The development of a portable line-shaping optical system for silicon surface treatment

This study proposes a beam shaper for converting a circle beam profile generated with a Gaussian intensity distribution by an 808 nm diode laser into a line beam profile for silicon surface treatment applications. To produce a hand-held and low-cost device with a large spot-size laser, this study uses a portable optical system consisting of a diode laser source, a collimator, a cylindrical lens, and a plano-convex lens to generate an approximately 40 × 3:5mm² line beam profile at a working distance of 200 mm. The silicon surface treated by the line-shaped laser beam has significantly reduced reflectance spectra. The proposed system is also suitable for the surface cleaning of materials.     

Exploring the Origin of Maximum Entropy States Relevant to Resonant Modes in Modern Chladni Plates

The resonant modes generated from the modern Chladni experiment are systematically confirmed to intimately correspond to the maximum entropy states obtained from the inhomogeneous Helmholtz equation for the square and equilateral triangle plates. To investigate the origin of maximum entropy states, the inhomogeneous Helmholtz equation is modified to consider the point interaction coming from the driving oscillator. The coupling strength associated with the point interaction is characterized by a dimensionless factor α. The δ potential of the point interaction is numerically modelled by a truncated basis with an upper index N. The asymptotic behavior for the upper index N is thoroughly explored to verify that the coupling strength of α = 1.0 can make the theoretical resonant modes agree excellently with the maximum entropy states as N→∞. It is further authenticated that nearly the same resonant modes can be obtained by using a larger coupling strength α when a smaller upper index N is exploited in the calculation.     

On the convergence of the exponential multiplier method for convex programming

In this paper, we analyze the exponential method of multipliers for convex constrained minimization problems, which operates like the usual Augmented Lagrangian method, except that it uses an exponential penalty function in place of the usual quadratic. We also analyze a dual counterpart, the entropy minimization algorithm, which operates like the proximal minimization algorithm, except that it uses a logarithmic/entropy proximal term in place of a quadratic. We strengthen substantially the available convergence results for these methods, and we derive the convergence rate of these methods when applied to linear programs.Research supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant DDM-8903385, and the Army Research Office under Grant DAAL03-86-K-0171.     

Broadband Light-Emitting Diodes with One-Dimensional Photonic Crystal Layer

In this article, a broadband gallium-nitride-based light-emitting diode with a one-dimensional photonic crystal layer is investigated. The broadband light-emitting diode using the proposed backside reflector has high reflectance (>95%) over a 270-nm bandwidth in visible light at an arbitrary incidence angle. A broadband light-emitting diode of high output power due to the high reflectivity is achieved. Also reported are the results for light-emitting diodes by the transistor outline can (TO-can) package. The proposed light-emitting diodes possess broadband high reflected spectra, high output power for light extraction, and a good view angle.     

Multiphoton double ionization of Ar in intense extreme ultraviolet laser fields studied by shot-by-shot photoelectron spectroscopy

Photoelectron spectroscopy has been performed to study the multiphoton double ionization of Ar in an intense extreme ultraviolet laser field (hν ～ 21 eV, ～ 5 TW/cm2), by using a free electron laser (FEL). Three distinct peaks identified in the observed photoelectron spectra clearly show that the double ionization proceeds sequentially via the formation of Ar(+): Ar+hν→Ar (+) + e? and Ar2(+) + 2hν→Ar(+) + e?. Shot-by-shot recording of the photoelectron spectra allows simultaneous monitoring of FEL spectrum and the multiphoton process for each FEL pulse, revealing that the two-photon ionization from Ar(+) is significantly enhanced by intermediate resonances in Ar(+).     

Combretastatin A-4 derivatives: synthesis and evaluation of 2,4,5-triaryl-1H-imidazoles as potential agents against H1299 (non-small cell lung cancer cell)

A number of 2,4,5-triaryl-1H-imidazole derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their antiproliferative activities against the growth of five cell lines including three non-small cell lung cancers (H460, H1299, and A549), one breast cancer (MCF-7), and one normal diploid embryonic lung cell line (MRC-5). Preliminary results indicated that both 2-(5-bromofuran-2-yl)-4,5-bis{4-[3-(dimethylamino) propoxy] phenyl}-1H-imidazole (10f) and 4,5-bis{4-[3-(dimethylamino)propoxy]phenyl}-2-(5-nitrofuran-2-yl)-1H -imidazole (10g) were selectively active against the growth of H1229 with an IC₅₀ of less than 0.1???M, thus were more active than topotecan (IC₅₀ >?10.0??? M). However, both 10f and 10g exhibited only marginal cytotoxicity against H460, A549, MCF-7, and MRC-5 requiring an IC ₅₀ of at least 4.16???M. Our results also indicated that 10f induced H1299 cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 through the inactivation of p38 MAPK, JNK, ERK, as well as the expression of SIRT1 and survivin. These results suggested that 10f might have therapeutic potential against H1299 (non-small cell lung cancer cell).     

Deficiency of optineurin enhances osteoclast differentiation by attenuating the NRF2-mediated antioxidant response

Abnormally increased resorption contributes to bone degenerative diseases such as Paget’s disease of bone (PDB) through unclear mechanisms. Recently, the optineurin (OPTN) gene has been implicated in PDB, and global OPTN knockout mice (Optn^−/−) were shown to exhibit increased formation of osteoclasts (osteoclastogenesis). Growing evidence, including our own, has demonstrated that intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) stimulated by receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) can act as signaling molecules to promote osteoclastogenesis. Here, we report that OPTN interacts with nuclear factor erythroid-derived factor 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), the master regulator of the antioxidant response, defining a pathway through which RANKL-induced ROS could be regulated for osteoclastogenesis. In this study, monocytes from Optn^−/− and wild-type (Optn^+/+) mice were utilized to differentiate into osteoclasts, and both qRT-PCR and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining showed that the Optn^−/− monocytes exhibited enhanced osteoclastogenesis compared to the Optn^+/+ cells. CellROX^® staining, qRT-PCR, and Western blotting indicated that OPTN deficiency reduced the basal expression of Nrf2, inhibited the expression of NRF2-responsive antioxidants, and increased basal and RANKL-induced intracellular ROS levels, leading to enhanced osteoclastogenesis. Coimmunoprecipitation (co-IP) showed direct interaction, and immunofluorescence staining showed perinuclear colocalization of the OPTN-NRF2 granular structures during differentiation. Finally, curcumin and the other NRF2 activators attenuated the hyperactive osteoclastogenesis induced by OPTN deficiency. Collectively, our findings reveal a novel OPTN-mediated mechanism for regulating the NRF2-mediated antioxidant response in osteoclasts and extend the therapeutic potential of OPTN in the aging process resulting from ROS-triggered oxidative stress, which is associated with PDB and many other degenerative diseases.Subject terms: Mechanisms of disease, Stress signalling     

Sodium hydroxide as pretreatment and fluorosurfactant-capped gold nanoparticles as sensor for the highly selective detection of cysteine

A sensor for detecting cysteine (Cys) in a solution of fluorosurfactant (FSN)-capped gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) has been developed. Under acidic conditions, FSN-capped AuNPs are aggregated in the presence of homocysteine (HCys) and Cys but not in the presence of cysteinylglycine, glutathione, and gamma-glutamycysteine. When adding NaOH to a solution of HCys, the five-membered ring transition state is formed through intramolecular hydrogen abstraction. By contrast, it is difficult for Cys to form a four-membered ring transition state after Cys has been pretreated with NaOH. As a result, the HCys-induced aggregation of the FSN-capped AuNPs is suppressed because the five-membered ring transition state exhibits relatively larger steric hindrance and has stronger interaction with the FSN molecules. Thus, we can discriminate between Cys and HCys on the basis of different aggregation kinetics. Under the optimum condition, the selectivity of the probe for Cys in aqueous solutions is remarkably high over the other aminthiols. Note that HCys and Cys have very similar structure and pK(a) value. We have validated the applicability of our method through the analyses of Cys in urine samples. It is believed that this approach has great potential for the detection of Cys in biological samples.     

Micellar electrokinetic biofluid analysis of biogenic amines using on-line sample concentration and UV laser-induced native fluorescence detection

A simple and sensitive sweeping micellar electrokinetic chromatography method coupled with UV laser-induced native fluorescence detection has been developed for quantitative analysis of biogenic amines in biofluids. The background electrolyte comprised 30 mmol L⁻¹ phosphoric acid and 20 mmol L⁻¹ sodium dodecyl sulfate. The concentration limits of detection of analytes using sweeping-micellar electrokinetic chromatography (sweeping-MEKC) were in the range 7–100 nmol L⁻¹, which were 250–3600-fold improvement for dopamine, DOPA and epinephrine compared with conventional capillary zone electrophoresis. An improvement of approximately 20-fold was observed for all analytes compared with typical micellar electrokinetic chromatography conditions. Baseline separation was achieved for the all analytes within 12 min and migration-time and peak-area repeatability were better than RSD 0.35% and 5.68%, respectively. The developed method was applied to measure the biogenic amines in biofluids extracted from wheat phloem sap, human plasma and human urine.     

Enantioselective organocatalytic formal [3 + 3]-cycloaddition of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes and application to the asymmetric synthesis of (-)-isopulegol hydrate and (-)-cubebaol

[reaction: see text] The first highly enantioselective organocatalyzed carbo [3 + 3] cascade cycloaddition of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes is reported. Using this methodology, crotonaldehyde is converted to 6-hydroxy-4-methylcyclohex-1-enecarbaldehyde, which is used in the synthesis of (-)-isopulegol hydrate, (-)-cubebaol, and p-tolualdehyde as well as (-)-6-hydroxy-4-methyl-1-cyclohexene-1-methanol acetate, an intermediate in the total synthesis of lycopodium alkaloid magellanine. Other alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes give rise to chiral cyclohexadienes via formal [4 + 2] reactions.