Nonlinear optical characterization of phosphate glasses based on ZnO using the Z-scan technique

The nonlinear optical properties of a phosphate vitreous system [(ZnO)_x-(MgO)_30-x-(P₂ O₅)₇₀], where x=8, 10, 15, 18, and 20 mol% synthesized through the melt-quenching technique have been investigated by using the Z-scan technique. In the experiment, a continuous-wave laser with a wavelength of 405 nm was utilized to determine the sign and value of the nonlinear refractive (NLR) index and the absorption coefficient with closed and opened apertures of the Z-scan setup. The NLR index was found to increase with the ZnO concentration in the glass samples by an order of 10^-10 cm²·W^-1. The real and imaginary parts of the third-order nonlinear susceptibility were calculated by referring to the NLR index (n₂) and absorption coefficient (β) of the samples. The value of the third-order nonlinear susceptibility was presented by nonlinear refractive or absorptive behavior of phosphate glasses for proper utilization in nonlinear optical devices. Based on the measurement, the positive sign of the NLR index shows a self-focusing phenomenon. The figures of merit for each sample were calculated to judge the potential of phosphate glasses for application in optical switching.     

Synthesis and characterization of electrically conducting polyaniline–TCNE complexes

Polyaniline–tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) complexes can be synthesized either from emeraldine base or emeraldine hydrochloride by a relatively simple method. The complexes demonstrate greater stability than the emeraldine hydrochloride at elevated temperatures and under high current densities. The electrical conductivity of the complexes synthesized from emeraldine base can be varied from < 10^?6 to 0.2 S/cm by varying the amount of TCNE incorporated. The complexes synthesized from emeraldine hydrochloride are slightly more conductive than the starting emeraldine hydrochloride. In both types of complexes, it appears that electron transfer between the polyaniline and TCNE has occurred resulting in the formation of some positively charged polyaniline nitrogen and TCNE anions.     

The synthesis and XPS characterization of iodine containing plasma polymers

Plasma polymers derived from iodobenzene and four copolymers with benzene of varying monomer ratios have been synthesized. Samples were analyzed for qualitative and quantitative information using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The optimum conditions whereby a higher iodine content is obtained in the plasma polymer have been achieved. The results indicate that the use of a copolymerization approach is better. These plasma polymers were subsequently exposed to an oxygen plasma and it was found that oxidation and etching of the surfaces of the plasma polymers does occur. The extent of iodine loss via oxygen plasma etching appears dependent on the character of the plasma polymer.     

Moisture effects in lithium-doped polyimide films

The interaction of lithium-doped polyimide films with water has been investigated. Contact angle and water absorption/desorption measurements have been performed to obtain an idea of the hygroscopic nature of these lithium-doped films. Contact angles were found to decrease as the amount of surface lithium increased. Film water content was also found to increase as the weight percent of total lithium content in the film increased. This phenomenon has been used to rationalize the electrical resistivity–temperature profile of certain lithium films which display an increase in electrical resistivity upon drying.     

Protein-Protein Interactions: Insight from Molecular Dynamics Simulations and Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis

Protein-protein interaction plays an essential role in almost all cellular processes and biological functions. Coupling molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) assay offered a simple, rapid, and direct approach in monitoring the protein-protein binding process and predicting the binding affinity. Our case study of designed ankyrin repeats proteins (DARPins)—AnkGAG1D4 and the single point mutated AnkGAG1D4-Y56A for HIV-1 capsid protein (CA) were investigated. As reported, AnkGAG1D4 bound with CA for inhibitory activity; however, it lost its inhibitory strength when tyrosine at residue 56 AnkGAG1D4, the most key residue was replaced by alanine (AnkGAG1D4-Y56A). Through NTA, the binding of DARPins and CA was measured by monitoring the increment of the hydrodynamic radius of the AnkGAG1D4-gold conjugated nanoparticles (AnkGAG1D4-GNP) and AnkGAG1D4-Y56A-GNP upon interaction with CA in buffer solution. The size of the AnkGAG1D4-GNP increased when it interacted with CA but not AnkGAG1D4-Y56A-GNP. In addition, a much higher binding free energy (∆GB) of AnkGAG1D4-Y56A (−31 kcal/mol) obtained from MD further suggested affinity for CA completely reduced compared to AnkGAG1D4 (−60 kcal/mol). The possible mechanism of the protein-protein binding was explored in detail by decomposing the binding free energy for crucial residues identification and hydrogen bond analysis.     

Effect of vertical stacking dies on flow behavior of epoxy molding compound during encapsulation of stacked-chip scale packages

This paper presents three dimensional (3D) simulation of flow visualization in the encapsulation of stacked-chip scales packages (S-CSP), using finite volume method. The S-CSP model is constructed using GAMBIT and simulated using FLUENT CFD software. The epoxy molding compound is Hitachi CEL-9200 XU (LF) and its flow is assumed laminar and incompressible. Cross viscosity model and volume of fluid technique are applied for flow front tracking of the encapsulant. The meshing is performed using tetrahedral elements and the discretization is done by first order upwind scheme. SIMPLE algorithm is selected for solving the governing equations. The top view and 3D view of simulation flow front profiles in the encapsulation process are presented. The percentage of filled volume versus filling time, viscosity versus shear rate and number of voids versus rows of stacked die are plotted. The temperature and pressure distributions within the mold cavity during the encapsulation process are also observed. Further, the possibility and cause of void formation during the encapsulation process are analyzed and discussed in detail. The number of vertical stacking dies and horizontal rows of packages are found to be crucial in the void formation. The numerical results are compared with previous experimental results and found in good conformity.     

Cassia alata,Coriandrum sativum,Curcuma longa and Azadirachta indica: Food Ingredients as Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Atopic Dermatitis-A Comprehensive Review

Traditional medicine is critical in disease treatment and management. Herbs are gaining popularity for disease management and treatment. Therefore, they can be utilised as complementary and alternative treatment (CAT) ingredients. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the common non-communicable diseases. It is characterised by chronic inflammatory skin disease with intense pruritus and eczematous lesions. AD is associated with oxidative stress, microbial infection, and upregulation of inflammatory cytokines. Both children and adults could be affected by this skin disorder. The prevalence of AD is increasing along with the country’s level of development. This review revisited the literature on four medicinal herbs widely used as complementary medicine to manage AD. These therapeutic herbs are commonly eaten as food and used as spices in Asian cuisine. The four food herbs reviewed are Cassia alata, Coriandrum sativum, Curcuma longa Linn, and Azadirachta indica. Their traditional uses and phytochemical content will be covered. Four relevant pharmacological and biological activities of the plants crucial in AD management have been reviewed and discussed, including anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, antioxidant, and wound recovery.     

Features of the scattering of focused terahertz radiation from the probe of a terahertz near-field microscope

The scattering of pulsed terahertz radiation from metallic probes in the form of thin cylinders and cones with a small opening angle, which are used in apertureless terahertz near-field microscopes, has been investigated. The extrema of the waveform of pulsed terahertz radiation scattered from a free probe are linearly shifted with a change in the vertical position of the probe, and the spectral distribution is characterized by an inversely proportional frequency dependence. In the presence of a reflecting surface under the probe, when new excitation and detection directions appear, the spectrum of scattered terahertz radiation does not differ from the spectrum of the incident radiation. The experimental data are in mutual agreement with the theoretical results obtained within the model of the generation of diffraction edge waves at the interface of inhomogeneous excitation between the excitation region and shadow region.     

Development and validation of an LC-MS-MS method for the simultaneous determination of sulforaphane and its metabolites in rat plasma and its application in pharmacokinetic studies

A highly sensitive and simple high-performance liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS-MS) assay is developed and validated for the quantification of sulforaphane and its metabolites in rat plasma. Sulforaphane (SFN) and its metabolites, sulforaphane glutathione (SFN-GSH) and sulforaphane N-acetyl cysteine (SFN-NAC) conjugates, are extracted from rat plasma by methanol-formic acid (100:0.1, v/v) and analyzed using a reversed-phase gradient elution on a Develosil 3 μm RP-Aqueous C(30) 140? column. A 15-min linear gradient with acetonitrile-water (5:95, v/v), containing 10 mM ammonium acetate and 0.2% formic acid, as mobile phase A, and acetonitrile-water (95:5, v/v), containing 10 mM ammonium acetate and 0.2% formic acid as mobile phase B, is used. Sulforaphane and its metabolites are well separated. Sulforaphene is used as the internal standard. The lower limits of quantification are 1 ng/mL for SFN and 10 ng/mL for both SFN-NAC and SFN-GSH. The calibration curves are linear over the concentration range of 25-20,000 ng/mL of plasma for each analyte. This novel LC-MS-MS method shows satisfactory accuracy and precision and is sufficiently sensitive for the performance of pharmacokinetic studies in rats.