Fluoroplast Doped by Ag2O Nanoparticles as New Repairing Non-Cytotoxic Antibacterial Coating for Meat Industry.

Foodborne infections are an important global health problem due to their high prevalence and potential for severe complications. Bacterial contamination of meat during processing at the enterprise can be a source of foodborne infections. Polymeric coatings with antibacterial properties can be applied to prevent bacterial contamination. A composite coating based on fluoroplast and Ag2O NPs can serve as such a coating. In present study, we, for the first time, created a composite coating based on fluoroplast and Ag2O NPs. Using laser ablation in water, we obtained spherical Ag2O NPs with an average size of 45 nm and a ζ-potential of -32 mV. The resulting Ag2O NPs at concentrations of 0.001-0.1% were transferred into acetone and mixed with a fluoroplast-based varnish. The developed coating made it possible to completely eliminate damage to a Teflon cutting board. The fluoroplast/Ag2O NP coating was free of defects and inhomogeneities at the nano level. The fluoroplast/Ag2O NP composite increased the production of ROS (H2O2, OH radical), 8-oxogualnine in DNA in vitro, and long-lived active forms of proteins. The effect depended on the mass fraction of the added Ag2O NPs. The 0.01-0.1% fluoroplast/NP Ag2O coating exhibited excellent bacteriostatic and bactericidal properties against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria but did not affect the viability of eukaryotic cells. The developed PTFE/NP Ag2O 0.01-0.1% coating can be used to protect cutting boards from bacterial contamination in the meat processing industry.

Laser Remote Sensing of Lake Kinneret by Compact Fluorescence LiDAR.

Harmful algal blooms in freshwater reservoirs became a steady phenomenon in recent decades, so instruments for monitoring water quality in real time are of high importance. Modern satellite remote sensing is a powerful technique for mapping large areas but cannot provide depth-resolved data on algal concentrations. As an alternative to satellite techniques, laser remote sensing is a perspective technique for depth-resolved studies of fresh or seawater. Recent progress in lasers and electronics makes it possible to construct compact and lightweight LiDARs (Light Detection and Ranging) that can be installed on small boats or drones. LiDAR sensing is an established technique; however, it is more common in studies of seas rather than freshwater reservoirs. In this study, we present an experimental verification of a compact LiDAR as an instrument for the shipborne depth profiling of chlorophyll concentration across the freshwater Lake Kinneret (Israel). Chlorophyll depth profiles of 3 m with a 1.5 m resolution were measured in situ, under sunlight conditions. A good correlation (R2 = 0.89) has been established between LiDAR signals and commercial algae profiler data. A non-monotonic algae depth distribution was observed along the boat route during daytime (Tiberias city-Jordan River mouth-Tiberias city). The impact of high algal concentration on water temperature laser remote sensing has been studied in detail to estimate the LiDAR capability of in situ simultaneous measurements of temperature and chlorophyll concentration.

Tunable-shift stimulated Raman scattering in water by chirped 50 fs to 4.5 ps UV-pulses.

Forward stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) induced by focused 400 nm pulses chirped to different pulse durations is observed in water and heavy water. The first Stokes Raman peak shift is shown to be tunable in the range of ${{3500 {-} 4200}}\;{{\rm{cm}}^{- 1}}$ in water and ${{2450 {-} 3250}}\;{{\rm{cm}}^{- 1}}$ in heavy water. It is demonstrated that the Stokes peak shift increases for shorter pulse durations and higher intensities.

Picosecond stimulated Raman scattering at 3000 and 3430 cm-1 OH vibrations without optical breakdown: publisher's note.

This publisher's note contains corrections to Opt. Lett.45, 5624 (2020)OPLEDP0146-959210.1364/OL.402358.

Picosecond stimulated Raman scattering at 3000 and 3430 cm-1 OH vibrations without optical breakdown.

For the first time, to the best of our knowledge, stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) of picosecond laser pulses without optical breakdown has been detected simultaneously (as the first Stokes and anti-Stokes paired components) at ∼3430 and ∼3000cm-1 vibrations of water OH band. These components were generated coaxially to the pump beam in the forward direction as axial and conical ring beams, respectively, when the pump beam was focused at the water-air interface. We suggest an explanation of these new SRS phenomena by non-collinear four-wave parametric interaction.

In situ elemental analysis and failures detection during additive manufacturing process utilizing laser induced breakdown spectroscopy.

The feasibility of in situ quantitative multielemental analysis and production failures detection by laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has been demonstrated during direct energy deposition process in additive manufacturing. Compact LIBS probe was developed and equipped with the laser cladding head installed at industrial robot for real-time chemical quantitative analysis of key components (Ni, W) during the synthesis of high wear resistant coatings of nickel alloy reinforced with tungsten carbide particles. Owing to non-uniform distribution of tungsten carbide grains in the upper surface layer the only acceptable choice for LIBS sampling was made to the melt pool at growing clad. Laser ablation at powder particles above melt pool was insignificant for LIBS plasma properties due to low intensity and low probability of plasma breakdown at powder particles. No impact of LIBS sampling on cladding process and clad properties was observed according to optical and scanning electron microscopies. The feasibility of in situ LIBS quantitative elemental analysis of key components (tungsten and nickel) has been demonstrated during the cladding process. LIBS analysis results were in good agreement with offline measurements by electron energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. Finally, LIBS technique was demonstrated to be a good tool for real-time detection of cladding process failures (poor laser beam quality, undesirable variation of components concentrations).

Asymmetrical-cavity picosecond Raman laser at the water-air interface.

For the first time, to the best of our knowledge, we demonstrated a new type of Raman laser with asymmetrical cavity at the liquid-air interface. We observed an intriguing stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) threshold dependence when the pumping laser beam waist was transferred through the liquid-air interface, and we demonstrated a paradoxical 30-fold SRS threshold reduction in the vicinity of the water-air surface. The minimum SRS threshold was achieved when the pumping laser beam waist was located at the liquid surface. To explain the abnormal SRS threshold dependence, we suggested a new lasing mechanism. Finally, we demonstrated that threshold measurements at the liquid-air interface are a reliable method to quantitatively measure the interaction length in SRS experiments with a focused beam.

Combining Raman and laser induced breakdown spectroscopy by double pulse lasing.

A new approach combining Raman spectrometry and laser induced breakdown spectrometry (LIBS) within a single laser event was suggested. A pulsed solid state Nd:YAG laser running in double pulse mode (two frequency-doubled sequential nanosecond laser pulses with dozens microseconds delay) was used to combine two spectrometry methods within a single instrument (Raman/LIBS spectrometer). First, a low-energy laser pulse (power density far below ablation threshold) was used for Raman measurements while a second powerful laser pulse created the plasma suitable for LIBS analysis. A short time delay between two successive pulses allows measuring LIBS and Raman spectra at different moments but within a single laser flash-lamp pumping. Principal advantages of the developed instrument include high quality Raman/LIBS spectra acquisition (due to optimal gating for Raman/LIBS independently) and absence of target thermal alteration during Raman measurements. A series of high quality Raman and LIBS spectra were acquired for inorganic salts (gypsum, anhydrite) as well as for pharmaceutical samples (acetylsalicylic acid). To the best of our knowledge, the quantitative analysis feasibility by combined Raman/LIBS instrument was demonstrated for the first time by calibration curves construction for acetylsalicylic acid (Raman) and copper (LIBS) in gypsum matrix. Combining ablation pulses and Raman measurements (LIBS/Raman measurements) within a single instrument makes it an efficient tool for identification of samples hidden by non-transparent covering or performing depth profiling analysis including remote sensing. Graphical abstract Combining Raman and laser induced breakdown spectroscopy by double pulse lasing.

Laser crater enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

Raman signal enhancement by multiple scattering inside laser crater cones was observed for the first time, to the best of our knowledge. Laser crater enhanced Raman spectroscopy (LCERS) yielded a 14-fold increase in the Raman spectra bands due to efficient multiple scattering of laser irradiation within the laser crater walls. The same pulsed Nd:YAG laser (532 nm, 10 ns) was used for both laser crater formation and Raman scattering experiments by varying the output pulse energy. First, powerful pulses are used to produce the laser crater; then low-energy pulses are used to perform Raman scattering measurements. The laser crater profile and its alignment with the laser beam waist were found to be the key parameters for the optimization of the Raman spectrum intensity enhancement. Raman intensity enhancement resulted from increased surface scattering area at the crater walls, rather than spatially offset Raman scattering. The increased signal-to-noise ratio resulted in limits of detection improvement for quantitative analysis using LCERS.

Quantifying Raman OH-band spectra for remote water temperature measurements.

Remote water temperature measurements by Raman scattering is a perspective tool for in situ and/or real-time studies for inaccessible areas such as the Arctic region. State-of-the-art laser remote temperature detection techniques are based on temperature-dependent transformation of the Raman OH stretching vibration band. This study compared different approaches quantifying Raman OH-band spectra transformation with temperature: the two-color technique, deconvolution procedure, Raman difference spectroscopy, and centroid technique. Distilled water was probed remotely by compact Raman LIDAR, and the results demonstrated that the Raman OH-band centroid technique achieved the best temperature measurement accuracy (±0.15°C).

Transparent material thickness measurements by Raman scattering.

An efficient and simple and convenient technique for transparent samples thickness measurements by Raman spectroscopy is suggested. The elastic scattering can be effectively used for sample border indication if the refractive index changes more than 3%, while it fails to detect an ice-to-water border of floating ice. The alternative is to use Raman spectroscopy to detect the interface between different layers of transparent materials. The difference between the Raman spectra of poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA) and water, and between ice and liquid water were employed to locate the PMMA-water and ice-water interfaces, while elastic scattering was used for air-solid surface detection. This approach yields an error of 2%-5% indicating that it is promising to express a remote and noninvasive thickness measurement technique in field experiments.

Ice thickness measurements by Raman scattering.

A compact Raman LIDAR system with a spectrograph was used for express ice thickness measurements. The difference between the Raman spectra of ice and liquid water is employed to locate the ice-water interface while elastic scattering was used for air--ice surface detection. This approach yields an error of only 2 mm for an 80 mm thick ice sample, indicating that it is a promising express noncontact thickness measurements technique in field experiments.

Remote sensing of seawater and drifting ice in Svalbard fjords by compact Raman lidar.

A compact Raman lidar system for remote sensing of sea and drifting ice was developed at the Wave Research Center at the Prokhorov General Physics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The developed system is based on a diode-pumped solid-state YVO(4):Nd laser combined with a compact spectrograph equipped with a gated detector. The system exhibits high sensitivity and can be used for mapping or depth profiling of different parameters within many oceanographic problems. Light weight (∼20 kg) and low power consumption (300 W) make it possible to install the device on any vehicle, including unmanned aircraft or submarine systems. The Raman lidar presented was used for study and analysis of the different influence of the open sea and glaciers on water properties in Svalbard fjords. Temperature, phytoplankton, and dissolved organic matter distributions in the seawater were studied in the Ice Fjord, Van Mijen Fjord, and Rinders Fjord. Drifting ice and seawater in the Rinders Fjord were characterized by the Raman spectroscopy and fluorescence. It was found that the Paula Glacier strongly influences the water temperature and chlorophyll distributions in the Van Mijen Fjord and Rinders Fjord. Possible applications of compact lidar systems for express monitoring of seawater in places with high concentrations of floating ice or near cold streams in the Arctic Ocean are discussed.