Low-temperature exfoliation of multilayer-graphene material from FeCl3 and CH3NO2 co-intercalated graphite compound

Microwave induced rapid decomposition of nitromethane at low temperature exfoliates the graphene sheets from the FeCl(3) and CH(3)NO(2) co-intercalated graphite compound without creating many defects and functional groups. This approach provides a scalable method for high-quality graphene materials via low-temperature exfoliation of graphite under mild chemical conditions.     

Nanochannel confinement: DNA stretch approaching full contour length

Fully stretched DNA molecules are becoming a fundamental component of new systems for comprehensive genome analysis. Among a number of approaches for elongating DNA molecules, nanofluidic molecular confinement has received enormous attentions from physical and biological communities for the last several years. Here we demonstrate a well-optimized condition that a DNA molecule can stretch almost to its full contour length: the average stretch is 19.1 μm ± 1.1 μm for YOYO-1 stained λ DNA (21.8 μm contour length) in 250 nm × 400 nm channel, which is the longest stretch value ever reported in any nanochannels or nanoslits. In addition, based on Odijk's polymer physics theory, we interpret our experimental findings as a function of channel dimensions and ionic strengths. Furthermore, we develop a Monte Carlo simulation approach using a primitive model for the rigorous understanding of DNA confinement effects. Collectively, we present a more complete understanding of nanochannel confined DNA stretching via the comparisons to computer simulation results and Odijk's polymer physics theory.     

Anomalous Phases in Cavity-Free 240 GHz Pulsed ENDOR Spectra of 1.44 GeV Xe-Irradiated LiF

Paramagnetic centers generated by swift heavy ion irradiation of LiF crystals could be identified as electrons trapped at regular anion vacancy sites (F centers). Well-resolved electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) spectra resulting from the hyperfine interaction with ⁷Li and ¹⁹F nuclei located in six different shells could be recorded. In order to preserve the millimeter-sized crystals, a cavity-free setup was used for the ENDOR experiments at an electronic Larmor frequency of 240 GHz. Apparently even under conditions of extremely high local energy loss in the ion track, the local density of persistent F centers is still sufficiently low to prevent distortions of the ionic crystal. The spread of hyperfine coupling constants was less than 5 %. Neither in electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) nor in ENDOR spectra there was evidence for different types of paramagnetic centers. When performing ENDOR by applying the radiofrequency pulse directly after the 3-pulse Mims-type microwave sequence, an anomalous ENDOR effect was observed. The observed “positive” and “negative” ENDOR response can be attributed to efficient hole and anti-hole formation in the inhomogeneously broadened EPR spectrum and can be used to determine the sign of hyperfine coupling constants.     

IndecomposableA-module summands inH * V which are unstable algebras

Letp be a prime and denote byA the modp Steenrod algebra. We determine the indecomposableA-module summands ofH*((ℤ/p)) ^d ;F _p which admit the structure of an unstableA-algebra. In fact, it turns out that this is equivalent to the problem of determining those indecomposableA-module summands which arise as the modp cohomology of a space (or even a classifying space of a finite group). We reduce this problem to one in modular representation theory, namely for whichd andp is the projective cover of the trivial one dimensional GL(d,F _p ) representationF _p a permutation module. Our solution of this latter problem makes use of the classification of subgroups of GL(d,F _p ) acting transitively on (F _p ) ^d \{0} and hence depends on the classification of finite simple groups (on Feit-Thompson's odd order theorem ifp=2).     

Self-assembled monolayers for liquid crystal alignment: simple preparation on glass using alkyltrialkoxysilanes

A simple procedure for the preparation of octadecylsiloxane self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on float glass substrates is described. The method utilizes commercial octadecyltriethoxysilane, OTE: n-C₁₈H₃₇Si(OCH₂CH₃)₃, as the SAM precursor, with deposition accomplished in toluene solution using n-butylamine as catalyst. This synthetic approach obviates the use of the problematic trichlorosilanes typically required for the preparation of high quality SAMs, and is characterized by a wide 'process window,' utilizing off-the-shelf reagents without special handling.     

Partially Coherent Waves in Nonlinear Periodic Lattices

We study the propagation of partially coherent (random-phase) waves in nonlinear periodic lattices. The dynamics in these systems is governed by the threefold interplay between the nonlinearity, the lattice properties, and the statistical (coherence) properties of the waves. Such dynamic interplay is reflected in the characteristic properties of nonlinear wave phenomena (e.g., solitons) in these systems. While the propagation of partially coherent waves in nonlinear periodic systems is a universal problem, we analyze it in the context of nonlinear photonic lattices, where recent experiments have proven their existence.     

Studies on the determination of multiple numbers of experimental parameters 1. Preliminary study

Expressions are given for analytical extraction of parameters for polynomial and single relaxation experiments, and an indication is given of the application of the technique to multiple relaxation experiments. Examples are given for the cases of single and double relaxations. Hypothetical reference is made to time domain reflectometry.     

Vibrational relaxation in the group IVA trimethylmetal chlorides

The temperature dependence of the polarized and depolarized Raman spectra of the ν₂, ν₄, ν₆ and ν₇ modes were measured for t-butyl chloride and the analogous group IVA trimethylmetal chrlorides (silicon, germanium and tin). Analysis of the lineshapes revealed that isotropic second moments and vibrational relaxation times for a given mode remained approximately constant through the series. This tranferability of relaxation parameters between molecules extended to modulation times calculated from the Kubo formalism. The above results are in contrast to earlier studies on molecules of dissimilar structure. They provide some preliminary evidence that the mechanism of vibrational relaxation may be the same for equivalent modes in members of the series.     

The case for an interval-based representation of linguistic truth

This paper develops an interval-based approach to the concept of linguistic truth. A special-purpose interval logic is defined, and it is argued that, for many applications, this logic provides a potentially useful alternative to the conventional fuzzy logic.The key idea is to interpret the numerical truth value v(p) of a proposition p as a degree of belief in the logical certainty of p, in which case p is regarded as true, for example, if v(p) falls within a certain range, say, the interval [0.7, 1]. This leads to a logic which, although being only a special case of fuzzy logic, appears to be no less linguistically correct and at the same time offers definite advantages in terms of mathematical simplicity and computational speed.It is also shown that this same interval logic can be generalized to a lattice-based logic having the capacity to accommodate propositions p which employ fuzzy predicates of type 2.     

Methods for the isolation and characterization of constituents of natural products XIX. Use of a Celite-sodium borohydride column for reduction of carbonyl compounds at the micro level

A Celite-sodium borohyride column has been used to reduce micromole amounts of a variety of simple carbonyl compounds to the corresponding alcohol in fair to excellent yields. The procedure is relatively rapid and easy involving only the application of a hexane solution of the carbonyl compound to the column and collection of the effluent containing the alcohol. A column constructed in a melting point capillary suitable for the reduction of microgram amounts of carbonyls is also described.