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Yang, Guang

Publications and source records attributed to Yang, Guang.

At least 127 records · Page 7
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2017

Self-Assembly of Large Gold Nanoparticles for Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Performance of portable technologies from mobile phones to electric vehicles is currently limited by the energy density and lifetime of lithium batteries. Expanding the limits of battery technology requires in situ detection of trace components at electrode–electrolyte interphases. Surface-enhance Raman spectroscopy could satisfy this need if a robust and reproducible substrate were available. Gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) larger than 20 nm diameter are expected to greatly enhance Raman intensity if they can be assembled into ordered monolayers. A three-phase self-assembly method is presented that successfully results in ordered Au NP monolayers for particle diameters ranging from 13 to 90 nm. The monolayer structure and Raman enhancement factors (EFs) are reported for a model analyte, rhodamine, as well as the best performing polymer electrolyte salt, lithium bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide. Experimental EFs for the most part correlate with predictions based on monolayer geometry and with numerical simulations that identify local electromagnetic field enhancements. Lastly, the EFs for the best performing Au NP monolayer are between 10 6 and 10 8 and give quantitative signal response when analyte concentration is changed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2017

Potent and broad HIV-neutralizing antibodies in memory B cells and plasma

Induction of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) is a goal of HIV-1 vaccine development. Antibody 10E8, reactive with the distal portion of the membrane-proximal external region (MPER) of HIV-1 gp41, is broadly neutralizing. However, the ontogeny of distal MPER antibodies and the relationship of memory B cell to plasma bnAbs are poorly understood. HIV-1–specific memory B cell flow sorting and proteomic identification of anti-MPER plasma antibodies from an HIV-1–infected individual were used to isolate broadly neutralizing distal MPER bnAbs of the same B cell clonal lineage. Structural analysis demonstrated that antibodies from memory B cells and plasma recognized the envelope gp41 bnAb epitope in a distinct orientation compared with other distal MPER bnAbs. The unmutated common ancestor of this distal MPER bnAb was autoreactive, suggesting lineage immune tolerance control. Construction of chimeric antibodies of memory B cell and plasma antibodies yielded a bnAb that potently neutralized most HIV-1 strains. external region (MPER) have extensive neutralization breadth, and one of these, 10E8, reactive to the distal MPER, is one of the most broadly reactive HIV-1–neutralizing antibodies isolated to date (1–3). Two other MPER-binding gp41 bnAbs, 2F5 and 4E10, are both polyreactive, and their expression is limited by immune tolerance control in bnAb knock-in mice (4–7). In contrast, the 10E8 bnAb, in addition to potency and breadth, has lower reactivity with host molecules than 2F5 and 4E10 (1, 8–10). Thus, vaccine strategies for induction of 10E8-like antibodies are key to the development of an HIV-1 vaccine that can induce multiple broad and potent neutralizing antibody specificities. Here, we have isolated a clonal lineage (DH511) of broad and potent Env gp41 distal MPER bnAbs from both memory B cells and plasma from an HIV-1–infected African individual, defined the DH511 developmental pathway, and demonstrated the reactivity of the DH511 unmutated common ancestor (UCA) with the A subunit of the autoantigen ribonucleoprotein (RNP), providing a mechanism of bnAb induction. Finally, plasma DH511 bnAb lineage members were equally as potent neutralizers of HIV-1 as were bnAbs derived from memory B cells. Moreover, a chimeric DH511 lineage antibody consisting of memory bnAb V H [variable region of immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chain] and plasma bnAb V L (variable region of Ig light chain) was broader than 10E8 and neutralized 99% of the HIV-1 isolates tested.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2016

Positive and negative contribution to birefringence in a family of carbonates: A Born effective charges analysis

It is an important topic to investigate the birefringence and reveal the contribution from ions to birefringence because it plays an important role in nonlinear optical materials. In this paper, the birefringence of carbonates with coplanar CO{sub 3} groups were investigated using the first-principles method. The results show that the lead carbonates exhibit relative large birefringence. After detailed investigate the electronic structures, and Born effective charges, the authors find out that anisotropic electron distribution in the CO{sub 3} groups and Pb atoms give positive contribution, while the negative contribution was found from fluorine atoms, meanwhile the Ca, Mg, and Cd atoms give very small contribution to birefringence. - Graphical abstract: Using the DFT and Born effective charges, the birefringence and the contribution of ions were investigated, the positive and negative contribution was found from Pb and F ions, respectively. - Highlights: • Optical properties and Born effective charges of carbonates are investigated. • Lead carbonates exhibit relative large birefringence. • Coplanar CO{sub 3} groups and Pb atoms give positive contribution. • F atoms give negative contribution. • Ca, Mg, and Cd atoms give very small contribution.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

On the averaging of cardiac diffusion tensor MRI data: the effect of distance function selection

Diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DT-MRI) allows a unique insight into the microstructure of highly-directional tissues. The selection of the most proper distance function for the space of diffusion tensors is crucial in enhancing the clinical application of this imaging modality. Both linear and nonlinear metrics have been proposed in the literature over the years. The debate on the most appropriate DT-MRI distance function is still ongoing. Here, in this paper, we presented a framework to compare the Euclidean, affine-invariant Riemannian and log-Euclidean metrics using actual high-resolution DT-MRI rat heart data. We employed temporal averaging at the diffusion tensor level of three consecutive and identically-acquired DT-MRI datasets from each of five rat hearts as a means to rectify the background noise-induced loss of myocyte directional regularity. This procedure is applied here for the first time in the context of tensor distance function selection. When compared with previous studies that used a different concrete application to juxtapose the various DT-MRI distance functions, this work is unique in that it combined the following: (i) metrics were judged by quantitative—rather than qualitative—criteria, (ii) the comparison tools were non-biased, (iii) a longitudinal comparison operation was used on a same-voxel basis. The statistical analyses of the comparison showed that the three DT-MRI distance functions tend to provide equivalent results. Hence, we came to the conclusion that the tensor manifold for cardiac DT-MRI studies is a curved space of almost zero curvature. The signal to noise ratio dependence of the operations was investigated through simulations. Finally, the 'swelling effect' occurrence following Euclidean averaging was found to be too unimportant to be worth consideration.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2016

Nonlocal Means Denoising of Self-Gated and k-Space Sorted 4-Dimensional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Using Block-Matching and 3-Dimensional Filtering: Implications for Pancreatic Tumor Registration and Segmentation

Purpose: To denoise self-gated k-space sorted 4-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (SG-KS-4D-MRI) by applying a nonlocal means denoising filter, block-matching and 3-dimensional filtering (BM3D), to test its impact on the accuracy of 4D image deformable registration and automated tumor segmentation for pancreatic cancer patients. Methods and Materials: Nine patients with pancreatic cancer and abdominal SG-KS-4D-MRI were included in the study. Block-matching and 3D filtering was adapted to search in the axial slices/frames adjacent to the reference image patch in the spatial and temporal domains. The patches with high similarity to the reference patch were used to collectively denoise the 4D-MRI image. The pancreas tumor was manually contoured on the first end-of-exhalation phase for both the raw and the denoised 4D-MRI. B-spline deformable registration was applied to the subsequent phases for contour propagation. The consistency of tumor volume defined by the standard deviation of gross tumor volumes from 10 breathing phases (σ-GTV), tumor motion trajectories in 3 cardinal motion planes, 4D-MRI imaging noise, and image contrast-to-noise ratio were compared between the raw and denoised groups. Results: Block-matching and 3D filtering visually and quantitatively reduced image noise by 52% and improved image contrast-to-noise ratio by 56%, without compromising soft tissue edge definitions. Automatic tumor segmentation is statistically more consistent on the denoised 4D-MRI (σ-GTV = 0.6 cm{sup 3}) than on the raw 4D-MRI (σ-GTV = 0.8 cm{sup 3}). Tumor end-of-exhalation location is also more reproducible on the denoised 4D-MRI than on the raw 4D-MRI in all 3 cardinal motion planes. Conclusions: Block-matching and 3D filtering can significantly reduce random image noise while maintaining structural features in the SG-KS-4D-MRI datasets. In this study of pancreatic tumor segmentation, automatic segmentation of GTV in the registered image sets is shown to be more consistent on the denoised 4D-MRI than on the raw 4D-MRI.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Self-assembly of large-scale crack-free gold nanoparticle films using a ‘drain-to-deposit’ strategy

Gold nanoparticles are widely studied due to the ease of controlled synthesis, facile surface modification, and interesting physical properties. However, a technique for depositing large-area, crack-free monolayers on solid substrates is lacking. Herein is presented a method for accomplishing this. Spherical gold nanoparticles were synthesized as an aqueous dispersion. Assembly into monolayers and ligand exchange occurred simultaneously at an organic/aqueous interface. Then the monolayer film was deposited onto arbitrary solid substrates by slowly pumping out the lower, aqueous phase. This allowed the monolayer film (and liquid–liquid interface) to descend without significant disturbance, eventually reaching substrates contained in the aqueous phase. The resulting macroscopic quality of the films was found to be superior to films transferred by Langmuir techniques. The surface plasmon resonance and Raman enhancement of the films were evaluated and found to be uniform across the surface of each film.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2016

Gold Nanoparticle Monolayers with Tunable Optical and Electrical Properties

In this work, centimeter-scale gold nanoparticle (Au NP) monolayer films have been fabricated using a water/organic solvent self-assembly strategy. A recently developed approach, drain to deposit, is demonstrated to be most effective in transferring the Au NP films from the water/organic solvent interface to various solid substrates while maintaining their integrity. The interparticle spacing was tuned from 1.4 to 3.1 nm using alkylamine ligands of different lengths. The ordering of the films increased with increasing ligand length. The surface plasmon resonance and the in-plane electrical conductivity of the Au NP films both exhibit an exponential dependence on the interparticle spacing. These findings show great potential in scaling up the manufacturing of high-performance optical and electronic devices based on two-dimensional metallic nanoparticle superlattices.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Widmannstätten laths in Ti48Al2Cr2Nb alloy by undercooled solidification

Widmannstätten laths in Ti48Al2Cr2Nb alloy were obtained by containerless electromagnetic levitation during undercooled solidification rather than heat treatments in most cases. The nucleation of γ{sub Widmannstätten} is confirmed by the thermal history of the second recalescence behaviour. High dislocation density, stacking faults and dislocation slip are observed by transmission electron microscopy. By quantitative analysis of the transformation energy, the driving force for γ{sub Widmannstätten} in the solid state phase transformation is calculated, compared with that of heat treatments. Meanwhile, the proper undercoolings (ΔT = 257–300 K), post-solidification cooling rates (11.1–29.1 K/s), the fine lamellar colony sizes (306–467 μm) and proper undercoolings in the solid state phase transformation are in favour of promoting the formation of Widmannstätten laths at moderate undercoolings. - Graphical abstract: Display Omitted - Highlights: • Widmannstätten laths were observed in undercooled TiAl alloy. • The influencing factors were discussed in undercooled TiAl alloy. • An analysis of the nucleation of γ{sub Widmannstätten} is carried out.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Investigation of the oxidation states of Cu additive in colored borosilicate glasses by electron energy loss spectroscopy

Three optically transparent colorful (red, green, and blue) glasses were synthesized by the sol-gel method. Nano-sized precipitates were found in scanning electron microscopy images. The precipitates were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high resolution TEM. The measured lattice parameters of these precipitates were found to fit the metallic copper in red glass but deviate from single valenced Cu oxides in green and blue glasses. The chemistry of these nano-sized particles was confirmed by electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). By fitting the EELS spectra obtained from the precipitates with the linear combination of reference spectra from Cu reference compounds, the oxidation states of Cu in the precipitates have been derived. First principle calculations suggested that the Cu nano-particles, which are in the similar oxidation states as our measurement, would show green color in the visible light range.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2014

Interfacial electronic structure-modulated magnetic anisotropy in Ta/CoFeB/MgO/Ta multilayers

We have observed several unexpected phenomena when a trace amount of Fe atoms is deposited onto the CoFeB/MgO interface in Ta/CoFeB/MgO/Ta multilayers. With the nominal thickness of the introduced Fe atoms (t{sub Fe}) varying from 0 to 0.1 Å, the effective magnetic anisotropy energy (K{sub eff}) of annealed multilayers is remarkably enhanced from 1.28 × 10{sup 6 }erg/cm{sup 3} to 2.14 × 10{sup 6 }erg/cm{sup 3}. As t{sub Fe} further increasing, the K{sub eff} decreases and even becomes negative when t{sub Fe} > 1 Å, indicating the change from perpendicular magnetic anisotropy to in-plane magnetic anisotropy. The analysis by X-ray photoelectron spectrometer reveals that the Fe atoms at annealed CoFeB/MgO interface show different electronic structures as t{sub Fe} increasing, which combine with O atoms to form FeO{sub x} (x < 1), Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}, and Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}, respectively, leading to modulation of Fe 3d-O 2p orbital hybridization and thus the K{sub eff}. On the other hand, we find that the introduction of Fe atoms also helps to reduce the multilayers' magnetic damping.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
NASA NTRS2006

CMOS imager for pointing and tracking applications

Systems and techniques to realize pointing and tracking applications with CMOS imaging devices. In general, in one implementation, the technique includes: sampling multiple rows and multiple columns of an active pixel sensor array into a memory array (e.g., an on-chip memory array), and reading out the multiple rows and multiple columns sampled in the memory array to provide image data with reduced motion artifact. Various operation modes may be provided, including TDS, CDS, CQS, a tracking mode to read out multiple windows, and/or a mode employing a sample-first-read-later readout scheme. The tracking mode can take advantage of a diagonal switch array. The diagonal switch array, the active pixel sensor array and the memory array can be integrated onto a single imager chip with a controller. This imager device can be part of a larger imaging system for both space-based applications and terrestrial applications.

Pain, Bedabrata↗
NASA NTRS2006

Image sensor with motion artifact supression and anti-blooming

An image sensor includes pixels formed on a semiconductor substrate. Each pixel includes a photoactive region in the semiconductor substrate, a sense node, and a power supply node. A first electrode is disposed near a surface of the semiconductor substrate. A bias signal on the first electrode sets a potential in a region of the semiconductor substrate between the photoactive region and the sense node. A second electrode is disposed near the surface of the semiconductor substrate. A bias signal on the second electrode sets a potential in a region of the semiconductor substrate between the photoactive region and the power supply node. The image sensor includes a controller that causes bias signals to be provided to the electrodes so that photocharges generated in the photoactive region are accumulated in the photoactive region during a pixel integration period, the accumulated photocharges are transferred to the sense node during a charge transfer period, and photocharges generated in the photoactive region are transferred to the power supply node during a third period without passing through the sense node. The imager can operate at high shutter speeds with simultaneous integration of pixels in the array. High quality images can be produced free from motion artifacts. High quantum efficiency, good blooming control, low dark current, low noise and low image lag can be obtained.

Pain, Bedabrata↗
NASA NTRS2005

Dynamically re-configurable CMOS imagers for an active vision system

A vision system is disclosed. The system includes a pixel array, at least one multi-resolution window operation circuit, and a pixel averaging circuit. The pixel array has an array of pixels configured to receive light signals from an image having at least one tracking target. The multi-resolution window operation circuits are configured to process the image. Each of the multi-resolution window operation circuits processes each tracking target within a particular multi-resolution window. The pixel averaging circuit is configured to sample and average pixels within the particular multi-resolution window.

Yang, Guang↗
NASA NTRS2004

CMOS VLSI Active-Pixel Sensor for Tracking

An architecture for a proposed active-pixel sensor (APS) and a design to implement the architecture in a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) very-large-scale integrated (VLSI) circuit provide for some advanced features that are expected to be especially desirable for tracking pointlike features of stars. The architecture would also make this APS suitable for robotic- vision and general pointing and tracking applications. CMOS imagers in general are well suited for pointing and tracking because they can be configured for random access to selected pixels and to provide readout from windows of interest within their fields of view. However, until now, the architectures of CMOS imagers have not supported multiwindow operation or low-noise data collection. Moreover, smearing and motion artifacts in collected images have made prior CMOS imagers unsuitable for tracking applications. The proposed CMOS imager (see figure) would include an array of 1,024 by 1,024 pixels containing high-performance photodiode-based APS circuitry. The pixel pitch would be 9 m. The operations of the pixel circuits would be sequenced and otherwise controlled by an on-chip timing and control block, which would enable the collection of image data, during a single frame period, from either the full frame (that is, all 1,024 ~ 1,024 pixels) or from within as many as 8 different arbitrarily placed windows as large as 8 by 8 pixels each. A typical prior CMOS APS operates in a row-at-a-time ( grolling-shutter h) readout mode, which gives rise to exposure skew. In contrast, the proposed APS would operate in a sample-first/readlater mode, suppressing rolling-shutter effects. In this mode, the analog readout signals from the pixels corresponding to the windows of the interest (which windows, in the star-tracking application, would presumably contain guide stars) would be sampled rapidly by routing them through a programmable diagonal switch array to an on-chip parallel analog memory array. The diagonal-switch and memory addresses would be generated by the on-chip controller. The memory array would be large enough to hold differential signals acquired from all 8 windows during a frame period. Following the rapid sampling from all the windows, the contents of the memory array would be read out sequentially by use of a capacitive transimpedance amplifier (CTIA) at a maximum data rate of 10 MHz. This data rate is compatible with an update rate of almost 10 Hz, even in full-frame operation

Pain, Bedabrata↗
NASA NTRS2004

High-speed on-chip windowed centroiding using photodiode-based CMOS imager

A centroid computation system is disclosed. The system has an imager array, a switching network, computation elements, and a divider circuit. The imager array has columns and rows of pixels. The switching network is adapted to receive pixel signals from the image array. The plurality of computation elements operates to compute inner products for at least x and y centroids. The plurality of computation elements has only passive elements to provide inner products of pixel signals the switching network. The divider circuit is adapted to receive the inner products and compute the x and y centroids.

Pain, Bedabrata↗