Biomimetic crystallization of calcium carbonate in the presence of water‐soluble zwitterionic block copolymer

Crystallization of calcium carbonate (CC) in aqueous solutions by gas‐liquid diffusion procedure was investigated systematically in the presence of poly(4‐sulfonic acid diphenylamine)‐block‐poly(ethylene glycol) (PSDA‐b‐PEG), wherein the PSDA block is a polymeric zwitterion. PSDA‐b‐PEG was synthesized with the reaction of tosylated PEG and amine‐functionalized PSDA and was characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance. The parameters such as, block copolymer concentration, crystallization time and initial pH were considered as indicators of block copolymer's capability in controlling the morphology of CC particles_. The particles were characterized by Fourier transform infrared, scanning electron microscopy, and X‐ray diffraction. The results suggest that PSDA‐b‐PEG is a suitable template to control the growth mechanism of CC to produce meso‐sized particles with different morphologies. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 59:96–102, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Measurement of the required cross-polar protection ratio in G-PALTV FM satellite transmissions planning

A measurement campaign using live TV broadcast satellite signals and receiving commercial equipment has been carried out to study the required cross-polar protection ratio at the receiving antenna in satellite transmission planning. This experiment provides useful and realistic conclusions for the optimum spectrum allocation of TV channels in broadcasting satellite systems, as for example, the frequency offset required between cross-polar channels depending on the cross-polar rejection at the receiving antenna, for a certain grade of video signal impairment due to the cross-polar channel interference effects, and taken also into account the noise contribution on the signal     

Quantitating Fluorescence Intensity from Fluorophore: The Definition of MESF Assignment

The quantitation of fluorescence radiance may at first suggest the need to obtain the number of fluorophore that are responsible for the measured fluorescence radiance. This goal is beset by many difficulties since the fluorescence radiance depends on three parameters 1) the probability of absorbing a photon (molar extinction), 2) the number of fluorophores, and 3) the probability of radiative decay of the excited state (quantum yield). If we use the same fluorophore in the reference solution and the analyte then, to a good approximation, the molar extinction drops out from the comparison of fluorescence radiance and we are left with the comparison of fluorescence yield which is defined as the product of fluorophore concentration and the molecular quantum yield. The equality of fluorescence yields from two solutions leads to the notion of equivalent number of fluorophores in the two solutions that is the basis for assignment of MESF (Molecules of Equivalent Soluble Fluorophore) values. We discuss how MESF values are assigned to labeled microbeads and by extension to labeled antibodies, and how these assignments can lead to the estimate of the number of bound antibodies in flow cytometer measurements.     

Impact of finite laser linewidth on the performance of OFDMnetworks employing single-cavity Fabry-Perot demultiplexers

In this paper we investigate the impact of finite laser linewidths (i.e. source partial coherence) on the crosstalk performance of optical frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) networks employing single-cavity Fabry-Perot demultiplexers. Results are presented that show the important limitation imposed by the finite laser linewidths on the attainable bit error rate (BER), maximum number of users, and the required power penalties to overcome this impairment     

On the use of tapered linearly chirped gratings asdispersion-induced distortion equalizers in SCM systems

We report on the use of tapered linearly chirped fiber gratings to equalize dispersion-induced distortion in long distance/broad-band subcarrier multiplexed (SCM) systems. Different apodization functions for the coupling factor of the fiber grating have been considered and their equalizing capability of fiber-induced distortion in a subcarrier system have been compared. The results of the theoretical analysis show that both harmonic and intermodulation distortions are significantly reduced when the equalizer parameters have been properly designed. Higher reduction of the nonlinear distortion is obtained when the length of the filter increases, even though a saturation effect on this reduction figure appears when the equalizer length is about four or five times its minimum value to achieve equalization, which is derived theoretically based on the SCM optical system parameters. The performance of a Tanh-type tapered linearly chirped grating equalizer on a realistic broadband SCM system is also considered. The results reveal that the dispersion-induced distortion can be neglected when the equalizer is employed     

Nonlinear distortion generated by DSF-based optical-phase conjugators in analog optical systems

In this paper, the nonlinear distortion induced by dispersion-shifted-fiber-based optical-phase conjugators (OPCs) in intensity-modulated subcarrier multiplexing optical systems is evaluated. In this study, it is shown that the nonlinear distortion mainly arises from the four-wave mixing (FWM) process during the phase conjugation, although there also exists influences from other nonlinear effects. Closed expressions for calculating the second- and third-order harmonic distortions due to FWM, self-phase modulation, cross-phase modulation and group-velocity dispersion effects in the dispersion-shifted-fiber-based OPC are also reported for the first time. The influence of several system design parameters, such as the optical modulation index, the number of channels, the input optical powers, and the effective area of the dispersion-shifted fiber on the compensation of fiber-induced nonlinear distortions employing the optical-phase conjugation technique, is considered.     

Controlled-Release Matrix of Acetaminophen-Ethylcellulose Solid Dispersion

In this study ethylcellulose was evaluated as a carrier for preparation of prolonged release acetaminophen tablets. Solid dispersions containing three levels of ethylcellulose and acetaminophen (1:3; 1:1; 3:1) were prepared by the solvent method. Also physical mixtures at the same level of ethylcellulose and acetaminophen were prepared. Systems composed of solid dispersion or physical mixture containing the equivalent weight of 50 mg acetaminophen, Lactose fast-flo as diluent and 1% magnesium stearate as lubricant were compressed into tablets and tested for dissolution. The dissolution data showed that the drug release decreased as the level of ethylcellulose increased in the solid dispersion formulations. The drug release from tablets prepared with solid dispersion followed the diffusion controlled model for inert porous matrix, while the drug release from tablets prepared with physical mixture followed the first-order kinetic model.     

Optically generated electrical-modulation formats in digital-microwave link applications

We investigate a novel technique to generate the transmission signal in digital-microwave link applications. This technique is based on a photonic device that achieves both electrical modulation (QAM, PSK, ASK) and harmonic upconversion of the microwave carrier. Simulation results are provided for a seventh-harmonic 38.5-GHz transmission of a 2.5-Gbps signal through a 1-km fiber span. The impact of fiber chromatic-dispersion on the link bandwidth is also analyzed.     

Influence of Two Salicylate Components on the Particle Size of an Oil-in-Water Emulsion with Nonionic Surfactants

This paper reports a study undertaken using techniques of static and dynamic light scattering to investigate the influence of sodium salicylate and methyl salicylate on droplet size of oil-in-water emulsions. The rates of changes were measured by determining the size and distribution of the oil droplet in the material. All emulsions showed a bimodal size distribution; the mean diameters and polydispersity were calculated from intensity. These data were analyzed with nonlinear regressions and bootstrap methodology. An amount of methyl salicylate component induced a decrease of mean diameter and standard deviation. On the contrary, sodium salicylate entailed the growth of all droplet populations and coalescence for the highest concentration.     

Experimental results on adiabatic coupling into SOI photonic Crystal coupled-cavity waveguides

The experimental implementation of an adiabatic coupling technique for efficient coupling between photonic crystal single-line defect waveguides and coupled-cavity waveguides is reported. The samples were fabricated in a silicon-on-insulator substrate using 248-nm-deep ultraviolet lithography. Experimental results are compared with three-dimensional (3-D) finite-difference time-domain simulations. Furthermore, the discrepancies between two-dimensional and 3-D simulation results are analyzed.