Electrospraying route to nanotechnology: An overview

Electrospraying (electrohydrodynamic spraying) is a method of liquid atomization by means of electrical forces. In electrospraying, the liquid at the outlet of a nozzle is subjected to an electrical shear stress by maintaining the nozzle at high electric potential. The advantage of electrospraying is that droplets can be extremely small, in special cases down to nanometers, and the charge and size of the droplets can be controlled to some extent by electrical means, i.e., by adjusting the flow rate and voltage applied to the nozzle. Due to its properties, electrospraying is considered as an effective route to nanotechnology. The paper considers the latest achievements in micro- and nano-thin-film production, including self-assembled nanostructures, in solid nano-particle generation, and in the formation of micro- and nanocapsules.     

Refining search terms for nanotechnology

The ability to delineate the boundaries of an emerging technology is central to obtaining an understanding of the technology’s research paths and commercialization prospects. Nowhere is this more relevant than in the case of nanotechnology (hereafter identified as “nano”) given its current rapid growth and multidisciplinary nature. (Under the rubric of nanotechnology, we also include nanoscience and nanoengineering.) Past efforts have utilized several strategies, including simple term search for the prefix nano, complex lexical and citation-based approaches, and bootstrapping techniques. This research introduces a modularized Boolean approach to defining nanotechnology which has been applied to several research and patenting databases. We explain our approach to downloading and cleaning data, and report initial results. Comparisons of this approach with other nanotechnology search formulations are presented. Implications for search strategy development and profiling of the nanotechnology field are discussed.

German innovation initiative for nanotechnology

In many areas of nanotechnology, Germany can count on a good knowledge basis due to its diverse activities in nanosciences. This knowledge basis, when paired with the production and sales structures needed for implementation and the internationally renowned German talent for system integration, should consequently lead to success in the marketplace. And this is exactly the field of application for the innovation initiative Nanotechnologie erobert Märkte (nanotechnology conquers markets) and for the new BMBF strategy in support of nanotechnology. Until now, aspects of nanotechnology have been advanced within the confines of their respective technical subject areas. However, the primary aim of incorporating them into an overall national strategy is to build on Germanys well-developed and internationally competitive research in science and technology to tap the potential of Germanys important industrial sectors for the application of nanotechnology through joint research projects (leading-edge innovations) that strategically target the value-added chain. This development is to be supported by government education policy to remedy a threatening shortage of skilled professionals. To realize that goal, forward-looking political policymaking must become oriented to a uniform concept of innovation, one that takes into consideration all facets of new technological advances that can contribute to a new culture of innovation in Germany. And that includes education and research policy as well as a climate that encourages and supports innovation in science, business and society.     

An adaptive reservation scheme for optical network

In this paper, the various Optical Burst Switching (OBS) reservation schemes have been examined in order to reduce data loss caused by either channel scheduling or resources. A novel multi-service OBS edge node with synchronized bandwidth reservation mechanism (SRM) has been proposed, which enables high-speed network transport nodes to dynamically reserve bandwidth needed for active data burst flows. The performance of the proposed mechanism is evaluated by means of NS-2 simulation. The results show that the packet delay is kept within the constraint for each traffic flow and the performance metrics such as burst loss rate, throughput and fairness are remarkably improved.     

Projection electron beam lithography for nanotechnology

The parameters of projection electron beam lithography were investigated and a resolution analysis was performed. It was shown that at least three optimization parameters must be considered in the process: the field size, the focal distance, and the angle on the target. Optimization was performed with allowance for the contribution of stochastic aberration.     

An all-optical parallel scheme for the exclusive-or operation

In this letter, we propose an all-optical parallel scheme for the exclusive-or (XOR) logic processing, in which the bright and dark pixels of an image source are adopted to represent the binary data. Two orthogonally polarized coherent light beams are overlapped using a 50/50 beam splitter, and are then checked using a polarization analyzer. The distribution of light intensity of final output image is the result of the XOR logic operation on the input pixels.     

An optimized spectral difference scheme for CAA problems

In the implementation of spectral difference (SD) method, the conserved variables at the flux points are calculated from the solution points using extrapolation or interpolation schemes. The errors incurred in using extrapolation and interpolation would result in instability. On the other hand, the difference between the left and right conserved variables at the edge interface will introduce dissipation to the SD method when applying a Riemann solver to compute the flux at the element interface. In this paper, an optimization of the extrapolation and interpolation schemes for the fourth order SD method on quadrilateral element is carried out in the wavenumber space through minimizing their dispersion error over a selected band of wavenumbers. The optimized coefficients of the extrapolation and interpolation are presented. And the dispersion error of the original and optimized schemes is plotted and compared. An improvement of the dispersion error over the resolvable wavenumber range of SD method is obtained. The stability of the optimized fourth order SD scheme is analyzed. It is found that the stability of the 4th order scheme with Chebyshev–Gauss–Lobatto flux points, which is originally weakly unstable, has been improved through the optimization. The weak instability is eliminated completely if an additional second order filter is applied on selected flux points. One and two dimensional linear wave propagation analyses are carried out for the optimized scheme. It is found that in the resolvable wavenumber range the new SD scheme is less dispersive and less dissipative than the original scheme, and the new scheme is less anisotropic for 2D wave propagation. The optimized SD solver is validated with four computational aeroacoustics (CAA) workshop benchmark problems. The numerical results with optimized schemes agree much better with the analytical data than those with the original schemes.     

An unsplit staggered mesh scheme for multidimensional magnetohydrodynamics

We introduce an unsplit staggered mesh scheme (USM) for multidimensional magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) that uses a constrained transport (CT) method with high-order Godunov fluxes and incorporates a new data reconstruction–evolution algorithm for second-order MHD interface states. In this new algorithm, the USM scheme includes so-called “multidimensional MHD terms”, proportional to $?·\mathbf{B}$, in a dimensionally-unsplit way in a single update. This data reconstruction–evolution step, extended from the corner transport upwind (CTU) approach of Colella, maintains in-plane dynamics very well, as shown by the advection of a very weak magnetic field loop in 2D. This data reconstruction–evolution algorithm is also of advantage in its consistency and simplicity when extended to 3D. The scheme maintains the $?·\mathbf{B}=0$ constraint by solving a set of discrete induction equations using the standard CT approach, where the accuracy of the computed electric field directly influences the quality of the magnetic field solution. We address the lack of proper dissipative behavior in the simple electric field averaging scheme and present a new modified electric field construction (MEC) that includes multidimensional derivative information and enhances solution accuracy. A series of comparison studies demonstrates the excellent performance of the full USM–MEC scheme for many stringent multidimensional MHD test problems chosen from the literature. The scheme is implemented and currently freely available in the University of Chicago ASC FLASH Center’s FLASH3 release.     

An efficient cell-centered diffusion scheme for quadrilateral grids

A new algorithm for solution of diffusion equations in two dimensions on structured quadrilateral grids is proposed. The algorithm is based on a semi-implicit method for the time discretization and has a nine-point local stencil in space. Our scheme is fast, quite accurate and demonstrates good spatial convergence. The presented numerical tests show that it is well suited for hydrocodes with cell-centered principal variables.     

An equilibrium-conserving taxation scheme for income from capital

Under conditions of market equilibrium, the distribution of capital income follows a Pareto power law, with an exponent that characterizes the given equilibrium. Here, a simple taxation scheme is proposed such that the post-tax capital income distribution remains an equilibrium distribution, albeit with a different exponent. This taxation scheme is shown to be progressive, and its parameters can be simply derived from (i) the total amount of tax that will be levied, (ii) the threshold selected above which capital income will be taxed and (iii) the total amount of capital income. The latter can be obtained either by using Piketty’s estimates of the capital/labor income ratio or by fitting the initial Pareto exponent. Both ways moreover provide a check on the amount of declared income from capital.     

An adaptive GRP scheme for compressible fluid flows

This paper presents a second-order accurate adaptive generalized Riemann problem (GRP) scheme for one and two dimensional compressible fluid flows. The current scheme consists of two independent parts: Mesh redistribution and PDE evolution. The first part is an iterative procedure. In each iteration, mesh points are first redistributed, and then a conservative interpolation formula is used to calculate the cell-averages and the slopes of conservative variables on the resulting new mesh. The second part is to evolve the compressible fluid flows on a fixed nonuniform mesh with the Eulerian GRP scheme, which is directly extended to two-dimensional arbitrary quadrilateral meshes. Several numerical examples show that the current adaptive GRP scheme does not only improve the resolution as well as accuracy of numerical solutions with a few mesh points, but also reduces possible errors or oscillations effectively.     

An international nanoscience advisory board to improve and harmonize nanotechnology oversight

As governments around the world begin to implement regulations aimed at controlling nanotechnology, those regulations should be based upon the best available science, applied as consistently as possible within jurisdictions and, to the extent feasible, across jurisdictions. These goals would be easier to achieve with the creation of an international nanoscience advisory board. Such a body could be modeled on similar international scientific advisory bodies for other issues, such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. Such a body should also take into account lessons learned from these similar organizations. An international nanoscience advisory board could assist regulatory bodies by providing a central source of accurate scientific information about the risks and benefits of nanotechnology, including relevant uncertainties, rather than having each regulatory body make these determinations independently. An international nanoscience advisory board could facilitate harmonization within and between jurisdictions by involving the top experts in the field to produce a centralized knowledge base for regulatory decisions. While an international nanoscience advisory board presents many potential benefits, it also faces significant difficulties, which are best illustrated by examining the history and challenges of existing international science advisory bodies.     

Responsible nanotechnology development

Chelated gadolinium ions, e.g., Gd-DTPA, are today used clinically as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An attractive alternative contrast agent is composed of gadolinium oxide nanoparticles as they have shown to provide enhanced contrast and, in principle, more straightforward molecular capping possibilities. In this study, we report a new, simple, and polyol-free way of synthesizing 4?C5-nm-sized Gd₂O₃ nanoparticles at room temperature, with high stability and water solubility. The nanoparticles induce high-proton relaxivity compared to Gd-DTPA showing r ₁ and r ₂ values almost as high as those for free Gd³⁺ ions in water. The Gd₂O₃ nanoparticles are capped with acetate and carbonate groups, as shown with infrared spectroscopy, near-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and combined thermogravimetric and mass spectroscopy analysis. Interpretation of infrared spectroscopy data is corroborated by extensive quantum chemical calculations. This nanomaterial is easily prepared and has promising properties to function as a core in a future contrast agent for MRI.     

An extended scheme for counting fluorescent molecules by photon-antibunching

Acquisition of quantitative information from microscopic biological samples is highly desirable in the context of the emerging field of systems biology. We derive a statistical approach to estimate the number of fluorescent molecules in the observation volume based on a confocal microscope for single-molecule detection. The method employs ps-pulsed laser sources for excitation and time-correlated single-photon counting with 4 avalanche photon diodes (APDs) for detection of individual photons. The feasibility for estimating the number of molecules is shown based on simultaneous emission and detection of multiple photons (photon-antibunching) under realistic experimental conditions. In theory, it should be possible to estimate the number of molecules with errors of less than 1% by using novel photo-stabilizing agents. The proposed method puts into perspective its application for high-resolution microscopy without the need for photo-switching or photo-activation of fluorescence dyes.     

An unconditionally stable rotational velocity-correction scheme for incompressible flows

We present an unconditionally stable splitting scheme for incompressible Navier–Stokes equations based on the rotational velocity-correction formulation. The main advantages of the scheme are: (i) it allows the use of time step sizes considerably larger than the widely-used semi-implicit type schemes: the time step size is only constrained by accuracy; (ii) it does not require the velocity and pressure approximation spaces to satisfy the usual inf–sup condition: in particular, the equal-order finite element/spectral element approximation spaces can be used; (iii) it only requires solving a pressure Poisson equation and a linear convection–diffusion equation at each time step. Numerical tests indicate that the computational cost of the new scheme for each time step, under identical time step sizes, is even less expensive than the semi-implicit scheme with low element orders. Therefore, the total computational cost of the new scheme can be significantly less than the usual semi-implicit scheme.     

Voigt-function evaluation using a two-dimensional interpolation scheme

A method of evaluating the Voigt function for the shape of spectral lines is described. The method relies on interpolation from a two-dimensional table using simply-transformed coordinates. High-level mathematical functions are avoided wherever possible, and no series summations are made. The relative error on a 400 by 100 table is less than 3 × 10^?3 over the region where the interpolation method is faster than other expansions. Computing speed is comparable to that of built-in scientific functions.     

Position control and optical manipulation for nanotechnology applications

During the last decade, great advances have been made concerning the construction and manipulation of nanostructures. As a consequence, nanometer stability and control of the sample position have became crucial points. For this purpose, we have built an optical microscope with high mechanic stability and we have implemented a feedback system in order to compensate thermal drifts. We demonstrate the system stability to be within one nanometer, with a control on the sample position of some micrometers, along the three spatial directions. The sample can be manipulated optically by means of a multiple optical tweezers setup and its displacements measured with a 3D position detector. We discuss and characterize the system properties thoroughly. We finally test the apparatus on a bio-molecular system constituted by a single myosin motor interacting with an actin filament.     

An approximation scheme for scalar waves in a Kerr geometry

An approximation scheme, analogous to ones previously considered for the Schwarzschild and Reissner-Nordström geometries, is applied to scalar waves in a Kerr geometry. Spectral curves of transmission coefficient for monochromatic, axially symmetric scalar waves imploding on a rotating black hole are calculated using the approximation scheme.Research supported in part by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada.