Signal perception and belief updating

This paper introduces a theory of signal perception to study how people update their beliefs. By allowing perceived signals to deviate from actual signals, we identify the probability that people miss or misread signals, giving indices of conservatism and confirmatory bias. In an experiment, we elicited perceived signals from choices and obtained a structural estimation of the indices. The subjects were conservative and acted as if they missed 65% of the signals they received. Also they exhibited confirmatory bias by misreading 17% of the signals contradicting their prior beliefs

Lensfree optofluidic plasmonic sensor for real-time and label-free monitoring of molecular binding events over a wide field-of-view

We demonstrate a high-throughput biosensing device that utilizes microfluidics based plasmonic microarrays incorporated with dual-color on-chip imaging toward real-time and label-free monitoring of biomolecular interactions over a wide field-of-view of >20 mm^2. Weighing 40 grams with 8.8 cm in height, this biosensor utilizes an opto-electronic imager chip to record the diffraction patterns of plasmonic nanoapertures embedded within microfluidic channels, enabling real-time analyte exchange. This plasmonic chip is simultaneously illuminated by two different light-emitting-diodes that are spectrally located at the right and left sides of the plasmonic resonance mode, yielding two different diffraction patterns for each nanoaperture array. Refractive index changes of the medium surrounding the near-field of the nanostructures, e.g., due to molecular binding events, induce a frequency shift in the plasmonic modes of the nanoaperture array, causing a signal enhancement in one of the diffraction patterns while suppressing the other. Based on ratiometric analysis of these diffraction images acquired at the detector-array, we demonstrate the proof-of-concept of this biosensor by monitoring in real-time biomolecular interactions of protein A/G with immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody. For high-throughput on-chip fabrication of these biosensors, we also introduce a deep ultra-violet lithography technique to simultaneously pattern thousands of plasmonic arrays in a cost-effective manner

Field-portable optofluidic plasmonic biosensor for wide-field and label-free monitoring of molecular interactions

We demonstrate a field-portable optofluidic plasmonic sensing device, weighing 40 g and 7.5 cm in height, which merges plasmonic microarrays with dual-wavelength lensfree on-chip imaging for real-time monitoring of protein binding kinetics

Monitoring the operation of a graphene transistor in an integrated circuit by XPS

One of the transistors in an integrated circuit fabricated with graphene as the current controlling element, is investigated during its operation, using a chemical tool, XPS. Shifts in the binding energy of C1s are used to map out electrical potential variations, and compute sheet resistance of the graphene layer, as well as the contact resistances between the metal electrodes. Measured shifts depend on lateral positions probed, as well as on polarity and magnitude of the gate-voltage. This non-contact and chemically specific characterization can be pivotal in diagnoses. © 2016 Elsevier B.V

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy for identification of morphological defects and disorders in graphene devices

The progress in the development of graphene devices is promising, and they are now considered as an option for the current Si-based electronics. However, the structural defects in graphene may strongly influence the local electronic and mechanical characteristics. Although there are well-established analytical characterization methods to analyze the chemical and physical parameters of this material, they remain incapable of fully understanding of the morphological disorders. In this study, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) with an external voltage bias across the sample is used for the characterization of morphological defects in large area of a few layers graphene in a chemically specific fashion. For the XPS measurements, an external +6 V bias applied between the two electrodes and areal analysis for three different elements, C1s, O1s, and Au4f, were performed. By monitoring the variations of the binding energy, the authors extract the voltage variations in the graphene layer which reveal information about the structural defects, cracks, impurities, and oxidation levels in graphene layer which are created purposely or not. Raman spectroscopy was also utilized to confirm some of the findings. This methodology the authors offer is simple but provides promising chemically specific electrical and morphological information. � 2016 American Vacuum Society

Human brain anatomy reflects separable genetic and environmental components of socioeconomic status

Socioeconomic status (SES) correlates with brain structure, a relation of interest given the long-observed relations of SES to cognitive abilities and health. Yet, major questions remain open, in particular, the pattern of causality that underlies this relation. In an unprecedently large study, here, we assess genetic and environmental contributions to SES differences in neuroanatomy. We first establish robust SES–gray matter relations across a number of brain regions, cortical and subcortical. These regional correlates are parsed into predominantly genetic factors and those potentially due to the environment. We show that genetic effects are stronger in some areas (prefrontal cortex, insula) than others. In areas showing less genetic effect (cerebellum, lateral temporal), environmental factors are likely to be influential. Our results imply a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors that influence the SES-brain relation and may eventually provide insights relevant to policy

Multi-spectral Vascular Oximetry of Rat Dorsal Spinal Cord

No abstract available

Gate-tunable photoemission from graphene transistors

In this Letter, we report gate-tunable X-ray photoelectron emission from back-gated graphene transistors. The back-gated transistor geometry allows us to study photoemission from graphene layer and the dielectric substrate at various gate voltages. Application of gate voltage electrostatically dopes graphene and shifts the binding energy of photoelectrons in various ways depending on the origin and the generation mechanism(s) of the emitted electrons. The gate-induced shift of the Fermi energy of graphene alters the binding energy of the C 1s electrons, whereas the electric field of the gate electrodes shift the binding energy of core electrons emitted from the gate dielectric underneath the graphene layer. The gradual change of the local potential through depths of the gate dielectric provides quantitative electrical information about buried interfaces. Our results suggest that gate-tunable photoemission spectra with chemically specific information linked with local electrical properties opens new routes to elucidating operation of devices based especially on layered materials. © 2014 American Chemical Society