Artificial,molecular-based light-harvesting antenna systems made of metal dendrimers and multibodipy species

Artificial photosynthesis is expected to include the development of light-harvesting antenna systems, similarly to what Natural Photosynthesis does. Here some basic requirements for designing synthetic light-harvesting antennae are presented, together with the results obtained by our team in the last few decades on light-harvesting antennae based on metal dendrimers or made of multibodipy species.     

Quantification of midazolam,morphine and metabolites in plasma using 96‐well solid‐phase extraction and ultra‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

Currently, pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic studies of sedatives and analgesics are performed in neonates and children to find suitable dose regimens. As a result, sensitive assays using only small volumes of blood are necessary to determine drug and metabolite concentrations. We developed an ultra‐performance liquid chromatographic method with tandem mass spectrometry detection for quantification of midazolam, 1‐hydroxymidazolam, hydroxymidazolamglucuronide, morphine, morphine‐3‐glucuronide and morphine‐6‐glucuronide in 100 μL of plasma. Cleanup consisted of 96 wells micro‐solid phase extraction, before reversed‐phase chromatographic separation (ultra‐performance liquid chromatography) and selective detection using electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. Separate solid‐phase extraction methods were necessary to quantify morphine, midazolam and their metabolites because of each group's physicochemical properties. Standard curves were linear over a large dynamic range with adequate limits of quantitation. Intra‐ and interrun accuracy and precision were within 85–115% (of nominal concentration using a fresh calibration curve) and 15% (coefficient of variation, CV) respectively. Recoveries were >80% for all analytes, with interbatch CVs (as a measure of matrix effects) of less than 15% over six batches of plasma. Stability in plasma and extracts was sufficient, allowing large autosampler loads. Runtime was 3.00 min per sample for each method. The combination of 96‐well micro‐SPE and UPLC‐MS/MS allows reliable quantification of morphine, midazolam and their major metabolites in 100 μL of plasma. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Closely packed dense frequency selective surface

In order to realize wideband filtering properties of frequency selective surface （FSS）, FSS of closely packed elements is presented. The Y loop elements are chosen as the graphics elements. Based on the spectral domain method, the frequency response is analyzed for different incident angles and polarizations. The result of the numerical analysis shows that the dense FSS has wide passband with better independence of angle and polarization.     

Field of View Increase for Optical Heterodyne Receivers

The field of view of optical heterodyne systems are usually limited by a simple criterion- namely, that A_RR ², where A_R is an effective aperture, _R the corresponding field of view and the optical wavelength. This paper will demonstrate that with a simple change of systems geometry and the possible use of array detectors, this severe restriction can be alleviated considerably and, in some cases, eliminated. Both coherent sources and thermal radiation sources are considered. This might suggest that heterodyne systems that were eliminated in the past because of that criterion alone, could turn out to be, not only possible, but even advantageous compared to other techniques.     

A Novel UWB Antenna with Small Side-Leakage

A successful design for a UWB (ultra-wideband antennas) antenna based on NRD-guide (nonradiative dielectric waveguide) with small side-leakage is presented. The rule of the theoretical selection of its parameters, if NRD-guide is used as the UWB antennas, is studied firstly, then the temporal propagation characteristics of the NRD-guide and the radiation characteristics for an tapered open-ended NRD-guide are calculated by FDTD (finite-difference time-domain) method.     

The Method of Angular Line to Calculate Eigenvalues for Microstrip Antennas

The method of angular line (MAL) is presented for calculating the resonant frequency of microstrip antenna, which is available in other literature and originally used to analyze various waveguide structure. The results obtained by using this method are in conformity with those reported elsewhere.     

Novel Broadband Reflectarray Antenna with Windmill-Shaped Elements for Millimeter-Wave Application

A novel broadband millimeter-wave reflectarray antenna composed of windmill-shaped elements of variable lengths is proposed. Compared to the conventional single-layer reflectarray elements, the windmill-shaped elements can realize much larger phase variation range (over 600°), leading to broader bandwidth. Using this technique, a 15°-beam-steering reflectarray operating at 30 GHz is designed. The computed results demonstrate the agreement of the main beam steering with the design requirement, and a 1-dB gain bandwidth close to 20% is obtained. The validity of the obtained results is verified by comparing the ones generated by Ansoft High Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS) with those produced by Ansoft Designer. The antenna is useful for millimeter-wave applications. This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 90505001), the High-Tech Research and Development Program of China (No. 2006AA01Z275), and the Creative Research Group Program of UESTC.     

A Novel Implementation Technique of Conical Scan Radar Using A Programmable Phased Array

In radar, planar phased array antenna plays vital role in electronic scanning in the azimuth and elevation direction to the horizon. In most operations using planar phased array both the coordinates of azimuth and elevation, are steered electronically. In this paper a conceptual schematic of a phased array antenna with programmable time delay units has been presented. It is shown that by suitably exploiting the time delay matrix one can have electronic beam rotation around the target axis as required in conical scan. Thus both the elevation and azimuth motors in conical scan system are replaced by electronic scanning. Heuristically, we have selected eight consecutive points for beam rotation in a polygon shape and can also be extended almost circular shape by increasing number of array elements and phase shifter (delays) in the delay matrix. The array requires dual control of phase gradient and individual phase values. The whole array is controlled by micro-controller. This presents exciting possibilities in radar operation.     

Development and Application of Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography Method to the Quantification of the Biotransformation of Methyl Paraben in Eisenia foetida

A simple and quick ultra performance liquid chromatography method (UPLC) has been developed for determination of methyl paraben (MP) and its major metabolites p‐hydroxybenzoic acid (pHBA) and phenol (Phe), following its biotransformations in Eisenia foetida. After different exposure time to paper contact test, the presence of methyl paraben and his biotransformation products in adult earthworms was monitored. Determination of its metabolites was achieved with a BEH (bridged ethane‐silicon hybrid) C₁₈ column (2.1×50 mm i.d., 1.7 µm particle size), using methanol/water/phosphoric acid as mobile phase, under a gradient elution program, and a PDA (photo‐diode array) detection (quantification with MaxPlot in the range 210–400 nm). The absorption of MP did not exceed 30% and in the first 4–6 h after exposure only minute amounts of pHBA and Phe were detected in the worm homogenates. After 48 h of exposures, almost 70% of absorbed MP was already metabolized to Phe and around 20% could be found as pHBA.     

Analysis of Electromagnetic Scattering from Plasma Antenna Using CG-FFT Method

A gaseous plasma column as an efficient radiator of electromagnetic waves is well known. This paper presents the scattering analysis of a plasma antenna using the conjugate gradient fast Fourier transform (CG-FFT) method. Radar cross sections (RCS) of designed plasma antenna for different plasma parameters are computed mainly. Numerical results show that the plasma antenna with appropriate parameters can offer lower RCS than the metal one. It is evident from the observed scattering characteristics that the plasma antenna can be regarded as a rod of imperfect conductor with losses.