8,023 research outputs found
Amplifier for scanning tunneling microscopy at MHz frequencies
Conventional scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) is limited to a bandwidth of
circa 1kHz around DC. Here, we develop, build and test a novel amplifier
circuit capable of measuring the tunneling current in the MHz regime while
simultaneously performing conventional STM measurements. This is achieved with
an amplifier circuit including a LC tank with a quality factor exceeding 600
and a home-built, low-noise high electron mobility transistor (HEMT). The
amplifier circuit functions while simultaneously scanning with atomic
resolution in the tunneling regime, i.e. at junction resistances in the range
of giga-ohms, and down towards point contact spectroscopy. To enable high
signal-to-noise and meet all technical requirements for the inclusion in a
commercial low temperature, ultra-high vacuum STM, we use superconducting
cross-wound inductors and choose materials and circuit elements with low heat
load. We demonstrate the high performance of the amplifier by spatially mapping
the Poissonian noise of tunneling electrons on an atomically clean Au(111)
surface. We also show differential conductance spectroscopy measurements at
3MHz, demonstrating superior performance over conventional spectroscopy
techniques. Further, our technology could be used to perform impedance matched
spin resonance and distinguish Majorana modes from more conventional edge
states
A Magnetic and Moessbauer Spectral Study of Core/Shell Structured Fe/Au Nanoparticles
Fe/Au nanoparticles have been chemically synthesized through a reverse
micelle reaction and investigated by both conventional and synchrotron based
x-ray diffraction and by magnetic and Moessbauer spectral studies. The powder
x-ray diffraction patterns reveal both the presence of crystalline alpha-iron
and gold and the absence of any crystalline iron oxides or other crystalline
products. First-order reversal curves, along with the major hysteresis loops of
the Fe/Au nanoparticles have been measured as a function of time in order to
investigate the evolution of their magnetic properties. The iron-57 Moessbauer
spectra of both uncoated iron nanoparticles and the Fe/Au nanoparticles have
been measured at 78 and 295 K and indicate that two major iron containing
components are present, namely the expected alpha-iron and the unexpected
amorphous Fe1-xBx alloy; several poorly crystallized ordered iron(III) oxide
components as well as paramagnetic iron(II) and iron(III) components are also
observed. These results indicate that the Fe-core/Au-shell nanoparticles
synthesized through reverse micelles are far more complex that had been
believed.Comment: 31 pages, 1 table, 8 figures, to appear in Chemistry of Material
The Entropy Function for the Black Holes of Nariai Class
Based on the fact that the near horizon geometry of the extremal
Schwarzschild-de Sitter black holes is Nariai geometry, we define the black
holes of Nariai class as the configuration whose near-horizon geometry is
factorized as two dimensional de Sitter space-time and some compact topology,
that is Nariai geometry. We extend the entropy function formalism to the case
of the black holes of Nariai class. The conventional entropy function (for the
extremal black holes) is defined as Legendre transformation of Lagrangian
density, thus the `Routhian density', over two dimensional anti-de Sitter. As
for the black holes of Nariai class, it is defined as {\em minus} `Routhian
density' over two dimensional de Sitter space-time. We found an exact agreement
of the result with Bekenstein-Hawking entropy. The higher order corrections are
nontrivial only when the space-time dimension is over four, that is, .
There is a subtlety as regards the temperature of the black holes of Nariai
class. We show that in order to be consistent with the near horizon geometry,
the temperature should be non-vanishing despite the extremality of the black
holes.Comment: references added, compatible with the published versio
PRRT2 gene variant in a child with dysmorphic features, congenital microcephaly, and severe epileptic seizures: genotype-phenotype correlation?
BACKGROUND: Mutations in Proline-rich Transmembrane Protein 2 (PRRT2) have been primarily associated with individuals presenting with infantile epilepsy, including benign familial infantile epilepsy, benign infantile epilepsy, and benign myoclonus of early infancy, and/or with dyskinetic paroxysms such as paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia, paroxysmal non-kinesigenic dyskinesia, and exercise-induced dyskinesia. However, the clinical manifestations of this disorder vary widely. PRRT2 encodes a protein expressed in the central nervous system that is mainly localized in the pre-synaptic neurons and is involved in the modulation of synaptic neurotransmitter release. The anomalous function of this gene has been proposed to cause dysregulation of neuronal excitability and cerebral disorders. CASE PRESENTATION: We hereby report on a young child followed-up for three years who presents with a spectrum of clinical manifestations such as congenital microcephaly, dysmorphic features, severe intellectual disability, and drug-resistant epileptic encephalopathy in association with a synonymous variant in PRRT2 gene (c.501C > T; p.Thr167Ile) of unknown clinical significance variant (VUS) revealed by diagnostic exome sequencing. CONCLUSION: Several hypotheses have been advanced on the specific role that PRRT2 gene mutations play to cause the clinical features of affected patients. To our knowledge, the severe phenotype seen in this case has never been reported in association with any clinically actionable variant, as the missense substitution detected in PRRT2 gene. Intriguingly, the same mutation was reported in the healthy father: the action of modifying factors in the affected child may be hypothesized. The report of similar observations could extend the spectrum of clinical manifestations linked to this mutation
Effect of Charge Fluctuations on the Persistent Current through a Quantum Dot
We study coherent charge transfer between an Aharonov-Bohm ring and a
side-attached quantum dot. The charge fluctuation between the two
sub-structures is shown to give rise to algebraic suppression of the persistent
current circulating the ring as the size of the ring becomes relatively large.
The charge fluctuation at resonance provides transition between the diamagnetic
and the paramagnetic states.
Universal scaling, crossover behavior of the persistent current from a
continuous to a discrete energy limit in the ring is also discussed.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
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4-Phenylbutyrate Attenuates the ER Stress Response and Cyclic AMP Accumulation in DYT1 Dystonia Cell Models
Dystonia is a neurological disorder in which sustained muscle contractions induce twisting and repetitive movements or abnormal posturing. DYT1 early-onset primary dystonia is the most common form of hereditary dystonia and is caused by deletion of a glutamic acid residue (302/303) near the carboxyl-terminus of encoded torsinA. TorsinA is localized primarily within the contiguous lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and nuclear envelope (NE), and is hypothesized to function as a molecular chaperone and an important regulator of the ER stress-signaling pathway, but how the mutation in torsinA causes disease remains unclear. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that the clinical symptoms of dystonia result from abnormalities in dopamine (DA) signaling, and possibly involving its down-stream effector adenylate cyclase that produces the second messenger cyclic adenosine-3′, 5′-monophosphate (cAMP). Here we find that mutation in torsinA induces ER stress, and inhibits the cyclic adenosine-3′, 5′-monophosphate (cAMP) response to the adenylate cyclase agonist forskolin. Both defective mechanins are corrected by the small molecule 4-phenylbutyrate (4-PBA) that alleviates ER stress. Our results link torsinA, the ER-stress-response, and cAMP-dependent signaling, and suggest 4-PBA could also be used in dystonia treatment. Other pharmacological agents known to modulate the cAMP cascade, and ER stress may also be therapeutic in dystonia patients and can be tested in the models described here, thus supplementing current efforts centered on the dopamine pathway
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