A change in the physical state of a nonequilibrium blood plasma protein film in patients with carcinoma

Pronounced changes in the physical phase and in the phase transition dynamics of proteins in drying blood plasma are observed. The morphologies (topologies) of these nonequilibrium films in donors and in patients with various types of metastatic carcinoma qualitatively differ by the process of protein film self-assembly and by symmetry type. New types of defects and solid crystals appear, liquid crystals persist for a long time, etc. The microscopic examination of the drying protein plasma topology can be used for diagnosing metastatic carcinoma.     

On the possibility of phase transitions in dusty plasma structures in a glow discharge under the action of a magnetic field

The melting of a dusty plasma structure formed in a stratum of a glow discharge caused by application of a magnetic field and its subsequent increase is studied. The images of two-dimensional cross sections of dusty plasma structures previously obtained by the authors are considered. To identify the phase, the correlation functions are calculated and visual comparison with the space lattices of ideal crystals is performed. It is found that, under the conditions of the previous study of the authors, as the magnetic field increases, the phase state of the dusty structure changes from an anisotropic liquidlike (liquid-ice) state to a disordered one. There is a tendency to a change in the type of the space lattice of the structure.     

Phase sensitive x-ray diffraction imaging of defects in biological macromolecular crystals

Conventional x-ray diffraction topography is currently used to map defects in the bulk of protein crystals, but the lack of sufficient contrast is frequently a limiting factor. We experimentally demonstrate that this barrier can be circumvented using a method that combines phase sensitive and diffraction imaging principles. Details of defects revealed in tetragonal lysozyme and cubic ferritin crystals are presented and discussed. The approach enabling the detection of the phase changes of diffracted x rays should prove to be useful in the study of defect structures in a broad range of biological macromolecular crystals.     

Pressure versus pH phase diagrams of two lysozymes crystallized in agarose gel

The effect of hydrostatic pressure and pH on the crystallization of tetragonal hen lysozyme crystals (HeL, M _r 14,300) and hexagonal turkey lysozyme crystals (TeL, M _r 14,200) in agarose gel was studied. Samples (adjusted to a pH in the range 4–6) were pressurized at 0.1–100?MPa for nine days at 293?K. The morphology and number of crystals as well as protein solubility were analyzed after depressurization. For both proteins and whatever the pH, a higher pressure resulted in greater numbers of crystals and greater solubility values. At any pressure, the solubility and number of crystals were lower at the highest pH. Thus the physical chemical parameters and the outcome of the crystallization process are more affected by pressure at pH 4.0 than at pH 6.0. In the case of HeL, either high pressure or high pH induces a transition from the initial tetragonal form to an orthorhombic one. The observed effects are related to minor differences in the macromolecular structures.     

Multimodal and birefringence effects in magnetic photonic crystals

Photon trapping in magnetic photonic crystals leads to an enhanced Faraday rotation by increasing the optical path-length of the transmitted beam. The integration of these structures into on-chip photonic circuits, while advantageous from the point of view of component connectivity in multifunctional systems, faces several challenges. Photonic waveguide structures in magnetic films may support more than one mode depending on the waveguide thickness and refractive index. Differences in effective refractive indices between TE and TM modes engender phase disparities, thus hindering the Faraday response of the material. The effects of birefringence and multimodality on the performance of waveguide magnetic photonic crystals in magnetic garnets are addressed in paper. In particular, Faraday rotation enhancement in magnetophotonic crystals in the presence of waveguide birefringence and modal multiplicity on the photonic bandgap spectral response are discussed. Multiple stopbands and significant polarization rotation are observed in multimode Bi-substituted iron garnet film waveguides with single-defect photonic crystal structures. The photonic crystals for this study are patterned on ridge waveguide films by focused-ion-beam (FIB) milling.     

等离子体光子晶体的FDTD分析

等离子体光子晶体是等离子体和介质（真空）构成的人工周期性结构.用分段线性电流密度 递归卷积时域有限差分（PLCDRC-FDTD）算法分析了等离子体光子晶体和缺陷等离子体光子 晶体.从时域的角度分析了高斯脉冲在等离子体光子晶体中的传播过程，给出了时域反射和 透射波形.然后，从频域的角度分析了等离子体光子晶体和带缺陷的等离子体光子晶体的电 磁反射系数和透射系数.计算表明，等离子体光子晶体对频率小于等离子体频率的低频电磁 波几乎完全反射，而透射的电磁波则为频率高于等离子体频率的电磁波.在高频，等离子体 光子晶体则出现类似一般光子晶体的光子带隙特性. 关键词： 等离子体 光子晶体 时域有限差分法 等离子体光子晶体     

磁化等离子体光子晶体的FDTD分析

磁化等离子体光子晶体是磁化等离子体和介质(真空)构成的人工周期性结构.本文用磁化等离子体的分段线形电流密度卷积(PLCDRC)时域有限差分(FDTD)算法分析了磁化等离子体光子晶体特性.分析了磁化等离子体参数对电磁带隙的影响.从时域的角度分析了高斯脉冲在磁化等离子体光子晶体中的传播过程，给出了时域反射和透射波形.从频域的角度给出了磁化等离子体光子晶体的电磁反射系数和透射系数，并对结果进行了分析. 关键词： 磁化等离子体 光子晶体 时域有限差分法     

Analytical solution of crystal diffraction intensity

Plasma density and temperature can be diagnosed by x-ray line emission measurement with crystal, and bent crystals such as von Hamos and Hall structures are proposed to improve the diffraction brightness. In this study, a straightforward solution for the focusing schemes of flat and bent crystals is provided. Simulations with XOP code are performed to validate the analytical model, and good agreements are achieved. The von Hamos or multi-cone crystal can lead to several hundred times intensity enhancements for a 200μm plasma source. This model benefits the applications of the focusing bent crystals.     

Noncontact measurement of the thermal diffusivity of IR semi-transparent and semiconducting n-CdMgSe mixed crystals by means of the photothermal radiometry

In this paper we present results of noncontact measurements of the thermal diffusivity of infrared semi-transparent n-CdMgSe mixed semiconductor crystals by means of the photothermal radiometry (PTR) in a transmission configuration. In order to overcome an influence of the infrared semi-transparency and plasma waves on the PTR signal from n-CdMgSe mixed crystals the samples were covered by thin aluminum foils on both sides. The thermal diffusivities of n-CdMgSe mixed crystals were estimated from PTR phase frequency characteristics using a well-known formula. It was found that the obtained results are underestimated in comparison to thermal diffusivities estimated from the PPE (photopyro-electric) measurements. A three layer model of a PTR signal was applied in order to estimate an error in determination of the thermal diffusivity of a sample caused by aluminum foils.     

非磁化等离子体光子晶体的禁带周期特性研究

用时域有限差分法（Finite-Different Time-Domain,FDTD）中的电流密度卷积（Current Density Convolution,JEC）算法讨论了一维非磁化等离子体光子晶体的禁带周期特性,分析了非磁化等离子光子晶体的周期结构和等离子体参量对其禁带周期的影响.以微分高斯脉冲为激励源,用电磁波通过非磁化等离子体光子晶体后所得的透射系数来讨论非磁化等离子体光子晶体的禁带周期特性.结果表明,通过改变参量可以获得不同的禁带周期特性.     

Bone matrix like assemblies of collagen: from liquid crystals to gels and biomimetic materials

Skeletal tissues associate in close interaction, a dense organic matrix and a mineral network. In bone, the major structural protein is type I collagen, associated with inorganic crystals of hydroxyapatite. The three-dimensional arrangement of collagen fibrils in compact bone forms regularly ordered networks and a parallel was evidenced between these structures and molecular assemblies described in liquid crystals. Similar structures are now obtained in vitro. Indeed, when purified type I collagen is highly concentrated in an acid soluble state, the protein spontaneously assembles into ordered liquid crystalline phases. After a sol/gel transition triggered by pH increase, biomimetic materials are formed which resemble the exact compact bone matrix architecture over distances reaching centimetres and more. The properties of these highly ordered materials will be reviewed recalling their supramolecular arrangement and the corresponding patterns when visualised in polarised light microscopy (birefringence) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The association of inorganic phases (amorphous silica) to form chiral hybrid materials will also be described so as the behaviour of cells (fibroblast adhesion and migration) when seeded on these dense biomimetic matrices.     

Effect of temperature on the phase behavior and microstructure of aggregates in SDS/Triton X-100/aH2O systems

The phase behavior and microstructure of a system containing polyoxyethylene tert-octylphenyl (Triton X-100), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and water were investigated using polarized optical microscopy (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and small-angle X-ray diffraction (XRD). Phase-behavior study revealed that lamellar and hexagonal phases occurred in different compositions, and that lyotropic liquid crystal phases tended to form an H phase with increased Triton X-100 content. The effects of temperature on the phase behavior and microstructure of lyotropic liquid crystals were also studied. Heating induced a change from hexagonal to lamellar phase and from gel to hexagonal phase. POM and small-angle X-ray diffraction (SXRD) revealed that the phase-transition temperature of LLCs increased with increased Triton X-100 content, as further supported by DSC data.     

基于横向磁光效应磁化等离子体光子晶体的光子带隙特性

通过外加与电磁波传播方向垂直的磁场来调控等离子体光子晶体的光子带隙结构。采用时域有限差分方法数值分析了由本征层为等离子体层和其他电介质材料层交替堆叠而成的磁化等离子体光子晶体的光子带隙结构和频谱特性。数值结果表明,光子晶体中等离子体的介电常数随着外磁场大小的变化而改变,从而使磁化等离子体光子晶体的带隙特性在一定的频率范围相应地得到调节。     

Phase separated composite films of liquid crystals

Phase separation of liquid crystals from a solution with polymers has long been studied and used to prepare polymer stabilized and polymer dispersed structures. They are formed by spatially isotropic phase separation. A new mode, in which the phase separation proceeds anisotropically, has recently been discovered. Known as phase separated composite films (PSCOF), the resultant structures are made of adjacent parallel layers of liquid crystal and solidified polymer. PSCOFs have been made with nematic, ferroelectric (FLC), and antiferroelectric (AFLC) liquid crystals. Liquid crystals in PSCOFs exhibit electro-optical properties not observed in devices prepared by conventional methods, polymer dispersion, or polymer stabilization methods. Devices incorporating FLCs possess grey scale and switch 100 times faster at low fields than conventional surface stabilized devices. This method makes it possible to prepare very flexible devices and devices with liquid crystal film thickness comparable to optical wavelengths with great ease.     

Approach for growth of high-quality and large protein crystals

Three crystallization methods for growing large high-quality protein crystals, i.e. crystallization in the presence of a semi-solid agarose gel, top-seeded solution growth (TSSG) and a large-scale hanging-drop method, have previously been presented. In this study the effectiveness of crystallization in the presence of a semi-solid agarose gel has been further evaluated by crystallizing additional proteins in the presence of 2.0% (w/v) agarose gel, resulting in complete gelification with high mechanical strength. In TSSG the seed crystals are hung by a seed holder protruding from the top of the growth vessel to prevent polycrystallization. In the large-scale hanging-drop method, a cut pipette tip was used to maintain large-scale droplets consisting of protein-precipitant solution. Here a novel crystallization method that combines TSSG and the large-scale hanging-drop method is reported. A large and single crystal of lysozyme was obtained by this method.     

Variable morphology of PTFE-like polymer nanocrystals fabricated by oriented plasma polymerization at atmospheric pressure

Rapid formation of PTFE-like polymer nanocrystals was achieved by a novel synthesis method—oriented plasma polymerization (OPP) at atmospheric pressure. The entire process was completed within a short period of time ranging between a few seconds to several minutes through dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) at atmospheric pressure. The surface morphology of the coated organic crystal film was observed through scanning electronic microscope (SEM) and different morphology nanocrystals were found such as nanorods and nanotubes. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the single-crystalline phase of these nanocrystals. The sizes of the nanosingle crystals were from 10 nm to 1 μm. The effects of discharge conditions such as discharge time, ratio of the monomer to carrier gas and power on the nanocrystalline morphology and crystallinity were investigated. As a result, the physical morphology and structures could be controlled through the conditions of the oriented plasma polymerization to some extent. This novel polymerization method opened a new way to nanofabricate polymeric crystallines fast and effectively.     

Electrical and optical properties of colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals in aqueous environments

Microscale and larger semiconductor crystals have electronic and optical properties that depend on their bulk band structures. When these crystals are reduced into the nanoscale, they enter a new regime in which the electrical and optical properties are no longer influenced solely by their bulk band structures, but are influenced by the crystallite size and shape. In this paper, dimensional confinement and proximity phenomena are examined for colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals in several cases of practical importance. Specifically, we determine the effective binding potentials of selected quantum dots in aqueous environments in various colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals and correlate them with experimentally obtained absorption spectra. We also study fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between semiconductor crystals connected by short peptide chains as well as the shift in photoluminescence spectra of CdTe nanowires made from a chain of CdTe quantum dots.     

Observation of a structural transition for Coulomb crystals in a linear Paul trap

A structural transition for laser cooled ion Coulomb crystals in a linear Paul trap just above the stability limit of parametrically resonant excitation of bulk plasma modes has been observed. In contrast to the usual spheroidal shell structures present below the stability limit, the ions arrange in a "string-of-disks" configuration. The spheroidal envelopes of the string-of-disks structures are in agreement with results from cold fluid theory usually valid for ion Coulomb crystals if the ion systems are assumed to be rotating collectively.     

Phase transition in sarcosine phosphite single crystals

Single crystals of sarcosine phosphite (SarcH₃PO₃) have been grown. The amino acid sarcosine is an isomer of the protein amino acid alanine. Both amino acids are described by the same chemical formula but have different structures; or, more specifically, in contrast to the alanine molecule, the sarcosine molecule has a symmetric structure. It has been found that the sarcosine phosphite compound undergoes a structural phase transition at a temperature of approximately 200 K. This result has demonstrated that compounds of achiral amino acids are more susceptible to structural phase transitions.     

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通过增加外磁场来调控等离子体光子晶体的光子带隙结构,采用时域有限差分算法分析了由本征层为磁化等离子体层和其他电介质材料层交替堆叠而成的磁化等离子体光子晶体的光子带隙结构,数值模拟中采用完全匹配层吸收边界条件以防止边界的反射。由于外磁场的法拉第磁光效应,使等离子体的介电常数随着外磁场的变化而改变。数值结果表明,等离子体光子晶体的带隙特性在一定的频率范围相应地得到调节,实现了频率低于等离子体频率的电磁波也能在等离子体中传播。