Rapid FRD determination for multiplexed fibre systems -- I. The quasi-near field model and its uncertainties

Focal Ratio Degradation (FRD) in fibres is a crucial factor to control in astronomical instruments in order to minimize light loss. As astronomical instrumentation has advanced, the integration of large populations of fibres has become common. However, determining FRD in multiplexed fibre systems has become a challenging and time-consuming task. The Integral Field Unit for the Fiber Arrayed Solar Optical Telescope (FASOT-IFU) represents the most densely arranged fibre-based IFU in a single unit. Due to the close packing of fibres in the V-groove of the slit end, measuring FRD is particularly challenging as the output spots are prone to overlapping with adjacent fibres. In this paper, a novel method based on the quasi-near field model is proposed to enable rapid FRD measurement in highly multiplexed fibre systems like IFUs and multi-object observation systems. The principle and uncertainties associated with the method are investigated. The method's validity is demonstrated by applying it to determine the FRD in FASOT-IFU, with the achieved FRD performance meeting the acceptable requirements of FASOT-IFU, where the output focal ratio primarily falls within the range of 5.0-7.0. The results indicate that the proposed method offers several advantages, including the simultaneous and rapid measurement of FRD in multiple fibres with high accuracy (error smaller than 0.35 in F-ratio). Furthermore, besides FRD, the method exhibits potential for extensive measurements of throughput, scrambling, and spectral analysis.Comment: 10 pages, 12 figures, submitted to MNRA

Enhancement of Er3+ emission from an Er-Si codoped Al 2O3 film by stacking Si-doped Al2O3 sublayers

A multilayer film (multi-film), consisting of alternate Er-Si-codoped Al2O3 (ESA) and Si-doped Al2O3 (SA) sublayers, is synthesized by co-sputtering from separated Er, Si, and Al 2O3 targets. The dependence of Er3+ related photoluminescence (PL) properties on annealing temperatures over 700-1100°C is studied. The maximum intensity of Er3+ photoluminance (PL), about 10 times higher than that of the monolayer film, is obtained from the multi-film annealed at 950°C. The enhancement of Er3+ PL intensity is attributed to the energy transfer from the silicon nanocrystals (Si-NCs) to the neighboring Er3+ ions. The effective characteristic interaction distance (or the critical ET length) between Er and carriers (Si-NCs) is ∼3 nm. The PL intensity exhibits a nonmonotonic temperature dependence. Meanwhile, the PL integrated intensity at room temperature is about 30% higher than that at 14 K. © 2011 Chinese Physical Society and IOP Publishing Ltd.Peer Reviewe

Protection effect of gut microbiota composition and acetate absorption against hypertension-induced damages on the longevity population in Guangxi, China

IntroductionRecent evidence supports a role for the gut microbe-metabolites in longevity. However, the phenomenon of hypertension is more common in the longevity area and whether hypertension is associated with longevity remains unclear. Here, we hypothesize that the levels of gut microbiota, SCFAs, and urine metabolites were different between hypertension elderly and hypertension longevity.MethodsWe recruited 46 elderly volunteers from Donglan County, Guangxi, and 32 were selected and included in the experiment. The subjects with hypertension were divided into two groups according to age, Hypertension Elderly (HTE, aged 70.5 ± 8.59, n = 19) and Hypertension Longevity (HTL, aged 100 ± 5.72, n = 13). The gut microbiota, SCFAs, and urine metabolites were determined by three-generation 16S rRNA full-length sequencing, GC-MS, and 1H-NMR, respectively.ResultsCompared with the HTL group, the HTE group had higher levels of hypertension-related genera Klebsiella and Streptococcus, while having lower levels of the SCFA-producing genera Bacteroides, Faecalibacterium, and Alistipes. Based on LEFse analysis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Lactobacillus gasseri, Streptococcus salivarius, Ruminococcus, Actinomyces, Rikenellaceae, f_Saccharimonadaceae, Clostridium perfringens, and Bacteroids, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Parabacteroides, Alistipes were biomarkers that showed significant differences between the groups. In addition, the microbial pathways associated with K. pneumoniae and E. coli may promote hypertension, while A. muciniphila may play a role in reversing the development of hypertension in long-lived elderly. Metabolomics revealed that HTL contained a lower concentration of fecal acetate and propionate than HTE, while it contained a higher concentration of serum acetate and urine acetate. Furthermore, their immune cells exhibited no significant changes in SCFAs receptors.ConclusionAlthough long-lived elderly have extremely high systolic blood pressure, their unique gut microbiota composition and efficient acetate absorption in the colon may offset the damages caused by hypertension and maintain healthy homeostasis

Control of the Hydroquinone/Benzoquinone Redox State in High-Mobility Semiconducting Conjugated Coordination Polymers

Conjugated coordination polymers (c-CPs) are unique organic–inorganic hybrid semiconductors with intrinsically high electrical conductivity and excellent charge carrier mobility. However, it remains a challenge in tailoring electronic structures, due to the lack of clear guidelines. Here, we develop a strategy wherein controlling the redox state of hydroquinone/benzoquinone (HQ/BQ) ligands allows for the modulation of the electronic structure of c-CPs while maintaining the structural topology. The redox-state control is achieved by reacting the ligand TTHQ (TTHQ=1,2,4,5-tetrathiolhydroquinone) with silver acetate and silver nitrate, yielding Ag4TTHQ and Ag4TTBQ (TTBQ=1,2,4,5-tetrathiolbenzoquinone), respectively. In spite of sharing the same topology consisting of a two-dimensional Ag−S network and HQ/BQ layer, they exhibit different band gaps (1.5 eV for Ag4TTHQ and 0.5 eV for Ag4TTBQ) and conductivities (0.4 S/cm for Ag4TTHQ and 10 S/cm for Ag4TTBQ). DFT calculations reveal that these differences arise from the ligand oxidation state inhibiting energy band formation near the Fermi level in Ag4TTHQ. Consequently, Ag4TTHQ displays a high Seebeck coefficient of 330 μV/K and a power factor of 10 μW/m ⋅ K2, surpassing Ag4TTBQ and the other reported silver-based c-CPs. Furthermore, terahertz spectroscopy demonstrates high charge mobilities exceeding 130 cm2/V ⋅ s in both Ag4TTHQ and Ag4TTBQ

Numerical Model Simulation of the Double-Roll Rotary Forging of Large Diameter Thin-Walled Disk

Double-roll rotary forging is an emerging plastic forming technology based on rotary forging. Owing to the advantages of being labor-saving, a small eccentric load, low noise and vibration, good uniformity, high surface quality, and material saving, it is very promising for the fabrication of large diameter thin-walled disks. To date, little relevant research on the double-roll rotary forging technology of large diameter thin-walled metal disks has been reported, and the deformation characteristic and the influence of three key parameters on the double-roll rotary forging process remain uninvestigated. Herein, a reasonable 3D rigid-plastic numerical model of the double-roll rotary forging of a disk workpiece is established under the Deform software environment. Based on the valid 3D numerical model, the deformation mechanism, and the effective laws of three key parameters (feed rate v of the lower die, rotational speed n of the upper die, and the initial temperature T of the disk workpiece) on the metal flow and force and power parameters in the double-roll rotary forging process have been explored. The research results provide valuable guidelines for a better understanding of double-roll rotary forging for the fabrication of large diameter thin-walled disks