An interferometric biosensor composed of a prism-chamber assembly and a composite waveguide with a Ta2O5 nanometric layer

A highly sensitive integrated polarimetric interferometer biosensor with improved long-time stability and simple operation was prepared by using a novel prism-chamber assembly and an inexpensive waveguide made by sputtering a tapered nanometric layer of Ta₂O₅ on a single-mode glass waveguide. By comparing the measured refractive-index (RI) sensitivities with those simulated based on a four-layer homogeneous waveguide, both the equivalent thicknesses (T_eq) for the tapered Ta₂O₅ layers and a severe dependence of RI sensitivity on T_eq were obtained. Addition of 1 g of water in 100 g of a Chinese liquor (alcohol concentration = 46% (v/v)) was easily detected by the sensor. Monitoring of anti-human IgG adsorption with a waveguide of T_eq = 31.99 nm indicates that the antibody coverage required for inducing a phase-different change of Δ? = π is less than 0.012 monolayer. The same waveguide presents a quasi-linear dependence of Δ? on water temperature with the slope of d(Δ?)/dT = −28.50°/°C to which the contribution by the thermo-optical effect of the waveguide is 4.24°/°C, equivalent to a liquid RI change of Δn_c = 1.41 × 10⁻⁵. The interferometer exhibits the promising potential for chemical and biological analyses because of its outstanding characteristics.     

Testing the potential of multi-spectral remote sensing for retrospectively estimating fire severity in African Savannahs

The remote sensing of fire severity is a noted goal in studies of forest and grassland wildfires. Experiments were conducted to discover and evaluate potential relationships between the characteristics of African savannah fires and post-fire surface spectral reflectance in the visible to shortwave infrared spectral region. Nine instrumented experimental fires were conducted in semi-arid woodland savannah of Chobe National Park (Botswana), where fire temperature (T_max) and duration (dt) were recorded using thermocouples positioned at different heights and locations. These variables, along with measures of fireline intensity (FLI), integrated temperature with time (T_sum) and biomass (and carbon/nitrogen) volatilised were compared to post-fire surface spectral reflectance. Statistically significant relationships were observed between (i) the fireline intensity and total nitrogen volatilised (r² = 0.54, n = 36, p < 0.001), (ii) integrated temperature (T_sum−μ) and total biomass combusted (r² = 0.72, n = 32, p < 0.001), and (iii) fire duration as measured at the top-of-grass sward thermocouple (dt_T) and total biomass combusted (r² = 0.74, n = 34, p < 0.001) and total nitrogen volatilised (r² = 0.73, n = 34, p < 0.001). The post-fire surface spectral reflectance was found to be related to dt and T_sum via a quadratic relationship that varied with wavelength. The use of visible and shortwave infrared band ratios produced statistically significant linear relationships with fire duration as measured by the top thermocouple (dt_T) (r² = 0.76, n = 34, p < 0.001) and the mean of T_sum (r² = 0.82, n = 34, p < 0.001). The results identify fire duration as a versatile measure that relates directly to the fire severity, and also illustrate the potential of spectrally-based fire severity measures. However, the results also point to difficulties when applying such spectrally-based techniques to Earth Observation satellite imagery, due to the small-scale variability noted on the ground. Results also indicate the potential for surface spectral reflectance to increase following higher severity fires, due to the laying down of high albedo white mineral ash. Most current techniques for mapping burned area rely on the general assumption that surface albedo decreases following a fire, and so if the image spatial resolution was high enough such methods may fail. Determination of the effect of spatial resolution on a sensor's ability to detect white ash was investigated using a validated optical mixture modelling approach. The most appropriate mixing model to use (linear or non-linear) was assessed using laboratory experiments. A linear mixing model was shown most appropriate, with results suggesting that sensors having spatial resolutions significantly higher than those of Landsat ETM+ will be required if patches of white ash are to be used to provide EO-derived information on the spatial variation of fire severity.     

Improved crystalline structure and H2S sensing performance of CuO-Au-SnO2 thin film using SiO2 additive concentration

In situ SiO₂-doped SnO₂ thin films were successfully prepared by liquid phase deposition. The influence of SiO₂ additive as an inhibitor on the surface morphology and the grain size for the thin film has been investigated. These results show that the morphology of SnO₂ film changes significantly by increasing the concentration of H₂SiF₆ solution which decreases the grain size of SnO₂. The stoichiometric analysis of Si content in the SnO₂ film prepared from various Si/Sn molar ratios has also been estimated. For the sensing performance of H₂S gas, the SiO₂-doped Cu-Au-SnO₂ sensor presents better sensitivity to H₂S gas compared with Cu-Au-SnO₂ sensor due to the fact that the distribution of SiO₂ particles in grain boundaries of nano-crystallines SnO₂ inhibited the grain growth (<6 nm) and formed a porous film. By increasing the Si/Sn molar ratio, the SiO₂-doped Cu-Au-SnO₂ gas sensors (Si/Sn = 0.5) exhibit a good sensitivity (S = 67), a short response time (t_90% < 3 s) and a good gas concentration characteristic (α = 0.6074). Consequently, the improvement of the nano-crystalline structures and high sensitivity for sensing films can be achieved by introducing SiO₂ additive into the SnO₂ film prepared by LPD method.     

A new long-lasting phosphor Zr and Eu co-doped SrMg2(PO4)2

Zr⁴⁺- and Eu³⁺-codoped SrMg₂(PO₄)₂ phosphors were prepared by conventional solid-state reaction. Under the excitation of ultraviolet light, the emission spectra of Sr_0.95Eu_0.05Mg_2−2xZr_2xP₂O₈ (x = 0.0005-0.07) are composed of a broad emission band peaking at 500 nm from Zr⁴⁺-emission and the characteristic emission lines from the ⁵D₀ → ⁷F_J (J = 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4) transitions of Eu³⁺ ions. These phosphors show the long-lasting phosphorescence. The emission color varies from red to white with increasing Zr⁴⁺-content. The white-light emission is realized in single-phase phosphor of Sr_0.95Eu_0.05Mg_2−2xZr_2xP₂O₈ (x = 0.07) by combining the Zr⁴⁺- and Eu³⁺-emission. The duration of the persistent luminescence of Sr_0.95Eu_0.05Mg_2−2xZr_2xP₂O₈ (x = 0.07) reaches nearly 1.5 h. The time at which the long-lasting phosphorescence intensity is 50% of its original value (T_0.5) is 410 s. The afterglow decay curves and the thermoluminescence spectra were measured to discuss this long-lasting phosphorescence phenomenon. The co-doped Zr⁴⁺ ions act as both the luminescence centers and trap-creating ions.     

In2O3 + xBaO (x = 0.5-5 at.%) - A novel material for trace level detection of NOx in the ambient

Indium oxide (In₂O₃) doped with 0.5-5 at.% of Ba was examined for their response towards trace levels of NO_x in the ambient. Crystallographic phase studies, electrical conductivity and sensor studies for NO_x with cross interference for hydrogen, petroleum gas (PG) and ammonia were carried out. Bulk compositions with x ≤ 1 at.% of Ba exhibited high response towards NO_x with extremely low cross interference for hydrogen, PG and ammonia, offering high selectivity. Thin films of 0.5 at.% Ba doped In₂O₃ were deposited using pulsed laser deposition technique using an excimer laser (KrF) operating at a wavelength of (λ) 248 nm with a fluence of ∼3 J/cm² and pulsed at 10 Hz. Thin film sensors exhibited better response towards 3 ppm NO_x quite reliably and reproducibly and offer the potential to develop NO_x sensors (Threshold limit value of NO₂ and NO is 3 and 25 ppm, respectively).     

Influence of doping BiYO3 and Nb2O5 on PTCR characteristics of BaTiO3 thermistor ceramics

Nb₂O₅-doped (1 − x)Ba_0.96Ca_0.04TiO₃-xBiYO₃ (where x = 0.01, 0.02, 0.03 and 0.04) lead-free PTC thermistor ceramics were prepared by a conventional solid state reaction method. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, Agilent E4980A and resistivity-temperature measurement instrument, were used to characteristic the lattice distortion, microstructure, temperature dependence of permittivity and resitivity-temperature dependence. It was revealed that the tetragonality c/a of the perovskite lattice, the microstructure and the Curie temperature changed with the BiYO₃ content. In order to decrease the room temperature resistivity, the effect of Nb₂O₅ on the room temperature resistivity was also studied, and its optimal doping content was finally chosen as 0.2 mol%. The 0.97Ba_0.96Ca_0.04TiO₃-0.03BiYO₃-0.002Nb₂O₅ thermistor ceramic exhibited a low ρ_RT of 3.98 × 10³ Ω cm, a typical PTCR effect of ρ_max/ρ_min > 10³ and a T_c of 153 °C.     

A (4n − 9)/3 diagnosis algorithm on n-dimensional cube network

As a generalization of the precise and pessimistic diagnosis strategies of system-level diagnosis of multicomputers, the t/k diagnosis strategy can significantly improve the self-diagnosing capability of a system at the expense of no more than k fault-free processors (nodes) being mistakenly diagnosed as faulty. In the case k ? 2, to our knowledge, there is no known t/k diagnosis algorithm for general diagnosable system or for any specific system. Hypercube is a popular topology for interconnecting processors of multicomputers. It is known that an n-dimensional cube is (4n − 9)/3-diagnosable. This paper addresses the (4n − 9)/3 diagnosis of n-dimensional cube. By exploring the relationship between a largest connected component of the 0-test subgraph of a faulty hypercube and the distribution of the faulty nodes over the network, the fault diagnosis of an n-dimensional cube can be reduced to those of two constituent (n − 1)-dimensional cubes. On this basis, a diagnosis algorithm is presented. Given that there are no more than 4n − 9 faulty nodes, this algorithm can isolate all faulty nodes to within a set in which at most three nodes are fault-free. The proposed algorithm can operate in O(N log₂ N) time, where N = 2ⁿ is the total number of nodes of the hypercube. The work of this paper provides insight into developing efficient t/k diagnosis algorithms for larger k value and for other types of interconnection networks.     

Gas sensing properties of p-type hollow NiO hemispheres prepared by polymeric colloidal templating method

This work presents a simple and versatile route to produce macroporous p-type metal oxide thin films. Two-dimensional arrays of p-type NiO films with a hollow hemisphere structure were fabricated by colloidal templating and RF-sputtering followed by a subsequent heat treatment. The diameter and shell thickness of the NiO hemisphere were 800 nm and 20 nm, respectively. X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy analysis indicate that the pure NiO phase with grain size of 10 nm was obtained at calcination temperatures that exceeded 450 °C. Close-packed arrays of hollow NiO hemispheres were found to exhibit p-type gas sensing properties against (CO, H₂, C₃H₈, CH₄, NO₂, and C₂H₅OH), leading to significantly enhanced responses to C₂H₅OH (R_gas/R_air = 5.0 at 200 ppm).     

A portable device for the assessment of dynamic visual acuity

Dynamic visual acuity (DVA) thresholds are among the few visual functions predictive of automobile crashes. DVA is also sensitive to alcohol and aging. However, measuring DVA is awkward because there is no standardized, efficient, flexible apparatus for DVA assessment. In this project, we developed a prototype of an automated, portable DVA system using a low-energy laser, and we compared this laser DVA with the traditional device in two within-subjects, repeated measures designs. The two studies included 48 participants (22 males and 26 females with an average age of 18.33 years). The most important findings were that: (1) retest reliabilities of the two DVA devices were comparable and higher with the laser; (2) average correlations between the two devices were r = 0.62 (p < 0.01) and r = 0.65 (p < 0.01) for the two designs respectively; and (3) after correction for reliability attenuation these improved to r = 0.92 and r = 0.78. These findings indicate that a flexible DVA laser device can be developed to measure the same construct as the more traditional bulky DVA device.     

Augmented k-ary n-cubes

We define an interconnection network AQ_n,k which we call the augmented k-ary n-cube by extending a k-ary n-cube in a manner analogous to the existing extension of an n-dimensional hypercube to an n-dimensional augmented cube. We prove that the augmented k-ary n-cube AQ_n,k has a number of attractive properties (in the context of parallel computing). For example, we show that the augmented k-ary n-cube AQ_n,k: is a Cayley graph, and so is vertex-symmetric, but not edge-symmetric unless n = 2; has connectivity 4n − 2 and wide-diameter at most max{(n − 1)k − (n − 2), k + 7}; has diameter , when n = 2; and has diameter at most , for n ? 3 and k even, and at most , for n ? 3 and k odd.     

Synthesis and characterisation of nanosized TiO2-ZrO2 binary system prepared by an aqueous sol-gel process: Physical and sensing properties

Nanostructured TiO₂-ZrO₂ thin films and powders were prepared by a straightforward aqueous particulate sol-gel route. Titanium (IV) isopropoxide and zirconium (IV) acetate hydrate were used as precursors, and hydroxypropyl cellulose was used as a polymeric fugitive agent in order to increase the specific surface area. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy revealed that the powder were crystallised at the low temperature of 500 °C, containing anatase-TiO₂ and tetragonal-ZrO₂ phases. Furthermore, it was found that ZrO₂ retarded the anatase-to-rutile transformation up to 900 °C. The activation energies for crystallite growth of TiO₂ and ZrO₂ components in the binary system were calculated 10.16 and 3.12 kJ/mol, respectively. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) image showed that one of the smallest crystallite sizes was obtained for TiO₂-ZrO₂ binary mixed oxide, being 5 nm at 500 °C. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) analysis revealed that the deposited thin films had nanostructured morphology with the average grain size of 20 nm at 500 °C and 36 nm at 900 °C. Thin films produced under optimised conditions showed excellent microstructural properties for gas sensing applications. They exhibited a remarkable response towards low concentrations of CO and NO₂ gases at low operating temperature of 150 °C, resulted in an increase of thermal stability of sensing films as well as a decrease in the power consumption. Furthermore, calibration curves revealed that TiO₂-ZrO₂ sensor follows the power law, S = A[gas]^B (where S is sensor response, coefficients A and B are constants and [gas] is gas concentration) for the two types of gases, and it has excellent capability for the detection of low gas concentrations.     

Ethanol sensing using CuO/MWNT thin film

Copper (II) oxide (CuO)/multiwall carbon nanotube (MWNT) thin film based ethanol-sensors were fabricated by dispersing CVD-prepared MWNTs in varying concentration over DC magnetron sputtered-CuO films. The responses of these sensors as a function of MWNT concentrations and temperatures were measured, and compared. The sensing response was the maximum at an operating temperature near 400 °C for all the samples irrespective of the MWNTs dispersed over them. At optimum operating temperature (T_opt) of 407 ± 1 °C, the response is linear for 100-700 ppm range and tends to saturate at higher concentrations. In comparison with bare CuO sample, the response of CuO/MWNT sensing films increased up to 50% in the linear range. The response improvement for 2500 ppm of ethanol was up to 90% compared to bare CuO sample. In addition, the sensing response time also reduced to around 23% for lowest ethanol concentration at T_opt. However, a decrease in the sensor response was observed on films with very high concentrations of MWNTs.     

Ammonia sensing characteristics of a Pt/AlGaN/GaN Schottky diode

The interesting ammonia sensing current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of a Pt/AlGaN/GaN Schottky diode are firstly studied and demonstrated. It is found that the ammonia sensitivity is increased by increasing the temperature. Yet, the sensitivity is decreased when the temperature is higher than 423 K. Experimentally, the studied device exhibits a good sensitivity of 13.1 under exposing to a relatively low concentration ammonia gas of 35 ppm NH₃/air. In addition, the good sensing performance of the studied device is demonstrated over a wide operating temperature regime from 298 K to 473 K. A highest ammonia sensing response of 182.7 is found at 423 K while a 10,000 ppm NH₃/air gas is introduced.     

Effect of MgZnO-bilayer/BA-CH3 combination interlayer on emission characteristics of MoO3/F8BT/ZnO hybrid light emitting diodes fabricated on ZnO/Ag/ZnO transparent cathode

The characteristics of MoO₃/F8BT/ZnO inorganic/organic hybrid light emitting diodes (IO-HyLEDs) fabricated on ZnO/Ag/ZnO dielectric/metal/dielectric (DMD) and conventional ZnO/ITO were investigated. The DMD had a low sheet resistance of 9 Ω/sq and a high transmittance of 90.7%. The device fabricated on DMD showed similar current density–voltage (J–V) and luminance–current density (L–J) characteristics to that on ZnO/ITO, indicating the possibility of DMD as a promising transparent conductive layer for IO-HyLEDs. The maximum luminous intensity of 237,000 cd/m² was demonstrated under pulsed condition for the DMD device. We also investigated the effect of the combination interlayer (CIL) at the F8BT/ZnO interface on the IO-HyLEDs. The CIL was composed of a Mg_0.52Zn_0.48O/Mg_0.25Zn_0.75O bilayer and a self-assembled dipole molecule (SADM) of BA-CH₃. The devices with CIL exhibited an approximately threefold enhancement of the luminous intensity and efficiency in comparison with the devices without CIL. This improvement was considered to be brought about by the enhancement of the electron injection efficiency by CIL.     

Evaluation of a 3 year intervention to increase adoption of safer nursery crop production practices

Background

We conducted a 3 year intervention to increase awareness and adoption of eight more profitable nursery crop production practices that reduced certain traumatic and musculoskeletal injury hazards.

Methods

We disseminated information to nursery managers across seven states using information channels they were known to rely on (e.g. trade publications, public events, university Extension, other managers). We evaluated rolling, independent, probability samples (n = 1200) with mail questionnaires before the intervention and after each of 3 intervention years. We also evaluated samples (n = 250) from a comparison group of New Zealand nursery managers.

Results

The intervention was associated with increased awareness of four of the eight practices among US managers after year 3 compared to their baseline: zippers (20 vs. 32%, p ≤ 0.000), stools (11 vs. 22%, p ≤ 0.001), pruners (29 vs. 40%, p ≤ 0.014), and tarps (24 vs. 33%, p ≤ 0.009). There were no changes in adoption. New Zealand manager awareness was increased for hoes after year 2 compared to their baseline (35 vs. 52%, p ≤ 0.010).

Conclusions

A modest, regionwide information dissemination intervention was associated with increased awareness, but not adoption.     

Piezoelectric properties of microfabricated (K,Na)NbO3 thin films

A novel microfabrication method of lead-free piezoelectric sodium potassium niobate [(K,Na)NbO₃, KNN] thin films was proposed, and the piezoelectric characteristics of the KNN microactuators were evaluated. The KNN thin films were directly deposited on microfabricated Si microcantilevers. The transverse piezoelectric coefficient d₃₁ of the KNN films was calculated as −53.5 pm/V at 20 V_pp from the tip displacement of the microcantilevers. However, the tip displacement showed large electric-field dependence because of the extrinsic piezoelectric effect, and the intrinsic piezoelectric effect of the KNN microcantilevers was smaller than that of KNN on unprocessed thick substrates. In contrast, the extrinsic piezoelectric effect was almost independent of the microfabrication of the KNN films.     

Hashing via finite field

In order to produce full length probe sequences, the table size m for many existing open addressing hash functions, for example, the widely used double hashing, must be prime, i.e., m = p where p is prime. In this paper, we propose a new and efficient open addressing technique, called hashing via finite field, to construct a new class of hash functions with table size m = pⁿ, where p is prime and n ? 1. It is clear that it includes prime m as a special case when n = 1. We show that the new class of hash functions constructed via finite field produces full length probe sequences on all table elements. Also, some theoretic analysis is provided along with concrete examples.     

Satellite-based and mesoscale regression modeling of monthly air and soil temperatures over complex terrain in Turkey

Simple regression algorithms were developed to quantify spatio-temporal dynamics of minimum and maximum air temperatures (T_min and T_max, respectively) and soil temperature for a depth of 0-5 cm (T_soil-5cm) across complex terrain in Turkey using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data at a 500-m resolution. A total of 762 16-day MODIS composites (127 images × 6 bands) between 2000 and 2005 were averaged over a monthly basis to temporally match monthly T_min, T_max, and T_soil-5cm from 83 meteorological stations. A total of 60 (28 temporally averaged plus 32 time series-based) linear regression models of T_min, T_max, and T_soil-5cm were developed using best subsets procedure as a function of a combination of 12 explanatory variables: six MODIS bands of blue, red, near infrared (NIR), middle infrared (MIR), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and enhanced vegetation index (EVI); four geographical variables of latitude, longitude, altitude, and distance to sea (DtS); and two temporal variables of month, and year. The best multiple linear regression models elucidated 65% (RMSE = 5.9 °C), 65% (RMSE = 5.1 °C), and 57% (RMSE = 6.9 °C) of variations in T_min, T_max, and T_soil-5cm, respectively, under a wide range of T_min (−34 to 25 °C), T_max (0.2-47 °C) and T_soil-5cm (−9 to 40 °C) observed at the 83 stations.     

On conditional diagnosability of the folded hypercubes

The n-dimensional folded hypercube FQ_n, a variation of the hypercube proposed by Ahmed et al. [A. El-Amawy, S. Latifi, Properties and performance of folded hypercubes, IEEE Transactions on Parallel and Distributed Systems 2(3) (1991) 31-42], is an (n + 1)-regular (n + 1)-connected graph. Conditional diagnosability, a new measure of diagnosability introduced by Lai et al. [Pao-Lien Lai, Jimmy J.M. Tan, Chien-Ping Chuang, Lih-Hsing Hsu, Conditional diagnosability measures for large multiprocessor systems, IEEE Transactions on Computers 54(2) (2005) 165-175] can better measure the diagnosability of regular interconnection networks. This paper determines that under PMC-model the conditional diagnosability of FQ_n (t_c(FQ_n)) is 4n − 3 when n = 5 or n ? 8; t_c(FQ₃) = 3, t_c(FQ₄) = 7.     

Monitoring turbidity in Tampa Bay using MODIS/Aqua 250-m imagery

We developed an approach to map turbidity in estuaries using a time series (May 2003 to April 2006) of 250-m resolution images from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA's Aqua satellite, using Tampa Bay as a case study. Cross-calibration of the MODIS 250-m data (originally designed for land use) with the well-calibrated MODIS 1-km ocean data showed that the pre-launch radiometric calibration of the 250-m bands was adequate. A simple single scattering atmospheric correction provided reliable retrievals of remote sensing reflectance at 645 nm (0.002 < R_rs(645) < 0.015 sr^− 1, median bias = − 7%, slope = 0.95, intercept = 0.00, r² = 0.97, n = 15). A more rigorous approach, using a multiple scattering atmospheric correction of the cross-calibrated at-sensor radiances, retrieved similar R_rs(645). R_rs(645) estimates, after stringent data quality control, showed a close correlation with in situ turbidity (turbidity = 1203.9 × R_rs(645)^1.087, 0.9 < turbidity < 8.0 NTU, r² = 0.73, n = 43). MODIS turbidity imagery derived using the developed approach showed that turbidity in Hillsborough Bay (HB) was consistently higher than that in other sub-regions except in August and September, when higher concentrations of colored dissolved organic matter seem to have caused underestimates of turbidity. In comparison, turbidity in Middle Tampa Bay (MTB) was generally lowest among the Bay throughout the year. Both Old Tampa Bay (OTB) and Low Tampa Bay (LTB) showed marked seasonal variations with higher turbidity in LTB during the dry season and in OTB during the wet season, respectively. This seasonality is linked to wind-driven bottom resuspension events in lower portion of the Bay and river inputs of sediments in the upper portion of the Bay. The Bay also experiences significant interannual variation in turbidity, which was attributed primarily to changes in wind forcing. Compared with the once-per-month, non-synoptic in situ surveys, synoptic and frequent sampling facilitated by satellite remote sensing provides improved assessments of turbidity patterns and thus a valuable tool for operational monitoring of water quality of estuarine and coastal waters such as in Tampa Bay.