39,308 research outputs found
High-sensitivity microfluidic calorimeters for biological and chemical applications
High-sensitivity microfluidic calorimeters raise the prospect of achieving high-throughput biochemical measurements with minimal sample consumption. However, it has been challenging to realize microchip-based calorimeters possessing both high sensitivity and precise sample-manipulation capabilities. Here, we report chip-based microfluidic calorimeters capable of characterizing the heat of reaction of 3.5-nL samples with 4.2-nW resolution. Our approach, based on a combination of hard- and soft-polymer microfluidics, provides both exceptional thermal response and the physical strength necessary to construct high-sensitivity calorimeters that can be scaled to automated, highly multiplexed array architectures. Polydimethylsiloxane microfluidic valves and pumps are interfaced to parylene channels and reaction chambers to automate the injection of analyte at 1 nL and below. We attained excellent thermal resolution via on-chip vacuum encapsulation, which provides unprecedented thermal isolation of the minute microfluidic reaction chambers. We demonstrate performance of these calorimeters by resolving measurements of the heat of reaction of urea hydrolysis and the enthalpy of mixing of water with methanol. The device structure can be adapted easily to enable a wide variety of other standard calorimeter operations; one example, a flow calorimeter, is described
Money, moral transgressions, and blame
Two experiments tested participants' attributions for others' immoral behaviors when conducted for more versus less money. We hypothesized and found that observers would blame wrongdoers more when seeing a transgression enacted for little rather than a lot of money, and that this would be evident in observers' hand-washing behavior. Experiment 1 used a cognitive dissonance paradigm. Participants (N = 160) observed a confederate lie in exchange for either a relatively large or a small monetary payment. Participants blamed the liar more in the small (versus large) money condition. Participants (N = 184) in Experiment 2 saw images of someone knocking over another to obtain a small, medium, or large monetary sum. In the small (versus large) money condition, participants blamed the perpetrator (money) more. Hence, participants assigned less blame to moral wrong-doers, if the latter enacted their deed to obtain relatively large sums of money. Small amounts of money accentuate the immorality of others' transgressions
Comparisons and Applications of Four Independent Numerical Approaches for Linear Gyrokinetic Drift Modes
To help reveal the complete picture of linear kinetic drift modes, four
independent numerical approaches, based on integral equation, Euler initial
value simulation, Euler matrix eigenvalue solution and Lagrangian particle
simulation, respectively, are used to solve the linear gyrokinetic
electrostatic drift modes equation in Z-pinch with slab simplification and in
tokamak with ballooning space coordinate. We identify that these approaches can
yield the same solution with the difference smaller than 1\%, and the
discrepancies mainly come from the numerical convergence, which is the first
detailed benchmark of four independent numerical approaches for gyrokinetic
linear drift modes. Using these approaches, we find that the entropy mode and
interchange mode are on the same branch in Z-pinch, and the entropy mode can
have both electron and ion branches. And, at strong gradient, more than one
eigenstate of the ion temperature gradient mode (ITG) can be unstable and the
most unstable one can be on non-ground eigenstates. The propagation of ITGs
from ion to electron diamagnetic direction at strong gradient is also observed,
which implies that the propagation direction is not a decisive criterion for
the experimental diagnosis of turbulent mode at the edge plasmas.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures, accept by Physics of Plasma
Modeling pulsar time noise with long term power law decay modulated by short term oscillations of the magnetic fields of neutron stars
We model the evolution of the magnetic fields of neutron stars as consisting
of a long term power-law decay modulated by short term small amplitude
oscillations. Our model predictions on the timing noise of neutron
stars agree well with the observed statistical properties and correlations of
normal radio pulsars. Fitting the model predictions to the observed data, we
found that their initial parameter implies their initial surface magnetic
dipole magnetic field strength ~ 5E14 G at ~0.4 year old and that the
oscillations have amplitude between E-8 to E-5 and period on the order of
years. For individual pulsars our model can effectively reduce their timing
residuals, thus offering the potential of more sensitive detections of
gravitational waves with pulsar timing arrays. Finally our model can also
re-produce their observed correlation and oscillations of the second derivative
of spin frequency, as well as the "slow glitch" phenomenon.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures, submitted to IJMPD, invited talk in the 3rd
Galileo-XuGuangqi Meeting}, Beijing, China, 12-16 October 201
Optimized Synthesis and Structural Characterization of the Borosilicate MCM-70
A structure analysis of the borosilicate zeolite MCM-70, whose synthesis had been patented in 2003, was reported in 2005. Unfortunately, that structure analysis was somewhat ambiguous. Anisotropic line broadening made it difficult to model the peak shape, some peaks in the electron density map could not be interpreted satisfactorily, the framework geometry was distorted, and MAS NMR results were partially contradictory. In an attempt to resolve some of these points, an optimization of the synthesis was undertaken, and the structure was reinvestigated. The structure was solved from synchrotron powder diffraction data collected on an as-synthesized sample (Pmn2_1, a = 13.3167(1) Ă…, b = 4.6604(1) Ă…, c = 8.7000(1) Ă…) using a powder charge-flipping algorithm. The framework topology, with a 1-dimensional, 10-ring channel system, is identical to the one previously reported. However, the B in this new sample was found to be ordered in the framework, fully occupying one of the four tetrahedral sites. Two extra-framework K^+ ion positions, each coordinated to five framework O atoms and one water molecule, were also found. The solid state ^(29)Si, ^(11)B and ^1H NMR results are fully consistent with this ordered structure
Quantum tunneling through planar p-n junctions in HgTe quantum wells
We demonstrate that a p-n junction created electrically in HgTe quantum wells
with inverted band-structure exhibits interesting intraband and interband
tunneling processes. We find a perfect intraband transmission for electrons
injected perpendicularly to the interface of the p-n junction. The opacity and
transparency of electrons through the p-n junction can be tuned by changing the
incidence angle, the Fermi energy and the strength of the Rashba spin-orbit
interaction. The occurrence of a conductance plateau due to the formation of
topological edge states in a quasi-one-dimensional p-n junction can be switched
on and off by tuning the gate voltage. The spin orientation can be
substantially rotated when the samples exhibit a moderately strong Rashba
spin-orbit interaction.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
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