Preparation and characterization of MgB2 superconductor

The MgB₂ superconductor, synthesized using solid-state and liquid-phase sintering methods, have been characterized for various properties. The upper critical field, irreversibility line and critical current density have been determined using magnetization data. The current-voltage characteristics recorded under an applied magnetic field revealed the existence of vortex glass transition. The surface analysis using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy shows that MgB₂ is sensitive to atmospheric degradation.     

Increase in molecular mobility of an amorphous polymer deformed below Tg

An extensive mechanical spectroscopy study in the low‐frequency range is proposed to evidence and characterize the effect of a deformation below the glass transition temperature (T_g) on the mobility in an amorphous bisphenol‐A polycarbonate. The mechanical treatment induces the appearance of a peak more than 100 K below T_α, which presents the characteristics of a relaxation associated to an unstable nature. This phenomenon is related to the creation of shear‐induced high‐mobility zones. The characteristics of these zones appear to be independent of the deformation level applied to the system. The use of a specific procedure allows the determination of the values of the apparent activation energy of the mechanism. The apparent activation energy increases continuously from the values of the β‐relaxation to the main α‐relaxation ones. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 497–505, 2008     

Metal Ion Controlled Self-Assembly of a Chemically Reengineered Protein Drug Studied by Small-Angle X-ray Scattering

Precise control of the oligomeric state of proteins is of central importance for biological function and for the properties of biopharmaceutical drugs. Here, the self-assembly of 2,2'-bipyridine conjugated monomeric insulin analogues, induced through coordination to divalent metal ions, was studied. This protein drug system was designed to form non-native homo-oligomers through selective coordination of two divalent metal ions, Fe(II) and Zn(II), respectively. The insulin type chosen for this study is a variant designed for a reduced tendency toward native dimer formation at physiological concentrations. A small-angle X-ray scattering analysis of the bipyridine-modified insulin system confirmed an organization into a novel well-ordered structure based on insulin trimers, as induced by the addition of Fe(II). In contrast, unmodified monomeric insulin formed larger and more randomly structured assemblies upon addition of Fe(II). The addition of Zn(II), on the other hand, led to the formation of small quantities of insulin hexamers for both the bipyridine-modified and the unmodified monomeric insulin. Interestingly, the location of the bipyridine-modification significantly affects the tendency to hexamer formation as compared to the unmodified insulin. Our study shows how combining a structural study and chemical design can be used to obtain molecular understanding and control of the self-assembly of a protein drug. This knowledge may eventually be employed to develop an optimized in vivo drug release profile.     

Compensation of strong thermal lensing in high-optical-power cavities

In an experiment to simulate the conditions in high optical power advanced gravitational wave detectors, we show for the first time that the time evolution of strong thermal lenses follows the predicted infinite sum of exponentials (approximated by a double exponential), and that such lenses can be compensated using an intracavity compensation plate heated on its cylindrical surface. We show that high finesse approximately 1400 can be achieved in cavities with internal compensation plates, and that mode matching can be maintained. The experiment achieves a wave front distortion similar to that expected for the input test mass substrate in the Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory, and shows that thermal compensation schemes are viable. It is also shown that the measurements allow a direct measurement of substrate optical absorption in the test mass and the compensation plate.     

Modeling auditory evoked brainstem responses to transient stimuli

A quantitative model is presented that describes the formation of auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) to tone pulses, clicks, and rising chirps as a function of stimulation level. The model computes the convolution of the instantaneous discharge rates using the "humanized" nonlinear auditory-nerve model of Zilany and Bruce [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 122, 402-417 (2007)] and an empirically derived unitary response function which is assumed to reflect contributions from different cell populations within the auditory brainstem, recorded at a given pair of electrodes on the scalp. It is shown that the model accounts for the decrease of tone-pulse evoked wave-V latency with frequency but underestimates the level dependency of the tone-pulse as well as click-evoked latency values. Furthermore, the model correctly predicts the nonlinear wave-V amplitude behavior in response to the chirp stimulation both as a function of chirp sweeping rate and level. Overall, the results support the hypothesis that the pattern of ABR generation is strongly affected by the nonlinear and dispersive processes in the cochlea.     

Structural and rheological properties of hydrophobically modified alkali‐soluble emulsion solutions

Scattering and rheological experiments were carried out on hydrophobically modified alkali‐soluble emulsion solutions at pH ～ 7.3 as a function of the polymer concentration. The light scattering experiments revealed the existence of a liquidlike order for concentrations below approximately 0.1 × 10^?2g cm^?3 corresponding approximately to the close packing of microgels particles. Above this concentration, the zero‐shear viscosity rose sharply, whereas the ordering disappeared progressively. The results are discussed within the framework of gelation models of associating polymers. Diffusing wave spectroscopy experiments provided estimates of the high‐frequency modulus. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 1985–1994, 2002