A Study of Factors Affecting Amylose Content of Sorghum Determined by an Automated Method

Several factors affecting the amylose content of sorghum, as determined by an automated iodine-blue complex method, were evaluated. Isolation of starch reduced the optimum solubilization time of the endosperm starch by 36 h. Amylose as % of isolated starch was significantly greater than amylose as % in the endosperm. However, amylose as % of starch in endosperm (“apparent” amylose content) was highly significantly correlated (r = 0.79) with amylose as % of isolated starch (“true” amylose content) that it could be used for screening sorghum in a breeding program. Pericarp and testa colors significantly affected the measurable amylose of unpearled sorghum flour. The environment of growth and maturation of the grain also affected the amylose content of sorghum.     

石英振梁加速度计：一种精密低成本的小型敏感器

当考虑到标度因数精度要求的时候，振梁加速度计是一种很有吸引力的概念。这种概念基于当梁受到因加速度引起的拉力或压力时，振梁谐振频率发生变化。     

Role of Acoustoelectric Interaction in the Formation of Nanoscale Periodic Structures of Adsorbed Atoms

The role of acoustoelectric effects in the formation of nanoscale structures of adatoms, resulting from the self-consistent interaction of adatoms with a surface acoustic wave and the electronic subsystem, is studied for the case of charged and uncharged adatoms. It is shown that an increase in the doping level of a semiconductor with donor impurities at a fixed average adatom concentration results in an increase in the critical temperature below which self-organization processes occur.     

Anomalous thermoelectric power in Hg<Subscript>3</Subscript>In<Subscript>2</Subscript>Te<Subscript>6</Subscript> crystals

Based on data on the Hall coefficient, it is shown that the existence of potential barriers in the region of impurity conductivity of highly compensated Hg₃In₂Te₆ crystals is possible. The role of barriers in the anomalous behavior of transport phenomena is discussed qualitatively. Extremely large values of the thermoelectric power are related to the combination of thermoelectric powers of contact potentials for regions with different concentrations of electrons.     

Main-Chain Nematic Side-Chain Smectic Composite Liquid Crystalline Elastomers

A composite liquid crystalline elastomer is designed, combining main-chain and side-chain mesogenic polymers in the network, and resulting in micro-phase separated regions of nematic and smectic ordering in the macroscopically homogeneous elastomer. A range of different fractions of the components is explored, from fully nematic main-chain system, across to fully smectic side-chain elastomer. Thermal phase transitions of both phases coexisting in the material are detected by calorimetry, and the nematic/smectic structure investigated by X-ray scattering. The tensile stress–strain data reveal the key effect of such a multi-phase composite, where the nematic fraction adds ductility while the smectic fraction increases the modulus and mechanical stiffness. Varying the composition, the authors are able to optimize the mechanical properties of this material type.     

Analysis of the growth dependences of silicon-on-sapphire heteroepitaxy

The formation of nanoislands of two forms (dome-shaped and a truncated dome) is experimentally found during the initial stage of silicon-on-sapphire heteroepitaxy. Atomic-resolution images of the silicon islands on sapphire are obtained by transmission electron microscopy. A model is proposed to explain the instability of the shape of islands and its transition from isotropic to anisotropic and to describe the evolution of average island sizes during growth. It is shown that the height dependence of the island diameter is approximately linear; however, for large island sizes there is a significant discrepancy with the experimental data due to island coalescence, which is disregarded in the model.     

Step-like all-optical decision function using nonlinear polarisation rotation in a Nonlinear Optical Loop Mirror and in a subsequent fibre section with output polarisation selection

We propose and study numerically a fibre-based scheme designed to generate a step-like optical decision function for ultrafast data processing applications. The setup includes two main sections disposed in series: a Nonlinear Optical Loop Mirror with an output polariser on the one hand, and a circularly birefringent fibre span with a quarter wave retarder at the input and a polariser at the output on the other hand. Both sections operate through nonlinear polarisation rotation, and the switching characteristic is controlled through the light ellipticity, which can be adjusted by setting properly the orientation of the input polarisation, and by rotating the wave retarder and the two polarisers. For proper adjustment of these four parameters, a step-like optical decision function with ～10 dB/dB steepness is predicted. In the frame of all-optical regeneration, the setup allows eliminating ～76% peak-to-peak amplitude fluctuations on the marks and ～30% relative power on the spaces. We believe that this architecture should be considered for the design of ultrafast transmission networks and in the frame of all-optical computing applications.     

Intelligent Sensing for Citizen Science

Interest in Citizen Science has grown significantly over the last decade. Much of this interest can be traced to the provision of sophisticated platforms that enable seamless collaboration, cooperation and coordination between professional and amateur scientists. In terms of field research, smart-phones have been widely adopted, automating data collection and enriching observations with photographs, sound recordings and GPS coordinates using embedded sensors hosted on the device itself. Interaction with external sensor platforms such as those normally used in the environmental monitoring domain is practically null-existent. Remedying this deficiency would have positive ramifications for both the professional and citizen science communities. To illustrate the relevant issues, this paper considers a common problem, that of data collection in sparse sensor networks, and proposes a practical solution that would enable citizen scientists act as Human Relays thus facilitating the collection of data from such networks. Broader issues necessary for enabling intelligent sensing using common smart-phones and embedded sensing technologies are then discussed.     

Digital generation of wideband chaotic signal with the comb-shaped spectrum for communication systems based on spectral manipulation

An algorithm for the digital generation of broadband chaotic signal with comb-shaped spectrum has been developed on the basis of nonlinear discrete system with delay. The data transmission method using the spectral manipulation technique with digital generation and processing was experimentally implemented. The results obtained can be utilized in the systems of transmitted data security from unauthorized access.