Rapid Detection of Different Types of Soil Nitrogen Using Near-Infrared Hyperspectral Imaging

Rapid and accurate determination of soil nitrogen supply capacity by detecting nitrogen content plays an important role in guiding agricultural production activities. In this study, near-infrared hyperspectral imaging (NIR-HSI) combined with two spectral preprocessing algorithms, two characteristic wavelength selection algorithms and two machine learning algorithms were applied to determine the content of soil nitrogen. Two types of soils (laterite and loess, collected in 2020) and three types of nitrogen fertilizers, namely, ammonium bicarbonate (ammonium nitrogen, NH₄-N), sodium nitrate (nitrate nitrogen, NO₃-N) and urea (urea nitrogen, urea-N), were studied. The NIR characteristic peaks of three types of nitrogen were assigned and regression models were established. By comparing the model average performance indexes after 100 runs, the best model suitable for the detection of nitrogen in different types was obtained. For NH₄-N, R²_p = 0.92, RMSE_P = 0.77% and RPD = 3.63; for NO₃-N, R²_p = 0.92, RMSE_P = 0.74% and RPD = 4.17; for urea-N, R²_p = 0.96, RMSE_P = 0.57% and RPD = 5.24. It can therefore be concluded that HSI spectroscopy combined with multivariate models is suitable for the high-precision detection of various soil N in soils. This study provided a research basis for the development of precision agriculture in the future.     

Anti-Solvent-Free Preparation for Efficient and Photostable Pure-Iodide Wide-Bandgap Perovskite Solar Cells

The perovskite/silicon tandem solar cell (TSC) has attracted tremendous attention due to its potential to breakthrough the theoretical efficiency set for single-junction solar cells. However, the perovskite solar cell (PSC) designed as its top component cell suffers from severe photo-induced halide segregation owing to its mixed-halide strategy for achieving desirable wide-bandgap (1.68 eV). Developing pure-iodide wide-bandgap perovskites is a promising route to fabricate photostable perovskite/silicon TSCs. Here, we report efficient and photostable pure-iodide wide-bandgap PSCs made from an anti-solvent-free (ASF) technique. The ASF process is achieved by mixing two precursor solutions, both of which are capable of depositing corresponding perovskite films without involving anti-solvent. The mixed solution finally forms Cs_0.3DMA_0.2MA_0.5PbI₃ perovskite film with a bandgap of 1.68 eV. Furthermore, methylammonium chloride additive is applied to enhance the crystallinity and reduce the trap density of perovskite films. As a result, the pure-iodide wide-bandgap PSC delivers efficiency as high as 21.30 % with excellent photostability, the highest for this type of solar cells. The ASF method significantly improves the device reproducibility as compared with devices made from other anti-solvent methods. Our findings provide a novel recipe to prepare efficient and photostable wide-bandgap PSCs.     

Capillary liquid chromatography fraction collection and postcolumn reaction using segmented flow microfluidics

A challenge for capillary LC (cLC) is fraction collection and the manipulation of fractions from microscale columns. An emerging approach is the use of segmented flow or droplet technology to perform such tasks. In this work, a fraction collection and postcolumn reaction system based on segmented flow was developed for the gradient cLC of proteins. In the system, column effluent and immiscible oil are pumped into separate arms of a tee resulting in regular fractions of effluent segmented by oil. Fractions were generated at 1 Hz corresponding to 5 nL volumes. The fraction collection rate was high enough to generate over 30 fractions per peak and preserve chromatographic resolution achieved for a five‐protein test mixture. The resulting fractions could be stored and subsequently derivatized for fluorescence detection by pumping them into a second tee where naphthalene dicarboxyaldehyde, a fluorogenic reagent, was pumped into a second arm and added to each fraction. Proteins were derivatized within the droplets enabling postcolumn fluorescence detection of the proteins. The experiments demonstrate that fraction collection from cLC by segmented flow can be extended to proteins. Further, they illustrate a potential workflow for protein analysis based on postcolumn derivatization for fluorescence detection.     

Stable Extracellular Matrix Protein Patterns Guide the Orientation of Osteoblast‐like Cells

The development of a simple method for creating extracellular‐matrix‐protein patterns by microcontact printing to guide cell organization and alignment is reported. Substrates of glass and titanium are modified by a hydrophilic chitosan layer and then protein patterns with varying shapes and sizes are printed onto the surfaces. Confocal laser scanning microscopy shows that proteins (collagen type I, fibronectin, and gelatin) are accurately and effectively transferred from the stamp templates. These patterns are stable. Osteoblast‐like cells cultured on these micropatterned materials preferentially adhere and grow on the protein‐functionalized areas. The cell morphology and distribution direction are dependent on the widths and spaces of the protein patterns. It is possible to control the cell alignment by carefully designing the pattern shapes and sizes. This study suggests that the stable protein patterns can be used to modify biomaterials' surfaces and spatially control the organization of bone cells. Due to the high stability, easy preparation procedure and the precise control of the cell alignment, the current work may provide opportunities for the surface modification of implantable materials, such as titanium for bone repair, where specific bone‐cell alignment is needed.     

A novel simultaneous noise and input VSWR matching technique for broadband LNA

The Simultaneous Noise and Input Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR) Matching (SNIM) condition for Low Noise Amplifier (LNA), in principle, can only be satisfied at a single frequency. In this paper, by analyzing the fundamental limitations of the narrowband SNIM technique for the broadband application, the authors present a broadband SNIM LNA systematic design technique. The designed LNA guided by the proposed methodology achieves 10 dB power gain with a low Noise Figure (NF) of 0.53 dB. Meanwhile, it provides wonderful input matching of 27 dB across the frequency range of 3∼5 GHz. Therefore, broadband SNIM is realized.     

关于求解二维三温热传导问题的一点探讨

本文首先给出了二维三温热传导问题的数学模型和有关数据,在单层三角形网格剖分下,讨论了牛顿和固结系数两种线性化方法,经典的和保对称的两种有限体离散方法,并获得了对比数值结果.     

Preparation of three‐dimensional structure controllable nanofibers by electrospinning

The size of “bowl‐like” structures woven by nanofibers could be controlled by adjusting the distance from the nozzle to a modified collector and the voltage applied to the electrospinning device. More interestingly, the nanofibers in the side wall of the “bowl” could vibrate up and down with the changing of the voltage. This voltage‐induced vibration might have potential applications for bio‐mimic process and micro‐motor devices. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

“Click” coupling between alkyne‐decorated multiwalled carbon nanotubes and reactive PDMA‐PNIPAM micelles

Covalent functionalization of alkyne‐decorated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) with a well‐defined, azide‐derivatized, thermoresponsive diblock copolymer, poly(N,N‐dimethylacrylamide)‐poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PDMA‐PNIPAM) was accomplished by the Cu(I)‐catalyzed [3 + 2] Huisgen cycloaddition. It was found that this reaction could simultaneously increase the molecular size and bonding density of grafted polymers when PDMA‐PNIPAM micelles were employed in the coupling system. On the other hand, attachment of molecularly dissolved unimers of high‐molecular weight onto the nanotube resulted in low‐graft density. The block copolymer bearing azide groups at the PDMA end was prepared by reversible addition–fragmentation transfer polymerization, which formed micelles with a diameter of ～40 nm at temperatures above its critical micelle temperature. Scanning electron microscopy was utilized to demonstrate that the coupling reaction was successfully carried out between copolymer micelles and alkyne‐bearing MWNTs. FTIR spectroscopy was utilized to follow the introduction and consumption of alkyne groups on the MWNTs. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the functionalized MWNTs consisted of about 45% polymer. Transmission electron microscopy was utilized to image polymer‐functionalized MWNTs, showing relatively uniform polymer coatings present on the surface of nanotubes. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 7187–7199, 2008