13,639 research outputs found
Slow dynamics of a confined supercooled binary mixture II: Q space analysis
We report the analysis in the wavevector space of the density correlator of a
Lennard Jones binary mixture confined in a disordered matrix of soft spheres
upon supercooling. In spite of the strong confining medium the behavior of the
mixture is consistent with the Mode Coupling Theory predictions for bulk
supercooled liquids. The relaxation times extracted from the fit of the density
correlator to the stretched exponential function follow a unique power law
behavior as a function of wavevector and temperature. The von Schweidler
scaling properties are valid for an extended wavevector range around the peak
of the structure factor. The parameters extracted in the present work are
compared with the bulk values obtained in literature.Comment: 8 pages with 8 figures. RevTeX. Accepted for publication in Phys.
Rev.
Mode Coupling relaxation scenario in a confined glass former
Molecular dynamics simulations of a Lennard-Jones binary mixture confined in
a disordered array of soft spheres are presented. The single particle dynamical
behavior of the glass former is examined upon supercooling. Predictions of mode
coupling theory are satisfied by the confined liquid. Estimates of the
crossover temperature are obtained by power law fit to the diffusion
coefficients and relaxation times of the late region. The exponent
of the von Schweidler law is also evaluated. Similarly to the bulk, different
values of the exponent are extracted from the power law fit to the
diffusion coefficients and relaxation times.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, changes in the text, accepted for publication on
Europhysics Letter
The resupply interface mechanism RMS compatibility test
Spacecraft on-orbit servicing consists of exchanging components such as payloads, orbital replacement units (ORUs), and consumables. To accomplish the exchange of consumables, the receiving vehicle must mate to the supplier vehicle. Mating can be accomplished by a variety of docking procedures. However, these docking schemes are mission dependent and can vary from shuttle bay berthing to autonomous rendezvous and docking. Satisfying the many docking conditions will require use of an innovative docking device. The device must provide fluid, electrical, pneumatic and data transfer between vehicles. Also, the proper stiffness must be obtained and sustained between the vehicles. A device to accomplish this, the resupply interface mechanism (RIM), was developed. The RIM is a unique device because it grasps the mating vehicle, draws the two vehicles together, simultaneously mates all connectors, and rigidizes the mating devices. The NASA-Johnson Manipulator Development Facility was used to study how compatible the RIM is to on orbit docking and berthing. The facility contains a shuttle cargo bay mockup with a remote manipulator system (RMS). This RMS is used to prepare crew members for shuttle missions involving spacecraft berthing operations. The MDF proved to be an excellant system for testing the RIM/RMS compatibility. The elements examined during the RIM JSC test were: RIM gross and fine alignment; berthing method sequence; visual cuing aids; utility connections; and RIM overall performance. The results showed that the RIM is a good device for spacecraft berthing operations. Mating was accomplished during every test run and all test operators (crew members) felt that the RIM is an effective device. The purpose of the JSC RIM test and its results are discussed
Double dynamical regime of confined water
The Van Hove self correlation function of water confined in a silica pore is
calculated from Molecular Dynamics trajectories upon supercooling. At long time
in the relaxation region we found that the behaviour of the real space
time dependent correlators can be decomposed in a very slow, almost frozen,
dynamics due to the bound water close to the substrate and a faster dynamics of
the free water which resides far from the confining surface. For free water we
confirm the evidences of an approach to a crossover mode coupling transition,
previously found in Q space. In the short time region we found that the two
dynamical regimes are overimposed and cannot be distinguished. This shows that
the interplay between the slower and the faster dynamics emerges in going from
early times to the relaxation region, where a layer analysis of the
dynamical properties can be performed.Comment: 6 pages with 9 figures. RevTeX. Accepted for pulbication in J. Phys.
Cond. Mat
Activation of TLR3 in keratinocytes increases expression of genes involved in formation of the epidermis, lipid accumulation, and epidermal organelles.
Injury to the skin, and the subsequent release of noncoding double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) from necrotic keratinocytes, has been identified as an endogenous activator of Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3). As changes in keratinocyte growth and differentiation follow injury, we hypothesized that TLR3 might trigger some elements of the barrier repair program in keratinocytes. dsRNA was observed to induce TLR3-dependent increases in human keratinocyte mRNA abundance for ABCA12 (ATP-binding cassette, sub-family A, member 12), glucocerebrosidase, acid sphingomyelinase, and transglutaminase 1. Additionally, treatment with dsRNA resulted in increases in sphingomyelin and morphologic changes including increased epidermal lipid staining by Oil Red O and TLR3-dependent increases in lamellar bodies and keratohyalin granules. These observations show that dsRNA can stimulate some events in keratinocytes that are important for skin barrier repair and maintenance
A longer XMM-Newton look at I Zwicky 1: Distinct modes of X-ray spectral variability
The short-term spectral variability of the narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy I
Zwicky 1 (I Zw 1) as observed in an 85 ks XMM-Newton observation is discussed
in detail. I Zw 1 shows distinct modes of variability prior to and after a flux
dip in the broad-band light curve. Before the dip the variability can be
described as arising from changes in shape and normalisation of the spectral
components. Only changes in normalisation are manifested after the dip. The
change in the mode of behaviour occurs on dynamically short timescales in I Zw
1. The data suggest that the accretion-disc corona in I Zw 1 could have two
components that are co-existing. The first, a uniform, physically diffuse
plasma responsible for the "typical'' long-term (e.g. years) behaviour; and a
second compact, centrally located component causing the rapid flux and spectral
changes. This compact component could be the base of a short or aborted jet as
sometimes proposed for radio-quiet active galaxies. Modelling of the average
and time-resolved rms spectra demonstrate that a blurred Compton-reflection
model can describe the spectral variability if we allow for pivoting of the
continuum component prior to the dip.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figures. Accepted by MNRA
The relaxation dynamics of a simple glass former confined in a pore
We use molecular dynamics computer simulations to investigate the relaxation
dynamics of a binary Lennard-Jones liquid confined in a narrow pore. We find
that the average dynamics is strongly influenced by the confinement in that
time correlation functions are much more stretched than in the bulk. By
investigating the dynamics of the particles as a function of their distance
from the wall, we can show that this stretching is due to a strong dependence
of the relaxation time on this distance, i.e. that the dynamics is spatially
very heterogeneous. In particular we find that the typical relaxation time of
the particles close to the wall is orders of magnitude larger than the one of
particles in the center of the pore.Comment: 9 pages of Latex, 4 figure
Fragile to strong crossover coupled to liquid-liquid transition in hydrophobic solutions
Using discrete molecular dynamics simulations we study the relation between
the thermodynamic and diffusive behaviors of a primitive model of aqueous
solutions of hydrophobic solutes consisting of hard spheres in the Jagla
particles solvent, close to the liquid-liquid critical point of the solvent. We
find that the fragile-to-strong dynamic transition in the diffusive behavior is
always coupled to the low-density/high-density liquid transition. Above the
liquid-liquid critical pressure, the diffusivity crossover occurs at the Widom
line, the line along which the thermodynamic response functions show maxima.
Below the liquid-liquid critical pressure, the diffusivity crossover occurs
when the limit of mechanical stability lines are crossed, as indicated by the
hysteresis observed when going from high to low temperature and vice versa.
These findings show that the strong connection between dynamics and
thermodynamics found in bulk water persists in hydrophobic solutions for
concentrations from low to moderate, indicating that experiments measuring the
relaxation time in aqueous solutions represent a viable route for solving the
open questions in the field of supercooled water.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures. Accepted for publication on Physical Review
Modifications of the hydrogen bond network of liquid water in a cylindrical SiO_2 pore
We present results of molecular dynamics simulations of water confined in a
silica pore. A cylindrical cavity is created inside a vitreous silica cell with
geometry and size similar to the pores of real Vycor glass. The simulations are
performed at different hydration levels. At all hydration levels water adsorbs
strongly on the Vycor surface; a double layer structure is evident at higher
hydrations. At almost full hydration the modifications of the
confinement-induced site-site pair distribution functions are in qualitative
agreement with neutron diffraction experiment. A decrease in the number of
hydrogen bonds between water molecules is observed along the pore radius, due
to the tendency of the molecules close to the substrate to form hydrogen-bonds
with the hydrophilic pore surface. As a consequence we observe a substrate
induced distortion of the H-bond tetrahedral network of water molecules in the
regions close to the surface.Comment: Talk presented at "Physics of Liquids: Foundations, Highlights,
Challenge", Murau Sept. 1998. To appear in J. Mol. Li
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