84,184 research outputs found
Microscopic analysis of the octupole phase transition in Th isotopes
A shape phase transition between stable octupole deformation and octupole
vibrations in Th nuclei is analyzed in a microscopic framework based on nuclear
density functional theory. The relativistic functional DD-PC1 is used to
calculate axially-symmetric quadrupole-octupole constrained energy surfaces.
Observables related to order parameters are computed using an interacting-boson
Hamiltonian, with parameters determined by mapping the microscopic energy
surfaces to the expectation value of the Hamiltonian in the boson condensate.
The systematics of constrained energy surfaces and low-energy excitation
spectra point to the occurrence of a phase transition between octupole-deformed
shapes and shapes characterized by octupole-soft potentials.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in Physical Review C,
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Effect of Interactions on Molecular Fluxes and Fluctuations in the Transport Across Membrane Channels
Transport of molecules across membrane channels is investigated theoretically
using exactly solvable one-dimensional discrete-state stochastic models. An
interaction between molecules and membrane pores is modeled via a set of
binding sites with different energies. It is shown that the interaction
potential strongly influences the particle currents as well as fluctuations in
the number of translocated molecules. For small concentration gradients the
attractive sites lead to largest currents and fluctuations, while the repulsive
interactions yield the largest fluxes and dispersions for large concentration
gradients. Interaction energies that lead to maximal currents and maximal
fluctuations are the same only for locally symmetric potentials, while they
differ for the locally asymmetric potentials. The conditions for the most
optimal translocation transport with maximal current and minimal dispersion are
discussed. It is argued that in this case the interaction strength is
independent of local symmetry of the potential of mean forces. In addition, the
effect of the global asymmetry of the interaction potential is investigated,
and it is shown that it also strongly affects the particle translocation
dynamics. These phenomena can be explained by analyzing the details of the
particle entering and leaving the binding sites in the channel.Comment: submitted to J. Chem. Phy
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Laser-assisted photothermal imprinting of nanocomposite
We report on a laser-assisted photothermal imprinting method for directly patterning carbon
nanofiber-reinforced polyethylene nanocomposite. A single laser pulse from a solid state
Nd:YAG laser (10 ns pulse, 532 nm and 355 nm wavelengths) is used to melt/soften a thin skin
layer of the polymer nanocomposite. Meanwhile, a fused quartz mold with micro-sized surface
relief structures is pressed against the surface of the composite. Successful pattern transfer is
realized upon releasing the quartz mold. Although polyethylene is transparent to the laser beam,
the carbon nanofibers in the high density polyethylene (HDPE) matrix absorb the laser energy
and convert it into heat. Numerical heat conduction simulation shows the HDPE matrix is
partially melted or softened, allowing for easier imprinting of the relief pattern of the quartz
mold.Mechanical Engineerin
The Static Dielectric Constant of a Colloidal Suspension
We derive an expression for the static dielectric constant of the colloidal
susp ensions based on the electrokinetic equations. The analysis assumes that
the ions have the same diffusivity, and that the double layer is much thinner
than the radius of curvature of the particles. It is shown that the dielectric
increment of the double layer polarization mechanism is originated from the
free energy stored in the salt concentration inhomogeniety. We also show that
the dominant polarization charges in the theory are at the electrodes, rather
than close to the particles.Comment: 15 pages, 1 figur
Microfluidically fabricated pH-responsive anionic amphiphilic microgels for drug release
© 2016 The Royal Society of Chemistry. Amphiphilic microgels of different composition based on the hydrophilic, pH-responsive acrylic acid (AA) and the hydrophobic, non-ionic n-butyl acrylate (BuA) were synthesised using a lab-on-a-chip device. Hydrophobic droplets were generated via a microfluidic platform that contained a protected form of AA, BuA, the hydrophobic crosslinker, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA), and a free radical initiator in an organic solvent. These hydrophobic droplets were photopolymerised within the microfluidic channels and subsequently hydrolysed, enabling an integrated platform for the rapid, automated, and in situ production of anionic amphiphilic microgels. The amphiphilic microgels did not feature the conventional core-shell structure but were instead based on random amphiphilic copolymers of AA and BuA and hydrophobic crosslinks. Due to their amphiphilic nature they were able to encapsulate and deliver both hydrophobic and hydrophilic moieties. The model drug delivery and the swelling ability of the microgels were influenced by the pH of the surrounding aqueous solution and the hydrophobic content of the microgels
Tailoring pH-responsive acrylic acid microgels with hydrophobic crosslinks for drug release
Amphiphilic microgels based on the hydrophilic acrylic acid (AA) and hydrophobic crosslinks of different compositions were synthesised using a lab-on-a-chip device. The microgels were formed by polymerising hydrophobic droplets. The droplets were generated via a microfluidic platform and contained a protected form of AA, a hydrophobic crosslinker (ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, EGDMA) and a free radical initiator in an organic solvent. Following photopolymerisation and subsequent hydrolysis, AA based microgels of amphiphilic nature were produced and it was demonstrated that they can successfully deliver both hydrophilic as well as hydrophobic moieties. The model drug delivery and the swelling ability of the microgels were influenced by the pH of the aqueous solution as well as the crosslinking density and hydrophobic content of the microgels
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