Occupational prolonged organic solvent exposure in shoemakers: brain MR spectroscopy findings

Our purpose was to investigate, by magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy, the metabolite changes in the brains of subjects in the shoemaking industry who had been chronically exposed to organic solvents. A total of 49 male subjects and 30 age-matched healthy volunteers underwent detailed neurological and psychiatric examinations. All subjects had long-echo [repetition time (TR) 2000 ms, echo time (TE) 136 ms] single-voxel MR spectroscopy. Voxels (15 x 15 x 15 mm(3)) were placed in the parietal white matter, thalamus, and basal ganglia. N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/creatine (Cr) and choline (Cho)/Cr ratios were calculated. There was no significant difference between the study subjects and the control group in NAA/Cr ratios obtained from thalamus, basal ganglia, and parietal white matter. Cho/Cr ratios in thalamus, basal ganglia, and parietal white matter were found to be significantly increased compared to controls. There was a positive correlation between basal ganglia Cho/Cr ratio and duration of exposure (r = 0.63). MR spectroscopy should be performed to reveal metabolite changes and determine the degree of brain involvement in solvent-related industry workers.     

Measurement of two-photon absorption cross-section in organic molecular salt with linear and circular polarized radiation

We report on the investigation of two-photon absorption (TPA) in 4-Diethylamino-N-Methyl-4-Stilbazolium Tosylate (DEST) with 40 picosecond, 1064 nm linear and circular polarization laser radiation. The TPA cross-section ₂ measured is larger for linear polarized radiation (948 GM) than that for the circular polarized radiation (840 GM). The large TPA cross-section of DEST facilitates highly directional and efficient TPA induced upconverted emission in the range of 590–640 nm even though the fluorescence efficiency of DEST is very low (0.5%). The net single pass efficiency of upconversion is 7%. PACS 42.65.-k; 42.70.Jk     

Impulse coupling in laser-driven microtargets

We have studied about the thrust imparted to targets of different materials by pulsed TEA CO₂ laser and chopped CW CO₂ laser in air and its dependence on different parameters such as laser intensity and pulse duration. We estimated the impulse-coupling coefficient and compared it with the published results. The mechanism of generation of thrust by laser incident on targets in air is, in effect, combination of those involved in laser ablation in vacuum and laser-induced air detonation.     

Reinvestigation of the decay scheme of the short-lived isomeric states in112In

The two short-lived isomeric states in¹¹²In have been reinvestigated by means of the¹¹²Cd(d, 2n) and¹⁰⁹Ag (α, n) reactions. Measurements of delayed X- andγ-ray, lifetime and TDPAD spectra have been performed. A 6.32(3) keVγ-ray has been identified in the isomeric decay and anM1 multipolarity has been assigned to it on the basis of the measured internal conversion coefficients:α _L =196(39) andα _tot=231(35). TheE1+M2(δ =+0.24(4)) andE2 multipolarities have been determined for the 263 and 188 keV transitions deexciting the 8^?(T _1/2=2.82(2) μs) and 7⁺ (T _1/2=0.93(2) μs) isomeric states, respectively. A revised isomeric decay scheme is presented.     

Wavelet packet based analysis of sound fields in rooms using coincident microphone arrays

This paper presents a passive analysis method for determining the spatio-temporal characteristics of sound fields in small rooms. The analysis finds an approximate directional reflectogram (ADR) which reveals the approximate arrival directions, time delays and amplitudes of the direct sound and early reflections without using a special or known sound source. A coincident microphone array is used to obtain directional recordings. The recordings are analysed by wavelet packet decomposition to determine the direction of the sound source and select wavelet packet coefficients to reconstruct the estimate of the direct sound. ADR is then computed via deconvolution using this estimate. Experiments have been carried out using synthesized recordings that were obtained from actual room impulse responses measured in two rooms for various source locations. The method estimates the source direction with a mean absolute error of about 7°. Calculated ADRs provide a good estimate of the time delays and arrival directions of acoustical reflections, whereas the amplitudes differ slightly.     

Schottky metal library for ZNO-based UV photodiode fabricated by the combinatorial ion beam-assisted deposition

A binary alloy Schottky barrier diode on zinc oxide (ZnO) was developed using the combinatorial ion beam-assisted deposition system. The compositional fraction of the binary alloy was continuously varied using the composition-spread technique, to control the Schottky barrier height. After metal deposition, patterned Schottky diodes were fabricated on a ZnO single-crystal substrate. Pt-Ru alloy was selected from the work function viewpoint. Our experiments showed that the compositional fraction of the Schottky binary alloys changed continuously as designed and the Schottky barrier heights measured by current-voltage (I-V) measurements increased with increasing Pt content. Maximum barrier height difference for ZnO was 137 meV. Using ion beam deposition in parallel with the combinatorial system showed that the Schottky barrier heights for ZnO can be controlled by binary metal alloying.     

Monitoring the Instant Creation of a New Fluorescent Signal for Evaluation of DNA Conformation Based on Intercalation Complex

Here we report the monitoring the instant creation of a new fluorescent signal (FS) aroused from a positively charged water-soluble fluorogenic probe, ethidium bromide (EtBr) in the presence of a radical initiator, ammonium persulfate (APS) and an accelerator, tetraethylmetilendiamine (TEMED) for evaluation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) conformation. The results revealed that the occurred FS (λ_ex?=?430 nm; λ_max?=?525 nm) is a reduced form of EtBr (λ_ex?=?480 nm; λ_max?=?617 nm) and it is completely distinct from hydroethidine (λ_ex?=?350 nm; λ_max?=?430 nm), which is two-electron reduced form of EtBr. It was noticed that EtBr was reduced to a new FS during the polymerization of N, N dimethyacrylamide (DMAA) too, at 25 °C in the presence of APS and TEMED or at 55 °C with only APS, and the rate of formation of FS was increased upon treatment time. The effect of nanoclays such as Laponite XLG® and Laponite XLS®, which provide a protective environment for DNA in nature, were also investigated through the reduction process of EtBr in the absence and presence of a water soluble monomer DMAA. We demonstrated that DNA conformation might be evaluated by monitoring FS effectuated during the reduction of EtBr in the presence of nanoclays having positively and negatively charged surfaces. Protective property of DNA against the formation of reduced product was elucidated by carrying out the polymerization at 55 °C. The results revealed that the monitoring of formation of FS in the presence of radical initiator could lead to elucidate the conformation of DNA upon formation of intercalator complex.     

Improving quality of service in four-channel WDM ethernet passive optical network

Energy-efficiency and green communications have become dominant topics related to access network implementation, since their energy consumption is a major contributor of energy consumption within the Internet. In this paper we analyze an implementation of a new energy-efficient dynamic bandwidth algorithm in a four-channel Wavelength Division Multiplexing Ethernet Passive Optical Network (WDM EPON), in which wavelength assignments take place per service class and not per Optical Network Unit (ONU). The improved Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation (DBA) algorithm introduces independent bandwidth allocation for each wavelength, which results in efficient bandwidth management and utilization. The mathematical model for new DBA algorithm is described, as are changes to the Multi-Point Control Protocol (MPCP), necessary for its implementation. The obtained results show that the redefined DBA algorithm improves Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and as a consequently enables delivery of enhanced services to end-users. Significant energy savings are achieved without Quality of Service (QoS) degradation, and without network or equipment architecture changes.     

Resonant production of color octet muons at Future Circular Collider-based muon-proton colliders

We investigate the resonant production of color octet muons in order to explore the discovery potential of Future Circular Collider(FCC)-based μp colliders.It is shown that the search potentials of μp colliders essentially surpass the potential of the LHC and would exceed that of the FCC pp collider.