Quantum transport through STM-lifted single PTCDA molecules

Using a scanning tunneling microscope we have measured the quantum conductance through a PTCDA molecule for different configurations of the tip-molecule-surface junction. A peculiar conductance resonance arises at the Fermi level for certain tip to surface distances. We have relaxed the molecular junction coordinates and calculated transport by means of the Landauer/Keldysh approach. The zero bias transmission calculated for fixed tip positions in lateral dimensions but different tip substrate distances show a clear shift and sharpening of the molecular chemisorption level on increasing the STM-surface distance, in agreement with experiment.Comment: accepted for publication in Applied Physics

Effect of salt intake and potassium supplementation on brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity in Chinese subjects: an interventional study

Accumulating evidence has suggested that high salt and potassium might be associated with vascular function. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of salt intake and potassium supplementation on brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (PWV) in Chinese subjects. Forty-nine subjects (28-65 years of age) were selected from a rural community of northern China. All subjects were sequentially maintained on a low-salt diet for 7 days (3.0 g/day NaCl), a high-salt diet for an additional 7 days (18.0 g/day NaCl), and a high-salt diet with potassium supplementation for a final 7 days (18.0 g/day NaCl+4.5 g/day KCl). Brachial-ankle PWV was measured at baseline and on the last day of each intervention. Blood pressure levels were significantly increased from the low-salt to high-salt diet, and decreased from the high-salt diet to high-salt plus potassium supplementation. Baseline brachial-ankle PWV in salt-sensitive subjects was significantly higher than in salt-resistant subjects. There was no significant change in brachial-ankle PWV among the 3 intervention periods in salt-sensitive, salt-resistant, or total subjects. No significant correlations were found between brachial-ankle PWV and 24-h sodium and potassium excretions. Our study indicates that dietary salt intake and potassium supplementation, at least in the short term, had no significant effect on brachial-ankle PWV in Chinese subjects

High-Power Diode Side-Pumped Nd: YAG Laser on the Low Gain Three Lines Near 1.1 μm

We demonstrate a high-power diode side-pumped Nd:YAG laser on the low gain three lines near 1.1 μm. By tuning the tilting angle of a solid etalon in the cavity, the laser can be selectively operated at 1112, 1116 and 1123 nm either in continuous-wave (CW) mode or in actively Q-switched (QS) mode, respectively. The highest average CW output powers were 75, 47 and 71 W at 1112, 1116 and 1123 nm, respectively. The transmittances of the etalon were calculated to analyze the performance of the laser at the three lines. Furthermore, a computational model of a three-wavelength laser based on rate equations was employed to examine the line selectivity of the three lines near 1.1 μm at different tilting angles of the etalon