Measurements of differential production cross-sections of a Z boson in association with b-jets in pp collisions at root s = 7 TeV are reported. The data analysed correspond to an integrated luminosity of 4.6 fb(-1) recorded with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. Particle-level cross-sections are determined for events with a Z boson decaying into an electron or muon pair, and containing b-jets. For events with at least one b-jet, the cross-section is presented as a function of the Z boson transverse momentum and rapidity, together with the inclusive b-jet cross-section as a function of b-jet transverse momentum, rapidity and angular separations between the b-jet and the Z boson. For events with at least two b-jets, the cross-section is determined as a function of the invariant mass and angular separation of the two highest transverse momentum b-jets, and as a function of the Z boson transverse momentum and rapidity. Results are compared to leading-order and next-to-leading-order perturbative QCD calculations.
Measurements of fiducial and differential cross sections are presented for Higgs boson production in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of TeV. The analysis is performed in the H -> gamma gamma decay channel using 20.3 fb(-1) of data recorded by the ATLAS experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The signal is extracted using a fit to the diphoton invariant mass spectrum assuming that the width of the resonance is much smaller than the experimental resolution. The signal yields are corrected for the effects of detector inefficiency and resolution. The pp -> H -> gamma gamma fiducial cross section is measured to be 43.2 +/- 9.4(stat.) (-aEuro parts per thousand 2.9) (+ 3.2) (syst.) +/- 1.2(lumi)fb for a Higgs boson of mass 125.4GeV decaying to two isolated photons that have transverse momentum greater than 35% and 25% of the diphoton invariant mass and each with absolute pseudorapidity less than 2.37. Four additional fiducial cross sections and two cross-section limits are presented in phase space regions that test the theoretical modelling of different Higgs boson production mechanisms, or are sensitive to physics beyond the Standard Model. Differential cross sections are also presented, as a function of variables related to the diphoton kinematics and the jet activity produced in the Higgs boson events. The observed spectra are statistically limited but broadly in line with the theoretical expectations.
A search for scalar particles decaying via narrow resonances into two photons in the mass range 65-600 GeV is performed using 20.3 fb(-1) of root s = 8 TeV pp collision data collected with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The recently discovered Higgs boson is treated as a background. No significant evidence for an additional signal is observed. The results are presented as limits at the 95% confidence level on the production cross section of a scalar boson times branching ratio into two photons, in a fiducial volume where the reconstruction efficiency is approximately independent of the event topology. The upper limits set extend over a considerably wider mass range than previous searches.
The reconstruction of photons in the ATLAS detector is studied with data taken during the 2004 Combined Test Beam, where a full slice of the ATLAS detector was exposed to beams of particles of known energy at the CERN SPS. The results presented show significant differences in the longitudinal development of the electromagnetic shower between converted and unconverted photons as well as in the total measured energy. The potential to use the reconstructed converted photons as a means to precisely map the material of the tracker in front of the electromagnetic calorimeter is also considered. All results obtained are compared with a detailed Monte-Carlo simulation of the test-beam setup which is based on the same simulation and reconstruction tools as those used for the ATLAS detector itself.
In this paper, a fibre laser at 546 nm has been studied for a signal power of -30 dB. Er 3+-doped ZBLAN fibre has been used by upconversion pumping of a 980 nm laser diode. Gain saturation effect has been investigated in detail. Laser performance has also been discussed. An efficiency of 35% has been calculated with a length of 5 mm fibre laser. Results show that Er 3+-doped ZBLAN is a promising candidate for optical amplification at 546 nm.
We highlight the fact that two-dimensional (2D) materials with Dirac-like low energy band structures and spin-orbit coupling (SOC) will produce linearly dispersing topologically protected Jackiw-Rebbi modes at interfaces where the Dirac mass changes sign. These modes may support persistent spin or valley currents parallel to the interface, and the exact arrangement of such topologically protected currents depends crucially on the details of the SOC in the material. As examples, we discuss buckled 2D hexagonal lattices such as silicene or germanene, and transition metal dichalcogenides such as MoS2.
A diagram borrowed from holographic interferometry has been applied to visualize phenomena in Special Relativity. It displays how a sphere of observation is by velocity elongated into an ellipsoid of observation and produces graphically all the well accepted equations of Einsteins Special Relativity. The Lorentz contraction, however, is explained as an elongation of the measuring rod, the meter, which by definition is based on either a specific number of wavelengths or the velocity of light multiplied by time. The diagram displays the total apparent object distortions including not only the Lorentz contraction but also larger apparent contractions and elongations caused by the classic Doppler Effect. The reasons of these deformations are the delays caused by variations in distance from observer to different parts of the moving object. In this paper we do not discuss the meaning of apparent, as compared to real, deformation.
Diffraction limited resolution as introduced by Abbe is well established, but interference limited resolution was not well known until holographic interferometry was introduced. The holodiagram is used to simplify holography and in a new way visualize the distribution, ratio, and relation among resolutions of different optical techniques, including relativistic phenomena. Resolution, when measured by optical methods based on the number of wavelengths of light, is defined in the following as the minimum distance between resolvable points, or the largest object needed to be resolved. Everywhere in the diagram this resolution is represented by two orthogonal diagonals of rhombs.
In holographic interferometry, there is usually a static distance separating the point of illumination and the point of observation. In Special Relativity, this separation is dynamic and is caused by the velocity of the observer. The corrections needed to compensate for these separations are similar in the two fields. We use the ellipsoids of the holodiagram for measurement and in a graphic way to explain and evaluate optical resolution, gated viewing, radar, holography, three-dimensional interferometry, Special Relativity, and light-in-flight recordings. Lorentz contraction together with time dilation is explained as the result of the eccentricity of the measuring ellipsoid, caused by its velocity. The extremely thin ellipsoid of the very first light appears as a beam aimed directly at the observer, which might explain the wave or ray duality of light and entanglement. Finally, we introduce the concept of ellipsoids of observation.
A short pulse of light is emitted from one point followed by a short observation from another point separated in space and time from the first. Even if space is full of scattering particles no sphere of expanding light is seen from outside by the observer, instead he finds himself inside an ellipsoid of light. We use this ellipsoid for measurement and in a graphic way to explain and evaluate optical resolution, gated viewing, radar, holography, 3-D interferometry and Special Relativity. In the later case the Lorentz Contraction together with the Time Dilation are explained as results of the eccentricity of the measuring ellipsoid, caused by its velocity. Finally, the extremely thin ellipsoid of the very first light appears as a beam aimed directly at the observer which might explain the wave or ray duality of light and entanglement.
Information is carried by matter or by energy and thus Einstein stated that "no information can travel faster than light." He also was very critical to the "Spooky action at distance" as described in Quantum Physics. However, many verified experiments have proven that the "Spooky actions" not only work at distance but also that they travel at a velocity faster than light, probably at infinite velocity. Examples are Young's fringes at low light levels or entanglements. My explanation is that this information is without energy. In the following I will refer to this spooky information as exformation, where "ex-" refers to existence, the information is not transported in any way, it simply exists. Thus Einstein might have been wrong when he stated that no information can travel faster than light. But he was is right in that no detectable information can travel faster than light. Phenomena connected to entanglement appear at first to be exceptions, but in those cases the information can not be reconstructed until energy is later sent in the form of correlation using ordinary information at the velocity of light. In entanglement we see that even if the exformation can not be detected directly because its luck of energy it still can influence what happens at random, bemuse in Quantum Physics there is by definition no energy difference between two states that happen randomly.
We review basic ideas behind state-of-the-art techniques for first-principles theoretical simulations of the phase stabilities and properties of alloys. We concentrate on methods that allow for an efficient treatment of compositional and thermal disorder effects. In particular, we present novel approach to evaluate free energy for strongly anharmonic systems. Theoretical tools are then employed in studies of two materials systems relevant for nuclear energy applications: Fe-Cr and Zr-based alloys. In particular, we investigate the effect of hydrostatic pressure and multicomponent alloying on the mixing enthalpy of Fe-Cr alloys, and show that in the ferromagnetic state both of them reduce the alloy stability at low Cr concentration. For Zr-Nb alloys, we demonstrate how microscopic parameters calculated from first-principles can be used in higher-level models.
This paper studies random lozenge tilings of general non-convex polygonal regions. We show that the pairwise interaction of the non-convexities leads asymptotically to new kernels and thus to new statistics for the tiling fluctuations. The precise geometrical figure here consists of a hexagon with cuts along opposite edges. For this model, we take limits when the size of the hexagon and the cuts tend to infinity, while keeping certain geometric data fixed in order to guarantee sufficient interaction between the cuts in the limit. We show in this paper that the kernel for the finite tiling model can be expressed as a multiple integral, where the number of integrations is related to the fixed geometric data above. The limiting kernel is believed to be a universal master kernel.
On the 15th of June 2006, the PAMELA (Payload for Antimatter Matter Exploration and Light-nuclei Astrophysics) satellite-borne experiment was launched onboard the Russian Resurs-DK1 satellite by a Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur space centre. The satellite was placed in a quasi-polar 70 degrees inclination orbit at an altitude varying between 350 km and 600 km. New results on the antiparticle component of the cosmic radiation were obtained. The positron energy spectrum and positron fraction were measured from 400 MeV up to 200 GeV revealing a positron excess over the predictions of commonly used propagation models. This can be interpreted either as evidence that the propagation models should be revised or in terms of dark matter annihilation or a pulsar contribution. The antiproton spectrum was measured over the energy range from 60 MeV to 350 GeV. The antiproton spectrum is consistent with secondary production and significantly constrains dark matter models. The energy spectra of protons and helium nuclei were measured up to 1.2 TV. The spectral shapes of these two species are different and cannot be described well by a single power law. For the First time the electron spectrum was measured up to 600 GeV complementing the information obtained from the positron data. Nuclear and isotopic composition was obtained with unprecedented precision. The variation of the low energy proton, electron and positron energy spectra was measured from July 2006 until December 2009 accurately sampling the unusual conditions of the most recent solar minimum activity period (2006-2009). Low energy particle spectra were accurately measured also for various solar events that occurred during the PAMELA mission. The Earth's magnetosphere was studied measuring the particle radiation in different regions of the magnetosphere. Energy spectra and composition of sub-cutoff and trapped particles were obtained. For the first time a belt of trapped antiprotons was detected in the South Atlantic Anomaly region. The flux was found to exceed that for galactic cosmic-ray antiprotons by three order of magnitude.
We consider the kinematic fluctuation dynamo problem in a flow that is random, white-in-time, with both solenoidal and potential components. This model is a generalization of the well-studied Kazantsev model. If both the solenoidal and potential parts have the same scaling exponent, then, as the compressibility of the flow increases, the growth rate decreases but remains positive. If the scaling exponents for the solenoidal and potential parts differ, in particular if they correspond to typical Kolmogorov and Burgers values, we again find that an increase in compressibility slows down the growth rate but does not turn it off. The slow down is, however, weaker and the critical magnetic Reynolds number is lower than when both the solenoidal and potential components display the Kolmogorov scaling. Intriguingly, we find that there exist cases, when the potential part is smoother than the solenoidal part, for which an increase in compressibility increases the growth rate. We also find that the critical value of the scaling exponent above which a dynamo is seen is unity irrespective of the compressibility. Finally, we realize that the dimension d = 3 is special, as for all other values of d the critical exponent is higher and depends on the compressibility.
The flow of Newtonian fluid at low Reynolds number is, in general, regular and time-reversible due to absence of nonlinear effects. For example, if the fluid is sheared by its boundary motion that is subsequently reversed, then all the fluid elements return to their initial positions. Consequently, mixing in microchannels happens solely due to molecular diffusion and is very slow. Here, we show, numerically, that the introduction of a single, freely floating, flexible filament in a time-periodic linear shear flow can break reversibility and give rise to chaos due to elastic nonlinearities, if the bending rigidity of the filament is within a carefully chosen range. Within this range, not only the shape of the filament is spatiotemporally chaotic, but also the flow is an efficient mixer. Overall, we find five dynamical phases: the shape of a stiff filament is time-invariant-either straight or buckled; it undergoes a period-two bifurcation as the filament is made softer; becomes spatiotemporally chaotic for even softer filaments but, surprisingly, the chaos is suppressed if bending rigidity is decreased further.
The electronic structure of ZnPc, from sub-monolayers to thick films, on bare and iodated Pt(111) is studied by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and scanning tunneling microscopy. Our results suggest that at low coverage ZnPc lies almost parallel to the Pt(111) substrate, in a non-planar configuration induced by Zn-Pt attraction, leading to an inhomogeneous charge distribution within the molecule and an inhomogeneous charge transfer to the molecule. ZnPc does not form a complete monolayer on the Pt surface, due to a surface-mediated intermolecular repulsion. At higher coverage ZnPc adopts a tilted geometry, due to a reduced molecule-substrate interaction. Our photoemission results illustrate that ZnPc is practically decoupled from Pt, already from the second layer. Pre-deposition of iodine on Pt hinders the Zn-Pt attraction, leading to a non-distorted first layer ZnPc in contact with Pt(111)-I(root 3x root 3) or Pt(111)-I(root 7x root 7), and a more homogeneous charge distribution and charge transfer at the interface. On increased ZnPc thickness iodine is dissolved in the organic film where it acts as an electron acceptor dopant.
We have studied zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) and iron phthalocyanine (FePc) thick films and monolayers on Au(111) using photoelectron spectroscopy and x-ray absorption spectroscopy. Both molecules are adsorbed flat on the surface at monolayer. ZnPc keeps this orientation in all investigated coverages, whereas FePc molecules stand up in the thick film. The stronger inter-molecular interaction of FePc molecules leads to change of orientation, as well as higher conductivity in FePc layer in comparison with ZnPc, which is reflected in thickness-dependent differences in core-level shifts. Work function changes indicate that both molecules donate charge to Au; through the pi-system. However, the Fe3d derived lowest unoccupied molecular orbital receives charge from the substrate when forming an interface state at the Fermi level. Thus, the central atom plays an important role in mediating the charge, but the charge transfer as a whole is a balance between the two different charge transfer channels; pi-system and the central atom.
We report on the importance of GW self-energy corrections for the electronic structure of light actinides in the weak-to-intermediate coupling regime. Our study is based on calculations of the band structure and total density of states of Np, U, and Pu using a one-shot GW approximation that includes spin-orbit coupling within a full potential LAPW framework. We also present RPA screened effective Coulomb interactions for the f-electron orbitals for different lattice constants, and show that there is an increased contribution from electron-electron correlation in these systems for expanded lattices. We find a significant amount of electronic correlation in these highly localized electronic systems.
Narrow gap InGaAs two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) bilayer samples are fabricated and confirmed to have good electronic qualities as well as strong Rashba-type spin-orbit interactions (SOIs). The 2DEG systems are realized by molecular beam epitaxy in the form of wide quantum wells (QWs) with thicknesses tQW∼40-120nm modulation doped in both the upper and lower InAlAs barriers. From the Hall measurements, the overall mobility values of μe ∼15 m2/V s are found for the total sheet electron density of ns ∼8 × 1011/cm2, although the ns is distributed asymmetrically as about 1:3 in the upper and lower 2DEGs, respectively. Careful low temperature magneto-resistance analysis gives large SO coupling constants of α ∼20 × 10 -12eV m as well as expected electron effective masses of m*/m0 ∼0.033-0.042 for each bilayer 2DEG spin sub-band. Moreover, the enhancement of α with decrease of tQW is found. The corresponding self-consistent calculation, which suggests the interaction between the bilayer 2DEGs, is carried out and the origin of α enhancement is discussed.
Hard X-ray scanning microscopes, or nanoprobes, make it possible to image samples and probe their chemical, elemental and structural properties at nanoscale resolution. This is enabled by the use of nanofocusing optics. Commonly used optics in nanoprobes for high resolution X-ray experiments are zone plates. Zone plates are circular diffraction optics with radially decreasing grating periods. Their performance depends on their geometrical properties and material. The width of the outermost zone, which today is in the order of a few tens of nanometers, defines the zone plate resolution, while the zone thickness and the material define the X-ray focusing efficiency. For hard X-ray zone plates, the required zone thickness is several micrometers. Therefore, high-aspect ratio nanostructures are a prerequisite for high-resolution, high-efficiency zone plates. The very small structures together with the high-aspect ratios make zone plates one of the most challenging devices to fabricate. A wet-chemical nanofabrication process that has proved its capability of providing silicon nanostructures with ultra-high aspect ratios is metal-assisted chemical etching (MACE). MACE is an electroless, autocatalytic pattern transfer method that uses an etching solution to selectively etch a predefined noble metal pattern into silicon. In this thesis, MACE is optimized specifically for zone plate nanostructures and used in the development of a new zone plate device nanofabrication process. The MACE optimization for silicon zone plate nanostructures involved a systematic investigation of a wide parameter space. The preferable etching solution composition, process temperature, zone plate catalyst design and silicon type were identified. Parameter dependencies were characterized with respect to etching depth and verticality, mechanical stability of zones and silicon surface roughness. Zone plate molds with aspect ratios of 30:1 at 30 nm zone widths were nanofabricated using the optimized MACE process. For use with hard X-rays, the silicon molds were metallized with palladium using electroless deposition (ELD). The first order diffraction efficiency of such a palladium/silicon zone plate was characterized as 1.9 %. Both MACE for the zone plate pattern transfer and ELD for the silicon mold metalization are conceptually simple, relatively low-cost and accessible methods, which opens up for further developments of zone plate device nanofabrication processes.
High-aspect ratio silicon (Si) nanostructures are important for many applications. Metal-assisted chemical etching (MACE) is a wet-chemical method used for the fabrication of nanostructured Si. Two main challenges exist with etching Si structures in the nanometer range with MACE: keeping mechanical stability at high aspect ratios and maintaining a vertical etching profile. In this work, we investigated the etching behavior of two zone plate catalyst designs in a systematic manner at four different MACE conditions as a function of mechanical stability and etching verticality. The zone plate catalyst designs served as models for Si nanostructures over a wide range of feature sizes ranging from 850 nm to 30 nm at 1:1 line-to-space ratio. The first design was a grid-like, interconnected catalyst (brick wall) and the second design was a hybrid catalyst that was partly isolated, partly interconnected (fishbone). Results showed that the brick wall design was mechanically stable up to an aspect ratio of 30:1 with vertical Si structures at most investigated conditions. The fishbone design showed higher mechanical stability thanks to the Si backbone in the design, but on the other hand required careful control of the reaction kinetics for etching verticality. The influence of MACE reaction kinetics was identified by lowering the oxidant concentration, lowering the processing temperature and by isopropanol addition. We report an optimized MACE condition to achieve an aspect ratio of at least 100:1 at room temperature processing by incorporating isopropanol in the etching solution.
A brief overview of selected topics in the theory and phenomenology of neutrino oscillations is given. These include: oscillations in vacuum and in matter; phenomenology of 3-flavour neutrino oscillations; CP and T violation in neutrino oscillations in vacuum and in matter; matter effects on ν μ↔ν τ oscillations; parametric resonance in neutrino oscillations inside the earth; oscillations below and above the MSW resonance; unsettled issues in the theory of neutrino oscillations.
We report fabrication of tapered silicon core fibers with nano-spikes enabling efficient optical coupling into the core, as well as their seamless integration with single mode fibers. A proof-of-concept integrated in-fiber silicon device is demonstrated.
The acquisition-time in optical sensors using SERS is vital value. Wide-field SERS is used to perform high-density of hot-spots of GNPs photodeposition on a periodically-protonexchanged- LiNbO3 which, leads to increase the sensitivity at ultralow probe concentrations.
We investigate the behavior of a fluid near the critical point by using numerical simulations of weakly compressible three-dimensional isotropic turbulence. Much has been done for a turbulent flow with an ideal gas. The primary focus of this work is to analyze fluctuations of thermodynamic variables (pressure, density, and temperature) when a non-ideal Equation Of State (EOS) is considered. In order to do so, a hybrid lattice Boltzmann scheme is applied to solve the momentum and energy equations. Previously unreported phenomena are revealed as the temperature approaches the critical point. Fluctuations in pressure, density, and temperature increase, followed by changes in their respective probability density functions. Due to the non-linearity of the EOS, it is seen that variances of density and temperature and their respective covariance are equally important close to the critical point. Unlike the ideal EOS case, significant differences in the thermodynamic properties are also observed when the Reynolds number is increased. We also address issues related to the spectral behavior and scaling of density, pressure, temperature, and kinetic energy.
We present the experimental demonstration of in-fiber acousto-optic coupling in a polyimide-coated optical fiber. Although the presence of the polyimide coating increases is significantly the attenuation of the acoustic wave, we show that acousto-optic interaction can still be produced with reasonable efficiency. The effect of the polyimide coating on the acousto-optic interaction process is analyzed in detailed. Theoretical and experimental results are in good agreement. To our knowledge, this is the first experimental demonstration of acousto-optic coupling in optical fibers with robust protective coating.
We use density functional theory quantum chemical calculations to model optical properties of small cadmium sulphide clusters in order to explore the formation of trap states and the possibility to achieve surface passivation. The addition of capping oxygen ions on the surface of the CdS quantum dots is found to passivate the single-bonded Cd atoms. Added Cu ions resulted in the formation of deep trap states for certain locations of the copper impurity, while removal of single-bonded Cd atoms by adding S or SH groups leads to a band gap increase.
We study the inertial settling of suspensions of flexible and rigid fibers using an immersed boundary method. The fibers considered are inextensible and slender, with an aspect ratio of 20. For a single Galileo number of Ga = 160, we examine a range of dimensionless bending rigidities 0.1 < gamma < 20 and fiber concentrations 0.5 < nL(3) < 25, with n being the fiber number density and L the fiber length, that spans dilute and semidilute regimes. The settling fibers form streamers, regions where the fibers are packed and settle faster than the average settling velocity of the suspension, for nL(3) > 10. In the low-concentration regions outside the streamers, the fibers either go upward or have low settling velocities. Flexible fibers exhibit higher packing inside the streamers and smaller streamers compared to the streamers formed by the rigid fibers. Due to this higher packing, the flexible fibers settle faster compared to the rigid fibers. The formation of the streamers counterbalances the hindering of the settling velocity at higher concentrations. At higher nL(3), however, the maximum local concentration of fibers relative to a uniform distribution diminishes for both flexible and rigid fibers as the mobility of the fibers becomes limited due to the presence of other fibers in their vicinity. Due to this limited mobility, the deformation of the fibers and their settling orientation become insensitive to nL(3) for nL(3) > 7. In both the dilute and semidilute regimes, flexible fibers are more aligned with the direction perpendicular to gravity compared to rigid fibers.
Synthesis of well-dispersed palladium nanoparticles within silica aerogel pores with controlled size was carried out using sol-gel synthesis under supercritical ethanol drying. The high concentration of silanol groups on silica (SiO2) surface facilitated a superior palladium (Pd) loading up to 10 wt %. The synthesized Pd/SiO2 nanocomposite aerogels were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption-desorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic methods. The silica aerogel supported catalysts were found to have a wide pore size distribution. TEM investigations confirmed that Pd nanocrystals were located within the SiO2 microspores and mesopores. The catalyst was evaluated for carbon monoxide (CO) oxidation reaction under ignition/extinction conditions. The synthesized catalyst demonstrated a high catalytic activity at low operating temperatures (<200 °C) compared to unsupported Pd nanoparticles or bare SiO2 aerogels. This enhancement in CO oxidation activity with Pd/SiO2 aerogel catalysts are attributed to the small Pd particles, Pd interaction with the surface of the underlying SiO2 and the better dispersion of Pd particles within the SiO2 pores. Porosity played a more important role during the extinction cycle as a result of the slow dissipation of the heat leading to hysteresis. We demonstrate the influence of porosity of catalyst supports on the size, dispersion, and catalytic activity of Pd nanoparticles.
Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate (EGCG) has been extensively studied for its protective effect against cardiovascular disorders. This effect has been attributed to its action on multiple molecular pathways and transmembrane proteins, including the cardiac Na(v)1.5 channels, which are inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this effect remains to be unveiled. To this aim, we have characterized the EGCG effect on Na(v)1.5 using electrophysiology and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. EGCG superfusion induced a dose-dependent inhibition of Na(v)1.5 expressed in tsA201 cells, negatively shifted the steady-state inactivation curve, slowed the inactivation kinetics, and delayed the recovery from fast inactivation. However, EGCG had no effect on the voltage-dependence of activation and showed little use-dependent block on Na(v)1.5. Finally, MD simulations suggested that EGCG does not preferentially stay in the center of the bilayer, but that it spontaneously relocates to the membrane headgroup region. Moreover, no sign of spontaneous crossing from one leaflet to the other was observed, indicating a relatively large free energy barrier associated with EGCG transport across the membrane. These results indicate that EGCG may exert its biophysical effect via access to its binding site through the cell membrane or via a bilayer-mediated mechanism.
When mass-deformed ABJM theory is considered on S-3, the partition function of the theory localises, and is given by a matrix model. At large N, we solve this model in the decompactification limit, where the radius of the three-sphere is taken to infinity. In this limit, the theory exhibits a rich phase structure with an infinite number of third-order quantum phase transitions, accumulating at strong coupling.
We introduce a new method for the analysis of singularities in the unstable problem Delta u = chi{u> 0}, which arises in solid combustion as well as in the composite membrane problem. Our study is confined to points of "supercharacteristic" growth of the solution, i.e. points at which the solution grows faster than the characteristic/invariant scaling of the equation would suggest. At such points the classical theory is doomed to fail, due to incompatibility of the invariant scaling of the equation and the scaling of the solution. In the case of two dimensions our result shows that in a neighborhood of the set at which the second derivatives of u are unbounded, the level set {u = 0} consists of two C-1-curves meeting at right angles. It is important that our result is not confined to the minimal solution of the equation but holds for all solutions.
We explore the stability of far-from-equilibrium metastable states of a three-dimensional Coulomb glass at zero temperature by studying charge avalanches triggered by a slowly varying external electric field. Surprisingly, we identify a sharply defined dynamical ("depinning") phase transition from stationary to nonstationary charge displacement at a critical value of the external electric field. Using particle-conserving dynamics, scale-free system-spanning avalanches are observed only at the critical field. We show that the qualitative features of this depinning transition are completely different for an equivalent short-range model, highlighting the key importance of long-range interactions for nonequilibrium dynamics of Coulomb glasses.
In recent experiments at the velocity filter Separator for Heavy Ion reaction Products (SHIP) (GSI, Darmstadt), an extended and improved set of α-decay data for more than 20 of the most neutron-deficient isotopes in the region from lead to thorium was obtained. The combined analysis of this newly available α-decay data, of which the Po186 decay is reported here, allowed us for the first time to clearly show that crossing the Z=82 shell to higher proton numbers strongly accelerates the α decay. From the experimental data, the α-particle formation probabilities are deduced following the Universal Decay Law approach. The formation probabilities are discussed in the framework of the pairing force acting among the protons and the neutrons forming the α particle. A striking resemblance between the phenomenological pairing gap deduced from experimental binding energies and the formation probabilities is noted. These findings support the conjecture that both the N=126 and Z=82 shell closures strongly influence the α-formation probability.
Two excited J(pi)=0(+) states in Pb-186 populated in the a-decay of Po-190 have been identified through alpha -particle/conversion electron coincidences in an experiment at the velocity filter SHIP. The parent Po-190 nuclei have been produced in the Nd-142(Cr-52,4n)Po-190 complete fusion reaction, alpha -particle energies and branching ratios have been measured and hindrance factors were deduced. The observed states have been interpreted as the band heads of the known prolate and (yet unobserved) oblate rotational bands in Pb-186.
The generation of a large-scale magnetic field in the kinematic regime in the absence of an alpha-effect is investigated by following two different approaches: the test-field method and the multiscale stability theory relying on the homogenization technique. Our computations of the magnetic eddy diffusivity tensor of the parity-invariant flow IV of G. O. Roberts and the modified Taylor-Green flow confirm the findings of previous studies. and also explain some of their apparent contradictions. The two flows have large symmetry groups; this is used to considerably simplify the eddy diffusivity tensor. Finally, a new analytic result is presented: upon expressing the eddy diffusivity tensor in terms of solutions to auxiliary problems for the adjoint operator, we derive relations between the magnetic eddy diffusivity tensors that arise for mutually reverse small-scale flows v(x) and - v(x).
Silicon photonic probes based on broad-band Mach-Zehnder interferometry are explored for the first time as directly immersible immunosensors alleviating the need for microfluidics and pumps. Each probe includes two U- shaped waveguides allowing light in- and out-coupling from the same chip side through a bifurcated fiber and a mechanical coupler. At the opposite chip side, two Mach-Zehnder interferometers (MZI) are located enabling real-time monitoring of binding reactions by immersion of this chip side into a sample. The sensing arm windows of the two MZIs have different length resulting in two distinct peaks in the Fourier domain, the phase shift of which can be monitored independently through Fast Fourier Transform of the output spectrum. The photonic probes analytical potential was demonstrated through detection of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in human serum samples. For this, one MZI was functionalized with the Receptor Binding Domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 Spike 1 protein, and the other with bovine serum albumin to serve as reference. The biofunctionalized probes were immersed for 10 min in human serum sample and then for 5 min in goat anti-human IgG Fc specific antibody solution. Using a humanized rat antibody against SARS-CoV-2 RBD, a detection limit of 20 ng/mL was determined. Analysis of human serum samples indicated that the proposed sensor discriminated completely non- infected/non-vaccinated from vaccinated individuals, and the antibodies levels determined correlated well with those determined in the same samples by ELISA. These results demonstrated the potential of the proposed sensor to serve as an efficient tool for expeditious point-of-care testing
Post-dryout heat transfer to high pressure water was investigated experimentally in vertical tubes and annuli containing various flow obstacles. The operational conditions during the experiments were as follows: mass flux from 500 to 1750 kg/m(2) s. pressure from 5 to 9 MPa, inlet subcooling from 10 to 40K and heat flux up to 1.5 MW/m(2). Five different test sections were used in experiments: three annular test sections with inner diameter 12.7 mm and outer diameter 24.3 mm, containing cylindrical and grid flow obstacles in the upper part, and two tubular test sections with inner diameter 24.3 mm with and without pin flow obstacles. The heated length in all test sections was 3650 mm. The wall temperature was measured with 88 thermocouples located along the inner rod and the outer tube surfaces. Due to the presence of flow obstacles, only developing post-dryout heat transfer was observed. Selected post-dryout heat transfer correlations were compared to the experimental data. It has been concluded that all tested correlations predict significantly higher wall temperatures than those obtained in the present experiment. A simple correction function to the Saha model has been suggested which significantly improves the agreement between the correlation and the present data.
In this paper the mechanism of the onset of heat transfer deterioration to supercritical water is elucidated with detailed numerical predictions of flow and heat transfer in the boundary layer. It is shown that for low mass flow rates the buoyancy effects are dominant and the deterioration of heat transfer is caused by the turbulence damping in the vicinity of the heated wall. For high mass flow rates the mechanism of deterioration changes and the triggering factor is the decrease of the thermal conductivity of fluid in the viscous sub-layer. A numerical prediction of this phenomenon requires application of a low Reynolds number turbulence model with y+ less than 1.
This paper shows the significance of the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) in the veterinary medication through a case study of a cat brain tumor. A castrated male cat with bilateral mydriasis and blindness arrived at the veterinary clinic. After physical, laboratory and neurological investigations other sickness was ruled out and the inkling of the intracranial lesion had come to light. Brain tumor seemed the most likely to cause the illness because other symptoms appeared (for example: anorexia, depression) and they progrediated fast. PET examination, using 18F-FDG isotope, was performed to confirm the possible causes of the cat's symptoms