3,985 research outputs found
Femtosecond probing of bimolecular reactions: The collision complex
Progress has been made in probing the femtosecond
dynamics of transition states of chemical reactions.(1) The
"half-collision" case of unimolecular reactions has been
experimentally investigated for a number of systems and
much theoretical work has already been developed.(2) For
bimolecular reactions, the case of full collision, the zero of
time is a problem which makes the femtosecond temporal
resolution of the dynamics a difficult task
Femtosecond real-time probing of reactions. VIII. The bimolecular reaction Br+I2
In this paper, we discuss the experimental technique for real-time measurement of the lifetimes of the collision complex of bimolecular reactions. An application to the atom–molecule Br+I_2 reaction at two collision energies is made. Building on our earlier Communication [J. Chem. Phys. 95, 7763 (1991)], we report on the observed transients and lifetimes for the collision complex, the nature of the transition state, and the dynamics near threshold. Classical trajectory calculations provide a framework for deriving the global nature of the reactive potential energy surface, and for discussing the real-time, scattering, and asymptotic (product-state distribution) aspects of the dynamics. These experimental and theoretical results are compared with the extensive array of kinetic, crossed beam, and theoretical studies found in the literature for halogen radical–halogen molecule exchange reactions
A Transformative Learning Experience: An Undergraduate Research Conference as Authentic Assessment
This article explores an example of authentic assessment practised on the English and History undergraduate programmes at the University of Derby, involving modules which lead to a public conference. Drawing on notions of authenticity in assessment both as connected to professional scenarios and as potentially transformative for the student in a wider sense, we outline the nature of the modules and their place within broader programme-level assessment strategy. We then detail their impact in terms of public engagement and raising the profile of the disciplines as well as, crucially, student feedback. Overall, we offer this practice as an example of successful authentic assessment in the Humanities which can lead students to engage more critically with their discipline and to discover new and highly transferable skills
Short-Chained Oligo(Ethylene Oxide)-Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles: Realization Of Significant Protein Resistance
Protein corona formed on nanomaterial surfaces play an important role in the bioavailability and cellular uptake of nanomaterials. Modification of surfaces with oligoethylene glycols (OEG) are a common way to improve the resistivity of nanomaterials to protein adsorption. Short-chain ethylene oxide (EO) oligomers have been shown to improve the protein resistance of planar Au surfaces. We describe the application of these EO oligomers for improved protein resistance of 30 nm spherical gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Functionalized AuNPs were characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and zeta potential measurements. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) was used for separation and quantitation of AuNPs and AuNP-protein mixtures. Specifically, nonequilibrium capillary electrophoresis of equilibrium mixtures (NECEEM) was employed for the determination of equilibrium and rate constants for binding between citrate-stabilized AuNPs and two model proteins, lysozyme and fibrinogen. Semi-quantitative CE analysis was carried out for mixtures of EO-functionalized AuNPs and proteins, and results demonstrated a 2.5-fold to 10-fold increase in protein binding resistance to lysozyme depending on the AuNP surface functionalization and a 15-fold increase in protein binding resistance to fibrinogen for both EO oligomers examined in this study
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Revised target co-ordinates for the Beagle 2 lander
The revised, IAU 2000 target co-ordinates of the Mars Beagle 2 lander are 11.6oN, 90.75oE
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Beagle to the Moon: nn experiment package to measure polar ice and volatiles in permanently shadowed areas or beneath the lunar surface
The Beagle Science Package is a flight qualified set of instruments which should be deployed to the lunar surface to answer the questions about water and volatiles present in permanently shadowed regions and/or beneath the surface
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Exploring the Cost Function in Color Perception and Memory:An Information-Theoretic Model of Categorical Effects in Color Matching
Recent evidence indicates that color categories can exert astrong influence over color matching in both perception andmemory. We explore this phenomenon by analyzing the costfunction for perceptual error. Our analysis is developed withinthe mathematical framework of rate–distortion theory. Ac-cording to our approach, the goal of perception is to minimizethe expected cost of error while subject to a strong constrainton the capacity of perceptual processing. We propose that thecost function in color perception is defined by the sum of twocomponents: a metric cost associated with the magnitude of er-ror in color space, and a cost associated with perceptual errorsthat cross color category boundaries. A computational modelembodying this assumption is shown to produce an excellent fitto empirical data. The results generally suggest that what ap-pear as ‘errors’ in working memory performance may reflectreasonable and systematic behaviors in the context of costs
The extent of shifts in vegetation phenology between rural and urban areas within a human-dominated region
Urbanization is one of the major environmental challenges facing the world today. One of its particularly pressing effects is alterations to local and regional climate through, for example, the Urban Heat Island. Such changes in conditions are likely to have an impact on the phenology of urban vegetation, which will have knock-on implications for the role that urban green infrastructure can play in delivering multiple ecosystem services. Here, in a human-dominated region, we undertake an explicit comparison of vegetation phenology between urban and rural zones. Using satellite-derived MODIS-EVI data from the first decade of the 20th century, we extract metrics of vegetation phenology (date of start of growing season, date of end of growing season, and length of season) for Britain’s 15 largest cities and their rural surrounds. On average, urban areas experienced a growing season 8.8 days longer than surrounding rural zones. As would be expected, there was a significant decline in growing season length with latitude (by 3.4 and 2.4 days/degree latitude in rural and urban areas respectively). Although there is considerable variability in how phenology in urban and rural areas differs across our study cities, we found no evidence that built urban form influences the start, end, or length of the growing season.
However, the difference in the length of the growing season between rural and urban areas was significantly negatively associated with the mean disposable household income for a city. Vegetation in urban areas deliver many ecosystem services such as temperature mitigation, pollution removal, carbon uptake and storage, the provision of amenity value for humans and habitat for biodiversity. Given the rapid pace of urbanization and ongoing climate change, understanding how vegetation phenology will alter in the future is important if we wish to be able to manage urban greenspaces effectively
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Beagle 2: Mission to Mars — current status
Beagle 2, developed in the UK, was launched on June 2, 2003. It landed on Mars on December 25th, 2003 in Isidis Planitia, a large sedimentary basin. To date, the team is awaiting signals from the Beagle 2 lander. Current status of the mission will be reported
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MoonLITE – Technological feasibility of the penetrator concept
Introduction: While the surface missions to the Moon of the 1960s and 1970s achieved a great deal, scientifically a great deal was also left unresolved. The recent plethora of lunar missions (flown or proposed) reflects resurgence in interest in the Moon, not only in its own right, but also as a record of the formation of the Earth-Moon System and the interplanetary environment at 1 AU. Results from orbiter missions have indicated the possible presense of ice within permanently shaded craters at the lunar poles [1] – a situation that, if confirmed, will have profound impacts on lunar exploration
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