Broadband time-reversing array retrofocusing in noisy environments

Acoustic time reversal is a promising technique for spatial and temporal focusing of sound in unknown environments. Acoustic time reversal can be implemented with an array of transducers that listens to a remote sound source and then transmits a time-reversed version of what was heard. In a noisy environment, the performance of such a time-reversing array (TRA) will be degraded because the array will receive and transmit noise, and the intended signal may be masked by ambient noise at the retrofocus location. This article presents formal results for the signal-to-noise ratio at the intended focus (SNRf) for TRAs that receive and send finite-duration broadband signals in noisy environments. When the noise is homogeneous and uncorrelated, and a broadcast power limitation sets the TRA's electronic amplification, the formal results can be simplified to an algebraic formula that includes the characteristics of the signal, the remote source, the TRA, and the noisy environment. Here, SNRf is found to be proportional to the product of the signal bandwidth and the duration of the signal pulse after propagation through the environment. Using parabolic-equation propagation simulations, the formal results for SNRf are illustrated for a shallow water environment at source-array ranges of 1 to 40 km and bandwidths from several tens of Hz to more than 500 Hz for a signal center frequency of 500 Hz. Shallow-water TRA noise rejection is predicted to be superior to that possible in free space because TRAs successfully exploit multipath-propagation.     

CH overtone spectrum of nitromethane: a C3V coupled oscillator analysis using local mode parameters

The near infrared overtone absorption spectrum of liquid phase nitromethane in the spectral region deltaV = 2-5 is reported. The observed spectrum is analysed using local mode model. It is shown that the observed CH local mode overtones and local-local combinations are well predicted by a C(3V) coupled oscillator Hamiltonian.     

Sol–gel spin coating assisted room temperature operated nanostructured ZnO ethanol sensor with behavior transformation

In this paper, zinc oxide (ZnO) thin film sensor has been fabricated using different sol–gel spin coating route to detect very low concentration (2?ppm) of ethanol vapors at room temperature (RT). The sensor shows appreciable response ~60% for 100?ppm of ethanol (C₂H₅OH) vapors at RT under humidity level ~55% RH. Various sensing parameters viz. % response, selectivity, stability, response/recovery time, repeatability, and reproducibility have been studied successfully. Structural and morphological properties have been studied via X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). XRD reveals the wurtzite structure of polycrystalline ZnO thin film. AFM, SEM, and TEM results confirm the wavy structure of well-shaped and slackly distributed ZnO nanograins with average particle size in range ~15–25?nm. The analyte sensing properties at room temperature can be ascribed to higher specific surface area due to nanograins formation. The significant effect of operating temperature on sensor’s performance is also analysed in order to obtain the optimum temperature (T_opt) of the sensor device. Response reaches to 321.7% for 100?ppm of ethanol vapors at T_opt (175?°C). The transformation in the behavior of sensing layer is observed which is described on the basis of experimental studies.

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Rapid screening for S-adenosylmethionine-dependent methylation products by enzyme-transferred isotope patterns analysis

We report here an isotopic labeling and mass spectrometric method to rapidly identify S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet)-dependent methylation products. In the presence of CH(3)- and CD(3)-labeled AdoMet, a methyl transfer product appears as a doublet separated by 3 Da in a mass spectrum, while other compounds show their normal isotopic distribution. Based on this unique isotopic pattern, methylation product(s) can be easily detected even from a mixture of cellular components. To validate our method, the product of human thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT, EC 2.1.1.67) has been successfully identified from both an in vitro assay and a whole-cell assay. This method is generally applicable to AdoMet-dependent transmethylation and other group-transfer reactions, and constitutes the first example of a general strategy of enzyme-transferred isotope patterns (ETIPs) analysis.     

Assessment of Chinese medicinal herb metabolite profiles by UPLC-MS-based methodology for the detection of aristolochic acids

In this study, aristolochic acid in different herbal medicines containing a mixture of varying herb species was identified through fingerprint pattern similarities. Aristolochic acid I and II are nephrotoxic compounds naturally present in the Aristolochia plant species that are commonly used in Chinese herbal medicines. Twenty-four commercially available herbal formulations were extracted into an aqueous solution and injected into a UPLC-MS system. All the samples were analysed by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) to check for the presence of aristolochic acids I and II. The same samples were then fingerprinted using two different gradient methods and the chromatograms deconvoluted into retention time (RT) and masses for the chemicals present taking concentration into account. Statistical analysis of this data revealed that samples were highly heterogeneous, and that the main differences between the preparations were concentrations of polar compounds. A model was constructed where the samples could be separated into two groups differentiated by the presence of the two forms of aristolochic acid.     

Cellulose nanocrystal treatment of aligned short hemp fibre mats for reinforcement in polypropylene matrix composites

Cellulose - Oriented short hemp fibre mats were produced using dynamic sheet forming (DSF) incorporating cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) to improve their integrity. The CNCs were found to act as a...     

Raman spectral investigations on the binary system (acetic acid N,N‐dimethyl formamide)

Raman spectra of acetic acid (AA), N,N‐dimethyl formamide (DMF) and their binary mixtures with varying mole fraction of the AA were recorded in the region 300–1750 cm⁻¹ to investigate the formation of self‐associated dimer and hydrogen‐bonded complexes in a mixed system. The observed spectral features of the CO stretching mode suggest the formation of self‐association with a smaller aggregation size, and also indicate the presence of repulsive interactions between AA and DMF. The existence of two kinds of AA molecules (free and complex) is elucidated from the splitting of the OC O deformation mode. The intermolecular hydrogen‐bond formation and the possibility of attractive interaction between AA and DMF are also examined from the observed spectral features in the CCO symmetric stretching mode of AA, and CN symmetric stretching mode of DMF. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Morphology and mechanical and viscoelastic properties of natural rubber and styrene butadiene rubber latex blends

The morphology and mechanical and viscoelastic properties of a series of blends of natural rubber (NR) and styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) latex blends were studied in the uncrosslinked and crosslinked state. The morphology of the NR/SBR blends was analyzed using a scanning electron microscope. The morphology of the blends indicated a two phase structure in which SBR is dispersed as domains in the continuous NR matrix when its content is less than 50%. A cocontinuous morphology was obtained at a 50/50 NR/SBR ratio and phase inversion was seen beyond 50% SBR when NR formed the dispersed phase. The mechanical properties of the blends were studied with special reference to the effect of the blend ratio, surface active agents, vulcanizing system, and time for prevulcanization. As the NR content and time of prevulcanization increased, the mechanical properties such as the tensile strength, modulus, elongation at break, and hardness increased. This was due to the increased degree of crosslinking that leads to the strengthening of the 3‐dimensional network. In most cases the tear strength values increased as the prevulcanization time increased. The mechanical data were compared with theoretical predictions. The effects of the blend ratio and prevulcanization on the dynamic mechanical properties of the blends were investigated at different temperatures and frequencies. All the blends showed two distinct glass‐transition temperatures, indicating that the system is immiscible. It was also found that the glass‐transition temperatures of vulcanized blends are higher than those of unvulcanized blends. The time–temperature superposition and Cole–Cole analysis were made to understand the phase behavior of the blends. The tensile and tear fracture surfaces were examined by a scanning electron microscope to gain an insight into the failure mechanism. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 2189–2211, 2000     

Characterization and quantification of biological micropatterns using Cluster-SIMS

Micropatterning is used widely in biosensor development, tissue engineering and basic biology. Creation of biological micropatterns typically involves multiple sequential steps that may lead to cross-contamination and may contribute to sub-optimal performance of the surface. Therefore, there is a need to develop novel strategies for characterizing location-specific chemical composition of biological micropatterns. In this paper, C(60) (+) ToF-SIMS operating in the event-by-event bombardment-detection mode was used for spatially resolved chemical analysis of micropatterned indium tin oxide (ITO) surfaces. Fabrication of the micropatterns involved multiple steps including self-assembly of poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG)-silane, patterning of photoresist, treatment with oxygen plasma and adsorption of collagen (I). The ITO surfaces were analyzed with 26 keV C(60) (+)SIMS run in the event-by-event bombardment-detection mode at different steps of the modification process. We were able to evaluate the extent of cross-contamination between different steps and quantify coverage of the immobilized species. The methodology described here provides a novel means for characterizing the composition of biological micropatterns in a quantitative and spatially-resolved manner.     

Synthesis and characterization of MH···HOR dihydrogen bonded ruthenium and osmium complexes(η~5-C_5H_4CH_2OH)MH(PPh_3)_2(M = Ru,Os)

Treatment of RuCl2(PPh3)3 with 6-dimethylaminopentafulvene in THF in the presence of water produced(η5-C5H4CHO) RuCl(PPh3)2, which was reduced by NaBH4 to give the Ru–H···HO dihydrogen bonded complex(η5-C5H4CH2OH) RuH(PPh3)2. The dihydrogen bonded complex(η5-C5H4CH2OH)RuH(PPh3)2 could also be synthesized by the reduction of complex(η5-C5H4CHO)RuH(PPh3)2, which was obtained by the reaction of RuHCl(PPh3)3 with 6-dimethylaminopentafulvene in the presence of water. The analogous dihydrogen bonded osmium complex(η5-C5H4CH2OH)OsH(PPh3)2 was similarly prepared. Single crystal structures and DFT calculations support the presence of intra-molecular H···H interaction, with separations of around 1.9 to 2.0 .