On-chip inverted emulsion method for fast giant vesicle production, handling, and analysis

Liposomes and giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) in particular are excellent compartments for constructing artificial cells. Traditionally, their use requires bench-top vesicle growth, followed by experimentation under a microscope. Such steps are time-consuming and can lead to loss of vesicles when they are transferred to an observation chamber. To overcome these issues, we present an integrated microfluidic chip which combines GUV formation, trapping, and multiple separate experiments in the same device. First, we optimized the buffer conditions to maximize both the yield and the subsequent trapping of the vesicles in micro-posts. Captured GUVs were monodisperse with specific size of 18 ± 4 µm in diameter. Next, we introduce a two-layer design with integrated valves which allows fast solution exchange in less than 20 s and on separate sub-populations of the trapped vesicles. We demonstrate that multiple experiments can be performed in a single chip with both membrane transport and permeabilization assays. In conclusion, we have developed a versatile all-in-one microfluidic chip with capabilities to produce and perform multiple experiments on a single batch of vesicles using low sample volumes. We expect this device will be highly advantageous for bottom-up synthetic biology where rapid encapsulation and visualization is required for enzymatic reactions

Kinematics of the Broad Line Region in M81

A new model is presented which explains the origin of the broad emission lines observed in the LINER/Seyfert nucleus of M81 in terms of a steady state spherically symmetric inflow, amounting to 1 x 10^-5 Msun/yr, which is sufficient to explain the luminosity of the AGN. The emitting volume has an outer radius of ~1 pc, making it the largest broad line region yet to be measured, and it contains a total mass of ~ 5 x 10^-2 Msun of dense, ~ 10^8 cm^-3, ionized gas, leading to a very low filling factor of ~ 5 x 10^-9. The fact that the BLR in M81 is so large may explain why the AGN is unable to sustain the ionization seen there. Thus, the AGN in M81 is not simply a scaled down quasar.Comment: Accepted for Publication in ApJ 7/21/0

Aerodynamic Characteristics at a Mach Number of 6.8 of Two Hypersonic Missile Configurations, One with Low-Aspect-Ratio Cruciform Fins and Trailing-Edge Flaps and One with a Flared Afterbody and All-Movable Controls

An investigation has been made to determine the aerodynamic characteristics in pitch at a Mach number of 6.8 of hypersonic missile configurations with cruciform trailing-edge flaps and with all-movable control surfaces. The flaps were tested on a configuration having low-aspect-ratio cruciform fins with an apex angle of 5 degrees; the all-movable controls were mounted at the 46.7-percent body station on a configuration having a 10 degrees flared afterbody. The tests were made through an angle-of-attack range of -2 degrees to 20 degrees at zero sideslip in the Langley 11-inch hypersonic tunnel. The results indicated that the all-movable controls on the flared-afterbody model should be capable of producing much larger values of trim lift and of normal acceleration than the trailing-edge-flap configuration. The flared-afterbody configuration had considerably higher drag than the cruciform-fin model but only slightly lower values of lift-drag ratio

UV-shielding ceramic nanoparticles synthesised by mechanochemcial processing

ZnO, TiO2 and CeO2 are known as UV-shielding ceramic materials that have advantages over organic UV absorbers for their photo-stability and non-hazardous nature to human bodies. However, they normally cause low transparency in the visible-light range due to light scattering by large particles, which is undesirable for many transparent UV-blocking applications in cosmetic and plastic industries. Light-scattering efficiency of particles can be drastically reduced by decreasing the particle sizes down below 100 nm. This paper reviews recent investigation on the synthesis of ZnO and CeO2 nanoparticles by mechanochemical processing. The resulting particles had a significantly low degree of agglomeration, having mean particle sizes of ~ 25 nm and ~ 10 nm, respectively. The aqueous suspensions of the nanoparticles showed strong absorption in the UV-light range and high transmittance in the visible-light range. Mechanochemical processing offers the possibility of industrial-scale production of transparent UV-shielding ceramic particles for many applications.<br /

The Capital Structure Decisions of New Firms

Based on data from the Kauffman Firm Survey, examines the funding sources of firms in their first year of operations. Highlights start-ups' reliance on external debt financing such as bank loans and credit cards, regardless of their credit scores

Degeneracies when T=0 Two Body Interacting Matrix Elements are Set Equal to Zero : Talmi's method of calculating coefficients of fractional parentage to states forbidden by the Pauli principle

In a previous work we studied the effects of setting all two body T=0 matrix elements to zero in shell model calculations for $^{43}$Ti ($^{43}$Sc) and $^{44}$Ti. The results for $^{44}$Ti were surprisingly good despite the severity of this approximation. In this approximation degeneracies arose in the T=1/2 I=$({1/2})^-_1$ and $({13/2})^-_1$ states in $^{43}$Sc and the T=1/2 $I=({13/2})_2^-$, $({17/2})^-_1$, and $({19/2})_1^-$ in $^{43}$Sc. The T=0 $3_2^+$, $7_2^+$, $9_1^+$, and $10_1^+$ states in $^{44}$Ti were degenerate as well. The degeneracies can be explained by certain 6j symbols and 9j symbols either vanishing or being equal as indeed they are. Previously we used Regge symmetries of 6j symbols to explain these degeneracies. In this work a simpler more physical method is used. This is Talmi's method of calculating coefficients of fractional parentage for identical particles to states which are forbidden by the Pauli principle. This is done for both one particle cfp to handle 6j symbols and two particle cfp to handle 9j symbols. The states can be classified by the dual quantum numbers ($J_{\pi},J_{\nu}$)

Narratives of High-Attaining African Caribbean Boys: Perceptions of Peer and Family Influences in Education

The underachievement of African Caribbean boys has been the subject of considerable debate and research in education, but few studies focus on this group’s achievements. Difficulties associated with racial identity and masculinity are amongst explanations offered for African Caribbean boys’ educational underachievement, and research has also implicated the peer group’s contributions to undermining academic performance. This study explored the subjective experiences of seven high-attaining African Caribbean boys, aged 14 to 15 from one secondary school, regarding their perceptions of peer influences in school. Participants were given two narrative interviews, two months apart, about their relationships with peers and experiences related to “peer influence” and the impact they consider that this has on their education and attainment. Interviews also addressed the impact of family narratives on the boys at school. The interviews were analysed using Gee’s (1991) structural linguistic narrative approach, which as well as helping to identify narratives also allowed analysis of how the boys performed their identities in co-constructing their narratives with the interviewer. The findings suggest that the boys perceived peers to have some influence on their educational experiences and subsequent attainment, though family influences were stronger on the boys’ educational values. Narratives espoused the positive aspects of peer relationships as being emotionally and practically supportive and helping boys’ motivation to study through competing for high grades. Pupils used multiple and complex strategies to manage their relationships so that they continued to attain well. These included strategic self-presentation, deploying resources and utilising support from teachers and family members. Family racialised narratives were found to play an important role in developing racial identity and academic orientation. Implications for educational psychology practice and pedagogy in schools are discussed

A survey of nearby galaxies for CO

We have made a survey of the nuclei of 81 galaxies for the 1-) line of CO. 38 of the galaxies are from a complete sample with recession velocity ≦400 km s-1 and 21-cm line strength ≧10-27 Wm-2, and the remainder represent nearby galaxies with weaker or no HI, early-type galaxies (E/SO/Sa) with detected HI and active/infrared galaxies. Galaxies with strong CO lines like M82, NGC253 and IC342 are exceedingly rare: all the galaxies we observed are weaker than 0/2K except the irregular galaxy DDO133 with T*A=0.22K. We have new, confirmed detections of two other irregular galaxies, IC10 and Pegasus, at a weaker level, and unconfirmed detections of the irregular NGC3109 and the nearest Type I Seyfert galaxy NGC4051. We have confirmed the existence of CO in the nucleus of NGC6946 and obtained spectra of new positions in M82 and NGC253

Study of fast response thermocouple measurement of temperatures in cryogenic gases

Thermocouples fabricated from uninsulated small diameter wire have fast reproducible response times. The thermocouple is thermally isolated from its supports by making the leads of sufficient length so that the heat conduction down the leads is small and assuming that the leads adjacent to the junction are subjected to the same thermal conditions