2,028 research outputs found
Stability of 1-D Excitons in Carbon Nanotubes under High Laser Excitations
Through ultrafast pump-probe spectroscopy with intense pump pulses and a wide
continuum probe, we show that interband exciton peaks in single-walled carbon
nanotubes (SWNTs) are extremely stable under high laser excitations. Estimates
of the initial densities of excitons from the excitation conditions, combined
with recent theoretical calculations of exciton Bohr radii for SWNTs, suggest
that their positions do not change at all even near the Mott density. In
addition, we found that the presence of lowest-subband excitons broadens all
absorption peaks, including those in the second-subband range, which provides a
consistent explanation for the complex spectral dependence of pump-probe
signals reported for SWNTs.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
HmuY Haemophore and Gingipain Proteases Constitute a Unique Syntrophic System of Haem Acquisition by Porphyromonas gingivalis
Haem (iron protoporphyrin IX) is both an essential growth factor and virulence regulator for the periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis, which acquires it mainly from haemoglobin via the sequential actions of the R- and K-specific gingipain proteases. The haem-binding lipoprotein haemophore HmuY and its cognate receptor HmuR of P. gingivalis, are responsible for capture and internalisation of haem. This study examined the role of the HmuY in acquisition of haem from haemoglobin and the cooperation between HmuY and gingipain proteases in this process. Using UV-visible spectroscopy and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, HmuY was demonstrated to wrest haem from immobilised methaemoglobin and deoxyhaemoglobin. Haem extraction from oxyhaemoglobin was facilitated after oxidation to methaemoglobin by pre-treatment with the P. gingivalis R-gingipain A (HRgpA). HmuY was also capable of scavenging haem from oxyhaemoglobin pre-treated with the K-gingipain (Kgp). This is the first demonstration of a haemophore working in conjunction with proteases to acquire haem from haemoglobin. In addition, HmuY was able to extract haem from methaemalbumin, and could bind haem, either free in solution or from methaemoglobin, even in the presence of serum albumin
In-Line-Test of Variability and Bit-Error-Rate of HfOx-Based Resistive Memory
Spatial and temporal variability of HfOx-based resistive random access memory
(RRAM) are investigated for manufacturing and product designs. Manufacturing
variability is characterized at different levels including lots, wafers, and
chips. Bit-error-rate (BER) is proposed as a holistic parameter for the write
cycle resistance statistics. Using the electrical in-line-test cycle data, a
method is developed to derive BERs as functions of the design margin, to
provide guidance for technology evaluation and product design. The proposed BER
calculation can also be used in the off-line bench test and build-in-self-test
(BIST) for adaptive error correction and for the other types of random access
memories.Comment: 4 pages. Memory Workshop (IMW), 2015 IEEE Internationa
KIC 4768731: a bright long-period roAp star in theKeplerfield
We report the identification of 61.45 d−1 (711.2 μHz) oscillations, with amplitudes of 62.6 μmag, in KIC 4768731 (HD 225914) using Kepler photometry. This relatively bright (V = 9.17) chemically peculiar star with spectral type A5 Vp SrCr(Eu) has previously been found to exhibit rotational modulation with a period of 5.21 d. Fourier analysis reveals a simple dipole pulsator with an amplitude that has remained stable over a 4-yr time span, but with a frequency that is variable. Analysis of high-resolution spectra yields stellar parameters of Teff = 8100 ± 200 K, log g = 4.0 ± 0.2, [Fe/H] = +0.31 ± 0.24 and v sin i = 14.8 ± 1.6 km s−1.
Line profile variations caused by rotation are also evident. Lines of Sr, Cr, Eu, Mg and Si are strongest when the star is brightest, while Y and Ba vary in antiphase with the other elements. The abundances of rare earth elements are only modestly enhanced compared to other roAp stars of similar Teff and log g. Radial velocities in the literature suggest a significant change over the past 30 yr, but the radial velocities presented here show no significant change over a period of 4 yr
The well-aligned orbit of WASP-84b: evidence for disc migration
We report the sky-projected orbital obliquity (spin-orbit angle) of WASP-84b,
a 0.70- planet in a 8.52-day orbit around a G9V/K0V star, to be
. We obtain a true obliquity of from a measurement of the inclination of the stellar spin axis with
respect to the sky plane. Due to the young age and the weak tidal forcing of
the system, we suggest that the orbit of WASP-84b is unlikely to have both
realigned and circularised from the misaligned and/or eccentric orbit likely to
have arisen from high-eccentricity migration. Therefore we conclude that the
planet probably migrated via interaction with the protoplanetary disc. This
would make it the first short-orbit, giant planet to have been shown to have
migrated via this pathway. Further, we argue that the distribution of
obliquities for planets orbiting cool stars ( < 6250 K) suggests
that high-eccentricity migration is an important pathway for the formation of
short-orbit, giant planets.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, 1 table, submitted to ApJ
Bounds for the time to failure of hierarchical systems of fracture
For years limited Monte Carlo simulations have led to the suspicion that the
time to failure of hierarchically organized load-transfer models of fracture is
non-zero for sets of infinite size. This fact could have a profound
significance in engineering practice and also in geophysics. Here, we develop
an exact algebraic iterative method to compute the successive time intervals
for individual breaking in systems of height in terms of the information
calculated in the previous height . As a byproduct of this method,
rigorous lower and higher bounds for the time to failure of very large systems
are easily obtained. The asymptotic behavior of the resulting lower bound leads
to the evidence that the above mentioned suspicion is actually true.Comment: Final version. To appear in Phys. Rev. E, Feb 199
Bondi-Sachs metrics and Photon Rockets
We study the Bondi-Sachs rockets with nonzero cosmological constant. We
observe that the acceleration of the systems arises naturally in the asymptotic
symmetries of (anti-) de Sitter spacetimes. Assuming the validity of the
concepts of energy and mass previously introduced in asymptotically flat
spacetimes, we find that the emission of pure radiation energy balances the
loss of the Bondi mass in certain special families of the Bondi-Sachs rockets,
so in these there is no gravitational radiation.Comment: 12 pages, to appear in General Relativity and Gravitatio
WASP-26b : a 1-Jupiter-mass planet around an early-G-type star
We report the discovery of WASP-26b, a moderately over-sized Jupiter-mass exoplanet transiting its 11.3-mag early-G-type host star (1SWASP J001824.70-151602.3; TYC 5839-876-1) every 2.7566 days. A simultaneous fit to transit photometry and radial-velocity measurements yields a planetary mass of 1.02 ± 0.03 MJup and radius of 1.32 ± 0.08 RJup. The host star, WASP-26, has a mass of
1.12 ± 0.03 M and a radius of 1.34 ± 0.06 R and is in a visual double with a fainter K-type star. The two stars are at least a common-proper motion pair with a common distance of around 250 ± 15 pc and an age of 6 ± 2 Gy
- …