Geometrically Precise Building Blocks: the Self-Assembly of beta-Peptides

Peptides comprised entirely of b-amino acids, or b-peptides, have attracted substantial interest over the past 25 years due to their unique structural and chemical characteristics. b-Peptides form well-defined secondary structures that exhibit different geometries compared with their a-peptide counterparts, giving rise to their foldamer classification. b-Peptide foldamers can be functionalized easily and are metabolically stable and, together with the predictable side-chain topography, have led to the design of a growing number of bioactive b-peptides with a range of biological targets. The strategic engineering of chemical and topographic properties has also led to the design of b-peptide mimics of higher-order oligomers. More recently, the ability of these peptides to self-assemble into complex structures of controlled geometries has been exploited in materials applications. The focus of thismini-review is on how the unique structural features of b-peptide assemblies have been exploited in the design of self-assembled proteomimetic bundles and nanomaterials

Quantifying fenbendazole and its metabolites in self-medicating wild red grouse Lagopus lagopus scoticus using an HPLC–MS–MS approach

On red grouse estates in the UK the nematode parasite Trichostrongylus tenuis is often controlled by application of grit medicated with the anthelmintic fenbendazole (FBZ). To date, assessment of the efficacy has been inhibited by the inability to quantify uptake of FBZ by the birds. We have developed a simple and sensitive HPLC–MS–MS method for detecting and quantifying FBZ and its metabolites from a 300 mg sample of red grouse liver. This method could be used to improve the efficacy of medicated grit treatment by allowing the identification of conditions and application methods that optimize the uptake of FBZ. With the necessary modifications, our method will also be applicable to other wildlife species where self-medication is used for parasite control

Models of electron transport in single layer graphene

The main features of the conductivity of doped single layer graphene are analyzed, and models for different scattering mechanisms are presented.Comment: 15 pages. Submitted to the Proceedings of the ULTI symposium on Quantum Phenomena and Devices at Low Temperatures, Espoo, Finland, to be published in the Journ. of Low. Temp. Phy

Electromagnetic properties of graphene junctions

A resonant chiral tunneling (CT) across a graphene junction (GJ) induced by an external electromagnetic field (EF) is studied. Modulation of the electron and hole wavefunction phases $\varphi$ by the external EF during the CT processes strongly impacts the CT directional diagram. Therefore the a.c. transport characteristics of GJs depend on the EF polarization and frequency considerably. The GJ shows great promises for various nanoelectronic applications working in the THz diapason.Comment: 4 pages 3 figure

Magnetotransport in two-dimensional electron gas at large filling factors

We derive the quantum Boltzmann equation for the two-dimensional electron gas in a magnetic field such that the filling factor $\nu \gg 1$. This equation describes all of the effects of the external fields on the impurity collision integral including Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations, smooth part of the magnetoresistance, and non-linear transport. Furthemore, we obtain quantitative results for the effect of the external microwave radiation on the linear and non-linear $dc$ transport in the system. Our findings are relevant for the description of the oscillating resistivity discovered by Zudov {\em et al.}, zero-resistance state discovered by Mani {\em et al.} and Zudov {\em et al.}, and for the microscopic justification of the model of Andreev {\em et al.}. We also present semiclassical picture for the qualitative consideration of the effects of the applied field on the collision integral.Comment: 28 pages, 19 figures; The discussion of the role of the effect of the microwave field on the distribution function is revised (see also cond-mat/0310668). Accepted in Phys. Rev.

Exact eigenstate analysis of finite-frequency conductivity in graphene

We employ the exact eigenstate basis formalism to study electrical conductivity in graphene, in the presence of short-range diagonal disorder and inter-valley scattering. We find that for disorder strength, $W \ge$ 5, the density of states is flat. We, then, make connection, using the MRG approach, with the work of Abrahams \textit{et al.} and find a very good agreement for disorder strength, $W$ = 5. For low disorder strength, $W$ = 2, we plot the energy-resolved current matrix elements squared for different locations of the Fermi energy from the band centre. We find that the states close to the band centre are more extended and falls of nearly as $1/E_l^{2}$ as we move away from the band centre. Further studies of current matrix elements versus disorder strength suggests a cross-over from weakly localized to a very weakly localized system. We calculate conductivity using Kubo Greenwood formula and show that, for low disorder strength, conductivity is in a good qualitative agreement with the experiments, even for the on-site disorder. The intensity plots of the eigenstates also reveal clear signatures of puddle formation for very small carrier concentration. We also make comparison with square lattice and find that graphene is more easily localized when subject to disorder.Comment: 11 pages,15 figure

Elastic electron deuteron scattering with consistent meson exchange and relativistic contributions of leading order

The influence of relativistic contributions to elastic electron deuteron scattering is studied systematically at low and intermediate momentum transfers ($Q^2\leq 30$ fm$^{-2}$). In a $(p/M)$-expansion, all leading order relativistic $\pi$-exchange contributions consistent with the Bonn OBEPQ models are included. In addition, static heavy meson exchange currents including boost terms and lowest order $\rho\pi\gamma$-currents are considered. Sizeable effects from the various relativistic two-body contributions, mainly from $\pi$-exchange, have been found in form factors, structure functions and the tensor polarization $T_{20}$. Furthermore, static properties, viz. magnetic dipole and charge quadrupole moments and the mean square charge radius are evaluated.Comment: 15 pages Latex including 5 figures, final version accepted for publication in Phys.Rev.C Details of changes: (i) The notation of the curves in Figs. 1 and 2 have been clarified with respect to left and right panels. (ii) In Figs. 3 and 4 an experimental point for T_20 has been added and a corresponding reference [48] (iii) At the end of the text we have added a paragraph concerning the quality of the Bonn OBEPQ potential

Evidence of Color Coherence Effects in W+jets Events from ppbar Collisions at sqrt(s) = 1.8 TeV

We report the results of a study of color coherence effects in ppbar collisions based on data collected by the D0 detector during the 1994-1995 run of the Fermilab Tevatron Collider, at a center of mass energy sqrt(s) = 1.8 TeV. Initial-to-final state color interference effects are studied by examining particle distribution patterns in events with a W boson and at least one jet. The data are compared to Monte Carlo simulations with different color coherence implementations and to an analytic modified-leading-logarithm perturbative calculation based on the local parton-hadron duality hypothesis.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figures. Submitted to Physics Letters