An apparatus for immersing trapped ions into an ultracold gas of neutral atoms

We describe a hybrid vacuum system in which a single ion or a well-defined small number of trapped ions (in our case Ba(+) or Rb(+)) can be immersed into a cloud of ultracold neutral atoms (in our case Rb). This apparatus allows for the study of collisions and interactions between atoms and ions in the ultracold regime. Our setup is a combination of a Bose-Einstein condensation apparatus and a linear Paul trap. The main design feature of the apparatus is to first separate the production locations for the ion and the ultracold atoms and then to bring the two species together. This scheme has advantages in terms of stability and available access to the region where the atom-ion collision experiments are carried out. The ion and the atoms are brought together using a moving one-dimensional optical lattice transport which vertically lifts the atomic sample over a distance of 30 cm from its production chamber into the center of the Paul trap in another chamber. We present techniques to detect and control the relative position between the ion and the atom cloud.     

Nanostructural investigation of frontalis sling biomaterial surfaces

This study examined the nanostructural surface of three frontalis sling biomaterials: autogenous fascia lata, preserved fascia lata and silicone rod. The morphological characteristics of the sling biomaterial surfaces were examined qualitatively and quantitatively by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy, respectively. The autogenous fascia lata showed well‐arranged nanostructures of parallel fascia collagen fibrils with clear 67 nm axial periodicity, whereas the preserved fascia lata showed tangled nanostructures of damaged collagen fibril bundles. The silicone rod showed a substantial amount of debris with some scratches and the smoothest roughness compared with the other sling biomaterials, followed by preserved fascia lata. Autogenous fascia lata showed the highest surface roughness. The association between the roughness and cell adhesion suggests that the nanostructure of autogenous fascia lata biomaterials is the best for frontalis sling and that of the silicone rod biomaterials is the worst. SCANNING 33:419–425, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Laser mass-spectrometry for online diagnosis of reactive plasmas with many species

The purpose of this study is to design a diagnostic system for reactive plasma environment by combining molecular-beam time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectroscopy with laser spectroscopy technique. The combination of TOF mass spectrometers and pulsed lasers is favorable in the diagnosis of intermediate species distribution since they allow the simultaneous but separate recording of the spectra of different species. In the plasma system, the intermediate species in electronic ground state or low lying excited state is pumped to higher energy level with resonant laser excitation, and then, the ionization with a second laser system is possible which can readily be detected by the TOF analyzer. The ionization itself is only used as a detection mechanism for the observation of the excitation of these states. In this manner, the population distribution of intermediate species can be determined with state-selective and mass-selective feature. Also, in this article, a flexible data acquisition and automatic control system based on LABVIEW was designed to integrate all the stand-alone measurement instruments including a TOF spectrometer, a laser system, a high performance oscilloscope, and a digital delay generator into a single personal computer-based control unit. Moreover, a virtual Boxcar integrator with hundreds of channels has been developed to enhance the signal while filtering out the random noises. Finally, the many potentials of this technique in the application of plasma diagnosis will be discussed.     

The effect of amorphous carbon layer on the field emission characteristics of carbon nanotube film

Carbon nanotube (CNT) has excellent field emission characteristics and could play as a good cold cathode in the application of vacuum electronic devices. However, the practical application faces a big obstacle regarding current fluctuation and deterioration of the CNT cathode. In this research, the formation of amorphous carbon (ac) layer between the CNT film and the substrate, and the effect of the existence of this layer on field emission stability of the CNT film are studied. The formation of the ac layer could be controlled by adjustment of growth temperature and hydrocarbon flow rate. The field emission character and current stability of the CNT film without ac layer are better than those of the CNT film with ac layer. The results attribute to the ac layer a thermal disequilibrium state under high current level. Moreover, adhesion capacity of the CNT film without ac layer is also better than that with the ac layer. It is concluded that the ac layer between the CNT film and substrate is a key factor in the stability of field emission characteristics and should be eliminated before applications.     

Activation of large ions in FT-ICR mass spectrometry

The advent of soft ionization techniques, notably electrospray and laser desorption ionization methods, has enabled the extension of mass spectrometric methods to large molecules and molecular complexes. This both greatly extends the applications of mass spectrometry and makes the activation and dissociation of complex ions an integral part of these applications. This review emphasizes the most promising methods for activation and dissociation of complex ions and presents this discussion in the context of general knowledge of reaction kinetics and dynamics largely established for small ions. We then introduce the characteristic differences associated with the higher number of internal degrees of freedom and high density of states associated with molecular complexity. This is reflected primarily in the kinetics of unimolecular dissociation of complex ions, particularly their slow decay and the higher energy content required to induce decomposition--the kinetic shift (KS). The longer trapping time of Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) significantly reduces the KS, which presents several advantages over other methods for the investigation of dissociation of complex molecules. After discussing general principles of reaction dynamics related to collisional activation of ions, we describe conventional ways to achieve single- and multiple-collision activation in FT-ICR MS. Sustained off-resonance irradiation (SORI)--the simplest and most robust means of introducing the multiple collision activation process--is discussed in greatest detail. Details of implementation of this technique, required control of experimental parameters, limitations, and examples of very successful application of SORI-CID are described. The advantages of high mass resolving power and the ability to carry out several stages of mass selection and activation intrinsic to FT-ICR MS are demonstrated in several examples. Photodissociation of ions from small molecules can be effected using IR or UV/vis lasers and generally requires tuning lasers to specific wavelengths and/or utilizing high flux, multiphoton excitation to match energy levels in the ion. Photodissociation of complex ions is much easier to accomplish from the basic physics perspective. The quasi-continuum of vibrational states at room temperature makes it very easy to pump relatively large amounts of energy into complex ions and infrared multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD) is a powerful technique for characterizing large ions, particularly biologically relevant molecules. Since both SORI-CID and IRMPD are slow activation methods they have many common characteristics. They are also distinctly different because SORI-CID is intrinsically selective (only ions that have a cyclotron frequency close to the frequency of the excitation field are excited), whereas IRMPD is not (all ions that reside on the optical path of the laser are excited). There are advantages and disadvantages to each technique and in many applications they complement each other. In contrast with these slow activation methods, the less widely appreciated activation method of surface induced dissociation (SID) appears to offer unique advantages because excitation in SID occurs on a sub-picosecond time scale, instantaneously relative to the observation time of any mass spectrometer. Internal energy deposition is quite efficient and readily adjusted by altering the kinetic energy of the impacting ion. The shattering transition--instantaneous decomposition of the ion on the surface--observed at high collision energies enables access to dissociation channels that are not accessible using SORI-CID or IRMPD. Finally, we discuss some approaches for tailoring the surface to achieve particular aims in SID.     

Sensilla and secretory glands in the antennae of a primitive ant: Dinoponera lucida (Formicidae: Ponerinae)

Morphology of the antennae of the female workers of the ponerine ant Dinoponera lucida was examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. In several antennomers, we found secretory gland cells of class I and III. Class III gland cells release their secretion through single pores in the antennal surface, whereas class I secretory cells are seen as tall epidermal cells close to the cuticle. Both gland types have weak reaction for total proteins and neutral polysaccharides. Six distinct sensilla types were observed: trichodea, chaetica, campaniform, basiconica, placodea, and coeloconica. The possible sensory functions of these sensilla and the gland functions are discussed.     

Integrated contour detection and pose estimation for fluoroscopic analysis of knee implants

With fluoroscopic analysis of knee implant kinematics the implant contour must be detected in each image frame, followed by estimation of the implant pose. With a large number of possibly low-quality images, the contour detection is a time-consuming bottleneck. The present paper proposes an automated contour detection method, which is integrated in the pose estimation. In a phantom experiment the automated method was compared with a standard method, which uses manual selection of correct contour parts. Both methods demonstrated comparable precision, with a minor difference in the Y-position (0.08 mm versus 0.06 mm). The precision of each method was so small (below 0.2 mm and 0.3 degrees) that both are sufficiently accurate for clinical research purposes. The efficiency of both methods was assessed on six clinical datasets. With the automated method the observer spent 1.5 min per image, significantly less than 3.9 min with the standard method. A Bland-Altman analysis between the methods demonstrated no discernible trends in the relative femoral poses. The threefold increase in efficiency demonstrates that a pose estimation approach with integrated contour detection is more intuitive than a standard method. It eliminates most of the manual work in fluoroscopic analysis, with sufficient precision for clinical research purposes.     

The flexible Ca-test: an improved performance in a gas permeability measurement system

A flexible performance permeability measuring test for flexible organic light-emitting diodes is described in this paper. A single thin film layer of gas barriers is constructed on polyethersulfone (PES). The barrier coats the upper and lower surfaces of the PES layer. Two PES samples, one coated with Al(2)O(3) on both surfaces and the other coated on a single surface, were made for comparison. According to this test, the time-dependent transmission curve of the one sided barrier sample had a linear slope which measured 1.65 g∕m(2)∕day at room temperature at a 50% relative humidity. This result shows that the measurement time is about 182% faster than has been achieved with the conventional test structure that uses a glass substrate. In addition, this measurement structure not only reduces the inevitable electrical noise which occurs during measurement but also increases the water vapor permeation signal. These effects improve the sensing reliability of the test. In addition, this structure is flexible, so one can instantly detect barrier performance changes when applying external stress.     

Photochemical oxidation of As(III) by vacuum-UV lamp irradiation

In this study, vacuum-UV (VUV) lamp irradiation emitting both 185 and 254 nm lights has been investigated as a new oxidation method for As(III). Laboratory scale experiments were conducted with a batch reactor and a commercial VUV lamp. Under the experimental conditions of this study, the employed VUV lamp showed a higher performance for As(III) oxidation compared to other photochemical oxidation methods (UV-C/H(2)O(2), UV-A/Fe(III)/H(2)O(2), and UV-A/TiO2). The VUV lamp oxidized 100 microM As(III) almost completely in 10 min, and the reaction occurred mainly due to OH radicals which were produced by photo-splitting of water (H(2)O+hv (lambda=185 nm)-->OH.+H.). There was a little possibility that photo-generated H(2)O(2) acted as a minor oxidant of As(III) at alkaline pHs. The effects of Fe(III), H(2)O(2), and humic acid (HA) on the As(III) oxidation by VUV lamp irradiation were investigated. While Fe(III) and H(2)O(2) increased the As(III) oxidation efficiency, HA did not cause a significant effect. The employed VUV lamp was effective for oxidizing As(III) not only in a Milli-Q water but also in a real natural water, without significant decrease in the oxidation efficiency. Since the formed As(V) should be removed from water, activated alumina (AA) was added as an adsorbent during the As(III) oxidation by VUV lamp irradiation. The combined use of VUV lamp irradiation and AA was much more effective for the removal of total arsenic (As(tot)=As(III)+As(V)) than the single use of AA. The As(tot) removal seemed to occur as a result of the pre-oxidation of As(III) and the subsequent adsorption of As(V) on AA. Alternatively, the combination of VUV lamp irradiation and coagulation/precipitation with FeCl(3) was also an effective removal strategy for As(tot). This study shows that vacuum-UV (VUV) lamp irradiation emitting both 185 and 254 nm lights is a powerful and environmentally friendly method for As(III) oxidation which does not require additional oxidants or catalysts. The As(III) oxidation by VUV lamp irradiation was tested not only in a batch reactor but also in a flow-through quartz reactor. The As(III) oxidation rate became much faster in the latter reactor.     

Mobile arsenic species in unpolluted and polluted soils

The fate and behaviour of total arsenic (As) and of As species in soils is of concern for the quality of drinking water. To estimate the relevance of organic As species and the mobility of different As species, we evaluated the vertical distribution of organic and inorganic As species in two uncontaminated and two contaminated upland soils. Dimethylarsinic acid (up to 6 ng As g(-1)), trimethylarsine oxide (up to 1.5 ng As g(-1)), 4 unidentified organic As species (up to 3 ng As g(-1)) and arsenobetaine (up to 15 ng As g(-1)), were detected in the forest soils. Arsenobetaine was the dominant organic As species in both unpolluted and polluted forest soils. No organic As species were detected in the contaminated grassland soil. The organic As species may account for up to 30% of the mobile fraction in the unpolluted forest floor, but never exceed 9% in the unpolluted mineral soil. Highest concentrations of organic As species were found in the forest floors. The concentrations of extractable arsenite were highest in the surface horizons of all soils and may represent up to 36% of total extractable As. The concentrations of extractable arsenate were also highest in the Oa layers in the forest soils and decreased steeply in the mineral soil. In conclusion, the investigated forest soils contain a number of organic As species. The organic As species in forest soils seem to result from throughfall and litterfall and are retained mostly in the forest floor. The relative high concentrations of extractable arsenite, one of the most toxic As species, and arsenate in the forest floor point to the risk of their transfer to surface water by superficial flow under heavy rain events.