Refractive Index Dynamics Of Quantum Dot Based Waveguide Electroabsorbers

The refractive index dynamics of InAs/GaAs quantum dot based waveguide absorbers is studied using heterodyne pump-probe measurements. Absorption reduction due to the pump can be accompanied by either positive or negative refractive index changes depending on the wavelength used. This change in sign of the phase amplitude coupling can be understood by considering the atomlike nature of the quantum dot transitions involved

Effect of mechanical stress on Zea root apex. I. Mechanical stress leads to the switch from closed to open meristem organization

The effect of mechanical stress on the root apical meristem (RAM) organization of Zea mays was investigated. In the experiment performed, root apices were grown through a narrowing of either circular (variant I) or elliptical (variant II) shape. This caused a mechanical impedance distributed circumferentially or from the opposite sides in variant I and II, respectively. The maximal force exerted by the growing root in response to the impedance reached the value of 0.15 N for variant I and 0.08 N for variant II. Significant morphological and anatomical changes were observed. The changes in morphology depended on the variant and concerned diminishing and/or deformation of the cross-section of the root apex, and buckling and swelling of the root. Anatomical changes, similar in both variants, concerned transformation of the meristem from closed to open, an increase in the number of the cell layers at the pole of the root proper, and atypical oblique divisions of the root cap cells. After leaving the narrowing, a return to both typical cellular organization and morphology of the apex was observed. The results are discussed in terms of three aspects: the morphological response, the RAM reorganization, and mechanical factors. Assuming that the orientation of division walls is affected by directional cues of a tensor nature, the changes mentioned may indicate that a pattern of such cues is modified when the root apex passes through the narrowing, but its primary mode is finally restored

Ultrafast response of tunnel injected quantum dot based semiconductor optical amplifiers in the 1300 nm range

The ultrafast gain and refractive index dynamics of tunnel injected quantum dot based semiconductor optical amplifiers in the 1300 nm range are investigated using a heterodyne pump probe technique. In the gain regime, ground state wavelengths exhibit full gain recovery in less than 10 ps up to 3 times transparency, attributed to enhanced carrier refilling via the injector layer. The effect of the injector can also been seen in unusual phase dynamics at excited state wavelengths at this injection level. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. (doi:10.1063/1.3686901

The shaping of a fused surface to the influence of centrifugal rotational motion

Different methods of surfacing are using to strengthen machine parts. The surfacing will perform with using simultaneous centrifugal rotation compared to the traditional surfacing scheme. The disk is located in a fixed position during the entire surfacing process according to the traditional scheme. The rotational movement is carrying out with a certain angular velocity at the time of fusion of the metal laye

Nintedanib for Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease

BACKGROUND: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a common manifestation of systemic sclerosis and a leading cause of systemic sclerosis-related death. Nintedanib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has been shown to have antifibrotic and antiinflammatory effects in preclinical models of systemic sclerosis and ILD. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to investigate the efficacy and safety of nintedanib in patients with ILD associated with systemic sclerosis. Patients who had systemic sclerosis with an onset of the first non-Raynaud's symptom within the past 7 years and a high-resolution computed tomographic scan that showed fibrosis affecting at least 10% of the lungs were randomly assigned, in a 1:1 ratio, to receive 150 mg of nintedanib, administered orally twice daily, or placebo. The primary end point was the annual rate of decline in forced vital capacity (FVC), assessed over a 52-week period. Key secondary end points were absolute changes from baseline in the modified Rodnan skin score and in the total score on the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) at week 52. RESULTS: A total of 576 patients received at least one dose of nintedanib or placebo; 51.9% had diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis, and 48.4% were receiving mycophenolate at baseline. In the primary end-point analysis, the adjusted annual rate of change in FVC was 1252.4 ml per year in the nintedanib group and 1293.3 ml per year in the placebo group (difference, 41.0 ml per year; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.9 to 79.0; P=0.04). Sensitivity analyses based on multiple imputation for missing data yielded P values for the primary end point ranging from 0.06 to 0.10. The change from baseline in the modified Rodnan skin score and the total score on the SGRQ at week 52 did not differ significantly between the trial groups, with differences of 120.21 (95% CI, 120.94 to 0.53; P=0.58) and 1.69 (95% CI, 120.73 to 4.12 [not adjusted for multiple comparisons]), respectively. Diarrhea, the most common adverse event, was reported in 75.7% of the patients in the nintedanib group and in 31.6% of those in the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with ILD associated with systemic sclerosis, the annual rate of decline in FVC was lower with nintedanib than with placebo; no clinical benefit of nintedanib was observed for other manifestations of systemic sclerosis. The adverse-event profile of nintedanib observed in this trial was similar to that observed in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; gastrointestinal adverse events, including diarrhea, were more common with nintedanib than with placebo

Improved functionalization of oleic acid-coated iron oxide nanoparticles for biomedical applications

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles can providemultiple benefits for biomedical applications in aqueous environments such asmagnetic separation or magnetic resonance imaging. To increase the colloidal stability and allow subsequent reactions, the introduction of hydrophilic functional groups onto the particles’ surface is essential. During this process, the original coating is exchanged by preferably covalently bonded ligands such as trialkoxysilanes. The duration of the silane exchange reaction, which commonly takes more than 24 h, is an important drawback for this approach. In this paper, we present a novel method, which introduces ultrasonication as an energy source to dramatically accelerate this process, resulting in high-quality waterdispersible nanoparticles around 10 nmin size. To prove the generic character, different functional groups were introduced on the surface including polyethylene glycol chains, carboxylic acid, amine, and thiol groups. Their colloidal stability in various aqueous buffer solutions as well as human plasma and serum was investigated to allow implementation in biomedical and sensing applications.status: publishe

Nonlinear optics and saturation behavior of quantum dot samples under continuous wave driving

The nonlinear optical response of self-assembled quantum dots is relevant to the application of quantum dot based devices in nonlinear optics, all-optical switching, slow light and self-organization. Theoretical investigations are based on numerical simulations of a spatially and spectrally resolved rate equation model, which takes into account the strong coupling of the quantum dots to the carrier reservoir created by the wetting layer states. The complex dielectric susceptibility of the ground state is obtained. The saturation is shown to follow a behavior in between the one for a dominantly homogeneously and inhomogeneously broadened medium. Approaches to extract the nonlinear refractive index change by fringe shifts in a cavity or self-lensing are discussed. Experimental work on saturation characteristic of InGa/GaAs quantum dots close to the telecommunication O-band (1.24-1.28 mm) and of InAlAs/GaAlAs quantum dots at 780 nm is described and the first demonstration of the cw saturation of absorption in room temperature quantum dot samples is discussed in detail

Estimation of lower Heating value and higher heating value of syngas from carbonized sewage sludge gasifi cation

Jednym ze sposobów zagospodarowania osadów ściekowych może być ich zgazowywanie po wcześniejszej toryfikacji. W pracy przedstawiono wyniki symulacji procesu zgazowania karbonizatu uzyskanego podczas toryfikacji osadu ściekowego. Modelowanie procesu zgazowywania karbonizatu przeprowadzono w zakresie temperatury od 973 K do 1473 K, przy zastosowaniu powietrza jako czynnika zgazowującego. W każdej z temperatur przeprowadzono dziesięć symulacji, podczas których zmieniano wartość stosunku molowego tlenu do węgla (O/C). Uzyskane wyniki wykazały, że karbonizat otrzymany w procesie toryfikacji osadu ściekowego przez 60 min w temperaturze 533°K pozwolił na uzyskanie w temperaturze zgazowywania 973 K i przy stosunku molowym O/C=0,1 gazu syntezowego o największej wartości ciepła spalania (16,44 MJ/m3). Przeprowadzona analiza regresji wielokrotnej pozwoliła określić wpływ parametrów technologicznych (temperatura, stężenie czynnika zgazowującego) na uzyskane wartości ciepła spalania i wartości opałowej otrzymanego gazy syntezowego. Wykazano, że zmienną wpływającą w istotny sposób na proces zgazowania karbonizatu było stężenie czynnika zgazowującego, przy czym wraz z jego wzrostem następowało pogorszenie właściwości paliwowych gazu syntezowego. Parametrem technologicznym wpływającym nieistotnie na ten proces okazała się temperatura zgazowywania karbonizatu, ponieważ wraz z jej wzrostem nie odnotowano większych zmian w kaloryczności uzyskiwanego gazu syntezowego.One of the methods of sewage sludge management may be its gasification with prior torrefaction. Simulation results of gasification of the carbonized sewage sludge obtained in the process of torrefaction were presented. Modeling of the carbonized sludge gasification process was performed in temperatures ranging from 973 K to 1473 K with air applied as a gasifying agent. Ten simulations were performed at each temperature, during which the molar ratio of oxygen to carbon (O/C) was varied. The results showed that the carbonized sludge obtained by torrefaction for 60 min at 533 K allowed for production of syngas with the highest heating value (16.44 MJ/m3) at gasification temperature of 973 K and the molar ratio O/C=0.1. Multiple regression analysis allowed for determination of statistical significance of technological parameters (temperature, concentration of gasifying agent) on both the lower heating value (LHV) and the higher heating value (HHV) of syngas produced. The obtained results demonstrated that a variable that significantly influenced the gasification process was the gasification agent concentration. With its increase, the fuel properties of syngas deteriorated. There were no more significant changes in calorific value of the obtained syngas with the increase in temperature, therefore temperature was the technological parameter considered to affect the process in a less significant manner