3,846 research outputs found
An adaptive array for interference rejection
Adaptive array based on feedback system for rejection of interfering signal
A Bose-Einstein Condensate in a Uniform Light-induced Vector Potential
We use a two-photon dressing field to create an effective vector gauge
potential for Bose-condensed Rb atoms in the F=1 hyperfine ground state. The
dressed states in this Raman field are spin and momentum superpositions, and we
adiabatically load the atoms into the lowest energy dressed state. The
effective Hamiltonian of these neutral atoms is like that of charged particles
in a uniform magnetic vector potential, whose magnitude is set by the strength
and detuning of Raman coupling. The spin and momentum decomposition of the
dressed states reveals the strength of the effective vector potential, and our
measurements agree quantitatively with a simple single-particle model. While
the uniform effective vector potential described here corresponds to zero
magnetic field, our technique can be extended to non-uniform vector potentials,
giving non-zero effective magnetic fields.Comment: 5 pages, submitted to Physical Review Letter
Quantitative localized proton-promoted dissolution kinetics of calcite using scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM)
Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) has been used to determine quantitatively the kinetics of proton-promoted dissolution of the calcite (101̅4) cleavage surface (from natural “Iceland Spar”) at the microscopic scale. By working under conditions where the probe size is much less than the characteristic dislocation spacing (as revealed from etching), it has been possible to measure kinetics mainly in regions of the surface which are free from dislocations, for the first time. To clearly reveal the locations of measurements, studies focused on cleaved “mirror” surfaces, where one of the two faces produced by cleavage was etched freely to reveal defects intersecting the surface, while the other (mirror) face was etched locally (and quantitatively) using SECM to generate high proton fluxes with a 25 μm diameter Pt disk ultramicroelectrode (UME) positioned at a defined (known) distance from a crystal surface. The etch pits formed at various etch times were measured using white light interferometry to ascertain pit dimensions. To determine quantitative dissolution kinetics, a moving boundary finite element model was formulated in which experimental time-dependent pit expansion data formed the input for simulations, from which solution and interfacial concentrations of key chemical species, and interfacial fluxes, could then be determined and visualized. This novel analysis allowed the rate constant for proton attack on calcite, and the order of the reaction with respect to the interfacial proton concentration, to be determined unambiguously. The process was found to be first order in terms of interfacial proton concentration with a rate constant k = 6.3 (± 1.3) × 10–4 m s–1. Significantly, this value is similar to previous macroscopic rate measurements of calcite dissolution which averaged over large areas and many dislocation sites, and where such sites provided a continuous source of steps for dissolution. Since the local measurements reported herein are mainly made in regions without dislocations, this study demonstrates that dislocations and steps that arise from such sites are not needed for fast proton-promoted calcite dissolution. Other sites, such as point defects, which are naturally abundant in calcite, are likely to be key reaction sites
The Electrochemistry of Simple Inorganic Molecules in Room Temperature Ionic Liquids
The electrochemistry of simple inorganic compounds in room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) is reviewed and some new work in this area is presented. This paper focuses on the comparison between electrochemical behaviour in RTILs and in conventional aprotic solvents. Some compounds (iodides, O2, NO2, SO2, NH3) display similar reactions and mechanisms in RTILs as in aprotic solvents (as is observed for organic compounds). However other species (nitrates, PCl3, POCl3) show remarkably different behaviour to traditional solvents. This makes RTILs very promising media for the study of inorganic compounds, and highlights the need for more investigations in this exciting area
Antibacterial Activity of and Resistance to Small Molecule Inhibitors of the ClpP Peptidase
There is rapidly mounting evidence that intracellular proteases in bacteria are compelling targets for antibacterial drugs. Multiple reports suggest that the human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other actinobacteria may be particularly sensitive to small molecules that perturb the activities of self-compartmentalized peptidases, which catalyze intracellular protein turnover as components of ATP-dependent proteolytic machines. Here, we report chemical syntheses and evaluations of structurally diverse β-lactones, which have a privileged structure for selective, suicide inhibition of the self-compartmentalized ClpP peptidase. β-Lactones with certain substituents on the α- and β-carbons were found to be toxic to M. tuberculosis. Using an affinity-labeled analogue of a bioactive β-lactone in a series of chemical proteomic experiments, we selectively captured the ClpP1P2 peptidase from live cultures of two different actinobacteria that are related to M. tuberculosis. Importantly, we found that the growth inhibitory β-lactones also inactivate the M. tuberculosis ClpP1P2 peptidase in vitro via formation of a covalent adduct at the ClpP2 catalytic serine. Given the potent antibacterial activity of these compounds and their medicinal potential, we sought to identify innate mechanisms of resistance. Using a genome mining strategy, we identified a genetic determinant of β-lactone resistance in Streptomyces coelicolor, a non-pathogenic relative of M. tuberculosis. Collectively, these findings validate the potential of ClpP inhibition as a strategy in antibacterial drug development and define a mechanism by which bacteria could resist the toxic effects of ClpP inhibitors.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant GM-101988
Variability of M giant stars based on Kepler photometry: general characteristics
M giants are among the longest-period pulsating stars which is why their
studies were traditionally restricted to analyses of low-precision visual
observations, and more recently, accurate ground-based data. Here we present an
overview of M giant variability on a wide range of time-scales (hours to
years), based on analysis of thirteen quarters of Kepler long-cadence
observations (one point per every 29.4 minutes), with a total time-span of over
1000 days. About two-thirds of the sample stars have been selected from the
ASAS-North survey of the Kepler field, with the rest supplemented from a
randomly chosen M giant control sample.
We first describe the correction of the light curves from different quarters,
which was found to be essential. We use Fourier analysis to calculate multiple
frequencies for all stars in the sample. Over 50 stars show a relatively strong
signal with a period equal to the Kepler-year and a characteristic phase
dependence across the whole field-of-view. We interpret this as a so far
unidentified systematic effect in the Kepler data. We discuss the presence of
regular patterns in the distribution of multiple periodicities and amplitudes.
In the period-amplitude plane we find that it is possible to distinguish
between solar-like oscillations and larger amplitude pulsations which are
characteristic for Mira/SR stars. This may indicate the region of the
transition between two types of oscillations as we move upward along the giant
branch.Comment: 12 pages, 13 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS. The
normalized light curves are available upon reques
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