Optical Properties Study of S40Se60-xSbx Bulk Alloys

Bulk samples of S40Se60-xSbx (with x=10, 20, 30, 40 at. %) were prepared from high purity S, Se and Sb by melt quenching method. XRD studies revealed that all the samples have poly-crystalline phase. The variation in optical properties with composition has been investigated by XPS and Raman spectroscopy. The intensity of XPS core level spectra changes with addition of Sb clearly interprets the optical properties change due to compositional variation. The Raman shift and new peak formation in these samples clearly shows the structural modifications due to Sb addition.

Photo induced Effects on the Optical Properties of Sb40Se20S40 Thin Film

The thermally evaporated amorphous Sb40Se20S40 thin film of 800 nm thickness was subjected to light exposure for photo induced studies. The as-prepared and illuminated thin films were studied by X-ray diffraction, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy. The optical band gap was reduced due to photo induced effects along with the increase in disorder. These optical properties changes are due to the change of homopolar bond densities. The core level peak shifting in XPS spectra supports the optical changes happening in the film due to light exposure.

Nonlinear Refraction and Two-Photon Absorption in Dense 2Bi(2)O(3)-B2O3 Glasses

High density transparent glasses (7.86 g/cc) were fabricated in the 2Bi(2)O(3)-B2O3 (BBO) system. Optical band gap of the obtained glasses was found to be 2.6eV. The refractive index measured for these glasses was 2.25 +/- 0.05 at lambda=543 nm. Nonlinear refraction and absorption studies were carried out on the BBO glasses using z-scan technique a lambda=532 nm of 10 ns pulse width. The nonlinear refractive index obtained was n(2)=12.1x10(-14) cm(2)/W and nonlinear absorption coefficient was beta=15.2 cm/GW. The n(2) and beta values of the BBO glasses were large compared to the other reported high index bismuth based oxide glass systems in the literature. These were attributed to the high density, high linear refractive index, low band gap and two photon absorption associated with these glasses. The electronic origin of large nonlinearities was discussed based on bond-orbital theory.

Effect of Thickness on The Optical Properties Change in Bi/As2S3 Bilayer Thin Films

Bilayer thin films of Bi/As2S3 were prepared from Bi and As2S3 by thermal evaporation technique under high vacuum. We have prepared three bilayer films of 905nm, 910nm and 915nm thickness with with As2S3 as bottom layer (900nm) and Bi as top layer (5,10,15 nm). We have compared the optical changes due to the thickness variation of Bi layer on As2S3 film. The changes were characterized by FTIR and XPS techniques.

Effect of Oxygen Pressure on Structural and Magnetic Properties of YIG Thin Films

The effect of oxygen pressure (P-O2) on the Yttrium Iron Garnet (YIG) thin films were grown on silicon substrate by rf sputtering method was studied. The as-deposited films at 300K were amorphous in nature. The crystallization of these films was achieved by annealing at a temperature of 800 degrees C/1hr in air. The structural, microstructural and magnetic properties were found to be dependent on P-O2.

Raman & Infrared Study of Bi Filled Co4Sb12

CoSb3 skutterudites are established thermoelectric materials in the 500-800K temperature range. Undoped and Bi filled CoSb3 samples were synthesized by induction melting-annealing process and phase confirmation done by X-Ray diffraction. The role of bismuth as a filler in CoSb3 was investigated by Raman and far infrared reflectance study. It was found that bismuth strengthens Sb vibrations, and can potentially scatter Sb related acoustic phonons effectively. As a result substantial reduction in thermal conductivity may be possible with proper control of Bi filling.

Science of geoengineering

Carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of coal, oil, and gas are increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations. These increased concentrations cause additional energy to be retained in Earth's climate system, thus increasing Earth's temperature. Various methods have been proposed to prevent this temperature increase either by reflecting to space sunlight that would otherwise warm Earth or by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Such intentional alteration of planetary-scale processes has been termed geoengineering. The first category of geoengineering method, solar geoengineering (also known as solar radiation management, or SRM), raises novel global-scale governance and environmental issues. Some SRM approaches are thought to be low in cost, so the scale of SRM deployment will likely depend primarily on considerations of risk. The second category of geoengineering method, carbon dioxide removal (CDR), raises issues related primarily to scale, cost, effectiveness, and local environmental consequences. The scale of CDR deployment will likely depend primarily on cost.

Sensitivity of simulated climate to latitudinal distribution of solar insolation reduction in solar radiation management

Solar radiation management (SRM) geoengineering has been proposed as a potential option to counteract climate change. We perform a set of idealized geoengineering simulations using Community Atmosphere Model version 3.1 developed at the National Center for Atmospheric Research to investigate the global hydrological implications of varying the latitudinal distribution of solar insolation reduction in SRM methods. To reduce the solar insolation we have prescribed sulfate aerosols in the stratosphere. The radiative forcing in the geoengineering simulations is the net forcing from a doubling of CO2 and the prescribed stratospheric aerosols. We find that for a fixed total mass of sulfate aerosols (12.6 Mt of SO4), relative to a uniform distribution which nearly offsets changes in global mean temperature from a doubling of CO2, global mean radiative forcing is larger when aerosol concentration is maximum at the poles leading to a warmer global mean climate and consequently an intensified hydrological cycle. Opposite changes are simulated when aerosol concentration is maximized in the tropics. We obtain a range of 1 K in global mean temperature and 3% in precipitation changes by varying the distribution pattern in our simulations: this range is about 50% of the climate change from a doubling of CO2. Hence, our study demonstrates that a range of global mean climate states, determined by the global mean radiative forcing, are possible for a fixed total amount of aerosols but with differing latitudinal distribution. However, it is important to note that this is an idealized study and thus not all important realistic climate processes are modeled.

Modeling of solar radiation management: a comparison of simulations using reduced solar constant and stratospheric sulphate aerosols

The climatic effects of Solar Radiation Management (SRM) geoengineering have been often modeled by simply reducing the solar constant. This is most likely valid only for space sunshades and not for atmosphere and surface based SRM methods. In this study, a global climate model is used to evaluate the differences in the climate response to SRM by uniform solar constant reduction and stratospheric aerosols. Our analysis shows that when global mean warming from a doubling of CO2 is nearly cancelled by both these methods, they are similar when important surface and tropospheric climate variables are considered. However, a difference of 1 K in the global mean stratospheric (61-9.8 hPa) temperature is simulated between the two SRM methods. Further, while the global mean surface diffuse radiation increases by similar to 23 % and direct radiation decreases by about 9 % in the case of sulphate aerosol SRM method, both direct and diffuse radiation decrease by similar fractional amounts (similar to 1.0 %) when solar constant is reduced. When CO2 fertilization effects from elevated CO2 concentration levels are removed, the contribution from shaded leaves to gross primary productivity (GPP) increases by 1.8 % in aerosol SRM because of increased diffuse light. However, this increase is almost offset by a 15.2 % decline in sunlit contribution due to reduced direct light. Overall both the SRM simulations show similar decrease in GPP (similar to 8 %) and net primary productivity (similar to 3 %). Based on our results we conclude that the climate states produced by a reduction in solar constant and addition of aerosols into the stratosphere can be considered almost similar except for two important aspects: stratospheric temperature change and the consequent implications for the dynamics and the chemistry of the stratosphere and the partitioning of direct versus diffuse radiation reaching the surface. Further, the likely dependence of global hydrological cycle response on aerosol particle size and the latitudinal and height distribution of aerosols is discussed.

A detailed chemistry multi-cycle simulation of a gasoline fueled HCCI engine operated with NVO

A previously developed Stochastic Reactor Model (SRM) is used to simulate combustion in a four cylinder in-line four-stroke naturally aspirated direct injection Spark Ignition (SI) engine modified to run in Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) mode with a Negative Valve Overlap (NVO). A portion of the fuel is injected during NVO to increase the cylinder temperature and enable HCCI combustion at a compression ratio of 12:1. The model is coupled with GT-Power, a one-dimensional engine simulation tool used for the open valve portion of the engine cycle. The SRM is used to model in-cylinder mixing, heat transfer and chemistry during the NVO and main combustion. Direct injection is simulated during NVO in order to predict heat release and internal Exhaust Gas Recycle (EGR) composition and mass. The NOx emissions and simulated pressure profiles match experimental data well, including the cyclic fluctuations. The model predicts combustion characteristics at different fuel split ratios and injection timings. The effect of fuel reforming on ignition timing is investigated along with the causes of cycle to cycle variations and unstable operation. A detailed flux analysis during NVO unearths interesting results regarding the effect of NOx on ignition timing compared with its effect during the main combustion. © 2009 SAE International.

Modelling soot formation in a DISI engine

In this work, the formation of soot in a Direct Injection Spark Ignition (DISI) engine is simulated using the Stochastic Reactor Model (SRM) engine code. Volume change, convective heat transfer, turbulent mixing, direct injection and flame propagation are accounted for. In order to simulate flame propagation, the cylinder is divided into an unburned, entrained and burned zone, with the rate of entrainment being governed by empirical equations but combustion modelled with chemical kinetics. The model contains a detailed chemical mechanism as well as a highly detailed soot formation model, however computation times are relatively short. The soot model provides information on the morphology and chemical composition of soot aggregates along with bulk quantities, including soot mass, number density, volume fraction and surface area. The model is first calibrated by simulating experimental data from a Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) Spark Ignition (SI) engine. The model is then used to simulate experimental data from the literature, where the numbers, sizes and derived mass particulate emissions from a 1.83 L, 4-cylinder, 4 valve production DISI engine were examined. Experimental results from different injection and spark timings are compared with the model and the qualitative trends in aggregate size distribution and emissions match the exhaust gas measurements well. © 2010 The Combustion Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

ClpB proteina: informazio-bilketa eta proteomika ituratuaren bidez aztertzeko esperimentuaren diseinua

Zelulen bizi zikloan zehar zein inguruneko estimulu edo erasoen aurrean, geneek adierazpenean aldaketak pairatzen dituzte; proteinen sintesia beraz, prozesu dinamikoa da. Proteomikak izugarrizko jauzia suposatu du egoera ezberdinetan sintetizatzen diren proteinen inguruko ezagutzan. Hasiera batean esfortzu gehienak identifikaziora bideratzen ziren arren, azken hamarkadetan identifikazioaz gain, kuantifikazioak indar handia hartu du. Hala izanik, gaur egun ikerkuntza arloan lagin biologiko konplexuetako proteinen identifikazio eta kuantifikazioa bereizmen handiz eta era errepikakorrean burutzeko metodoen behar handia dago. Proteomika diziplina sortu zenetik eta berrikuntza teknologikoek lagunduta, geneen adierazpen mailaren, isoformen eta itzulpen ondoko eraldaketen inguruko geroz eta informazio gehiago lortzen den arren, egunera arte erabilitako metodo guztiek zenbait muga edo traba agertzen dituztela ukaezina da. 2D geletako proteinen analisiarekin hasi eta masa espektrometrian oinarritutako eskala handiko proteomikatik igarota, gaur egun masa espektrometrian oinarritzen den eta puri-purian dagoen proteomika ituratura heldu gara. Azken hurbilketa honek lagin konplexuetan bereizmen eta espezifikotasun handiz, interesekoa den proteina jakin bat edo batzuk identifikatu eta kuantifikatzeko aukera eskaintzen du. Proteomika ituratua SRM (Single Reaction Monitoring) teknikaren eskutik agertu zen arren, gaur egun PRM (Parallel Reaction Monitoring) teknika ari da aurrekoarekiko gailentzen are bereizmen eta sentikortasun handiagoa eskaintzen baitu. Testuingurua hau izanik, aurkezten den lan honetan, Escherichia coliren (E. coli) ClpB proteinaren identifikazioa burutzeko PRM bidezko esperimentu bat diseinatu da. Batetik, proteina honen jarraipena egiteko erabiliko diren peptido proteotipikoen aukeraketa eskala handiko MS/MS esperimentuen bidez zein eskuragarri dauden datu-baseak erabilita burutu daitekeela frogatu da. Bestetik, PRM esperimentua lagin konplexu batekin burutu eta hautatutako peptidoak behatu daitezkeela ikusi da. Are gehiago, lortutako emaitzei erreparatuta, peptidoen aukeraketa esperimentuaren arrakastarako faktore erabakigarria dela ondorioztatu da. Gainera, proiektu honetan aurkezten den lanarekin, orain arteko biokimikako beste teknikek eskatzen duten lan eskerga ekiditen da. Hortaz, PRM teknika lagin konplexuetan inolako frakzionamendu, purifikazio edo aberastasun pausorik gabe intereseko proteina baten kuantifikazioa burutzeko metodo egokia dela frogatu da.

Towards in situ Single Cell Systems Biology

Systems-level studies of biological systems rely on observations taken at a resolution lower than the essential unit of biology, the cell. Recent technical advances in DNA sequencing have enabled measurements of the transcriptomes in single cells excised from their environment, but it remains a daunting technical problem to reconstruct in situ gene expression patterns from sequencing data. In this thesis I develop methods for the routine, quantitative in situ measurement of gene expression using fluorescence microscopy.

The number of molecular species that can be measured simultaneously by fluorescence microscopy is limited by the pallet of spectrally distinct fluorophores. Thus, fluorescence microscopy is traditionally limited to the simultaneous measurement of only five labeled biomolecules at a time. The two methods described in this thesis, super-resolution barcoding and temporal barcoding, represent strategies for overcoming this limitation to monitor expression of many genes in a single cell. Super-resolution barcoding employs optical super-resolution microscopy (SRM) and combinatorial labeling via-smFISH (single molecule fluorescence in situ hybridization) to uniquely label individual mRNA species with distinct barcodes resolvable at nanometer resolution. This method dramatically increases the optical space in a cell, allowing a large numbers of barcodes to be visualized simultaneously. As a proof of principle this technology was used to study the S. cerevisiae calcium stress response. The second method, sequential barcoding, reads out a temporal barcode through multiple rounds of oligonucleotide hybridization to the same mRNA. The multiplexing capacity of sequential barcoding increases exponentially with the number of rounds of hybridization, allowing over a hundred genes to be profiled in only a few rounds of hybridization.

The utility of sequential barcoding was further demonstrated by adapting this method to study gene expression in mammalian tissues. Mammalian tissues suffer both from a large amount of auto-fluorescence and light scattering, making detection of smFISH probes on mRNA difficult. An amplified single molecule detection technology, smHCR (single molecule hairpin chain reaction), was developed to allow for the quantification of mRNA in tissue. This technology is demonstrated in combination with light sheet microscopy and background reducing tissue clearing technology, enabling whole-organ sequential barcoding to monitor in situ gene expression directly in intact mammalian tissue.

The methods presented in this thesis, specifically sequential barcoding and smHCR, enable multiplexed transcriptional observations in any tissue of interest. These technologies will serve as a general platform for future transcriptomic studies of complex tissues.

La estratigrafía analítica: 25 años de ensayo y aprendizaje en el análisis e interpretación del registro arqueológico

Homenaje a Georges Laplace, realizado en Vitoria-Gasteiz el 13,14 y 15 de noviembre de 2012. Edición a cargo de Aitor Calvo, Aitor Sánchez, Maite García-Rojas y Mónica Alonso-Eguíluz.

La evaluación de los úrsidos en medios karsticos de la Cornisa Cantábrica

681 p.