4,105 research outputs found
Enhancing thermal stability and mechanical properties of lyotropic liquid crystals through incorporation of a polymerizable surfactant.
We present a facile method to prepare thermally stable and mechanically robust crosslinked lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs) through incorporation of a polymerizable amphiphile into a binary LLC system comprising commercially available surfactant Brij 97 and water. Thermal stability and mechanical properties of the polymerized LLCs were significantly enhanced after polymerization of the incorporated polymerizable surfactant. The effect of incorporating a polymerizable amphiphile on the phase behavior of the LLC system was studied in detail. In situ photo-rheology was used to monitor the change in the mechanical properties of the LLCs, namely the storage modulus, loss modulus, and viscosity, upon polymerization. The retention of the LLC nanostructures was evaluated by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The ability to control the thermal stability and mechanical strength of LLCs simply by adding a polymerizable amphiphile, without tedious organic synthesis or harsh polymerization conditions, could prove highly advantageous in the preparation of robust nanomaterials with well-defined periodic structures
Chandra X-Ray Study of Galactic Supernova Remnant G299.2-2.9
We report on observations of the Galactic supernova remnant (SNR)
G299.22.9 with the {\it Chandra X-Ray Observatory}. The high resolution
images with {\it Chandra} resolve the X-ray-bright knots, shell, and diffuse
emission extending beyond the bright shell. Interior to the X-ray shell is
faint diffuse emission occupying the central regions of the SNR.
Spatially-resolved spectroscopy indicates a large foreground absorption
( 3.5 10 cm), which supports a
relatively distant location ( 5 kpc) for the SNR. The blast wave is
encountering a highly inhomogeneous ambient medium with the densities ranging
over more than an order of magnitude ( 0.1 4 cm).
Assuming the distance of 5 kpc, we derive a Sedov age of
4500 yr and an explosion energy of 1.6 10
ergs. The ambient density structure and the overall morphology suggest that
G299.22.9 may be a limb-brightened partial shell extending to 7 pc
radius surrounded by fainter emission extending beyond that to a radius of
9 pc. This suggests the SNR exploded in a region of space where there is
a density gradient whose direction lies roughly along the line of sight. The
faint central region shows strong line emission from heavy elements of Si and
Fe, which is caused by the presence of the overabundant stellar ejecta there.
We find no evidence for stellar ejecta enriched in light elements of O and Ne.
The observed abundance structure of the metal-rich ejecta supports a Type Ia
origin for G299.22.9.Comment: 16 pages (AASTex emulator style), 3 Tables, 10 Figures (including 1
color: Figure 1), Accepted by Ap
Observations of X-rays and Thermal Dust Emission from the Supernova Remnant Kes 75
We present Spitzer Space Telescope and Chandra X-ray Observatory observations
of the composite Galactic supernova remnant Kes 75 (G29.7-0.3). We use the
detected flux at 24 microns and hot gas parameters from fitting spectra from
new, deep X-ray observations to constrain models of dust emission, obtaining a
dust-to-gas mass ratio M_dust/M_gas ~0.001. We find that a two-component
thermal model, nominally representing shocked swept-up interstellar or
circumstellar material and reverse-shocked ejecta, adequately fits the X-ray
spectrum, albeit with somewhat high implied densities for both components. We
surmise that this model implies a Wolf-Rayet progenitor for the remnant. We
also present infrared flux upper limits for the central pulsar wind nebula.Comment: 7 pages, 2 tables, 4 figures, uses emulateapj. Accepted for
publication in Ap
Long distance decoy state quantum key distribution in optical fiber
The theoretical existence of photon-number-splitting attacks creates a
security loophole for most quantum key distribution (QKD) demonstrations that
use a highly attenuated laser source. Using ultra-low-noise, high-efficiency
transition-edge sensor photodetectors, we have implemented the first version of
a decoy-state protocol that incorporates finite statistics without the use of
Gaussian approximations in a one-way QKD system, enabling the creation of
secure keys immune to photon-number-splitting attacks and highly resistant to
Trojan horse attacks over 107 km of optical fiber.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Chemical and structural investigation of the role of both Mn and Mn oxide in the formation of manganese silicate barrier layers on SiO2
In this study, Mn silicate (MnSiO3) barrier layers were formed on thermally grown SiO2 using both
metallic Mn and oxidized Mn films, in order to investigate the role of oxygen in determining the
extent of the interaction between the deposited Mn and the SiO2 substrate. Using x-ray photoelectron
spectroscopy, it has been shown that a metallic Mn film with an approximate thickness of 1 nm
cannot be fully converted to Mn silicate following vacuum annealing to 500 C. Transmission
electron microscopy (TEM) analysis suggests the maximum MnSiO3 layer thickness obtainable using
metallic Mn is 1.7 nm. In contrast, a 1 nm partially oxidized Mn film can be fully converted to
Mn silicate following thermal annealing to 400 C, forming a MnSiO3 layer with a measured
thickness of 2.6 nm. TEM analysis also clearly shows that MnSiO3 growth results in a corresponding
reduction in the SiO2 layer thickness. It has also been shown that a fully oxidized Mn oxide thin film
can be converted to Mn silicate, in the absence of metallic Mn. Based on these results it is suggested
that the presence of Mn oxide species at the Mn/SiO2 interface facilitates the conversion of SiO2 to
MnSiO3, in agreement with previously published studies.Fundación de Ciencias de Irlanda 08/IN.1/I205
Setup and Execution Of the Blindfolded Code Training Exercise
Miscommunication is the most common cause of preventable patient harm in medicine. Currently, there is limited knowledge of innovative techniques to improve resident physician communication and leadership strategies in high-acuity situations. The blindfolded code training exercise removes visual stimuli from the team leader, forcing the team leader to effectively utilize closed-loop communication. The simple act of blindfolding the team leader creates a learning environment where the leader must utilize a conceptual framework and critical thinking strategies to organize the team and manage the resuscitation. An advantage to this teaching technique is that it does not require any special simulation equipment, making it a low-cost approach. The blindfolded code training exercise can be applied to the management of any critically ill patient where the primary objective is to focus on developing communication skills in acute resuscitations. The purpose of the description of the blindfolded code training exercise is to provide guidance on how to perform this innovative teaching technique to force effective closed-loop communication
The central density of a neutron star is unaffected by a binary companion at linear order in
Recent numerical work by Wilson, Mathews, and Marronetti [J. R. Wilson, G. J.
Mathews and P. Marronetti, Phys. Rev. D 54, 1317 (1996)] on the coalescence of
massive binary neutron stars shows a striking instability as the stars come
close together: Each star's central density increases by an amount proportional
to 1/(orbital radius). This overwhelms any stabilizing effects of tidal
coupling [which are proportional to 1/(orbital radius)^6] and causes the stars
to collapse before they merge. Since the claimed increase of density scales
with the stars' mass, it should also show up in a perturbation limit where a
point particle of mass orbits a neutron star. We prove analytically that
this does not happen; the neutron star's central density is unaffected by the
companion's presence to linear order in . We show, further, that the
density increase observed by Wilson et. al. could arise as a consequence of not
faithfully maintaining boundary conditions.Comment: 3 pages, REVTeX, no figures, submitted to Phys Rev D as a Rapid
Communicatio
Why Do HIV-1 and HIV-2 Use Different Pathways to Develop AZT Resistance?
The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) develops resistance to all available drugs, including the nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) such as AZT. ATP-mediated excision underlies the most common form of HIV-1 resistance to AZT. However, clinical data suggest that when HIV-2 is challenged with AZT, it usually accumulates resistance mutations that cause AZT resistance by reduced incorporation of AZTTP rather than selective excision of AZTMP. We compared the properties of HIV-1 and HIV-2 reverse transcriptase (RT) in vitro. Although both RTs have similar levels of polymerase activity, HIV-1 RT more readily incorporates, and is more susceptible to, inhibition by AZTTP than is HIV-2 RT. Differences in the region around the polymerase active site could explain why HIV-2 RT incorporates AZTTP less efficiently than HIV-1 RT. HIV-1 RT is markedly more efficient at carrying out the excision reaction with ATP as the pyrophosphate donor than is HIV-2 RT. This suggests that HIV-1 RT has a better nascent ATP binding site than HIV-2 RT, making it easier for HIV-1 RT to develop a more effective ATP binding site by mutation. A comparison of HIV-1 and HIV-2 RT shows that there are numerous differences in the putative ATP binding sites that could explain why HIV-1 RT binds ATP more effectively. HIV-1 RT incorporates AZTTP more efficiently than does HIV-2 RT. However, HIV-1 RT is more efficient at ATP-mediated excision of AZTMP than is HIV-2 RT. Mutations in HIV-1 RT conferring AZT resistance tend to increase the efficiency of the ATP-mediated excision pathway, while mutations in HIV-2 RT conferring AZT resistance tend to increase the level of AZTTP exclusion from the polymerase active site. Thus, each RT usually chooses the pathway best suited to extend the properties of the respective wild-type enzymes
Usefulness of ancillary findings on CT pulmonary angiograms that are negative for pulmonary embolism
Azobenzene moiety variation directing self-assembly and photoresponsive behavior of azo-surfactants
The effect of varying the position of the azobenzene group within two comparable photoresponsive amphiphiles on their capability to form lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs) was investigated in detail in this study. Two photoresponsive amphiphiles having comparable structures were designed and synthesized consisting of hydrophilic oligooxyethylene units, a hydrophobic alkyl chain and a light-sensitive azobenzene moiety. When the azobenzene group was located in the middle of the hydrophobic alkyl chain, multiple LLC phases were observed at various water contents in the azo-surfactant–water binary system. In contrast, when the azobenzene group was directly attached to the hydrophilic domain, the azo-surfactant–water binary system exhibited only lamellar phases. The temperature dependence of these self-organised nanostructures was also investigated by the combination of small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and rheology. Under alternating UV and visible light irradiation, reversible trans–cis photoisomerization of the azobenzene group occurred efficiently in dilute solution for both azo-surfactants. However, only photoisomerization of the surfactant possessing the azobenzene group localized in the middle of the alkyl chain induced significant changes in the self-assembled structure and its bulk properties. This study demonstrates that self-assembly and photoresponsive behaviour of photosensitive amphiphiles is extremely sensitive to the position of the photoactive moiety within the surfactant molecular architecture.<br /
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