BINA

In many industrial settings, films of polymers such as polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) require surface treatment due to poor wettability and low surface energy. Here, a simple process is presented to prepare durable thin coatings composed of polystyrene (PS) core, PS/SiO2 core–shell, and hollow SiO2 micro/nanoparticles onto PP and PET films as a platform for various potential applications. Corona-treated films were coated with a monolayer of PS microparticles by in situ dispersion polymerization of styrene in ethanol/2-methoxy ethanol with polyvinylpyrrolidone as stabilizer. A similar process on untreated polymeric films did not yield a coating. PS/SiO2 core–shell coated microparticles were produced by in situ polymerization of Si(OEt)4 in ethanol/water onto a PS-coated film, creating a raspberry-like morphology with a hierarchical structure. Hollow porous SiO2-coated microparticles onto …

In nanophotonic, small mode volumes, narrow resonance linewidths and field enhancements, fundamentally scales with refractive index values and are key for many implementations involving light-matter interactions. Topological insulators (TI) are a class of insulating materials that host topologically protected surface states, some of which exhibit very high permittivity values. In this talk, I will discuss our latest results on Bi2Te3 and Bi2Se3 TI nanostructures. Using polarized far-field and near field nanospectroscopy we reveal that Bi2Se3 nanobeams exhibit mid-infrared resonant modes with 2π phase shifts across the resonance. We further demonstrate that Bi2Te3 metasurfaces exhibit deep subwavelength resonant modes utilizing their record high index value peaking at n~11.

Rapid, highly sensitive, and high-throughput detection of biomarkers at low concentrations is invaluable for early diagnosis of various diseases. In many sensitive immunoassays the protocol is time consuming and requires a complicated and expensive detection system. Here, we demonstrate a high-throughput optical modulation biosensing (ht-OMB) system, which enables reading a 96-well plate within 10 minutes. Using the system, to detect human Interleukin-8, we demonstrated a limit of detection of 0.14 ng/L and a 4-log dynamic range. Testing 94 RNA extracts from 36 confirmed RT-qPCR SARS-CoV-2-positive patients (C_t≤40) and 58 confirmed RT-qPCR SARS-CoV-2-negative individuals resulted in 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity.

BackgroundHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a model of diverse spectrum of cancers, since it is induced by well-known etiologies, mainly Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and Hepatitis B virus (HBV). Here we aimed to identify HCV-specific mutational signature and explored the link between the HCV-related regional variation in mutations rates and HCV-induced alterations in genome-wide chromatin organization.MethodsTo identify an HCV-specific mutational signature in HCC, we performed high-resolution targeted sequencing to detect passenger mutations on 64 HCC samples from three etiology groups – HBV, HCV, or other. To explore the link between genomic signature and genome-wide chromatin organization we performed ChIP-seq for the transcriptionally permissive H3K4me3, H3K9ac and suppressive H3K9me3 modifications following HCV infection.ResultsRegional variation in mutations rates analysis …

In fluorescence-based biosensing applications, to increase optical detection sensitivity, time-resolved measurements are extensively used. Magnetic modulation biosensing (MMB) is a novel, fast, and sensitive detection technology for various applications. While this technology provides high sensitivity detection of biomarkers, to date, only the time resolved signal was analyzed. Here, we use for the first time both time-resolved and spatial-resolved measurements and show that this combination drastically improves the sensitivity of an MMB-based assay.

In the last few decades, point-of-care (POC) sensors have become increasingly important in the detection of various targets for the early diagnostics and treatment of diseases. Diverse nanomaterials are used as building blocks for the development of smart biosensors and magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) are among them. The intrinsic properties of MNPs, such as their large surface area, chemical stability, ease of functionalization, high saturation magnetization, and more, mean they have great potential for use in biosensors. Moreover, the unique characteristics of MNPs, such as their response to external magnetic fields, allow them to be easily manipulated (concentrated and redispersed) in fluidic media. As they are functionalized with biomolecules, MNPs bear high sensitivity and selectivity towards the detection of target biomolecules, which means they are advantageous in biosensor development and lead to a more sensitive, rapid, and accurate identification and quantification of target analytes. Due to the abovementioned properties of functionalized MNPs and their unique magnetic characteristics, they could be employed in the creation of new POC devices, molecular logic gates, and new biomolecular-based biocomputing interfaces, which would build on new ideas and principles. The current review outlines the synthesis, surface coverage, and functionalization of MNPs, as well as recent advancements in magnetite-based biosensors for POC diagnostics and some perspectives in molecular logic, and it also contains some of our own results regarding the topic, which include synthetic MNPs, their application for sample preparation, and the …

X-ray optical wave mixing is a nonlinear diffraction method that gives direct information about the Ångstrom and femtosecond-scale structure of the local optically-induced charge density in bulk solids, information unavailable to purely optical methods. The first measurements of wave mixing between x rays and optical photons were reported for single crystal diamond [Glover et al., Nature 488, 603 (2012)]. Here we report x-ray optical wave mixing experiments using the Swiss-FEL and LCLS hard x-ray free-electron lasers. To measure the wave-mixing signal we use silicon crystal optics to monochromate the free-electron laser output and analyze the energy-angle dependent wave-mixing signal while rejecting the elastic background. The results include the first measurements from silicon and the first measurement of the higher-order wave-mixing process generating the sum frequency of two optical and one x-ray …

The limited polysulfide solubility and the resulted poor kinetics in conventionally preferred electrolyte solutions severely limit the energy density of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery under practically lean-electrolyte conditions. Recently, highly solvating electrolyte solutions (HSEs) have been proposed to tackle the challenge because of their high polysulfides solubility. Despite the promised high capacity under lean-electrolyte conditions, the sulfur reaction pathways, the kinetics and the reactivity with lithium remain the major questions regarding this path. This Opinion is positioned to summarize the recent progress on developing HSEs for Li-S battery, aiming to call for attention from the community. We also offer our opinions on whether HSEs are promising and how to improve them for future Li-S battery. We anticipate that the electrolytes strategy that promises high-capacity/high energy Li-S batteries by using HSEs should …

In comparing the behavior of an energy spectrum to the predictions of random matrix theory one must transform the spectrum such that the averaged level spacing is constant, a procedure known as unfolding. Once energy spectrums belong to an ensemble where there are large realization-to-realization fluctuations the canonical methods for unfolding fail. Here we show that singular value decomposition can be used even for the challenging situations where the ensemble is composed out of realizations originating from a different range of parameters resulting in a non-monotonous local density of states. This can be useful in experimental situations for which the physical parameters can not be tightly controlled, of for situations for which the local density of states is strongly fluctuating.

The synchronization of human networks, and the possibility of obtaining an agreement in a group, are essential for our survival. The dynamics of human networks are affecting every aspect of our lives in politics, economics, science, and engineering, and are essential for our mental and physical health. We study the unique properties of human networks and their dynamics by resorting to coupled violin players. We found that the human ability to ignore inputs or to focus on an input change dramatically the dynamics of the network compared to other coupled networks. We show how human networks react to frustrating situations, how they change the network connectivity or the network coupling strength, and how they escape local minima. In addition, the formation of leaders has a significant impact on the dynamics of human groups and networks and can completely shift the trajectory of a society. We study how …

A deep learning network requires high-performance computer systems for solving complex problems with millions of parameters. In our lab, we develop a fully optical machine learning system that is based on the nonlinear four wave mixing process in multimode fibers. We exploit the optical nonlinear interactions between waves for developing a deep learning system faster than electronic based systems. finally, we resort to quantum light for realizing quantum deep learning system, which can bring the deep learning techniques to the quantum field. In this talk, we will present details of our novel system and discuss our preliminary results.

Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) is a group of disorders caused by mutations in genes involved in the process of lymphocyte maturation and function. CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing of the patient’s own hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) ex vivo could provide a therapeutic alternative to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, the current gold standard for treatment of SCID. To eliminate the need for scarce patient samples, we engineered genotypes in healthy donor (HD)-derived CD34+ HSPCs using CRISPR-Cas9/rAAV6 gene-editing, to model both SCID and the therapeutic outcomes of gene-editing therapies for SCID via multiplexed homology-directed repair (HDR). First, we developed a SCID disease model via biallelic knockout of genes critical to the development of lymphocytes; and second, we established a knockin/knockout strategy to develop a proof-of-concept single …

Time-lenses can image ultrafast signals in time. Placing them in a 2-f configuration leads to Fourier transform of the input signal and ultrafast spectroscopy. We utilized two time-lenses in a 4-f configuration and formed an interferometer in the time domain. Our time lenses are based on four-wave mixing process, generating an idler beam which serves as the output. The output from the first time-lens is the input to the second time-lens. At the output of the second time-lens, we get an interference between the signal beams of both time-lenses and the idler beams of both time-lenses. This interference is sensitive to ultrafast phase shifts in time and can lead to interfere signals in different times. This interferometer is good for quantum imaging, and studying the temporal structure of entangled photons. In this talk we will demonstrate the interferometer, how we exploit time-lenses for interferometry, the application of the …

This review article summarizes the comprehensive work that was done in our laboratory in recent years, as-well-as other reports, on the various aspects of sonochemistry of molten gallium. The low mp (29.8 °C) of gallium enables its melting in warm water, aqueous solutions and organic liquids. This opened a new research direction that focused on the chemical and physical properties of gallium particles that were formed in such media. It includes their interactions with water and with organic and inorganic solutes in aqueous solutions and with carbon nanoparticles. Formation of nanoparticles of liquid gallium alloys was also reported.

CdS nanoparticles were introduced on E. coli cells to construct a hydrogen generating biohybrid system via the biointerface of tannic acid‐Fe complex. This hybrid system promotes good biological activity in a high salinity environment. Under light illumination, the as‐synthesized biohybrid system achieves a 32.44 % enhancement of hydrogen production in seawater through a synergistic effect.

We study the effects of electrostatic gating on the lateral distribution of charge carriers in two dimensional devices, in a non-linear dielectric environment. We compute the charge distribution using the Thomas-Fermi approximation to model the electrostatics of the system. The electric field lines generated by the gate are focused at the edges of the device, causing an increased depletion near the edges, compared to the center of the device. This effect strongly depends on the dimensions of the device, and the non-linear dielectric constant of the substrate. We experimentally demonstrate this effect using scanning superconducting interference device (SQUID) microscopy images of current distributions in gated LaAlO/SrTiO heterostructures.

The Aharonov-Bohm effect is a fundamental topological phenomenon with a wide range of applications. It consists of a charge encircling a region with a magnetic flux in a superposition of wave packets having their relative phase affected by the flux. In this work we analyze this effect using an entropic measure known as realism, originally introduced as a quantifier of a system's degree of reality and mathematically related to notions of global and local quantum coherence. More precisely, we look for observables that lead to gauge-invariant realism associated with the charge before it completes its loop. We find that the realism of these operators has a sudden change when the line connecting the center of both wave packets crosses the solenoid. Moreover, we consider the case of a quantized magnetic-field source, pointing out similarities and differences between the two cases. Finally, we discuss some …

Sending an ultrafast pulse in multimode fiber can lead to nonlinear interactions between the modes. When sending such a pulse in graded-index fibers there are cases where all the energy is transferring from the high-order modes into the lowest one. This effect is called modal self-cleaning. We developed a multimode time-lens, which measures the temporal and spatial dynamics of ultrafast signals in multimode fibers. With our system, we can detect the dynamics of each mode in time with high temporal resolution, and identify which mode is coupled to which and how the energy transfers between them. In this talk, We will present our measurement system in details and describe our novel results on modal self-cleaning. We will also comment on other multimode effects which our system can measure for the first time.

Fluorescence‐based imaging has an enormous impact on our understanding of biological systems. However, in vivo fluorescence imaging is greatly influenced by tissue scattering. A better understanding of this dependance can improve the potential of non‐invasive in vivo fluorescence imaging. In this paper we present a diffusion model, based on an existing master‐slave model, of isotropic point sources imbedded in a scattering slab, representing fluorophores within a tissue. The model was compared to Monte Carlo simulations and measurements of a fluorescent slide measured through tissue‐like phantoms with different reduced scattering coefficients (0.5 to 2.5mm‐1) and thicknesses(0.5 to 5mm). Results show a good correlation between our suggested theory, simulations and experiments; while the fluorescence intensity decays as the slab's scattering and thickness increase, the decay rate decreases as the …

We present the first single-pair Bell inequality test, able to obtain a Bell parameter value for every entangled pair detected. After the measurements, each pair still presents a noteworthy amount of entanglement to be exploited for further quantum-protocols.