Adaptive time-domain filtering for real-time spectral discrimination in a Michelson interferometer

We present a method of spectral discrimination that employs time-domain processing instead of the typical frequency-domain analysis and implement the method in a Michelson interferometer with a nonlinear mirror scan. The technique yields one analog output value per scan instead of a complete interferogram by directly filtering a measured scan with a reference function in the time domain. Such a procedure drastically reduces data-processing requirements downstream. Additionally, using prerecorded interferograms as references eliminates the need to compensate for scan nonlinearities, which broadens the field of usable components for implementation in miniaturized sensing systems. With our efficient use of known spectral signatures, we demonstrate real-time discrimination of 633- and 663-nm laser sources with a mirror scan length of 1 microm , compared with the Rayleigh criterion of 7 microm.     

Scaling of x-ray emission and ion velocity in laser produced Cu plasmas

The x-ray emission from slab targets of copper irradiated by Nd:glass laser (1.054 μm, 5 and 15 ns) at intensities between 10¹² and 10¹¹W/cm² has been studied. The x-ray emissions were monitored with the help of high quantum efficiency x-ray silicon photo diodes and vacuum photo diodes, all covered with aluminium filters of different thickness. The x-ray intensity vs the laser intensity has a scaling factor of (1.2–1.92). The relative x-ray conversion efficiency follows an empirical relationship which is in close agreement with the one reported by Babonneau et al. The ion velocities were monitored using Langmuir probes placed at different angles and radial distances from the target position. The variation of the ion velocity with the laser intensity follows a scaling of the form Φ ^β where β ∼0.22 which is in good agreement with the reported scaling factor values. The results on the x-ray emission from Cu plasma are reported.     

Dirac bound states of anharmonic oscillator in external fields

We explore the effect of the external magnetic and Aharonov–Bohm (AB) flux fields on the energy levels of Dirac particle subjects to mixed scalar and vector anharmonic oscillator field in the two-dimensional (2D) space. We calculate the exact energy eigenvalues and the corresponding un-normalized two-spinor-components wave functions in terms of the chemical potential parameter, magnetic field strength, AB flux field and magnetic quantum number by using the Nikiforov–Uvarov (NU) method.     

Field determination of fluoride in drinking water using a polymeric aluminium complex of 5-(2-carboxyphenylazo)-8-hydroxyquinoline impregnated paper

A simple field method which allows the determination of fluoride in drinking water with a small handheld instrument called Arsenator was developed. Arsenator is a commercially available instrument which was used successfully for reliable determination of arsenic. In the proposed method the functionality of the Arsenator which is based on a photometric measurement of a spot on the reagent paper is expanded to analyse fluoride. A polymeric aluminium complex of 5-(2-carboxyphenylazo)-8-hydroxyquinoline (LH₂) has been prepared as a new specific reagent for fluoride. Job's method of continuous variation was adopted for the determination of the composition of the coloured complex, which was further characterized by UV-VIS spectroscopic studies. The molar absorptivity of the complex formation is 8.48?×?10³?L?mol^?1?cm^?1 at 410?nm. The coloured complex reacts with fluoride on an impregnated paper where its colour changes are dependent on the concentration of fluoride in water samples. The change in the colour was measured using the Arsenator. The method allows a reliable determination of fluoride in the range 0.3 to 2.0?mg?L^?1. Further spectophotometric determinations of fluoride in drinking water were also studied. The determination is based on the reaction of aluminium complex with fluoride in the examined samples. Beer's law is obeyed in the range 0.3 to 2.0?mg?L^?1 of fluoride at 495?nm. Sensitivity, detection limit and quantitation limit of the method were found to be 0.251?±?0.007?µg^?1?mL, 0.1?mg?L^?1 and 0.3?mg?L^?1, respectively. The optimum reaction conditions and other analytical conditions were evaluated. The effect of interfering ions on the determination is described. There is no interference by nitrate or chloride. Sulphate interfered only at high concentrations which are not expected in drinking water.     

Investigations into the parallel kinetic resolution of acetyl mandelic acid

The resolution of a series of active esters (derived from acetyl mandelic acid) using an equimolar combination of quasi-enantiomeric oxazolidin-2-ones is discussed. The levels of diastereoselectivity and the facial selectivity were found to be dependent on the structural nature of the pro-leaving group.     

Electrochemical Modification of Polypeptides at Selenocysteine

Mild strategies for the selective modification of peptides and proteins are in demand for applications in therapeutic peptide and protein discovery, and in the study of fundamental biomolecular processes. Herein, we describe the development of an electrochemical selenoetherification (e-SE) platform for the efficient site-selective functionalization of polypeptides. This methodology utilizes the unique reactivity of the 21st amino acid, selenocysteine, to effect formation of valuable bioconjugates through stable selenoether linkages under mild electrochemical conditions. The power of e-SE is highlighted through late-stage C-terminal modification of the FDA-approved cancer drug leuprolide and assembly of a library of anti-HER2 affibody conjugates bearing complex cargoes. Following assembly by e-SE, the utility of functionalized affibodies for in vitro imaging and targeting of HER2 positive breast and lung cancer cell lines is also demonstrated.     

Perturbative theory and modeling of electronic-resonance-enhanced coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering spectroscopy of nitric oxide

A theory is developed for three-laser electronic-resonance-enhanced (ERE) coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) spectroscopy of nitric oxide (NO). A vibrational Q-branch Raman polarization is excited in the NO molecule by the frequency difference between visible Raman pump and Stokes beams. An ultraviolet probe beam is scattered from the induced Raman polarization to produce an ultraviolet ERE-CARS signal. The frequency of the ultraviolet probe beam is selected to be in electronic resonance with rotational transitions in the A (2)Sigma(+)<--X (2)Pi (1,0) band of NO. This choice results in a resonance between the frequency of the ERE-CARS signal and transitions in the (0,0) band. The theoretical model for ERE-CARS NO spectra has been developed in the perturbative limit. Comparisons to experimental spectra are presented where either the probe laser was scanned with fixed Stokes frequency or the Stokes laser was scanned with fixed probe frequency. At atmospheric pressure and an NO concentration of 100 ppm, good agreement is found between theoretical and experimental spectral peak locations and relative intensities for both types of spectra. Factors relating to saturation in the experiments are discussed, including implications for the theoretical predictions.     

A kinetic model to simulate protein crystal growth in an evaporation-based crystallization platform

The quality, size, and number of protein crystals grown under conditions of continuous solvent extraction are dependent on the rate of solvent extraction and the initial protein and salt concentration. An increase in the rate of solvent extraction leads to a larger number of crystals. The number of crystals decreases, however, when the experiment is started with an initial protein concentration that is closer to the solubility boundary. Here we develop a kinetic model capable of predicting changes in the number and size of protein crystals as a function of time under continuous evaporation. Moreover, this model successfully predicts the initial condition of drops that will result in gel formation. We test this model with experimental crystal growth data of hen egg white lysozyme for which crystal nucleation and growth rate parameters are known from other studies. The predicted and observed rates of crystal growth are in excellent agreement, which suggests that kinetic constants for nucleation and crystal growth for different proteins can be extracted by applying a kinetic model in combination with observations from a few evaporation-based crystallization experiments.     

Bayesian and Frequentist Inferences on a Type I Half-Logistic Odd Weibull Generator with Applications in Engineering

In this article, we have proposed a new generalization of the odd Weibull-G family by consolidating two notable families of distributions. We have derived various mathematical properties of the proposed family, including quantile function, skewness, kurtosis, moments, incomplete moments, mean deviation, Bonferroni and Lorenz curves, probability weighted moments, moments of (reversed) residual lifetime, entropy and order statistics. After producing the general class, two of the corresponding parametric statistical models are outlined. The hazard rate function of the sub-models can take a variety of shapes such as increasing, decreasing, unimodal, and Bathtub shaped, for different values of the parameters. Furthermore, the sub-models of the introduced family are also capable of modelling symmetric and skewed data. The parameter estimation of the special models are discussed by numerous methods, namely, the maximum likelihood, simple least squares, weighted least squares, Cramér-von Mises, and Bayesian estimation. Under the Bayesian framework, we have used informative and non-informative priors to obtain Bayes estimates of unknown parameters with the squared error and generalized entropy loss functions. An extensive Monte Carlo simulation is conducted to assess the effectiveness of these estimation techniques. The applicability of two sub-models of the proposed family is illustrated by means of two real data sets.