Wide-frequency fiber-optic phase modulator using piezoelectricpolymer coating

The highly sensitive response of a fiber-optic phase modulator that is coated with 80-90-μm-thick vinylidene fluoride/trifluoroethylene copolymer on an 80-μm-diameter single-mode fiber and made piezoactive by radial poling is demonstrated over a wide frequency range, from 500 Hz to 50 MHz. In the range of 10 kHz up to 2 MHz, a relatively flat response is measured, whereas at high frequencies between 6 and 50 MHz, the phase modulation exhibits multiple peaks dominated by radial resonances of the fiber-jacket composite. Theoretical considerations on the phase shift and experimental results are given     

Low-loss plastic molded optical multifiber connector for ribbon-to-single fiber fan-out

This paper describes a newly developed low-loss demountable multifiber connector for ribbon-to-single optical fiber fan-out. The connector plugs contain special gathering parts that make a high-density arrangement for monocoated optical fibers. Using a multi-V-grooved mold, the optical fibers are accurately positioned and then a plastic formation process is adopted to form the plug. Plugs are precisely aligned by using two pins. An average connecting loss of 0.07 dB has been achieved in the stationary mode distribution with index matching. The change in connecting loss did not exceed ± 0.03 dB when the connector was subjected to heat cycles in a temperature range of-30-+60degC.     

Stress analysis of a penny-shaped crack locted between two oblate spheroidal cavities in an infinite solid

The problem of a penny-shaped crack located between two oblate spheroidal cavities in an infinite solid subjected to uniaxial loads is considered. Using transformations between harmonic functions in cylindrical coordinates and those in oblate spheroidal ones, the problem is reduced to non-homogeneous linear equations. The obtained equations are solved numerically and the stress intensity factors at the penny-shaped crack tip under the influence of the two oblate spheroidal cavities are shown graphically.     

Visualization of progressive breakdown evolution in gate dielectric by conductive atomic force microscopy

To understand the breakdown (BD) mechanism in gate oxide of MOSFET, BD evolution is investigated by a conductive atomic force microscope. High electric fields of both polarities are applied to induce a pre-BD degradation and a BD transient. Structural hillocks and negative charges are simultaneously observed at both pre- and post-BD stages. The hillocks show stress-polarity dependence, and the height increases with BD evolution. A flat-band shift caused by negative charges does not depend on stress polarity. Lateral size of the hillocks and the electrical degradation remains similar throughout the BD evolution. Progressive structural evolution of dielectric BD is confirmed, where polarity-dependent Si deformation plays an important role.     

Adsorption of nitrate onto nitrogen-doped activated carbon fibers prepared by chemical vapor deposition

Nitrogen-doped activated carbon fibers (ACFs) were prepared by chemical vapor deposition using melamine powder and acetonitrile for introducing quaternary nitrogen on the commercial ACFs, subsequently heated at 950 °C and activated by steam. Adsorption experiments of nitrate in aqueous solution were also conducted to evaluate adsorption capacity of the prepared ACFs using ion chromatography. The amount of introduced nitrogen content and nitrogen species on activated carbon fibers was examined by CHN elemental analyzer and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, respectively. As a result, adsorption capacity of quaternary nitrogen-doped ACF (ST-ML-AN-ST) was 0.75 mmol/g, indicating ca. two-times higher than that of untreated ACF (0.38 mmol/g). According to the adsorption data, the Langmuir isotherm model was the best fit. The prepared samples were also regenerated using hydrochloric acid. After regeneration, the adsorption capacity of the nitrogen-doped ACF (ST-ML-AN-ST) showed ca. 80% on average, implying that a portion of nitrates was adsorbed on the prepared ACFs irreversibly.     

Seasonal change in the level and the chemical forms of aluminum in soil solution under a Japanese cedar forest

The level of dissolved aluminum and its chemical forms in soil solutions consecutively collected by a porous cup vacuum sampler were monitored over a period from January 2001 to December 2001 at a Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) forestry area susceptible to acid deposition to characterize current soil dynamics and to evaluate potential tree damages. Distinction and characterization of Al species with differential toxicities were performed by two complementary speciation techniques; cation-exchange HPLC with fluorometric detection using 8-hydroxyquinoline-5-sulfonic acid (HQS) and size-fractionation/inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The concentrations of free Al (mainly Al3+ and Al(OH)2+) and inert Al (existing as the complexed and/or colloidal forms) ranged between 0-150 microM and 10-50 microM, respectively. The concentrations of inert Al were mostly below 40 microM during an annual cycle and showed no marked seasonal variation, while free Al concentrations showed a clear tendency to increase in the spring and summer seasons (in the period from April to August) probably due to the enhanced activity of microbial nitrification and the resultant soil acidification. Major cations and anions were also regularly determined and their seasonal changes were correlated with that of the dissolved Al concentration. Correlations between total Al (mainly existing as free Al) and the related species (and environmental conditions) were as follows: Al and Mg (R=0.96, P<0.01), Al and Ca (R=0.97, P<0.01), Al and NO3- (R=0.68, P<0.01), Al and temperature (R=0.68, P<0.01), Al and solution pH (R=-0.61, P<0.01), solution pH and NO3- (R=-0.65, P<0.01).     

Modifying glucose release from high carbohydrate foods with natural polymers extracted from cereals

BACKGROUND: Sustained elevated blood glucose and insulin levels are linked to many health problems that may be prevented or better managed by controlling glucose availability for uptake. Glucose release from consumed starch may be altered by the processing conditions, particle size and structural features of the food, and by the addition of dietary fibres. Many approaches to lower glucose release are not suitable for all high carbohydrate foods, especially bakery products. Methods to modulate the starch digestion without compromising product quality are required. This study describes an approach to protect the granules and alter the particle size of the starch component using an extract from barley (BE). Wheat starch was suspended in the BE at different ratios and cast dried, milled to 2–3 mm particles, or finely ground to produce different particle sizes. RESULTS: The BE treatments resulted in the formation of clusters of starch granules embedded in a matrix of fibres and protein. The rate of in vitro starch digestion was decreased, and further reduction occurred when the particle size of the starch material increased. CONCLUSION: The extract provided a physical barrier that limited the starch exposure to the digestion enzymes and water that led to reduction in starch digestion and the release of glucose Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Size distribution measurement of floating particles in the Allen region by a buoyancy weighing-bar method

The particle size distributions of spherical or cylindrical solid particles in the Allen region were measured using a buoyancy weighing-bar method. The particle size distribution obtained in the buoyancy weighing-bar method agrees with those measured by a laser diffraction/scattering method and a sieving method. The present study demonstrates that a buoyancy weighing-bar method is suitable for measuring the particle size distribution of a floating solid in the Allen region.     

Enhanced antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis by chimeric monoclonal antibodies with tandemly repeated Fc domains

We previously reported that chimeric monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with tandemly repeated Fc domains, which were developed by introducing tandem repeats of Fc domains downstream of 2 Fab domains, augmented binding avidities for all Fcγ receptors, resulting in enhanced antibody (Ab)-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. Here we investigated regarding Ab-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) mediated by these chimeric mAbs, which is considered one of the most important mechanisms that kills tumor cells, using two-color flow cytometric methods. ADCP mediated by T3-Ab, a chimeric mAb with 3 tandemly repeated Fc domains, was 5 times more potent than that by native anti-CD20 M-Ab (M-Ab hereafter). Furthermore, T3-Ab-mediated ADCP was resistant to competitive inhibition by intravenous Ig (IVIG), although M-Ab-mediated ADCP decreased in the presence of IVIG. An Fcγ receptor-blocking study demonstrated that T3-Ab mediated ADCP via both FcγRIA and FcγRIIA, whereas M-Ab mediated ADCP exclusively via FcγRIA. These results suggest that chimeric mAbs with tandemly repeated Fc domains enhance ADCP as well as ADCC, and that Fc multimerization may significantly enhance the efficacy of therapeutic Abs.     

Inhibitory effect of anthraquinones isolated from the Noni (Morinda citrifolia) root on animal A-, B- and Y-families of DNA polymerases and human cancer cell proliferation

During the course of our studies to develop new uses for the Noni (Morinda citrifolia) root, 10 anthraquinones, rubiadin (1), rubiadin 1-methyl ether (2), lucidin (3), damnacanthol (4), 1,3-dihydroxy-2-methoxymethylanthraquinone (5), 3-hydroxy-1-methoxy-2-methoxymethylanthraquinone (6), nordamnacanthal (7), damnacanthal (8), sorandidiol (9) and morindone (10), were isolated. Compounds 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10 exhibited remarkable inhibition against the activities of animal pols, and compound 10 was the strongest inhibitor in the anthraquinones investigated. Among mammalian pols, compound 10 inhibited the pol activities of A- (pol γ), B- (pols α, δ and ε) and Y- (pols η, ι and κ) families, but did not influence the activities of X-family pols (pols β, λ and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase). The tendency of pol inhibition showed a positive correlation with the suppression of human colon cancer cell HCT116 growth. These results suggested that the Noni root containing anthraquinones may be used as an anticancer functional food.