Transfer and detection of single electrons using metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors

A single-electron turnstile and electrometer circuit was fabricated on a silicon-on-insulator substrate. The turnstile, which is operated by opening and closing two metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) alternately, allows current quantization at 20 K due to single-electron transfer. Another MOSFET is placed at the drain side of the turnstile to form an electron storage island. Therefore, one-by-one electron entrance into the storage island from the turnstile can be detected as an abrupt change in the current of the electrometer, which is placed near the storage island and electrically coupled to it. The correspondence between the quantized current and the single-electron counting was confirmed.

Multi-channel effect of condensation flow in a micro triple-channel condenser

Multi-channel effect is important to understand transport phenomenon in phase change systems with parallel channels. In this paper, visualization studies were performed to study the multi-channel effect in a silicon triple-channel condenser with an aspect ratio of 0.04. Saturated water vapor was pumped into the microcondenser, which was horizontally positioned. The condenser was cooled by the air natural convention heat transfer in the air environment. Flow patterns are either the annular flow at high inlet vapor pressures, or a quasi-stable elongated bubble at the microchannel upstream followed by a detaching or detached miniature bubble at smaller inlet vapor pressures. The downstream miniature bubble was detached from the elongated bubble tip induced by the maximum Weber number there. It is observed that either a single vapor thread or dual vapor threads are at the front of the elongated bubble. A miniature bubble is fully formed by breaking up the vapor thread or threads. The transient vapor thread formation and breakup process is exactly symmetry against the centerline of the center channel. In side channels, the Marangoni effect induced by the small temperature variation over the channel width direction causes the vapor thread formation and breakup process deviating from the side channel centerline and approaching the center channel. The Marangoni effect further forces the detached bubble to rotate and approach the center channel, because the center channel always has higher temperatures, indicating the multi-channel effect. 

Design of side-pumped Nd : YAG lasers

Design of the typical laser diode side-pumped Nd:YAG rod system has been discussed using the conventional ray tracing method in this paper. Firstly introduce two basic matrices, refractional and translational matrix, described the transmission of nonparaxial light ray in the medium without concerning the absorption of light. And then, using those matrices, analyze the distribution of pump light in the crystal respectively under the condition of directly pumped system and indirectly pumped system with a cylindrical quartz rod as focusing lens. From the result of simulation, we compare the advantage and disadvantage of the two pumped method, and mainly consider how to select the diameter of the focus lens and cooling tube, indicate the effect of deionized water and cooling tube have on the pump light distribution in the active material. At last, make some conclusions about the side-pumped Nd:YAG laser system.

Enhanced biological effect induced by a radioactive C-9-ion beam at the depths around its Bragg peak

To explore the potential of double irradiation source, radioactive C-9-ion beam, in tumor therapy, a comparative study oil the surviving effect of human salivary gland cells at different penetration depths between C-9 and C-12-ion beams has been carried out. The 9C-ion C beam, especially at the distal side of the beam came out more efficient in cell killing at the depths around its Bragg peak than the 12 Bragg peak. Compared to the C-12 beam, an increase in RBE by a factor of up to 2.13 has been observed at the depths distal to the Bragg peak of the 9C beam. The 9C beam showed an enhanced biological effect at the penetration depths around its Bragg peak, corresponding to the stopping region of the incident C-9-ions and where the delayed low-energy particles were emitted. Further analysis revealed that cell lethality by the emitted particles from the stopping C-9-ions is responsible for the excessive biological effect at the penetration depths around the Bragg peak of the C-9 beam.

The inhibitory effect of intestinal bacterial metabolite of ginsenosides on CYP3A activity

The intestinal bacterial metabolites of ginsenosides are responsible for the main pharmacological activities of ginseng. The purpose of this study was to find whether these metabolites influence hepatic metabolic enzymes and to predict the potential for ginseng-prescription drug interactions. Utilizing the probe reaction of CYP3A activity, testosterone 6beta-hydroxylation, the effects of derivatives of 20(S)-protopanaxadiol and 20(S)-protopanaxatriol families on CYP3A activity in rat liver microsomes were assayed. Our results showed that ginsenosides from the 20(S)-protopanaxadiol and 20(S)-protopanaxatriol family including Rb-1, Rb-2, Rc, Compound-K, Re, and Rg(1), had no inhibitory effect, whereas Rg(2), 20(S)-panaxatriol and 20(S)-protopanaxatriol exhibited competitive inhibitory activity against CVP3A activity in these microsomes with the inhibition constants (K) of 86.4+/-0.8mum, 1.7+/-0.1mum, and 3.2+/-0.2 mum, respectively. This finding demonstrates that differences in their chemical structure might influence the effects of ginsenosides on CYP3A activity and that ginseng-derived products might have potential for significant ginseng-drug interactions.

Separation of drug enantiomers by capillary electrophoresis in the presence of neutral cyclodextrins

This is a selected review, highlighting our results obtained in an extended screening program ("The German-Chinese Drug Screening Program"), with a focus on a set of original data obtained with heptakis(2,3,6-tri-O-methyl)-beta-cyclodextrin(TM-beta-CD) as the chiral solvating agent (CSA). The enantioseparation of 86 drugs by capillary zone electrophoresis in the presence of this CSA was successful for 47 drugs. The migration separation factors (alpha(m)) and the migration retardation factors (R-m) were compared with those found for native beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD). The patterns thus obtained were also compared with those observed for hexakis(2,3,6-tri-O-methyl)-alpha-CD (TM-alpha-CD) and octakis(2,3,6-tri-O-methyl)-gamma-CD (TM-gamma-CD), respectively. From the statistical data, it can be concluded that there is a remarkable influence of the analyte structure on the electrophoretic data. A substructure 4H was found in the analyte structure that has a significant influence on the analytes' behaviour. Thus, analytes bearing the substructure 4H do not only have a strong affinity to the CDs but also a high rate of success of chiral separation in all systems reviewed. In light of this, the different ring sizes of native cyclodextrins (alpha-, beta- and gamma-CD) readily explain their behaviour towards a limited test set of chiral drugs. Sterical considerations point to the significance of side-on-binding versus inclusion in the cavity of the host. In addition to the findings from the screening program, numerous references to the Literature are given. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of binary block-selective solvents on self-assembly of ABA triblock copolymer in dilute solution

We have studied the self-assembly of the ABA triblock copolymer (P4VP-b-PS-b-P4VP) in dilute solution by using binary block-selective solvents, that is, water and methanol. The triblock copolymer was first dissolved in dioxane to form a homogeneous solution. Subsequently, a given volume of selective solvent was added slowly to the solution to induce self-assembly of the copolymer. It was found that the copolymer (P4VP(43)-b-PS366-b-P4VP(43)) tended to form spherical aggregate or bilayer structure when we used methanol or water as the single selective solvent, respectively.

Novel NIR-absorbing conjugated polymers for efficient polymer solar cells: effect of alkyl chain length on device performance

Three low bandgap conjugated polymers, i.e., PDTPBT-C8, PDTPBT-C6 and PDTPBT-C5, which consist of alternating N-alkyl dithieno[3,2-b: 2',3'-d] pyrrole and 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole units and carry 1-octylnonyl, 1-hexylheptyl and 1-pentylhexyl as side chains, respectively, were synthesized. These polymers show strong absorption in the wavelength range of 600-900 nm with enhanced absorption coefficient as the length of alkyl chain decreases. The film morphology of the polymers and 1-(3-methoxycarbonyl) propyl-1-phenyl-[6,6]-C-61 (PCBM) blends is also dependent on the alkyl chain length. As the length decreases, the film becomes more uniform and the domian size decreases from 400-900 nm for PDTPBT-C8 to similar to 50 nm for PDTPBT-C5.

Effect of hydroxyl and amino groups on electrochemiluminescence activity of tertiary amines at low tris(2,2 '-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) concentrations

ECL of several amines containing different numbers of hydroxyl and amino groups was investigated. N-butyldiethanolamine is found to be more effective than 2-(dibutylamino)ethanol at gold and platinum electrodes, and is the most effective coreactant reported until now. Surprisingly, ECL intensities of monoamines, such as 2-(dibutylamino)ethanol and N-butyldiethanolamine, are much stronger than that of diamines including N,N,N',N'-tetrakis-(2-hydroxyethyl)-ethylenediamine and N,N,N',N'-tetrakis-(2-hydroxypropyl)ethlenediamine. The striking contrast between ECL signals of the investigated monoamines and diamines may result from more significant side reactions of diamines, such as the intramolecular side reactions between oxidative amine cation radicals and reductive amine free radicals.

Effect of Shear Flow on the Formation of Ring-Shaped ABA Amphiphilic Triblock Copolymer Micelles

We have investigated the effect of Shear flow on the formation of rill.-shaped ABA triblock copolymer (P4VP(43)-b-PS260-b-P4VP(43)) micelles. The results reveal that Shear flow Plays an important role in the formation of the rings Both ring size and its, distribution are found to be dependent sensitively on the stirring rate. Sizable rings are more likely to be formed at moderate stirring rate, Interestingly, the ring formation mechanism is also dependent oil the Shear flow. Copolymers are likely to form rings via end-to-end cylinder connection at low stirring rates, whereas they tend to form rings via the pathway of the rod-sphere-vesicle-ring it high stirring rates.

Biodegradable amphiphilic polymer-drug conjugate micelles

The coupling of drugs to macromolecular carriers received an important impetus from Ringsdorf's notion of polymer-drug conjugates. Several water-soluble polymers, poly(ethylene glycol), poly[N-(2-hydroxypropyl) methacrylamidel, poly(L-glutamic acid) and dextran, are studied intensively and have been utilized successfully in clinical research. The promising results arising from clinical trials with polymer-drug conjugates (e.g., paclitaxel, doxorubicin, camptothecins) have provided a firm foundation for other synthetic polymers, especially biodegradable polymers, used as drug delivery vehicles. This review discusses biodegradable polymeric micelles as an alternative drug-conjugate system. Particular focus is on A-B or B-A-B type biodegradable amphiphilic block copolymer such as polylactide, morpholine-2,5-dione derivatives and cyclic carbonates, which can form a core-shell micellar structure, with the hydrophobic drug-binding segment forming the hydrophobic core and the hydrophilic segment as a hydrated outer shell. Polymeric micelles can be designed to avoid uptake by cells of reticuloendothelial system and thus enhance their blood lifetime via the enhanced permeability and retention effect.

Effect of main-chain rigidity on the phase transitional behavior of comblike polymers

The influence of the rigidity of polymer backbones on the side-chain crystallization and phase transition behavior was systematically investigated by a combination of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and high-resolution solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). DSC investigation indicated that the crystallization number of alkyl carbon atoms of the side chains grafted onto the rigid polymer backbone, poly(p-benzamide) (PBA), is much lower than that of the alkyl carbon atoms of the side chains grafted onto the flexible polymer backbone, poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI), implying that the conformational state of the polymer backbones has a strong effect on the side-chain crystallization behavior in comblike polymers. WAXD and FTIR results proved that these two comblike polymers pack into hexagonal (PBA18C) and orthorhombic (PEI18C) crystals, respectively, depending on the adjusting ability of the polymer backbones for particular conformational states. It was also found that the presence of the crystalline-amorphous interphase (delta = 31.6 ppm) in PBA18C detected by solid-state C-13 NMR spectroscopy can be attributed to the rigid PBA backbone, which restricts the mobility of the alkyl side chains.

Monte Carlo simulation of the compatibility of graft copolymer compatibilized two incompatible homopolymer blends: Effect of graft structure

Compatibility of graft copolymer compatibilized two incompatible homopolymer A and B blends was simulated by using Monte Carlo method in a two-dimensional lattice model. The copolymers with various graft structures were introduced in order to study the effect of graft structure on the compatibility. Simulation results showed that incorporation of both A-g-B (A was backbone) and B-g-A (B was backbone) copolymers could much improve the compatibility of the blends. However, A-g-B copolymer was more effective to compatibilize the blend if homopolymer A formed dispersed phase. Furthermore, simulation results indicated that A-g-B copolymers tended to locate at the interface and anchor two immiscible components when the side chain is relatively long. However, most of A-g-B copolymers were likely to be dispersed into the dispersed homopolymer A phase domains if the side chains were relatively short. On the other hand, B-g-A copolymers tended to be dispersed into the matrix formed by homopolymer B. Moreover, it was found that more and more B-g-A copolymers were likely to form thin layers at the phase interface with decreasing the length of side chain.

Poly(L-lysine)-graft-chitosan copolymers: Synthesis, characterization, and gene transfection effect

Polypeptide/polysaccharide graft copolymers poly(L-lysine)-graft-chitosan (PLL-g-Chi) were prepared by ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of epsilon-benzoxycarbonyl L-lysine N-carboxyanhydrides (Z-L-lysine NCA) in the presence of 6-O-triphenylmethyl chitosan. The PLL-g-Chi copolymers were thoroughly characterized by H-1 NMR, C-13 NMR, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The number-average degree of polymerization of PLL grafted onto the chitosan backbone could be adjusted by controlling the feed ratio of NCA to 6-O-triphenylmethyl chitosan. The particle size of the complexes formed from the copolymer and calf thymus DNA was measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS). It was found in the range of 120 similar to 340 nm. The gel retardation electrophoresis showed that the PLL-g-Chi copolymers possessed better plasmid DNA-binding ability than chitosan. The gene transfection effect in HEK 293T cells of the copolymers was evaluated, and the results showed that the gene transfection ability of the copolymer was better than that of chitosan and was dependent on the PLL grafting ratio. The PLL-g-Chi copolymers could be used as effective gene delivery vectors.

White electroluminescence from a single-polymer system with simultaneous two-color emission: Polyfluorene as blue host and 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole derivatives as orange dopants on the side chain

Four single polymers with two kinds of attachment of orange chromophore to blue polymer host for white electroluminescence (EL) were designed. The effect of the side-chain attachment and main-chain attachment on the EL efficiencies of the resulting polymers was compared. The side-chain-type single polymers are found to exhibit more efficient white EL than that of the main-chain-type single polymers. Based on the side-chain-type white single polymer with 4-(4-alkyloxy-phenyl)-7-(4-diphenylamino-phenyl)-2,1,3-benzothiadiazoles as the orange-dopant unit and polyfluorene as the blue polymer host, white EL with simultaneous orange (lambda(max) = 545 nm) and blue emission (lambda(max) = 432 nm/460 nm) is realised. A single-layer device (indium tin oxide/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/polymer/Ca/Al) made of these polymers emits white light with the Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage coordinates of (0.30,0.40), possesses a turn-on voltage of 3.5 V, luminous efficiency of 10.66 cd A(-1), power efficiency of 6.68 lm W-1, and a maximum brightness of 21240 cd m(-2).