Integrated Ka-band finline mixer/modulator

A new mixer/modulator for millimetre-wave applications is presented. The circuit is implemented with a combination of finlines, coplanar lines and microstrip lines. By applying the described mixer/modulator to millimetre-wave systems a twofold use of active elements such as the Gunn element and Schottky diodes is possible. The size of the whole planar structure is about 4 × 4 cm and there is no need for a variable short.     

Preparation of α-oxygenated phosphine oxides from chlorodiphenylphosphine

A range of α-alkoxyphosphine oxides, including novel α-methoxyallyl oxides, are readily prepared from chlorodiphenylphosphine and acetals.     

Refinements to the diastereoisomer-specific method for the analysis of hexabromocyclododecane

The emergence of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) as a bromine-based flame retardant of concern is partly attributable to recent measurements on the environmental occurrence of the individual diastereoisomers (alpha, beta and gamma). These measurements were fuelled by a newly developed liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometric (LC/MS/MS)-based analytical method. However, in the course of our recent studies on the environmental fate and behaviour of the diastereoisomers of HBCD, some interesting features of the LC/MS/MS method became apparent. For example, the ion signal of the native ions was found to be dependent on the final extract volume. This was true for both biotic and sediment samples and was found to arise from the suppression of the ion signal due to endogenous material in the extracts that escape clean-up. We have also found differences in the stability of the diastereoisomers in different solvents. If left unaccounted for, both factors can compromise analytical measurement data. By way of a series of controlled experiments conducted at our two laboratories [Department of Fisheries & Oceans Canada (DFO) and Environment Canada (EC)], we illustrate these features and demonstrate that use of newly synthesized labelled HBCD isomers [(13-carbon (13C) and deuterium (d18)] can minimize and often circumvent matrix-related effects.     

PopGen: population-based recruitment of patients and controls for the analysis of complex genotype-phenotype relationships

OBJECTIVE: Patient samples used for mapping complex human disease genes are unlikely to be representative of the phenotype spectrum of the respective population as a whole. On the other hand, most ongoing prospective studies are probably too small for evaluating polygenic disease markers. DESIGN: Precise estimates of population-specific genotypic risks can be obtained efficiently through the complete ascertainment of patients in a geographically confined area. The PopGen project uses the most northern part of Germany as a target region for such a pursuit. RESULTS: PopGen currently pursues recruitment, sampling and processing activities in close collaboration with a multitude of clinical partners, covering cardiovascular, neuropsychiatric and environmental diseases. CONCLUSION: PopGen has successfully established itself as a large-scale genetic epidemiological project of international recognition.     

Dust-acoustic solitons in quantum plasma with kappa-distributed ions

Arbitrary amplitude dust-acoustic (DA) solitary waves in an unmagnetized and collisionless quantum dusty plasma comprising cold dust particles, kappa (κ)-distributed ions and degenerate electrons are investigated. The influence of suprathermality and quantum effects on the linear dispersion relation of DA waves is investigated. Then, the effect of κ-distributed ions and degenerate electrons on the existence domain of solitons is discussed in the space of (M, f). The comparison of the existence domain for higher and lower values of κ shows that suprathermality results in propagation of solitons with lower Mach number, and the quantum effects, lead to a higher values of Mach number. The existence domain of solitons for nondegenerate κ-distributed electrons is considered for comparison with effect of degenerate electrons. Also, we found that the Sagdeev potential well becomes deeper and wider as ε _F???i decreases, as for lower κ values, the influence of quantum effects on the Sagdeev pseudopotential profile is smaller.     

Smoke triggered corona discharge sensor

This paper presents an ionic smoke sensor working without a radioactive ionization source. The presence of smoke particles reduces significantly the effective corona discharge threshold of air by a factor greater than 5. The smoke sensor consists of a wire under an intermediate continuous voltage which generates a current only in presence of smoke. The sensor electric consumption is therefore very low and can operate for a long time. Results of a prototype operating under 600 V with a 25-μm-diameter wire are shown.     

Determination of trace amounts of aromatic amines after magnetic solid‐phase extraction using silver‐modified Fe3O4/graphene nanocomposite

In this work, a fast and simple magnetic dispersive solid phase extraction methodology was developed utilizing Ag@magnetite nanoparticles@graphene nanocomposite as an efficient magnetic nanosorbent for preconcentration and determine of five aromatic amines in water samples. The sorbent was characterized by diverse characterization techniques. After the extraction, high‐performance liquid chromatography with UV detection was utilized to analysis the aromatic amines. The effects of different factors on the extraction process were studied thoroughly via design of experiment and desirability function. Detection limits and linear dynamic ranges were obtained in the range of 0.10–0.20 and 0.3–300 μg/L, respectively. The relative standard deviations (n = 5) were in the range of 4.3–6.5%. Eventually, the method was employed for determination of target aromatic amines in various water samples.