Chiral single-wall gold nanotubes

Based on first-principles calculations we show that gold atoms can form both free-standing and tip-suspended chiral single-wall nanotubes composed of helical atomic strands. Free-standing, infinite (5,5) tube is found to be energetically the most favorable. While energetically less favorable, the experimentally observed (5,3) tube stretching between two tips corresponds to a local minimum in the string tension. Similarly, the (4,3) tube is predicted as a favorable structure yet to be observed experimentally. Analysis of band structure, charge density, and quantum ballistic conductance suggests that the current on these wires is less chiral than expected, and there is no direct correlation between the numbers of conduction channels and helical strands.Comment: Figures provided in eps forma

Infection, inflammation and artherosclerosis

Myocardial infarction and stroke are leading causes of death and disability iii the Western world, and substantial resources are spent on treatment, care and rehabilitation. A marked reduction in cardiovascular mortality has been observed in both genders in Norway during the 1980s and 1990s (Statistics Norway), probably due to both improved prevention and treatment of the acute ischemic event. In spite of this, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) accounted for nearly 40 % of the total mortality in 2004 (Statistics Norway). Atherosclerosis is an age-related disorder, and as the population ages, the burden of CVD will increase. A better understanding of the pathogenesis and mechanisms behind atherosclerosis is needed to improve preventive and therapeutic strategies. Endothelial dysfunction with progressive lipid accumulation in the vessel wall and formation of an atheromatous plaque is the hallmark of atherosclerosis, and an important cause of cardiovascular events. Atherosclerosis is considered a dynamic inflammatory process rather than a passive process of lipid accumulation [1]. Recent research indicates that plaque pathology is more essential than the stenotic flow-reduction for the risk of acute ischemic events [2-4]. Some authors claim that a significant number of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) lack conventional risk factors (cigarette smoking, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension) [5,6]. This claim implies that other risk factors may play a pivotal role in atherosclerosis, and the search for non-traditional risk factors, such as infectious and/or inflammatory causes, has been extensive during the last decade

Initial stages of Pt growth on Ge(001) studied by scanning tunneling microscopy and density functional theory

We have studied the initial stages of submonolayer Pt growth on the Ge(001). We have observed several stable and meta-stable adsorption configurations of Pt atoms at various temperatures. Calculations indicate relatively high binding energies of Pt atoms onto the Ge lattice, at different adsorption sites. Our results show that through-the-substrate bonding (concerted bonding) of two Pt atoms is more favored on Ge(001) surface then a direct Pt-Pt bond. Both our experiments and calculations indicate the breaking of Ge-Ge bonds on the surface in the vicinity of Pt adsorbates. We have also observed the spontaneous generation of 2 + 1 dimer vacancy defects at room temperature that cause the ejection of Ge atoms onto the surface. Finally we have studied the diffusion of Pt atoms into the bulk as a result of annealing and found out that they get trapped at subsurface sites

Ab-initio electron transport calculations of carbon based string structures

First-principles calculations show that monatomic strings of carbon have high cohesive energy and axial strength, and exhibit stability even at high temperatures. Due to their flexibility and reactivity, carbon chains are suitable for structural and chemical functionalizations; they form also stable ring, helix, grid and network structures. Analysis of electronic conductance of various infinite, finite and doped string structures reveal fundamental and technologically interesting features. Changes in doping and geometry give rise to dramatic variations in conductance. In even-numbered linear chains strain induces substantial decrease of conductance. The double covalent bonding of carbon atoms underlies their unusual chemical, mechanical and transport properties.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Half-metallic properties of atomic chains of carbon-transition metal compounds

We found that magnetic ground state of one-dimensional atomic chains of carbon-transition metal compounds exhibit half-metallic properties. They are semiconductors for one spin-direction, but show metallic properties for the opposite direction. The spins are fully polarized at the Fermi level and net magnetic moment per unit cell is an integer multiple of Bohr magneton. The spin-dependent electronic structure can be engineered by changing the number of carbon and type of transition metal atoms. These chains, which are stable even at high temperature and some of which keep their spin-dependent electronic properties even under moderate axial strain, hold the promise of potential applications in nanospintronics.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures, 1 table

A Comparative study of O2 adsorbed carbon nanotubes

Cataloged from PDF version of article.First-principles, density functional calculations show that O-2 adsorbed single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) show dramatic differences depending on the type of the tube. Upon O-2 physisorption, the zig-zag SWNT remains semiconducting, while the metallicity of the armchair is lifted for the spin-down bands. The spin-up bands continue to cross at the Fermi level, and make the system metallic only for one type of spin. The singlet bound state of O-2 occurs at the bridge site of the (6, 6) SWNT at small distance from the surface of the tube. However, for the hollow site, the molecule dissociates when it comes close to the surface. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Comparing hierarchies of total functionals

In this paper we consider two hierarchies of hereditarily total and continuous functionals over the reals based on one extensional and one intensional representation of real numbers, and we discuss under which asumptions these hierarchies coincide. This coincidense problem is equivalent to a statement about the topology of the Kleene-Kreisel continuous functionals. As a tool of independent interest, we show that the Kleene-Kreisel functionals may be embedded into both these hierarchies.Comment: 28 page

The effect of cationic surfactant and some organic/inorganic additives on the morphology of mesostructured silica templated by pluronics

Cataloged from PDF version of article.Tri-block copolymers (poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide), represented as EOxPOyEOx), pluronics (F127=EO106PO70EO106, P65=EO20PO30EO20, P85=EO27PO39EO27, P103= EO17PO55EO17, and P123 = EO20PO70EO20) and cationic surfactants (cethyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)), two surfactant systems, form complex micelles that self-assemble into mesostructured particles with distinct morphology depending on the pluronic type, the concentration of the cationic surfactant and the organic-inorganic ingredients in a siliceous reaction media under acidic conditions. The CTAB-P65 and CTAB-P85 systems form spheres, CTAB-P103 and CTAB-P123 systems form wormlike particles, and CTAB-F127 system form single crystals of mesostructured silica particles under very similar conditions. However addition of various salts (such as KCI and NaNO3) into a CTAB-P103 or CTAB-P123 solution system and cyclohexane and KCI into a CTAB-P85 solution system produces the mesostructured silica spheres and wormlike particles, respectively. By controlling the hydrophilic-hydrophobic character of the pluronics, core-corona interface, by means of additives, such as small organic molecules or salts, one could obtain the desired morphology that is dictated by the shape of the micelles of the pluronic-cationic surfactant complex. The effects of the additives and the formation mechanism of those morphologies have been discussed using spectroscopy (FT-IR and Raman), diffraction (XRD) and microscopy (POM and SEM) data. (c) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

An Analysis of International CO2 agreements

We examine the effects on GNP for groups of countries after introducing different schemes of tradable CO2 emission rights. The analysis is based on a numerical general equilibrium model of the world economy. The development of prices and trade of energy carriers and emission rights are investigated.Climate change, CO2 permits, numerical equilibrium model