Influence of Ho-Doping on the Electromagnetic Field-Dependent $E$–$J$ Characteristics of (Bi,Pb)-2212 Superconductor

The magnetic field (B ) dependence of electric field versus transport current density (E-J characteristics) of Bi_1.6Pb_0.5Sr_2-xHo_xCa_1.1Cu_2.1O_8+delta superconductor was studied for x from 0.000 to 0.200. The behavior of supercurrent flow under magnetic fields in Ho-doped (Bi,Pb)-2212 is explained using thermally activated flux-creep. The n -value and characteristic pinning energy ( U_c) estimated from E-J characteristics show that at applied fields, the flux-lines in Ho-doped samples are in the glass-state. A correlation is observed between n -index and J_c of doped samples. The highly enhanced critical current density (J_c) and n-index in both self- and applied-fields due to Ho-doping is of great scientific and technological significance.     

In vivo association of CD5 with tyrosine-phosphorylated ZAP-70 and p21 phospho-zeta molecules in human CD3+ thymocytes

CD5 is a 67-kDa T cell surface Ag that can be found physically associated with the CD3-TCR molecular complex. In different experimental models it has been shown to act as a costimulatory receptor for T cell activation. Unexpectedly, studies in CD5-deficient mice suggested a negative role for the CD5 Ag in CD3-TCR signaling in the thymus. In this report we assessed the constitutive interactions of CD5 in freshly isolated human thymocytes with signaling elements of the CD3-TCR complex. We determined that the ZAP-70 protein tyrosine kinase was present in CD5 immunoprecipitates. The two molecules were constitutively tyrosine phosphorylated in a complex also associating with unphosphorylated as well as phosphorylated zeta-chains. Although both p21 and p23 tyrosine-phosphorylated forms of zeta as well as phospho-CD3 epsilon molecules were constitutively present in human thymocytes and could be immunoprecipitated with ZAP-70- or CD3 epsilon-specific Abs, the p21 species of zeta was predominant in CD5 immune complexes. The interaction between CD5 and ZAP-70 was not observed in CD3-negative thymocytes, where the constitutive tyrosine phosphorylation of ZAP-70 was very low. We conclude that CD5 may affect in vivo the signaling capacity of TCRs expressed by human thymocytes by altering the phosphorylation state of CD3 and/or by retaining ZAP-70 with the p21 species of zeta.     

Surface plasmon resonance-based highly sensitive optical touch sensor with a hybrid noise rejection scheme

A surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based optical touch sensor structure is proposed that provides high switch sensitivity and requires a weak activating force. Our proposed SPR-based optical touch sensor is arranged in a compact Kretschmann-Raether configuration in which the prism acting as our sensor head is coated with a metal nanofilm. Our optical-based noise rejection scheme relies on wavelength filtering, spatial filtering, and high reflectivity of the metal nanofilm, whereas our electrical-based noise reduction is obtained by means of an electrical signal filtering process. In our experimental proof of concept, a visible laser diode at a 655 nm centered wavelength and a prism made from BK7 with a 50 nm thick gold layer on the touching surface are used, showing a 7.85 dB optical contrast ratio for the first touch. An estimated weak mechanical force of <0.1 N is also observed that sufficiently activates the desired electrical load. It is tested for 51 operations without sensor malfunction under typical and very high illumination of 342 and 3000 lx, respectively. In this case, a measured average optical contrast of 0.80 dB is obtained with a +/-0.47 dB fluctuation, implying that the refractive index change in a small 3.2% of the overall active area is enough for our SPR-based optical touch sensor to function properly. Increasing optical contrast in our SPR-based optical touch sensor can be accomplished by using a higher polarization-extinction ratio and a narrower-bandwidth optical beam. A controlled environment and gold-coated surface using the thin-film sputtering technique can help improve the reliability and the durability of our SPR-based optical touch sensor. Other key features include ease of implementation, prevention of a light beam becoming incident on the user, and the ability to accept both strong and weak activating forces.     

Moderate-to-high optical-isolation reconfigurable 1 x 2 fiber-optic add-drop switches using a dense wavelength division multiplexing thin-film filter

We propose and experimentally demonstrate thin-film filter- (TF) based reconfigurable 1 x 2 fiber-optic add-drop switch (FADS) structures. Our key idea is to locate a movable mirror oriented at a desired angle near the TF to switch the desired wavelength optical beams to the wanted switching ports. Our first moderate-optical-isolation TF-based reconfigurable 1 x 2 FADS is in a transmissive design. Another TF-based reconfigurable 1 x 2 FADS structure is in a retroreflective configuration, and it gives a very low optical-coherent cross talk. Our experimental proof of concept using an off-the-shelf four-cavity TF measured center wavelength at 1,545.749 nm and a 0.8 mm x 0.8 mm x 0.15 mm movable mirror confirms a -19 dB and a much improved <-53 dB optical-coherent cross talk for our transmissive and retroreflective configurations, respectively.     

Optical penetration-based silkworm pupa gender sensor structure

This paper proposes and experimentally demonstrates for what is believed to be the first time a highly sought-after optical structure for highly-accurate identification of the silkworm pupa gender. The key idea is to exploit a long wavelength optical beam in the red or near infrared spectrum that can effectively and safely penetrate the body of a silkworm pupa. Later on, simple image processing operations via image thresholding, blob filtering, and image inversion processes are applied in order to eliminate the unwanted image noises and at the same time highlight the gender gland. Experimental proof of concept using three 636 nm wavelength light emitting diodes, a two-dimensional web camera, an 8 bit microcontroller board, and a notebook computer shows a very high 95.6% total accuracy in identifying the gender of 45 silkworm pupae with a measured fast identification time of 96.6 ms. Other key features include low cost, low component counts, and ease of implementation and control.     

Immobilization of poly (ethylene imine) on poly (l-lactide) promotes MG63 cell proliferation and function

Poly (ethylene imine) (PEI) is a polycation widely used for DNA transfection to cells but also applied as primary polycation for layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly of polyelectrolytes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of modification with PEI on the biocompatibility of poly (l-lactide) (PLLA) films. PEI with different molecular weight was immobilized on PLLA by either adsorption or covalent binding. Cell morphologies, immuno-fluorescence staining, cell proliferation by lactate dehydrogenase assay and cell differentiation by alkaline phosphatase assay were utilized to assess the biocompatibility of the modified PLLA using osteoblast cell line MG63. Results revealed that PEI modification remarkably improved cell adhesion, viability, proliferation and function compared with plain PLLA. Hence, PEI-modified PLLA is acceptable as transfection vehicle for engineering of bone and other tissues, or as primary layer to allow LBL assembly to generate biomimetic surface coatings.     

Analysis of giant dielectric permittivity and electrical properties for energy storage devices through impedance spectroscopy in CaCu3Ti4O12

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics - Calcium copper titanate (CCTO) ceramic is prepared by conventional solid-state reaction (SSR) technique. Sintering of manufactured CCTO...     

Preparation of high performance (Bi,Pb)-2223 superconductor using a sol–gel synthesized amorphous precursor through controlled gelation

A controlled gelation method through an acrylate route is identified for the synthesis of high quality precursors for the production of bulk (Bi,Pb)-2223 superconductors. The method overcomes the problem of undesirable precipitation of crystallites during gelation by controlling the vapour loss from the sol and the temperature and leads to an amorphous gel which on subsequent processing results in a highly reactive and homogenous precursor. (Bi,Pb)-2223 superconductors prepared from the precursor have shown highly enhanced properties with respect to final phase purity, sintered density, microstructure and critical current density compared to those prepared from conventional solid state precursors.     

Demonstration of a single-wavelength spectral-imaging-based Thai jasmine rice identification

A single-wavelength spectral-imaging-based Thai jasmine rice breed identification is demonstrated. Our nondestructive identification approach relies on a combination of fluorescent imaging and simple image processing techniques. Especially, we apply simple image thresholding, blob filtering, and image subtracting processes to either a 545 or a 575 nm image in order to identify our desired Thai jasmine rice breed from others. Other key advantages include no waste product and fast identification time. In our demonstration, UVC light is used as our exciting light, a liquid crystal tunable optical filter is used as our wavelength seclector, and a digital camera with 640 active pixels × 480 active pixels is used to capture the desired spectral image. Eight Thai rice breeds having similar size and shape are tested. Our experimental proof of concept shows that by suitably applying image thresholding, blob filtering, and image subtracting processes to the selected fluorescent image, the Thai jasmine rice breed can be identified with measured false acceptance rates of <22.9% and <25.7% for spectral images at 545 and 575 nm wavelengths, respectively. A measured fast identification time is 25 ms, showing high potential for real-time applications.     

Properties of superconducting, polycrystalline dysprosium-doped Bi1.6Pb0.5Sr2−xDyxCa1.1Cu2.1O8+δ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5)

The structural and superconducting properties of dysprosium (Dy) doped (Bi,Pb)-2212 superconductor have been studied. Dy concentration is varied from x = 0.0 to 0.5 in a general stoichiometry of Bi_1.6Pb_0.5Sr_2−xDy_xCa_1.1Cu_2.1O_8+δ. It is found that the Dy atoms enter into the crystal structure by replacing Sr atoms and induce significant change in lattice parameter, microstructure, hole-concentration and normal state conductivity of the system. The critical temperature (T_C) and critical current density (J_C) at self-field of the Dy-doped samples enhance considerably at optimum doping levels. Maximum T_C of 92.3 K (for x = 0.4) and J_C of 1390 A/cm² at 64 K (for x = 0.2) are observed for doped samples as against 79.4 K and 127 A/cm², respectively, for the pure sample. The results are discussed on the basis of the change in hole-concentration due to Dy-doping at Sr-site of (Bi,Pb)-2212 superconductor.