Carbon Nanotubes as Schottky Barrier Transistors

We show that carbon nanotube transistors operate as unconventional "Schottky barrier transistors", in which transistor action occurs primarily by varying the contact resistance rather than the channel conductance. Transistor characteristics are calculated for both idealized and realistic geometries, and scaling behavior is demonstrated. Our results explain a variety of experimental observations, including the quite different effects of doping and adsorbed gases. The electrode geometry is shown to be crucial for good device performance.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, appears in Physical Review Letter

Population genetic structure in <i>Sabatieria</i> (Nematoda) reveals intermediary gene flow and admixture between distant cold seeps from the Mediterranean Sea

BackgroundThere is a general lack of information on the dispersal and genetic structuring for populations of small-sized deep-water taxa, including free-living nematodes which inhabit and dominate the seafloor sediments. This is also true for unique and scattered deep-sea habitats such as cold seeps. Given the limited dispersal capacity of marine nematodes, genetic differentiation between such geographically isolated habitat patches is expected to be high. Against this background, we examined genetic variation in both mitochondrial (COI) and nuclear (18S and 28S ribosomal) DNA markers of 333 individuals of the genus Sabatieria, abundantly present in reduced cold-seep sediments. Samples originated from four Eastern Mediterranean cold seeps, separated by hundreds of kilometers, and one seep in the Southeast Atlantic.ResultsIndividuals from the Mediterranean and Atlantic were divided into two separate but closely-related species clades. Within the Eastern Mediterranean, all specimens belonged to a single species, but with a strong population genetic structure (ΦST = 0.149). The haplotype network of COI contained 19 haplotypes with the most abundant haplotype (52% of the specimens) shared between all four seeps. The number of private haplotypes was high (15), but the number of mutations between haplotypes was low (1–8). These results indicate intermediary gene flow among the Mediterranean Sabatieria populations with no evidence of long-term barriers to gene flow.ConclusionsThe presence of shared haplotypes and multiple admixture events indicate that Sabatieria populations from disjunct cold seeps are not completely isolated, with gene flow most likely facilitated through water current transportation of individuals and/or eggs. Genetic structure and molecular diversity indices are comparable to those of epiphytic shallow-water marine nematodes, while no evidence of sympatric cryptic species was found for the cold-seep Sabatieria

Computation of Scanning Tunneling Microscope Images of Nanometer-Sized Objects Physisorbed on Metal Surfaces

This communication deals with the application of a transfer-matrix strategy for the quantitative evaluation of the tunnel current in a scanning tunneling microscope (STM). The image given by a simple atomic-size object deposited on a metal surface is specifically examined in both modes of STM operation namely the constant-height and the constant-current modes. The two-dimensional corrugation induced at low temperature by Xe atoms physisorbed on an otherwise clean, unreconstructed Ni (110) surface is studied in detail. It is shown that the simple consideration of the elastic scattering of electrons by the three-dimensional potential barrier between the tip and the metal substrates provides a quantitative description of the images produced by the instrument: (1) the Xe atom appears as a conic protrusion, approximately 7 A wide, with a corrugation 1.3 A high; (2) in Xe clusters, each adjoining atom is resolved, with a shape in full agreement with experiment. In order to obtain correct quantitative results, image-charge corrections to the potential cannot be neglected

Phylogenetic relationships among NE Atlantic <i>Plocamionida</i> Topsent (1927) (Porifera, Poecilosclerida): under-estimated diversity in reef ecosystems

Background: Small and cryptic sponges associated with cold-water coral reefs are particularly numerous and challenging to identify, but their ecological and biochemical importance is likely to compete with megabenthic specimens.Methodology/Principal Findings: Here we use a combination of the standard M1M6 and I3M11 partitions of the COI fragment, partial rDNA 28S sequences and morphology to delineate small encrusting Plocamionida species. In total, 46 specimens were retrieved from seven shallow to deep-water coral locations, crossing 3,000 km along the European margins. Our work provides evidence that the Plocamionida ambigua f. tylotata and f. grandichelata can be considered valid species, whereas Plocamionida ambigua f. tornata corresponds to the species P. ambigua. Within the monophyletic group of Plocamionida, P. microcionides is shown as really divergent from the other taxa, and four putative new Plocamionida species are suggested.Conclusions/Significance: This study shows that the use of molecular and morphological information in an integrative approach is a powerful tool for the identification of sponge species, and suggests that an under-estimated biodiversity of sponges occurs in cold-water coral reefs

Disentangling taxonomy within the <i>Rhabditis (Pellioditis) marina</i> (Nematoda, Rhadbitidae) species complex using molecular and morphological tools

Correct taxonomy is a prerequisite for biological research, but currently it is undergoing a serious crisis, resulting in the neglect of many highly diverse groups of organisms. In nematodes, species delimitation remains problematic due to their high morphological variability. Evolutionary approaches using DNA sequences can potentially overcome the problems caused by morphology, but they are also affected by flaws. A holistic approach with a combination of morphological and molecular methods can therefore produce a straightforward delimitation of species. The present study investigates the taxonomic status of some highly divergent mitochondrial haplotypes in the Rhabditis (Pellioditis) marina species complex by using a combination of molecular and morphological tools. We used concordance among phylogenetic trees of three molecular markers (COI, ITS, D2D3) to infer molecular lineages. Subsequently, morphometric data from nearly all lineages were analysed with multivariate techniques. The results showed that highly divergent genotypic clusters were accompanied by morphological differences, and we created a graphical polytomous key for future identifications. This study indisputably demonstrates that R. (P.) marina and R. (P.) mediterranea belong to a huge species complex and that biodiversity in free-living marine nematodes may seriously be underestimated

Scaling Law in Carbon Nanotube Electromechanical Devices

We report a method for probing electromechanical properties of multiwalled carbon nanotubes(CNTs). This method is based on AFM measurements on a doubly clamped suspended CNT electrostatically deflected by a gate electrode. We measure the maximum deflection as a function of the applied gate voltage. Data from different CNTs scale into an universal curve within the experimental accuracy, in agreement with a continuum model prediction. This method and the general validity of the scaling law constitute a very useful tool for designing actuators and in general conducting nanowire-based NEMS.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures. To be published in Phys. Rev. Let

Black Dialect in Children\u27s Books

Black non-Standard English is different in grammar (syntax) from Standard English. The advent of the 60\u27s produced authors who explored the full possibilities of language to deal with their themes. The increased use of dialect by black authors, particularly children\u27s authors, was a sign that the nature of the black experience as they wanted to convey it did not have to rely on traditional forms, and literary devices; that they could treat familiar, realistic ideas and situations using a familiar dialect and relate that idea more effectively

Phylogeography of the <i>Rhabditis (Pellioditis) marina</i> species complex: evidence for cosmopolitanism, restricted gene flow, recent range expansions and accelerated evolution

The nematode Rhabditis (Pellioditis) marina has a worldwide distribution despite presumably low dispersal abilities. Recent studies on a local scale have illustrated that R. (P.) marina actually consists of several cryptic species which questions its true cosmopolitan distribution. We performed a phylogeographic study to identify micro- and macro-evolutionary processes shaping population structuring and speciation in the R. (P.) marina species complex. The mitochondrial COI gene was screened with the Single Strand Conformation Polymorphism method (SSCP) in 1292 specimens collected from decomposing macroalgae along the coasts of Western Europe, NE America, Mexico, South Africa and Australia. We found evidence for eleven cryptic species within R. (P.) marina that were sympatrically distributed. A strong genetic structuring was observed in all species and a genetic break was observed around the British Isles. A historical signature was present in species PmII showing evidence for two postglacial, northwards orientated expansions and for restricted gene flow with occasional long-distance dispersal. Our data also pointed to a contact zone in the Southern Bight of the North Sea. We found evidence for a true cosmopolitan distribution of nematode species due to occasional long-distance dispersal. In addition, an accelerated COI mutation rate was suggested for R. (P.) marina, which was about ten times higher than the generally applied molecular clock of 2 %. We further hypothesize that the cryptic radiation in R. (P.) marina is largely the result of allopatric speciation, and that the contemporary sympatric distribution results from occasional long-distance dispersal

Investigating the ecology and evolution of cryptic marine nematode species through quantitative real-time PCR of the ribosomal ITS region

The presence of morphologically similar but genetically distinct species has impacted biogeographical and ecological paradigms. In marine sediments, free-living nematodes form one of the most abundant and diverse faunal groups. Inferring the importance of nematode diversity for ecosystem functioning requires species-level identification, which is hampered by the lack of easily observable diagnostic characters and the presence of cryptic species. New techniques are urgently needed to adequately study the ecology and evolution of cryptic species. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential of a quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assay using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the ribosomal DNA to detect and quantify cryptic species of the R. (P.) marina complex. All primer pairs proved to be highly specific, and each primer pair was able to detect a single juvenile in a pool of 100 nematodes. Ct values were significantly different between developmental stages for all species except for PmIII. Despite differences between developmental stages, a strong correlation was observed between the amount of extracted DNA and the number of nematodes present. Relative and absolute quantification estimates were comparable and resulted in strong positive correlations between the qPCR estimate and the actual number of nematodes present in the samples. The qPCR assay developed here provides the ability to quickly identify and quantify cryptic nematode species and will facilitate their study in laboratory and field settings