A nickel hexacyanoferrate and poly(1-naphthol) hybrid film modified electrode used in the selective electroanalysis of dopamine

A mixed-valent nickel hexacyanoferrate and poly(1-naphthol) hybrid (NiHCF–PNH) film was prepared on a gold (Au) electrode by a galvanostatic method, which led to stable and homogeneous hybrid film. The film was characterized using scanning electronic microscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. This electrode showed excellent catalytic properties toward dopamine (DA) detection, using cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry methods. The electrocatalytic oxidations of DA at different electrodes, such as a bare Au electrode or a poly(1-naphthol)/Au-, or NiHCF–PNH/Au-modified electrode, were investigated in a phosphate buffer solution (pH 7). Interestingly, the NiHCF–PNH-modified electrode facilitated the oxidation of DA, but it did not responded to other electroactive biomolecules, such as ascorbic acid and uric acid_. The DA electrochemical sensor exhibited a linear response from 0.1 to 4.3 μM (R² = 0.9984) and from 4.3 to 9.6 μM (R² = 0.9969), with a detection limit of 2.1 × 10^?8 M, and a short response time (3 s) for DA determination. In addition, the NiHCF–PNH-modified electrode exhibited distinct advantages by its simple preparation, specificity, and stability.     

Improved analysis of the intermodulation performance of ferroelectric thin-film and bulk-based varactors

In this paper, Fourier cosine series are proposed for representing the hard nonlinear dependence of the permittivity and conductance of a ferroelectric material on the DC bias voltage. Using these Fourier series representations closed-form expressions are obtained for the amplitudes of the fundamental and third-order intermodulation products generated when a exposing ferroelectric-based varactor to a DC bias voltage plus an equal-amplitude two-sinusoids signal. The results clearly show the strong and complicated dependence of the third-order intermodulation performance on the DC bias voltage, the temperature and the amplitude of the sinusoid. The results obtained suggest that the DC bias voltage and/or the temperature play an important role in deciding the nonlinear performance of the ferroelectric-based varactors.     

Comment on ‘Discussion on Barkhausen and Nyquist stability criteria’

This comment is related to the recently published article entitled “On ‘Discussion on Barkhausen and Nyquist stability criteria’, Analog Integrated circuits and signal processing, Vol. 70, pp. 443–449, 2012. In this article the authors considered one of the possible four alternatives of the Wien-bridge oscillator that was previously considered in the article entitled “Discussion on Barkhausen and Nyquist stability criteria”, Analog Integrated Circuits and Signal Processing, Vol. 62, pp. 327–332, 2010, which depicts the failure of Barkhausen criterion concerning the determination of the condition of oscillation startup of sinusoidal oscillation. In the above mentioned articles the operational amplifier used is assumed ideal. In this comment it will be shown that the Wien-bridge oscillator circuit used in the above mentioned articles can behave as a sinusoidal oscillator only at relatively high frequencies when the operational amplifier can be considered non-ideal. At relatively low frequencies; when the operational amplifier can be considered ideal, the same circuit behaves as a relaxation oscillator with a square wave output rather than a sinusoidal output.     

New two CFOA-based sinusoidal RC oscillators with buffered outlet

Using a unified representation for a class of buffered-outlet two current-feedback operational amplifier (CFOAs)-based sinusoidal oscillators, new circuits of this type can be systematically discovered. A catalogue of four circuit structures, each structure realizing nine oscillator circuits, is presented. Moreover, using the RC:CR transformation, additional nine oscillator circuits can be obtained from each structure. While each circuit requires five passive elements, some of the circuits enjoy one or more of the following attractive features: use of grounded capacitors, feasibility of absorbing the parasitic components of the CFOAs and orthogonal tuning of the frequency and the startup condition of oscillation.     

Synthesis,characterization, and supercapacitor studies of manganese (IV) oxide nanowires

One-dimensional manganese (IV) oxide (MnO₂) (～20 nm in average diameter) were synthesized by cathodic electrodeposition and heat treatment. The mechanism of electrodeposition and nanowire formation were discussed. The product was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR). Nanowires with varying lengths and diameters were found in TEM and SEM images of the sample. The results of N₂ adsorption–desorption analysis indicated that the BET surface area of the MnO₂ nanowires was 157 m² g^?1 and the pore size distributions were 2.5 and 4.5 nm. The electrochemical performances of the prepared MnO₂ as an electrode material for supercapacitors were evaluated by cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge/discharge measurements in a solution of 0.5 M Na₂SO₄. The higher specific capacitance of 318 F g^?1 and good capacity retention of 86% were achieved after 1000 charge–discharge cycles had been observed for the MnO₂ nanowires electrode.     

Flavor Release from a Banana Soft Drink Complex Model System: Evaluation of the Efficiency of Different Adsorbents for Trapping the Released Volatiles During Storage

The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the release of aroma compounds from a banana soft drink complex model system in comparison with their release from simple model systems, each contains individual food ingredients. The effect of different food ingredients (sweeteners and thickeners at different concentrations), used in formulation of the soft drinks, on flavor release from simple model systems containing banana flavor was evaluated separately. The optimum release of isoamyl acetate (the most potent odorant of banana aroma) was observed at a concentration of 10% of each investigated sweetener (sucrose, glucose, and corn syrup). Pectin and xanthane showed the highest release at a concentration of 2.5 and 0.8% w/w, respectively. The level of each ingredient that showed the optimum release of isoamyl acetate was selected and used in formulation of a banana soft drink complex model system. The released volatiles were trapped by tenax and activated carbon. The gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis revealed a gradual decrease (p < 0.05) in the volatile compounds release from the complex banana soft drink model system during storage for 90 days. However, the total content of the volatiles adsorbed by activated carbon trap was higher than that trapped by tenax. The percentage of isoamyl acetate to total volatiles (isoamyl acetate/total volatiles %) was calculated for each sample during storage. A distinct linear correlation was found between the calculated values and storage time (r = 0.97 and 0.92 for volatiles trapped by tenax and activated carbon, respectively). Sample stored for 60 days showed the highest value. These findings confirmed the results of aroma sensory evaluation.     

Large-signal analysis of CMOS analogue functional elements using Fourier-series approximations

This paper discusses the large signal performance of CMOS analogue-functional elements. Fourier-series approximations are obtained for the transfer functions of the basic building blocks such as the linear CMOS transconductance element and the CMOS full-wave rectifier. Using these Fourier-series approximations, simple closed-form analytical expressions are obtained for the amplitudes of the harmonics at the output of a basic building block excited by a sinusoidal input signal. The analysis shows that, while the performance of the basic building blocks is near ideal at relatively small input amplitudes, performance degradation increases as the input amplitudes increase. On the other hand, since these expressions ignore the distortion mechanisms resulting from body effect and channel-length modulation, they cannot reliably predict the performance at small input signal levels. It appears, therefore, that body-effect and channel-length modulation must be taken into consideration for small-signal analysis.     

Large signal analysis of mixers with difference frequency injection

Large signal analysis of mixers excited by three tone signals is presented. The special case of two equal-amplitude sinusoids plus a difference-frequency injection is considered in detail and the results are compared, whenever possible, with previously published results. Contrary to previously published results, it is shown that even under large signal conditions and strong nonlinearity it is possible, at least in theory, to totally eliminate the third-order intermodulation when the amplitudes of the equal-amplitudes input sinusoids and the difference-frequency injection are equal.     

An improved approximation to the microstrip line capacitance

A new empirical formula is presented for the normalised capacitance of microstrip lines. The formula uses a single equation to represent the microstrip line capacitance over the useful range of the aspect ratio. The maximum error of the new formula is contained within 0.8 percent and the relative root-mean-square error is contained within 0.55 percent. The new formula can be easily implemented in computeraided design and analysis as well as in hand calculations using pocket calculators.     

Harmonic and intermodulation generation in quantum-well diodes

A Fourier-series model describing the current-voltage characteristic of a quantum-well diode (QWD) is presented. Using this model, closed-form expressions are obtained for the harmonic and intermodulation performance of a QWD excited by a multisinusoidal voltage superimposed on a dc voltage.