and processing aids and their degradation products were found to be the source of most of the extracted compounds. The concentration of extractables ranged from parts-per-billion to parts-per-million under the applied extraction conditions. © PDA, Inc. 2014.

Dump system concepts for the Future Circular Collider

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bartmann, W.; Atanasov, M.; Barnes, M. J.; Borburgh, J.; Burkart, F.; Goddard, B.; Kramer, T.; Lechner, A.; Ull, A. Sanz; Schmidt, R.; Stoel, L. S.; Ostojic, R.; Rodziewicz, J.; van Trappen, P.; Barna, D.

2017-03-01

The Future Circular Collider (FCC-hh) beam dump system must provide a safe and reliable extraction and dilution of the stored beam onto a dump absorber. Energy deposition studies show that damage limits of presently used absorber materials will already be reached for single bunches at 50 TeV. A fast field rise of the extraction kicker is required in order to sufficiently separate swept single bunches on the extraction protection absorbers in case of an asynchronous beam dump. In line with this demand is the proposal of a highly segmented extraction kicker system which allows for accepting a single kicker switch erratic and thus, significantly reduces the probability of an asynchronous beam dump. Superconducting septa are foreseen to limit the overall system length and power consumption. Two extraction system concepts are presented and evaluated regarding overall system length, energy deposition on absorbers, hardware requirements, radiation issues, and layout flexibility.

A MISO-ARX-Based Method for Single-Trial Evoked Potential Extraction.

PubMed

Yu, Nannan; Wu, Lingling; Zou, Dexuan; Chen, Ying; Lu, Hanbing

2017-01-01

In this paper, we propose a novel method for solving the single-trial evoked potential (EP) estimation problem. In this method, the single-trial EP is considered as a complex containing many components, which may originate from different functional brain sites; these components can be distinguished according to their respective latencies and amplitudes and are extracted simultaneously by multiple-input single-output autoregressive modeling with exogenous input (MISO-ARX). The extraction process is performed in three stages: first, we use a reference EP as a template and decompose it into a set of components, which serve as subtemplates for the remaining steps. Then, a dictionary is constructed with these subtemplates, and EPs are preliminarily extracted by sparse coding in order to roughly estimate the latency of each component. Finally, the single-trial measurement is parametrically modeled by MISO-ARX while characterizing spontaneous electroencephalographic activity as an autoregression model driven by white noise and with each component of the EP modeled by autoregressive-moving-average filtering of the subtemplates. Once optimized, all components of the EP can be extracted. Compared with ARX, our method has greater tracking capabilities of specific components of the EP complex as each component is modeled individually in MISO-ARX. We provide exhaustive experimental results to show the effectiveness and feasibility of our method.

Comparison of extracts and toxicities of organic compounds in drinking water concentrated by single and composite XAD resins.

PubMed

Zhou, Xue; Xiang, Lunhui; Wu, Fenghong; Peng, Xiaoling; Xie, Hong; Wang, Jiachun; Yang, Kedi; Lu, Wenqing; Wu, Zhigang

2013-12-01

We compared extracts and toxicities of organic compounds (OCs) in drinking water concentrated by composite XAD-2/8 resin (mixed with an equal volume of XAD-2 and XAD-8 resins) with those extracted by single XAD-2 (non-polar) and XAD-8 (polar) resins. Drinking water was processed from raw water of the Han River and the Yangtze River in Wuhan section, China. The extraction efficiency of all resins was controlled at 30%. The types of extracted OCs were detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity were assessed by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) and comet assays, respectively, in human hepatoma HepG2 cells. Our results showed that XAD-2/8 extracted a larger variety of OCs, compared with XAD-8 and XAD-2. The cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of extracted OCs were in the order of XAD-8> XAD-2/8> XAD-2 at almost all tested concentrations after 24 h treatment (P < 0.05). Our findings suggest that single XAD resin selectively extracts either polar or non-polar OCs, which would lead to over- or under-estimation of the toxicity of drinking water. Nevertheless, composite resin extracts both polar and non-polar OCs, and could be utilized as a useful extraction technique to evaluate the level and toxicity of OCs in drinking water.

4D electron microscopy: principles and applications.

PubMed

Flannigan, David J; Zewail, Ahmed H

2012-10-16

The transmission electron microscope (TEM) is a powerful tool enabling the visualization of atoms with length scales smaller than the Bohr radius at a factor of only 20 larger than the relativistic electron wavelength of 2.5 pm at 200 keV. The ability to visualize matter at these scales in a TEM is largely due to the efforts made in correcting for the imperfections in the lens systems which introduce aberrations and ultimately limit the achievable spatial resolution. In addition to the progress made in increasing the spatial resolution, the TEM has become an all-in-one characterization tool. Indeed, most of the properties of a material can be directly mapped in the TEM, including the composition, structure, bonding, morphology, and defects. The scope of applications spans essentially all of the physical sciences and includes biology. Until recently, however, high resolution visualization of structural changes occurring on sub-millisecond time scales was not possible. In order to reach the ultrashort temporal domain within which fundamental atomic motions take place, while simultaneously retaining high spatial resolution, an entirely new approach from that of millisecond-limited TEM cameras had to be conceived. As shown below, the approach is also different from that of nanosecond-limited TEM, whose resolution cannot offer the ultrafast regimes of dynamics. For this reason "ultrafast electron microscopy" is reserved for the field which is concerned with femtosecond to picosecond resolution capability of structural dynamics. In conventional TEMs, electrons are produced by heating a source or by applying a strong extraction field. Both methods result in the stochastic emission of electrons, with no control over temporal spacing or relative arrival time at the specimen. The timing issue can be overcome by exploiting the photoelectric effect and using pulsed lasers to generate precisely timed electron packets of ultrashort duration. The spatial and temporal resolutions achievable with short intense pulses containing a large number of electrons, however, are limited to tens of nanometers and nanoseconds, respectively. This is because Coulomb repulsion is significant in such a pulse, and the electrons spread in space and time, thus limiting the beam coherence. It is therefore not possible to image the ultrafast elementary dynamics of complex transformations. The challenge was to retain the high spatial resolution of a conventional TEM while simultaneously enabling the temporal resolution required to visualize atomic-scale motions. In this Account, we discuss the development of four-dimensional ultrafast electron microscopy (4D UEM) and summarize techniques and applications that illustrate the power of the approach. In UEM, images are obtained either stroboscopically with coherent single-electron packets or with a single electron bunch. Coulomb repulsion is absent under the single-electron condition, thus permitting imaging, diffraction, and spectroscopy, all with high spatiotemporal resolution, the atomic scale (sub-nanometer and femtosecond). The time resolution is limited only by the laser pulse duration and energy carried by the electron packets; the CCD camera has no bearing on the temporal resolution. In the regime of single pulses of electrons, the temporal resolution of picoseconds can be attained when hundreds of electrons are in the bunch. The applications given here are selected to highlight phenomena of different length and time scales, from atomic motions during structural dynamics to phase transitions and nanomechanical oscillations. We conclude with a brief discussion of emerging methods, which include scanning ultrafast electron microscopy (S-UEM), scanning transmission ultrafast electron microscopy (ST-UEM) with convergent beams, and time-resolved imaging of biological structures at ambient conditions with environmental cells.

Ultrasonication followed by single-drop microextraction combined with GC/MS for rapid determination of organochlorine pesticides from fish.

PubMed

Shrivas, Kamlesh; Wu, Hui-Fen

2008-02-01

A novel, rapid and simple sample pretreatment technique termed ultrasonication followed by single-drop micro-extraction (U-SDME) has been developed and combined with GC/MS for the determination of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in fish. In the present work, the lengthy procedures generally used in the conventional methods like, Soxhlet extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, pressurized liquid extraction and microwave assisted solvent extraction for extraction of OCPs from fish tissues are minimized by the use of two simple extraction procedures. Firstly, OCPs from fish were extracted in organic solvent with ultrasonication and then subsequently preconcentrated by single-drop micro-extraction (SDME). Extraction parameters of ultrasonication and SDME were optimized in spiked sample solution in order to obtain efficient extraction of OCPs from fish tissues. The calibration curves for OCPs were found to be linear between 10-1000 ng/g with correlation of estimations in the range 0.990-0.994. The recoveries obtained in blank fish tissues were ranged from 82.1 to 95.3%. The LOD and RSD for determination of OCPs in fish were 0.5 ng/g and 9.4-10.0%, respectively. The proposed method was applied for the determination of bioconcentration factor in fish after exposure to different concentrations of OCPs in cultured water. The present method avoids the co-extraction of lipids, long extraction steps (>12 h) and large amount of organic solvent for the separation of OCPs. The main advantages of the present method are rapid, selective, sensitive and low cost for the determination of OCPs in fish.

Immediate Implant Placement in Single-Tooth Molar Extraction Sockets: A 1- to 6-Year Retrospective Clinical Study.

PubMed

Amato, Francesco; Polara, Giorgio

The aim of this study was to investigate the survival rate of implants immediately placed in fresh extraction sockets of molars in the maxilla and mandible with a single-stage procedure. A total of 102 patients were treated, and 107 implants (53 in the maxilla and 54 in the mandible) were placed in a fresh molar extraction socket and connected to a healing abutment. After a mean follow-up of 3 years (range: 1 to 6 years) 1 implant failed, for a cumulative success rate of 99.06% (98.11% for the mandible and 100% for the maxilla). The results of this study support placement of an implant immediately after the extraction of a molar, applying a single-stage procedure.

Headspace single drop microextraction coupled with microwave extraction of essential oil from plant materials.

PubMed

Zhai, Yujuan; Sun, Shuo; Wang, Ziming; Zhang, Yupu; Liu, He; Sun, Ye; Zhang, Hanqi; Yu, Aimin

2011-05-01

Headspace single drop microextraction (HS-SDME) coupled with microwave extraction (ME) was developed and applied to the extraction of the essential oil from dried Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. et Perry and Cuminum cyminum L. The operational parameters, such as microdrop volume, microwave absorption medium (MAM), extraction time, and microwave power were optimized. Ten microliters of decane was used as the microextraction solvent. Ionic liquid and carbonyl iron powder were used as MAM. The extraction time was less than 7 min at the microwave power of 440 W. The proposed method was compared with hydrodistillation (HD). There were no obvious differences in the constituents of essential oils obtained by the two methods.

In vitro cytotoxicity evaluation of a 50.8% NiTi single crystal.

PubMed

Manceur, Aziza; Chellat, Fatiha; Merhi, Yahye; Chumlyakov, Yuriy; Yahia, L'Hocine

2003-11-01

To our knowledge, the biocompatibility of nickel-titanium (NiTi) single crystals has not been reported. Yet certain orientations of single crystals present several advantages over the polycrystalline form in terms of maximal strain, fatigue resistance, and temperature range of superelasticity. Therefore we tested the in vitro biocompatibility of 50.8% NiTi single crystals in the orientation <001> after four different heat treatments in a helium atmosphere followed by mechanical polishing. The study was performed on the material extracts after immersion of the specimens in cell culture medium (DMEM) for 7 days at 37 degrees C. Cytotoxicity studies were performed on L-929 mouse fibroblasts using the MTT assay. J-774 macrophages were used to assess the potential inflammatory effect of the extracts by IL1-beta and TNF-alpha dosages (sandwich ELISA method). Exposure of L-929 to material extracts did not affect cell viability. In addition, IL1-beta and TNF-alpha secretion was not stimulated after incubation with NiTi extracts compared to the negative controls. These results were predictable since atomic absorption spectroscopy did not detect nickel ions in the extracts with a resolution of 1 ppm. Within the limits of in vitro testing, our results demonstrate that the TiNi(50.8%) single crystals do not trigger a cytotoxic reaction. Copyright 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Improved tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) derivatized method for the detection of tyrosinemia type I, amino acids and acylcarnitine disorders using a single extraction process.

PubMed

Dhillon, Kuldeep S; Bhandal, Ajit S; Aznar, Constantino P; Lorey, Fred W; Neogi, Partha

2011-05-12

Succinylacetone (SUAC), a specific marker for tyrosinemia type I (Tyr I) cannot be detected by the routine LC-MS/MS screening of amino acids (AA) and acylcarnitines (AC) in newborns. The current derivatized methods require double extraction of newborn dried blood spots (DBS); one for AA and AC and the second for SUAC from the blood spot left after the first extraction. We have developed a method in which AA, AC and SUAC are extracted in a single extraction resulting in significant reduction in labor and assay time. The 3.2 mm DBS were extracted by incubating at 45 °C for 45 min with 100 μl of acetonitrile (ACN)-water-formic acid mixture containing hydrazine and stable-isotope labeled internal standards of AA, AC and SUAC. The extract was derivatized with n-butanolic-HCl and analyzed by LC-MS/MS. The average inter-assay CVs for, AA, AC and SUAC were 10.1, 10.8 and 7.1% respectively. The extraction of analytes with ACN-water mixture showed no significant difference in their recovery compared to commonly used solvent MeOH. The concentration of hydrazine had considerable impact on SUAC extraction. We developed a new MS/MS derivatized method to detect AA/AC/SUAC in a single extraction process for screening Tyr I along with disorders of AA and AC. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Online hyphenation of extraction, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, and high-speed countercurrent chromatography: A highly efficient strategy for the preparative separation of andrographolide from Andrographis paniculata in a single step.

PubMed

Zhang, Ying-Qi; Wang, Shan-Shan; Han, Chao; Xu, Jin-Fang; Luo, Jian-Guang; Kong, Ling-Yi

2017-12-01

A novel isolation strategy, online hyphenation of ultrasonic extraction, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography combined with high-speed countercurrent chromatography, was developed for pure compounds extraction and purification. Andrographolide from Andrographis paniculata was achieved only in a single step purification protocol via the present strategy. The crude powder was ultrasonic extracted and extraction was pumped into Sephadex LH-20 column directly to cut the nontarget fractions followed by the second-dimensional high-speed countercurrent chromatography, hyphenated by a six-port valve equipped at the post-end of Sephadex LH-20 column, for the final purification. The results yielded andrographolide with the amount of 1.02 mg and a purity of 98.5% in a single step, indicating that the present method is effective to harvest target compound from medicinal plant. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Automated extraction of single H atoms with STM: tip state dependency

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Møller, Morten; Jarvis, Samuel P.; Guérinet, Laurent; Sharp, Peter; Woolley, Richard; Rahe, Philipp; Moriarty, Philip

2017-02-01

The atomistic structure of the tip apex plays a crucial role in performing reliable atomic-scale surface and adsorbate manipulation using scanning probe techniques. We have developed an automated extraction routine for controlled removal of single hydrogen atoms from the H:Si(100) surface. The set of atomic extraction protocols detect a variety of desorption events during scanning tunneling microscope (STM)-induced modification of the hydrogen-passivated surface. The influence of the tip state on the probability for hydrogen removal was examined by comparing the desorption efficiency for various classifications of STM topographs (rows, dimers, atoms, etc). We find that dimer-row-resolving tip apices extract hydrogen atoms most readily and reliably (and with least spurious desorption), while tip states which provide atomic resolution counter-intuitively have a lower probability for single H atom removal.

Improvement and formation of UV-induced damage on LBO crystal surface during long-term high-power third-harmonic generation.

PubMed

Hong, Hailong; Liu, Qiang; Huang, Lei; Gong, Mali

2013-03-25

We demonstrate the improvement and formation of UV-induced damage on LBO crystal output surface during long-term (130 h) high-power (20 W) high-repetition-rate (80 kHz) third-harmonic generation. The output surface was super-polished (RMS surface roughness <0.6 nm) to sub-nanometer scale super smooth roughness. The surface lifetime has been improved more than 20-fold compared with the as-polished ones (RMS surface roughness 4.0~8.0 nm). The damage could be attributed to the consequence of thermal effects resulted from impurity absorptions. Simultaneously, it was verified that the impurities originated in part from the UV-induced deposition.

Nanofiltration across Defect-Sealed Nanoporous Monolayer Graphene

DOE PAGES

O'Hern, Sean C.; Jang, Doojoon; Bose, Suman; ...

2015-04-27

Monolayer nanoporous graphene represents an ideal membrane for molecular separations, but its practical realization is impeded by leakage through defects in the ultrathin graphene. Here, we report a multiscale leakage-sealing process that exploits the nonpolar nature and impermeability of pristine graphene to selectively block defects, resulting in a centimeter-scale membrane that can separate two fluid reservoirs by an atomically thin layer of graphene. After introducing subnanometer pores in graphene, the membrane exhibited rejection of multivalent ions and small molecules and water flux consistent with prior molecular dynamics simulations. The results indicate the feasibility of constructing defect-tolerant monolayer graphene membranes formore » nanofiltration, desalination, and other separation processes.« less

Calculations of condensation and chemistry in an aircraft contrail

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miake-Lye, Richard C.; Brown, R. C.; Anderson, M. R.; Kolb, C. E.

1994-01-01

The flow field, chemistry, and condensation nucleation behind a transport airplane are calculated in two regimes using two separate reacting flow codes: first the axisymmetric plume, then the three dimensional vortex wake. The included chemical kinetics equations follow the evolution of the NO(y) and SO(x) chemical families. In the plume regime, the chemistry is coupled with the binary homogeneous formation of sulfate condensation nuclei, where the calculated nucleation rates predict that copious quantities of H2SO4/H2O nuclei are produced in subnanometer sizes. These sulfate aerosols could play a major role in the subsequent condensation of water vapor and the formation of contrails under favorable atmospheric conditions.

Wideband quad optical sensor for high-speed sub-nanometer interferometry.

PubMed

Riobo, L M; Veiras, F E; Sorichetti, P A; Garea, M T

2017-01-20

This paper describes the design and performance of a low-noise and high-speed optical sensor that provides two output signals in quadrature from the simultaneous detection of four phase-shifted interferograms. The sensor employs four high-speed photodiodes and high-speed, low-noise transimpedance amplifiers. The optical and electronic design was optimized for high-speed displacement measurement interferometry, over a broad range of operating frequencies. Compared to other experimental schemes, the sensor is simpler and of lower cost. The performance of the sensor is demonstrated by characterizing a piezoelectric transducer for ultrasonic applications. We measured displacements between 38 pm and 32 nm with 6% relative uncertainty, in the frequency range from 1 to 2 MHz.

Graphene thickness dependent adhesion force and its correlation to surface roughness

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

Pourzand, Hoorad; Tabib-Azar, Massood, E-mail: azar.m@utah.edu; Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112

2014-04-28

In this paper, adhesion force of graphene layers on 300 nm silicon oxide is studied. A simple model for measuring adhesion force for a flat surface with sub-nanometer roughness was developed and is shown that small surface roughness decreases adhesion force while large roughness results in an effectively larger adhesion forces. We also show that surface roughness over scales comparable to the tip radius increase by nearly a factor of two, the effective adhesion force measured by the atomic force microscopy. Thus, we demonstrate that surface roughness is an important parameter that should be taken into account in analyzing the adhesionmore » force measurement results.« less

Nanofabrication with a helium ion microscope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maas, Diederik; van Veldhoven, Emile; Chen, Ping; Sidorkin, Vadim; Salemink, Huub; van der Drift, Emile..; Alkemade, Paul

2010-03-01

The recently introduced helium ion microscope (HIM) is capable of imaging and fabrication of nanostructures thanks to its sub-nanometer sized ion probe. The unique interaction of the helium ions with the sample material provides very localized secondary electron emission, thus providing a valuable signal for high-resolution imaging as well as a mechanism for very precise nanofabrication. The low proximity effects, due to the low yield of backscattered ions and the confinement of the forward scattered ions into a narrow cone, enable patterning of ultra-dense sub-10 nm structures. This paper presents various nanofabrication results obtained with direct-write, with scanning helium ion beam lithography, and with helium ion beam induced deposition.

Cost-effective large-scale fabrication of diffractive optical elements by using conventional semiconducting processes.

PubMed

Yoo, Seunghwan; Song, Ho Young; Lee, Junghoon; Jang, Cheol-Yong; Jeong, Hakgeun

2012-11-20

In this article, we introduce a simple fabrication method for SiO(2)-based thin diffractive optical elements (DOEs) that uses the conventional processes widely used in the semiconductor industry. Photolithography and an inductively coupled plasma etching technique are easy and cost-effective methods for fabricating subnanometer-scale and thin DOEs with a refractive index of 1.45, based on SiO(2). After fabricating DOEs, we confirmed the shape of the output light emitted from the laser diode light source and applied to a light-emitting diode (LED) module. The results represent a new approach to mass-produce DOEs and realize a high-brightness LED module.

Controlled sub-nanometer tuning of photonic crystal resonator by carbonaceous nano-dots.

PubMed

Seo, Min-Kyo; Park, Hong-Gyu; Yang, Jin-Kyu; Kim, Ju-Young; Kim, Se-Heon; Lee, Yong-Hee

2008-06-23

We propose and demonstrate a scheme that enables spectral tuning of a photonic crystal high-quality resonant mode, in steps finer than 0.2 nm, via electron beam induced deposition of carbonaceous nano-dots. The position and size of a nano-dot with a diameter of <100 nm are controlled to an accuracy on the order of nanometers. The possibility of selective modal tuning is also demonstrated by placing nano-dots at locations pre-determined by theoretical computation. The lasing threshold of a photonic crystal mode tends to increase when a nano-dot is grown at the point of strong electric field, showing the absorptive nature of the nano-dot.

Isolation of a single rice chromosome by optical micromanipulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Haowei; Liu, Xiaohui; Li, Yinmei; Han, Bin; Lou, Liren; Wang, Kangjun

2004-01-01

A new method based on optical tweezers technology is reported for the isolation of a single chromosome. A rice cell suspended in liquid was first fragmented by laser pulses (optical scalpel). Then a single released chromosome from the cell was manipulated and pulled away from other cells and oddments by optical tweezers without any direct mechanical contact. Finally the isolated single chromosome was extracted individually into a glass capillary nearby. After molecular cloning of the isolated chromosome, we obtained some specific DNA segments from the single chromosome. All these segments can be used for rice genomic sequencing. Different methods of extracting a single chromosome are compared. The advantages of optical micromanipulation method are summarized.

Influence of grape seed extract and zinc containing multivitamin-mineral nutritional food supplement on lipid profile in normal and diet-induced hypercholesterolemic rats.

PubMed

Satyam, Shakta Mani; Bairy, Laxminarayana Kurady; Pirasanthan, Rajadurai

2014-12-01

Zincovit tablet is combination of grape seed extract and zinc containing multivitamin-mineral nutritional food supplement. To investigate the influence of single combined formulation of grape seed extract and zinc containing multivitamin-mineral nutritional food supplement tablets (Zincovit) on lipid profile in normal and diet-induced hypercholesterolemic rats. Anti-hyperlipidemic activity of combined formulation of grape seed extract and Zincovit tablets doses ranged from 40 to 160 mg/kg, p.o. was evaluated in normal and diet-induced hypercholesterolemic rats. Hypercholesterolemic animals treated with combined formulation of grape seed extract and Zincovit tablets (nutritional food supplement) at 40, 80 and 160 mg/kg exhibited drastic decrease in serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-C, VLDL-C and rise of HDL-C in comparison to hypercholesterolemic control group animals. The anti-hyperlipidemic effect of single combined formulation of grape seed extract and Zincovit tablet was comparable with the standard drug atorvastatin treated animals and the variations were statistically non-significant. There was no significant impact of combined formulation of grape seed extract and Zincovit tablets on lipid profile among normal animals in comparison with normal control group. The present study demonstrated that the single combined formulation of grape seed extract and Zincovit tablet is the potential functional nutritional food supplements that could offer a novel therapeutic opportunity against diet-induced hypercholesterolemia in Wistar rats.

Solanum tuberosum and Lycopersicon esculentum Leaf Extracts and Single Metabolites Affect Development and Reproduction of Drosophila melanogaster.

PubMed

Ventrella, Emanuela; Adamski, Zbigniew; Chudzińska, Ewa; Miądowicz-Kobielska, Mariola; Marciniak, Paweł; Büyükgüzel, Ender; Büyükgüzel, Kemal; Erdem, Meltem; Falabella, Patrizia; Scrano, Laura; Bufo, Sabino Aurelio

2016-01-01

Glycoalkaloids are secondary metabolites commonly found in Solanaceae plants. They have anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and insecticidal activities. In the present study we examine the effects of potato and tomato leaf extracts and their main components, the glycoalkaloids α-solanine, α-chaconine and α-tomatine, on development and reproduction of Drosophila melanogaster wild-type flies at different stages. Parental generation was exposed to five different concentrations of tested substances. The effects were examined also on the next, non-exposed generation. In the first (exposed) generation, addition of each extract reduced the number of organisms reaching the pupal and imaginal stages. Parent insects exposed to extracts and metabolites individually applied showed faster development. However, the effect was weaker in case of single metabolites than in case of exposure to extracts. An increase of developmental rate was also observed in the next, non-exposed generation. The imagoes of both generations exposed to extracts and pure metabolites showed some anomalies in body size and malformations, such as deformed wings and abdomens, smaller black abdominal zone. Our results further support the current idea that Solanaceae can be an impressive source of molecules, which could efficaciously be used in crop protection, as natural extract or in formulation of single pure metabolites in sustainable agriculture.

Investigation of different ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid-enhanced washing configurations for remediation of a Cu-contaminated soil: process kinetics and efficiency comparison between single-stage and multi-stage configurations.

PubMed

Ferraro, Alberto; Fabbricino, Massimiliano; van Hullebusch, Eric D; Esposito, Giovanni

2017-09-01

A comparison of Cu extraction yields for three different ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid (EDDS)-enhanced washing configurations was performed on a Cu-contaminated soil. Batch experiments were used to simulate a single-stage continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) and a multi-stage (side feeding and counter-current) reactor. Single-stage CSTR conditions were simulated for various EDDS:(Cu + Cd + Pb + Co + Ni + Zn) molar ratio (EDDS:M ratio) (from 1 to 30) and liquid to soil (L/S) ratio (from 15 to 45). The highest Cu extraction yield (≃56%) was achieved with EDDS:M = 30. In contrast, a Cu extraction yield decrease was observed with increasing L/S ratio with highest extracted Cu achievement (≃48%) for L/S = 15. Side feeding configuration was tested in four experimental conditions through different fractionation mode of EDDS dose and treatment time at each washing step. Results from the four tests showed all enhanced Cu extraction (maximum values from ≃43 to ≃51%) achieved at lower treatment time and lower EDDS:M molar ratio compared to CSTR configuration with L/S = 25 and EDDS:M = 10. The counter-current washing was carried out through two washing flows achieving a process performance enhancement with 27% increase of extracted Cu compared to single-stage CSTR configuration. Higher Cu extraction percentage (36.8%) was observed in the first washing phase than in the second one (24.7%).

Ultra-Thin Solid-State Nanopores: Fabrication and Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuan, Aaron Tzeyang

Solid-state nanopores are a nanofluidic platform with unique advantages for single-molecule analysis and filtration applications. However, significant improvements in device performance and scalable fabrication methods are needed to make nanopore devices competitive with existing technologies. This dissertation investigates the potential advantages of ultra-thin nanopores in which the thickness of the membrane is significantly smaller than the nanopore diameter. Novel, scalable fabrication methods were first developed and then utilized to examine device performance for water filtration and single molecule sensing applications. Fabrication of nanometer-thin pores in silicon nitride membranes was achieved using a feedback-controlled ion beam method in which ion sputtering is arrested upon detection of the first few ions that drill through the membrane. Performing fabrication at liquid nitrogen temperatures prevents surface atom rearrangements that have previously complicated similar processes. A novel cross-sectional imaging method was also developed to allow careful examination of the full nanopore geometry. Atomically-thin graphene nanopores were fabricated via an electrical pulse method in which sub-microsecond electrical pulses applied across a graphene membrane in electrolyte solution are used to create a defect in the membrane and controllably enlarge it into a nanopore. This method dramatically increases the accuracy and reliability of graphene nanopore production, allowing consistent production of single nanopores down to subnanometer sizes. In filtration applications in which nanopores are used to selectively restrict the passage of dissolved contaminants, ultra-thin nanopores minimize the flow resistance, increasing throughput and energy-efficiency. The ability of graphene nanopores to separate different ions was characterized via ionic conductance and reversal potential measurements. Graphene nanopores were observed to conduct cations preferentially over anions with selectivity ratios of 100 or higher for pores as large as 20 nm in diameter, suggesting that porous graphene membranes can be used to create highly effective cation exchange membranes for electrodialysis filtration. These surprisingly high selectivities cannot be explained by current models of ionic conduction in graphene nanopores, motivating the development of a new model in which elevated concentrations of mobile cations near the graphene surface generate additional ion selectivity.

In situ structure and dynamics of DNA origami determined through molecular dynamics simulations

PubMed Central

Yoo, Jejoong; Aksimentiev, Aleksei

2013-01-01

The DNA origami method permits folding of long single-stranded DNA into complex 3D structures with subnanometer precision. Transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and recently cryo-EM tomography have been used to characterize the properties of such DNA origami objects, however their microscopic structures and dynamics have remained unknown. Here, we report the results of all-atom molecular dynamics simulations that characterized the structural and mechanical properties of DNA origami objects in unprecedented microscopic detail. When simulated in an aqueous environment, the structures of DNA origami objects depart from their idealized targets as a result of steric, electrostatic, and solvent-mediated forces. Whereas the global structural features of such relaxed conformations conform to the target designs, local deformations are abundant and vary in magnitude along the structures. In contrast to their free-solution conformation, the Holliday junctions in the DNA origami structures adopt a left-handed antiparallel conformation. We find the DNA origami structures undergo considerable temporal fluctuations on both local and global scales. Analysis of such structural fluctuations reveals the local mechanical properties of the DNA origami objects. The lattice type of the structures considerably affects global mechanical properties such as bending rigidity. Our study demonstrates the potential of all-atom molecular dynamics simulations to play a considerable role in future development of the DNA origami field by providing accurate, quantitative assessment of local and global structural and mechanical properties of DNA origami objects. PMID:24277840

In situ structure and dynamics of DNA origami determined through molecular dynamics simulations.

PubMed

Yoo, Jejoong; Aksimentiev, Aleksei

2013-12-10

The DNA origami method permits folding of long single-stranded DNA into complex 3D structures with subnanometer precision. Transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and recently cryo-EM tomography have been used to characterize the properties of such DNA origami objects, however their microscopic structures and dynamics have remained unknown. Here, we report the results of all-atom molecular dynamics simulations that characterized the structural and mechanical properties of DNA origami objects in unprecedented microscopic detail. When simulated in an aqueous environment, the structures of DNA origami objects depart from their idealized targets as a result of steric, electrostatic, and solvent-mediated forces. Whereas the global structural features of such relaxed conformations conform to the target designs, local deformations are abundant and vary in magnitude along the structures. In contrast to their free-solution conformation, the Holliday junctions in the DNA origami structures adopt a left-handed antiparallel conformation. We find the DNA origami structures undergo considerable temporal fluctuations on both local and global scales. Analysis of such structural fluctuations reveals the local mechanical properties of the DNA origami objects. The lattice type of the structures considerably affects global mechanical properties such as bending rigidity. Our study demonstrates the potential of all-atom molecular dynamics simulations to play a considerable role in future development of the DNA origami field by providing accurate, quantitative assessment of local and global structural and mechanical properties of DNA origami objects.

Optical-mechanical properties of diseased cells measured by interferometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shaked, Natan T.; Bishitz, Y.; Gabai, H.; Girshovitz, P.

2013-04-01

Interferometric phase microscopy (IPM) enables to obtain quantitative optical thickness profiles of transparent samples, including live cells in-vitro, and track them in time with sub-nanometer accuracy without any external labeling, contact or force application on the sample. The optical thickness measured by IPM is a multiplication between the cell integral refractive index differences and its physical thickness. Based on the time-dependent optical thickness profile, one can generate the optical thickness fluctuation map. For biological cells that are adhered to the surface, the variance of the physical thickness fluctuations in time is inversely proportional to the spring factor indicating on cell stiffness, where softer cells are expected fluctuating more than more rigid cells. For homogenous refractive index cells, such as red blood cells, we can calculate a map indicating on the cell stiffness per each spatial point on the cell. Therefore, it is possible to obtain novel diagnosis and monitoring tools for diseases changing the morphology and the mechanical properties of these cells such as malaria, certain types of anaemia and thalassemia. For cells with a complex refractive-index structure, such as cancer cells, decoupling refractive index and physical thickness is not possible in single-exposure mode. In these cases, we measure a closely related parameter, under the assumption that the refractive index does not change much within less than a second of measurement. Using these techniques, we lately found that cancer cells fluctuate significantly more than healthy cells, and that metastatic cancer cells fluctuate significantly more than primary cancer cells.

Subnanometer structure of an asymmetric model membrane: Interleaflet coupling influences domain properties

DOE PAGES

Heberle, Frederick A.; Marquardt, Drew; Doktorova, Milka; ...

2016-04-29

Cell membranes possess a complex three-dimensional architecture, including nonrandom lipid lateral organization within the plane of a bilayer leaflet, and compositional asymmetry between the two leaflets. As a result, delineating the membrane structure–function relationship has been a highly challenging task. Even in simplified model systems, the interactions between bilayer leaflets are poorly understood, due in part to the difficulty of preparing asymmetric model membranes that are free from the effects of residual organic solvent or osmotic stress. To address these problems, we have modified a technique for preparing asymmetric large unilamellar vesicles (aLUVs) via cyclodextrin-mediated lipid exchange in order tomore » produce tensionless, solvent-free aLUVs suitable for a range of biophysical studies. Leaflet composition and structure were characterized using isotopic labeling strategies, which allowed us to avoid the use of bulky labels. NMR and gas chromatography provided precise quantification of the extent of lipid exchange and bilayer asymmetry, while small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) was used to resolve bilayer structural features with subnanometer resolution. Isotopically asymmetric POPC vesicles were found to have the same bilayer thickness and area per lipid as symmetric POPC vesicles, demonstrating that the modified exchange protocol preserves native bilayer structure. Partial exchange of DPPC into the outer leaflet of POPC vesicles produced chemically asymmetric vesicles with a gel/fluid phase-separated outer leaflet and a uniform, POPC-rich inner leaflet. SANS was able to separately resolve the thicknesses and areas per lipid of coexisting domains, revealing reduced lipid packing density of the outer leaflet DPPC-rich phase compared to typical gel phases. Lastly, our finding that a disordered inner leaflet can partially fluidize ordered outer leaflet domains indicates some degree of interleaflet coupling, and invites speculation on a role for bilayer asymmetry in modulating membrane lateral organization.« less

Visualizing nanoscale 3D compositional fluctuation of lithium in advanced lithium-ion battery cathodes

DOE PAGES

Devaraj, Arun; Gu, Meng; Colby, Robert J.; ...

2015-08-14

The distribution and concentration of lithium in Li-ion battery cathodes at different stages of cycling is a pivotal factor in determining battery performance. Non-uniform distribution of the transition metal cations has been shown to affect cathode performance; however, the Li is notoriously challenging to characterize with typical high-spatial-resolution imaging techniques. Here, for the first time, laser–assisted atom probe tomography is applied to two advanced Li-ion battery oxide cathode materials—layered Li 1.2Ni 0.2Mn 0.6O 2 and spinel LiNi 0.5Mn 1.5O 4—to unambiguously map the three dimensional (3D) distribution of Li at sub-nanometer spatial resolution and correlate it with the distribution ofmore » the transition metal cations (M) and the oxygen. The as-fabricated layered Li 1.2Ni 0.2Mn 0.6O 2 is shown to have Li-rich Li 2MO 3 phase regions and Li-depleted Li(Ni 0.5Mn 0.5)O 2 regions while in the cycled layered Li 1.2Ni 0.2Mn 0.6O 2 an overall loss of Li and presence of Ni rich regions, Mn rich regions and Li rich regions are shown in addition to providing the first direct evidence for Li loss on cycling of layered LNMO cathodes. The spinel LiNi 0.5Mn 1.5O 4 cathode is shown to have a uniform distribution of all cations. These results were additionally validated by correlating with energy dispersive spectroscopy mapping of these nanoparticles in a scanning transmission electron microscope. Thus, we have opened the door for probing the nanoscale compositional fluctuations in crucial Li-ion battery cathode materials at an unprecedented spatial resolution of sub-nanometer scale in 3D which can provide critical information for understanding capacity decay mechanisms in these advanced cathode materials.« less

Multiple Solvent Extraction System with Flow Injection Technology.

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-09-30

encounters a back extraction step where the direction of the extraction is from organic to aqueous solvent. Thus it is advantageous to incorporate both...stainless steel ( Alltech Associates, Arlington Heights, IQ) and prepared from a single section of 180 cmn in length. The Section 2 mixing and extraction

The current role of on-line extraction approaches in clinical and forensic toxicology.

PubMed

Mueller, Daniel M

2014-08-01

In today's clinical and forensic toxicological laboratories, automation is of interest because of its ability to optimize processes, to reduce manual workload and handling errors and to minimize exposition to potentially infectious samples. Extraction is usually the most time-consuming step; therefore, automation of this step is reasonable. Currently, from the field of clinical and forensic toxicology, methods using the following on-line extraction techniques have been published: on-line solid-phase extraction, turbulent flow chromatography, solid-phase microextraction, microextraction by packed sorbent, single-drop microextraction and on-line desorption of dried blood spots. Most of these published methods are either single-analyte or multicomponent procedures; methods intended for systematic toxicological analysis are relatively scarce. However, the use of on-line extraction will certainly increase in the near future.

Single-turn extraction from a K110 AVF cyclotron by flat-top acceleration

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

Kurashima, Satoshi; Miyawaki, Nobumasa; Okumura, Susumu

2009-03-15

Single-turn extraction from the Japan Atomic Energy Agency AVF cyclotron with a K number of 110 using a flat-top (FT) acceleration system has been achieved to reduce the energy spread of an ion beam for microbeam formation with energy up to hundreds of MeV and to increase extraction efficiency from the cyclotron. In order to generate a FT waveform voltage using the fifth-harmonic frequency on a dee electrode, a FT resonator was designed using MAFIA code to achieve downsizing and low power consumption. The FT resonator, coupled to the main resonator through a coupling capacitor, covered the full range ofmore » the fifth harmonic frequency from 55 to 110 MHz. Various ion beams, accelerated using different acceleration harmonic modes of h=1 and 2, such as 220 MeV {sup 12}C{sup 5+} (h=2), 260 MeV {sup 20}Ne{sup 7+} (h=2), and 45 MeV H{sup +} (h=1), were developed by FT acceleration. A clear turn separation of the beam bunches was successfully observed at the extraction region of the large-scale AVF cyclotron with number of revolutions greater than 200. As a result, high extraction efficiency (over 95%) from the cyclotron was achieved. Single-turn extraction was confirmed by counting the number of beam bunches out of the cyclotron for an injected beam pulsed by a beam chopping system in the injection line. The energy spread of the 260 MeV {sup 20}Ne{sup 7+} beam was measured using an analyzing magnet, and we verified a reduction in the energy spread from {delta}E/E=0.1% to 0.05% by single-turn extraction after FT acceleration.« less

Moisturizing effect of cosmetic formulations containing Aloe vera extract in different concentrations assessed by skin bioengineering techniques.

PubMed

Dal'Belo, Susi Elaine; Gaspar, Lorena Rigo; Maia Campos, Patrícia Maria Berardo Gonçalves

2006-11-01

The polysaccharide-rich composition of Aloe vera extracts (Aloe barbadensis Miller), often used in cosmetic formulations, may impart moisturizing properties to the product. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of cosmetic formulations containing different concentrations of freeze-dried Aloe vera extract on skin hydration, after a single and a 1- and 2-week period of application, by using skin bioengineering techniques. Stable formulations containing 5% (w/w) of a trilaureth-4 phosphate-based blend were supplemented with 0.10%, 0.25% or 0.50% (w/w) of freeze-dried Aloe vera extract and applied to the volar forearm of 20 female subjects. Skin conditions in terms of the water content of the stratum corneum and of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) (Corneometer CM 825 and Tewameter TM 210) were analysed before and after a single and 1- and 2-week period of daily application. After a single application, only formulations supplemented with 0.25% and 0.50% (w/w) of Aloe vera extract increased the water content of the stratum corneum, while after the 2-week period application, all formulations containing the extract (0.10%, 0.25% and 0.50%) had the same effect, in both cases as compared with the vehicle. TEWL was not modified after a single and after 1- and 2-week period of application, when compared with the vehicle. Our results show that freeze-dried Aloe vera extract is a natural effective ingredient for improving skin hydration, possibly through a humectant mechanism. Consequently, it may be used in moisturizing cosmetic formulations and also as a complement in the treatment of dry skin.

Capillary electrophoretic analysis of flavonoids in single-styled hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna Jacq.) ethanolic extracts.

PubMed

Urbonaviciūte, A; Jakstas, V; Kornysova, O; Janulis, V; Maruska, A

2006-04-21

Flavonoids are an important group of natural compounds, which can prevent coronary heart disease and have antioxidant properties. Hawthorn is a well known and widely used medicinal plant due to its cardiotonic activity. Previous studies refer mostly to the HPLC analysis of the flavonoids: vitexin, quercetin, hyperoside, oligomeric procyanidins, which appear to be primarily responsible for the cardiac action of the plant. Aqueous ethanolic extracts of single-styled hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna Jacq., f.: Rosaceae Juss.) leaves and sprouts were analyzed by means of capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE). Influence of vegetation period on the extract qualitative composition and flavonoids quantities was evaluated. Sample preparation by extraction using different concentration of aqueous ethanol (40-96%, v/v) and the influence of extractant composition on the recovery of flavonoids are discussed in detail. The results obtained using CZE are compared to the results of spectrophotometric and HPLC analysis of the extracts. The effect of storage conditions of extracts (solar irradiation, temperature and duration) on degradation of flavonoids was investigated.

Combining cationic and anionic mixed-mode sorbents in a single cartridge to extract basic and acidic pharmaceuticals simultaneously from environmental waters.

PubMed

Salas, Daniela; Borrull, Francesc; Fontanals, Núria; Marcé, Rosa Maria

2018-01-01

The aim of the present study is to broaden the applications of mixed-mode ion-exchange solid-phase extraction sorbents to extract both basic and acidic compounds simultaneously by combining the sorbents in a single cartridge and developing a simplified extraction procedure. Four different cartridges containing negative and positive charges in the same configuration were evaluated and compared to extract a group of basic, neutral, and acidic pharmaceuticals selected as model compounds. After a thorough optimization of the extraction conditions, the four different cartridges showed to be capable of retaining basic and acidic pharmaceuticals simultaneously through ionic interactions, allowing the introduction of a washing step with 15 mL methanol to eliminate interferences retained by hydrophobic interactions. Using the best combined cartridge, a method was developed, validated, and further applied to environmental waters to demonstrate that the method is promising for the extraction of basic and acidic compounds from very complex samples.

Utilization of optimized BCR three-step sequential and dilute HCl single extraction procedures for soil-plant metal transfer predictions in contaminated lands.

PubMed

Kubová, Jana; Matús, Peter; Bujdos, Marek; Hagarová, Ingrid; Medved', Ján

2008-05-30

The prediction of soil metal phytoavailability using the chemical extractions is a conventional approach routinely used in soil testing. The adequacy of such soil tests for this purpose is commonly assessed through a comparison of extraction results with metal contents in relevant plants. In this work, the fractions of selected risk metals (Al, As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) that can be taken up by various plants were obtained by optimized BCR (Community Bureau of Reference) three-step sequential extraction procedure (SEP) and by single 0.5 mol L(-1) HCl extraction. These procedures were validated using five soil and sediment reference materials (SRM 2710, SRM 2711, CRM 483, CRM 701, SRM RTH 912) and applied to significantly different acidified soils for the fractionation of studied metals. The new indicative values of Al, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, P, Pb and Zn fractional concentrations for these reference materials were obtained by the dilute HCl single extraction. The influence of various soil genesis, content of essential elements (Ca, Mg, K, P) and different anthropogenic sources of acidification on extraction yields of individual risk metal fractions was investigated. The concentrations of studied elements were determined by atomic spectrometry methods (flame, graphite furnace and hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry). It can be concluded that the data of extraction yields from first BCR SEP acid extractable step and soil-plant transfer coefficients can be applied to the prediction of qualitative mobility of selected risk metals in different soil systems.

Dynamic ultrasonic nebulisation extraction coupled with headspace ionic liquid-based single-drop microextraction for the analysis of the essential oil in Forsythia suspensa.

PubMed

Yang, Jinjuan; Wei, Hongmin; Teng, Xiane; Zhang, Hanqi; Shi, Yuhua

2014-01-01

Ionic liquids have attracted much attention as an extraction solvent instead of traditional organic solvent in single-drop microextraction. However, non-volatile ionic liquids are difficult to couple with gas chromatography. Thus, the following injection system for the determination of organic compounds is described. To establish an environmentally friendly, simple, and effective extraction method for preparation and analysis of the essential oil from aromatic plants. The dynamic ultrasonic nebulisation extraction was coupled with headspace ionic liquid-based single-drop microextraction(UNE-HS/IL/SDME)for the extraction of essential oils from Forsythia suspense fruits. After 13 min of extraction for 50 mg sample, the extracts in ionic liquid were evaporated rapidly in the gas chromatography injector through a thermal desorption unit (5 s). The traditional extraction method was carried out for comparative study. The optimum conditions were: 3 μL of 1-methyl-3-octylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate was selected as the extraction solvent, the sample amount was 50 mg, the flow rate of purging gas was 200 mL/min, the extraction time was 13 min, the injection volume was 2 μL, and the thermal desorption temperature and time were 240 °C and 5 s respectively. Comparing with hydrodistillation (HD), the proposed method was environment friendly and efficient. The proposed method is environmentally friendly, time saving, with high efficiency and low consumption. It would extend the application range of the HS/SDME and would be useful especially for aromatic plants analysis. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Palatability of water-soluble extracts of protein sources and replacement of fishmeal by a selected mixture of protein sources for juvenile turbot ( Scophthalmus maximus)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dong, Chun; He, Gen; Mai, Kangsen; Zhou, Huihui; Xu, Wei

2016-06-01

Poor palatability is a limiting factor for replacing fishmeal with other protein sources in aquaculture. The water-soluble molecules with low molecular weights are the major determinants of the palatability of diets. The present study was conducted to investigate the palatability of water-soluble extracts from single protein source (single extract pellets) and the mixture of these extracts with different proportions (blended extract pellets) in juvenile turbot ( Scophthalmus maximus). Then according to the palatability of blended extract pellets, an optimal mixture proportion was selected, and a new protein source made from raw protein materials with the selected proportion was formulated to replace fishmeal. Summarily, the palatability of single extract pellets for turbot was descendent from fishmeal to pet-food grade poultry by-product meal, wheat gluten meal, soybean meal, peanut meal, meat and bone meal, and corn gluten meal. Subsequently, according to the palatability of single extract pellets, 52 kinds of blended extract pellets were designed to test their palatability. The results showed that the pellets presented remarkably different palatability, and the optimal one was diet 52 (wheat gluten meal: pet-food grade poultry by-product meal: meat and bone meal: corn gluten meal = 1:6:1:2). The highest ingestion ratio (the number of pellets ingested/the number of pellets fed) was 0.73 ± 0.03, which was observed in Diet 52. Then five isonitrogenous (52% crude protein) and isocaloric (20 kJ g-1 gross energy) diets were formulated by replacing 0 (control), 35%, 50%, 65% and 80% of fishmeal with No.52 blending proportion. After a 10-weeks feeding trial, a consistent feed intake was found among all replacement treatments. Replacement level of fishmeal up to 35% did not significantly influence final body weight, specific growth rate, feed efficiency ratio, and protein efficiency ratio of turbot. Therefore, the water-soluble extracts of protein sources play an important role in improving the palatability of non-fishmeal protein sources in aquafeed.

Neutron Scattering Studies of Liquid on or Confined in Nano- and Mesoporous Carbons, Including Carbide-Derived Carbons

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

Wesolowski, David J

2014-07-01

This project involved the synthesis of microporous graphitic-carbon powders with subnanometer average pore size, and very narrow pore size distributions, and the use of these materials in experimental studies of pore-fluid structure and dynamics. Samples of carbide-derived carbon powder, synthesized by extraction of the metal cations from TiC by a high temperature chlorination process, followed by high temperature vacuum annealing, were prepared by Ranjan Dash and his associates at CRADA partner Y-Carbon, Inc. The resulting material had average pore sizes ranging from 5 to 8 . These powders were used in two experiments conducted by researchers involved in the Energymore » Frontier Research Center Directed by David J. Wesolowski at ORNL, the Fluid Interface Reactions, Structures and Transport (FIRST) Center. FIRST-funded researchers at Drexel University collaborated with scientists at the Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland, to measure the expansion and contraction of the microporous carbon particles during charging and discharging of supercapactor electrodes composed of these particles (Hantell et al., 2011, Electrochemistry Communications, v. 13, pp. 1221-1224.) in an electrolyte composed of tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate dissolved in acetonitrile. In the second experiment, researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Drexel University conducted quasielastic neutron scattering studies of the diffusional dynamics of water imbibed into the micropores of the same material (Chathoth et al., 2011, EuroPhysics Journal, v. 95, pp. 56001/1-6). These studies helped to establish the role of pores approaching the size of the solvent and dissolved ions in altering diffusional dynamics, ion transport and physical response of conducting substrates to ion desolvation and entry into subnamometer pores.« less

Cellulose-Pectin Spatial Contacts Are Inherent to Never-Dried Arabidopsis Primary Cell Walls: Evidence from Solid-State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance1[OPEN

PubMed Central

Wang, Tuo; Park, Yong Bum; Hong, Mei

2015-01-01

The structural role of pectins in plant primary cell walls is not yet well understood because of the complex and disordered nature of the cell wall polymers. We recently introduced multidimensional solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to characterize the spatial proximities of wall polysaccharides. The data showed extensive cross peaks between pectins and cellulose in the primary wall of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), indicating subnanometer contacts between the two polysaccharides. This result was unexpected because stable pectin-cellulose interactions are not predicted by in vitro binding assays and prevailing cell wall models. To investigate whether the spatial contacts that give rise to the cross peaks are artifacts of sample preparation, we now compare never-dried Arabidopsis primary walls with dehydrated and rehydrated samples. One-dimensional 13C spectra, two-dimensional 13C-13C correlation spectra, water-polysaccharide correlation spectra, and dynamics data all indicate that the structure, mobility, and intermolecular contacts of the polysaccharides are indistinguishable between never-dried and rehydrated walls. Moreover, a partially depectinated cell wall in which 40% of homogalacturonan is extracted retains cellulose-pectin cross peaks, indicating that the cellulose-pectin contacts are not due to molecular crowding. The cross peaks are observed both at −20°C and at ambient temperature, thus ruling out freezing as a cause of spatial contacts. These results indicate that rhamnogalacturonan I and a portion of homogalacturonan have significant interactions with cellulose microfibrils in the native primary wall. This pectin-cellulose association may be formed during wall biosynthesis and may involve pectin entrapment in or between cellulose microfibrils, which cannot be mimicked by in vitro binding assays. PMID:26036615

Use of feature extraction techniques for the texture and context information in ERTS imagery: Spectral and textural processing of ERTS imagery. [classification of Kansas land use

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Haralick, R. H. (Principal Investigator); Bosley, R. J.

1974-01-01

The author has identified the following significant results. A procedure was developed to extract cross-band textural features from ERTS MSS imagery. Evolving from a single image texture extraction procedure which uses spatial dependence matrices to measure relative co-occurrence of nearest neighbor grey tones, the cross-band texture procedure uses the distribution of neighboring grey tone N-tuple differences to measure the spatial interrelationships, or co-occurrences, of the grey tone N-tuples present in a texture pattern. In both procedures, texture is characterized in such a way as to be invariant under linear grey tone transformations. However, the cross-band procedure complements the single image procedure by extracting texture information and spectral information contained in ERTS multi-images. Classification experiments show that when used alone, without spectral processing, the cross-band texture procedure extracts more information than the single image texture analysis. Results show an improvement in average correct classification from 86.2% to 88.8% for ERTS image no. 1021-16333 with the cross-band texture procedure. However, when used together with spectral features, the single image texture plus spectral features perform better than the cross-band texture plus spectral features, with an average correct classification of 93.8% and 91.6%, respectively.

Improved Supercritical-Solvent Extraction of Coal

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Compton, L.

1982-01-01

Raw coal upgraded by supercritical-solvent extraction system that uses two materials instead of one. System achieved extraction yields of 20 to 49 weight percent. Single-solvent yields are about 25 weight percent. Experimental results show extraction yields may be timedependent. Observed decreases in weight of coal agreed well with increases in ash content of residue.

A RAPID DNA EXTRACTION METHOD IS SUCCESSFULLY APPLIED TO ITS-RFLP ANALYSIS OF MYCORRHIZAL ROOT TIPS

EPA Science Inventory

A rapid method for extracting DNA from intact, single root tips using a Xanthine solution was developed to handle very large numbers of analyses of ectomycorrhizas. By using an extraction without grinding we have attempted to bias the extraction towards the fungal DNA in the man...

Single-shot work extraction in quantum thermodynamics revisited

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Shang-Yung

2018-01-01

We revisit the problem of work extraction from a system in contact with a heat bath to a work storage system, and the reverse problem of state formation from a thermal system state in single-shot quantum thermodynamics. A physically intuitive and mathematically simple approach using only elementary majorization theory and matrix analysis is developed, and a graphical interpretation of the maximum extractable work, minimum work cost of formation, and corresponding single-shot free energies is presented. This approach provides a bridge between two previous methods based respectively on the concept of thermomajorization and a comparison of subspace dimensions. In addition, a conceptual inconsistency with regard to general work extraction involving transitions between multiple energy levels of the work storage system is clarified and resolved. It is shown that an additional contribution to the maximum extractable work in those general cases should be interpreted not as work extracted from the system, but as heat transferred from the heat bath. Indeed, the additional contribution is an artifact of a work storage system (essentially a suspended ‘weight’ that can be raised or lowered) that does not truly distinguish work from heat. The result calls into question the common concept that a work storage system in quantum thermodynamics is simply the quantum version of a suspended weight in classical thermodynamics.

Microscale Soft Patterning for Solution Processable Metal Oxide Thin Film Transistors.

PubMed

Jung, Sang Wook; Chae, Soo Sang; Park, Jee Ho; Oh, Jin Young; Bhang, Suk Ho; Baik, Hong Koo; Lee, Tae Il

2016-03-23

We introduce a microscale soft pattering (MSP) route utilizing contact printing of chemically inert sub-nanometer thick low molecular weight (LMW) poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) layers. These PDMS layers serve as a release agent layer between the n-type Ohmic metal and metal oxide semiconductors (MOSs) and provide a layer that protects the MOS from water in the surrounding environment. The feasibility of our MSP route was experimentally demonstrated by fabricating solution processable In2O3, IZO, and IGZO TFTs with aluminum (Al), a typical n-type Ohmic metal. We have demonstrated patterning gaps as small as 13 μm. The TFTs fabricated using MSP showed higher field-effect-mobility and lower hysteresis in comparison with those made using conventional photolithography.

Sub-nanometer periodic nonlinearity error in absolute distance interferometers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Hongxing; Huang, Kaiqi; Hu, Pengcheng; Zhu, Pengfei; Tan, Jiubin; Fan, Zhigang

2015-05-01

Periodic nonlinearity which can result in error in nanometer scale has become a main problem limiting the absolute distance measurement accuracy. In order to eliminate this error, a new integrated interferometer with non-polarizing beam splitter is developed. This leads to disappearing of the frequency and/or polarization mixing. Furthermore, a strict requirement on the laser source polarization is highly reduced. By combining retro-reflector and angel prism, reference and measuring beams can be spatially separated, and therefore, their optical paths are not overlapped. So, the main cause of the periodic nonlinearity error, i.e., the frequency and/or polarization mixing and leakage of beam, is eliminated. Experimental results indicate that the periodic phase error is kept within 0.0018°.

NMR signature of evolution of ductile-to-brittle transition in bulk metallic glasses.

PubMed

Yuan, C C; Xiang, J F; Xi, X K; Wang, W H

2011-12-02

The mechanical properties of monolithic metallic glasses depend on the structures at atomic or subnanometer scales, while a clear correlation between mechanical behavior and structures has not been well established in such amorphous materials. In this work, we find a clear correlation of (27)Al NMR isotropic shifts with a microalloying induced ductile-to-brittle transition at ambient temperature in bulk metallic glasses, which indicates that the (27)Al NMR isotropic shift can be regarded as a structural signature to characterize plasticity for this metallic glass system. The study provides a compelling approach for investigating and understanding the mechanical properties of metallic glasses from the point of view of electronic structure. © 2011 American Physical Society

Design of a variable-line-spacing grating pattern for spectrometers based on a grating Fresnel device.

PubMed

Li, Xinghui; Zhang, Jinchao; Zhou, Qian; Ni, Kai; Pang, Jinchao; Tian, Rui

2016-04-01

In this Letter, we propose a variable-line-spacing (VLS) grating pattern for a hybrid diffractive device termed a grating Fresnel (G-Fresnel) lens, which is used in spectrometers to improve spectral resolution over a wide spectral range. The VLS grating pattern disperses light of specific wavelengths with a different angle and position such that the aberration caused by the Fresnel surface can be compensated for. In this manner, high resolution can be achieved over a relatively wide spectral range. The VLS grating pattern is designed based on the least wave-change principle and simulated by ZEMAX. Results reveal that the VLS G-Fresnel device allows a subnanometer resolution over a spectral range of 200 nm.

Ceramic membrane development in NGK

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Araki, Kiyoshi; Sakai, Hitoshi

2011-05-01

NGK Insulators, Ltd. was established in 1919 to manufacture the electric porcelain insulators for power transmission lines. Since then, our business has grown as one of the world-leading ceramics manufacturing companies and currently supply with the various environmentally-benign ceramic products to worldwide. In this paper, ceramic membrane development in NGK is described in detail. We have been selling ceramic microfiltration (MF) membranes and ultra-filtration (UF) membranes for many years to be used for solid/liquid separation in various fields such as pharmaceutical, chemical, food and semiconductor industries. In Corporate R&D, new ceramic membranes with sub-nanometer sized pores, which are fabricated on top of the membrane filters as support, are under development for gas and liquid/liquid separation processes.

Nanoparticle heterodimers: The role of size and interparticle gap distance on the optical response

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mokkath, Junais Habeeb

2018-05-01

Composite plasmonic nanostructures with controlled size, shape and relative arrangement is a subject of significant current research interest. Much of this is stimulated by the prospects by generating enormous near-field enhancements of the surface and interparticle gap regions for potential applications in surface-enhanced spectroscopies. In this manuscript, using time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations, we investigate how the optical response in size matched homodimers and size mismatched heterodimers composed of Aluminum modify while varying the size and interparticle gap distances in the sub-nanometer range. Both systems show interesting optical response evolution. In particular, the size mismatched heterodimers show even more complex optical response evolution due to a symmetry-breaking in the system.

WFIRST: Managing Telescope Wavefront Stability to Meet Coronagraph Performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Noecker, Martin; Poberezhskiy, Ilya; Kern, Brian; Krist, John; WFIRST System Engineering Team

2018-01-01

The WFIRST coronagraph instrument (CGI) needs a stable telescope and active wavefront control to perform coronagraph science with an expected sensitivity of 8x10-9 in the exoplanet-star flux ratio (SNR=10) at 200 milliarcseconds angular separation. With its subnanometer requirements on the stability of its input wavefront error (WFE), the CGI employs a combination of pointing and wavefront control loops and thermo-mechanical stability to meet budget allocations for beam-walk and low-order WFE, which enable stable starlight speckles on the science detector that can be removed by image subtraction. We describe the control strategy and the budget framework for estimating and budgeting the elements of wavefront stability, and the modeling strategy to evaluate it.

The complex behavior of the Pd 7 cluster supported on TiO 2 (110) during CO oxidation: adsorbate-driven promoting effect

DOE PAGES

An, Wei; Liu, Ping

2016-09-07

When using the TiO 2(110)-supported Pd7 cluster as a model catalyst, we identified the dynamics of supported metal nanoparticles using density functional theory calculations, at the sub-nanometer scale and under reactive environments. Increasing the CO coverage can induce a structural transformation from Pd 7-3D/TiO 2(110) at low coverage to Pd 7-2D/TiO 2(110) at the saturation coverage wherein CO saturation-driven Pd7-2D/TiO 2(110) structure displays superior CO oxidation activity at the interfacial sites, which are highly active for catalyzing O 2 dissociation and CO oxidation via bifunctional synergy.

Nonlinear features for classification and pose estimation of machined parts from single views

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Talukder, Ashit; Casasent, David P.

1998-10-01

A new nonlinear feature extraction method is presented for classification and pose estimation of objects from single views. The feature extraction method is called the maximum representation and discrimination feature (MRDF) method. The nonlinear MRDF transformations to use are obtained in closed form, and offer significant advantages compared to nonlinear neural network implementations. The features extracted are useful for both object discrimination (classification) and object representation (pose estimation). We consider MRDFs on image data, provide a new 2-stage nonlinear MRDF solution, and show it specializes to well-known linear and nonlinear image processing transforms under certain conditions. We show the use of MRDF in estimating the class and pose of images of rendered solid CAD models of machine parts from single views using a feature-space trajectory neural network classifier. We show new results with better classification and pose estimation accuracy than are achieved by standard principal component analysis and Fukunaga-Koontz feature extraction methods.

Simultaneous dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction derivatisation and gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis of subcritical water extracts of sweet and sour cherry stems.

PubMed

Švarc-Gajić, Jaroslava; Clavijo, Sabrina; Suárez, Ruth; Cvetanović, Aleksandra; Cerdà, Víctor

2018-03-01

Cherry stems have been used in traditional medicine mostly for the treatment of urinary tract infections. Extraction with subcritical water, according to its selectivity, efficiency and other aspects, differs substantially from conventional extraction techniques. The complexity of plant subcritical water extracts is due to the ability of subcritical water to extract different chemical classes of different physico-chemical properties and polarities in a single run. In this paper, dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) with simultaneous derivatisation was optimised for the analysis of complex subcritical water extracts of cherry stems to allow simple and rapid preparation prior to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). After defining optimal extracting and dispersive solvents, the optimised method was used for the identification of compounds belonging to different chemical classes in a single analytical run. The developed sample preparation protocol enabled simultaneous extraction and derivatisation, as well as convenient coupling with GC-MS analysis, reducing the analysis time and number of steps. The applied analytical protocol allowed simple and rapid chemical screening of subcritical water extracts and was used for the comparison of subcritical water extracts of sweet and sour cherry stems. Graphical abstract DLLME GC MS analysis of cherry stem extracts obtained by subcritical water.

The power of a single trajectory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schnellbächer, Nikolas D.; Schwarz, Ulrich S.

2018-03-01

Random walks are often evaluated in terms of their mean squared displacements, either for a large number of trajectories or for one very long trajectory. An alternative evaluation is based on the power spectral density, but here it is less clear which information can be extracted from a single trajectory. For continuous-time Brownian motion, Krapf et al now have mathematically proven that the one property that can be reliably extracted from a single trajectory is the frequency dependence of the ensemble-averaged power spectral density (Krapf et al 2018 New J. Phys. 20 023029). Their mathematical analysis also identifies the appropriate frequency window for this procedure and shows that the diffusion coefficient can be extracted by averaging over a small number of trajectories. The authors have verified their analytical results both by computer simulations and experiments.

Dual- versus single-coil implantable defibrillator leads: review of the literature.

PubMed

Neuzner, Jörg; Carlsson, Jörg

2012-04-01

The preferred use of dual-coil implantable defibrillator lead systems in current implantable defibrillator therapy is likely based on data showing statistically lower defibrillation thresholds with dual-coil defibrillator lead systems. The following review will summarize the clinical data for dual- versus single-coil defibrillator leads in the left and right pectoral implant locations, and will then discuss the clinical implications of single- versus dual-coil usage for atrial defibrillation, venous complications, and the risks associated with lead extraction. It will be noted that there are no comparative clinical studies on the use and outcomes of single- versus dual-coil lead systems in implantable defibrillator therapy over a long-term follow-up. The limited long-term reliability of defibrillator leads is a major concern in implantable defibrillator and cardiac resynchronization therapy. A simpler single-coil defibrillator lead system may improve the long-term performance of implanted leads. Furthermore, the superior vena cava coil is suspected to increase interventional risk in transvenous lead extraction. Therefore, the need for objective data on extractions and complications will be emphasized.

Comparison of Single and Multi-Scale Method for Leaf and Wood Points Classification from Terrestrial Laser Scanning Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wei, Hongqiang; Zhou, Guiyun; Zhou, Junjie

2018-04-01

The classification of leaf and wood points is an essential preprocessing step for extracting inventory measurements and canopy characterization of trees from the terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) data. The geometry-based approach is one of the widely used classification method. In the geometry-based method, it is common practice to extract salient features at one single scale before the features are used for classification. It remains unclear how different scale(s) used affect the classification accuracy and efficiency. To assess the scale effect on the classification accuracy and efficiency, we extracted the single-scale and multi-scale salient features from the point clouds of two oak trees of different sizes and conducted the classification on leaf and wood. Our experimental results show that the balanced accuracy of the multi-scale method is higher than the average balanced accuracy of the single-scale method by about 10 % for both trees. The average speed-up ratio of single scale classifiers over multi-scale classifier for each tree is higher than 30.

Efficiency of single extraction schemes in highlighting the impact of changes in land use of contaminated agricultural soils on their trace metal availability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iqbal, Muhammad; Lamy, Isabelle; Bermond, Alain

2014-05-01

Presently changes in the land use of contaminated and marginal agricultural lands from conventional annual food crops to perennial non-food bionergy crops are being encouraged globally. This is being done to avoid food chain contamination with metal and organic contaminants and to meet world energy needs without disturbing normal fertile agricultural lands. Changes in land use from the annual cropping systems to the perennial cropping systems are known to modify organic matter quality and quantity in case of non contaminated soils. In the case of contaminated soils such changes are susceptible to alter trace metal availabilities but studies reporting such changes are scarce. Different single extraction protocols are used to assess the trace element availability in soils. The efficiency of these extractants depends upon soil conditions and may vary case to case. The objective of the present work was to assess the changes in trace metal availability of contaminated soils when annual crops system is replaced by a perennial crop system using different single extraction protocols. A strategy of studying Cd and Zn availabilities of two sites differing in the soil texture and origin of pollution was adopted i.e. the site of Metaleurop (North of France) and the site of Pierrelaye (Paris Region). They differed in the degree of metal pollution (for Cu, Pb, Cd and Zn) and in the quantity and nature of organic matter (different C/N values). The samples used for this study involved the soils under annual crops and the perennial crop i.e. miscanthus. We investigated the trace metal availabilities of the soils using different single extraction protocols involving chemical metal extractions with EDTA, DTPA and NH4NO3 at equilibrium and kinetic EDTA extractions. The results for the soil under miscanthus compared to annual crop soil showed that single extraction schemes using chelating agents like EDTA and DTPA, however, failed to show if the metal availability can be impacted by land use. The differences in metal availability in the soils under miscanthus and annual crops were highlighted by the weaker extractant NH4NO3 and by kinetic extractions using EDTA. For the Metaleurop site, a trend of decrease in Cd and Zn availability in the soil under perennial miscanthus crop compared to the soil under annual crop was observed. For the organic matter rich sandy soils of Pierrelaye labile Zn increased while Cd was decreased. These results showed little impact on trace metal availabilities at the earlier stage of changes in land use (3 years after conversion). However, on longer terms, the impact can be more remarkable. The study also highlighted the efficacy of the use of combination of metal availability assessment approaches instead of relying on single approaches. In addition the type of changes being occurred in metal availability can be predicted using combined extraction approaches because the mechanisms behind each extraction scheme and their target metal pools being different.

On-Demand Single Photons with High Extraction Efficiency and Near-Unity Indistinguishability from a Resonantly Driven Quantum Dot in a Micropillar.

PubMed

Ding, Xing; He, Yu; Duan, Z-C; Gregersen, Niels; Chen, M-C; Unsleber, S; Maier, S; Schneider, Christian; Kamp, Martin; Höfling, Sven; Lu, Chao-Yang; Pan, Jian-Wei

2016-01-15

Scalable photonic quantum technologies require on-demand single-photon sources with simultaneously high levels of purity, indistinguishability, and efficiency. These key features, however, have only been demonstrated separately in previous experiments. Here, by s-shell pulsed resonant excitation of a Purcell-enhanced quantum dot-micropillar system, we deterministically generate resonance fluorescence single photons which, at π pulse excitation, have an extraction efficiency of 66%, single-photon purity of 99.1%, and photon indistinguishability of 98.5%. Such a single-photon source for the first time combines the features of high efficiency and near-perfect levels of purity and indistinguishabilty, and thus opens the way to multiphoton experiments with semiconductor quantum dots.

Optimized microwave-assisted extraction of 6-gingerol from Zingiber officinale Roscoeand evaluation of antioxidant activity in vitro.

PubMed

Liu, Wei; Zhou, Chun-Li; Zhao, Jing; Chen, Dong; Li, Quan-Hong

2014-01-01

6-Gingerol is one of the most pharmacologically active and abundant components in ginger, which has a wide array of biochemical and pharmacologic activities. In recent years, the application of microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) for obtaining bioactive compounds from plant materials has shown tremendous research interest and potential. In this study, an efficient microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) technique was developed to extract 6-gingerol from ginger. The extraction efficiency of MAE was also compared with conventional extraction techniques. Fresh gingers (Zingiber officinale Rose.) were harvested at commercial maturity (originally from Shandong, laiwu, China). In single-factor experiments for the recovery of 6-gingerol, proper ranges of ratio of liquid to solid, ethanol proportion, microwave power, extraction time were determined. Based on the values obtained in single-factor experiments, a Box-Behnken design (BBD) was applied to determine the best combination of extraction variables on the yield of 6-gingerol. The optimum extraction conditions were as follows: microwave power 528 W, ratio of liquid to solid 26 mL·g(-1), extraction time 31 s and ethanol proportion 78%. Furthermore, more 6-gingerol and total polyphenols contents were extracted by MAE than conventional methods including Maceration (MAC), Stirring Extraction (SE), Heat reflux extraction (HRE), Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), as well as the antioxidant capacity. Microwave-assisted extraction showed obvious advantages in terms of high extraction efficiency and antioxidant activity of extract within shortest extraction time. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of ginger powder materials after different extractions were obtained to provide visual evidence of the disruption effect. To our best knowledge, this is the first report about usage of MAE of 6-gingerol extraction from ginger, which could be referenced for the extraction of other active compounds from herbal plants.

Simultaneous, untargeted metabolic profiling of polar and nonpolar metabolites by LC-Q-TOF mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Kirkwood, Jay S; Maier, Claudia; Stevens, Jan F

2013-05-01

At its most ambitious, untargeted metabolomics aims to characterize and quantify all of the metabolites in a given system. Metabolites are often present at a broad range of concentrations and possess diverse physical properties complicating this task. Performing multiple sample extractions, concentrating sample extracts, and using several separation and detection methods are common strategies to overcome these challenges but require a great amount of resources. This protocol describes the untargeted, metabolic profiling of polar and nonpolar metabolites with a single extraction and using a single analytical platform. © 2013 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Microfluidic-based mini-metagenomics enables discovery of novel microbial lineages from complex environmental samples.

PubMed

Yu, Feiqiao Brian; Blainey, Paul C; Schulz, Frederik; Woyke, Tanja; Horowitz, Mark A; Quake, Stephen R

2017-07-05

Metagenomics and single-cell genomics have enabled genome discovery from unknown branches of life. However, extracting novel genomes from complex mixtures of metagenomic data can still be challenging and represents an ill-posed problem which is generally approached with ad hoc methods. Here we present a microfluidic-based mini-metagenomic method which offers a statistically rigorous approach to extract novel microbial genomes while preserving single-cell resolution. We used this approach to analyze two hot spring samples from Yellowstone National Park and extracted 29 new genomes, including three deeply branching lineages. The single-cell resolution enabled accurate quantification of genome function and abundance, down to 1% in relative abundance. Our analyses of genome level SNP distributions also revealed low to moderate environmental selection. The scale, resolution, and statistical power of microfluidic-based mini-metagenomics make it a powerful tool to dissect the genomic structure of microbial communities while effectively preserving the fundamental unit of biology, the single cell.

Hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of Coriandrum sativum L. in Meriones shawi rats.

PubMed

Aissaoui, Abderrahmane; Zizi, Soumia; Israili, Zafar H; Lyoussi, Badiâa

2011-09-01

The use of an aqueous extract of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.; Apiaceae, Umbelliferae) seeds (CS-extract) in Moroccan traditional treatment of diabetes remains to be experimentally validated. The study aim was to investigate potential hypoglycemic (and hypolipidemic) activity of CS-extract after a single oral dose and after daily dosing for 30 days (sub-chronic study) in normal and obese-hyperglycemic-hyperlipidemic (OHH) Meriones shawi rats. After a single oral dose of CS-extract (20mg/kg; predetermined as optimum), plasma glucose, insulin, total cholesterol (TC), and triglycerides (TG) were measured in normal and OHH rats (hypercaloric diet and forced limited physical activity); glibenclamide (GLB; 2.5mg/kg) was used as reference. In the sub-chronic study, the effect of CS-extract and GLB (at the above doses) on body weight (BW), plasma glucose, insulin, TC, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, TG, urea and creatinine was determined in normal and OHH rats; insulin resistance (IR as HOMA-IR), atherosclerotic and cardioprotective indices were calculated. A single dose of CS-extract or GLB suppressed hyperglycemia in OHH rats, and normo-glycemia was achieved at 6-h post-dose; there was no effect on lipids, TG or insulin, but IR decreased significantly. The hypoglycemic effect was lower in normal rats. In the sub-chronic study in OHH rats, the test substances (CS-extract>GLB) reduced plasma glucose (normoglycemia on Day 21), insulin and IR, TC, LDL-cholesterol, and TG. Atherosclerotic index decreased while cardioprotective indices increased only by CS-extract, with no effect on BW, urea or creatinine. Sub-chronic administration of CS-extract in OHH Meriones shawi rats normalized glycemia and decreased the elevated levels of insulin, IR, TC, LDL-cholesterol and TG. Since, the CS-extract decreased several components of the metabolic syndrome and decreased atherosclerotic and increased cardioprotective indices, CS-extract may have cardiovascular protective effect. The present study validates the traditional use of coriander in diabetes. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Truly work-like work extraction via a single-shot analysis.

PubMed

Aberg, Johan

2013-01-01

The work content of non-equilibrium systems in relation to a heat bath is often analysed in terms of expectation values of an underlying random work variable. However, when optimizing the expectation value of the extracted work, the resulting extraction process is subject to intrinsic fluctuations, uniquely determined by the Hamiltonian and the initial distribution of the system. These fluctuations can be of the same order as the expected work content per se, in which case the extracted energy is unpredictable, thus intuitively more heat-like than work-like. This raises the question of the 'truly' work-like energy that can be extracted. Here we consider an alternative that corresponds to an essentially fluctuation-free extraction. We show that this quantity can be expressed in terms of a one-shot relative entropy measure introduced in information theory. This suggests that the relations between information theory and statistical mechanics, as illustrated by concepts like Maxwell's demon, Szilard engines and Landauer's principle, extends to the single-shot regime.

Sensitivity limits and EC50 values of the Vibrio fischeri test for organic micropollutants in natural and spiked extracts from sediments

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

Salizzato, M.; Bertato, V.; Pavoni, B.

1998-04-01

Chemical analyses and bioassays were used in conjunction to assess the quality of sediments of the Venice lagoon. Organic micropollutants (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [PAHs] polychlorinated biphenyls [PCBs], and chlorinated pesticides) were extracted from sediment samples and analyzed by gas chromatography after fractionation into classes of compounds. The Vibrio fischeri test was used to assess the acute toxicity of sediment extracts. The test was applied to organic extracts before cleanup and to extracts purified from sulfur and fractionated into single classes of compounds. Extracts before purification were much more toxic than single fractions. In particular, sulfur was toxic to V. fischeri.more » For PAHs and PCBs the 50% effective concentration (EC50) and EC20 values were determined using natural and spiked extracts. Sensitivity limits of the method for these compounds were also estimated as was in EC50 value of elemental sulfur dissolved in ethanol. A mathematical model was used to fit the concentration-response data to a sigmoid curve.« less

A method for the preparation of curcumin by ultrasonic-assisted ammonium sulfate/ethanol aqueous two phase extraction.

PubMed

Xu, Guangkuan; Hao, Changchun; Tian, Suyang; Gao, Feng; Sun, Wenyuan; Sun, Runguang

2017-01-15

This study investigated a new and easy-to-industrialized extracting method for curcumin from Curcuma longa rhizomes using ultrasonic extraction technology combined with ammonium sulfate/ethanol aqueous two-phase system (ATPS), and the preparation of curcumin using the semi-preparative HPLC. The single-factor experiments and response surface methodology (RSM) were utilized to determine the optimal material-solvent ratio, ultrasonic intensity (UI) and ultrasonic time. The optimum extraction conditions were finally determined to be material-solvent rate of 3.29:100, ultrasonic intensity of 33.63W/cm 2 and ultrasonic time of 17min. At these optimum conditions, the extraction yield could reach 46.91mg/g. And the extraction yields of curcumin remained stable in the case of amplification, which indicated that scale-up extraction was feasible and efficient. Afterwards, the semi-preparative HPLC experiment was carried out, in which optimal preparation conditions were elected according to the single factor experiment. The prepared curcumin was obtained and the purity could up to 85.58% by the semi-preparative HPLC. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Arsenic release from Fe/Mn oxide-rich (model) soils/sediments - A comparison of single extraction procedures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vanek, A.; Komarek, M.; Galuskova, I.

2012-04-01

Arsenic extractability in As-modified Fe(III) and Mn(III,IV) oxide-coated sands was tested using five widely used 2-h single extraction procedures: deionised water, 0.01 M CaCl2, 1 M NH4NO3, 0.1 M Na2HPO4 and 0.005 DTPA. In general, the highest As recoveries reaching 39-50% of total As concentration were observed for all extracting media in the birnessite (delta-MnO2) system, indicating relatively weak adsorption of As onto the Mn oxides. The Na2HPO4 extracts from the Fe oxide systems (i.e., associated with ferrihydrite and goethite) were highest in As, accounting for up to 34% of total As amount. Surprisingly, comparable recoveries of As (14-20%) yielded deionised water, CaCl2, NH4NO3, DTPA as extracting media for both ferrihydrite and goethite coatings. Deionised water and Na2HPO4 extractions are suggested for quick estimation of easily soluble, exchangeable and/or specifically adsorbed As in real soil/sediment samples.

Comprehensive GMO detection using real-time PCR array: single-laboratory validation.

PubMed

Mano, Junichi; Harada, Mioko; Takabatake, Reona; Furui, Satoshi; Kitta, Kazumi; Nakamura, Kosuke; Akiyama, Hiroshi; Teshima, Reiko; Noritake, Hiromichi; Hatano, Shuko; Futo, Satoshi; Minegishi, Yasutaka; Iizuka, Tayoshi

2012-01-01

We have developed a real-time PCR array method to comprehensively detect genetically modified (GM) organisms. In the method, genomic DNA extracted from an agricultural product is analyzed using various qualitative real-time PCR assays on a 96-well PCR plate, targeting for individual GM events, recombinant DNA (r-DNA) segments, taxon-specific DNAs, and donor organisms of the respective r-DNAs. In this article, we report the single-laboratory validation of both DNA extraction methods and component PCR assays constituting the real-time PCR array. We selected some DNA extraction methods for specified plant matrixes, i.e., maize flour, soybean flour, and ground canola seeds, then evaluated the DNA quantity, DNA fragmentation, and PCR inhibition of the resultant DNA extracts. For the component PCR assays, we evaluated the specificity and LOD. All DNA extraction methods and component PCR assays satisfied the criteria set on the basis of previous reports.

The effect of Agaricus brasiliensis extract supplementation on honey bee colonies.

PubMed

Stevanovic, Jevrosima; Stanimirovic, Zoran; Simeunovic, Predrag; Lakic, Nada; Radovic, Ivica; Sokovic, Marina; Griensven, Leo J L D VAN

2018-01-01

This study was done to discover any beneficial effect of a medicinal mushroom Agaricus brasiliensis extract on the honey bee. Firstly, a laboratory experiment was conducted on 640 bees reared in 32 single-use plastic rearing cups. A. brasiliensis extract proved safe in all doses tested (50, 100 and 150 mg/kg/day) irrespective of feeding mode (sugar syrup or candy). Secondly, a three-year field experiment was conducted on 26 colonies treated with a single dose of A. brasiliensis extract (100 mg/kg/day) added to syrup. Each year the colonies were treated once in autumn and twice in spring. The treatments significantly increased colony strength parameters: brood rearing improvement and adult population growth were noticed more often than the increase in honey production and pollen reserves. These positive effects were mainly observed in April. In conclusion, A. brasiliensis extract is safe for the bees and helps maintaining strong colonies, especially in spring.

Single element of the matrix source of negative hydrogen ions: Measurements of the extracted currents combined with diagnostics

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

Yordanov, D., E-mail: yordanov@phys.uni-sofia.bg; Lishev, St.; Shivarova, A.

2016-02-15

Combining measurements of the extracted currents with probe and laser-photodetachment diagnostics, the study is an extension of recent tests of factors and gas-discharge conditions stimulating the extraction of volume produced negative ions. The experiment is in a single element of a rf source with the design of a matrix of small-radius inductively driven discharges. The results are for the electron and negative-ion densities, for the plasma potential and for the electronegativity in the vicinity of the plasma electrode as well as for the currents of the extracted negative ions and electrons. The plasma-electrode bias and the rf power have beenmore » varied. Necessity of a high bias to the plasma electrode and stable linear increase of the extracted currents with the rf power are the main conclusions.« less

Stimulus encoding and feature extraction by multiple sensory neurons.

PubMed

Krahe, Rüdiger; Kreiman, Gabriel; Gabbiani, Fabrizio; Koch, Christof; Metzner, Walter

2002-03-15

Neighboring cells in topographical sensory maps may transmit similar information to the next higher level of processing. How information transmission by groups of nearby neurons compares with the performance of single cells is a very important question for understanding the functioning of the nervous system. To tackle this problem, we quantified stimulus-encoding and feature extraction performance by pairs of simultaneously recorded electrosensory pyramidal cells in the hindbrain of weakly electric fish. These cells constitute the output neurons of the first central nervous stage of electrosensory processing. Using random amplitude modulations (RAMs) of a mimic of the fish's own electric field within behaviorally relevant frequency bands, we found that pyramidal cells with overlapping receptive fields exhibit strong stimulus-induced correlations. To quantify the encoding of the RAM time course, we estimated the stimuli from simultaneously recorded spike trains and found significant improvements over single spike trains. The quality of stimulus reconstruction, however, was still inferior to the one measured for single primary sensory afferents. In an analysis of feature extraction, we found that spikes of pyramidal cell pairs coinciding within a time window of a few milliseconds performed significantly better at detecting upstrokes and downstrokes of the stimulus compared with isolated spikes and even spike bursts of single cells. Coincident spikes can thus be considered "distributed bursts." Our results suggest that stimulus encoding by primary sensory afferents is transformed into feature extraction at the next processing stage. There, stimulus-induced coincident activity can improve the extraction of behaviorally relevant features from the stimulus.

Comparison of single-step and two-step purified coagulants from Moringa oleifera seed for turbidity and DOC removal.

PubMed

Sánchez-Martín, J; Ghebremichael, K; Beltrán-Heredia, J

2010-08-01

The coagulant proteins from Moringa oleifera purified with single-step and two-step ion-exchange processes were used for the coagulation of surface water from Meuse river in The Netherlands. The performances of the two purified coagulants and the crude extract were assessed in terms of turbidity and DOC removal. The results indicated that the optimum dosage of the single-step purified coagulant was more than two times higher compared to the two-step purified coagulant in terms of turbidity removal. And the residual DOC in the two-step purified coagulant was lower than in single-step purified coagulant or crude extract. (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Electrodialytic extraction of anionic pharmaceutical compounds from a single drop of whole blood using a supported liquid membrane.

PubMed

Imoto, Yurika; Nishiyama, Hiroka; Nakamura, Yukihide; Ohira, Shin-Ichi; Toda, Kei

2018-05-01

A method to introduce target analytes to a chromatograph from a single drop of whole blood was investigated for minimally invasive monitoring of anionic pharmaceuticals. In this work, salicylate and loxoprofen were examined as organic anions. A micro ion extractor (MIE) has been developed for extraction of inorganic trace anions from whole blood, but this device is not suitable for extraction of pharmaceuticals. In the present study, we improved and optimized the MIE device for organic anion extraction. Various supported liquid membranes were evaluated for use as the ion transfer membrane, with each membrane placed between a droplet sample (donor) and an acceptor solution. A supported liquid membrane of porous polypropylene impregnated with 1-butanol was selected. In addition, the methods for electric field creation and electrode contact were examined to improve the characteristics of the MIE device. The current and extraction time were also optimized. With the optimized method, salicylate and loxoprofen were successfully extracted from a single drop of whole blood. Changes in the concentrations of these pharmaceuticals in blood over time were monitored after administration. As only 25μL of whole blood was required for analysis, repeat measurements could be conducted to monitor changes in the concentrations. This MIE will be useful for monitoring pharmaceutical concentrations in blood. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Cytotoxicity of blended versus single medicinal mushroom extracts on human cancer cell lines: contribution of polyphenol and polysaccharide content.

PubMed

Durgo, Ksenija; Koncar, Mladen; Komes, Drazenka; Belscak-Cvitanovic, Ana; Franekic, Jasna; Jakopovich, Ivan; Jakopovich, Neven; Jakopovich, Boris

2013-01-01

The use of mushrooms contributes to human nutrition by providing low lipid content of lipids and high dietary fiber content, as well as significant content of other biologically active compounds such as polysaccharides, minerals, vitamins, and polyphenolic antioxidants. This study aimed to determine the content of polyphenols and polysaccharides, as well as the cytotoxic and antioxidative properties of several medicinal mushroom preparations. The content of total phenols and flavonoids of preparations of blended mushroom extracts (Lentifom, Super Polyporin, Agarikon, Agarikon Plus, Agarikon.1, and Mykoprotect.1) was evaluated quantitatively by using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy spectrophotometric methods. The antioxidant capacity of the preparations was evaluated using the ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) and ferric reducing/antioxidant power assays. The content of water-soluble polysaccharides was determined using a specific gravimetric method, based on ethanol precipitation. To determine cytotoxic effects of single and blended mushroom extracts, MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) and neutral red assays were conducted using human small cell lung cancer, lung adenocarcinoma, colon cancer, and brain astrocytoma cancer cells. The obtained results suggest that due to the significant content of beneficial polyphenolic antioxidants and soluble polysaccharides, use of these mushroom preparations is beneficial in maintaining good health, as well as in the prevention and adjuvant biotherapy of various human pathological aberrations. These results reveal that these extracts exhibit different cytotoxic effects on tumor cells originating from different tissues. In addition, the comparison of investigated blended mushroom extracts with three well-known commercial mushroom products derived from single mushroom species or single mushroom compounds shows that blended mushroom extracts exhibit significantly stronger cytotoxic effects on human tumor cell lines.

Antibacterial and anti-adherence effects of a plant extract mixture (PEM) and its individual constituent extracts (Psidium sp., Mangifera sp., and Mentha sp.) on single- and dual-species biofilms.

PubMed

Shafiei, Zaleha; Haji Abdul Rahim, Zubaidah; Philip, Koshy; Thurairajah, Nalina

2016-01-01

Plant extracts mixture (PEM) and its individual constituent plant extracts( Psidium sp., Mangifera sp., Mentha sp.) are known to have an anti-adhering effect towards oral bacteria in the single-species biofilm. To date, the adhering ability of the early and late plaque colonisers ( Streptococcus sanguinis and Streptococcus mutans ) to PEM-treated experimental pellicle have not been investigated in dual-species biofilms. Fresh leaves of these plants were used in the preparation of the respective aqueous extract decoctions. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extracts towards S. sanguinis ATCC BAA-1455 and S. mutans ATCC 25175 was determined using a two-fold serial microdilution method. The sum of fractional inhibitory concentration (ΣFIC) index of PEM and its constituent plant extracts was calculated using the MIC values of the plants. The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the plant extracts was also determined. The anti-adherence effect of the plant extracts (individually and mixed) was carried out by developing simulated S. sanguinis and S. mutans respectively in single- and dual-species of biofilms in the Nordini's Artificial Mouth (NAM) model system in which the experimental pellicle was pretreated with the plant extract before bacterial inoculation. The bacterial population in the respective biofilms was quantified using ten-fold serial dilutions method and expressed as colony forming unit per ml (CFU/ml). The bacterial population was also viewed using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). All experiments were done in triplicate. The PEM compared with its respective constituent plants showed the lowest MIC towards S. sanguinis (3.81 mg/ml) and S. mutans (1.91 mg/ml) and exhibited a synergistic effect. The Psidium sp. (15.24 mg/ml) and, PEM and Psidium sp. (30.48 mg/ml) showed the lowest MBC towards S. sanguinis and S. mutans respectively. The anti-adherence effect of the PEM and its respective constituent plants (except Psidium sp.) was different for the two bacteria in the single-species biofilm. In the dual-species biofilms, PEM demonstrated similar anti-adherence effect towards S. sanguinis and S. mutans . The proportions of the bacterial population viewed under SEM appeared to be in agreement with the quantified population. The combination of the active constituents of the individual plant extracts in PEM may contribute to its low MIC giving rise to the synergistic effect. The different anti-adherence effect towards S. sanguinis and S. mutans in both single- and dual-species biofilms could be due to the different proportion of the active constituents of the extracts and the interaction between different bacteria. The better adhering ability of S. sanguinis towards the PEM-treated pellicle when present together with S. mutans in the dual-species biofilms may suggest the potential of PEM in controlling the balance between the early and late colonisers in biofilms.

Antibacterial and anti-adherence effects of a plant extract mixture (PEM) and its individual constituent extracts (Psidium sp., Mangifera sp., and Mentha sp.) on single- and dual-species biofilms

PubMed Central

Shafiei, Zaleha; Haji Abdul Rahim, Zubaidah; Thurairajah, Nalina

2016-01-01

Background Plant extracts mixture (PEM) and its individual constituent plant extracts(Psidium sp., Mangifera sp., Mentha sp.) are known to have an anti-adhering effect towards oral bacteria in the single-species biofilm. To date, the adhering ability of the early and late plaque colonisers (Streptococcus sanguinis and Streptococcus mutans) to PEM-treated experimental pellicle have not been investigated in dual-species biofilms. Methods Fresh leaves of these plants were used in the preparation of the respective aqueous extract decoctions. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extracts towards S. sanguinis ATCC BAA-1455 and S. mutans ATCC 25175 was determined using a two-fold serial microdilution method. The sum of fractional inhibitory concentration (ΣFIC) index of PEM and its constituent plant extracts was calculated using the MIC values of the plants. The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the plant extracts was also determined. The anti-adherence effect of the plant extracts (individually and mixed) was carried out by developing simulated S. sanguinis and S. mutans respectively in single- and dual-species of biofilms in the Nordini’s Artificial Mouth (NAM) model system in which the experimental pellicle was pretreated with the plant extract before bacterial inoculation. The bacterial population in the respective biofilms was quantified using ten-fold serial dilutions method and expressed as colony forming unit per ml (CFU/ml). The bacterial population was also viewed using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). All experiments were done in triplicate. Results The PEM compared with its respective constituent plants showed the lowest MIC towards S. sanguinis (3.81 mg/ml) and S. mutans (1.91 mg/ml) and exhibited a synergistic effect. The Psidium sp. (15.24 mg/ml) and, PEM and Psidium sp. (30.48 mg/ml) showed the lowest MBC towards S. sanguinis and S. mutans respectively. The anti-adherence effect of the PEM and its respective constituent plants (except Psidium sp.) was different for the two bacteria in the single-species biofilm. In the dual-species biofilms, PEM demonstrated similar anti-adherence effect towards S. sanguinis and S. mutans. The proportions of the bacterial population viewed under SEM appeared to be in agreement with the quantified population. Discussion The combination of the active constituents of the individual plant extracts in PEM may contribute to its low MIC giving rise to the synergistic effect. The different anti-adherence effect towards S. sanguinis and S. mutans in both single- and dual-species biofilms could be due to the different proportion of the active constituents of the extracts and the interaction between different bacteria. The better adhering ability of S. sanguinis towards the PEM-treated pellicle when present together with S. mutans in the dual-species biofilms may suggest the potential of PEM in controlling the balance between the early and late colonisers in biofilms. PMID:27761322

Extraction of pacemaker and implantable cardioverter defibrillator leads: a single-centre study of electrosurgical and laser extraction.

PubMed

Scott, Paul A; Chow, Whitney; Ellis, Elizabeth; Morgan, John M; Roberts, Paul R

2009-11-01

Both electrosurgical dissection (EDS) and laser tools are effective in the extraction of chronic implanted endovascular leads. It is unclear which is superior. We undertook a retrospective single-centre study to assess this. In our institution from 2000 to 2004, all extractions requiring an ablative sheath were performed using the EDS system. In 2004, an excimer laser system was acquired, which became the first choice. Consecutive patients undergoing extraction requiring an ablative sheath (EDS or laser) were studied. From 2000 to 2007, 140 leads were extracted from 74 patients (EDS 31 and laser 43). Procedural success was non-significantly higher in the laser vs. the EDS group (95 vs. 87%). In the EDS group, one patient suffered tamponade requiring surgery; in the laser group, one patient suffered a significant pericardial effusion treated conservatively. There were no deaths. Procedure and fluoroscopy times were similar between groups. More patients were referred for primary surgical extraction in the EDS vs. the laser era (7 vs. 0, P = 0.003). Lead extraction using an ablative sheath is safe and effective. In our small study, there were no significant differences between EDS and laser sheaths in terms of success, time, or safety.

Complex Enzyme-Assisted Extraction Releases Antioxidative Phenolic Compositions from Guava Leaves.

PubMed

Wang, Lu; Wu, Yanan; Liu, Yan; Wu, Zhenqiang

2017-09-30

Phenolics in food and fruit tree leaves exist in free, soluble-conjugate, and insoluble-bound forms. In this study, in order to enhance the bioavailability of insoluble-bound phenolics from guava leaves (GL), the ability of enzyme-assisted extraction in improving the release of insoluble-bound phenolics was investigated. Compared to untreated GL, single xylanase-assisted extraction did not change the composition and yield of soluble phenolics, whereas single cellulase or β -glucosidase-assisted extraction significantly enhanced the soluble phenolics content of PGL. However, complex enzyme-assisted extraction (CEAE) greatly improved the soluble phenolics content, flavonoids content, ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP by 103.2%, 81.6%, 104.4%, 126.5%, and 90.3%, respectively. Interestingly, after CEAE, a major proportion of phenolics existed in the soluble form, and rarely in the insoluble-bound form. Especially, the contents of quercetin and kaempferol with higher bio-activity were enhanced by 3.5- and 2.2-fold, respectively. More importantly, total soluble phenolics extracts of GL following CEAE exhibited the highest antioxidant activity and protective effect against supercoiled DNA damage. This enzyme-assisted extraction technology can be useful for extracting biochemical components from plant matrix, and has good potential for use in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

[Clinical evaluation of influence of aspirin on post-operative bleeding after tooth extraction in the elderly].

PubMed

Wang, Wen-ying; Cui, Nian-hui; Wang, En-bo; Zhang, Wei

2013-05-01

To investigate the feasibility of continuation of aspirin before tooth extraction in the elderly. The patients enrolled in this study were the elderly requiring a single non-impacted tooth extraction. 300 elderly outpatients used lidocaine local infiltration anesthesia, 200 patients without using aspirin before tooth extraction served as control group I, 100 patients with prolong use of aspirin before tooth extraction as observation group I. 300 elderly outpatients used compound articaine local infiltration anesthesia, 200 patients without using aspirin before tooth extraction served as control group II, 100 patients with prolong use of aspirin before tooth extraction as observation group II.Bleedings at 5, 10, 30 min, 24 h after tooth extraction were observed and the relationship between postoperative bleeding and intake of aspirin was analyzed. There was no significant difference at 5, 10, 30 min, 24 h in postoperative bleeding after extraction between control group I and observation group. The incidence of bleeding of observation group II after tooth extraction at 5 min was higher than that of control group II and there was no significant difference at 10, 30 min, 24 h between the two groups. Continuation of aspirin have no influence on postoperative bleeding. Therefore we suggest that there was no indication to discontinue aspirin for the elderly before a single non-impacted tooth extraction.

Ultrafast single photon emitting quantum photonic structures based on a nano-obelisk.

PubMed

Kim, Je-Hyung; Ko, Young-Ho; Gong, Su-Hyun; Ko, Suk-Min; Cho, Yong-Hoon

2013-01-01

A key issue in a single photon source is fast and efficient generation of a single photon flux with high light extraction efficiency. Significant progress toward high-efficiency single photon sources has been demonstrated by semiconductor quantum dots, especially using narrow bandgap materials. Meanwhile, there are many obstacles, which restrict the use of wide bandgap semiconductor quantum dots as practical single photon sources in ultraviolet-visible region, despite offering free space communication and miniaturized quantum information circuits. Here we demonstrate a single InGaN quantum dot embedded in an obelisk-shaped GaN nanostructure. The nano-obelisk plays an important role in eliminating dislocations, increasing light extraction, and minimizing a built-in electric field. Based on the nano-obelisks, we observed nonconventional narrow quantum dot emission and positive biexciton binding energy, which are signatures of negligible built-in field in single InGaN quantum dots. This results in efficient and ultrafast single photon generation in the violet color region.

Study on extraction process and activity of plant polysaccharides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Xiaogen; Wang, Xiaojing; Fan, Shuangli; Chen, Jiezhong

2017-10-01

Recent studies have shown that plant polysaccharides have many pharmacological activities, such as hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory and tumor inhibition. The pharmacological activities of plant polysaccharides were summarized. The extraction methods of plant polysaccharides were discussed. Finally, the extraction process of Herba Taraxaci polysaccharides was optimized by ultrasonic assisted extraction. Through single factor experiments and orthogonal experiment to optimize the optimum extraction process from dandelion polysaccharide, optimum conditions of dandelion root polysaccharide by ultrasonic assisted extraction method for ultrasonic power 320W, temperature 80°C, extraction time 40min, can get higher dandelion polysaccharide extract.

[Condition optimization experiment of microwave extaction of flavonoids in rhizome of Drynaria fortunei].

PubMed

Yang, Bin; Hu, Fu-chao; Chen, Gong-xi; Jiang, Dao-song

2009-12-01

The experiment extracted flavonoids in rhizome of Drynaria fortunei by microwave extraction, and determined the extraction rate through colorimetry. Through the single factor experiment and orthogonal method, the optimum extraction conditions were as follows: ethanol concentration was 40%, solid-liquid ratio was 1:20 (g/mL), microwave power was 325 W, extraction time was 40 s. Under these conditions, the extraction rate reached 1.73%. In all condtions, microwave power has the most significant effect on extraction rate. Microwave extraction has obvious advantages in comparison with traditional sovent refluxing method.

Technique for quantitative RT-PCR analysis directly from single muscle fibers.

PubMed

Wacker, Michael J; Tehel, Michelle M; Gallagher, Philip M

2008-07-01

The use of single-cell quantitative RT-PCR has greatly aided the study of gene expression in fields such as muscle physiology. For this study, we hypothesized that single muscle fibers from a biopsy can be placed directly into the reverse transcription buffer and that gene expression data can be obtained without having to first extract the RNA. To test this hypothesis, biopsies were taken from the vastus lateralis of five male subjects. Single muscle fibers were isolated and underwent RNA isolation (technique 1) or placed directly into reverse transcription buffer (technique 2). After cDNA conversion, individual fiber cDNA was pooled and quantitative PCR was performed using primer-probes for beta(2)-microglobulin, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, insulin-like growth factor I receptor, and glucose transporter subtype 4. The no RNA extraction method provided similar quantitative PCR data as that of the RNA extraction method. A third technique was also tested in which we used one-quarter of an individual fiber's cDNA for PCR (not pooled) and the average coefficient of variation between fibers was <8% (cycle threshold value) for all genes studied. The no RNA extraction technique was tested on isolated muscle fibers using a gene known to increase after exercise (pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4). We observed a 13.9-fold change in expression after resistance exercise, which is consistent with what has been previously observed. These results demonstrate a successful method for gene expression analysis directly from single muscle fibers.

Rapid metal extractability tests from polluted mining soils by ultrasound probe sonication and microwave-assisted extraction systems.

PubMed

García-Salgado, Sara; Quijano, M Ángeles

2016-12-01

Ultrasonic probe sonication (UPS) and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) were used for rapid single extraction of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn from soils polluted by former mining activities (Mónica Mine, Bustarviejo, NW Madrid, Spain), using 0.01 mol L -1 calcium chloride (CaCl 2 ), 0.43 mol L -1 acetic acid (CH 3 COOH), and 0.05 mol L -1 ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) at pH 7 as extracting agents. The optimum extraction conditions by UPS consisted of an extraction time of 2 min for both CaCl 2 and EDTA extractions and 15 min for CH 3 COOH extraction, at 30% ultrasound (US) amplitude, whereas in the case of MAE, they consisted of 5 min at 50 °C for both CaCl 2 and EDTA extractions and 15 min at 120 °C for CH 3 COOH extraction. Extractable concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The proposed methods were compared with a reduced version of the corresponding single extraction procedures proposed by the Standards, Measurements and Testing Programme (SM&T). The results obtained showed a great variability on extraction percentages, depending on the metal, the total concentration level and the soil sample, reaching high values in some areas. However, the correlation analysis showed that total concentration is the most relevant factor for element extractability in these soil samples. From the results obtained, the application of the accelerated extraction procedures, such as MAE and UPS, could be considered a useful approach to evaluate rapidly the extractability of the metals studied.

Conventional sample enrichment strategies combined with high-performance liquid chromatography-solid phase extraction-nuclear magnetic resonance analysis allows analyte identification from a single minuscule Corydalis solida plant tuber.

PubMed

Sturm, Sonja; Seger, Christoph; Godejohann, Markus; Spraul, Manfred; Stuppner, Hermann

2007-09-07

Identification of putative biomarker molecules within the genus Corydalis (Papaveraceae) was pursued by combining conventional off-line sample enrichment with high-performance liquid chromatography-solid phase extraction-nuclear magnetic resonance (HPLC-SPE-NMR) based structure elucidation. Off-line reversed phase solid phase extraction (SPE) was used to enrich the desired analytes from a methanolic extract (93 mg dry weight) of a miniscule single tuber (233 mg dry weight) of C. solida. An aliquot of the SPE fraction (2.1 mg) was subjected to separation in the HPLC-SPE-NMR hyphenation. Chromatographic peaks bearing the metabolites under investigation were trapped in the SPE device in a single experiment and transferred to a 600 MHz NMR spectrometer equipped with a 30 microl cryofit insert fed into a 3 mm cryoprobe. Recorded homo- and heteronuclear 1D and 2D NMR data allowed the identification of the three analytes under investigation as protopine, allocryptopine, and N-methyl-laudanidinium acetate. The latter is a rare alkaloid, which has been isolated only once before.

Ultrasonic nebulization extraction-heating gas flow transfer-headspace single drop microextraction of essential oil from pericarp of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim.

PubMed

Wei, Shigang; Zhang, Huihui; Wang, Yeqiang; Wang, Lu; Li, Xueyuan; Wang, Yinghua; Zhang, Hanqi; Xu, Xu; Shi, Yuhua

2011-07-22

The ultrasonic nebulization extraction-heating gas flow transfer coupled with headspace single drop microextraction (UNE-HGFT-HS-SDME) was developed for the extraction of essential oil from Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was applied to the determination of the constituents in the essential oil. The contents of the constituents from essential oil obtained by the proposed method were found to be more similar to those obtained by hydro-distillation (HD) than those obtained by ultrasonic nebulization extraction coupled with headspace single drop microextraction (UNE-HS-SDME). The heating gas flow was firstly used in the analysis of the essential oil to transfer the analytes from the headspace to the solvent microdrop. The relative standard deviations for determining the five major constituents were in the range from 1.5 to 6.7%. The proposed method is a fast, sensitive, low cost and small sample consumption method for the determination of the volatile and semivolatile constituents in the plant materials. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Telemetry as a tool to measure sedative effects of a valerian root extract and its single constituents in mice.

PubMed

Chow, Nicholas K; Fretz, Michael; Hamburger, Matthias; Butterweck, Veronika

2011-05-01

Valeriana officinalis L. is a popular herbal treatment for mild sleep disorders. Clinical and non-clinical studies found contradictory results for valerian extracts and single constituents regarding the influence on sleep parameters. It was the aim of this study to investigate the sedative effects of a valerian root extract. Therefore, locomotor activity and core body temperature were recorded in male mice using radiotelemetry. A 70 % ethanolic extract prepared from the roots of V. officinalis (s. l.) and some of its single constituents, valerenic acid, linarin, and apigenin, were tested for effects on locomotion and body temperature over 180 minutes after oral administration. The extract was tested in a dose range of 250-1000 mg/kg, and only a dose of 1000 mg/kg valerian extract showed a mild short-term sedative effect with reduced locomotor activity between 66-78 min minutes after administration. Paradoxically, an increased activity was observed after 150 minutes after gavage. A dose of 1 mg/kg valerenic acid produced an intermittent stimulation of activity. However, a mild short-term sedative effect was found for linarin at 12 mg/kg and apigenin at 1.5 mg/kg. Considering the cumulative locomotor activity over the observation period of 180 min, it is concluded that neither the extract nor one of the compounds had considerable sedative effects. More precisely, the observed short-term changes in activity pattern indicate that valerian extract as well as the flavonoids linarin and apigenin are rather effective to reduce sleep latency than to act as a sleep-maintaining agent. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Data on a single oral dose of camu camu (Myrciaria dubia) pericarp extract on flow-mediated vasodilation and blood pressure in young adult humans.

PubMed

Miyashita, Tadayoshi; Koizumi, Ryosuke; Myoda, Takao; Sagane, Yoshimasa; Niwa, Koichi; Watanabe, Toshihiro; Minami, Kazuhiro

2018-02-01

This data article describes the flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) responses, represented by changes in arterial diameter, and blood pressure changes in young adults after a single oral dose of camu camu ( Myrciaria dubia ) pericarp extract or placebo (cross-over design). Ten healthy men and 10 healthy women participated in this study. Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment was used to monitor arterial diameter changes, indicative of FMD, for 110 s after the administration of the camu camu extract or placebo. In addition, the systolic and diastolic blood pressure values were recorded.

A new approach to the extraction of single exponential diode model parameters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ortiz-Conde, Adelmo; García-Sánchez, Francisco J.

2018-06-01

A new integration method is presented for the extraction of the parameters of a single exponential diode model with series resistance from the measured forward I-V characteristics. The extraction is performed using auxiliary functions based on the integration of the data which allow to isolate the effects of each of the model parameters. A differentiation method is also presented for data with low level of experimental noise. Measured and simulated data are used to verify the applicability of both proposed method. Physical insight about the validity of the model is also obtained by using the proposed graphical determinations of the parameters.

[Principal reasons for extraction of permanent tooth in a sample of Mexicans adults].

PubMed

Medina-Solís, Carlo Eduardo; Pontigo-Loyola, América Patricia; Pérez-Campos, Eduardo; Hernández-Cruz, Pedro; De la Rosa-Santillana, Ruben; Navarete-Hernández, José de Jesús; Maupomé, Gerardo

2013-01-01

Tooth extractions are one of the most common procedures in oral surgery. The objective of this study was to identify the reasons for tooth extraction in adult patients seeking care at teaching dental clinics. A cross-sectional study was carried out in 331 subjects between 18 and 85 (45.37 +/- 13.85) years of age seeking dental care in dental clinics of the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, from January 2009 to December, 2009. Data pertaining to age, sex, tooth number and the reason for extraction according to Kay & Blinkhorn were analyzed with non-parametric tests. 779 extractions were undertaken. The main reason for extraction was dental caries (43.1%), periodontal disease (PD) (27.9%), and prosthetic reasons (21.5%). There was no significant difference across sex for reasons of extraction (p > 0.05). Significant differences (p < 0.001) were found for age (extraction due to periodontal disease increased with age); in patients attending in a single visit vs. patients attending a series of dental appointments (caries reasons were more common in patients having a single appointment vs. PD in those attending a series of appointments); for type of teeth (upper, posterior, and molars were extracted primarily because of caries, while lower, anterior and incisors were more often extracted because of PD). Dental caries was the most common reason for tooth extraction, followed by periodontal disease. Differences in the reasons for extraction were observed across patient characteristics and type of tooth.

High-purity 3D nano-objects grown by focused-electron-beam induced deposition.

PubMed

Córdoba, Rosa; Sharma, Nidhi; Kölling, Sebastian; Koenraad, Paul M; Koopmans, Bert

2016-09-02

To increase the efficiency of current electronics, a specific challenge for the next generation of memory, sensing and logic devices is to find suitable strategies to move from two- to three-dimensional (3D) architectures. However, the creation of real 3D nano-objects is not trivial. Emerging non-conventional nanofabrication tools are required for this purpose. One attractive method is focused-electron-beam induced deposition (FEBID), a direct-write process of 3D nano-objects. Here, we grow 3D iron and cobalt nanopillars by FEBID using diiron nonacarbonyl Fe2(CO)9, and dicobalt octacarbonyl Co2(CO)8, respectively, as starting materials. In addition, we systematically study the composition of these nanopillars at the sub-nanometer scale by atom probe tomography, explicitly mapping the homogeneity of the radial and longitudinal composition distributions. We show a way of fabricating high-purity 3D vertical nanostructures of ∼50 nm in diameter and a few micrometers in length. Our results suggest that the purity of such 3D nanoelements (above 90 at% Fe and above 95 at% Co) is directly linked to their growth regime, in which the selected deposition conditions are crucial for the final quality of the nanostructure. Moreover, we demonstrate that FEBID and the proposed characterization technique not only allow for growth and chemical analysis of single-element structures, but also offers a new way to directly study 3D core-shell architectures. This straightforward concept could establish a promising route to the design of 3D elements for future nano-electronic devices.

Application of Phase Shifted, Laser Feedback Interferometry to Fluid Physics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ovryn, Ben; Eppell, Steven J.; Andrews, James H.; Khaydarov, John

1996-01-01

We have combined the principles of phase-shifting interferometry (PSI) and laser-feedback interferometry (LFI) to produce a new instrument that can measure both optical path length (OPL) changes and discern sample reflectivity variations. In LFI, coherent feedback of the incident light either reflected directly from a surface or reflected after transmission through a region of interest will modulate the output intensity of the laser. LFI can yield a high signal-to-noise ratio even for low reflectivity samples. By combining PSI and LFI, we have produced a robust instrument, based upon a HeNe laser, with high dynamic range that can be used to measure either static (dc) or oscillatory changes along the optical path. As with other forms of interferometry, large changes in OPL require phase unwrapping. Conversely, small phase changes are limited by the fraction of a fringe that can be measured. We introduce the phase shifts with an electro-optic modulator (EOM) and use either the Carre or Hariharan algorithms to determine the phase and visibility. We have determined the accuracy and precision of our technique by measuring both the bending of a cantilevered piezoelectric bimorph and linear ramps to the EOM. Using PSI, sub-nanometer displacements can be measured. We have combined our interferometer with a commercial microscope and scanning piezoelectric stage and have measured the variation in OPL and visibility for drops of PDMS (silicone oil) on coated single crystal silicon. Our measurement of the static contact angle agrees with the value of 68 deg stated in the literature.

Piezo-based motion stages for heavy duty operation in clean environments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karasikov, Nir; Peled, Gal; Yasinov, Roman; Gissin, Michael; Feinstein, Alan

2018-02-01

A range of heavy duty, ultra-precise motion stages had been developed for precise positioning in semiconductor manufacturing and metrology, for use in a clean room and high vacuum (HV and UHV) environments, to meet the precision requirements for 7, 5 nm nodes and beyond. These stages are powered by L1B2 direct drive ultrasonic motors, which allows combining long motion range, sub-nanometer positioning accuracy, high stiffness (in the direction of motion), low power consumption and active compensation of thermal and structural drift while holding position. The mechanical design, material selection for clean room and high vacuum preparation techniques are reviewed. Test results in a clean room are reported for a two-axis (X-Y) stage, having a load capacity of 30 kg, a motion range of 450 mm, a positioning accuracy of < 1 nm, a maximum motion speed of > 200 mm/s and a < 2 nm position stability (3 sigma). Long term drift compensation to sub-nm level, against thermal drift, has been validated for more than 10 hours. Heavy duty operation in a high vacuum is exemplified via a single axis stage operating at 5E-7 Torr, having a moving mass of 0.96 kg, oriented against gravity. The stage is operated periodically (up and down) over a travel length of 45 mm. The motion profile has a trapezoidal shape with an acceleration of 1m/s2 and a constant velocity of 100 mm/s. The operational parameters (average absolute position error during constant velocity, motor force, dead zone level) remain stable over more than 370000 passes (experiment duration).

High-purity 3D nano-objects grown by focused-electron-beam induced deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Córdoba, Rosa; Sharma, Nidhi; Kölling, Sebastian; Koenraad, Paul M.; Koopmans, Bert

2016-09-01

To increase the efficiency of current electronics, a specific challenge for the next generation of memory, sensing and logic devices is to find suitable strategies to move from two- to three-dimensional (3D) architectures. However, the creation of real 3D nano-objects is not trivial. Emerging non-conventional nanofabrication tools are required for this purpose. One attractive method is focused-electron-beam induced deposition (FEBID), a direct-write process of 3D nano-objects. Here, we grow 3D iron and cobalt nanopillars by FEBID using diiron nonacarbonyl Fe2(CO)9, and dicobalt octacarbonyl Co2(CO)8, respectively, as starting materials. In addition, we systematically study the composition of these nanopillars at the sub-nanometer scale by atom probe tomography, explicitly mapping the homogeneity of the radial and longitudinal composition distributions. We show a way of fabricating high-purity 3D vertical nanostructures of ˜50 nm in diameter and a few micrometers in length. Our results suggest that the purity of such 3D nanoelements (above 90 at% Fe and above 95 at% Co) is directly linked to their growth regime, in which the selected deposition conditions are crucial for the final quality of the nanostructure. Moreover, we demonstrate that FEBID and the proposed characterization technique not only allow for growth and chemical analysis of single-element structures, but also offers a new way to directly study 3D core-shell architectures. This straightforward concept could establish a promising route to the design of 3D elements for future nano-electronic devices.

Combined transuranic-strontium extraction process

DOEpatents

Horwitz, E.P.; Dietz, M.L.

1992-12-08

The transuranic (TRU) elements neptunium, plutonium and americium can be separated together with strontium from nitric acid waste solutions in a single process. An extractant solution of a crown ether and an alkyl(phenyl)-N,N-dialkylcarbanylmethylphosphine oxide in an appropriate diluent will extract the TRU's together with strontium, uranium and technetium. The TRU's and the strontium can then be selectively stripped from the extractant for disposal. 3 figs.

Extracting whole short rotation trees with a skidder and a front-end loader

Treesearch

R. Spinelli; B.R. Hartsough

2001-01-01

We time-studied a Caterpillar 950F front-end loader and a Caterpillar 528 grapple skidder used to extract bunched whole trees to a landing in a short rotation Eucalyptus plantation. The loader was 40-60% more productive than the grapple skidder, depending on extraction distance. Alternatively, the single loader could both extract trees and handle the landing duties,...

Membrane contactor assisted water extraction system for separating hydrogen peroxide from a working solution, and method thereof

DOEpatents

Snyder, Seth W [Lincolnwood, IL; Lin, Yupo J [Naperville, IL; Hestekin', Jamie A [Fayetteville, AR; Henry, Michael P [Batavia, IL; Pujado, Peter [Kildeer, IL; Oroskar, Anil [Oak Brook, IL; Kulprathipanja, Santi [Inverness, IL; Randhava, Sarabjit [Evanston, IL

2010-09-21

The present invention relates to a membrane contactor assisted extraction system and method for extracting a single phase species from multi-phase working solutions. More specifically one preferred embodiment of the invention relates to a method and system for membrane contactor assisted water (MCAWE) extraction of hydrogen peroxide (H.sub.2O.sub.2) from a working solution.

Combined transuranic-strontium extraction process

DOEpatents

Horwitz, E. Philip; Dietz, Mark L.

1992-01-01

The transuranic (TRU) elements neptunium, plutonium and americium can be separated together with strontium from nitric acid waste solutions in a single process. An extractant solution of a crown ether and an alkyl(phenyl)-N,N-dialkylcarbanylmethylphosphine oxide in an appropriate diluent will extract the TRU's together with strontium, uranium and technetium. The TRU's and the strontium can then be selectively stripped from the extractant for disposal.

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

Mammen, Nisha; Spanu, Leonardo; Tyo, Eric C.

Having the ability to tune the oxidation state of Cu nanoparticles is essential for their utility as catalysts. The degree of oxidation that maximizes product yield and selectivity is known to vary, depending on the particular reaction. Using first principles calculations and XANES measurements, we show that for subnanometer sizes in the gas phase, smaller Cu clusters are more resistant to oxidation. However, this trend is reversed upon deposition on an alumina support. We are able to explain this result in terms of strong cluster-support interactions, which differ significantly for the oxidized and elemental clusters. The stable cluster phases alsomore » feature novel oxygen stoichiometries. Our results suggest that one can tune the degree of oxidation of Cu catalysts by optimizing not just their size, but also the support they are deposited on.« less

An electromechanical material testing system for in situ electron microscopy and applications.

PubMed

Zhu, Yong; Espinosa, Horacio D

2005-10-11

We report the development of a material testing system for in situ electron microscopy (EM) mechanical testing of nanostructures. The testing system consists of an actuator and a load sensor fabricated by means of surface micromachining. This previously undescribed nanoscale material testing system makes possible continuous observation of the specimen deformation and failure with subnanometer resolution, while simultaneously measuring the applied load electronically with nanonewton resolution. This achievement was made possible by the integration of electromechanical and thermomechanical components based on microelectromechanical system technology. The system capabilities are demonstrated by the in situ EM testing of free-standing polysilicon films, metallic nanowires, and carbon nanotubes. In particular, a previously undescribed real-time instrumented in situ transmission EM observation of carbon nanotubes failure under tensile load is presented here.

Electron cryo-tomography captures macromolecular complexes in native environments.

PubMed

Baker, Lindsay A; Grange, Michael; Grünewald, Kay

2017-10-01

Transmission electron microscopy has a long history in cellular biology. Fixed and stained samples have been used for cellular imaging for over 50 years, but suffer from sample preparation induced artifacts. Electron cryo-tomography (cryoET) instead uses frozen-hydrated samples, without chemical modification, to determine the structure of macromolecular complexes in their native environment. Recent developments in electron microscopes and associated technologies have greatly expanded our ability to visualize cellular features and determine the structures of macromolecular complexes in situ. This review highlights the technological improvements and the new areas of biology these advances have made accessible. We discuss the potential of cryoET to reveal novel and significant biological information on the nanometer or subnanometer scale, and directions for further work. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Measuring three-dimensional interaction potentials using optical interference.

PubMed

Mojarad, Nassir; Sandoghdar, Vahid; Krishnan, Madhavi

2013-04-22

We describe the application of three-dimensional (3D) scattering interferometric (iSCAT) imaging to the measurement of spatial interaction potentials for nano-objects in solution. We study electrostatically trapped gold particles in a nanofluidic device and present details on axial particle localization in the presence of a strongly reflecting interface. Our results demonstrate high-speed (~kHz) particle tracking with subnanometer localization precision in the axial and average 2.5 nm in the lateral dimension. A comparison of the measured levitation heights of trapped particles with the calculated values for traps of various geometries reveals good agreement. Our work demonstrates that iSCAT imaging delivers label-free, high-speed and accurate 3D tracking of nano-objects conducive to probing weak and long-range interaction potentials in solution.

Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy as a Novel Interfacial Probe for Thin Polymeric Films and Nano-Composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Awad, Somia; Chen, Hongmin; Maina, Grace; Lee, L. James; Gu, Xiaohong; Jean, Y. C.

2010-03-01

Positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS) has been developed as a novel probe to characterize the sub-nanometer defect, free volume, profile from the surface, interfaces, and to the bulk in polymeric materials when a variable mono-energy slow positron beam is used. Free-volume hole sizes, fractions, and distributions are measurable as a function of depth at the high precision. PAS has been successfully used to study the interfacial properties of polymeric nanocomposites at different chemical bonding. In nano-scale thin polymeric films, such as in PS/SiO2, and PU/ZnO, significant variations of Tg as a function of depth and of wt% oxide are observed. Variations of Tg are dependent on strong or weak interactions between polymers and nano-scale oxides surfaces.

Quasielastic neutron scattering study of water confined in carbon nanopores

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

Mavila Chathoth, Suresh; Mamontov, Eugene; Kolesnikov, Alexander I

2011-01-01

Microscopic dynamics of water confined in nanometer and sub-nanometer pores of carbide-derived carbon (CDC) were investigated using quasielastic neutron scattering (QENS). The temperature dependence of the average relaxation time, {tau}, exhibits super-Arrhenius behavior that could be described by Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann (VFT) law in the range from 250 K to 190 K; below this temperature, {tau} follows Arrhenius temperature dependence. The temperature of the dynamic crossover between the two regimes in water confined in the CDC pores is similar to that observed for water in hydrophobic confinement of the larger size, such as 14 {angstrom} ordered mesoporous carbon (CMK) and 16 {angstrom}more » double-wall carbon nanotubes. Thus, the dynamical behavior of water remains qualitatively unchanged even in the very small hydrophobic pores.« less

Spatially resolved scatter measurement of diffractive micromirror arrays.

PubMed

Sicker, Cornelius; Heber, Jörg; Berndt, Dirk

2016-06-01

Spatial light modulators (SLMs) support flexible system concepts in modern optics and especially phase-only SLMs such as micromirror arrays (MMAs) appear attractive for many applications. In order to achieve a precise phase modulation, which is crucial for optical performance, careful characterization and calibration of SLM devices is required. We examine an intensity-based measurement concept, which promises distinct advantages by means of a spatially resolved scatter measurement that is combined with the MMA's diffractive principle. Measurements yield quantitative results, which are consistent with measurements of micromirror roughness components, by white-light interferometry. They reveal relative scatter as low as 10^-4, which corresponds to contrast ratios up to 10,000. The potential of the technique to resolve phase changes in the subnanometer range is experimentally demonstrated.

Platinum-Based Nanocages with Subnanometer-Thick Walls and Well-Defined Facets

DOE PAGES

Zhang, Lei; Wang, Xue; Chi, Miaofang; ...

2015-07-24

A cost-effective catalyst should have a high dispersion of the active atoms, together with a controllable surface structure for the optimization of activity, selectivity, or both. We fabricated nanocages by depositing a few atomic layers of platinum (Pt) as conformal shells on palladium (Pd) nanocrystals with well-defined facets and then etching away the Pd templates. Density functional theory calculations suggest that the etching is initiated via a mechanism that involves the formation of vacancies through the removal of Pd atoms incorporated into the outermost layer during the deposition of Pt. With the use of Pd nanoscale cubes and octahedra asmore » templates, we obtained Pt cubic and octahedral nanocages enclosed by {100} and {111} facets, respectively, which exhibited distinctive catalytic activities toward oxygen reduction.« less

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

Ren, Xiaochen; Singh, Arunima K.; Fang, Lei

Impurity doping in two-dimensional (2D) materials can provide a route to tuning electronic properties, so it is important to be able to determine the distribution of dopant atoms within and between layers. Here we report the totnographic mapping of dopants in layered 2D materials with atomic sensitivity and subnanometer spatial resolution using atom, probe tomography (APT). Also, APT analysis shows that Ag dopes both Bi 2Se 3 and PbSe layers in (PbSe) 5(Bi 2Se 3) 3, and correlations :in the position of Ag atoms suggest a pairing across neighboring Bi 2Se 3 and PbSe layers. Finally, density functional theory (DFT)more » calculations confirm the favorability of substitutional-doping for both Pb and Bi and provide insights into the,observed spatial correlations in dopant locations.« less

Downstream processing of antibodies: single-stage versus multi-stage aqueous two-phase extraction.

PubMed

Rosa, P A J; Azevedo, A M; Ferreira, I F; Sommerfeld, S; Bäcker, W; Aires-Barros, M R

2009-12-11

Single-stage and multi-stage strategies have been evaluated and compared for the purification of human antibodies using liquid-liquid extraction in aqueous two-phase systems (ATPSs) composed of polyethylene glycol 3350 (PEG 3350), dextran, and triethylene glycol diglutaric acid (TEG-COOH). The performance of single-stage extraction systems was firstly investigated by studying the effect of pH, TEG-COOH concentration and volume ratio on the partitioning of the different components of a Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells supernatant. It was observed that lower pH values and high TEG-COOH concentrations favoured the selective extraction of human immunoglobulin G (IgG) to the PEG-rich phase. Higher recovery yields, purities and percentage of contaminants removal were always achieved in the presence of the ligand, TEG-COOH. The extraction of IgG could be enhanced using higher volume ratios, however with a significant decrease in both purity and percentage of contaminants removal. The best single-stage extraction conditions were achieved for an ATPS containing 1.3% (w/w) TEG-COOH with a volume ratio of 2.2, which allowed the recovery of 96% of IgG in the PEG-rich phase with a final IgG concentration of 0.21mg/mL, a protein purity of 87% and a total purity of 43%. In order to enhance simultaneously both recovery yield and purity, a four stage cross-current operation was simulated and the corresponding liquid-liquid equilibrium (LLE) data determined. A predicted optimised scheme of a counter-current multi-stage aqueous two-phase extraction was hence described. IgG can be purified in the PEG-rich top phase with a final recovery yield of 95%, a final concentration of 1.04mg/mL and a protein purity of 93%, if a PEG/dextran ATPS containing 1.3% (w/w) TEG-COOH, 5 stages and volume ratio of 0.4 are used. Moreover, according to the LLE data of all CHO cells supernatant components, it was possible to observe that most of the cells supernatant contaminants can be removed during this extraction step leading to a final total purity of about 85%.

[Optimization of Extraction Technology for Sericin from Silkworm Cocoon with Orthogonal Design].

PubMed

Zhao, Chun-ying; Wang, Yan; Li, Yun-feng; Chen, Zhi-hong

2015-05-01

To optimize the appropriate extracting technology for sericin from Silkworm cocoon. Using sericin extraction rates and sericin content as the indices. The single and orthogonal experiments were used to determine the best conditions. The optimal extraction technology for sericin from Silkworm cocoon was as follows: 1: 30 for the ratio of solid to liquid, 3 h reflux for 2 times of extraction and water temperature at 100 degrees C. The extraction rate of sericin from Silkworm cocoon was 27.1%. The optimal extraction technology is stable, feasible, and can provide reference for further pharmacological study on cocoon sericin.

Microfluidic-based mini-metagenomics enables discovery of novel microbial lineages from complex environmental samples

PubMed Central

Yu, Feiqiao Brian; Blainey, Paul C; Schulz, Frederik; Woyke, Tanja; Horowitz, Mark A; Quake, Stephen R

2017-01-01

Metagenomics and single-cell genomics have enabled genome discovery from unknown branches of life. However, extracting novel genomes from complex mixtures of metagenomic data can still be challenging and represents an ill-posed problem which is generally approached with ad hoc methods. Here we present a microfluidic-based mini-metagenomic method which offers a statistically rigorous approach to extract novel microbial genomes while preserving single-cell resolution. We used this approach to analyze two hot spring samples from Yellowstone National Park and extracted 29 new genomes, including three deeply branching lineages. The single-cell resolution enabled accurate quantification of genome function and abundance, down to 1% in relative abundance. Our analyses of genome level SNP distributions also revealed low to moderate environmental selection. The scale, resolution, and statistical power of microfluidic-based mini-metagenomics make it a powerful tool to dissect the genomic structure of microbial communities while effectively preserving the fundamental unit of biology, the single cell. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.26580.001 PMID:28678007

Large Margin Multi-Modal Multi-Task Feature Extraction for Image Classification.

PubMed

Yong Luo; Yonggang Wen; Dacheng Tao; Jie Gui; Chao Xu

2016-01-01

The features used in many image analysis-based applications are frequently of very high dimension. Feature extraction offers several advantages in high-dimensional cases, and many recent studies have used multi-task feature extraction approaches, which often outperform single-task feature extraction approaches. However, most of these methods are limited in that they only consider data represented by a single type of feature, even though features usually represent images from multiple modalities. We, therefore, propose a novel large margin multi-modal multi-task feature extraction (LM3FE) framework for handling multi-modal features for image classification. In particular, LM3FE simultaneously learns the feature extraction matrix for each modality and the modality combination coefficients. In this way, LM3FE not only handles correlated and noisy features, but also utilizes the complementarity of different modalities to further help reduce feature redundancy in each modality. The large margin principle employed also helps to extract strongly predictive features, so that they are more suitable for prediction (e.g., classification). An alternating algorithm is developed for problem optimization, and each subproblem can be efficiently solved. Experiments on two challenging real-world image data sets demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method.

Determination of Low Concentrations of Acetochlor in Water by Automated Solid-Phase Extraction and Gas Chromatography with Mass-Selective Detection

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lindley, C.E.; Stewart, J.T.; Sandstrom, M.W.

1996-01-01

A sensitive and reliable gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric (GC/MS) method for determining acetochlor in environmental water samples was developed. The method involves automated extraction of the herbicide from a filtered 1 L water sample through a C18 solid-phase extraction column, elution from the column with hexane-isopropyl alcohol (3 + 1), and concentration of the extract with nitrogen gas. The herbicide is quantitated by capillary/column GC/MS with selected-ion monitoring of 3 characteristic ions. The single-operator method detection limit for reagent water samples is 0.0015 ??g/L. Mean recoveries ranged from about 92 to 115% for 3 water matrixes fortified at 0.05 and 0.5 ??g/L. Average single-operator precision, over the course of 1 week, was better than 5%.

Permeation characteristics of hypericin across Caco-2 monolayers in the presence of single flavonoids, defined flavonoid mixtures or Hypericum extract matrix.

PubMed

Verjee, Sheela; Kelber, Olaf; Kolb, Christiane; Abdel-Aziz, Heba; Butterweck, Veronika

2017-03-12

The major aim of this study was to get a detailed understanding of the exposure and fate of hypericin in the Caco-2 cell system when combined with various flavonoids, mixtures of flavonoids or Hypericum perforatum extract matrix (STW3-VI). The permeation characteristics of hypericin in the absence or presence of quercetin, quercitrin, isoquercitrin, hyperoside and rutin were tested. Hypericin (5 μm) was mixed with single flavonoids (20 μm) or with different flavonoid combinations (each flavonoid 4 or 10 μm, total flavonoid concentration: 20 μm). Further, the uptake of hypericin (5 μm) in the presence of H. perforatum extract matrix (7.25, 29 and 58 μg/ml) was studied. Following application of hypericin to the apical side of the monolayer, only negligible amounts of the compound were found in the basolateral compartment. From all tested flavonoids, only quercitrin increased the basolateral amount of hypericin. Dual flavonoid combinations were not superior compared to the single combinations. The amount of hypericin in the basolateral compartment increased concentration-dependently in the presence of extract matrix (from 0 to 7.5%). Comparing the effects of various flavonoid mixtures vs the extract matrix, it can be concluded that, besides flavonoids, the extract seems to contain further compounds (e.g. phenolic acids or proanthocyanidins) which substantially improve the permeation characteristics of hypericin. © 2017 Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

Mouse single oral dose toxicity test of bupleuri radix aqueous extracts.

PubMed

Kim, Kyung-Hu; Gam, Cheol-Ou; Choi, Seong-Hun; Ku, Sae-Kwang

2012-03-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the single oral dose toxicity of Bupleuri Radix (BR) aqueous extracts, it has been traditionally used as anti-inflammatory agent, in male and female mice. BR extracts (yield = 16.52%) was administered to female and male ICR mice as an oral dose of 2,000, 1,000 and 500 mg/kg (body weight) according to the recommendation of Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) Guidelines. Animals were monitored for the mortality and changes in body weight, clinical signs and gross observation during 14 days after dosing, upon necropsy; organ weight and histopathology of 14 principal organs were examined. As the results, no BR extracts treatment related mortalities, clinical signs, changes on the body and organ weights, gross and histopathological observations against 14 principal organs were detected up to 2,000 mg/kg in both female and male mice, except for soft feces and related body weight decrease detected in male mice treated with 2,000 mg/kg. Therefore, LD50 (50% lethal dose) and approximate LD of BR aqueous extracts after single oral treatment in female and male mice were considered over 2000 mg/kg, respectively. Although it was also observed that the possibilities of digestive disorders, like soft feces when administered over 2,000 mg/kg of BR extracts in the present study, these possibilities of digestive disorders can be disregard in clinical use because they are transient in the highest dosages male only.

Insight into the time-resolved extraction of aroma compounds during espresso coffee preparation: online monitoring by PTR-ToF-MS.

PubMed

Sánchez-López, José A; Zimmermann, Ralf; Yeretzian, Chahan

2014-12-02

Using proton-transfer-reaction time-of-flight mass-spectrometry (PTR-ToF-MS), we investigated the extraction dynamic of 95 ion traces in real time (time resolution = 1 s) during espresso coffee preparation. Fifty-two of these ions were tentatively identified. This was achieved by online sampling of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in close vicinity to the coffee flow, at the exit of the extraction hose of the espresso machine (single serve capsules). Ten replicates of six different single serve coffee types were extracted to a final weight between 20-120 g, according to the recommended cup size of the respective coffee capsule (Ristretto, Espresso, and Lungo), and analyzed. The results revealed considerable differences in the extraction kinetics between compounds, which led to a fast evolution of the volatile profiles in the extract flow and consequently to an evolution of the final aroma balance in the cup. Besides exploring the time-resolved extraction dynamics of VOCs, the dynamic data also allowed the coffees types (capsules) to be distinguished from one another. Both hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) showed full separation between the coffees types. The methodology developed provides a fast and simple means of studying the extraction dynamics of VOCs and differentiating between different coffee types.

Cola soft drinks for evaluating the bioaccessibility of uranium in contaminated mine soils.

PubMed

Lottermoser, Bernd G; Schnug, Ewald; Haneklaus, Silvia

2011-08-15

There is a rising need for scientifically sound and quantitative as well as simple, rapid, cheap and readily available soil testing procedures. The purpose of this study was to explore selected soft drinks (Coca-Cola Classic®, Diet Coke®, Coke Zero®) as indicators of bioaccessible uranium and other trace elements (As, Ce, Cu, La, Mn, Ni, Pb, Th, Y, Zn) in contaminated soils of the Mary Kathleen uranium mine site, Australia. Data of single extraction tests using Coca-Cola Classic®, Diet Coke® and Coke Zero® demonstrate that extractable arsenic, copper, lanthanum, manganese, nickel, yttrium and zinc concentrations correlate significantly with DTPA- and CaCl₂-extractable metals. Moreover, the correlation between DTPA-extractable uranium and that extracted using Coca-Cola Classic® is close to unity (+0.98), with reduced correlations for Diet Coke® (+0.66) and Coke Zero® (+0.55). Also, Coca-Cola Classic® extracts uranium concentrations near identical to DTPA, whereas distinctly higher uranium fractions were extracted using Diet Coke® and Coke Zero®. Results of this study demonstrate that the use of Coca-Cola Classic® in single extraction tests provided an excellent indication of bioaccessible uranium in the analysed soils and of uranium uptake into leaves and stems of the Sodom apple (Calotropis procera). Moreover, the unconventional reagent is superior in terms of availability, costs, preparation and disposal compared to traditional chemicals. Contaminated site assessments and rehabilitation of uranium mine sites require a solid understanding of the chemical speciation of environmentally significant elements for estimating their translocation in soils and plant uptake. Therefore, Cola soft drinks have potential applications in single extraction tests of uranium contaminated soils and may be used for environmental impact assessments of uranium mine sites, nuclear fuel processing plants and waste storage and disposal facilities. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Therapeutic effect of aqueous extracts of three dietary spices and their mixture on lipid metabolism and oxidative stress in a rat model of chronic alcohol consumption.

PubMed

Otunola, Gloria Aderonke; Afolayan, Anthony Jide

2016-07-01

The protective effect of aqueous extracts of three dietary spices, garlic, (Allium sativum), ginger (Zingiber officinale) and pepper (Capsicum frutescens) singly and combined was investigated using a rat model of chronic alcohol intake. Rats were given 30% ethanol, with or without aqueous extracts of garlic, ginger, pepper or mixture of the three administered at 200mg/kg body weight by oral gavage for 28 days. Lipid profile, lipid peroxidation, oxidative and antioxidative profiles of serum, faecal, liver, kidney, heart and brain tissues of the rats were analyzed. Alcohol treatment significantly elevated liver enzymes, lipid peroxidation, depleted antioxidant system and induced histopathological changes in the liver. These alterations were markedly ameliorated by treatment with aqueous extracts of the three spices singly or mixed at 200mg/kg body weight. These results suggest that aqueous extracts of garlic, ginger, pepper or a blend of the three protects against alcohol- induced hypercholesterolemia, lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress and liver damage.

Optimizing the antioxidant activity of Kelakai (Stenochlaena palustris) through multiplestage extraction process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wijaya, Elza; Widiputri, Diah Indriani; Rahmawati, Della

2017-11-01

Kelakai is known as traditional remedy for treating several diseases, such as fever, anemia, and stimulate the production of breast milk for breastfeeding mother. Instead of those benefits, kelakai also proved has several kinds of antioxidant properties. Therefore, extracting antioxidant properties from kelakai is one way to discover the amount of antioxidant activity contained in kelakai. In this research, the multiple-stage extraction process was done in order to optimize the antioxidant activity. Moreover, based on data obtained from single stage extraction process, the most suitable condition was discovered. It turns out that the use of milled sample in water solvent for 12 hours at 44°C produce the highest antioxidant activity, which is 919.95 mg to inhibit 50% of DPPH. Referred to the experiment, the antioxidant activity of the extract which gained from multiple-stage was higher than from single stage. Multiple-stage process has proven the increasing of antioxidant activity up to 72.43%, which is need 404 mg to inhibit 50% of DPPH.

[A method for rapid extracting three-dimensional root model of vivo tooth from cone beam computed tomography data based on the anatomical characteristics of periodontal ligament].

PubMed

Zhao, Y J; Wang, S W; Liu, Y; Wang, Y

2017-02-18

To explore a new method for rapid extracting and rebuilding three-dimensional (3D) digital root model of vivo tooth from cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) data based on the anatomical characteristics of periodontal ligament, and to evaluate the extraction accuracy of the method. In the study, 15 extracted teeth (11 with single root, 4 with double roots) were collected from oral clinic and 3D digital root models of each tooth were obtained by 3D dental scanner with a high accuracy 0.02 mm in STL format. CBCT data for each patient were acquired before tooth extraction, DICOM data with a voxel size 0.3 mm were input to Mimics 18.0 software. Segmentation, Morphology operations, Boolean operations and Smart expanded function in Mimics software were used to edit teeth, bone and periodontal ligament threshold mask, and root threshold mask were automatically acquired after a series of mask operations. 3D digital root models were extracted in STL format finally. 3D morphology deviation between the extracted root models and corresponding vivo root models were compared in Geomagic Studio 2012 software. The 3D size errors in long axis, bucco-lingual direction and mesio-distal direction were also calculated. The average value of the 3D morphology deviation for 15 roots by calculating Root Mean Square (RMS) value was 0.22 mm, the average size errors in the mesio-distal direction, the bucco-lingual direction and the long axis were 0.46 mm, 0.36 mm and -0.68 mm separately. The average time of this new method for extracting single root was about 2-3 min. It could meet the accuracy requirement of the root 3D reconstruction fororal clinical use. This study established a new method for rapid extracting 3D root model of vivo tooth from CBCT data. It could simplify the traditional manual operation and improve the efficiency and automation of single root extraction. The strategy of this method for complete dentition extraction needs further research.

Oral health-related quality of life changes after placement of immediately loaded single implants in healed alveolar ridges or extraction sockets: a 5-year prospective follow-up study.

PubMed

Raes, Stefanie; Raes, Filiep; Cooper, Lyndon; Giner Tarrida, Luis; Vervaeke, Stijn; Cosyn, Jan; De Bruyn, Hugo

2017-06-01

The impact of single implants on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) is scarcely investigated, especially when combined with immediate placement and loading in extraction sockets. The aim was to describe prospectively the changes of OHRQoL with single implants placed in the esthetic zone in healed ridges or in extraction sockets after 5 years. Ninety-six patients, enrolled at three clinical centers, received 102 single implants placed in a healed ridge (n = 54 implants/50 patients) or in extraction sockets (n = 48 implants/46 patients). Implants were immediately provisionalized, and permanent crowns were cemented after 12 weeks. Oral health impact profile questionnaires (OHIP-14) were completed before surgery, after 1 (provisional crown), 6 (permanent crown), 12 and 60 months, respectively. The overall OHIP-14 score pertains to seven domains with two items each and was assessed on a Likert scale of 0-4 (0 = never and 4 = very often). The evolution of the total OHIP-14 score and changes within all OHIP domains over time and between groups were assessed with a linear mixed-effect model analysis. After 5 years, overall implant survival was 98%. The total OHIP-14 score for both groups combined decreased from 0.50 at baseline to 0.17 at 6 months (P < 0.001), indicative of improvement. For both groups, this remained stable up to 5 years (P = 0.41). However, after 5 years, the total OHIP-14 score revealed a statistically significantly higher improvement in the healed group compared with the extraction group (P = 0.027). Missing a single tooth in the maxillary esthetic zone leads to limited OHRQoL problems as reflected by a low overall OHIP score. However, OHRQoL improves less in the extraction group, reflecting that replacing a missing tooth is perceived as more beneficial than replacing a present tooth. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Universal Temporal Profile of Replication Origin Activation in Eukaryotes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goldar, Arach

2011-03-01

The complete and faithful transmission of eukaryotic genome to daughter cells involves the timely duplication of mother cell's DNA. DNA replication starts at multiple chromosomal positions called replication origin. From each activated replication origin two replication forks progress in opposite direction and duplicate the mother cell's DNA. While it is widely accepted that in eukaryotic organisms replication origins are activated in a stochastic manner, little is known on the sources of the observed stochasticity. It is often associated to the population variability to enter S phase. We extract from a growing Saccharomyces cerevisiae population the average rate of origin activation in a single cell by combining single molecule measurements and a numerical deconvolution technique. We show that the temporal profile of the rate of origin activation in a single cell is similar to the one extracted from a replicating cell population. Taking into account this observation we exclude the population variability as the origin of observed stochasticity in origin activation. We confirm that the rate of origin activation increases in the early stage of S phase and decreases at the latter stage. The population average activation rate extracted from single molecule analysis is in prefect accordance with the activation rate extracted from published micro-array data, confirming therefore the homogeneity and genome scale invariance of dynamic of replication process. All these observations point toward a possible role of replication fork to control the rate of origin activation.

Multifunctional picoliter droplet manipulation platform and its application in single cell analysis.

PubMed

Gu, Shu-Qing; Zhang, Yun-Xia; Zhu, Ying; Du, Wen-Bin; Yao, Bo; Fang, Qun

2011-10-01

We developed an automated and multifunctional microfluidic platform based on DropLab to perform flexible generation and complex manipulations of picoliter-scale droplets. Multiple manipulations including precise droplet generation, sequential reagent merging, and multistep solid-phase extraction for picoliter-scale droplets could be achieved in the present platform. The system precision in generating picoliter-scale droplets was significantly improved by minimizing the thermo-induced fluctuation of flow rate. A novel droplet fusion technique based on the difference of droplet interfacial tensions was developed without the need of special microchannel networks or external devices. It enabled sequential addition of reagents to droplets on demand for multistep reactions. We also developed an effective picoliter-scale droplet splitting technique with magnetic actuation. The difficulty in phase separation of magnetic beads from picoliter-scale droplets due to the high interfacial tension was overcome using ferromagnetic particles to carry the magnetic beads to pass through the phase interface. With this technique, multistep solid-phase extraction was achieved among picoliter-scale droplets. The present platform had the ability to perform complex multistep manipulations to picoliter-scale droplets, which is particularly required for single cell analysis. Its utility and potentials in single cell analysis were preliminarily demonstrated in achieving high-efficiency single-cell encapsulation, enzyme activity assay at the single cell level, and especially, single cell DNA purification based on solid-phase extraction.

Drop-on-Demand Single Cell Isolation and Total RNA Analysis

PubMed Central

Moon, Sangjun; Kim, Yun-Gon; Dong, Lingsheng; Lombardi, Michael; Haeggstrom, Edward; Jensen, Roderick V.; Hsiao, Li-Li; Demirci, Utkan

2011-01-01

Technologies that rapidly isolate viable single cells from heterogeneous solutions have significantly contributed to the field of medical genomics. Challenges remain both to enable efficient extraction, isolation and patterning of single cells from heterogeneous solutions as well as to keep them alive during the process due to a limited degree of control over single cell manipulation. Here, we present a microdroplet based method to isolate and pattern single cells from heterogeneous cell suspensions (10% target cell mixture), preserve viability of the extracted cells (97.0±0.8%), and obtain genomic information from isolated cells compared to the non-patterned controls. The cell encapsulation process is both experimentally and theoretically analyzed. Using the isolated cells, we identified 11 stem cell markers among 1000 genes and compare to the controls. This automated platform enabling high-throughput cell manipulation for subsequent genomic analysis employs fewer handling steps compared to existing methods. PMID:21412416

[Study on effect of aqueous extracts from aconite on "dose-time-toxicity" relationships in mice hearts].

PubMed

Feng, Qun; Li, Xiao-yu; Luan, Yong-fu; Sun, Sai-nan; Sun, Rong

2015-03-01

To study the effect of single administration of aqueous extracts from aconite on "dose-toxicity" relationship and "time-toxicity" relationship of mice hearts, through changes in electrocardiogram (ECG) and serum biochemical indexes. Mice were grouped according to different drug doses and time points, and orally administered with water extracts from aconite for once to observe the changes of mice ECG before and after the administration, calculate visceral indexes heart, liver and kidney, and detect levels of CK, LDH, BNP and CTn-I in serum. According to the "time-toxicity" relationship study, at 5 min after oral administration with aqueous extracts from aconite in mice, the heart rate of mice began rising, reached peak at 60 min and then slowly reduced; QRS, R amplitude, T duration and amplitude and QT interval declined at 5 min, reduced to the bottom at 60 min and then gradually elevated. The levels of CK, LDH, BNP and CTn-I in serum elevated at 5 min and reached the peak at 60 min, with no significant change in ratios of organs to body at different time points. On the basis of the "dose-toxicity" relationship, with the increase in single dose of aqueous extracts from aconite, the heart rate of mice. QRS, T duration and amplitude and QT interval declined gradually, and levels of CK, LDH, BNP and CTn-I in serum slowly elevated, with a certain dose dependence and no significant change in ratios of organs to body in mice. Single oral administration of different doses of aqueous extracts from aconite could cause different degrees of heart injury at different time points, with a certain dose dependence. Its peak time of toxicity is at 60 min after the administration of aqueous extracts from aconite.

A high-throughput RNA extraction for sprouted single-seed malting barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) rich in polysaccharides

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Germinated seed from cereal crops including barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is an important tissue to extract RNA and analyze expression levels of genes that control aspects of germination. These tissues are rich in polysaccharides and most methods for RNA extraction are not suitable to handle the exces...

Determination of skeleton and sign map for phase obtaining from a single ESPI image

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Xia; Yu, Qifeng; Fu, Sihua

2009-06-01

A robust method of determining the sign map and skeletons for ESPI images is introduced in this paper. ESPI images have high speckle noise which makes it difficult to obtain the fringe information, especially from a single image. To overcome the effects of high speckle noise, local directional computing windows are designed according to the fringe directions. Then by calculating the gradients from the filtered image in directional windows, sign map and good skeletons can be determined robustly. Based on the sign map, single image phase-extracting methods such as quadrature transform can be improved. And based on skeletons, fringe phases can be obtained directly by normalization methods. Experiments show that this new method is robust and effective for extracting phase from a single ESPI fringe image.

Antidiabetic activity and phytochemical screening of crude extract of Stevia rebaudiana in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

PubMed Central

Kujur, R. S.; Singh, Vishakha; Ram, Mahendra; Yadava, Harlokesh Narayan; Singh, K. K.; Kumari, Suruchi; Roy, B. K.

2010-01-01

Background: Stevia rebaudiana regulates blood sugar, prevents hypertension and tooth decay. Other studies have shown that it has antibacterial as well as antiviral property. Methods: Preliminary phytochemical screening of aqueous, ether and methanolic extracts of S. rebaudiana was done. Acute and sub-acute toxicity were conducted on twenty four Albino rats, divided into one control (Group I) and three treatment groups viz. aqueous extract (Group II), ether extract (Group III) and methanolic extract (Group IV). For the study of antidiabetic effect of S. rebaudiana rats were divided into seven groups (n=6). Diabetes was induced by a single dose of 5% alloxan monohydrate (125 mg/kg, i.p.) after 24 hour fasting.Blood samples were analysed on day 0, 1, 5, 7, 14 and 28. Results: Phytochemical tests showed presence of different kinds of phyto-constituents in aqueous, ether and methanol extract of Stevia rebaudiana leaves. Daily single dose (2.0 g/kg) administration of aqueous extract (A.E.) , ether extract (E.E.) and methanol extract (M.E.) for 28 days of S. rebaudiana could not show any significant change in ALT and AST levels in rats. Blood sugar level was found to be decreased on day 28 in groups of rats treated with A.E., E.E. and M.E. of S. rebaudiana. Conclusion: The extracts of Stevioside rebaudiana could decrease the blood glucose level in diabetic rats in time dependent manner. PMID:21808578

Tapered, Double-Lead Threads Single Implants Placed in Fresh Extraction Sockets and Healed Sites of the Posterior Jaws: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial with 1 to 3 Years of Follow-Up

PubMed Central

Vignudelli, Elisabetta; Castellani, Dario; Pagliani, Luca; Rea, Massimiliano; Modena, Claudio; Sandri, Giulio; Longhi, Carlo

2017-01-01

Purpose To evaluate the survival, success, and complication rates of tapered double-lead threads single implants, placed in fresh extraction sockets and healed sites of the posterior jaws. Methods The enrolled patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: in the test group (TG), all implants were inserted at the time of tooth extraction; in the control group (CG), all implants were placed 3 months after extraction. The implants were followed for a period of 1 to 3 years after loading. The main outcomes were implant survival, complications, and implant-crown success. Results Ninety-two patients had 97 installed implants (49 in the TG, 48 in the CG). Only two implants failed, in the TG; the survival rates were therefore 95.9% (47/49) and 100% (48/48) for TG and CG, respectively. In the surviving implants, no complications were reported, for an implant-crown success of 100%. Conclusions Although a significant difference was found in the levels of primary stability between TG and CG, single implants placed in fresh extraction sockets and healed sites of the posterior jaws had similar survival and complication rates. Crestal bone levels and peri-implant bone resorption showed similar values. A longer follow-up period is however required, to confirm these positive outcomes. PMID:29057266

Tapered, Double-Lead Threads Single Implants Placed in Fresh Extraction Sockets and Healed Sites of the Posterior Jaws: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial with 1 to 3 Years of Follow-Up.

PubMed

Cucchi, Alessandro; Vignudelli, Elisabetta; Franco, Simonetta; Levrini, Luca; Castellani, Dario; Pagliani, Luca; Rea, Massimiliano; Modena, Claudio; Sandri, Giulio; Longhi, Carlo

2017-01-01

To evaluate the survival, success, and complication rates of tapered double-lead threads single implants, placed in fresh extraction sockets and healed sites of the posterior jaws. The enrolled patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: in the test group (TG), all implants were inserted at the time of tooth extraction; in the control group (CG), all implants were placed 3 months after extraction. The implants were followed for a period of 1 to 3 years after loading. The main outcomes were implant survival, complications, and implant-crown success. Ninety-two patients had 97 installed implants (49 in the TG, 48 in the CG). Only two implants failed, in the TG; the survival rates were therefore 95.9% (47/49) and 100% (48/48) for TG and CG, respectively. In the surviving implants, no complications were reported, for an implant-crown success of 100%. Although a significant difference was found in the levels of primary stability between TG and CG, single implants placed in fresh extraction sockets and healed sites of the posterior jaws had similar survival and complication rates. Crestal bone levels and peri-implant bone resorption showed similar values. A longer follow-up period is however required, to confirm these positive outcomes.

Isolation of Mitochondrial DNA from Single, Short Hairs without Roots Using Pressure Cycling Technology.

PubMed

Harper, Kathryn A; Meiklejohn, Kelly A; Merritt, Richard T; Walker, Jessica; Fisher, Constance L; Robertson, James M

2018-02-01

Hairs are commonly submitted as evidence to forensic laboratories, but standard nuclear DNA analysis is not always possible. Mitochondria (mt) provide another source of genetic material; however, manual isolation is laborious. In a proof-of-concept study, we assessed pressure cycling technology (PCT; an automated approach that subjects samples to varying cycles of high and low pressure) for extracting mtDNA from single, short hairs without roots. Using three microscopically similar donors, we determined the ideal PCT conditions and compared those yields to those obtained using the traditional manual micro-tissue grinder method. Higher yields were recovered from grinder extracts, but yields from PCT extracts exceeded the requirements for forensic analysis, with the DNA quality confirmed through sequencing. Automated extraction of mtDNA from hairs without roots using PCT could be useful for forensic laboratories processing numerous samples.

ID card number detection algorithm based on convolutional neural network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Jian; Ma, Hanjie; Feng, Jie; Dai, Leiyan

2018-04-01

In this paper, a new detection algorithm based on Convolutional Neural Network is presented in order to realize the fast and convenient ID information extraction in multiple scenarios. The algorithm uses the mobile device equipped with Android operating system to locate and extract the ID number; Use the special color distribution of the ID card, select the appropriate channel component; Use the image threshold segmentation, noise processing and morphological processing to take the binary processing for image; At the same time, the image rotation and projection method are used for horizontal correction when image was tilting; Finally, the single character is extracted by the projection method, and recognized by using Convolutional Neural Network. Through test shows that, A single ID number image from the extraction to the identification time is about 80ms, the accuracy rate is about 99%, It can be applied to the actual production and living environment.

Multi-Pulse Extraction from Los Alamos Proton Storage Ring for Radiographic Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thiessen, Henry A.; Neri, Filippo; Rust, Kenneth R.; Redd, Dale B.

1997-05-01

For radiography of moving objects, two or more pulses with adjustable time spacing are required. The existing Proton Stotage Ring (PSR) extraction system is configured to extract the entire beam in a single turn. Two kickers and two kicker modulators fired at the same time perform the normal extraction function. By reconfiguring the two kickers and two modulators, it is possible to obtain two half-sized extraction kicks with adjustable time spacing. In this way, we have extracted two pulses with adjustable relative timing. The setup will be described and experimental results will be presented.

[Studies on the extraction process of total saponins from Paris polyphylla Smith].

PubMed

Sun, Zhi-Guo; Zhang, Lin; Li, Ling-Jun; Tian, Jing-Kui

2007-06-01

To optimize the extraction process of total saopnins from Paris polyphylla Smith. The single factor test and orthogonal experiment were used to determine the optimum extraction process. The optimum extraction process was obtained as follows: the plant materials were extracted with 70% ethanol twice, respectively with 10BV for 2 hours and then with 8BV the solvents for 1.5 hours. The yield of total saponins could be up to 4.24% and the total extraction rate of Paris polyphylla I and Paris polyphylla II was 93.28%. The optimum process obtained is steady, reasonable and feasible.

Transcapillary Exchange and Retention of Fluoride, Strontium, EDTA, Sucrose, and Antipyrine in Bone

PubMed Central

Lemon, Gerard J.; Davies, David R.; Hughes, Sean P.F.; Bassingthwaighte, James B.; Kelly, Patrick J.

2010-01-01

Summary The extractions of 85Sr2+, 18F−, sucrose-14C, EDTA-51Cr, and antipyrine-14C in bone were determined by the multiple indicator-dilution method. Fluoride and strontium extractions were 18 to 70% during a single transcapillary passage, and those of EDTA and sucrose were from 11 to 59%, whereas extraction of antipyrine was 87%. Injections of 85Sr2+ and 18F− made when perfusion was done alternately with blood and plasma resulted in similar fractional extractions. When flow and extraction were measured simultaneously, extraction was related inversely to flow. PMID:6770980

High-efficient extraction of principal medicinal components from fresh Phellodendron bark (cortex phellodendri).

PubMed

Xu, Keqin; He, Gongxiu; Qin, Jieming; Cheng, Xuexiang; He, Hanjie; Zhang, Dangquan; Peng, Wanxi

2018-05-01

There are three key medicinal components (phellodendrine, berberine and palmatine) in the extracts of Phellodendron bark, as one of the fundamental herbs of traditional Chinese medicine. Different extraction methods and solvent combinations were investigated to obtain the optimal technologies for high-efficient extraction of these medicinal components. The results showed that combined solvents have higher extracting effect of phellodendrine, berberine and palmatine than single solvent, and the effect of ultrasonic extraction is distinctly better than those of distillation and soxhlet extraction. The hydrochloric acid/methanol-ultrasonic extraction has the best effect for three medicinal components of fresh Phellodendron bark, providing an extraction yield of 103.12 mg/g berberine, 24.41 mg/g phellodendrine, 1.25 mg/g palmatine.

Early inhibitory effects of zoledronic acid in tooth extraction sockets in dogs are negated by recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein.

PubMed

Gerard, David A; Carlson, Eric R; Gotcher, Jack E; Pickett, David O

2014-01-01

This study was conducted with 2 purposes. The first was to determine the effect of a single dose of zoledronic acid (ZA) on the healing of a tooth extraction socket in dogs. The second was to determine if placement of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2)/absorbable collagen sponge (ACS) - INFUSE, (Medtronic, Memphis, TN) into these extraction sockets would inhibit the inhibition on bone healing and remodeling by ZA. Nine adult female beagle dogs (2 to 3 yr old) were placed into 3 groups of 3 dogs each. Group I received 15 mL of sterile saline intravenously; group II received 2.5 mg of ZA intravenously; and group III received 5 mg of ZA intravenously. Forty-five days after treatment, all dogs underwent extraction of noncontiguous right and left mandibular first molars and second premolars. In group I, the right mandibular extraction sockets had nothing placed in them, whereas the left mandibular sockets had only ACS placed in them. In groups II and III, the right mandibular sockets had rhBMP-2/ACS placed in them, whereas the left mandibular sockets had only ACS placed. All extraction sockets were surgically closed. Tetracycline was given intravenously 5 and 12 days later, and all animals were euthanized 15 days after tooth extraction. The extraction sockets and rib and femur samples were harvested immediately after euthanasia, processed, and studied microscopically. A single dose of ZA significantly inhibited healing and bone remodeling in the area of the tooth extractions. The combination of rhBMP-2/ACS appeared to over-ride some of the bone remodeling inhibition of the ZA and increased bone fill in the extraction sites, and remodeling activity in the area was noted. The effects of rhBMP-2/ACS were confined to the area of the extraction sockets because bone activity at distant sites was not influenced. A single dose of ZA administered intravenously inhibits early healing of tooth extraction sockets and bone remodeling in this animal model. The combination of rhBMP-2/ACS significantly increased bone fill and bone remodeling in these areas, negating much of the effect of the ZA. Copyright © 2014 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Positron annihilation lifetime measurements of austenitic stainless and ferritic/martensitic steels irradiated in the SINQ target irradiation program

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sato, K.; Xu, Q.; Yoshiie, T.; Dai, Y.; Kikuchi, K.

2012-12-01

Titanium-doped austenitic stainless steel (JPCA) and reduced activated ferritic/martensitic steel (F82H) irradiated with high-energy protons and spallation neutrons were investigated by positron annihilation lifetime measurements. Subnanometer-sized (<˜0.8 nm) helium bubbles, which cannot be observed by transmission electron microscopy, were detected by positron annihilation lifetime measurements for the first time. For the F82H steel, the positron annihilation lifetime of the bubbles decreased with increasing irradiation dose and annealing temperature because the bubbles absorb additional He atoms. In the case of JPCA steel, the positron annihilation lifetime increased with increasing annealing temperature above 773 K, in which case the dissociation of complexes of vacancy clusters with He atoms and the growth of He bubbles was detected. He bubble size and density were also discussed.

Wave-optical evaluation of interference fringes and wavefront phase in a hard-x-ray beam totally reflected by mirror optics.

PubMed

Yamauchi, Kazuto; Yamamura, Kazuya; Mimura, Hidekazu; Sano, Yasuhisa; Saito, Akira; Endo, Katsuyoshi; Souvorov, Alexei; Yabashi, Makina; Tamasaku, Kenji; Ishikawa, Tetsuya; Mori, Yuzo

2005-11-10

The intensity flatness and wavefront shape in a coherent hard-x-ray beam totally reflected by flat mirrors that have surface bumps modeled by Gaussian functions were investigated by use of a wave-optical simulation code. Simulated results revealed the necessity for peak-to-valley height accuracy of better than 1 nm at a lateral resolution near 0.1 mm to remove high-contrast interference fringes and appreciable wavefront phase errors. Three mirrors that had different surface qualities were tested at the 1 km-long beam line at the SPring-8/Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute. Interference fringes faded when the surface figure was corrected below the subnanometer level to a spatial resolution close to 0.1 mm, as indicated by the simulated results.

Detection of atomic force microscopy cantilever displacement with a transmitted electron beam

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

Wagner, R.; Woehl, T. J.; Keller, R. R.

2016-07-25

The response time of an atomic force microscopy (AFM) cantilever can be decreased by reducing cantilever size; however, the fastest AFM cantilevers are currently nearing the smallest size that can be detected with the conventional optical lever approach. Here, we demonstrate an electron beam detection scheme for measuring AFM cantilever oscillations. The oscillating AFM tip is positioned perpendicular to and in the path of a stationary focused nanometer sized electron beam. As the tip oscillates, the thickness of the material under the electron beam changes, causing a fluctuation in the number of scattered transmitted electrons that are detected. We demonstratemore » detection of sub-nanometer vibration amplitudes with an electron beam, providing a pathway for dynamic AFM with cantilevers that are orders of magnitude smaller and faster than the current state of the art.« less

A new microscope optics for laser dark-field illumination applied to high precision two dimensional measurement of specimen displacement.

PubMed

Noda, Naoki; Kamimura, Shinji

2008-02-01

With conventional light microscopy, precision in the measurement of the displacement of a specimen depends on the signal-to-noise ratio when we measure the light intensity of magnified images. This implies that, for the improvement of precision, getting brighter images and reducing background light noise are both inevitably required. For this purpose, we developed a new optics for laser dark-field illumination. For the microscopy, we used a laser beam and a pair of axicons (conical lenses) to get an optimal condition for dark-field observations. The optics was applied to measuring two dimensional microbead displacements with subnanometer precision. The bandwidth of our detection system overall was 10 kHz. Over most of this bandwidth, the observed noise level was as small as 0.1 nm/radicalHz.

Quasielastic neutron scattering study of water confined in carbon nanopores

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

Chathoth, S. M.; Mamontov, E.; Kolesnikov, A. I.

2011-07-26

Microscopic dynamics of water confined in nanometer and sub-nanometer pores of carbide-derived carbon (CDC) were investigated using quasielastic neutron scattering (QENS). The temperature dependence of the average relaxation time, ‹τ›, exhibits super-Arrhenius behavior that could be described by Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann (VFT) law in the range from 250 K to 190 K; below this temperature, ‹τ› follows Arrhenius temperature dependence. The temperature of the dynamic crossover between the two regimes in water confined in the CDC pores is similar to that observed for water in hydrophobic confinement of the larger size, such as 14 Å ordered mesoporous carbon (CMK) and 16 Åmore » double-wall carbon nanotubes. Thus, the dynamical behavior of water remains qualitatively unchanged even in the very small hydrophobic pores.« less

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

Levin, I.; Laws, W. J.; Wang, D.

A crystal-chemical framework has been proposed for the design of pseudocubic perovskites with nanoscale ferroelectric order, and its applicability has been demonstrated using a series of representative solid solutions that combined ferroelectric (K0.5Bi0.5TiO3, BaTiO3, and PbTiO3) and antiferroelectric (Nd-substituted BiFeO3) end members. The pseudocubic structures obtained in these systems exhibited distortions that were coherent on a scale ranging from sub-nanometer to tens of nanometers, but, in all cases, the macroscopic distortion remained unresolvable even if using high-resolution X-ray powder diffraction. Different coherence lengths for the local atomic displacements account for the distinctly different dielectric, ferroelectric, and electromechanical properties exhibited bymore » the samples. The guidelines identified provide a rationale for chemically tuning the coherence length to obtain the desired functional response.« less

Protein-protected luminescent noble metal quantum clusters: an emerging trend in atomic cluster nanoscience

PubMed Central

Xavier, Paulrajpillai Lourdu; Chaudhari, Kamalesh; Baksi, Ananya; Pradeep, Thalappil

2012-01-01

Noble metal quantum clusters (NMQCs) are the missing link between isolated noble metal atoms and nanoparticles. NMQCs are sub-nanometer core sized clusters composed of a group of atoms, most often luminescent in the visible region, and possess intriguing photo-physical and chemical properties. A trend is observed in the use of ligands, ranging from phosphines to functional proteins, for the synthesis of NMQCs in the liquid phase. In this review, we briefly overview recent advancements in the synthesis of protein protected NMQCs with special emphasis on their structural and photo-physical properties. In view of the protein protection, coupled with direct synthesis and easy functionalization, this hybrid QC-protein system is expected to have numerous optical and bioimaging applications in the future, pointers in this direction are visible in the literature. PMID:22312454

Lanthanum Gadolinium Oxide: A New Electronic Device Material for CMOS Logic and Memory Devices

PubMed Central

Pavunny, Shojan P.; Scott, James F.; Katiyar, Ram S.

2014-01-01

A comprehensive study on the ternary dielectric, LaGdO3, synthesized and qualified in our laboratory as a novel high-k dielectric material for logic and memory device applications in terms of its excellent features that include a high linear dielectric constant (k) of ~22 and a large energy bandgap of ~5.6 eV, resulting in sufficient electron and hole band offsets of ~2.57 eV and ~1.91 eV, respectively, on silicon, good thermal stability with Si and lower gate leakage current densities within the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS) specified limits at the sub-nanometer electrical functional thickness level, which are desirable for advanced complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS), bipolar (Bi) and BiCMOS chips applications, is presented in this review article. PMID:28788589

National Synchrotron Light Source II storage ring vacuum systems

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

Hseuh, Hsiao-Chaun, E-mail: hseuh@bnl.gov; Hetzel, Charles; Leng, Shuwei

2016-05-15

The National Synchrotron Light Source II, completed in 2014, is a 3-GeV synchrotron radiation (SR) facility at Brookhaven National Laboratory and has been in steady operation since. With a design electron current of 500 mA and subnanometer radians horizontal emittance, this 792-m circumference storage ring is providing the highest flux and brightness x-ray beam for SR users. The majority of the storage ring vacuum chambers are made of extruded aluminium. Chamber sections are interconnected using low-impedance radiofrequency shielded bellows. SR from the bending magnets is intercepted by water-cooled compact photon absorbers resided in the storage ring chambers. This paper presents themore » design of the storage ring vacuum system, the fabrication of vacuum chambers and other hardware, the installation, the commissioning, and the continuing beam conditioning of the vacuum systems.« less

Surface inspection using FTIR spectroscopy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Powell, G. L.; Smyrl, N. R.; Williams, D. M.; Meyers, H. M., III; Barber, T. E.; Marrero-Rivera, M.

1995-01-01

The use of reflectance Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy as a tool for surface inspection is described. Laboratory instruments and portable instruments can support remote sensing probes that can map chemical contaminants on surfaces with detection limits under the best of conditions in the sub-nanometer range, i.e.. near absolute cleanliness, excellent performance in the sub-micrometer range, and useful performance for films tens of microns thick. Examples of discovering and quantifying contamination such as mineral oils and greases, vegetable oils, and silicone oils on aluminum foil, galvanized sheet steel, smooth aluminum tubing, and sandblasted 7075 aluminum alloy and D6AC steel. The ability to map in time and space the distribution of oil stains on metals is demonstrated. Techniques associated with quantitatively applying oils to metals, subsequently verifying the application, and non-linear relationships between reflectance and the quantity oil are described.

Single-trial event-related potential extraction through one-unit ICA-with-reference

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lih Lee, Wee; Tan, Tele; Falkmer, Torbjörn; Leung, Yee Hong

2016-12-01

Objective. In recent years, ICA has been one of the more popular methods for extracting event-related potential (ERP) at the single-trial level. It is a blind source separation technique that allows the extraction of an ERP without making strong assumptions on the temporal and spatial characteristics of an ERP. However, the problem with traditional ICA is that the extraction is not direct and is time-consuming due to the need for source selection processing. In this paper, the application of an one-unit ICA-with-Reference (ICA-R), a constrained ICA method, is proposed. Approach. In cases where the time-region of the desired ERP is known a priori, this time information is utilized to generate a reference signal, which is then used for guiding the one-unit ICA-R to extract the source signal of the desired ERP directly. Main results. Our results showed that, as compared to traditional ICA, ICA-R is a more effective method for analysing ERP because it avoids manual source selection and it requires less computation thus resulting in faster ERP extraction. Significance. In addition to that, since the method is automated, it reduces the risks of any subjective bias in the ERP analysis. It is also a potential tool for extracting the ERP in online application.

Single-trial event-related potential extraction through one-unit ICA-with-reference.

PubMed

Lee, Wee Lih; Tan, Tele; Falkmer, Torbjörn; Leung, Yee Hong

2016-12-01

In recent years, ICA has been one of the more popular methods for extracting event-related potential (ERP) at the single-trial level. It is a blind source separation technique that allows the extraction of an ERP without making strong assumptions on the temporal and spatial characteristics of an ERP. However, the problem with traditional ICA is that the extraction is not direct and is time-consuming due to the need for source selection processing. In this paper, the application of an one-unit ICA-with-Reference (ICA-R), a constrained ICA method, is proposed. In cases where the time-region of the desired ERP is known a priori, this time information is utilized to generate a reference signal, which is then used for guiding the one-unit ICA-R to extract the source signal of the desired ERP directly. Our results showed that, as compared to traditional ICA, ICA-R is a more effective method for analysing ERP because it avoids manual source selection and it requires less computation thus resulting in faster ERP extraction. In addition to that, since the method is automated, it reduces the risks of any subjective bias in the ERP analysis. It is also a potential tool for extracting the ERP in online application.

Single ion dynamics in molten sodium bromide

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

Alcaraz, O.; Trullas, J.; Demmel, F.

We present a study on the single ion dynamics in the molten alkali halide NaBr. Quasielastic neutron scattering was employed to extract the self-diffusion coefficient of the sodium ions at three temperatures. Molecular dynamics simulations using rigid and polarizable ion models have been performed in parallel to extract the sodium and bromide single dynamics and ionic conductivities. Two methods have been employed to derive the ion diffusion, calculating the mean squared displacements and the velocity autocorrelation functions, as well as analysing the increase of the line widths of the self-dynamic structure factors. The sodium diffusion coefficients show a remarkable goodmore » agreement between experiment and simulation utilising the polarisable potential.« less

Ionization Electron Signal Processing in Single Phase LArTPCs I. Algorithm Description and Quantitative Evaluation with MicroBooNE Simulation

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

Adams, C.; et al.

We describe the concept and procedure of drifted-charge extraction developed in the MicroBooNE experiment, a single-phase liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC). This technique converts the raw digitized TPC waveform to the number of ionization electrons passing through a wire plane at a given time. A robust recovery of the number of ionization electrons from both induction and collection anode wire planes will augment the 3D reconstruction, and is particularly important for tomographic reconstruction algorithms. A number of building blocks of the overall procedure are described. The performance of the signal processing is quantitatively evaluated by comparing extracted charge withmore » the true charge through a detailed TPC detector simulation taking into account position-dependent induced current inside a single wire region and across multiple wires. Some areas for further improvement of the performance of the charge extraction procedure are also discussed.« less

Security of quantum key distribution with multiphoton components

PubMed Central

Yin, Hua-Lei; Fu, Yao; Mao, Yingqiu; Chen, Zeng-Bing

2016-01-01

Most qubit-based quantum key distribution (QKD) protocols extract the secure key merely from single-photon component of the attenuated lasers. However, with the Scarani-Acin-Ribordy-Gisin 2004 (SARG04) QKD protocol, the unconditionally secure key can be extracted from the two-photon component by modifying the classical post-processing procedure in the BB84 protocol. Employing the merits of SARG04 QKD protocol and six-state preparation, one can extract secure key from the components of single photon up to four photons. In this paper, we provide the exact relations between the secure key rate and the bit error rate in a six-state SARG04 protocol with single-photon, two-photon, three-photon, and four-photon sources. By restricting the mutual information between the phase error and bit error, we obtain a higher secure bit error rate threshold of the multiphoton components than previous works. Besides, we compare the performances of the six-state SARG04 with other prepare-and-measure QKD protocols using decoy states. PMID:27383014

Assessment of metal(loid)s phytoavailability in intensive agricultural soils by the application of single extractions to rhizosphere soil.

PubMed

Pinto, Edgar; Almeida, Agostinho A; Ferreira, Isabel M P L V O

2015-03-01

The influence of soil properties on the phytoavailability of metal(loid)s in a soil-plant system was evaluated. The content of extractable metal(loid)s obtained by using different extraction methods was also compared. To perform this study, a test plant (Lactuca sativa) and rhizosphere soil were sampled at 5 different time points (2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 weeks of plant growth). Four extraction methods (Mehlich 3, DTPA, NH4NO3 and CaCl2) were used. Significant positive correlations between the soil extractable content and lettuce shoot content were obtained for several metal(loid)s. The extraction with NH4NO3 showed the higher number of strong positive correlations indicating the suitability of this method to estimate metal(loid)s phytoavailability. The soil CEC, OM, pH, texture and oxides content significantly influenced the distribution of metal(loid)s between the phytoavailable and non-phytoavailable fractions. A reliable prediction model for Cr, V, Ni, As, Pb, Co, Cd, and Sb phytoavailability was obtained considering the amount of metal(loid) extracted by the NH4NO3 method and the main soil properties. This work shows that the analysis of rhizosphere soil by single extractions methods is a reliable approach to estimate metal(loid)s phytoavailability. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

[The algorithms and development for the extraction of evoked potentials].

PubMed

Niu, Jie; Qiu, Tianshuang

2004-06-01

The extraction of evoked potentials is a main subject in the area of brain signal processing. In recent years, the single-trial extraction of evoked potentials has been focused on by many studies. In this paper, the approaches based on the wavelet transform, the neural network, the high order acumulants and the independent component analysis are briefly reviewed.

Simultaneous analysis of nucleobases, nucleosides and ginsenosides in ginseng extracts using supercritical fluid chromatography coupled with single quadrupole mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Huang, Yang; Zhang, Tingting; Zhao, Yumei; Zhou, Haibo; Tang, Guangyun; Fillet, Marianne; Crommen, Jacques; Jiang, Zhengjin

2017-09-10

Nucleobases, nucleosides and ginsenosides, which have a significant impact on the physiological activity of organisms, are reported to be the active components of ginseng, while they are less present in ginseng extracts. Few analytical methods have been developed so far to simultaneously analyze these three classes of compounds with different polarities present in ginseng extracts. In the present study, a simple and efficient analytical method was successfully developed for the simultaneous separation of 17 nucleobases, nucleosides and ginsenosides in ginseng extracts using supercritical fluid chromatography coupled with single quadrupole mass spectrometry (SFC-MS). The effect of various experimental factors on the separation performance, such as the column type, temperature and backpressure, the type of modifier and additive, and the concentration of make-up solvent were systematically investigated. Under the selected conditions, the developed method was successfully applied to the quality evaluation of 14 batches of ginseng extracts from different origins. The results obtained for the different batches indicate that this method could be employed for the quality assessment of ginseng extracts. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Use of different sample temperatures in a single extraction procedure for the screening of the aroma profile of plant matrices by headspace solid-phase microextraction.

PubMed

Martendal, Edmar; de Souza Silveira, Cristine Durante; Nardini, Giuliana Stael; Carasek, Eduardo

2011-06-17

This study proposes a new approach to the optimization of the extraction of the volatile fraction of plant matrices using the headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) technique. The optimization focused on the extraction time and temperature using a CAR/DVB/PDMS 50/30 μm SPME fiber and 100mg of a mixture of plants as the sample in a 15-mL vial. The extraction time (10-60 min) and temperature (5-60 °C) were optimized by means of a central composite design. The chromatogram was divided into four groups of peaks based on the elution temperature to provide a better understanding of the influence of the extraction parameters on the extraction efficiency considering compounds with different volatilities/polarities. In view of the different optimum extraction time and temperature conditions obtained for each group, a new approach based on the use of two extraction temperatures in the same procedure is proposed. The optimum conditions were achieved by extracting for 30 min with a sample temperature of 60 °C followed by a further 15 min at 5 °C. The proposed method was compared with the optimized conventional method based on a single extraction temperature (45 min of extraction at 50 °C) by submitting five samples to both procedures. The proposed method led to better results in all cases, considering as the response both peak area and the number of identified peaks. The newly proposed optimization approach provided an excellent alternative procedure to extract analytes with quite different volatilities in the same procedure. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A green deep eutectic solvent-based aqueous two-phase system for protein extracting.

PubMed

Xu, Kaijia; Wang, Yuzhi; Huang, Yanhua; Li, Na; Wen, Qian

2015-03-15

As a new type of green solvent, deep eutectic solvent (DES) has been applied for the extraction of proteins with an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) in this work. Four kinds of choline chloride (ChCl)-based DESs were synthesized to extract bovine serum albumin (BSA), and ChCl-glycerol was selected as the suitable extraction solvent. Single factor experiments have been done to investigate the effects of the extraction process, including the amount of DES, the concentration of salt, the mass of protein, the shaking time, the temperature and PH value. Experimental results show 98.16% of the BSA could be extracted into the DES-rich phase in a single-step extraction under the optimized conditions. A high extraction efficiency of 94.36% was achieved, while the conditions were applied to the extraction of trypsin (Try). Precision, repeatability and stability experiments were studied and the relative standard deviations (RSD) of the extraction efficiency were 0.4246% (n=3), 1.6057% (n=3) and 1.6132% (n=3), respectively. Conformation of BSA was not changed during the extraction process according to the investigation of UV-vis spectra, FT-IR spectra and CD spectra of BSA. The conductivity, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to explore the mechanism of the extraction. It turned out that the formation of DES-protein aggregates play a significant role in the separation process. All the results suggest that ChCl-based DES-ATPS are supposed to have the potential to provide new possibilities in the separation of proteins. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Treatment options following single-rooted tooth removal: a literature review and proposed hierarchy of treatment selection.

PubMed

Fugazzotto, Paul A

2005-05-01

Alveolar bone changes following tooth extraction have been well documented and have given rise to a number of treatment approaches. Included in these approaches are placement of various grafting materials, immediate implant placement, and a combination of both. A review of all pertinent literature discussing regenerative therapy at the time of tooth extraction or immediate implant placement with or without concomitant regenerative therapy was carried out. A clinically-based hierarchy of treatment selection following extraction of single rooted teeth is proposed, based upon the available literature and clinical experience. The role of patient phenotype is considered. Utilization of the proposed hierarchy of treatment selection affords a logical framework within which to predictably treat a variety of patients.

A statistical framework for multiparameter analysis at the single-cell level.

PubMed

Torres-García, Wandaliz; Ashili, Shashanka; Kelbauskas, Laimonas; Johnson, Roger H; Zhang, Weiwen; Runger, George C; Meldrum, Deirdre R

2012-03-01

Phenotypic characterization of individual cells provides crucial insights into intercellular heterogeneity and enables access to information that is unavailable from ensemble averaged, bulk cell analyses. Single-cell studies have attracted significant interest in recent years and spurred the development of a variety of commercially available and research-grade technologies. To quantify cell-to-cell variability of cell populations, we have developed an experimental platform for real-time measurements of oxygen consumption (OC) kinetics at the single-cell level. Unique challenges inherent to these single-cell measurements arise, and no existing data analysis methodology is available to address them. Here we present a data processing and analysis method that addresses challenges encountered with this unique type of data in order to extract biologically relevant information. We applied the method to analyze OC profiles obtained with single cells of two different cell lines derived from metaplastic and dysplastic human Barrett's esophageal epithelium. In terms of method development, three main challenges were considered for this heterogeneous dynamic system: (i) high levels of noise, (ii) the lack of a priori knowledge of single-cell dynamics, and (iii) the role of intercellular variability within and across cell types. Several strategies and solutions to address each of these three challenges are presented. The features such as slopes, intercepts, breakpoint or change-point were extracted for every OC profile and compared across individual cells and cell types. The results demonstrated that the extracted features facilitated exposition of subtle differences between individual cells and their responses to cell-cell interactions. With minor modifications, this method can be used to process and analyze data from other acquisition and experimental modalities at the single-cell level, providing a valuable statistical framework for single-cell analysis.

Immediate functional loading of single implants: a multicenter study with 4 years of follow-up

PubMed Central

Raes, Filiep; Eccellente, Tammaro; Lenzi, Carolina; Ortolani, Michele; Luongo, Giuseppe; Mangano, Carlo; Mangano, Francesco

2018-01-01

Background. In the current scientific literature there are only few studies on the immediate functional loading of single implants. The aim of the present present study was to evaluate the 4-year survival rate, complication rate and peri-implant marginal bone loss (PIMBL) of immediately loaded single implants inserted in healed ridges and fresh post-extraction sites. Methods. Six centers were involved in this prospective study. The surgical and prosthetic protocol was defined in detail, before the start of recruiting patients. Recruitment of patients and performance of surgeries took place between February 2012 and February 2013. Criteria for inclusion were single-tooth gaps in healed ridges and fresh post-extraction sockets. All the fixtures (Anyridge®, Megagen Corporation, Gyeongbuk, South Korea) were functionally loaded immediately after insertion and followed for a period of 4 years. Outcome measures were implant survival, complications and PIMBL. Results. Forty-six patients (18‒73 years of age) were selected. In total, 57 fixtures were placed (10 in fresh post-extraction sockets). After 4 years of functional loading, only one fixture was lost; therefore, high survival rates (97.6% patient-based; 98.1% implant-based) were reported. In addition, a limited incidence of biologic (4.8% patient-based; 3.8% implant-based) and prosthetic (9.7% patient-based; 7.6% implant-based) complications was reported. The overall 4-year PIMBL amounted to 0.38±0.21 mm (healed ridges: 0.4±0.21 mm; fresh post-extraction sockets: 0.33±0.20 mm). Conclusion. Loading single implants immediately seems to be a highly successful treatment modality. However, long-term data are needed to confirm these positive outcomes. PMID:29732018

Enabling Low-Power, Multi-Modal Neural Interfaces Through a Common, Low-Bandwidth Feature Space.

PubMed

Irwin, Zachary T; Thompson, David E; Schroeder, Karen E; Tat, Derek M; Hassani, Ali; Bullard, Autumn J; Woo, Shoshana L; Urbanchek, Melanie G; Sachs, Adam J; Cederna, Paul S; Stacey, William C; Patil, Parag G; Chestek, Cynthia A

2016-05-01

Brain-Machine Interfaces (BMIs) have shown great potential for generating prosthetic control signals. Translating BMIs into the clinic requires fully implantable, wireless systems; however, current solutions have high power requirements which limit their usability. Lowering this power consumption typically limits the system to a single neural modality, or signal type, and thus to a relatively small clinical market. Here, we address both of these issues by investigating the use of signal power in a single narrow frequency band as a decoding feature for extracting information from electrocorticographic (ECoG), electromyographic (EMG), and intracortical neural data. We have designed and tested the Multi-modal Implantable Neural Interface (MINI), a wireless recording system which extracts and transmits signal power in a single, configurable frequency band. In prerecorded datasets, we used the MINI to explore low frequency signal features and any resulting tradeoff between power savings and decoding performance losses. When processing intracortical data, the MINI achieved a power consumption 89.7% less than a more typical system designed to extract action potential waveforms. When processing ECoG and EMG data, the MINI achieved similar power reductions of 62.7% and 78.8%. At the same time, using the single signal feature extracted by the MINI, we were able to decode all three modalities with less than a 9% drop in accuracy relative to using high-bandwidth, modality-specific signal features. We believe this system architecture can be used to produce a viable, cost-effective, clinical BMI.

Mismatch cleavage by single-strand specific nucleases

PubMed Central

Till, Bradley J.; Burtner, Chris; Comai, Luca; Henikoff, Steven

2004-01-01

We have investigated the ability of single-strand specific (sss) nucleases from different sources to cleave single base pair mismatches in heteroduplex DNA templates used for mutation and single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis. The TILLING (Targeting Induced Local Lesions IN Genomes) mismatch cleavage protocol was used with the LI-COR gel detection system to assay cleavage of amplified heteroduplexes derived from a variety of induced mutations and naturally occurring polymorphisms. We found that purified nucleases derived from celery (CEL I), mung bean sprouts and Aspergillus (S1) were able to specifically cleave nearly all single base pair mismatches tested. Optimal nicking of heteroduplexes for mismatch detection was achieved using higher pH, temperature and divalent cation conditions than are routinely used for digestion of single-stranded DNA. Surprisingly, crude plant extracts performed as well as the highly purified preparations for this application. These observations suggest that diverse members of the S1 family of sss nucleases act similarly in cleaving non-specifically at bulges in heteroduplexes, and single-base mismatches are the least accessible because they present the smallest single-stranded region for enzyme binding. We conclude that a variety of sss nucleases and extracts can be effectively used for high-throughput mutation and polymorphism discovery. PMID:15141034

Single-molecule dynamics in nanofabricated traps

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cohen, Adam

2009-03-01

The Anti-Brownian Electrokinetic trap (ABEL trap) provides a means to immobilize a single fluorescent molecule in solution, without surface attachment chemistry. The ABEL trap works by tracking the Brownian motion of a single molecule, and applying feedback electric fields to induce an electrokinetic motion that approximately cancels the Brownian motion. We present a new design for the ABEL trap that allows smaller molecules to be trapped and more information to be extracted from the dynamics of a single molecule than was previously possible. In particular, we present strategies for extracting dynamically fluctuating mobilities and diffusion coefficients, as a means to probe dynamic changes in molecular charge and shape. If one trapped molecule is good, many trapped molecules are better. An array of single molecules in solution, each immobilized without surface attachment chemistry, provides an ideal test-bed for single-molecule analyses of intramolecular dynamics and intermolecular interactions. We present a technology for creating such an array, using a fused silica plate with nanofabricated dimples and a removable cover for sealing single molecules within the dimples. With this device one can watch the shape fluctuations of single molecules of DNA or study cooperative interactions in weakly associating protein complexes.

Simultaneous Determination and Pharmacokinetic Comparisons of Multi-Ingredients after Oral Administration of Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae Extract, Hawthorn Extract, and a Combination of Both Extracts to Rats

PubMed Central

Liu, Yu-Qiang; Cai, Qian; Liu, Chang; Bao, Feng-Wei; Zhang, Zhen-Qiu

2014-01-01

A simple and sensitive HPLC method was developed for simultaneous determination of danshensu (DSS), rosmarinic acid (RA), lithospermic acid (LA), salvianolic acid B (SAB), and hyperoside (HP) in rat plasma. This method validated was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of the main active ingredients after oral administration of Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae extract (SME), hawthorn extract (HTE), and a combination of both extracts (2.5 : 1) to rats. The results indicated that there have been great differences in pharmacokinetics between a single extract and a combination of both extracts. A combination of both extracts can enhance their bioavailabilities and delay the elimination of SAB and DSS in rats. PMID:24660090

Coatings for FEL optics: preparation and characterization of B4C and Pt

PubMed Central

Störmer, Michael; Siewert, Frank; Horstmann, Christian; Buchheim, Jana; Gwalt, Grzegorz

2018-01-01

Large X-ray mirrors are required for beam transport at both present-day and future free-electron lasers (FELs) and synchrotron sources worldwide. The demand for large mirrors with lengths up to 1 m single layers consisting of light or heavy elements has increased during the last few decades. Accordingly, surface finishing technology is now able to produce large substrate lengths with micro-roughness on the sub-nanometer scale. At the Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht (HZG), a 4.5 m-long sputtering facility enables us to deposit a desired single-layer material some tens of nanometers thick. For the European XFEL project, the shape error should be less than 2 nm over the whole 1 m X-ray mirror length to ensure the safe and efficient delivery of X-ray beams to the scientific instruments. The challenge is to achieve thin-film deposition on silicon substrates, benders and gratings without any change in mirror shape. Thin films of boron carbide and platinum with a thickness in the range 30–100 nm were manufactured using the HZG sputtering facility. This setup is able to cover areas of up to 1500 mm × 120 mm in one step using rectangular sputtering sources. The coatings produced were characterized using various thin-film methods. It was possible to improve the coating process to achieve a very high uniformity of the layer thickness. The movement of the substrate in front of the sputtering source has been optimized. A variation in B4C layer thickness below 1 nm (peak-to-valley) was achieved at a mean thickness of 51.8 nm over a deposition length of 1.5 m. In the case of Pt, reflectometry and micro-roughness measurements were performed. The uniformity in layer thickness was about 1 nm (peak-to-valley). The micro-roughness of the Pt layers showed no significant change in the coated state for layer thicknesses of 32 nm and 102 nm compared with the uncoated substrate state. The experimental results achieved will be discussed with regard to current restrictions and future developments. PMID:29271760

Coatings for FEL optics: preparation and characterization of B4C and Pt.

PubMed

Störmer, Michael; Siewert, Frank; Horstmann, Christian; Buchheim, Jana; Gwalt, Grzegorz

2018-01-01

Large X-ray mirrors are required for beam transport at both present-day and future free-electron lasers (FELs) and synchrotron sources worldwide. The demand for large mirrors with lengths up to 1 m single layers consisting of light or heavy elements has increased during the last few decades. Accordingly, surface finishing technology is now able to produce large substrate lengths with micro-roughness on the sub-nanometer scale. At the Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht (HZG), a 4.5 m-long sputtering facility enables us to deposit a desired single-layer material some tens of nanometers thick. For the European XFEL project, the shape error should be less than 2 nm over the whole 1 m X-ray mirror length to ensure the safe and efficient delivery of X-ray beams to the scientific instruments. The challenge is to achieve thin-film deposition on silicon substrates, benders and gratings without any change in mirror shape. Thin films of boron carbide and platinum with a thickness in the range 30-100 nm were manufactured using the HZG sputtering facility. This setup is able to cover areas of up to 1500 mm × 120 mm in one step using rectangular sputtering sources. The coatings produced were characterized using various thin-film methods. It was possible to improve the coating process to achieve a very high uniformity of the layer thickness. The movement of the substrate in front of the sputtering source has been optimized. A variation in B 4 C layer thickness below 1 nm (peak-to-valley) was achieved at a mean thickness of 51.8 nm over a deposition length of 1.5 m. In the case of Pt, reflectometry and micro-roughness measurements were performed. The uniformity in layer thickness was about 1 nm (peak-to-valley). The micro-roughness of the Pt layers showed no significant change in the coated state for layer thicknesses of 32 nm and 102 nm compared with the uncoated substrate state. The experimental results achieved will be discussed with regard to current restrictions and future developments.

Design of extraction system in BRing at HIAF

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ruan, Shuang; Yang, Jiancheng; Zhang, Jinquan; Shen, Guodong; Ren, Hang; Liu, Jie; Shangguan, Jingbing; Zhang, Xiaoying; Zhang, Jingjing; Mao, Lijun; Sheng, Lina; Yin, Dayu; Wang, Geng; Wu, Bo; Yao, Liping; Tang, Meitang; Cai, Fucheng; Chen, Xiaoqiang

2018-06-01

The Booster Ring (BRing), which is the key part of HIAF (High Intensity heavy ion Accelerator Facility) complex at IMP (Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences), can provide uranium (A / q = 7) beam with a wide extraction energy range of 200-800 MeV/u. To fulfill a flexible beam extraction for multi-purpose experiments, both fast and slow extraction systems will be accommodated in the BRing. The fast extraction system is used for extracting short bunched beam horizontally in single-turn. The slow extraction system is used to provide quasi-continuous beam by the third order resonance and RF-knockout scheme. To achieve a compact structure, the two extraction systems are designed to share the same extraction channel. The general design of the fast and slow extraction systems and simulation results are discussed in this paper.

Safety and Efficacy of Transvenous Lead Extraction Utilizing the Evolution Mechanical Lead Extraction System: A Single-Center Experience.

PubMed

Sharma, Saumya; Ekeruo, Ijeoma A; Nand, Nikita P; Sundara Raman, Ajay; Zhang, Xu; Reddy, Sunil K; Hariharan, Ramesh

2018-02-01

The goal of this study is to assess the safety and efficacy of mechanical lead extraction utilizing the Evolution system. Compared with other techniques commonly used for lead extraction, data regarding the safety and efficacy of mechanical lead extraction using the Evolution system is limited and needs further evaluation. Between June 1, 2009 and September 30, 2016, we retrospectively analyzed 400 consecutive patients who exclusively underwent mechanical lead extraction utilizing the Evolution system. A total of 400 patients underwent mechanical lead extraction of 683 leads. Mean age of extracted leads was 6.77 ± 4.42 years (range 1 to 31 years). The extracted device system was an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator in 274 patients (68.5%) and a pacemaker system in 126 patients (31.5%). Complete lead removal rate was 97% with a clinical success rate of 99.75%. Incomplete lead removal with <4-cm remnant was associated with older leads (lead age >8 years). Failure to achieve clinical success was noted in 1 patient (0.25%). Cardiac papillary avulsion, system-related infection, and cardiac tamponade were the major complications noted in 6 patients (1.5%). Minor complications were encountered in 24 patients (6%), of which hematoma requiring evacuation was the most common minor complication. There were no patient deaths. In our single-center study, lead extractions utilizing the Evolution mechanical lead extraction system were safe and effective and resulted in high clinical and procedural success, with low complication rates and no fatalities. Copyright © 2018 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Situation Tracking in Large Data Streams

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-02-01

Pike, R. 1989: Different Ways to Cue a Coherent Memory System: A Theory for Episodic , Semantic , and Procedural Tasks. Psychological Review, 96(2), 208...to extract general concept models, such as Latent Semantic Indexing. This technique generally extracts a single topic model, and does not extract a...2001. Semantic leaps: frame-shifting and conceptual blending in meaning construction. Cambridge University Press. Humphreys, M. S, Bain, J. D

Interferometer scanning mechanisms and metrology at ABB: recent developments and future perspectives

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grandmont, Frédéric; Buijs, Henry; Mandar, Julie

2017-11-01

Interferometers are devices meant to create an interference pattern between photons emitted from a given target of interest. In most cases, this interference pattern must be scanned over time or space to reveal useful information about the target (ex.: radiance spectra or a star diameter). This scanning is typically achieved by moving mirrors at a precision a few orders of magnitude smaller than the wavelength under study. This sometimes leads to mechanism requirements of especially high dynamic range equivalent to 30 bits or more (ex. Sub-nanometer precision over stoke of tens of cms for spectroscopy or tens of meters for astronomical spatial interferometry). On top of this mechanical challenge, the servo control of the mirror position involves obtaining relative distance measurement between distant optical elements with similar if not better dynamic range. The feedback information for such servo-control loop is usually the optical path difference (OPD) measured with a metrology laser beam injected in the interferometer. Over the years since the establishement of the Fourier Transform Spectrometers (FTS) in the 60's as a standard spectroscopic tools, many different approaches have been used to accomplish this task. When it comes to space however, not all approaches are successful. The design challenge can be viewed as analogous to that of scene scanning modules with the exception that the sensitivity and precision are much finer. These mechanisms must move freely to allow fine corrections while remaining stiff to reject external perturbations with frequencies outside of the servo control system reach. Space also brings the additional challenges of implementing as much redundancy as possible and offering protection during launch for these sub-systems viewed as critical single point failures of the payloads they serve.

Workshop on Measurement Needs for Local-Structure Determination in Inorganic Materials

PubMed Central

Levin, Igor; Vanderah, Terrell

2008-01-01

The functional responses (e.g., dielectric, magnetic, catalytic, etc.) of many industrially-relevant materials are controlled by their local structure—a term that refers to the atomic arrangements on a scale ranging from atomic (sub-nanometer) to several nanometers. Thus, accurate knowledge of local structure is central to understanding the properties of nanostructured materials, thereby placing the problem of determining atomic positions on the nanoscale—the so-called “nanostructure problem”—at the center of modern materials development. Today, multiple experimental techniques exist for probing local atomic arrangements; nonetheless, finding accurate comprehensive, and robust structural solutions for the nanostructured materials still remains a formidable challenge because any one of these methods yields only a partial view of the local structure. The primary goal of this 2-day NIST-sponsored workshop was to bring together experts in the key experimental and theoretical areas relevant to local-structure determination to devise a strategy for the collaborative effort required to develop a comprehensive measurement solution on the local scale. The participants unanimously agreed that solving the nanostructure problem—an ultimate frontier in materials characterization—necessitates a coordinated interdisciplinary effort that transcends the existing capabilities of any single institution, including national laboratories, centers, and user facilities. The discussions converged on an institute dedicated to local structure determination as the most viable organizational platform for successfully addressing the nanostructure problem. The proposed “institute” would provide an intellectual infrastructure for local structure determination by (1) developing and maintaining relevant computer software integrated in an open-source global optimization framework (Fig. 2), (2) connecting industrial and academic users with experts in measurement techniques, (3) developing and maintaining pertinent databases, and (4) providing necessary education and training. PMID:27096131

Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Analysis of European Archaeological M. leprae DNA

PubMed Central

Watson, Claire L.; Lockwood, Diana N. J.

2009-01-01

Background Leprosy was common in Europe eight to twelve centuries ago but molecular confirmation of this has been lacking. We have extracted M. leprae ancient DNA (aDNA) from medieval bones and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) typed the DNA, this provides insight into the pattern of leprosy transmission in Europe and may assist in the understanding of M. leprae evolution. Methods and Findings Skeletons have been exhumed from 3 European countries (the United Kingdom, Denmark and Croatia) and are dated around the medieval period (476 to 1350 A.D.). we tested for the presence of 3 previously identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 10 aDNA extractions. M. leprae aDNA was extracted from 6 of the 10 bone samples. SNP analysis of these 6 extractions were compared to previously analysed European SNP data using the same PCR assays and were found to be the same. Testing for the presence of SNPs in M. leprae DNA extracted from ancient bone samples is a novel approach to analysing European M. leprae DNA and the findings concur with the previously published data that European M. leprae strains fall in to one group (SNP group 3). Conclusions These findings support the suggestion that the M. leprae genome is extremely stable and show that archaeological M. leprae DNA can be analysed to gain detailed information about the genotypic make-up of European leprosy, which may assist in the understanding of leprosy transmission worldwide. PMID:19847306

[Extraction of 10-Deacetyl Baccatin by Supercritical CO2 from Taxus yunnanensis Branches and Leaves].

PubMed

Tang, Yang-qin; Li, Hai-chi; Huang, Wen-jie; Xiong, Yan; Ge, Fa-huan

2015-04-01

To study the supercritical CO2 fluids extraction (SFE) method to extract the components from Taxus yunnanensis. Medicinal meterials were extracted by supercritical CO2, and then purified by industrial chromatography. Using the extraction yield of 10-DAB as the index,single factor test was carried out to investigate the effect of co-solvent, extraction time, extraction pressure, extraction temperature, pressure and temperature of separation kettle I. Then orthogonal experiment was used to optimize the best extraction condition. The suitable extraction condition was as follows: the ratio of co-solvent (80% ethanol) amount and the madicinal materials was 3: 1, Separation kettle I pressure was 14 MPa, separation kettle I temperature was 40 °C, extraction pressure was 25 MPa, extraction temperature was 60 T and extraction time was 90 min. The extract was separated by industrial chromatographic and then crystallized. The supercritical CO2 extraction and purification process of 10-DAB were simple and feasible.

Experimental extractions of particle position from inline holograms using single coefficient of Wigner-Ville analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Widjaja, Joewono; Dawprateep, Saowaros; Chuamchaitrakool, Porntip

2017-07-01

Extractions of particle positions from inline holograms using a single coefficient of Wigner-Ville distribution (WVD) are experimentally verified. WVD analysis of holograms gives local variation of fringe frequency. Regardless of an axial position of particles, one of the WVD coefficients has the unique characteristics of having the lowest amplitude and being located on a line with a slope inversely proportional to the particle position. Experimental results obtained using two image sensors with different resolutions verify the feasibility of the present method.

Solvent Extraction for Vegetable Oil Production: National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP)

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

The EPA has identified solvent extraction for vegetable oil production processes as major sources of a single hazardous air pollutant (HAP), n-hexane. Learn more about the rule requirements and regulations, as well as find compliance help

Determination of bisphenol A in thermal printing papers treated by alkaline aqueous solution using the combination of single-drop microextraction and HPLC.

PubMed

Gao, Leihong; Zou, Jing; Liu, Haihong; Zeng, Jingbin; Wang, Yiru; Chen, Xi

2013-04-01

A method for the quantitative determination of bisphenol A in thermal printing paper was developed and validated. Bisphenol A was extracted from the paper samples using 2% NaOH solution, then the extracted analyte was enriched using single-drop microextraction followed by HPLC analysis. Several parameters relating to the single-drop microextraction efficiency including extraction solvent, extraction temperature and time, stirring rate, and pH of donor phase were studied and optimized. Spiked recovery of bisphenol A at 20 and 5 mg/g was found to be 95.8 and 108%, and the method detection limit and method quantification limit was 0.03 and 0.01 mg/g, respectively. Under the optimized conditions, the proposed method was applied to the determination of bisphenol A in seven types of thermal printing paper samples, and the concentration of bisphenol A was found in the range of 0.53-20.9 mg/g. The considerably minimum usage of organic solvents (5 μL 1-octanol) and high enrichment factor (189-197) in the sample preparation are the two highlighted advantages in comparison with previously published works. © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Effect of seabuckthorn leaf extracts on circulating energy fuels, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant parameters in rats during exposure to cold, hypoxia and restraint (C-H-R) stress and post stress recovery.

PubMed

Saggu, Shalini; Kumar, Ratan

2008-06-01

The present study was carried out to study mechanism of adaptogenic activity of seabuckthorn leaf extract, administered orally in rats both in single and five doses at a dose of 100mg/kg body weight 30min prior to C-H-R exposure. The efficacy of the extract was studied on circulating energy fuels, lipid peroxidation and anti-oxidant parameters in rats on attaining the T(rec) 23 degrees C during C-H-R exposure and after recovery (T(rec) 37 degrees C) from C-H-R induced hypothermia. Single dose treatment in rats restricted rise in blood malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and decrease in glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT) levels. Both single and five doses also restricted the rise in serum free fatty acids (FFA) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels on attaining T(rec) 23 degrees C during C-H-R exposure, suggesting more efficient utilization of FFA for energy production and better maintained cell membrane permeability. This suggested that the adaptogenic activity of the extract might be due to its anti-oxidative activity, maintained blood glucose levels, better utilization of FFA and improved cell membrane permeability.

Ion beam accelerator system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Aston, Graeme (Inventor)

1984-01-01

A system is described that combines geometrical and electrostatic focusing to provide high ion extraction efficiency and good focusing of an accelerated ion beam. The apparatus includes a pair of curved extraction grids (16, 18) with multiple pairs of aligned holes positioned to direct a group of beamlets (20) along converging paths. The extraction grids are closely spaced and maintained at a moderate potential to efficiently extract beamlets of ions and allow them to combine into a single beam (14). An accelerator electrode device (22) downstream from the extraction grids, is at a much lower potential than the grids to accelerate the combined beam.

Single Quantum Dot with Microlens and 3D-Printed Micro-objective as Integrated Bright Single-Photon Source

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

Integrated single-photon sources with high photon-extraction efficiency are key building blocks for applications in the field of quantum communications. We report on a bright single-photon source realized by on-chip integration of a deterministic quantum dot microlens with a 3D-printed multilens micro-objective. The device concept benefits from a sophisticated combination of in situ 3D electron-beam lithography to realize the quantum dot microlens and 3D femtosecond direct laser writing for creation of the micro-objective. In this way, we obtain a high-quality quantum device with broadband photon-extraction efficiency of (40 ± 4)% and high suppression of multiphoton emission events with g(2)(τ = 0) < 0.02. Our results highlight the opportunities that arise from tailoring the optical properties of quantum emitters using integrated optics with high potential for the further development of plug-and-play fiber-coupled single-photon sources. PMID:28670600

Comparison of techniques that use the single scattering model to compute the quality factor Q from coda waves

USGS Publications Warehouse

Novelo-Casanova, D. A.; Lee, W.H.K.

1991-01-01

Using simulated coda waves, the resolution of the single-scattering model to extract coda Q (Qc) and its power law frequency dependence was tested. The back-scattering model of Aki and Chouet (1975) and the single isotropic-scattering model of Sato (1977) were examined. The results indicate that: (1) The input Qc models are reasonably well approximated by the two methods; (2) almost equal Qc values are recovered when the techniques sample the same coda windows; (3) low Qc models are well estimated in the frequency domain from the early and late part of the coda; and (4) models with high Qc values are more accurately extracted from late code measurements. ?? 1991 Birkha??user Verlag.

[Research on the methods for multi-class kernel CSP-based feature extraction].

PubMed

Wang, Jinjia; Zhang, Lingzhi; Hu, Bei

2012-04-01

To relax the presumption of strictly linear patterns in the common spatial patterns (CSP), we studied the kernel CSP (KCSP). A new multi-class KCSP (MKCSP) approach was proposed in this paper, which combines the kernel approach with multi-class CSP technique. In this approach, we used kernel spatial patterns for each class against all others, and extracted signal components specific to one condition from EEG data sets of multiple conditions. Then we performed classification using the Logistic linear classifier. Brain computer interface (BCI) competition III_3a was used in the experiment. Through the experiment, it can be proved that this approach could decompose the raw EEG singles into spatial patterns extracted from multi-class of single trial EEG, and could obtain good classification results.

Process analysis and modeling of a single-step lutein extraction method for wet microalgae.

PubMed

Gong, Mengyue; Wang, Yuruihan; Bassi, Amarjeet

2017-11-01

Lutein is a commercial carotenoid with potential health benefits. Microalgae are alternative sources for the lutein production in comparison to conventional approaches using marigold flowers. In this study, a process analysis of a single-step simultaneous extraction, saponification, and primary purification process for free lutein production from wet microalgae biomass was carried out. The feasibility of binary solvent mixtures for wet biomass extraction was successfully demonstrated, and the extraction kinetics of lutein from chloroplast in microalgae were first evaluated. The effects of types of organic solvent, solvent polarity, cell disruption method, and alkali and solvent usage on lutein yields were examined. A mathematical model based on Fick's second law of diffusion was applied to model the experimental data. The mass transfer coefficients were used to estimate the extraction rates. The extraction rate was found more significantly related with alkali ratio to solvent than to biomass. The best conditions for extraction efficiency were found to be pre-treatment with ultrasonication at 0.5 s working cycle per second, react 0.5 h in 0.27 L/g solvent to biomass ratio, and 1:3 ether/ethanol (v/v) with 1.25 g KOH/L. The entire process can be controlled within 1 h and yield over 8 mg/g lutein, which is more economical for scale-up.

Semiautomatic sequential extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and elemental bio-accessible fraction by accelerated solvent extraction on a single particulate matter sample.

PubMed

Astolfi, Maria Luisa; Di Filippo, Patrizia; Gentili, Alessandra; Canepari, Silvia

2017-11-01

We describe the optimization and validation of a sequential extractive method for the determination of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and elements (Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, V and Zn) that are chemically fractionated into bio-accessible and mineralized residual fractions on a single particulate matter filter. The extraction is performed by automatic accelerated solvent extraction (ASE); samples are sequentially treated with dichloromethane/acetone (4:1) for PAHs extraction and acetate buffer (0.01M; pH 4.5) for elements extraction (bio-accessible fraction). The remaining solid sample is then collected and subjected to acid digestion with HNO 3 :H 2 O 2 (2:1) to determine the mineralized residual element fraction. We also describe a homemade ASE cell that reduces the blank values for most elements; in this cell, the steel frit was replaced by a Teflon pierced disk and a Teflon cylinder was used as the filler. The performance of the proposed method was evaluated in terms of recovery from standard reference material (SRM 1648 and SRM 1649a) and repeatability. The equivalence between the new ASE method and conventional methods was verified for PAHs and for bio-accessible and mineralized residual fractions of elements on PM 10 twin filters. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Isolation and Characterization of Anthocyanins from Hibiscus sabdariffa Flowers.

PubMed

Grajeda-Iglesias, Claudia; Figueroa-Espinoza, Maria C; Barouh, Nathalie; Baréa, Bruno; Fernandes, Ana; de Freitas, Victor; Salas, Erika

2016-07-22

The intense red-colored Hibiscus sabdariffa flowers are an inexpensive source of anthocyanins with potential to be used as natural, innocuous, and health-beneficial colorants. An anthocyanin-rich extract from hibiscus flowers was obtained by ultrasound-assisted extraction. By a single-step process fractionation using a Sep-Pak C18 cartridge, the main hibiscus anthocyanins, delphinidin-3-O-sambubioside (Dp-samb) and cyanidin-3-O-sambubioside (Cy-samb), were separated and then characterized via NMR and HPLC-ESIMS data. Since Dp-samb was the most abundant anthocyanin identified in the extract, its colorant properties were studied by the pH jumps method, which allowed the calculation of the single acid-base equilibrium (pK'a 2.92), the acidity (pKa 3.70), and the hydration constants (pKh 3.02). Moreover, by using size-exclusion chromatography, new cyanidin-derived anthocyanins (with three or more sugar units) were successfully identified and reported for the first time in the hibiscus extract.

Ship Detection Based on Multiple Features in Random Forest Model for Hyperspectral Images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, N.; Ding, L.; Zhao, H.; Shi, J.; Wang, D.; Gong, X.

2018-04-01

A novel method for detecting ships which aim to make full use of both the spatial and spectral information from hyperspectral images is proposed. Firstly, the band which is high signal-noise ratio in the range of near infrared or short-wave infrared spectrum, is used to segment land and sea on Otsu threshold segmentation method. Secondly, multiple features that include spectral and texture features are extracted from hyperspectral images. Principal components analysis (PCA) is used to extract spectral features, the Grey Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM) is used to extract texture features. Finally, Random Forest (RF) model is introduced to detect ships based on the extracted features. To illustrate the effectiveness of the method, we carry out experiments over the EO-1 data by comparing single feature and different multiple features. Compared with the traditional single feature method and Support Vector Machine (SVM) model, the proposed method can stably achieve the target detection of ships under complex background and can effectively improve the detection accuracy of ships.

Dry Socket: Frequency, Clinical Picture, and Risk Factors in a Palestinian Dental Teaching Center

PubMed Central

Abu Younis, Mohammed H; Abu Hantash, Ra'ed O

2011-01-01

Aims: The objectives of this study were to find out the frequency, clinical picture, and risk factors of dry socket at the Dental Teaching Center of Al-Quds University in Palestine. Methods and Materials: Two previously used questionnaires were accomplished in this study over a one year period. The first questionnaire was completed for every patient who had one or more permanent teeth extracted in the Dental Surgery Clinic. The other one was completed for every patient suffered a postoperative pain and was diagnosed with dry socket. Results: There were 1305 dental extractions performed in 805 patients. The overall frequency of dry socket was 3.2%. The incidence of dry socket following non-surgical extractions was 1.7% while it was 15% following surgical extractions (P< 0.005). The incidence of dry socket was significantly higher in smokers (12%) than in non-smokers (4%) (P < 0.005), however, there is a strong association between the amount of smoking and the incidence of dry socket (P < 0.002). The incidence of dry socket was significantly higher in the single extraction cases (13%) than in the multiple extraction cases (5%) (P = 0.005). Age, sex, medical history, extraction site, amount of local anesthesia and experience of operator play no role in the occurrence of dry socket. Conclusion: Smoking, surgical trauma and single extractions are considered predisposing factors in the occurrence of dry socket. On the other hand, factors like: age, sex, medical history, extraction site, amount of anesthesia, and operator experience have no effect on the observation of dry socket. PMID:21559187

Summary of water body extraction methods based on ZY-3 satellite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Yu; Sun, Li Jian; Zhang, Chuan Yin

2017-12-01

Extracting from remote sensing images is one of the main means of water information extraction. Affected by spectral characteristics, many methods can be not applied to the satellite image of ZY-3. To solve this problem, we summarize the extraction methods for ZY-3 and analyze the extraction results of existing methods. According to the characteristics of extraction results, the method of WI& single band threshold and the method of texture filtering based on probability statistics are explored. In addition, the advantages and disadvantages of all methods are compared, which provides some reference for the research of water extraction from images. The obtained conclusions are as follows. 1) NIR has higher water sensitivity, consequently when the surface reflectance in the study area is less similar to water, using single band threshold method or multi band operation can obtain the ideal effect. 2) Compared with the water index and HIS optimal index method, object extraction method based on rules, which takes into account not only the spectral information of the water, but also space and texture feature constraints, can obtain better extraction effect, yet the image segmentation process is time consuming and the definition of the rules requires a certain knowledge. 3) The combination of the spectral relationship and water index can eliminate the interference of the shadow to a certain extent. When there is less small water or small water is not considered in further study, texture filtering based on probability statistics can effectively reduce the noises in result and avoid mixing shadows or paddy field with water in a certain extent.

Stress Corrosion Cracking of Ni-Fe-Cr Alloys Relevant to Nuclear Power Plants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Persaud, Suraj

Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of Ni-Fe-Cr alloys and weld metals was investigated in simulated environments representative of high temperature water used in the primary and secondary circuits of nuclear power plants. The mechanism of primary water SCC (PWSCC) was studied in Alloys 600, 690, 800 and Alloy 82 dissimilar metal welds using the internal oxidation model as a guide. Initial experiments were carried out in a 480°C hydrogenated steam environment considered to simulate high temperature reducing primary water. Ni alloys underwent classical internal oxidation intragranularly resulting in the expulsion of the solvent metal, Ni, to the surface. Selective intergranular oxidation of Cr in Alloy 600 resulted in embrittlement, while other alloys were resistant owing to their increased Cr contents. Atom probe tomography was used to determine the short-circuit diffusion path used for Ni expulsion at a sub-nanometer scale, which was concluded to be oxide-metal interfaces. Further exposures of Alloys 600 and 800 were done in 315°C simulated primary water and intergranular oxidation tendency was comparable to 480°C hydrogenated steam. Secondary side work involved SCC experiments and electrochemical measurements, which were done at 315°C in acid sulfate solutions. Alloy 800 C-rings were found to undergo acid sulfate SCC (AcSCC) to a depth of up to 300 microm in 0.55 M sulfate solution at pH 4.3. A focused-ion beam was used to extract a crack tip from a C-ring and high resolution analytical electron microscopy revealed a duplex oxide structure and the presence of sulfur. Electrochemical measurements were taken on Ni alloys to complement crack tip analysis; sulfate was concluded to be the aggressive anion in mixed sulfate and chloride systems. Results from electrochemical measurements and crack tip analysis suggested a slip dissolution-type mechanism to explain AcSCC in Ni alloys.

Comparison of a Skidder and Front-End Loader for Primary Transport of Short-Rotation Trees

Treesearch

Raffaele Spinelli; Bruce R. Hartsough

1999-01-01

We time-studied a Cat 950F and a Cat 528 grapple skidder as extraction devices for moving bunched whole trees to a landing in a short rotation eucalyptus plantation. The front-end loader was 40 to 60% more productive than the grapple skidder, depending on extraction distance. Alternatively, the single loader could both extract trees and handle the landing duties such...

Study of DNA extraction methods for use in loop-mediated isothermal amplification detection of single resting cysts in the toxic dinoflagellates Alexandrium tamarense and A. catenella.

PubMed

Nagai, Satoshi; Yamamoto, Keigo; Hata, Naotugu; Itakura, Shigeru

2012-09-01

In a previous study, we experienced instable amplification and a low amplification success in loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) reactions from naturally occurring vegetative cells or resting cysts of the toxic dinoflagellates Alexandrium tamarense and Alexandrium catenella. In this study, we examined 4 methods for extracting DNA from single resting cysts of A. tamarense and A. catenella to obtain more stable and better amplification success and to facilitate unambiguous detection using the LAMP method. Apart from comparing the 4 different DNA extraction methods, namely, (1) boiling in Tris-EDTA (TE) buffer, (2) heating at 65 °C in hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide buffer, (3) boiling in 0.5% Chelex buffer, and (4) boiling in 5% Chelex buffer, we also examined the need for homogenization to crush the resting cysts before DNA extraction in each method. Homogenization of resting cysts was found to be essential for DNA extraction in all 4 methods. The detection time was significantly shorter in 5% Chelex buffer than in the other buffers and the amplification success was 100% (65/65), indicating the importance of DNA extraction and the effectiveness of 5% Chelex buffer in the Alexandrium LAMP. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

a R-Shiny Based Phenology Analysis System and Case Study Using Digital Camera Dataset

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Y. K.

2018-05-01

Accurate extracting of the vegetation phenology information play an important role in exploring the effects of climate changes on vegetation. Repeated photos from digital camera is a useful and huge data source in phonological analysis. Data processing and mining on phenological data is still a big challenge. There is no single tool or a universal solution for big data processing and visualization in the field of phenology extraction. In this paper, we proposed a R-shiny based web application for vegetation phenological parameters extraction and analysis. Its main functions include phenological site distribution visualization, ROI (Region of Interest) selection, vegetation index calculation and visualization, data filtering, growth trajectory fitting, phenology parameters extraction, etc. the long-term observation photography data from Freemanwood site in 2013 is processed by this system as an example. The results show that: (1) this system is capable of analyzing large data using a distributed framework; (2) The combination of multiple parameter extraction and growth curve fitting methods could effectively extract the key phenology parameters. Moreover, there are discrepancies between different combination methods in unique study areas. Vegetation with single-growth peak is suitable for using the double logistic module to fit the growth trajectory, while vegetation with multi-growth peaks should better use spline method.

Extracting physics of life at the molecular level: A review of single-molecule data analyses.

PubMed

Colomb, Warren; Sarkar, Susanta K

2015-06-01

Studying individual biomolecules at the single-molecule level has proved very insightful recently. Single-molecule experiments allow us to probe both the equilibrium and nonequilibrium properties as well as make quantitative connections with ensemble experiments and equilibrium thermodynamics. However, it is important to be careful about the analysis of single-molecule data because of the noise present and the lack of theoretical framework for processes far away from equilibrium. Biomolecular motion, whether it is free in solution, on a substrate, or under force, involves thermal fluctuations in varying degrees, which makes the motion noisy. In addition, the noise from the experimental setup makes it even more complex. The details of biologically relevant interactions, conformational dynamics, and activities are hidden in the noisy single-molecule data. As such, extracting biological insights from noisy data is still an active area of research. In this review, we will focus on analyzing both fluorescence-based and force-based single-molecule experiments and gaining biological insights at the single-molecule level. Inherently nonequilibrium nature of biological processes will be highlighted. Simulated trajectories of biomolecular diffusion will be used to compare and validate various analysis techniques. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Optimization of deep eutectic solvent-based ultrasound-assisted extraction of polysaccharides from Dioscorea opposita Thunb.

PubMed

Zhang, Lijin; Wang, Maoshan

2017-02-01

In this study, deep eutectic solvents were proposed for the ultrasound-assisted extraction of polysaccharides from Dioscorea opposita Thunb. Several deep eutectic solvents were prepared for the extraction of polysaccharides, among which the deep eutectic solvent composed of choline chloride and 1,4-butanediol was proved to be suitable for the extraction. Based on the screening of single-factor experiment design and orthogonal experiment design, three experimental factors were optimized for the Box-Behnken experimental design combined with response surface methodology, which gave the optimal extraction conditions: water content of 32.89%(v/v), extraction temperature of 94.00°C, and the extraction time of 44.74min. The optimal extraction conditions could supply higher extraction yield than those of hot water extraction and water-based ultrasound-assisted extraction. Therefore, deep eutectic solvents were an excellent extraction solvent alternative to the extraction of polysaccharides from sample matrices. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Extractability of selected mineral and trace elements in infusions of chamomile.

PubMed

Chizzola, Remigius; Michitsch, Hanneliese; Mitteregger, Ulrike S

2008-09-01

Chamomile flower heads were extracted with boiling water and the elements calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc and cadmium were recorded in the drug and the resulting infusions. The extractabilities for calcium, magnesium and potassium in the infusions were 19-23%, 47-48% and 65-73%, respectively. Cadmium could be recovered to 15-21% in the infusions and zinc to 23-34%. A longer extraction time gave slightly higher recovery rates for potassium and zinc. The extraction of less plant material gave a slight reduction in the extractability only in the case of cadmium. A single cup of chamomile infusion can only afford a small proportion of the daily requirement of the mineral elements.

Solid-phase microfibers based on polyethylene glycol modified single-walled carbon nanotubes for the determination of chlorinated organic carriers in textiles.

PubMed

Zhang, Wei-Ya; Sun, Yin; Wang, Cheng-Ming; Wu, Cai-Ying

2011-09-01

Based on polyethylene glycol modified single-walled carbon nanotubes, a novel sol-gel fiber coating was prepared and applied to the headspace microextraction of chlorinated organic carriers (COCs) in textiles by gas chromatography-electron capture detection. The preparation of polyethylene glycol modified single-walled carbon nanotubes and the sol-gel fiber coating process was stated and confirmed by infrared spectra, Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Several parameters affecting headspace microextraction, including extraction temperature, extraction time, salting-out effect, and desorption time, were optimized by detecting 11 COCs in simulative sweat samples. Compared with the commercial solid-phase microextraction fibers, the sol-gel polyethylene glycol modified single-walled carbon nanotubes fiber showed higher extraction efficiency, better thermal stability, and longer life span. The method detection limits for COCs were in the range from 0.02 to 7.5 ng L(-1) (S/N = 3). The linearity of the developed method varied from 0.001 to 50 μg L(-1) for all analytes, with coefficients of correlation greater than 0.974. The developed method was successfully applied to the analysis of trace COCs in textiles, the recoveries of the analytes indicated that the developed method was considerably useful for the determination of COCs in ecological textile samples.

Optical wireless link between a nanoscale antenna and a transducing rectenna.

PubMed

Dasgupta, Arindam; Mennemanteuil, Marie-Maxime; Buret, Mickaël; Cazier, Nicolas; Colas-des-Francs, Gérard; Bouhelier, Alexandre

2018-05-18

Initiated as a cable-replacement solution, short-range wireless power transfer has rapidly become ubiquitous in the development of modern high-data throughput networking in centimeter to meter accessibility range. Wireless technology is now penetrating a higher level of system integration for chip-to-chip and on-chip radiofrequency interconnects. However, standard CMOS integrated millimeter-wave antennas have typical size commensurable with the operating wavelength, and are thus an unrealistic solution for downsizing transmitters and receivers to the micrometer and nanometer scale. Herein, we demonstrate a light-in and electrical signal-out, on-chip wireless near-infrared link between a 220 nm optical antenna and a sub-nanometer rectifying antenna converting the transmitted optical energy into direct electrical current. The co-integration of subwavelength optical functional devices with electronic transduction offers a disruptive solution to interface photons and electrons at the nanoscale for on-chip wireless optical interconnects.

Structural complexities in the active layers of organic electronics.

PubMed

Lee, Stephanie S; Loo, Yueh-Lin

2010-01-01

The field of organic electronics has progressed rapidly in recent years. However, understanding the direct structure-function relationships between the morphology in electrically active layers and the performance of devices composed of these materials has proven difficult. The morphology of active layers in organic electronics is inherently complex, with heterogeneities existing across multiple length scales, from subnanometer to micron and millimeter range. A major challenge still facing the organic electronics community is understanding how the morphology across all of the length scales in active layers collectively determines the device performance of organic electronics. In this review we highlight experiments that have contributed to the elucidation of structure-function relationships in organic electronics and also point to areas in which knowledge of such relationships is still lacking. Such knowledge will lead to the ability to select active materials on the basis of their inherent properties for the fabrication of devices with prespecified characteristics.

Effect of Saturation Pressure Difference on Metal–Silicide Nanopowder Formation in Thermal Plasma Fabrication

PubMed Central

Shigeta, Masaya; Watanabe, Takayuki

2016-01-01

A computational investigation using a unique model and a solution algorithm was conducted, changing only the saturation pressure of one material artificially during nanopowder formation in thermal plasma fabrication, to highlight the effects of the saturation pressure difference between a metal and silicon. The model can not only express any profile of particle size–composition distribution for a metal–silicide nanopowder even with widely ranging sizes from sub-nanometers to a few hundred nanometers, but it can also simulate the entire growth process involving binary homogeneous nucleation, binary heterogeneous co-condensation, and coagulation among nanoparticles with different compositions. Greater differences in saturation pressures cause a greater time lag for co-condensation of two material vapors during the collective growth of the metal–silicide nanopowder. The greater time lag for co-condensation results in a wider range of composition of the mature nanopowder. PMID:28344300

Electromagnetic coupling to centimeter-scale mechanical membrane resonators via RF cylindrical cavities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martinez, Luis A.; Castelli, Alessandro R.; Delmas, William; Sharping, Jay E.; Chiao, Raymond

2016-11-01

We present experimental and theoretical results for the excitation of a mechanical oscillator via radiation pressure with a room-temperature system employing a relatively low-(Q) centimeter-size mechanical oscillator coupled to a relatively low-Q standard three-dimensional radio-frequency (RF) cavity resonator. We describe the forces giving rise to optomechanical coupling using the Maxwell stress tensor and show that nanometer-scale displacements are possible and experimentally observable. The experimental system is composed of a 35 mm diameter silicon nitride membrane sputtered with a 300 nm gold conducting film and attached to the end of a RF copper cylindrical cavity. The RF cavity is operated in its {{TE}}011 mode and amplitude modulated on resonance with the fundamental drum modes of the membrane. Membrane motion is monitored using an unbalanced, non-zero optical path difference, optically filtered Michelson interferometer capable of measuring sub-nanometer displacements.

Ultrafast time-resolved photoemission of a metallic tip/substrate junction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meng, Xiang; Jin, Wencan; Yang, Hao; Dadap, Jerry; Osgood, Richard; Camillone, Nicholas, III

The strong near-field enhancement of metallic-tip nanostructures has attracted great interest in scanning microscopy techniques, such as surface-enhanced Raman scattering, near-field scanning optical microscopy and tip-enhanced nonlinear imaging. In this talk, we use a full vectorial 3D-FDTD method to investigate the spatial characteristics of the optical field confinement and localization between a tungsten nanoprobe and an infinite planar silver substrate, with two-color ultrafast laser excitation scheme. The degree of two-color excited field enhancement, geometry dependence, the exact mechanism of optical tip-substrate coupling and tip-substrate plasmon resonances are significant in understanding the electrodynamical responses at tip-substrate junction. The demonstrated measurements with subpicosecond time and subnanometer spatial resolution suggest a new approach to ultrafast time-resolved measurements of surface electron dynamics. DE-FG 02-90-ER-14104; DE-FG 02-04-ER-46157.

Characterization of Nanoporous Materials with Atom Probe Tomography.

PubMed

Pfeiffer, Björn; Erichsen, Torben; Epler, Eike; Volkert, Cynthia A; Trompenaars, Piet; Nowak, Carsten

2015-06-01

A method to characterize open-cell nanoporous materials with atom probe tomography (APT) has been developed. For this, open-cell nanoporous gold with pore diameters of around 50 nm was used as a model system, and filled by electron beam-induced deposition (EBID) to obtain a compact material. Two different EBID precursors were successfully tested-dicobalt octacarbonyl [Co2(CO)8] and diiron nonacarbonyl [Fe2(CO)9]. Penetration and filling depth are sufficient for focused ion beam-based APT sample preparation. With this approach, stable APT analysis of the nanoporous material can be performed. Reconstruction reveals the composition of the deposited precursor and the nanoporous material, as well as chemical information of the interfaces between them. Thus, it is shown that, using an appropriate EBID process, local chemical information in three dimensions with sub-nanometer resolution can be obtained from nanoporous materials using APT.

Direct in situ observation of the electron-driven synthesis of Ag filaments on α-Ag2WO4 crystals

PubMed Central

Longo, E.; Cavalcante, L. S.; Volanti, D. P.; Gouveia, A. F.; Longo, V. M.; Varela, J. A.; Orlandi, M. O.; Andrés, J.

2013-01-01

In this letter, we report, for the first time, the real-time in situ nucleation and growth of Ag filaments on α-Ag2WO4 crystals driven by an accelerated electron beam from an electronic microscope under high vacuum. We employed several techniques to characterise the material in depth. By using these techniques combined with first-principles modelling based on density functional theory, a mechanism for the Ag filament formation followed by a subsequent growth process from the nano- to micro-scale was proposed. In general, we have shown that an accelerated electron beam from an electronic microscope under high vacuum enables in situ visualisation of Ag filaments with subnanometer resolution and offers great potential for addressing many fundamental issues in materials science, chemistry, physics and other fields of science. PMID:23591807

National Synchrotron Light Source II storage ring vacuum systems

DOE PAGES

Hseuh, Hsiao-Chaun; Hetzel, Charles; Leng, Shuwei; ...

2016-04-05

The National Synchrotron Light Source II, completed in 2014, is a 3-GeV synchrotron radiation (SR) facility at Brookhaven National Laboratory and has been in steady operation since. With a design electron current of 500 mA and subnanometer radians horizontal emittance, this 792-m circumference storage ring is providing the highest flux and brightness x-ray beam for SR users. Also, the majority of the storage ring vacuum chambers are made of extruded aluminium. Chamber sections are interconnected using low-impedance radiofrequency shielded bellows. SR from the bending magnets is intercepted by water-cooled compact photon absorbers resided in the storage ring chambers. Finally, thismore » paper presents the design of the storage ring vacuum system, the fabrication of vacuum chambers and other hardware, the installation, the commissioning, and the continuing beam conditioning of the vacuum systems.« less

A liquid metal reaction environment for the room-temperature synthesis of atomically thin metal oxides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zavabeti, Ali; Ou, Jian Zhen; Carey, Benjamin J.; Syed, Nitu; Orrell-Trigg, Rebecca; Mayes, Edwin L. H.; Xu, Chenglong; Kavehei, Omid; O'Mullane, Anthony P.; Kaner, Richard B.; Kalantar-zadeh, Kourosh; Daeneke, Torben

2017-10-01

Two-dimensional (2D) oxides have a wide variety of applications in electronics and other technologies. However, many oxides are not easy to synthesize as 2D materials through conventional methods. We used nontoxic eutectic gallium-based alloys as a reaction solvent and co-alloyed desired metals into the melt. On the basis of thermodynamic considerations, we predicted the composition of the self-limiting interfacial oxide. We isolated the surface oxide as a 2D layer, either on substrates or in suspension. This enabled us to produce extremely thin subnanometer layers of HfO2, Al2O3, and Gd2O3. The liquid metal-based reaction route can be used to create 2D materials that were previously inaccessible with preexisting methods. The work introduces room-temperature liquid metals as a reaction environment for the synthesis of oxide nanomaterials with low dimensionality.

Surface forces between colloidal particles at high hydrostatic pressure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pilat, D. W.; Pouligny, B.; Best, A.; Nick, T. A.; Berger, R.; Butt, H.-J.

2016-02-01

It was recently suggested that the electrostatic double-layer force between colloidal particles might weaken at high hydrostatic pressure encountered, for example, in deep seas or during oil recovery. We have addressed this issue by means of a specially designed optical trapping setup that allowed us to explore the interaction of a micrometer-sized glass bead and a solid glass wall in water at hydrostatic pressures of up to 1 kbar. The setup allowed us to measure the distance between bead and wall with a subnanometer resolution. We have determined the Debye lengths in water for salt concentrations of 0.1 and 1 mM. We found that in the pressure range from 1 bar to 1 kbar the maximum variation of the Debye lengths was <1 nm for both salt concentrations. Furthermore, the magnitude of the zeta potentials of the glass surfaces in water showed no dependency on pressure.

Moiré-Modulated Conductance of Hexagonal Boron Nitride Tunnel Barriers.

PubMed

Summerfield, Alex; Kozikov, Aleksey; Cheng, Tin S; Davies, Andrew; Cho, Yong-Jin; Khlobystov, Andrei N; Mellor, Christopher J; Foxon, C Thomas; Watanabe, Kenji; Taniguchi, Takashi; Eaves, Laurence; Novoselov, Kostya S; Novikov, Sergei V; Beton, Peter H

2018-06-27

Monolayer hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) tunnel barriers investigated using conductive atomic force microscopy reveal moiré patterns in the spatial maps of their tunnel conductance consistent with the formation of a moiré superlattice between the hBN and an underlying highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) substrate. This variation is attributed to a periodc modulation of the local density of states and occurs for both exfoliated hBN barriers and epitaxially grown layers. The epitaxial barriers also exhibit enhanced conductance at localized subnanometer regions which are attributed to exposure of the substrate to a nitrogen plasma source during the high temperature growth process. Our results show clearly a spatial periodicity of tunnel current due to the formation of a moiré superlattice and we argue that this can provide a mechanism for elastic scattering of charge carriers for similar interfaces embedded in graphene/hBN resonant tunnel diodes.

Interaction of highly charged ions with carbon nano membranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gruber, Elisabeth; Wilhelm, Richard A.; Smejkal, Valerie; Heller, René; Facsko, Stefan; Aumayr, Friedrich

2015-09-01

Charge state and energy loss measurements of slow highly charged ions (HCIs) after transmission through nanometer and sub-nanometer thin membranes are presented. Direct transmission measurements through carbon nano membranes (CNMs) show an unexpected bimodal exit charge state distribution, accompanied by charge exchange dependent energy loss. The energy loss of ions in CNMs with large charge loss shows a quadratic dependency on the incident charge state, indicating charge state dependent stopping force values. Another access to the exit charge state distribution is given by irradiating stacks of CNMs and investigating each layer of the stack with high resolution imaging techniques like transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and helium ion microscopy (HIM) independently. The observation of pores created in all of the layers confirms the assumption derived from the transmission measurements that the two separated charge state distributions reflect two different impact parameter regimes, i.e. close collision with large charge exchange and distant collisions with weak ion-target interaction.

Ultrathin Wall (1 nm) and Superlong Pt Nanotubes with Enhanced Oxygen Reduction Reaction Performance.

PubMed

Tao, Lu; Yu, Dan; Zhou, Junshuang; Lu, Xiong; Yang, Yunxia; Gao, Faming

2018-05-01

The synthesis of Pt nanotubes catalysts remains a substantial challenge, especially for those with both sub-nanometer wall thickness and micrometer-scale length characteristics. Combining techniques of insulin fibril template with Pd nanowire template, numerous Pt nanotubes with diameter of 5.5 nm, tube-length of several micrometers, and ultrathin wall thickness of 1 nm are assembled. These tubular catalysts with both open ends deliver electrochemical active surface area (ECSA) of 91.43 m 2 g pt -1 which results from multiple Pt atoms exposed on the inner and outer surfaces that doubled Pt atoms can participate in catalytic reactions, further with enhanced electrocatalytic performance for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The ultrafine Pt nanotubes represent a class of hollow nanostructure with increased Pt-utilization and large ECSA, which is regarded as a type of cost-effective catalysts for ORR. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Freely Suspended Two-Dimensional Electron Gases.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blick, Robert; Monzon, Franklin; Roukes, Michael; Wegscheider, Werner; Stern, Frank

1998-03-01

We present a new technique that has allowed us to build the first freely suspended two-dimensional electron gas devices from AlGaAs/GaAs/AlAs heterostructures. This technique is based upon specially MBE grown structures that include a sacrificial layer. In order to design the MBE layer sequence, the conduction band lineup for these samples was modelled numerically. The overall focus of this work is to provide a new approach for studies of the quantum mechanical properties of nanomachined structures. Our current experiments are directed toward use of these techniques for research on very high frequency nanomechanical resonators. The high mobility 2DEG system provides a unique approach to realizing wideband, extremely sensitive displacement detection, using the piezoelectric properties of GaAs to modulate a suspended nanometer-scale HEMT. This approach offers promise for sensitive displacement detectors with sub-nanometer resolution and bandwidths into the microwave range.

Possible origin and roles of nano-porosity in ZrO2 scales for hydrogen pick-up in Zr alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lindgren, Mikaela; Geers, Christine; Panas, Itai

2017-08-01

A mechanistic understanding of Wagnerian build-up and subsequent non-Wagnerian break-down of barrier oxide upon oxidation of zirconium alloys by water is reiterated. Hydrogen assisted build-up of nano-porosity is addressed. Growth of sub-nanometer wide stalactitic pores owing to increasing aggregation of neutral oxygen vacancies offering a means to permeate hydrogen into the alloy is explored by density functional theory. The Wagnerian channel utilizes charge separation allowing charged oxygen vacancies and electrons to move separately from nominal anode to nominal cathode. This process becomes increasingly controlled by the charging of the barrier oxide resulting in sub-parabolic rate law for oxide growth. The break-down of the barrier oxide is understood to be preceded by avalanching hydrogen pick-up in the alloy. Pore mediated diffusion allows water to effectively short circuit the barrier oxide.

Effect of Saturation Pressure Difference on Metal-Silicide Nanopowder Formation in Thermal Plasma Fabrication.

PubMed

Shigeta, Masaya; Watanabe, Takayuki

2016-03-07

A computational investigation using a unique model and a solution algorithm was conducted, changing only the saturation pressure of one material artificially during nanopowder formation in thermal plasma fabrication, to highlight the effects of the saturation pressure difference between a metal and silicon. The model can not only express any profile of particle size-composition distribution for a metal-silicide nanopowder even with widely ranging sizes from sub-nanometers to a few hundred nanometers, but it can also simulate the entire growth process involving binary homogeneous nucleation, binary heterogeneous co-condensation, and coagulation among nanoparticles with different compositions. Greater differences in saturation pressures cause a greater time lag for co-condensation of two material vapors during the collective growth of the metal-silicide nanopowder. The greater time lag for co-condensation results in a wider range of composition of the mature nanopowder.

Atom Probe Tomography Analysis of Ag Doping in 2D Layered Material (PbSe) 5(Bi 2Se 3) 3

DOE PAGES

Ren, Xiaochen; Singh, Arunima K.; Fang, Lei; ...

2016-09-07

Impurity doping in two-dimensional (2D) materials can provide a route to tuning electronic properties, so it is important to be able to determine the distribution of dopant atoms within and between layers. Here we report the totnographic mapping of dopants in layered 2D materials with atomic sensitivity and subnanometer spatial resolution using atom, probe tomography (APT). Also, APT analysis shows that Ag dopes both Bi 2Se 3 and PbSe layers in (PbSe) 5(Bi 2Se 3) 3, and correlations :in the position of Ag atoms suggest a pairing across neighboring Bi 2Se 3 and PbSe layers. Finally, density functional theory (DFT)more » calculations confirm the favorability of substitutional-doping for both Pb and Bi and provide insights into the,observed spatial correlations in dopant locations.« less

A Framework for Final Drive Simultaneous Failure Diagnosis Based on Fuzzy Entropy and Sparse Bayesian Extreme Learning Machine

PubMed Central

Ye, Qing; Pan, Hao; Liu, Changhua

2015-01-01

This research proposes a novel framework of final drive simultaneous failure diagnosis containing feature extraction, training paired diagnostic models, generating decision threshold, and recognizing simultaneous failure modes. In feature extraction module, adopt wavelet package transform and fuzzy entropy to reduce noise interference and extract representative features of failure mode. Use single failure sample to construct probability classifiers based on paired sparse Bayesian extreme learning machine which is trained only by single failure modes and have high generalization and sparsity of sparse Bayesian learning approach. To generate optimal decision threshold which can convert probability output obtained from classifiers into final simultaneous failure modes, this research proposes using samples containing both single and simultaneous failure modes and Grid search method which is superior to traditional techniques in global optimization. Compared with other frequently used diagnostic approaches based on support vector machine and probability neural networks, experiment results based on F 1-measure value verify that the diagnostic accuracy and efficiency of the proposed framework which are crucial for simultaneous failure diagnosis are superior to the existing approach. PMID:25722717

Single-Cell Quantitative PCR: Advances and Potential in Cancer Diagnostics.

PubMed

Ok, Chi Young; Singh, Rajesh R; Salim, Alaa A

2016-01-01

Tissues are heterogeneous in their components. If cells of interest are a minor population of collected tissue, it would be difficult to obtain genetic or genomic information of the interested cell population with conventional genomic DNA extraction from the collected tissue. Single-cell DNA analysis is important in the analysis of genetics of cell clonality, genetic anticipation, and single-cell DNA polymorphisms. Single-cell PCR using Single Cell Ampligrid/GeXP platform is described in this chapter.

Stream mesocosm response sensitivities to simulated ion stress in produced waters from resource extraction activities

EPA Science Inventory

To increase the ecological relevance of laboratory exposures intent on determining species sensitivity to ion stress from resource extraction activities we have conducted several stream mesocosm dosing studies that pair single-species and community-level responses in-situ and all...

Classification of spatially unresolved objects

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nalepka, R. F.; Horwitz, H. M.; Hyde, P. D.; Morgenstern, J. P.

1972-01-01

A proportion estimation technique for classification of multispectral scanner images is reported that uses data point averaging to extract and compute estimated proportions for a single average data point to classify spatial unresolved areas. Example extraction calculations of spectral signatures for bare soil, weeds, alfalfa, and barley prove quite accurate.

The Pursuit of Word Meanings

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stevens, Jon Scott; Gleitman, Lila R.; Trueswell, John C.; Yang, Charles

2017-01-01

We evaluate here the performance of four models of cross-situational word learning: two global models, which extract and retain multiple referential alternatives from each word occurrence; and two local models, which extract just a single referent from each occurrence. One of these local models, dubbed "Pursuit," uses an associative…

Superior anticancer activity is demonstrated by total extract of Curcuma longa L. as opposed to individual curcuminoids separated by centrifugal partition chromatography.

PubMed

Kukula-Koch, Wirginia; Grabarska, Aneta; Łuszczki, Jarogniew; Czernicka, Lidia; Nowosadzka, Ewa; Gumbarewicz, Ewelina; Jarząb, Agata; Audo, Gregoire; Upadhyay, Shakti; Głowniak, Kazimierz; Stepulak, Andrzej

2018-05-01

Three curcuminoids: bisdemethoxycurcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and curcumin from turmeric were successfully separated by a high capacity solvent system composed of heptane: chloroform: methanol: water mixture (5: 6: 3: 2 v/v/v/v) tailored for centrifugal partition chromatographs at K-values of 0.504, 1.057, 1.644, respectively. These three ferulic acid derivatives obtained at a purity rate exceeding 95% were analysed by an HPLC-MS spectrometer. Turmeric extract inhibited the proliferation/viability of A549 human lung cancer, HT29 colon cancer, and T98G glioblastoma cell lines in (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) tetrazolium reduction assay (MTT). Single curcuminoids significantly decreased the viability/proliferation of lung cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. However, total extract displayed the superior anticancer activity in the investigated cell lines. Crude extract in combination with cisplatin augmented the decrease in the viability of cancer cells compared with single compound treatment in A549 lung cancer cells. Total extract of Curcuma longa could be regarded as being more effective against lung cancer cells in vitro than its separated compounds. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Ion beam accelerator system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Aston, G. (Inventor)

1981-01-01

A system is described that combines geometrical and electrostatic focusing to provide high ion extraction efficiency and good focusing of an accelerated ion beam. The apparatus includes a pair of curved extraction grids with multiple pairs of aligned holes positioned to direct a group of beamlets along converging paths. The extraction grids are closely spaced and maintained at a moderate potential to efficiently extract beamlets of ions and allow them to combine into a single beam. An accelerator electrode device downstream from the extraction grids is at a much lower potential than the grids to accelerate the combined beam. The application of the system to ion implantation is mentioned.

Optimization of conditions for supercritical fluid extraction of flavonoids from hops (Humulus lupulus L.)*

PubMed Central

He, Guo-qing; Xiong, Hao-ping; Chen, Qi-he; Ruan, Hui; Wang, Zhao-yue; Traoré, Lonseny

2005-01-01

Waste hops are good sources of flavonoids. Extraction of flavonoids from waste hops (SC-CO2 extracted hops) using supercritical fluids technology was investigated. Various temperatures, pressures and concentrations of ethanol (modifier) and the ratio (w/w) of solvent to material were tested in this study. The results of single factor and orthogonal experiments showed that at 50 °C, 25 MPa, the ratio of solvent to material (50%), ethanol concentration (80%) resulted in maximum extraction yield flavonoids (7.8 mg/g). HPLC-MS analysis of the extracts indicated that flavonoids obtained were xanthohumol, the principal prenylflavonoid in hops. PMID:16187413

Biochemical characterization of detergent-resistant membranes: a systematic approach

PubMed Central

Babiychuk, Eduard B.; Draeger, Annette

2006-01-01

Lateral segregation of cholesterol- and sphingomyelin-rich rafts and glycerophospholipid-containing non-raft microdomains has been proposed to play a role in a variety of biological processes. The most compelling evidence for membrane segregation is based on the observation that extraction with non-ionic detergents leads to solubilization of a subset of membrane components only. However, one decade later, a large body of inconsistent detergent-extraction data is threatening the very concept of membrane segregation. We have assessed the validity of the existing paradigms and we show the following. (i) The localization of a membrane component within a particular fraction of a sucrose gradient cannot be taken as a yardstick for its solubility: a variable localization of the DRMs (detergent-resistant membranes) in sucrose gradients is the result of complex associations between the membrane skeleton and the lipid bilayer. (ii) DRMs of variable composition can be generated by using a single detergent, the increasing concentration of which gradually extracts one protein/lipid after another. Therefore any extraction pattern obtained by a single concentration experiment is bound to be ‘investigator-specific’. It follows that comparison of DRMs obtained by different detergents in a single concentration experiment is prone to misinterpretations. (iii) Depletion of cholesterol has a graded effect on membrane solubility. (iv) Differences in detergent solubility of the members of the annexin protein family arise from their association with chemically different membrane compartments; however, these cannot be attributed to the ‘brick-like’ raft-building blocks of fixed size and chemical composition. Our findings demonstrate a need for critical re-evaluation of the accumulated detergent-extraction data. PMID:16608442

Biochemical characterization of detergent-resistant membranes: a systematic approach.

PubMed

Babiychuk, Eduard B; Draeger, Annette

2006-08-01

Lateral segregation of cholesterol- and sphingomyelin-rich rafts and glycerophospholipid-containing non-raft microdomains has been proposed to play a role in a variety of biological processes. The most compelling evidence for membrane segregation is based on the observation that extraction with non-ionic detergents leads to solubilization of a subset of membrane components only. However, one decade later, a large body of inconsistent detergent-extraction data is threatening the very concept of membrane segregation. We have assessed the validity of the existing paradigms and we show the following. (i) The localization of a membrane component within a particular fraction of a sucrose gradient cannot be taken as a yardstick for its solubility: a variable localization of the DRMs (detergent-resistant membranes) in sucrose gradients is the result of complex associations between the membrane skeleton and the lipid bilayer. (ii) DRMs of variable composition can be generated by using a single detergent, the increasing concentration of which gradually extracts one protein/lipid after another. Therefore any extraction pattern obtained by a single concentration experiment is bound to be 'investigator-specific'. It follows that comparison of DRMs obtained by different detergents in a single concentration experiment is prone to misinterpretations. (iii) Depletion of cholesterol has a graded effect on membrane solubility. (iv) Differences in detergent solubility of the members of the annexin protein family arise from their association with chemically different membrane compartments; however, these cannot be attributed to the 'brick-like' raft-building blocks of fixed size and chemical composition. Our findings demonstrate a need for critical re-evaluation of the accumulated detergent-extraction data.

Extracting microtubule networks from superresolution single-molecule localization microscopy data

PubMed Central

Zhang, Zhen; Nishimura, Yukako; Kanchanawong, Pakorn

2017-01-01

Microtubule filaments form ubiquitous networks that specify spatial organization in cells. However, quantitative analysis of microtubule networks is hampered by their complex architecture, limiting insights into the interplay between their organization and cellular functions. Although superresolution microscopy has greatly facilitated high-resolution imaging of microtubule filaments, extraction of complete filament networks from such data sets is challenging. Here we describe a computational tool for automated retrieval of microtubule filaments from single-molecule-localization–based superresolution microscopy images. We present a user-friendly, graphically interfaced implementation and a quantitative analysis of microtubule network architecture phenotypes in fibroblasts. PMID:27852898

Image processing for optical mapping.

PubMed

Ravindran, Prabu; Gupta, Aditya

2015-01-01

Optical Mapping is an established single-molecule, whole-genome analysis system, which has been used to gain a comprehensive understanding of genomic structure and to study structural variation of complex genomes. A critical component of Optical Mapping system is the image processing module, which extracts single molecule restriction maps from image datasets of immobilized, restriction digested and fluorescently stained large DNA molecules. In this review, we describe robust and efficient image processing techniques to process these massive datasets and extract accurate restriction maps in the presence of noise, ambiguity and confounding artifacts. We also highlight a few applications of the Optical Mapping system.

Extracting joint weak values with local, single-particle measurements.

PubMed

Resch, K J; Steinberg, A M

2004-04-02

Weak measurement is a new technique which allows one to describe the evolution of postselected quantum systems. It appears to be useful for resolving a variety of thorny quantum paradoxes, particularly when used to study properties of pairs of particles. Unfortunately, such nonlocal or joint observables often prove difficult to measure directly in practice (for instance, in optics-a common testing ground for this technique-strong photon-photon interactions would be needed to implement an appropriate von Neumann interaction). Here we derive a general, experimentally feasible, method for extracting these joint weak values from correlations between single-particle observables.

Extraction and determination of total flavonoids in jujube by alcohol extraction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ji, Y. B.; Ru, X.; Yu, M.; Wang, S. W.; Lu, L.; Qiao, A. N.; Guo, A. Z.

2017-12-01

Jujube is a ripe fruit of Rhamnaceae. Its main active component is flavonoids, so the extraction and determination of total flavonoids in jujube will help to develop and utilize the medicinal value of jujube. In this study, the total flavonoids were extracted from jujube by alcohol extraction method. Through single factor investigation and orthogonal test, it was found that the total flavonoids content in jujube was the highest under the condition of 70°C, material ratio of 1:40, and extraction of 30 min by 70% ethanol. The content of total flavonoids in the extract of jujube was 1.57% at the wavelength of 510 nm by UV and rutin as the standard. The method was evaluated by methodological study, and it was determined that this method could be used as the detection of total flavonoids in jujube extraction.

Ultrasound-assisted extraction of Mangiferin from Mango (Mangifera indica L.) leaves using response surface methodology.

PubMed

Zou, Tang-Bin; Xia, En-Qin; He, Tai-Ping; Huang, Ming-Yuan; Jia, Qing; Li, Hua-Wen

2014-01-27

Mangiferin is a xanthone widely distributed in higher plants showing antioxidative, antiviral, anticancer, antidiabetic, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective and analgesic effects. In the present study, an ultrasonic-assisted extraction method was developed for the effective extraction of mangiferin from mango leaves. Some parameters such as ethanol concentration, liquid-to-solid ratio, extraction temperature, and extraction time were optimized by single-factor experiment and response surface methodology. The optimal extraction conditions were 44% ethanol, the liquid-to-solid ratio was 38:1, and extraction for 19.2 min at 60 °C under ultrasound irradiation of 200 W. Under optimal conditions, the yield of mangiferin was 58.46 ± 1.27 mg/g. The results obtained are helpful for the full utilization of mango leaves, and also indicated that ultrasonic-assisted extraction is a very useful method for the extraction of mangiferin from plant materials.

Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Carnosic Acid and Rosmarinic Acid Using Ionic Liquid Solution from Rosmarinus officinalis

PubMed Central

Zu, Ge; Zhang, Rongrui; Yang, Lei; Ma, Chunhui; Zu, Yuangang; Wang, Wenjie; Zhao, Chunjian

2012-01-01

Ionic liquid based, ultrasound-assisted extraction was successfully applied to the extraction of phenolcarboxylic acids, carnosic acid and rosmarinic acid, from Rosmarinus officinalis. Eight ionic liquids, with different cations and anions, were investigated in this work and [C8mim]Br was selected as the optimal solvent. Ultrasound extraction parameters, including soaking time, solid–liquid ratio, ultrasound power and time, and the number of extraction cycles, were discussed by single factor experiments and the main influence factors were optimized by response surface methodology. The proposed approach was demonstrated as having higher efficiency, shorter extraction time and as a new alternative for the extraction of carnosic acid and rosmarinic acid from R. officinalis compared with traditional reference extraction methods. Ionic liquids are considered to be green solvents, in the ultrasound-assisted extraction of key chemicals from medicinal plants, and show great potential. PMID:23109836

Inflation of Unreefed and Reefed Extraction Parachutes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ray, Eric S.; Varela, Jose G.

2015-01-01

Data from the Orion and several other test programs have been used to reconstruct inflation parameters for 28 ft Do extraction parachutes as well as the parent aircraft pitch response during extraction. The inflation force generated by extraction parachutes is recorded directly during tow tests but is usually inferred from the payload accelerometer during Low Velocity Airdrop Delivery (LVAD) flight test extractions. Inflation parameters are dependent on the type of parent aircraft, number of canopies, and standard vs. high altitude extraction conditions. For standard altitudes, single canopy inflations are modeled as infinite mass, but the non-symmetric inflations in a cluster are modeled as finite mass. High altitude extractions have necessitated reefing the extraction parachutes, which are best modeled as infinite mass for those conditions. Distributions of aircraft pitch profiles and inflation parameters have been generated for use in Monte Carlo simulations of payload extractions.

Extraction and estimation of the quantity of calcium oxalate crystals in the foliage of conifer and hardwood trees

Treesearch

Rakesh Minocha; Bradley Chamberlain; Stephanie Long; Swathi A. Turlapati; Gloria Quigley

2015-01-01

The main goal of this study was to develop a method for the extraction and indirect estimation of the quantity of calcium oxalate (CaOx) in the foliage of trees. Foliar tissue was collected from a single tree of each species (five conifers and five hardwoods) for comparison of extractions in different solvents using 10 replicates per species from the same pool of...

Visual reconciliation of alternative similarity spaces in climate modeling

Treesearch

J Poco; A Dasgupta; Y Wei; William Hargrove; C.R. Schwalm; D.N. Huntzinger; R Cook; E Bertini; C.T. Silva

2015-01-01

Visual data analysis often requires grouping of data objects based on their similarity. In many application domains researchers use algorithms and techniques like clustering and multidimensional scaling to extract groupings from data. While extracting these groups using a single similarity criteria is relatively straightforward, comparing alternative criteria poses...

76 FR 39039 - Establishment of a New Drug Code for Marihuana Extract

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-07-05

... that have been derived from any plant of the genus cannabis and which contain cannabinols and... Nations Conventions on international drug control treat extracts from the cannabis plant differently than.... Cannabis and cannabis resin are listed in both schedule IV and schedule I of the Single Convention...

AUTOMATED SOLID PHASE EXTRACTION GC/MS FOR ANALYSIS OF SEMIVOLATILES IN WATER AND SEDIMENTS

EPA Science Inventory

Data is presented on the development of a new automated system combining solid phase extraction (SPE) with GC/MS spectrometry for the single-run analysis of water samples containing a broad range of organic compounds. The system uses commercially available automated in-line sampl...

Comparison of extraction procedures on the immunocontraceptive activity of neem seed extracts.

PubMed

Garg, S; Talwar, G P; Upadhyay, S N

1994-10-01

Azadirachta indica (Neem) seed extracts are known to activate the local cell-mediated immune reactions after a single intrauterine administration, leading to a long term reversible block of fertility. In order to identify and characterize the active fraction responsible for this activity, neem seeds were extracted by both mechanical expression and solvent extraction using a range of polar to non-polar solvents which yielded 3 broad fractions. The mechanically expressed oil was fractionated using different approaches and studied for antifertility activity. The hexane extract and a corresponding column fraction showed potent and reproducible antifertility activity. Other fractions were less stable with regard to reproducibility of effects and composition. It is our conclusion that for subsequent fractionation to reach the last active fraction, the hexane extract is the most useful starting material.

In-situ determination of metallic variation and multi-association in single particles by combining synchrotron microprobe, sequential chemical extraction and multivariate statistical analysis.

PubMed

Zhu, Yu-Min; Zhang, Hua; Fan, Shi-Suo; Wang, Si-Jia; Xia, Yi; Shao, Li-Ming; He, Pin-Jing

2014-07-15

Due to the heterogeneity of metal distribution, it is challenging to identify the speciation, source and fate of metals in solid samples at micro scales. To overcome these challenges single particles of air pollution control residues were detected in situ by synchrotron microprobe after each step of chemical extraction and analyzed by multivariate statistical analysis. Results showed that Pb, Cu and Zn co-existed as acid soluble fractions during chemical extraction, regardless of their individual distribution as chlorides or oxides in the raw particles. Besides the forms of Fe2O3, MnO2 and FeCr2O4, Fe, Mn, Cr and Ni were closely associated with each other, mainly as reducible fractions. In addition, the two groups of metals had interrelations with the Si-containing insoluble matrix. The binding could not be directly detected by micro-X-ray diffraction (μ-XRD) and XRD, suggesting their partial existence as amorphous forms or in the solid solution. The combined method on single particles can effectively determine metallic multi-associations and various extraction behaviors that could not be identified by XRD, μ-XRD or X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The results are useful for further source identification and migration tracing of heavy metals. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Acceleration of hard and soft tissue healing in the oral cavity by a single transmucosal injection of fluvastatin-impregnated poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) microspheres. An in vitro and rodent in vivo study.

PubMed

Yasunami, Noriyuki; Ayukawa, Yasunori; Furuhashi, Akihiro; Atsuta, Ikiru; Rakhmatia, Yunia Dwi; Moriyama, Yasuko; Masuzaki, Tomohiro; Koyano, Kiyoshi

2015-12-23

Antihyperlipidemic drug statins reportedly promote both bone formation and soft tissue healing. We examined the effect of sustained-release, fluvastatin-impregnated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres on the promotion of bone and gingival healing at an extraction socket in vivo, and the effect of fluvastatin on epithelial cells and fibroblasts in vitro. The maxillary right first molar was extracted in rats, then one of the following was immediately injected, as a single dose, into the gingivobuccal fold: control (no administration), PLGA microspheres without a statin (active control), or PLGA microspheres containing 20 or 40 μg kg(-1) of fluvastatin. At days 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28 after injection, bone and soft tissue healing were histologically evaluated. Cell proliferation was measured under the effect of fluvastatin at dosages of 0, 0.01, 0.1, 1.0, 10, and 50 μM. Cell migration and morphology were observed at dosages of 0 and 0.1 μM. Following tooth extraction, the statin significantly enhanced bone volume and density, connective tissue volume, and epithelial wound healing. In the in vitro study, it promoted significant proliferation and migration of epithelial cells and fibroblasts. A single dose of topically administered fluvastatin-impregnated PLGA microspheres promoted bone and soft tissue healing at the extraction site.

Acute and subacute toxicity and chemical constituents of the hydroethanolic extract of Verbena litoralis Kunth.

PubMed

de Lima, Rachel; Guex, Camille Gaube; da Silva, Andreia Regina Haas; Lhamas, Cibele Lima; Dos Santos Moreira, Karen Luise; Casoti, Rosana; Dornelles, Rafaela Castro; Marques da Rocha, Maria Izabel Ugalde; da Veiga, Marcelo Leite; de Freitas Bauermann, Liliane; Manfron, Melânia Palermo

2018-05-14

Verbena litoralis Kunth is a native species of South America, popularly known as gervãozinho-do-campo ou erva-de-pai-caetano. It is used in gastrointestinal disorders, as detoxifying the organism, antifebrile properties and amidaglitis. To identify the chemical constituents of the hydroethanolic extract obtained from the aerial parts of V. litoralis and to evaluate the acute and sub-acute toxicity in male and female rats. The single dose (2000 mg/kg) of the extract was administered orally to male and female rats. In the subacute study the extract was given at doses of 100, 200 and 400mg/kg during 28 days orally. Biochemical, hematological and histological analyzes were performed, oxidative stress markers were tested and chemical constituents were identified through UHPLC-ESI-HRMS RESULTS: Six classes of metabolites were identified: iridoids glycosides, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids-derived, phenylethanoid-derived, cinnamic acid-derived and triterpenes. In the acute treatment, the extract was classified as safe (category 5), according to the OECD guide. Our results demonstrated that subacute administration of the crude extract of V. litoralis at 400mg/kg resulted in an increase in AST in males, whereas ALT enzyme showed a small increase in males that received 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg of the extract. The extract of the aerial parts of Verbena litoralis did not present significant toxicity when administered a single dose. However, when different doses were administered for 28 days, were observed changes in hematological, biochemical and histological parameters in rats. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

The influence of Brazilian plant extracts on Streptococcus mutans biofilm.

PubMed

Barnabé, Michele; Saraceni, Cíntia Helena Coury; Dutra-Correa, Maristela; Suffredini, Ivana Barbosa

2014-01-01

Nineteen plant extracts obtained from plants from the Brazilian Amazon showed activity against planktonic Streptococcus mutans, an important bacterium involved in the first steps of biofilm formation and the subsequent initiation of several oral diseases. Our goal was to verify whether plant extracts that showed activity against planktonic S. mutans could prevent the organization of or even disrupt a single-species biofilm made by the same bacteria. Plant extracts were tested on a single-bacteria biofilm prepared using the Zürich method. Each plant extract was tested at a concentration 5 times higher than its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Discs of hydroxyapatite were submersed overnight in brain-heart infusion broth enriched with saccharose 5%, which provided sufficient time for biofilm formation. The discs were then submersed in extract solutions for one minute, three times per day, for two subsequent days. The discs were then washed with saline three times, at ten seconds each, after each treatment. Supports were allowed to remain in the enriched medium for one additional night. At the end of the process, the bacteria were removed from the discs by vortexing and were counted. Only two of 19 plant extracts showed activity in the present assay: EB1779, obtained from Dioscorea altissima, and EB1673, obtained from Annona hypoglauca. Although the antibacterial activity of the plant extracts was first observed against planktonic S. mutans, influence over biofilm formation was not necessarily observed in the biofilm model. The present results motivate us to find new natural products to be used in dentistry.

The influence of Brazilian plant extracts on Streptococcus mutans biofilm

PubMed Central

BARNABÉ, Michele; SARACENI, Cíntia Helena Coury; DUTRA-CORREA, Maristela; SUFFREDINI, Ivana Barbosa

2014-01-01

Nineteen plant extracts obtained from plants from the Brazilian Amazon showed activity against planktonic Streptococcus mutans, an important bacterium involved in the first steps of biofilm formation and the subsequent initiation of several oral diseases. Objective Our goal was to verify whether plant extracts that showed activity against planktonic S. mutans could prevent the organization of or even disrupt a single-species biofilm made by the same bacteria. Material and Methods Plant extracts were tested on a single-bacteria biofilm prepared using the Zürich method. Each plant extract was tested at a concentration 5 times higher than its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Discs of hydroxyapatite were submersed overnight in brain-heart infusion broth enriched with saccharose 5%, which provided sufficient time for biofilm formation. The discs were then submersed in extract solutions for one minute, three times per day, for two subsequent days. The discs were then washed with saline three times, at ten seconds each, after each treatment. Supports were allowed to remain in the enriched medium for one additional night. At the end of the process, the bacteria were removed from the discs by vortexing and were counted. Results Only two of 19 plant extracts showed activity in the present assay: EB1779, obtained from Dioscorea altissima, and EB1673, obtained from Annona hypoglauca. Although the antibacterial activity of the plant extracts was first observed against planktonic S. mutans, influence over biofilm formation was not necessarily observed in the biofilm model. The present results motivate us to find new natural products to be used in dentistry. PMID:25466471

A robust method for RNA extraction and purification from a single adult mouse tendon.

PubMed

Grinstein, Mor; Dingwall, Heather L; Shah, Rishita R; Capellini, Terence D; Galloway, Jenna L

2018-01-01

Mechanistic understanding of tendon molecular and cellular biology is crucial toward furthering our abilities to design new therapies for tendon and ligament injuries and disease. Recent transcriptomic and epigenomic studies in the field have harnessed the power of mouse genetics to reveal new insights into tendon biology. However, many mouse studies pool tendon tissues or use amplification methods to perform RNA analysis, which can significantly increase the experimental costs and limit the ability to detect changes in expression of low copy transcripts. Single Achilles tendons were harvested from uninjured, contralateral injured, and wild type mice between three and five months of age, and RNA was extracted. RNA Integrity Number (RIN) and concentration were determined, and RT-qPCR gene expression analysis was performed. After testing several RNA extraction approaches on single adult mouse Achilles tendons, we developed a protocol that was successful at obtaining high RIN and sufficient concentrations suitable for RNA analysis. We found that the RNA quality was sensitive to the time between tendon harvest and homogenization, and the RNA quality and concentration was dependent on the duration of homogenization. Using this method, we demonstrate that analysis of Scx gene expression in single mouse tendons reduces the biological variation caused by pooling tendons from multiple mice. We also show successful use of this approach to analyze Sox9 and Col1a2 gene expression changes in injured compared with uninjured control tendons. Our work presents a robust, cost-effective, and straightforward method to extract high quality RNA from a single adult mouse Achilles tendon at sufficient amounts for RT-qPCR as well as RNA-seq. We show this can reduce variation and decrease the overall costs associated with experiments. This approach can also be applied to other skeletal tissues, as well as precious human samples.

Magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers based on silica modified by deep eutectic solvents for the rapid simultaneous magnetic-based solid-phase extraction of Salvia miltiorrhiza bunge, Glycine max (Linn.) Merr and green tea.

PubMed

Li, Guizhen; Wang, Xiaoqin; Row, Kyung Ho

2018-04-01

Novel magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (MMIPs) with multiple-template based on silica were modified by four types of deep eutectic solvents (DESs) for the rapid simultaneous magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) of tanshinone Ⅰ, tanshinone ⅡA, and cryptotanshinone from Salvia miltiorrhiza bunge; glycitein, genistein, and daidzein from Glycine max (Linn.) Merr; and epicatechin, epigallocatechin gallate, and epicatechin gallate from green tea, respectively. The synthesized materials were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy. Single factor experiments were to explore the relationship between the extraction efficiency and four factors (the sample solution pH, amount of DESs for modification, amount of adsorbent, and extraction time). It was showed that the DES4-MMIPs have better extraction ability than the MMIPs without DESs and the other three DESs-modified MMIPs. The best extraction recoveries with DES4-MMIP were tanshinone Ⅰ (85.57%), tanshinone ⅡA (80.58%), cryptotanshinone (92.12%), glycitein (81.65%), genistein (87.72%), daidzein (92.24%), epicatechin (86.43%), epigallocatechin gallate (80.92%), and epicatechin gallate (93.64%), respectively. The novel multiple-template MMIPs materials modified by DES for the rapid simultaneous MSPE of active compounds were proved to reduce the experimental steps than single-template technique, and increase the extraction efficiency. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Sorption of Cu(2+) on humic acids sequentially extracted from a sediment.

PubMed

Yang, Kun; Miao, Gangfen; Wu, Wenhao; Lin, Daohui; Pan, Bo; Wu, Fengchang; Xing, Baoshan

2015-11-01

In addition to the diverse properties of humic acids (HAs) extracted from different soils or sediments, chemical compositions, functional groups and structures of HAs extracted from a single soil or sediment could also be diverse and thus significantly affect sorption of heavy metals, which is a key process controlling the transfer, transformation and fate of heavy metals in the environment. In this study, we sequentially extracted four HA fractions from a single sediment and conducted the sorption experiments of Cu(2+) on these HA fractions. Our results showed that aromaticity and acidic group content of HA fraction decreased with increasing extraction. Earlier extracted HA fraction had higher sorption capacity and affinity for Cu(2+). There were two fractions of adsorbed Cu(2+) on HAs, i.e., ion exchanged fraction and surface bonded fraction, which can be captured mechanically by the bi-Langmuir model with good isotherm fitting. The ion exchanged fraction had larger sorption capacity but lower sorption affinity, compared with the surface bonded fraction. The dissociated carboxyl groups of HAs were responsible for both fractions of Cu(2+) sorption, due to the more Cu(2+) sorption on the earlier extracted HA fraction with more carboxyl groups and at higher pH. The intensive competition between H(+) and the exchangeable Cu(2+) could result in the decrease of ion exchanged capacity and affinity for Cu(2+) on HAs. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Single Fluorescent Molecules as Nano-Illuminators for Biological Structure and Function

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moerner, W. E.

2011-03-01

Since the first optical detection and spectroscopy of a single molecule in a solid (Phys. Rev. Lett. {62}, 2535 (1989)), much has been learned about the ability of single molecules to probe local nanoenvironments and individual behavior in biological and nonbiological materials in the absence of ensemble averaging that can obscure heterogeneity. Because each single fluorophore acts a light source roughly 1 nm in size, microscopic imaging of individual fluorophores leads naturally to superlocalization, or determination of the position of the molecule with precision beyond the optical diffraction limit, simply by digitization of the point-spread function from the single emitter. For example, the shape of single filaments in a living cell can be extracted simply by allowing a single molecule to move through the filament (PNAS {103}, 10929 (2006)). The addition of photoinduced control of single-molecule emission allows imaging beyond the diffraction limit (super-resolution) and a new array of acronyms (PALM, STORM, F-PALM etc.) and advances have appeared. We have used the native blinking and switching of a common yellow-emitting variant of green fluorescent protein (EYFP) reported more than a decade ago (Nature {388}, 355 (1997)) to achieve sub-40 nm super-resolution imaging of several protein structures in the bacterium Caulobacter crescentus: the quasi-helix of the actin-like protein MreB (Nat. Meth. {5}, 947 (2008)), the cellular distribution of the DNA binding protein HU (submitted), and the recently discovered division spindle composed of ParA filaments (Nat. Cell Biol. {12}, 791 (2010)). Even with these advances, better emitters would provide more photons and improved resolution, and a new photoactivatable small-molecule emitter has recently been synthesized and targeted to specific structures in living cells to provide super-resolution images (JACS {132}, 15099 (2010)). Finally, a new optical method for extracting three-dimensional position information based on a double-helix point spread function enables quantitative tracking of single mRNA particles in living yeast cells with 15 ms time resolution and 25-50 nm spatial precision (PNAS {107}, 17864 (2010)). These examples illustrate the power of single-molecule optical imaging in extracting new structural and functional information in living cells.

Effects of dexpanthenol with or without Aloe vera extract on radiation-induced oral mucositis: preclinical studies.

PubMed

Dörr, W; Schlichting, S; Bray, M A; Flockhart, I R; Hopewell, J W

2005-03-01

To define the effect of dexpanthenol with or without Aloe vera extract on radiation-induced oral mucositis. Mouse tongue mucosal ulceration was analysed as the clinically relevant endpoint. Graded single or fractionated dose irradiation (10 x 3 Gy/2 weeks, graded test doses on day 14) were combined with topical administration of dexpanthenol or a base, with or without Aloe vera extract. The formulations were applied for 14 days (single dose) or 24 days after the first fraction. Single dose irradiation resulted in an ED50 (dose at which a positive mucosal response was expected in 50% of the animals irradiated) of 11.9+/-1.2 Gy. None of the formulations yielded a significant change in incidence or time course of ulceration. Test irradiation after 10 x 3 Gy gave an ED50 of 9.0+/-0.1 Gy. Base treatment increased the ED50-values to 10.5+/-0.8 Gy (p = 0.0095) and 9.9+/-0.7 Gy (p = 0.0445) without or with Aloe vera. Dexpanthenol resulted in ED50 values of 9.5+/-0.1 Gy without Aloe vera (p > 0.05), and of 10.9+/-0.9 Gy (p = 0.0035) with Aloe vera. The latent time to ulceration was prolonged, compared to the control (6.3 days) without Aloe vera (8.0-8.2 days, p < 0.001) and with dexpanthenol and Aloe vera (7.3 days, p = 0.0239). With single dose irradiation, neither dexpanthenol nor Aloe vera extract significantly changed the oral mucosal radiation response. With fractionated irradiation, drug administration significantly increased the isoeffective radiation doses, independent of dexpanthenol or Aloe vera content. Neither dexpanthenol nor Aloe vera display a prophylactic potential.

Detection of singly- and doubly-charged quaternary ammonium drugs in equine urine by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Ho, Emmie N M; Kwok, W H; Wong, April S Y; Wan, Terence S M

2012-01-13

Quaternary ammonium drugs (QADs) are anticholinergic agents some of which are known to have been abused or misused in equine sports. A recent review of literature shows that the screening methods reported thus far for QADs mainly cover singly-charged QADs. Doubly-charged QADs are extremely polar substances which are difficult to be extracted and poorly retained on reversed-phase columns. It would be ideal if a comprehensive method can be developed which can detect both singly- and doubly-charged QADs. This paper describes an efficient liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method for the simultaneous detection and confirmation of 38 singly- and doubly-charged QADs at sub-parts-per-billion (ppb) to low-ppb levels in equine urine after solid-phase extraction. Quaternary ammonium drugs were extracted from equine urine by solid-phase extraction (SPE) using an ISOLUTE(®) CBA SPE column and analysed by LC/MS/MS in the positive electrospray ionisation mode. Separation of the 38 QADs was achieved on a polar group embedded C18 LC column with a mixture of aqueous ammonium formate (pH 3.0, 10 mM) and acetonitrile as the mobile phase. Detection and confirmation of the 38 QADs at sub-ppb to low-ppb levels in equine urine could be achieved within 16 min using selected reaction monitoring (SRM). Matrix interference of the target transitions at the expected retention times was not observed. Other method validation data, including precision and recovery, were acceptable. The method was successfully applied to the analyses of drug-administration samples. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The t-CWT: a new ERP detection and quantification method based on the continuous wavelet transform and Student's t-statistics.

PubMed

Bostanov, Vladimir; Kotchoubey, Boris

2006-12-01

This study was aimed at developing a method for extraction and assessment of event-related brain potentials (ERP) from single-trials. This method should be applicable in the assessment of single persons' ERPs and should be able to handle both single ERP components and whole waveforms. We adopted a recently developed ERP feature extraction method, the t-CWT, for the purposes of hypothesis testing in the statistical assessment of ERPs. The t-CWT is based on the continuous wavelet transform (CWT) and Student's t-statistics. The method was tested in two ERP paradigms, oddball and semantic priming, by assessing individual-participant data on a single-trial basis, and testing the significance of selected ERP components, P300 and N400, as well as of whole ERP waveforms. The t-CWT was also compared to other univariate and multivariate ERP assessment methods: peak picking, area computation, discrete wavelet transform (DWT) and principal component analysis (PCA). The t-CWT produced better results than all of the other assessment methods it was compared with. The t-CWT can be used as a reliable and powerful method for ERP-component detection and testing of statistical hypotheses concerning both single ERP components and whole waveforms extracted from either single persons' or group data. The t-CWT is the first such method based explicitly on the criteria of maximal statistical difference between two average ERPs in the time-frequency domain and is particularly suitable for ERP assessment of individual data (e.g. in clinical settings), but also for the investigation of small and/or novel ERP effects from group data.

Optimization of subculture and DNA extraction steps within the whole genome sequencing workflow for source tracking of Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes.

PubMed

Gimonet, Johan; Portmann, Anne-Catherine; Fournier, Coralie; Baert, Leen

2018-06-16

This work shows that an incubation time reduced to 4-5 h to prepare a culture for DNA extraction followed by an automated DNA extraction can shorten the hands-on time, the turnaround time by 30% and increase the throughput while maintaining the WGS quality assessed by high quality Single Nucleotide Polymorphism analysis. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Direct Estimation of Structure and Motion from Multiple Frames

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-03-01

sequential frames in an image sequence. As a consequence, the information that can be extracted from a single optical flow field is limited to a snapshot of...researchers have developed techniques that extract motion and structure inform.4tion without computation of the optical flow. Best known are the "direct...operated iteratively on a sequence of images to recover structure. It required feature extraction and matching. Broida and Chellappa [9] suggested the use of

Efficacy of a single dose of low-level laser therapy in reducing pain, swelling, and trismus following third molar extraction surgery.

PubMed

Landucci, A; Wosny, A C; Uetanabaro, L C; Moro, A; Araujo, M R

2016-03-01

The clinical efficacy of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) for the reduction of pain, swelling, and trismus following the surgical extraction of third molars was evaluated. Mandibular third molars, with similar radiographic positions on two distinct sections, were extracted from 22 patients. Immediately after extraction from the randomly selected right or left side, LLLT was applied (study group). The same extraction procedure was performed 21 days later on the other third molar, without the application of LLLT (control group). LLLT was applied at 10 points: four intraoral in close proximity to the socket and six extraoral along the masseter muscle. Pain intensity was assessed using a visual analogue scale, swelling was measured as the distance from the tragus to the median base of the mentum, and trismus was assessed by the extent of mouth opening. Data were collected at four time points: before surgery, immediately after surgery, 48h postoperatively, and 7 days postoperatively. Compared with the control group, the study group showed significant reductions in pain, swelling, and trismus at 48h and 7 days postoperatively. In conclusion, a single dose of LLLT was effective at reducing the postoperative discomforts (pain, swelling, and trismus) associated with third molar extraction surgery. Copyright © 2015 International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of Piper betle L. and its extracts on the growth and aflatoxin production by Aspergillus parasiticus.

PubMed

Chou, C C; Yu, R C

1984-01-01

Ground powder of the leaf and fruit of Piper betle L., a tropical spice plant grown in Southeast Asia, was prepared and extracted by chloroform, ethanol and water with one solvent only or with 3 solvents in sequence. The betel powder and various extracts were added to YES broth to determine their effects on the growth and aflatoxin production by Aspergillus parasiticus. Results showed that betel leaf powder exhibited higher antimycotic activity than fruit. One half percent of ground leaf powder completely inhibited the growth and aflatoxin production by A. parasiticus. Among the solvent extracts, chloroform and ethanol extracts of betel leaf prepared from a single solvent extraction showed more antimycotic activity. The ethanol extract of betel leaf at the level of 450 micrograms/ml would eliminate A. parasiticus growth and aflatoxin production. The antimycotic activity of this ethanol extract was most pronounced at pH 4.

Response Surface Methodology for Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis

PubMed Central

Zou, Tang-Bin; Jia, Qing; Li, Hua-Wen; Wang, Chang-Xiu; Wu, Hong-Fu

2013-01-01

Astaxanthin is a novel carotenoid nutraceutical occurring in many crustaceans and red yeasts. It has exhibited various biological activities including prevention or amelioration of cardiovascular disease, gastric ulcer, hypertension, and diabetic nephropathy. In this study, ultrasound-assisted extraction was developed for the effective extraction of astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis. Some parameters such as extraction solvent, liquid-to-solid ratio, extraction temperature, and extraction time were optimized by single-factor experiment and response surface methodology. The optimal extraction conditions were 48.0% ethanol in ethyl acetate, the liquid-to-solid ratio was 20:1 (mL/g), and extraction for 16.0 min at 41.1 °C under ultrasound irradiation of 200 W. Under optimal conditions, the yield of astaxanthin was 27.58 ± 0.40 mg/g. The results obtained are beneficial for the full utilization of Haematococcus pluvialis, which also indicated that ultrasound-assisted extraction is a very useful method for extracting astaxanthin from marine life. PMID:23697948

Cytotoxic Deoxypodophyllotoxin Can Be Extracted in High Purity from Anthriscus sylvestris Roots by Supercritical Carbon Dioxide.

PubMed

Seegers, Christel L C; Tepper, Pieter G; Setroikromo, Rita; Quax, Wim J

2018-05-01

Deoxypodophyllotoxin is present in the roots of Anthriscus sylvestris . This compound is cytotoxic on its own, but it can also be converted into podophyllotoxin, which is in high demand as a precursor for the important anticancer drugs etoposide and teniposide. In this study, deoxypodophyllotoxin is extracted from A. sylvestris roots by supercritical carbon dioxide extraction. The process is simple and scalable. The supercritical carbon dioxide method extracts 75 - 80% of the total deoxypodophyllotoxin content, which is comparable to a single extraction by traditional Soxhlet. However, less polar components are extracted. The activity of the supercritical carbon dioxide extract containing deoxypodophyllotoxin was assessed by demonstrating that the extract arrests A549 and HeLa cells in the G 2 /M phase of the cell cycle. We conclude that biologically active deoxypodophyllotoxin can be extracted from A. sylvestris by supercritical carbon dioxide extraction. The method is solvent free and more sustainable compared to traditional methods. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Advanced Optimal Extraction for the Spitzer/IRS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lebouteiller, V.; Bernard-Salas, J.; Sloan, G. C.; Barry, D. J.

2010-02-01

We present new advances in the spectral extraction of pointlike sources adapted to the Infrared Spectrograph (IRS) on board the Spitzer Space Telescope. For the first time, we created a supersampled point-spread function of the low-resolution modules. We describe how to use the point-spread function to perform optimal extraction of a single source and of multiple sources within the slit. We also examine the case of the optimal extraction of one or several sources with a complex background. The new algorithms are gathered in a plug-in called AdOpt which is part of the SMART data analysis software.

Single hair analysis of small molecules using MALDI-triple quadrupole MS imaging and LC-MS/MS: investigations on opportunities and pitfalls.

PubMed

Poetzsch, Michael; Steuer, Andrea E; Roemmelt, Andreas T; Baumgartner, Markus R; Kraemer, Thomas

2014-12-02

Single hair analysis normally requires extensive sample preparation microscale protocols including time-consuming steps like segmentation and extraction. Matrix assisted laser desorption and ionization mass spectrometric imaging (MALDI-MSI) was shown to be an alternative tool in single hair analysis, but still, questions remain. Therefore, an investigation of MALDI-MSI in single hair analysis concerning the extraction process, usage of internal standard (IS), and influences on the ionization processes were systematically investigated to enable the reliable application to hair analysis. Furthermore, single dose detection, quantitative correlation to a single hair, and hair strand LC-MS/MS results were performed, and the performance was compared to LC-MS/MS single hair monitoring. The MALDI process was shown to be independent from natural hair color and not influenced by the presence of melanin. Ionization was shown to be reproducible along and in between different hair samples. MALDI image intensities in single hair and hair snippets showed good semiquantitative correlation to zolpidem hair concentrations obtained from validated routine LC-MS/MS methods. MALDI-MSI is superior to LC-MS/MS analysis when a fast, easy, and cheap sample preparation is necessary, whereas LC-MS/MS showed higher sensitivity with the ability of single dose detection for zolpidem. MALDI-MSI and LC-MS/MS segmental single hair analysis showed good correlation, and both are suitable for consumption monitoring of drugs of abuse with a high time resolution.

GREEN SYNTHESIS OF SILVER AND PALLADIUM NANOPARTICLES AT ROOM TEMPERATURE USING COFFEE AND TEA EXTRACT

EPA Science Inventory

An extremely simple green approach that generates bulk quantities of nanocrystals of noble metals such as silver (Ag) and palladium (Pd) using coffee and tea extract at room temperature is described. The single-pot method uses no surfactant, capping agent, and/or template. The ob...

Direct immersion single drop micro-extraction method for multi-class pesticides analysis in mango using GC-MS.

PubMed

Pano-Farias, Norma S; Ceballos-Magaña, Silvia G; Muñiz-Valencia, Roberto; Jurado, Jose M; Alcázar, Ángela; Aguayo-Villarreal, Ismael A

2017-12-15

Due the negative effects of pesticides on environment and human health, more efficient and environmentally friendly methods are needed. In this sense, a simple, fast, free from memory effects and economical direct-immersion single drop micro-extraction (SDME) method and GC-MS for multi-class pesticides determination in mango samples was developed. Sample pre-treatment using ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction and factors affecting the SDME procedure (extractant solvent, drop volume, stirring rate, ionic strength, time, pH and temperature) were optimized using factorial experimental design. This method presented high sensitive (LOD: 0.14-169.20μgkg -1 ), acceptable precision (RSD: 0.7-19.1%), satisfactory recovery (69-119%) and high enrichment factors (20-722). Several obtained LOQs are below the MRLs established by the European Commission; therefore, the method could be applied for pesticides determination in routing analysis and custom laboratories. Moreover, this method has shown to be suitable for determination of some of the studied pesticides in lime, melon, papaya, banana, tomato, and lettuce. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automatic seizure detection based on the combination of newborn multi-channel EEG and HRV information

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mesbah, Mostefa; Balakrishnan, Malarvili; Colditz, Paul B.; Boashash, Boualem

2012-12-01

This article proposes a new method for newborn seizure detection that uses information extracted from both multi-channel electroencephalogram (EEG) and a single channel electrocardiogram (ECG). The aim of the study is to assess whether additional information extracted from ECG can improve the performance of seizure detectors based solely on EEG. Two different approaches were used to combine this extracted information. The first approach, known as feature fusion, involves combining features extracted from EEG and heart rate variability (HRV) into a single feature vector prior to feeding it to a classifier. The second approach, called classifier or decision fusion, is achieved by combining the independent decisions of the EEG and the HRV-based classifiers. Tested on recordings obtained from eight newborns with identified EEG seizures, the proposed neonatal seizure detection algorithms achieved 95.20% sensitivity and 88.60% specificity for the feature fusion case and 95.20% sensitivity and 94.30% specificity for the classifier fusion case. These results are considerably better than those involving classifiers using EEG only (80.90%, 86.50%) or HRV only (85.70%, 84.60%).

PLE in the analysis of plant compounds. Part II: One-cycle PLE in determining total amount of analyte in plant material.

PubMed

Dawidowicz, Andrzej L; Wianowska, Dorota

2005-04-29

Pressurised liquid extraction (PLE) is recognised as one of the most effective sample preparation methods. Despite the enhanced extraction power of PLE, the full recovery of an analyte from plant material may require multiple extractions of the same sample. The presented investigations show the possibility of estimating the true concentration value of an analyte in plant material employing one-cycle PLE in which plant samples of different weight are used. The performed experiments show a linear dependence between the reciprocal value of the analyte amount (E*), extracted in single-step PLE from a plant matrix, and the ratio of plant material mass to extrahent volume (m(p)/V(s)). Hence, time-consuming multi-step PLE can be replaced by a few single-step PLEs performed at different (m(p)/V(s)) ratios. The concentrations of rutin in Sambucus nigra L. and caffeine in tea and coffee estimated by means of the tested procedure are almost the same as their concentrations estimated by multiple PLE.

Effect of surfactant on single drop mass transfer for extraction of aromatics from lubricating oils

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Izza, H.; Ben Abdessalam, S.; Korichi, M.

2018-03-01

Solvent extraction is an effective method for the reduction of the content of aromatic of lubricating oil. Frequently, with phenol, furfural, the NMP (out of N-methyl pyrrolidone). The power solvent and the selectivity can be still to increase while using surfactant as additive which facilitates the separation of phase and increases the yeild in raffinat. Liquid-liquid mass transfer coefficients for single freely rising drops in the presence of surfactant in an extraction column have been investigated. The surfactant used in this study was sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES). The experiments were performed by bubbling a solvent as a series of individual drops from the top of the column containing furfural-SLES solution. The column used in this experiment was made from glass with 17 mm inner diameter and a capacity of 125ml. The effects of the concentration of surfactant on the overall coefficient of mass transfer was investigated.

Determination of catechins and caffeine in camillia sinensis raw materials, extracts, and dietary supplements by HPLC-uv: single-laboratory validation.

PubMed

Roman, Mark C

2013-01-01

A rapid method has been developed to quantify seven catechins and caffeine in green tea (Camillia sinensis) raw material and powdered extract, and dietary supplements containing green tea extract. The method utilizes RP HPLC with a phenyl-based stationary phase and gradient elution. Detection is by UV absorbance. The total run time, including column re-equilibration, is 13 min. Single-laboratory validation (SLV) has been performed on the method to determine the repeatability, accuracy, selectivity, LOD, LOQ, ruggedness, and linearity for (+)-catechin, (-)-epicatechin, (-)-epicatechin gallate, (-)-epigallocatechin, (-)-gallocatechin gallate, (-)-epigallocatechin gallate, and (+)-gallocatechin, as well as caffeine. Repeatability precision and recovery results met AOAC guidelines for SLV studies for all catechins and caffeine down to a level of approximately 20 mg/g. Finished products containing high concentrations of minerals require the use of EDTA to prevent decomposition of the catechins.

Edge Extraction by an Exponential Function Considering X-ray Transmission Characteristics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Jong Hyeong; Youp Synn, Sang; Cho, Sung Man; Jong Joo, Won

2011-04-01

3-D radiographic methodology has been into the spotlight for quality inspection of mass product or in-service inspection of aging product. To locate a target object in 3-D space, its characteristic contours such as edge length, edge angle, and vertices are very important. In spite of a simple geometry product, it is very difficult to get clear shape contours from a single radiographic image. The image contains scattering noise at the edges and ambiguity coming from X-Ray absorption within the body. This article suggests a concise method to extract whole edges from a single X-ray image. At the edge point of the object, the intensity of the X-ray decays exponentially as the X-ray penetrates the object. Considering this X-Ray decaying property, edges are extracted by using the least square fitting with the control of Coefficient of Determination.

Headspace Single-Drop Microextraction Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry for the Analysis of Volatile Compounds from Herba Asari

PubMed Central

Wang, Guan-Jie; Tian, Li; Fan, Yu-Ming; Qi, Mei-Ling

2013-01-01

A rapid headspace single-drop microextraction gas chromatography mass spectrometry (SDME-GC-MS) for the analysis of the volatile compounds in Herba Asari was developed in this study. The extraction solvent, extraction temperature and time, sample amount, and particle size were optimized. A mixed solvent of n-tridecane and butyl acetate (1 : 1) was finally used for the extraction with sample amount of 0.750 g and 100-mesh particle size at 70°C for 15 min. Under the determined conditions, the pound samples of Herba Asari were directly applied for the analysis. The result showed that SDME-GC–MS method was a simple, effective, and inexpensive way to measure the volatile compounds in Herba Asari and could be used for the analysis of volatile compounds in Chinese medicine. PMID:23607049

Error-based Extraction of States and Energy Landscapes from Experimental Single-Molecule Time-Series

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Taylor, J. Nicholas; Li, Chun-Biu; Cooper, David R.; Landes, Christy F.; Komatsuzaki, Tamiki

2015-03-01

Characterization of states, the essential components of the underlying energy landscapes, is one of the most intriguing subjects in single-molecule (SM) experiments due to the existence of noise inherent to the measurements. Here we present a method to extract the underlying state sequences from experimental SM time-series. Taking into account empirical error and the finite sampling of the time-series, the method extracts a steady-state network which provides an approximation of the underlying effective free energy landscape. The core of the method is the application of rate-distortion theory from information theory, allowing the individual data points to be assigned to multiple states simultaneously. We demonstrate the method's proficiency in its application to simulated trajectories as well as to experimental SM fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) trajectories obtained from isolated agonist binding domains of the AMPA receptor, an ionotropic glutamate receptor that is prevalent in the central nervous system.

The TRUSPEAK Concept: Combining CMPO and HDEHP for Separating Trivalent Lanthanides from the Transuranic Elements

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

Lumetta, Gregg J.; Gelis, Artem V.; Braley, Jenifer C.

2013-04-08

Combining octyl(phenyl)-N,N-diisobutyl-carbamoylmethyl-phosphine oxide (CMPO) and bis-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (HDEHP) into a single process solvent for separating transuranic elements from liquid high-level waste is explored. Co-extraction of americium and the lanthanide elements from nitric acid solution is possible with a solvent mixture consisting of 0.1-M CMPO plus 1-M HDEHP in n-dodecane. Switching the aqueous-phase chemistry to a citrate-buffered solution of diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) allows for selective stripping of americium, separating it from the lanthanide elements. Potential strategies for managing molybdenum and zirconium (both of which co-extract with americium and the lanthanides) have been developed. The work presented here demonstratesmore » the feasibility of combining CMPO and HDEHP into a single extraction solvent for recovering americium from high-level waste and its separation from the lanthanides.« less

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

Harmon, S; Jeraj, R; Galavis, P

Purpose: Sensitivity of PET-derived texture features to reconstruction methods has been reported for features extracted from axial planes; however, studies often utilize three dimensional techniques. This work aims to quantify the impact of multi-plane (3D) vs. single-plane (2D) feature extraction on radiomics-based analysis, including sensitivity to reconstruction parameters and potential loss of spatial information. Methods: Twenty-three patients with solid tumors underwent [{sup 18}F]FDG PET/CT scans under identical protocols. PET data were reconstructed using five sets of reconstruction parameters. Tumors were segmented using an automatic, in-house algorithm robust to reconstruction variations. 50 texture features were extracted using two Methods: 2D patchesmore » along axial planes and 3D patches. For each method, sensitivity of features to reconstruction parameters was calculated as percent difference relative to the average value across reconstructions. Correlations between feature values were compared when using 2D and 3D extraction. Results: 21/50 features showed significantly different sensitivity to reconstruction parameters when extracted in 2D vs 3D (wilcoxon α<0.05), assessed by overall range of variation, Rangevar(%). Eleven showed greater sensitivity to reconstruction in 2D extraction, primarily first-order and co-occurrence features (average Rangevar increase 83%). The remaining ten showed higher variation in 3D extraction (average Range{sub var}increase 27%), mainly co-occurence and greylevel run-length features. Correlation of feature value extracted in 2D and feature value extracted in 3D was poor (R<0.5) in 12/50 features, including eight co-occurrence features. Feature-to-feature correlations in 2D were marginally higher than 3D, ∣R∣>0.8 in 16% and 13% of all feature combinations, respectively. Larger sensitivity to reconstruction parameters were seen for inter-feature correlation in 2D(σ=6%) than 3D (σ<1%) extraction. Conclusion: Sensitivity and correlation of various texture features were shown to significantly differ between 2D and 3D extraction. Additionally, inter-feature correlations were more sensitive to reconstruction variation using single-plane extraction. This work highlights a need for standardized feature extraction/selection techniques in radiomics.« less

Silicon Dioxide Thin Film Mediated Single Cell Nucleic Acid Isolation

PubMed Central

Bogdanov, Evgeny; Dominova, Irina; Shusharina, Natalia; Botman, Stepan; Kasymov, Vitaliy; Patrushev, Maksim

2013-01-01

A limited amount of DNA extracted from single cells, and the development of single cell diagnostics make it necessary to create a new highly effective method for the single cells nucleic acids isolation. In this paper, we propose the DNA isolation method from biomaterials with limited DNA quantity in sample, and from samples with degradable DNA based on the use of solid-phase adsorbent silicon dioxide nanofilm deposited on the inner surface of PCR tube. PMID:23874571

A radiographic study of external apical root resorption in patients treated with single-phase fixed orthodontic therapy.

PubMed

Agarwal, S S; Chopra, S S; Kumar, Prasanna; Jayan, B; Nehra, K; Sharma, Mohit

2016-12-01

External apical root resorption (EARR) is one of the most common iatrogenic consequences of orthodontic tooth movement. Many factors like gender, duration, orthodontic force and duration of orthodontic treatment have been implicated to cause EARR. Pre- and post-treatment OPGs of 60 orthodontic patients (30 males and 30 females) who had undergone treatment with a single phase of fixed orthodontic therapy were randomly selected from institutional archives. The root apices were evaluated for EARR by a single operator on an radiograph viewing box at a standardized source of light using a four-grade ordinal scale. Anterior EARR was measured on the maxillary and mandibular canines. Posterior EARR was measured on premolars, mesiobuccal and distobuccal roots of maxillary first molars and mesial and distal roots of mandibular first molars. The results were compiled and subjected to statistical analysis. The cases in which the patients underwent therapeutic extraction had a relatively higher amount of EARR compared to the cases in which the patients were treated by non-extraction therapy ( P  < 0.001). Odds ratio indicated that extraction cases had two-fold increased risk of EARR than non-extraction cases ( P  < 0.001). No statistically significant difference was observed in the distribution of EARR based on gender or duration of orthodontic treatment ( P  > 0.05). Therapeutic extraction is an important determinant of post-treatment EARR. Gender and duration of orthodontic treatment may not be important variables in the causation of EARR according to the findings of this study. However, longitudinal studies with larger sample size are required to validate the results of this study.

Fiber-laser frequency combs for the generation of tunable single-frequency laser lines, mm- and THz-waves and sinc-shaped Nyquist pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schneider, Thomas

2015-03-01

High-quality frequency comb sources like femtosecond-lasers have revolutionized the metrology of fundamental physical constants. The generated comb consists of frequency lines with an equidistant separation over a bandwidth of several THz. This bandwidth can be broadened further to a super-continuum of more than an octave through propagation in nonlinear media. The frequency separation between the lines is defined by the repetition rate and the width of each comb line can be below 1 Hz, even without external stabilization. By extracting just one of these lines, an ultra-narrow linewidth, tunable laser line for applications in communications and spectroscopy can be generated. If two lines are extracted, the superposition of these lines in an appropriate photo-mixer produces high-quality millimeter- and THz-waves. The extraction of several lines can be used for the creation of almost-ideally sinc-shaped Nyquist pulses, which enable optical communications with the maximum-possible baud rate. Especially combs generated by low-cost, small-footprint fs-fiber lasers are very promising. However due to the resonator length, the comb frequencies have a typical separation of 80 - 100 MHz, far too narrow for the selection of single tones with standard optical filters. Here the extraction of single lines of an fs-fiber laser by polarization pulling assisted stimulated Brillouin scattering is presented. The application of these extracted lines as ultra-narrow, stable and tunable laser lines, for the generation of very high-quality mm and THz-waves with an ultra-narrow linewidth and phase noise and for the generation of sinc-shaped Nyquist pulses with arbitrary bandwidth and repetition rate is discussed.

Survival rates and bone loss after immediate loading of implants in fresh extraction sockets (single gaps). A clinical prospective study with 4 year follow-up

PubMed Central

Wojtovicz, Eduardo; España-Lopez, Antonio; Jimenez-Guerra, Alvaro; Monsalve-Guil, Loreto; Ortiz-Garcia, Ivan; Serrera-Figallo, Maria-Angeles

2018-01-01

Background The aim of this prospective study was to report the outcome of treatment with implants inserted after tooth extraction and immediately loaded. Material and Methods Fifty-six patients with single tooth loss were treated with 116 IPX Galimplant® implants with internal connections and a sandblasted, acid-etched surface. All implants were placed after tooth extraction using a flapless approach without bone regeneration, and they were then immediately loaded with cemented acrylic prostheses. After a period of three months, definitive cemented ceramic prostheses were placed. Patients were examined throughout a total of 4 years of follow-up. Marginal bone loss and survival rates were evaluated using digital periapical radiographs, taking into account clinical variables such as age, gender, smoking, history of periodontitis, etiology of extraction, placement site, diameter, and implant length. The Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric tests were used to compare differences between subgroups created based on the different clinical variables identified. Results Clinical results indicate an implant survival and success rate of 97.4%. Three implants were lost. Of the 116 immediate acrylic single crowns initially placed, 113 were replaced with definitive ceramic crowns after 3 months. A total of 77.8% of implants were inserted in the maxilla, while 22.2% were inserted in the mandible. No further complications were reported after the follow-up period (4 years). The mean marginal bone loss was 0.67 mm ± 0.40 mm. No differences were found among the subgroups of study patients. Conclusions This study indicates that dental implants that are inserted after tooth extraction and immediately loaded may constitute a successful and predictable alternative implant treatment. Key words:Dental implants, post-extraction implants, fresh sockets, immediate loading, immediate prostheses, implant dentistry. PMID:29476669

Scalar Dissipation Modeling for Passive and Active Scalars: a priori Study Using Direct Numerical Simulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Selle, L. C.; Bellan, Josette

2006-01-01

Transitional databases from Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) of three-dimensional mixing layers for single-phase flows and two-phase flows with evaporation are analyzed and used to examine the typical hypothesis that the scalar dissipation Probability Distribution Function (PDF) may be modeled as a Gaussian. The databases encompass a single-component fuel and four multicomponent fuels, two initial Reynolds numbers (Re), two mass loadings for two-phase flows and two free-stream gas temperatures. Using the DNS calculated moments of the scalar-dissipation PDF, it is shown, consistent with existing experimental information on single-phase flows, that the Gaussian is a modest approximation of the DNS-extracted PDF, particularly poor in the range of the high scalar-dissipation values, which are significant for turbulent reaction rate modeling in non-premixed flows using flamelet models. With the same DNS calculated moments of the scalar-dissipation PDF and making a change of variables, a model of this PDF is proposed in the form of the (beta)-PDF which is shown to approximate much better the DNS-extracted PDF, particularly in the regime of the high scalar-dissipation values. Several types of statistical measures are calculated over the ensemble of the fourteen databases. For each statistical measure, the proposed (beta)-PDF model is shown to be much superior to the Gaussian in approximating the DNS-extracted PDF. Additionally, the agreement between the DNS-extracted PDF and the (beta)-PDF even improves when the comparison is performed for higher initial Re layers, whereas the comparison with the Gaussian is independent of the initial Re values. For two-phase flows, the comparison between the DNS-extracted PDF and the (beta)-PDF also improves with increasing free-stream gas temperature and mass loading. The higher fidelity approximation of the DNS-extracted PDF by the (beta)-PDF with increasing Re, gas temperature and mass loading bodes well for turbulent reaction rate modeling.

Slip Activity in Single Grains Extracted from Polycrystalline Specimen by X-Ray Line Broadening (Preprint)

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-01-01

4 6 8 0.005 0.010 -101-3 -110-2 1-10-2F W H M [ 1 /n m ] K [ 1/nm ] Gr #44 Gr #50 Gr #72 -101-1 1-101 (a...0 2 4 6 0.000 0.005 0.010 (b) K2Ccalc [ 1/nm ] FW H M [ 1 /n m ] Gr #44 Gr #50 Gr #72 17 Figure 5. The FWHM (in 1/nm scales) in...Preprint 01 January 2010 – 01 January 2010 4 . TITLE AND SUBTITLE SLIP ACTIVITY IN SINGLE GRAINS EXTRACTED FROM POLYCRYSTALLINE SPECIMEN BY X-RAY

Ionization Electron Signal Processing in Single Phase LArTPCs II. Data/Simulation Comparison and Performance in MicroBooNE

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

Adams, C.; et al.

The single-phase liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC) provides a large amount of detailed information in the form of fine-grained drifted ionization charge from particle traces. To fully utilize this information, the deposited charge must be accurately extracted from the raw digitized waveforms via a robust signal processing chain. Enabled by the ultra-low noise levels associated with cryogenic electronics in the MicroBooNE detector, the precise extraction of ionization charge from the induction wire planes in a single-phase LArTPC is qualitatively demonstrated on MicroBooNE data with event display images, and quantitatively demonstrated via waveform-level and track-level metrics. Improved performance of inductionmore » plane calorimetry is demonstrated through the agreement of extracted ionization charge measurements across different wire planes for various event topologies. In addition to the comprehensive waveform-level comparison of data and simulation, a calibration of the cryogenic electronics response is presented and solutions to various MicroBooNE-specific TPC issues are discussed. This work presents an important improvement in LArTPC signal processing, the foundation of reconstruction and therefore physics analyses in MicroBooNE.« less

Multiplex polymerase chain reaction on FTA cards vs. flow cytometry for B-lymphocyte clonality.

PubMed

Dictor, Michael; Skogvall, Ingela; Warenholt, Janina; Rambech, Eva

2007-01-01

Two-colour flow cytometry was compared with multiplex PCR with capillary electrophoresis for clonality determination in specific categories of B-cell lymphoma. FTA cards were evaluated for preserving DNA from node imprints and expediting molecular analysis. A single-tube multiplex PCR targeted IGH and lymphoma-specific translocations in DNA extracted from 180 frozen lymphoid tissues and DNA bound to FTA cards from 192 fresh tissues and 137 aspirates. PCR results were compared with flow cytometry in the extracted and aspirated samples. Overall, single-tube multiplex PCR sensitivity was equivalent in the sample groups (intergroup range 79%-91%). False negatives were associated with tumour origin in the follicle centre. Multiplex PCR and flow cytometry were equally sensitive and together detected 98% of B-cell lymphomas. Additional two-tube targeting of IGK suggested an overall molecular sensitivity >90%. False positive (pseudoclonal) single-tube multiplex PCR was associated with necrosis and sparse lymphocytes. Multiplex PCR using template DNA bound to an FTA card effectively detects B-lymphocyte clonality, obviates DNA extraction and refrigeration, and can be used without diminished sensitivity in fine needle aspirates or node imprints as a replacement for or complement to flow cytometry at any point in the diagnostic work-up.

Final state interactions and the extraction of neutron single spin asymmetries from semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering by a transversely polarized 3He target

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Del Dotto, A.; Kaptari, L. P.; Pace, E.; Salmè, G.; Scopetta, S.

2017-12-01

The semi-inclusive deep-inelastic electron scattering off transversely polarized 3He, i.e., the process e +3He ⃗→e'+h +X , with h being a detected fast hadron, is studied beyond the plane-wave impulse approximation. To this end, a distorted spin-dependent spectral function of a nucleon inside an A =3 nucleus is actually evaluated through a generalized eikonal approximation, in order to take into account the final state interactions between the hadronizing system and the (A -1 ) nucleon spectator one. Our realistic description of both nuclear target and final state is a substantial step forward for achieving a reliable extraction of the Sivers and Collins single spin asymmetries of the free neutron. To illustrate how and to what extent the model dependence due to the treatment of the nuclear effects is under control, we apply our approach to the extraction procedure of the neutron single spin asymmetries from those measured for 3He for values of the kinematical variables relevant both for forthcoming experiments at Jefferson Laboratory and, with an exploratory purpose, for the future Electron Ion Collider.

DAPNe with micro-capillary separatory chemistry-coupled to MALDI-MS for the analysis of polar and non-polar lipid metabolism in one cell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hamilton, Jason S.; Aguilar, Roberto; Petros, Robby A.; Verbeck, Guido F.

2017-05-01

The cellular metabolome is considered to be a representation of cellular phenotype and cellular response to changes to internal or external events. Methods to expand the coverage of the expansive physiochemical properties that makeup the metabolome currently utilize multi-step extractions and chromatographic separations prior to chemical detection, leading to lengthy analysis times. In this study, a single-step procedure for the extraction and separation of a sample using a micro-capillary as a separatory funnel to achieve analyte partitioning within an organic/aqueous immiscible solvent system is described. The separated analytes are then spotted for MALDI-MS imaging and distribution ratios are calculated. Initially, the method is applied to standard mixtures for proof of partitioning. The extraction of an individual cell is non-reproducible; therefore, a broad chemical analysis of metabolites is necessary and will be illustrated with the one-cell analysis of a single Snu-5 gastric cancer cell taken from a cellular suspension. The method presented here shows a broad partitioning dynamic range as a single-step method for lipid analysis demonstrating a decrease in ion suppression often present in MALDI analysis of lipids.

Extracting cancer cell line electrochemical parameters at the single cell level using a microfabricated device.

PubMed

Alqabandi, Jassim A; Abdel-Motal, Ussama M; Youcef-Toumi, Kamal

2009-02-01

Cancer cells have distinctive electrochemical properties. This work sheds light on the system design aspects and key challenges that should be considered when experimentally analyzing and extracting the electrical characteristics of a tumor cell line. In this study, we developed a cellularbased functional microfabricated device using lithography technology. This device was used to investigate the electrochemical parameters of cultured cancer cells at the single-cell level. Using impedance spectroscopy analyses, we determined the average specific capacitance and resistance of the membrane of the cancer cell line B16-F10 to be 1.154 +/- 0.29 microF/cm(2), and 3.9 +/- 1.15 KOmega.cm(2) (mean +/- SEM, n =14 cells), respectively. The consistency of our findings via different trails manifests the legitimacy of our experimental procedure. Furthermore, the data were compared with a proposed constructed analytical-circuit model. The results of this work may greatly assist researchers in defining an optimal procedure while extracting electrical properties of cancer cells. Detecting electrical signals at the single cell level could lead to the development of novel approaches for analysis of malignant cells in human tissues and biopsies.