Natural and artificial light-harvesting systems utilizing the functions of carotenoids

Carotenoids are essential pigments in natural photosynthesis. They absorb in the blue–green region of the solar spectrum and transfer the absorbed energy to (bacterio-)chlorophylls, and so expand the wavelength range of light that is able to drive photosynthesis. This process is an example of singlet–singlet energy transfer and so carotenoids serve to enhance the overall efficiency of photosynthetic light reactions. Carotenoids also act to protect photosynthetic organisms from the harmful effects of excess exposure to light. In this case, triplet–triplet energy transfer from (bacterio-)chlorophyll to carotenoid plays a key role in this photoprotective reaction. In the light-harvesting pigment–protein complexes from purple photosynthetic bacteria and chlorophytes, carotenoids have an additional role, namely the structural stabilization of those complexes. In this article we review what is currently known about how carotenoids discharge these functions. The molecular architecture of photosynthetic systems will be outlined to provide a basis from which to describe the photochemistry of carotenoids, which underlies most of their important functions in photosynthesis. Then, the possibility to utilize the functions of carotenoids in artificial photosynthetic light-harvesting systems will be discussed. Some examples of the model systems are introduced.     

Raman spectroscopic probing of plant material using SERS

We report surface‐enhanced Raman studies on intact plant material using onion layers as a biological target, and silver nanoaggregates and silver island films as enhancing plasmonic structures. Surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) enhancement allows the detection of strong Raman signatures of chemical constituents of the surface of the onion layer such as cellulose, proteins, and flavonols. Because of long‐time incubation, SERS sensors can access the extracellular space in the inner of the layer. The location of silver nanoparticles inside the onion layer has been monitored by the SERS images collected from chemicals present in the onion and/or reporter molecules attached to the nanoparticles. Our studies show a competitive adsorption of intrinsic bio molecules of the onion layer and reporter molecules. Different spectra from different places of the layer indicate the complex heterogeneous chemical structure of the plant material. The pH‐sensitive reporter molecule para mercapto benzoic acid attached to the nanoparticles allows us to infer pH values inside the extracellular matrix of the onion layer. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Estimating deflection of a simple beam model using fiber optic bragg-grating sensors

In this paper, we develop a method to estimate the bridge deflection using fiber optic Bragg-grating (FBG) strain sensors. For most structural evaluation of bridge integrity, it is very important to measure the geometric profile, which is a major factor representing the global behavior of civil structures, especially bridges. In the past, because of the lack of appropriate methods to measure the deflection curve of bridges on site, the measurement of deflection has been restricted to just a few discrete points along the bridge, and the measuring points have been limited to the locations installed with displacement transducers. However, by applying classical beam theory, a formula is rearranged to estimate the continuously deflected profile by using strains measured directly from several points. In addition, FBG strain sensors, which are electromagnetic, noise-free and multipoint measurable, are employed to obtain flexural strains more accurately and stably. The regression analysis is performed to obtain a strain function from the measured strain data. Finally, the deflection curve can be estimated by applying the strain function to the formula. An experimental test has also been carried out to verify the developed method.     

跳马项目的三维实时动态测量系统

为跳马项目研究的电测系统中引入数字信号处理的传递函数及频谱分析的方法,采集和处理了因人体冲击三维力对信号的耦合干扰造成的十分复杂的响应信号,具有较高的动态测试精度.可以获得跳马动作的全部运动生物力学参数.现已用于中国国家体操队进行计算机辅助训炼.     

基于光纤智能夹层传感结构的应力测量研究

制作了一种模块化的光纤传感夹层,对夹层内的光纤传感器的应力特性进行了实验研究。分析了应变对传感系数的影响,对埋入到光纤智能夹层中的两种光纤传感器的输出特性进行了比较。实验结果表明:光纤Bragg光栅传感器的波长漂移与应变之间具有理想的线性关系,但应变灵敏度由1.2pm/με降至1.15pm/με;由于制作工艺的局限,对于非本征F-P光纤传感器,当应变达到350με后,应变与载荷具有较好的线性响应。与非本征F-P光纤传感器相比,光纤Bragg光栅传感器是光纤智能夹层首选的应变传感器。将埋入了Bragg光栅传感器的智能夹层粘贴于某型飞机的翼-身连接构件内部进行监测,实验结果为光纤智能夹层应用于复合材料结构的应变监测提供了参考。     

捷联惯导系统(SINS)敏感器斜向配置技术

以四个敏感器的冗余系统为例，对采用冗余敏感器的惯导系统的可靠性进行了分析，对四个敏感器构成的捷联惯导系统的可靠性进行了仿真实验，验证了冗余敏感器可以提高系统可靠性结论的正确性。中给出非正交敏感器测量值向惯导系统正交坐标系转化的方法和转换矩阵。最后对冗余敏感器的配置方式进行了分析。通过仿真实验，得到敏感器最佳配置的条件。     

光纤检测系统在燃气管道应力、位移实验分析中的应用

城市燃气管道是城市基础设施的重要组成部分,由于城市路面车流量的增加、道路的路况以及管道本身材质的缺陷,在长期的工作环境下,埋入地下的管道受到了各种力的作用,其受力情况十分复杂。目前管道的埋深和管道本身的设计是根据设计人员的经验或者简单理论分析来确定的,遇到沉降因素复杂的特殊地段管道,其安全就不能保证,所以有必要进行实验分析。本文通过特殊地段管道的模拟试验,分析了在不同沉降因素作用下管道的安全性,试验中应用光纤检测系统及电测系统同时进行检测,两者的分析结果相近,为燃气管道沉降参数监测与预报系统的建立奠定实验基础。     

生物矿化法制备HgS/聚氨酯复合薄膜及其对Ba2+的传感性能

通过生物矿化法制备出HgS/聚氨酯纳米复合材料并用FTIR、SEM等对材料进行了表征. 研究发现聚氨酯分子可以控制HgS的成核和晶体生长. 聚氨酯的量子限域效应已通过紫外-可见光谱证实,在约291 nm处有明显的特征吸收峰. 荧光性能研究结果表明HgS/聚氨酯纳米粒子复合薄膜对Ba²⁺的存在十分敏感,少量的Ba²⁺会使荧光强度明显上升,水中常见离子几乎对此没有影响.     

基于荧光强度比值法可用于现场测量的低成本聚合物光纤温度传感器

基于荧光强度比值法,设计了一种使用两种荧光染料的光纤温度传感器.实验中,罗丹明B和罗丹明110分别为对温度敏感和对温度不敏感的荧光传感物质,利用聚合物光纤来传导激发光及接收荧光.由于两种染料的荧光谱峰相距60 nm,因此容易将二者对应的荧光谱分开.通过确定能代表两种染料的最优荧光光谱范围,获得具有良好线性度的温度-荧光强度标定曲线.实验研究了不同浓度的荧光染料对标定曲线的影响,当染料浓度为0.3 g/L时,可获得0.28℃的最小均方误差及0.0128/℃的灵敏度.此外,该传感器还具备一定的抗光源扰动和抗荧光染料漂白的能力.     

基于光纤锥级联结构的湿度传感器

提出了一种基于普通单模光纤粗锥级联结构的马赫-曾德尔干涉湿度传感器.将两根单模光纤对芯熔融成一个粗锥,并依次级联,形成光纤锥-单模光纤-光纤锥-单模光纤-光纤锥结构.外界环境湿度、温度的改变使传感器的纤芯基模和包层模的光程差发生改变,引起传感器干涉光谱发生变化.通过监测干涉谱波长和能量的变化实现对外界物理量的测量.实验结果表明,当空气中湿度在35~95%RH范围内变化时,传感器的湿度灵敏度为-0.065dB/%RH,线性度为0.997;当温度在30~80℃范围内变化时传感器的温度灵敏度为69.4pm/℃,线性度为0.998.该传感器可以避免温湿度的交叉影响,实现单参量的同时在线区分测量.