640 × 512 pixel narrow-band, four-band, and broad-band quantum well infrared photodetector focal plane arrays

A 9 μm cutoff 640 × 512 pixel hand-held quantum well infrared photodetector (QWIP) camera has been demonstrated with excellent imagery. A noise equivalent differential temperature (NEDT) of 10.6 mK is expected at a 65 K operating temperature with f/2 optics at a 300 K background. This focal plane array has shown background limited performance at a 72 K operating temperature with the same optics and background conditions. In this paper, we discuss the development of this very sensitive long-wavelength infrared camera based on a GaAs/AlGaAs QWIP focal plane array and its performance in quantum efficiency, NEDT, uniformity, and operability. In the second section of this paper, we discuss the first demonstration of a monolithic spatially separated four-band 640 × 512 pixel QWIP focal plane array and its performance. The four spectral bands cover 4–5.5, 8.5–10, 10–12, and 13.5–15 μm spectral regions with 640 × 128 pixels in each band. In the last section, we discuss the array performance of a 640 × 512 pixel broad-band (10–16 μm full-width at half-maximum) QWIP focal plane.     

Free Radicals as a Double-Edged Sword: The Cancer Preventive and Therapeutic Roles of Curcumin

Free radicals, generally composed of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), are generated in the body by various endogenous and exogenous systems. The overproduction of free radicals is known to cause several chronic diseases including cancer. However, increased production of free radicals by chemotherapeutic drugs is also associated with apoptosis in cancer cells, indicating the dual nature of free radicals. Among various natural compounds, curcumin manifests as an antioxidant in normal cells that helps in the prevention of carcinogenesis. It also acts as a prooxidant in cancer cells and is associated with inducing apoptosis. Curcumin quenches free radicals, induces antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase), and upregulates antioxidative protein markers–Nrf2 and HO-1 that lead to the suppression of cellular oxidative stress. In cancer cells, curcumin aggressively increases ROS that results in DNA damage and subsequently cancer cell death. It also sensitizes drug-resistant cancer cells and increases the anticancer effects of chemotherapeutic drugs. Thus, curcumin shows beneficial effects in prevention, treatment and chemosensitization of cancer cells. In this review, we will discuss the dual role of free radicals as well as the chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic effects of curcumin and its analogues against cancer.     

Anti-Inflammatory Dysidazirine Carboxylic Acid from the Marine Cyanobacterium Caldora sp. Collected from the Reefs of Fort Lauderdale,Florida

Dysidazirine carboxylic acid (1) was isolated from the lipophilic extract of a collection of the benthic marine cyanobacterium Caldora sp. from reefs near Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The planar structure of this new compound was determined by spectroscopic methods and comparisons between HRMS and NMR data with its reported methyl ester. The absolute configuration of the single chiral center was determined by the conversion of 1 to the methyl ester and the comparison of its specific rotation data with the two known methyl ester isomers, 2 and 3. Molecular sequencing with 16S rDNA indicated that this cyanobacterium differs from Caldora penicillata (Oscillatoriales) and represents a previously undocumented and novel Caldora species. Dysidazirine (2) showed weak cytotoxicity against HCT116 colorectal cancer cells (IC₅₀ 9.1 µM), while dysidazirine carboxylic acid (1) was non-cytotoxic. Similar cell viability patterns were observed in RAW264.7 cells with dysidazirine only (2), displaying cytotoxicity at the highest concentration tested (50 µM). The non-cytotoxic dysidazirine carboxylic acid (1) demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity in RAW264.7 cells stimulated with LPS. After 24 h, 1 inhibited the production of NO by almost 50% at 50 µM, without inducing cytotoxicity. Compound 1 rapidly decreased gene expression of the pro-inflammatory gene iNOS after 3 h post-LPS treatment and in a dose-dependent manner (IC₅₀ ~1 µM); the downregulation of iNOS persisted at least until 12 h.     

Macropolyhedral boron-containing cluster chemistry. The unique nido-five-vertex-<B2>-nido-ten-vertex conjuncto structure of [(eta5-C5Me5)2Rh2B11H15] via an unexpected cluster-dismantling

B16H20 and [RhCl2(eta5-C5Me5)]2 with tmnd give [(eta5-C5Me5)2Rh2B11H15], which has an unprecedented thirteen-vertex macropolyhedral cluster core based on a nido ten-vertex {MB9} subcluster and a nido five-vertex {MB4} subcluster fused with their open-face {B2} edges in common.     

A super-pixel QWIP focal plane array for imaging multiple waveband temperature sensor

The multi-waveband temperature sensor (MWTS) array, in which each super-pixel (2 × 2 pixel cell) operates at four distinct thermal infrared (IR) wavebands is being developed. Using this high spatial resolution, four-band thermal IR band detector array, accurate temperature measurements on the surface of an object can be made without prior knowledge of its exact emissivity. This multi-band detector involves intersubband transition in III–V semiconductor-based quantum layered structures. Each detector stack absorbs photons within the specified wavelength band while allowing the transmission of photons in other spectral bands, thus efficiently permitting multi-band detection. This produces multiple, spectrally resolved images of the scene that are recorded simultaneously in a single snapshot on the FPA. From the multispectral images and calibration information about the system, computational algorithms are used to evaluate the temperature on the surface of a target.     

Switchgrass PviCAD1: Understanding Residues Important for Substrate Preferences and Activity

Cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) catalyzes the final step in monolignol biosynthesis. Although plants contain numerous genes coding for CADs, only one or two CADs appear to have a primary physiological role in lignin biosynthesis. Much of this distinction appears to reside in a few key residues that permit reasonable catalytic rates on monolignal substrates. Here, several mutant proteins were generated using switchgrass wild type (WT) PviCAD1 as a template to understand the role of some of these key residues, including a proton shuttling HL duo in the active site. Mutated proteins displayed lowered or limited activity on cinnamylaldehydes and exhibited altered kinetic properties compared to the WT enzyme, suggesting that key residues important for efficient catalysis had been identified. We have also shown that a sorghum ortholog containing EW, instead of HL in its active site, displayed negligible activity against monolignals. These results indicate that lignifying CADs require a specific set of key residues for efficient activity against monolignals.     

IR detection by depletion of trapped charge in localized impurity states of an extrinsic semiconductor

Recently we have described a new mode of IR detection which utilizes charge storage in localized levels of an extrinsic semiconductor at low temperatures. This method is based on field-assisted impurity photoionization. IR photoionization depletes the population of stored charge in localized impurity states. The integration takes place inside the bulk of the semiconductor. A large negative going pulse causes rapid field ionization of the remaining charge after an IR exposure. Readout is accomplished by measuring this ejected charge. Using a cryogenically cooled monochromator, we have studied the spectral response and its field dependence. Extremely low dark currents (<3×10^–18 A) permit IR integration times of up to 12 hours or more. For the first time, significant photoresponse is obtained from a cryogenic Si:P detector at wavelengths up to 43 m, well beyond the nominal long wavelength cutoff of 27 m.This work was supported in part by National Science Foundation grant #ECS-8202473.