Cells respond to distinct nanoparticle properties with multiple strategies as revealed by single-cell RNA-Seq

DOE PAGES

Mitchell, Hugh D.; Markillie, Lye Meng; Chrisler, William B.; ...

2016-10-27

The impact of distinct nanoparticle (NP) properties on cellular response and ultimately human health is unclear. This gap is partially due to experimental difficulties in achieving uniform NP loads in the studied cells, creating heterogeneous populations with some cells “overloaded” while other cells are loaded with few or no NPs. Yet gene expression studies have been conducted in the population as a whole, identifying generic responses, while missing unique responses due to signal averaging across many cells, each carrying different loads. In this paper, we applied single-cell RNA-Seq to alveolar epithelial cells carrying defined loads of aminated or carboxylated quantummore » dots (QDs), showing higher or lower toxicity, respectively. Interestingly, cells carrying lower loads responded with multiple strategies, mostly with up-regulated processes, which were nonetheless coherent and unique to each QD type. In contrast, cells carrying higher loads responded more uniformly, with mostly down-regulated processes that were shared across QD types. Strategies unique to aminated QDs showed strong up-regulation of stress responses, coupled in some cases with regulation of cell cycle, protein synthesis, and organelle activities. In contrast, strategies unique to carboxylated QDs showed up-regulation of DNA repair and RNA activities and decreased regulation of cell division, coupled in some cases with up-regulation of stress responses and ATP-related functions. Finally, together, our studies suggest scenarios where higher NP loads lock cells into uniform responses, mostly shutdown of cellular processes, whereas lower loads allow for unique responses to each NP type that are more diversified proactive defenses or repairs of the NP insults.« less

Amorphous photonic crystals with only short-range order.

PubMed

Shi, Lei; Zhang, Yafeng; Dong, Biqin; Zhan, Tianrong; Liu, Xiaohan; Zi, Jian

2013-10-04

Distinct from conventional photonic crystals with both short- and long-range order, amorphous photonic crystals that possess only short-range order show interesting optical responses owing to their unique structural features. Amorphous photonic crystals exhibit unique light scattering and transport, which lead to a variety of interesting phenomena such as isotropic photonic bandgaps or pseudogaps, noniridescent structural colors, and light localization. Recent experimental and theoretical advances in the study of amorphous photonic crystals are summarized, focusing on their unique optical properties, artificial fabrication, bionspiration, and potential applications. Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Multifunctional transparent ZnO nanorod films.

PubMed

Kwak, Geunjae; Jung, Sungmook; Yong, Kijung

2011-03-18

Transparent ZnO nanorod (NR) films that exhibit extreme wetting states (either superhydrophilicity or superhydrophobicity through surface chemical modification), high transmittance, UV protection and antireflection have been prepared via the facile ammonia hydrothermal method. The periodic 1D ZnO NR arrays showed extreme wetting states as well as antireflection properties due to their unique surface structure and prevented the UVA region from penetrating the substrate due to the unique material property of ZnO. Because of the simple, time-efficient and low temperature preparation process, ZnO NR films with useful functionalities are promising for fabrication of highly light transmissive, antireflective, UV protective, antifogging and self-cleaning optical materials to be used for optical devices and photovoltaic energy devices.

Non-equilibrium dissipative supramolecular materials with a tunable lifetime

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tena-Solsona, Marta; Rieß, Benedikt; Grötsch, Raphael K.; Löhrer, Franziska C.; Wanzke, Caren; Käsdorf, Benjamin; Bausch, Andreas R.; Müller-Buschbaum, Peter; Lieleg, Oliver; Boekhoven, Job

2017-07-01

Many biological materials exist in non-equilibrium states driven by the irreversible consumption of high-energy molecules like ATP or GTP. These energy-dissipating structures are governed by kinetics and are thus endowed with unique properties including spatiotemporal control over their presence. Here we show man-made equivalents of materials driven by the consumption of high-energy molecules and explore their unique properties. A chemical reaction network converts dicarboxylates into metastable anhydrides driven by the irreversible consumption of carbodiimide fuels. The anhydrides hydrolyse rapidly to the original dicarboxylates and are designed to assemble into hydrophobic colloids, hydrogels or inks. The spatiotemporal control over the formation and degradation of materials allows for the development of colloids that release hydrophobic contents in a predictable fashion, temporary self-erasing inks and transient hydrogels. Moreover, we show that each material can be re-used for several cycles.

Non-equilibrium dissipative supramolecular materials with a tunable lifetime

PubMed Central

Tena-Solsona, Marta; Rieß, Benedikt; Grötsch, Raphael K.; Löhrer, Franziska C.; Wanzke, Caren; Käsdorf, Benjamin; Bausch, Andreas R.; Müller-Buschbaum, Peter; Lieleg, Oliver; Boekhoven, Job

2017-01-01

Many biological materials exist in non-equilibrium states driven by the irreversible consumption of high-energy molecules like ATP or GTP. These energy-dissipating structures are governed by kinetics and are thus endowed with unique properties including spatiotemporal control over their presence. Here we show man-made equivalents of materials driven by the consumption of high-energy molecules and explore their unique properties. A chemical reaction network converts dicarboxylates into metastable anhydrides driven by the irreversible consumption of carbodiimide fuels. The anhydrides hydrolyse rapidly to the original dicarboxylates and are designed to assemble into hydrophobic colloids, hydrogels or inks. The spatiotemporal control over the formation and degradation of materials allows for the development of colloids that release hydrophobic contents in a predictable fashion, temporary self-erasing inks and transient hydrogels. Moreover, we show that each material can be re-used for several cycles. PMID:28719591

Bonding properties of FCC-like Au 44 (SR) 28 clusters from X-ray absorption spectroscopy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yang, Rui; Chevrier, Daniel M.; Zeng, Chenjie

Thiolate-protected gold clusters with precisely controlled atomic composition have recently emerged as promising candidates for a variety of applications because of their unique optical, electronic, and catalytic properties. The recent discovery of the Au44(SR)28 total structure is considered as an interesting finding in terms of the face-centered cubic (FCC)-like core structure in small gold-thiolate clusters. Herein, the unique bonding properties of Au44(SR)28 is analyzed using temperature-dependent X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) measurements at the Au L3-edge and compared with other FCC-like clusters such as Au36(SR)24 and Au28(SR)20. A negative thermal expansion was detected for the Au–Au bonds of the metal coremore » (the first Au–Au shell) and was interpreted based on the unique Au core structure consisting of the Au4 units. EXAFS fitting results from Au28(SR)20, Au36(SR)24, and Au44(SR)28 show a size-dependent negative thermal expansion behavior in the first Au–Au shell, further highlighting the importance of the Au4 units in determining the Au core bonding properties and shedding light on the growth mechanism of these FCC-like Au clusters.« less

On the uniqueness of measuring elastoplastic properties from indentation: The indistinguishable mystical materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Xi; Ogasawara, Nagahisa; Zhao, Manhong; Chiba, Norimasa

2007-08-01

Indentation is widely used to extract material elastoplastic properties from the measured force-displacement curves. One of the most well-established indentation techniques utilizes dual (or plural) sharp indenters (which have different apex angles) to deduce key parameters such as the elastic modulus, yield stress, and work-hardening exponent for materials that obey the power-law constitutive relationship. However, the uniqueness of such analysis is not yet systematically studied or challenged. Here we show the existence of "mystical materials", which have distinct elastoplastic properties yet they yield almost identical indentation behaviors, even when the indenter angle is varied in a large range. These mystical materials are, therefore, indistinguishable by many existing indentation analyses unless extreme (and often impractical) indenter angles are used. Explicit procedures of deriving these mystical materials are established, and the general characteristics of the mystical materials are discussed. In many cases, for a given indenter angle range, a material would have infinite numbers of mystical siblings, and the existence maps of the mystical materials are also obtained. Furthermore, we propose two alternative techniques to effectively distinguish these mystical materials. The study in this paper addresses the important question of the uniqueness of indentation test, as well as providing useful guidelines to properly use the indentation technique to measure material elastoplastic properties.

Evaluation on the Presence of Nano Silver Particle in Improving a Conventional Water-based Drilling Fluid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Husin, H.; Ahmad, N.; Jamil, N.; Chyuan, O. H.; Roslan, A.

2018-05-01

Worldwide demand in oil and gas energy consumption has been driving many of oil and gas companies to explore new oil and gas resource field in an ultra-deep water environment. As deeper well is drilled, more problems and challenges are expected. The successful of drilling operation is highly dependent on properties of drilling fluids. As a way to operate drilling in challenging and extreme surroundings, nanotechnology with their unique properties is employed. Due to unique physicochemical, electrical, thermal, hydrodynamic properties and exceptional interaction potential of nanomaterials, nanoparticles are considered to be the most promising material of choice for smart fluid design for oil and gas field application. Throughout this paper, the effect of nano silver particle in improving a conventional water based drilling fluid was evaluated. Results showed that nano silver gave a significant improvement to the conventional water based drilling fluid in terms of its rheological properties and filtration test performance.

Design Two-dimensional Materials with Superb Electronic and Optoelectronic Properties: The case of SiS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wei, Su-Huai; Yang, Ji-Hui; Zhang, Yueyu; Yin, Wan-Jian; Gong, X. G.; Yakobson, Boris I.

Two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors have many unique electronic and optoelectronic properties that is suitable for novel device applications. Most of the current study are focused on group IV or transition metal chalcogenides. In this study, using atomic transmutation and global optimization methods, we identified two group IV-VI 2D materials, Pma2-SiS and silicene sulfide that can overcome shortcomings encountered in conventional 2D semiconducttord. Pma2-SiS is found to be both chemically, energetically, and thermally stable. Most importantly, Pma2-SiS has unique electronic and optoelectronic properties, including direct bandgaps suitable for solar cells, good mobility for nanoelectronics, good flexibility of property tuning by layer thickness and strain appliance, and good air stability as well. Therefore, Pma2-SiS is expected to be a very promising 2D material in the field of 2D electronics and optoelectronics. Silicene sulfide also shows similar properties. We believe that the designing principles and approaches used to identify these materials have great potential to accelerate future finding of new functional materials within the 2D families.

Monolithic graphene transistor biointerface.

PubMed

Nam, SungWoo; Lee, Mi-Sun; Park, Jang-Ung

2012-01-01

We report monolithic integration of graphene and graphite for all-carbon integrated bioelectronics. First, we demonstrate that the electrical properties of graphene and graphite can be modulated by controlling the number of graphene layers, and such capabilities allow graphene to be used as active channels and graphite as metallic interconnects for all-carbon bioelectronics. Furthermore, we show that monolithic graphene-graphite devices exhibit mechanical flexibility and robustness while their electrical responses are not perturbed by mechanical deformation, demonstrating their unique electromechanical properties. Chemical sensing capability of all-carbon integrated bioelectronics is manifested in real-time, complementary pH detection. These unique capabilities of our monolithic graphene-graphite bioelectronics could be exploited in chemical and biological detection and conformal interface with biological systems in the future.

The DUV Stability of Superlattice-Doped CMOS Detector Arrays

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hoenk, M. E.; Carver, A.; Jones, T.; Dickie, M.; Cheng, P.; Greer, H. F.; Nikzad, S.; Sgro, J.

2013-01-01

In this paper, we present experimental results and band structure calculations that illuminate the unique properties of superlattice-doped detectors. Numerical band structure calculations are presented to analyze the dependencies of surface passivation on dopant profiles and interface trap densities (Figure 3). Experiments and calculations show that quantum-engineered surfaces, grown at JPL by low temperature molecular beam epitaxy, achieve a qualitative as well as quantitative uniqueness in their near-immunity to high densities of surface and interface traps.

Economically effective material forms for composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Woolstencroft, Dave

This paper will consider advanced composites and the new degrees of freedom that are available to the composites engineer to be able to make parts that combine both an economic performance superior to existing systems, with no additional production investment, and high mechanical property translations. This unique advantage comes about through some pioneering and innovative work in the different forms of material into which the reinforcing fibers can be configured. The presentation will highlight the unique advantages and show a pioneering aerostructural application of this material form.

Synthetic Design of Polysulfone Membranes: Morphological Effect on Property and Performance in Flow Batteries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gindt, Brandon

This dissertation outlines a novel path towards improved understanding and function of proton exchange membranes (PEMs) for redox flow batteries, a large-scale battery storage device. This research uses synthetic methods and nanotechnology through two different approaches to prepare tailored polymer membranes: 1) Ion exchange membranes with enhanced chemical structures to promote membrane morphology on the nano-scale were prepared. Specifically, functional polysulfones (PSUs) were synthesized from different pre-sulfonated monomers. These PSUs have controlled placement and content of unique sulfonic acid moieties. PEMs were fabricated and characterized. The new PEMs showed desirable physical properties and performance in a vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) cell. 2) Nanoporous PSU membranes were fabricated via post-hydrolysis of polylactide (PLA) from PLA-PSU-PLA triblock copolymer membranes. The controlled morphology and pore size of the resulting nanoporous membranes were evaluated by different microscopy and scattering techniques to understand structure-property relationships. Further, the resulting nanopore surface was chemically modified with sulfonic acid moieties. Membranes were analyzed and evaluated as separators for a VRFB. The chemically modified nanoporous PEMs exhibited unique behavior with respect to their ion conductivity when exposed to solutions of increasing acid concentration. In addition, the hierarchical micro-nanoporous membranes developed further showed promising structure and properties.

Crystallographic phase induced electro-optic properties of nanorod blend nematic liquid crystal.

PubMed

Kundu, Sudarshan; Hill, Jonathan P; Richards, Gary J; Ariga, Katsuhiko; Khan, Ali Hossain; Thupakula, Umamahesh; Acharya, Somobrata

2011-09-01

Ultrasmall ZnS or PbS nanorods encapsulated in fluid-like soft organic surfactants show excellent miscibility in the nematic liquid crystal (LC ZLI-4792) host resulting in a novel soft matter type blend with enhanced electro-optic properties. The ultranarrow ZnS rods are of wurtzite phase and possess a chemical bipolarity and a net dipole moment. The centrosymmetric ultranarrow PbS rods possess a finite size and shape dependent inherent dipole moment despite their cubic rock-salt structure. When an electric field is applied, the blend aligns along the direction of the field producing a local unidirectional orientation of the rods and LC directors, and defining a unique axis for the system. The local ordering significantly affects the global ordering of the blend allowing a more rapid response of the electro-optic properties. The degree and switching speed of the blends depend upon the magnitude of dipole moments present in the dopant nanorods. We show how a non-mesogenic element designed with preferential crystallographic phase can be introduced within a LC for improvement of the switching properties of the LC blend. These types of unique blends are a model for fundamental conceptual advances in general understanding of interaction behaviour leading consequently to a significant technological advancement for superior device fabrication.

Structure/property development in aPET during large strain, solid phase polymer processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martin, Peter; Mohamed, Raja Roslan Raja

2015-12-01

Amorphous Polyethylene terephthalate (aPET) is increasingly of interest for the polymer packaging industry due to its blend of excellent mechanical properties and most importantly its ease of recyclability. Among the major commercial polymers it is almost unique in the degree of improvement in mechanical properties that can be obtained through process-induced strain. For many years these unique properties have been very successfully exploited in the injection stretch blow molding process, where it is deliberately stretched to very large strains using extremely high pressures. However, the material is now also being used in much lower pressure processes such as thermoforming where its properties are often not fully exploited. In this work the change in structure and properties of aPET with strain is systematically investigated using a high speed biaxial stretching machine. The aim was to demonstrate how the properties of the material could be controlled by large strain, high temperature biaxial stretching processes such as thermoforming and blow molding. The results show that property changes in the material are driven by orientation and the onset of rapid strain hardening at large strains. This in turn is shown to vary strongly with process-induced parameters such as the strain rate and the mode and magnitude of biaxial deformation.

Optical properties of dissolved organic matter (DOM): Effects of biological and photolytic degradation

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hansen, Angela; Kraus, Tamara; Pellerin, Brian; Fleck, Jacob; Downing, Bryan D.; Bergamaschi, Brian

2016-01-01

Advances in spectroscopic techniques have led to an increase in the use of optical properties (absorbance and fluorescence) to assess dissolved organic matter (DOM) composition and infer sources and processing. However, little information is available to assess the impact of biological and photolytic processing on the optical properties of original DOM source materials. We measured changes in commonly used optical properties and indices in DOM leached from peat soil, plants, and algae following biological and photochemical degradation to determine whether they provide unique signatures that can be linked to original DOM source. Changes in individual optical parameters varied by source material and process, with biodegradation and photodegradation often causing values to shift in opposite directions. Although values for different source materials overlapped at the end of the 111-day lab experiment, multivariate statistical analyses showed that unique optical signatures could be linked to original DOM source material even after degradation, with 17 optical properties determined by discriminant analysis to be significant (p<0.05) in distinguishing between DOM source and environmental processing. These results demonstrate that inferring the source material from optical properties is possible when parameters are evaluated in combination even after extensive biological and photochemical alteration.

Effects of surface properties on droplet formation inside a microfluidic device

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Steinhaus, Ben; Shen, Amy

2004-11-01

Micro-fluidic devices offer a unique method of creating and controlling droplets on small length scales. A microfluidic device is used to study the effects of surface properties on droplet formation of a 2-phase flow system. Four phase diagrams are generated to compare the dynamics of the 2 immiscible fluid system (silicone oil and water) inside microchannels with different surface properties. Results show that the channel surface plays an important role in determining the flow patterns and the droplet formation of the 2-phase fluid system.

Nanodiamonds: Their Structure and Optical Properties

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Raty, J.-Y.; van Buuren, T.; Galli, G.

2002-05-14

Nanometer sized diamond is a constituent of diverse systems ranging from interstellar dusts and meteorites [1] to carbonaceous residues of detonations [2] and diamond-like films [3-5]. Many of the properties of bulk diamond have been well understood for decades, those of nanodiamond are mostly unexplored. We present a combined theoretical and experimental study showing that diamond has unique properties not only as a bulk material but also at the nanoscale, where size reduction and surface reconstruction effects are fundamentally different from those found, e.g. in Si and Ge.

Biomechanics and functional morphology of a climbing monocot

PubMed Central

Hesse, Linnea; Wagner, Sarah T.; Neinhuis, Christoph

2016-01-01

Plants with a climbing growth habit possess unique biomechanical properties arising from adaptations to changing loading conditions connected with close attachment to mechanical supports. In monocot climbers, mechanical adaptation is restricted by the absence of a bifacial vascular cambium. Flagellaria indica was used to investigate the mechanical properties and adaptations of a monocot climber that, uniquely, attaches to the surrounding vegetation via leaf tendrils. Biomechanical methods such as three-point bending and torsion tests were used together with anatomical studies on tissue development, modification and distribution. In general, the torsional modulus was lower than the bending modulus; hence, torsional stiffness was less than flexural stiffness. Basal parts of mature stems showed the greatest stiffness while that of more apical stem segments levelled off. Mechanical properties were modulated via tissue maturation processes mainly affecting the peripheral region of the stem. Peripheral vascular bundles showed a reduction in the amount of conducting tissue while the proportion and density of the bundle sheath increased. Furthermore, adjacent bundle sheaths merged resulting in a dense ring of fibrous tissue. Although F. indica lacks secondary cambial growth, the climbing habit is facilitated by a complex interaction of tissue maturation and attachment. PMID:26819259

Rapid End-Group Modification of Polysaccharides for Biomaterial Applications in Regenerative Medicine.

PubMed

Bondalapati, Somasekhar; Ruvinov, Emil; Kryukov, Olga; Cohen, Smadar; Brik, Ashraf

2014-09-15

Polysaccharides have emerged as important functional materials because of their unique properties such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, and availability of reactive sites for chemical modifications to optimize their properties. The overwhelming majority of the methods to modify polysaccharides employ random chemical modifications, which often improve certain properties while compromising others. On the other hand, the employed methods for selective modifications often require excess of coupling partners, long reaction times and are limited in their scope and wide applicability. To circumvent these drawbacks, aniline-catalyzed oxime formation is developed for selective modification of a variety of polysaccharides through their reducing end. Notably, it is found that for efficient oxime formation, different conditions are required depending on the composition of the specific polysaccharide. It is also shown how our strategy can be applied to improve the physical and functional properties of alginate hydrogels, which are widely used in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. While the randomly and selectively modified alginate exhibits similar viscoelastic properties, the latter forms significantly more stable hydrogel and superior cell adhesive and functional properties. Our results show that the developed conjugation reaction is robust and should open new opportunities for preparing polysaccharide-based functional materials with unique properties. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Probabilistic Simulation for Nanocomposite Characterization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chamis, Christos C.; Coroneos, Rula M.

2007-01-01

A unique probabilistic theory is described to predict the properties of nanocomposites. The simulation is based on composite micromechanics with progressive substructuring down to a nanoscale slice of a nanofiber where all the governing equations are formulated. These equations have been programmed in a computer code. That computer code is used to simulate uniaxial strengths properties of a mononanofiber laminate. The results are presented graphically and discussed with respect to their practical significance. These results show smooth distributions.

Production & Characterization of a Unique Dextran from an Indigenous Leuconostoc mesenteroides CMG713

PubMed Central

Sarwat, Farwa; Qader, Shah Ali Ul; Aman, Afsheen; Ahmed, Nuzhat

2008-01-01

On the basis of high enzyme activity a newly isolated strain of L. mesenteroides CMG713 was selected for dextran production. For maximum yield of dextran, effects of various parameters such as pH, temperature, sucrose concentration and incubation period were studied. L. mesenteroides CMG713 produced maximum dextran after 20 hours of incubation at 30ºC with 15% sucrose at pH 7.0. The molecular mass distribution of dextran produced by this strain showed that its molecular mass was about 2.0 million Da. Dextran analysis by 13C-NMR spectrometry showed no signals corresponding to any other linkages except α-(1→6) glycosidic linkage in the main chain, which has not been reported before. Physico-chemical properties of this unique dextran were also studied. These optimised conditions could be used for the commercial production of this unique high molecular weight dextran, which have significant industrial perspectives. PMID:18953402

Gingival Mesenchymal Stem/Progenitor Cells: A Unique Tissue Engineering Gem

PubMed Central

Fawzy El-Sayed, Karim M.; Dörfer, Christof E.

2016-01-01

The human gingiva, characterized by its outstanding scarless wound healing properties, is a unique tissue and a pivotal component of the periodontal apparatus, investing and surrounding the teeth in their sockets in the alveolar bone. In the last years gingival mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells (G-MSCs), with promising regenerative and immunomodulatory properties, have been isolated and characterized from the gingival lamina propria. These cells, in contrast to other mesenchymal stem/progenitor cell sources, are abundant, readily accessible, and easily obtainable via minimally invasive cell isolation techniques. The present review summarizes the current scientific evidence on G-MSCs' isolation, their characterization, the investigated subpopulations, the generated induced pluripotent stem cells- (iPSC-) like G-MSCs, their regenerative properties, and current approaches for G-MSCs' delivery. The review further demonstrates their immunomodulatory properties, the transplantation preconditioning attempts via multiple biomolecules to enhance their attributes, and the experimental therapeutic applications conducted to treat multiple diseases in experimental animal models in vivo. G-MSCs show remarkable tissue reparative/regenerative potential, noteworthy immunomodulatory properties, and primary experimental therapeutic applications of G-MSCs are very promising, pointing at future biologically based therapeutic techniques, being potentially superior to conventional clinical treatment modalities. PMID:27313628

Proliferative activity of elastin-like-peptides depends on charge and phase transition.

PubMed

Yuan, Yuan; Koria, Piyush

2016-03-01

Elastin-like-peptides (ELPs) are stimulus-responsive protein-based polymers and are attractive biomaterials due to their biocompatibility and unique properties. This study shows that in addition to their physical properties, ELPs have biological activities that are conducive to tissue regeneration. Specifically, we found that ELPs induce fibroblast proliferation via cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG). Furthermore, our data suggests that ELP based materials with differential proliferative potential can be designed by controlling the interaction of ELPs with HSPGs by incorporating either hydrophobic or positively charged residues within the ELP sequence. Fibroblast proliferation is important for granulation tissue formation which is important in chronic wounds as well as in healing of other tissues. The customizable biological activity of ELPs coupled with their unique physical properties will enable us to design novel, sustainable and cost effective therapies for different tissue regeneration applications. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 104A: 697-706, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

New Disulfide-Stabilized Fold Provides Sea Anemone Peptide to Exhibit Both Antimicrobial and TRPA1 Potentiating Properties.

PubMed

Logashina, Yulia A; Solstad, Runar Gjerp; Mineev, Konstantin S; Korolkova, Yuliya V; Mosharova, Irina V; Dyachenko, Igor A; Palikov, Victor A; Palikova, Yulia A; Murashev, Arkadii N; Arseniev, Alexander S; Kozlov, Sergey A; Stensvåg, Klara; Haug, Tor; Andreev, Yaroslav A

2017-04-29

A novel bioactive peptide named τ-AnmTx Ueq 12-1 (short name Ueq 12-1) was isolated and characterized from the sea anemone Urticina eques. Ueq 12-1 is unique among the variety of known sea anemone peptides in terms of its primary and spatial structure. It consists of 45 amino acids including 10 cysteine residues with an unusual distribution and represents a new group of sea anemone peptides. The 3D structure of Ueq 12-1, determined by NMR spectroscopy, represents a new disulfide-stabilized fold partly similar to the defensin-like fold. Ueq 12-1 showed the dual activity of both a moderate antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria and a potentiating activity on the transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1). Ueq 12-1 is a unique peptide potentiator of the TRPA1 receptor that produces analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects in vivo . The antinociceptive properties allow us to consider Ueq 12-1 as a potential analgesic drug lead with antibacterial properties.

Unique membrane properties and enhanced signal processing in human neocortical neurons.

PubMed

Eyal, Guy; Verhoog, Matthijs B; Testa-Silva, Guilherme; Deitcher, Yair; Lodder, Johannes C; Benavides-Piccione, Ruth; Morales, Juan; DeFelipe, Javier; de Kock, Christiaan Pj; Mansvelder, Huibert D; Segev, Idan

2016-10-06

The advanced cognitive capabilities of the human brain are often attributed to our recently evolved neocortex. However, it is not known whether the basic building blocks of the human neocortex, the pyramidal neurons, possess unique biophysical properties that might impact on cortical computations. Here we show that layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons from human temporal cortex (HL2/3 PCs) have a specific membrane capacitance ( C m ) of ~0.5 µF/cm 2 , half of the commonly accepted 'universal' value (~1 µF/cm 2 ) for biological membranes. This finding was predicted by fitting in vitro voltage transients to theoretical transients then validated by direct measurement of C m in nucleated patch experiments. Models of 3D reconstructed HL2/3 PCs demonstrated that such low C m value significantly enhances both synaptic charge-transfer from dendrites to soma and spike propagation along the axon. This is the first demonstration that human cortical neurons have distinctive membrane properties, suggesting important implications for signal processing in human neocortex.

Facile Synthesis of Uniform Virus-like Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Enhanced Cellular Internalization

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

The low-efficiency cellular uptake property of current nanoparticles greatly restricts their application in the biomedical field. Herein, we demonstrate that novel virus-like mesoporous silica nanoparticles can easily be synthesized, showing greatly superior cellular uptake property. The unique virus-like mesoporous silica nanoparticles with a spiky tubular rough surface have been successfully synthesized via a novel single-micelle epitaxial growth approach in a low-concentration-surfactant oil/water biphase system. The virus-like nanoparticles’ rough surface morphology results mainly from the mesoporous silica nanotubes spontaneously grown via an epitaxial growth process. The obtained nanoparticles show uniform particle size and excellent monodispersity. The structural parameters of the nanoparticles can be well tuned with controllable core diameter (∼60–160 nm), tubular length (∼6–70 nm), and outer diameter (∼6–10 nm). Thanks to the biomimetic morphology, the virus-like nanoparticles show greatly superior cellular uptake property (invading living cells in large quantities within few minutes, <5 min), unique internalization pathways, and extended blood circulation duration (t1/2 = 2.16 h), which is much longer than that of conventional mesoporous silica nanoparticles (0.45 h). Furthermore, our epitaxial growth strategy can be applied to fabricate various virus-like mesoporous core–shell structures, paving the way toward designed synthesis of virus-like nanocomposites for biomedicine applications. PMID:28852697

Physicochemical properties of kiwifruit starch.

PubMed

Li, Dongxing; Zhu, Fan

2017-04-01

Three varieties of golden kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis) (Gold3, Gold9 and Hort16A) were collected at the commercial harvesting time, and physicochemical properties of starches from core and outer pericarp were studied. Starch contents (dry weight basis) in outer pericarp and core tissues ranged from 38.6 to 51.8% and 34.6 to 40.7%, respectively. All the kiwifruit starches showed B-type polymorph. Compared to the outer pericarp starches, amylose content and enzyme susceptibility of core starches were higher, and the degree of crystallinity, granule size and gelatinization parameters of core starches were somewhat lower. This suggests different biosynthetic properties between these two starches. The enthalpy changes of gelatinization of outer pericarp starches were high (∼21J/g). Rheological properties of outer pericarp starches were compared with normal maize and potato starches showed high yield stress of flow properties. This study revealed the unique properties of kiwifruit starch among various types of starches. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Carbon Nanotubes Filled with Ferromagnetic Materials

PubMed Central

Weissker, Uhland; Hampel, Silke; Leonhardt, Albrecht; Büchner, Bernd

2010-01-01

Carbon nanotubes (CNT) filled with ferromagnetic metals like iron, cobalt or nickel are new and very interesting nanostructured materials with a number of unique properties. In this paper we give an overview about different chemical vapor deposition (CVD) methods for their synthesis and discuss the influence of selected growth parameters. In addition we evaluate possible growth mechanisms involved in their formation. Moreover we show their identified structural and magnetic properties. On the basis of these properties we present different application possibilities. Some selected examples reveal the high potential of these materials in the field of medicine and nanotechnology. PMID:28883334

Bursting at the Seams: Rippled Monolayer Bismuth on NbSe 2

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fang, Alan; Adamo, Carolina; Jia, Shuang

Bismuth, one of the heaviest semimetals in nature, ignited the interest of the materials-physics community for its potential impact on topological quantum-material systems that utilize its strong spin-orbit coupling (SOC) and unique orbital hybridization. In particular, recent theoretical predictions of unique topological and superconducting properties of thin bismuth films and interfaces prompted intense research on the growth of sub- to a few monolayers of bismuth on different substrates. Similar to bulk rhombohedral bismuth, the initial growth of bismuth films on most substrates results in buckled bilayers that either grow in the (111) or (110) directions, with a lattice constant closemore » to that of bulk Bi. By contrast, in this paper we show a new growth pattern for bismuth monolayers on NbSe 2. We find that the initial growth of Bi can form a strongly bonded commensurate layer, resulting in a compressively strained two-dimensional triangular lattice. A unique pattern of 1D ripples and domain walls is observed. The single layer of bismuth also introduces strong marks on the electronic properties at the surface.« less

Bursting at the Seams: Rippled Monolayer Bismuth on NbSe 2

DOE PAGES

Fang, Alan; Adamo, Carolina; Jia, Shuang; ...

2018-04-13

Bismuth, one of the heaviest semimetals in nature, ignited the interest of the materials-physics community for its potential impact on topological quantum-material systems that utilize its strong spin-orbit coupling (SOC) and unique orbital hybridization. In particular, recent theoretical predictions of unique topological and superconducting properties of thin bismuth films and interfaces prompted intense research on the growth of sub- to a few monolayers of bismuth on different substrates. Similar to bulk rhombohedral bismuth, the initial growth of bismuth films on most substrates results in buckled bilayers that either grow in the (111) or (110) directions, with a lattice constant closemore » to that of bulk Bi. By contrast, in this paper we show a new growth pattern for bismuth monolayers on NbSe 2. We find that the initial growth of Bi can form a strongly bonded commensurate layer, resulting in a compressively strained two-dimensional triangular lattice. A unique pattern of 1D ripples and domain walls is observed. The single layer of bismuth also introduces strong marks on the electronic properties at the surface.« less

An InN/InGaN Quantum Dot Electrochemical Biosensor for Clinical Diagnosis

PubMed Central

Alvi, Naveed ul Hassan; Gómez, Victor J.; Rodriguez, Paul E.D. Soto; Kumar, Praveen; Zaman, Saima; Willander, Magnus; Nötzel, Richard

2013-01-01

Low-dimensional InN/InGaN quantum dots (QDs) are demonstrated for realizing highly sensitive and efficient potentiometric biosensors owing to their unique electronic properties. The InN QDs are biochemically functionalized. The fabricated biosensor exhibits high sensitivity of 97 mV/decade with fast output response within two seconds for the detection of cholesterol in the logarithmic concentration range of 1 × 10−6 M to 1 × 10−3 M. The selectivity and reusability of the biosensor are excellent and it shows negligible response to common interferents such as uric acid and ascorbic acid. We also compare the biosensing properties of the InN QDs with those of an InN thin film having the same surface properties, i.e., high density of surface donor states, but different morphology and electronic properties. The sensitivity of the InN QDs-based biosensor is twice that of the InN thin film-based biosensor, the EMF is three times larger, and the response time is five times shorter. A bare InGaN layer does not produce a stable response. Hence, the superior biosensing properties of the InN QDs are governed by their unique surface properties together with the zero-dimensional electronic properties. Altogether, the InN QDs-based biosensor reveals great potential for clinical diagnosis applications. PMID:24132228

One-pot synthesis of biocompatible Te@phenol formaldehyde resin core-shell nanowires with uniform size and unique fluorescent properties by a synergized soft-hard template process.

PubMed

Qian, Haisheng; Zhu, Enbo; Zheng, Shunji; Li, Zhengquan; Hu, Yong; Guo, Changfa; Yang, Xingyun; Li, Liangchao; Tong, Guoxiu; Guo, Huichen

2010-12-10

One-pot hydrothermal process has been developed to synthesize uniform Te@phenol formaldehyde resin core-shell nanowires with unique fluorescent properties. A synergistic soft-hard template mechanism has been proposed to explain the formation of the core-shell nanowires. The Te@phenol formaldehyde resin core-shell nanowires display unique fluorescent properties, which give strong luminescent emission in the blue-violet and green regions with excitation wavelengths of 270 nm and 402 nm, respectively.

Science and Technology of Nanostructured Magnetic Materials

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-07-06

galvano-magnetic and magneto-optic effects that can lead to future storage technologies. Ultrafine particles also show interesting and unique properties...areas including thin films, multilayers, disordered systems, ultrafine particles , intermetallic compounds, permanent magnets and magnetic imaging... ultrafine particles , intermetallic compounds, permanent magnets and magnetic imaging techniques. The development of new techniques for materials preparation

Transmitted spectral modulation of double-ring resonator using liquid crystals in terahertz range

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Huijuan; Zhou, Qingli; Wang, Xiumin; Li, Chenyu; Wu, Ani; Zhang, Cunlin

2013-12-01

Metamaterials with subwavelength structural features show unique electromagnetic responses that are unattainable with natural materials. Recent research on these artificial materials has been pushed forward to the terahertz region because of potential applications in biological fingerprinting, security imaging, remote sensing, and high frequency magnetic and electric resonant devices. Active control of their properties could further facilitate and open up new applications in terms of modulation and switching. Liquid crystals, which have been the subject of research for more than a century, have the unique properties for the development of many other optical components such as light valves, tunable filters and tunable lenses. In this paper, we investigated the transmitted spectral modulation in terahertz range by using liquid crystals (5CB and TEB300) covering on the fabricated double-ring resonators to realize the shift of the resonance frequency. Our obtained results indicate the low frequency resonance shows the obvious blue-shift, while the location of high frequency resonance is nearly unchanged. We believe this phenomenon is related to not only the refractive index of the covering liquid crystals but also the resonant mechanism of both resonances.

Hybrid matrix method for stable numerical analysis of the propagation of Dirac electrons in gapless bilayer graphene superlattices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Briones-Torres, J. A.; Pernas-Salomón, R.; Pérez-Álvarez, R.; Rodríguez-Vargas, I.

2016-05-01

Gapless bilayer graphene (GBG), like monolayer graphene, is a material system with unique properties, such as anti-Klein tunneling and intrinsic Fano resonances. These properties rely on the gapless parabolic dispersion relation and the chiral nature of bilayer graphene electrons. In addition, propagating and evanescent electron states coexist inherently in this material, giving rise to these exotic properties. In this sense, bilayer graphene is unique, since in most material systems in which Fano resonance phenomena are manifested an external source that provides extended states is required. However, from a numerical standpoint, the presence of evanescent-divergent states in the eigenfunctions linear superposition representing the Dirac spinors, leads to a numerical degradation (the so called Ωd problem) in the practical applications of the standard Coefficient Transfer Matrix (K) method used to study charge transport properties in Bilayer Graphene based multi-barrier systems. We present here a straightforward procedure based in the hybrid compliance-stiffness matrix method (H) that can overcome this numerical degradation. Our results show that in contrast to standard matrix method, the proposed H method is suitable to study the transmission and transport properties of electrons in GBG superlattice since it remains numerically stable regardless the size of the superlattice and the range of values taken by the input parameters: the energy and angle of the incident electrons, the barrier height and the thickness and number of barriers. We show that the matrix determinant can be used as a test of the numerical accuracy in real calculations.

Synthesis, characterization and in vivo evaluation of biocompatible ferrogels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lopez-Lopez, M. T.; Rodriguez, I. A.; Rodriguez-Arco, L.; Carriel, V.; Bonhome-Espinosa, A. B.; Campos, F.; Zubarev, A.; Duran, J. D. G.

2017-06-01

A hydrogel is a 3-D network of polymer chains in which water is the dispersion medium. Hydrogels have found extensive applications in the biomedical field due to their resemblance to living tissues. Furthermore, hydrogels can be endowed with exceptional properties by addition of synthetic materials. For example, magnetic field-sensitive gels, called ferrogels, are obtained by embedding magnetic particles in the polymer network. Novel living tissues with unique magnetic field-sensitive properties were recently prepared by 3-D cell culture in biocompatible ferrogels. This paper critically reviews the most recent progress and perspectives in their synthesis, characterization and biocompatibility evaluation. Optimization of ferrogels for this novel application requires low-density, strongly magnetic, multi-domain particles. Interestingly, the rheological properties of the resulting ferrogels in the absence of field were largely enhanced with respect to nonmagnetic hydrogels, which can only be explained by the additional cross-linking imparted by the embedded magnetic particles. Remarkably, rheological measurements under an applied magnetic field demonstrated that ferrogels presented reversibly tunable mechanical properties, which constitutes a unique advantage with respect to nonmagnetic hydrogels. In vivo evaluation of ferrogels showed good biocompatibility, with only some local inflammatory response, and no particle migration or damage to distant organs.

Hybrid nanostructures of metal/two-dimensional nanomaterials for plasmon-enhanced applications.

PubMed

Li, Xuanhua; Zhu, Jinmeng; Wei, Bingqing

2016-06-07

Hybrid nanostructures composed of graphene or other two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials and plasmonic metal components have been extensively studied. The unusual properties of 2D materials are associated with their atomically thin thickness and 2D morphology, and many impressive structures enable the metal nanomaterials to establish various interesting hybrid nanostructures with outstanding plasmonic properties. In addition, the hybrid nanostructures display unique optical characteristics that are derived from the close conjunction of plasmonic optical effects and the unique physicochemical properties of 2D materials. More importantly, the hybrid nanostructures show several plasmonic electrical effects including an improved photogeneration rate, efficient carrier transfer, and a plasmon-induced "hot carrier", playing a significant role in enhancing device performance. They have been widely studied for plasmon-enhanced optical signals, photocatalysis, photodetectors (PDs), and solar cells. In this review, the developments in the field of metal/2D hybrid nanostructures are comprehensively described. Preparation of hybrid nanostructures is first presented according to the 2D material type, as well as the metal nanomaterial morphology. The plasmonic properties and the enabled applications of the hybrid nanostructures are then described. Lastly, possible future research in this promising field is discussed.

Signature properties of water: Their molecular electronic origins

PubMed Central

Jones, Andrew P.; Cipcigan, Flaviu S.; Crain, Jason; Martyna, Glenn J.

2015-01-01

Water challenges our fundamental understanding of emergent materials properties from a molecular perspective. It exhibits a uniquely rich phenomenology including dramatic variations in behavior over the wide temperature range of the liquid into water’s crystalline phases and amorphous states. We show that many-body responses arising from water’s electronic structure are essential mechanisms harnessed by the molecule to encode for the distinguishing features of its condensed states. We treat the complete set of these many-body responses nonperturbatively within a coarse-grained electronic structure derived exclusively from single-molecule properties. Such a “strong coupling” approach generates interaction terms of all symmetries to all orders, thereby enabling unique transferability to diverse local environments such as those encountered along the coexistence curve. The symmetries of local motifs that can potentially emerge are not known a priori. Consequently, electronic responses unfiltered by artificial truncation are then required to embody the terms that tip the balance to the correct set of structures. Therefore, our fully responsive molecular model produces, a simple, accurate, and intuitive picture of water’s complexity and its molecular origin, predicting water’s signature physical properties from ice, through liquid–vapor coexistence, to the critical point. PMID:25941394

Self-Healing Materials for Ecotribology

PubMed Central

Shi, Shih-Chen; Huang, Teng-Feng

2017-01-01

Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) is a biopolymer that is biodegradable, environmentally friendly, and bio-friendly. Owing to its unique chemical structure, HPMC can reduce the coefficient of friction (COF) and frictional wear and thus possesses excellent lubrication properties. HPMC has good dissolvability in specific solvents. The present research focuses on the reversible dissolution reaction subsequent to the film formation of HPMC, with a view to the healing and lubrication properties of thin films. Raman spectroscopy was used to test the film-forming properties of HPMC and the dissolution characteristics of various solvents. In this study, the solvents were water, methanol, ethanol, and acetone. The results showed that the HPMC film had the highest dissolvability in water. The ball-on-disk wear test was used to analyze the lubrication properties of HPMC, and the results showed that HPMC had the same COF and lubrication properties as the original film after being subjected to the water healing treatment. The HPMC film can be reused, recycled, and refilled, making it an ideal lubricant for next-generation ecotribology. PMID:28772449

A Bioinspired Mineral Hydrogel as a Self-Healable, Mechanically Adaptable Ionic Skin for Highly Sensitive Pressure Sensing.

PubMed

Lei, Zhouyue; Wang, Quankang; Sun, Shengtong; Zhu, Wencheng; Wu, Peiyi

2017-06-01

In the past two decades, artificial skin-like materials have received increasing research interests for their broad applications in artificial intelligence, wearable devices, and soft robotics. However, profound challenges remain in terms of imitating human skin because of its unique combination of mechanical and sensory properties. In this work, a bioinspired mineral hydrogel is developed to fabricate a novel type of mechanically adaptable ionic skin sensor. Due to its unique viscoelastic properties, the hydrogel-based capacitive sensor is compliant, self-healable, and can sense subtle pressure changes, such as a gentle finger touch, human motion, or even small water droplets. It might not only show great potential in applications such as artificial intelligence, human/machine interactions, personal healthcare, and wearable devices, but also promote the development of next-generation mechanically adaptable intelligent skin-like devices. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Bioinspired Thermoresponsive Photonic Polymers with Hierarchical Structures and Their Unique Properties.

PubMed

Lu, Tao; Zhu, Shenmin; Ma, Jun; Lin, Jinyou; Wang, Wanlin; Pan, Hui; Tian, Feng; Zhang, Wang; Zhang, Di

2015-10-01

Thermoresponsive photonic materials having hierarchical structures are created by combining a template of Morpho butterfly wings with poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) through a chemical bonding and polymerization route. These materials show temperature-induced color tunability. Through reacting with both NIPAM monomers and the amino groups of chitosan in wing scales, glutaraldehyde workes as a bridge by creating chemical bonding between the biotemplate and the PNIPAM. The corresponding reflection peaks red-shift with increase in temperature-an opposite phenomenon to previous studies, demonstrating a thermoresponsive photonic property. This unique phenomenon is caused by the refractive index change due to the volume change of PNIPAM during the temperature rising. This work sets up an efficient strategy for the fabrication of stimuli-responsive photonic materials with hierarchical structures toward extensive applications in science and technology. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

ASSESSING THE EFFECTS OF PULMONARY EXPOSURE TO NANOMATERIALS

EPA Science Inventory

Nanotechnology is a dynamic and enabling technology capable of producing a wide diversity of nano-scale (<100 nm) materials displaying unique physicochemical properties for a variety of applications. Nanomaterials may also display unique toxicological properties and routes of exp...

RISK ASSESSMENT OF MANUFACTURED NANOMATERIAL: MORE THAN JUST SIZE

EPA Science Inventory

Nanotechnology is a dynamic and enabling technology capable of producing nano-scale materials with unique electrical, catalytic, thermal, mechanical, or imaging properties for a variety of applications. Nanomaterials may display unique toxicological properties and routes of expos...

Application of the no-signaling principle to obtain quantum cloners for any allowed value of fidelity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gedik, Z.; Çakmak, B.

2013-04-01

Special relativity forbids superluminal influences. Using only the no-signaling principle and an assumption about the form of the Schmidt decomposition, we show that for any allowed fidelity there is a unique approximate qubit cloner which can be written explicitly. We introduce the prime cloners whose fidelities have multiplicative property and show that the fidelity of the prime cloners for the infinite copy limit is 1/2.

Investigating lexical competition and the cost of phonemic restoration.

PubMed

Balling, Laura Winther; Morris, David Jackson; Tøndering, John

2017-12-01

Due to phonemic restoration, listeners can reliably perceive words when a phoneme is replaced with noise. The cost associated with this process was investigated along with the effect of lexical uniqueness on phonemic restoration, using data from a lexical decision experiment where noise replaced phonemes that were either uniqueness points (the phoneme at which a word deviates from all nonrelated words that share the same onset) or phonemes immediately prior to these. A baseline condition was also included with no noise-interrupted stimuli. Results showed a significant cost of phonemic restoration, with 100 ms longer word identification times and a 14% decrease in word identification accuracy for interrupted stimuli compared to the baseline. Regression analysis of response times from the interrupted conditions showed no effect of whether the interrupted phoneme was a uniqueness point, but significant effects for several temporal attributes of the stimuli, including the duration and position of the interrupted segment. These results indicate that uniqueness points are not distinct breakpoints in the cohort reduction that occurs during lexical processing, but that temporal properties of the interrupted stimuli are central to auditory word recognition. These results are interpreted in the context of models of speech perception.

Computational and Physical Analysis of Catalytic Compounds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Richard; Sohn, Jung Jae; Kyung, Richard

2015-03-01

Nanoparticles exhibit unique physical and chemical properties depending on their geometrical properties. For this reason, synthesis of nanoparticles with controlled shape and size is important to use their unique properties. Catalyst supports are usually made of high-surface-area porous oxides or carbon nanomaterials. These support materials stabilize metal catalysts against sintering at high reaction temperatures. Many studies have demonstrated large enhancements of catalytic behavior due to the role of the oxide-metal interface. In this paper, the catalyzing ability of supported nano metal oxides, such as silicon oxide and titanium oxide compounds as catalysts have been analyzed using computational chemistry method. Computational programs such as Gamess and Chemcraft has been used in an effort to compute the efficiencies of catalytic compounds, and bonding energy changes during the optimization convergence. The result illustrates how the metal oxides stabilize and the steps that it takes. The graph of the energy computation step(N) versus energy(kcal/mol) curve shows that the energy of the titania converges faster at the 7th iteration calculation, whereas the silica converges at the 9th iteration calculation.

Prospective Isolation and Comparison of Human Germinal Matrix and Glioblastoma EGFR+ Populations with Stem Cell Properties.

PubMed

Tome-Garcia, Jessica; Tejero, Rut; Nudelman, German; Yong, Raymund L; Sebra, Robert; Wang, Huaien; Fowkes, Mary; Magid, Margret; Walsh, Martin; Silva-Vargas, Violeta; Zaslavsky, Elena; Friedel, Roland H; Doetsch, Fiona; Tsankova, Nadejda M

2017-05-09

Characterization of non-neoplastic and malignant human stem cell populations in their native state can provide new insights into gliomagenesis. Here we developed a purification strategy to directly isolate EGFR +/- populations from human germinal matrix (GM) and adult subventricular zone autopsy tissues, and from de novo glioblastoma (GBM) resections, enriching for cells capable of binding EGF ligand ( LB EGFR + ), and uniquely compared their functional and molecular properties. LB EGFR + populations in both GM and GBM encompassed all sphere-forming cells and displayed proliferative stem cell properties in vitro. In xenografts, LB EGFR + GBM cells showed robust tumor initiation and progression to high-grade, infiltrative gliomas. Whole-transcriptome sequencing analysis confirmed enrichment of proliferative pathways in both developing and neoplastic freshly isolated EGFR + populations, and identified both unique and shared sets of genes. The ability to prospectively isolate stem cell populations using native ligand-binding capacity opens new doors onto understanding both normal human development and tumor cell biology. Copyright © 2017 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Synthesis and biological evaluations of a series of thaxtomin analogues.

PubMed

Zhang, Hongbo; Wang, Qingpeng; Ning, Xin; Hang, Hang; Ma, Jing; Yang, Xiande; Lu, Xiaolin; Zhang, Jiabao; Li, Yonghong; Niu, Congwei; Song, Haoran; Wang, Xin; Wang, Peng George

2015-04-15

Thaxtomins are a unique family of phytotoxins with unique 4-nitroindole and diketopiperazine fragments possessing potential herbicidal activities. This work presents the total synthesis of natural product thaxtomin C and its analogues. The extensive structure-activity relationship study screens four effective compounds, including thaxtomin A and thaxtomin C. It is indicated that 4-nitro indole fragment is essential for phytotoxicity, while benzyl and m-hydroxybenzyl substituents on the diketopiperazine ring are favorable for the efficacy. The N-methylations on indole and diketopiperazine show weak influence on the herbicidal activities. The four selected compounds show effective herbicidal activities against Brassica campestris, Amaranthus retroflexus, and Abutilon theophrasti, which are comparable or better than dichlobenil, even at a dosage of 187.5 g ha(-1). Moreover, these four compounds show good crop-selective properties to different crops and exhibit moderate protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO) enzyme inhibition. The antifungal results indicate that thaxtomin C displays inhibition to a wide range of fungi.

Linkit: A CALL System for Learning Chinese Characters, Words, and Phrases

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shei, Chris; Hsieh, Hsun-Ping

2012-01-01

Teaching Chinese as a foreign language (TCFL) is increasingly becoming a mainstream profession and an independent academic discipline. However, there is little research in CALL targeting the Chinese language to date. This research attempts to show how a CALL system can be constructed following the unique properties of the Chinese language so it…

Do the unique properties of nanometals affect leachability or efficacy against fungi and termites? International biodeterioration & biodegradation

Treesearch

S. N. Kartal; Frederick Green; Carol A. Clausen

2009-01-01

Nanotechnology has the potential to affect the field of wood preservation through the creation of new and unique metal biocides with improved properties. This study evaluated leachability and efficacy of southern yellow pine wood...

Accessing the genomic effects of naked nanoceria in murine neuronal cells.

PubMed

Lee, Tin-Lap; Raitano, Joan M; Rennert, Owen M; Chan, Siu-Wai; Chan, Wai-Yee

2012-07-01

Cerium oxide nanoparticles (nanoceria) are engineered nanoparticles whose versatility is due to their unique redox properties. We and others have demonstrated that naked nanoceria can act as antioxidants to protect cells against oxidative damage. Although the redox properties may be beneficial, the genome-wide effects of nanoceria on gene transcription and associated biological processes remain elusive. Here we applied a functional genomic approach to examine the genome-wide effects of nanoceria on global gene transcription and cellular functions in mouse neuronal cells. Importantly, we demonstrated that nanoceria induced chemical- and size-specific changes in the murine neuronal cell transcriptome. The nanoceria contributed more than 83% of the population of uniquely altered genes and were associated with a unique spectrum of genes related to neurological disease, cell cycle control, and growth. These observations suggest that an in-depth assessment of potential health effects of naked nanoceria and other naked nanoparticles is both necessary and imminent. Cerium oxide nanoparticles are important antioxidants, with potential applications in neurodegenerative conditions. This team of investigators demonstrated the genomic effects of nanoceria, showing that it induced chemical- and size-specific changes in the murine neuronal cell transcriptome. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Magnetic mineralogy and rock magnetic properties of silicate and carbonatite rocks from Oldoinyo Lengai volcano (Tanzania)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mattsson, H. B.; Balashova, A.; Almqvist, B. S. G.; Bosshard-Stadlin, S. A.; Weidendorfer, D.

2018-06-01

Oldoinyo Lengai, a stratovolcano in northern Tanzania, is most famous for being the only currently active carbonatite volcano on Earth. The bulk of the volcanic edifice is dominated by eruptive products produced by silica-undersaturated, peralkaline, silicate magmas (effusive, explosive and/or as cumulates at depth). The recent (2007-2008) explosive eruption produced the first ever recorded pyroclastic flows at this volcano and the accidental lithics incorporated into the pyroclastic flows represent a broad variety of different rock types, comprising both extrusive and intrusive varieties, in addition to various types of cumulates. This mix of different accidental lithics provides a unique insight into the inner workings of the world's only active carbonatite volcano. Here, we focus on the magnetic mineralogy and the rock magnetic properties of a wide selection of samples spanning the spectrum of Oldoinyo Lengai rock types compositionally, as well from a textural point of view. Here we show that the magnetic properties of most extrusive silicate rocks are dominated by magnetite-ulvöspinel solid solutions, and that pyrrhotite plays a larger role in the magnetic properties of the intrusive silicate rocks. The natrocarbonatitic lavas, for which the volcano is best known for, show distinctly different magnetic properties in comparison with the silicate rocks. This discrepancy may be explained by abundant alabandite crystals/blebs in the groundmass of the natrocarbonatitic lavas. A detailed combination of petrological/mineralogical studies with geophysical investigations is an absolute necessity in order to understand, and to better constrain, the overall architecture and inner workings of the subvolcanic plumbing system. The results presented here may also have implications for the quest in order to explain the genesis of the uniquely natrocarbonatitic magmas characteristic of Oldoinyo Lengai.

Seed-mediated growth of Au nanorings with size control on Pd ultrathin nanosheets and their tunable surface plasmonic properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Wenxing; Yan, Yucong; Zhou, Ning; Zhang, Hui; Li, Dongsheng; Yang, Deren

2016-02-01

Nanorings made of noble metals such as Au and Ag have attracted particular interest in plasmonic properties since they allow remarkable tunability of plasmon resonance wavelengths associated with their unique structural features. Unfortunately, most of the syntheses for Au nanorings involve complex procedures and/or require highly specialized and expensive facilities. Here, we report a seed-mediated approach for selective deposition of Au nanorings on the periphery of Pd seeds with the structure of an ultrathin nanosheet through the island growth mode. In combination with selective etching of Pd nanosheets, Au nanorings are eventually produced. We can control the outer diameter and wall thickness of the nanorings by simply varying the size of the Pd nanosheets and reaction time. By taking the advantage of this size controllability, the nanorings show tunable surface plasmonic properties in the near infrared (NIR) region arising from both the in-plane dipole and face resonance modes. Owing to their good surface plasmonic properties, the nanorings show substantially enhanced surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) performance for rhodamine 6G, and are therefore confirmed as good SERS substrates to detect trace amounts of molecules.Nanorings made of noble metals such as Au and Ag have attracted particular interest in plasmonic properties since they allow remarkable tunability of plasmon resonance wavelengths associated with their unique structural features. Unfortunately, most of the syntheses for Au nanorings involve complex procedures and/or require highly specialized and expensive facilities. Here, we report a seed-mediated approach for selective deposition of Au nanorings on the periphery of Pd seeds with the structure of an ultrathin nanosheet through the island growth mode. In combination with selective etching of Pd nanosheets, Au nanorings are eventually produced. We can control the outer diameter and wall thickness of the nanorings by simply varying the size of the Pd nanosheets and reaction time. By taking the advantage of this size controllability, the nanorings show tunable surface plasmonic properties in the near infrared (NIR) region arising from both the in-plane dipole and face resonance modes. Owing to their good surface plasmonic properties, the nanorings show substantially enhanced surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) performance for rhodamine 6G, and are therefore confirmed as good SERS substrates to detect trace amounts of molecules. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr08613b

Ideas, properties, and standards of fracture repositioning with osteopathy in traditional Mongolian medicine in China.

PubMed

Wang, Mei; Wang, Hongxia; Zhao, Namula

2015-02-01

To explore the unique ideas, properties, and standards of fracture repositioning with osteopathy in traditional Mongolian medicine in China. Based on the natural life concept of "integration of universe and man", osteopathy in traditional Mongolian medicine in China uses the modern principles and methods of physiology, psychology, and biomechanics. Against this background, we explored the unique ideas, properties, and stan- dards of fracture repositioning in traditional Mongolian medicine. Fracture treatment with osteopathy in traditional Mongolian medicine in China is based on (a) the ideas of natural, sealed, self and dynamic repositioning of fractures; (b) the properties of structural continuity and functional completeness; (c) the standards of "integration of movement and stillness" and "force to force". The unique ideas, properties, and standards of fracture repositioning with osteopathy in traditional Mongolian medicine in China have resulted in the widespread use of such techniques and represents the future direction of the development of fracture repositioning.

Correction to Kreuzbauer, King, and Basu (2015).

PubMed

2015-08-01

Reports an error in "The Mind in the Object-Psychological Valuation of Materialized Human Expression" by Robert Kreuzbauer, Dan King and Shankha Basu (Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, Advanced Online Publication, Jun 15, 2015, np). In the article the labels on the X-axis of Figure 1 "Remove Variance" and "Preserve Variance" should be switched. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2015-26264-001.) Symbolic material objects such as art or certain artifacts (e.g., fine pottery, jewelry) share one common element: The combination of generating an expression, and the materialization of this expression in the object. This explains why people place a much greater value on handmade over machine-made objects, and originals over duplicates. We show that this mechanism occurs when a material object's symbolic property is salient and when the creator (artist or craftsman) is perceived to have agency control over the 1-to-1 materialized expression in the object. Coactivation of these 2 factors causes the object to be perceived as having high value because it is seen as the embodied representation of the creator's unique personal expression. In 6 experiments, subjects rated objects in various object categories, which varied on the type of object property (symbolic, functional, aesthetic), the production procedure (handmade, machine-made, analog, digital) and the origin of the symbolic information (person or software). The studies showed that the proposed mechanism applies to symbolic, but not to functional or aesthetic material objects. Furthermore, they show that this specific form of symbolic object valuation could not be explained by various other related psychological theories (e.g., uniqueness, scarcity, physical touching, creative performance). Our research provides a universal framework that identifies a core mechanism for explaining judgments of value for one of our most uniquely human symbolic object categories. (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved).

The mind in the object-Psychological valuation of materialized human expression.

PubMed

Kreuzbauer, Robert; King, Dan; Basu, Shankha

2015-08-01

[Correction Notice: An Erratum for this article was reported in Vol 144(4) of Journal of Experimental Psychology: General (see record 2015-33206-002). In the article the labels on the X-axis of Figure 1 "Remove Variance" and "Preserve Variance" should be switched.] Symbolic material objects such as art or certain artifacts (e.g., fine pottery, jewelry) share one common element: The combination of generating an expression, and the materialization of this expression in the object. This explains why people place a much greater value on handmade over machine-made objects, and originals over duplicates. We show that this mechanism occurs when a material object's symbolic property is salient and when the creator (artist or craftsman) is perceived to have agency control over the 1-to-1 materialized expression in the object. Coactivation of these 2 factors causes the object to be perceived as having high value because it is seen as the embodied representation of the creator's unique personal expression. In 6 experiments, subjects rated objects in various object categories, which varied on the type of object property (symbolic, functional, aesthetic), the production procedure (handmade, machine-made, analog, digital) and the origin of the symbolic information (person or software). The studies showed that the proposed mechanism applies to symbolic, but not to functional or aesthetic material objects. Furthermore, they show that this specific form of symbolic object valuation could not be explained by various other related psychological theories (e.g., uniqueness, scarcity, physical touching, creative performance). Our research provides a universal framework that identifies a core mechanism for explaining judgments of value for one of our most uniquely human symbolic object categories. (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved).

Asphalt pavement aging and temperature dependent properties using functionally graded viscoelastic model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dave, Eshan V.

Asphalt concrete pavements are inherently graded viscoelastic structures. Oxidative aging of asphalt binder and temperature cycling due to climatic conditions being the major cause of non-homogeneity. Current pavement analysis and simulation procedures dwell on the use of layered approach to account for these non-homogeneities. The conventional finite-element modeling (FEM) technique discretizes the problem domain into smaller elements, each with a unique constitutive property. However the assignment of unique material property description to an element in the FEM approach makes it an unattractive choice for simulation of problems with material non-homogeneities. Specialized elements such as "graded elements" allow for non-homogenous material property definitions within an element. This dissertation describes the development of graded viscoelastic finite element analysis method and its application for analysis of asphalt concrete pavements. Results show that the present research improves efficiency and accuracy of simulations for asphalt pavement systems. Some of the practical implications of this work include the new technique's capability for accurate analysis and design of asphalt pavements and overlay systems and for the determination of pavement performance with varying climatic conditions and amount of in-service age. Other application areas include simulation of functionally graded fiber-reinforced concrete, geotechnical materials, metal and metal composites at high temperatures, polymers, and several other naturally existing and engineered materials.

Study on the Antimicrobial Properties of Citrate-Based Biodegradable Polymers

PubMed Central

Su, Lee-Chun; Xie, Zhiwei; Zhang, Yi; Nguyen, Kytai Truong; Yang, Jian

2014-01-01

Citrate-based polymers possess unique advantages for various biomedical applications since citric acid is a natural metabolism product, which is biocompatible and antimicrobial. In polymer synthesis, citric acid also provides multiple functional groups to control the crosslinking of polymers and active binding sites for further conjugation of biomolecules. Our group recently developed a number of citrate-based polymers for various biomedical applications by taking advantage of their controllable chemical, mechanical, and biological characteristics. In this study, various citric acid derived biodegradable polymers were synthesized and investigated for their physicochemical and antimicrobial properties. Results indicate that citric acid derived polymers reduced bacterial proliferation to different degrees based on their chemical composition. Among the studied polymers, poly(octamethylene citrate) showed ~70–80% suppression to microbe proliferation, owing to its relatively higher ratio of citric acid contents. Crosslinked urethane-doped polyester elastomers and biodegradable photoluminescent polymers also exhibited significant bacteria reduction of ~20 and ~50% for Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, respectively. Thus, the intrinsic antibacterial properties in citrate-based polymers enable them to inhibit bacteria growth without incorporation of antibiotics, silver nanoparticles, and other traditional bacteria-killing agents suggesting that the citrate-based polymers are unique beneficial materials for wound dressing, tissue engineering, and other potential medical applications where antimicrobial property is desired. PMID:25023605

Inverse Mopho butterfly: a new approach to photonic crystal.

PubMed

Zhang, Ji-Zhong; Gu, Zhong-Ze; Chen, Hai-Hua; Fujishima, Akira; Sato, Osamu

2006-04-01

In this paper we showed a new approach for the fabrication of a photonic crystal with a three-dimensional structure. By replicating biomaterials such as the wing of Mopho butterfly with TiO2 nanoparticles using the nanoparticles infiltration method, we can derive photonic crystals with unique structures, which is difficult to fabricate by other approaches. New optical properties are anticipated.

Organic matter and the geotechnical properties of submarine sediments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Keller, George H.

1982-09-01

Continental slope deposits off Peru and Oregon where coastal upwelling is a pronounced oceanographic process possess significant concentrations of organic carbon. Geotechnical properties are altered to varying degrees by the organic matter. Organic matter absorbs water and causes clay-size particles to aggregate forming an open fabric. This causes unusually high water contents and plasticity and exceptionally low wet bulk densities. Some of these deposits show notable increases in shear strength, sensitivity and degree of apparent overconsolidation. Owing to the unique geotechnical properties, sediment stability characteristics are considered to be poor in situations of excess pore pressures. Failure appears to take the form of a fluidized flow somewhat similar to the quick clays of Scandinavia.

Single qubit operations using microwave hyperbolic secant pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ku, H. S.; Long, J. L.; Wu, X.; Bal, M.; Lake, R. E.; Barnes, Edwin; Economou, Sophia E.; Pappas, D. P.

2017-10-01

It has been known since the early days of quantum mechanics that hyperbolic secant pulses possess the unique property that they can perform full-cycle Rabi oscillations on two-level quantum systems independently of the pulse detuning. More recently, it was realized that they induce detuning-controlled phases without changing state populations. Here, we experimentally demonstrate the properties of hyperbolic secant pulses on superconducting transmon qubits and contrast them with the more commonly used Gaussian and square waves. We further show that these properties can be exploited to implement phase gates, nominally without exiting the computational subspace. This enables us to demonstrate a microwave-driven Z rotation with a single control parameter, the detuning.

Recent Progress in Single‐Crystalline Perovskite Research Including Crystal Preparation, Property Evaluation, and Applications

PubMed Central

Liu, Yucheng

2017-01-01

Abstract Organic–inorganic lead halide perovskites are promising optoelectronic materials resulting from their significant light absorption properties and unique long carrier dynamics, such as a long carrier lifetime, carrier diffusion length, and high carrier mobility. These advantageous properties have allowed for the utilization of lead halide perovskite materials in solar cells, LEDs, photodetectors, lasers, etc. To further explore their potential, intrinsic properties should be thoroughly investigated. Single crystals with few defects are the best candidates to disclose a variety of interesting and important properties of these materials, ultimately, showing the increased importance of single‐crystalline perovskite research. In this review, recent progress on the crystallization, investigation, and primary device applications of single‐crystalline perovskites are summarized and analyzed. Further improvements in device design and preparation are also discussed. PMID:29375973

Tunable protease-activatable virus nanonodes.

PubMed

Judd, Justin; Ho, Michelle L; Tiwari, Abhinav; Gomez, Eric J; Dempsey, Christopher; Van Vliet, Kim; Igoshin, Oleg A; Silberg, Jonathan J; Agbandje-McKenna, Mavis; Suh, Junghae

2014-05-27

We explored the unique signal integration properties of the self-assembling 60-mer protein capsid of adeno-associated virus (AAV), a clinically proven human gene therapy vector, by engineering proteolytic regulation of virus-receptor interactions such that processing of the capsid by proteases is required for infection. We find the transfer function of our engineered protease-activatable viruses (PAVs), relating the degree of proteolysis (input) to PAV activity (output), is highly nonlinear, likely due to increased polyvalency. By exploiting this dynamic polyvalency, in combination with the self-assembly properties of the virus capsid, we show that mosaic PAVs can be constructed that operate under a digital AND gate regime, where two different protease inputs are required for virus activation. These results show viruses can be engineered as signal-integrating nanoscale nodes whose functional properties are regulated by multiple proteolytic signals with easily tunable and predictable response surfaces, a promising development toward advanced control of gene delivery.

Tunable Protease-Activatable Virus Nanonodes

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

We explored the unique signal integration properties of the self-assembling 60-mer protein capsid of adeno-associated virus (AAV), a clinically proven human gene therapy vector, by engineering proteolytic regulation of virus–receptor interactions such that processing of the capsid by proteases is required for infection. We find the transfer function of our engineered protease-activatable viruses (PAVs), relating the degree of proteolysis (input) to PAV activity (output), is highly nonlinear, likely due to increased polyvalency. By exploiting this dynamic polyvalency, in combination with the self-assembly properties of the virus capsid, we show that mosaic PAVs can be constructed that operate under a digital AND gate regime, where two different protease inputs are required for virus activation. These results show viruses can be engineered as signal-integrating nanoscale nodes whose functional properties are regulated by multiple proteolytic signals with easily tunable and predictable response surfaces, a promising development toward advanced control of gene delivery. PMID:24796495

Silver metaphosphate glass wires inside silica fibers--a new approach for hybrid optical fibers.

PubMed

Jain, Chhavi; Rodrigues, Bruno P; Wieduwilt, Torsten; Kobelke, Jens; Wondraczek, Lothar; Schmidt, Markus A

2016-02-22

Phosphate glasses represent promising candidates for next-generation photonic devices due to their unique characteristics, such as vastly tunable optical properties, and high rare earth solubility. Here we show that silver metaphosphate wires with bulk optical properties and diameters as small as 2 µm can be integrated into silica fibers using pressure-assisted melt filling. By analyzing two types of hybrid metaphosphate-silica fibers, we show that the filled metaphosphate glass has only negligible higher attenuation and a refractive index that is identical to the bulk material. The presented results pave the way towards new fiber-type optical devices relying on metaphosphate glasses, which are promising materials for applications in nonlinear optics, sensing and spectral filtering.

Industrial uses and applications of ionic liquids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gutowski, Keith E.

2018-02-01

Ionic liquids are salts that melt at low temperatures (usually defined as less than 100 °C) and have a number of interesting properties that make them useful for industrial applications. Typical ionic liquid properties include high thermal stabilities, negligible vapor pressures, wide liquidus ranges, broad electrochemical windows, and unique solvation properties. Furthermore, the potential combinations of cations and anions provide nearly unlimited chemical tunability. This article will describe the diverse industrial uses of ionic liquids and how their unique properties are leveraged, with examples ranging from chemical processing to consumer packaged goods.

Effects of uniquely processed cowpea and plantain flours on wheat bread properties

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The effect of incorporating uniquely processed whole-seed cowpeas or plantain flours at 10 or 20 g/100 g in all-purpose flour on paste viscosity and bread-baking properties in model bread was determined. Flours from plantains processed as follows: unblanched plantains dried at 60 degrees C (PLC), so...

Unique Nanoparticle Properties Confound Fluorescent Based Assays Widely Employed in Their In Vitro Toxicity Testing and Ranking

EPA Science Inventory

Nanomaterials are a diverse collection of novel materials that exhibit at least one dimension less than 100 nm and display unique chemical and physical properties due to their nanoscale size. An emphasis has been put on developing high throughput screening (HTS) assays to charac...

Unique Nanoparticle Optical Properties Confound Fluorescent Based Assays Widely Employed in Their In Vitro Toxicity Screening and Ranking

EPA Science Inventory

Nanoparticles (NPs) are novel materials having at least one dimension less than 100 nm and display unique physicochemical properties due to their nanoscale size. An emphasis has been placed on developing high throughput screening (HTS) assays to characterize and rank the toxiciti...

Experimental insight into the magnetic and electrical properties of amorphous Ge1-xMnx

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Conta, Gianluca; Amato, Giampiero; Coïsson, Marco; Tiberto, Paola

2017-12-01

We present a study of the electrical and magnetic properties of the amorphous Ge1-xMnx.DMS, with 2% ≤ x ≤ 17%, by means of SQUID magnetometry and low temperature DC measurements. The thin films were grown by physical vapour deposition at 50°C in ultrahigh vacuum. The DC electrical characterizations show that variable range hopping is the main mechanism of charge transport below room temperature. Magnetic characterization reveals that a unique and smooth magnetic transition is present in our samples, which can be attributed to ferromagnetic percolation of bound magnetic polarons.

Resonant halide perovskite nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tiguntseva, Ekaterina Y.; Ishteev, Arthur R.; Komissarenko, Filipp E.; Zuev, Dmitry A.; Ushakova, Elena V.; Milichko, Valentin A.; Nesterov-Mueller, Alexander; Makarov, Sergey V.; Zakhidov, Anvar A.

2017-09-01

The hybrid halide perovskites is a prospective material for fabrication of cost-effective optical devices. Unique perovskites properties are used for solar cells and different photonic applications. Recently, perovskite-based nanophotonics has emerged. Here, we consider perovskite like a high-refractive index dielectric material, which can be considered to be a basis for nanoparticles fabrication with Mie resonances. As a result, we fabricate and study resonant perovskite nanoparticles with different sizes. We reveal, that spherical nanoparticles show enhanced photoluminescence signal. The achieved results lay a cornerstone in the field of novel types of organic-inorganic nanophotonics devices with optical properties improved by Mie resonances.

MISR Decadal Observations of Mineral Dust: Property Characterization and Climate Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kalashnikova, Olga V.; Garay, Michael J.; Sokolik, Irina; Kahn, Ralph A.; Lyapustin, A.; Diner, David J.; Lee, Jae N.; Torres, Omar; Leptoukh, Gregory G.; Sabbah, Ismail

2012-01-01

The Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) provides a unique, independent source of data for studying dust emission and transport. MISR's multiple view angles allow the retrieval of aerosol properties over bright surfaces, and such retrievals have been shown to be sensitive to the non-sphericity of dust aerosols over both land and water. MISR stereographic views of thick aerosol plumes allow height and instantaneous wind derivations at spatial resolutions of better than 1.1 km horizontally and 200m vertically. We will discuss the radiometric and stereo-retrieval capabilities of MISR specifically for dust, and demonstrate the use of MISR data in conjunction with other available satellite observations for dust property characterization and climate studies.First, we will discuss MISR non-spherical (dust) fraction product over the global oceans. We will show that over the Atlantic Ocean, changes in the MISR-derived non-spherical AOD fraction illustrate the evolution of dust during transport. Next, we will present a MISR satellite perspective on dust climatology in major dust source regions with a particular emphasis on the West Africa and Middle East and discuss MISR's unique strengths as well as current product biases. Finally, we will discuss MISR dust plume product and climatological applications.

Magnetic-graphitic-nanocapsule templated diacetylene assembly and photopolymerization for sensing and multicoded anti-counterfeiting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nie, Xiang-Kun; Xu, Yi-Ting; Song, Zhi-Ling; Ding, Ding; Gao, Feng; Liang, Hao; Chen, Long; Bian, Xia; Chen, Zhuo; Tan, Weihong

2014-10-01

Molecular self-assembly, a process to design molecular entities to aggregate into desired structures, represents a promising bottom-up route towards precise construction of functional systems. Here we report a multifunctional, self-assembled system based on magnetic-graphitic-nanocapsule (MGN) templated diacetylene assembly and photopolymerization. The as-prepared assembly system maintains the unique color and fluorescence change properties of the polydiacetylene (PDA) polymers, while also pursues the superior Raman, NIR, magnetic and superconducting properties from the MGN template. Based on both fluorescence and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2 relaxivity, the MGN@PDA system could efficiently monitor the pH variations which could be used as a pH sensor. The MGN@PDA system further demonstrates potential as unique ink for anti-counterfeiting applications. Reversible color change, strong and unique Raman scattering and fluorescence emission, sensitive NIR thermal response, and distinctive magnetic properties afford this assembly system with multicoded anti-counterfeiting capabilities.Molecular self-assembly, a process to design molecular entities to aggregate into desired structures, represents a promising bottom-up route towards precise construction of functional systems. Here we report a multifunctional, self-assembled system based on magnetic-graphitic-nanocapsule (MGN) templated diacetylene assembly and photopolymerization. The as-prepared assembly system maintains the unique color and fluorescence change properties of the polydiacetylene (PDA) polymers, while also pursues the superior Raman, NIR, magnetic and superconducting properties from the MGN template. Based on both fluorescence and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2 relaxivity, the MGN@PDA system could efficiently monitor the pH variations which could be used as a pH sensor. The MGN@PDA system further demonstrates potential as unique ink for anti-counterfeiting applications. Reversible color change, strong and unique Raman scattering and fluorescence emission, sensitive NIR thermal response, and distinctive magnetic properties afford this assembly system with multicoded anti-counterfeiting capabilities. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c4nr03837a

Optical and acoustic metamaterials: superlens, negative refractive index and invisibility cloak

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wong, Zi Jing; Wang, Yuan; O'Brien, Kevin; Rho, Junsuk; Yin, Xiaobo; Zhang, Shuang; Fang, Nicholas; Yen, Ta-Jen; Zhang, Xiang

2017-08-01

Metamaterials are artificially engineered materials that exhibit novel properties beyond natural materials. By carefully designing the subwavelength unit cell structures, unique effective properties that do not exist in nature can be attained. Our metamaterial research aims to develop new subwavelength structures with unique physics and experimentally demonstrate unprecedented properties. Here we review our research efforts in optical and acoustic metamaterials in the past 15 years which may lead to exciting applications in communications, sensing and imaging.

Protein structure and evolution: are they constrained globally by a principle derived from information theory?

PubMed

Hatton, Leslie; Warr, Gregory

2015-01-01

That the physicochemical properties of amino acids constrain the structure, function and evolution of proteins is not in doubt. However, principles derived from information theory may also set bounds on the structure (and thus also the evolution) of proteins. Here we analyze the global properties of the full set of proteins in release 13-11 of the SwissProt database, showing by experimental test of predictions from information theory that their collective structure exhibits properties that are consistent with their being guided by a conservation principle. This principle (Conservation of Information) defines the global properties of systems composed of discrete components each of which is in turn assembled from discrete smaller pieces. In the system of proteins, each protein is a component, and each protein is assembled from amino acids. Central to this principle is the inter-relationship of the unique amino acid count and total length of a protein and its implications for both average protein length and occurrence of proteins with specific unique amino acid counts. The unique amino acid count is simply the number of distinct amino acids (including those that are post-translationally modified) that occur in a protein, and is independent of the number of times that the particular amino acid occurs in the sequence. Conservation of Information does not operate at the local level (it is independent of the physicochemical properties of the amino acids) where the influences of natural selection are manifest in the variety of protein structure and function that is well understood. Rather, this analysis implies that Conservation of Information would define the global bounds within which the whole system of proteins is constrained; thus it appears to be acting to constrain evolution at a level different from natural selection, a conclusion that appears counter-intuitive but is supported by the studies described herein.

Origami-based cellular metamaterial with auxetic, bistable, and self-locking properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kamrava, Soroush; Mousanezhad, Davood; Ebrahimi, Hamid; Ghosh, Ranajay; Vaziri, Ashkan

2017-04-01

We present a novel cellular metamaterial constructed from Origami building blocks based on Miura-ori fold. The proposed cellular metamaterial exhibits unusual properties some of which stemming from the inherent properties of its Origami building blocks, and others manifesting due to its unique geometrical construction and architecture. These properties include foldability with two fully-folded configurations, auxeticity (i.e., negative Poisson’s ratio), bistability, and self-locking of Origami building blocks to construct load-bearing cellular metamaterials. The kinematics and force response of the cellular metamaterial during folding were studied to investigate the underlying mechanisms resulting in its unique properties using analytical modeling and experiments.

Origami-based cellular metamaterial with auxetic, bistable, and self-locking properties

PubMed Central

Kamrava, Soroush; Mousanezhad, Davood; Ebrahimi, Hamid; Ghosh, Ranajay; Vaziri, Ashkan

2017-01-01

We present a novel cellular metamaterial constructed from Origami building blocks based on Miura-ori fold. The proposed cellular metamaterial exhibits unusual properties some of which stemming from the inherent properties of its Origami building blocks, and others manifesting due to its unique geometrical construction and architecture. These properties include foldability with two fully-folded configurations, auxeticity (i.e., negative Poisson’s ratio), bistability, and self-locking of Origami building blocks to construct load-bearing cellular metamaterials. The kinematics and force response of the cellular metamaterial during folding were studied to investigate the underlying mechanisms resulting in its unique properties using analytical modeling and experiments. PMID:28387345

Two-photon fluorescent polysiloxane-based films with thermally responsive self switching properties achieved by a unique reversible spirocyclization mechanism.

PubMed

Zuo, Yujing; Yang, Tingxin; Zhang, Yu; Gou, Zhiming; Tian, Minggang; Kong, Xiuqi; Lin, Weiying

2018-03-14

Responsiveness and reversibility are present in nature, and are ubiquitous in biological systems. The realization of reversibility and responsiveness is of great importance in the development of properties and the design of new materials. However, two-photon fluorescent thermal-responsive materials have not been reported to date. Herein, we engineered thermally responsive polysiloxane materials ( Dns-non ) that exhibited unique two-photon luminescence, and this is the first report about thermally responsive luminescent materials with two-photon fluorescence. The fluorescence of Dns-non could switch from the "on" to "off" state through a facile heating and cooling process, which could be observed by the naked eye. Monitoring the temperature of the CPU in situ was achieved by easily coating D1-non onto the CPU surface, which verified the potential application in devices of Dns-non . A unique alkaline tuned reversible transition mechanism of rhodamine-B from its spirocyclic to its ring-open state was proposed. Furthermore, Dns-non appeared to be a useful cell adhesive for the culture of cells on the surface. We believe that the constructed thermally responsive silicon films which have promising utilization as a new type of functional fluorescent material, may show broad applications in materials chemistry or bioscience.

Unique properties of the classical bovine spongiform encephalopathy strain and its emergence from H-type bovine spongiform encephalopathy substantiated by VM transmission studies.

PubMed

Bencsik, Anna; Leboidre, Mikael; Debeer, Sabine; Aufauvre, Claire; Baron, Thierry

2013-03-01

In addition to classical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (C-BSE), which is recognized as being at the origin of the human variant form of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, 2 rare phenotypes of BSE (H-type BSE [H-BSE] and L-type BSE [L-BSE]) were identified in 2004. H-type BSE and L-BSE are considered to be sporadic forms of prion disease in cattle because they differ from C-BSE with respect to incubation period, vacuolar pathology in the brain, and biochemical properties of the protease-resistant prion protein (PrP) in natural hosts and in some mouse models that have been tested. Recently, we showed that H-BSE transmitted to C57Bl/6 mice resulted in a dissociation of the phenotypic features, that is, some mice showed an H-BSE phenotype, whereas others had a C-BSE phenotype. Here, these 2 phenotypes were further studied in VM mice and compared with cattle C-BSE, H-BSE, and L-BSE. Serial passages from the C-BSE-like phenotype on VM mice retained similarities with C-BSE. Moreover, our results indicate that strains 301V and 301C derived from C-BSE transmitted to VM and C57Bl/6 mice, respectively, are fundamentally the same strain. These VM transmission studies confirm the unique properties of the C-BSE strain and support the emergence of a strain that resembles C-BSE from H-BSE.

New materials graphyne, graphdiyne, graphone, and graphane: review of properties, synthesis, and application in nanotechnology.

PubMed

Peng, Qing; Dearden, Albert K; Crean, Jared; Han, Liang; Liu, Sheng; Wen, Xiaodong; De, Suvranu

2014-01-01

Plenty of new two-dimensional materials including graphyne, graphdiyne, graphone, and graphane have been proposed and unveiled after the discovery of the "wonder material" graphene. Graphyne and graphdiyne are two-dimensional carbon allotropes of graphene with honeycomb structures. Graphone and graphane are hydrogenated derivatives of graphene. The advanced and unique properties of these new materials make them highly promising for applications in next generation nanoelectronics. Here, we briefly review their properties, including structural, mechanical, physical, and chemical properties, as well as their synthesis and applications in nanotechnology. Graphyne is better than graphene in directional electronic properties and charge carriers. With a band gap and magnetism, graphone and graphane show important applications in nanoelectronics and spintronics. Because these materials are close to graphene and will play important roles in carbon-based electronic devices, they deserve further, careful, and thorough studies for nanotechnology applications.

New materials graphyne, graphdiyne, graphone, and graphane: review of properties, synthesis, and application in nanotechnology

PubMed Central

Peng, Qing; Dearden, Albert K; Crean, Jared; Han, Liang; Liu, Sheng; Wen, Xiaodong; De, Suvranu

2014-01-01

Plenty of new two-dimensional materials including graphyne, graphdiyne, graphone, and graphane have been proposed and unveiled after the discovery of the “wonder material” graphene. Graphyne and graphdiyne are two-dimensional carbon allotropes of graphene with honeycomb structures. Graphone and graphane are hydrogenated derivatives of graphene. The advanced and unique properties of these new materials make them highly promising for applications in next generation nanoelectronics. Here, we briefly review their properties, including structural, mechanical, physical, and chemical properties, as well as their synthesis and applications in nanotechnology. Graphyne is better than graphene in directional electronic properties and charge carriers. With a band gap and magnetism, graphone and graphane show important applications in nanoelectronics and spintronics. Because these materials are close to graphene and will play important roles in carbon-based electronic devices, they deserve further, careful, and thorough studies for nanotechnology applications. PMID:24808721

Preservation and Modification of Culture in Family Socialization: Development of Parenting Measures for Korean Immigrant Families

PubMed Central

Choi, Yoonsun; Kim, You Seung; Drankus, Dina; Kim, Hyun Jee

2012-01-01

This study aims to describe the family socialization beliefs and practices of Korean immigrant parents through testing psychometric properties of several newly developed items and scales to assess the major components of the Korean traditional concept of family socialization, ga-jung-kyo-yuk. These new measures were examined for validity and reliability. The findings show that Korean immigrant parents largely preserve their traditional and core parenting values, while also showing meaningful, yet not very dramatic, signs of adopting new cultural traits. The results also suggest that the acculturative process may not be simply bilinear but may generate a new, unique and blended value and behavior set from the two (or more) cultures involved. Culturally appropriate practice requires not only further validation of existing knowledge with minority groups, but the development of a theoretical framework of family socialization that recognizes the cultural uniqueness of immigrant families. PMID:24765236

Circulating Tumor Cells: From Theory to Nanotechnology-Based Detection.

PubMed

Ming, Yue; Li, Yuanyuan; Xing, Haiyan; Luo, Minghe; Li, Ziwei; Chen, Jianhong; Mo, Jingxin; Shi, Sanjun

2017-01-01

Cancer stem cells with stem-cell properties are regarded as tumor initiating cells. Sharing stem-cell properties, circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are responsible for the development of metastasis, which significant affects CTC analysis in clinical practice. Due to their extremely low occurrence in blood, however, it is challenging to enumerate and analyze CTCs. Nanotechnology is able to address the problems of insufficient capture efficiency and low purity of CTCs owing to the unique structural and functional properties of nanomaterials, showing strong promise for CTC isolation and detection. In this review, we discuss the role of stem-like CTCs in metastases, provide insight into recent progress in CTC isolation and detection approaches using various nanoplatforms, and highlight the role of nanotechnology in the advancement of CTC research.

Three dimensional Origami-based metamaterial

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kamrava, Soroush; Mousanezhad, Davood; Ebrahimi, Hamid; Ghosh, Ranajay; Vaziri, Ashkan; High Performance Materials; Structures Labratory Team

We present a novel cellular metamaterial constructed from Origami building blocks based on Miura-ori fold. The proposed cellular metamaterial exhibits unusual properties some of which stemming from the inherent properties of its Origami building blocks, and others manifesting due to its unique geometrical construction and architecture. These properties include foldability with two fully-folded configurations, auxeticity (i.e., negative Poisson's ratio), bistability, and self-locking of Origami building blocks to construct load-bearing cellular metamaterials. The kinematics and force response of the cellular metamaterial during folding were studied to investigate the underlying mechanisms resulting in its unique properties using analytical modeling and experiments.

The Mysteries of Diamonds: Bizarre History, Amazing Properties, Unique Applications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kagan, Harris

2008-06-24

Diamonds have been a prized material throughout history. They are scarce and beautiful, wars have been fought over them, and they remain today a symbol of wealth and power. Diamonds also have exceptional physical properties which can lead to unique applications in science. There are now techniques to artificially synthesize diamonds of extraordinarily high quality. In this talk, Professor Kagan will discuss the history of diamonds, their bizarre properties, and their manufacture and use for 21st century science.

Electrochemically induced actuation of liquid metal marbles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tang, Shi-Yang; Sivan, Vijay; Khoshmanesh, Khashayar; O'Mullane, Anthony P.; Tang, Xinke; Gol, Berrak; Eshtiaghi, Nicky; Lieder, Felix; Petersen, Phred; Mitchell, Arnan; Kalantar-Zadeh, Kourosh

2013-06-01

Controlled actuation of soft objects with functional surfaces in aqueous environments presents opportunities for liquid phase electronics, novel assembled super-structures and unusual mechanical properties. We show the extraordinary electrochemically induced actuation of liquid metal droplets coated with nanoparticles, so-called ``liquid metal marbles''. We demonstrate that nanoparticle coatings of these marbles offer an extra dimension for affecting the bipolar electrochemically induced actuation. The nanoparticles can readily migrate along the surface of liquid metals, upon the application of electric fields, altering the capacitive behaviour and surface tension in a highly asymmetric fashion. Surprising actuation behaviours are observed illustrating that nanoparticle coatings can have a strong effect on the movement of these marbles. This significant novel phenomenon, combined with unique properties of liquid metal marbles, represents an exciting platform for enabling diverse applications that cannot be achieved using rigid metal beads.Controlled actuation of soft objects with functional surfaces in aqueous environments presents opportunities for liquid phase electronics, novel assembled super-structures and unusual mechanical properties. We show the extraordinary electrochemically induced actuation of liquid metal droplets coated with nanoparticles, so-called ``liquid metal marbles''. We demonstrate that nanoparticle coatings of these marbles offer an extra dimension for affecting the bipolar electrochemically induced actuation. The nanoparticles can readily migrate along the surface of liquid metals, upon the application of electric fields, altering the capacitive behaviour and surface tension in a highly asymmetric fashion. Surprising actuation behaviours are observed illustrating that nanoparticle coatings can have a strong effect on the movement of these marbles. This significant novel phenomenon, combined with unique properties of liquid metal marbles, represents an exciting platform for enabling diverse applications that cannot be achieved using rigid metal beads. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c3nr00185g

The concept of the CCN protein family revisited: a centralized coordination network.

PubMed

Perbal, Bernard

2018-03-01

The wide array of biological properties attributed to the CCN family of proteins (Perbal in Lancet 363(9402):62-64, 2004) led me to reconsider the possible relationship and roles that these proteins may play as a team, instead of acting on their own as individual regulators in various signaling pathways. The dynamic model which I present in this review stems from the contribution of the biological properties that we established for CCN3, one of the three founding members of the CCN family, which was identified by our group as the first CCN protein showing growth inhibitory properties (1992), expressed mainly in quiescent cells (1996), and showing anti-tumor activities in several cellular models both ex vivo and in vivo. At the present time CCN3 is the only member of the family that has been reported to negatively act on the progression of the cell cycle. The unique dual localisation of CCN3 in the nucleus and outside cells, either at the membrane or in the extracellular matrix, that I first established in 1999, and that now appears to be shared by several other CCN proteins, is a unique essential feature which can no longer be ignored. Based on the structural and functional properties of CCN3, shared by most of the CCN family members, I propose an « all in one » concept in which CCN proteins are team members with specific functions that are aimed at the same goal. This model accounts both for the functional specificity of the various CCN proteins, their sequential and opposite or complementary effects in various biological context, and for the biological consequences of their physical interaction and biological cross-regulation.

Using non-invasive molecular spectroscopic techniques to detect unique aspects of protein Amide functional groups and chemical properties of modeled forage from different sourced-origins

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ji, Cuiying; Zhang, Xuewei; Yu, Peiqiang

2016-03-01

The non-invasive molecular spectroscopic technique-FT/IR is capable to detect the molecular structure spectral features that are associated with biological, nutritional and biodegradation functions. However, to date, few researches have been conducted to use these non-invasive molecular spectroscopic techniques to study forage internal protein structures associated with biodegradation and biological functions. The objectives of this study were to detect unique aspects and association of protein Amide functional groups in terms of protein Amide I and II spectral profiles and chemical properties in the alfalfa forage (Medicago sativa L.) from different sourced-origins. In this study, alfalfa hay with two different origins was used as modeled forage for molecular structure and chemical property study. In each forage origin, five to seven sources were analyzed. The molecular spectral profiles were determined using FT/IR non-invasive molecular spectroscopy. The parameters of protein spectral profiles included functional groups of Amide I, Amide II and Amide I to II ratio. The results show that the modeled forage Amide I and Amide II were centered at 1653 cm- 1 and 1545 cm- 1, respectively. The Amide I spectral height and area intensities were from 0.02 to 0.03 and 2.67 to 3.36 AI, respectively. The Amide II spectral height and area intensities were from 0.01 to 0.02 and 0.71 to 0.93 AI, respectively. The Amide I to II spectral peak height and area ratios were from 1.86 to 1.88 and 3.68 to 3.79, respectively. Our results show that the non-invasive molecular spectroscopic techniques are capable to detect forage internal protein structure features which are associated with forage chemical properties.

Modification of surface properties of cellulosic substrates by quaternized silicone emulsions.

PubMed

Purohit, Parag S; Somasundaran, P

2014-07-15

The present work describes the effect of quaternization of silicones as well as the relevant treatment parameter pH on the frictional, morphological and relaxation properties of fabric substrates. Due to their unique surface properties, silicone polymers are extensively used to modify surface properties of various materials, although the effects of functionalization of silicones and relevant process conditions on modification of substrates are not well understood. Specifically we show a considerable reduction in fabric friction, roughness and waviness upon treatment with quaternized silicones. The treatment at acidic pH results in better deposition of silicone polymers onto the fabric as confirmed through streaming potential measurements which show charge reversal of the fabric. Interestingly, Raman spectroscopy studies show the band of C-O ring stretching mode at ∼1095 cm(-1) shift towards higher wavenumber indicating lowering of stress in fibers upon appropriate silicone treatment. Thus along with the morphological and frictional properties being altered, silicone treatment can lead to a reduction in fabric strain. It is concluded that the electrostatic interactions play an initial role in modification of the fiber substrate followed by multilayer deposition of polymer. This multi-technique approach to study fiber properties upon treatment by combining macro to molecular level methods has helped in understanding of new functional coating materials. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Strain-Engineered Multiferroicity in Pnma NaMnF_{3} Fluoroperovskite.

PubMed

Garcia-Castro, A C; Romero, A H; Bousquet, E

2016-03-18

In this study we show from first principles calculations the possibility to induce multiferroic and magnetoelectric functional properties in the Pnma NaMnF_{3} fluoroperovskite by means of epitaxial strain engineering. Surprisingly, we found a very strong nonlinear polarization-strain coupling that drives an atypical amplification of the ferroelectric polarization for either compression or expansion of the cell. This property is associated with a noncollinear antiferromagnetic ordering, which induces a weak ferromagnetism phase and makes the strained NaMnF_{3} fluoroperovskite multiferroic. The magnetoelectric response was calculated and it was found to be composed of linear and nonlinear components with amplitudes similar to the ones of Cr_{2}O_{3}. These findings show that it is possible to move the fluoride family toward functional applications with unique responses.

Nonlinear control of high-frequency phonons in spider silk

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schneider, Dirk; Gomopoulos, Nikolaos; Koh, Cheong Y.; Papadopoulos, Periklis; Kremer, Friedrich; Thomas, Edwin L.; Fytas, George

2016-10-01

Spider dragline silk possesses superior mechanical properties compared with synthetic polymers with similar chemical structure due to its hierarchical structure comprised of partially crystalline oriented nanofibrils. To date, silk’s dynamic mechanical properties have been largely unexplored. Here we report an indirect hypersonic phononic bandgap and an anomalous dispersion of the acoustic-like branch from inelastic (Brillouin) light scattering experiments under varying applied elastic strains. We show the mechanical nonlinearity of the silk structure generates a unique region of negative group velocity, that together with the global (mechanical) anisotropy provides novel symmetry conditions for gap formation. The phononic bandgap and dispersion show strong nonlinear strain-dependent behaviour. Exploiting material nonlinearity along with tailored structural anisotropy could be a new design paradigm to access new types of dynamic behaviour.

Bipolar doping and band-gap anomalies in delafossite transparent conductive oxides.

PubMed

Nie, Xiliang; Wei, Su-Huai; Zhang, S B

2002-02-11

Doping wide-gap materials p type is highly desirable but often difficult. This makes the recent discovery of p-type delafossite oxides, CuM(III)O2, very attractive. The CuM(III)O2 also show unique and unexplained physical properties: Increasing band gap from M(III) = Al,Ga, to In, not seen in conventional semiconductors. The largest gap CuInO2 can be mysteriously doped both n and p type but not the smaller gaps CuAlO2 and CuGaO2. Here, we show that both properties are results of a large disparity between the fundamental gap and the apparent optical gap, a finding that could lead to a breakthrough in the study of bipolarly dopable wide-gap semiconductor oxides.

Hyaluronan- and heparin-reduced silver nanoparticles with antimicrobial properties

PubMed Central

Kemp, Melissa M; Kumar, Ashavani; Clement, Dylan; Ajayan, Pulickel; Mousa, Shaker

2009-01-01

Aims Silver nanoparticles exhibit unique antibacterial properties that make these ideal candidates for biological and medical applications. We utilized a clean method involving a single synthetic step to prepare silver nanoparticles that exhibit antimicrobial activity. Materials & methods These nanoparticles were prepared by reducing silver nitrate with diaminopyridinylated heparin (DAPHP) and hyaluronan (HA) polysaccharides and tested for their efficacy in inhibiting microbial growth. Results & discussion The resulting silver nanoparticles exhibit potent antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and modest activity against Escherichia coli. Silver–HA showed greater antimicrobial activity than silver–DAPHP, while silver–glucose nanoparticles exhibited very weak antimicrobial activity. Neither HA nor DAPHP showed activity against S. aureus or E. coli. Conclusion These results suggest that DAPHP and HA silver nanoparticles have potential in antimicrobial therapeutic applications. PMID:19505245

Sacred bounds on rational resolution of violent political conflict

PubMed Central

Ginges, Jeremy; Atran, Scott; Medin, Douglas; Shikaki, Khalil

2007-01-01

We report a series of experiments carried out with Palestinian and Israeli participants showing that violent opposition to compromise over issues considered sacred is (i) increased by offering material incentives to compromise but (ii) decreased when the adversary makes symbolic compromises over their own sacred values. These results demonstrate some of the unique properties of reasoning and decision-making over sacred values. We show that the use of material incentives to promote the peaceful resolution of political and cultural conflicts may backfire when adversaries treat contested issues as sacred values. PMID:17460042

Group Theoretical Route to Deterministic Weyl Points in Chiral Photonic Lattices.

PubMed

Saba, Matthias; Hamm, Joachim M; Baumberg, Jeremy J; Hess, Ortwin

2017-12-01

Topological phases derived from point degeneracies in photonic band structures show intriguing and unique behavior. Previously identified band degeneracies are based on accidental degeneracies and subject to engineering on a case-by-case basis. Here we show that deterministic pseudo Weyl points with nontrivial topology and hyperconic dispersion exist at the Brillouin zone center of chiral cubic symmetries. This conceivably allows realization of topologically protected frequency isolated surface bands in 3D and n=0 properties as demonstrated for a nanoplasmonic system and a photonic crystal.

Group Theoretical Route to Deterministic Weyl Points in Chiral Photonic Lattices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saba, Matthias; Hamm, Joachim M.; Baumberg, Jeremy J.; Hess, Ortwin

2017-12-01

Topological phases derived from point degeneracies in photonic band structures show intriguing and unique behavior. Previously identified band degeneracies are based on accidental degeneracies and subject to engineering on a case-by-case basis. Here we show that deterministic pseudo Weyl points with nontrivial topology and hyperconic dispersion exist at the Brillouin zone center of chiral cubic symmetries. This conceivably allows realization of topologically protected frequency isolated surface bands in 3D and n =0 properties as demonstrated for a nanoplasmonic system and a photonic crystal.

Stratospheric Polar Freezing Belt Causes Denitrification

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tabazadeh, A.; Jensen, E. J.; Toon, O. B.; Drdla, K.; Schoeberl, M. R.; Gore, Warren J. (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

Trajectory cloud model calculations are presented to show that homogeneous freezing of nitric acid hydrates can produce a polar freezing belt in both hemispheres that can cause denitrification. While hydrate cloud microphysical properties are similar over both poles, the shorter persistence of clouds in the Arctic prevents the depth of the denitrified layers from growing beyond a few kilometers. The 1999-2000 Arctic winter is unique in showing a distinct denitrification profile with a depth of approx. 4.5 km that is nearly half as deep as that computed for a typical Antarctic winter.

Controlled Thermoresponsive Hydrogels by Stereocomplexed PLA-PEG-PLA Prepared via Hybrid Micelles of Pre-Mixed Copolymers with Different PEG Lengths

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Abebe, Daniel G.; Fujiwara, Tomoko

2012-09-05

The stereocomplexed hydrogels derived from the micelle mixture of two enantiomeric triblock copolymers, PLLA-PEG-PLLA and PDLA-PEG-PDLA, reported in 2001 exhibited sol-to-gel transition at approximately body temperature upon heating. However, the showed poor storage modulus (ca. 1000 Pa) determined their insufficiency as injectable implant biomaterials for many applications. In this study, the mechanical property of these hydrogels was significantly improved by the modifications of molecular weights and micelle structure. Co-micelles composed of block copolymers with two sizes of PEG block length were shown to possess unique and dissimilar properties from the micelles composed of single-sized block copolymers. The stereomixture of PLA-PEG-PLAmore » comicelles showed a controllable sol-to-gel transition at a wide temperature range of 4 and 80 C. The sol-gel phase diagram displays a linear relationship of temperature versus copolymer composition; hence, a transition at body temperature can be readily achieved by adjusting the mixed copolymer ratio. The resulting thermoresponsive hydrogels exhibit a storage modulus notably higher (ca. 6000 Pa) than that of previously reported hydrogels. As a physical network solely governed by self-reorganization of micelles, followed by stereocomplexation, this unique system offers practical, safe, and simple implantable biomaterials.« less

Fabrication of green dye-sensitized solar cell based on ZnO nanoparticles as a photoanode and graphene quantum dots as a photo-sensitizer.

PubMed

Zamiri, Golnoush; Bagheri, Samira

2018-02-01

Zero-dimensional graphene quantum dots (GQDs) consist of single- or few-layer graphene with a size less than 20 nm and stand for a new type of QDs with unique properties combining the graphene nature and size-resulted quantum effects. GQDs possess unique optical and electronic properties, and in particular possess a band-gap less than 2.0 eV because of quantum confinement and edge effects. In this study, we investigated the performance of DSSCs using different thicknesses of ZnO nanoparticles as a photo-anode and GQDs as a green photosensitizer. The current voltage (I-V) test results indicate that the performance of DSSCs is improved by increasing the thickness of the photo-anode and the thickness of 40 μm shows the highest efficiency for DSSC device based on ZnO nanoparticles photo-anodes. The DSSC using ZnO nanoparticles as a photo-anode with thickness of 40 μm shows almost same efficiency when we replaced N-719 with GQDs which is confirmed that using GQDs as an alternative to ruthenium based dyes is a new approach for DSSCs. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Cyanide-insensitive quinol oxidase (CIO) from Gluconobacter oxydans is a unique terminal oxidase subfamily of cytochrome bd.

PubMed

Miura, Hiroshi; Mogi, Tatsushi; Ano, Yoshitaka; Migita, Catharina T; Matsutani, Minenosuke; Yakushi, Toshiharu; Kita, Kiyoshi; Matsushita, Kazunobu

2013-06-01

Cyanide-insensitive terminal quinol oxidase (CIO) is a subfamily of cytochrome bd present in bacterial respiratory chain. We purified CIO from the Gluconobacter oxydans membranes and characterized its properties. The air-oxidized CIO showed some or weak peaks of reduced haemes b and of oxygenated and ferric haeme d, differing from cytochrome bd. CO- and NO-binding difference spectra suggested that haeme d serves as the ligand-binding site of CIO. Notably, the purified CIO showed an extraordinary high ubiquinol-1 oxidase activity with the pH optimum of pH 5-6. The apparent Vmax value of CIO was 17-fold higher than that of G. oxydans cytochrome bo3. In addition, compared with Escherichia coli cytochrome bd, the quinol oxidase activity of CIO was much more resistant to cyanide, but sensitive to azide. The Km value for O2 of CIO was 7- to 10-fold larger than that of G. oxydans cytochrome bo3 or E. coli cytochrome bd. Our results suggest that CIO has unique features attributable to the structure and properties of the O2-binding site, and thus forms a new sub-group distinct from cytochrome bd. Furthermore, CIO of acetic acid bacteria may play some specific role for rapid oxidation of substrates under acidic growth conditions.

Impact of helical organization on the photovoltaic properties of oligothiophene supramolecular polymers† †Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Synthesis and characterization of 3 and 4, UV-vis spectra, solar cell device properties and AFM images. See DOI: 10.1039/c7sc05093c

PubMed Central

Ouchi, Hayato; Kizaki, Takahiro; Yamato, Masaki; Lin, Xu; Hoshi, Nagahiro; Silly, Fabien; Kajitani, Takashi; Fukushima, Takanori

2018-01-01

Helical self-assembly of functional π-conjugated molecules offers unique photochemical and electronic properties in the spectroscopic level, but there are only a few examples that demonstrate their positive impact on the optoelectronic device level. Here, we demonstrate that hydrogen-bonded tapelike supramolecular polymers of a barbiturated oligo(alkylthiophene) show notable improvement in their photovoltaic properties upon organizing into helical nanofibers. A tapelike hydrogen-bonded supramolecular array of barbiturated oligo(butylthiophene) molecules was directly visualized by STM at a liquid–solid interface. TEM, AFM and XRD revealed that the tapelike supramolecular polymers further organize into helical nanofibers in solution and bulk states. Bulk heterojunction solar cells of the helical nanofibers and soluble fullerene showed a power conversion efficiency of 4.5%, which is markedly high compared to that of the regioisomer of butyl chains organizing into 3D lamellar agglomerates. PMID:29780493

Bio-inspired metal-coordinate hydrogels with programmable viscoelastic material functions controlled by longwave UV light.

PubMed

Grindy, Scott C; Holten-Andersen, Niels

2017-06-07

Control over the viscoelastic mechanical properties of hydrogels intended for use as biomedical materials has long been a goal of soft matter scientists. Recent research has shown that materials made from polymers with reversibly associating transient crosslinks are a promising strategy for controlling viscoelasticity in hydrogels, for example leading to systems with precisely tunable mechanical energy-dissipation. We and others have shown that bio-inspired histidine:transition metal ion complexes allow highly precise and tunable control over the viscoelastic properties of transient network hydrogels. In this paper, we extend the design of these hydrogels such that their viscoelastic properties respond to longwave UV radiation. We show that careful selection of the histidine:transition metal ion crosslink mixtures allows unique control over pre- and post-UV viscoelastic properties. We anticipate that our strategy for controlling stimuli-responsive viscoelastic properties will aid biomedical materials scientists in the development of soft materials with specific stress-relaxing or energy-dissipating properties.

On the Inversion for Mass (Re)Distribution from Global (Time-Variable) Gravity Field

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chao, Benjamin F.

2004-01-01

The well-known non-uniqueness of the gravitational inverse problem states the following: The external gravity field, even if completely and exactly known, cannot Uniquely determine the density distribution of the body that produces the gravity field. This is an intrinsic property of a field that obeys the Laplace equation, as already treated in mathematical as well as geophysical literature. In this paper we provide conceptual insight by examining the problem in terms of spherical harmonic expansion of the global gravity field. By comparing the multipoles and the moments of the density function, we show that in 3-S the degree of knowledge deficiency in trying to inversely recover the density distribution from external gravity field is (n+l)(n+2)/2 - (2n+l) = n(n-1)/2 for each harmonic degree n. On the other hand, on a 2-D spherical shell we show via a simple relationship that the inverse solution of the surface density distribution is unique. The latter applies quite readily in the inversion of time-variable gravity signals (such as those observed by the GRACE space mission) where the sources over a wide range of the scales largely come from the Earth's Surface.

Optofluidic waveguide as a transformation optics device for lightwave bending and manipulation.

PubMed

Yang, Y; Liu, A Q; Chin, L K; Zhang, X M; Tsai, D P; Lin, C L; Lu, C; Wang, G P; Zheludev, N I

2012-01-31

Transformation optics represents a new paradigm for designing light-manipulating devices, such as cloaks and field concentrators, through the engineering of electromagnetic space using materials with spatially variable parameters. Here we analyse liquid flowing in an optofluidic waveguide as a new type of controllable transformation optics medium. We show that a laminar liquid flow in an optofluidic channel exhibits spatially variable dielectric properties that support novel wave-focussing and interference phenomena, which are distinctively different from the discrete diffraction observed in solid waveguide arrays. Our work provides new insight into the unique optical properties of optofluidic waveguides and their potential applications.

Polypyrrole based nanocomposites for supercapacitor applications: A review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sardar, A.; Gupta, P. S.

2018-05-01

Recently conducting polymers have attracted great interest for supercapacitor applications. Among conducting polymers polypyrrole is most popular due to its unique electrical conductivity, optoelectrical properties, redox property and excellent environmental stability. In this article, we present a comprehensive review of polypyrrole and polypyrrole based nanocomposites for supercapacitor applications. We have included study of various parameters like power density, energy density, specific-capacitance by various authors for different kinds of nanocomposites where fillers are metal oxides, metal sulphides, graphene etc. Some polypyrrole nanocomposits show good electrochemical performances. The extremely stable supercapacitors with excellent flexibility and scalability hold considerable promise for the commerical application of flexible and wearable electronics.

Electronic properties of hybrid Cu2S/Ru semiconductor/metallic-cage nanoparticles.

PubMed

Bekenstein, Yehonadav; Vinokurov, Kathy; Banin, Uri; Millo, Oded

2012-12-21

Hybrid inorganic nanoparticles, comprising a semiconducting Cu(2)S quantum-dot (QD) core encapsulated by a metallic Ru cage-like shell, and each of their individual components, are studied via scanning tunneling spectroscopy. Bare Cu(2)S QDs show nearly identical semiconducting-like I-V characteristics while the empty Ru cages exhibit single electron tunneling effects-the Coulomb blockade and staircase. Surprisingly, in some cases negative differential conductance features, with periodicity that correlates to the Coulomb staircase, were observed. The tunneling spectra measured on the hybrid QDs varies greatly along a single particle, manifesting synergetic electrical properties that originate from this unique semiconducting-metallic interface.

Study of the effect of varying core diameter, shell thickness and strain velocity on the tensile properties of single crystals of Cu-Ag core-shell nanowire using molecular dynamics simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sarkar, Jit; Das, D. K.

2018-01-01

Core-shell type nanostructures show exceptional properties due to their unique structure having a central solid core of one type and an outer thin shell of another type which draw immense attention among researchers. In this study, molecular dynamics simulations are carried out on single crystals of copper-silver core-shell nanowires having wire diameter ranging from 9 to 30 nm with varying core diameter, shell thickness, and strain velocity. The tensile properties like yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, and Young's modulus are studied and correlated by varying one parameter at a time and keeping the other two parameters constant. The results obtained for a fixed wire size and different strain velocities were extrapolated to calculate the tensile properties like yield strength and Young's modulus at standard strain rate of 1 mm/min. The results show ultra-high tensile properties of copper-silver core-shell nanowires, several times than that of bulk copper and silver. These copper-silver core-shell nanowires can be used as a reinforcing agent in bulk metal matrix for developing ultra-high strength nanocomposites.

Impact of ultrasonic assisted triangular lattice like arranged dispersion of nanoparticles on physical and mechanical properties of epoxy-TiO2 nanocomposites.

PubMed

Goyat, M S; Ghosh, P K

2018-04-01

Emerging ex-situ technique, ultrasonic dual mixing (UDM) offers unique and hitherto unapproachable opportunities to alter the physical and mechanical properties of polymer nanocomposites. In this study, triangular lattice-like arranged dispersion of TiO 2 nanoparticles (average size ∼ 48 nm) in the epoxy polymer has been attained via concurrent use of a probe ultra-sonicator and 4 blades pitched impeller which collectively named as UDM technique. The UDM processing of neat epoxy reveals the generation of triangular lattice-like arranged nanocavities with nanoscale inter-cavity spacing. The UDM processing of epoxy-TiO 2 nanocomposites reveals two unique features such as partial and complete entrapping of the nanoparticles by the nanocavities leading the arranged dispersion of particles in the epoxy matrix. Pristine TiO 2 nanoparticles were dispersed in the epoxy polymer at loading fractions of up to 20% by weight. The results display that the arranged dispersion of nanoparticles is very effective at enhancing the glass transition temperature (T g ) and tensile properties of the epoxy at loading fractions of 10 wt%. We quantify a direct relationship among three important parameters such as nanoparticle content, cluster size, and inter-particle spacing. Our results offer a novel understanding of these parameters on the T g and tensile properties of the epoxy nanocomposites. The tensile fracture surfaces revealed several toughening mechanisms such as particle pull-out, plastic void growth, crack deflection, crack bridging and plastic deformation. We show that a strong nanoparticle-matrix interface led to the enhanced mechanical properties due to leading toughening mechanisms such as crack deflection, plastic deformation and particle pull-out. We showed that the UDM has an inordinate prospective to alter the dispersion state of nanoparticles in viscous polymer matrices. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Rigidity of the magic pentagram game

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kalev, Amir; Miller, Carl A.

2018-01-01

A game is rigid if a near-optimal score guarantees, under the sole assumption of the validity of quantum mechanics, that the players are using an approximately unique quantum strategy. Rigidity has a vital role in quantum cryptography as it permits a strictly classical user to trust behavior in the quantum realm. This property can be traced back as far as 1998 (Mayers and Yao) and has been proved for multiple classes of games. In this paper we prove ridigity for the magic pentagram game, a simple binary constraint satisfaction game involving two players, five clauses and ten variables. We show that all near-optimal strategies for the pentagram game are approximately equivalent to a unique strategy involving real Pauli measurements on three maximally-entangled qubit pairs.

Spinel lithium manganese oxide nanoparticles: unique molten salt synthesis strategy and excellent electrochemical performances.

PubMed

Wang, Xiong; Zhu, Juanjuan; Liu, Yingjie

2009-11-01

As a promising candidate cathode material, spinel lithium manganese oxide nanoparticles were successfully synthesized through a novel molten salt synthesis route at relatively low temperature, using manganese dioxide nanowires as precursor. A variety of techniques were applied to characterize the spinel nanomaterial, including X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The average particle size of the resulting spinel nanoparticles was about 80 nm with narrow distribution. As cathode material for rechargeable lithium ion battery, the electrochemical properties were investigated. All the results show that the electrochemical performances of the homogeneous spinel nanoparticles were improved, which might be ascribed to large specific surface area, fairly narrow size distribution, and the unique synthesis strategy.

Rigidity of the magic pentagram game.

PubMed

Kalev, Amir; Miller, Carl A

2018-01-01

A game is rigid if a near-optimal score guarantees, under the sole assumption of the validity of quantum mechanics, that the players are using an approximately unique quantum strategy. Rigidity has a vital role in quantum cryptography as it permits a strictly classical user to trust behavior in the quantum realm. This property can be traced back as far as 1998 (Mayers and Yao) and has been proved for multiple classes of games. In this paper we prove ridigity for the magic pentagram game, a simple binary constraint satisfaction game involving two players, five clauses and ten variables. We show that all near-optimal strategies for the pentagram game are approximately equivalent to a unique strategy involving real Pauli measurements on three maximally-entangled qubit pairs.

Synthesis and immobilization of silver nanoparticles on aluminosilicate nanotubes and their antibacterial properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ipek Yucelen, G.; Connell, Rachel E.; Terbush, Jessica R.; Westenberg, David J.; Dogan, Fatih

2016-04-01

A novel colloidal method is presented to synthesize silver nanoparticles on aluminosilicate nanotubes. The technique involves decomposition of AgNO3 solution to Ag nanoparticles in the presence of aluminosilicate nanotubes at room temperature without utilizing of reducing agents or any organic additives. Aluminosilicate nanotubes are shown to be capable of providing a unique chemical environment, not only for in situ conversion of Ag+ into Ag0, but also for stabilization and immobilization of Ag nanoparticles. The synthesis strategy described here could be implemented to obtain self-assembled nanoparticles on other single-walled metal oxide nanotubes for unique applications. Finally, we demonstrated that nanotube/nanoparticle hybrid show strong antibacterial activity toward Gram-positive Staphylococcus epidermidis and Gram-negative Escherichia coli.

Micromechanics of Sea Urchin spines.

PubMed

Tsafnat, Naomi; Fitz Gerald, John D; Le, Hai N; Stachurski, Zbigniew H

2012-01-01

The endoskeletal structure of the Sea Urchin, Centrostephanus rodgersii, has numerous long spines whose known functions include locomotion, sensing, and protection against predators. These spines have a remarkable internal microstructure and are made of single-crystal calcite. A finite-element model of the spine's unique porous structure, based on micro-computed tomography (microCT) and incorporating anisotropic material properties, was developed to study its response to mechanical loading. Simulations show that high stress concentrations occur at certain points in the spine's architecture; brittle cracking would likely initiate in these regions. These analyses demonstrate that the organization of single-crystal calcite in the unique, intricate morphology of the sea urchin spine results in a strong, stiff and lightweight structure that enhances its strength despite the brittleness of its constituent material.

Unique Piezoelectric Properties of the Monoclinic Phase in Pb (Zr ,Ti )O3 Ceramics: Large Lattice Strain and Negligible Domain Switching

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fan, Longlong; Chen, Jun; Ren, Yang; Pan, Zhao; Zhang, Linxing; Xing, Xianran

2016-01-01

The origin of the excellent piezoelectric properties at the morphotropic phase boundary is generally attributed to the existence of a monoclinic phase in various piezoelectric systems. However, there exist no experimental studies that reveal the role of the monoclinic phase in the piezoelectric behavior in phase-pure ceramics. In this work, a single monoclinic phase has been identified in Pb (Zr ,Ti )O3 ceramics at room temperature by in situ high-energy synchrotron x-ray diffraction, and its response to electric field has been characterized for the first time. Unique piezoelectric properties of the monoclinic phase in terms of large intrinsic lattice strain and negligible domain switching have been observed. The extensional strain constant d33 and the transverse strain constant d31 are calculated to be 520 and -200 pm /V , respectively. These large piezoelectric coefficients are mainly due to the large intrinsic lattice strain, with very little extrinsic contribution from domain switching. The unique properties of the monoclinic phase provide new insights into the mechanisms responsible for the piezoelectric properties at the morphotropic phase boundary.

Plasticity and Kinky Chemistry of Carbon Nanotubes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Srivastava, Deepak; Dzegilenko, Fedor

2000-01-01

Since their discovery in 1991, carbon nanotubes have been the subject of intense research interest based on early predictions of their unique mechanical, electronic, and chemical properties. Materials with the predicted unique properties of carbon nanotubes are of great interest for use in future generations of aerospace vehicles. For their structural properties, carbon nanotubes could be used as reinforcing fibers in ultralight multifunctional composites. For their electronic properties, carbon nanotubes offer the potential of very high-speed, low-power computing elements, high-density data storage, and unique sensors. In a continuing effort to model and predict the properties of carbon nanotubes, Ames accomplished three significant results during FY99. First, accurate values of the nanomechanics and plasticity of carbon nanotubes based on quantum molecular dynamics simulations were computed. Second, the concept of mechanical deformation catalyzed-kinky-chemistry as a means to control local chemistry of nanotubes was discovered. Third, the ease of nano-indentation of silicon surfaces with carbon nanotubes was established. The elastic response and plastic failure mechanisms of single-wall nanotubes were investigated by means of quantum molecular dynamics simulations.

Measurement properties of disease-specific questionnaires in patients with neck pain: a systematic review.

PubMed

Schellingerhout, Jasper M; Verhagen, Arianne P; Heymans, Martijn W; Koes, Bart W; de Vet, Henrica C; Terwee, Caroline B

2012-05-01

To critically appraise and compare the measurement properties of the original versions of neck-specific questionnaires. Bibliographic databases were searched for articles concerning the development or evaluation of the measurement properties of an original version of a self-reported questionnaire, evaluating pain and/or disability, which was specifically developed or adapted for patients with neck pain. The methodological quality of the selected studies and the results of the measurement properties were critically appraised and rated using a checklist, specifically designed for evaluating studies on measurement properties. The search strategy resulted in a total of 3,641 unique hits, of which 25 articles, evaluating 8 different questionnaires, were included in our study. The Neck Disability Index is the most frequently evaluated questionnaire and shows positive results for internal consistency, content validity, structural validity, hypothesis testing, and responsiveness, but a negative result for reliability. The other questionnaires show positive results, but the evidence for each measurement property is mostly limited, and at least 50% of the information on measurement properties per questionnaire is lacking. Our findings imply that studies of high methodological quality are needed to properly assess the measurement properties of the currently available questionnaires. Until high quality studies are available, we recommend using these questionnaires with caution. There is no need for the development of new neck-specific questionnaires until the current questionnaires have been adequately assessed.

Relationship between surface property and catalytic application of amorphous NiP/Hβ catalyst for n-hexane isomerization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Jinshe; Duan, Zunbin; Song, Zhaoyang; Zhu, Lijun; Zhou, Yulu; Xiang, Yuzhi; Xia, Daohong

2017-12-01

The amorphous NiP nanoparticles were synthesized and a novel amorphous NiP/Hβ catalyst was prepared successfully further. Due to the superior surface property of amorphous NiP/Hβ catalyst, it exhibited good catalytic application for n-hexane isomerization. The catalytic activity of amorphous NiP/Hβ catalyst was close to that of the prepared Pt/Hβ sample, and better than that of commercial catalyst and crystalline Ni2P/Hβ catalyst. What's more, the amorphous NiP/Hβ catalyst shows high resistance to different sulfur compounds and water on account of its unique surface property. The effect of loading amounts on surface property and catalytic performance was investigated, and the structure-function relationship among them was studied ulteriorly. The results demonstrate that loading amounts have effect on textural property and surface acid property, which further affect the catalytic performance. The 10 wt.% NiP/Hβ sample has appropriate pore structure and acid property with uniformly dispersed NiP nanoparticles on surface, which is helpful for providing suitable synergistic effect. The effects of reaction conditions on surface reactions and the mechanism for n-hexane isomerization were investigated further. Based on these results, the amorphous NiP/Hβ catalyst with superior surface property probably pavesa way to overcome the drawbacks of traditional noble metal catalyst, which shows good catalytic application prospects.

Demonstration of Ultra High-Strength Nanocrystalline Copper Alloys for Military Applications

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-01-22

Powder Processing vi Acknowledgements The development of these Cu -Ta alloys was accomplished with assistance from the following...nanostructured Cu -Ta based alloy powders with a unique ability to retain their ultrahigh strength properties to temperatures nearing the melting point of the Cu ...nanostructured Cu -Ta based alloy powders with the unique ability to retain their ultrahigh strength properties to temperatures

Comprehensive Understanding for Vegetated Scene Radiance Relationships

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kimes, D. S.; Deering, D. W.

1984-01-01

The improvement of our fundamental understanding of the dynamics of directional scattering properties of vegetation canopies through analysis of field data and model simulation data is discussed. Directional reflectance distributions spanning the entire existance hemisphere were measured in two field studies; one using a Mark III 3-band radiometer and one using rapid scanning bidirectional field instrument called PARABOLA. Surfaces measured included corn, soybeans, bare soils, grass lawn, orchard grass, alfalfa, cotton row crops, plowed field, annual grassland, stipa grass, hard wheat, salt plain shrubland, and irrigated wheat. Some structural and optical measurements were taken. Field data show unique reflectance distributions ranging from bare soil to complete vegetation canopies. Physical mechanisms causing these trends are proposed based on scattering properties of soil and vegetation. Soil exhibited a strong backscattering peak toward the Sun. Complete vegetation exhibited a bowl distribution with the minimum reflectance near nadir. Incomplete vegetation canopies show shifting of the minimum reflectance off of nadir in the forward scattering direction because both the scattering properties or the vegetation and soil are observed.

A biomimetic three-dimensional woven composite scaffold for functional tissue engineering of cartilage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moutos, Franklin T.; Freed, Lisa E.; Guilak, Farshid

2007-02-01

Tissue engineering seeks to repair or regenerate tissues through combinations of implanted cells, biomaterial scaffolds and biologically active molecules. The rapid restoration of tissue biomechanical function remains an important challenge, emphasizing the need to replicate structural and mechanical properties using novel scaffold designs. Here we present a microscale 3D weaving technique to generate anisotropic 3D woven structures as the basis for novel composite scaffolds that are consolidated with a chondrocyte-hydrogel mixture into cartilage tissue constructs. Composite scaffolds show mechanical properties of the same order of magnitude as values for native articular cartilage, as measured by compressive, tensile and shear testing. Moreover, our findings showed that porous composite scaffolds could be engineered with initial properties that reproduce the anisotropy, viscoelasticity and tension-compression nonlinearity of native articular cartilage. Such scaffolds uniquely combine the potential for load-bearing immediately after implantation in vivo with biological support for cell-based tissue regeneration without requiring cultivation in vitro.

Critical V2O5/TeO2 Ratio Inducing Abrupt Property Changes in Vanadium Tellurite Glasses.

PubMed

Kjeldsen, Jonas; Rodrigues, Ana C M; Mossin, Susanne; Yue, Yuanzheng

2014-12-26

Transition metal containing glasses have unique electrical properties and are therefore often used for electrochemical applications, such as in batteries. Among oxide glasses, vanadium tellurite glasses exhibit the highest electronic conductivity and thus the high potential for applications. In this work, we investigate how the dynamic and physical properties vary with composition in the vanadium tellurite system. The results show that there exists a critical V(2)O(5) concentration of 45 mol %, above which the local structure is subjected to a drastic change with increasing V(2)O(5), leading to abrupt changes in both hardness and liquid fragility. Electronic conductivity does not follow the expected correlation to the valence state of the vanadium as predicted by the Mott-Austin equation but shows a linear correlation to the mean distance between vanadium ions. These findings could contribute to designing optimum vanadium tellurite compositions for electrochemical devices. The work gives insight into the mechanism of electron conduction in the vanadium tellurite systems.

Hydrogenation-controlled phase transition on two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides and their unique physical and catalytic properties.

PubMed

Qu, Yuanju; Pan, Hui; Kwok, Chi Tat

2016-09-30

Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have been widely used from nanodevices to energy harvesting/storage because of their tunable physical and chemical properties. In this work, we systematically investigate the effects of hydrogenation on the structural, electronic, magnetic, and catalytic properties of 33 TMDs based on first-principles calculations. We find that the stable phases of TMD monolayers can transit from 1T to 2H phase or vice versa upon the hydrogenation. We show that the hydrogenation can switch their magnetic and electronic states accompanying with the phase transition. The hydrogenation can tune the magnetic states of TMDs among non-, ferro, para-, and antiferro-magnetism and their electronic states among semiconductor, metal, and half-metal. We further show that, out of 33 TMD monolayers, 2H-TiS 2 has impressive catalytic ability comparable to Pt in hydrogen evolution reaction in a wide range of hydrogen coverages. Our findings would shed the light on the multi-functional applications of TMDs.

Doubly unusual 3D lattice honeycomb displaying simultaneous negative and zero Poisson’s ratio properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Yu; Zheng, Bin-Bin; Fu, Ming-Hui; Lan, Lin-Hua; Zhang, Wen-Zhi

2018-04-01

In this paper, a novel three-dimensional (3D) lattice honeycomb is developed based on a two-dimensional (2D) accordion-like honeycomb. A combination of theoretical and numerical analysis is carried out to gain a deeper understanding of the elastic behavior of the new honeycomb and its dependence on the geometric parameters. The results show that the proposed new honeycomb can simultaneously achieve an in-plane negative Poisson’s ratio (NPR) effect and an out-of-plane zero Poisson’s ratio (ZPR) effect. This unique property may be very promising in some important fields, like aerospace, piezoelectric sensors and biomedicine engineering. The results also show that the geometric parameters, such as the slant angle, the strut thickness and the relative density, have a significant effect on the mechanical properties. Additionally, different dominant deformation models of the new honeycomb when compressed along the x (or y) and z directions are identified. This work provides a new concept for the design of honeycombs with a doubly unusual performance.

Sleep Benefits Memory for Semantic Category Structure While Preserving Exemplar-Specific Information.

PubMed

Schapiro, Anna C; McDevitt, Elizabeth A; Chen, Lang; Norman, Kenneth A; Mednick, Sara C; Rogers, Timothy T

2017-11-01

Semantic memory encompasses knowledge about both the properties that typify concepts (e.g. robins, like all birds, have wings) as well as the properties that individuate conceptually related items (e.g. robins, in particular, have red breasts). We investigate the impact of sleep on new semantic learning using a property inference task in which both kinds of information are initially acquired equally well. Participants learned about three categories of novel objects possessing some properties that were shared among category exemplars and others that were unique to an exemplar, with exposure frequency varying across categories. In Experiment 1, memory for shared properties improved and memory for unique properties was preserved across a night of sleep, while memory for both feature types declined over a day awake. In Experiment 2, memory for shared properties improved across a nap, but only for the lower-frequency category, suggesting a prioritization of weakly learned information early in a sleep period. The increase was significantly correlated with amount of REM, but was also observed in participants who did not enter REM, suggesting involvement of both REM and NREM sleep. The results provide the first evidence that sleep improves memory for the shared structure of object categories, while simultaneously preserving object-unique information.

On the Non-Uniqueness of Sediment Yield

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, J.; Ivanov, V. Y.; Fatichi, S.

2014-12-01

There has been ample experimental evidence that soil erosion does not necessarily occur at the same rate, given the same amount of rainfall or runoff. Such a non-unique phenomenon has been often referred to in literature as due to 'natural variability'. Our recent study hypothesized that uncertainties in the distribution and properties of a sediment layer can be a potential clue to one of the reasons of the non-unique sediment yield. Specifically, numerical experimentation with a sophisticated two-dimensional model showed that a deposited layer plays two conflicting roles: it can both increase and decrease soil erosion, given the same magnitude of runoff. The difference in erodibilities of the "original, intact soil layer" and the "deposited, loose soil layer" and the composition of soil particles in the underlying layers give rise to the non-uniqueness of the amount of eroded materials. In continuing efforts, we attempt to investigate this phenomenon using a comprehensive the Universal Soil Loss Erosion (USLE) database, that contains data on paired hillslopes that show a high degree of non-uniqueness in the response, even though the hillslopes exhibit the same topography, soil type, rainfall and meteorological forcings, and landuse. An underlying hypothesis of this study is that uncertainties in the distribution of soil substrate prior to a rainfall event lead to low predictability skill, i.e., a stochastically-varying outcome. A large number of simulation cases demonstrating the proposed hypothesis are conducted using a coupled numerical model, tRIBS-VEGGIE-FEaST (Triangulated irregular network - based Real time Integrated Basin Simulator- VEGetation Generator for Interactive Evolution -Flow Erosion and Sediment Transport).

Bio-NCs--the marriage of ultrasmall metal nanoclusters with biomolecules.

PubMed

Goswami, Nirmal; Zheng, Kaiyuan; Xie, Jianping

2014-11-21

Ultrasmall metal nanoclusters (NCs) have attracted increasing attention due to their fascinating physicochemical properties. Today, functional metal NCs are finding growing acceptance in biomedical applications. To achieve a better performance in biomedical applications, metal NCs can be interfaced with biomolecules, such as proteins, peptides, and DNA, to form a new class of biomolecule-NC composites (or bio-NCs in short), which typically show synergistic or novel physicochemical and physiological properties. This feature article focuses on the recent studies emerging at the interface of metal NCs and biomolecules, where the interactions could impart unique physicochemical properties to the metal NCs, as well as mutually regulate biological functions of the bio-NCs. In this article, we first provide a broad overview of key concepts and developments in the novel biomolecule-directed synthesis of metal NCs. A special focus is placed on the key roles of biomolecules in metal NC synthesis. In the second part, we describe how the encapsulated metal NCs affect the structure and function of biomolecules. Followed by that, we discuss several unique synergistic effects observed in the bio-NCs, and illustrate them with examples highlighting their potential biomedical applications. Continued interdisciplinary efforts are required to build up in-depth knowledge about the interfacial chemistry and biology of bio-NCs, which could further pave their ways toward biomedical applications.

Electrochemical performance of electrospun free-standing nitrogen-doped carbon nanofibers and their application for glucose biosensing.

PubMed

Liu, Dong; Zhang, Xueping; You, Tianyan

2014-05-14

In spite of excellent electrochemical properties, nitrogen-doped carbon nanofibers (NCNFs) have rarely been studied in the field of electroanalysis. In this work, we investigated the electrochemical properties and biosensing performance of NCNFs prepared by a newly proposed approach. The as-obtained NCNFs present a unique free-standing structure with high flexibility which could be convenient for electrode modification. Electrochemical measurements of typical redox species including [Ru(NH3)6]3+/2+, [Fe(CN)6]3-/4-, [Fe(H2O)6]3+/2+, and dopamine indicate that the NCNFs have a larger surface area and faster electron transfer rate compared with carbon nanofibers (CNFs). The presence of high content of pyrrolic-N and abundant defective sites in NCNFs leads to an obvious positive shift of peak potential for oxygen reduction at NCNFs relative to that obtained at CNFs. The unique structure and properties greatly enhance the electrochemical performance of NCNFs. The glucose biosensor based on glucose oxidase/NCNFs shows linear ranges of 0.2-1.2 mM at -0.42 V and 0.05-3 mM at 0.40 V both with high stability. These results suggest that the NCNFs could be a convenient and stable platform for electrochemical biosensors.

Bio-NCs - the marriage of ultrasmall metal nanoclusters with biomolecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goswami, Nirmal; Zheng, Kaiyuan; Xie, Jianping

2014-10-01

Ultrasmall metal nanoclusters (NCs) have attracted increasing attention due to their fascinating physicochemical properties. Today, functional metal NCs are finding growing acceptance in biomedical applications. To achieve a better performance in biomedical applications, metal NCs can be interfaced with biomolecules, such as proteins, peptides, and DNA, to form a new class of biomolecule-NC composites (or bio-NCs in short), which typically show synergistic or novel physicochemical and physiological properties. This feature article focuses on the recent studies emerging at the interface of metal NCs and biomolecules, where the interactions could impart unique physicochemical properties to the metal NCs, as well as mutually regulate biological functions of the bio-NCs. In this article, we first provide a broad overview of key concepts and developments in the novel biomolecule-directed synthesis of metal NCs. A special focus is placed on the key roles of biomolecules in metal NC synthesis. In the second part, we describe how the encapsulated metal NCs affect the structure and function of biomolecules. Followed by that, we discuss several unique synergistic effects observed in the bio-NCs, and illustrate them with examples highlighting their potential biomedical applications. Continued interdisciplinary efforts are required to build up in-depth knowledge about the interfacial chemistry and biology of bio-NCs, which could further pave their ways toward biomedical applications.

Circulating Tumor Cells: From Theory to Nanotechnology-Based Detection

PubMed Central

Ming, Yue; Li, Yuanyuan; Xing, Haiyan; Luo, Minghe; Li, Ziwei; Chen, Jianhong; Mo, Jingxin; Shi, Sanjun

2017-01-01

Cancer stem cells with stem-cell properties are regarded as tumor initiating cells. Sharing stem-cell properties, circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are responsible for the development of metastasis, which significant affects CTC analysis in clinical practice. Due to their extremely low occurrence in blood, however, it is challenging to enumerate and analyze CTCs. Nanotechnology is able to address the problems of insufficient capture efficiency and low purity of CTCs owing to the unique structural and functional properties of nanomaterials, showing strong promise for CTC isolation and detection. In this review, we discuss the role of stem-like CTCs in metastases, provide insight into recent progress in CTC isolation and detection approaches using various nanoplatforms, and highlight the role of nanotechnology in the advancement of CTC research. PMID:28203204

Microstructure Evolution and Related Magnetic Properties of Cu-Zr-Al-Gd Phase-Separating Metallic Glasses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Sang Jun; Kim, Jinwoo; Park, Eun Soo

2018-04-01

We carefully investigated the correlation between microstructures and magnetic properties of Cu-Zr-Al-Gd phase-separating metallic glasses (PSMGs). The saturation magnetizations of the PSMGs were determined by total Gd contents of the alloys, while their coercivity exhibits a large deviation by the occurrence of phase separation due to the boundary pinning effect of hierarchically separated amorphous phases. Especially, the PSMGs containing Gd-rich amorphous nanoparticles show the highest coercivity which can be attributed to the size effect of the ferromagnetic amorphous phase. Furthermore, the selective crystallization of ferromagnetic amorphous phases can affect the magnetization behavior of the PSMGs. Our results could provide a novel strategy for tailoring unique soft magnetic properties of metallic glasses by introducing hierarchically separated amorphous phases and controlling their crystallinity.

Boron nitride nanotubes included thermally cross-linked gelatin-glucose scaffolds show improved properties.

PubMed

Şen, Özlem; Culha, Mustafa

2016-02-01

Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) are increasingly investigated for their medical and biomedical applications due to their unique properties such as resistance to oxidation, thermal and electrical insulation, and biocompatibility. BNNTs can be used to enhance mechanical strength of biomedical structures such as scaffolds in tissue engineering applications. In this study, we report the use of BNNTs and hydroxylated BNNTs (BNNT-OH) to improve the properties of gelatin-glucose scaffolds prepared with electrospinning technique. Human dermal fibroblast (HDF) cells are used for the toxicity assessment and cell seeding studies. It is found that the addition of BNNTs into the scaffold does not influence cell viability, decreases the scaffold degradation rate, and improves cell attachment and proliferation compared to only-gelatin scaffold. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Microstructure Evolution and Related Magnetic Properties of Cu-Zr-Al-Gd Phase-Separating Metallic Glasses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Sang Jun; Kim, Jinwoo; Park, Eun Soo

2018-06-01

We carefully investigated the correlation between microstructures and magnetic properties of Cu-Zr-Al-Gd phase-separating metallic glasses (PSMGs). The saturation magnetizations of the PSMGs were determined by total Gd contents of the alloys, while their coercivity exhibits a large deviation by the occurrence of phase separation due to the boundary pinning effect of hierarchically separated amorphous phases. Especially, the PSMGs containing Gd-rich amorphous nanoparticles show the highest coercivity which can be attributed to the size effect of the ferromagnetic amorphous phase. Furthermore, the selective crystallization of ferromagnetic amorphous phases can affect the magnetization behavior of the PSMGs. Our results could provide a novel strategy for tailoring unique soft magnetic properties of metallic glasses by introducing hierarchically separated amorphous phases and controlling their crystallinity.

Prion Strain Characterization of a Novel Subtype of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease.

PubMed

Galeno, Roberta; Di Bari, Michele Angelo; Nonno, Romolo; Cardone, Franco; Sbriccoli, Marco; Graziano, Silvia; Ingrosso, Loredana; Fiorini, Michele; Valanzano, Angelina; Pasini, Giulia; Poleggi, Anna; Vinci, Ramona; Ladogana, Anna; Puopolo, Maria; Monaco, Salvatore; Agrimi, Umberto; Zanusso, Gianluigi; Pocchiari, Maurizio

2017-06-01

In 2007, we reported a patient with an atypical form of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) heterozygous for methionine-valine (MV) at codon 129 who showed a novel pathological prion protein (PrP TSE ) conformation with an atypical glycoform (AG) profile and intraneuronal PrP deposition. In the present study, we further characterize the conformational properties of this pathological prion protein (PrP TSE MV AG ), showing that PrP TSE MV AG is composed of multiple conformers with biochemical properties distinct from those of PrP TSE type 1 and type 2 of MV sporadic CJD (sCJD). Experimental transmission of CJD-MV AG to bank voles and gene-targeted transgenic mice carrying the human prion protein gene (TgHu mice) showed unique transmission rates, survival times, neuropathological changes, PrP TSE deposition patterns, and PrP TSE glycotypes that are distinct from those of sCJD-MV1 and sCJD-MV2. These biochemical and experimental data suggest the presence of a novel prion strain in CJD-MV AG IMPORTANCE Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is caused by the misfolding of the cellular prion protein, which assumes two different major conformations (type 1 and type 2) and, together with the methionine/valine polymorphic codon 129 of the prion protein gene, contribute to the occurrence of distinct clinical-pathological phenotypes. Inoculation in laboratory rodents of brain tissues from the six possible combinations of pathological prion protein types with codon 129 genotypes results in the identification of 3 or 4 strains of prions. We report on the identification of a novel strain of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease isolated from a patient who carried an abnormally glycosylated pathological prion protein. This novel strain has unique biochemical characteristics, does not transmit to humanized transgenic mice, and shows exclusive transmission properties in bank voles. The identification of a novel human prion strain improves our understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease and of possible mechanisms of prion transmission. Copyright © 2017 American Society for Microbiology.

Department of Defense Logistics Roadmap 2008. Volume 1

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-07-01

machine readable identification mark on the Department’s tangible qualifying assets, and establishes the data management protocols needed to...uniquely identify items with a Unique Item Identifier (UII) via machine - readable information (MRI) marking represented by a two-dimensional data...property items with a machine -readable Unique Item Identifier (UII), which is a set of globally unique data elements. The UII is used in functional

Transport properties and Stokes-Einstein relation in Al-rich liquid alloys

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jakse, N.; Pasturel, A.

We use ab initio molecular dynamics simulations to study the transport properties and the validity of the Stokes-Einstein relation in Al-rich liquid alloys with Ni, Cu, and Zn as alloying elements. First, we show that the composition and temperature dependence of their transport properties present different behaviors, which can be related to their local structural ordering. Then, we evidence that the competition between the local icosahedral ordering and the local chemical ordering may cause the breakdown of the Stokes–Einstein relation even in the liquid phase. We demonstrate that this breakdown can be captured by entropy-scaling relationships developed by Rosenfeld andmore » using the two-body excess entropy. Our findings provide a unique framework to study the relation between structure, thermodynamics, and dynamics in metallic melts and pave the way towards the explanation of various complex transport properties in metallic melts.« less

Transport properties and Stokes-Einstein relation in Al-rich liquid alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jakse, N.; Pasturel, A.

2016-06-01

We use ab initio molecular dynamics simulations to study the transport properties and the validity of the Stokes-Einstein relation in Al-rich liquid alloys with Ni, Cu, and Zn as alloying elements. First, we show that the composition and temperature dependence of their transport properties present different behaviors, which can be related to their local structural ordering. Then, we evidence that the competition between the local icosahedral ordering and the local chemical ordering may cause the breakdown of the Stokes-Einstein relation even in the liquid phase. We demonstrate that this breakdown can be captured by entropy-scaling relationships developed by Rosenfeld and using the two-body excess entropy. Our findings provide a unique framework to study the relation between structure, thermodynamics, and dynamics in metallic melts and pave the way towards the explanation of various complex transport properties in metallic melts.

The structural properties of InGaN alloys and the interdependence on the thermoelectric behavior

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kucukgok, Bahadir; Wu, Xuewang; Wang, Xiaojia; Liu, Zhiqiang; Ferguson, Ian T.; Lu, Na

2016-02-01

The III-Nitrides are promising candidate for high efficiency thermoelectric (TE) materials and devices due to their unique features which includes high thermal stability. A systematic study of the room temperature TE properties of metalorganic chemical vapor deposition grown InxGa1-xN were investigated for x = 0.07 to 0.24. This paper investigated the role of indium composition on the TE properties of InGaN alloys in particular the structural properties for homogenous material that did not show significant phase separation. The highest Seebeck and power factor values of 507 μV K-1 and 21.84 × 10-4 Wm-1K-1 were observed, respectively for In0.07Ga0.93N at room temperature. The highest value of figure-of-merit (ZT) was calculated to be 0.072 for In0.20Ga0.80N alloy at room temperature.

Rheological properties of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) derived composite membranes for fuel cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Remiš, T.

2017-01-01

Rheological properties of new anhydrous proton conducting membrane based on PVA, tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS),sulfosuccinic acid (SSA), titanium dioxide (TiO2)was examined at various stoichiometric ratios. SSA was used as sulfonating agents to form a crosslinked structure and as proton source, whereas TEO Sand TiO2were utilized to improve the thermal and mechanical properties of the membrane. In order to verify that all the substances were immobilized into the matrix, the membranes were analysed by means of FT-IR. The rheological, mechanical and thermal properties of the membranes were investigated using rheometer ARES G2 and thermogravimetic analyser (TGA).The analysis of mixed PVA solutions exhibited a unique behaviour of viscosity with increased crosslink density. The dynamic storage modulus G´ of dried composite membranes shows better mechanical resistance and increased tolerance to pressure applied during membrane electrode assembly (MEA).

First principles study on structural, lattice dynamical and thermal properties of BaCeO3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Qingping; Ding, Jinwen; He, Min

2017-09-01

BaCeO3 exhibits impressive application potentials on solid oxide fuel cell electrolyte, hydrogen separation membrane and photocatalyst, owing to its unique ionic and electronic properties. In this article, the electronic structures, phonon spectra and thermal properties of BaCeO3 in orthorhombic, rhombohedral and cubic phases are investigated based on density functional theory. Comparisons with reported experimental results are also presented. The calculation shows that orthorhombic structure is both energetically and dynamically stable under ground state, which is supported by the experiment. Moreover, charge transfer between cations and anions accompanied with phase transition is observed, which is responsible for the softened phonon modes in rhombohedral and cubic phases. Besides, thermal properties are discussed. Oxygen atoms contribute most to the specific heat. The calculated entropy and specific heat at constant pressure fit well with the experimental ones within the measured temperature range.

Amyloids and prions in plants: Facts and perspectives.

PubMed

Antonets, K S; Nizhnikov, A A

2017-09-03

Amyloids represent protein fibrils that have highly ordered structure with unique physical and chemical properties. Amyloids have long been considered lethal pathogens that cause dozens of incurable diseases in humans and animals. Recent data show that amyloids may not only possess pathogenic properties but are also implicated in the essential biological processes in a variety of prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Functional amyloids have been identified in archaea, bacteria, fungi, and animals, including humans. Plants are one of the most poorly studied groups of organisms in the field of amyloid biology. Although amyloid properties have not been shown under native conditions for any plant protein, studies demonstrating amyloid properties for a set of plant proteins in vitro or in heterologous systems in vivo have been published in recent years. In this review, we systematize the data on the amyloidogenic proteins of plants and their functions and discuss the perspectives of identifying novel amyloids using bioinformatic and proteomic approaches.

Uniqueness Results for Weak Leray-Hopf Solutions of the Navier-Stokes System with Initial Values in Critical Spaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barker, T.

2018-03-01

The main subject of this paper concerns the establishment of certain classes of initial data, which grant short time uniqueness of the associated weak Leray-Hopf solutions of the three dimensional Navier-Stokes equations. In particular, our main theorem that this holds for any solenodial initial data, with finite L_2(R^3) norm, that also belongs to certain subsets of {it{VMO}}^{-1}(R^3). As a corollary of this, we obtain the same conclusion for any solenodial u0 belonging to L2(R^3)\\cap \\dot{B}^{-1+3/p}_{p,∞}(R^3), for any 3

48 CFR 211.274-4 - Policy for reporting of Government-furnished equipment in the DoD Item Unique Identification...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... property as defined in FAR Part 45; (e) Property under any statutory leasing authority; (f) Property to... performance-based payments; (g) Intellectual property or software; and (h) Real property. [73 FR 70908, Nov...

48 CFR 211.274-4 - Policy for reporting of Government-furnished equipment in the DoD Item Unique Identification...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... property as defined in FAR Part 45; (e) Property under any statutory leasing authority; (f) Property to... performance-based payments; (g) Intellectual property or software; and (h) Real property. [73 FR 70908, Nov...

ROS mediated high anti-bacterial efficacy of strain tolerant layered phase pure nano-calcium hydroxide.

PubMed

Samanta, Aniruddha; Podder, Soumik; Ghosh, Chandan Kumar; Bhattacharya, Manjima; Ghosh, Jiten; Mallik, Awadesh Kumar; Dey, Arjun; Mukhopadhyay, Anoop Kumar

2017-08-01

The present work provides the first ever report on extraordinarily high antibacterial efficacy of phase pure micro-layered calcium hydroxide nanoparticles (LCHNPs) even under dark condition. The LCHNPs synthesized especially in aqueous medium by a simple, inexpensive method show adequate mechanical properties along with the presence of a unique strain tolerant behaviour. The LCHNPs are characterized by FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, XRD, Rietveld analysis, FE-SEM, TEM, TG-DTA, surface area, particle size distribution, zeta potential analysis and nanoindentation techniques. The LCHNPs have 98.1% phase pure hexagonal Ca(OH) 2 as the major phase having micro-layered architecture made up of about ~100-200nm thick individual nano-layers. The nanomechanical properties e.g., nanohardness (H) and Young's modulus (E) of the LCHNPs are found to have a unique load independent behavior. The dielectric responses (e.g., dielectric constant and dielectric loss) and antibacterial properties are evaluated for such LCHNPs. Further, the LCHNPs show much better antibacterial potency against both gram-positive e.g., Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and gram-negative e.g., Pseudomonas putida (P. putida) bacteria even in dark especially, with the lowest ever reported MIC value (e.g., 1 μg ml -1 ) against the P. putida bacterial strain and exhibit ROS mediated antibacterial proficiency. Finally, such LCHNPs has almost ~8-16% inhibition efficacy towards the development of biofilm of these microorganisms quantified by colorimetric detection process. So, such LCHNPs may find potential applications in the areas of healthcare industry and environmental engineering. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

In vitro degradation and in vivo toxicity of NanoMatrix3D® polycaprolactone and poly(lactic acid) nanofibrous scaffolds.

PubMed

Pogorielov, Maksym; Hapchenko, Andrii; Deineka, Volodymyr; Rogulska, Larysa; Oleshko, Olexandr; Vodseďálková, Kateřina; Berezkinová, Liliana; Vysloužilová, Lucie; Klápšťová, Andrea; Erben, Jakub

2018-04-10

Nanofibrous materials present unique properties favorable in many biomedicine and industrial applications. In this research we evaluated biodegradation, tissue response and general toxicity of nanofibrous poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds produced by conventional method of electrospinning and using NanoMatrix3D ® (NM3D ® ) technology. Mass density, scanning electron microscopy and in vitro degradation (static and dynamic) were used for material characterization, and subcutaneous, intramuscular and intraperitoneal implantation - for in vivo tests. Biochemical blood analysis and histology were used to assess toxicity and tissue response. Pore size and fiber diameter did not differ in conventional and NM3D ® PLA and PCL materials, but mass density was significantly lower in NM3D ® ones. Scaffolds made by conventional method showed toxic effect during the in-vivo tests due to residual concentration of chloroform that released with material degradation. NM3D ® method allowed cleaning scaffolds from residual solutions that made them nontoxic and biocompatible. Subcutaneous, intramuscular and intraperitoneal implantation of PCL and PLA NM3D ® electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds showed their appropriate cell conductive properties, tissue and vessels formation in all sites. Thus, NM3D ® PCL and PLA nanofibrous electrospun scaffolds can be used in the field of tissue engineering, surgery, wound healing, drug delivery, and so forth, due to their unique properties, nontoxicity and biocompatibility. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 00A:000-000, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Micro-rheology and interparticle interactions in aerosols probed with optical tweezers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reid, Jonathan P.; Power, Rory M.; Cai, Chen; Simpson, Stephen H.

2014-09-01

Using optical tweezers for micro-rheological investigations of a surrounding fluid has been routinely demonstrated. In this work, we will demonstrate that rheological measurements of the bulk and surface properties of aerosol particles can be made directly using optical tweezers, providing important insights into the phase behavior of materials in confined environments and the rate of molecular diffusion in viscous phases. The use of holographic optical tweezers to manipulate aerosol particles has become standard practice in recent years, providing an invaluable tool to investigate particle dynamics, including evaporation/ condensation kinetics, chemical aging and phase transformation. When combined with non-linear Raman spectroscopy, the size and refractive index of a particle can be determined with unprecedented accuracy <+/- 0.05%). Active control of the relative positions of pairs of particles can allow studies of the coalescence of particles, providing a unique opportunity to investigate the bulk and surface properties that govern the hydrodynamic relaxation in particle shape. In particular, we will show how the viscosity and surface tension of particles can be measured directly in the under-damped regime at low viscosity. In the over-damped regime, we will show that viscosity measurements can extend close to the glass transition, allowing measurements over an impressive dynamic range of 12 orders of magnitude in relaxation timescale and viscosity. Indeed, prior to the coalescence event, we will show how the Brownian trajectories of trapped particles can yield important and unique insights into the interactions of aerosol particles.

Two-photon fluorescent polysiloxane-based films with thermally responsive self switching properties achieved by a unique reversible spirocyclization mechanism† †Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c7sc05080a

PubMed Central

Zuo, Yujing; Yang, Tingxin; Zhang, Yu; Gou, Zhiming; Tian, Minggang; Kong, Xiuqi

2018-01-01

Responsiveness and reversibility are present in nature, and are ubiquitous in biological systems. The realization of reversibility and responsiveness is of great importance in the development of properties and the design of new materials. However, two-photon fluorescent thermal-responsive materials have not been reported to date. Herein, we engineered thermally responsive polysiloxane materials (Dns-non) that exhibited unique two-photon luminescence, and this is the first report about thermally responsive luminescent materials with two-photon fluorescence. The fluorescence of Dns-non could switch from the “on” to “off” state through a facile heating and cooling process, which could be observed by the naked eye. Monitoring the temperature of the CPU in situ was achieved by easily coating D1-non onto the CPU surface, which verified the potential application in devices of Dns-non. A unique alkaline tuned reversible transition mechanism of rhodamine-B from its spirocyclic to its ring-open state was proposed. Furthermore, Dns-non appeared to be a useful cell adhesive for the culture of cells on the surface. We believe that the constructed thermally responsive silicon films which have promising utilization as a new type of functional fluorescent material, may show broad applications in materials chemistry or bioscience. PMID:29732063

Isotropic band gaps and freeform waveguides observed in hyperuniform disordered photonic solids

PubMed Central

Man, Weining; Florescu, Marian; Williamson, Eric Paul; He, Yingquan; Hashemizad, Seyed Reza; Leung, Brian Y. C.; Liner, Devin Robert; Torquato, Salvatore; Chaikin, Paul M.; Steinhardt, Paul J.

2013-01-01

Recently, disordered photonic media and random textured surfaces have attracted increasing attention as strong light diffusers with broadband and wide-angle properties. We report the experimental realization of an isotropic complete photonic band gap (PBG) in a 2D disordered dielectric structure. This structure is designed by a constrained optimization method, which combines advantages of both isotropy due to disorder and controlled scattering properties due to low-density fluctuations (hyperuniformity) and uniform local topology. Our experiments use a modular design composed of Al2O3 walls and cylinders arranged in a hyperuniform disordered network. We observe a complete PBG in the microwave region, in good agreement with theoretical simulations, and show that the intrinsic isotropy of this unique class of PBG materials enables remarkable design freedom, including the realization of waveguides with arbitrary bending angles impossible in photonic crystals. This experimental verification of a complete PBG and realization of functional defects in this unique class of materials demonstrate their potential as building blocks for precise manipulation of photons in planar optical microcircuits and has implications for disordered acoustic and electronic band gap materials. PMID:24043795

From Diagnosis to Treatment: Clinical Applications of Nanotechnology in Thoracic Surgery

PubMed Central

Digesu, Christopher S.; Hofferberth, Sophie C.; Grinstaff, Mark W.; Colson, Yolonda L.

2016-01-01

Synopsis Nanotechnology is an emerging field of medicine with significant potential to become a powerful adjunct to cancer therapy, and in particular, thoracic surgery. Using the unique properties of several different nanometer-sized platforms, therapy can be delivered to tumors in a more targeted fashion, with less of the systemic toxicity associated with traditional chemotherapeutics. In addition to the packaged delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs, nanoparticles show potential to aid in the diagnosis, pre-operative characterization, and intraoperative localization of thoracic tumors and their lymphatics. With increasing interest in their clinical application, there is a rapid expansion of in vitro and in vivo studies being conducted that provide a better understanding of potential toxicities and hopes of broader clinical translation. Focused research into nanotechnology’s ability to deliver both diagnostics and therapeutics has led to the development of a field known as nanotheranostics which promises to improve the treatment of thoracic malignancies through enhanced tumor targeting, controlled drug delivery, and therapeutic monitoring. This article reviews the various types of nanoplatforms, their unique properties, and the potential for clinical application in thoracic surgery. PMID:27112260

Diagnostics of multi-fractality of magnetized plasma inside coronal holes and quiet sun areas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abramenko, Valentyna

Turbulent and multi-fractal properties of magnetized plasma in solar Coronal Holes (CHs) and Quiet Sun (QS) photosphere were explored using high-resolution magnetograms measured with the New Solar Telescope (NST) at the Big Bear Solar Observatory (BBSO, USA), Hinode/SOT and SDO/HMI instruments. Distribution functions of size and magnetic flux measured for small-scale magnetic elements follow the log-normal law, which implies multi-fractal organization of the magnetic field and the absence of a unique power law for all scales. The magnetograms show multi-fractality in CHs on scales 400 - 10000 km, which becomes better pronounced as the spatial resolution of data improves. Photospheric granulation measured with NST exhibits multi-fractal properties on very small scales of 50 - 600 km. While multi-fractal nature of solar active regions is well known, newly established multi-fractality of weakest magnetic fields on the solar surface, i.e., in CHs and QS, leads us to a conclusion that the entire variety of solar magnetic fields is generated by a unique nonlinear dynamical process.

Strain-Engineered Multiferroicity in P n m a NaMnF3 Fluoroperovskite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garcia-Castro, A. C.; Romero, A. H.; Bousquet, E.

2016-03-01

In this study we show from first principles calculations the possibility to induce multiferroic and magnetoelectric functional properties in the P n m a NaMnF3 fluoroperovskite by means of epitaxial strain engineering. Surprisingly, we found a very strong nonlinear polarization-strain coupling that drives an atypical amplification of the ferroelectric polarization for either compression or expansion of the cell. This property is associated with a noncollinear antiferromagnetic ordering, which induces a weak ferromagnetism phase and makes the strained NaMnF3 fluoroperovskite multiferroic. The magnetoelectric response was calculated and it was found to be composed of linear and nonlinear components with amplitudes similar to the ones of Cr2O3. These findings show that it is possible to move the fluoride family toward functional applications with unique responses.

Accommodating Variation: Dialects, Idiolects, and Speech Processing

PubMed Central

Kraljic, Tanya; Brennan, Susan E.; Samuel, Arthur G.

2008-01-01

Listeners are faced with enormous variation in pronunciation, yet they rarely have difficulty understanding speech. Although much research has been devoted to figuring out how listeners deal with variability, virtually none (outside of sociolinguistics) has focused on the source of the variation itself. The current experiments explore whether different kinds of variation lead to different cognitive and behavioral adjustments. Specifically, we compare adjustments to the same acoustic consequence when it is due to context-independent variation (resulting from articulatory properties unique to a speaker) versus context-conditioned variation (resulting from common articulatory properties of speakers who share a dialect). The contrasting results for these two cases show that the source of a particular acoustic-phonetic variation affects how that variation is handled by the perceptual system. We also show that changes in perceptual representations do not necessarily lead to changes in production. PMID:17803986

Accommodating variation: dialects, idiolects, and speech processing.

PubMed

Kraljic, Tanya; Brennan, Susan E; Samuel, Arthur G

2008-04-01

Listeners are faced with enormous variation in pronunciation, yet they rarely have difficulty understanding speech. Although much research has been devoted to figuring out how listeners deal with variability, virtually none (outside of sociolinguistics) has focused on the source of the variation itself. The current experiments explore whether different kinds of variation lead to different cognitive and behavioral adjustments. Specifically, we compare adjustments to the same acoustic consequence when it is due to context-independent variation (resulting from articulatory properties unique to a speaker) versus context-conditioned variation (resulting from common articulatory properties of speakers who share a dialect). The contrasting results for these two cases show that the source of a particular acoustic-phonetic variation affects how that variation is handled by the perceptual system. We also show that changes in perceptual representations do not necessarily lead to changes in production.

Screen-printed nanoparticles as anti-counterfeiting tags

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Campos-Cuerva, Carlos; Zieba, Maciej; Sebastian, Victor; Martínez, Gema; Sese, Javier; Irusta, Silvia; Contamina, Vicente; Arruebo, Manuel; Santamaria, Jesus

2016-03-01

Metallic nanoparticles with different physical properties have been screen printed as authentication tags on different types of paper. Gold and silver nanoparticles show unique optical signatures, including sharp emission bandwidths and long lifetimes of the printed label, even under accelerated weathering conditions. Magnetic nanoparticles show distinct physical signals that depend on the size of the nanoparticle itself. They were also screen printed on different substrates and their magnetic signals read out using a magnetic pattern recognition sensor and a vibrating sample magnetometer. The novelty of our work lies in the demonstration that the combination of nanomaterials with optical and magnetic properties on the same printed support is possible, and the resulting combined signals can be used to obtain a user-configurable label, providing a high degree of security in anti-counterfeiting applications using simple commercially-available sensors.

Screen-printed nanoparticles as anti-counterfeiting tags.

PubMed

Campos-Cuerva, Carlos; Zieba, Maciej; Sebastian, Victor; Martínez, Gema; Sese, Javier; Irusta, Silvia; Contamina, Vicente; Arruebo, Manuel; Santamaria, Jesus

2016-03-04

Metallic nanoparticles with different physical properties have been screen printed as authentication tags on different types of paper. Gold and silver nanoparticles show unique optical signatures, including sharp emission bandwidths and long lifetimes of the printed label, even under accelerated weathering conditions. Magnetic nanoparticles show distinct physical signals that depend on the size of the nanoparticle itself. They were also screen printed on different substrates and their magnetic signals read out using a magnetic pattern recognition sensor and a vibrating sample magnetometer. The novelty of our work lies in the demonstration that the combination of nanomaterials with optical and magnetic properties on the same printed support is possible, and the resulting combined signals can be used to obtain a user-configurable label, providing a high degree of security in anti-counterfeiting applications using simple commercially-available sensors.

36 CFR 261.9 - Property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

...) Damaging any plant that is classified as a threatened, endangered, sensitive, rare, or unique species. (d) Removing any plant that is classified as a threatened, endangered, sensitive, rare, or unique species. (e...

A unique H2A histone variant occupies the transcriptional start site of active genes.

PubMed

Soboleva, Tatiana A; Nekrasov, Maxim; Pahwa, Anuj; Williams, Rohan; Huttley, Gavin A; Tremethick, David J

2011-12-04

Transcriptional activation is controlled by chromatin, which needs to be unfolded and remodeled to ensure access to the transcription start site (TSS). However, the mechanisms that yield such an 'open' chromatin structure, and how these processes are coordinately regulated during differentiation, are poorly understood. We identify the mouse (Mus musculus) H2A histone variant H2A.Lap1 as a previously undescribed component of the TSS of active genes expressed during specific stages of spermatogenesis. This unique chromatin landscape also includes a second histone variant, H2A.Z. In the later stages of round spermatid development, H2A.Lap1 dynamically loads onto the inactive X chromosome, enabling the transcriptional activation of previously repressed genes. Mechanistically, we show that H2A.Lap1 imparts unique unfolding properties to chromatin. We therefore propose that H2A.Lap1 coordinately regulates gene expression by directly opening the chromatin structure of the TSS at genes regulated during spermatogenesis.

Soda pans of the Pannonian steppe harbor unique bacterial communities adapted to multiple extreme conditions.

PubMed

Szabó, Attila; Korponai, Kristóf; Kerepesi, Csaba; Somogyi, Boglárka; Vörös, Lajos; Bartha, Dániel; Márialigeti, Károly; Felföldi, Tamás

2017-05-01

Soda pans of the Pannonian steppe are unique environments regarding their physical and chemical characteristics: shallowness, high turbidity, intermittent character, alkaline pH, polyhumic organic carbon concentration, hypertrophic condition, moderately high salinity, sodium and carbonate ion dominance. The pans are highly productive environments with picophytoplankton predominance. Little is known about the planktonic bacterial communities inhabiting these aquatic habitats; therefore, amplicon sequencing and shotgun metagenomics were applied to reveal their composition and functional properties. Results showed a taxonomically complex bacterial community which was distinct from other soda lakes regarding its composition, e.g. the dominance of class Alphaproteobacteria was observed within phylum Proteobacteria. The shotgun metagenomic analysis revealed several functional gene components related to the harsh and at the same time hypertrophic environmental conditions, e.g. proteins involved in stress response, transport and hydrolase systems targeting phytoplankton-derived organic matter. This is the first detailed report on the indigenous planktonic bacterial communities coping with the multiple extreme conditions present in the unique soda pans of the Pannonian steppe.

Unique antitumor property of the Mg-Ca-Sr alloys with addition of Zn

PubMed Central

Wu, Yuanhao; He, Guanping; Zhang, Yu; Liu, Yang; Li, Mei; Wang, Xiaolan; Li, Nan; Li, Kang; Zheng, Guan; Zheng, Yufeng; Yin, Qingshui

2016-01-01

In clinical practice, tumor recurrence and metastasis after orthopedic prosthesis implantation is an intensely troublesome matter. Therefore, to develop implant materials with antitumor property is extremely necessary and meaningful. Magnesium (Mg) alloys possess superb biocompatibility, mechanical property and biodegradability in orthopedic applications. However, whether they possess antitumor property had seldom been reported. In recent years, it showed that zinc (Zn) not only promote the osteogenic activity but also exhibit good antitumor property. In our present study, Zn was selected as an alloying element for the Mg-1Ca-0.5Sr alloy to develop a multifunctional material with antitumor property. We investigated the influence of the Mg-1Ca-0.5Sr-xZn (x = 0, 2, 4, 6 wt%) alloys extracts on the proliferation rate, cell apoptosis, migration and invasion of the U2OS cell line. Our results show that Zn containing Mg alloys extracts inhibit the cell proliferation by alteration the cell cycle and inducing cell apoptosis via the activation of the mitochondria pathway. The cell migration and invasion property were also suppressed by the activation of MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) pathway. Our work suggests that the Mg-1Ca-0.5Sr-6Zn alloy is expected to be a promising orthopedic implant in osteosarcoma limb-salvage surgery for avoiding tumor recurrence and metastasis. PMID:26907515

Properties of an equine herpesvirus 1 mutant devoid of the internal inverted repeat sequence of the genomic short region

PubMed Central

Ahn, ByungChul; Zhang, Yunfei; Osterrieder, Nikolaus; O'Callaghan, Dennis J.

2010-01-01

The 150 kbp genome of equine herpesvirus -1 (EHV-1) is composed of a unique long (UL) region and a unique short (Us) segment, which is flanked by identical internal and terminal repeat (IR and TR) sequences of 12.7kbp. We constructed an EHV-1 lacking the entire IR (vL11ΔIR) and showed that the IR is dispensable for EHV-1 replication but that the vL11ΔIR exhibits a smaller plaque size and delayed growth kinetics. Western blot analyses of cells infected with vL11ΔIR showed that the synthesis of viral proteins encoded by the immediate-early, early, and late genes was reduced at immediate-early and early times, but by late stages of replication reached wild type levels. Intranasal infection of CBA mice revealed that the vL11ΔIR was significantly attenuated as mice infected with the vL11ΔIR showed a reduced lung viral titer and greater ability to survive infection compared to mice infected with parental or revertant virus. PMID:21176938

Ripple-modulated electronic structure of a 3D topological insulator.

PubMed

Okada, Yoshinori; Zhou, Wenwen; Walkup, D; Dhital, Chetan; Wilson, Stephen D; Madhavan, V

2012-01-01

Three-dimensional topological insulators host linearly dispersing states with unique properties and a strong potential for applications. An important ingredient in realizing some of the more exotic states in topological insulators is the ability to manipulate local electronic properties. Direct analogy to the Dirac material graphene suggests that a possible avenue for controlling local properties is via a controlled structural deformation such as the formation of ripples. However, the influence of such ripples on topological insulators is yet to be explored. Here we use scanning tunnelling microscopy to determine the effects of one-dimensional buckling on the electronic properties of Bi(2)Te(3.) By tracking spatial variations of the interference patterns generated by the Dirac electrons we show that buckling imposes a periodic potential, which locally modulates the surface-state dispersion. This suggests that forming one- and two-dimensional ripples is a viable method for creating nanoscale potential landscapes that can be used to control the properties of Dirac electrons in topological insulators.

Transformer ratio saturation in a beam-driven wakefield accelerator

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Farmer, J. P.; Martorelli, R.; Pukhov, A.

We show that for beam-driven wakefield acceleration, the linearly ramped, equally spaced train of bunches typically considered to optimise the transformer ratio only works for flat-top bunches. Through theory and simulation, we explain that this behaviour is due to the unique properties of the plasma response to a flat-top density profile. Calculations of the optimal scaling for a train of Gaussian bunches show diminishing returns with increasing bunch number, tending towards saturation. For a periodic bunch train, a transformer ratio of 23 was achieved for 50 bunches, rising to 40 for a fully optimised beam.

Binocular disparity only comes into play when everything else fails; a finding with broader implications than one might suppose.

PubMed

Pizlo, Zygmunt; Li, Yunfeng; Steinman, Robert M

2008-01-01

This paper calls attention to research showing that binocular disparity, which is an effective cue to depth, plays a secondary role, at best, in the perception of 3D shape. This claim has implications both for how shape should be studied and how this unique perceptual property should be modeled. These issues are discussed from a historical perspective, which shows how the failure to appreciate the importance of the Gestalt grouping principle called 'Figure-Ground Organization' led to many unfruitful efforts. It also calls attention to how this situation can be remedied.

Synthesis, properties and biomedical applications of carbon-based quantum dots: An updated review.

PubMed

Namdari, Pooria; Negahdari, Babak; Eatemadi, Ali

2017-03-01

Carbon-based quantum dots (CQDs) are a newly developed class of carbon nano-materials that have attracted much interest and attention as promising competitors to already available semiconductor quantum dots owing to their un-comparable and unique properties. In addition, controllability of CQDs unique physiochemical properties is as a result of their surface passivation and functionalization. This is an update article (between 2013 and 2016) on the recent progress, characteristics and synthesis methods of CQDs and different advantages in varieties of applications. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Exploitation of Unique Properties of Zeolites in the Development of Gas Sensors

PubMed Central

Zheng, Yangong; Li, Xiaogan; Dutta, Prabir K.

2012-01-01

The unique properties of microporous zeolites, including ion-exchange properties, adsorption, molecular sieving, catalysis, conductivity have been exploited in improving the performance of gas sensors. Zeolites have been employed as physical and chemical filters to improve the sensitivity and selectivity of gas sensors. In addition, direct interaction of gas molecules with the extraframework cations in the nanoconfined space of zeolites has been explored as a basis for developing new impedance-type gas/vapor sensors. In this review, we summarize how these properties of zeolites have been used to develop new sensing paradigms. There is a considerable breadth of transduction processes that have been used for zeolite incorporated sensors, including frequency measurements, optical and the entire gamut of electrochemical measurements. It is clear from the published literature that zeolites provide a route to enhance sensor performance, and it is expected that commercial manifestation of some of the approaches discussed here will take place. The future of zeolite-based sensors will continue to exploit its unique properties and use of other microporous frameworks, including metal organic frameworks. Zeolite composites with electronic materials, including metals will lead to new paradigms in sensing. Use of nano-sized zeolite crystals and zeolite membranes will enhance sensor properties and make possible new routes of miniaturized sensors. PMID:22666081

Ultrahigh Carbon Steel.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-10-01

The unique mechanical properties achieved in UHC steels are due to the presence of micron-size ferrite grains and ultrafine spheroidized carbides. SN...unique mechanical properties achieved in UHC [0 steels are due to the presence of micron-size ferrite grains and ultrafine spheroidized carbides. 0... steel is that it has a low resistance to plastic flow upon deformation in the superplastic range at low strain rates (e.g., 2000 psi at 4 1041 e 10 s

Aligned Carbon Nanotube to Enhance Through Thickness Thermal Conductivity in Adhesive Joints (Preprint)

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-12-01

aligned CNT films were prepared by pyrolyzing iron (II) phthalocyanine under Ar/H2 at 900°C as described in details elsewhere16. The average diameter...zone. Keywords: thermal conductivity, carbon nanotubes The unique properties of carbon nanotubes ( CNTs ) have generated interest amongst many...structure and high aspect ratio. These 2 unique properties make CNTs the material of choice for numerous applications like sensors5, actuators6, energy

Engineering Biomaterial Properties for Central Nervous System Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rivet, Christopher John

Biomaterials offer unique properties that are intrinsic to the chemistry of the material itself or occur as a result of the fabrication process; iron oxide nanoparticles are superparamagnetic, which enables controlled heating in the presence of an alternating magnetic field, and a hydrogel and electrospun fiber hybrid material provides minimally invasive placement of a fibrous, artificial extracellular matrix for tissue regeneration. Utilization of these unique properties towards central nervous system disease and dysfunction requires a thorough definition of the properties in concert with full biological assessment. This enables development of material-specific features to elicit unique cellular responses. Iron oxide nanoparticles are first investigated for material-dependent, cortical neuron cytotoxicity in vitro and subsequently evaluated for alternating magnetic field stimulation induced hyperthermia, emulating the clinical application for enhanced chemotherapy efficacy in glioblastoma treatment. A hydrogel and electrospun fiber hybrid material is first applied to a rat brain to evaluate biomaterial interface astrocyte accumulation as a function of hybrid material composition. The hybrid material is then utilized towards increasing functional engraftment of dopaminergic progenitor neural stem cells in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease. Taken together, these two scenarios display the role of material property characterization in development of biomaterial strategies for central nervous system repair and regeneration.

Unique Piezoelectric Properties of the Monoclinic Phase in Pb(Zr,Ti)O_{3} Ceramics: Large Lattice Strain and Negligible Domain Switching.

PubMed

Fan, Longlong; Chen, Jun; Ren, Yang; Pan, Zhao; Zhang, Linxing; Xing, Xianran

2016-01-15

The origin of the excellent piezoelectric properties at the morphotropic phase boundary is generally attributed to the existence of a monoclinic phase in various piezoelectric systems. However, there exist no experimental studies that reveal the role of the monoclinic phase in the piezoelectric behavior in phase-pure ceramics. In this work, a single monoclinic phase has been identified in Pb(Zr,Ti)O_{3} ceramics at room temperature by in situ high-energy synchrotron x-ray diffraction, and its response to electric field has been characterized for the first time. Unique piezoelectric properties of the monoclinic phase in terms of large intrinsic lattice strain and negligible domain switching have been observed. The extensional strain constant d_{33} and the transverse strain constant d_{31} are calculated to be 520 and -200  pm/V, respectively. These large piezoelectric coefficients are mainly due to the large intrinsic lattice strain, with very little extrinsic contribution from domain switching. The unique properties of the monoclinic phase provide new insights into the mechanisms responsible for the piezoelectric properties at the morphotropic phase boundary.

Nanodiamonds for In Vivo Applications.

PubMed

van der Laan, KiranJ; Hasani, Masoumeh; Zheng, Tingting; Schirhagl, Romana

2018-05-01

Due to their unique optical properties, diamonds are the most valued gemstones. However, beyond the sparkle, diamonds have a number of unique properties. Their extreme hardness gives them outstanding performance as abrasives and cutting tools. Similar to many materials, their nanometer-sized form has yet other unique properties. Nanodiamonds are very inert but still can be functionalized on the surface. Additionally, they can be made in very small sizes and a narrow size distribution. Nanodiamonds can also host very stable fluorescent defects. Since they are protected in the crystal lattice, they never bleach. These defects can also be utilized for nanoscale sensing since they change their optical properties, for example, based on temperature or magnetic fields in their surroundings. In this Review, in vivo applications are focused upon. To this end, how different diamond materials are made and how this affects their properties are discussed first. Next, in vivo biocompatibility studies are reviewed. Finally, the reader is introduced to in vivo applications of diamonds. These include drug delivery, aiding radiology, labeling, and use in cosmetics. The field is critically reviewed and a perspective on future developments is provided. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Micromechanics of Sea Urchin Spines

PubMed Central

Tsafnat, Naomi; Fitz Gerald, John D.; Le, Hai N.; Stachurski, Zbigniew H.

2012-01-01

The endoskeletal structure of the Sea Urchin, Centrostephanus rodgersii, has numerous long spines whose known functions include locomotion, sensing, and protection against predators. These spines have a remarkable internal microstructure and are made of single-crystal calcite. A finite-element model of the spine’s unique porous structure, based on micro-computed tomography (microCT) and incorporating anisotropic material properties, was developed to study its response to mechanical loading. Simulations show that high stress concentrations occur at certain points in the spine’s architecture; brittle cracking would likely initiate in these regions. These analyses demonstrate that the organization of single-crystal calcite in the unique, intricate morphology of the sea urchin spine results in a strong, stiff and lightweight structure that enhances its strength despite the brittleness of its constituent material. PMID:22984468

Well-posedness and continuity properties of the Fornberg-Whitham equation in Besov spaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Holmes, John; Thompson, Ryan C.

2017-10-01

In this paper, we prove well-posedness of the Fornberg-Whitham equation in Besov spaces B2,rs in both the periodic and non-periodic cases. This will imply the existence and uniqueness of solutions in the aforementioned spaces along with the continuity of the data-to-solution map provided that the initial data belongs to B2,rs. We also establish sharpness of continuity on the data-to-solution map by showing that it is not uniformly continuous from any bounded subset of B2,rs to C ([ - T , T ] ;B2,rs). Furthermore, we prove a Cauchy-Kowalevski type theorem for this equation that establishes the existence and uniqueness of real analytic solutions and also provide blow-up criterion for solutions.

Water-driven actuation of Ornithoctonus huwena spider silk fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Shuyuan; Zhu, Jia; Li, Xinming; Guo, Yang; Fang, Yaopeng; Cheng, Huanyu; Zhu, Hongwei

2017-01-01

Spider silk possesses remarkable mechanical properties and can lift weight effectively. Certain kinds of spider silk have unique response to liquid, especially water, because of their hydrophilic proteins, β-sheet characters, and surface structure. The Ornithoctonus huwena (O. huwena) spider is a unique species because it can be bred artificially and it spins silk whose diameter is in nanometer scale. In this work, we report the "shrink-stretch" behavior of the O. huwena spider silk fibers and show how they can be actuated by water to lift weight over long distance, at a fast speed, and with high efficiency. We further rationalize this behavior by analyzing the mechanical energy of the system. The lifting process is energy-efficient and environmentally friendly, allowing applications in actuators, biomimetic muscles, or hoisting devices.

Formation of nanoporous Si upon self-organized growth of Al and Si nanostructures.

PubMed

Thøgersen, Annett; Jensen, Ingvild J T; Stange, Marit; Kjeldstad, Torunn; Martinez-Martinez, Diego; Løvvik, Ole Martin; Ulyashin, Alexander G; Diplas, Spyros

2018-08-03

Nanostructured materials offer unique electronic and optical properties compared to their bulk counterparts. The challenging part of the synthesis is to create a balance between the control of design, size limitations, up-scalability and contamination. In this work we show that self-organized Al nanowires in amorphous Si can be produced at room temperature by magnetron co-sputtering using two individual targets. Nanoporous Si, containing nanotunnels with dimensions within the quantum confinement regime, were then made by selective etching of Al. The material properties, film growth, and composition of the films were investigated for different compositions. In addition, the reflectance of the etched film has been measured.

Constitutive Models for Shape Memory Alloy Polycrystals

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Comstock, R. J., Jr.; Somerday, M.; Wert, J. A.

1996-01-01

Shape memory alloys (SMA) exhibiting the superelastic or one-way effects can produce large recoverable strains upon application of a stress. In single crystals this stress and resulting strain are very orientation dependent. We show experimental stress/strain curves for a Ni-Al single crystal for various loading orientations. Also shown are model predictions; the open and closed circles indicate recoverable strains obtained at various stages in the transformation process. Because of the strong orientation dependence of shape memory properties, crystallographic texture can be expected to play an important role in the mechanical behavior of polycrystalline SMA. It is desirable to formulate a constitutive model to better understand and exploit the unique properties of SMA.

Tubular nanostructured materials for bioapplications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xie, Jining; Chen, Linfeng; Srivatsan, Malathi; Varadan, Vijay K.

2009-03-01

Tubular nanomaterials possess hollow structures as well as high aspect ratios. In addition to their unique physical and chemical properties induced by their nanoscale dimensions, their inner voids and outer surfaces make them ideal candidates for a number of biomedical applications. In this work, three types of tubular nanomaterials including carbon nanotubes, hematite nanotubes, and maghemite nanotubes, were synthesized by different chemical techniques. Their structural and crystalline properties were characterized. For potential bioapplications of tubular nanomaterials, experimental investigations were carried out to demonstrate the feasibility of using carbon nanotubes, hematite nanotubes, and maghemite nanotubes in glucose sensing, neuronal growth, and drug delivery, respectively. Preliminary results show the promise of tubular nanomaterials in future biomedical applications.

A novel snowflake-like SnO2 hierarchical architecture with superior gas sensing properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Yanqiong

2018-02-01

Snowflake-like SnO2 hierarchical architecture has been synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method and followed by calcination. The SnO2 hierarchical structures are assembled with thin nanoflakes blocks, which look like snowflake shape. A possible mechanism for the formation of the SnO2 hierarchical structures is speculated. Moreover, gas sensing tests show that the sensor based on snowflake-like SnO2 architectures exhibited excellent gas sensing properties. The enhancement may be attributed to its unique structures, in which the porous feature on the snowflake surface could further increase the active surface area of the materials and provide facile pathways for the target gas.

Preparation and morphology, magnetic properties of yttrium iron garnet nanodot arrays on Gd3Ga5O12 substrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Zhiwang; Zheng, Hui; Han, Mangui

2017-07-01

In this work, yttrium iron garnet nanodot array has been deposited on Gd3Ga5O12 substrate by pulsed laser deposition through an ultrathin alumina mask. The morphology and magnetic properties of YIG nanodot array have been investigated. Scanning electron microscopy displays the prepared nanodot array has a sharp distribution in diameter centered at 330 nm with standard deviation of 20 nm. X-ray diffraction θ-2θ and pole figure analysis show the yttrium iron garnet nanodot array has oriented growth. Moreover, typical hysteresis loops and ferromagnetic resonance spectra display larger coercivity and multi-resonance peaks which are ascribed to this unique structure.

Whole-Genome Phylogenetic Analysis of Influenza B/Phuket/3073/2013-Like Viruses and Unique Reassortants Detected in Malaysia between 2012 and 2014

PubMed Central

Tan, Joon Ling; Chan, Kok Gan; Kamarulzaman, Adeeba; Chan, Yoke Fun; Sam, I-Ching; Tee, Kok Keng

2017-01-01

Reassortment of genetic segments between and within influenza B lineages (Victoria and Yamagata) has been shown to generate novel reassortants with unique genetic characteristics. Based on hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes, recent surveillance study has identified reassortment properties in B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus, which is currently used in the WHO-recommended influenza vaccine. To understand the potential reassortment patterns for all gene segments, four B/Phuket/3073/2013-like viruses and two unique reassortants (one each from Yamagata and Victoria) detected in Malaysia from 2012–2014 were subjected to whole-genome sequencing. Each gene was phylogenetically classified into lineages, clades and sub-clades. Three B/Phuket/3073/2013-like viruses from Yamagata lineage were found to be intra-clade reassortants, possessing PA and NA genes derived from Stockholm/12-like sub-clade, while the remaining genes from Wisconsin/01-like sub-clade (both sub-clades were within Yamagata Clade 3/Yam-3). However, the other B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus had NS gene that derived from Stockholm/12-like sub-clade instead of Wisconsin/01-like sub-clade. One inter-clade reassortant had Yamagata Clade 2/Yam-2-derived HA and NP, and its remaining genes were Yam-3-derived. Within Victoria Clade 1/Vic-1 in Victoria lineage, one virus had intra-clade reassortment properties: HA and PB2 from Vic-1B sub-clade, MP and NS from a unique sub-clade “Vic-1C”, and the remaining genes from Vic-1A sub-clade. Although random reassortment event may generate unique reassortants, detailed phylogenetic classification of gene segments showed possible genetic linkage between PA and NA genes in B/Phuket/3073/2013-like viruses, which requires further investigation. Understanding on reassortment patterns in influenza B evolution may contribute to future vaccine design. PMID:28129386

Complexity, Robustness, and Network Thermodynamics in Large-Scale and Multiagent Systems: A Hybrid Control Approach

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-01-11

dynamic behavior , wherein a dissipative dynamical system can deliver only a fraction of its energy to its surroundings and can store only a fraction of the...collection of interacting subsystems. The behavior and properties of the aggregate large-scale system can then be deduced from the behaviors of the...uniqueness is established. This state space formalism of thermodynamics shows that the behavior of heat, as described by the conservation equations of

Development of an Integrated, Lightweight Combat Boot. Phase 1

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-05-01

However, we have since madb other tests on finished boots, which show a less favorable 11 comparison. It requires 200 pounds pressure for a nail to go...polybenzimiaazole, is an Crimp per inch 11 0 organic fiber with a unique combination of high- per mm 04 performance properties; % 28.0 Finish % 06 C3...offering desirable a moisture regain of 15%). is 50% more ab- garment comfort and textile processibility PBI sorbent than coton . Gillette Research

Why are generic drugs being held up in transit? Intellectual property rights, international trade, and the right to health in Brazil and beyond.

PubMed

Rosina, Mônica Steffen Guise; Shaver, Lea

2012-01-01

Access to medicines faces a new legal threat: "border enforcement" of drug patents. Using Brazil as an example, this article shows how the right to health depends on international trade. Border seizures of generic drugs present human rights and trade institutions with a unique challenge. Can public health advocates rise to meet it? © 2012 American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics, Inc.

Blinking effect and the use of quantum dots in single molecule spectroscopy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rombach-Riegraf, Verena; Oswald, Peter; Bienert, Roland

2013-01-04

Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer It is possible to eliminate the blinking effect of a water-soluble QD. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer We provide a direct method to study protein function and dynamics at the single level. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer QD, potent tool for single molecule studies of biochemical and biological processes. -- Abstract: Luminescent semiconductor nanocrystals (quantum dots, QD) have unique photo-physical properties: high photostability, brightness and narrow size-tunable fluorescence spectra. Due to their unique properties, QD-based single molecule studies have become increasingly more popular during the last years. However QDs show a strong blinking effect (random and intermittent light emission), which may limit their use in singlemore » molecule fluorescence studies. QD blinking has been widely studied and some hypotheses have been done to explain this effect. Here we summarise what is known about the blinking effect in QDs, how this phenomenon may affect single molecule studies and, on the other hand, how the 'on'/'off' states can be exploited in diverse experimental settings. In addition, we present results showing that site-directed binding of QD to cysteine residues of proteins reduces the blinking effect. This option opens a new possibility of using QDs to study protein-protein interactions and dynamics by single molecule fluorescence without modifying the chemical composition of the solution or the QD surface.« less

Surfactants in the management of rhinopathologies

PubMed Central

Rosen, Philip L.; Palmer, James N.; O'Malley, Bert W.

2013-01-01

Background: Surfactants are a class of amphiphilic surface active compounds that show several unique physical properties at liquid–liquid or liquid–solid surface interfaces including the ability to increase the solubility of substances, lower the surface tension of a liquid, and decrease friction between two mediums. Because of these unique physical properties several in vitro, ex vivo, and human trials have examined the role of surfactants as stand-alone or adjunct therapy in recalcitrant chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Methods: A review of the literature was performed. Results: The data from three different surfactants have been examined in this review: citric acid zwitterionic surfactant (CAZS; Medtronic ENT, Jacksonville FL), Johnson's Baby Shampoo (Johnson & Johnson, New Brunswick NJ), and SinuSurf (NeilMed Pharmaceuticals, Santa Rosa, CA). Dilute surfactant therapy shows in vitro antimicrobial effects with modest inhibition of bacterial biofilm formation. In patients with CRS, surfactants may improve symptoms, most likely through its mucolytic effects. In addition, surfactants have several distinct potential benefits including their ability to improve an irrigant's penetration of the nonoperated sinus and their synergistic effects with antibiotics. However, surfactants potential for nasal irritation and possible transient ciliotoxicity may limit their use. Conclusion: Recent data suggest a possible therapeutic role of surfactants in treating rhinopathologies associated with mucostasis. Further investigation, including a standardization of surfactant formulations, is warranted to further elucidate the potential benefits and drawbacks of this therapy. PMID:23710951

Effect of magnetic exchange, double exchange, vibronic coupling, and asymmetry on magnetic properties in d2-d3 mixed-valence dimers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Xiaohua; Hu, Haiquan; Chen, Zhida

The effect of magnetic exchange, double exchange, vibronic coupling, and asymmetry on magnetic properties of d2-d3 systems is discussed. The temperature-dependent magnetic moment was calculated with the semiclassical adiabatic approach. The results show that the vibronic coupling from the out-of-phase breathing vibration on the metal sites (Piepho, Krausz, and Schatz [PKS] model) and the vibronic coupling from the stretching vibration between the metal sites (P model) favor the localization and delocalization of the "extra" electron in mixed-valence dimers, respectively. The magnetic properties are determined by the interplay among magnetic exchange, double exchange, and vibronic coupling. The results obtained by analyzing d2-d3 systems can be generalized to other full delocalized dinuclear mixed valence systems with a unique transferable electron.

The unique C- and N-terminal sequences of Metallothionein isoform 3 mediate growth inhibition and Vectorial active transport in MCF-7 cells.

PubMed

Voels, Brent; Wang, Liping; Sens, Donald A; Garrett, Scott H; Zhang, Ke; Somji, Seema

2017-05-25

The 3rd isoform of the metallothionein (MT3) gene family has been shown to be overexpressed in most ductal breast cancers. A previous study has shown that the stable transfection of MCF-7 cells with the MT3 gene inhibits cell growth. The goal of the present study was to determine the role of the unique C-terminal and N-terminal sequences of MT3 on phenotypic properties and gene expression profiles of MCF-7 cells. MCF-7 cells were transfected with various metallothionein gene constructs which contain the insertion or the removal of the unique MT3 C- and N-terminal domains. Global gene expression analysis was performed on the MCF-7 cells containing the various constructs and the expression of the unique C- and N- terminal domains of MT3 was correlated to phenotypic properties of the cells. The results of the present study demonstrate that the C-terminal sequence of MT3, in the absence of the N-terminal sequence, induces dome formation in MCF-7 cells, which in cell cultures is the phenotypic manifestation of a cell's ability to perform vectorial active transport. Global gene expression analysis demonstrated that the increased expression of the GAGE gene family correlated with dome formation. Expression of the C-terminal domain induced GAGE gene expression, whereas the N-terminal domain inhibited GAGE gene expression and that the effect of the N-terminal domain inhibition was dominant over the C-terminal domain of MT3. Transfection with the metallothionein 1E gene increased the expression of GAGE genes. In addition, both the C- and the N-terminal sequences of the MT3 gene had growth inhibitory properties, which correlated to an increased expression of the interferon alpha-inducible protein 6. Our study shows that the C-terminal domain of MT3 confers dome formation in MCF-7 cells and the presence of this domain induces expression of the GAGE family of genes. The differential effects of MT3 and metallothionein 1E on the expression of GAGE genes suggests unique roles of these genes in the development and progression of breast cancer. The finding that interferon alpha-inducible protein 6 expression is associated with the ability of MT3 to inhibit growth needs further investigation.

Nanoporous Metallic Networks: Fabrication, Optical Properties, and Applications.

PubMed

Ron, Racheli; Haleva, Emir; Salomon, Adi

2018-05-17

Nanoporous metallic networks are a group of porous materials made of solid metals with suboptical wavelength sizes of both particles and voids. They are characterized by unique optical properties, as well as high surface area and permeability of guest materials. As such, they attract a great focus as novel materials for photonics, catalysis, sensing, and renewable energy. Their properties together with the ability for scaling-up evoke an increased interest also in the industrial field. Here, fabrication techniques of large-scale metallic networks are discussed, and their interesting optical properties as well as their applications are considered. In particular, the focus is on disordered systems, which may facilitate the fabrication technique, yet, endow the three-dimensional (3D) network with distinct optical properties. These metallic networks bridge the nanoworld into the macroscopic world, and therefore pave the way to the fabrication of innovative materials with unique optoelectronic properties. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Unique expression of cytoskeletal proteins in human soft palate muscles.

PubMed

Shah, Farhan; Berggren, Diana; Holmlund, Thorbjörn; Levring Jäghagen, Eva; Stål, Per

2016-03-01

The human oropharyngeal muscles have a unique anatomy with diverse and intricate functions. To investigate if this specialization is also reflected in the cytoarchitecture of muscle fibers, intermediate filament proteins and the dystrophin-associated protein complex have been analyzed in two human palate muscles, musculus uvula (UV) and musculus palatopharyngeus (PP), with immunohistochenmical and morphological techniques. Human limb muscles were used as reference. The findings show that the soft palate muscle fibers have a cytoskeletal architecture that differs from the limb muscles. While all limb muscles showed immunoreaction for a panel of antibodies directed against different domains of cytoskeletal proteins desmin and dystrophin, a subpopulation of palate muscle fibers lacked or had a faint immunoreaction for desmin (UV 11.7% and PP 9.8%) and the C-terminal of the dystrophin molecule (UV 4.2% and PP 6.4%). The vast majority of these fibers expressed slow contractile protein myosin heavy chain I. Furthermore, an unusual staining pattern was also observed in these fibers for β-dystroglycan, caveolin-3 and neuronal nitric oxide synthase nNOS, which are all membrane-linking proteins associated with the dystrophin C-terminus. While the immunoreaction for nNOS was generally weak or absent, β-dystroglycan and caveolin-3 showed a stronger immunostaining. The absence or a low expression of cytoskeletal proteins otherwise considered ubiquitous and important for integration and contraction of muscle cells indicate a unique cytoarchitecture designed to meet the intricate demands of the upper airway muscles. It can be concluded that a subgroup of muscle fibers in the human soft palate appears to have special biomechanical properties, and their unique cytoarchitecture must be taken into account while assessing function and pathology in oropharyngeal muscles. © 2015 Anatomical Society.

Growth process and anticancer properties of gold nanorods.

PubMed

Zhang, Junyan; Wang, Mian; Webster, Thomas J

2017-09-01

Gold nanoparticles have been of great interest because of their unique optical properties, facile synthesis and conjugation. Among various shapes of gold nanoparticles, gold nanorods have been widely studied. They can be conjugated with different molecules for biomedical applications, such as tumor imaging and therapy. However, few researchers have studied the antitumor properties of bare gold nanorods. In this study, unfunctionalized gold nanorods were synthesized and tested on breast tumor cells. Results showed that the aspect ratio of gold nanorods could be easily influenced by both reaction time and the amount of silver nitrate in the growth solution. A new growth process is proposed here based on the UV-Vis spectra and TEM images of gold nanorods at different reaction times. More importantly, cell studies showed that within a certain concentration range, the gold nanorods can selectively kill tumor cells while having limited or little influence on healthy mammalian (dermal fibroblast) cells. Thus, this study shows promise for the use of bare gold nanorods for further study alone or in combination with photothermal treatment. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 2616-2621, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Probing the structural dependency of photoinduced properties of colloidal quantum dots using metal-oxide photo-active substrates.

PubMed

Patty, Kira; Sadeghi, Seyed M; Campbell, Quinn; Hamilton, Nathan; West, Robert G; Mao, Chuanbin

2014-09-21

We used photoactive substrates consisting of about 1 nm coating of a metal oxide on glass substrates to investigate the impact of the structures of colloidal quantum dots on their photophysical and photochemical properties. We showed during irradiation these substrates can interact uniquely with such quantum dots, inducing distinct forms of photo-induced processes when they have different cores, shells, or ligands. In particular, our results showed that for certain types of core-shell quantum dot structures an ultrathin layer of a metal oxide can reduce suppression of quantum efficiency of the quantum dots happening when they undergo extensive photo-oxidation. This suggests the possibility of shrinking the sizes of quantum dots without significant enhancement of their non-radiative decay rates. We show that such quantum dots are not influenced significantly by Coulomb blockade or photoionization, while those without a shell can undergo a large amount of photo-induced fluorescence enhancement via such blockade when they are in touch with the metal oxide.

Probing the structural dependency of photoinduced properties of colloidal quantum dots using metal-oxide photo-active substrates

PubMed Central

Patty, Kira; Sadeghi, Seyed M.; Campbell, Quinn; Hamilton, Nathan; West, Robert G.; Mao, Chuanbin

2014-01-01

We used photoactive substrates consisting of about 1 nm coating of a metal oxide on glass substrates to investigate the impact of the structures of colloidal quantum dots on their photophysical and photochemical properties. We showed during irradiation these substrates can interact uniquely with such quantum dots, inducing distinct forms of photo-induced processes when they have different cores, shells, or ligands. In particular, our results showed that for certain types of core-shell quantum dot structures an ultrathin layer of a metal oxide can reduce suppression of quantum efficiency of the quantum dots happening when they undergo extensive photo-oxidation. This suggests the possibility of shrinking the sizes of quantum dots without significant enhancement of their non-radiative decay rates. We show that such quantum dots are not influenced significantly by Coulomb blockade or photoionization, while those without a shell can undergo a large amount of photo-induced fluorescence enhancement via such blockade when they are in touch with the metal oxide. PMID:25316953

Structural, electronic and magnetic properties of carbon doped boron nitride nanowire: Ab initio study

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jalilian, Jaafar, E-mail: JaafarJalilian@gmail.com; Kanjouri, Faramarz, E-mail: kanjouri@khu.ac.ir

2016-11-15

Using spin-polarized density functional theory calculations, we demonstrated that carbon doped boron nitride nanowire (C-doped BNNW) has diverse electronic and magnetic properties depending on position of carbon atoms and their percentages. Our results show that only when one carbon atom is situated on the edge of the nanowire, C-doped BNNW is transformed into half-metal. The calculated electronic structure of the C-doped BNNW suggests that doping carbon can induce localized edge states around the Fermi level, and the interaction among localized edge states leads to semiconductor to half-metal transition. Overall, the bond reconstruction causes of appearance of different electronic behavior suchmore » as semiconducting, half-metallicity, nonmagnetic metallic, and ferromagnetic metallic characters. The formation energy of the system shows that when a C atom is doped on surface boron site, system is more stable than the other positions of carbon impurity. Our calculations show that C-doped BNNW may offer unique opportunities for developing nanoscale spintronic materials.« less

Novel Anthra[1,2-c][1,2,5]Thiadiazole-6,11-Diones as Promising Anticancer Lead Compounds: Biological Evaluation, Characterization & Molecular Targets Determination.

PubMed

Ali, Ahmed Atef Ahmed; Lee, Yu-Ru; Chen, Tsung-Chih; Chen, Chun-Liang; Lee, Chia-Chung; Shiau, Chia-Yang; Chiang, Chiao-Hsi; Huang, Hsu-Shan

2016-01-01

The novel compounds NSC745885 and NSC757963 developed at our laboratory were tested against a panel of 60 cancer cell lines at the National Cancer Institute, USA, and a panel of 39 cancer cell lines at the Japanese Foundation of Cancer Research. Both compounds demonstrated selective unique multi-log differential patterns of activity, with GI50 values in the sub-micro molar range against cancer cells rather than normal cardiac cells. NSC757963 showed high selectivity towards the leukemia subpanel. Activities of both compounds strongly correlated to expression of NFKB1 and CSNK2B genes, implying that they may inhibit the NF-κB pathway. Immunocytochemical microscopy of OVCAR-3 cells showed clear cytosolic accumulation of the NF-κB p65 subunit following treatment. Western blotting showed dose dependent inhibition of the nuclear expression of the NF-κB p65 subunit with subsequent accumulation in the cytosol following treatment. Docking experiments showed binding of both compounds to the NF-κB activator IKKβ subunit preventing its translocation to the nucleus. Collectively, these results confirm the ability of our compounds to inhibit the constitutively active NF-κB pathway of OVCAR-3 cells. Furthermore, COMPARE analysis indicated that the activity of NSC757963 is similar to the antituberculosis agent rifamycin SV, this was confirmed by testing the antimycobacterial activity of NSC757963 against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, results revealed potent activity suitable for use in clinical practice. Molecular properties and Lipinski's parameters predicted acceptable bioavailability properties with no indication of mutagenicity, tumorigenicity, irritability and reproductive effects. Oral absorption experiments using the human Caco-2 model showed high intestinal absorption of NSC745885 by passive transport mechanism with no intestinal efflux or active transport mechanisms. The unique molecular characterization as well as the illustrated anticancer spectra of activity and bioavailability properties warrant further development of our compounds and present a foundation brick in the pre-clinical investigations to implement such compounds in clinical practice.

Characterizing the transplanar and in-plane water transport properties of fabrics under different sweat rate: Forced Flow Water Transport Tester

PubMed Central

Tang, K. P. M.; Chau, K. H.; Kan, C. W.; Fan, J. T.

2015-01-01

The water absorption and transport properties of fabrics are critical to wear comfort, especially for sportswear and protective clothing. A new testing apparatus, namely Forced Flow Water Transport Tester (FFWTT), was developed for characterizing the transplanar and in-plane wicking properties of fabrics based on gravimetric and image analysis technique. The uniqueness of this instrument is that the rate of water supply is adjustable to simulate varying sweat rates with reference to the specific end-use conditions ranging from sitting, walking, running to other strenuous activities. This instrument is versatile in terms of the types of fabrics that can be tested. Twenty four types of fabrics with varying constructions and surface finishes were tested. The results showed that FFWTT was highly sensitive and reproducible in differentiating these fabrics and it suggests that water absorption and transport properties of fabrics are sweat rate-dependent. Additionally, two graphic methods were proposed to map the direction of liquid transport and its relation to skin wetness, which provides easy and direct comparison among different fabrics. Correlation analysis showed that FFWTT results have strong correlation with subjective wetness sensation, implying validity and usefulness of the instrument. PMID:26593699

A Survey of Nanoflare Properties in Solar Active Regions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Viall, N. M.; Klimchuk, J. A.

2013-12-01

We investigate coronal heating using a systematic technique to analyze the properties of nanoflares in active regions (AR). Our technique computes cooling times, or time-lags, on a pixel-by-pixel basis using data taken with the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly onboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory. Our technique has the advantage that it allows us to analyze all of the coronal AR emission, including the so-called diffuse emission. We recently presented results using this time-lag analysis on NOAA AR 11082 (Viall & Klimchuk 2012) and found that the majority of the pixels contained cooling plasma along their line of sight, consistent with impulsive coronal nanoflare heating. Additionally, our results showed that the nanoflare energy is stronger in the AR core and weaker in the active region periphery. Are these results representative of the nanoflare properties exhibited in the majority of ARs, or is AR 11082 unique? Here we present the time-lag results for a survey of ARs and show that these nanoflare patterns are born out in other active regions, for a range of ages, magnetic complexity, and total unsigned magnetic flux. Other aspects of the nanoflare properties, however, turn out to be dependent on certain AR characteristics.

Synthesis of Keratin-based Nanofiber for Biomedical Engineering.

PubMed

Thompson, Zanshe S; Rijal, Nava P; Jarvis, David; Edwards, Angela; Bhattarai, Narayan

2016-02-07

Electrospinning, due to its versatility and potential for applications in various fields, is being frequently used to fabricate nanofibers. Production of these porous nanofibers is of great interest due to their unique physiochemical properties. Here we elaborate on the fabrication of keratin containing poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) nanofibers (i.e., PCL/keratin composite fiber). Water soluble keratin was first extracted from human hair and mixed with PCL in different ratios. The blended solution of PCL/keratin was transformed into nanofibrous membranes using a laboratory designed electrospinning set up. Fiber morphology and mechanical properties of the obtained nanofiber were observed and measured using scanning electron microscopy and tensile tester. Furthermore, degradability and chemical properties of the nanofiber were studied by FTIR. SEM images showed uniform surface morphology for PCL/keratin fibers of different compositions. These PCL/keratin fibers also showed excellent mechanical properties such as Young's modulus and failure point. Fibroblast cells were able to attach and proliferate thus proving good cell viability. Based on the characteristics discussed above, we can strongly argue that the blended nanofibers of natural and synthetic polymers can represent an excellent development of composite materials that can be used for different biomedical applications.

Synthesis and Characterization of Superhydrophobic, Self-cleaning NIR-reflective Silica Nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sriramulu, Deepa; Reed, Ella Louise; Annamalai, Meenakshi; Venkatesan, Thirumalai Venky; Valiyaveettil, Suresh

2016-11-01

Multifunctional coatings offer many advantages towards protecting various surfaces. Here we apply aggregation induced segregation of perylene diimide (PDI) to control the surface morphology and properties of silica nanoparticles. Differentially functionalized PDI was incorporated on the surface of silica nanoparticles through Si-O-Si bonds. The absorption and emission spectra of the resultant functionalised nanoparticles showed monomeric or excimeric peaks based on the amounts of perylene molecules present on the surface of silica nanoparticles. Contact angle measurements on thin films prepared from nanoparticles showed that unfunctionalised nanoparticles were superhydrophilic with a contact angle (CA) of 0°, whereas perylene functionalised silica particles were hydrophobic (CA > 130°) and nanoparticles functionalised with PDI and trimethoxy(octadecyl)silane (TMODS) in an equimolar ratio were superhydrophobic with static CA > 150° and sliding angle (SA) < 10°. In addition, the near infrared (NIR) reflectance properties of PDI incorporated silica nanoparticles can be used to protect various heat sensitive substrates. The concept developed in this paper offers a unique combination of super hydrophobicity, interesting optical properties and NIR reflectance in nanosilica, which could be used for interesting applications such as surface coatings with self-cleaning and NIR reflection properties.

Characterizing the transplanar and in-plane water transport properties of fabrics under different sweat rate: Forced Flow Water Transport Tester

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tang, K. P. M.; Chau, K. H.; Kan, C. W.; Fan, J. T.

2015-11-01

The water absorption and transport properties of fabrics are critical to wear comfort, especially for sportswear and protective clothing. A new testing apparatus, namely Forced Flow Water Transport Tester (FFWTT), was developed for characterizing the transplanar and in-plane wicking properties of fabrics based on gravimetric and image analysis technique. The uniqueness of this instrument is that the rate of water supply is adjustable to simulate varying sweat rates with reference to the specific end-use conditions ranging from sitting, walking, running to other strenuous activities. This instrument is versatile in terms of the types of fabrics that can be tested. Twenty four types of fabrics with varying constructions and surface finishes were tested. The results showed that FFWTT was highly sensitive and reproducible in differentiating these fabrics and it suggests that water absorption and transport properties of fabrics are sweat rate-dependent. Additionally, two graphic methods were proposed to map the direction of liquid transport and its relation to skin wetness, which provides easy and direct comparison among different fabrics. Correlation analysis showed that FFWTT results have strong correlation with subjective wetness sensation, implying validity and usefulness of the instrument.

Global Patterns of Lightning Properties Derived by OTD and LIS

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Beirle, Steffen; Koshak, W.; Blakeslee, R.; Wagner, T.

2014-01-01

The satellite instruments Optical Transient Detector (OTD) and Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) provide unique empirical data about the frequency of lightning flashes around the globe (OTD), and the tropics (LIS), which 5 has been used before to compile a well received global climatology of flash rate densities. Here we present a statistical analysis of various additional lightning properties derived from OTD/LIS, i.e. the number of so-called "events" and "groups" per flash, as well as 10 the mean flash duration, footprint and radiance. These normalized quantities, which can be associated with the flash "strength", show consistent spatial patterns; most strikingly, oceanic flashes show higher values than continental flashes for all properties. Over land, regions with high (Eastern US) 15 and low (India) flash strength can be clearly identified. We discuss possible causes and implications of the observed regional differences. Although a direct quantitative interpretation of the investigated flash properties is difficult, the observed spatial patterns provide valuable information for the 20 interpretation and application of climatological flash rates. Due to the systematic regional variations of physical flash characteristics, viewing conditions, and/or measurement sensitivities, parametrisations of lightning NOx based on total flash rate densities alone are probably affected by regional biases.

Characterizing the transplanar and in-plane water transport properties of fabrics under different sweat rate: Forced Flow Water Transport Tester.

PubMed

Tang, K P M; Chau, K H; Kan, C W; Fan, J T

2015-11-23

The water absorption and transport properties of fabrics are critical to wear comfort, especially for sportswear and protective clothing. A new testing apparatus, namely Forced Flow Water Transport Tester (FFWTT), was developed for characterizing the transplanar and in-plane wicking properties of fabrics based on gravimetric and image analysis technique. The uniqueness of this instrument is that the rate of water supply is adjustable to simulate varying sweat rates with reference to the specific end-use conditions ranging from sitting, walking, running to other strenuous activities. This instrument is versatile in terms of the types of fabrics that can be tested. Twenty four types of fabrics with varying constructions and surface finishes were tested. The results showed that FFWTT was highly sensitive and reproducible in differentiating these fabrics and it suggests that water absorption and transport properties of fabrics are sweat rate-dependent. Additionally, two graphic methods were proposed to map the direction of liquid transport and its relation to skin wetness, which provides easy and direct comparison among different fabrics. Correlation analysis showed that FFWTT results have strong correlation with subjective wetness sensation, implying validity and usefulness of the instrument.

Temperature-dependent elastic properties of brain tissues measured with the shear wave elastography method.

PubMed

Liu, Yan-Lin; Li, Guo-Yang; He, Ping; Mao, Ze-Qi; Cao, Yanping

2017-01-01

Determining the mechanical properties of brain tissues is essential in such cases as the surgery planning and surgical training using virtual reality based simulators, trauma research and the diagnosis of some diseases that alter the elastic properties of brain tissues. Here, we suggest a protocol to measure the temperature-dependent elastic properties of brain tissues in physiological saline using the shear wave elastography method. Experiments have been conducted on six porcine brains. Our results show that the shear moduli of brain tissues decrease approximately linearly with a slope of -0.041±0.006kPa/°C when the temperature T increases from room temperature (~23°C) to body temperature (~37°C). A case study has been further conducted which shows that the shear moduli are insensitive to the temperature variation when T is in the range of 37 to 43°C and will increase when T is higher than 43°C. With the present experimental setup, temperature-dependent elastic properties of brain tissues can be measured in a simulated physiological environment and a non-destructive manner. Thus the method suggested here offers a unique tool for the mechanical characterization of brain tissues with potential applications in brain biomechanics research. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

High-frequency applications of high-temperature superconductor thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klein, N.

2002-10-01

High-temperature superconducting thin films offer unique properties which can be utilized for a variety of high-frequency device applications in many areas related to the strongly progressing market of information technology. One important property is an exceptionally low level of microwave absorption at temperatures attainable with low power cryocoolers. This unique property has initiated the development of various novel type of microwave devices and commercialized subsystems with special emphasis on application in advanced microwave communication systems. The second important achievement related to efforts in oxide thin and multilayer technology was the reproducible fabrication of low-noise Josephson junctions in high-temperature superconducting thin films. As a consequence of this achievement, several novel nonlinear high-frequency devices, most of them exploiting the unique features of the ac Josephson effect, have been developed and found to exhibit challenging properties to be utilized in basic metrology and Terahertz technology. On the longer timescale, the achievements in integrated high-temperature superconductor circuit technology may offer a strong potential for the development of digital devices with possible clock frequencies in the range of 100 GHz.

Copolyimides Prepared from 3,4'-Oxydianiline and 1,3-Bis(3-Aminophenoxy) Benzene with 3,3', 4,4'-Biphenylcarboxylic Dianhydride

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jensen, Brian J. (Inventor)

1999-01-01

Polyimide copolymers were prepared by reacting different ratios of 3,4'-oxydianiline (ODA) and 1,3-bis(3- aminophenoxy)benzene (APB) with 3,3',4,4'- biphenylcarboxylic dianhydride (BPDA) and endcappfng with an effective amount of a non-reactive endcapper. Within a narrow ratio of diamines, from -50% ODA/50% APB to -95% ODA/5% APB, the copolyimides prepared with BPDA have a unique combination of properties that make them very attractive for various applications. This unique combination of properties includes low pressure processing (200 psi and below), long term melt stability (several hours at 390 C.), improved toughness, improved solvent resistance, improved adhesive properties, and improved composite mechanical properties.

Adjustable 3-D structure with enhanced interfaces and junctions towards microwave response using FeCo/C core-shell nanocomposites.

PubMed

Li, Daoran; Liang, Xiaohui; Liu, Wei; Ma, Jianna; Zhang, Yanan; Ji, Guangbin; Meng, Wei

2017-12-01

In this work, the 3-D honeycomb-like FeCo/C nanocomposites were synthesized through the carbon thermal reduction under an inert atmosphere. The enhanced microwave absorption properties of the composites were mainly attributed to the unique three dimensional structure of the FeCo/C nanocomposites, abundant interfaces and junctions, and the appropriate impedance matching. The Cole-Cole semicircles proved the sufficient dielectric relaxation process. The sample calcinated at 600°C for 4h showed the best microwave absorption properties. A maximum reflection loss of -54.6dB was achieved at 10.8GHz with a thickness of 2.3mm and the frequency bandwidth was as large as 5.3GHz. The results showed that the as-prepared FeCo/C nanocomposite could be a potential candidate for microwave absorption. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Graphene-based non-Boolean logic circuits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Guanxiong; Ahsan, Sonia; Khitun, Alexander G.; Lake, Roger K.; Balandin, Alexander A.

2013-10-01

Graphene revealed a number of unique properties beneficial for electronics. However, graphene does not have an energy band-gap, which presents a serious hurdle for its applications in digital logic gates. The efforts to induce a band-gap in graphene via quantum confinement or surface functionalization have not resulted in a breakthrough. Here we show that the negative differential resistance experimentally observed in graphene field-effect transistors of "conventional" design allows for construction of viable non-Boolean computational architectures with the gapless graphene. The negative differential resistance—observed under certain biasing schemes—is an intrinsic property of graphene, resulting from its symmetric band structure. Our atomistic modeling shows that the negative differential resistance appears not only in the drift-diffusion regime but also in the ballistic regime at the nanometer-scale—although the physics changes. The obtained results present a conceptual change in graphene research and indicate an alternative route for graphene's applications in information processing.

Using non-invasive molecular spectroscopic techniques to detect unique aspects of protein Amide functional groups and chemical properties of modeled forage from different sourced-origins.

PubMed

Ji, Cuiying; Zhang, Xuewei; Yu, Peiqiang

2016-03-05

The non-invasive molecular spectroscopic technique-FT/IR is capable to detect the molecular structure spectral features that are associated with biological, nutritional and biodegradation functions. However, to date, few researches have been conducted to use these non-invasive molecular spectroscopic techniques to study forage internal protein structures associated with biodegradation and biological functions. The objectives of this study were to detect unique aspects and association of protein Amide functional groups in terms of protein Amide I and II spectral profiles and chemical properties in the alfalfa forage (Medicago sativa L.) from different sourced-origins. In this study, alfalfa hay with two different origins was used as modeled forage for molecular structure and chemical property study. In each forage origin, five to seven sources were analyzed. The molecular spectral profiles were determined using FT/IR non-invasive molecular spectroscopy. The parameters of protein spectral profiles included functional groups of Amide I, Amide II and Amide I to II ratio. The results show that the modeled forage Amide I and Amide II were centered at 1653 cm(-1) and 1545 cm(-1), respectively. The Amide I spectral height and area intensities were from 0.02 to 0.03 and 2.67 to 3.36 AI, respectively. The Amide II spectral height and area intensities were from 0.01 to 0.02 and 0.71 to 0.93 AI, respectively. The Amide I to II spectral peak height and area ratios were from 1.86 to 1.88 and 3.68 to 3.79, respectively. Our results show that the non-invasive molecular spectroscopic techniques are capable to detect forage internal protein structure features which are associated with forage chemical properties. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Hydro-geomorphological characterization and classification of Chilean river networks using horizontal, vertical and climatological properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pereira, A. A.; Gironas, J. A.; Passalacqua, P.; Mejia, A.; Niemann, J. D.

2017-12-01

Previous work has shown that lithological, tectonic and climatic processes have a major influence in shaping the geomorphology of river networks. Accordingly, quantitative classification methods have been developed to identify and characterize network types (dendritic, parallel, pinnate, rectangular and trellis) based solely on the self-affinity of their planform properties, computed from available Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data. In contrast, this research aim is to include both horizontal and vertical properties to evaluate a quantitative classification method for river networks. We include vertical properties to consider the unique surficial conditions (e.g., large and steep height drops, volcanic activity, and complexity of stream networks) of the Andes Mountains. Furthermore, the goal of the research is also to explain the implications and possible relations between the hydro-geomorphological properties and climatic conditions. The classification method is applied to 42 basins in the southern Andes in Chile, ranging in size from 208 Km2 to 8,000 Km2. The planform metrics include the incremental drainage area, stream course irregularity and junction angles, while the vertical metrics include the hypsometric curve and the slope-area relationship. We introduce new network structures (Brush, Funnel and Low Sinuosity Rectangular), possibly unique to the Andes, that can be quantitatively differentiated from previous networks identified in other geographic regions. Then, this research evaluates the effect that excluding different Strahler order streams has on the horizontal properties and therefore in the classification. We found that climatic conditions are not only linked to horizontal parameters, but also to vertical ones, finding significant correlation between climatic variables (average near-surface temperature and rainfall) and vertical measures (parameters associated with the hypsometric curve and slope-area relation). The proposed classification shows differences among basins previously classified as the same type, which are not noticeable in their horizontal properties and helps reduce misclassifications within the old clusters. Additional hydro-geomorphological metrics are to be considered in the classification method to improve the effectiveness of it.

Phantom Preparation and Optical Property Determination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Di; He, Jie; Mao, Heng

2018-12-01

Tissue-like optical phantoms are important in testing new imaging algorithms. Homogeneous optical phantoms with determined optical properties are the first step of making a proper heterogeneous phantom for multi-modality imaging. Typical recipes for such phantoms consist of epoxy resin, hardener, India ink and titanium oxide. By altering the concentration of India ink and titanium oxide, we are able to get multiple homogeneous phantoms with different absorption and scattering coefficients by carefully mixing all the ingredients. After fabricating the phantoms, we need to find their individual optical properties including the absorption and scattering coefficients. This is achieved by solving diffusion equation of each phantom as a homogeneous slab under canonical illumination. We solve the diffusion equation of homogeneous slab in frequency domain and get the formula for theoretical measurements. Under our steady-state diffused optical tomography (DOT) imaging system, we are able to obtain the real distribution of the incident light produced by a laser. With this source distribution we got and the formula we derived, numerical experiments show how measurements change while varying the value of absorption and scattering coefficients. Then we notice that the measurements alone will not be enough for us to get unique optical properties for steady-state DOT problem. Thus in order to determine the optical properties of a homogeneous slab we want to fix one of the coefficients first and use optimization methods to find another one. Then by assemble multiple homogeneous slab phantoms with different optical properties, we are able to obtain a heterogeneous phantom suitable for testing multi-modality imaging algorithms. In this paper, we describe how to make phantoms, derive a formula to solve the diffusion equation, demonstrate the non-uniqueness of steady-state DOT problem by analysing some numerical results of our formula, and finally propose a possible way to determine optical properties for homogeneous slab for our future work.

Wood of Giant Sequoia: properties and unique characteristics

Treesearch

Douglas D. Piirto

1986-01-01

Wood properties of giant sequoia (Sequoia gigantea [Lindl.] Decne.) were compared with those for other coniferous tree species. Wood properties such as specific gravity, various mechanical properties, extractive content, and decay resistance of young-growth giant sequoia are comparable to or more favorable than those of coast redwood (...

The unique radar scattering properties of silicic lava flows and domes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Plaut, Jeffrey J.; Stofan, Ellen R.; Anderson, Steven W.; Crown, David A.

1995-01-01

Silicic (silica-rich) lava flows, such as rhyolite, rhyodacite, and dacite, possess unique physical properties primarily because of the relatively high viscosity of the molten lava. Silicic flows tend to be thicker than basaltic flows, and the resulting large-scale morphology is typically a steep-sided dome or flow lobe, with aspect ratios (height/length) sometimes approaching unity. The upper surfaces of silicic domes and flows are normally emplaced as relatively cool, brittle slabs that fracture as they are extruded from the central vent areas, and are then rafted away toward the flow margin as a brittle carapace above a more ductile interior layer. This mode of emplacement results in a surface with unique roughness characteristics, which can be well-characterized by multiparameter synthetic aperture radar (SAR) observations. In this paper, we examine the scattering properties of several silicic domes in the Inyo volcanic chain in the Eastern Sierra of California, using AIRSAR and TOPSAR data. Field measurements of intermediate-scale (cm to tens of m) surface topography and block size are used to assess the mechanisms of the scattering process, and to quantify the unique roughness characteristics of the flow surfaces.

Invasive Plants Rapidly Reshape Soil Properties in a Grassland Ecosystem.

PubMed

Gibbons, Sean M; Lekberg, Ylva; Mummey, Daniel L; Sangwan, Naseer; Ramsey, Philip W; Gilbert, Jack A

2017-01-01

Plant invasions often reduce native plant diversity and increase net primary productivity. Invaded soils appear to differ from surrounding soils in ways that impede restoration of diverse native plant communities. We hypothesize that invader-mediated shifts in edaphic properties reproducibly alter soil microbial community structure and function. Here, we take a holistic approach, characterizing plant, prokaryotic, and fungal communities and soil physicochemical properties in field sites, invasion gradients, and experimental plots for three invasive plant species that cooccur in the Rocky Mountain West. Each invader had a unique impact on soil physicochemical properties. We found that invasions drove shifts in the abundances of specific microbial taxa, while overall belowground community structure and functional potential were fairly constant. Forb invaders were generally enriched in copiotrophic bacteria with higher 16S rRNA gene copy numbers and showed greater microbial carbohydrate and nitrogen metabolic potential. Older invasions had stronger effects on abiotic soil properties, indicative of multiyear successions. Overall, we show that plant invasions are idiosyncratic in their impact on soils and are directly responsible for driving reproducible shifts in the soil environment over multiyear time scales. IMPORTANCE In this study, we show how invasive plant species drive rapid shifts in the soil environment from surrounding native communities. Each of the three plant invaders had different but consistent effects on soils. Thus, there does not appear to be a one-size-fits-all strategy for how plant invaders alter grassland soil environments. This work represents a crucial step toward understanding how invaders might be able to prevent or impair native reestablishment by changing soil biotic and abiotic properties.

Microstructural and optical properties of CdS nanoparticles synthesized by sol gel method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mahdi, Hadeel Salih; Parveen, Azra; Agrawal, Shraddha; Azam, Ameer

2018-05-01

Semiconductor nanoparticles of CdS are of great interest for both fundamental research and industrial development due to their unique size-dependent optical and electronic properties and their exciting utilization in the fields of light-emitting diode, electro-chemical cells, laser, hydrogen producing catalyst, biological label. We present a scheme to measure the optical properties of CdS nanoparticles The peaks were indexed by powder-x software. The XRD pattern analysis showed that CdS composition was found to have hexagonal structure with well crystalline nature. the surface morphology and the composition of the samples were investigated by SEM (JEOL, japan). The image shows the presence of large spherical aggregates of smaller individual nanoparticles of various sizes for pure cds. to check the chemical composition of the material, energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopic analysis was also performed which further confirmed the presence of cd and s ions in the matrix. The optical absorption spectra of CdS sample was recorded by uv-vis spectrophotometer in the range of 200 to 800 nm.

Enhanced antibacterial properties, biocompatibility, and corrosion resistance of degradable Mg-Nd-Zn-Zr alloy.

PubMed

Qin, Hui; Zhao, Yaochao; An, Zhiquan; Cheng, Mengqi; Wang, Qi; Cheng, Tao; Wang, Qiaojie; Wang, Jiaxing; Jiang, Yao; Zhang, Xianlong; Yuan, Guangyin

2015-06-01

Magnesium (Mg), a potential biodegradable material, has recently received increasing attention due to its unique antibacterial property. However, rapid corrosion in the physiological environment and potential toxicity limit clinical applications. In order to improve the corrosion resistance meanwhile not compromise the antibacterial activity, a novel Mg alloy, Mg-Nd-Zn-Zr (Hereafter, denoted as JDBM), is fabricated by alloying with neodymium (Nd), zinc (Zn), zirconium (Zr). pH value, Mg ion concentration, corrosion rate and electrochemical test show that the corrosion resistance of JDBM is enhanced. A systematic investigation of the in vitro and in vivo antibacterial capability of JDBM is performed. The results of microbiological counting, CLSM, SEM in vitro, and microbiological cultures, histopathology in vivo consistently show JDBM enhanced the antibacterial activity. In addition, the significantly improved cytocompatibility is observed from JDBM. The results suggest that JDBM effectively enhances the corrosion resistance, biocompatibility and antimicrobial properties of Mg by alloying with the proper amount of Zn, Zr and Nd. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A Novel Rules Based Approach for Estimating Software Birthmark

PubMed Central

Binti Alias, Norma; Anwar, Sajid

2015-01-01

Software birthmark is a unique quality of software to detect software theft. Comparing birthmarks of software can tell us whether a program or software is a copy of another. Software theft and piracy are rapidly increasing problems of copying, stealing, and misusing the software without proper permission, as mentioned in the desired license agreement. The estimation of birthmark can play a key role in understanding the effectiveness of a birthmark. In this paper, a new technique is presented to evaluate and estimate software birthmark based on the two most sought-after properties of birthmarks, that is, credibility and resilience. For this purpose, the concept of soft computing such as probabilistic and fuzzy computing has been taken into account and fuzzy logic is used to estimate properties of birthmark. The proposed fuzzy rule based technique is validated through a case study and the results show that the technique is successful in assessing the specified properties of the birthmark, its resilience and credibility. This, in turn, shows how much effort will be required to detect the originality of the software based on its birthmark. PMID:25945363

Role of the Z band in the mechanical properties of the heart.

PubMed

Goldstein, M A; Schroeter, J P; Michael, L H

1991-05-01

In striated muscle the mechanism of contraction involves the cooperative movement of contractile and elastic components. This review emphasizes a structural approach that describes the cellular and extracellular components with known anatomical, biochemical, and physical properties that make them candidates for these contractile and elastic components. Classical models of contractile and elastic elements and their underlying assumptions are presented. Mechanical properties of cardiac and skeletal muscle are compared and contrasted and then related to ultrastructure. Information from these approaches leads to the conclusion that the Z band is essential for muscle contraction. Our review of Z band structure shows the Z band at the interface where extracellular components meet the cell surface. The Z band is also the interface from cell surface to myofibril, from extra-myofibrillar to myofibril, and finally from sarcomere to sarcomere. Our studies of Z band in defined physiologic states show that this lattice is an integral part of the contractile elements and can function as an elastic component. The Z band is a complex dynamic lattice uniquely suited to play several roles in muscle contraction.

Dispersion Corrected Structural Properties and Quasiparticle Band Gaps of Several Organic Energetic Solids.

PubMed

Appalakondaiah, S; Vaitheeswaran, G; Lebègue, S

2015-06-18

We have performed ab initio calculations for a series of energetic solids to explore their structural and electronic properties. To evaluate the ground state volume of these molecular solids, different dispersion correction methods were accounted in DFT, namely the Tkatchenko-Scheffler method (with and without self-consistent screening), Grimme's methods (D2, D3(BJ)), and the vdW-DF method. Our results reveal that dispersion correction methods are essential in understanding these complex structures with van der Waals interactions and hydrogen bonding. The calculated ground state volumes and bulk moduli show that the performance of each method is not unique, and therefore a careful examination is mandatory for interpreting theoretical predictions. This work also emphasizes the importance of quasiparticle calculations in predicting the band gap, which is obtained here with the GW approximation. We find that the obtained band gaps are ranging from 4 to 7 eV for the different compounds, indicating their insulating nature. In addition, we show the essential role of quasiparticle band structure calculations to correlate the gap with the energetic properties.

Non-Markovianity hinders Quantum Darwinism.

PubMed

Galve, Fernando; Zambrini, Roberta; Maniscalco, Sabrina

2016-01-20

We investigate Quantum Darwinism and the emergence of a classical world from the quantum one in connection with the spectral properties of the environment. We use a microscopic model of quantum environment in which, by changing a simple system parameter, we can modify the information back flow from environment into the system, and therefore its non-Markovian character. We show that the presence of memory effects hinders the emergence of classical objective reality, linking these two apparently unrelated concepts via a unique dynamical feature related to decoherence factors.

Non-Markovianity hinders Quantum Darwinism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Galve, Fernando; Zambrini, Roberta; Maniscalco, Sabrina

2016-01-01

We investigate Quantum Darwinism and the emergence of a classical world from the quantum one in connection with the spectral properties of the environment. We use a microscopic model of quantum environment in which, by changing a simple system parameter, we can modify the information back flow from environment into the system, and therefore its non-Markovian character. We show that the presence of memory effects hinders the emergence of classical objective reality, linking these two apparently unrelated concepts via a unique dynamical feature related to decoherence factors.

Non-Markovianity hinders Quantum Darwinism

PubMed Central

Galve, Fernando; Zambrini, Roberta; Maniscalco, Sabrina

2016-01-01

We investigate Quantum Darwinism and the emergence of a classical world from the quantum one in connection with the spectral properties of the environment. We use a microscopic model of quantum environment in which, by changing a simple system parameter, we can modify the information back flow from environment into the system, and therefore its non-Markovian character. We show that the presence of memory effects hinders the emergence of classical objective reality, linking these two apparently unrelated concepts via a unique dynamical feature related to decoherence factors. PMID:26786857

Lifetimes of the Vibrational States of DNA Molecules in Functionalized Complexes of Semiconductor Quantum Dots

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bayramov, F. B.; Poloskin, E. D.; Chernev, A. L.; Toporov, V. V.; Dubina, M. V.; Sprung, C.; Lipsanen, H. K.; Bairamov, B. Kh.

2018-01-01

Results of studying nanocrystalline nc-Si/SiO2 quantum dots (QDs) functionalized by short oligonucleotides show that complexes of isolated crystalline semiconductor QDs are unique objects for detecting the manifestation of new quantum confinement phenomena. It is established that narrow lines observed in high-resolution spectra of inelastic light scattering can be used for determining the characteristic time scale of vibrational excitations of separate nucleotide molecules and for studying structural-dynamic properties of fast oscillatory processes in biomacromolecules.

The Majorana Project

ScienceCinema

Orrell, John; Hoppe, Eric

2018-01-26

Working as part of a collaborative team, PNNL is bringing its signature capability in ultra-low-level detection to help search for a rare form of radioactive decay-never before detected-called "neutrinoless double beta decay" in germanium. If observed, it would demonstrate neutrinos are Majorana-type particles. This discovery would show neutrinos are unique among fundamental particles, having a property whereby the matter and anti-matter version of this particle are indistinguishable. Physicist John L. Orrell explains how they rely on the Shallow Underground Laboratory to conduct the research.

Vacancy-driven magnetocaloric effect in Prussian blue analogues

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Evangelisti, Marco; Manuel, Espérança; Affronte, Marco; Okubo, Masashi; Train, Cyrille; Verdaguer, Michel

2007-09-01

We experimentally show that the magnetocaloric properties of molecule-based Prussian blue analogues can be adjusted by controlling during the synthesis the amount of intrinsic vacancies. For CsxNi4II[CrIII(CN)6], we find indeed that the ferromagnetic phase transition induces significantly large magnetic entropy changes, whose maxima shift from ˜68 to ˜95 K by varying the number of [CrIII(CN)6] vacancies, offering a unique tunability of the magnetocaloric effect in this complex.

Ontogeny and function of murine epidermal Langerhans cells.

PubMed

Kaplan, Daniel H

2017-09-19

Langerhans cells (LCs) are epidermis-resident antigen-presenting cells that share a common ontogeny with macrophages but function as dendritic cells (DCs). Their development, recruitment and retention in the epidermis is orchestrated by interactions with keratinocytes through multiple mechanisms. LC and dermal DC subsets often show functional redundancy, but LCs are required for specific types of adaptive immune responses when antigen is concentrated in the epidermis. This Review will focus on those developmental and functional properties that are unique to LCs.

Anilinomethylrhodamines: pH sensitive probes with tunable photophysical properties by substituent effect.

PubMed

Best, Quinn A; Liu, Chuangjun; van Hoveln, Paul D; McCarroll, Matthew E; Scott, Colleen N

2013-10-18

A series of pH dependent rhodamine analogues possessing an anilino-methyl moiety was developed and shown to exhibit a unique photophysical response to pH. These anilinomethylrhodamines (AnMR) maintain a colorless, nonfluorescent spirocyclic structure at high pH. The spirocyclic structures open in mildly acidic conditions and are weakly fluorescent; however, at very low pH, the fluorescence is greatly enhanced. The equilibrium constants of these processes show a linear response to substituent effects, which was demonstrated by the Hammett equation.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Verzhbitskiy, Ivan A.; Corato, Marzio De; Ruini, Alice

Bottom-up approaches allow the production of ultranarrow and atomically precise graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) with electronic and optical properties controlled by the specific atomic structure. Combining Raman spectroscopy and ab initio simulations, we show that GNR width, edge geometry, and functional groups all influence their Raman spectra. As a result, the low-energy spectral region below 1000 cm –1 is particularly sensitive to edge morphology and functionalization, while the D peak dispersion can be used to uniquely fingerprint the presence of GNRs and differentiates them from other sp 2 carbon nanostructures.

Elementary wave interactions in blood flow through artery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raja Sekhar, T.; Minhajul

2017-10-01

In this paper, we consider the Riemann problem and interaction of elementary waves for the quasilinear hyperbolic system of conservation laws that arises in blood flow through arteries. We study the properties of solution involving shocks and rarefaction waves and establish the existence and uniqueness conditions. We show that the Riemann problem is solvable for arbitrary initial data under certain condition and construct the condition for no-feasible solution. Finally, we present numerical examples with different initial data and discuss all possible interactions of elementary waves.

Probabilistic Simulation for Nanocomposite Fracture

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chamis, Christos C.

2010-01-01

A unique probabilistic theory is described to predict the uniaxial strengths and fracture properties of nanocomposites. The simulation is based on composite micromechanics with progressive substructuring down to a nanoscale slice of a nanofiber where all the governing equations are formulated. These equations have been programmed in a computer code. That computer code is used to simulate uniaxial strengths and fracture of a nanofiber laminate. The results are presented graphically and discussed with respect to their practical significance. These results show smooth distributions from low probability to high.

Hierarchical photonic structured stimuli-responsive materials as high-performance colorimetric sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Tao; Zhu, Shenmin; Chen, Zhixin; Wang, Wanlin; Zhang, Wang; Zhang, Di

2016-05-01

Hierarchical photonic structures in nature are of special interest because they can be used as templates for fabrication of stimuli-responsive photonic crystals (PCs) with unique structures beyond man-made synthesis. The current stimuli-responsive PCs templated directly from natural PCs showed a very weak external stimuli response and poor durability due to the limitations of natural templates. Herein, we tackle this problem by chemically coating functional polymers, polyacrylamide, on butterfly wing scales which have hierarchical photonic structures. As a result of the combination of the strong water absorption properties of the polyacrylamide and the PC structures of the butterfly wing scales, the designed materials demonstrated excellent humidity responsive properties and a tremendous colour change. The colour change is induced by the refractive index change which is in turn due to the swollen nature of the polymer when the relative humidity changes. The butterfly wing scales also showed an excellent durability which is due to the chemical bonds formed between the polymer and wing scales. The synthesis strategy provides an avenue for the promising applications of stimuli-responsive PCs with hierarchical structures.Hierarchical photonic structures in nature are of special interest because they can be used as templates for fabrication of stimuli-responsive photonic crystals (PCs) with unique structures beyond man-made synthesis. The current stimuli-responsive PCs templated directly from natural PCs showed a very weak external stimuli response and poor durability due to the limitations of natural templates. Herein, we tackle this problem by chemically coating functional polymers, polyacrylamide, on butterfly wing scales which have hierarchical photonic structures. As a result of the combination of the strong water absorption properties of the polyacrylamide and the PC structures of the butterfly wing scales, the designed materials demonstrated excellent humidity responsive properties and a tremendous colour change. The colour change is induced by the refractive index change which is in turn due to the swollen nature of the polymer when the relative humidity changes. The butterfly wing scales also showed an excellent durability which is due to the chemical bonds formed between the polymer and wing scales. The synthesis strategy provides an avenue for the promising applications of stimuli-responsive PCs with hierarchical structures. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c6nr01875k

Fundamental Properties of the Red Square

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tuthill, Peter; Barnes, Peter; Cohen, Martin; Schmidt, Timothy

2007-04-01

This proposal follows the exciting recent discovery of the Red Square, the first near-sibling to the illustrious Red Rectangle; and also a potential example progenitor system for supernovae such as SN 1987A. Exploiting the unique extremely wide bandwidth correlator available at Mopra, we propose to rapidly and efficiently explore the molecular environment of this unique new object at 3 mm. This should reveal the fundamental properties of the gas in the underlying stellar system, and will provide the necessary springboard for future spatially-resolved work with interferometers.

Constant mean curvature slicings of Kantowski-Sachs spacetimes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Heinzle, J. Mark

2011-04-15

We investigate existence, uniqueness, and the asymptotic properties of constant mean curvature (CMC) slicings in vacuum Kantowski-Sachs spacetimes with positive cosmological constant. Since these spacetimes violate the strong energy condition, most of the general theorems on CMC slicings do not apply. Although there are in fact Kantowski-Sachs spacetimes with a unique CMC foliation or CMC time function, we prove that there also exist Kantowski-Sachs spacetimes with an arbitrary number of (families of) CMC slicings. The properties of these slicings are analyzed in some detail.

A neuro-fuzzy architecture for real-time applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ramamoorthy, P. A.; Huang, Song

1992-01-01

Neural networks and fuzzy expert systems perform the same task of functional mapping using entirely different approaches. Each approach has certain unique features. The ability to learn specific input-output mappings from large input/output data possibly corrupted by noise and the ability to adapt or continue learning are some important features of neural networks. Fuzzy expert systems are known for their ability to deal with fuzzy information and incomplete/imprecise data in a structured, logical way. Since both of these techniques implement the same task (that of functional mapping--we regard 'inferencing' as one specific category under this class), a fusion of the two concepts that retains their unique features while overcoming their individual drawbacks will have excellent applications in the real world. In this paper, we arrive at a new architecture by fusing the two concepts. The architecture has the trainability/adaptibility (based on input/output observations) property of the neural networks and the architectural features that are unique to fuzzy expert systems. It also does not require specific information such as fuzzy rules, defuzzification procedure used, etc., though any such information can be integrated into the architecture. We show that this architecture can provide better performance than is possible from a single two or three layer feedforward neural network. Further, we show that this new architecture can be used as an efficient vehicle for hardware implementation of complex fuzzy expert systems for real-time applications. A numerical example is provided to show the potential of this approach.

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Achillea biebersteinii flower extract and its anti-angiogenic properties in the rat aortic ring model.

PubMed

Baharara, Javad; Namvar, Farideh; Ramezani, Tayebe; Hosseini, Nasrin; Mohamad, Rosfarizan

2014-04-15

Silver nanoparticles display unique physical and biological properties which have attracted intensive research interest because of their important medical applications. In this study silver nanoparticles (Ab.Ag-NPs) were synthesized for biomedical applications using a completely green biosynthetic method using Achillea biebersteinii flowers extract. The structure and properties of Ab.Ag-NPs were investigated using UV-visible spectroscopic techniques, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), zeta potential and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometers (EDS). The UV-visible spectroscopic analysis showed the absorbance peak at 460 nm, which indicates the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. The average particle diameter as determined by TEM was found to be 12±2 nm. The zeta potential analysis indicated that Ab.Ag-NPs have good stability EDX analysis also exhibits presentation of silver element. As angiogenesis is an important phenomenon and as growth factors imbalance in this process causes the acceleration of several diseases including cancer, the anti-angiogenic properties of Ab.Ag-NPs were evaluated using the rat aortic ring model. The results showed that Ab.Ag-NPs (200 μg/mL) lead to a 50% reduction in the length and number of vessel-like structures. The synthesized silver nanoparticles from the Achillea biebersteinii flowers extract, which do not involve any harmful chemicals were well-dispersed and stabilized through this green method and showed potential therapeutic benefits against angiogenesis.

Spherical Nucleic Acids: A New Form of DNA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cutler, Joshua Isaac

Spherical Nucleic Acids (SNAs) are a new class of nucleic acid-based nanomaterials that exhibit unique properties currently being explored in the contexts of gene-based cancer therapies and in the design of programmable nanoparticle-based materials. The properties of SNAs differ from canonical, linear nucleic acids by virtue of their dense packing into an oriented 3-dimensional array. SNAs can be synthesized from a number of useful nanoparticle templates, such as plasmonic gold and silver, magnetic oxides, luminescent semi-conductor quantum dots, and silica. In addition, by crosslinking the oligonucleotides and dissolving the core, they can be made in a hollow form as well. This dissertation describes the evolution of SNAs from initial studies of inorganic nanoparticle-based materials densely functionalized with oligonucleotides to the proving of a hypothesis that their unique properties can be observed in a core-less structure if the nucleic acids are densely packed and highly oriented. Chapter two describes the synthesis of densely functionalized polyvalent oligonucleotide superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles using the copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction. These particles are shown to exhibit cooperative binding in a density- and salt concentration-dependent fashion, with nearly identical behaviors to those of SNA-functionalized gold nanoparticles. Importantly, these particles are the first non-gold particles shown to be capable of entering cells in high numbers via the SNA-mediated cellular uptake pathway, and provided the first evidence that SNA-mediated cellular uptake is core-independent. In the third chapter, a gold nanoparticle catalyzed alkyne cross-linking reaction is described that is capable of forming hollow organic nanoparticles using polymers with alkyne-functionalized backbones. With this method, the alkyne-modified polymers adsorb to the particle surfaces, cross-link on the surface, allowing the gold nanoparticle to be subsequently dissolved oxidatively with KCN or Iodine. The reaction pathway is analyzed through characterization of the reaction progression and resulting products, and a mechanistic pathway is proposed. This is the first report of a gold nanoparticle catalyzed reaction involving the conversion of propargyl ethers to terminal alcohols, which can subsequently cross-link if densely arranged on a gold nanoparticle surface. Importantly, these structures can be synthesized using gold nanoparticles of a range of sizes, thereby providing control over the size and properties of the resulting crosslinked particle. Chapter four returns to the topic of SNAs and builds upon the chemistry of chapter three culminating in the synthesis of cross-linked hollow SNA nanoparticles. These structures are formed by the cross-linking of synthetically modified alkyne-bearing oligonucleotides through the pathway described in chapter three. When the gold core is dissolved, the resulting hollow SNAs exhibit nearly identical binding, nuclease resistance, cellular uptake, and gene regulation properties of SNA-gold nanoparticle conjugates. Indeed, this chapter demonstrates that the unique properties of SNA-nanoparticle conjugates are core-independent and stem solely from the dense ensemble of oligonucleotides arranged on their surfaces. The fifth chapter further asserts the synthetic achievements made in chapter four by showing how hollow SNAs can be substituted for SNA-gold nanoparticles in the context of DNA-programmable assembly. In this case, they can be used as building blocks within binary synthetic schemes to synthesize unique nanoparticle superlattices. It bolsters the design rules of DNA-programmable assembly by showing that the predicted structures form based on the behavior of SNA hybridization, and are universal for any SNA-functionalized nanoparticle.

The effect of nanocrystalline cellulose on flow properties of fiber crop aqueous suspension.

PubMed

Gharehkhani, Samira; Seyed Shirazi, Seyed Farid; Yarmand, Hooman; Montazer, Elham; Kazi, Salim Newaz; Ibrahim, Rushdan; Ashjaei, Mehdi; Zulkifli, Nurin Wahidah Binti Mohd; Rahmati, Sadegh

2018-03-15

Nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) a nature-based material, has gained significant attentions for its unique properties. The present study aims to investigate the flow behavior of cellulosic suspension containing non-wood pulp fibers and NCC, by means of rheological and pressure drop measurements. The NCC sample was prepared by sulfuric acid hydrolysis from Acacia mangium fibers. The rheological properties of kenaf/NCC suspensions were studied using viscosity and yield stress measurements. The pressure drop properties of the suspension flow were studied with respect to variation in flow velocity (0.4 m/s-3.6 m/s) and the NCC concentration (70 mg/l and 150 mg/l). The pressure drop results showed that the pulp suspension containing 150 mg/l NCC had higher drag reduction than kenaf suspension alone. The present insights into the flow of pulp/NCC suspension provide a new data and promote the application of NCC in industries. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Mechanical Properties of High Entropy Alloy Al0.1CoCrFeNi for Peripheral Vascular Stent Application.

PubMed

Alagarsamy, Karthik; Fortier, Aleksandra; Komarasamy, Mageshwari; Kumar, Nilesh; Mohammad, Atif; Banerjee, Subhash; Han, Hai-Chao; Mishra, Rajiv S

2016-12-01

High entropy alloys (HEAs) are new class of metallic materials with five or more principal alloying elements. Due to this distinct concept of alloying, the HEAs exhibit unique properties compared to conventional alloys. The outstanding properties of HEAs include increased strength, superior wear resistance, high temperature stability, increased fatigue properties, good corrosion, and oxidation resistance. Such characteristics of HEAs have generated significant interest among the scientific community. However, their applications are yet to be explored. This paper discusses the mechanical behavior and microstructure of Al 0.1 CoCrFeNi HEA subjected to thermo-mechanical processing, and its potential application in peripheral vascular stent implants that are prone to high failure rates. Results show that Al 0.1 CoCrFeNi alloy possesses characteristics that compare well against currently used stent materials and it can potentially find use in peripheral vascular stent implants and extend their life-cycle.

Cellulose-pectin composite hydrogels: Intermolecular interactions and material properties depend on order of assembly.

PubMed

Lopez-Sanchez, Patricia; Martinez-Sanz, Marta; Bonilla, Mauricio R; Wang, Dongjie; Gilbert, Elliot P; Stokes, Jason R; Gidley, Michael J

2017-04-15

Plant cell walls have a unique combination of strength and flexibility however, further investigations are required to understand how those properties arise from the assembly of the relevant biopolymers. Recent studies indicate that Ca 2+ -pectates can act as load-bearing components in cell walls. To investigate this proposed role of pectins, bioinspired wall models were synthesised based on bacterial cellulose containing pectin-calcium gels by varying the order of assembly of cellulose/pectin networks, pectin degree of methylesterification and calcium concentration. Hydrogels in which pectin-calcium assembly occurred prior to cellulose synthesis showed evidence for direct cellulose/pectin interactions from small-angle scattering (SAXS and SANS), had the densest networks and the lowest normal stress. The strength of the pectin-calcium gel affected cellulose structure, crystallinity and material properties. The results highlight the importance of the order of assembly on the properties of cellulose composite networks and support the role of pectin in the mechanics of cell walls. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Polymeric water filtration membranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paul, Mou

Nanofiltration (NF) membranes are used for separating salts and small neutral molecules. NF membranes show unique selectivity properties compared to reverse osmosis membranes as it can selectively pass monovalent salts and neutral molecules as a function of charge and molecular weight cut-off which are dependent on membrane characteristics and operating conditions. Dow Water and Process solutions has been a pioneer in the membrane based water purification field and Dow's role was instrumental in developing several NF membranes for different applications. However, the characterization of NF membranes and hence the development of structure-property relationship is challenging due to the nanoscale thin, crosslinked nature of the membrane. Recently significant efforts were employed to develop analytical capabilities to understand polymer structure and composition and it had been possible to achieve a structure-property relationship for NF membranes. This paper will highlight similar relationships and will also focus on the relationships of membrane structure with membrane transport properties and how this relationship influences products for different application areas such as in oil field, sweetener and minimum liquid discharge etc.

Chalcones: structural requirements for antioxidant, estrogenic and antiproliferative activities.

PubMed

Calliste, C A; Le Bail, J C; Trouillas, P; Pouget, C; Habrioux, G; Chulia, A J; Duroux, J L

2001-01-01

Flavonoids are largely studied for their biological properties and particularly for their scavenging and antioxidant activities. In the present study, we first evaluated the antioxidant and the estrogenic actions of chalcones, then we tested their effects on MCF-7 cell proliferation. Chalcones are unique in the flavonoids family in lacking a heterocyclic C ring. We tested substituted chalcones with different numbers and different positions of the hydroxy groups: 2'-hydroxychalcone, 4'-hydroxychalcone, 4-hydroxychalcone, 2',4-dihydroxychalcone, isoliquiritigenin, 2',4'-dihydroxychalcone, phloretin and naringenin chalcone. For the antioxidant tests we established the importance of the alpha-beta double bond and the 6'-hydroxy group. The establishment of the structure-activity relationship for the estrogenic properties showed a correlation between the antioxidant and the estrogenic properties. The importance of conformation and hydroxy group positions observed for chalcones, having antioxidant and estrogenic properties, was also observed on MCF-7 cell growth with the same structure-activity relationship. The role of electron and hydrogen transfer in the correlation between these three biological activities was discussed.

Resolving Dynamic Properties of Polymers through Coarse-Grained Computational Studies

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Salerno, K. Michael; Agrawal, Anupriya; Perahia, Dvora

2016-02-05

Coupled length and time scales determine the dynamic behavior of polymers and underlie their unique viscoelastic properties. To resolve the long-time dynamics it is imperative to determine which time and length scales must be correctly modeled. In this paper, we probe the degree of coarse graining required to simultaneously retain significant atomistic details and access large length and time scales. The degree of coarse graining in turn sets the minimum length scale instrumental in defining polymer properties and dynamics. Using linear polyethylene as a model system, we probe how the coarse-graining scale affects the measured dynamics. Iterative Boltzmann inversion ismore » used to derive coarse-grained potentials with 2–6 methylene groups per coarse-grained bead from a fully atomistic melt simulation. We show that atomistic detail is critical to capturing large-scale dynamics. Finally, using these models we simulate polyethylene melts for times over 500 μs to study the viscoelastic properties of well-entangled polymer melts.« less

Molecular property diagnostic suite (MPDS): Development of disease-specific open source web portals for drug discovery.

PubMed

Nagamani, S; Gaur, A S; Tanneeru, K; Muneeswaran, G; Madugula, S S; Consortium, Mpds; Druzhilovskiy, D; Poroikov, V V; Sastry, G N

2017-11-01

Molecular property diagnostic suite (MPDS) is a Galaxy-based open source drug discovery and development platform. MPDS web portals are designed for several diseases, such as tuberculosis, diabetes mellitus, and other metabolic disorders, specifically aimed to evaluate and estimate the drug-likeness of a given molecule. MPDS consists of three modules, namely data libraries, data processing, and data analysis tools which are configured and interconnected to assist drug discovery for specific diseases. The data library module encompasses vast information on chemical space, wherein the MPDS compound library comprises 110.31 million unique molecules generated from public domain databases. Every molecule is assigned with a unique ID and card, which provides complete information for the molecule. Some of the modules in the MPDS are specific to the diseases, while others are non-specific. Importantly, a suitably altered protocol can be effectively generated for another disease-specific MPDS web portal by modifying some of the modules. Thus, the MPDS suite of web portals shows great promise to emerge as disease-specific portals of great value, integrating chemoinformatics, bioinformatics, molecular modelling, and structure- and analogue-based drug discovery approaches.

Chiral J-aggregates of atropo-enantiomeric perylene bisimides and their self-sorting behavior.

PubMed

Xie, Zengqi; Stepanenko, Vladimir; Radacki, Krzysztof; Würthner, Frank

2012-06-04

Herein we report on structural, morphological, and optical properties of homochiral and heterochiral J-aggregates that were created by nucleation-elongation assembly of atropo-enantiomerically pure and racemic perylene bisimides (PBIs), respectively. Our detailed studies with conformationally stable biphenoxy-bridged chiral PBIs by UV/Vis absorption, circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed structurally as well as spectroscopically quite different kinds of J-aggregates for enantiomerically pure and racemic PBIs. AFM investigations showed that enantiopure PBIs form helical nanowires of unique diameter and large length-to-width ratio by self-recognition, while racemic PBIs provide irregular-sized particles by self-discrimination of the enantiomers at the stage of nucleation. Steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy studies revealed that the photoluminescence efficiency of homochiral J-aggregated nanowires (47±3%) is significantly higher than that of heterochiral J-aggregated particle-like aggregates (12±3%), which is explained in terms of highly ordered molecular stacking in one-dimensional nanowires of homochiral J-aggregates. Our present results demonstrate the high impact of homochirality on the construction of well-defined nanostructures with unique optical properties. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Characterization of Panglial Gap Junction Networks in the Thalamus, Neocortex, and Hippocampus Reveals a Unique Population of Glial Cells

PubMed Central

Griemsmann, Stephanie; Höft, Simon P.; Bedner, Peter; Zhang, Jiong; von Staden, Elena; Beinhauer, Anna; Degen, Joachim; Dublin, Pavel; Cope, David W.; Richter, Nadine; Crunelli, Vincenzo; Jabs, Ronald; Willecke, Klaus; Theis, Martin; Seifert, Gerald; Kettenmann, Helmut; Steinhäuser, Christian

2015-01-01

The thalamus plays important roles as a relay station for sensory information in the central nervous system (CNS). Although thalamic glial cells participate in this activity, little is known about their properties. In this study, we characterized the formation of coupled networks between astrocytes and oligodendrocytes in the murine ventrobasal thalamus and compared these properties with those in the hippocampus and cortex. Biocytin filling of individual astrocytes or oligodendrocytes revealed large panglial networks in all 3 gray matter regions. Combined analyses of mice with cell type-specific deletion of connexins (Cxs), semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blotting showed that Cx30 is the dominant astrocytic Cx in the thalamus. Many thalamic astrocytes even lack expression of Cx43, while in the hippocampus astrocytic coupling is dominated by Cx43. Deletion of Cx30 and Cx47 led to complete loss of panglial coupling, which was restored when one allele of either Cxs was present. Immunohistochemistry revealed a unique antigen profile of thalamic glia and identified an intermediate cell type expressing both Olig2 and Cx43. Our findings further the emerging concept of glial heterogeneity across brain regions. PMID:25037920

Highly Anisotropic Adhesive Film Made from Upside-Down, Flat, and Uniform Vertically Aligned CNTs.

PubMed

Hong, Sanghyun; Lundstrom, Troy; Ghosh, Ranajay; Abdi, Hamed; Hao, Ji; Jeoung, Sun Kyoung; Su, Paul; Suhr, Jonghwan; Vaziri, Ashkan; Jalili, Nader; Jung, Yung Joon

2016-12-14

We have created a multifunctional dry adhesive film with transferred vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VA-CNTs). This unique VA-CNT film was fabricated by a multistep transfer process, converting the flat and uniform bottom of VA-CNTs grown on atomically flat silicon wafer substrates into the top surface of an adhesive layer. Unlike as-grown VA-CNTs, which have a nonuniform surface, randomly entangled CNT arrays, and a weak interface between the CNTs and substrates, this transferred VA-CNT film shows an extremely high coefficient of static friction (COF) of up to 60 and a shear adhesion force 30 times higher (12 N/cm 2 ) than that of the as-grown VA-CNTs under a very small preloading of 0.2 N/cm 2 . Moreover, a near-zero normal adhesion force was observed with 20 mN/cm 2 preloading and a maximum 100-μm displacement in a piezo scanner, demonstrating ideal properties for an artificial gecko foot. Using this unique structural feature and anisotropic adhesion properties, we also demonstrate effective removal and assembly of nanoparticles into organized micrometer-scale circular and line patterns by a single brushing of this flat and uniform VA-CNT film.

Mechanical instability driven self-assembly and architecturing of 2D materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cai Wang, Michael; Leem, Juyoung; Kang, Pilgyu; Choi, Jonghyun; Knapp, Peter; Yong, Keong; Nam, SungWoo

2017-06-01

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have been well studied for their diverse and impressive properties and superlative mechanical strength. Their atomic thinness and weak van der Waals interaction, while fascinating and unique, dictate their tendency to exhibit out of plane morphologies such as bending, buckling, folding, rippling, scrolling, and wrinkling, etc. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms behind these instability driven morphologies and the resultant phenomena that arise. We then survey methods to manipulate them especially in a scalable manner, and elucidate some interesting applications uniquely enabled by these structures. Contrary to conventional wisdom, the deterministic control of these features has great implications for the local and overall material properties due to heterogeneous distribution of stresses and strains. The introduction of deformable and shape memory substrates especially allow for facile and large scale synthesis of various types of out of plane morphologies. We show that a variety of exciting phenomena and applications arise, including tunable surfaces and coatings, robust devices and electronics, adaptive optoelectronics, material toughening, energy storage, and chemical sensing. This new perspective on these otherwise nuisance thin-film phenomena enable new tools for future materials discovery, design, and synthesis with the ever growing library of 2D atomically thin materials.

Unusual inhomogeneous microstructures in charge glass state of PbCrO3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kurushima, Kosuke; Tsukasaki, Hirofumi; Ogata, Takahiro; Sakai, Yuki; Azuma, Masaki; Ishii, Yui; Mori, Shigeo

2018-05-01

We investigated the microstructures and local structures of perovskite PbCrO3, which shows a metal-to-insulator transition and a 9.8% volume collapse, by electron diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM). It is revealed that the charge glass state is characterized by the unique coexistence of the crystalline state with a cubic symmetry on average and the noncrystalline state. HAADF-STEM observation at atomic resolution revealed that Pb ions were displaced from the ideal A site position of the cubic perovskite structure, which gives rise to characteristic diffuse scatterings around the fundamental Bragg reflections. These structural inhomogeneities are crucial to the understanding of the unique physical properties in the charge glass state of PbCrO3.

Measurement properties of questionnaires assessing participation in children and adolescents with a disability: a systematic review.

PubMed

Rainey, Linda; van Nispen, Ruth; van der Zee, Carlijn; van Rens, Ger

2014-12-01

To critically appraise the measurement properties of questionnaires measuring participation in children and adolescents (0-18 years) with a disability. Bibliographic databases were searched for studies evaluating the measurement properties of self-report or parent-report questionnaires measuring participation in children and adolescents (0-18 years) with a disability. The methodological quality of the included studies and the results of the measurement properties were evaluated using a checklist developed on consensus-based standards. The search strategy identified 3,977 unique publications, of which 22 were selected; these articles evaluated the development and measurement properties of eight different questionnaires. The Child and Adolescent Scale of Participation was evaluated most extensively, generally showing moderate positive results on content validity, internal consistency, reliability and construct validity. The remaining questionnaires also demonstrated positive results. However, at least 50 % of the measurement properties per questionnaire were not (or only poorly) assessed. Studies of high methodological quality, using modern statistical methods, are needed to accurately assess the measurement properties of currently available questionnaires. Moreover, consensus is required on the definition of the construct 'participation' to determine content validity and to enable meaningful interpretation of outcomes.

Emerging applications of nanoparticles: Biomedical and environmental

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gulati, Shivani; Sachdeva, M.; Bhasin, K. K.

2018-05-01

Nanotechnology finds a wide range of applications from energy production to industrial fabrication processes to biomedical applications. Nanoparticles (NPs) can be engineered to possess unique compositions and functionalities to empower novel tools and techniques that have not existed previously in biomedical research. The unique size and shape dependent physicochemical properties along with their unique spectral and optical properties have prompted the development of a wide variety of potential applications in the field of diagnostics and medicines. In the plethora of scientific and technological fields, environmental safety is also a big concern. For this purpose, nanomaterials have been functionalized to cope up the existing pollution, improving manufacturing methods to reduce the generation of new pollution, and making alternative and more cost effective energy sources.

Negative Dielectric Constant Material Based on Ion Conducting Materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gordon, Keith L. (Inventor); Kang, Jin Ho (Inventor); Park, Cheol (Inventor); Lillehei, Peter T. (Inventor); Harrison, Joycelyn S. (Inventor)

2017-01-01

Metamaterials or artificial negative index materials (NIMs) have generated great attention due to their unique and exotic electromagnetic properties. One exemplary negative dielectric constant material, which is an essential key for creating the NIMs, was developed by doping ions into a polymer, a protonated poly (benzimidazole) (PBI). The doped PBI showed a negative dielectric constant at megahertz (MHz) frequencies due to its reduced plasma frequency and an induction effect. The magnitude of the negative dielectric constant and the resonance frequency were tunable by doping concentration. The highly doped PBI showed larger absolute magnitude of negative dielectric constant at just above its resonance frequency than the less doped PBI.

Negative Dielectric Constant Material Based on Ion Conducting Materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gordon, Keith L. (Inventor); Kang, Jin Ho (Inventor); Harrison, Joycelyn S. (Inventor); Park, Cheol (Inventor); Lillehei, Peter T. (Inventor)

2014-01-01

Metamaterials or artificial negative index materials (NIMs) have generated great attention due to their unique and exotic electromagnetic properties. One exemplary negative dielectric constant material, which is an essential key for creating the NIMs, was developed by doping ions into a polymer, a protonated poly(benzimidazole) (PBI). The doped PBI showed a negative dielectric constant at megahertz (MHz) frequencies due to its reduced plasma frequency and an induction effect. The magnitude of the negative dielectric constant and the resonance frequency were tunable by doping concentration. The highly doped PBI showed larger absolute magnitude of negative dielectric constant at just above its resonance frequency than the less doped PBI.

Modeling the state dependent impulse control for computer virus propagation under media coverage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liang, Xiyin; Pei, Yongzhen; Lv, Yunfei

2018-02-01

A state dependent impulsive control model is proposed to model the spread of computer virus incorporating media coverage. By the successor function, the sufficient conditions for the existence and uniqueness of order-1 periodic solution are presented first. Secondly, for two classes of periodic solutions, the geometric property of successor function and the analogue of the Poincaré criterion are employed to obtain the stability results. These results show that the number of the infective computers is under the threshold all the time. Finally, the theoretic and numerical analysis show that media coverage can delay the spread of computer virus.

Growth and quantum transport properties of vertical Bi2Se3 nanoplate films on Si substrates.

PubMed

Li, Mingze; Wang, Zhenhua; Yang, Liang; Pan, Desheng; Li, Da; Gao, Xuan P A; Zhang, Zhidong

2018-08-03

Controlling the growth direction (planar versus vertical) and surface-to-bulk ratio can lead to lots of unique properties for two-dimensional layered materials. We report a simple method to fabricate continuous films of vertical Bi 2 Se 3 nanoplates on Si substrate and investigate the quantum transport properties of such films. In contrast to (001) oriented planar Bi 2 Se 3 nanoplate film, vertical Bi 2 Se 3 nanoplate films are enclosed by (015) facets, which possess high surface-to-bulk ratio that can enhance the quantum transport property of topological surface states. And by controlling the compactness of vertical Bi 2 Se 3 nanoplates, we realized an effective tuning of the weak antilocalization effect from topological surface states in Bi 2 Se 3 films. Our work paves a way for exploring the unique transport properties of this unconventional structure topological insulator film.

Exotic chemical arrangements and magnetic moment evolution of NixPt1-x (0 ≤x≤ 1) nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mokkath, Junais Habeeb

2018-06-01

We present a systematic study on the chemical ordering pattern and the magnetic properties of NixPt1-x (0 ⩽ x≤ 1) nanoparticles having a size of 1.5 nm by means of an approach which combines basin hopping structure sampling technique and spin-polarized density functional theory. We found exotic chemical ordering patterns for different Ni/Pt ratios. In addition, we observed a sharp phase transition from non-magnetic to ferromagnetic behaviour around x = 67%. We show that this is a direct consequence of a unique atomic arrangement on the surface in which Ni atoms club together causing the strong Ni-Ni magnetic interaction. The observed magnetic properties are correlated to the electronic density of states.

Transparent and stretchable high-performance supercapacitors based on wrinkled graphene electrodes.

PubMed

Chen, Tao; Xue, Yuhua; Roy, Ajit K; Dai, Liming

2014-01-28

Transparent and/or stretchable energy storage devices have attracted intense attention due to their unique optical and/or mechanical properties as well as their intrinsic energy storage function. However, it remains a great challenge to integrate transparent and stretchable properties into an energy storage device because the currently developed electrodes are either transparent or stretchable, but not both. Herein, we report a simple method to fabricate wrinkled graphene with high stretchability and transparency. The resultant wrinkled graphene sheets were used as both current collector and electrode materials to develop transparent and stretchable supercapacitors, which showed a high transparency (57% at 550 nm) and can be stretched up to 40% strain without obvious performance change over hundreds of stretching cycles.

Effects of different combinations of “Baoshiling” on soil physical and chemical properties of Huangguogan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Y. H.; Wang, Z. H.; Xiong, B.; Qiu, X.; Liao, L.; Shun, G. C.; Huang, S. J.; Dong, Z. X.; Liu, X. Y.; Xi, L. J.

2017-08-01

The research is done on the Huangguogan (unique citrus breed in Sichuan, China). The experiment setted 27 groups of “Baoshiling” (self-study compound fertilizer) fertilization treatment to explore the “Baoshiling” different combinations on soil physical and chemical properties of Huangguogan. The results showed that all the combinations had improved the soil of Huangguogan orchard. The combination of A3B2C2 had the best effect. The best Fertilization management measures was “Baoshiling” bud flowering fertilizer 2kg, stable fruit fertilizer 2kg, strong fruit fertilizer 2kg. It could reduce the pH of soil and the bulk density of soil, increase the available nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium and urease activity.

Evaluation of Current Planetary Boundary Layer Retrieval Capabilities from Space

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Santanello, Joseph A., Jr.; Schaefer, Alexander J.; Blaisdell, John; Yorks, John

2016-01-01

The PBL over land remains a significant gap in our water and energy cycle understanding from space. This work combines unique NASA satellite and model products to demonstrate the ability of current sensors (advanced IR sounding and lidar) to retrieve PBL properties and in turn their potential to be used globally to evaluate and improve weather and climate prediction models. While incremental progress has been made in recent AIRS retrieval versions, insufficient vertical resolution remains in terms of detecting PBL properties. Lidar shows promise in terms of detecting vertical gradients (and PBLh) in the lower troposphere, but daytime conditions over land remain a challenge due to noise, and their coverage is limited to approximately 2 weeks or longer return times.

PALS: A unique probe for the molecular organisation of biopolymer matrices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roussenova, M.; Alam, M. A.

2013-06-01

This short review aims to illustrate the versatility of Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy (PALS) when utilized for the characterization of biopolymers (e.g.: starch, fractionated maltooligomers, gelatin and cellulose derivatives) commonly used for the formulation of pharmaceutical encapsulants. By showing examples from a number of recent PALS studies, we illustrate that this technique can be used to probe the changes in thermodynamic state and molecular packing for a wide range of biopolymer matrices as a function of temperature, matrix composition and water content. This provides a basis for establishing composition-structure-property relationships for these materials, which would eventually enable the rational control of their macroscopic properties and the design of optimal encapsulating matrices and intelligent drug delivery systems.

Implications of the Occurrence of Glitches in Pulsar Free Precession Candidates.

PubMed

Jones, D I; Ashton, G; Prix, R

2017-06-30

The timing properties of radio pulsars provide a unique probe of neutron star interiors. Recent observations have uncovered quasiperiodicities in the timing and pulse properties of some pulsars, a phenomenon that has often been attributed to free precession of the neutron star, with profound implications for the distribution of superfluidity and superconductivity in the star. We advance this program by developing consistency relations between free precession and pulsars glitches, and we show that there are difficulties in reconciling the two phenomena in some precession candidates. This indicates that the precession model used here needs to be modified or some other phenomenon is at work in producing the quasiperiodicities, or even that there is something missing in terms of our understanding of glitches.

Microwave properties of sea ice in the marginal ice zone

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Onstott, R. G.; Larson, R. W.

1986-01-01

Active microwave properties of summer sea ice were measured. Backscatter data were acquired at frequencies from 1 to 17 GHz, at angles from 0 to 70 deg from vertical, and with like and cross antenna polarizations. Results show that melt-water, snow thickness, snowpack morphology, snow surface roughness, ice surface roughness, and deformation characteristics are the fundamental scene parameters which govern the summer sea ice backscatter response. A thick, wet snow cover dominates the backscatter response and masks any ice sheet features below. However, snow and melt-water are not distributed uniformly and the stage of melt may also be quite variable. These nonuniformities related to ice type are not necessarily well understood and produce unique microwave signature characteristics.

Synthesis and Properties of a Precision Sulfonated Trimethylene-Styrene Polyelectrolyte

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kennemur, Justin; Neary, William; Bohlmann, Michele; Kendrick, Aaron

We recently reported successful ring-opening metathesis polymerization of 4-phenylcyclopentene to afford a precision ethylene-styrene type copolymer with a phenyl branch at exactly every fifth carbon along the backbone following mild hydrogenation of the backbone olefins. (http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/marc.201600121) Compared to polystyrene, this material shows a markedly reduced glass transition temperature (Tg 17 °C) and remains amorphous. We have now extended the function of this polymer via sulfonation of the phenyl branches to produce a precision polyelectrolyte with an ionic charge spacing at every fifth carbon along the chain. The reduced yet precise charge density coupled with the low Tg of the native material translates into a variety of properties that are unique to this system and potentially useful as an addition to the limited set of available polyelectrolyte materials. Synthetic aspects in addition to thermal and mechanical properties will be discussed. Graduate Student.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Smedskjaer, Morten M., E-mail: mos@bio.aau.dk; Bauchy, Mathieu; Mauro, John C.

The properties of glass are determined not only by temperature, pressure, and composition, but also by their complete thermal and pressure histories. Here, we show that glasses of identical composition produced through thermal annealing and through quenching from elevated pressure can result in samples with identical density and mean interatomic distances, yet different bond angle distributions, medium-range structures, and, thus, macroscopic properties. We demonstrate that hardness is higher when the density increase is obtained through thermal annealing rather than through pressure-quenching. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal that this arises because pressure-quenching has a larger effect on medium-range order, while annealing hasmore » a larger effect on short-range structures (sharper bond angle distribution), which ultimately determine hardness according to bond constraint theory. Our work could open a new avenue towards industrially useful glasses that are identical in terms of composition and density, but with differences in thermodynamic, mechanical, and rheological properties due to unique structural characteristics.« less

New developments in thermally stable polymers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hergenrother, Paul M.

1991-01-01

Advances in high-temperature polymers since 1985 are discussed with the emphasis on the chemistry. High-temperature polymers refer to materials that exhibit glass-transition temperatures greater than 200 C and have the chemical structure expected to provide high thermooxidative stability. Specific polymers or series of polymers were selected to show how the chemical structure influences certain properties. Poly(arylene ethers) and polyimides are the two principal families of polymers discussed. Recent work on poly(arylene ethers) has concentrated on incorporating heterocyclic units within the polymer backbone. Recent polyimide work has centered on the synthesis of new polymers from novel monomers, several containing the trifluoromethyl group strategically located on the molecule. Various members in each of these polymer families display a unique combination of properties, heretofore unattainable. Other families of polymers are also briefly discussed with a polymer from an AB maleimidobenzocyclobutene exhibiting an especially attractive combination of properties.

Future property damage from flooding: sensitivities to economy and climate change

DOE PAGES

Liu, Jing; Hertel, Thomas; Diffenbaugh, Noah; ...

2015-08-09

Using a unique dataset for Indiana counties during the period 1995-2012, we estimate the effects of flood hazard, asset exposure, and social vulnerability on property damage. This relationship then is combined with the expected level of future flood risks to project property damage from flooding in 2030 under various scenarios. We compare these scenario projections to identify which risk management strategy offers the greatest potential to mitigate flooding loss. Results show that by 2030, county level flooding hazard measured by extreme flow volume and frequency will increase by an average of 16.2% and 7.4%, respectively. The total increase in propertymore » damages projected under different model specifications range from 13.3% to 20.8%. Across models future damages consistently exhibit the highest sensitivity to future increases in asset exposure, reinforcing the importance of non-structural measures in managing floodplain development.« less

Multifractal cross-correlation effects in two-variable time series of complex network vertex observables

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

OświÈ©cimka, Paweł; Livi, Lorenzo; DroŻdŻ, Stanisław

2016-10-01

We investigate the scaling of the cross-correlations calculated for two-variable time series containing vertex properties in the context of complex networks. Time series of such observables are obtained by means of stationary, unbiased random walks. We consider three vertex properties that provide, respectively, short-, medium-, and long-range information regarding the topological role of vertices in a given network. In order to reveal the relation between these quantities, we applied the multifractal cross-correlation analysis technique, which provides information about the nonlinear effects in coupling of time series. We show that the considered network models are characterized by unique multifractal properties of the cross-correlation. In particular, it is possible to distinguish between Erdös-Rényi, Barabási-Albert, and Watts-Strogatz networks on the basis of fractal cross-correlation. Moreover, the analysis of protein contact networks reveals characteristics shared with both scale-free and small-world models.

Haberlea rhodopensis: pharmaceutical and medical potential as a food additive.

PubMed

Todorova, Roumiana; Atanasov, Atanas T

2016-01-01

This review discusses the potential of Haberlea rhodopensis as a food additive. The following are described: plant distribution, reproduction, cultivation, propagation and resurrection properties; extraction, isolation and screening of biologically active compounds; metabolite changes during dehydration; phytotherapy-related properties such as antioxidant potential and free radical-scavenging activities, antioxidant skin effect, antibacterial activity, cytotoxic activity and cancer-modulating effect, radioprotective effect, chemoprotective effect, immunologic effect; present use in homoeopathy and cosmetics, pharmacological and economical importance; perspectives based on the ethnobotanical data for medicinal, cosmetic or ritual attributes. H. rhodopensis showed unique medical and pharmaceutical potential, related to antioxidant, antimicrobial, antimutagenic, anticancer, radioprotective, chemoprotective and immunological properties. H. rhodopensis extracts lack any cytotoxic activity and could be used in phytotherapy. The metabolic profiling of H. rhodopensis extracts revealed the presence of biologically active compounds, possessing antiradical and other physiological activities, useful for design of in vitro synthesised analogues and drugs.

Cell cycle regulation in human embryonic stem cells: links to adaptation to cell culture.

PubMed

Barta, Tomas; Dolezalova, Dasa; Holubcova, Zuzana; Hampl, Ales

2013-03-01

Cell cycle represents not only a tightly orchestrated mechanism of cell replication and cell division but it also plays an important role in regulation of cell fate decision. Particularly in the context of pluripotent stem cells or multipotent progenitor cells, regulation of cell fate decision is of paramount importance. It has been shown that human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) show unique cell cycle characteristics, such as short doubling time due to abbreviated G1 phase; these properties change with the onset of differentiation. This review summarizes the current understanding of cell cycle regulation in hESCs. We discuss cell cycle properties as well as regulatory machinery governing cell cycle progression of undifferentiated hESCs. Additionally, we provide evidence that long-term culture of hESCs is accompanied by changes in cell cycle properties as well as configuration of several cell cycle regulatory molecules.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, Chundong; Zhou, Yungang; He, Lifang

Due to its unique electronic properties and wide spectrum of promising applications, graphene has attracted much attention from scientists in various fields. Control and engineering of graphene’s semiconducting properties is considered to be the key of its applications in electronic devices. Here, we report a novel method to prepare in situ nitrogen-doped graphene by microwave plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition (CVD) using PDMS (Polydimethylsiloxane) as a solid carbon source. Based on this approach, the concentration of nitrogen-doping can be easily controlled via the flow rate of nitrogen during the CVD process. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results indicated that the nitrogen atomsmore » doped into graphene lattice were mainly in the forms of pyridinic and pyrrolic structures. Moreover, first-principles calculations show that the incorporated nitrogen atoms can lead to p-type doping of graphene. This in situ approach provides a promising strategy to prepare graphene with controlled electronic properties.« less

Stochastic Accumulation by Cortical Columns May Explain the Scalar Property of Multistable Perception

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cao, Robin; Braun, Jochen; Mattia, Maurizio

2014-08-01

The timing of certain mental events is thought to reflect random walks performed by underlying neural dynamics. One class of such events—stochastic reversals of multistable perceptions—exhibits a unique scalar property: even though timing densities vary widely, higher moments stay in particular proportions to the mean. We show that stochastic accumulation of activity in a finite number of idealized cortical columns—realizing a generalized Ehrenfest urn model—may explain these observations. Modeling stochastic reversals as the first-passage time of a threshold number of active columns, we obtain higher moments of the first-passage time density. We derive analytical expressions for noninteracting columns and generalize the results to interacting columns in simulations. The scalar property of multistable perception is reproduced by a dynamic regime with a fixed, low threshold, in which the activation of a few additional columns suffices for a reversal.

Floquet topological insulators for sound

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fleury, Romain; Khanikaev, Alexander B.; Alù, Andrea

2016-06-01

The unique conduction properties of condensed matter systems with topological order have recently inspired a quest for the similar effects in classical wave phenomena. Acoustic topological insulators, in particular, hold the promise to revolutionize our ability to control sound, allowing for large isolation in the bulk and broadband one-way transport along their edges, with topological immunity against structural defects and disorder. So far, these fascinating properties have been obtained relying on moving media, which may introduce noise and absorption losses, hindering the practical potential of topological acoustics. Here we overcome these limitations by modulating in time the acoustic properties of a lattice of resonators, introducing the concept of acoustic Floquet topological insulators. We show that acoustic waves provide a fertile ground to apply the anomalous physics of Floquet topological insulators, and demonstrate their relevance for a wide range of acoustic applications, including broadband acoustic isolation and topologically protected, nonreciprocal acoustic emitters.

Archetypal tryptophan-rich antimicrobial peptides: properties and applications.

PubMed

Shagaghi, Nadin; Palombo, Enzo A; Clayton, Andrew H A; Bhave, Mrinal

2016-02-01

Drug-resistant microorganisms ('superbugs') present a serious challenge to the success of antimicrobial treatments. Subsequently, there is a crucial need for novel bio-control agents. Many antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) show a broad-spectrum activity against bacteria, fungi or viruses and are strong candidates to complement or substitute current antimicrobial agents. Some AMPs are also effective against protozoa or cancer cells. The tryptophan (Trp)-rich peptides (TRPs) are a subset of AMPs that display potent antimicrobial activity, credited to the unique biochemical properties of tryptophan that allow it to insert into biological membranes. Further, many Trp-rich AMPs cross bacterial membranes without compromising their integrity and act intracellularly, suggesting interactions with nucleic acids and enzymes. In this work, we overview some archetypal TRPs derived from natural sources, i.e., indolicidin, tritrpticin and lactoferricin, summarising their biochemical properties, structures, antimicrobial activities, mechanistic studies and potential applications.

Amine Chemistry at Aqueous Interfaces: The Study of Organic Amines in Neutralizing Acidic Gases at an Air/Water Surface Using Vibrational Sum Frequency Spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McWilliams, L.; Wren, S. N.; Valley, N. A.; Richmond, G.

2014-12-01

Small organic bases have been measured in atmospheric samples, with their sources ranging from industrial processing to animal husbandry. These small organic amines are often highly soluble, being found in atmospheric condensed phases such as fogwater and rainwater. Additionally, they display acid-neutralization ability often greater than ammonia, yet little is known regarding their kinetic and thermodynamic properties. This presentation will describe the molecular level details of a model amine system at the vapor/liquid interface in the presence of acidic gas. We find that this amine system shows very unique properties in terms of its bonding, structure, and orientation at aqueous surfaces. The results of our studies using a combination of computation, vibrational sum frequency spectroscopy, and surface tension will report the properties inherent to these atmospherically relevant species at aqueous surfaces.

Structural and wetting properties of porous anodic alumina templates prepared by different electrolytes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Suchitra, S. M., E-mail: suchitra.ph14f03@nitk.edu.in; Reddy, P. Ramana; Udayashankar, N. K.

2016-05-06

Porous anodic alumina (PAA) has been extensively studied in recent years due to their unique properties and applications for manufacturing nanostructured materials. In this article, we report our studies on structural and wetting properties of PAA membranes prepared using different electrolytes such as sulphuric, oxalic and phosphoric acids. The morphological parameters such as pore diameter and porosity were measured using SEM and analysed using image-J software. The structural investigation of PAA membranes was carried out through X-ray diffraction analysis and it was confirmed that PAA membranes were amorphous in nature. The wetting behaviour of PAA membranes were measured using contactmore » angle measurement technique. The results show that PAA membranes were hydrophilic in nature with contact angles 26.03°, 35.21° and 42.0° for sulphuric, oxalic and phosphoric acids respectively.« less

Floquet topological insulators for sound

PubMed Central

Fleury, Romain; Khanikaev, Alexander B; Alù, Andrea

2016-01-01

The unique conduction properties of condensed matter systems with topological order have recently inspired a quest for the similar effects in classical wave phenomena. Acoustic topological insulators, in particular, hold the promise to revolutionize our ability to control sound, allowing for large isolation in the bulk and broadband one-way transport along their edges, with topological immunity against structural defects and disorder. So far, these fascinating properties have been obtained relying on moving media, which may introduce noise and absorption losses, hindering the practical potential of topological acoustics. Here we overcome these limitations by modulating in time the acoustic properties of a lattice of resonators, introducing the concept of acoustic Floquet topological insulators. We show that acoustic waves provide a fertile ground to apply the anomalous physics of Floquet topological insulators, and demonstrate their relevance for a wide range of acoustic applications, including broadband acoustic isolation and topologically protected, nonreciprocal acoustic emitters. PMID:27312175

Microwave assisted growth of nanorods vanadium dioxide VO2 (R): structural and electrical properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Derkaoui, I.; Khenfouch, M.; Mothudi, B. M.; Moloi, S. J.; Zorkani, I.; Jorio, A.; Maaza, M.

2018-03-01

Nanostructured metal oxides have attracted a lot of attention recently owning to their unique structural advantages and demonstrated promising chemical and physical properties for various applications. In this study, we report the structural and electrical properties of vanadium dioxide VO2 (R) prepared via a single reaction microwave (SRC) synthesis. Our results are revealing that the components of VO2 (R) films have a rod-like shape with a uniform size distribution. The nanorods with very smooth and flat surfaces have a typical length of up to 2μm and a width of about several nanometers. The structural investigations reveal the high crystallinity of VO2 (R) ensuring good electrical contact and showing a high conductivity as a function of temperature. This synthesis method provides a new simple route to fabricate one-dimensional nanostructured metal oxides which is suitable for a large field of applications especially for smart windows.

Mechanical properties of atomically thin boron nitride and the role of interlayer interactions

PubMed Central

Falin, Aleksey; Cai, Qiran; Santos, Elton J. G.; Scullion, Declan; Qian, Dong; Zhang, Rui; Yang, Zhi; Huang, Shaoming; Watanabe, Kenji; Taniguchi, Takashi; Barnett, Matthew R.; Chen, Ying; Ruoff, Rodney S.; Li, Lu Hua

2017-01-01

Atomically thin boron nitride (BN) nanosheets are important two-dimensional nanomaterials with many unique properties distinct from those of graphene, but investigation into their mechanical properties remains incomplete. Here we report that high-quality single-crystalline mono- and few-layer BN nanosheets are one of the strongest electrically insulating materials. More intriguingly, few-layer BN shows mechanical behaviours quite different from those of few-layer graphene under indentation. In striking contrast to graphene, whose strength decreases by more than 30% when the number of layers increases from 1 to 8, the mechanical strength of BN nanosheets is not sensitive to increasing thickness. We attribute this difference to the distinct interlayer interactions and hence sliding tendencies in these two materials under indentation. The significantly better interlayer integrity of BN nanosheets makes them a more attractive candidate than graphene for several applications, for example, as mechanical reinforcements. PMID:28639613

Ni-Ti Alloys for Aerospace Bearing Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

DellaCorte, Christopher

2017-01-01

Nickel-rich Ni-Ti alloys are emerging candidate materials for aerospace bearing applications. These alloys exhibit a unique combination of physical, chemical, and tribological properties that are highly relevant to challenging aerospace bearings and other mechanical components. Despite being made solely from metals, Ni-Ti alloys are classified as intermetallics with properties akin to both metals and ceramics. For instance, like metals, they are electrically conductive but they tend to be brittle like ceramics. When properly processed, they have high hardness, low elastic modulus and an extensive elastic deformation range that imparts extraordinarily high resilience and resistance to denting. New alloy compositions enable simpler thermal processing and machining and intensive microstructural analyses have helped elucidate the materials science mechanisms governing hardness. In this paper, the application of state-of-art in NiTi alloys for aerospace bearings and mechanical components is explored. In addition to reviewing future trends and remaining challenges, the unique approaches and methods of tailoring bearing design to accommodate NiTis unique properties is discussed.

Unique spectral signatures of the nucleic acid dye acridine orange can distinguish cell death by apoptosis and necroptosis

PubMed Central

Caprariello, Andrew V.; Henry, Tyler J.; Tsutsui, Shigeki; Chu, Tak H.; Schenk, Geert J.; Yong, V. Wee

2017-01-01

Cellular injury and death are ubiquitous features of disease, yet tools to detect them are limited and insensitive to subtle pathological changes. Acridine orange (AO), a nucleic acid dye with unique spectral properties, enables real-time measurement of RNA and DNA as proxies for cell viability during exposure to various noxious stimuli. This tool illuminates spectral signatures unique to various modes of cell death, such as cells undergoing apoptosis versus necrosis/necroptosis. This new approach also shows that cellular RNA decreases during necrotic, necroptotic, and apoptotic cell death caused by demyelinating, ischemic, and traumatic injuries, implying its involvement in a wide spectrum of tissue pathologies. Furthermore, cells with pathologically low levels of cytoplasmic RNA are detected earlier and in higher numbers than with standard markers including TdT-mediated dUTP biotin nick-end labeling and cleaved caspase 3 immunofluorescence. Our technique highlights AO-labeled cytoplasmic RNA as an important early marker of cellular injury and a sensitive indicator of various modes of cell death in a range of experimental models. PMID:28264914

Physicochemical properties of quinoa flour as affected by starch interactions.

PubMed

Li, Guantian; Zhu, Fan

2017-04-15

There has been growing interest in whole grain quinoa flour for new product development due to the unique nutritional benefits. The quality of quinoa flour is much determined by the properties of its major component starch as well as non-starch components. In this study, composition and physicochemical properties of whole grain flour from 7 quinoa samples have been analyzed. Flour properties have been correlated to the flour composition and the properties of isolated quinoa starches through chemometrics. Great variations in chemical composition, swelling power, water soluble index, enzyme susceptibility, pasting, gel texture, and thermal properties of the flour have been observed. Correlation analysis showed that thermal properties and enzyme susceptibility of quinoa flour are highly influenced by the starch. Interactions of starch with non-starch components, including lipids, protein, dietary fibre, phenolics, and minerals, greatly impacted the flour properties. For example, peak gelatinization temperature of the flour is positively correlated to that of the starch (r=0.948, p<0.01) and negatively correlated to the lipid content (r=-0.951, p<0.01). Understanding the roles of starch and other components in physicochemical properties of quinoa flour provides a basis for better utilization of this specialty crop. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Superheavy Elements and Anti-Gravity

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Anastasovski, Petar K.

2004-02-04

The essence of any propulsion concept is to overcome gravity. Anti-gravity is a natural means to achieve this. Thus, the technology to pursue anti-gravity, by using superheavy elements, may provide a new propulsion paradigm. The theory of superluminal relativity provides a hypothesis for existence of elements with atomic number up to Z = 145, some of which may possess anti-gravity properties. Analysis results show that curved space-time exists demonstrating both gravitic and anti-gravitic properties not only around nuclei but inside the nuclei as well. Two groups of elements (Z < 64 and 63 < Z <145) exist that demonstrate thesemore » capabilities. The nuclei of the first group of elements have the masses with only the property of gravity. The nuclei of the elements of the second group have the masses with both properties: gravity and anti-gravity in two different ranges of curved space-time around the nuclei.. The hypothetical element with Z = 145 is the unique among all elements whose nucleus has only anti-gravity property. It is proposed that this element be named Hawking, in honour of Stephen W. Hawking.« less

The Effect of Water Molecules on Mechanical Properties of Bamboo Microfibrils

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rahbar, Nima

Bamboo fibers have higher strength-to-weight ratios than steel and concrete. The unique properties of bamboo fibers come from their natural composite structures that comprise mainly cellulose nanofibrils in a matrix of intertwined hemicellulose and lignin called lignin-carbohydrate complex (LCC). Here, we have utilized atomistic simulations to investigate the mechanical properties and mechanisms of interactions between these materials, in the presence of water molecules. Our results suggest that hemicellulose exhibits better mechanical properties and lignin shows greater tendency to adhere to cellulose nanofibrils. Consequently, the role of hemicellulose found to be enhancing the mechanical properties and lignin found to be providing the strength of bamboo fibers. The abundance of Hbonds in hemicellulose chains is responsible for improving the mechanical behavior of LCC. The strong van der Waals forces between lignin molecules and cellulose nanofibrils is responsible for higher adhesion energy between LCC/cellulose nanofibrils. We also found out that the amorphous regions of cellulose nanofibrils is the weakest interface in bamboo Microfibrils. In presence of water, the elastic modulus of lignin increases at low water content (less than 10 NSF CAREER Grant No. 1261284.

The Superheavy Elements and Anti-Gravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anastasovski, Petar K.

2004-02-01

The essence of any propulsion concept is to overcome gravity. Anti-gravity is a natural means to achieve this. Thus, the technology to pursue anti-gravity, by using superheavy elements, may provide a new propulsion paradigm. The theory of superluminal relativity provides a hypothesis for existence of elements with atomic number up to Z = 145, some of which may possess anti-gravity properties. Analysis results show that curved space-time exists demonstrating both gravitic and anti-gravitic properties not only around nuclei but inside the nuclei as well. Two groups of elements (Z < 64 and 63 < Z <145) exist that demonstrate these capabilities. The nuclei of the first group of elements have the masses with only the property of gravity. The nuclei of the elements of the second group have the masses with both properties: gravity and anti-gravity in two different ranges of curved space-time around the nuclei.. The hypothetical element with Z = 145 is the unique among all elements whose nucleus has only anti-gravity property. It is proposed that this element be named Hawking, in honour of Stephen W. Hawking.

Transient Dynamic Mechanical Analysis of Resilin-based Elastomeric Hydrogels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Linqing; Kiick, Kristi

2014-04-01

The outstanding high-frequency properties of emerging resilin-like polypeptides (RLPs) have motivated their development for vocal fold tissue regeneration and other applications. Recombinant RLP hydrogels show efficient gelation, tunable mechanical properties, and display excellent extensibility, but little has been reported about their transient mechanical properties. In this manuscript, we describe the transient mechanical behavior of new RLP hydrogels investigated via both sinusoidal oscillatory shear deformation and uniaxial tensile testing. Oscillatory stress relaxation and creep experiments confirm that RLP-based hydrogels display significantly reduced stress relaxation and improved strain recovery compared to PEG-based control hydrogels. Uniaxial tensile testing confirms the negligible hysteresis, reversible elasticity and superior resilience (up to 98%) of hydrated RLP hydrogels, with Young’s modulus values that compare favorably with those previously reported for resilin and that mimic the tensile properties of the vocal fold ligament at low strain (< 15%). These studies expand our understanding of the properties of these RLP materials under a variety of conditions, and confirm the unique applicability, for mechanically demanding tissue engineering applications, of a range of RLP hydrogels.

Characterization of core–shell MOF particles by depth profiling experiments using on-line single particle mass spectrometry

DOE PAGES

Cahill, J. F.; Fei, H.; Cohen, S. M.; ...

2015-01-05

Materials with core-shell structures have distinct properties that lend themselves to a variety of potential applications. Characterization of small particle core-shell materials presents a unique analytical challenge. Herein, single particles of solid-state materials with core-shell structures were measured using on-line aerosol time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ATOFMS). Laser 'depth profiling' experiments verified the core-shell nature of two known core-shell particle configurations (< 2 mu m diameter) that possessed inverted, complimentary core-shell compositions (ZrO2@SiO2 versus SiO2@ZrO2). The average peak area ratios of Si and Zr ions were calculated to definitively show their core-shell composition. These ratio curves acted as a calibrant for anmore » uncharacterized sample - a metal-organic framework (MOF) material surround by silica (UiO-66(Zr)@SiO2; UiO = University of Oslo). ATOFMS depth profiling was used to show that these particles did indeed exhibit a core-shell architecture. The results presented here show that ATOFMS can provide unique insights into core-shell solid-state materials with particle diameters between 0.2-3 mu m.« less

A Swedish national twin study of criminal behavior and its violent, white-collar and property subtypes.

PubMed

Kendler, K S; Maes, H H; Lönn, S L; Morris, N A; Lichtenstein, P; Sundquist, J; Sundquist, K

2015-08-01

We sought to clarify the etiological contribution of genetic and environmental factors to total criminal behavior (CB) measured as criminal convictions in men and women, and to violent (VCB), white-collar (WCCB) and property criminal behavior (PCB) in men only. In 21 603 twin pairs from the Swedish Twin Registry, we obtained information on all criminal convictions from 1973 to 2011 from the Swedish Crime Register. Twin modeling was performed using the OpenMx package. For all criminal convictions, heritability was estimated at around 45% in both sexes, with the shared environment accounting for 18% of the variance in liability in females and 27% in males. The correlation of these risk factors across sexes was estimated at +0.63. In men, the magnitudes of genetic and environmental influence were similar in the three criminal conviction subtypes. However, for violent and white-collar convictions, nearly half and one-third of the genetic effects were respectively unique to that criminal subtype. About half of the familial environmental effects were unique to property convictions. The familial aggregation of officially recorded CB is substantial and results from both genetic and familial environmental factors. These factors are moderately correlated across the sexes suggesting that some genetic and environmental influences on criminal convictions are unique to men and to women. Violent criminal behavior and property crime are substantially influenced respectively by genetic and shared environmental risk factors unique to that criminal subtype.

Physical properties of mixed dairy food proteins

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Mixed food protein gels are complex systems, which changes functional behaviors such as gelling properties and viscosity depending on the miscibility of the proteins. We have noted that differences in co-solubility of mixed proteins created unique network structures and gel properties. The effects o...

The optical, photothermal, and facile surface chemical properties of gold and silver nanoparticles in biodiagnostics, therapy, and drug delivery

PubMed Central

Austin, Lauren A.; Mackey, Megan A.; Dreaden, Erik C.

2014-01-01

Nanotechnology is a rapidly growing area of research in part due to its integration into many biomedical applications. Within nanotechnology, gold and silver nanostructures are some of the most heavily utilized nanomaterial due to their unique optical, photothermal, and facile surface chemical properties. In this review, common colloid synthesis methods and biofunctionalization strategies of gold and silver nanostructures are highlighted. Their unique properties are also discussed in terms of their use in biodiagnostic, imaging, therapeutic, and drug delivery applications. Furthermore, relevant clinical applications utilizing gold and silver nanostructures are also presented. We also provide a table with reviews covering related topics. PMID:24894431

The Use and Method of Action of Intravenous Lidocaine and Its Metabolite in Headache Disorders.

PubMed

Berk, Thomas; Silberstein, Stephen D

2018-03-14

Lidocaine, an amide anesthetic, has been used in the treatment of a wide variety of pain disorders for over 75 years. In addition to pain control, lidocaine is an anti-arrhythmic agent and has anti-inflammatory properties. Lidocaine's unique properties, including nonlinear pharmacokinetics, have limited its modern-day use. The purpose of this review is to offer a better understanding of the properties of this unique treatment, which we hope will allow more practitioners to offer this to their patients. An analysis of the history, pharmacokinetics, and relevant uses of lidocaine in headache medicine based on a synthesis of the medical literature and clinical experience. Lidocaine is an amide anesthetic that inhibits voltage gated sodium channels, and lidocaine metabolism occurs exclusively in the liver. One lidocaine metabolite has its own unique properties and may be an active form of the drug. Open label and retrospective studies have investigated the use of lidocaine in many headache disorders, primarily via injection or infusion. Further research into the active metabolite of lidocaine may allow for its use as a novel nonopiate treatment of chronic pain. © 2018 American Headache Society.

Spectral reflectance properties of minerals exposed to simulated Mars surface conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cloutis, E. A.; Craig, M. A.; Kruzelecky, R. V.; Jamroz, W. R.; Scott, A.; Hawthorne, F. C.; Mertzman, S. A.

2008-05-01

A number of mineral species were exposed to martian surface conditions of atmospheric pressure and composition, temperature, and UV light regime, and their evolution was monitored using reflectance spectroscopy. The stabilities for different groups varied widely. Phyllosilicate spectra all showed measurable losses of interlayer H 2O, with some structural groups showing more rapid H 2O loss than others. Loss of OH from the phyllosilicates is not always accompanied by a change in metal-OH overtone absorption bands. OH-bearing sulfates, such as jarosite and alunite, show no measurable change in spectral properties, suggesting that they should be spectrally detectable on Mars on the basis of diagnostic absorption bands in the 0.4-2.5 μm region. Fe 3+- and H 2O-bearing sulfates all showed changes in the appearance and/or reduction in depths of hydroxo-bridged Fe 3+ absorption bands, particularly at 0.43 μm. The spectral changes were often accompanied by visible color changes, suggesting that subsurface sulfates exposed to the martian surface environment may undergo measurable changes in reflectance spectra and color over short periods of time (days to weeks). Organic-bearing geological materials showed no measurable change in C sbnd H related absorption bands, while carbonates and hydroxides also showed no systematic changes in spectral properties. The addition of ultraviolet irradiation did not seem to affect mineral stability or rate of spectral change, with one exception (hexahydrite). In some cases, spectral changes could be related to the formation of specific new phases. The data also suggest that hydrated minerals detected on Mars to date retain their diagnostic spectral properties that allow their unique identification.

Somatostatin-Expressing Inhibitory Interneurons in Cortical Circuits

PubMed Central

Yavorska, Iryna; Wehr, Michael

2016-01-01

Cortical inhibitory neurons exhibit remarkable diversity in their morphology, connectivity, and synaptic properties. Here, we review the function of somatostatin-expressing (SOM) inhibitory interneurons, focusing largely on sensory cortex. SOM neurons also comprise a number of subpopulations that can be distinguished by their morphology, input and output connectivity, laminar location, firing properties, and expression of molecular markers. Several of these classes of SOM neurons show unique dynamics and characteristics, such as facilitating synapses, specific axonal projections, intralaminar input, and top-down modulation, which suggest possible computational roles. SOM cells can be differentially modulated by behavioral state depending on their class, sensory system, and behavioral paradigm. The functional effects of such modulation have been studied with optogenetic manipulation of SOM cells, which produces effects on learning and memory, task performance, and the integration of cortical activity. Different classes of SOM cells participate in distinct disinhibitory circuits with different inhibitory partners and in different cortical layers. Through these disinhibitory circuits, SOM cells help encode the behavioral relevance of sensory stimuli by regulating the activity of cortical neurons based on subcortical and intracortical modulatory input. Associative learning leads to long-term changes in the strength of connectivity of SOM cells with other neurons, often influencing the strength of inhibitory input they receive. Thus despite their heterogeneity and variability across cortical areas, current evidence shows that SOM neurons perform unique neural computations, forming not only distinct molecular but also functional subclasses of cortical inhibitory interneurons. PMID:27746722

Spectroscopic and E-tongue evaluation of medicinal plants: A taste of how rasa can be studied.

PubMed

Jayasundar, Rama; Ghatak, Somenath

The use of medicinal plants in Ayurveda is based on rasa, generally taken to represent taste as a sensory perception. This chemosensory parameter plays an important role in Ayurvedic pharmacology. The aim is to explore the use of structuro-functional information deduced from analytical techniques for the rasa-based classification of medicinal plants in Ayurveda. Methods of differential sensing and spectroscopic metabolomics have been used in select medicinal plants from three different taste categories (sweet, pungent and multiple taste): Tribulus terrestris, Vitis vinifera and Glycyrrhiza glabra from sweet category; Piper longum, Cuminum cyminum and Capsicum annum from pungent group; Emblica officinalis with five tastes. While Electronic tongue was used for evaluation of the sensorial property of taste, the chemical properties were studied with Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Fourier Transform InfraRed (FTIR) and Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS). In terms of taste and phytochemical profiles, all samples were unique but with similarities within each group. While the sensor response in E-tongue showed similarities within the sweet and pungent categories, NMR spectra in the aromatic region showed close similarities between the plants in the sweet category. The sensory, phytochemical and phytoelemental profiles of E. officinalis (with five rasa) in particular, were unique. A combination of sensorial and chemical descriptors is a promising approach for a comprehensive evaluation and fingerprinting of the Ayurvedic pharmacological parameter rasa. Copyright © 2016 Transdisciplinary University, Bangalore and World Ayurveda Foundation. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The cost of uniqueness in groundwater model calibration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moore, Catherine; Doherty, John

2006-04-01

Calibration of a groundwater model requires that hydraulic properties be estimated throughout a model domain. This generally constitutes an underdetermined inverse problem, for which a solution can only be found when some kind of regularization device is included in the inversion process. Inclusion of regularization in the calibration process can be implicit, for example through the use of zones of constant parameter value, or explicit, for example through solution of a constrained minimization problem in which parameters are made to respect preferred values, or preferred relationships, to the degree necessary for a unique solution to be obtained. The "cost of uniqueness" is this: no matter which regularization methodology is employed, the inevitable consequence of its use is a loss of detail in the calibrated field. This, in turn, can lead to erroneous predictions made by a model that is ostensibly "well calibrated". Information made available as a by-product of the regularized inversion process allows the reasons for this loss of detail to be better understood. In particular, it is easily demonstrated that the estimated value for an hydraulic property at any point within a model domain is, in fact, a weighted average of the true hydraulic property over a much larger area. This averaging process causes loss of resolution in the estimated field. Where hydraulic conductivity is the hydraulic property being estimated, high averaging weights exist in areas that are strategically disposed with respect to measurement wells, while other areas may contribute very little to the estimated hydraulic conductivity at any point within the model domain, this possibly making the detection of hydraulic conductivity anomalies in these latter areas almost impossible. A study of the post-calibration parameter field covariance matrix allows further insights into the loss of system detail incurred through the calibration process to be gained. A comparison of pre- and post-calibration parameter covariance matrices shows that the latter often possess a much smaller spectral bandwidth than the former. It is also demonstrated that, as an inevitable consequence of the fact that a calibrated model cannot replicate every detail of the true system, model-to-measurement residuals can show a high degree of spatial correlation, a fact which must be taken into account when assessing these residuals either qualitatively, or quantitatively in the exploration of model predictive uncertainty. These principles are demonstrated using a synthetic case in which spatial parameter definition is based on pilot points, and calibration is implemented using both zones of piecewise constancy and constrained minimization regularization.

Geoelectrical Monitoring of Ammonium Sorption Processes in a Biochar Filtration System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, S. L.; Osei, C.; Rabinovich, A.; Ntarlagiannis, D.; Rouff, A.

2017-12-01

With the rise of modern agriculture, nutrient pollution has become an increasingly important environmental concern. A common problem is excess nitrogen which agricultural livestock farms often generate in the form of ammonium (NH4+). This highly soluble ion is easily transported through runoff and leaching, leading to water supply contamination and soil fertility decline. Biochar is the carbon-rich product of thermal decomposition of biomass in an oxygen-free environment. It is primarily used as a soil enhancer with other applications currently under research. Biochar's unique characteristics such as high surface area, high sorption capacity and long term biological and chemical stability make it a prime candidate for environmental applications such as contaminant regulation and waste effluent treatment. The spectral induced polarization (SIP) method is an established geoelectrical method that has been increasingly used in environmental investigations. SIP is unique among geophysical methods because it is sensitive not only to the bulk properties of the medium under investigation but also to the interfacial properties (e.g., mineral-fluid). The unique properties that make biochar attractive for environmental use are associated with surface properties (e.g., surface area, surface charge, presence of functional groups) that are expected to have a profound effect on SIP signals. This study presents early results on the use of the SIP method to monitor ammonium recycling of swine wastewater in a biochar filtration system. SIP measurements were taken continuously as biochar-packed columns were first injected with an ammonium wastewater solution (sorption phase) and then an ammonium-free solution (desorption phase). Geochemical monitoring showed that outflow ammonium concentration decreased during the sorption phase and increased during the desorption phase. The collected SIP data appear to be in agreement with the geochemical monitoring, providing a temporally continuous record of changes on the waste fluid and biochar surface. The results suggest that biochar successfully sorbs and releases ammonium and that the SIP method is sensitive these sorption processes. Further research is required for the quantitative interpretation of the SIP signals, including the signal source mechanism.

Thermal and mechanical properties of 3D printed boron nitride - ABS composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Quill, Tyler J.; Smith, Matthew K.; Zhou, Tony; Baioumy, Mohamed Gamal Shafik; Berenguer, Joao Paulo; Cola, Baratunde A.; Kalaitzidou, Kyriaki; Bougher, Thomas L.

2017-11-01

The current work investigates the thermal conductivity and mechanical properties of Boron Nitride (BN)-Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) composites prepared using both 3D printing and injection molding. The thermally conductive, yet electrically insulating composite material provides a unique combination of properties that make it desirable for heat dissipation and packaging applications in electronics. Materials were fabricated via melt mixing on a twin-screw compounder, then injection molded or extruded into filament for fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing. Compositions of up to 35 wt.% BN in ABS were prepared, and the infill orientation of the 3D printed composites was varied to investigate the effect on properties. Injection molding produced a maximum in-plane conductivity of 1.45 W/m-K at 35 wt.% BN, whereas 3D printed samples of 35 wt.% BN showed a value of 0.93 W/m-K, over 5 times the conductivity of pure ABS. The resulting thermal conductivity is anisotropic; with the through-plane thermal conductivity lower by a factor of 3 for injection molding and 4 for 3D printing. Adding BN flakes caused a modest increase in the flexural modulus, but resulted in a large decrease in the flexural strength and impact toughness. It is shown that although injection molding produces parts with superior thermal and mechanical properties, BN shows much potential as a filler material for rapid prototyping of thermally conductive composites.

Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Probed with Insulator-Based Dielectrophoresis

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) offer unique electrical and optical properties. Common synthesis processes yield SWNTs with large length polydispersity (several tens of nanometers up to centimeters) and heterogeneous electrical and optical properties. Applications often require suitable selection and purification. Dielectrophoresis is one manipulation method for separating SWNTs based on dielectric properties and geometry. Here, we present a study of surfactant and single-stranded DNA-wrapped SWNTs suspended in aqueous solutions manipulated by insulator-based dielectrophoresis (iDEP). This method allows us to manipulate SWNTs with the help of arrays of insulating posts in a microfluidic device around which electric field gradients are created by the application of an electric potential to the extremities of the device. Semiconducting SWNTs were imaged during dielectrophoretic manipulation with fluorescence microscopy making use of their fluorescence emission in the near IR. We demonstrate SWNT trapping at low-frequency alternating current (AC) electric fields with applied potentials not exceeding 1000 V. Interestingly, suspended SWNTs showed both positive and negative dielectrophoresis, which we attribute to their ζ potential and the suspension properties. Such behavior agrees with common theoretical models for nanoparticle dielectrophoresis. We further show that the measured ζ potentials and suspension properties are in excellent agreement with a numerical model predicting the trapping locations in the iDEP device. This study is fundamental for the future application of low-frequency AC iDEP for technological applications of SWNTs. PMID:29131586

Characterization of Ice and Snow In-Situ Properties During the Main Weather Regimes Observed in The Olympic Mountain Experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Borque, P.; Finlon, J.; Nesbitt, S. W.; McFarquhar, G. M.

2017-12-01

Observations from the Olympic Mountain Experiment (OLYMPEX) present a unique opportunity to analyze a vast catalogue of in-situ microphysical information over a variety of mid-latitude precipitation types. Data collected by the Citation Research Aircraft was processed using the University of Illinois/Oklahoma Optical Array Probe Processing Software to give not only bulk cloud properties (e.g., total number concentration, ice water content (IWC), and parameters describing gamma fits to observed size distributions) but also particle-by-particle properties (e.g., aspect ratio, perimeter, and projected area). In this work, we analyzed these properties in association with the different processes (e.g., aggregation, riming and accretion) occurring under the three main weather sectors (warm, prefrontal, and postfrontal) present over the OLYMPEX region. Bulk and particle properties present statistically different characteristics over the different sectors of the weather system analyzed. For example, the IWC over the warm sector presents a bimodal distribution with the primary maximum present at 0.055 g m-3 and a secondary maximum at 0.235 g m-3; whereas over the postfrontal sector the IWC has a unique maximum at 0.005 g m-3. The higher frequency of occurrence of mass-weighted mean crystal diameter (Dm) occurs at 1.57mm for the warm sector and 0.125mm for the postfrontal sector. In summary, the warm sector is characterized by large IWC, large Dm, shape parameter of the gamma distribution (μ) close to zero, and lighter particles (following a simple mass-diameter relation), all consistent with aggregation being the dominant process. In contrast, observations from the postfrontal sector show smaller IWCs, smaller Dm, negative μ, and heavier particles, all consistent with rimed particles dominating the region. Evidence for this was also seen with particle images from the in-situ probes showing large aggregates present in the warm sector and rimed particles in the postfrontal sector. The characterization of this extensive catalog of observations leads to a better understanding of the dominating microphysical process present in each region, which will improve GPM algorithms as bulk and particle information are of fundamental importance to relate ice cloud particle shape properties to mass-related information

Soil

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Soil is a diverse natural material characterized by solid, liquid, and gas phases that impart unique chemical, physical, and biological properties. Soil provides many key functions, including supporting plant growth and providing environmental remediation. Monitoring key soil properties and processe...

A unique set of micromechanics equations for high temperature metal matrix composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hopkins, D. A.; Chamis, C. C.

1985-01-01

A unique set of micromechanic equations is presented for high temperature metal matrix composites. The set includes expressions to predict mechanical properties, thermal properties and constituent microstresses for the unidirectional fiber reinforced ply. The equations are derived based on a mechanics of materials formulation assuming a square array unit cell model of a single fiber, surrounding matrix and an interphase to account for the chemical reaction which commonly occurs between fiber and matrix. A three-dimensional finite element analysis was used to perform a preliminary validation of the equations. Excellent agreement between properties predicted using the micromechanics equations and properties simulated by the finite element analyses are demonstrated. Implementation of the micromechanics equations as part of an integrated computational capability for nonlinear structural analysis of high temperature multilayered fiber composites is illustrated.

Nano-Sized Cyclodextrin-Based Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Adsorbents for Perfluorinated Compounds—A Mini-Review

PubMed Central

Karoyo, Abdalla H.; Wilson, Lee D.

2015-01-01

Recent efforts have been directed towards the design of efficient and contaminant selective remediation technology for the removal of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) from soils, sediments, and aquatic environments. While there is a general consensus on adsorption-based processes as the most suitable methodology for the removal of PFCs from aquatic environments, challenges exist regarding the optimal materials design of sorbents for selective uptake of PFCs. This article reviews the sorptive uptake of PFCs using cyclodextrin (CD)-based polymer adsorbents with nano- to micron-sized structural attributes. The relationship between synthesis of adsorbent materials and their structure relate to the overall sorption properties. Hence, the adsorptive uptake properties of CD-based molecularly imprinted polymers (CD-MIPs) are reviewed and compared with conventional MIPs. Further comparison is made with non-imprinted polymers (NIPs) that are based on cross-linking of pre-polymer units such as chitosan with epichlorohydrin in the absence of a molecular template. In general, MIPs offer the advantage of selectivity, chemical tunability, high stability and mechanical strength, ease of regeneration, and overall lower cost compared to NIPs. In particular, CD-MIPs offer the added advantage of possessing multiple binding sites with unique physicochemical properties such as tunable surface properties and morphology that may vary considerably. This mini-review provides a rationale for the design of unique polymer adsorbent materials that employ an intrinsic porogen via incorporation of a macrocyclic compound in the polymer framework to afford adsorbent materials with tunable physicochemical properties and unique nanostructure properties. PMID:28347047

Do the affective properties of smoking-related cues influence attentional and approach biases in cigarette smokers?

PubMed

Bradley, B P; Field, M; Healy, H; Mogg, K

2008-09-01

Research indicates that drug-related cues elicit attention and approach biases in drug users. However, attentional biases are not unique to addiction (e.g., they are also found for emotional information). This study examined whether attentional and approach biases in cigarette smokers are mediated by the motivational salience of cues (relevance to drug-taking), rather than by their affective properties (subjective liking of the cues). Cues included pleasant and unpleasant smoking-related pictures. Attentional biases, approach tendencies and subjective evaluation of the cues were assessed on visual probe, stimulus-response compatibility and rating tasks, respectively. Compared with non-smokers, smokers showed a greater attentional bias for both pleasant and unpleasant smoking-related cues presented for 2000 ms, but not for 200 ms. Smokers showed a greater approach bias for unpleasant cues, although the groups did not differ significantly in approach bias for pleasant smoking-related cues. Smokers rated both pleasant and unpleasant smoking pictures more positively than did non-smokers. Results suggest that a bias to maintain attention on smoking-related cues in young adult smokers is primarily a function of drug-relevance, rather than affective properties, of the cues. In contrast, approach tendencies and pleasantness judgements were influenced by drug use, drug-relevance and the affective properties of the cues.

One-step flame synthesis of silver nanoparticles for roll-to-roll production of antibacterial paper

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brobbey, Kofi J.; Haapanen, Janne; Gunell, Marianne; Mäkelä, Jyrki M.; Eerola, Erkki; Toivakka, Martti; Saarinen, Jarkko J.

2017-10-01

Nanoparticles are used in several applications due to the unique properties they possess compared to bulk materials. Production techniques have continuously evolved over the years. Recently, there has been emphasis on environmentally friendly manufacturing processes. Substrate properties often limit the possible production techniques and, for example; until recently, it has been difficult to incorporate nanoparticles into paper. Chemical reduction of a precursor in the presence of paper changes the bulk properties of paper, which may limit intended end-use. In this study, we present a novel technique for incorporating silver nanoparticles into paper surface using a flame pyrolysis procedure known as Liquid Flame Spray. Papers precoated with mineral pigments and plastic are used as substrates. Silver nanoparticles were analyzed using SEM and XPS measurements. Results show a homogeneous monolayer of silver nanoparticles on the surface of paper, which demonstrated antibacterial properties against E. coli. Paper precoated with plastic showed more nanoparticles on the surface compared to pigment coated paper samples except for polyethylene-precoated paper. The results demonstrate a dry synthesis approach for depositing silver nanoparticles directly onto paper surface in a process which produces no effluents. The production technique used herein is up scalable for industrial production of antibacterial paper.

Effects of DMSO and glycerol additives on the property of polyamide reverse osmosis membrane.

PubMed

Wu, Fengjing; Liu, Xiaojuan; Au, Chaktong

2016-10-01

The polyamide reverse osmosis (RO) membranes were prepared through interfacial polymerization of m-phenylenediamine (MPD) and trimesoyl chloride (TMC). The use of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and glycerol as additives for the formation of thin-film composite (TFC) was investigated. We studied the effect of DMSO and glycerol addition on membrane property and RO performance. Microscopic morphology was examined by atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The surface hydrophilicity was characterized on the basis of water contact angle and surface solid-liquid interfacial free energy (-ΔG SL ). Water flux and salt rejection ability of the membranes prepared with or without the additives were evaluated by cross-flow RO tests. The results reveal that the addition of DMSO and glycerol strongly influences the property of the TFC RO membrane. Compared to the MPD/TMC membrane fabricated without DMSO and glycerol, the MPD/TMC/DMSO/glycerol membrane has a rougher surface and is more hydrophilic, showing smaller water contact angle and larger -ΔG SL value. Without decrease in salt rejection ability, the MPD/TMC/DMSO/glycerol membrane shows water flux significantly larger than that of the MPD/TMC membrane. The unique property of the MPD/TMC/DMSO/glycerol membrane is attributed to the cooperative effect of DMSO and glycerol on membrane structure during the interfacial polymerization process.

Arsenic Adsorption and As (III) Oxidation on TiO2 Nanoparticles: Macroscopic and Spectroscopic Investigations

EPA Science Inventory

Engineered nanoparticles (NPs) (particle sizes ranging from 1-100 nm) have unique physical and chemical properties that differ fundamentally from their macro-sized counterparts. In addition to their smaller particle size, nanoparticles possess unique characteristics such as larg...

COMPARATIVE IN VITRO PULMONARY TOXICITY OF ENGINEERED, MANUFACTURED, AND ENVIRONMENTAL NANOPARTICLES

EPA Science Inventory

Engineered nanomaterials display many unique physicochemical properties for a variety of applications and due to their novel propertiesapplications may have unique routes of exposure and toxicity. This study examines the: 1) ability of the MTT assay to generate false positives or...

The Potential of Berries to Serve as Selective Inhibitors of Pathogens and Promoters of Beneficial Microorganisms

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Berries are distinct from other foods because of their unique compounds with bioprotective effects and antimicrobial/prebiotic properties. With new knowledge of how these unique phytochemicals differentially affect microbial communities, inhibit foodborne pathogens, and conserve beneficial species, ...

Single-crystalline dendritic bimetallic and multimetallic nanocubes.

PubMed

Kuang, Yun; Zhang, Ying; Cai, Zhao; Feng, Guang; Jiang, Yingying; Jin, Chuanhong; Luo, Jun; Sun, Xiaoming

2015-12-01

Developing facial synthetic routes for fabrication of multimetallic nanocatalysts with open porous morphology, tunable composition and tailored crystalline structure is a big challenge for fabrication of low-cost electrocatalysts. Here we report on the synthesis of single-crystalline dendritic bimetallic and multimetallic nanocubes via a solvothermal co-reduction method. These cubes show highly porous, complex 3D inner connections but single-crystalline structure. Tuning the reduction kinetics of metal precursors and introducing galvanic reaction at the active sites during growth were believed to be the keys for the formation of such unique nanostructure. Electro-catalytic oxygen reduction (ORR) and methanol oxidation (MOR) on these catalysts showed dramatic enhancements for both cathodic and anodic electrocatalysis in fuel cells, which were attributed to their unique morphology and crystalline structure, as well as synergetic effect of the multi-metallic components. This work uncovers the formation mechanism of such complex single-crystalline dendritic multimetallic nanocrystals and offers a promising synthetic strategy for geometric and crystalline control of multimetallic nanocrystals with tailored physical and chemical properties, which will benefit the development of clean energy.

A unique in vivo approach for investigating antimicrobial materials utilizing fistulated animals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berean, Kyle J.; Adetutu, Eric M.; Zhen Ou, Jian; Nour, Majid; Nguyen, Emily P.; Paull, David; McLeod, Jess; Ramanathan, Rajesh; Bansal, Vipul; Latham, Kay; Bishop-Hurley, Greg J.; McSweeney, Chris; Ball, Andrew S.; Kalantar-Zadeh, Kourosh

2015-06-01

Unique in vivo tests were conducted through the use of a fistulated ruminant, providing an ideal environment with a diverse and vibrant microbial community. Utilizing such a procedure can be especially invaluable for investigating the performance of antimicrobial materials related to human and animal related infections. In this pilot study, it is shown that the rumen of a fistulated animal provides an excellent live laboratory for assessing the properties of antimicrobial materials. We investigate microbial colonization onto model nanocomposites based on silver (Ag) nanoparticles at different concentrations into polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). With implantable devices posing a major risk for hospital-acquired infections, the present study provides a viable solution to understand microbial colonization with the potential to reduce the incidence of infection through the introduction of Ag nanoparticles at the optimum concentrations. In vitro measurements were also conducted to show the validity of the approach. An optimal loading of 0.25 wt% Ag is found to show the greatest antimicrobial activity and observed through the in vivo tests to reduce the microbial diversity colonizing the surface.

Agricultural trade networks and patterns of economic development.

PubMed

Shutters, Shade T; Muneepeerakul, Rachata

2012-01-01

International trade networks are manifestations of a complex combination of diverse underlying factors, both natural and social. Here we apply social network analytics to the international trade network of agricultural products to better understand the nature of this network and its relation to patterns of international development. Using a network tool known as triadic analysis we develop triad significance profiles for a series of agricultural commodities traded among countries. Results reveal a novel network "superfamily" combining properties of biological information processing networks and human social networks. To better understand this unique network signature, we examine in more detail the degree and triadic distributions within the trade network by country and commodity. Our results show that countries fall into two very distinct classes based on their triadic frequencies. Roughly 165 countries fall into one class while 18, all highly isolated with respect to international agricultural trade, fall into the other. Only Vietnam stands out as a unique case. Finally, we show that as a country becomes less isolated with respect to number of trading partners, the country's triadic signature follows a predictable trajectory that may correspond to a trajectory of development.

Global Survey of Precipitation Properties Observed during Tropical Cyclogenesis and Their Differences Compared to Nondeveloping Disturbances

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zawislak, J.

2017-12-01

This study contributes to a global survey of the precipitation properties of developing and nondeveloping tropical disturbances, with a focus on distinguishing properties of those disturbances that develop into tropical cyclones (TCs) from those that do not develop. Precipitation properties are quantified using a unique accumulation of overpasses of pre-genesis TCs and nondeveloping disturbances from multiple satellite-borne passive microwave imagers. The overpasses are a subset of a broader Tropical Cyclone - Passive Microwave (TC-PMW) dataset that encompasses all stages of the TC life cycle. The TC-PMW consists of 14 years (2003-2016) of overpasses of pre-genesis and nondeveloping disturbances globally (the North Atlantic, East Pacific, Central Pacific, West Pacific, northern Indian Ocean, and Southern Hemisphere oceanic basins). Nondeveloping disturbances are defined as those disturbances that do not exceed an "invest" classification by the operational centers (NHC, CPHC, and JTWC). Overall, this study will offer a detailed analysis of the precipitation properties (i.e., areal coverage of rainfall and deep convection, depth, or intensity, of convection, proximity of precipitation to the center) multiple days before genesis. These analyses offer an opportunity to determine whether the properties of precipitation at, and just prior to, genesis are unique compared to previous days of the pre-genesis stage. By evaluating these properties over the robust sample provided by the TC-PMW dataset, results may lend support to the hypothesis that genesis is more closely tied to the fractional coverage of precipitation near the center rather than to any uniquely "intense" convection. The study will also investigate whether there are significant differences among the basins in the properties of precipitation involved in tropical cyclogenesis.

The Unique Photophysical Properties of the Peridinin-Chlorophyll-a-Protein

PubMed Central

Carbonera, Donatella; Valentin, Marilena Di; Spezia, Riccardo; Mezzetti, Alberto

2014-01-01

Peridinin-Chlorophyll-a-Proteins (PCPs) are water-soluble light harvesting complexes from dinoflagellates. They have unique light-harvesting and energy transfer properties which have been studied in details in the last 15 years. This review aims to give an overview on all the main aspects of PCPs photophysics, with an emphasis on some aspects which have not been reviewed in details so far, such as vibrational spectroscopy studies, theoretical calculations, and magnetic resonance studies. A paragraph on the present development of PCPs towards technological applications is also included. PMID:24678668

Capturing Chemical Identity Thinking

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ngai, Courtney; Sevian, Hannah

2017-01-01

Chemical identity, the idea that every substance has at least one property that makes it unique and able to be differentiated from other substances, is core to the practice of chemistry. Such practice requires using properties to classify as well as to differentiate. Learning which substance properties are productive in chemical identity thinking…

School Property Funding in New Zealand

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

PEB Exchange, 2004

2004-01-01

New Zealand's special funding system allows state schools a greater level of independence in managing their property compared to most other countries. Schools receive a fixed budget as an entitlement from the three "pots" of the educational property funding structure. The government's unique use of accrual accounting together with a new…

Quantum Electronic Solids

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-03-07

signal processing with smaller sizes and unique properties Nanoelectronics: NTs, graphene, diamond, SiC for sensing, logic & memory storage 3...synthesized i-n graphene heterojunctions 19 DISTRIBUTION A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. Electrical Properties of...boundaries in polycrystalline samples Polycrystalline graphene can have similar (as much as 90%) electrical properties (conductance and mobility

Multi-stability and variable stiffness of cellular solids designed based on origami patterns

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sengupta, Sattam; Li, Suyi

2017-04-01

The application of origami-inspired designs to engineered structures and materials has been a subject of much research efforts. These structures and materials, whose mechanical properties are directly related to the geometry of folding, are capable of achieving a host of unique adaptive functions. In this study, we investigate a three-dimensional multistability and variable stiffness function of a cellular solid based on the Miura-Ori folding pattern. The unit cell of such a solid, consisting of two stacked Miura-Ori sheets, can be elastically bistable due to the nonlinear relationship between rigid-folding deformation and crease material bending. Such a bistability possesses an unorthodox property: the critical, unstable configuration lies on the same side of two stable ones, so that two different force-deformation curves co-exist within the same range of deformation. By exploiting such unique stability properties, we can achieve a programmable stiffness change between the two elastically stable states, and the stiffness differences can be prescribed by tailoring the crease patterns of the cell. This paper presents a comprehensive parametric study revealing the correlations between such variable stiffness and various design parameters. The unique properties stemming from the bistability and design of such a unit cell can be advanced further by assembling them into a solid which can be capable of shape morphing and programmable mechanical properties.

Identifying viscoelastic parameters of tissue specimens using Hertz contact mechanics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Namiri, Nikan K.; Maccabi, Ashkan; Bajwa, Neha; Badran, Karam W.; St. John, Maie A.; Taylor, Zachary D.; Grundfest, Warren S.; Saddik, George N.

2018-02-01

The unique viscoelastic properties of tissues throughout the human body can be utilized in a variety of clinical applications. Palpation techniques, for instance, enable surgeons to distinguish malignancies in tissue composition during surgical procedures. Additionally, imaging devices have begun utilizing the viscoelastic properties of tissue to delineate tumor margins. Vibroacoustography (VA), a non-invasive, high resolution imaging modality, has the ability to detect sub-millimeter differences in tissue composition. VA images tissue using a low frequency acoustic radiation force, which perturbs the target and causes an acoustic response that is dependent on the target's viscoelastic properties. Given the unique properties specific to human and animal tissues, there are far-reaching clinical applications of VA. To date, however, a comprehensive model that relates viscoelasticity to VA tissue response has yet to be developed. Utilizing tissue-mimicking phantoms (TMPs) and fresh ex vivo tissues, a mechanical stress relaxation model was developed to compare the viscoelastic properties of known and unknown specimens. This approach was conducted using the Hertz theory of contact mechanics. Fresh hepatic tissue was obtained from porcine subjects (n=10), while gelatin and agar TMPs (n=12) were fabricated from organic extracts. Each specimen's elastic modulus (E), long term shear modulus (η), and time constant (τ) were found to be unique. Additionally, each specimen's stress relaxation profiles were analyzed using Weichert-Maxwell viscoelastic modeling, and retained high precision (R2>0.9) among all samples.

Microstructural and Compositional Features of the Fibrous and Hyaline Cartilage on the Medial Tibial Plateau Imply a Unique Role for the Hopping Locomotion of Kangaroo

PubMed Central

He, Bo; Wu, Jian Ping; Xu, Jiake; Day, Robert E.; Kirk, Thomas Brett

2013-01-01

Hopping provides efficient and energy saving locomotion for kangaroos, but it results in great forces in the knee joints. A previous study has suggested that a unique fibrous cartilage in the central region of the tibial cartilage could serve to decrease the peak stresses generated within kangaroo tibiofemoral joints. However, the influences of the microstructure, composition and mechanical properties of the central fibrous and peripheral hyaline cartilage on the function of the knee joints are still to be defined. The present study showed that the fibrous cartilage was thicker and had a lower chondrocyte density than the hyaline cartilage. Despite having a higher PG content in the middle and deep zones, the fibrous cartilage had an inferior compressive strength compared to the peripheral hyaline cartilage. The fibrous cartilage had a complex three dimensional collagen meshwork with collagen bundles parallel to the surface in the superficial zone, and with collagen bundles both parallel and perpendicular to the surface in the middle and deep zones. The collagen in the hyaline cartilage displayed a typical Benninghoff structure, with collagen fibres parallel to the surface in the superficial zone and collagen fibres perpendicular to the surface in the deep zone. Elastin fibres were found throughout the entire tissue depth of the fibrous cartilage and displayed a similar alignment to the adjacent collagen bundles. In comparison, the elastin fibres in the hyaline cartilage were confined within the superficial zone. This study examined for the first time the fibrillary structure, PG content and compressive properties of the central fibrous cartilage pad and peripheral hyaline cartilage within the kangaroo medial tibial plateau. It provided insights into the microstructure and composition of the fibrous and peripheral hyaline cartilage in relation to the unique mechanical properties of the tissues to provide for the normal activities of kangaroos. PMID:24058543

Microstructural and compositional features of the fibrous and hyaline cartilage on the medial tibial plateau imply a unique role for the hopping locomotion of kangaroo.

PubMed

He, Bo; Wu, Jian Ping; Xu, Jiake; Day, Robert E; Kirk, Thomas Brett

2013-01-01

Hopping provides efficient and energy saving locomotion for kangaroos, but it results in great forces in the knee joints. A previous study has suggested that a unique fibrous cartilage in the central region of the tibial cartilage could serve to decrease the peak stresses generated within kangaroo tibiofemoral joints. However, the influences of the microstructure, composition and mechanical properties of the central fibrous and peripheral hyaline cartilage on the function of the knee joints are still to be defined. The present study showed that the fibrous cartilage was thicker and had a lower chondrocyte density than the hyaline cartilage. Despite having a higher PG content in the middle and deep zones, the fibrous cartilage had an inferior compressive strength compared to the peripheral hyaline cartilage. The fibrous cartilage had a complex three dimensional collagen meshwork with collagen bundles parallel to the surface in the superficial zone, and with collagen bundles both parallel and perpendicular to the surface in the middle and deep zones. The collagen in the hyaline cartilage displayed a typical Benninghoff structure, with collagen fibres parallel to the surface in the superficial zone and collagen fibres perpendicular to the surface in the deep zone. Elastin fibres were found throughout the entire tissue depth of the fibrous cartilage and displayed a similar alignment to the adjacent collagen bundles. In comparison, the elastin fibres in the hyaline cartilage were confined within the superficial zone. This study examined for the first time the fibrillary structure, PG content and compressive properties of the central fibrous cartilage pad and peripheral hyaline cartilage within the kangaroo medial tibial plateau. It provided insights into the microstructure and composition of the fibrous and peripheral hyaline cartilage in relation to the unique mechanical properties of the tissues to provide for the normal activities of kangaroos.

Probing the structural dependency of photoinduced properties of colloidal quantum dots using metal-oxide photo-active substrates

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Patty, Kira; Campbell, Quinn; Hamilton, Nathan

We used photoactive substrates consisting of about 1 nm coating of a metal oxide on glass substrates to investigate the impact of the structures of colloidal quantum dots on their photophysical and photochemical properties. We showed during irradiation these substrates can interact uniquely with such quantum dots, inducing distinct forms of photo-induced processes when they have different cores, shells, or ligands. In particular, our results showed that for certain types of core-shell quantum dot structures an ultrathin layer of a metal oxide can reduce suppression of quantum efficiency of the quantum dots happening when they undergo extensive photo-oxidation. This suggestsmore » the possibility of shrinking the sizes of quantum dots without significant enhancement of their non-radiative decay rates. We show that such quantum dots are not influenced significantly by Coulomb blockade or photoionization, while those without a shell can undergo a large amount of photo-induced fluorescence enhancement via such blockade when they are in touch with the metal oxide.« less

Cyanobacteria in lakes on Yungui Plateau, China are assembled via niche processes driven by water physicochemical property, lake morphology and watershed land-use

PubMed Central

Liao, Jingqiu; Zhao, Lei; Cao, Xiaofeng; Sun, Jinhua; Gao, Zhe; Wang, Jie; Jiang, Dalin; Fan, Hao; Huang, Yi

2016-01-01

Plateau lakes are important ecosystems with diverse ecological functions. Cyanobacteria play a key role in plateau lakes as primary producers. However, they are threatening when dense blooms occur. Identifying cyanobacteiral biogeography and the mechanism of assembly processes shaping the distribution of cyanobacteria in plateau lakes is critical for understanding cyanobacterial ecology and applying it to lake management. In the present study, the biogeographic pattern and importance of neutral and niche processes in assembly of cyanobacteria in 21 lakes on Yungui Plateau, China were examined. Results showed that cyanobacteria exhibit unique biogeographic pattern, and most of them have a narrow habitat preference in plateau lakes. They were assembled via niche processes driven by water physicochemical property, lake morphology and watershed land-use, which explained 62.4% of the biological variation. Neutral processes were not at play. Water physicochemical property (key variables - dissolved oxygen, salinity, trophic status and pH) was the most dominant driver shaping its unique biogeographic pattern. Watershed land-use especially urban land, water body and agricultural land also exhibited a strong impact on cyanobacterial distribution, followed by lake morphology. As most of the cyanobacteiral genus detected in these plateau lakes were potential toxin-producers, this study indicated that in order to protect waters from toxic-bloom in the future, reducing nutrient loading and land-use practices are two practical approaches in plateau lake management. PMID:27819304

Cyanobacteria in lakes on Yungui Plateau, China are assembled via niche processes driven by water physicochemical property, lake morphology and watershed land-use

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liao, Jingqiu; Zhao, Lei; Cao, Xiaofeng; Sun, Jinhua; Gao, Zhe; Wang, Jie; Jiang, Dalin; Fan, Hao; Huang, Yi

2016-11-01

Plateau lakes are important ecosystems with diverse ecological functions. Cyanobacteria play a key role in plateau lakes as primary producers. However, they are threatening when dense blooms occur. Identifying cyanobacteiral biogeography and the mechanism of assembly processes shaping the distribution of cyanobacteria in plateau lakes is critical for understanding cyanobacterial ecology and applying it to lake management. In the present study, the biogeographic pattern and importance of neutral and niche processes in assembly of cyanobacteria in 21 lakes on Yungui Plateau, China were examined. Results showed that cyanobacteria exhibit unique biogeographic pattern, and most of them have a narrow habitat preference in plateau lakes. They were assembled via niche processes driven by water physicochemical property, lake morphology and watershed land-use, which explained 62.4% of the biological variation. Neutral processes were not at play. Water physicochemical property (key variables - dissolved oxygen, salinity, trophic status and pH) was the most dominant driver shaping its unique biogeographic pattern. Watershed land-use especially urban land, water body and agricultural land also exhibited a strong impact on cyanobacterial distribution, followed by lake morphology. As most of the cyanobacteiral genus detected in these plateau lakes were potential toxin-producers, this study indicated that in order to protect waters from toxic-bloom in the future, reducing nutrient loading and land-use practices are two practical approaches in plateau lake management.

Cyanobacteria in lakes on Yungui Plateau, China are assembled via niche processes driven by water physicochemical property, lake morphology and watershed land-use.

PubMed

Liao, Jingqiu; Zhao, Lei; Cao, Xiaofeng; Sun, Jinhua; Gao, Zhe; Wang, Jie; Jiang, Dalin; Fan, Hao; Huang, Yi

2016-11-07

Plateau lakes are important ecosystems with diverse ecological functions. Cyanobacteria play a key role in plateau lakes as primary producers. However, they are threatening when dense blooms occur. Identifying cyanobacteiral biogeography and the mechanism of assembly processes shaping the distribution of cyanobacteria in plateau lakes is critical for understanding cyanobacterial ecology and applying it to lake management. In the present study, the biogeographic pattern and importance of neutral and niche processes in assembly of cyanobacteria in 21 lakes on Yungui Plateau, China were examined. Results showed that cyanobacteria exhibit unique biogeographic pattern, and most of them have a narrow habitat preference in plateau lakes. They were assembled via niche processes driven by water physicochemical property, lake morphology and watershed land-use, which explained 62.4% of the biological variation. Neutral processes were not at play. Water physicochemical property (key variables - dissolved oxygen, salinity, trophic status and pH) was the most dominant driver shaping its unique biogeographic pattern. Watershed land-use especially urban land, water body and agricultural land also exhibited a strong impact on cyanobacterial distribution, followed by lake morphology. As most of the cyanobacteiral genus detected in these plateau lakes were potential toxin-producers, this study indicated that in order to protect waters from toxic-bloom in the future, reducing nutrient loading and land-use practices are two practical approaches in plateau lake management.

Brief report: reconstruction of joint hyaline cartilage by autologous progenitor cells derived from ear elastic cartilage.

PubMed

Mizuno, Mitsuru; Kobayashi, Shinji; Takebe, Takanori; Kan, Hiroomi; Yabuki, Yuichiro; Matsuzaki, Takahisa; Yoshikawa, Hiroshi Y; Nakabayashi, Seiichiro; Ik, Lee Jeong; Maegawa, Jiro; Taniguchi, Hideki

2014-03-01

In healthy joints, hyaline cartilage covering the joint surfaces of bones provides cushioning due to its unique mechanical properties. However, because of its limited regenerative capacity, age- and sports-related injuries to this tissue may lead to degenerative arthropathies, prompting researchers to investigate a variety of cell sources. We recently succeeded in isolating human cartilage progenitor cells from ear elastic cartilage. Human cartilage progenitor cells have high chondrogenic and proliferative potential to form elastic cartilage with long-term tissue maintenance. However, it is unknown whether ear-derived cartilage progenitor cells can be used to reconstruct hyaline cartilage, which has different mechanical and histological properties from elastic cartilage. In our efforts to develop foundational technologies for joint hyaline cartilage repair and reconstruction, we conducted this study to obtain an answer to this question. We created an experimental canine model of knee joint cartilage damage, transplanted ear-derived autologous cartilage progenitor cells. The reconstructed cartilage was rich in proteoglycans and showed unique histological characteristics similar to joint hyaline cartilage. In addition, mechanical properties of the reconstructed tissues were higher than those of ear cartilage and equal to those of joint hyaline cartilage. This study suggested that joint hyaline cartilage was reconstructed from ear-derived cartilage progenitor cells. It also demonstrated that ear-derived cartilage progenitor cells, which can be harvested by a minimally invasive method, would be useful for reconstructing joint hyaline cartilage in patients with degenerative arthropathies. © AlphaMed Press.

Generic pure quantum states as steady states of quasi-local dissipative dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karuvade, Salini; Johnson, Peter D.; Ticozzi, Francesco; Viola, Lorenza

2018-04-01

We investigate whether a generic pure state on a multipartite quantum system can be the unique asymptotic steady state of locality-constrained purely dissipative Markovian dynamics. In the tripartite setting, we show that the problem is equivalent to characterizing the solution space of a set of linear equations and establish that the set of pure states obeying the above property has either measure zero or measure one, solely depending on the subsystems’ dimension. A complete analytical characterization is given when the central subsystem is a qubit. In the N-partite case, we provide conditions on the subsystems’ size and the nature of the locality constraint, under which random pure states cannot be quasi-locally stabilized generically. Also, allowing for the possibility to approximately stabilize entangled pure states that cannot be exact steady states in settings where stabilizability is generic, our results offer insights into the extent to which random pure states may arise as unique ground states of frustration-free parent Hamiltonians. We further argue that, to a high probability, pure quantum states sampled from a t-design enjoy the same stabilizability properties of Haar-random ones as long as suitable dimension constraints are obeyed and t is sufficiently large. Lastly, we demonstrate a connection between the tasks of quasi-local state stabilization and unique state reconstruction from local tomographic information, and provide a constructive procedure for determining a generic N-partite pure state based only on knowledge of the support of any two of the reduced density matrices of about half the parties, improving over existing results.

R 5T 4 compounds - unique multifunctional intermetallics for basic research and applications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mudryk, Yaroslav

The unique properties of the rare-earth elements and their alloys have brought them from relative obscurity to high profile use in common high-tech applications. The broad technological impact of these remarkable materials may have never been known by the general public if not for the supply concerns that placed the rare-earth materials on the front page of newspapers and magazines. Neodymium and dysprosium, two essential components of Nd 2Fe 14B-based high-performance permanent magnets, have drawn much attention and have been deemed critical materials for many energy-related applications. Ironically, the notoriety of rare-earth elements and their alloys is the result ofmore » a global movement to reduce their use in industrial applications and, thus, ease concerns about their supply and ultimately to reduce their position in high-tech supply chains. Research into the applications of lanthanide alloys has been de-emphasized recently due to the perception that industry is moving away from the use of rare-earth elements in new products. While lanthanide supply challenges justify efforts to diversify the supply chain, a strategy to completely replace the materials overlooks the reasons rare earths became important in the first place -- their unique properties are too beneficial to ignore. Rare-earth alloys and compounds possess truly exciting potential for basic science exploration and application development such as solid-state caloric cooling. In this brief review, we touch upon several promising systems containing lanthanide elements that show important and interesting magnetism-related phenomena.« less

Experiments in materials science from household items

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Spiegel, F. Xavier

1993-01-01

Everyday household items are used to demonstrate some unique properties of materials. A coat hanger, rubber band, balloon, and corn starch have typical properties which we often take for granted but can be truly amazing.

Ultrasonic material property determinations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Serabian, S.

1986-01-01

The use and potential offered by ultrasonic velocity and attenuation measurements to determine and/or monitor material properties is explored. The basis for such unique measurements along with examples of materials from a variety of industries are presented.

Suppression of population transport and control of exciton distributions by entangled photons

PubMed Central

Schlawin, Frank; Dorfman, Konstantin E.; Fingerhut, Benjamin P.; Mukamel, Shaul

2013-01-01

Entangled photons provide an important tool for secure quantum communication, computing and lithography. Low intensity requirements for multi-photon processes make them idealy suited for minimizing damage in imaging applications. Here we show how their unique temporal and spectral features may be used in nonlinear spectroscopy to reveal properties of multiexcitons in chromophore aggregates. Simulations demostrate that they provide unique control tools for two-exciton states in the bacterial reaction centre of Blastochloris viridis. Population transport in the intermediate single-exciton manifold may be suppressed by the absorption of photon pairs with short entanglement time, thus allowing the manipulation of the distribution of two-exciton states. The quantum nature of the light is essential for achieving this degree of control, which cannot be reproduced by stochastic or chirped light. Classical light is fundamentally limited by the frequency-time uncertainty, whereas entangled photons have independent temporal and spectral characteristics not subjected to this uncertainty. PMID:23653194

No one likes a copycat: a cross-cultural investigation of children's response to plagiarism.

PubMed

Yang, F; Shaw, A; Garduno, E; Olson, K R

2014-05-01

Copying other people's ideas is evaluated negatively by American children and adults. The current study investigated the influence of culture on children's evaluations of plagiarism by comparing children from three countries--the United States, Mexico, and China--that differ in terms of their emphasis on the protection of intellectual property and ideas. Children (3- to 6-year-olds) were presented with videos involving two characters drawing pictures and were asked to evaluate the character who drew unique work or the character who copied someone else's drawing. The study showed that 5- and 6-year-olds from all three cultures evaluated copiers negatively compared with unique drawers. These results suggest that children from cultures that place different values on the protection of ideas nevertheless develop similar concerns with plagiarism by 5-year-olds. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Directional detection of dark matter in universal bound states

DOE PAGES

Laha, Ranjan

2015-10-06

It has been suggested that several small-scale structure anomalies in Λ CDM cosmology can be solved by strong self-interaction between dark matter particles. It was shown in Ref. [1] that the presence of a near threshold S-wave resonance can make the scattering cross section at nonrelativistic speeds come close to saturating the unitarity bound. This can result in the formation of a stable bound state of two asymmetric dark matter particles (which we call darkonium). Ref. [2] studied the nuclear recoil energy spectrum in dark matter direct detection experiments due to this incident bound state. Here we study the angularmore » recoil spectrum, and show that it is uniquely determined up to normalization by the S-wave scattering length. Furthermore, observing this angular recoil spectrum in a dark matter directional detection experiment will uniquely determine many of the low-energy properties of dark matter independent of the underlying dark matter microphysics.« less

Novel magnetic-fluorescent bifunctional Janus nanofiber membrane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Qiutong; Geng, Yuting; Li, Jianhao; Yin, Meizhen; Hu, Yiseng; Liu, Yangxiu; Pan, Kai

2018-04-01

Magnetic-fluorescent bifunctional materials have received global attention owing to their potential in many fields. Herein, we reported a novel magnetic-fluorescent bifunctional Janus nanofiber membrane (NFM) by adding the as-prepared magnetic CoFe2O4 nanoparticles into the polyacrylonitrile (PAN) side (m-PAN) and the fluorescent molecules of 1,8-naphthalene anhydride (1,8-NAD) into the polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) side (f-PVP) via electrospinning method. The obtained m-PAN/f-PVP Janus NFM exhibited excellent magnetic performance and high fluorescent properties due to the unique structure. Compared with the m-PAN/f-PVP composite NFM, the Janus NFM showed higher fluorescent performance because the fluorescent molecules were isolated from the magnetic nanoparticles. In addition, the Janus NFM not only maintain the good self-supporting state in water but also realize a directional movement attracted by a magnet. The unique structure of Janus nanofiber is of great importance and demonstrates great potential applications.

Catalysis by metal-organic frameworks: fundamentals and opportunities.

PubMed

Ranocchiari, Marco; van Bokhoven, Jeroen Anton

2011-04-14

Crystalline porous materials are extremely important for developing catalytic systems with high scientific and industrial impact. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) show unique potential that still has to be fully exploited. This perspective summarizes the properties of MOFs with the aim to understand what are possible approaches to catalysis with these materials. We categorize three classes of MOF catalysts: (1) those with active site on the framework, (2) those with encapsulated active species, and (3) those with active sites attached through post-synthetic modification. We identify the tunable porosity, the ability to fine tune the structure of the active site and its environment, the presence of multiple active sites, and the opportunity to synthesize structures in which key-lock bonding of substrates occurs as the characteristics that distinguish MOFs from other materials. We experience a unique opportunity to imagine and design heterogeneous catalysts, which might catalyze reactions previously thought impossible.

Detection of Papaverine for the Possible Identification of Illicit Opium Cultivation.

PubMed

Mirsafavi, Rustin Y; Lai, Kristine; Kline, Neal D; Fountain, Augustus W; Meinhart, Carl D; Moskovits, Martin

2017-02-07

Papaverine is a non-narcotic alkaloid found endemically and uniquely in the latex of the opium poppy. It is normally refined out of the opioids that the latex is typically collected for, hence its presence in a sample is strong prima facie evidence that the carrier from whom the sample was collected is implicated in the mass cultivation of poppies or the collection and handling of their latex. We describe an analysis technique combining surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) with microfluidics for detecting papaverine at low concentrations and show that its SERS spectrum has unique spectroscopic features that allows its detection at low concentrations among typical opioids. The analysis requires approximately 2.5 min from sample loading to results, which is compatible with field use. The weak acid properties of papaverine hydrochloride were investigated, and Raman bands belonging to the protonated and unprotonated forms of the isoquinoline ring of papaverine were identified.

A Unique 3D Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Composite as High-Performance Oxygen Reduction Catalyst

PubMed Central

Karunagaran, Ramesh; Tung, Tran Thanh; Tran, Diana; Coghlan, Campbell; Doonan, Christian

2017-01-01

The synthesis and properties of an oxygen reduction catalyst based on a unique 3-dimensional (3D) nitrogen doped (N-doped) carbon composite are described. The composite material is synthesised via a two-step hydrothermal and pyrolysis method using bio-source low-cost materials of galactose and melamine. Firstly, the use of iron salts and galactose to hydrothermally produceiron oxide (Fe2O3) magnetic nanoparticle clusters embedded carbon spheres. Secondly, magnetic nanoparticles diffused out of the carbon sphere when pyrolysed in the presence of melamine as nitrogen precursor. Interestingly, many of these nanoparticles, as catalyst-grown carbon nanotubes (CNTs), resulted in the formation of N-doped CNTs and N-doped carbon spheres under the decomposition of carbon and a nitrogen environment. The composite material consists of integrated N-doped carbon microspheres and CNTs show high ORR activity through a predominantly four-electron pathway. PMID:28792432

The Ordering and Electronic Structure of Multilayer Epitaxial Graphene on SiC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Conrad, Edward

2011-03-01

The structural definition of graphene as a single sheet of hexagonal carbon limits how we view this material. It is the electronic properties of a single isolated graphene sheet that actually defines and motivates current graphene research. Remarkably, the best example of the idealized band structure of graphene comes does not come from a single graphene layer but from multilayer films grown on SiC. Multilayer epitaxial graphene (MEG) not only shows all the 2D properties expected for an isolated graphene sheet, but it the scalability to large scale integrated carbon circuits. I will show that the reason for this remarkable property, i.e. that a multilayer graphene films behaving like a single graphene sheet, is due to MEG's unique stacking. MEG films have a quasi-ordered rotational stacking that breaks the Bernal stacking symmetry associated with graphite. Angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) data demonstrates that the bands are linear at the K-point of these films. We can also show that the rotated stacking is highly ordered and that less than 20% of the graphene sheets in the film are Bernal stacked. I will also show that ARPES measurements on MEG films demonstrate serious inadequacies with both tight binding and ab initio formalisms. In particular the data shows no reductions in the Fermi velocity or the formation of Van Hove singularity that have been consistently predicted for this material. I wish to acknowledge funding from the NSF under Grants No. DMR-0820382 and DMR-1005880.

Mechanical properties of biological specimens explored by atomic force microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kasas, S.; Longo, G.; Dietler, G.

2013-04-01

The atomic force microscope is a widely used surface scanning apparatus capable of reconstructing at a nanometric scale resolution the 3D morphology of biological samples. Due to its unique sensitivity, it is now increasingly used as a force sensor, to characterize the mechanical properties of specimens with a similar lateral resolution. This unique capability has produced, in the last years, a vast increase in the number of groups that have exploited the versatility and sensitivity of the instrument to explore the nanomechanics of various samples in the fields of biology, microbiology and medicine. In this review we outline the state of the art in this field, reporting the most interesting recent works involving the exploration of the nanomechanical properties of various biological samples.

Graphene based biosensors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gürel, Hikmet Hakan, E-mail: hhakan.gurel@kocaeli.edu.tr; Salmankurt, Bahadır

2016-03-25

Nanometer-sized graphene as a 2D material has unique chemical and electronic properties. Because of its unique physical, chemical, and electronic properties, its interesting shape and size make it a promising nanomaterial in many biological applications. It is expected that biomaterials incorporating graphene will be developed for the graphene-based drug delivery systems and biomedical devices. The interactions of biomolecules and graphene are long-ranged and very weak. Development of new techniques is very desirable for design of bioelectronics sensors and devices. In this work, we present first-principles calculations within density functional theory to calculate effects of charging on nucleobases on graphene. Itmore » is shown that how modify structural and electronic properties of nucleobases on graphene by applied charging.« less

Thermodynamics of La and U and the separation factor of U/La in fused Me(Ga-40 wt.% In)/3LiCl-2KCl system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smolenski, Valeri; Novoselova, Alena; Volkovich, Vladimir A.

2017-11-01

Separation of lanthanides and actinides can be achieved in a unique "molten chloride - liquid metal" system. Electrode potentials were recorded vs. Cl-/Cl2 reference electrode and the temperature dependencies of the apparent standard potentials of La-(Ga-In) and U-(Ga-In) alloys were determined. Thermodynamic properties and separation factor of lanthanum and uranium were calculated. The obtained data show the perspective for using this system in future innovation method for recovery of nuclear waste.

Quantum coherence and correlations in quantum system

PubMed Central

Xi, Zhengjun; Li, Yongming; Fan, Heng

2015-01-01

Criteria of measure quantifying quantum coherence, a unique property of quantum system, are proposed recently. In this paper, we first give an uncertainty-like expression relating the coherence and the entropy of quantum system. This finding allows us to discuss the relations between the entanglement and the coherence. Further, we discuss in detail the relations among the coherence, the discord and the deficit in the bipartite quantum system. We show that, the one-way quantum deficit is equal to the sum between quantum discord and the relative entropy of coherence of measured subsystem. PMID:26094795

Progress in the characterization of diamond thin films prepared by a laser plasma discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davanloo, F.; Juengerman, E. M.; Jander, D. R.; Lee, T. J.; Collins, C. B.

Progress in the characterization of diamond thin films produced by a unique laser plasma discharge source at practical growth rates of 0.7 micron/hr is reported. Optical properties, mass densities, and electrical resistivities of deposited films are given and their relationship to the power density of the laser at the graphite target is discussed. Examination of films with scanning tunneling microscopy show the clear prevalence of the structure recently predicted by Angus et al. (1990) in which sp3 clusters are bonded together with the carbon polytypes.

"Zeroing" in on mathematics in the monkey brain.

PubMed

Beran, Michael J

2016-03-01

A new study documented that monkeys showed selective neuronal responding to the concept of zero during a numerical task, and that there were two distinct classes of neurons that coded the absence of stimuli either through a discrete activation pattern (zero or not zero) or a continuous one for which zero was integrated with other numerosities in the relative rate of activity. These data indicate that monkeys, like humans, have a concept of zero that is part of their analog number line but that also may have unique properties compared to other numerosities.

Calcium Signaling Is Required for Erythroid Enucleation

PubMed Central

Russell, Sarah M.; Humbert, Patrick O.

2016-01-01

Although erythroid enucleation, the property of erythroblasts to expel their nucleus, has been known for 7ore than a century, surprisingly little is known regarding the molecular mechanisms governing this unique developmental process. Here we show that similar to cytokinesis, nuclear extrusion requires intracellular calcium signaling and signal transduction through the calmodulin (CaM) pathway. However, in contrast to cytokinesis we found that orthochromatic erythroblasts require uptake of extracellular calcium to enucleate. Together these functional studies highlight a critical role for calcium signaling in the regulation of erythroid enucleation. PMID:26731108

Minimizing graphene defects enhances titania nanocomposite-based photocatalytic reduction of CO2 for improved solar fuel production.

PubMed

Liang, Yu Teng; Vijayan, Baiju K; Gray, Kimberly A; Hersam, Mark C

2011-07-13

With its unique electronic and optical properties, graphene is proposed to functionalize and tailor titania photocatalysts for improved reactivity. The two major solution-based pathways for producing graphene, oxidation-reduction and solvent exfoliation, result in nanoplatelets with different defect densities. Herein, we show that nanocomposites based on the less defective solvent-exfoliated graphene exhibit a significantly larger enhancement in CO(2) photoreduction, especially under visible light. This counterintuitive result is attributed to their superior electrical mobility, which facilitates the diffusion of photoexcited electrons to reactive sites.

Strong solutions and instability for the fitness gradient system in evolutionary games between two populations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Qiuju; Belmonte, Andrew; deForest, Russ; Liu, Chun; Tan, Zhong

2017-04-01

In this paper, we study a fitness gradient system for two populations interacting via a symmetric game. The population dynamics are governed by a conservation law, with a spatial migration flux determined by the fitness. By applying the Galerkin method, we establish the existence, regularity and uniqueness of global solutions to an approximate system, which retains most of the interesting mathematical properties of the original fitness gradient system. Furthermore, we show that a Turing instability occurs for equilibrium states of the fitness gradient system, and its approximations.

AnilinoMethylRhodamines: pH Sensitive Probes with Tunable Photophysical Properties by Substituent Effect

PubMed Central

Best, Quinn A.; Liu, Chuangjun; van Hoveln, Paul D.; McCarroll, Matthew E.

2013-01-01

A series of pH dependent rhodamine analogs possessing an anilino-methyl moiety was developed and shown to exhibit a unique photophysical response to pH. These Anilinomethylrhodamines (AnMR) maintain a colorless, non-fluorescent spiro-cyclic structure at high pH. The spiro-cyclic structures open in mildly acidic conditions and are weakly fluorescent; however at very low pH, the fluorescence is greatly enhanced. The equilibrium constants of these processes show a linear response to substituent effects, which was demonstrated by the Hammett equation. PMID:24050117

Raman fingerprints of atomically precise graphene nanoribbons

DOE PAGES

Verzhbitskiy, Ivan A.; Corato, Marzio De; Ruini, Alice; ...

2016-02-23

Bottom-up approaches allow the production of ultranarrow and atomically precise graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) with electronic and optical properties controlled by the specific atomic structure. Combining Raman spectroscopy and ab initio simulations, we show that GNR width, edge geometry, and functional groups all influence their Raman spectra. As a result, the low-energy spectral region below 1000 cm –1 is particularly sensitive to edge morphology and functionalization, while the D peak dispersion can be used to uniquely fingerprint the presence of GNRs and differentiates them from other sp 2 carbon nanostructures.

Crystal structure and optical properties of silver nanorings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Li; Fu, Xiao-Feng; Yu, Liao; Zhang, Xian; Yu, Xue-Feng; Hao, Zhong-Hua

2009-04-01

We report the polyol synthesis and crystal structure characterization of silver nanorings, which have perfect circular shape, smooth surface, and elliptical wire cross-section. The characterization results show that the silver nanorings have well-defined crystal of singly twinned along the whole ring. The spatial distribution of the scattering of a silver nanoring with slanted incidence reveals the unique focus effect of the nanoring, and the focus scattering varies with the incident wavelength. The silver nanorings with perfect geometry and well-defined crystal have potential applications in nanoscaled photonics, plasmonic devices, and optical manipulation.

Exploring the Properties of Genetically Engineered Silk-Elastin-Like Protein Films.

PubMed

Machado, Raul; da Costa, André; Sencadas, Vitor; Pereira, Ana Margarida; Collins, Tony; Rodríguez-Cabello, José Carlos; Lanceros-Méndez, Senentxu; Casal, Margarida

2015-12-01

Free standing films of a genetically engineered silk-elastin-like protein (SELP) were prepared using water and formic acid as solvents. Exposure to methanol-saturated air promoted the formation of aggregated β-strands rendering aqueous insolubility and improved the mechanical properties leading to a 10-fold increase in strain-to-failure. The films were optically clear with resistivity values similar to natural rubber and thermally stable up to 180 °C. Addition of glycerol showed to enhance the flexibility of SELP/glycerol films by interacting with SELP molecules through hydrogen bonding, interpenetrating between the polymer chains and granting more conformational freedom. This detailed characterization provides cues for future and unique applications using SELP based biopolymers. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Wind Generated Rogue Waves in an Annular Wave Flume.

PubMed

Toffoli, A; Proment, D; Salman, H; Monbaliu, J; Frascoli, F; Dafilis, M; Stramignoni, E; Forza, R; Manfrin, M; Onorato, M

2017-04-07

We investigate experimentally the statistical properties of a wind-generated wave field and the spontaneous formation of rogue waves in an annular flume. Unlike many experiments on rogue waves where waves are mechanically generated, here the wave field is forced naturally by wind as it is in the ocean. What is unique about the present experiment is that the annular geometry of the tank makes waves propagating circularly in an unlimited-fetch condition. Within this peculiar framework, we discuss the temporal evolution of the statistical properties of the surface elevation. We show that rogue waves and heavy-tail statistics may develop naturally during the growth of the waves just before the wave height reaches a stationary condition. Our results shed new light on the formation of rogue waves in a natural environment.

Controlling electric, magnetic, and chiral dipolar emission with PT-symmetric potentials

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Alaeian, Hadiseh; Dionne, Jennifer A.

We investigate the effect of parity-time (PT) symmetric optical potentials on the radiation of achiral and chiral dipole sources. Two properties unique to PT-symmetric potentials are observed. First, the dipole can be tuned to behave as a strong optical emitter or absorber based on the non-Hermiticity parameter and the dipole location. Second, exceptional points give rise to new system resonances that lead to orders-of-magnitude enhancements in the dipolar emitted or absorbed power. Utilizing these properties, we show that enantiomers of chiral molecules near PT-symmetric metamaterials exhibit a 4.5-fold difference in their emitted power and decay rate. The results of thismore » work could enable new atom-cavity interactions for quantum optics, as well as all-optical enantioselective separation.« less

Bifunctional Carbon-Dot-WS2 Nanorods for Photothermal Therapy and Cell Imaging.

PubMed

Nandi, Sukhendu; Bhunia, Susanta Kumar; Zeiri, Leila; Pour, Maayan; Nachman, Iftach; Raichman, Daniel; Lellouche, Jean-Paul Moshe; Jelinek, Raz

2017-01-18

Multifunctional nanoparticles have attracted significant interest as biomedical vehicles, combining diagnostic, imaging, and therapeutic properties. We describe herein the construction of new nanoparticle conjugates comprising WS 2 nanorods (NRs) coupled to fluorescent carbon dots (C-dots). We show that the WS 2 -C-dot hybrids integrate the unique physical properties of the two species, specifically the photothermal activity of the WS 2 NRs upon irradiation with near-infrared (NIR) light and the excitation-dependent luminescence emission of the C-dots. The WS 2 -C-dot NRs have been shown to be non-cytotoxic and have been successfully employed for multicolour cell imaging and targeted cell killing under NIR irradiation, pointing to their potential utilization as effective therapeutic vehicles. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Funneled focusing of planar acoustic waves utilizing the metamaterial properties of an acoustic lens

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Walker, E.; Reyes, D.; Rojas, M. M.; Krokhin, A.; Neogi, A.

2014-02-01

Metamaterial acoustic lenses are acoustic devices based on phononic crystal structures that take advantage of negative or near-zero indices of refraction. These unique properties arise due to either the antiparallel direction of the phase and group velocity or strongly anisotropic dispersion characteristics, usually above the first transmission band. In this study, we utilize an FDTD program to examine two phononic lenses that utilize anisotropic effects available in their second band to collimate and focus acoustic waves from a plane-wave source with a k00 wavevector. The phononic crystals consist of stainless steel rods arranged in a square lattice with water as the ambient material. Results show collimation and focusing in the second band for select frequencies, fc ± 0.005𝑓𝑐.

Electrospun nanofiber membranes for adsorption of dye molecules from textile wastewater

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akduman, C.; Akçakoca Kumbasar, E. P.; Morsunbul, S.

2017-10-01

The nanofiber membranes prepared by the electrospinning method have unique properties such as high specific surface area and high porosity with fine pores. These properties led electrospun nanofiber membranes to use for the removal of dye molecules from textile wastewater. In this study, a hydrophobic Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) and a hydrophilic Poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) were selected for producing electrospun nanofibers and their sorption capacities were investigated. The largest sorption capacity reached to maximum 88.31 mg/g, belong to BTCA cross-linked PVA membranes due to hydrophilic character of PVA. Contrary to expectation, hydrophobic character of TPU was dominant and incorporation of CD to the TPU nanofibers did not affect the sorption of the TPU membranes, and showed very low adsorption capacity (14.48 mg/g).

Analysis of dispersion relation in three-dimensional single gyroid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jheng, Pei-Lun; Hung, Yu-Chueh

2016-03-01

Gyroid is a type of three-dimensional chiral structures and has been found in many insect species. Besides the photonic crystal properties exhibited by gyroid structures, the chirality and gyroid network morphology also provide unique opportunities for manipulating propagation of light. In this work, we present studies based on finite-difference time domain (FDTD) method for analyzing the dispersion relation characteristics of dielectric single gyroid (SG) metamaterials. The band structures, transmission spectrum, dispersion surfaces, equifrequency contours (EFCs) of SG metamaterials are examined. Some interesting wave guiding characteristics, such as negative refraction and collimation, are presented and discussed. We also show how these optical properties are predicted by analyzing the EFCs at different frequencies. These results are crucial for the design of functional devices at optical frequencies based on dielectric single gyroid metamaterials.

Multifunctional Quantum Dots for Personalized Medicine

PubMed Central

Zrazhevskiy, Pavel; Gao, Xiaohu

2009-01-01

Successes in biomedical research and state-of-the-art medicine have undoubtedly improved the quality of life. However, a number of diseases, such as cancer, immunodeficiencies, and neurological disorders, still evade conventional diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. A transformation towards personalized medicine may help to combat these diseases. For this, identification of disease molecular fingerprints and their association with prognosis and targeted therapy must become available. Quantum dots (QDs), semiconductor nanocrystals with unique photo-physical properties, represent a novel class of fluorescence probes to address many of the needs of personalized medicine. This review outlines the properties of QDs that make them a suitable platform for advancing personalized medicine, examines several proof-of-concept studies showing utility of QDs for clinically relevant applications, and discusses current challenges in introducing QDs into clinical practice. PMID:20161004

Superhydrophilicity of novel anodic alumina nanofibers films and their formation mechanism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peng, Rong; Yang, Wulin; Fu, Licai; Zhu, Jiajun; Li, Deyi; Zhou, Lingping

2017-06-01

A novel anodic alumina nanofibers structure, which is different from the traditional porous anodic structure, has been quickly fabricated via anodizing in a new electrolyte, pyrophosphoric acid. The effects of the solution concentration and the anodizing time on the formation of the anodic alumina nanofibers were analyzed. The results show that the nanostructure of anodic alumina can change to the nanofiber oxide from the porous oxide by increasing the solution concentration. Prolonging the anodizing time is beneficial to obtain alumina nanofibers at high solution concentration. Growth behavior of the alumina nanofibers was also discussed by scanning electron microscopy observations. Owing to the unique hexagonal structure of anodic alumina as well as the preferential chemical dissolution between the porous anodic alumina and the anodic alumina nanotips, the slightly soluble anodic alumina nanotips could form novel alumina nanofibers during anodizing. The results show that the nanofibers-covered aluminum surface exhibits superhydrophilic property, with a near-zero water contact angle. Such alumina nanofibers with superhydrophilic property could be used for various potential applications.

Label-free in-flow detection of single DNA molecules using glass nanopipettes.

PubMed

Gong, Xiuqing; Patil, Amol V; Ivanov, Aleksandar P; Kong, Qingyuan; Gibb, Thomas; Dogan, Fatma; deMello, Andrew J; Edel, Joshua B

2014-01-07

With the view of enhancing the functionality of label-free single molecule nanopore-based detection, we have designed and developed a highly robust, mechanically stable, integrated nanopipette-microfluidic device which combines the recognized advantages of microfluidic systems and the unique properties/advantages of nanopipettes. Unlike more typical planar solid-state nanopores, which have inherent geometrical constraints, nanopipettes can be easily positioned at any point within a microfluidic channel. This is highly advantageous, especially when taking into account fluid flow properties. We show that we are able to detect and discriminate between DNA molecules of varying lengths when motivated through a microfluidic channel, upon the application of appropriate voltage bias across the nanopipette. The effects of applied voltage and volumetric flow rates have been studied to ascertain translocation event frequency and capture rate. Additionally, by exploiting the advantages associated with microfluidic systems (such as flow control and concomitant control over analyte concentration/presence), we show that the technology offers a new opportunity for single molecule detection and recognition in microfluidic devices.

All-optical control and super-resolution imaging of quantum emitters in layered materials.

PubMed

Kianinia, Mehran; Bradac, Carlo; Sontheimer, Bernd; Wang, Fan; Tran, Toan Trong; Nguyen, Minh; Kim, Sejeong; Xu, Zai-Quan; Jin, Dayong; Schell, Andreas W; Lobo, Charlene J; Aharonovich, Igor; Toth, Milos

2018-02-28

Layered van der Waals materials are emerging as compelling two-dimensional platforms for nanophotonics, polaritonics, valleytronics and spintronics, and have the potential to transform applications in sensing, imaging and quantum information processing. Among these, hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) is known to host ultra-bright, room-temperature quantum emitters, whose nature is yet to be fully understood. Here we present a set of measurements that give unique insight into the photophysical properties and level structure of hBN quantum emitters. Specifically, we report the existence of a class of hBN quantum emitters with a fast-decaying intermediate and a long-lived metastable state accessible from the first excited electronic state. Furthermore, by means of a two-laser repumping scheme, we show an enhanced photoluminescence and emission intensity, which can be utilized to realize a new modality of far-field super-resolution imaging. Our findings expand current understanding of quantum emitters in hBN and show new potential ways of harnessing their nonlinear optical properties in sub-diffraction nanoscopy.

Photonic-structured fibers assembled from cellulose nanocrystals with tunable polarized selective reflection.

PubMed

Meng, Xin; Pan, Hui; Lu, Tao; Chen, Zhixin; Chen, Yanru; Zhang, Di; Zhu, Shenmin

2018-08-10

Fibers with self-assembled photonic structures are of special interest due to their unique photonic properties and potential applications in the smart textile industry. Inspired by nature, the photonic-structured fibers were fabricated through the self-assembly of chiral nematic cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and the fibers showed tunably brilliant and selectively reflected colors under crossed-polarization. A simple wet-spinning method was applied to prepare composite fibers of the mixed CNC matrix and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) additions. During the processing, a cholesteric CNC phase formed photonic fibers through a self-assembly process. The selective color reflection of the composite fibers in the polarized condition showed a typical red-shift tendency with an increase in the PVA content, which was attributed to the increased helical pitch of the CNC. Furthermore, the polarized angle could also alter the reflected colors. Owing to their excellent selective reflection properties under the polarized condition, CNC-based photonic fibers are promising as the next-generation of smart fibers, applied in the fields of specific display and sensing.

A kirigami approach to engineering elasticity in nanocomposites through patterned defects.

PubMed

Shyu, Terry C; Damasceno, Pablo F; Dodd, Paul M; Lamoureux, Aaron; Xu, Lizhi; Shlian, Matthew; Shtein, Max; Glotzer, Sharon C; Kotov, Nicholas A

2015-08-01

Efforts to impart elasticity and multifunctionality in nanocomposites focus mainly on integrating polymeric and nanoscale components. Yet owing to the stochastic emergence and distribution of strain-concentrating defects and to the stiffening of nanoscale components at high strains, such composites often possess unpredictable strain-property relationships. Here, by taking inspiration from kirigami—the Japanese art of paper cutting—we show that a network of notches made in rigid nanocomposite and other composite sheets by top-down patterning techniques prevents unpredictable local failure and increases the ultimate strain of the sheets from 4 to 370%. We also show that the sheets' tensile behaviour can be accurately predicted through finite-element modelling. Moreover, in marked contrast to other stretchable conductors, the electrical conductance of the stretchable kirigami sheets is maintained over the entire strain regime, and we demonstrate their use to tune plasma-discharge phenomena. The unique properties of kirigami nanocomposites as plasma electrodes open up a wide range of novel technological solutions for stretchable electronics and optoelectronic devices, among other application possibilities.

Detection of organic vapors on sputtered and annealed thin Au films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kvitek, O.; Kopacek, V.; Reznickova, A.; Svorcik, V.

2018-03-01

Unique optical properties of metal nanostructures enable construction of new types of chemical sensors. Nanostructures composed of Au on glass substrate were prepared by annealing of 2-20 nm thick sputtered Au films at 300 °C for 1 h. The annealing leads to transformation of the as sputtered continuous Au layers to a nanoisland structure. The forming nanostructure shows a strong, well defined surface plasmon resonance absorption band in UV-Vis spectrum, which is useful for construction of a chemical sensor. The samples were used to detect vapors of acetone and water in an experimental testing apparatus. The achieved signal-to-noise ratio was 583 and 386 for acetone and water vapors, respectively on the nanostructure prepared from 4 nm thick Au layer. The nanostructured sensitive layers, however, showed poor signal stability; therefore a polymer overlayer was introduced to protect it. The employed polystyrene film prepared by spin-coating improved sensitivity and selectivity of the sensor, while the dynamic properties of the sensing influenced only slightly.

Chlorine doped graphene quantum dots: Preparation, properties, and photovoltaic detectors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhao, Jianhong; Xiang, Jinzhong, E-mail: jzhxiang@ynu.edu.cn; Tang, Libin, E-mail: scitang@163.com

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are becoming one of the hottest advanced functional materials because of the opening of the bandgap due to quantum confinement effect, which shows unique optical and electrical properties. The chlorine doped GQDs (Cl-GQDs) have been fabricated by chemical exfoliation of HCl treated carbon fibers (CFs), which were prepared from degreasing cotton through an annealing process at 1000 °C for 30 min. Raman study shows that both G and 2D peaks of GQDs may be redshifted (softened) by chlorine doping, leading to an n-type doping. The first vertical (Cl)-GQDs based photovoltaic detectors have been demonstrated, both the light absorbingmore » and electron-accepting roles for (Cl)-GQDs in photodetection have been found, resulting in an exceptionally big ratio of photocurrent to dark current as high as ∼10{sup 5} at room temperature using a 405 nm laser irradiation under the reverse bias voltage. The study expands the application of (Cl)-GQDs to the important optoelectronic detection devices.« less

Convergence and rate analysis of neural networks for sparse approximation.

PubMed

Balavoine, Aurèle; Romberg, Justin; Rozell, Christopher J

2012-09-01

We present an analysis of the Locally Competitive Algorithm (LCA), which is a Hopfield-style neural network that efficiently solves sparse approximation problems (e.g., approximating a vector from a dictionary using just a few nonzero coefficients). This class of problems plays a significant role in both theories of neural coding and applications in signal processing. However, the LCA lacks analysis of its convergence properties, and previous results on neural networks for nonsmooth optimization do not apply to the specifics of the LCA architecture. We show that the LCA has desirable convergence properties, such as stability and global convergence to the optimum of the objective function when it is unique. Under some mild conditions, the support of the solution is also proven to be reached in finite time. Furthermore, some restrictions on the problem specifics allow us to characterize the convergence rate of the system by showing that the LCA converges exponentially fast with an analytically bounded convergence rate. We support our analysis with several illustrative simulations.

Rhodoferax antarcticus sp. nov., a moderately psychrophilic purple nonsulfur bacterium isolated from an Antarctic microbial mat

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Madigan, M. T.; Jung, D. O.; Woese, C. R.; Achenbach, L. A.

2000-01-01

A new species of purple nonsulfur bacteria isolated from an Antarctic microbial mat is described. The organism, designated strain ANT.BR, was mildly psychrophilic, growing optimally at 15-18 degrees C with a growth temperature range of 0-25 degrees C. Cells of strain ANT.BR were highly motile curved rods and spirals, contained bacteriochlorophyll a, and showed a multicomponent in vivo absorption spectrum. A specific phylogenetic relationship was observed between strain ANT.BR and the purple bacterium Rhodoferax fermentans FR2T, and the two organisms shared several physiological and other phenotypic properties, with the notable exception of growth temperature optimum. Tests of genomic DNA hybridization, however, showed Rfx. fermentans FR2T and strain ANT.BR to be genetically distinct bacteria. Because of its unique set of properties, especially its requirement for low growth temperatures, we propose to recognize strain ANT.BR as a new species of the genus Rhodoferax, Rhodoferax antarcticus, named for its known habitat, the Antarctic.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, Yuanyue; Xiao, Hai; Goddard, William A.

Two-dimensional (2D) halide perovskites are emerging as promising candidates for nanoelectronics and optoelectronics. To realize their full potential, it is important to understand the role of those defects that can strongly impact material properties. In contrast to other popular 2D semiconductors (e.g., transition metal dichalcogenides MX 2) for which defects typically induce harmful traps, we show that the electronic activities of defects in 2D perovskites are significantly tunable. For example, even with a fixed lattice orientation one can change the synthesis conditions to convert a line defect (edge or grain boundary) from electron acceptor to inactive site without deep gapmore » states. Here, we show that this difference originates from the enhanced ionic bonding in these perovskites compared with MX 2. The donors tend to have high formation energies and the harmful defects are difficult to form at a low halide chemical potential. Thus, we unveil unique properties of defects in 2D perovskites and suggest practical routes to improve them.« less

Two-Dimensional Halide Perovskites: Tuning Electronic Activities of Defects

DOE PAGES

Liu, Yuanyue; Xiao, Hai; Goddard, William A.

2016-04-21

Two-dimensional (2D) halide perovskites are emerging as promising candidates for nanoelectronics and optoelectronics. To realize their full potential, it is important to understand the role of those defects that can strongly impact material properties. In contrast to other popular 2D semiconductors (e.g., transition metal dichalcogenides MX 2) for which defects typically induce harmful traps, we show that the electronic activities of defects in 2D perovskites are significantly tunable. For example, even with a fixed lattice orientation one can change the synthesis conditions to convert a line defect (edge or grain boundary) from electron acceptor to inactive site without deep gapmore » states. Here, we show that this difference originates from the enhanced ionic bonding in these perovskites compared with MX 2. The donors tend to have high formation energies and the harmful defects are difficult to form at a low halide chemical potential. Thus, we unveil unique properties of defects in 2D perovskites and suggest practical routes to improve them.« less

Plastic Transition to Switch Nonlinear Optical Properties Showing the Record High Contrast in a Single-Component Molecular Crystal.

PubMed

Sun, Zhihua; Chen, Tianliang; Liu, Xitao; Hong, Maochun; Luo, Junhua

2015-12-23

To switch bulk nonlinear optical (NLO) effects represents an exciting new branch of NLO material science, whereas it remains a great challenge to achieve high contrast for "on/off" of quadratic NLO effects in crystalline materials. Here, we report the supereminent NLO-switching behaviors of a single-component plastic crystal, 2-(hydroxymethyl)-2-nitro-1,3-propanediol (1), which shows a record high contrast of at least ∼150, exceeding all the known crystalline switches. Such a breakthrough is clearly elucidated from the slowing down of highly isotropic molecular motions during plastic-to-rigid transition. The deep understanding of its intrinsic plasticity and superior NLO property allows the construction of a feasible switching mechanism. As a unique class of substances with short-range disorder embedded in long-range ordered crystalline lattice, plastic crystals enable response to external stimuli and fulfill specific photoelectric functions, which open a newly conceptual avenue for the designing of new functional materials.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gogotsi, Yury

Here, the research community has been steadily expanding the family of few-atom-thick crystals beyond graphene, discovering new materials or producing known materials in a 2D state and demonstrating their unique properties 1, 2. Recently, nanometre-thin 2D transition metal carbides have also joined this family 3. Writing in Nature Materials, Chuan Xu and colleagues now report a significant advance in the field, showing the synthesis of large-area, high-quality, nanometre-thin crystals of molybdenum carbide that demonstrate low-temperature 2D superconductivity 4. Moreover, they also show that other ultrathin carbide crystals, such as tungsten and tantalum carbides, can be grown by chemical vapour depositionmore » with a high crystallinity and very low defect concentration.« less

Seed characteristics and physicochemical properties of powders of 25 edible dry bean varieties.

PubMed

Cappa, Carola; Kelly, James D; Ng, Perry K W

2018-07-01

Information on the physicochemical variability in dry bean seeds from different varieties grown over distinct crop years is lacking. This study was designed to investigate the relationship between the environment and the seed characteristics of 25 edible dry bean varieties and to expand the knowledge on their proximate composition, starch digestibility, solvent retention capacity, and pasting and thermal properties. The impact of bean genotype (25 varieties), growing environment (two crop years), and powder particle size (≤0.5 mm, ≤1.0 mm) was investigated. Statistical differences (P > 0.05) in seed characteristics and in starch, amylose and protein contents were found among the 25 varieties. Unique pasting and thermal properties were observed, and genotype and particle size greatly affected these properties. The accumulated information can be used in breeding programs to select bean lines possessing unique properties for food ingredients while increasing the market value of the crop and enhancing human health. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Synthesis, Characterization and Applications of One-Dimensional Metal Oxide Nanostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Santulli, Alexander

Nanomaterials have been of keen research interest, owing to their exciting and unique properties (e.g. optical, magnetic, electronic, and mechanical). These properties allow nanomaterials to have many applications in areas of medicine, alternative energy, catalysis, and information storage. In particular, one-dimensional (1D) nanomaterials are highly advantageous, owing to the inherent anisotropic nature, which allows for effective transport and study of properties on the nanoscale. More specifically, 1D metal oxide nanomaterials are of particular interest, owing to their high thermal and chemical stability, as well as their intriguing optical, electronic, and magnetic properties. Herein, we will investigate the synthesis and characterization of vanadium oxide, lithium niobate and chromium oxide. We will explore the methodologies utilized for the synthesis of these materials, as well as the overall properties of these unique nanomaterials. Furthermore, we will explore the application of titanium dioxide nanomaterials as the electron transport layer in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), with an emphasis on the effect of the nanoscale morphology on the overall device efficiency.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dincă, Mircea; Léonard, François

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), with their crystalline nanoporous three-dimensional structures, have emerged as unique multifunctional materials that combine high porosity with catalytic, photophysical, or other properties to reveal new fundamental science and applications. Because MOFs are composed of organic molecules linking metal centers in ways that are not usually conducive to the formation of free-charge carriers or low-energy charge-transport pathways, they are typically insulators. Accordingly, applications so far have harnessed the unique structural properties and porosity of MOFs, which depend only to a small extent on the ability to manipulate their electronic structure. An exciting new area has emerged due tomore » the recent demonstration of MOFs with controlled electronic and optical properties, which is enabling new fundamental science and opens up the possibility of applications in electronics and photonics. This article presents an overview of the fundamental science issues related to controlling electronic and optical properties of MOFs, and how research groups worldwide have been exploring such properties for electronics, thermoelectrics, photophysics, and charge storage.« less

The Uniqueness of Speech among Motor Systems

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kent, Ray

2004-01-01

This paper considers evidence that the speech muscles are unique in their genetic, developmental, functional and phenotypical properties. The literature was reviewed using PubMed, ScienceDirect, ComDisDome and other literature-retrieval systems to identify studies reporting on the craniofacial and laryngeal muscles. Particular emphasis was given…

Physical and chemical characterization of biochars derived from different agricultural residues

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jindo, K.; Mizumoto, H.; Sawada, Y.; Sanchez-Monedero, M. A.; Sonoki, T.

2014-12-01

Biochar is widely recognized as an efficient tool for carbon sequestration and soil fertility. The understanding of its chemical and physical properties, which are strongly related to the type of the initial material used and pyrolysis conditions, is crucial to identify the most suitable application of biochar in soil. A selection of organic wastes with different characteristics (e.g., rice husk (RH), rice straw (RS), wood chips of apple tree (Malus pumila) (AB), and oak tree (Quercus serrata) (OB)) were pyrolyzed at different temperatures (400, 500, 600, 700, and 800 °C) in order to optimize the physicochemical properties of biochar as a soil amendment. Low-temperature pyrolysis produced high biochar yields; in contrast, high-temperature pyrolysis led to biochars with a high C content, large surface area, and high adsorption characteristics. Biochar obtained at 600 °C leads to a high recalcitrant character, whereas that obtained at 400 °C retains volatile and easily labile compounds. The biochar obtained from rice materials (RH and RS) showed a high yield and unique chemical properties because of the incorporation of silica elements into its chemical structure. The biochar obtained from wood materials (AB and OB) showed high carbon content and a high absorption character.

Tuning the mesomorphic properties of phenoxy-terminated smectic liquid crystals: the effect of fluoro substitution.

PubMed

Thompson, Matthew; Carkner, Carolyn; Mosey, Nicholas J; Kapernaum, Nadia; Lemieux, Robert P

2015-05-21

The mesomorphic properties of phenoxy-terminated 5-alkoxy-2-(4-alkoxyphenyl)pyrimidine liquid crystals can be tuned in a predictable fashion with fluoro substituents on the phenoxy end-group. We show that an ortho-fluoro substituent promotes the formation of a tilted smectic C (SmC) phase whereas a para-fluoro substituent promotes the formation of an orthogonal smectic A (SmA) phase. The balance between SmA and SmC phases may be understood in terms of the energetic preference of the phenoxy end-groups to self-assemble via arene-arene interactions in a parallel or antiparallel geometry, and how these non-covalent interactions may cause either a suppression or enhancement of out-of-layer fluctuations at the interface of smectic layers. Calculations of changes in the potential energy of association ΔE for non-covalent dimers of fluoro-substituted n-butyloxybenzene molecules in parallel and antiparallel geometries support this hypothesis. We also show how mesomorphic properties can be further tuned by difluoro and perfluoro substitution, including difluoro substitution at the ortho positions, which uniquely promotes the formation of a SmC-nematic phase sequence.

Control of spontaneous emission of quantum dots using correlated effects of metal oxides and dielectric materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sadeghi, S. M.; Wing, W. J.; Gutha, R. R.; Capps, L.

2017-03-01

We study the emission dynamics of semiconductor quantum dots in the presence of the correlated impact of metal oxides and dielectric materials. For this we used layered material structures consisting of a base substrate, a dielectric layer, and an ultrathin layer of a metal oxide. After depositing colloidal CdSe/ZnS quantum dots on the top of the metal oxide, we used spectral and time-resolved techniques to show that, depending on the type and thickness of the dielectric material, the metal oxide can characteristically change the interplay between intrinsic excitons, defect states, and the environment, offering new material properties. Our results show that aluminum oxide, in particular, can strongly change the impact of amorphous silicon on the emission dynamics of quantum dots by balancing the intrinsic near band emission and fast trapping of carriers. In such a system the silicon/aluminum oxide charge barrier can lead to large variation of the radiative lifetime of quantum dots and control of the photo-ejection rate of electrons in quantum dots. The results provide unique techniques to investigate and modify physical properties of dielectrics and manage optical and electrical properties of quantum dots.

Laboratory Analysis of Polymer Thin Films for Planetary Balloons and Gossamer Structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sterling, Jerry; Fairbrother, Debora A.

2004-01-01

Commercially available polymer thin fdms with thickness of 15 microns or less were evaluated for potential application as the gas envelope material of balloons and other inflated vehicles. Films on this thickness scale are of interest for Earth and Mars ballooning as well as many gossamer space structures. Due to the uniqueness of these missions relative to typical uses of these materials, application-specific materials properties measurements were made. We evaluated numerous polymer chemistries, plus a few variations within one chemistry. The data show that there are often trade-offs among the different materials, such as with polyesters and polyimides having greater stiffness (modulus) but lower tear propagation resistance than polyethylene. Sections of polyethylene films can be joined by heat sealing, while adhesives and their accompanying mass penalty must be used with polyesters and polyimides. When the analysis temperature is reduced to 190 K, polyethylenes display dramatically increased stiffness and yield point, while the increase for other materials is more modest. The data also show that manufacturing processes can significantly affect film properties. To emphasize the need for application-specific properties assessment, we discuss two recent applications using these materials.

Post-SELEX optimization of aptamers.

PubMed

Gao, Shunxiang; Zheng, Xin; Jiao, Binghua; Wang, Lianghua

2016-07-01

Aptamers are functional single-stranded DNA or RNA oligonucleotides, selected in vitro by SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment), which can fold into stable unique three-dimensional structures that bind their target ligands with high affinity and specificity. Although aptamers show a number of favorable advantages such as better stability and easier modification when compared with the properties of antibodies, only a handful of aptamers have entered clinical trials and only one, pegaptanib, has received US Food and Drug Administration approval for clinical use. The main reasons that limit the practical application of aptamers are insufficient nuclease stability, bioavailability, thermal stability, or even affinity. Some aptamers obtained from modified libraries show better properties; however, polymerase amplification of nucleic acids containing non-natural bases is currently a primary drawback of the SELEX process. This review focuses on several post-SELEX optimization strategies of aptamers identified in recent years. We describe four common methods in detail: truncation, chemical modification, bivalent or multivalent aptamer construction, and mutagenesis. We believe that these optimization strategies should improve one or more specific properties of aptamers, and the type of feature(s) selected for improvement will be dependent on the application purpose.

Control of spontaneous emission of quantum dots using correlated effects of metal oxides and dielectric materials.

PubMed

Sadeghi, S M; Wing, W J; Gutha, R R; Capps, L

2017-03-03

We study the emission dynamics of semiconductor quantum dots in the presence of the correlated impact of metal oxides and dielectric materials. For this we used layered material structures consisting of a base substrate, a dielectric layer, and an ultrathin layer of a metal oxide. After depositing colloidal CdSe/ZnS quantum dots on the top of the metal oxide, we used spectral and time-resolved techniques to show that, depending on the type and thickness of the dielectric material, the metal oxide can characteristically change the interplay between intrinsic excitons, defect states, and the environment, offering new material properties. Our results show that aluminum oxide, in particular, can strongly change the impact of amorphous silicon on the emission dynamics of quantum dots by balancing the intrinsic near band emission and fast trapping of carriers. In such a system the silicon/aluminum oxide charge barrier can lead to large variation of the radiative lifetime of quantum dots and control of the photo-ejection rate of electrons in quantum dots. The results provide unique techniques to investigate and modify physical properties of dielectrics and manage optical and electrical properties of quantum dots.

Inverse Perovskites - A New Platform For 3D Dirac Electron Physics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rost, A. W.; Kim, J.; Shota, S.; Hayama, K.; Abdolazimi, V.; Bruin, J. A. N.; Muehle, C.; Schnyder, A.; Yaresko, A. N.; Nuss, J.; Takagi, H.

3D Dirac semimetals show a wealth of phenomena including ultrahigh mobility, extreme transverse magnetoresistance and potential for negative longitudinal magnetoresistance. Furthermore, by introducing a gap these are often found to be topological crystalline insulators. Here, I will introduce our experiments on a new family of 3D Dirac materials - the inverse perovskites A3BO (A =Ca,Sr,Eu/B =Pb,Sn). These open up the possibility to chemically control the properties of Dirac electrons including (i) the anisotropy of the Dirac dispersion, (ii) role of spin orbit coupling, and (iii) magnetism. Our physical property measurements show all (Ca/Sr)3(Pb/Sn)O compounds host Dirac electrons at the Fermi energy with no other bands crossing EF. Quantum oscillations unveil small Fermi surfaces (frequencies <5 T) and light carriers (<0.02 me) only consistent with Dirac electrons. With the successful synthesis of Sr3Pb0.5Sn0.5O this group of materials therefore offers a unique chemical control over the physical properties of 3D Dirac electrons. Crucially, Eu3(Pb/Sn)O compounds allow for the introduction of magnetism. I will discuss the implications of this in particular with respect to surface states in these topological crystalline insulators.

Binding mechanisms of DNA/RNA nucleobases adsorbed on graphene under charging: first-principles van der Waals study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gürel, Hikmet Hakan; Salmankurt, Bahadır

2017-06-01

Graphene is a 2D material that has attracted much attention due to its outstanding properties. Because of its high surface area and unique chemical and physical properties, graphene is a good candidate for biological applications. For this reason, a deep understanding of the mechanism of interaction of graphene with biomolecules is required. In this study, theoretical investigation of van der Waals effects has been conducted using density functional theory. Here we show that the order of the binding energies of five nucleobases with graphene is G  >  A  >  T  >  C  >   U. This trend is in good agreement with most of the theoretical and experimental data. Also, the effects of charging on the electronic and structural properties of the graphene-nucleubase systems are studied for the first time. We show that the binding energy can be changed by adding or removing an electron from the system. The results presented in this work provide fundamental insights into the quantum interactions of DNA with carbon-based nanostructures and will be useful for developments in biotechnology and nanotechnology.

Appraisal of geodynamic inversion results: a data mining approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baumann, T. S.

2016-11-01

Bayesian sampling based inversions require many thousands or even millions of forward models, depending on how nonlinear or non-unique the inverse problem is, and how many unknowns are involved. The result of such a probabilistic inversion is not a single `best-fit' model, but rather a probability distribution that is represented by the entire model ensemble. Often, a geophysical inverse problem is non-unique, and the corresponding posterior distribution is multimodal, meaning that the distribution consists of clusters with similar models that represent the observations equally well. In these cases, we would like to visualize the characteristic model properties within each of these clusters of models. However, even for a moderate number of inversion parameters, a manual appraisal for a large number of models is not feasible. This poses the question whether it is possible to extract end-member models that represent each of the best-fit regions including their uncertainties. Here, I show how a machine learning tool can be used to characterize end-member models, including their uncertainties, from a complete model ensemble that represents a posterior probability distribution. The model ensemble used here results from a nonlinear geodynamic inverse problem, where rheological properties of the lithosphere are constrained from multiple geophysical observations. It is demonstrated that by taking vertical cross-sections through the effective viscosity structure of each of the models, the entire model ensemble can be classified into four end-member model categories that have a similar effective viscosity structure. These classification results are helpful to explore the non-uniqueness of the inverse problem and can be used to compute representative data fits for each of the end-member models. Conversely, these insights also reveal how new observational constraints could reduce the non-uniqueness. The method is not limited to geodynamic applications and a generalized MATLAB code is provided to perform the appraisal analysis.

PDB@: an offline toolkit for exploration and analysis of PDB files.

PubMed

Mani, Udayakumar; Ravisankar, Sadhana; Ramakrishnan, Sai Mukund

2013-12-01

Protein Data Bank (PDB) is a freely accessible archive of the 3-D structural data of biological molecules. Structure based studies offers a unique vantage point in inferring the properties of a protein molecule from structural data. This is too big a task to be done manually. Moreover, there is no single tool, software or server that comprehensively analyses all structure-based properties. The objective of the present work is to develop an offline computational toolkit, PDB@ containing in-built algorithms that help categorizing the structural properties of a protein molecule. The user has the facility to view and edit the PDB file to his need. Some features of the present work are unique in itself and others are an improvement over existing tools. Also, the representation of protein properties in both graphical and textual formats helps in predicting all the necessary details of a protein molecule on a single platform.

Guiding Neuronal Growth in Tissues with Light

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-02-27

and structural properties of their surroundings in addition to the biochemical properties. Furthermore, three-dimensional biopolymer matrices provide...Properties of Biopolymer Networks Biopolymer networks exhibit unique nonlinear rheological behavior that differs dramatically from most synthetic...and presumably other biopolymers , is not well defined in variable gap geometries. These findings have broad implications for the interpretation of

Sensitivity of aerosol optical depth, single scattering albedo, and phase function calculations to assumptions on physical and chemical properties of aerosol

EPA Science Inventory

In coupled chemistry-meteorology simulations, the calculation of aerosol optical properties is an important task for the inclusion of the aerosol effects on the atmospheric radiative budget. However, the calculation of these properties from an aerosol profile is not uniquely defi...

Nanocellulose-enabled electronics, energy harvesting devices, smart materials and sensors: a review

Treesearch

Ronald Sabo; Aleksey Yermakov; Chiu Tai Law; Rani Elhajjar

2016-01-01

Cellulose nanomaterials have a number of interesting and unique properties that make them well-suited for use in electronics applications such as energy harvesting devices, actuators and sensors. Cellulose nanofibrils and nanocrystals have good mechanical properties, high transparency, and low coefficient of thermal expansion, among other properties that facilitate...

Selenoproteins-What unique properties can arise with selenocysteine in place of cysteine?

PubMed

Arnér, Elias S J

2010-05-01

The defining entity of a selenoprotein is the inclusion of at least one selenocysteine (Sec) residue in its sequence. Sec, the 21st naturally occurring genetically encoded amino acid, differs from its significantly more common structural analog cysteine (Cys) by the identity of a single atom: Sec contains selenium instead of the sulfur found in Cys. Selenium clearly has unique chemical properties that differ from sulfur, but more striking are perhaps the similarities between the two elements. Selenium was discovered by Jöns Jacob Berzelius, a renowned Swedish scientist instrumental in establishing the institution that would become Karolinska Institutet. Written at the occasion of the bicentennial anniversary of Karolinska Institutet, this mini review focuses on the unique selenium-derived properties that may potentially arise in a protein upon the inclusion of Sec in place of Cys. With 25 human genes encoding selenoproteins and in total several thousand selenoproteins yet described in nature, it seems likely that the presence of that single selenium atom of Sec should convey some specific feature, thereby explaining the existence of selenoproteins in spite of demanding and energetically costly Sec-specific synthesis machineries. Nonetheless, most, if not all, of the currently known selenoproteins are also found as Cys-containing non-selenoprotein orthologues in other organisms, wherefore any potentially unique properties of selenoproteins are yet a matter of debate. The pK(a) of free Sec (approximately 5.2) being significantly lower than that of free Cys (approximately 8.5) has often been proposed as one of the unique features of Sec. However, as discussed herein, this pK(a) difference between Sec and Cys can hardly provide an evolutionary pressure for maintenance of selenoproteins. Moreover, the typically 10- to 100-fold lower enzymatic efficiencies of Sec-to-Cys mutants of selenoprotein oxidoreductases, are also weak arguments for the overall existence of selenoproteins. Here, it is however emphasized that the inherent high nucleophilicity of Sec and thereby its higher chemical reaction rate with electrophiles, as compared to Cys, seems to be a truly unique property of Sec that cannot easily be mimicked by the basicity of Cys, even within the microenvironment of a protein. The chemical rate enhancement obtained with Sec can have other consequences than those arising from a low redox potential of some Cys-dependent proteins, typically aiming at maintaining redox equilibria. Another unique aspect of Sec compared to Cys seems to be its efficient potency to support one-electron transfer reactions, which, however, has not yet been unequivocally shown as a Sec-dependent step during the natural catalysis of any known selenoprotein enzyme. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effect of particle size on band gap and DC electrical conductivity of TiO2 nanomaterial

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Avinash, B. S.; Chaturmukha, V. S.; Jayanna, H. S.; Naveen, C. S.; Rajeeva, M. P.; Harish, B. M.; Suresh, S.; Lamani, Ashok R.

2016-05-01

Materials reduced to the Nano scale can exhibit different properties compared to what they exhibit on a micro scale, enabling unique applications. When TiO2 is reduced to Nano scale it shows unique properties, of which the electrical aspect is highly important. This paper presents increase in the energy gap and decrease in conductivity with decrease in particle size of pure Nano TiO2 synthesized by hydrolysis and peptization of titanium isopropoxide. Aqueous solution with various pH and peptizing the resultant suspension will form Nano TiO2 at different particle sizes. As the pH of the solution is made acidic reduction in the particle size is observed. And it is confirmed from XRD using Scherer formula and SEM, as prepared samples are studied for UV absorbance, and DC conductivity from room temperature to 400°C. From the tauc plot it was observed, and calculated the energy band gap increases as the particle size decreases and shown TiO2 is direct band gap. From Arrhenius plot clearly we encountered, decrease in the conductivity for the decrease in particle size due to hopping of charge carriers and it is evident that, we can tailor the band gap by varying particle size.

Probing the Unique Role of Gallium in Amorphous Oxide Semiconductors through Structure-Property Relationships

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Moffitt, Stephanie L.; Zhu, Qimin; Ma, Qing

This study explores the unique role of Ga in amorphous (a-) In[BOND]Ga[BOND]O oxide semiconductors through combined theory and experiment. It reveals substitutional effects that have not previously been attributed to Ga, and that are investigated by examining how Ga influences structure–property relationships in a series of pulsed laser deposited a-In[BOND]Ga[BOND]O thin films. Element-specific structural studies (X-ray absorption and anomalous scattering) show good agreement with the results of ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. This structural knowledge is used to understand the results of air-annealing and Hall effect electrical measurements. The crystallization temperature of a-IO is shown to increase by as muchmore » as 325 °C on substituting Ga for In. This increased thermal stability is understood on the basis of the large changes in local structure that Ga undergoes, as compared to In, during crystallization. Hall measurements reveal an initial sharp drop in both carrier concentration and mobility with increasing Ga incorporation, which moderates at >20 at% Ga content. This decline in both the carrier concentration and mobility with increasing Ga is attributed to dilution of the charge-carrying In[BOND]O matrix and to increased structural disorder. The latter effect saturates at high at% Ga.« less

Physicochemical characterization of an Indian traditional medicine, Jasada Bhasma: detection of nanoparticles containing non-stoichiometric zinc oxide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhowmick, Tridib Kumar; Suresh, Akkihebbal K.; Kane, Shantaram G.; Joshi, Ajit C.; Bellare, Jayesh R.

2009-04-01

Herbs and minerals are the integral parts of traditional systems of medicine in many countries. Herbo-Mineral medicinal preparations called Bhasma are unique to the Ayurvedic and Siddha systems of Indian Traditional Medicine. These preparations have been used since long and are claimed to be the very effective and potent dosage form. However, there is dearth of scientific analytical studies carried out on these products, and even the existing ones suffer from incomplete analysis. Jasada Bhasma is a unique preparation of zinc belonging to this class. This particular preparation has been successfully used by traditional practitioners for the treatment of diabetes and age-related eye diseases. This work presents a first comprehensive physicochemical characterization of Jasada Bhasma using modern state-of-the-art techniques such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), inductively coupled plasma (ICP), elemental analysis with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Our analysis shows that the Jasada Bhasma particles are in oxygen deficient state and a clearly identifiable fraction of particles are in the nanometer size range. These properties like oxygen deficiency and nanosize particles in Jasada Bhasma might impart the therapeutic property of this particular type of medicine.

Relativity-Induced Bonding Pattern Change in Coinage Metal Dimers M2 (M = Cu, Ag, Au, Rg).

PubMed

Li, Wan-Lu; Lu, Jun-Bo; Wang, Zhen-Ling; Hu, Han-Shi; Li, Jun

2018-05-07

The periodic table provides a fundamental protocol for qualitatively classifying and predicting chemical properties based on periodicity. While the periodic law of chemical elements had already been rationalized within the framework of the nonrelativistic description of chemistry with quantum mechanics, this law was later known to be affected significantly by relativity. We here report a systematic theoretical study on the chemical bonding pattern change in the coinage metal dimers (Cu 2 , Ag 2 , Au 2 , Rg 2 ) due to the relativistic effect on the superheavy elements. Unlike the lighter congeners basically demonstrating ns- ns bonding character and a 0 g + ground state, Rg 2 shows unique 6d-6d bonding induced by strong relativity. Because of relativistic spin-orbit (SO) coupling effect in Rg 2 , two nearly degenerate SO states, 0 g + and 2 u , exist as candidate of the ground state. This relativity-induced change of bonding mechanism gives rise to various unique alteration of chemical properties compared with the lighter dimers, including higher intrinsic bond energy, force constant, and nuclear shielding. Our work thus provides a rather simple but clear-cut example, where the chemical bonding picture is significantly changed by relativistic effect, demonstrating the modified periodic law in heavy-element chemistry.

A non-local free boundary problem arising in a theory of financial bubbles

PubMed Central

Berestycki, Henri; Monneau, Regis; Scheinkman, José A.

2014-01-01

We consider an evolution non-local free boundary problem that arises in the modelling of speculative bubbles. The solution of the model is the speculative component in the price of an asset. In the framework of viscosity solutions, we show the existence and uniqueness of the solution. We also show that the solution is convex in space, and establish several monotonicity properties of the solution and of the free boundary with respect to parameters of the problem. To study the free boundary, we use, in particular, the fact that the odd part of the solution solves a more standard obstacle problem. We show that the free boundary is and describe the asymptotics of the free boundary as c, the cost of transacting the asset, goes to zero. PMID:25288815

Aging and Ambiguous ROS. System Genetics Analysis.

PubMed

Baranov, Vladislav S; Baranova, Elena V

2017-01-01

Famous Free Radical Theory (FRT) of aging, the 50th year anniversary of which is celebrated in 2015 postulates a crucial role of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in aging. Still it is the most robust theory of aging as mitochondria ROS production (mtROSp) correlates well with four principal ''rules" of aging being universal, endogenous, progressive, and deleterious. Vast number of experiments in different species prove mutagenic effect of ROS and their carcinogenic properties. So far, FRT stimulates the search of new pharmaceuticals with antioxidant activity. However, some recent experimental data and clinical findings render doubt to ROS as a principal senescence drivers and come in conflict with original version of FRT. Growth stimulating effects of ROS and their modest antitumor properties support these objections. One should remember that FRT is only one of the numerous theories of aging. Molecular mechanisms of senescence involve all living systems and numerous metabolic pathways which are also variable owing to the unique properties of individual genome and unique epigenetic modulations operating throughout the lifetime thus making aging a unique private matter. Universal theory of aging that incorporates and explains all known and suggested mechanisms of aging, is illusive. However, knowledge of unique peculiarities of individual genome, its feasible editing and efficient epigenetic regulation of metabolic pathways give a chance to postpone aging and extend period of active longevity.

Unique molecular properties of superoxide dismutase from teleost fish skin.

PubMed

Nakano, T; Sato, M; Takeuchi, M

1995-02-27

A unique Cu,Zn-SOD was found and isolated from plaice Paralichthys olivaceus skin. Surprisingly, the properties of purified fish skin SOD were very different from those of SOD from other sources reported so far. The purified SOD was composed of four same subunits of 16 kDa and the molecular weight of the native SOD was found to be around 65 kDa. The dominant amino acids of the SOD were Ser, Thr, Pro and Glu. Above 70 degrees C, thermostability of the SOD was much lower than that of bovine erythrocyte Cu,Zn-SOD.

Tunable mechanical properties of green solid films based on deoxyribonucleic acids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matsuno, Hisao; Morimitsu, Yuma; Ohta, Noboru; Sekiguchi, Hiroshi; Takahara, Atsushi; Tanaka, Keiji

Promoting green innovation to establish a worldwide low-carbon society is an urgent priority. We here show that solid films made from deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) can be used as a structural material. The great advantage of DNA films over the ones made from synthetic polymers is that the mechanical properties are controllable, from glassy to rubbery, via semicrystalline by simply regulating the water content in the film. Why such unique mechanical properties can be manifested by the DNA films is determined from structural analyses using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and wide-angle X-ray diffraction measurements. With increasing water content, the conformation of DNA was changed from A-form in an amorphous state to B-form in a partially packed one. DNA in the B-form became densely packed as the film was stretched. Also, DNAs were intermolecularly cross-linked using 2,5-hexanedione based on reductive amination induced by 2-picoline borane in aqueous phase. Cross-linking points were directly observed by atomic force microscopy. The tensile properties of cross-linked films were much better than those of non-cross-linked DNA films.

Experimental and theoretical study of the absorption properties of thiolated diamondoids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Landt, Lasse; Bostedt, Christoph; Wolter, David; Möller, Thomas; Dahl, Jeremy E. P.; Carlson, Robert M. K.; Tkachenko, Boryslav A.; Fokin, Andrey A.; Schreiner, Peter R.; Kulesza, Alexander; Mitrić, Roland; Bonačić-Koutecký, Vlasta

2010-04-01

Nanoscale hybrid systems are a new class of molecular aggregates that offer numerous new possibilities in materials design. Diamondoid thiols are promising nanoscale building blocks for such hybrid systems. They allow the incorporation of functional groups and the investigation of their effects on the unique materials' properties of diamondoids. Here we combine experimental data with ab initio theory to explore the optical properties of diamondoid thiols and their dependence on size and shape. Agreement between theoretically and experimentally obtained absorption spectra allows the identification of the nature of the optical transitions that are responsible for some photophysical and photochemical processes. We show that the optical properties of diamondoid thiols in the deep UV regime depend on the functionalization site but are largely size independent. Our findings provide an explanation for the disappearance of diamondoid UV photoluminescence upon thiolation for smaller diamondoids. However, our theoretical results indicate that for larger diamondoid thiols beyond the critical size of six diamondoid cages the lowest energy transitions are characterized by diamondoidlike states suggesting that UV luminescence may be regained.

Novel technique for online characterization of cartilaginous tissue properties.

PubMed

Yuan, Tai-Yi; Huang, Chun-Yuh; Yong Gu, Wei

2011-09-01

The goal of tissue engineering is to use substitutes to repair and restore organ function. Bioreactors are an indispensable tool for monitoring and controlling the unique environment for engineered constructs to grow. However, in order to determine the biochemical properties of engineered constructs, samples need to be destroyed. In this study, we developed a novel technique to nondestructively online-characterize the water content and fixed charge density of cartilaginous tissues. A new technique was developed to determine the tissue mechano-electrochemical properties nondestructively. Bovine knee articular cartilage and lumbar annulus fibrosus were used in this study to demonstrate that this technique could be used on different types of tissue. The results show that our newly developed method is capable of precisely predicting the water volume fraction (less than 3% disparity) and fixed charge density (less than 16.7% disparity) within cartilaginous tissues. This novel technique will help to design a new generation of bioreactors which are able to actively determine the essential properties of the engineered constructs, as well as regulate the local environment to achieve the optimal conditions for cultivating constructs.

Nanofiltration Membranes for Water Purification: structure-transport relationships and applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jons, Steven; Paul, Mou; Matthews, Tamlin; Hailemariam, Leaelaf

Nanofiltration (NF) membranes are used for separating salts and small neutral molecules. NF membranes show unique selectivity properties compared to reverse osmosis membranes as it can selectively pass monovalent salts and neutral molecules as a function of charge and molecular weight cut-off which are dependent on membrane characteristics and operating conditions. Dow Water & Process solutions has been a pioneer in the membrane based water purification field and Dow's role was instrumental in developing several NF membranes for different applications. However, the characterization of NF membranes and hence the development of structure-property relationship is challenging due to the nanoscale thin, crosslinked nature of the membrane. Recently significant efforts were employed to develop analytical capabilities to understand polymer structure and composition and it had been possible to achieve a structure-property relationship for NF membranes. This paper will highlight similar relationships and will also focus on the relationships of membrane structure with membrane transport properties and how this relationship influences products for different application areas such as in oil field, sweetener and minimum liquid discharge etc.

Petunia nectar proteins have ribonuclease activity.

PubMed

Hillwig, Melissa S; Liu, Xiaoteng; Liu, Guangyu; Thornburg, Robert W; Macintosh, Gustavo C

2010-06-01

Plants requiring an insect pollinator often produce nectar as a reward for the pollinator's visitations. This rich secretion needs mechanisms to inhibit microbial growth. In Nicotiana spp. nectar, anti-microbial activity is due to the production of hydrogen peroxide. In a close relative, Petunia hybrida, limited production of hydrogen peroxide was found; yet petunia nectar still has anti-bacterial properties, suggesting that a different mechanism may exist for this inhibition. The nectar proteins of petunia plants were compared with those of ornamental tobacco and significant differences were found in protein profiles and function between these two closely related species. Among those proteins, RNase activities unique to petunia nectar were identified. The genes corresponding to four RNase T2 proteins from Petunia hybrida that show unique expression patterns in different plant tissues were cloned. Two of these enzymes, RNase Phy3 and RNase Phy4 are unique among the T2 family and contain characteristics similar to both S- and S-like RNases. Analysis of amino acid patterns suggest that these proteins are an intermediate between S- and S-like RNases, and support the hypothesis that S-RNases evolved from defence RNases expressed in floral parts. This is the first report of RNase activities in nectar.

Unique Features of Ethnic Mongolian Gut Microbiome revealed by metagenomic analysis.

PubMed

Liu, Wenjun; Zhang, Jiachao; Wu, Chunyan; Cai, Shunfeng; Huang, Weiqiang; Chen, Jing; Xi, Xiaoxia; Liang, Zebin; Hou, Qiangchuan; Zhou, Bing; Qin, Nan; Zhang, Heping

2016-10-06

The human gut microbiota varies considerably among world populations due to a variety of factors including genetic background, diet, cultural habits and socioeconomic status. Here we characterized 110 healthy Mongolian adults gut microbiota by shotgun metagenomic sequencing and compared the intestinal microbiome among Mongolians, the Hans and European cohorts. The results showed that the taxonomic profile of intestinal microbiome among cohorts revealed the Actinobaceria and Bifidobacterium were the key microbes contributing to the differences among Mongolians, the Hans and Europeans at the phylum level and genus level, respectively. Metagenomic species analysis indicated that Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Coprococcus comeswere enrich in Mongolian people which might contribute to gut health through anti-inflammatory properties and butyrate production, respectively. On the other hand, the enriched genus Collinsella, biomarker in symptomatic atherosclerosis patients, might be associated with the high morbidity of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in Mongolian adults. At the functional level, a unique microbial metabolic pathway profile was present in Mongolian's gut which mainly distributed in amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, energy metabolism, lipid metabolism, glycan biosynthesis and metabolism. We can attribute the specific signatures of Mongolian gut microbiome to their unique genotype, dietary habits and living environment.

Retrieval of complex χ(2) parts for quantitative analysis of sum-frequency generation intensity spectra

PubMed Central

Hofmann, Matthias J.; Koelsch, Patrick

2015-01-01

Vibrational sum-frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy has become an established technique for in situ surface analysis. While spectral recording procedures and hardware have been optimized, unique data analysis routines have yet to be established. The SFG intensity is related to probing geometries and properties of the system under investigation such as the absolute square of the second-order susceptibility χ(2)2. A conventional SFG intensity measurement does not grant access to the complex parts of χ(2) unless further assumptions have been made. It is therefore difficult, sometimes impossible, to establish a unique fitting solution for SFG intensity spectra. Recently, interferometric phase-sensitive SFG or heterodyne detection methods have been introduced to measure real and imaginary parts of χ(2) experimentally. Here, we demonstrate that iterative phase-matching between complex spectra retrieved from maximum entropy method analysis and fitting of intensity SFG spectra (iMEMfit) leads to a unique solution for the complex parts of χ(2) and enables quantitative analysis of SFG intensity spectra. A comparison between complex parts retrieved by iMEMfit applied to intensity spectra and phase sensitive experimental data shows excellent agreement between the two methods. PMID:26450297

Petunia nectar proteins have ribonuclease activity

PubMed Central

Hillwig, Melissa S.; Liu, Xiaoteng; Liu, Guangyu; Thornburg, Robert W.; MacIntosh, Gustavo C.

2010-01-01

Plants requiring an insect pollinator often produce nectar as a reward for the pollinator's visitations. This rich secretion needs mechanisms to inhibit microbial growth. In Nicotiana spp. nectar, anti-microbial activity is due to the production of hydrogen peroxide. In a close relative, Petunia hybrida, limited production of hydrogen peroxide was found; yet petunia nectar still has anti-bacterial properties, suggesting that a different mechanism may exist for this inhibition. The nectar proteins of petunia plants were compared with those of ornamental tobacco and significant differences were found in protein profiles and function between these two closely related species. Among those proteins, RNase activities unique to petunia nectar were identified. The genes corresponding to four RNase T2 proteins from Petunia hybrida that show unique expression patterns in different plant tissues were cloned. Two of these enzymes, RNase Phy3 and RNase Phy4 are unique among the T2 family and contain characteristics similar to both S- and S-like RNases. Analysis of amino acid patterns suggest that these proteins are an intermediate between S- and S-like RNases, and support the hypothesis that S-RNases evolved from defence RNases expressed in floral parts. This is the first report of RNase activities in nectar. PMID:20460362

A predictive machine learning approach for microstructure optimization and materials design

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Ruoqian; Kumar, Abhishek; Chen, Zhengzhang; Agrawal, Ankit; Sundararaghavan, Veera; Choudhary, Alok

2015-06-01

This paper addresses an important materials engineering question: How can one identify the complete space (or as much of it as possible) of microstructures that are theoretically predicted to yield the desired combination of properties demanded by a selected application? We present a problem involving design of magnetoelastic Fe-Ga alloy microstructure for enhanced elastic, plastic and magnetostrictive properties. While theoretical models for computing properties given the microstructure are known for this alloy, inversion of these relationships to obtain microstructures that lead to desired properties is challenging, primarily due to the high dimensionality of microstructure space, multi-objective design requirement and non-uniqueness of solutions. These challenges render traditional search-based optimization methods incompetent in terms of both searching efficiency and result optimality. In this paper, a route to address these challenges using a machine learning methodology is proposed. A systematic framework consisting of random data generation, feature selection and classification algorithms is developed. Experiments with five design problems that involve identification of microstructures that satisfy both linear and nonlinear property constraints show that our framework outperforms traditional optimization methods with the average running time reduced by as much as 80% and with optimality that would not be achieved otherwise.

Evaluation of measurement properties of self-administered PROMs aimed at patients with non-specific shoulder pain and "activity limitations": a systematic review.

PubMed

Thoomes-de Graaf, M; Scholten-Peeters, G G M; Schellingerhout, J M; Bourne, A M; Buchbinder, R; Koehorst, M; Terwee, C B; Verhagen, A P

2016-09-01

To critically appraise and compare the measurement properties of self-administered patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) focussing on the shoulder, assessing "activity limitations." Systematic review. The study population had to consist of patients with shoulder pain. We excluded postoperative patients or patients with generic diseases. The methodological quality of the selected studies and the results of the measurement properties were critically appraised and rated using the COSMIN checklist. Out of a total of 3427 unique hits, 31 articles, evaluating 7 different questionnaires, were included. The SPADI is the most frequently evaluated PROM and its measurement properties seem adequate apart from a lack of information regarding its measurement error and content validity. For English, Norwegian and Turkish users, we recommend to use the SPADI. Dutch users could use either the SDQ or the SST. In German, we recommend the DASH. In Tamil, Slovene, Spanish and the Danish languages, the evaluated PROMs were not yet of acceptable validity. None of these PROMs showed strong positive evidence for all measurement properties. We propose to develop a new shoulder PROM focused on activity limitations, taking new knowledge and techniques into account.

Spectroscopic studies on the lanthanide sensitized luminescence and chemiluminescence properties of fluoroquinolone with different structure.

PubMed

Sun, Chunyan; Ping, Hong; Zhang, Minwei; Li, Hongkun; Guan, Fengrui

2011-11-01

Lanthanide sensitized luminescence and chemiluminescence (CL) are of great importance because of the unique spectral properties, such as long lifetime, large Stokes shifts, and narrow emission bands characteristic to lanthanide ions (Ln(3+)). With the fluoroquinolone (FQ) compounds including enoxacin (ENX), norfloxacin (NFLX), lomefloxacin (LMFX), fleroxacin (FLRX), ofloxacin (OFLX), rufloxacin (RFX), gatifloxacin (GFLX) and sparfloxacin (SPFX), the luminescence and CL properties of Tb(3+)-FQ and Eu(3+)-FQ complexes have been investigated in this contribution. Ce(4+)-SO(3)(2-) in acidic conditions was taken as the CL system and sensitized CL intensities of Tb(3+)-FQ and Eu(3+)-FQ complexes were determined by flow-injection analysis. The luminescence and CL spectra of Tb(3+)-FQ complexes show characteristic peaks of Tb(3+) at 490 nm, 545 nm, 585 nm and 620 nm. Complexes of Tb(3+)-ENX, Tb(3+)-NFLX, Tb(3+)-LMFX and Tb(3+)-FLRX display relatively strong emission intensity compared with Tb(3+)-OFLX, Tb(3+)-RFX, Tb(3+)-GFLX and Tb(3+)-SPFX. Quite weak peaks with unique characters of Eu(3+) at 590 nm and 617 nm appear in the luminescence and CL spectra of Eu(3+)-ENX, but no notable sensitized luminescence and CL of Eu(3+) could be observed when Eu(3+) is added into other FQ. The distinct differences on emission intensity of Tb(3+)-FQ and Eu(3+)-FQ might originate from the different energy gap between the triplet levels of FQ and the excited levels of the Ln(3+). The different sensitized luminescence and CL signals among Tb(3+)-FQ complexes could be attributed to different optical properties and substituents of these FQ compounds. The detailed mechanism involved in the luminescence and CL properties of Tb(3+)-FQ and Eu(3+)-FQ complexes has been investigated by analyzing the luminescence and CL spectra, quantum yields, and theoretical calculation results. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Steady states and stability in metabolic networks without regulation.

PubMed

Ivanov, Oleksandr; van der Schaft, Arjan; Weissing, Franz J

2016-07-21

Metabolic networks are often extremely complex. Despite intensive efforts many details of these networks, e.g., exact kinetic rates and parameters of metabolic reactions, are not known, making it difficult to derive their properties. Considerable effort has been made to develop theory about properties of steady states in metabolic networks that are valid for any values of parameters. General results on uniqueness of steady states and their stability have been derived with specific assumptions on reaction kinetics, stoichiometry and network topology. For example, deep results have been obtained under the assumptions of mass-action reaction kinetics, continuous flow stirred tank reactors (CFSTR), concordant reaction networks and others. Nevertheless, a general theory about properties of steady states in metabolic networks is still missing. Here we make a step further in the quest for such a theory. Specifically, we study properties of steady states in metabolic networks with monotonic kinetics in relation to their stoichiometry (simple and general) and the number of metabolites participating in every reaction (single or many). Our approach is based on the investigation of properties of the Jacobian matrix. We show that stoichiometry, network topology, and the number of metabolites that participate in every reaction have a large influence on the number of steady states and their stability in metabolic networks. Specifically, metabolic networks with single-substrate-single-product reactions have disconnected steady states, whereas in metabolic networks with multiple-substrates-multiple-product reactions manifolds of steady states arise. Metabolic networks with simple stoichiometry have either a unique globally asymptotically stable steady state or asymptotically stable manifolds of steady states. In metabolic networks with general stoichiometry the steady states are not always stable and we provide conditions for their stability. In order to demonstrate the biological relevance we illustrate the results on the examples of the TCA cycle, the mevalonate pathway and the Calvin cycle. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Biocatalytic production of D-tagatose: A potential rare sugar with versatile applications.

PubMed

Jayamuthunagai, J; Gautam, P; Srisowmeya, G; Chakravarthy, M

2017-11-02

D-tagatose is a naturally existing rare monosaccharide having prebiotic properties. Minimal absorption, low metabolizing energy, and unique clinical properties are the characteristics of D-tagatose. D-tagatose gained international attention by matching the purpose of alternate sweeteners that is much needed for the control of diabetes among world population. Recent efforts in understanding tagatose bioconversion have generated essential information regarding its production and application. This article reviews the evolution of D-tagatose as an important rare sugar by appreciable improvements in production results and its significant applications resulted of its unique physical, chemical, biological, and clinical properties thus considering it an appropriate product for requisite improvements in technical viability. Based on current knowledge and technology projections, the commercialization of D-tagatose rare sugar as food additive is close to reality.

Magnetic nanoparticles-based drug and gene delivery systems for the treatment of pulmonary diseases.

PubMed

El-Sherbiny, Ibrahim M; Elbaz, Nancy M; Sedki, Mohammed; Elgammal, Abdulaziz; Yacoub, Magdi H

2017-02-01

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have gained much attention due to their unique properties such as biocompatibility and biodegradability as well as magnetic and heat-medicated characteristics. Due to these inherent properties, MNPs have been widely used in various biomedical applications including targeted drug delivery and hyperthermia-based therapy. Hyperthermia is a promising approach for the thermal activation therapy of several diseases, including pulmonary diseases. Additionally, due to their large loading capacity and controlled release ability, several MNP-based drug delivery systems have been emerged for treatment of cystic fibrosis and lung cancer. This review provides an overview on the unique properties of MNPs and magnetic-mediated hyperthermia with emphasis on the recent biomedical applications of MNPs in treatment of both lung cancer and cystic fibrosis.

Perspective: The future of quantum dot photonic integrated circuits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Norman, Justin C.; Jung, Daehwan; Wan, Yating; Bowers, John E.

2018-03-01

Direct epitaxial integration of III-V materials on Si offers substantial manufacturing cost and scalability advantages over heterogeneous integration. The challenge is that epitaxial growth introduces high densities of crystalline defects that limit device performance and lifetime. Quantum dot lasers, amplifiers, modulators, and photodetectors epitaxially grown on Si are showing promise for achieving low-cost, scalable integration with silicon photonics. The unique electrical confinement properties of quantum dots provide reduced sensitivity to the crystalline defects that result from III-V/Si growth, while their unique gain dynamics show promise for improved performance and new functionalities relative to their quantum well counterparts in many devices. Clear advantages for using quantum dot active layers for lasers and amplifiers on and off Si have already been demonstrated, and results for quantum dot based photodetectors and modulators look promising. Laser performance on Si is improving rapidly with continuous-wave threshold currents below 1 mA, injection efficiencies of 87%, and output powers of 175 mW at 20 °C. 1500-h reliability tests at 35 °C showed an extrapolated mean-time-to-failure of more than ten million hours. This represents a significant stride toward efficient, scalable, and reliable III-V lasers on on-axis Si substrates for photonic integrate circuits that are fully compatible with complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) foundries.

Infiltrated Zinc Oxide in Poly(methyl methacrylate): An Atomic Cycle Growth Study

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ocola, Leonidas E.; Connolly, Aine; Gosztola, David J.

We have investigated the growth of zinc oxide in a polymer matrix by sequential infiltration synthesis (SiS). The atomic cycle-by-cycle self-terminating reaction growth investigation was done using photoluminescence (PL), Raman, and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS). Results show clear differences between Zn atom configurations at the initial stages of growth. Mono Zn atoms (O-Zn and O-Zn-O) exhibit pure UV emission with little evidence of deep level oxygen vacancy states (VO). Dimer Zn atoms (O-Zn-O-Zn and O-Zn-O-Zn-O) show strong UV and visible PL emission from VO states 20 times greater than that from the mono Zn atom configuration. After three precursor cycles,more » the PL emission intensity drops significantly exhibiting first evidence of crystal formation as observed with Raman spectroscopy via the presence of longitudinal optical phonons. We also report a first confirmation of energy transfer between polymer and ZnO where the polymer absorbs light at 241 nm and emits at 360 nm, which coincides with the ZnO UV emission peak. Our work shows that ZnO dimers are unique ZnO configurations with high PL intensity, unique O1s oxidation states, and sub-10 ps absorption and decay, which are interesting properties for novel quantum material applications.« less

The evolution of filamin – A protein domain repeat perspective

PubMed Central

Light, Sara; Sagit, Rauan; Ithychanda, Sujay S.; Qin, Jun; Elofsson, Arne

2013-01-01

Particularly in higher eukaryotes, some protein domains are found in tandem repeats, performing broad functions often related to cellular organization. For instance, the eukaryotic protein filamin interacts with many proteins and is crucial for the cytoskeleton. The functional properties of long repeat domains are governed by the specific properties of each individual domain as well as by the repeat copy number. To provide better understanding of the evolutionary and functional history of repeating domains, we investigated the mode of evolution of the filamin domain in some detail. Among the domains that are common in long repeat proteins, sushi and spectrin domains evolve primarily through cassette tandem duplications while scavenger and immunoglobulin repeats appear to evolve through clustered tandem duplications. Additionally, immunoglobulin and filamin repeats exhibit a unique pattern where every other domain shows high sequence similarity. This pattern may be the result of tandem duplications, serve to avert aggregation between adjacent domains or it is the result of functional constraints. In filamin, our studies confirm the presence of interspersed integrin binding domains in vertebrates, while invertebrates exhibit more varied patterns, including more clustered integrin binding domains. The most notable case is leech filamin, which contains a 20 repeat expansion and exhibits unique dimerization topology. Clearly, invertebrate filamins are varied and contain examples of similar adjacent integrin-binding domains. Given that invertebrate integrin shows more similarity to the weaker filamin binder, integrin β3, it is possible that the distance between integrin-binding domains is not as crucial for invertebrate filamins as for vertebrates. PMID:22414427

The evolution of filamin-a protein domain repeat perspective.

PubMed

Light, Sara; Sagit, Rauan; Ithychanda, Sujay S; Qin, Jun; Elofsson, Arne

2012-09-01

Particularly in higher eukaryotes, some protein domains are found in tandem repeats, performing broad functions often related to cellular organization. For instance, the eukaryotic protein filamin interacts with many proteins and is crucial for the cytoskeleton. The functional properties of long repeat domains are governed by the specific properties of each individual domain as well as by the repeat copy number. To provide better understanding of the evolutionary and functional history of repeating domains, we investigated the mode of evolution of the filamin domain in some detail. Among the domains that are common in long repeat proteins, sushi and spectrin domains evolve primarily through cassette tandem duplications while scavenger and immunoglobulin repeats appear to evolve through clustered tandem duplications. Additionally, immunoglobulin and filamin repeats exhibit a unique pattern where every other domain shows high sequence similarity. This pattern may be the result of tandem duplications, serve to avert aggregation between adjacent domains or it is the result of functional constraints. In filamin, our studies confirm the presence of interspersed integrin binding domains in vertebrates, while invertebrates exhibit more varied patterns, including more clustered integrin binding domains. The most notable case is leech filamin, which contains a 20 repeat expansion and exhibits unique dimerization topology. Clearly, invertebrate filamins are varied and contain examples of similar adjacent integrin-binding domains. Given that invertebrate integrin shows more similarity to the weaker filamin binder, integrin β3, it is possible that the distance between integrin-binding domains is not as crucial for invertebrate filamins as for vertebrates. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Identification and verification of hybridoma-derived monoclonal antibody variable region sequences using recombinant DNA technology and mass spectrometry

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Antibody engineering requires the identification of antigen binding domains or variable regions (VR) unique to each antibody. It is the VR that define the unique antigen binding properties and proper sequence identification is essential for functional evaluation and performance of recombinant antibo...

Uniqueness of Zinc as a Bioelement: Principles and Applications in Bioinorganic Chemistry--III.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ochiai, Ei-Ichiro

1988-01-01

Attempts to delineate certain basic principles and applications of bioinorganic chemistry to oxidation-reduction reactions. Examines why zinc(II) is so uniquely suited to enzymated reactions of the acid-base type. Suggests the answer may be in the natural abundance and the basic physicochemical properties of zinc(II). (MVL)

Structure-property relationships of a biological mesocrystal in the adult sea urchin spine

PubMed Central

Seto, Jong; Ma, Yurong; Davis, Sean A.; Meldrum, Fiona; Gourrier, Aurelien; Kim, Yi-Yeoun; Schilde, Uwe; Sztucki, Michael; Burghammer, Manfred; Maltsev, Sergey; Jäger, Christian; Cölfen, Helmut

2012-01-01

Structuring over many length scales is a design strategy widely used in Nature to create materials with unique functional properties. We here present a comprehensive analysis of an adult sea urchin spine, and in revealing a complex, hierarchical structure, show how Nature fabricates a material which diffracts as a single crystal of calcite and yet fractures as a glassy material. Each spine comprises a highly oriented array of Mg-calcite nanocrystals in which amorphous regions and macromolecules are embedded. It is postulated that this mesocrystalline structure forms via the crystallization of a dense array of amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) precursor particles. A residual surface layer of ACC and/or macromolecules remains around the nanoparticle units which creates the mesocrystal structure and contributes to the conchoidal fracture behavior. Nature’s demonstration of how crystallization of an amorphous precursor phase can create a crystalline material with remarkable properties therefore provides inspiration for a novel approach to the design and synthesis of synthetic composite materials. PMID:22343283

Self Assembly and Properties of C:WO3 Nano-Platelets and C:VO2/V2O5 Triangular Capsules Produced by Laser Solution Photolysis

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Laser photolysis of WCl6 in ethanol and a specific mixture of V2O5 and VCl3 in ethanol lead to carbon modified vanadium and tungsten oxides with interesting properties. The presence of graphene’s aromatic rings (from the vibrational frequency of 1,600 cm−1) together with C–C bonding of carbon (from the Raman shift of 1,124 cm−1) present unique optical, vibrational, electronic and structural properties of the intended tungsten trioxide and vanadium dioxide materials. The morphology of these samples shows nano-platelets in WOx samples and, in VOx samples, encapsulated spherical quantum dots in conjunction with fullerenes of VOx. Conductivity studies revealed that the VO2/V2O5 nanostructures are more sensitive to Cl than to the presence of ethanol, whereas the C:WO3 nano-platelets are more sensitive to ethanol than atomic C. PMID:20671779

The Effect of Voltage Charging on the Transport Properties of Gold Nanotube Membranes.

PubMed

Experton, Juliette; Martin, Charles R

2018-05-01

Porous membranes are used in chemical separations and in many electrochemical processes and devices. Research on the transport properties of a unique class of porous membranes that contain monodisperse gold nanotubes traversing the entire membrane thickness is reviewed here. These gold nanotubes can act as conduits for ionic and molecular transports through the membrane. Because the tubes are electronically conductive, they can be electrochemically charged by applying a voltage to the membrane. How this "voltage charging" affects the transport properties of gold nanotube membranes is the subject of this Review. Experiments showing that voltage charging can be used to reversibly switch the membrane between ideally cation- and anion-transporting states are reviewed. Voltage charging can also be used to enhance the ionic conductivity of gold nanotube membranes. Finally, voltage charging to accomplish electroporation of living bacteria as they pass through gold nanotube membranes is reviewed. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Reinvestigating the surface and bulk electronic properties of Cd3As2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roth, S.; Lee, H.; Sterzi, A.; Zacchigna, M.; Politano, A.; Sankar, R.; Chou, F. C.; Di Santo, G.; Petaccia, L.; Yazyev, O. V.; Crepaldi, A.

2018-04-01

Cd3As2 is widely considered among the few materials realizing the three-dimensional (3D) Dirac semimetal phase. Linearly dispersing states, responsible for the ultrahigh charge mobility, have been reported by several angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (ARPES) investigations. However, in spite of the general agreement between these studies, some details are at odds. From scanning tunneling microscopy and optical experiments under magnetic field, a puzzling scenario emerges in which multiple states show linear dispersion at different energy scales. Here, we solve this apparent controversy by reinvestigating the electronic properties of the (112) surface of Cd3As2 by combining ARPES and theoretical calculations. We disentangle the presence of massive and massless metallic bulk and surface states, characterized by different symmetries. Our systematic experimental and theoretical study clarifies the complex band dispersion of Cd3As2 by extending the simplistic 3D Dirac semimetal model to account for multiple bulk and surface states crossing the Fermi level, and thus contributing to the unique material transport properties.

A robust, melting class bulk superhydrophobic material with heat-healing and self-cleaning properties

PubMed Central

Ramakrishna, S.; Santhosh Kumar, K. S.; Mathew, Dona; Reghunadhan Nair, C. P.

2015-01-01

Superhydrophobic (SH) materials are essential for a myriad of applications such as anti-icing and self-cleaning due to their extreme water repellency. A single, robust material simultaneously possessing melt-coatability, bulk water repellency, self-cleanability, self-healability, self-refreshability, and adhesiveness has been remaining an elusive goal. We demonstrate a unique class of melt-processable, bulk SH coating by grafting long alkyl chains on silica nanoparticle surface by a facile one-step method. The well-defined nanomaterial shows SH property in the bulk and is found to heal macro-cracks on gentle heating. It retains wettability characteristics even after abrading with a sand paper. The surface regenerates SH features (due to reversible self-assembly of nano structures) quickly at ambient temperature even after cyclic water impalement, boiling water treatment and multiple finger rubbing tests. It exhibits self-cleaning properties on both fresh and cut surfaces. This kind of coating, hitherto undisclosed, is expected to be a breakthrough in the field of melt-processable SH coatings. PMID:26679096

The influence of α-Al2O3 addition on microstructure, mechanical and formaldehyde adsorption properties of fly ash-based geopolymer products.

PubMed

Huang, Yi; Han, Minfang

2011-10-15

Fly ash-based geopolymer with α-Al(2)O(3) addition were synthesized and used to remove formaldehyde from indoor air. The microstructure, mechanical and formaldehyde adsorption properties of the geopolymer products obtained were investigated. The results showed that α-Al(2)O(3) addition with appropriate amount (such as 5 wt%) increased the geopolymerization extent, resulting in the increase of surface area and compressive strength. In addition, the improvement of structural ordering level for geopolymer sample with 5 wt% α-Al(2)O(3) addition was found through FTIR analysis. By contrast, excessive addition (such as 10 wt%) had the opposite effect. The test of formaldehyde adsorption capacity confirmed that fly ash-based geopolymer product exhibited much better property of adsorbing indoor formaldehyde physically and chemically than fly ash itself. The surface area was an important but not unique factor influencing the adsorption capacity of geopolymers. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Anomalous elastic properties across the γ to α volume collapse in cerium

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lipp, Magnus J.; Jenei, Zs.; Cynn, H.

2017-10-31

The behavior of the f-electrons in the lanthanides and actinides governs important macroscopic properties but their pressure and temperature dependence is not fully explored. Cerium with nominally just one 4f electron offers a case study with its iso-structural volume collapse from the γ-phase to the α-phase ending in a critical point (pC, VC, TC), unique among the elements, whose mechanism remains controversial. Here, we present longitudinal (cL) and transverse sound speeds (cT) versus pressure from higher than room temperature to TC for the first time. While cL experiences a non-linear dip at the volume collapse, cT shows a step-like change.more » This produces very peculiar macroscopic properties: the minimum in the bulk modulus becomes more pronounced, the step-like increase of the shear modulus diminishes and the Poisson’s ratio becomes negative—meaning that cerium becomes auxetic. At the critical point itself cerium lacks any compressive strength but offers resistance to shear.« less

Sol-gel-derived hydroxyapatite-carbon nanotube/titania coatings on titanium substrates.

PubMed

Ji, Xiaoli; Lou, Weiwei; Wang, Qi; Ma, Jianfeng; Xu, Haihong; Bai, Qing; Liu, Chuantong; Liu, Jinsong

2012-01-01

In this paper, hydroxyapatite-carbon nanotube/titania (HA-CNT/TiO(2)) double layer coatings were successfully developed on titanium (Ti) substrates intended for biomedical applications. A TiO(2) coating was firstly developed by anodization to improve bonding between HA and Ti, and then the layer of HA and CNTs was coated on the surface by the sol-gel process to improve the biocompatibility and mechanical properties of Ti. The surfaces of double layer coatings were uniform and crack-free with a thickness of about 7 μm. The bonding strength of the HA-CNT/TiO(2) coating was higher than that of the pure HA and HA-CNT coatings. Additionally, in vitro cell experiments showed that CNTs promoted the adhesion of preosteoblasts on the HA-CNT/TiO(2) double layer coatings. These unique surfaces combined with the osteoconductive properties of HA exhibited the excellent mechanical properties of CNTs. Therefore, the developed HA-CNT/TiO(2) coatings on Ti substrates might be a promising material for bone replacement.

The deposition of thin titanium-nitrogen coatings on the surface of PCL-based scaffolds for vascular tissue engineering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kudryavtseva, Valeriya; Stankevich, Ksenia; Kibler, Elina; Golovkin, Alexey; Mishanin, Alexander; Bolbasov, Evgeny; Choynzonov, Evgeny; Tverdokhlebov, Sergei

2018-04-01

Biodegradable polymer scaffolds for tissue engineering is a promising technology for therapies of patients suffering from the loss of tissue or its function including cardiac tissues. However, limitations such as hydrophobicity of polymers prevent cell attachment, cell conductivity, and endothelialization. Plasma modification of polymers allows producing materials for an impressive range of applications due to their unique properties. Here, we demonstrate the possibility of bioresorbable electrospun polycaprolacton (PCL) scaffold surface modification by reactive magnetron sputtering of the titanium target in a nitrogen atmosphere. The influence of the plasma treatment time on the structure and properties of electrospun PCL scaffolds was studied. We show that the plasma treatment does not change the physico-mechanical properties of electrospun PCL scaffolds, leads to an increase in PCL scaffold biocompatibility, and, simultaneously, increases their hydrophilicity. In conclusion, this modification method opens a route to producing scaffolds with enhanced biocompatibility for tissue engineered vascular grafts.

Thermal rectification in thin films driven by gradient grain microstructure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Zhe; Foley, Brian M.; Bougher, Thomas; Yates, Luke; Cola, Baratunde A.; Graham, Samuel

2018-03-01

As one of the basic components of phononics, thermal rectifiers transmit heat current asymmetrically similar to electronic rectifiers in microelectronics. Heat can be conducted through them easily in one direction while being blocked in the other direction. In this work, we report a thermal rectifier that is driven by the gradient grain structure and the inherent gradient in thermal properties as found in these materials. To demonstrate their thermal rectification properties, we build a spectral thermal conductivity model with complete phonon dispersion relationships using the thermophysical properties of chemical vapor deposited (CVD) diamond films which possess gradient grain microstructures. To explain the observed significant thermal rectification, the temperature and thermal conductivity distribution are studied. Additionally, the effects of temperature bias and film thickness are discussed, which shed light on tuning the thermal rectification based on the gradient microstructures. Our results show that the columnar grain microstructure makes CVD materials unique candidates for mesoscale thermal rectifiers without a sharp temperature change.

Nanoarchitectured materials composed of fullerene-like spheroids and disordered graphene layers with tunable mechanical properties.

PubMed

Zhao, Zhisheng; Wang, Erik F; Yan, Hongping; Kono, Yoshio; Wen, Bin; Bai, Ligang; Shi, Feng; Zhang, Junfeng; Kenney-Benson, Curtis; Park, Changyong; Wang, Yanbin; Shen, Guoyin

2015-02-04

Type-II glass-like carbon is a widely used material with a unique combination of properties including low density, high strength, extreme impermeability to gas and liquid and resistance to chemical corrosion. It can be considered as a carbon-based nanoarchitectured material, consisting of a disordered multilayer graphene matrix encasing numerous randomly distributed nanosized fullerene-like spheroids. Here we show that under both hydrostatic compression and triaxial deformation, this high-strength material is highly compressible and exhibits a superelastic ability to recover from large strains. Under hydrostatic compression, bulk, shear and Young's moduli decrease anomalously with pressure, reaching minima around 1-2 GPa, where Poisson's ratio approaches zero, and then revert to normal behaviour with positive pressure dependences. Controlling the concentration, size and shape of fullerene-like spheroids with tailored topological connectivity to graphene layers is expected to yield exceptional and tunable mechanical properties, similar to mechanical metamaterials, with potentially wide applications.

Nanoarchitectured materials composed of fullerene-like spheroids and disordered graphene layers with tunable mechanical properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Zhisheng; Wang, Erik F.; Yan, Hongping; Kono, Yoshio; Wen, Bin; Bai, Ligang; Shi, Feng; Zhang, Junfeng; Kenney-Benson, Curtis; Park, Changyong; Wang, Yanbin; Shen, Guoyin

2015-02-01

Type-II glass-like carbon is a widely used material with a unique combination of properties including low density, high strength, extreme impermeability to gas and liquid and resistance to chemical corrosion. It can be considered as a carbon-based nanoarchitectured material, consisting of a disordered multilayer graphene matrix encasing numerous randomly distributed nanosized fullerene-like spheroids. Here we show that under both hydrostatic compression and triaxial deformation, this high-strength material is highly compressible and exhibits a superelastic ability to recover from large strains. Under hydrostatic compression, bulk, shear and Young’s moduli decrease anomalously with pressure, reaching minima around 1-2 GPa, where Poisson’s ratio approaches zero, and then revert to normal behaviour with positive pressure dependences. Controlling the concentration, size and shape of fullerene-like spheroids with tailored topological connectivity to graphene layers is expected to yield exceptional and tunable mechanical properties, similar to mechanical metamaterials, with potentially wide applications.

High-performance a MoS2 nanosheet-based nonvolatile memory transistor with a ferroelectric polymer and graphene source-drain electrode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Young Tack; Hwang, Do Kyung; Im, Seongil

2015-11-01

Two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdWs) materials are a class of new materials due to their unique physical properties. Of the many 2D vdWs materials, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is a representative n-type transition-metal dichalcogenide (TMD) semiconductor. Here, we report on a high-performance MoS2 nanosheet-based nonvolatile memory transistor with a poly(vinylidenefluoride-trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE)) ferroelectric top gate insulator. In order to enhance the ohmic contact property, we use graphene flakes as source/drain electrodes prepared by using the direct imprinting method with an elastomer stamp. The MoS2 ferroelectric field-effect transistor (FeFET) shows the highest linear electron mobility value of 175 cm2/Vs with a high on/off current ratio of more than 107, and a very clear memory window of more than 15 V. The program and erase dynamics and the static retention properties are also well demonstrated.

Electrical transport properties of small diameter single-walled carbon nanotubes aligned on ST-cut quartz substrates

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

A method is introduced to isolate and measure the electrical transport properties of individual single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) aligned on an ST-cut quartz, from room temperature down to 2 K. The diameter and chirality of the measured SWNTs are accurately defined from Raman spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM). A significant up-shift in the G-band of the resonance Raman spectra of the SWNTs is observed, which increases with increasing SWNTs diameter, and indicates a strong interaction with the quartz substrate. A semiconducting SWNT, with diameter 0.84 nm, shows Tomonaga-Luttinger liquid and Coulomb blockade behaviors at low temperatures. Another semiconducting SWNT, with a thinner diameter of 0.68 nm, exhibits a transition from the semiconducting state to an insulating state at low temperatures. These results elucidate some of the electrical properties of SWNTs in this unique configuration and help pave the way towards prospective device applications. PMID:25170326

Topological insulator bismuth selenide as a theranostic platform for simultaneous cancer imaging and therapy.

PubMed

Li, Juan; Jiang, Fei; Yang, Bo; Song, Xiao-Rong; Liu, Yan; Yang, Huang-Hao; Cao, Dai-Rong; Shi, Wen-Rong; Chen, Guo-Nan

2013-01-01

Employing theranostic nanoparticles, which combine both therapeutic and diagnostic capabilities in one dose, has promise to propel the biomedical field toward personalized medicine. Here we investigate the theranostic properties of topological insulator bismuth selenide (Bi2Se3) in in vivo and in vitro system for the first time. We show that Bi2Se3 nanoplates can absorb near-infrared (NIR) laser light and effectively convert laser energy into heat. Such photothermal conversion property may be due to the unique physical properties of topological insulators. Furthermore, localized and irreversible photothermal ablation of tumors in the mouse model is successfully achieved by using Bi2Se3 nanoplates and NIR laser irradiation. In addition, we also demonstrate that Bi2Se3 nanoplates exhibit strong X-ray attenuation and can be utilized for enhanced X-ray computed tomography imaging of tumor tissue in vivo. This study highlights Bi2Se3 nanoplates could serve as a promising platform for cancer diagnosis and therapy.

Structure-property relationships of a biological mesocrystal in the adult sea urchin spine.

PubMed

Seto, Jong; Ma, Yurong; Davis, Sean A; Meldrum, Fiona; Gourrier, Aurelien; Kim, Yi-Yeoun; Schilde, Uwe; Sztucki, Michael; Burghammer, Manfred; Maltsev, Sergey; Jäger, Christian; Cölfen, Helmut

2012-03-06

Structuring over many length scales is a design strategy widely used in Nature to create materials with unique functional properties. We here present a comprehensive analysis of an adult sea urchin spine, and in revealing a complex, hierarchical structure, show how Nature fabricates a material which diffracts as a single crystal of calcite and yet fractures as a glassy material. Each spine comprises a highly oriented array of Mg-calcite nanocrystals in which amorphous regions and macromolecules are embedded. It is postulated that this mesocrystalline structure forms via the crystallization of a dense array of amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) precursor particles. A residual surface layer of ACC and/or macromolecules remains around the nanoparticle units which creates the mesocrystal structure and contributes to the conchoidal fracture behavior. Nature's demonstration of how crystallization of an amorphous precursor phase can create a crystalline material with remarkable properties therefore provides inspiration for a novel approach to the design and synthesis of synthetic composite materials.

Alcohol-related Genes Show an Enrichment of Associations with a Persistent Externalizing Factor

PubMed Central

Ashenhurst, James R.; Harden, K. Paige; Corbin, William R.; Fromme, Kim

2016-01-01

Research using twins has found that much of the variability in externalizing phenotypes – including alcohol and drug use, impulsive personality traits, risky sex and property crime – is explained by genetic factors. Nevertheless, identification of specific genes and variants associated with these traits has proven to be difficult, likely because individual differences in externalizing are explained by many genes of small individual effect. Moreover, twin research indicates that heritable variance in externalizing behaviors is mostly shared across the externalizing spectrum rather than specific to any behavior. We use a longitudinal, “deep phenotyping” approach to model a general externalizing factor reflecting persistent engagement in a variety of socially problematic behaviors measured at eleven assessment occasions spanning early adulthood (ages 18 to 28). In an ancestrally homogenous sample of non-Hispanic Whites (N = 337), we then tested for enrichment of associations between the persistent externalizing factor and a set of 3,281 polymorphisms within 104 genes that were previously identified as associated with alcohol-use behaviors. Next we tested for enrichment among domain-specific factors (e.g., property crime) composed of residual variance not accounted for by the common factor. Significance was determined relative to bootstrapped empirical thresholds derived from permutations of phenotypic data. Results indicated significant enrichment of genetic associations for persistent externalizing, but not for domain-specific factors. Consistent with twin research findings, these results suggest that genetic variants are broadly associated with externalizing behaviors rather than unique to specific behaviors. General Scientific Summary This study shows that variation in 104 genes is associated with socially problematic “externalizing” behavior, including substance misuse, property crime, risky sex, and aspects of impulsive personality. Importantly, this association was with the common variation across these behaviors rather than with the variation unique to any given behavior. The manuscript demonstrates a potentially advantageous technique for relating sets of hypothesized genes to complex traits or behaviors. PMID:27505405

CARBON NANOTUBES IN MICROWAVE ENVIRONMENT-IGNITION AND RECONSTRUCTION

EPA Science Inventory

The unusual property of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT), multi-wall (MWNT) nanotubes and Buckminsterfullerene (C-60) is observed upon exposure to microwave-assisted ignition. Carbon nanotubes known for a range of mechanical and electronic properties because of their unique...

Towards the nonstick egg: designing fluorous proteins.

PubMed

Neil, E; Marsh, G

2000-07-01

Anyone who has made scrambled eggs will have had cause to praise the properties of Teflon. Teflon's highly chemically inert and nonstick nature derives from the perfluorinated polymer polytetrafluoroethylene. Perfluorocarbons have unique and valuable physical properties not found in nature. By incorporating fluorine into proteins, it might be possible to produce biological molecules with novel and useful properties.

Mine is better than yours: Investigating the ownership effect in children with autism spectrum disorder and typically developing children.

PubMed

Hartley, Calum; Fisher, Sophie

2018-03-01

Ownership has a unique and privileged influence on human psychology. Typically developing (TD) children judge their objects to be more desirable and valuable than similar objects belonging to others. This 'ownership effect' is due to processing one's property in relation to 'the self'. Here we explore whether children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) - a population with impaired self-understanding - prefer and over-value property due to ownership. In Experiment 1, we discovered that children with ASD did not favour a randomly endowed toy and frequently traded for a different object. By contrast, TD children showed a clear preference for their randomly endowed toy and traded infrequently. Both populations also demonstrated highly-accurate tracking of owner-object relationships. Experiment 2 showed that both TD children and children with ASD over-value their toys if they are self-selected and different from other-owned toys. Unlike TD children, children with ASD did not over-value their toys in comparison to non-owned identical copies. This finding was replicated in Experiment 3, which also established that mere ownership elicited over-valuation of randomly endowed property in TD children. However, children with ASD did not consistently regard their randomly endowed toys as the most valuable, and evaluated property irrespective of ownership. Our findings show that mere ownership increases preferences and valuations for self-owned property in TD children, but not children with ASD. We propose that deficits in self-understanding may diminish ownership effects in ASD, eliciting a more economically-rational strategy that prioritises material qualities (e.g. what a toy is) rather than whom it belongs to. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Explosive Welding in the 1990's

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lalwaney, N. S.; Linse, V. D.

1985-01-01

Explosive bonding is a unique joining process with the serious potential to produce composite materials capable of fulfilling many of the high performance materials capable of fulfilling many of the high performance materials needs of the 1990's. The process has the technological versatility to provide a true high quality metallurgical compatible and incompatible systems. Metals routinely explosively bonded include a wide variety of combinations of reactive and refractory metals, low and high density metals and their alloys, corrosion resistant and high strength alloys, and common steels. The major advantage of the process is its ability to custom design and engineer composites with physical and/or mechanical properties that meet a specific or unusual performance requirement. Explosive bonding offers the designer unique opportunities in materials selection with unique combinations of properties and high integrity bonds that cannot be achieved by any other metal joining process. The process and some applications are discussed.

Functionalization-induced changes in the structural and physical properties of amorphous polyaniline: a first-principles and molecular dynamics study.

PubMed

Chen, X P; Liang, Q H; Jiang, J K; Wong, Cell K Y; Leung, Stanley Y Y; Ye, H Y; Yang, D G; Ren, T L

2016-02-09

In this paper, we present a first-principles and molecular dynamics study to delineate the functionalization-induced changes in the local structure and the physical properties of amorphous polyaniline. The results of radial distribution function (RDF) demonstrate that introducing -SO3(-)Na(+) groups at phenyl rings leads to the structural changes in both the intrachain and interchain ordering of polyaniline at shorter distances (≤5 Å). An unique RDF feature in 1.8-2.1 Å regions is usually observed in both the interchain and intrachain RDF profiles of the -SO3(-)Na(+) substituted polymer (i.e. Na-SPANI). Comparative studies of the atom-atom pairs, bond structures, torsion angles and three-dimensional structures show that EB-PANI has much better intrachain ordering than that of Na-SPANI. In addition, investigation of the band gap, density of states (DOS), and absorption spectra indicates that the derivatization at ring do not substantially alter the inherent electronic properties but greatly change the optical properties of polyaniline. Furthermore, the computed diffusion coefficient of water in Na-SPANI is smaller than that of EB-PANI. On the other hand, the Na-SPANI shows a larger density than that of EB-PANI. The computed RDF profiles, band gaps, absorption spectra, and diffusion coefficients are in quantitative agreement with the experimental data.

Nano-indentation creep properties of the S2 cell wall lamina and compound corner middle lamella [abstract

Treesearch

Joseph E. Jakes; Charles R. Frihart; James F. Beecher; Donald S. Stone

2010-01-01

Bulk wood properties are derived from an ensemble of processes taking place at the micron-scale, and at this level the properties differ dramatically in going from cell wall layers to the middle lamella. To better understand the properties of these micron-scaled regions of wood, we have developed a unique set of nano-indentation tools that allow us to measure local...

THE EFFECTS OF GAMMA IRRADIATION ON THE RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF WHEAT GLUTEN (in Japanese)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Doguchi, M.; Yokoyama, Y.; Odaka, I.

Wheat gluten samples were x irradiated at doses from 4 x 10/sup 6/ to 10/ sup 7/ rep, and the flours, prepared by mixing the gluten samples with wheat starch, were subjected to rheological tests. The apparent viscosities obtained by the McMichael viscometer and the maximum viscosity of the alkaline viscogram tended to decrease with increasing dosage. Farinograms and mixograms, obtained by the constant water absorption method, showed that the dough development curves changed their shape after irradiation; for example, the maximum resistance to mixing and the time to reach this maximum decreased. When the dosage was increased to moremore » than 3 x 10/sup 6/ rep, the samples lost the unique elastic and cohesive properties of wheat gluten. Moreover, as the irradiation dose increased, the extensigrams showed a notable decrease in resistance and a slight decrease in extensibility; such changes were not observed after treatment with either sulfhydryl-blocking reagents or by disulfide bond-splitting reagents. Gluten was so denatured at 10/sup 7/ rep that a dough could not be prepared from the sample. These results show that the changes of the rheological properties of wheat gluten induced by x irradiation are due to a structural change of the protein molecule of gluten rather than the breaking of disulfide bonds or blocking of sulfhydryl groups. (BBB)« less

Effects of solvent on the solution properties, structural characteristics and properties of silk sericin.

PubMed

Jo, Yoon Nam; Um, In Chul

2015-07-01

Sericin films have attracted much attention from researchers in biomedical and cosmetic fields because of its unique properties, including good cytocompatibility and its promotion of wound healing. However, poor mechanical properties of sericin films have restricted its application in these fields. In this study, a new solvent, formic acid, was used to fabricate sericin solutions and films. The effects of formic acid on the structural characteristics and mechanical properties of the sericin solutions and films were examined and compared with water. The sericin/formic acid solution showed fewer aggregated sericin molecules, resulting in a lower turbidity than that of the sericin/water solution. In addition, the gelation of the sericin solution was retarded in formic acid compared to that of water. Sericin films cast from the formic acid solution exhibited a much higher crystallinity index than that produced from water. The tensile strength and elongation of the sericin films cast from the formic acid solution were more than double that of the sericin films cast from water. It is expected that the more stable sericin solution and high-crystallinity sericin films, which have significantly improved mechanical properties, produced by using formic acid as the solvent could be utilized in biomedical and cosmetic applications. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

All-solid-state flexible supercapacitors fabricated with bacterial nanocellulose papers, carbon nanotubes, and triblock-copolymer ion gels.

PubMed

Kang, Yu Jin; Chun, Sang-Jin; Lee, Sung-Suk; Kim, Bo-Yeong; Kim, Jung Hyeun; Chung, Haegeun; Lee, Sun-Young; Kim, Woong

2012-07-24

We demonstrate all-solid-state flexible supercapacitors with high physical flexibility, desirable electrochemical properties, and excellent mechanical integrity, which were realized by rationally exploiting unique properties of bacterial nanocellulose, carbon nanotubes, and ionic liquid based polymer gel electrolytes. This deliberate choice and design of main components led to excellent supercapacitor performance such as high tolerance against bending cycles and high capacitance retention over charge/discharge cycles. More specifically, the performance of our supercapacitors was highly retained through 200 bending cycles to a radius of 3 mm. In addition, the supercapacitors showed excellent cyclability with C(sp) (~20 mF/cm(2)) reduction of only <0.5% over 5000 charge/discharge cycles at the current density of 10 A/g. Our demonstration could be an important basis for material design and development of flexible supercapacitors.

Switching plastic crystals of colloidal rods with electric fields

PubMed Central

Liu, Bing; Besseling, Thijs H.; Hermes, Michiel; Demirörs, Ahmet F.; Imhof, Arnout; van Blaaderen, Alfons

2014-01-01

When a crystal melts into a liquid both long-ranged positional and orientational order are lost, and long-time translational and rotational self-diffusion appear. Sometimes, these properties do not change at once, but in stages, allowing states of matter such as liquid crystals or plastic crystals with unique combinations of properties. Plastic crystals/glasses are characterized by long-ranged positional order/frozen-in-disorder but short-ranged orientational order, which is dynamic. Here we show by quantitative three-dimensional studies that charged rod-like colloidal particles form three-dimensional plastic crystals and glasses if their repulsions extend significantly beyond their length. These plastic phases can be reversibly switched to full crystals by an electric field. These new phases provide insight into the role of rotations in phase behaviour and could be useful for photonic applications. PMID:24446033

Switching plastic crystals of colloidal rods with electric fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Bing; Besseling, Thijs H.; Hermes, Michiel; Demirörs, Ahmet F.; Imhof, Arnout; van Blaaderen, Alfons

2014-01-01

When a crystal melts into a liquid both long-ranged positional and orientational order are lost, and long-time translational and rotational self-diffusion appear. Sometimes, these properties do not change at once, but in stages, allowing states of matter such as liquid crystals or plastic crystals with unique combinations of properties. Plastic crystals/glasses are characterized by long-ranged positional order/frozen-in-disorder but short-ranged orientational order, which is dynamic. Here we show by quantitative three-dimensional studies that charged rod-like colloidal particles form three-dimensional plastic crystals and glasses if their repulsions extend significantly beyond their length. These plastic phases can be reversibly switched to full crystals by an electric field. These new phases provide insight into the role of rotations in phase behaviour and could be useful for photonic applications.

Electric Switching of Fluorescence Decay in Gold-Silica-Dye Nematic Nanocolloids Mediated by Surface Plasmons.

PubMed

Jiang, Li; Mundoor, Haridas; Liu, Qingkun; Smalyukh, Ivan I

2016-07-26

Tunable composite materials with interesting physical behavior can be designed through integrating unique optical properties of solid nanostructures with facile responses of soft matter to weak external stimuli, but this approach remains challenged by their poorly controlled coassembly at the mesoscale. Using scalable wet chemical synthesis procedures, we fabricated anisotropic gold-silica-dye colloidal nanostructures and then organized them into the device-scale (demonstrated for square-inch cells) electrically tunable composites by simultaneously invoking molecular and colloidal self-assembly. We show that the ensuing ordered colloidal dispersions of shape-anisotropic nanostructures exhibit tunable fluorescence decay rates and intensity. We characterize how these properties depend on low-voltage fields and polarization of both the excitation and emission light, demonstrating a great potential for the practical realization of an interesting breed of nanostructured composite materials.

Fabrication and characterization of nanowalls CdS/dye sensitized solar cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abdulelah, Haider; Ali, Basil; Mahdi, M. A.; Hassan, J. J.; Al-Taay, H. F.; Jennings, P.

2017-06-01

A microwave assisted chemical bath deposition (MA-CBD) was adopted to fabricate nanowalls CdS nanocrystalline thin film. Nanomaterials (such as nanowalls structure) have attracted significant attention due to their fascinating properties and unique applications, especially in optoelectronic nanodevices. Here we describe the fabrication of dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) based nanowalls cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanocrystalline thin films. The surface morphology, crystalline structure, and optical properties of the prepared nanocrystalline thin films are investigated. Rhodamine B, Malachite green, Eosin methylene blue, and Cresyl violet perchlorate dyes are used to fabricate the DSSCS devices. Current-voltage (I-V) characteristics show that the nanowall CdS/Eosin methylene blue device is the highest conversion efficiency of 0.89% under 100 mW/cm2. However, heat treatment of the fabricated solar cells causes significant enhancement in the output of all devices.

Scaling of drizzle virga depth with cloud thickness for marine stratocumulus clouds

DOE PAGES

Yang, Fan; Luke, Edward P.; Kollias, Pavlos; ...

2018-04-20

Drizzle plays a crucial role in cloud lifetime and radiation properties of marine stratocumulus clouds. Understanding where drizzle exists in the sub-cloud layer, which depends on drizzle virga depth, can help us better understand where below-cloud scavenging and evaporative cooling and moisturizing occur. In this study, we examine the statistical properties of drizzle frequency and virga depth of marine stratocumulus based on unique ground-based remote sensing data. Results show that marine stratocumulus clouds are drizzling nearly all the time. In addition, we derive a simple scaling analysis between drizzle virga thickness and cloud thickness. Our analytical expression agrees with themore » observational data reasonable well, which suggests that our formula provides a simple parameterization for drizzle virga of stratocumulus clouds suitable for use in other models.« less

Study of low-velocity impact response of sandwich panels with shear-thickening gel cores

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Yunpeng; Gong, Xinglong; Xuan, Shouhu

2018-06-01

The low-velocity impact response of sandwich panels with shear-thickening gel cores was studied. The impact tests indicated that the sandwich panels with shear-thickening gel cores showed excellent properties of energy dissipation and stress distribution. In comparison to the similar sandwich panels with chloroprene rubber cores and ethylene-propylene-diene monomer cores, the shear-thickening gel cores led to the obviously smaller contact forces and the larger energy absorptions. Numerical modelling with finite element analysis was used to investigate the stress distribution of the sandwich panels with shear-thickening gel cores and the results agreed well with the experimental results. Because of the unique mechanical property of the shear-thickening gel, the concentrated stress on the front facesheets were distributed to larger areas on the back facesheets and the peak stresses were reduced greatly.

Effects of growth rate on structural property and adatom migration behaviors for growth of GaInNAs/GaAs (001) by molecular beam epitaxy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Jingling; Gao, Peng; Zhang, Shuguang; Wen, Lei; Gao, Fangliang; Li, Guoqiang

2018-03-01

We have investigated the structural properties and the growth mode of GaInNAs films prepared at different growth rates (Rg) by molecular beam epitaxy. The crystalline structure is studied by high resolution X-ray diffraction, and the evolution of GaInNAs film surface morphologies is studied by atomic force microscopy. It is found that both the crystallinity and the surface roughness are improved by increasing Rg, and the change in the growth mode is attributed to the adatom migration behaviors particularly for In atoms, which is verified by elemental analysis. In addition, we have presented some theoretical calculation results related to the N adsorption energy to show the unique N migration behavior, which is instructive to interpret the growth mechanism of GaInNAs films.

Cyclic oxidation resistance of a reaction milled NiAl-AlN composite

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lowell, Carl E.; Barrett, Charles A.; Whittenberger, J. D.

1990-01-01

Based upon recent mechanical property tests a NiAl-AlN composite produced by cryomilling has very attractive high temperature strength. This paper focuses on the oxidation resistance of the NiAl-AlN composite at 1473 and 1573 K as compared to that of Ni-47Al-0.15Zr, one of the most oxidation resistant intermetallics. The results of cyclic oxidation tests show that the NiAl-AlN composite has excellent properties although not quite as good as those of Ni-47Al-0.15Zr. The onset of failure of the NiAl-AlN was unique in that it was not accompanied by a change in scale composition from alumina to less protective oxides. Failure in the composite appears to be related to the entrapment of AlN particles within the alumina scale.

Scaling of drizzle virga depth with cloud thickness for marine stratocumulus clouds

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yang, Fan; Luke, Edward P.; Kollias, Pavlos

Drizzle plays a crucial role in cloud lifetime and radiation properties of marine stratocumulus clouds. Understanding where drizzle exists in the sub-cloud layer, which depends on drizzle virga depth, can help us better understand where below-cloud scavenging and evaporative cooling and moisturizing occur. In this study, we examine the statistical properties of drizzle frequency and virga depth of marine stratocumulus based on unique ground-based remote sensing data. Results show that marine stratocumulus clouds are drizzling nearly all the time. In addition, we derive a simple scaling analysis between drizzle virga thickness and cloud thickness. Our analytical expression agrees with themore » observational data reasonable well, which suggests that our formula provides a simple parameterization for drizzle virga of stratocumulus clouds suitable for use in other models.« less

Elastic nonwovens containing cotton fibers

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Nonwoven products continue to grow because of their unique structure and properties and one’s ability to engineer their properties for desired applications, which include filters, absorbent products and medical nonwovens. Meltblowing is a one-step process in which high-velocity hot air blows a molte...

ABIOTIC REDOX TRANSFORMATION OF ORGANIC COMPOUNDS AT THE CLAY-WATER INTERFACE

EPA Science Inventory

The interactions of clay, water and organic compounds considerably modify the structural and physico-chemical properties of all components and create a unique domain for biological and chemical species in environments. Previous research indicates that the nature and properties of...

Polychlorinated Biphenyls: In situ Bioremediation from the Environment

EPA Science Inventory

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a group of hydrophobic and stable organic compounds consisting of 209 possible congeners. Because of their unique physico-chemical properties, PCBs were used in a wide range of industrial applications. The properties that made PCBs useful in i...

Nanoporous gold-based microbial biosensor for direct determination of sulfide.

PubMed

Liu, Zhuang; Ma, Hanyue; Sun, Huihui; Gao, Rui; Liu, Honglei; Wang, Xia; Xu, Ping; Xun, Luying

2017-12-15

Environmental pollution caused by sulfide compounds has become a major problem for public health. Hence, there is an urgent need to explore a sensitive, selective, and simple sulfide detection method for environmental monitoring and protection. Here, a novel microbial biosensor was developed using recombinant Escherichia coli BL21 (E. coli BL21) expressing sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase (SQR) for sulfide detection. As an important enzyme involved in the initial step of sulfide metabolism, SQR oxidizes sulfides to polysulfides and transfers electrons to the electron transport chain. Nanoporous gold (NPG) with its unique properties was selected for recombinant E. coli BL21 cells immobilization, and then glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was modified by the resulting E. coli/NPG biocomposites to construct an E. coli/NPG/GCE bioelectrode. Due to the catalytic oxidation properties of NPG for sulfide, the electrochemical reaction of the E. coli/NPG/GCE bioelectrode is attributed to the co-catalysis of SQR and NPG. For sulfide detection, the E. coli/NPG/GCE bioelectrode showed a good linear response ranging from 50μM to 5mM, with a high sensitivity of 18.35μAmM -1 cm -2 and a low detection limit of 2.55μM. The anti-interference ability of the E. coli/NPG/GCE bioelectrode is better than that of enzyme-based inhibitive biosensors. Further, the E. coli/NPG/GCE bioelectrode was successfully applied to the detection of sulfide in wastewater. These unique properties potentially make the E. coli/NPG/GCE bioelectrode an excellent choice for reliable sulfide detection. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The role of isocyanates in determining the viscoelastic properties of polyurethane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

AqilahHamuzan, Hawa; Badri, Khairiah Haji

2016-11-01

Polyurethane (PU) has a unique structure that is dependent on the structure of the starting material used. This research focused on investigating the role of isocyanate groups (NCO) in the determination of the viscoelastic properties of the polymer. Monoester polyol was reacted with three different diisocyanates separately by prepolymerization method. The diisocyanates used were 2,4-diphenyl methane diisocyanate (MDI), toluene 2,4-diisocyanate (TDI) and isophoronediisocyanate (IPDI). Acetone was used as a solvent. IPDI, MDI and TDI were reacted with monoester polyol at ratios of 10:9, 10:10, 10:12 and 10:14 (polyol:diisocyanate). Then, the PU foams produced by the curing process were analyzed by Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The FTIR spectra showed the presence of the amide peak (-NH) and the absence of hydroxyl peak (-OH) indicated that the reaction between polyol and diisocyanate has occurred. However, the soxhlet extraction showed that only MDI-based PUs contain crosslinking bond. These cross-linking bond at the ratio of 10:10, 10:12 and 10:14 were 41.3 %,61.1 % and 74.1 % respectively. Thermal properties of the PU foams were determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TGA) techniques. MDI-based PUs and TDI-based PUs show two values of Tg while IPDI-based PUs only show one Tg value. The tensile strains of PU foams decreased with increasing ratio of isocyanate. Meanwhile, PU foams with ratio of polyol to isocyanate at 10:12 showed the highest tensile stress and modulus compared to at 10:10 and 10:14.

Immunodominant role of CCHA subunit of Concholepas hemocyanin is associated with unique biochemical properties.

PubMed

Becker, María Inés; Fuentes, Alejandra; Del Campo, Miguel; Manubens, Augusto; Nova, Esteban; Oliva, Harold; Faunes, Fernando; Valenzuela, María Antonieta; Campos-Vallette, Marcelo; Aliaga, Alvaro; Ferreira, Jorge; De Ioannes, Alfredo E; De Ioannes, Pablo; Moltedo, Bruno

2009-03-01

Hemocyanin, the oxygen transporter metallo-glycoprotein from mollusks, shows strong relationship between its notable structural features and intrinsic immunomodulatory effects. Here we investigated the individual contribution of CCHA and CCHB subunits from Concholepas hemocyanin (CCH) to in vivo humoral immune response and their pre-clinical evaluation as immunotherapeutic agent in a mice bladder cancer model, in relation to their biochemical properties. To this end, subunits were purified and well characterized. Homogeneous subunits were obtained by anionic exchange chromatography, and its purity assessed by electrophoretic and immunochemical methods. While each CCH subunit contains eight functional units showing partial cross reaction, the vibrational spectral analysis showed several spectral differences, suggesting structural differences between them. In addition, we demonstrated differences in the carbohydrate content: CCHA had a 3.6% w/w sugar with both N- and O-linked moieties. In turn, CCHB had a 2.5% w/w sugar with N-linked, while O-linked moieties were nearly absent. Considering these differences, it was not possible to predict a priori whether the immunogenic and immunotherapeutic properties of subunits might be similar. Surprisingly, both subunits by itself induced a humoral response, and showed an antitumor effect in the bladder carcinoma cell line MBT-2. However, when immunologic parameters were analyzed, CCHA showed better efficiency than CCHB. No allergic reactions or any toxic effects were observed in mice treated with CCHA, sustaining its potential therapeutic use. Our study supports that CCHA subunit accounts for the most important features involved in the immunogenicity of CCH, such as better hydrophilicity and higher content of carbohydrates.

Fabrication and characterization of carbon nanotube turfs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qiu, Anqi

Carbon nanotube turfs are vertically aligned, slightly tortuous and entangled functional nanomaterials that exhibit high thermal and electrical properties. CNT turfs exhibit unique combinations of thermal and electrical conductivity, energy absorbing capability, low density and adhesive behavior. The objective of this study is to fabricate, measure, manipulate and characterize CNT turfs and thus determine the relationship between a turf's properties and its morphology, and provide guidance for developing links between turf growth conditions and of the subsequent turf properties. Nanoindentation was utilized to determine the mechanical and in situ electrical properties of CNT turfs. Elastic properties do not vary significantly laterally within a single turf, quantifying for the first time the ability to treat the turf as a mechanical continuum throughout. The use of the average mechanical properties for any given turf should be suitable for design purpose without the necessity of accounting for lateral spatial variation in structure. Properties variation based on time dependency, rate dependency, adhesive behavior and energy absorption and dissipation behavior have been investigated for these CNT turfs. Electrical properties measurements of CNT turfs have been carried out and show that a constant electrical current at a constant penetration depth indicates that a constant number of CNTs in contact with the tip; combining with the results that adhesive load increased with an increasing penetration hold time, thus we conclude that during a hold period of nanoindentation, individual tubes increase their individual attachment to the tip. CNT turfs show decreased adhesion and modulus after exposure to an electron beam due to carbon deposition and subsequent oxidation. To increase the modulus of the turf, axial compression and solvent capillary were used to increase the density of the turf by up to 15 times. Structure-property relationships were determined from the density and tortuosity measurements carried out through in situ electrical measurements and directionality measurements. Increasing density increases the mechanical properties as well as electrical conductivity. The modulus increased with a lower tortuosity, which may be related to the compressive buckling positioning.

Chemical vapour deposition: Transition metal carbides go 2D

DOE PAGES

Gogotsi, Yury

2015-08-17

Here, the research community has been steadily expanding the family of few-atom-thick crystals beyond graphene, discovering new materials or producing known materials in a 2D state and demonstrating their unique properties 1, 2. Recently, nanometre-thin 2D transition metal carbides have also joined this family 3. Writing in Nature Materials, Chuan Xu and colleagues now report a significant advance in the field, showing the synthesis of large-area, high-quality, nanometre-thin crystals of molybdenum carbide that demonstrate low-temperature 2D superconductivity 4. Moreover, they also show that other ultrathin carbide crystals, such as tungsten and tantalum carbides, can be grown by chemical vapour depositionmore » with a high crystallinity and very low defect concentration.« less

Treatment Effect Estimation Using Nonlinear Two-Stage Instrumental Variable Estimators: Another Cautionary Note.

PubMed

Chapman, Cole G; Brooks, John M

2016-12-01

To examine the settings of simulation evidence supporting use of nonlinear two-stage residual inclusion (2SRI) instrumental variable (IV) methods for estimating average treatment effects (ATE) using observational data and investigate potential bias of 2SRI across alternative scenarios of essential heterogeneity and uniqueness of marginal patients. Potential bias of linear and nonlinear IV methods for ATE and local average treatment effects (LATE) is assessed using simulation models with a binary outcome and binary endogenous treatment across settings varying by the relationship between treatment effectiveness and treatment choice. Results show that nonlinear 2SRI models produce estimates of ATE and LATE that are substantially biased when the relationships between treatment and outcome for marginal patients are unique from relationships for the full population. Bias of linear IV estimates for LATE was low across all scenarios. Researchers are increasingly opting for nonlinear 2SRI to estimate treatment effects in models with binary and otherwise inherently nonlinear dependent variables, believing that it produces generally unbiased and consistent estimates. This research shows that positive properties of nonlinear 2SRI rely on assumptions about the relationships between treatment effect heterogeneity and choice. © Health Research and Educational Trust.

Comprehensive Understanding for Vegetated Scene Radiance Relationships

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kimes, D. S.; Deering, D. W.

1984-01-01

Directional reflectance distributions spanning the entire existent hemisphere were measured in two field studies; one using a Mark III 3-band radiometer and one using the rapid scanning bidirectional field instrument called PARABOLA. Surfaces measured included corn, soybeans, bare soils, grass lawn, orchard grass, alfalfa, cotton row crops, plowed field, annual grassland, stipa grass, hard wheat, salt plain shrubland, and irrigated wheat. Analysis of field data showed unique reflectance distributions ranging from bare soil to complete vegetation canopies. Physical mechanisms causing these trends were proposed. A 3-D model was developed and is unique in that it predicts: (1) the directional spectral reflectance factors as a function of the sensor's azimuth and zenith angles and the sensor's position above the canopy; (2) the spectral absorption as a function of location within the scene; and (3) the directional spectral radiance as a function of the sensor's location within the scene. Initial verification of the model as applied to a soybean row crop showed that the simulated directional data corresponded relatively well in gross trends to the measured data. The model was expanded to include the anisotropic scattering properties of leaves as a function of the leaf orientation distribution in both the zenith and azimuth angle modes.

Uniquely confining Cu2S nanoparticles in graphitized carbon fibers for enhanced oxygen evolution reaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Xiaoqian; Liu, Li; Zhang, Yan; Zhang, Huijuan; Wang, Yu

2017-08-01

Up to now, the literature on Cu2S with specific morphology applied to oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in the electrocatalytic field has been limited. In this work, unique peapod-like Cu2S/C exhibiting superb electrocatalytic performance toward OER is successfully synthesized, by employing Cu(OH)2 nanorods as the template and nontoxic glucose as the carbon source and then annealing with sublimed sulfur. It can be seen that this work explores a new application area for Cu2S. More precisely, the novel morphology contributes to increasing the electrochemical active surface area effectively and promoting contact between the Cu2S nanoparticles and the electrolyte. During electrochemical measurements, the peapod-like Cu2S/C shows enhanced electrocatalytic activity with a low overpotential of 401 mV at the current density of 10 mA cm-2 and a Tafel slope of 52 mV dec-1. More importantly, our material is able to maintain stability for at least 8 h at constant potential and the current loss is negligible after 2000 cycles. Obviously, these striking properties fully demonstrate that the peapod-like Cu2S/C as an efficient catalyst shows great promise for OER.

Variable responses of human and non-human primate gut microbiomes to a Western diet.

PubMed

Amato, Katherine R; Yeoman, Carl J; Cerda, Gabriela; Schmitt, Christopher A; Cramer, Jennifer Danzy; Miller, Margret E Berg; Gomez, Andres; Turner, Trudy R; Wilson, Brenda A; Stumpf, Rebecca M; Nelson, Karen E; White, Bryan A; Knight, Rob; Leigh, Steven R

2015-11-16

The human gut microbiota interacts closely with human diet and physiology. To better understand the mechanisms behind this relationship, gut microbiome research relies on complementing human studies with manipulations of animal models, including non-human primates. However, due to unique aspects of human diet and physiology, it is likely that host-gut microbe interactions operate differently in humans and non-human primates. Here, we show that the human microbiome reacts differently to a high-protein, high-fat Western diet than that of a model primate, the African green monkey, or vervet (Chlorocebus aethiops sabaeus). Specifically, humans exhibit increased relative abundance of Firmicutes and reduced relative abundance of Prevotella on a Western diet while vervets show the opposite pattern. Predictive metagenomics demonstrate an increased relative abundance of genes associated with carbohydrate metabolism in the microbiome of only humans consuming a Western diet. These results suggest that the human gut microbiota has unique properties that are a result of changes in human diet and physiology across evolution or that may have contributed to the evolution of human physiology. Therefore, the role of animal models for understanding the relationship between the human gut microbiota and host metabolism must be re-focused.

Agricultural Trade Networks and Patterns of Economic Development

PubMed Central

Shutters, Shade T.; Muneepeerakul, Rachata

2012-01-01

International trade networks are manifestations of a complex combination of diverse underlying factors, both natural and social. Here we apply social network analytics to the international trade network of agricultural products to better understand the nature of this network and its relation to patterns of international development. Using a network tool known as triadic analysis we develop triad significance profiles for a series of agricultural commodities traded among countries. Results reveal a novel network “superfamily” combining properties of biological information processing networks and human social networks. To better understand this unique network signature, we examine in more detail the degree and triadic distributions within the trade network by country and commodity. Our results show that countries fall into two very distinct classes based on their triadic frequencies. Roughly 165 countries fall into one class while 18, all highly isolated with respect to international agricultural trade, fall into the other. Only Vietnam stands out as a unique case. Finally, we show that as a country becomes less isolated with respect to number of trading partners, the country's triadic signature follows a predictable trajectory that may correspond to a trajectory of development. PMID:22768310

Additively manufactured biodegradable porous magnesium.

PubMed

Li, Y; Zhou, J; Pavanram, P; Leeflang, M A; Fockaert, L I; Pouran, B; Tümer, N; Schröder, K-U; Mol, J M C; Weinans, H; Jahr, H; Zadpoor, A A

2018-02-01

An ideal bone substituting material should be bone-mimicking in terms of mechanical properties, present a precisely controlled and fully interconnected porous structure, and degrade in the human body to allow for full regeneration of large bony defects. However, simultaneously satisfying all these three requirements has so far been highly challenging. Here we present topologically ordered porous magnesium (WE43) scaffolds based on the diamond unit cell that were fabricated by selective laser melting (SLM) and satisfy all the requirements. We studied the in vitro biodegradation behavior (up to 4 weeks), mechanical properties and biocompatibility of the developed scaffolds. The mechanical properties of the AM porous WE43 (E = 700-800 MPa) scaffolds were found to fall into the range of the values reported for trabecular bone even after 4 weeks of biodegradation. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), electrochemical tests and µCT revealed a unique biodegradation mechanism that started with uniform corrosion, followed by localized corrosion, particularly in the center of the scaffolds. Biocompatibility tests performed up to 72 h showed level 0 cytotoxicity (according to ISO 10993-5 and -12), except for one time point (i.e., 24 h). Intimate contact between cells (MG-63) and the scaffolds was also observed in SEM images. The study shows for the first time that AM of porous Mg may provide distinct possibilities to adjust biodegradation profile through topological design and open up unprecedented opportunities to develop multifunctional bone substituting materials that mimic bone properties and enable full regeneration of critical-size load-bearing bony defects. The ideal biomaterials for bone tissue regeneration should be bone-mimicking in terms of mechanical properties, present a fully interconnected porous structure, and exhibit a specific biodegradation behavior to enable full regeneration of bony defects. Recent advances in additive manufacturing have resulted in biomaterials that satisfy the first two requirements but simultaneously satisfying the third requirement has proven challenging so far. Here we present additively manufactured porous magnesium structures that have the potential to satisfy all above-mentioned requirements. Even after 4 weeks of biodegradation, the mechanical properties of the porous structures were found to be within those reported for native bone. Moreover, our comprehensive electrochemical, mechanical, topological, and biological study revealed a unique biodegradation behavior and the limited cytotoxicity of the developed biomaterials. Copyright © 2017 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Substantiation of International Nanomaterials Security Group Creation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sosnov, A.; Sadovnikov, S.; Panfilov, S.; Magarshak, Yu.

Nanotechnology has achieved the status as one of the critical R&D area. Scientists use the unique properties of atomic and molecular assemblages built at the nanometer scale. The ability to manipulate the physical, chemical, and biological properties of molecules and particles affords to design agents with set up properties. But the technology allows creating not only useful agents. Possible accidental or deliberate creation of new nanoparticles (NPs) with dangerous properties is highly probable minor product of progress in the new area. The article briefly describes some pathways in development and implementation of NPs for medicinal and the similar purposes. Some of NPs can effective facilitate and mask transport of various agents in various environments. Possible creation of new dangerous NPs (e.g. conjugates based on combination of extensively use NPs and chemical, biological and radioactive agents) as well as creation of brand new NPs and nanodevices with unique properties needs creation of international multidiscipline community for security evaluation of nanomaterials and technologies. The community will forecast possible dangerous unexpectedness in the field of nanoscale materials and devices and suggests rational pathways for prevention of the threats.

A study of parameter identification

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Herget, C. J.; Patterson, R. E., III

1978-01-01

A set of definitions for deterministic parameter identification ability were proposed. Deterministic parameter identificability properties are presented based on four system characteristics: direct parameter recoverability, properties of the system transfer function, properties of output distinguishability, and uniqueness properties of a quadratic cost functional. Stochastic parameter identifiability was defined in terms of the existence of an estimation sequence for the unknown parameters which is consistent in probability. Stochastic parameter identifiability properties are presented based on the following characteristics: convergence properties of the maximum likelihood estimate, properties of the joint probability density functions of the observations, and properties of the information matrix.

The Chemical Biology of HNO Signaling

PubMed Central

Bianco, Christopher L.; Toscano, John P.; Bartberger, Michael D.; Fukuto, Jon M.

2016-01-01

Nitroxyl (HNO) is a simple molecule with significant potential as a pharmacological agent. For example, its use in the possible treatment of heart failure has received recent attention due to its unique therapeutic properties. Recent progress has been made on the elucidation of the mechanisms associated with its biological signaling. Importantly, the biochemical mechanisms described for HNO bioactivity are consistent with its unique and novel chemical properties/reactivity. To date, much of the biology of HNO can be associated with interactions and modification of important regulatory thiol proteins. Herein will be provided a description of HNO chemistry and how this chemistry translates to some of its reported biological effects. PMID:27555493

Bioinspired Composite Materials: Applications in Diagnostics and Therapeutics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prasad, Alisha; Mahato, Kuldeep; Chandra, Pranjal; Srivastava, Ananya; Joshi, Shrikrishna N.; Maurya, Pawan Kumar

2016-08-01

Evolution-optimized specimens from nature with inimitable properties, and unique structure-function relationships have long served as a source of inspiration for researchers all over the world. For instance, the micro/nanostructured patterns of lotus-leaf and gecko feet helps in self-cleaning, and adhesion, respectively. Such unique properties shown by creatures are results of billions of years of adaptive transformation, that have been mimicked by applying both science and engineering concepts to design bioinspired materials. Various bioinspired composite materials have been developed based on biomimetic principles. This review presents the latest developments in bioinspired materials under various categories with emphasis on diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Plant stem cells in cosmetics: current trends and future directions

PubMed Central

Trehan, Sonia; Michniak-Kohn, Bozena; Beri, Kavita

2017-01-01

Plant regeneration at the cellular and tissue level is a unique process. Similar to animals, the stem cells in plants have properties that help stimulate and regenerate plants after injury. The unique properties of plant stem cells have been a recent area of interest and focus both in developing new cosmetics and studying how these extracts/phytohormones will influence animal skin. This special report focuses on the current evidence-based trends in plant stem cell-based cosmetics and sheds light on the challenges that we need to overcome in order to see meaningful changes in human skin using topical cosmetics derived from plant stem cells. PMID:29134115

Distinguishing tracheal and esophageal tissues with hyperspectral imaging and fiber-optic sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nawn, Corinne D.; Souhan, Brian E.; Carter, Robert, III; Kneapler, Caitlin; Fell, Nicholas; Ye, Jing Yong

2016-11-01

During emergency medical situations, where the patient has an obstructed airway or necessitates respiratory support, endotracheal intubation (ETI) is the medical technique of placing a tube into the trachea in order to facilitate adequate ventilation of the lungs. Complications during ETI, such as repeated attempts, failed intubation, or accidental intubation of the esophagus, can lead to severe consequences or ultimately death. Consequently, a need exists for a feedback mechanism to aid providers in performing successful ETI. Our study examined the spectral reflectance properties of the tracheal and esophageal tissue to determine whether a unique spectral profile exists for either tissue for the purpose of detection. The study began by using a hyperspectral camera to image excised pig tissue samples exposed to white and UV light in order to capture the spectral reflectance properties with high fidelity. After identifying a unique spectral characteristic of the trachea that significantly differed from esophageal tissue, a follow-up investigation used a fiber optic probe to confirm the detectability and consistency of the different reflectance characteristics in a pig model. Our results characterize the unique and consistent spectral reflectance characteristic of tracheal tissue, thereby providing foundational support for exploiting spectral properties to detect the trachea during medical procedures.

Positivity results for indefinite sublinear elliptic problems via a continuity argument

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaufmann, U.; Ramos Quoirin, H.; Umezu, K.

2017-10-01

We establish a positivity property for a class of semilinear elliptic problems involving indefinite sublinear nonlinearities. Namely, we show that any nontrivial nonnegative solution is positive for a class of problems the strong maximum principle does not apply to. Our approach is based on a continuity argument combined with variational techniques, the sub and supersolutions method and some a priori bounds. Both Dirichlet and Neumann homogeneous boundary conditions are considered. As a byproduct, we deduce some existence and uniqueness results. Finally, as an application, we derive some positivity results for indefinite concave-convex type problems.

Mathematical Analysis of a Coarsening Model with Local Interactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Helmers, Michael; Niethammer, Barbara; Velázquez, Juan J. L.

2016-10-01

We consider particles on a one-dimensional lattice whose evolution is governed by nearest-neighbor interactions where particles that have reached size zero are removed from the system. Concentrating on configurations with infinitely many particles, we prove existence of solutions under a reasonable density assumption on the initial data and show that the vanishing of particles and the localized interactions can lead to non-uniqueness. Moreover, we provide a rigorous upper coarsening estimate and discuss generic statistical properties as well as some non-generic behavior of the evolution by means of heuristic arguments and numerical observations.

Electrical and mechanical tuning of a silicon vacancy defect in SiC for quantum information technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Soykal, Oney O.; Reinecke, Thomas L.

We develop coherent control via Stark effect over the optical transition energies of silicon monovacancy deep center in hexagonal silicon carbide. We show that this defect's unique asymmetry properties of its piezoelectric tensor and Kramer's degenerate high-spin ground/excited state configurations can be used to create new possibilities in quantum information technology ranging from photonic networks to quantum key distribution. We also give examples of its qubit implementations via precise electric field control. This work was supported in part by ONR and by the Office of Secretary of Defense, Quantum Science and Engineering Program.

Experimental verification of the rainbow trapping effect in adiabatic plasmonic gratings

PubMed Central

Gan, Qiaoqiang; Gao, Yongkang; Wagner, Kyle; Vezenov, Dmitri; Ding, Yujie J.; Bartoli, Filbert J.

2011-01-01

We report the experimental observation of a trapped rainbow in adiabatically graded metallic gratings, designed to validate theoretical predictions for this unique plasmonic structure. One-dimensional graded nanogratings were fabricated and their surface dispersion properties tailored by varying the grating groove depth, whose dimensions were confirmed by atomic force microscopy. Tunable plasmonic bandgaps were observed experimentally, and direct optical measurements on graded grating structures show that light of different wavelengths in the 500–700-nm region is “trapped” at different positions along the grating, consistent with computer simulations, thus verifying the “rainbow” trapping effect. PMID:21402936

Visualizing Pure Quantum Turbulence in Superfluid 3He: Andreev Reflection and its Spectral Properties.

PubMed

Baggaley, A W; Tsepelin, V; Barenghi, C F; Fisher, S N; Pickett, G R; Sergeev, Y A; Suramlishvili, N

2015-07-03

Superfluid 3He-B in the zero-temperature limit offers a unique means of studying quantum turbulence by the Andreev reflection of quasiparticle excitations by the vortex flow fields. We validate the experimental visualization of turbulence in 3He-B by showing the relation between the vortex-line density and the Andreev reflectance of the vortex tangle in the first simulations of the Andreev reflectance by a realistic 3D vortex tangle, and comparing the results with the first experimental measurements able to probe quantum turbulence on length scales smaller than the intervortex separation.

Bacterial Magnetosome: A Novel Biogenetic Magnetic Targeted Drug Carrier with Potential Multifunctions

PubMed Central

Sun, Jianbo; Li, Ying; Liang, Xing-Jie; Wang, Paul C.

2012-01-01

Bacterial magnetosomes (BMs) synthesized by magnetotactic bacteria have recently drawn great interest due to their unique features. BMs are used experimentally as carriers for antibodies, enzymes, ligands, nucleic acids, and chemotherapeutic drugs. In addition to the common attractive properties of magnetic carriers, BMs also show superiority as targeting nanoscale drug carriers, which is hardly matched by artificial magnetic particles. We are presenting the potential applications of BMs as drug carriers by introducing the drug-loading methods and strategies and the recent research progress of BMs which has contributed to the application of BMs as drug carriers. PMID:22448162

VizieR Online Data Catalog: Hot subdwarf stars in LAMOST DR1 (Luo+, 2016)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luo, Y.-P.; Nemeth, P.; Liu, C.; Deng, L.-C.; Han, Z.-W.

2018-01-01

We present a catalog of 166 spectroscopically identified hot subdwarf stars from LAMOST DR1, 44 of which show the characteristics of cool companions in their optical spectra. Atmospheric parameters of 122 subdwarf stars with non-composite spectra were measured by fitting the profiles of hydrogen (H) and helium (He) lines with synthetic spectra from non-LTE model atmospheres. A unique property of our sample is that it covers a large range in apparent magnitude and galactic latitude, therefore it contains a mix of stars from different populations and galactic environments. (3 data files).

Unique Zigzag-Shaped Buckling Zn2C Monolayer with Strain-Tunable Band Gap and Negative Poisson Ratio.

PubMed

Meng, Lingbiao; Zhang, Yingjuan; Zhou, Minjie; Zhang, Jicheng; Zhou, Xiuwen; Ni, Shuang; Wu, Weidong

2018-02-19

Designing new materials with reduced dimensionality and distinguished properties has continuously attracted intense interest for materials innovation. Here we report a novel two-dimensional (2D) Zn 2 C monolayer nanomaterial with exceptional structure and properties by means of first-principles calculations. This new Zn 2 C monolayer is composed of quasi-tetrahedral tetracoordinate carbon and quasi-linear bicoordinate zinc, featuring a peculiar zigzag-shaped buckling configuration. The unique coordinate topology endows this natural 2D semiconducting monolayer with strongly strain tunable band gap and unusual negative Poisson ratios. The monolayer has good dynamic and thermal stabilities and is also the lowest-energy structure of 2D space indicated by the particle-swarm optimization (PSO) method, implying its synthetic feasibility. With these intriguing properties the material may find applications in nanoelectronics and micromechanics.

Self-recovery of stressed nanomembranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Chaoyang; Rybak, Beth M.; Markutsya, Sergiy; Kladitis, Paul E.; Tsukruk, Vladimir V.

2005-03-01

Long-term stability and self-recovery properties were studied for the compliant nanomembranes with a thickness of 55nm free suspended over openings of several hundred microns across. These nanomembranes were assembled with spin-assisted layer-by-layer routines and were composed of polymer multilayers and gold nanoparticles. In a wide pressure range, the membranes behave like completely elastic freely suspended plates. Temporal stability was tested under extreme deformational conditions close to ultimate strain and very modest creep behavior was observed. A unique "self-recovery" ability of these nanomembranes was revealed in these tests. We observed a complete restoration of the initial nanomembrane shape and properties after significant inelastic deformation. These unique micromechanical properties are suggested to be the result of strong Coulombic interaction between the polyelectrolyte layers combined with a high level of biaxial orientation of polymer chains and in-plane prestretching stresses.

Type I intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells of early post-natal development correspond to the M4 subtype.

PubMed

Sexton, Timothy J; Bleckert, Adam; Turner, Maxwell H; Van Gelder, Russell N

2015-06-21

Intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) mediate circadian light entrainment and the pupillary light response in adult mice. In early development these cells mediate different processes, including negative phototaxis and the timing of retinal vascular development. To determine if ipRGC physiologic properties also change with development, we measured ipRGC cell density and light responses in wild-type mouse retinas at post-natal days 8, 15 and 30. Melanopsin-positive cell density decreases by 17% between post-natal days 8 and 15 and by 25% between days 8 and 30. This decrease is due specifically to a decrease in cells co-labeled with a SMI-32, a marker for alpha-on ganglion cells (corresponding to adult morphologic type M4 ipRGCs). On multi-electrode array recordings, post-natal day 8 (P8) ipRGC light responses show more robust firing, reduced adaptation and more rapid recovery from short and extended light pulses than do the light responses of P15 and P30 ipRGCs. Three ipRGC subtypes - Types I-III - have been defined in early development based on sensitivity and latency on multielectrode array recordings. We find that Type I cells largely account for the unique physiologic properties of P8 ipRGCs. Type I cells have previously been shown to have relatively short latencies and high sensitivity. We now show that Type I cells show have rapid and robust recovery from long and short bright light exposures compared with Type II and III cells, suggesting differential light adaptation mechanisms between cell types. By P15, Type I ipRGCs are no longer detectable. Loose patch recordings of P8 M4 ipRGCs demonstrate Type I physiology. Type I ipRGCs are found only in early development. In addition to their previously described high sensitivity and rapid kinetics, these cells are uniquely resistant to adaptation and recover quickly and fully to short and prolonged light exposure. Type I ipRGCs correspond to the SMI-32 positive, M4 subtype and largely lose melanopsin expression in development. These cells constitute a unique morphologic and physiologic class of ipRGCs functioning early in postnatal development.

Carbon spectrum utilization by an indigenous strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa NCIM 5514: Production, characterization and surface active properties of biosurfactant.

PubMed

Varjani, Sunita J; Upasani, Vivek N

2016-12-01

The present research work was undertaken with a mandate to study carbon spectrum utilization and structural characterization of biosurfactant produced by indigenous Pseudomonas aeruginosa NCIM 5514, which showed unique properties to utilize a large number of carbon sources effectively for production of biosurfactant, although glucose was the best carbon substrate. In Bushnell-Hass medium supplemented with glucose (1%, w/v), 3.178±0.071g/l biosurfactant was produced by this isolate in 96h. The biosurfactant produced showed surface tension and emulsification activity values from 29.14±0.05 to 62.29±0.13mN/m and 88.50±1.96 to 15.40±0.91%, respectively. Toluene showed highest emulsification activity followed by kerosene. However, kerosene exhibited emulsion stability for 30days. Biosurfactant was characterized as a mixture of di-rhamnolipid (Rha-Rha-C 10 -C 14:1 ) and mono-rhamnolipid (Rha-C 8 -C 10 ) by FTIR, ESI-MS and LC-MS techniques. High biosurfactant yield opens up doors for the isolate to find utility in various industries. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Structural studies on the substitution of Ag, Na doped LCSMO CMR manganites

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Subhashini, P., E-mail: subhashinisvu@gmail.com; Krishnaiah, M.; Munirathinam, B.

2016-05-06

Synthesis and characterization of colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) materials has been a subject of scientific research due to the unique transport, magnetotransport, and magnetic properties. The single phase polycrystalline La{sub 0.7}Ca{sub 0.1}Sr{sub 0.1}M{sub 0.1}MnO{sub 3} (LCSMO) (M=Ag and Na) samples prepared using nitrate route method. The structural properties are studied at different dopants by X-ray diffraction. The surface morphology and elemental analysis of both samples were carried out by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray technique (EDAX) respectively. The structural analysis shows that the LCSMO is crystallized in an orthorhombic perovskite structure belonging to Pnma space group. The crystalmore » size of the sample is calculated using Scherrer formula. The SEM images show that the polycrystalline grains are observed to be near spherical shape and uniform in size. EDAX spectra taken from the surface of the synthesized powders show a nominal composition near the desired one for M=Na sample where as some vacancies are present in the A-site in the case of Ag substitution as will be discussed in this paper.« less

Variably Protease-Sensitive Prionopathy, a Unique Prion Variant with Inefficient Transmission Properties

PubMed Central

Diack, Abigail B.; Ritchie, Diane L.; Peden, Alexander H.; Brown, Deborah; Boyle, Aileen; Morabito, Laura; Maclennan, David; Burgoyne, Paul; Jansen, Casper; Knight, Richard S.; Piccardo, Pedro; Ironside, James W.

2014-01-01

Variably protease-sensitive prionopathy (VPSPr) can occur in persons of all codon 129 genotypes in the human prion protein gene (PRNP) and is characterized by a unique biochemical profile when compared with other human prion diseases. We investigated transmission properties of VPSPr by inoculating transgenic mice expressing human PRNP with brain tissue from 2 persons with the valine-homozygous (VV) and 1 with the heterozygous methionine/valine codon 129 genotype. No clinical signs or vacuolar pathology were observed in any inoculated mice. Small deposits of prion protein accumulated in the brains of inoculated mice after challenge with brain material from VV VPSPr patients. Some of these deposits resembled microplaques that occur in the brains of VPSPr patients. Comparison of these transmission properties with those of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in the same lines of mice indicated that VPSPr has distinct biological properties. Moreover, we established that VPSPr has limited potential for human-to-human transmission. PMID:25418327

Oriented clay nanopaper from biobased components--mechanisms for superior fire protection properties.

PubMed

Carosio, F; Kochumalayil, J; Cuttica, F; Camino, G; Berglund, L

2015-03-18

The toxicity of the most efficient fire retardant additives is a major problem for polymeric materials. Cellulose nanofiber (CNF)/clay nanocomposites, with unique brick-and-mortar structure and prepared by simple filtration, are characterized from the morphological point of view by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. These nanocomposites have superior fire protection properties to other clay nanocomposites and fiber composites. The corresponding mechanisms are evaluated in terms of flammability (reaction to a flame) and cone calorimetry (exposure to heat flux). These two tests provide a wide spectrum characterization of fire protection properties in CNF/montmorrilonite (MTM) materials. The morphology of the collected residues after flammability testing is investigated. In addition, thermal and thermo-oxidative stability are evaluated by thermogravimetric analyses performed in inert (nitrogen) and oxidative (air) atmospheres. Physical and chemical mechanisms are identified and related to the unique nanostructure and its low thermal conductivity, high gas barrier properties and CNF/MTM interactions for char formation.