A direct numerical simulation method for complex modulus of particle dispersions

We report an extension of the smoothed profile method (SPM)[Y. Nakayama, K. Kim, and R. Yamamoto, Eur. Phys. J. E {\bf 26}, 361(2008)], a direct numerical simulation method for calculating the complex modulus of the dispersion of particles, in which we introduce a temporally oscillatory external force into the system. The validity of the method was examined by evaluating the storage $G'(\omega)$ and loss $G"(\omega)$ moduli of a system composed of identical spherical particles dispersed in an incompressible Newtonian host fluid at volume fractions of $\Phi=0$, 0.41, and 0.51. The moduli were evaluated at several frequencies of shear flow; the shear flow used here has a zigzag profile, as is consistent with the usual periodic boundary conditions

Fabrication of electron beam deposited tip for atomic-scale atomic force microscopy in liquid

Recently, possibilities of improving operation speed and force sensitivity in atomic-scale atomic force microscopy (AFM) in liquid using a small cantilever with an electron beam deposited (EBD) tip have been intensively explored. However, the structure and properties of an EBD tip suitable for such an application have not been well-understood and hence its fabrication process has not been established. In this study, we perform atomic-scale AFM measurements with a small cantilever and clarify two major problems: contaminations from a cantilever and tip surface, and insufficient mechanical strength of an EBD tip having a high aspect ratio. To solve these problems, here we propose a fabrication process of an EBD tip, where we attach a 2 μm silica bead at the cantilever end and fabricate a 500-700 nm EBD tip on the bead. The bead height ensures sufficient cantilever-sample distance and enables to suppress long-range interaction between them even with a short EBD tip having high mechanical strength. After the tip fabrication, we coat the whole cantilever and tip surface with Si (30 nm) to prevent the generation of contamination. We perform atomic-scale AFM imaging and hydration force measurements at a mica-water interface using the fabricated tip and demonstrate its applicability to such an atomic-scale application. With a repeated use of the proposed process, we can reuse a small cantilever for atomic-scale measurements for several times. Therefore, the proposed method solves the two major problems and enables the practical use of a small cantilever in atomic-scale studies on various solid-liquid interfacial phenomena

Highly Strengthened Superconducting Magnet for a 40 T Compact Hybrid Magnet(Magnet Technology)

A 16 T outer superconducting magnet for a 40 T compact hybrid magnet is investigated. A highly strengthened superconducting magnet with a 360 mm room temperature bore can be made using newly developed (Nb, Ti)_3Sn wires with Cu-Al_2O_3 reinforcing stabilizer. The coil weight is outstandingly reduced by as much as 70 %

In-situ epitaxial growth of superconducting La-based bilayer cuprate thin films

We investigate the epitaxial growth of bilayer cuprate La2CaCu2O6+\delta using pure ozone as an oxidant, and find that even the crystal with parent composition without cation substitution can show metallic behavior with the aid of epitaxial strain effect. The hole concentration is controlled simply by excess-oxygen doping, and the films grown under the optimum conditions exhibit superconductivity below 30 K. This is the first result on the superconductivity of bilayer La2CaCu2O6+\delta induced purely by the excess oxygen.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, To appear in Phys. Rev. B, Rapid Communication

Information heat engine: converting information to energy by feedback control

In 1929, Leo Szilard invented a feedback protocol in which a hypothetical intelligence called Maxwell's demon pumps heat from an isothermal environment and transduces it to work. After an intense controversy that lasted over eighty years; it was finally clarified that the demon's role does not contradict the second law of thermodynamics, implying that we can convert information to free energy in principle. Nevertheless, experimental demonstration of this information-to-energy conversion has been elusive. Here, we demonstrate that a nonequilibrium feedback manipulation of a Brownian particle based on information about its location achieves a Szilard-type information-energy conversion. Under real-time feedback control, the particle climbs up a spiral-stairs-like potential exerted by an electric field and obtains free energy larger than the amount of work performed on it. This enables us to verify the generalized Jarzynski equality, or a new fundamental principle of "information-heat engine" which converts information to energy by feedback control.Comment: manuscript including 7 pages and 4 figures and supplementary material including 6 pages and 8 figure

Telomerase reverse transcriptase and telomeric-repeat binding factor protein 1 as regulators of telomerase activity in pancreatic cancer cells

Telomerase adds hexameric repeats of 5′-TTAGGG-3′ termed telomeres to ends of chromosomal DNA. This enzyme has been implicated in cellular immortalization and cellular senescence. Recently, a number of relevant genes have been cloned, including these encoding three major components of human telomerase: human telomerase RNA component (hTR), human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), and telomerase-associated protein-1 (TEP1). Also important are genes encoding human telomeric-repeat binding factor protein (TRF) 1 and 2. To clarify mechanisms regulating telomerase activity, we studied telomerase activity, the telomeric restriction fragment (TRF) length and gene expression of these telomerase components and the telomeric-repeat binding factor proteins in sequential observation following X-irradiation of cultured pancreatic cancer cells. We previously reported that PANC-1 cells are better able to tolerate thermal stress, antineoplastic drugs, and exposure to tumour necrosis factor than MIAPaCa-2 cells. MIAPaCa-2 and PANC-1 cells were exposed to X-irradiation, their telomerase activity was increased at 2 days and then decreased gradually. Of the three telomerase components, only hTERT mRNA expression showed parallel changes. TRF length was stable just before and after X-irradiation. Among binding factor proteins, TRF1 mRNA showed reciprocal changes possibly directed toward maintaining a stable telomere length. In this study, our results demonstrate that not only hTERT but also TRF1 are important regulator of telomerase activity. © 2001 Cancer Research Campaign http://www.bjcancer.co

CANGAROO-III observation of TeV gamma rays from the unidentified gamma-ray source HESS J1614-518

We report the detection, with the CANGAROO-III imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescope array, of a very high energy gamma-ray signal from the unidentified gamma-ray source HESS J1614-518, which was discovered in the H.E.S.S. Galactic plane survey. Diffuse gamma-ray emission was detected above 760 GeV at the 8.9 sigma level during an effective exposure of 54 hr from 2008 May to August. The spectrum can be represented by a power-law: 8.2+-2.2_{stat}+-2.5_{sys}x10^{-12}x (E/1TeV)^{-Gamma} cm^{-2} s^{-1} TeV^{-1} with a photon index Gamma of 2.4+-0.3_{stat}+-0.2_{sys}, which is compatible with that of the H.E.S.S. observations. By combining our result with multi-wavelength data, we discuss the possible counterparts for HESS J1614-518 and consider radiation mechanisms based on hadronic and leptonic processes for a supernova remnant, stellar winds from massive stars, and a pulsar wind nebula. Although a leptonic origin from a pulsar wind nebula driven by an unknown pulsar remains possible, hadronic-origin emission from an unknown supernova remnant is preferred.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in Ap