43,518 research outputs found
Encapsulation of DNA by cationic diblock copolymer vesicles
Encapsulation of dsDNA fragments (contour length 54 nm) by the cationic
diblock copolymer poly(butadiene-b-N-methyl 4-vinyl pyridinium) [PBd-b-P4VPQ]
has been studied with phase contrast, polarized light, and fluorescence
microscopy, as well as scanning electron microscopy. Encapsulation was achieved
with a single emulsion technique. For this purpose, an aqueous DNA solution is
emulsified in an organic solvent (toluene) and stabilized by the amphiphilic
diblock copolymer. The PBd block forms an interfacial brush, whereas the
cationic P4VPQ block complexes with DNA. A subsequent change of the quality of
the organic solvent results in a collapse of the PBd brush and the formation of
a capsule. Inside the capsules, the DNA is compacted as shown by the appearance
of birefringent textures under crossed polarizers and the increase in
fluorescence intensity of labeled DNA. The capsules can also be dispersed in
aqueous medium to form vesicles, provided they are stabilized with an osmotic
agent (polyethylene glycol) in the external phase. It is shown that the DNA is
released from the vesicles once the osmotic pressure drops below 105 N/m2 or if
the ionic strength of the supporting medium exceeds 0.1 M. The method has also
proven to be efficient to encapsulate pUC18 plasmid in sub-micron sized
vesicles and the general applicability of the method has been demonstrated by
the preparation of the charge inverse system: cationic poly(ethylene imine)
encapsulated by the anionic diblock poly(styrene-b-acrylic acid).Comment: 35 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in Langmui
The large-scale jet-powered radio nebula of Circinus X-1
We present multi-epoch observations of the radio nebula around the neutron
star X-ray binary Circinus X-1 made at 1.4 and 2.5 GHz with the Australia
Telescope Compact Array between October 2000 and September 2004. The nebula can
be seen as a result of the interaction between the jet from the system and the
interstellar medium and it is likely that we are actually looking toward the
central X-ray binary system through the jet-powered radio lobe. The study of
the nebula thus offers a unique opportunity to estimate for the first time
using calorimetry the energetics of a jet from an object clearly identified as
a neutron star. An extensive discussion on the energetics of the complex is
presented: a first approach is based on the minimum energy estimation, while a
second one employs a self-similar model of the interaction between the jets and
the surrounding medium. The results suggest an age for the nebula of \leq 10^5
years and a corresponding time-averaged jet power \geq 10^{35} erg s^{-1}.
During periodic flaring episodes, the instantaneous jet power may reach values
of similar magnitude to the X-ray luminosity.Comment: Accepted to MNRA
E&F Chaos: a user friendly software package for nonlinear economic dynamics
The use of nonlinear dynamic models in economics and finance has expanded rapidly in the last two decades. Numerical simulation is crucial in the investigation of nonlinear systems. E&F Chaos is an easy-to-use and freely available software package for simulation of nonlinear dynamic models to investigate stability of steady states and the presence of periodic orbits and chaos by standard numerical simulation techniques such as time series, phase plots, bifurcation diagrams, Lyapunov exponent plots, basin boundary plots and graphical analysis. The package contains many well-known nonlinear models, including applications in economics and finance, and is easy to use for non-specialists. New models and extensions or variations are easy to implement within the software package without the use of a compiler or other software. The software is demonstrated by investigating the dynamical behavior of some simple examples of the familiar cobweb model, including an extension with heterogeneous agents and asynchronous updating of strategies. Simulations with the E&F chaos software quickly provide information about local and global dynamics and easily lead to challenging questions for further mathematical analysis.
All-optical coherent population trapping with defect spin ensembles in silicon carbide
Divacancy defects in silicon carbide have long-lived electronic spin states
and sharp optical transitions, with properties that are similar to the
nitrogen-vacancy defect in diamond. We report experiments on 4H-SiC that
investigate all-optical addressing of spin states with the zero-phonon-line
transitions. Our magneto-spectroscopy results identify the spin structure
of the ground and excited state, and a role for decay via intersystem crossing.
We use these results for demonstrating coherent population trapping of spin
states with divacancy ensembles that have particular orientations in the SiC
crystal.Comment: 28 page document: Pages 1-14 main text (with 3 figures); pages 15-28
supplementary information (with 5 figues). v2 has minor correction
Characterization of transport and magnetic properties in thin film La(0.67)(Ca(x)Sr(1-x))(0.33)MnO(3) mixtures
We have grown thin films of (100) oriented
La_{0.67}(Ca_{x}Sr_{1-x})_{0.33}MnO_{3} on (100) NdGaO_{3} substrates by
off-axis sputtering. We have looked at the changes in the resistivity and
magnetoresistance of the samples as the Ca/Sr ratio was varied. We find that as
the calcium fraction is decreased, the lattice match to the substrate
decreases, and the films become more disordered, as observed in transport
measurements and the variation in Curie and peak resistance temperatures. We
find a correlation between the temperature independent and T^2 terms to the low
temperature resistivity. The room temperature magnetoresistance exhibits a
maximum as the peak temperature is increased by the substitution of Sr for Ca,
and a change in the field dependence to the resistivity at room temperature is
observed.Comment: 5 pages, 6 eps figures, to be published in Journal of Applied Physic
An Efficient Beam Steerable Antenna Array Concept for Airborne Applications
Deployment of a satellite borne, steerable antenna array with higher directivity and gain in Low Earth Orbit makes sense to reduce ground station complexity and cost, while still maintaining a reasonable link budget. The implementation comprises a digitally beam steerable phased array antenna integrated with a complete system, comprising the antenna, hosting platform, ground station, and aircraft based satellite emulator to facilitate convenient aircraft based testing of the antenna array and ground-space communication link. This paper describes the design, development and initial successful interim testing of the various subsystems. A two element prototype used in this increases the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) by 3 dB which is corresponding to more than 10 times better bit error rate (BER)
The effects of LIGO detector noise on a 15-dimensional Markov-chain Monte-Carlo analysis of gravitational-wave signals
Gravitational-wave signals from inspirals of binary compact objects (black
holes and neutron stars) are primary targets of the ongoing searches by
ground-based gravitational-wave (GW) interferometers (LIGO, Virgo, and
GEO-600). We present parameter-estimation results from our Markov-chain
Monte-Carlo code SPINspiral on signals from binaries with precessing spins. Two
data sets are created by injecting simulated GW signals into either synthetic
Gaussian noise or into LIGO detector data. We compute the 15-dimensional
probability-density functions (PDFs) for both data sets, as well as for a data
set containing LIGO data with a known, loud artefact ("glitch"). We show that
the analysis of the signal in detector noise yields accuracies similar to those
obtained using simulated Gaussian noise. We also find that while the Markov
chains from the glitch do not converge, the PDFs would look consistent with a
GW signal present in the data. While our parameter-estimation results are
encouraging, further investigations into how to differentiate an actual GW
signal from noise are necessary.Comment: 11 pages, 2 figures, NRDA09 proceeding
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