Optimization of displacement-measuring quadrature interferometers considering the real properties of optical components

We present the influence of alignment and the real properties of optical components on the performance of a two-detector homodyne displacement-measuring quadrature laser interferometer. An experimental method, based on the optimization of visibility and sensitivity, was established and theoretically described to assess the performance and stability of the interferometer. We show that the optimal performance of such interferometers is achieved with the iterative alignment procedure described.     

Application of wirk elements for the synthesis of alternative conceptual solutions

With the aim of synthesizing technical systems by using physical laws, an engineering designer proceeds from the fact that a great majority of physical laws includes variables and constants, which describe the essential geometry needed for their realization. For each physical law, a complementary basic scheme is chosen. The method presented in the article is based on the premise that if it is possible to describe a technical system with a physical law or a chain of physical laws, then it should also be possible to set up its basic geometry from a complementary basic scheme or from a chain of complementary basic schemata. The method enables a partially automatic approach to the elementary embodiment process and also provides support for elementary embodiment design.     

Design and implementation of domain-specific language easytime

Measuring time in mass sporting competitions is, typically, performed with a timing system that consists of a measuring technology and a computer system. The first is dedicated to tracking events that are triggered by competitors and registered by measuring devices (primarily based on RFID technology). The latter enables the processing of these events. In this paper, the processing of events is performed by an agent that is controlled by the domain-specific language, EasyTime. EasyTime improves the flexibility of the timing system because it supports the measuring of time in various sporting competitions, their quick adaptation to the demands of new sporting competitions and a reduction in the number of measuring devices. Essentially, we are focused on the development of a domain specific language. In practice, we made two case studies of using EasyTime by measuring time in two different sporting competitions. The use of EasyTime showed that it can be useful for sports clubs and competition organizers by aiding in the results of smaller sporting competitions, while in larger sporting competitions it could simplify the configuration of the timing system.     

Chemical Composition and Mechanical Characteristic of Nitrogen Ion Beam Mixed Carbon Nanolayer

Ion beam methods for modification of nanohardness of surface nanolayers of the titanium alloy Ti6AI4V were applied. After deposition of carbon nanolayers by electron beam evaporation, the ion implantation of nitrogen into samples was carried out. The chemical composition of the modified surface area was investigated by AES （auger electron spectroscopy）. The nanohardness of resulted ion beam modified surface nanolayers were investigated by nanoindentation testing. The measured concentration profiles indicate the atomic mixing of carbon into the substrate. It was found that the modified samples had a markedly higher nanohardness than the unmodified samples. The increased nanohardness is attributed to the newly created phases in the surface area.     

In vivo antioxidant potential of Sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) wood extract in young growing pigs exposed to n-3 PUFA-induced oxidative stress

BACKGROUND: Farm animals in intensive farming systems are frequently exposed to oxidative stress, which demands adequate antioxidant protection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant potential of different concentrations of Sweet chestnut wood extract (SCW; 0.75, 1.5 and 3 g kg^?1) in case of n‐3 PUFA‐induced oxidative stress in young pigs. RESULTS: The highest concentration (3 g kg^?1) of SCW decreased malondialdehyde excretion in urine by 31.7%, but had no effect on plasma malondialdehyde. A linear trend towards decrease of urine isoprostanes iPF_2α‐VI was observed with the addition of SCW. All three concentrations of SCW efficiently protected blood lymphocytes from DNA damage and lowered plasma alanine aminotransferase levels. The antioxidative and antigenotoxic effect of 3 g SCW kg^?1 feed was comparable to the effect of 90.4 mg kg^?1 of added vitamin E. CONCLUSION: The results from this study show that, besides being known as antihelmintic, antimicrobial and antiviral agent, Sweet chestnut wood extract could also be considered as a promising natural antioxidant in animal nutrition. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Temperature Stable Dielectric Behavior of Sol–Gel Derived Compositionally Graded SrTiO3/Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3/SrTiO3 Thin Films

Polycrystalline sol–gel‐derived SrTiO₃/Na_0.5Bi_0.5TiO₃/SrTiO₃ (ST/NBT/ST) thin films were designed to achieve the electrical isolation of the NBT, and to mediate the temperature dependency of the dielectric properties. Proper thermal annealing of particulate phase enabled us to achieve compositionally graded elemental profiles between individual ST and NBT layers. The dielectric and ferroelectric properties were investigated with respect to the electrical behavior of the monophasic ST and NBT thin films. The dielectric characteristics of the multilayer thin film were marked by a temperature stable behavior (temperature coefficient of dielectric constant of 780 ppm/°C) in the measured ?50°C to 200°C range, frequency‐independent response at room temperature and improved dielectric loss characteristics compared with the NBT; however, on the expense of decreased permittivity and a reduced ferroelectric stability. Nevertheless, stable dielectric properties were achieved and properties of multilayer may well be exploited in functional devices that demand insensitive operation over wide temperature and frequency ranges.     

Influence of alumina addition on characteristics of cubic zirconia

Abstracts are not published in this journal This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Self-Targeting of Carbon Dots into the Cell Nucleus: Diverse Mechanisms of Toxicity in NIH/3T3 and L929 Cells

It is important to understand the nanomaterials intracellular trafficking and distribution and investigate their targeting into the nuclear area in the living cells. In our previous study, we firstly observed penetration of nonmodified positively charged carbon dots decorated with quaternary ammonium groups (QCDs) into the nucleus of mouse NIH/3T3 fibroblasts. Thus, in this work, we focused on deeper study of QCDs distribution inside two healthy mouse NIH/3T3 and L929 cell lines by fluorescence microspectroscopy and performed a comprehensive cytotoxic and DNA damage measurements. Real-time penetration of QCDs across the plasma cell membrane was recorded, concentration dependent uptake was determined and endocytic pathways were characterized. We found out that the QCDs concentration of 200 µg/mL is close to saturation and subsequently, NIH/3T3 had a different cell cycle profile, however, no significant changes in viability (not even in the case with QCDs in the nuclei) and DNA damage. In the case of L929, the presence of QCDs in the nucleus evoked a cellular death. Intranuclear environment of NIH/3T3 cells affected fluorescent properties of QCDs and evoked fluorescence blue shifts. Studying the intracellular interactions with CDs is essential for development of future applications such as DNA sensing, because CDs as DNA probes have not yet been developed.     

Positioning of the reaction zone for gas–liquid reactions in catalytic membrane reactor by coupling results of mass transport and chemical reaction study

The location of the reaction zone in the catalytic membrane contactor was determined for two-phase reaction system. As a model reaction oxidation of formic acid by Pt catalyst deposited in the ceramic membrane filtration layer was used. It was determined from gas–liquid mass transport experiments that at gas side overpressures from 0.5 to 0.9 bar the liquid was displaced from membrane support layer and that the tortuosity factor of membrane filtration layer is 3.1. It was estimated on the basis of CO₂ fluxes that the reaction zone is close to gas–liquid interface and that the locus of the reaction zone matches with O₂ penetration depth calculated on the basis of formic acid disappearance rate. It was also shown that partition coefficient of formic acid in the membrane filtration layer is higher than 1, otherwise formic acid could not migrate to the reaction zone. Only a small fraction of the catalyst was involved in the reaction. The apparent activation energy was estimated to be around 44 kJ/mol.