Microfluidic transport of photopolymerizable species for laser source integration in lab-on-a-chip photonic devices

We recently developed a novel composite photopolymerizable material which allows the holographic recording of diffraction gratings with optimal optical and mechanical properties (high diffraction efficiency, transparency and spatial resolution, low shrinkage, long time stability). This material was successfully used to produce a low cost and easy to make optically pumped, organic distributed feedback laser, working on the first diffraction order of a high quality Bragg grating doped with a photoluminescent dye. Here we show the possibility of positioning these micrometer sized light sources at any point of a generic lab-on-a-chip device by borrowing experimental techniques commonly used in the fields of microfluidics and optofluidics. In particular, a microfluidic channel has been imprinted by soft lithography in a polydimethylsiloxane substrate in order to convey the photopolymerizable mixture to a particular area of the sample, where the laser device has been holographically recorded. A characterization of the lasing properties of this device has been carried out. The proposed approach allows a better confinement of the emitted light and overcomes some physical constrains (resolution, aspect ratio) of PDMS based microfluidic laser thus opening new possibilities for the complex integration of organic laser sources in lab-on-a-chip devices.     

Laser emission based on first order reflection by novel composite polymeric gratings

We have recently developed a novel composite photosensitive material allowing the holographic recording of diffraction gratings with high diffraction efficiency, transparency and spatial resolution. In the present work such material was used to produce a low cost and easy to make optically pumped, organic distributed feedback laser, working on the first diffraction order of a high quality grating doped with a photoluminescent dye. The experimental geometry incorporates two optical fibers which can be used to characterize the laser device in any development stage, collect emitted laser radiation, and offer an alternative way to pump the grating structure. The material properties and the used geometry allow the achievement of good performances in terms of energy threshold and linewidth. A comparison with holographic gratings made with holographic-polymer dispersed liquid crystals is reported to highlight the key role of the developed material.     

Ground state of the quasi-1D correlated electronic system BaVS3

In this paper we review the salient features of the different instabilities exhibited by the quasi-1D system BaVS₃ and show that there is a subtle interplay between the different phases stabilized. The analysis of the Peierls instability shows that the mobile dz² electrons are more localized than calculated because of their strong correlation with the localized e(t_2g) electrons. The complex AF magnetic structure of BaVS₃ incorporates the magnetization of the e(t_2g) electrons with the Peierls pairing of the dz² electrons into magnetic singlets. Finally, we propose that the zig-zag disorder remaining after an incomplete orthorhombic phase transition could change the sign of the magnetic coupling and thus help to stabilize the canted ferromagnetism observed in non stoichiometric BaVS_3−δ and Sr and Ba substituted compounds.     

Measurement of the neutron F2 structure function via spectator tagging with CLAS

We report on the first measurement of the F(2) structure function of the neutron from the semi-inclusive scattering of electrons from deuterium, with low-momentum protons detected in the backward hemisphere. Restricting the momentum of the spectator protons to ?100 MeV/c and their angles to ?100° relative to the momentum transfer allows an interpretation of the process in terms of scattering from nearly on-shell neutrons. The F(2)(n) data collected cover the nucleon-resonance and deep-inelastic regions over a wide range of Bjorken x for 0.65相似文献   

Effects of joints on mode power distribution and losses in multimode optical fibres

The transformation of mode power distribution at a joint between two different (even elliptical) optical fibres is studied. Simple analytical expressions are obtained also in the most general coupling and mismatch configuration, provided that coupling errors and mismatch parameters are small. Detailed calculations of joint losses are performed in each case, including propagation effects in both fibres. Original results are obtained particularly in the cases of misalignment, end separation between the fibres, mismatches in index profiles and coupling between two elliptical fibres. A strong dependence on the launching conditions and the amount of mode coupling is evidenced in all cases.     

Theoretical analysis of fluorine addition to single-walled carbon nanotubes: functionalization routes and addition patterns

We present a theoretical investigation on the chemical addition patterns governing the fluorination of single wall carbon nanotubes. Monte Carlo calculations based on a Hückel model suggest that fluorination is stabilized in a bandlike pattern due to electronic confinement effects on the tube bond network topology. Ab initio analysis of the fluorination of small nanotubes show that fluorine addition along the nanotube axis direction is favored by a mechanism of carbon framework distortion. The experimentally observed formation of fluorine bands may be thus explained in terms of multiple axial C(2)F rows expanding by contiguous axial addition.     

Antioxidant activity and fatty acids quantification in Sicilian purslane germplasm

Abstract

Portulaca oleracea is an annual succulent herb in the family Portulacaceae. It is a nutritious vegetable with high antioxidant properties and, it is among the richest plant source of ω-3 fatty acids, as well as a rich source of ω-6 fatty acids, ascorbic acid, tocopherols and beta-carotene. In the present study, three purslane populations under different Mediterranean environmental conditions for two years, for future valorization as novel food sources of omega-3 fatty acids, were evaluated. In particular, biomorphological characteristics, total phenols and fatty acids content were determined. The antioxidant activities were evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay. The population “Cas” appears to have higher antioxidant activity than the other two populations (“Cal” and “S. Ven”).The saturated fatty acid content is influenced only by the year of collection, while the polyunsaturated fatty acid by the populations. The most abundant unsatured fatty acids are linoleic and linolenic acids and “Cas” attained the highest contents.     

Design and Synthesis of Potent Macrocyclic Benzolactam Growth Hormone Secretagogues

The synthesis of a variety of potent macrocyclic growth hormone secretagogues, i.e. 5 , 9 , 12 , and 20 – 22 , based on the known lead structure L-692,429 ( 1 ) is described. These conformationally constrained growth hormone secretagogues were prepared by joining the two essential pharmacophores, the amino-acid side chain at the 1H-1-benzazepine moiety and the 1,1′-biphenyl moiety with a variety of linkers. The most potent analog was found to be L-744,080 ( 21 ), a derivative in which a 2′-carboxamide moiety at 1,1-biphenyl is N,O-joined to the OH group of the (2-hydroxypropyl)amino-acid side chain by a C₄ ester linker. This potent analog may be useful in determining the bound conformation of the benzolactam class of growth hormone secretagogues at the newly identified GHS receptor, L-744,080 ( 21 ) with an ED₅₀ of 20 nM was up to fifty times more potent than the seco-acid precursor and 3-fold more potent than the parent 2′-tetrazole compound L-692, 429 ( 1 ).