Journal articles on the topic 'C.C.D. = charge coupled device'

Abstract This work communicates recent measurements of CN in laser-induced plasma. The main goals and objectives comprise (a) exploring CN measurement using optical emission spectroscopy in optical breakdown plasma; (b) determining the effects of laser-induced shockwave for time delays of the order of 1 μs; (c) evaluating the spatial distribution of CN signals; (d) inferring CN temperature distribution; and (e) associating recorded shadowgraphs with laser-spectroscopy results. Q-switched, 150 mJ, 6 ns pulsed Nd:YAG laser radiation at the fundamental wavelength of 1064 nm is used to generate micro-plasma in a gas mixture with ultra-high purity nitrogen and research grade carbon dioxide. The CO2 to N2 molar ratio is 1 to 1 for the gaseous mixture near atmospheric pressure flowing through the chamber. Optical emissions are dispersed by a 0.64-m Czerny-Turner spectrometer and an intensified charge-coupled device records the data along the wavelength and slit dimensions. The analysis utilizes Abel integral inversion techniques for determination of spatiotemporal profiles.

The concept utilized in charge coupled devices (CCD’s) for detection and imaging of light signals involving lateral movement of charges and extremely low capacitance of the detector and readout electronics has spawned a variety of new ideas in the design of nuclear detectors. Initially, silicon drift detectors (SDD’s) were developed for high energy physics applications. More recently, a vigorous effort to develop new structures for x-ray spectroscopy and light detection has started. Drift structures have been designed in a variety of topologies and materials (such as Si, CdZnTe, and HgI2) to satisfy the requirements of many different applications. The most interesting features that can be achieved with drift structures include: a) Large active area devices with low capacitance and low electronic noise, b) Very high signal throughput, c) Operation at or near room temperature, d) High sensitivity over the large entrance electrode to low energy xrays and short wavelength light, f) Single carrier charge collection allowing for elimination of hole contribution to the spectral broadening in compound semiconductor detectors such as HgI2, CdTe, and CdZnTe, f) 2D resolution of few tens of micrometer in both directions over few cm2 active areas, and g) Possibility of using more sophisticated schemes of charge collection by switching between integration and drift mode.

Recombinant bacteriophages specific for Salmonella spp. and containing bacterial luciferase genes were constructed. The phage caused the host cells to luminesce when mixed with Salmonella spp. and the luminescence could be detected using a photon-counting charge-coupled device (CCD) camera, a luminometer, or X-ray film. The initial assay system was capable of detecting Salmonella isolates from group B and group D. Certain isolates from group C could also be detected. With 6 h of preincubation, as few as 10 CFU of Salmonella cells per ml in the original sample could be detected. The minimum time required for the detection of 108 CFU/ml was 1 to 3 h with no preincubation, depending on bacteriophage adsorption temperatures. The phage-based assay could be carried out on Petrifilm E. coli Count Plates and the light emission detected within 24 h. The system allowed Salmonella cells to be detected in whole eggs by direct addition of recombinant bacteriophages into the eggs followed by visualization of the luminescent Salmonella cells inside the eggs.

We have built a broad bandwidth vibrational sum frequency generation (VSFG) spectrometer that can provide high-quality spectra over the range of 3800 to 900 cm−1. The spectrometer contains a commercial Ti:sapphire based 6 W regenerative amplifier as the master light source, a home-built pulse shaper to produce a narrow bandwidth 800 nm beam, a commercial optical parametric amplifier to generate a broad bandwidth femtosecond infrared (IR) pulse, and a detection system with a monochromator and a charge-coupled device (CCD). We applied this spectrometer to obtain VSFG spectra of a lipid monolayer at the air–water interface in the O–H stretching region (3800–3000 cm−1), the C–H stretching region (3100–2700 cm−1), the C–D stretching region (2300–2000 cm−1), the C=O stretching region (1800–1700 cm−1), and the PO2− symmetric stretching region (1200–1000 cm−1). We also obtained the VSFG spectrum of neat water in the O–H stretching region (3800–3000 cm−1) and the VSFG spectrum of a protein, α-synuclein, in the amide I region (1700–1600 cm−1) at the air–water interface. The spectrometer can provide a VSFG spectrum in the O–H stretching region (3800–3000 cm−1) without scanning the IR frequency. This feature will be useful in probing water dynamics at interfaces because the free OH and H-bonded OH can be investigated simultaneously. We have also provided instrumental details and discussed further improvements that should be beneficial to other researchers interested in setting up VSFG instrumentation.

Ion-sensitive field-effect transistors (ISFETs) are quite popular as compact, low-cost biosensors with fast response time and label-free detection1. They can be used as pH sensors or functionalized for complex biomolecule detection. The voltage sensitivity (Sv) in classical ISFETs is fundamentally limited to 59 mV/pH (Nernst limit). Surpassing the Nernst limit requires complex device architectures or novel transport phenomena. Sensitivity beyond the Nernst limit can be achieved using specific device architectures such as dual gate ISFETs2, negative capacitance ISFETs (NC-ISFET)3, tunnel ISFETs4, etc. Compatible architectures can be combined for further enhancements in sensitivity. First, we experimentally demonstrate a super-Nernstian hetero-ISFET that uses 2-D WSe2/MoS2 heterostructure in a double-gated configuration5. The schematic of the device structure is shown in Fig. 1(a) along with its dimensions. The fluid gate to the pH solution is biased at VFG = 0 V and the voltage sensitivity (SV) is extracted by applying bias to the back-gate (VBG). Fig. 1(b) shows the variation of drain current for change in VBG at different pH. The voltage sensitivity is also included in the same graph. The device uses charge screening due to the interface traps and inversion charges at the hetero-interface to modulate the back-gate transconductance (gmb), thereby allowing super sensitivity. Further enhancement in sensitivity is explored using technology computer-aided (TCAD) device simulator tool (Silvaco ATLAS) by integrating with different device architectures. First we model the baseline hetero-ISFET. The 2-D materials were modeled using their material parameters and 3-D equivalents of their density of states. Amorphous hafnium oxide (HfO2) was used as the dielectric. The mobile ions in the electrolyte were modeled as charge carriers in an intrinsic semiconductor, with its effective density of states varying as a function of pH. The simulation model was calibrated with the experimental device (at pH = 7), as shown in Fig. 2(a). The transfer characteristics of the back-gate at different pH and fixed VFG (= 0 V) for the simulated device is shown in Fig. 2(b). We note that the sensitivity from simulations is lower than the experimental device. This is likely due to non-ideal and 2-D material specific factors which are not accounted in simulations. Nevertheless, the simulated device also shows super-Nernstian sensitivity (Fig. 2(b), right axis), validating the model. Hence, the calibrated TCAD model is used as the baseline for further studies. Next, an NC-FE layer (aluminum-doped HfO2) was added to the top fluid-gate stack6. We have used a ferroelectric-metal-insulator-semiconductor (FMIS) stack for the proposed NC-hetero-ISFET. Fig. 3(a) shows the new top-gate stack with the FMI layer, which replaces the top-gate stack in the earlier schematic. The fluid-gate charge (QFG), and drain current (ID) as a function of VFG (VBG = 0 V), were obtained from the TCAD simulations. The 1-D Landau–Khalatnikov (L-K) equations were used to model the voltage across the FE layer (VFE = 2αQFG+4βQ3 FG = V' FG - Vint; where V' FG is the newly computed fluid-gate bias and Vint is the internal node voltage)7. The calculated Vint (for fixed V' FG) is coupled back into the ATLAS simulator to extract voltage sensitivity (SV) by sweeping VBG at different pH values. The fluid-gate transfer curve of the proposed NC-hetero-ISFET, in Fig. 3(b), clearly shows a steeper sub-threshold slope and higher ON current than the baseline device. The corresponding FE layer parameters are shown in Table 1. These improved fluid-gate characteristics contribute to an increased voltage-sensitivity (SV) when VBG is applied. The transfer characteristic (ID v/s VBG, at fixed V' FG) of the NC-hetero-ISFET at different pH values is shown in Fig. 3(c), along with the voltage sensitivity. Further, in Fig. 3(d), we compare the peak SV obtained at different V' FG. There is an improvement in voltage sensitivity (as much as ~ 100 mV/pH) over the baseline device when NC is introduced. The results pave the way for highly sensitive super-Nernstian ISFETs by combining 2-D heterostructure with NC effect. References: P. Bergveld, Sensors Actuators, B Chem., 88, 1–20 (2003). M. Spijkman et al., Appl. Phys. Lett., 98, 2011–2014 (2011). F. Bellando et al., Appl. Phys. Lett., 116, 173503 (2020) P. Dwivedi, R. Singh, and Y. S. Chauhan, IEEE Sens. J., 21, 3233–3240 (2021). S. Sanjay, M. Hossain, A. Rao, and N. Bhat, npj 2D Mater. Appl. 2021 51, 5, 1–8 (2021) S. Salahuddin and S. Datta, Nano Lett, 8, 405–410 (2008) F. I. Sakib, M. A. Hasan, and M. Hossain, IEEE Trans. Electron Devices, 69, 311–317 (2022). Figure 1

In this work, a plasmonic sensor established on metal-insulator-metal waveguide configuration is proposed and numerically investigated for biosensing applications. The spectral and sensing characteristics of the device are examined via the two-dimensional finite element method. Sensitivity (Sbulk) and figure of merit (FOM) are two important parameters that are considered to determine the device performance. The Sbulk of the device is considered as a ratio between the change in resonance wavelength and change in the ambient refractive index. Whereas FOM is the ratio of Sbulk to full width at half maximum. The Sbulk and FOM offered by the device are ~825.7 nm/RIU and ~13.14, respectively. This work can provide a guideline for the realization of highly sensitive plasmonic sensing devices. Full Text: PDF ReferencesN.L. Kazanskiy, S.N. Khonina, M.A. Butt, "Plasmonic sensors based on Metal-insulator-metal waveguides for refractive index sensing applications: A brief review", Physica E: Low-dimensional systems and Nanostructures 117, 113798 (2020). CrossRef D. Xiang, W. Li, "MIM plasmonic waveguide splitter with tooth-shaped structures", Journal of Modern Optics 61, 222-226 (2014). CrossRef M.A. Butt, S.N. Khonina, N.L. Kazanskiy, "Ultra-short lossless plasmonic power splitter design based on metal–insulator–metal waveguide", Laser Physics 30, 016201 (2020). CrossRef J. Park, S. Lee, B. Lee, "Polarization Singularities in the Metal-Insulator-Metal Surface Plasmon Polariton Waveguide", IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics 46, 1577-1581 (2010). CrossRef M. T. Hill, M. Marell, E. S. P. Leong, B. Smalbrugge, Y. Zhu, M. Sun, P. J. V. Veldhoven, E. J. Geluk, F. Karouta, Y-S. Oei, R. Notzel, C-Z. Ning, M. K. Smit, "Lasing in metal-insulator-metal sub-wavelength plasmonic waveguides", Optics Express 17, 11107-11112 (2009). CrossRef A. Udupi, S. K. Madhava, "Plasmonic Coupler and Multiplexer/Demultiplexer Based on Nano-Groove-Arrays", Plasmonics 16, 1685-1692 (2021). CrossRef Y-F. C. Chau, C-T. C. Chao, H-P. Chiang, "Ultra-broad bandgap metal-insulator-metal waveguide filter with symmetrical stubs and defects", Results in Physics 17, 103116 (2020). CrossRef H. Bahri, S. Mouetsi, A. Hocini, H.B. Salah, "A high sensitive sensor using MIM waveguide coupled with a rectangular cavity with Fano resonance", Optical and Quantum Electronics 53, 332 (2021). CrossRef S.N. Khonina, N.L. Kazanskiy, M.A. Butt, A. Kazmierczak, R. Piramidowicz, "Plasmonic sensor based on metal-insulator-metal waveguide square ring cavity filled with functional material for the detection of CO2 gas", Optics Express 29, 16584 (2021). CrossRef M.A. Butt, S.N. Khonina, N.L. Kazanskiy, "Plasmonics: A Necessity in the Field of Sensing-A Review (Invited)", Fiber and Integrated Optics 40, 14-47 (2021). CrossRef M.A. Butt, A. Kazmierczak, N.L. Kazanskiy, S.N. Khonina, "Metal-Insulator-Metal Waveguide-Based Racetrack Integrated Circular Cavity for Refractive Index Sensing Application", Electronics 10, 1419 (2021). CrossRef N.L. Kazanskiy, S.N. Khonina, M.A. Butt, A. Kazmierczak, R. Piramidowicz, "A Numerical Investigation of a Plasmonic Sensor Based on a Metal-Insulator-Metal Waveguide for Simultaneous Detection of Biological Analytes and Ambient Temperature", Nanomaterials 11, 2551 (2021). CrossRef I. Tathfif, A.A. Yaseer, K.S. Rashid, R.H. Sagor, "Metal-insulator-metal waveguide-based optical pressure sensor embedded with arrays of silver nanorods", Optics Express 29, 32365-32376 (2021). CrossRef P.D. Sia, "Overview of Drude-Lorentz type models and their applications", Nanoscale Syst. Math. Model. Theory Appl. 3, 1-13 (2014) CrossRef M.A. Butt, N.L. Kazanskiy, "Nanoblocks embedded in L-shaped nanocavity of a plasmonic sensor for best sensor performance", Optica Applicata LI, 109-120 (2021). CrossRef S. Khani, M. Hayati, "An ultra-high sensitive plasmonic refractive index sensor using an elliptical resonator and MIM waveguide", Superlattices and Microstructures 156, 106970 (2021). CrossRef F. Chen, J. Li, "Refractive index and temperature sensing based on defect resonator coupled with a MIM waveguide", Modern Physics Letters B 33, 1950017 (2019). CrossRef M. Rahmatiyar, M. Danaie, M. Afsahi, "Employment of cascaded coupled resonators for resolution enhancement in plasmonic refractive index sensors", Optical and Quantum Electronics 52, 153 (2020). CrossRef M.A. Butt, S.N. Khonina, N.L. Kazanskiy, "A multichannel metallic dual nano-wall square split-ring resonator: design analysis and applications", Laser Physics Letters 16, 126201 (2019). CrossRef

Evaluating the impacts of warming on water balance components in the groundwater–soil–plant–atmosphere continuum (GSPAC) and crop growth are crucial for assessing the risk of water resources and food security under future global warming. A water transformation dynamical processes experimental device (WTDPED) was developed using a chamber coupled with a weighing lysimeter and groundwater supply system, which could simultaneously control both climatic and ground-water level conditions and accurately monitor water fluxes in the GSPAC. Two experiments with maize under increased temperature by 2 °C (T-warm) and ambient temperature (T-control) scenarios were conducted via the WTDPED. The duration of growing season decreased from 125 days under T-control to 117 days under 2 °C warming. There was little difference of total evapotranspiration (ET) (332.6 mm vs. 332.5 mm), soil water storage change (∆W) (−119.0 mm vs. −119.0 mm), drainage (D) (−13.6 mm vs. −13.5 mm) between T-control and T-warm experiments. The average daily ET for maize significantly increased by approximately 6.7% (p < 0.05) in the T-warm experiment, especially during the sixth leaf to tasseling—silking stage with an increase of 0.36 mm with respect to the T-control experiment. There were evident decreases in LAI (leaf area index), whereas non-significant decreases in mean stem diameter, crop height and leaf chlorophyll content under T-warm compared to T-control experiment. However, the chlorophyll content increased by 12% during the sixth leaf to tasseling–silking stage under 2 °C warming, which accelerated the photosynthesis and transpiration rate. The grain yield and water-use efficiency (WUE) for maize increased by 11.0% and 11.1% in the T-warm experiment, respectively, especially due to enhanced growth during the sixth leaf to tasseling–silking stage. This study provided important references for agricultural planting and water management to adapt to a warming environment.

This paper discusses the new design of a amplifier for the miniature MEMS-type spectrometer. The application problem of the new amplifier was the correct conditioning of the sensor's photoelectric pulses. The processed signal was a sequence of pulses that had variable both frequency and amplitude value. Thus, such a broadband amplifier should have the functionality of automatic gain control. This paper describes the concept of the new circuit, develops its detailed application, and then performs validation tests. Measurement results of the new circuit are discussed in the final section of the paper. Full Text: PDF ReferencesC. Ortolani, Flow Cytometry Today. Detectors and Electronics, (Springer 2022). pp. 97-119, CrossRef D. Maes, L. Reis, S. Poelman, E. Vissers, V. Avramovic, M. Zaknoune, G. Roelkens, S. Lemey, E. Peytavit, B. Kuyken, "High-Speed Photodiodes on Silicon Nitride with a Bandwidth beyond 100 GHz", Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics, Optica Publishing Group, (2022). CrossRef R. Das, Y. Xie, A.P. Knights, "All-Silicon Low Noise Photonic Frontend For LIDAR Applications", 2022 IEEE Photonics Conference (IPC), IEEE Xplore (2022). CrossRef FEMTO Messtechnik GmbH, Variable Gain Photoreceiver - Fast Optical Power Meter Series OE-200, DirectLink M. Nehir, C. Frank, S. Aßmann, E.P. Achterberg, "Improving Optical Measurements: Non-Linearity Compensation of Compact Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) Spectrometers", Sensors 19(12), 2833 (2019). CrossRef F. Thomas,; R. Petzold, C. Becker, U. Werban, "Application of Low-Cost MEMS Spectrometers for Forest Topsoil Properties Prediction", Sensors 21(11), 3927 (2021). CrossRef M. Muhiyudin, D. Hutson, D. Gibson, E. Waddell, S. Song, S. Ahmadzadeh, "Miniaturised Infrared Spectrophotometer for Low Power Consumption Multi-Gas Sensing", Sensors 20(14), 3843 (2020). CrossRef S. Maruyama, T Hizawa, K. Takahashi, K. Sawada, "Optical-Interferometry-Based CMOS-MEMS Sensor Transduced by Stress-Induced Nanomechanical Deflection", Sensors 18(1), 138 (2018). CrossRef S. Merlo, P. Poma, E. Crisà, D. Faralli, M. Soldo, "Testing of Piezo-Actuated Glass Micro-Membranes by Optical Low-Coherence Reflectometry", Sensors 17(3), 8 (2017). CrossRef M.S. Wei, F. Xing, B. Li, Z. You, "Investigation of Digital Sun Sensor Technology with an N-Shaped Slit Mask", Sensors 11(10), 9764 (2011). CrossRef Z. Yang, T. Albrow-Owen, W. Cai, T. Hasan, "Miniaturization of optical spectrometers", Science 371, 6528 (2021). CrossRef Hamamatsu Photonics K.K. Fingertip size, ultra-compact spectrometer head integrating MEMS and image sensor technologies. DirectLink Microchip Technology Inc, MCP6291/1R/2/3/4/5 1.0 mA 10 MHz Rail-to-Rail Op Amp, CrossRef Microchip Technology Inc. MCP6021/1R/2/3/4 Rail-to-Rail Input/Output 10 MHz Op Amps, CrossRef

The inherent advantages of MEMS (micro-electromechanical system) technology, including small size and cost-effective fabrication, make it ideal for numerous applications in a wide range of industries ranging from defense, automotive, medical, to consumer industries. For applications that require self-powered MEMS electronics, an integrated energy storage device is required. Due to their small size, excellent cycle life and high-power density, miniature supercapacitors are an excellent choice for such an integrated energy storage device. The development of electrode materials and electrode fabrication processes for supercapacitors are thus critical for the practical applications of MEMS technology in electronics. In this presentation, Faraday Technology Inc. and Duke University will discuss a novel 3D graphenated carbon nanotube (g-CNT) network with pseudocapacitive coatings as the electrode materials for fabricating high energy density MEMS supercapacitors. The g-CNT has a high surface area three-dimensional framework of the CNTs coupled with the high edge density of graphene (Figure 1 A), which represents a potential maximum in both charge density and surface area, and thus provide the enhanced capacitance. An innovative electrophoretic deposition (EPD) manufacturing process, based on the use of pulsed electric fields, has been developed for controlled, reproducible, and scalable deposition of g-CNTs on interdigitated electrodes (Figure 1 B). In addition, pseudocapacitive coatings (such as MnO2) have been electrodeposited on the g-CNT coated electrode to further increasing supercapacitor energy density. Figure 1 C shows no redox peaks, which is important for using this structure as a supercapacitor application. The square shape of the cyclic voltammogram shows that ions experience free flow through the 3-D g-CNT structure. The Charge/Discharge curves (Figure 1 D) indicate the areal energy density of g-CNT/MnO2 coated electrodes (either 50 or 100 cyclic voltametric deposition cycles) are 45 and 93 times higher than g-CNT coated electrodes, respectively. In summary, a scalable manufacturing process for fabricating g-CNT network with pseudocapacitive coatings as electrodes has been demonstrated and shown great potential in producing high energy density MEMS supercapacitors for energy harvesting applications. Acknowledgements: The financial support of DOD DMEA STTR program through grant No. HQ0727-21-P-0029 is acknowledged and National Institutes of Health under award number 1R21EY031271 is acknowledged. The information, data, or work presented herein was funded in part by National Aeronautics and Space Administration under Grant No. 80NSSC19K1027, the views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof. Figure 1

We evaluated the metabolic response to the thermal demands of an open radiant warmer device, as distinct from convection incubator, in 13 healthy pre-mature infants (1,395 ± 169 g, 28 ± 12 days of age, mean ± SD). Metabolic rate was 10% higher for infants under the radiant warmer than in the incubator (2.60 ± 0.4 v 2.36 ± 0.3 kcal/kg/h; P &lt; .05). The radiant warmer also induced a small (4%), but significant, increase in nonprotein respiratory quotient (0.94 ± 0.1 v 0.90 ± 0.1; P &lt; .05) and a 13% increase in carbon dioxide production (8.26 ± 1.1 v 7.31 ± 1.1 mL/kg/min; P &lt; .05). Subcutaneous fat accumulation (estimated from 60-second skin-fold thickness measurements) was greater under the radiant warmer than in the incubator (0.08 ± 0.05 v 0.04 ± 0.04 mm/d; P &lt; .05). Under the warmer, the infant's mean skin temperatures and core temperatures were normal and similar to those found in the incubator, but the foot temperature was on average 0.6°C cooler. The average rate of weight gain (18 g/kg/d) was the same in the radiant environment. The pattern of the elevated metabolic rate, shift of respiratory quotient coupled with the accumulation of subcutaneous fat, and cool extremities of infants under the radiant warmer may represent a physiologic adaptive response to thermal stress. However, the reasons for the elevated metabolic rate are unclear, because activation of the sympathetic nervous system with the release of catecholamines is not apparently involved. We speculate that change in metabolic activity is more likely related to alterations in sleep and/or behavior patterns in the exposed environment. Given this relatively short-term study of healthy premature infants receiving an excellent caloric intake (120 kcal/kg/d), we conclude that radiant warmers produce no short-term metabolic complications or adverse effects on growth. Although the clinical importance of elevated metabolic rates in infants under radiant warmers is currently uncertain, our data suggest the need for caution in the long-term use of these devices.

Photocatalysts coevolve reductive and oxidative reactions in close proximity. Due to simplified reactor implementation, photocatalysis promises solar fuels production at scale. Despite decades of study, their rates and selectivity were often improved by trial and error, and their solar-to-fuel conversion efficiencies remain much lower than the theoretical limit. I will discuss an emerging coating strategy to stabilize particulate photocatalysts in a photo-reactor that promises solar energy utilization at scale. Those photocatalysts coevolve reductive and oxidative reactions in close proximity, and they potentially overcome the scale-up challenge by photoelectrochemical panels. I will first introduce the Hu-lab invented oxide coatings to protect semiconductors, such as silicon and gallium indium phosphide, and achieve efficient and durable photocatalysis. We elucidate the coupled multi-phase processes, including charge separation, charge transfer, and chemical transport across multiple scales. We will show that the local electrochemical potentials of conduction-band electrons and the branching ratios of local charge transfer kinetics under multiple pathways are mutually dependent, and how charge transfer kinetics and surface energetics sensitively determine the charge separation behavior.[1] Based on the holistic understanding of the photophysical, electrocatalytic, and transport processes coupled at the nanoscale, we employ stabilization coatings to coevolve H2 at a record rate of 48.5 mmol∙h-1∙g-1 or 2.5 mL H2∙h-1∙cm-2 under 1-sun solar illumination in ambient air.[2] Additionally, the discovery of new coatings offers the opportunity to tune the local energetics, kinetics, and reaction environments of supported co-catalysts. Manipulation of the electronic defect energetics enables the semiconductor photoabsorbers of 1.1 – 2.3 eV with sufficient band energetics. Coated photocatalysts can perform H2 evolution, water oxidation, and can further achieve CO2 reduction reactions combining with CO2 capture.[3] Recently, Berlinguette and others showed a CO2 electrolyzer for directly converting dissolved bicarbonates into CO2-reduction products.[4] The analogy in photocatalysis is to locally drive pH swing to release CO2 at the oxidative sites, whereas the nearby reductive sites reduce in-situ generated CO2 into CO2R products. We show that in the presence of quinone redox couples in a bicarbonate solution, CO is produced with a 1-atm CO2-free headspace where the only source of CO2 is the (bi)carbonate anions.[6] We envision the direct solar fuels production from natural resources such as sunlight, bicarbonates from the ocean, or moisture in the air in a durable particle reactor.[5] References: [1] Zhenhua Pan, Yanagi Rito, Q. Wang, X. Shen, Q. Zhu, Y. Xue, J. A. Rohr, Takashi Hisatomi, Kazunari Domen, and Shu Hu, “Mutually-dependent kinetics and energetics of photocatalyst/ co-catalyst/two-redox liquid junctions”, Energy & Environmental Science , 13, 162–173 (2020). doi: 10.1039/C9EE02910A [2] T. Zhao, R. Yanagi, Y. Xu, Y. He, Y. Song, M. Yang, and S. Hu, “A Coating Strategy to Achieve Effective Local Charge Separation for Photocatalytic Coevolution”, Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences , 16, 119(7) e2023552118 (2021). doi: 10.1073/pnas.2023552118 [3] J. Tang, D. Solanki, T. Zhao, and S. Hu, “Selective Two-Electron Hydrogen Peroxide Conversion Tailored by Surface, Interface, and Device Engineering,”, Joule , 6, 1432 – 1461 (2021). doi: 10.1016/j.joule.2021.04.012. [4] Li, T.; Lees, E. W.; Zhang, Z.; Berlinguette, C. P. Conversion of bicarbonate to formate in an electrochemical flow reactor. ACS Energy Lett 2020, 5 (8), 2624-2630. doi: 10.1021/acsenergylett.0c01291 [5] X. Shen, S. Hu, et al., “Comprehensive Evaluation For Protective Coatings: Optical, Electrical, Photoelectrochemical, and Spectroscopic Characterization”, Frontier in Energy Research .

Mixture preparation is a crucial aspect for the correct operation of modern direct injection (DI) Diesel engines as it greatly influences and alters the combustion process and, therefore, the exhaust emissions. The complete comprehension of the spray impingement phenomenon is a quite complete task and a mixed numerical-experimental approach has to be considered. On the modeling side, several studies can be found in the scientific literature but only in the last years complete multidimensional modeling has been developed and applied to engine simulations. Among the models available in literature, in this paper, the models by Bai and Gosman (Bai, C., and Gosman, A. D., 1995, SAE Technical Paper No. 950283) and by Lee et al. (Lee, S., and Ryou, H., 2000, Proceedings of the Eighth International Conference on Liquid Atomization and Spray Systems, Pasadena, CA, pp. 586–593; Lee, S., Ko, G. H., Ryas, H., and Hong, K. B., 2001, KSME Int. J., 15(7), pp. 951–961) have been selected and implemented in the KIVA-3V code. On the experimental side, the behavior of a Diesel impinging spray emerging from a common rail injection system (injection pressures of 80 and 120MPa) has been analyzed. The impinging spray has been lightened by a pulsed laser sheet generated from the second harmonic of a Nd-yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser. The images have been acquired by a charge coupled device camera at different times from the start of injection. Digital image processing software has enabled to extract the characteristic parameters of the impinging spray with respect to different operating conditions. The comparison of numerical and experimental data shows that both models should be modified in order to allow a proper simulation of the splash phenomena in modern Diesel engines. Then the numerical data in terms of radial growth, height and shape of the splash cloud, as predicted by modified versions of the models are compared to the experimental ones. Differences among the models are highlighted and discussed.

A rapidly growing interest in renewable energy sources requires not only developing efficient energy storage systems but also incorporating a greater number of eco-friendly components. Electrochemical double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) are a class of energy storage devices capable to store the electrical charge due to the separation of oppositely charged ions in the electrical field which results in the formation of an electrical double layer (EDL) at the electrode/electrolyte interface. EDLCs consist in general of two porous carbon-based electrodes pre-soaked with electrolyte and separated with a membrane (separator). The simple electrostatic mechanism of energy storage, coupled with a lack of chemical changes and faradaic transitions during operation, results in high electrical capacitance compared to classical capacitors, significantly higher power density in contrast to batteries, and practically unlimited life span. Currently, commercial EDLCs typically rely on organic solvents, such as acetonitrile or propylene carbonate, with the addition of ionically-conductive salts. However, there are several drawbacks when it comes to practical applications involving particular low conductivity, toxicity, flammability and high cost. This resulted in an increased interest in aqueous electrolytes such as KOH, H2SO4 or simple inorganic salts, which although they have a limited potential window, exhibit many positive features including higher ionic conductivity, lower viscosity, increased safety, lower cost and ease of assembly under ambient atmosphere. Modern and technologically advanced charge storage devices often require high safety flexible and deformable devices for specific applications. However, at the current state-of-the-art, the EDLCs suffer from two prominent limitations (i) the possibility of electrolyte leakage and (ii) high standards of technology to safely encapsulate electrolytes in the device. Therefore, a lot of research is held to develop alternatives for currently used liquid (aqueous and organic) electrolytes. One of the solutions to overcome these limitations are solid-state EDLCs. Those systems use an ionically-conductive polymer or hydrogel membrane, which serves as both the separator and the electrolyte. Cellulose, built of β-(1→4)-linked D-glucose units, is one of the most prevalent and easily degradable biopolymers. Albeit, its wide availability, biodegradability and low cost, the usage of cellulose is limited due to insolubility in most common solvents. The recent alternative, to toxic and flammable organic compounds, such as N, N- dimethylformamide/N2O4, N-methylmorpholine oxide (NMMO), are ionic liquids (ILs), that have been gaining lately a lot of attention in energy storage systems. Various ILs based on imidazolium, pyridinium and ammonium cation paired with strongly basic anion (e.g., OAc-, HCOO-) were also recently used to dissolve cellulose. However, the requirements of high-purity syntheses and the cost of some of the cations/anions may affect a large scale application. Therefore, our research refers to an alternative route of chemical regeneration of microcrystalline cellulose, i.e. its dissolution using an aqueous mixture of NaOH/urea, and further processing into a hydrogel membrane in the presence of cross-linking agent epichlorohydrin. To improve the mechanical strength and electrolyte uptake, in-situ polymerized norepinephrine and agarose were subsequently incorporated obtaining an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN). The structure and morphology of the membranes were characterized with SEM/EDX, CP/MAS 13C-NMR, AT-FTIR, TGA, contact angle, and elementary analysis. The ionic conductivity was determined using impedance spectroscopy over a wide range of temperatures (5-60°C). The relation between stress and strain in the materials was also determined to diagnose the mechanical properties. The cellulose-based hydrogel membranes were further used as a support for various aqueous electrolytes, including H2SO4, Na2SO4, i.e. most commonly used for aqueous EDLCs. Also, the alternative electrolyte was used, i.e. silicotungstic acid, H4SiW12O40 which according to our recent results seems to be a promising candidate to replace conventional acidic electrolytes [1]. The designed systems were compared, in terms of energy, power and cycleability, with their analogues using conventional polypropylene separators and a liquid electrolyte. [1] N.H. Wisinska, M. Skunik-Nuckowska, S. Dyjak, P.J. Kulesza, Factors affecting the performance of electrochemical capacitors operating in Keggin-type silicotungstic acid electrolyte, Appl. Surf. Sci. 530 (2020) 147273, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2020.147273 Acknowledgement Financial support was provided by the National Science Center under Preludium 19 grant no. 2020/37//N/ST4/01679. This work was implemented as a part of Operational Project Knowledge Education Development 2014–2020 co-financed by the European Social Fund, Project No POWR.03.02.00-00-I007/16-00 (POWER 2014-2020)

Since the commercial availability of SiC substrates in 1990, SiC processing technology has advanced rapidly. There have been demonstrations of monolithic digital and analogue integrated circuits, complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) analog integrated circuits, nonvolatile random-access memories, self-aligned polysilicon-gate metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs), and buried-channel polysilicon-gate charge-coupled devices (CCDs). In this article, we review processing technologies for SiC.OxidationA beneficial feature of SiC processing technology is that SiC can be thermally oxidized to form SiO2. When a thermal oxide of thickness x is grown, 0.5x of the SiC surface is consumed, and the excess carbon leaves the sample as CO. Shown in Figure 1 are the oxide thicknesses as a function of time for the Si-face and the C-face of 6H-SiC, and for Si. The oxidation rates are considerably lower for SiC than for Si. The oxidation rate of the C-face of 6H-SiC is considerably greater than that of the Si-face. Hornetz et al. have shown that the reason for the slower oxidation rate of the Si-face is due to a 1-nm Si4C4−xO2 (x < 2) layer that forms between the SiC and the SiO2 during oxidation of the Si-face. When oxidizing the Si-face, the Si atoms oxidize first, which inhibits the oxidation of the underlying C atoms that are 0.063 nm below the Si atoms. When oxidizing the C-face, the C atoms readily oxidize first to form CO, with no formation of the Si4C4−xO2 layer for temperatures above 1000°C.

We used an electronic phase separation approach to interpret the scaling between the low-temperature superfluid density average ρ sc ( 0 ) and the superconducting critical temperature T c on overdoped La 2 − x Sr x CuO 4 films. Guided by the observed nematic and incommensurate charge ordering (CO), we performed simulations with a free energy that reproduces charge domains with wavelength λ C O and provides a scale to local superconducting interactions. Under these conditions a complex order parameter with amplitude Δ d ( r i ) and phase θ ( r i ) may develop at a domain i. We assumed that these domains are coupled by Josephson energy E J ( r i j ) , proportional to the local superfluid density ρ sc ( r i j ) . Long-range order occured when the average E J ( T c ) is ∼ k B T c . The linear ρ s c ( 0 ) vs. T c relation was satisfied whenever CO was present, even with almost vanishing charge amplitudes.

Although the Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) imaging chip is the standard in today's video and digital cameras, things may change during the coming year. The CCD chip is being challenged by a competing device, the CMOS ("C-moss") chip.CMOS is the most widely used type of integrated circuit for memory and digital processing, virtually everything in computers is CMOS based. The economies of scale and production of CMOS devices are the main reasons why computer prices have continued to drop during the past few years. If a device or an instrument has a microprocessor in it, chances are it includes CMOS technology..

Dynamic fluorescence images were obtained from xenografts bearing a subcutaneous human Kaposi's sarcoma (KS1767) immediately following the intravenous injection of an integrin-receptor targeting Cy5.5-c(KRGDf) at a dose ranging from 0.75 to 6 nmol/mouse. The fluorescence images were acquired using an intensified charge-coupled device system and were analyzed with a three-compartment pharmacokinetic (PK) model to determine uptake parameters in the tumor and normal tissue regions of interest as a function of administered dose. Our results show that the uptake of Cy5.5-c(KRGDf) in tumor regions were: (i) significantly greater than the contralateral normal tissue regions; (ii) linearly increased with dose of Cy5.5-c(KRGDf) up to 1.5 nmol/mouse; and (iii) blocked by preinjection of c(KRGDf). Above doses of 1.5 nmol/mouse, the uptake no longer increased with dose, suggesting integrin receptor saturation. In normal tissues, the PK uptake parameters were not influenced by Cy5.5-c(KRGDf) dose nor by the preadministration of c(KRGDf).

A new ultraviolet (UV) Raman spectroscopic system to measure the Raman scattering from materials at high temperatures up to 1500 °C has been designed. This system is based on a CW (continuous-wave) ultraviolet argon-ion laser (363.8 nm), a spatial filter, a single monochromator coupled to a double-grating rejection filter, and a two-dimensional charge-coupled device (CCD) detector. The plasma lines from the laser are almost completely rejected by a Pellin—Broca prism combined with apertures. In situ Raman measurements for a zirconia (ZrO2) specimen at various high temperatures have been performed by using the UV excitation as well as the conventional visible 488.0-nm excitation for comparison. In the case of visible excitation, thermal emission obstructs the observation of the Raman scattering from zirconia even at 900 °C; it becomes rapidly pronounced between 900 and 1100 °C, and finally it is impossible to observe Raman spectra at temperatures higher than 1200 °C. In sharp contrast to the visible excitation, the UV excitation provides good-quality Raman spectra with practically flat backgrounds for the Raman signal of tetragonal zirconia in the spectral region of 20–1100 cm−1 even at 1500 °C, and it enables clear observation of the monoclinic-tetragonal phase transformation of zirconia occurring between 1100 and 1200 °C.

Abstract The activation of methanol (CD3OD and CD3OH) by small cationic gold clusters has been investigated via infrared multiphoton dissociation (IR-MPD) spectroscopy in the 615–1760 cm−1 frequency range. The C–O stretch mode around 925 cm−1 and a coupled CD3 deformation/C–O stretch mode around 1085 cm−1 are identified to be sensitive to the interaction between methanol and the gold clusters, whereas all other modes in the investigated spectral region remain unaffected. Based on the spectral shift of these modes, the largest C–O bond activation is observed for the mono-gold Au(CD3OD)+ cluster. This activation decreases with increasing the cluster size (number of gold atoms) and the number of adsorbed methanol molecules. Supporting density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the C–O bond activation is caused by a methanol to gold charge donation, whereas the C–D and O–D bonds are not significantly activated by this process. The results are discussed with respect to previous experimental and theoretical investigations of neutral and cationic gold-methanol complexes focusing on the C–O stretch mode.

Conformers of equine cytochrome c were investigated in the gas phase using a combination of high-field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS) and hydrogen–deuterium (H–D) exchange. Electrospray generated ions of equine cytochrome c were exposed to a low concentration of D2O vapour while being transported by a flow of nitrogen through a FAIMS device. During this transport period of about 250 ms in the FAIMS analyzer, the various conformers of multiply charged ions of cytochrome c were simultaneously undergoing H–D exchange and being separated from each other. The extent of H–D exchange was calculated from the observed m/z of conformers after exposure to D2O vapour in FAIMS. The complementary nature of these two methods resulted in observations supporting a greater number of conformers (e.g., at least 11 conformers were identified for the +16 charge state) than would be expected by analyzing the FAIMS data and the H–D exchange data independently.Key words: FAIMS, H–D exchange, mass spectrometry, protein conformations, electrospray ionization.

We consider a model of p independent Ising spins on a dynamical planar ϕ3 graph. Truncating the free energy to two terms yields an exactly solvable model that has a third-order phase transition from a pure gravity region (γ str =−1/2) to a tree-like region (γ str =1/2), with γ str =1/3 on the critical line. We are able to make an order of magnitude estimate of the value of p above which there exists a branched polymer (i.e. tree-like) phase in the full model, that is, p~13–23, which corresponds to a central charge of c ~6–12.

We studied the vertical and lateral charge transport characteristics of a diketopyrrolopyrrole polymer donor (D)–PC61BM acceptor (A) system by measuring the space charge limited current (SCLC) mobility and field-effect mobility respectively. It was found that with an increase in annealing temperature, the SCLC hole mobility decreased for the pure polymer (PDBFBT) but increased for the PDBFBT:PC61BM blends, which could be explained by changes in the crystallinity and crystal orientation (edge-on versus face-on). The pure PDBFBT and most blend films showed the maximum field-effect hole mobility (µh) when annealed at 100°C, which then declined as the annealing temperature was further increased. Surprisingly, the D/A = 1/1 blend films annealed at high temperatures exhibited an abrupt increase in the field-effect µh. This unusual phenomenon was interpreted by the antiplasticization effect of PC61BM, which promoted the molecular organization of the polymer. The effect of annealing on the carrier mobility was further correlated with the performance of inverted organic solar cell devices with the PDBFBT:PC61BM blend (D/A = 1/3). Thermal annealing at high temperatures (>100°C) was found to obstruct electron transport and cause the device performance to significantly deteriorate.

A luminescent phenotype in Campylobacter jejuni ATCC 33291, generated by a transcriptional fusion between the C. jejuni flaA σ28 promoter and the luxCDABE genes of Xenorhabdus luminescens on plasmid pRYluxCDABE, was used to examine colonization and penetration of fresh and retail eggs. C. jejuni colonized both fresh and retail eggs at 37, 40, and 42°C under microaerophilic conditions. Fresh eggs were more heavily colonized than retail eggs. Under aerobic conditions, fresh eggs were colonized at similar levels for all three temperatures. C. jejuni was found to penetrate the eggshell in 2 of 48 (4.2%) fresh eggs assessed. Although the lux+ phenotype did not provide an effective means of predicting penetration sites, it was effective at visualizing eggshell colonization. Also, it effectively demonstrated the organism's opportunistic nature, as eggshell surfaces with flaws and slight cracks were extensively colonized and easily detected by a photon counting charge-coupled device camera. Using scanning electron microscopy, C. jejuni ATCC 33291 was visualized on both the exterior and interior surfaces of the egg membranes indicating penetration of these barriers.

AbstractThe role of molecular vibrations for the persistence of quantum coherences, recently observed in photoinduced charge transfer reactions in both biological and artificial energy conversion systems at room temperature, is currently being intensely discussed. Experiments using two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy (2DES) suggest that vibrational motion – and its coupling to electronic degrees of freedom – may play a key role for such coherent dynamics and potentially even for device function. In organic photovoltaics materials, strong coupling of electronic and vibrational motion is predicted, especially for ubiquitous C=C stretching vibrations. The signatures of such strong vibronic couplings in 2DES are, however, debated. Here we analyse the effect of strong vibronic coupling in model simulations of 2DES spectra and dynamics for an electronic dimer coupled to a single high-frequency vibrational mode. This system represents the simplest conceivable model for a prototypical donor–acceptor interface in the active layer of organic solar cells. The vibrational mode is chosen to mimic C=C stretching vibrations with typical large vibronic couplings predicted in organic photovoltaics materials. Our results show that the decisive signatures of strong vibronic coupling mediating coherent charge transfer between donor and acceptor are not only temporally oscillating cross-peaks, but also most importantly characteristic peak splittings in the 2DES spectra. The 2DES pattern thus directly reflects the new eigenstates of the system that are formed by strong mixing of electronic states and vibrational mode.

Charge coupled devices (CCDs) have been shown to have potential for detecting charged particles and other forms of ionising radiation. In particular, the clusters in the pixel images produced are distinctive for α and β radiations, with α particles causing large, symmetrical clusters or long, vertical tracks often referred to as blooming, and β particles causing long, curved tracks. The size and shape of these tracks are also related to the energy of the incident radiation, giving the potential for spectroscopy of these types of radiation. This could be used, for example, to realise a hand-held, portable device for in-situ detection and identification of radioactive contamination. Images have been taken of exposures to a 210Po α-particle source using Sony ICX825AL interline transfer CCDs, covered with a thin, aluminised Mylar film to prevent inadvertent exposure to light. Both vertical streaks and round clusters have been observed in each of the three CCDs used. Increased levels of noise have been seen after several hours of exposure to the 210Po source, found to be caused by damage from α radiation. Three methods have been investigated to reduce this noise: 1) Annealing at 100°C for 24 hours repairs a significant proportion of the damage caused by the α radiation, though the effectiveness is reduced with each subsequent exposure and annealing cycle; 2) Cooling is performed during exposures by using a heat pipe to move heat away from the back of the CCD and a fan to cool the heat pipe and electronics associated with the CCD.This reduces the dark current during CCDmeasurements, and the method of cooling used allows thedevice to retain its small, hand-held size; 3) Anyremaining noise can be removed later using imageprocessing. These techniques are combined to extend thelifetime of the device. The rate of damage from the 210Posource is similar whether the device is cooled or not,however the noise evident in the images produced whencooled is significantly less, allowing the CCD to be usedfor a longer time between annealing operations.

In this study the authors used a whole-spectrum near-infrared spectroscopy approach to noninvasively assess changes in hemoglobin oxygenation and cytochrome- c oxidase redox state (Cyt-Ox) in the occipital cortex during visual stimulation. The system uses a white light source (halogen lamp). The light reflected from the subject's head is spectrally resolved by a spectrograph and dispersed on a cooled charge-coupled device camera. The authors showed the following using this approach: (1) Changes in cerebral hemoglobin oxygenation (increase in concentration of oxygenated hemoglobin, decrease in concentration of deoxygenated hemoglobin) in the human occipital cortex during visual stimulation can be assessed quantitatively. (2) The spectral changes during functional activation cannot be completely explained by changes in hemoglobin oxygenation solely; Cyt-Ox has to be included in the analysis. Only if Cyt-Ox is considered can the spectral changes in response to increased brain activity be explained. (3) Cytochrome- c oxidase in the occipital cortex of human subjects is transiently oxidized during visual stimulation. This allows us to measure vascular and intracellular energy status simultaneously.

Eu-complexed bis(2-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl)ether oxide (Eu(TTA)3DPEPO) was synthesized. Its photoluminescence (PL) spectra peaked at 607 nm in THF, fluorescence lifetime was measured to be 459.94 μs. The highest occupied molecular orbit (HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbit (LUMO) energy levels were -5.25 and -2.02 eV. Four multilayer devices were fabricated with different structures. The EL spectra from Eu3+ characteristic emission at 616 nm would be observed in all devices. The emission from Alq3 was suppressed when BCP was inserted, the balance of charge transport could be achieved when PBD was mixed. The Commission International de L’Eclairage (CIE) coordinates were tuned from (0.36, 0.51) for Device A to (0.63,0.36) for Device D. The luminescence of Devices C and D reached up to 164 and 120 cd/m2.

We present a concept for integration of low temperature fabricated memory devices in a 3-D architecture using a hybrid silicon-organic technology. The realization of electrically erasable read-only memory (EEPROM) like device is based on the fabrication of a V-groove SiGe MOSFET, the functionalization of a gate oxide followed by self-assembly of gold nanoparticles and finally, the deposition of an organic insulator by Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique. Such structures were processed at a temperature lower than 400°C following a process based on wafer bonding. The electrical characteristics of the final hybrid MISFET memory cells were evaluated in terms of memory window and program/erase voltage pulses. A model describing the memory characteristics, based on the electronic properties of the gate stack materials, is presented.

The random first order transition theory (RFOT) describing the transition from a supercooled liquid to an ideal glass has been actively developed over the last twenty years. This theory is formulated in a way that allows a description of the transition from the initial equilibrium state to the final metastable state without considering any kinetic processes. The RFOT and its applications for real molecular systems (multicomponent liquids with various intermolecular potentials, gel systems, etc.) are widely represented in English-language sources. However, these studies are practically not described in any Russian sources. This paper presents an overview of the studies carried out in this field. REFERENCES 1. Sanditov D. S., Ojovan M. I. Relaxation aspectsof the liquid—glass transition. Uspekhi FizicheskihNauk. 2019;189(2): 113–133. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3367/ufnr.2018.04.0383192. Tsydypov Sh. B., Parfenov A. N., Sanditov D. S.,Agrafonov Yu. V., Nesterov A. S. 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Electronic states at GaN surfaces and at regrowth and heteroepitaxy interfaces inhibit electronic device performance. Understanding electronic state configuration at the GaN surface is, therefore, crucial for the development of GaN-based devices, which are currently of considerable interest in power electronic applications. GaN and other wurtzite III-nitrides possess large spontaneous polarization along the c-axis, producing a bound sheet charge at the surface, which affects the electronic state configuration through the formation of internal and external compensation charges. Defects induced by conventional plasma-based dry etching methods may inhibit the internal screening of this bound charge and thus increase the concentration of external charged states. The surface band bending of n-type Ga-face GaN (0001) was measured with x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy after inductively coupled plasma etching to investigate the impact of dry etching on external charge compensation. GaN samples were etched using inductively coupled plasma with varying rf power and a novel plasma-enhanced atomic layer etching method using an oxidation, fluorination, and ligand-exchange mechanism. The band bending varied from 0.0 to 0.8 ± 0.1 eV for the samples measured.

In order to improve the accuracy, range and instantaneity of high temperature measurement, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image temperature measurement system was designed based on multi-sensor truncated mean weighed fusion. Firstly, CCD temperature measurement range was expanded by 6 light filters. Then 15 colorimetric-sensors calculated the surface temperature of experimental molten pool. Finally, the more accurate fusion estimate of temperature value was acquired by using truncated mean weighted factors. The experiment results demonstrate that system have faster processing speed in the measurement of 800°C. The errors were kept within ±2%. This method is effective in improvement of system accuracy and instantaneity.

COMSOL Multiphysics software-based three-dimensional finite element analysis is widely used in the performance simulation of thermoelectric devices. In this study, this software is used to simulate the heat transfer processes and power generation performance of micro-thermoelectric generators based on a microporous glass template. The temperature and electrical potential fields are coupled to each other through the thermoelectric effects during the calculations. The power generation performances of micro-thermoelectric generators with different template heights (d) for various temperature differences between their hot and cold ends (∆Th-c) are calculated. For the micro-thermoelectric generator that included four pairs of TE couples, the temperature difference between the two sides of the TE columns (∆TTE) and the open circuit voltage (Uoc) both increased with increasing d, but the growth rate gradually decreased. When d is greater than 0.2 mm, the increment basically becomes negligible. The maximum output power (Pmax) first increases and then decreases with increasing d, reaching a maximum value when d is 0.2 mm. Therefore, we can optimize the size of device according to the simulation results to ensure that the device produces the optimal output performance during the experiments. A model with the same parameters used in the experiment (i.e., d=0.2 mm) was then established and it generated a Uoc of 35.2 mV and a Pmax of 228.8 μW when ∆Th-c was 107.5 K (∆TTE = 97.55 K). The errors between the simulation and the experimental results are small and thus also verify the accuracy of the power generation performance test results.

Novel solution-processable dithieno[3,2-d:2′,3′-d]thiophene (DTT) derivatives with alkylated thiophene or alkyl chain substituents, 2,6-bis(5-octylthiophen-2-yl)dithieno[3,2-b:2′,3′-d]thiophene (compound 1), 2,6-bis(5-(2-ethylhexyl)thiophen-2-yl)dithieno[3,2-b:2′,3′-d]thiophene (compound 2), and 2,6-dioctyldithieno[3,2-b:2′,3′-d]thiophene (compound 3), have been synthesized and employed as small molecular organic semiconductors for organic field-effect transistors (OFETs). All compounds exhibited good thermal stability over 290 °C, while different side groups of DTT compounds afforded different melting temperatures. The molecular orbital energy levels were experimentally and theoretically calculated, and their trend was almost the same. The developed compounds were employed as active layers for top-contact/bottom-gate OFETs with average charge carrier mobility as high as 0.10 cm2/Vs and current on/off ratio > 107 in ambient atmosphere. Notably, DTT derivative with linear alkyl chain (-octyl) substituents showed the best device performance. High device performance could be attributed to the large grains and continuous surface coverages as well as high film texture of the corresponding semiconductor films.

A fluorescence imaging system, based on using a cooled slow-scan CCD camera, has been developed for tracking receptors on the surfaces of living cells. The technique is applicable to receptors for particles such as lipoproteins and viruses that can be labeled with a few tens of fluorophores. The positions of single particles in each image are determined to within 25 nm by fitting the fluorescence distribution to a two-dimensional Gaussian function. This procedure also provides an accurate measure of intensity, which is used as a tag for automated tracking of particles from frame to frame. The method is applied to an investigation of the mobility of receptors for LDL and influenza virus particles on human dermal fibroblasts at 4 degrees C. In contrast to previous studies by FRAP (fluorescence recovery after photo-bleaching), it is found that receptors have a low but measurable mobility at 4 degrees C. Analysis of individual particle tracks indicates that whilst some receptors undergo random diffusion, others undergo directed motion (flow) or diffusion restricted to a domain. A procedure is proposed for subdividing receptors according to their different types of motion and hence determining their motional parameters. The finding that receptors are not completely immobilised at 4 degrees C is significant for studies of receptor distributions performed at this temperature.

Abstrak. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menduga massa dan volume buah alpukat dan jeruk menggunakan pengolahan citra digital. Pada penelitian ini terdapat tiga ukuran pada buah alpukat dan jeruk yaitu: besar (A), sedang (B) dan kecil (C), dengan menggunakan sampel buah masing-masing sebanyak 30 buah untuk data training dan 15 buah untuk data testing. Pengambilan citra menggunakan kamera Charge Coupled Device (CCD) dalam format bitmap. Data citra diolah menggunakan Software Halcon MVTecversi 11(demo) dengan memasukkan algoritma metode bentuk buah (eccentricity) dan algoritma metode irisan. Hasil penelitian pada pendugaan massa dan volume buah alpukat menggunakan metode eccentricity diperoleh tingkat rata-rata akurasi masing-masing sebesar 94,12% dan 92,85%. Sedangkan menggunakan metode irisan diperoleh tingkat rata-rata akurasi masa dan volume masing-masing sebesar 93,60% dan 94,00%. Pendugaan massa dan volume buah jeruk menggunakan eccentricity diperoleh tingkat rata-rata akurasi masing-masing sebesar 96,58% dan 93,08%. Sedangkan menggunakan metode irisan diperoleh tingkat rata-rata akurasi masa dan volume masing-masing sebesar 92,54% dan 90,30%.Prediction of Mass and Volume of Avocado and Orange Fruits Using Digital Image ProcessingAbstract. This study aims to estimate the mass and volume of avocados and oranges using digital image processing. In this study there were three sizes of avocados and oranges, such as: large (A), medium (B) and small (C), by using 30 fruit samples of each fruit for training data and 15 fruits for testing data. The image was captured using a camera's Charge Coupled Device (CCD) in a bitmap format. Image data was processed using Halcon MVTec version 11 (demo) software using eccentricity and slice method algorithms. The results of the study on estimating the mass and volume of avocados using the eccentricity method obtained an average level of accuracy were 94.12% and 92.85%. While by using the slice method, the average mass and volume accuracy rates were 93.60% and 94.00%. Estimating the mass and volume of oranges using eccentricity method obtained an accuracy average of 96.58% and 93.08%. While by using the slice method, the average level of accuracy and volume were 92.54% and 90.30% respectively.

The effects of amino acid sidechain length, substituent position and c chirality on amino acid/K+ symport have been examined in rapid filtration experiments on brush-border membrane vesicles prepared from larval Manduca sexta midgut. Cis-inhibition and trans-stimulation protocols were used to examine the effects of amino acid analogs on the uptake of alanine, phenylalanine, leucine and lysine, which are cotransported with K+ by a zwitterionic symporter at the high pH characteristic of the midgut in vivo. The symporter was found to translocate both L- and D-stereoisomers of alanine, leucine and lysine, but only the L-form of phenylalanine. Alterations to substrate structure that leave the charge distribution unchanged do not affect symport. Thus, moving the methyl group from C-3 to C-5 in the sequence isoleucine, leucine and norleucine has no effect on their ability to inhibit leucine symport. Increasing sidechain length among alanine homologs has little effect on their ability to inhibit alanine uptake, but increasing the sidechain length of lysine homologs from 1 to 3 methylene groups enhances cis-inhibition and trans-stimulation of lysine symport. The substantial difference in molecular charge distribution among aminobutanoic acid isomers has a large impact on alanine symport with only alpha- (or 2-) aminobutanoic acid functioning as an alanine analog. Only those changes in substrate structure that are coupled to the molecular charge distribution seem to affect symport. The tolerance of the symporter may reflect a balance mandated by the conflicting demands of selectivity and throughput.

The surge protective device (SPD), as buildings over-voltage protective device, has been widely used in building’s power distribution system. A novel SPD based on hollow cathode effects is designed. In both air and nitrogen gas, the relationship of discharging voltage and gas pressure are measured, and the critical pressure ranges are determined in the condition of UpUp is pulse voltage protection level). The results indicate that, in the condition of the gap distance D=3 mm and the small hole diameter φ=3 mm, the operating gas pressure ranges are from 50 to 5×104 Pa. With the gap distance D increasing, the pulse voltage protection level Up is decreasing slightly. While D=3 mm, φ=3 mm, and gas pressure (nitrogen) is 600 Pa, the DC voltage protection level and pulse protection level are 784 V and 2.4 kV, respectively. In the action of 10/350 µs pulse current waveform, the quantity of transferred charge Q is 48.26 C, and the ratio energy W/R is up to 2 MJ/Ω. The results testify that the design of SPD in this paper can be used as buildings class B over-voltage protection.

Integration over the angular coordinates of the evaporating, four-dimensional Schwarzschild black hole leads to a two-dimensional action, for which the Wheeler-DeWitt equation has been found by Tomimatsu, on the apparent horizon, where the Vaidya metric is valid, using the Hamiltonian formalism of Hajicek. For the Einstein theory of gravity coupled to a massless scalar field ζ, the wave function Ψ obeys the Schrödinger equation [Formula: see text], where M is the mass of the hole. The solution is [Formula: see text], where k2 is the separation constant, and for k2>0 the hole evaporates at the rate Ṁ=−k2/4M2, in agreement with the result of Hawking. Here, this analysis is generalized to the two-dimensional theory [Formula: see text], which subsumes the spherical black holes formulated in D≥4 dimensions, when A = ½ (D - 2) (D - 3)ϕ2 (D - 4)/(D - 2), B=2(D−3)/(D−2), C=1, and also the twodimensional black hole identified by Witten and by Gautam et al., when A=4/α′, B=2, C=1/8π, c=+8/α′ being (minus) the central charge. In all cases an analogous Schrödinger equation is obtained. The evaporation rate is [Formula: see text] when D≥4 and [Formula: see text] when D=2. Since Ψ evolves without violation of unitarity, there is no loss of information during the evaporation process, in accord with the principle of black-hole complementarity introduced by Susskind et al. Finally, comparison with the four-dimensional, cosmological Schrödinger equation, obtained by reduction of the ten-dimensional heterotic superstring theory including terms [Formula: see text], shows in both cases that there is a positive semi-definite potential which evolves to zero, this corresponding to the ground state, which is Minkowski space.

The authors propose to develop a robotic device for servicing a feed table in the cow barn. The device is intended to push the feed mixture to the walls of the feed table and make it more accessible to animals. The dispenser of concentrated feed additives improves the taste of the feed mixture, thereby increasing the level of feed consumption and livestock productivity. The components of the considered device were modeled and designed using the Compass 3-D software; simulation modeling of the control system of the electric drive was developed in the Matlab/Simulink environment; the software for controlling the device parameters was developed by Visual Studio code tools in the C-Sharp language. The electric drive developed on the basis of a simulation model made it possible to design a laboratory sample of the robotic platform. The developed device is capable of moving along a predetermined trajectory in manual and automatic modes. The software installed on the PC monitors the device operation, its positioning in the barn, the amount and type of feed additives dosed, and the battery charge level. It is noted that the introduction of the developed device into the technological process of feeding cattle will reduce labor costs for livestock feeding.

The use of the recently developed charge coupled device (CCD)-based detector for the acquisition of high quality backscattered electron Kikuchi patterns (BEKP) has allowed on-line crystallographic phase identification studies to be conducted in the scanning electron microscope. High quality patterns suitable for analysis have been obtained in a wide variety of materials with little special specimen preparation. Phase identification through a combination of BEKP and energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry (EDS) is demonstrated by the identification of crystals present on ruthenium oxide thin films on Si. The crystals were identified as RuO2, a tetragonal phase.The CCD-based detector has been described previously and will only be briefly described here. The detector consists of a scientific grade slow scan CCD coupled to a YAG scintillator by a fiber optic reducer. During operation the CCD is cooled to -40°C by a thermoelectric cooler. This detector allows high quality patterns to be recorded with beam currents as low as 10-10A and exposure times of 1 to 10 seconds.

Background: Premixedcalcium silicate-based sealers are ready-to-use, injectable materials with advantageous biological properties that create environment favorable for periapical tissues repair and health. The aim of our study was to examine the radiopacities of premixed calcium silicate-based sealers:TotalFill BCSealer, EndoSequence BC Sealer, Ceraseal, Bio-C Sealer and to compare them with epoxy-basedsealer, AH Plus. Material and methods: Three specimens (2 mm thick and 5 mm in diameter) of each sealer were radiographed using charge-coupled device-baseddigital sensor (Trophy Radiology, Cedex, France) along with an aluminum stepwedge reference.For radiopacity determination, a graph of the logarithm of aluminum thickness versus radiographic density was plotted and a calibration curve was generated. Radiopacities were assessed from the graph and presented as millimeters of aluminum per millimeter of material (mmAl).ANOVA with a post hoc Tukey test was used for statistical analysis and significance was set at 0.05. Results: Radiopacity values of EndoSequence BC Sealer and Bio-C Sealerwere significantly lower than radiopacities of Ceraseal and AH Plus. Differences in values between EndoSequence BC Sealer and Bio-C Sealer as well as between Ceraseal and AH Plus were nonsignificant. TotalFill BC Sealer was nonsignificantly different from all other sealers. Conclusion: Premixed calcium silicate-based endodontic sealers evaluated in our study had radiopacity values higher than 9 mmAl, in ascending order,from Bio-C Sealer, EndoSequence BC Sealer, TotalFill BC Sealer to Ceraseal.

Infrared and chlorophyll fluorescence imaging methods are useful techniques to evaluate environmental effects on plant performance. With the advent of digital imaging and advances in sensor technology, infrared (IR) thermography has become more accurate and less expensive. Modern IR cameras can resolve 0.5 °C temperature differences and research-grade instruments can resolve 0.05 °C. This precision has allowed the physical processes of freezing and transpiration to be more accurately studied and modeled. Chlorophyll fluorescence imaging, although still an expensive technology, has also become sufficiently rugged to be useful in the field. The measurement of quantum efficiency, Fv/Fm, provides clear data on the effect of various environmental and biotic effects on the performance of photosynthesis in plants through the effect on photosystem II. Modern digital cameras with low signal-to-noise ratios can also image chlorophyll fluorescence using time lapse exposure. Peltier-cooled charge coupled device (CCD) cameras can measure the autoluminescence in stressed plants that is generated by reactive oxygen species. Advances in technology have reduced the cost and precision of imaging equipment to a point that they are more applicable tools to plant scientists.

This paper proposes an object based vision (O-BV) system to implement visual servoing for autonomous mobile manipulators using two charge-coupled device (CCD) cameras. Conventional stereo vision (C-SV) system estimates the depth based on the disparity between two camera images for the same object. However, the disparity is not an effective cue for a small disparity at a long distance. To resolve this problem, in the proposed O-BV system, the individual camera tracks the object independently, and the angles of the two cameras are used to estimate the distance to the object. This depth estimation technique is applied for an autonomous mobile robot to approach to a target object precisely. The O-BV system is experimentally compared to the C-SV system in terms of computing time and depth estimation accuracy. Also the two cameras which are attached on the top of the autonomous mobile manipulator have been utilized for the mobile manipulator to approach to a target object precisely through the visual servoing. Through the experiments, it is demonstrated that the fast and precise depth estimation is a critical factor for the successful visual servoing.

A real-time position detection system is developed for measuring heavy ions with low fluence and energy of several hundred MeV, which are generated from an azimuthally varying field (AVF) cyclotron accelerator. We investigate the photoluminescence of α-Al2O3 single crystals implanted with Eu (Al2O3:Eu), which is used in the detection system. The Al2O3:Eu scintillators with a fluence of 3.0 × 1016 cm−2 are annealed at 500–900°C. The annealing conditions required for the Al2O3:Eu scintillators to obtain the maximum luminescence are 0.5 h at 600°C. The scintillator is placed on the AVF cyclotron target stage under atmospheric pressure and is irradiated by 260-MeV Ne. An inverted confocal microscope with a ×10 objective lens is positioned behind the Al2O3:Eu scintillator, and the luminescent images during ion irradiation are obtained by a position-sensitive camera unit with a 512 × 512 pixel electron multiplying charge-coupled device. The images indicate that our online measurement system has a sufficient spatial resolution, since the luminous diameter induced by irradiation with 190 ions /s is almost the same as that of the microbeam.

We investigate the effects of recessed source/drain (S/D) electrodes on the device performance of microwave-induced metal-oxide thin-film transistors (oxide-TFTs) by analyzing their contact resistances. High-performance top-gate-bottom-contact oxide-TFTs consisting of sol–gel-based high-k zirconium dioxide dielectric (ZrO2) and indium-gallium-zinc oxide (IGZO) semiconducting films were developed by employing microwave annealing. Vibration energy induced microwave annealing even at a low temperature (∼120 °C) with a short process time (10 min), which is sufficient to form dense metal–oxygen bonding while suppressing oxygen vacancies as defect states, resulted in high-quality sol–gel-based amorphous ZrO2 and IGZO films. The low-voltage operating oxide-TFTs with recessed S/D electrodes exhibited higher field-effect mobility (∼7.0 cm2 V−1 s−1) than those with elevated S/D electrodes (∼0.15 cm2 V−1 s−1). This result is attributed to the conformable deposition of the channel layer on the planar surface of S/D electrodes, leading to the improved interfacial characteristics. Relatively low effective contact resistance (∼79.7 Ω cm), which was extrapolated from a plot of the width-normalized resistance as a function of the channel length using a transmission line method, in oxide-TFTs with recessed S/D electrodes, is compared to that (∼1480.6 Ω cm) of elevated S/D electrodes. This was in good agreement with the Ohmic contact behavior contact where the low charge injection barrier improved charge transport.

Polyradicals – organic radical polymers in which each repeating unit contains a singly occupied molecular orbital (i.e. an unpaired electron spin) – are unique alternatives to their π-conjugated and semiconducting counterparts for several applications.[1] Unique of polyradicals are tunable charge states at their repeating units (see figure) which enable multi-stable charge transport regimes at the nanoscale. In this talk, we will present the use of thin films of polyradicals in transparent and flexible thin-film nanoelectronics. Although field-effect thin-film transistors (FETs) and flash memory devices ("memristors") based on radical polymers have been often proposed, memristor stability was frequently limited to a few writing cycles, in spite of the excellent quality of the active layer, and no FETs have been demonstrated, even though evidence of polyradical doping has been offered.[2] Here, the design criteria for flash memory devices are reviewed.It will be shown, using a combination of Kelvin-probe force microscopy (KPFM), electrical transport and optical measurements, that single-layer flash memory devices can be demonstrated from 6-oxoverdazyls, a class of radical polymers from which ultra-thin and ultra-smooth organic thin flims are advantageously processable.[3] As a case study, ultrathin devices in which the active layer is formed by a 15-nm homogeneous film of a poly-norbornene-6-oxoverdazyl (PN-6OV) polyradical synthesized by a dry vacuum polymer deposition technique are presented and compared with the corresponding devices of poly-6-oxoverdazyls (P6OV) synthesized by wet chemistry. [4] We will show that high performance is associated to the presence three tunable charge states in each monomer: positive, neutral, and negative, and also depends on the length of the pendant groups to which the radical repeating units are attached. We will demonstrate that careful engineering of the anode and cathode work functions, specifically aligning them with the negative and positive energy levels of the polyradical, is vital to maximize the on/off current ratio and ensure flash operation. The possibility to achieve electro-tunable poly-6-oxoverdazyl radical polymers by different techniques offer uniques opportunities for their use in a variety of different contexts, for example in transparent and/or flexible electronics, and where compatibility with different substrates is required. In the last part of our talk, we will present how a vertical device architecture, with drain-source contacts sandwiching the active layer of a strongly correlated 6-oxoverdazyl polyradical, leads to on/off ratios >103 in p-type PR-FETs. [4] Hole injection thus occurs by contact doping via tunable charge states at the polyradical-electrode interface. PRFETs are superior to existing organic FETs as they combine memristor and transistor functions in one mem-transistor device, offering unique potential for synaptic and spintronic applications. [1] Joo, Y.; Agarkar, V.; Sung, S. H.; Savoie, B. M.; Boudouris, B. W. A Nonconjugated Radical Polymer Glass with High Electrical Conductivity. Science 2018, 359, 1391-1395 [2] Nguyen, T. P.; Easley, A. D.; Kang, N.; Khan, S.; Lim,S-M.; Rezenom, Y. H.; Wang, S.; Tran, D. K.; Fan, J.; Letteri, R. A.; He, X.; Su, L.; Yu, C-H.; Lutkenhaus, J. L.; Wooley K, L. Polypeptide organic radical batteries. Nature, 2021, 593, 61 [3] Ezugwu, S.; Paquette, J. A.; Yadav, V.; Gilroy, J. B.; Fanchini, G. Design Criteria for Ultrathin Single-Layer Flash Memristors from an Organic Polyradical. Adv. Electron. Mater. 2016, 2, 1600253 [4] Singh, D.; Magnan, F.; Gilroy, J. B.; Fanchini, G. Transparent and flexible field-effect transistors and mem-transistors with electroactive layers of solution-processed organic polyradicals, https://arxiv.org/abs/1910.10212 Figure 1

This paper describes how to tighten M1.4 screws by controlling a manipulator. The whole process is based on a human–machine interface designed using Visual Studio C++ to run image processing algorithms and control the position of a manipulator. Two charge-coupled device cameras are used. One is fixed on the stationary frame above screw holes and used to take pictures of the holes. The positions of the holes are determined using image processing algorithms and then transformed into the coordinate system of the manipulator by using coordinate transformation. The other camera, installed on the end effect of the manipulator, photographs the screw hole to fine-tune the position of the manipulator, improving positioning control. The image processing methods including grayscale, Gaussian filter, bilateral filter, binarization, edge detection, center of gravity, and minimum circumcircle are used to find the center coordinates of the target holes. Experimental study shows that M1.4 screws can be tightened into the target holes with the manipulator.

Continuous casting process is used for the solidification of molten steel into semi-finished shapes. Due to lack of reliable sensors online, manual monitoring was often essential to cooling control, which was time consuming and inefficient. This paper proposes an approach to automatically monitor high-temperature casting strand based on radiation thermometry, with the help of CCD (charge coupled device) camera and digital image processing technology. The bicolorimetric temperature measurement method is introduced in detail, as well as the working principle of CCD. Programs developed by Visual C++ 6.0 complete the acquisition, processing, calculation and visualization of casting strand image data. Besides, some experiment of temperature test was carried out for bloom casting (section size of 260 mm×300 mm) in a domestic steel plant so as to verify the monitoring model. Consequently, the purpose for monitoring casting strand is achieved, which is beneficial to cooling control in the process of continuous casting.

Abstract We modeled tungsten–carbon mixed surface evolution, sputtering erosion, and transport for the tungsten coated region of a small angle slot (SAS) divertor design for the DIII-D tokamak. This divertor concept aims to achieve a closed slot dissipative plasma to minimize heat load and surface erosion, and to study high-Z material performance. Our advanced simulations use coupled ITMC-DYN material mixing/response and 3D full kinetic REDEP/WBC erosion/redeposition code packages, with divertor plasma solution from the SOLPS-ITER package with 4 MW power input. The SAS design geometry and resulting in-slot plasma parameters cause significant differences in predicted sputter/transport from a conventional divertor. For 2% C/D incident plasma ratio, an equilibrium mixed C/W surface is attained at ∼30 s of discharge, from wall sputtered carbon transported to the 10 cm long tungsten divertor region. Tungsten remains exposed to the plasma, but the evolved surface composition varies with different C/D ratios. Tungsten is primarily sputtered from the mixed surface by impinging carbon ions in the +1 to +4 charge states, with some self-sputtering. Redeposition of sputtered tungsten to the divertor is significant, ∼80% along the higher plasma temperature attached plasma SAS entrance region, but this is less than the typically near-unity values for a conventional divertor. Plasma-incident carbon is highly backscattered (∼50%) from the mixed surface, with little redeposition (<10%); this helps maintain tungsten in the surface sputter zone. Carbon is mainly sputtered from the mixed surface by D+ ions, also with low redeposition (∼10%–30%). Finally, the modeling shows non-zero but low sputtered tungsten current from the divertor to the core plasma direction. These results appear favorable for effective testing of a tungsten-containing SAS divertor in DIII-D, and extrapolation of mixed-material evolution/response findings to the analogous low-Z/high-Z, Be/W, ITER plasma facing system.