Measurement of absolute cell volume, osmotic membrane water permeability, and refractive index of transmembrane water and solute flux by digital holographic microscopy.

ABSTRACT. A dual-wavelength digital holographic microscope to measure absolute volume of living cells is proposed. The optical setup allows us to reconstruct two quantitative phase contrast images at two different wavelengths from a single hologram acquisition. When adding the absorbing dye fast green FCF as a dispersive agent to the extracellular medium, cellular thickness can be univocally determined in the full field of view. In addition to the absolute cell volume, the method can be applied to derive important biophysical parameters of living cells including osmotic membrane water permeability coefficient and the integral intracellular refractive index (RI). Further, the RI of transmembrane flux can be determined giving an indication about the nature of transported solutes. The proposed method is applied to cultured human embryonic kidney cells, Chinese hamster ovary cells, human red blood cells, mouse cortical astrocytes, and neurons.

Uso de regressões logísticas múltiplas para mapeamento digital de solos no Planalto Médio do RS

Regressões nominais logísticas estabelecem relações matemáticas entre variáveis independentes contínuas ou discretas e variáveis dependentes discretas. Essas foram avaliadas quanto ao seu potencial em predizer a ocorrência e distribuição de classes de solos na região dos municípios de Ibirubá e Quinze de Novembro (RS). A partir de modelo numérico de terreno digital (MNT) com 90 m de resolução, foram calculadas variáveis de terreno topográficas (elevação, declividade e curvatura) e hidrográficas (distância dos rios, índice de umidade topográfica, comprimento de fluxo de escoamento e índice de poder de escoamento). Foram então estabelecidas regressões logísticas múltiplas entre as classes de solos da região com base em levantamento tradicional na escala 1:80.000 e as variáveis de terreno. As regressões serviram para calcular a probabilidade de ocorrência de cada classe de solo, e o mapa final de solos estimado foi produzido atribuindo-se a cada célula do mapa a denominação da classe de solo com maior probabilidade de ocorrência. Observou-se acurácia geral (AG) de 58 % e acurácia pelo coeficiente Kappa de Cohen de 38 %, comparando-se o mapa original com o mapa estimado dentro da escala original. Uma simplificação de escala foi pouco significativa para o aumento da acurácia do mapa, sendo 61 % de AG e 39 % de Kappa. Concluiu-se que as regressões logísticas múltiplas apresentaram potencial preditivo para serem usadas como ferramentas no mapeamento supervisionado de solos.

Gated Geiger mode avalanche photodiode pixels with integrated readout electronics for low noise photon detection

Avalanche photodiodes operated in the Geiger mode offer a high intrinsic gain as well as an excellent timing accuracy. These qualities make the sensor specially suitable for those applications where detectors with high sensitivity and low timing uncertainty are required. Moreover, they are compatible with standard CMOS technologies, allowing sensor and front-end electronics integration within the pixel cell. However, the sensor suffers from high levels of intrinsic noise, which may lead to erroneous results and limit the range of detectable signals. They also increase the amount of data that has to be stored. In this work, we present a pixel based on a Geiger-mode avalanche photodiode operated in the gated mode to reduce the probability to detect noise counts interfering with photon arrival events. The readout circuit is based on a two grounds scheme to enable low reverse bias overvoltages and consequently lessen the dark count rate. Experimental characterization of the fabricated pixel with the HV-AMS 0.35µm standard technology is also presented in this article.

A reusable smart interface for gas sensor resistance measurement

The advances of the semiconductor industry enable microelectromechanical systems sensors, signal conditioning logic and network access to be integrated into a smart sensor node. In this framework, a mixed-mode interface circuit for monolithically integrated gas sensor arrays was developed with high-level design techniques. This interface system includes analog electronics for inspection of up to four sensor arrays and digital logic for smart control and data communication. Although different design methodologies were used in the conception of the complete circuit, high-level synthesis tools and methodologies were crucial in speeding up the whole design cycle, enhancing reusability for future applications and producing a flexible and robust component.

Effect of fertilization on soil phosphorus in a long-term field experiment in southern Finland

Selostus: Maan fosforitilan muutos pitkäaikaisessa kenttäkokeessa hietamaalla

Electroluminiscence and optical amplification in silicon nanostructures: towards the integration of electronics and photonics

This line of research of my group intends to establish a Silicon technological platform in the field of photonics allowing the development of a wide set of applications. Particularly, what is still lacking in Silicon Photonics is an efficient and integrable light source such an LED or laser. Nanocrystals in silicon oxide or nitride matrices have been recently demonstrated as competitive materials for both active components (electrically and optically driven light emitters and optical amplifiers) and passive ones (waveguides and modulators). The final goal is the achievement of a complete integration of electronic and optical functions in the same CMOS chip. The first part of this paper will introduce the structural and optical properties of LEDs fabricated from silicon nanostructures. The second will treat the interaction of such nanocrystals with rare-earth elements (Er), which lead to an efficient hybrid system emitting in the third window of optical fibers. I will present the fabrication and assessment of optical waveguide amplifiers at 1.54 ¿m for which we have been able to demonstrate recently optical gain in waveguides made from sputtered silicon suboxide materials.