Characterization of structural irregularities in highly birefringent photonic crystal fiber using torsional acoustic polarization coupling

We demonstrate a novel method to characterize structural irregularities in a highly birefringent photonic crystal fiber (HB PCF) with high accuracy based on polarization coupling by torsional acoustic wave. Birefringence variation induced by the irregularities of air-hole structure in the fiber cross-section is analyzed via the transmission spectra of the acousto-optic coupling between two orthogonal polarization modes propagating along the fiber. The estimated maximum birefringence variation of two sections in the same batch of the HB PCF is 3 × 10^− 6 and 10^− 5, respectively, from nominal birefringence value of 4.86 × 10^− 4. The comparison between the experimental results and the numerical simulation resulted in the estimation of few tens of nm variation in the air-hole structure in the PCF.     

Approximation of the naive black hole degeneracy

In 1996, Rovelli suggested a connection between black hole entropy and the area spectrum. Using this formalism and a theorem we prove in this paper, we briefly show the procedure to calculate the quantum corrections to the Bekenstein–Hawking entropy. One can do this by two steps. First, one can calculate the “naive” black hole degeneracy without the projection constraint (in case of the $U(1)$ symmetry reduced framework) or the $SU(2)$ invariant subspace constraint (in case of the fully $SU(2)$ framework). Second, then one can impose the projection constraint or the $SU(2)$ invariant subspace constraint, obtaining logarithmic corrections to the Bekenstein–Hawking entropy. In this paper, we focus on the first step and show that we obtain infinite relations between the area spectrum and the naive black hole degeneracy. Promoting the naive black hole degeneracy into its approximation, we obtain the full solution to the infinite relations.     

Electronic structure and optical absorption spectra of CdSe covered with ZnSe and ZnS epilayers

Using the first-principles methods we compute the electronic structure and the absorption spectra for a wurtzite CdSe (0001) slab covered with zincblende ZnSe and ZnS epilayers. For each structure we compute the DOS and the imaginary part of the dielectric function. We find that the semiconductor passivation shifts the ‘near Fermi-level’ states of the bare CdSe slab down to lower energy levels. The migration suggests the decrease of surface effects and energy loss. We observe the substantial reduction of the abnormal peaks in the absorption spectra of the bare CdSe slab, which seems to be a consequence of the DOS migration. This is consistent with the experimental results that a proper passivation enhance the luminescence efficiency. We also study the case that the epilayer surface is terminated with PH₃ and find the PH₃ passivation also reduces the surface state to some extent.     

Drug release from various thicknesses of layered mats consisting of electrospun polycaprolactone and polyethylene oxide micro/nanofibers

A new drug delivery system (DDS) consisting of electrospun nanofibers is proposed. Layered mats of hydrophobic polycaprolactone (PCL) and polyethylene oxide (PEO) nanofibers were prepared successfully in a layer-by-layer manner using an electrospinning process. The PEO mat and drug were co-electrospun as a drug reservoir. Drug release rate was controlled physically by the thickness of the electrospun nanofibrous PCL layer, and its release behavior was examined over time. Release tests showed that the release behavior and the amount of initial burst of the drug were critically dependent on the thickness of the nanofibrous PCL mat. The release of drug showed a linear relationship with the thickness of the porous electrospun PCL mat. In addition, to demonstrate the feasibility of this type of DDS, the release behavior of the antimicrobial peptide HPA3NT3 from the nanofiber system was examined. The release of the peptide was easily controlled by the PCL nanofiber thickness and the released peptide did not lose biological activity.     

Effect of instrumental particle sizing resolution on the modelling of aerosol radiative parameters

A more realistic estimation of the scattering and hemispheric backscattering coefficients, σ_sp and σ_bsp, and their respective optical cross section, C_sca and C_bk, of aerosol particles is presented on the basis of the exact resolution of the width of the size bins of the particle counter instruments when size distribution measurements are used, and, with the exact optical detector instruments ability. The scattering and hemispheric backscattering cross sections, C_sca and C_bk, of the particles are averaged over the full size bins of the particle counter instrument, while these quantities are usually estimated only on the value of the mean geometric diameter of each size bin. Six instruments, the APS, ASASP-X, DMPS, FSSP-100, ELPI, and SMPS frequently used in particle size distribution measurements are reviewed, for spherical sea-salt particles at a wavelength λ=0.55 μm. The comparison using the conventional geometric mean diameter versus the use of the full size bin leads to large amount of errors for the optical cross section with non-negligible effects on their respective optical coefficients. The maximal accuracy expected for these optical quantities depend on the particle diameter as well as on the channel width of the instruments, and are also function of the angular detector probe used to measure them.     

A one-pot tandem synthesis of various 1,2-disubstituted benzimidazoles

A facile method to synthesize various 1,2-disubstituted benzimidazoles is developed. It is suggested that formation of a Meisenheimer adduct between the substrate, amine, and solvent aids the N-arylation process. The generality of the protocol is demonstrated by the efficient reactions involving numerous substituents ranging from electron-withdrawing groups to electron-donating groups.     

Effects of gamma irradiation on morphological changes and biological responses in plants

This review discusses the morphological changes and biological responses of plants irradiated with gamma rays. Seedlings exposed to relatively low doses of gamma rays (1-5 Gy) developed normally, while the growth of plants irradiated with a high dose gamma ray (50 Gy) was significantly inhibited. Based on TEM observations, chloroplasts were extremely sensitive to gamma irradiation compared to other cell organelles, particularly thylakoids being heavily swollen. In addition, some portions of the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum were structurally altered, for example, distortion and swelling. The cerium perhydroxide deposition, as a maker for H(2)O(2) deposition, was typically manifest on the plasma membranes and cell walls of the tissues from both the control and irradiated plants. However, the intensities of cerium perhydroxide deposits (CPDs) were remarkably increased in the plasma membranes and cell walls of pumpkin tissues such as petiole, cotyledon, hypocotyl and especially leaf after gamma irradiation. These observations are in good agreement with the results of H(2)O(2) content in all tissues. The immuno-localization analysis for peroxidase (POD) on the tissues from pumpkin plant showed the same pattern between the control and irradiated plants, but the density of gold particles as indication of POD localization was significantly increased on the cell corner middle lamellae of parenchyma cells, especially in the petiole after gamma irradiation. However, accumulation and localization of H(2)O(2) and POD in vessels were not significantly different between both plants. The accumulation and localization of both H(2)O(2) and POD were differentially affected by gamma irradiation depending on the different tissue types. The deposition of both H(2)O(2) and POD in parenchyma cells appeared much higher than in vessels, suggesting that the former is more sensitive than the latter against gamma rays.     

Simultaneous In Situ Quantification of Two Cellular Lipid Pools Using Orthogonal Fluorescent Sensors

Lipids regulate a wide range of biological activities. Since their local concentrations are tightly controlled in a spatiotemporally specific manner, the simultaneous quantification of multiple lipids is essential for elucidation of the complex mechanisms of biological regulation. Here, we report a new method for the simultaneous in situ quantification of two lipid pools in mammalian cells using orthogonal fluorescent sensors. The sensors were prepared by incorporating two environmentally sensitive fluorophores with minimal spectral overlap separately into engineered lipid‐binding proteins. Dual ratiometric analysis of imaging data allowed accurate, spatiotemporally resolved quantification of two different lipids on the same leaflet of the plasma membrane or a single lipid on two opposite leaflets of the plasma membrane of live mammalian cells. This new imaging technology should serve as a powerful tool for systems‐level investigation of lipid‐mediated cell signaling and regulation.     

A Sensor for Serotonin and Dopamine Detection in Cancer Cells Line Based on the Conducting Polymer−Pd Complex Composite

An electrochemical sensor based on the conducting polymer composite with a palladium complex (Pd(C₂H₄N₂S₂)₂) was developed for the detection of serotonin and dopamine simultaneously in the breast cancer cell and human plasma samples. The proposed sensor was fabricated using the Pd(C₂H₄N₂S₂)₂ complex‐anchored poly2,2 : 5,2‐terthiophene‐3‐(p‐benzoic acid) (pTBA) layer on the AuNPs decorated reduced graphene oxide (AuNPs@rGO) substrate, which revealed the enhanced anodic current of the target species. The sensor probe was characterized by electrochemical and surface analysis methods. The experimental parameters affecting the sensor performance were optimized, in terms of AuNPs@rGO concentration, the number of electropolymerization cycle for pTBA, immobilization time of Pd(C₂H₄N₂S₂)₂, and pH. The dynamic ranges for serotonin and dopamine were obtained from 0.02 to 200 μM, and from 0.1 to 200 μM with the detection limit of 2.5, and 24.0 nM, respectively. The reliability of proposed sensor was evaluated using cancer cell lines for the clinical applications.