Calibration of the NEVOD-EAS array for detection of extensive air showers

In this paper we discuss the calibration of the NEVOD-EAS array which is a part of the Experimental Complex NEVOD, as well as the results of studying the response features of its scintillation detectors. We present the results of the detectors energy calibration, performed by comparing their response to different types of particles obtained experimentally and simulated with the Geant4 software package, as well as of the measurements of their timing resolution. We also discuss the results of studies of the light collection non-uniformity of the NEVOD-EAS detectors and of the accuracy of air-shower arrival direction reconstruction, which have been performed using other facilities of the Experimental Complex NEVOD: the muon hodoscope URAGAN and the coordinate-tracking detector DECOR.Comment: 16 pages, 17 figures, To be submitted to Nuclear Instruments and Methods

Atomic force microscopy as a multifunctional molecular toolbox in nanobiotechnology

With its ability to observe, manipulate and explore the functional components of the biological cell at subnanometre resolution, atomic force microscopy (AFM) has produced a wealth of new opportunities in nanobiotechnology. Evolving from an imaging technique to a multifunctional 'lab-on-a-tip', AFM-based force spectroscopy is increasingly used to study the mechanisms of molecular recognition and protein folding, and to probe the local elasticity, chemical groups and dynamics of receptor-ligand interactions in live cells. AFM cantilever arrays allow the detection of bioanalytes with picomolar sensitivity, opening new avenues for medical diagnostics and environmental monitoring. Here we review the fascinating opportunities offered by the rapid advances in AFM