1,149 research outputs found
Time-resolved X-ray microscopy of nanoparticle aggregates under oscillatory shear
Of all current detection techniques with nanometer resolution, only X-ray
microscopy allows imaging nanoparticles in suspension. Can it also be used to
investigate structural dynamics? When studying response to mechanical stimuli,
the challenge lies in applying them with precision comparable to spatial
resolution. In the first shear experiments performed in an X-ray microscope, we
accomplished this by inserting a piezo actuator driven shear cell into the
focal plane of a scanning transmission X-ray microscope (STXM). Thus
shear-induced reorganization of magnetite nanoparticle aggregates could be
demonstrated in suspension. As X-ray microscopy proves suitable for studying
structural change, new prospects open up in physics at small length scales.Comment: submitted to J. Synchrot. Radia
Molecular Genetic Approaches to Disease of Neural Development
This study utilized novel genetic techniques in order to find causative gene mutations that underlie diseases of neural development. Our laboratory has collected 175 cases of malformations of cortical development (MCD) from the United States and Europe. Four of these cases are the focus of this manuscript: two familial cases of infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy (INAD), a familial case of hereditary spastic paraparesis (HSP), and a sporadic case of Greig cephalopolysyndactyly (GCPS) and cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs). The techniques utilized to study the affected patients include microarray-based single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping and copy number variation (CNV) analysis, both of which are powerful tools in the hunt for disease-causing gene mutations. In the familial cases of INAD, we report two novel mutations in the PLA2G6 gene, previously shown to cause INAD when mutated. In the familial case of HSP, we demonstrate linkage to the SPG11 locus on chromosome 15q. Finally, in the sporadic case of GCPS and CCM, we published the first report on this novel syndrome along with a genetic analysis that demonstrates a microdeletion on chromosome 7p, resulting in heterozygous loss of both the GLI3 and CCM2 genes. The three studies presented in this manuscript demonstrate the utility of SNP genotyping and CNV analysis in revealing the genetic mutations that underlie diseases of neural development
Was the GLE on May 17, 2012 linked with the M5.1-class flare the first in the 24th solar cycle?
On May 17, 2012 an M5.1-class flare exploded from the sun. An O-type coronal
mass ejection (CME) was also associated with this flare. There was an instant
increase in proton flux with peak at MeV, leading to S2 solar
radiation storm level. In about 20 minutes after the X-ray emission, the solar
particles reached the Earth.It was the source of the first (since December
2006) ground level enhancement (GLE) of the current solar cycle 24. The GLE was
detected by neutron monitors (NM) and other ground based detectors. Here we
present an observation by the Tupi muon telescopes (Niteroi, Brazil, , , 3 m above sea level) of the enhancement of muons at ground
level associated with this M5.1-class solar flare. The Tupi telescopes
registered a muon excess over background in the 5-min binning time
profile. The Tupi signal is studied in correlation with data obtained by
space-borne detectors (GOES, ACE), ground based neutron monitors (Oulu) and air
shower detectors (the IceTop surface component of the IceCube neutrino
observatory). We also report the observation of the muon signal possibly
associated with the CME/sheath striking the Earth magnetosphere on May 20,
2012. We show that the observed temporal correlation of the muon excess
observed by the Tupi muon telescopes with solar transient events suggests a
real physical connection between them. Our observation indicates that
combination of two factors, the low energy threshold of the Tupi muon
telescopes and the location of the Tupi experiment in the South Atlantic
Anomaly region, can be favorable in the study and detection of the solar
transient events. Our experiment provides new data complementary to other
techniques (space and ground based) in the study of solar physics.Comment: 9 pages, 10 figure
Magnetic Structures of High Temperature Phases of TbBaCo2O5.5
Neutron diffraction studies have been carried out on a single crystal of
oxygen-deficient perovskite TbBaCo2O5.5 in the temperature range of 7-370 K.
There have been observed several magnetic or structural transitions. Among
these, the existence of the transitions to the insulating phase from the
metallic one at ~340 K, to the one with the ferromagnetic moment at ~280 K and
possibly to the antiferromagnetic one at ~260 K, with decreasing temperature T
correspond to those reported in former works. We have studied the magnetic
structures at 270 K and 250 K and found that all Co3+ ions of the CoO6
octahedra are in the low spin state and those of the CoO5 pyramids carry spins
which are possibly in the intermediate spin state. Non-collinear magnetic
structures are proposed at these temperatures. Two other transitions have also
been observed at the temperatures, ~100 K and ~250 K.Comment: 9 pages, 2 tables, 10 figure
Low thermal conductivity in La-filled cobalt antimonide skutterudites with an inhomogeneous filling factor prepared under high-pressure conditions
La-filled skutterudites LaxCo4Sb12 (x : 0.25 and 0.5) have been synthesized
and sintered in one step under high-pressure conditions at 3.5 GPa in a
piston-cylinder hydrostatic press. The structural properties of the reaction
products were characterized by synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction, clearly
showing an uneven filling factor of the skutterudite phases, confirmed by
transmission electron microscopy. The non-homogeneous distribution of La
filling atoms is adequate to produce a significant decrease in lattice thermal
conductivity, mainly due to strain field scattering of high-energy phonons.
Furthermore, the lanthanum filler primarily acts as an Einstein-like
vibrational mode having a strong impact on the phonon scattering. Extra-low
thermal conductivity values of 2.39 W/mK and 1.30 W/mK are measured for
La0.25Co4Sb12 and La0.5Co4Sb12 nominal compositions at 780 K, respectively.
Besides this, lanthanum atoms have contributed to increase the charge carrier
concentration in the samples. In the case of La0.25Co4Sb12, there is an
enhancement of the power factor and an improvement of the thermoelectric
properties
A different look at the spin state of Co ions in CoO pyramidal coordination
Using soft-x-ray absorption spectroscopy at the Co- and O- edges,
we demonstrate that the Co ions with the CoO pyramidal
coordination in the layered SrCoOCl compound are unambiguously in the
high spin state. Our result questions the reliability of the spin state
assignments made so far for the recently synthesized layered cobalt
perovskites, and calls for a re-examination of the modeling for the complex and
fascinating properties of these new materials.Comment: 5 pages 3 figure
Systematics of electronic and magnetic properties in the transition metal doped SbTe quantum anomalous Hall platform
The quantum anomalous Hall effect (QAHE) has recently been reported to emerge
in magnetically-doped topological insulators. Although its general
phenomenology is well established, the microscopic origin is far from being
properly understood and controlled. Here we report on a detailed and systematic
investigation of transition-metal (TM)-doped SbTe. By combining density
functional theory (DFT) calculations with complementary experimental
techniques, i.e., scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), resonant photoemission
(resPES), and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD), we provide a complete
spectroscopic characterization of both electronic and magnetic properties. Our
results reveal that the TM dopants not only affect the magnetic state of the
host material, but also significantly alter the electronic structure by
generating impurity-derived energy bands. Our findings demonstrate the
existence of a delicate interplay between electronic and magnetic properties in
TM-doped TIs. In particular, we find that the fate of the topological surface
states critically depends on the specific character of the TM impurity: while
V- and Fe-doped SbTe display resonant impurity states in the vicinity
of the Dirac point, Cr and Mn impurities leave the energy gap unaffected. The
single-ion magnetic anisotropy energy and easy axis, which control the magnetic
gap opening and its stability, are also found to be strongly TM
impurity-dependent and can vary from in-plane to out-of-plane depending on the
impurity and its distance from the surface. Overall, our results provide
general guidelines for the realization of a robust QAHE in TM-doped
SbTe in the ferromagnetic state.Comment: 40 pages, 13 figure
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Novel Tertiary Amine Solid Adsorbents Used for the Capture of Carbon Dioxide
Correlates of Snake Entanglement in Erosion Control Blankets
In road construction projects across the United States, erosion control methods (e.g., erosion control blankets [ECBs]), are mandated to stimulate seedbed regeneration and prevent soil loss. Previous reports have suggested that snakes are vulnerable to entanglement in ECBs. We conducted a literature review, field surveys, and an entanglement experiment to examine what factors increase a snake’s risk of ECB entanglement. Our literature review produced reports of 175 reptiles entangled in mesh products, 89.1% of which were snakes, with 43.6% of snake entanglements occurring in erosion control products. During our field surveys, we found 10 entangled snakes (n = 2 alive; n = 8 dead). From our experiment, we found that ECBs that contain fixed‐intersection, small‐diameter mesh consisting of polypropylene were significantly more likely to entangle snakes compared with ECBs with larger diameter polypropylene mesh or ECBs that have woven mesh made of natural fibers. Snake body size was also associated with entanglement; for every 1‐mm increase in body circumference, the probability of entanglement increased 4%. These results can help construct a predictive framework to determine those species and individuals that are most vulnerable to entanglement
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