2,812 research outputs found
Multiscale Modeling of Binary Polymer Mixtures: Scale Bridging in the Athermal and Thermal Regime
Obtaining a rigorous and reliable method for linking computer simulations of
polymer blends and composites at different length scales of interest is a
highly desirable goal in soft matter physics. In this paper a multiscale
modeling procedure is presented for the efficient calculation of the static
structural properties of binary homopolymer blends. The procedure combines
computer simulations of polymer chains on two different length scales, using a
united atom representation for the finer structure and a highly coarse-grained
approach on the meso-scale, where chains are represented as soft colloidal
particles interacting through an effective potential. A method for combining
the structural information by inverse mapping is discussed, allowing for the
efficient calculation of partial correlation functions, which are compared with
results from full united atom simulations. The structure of several polymer
mixtures is obtained in an efficient manner for several mixtures in the
homogeneous region of the phase diagram. The method is then extended to
incorporate thermal fluctuations through an effective chi parameter. Since the
approach is analytical, it is fully transferable to numerous systems.Comment: in press, 13 pages, 7 figures, 6 table
Europäisches Symposium über Sondiertechnik im Jahre 1974 in Stockholm - Ergebnisse und Schlußfolgerungen für den weiteren Einsatz von Sondiergeräten
Limitations for change detection in multiple Gabor targets
We investigate the limitations on the ability to detect when a target has changed, using Gabor targets as simple quantifiable stimuli. Using a partial report technique to equalise response variables, we show that the log of the Weber fraction for detecting a spatial frequency change is proportional to the log of the number of targets, with a set-size effect that is greater than that reported for visual search. This is not a simple perceptual limitation, because pre-cueing a single target out of four restores performance to the level found when only one target is present. It is argued that the primary limitation on performance is the division of attention across multiple targets, rather than decay within visual memory. However in a simplified change detection experiment without cueing, where only one target of the set changed, not only was the set size effect still larger, but it was greater at 2000 msec ISI than at 250 msec ISI, indicating a possible memory component. The steepness of the set size effects obtained suggests that even moderate complexity of a stimulus in terms of number of component objects can overload attentional processes, suggesting a possible low-level mechanism for change blindness
Enriched Computational Homogenization Schemes Applied to Pattern-Transforming Elastomeric Mechanical Metamaterials
Elastomeric mechanical metamaterials exhibit unconventional mechanical
behaviour owing to their complex microstructures. A clear transition in the
effective properties emerges under compressive loading, which is triggered by
local instabilities and pattern transformations of the underlying cellular
microstructure. Such transformations trigger a non-local mechanical response
resulting in strong size effects. For predictive modelling of engineering
applications, the effective homogenized material properties are generally of
interest. For mechanical metamaterials, these can be obtained in an expensive
manner by ensemble averaging of the direct numerical simulations for a series
of translated microstructures, applicable especially in the regime of small
separation of scales. To circumvent this expensive step, computational
homogenization methods are of benefit, employing volume averaging instead.
Classical first-order computational homogenization, which relies on the
standard separation of scales principle, is unable to capture any size and
boundary effects. Second-order computational homogenization has the ability to
capture strain gradient effects at the macro-scale, thus accounting for the
presence of non-localities. Another alternative is micromorphic computational
homogenization scheme, which is tailored to pattern-transforming metamaterials
by incorporating prior kinematic knowledge. In this contribution, a systematic
study is performed, assessing the predictive ability of computational
homogenization schemes in the realm of elastomeric metamaterials. Three
representative examples with distinct mechanical loading are employed for this
purpose: uniform compression and bending of an infinite specimen, and
compression of a finite specimen. Qualitative and quantitative analyses are
performed for each of the load cases where the ensemble average solution is set
as a reference.Comment: 32 pages, 19 figures, 1 table, abstract shortened to fulfil 1920
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Laser-UV-microirradiation of interphase nuclei and posttreatment with caffeine: a new approach to establish the arrangement of interphase chromosomes
Laser UV microirradiation of Chinese hamster interphase cells combined with caffeine post-treatment produced different patterns of chromosome damage in mitosis following irradiation of a small area of the nucleus that may be classified in three categories: I) intact metaphase figures, II) chromosome damage confined to a small area of the metaphase spread, III) mitotic figures with damage on all chromosomes. Category III might be the consequence of a non-localized distortion of nuclear metabolism. By contrast, category II may reflect localized DNA damage induced by microirradiation, which could not be efficiently repaired due to the effect of caffeine. If this interpretation is right, in metaphase figures of category II chromosome damage should occur only at the irradiation site. The effect might then be used to investigate neighbourhood relationships of individual chromosomes in the interphase nucleus
Hematological Changes in Women and Infants Exposed to an AZT-Containing Regimen for Prevention of Mother-to-child-transmission of HIV in Tanzania.
Tanzanian guidelines for prevention of mother-to-child-transmission of HIV (PMTCT) recommend an antiretroviral combination regimen involving zidovudine (AZT) during pregnancy, single-dosed nevirapine at labor onset, AZT plus Lamivudine (3TC) during delivery, and AZT/3TC for 1-4 weeks postpartum. As drug toxicities are a relevant concern, we assessed hematological alterations in AZT-exposed women and their infants. A cohort of HIV-positive women, either with AZT intake (n = 82, group 1) or without AZT intake (n = 62, group 2) for PMTCT during pregnancy, was established at Kyela District Hospital, Tanzania. The cohort also included the infants of group 1 with an in-utero AZT exposure ≥4 weeks, receiving AZT for 1 week postpartum (n = 41), and infants of group 2 without in-utero AZT exposure, receiving a prolonged 4-week AZT tail (n = 58). Complete blood counts were evaluated during pregnancy, birth, weeks 4-6 and 12. For women of group 1 with antenatal AZT intake, we found a statistically significant decrease in hemoglobin level, red blood cells, white blood cells, granulocytes, as well as an increase in red cell distribution width and platelet count. At delivery, the median red blood cell count was significantly lower and the median platelet count was significantly higher in women of group 1 compared to group 2. At birth, infants from group 1 showed a lower median hemoglobin level and granulocyte count and a higher frequency of anemia and granulocytopenia. At 4-6 weeks postpartum, the mean neutrophil granulocyte count was significantly lower and neutropenia was significantly more frequent in infants of group 2. AZT exposure during pregnancy as well as after birth resulted in significant hematological alterations for women and their newborns, although these changes were mostly mild and transient in nature. Research involving larger cohorts is needed to further analyze the impact of AZT-containing regimens on maternal and infant health
Lunar surface mechanical properties — Surveyor 1
Engineering telemetry data and lunar surface photographs by Surveyor 1 have been evaluated for information on the mechanical properties of the lunar surface material at the Surveyor 1 landing site. Based primarily on photographic evidence, estimates of soil density, cohesion, and other soil characteristics are presented. Also, the mechanisms in which the lunar material is believed to have failed under the footpad impacts are discussed. Because dynamic soil reactions cannot be interpreted directly from the available data, a comparative study using computer-simulated landings was initiated. Preliminary results of this study, which is still in progress, are presented
Facile one-pot synthesis of amoxicillin-coated gold nanoparticles and their antimicrobial activity
Nanomaterials have been the object of intense study due to promising applications in a number of different disciplines. In particular, medicine and biology have seen the potential of these novel materials with their nanoscale properties for use in diverse areas such as imaging, sensing and drug vectorisation. Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) are considered a very useful platform to create a valid and efficient drug delivery/carrier system due to their facile and well-studied synthesis, easy surface functionalization and biocompatibility. In the present study, stable antibiotic conjugated GNPs were synthesised by a one-step reaction using a poorly water soluble antibiotic, amoxicillin. Amoxicillin, a member of the penicillin family, reduces the chloroauric acid to form nanoparticles and at the same time coats them to afford the functionalised nanomaterial. A range of techniques including UV-vis spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to ascertain the gold/drug molar ratio and the optimum temperature for synthesis of uniform monodisperse particles in the ca. 30-40 nm size range. Amoxicillin-conjugated gold showed an enhancement of antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli compared to the antibiotic alone
Local channels preserving maximal entanglement or Schmidt number
Maximal entanglement and Schmidt number play an important role in various
quantum information tasks. In this paper, it is shown that a local channel
preserves maximal entanglement state(MES) or preserves pure states with Schmidt
number ( is a fixed integer) if and only if it is a local unitary
operation.Comment: 10 page
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