Imprinted optical pattern of low-softening phosphate glass

Thermal imprinting of transparent tin phosphate glass was performed at 250 degrees C using a fine-patterned silica mold. The glass sample was prepared by a conventional melt-quenching method and polished with a roughness of < or =10 nm for imprinting experiments. The imprinting temperature is optimized based on experimental viscosity data. Scanning electron microscope and atomic force microscope observations revealed that a square grid pattern has a surface roughness of < or =10 nm and 5 microm x 5 microm squares with ~1 microm intervals and 90-100 nm depth. Diffraction spots due to the micropattern are demonstrated by illuminating He-Ne laser light.     

Detection of single nucleotide polymorphism using tension-dependent stochastic behavior of a single-molecule template

Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) is the most common genetic variation among individuals. The association of SNP with individual's response to pathogens, phenotypic variations, and gene functions emphasizes the importance of sensitive and reliable SNP detection for biomedical diagnosis and therapy. To increase sensitivity, most approaches employ amplification steps, such as PCR, to generate detectable signals that are usually ensemble-averaged. Introduction of amplification steps increases the complexity of a system, whereas ensemble averaging of signals often suffers from background interference. Here, we have exploited the stochastic behavior of a single-molecule probe to recognize SNP sequence in a microfluidic platform using a laser-tweezers instrument. The detection relies on on-off mechanical signals that provide little background interference and high specificity between wild type and SNP sequences. The microfluidic setting allows multiplex sensing and in situ recycling of the SNP probe. As a proof-of-concept, we have detected as low as 100 pM of an SNP target associated with coronary heart diseases within half an hour without any amplification steps. The mechanical signal permits the detection of single mutations involving either G/C or A/T pairs. We anticipate this system has the capacity to function as a highly sensitive generic biosensor after incorporation of a specific recognition element, such as an aptamer for example.     

Monitoring of the electrochemical degradation of PEDOT films on gold using the bending beam method

Electrochemical and mechanical properties of thin poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) films deposited on gold have been investigated in aqueous sulfuric acid and sodium-sulfate solutions. It has been shown that at sufficiently positive electrode potentials, overoxidation of the polymer takes place. In some cases, only small changes could be observed in the shape of cyclic voltammograms taken in the “stability region??before and after overoxidation. In contrast to this, the impedance spectra recorded after overoxidation differed considerably from the impedance spectra of a freshly made electrode. Morphological changes of the polymer caused by overoxidation (degradation) could be detected by using the bending beam method.     

Controlling the size and morphology of anisotropic nanostructures of nickel borate using microemulsions and their magnetic properties

Anisotropic nanostructures of nickel borate with controlled size and morphology have been synthesized by a precursor-mediated route. The nickel boron precursor has been synthesized using microemulsions using Tergitol as a surfactant. Microemulsions with various co-surfactants (1-butanol, 1-hexanol and 1-octanol) have been used to obtain uniform nanorods (dia 3-5 nm, length 25 nm) and nanospindles (dia 30 nm, length 400 nm). A higher chain length of the co-surfactant (octanol) leads to more uniform rods rather than spindles (butanol). These nanorods show antiferromagnetic behavior with the Néel temperature ranging from 44 to 47 K. Though there is no marked variation in N?el temperature, the magnetic moment increases drastically with the anisotropy of nanorods (thinner rods).     

Simultaneous separation and determination of 16 testosterone and nandrolone esters in equine plasma using ultra high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for doping control

The potential for using testosterone and nandrolone esters in racehorses to boost the biological concentrations of these steroids and enhance athletic performance is very compelling and should be seriously considered in formulating regulatory policies for doping control. In order to regulate the use of these esters in racehorses, a sensitive and validated method is needed. In this paper, we report such a method for simultaneous separation, screening, quantification and confirmation of 16 testosterone and nandrolone esters in equine plasma by ultra high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). Analytes were extracted from equine plasma by liquid-liquid extraction using a mixture of methyl tert-butyl ether and ethyl acetate (50:50, v/v) and separated on a sub-2 micron C(18) column. Detection of analytes was achieved on a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer by positive electrospray ionization mode with selected reaction monitoring (SRM). Mobile phase comprised 2 mM ammonium formate and methanol. Deuterium-labeled testosterone enanthate and testosterone undecanoate were used as dual-internal standards for quantification. Limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were 25-100 pg/mL and 100-200 pg/mL, respectively. The linear dynamic range of quantification was 100-10,000 pg/mL. For confirmation of the presence of these analytes in equine plasma, matching of the retention time with mass spectrometric ion ratios from MS/MS product ions was used. The limit of confirmation (LOC) was 100-500 pg/mL. The method is sensitive, robust, selective and reliably reproducible.     

Alternating approach of implementing frequency encoded all-optical logic gates and flip-flop using semiconductor optical amplifier

In conduction of parallel logic, arithmetic and algebraic operations, optics has already proved its successful role. Since last few decades a number of established methods on optical data processing were proposed and to implement such processors different data encoding/decoding techniques have also been reported. Currently frequency encoding technique is found be a promising as well as a faithful mechanism for the conversion of all-optical processing as the frequency of light remains unaltered after refection, refraction, absorption, etc. during the transmission of light. There are already proposed some frequency encoded optical logic gates. In this communication the authors propose a new and different concept of frequency encoded optical logic gates and optical flip-flop using the non-linear function of semiconductor optical amplifier.     

All optical frequency encoding method for converting a decimal number to its equivalent binary number using tree architecture

In any kind of computing and data processing system the use of binary numbers are found very much suitable and reliable. On the other hand several natural representations have been realized using decimal numbers. So conversion of a decimal number to its binary equivalent and vise-versa are of great importance in the field of computation technology. There lie already a number of established methods regarding such conversion processes. Again optical tree architecture is one of the most promising systems for realizing the optical conversion of any decimal number to its equivalent binary. Here in this communication the authors propose a new method for optical conversion of a decimal number to its binary equivalent using tree architecture based system and frequency encoding principle. In frequency encoding system, frequency of light is used for encoding of decimal digits or binary bits instead of intensity variation. For example 0 and 1 bits of binary number are coded by two different frequencies of light signal, instead of representing the presence of light as 1 and absence by 0. The proposed conversion process has multifaceted advantages in communication, as well as in data processing. To implement the above conversion some characteristic features of semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) have been used massively. The wavelength conversion property, cross gain modulation and some nonlinear properties of SOA are exploited to get the frequency encoded response. The proposed system carries all the basic advantages of optical processing as well as those of frequency encoding also.     

Effect of plasma pretreatment on adhesion and mechanical properties of UV-curable coatings on plastics

An attempt was made to study the effect of plasma surface activation on the adhesion of UV-curable sol-gel coatings on polycarbonate (PC) and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) substrates. The sol was synthesized by the hydrolysis and condensation of a UV-curable silane in combination with Zr-n-propoxide. Coatings deposited by dip coating were cured using UV-radiation followed by thermal curing between 80 °C and 130 °C. The effect of plasma surface treatment on the wettability of the polymer surface prior to coating deposition was followed up by measuring the water contact angle. The water contact angle on the surface of as-cleaned substrates was 80° ± 2° and that after plasma treatment was 43° ± 1° and 50° ± 2° for PC and PMMA respectively. Adhesion as well as mechanical properties like scratch resistance and taber abrasion resistance were evaluated for coatings deposited over plasma treated and untreated surfaces.     

Ligand‐Stabilized and Atomically Precise Gold Nanocluster Catalysis: A Case Study for Correlating Fundamental Electronic Properties with Catalysis

We present results from our investigations into correlating the styrene‐oxidation catalysis of atomically precise mixed‐ligand biicosahedral‐structure [Au₂₅(PPh₃)₁₀(SC₁₂H₂₅)₅Cl₂]²⁺ (Au₂₅‐bi) and thiol‐stabilized icosahedral core–shell‐structure [Au₂₅(SCH₂CH₂Ph)₁₈]^? (Au₂₅‐i) clusters with their electronic and atomic structure by using a combination of synchrotron radiation‐based X‐ray absorption fine‐structure spectroscopy (XAFS) and ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (UPS). Compared to bulk Au, XAFS revealed low Au–Au coordination, Au? Au bond contraction and higher d‐band vacancies in both the ligand‐stabilized Au clusters. The ligands were found not only to act as colloidal stabilizers, but also as d‐band electron acceptor for Au atoms. Au₂₅‐bi clusters have a higher first‐shell Au coordination number than Au₂₅‐i, whereas Au₂₅‐bi and Au₂₅‐i clusters have the same number of Au atoms. The UPS revealed a trend of narrower d‐band width, with apparent d‐band spin–orbit splitting and higher binding energy of d‐band center position for Au₂₅‐bi and Au₂₅‐i. We propose that the differences in their d‐band unoccupied state population are likely to be responsible for differences in their catalytic activity and selectivity. The findings reported herein help to understand the catalysis of atomically precise ligand‐stabilized metal clusters by correlating their atomic or electronic properties with catalytic activity.     

Ring-Like and Jet-Like Events in Ultra High-Energy Interactions—an Analysis in Terms of Multifractal Parameters

Ring-like and jet-like events produced in ¹⁶O-AgBr interactions at 60 AGeV are analyzed in terms of multifractal G-moment method and factorial moment method in both η space and ? space for emitted pions. Further, the Levy indices and multifractal specific heat c have been calculated. The results clearly indicate that μ and c both are different in ring-like and jet-like events depicting different mechanism in the production process.