1,935 research outputs found
Lunar science prior to Apollo 11
Evolutional aspects and geological interpretations in lunar scienc
The Influence of Gravity on Nucleation, Growth, Stability and Structure in Crystallizing Colloidal Suspensions
Our goal is to understand the dynamics of particles within colloidal crystals. In particular, we focus on the influence of the cell walls and gravity on the particle dynamics. In this study, we will use a novel light scattering experiment, known as diffusing wave spectroscopy, to probe particle motions in turbid suspensions. This is a noninvasive experimental probe of interparticle dynamics
"Wet-to-Dry" Conformational Transition of Polymer Layers Grafted to Nanoparticles in Nanocomposite
The present communication reports the first direct measurement of the
conformation of a polymer corona grafted around silica nano-particles dispersed
inside a nanocomposite, a matrix of the same polymer. This measurement
constitutes an experimental breakthrough based on a refined combination of
chemical synthesis, which permits to match the contribution of the neutron
silica signal inside the composite, and the use of complementary scattering
methods SANS and SAXS to extract the grafted polymer layer form factor from the
inter-particles silica structure factor. The modelization of the signal of the
grafted polymer on nanoparticles inside the matrix and the direct comparison
with the form factor of the same particles in solution show a clear-cut change
of the polymer conformation from bulk to the nanocomposite: a transition from a
stretched and swollen form in solution to a Gaussian conformation in the matrix
followed with a compression of a factor two of the grafted corona. In the
probed range, increasing the interactions between the grafted particles (by
increasing the particle volume fraction) or between the grafted and the free
matrix chains (decreasing the grafted-free chain length ratio) does not
influence the amplitude of the grafted brush compression. This is the first
direct observation of the wet-to-dry conformational transition theoretically
expected to minimize the free energy of swelling of grafted chains in
interaction with free matrix chains, illustrating the competition between the
mixing entropy of grafted and free chains, and the elastic deformation of the
grafted chains. In addition to the experimental validation of the theoretical
prediction, this result constitutes a new insight for the nderstanding of the
general problem of dispersion of nanoparticles inside a polymer matrix for the
design of new nanocomposites materials
Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal Emulsions - 2
Particle dynamics of magnetorheological fluids (fluids that change properties in response to magnetic fields) are studied to help understand adaptable new fluids for use in such applications as brake systems and robotics
The relation between the electron spin polarization of the donor triplet state of the photosynthetic reaction center from Rhodopseudomonas viridis and the redox state of the primary acceptor
AbstractThe hypothesis [(1986) Photobiochem. Photobiophys. 11, 95-100] that the temperature dependence of the electron spin polarization (ESP) pattern of the Δm = ± 1 EPR spectrum of the triplet state PR of the Rhodopseudomonas viridis reaction center is caused by magnetic interaction between the reduced menaquinone-iron complex Q−Fe2+ and the electron spin on I− (reduced bacteriopheophytin b), which is part of the radical pair P+I− (P+ is the oxidized primary electron donor P960) has been investigated. It was found that the AEAEAE ESP pattern of the EPR spectrum detected at T > 20 K changes into the usual AEEAAE pattern, when Q−Fe2+ is photochemically converted into Q2−Fe2+. This demonstrates that the presence of Q− in Q−Fe2+ is a necessary condition to obtain the AEAEAE ESP pattern
A Scintillating Fiber Tracker With SiPM Readout
We present a prototype for the first tracking detector consisting of 250
micron thin scintillating fibers and silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) arrays. The
detector has a modular design, each module consists of a mechanical support
structure of 10mm Rohacell foam between two 100 micron thin carbon fiber skins.
Five layers of scintillating fibers are glued to both top and bottom of the
support structure. SiPM arrays with a channel pitch of 250 micron are placed in
front of the fibers. We show the results of the first module prototype using
multiclad fibers of types Bicron BCF-20 and Kuraray SCSF-81M that were read out
by novel 32-channel SiPM arrays from FBK-irst/INFN Perugia as well as
32-channel SiPM arrays produced by Hamamatsu. A spatial resolution of 88 micron
+/- 6 micron at an average yield of 10 detected photons per minimal ionizig
particle has been achieved.Comment: 5 pages, 7 figures, submitted as proceedings to the 11th Topical
Seminar on Innovative Particle and Radiation Detectors (IPRD08
Two-dimensional streptavidin crystals on giant lipid bilayer vesicles
Streptavidin was crystallized on giant bilayer vesicles (20-60 mum) in sucrose solution at various pH values. The streptavidin-coated vesicles exhibited unique roughened spherical and prolate ellipsoidal shapes, illustrating resistance to curvature of the two-dimensional crystals. Studies indicated that the spheroids and prolate ellipsoids correspond to different crystal morphologies. Through confocal microscopy, the various crystal morphologies on vesicle surfaces were observed under different solution conditions. Unlike two-dimensional (2D) streptavidin crystals grown in ionic buffer that assume the P1, P2, and C222 lattices at pH 4, 5.5, and 7, respectively (Wang et al. Langmuir 1999, 15, 154 1), crystals grown in sucrose with no added salt show only the lowest density C222 lattice due to strong electrostatic interactions
Gel transitions in colloidal suspensions
The idealized mode coupling theory (MCT) is applied to colloidal systems
interacting via short-range attractive interactions of Yukawa form. At low
temperatures MCT predicts a slowing down of the local dynamics and ergodicity
breaking transitions. The nonergodicity transitions share many features with
the colloidal gel transition, and are proposed to be the source of gelation in
colloidal systems. Previous calculations of the phase diagram are complemented
with additional data for shorter ranges of the attractive interaction, showing
that the path of the nonergodicity transition line is then unimpeded by the
gas-liquid critical curve at low temperatures. Particular attention is given to
the critical nonergodicity parameters, motivated by recent experimental
measurements. An asymptotic model is developed, valid for dilute systems of
spheres interacting via strong short-range attractions, and is shown to capture
all aspects of the low temperature MCT nonergodicity transitions.Comment: 12 pages, LaTeX, 5 eps figures, uses ioplppt.sty, to appear in J.
Phys.: Condens. Matte
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