Experimental demonstration of stimulated polarization wave in a chain of nuclear spins

A stimulated wave of polarization, which implements a simple mechanism of quantum amplification, is experimentally demonstrated in a chain of four J-coupled nuclear spins, irradiated by a weak radio-frequency transverse field. The "quantum domino" dynamics, a wave of flipped spins triggered by a flip of the first spin, has been observed in fully $^{13}$C-labeled sodium butyrate.Comment: 8 pages including 3 figure

Baptism by Fire: Ireland, The Easter Rising of 1916 and Its Experiment with Radical Republicanism

The Easter Uprising of 1916 represents one of the most tumultuous moments in modern Irish history. A relatively small group of revolutionaries sought to throw off the shackles of British rule in favor of Irish independence and self-determination. The uprising, lasting a mere six days, transformed the very nature of relations between Great Britain and the Irish populace. The Rising resulted in wholesale changes in legislation including women gaining the right to vote and run for office. Ireland following the uprising was completely transformed as its populace reeled with its effects. This paper examines the immediate build-up to the uprising all the way through to its conclusion including the ramifications. The paper utilizes numerous sources from contemporary studies as well as two books penned by people who experienced the chaos that was Dublin firsthand

Cloning, Purification, and Biochemical Characterization of Human Prolyl Endopeptidase

Eurygaster integriceps Puton, common name sunn Pest, is one of the primary sources of wheat crop wastes in North Africa, Middle East, and Eastern Europe. It feeds by injecting the wheat grain with an enzyme characterized as prolyl endoprotease (spPEP) that breaks down Gluten, the wheat’s main constitutive protein necessary for bread production (Darkoh et al., 2010). Previously, it has been shown that peptides isolated from Lactobacillus hydrolysates of caseins in bovine milk are able to inhibit mammalian PEP in colon cells, as well as bacterial PEP (Juillerat-Jeanneret et al., 2010). While recombinant versions of these peptides are also potential inhibitors of the spPEP, their specificity must be tested also against hPEP. The primary objective of this study was to clone hPEP into the same expression vector as spPEP in order to compare hPEP to spPEP with regards to substrate binding, recognition, and inhibition. Initially, hPEP was PCR amplified in order to incorporate the 5’ and 3’ ends necessary for ligation independent cloning (LIC) into the expression vector. This was then expressed in BL21(DE3)/pTFs and purified on a nickel column. Future studies will include comparing inhibition between hPEP and spPEP using 16 PCR amplified fragments of varying length that contain the non-allergenic (as demonstrated by Ruiter, 2005) inhibitory sequence LNENLLRFFVAPFPEVFG, isolated from bovine αS1 casein

Preparing for a National Weightlifting Championship: A Case Series

The purpose of this thesis was to observe psychological, physiological, and performance changes to determine when two high-level weightlifters were peaked for a major competition. We addressed this purpose by conducting a two-part case study series with one USA international level female and one USA national level male weightlifter. Both athletes were considered to be peaked on competition day. The results support our hypothesis that jumping performance would be peaked on competition day corresponding with an increased recovery and decreased stress state. However, contrary to our hypothesis, each athlete exhibited small decreases in muscle size leading into the competition relative to baseline values. Further, changes in inflammatory markers were inconsistent for each athlete and were not reduced as hypothesized. Based on our findings, this investigation supports the use of overreaching and tapering for individual strength-power athletes providing insight into underlying psychological and physiological basis for observed changes in performance

Characterization of diamond thin films and related materials

Thin carbon films including sputtered deposited graphite and CO₂ laser-assisted combustion-flame deposited graphite and diamond thin films were characterized using optical and electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and micro-Raman spectroscopy. Amorphous carbon thin films were deposited by DC magnetron sputtering using Ar/O₂ gases. The film morphology changed with the oxygen content. The deposition rate decreased as the amount of oxygen increased due to oxygen reacting with the growing film. The use of oxygen in the working gas enhanced the crystalline nature of the films. Graphite was deposited on WC substrates by a CO₂ laser-assisted O₂/C₂H₂ combustion-flame method. Two distinct microstructural areas were observed; an inner core of dense material surrounded by an outer shell of lamellar-like material. The deposits were crystalline regardless of the laser power and deposition times of a few minutes. Diamond films were deposited by a CO₂ laser-assisted O₂/C₂H₂/C₂H₄ combustion-flame method with the laser focused parallel to the substrate surface. The laser enhanced diamond growth was most pronounced when deposited with a 10.532 μm CO₂ laser wavelength tuned to the CH₂-wagging vibrational mode of the C₂H₄ molecule. Nucleation of diamond thin films deposited with and without using a CO₂ laser-assisted combustion-flame process was investigated. With no laser there was nucleation of a sub-layer of grains followed by irregular grain growth. An untuned laser wavelength yielded nucleation of a sub-layer then columnar grain growth. The 10.532 μm tuned laser wavelength caused growth of columnar grains --Abstract, page iv

Determination of a Simplified High-Order Vortex Equation for Radial Equilibrium with CFD Verification

The goal of this thesis is to determine a flow model that provides a better blade design over current design techniques utilizing a hybrid vortex model. This hybrid vortex model combines the well-established simple radial equilibrium vortex models into a higher order equation that will establish the basis for a more flow-accurate model. In this paper, we will discuss the basis and derivation of these vortex models, the shortcomings of current techniques, and verification of the new vortex model with empirical data via Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD). The simple radial equilibrium equation set has been known to the scientific community since the first gas turbine engines designs. Active research into the vortex models associated with radial equilibrium, has declined with the advent of robust CFD solvers capable of representing fluid through turbomachinery. Since there are no closed form of the Navier-Stokes Equations in existence, CFD is bound by errors in modelling turbulence, mixing planes, boundary layer transitions, as well as other loss models that are incorporated into these programs. The Simplified High-Order Vortex Equation was utilized to increase the surge margin of up to 3.32% compared to a rotor designed using the free vortex method

Seasonal Emergence Patterns of Black Flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in Northwestern Pennsylvania

A two-year emergence trap study of black flies at four sites in northwestern Pennsylvania yielded 1%3 individuals of nine species. The collections included Prosimulium mixtum, P. jU5cum, Stegapterna mutata, Simulium aureum, S. excisum (recorded for the first time from Pennsylvania), S. gauldingi, S. sp. nr. innacens, S. vittatum, and S. tuberasum. Species richness for all sites peaked during May. Emergence collections below a sewage plant effluent outfall represented fewer individuals and species than collections above the effluent outfall. Chromosomal analysis of supplementary larval collections revealed the IIIL-l and IS-7 sibling species of S. vittatum and the FG sibling of S. tuberasum