Local control of electric current driven shell etching of multiwalled carbon nanotubes

We report on a novel method for local control of shell engineering in multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) using Joule-heating induced electric breakdown. By modulating the heat dissipation along a nanotube, we can confine its thinning and shell breakdown to occur within localized regions of peak temperatures, which are distributed over one-half of the NT length. The modulation is achieved by using suitably designed nanomachined heat sinks with different degrees of thermal coupling at different parts of a current-carrying nanotube. The location of electric breakdown occurs precisely at the regions of high temperatures predicted by the classical finite-element model of Joule heating in the MWNT. The experiments herein provide new insight into the electric breakdown mechanism and prove unambiguously that shell removal occurs due to thermal stress, underpinning the diffusive nature of MWNTs. The method demonstrated here has the potential to be a powerful tool in realizing MWNT bearings with complex architectures for use in integrated nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS). In addition, the breakdown current and power in the nanotubes are significantly higher than those observed in nanotubes without heat removal via additional heat sinks. This indicates future avenues for enhancing the performance of MWNTs in electrical interconnect and nanoelectronic applications. PACS  73.63.Fg; 65.80.+n     

Proof of semialgebraic covering mapping cylinder conjecture with semialgebraic covering homotopy theorem

In this paper we prove the semialgebraic version of Palais' covering homotopy theorem, and use this to prove Bredon's covering mapping cylinder conjecture positively in the semialgebraic category. Bredon's conjecture was originally stated in the topological category, and a topological version of our semialgebraic proof of the conjecture answers the original topological conjecture for topological G-spaces over “simplicial” mapping cylinders.     

Cascade Grating Structure for Increasing the Channel Number on Holographic Demultiplexer

The expansion capability of the channel number in the optical demultiplexer using two cascaded photopolymer volume gratings is reported. It could be accomplished by designing of two gratings with different spectral range. As a result of the experiment, a 0.4-nm-spaced 130-channel demultiplexer with the channel uniformity of 3.5 dB, the 3 riB-bandwidth of 0.12nm, and the channel crosstalk of-20 dB is experimentally demonstrated.     

A pair of orthogonal frames

We start with a characterization of a pair of frames to be orthogonal in a shift-invariant space and then give a simple construction of a pair of orthogonal shift-invariant frames. This is applied to obtain a construction of a pair of Gabor orthogonal frames as an example. This is also developed further to obtain constructions of a pair of orthogonal wavelet frames.     

Mixed C18 and C1 modification on an optical fiber for chromatographic sensing

An optical fiber-chromatographic sensor, aiming at simultaneous and selective response to multiple components following a chromatographic separation, is described. We report an improved approach for immobilization of octadecyl (C(18)) and methyl (C(1)) moieties as stationary phase on an optical fiber suitable as a sensing phase for organic solutes. By this approach, the stability and lifetime of the sensing layer as well as the detectability and retention behavior of the chromatographic sensor could be improved. Infrared spectroscopy was employed to confirm the presence of C(18) and C(1) moieties on the modified surface of the optical fiber. The chromatographic sensor was applied, with good sensitivity and chemical selectivity, to the simultaneous separation and detection of bromobenzene and toluene, using water as the mobile phase.     

A new caffeoyl quinic acid from aster scaber and its inhibitory activity against human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) integrase

The phytochemical study of the aerial parts of Aster scaber Thunb. (Asteraceae) yielded a new caffeoyl quinic acid, (-) 3,5-dicaffeoyl-muco-quinic acid (2) and three known compounds, (-) 3,5-dicaffeoyl quinic acid (1), (-) 4,5-dicaffeoyl quinic acid (3), (-) 5-caffeoyl quinic acid (4). The structures were established by high resolution spectroscopic methods. The antiviral effects against HIV-1 integrase of the compounds was evaluated. (-) 3,5-Dicaffeoyl-muco-quinic acid (2) exhibited potent antiviral activity with an IC50 value of 7.0 +/- 1.3 microg/ml.