The properties of upconversion luminescence on YAIO3:Er(3+) nanophosphors with different Er(3+) concentrations

We report the properties of upconversion luminescence on Yttrium aluminum perovoskite (YAIO3) doped with trivalent erbium at concentrations of 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 mol%. The samples were synthesized by solvo-thermal reaction method and the XRD patterns conforms that the YAP:Er(3+) nanophosphors have orthorhombic phase. Efficient green and red upconversion (UC) emission of YAP:Er(3+) nanophosphors was measured under the excitation of 975 nm continuous wave diode laser, and its dynamics and pump power dependence were investigated. As concentration of Er(3+) ion increased from 1 to 7 mol%, the red UC emission increased more rapidly. It is attributed to the energy transfer (4I(11/2) --> 4I(15/2):4I(13/2) --> 4F(9/2)) and to the cross relaxation (4S(3/2) --> 4I(9/2):4I(15/2) --> 4I(13/2)) between Er(3+) ions. In this case, the green and red emissions were yielding from quadratic to linear. These conclusions obtained are confirmed by theoretical investigations based on steady-state rate equations.     

Analysis of ethanol in soy sauce using electronic nose for halal food certification

The purpose of this study was to analyze ethanol content in soy sauce using mass spectrometry (MS) with electronic nose (e-nose) to determine if MS e-nose can replace gas chromatographic analysis for halal certification. Gas chromatography–flame ionization detector (GC-FID), the standard method of ethanol content, was used to analyze 24 different kinds of soy sauce. Ethanol was detected from 13 soy sauce samples in the concentration range of 0.0004–1.7wt%. The MS e-nose data were analyzed by discriminant function analysis (DFA). Based on an addition method, the results were more than 96.6% accurate when the ethanol concentrations were greater than 0.5%. A high correlation between the first score of the DFA plot and the ethanol concentration was observed. Thus, mass spectrometry based on e-nose is an efficient method for determining ethanol as a primary screening tool for halal certification.     

Comparison of the antioxidant activities of roasted and explosive puffed coffees

We investigated the explosive process effect on antioxidant activities of coffee bean. The total polyphenol contents of powdered extract of explosive puffing coffee bean at 0.75 MPa (PEP 7.5) and powdered extract of explosive puffing coffee bean at 0.9 MPa (PEP 9.0) were at a significantly higher than that of the powdered extract of roasting coffee bean (PER) (P < 0.05). PEP 7.5 showed the highest levels of 3‐CQA (86.23 μg mg^?1), 4‐CQA (43.71 μg mg^?1), and 5‐CQA (31.66 μg mg^?1), and PEP 9.0 had also similar levels of chlorogenic acids, with 3‐CQA (77.99 μg mg^?1), 4‐CQA (43.71 μg mg^?1), and 5‐CQA (30.32 μg mg^?1). PEP 7.5 and PEP 9.0 showed relatively higher antioxidant capacities in DPPH, ABTS, taurine, FRAP, and β‐carotene/linoleic acid assays. PEPs partly recovered the HepG2 cell damage induced by t‐BOOH. These results suggest that puffed coffee has beneficial health effects, and could be used for the development of novel processed coffee products.     

Development of a new automatic fault diagnosis system for fine pattern transmission lines

International Journal of Control, Automation and Systems - This paper presents a new automatic fault diagnosis and detection system for fine pattern interconnects. It is verified by performance of...     

Temperature Distribution of a Low Temperature Heat Pipe with Multiple Heaters for Electronic Cooling

A numerical study has been performed to predict the characteristics on the transient operation of the heat pipe with multiple heaters for electronic cooling. The model of the heat pipe was composed of the evaporator section with four heaters, insulated transport section, and the condensor section with a conductor which is cooled with uniform heat flux condition to surrounding. The governing equations and the boundary conditions were solved by the generalized PHOENICS computational code employing the finite volume method. Two test cases are investigated in present study; Case 1 indicates that the 1st and 2nd heaters among four heating sources are heated off, while the 3rd and 4th heaters are heated on. Case 2 is the inverse situation switched from heating location of Case 1. The results show that the transient time to reach the steady state is shorter for Case 1 than for Case 2. Especially, the temperature difference of the heater during switching operation is relatively small compared to the maximum all- owable operating temperature difference in electronic system. Hence, it is predicted that the heat pipe in present study operates with thermally good reliability even for switching the heaters.     

Deterioration behavior analysis of dysprosium and thulium co-doped barium titanate ceramics for multilayer ceramic capacitors

An accelerated testing method for barium titanate (BaTiO₃) dielectrics was proposed to elucidate deterioration behavior of dielectric constant based on the life-temperature relation. The accelerated degradation test (ADT) which was designed using various temperature ranges below and above Curie temperature (T_c) was focused on the optimized composition of dysprosium (Dy) and thulium (Tm) co-doped BaTiO₃. The statistical analysis of the failure time data was performed to determine the optimum distribution as a goodness-of-fitness test. A scale parameter (η) and activation energy (E_α) were calculated in order to predict the life time of the co-doped BaTiO₃, and there was difference between the expected life times according to the acceleration temperature rating of the ADT. The difference of deterioration mechanism around T_c could be deduced from the change of lattice parameter and polarization behavior. The drastic decrease of tetragonality and ferroelectric property caused by the phase transition of the co-doped BaTiO₃ was verified in the temperature above T_c. Accordingly, the acceleration factor over T_c should be considered as reliability study of the BaTiO₃ dielectrics for multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs).     

Dielectric and piezoelectric properties of KCT added (Li0.02(Na0.56 K0.46)0.98(Nb0.81Ta0.15Sb0.04)O3 ceramics

In this study, [Li_0.02(Na_0.56 K_0.46)_0.98](Nb_0.81Ta_0.15Sb_0.04)O₃ + x mol% K_5.4Cu_1.3Ta₁₀O₂₉ ceramics were fabricated by conventional solid-state solution processes. Then, their dielectric and piezoelectric properties were investigated. Sinterability of all samples was enhanced because K_5.4Cu_1.3Ta₁₀O₂₉ (abbreviated as KCT) acted as sintering aids. As the result of XRD, phase structure showed orthorhombic symmetry when KCT ≤ 0.2 mol%. Whereas, the phase structure changed from orthorhombic symmetry to tetragonal symmetry when KCT?≥?0.4 mol%. The results suggest that the orthorhombic and tetragonal phases co-exist in the composition ceramics with 0.2 mol% < KCT < 0.4 mol% at room temperature. The effects of the addition of KCT on the dielectric and piezoelectric properties were investigated. As the result, excellent properties of density=4.81[g/cm³], electromechanical coupling factor (k_p)=0.48 and piezoelectric constant(d₃₃)=252[pC/N] were obtained in the composition ceramics with 0.4 mol%KCT.     

The synthesis of crown ether-appended dichlorofluoresceins and their selective Cu2+ chemosensing

Dichlorofluorescein derivatives with two aza-crown ether binding units were prepared by the Mannich reaction and their chemosensing behaviors toward transition metal ions were investigated. An 18-crown-6 ether derivative exhibited pronounced Cu²⁺-selective fluorescence signaling, with selectivity over other common physiologically important alkali, alkaline earth and transition metal ions. The compound also displayed 1:1 complex formation with Cu²⁺ ion, with a detection limit of 2.9 × 10^?6 M in an aqueous 50% DMSO solution at pH 7, showing that it may offer potential as a chemosensor for the detection of submillimolar Cu²⁺ ions in physiological environments. A 15-Crown-5 ether analogue also revealed selective Cu²⁺ signaling, although with somewhat diminished selectivity compared with its 18-crown-6 counterpart.     

A preliminary study on the development of an easy method for beef freshness using a cyclic voltammetric system

This study was carried out to develop an easy method for beef freshness using a cyclic voltammetric system. Prime graded (USDA) beef loin at 48 h postmortem was cut into pieces 3 cm thick, packaged into commercial plastic zipper bag, and then stored at 4 °C for 0, 3, 6 and 9 days. A commercial cyclic voltammetry and data processing software were used for this study and the interdigitated electrode was fabricated according to semiconductor manufacturing. The homogenated beef was filtered through Whatman No. 1 filter paper and 250 μL of the filtrate was applied on the interdigitated electrode sensor chip for electrochemical detection. Electrochemical signals changed as storage periods increased. The shape of the cyclic voltammogram changed from a roundish curve to a shapely curve. Redox values (V) also increased during storage. Electrochemical signals matched well with lipid oxidation values (Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances: TBARS). A linear relationship between redox value and TBARS was obtained with a correlation factor of 0.957. Thus, the electrochemical signal of a cyclic voltammetric system can be used as an indicator of beef freshness.     

Identification of functional elements of p18INK4C essential for binding and inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4 and CDK6

An indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) was used to identify patients with antibodies reactive to the human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) agent. Serum samples collected from clinically ill individuals were submitted to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by physicians via state health departments from throughout the United States and tested against a panel of ehrlichial and rickettsial pathogens. Antibodies reactive to the HGE agent were detected in 142 (8.9%) of 1,602 individuals tested. There were 19 confirmed and 59 probable (n = 78) cases of HGE as defined by seroconversion or a fourfold or higher titer to the HGE agent than to the Ehrlichia chaffeensis antigens. The average age of patients with HGE was 57 years, and males accounted for 53 (68%) of the patients. Cases of HGE occurred in 21 states; 47 (60%) of the cases occurred in Connecticut (n = 14), New York (n = 18), and Wisconsin (n = 15). Onset of HGE was identified from April through December, with cases peaking in June and July. The earliest confirmed cases of HGE occurred in 1987 in Wisconsin and 1988 in Florida. No fatalities were reported among the 78 patients with confirmed or probable HGE. Reactivity to the HGE agent and to either Coxiella burnetii, Rickettsia rickettsii, or Rickettsia typhi was infrequent; however, 74 (52%) of the 142 individuals who were positive for HGE had at least one serum sample that also reacted to the E. chaffeensis antigen. Thirty-four persons with confirmed or probable human monocytic ehrlichiosis due to E. chaffeensis also had antibodies to the HGE agent in at least one serum sample. The specific etiologic agent for 30 patients was not ascribed because of similarity of titers to both ehrlichial antigens. The use of both antigens may be required to correctly diagnose most cases of human ehrlichiosis, especially in geographic regions where both the HGE agent and E. chaffeensis occur.