Numerical and Physical Modeling of the Response of Resonator Liners to Intense Sound and Grazing Flow

Two significant advances have been made in the application of computational aeroacoustics methodology to acoustic liner technology. The first is that temperature effects for discrete sound are not the same as for broadband noise. For discrete sound, the normalized resistance appears to be insensitive to temperature except at high SPL. However, reactance is lower, significantly lower in absolute value, at high temperature. The second is the numerical investigation the acoustic performance of a liner by direct numerical simulation. Liner impedance is affected by the non-uniformity of the incident sound waves. This identifies the importance of pressure gradient. Preliminary design one and two-dimensional impedance models were developed to design sound absorbing liners in the presence of intense sound and grazing flow. The two-dimensional model offers the potential to empirically determine incident sound pressure face-plate distance from resonator orifices. This represents an important initial step in improving our understanding of how to effectively use the Dean Two-Microphone impedance measurement method

Cross-Talk-Free Multi-Color STORM Imaging Using a Single Fluorophore

Multi-color stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) is routinely performed; however, the various approaches for achieving multiple colors have important caveats. Color cross-talk, limited availability of spectrally distinct fluorophores with optimal brightness and duty cycle, incompatibility of imaging buffers for different fluorophores, and chromatic aberrations impact the spatial resolution and ultimately the number of colors that can be achieved. We overcome these complexities and develop a simple approach for multi-color STORM imaging using a single fluorophore and sequential labelling. In addition, we present a simple and versatile method to locate the same region of interest on different days and even on different microscopes. In combination, these approaches enable cross-talk-free multi-color imaging of sub-cellular structures.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Titration Microcalorimetry Study: Interaction of Drug and Ionic Microgel System

Doxorubicin (DOX) and Pluronic-PAA interaction was investigated using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). DOX/polymer interaction is governed primarily by electrostatic interaction. The uptake of DOX results in the formation of insoluble polymer/DOX complex. Addition of salt weakens the interaction of drug and polymer by charge shielding effect between positive ionized amino group on DOX and oppositely charged polymer chains. However high drug-loading capacity in high salt condition implied that self-association property of DOX also play a role in the drug loading process.Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA

Morphological and Doppler UHR-OCT Imaging of Retinal Degeneration Induced by Sodium Iodate Toxicity in a Rat Model

A high speed, high resolution spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) system was used to study in-vivo early morphological changes and optical nerve head (ONH) blood flow in the Long Evans rat retina, induced by administration of sodium iodate (NaIO3). Linear and circular scanned OCT images were acquired at the same location in the retina from healthy control rats and from rats injected with 40mg/kg of NaIO3 solution at 1, 3, 6 12, 24, 72 and 168 hours post drug administration. Morphological OCT images showed changes in the optical reflectance and layer thickness of the photoreceptor IS and OS. The formation of a new low reflective layer between the photoreceptor OS and the RPE was observed in all tested rats. This new layer appeared as early as 1 hour, increased in thickness after 6 hours, and disappeared by 12 hours post NaIO3 injection. The low optical reflectance and the dynamics of this new layer suggest that it was most likely fluid accumulation. Comparison with H&E stained histological sections and IgG immunohistochemistry revealed minimal photoreceptor OS cell swelling at hour 1, detachment of the OS from the RPE by hour 3, and breaking of the blood-retina barrier with significant fluid accumulation by hour 6 post NaIO3 injection. The Doppler Optical Micro-Angiography (DOMAG) algorithm was used to carry out quantitative analysis of the ONH blood flow. Estimation of flow rate on each ONH vessel was done by measurements of the Doppler angle, vessel size and the axial velocity. This study has demonstrated that the capability of UHR-OCT to study optical reflectance and layer thickness changes, rearrangement and detachment of the photoreceptor OS and RPE layers, together with flow rate estimation of retinal blood vessels. Therefore, it can serve as markers in future non-invasive, in-vivo studies of disease or drug induced retinal degeneration in ophthalmic research

Molecular Beam Epitaxial Growth Optimization for Next Generation Optoelectronic Devices Based on III-V Semiconductors

Molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) has been serving as the best tool for group III-V compound growths due to its capability of depositing epilayers with high single-crystalline quality, high purity and Angstrom-scale thickness precision. In spite of decades of work, further optimizations of MBE growth conditions are required in order to meet the increasing demands of next-generation and novel devices. For instance, low temperature (LT) deposition far away from thermal equilibrium growth conditions brings several benefits such as suppressed undesirable interface inter-diffusion, dopant diffusion and segregation. More importantly, it has been proven to be a very useful method in forming non-stoichiometric III-V compounds. Although this creates defects like group V antisites and interstitials, they can be utilized in making terahertz (THz) photoconductive antennas (PCAs). Since the development of THz technology in the late 20th century, THz PCAs have been drawing tremendous research interest due to their low-cost and portability. The amount of embedded excess As which alters the LT grown III-V material properties is sensitive to the V/III flux ratio, and more importantly, the growth temperature at the range of ∼200–300◦C. It is crucial to determine a critical substrate temperature that simultaneously maximizes the excess As incorporation without losing single crystallinity, as both features are essential for high-performance broadband THz PCAs applications. However, substrate temperature monitoring becomes difficult when the growth is switched to the LT regime. Conventional substrate temperature measurement techniques such as pyrometry have limited precision at LT due to the exponential decrease of the substrate thermal radiation intensity with the temperature, hence an alternative means for precise temperature monitoring is required. InAlGaAs has been an emerging candidate for 1319 nm laser-pumped, high-efficiency photonic power converters (PPCs). To acquire smooth surface morphology and minimize crystalline defects, such quaternary material is preferred to be lattice-matched on InP(001) substrates. A clear correlation between group III compositions, lattice constant and bandgap of InAlGaAs, as well as a reproducible approach to grow lattice-matched InAlGaAs structures need to be established to optimize the PPC performance. This thesis conducts a comprehensive study of optimizing MBE growth conditions of several III-V materials, including LT GaAs, mid-temperature (MT) and LT InGaAs-InAlAs superlattice (SL), and InAlGaAs, with parameters such as substrate temperature, As overpressure and doping concentration being repetitively tuned. In particular, an integrated spectral pyrometry (ISP) technique is proposed, which is particularly well suited to monitor the growth temperature of InAs and InSb. Potentially, ISP can also be applied to other LT growths with semiconductors of smaller bandgaps when pyrometer does not work. In-growth and post-growth surface morphologies were investigated with the aid of reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED) and Nomarski microscopy. LT GaAs and InGaAs-InAlAs SL based THz PCAs were characterized with 780 and 1550 nm pumped time-domain spectroscopy (TDS) measurements and the correlation between THz signal amplitude, pulse width and bandwidth with growth and annealing temperatures are discussed. The material properties of InAlGaAs structures were investigated with an emphasis on discussing challenges of lattice mismatch and in-growth flux drift studied by high-resolution x-ray diffraction (HRXRD) fitting. The performance of InAlGaAs p-n junctions was optimized by MBE. State-of-the-art 1319 nm pumped single-junction (SJ) and two-junction (TJ) PPC devices are presented. The effects of growth temperature on current-voltage characteristics and unintentionally strained InAlGaAs epilayers on quantum efficiency are discussed

Correlating Gene Transfection Efficiency and the Physical Properties of Various Cationic Poly(methacrylate) Systems

Transfection efficiencies of several polymeric gene carriers were compared and correlated quantitatively to the amounts of cellular accumulation of plasmid DNA and to the expression of mRNA by quantitative real time PCR. Three cationic methacrylate polymer systems with similar chemical structure were used in this study, namely: poly(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (PDMA) homopolymer, PEO-b-PDMA copolymer and PEO-b-poly(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (PEO-b-PDEA) copolymer. Despite their similar chemical structures, their transfection efficiencies were significantly different. PEO-b-PDEA copolymer was significantly less efficient as gene carrier compared to both PDMA and PEO-b-PDMA systems. Results from quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR), cytotoxicity and Zeta potential measurements showed correlations between the physical properties of the polymers and the efficiencies of cellular uptake of the transgene and transfections. In the case of PEO-b-PDEA system, cytotoxicity was due primarily to the excess polymers that did not participate in the DNA binding. In addition, the inability of the polymer/DNA complexes to interact with cell effectively was identified as the main barrier for high efficiency of transfection. This study demonstrated that the use of quantitative real-time PCR in combination with other physical characterization techniques can provide greater insights into the transfection barrier at different cellular levels.Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA

Synthesis and Aggregation Behavior of Pluronic F87/Poly(acrylic acid) Block Copolymer with Doxorubicin

Poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) was grafted onto both termini of Pluronic F87 (PEO₆₇-PPO₃₉-PEO₆₇) via atom transfer radical polymerization to produce a novel muco-adhesive block copolymer PAA₈₀-b-F₈₇-b-PAA₈₀. It was observed that PAA₈₀-F₈₇-PAA₈₀ forms stable complexes with weakly basic anti-cancer drug, Doxorubicin. Thermodynamic changes due to the drug binding to the copolymer were assessed at different pH by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). The formation of the polymer/drug complexes was studied by turbidimetric titration and dynamic light scattering. Doxorubicin and PAA-b-F87-b-PAA block copolymer are found to interact strongly in aqueous solution via non-covalent interactions over a wide pH range. At pH>4.35, drug binding is due to electrostatic interactions. Hydrogen-bond also plays a role in the stabilization of the PAA₈₀-F₈₇-PAA₈₀/DOX complex. At pH 7.4 (α=0.8), the size and stability of polymer/drug complex depend strongly on the doxorubicin concentration. When CDOX 0.13mM, as suggested by the light scattering result, the reorganization of the polymer/drug complex is believed to occur. With further addition of DOX (CDOX >0.34mM), sharp increase in the turbidity indicates the formation of large aggregates, followed by phase separation. The onset of a sharp enthalpy increase corresponds to the formation of a stoichiometric complex.Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA

(1S,2S,4R)-7-tert-But­oxy­bicyclo­[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-yl (2S)-2-(6-meth­oxy­naphthalen-2-yl)propano­ate

In the title mol­ecule, C25H30O4, the napthalene ring system is slightly bowed, with a dihedral angle of 4.37 (13)° between the two benzene rings

tert-Butyl N-hydr­oxy-N-[(1S*,2R*)-2-(1-naphth­yl)cyclo­pent-3-en-1-yl]carbamate

The relative stereochemistry of the title compound, C20H23NO3, was established by X-ray analysis. The asymmetric unit contains two independent mol­ecules. In the crystal structure, each type of mol­ecule forms a centrosymmetric dimer via pairs of inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, resulting in an R 2 2(10) loop in each case

Association Behavior of Biotinylated and Non-Biotinylated PolyEthylene Oxide-b-Poly(2-(Diethylamino)Ethyl Methacrylate)

Biotinylated and non-biotinylated copolymers of ethylene oxide (EO) and 2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DEAEMA) were synthesized by the atom transfer radical polymerization technique (ATRP). The chemical compositions of the copolymers as determined by NMR are represented by PEO₁₁₃PDEAEMA₇₀ and biotin-PEO₁₀₄PDEAEMA₉₃ respectively. The aggregation behavior of these polymers in aqueous solutions at different pHs and ionic strengths was studied using a combination of potentiometric titration, dynamic light scattering (DLS), static light scattering (SLS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Both PEO-b-PDEAEMA and biotin-PEO-b-PDEAEMA diblock copolymers form micelles at high pH with hydrodynamic radii (Rh) of about 19 and 23 nm, respectively. At low pH, the copolymers are dispersed as unimers in solution with Rh of about 6-7 nm. However, at a physiological salt concentration (cs) of about 0.16M NaCl and a pH of 7-8, the copolymers form large loosely packed Guassian chains, which were not present at the low cs of 0.001M NaCl. The critical micelle concentrations (CMC) and the cytotoxicity of the copolymers were investigated to determine a suitable polymer concentration range for future biological applications. Both PEO-b-PDEAEMA and biotin-PEO-b-PDEAEMA diblock copolymers possess identical CMC values of about 0.0023 mg/g, while the cytotoxicity test indicated that the copolymers are not toxic up to 0.05mg/g (> 83% cell survival at this concentration).Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA