A low-noise-figure 1.5 μm multiple-quantum-well opticalamplifier

The authors report on the noise characteristics of InGaAs/InGaAsP multiple-quantum-well optical amplifiers operating near 1.5 μm. A noise figure of 4.4 dB is reported, verifying the predicted low-noise properties of quantum-well amplifiers     

Deposition of hydroxyapatite coatings by axial plasma spraying: Influence of feedstock characteristics on coating microstructure,phase content and mechanical properties

Axial plasma spray is one of the thermal spray techniques to deposit multifunctional advanced coatings. The present work explores the use of this process to deposit thin, continuous, and adherent Ca₅ (PO₄)₃OH (hydroxyapatite, HAp) coatings and characterize its microstructure, phases, hardness and adhesion strength. Three different suspension-deposited HAp coatings were investigated and compared with powder-deposited HAp coating on a Ti6Al4V substrate. The effect of mean solute particle size and solid-loading in the suspension has been explored on the evolution of microstructure, phase content and mechanical properties of axial suspension plasma sprayed (ASPS) coatings. Phase-characterization has shown retention of hydroxyapatite phase and coating crystallinity in the deposited coatings, whereas the adhesion strength of the HAp coating decreased from ～40 MPa to ～13 MPa when bioglass was added to the feedstock material. The lower solid load content and lower mean solute particle size in the suspension were found to be beneficial in achieving porous, rougher, and well-adhering coatings. This work concludes that ASPS can potentially deposit thin HAp coatings (< 50 μm) with high adhesion strength.     

Test Case Prioritization in Unit and Integration Testing: A Shuffled-Frog-Leaping Approach

Both unit and integration testing are incredibly crucial for almost any software application because each of them operates a distinct process to examine the product. Due to resource constraints, when software is subjected to modifications, the drastic increase in the count of test cases forces the testers to opt for a test optimization strategy. One such strategy is test case prioritization (TCP). Existing works have propounded various methodologies that re-order the system-level test cases intending to boost either the fault detection capabilities or the coverage efficacy at the earliest. Nonetheless, singularity in objective functions and the lack of dissimilitude among the re-ordered test sequences have degraded the cogency of their approaches. Considering such gaps and scenarios when the meteoric and continuous updations in the software make the intensive unit and integration testing process more fragile, this study has introduced a memetics-inspired methodology for TCP. The proposed structure is first embedded with diverse parameters, and then traditional steps of the shuffled-frog-leaping approach (SFLA) are followed to prioritize the test cases at unit and integration levels. On 5 standard test functions, a comparative analysis is conducted between the established algorithms and the proposed approach, where the latter enhances the coverage rate and fault detection of re-ordered test sets. Investigation results related to the mean average percentage of fault detection (APFD) confirmed that the proposed approach exceeds the memetic, basic multi-walk, PSO, and optimized multi-walk by 21.7%, 13.99%, 12.24%, and 11.51%, respectively.     

Development of microbiologically safe mung bean sprouts using combination treatment of sodium hypochlorite and gamma radiation

Specific group of people, with impaired immune system, are recommended to consume pathogen‐free foods. In this study, microbiologically safe ready‐to‐eat (RTE) mung bean sprouts were developed using combination treatment (CT) with 200 ppm sodium hypochlorite and 12 kGy dose of gamma radiation. Microbiological analysis of combination‐treated sprout samples showed complete elimination (<10 CFU g^?1 of sprouts) of microbial load in these samples, even during storage at 4 °C up to 12 days. Combination treatment and storage period did not have any significant effect on the sensory qualities of RTE mung bean sprouts. However, reduction in the firmness and vitamin C content of combination‐treated sprout samples, similar to other food processing methods, was observed. These results suggest that CT is effective in sterilisation of mung bean sprouts. These sprouts can be included in the diets of special target groups and thereby improve in their quality of life.     

Properties of Noncentral Dirichlet Distributions

Let X₁,…, X_r+1 be independent random variables, X_iGa (a_i, θ, δ_i), i = 1,…, r + 1. Define and V_i = X_i/X_r+1, i = 1,…, r. Then, (U₁,…, U_r) and (V₁,…, V_r) follow noncentral Dirichlet Type 1 and Type 2 distributions, respectively. In this article several properties of these distributions and their connections with the uniform, the noncentral multivariate-F and the noncentral multivariate-t distributions are discussed.     

Frequency tuning and pulse generation in a fiber laser with anintracavity semiconductor active filter

The authors demonstrate optical frequency tuning by direct electrical means as well as FM and AM mode-locking in an erbium-doped fiber laser with an intracavity distributed Bragg reflector active filter/modulator. They obtained a 6 nm discrete tuning range and pulses of 38 and 78 ps duration in AM and FM mode-locking, respectively     

Structured selective coatings

Nickel-impregnated anodized Al₂O₃ films on aluminium substrates were investigated as possible selective coatings for the photothermal conversion of solar energy. A purely chemical dip process for producing these spectrally selective coatings was developed as an alternative to the electrochemical process reported earlier. The process parameters were optimized to give α = 0.92 and ε = 0.19. These coatings are cheap, efficient and durable.X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis investigations were performed at various stages during the formation of these coatings and their structure was determined from the data obtained. The proposed structure agrees with that reported earlier. Maxwell Garnett theory and the concept of the equivalent homogeneous medium were used to determine the theoretical optical properties of these films as a function of (1) the thickness and porosity of the Al₂O₃ layer and (2) the thickness of nickel deposited in the pores. The optimum values of the theoretical parameters are in good agreement with those determined experimentally.     

In vitro model improves the prediction of soil arsenic bioavailability: worst-case scenario

There is a strong interest in developing an in vitro arsenic (As) model that satisfactorily estimates the variability in in vivo relative oral bioavailability (RBA) measurements. Several in vitro tests have been developed, but none is universally accepted due to their limited success in predicting soil As RBA. A suite of amorphous and crystalline solid As phases were chosen, utilizing a worst-case scenario (WCS) that simulated fasting children's gastric solution chemistry. The objectives of this study were to (i) determine the effects of residence time, pH, and solid-to-solution ratio on As bioaccessibility and speciation in the in vitro gastric test; (ii) provide the fundamental basis for an optimized in vitro model constrained by the WCS; and (iii) validate the optimized in vitro test with the in vivo RBA obtained with BALB/c mice. The gastric pH was the only significant (p < 0.05) factor influencing solid As bioaccessibility. Bioaccessible As retained the oxidation state after its release from the solid into the gastric solution. The optimized in vitro model adequately predicted RBA values for a suite of solid As phases typically encountered in soils, with the exception of aluminum-based solids. This study is an excellent starting point for developing an in vitro test applicable to different As-contaminated soils.     

Sol- gel synthesis of Ga2O3 nanorods and effect of precursor chemistry on their structural and morphological properties

Synthesis of mono-crystalline Ga₂O₃ Nanorods was done by sol-gel transformation of gallium(III) isopropoxide (Ga(OPrⁱ)₃). XRD studies were done to determine the planes and crystal structure of synthesized nanorods that showed the synthesis of β-Ga₂O₃(a). TEM studies of synthesized Ga₂O₃ confirmed the synthesis of monocrystalline β-Ga₂O₃ nanorods. To study the effect of precursor chemistry and to determine role of precursor structures on the crystal structure, phase and morphology of the Ga₂O₃, a new modified precursor complex was synthesized. The reaction of Ga(OPrⁱ)₃ with N-phenylsalicylaldimine, [C₆H₄(OH)CH=N(C₆H₅)] in 1:1?M ratio yielded [{(H₅C₆)N?=?CH-C₆H₄O}Ga(OPrⁱ)₂]. The newly synthesized complex was characterized by elemental analyses, molecular weight measurement, FT-IR and NMR (¹H and ¹³C) spectral studies. Spectral studies of the modified complex suggest the presence of bi-dentate mode of attachment of Schiff's base in the solution state. Sol-gel transformations of [{(H₅C₆)N?=?CH-C₆H₄O}Ga(OPrⁱ)₂] in organic medium, yielded γ-Ga₂O₃(b), as found by XRD studies. TEM image of the sample (a) revealed the formation of nano-rods of oxide with average diameter of ~100?nm whereas the TEM image of sample (b) showed presence of nano-sized particles of oxide with average particle size of 10?nm. Morphological and compositional studies of synthesized samples (a) and (b) were carried out using SEM and EDX. The method provides a possibility of large scale synthesis of dissimilar shaped and pure Ga₂O₃ nanoparticles.