IKNO,a user facility for coherent terahertz and UV synchrotron radiation

IKNO (Innovation and KNOwledge) is a proposal for a multi‐user facility based on an electron storage ring optimized for the generation of coherent synchrotron radiation (CSR) in the terahertz frequency range, and of broadband incoherent synchrotron radiation ranging from the IR to the VUV. IKNO can be operated in an ultra‐stable CSR mode with photon flux in the terahertz frequency region up to nine orders of magnitude higher than in existing third‐generation light sources. Simultaneously to the CSR operation, broadband incoherent synchrotron radiation up to VUV frequencies is available at the beamline ports. The main characteristics of the IKNO storage and its performance in terms of CSR and incoherent synchrotron radiation are described in this paper. The proposed location for the infrastructure facility is Sardinia, Italy.     

Non-contact blood flow determination using a laser speckle method

An electro-optical device is described which allows the non-contact determination of the skin blood flow and its temporal course. As the laser light penetrates the skin, it is not only scattered from the epidermis but also from the moving red blood cells in the capillaries. The scattered light is time dependent and can be described in terms of the dynamic laser speckle effect. Measurements at the skin demonstrate that there is a so-called ‘involuntary body movement’ which must be taken into account when the measurement of the blood flow is determined. Theoretical considerations show a way to reduce the influence of this movement. Some measurements demonstrate the response of the device to blood flow variations.     

UV辐射光谱的光电测量研究

为了设计出符合要求的紫外产生材料和更好地对紫外光谱进行测量，提出了以原子材料为基础产生紫外光谱和采用紫外传感器测量紫外光谱的方法。这在对抗紫外制导方面具有十分重要的研究和实用价值。根据相关理论，重点对原子紫外光谱，尤其是碱金属原子核外电子的能量跃迁进行了分析和计算，列出了计算的谱线数据。介绍了目标紫外光谱的测量原理。在选用合适的紫外材料激发后，采用双光栅单色仪和紫外传感器进行测量。最后，给出了紫外传感器对紫外辐射的测量实验结果和测量曲线。     

紫外可调谐辐射的波长自动跟踪研究

脉冲染料激光器的可见光波段辐射通过共线倍频和非共线混频实现紫外波段的连续可调谐输出.本文报道了一种闭环跟踪方法;在调谐起始波长处,将取样光束在垂直相位匹配方向分割成等光强的两部分,然后在波长调谐时比较和平衡这两部分光强.对该方法在理论上作了分析并在实验中得到成功的验证.获得的自动跟踪效率大于90%.     

用BBO晶体产生196～228nm波长的紫外辐射

本文报道了用BBO晶体通过混频产生196～228nm可调谐紫外辐射的研究结果.产生200nm及222nm的量子转换效率分别为12%及23%,与理论计算值基本相符.     

Dendritic sidebranches of a binary system with enforced flow

In the present paper, the problem of sidebranches in the binary dendritic growth with enforced flow is studied. The positions of the first sidebranch and spacing of dendritic sidebranches are presented. For the neutral stable mode of dendritic growth, effects of various parameters on sidebranches are analysed. Our result shows that sidebranches are produced behind a critical point ξ'_C.     

Patterning of nanoparticulate transparent conductive ITO films using UV light irradiation and UV laser beam writing

Indium tin oxide (ITO) thin film is one of the most widely used as transparent conductive electrodes in all forms of flat panel display (FPD) and microelectronic devices. Suspension of already crystalline conductive ITO nanoparticles fully dispersed in alcohol was spun, after modifying with coupling agent, on glass substrates. The low cost, simple and versatile traditional photolithography process without complication of the photoresist layer was used for patterning ITO films. Using of UV light irradiation through mask and direct UV laser beam writing resulted in an accurate linear, sharp edge and very smooth patterns. Irradiated ITO film showed a high transparency (∼85%) in the visible region. The electrical sheet resistance decrease with increasing time of exposure to UV light and UV laser. Only 5 min UV light irradiation is enough to decrease the electrical sheet resistance down to 5 kΩ□.     

Optimization of a Dielectric Barrier Discharge for Pulsed UV Emission of XeCl at 308 nm

A pulsed dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) has been investigated in a wide range of experimental conditions with the purpose of optimization for XeCl excimer radiation. For that the following operation parameters had been considered: four different lamps of coaxial geometry with gas gaps in the range of 1.3 ‐ 6.5 mm; gas mixtures of xenon and chlorine containing admixtures of 1%, 2% and 4% Cl₂ at total filling pressures between 5 mbar and 600 mbar; voltage rise times of 20 ‐ 50 ns and voltage amplitudes of up to 12 kV. A maximum radiation pulse energy of 1.8 µ J has been detected at 310 ± 10 nm with an estimated radiation decay by three orders of magnitude within about 5 µ s. It was shown that the minimization of the voltage rise time is essential for enhancing the radiation pulse energy. Furthermore a correlation between the discharge geometry and the optimum pressure for maximum radiation output was observed. The decay characteristics of the excimer emission provides evidence of the harpoon reaction being the main channel of XeCl formation under our operation conditions (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Application of FT-based MMSE deconvolution method for cerebral blood flow measurement in patients with leukoaraiosis

Introduction

The bolus-tracking (BT) technique is the most popular perfusion-weighted (PW) dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI method used for estimating cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume and mean transit time. The BT technique uses a convolution model that establishes the input–output relationship between blood flow and the vascular tracer concentration. Singular value decomposition (SVD)- and Fourier transform (FT)-based deconvolution methods are popular and widely used for estimating PW MRI parameters. However, from the published literature, it appears that SVD is more widely accepted than other methods. In a previous article, an FT-based minimum mean-squared error (MMSE) technique was proposed and simulation experiments were performed to compare it with the well-established circular SVD (oSVD) method. In this study, the FT-based MMSE method has been used to estimate relative CBF (rCBF) in 13 patients with white matter lesions (WMLs) (leukoaraiosis), and results are compared with the widely used oSVD method.

Materials and Methods

Thirteen patients with leukoaraiosis were imaged on a 1.5-T Siemens whole-body scanner. After acquiring the localizer and structural scans consisting of FLAIR (fluid attenuated with inversion recovery), T₁-weighted and T₂-weighted images, perfusion study was implemented as part of the MRI protocol. For each patient and method, two values were calculated: (a) rCBF for normal white matter (NWM) ROI, obtained by dividing the average CBF value in NWM ROI with average CBF in gray matter (GM) ROI, and (b) rCBF for WML ROI, obtained by dividing the average CBF value in WML ROI with average CBF in GM ROI. Results for the two deconvolution methods were computed.

Results and Discussion

A significant (P<.05) decrease in estimated rCBF was observed in the WML in all the patients using the MMSE method, while for the oSVD method, the decrease was observed in all but one patient. Initial results suggest that the MMSE method is comparable to the oSVD method for estimating rCBF in NMW while it may be better than oSVD for estimating rCBF in lesions of low flow. Studies involving a larger patient population may be required to further validate the findings of this work.     

The influence of UV irradiation on the surface of chitosan films

The surface properties of chitosan films before and after UV-irradiation (λ = 254 nm and 248 nm, respectively) were investigated using the technique of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and by means of contact angle measurements allowing the calculation of surface free energy. Moreover, in order to determine the film mass changes, quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) measurements were performed. Measurements of the contact angle for diiodomethane (D), formamide (F) and glycerol (G) on the surface of chitosan films were made. The chemical and structural changes during UV irradiation were studied by FTIR-ATR spectroscopy.The contact angle and the surface free energy were altered by UV irradiation of chitosan films. The microscopy images have shown that the KrF excimer laser irradiation caused visible damages on the surface in comparison with the surface exposed to the mercury UV lamp. The surface modification of chitosan films can be achieved using both, the low intensity UV lamp and the excimer laser.     

散射大气对脉冲紫外光传输时间特性研究

介绍基于椭球坐标系的单次散射近似模型基础上,定量分析脉冲紫外光在散射大气中传输特性,具体讨论了传输距离及能见度等因素对脉冲紫外光传输特性的影响。最后开展了脉冲紫外光展宽初步实验研究,其实验结果与单次近似结果符合较好,从而指导了紫外光信息传输系统的设计工作。     

Synthesis of PMA stabilized silver nanoparticles by chemical reduction process under a two-step UV irradiation

Poly(methacrylic acid) (PMA) stabilized silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs), also used in the surface modification of clothing fibers, were fabricated via chemical reduction processes under UV irradiation. To obtain an uniform size distribution it has been designed a new “two-step” process which employs two different UV radiation densities in order to control the kinetics of NPs nucleation. The as produced nanoparticles were characterized by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and TEM microscopy. The results show the reduction of the Ag ions and the nanoparticles nucleation in the first step. In the second step, the final Ag NPs size distribution is controlled through a quick cross-linking of the PMA that freezes out any further modification. A narrow size distribution with more than 80% NPs smaller than 10 nm and none larger than 25 nm was obtained and the long-term stability (one month) of the colloidal solution was verified.     

一种适用于超声多普勒血流速度测量的混沌调频连续波的研究

虽然脉冲多普勒系统测量血流速度时,能够确定距离,但可测速度范围受频率混淆限制,同时多普勒信号的信噪比差．连续波多普勒系统提供了较高的多普勒信号的信噪比,并没有可测速度限制,但无法提供距离信息．线性调频及正弦调频连续波测量系统,能够提供拥有距离信息的高信噪比多普勒信号,同时杂波功率低,但由于多普勒信号频谱具有周期性,存在一定的距离模糊．针对存在的问题,提出基于混沌调频连续波的超声多普勒血流速度测量方法,它不仅具有较高的信噪比,而且由于多普勒信号频谱无周期性,因此不存在距离模糊．经过原理分析及仿真实验,验证了混沌调频连续波的有效性．     

Effects of UV radiation on the preparation of polypyrrole in the presence of hydrogen peroxide

Conductive polypyrrole was synthesized with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) as the oxidant. To promote the polymerization of pyrrole, UV radiation was employed. The effects of UV radiation on the preparation of polypyrrole were investigated. The polymerization of pyrrole was conducted with the H₂O₂ concentration in the range of 0.12–0.96?M and the H₂SO₄ concentration in the range of 6.8×10^?4–0.19?M. The structure characterization indicated that the product polypyrrole was overoxidized partly depending on the concentrations of H₂SO₄ and H₂O₂. The increase in H₂O₂ concentration led to a slight increase in the oxidation and overoxidation of polypyrrole, simultaneously. However, the increase in H₂SO₄ concentration effectively suppressed the overoxidation of polypyrrole. The morphology, conductivity and thermal stability of the products were also characterized.     

Possible use of provitamin D<Subscript>3</Subscript> photoisomerization for spectral dosimetry of bioactive antirachitic UV radiation

The possible use of a simplified UV absorption spectroscopic method for dosimetry of bioactive antirachitic UV radiation has been analyzed. The method is based on the observation of the phototransformation kinetics of the provitamin D₃ primary molecule in ethanol (in vitro vitamin D₃ synthesis model) by measuring the decrease in the optical density at a fixed wavelength during UV exposure. The method can be used successfully for artificial UV sources with a constant radiation spectrum. However, such a technique turns out to be inapplicable to solar UV dosimetry in view of the variability of the solar UV spectrum that results in a varying rate of formation of irreversible photoproducts. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 76, No. 2, pp. 256–260, March–April, 2009.     

Magnetic resonance measurement of blood flow in peripheral vessels after acute exercise

Velocity-encoded Cine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to measure blood flow in the anterior tibial artery (AT), posterior tibial artery (PT), and popliteal artery of adult human subjects (mean age 29 yr) before and after 90 s of ankle dorsiflexion exercise. Before exercise, mean flow, peak systolic velocity, and end-diastolic velocity in AT were 8.1 ± 1.6 (SE, n = 6) ml/min, 26.9 ± 2.6 cm/s, and −0.6 ± 0.4 cm/s, respectively. After exercise, mean flow and peak systolic velocity in AT increased by 19-fold and 3-fold, respectively, and end-diastolic velocity increased to 8.7 ± 1.1 cm/s. Flow in popliteal artery above its bifurcation was similar to the sum of flows in AT and PT, both before and after exercise. Flow in AT declined exponentially after exercise with a mean half-time of 4 min. The results demonstrate the utility of MR phase-encoded flow-velocity measurements for physiological studies of peripheral vascular dynamics after exercise.     

Low-frequency noises as a tool for UV detector characterisation

Ultraviolet (UV) semiconductor detectors are mainly made of materials with wide energy gap, i.e., of AlGaN, GaP, SiC, and diamond. The article describes methodology of measurements of characteristics of low-frequency noises of UV detectors and presents the developed measuring system. Basing on analysis of noise characteristics of detectors, an optimal working point of detector can be determined. The results of measurements of noise characteristics of UV detectors made of AlGaN are shown. The measurements have been carried out in wide range of temperatures for several values of a detector supply voltage.     

Near-infrared spectroscopy extended with indocyanine green dye dilution for cerebral blood flow measurement: Median values in healthy volunteers

The cerebral blood flow (CBF) is an important vital parameter in neurointensive care. Currently, there is no non-invasive method for its measurement that can easily be applied at the bedside. A new tool to determine CBF is based on near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) applied together with indocyanine green (ICG) dye dilution. From a bilateral measurement on selected regions on the head of infrared (IR) absorption at various wavelengths during the dilution maneuver, the vascular perfusion characteristics of the two brain hemispheres can be determined in terms of mean transit time (mtt) of ICG, cerebral blood volume (CBV) and CBF. So far, on nine healthy volunteers, NIRS ICG dye dilution bihemispheric measurements were performed, which yielded to mtt given as median (range) of 9.3 s (5.1–16.3 s), CBV of 3.5 ml/100 g (1.7–4.1 ml/100 g), and CBF of 18.2 ml/(100 g×min) [11.1–48.6 ml/(100 g×min)]. Additionally, the blood flow index (BFI) was calculated with BFI= 13.8 mg/(100 g×s) [6.6–15.2 mg/(100 g×s)]. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient between CBF and BFI was R_S = 0.76. However, as the Bland & Altman plot between CBFNIRS and the CBF_BFI documents, the limits of agreement are rather wide (21.9±6.7). Under physiological conditions in healthy volunteers, no differences could be detected between the hemispheres.     

Inorganic UV absorbers for the photostabilisation of wood-clearcoating systems: Comparison with organic UV absorbers

Inorganic UV absorbers which are widely used today were originally designed neither as a UV blocker in coatings applications, nor for wood protection. In recent years however, there has been extensive interest in these compounds, especially with regard to their properties as a UV blocker in coating applications.In this work, we carried out a comparative study to look into some inorganic and organic UV absorbers used in wood coating applications. The aim of this study is to determine the photostabilisation performances of each type of UV absorbers, to seek possible synergies and the influences of different wood species. We have also searched to find eventual correlation between these performances and the influence of UV absorbers on the film properties. Our study has compared the performances of the following UV absorbers: hombitec RM 300, hombitec RM 400 from the Sachtleben Company; transparent yellow and red iron oxides from Sayerlack as inorganic UV absorbers; organic UV absorbers Tinuvin 1130 and Tinuvin 5151 from Ciba Company.The study was carried out on three wood species: Abies grandis, tauari and European oak.The environmental constraints (in particular the limitation of the emission of volatile organic compounds VOCs) directed our choice towards aqueous formulations marketed by the Sayerlack Arch Coatings Company.The results obtained after 800 h of dry ageing showed that the Tinuvins and the hombitecs present better wood photostabilisations.On the other hand in wet ageing, with the hombitec, there are appearances of some cracks and an increase in the roughness of the surface. This phenomenon is absent when the Tinuvins are used. With regard to these results, the thermomechanical analyses relating to the follow-up of the change of the glass transition temperature (T_g) of the various coating systems, show a different behaviour between the two types of absorbers. However, contrary to organic UV absorbers, inorganic ones tend to increase T_g during ageing, and, consequently decrease the flexibility of films. These phenomena can lead to the appearance of cracks found in the case of the wet weathering.     

UV laser ablation of intraocular lenses: SEM and AFM microscopy examination of the biomaterial surface

Several new materials and patterns are studied for the formation and etching of intraocular lenses (IOLs), in order to improve their optical properties, to reduce the diffractive aberrations and to decrease the incidence of posterior capsular opacification. The aim of this study is to investigate the use of UV (λ = 266 nm) laser pulses to ablate the intraocular lenses materials, and thus to provide an alternative to conventional surface shaping techniques for IOLs fabrication. Ablation experiments were conducted using various polymer substrates of hydrophobic acrylic IOLs and PMMA IOLs. We investigated the ablation efficiency and the morphology of the ablated area by imaging the surface modification with atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The morphological appearance of IOL samples reveals the effect of a photochemical and photothermal ablation mechanism.