Reducing field distortion for galvanometer scanning system using a vision system

Laser galvanometer scanning systems are well-established devices for material processing, medical imaging and laser projection. Besides all the advantages of these devices like high resolution, repeatability and processing velocity, they are always affected by field distortions. Different pre-compensating techniques using iterative marking and measuring methods are applied in order to reduce such field distortions and increase in some extends the accuracy of the scanning systems. High-tech devices, temperature control systems and self-adjusting galvanometers are some expensive possibilities for reducing these deviations. This contribution presents a method for reducing field distortions using a coaxially coupled vision device and a self-designed calibration plate; this avoids, among others, the necessity of repetitive marking and measuring phases.     

Enhanced electron field emission characteristics of single-walled carbon nanotube films by ultrasonic bonding

A novel ultrasonic bonding process was used to fabricate the electron field emission cathode of single-walled nanotube film, which was deposited on an Al plate substrate by electrophoretic deposition. Electron field emission properties were improved remarkably after the cathode carbon nanotubes nanobonded with the Al substrate. Turn-on voltage showed a significant decrease and the emission current was much stabilized. This can be attributed to the reduction of the contact resistance in bonding area and easily moving electrons for field emission after ultrasonic bonding. In addition, the field emission performances of SWCNTs films formed at different bonding conditions were also studied. With a simple nano-bonding apparatus, this technique has low cost, and can be utilized for extensively roboticized fabrication of high performance field emission cathodes with short process time.     

Adaptive active contours based on local and global intensity information for image segmentation

This paper proposes a new formulation of active contours in the partial differential equation (PDE) framework. The evolution equation consists of two terms: a force term and a regularization term that smoothes the level set function. The proposed model can handle intensity inhomogeneity by integrating the local and global intensity information into the force term. Moreover, the level set function can be initialized to any bounded function (e.g., a constant function), thus completely eliminating the need of initial contours. Experimental results show that the proposed model can effectively and quickly segment many synthesized and real images, especially for images with intensity inhomogeneity.     

Fabrication, characterization and some applications of graded chiral zigzag shaped nano-sculptured silver thin films

Graded chiral zig-zag shaped nano-sculptured silver thin films (GCZSSTF) were produced in two stages using oblique deposition technique together with rotation of substrate about its surface normal while a shadowing block was also fixed at the center of the substrate holder. Chrystallographic and morphological structure of these films were obtained using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Spectrophotometry was used to obtain their optical behavior while their application in both hydrophobicity and gas sensing was also investigated. XRD results showed a dominant (1 1 1) orientation growth on the zig arm of the structure while by addition of the second arm (zag) the crystallographical growth orientation changed to (2 2 0).The anisotropic nano-structure of these films was also distinguished through (1 − R) spectra. A common peak at about 350 nm related to the TM mode of plasmon resonances and a broad shoulder at about 420 nm for the s-polarized light and at 620 nm for the p-polarized light corresponding to the LM mode of plasmon resonances are observed. These peaks are directly related to the nano-columns topography. The film system used here proved to act as a physical method for producing layer-by-layer structure for obtaining enhanced hydrophobic surfaces rather than the usual chemical methods reported in the literature. In addition, the GCZSSTF also acted as good as reported results for nano-tubes when applied as cathode in the field ionization gas sensing setup.     

Detection of influenza A virus using carbon nanotubes field effect transistor based DNA sensor

The carbon nanotubes field effect transistor (CNTFET) based DNA sensor was developed, in this paper, for detection of influenza A virus DNA. Number of factors that influence the output signal and analytical results were investigated. The initial probe DNA, decides the available DNA strands on CNTs, was 10 µM. The hybridization time for defined single helix was 120 min. The hybridization temperature was set at 30 °C to get a net change in drain current of the DNA sensor without altering properties of any biological compounds. The response time of the DNA sensor was less than one minute with a high reproducibility. In addition, the DNA sensor has a wide linear detection range from 1 pM to 10 nM, and a very low detection limit of 1 pM. Finally, after 7-month storage in 7.4 pH buffer, the output signal of DNA sensor recovered 97%.     

On spectra of algebras over ultranormed fields

Algebras over ultranormed fields are studied. Conditions under which spectra of such algebras are non-void are investigated. For this purpose extensions of fields are considered.     

The segmental and global dynamics in lamellar microphase-separated poly(styrene-b-isoprene) diblock copolymer studied by H NMR and dielectric spectroscopy

The nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and dielectric spectroscopy (DS) methods were used to investigate the segmental and global dynamics in lamellar microphase separated poly(styrene-b-isoprene) (SI) diblock copolymer. For the first time, the susceptibility representation of the NMR relaxation data is applied to the analysis of the molecular dynamics in complex polymer systems like the diblock copolymer. This approach in combination with the frequency-temperature superposition (FTS) allows one to compare directly the NMR and DS data in an extended frequency range providing a unique comprehensive picture of various relaxation processes present in the system studied. The findings of these investigations include structural relaxations of the polyisoprene (PI) and the polystyrene (PS) blocks, a normal mode relaxation of the PI block, and an extra low frequency interfacial relaxation. Special attention has been devoted to influence of the copolymer morphology on the segmental and global dynamics in PI.     

Different strategies for the preconcentration and separation of parabens by capillary electrophoresis

Several strategies, namely, large volume sample stacking (LVSS), field‐amplified sample injection (FASI), sweeping, and in‐line SPE‐CE, were investigated for the simultaneous separation and preconcentration of a group of parabens. A BGE consisting of 20 mM sodium dihydrogenphosphate (pH 2.28) and 150 mM SDS with 15% ACN was used for the separation and preconcentration of the compounds by sweeping, and a BGE consisting of 30 mM sodium borate (pH 9.5) was used for the separation and preconcentration of the compounds by LVSS, FASI, and in‐line SPE‐CE. Several factors affecting the preconcentration process were investigated in order to obtain the maximum enhancement of sensitivity. The LODs obtained for parabens were in the range of 18–27, 3–4, 2, and 0.01–0.02 ng/mL, and the sensitivity evaluated in terms of LODs was improved up to 29‐, 77‐, 120‐, and 18 400‐fold for sweeping, LVSS, FASI, and in‐line SPE‐CE, respectively. These preconcentration techniques showed potential as good strategies for focusing parabens. The four methods were validated with standard samples to show the potential of these techniques for future applications in real samples, such as biological and environmental samples.     

Field measurement of the organic peroxy radicals by the low-pressure reactor plus laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy

A low-pressure reactor (LPR) was developed for the measurement of ambient organic peroxy (RO₂) radicals with the use of the laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) instrument. The reactor converts all the RO_x (= RO₂ + HO₂ + RO + OH) radicals into HO₂ radicals. It can conduct different measurement modes through altering the reagent gases, achieving the speciated measurement of RO₂ and RO₂^# (RO₂ radicals derived from the long-chain alkane, alkene and aromatic hydrocarbon). An example of field measurement results was given, with a maximum concentration of 1.88 × 10⁸ molecule/cm³ for RO₂ and 1.18 × 10⁸ molecule/cm³ for RO₂^#. Also, this instrument quantifies the local ozone production rates directly, which can help to deduce the regional ozone control strategy from an experimental perspective. The new device can serve as a potent tool for both the exploration of frontier chemistry and the diagnosis of the control strategies.     

Quality evaluation of six bioactive constituents in goji berry based on capillary electrophoresis field amplified sample stacking

Goji berry, fruits of the plant Lycium barbarum L., has long been used as traditional medicine and functional food in China. In this work, a simple and easy‐operation on‐line concentration capillary electrophoresis (CE) for detection flavonoids in goji berry was developed by coupling of field amplified sample stacking (FASS) with an electroosmotic (EOF) pump driving water removal process. Due to the EOF pump and electrokinetic injection showing different influence on the concentration, the analytes injection condition should be systemically studied. Thereafter, the verification of the analytes injection conditions was achieved using response surface experimental design. Under the optimum conditions, 86–271 folds sensitivity enhancement upon normal capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE, 50 mbar × 5 s) were achieved for six flavonoids, and the detection limits ranged from 0.35 to 1.82 ng/mL; the LOQ ranged from 1.20 to 6.01 ng/mL. Eventually, the proposed method was applied to detect flavonoids in 30 goji berry samples from different habitats of China; and the results indicated that the flavonoids were rich in the eluent of 30–60% methanol, which provided a reference for extraction of goji berry flavonoids.