The largest strongly consecutive repeat-free code

Answering a question of Körner and Simonyi, this paper gives a strongly consecutive repeat-free code of maximal size in [b]ⁿ.     

Reintroduced solids increase inhibitor levels in a pretreated corn stover hydrolysate

Following detoxification of the liquid hydrolysate produced in a corn stover pretreatment process, inhibitor levels are seen to increase with the re-addition of solids for the ensuing hydrolysis and fermentation processes. The solids that were separated from the slurry before detoxification of the liquor contain approx 60% (w/w) moisture, and contamination occurs owing to the diffusion of inhibitors from the moisture entrained in the porous structure of the corn stover solids into the bulk fluid. This evidence suggests the need for additional separation and detoxification steps to purge residual inhibitors entrained in the moisture in the solids. An overliming process to remove furans from the hydrolysate failed to reduce total organic acids concentration, so acids were removed by treatment with an activated carbon powder. Smaller carbon doses proved more efficient in removing organic acids in terms of grams of acid removed per gram of carbon powder. Sugar adsorption by the activated carbon powder was minimal.     

Magnetism in electron-doped copper oxides

We report muon spin relaxation/rotation measurements on sintered powder samples of Nd_2−x Ce _x CuO_4−y and a large single crystal of Nd₂CuO_4−y . We find an electronic phase diagram which is quite similar to that of hole-doped superconductors such as La_2−x Sr _x CuO_4−y , although the doping of electrons into the system is less efficient in destroying the static moments on the copper spins. Static magnetic order in Nd₂CuO_4−y appears below about 250 K, and two spin reorientations are seen atT=75 K andT=35 K. Measurements of the magnetic field penetration depth have been unsuccessful due to the rare-earth paramagnetism of these materials.     

μSR studies of heavy fermion systems

We have performed both zero field and high transverse field measurements at dilution refrigerator temperatures on a number of heavy electron systems, examining the superconducting and magnetic properties of these interesting materials. Among the materials studied to date are UBe₁₃, URu₂Si₂ and U₆Fe. The magnetic field penetration depth in the superconducting state of UBe₁₃ is greater than 10000 Å, as no increase in the transverse field relaxation rate is observed belowT _c . A sharp increase in the precession frequency is seen, starting atT _c . This frequency shift shows little temperature dependence at low temperature; we found no clear evidence for unconventional superconductivity in this material. Zero field measurements in URu₂Si₂ show the weak antiferromagnetic transition at 17.5 K. Finally, we we found no clear evidence for unconventional superconductivity in this material. Zero field measurements in URu₂Si₂ show the weak antiferromagnetic transition at 17.5 K. Finally, we have observed relaxation in high transverse field due to the formation of a flux lattice in U₆Fe, a material where the electron effective mass is rather lighter than in other heavy fermion systems. The relaxation exhibits a sharp onset atT _c=3.9 K, and is flat at low temperatures as expected for a conventional superconductor.     

Effect of impeller geometry on gas-liquid mass transfer coefficients in filamentous suspensions

Volumetric gas-liquid mass transfer coefficients were measured in suspensions of cellulose fibers with concentrations ranging from 0 to 20 g/L. The mass transfer coefficients were measured using the dynamic method. Results are presented for three different combinations of impellers at a variety of gassing rates and agitation speeds. Rheological properties of the cellulose fibers were also measured using the impeller viscometer method. Tests were conducted in a 20 L stirred-tank fermentor and in 65 L tank with a height to diameter ratio of 3:1. Power consumption was measured in both vessels. At low agitation rates, two Rushton turbines gave 20% better performance than the Rushton and hydrofoil combination and 40% better performance than the Rushton and propeller combination for oxygen transfer. At higher agitation rates, the Rushton and hydrofoil combination gave 14 and 25% better performance for oxygen transfer than two Rushton turbines and the Rushton and hydrofoil combination, respectively.

     

Quantum diffusion of muonium in GaAs

The diffusion rate of muonium in the III–V compound semiconductor GaAs has been determined from measurements of muon spinT ₁ relaxation induced by motion in the presence of nuclear hyperfine interactions. It is shown for the first time in a semiconductor that (a) there is a crossover of the transport mechanism at about 90 K from stochastic to zero-phonon hopping, as evidenced by a steep rise in the hop rate at lower temperatures, and that (b) the muonium diffuses at the hop rate of 10¹⁰ s⁻¹ (corresponding diffusion constantD≈10⁻⁶ cm²s⁻¹) at lower temperatures as well as at room temperature.     

Formation of tetra(ethylene oxide) terminated Si-C linked monolayers and their derivatization with glycine: an example of a generic strategy for the immobilization of biomolecules on silicon

Surface modification with oligo(ethylene oxide) functionalized monolayers terminated with reactive headgroups constitutes a powerful strategy to provide specific coupling of biomolecules with simultaneous protection from nonspecific adsorption on surfaces for the preparation of biorecognition interfaces. To date, oligo(ethylene oxide) functionalized monolayer-forming molecules which can be activated for attachment of biomolecules but which can selectively form monolayers onto hydrogen terminated silicon have yet to be developed. Here, self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) containing tetra(ethylene oxide) moieties protected with tert-butyl dimethylsilyl groups were formed by thermal hydrosilylation of alkenes with single-crystal Si(111)-H. The protection group was used to avoid side reactions with the hydride terminated silicon surface. Monolayer formation was carried out using solutions of the alkene in the high-boiling-point solvent 1,3,5-triethylbenzene. The protecting group was removed under very mild acidic conditions to yield a free hydroxyl functionality, a convenient surface moiety for coupling of biological entities via carbamate bond formation. The chemical composition and structure of the monolayers before and after deprotection were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray reflectometry. To demonstrate the utility of this surface for covalent modification, two reagents were compared and contrasted for their ability to activate the surface hydroxyl groups for coupling of free amines, carbonyl diimidazole (CDI), and disuccinimidyl carbonate (DSC). Analysis of XP spectra before and after activation by CDI or DSC, and after subsequent reaction with glycine, provided quantitative information on the extent of activation and overall coupling efficiencies. CDI activated surfaces gave poor coupling yields under various conditions, whereas DSC mediated activation followed by aminolysis at neutral pH was found to be an efficient method for the immobilization of amines on tetra(ethylene oxide) modified surfaces.     

Total internal reflection-based biochip utilizing a polymer-filled cavity with a micromirror sidewall

A total internal reflection (TIR)-based biochip utilizing a polymer-filled cavity with a micromirror sidewall has been designed and fabricated. The implementation of the micromirror sidewall cavity facilitates precise alignment of the excitation light beam into the system. The incident angle of illumination can be easily modified by selecting polymers of different indices of refraction while optical losses are minimized. The design enables the hybrid, vertical integration of a laser diode and a CCD camera, resulting in a compact optical system. Brownian motion of fluorescent microspheres and real-time photobleaching of rhodamine 6G molecules is demonstrated. The proposed TIR-based chip simplifies current TIR optical configurations and could potentially be used as an optical-microfluidic platform for an integrated lab-on-a-chip microsystem.