Antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of eight neglected fruit extracts and UHPLC-MS/MS profile of the active extracts

The 70% ethanolic extracts from eight neglected fruits; Muntingia calabura, Leucaena leucocephala, Spondias dulcis, Syzygium jambos, Mangifera caesia, Ardisia elliptica, Cynometra cauliflora and Ficus auriculata were evaluated for their 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging, α-glucosidase inhibitory activities as well as total phenolic content. The results of this study revealed that M. caesia fruit extract demonstrated the most potent radical scavenging activity. Among the fruits examined for α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, M. calabura and F. auriculata exhibited strong activity with no significant difference. The Pearson correlation indicated that the activities of M. caesia and F. auriculata contributed by phenolic compounds. A total of 65 metabolites were tentatively identified by using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHLPC-MS/MS). These findings suggested that the possible application of M. caesia and F. auriculata as a functional food with antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory properties.     

Effect of Doping of Zn and Ca into ErBa2Cu3O7?δ Superconductor Prepared via Co-precipitation Method

Zn- and Ca-doped ErBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ were successfully prepared via coprecipitation method using metal acetates as the starting salts. The precipitated samples were calcined for 20 h at 900 °C and sintered at 920 °C for 24 h. All heat treatments were carried out under oxygen environment. Results show that there is a selectivity of the doping site depending on the ionic radius of the dopant. Furthermore, increase in the critical temperature, T _c , was observed in 0.05 mole of calcium and zinc doped samples. The difference in ionic radius of the dopant led to the increase in porosity as the ionic radius decreases. On the other hand, structural distortion increased as the difference of ionic radius became larger.     

Successful Aging

This issue's Works in Progress department presents six abstracts for projects that are developing interesting solutions to the elderly's quality of life challenges. The first two abstracts discuss projects that will help provide the elderly with freedom and independence by instrumenting their environments with supportive technology. The next two abstracts discuss projects building specialized user interfaces for addressing some of the challenges associated with aging, such as vision impairment. The final two abstracts present projects that will aid independence for the elderly by providing remote monitoring and assistance.     

The application of interferometry to optical astronomical imaging

In the first part of this review we survey the role optical/infrared interferometry now plays in ground-based astronomy. We discuss in turn the origins of astronomical interferometry, the motivation for its development, the techniques of its implementation, examples of its astronomical significance, and the limitations of the current generation of interferometric arrays. The second part focuses on the prospects for ground-based astronomical imaging interferometry over the near to mid-term (i.e. 10 years) at optical and near-infrared wavelengths. An assessment is made of the astronomical and technical factors which determine the optimal designs for imaging arrays. An analysis based on scientific capability, technical feasibility and cost argues for an array of large numbers of moderate-sized (2 m class) telescopes rather than one comprising a small number of much larger collectors.     

Wide range electrostatic MEMS Fabry Perot optical tunable filter: modelling an electrostatic and mechanic beam deflection

A novel wide range electrostatic microelectromechanical system floating Fabry Perot optical tunable filter (MEMS f-FPOTF) is modelled and analyzed in terms of its electro-mechanic behaviour. The composite beam approach has been used to model the floating Fabry Perot cavity. The floating dual membrane FPOTF consists of multi layer Si/SiO₂/Si thin films with an optical cavity in the middle structure. The filter tuning range has been improved by utilizing bonded silicon on insulator wafers that permits the floating cavity to be deflected both ways; up and down. Electro-mechanic analysis shows a 7% (STRUCTURE1) and 5% (STRUCTURE2) difference between analytical and finite element modelling in which the 7% difference in light incident angle contributes to a 0.5 nm shift while the 5% difference in length of cavity indicates a 4 nm shift in MEMS f-FPOTF operating wavelength. This analysis validates the analytical modelling of this device as a wavelength selector in coarse wavelength division multiplexing.     

Ergonomics of wearable computers

Wearable computers represent a new and exciting area for technology development, with a host of issues relating to display, power and processing still to be resolved. Wearable computers also present a new challenge to the field of ergonomics; not only is the technology distinct, but the manner in which the technology is to be used and the relationship between user and computer have changed in a dramatic fashion. In this paper, we concentrate on some traditional ergonomics concerns and examine how these issues can be addressed in the light of wearable computers.     

Nitrogen-doped multiwalled carbon nanotubes decorated with copper(I) oxide nanoparticles with enhanced capacitive properties

We report on the enhanced capacitive properties of a copper(I) oxide nanoparticle (Cu₂O NP)-decorated multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) forest with nitrogen (N) doping. A careful in situ solid-state dewetting and plasma doping method was developed that ensured homogeneous decoration and contamination-free Cu₂O NPs with N doping on the nanotube sidewalls. The morphology and structure of the hybrid materials were characterised by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy. The electrochemical performance of the hybrid materials was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge/discharge tests in a 0.1 M Na₂SO₄ electrolyte. The electrochemical tests demonstrated that the Cu₂O NP/N-MWCNT electrode exhibits a specific capacitance up to 132.2 F g^?1 at a current density of 2.5 A g^?1, which is 30% higher than that of the pure MWCNT electrode. Furthermore, the electrode could retain the specific capacitance at 85% stability over 1000 cycles. These observations along with the simple assembly method for the hybrid materials suggest that the Cu₂O NP/N-MWCNT could be a promising electrode for supercapacitor applications.     

Highly sensitive integrated pressure sensor with horizontally oriented carbon nanotube network

This paper presents a functionalized, horizontally oriented carbon nanotube network as a sensing element to enhance the sensitivity of a pressure sensor. The synthesis of horizontally oriented nanotubes from the AuFe catalyst and their deposition onto a mechanically flexible substrate via transfer printing are studied. Nanotube formation on thermally oxidized Si (100) substrates via plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition controls the nanotube coverage and orientation on the flexible substrate. These nanotubes can be simply transferred to the flexible substrate without changing their physical structure. When tested under a pressure range of 0 to 50 kPa, the performance of the fabricated pressure sensor reaches as high as approximately 1.68%/kPa, which indicates high sensitivity to a small change of pressure. Such sensitivity may be induced by the slight contact in isolated nanotubes. This nanotube formation, in turn, enhances the modification of the contact and tunneling distance of the nanotubes upon the deformation of the network. Therefore, the horizontally oriented carbon nanotube network has great potential as a sensing element for future transparent sensors.