Finite element study on the influence of pore size and structure on stress shielding effect of additive manufactured spinal cage.

The stress shielding effect occurs when the orthopedic implant reduces the load delivered to the bone, causing inefficient stress transfer to the host bone. The usage of porous additive manufactured (AM) cages reduces the stress shielding effect and promotes bone ingrowth also. The purpose of this work is to study the stress and deformation on porous hybrid spinal cages under different loading conditions using Finite Element Analysis (FEA). The spinal cages consisting of three porous structures with pore sizes ranging from 0.4 to 0.6 mm were investigated for stress shielding and fatigue strength. The results showed a significant reduction in stress shielding for the studied designs and conclude that the pore size has a greater significant effect on stress shielding than the porous structure in spinal cages.

Soil concentrations and soil-air exchange of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in five Asian countries.

The Asia Soil and Air Monitoring Program (Asia-SAMP) is a large-scale monitoring program spanning China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and India. 47 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analyzed in 169 concurrently collected surface soil samples across the five study regions. Total PAH concentrations (∑47PAHs) ranged from 13.1 to 7310 ng/g dry weight, with a median value of 272 ng/g dry weight. Higher concentrations of ΣPAHs were recorded in soils from urban areas, followed by soils from rural areas and background soils. Low correlation coefficients were found between PAHs concentrations with population density, surface air temperature and soil organic content. A trend of depleting high molecular weight PAHs and enrichment of low molecular weight PAHs occurred from east to west in Chinese soils. Based on atmospheric PAHs detected in almost the same sampling sites, the equilibrium status of PAHs in the atmosphere and on the ground was investigated. Sample sites with a soil-air equilibrium status for different PAH congeners recorded differences, and differences were recorded between seasons. 2-ring PAHs were mainly volatilized, and 5- & 6-ring PAHs were mainly deposited in all seasons and across all study regions. 3- & 4-ring PAHs were more affected by soil-air transfer, showing a tendency to accumulate in soils in cold regions/seasons and to be re-volatilized into the atmosphere in warm regions/seasons. Partitioning and exchange of PAHs among soil and air were significantly affected by the air temperature.

Occurrence and Source Effect of Novel Brominated Flame Retardants (NBFRs) in Soils from Five Asian Countries and Their Relationship with PBDEs.

This paper presents the first comprehensive survey of 19 novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs) in soil samples collected among five Asian countries. High variability in concentrations of all NBFRs was found in soils with the geometric mean (GM) values ranging from 0.50 ng/g dry weight (dw) in Vietnam to 540 ng/g dw in the vicinity of a BFR manufacturer in China. In urban, rural, and background locations, the GM concentrations of ∑19NBFRs decreased in the order of Japan > South Korea > China > India > Vietnam. Correlations among different NBFR compounds were positive and statistically significant (p < 0.05), suggesting that they originate from similar sources. Evidence for simultaneous application between polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and NBFRs were also noted. Principal component analysis of NBFR concentrations revealed specific pollution sources for different NBFRs coming from urban, BFR-related industrial, and e-waste sites. For the first time, this study demonstrates a "point source fractionation effect" for NBFRs and PBDEs. The concentrations of all NBFRs and PBDEs were negatively and significantly correlated with the distance from BFR-related industrial and e-waste regions. Positive and significant correlation between population density and NBFR concentrations in soils was identified. Our study revealed that the primary sources effects were stronger than the secondary sources effects in controlling the levels and distribution of NBFRs and PBDEs in soils in these five Asian countries.

Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) in Surface Soils across Five Asian Countries: Levels, Spatial Distribution, and Source Contribution.

A total of 23 polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners were measured in soil samples collected in areas with no known point source [urban/rural/background (U/R/B) sites] and in areas with known point source [brominated flame retardant (BFR)-related industrial sites (F sites) and e-waste recycling sites (E sites)] across five Asian countries. The highest PBDE concentrations were found in BFR-related industrial and e-waste recycling sites. The concentrations of PBDEs in U/R/B sites decreased in the following order: urban > rural > background sites. Total PBDE concentrations were dominated by BDE-209, while BDE-17, -85, -138, -191, -204, and -205 were the least abundant compounds. In both urban sites and rural sites, the mean concentrations of total PBDEs (∑23BDEs) in soils decreased in the following order: Japan > China > South Korea > India > Vietnam. The concentrations of PBDEs in soils were comparable with those reported in other studies. Among the three commercial PBDE mixtures, relatively large contributions of commercial penta-BDE were observed in Vietnam, whereas deca-BDE was the dominant form in mixtures contributing from 55.8 ± 2.5 to 100.0 ± 1.2% of the total PBDEs in soils collected from other four countries. Regression analysis suggested that local population density (PD) is a good indicator of PBDEs in soils of each country. Significant and positive correlation between soil organic content and PBDE level was observed in Chinese soil for most nondeca-BDE homologues with their usage stopped 10 years ago, indicating its important role in controlling the revolatilization of PBDEs from soil and changing the spatial trend of PBDE in soil from the primary distribution pattern to the secondary distribution pattern, especially when primary emission is ceased.

Design and analysis of single-mode tellurite photonic crystal fibers for stimulated Brillouin scattering based slow-light generation.

We theoretically examine two designs of single-mode (i) Er-doped tellurite and (ii) undoped tellurite photonic crystal fiber (PCF) for generation of slow light with tunable features based on stimulated Brillouin scattering. We obtained (i) Brillouin gain up to 91 dB and time delay of ∼145 ns at maximum allowable pump power of ∼775 mW in a 2 m Er-doped tellurite PCF and (ii) Brillouin gain up to ∼88 dB and time delay of ∼154 ns at maximum allowable pump power ∼21 mW in a 100 m undoped tellurite photonic crystal fiber. Simulated results clearly indicate that the doped tellurite PCF with Er enhances the maximum allowable pump power and comparable time delay can be obtained even with reduced photonic crystal fiber length. We believe that the carried out examination and simulation have potential impact on design and development of slow-light-based photonic devices applicable in telecommunication systems, enhancement of optical forces, and quantum computing.

Design and analysis of a highly nonlinear composite photonic crystal fiber for supercontinuum generation: visible to mid-infrared.

A composite photonic crystal fiber structure has been designed with tellurite as the cladding and chalcogenide as a core material. To increase nonlinearity, rods of the chalcogenide glass material have been inserted around the core region. The reported structure offers very high nonlinearity of 1042 W-1 Km-1 at 2800 nm pump wavelength with low and flattened dispersion of approximately -11 ps·nm-1 Km-1. An effective mode area of 6.46 µm2 of the propagating mode has been achieved as at pump wavelength. Such a highly nonlinear composite photonic crystal fiber structure is a potential candidate for nonlinear applications, such as slow-light and supercontinuum generation. Pumping at 2800 nm results in a supercontinuum spectrum spanning 0.5-4.7 µm using 8 mm long photonic crystal fiber pumped with femtosecond laser pulses with peak power of 3 kW.

Large-mode-area single-polarization single-mode photonic crystal fiber: design and analysis.

A rectangular core photonic crystal fiber structure has been presented and analyzed for single-polarization single-mode operation. Single-polarization is obtained with asymmetric design and by introducing different loss for x-polarization and y-polarization of fundamental modes. Single-polarization single-mode operation of the proposed photonic crystal fiber is investigated in detail by using a full vector finite element method with an anisotropic perfectly matched layer. The variations of the confinement loss and effective mode area of x-polarization and y-polarization of fundamental modes have been simulated by varying the structural parameters of the proposed photonic crystal fiber. At the optimized parameters, confinement loss and effective mode area is obtained as 0.94 dB/m and 60.67 µm2 for y-polarization as well as 26.67 dB/m and 67.23 µm2 for x-polarization of fundamental modes, respectively, at 1.55 µm. Therefore simulation results confirmed that, 0.75 m length of fiber will be sufficient to get a y-polarized fundamental mode with an effective mode area as large as 60.67 µm2.

Distribution, Fate, Inhalation Exposure and Lung Cancer Risk of Atmospheric Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Some Asian Countries.

A large-scale monitoring program, the Asia Soil and Air Monitoring Program (Asia-SAMP), was conducted in five Asian countries, including China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, and India. Air samples were collected using passive air samplers with polyurethane foam disks over four consecutive 3-month periods from September 2012 to August 2013 to measure the seasonal concentrations of 47 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), including 21 parent and 26 alkylated PAHs, at 176 sites (11 background, 83 rural, and 82 urban). The annual concentrations of total 47 PAHs (∑47PAHs) at all sites ranged from 6.29 to 688 ng/m(3) with median of 82.2 ng/m(3). Air concentrations of PAHs in China, Vietnam, and India were greater than those in Japan and South Korea. As expected, the air concentrations (ng/m(3)) were highest at urban sites (143 ± 117) followed by rural (126 ± 147) and background sites (22.4 ± 11.4). Significant positive correlations were found between PAH concentrations and atmosphere aerosol optical depth. The average benzo(a)pyrene equivalent concentration (BaPeq) was 5.61 ng/m(3). It was estimated that the annual BaPeq concentrations at 78.8% of the sampling sites exceeded the WHO guideline level. The mean population attributable fraction (PAF) for lung cancer due to inhalation exposure to outdoor PAHs was on the order 8.8‰ (0.056-52‰) for China, 0.38‰ (0.007-3.2‰) for Japan, 0.85‰ (0.042-4.5‰) for South Korea, 7.5‰ (0.26-27‰) for Vietnam, and 3.2‰ (0.047-20‰) for India. We estimated a number of lifetime excess lung cancer cases caused by exposure to PAHs, which the concentrations ranging from 27.8 to 2200, 1.36 to 108, 2.45 to 194, 21.8 to 1730, and 9.10 to 720 per million people for China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, and India, respectively. Overall, the lung cancer risk in China and Vietnam were higher than that in Japan, South Korea, and India.

Asymmetric large-mode-area photonic crystal fiber structure with effective single-mode operation: design and analysis.

The asymmetrical structure of photonic crystal fiber has been reported for a large mode area with the single-mode operation. The design works on the principle of bend-induced mode filtering. The proposed structure can be designed (i) by introducing down-doped material rods in place of nine air holes of the inner ring near the core of the structure and (ii) by increasing the diameter of the rest of the three air holes of the same ring in the direction of bending. These three air holes together with nine down-doped material rods control the mode field inside the core region and hence the bending losses of the modes. The single-mode operation is ensured by introducing high bend loss for the first higher order mode and very low bend loss for the fundamental mode. The finite-element-method-based anisotropic perfectly matched layer boundary condition has been applied for accurate analysis of bend loss of the structure. Numerical results show that effective single-mode operation can be ensured with a mode area as large as 1530 µm2 at bend state with a bend radius of 30 cm. The proposed photonic crystal optical fiber with such a large mode area can have potential applications in compact high-power delivery devices such as high-power fiber lasers and amplifiers.

Ultra broadband mid-IR supercontinuum generation in Ge11.5As24Se64.5 based chalcogenide graded-index photonic crystal fiber: design and analysis.

In this paper, we report design and numerical analysis of a Ge11.5As24Se64.5 based chalcogenide glass graded-index photonic crystal fiber structure for mid-IR ultra broadband supercontinuum generation. The proposed dispersion engineered photonic crystal fiber offers a zero dispersion wavelength at a pump wavelength of 2.8 µm. To simulate the supercontinuum generation spectrum, the orders of dispersion coefficient up to the ninth order are considered. Simulated results indicate that an ultra broadband supercontinuum spectrum spanning 1-16 µm has been achieved using a 10 mm long photonic crystal fiber structure pumped with 50 fs secant hyperbolic pulses of 3 kW at a -30 dB spectral intensity level. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time such broad supercontinuum spectrum has been reported. This ultra broadband mid-IR supercontinuum spectrum is applicable in many diverse fields, including medical, defense, metrology, and spectroscopy.

Experimental and theoretical study of hydroxyquinolines: hydroxyl group position dependent dipole moment and charge-separation in the photoexcited state leading to fluorescence.

Optical absorption and fluorescence (FL) spectra of 2-, 6-, 7-, 8-hydroxyquinolines (2-,6-,7- and 8-HQs) have been measured at room temperature in the wide range of solvents of different polarities, dielectric constant and refractive index. The ground state dipole moment (µ g) and excited state dipole moment (µ e) of 2-, 6-, 7- and 8-HQs were obtained using solvatochromic shift (SS) methods and microscopic solvent polarity parameters (MSPP). Change in the dipole moment (Δµ) between the ground and photo-excited states was estimated from SS and MSPP methods. DFT and TDDFT based theoretical calculations were performed for the ground and excited states dipole moments, and for vertical transitions. A significant enhancement in the excited state dipole moment was observed following photo-excitation. The large value of Δµ clearly indicates to the charge-separation in the photo-excited states, which in turn depends on the position of the hydroxyl group in the ring.

Design and analysis of large-core multitrench channel waveguide for high-power applications.

We present a multitrench leaky channel waveguide design that supports effective single-mode operation even with large-core size. The proposed waveguide structure has a uniform rectangular core and a geometrically shaped trench-assisted cladding in such a way that all the confined modes become leaky. The effective single-mode operation is achieved by choosing the appropriate geometrical parameters that introduce very large leakage losses for higher-order modes with very low leakage losses for fundamental mode. A power law profile for cladding geometry is considered to explore the effect of trenches on the effective single-mode operation. The finite element method is used to calculate the leakage losses of the modes. Our numerical results show that the waveguide ensures extended single-mode operation in the wavelength range of 1.25-2.0 µm with the rectangular core area as large as 100 µm2. Such a large-core-area waveguide structure efficiently suppresses unwanted nonlinear optical effects. A proposed channel waveguide structure with a large core size is suitable for high-power delivery devices such as high-power waveguide lasers and amplifiers.

Triangular-core large-mode-area photonic crystal fiber with low bending loss for high power applications.

A triangular-core large-mode-area photonic crystal fiber structure has been designed with lower bending loss. The design works on the principle of bend induced mode filtering. Effects of the design parameters have been numerically investigated using the full vectorial finite-element method. In order to improve the effective mode area of fundamental mode along with the differential bending loss, five down-doped material rods have been introduced in place of five air holes in cladding. The structure supports effective mode-area of fundamental mode as large as 794 µm2 with nominal bend loss of 0.064 dB/m at bend radius of 15 cm. This structure is able to suppress all unwanted nonlinear effects and can be a potential candidate for designing compact high power delivery devices.

Field emission with ultralow turn on voltage from metal decorated carbon nanotubes.

A simple and scalable method of decorating 3D-carbon nanotube (CNT) forest with metal particles has been developed. The results observed in aluminum (Al) decorated CNTs and copper (Cu) decorated CNTs on silicon (Si) and Inconel are compared with undecorated samples. A significant improvement in the field emission characteristics of the cold cathode was observed with ultralow turn on voltage (Eto ∼ 0.1 V/µm) due to decoration of CNTs with metal nanoparticles. Contact resistance between the CNTs and the substrate has also been reduced to a large extent, allowing us to get stable emission for longer duration without any current degradation, thereby providing a possibility of their use in vacuum microelectronic devices.

Assessment of temporal variation in water quality of some important rivers in middle Gangetic plains, India.

The study explains water quality of three important tributaries of the Ganga River in the middle Gangetic plains in India. Seasonal changes in the water quality of the studied rivers: Gandak, Ghaghra, and Sone were observed. During monsoon, several water quality parameters show considerable changes due to increased runoff from the catchments and other seasonal factors. Multivariate discriminant analysis delineated a few parameters responsible for temporal variation in water quality. Seasonal variation in water quality of the Gandak River was rendered by seven parameters-turbidity, sulfate, pH, phosphate, water temperature, total alkalinity, and sodium, while total alkalinity and water temperature were responsible for seasonal discrimination in water quality of Ghaghra River. Water temperature, turbidity, total dissolved solids, total suspended solids, calcium, and phosphate were important for seasonal discrimination in water quality of Sone River. The seasonal changes in water quality of the rivers were due to seasonal effects and catchment characteristics. The discriminant functions classified most of the cases correctly.

Phylogenetic position of Platanista gangetica: insights from the mitochondrial cytochrome b and nuclear interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein gene sequences.

The evolutionary relationship of peculiar and poorly known Ganges River dolphin with extinct and extant cetaceans has been in the state of confusion for more than a century. The close resemblance of platanistidae with some of the extinct taxon viz., Dalpiaziniidae and Waipatiidae and their sister group relationship with many of the extant lineages of cetaceans has been reported but none of the alternative hypotheses provide an unambiguous placement for this species. The present study provides insights into the molecular relationships of Platanista with other cetaceans based on comprehensive analyses of the mitochondrial cytochrome b and nuclear interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein gene sequences, obtained from 15 specimens of Ganges dolphin from India and Bangladesh. The mean substitution distance analysis of phylogenetically informative characters in the cytochrome b sequences suggested that Platanista gangetica is significantly closer (P<0.001) to Mysticeti than to any other group of toothed whales. However, the conventional methods of phylogenetic reconstruction supported this finding with low to moderate (41-69%) bootstrap values.