Biodegradable Polylactic Acid (PLA) Microstructures for Scaffold Applications

In this research, we present a simple and cost effective soft lithographic process to fabricate PLA scaffolds for tissue engineering. In which, the negative photoresist JSR THB-120N was spun on a glass subtract followed by conventional UV lithographic processes to fabricate the master to cast the PDMS elastomeric mold. A thin poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) layer was used as a mode release such that the PLA scaffold can be easily peeled off. The PLA precursor solution was then cast onto the PDMS mold to form the PLA microstructures. After evaporating the solvent, the PLA microstructures can be easily peeled off from the PDMS mold. Experimental results show that the desired microvessels scaffold can be successfully transferred to the biodegradable polymer PLA.Comment: Submitted on behalf of EDA Publishing Association (http://irevues.inist.fr/EDA-Publishing

Extraction of nuclear matter properties from nuclear masses by a model of equation of state

The extraction of nuclear matter properties from measured nuclear masses is investigated in the energy density functional formalism of nuclei. It is shown that the volume energy $a_1$ and the nuclear incompressibility $K_0$ depend essentially on $\mu_n N+\bar{\mu}_p Z-2E_N$, whereas the symmetry energy $J$ and the density symmetry coefficient $L$ as well as symmetry incompressibility $K_s$ depend essentially on $\mu_n-\bar{\mu}_p$, where $\bar{\mu}_p=\mu_p-\partial E_C/\partial Z$, $\mu_n$ and $\mu_p$ are the neutron and proton chemical potentials respectively, $E_N$ the nuclear energy, and $E_C$ the Coulomb energy. The obtained symmetry energy is $J=28.5MeV$, while other coefficients are uncertain within ranges depending on the model of nuclear equation of state.Comment: 12 pages and 7 figure

Effective nucleon-nucleon interactions and nuclear matter equation of state

Nuclear matter equations of state based on Skyrme, Myers-Swiatecki and Tondeur interactions are written as polynomials of the cubic root of density, with coefficients that are functions of the relative neutron excess $\delta$. In the extrapolation toward states far away from the standard one, it is shown that the asymmetry dependence of the critical point ($\rho_c, \delta_c$) depends on the model used. However, when the equations of state are fitted to the same standard state, the value of $\delta_c$ is almost the same in Skyrme and in Myers-Swiatecki interactions, while is much lower in Tondeur interaction. Furthermore, $\delta_c$ does not depend sensitively on the choice of the parameter $\gamma$ in Skyrme interaction.Comment: 15 pages, 9 figure

Nuclear matter properties and relativistic mean-field theory

Nuclear matter properties are calculated in the relativistic mean field theory by using a number of different parameter sets. The result shows that the volume energy $a_1$ and the symmetry energy $J$ are around the acceptable values 16MeV and 30MeV respectively; the incompressibility $K_0$ is unacceptably high in the linear model, but assumes reasonable value if nonlinear terms are included; the density symmetry $L$ is around $100MeV$ for most parameter sets, and the symmetry incompressibility $K_s$ has positive sign which is opposite to expectations based on the nonrelativistic model. In almost all parameter sets there exists a critical point $(\rho_c, \delta_c)$, where the minimum and the maximum of the equation of state are coincident and the incompressibility equals zero, falling into ranges 0.014fm$^{-3}<\rho_c<0.039$fm$^{-3}$ and $0.74<\delta_c\le0.95$; for a few parameter sets there is no critical point and the pure neutron matter is predicted to be bound. The maximum mass $M_{NS}$ of neutron stars is predicted in the range 2.45M$_\odot\leq M_{NS}\leq 3.26$M$_\odot$, the corresponding neutron star radius $R_{NS}$ is in the range 12.2km$\leq R_{NS}\leq 15.1$km.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure

Energy dependence of Normal Branch Oscillation in Scorpius X-1

We report the energy dependence of normal branch oscillations (NBOs) in Scorpius X-1, a low-mass X-ray binary Z-source. Three characteristic quantities (centroid frequency, quality factor, and fractional root-mean-squared (rms) amplitude) of a quasi-periodic oscillation signal as functions of photon energy are investigated. We found that, although it is not yet statistically well established, there is a signature indicating that the NBO centroid frequency decreases with increasing photon energy when it is below 6-8 keV, which turns out to be positively correlated with the photon energy at the higher energy side. In addition, the rms amplitude increases significantly with the photon energy below 13 keV and then decreases in the energy band of 13-20 keV. There is no clear dependence on photon energy for the quality factor. Based on these results, we suggest that the NBO originates mainly in the transition layer.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Single charge sensing and transport in double quantum dots fabricated from commercially grown Si/SiGe heterostructures

We perform quantum Hall measurements on three types of commercially available modulation doped Si/SiGe heterostructures to determine their suitability for depletion gate defined quantum dot devices. By adjusting the growth parameters, we are able to achieve electron gases with charge densities 1-3 X 10^{11}/cm^2 and mobilities in excess of 100,000 cm^2/Vs. Double quantum dot devices fabricated on these heterostructures show clear evidence of single charge transitions as measured in dc transport and charge sensing and exhibit electron temperatures of 100 mK in the single quantum dot regime.Comment: Related papers at http://pettagroup.princeton.ed

The nature of the continuum limit in strongly coupled quenched QED

We review the results of large scale simulations of noncompact quenched $QED$ which use spectrum and Equation of State calculations to determine the theory's phase diagram, critical indices, and continuum limit. The resulting anomalous dimensions are in good agreement with Schwinger-Dyson solutions of the ladder graphs of conventional $QED$ and they satisfy the hyperscaling relations expected of a relativistic renormalizable field theory. The spectroscopy results satisfy the constraints of the Goldstone mechanism and PCAC, and may be indicative of Technicolor versions of the Standard Model which are strongly coupled at short distances.Comment: (talk given at the XXVI ICHEP, Dallas, TX, Aug 6-12 92), 6 pp., ILL-(TH)-92-#2