Trapping Structures Research Articles

Immunopathologic Role of Eosinophils in Eosinophilic Chronic Rhinosinusitis.

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a diverse chronic inflammatory disease of the sinonasal mucosa. CRS manifests itself in a variety of clinical and immunologic patterns. The histological hallmark of eosinophilic CRS (ECRS) is eosinophil infiltration. ECRS is associated with severe disease severity, increased comorbidity, and a higher recurrence rate, as well as thick mucus production. Eosinophils play an important role in these ECRS clinical characteristics. Eosinophils are multipotential effector cells that contribute to host defense against nonphagocytable pathogens, as well as allergic and nonallergic inflammatory diseases. Eosinophils interact with Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcal enterotoxin B, and fungi, all of which were found in the tissue of CRS patients. These interactions activate Th2 immune responses in the sinonasal mucosa and exacerbate local inflammation. Activated eosinophils were discovered not only in the tissue but also in the sinonasal cavity secretion. Eosinophil extracellular traps (EETs) are extracellular microbes trapping and killing structures found in the secretions of CRS patients with intact granule protein and filamentous chromatic structures. At the same time, EET has a negative effect by causing an epithelial barrier defect. Eosinophils also influence the local tissue microenvironment by exchanging signals with other immune cells and structural cells. As a result, eosinophils are multifaceted leukocytes that contribute to various physiologic and pathologic processes of the upper respiratory mucosal immune system. The goal of this review is to summarize recent research on the immunopathologic properties and immunologic role of eosinophils in CRS.

Conformal PDMS films for strengthening flexibility and retaining absorption in pyramid ultra-thin c-Si solar cells

Ultra-thin c-Si solar cells with the advantages of flexibility, translucence and portability are weakened in the performance of flexibility due to the surface light trapping structure, which reduces its future application potential. In this work, we designed a conformal PDMS film on the Si surface with pyramid structure to greatly inhibit the stress concentration on the surface and enhance the flexibility of ultra-thin c-Si solar cells. The maximum decrease of the Si surface stress can reach 71.19%, from 232.07 N/m2 of the pyramid structure to 66.86 N/m2 of the conformal PDMS film. In this process, it is found that at the stress concentration position, the conformal PDMS film can change the included angle of stress directions from 180° to 90° for reducing the probability of Si wafer rupture. In addition, the refractive index change in the vertical direction of the conformal PDMS film is more moderate, which can achieve the reflection reduction to improve the light absorption from 91.36% to 94.17%. Using multi physical simulation to evaluate the mechanical and photoelectric properties, the ultra-thin c-Si solar cell with conformal PDMS film has the best comprehensive performance, with the maximum surface stress of 74.59 N/m2 and the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 19.04%, which is reduced by 49.49% and increased by 4.27%.

Sedimentology and New Paleogeographic Data of the Lower Eocene Chouabine Formation in the Gafsa Basin (Tunisia), Southern Tethyan Margin

Abstract Facies and paleo-environment reconstruction applied to the lower Eocene Chouabine deposits occurring in the Gafsa area in Tunisia provided important information on sediment cyclicity and paleogeographic conditions. From west to east, four sections were surveyed: Tamerza (25 m), Oued Thelja (48 m), Jebel Ong (25 m), and Jebel Chamsi (45 m). Furthermore, the facies stacking pattern allowed for the reconstruction of depositional environments in relation to sea level changes. The Chouabine Formation is formed by the succession of three sequences composed of marls, phosphorites, and carbonates. There are five main facies organized into two transgressive cycles. The gradual transition of facies from intertidal to circatidal environments unraveled the sedimentation on a homoclinal ramp, episodically swept by upwelling currents. The Chouabine Formation is made of deepening–upwards cycles. Each cycle ranges from 2 to 5 m in thickness. The proximal-distal transition of depositional environments was gradually increasing from intertidal to offshore environments. Lateral variation of thickness and facies is generated by the reactivation of inherited NW-SE extensive and/or transtensive faults, acting since the late Cretaceous during the intermediate closing phase of the Neotethys. Synsedimentary tectonics has created trap structures favouring confinement conditions in the center of the basin, permitting the accumulation and preservation of large thicknesses of phosphate deposits. Based on new litho- and biostratigraphic data, this study presents for the first time a clear and detailed regional stratigraphic correlation and paleogeographic maps.

Tuning the persistent luminescence property of a Y3Al2Ga3O12:Ce3+,Yb3+ phosphor by controlling the intrinsic oxygen vacancy concentration.

Oxygen vacancies (VO), acting as electron traps, have a significant impact on the persistent luminescence (PersL) property of persistent phosphors. However, the effect of VO on PersL remains still unclear enough to limit the development of PersL materials. In this study, the VO concentration of the Y2.978Ce0.018Yb0.004Al2Ga3O12 phosphor is accurately controlled by annealing in air and 10%H2/90%Ar atmospheres at various temperatures. The results show as the annealing temperature increases during the air annealing the VO concentration, the PersL durations, and the thermoluminescence (TL) intensity constantly decreases, and the three data coincide well with each other, indicating the PersL property of the Y2.978Ce0.018Yb0.004Al2Ga3O12 is successfully tuned. Besides, the trap structure of the Y2.978Ce0.018Yb0.004Al2Ga3O12 and the charge compensation effect of Yb ions on VO defects are also discussed. By deconvoluting the TL curves, the Yb trap with a depth of 0.58 eV has been distinctly separated from the VO traps with a quasi-continuous and broad distribution of depths ranging from 0.58 to 1.21 eV. Our work demonstrates a better understanding of the relationship between VO and PersL is of great significance to design a high-performance phosphor.

Gradual funnel photon trapping enhanced InAs/GaSb type-II superlattice infrared detector.

InAs/GaSb type-II superlattice materials have attracted in the field of infrared detection due to their high quality, uniformity and stability. The performance of InAs/GaSb type-II superlattice detector is limited by dark noise and light response. This work reports a gradual funnel photon trapping (GFPT) structure enabling the light trapping in the T2SL detector absorption area. The GFPT detector exhibits an efficient broadband responsivity enhancement of 30% and a darker current noise reduction of 3 times. It has excellent passivated by atomic layer deposition and achieves a high detectivity of 1.51 × 1011 cm Hz1/2 at 78 K.

Microfluidic Dielectrophoretic Method Enables On-Demand Spatial Arrangement of Bacteria-Encapsulated Agarose Gel Microparticles.

Microbial interactions within a natural or engineered consortium of microbes play an important role in the functions of the consortium. Better understanding these interactions is also important for engineering microbial consortia for specific applications. As such, tools that can enable investigating microbial interactions are highly valuable. One aspect of microbial interactions that impacts community formation is how the spatial organization of individual microbes impacts interactions leading to community formation. Here, we report the development of a tool that can manipulate the spatial organization of microorganisms to investigate the role of these interactions in community formation. Our developed microfluidic platform utilizes dielectrophoretic (DEP) force to perform on-demand spatial arrangement of microorganism-encapsulated agarose gel microparticles. To demonstrate this concept, three gel microparticle manipulators composed of three independently controllable DEP electrodes were utilized for the on-demand spatial arrangement of a specific combination of microparticles, each containing Escherichia coli cells expressing red fluorescence protein, green fluorescent protein, or blank content. The spatially arranged microparticles suspended in carrier oil were first trapped in a downstream particle trapping structure to form a defined microparticle array, followed by the application of an electric field to disrupt the carrier oil barrier so that all gel microparticles were within the same aqueous solution while the individual gel microparticles remain intact, thereby maintaining their spatial arrangements. We demonstrated that this method can be utilized to generate various arrays with differing number of "spacer microparticles", which were blank microparticles, between the two different E. coli-containing microparticles, enabling precise control over spatial distances between the two different cell populations. This method paves the way for more easily investigating bacterial interactions, especially those that depend on their spatial arrangement such as where cell-cell communication plays a major role.

Tungsten-Disulfide-Based Ultrathin Solar Cells for Space Applications

Two-dimensional (2-D) materials, such as transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), are strong candidates for space photovoltaics as they are very lightweight, flexible, and resilient to ionizing radiation. Here, an ultrathin tungsten disulfide (WS <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> ) based photovoltaic cell with photon management features has been modeled, with performance improvement from enhanced absorption. Our photovoltaic model consists of a 200 nm thick WS <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> -based heterojunction solar cell, similar to the HIT (heterojunction with intrinsic thin layer) solar cell structure, together with a light trapping grating structure and an antireflection coating layer. The photovoltaic cell with an optimized 1-D grating light trapping structure and an appropriate antireflection dielectric coating was demonstrated to give an efficiency above 23% under the AM0 solar spectrum in our model—comparable with other single-junction space photovoltaic cells. The material properties are taken directly from experimentally observed results; the proposed device architecture with additional optical features is based on experimentally fabricated devices and structures and is expected to be resistant to ionizing radiation in the space environment. Our results show that our TMDC-based photovoltaic system with light trapping and antireflection coating is a strong candidate for space photovoltaic applications.

Amphiphysin AoRvs167-Mediated Membrane Curvature Facilitates Trap Formation, Endocytosis, and Stress Resistance in Arthrobotrys oligospora.

Bin1/Amphiphysin/Rvs (BAR) domain-containing proteins mediate fundamental cellular processes, including membrane remodeling and endocytosis. Nematode-trapping (NT) fungi can differentiate to form trapping structures through highly reorganized cell membranes and walls. In this study, we identified the NT fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora ortholog of yeast Rvs167 and documented its involvement in membrane bending and endocytosis. We further confirmed that the deletion of AoRvs167 makes the fungus more hypersensitive to osmotic salt (Nacl), higher temperatures (28 to 30 °C), and the cell wall perturbation agent Congo red. In addition, the disruption of AoRvs167 reduced the trap formation capacity. Hence, AoRvs167 may regulate fungal pathogenicity through the integrity of plasma membranes and cell walls.

Fault-bounded models of oil–Gas and gas–Hydrate accumulation in the Chaoshan Depression, the South China Sea

The Dongsha Basin is a large Mesozoic basin extended from the northern South China Sea (SCS) to onshore South China. Though long-term uplift and denudation occurred since the end of the Mesozoic, still thick Mesozoic strata (up to 5,000 m) relict over the Dongsha waters where lies the largest depression, Chaoshan Depression, covering an area of 3.7 × 104 km2. It was confirmed by a drilling hole, the well LF35-1-1, that high organic carbon-bearing marine Jurassic layers are present in the depression. However, due to the complexity of the superposed Mesozoic and Cenozoic tectonism and poor imaging quality in previous surveys, the petroleum geology remains poorly understood in view of the deep basin structure, the Mesozoic hydrocarbon migration conditions, and the oil–gas accumulation mechanism. In recent surveys, the seismic imaging quality has been significantly improved by employing long and quasi-3D seismic streamer techniques. Correlating with the regional geology onshore the South China, drilling data of the Well LF35-1-1, and well-tying seismic profiles, it is found that two sets of source rocks are developed in the semi-closed gulf during the Upper Triassic-Lower Jurassic and the Upper Jurassic. Their effective thicknesses are estimated as 495 m and 600 m, respectively, being hopeful with high hydrocarbon generation potentials. During the Dongsha Movement that occurred in the late Cenozoic, deep faults have been extensively activated to disturb the overlying sequences, even in some places breaking through the seafloor. A potential trap structure, DS-A, is found in an intra-sag bulge which is bounded by antithetic and synthetic faults. The oil and gas generated in the neighboring sags can migrate along the faults into reservoir layers at higher levels. The antithetic faults also play the role of seal for oil and gas from the hanging wall. Apparent flat bright spots appearing within the DS-A trap indicate likely entrapment of layered petroleum. The synthetic faults on the opposite side of the DS-A structure, although fails to seal oil–gas reservoirs, provide plumbing channels for oil and gas to leak to the shallow layers above which a few pockmarks and mud volcanoes are visible. As the water depth of the continental slope there ranges from 300 m to 2000 m, it is likely for the leaked gas to form natural gas hydrates. A close cogenetic interrelation exists between the natural gas hydrates at the seafloor and oil–gas reservoirs in the deep.

Structural and analyses of thermoluminescence glow curves in Sm doped SrGd2O4 phosphor

In this study, SrGd2O4: xSm3+ (x = 0%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, and 5%) phosphors were synthesized using solid state reaction method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements confirmed a orthorhombic structure (space group Pnam (62)) of synthesized compounds. Following irradiation with 10 Gy beta dose, the sample doped with 0.5% Sm exhibited the highest integrated thermoluminescence (TL) intensity with the IRSL-TL wideband blue filter. In order to evaluate dose-response, samples were irradiated with beta radiation for 0.1–10 Gy. The Hoogenstraaten’s method, the initial rise method, combined with the TM-Tstop experiment, and glow curve fitting package were employed to determine the number of peaks, the trap structure, and the kinetic parameters of the thermoluminescence glow curve of Sm doped SrGd2O4. Based on the glow curve deconvolution obtained using software package, the component TL glow peaks present in the complex glow curve are composed of well-isolated five overlapping glow peaks.

Synthesis and thermoluminescence study of Eu doped novel LaBO3 phosphor: Heating rate, dose response, trapping parameters

In this study, LaBO3, one of the Lanthanum-based perovskites-type oxides, and a series of LaBO3:Eu3+ phosphor samples were synthesized by solid state reaction technique. By using XRD, samples of the synthesized samples were analysed to identify a compound that indicates orthorhombic cells belonging to the Pmcn (62) space group. After 5 Gy of beta irradiation, the sample doped with 0.5 mass % Eu showed the highest integrated thermoluminescence intensity (TL). To evaluate the dose response, samples were irradiated with beta radiation from 0.1 to 100 Gy. The studied sample exhibits linear behaviour up to doses up to 5 Gy, while above this (up to 100 Gy) shows quasi-linear behaviour before reaching saturation. The peak number, trap structure, and kinetic parameters of Eu-doped LaBO3 thermoluminescence curves were determined using an initial rise method combined with TM-Tstop experiments, various heating rates (VHR), and Glow Curve Deconvolution (GCD) method. TM–Tstop calculations suggest nine plateaus of activation with energies of 1.21 eV, 0.98 eV, 1.03 eV, 1.32 eV, 1.43 eV, 0.68 eV, 1.98 eV, 1.83 eV and 1.92 eV which constitute the main radiation storage contributions. The GCD method was used to calculate trap depths and frequency factors ranging from 0.68 to 1.95 eV and from 106 to 1015 s−1, respectively. In VHR method, one of the high temperature glow peaks exhibited unusual behaviour which was attributed to a competition between radiative and non-radiative transitions.

Numerical optimization of amplitude-modulated pulses in microwave-driven entanglement generation

Microwave control of trapped ions can provide an implementation of high-fidelity two-qubit gates free from errors induced by photon scattering. Furthermore, microwave conductors may be embedded into a scalable trap structure, providing the chip-level integration of control that is desirable for scaling. Recent developments have demonstrated how amplitude modulation of the gate drive can permit a two-qubit entangling operation to become robust against motional mode noise and other experimental imperfections. Here, we discuss a method for the numerical optimization of the microwave pulse envelope to produce gate pulses with noise resilience, considerably faster operation and high energy efficiency.

Optical studies and validation of multidimensional hybrid metamaterial embedded light trapping structure for p-Si/n-ZnO based thin c-Si solar cell

ABSTRACT This paper deals with one competent light trapping structure of metamaterials embedded p-Si/n-ZnO-based thin solar cell assisted by different simulation studies. Through this article, the author exposed the credibility of ZnO as multidimensional material with dual utility to serve as anti-reflective coating with active material of this heterojunction solar cell. Additionally, dielectric metamaterial like silica nanoparticles on top of the structure enhanced the photon cultivation efficiency of the device. Further through this work, the author tries to validate the simulated structure in real world by the process of simple fabrication technique, which also offers same optical responses already given by theoretical studies. This investigation also confirms the metamaterial property of the monolayer silica nanoparticles in higher angle of incidence of light, which validates its utility in solar cell where injection of photon is needed throughout the day..

Determination of extracellular traps structures from sheep polymorphonuclear leukocytes to Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces

It was aimed to detect extracellular traps structures from sheep polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) after being confronted with Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces in vitro. Also, the effect of cyst fluid was examined on the development of extracellular traps. At the end of the incubation for 1 h, the extracellular traps augmented with neutrophil elastase, histone (H3) and myeloperoxidase were visualized in the protoscoleces-PMN co-culture microscopically. Some protoscoleces lysed and the chitinous hooks released were surrounded by the extracellular traps. The other protoscoleces were still intact and the extracellular trap structures were observed around them. The relationship between the extracellular DNA contents and the protoscoleces concentration was not found statistically significant (P > 0.05). The extracellular DNA amount in the co-cultures diluted in RPMI-1640 increased with the incubation time (P < 0.05). However, the time-dependent relationship was not found in the co-cultures diluted in the cyst fluid (P > 0.05). The difference in the extracellular DNA amount was detected as statistically significant (P < 0.05) between the two co-culture groups (diluted in RPMI-1640 or the cyst fluid), except for 30 min incubation. To the Author's knowledge, NETosis reaction was firstly observed in sheep PMN after being confronted with protoscoleces in vitro. The cyst fluid had some negative effects on the development of extracellular traps from sheep PMNs at the 1-h incubation time. It should be investigated which molecules are responsible for NETosis inhibition in hydatid cyst fluid. Future studies may clarify whether neutrophils fight with protoscoleces by using their different mechanisms.

Thermoluminescence glow curve analysis of Ca3Y2B4O12 phosphor prepared using combustion method

Ca3Y2B4O12 (CBYO) phosphor was synthesized using a gel combustion method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurement confirmed a single-phase structure (space group Pnma (62)) of synthesized compound. TL measurements were conducted between room temperature (RT) and 450 °C at a heating rate of 2 °Cs−1. Significant glow peaks were observed at 64, 116, and 242 °C in CYBO phosphor sample exposed to different beta doses. In the range of 0.1–100 Gy, the TL intensity of the glow peak displayed good linearity. Different methods were employed to determine the number of peaks, the trap structure, and the kinetic parameters of the thermoluminescence glow curve of CBYO; the Hoogenstraaten method, various heating rates (VHR), and glow curve deconvolution method (CGCD) implemented through tgcd:An R package. Currently available findings confirm that CYBO host is a promising candidate for environmental studies because one exhibits adequate TL dose response coupled with a good sensitivity and linearity.

Dual-mode room temperature self-calibrating photodiodes approaching cryogenic radiometer uncertainty

The room temperature dual-mode self-calibrating detector combines low-loss photodiodes with electrical substitution radiometry for determination of optical power. By using thermal detection as a built-in reference in the detector, the internal losses of the photodiode can be determined directly, without the need of an external reference. Computer simulations were used to develop a thermal design that minimises the electro-optical non-equivalence in electrical substitution. Based on this thermal design, we produced detector modules that we mounted in a trap structure for minimised reflection loss. The thermal simulations predicted a change in response of around 280 parts per million per millimeter when changing the position of the beam along the centre line of the photodiode, and we were able to reproduce this change experimentally. We report on dual-mode internal loss estimation measurements with radiation of 488 nm at power levels of 500 μW, 875 μW and 1250 μW, using two different methods of electrical substitution. In addition, we present three different calculation algorithms for determining the optical power in thermal mode, all three showing consistent results. We present room temperature optical power measurements at an uncertainty level approaching that of the cryogenic radiometer with 400 ppm (k = 2), where the type A standard uncertainty in the thermal measurement only contributed with 26 ppm at 1250 μW in a 6 hour long measurement sequence.

The diversity of beta defensins in lungfish (Dipnoi)

Abstract Mucosal surfaces are the first line of defense against pathogens. At these surfaces, mucus containing innate and adaptive immune molecules is constantly secreted to protect the animal host. African lungfish are the extant relatives to all tetrapods and have a dual mode of living, swimming in freshwater during the wet seasons and aestivating during the dry seasons. During terrestrialization, African lungfish produce large amounts of mucus that form a dry cocoon to prevent water loss. We recently reported that the lungfish cocoon acts as a bacterial trapping structure and it is rich in antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), specifically beta defensins (BD). As many AMPs, BDs are small amphipathic molecules and mainly cationic. The goal of this study is to provide a full characterization of BD genes from transcriptomes and genomes of different lungfish species. Using the canonical six cysteine motif from vertebrate BD molecules, we searched for all BD genes Protopterus dolloi transcriptomes, the genomes of P. annectens and Australian lungfish (a non-aestivating lungfish, Neoceratodus forsteri). BLASTs searches identified 9 BD genes in P. dolloi transcriptomes with predicted highly cationic characteristics except for BD-7. Sequence alignment and phylogenetic trees indicate that three P. dolloi BD genes may be an intermediate form of AMP between beta and alpha defensins. Genomic analyses indicate that P. annectens BD genes contain 3 exons and 2 introns similar to all defensin genes. Future studies will determine the tissue distribution and antimicrobial function of Protopterus spp. BD molecules and determine their potential application as alternatives to antibiotics. Supported by National Science Foundation Integral Organismal Systems (IOS) award # 1938816

Broadband absorption enhancement in carbon-based perovskite solar cell with a composite light trapping structure

In this work, a composite light-trapping strategy based on Ag@SiO2 nanoparticles embedded inside the active layer and an antireflection coating on the top surface is proposed to obtain broadband absorption improvement in carbon-based perovskite solar cells (C–PSCs). The effects of geometrical parameters, including the radius and period of Ag nanoparticles, the thickness of the protective SiO2 shell and the thickness of the antireflection coating, on the light absorption are investigated using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. Simulation results illustrate that nearly full absorption of light can be achieved with the optimized structure parameters for a 600 nm thick perovskite layer using the composite light-trapping scheme. The short-circuit current density (JSC) exhibits an improvement of 24.8% relatively compared to the C-PSC without light management. The proposed composite light-trapping structure allows improved light utilization and saved material consumption in C–PSCs.

Thermoluminescence glow curve analysis and kinetic parameters of Eu doped Li2MoO4 ceramic phosphors

LiMoO4: x Eu ceramic phosphors with x = 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 mol% were synthesized using a gel combustion method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements confirmed a rhombohedral structure (space group R3) of synthesized compounds. Following irradiation with 50 Gy beta dose, the sample doped with 5 mol% Eu exhibited the highest integrated thermoluminescence (TL) intensity. In order to evaluate dose-response, samples were irradiated with beta radiation for 10–1000 Gy. TL intensity with 1000 Gy dose without saturation yielded the highest integrated value. Different methods were employed to determine the number of peaks, the trap structure, and the kinetic parameters of the thermoluminescence glow curve of Eu doped Li2MoO4: the Hoogenstraaten method, the Booth-Bohun-Parfianovitch method, the initial rise method (IR), combined with the TM-Tstop experiment, various heating rates (VHR), and glow curve fitting with two different software packages. Based on the glow curve deconvolution obtained using both software packages, the component TL glow peaks present in the complex glow curve are composed of well-isolated nine overlapping glow peaks. Two software packages have shown quite similar activation energies and frequency factors.

Design and simulations for a Penning Ion Trap Source for the CHIP-TRAP Mass Spectrometer

At Central Michigan University (CMU) we have been developing the CMU High Precision Penning Trap (CHIP-TRAP) mass spectrometer for precise mass measurements on stable and long-lived radioactive isotopes. As part of this apparatus, we have designed a Penning Ion Trap (PIT) source to produce singly-charged, low intensity (∼100s to 1000s of ions in ∼1 μs duration) ion pulses from gaseous samples. The PIT source is similar to a PIG type source, composed of an electric field superimposed on a magnetic field. The electric field is produced by a cylindrical Penning trap structure consisting of two end caps and a center ring with a trap volume of about 0.8 cm3. The trap structure is housed inside a permanent neodymium ring magnet bore. Gas is inserted into the trapping region and ionized by an ∼1 μA electron beam from a thermal emitter. Ions are extracted from the PIT source by lowering the voltage on one of the end caps. They are then accelerated into the beam line. In this paper, we report on the design of the PIT source and simulations to investigate and characterize the expected beam properties.