On a further search for a yearly modulation of the rate in particle Dark Matter direct search

The results achieved with a statistics of 14962 kg·day, collected with the large mass highly radiopure DAMA NaI(Tl) set-up, are described and investigated in terms of WIMP annual modulation signature. A maximum likelihood analysis of these data, combined with the statistics of 4549 kg·day previously published (total statistics of 19511 kg·day), favours the hypothesis of presence of an annual modulation at 99.6% C.L.     

Perturbation of systems of linear algebraic equations ∗

A classical perturbation result for nonsingular systems of linear algebraic equations is extended to general consistent systems under any norm. An optimal perturbation result is also obtained for general linear least squares problems under a Euclidean norm.     

Potential energy surface for linear triatomic molecules: An algebraic method

Recently, we proposed a new transformation between the angle of canonical coordinates and the bond angle to describe the bending motion in Potential Energy Surfaces (PES) of bent triatomic molecules. In this work we extend the transformation to include linear triatomic molecules. Results for the linear triatomic molecule N₂O are reported.     

Determination of asperosaponin VI in rat plasma by HPLC‐ESI‐MS and its application to preliminary pharmacokinetic studies

Asperosaponin VI (also named akebia saponin D) is a typical bioactive triterpenoid saponin isolated from the rhizome of Dipsacus asper Wall (Dipsacaceae). In this work, a sensitive high‐performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–mass spectrometry (HPLC‐ESI‐MS) assay has been established for determination of asperosaponin VI in rat plasma. With losartan as the internal standard (IS), plasma samples were prepared by protein precipitation with methanol. Chromatographic separation was performed on a C₁₈ column with a mobile phase of 10 mm ammonium acetate buffer containing 0.05% formic acid–methanol (32 : 68, v/v). The analysis was performed on an ESI in the selected ion monitoring mode using target ions at m/z 951.4 for asperosaponin VI and m/z 423.2 for the IS. The calibration curve was linear over the range 3–1000 ng/mL and the lower limit of quantification was 3.0 ng/mL. The intra‐ and inter‐assay variability values were less than 9.5 and 7.8%, respectively. The accuracies determined at the concentrations of 3.0, 100.0, 300.0 and 1000 ng/mL for asperosaponin VI were within ±15.0%. The validated method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study in rats after oral administration of asperosaponin VI. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Bifurcations in the optimal elastic foundation for a buckling column

We investigate the buckling under compression of a slender beam with a distributed lateral elastic support, for which there is an associated cost. For a given cost, we study the optimal choice of support to protect against Euler buckling. We show that with only weak lateral support, the optimum distribution is a delta-function at the centre of the beam. When more support is allowed, we find numerically that the optimal distribution undergoes a series of bifurcations. We obtain analytical expressions for the buckling load around the first bifurcation point and corresponding expansions for the optimal position of support. Our theoretical predictions, including the critical exponent of the bifurcation, are confirmed by computer simulations.     

The way to high-performance single nanowire photodetectors: problems and prospects

<正>As potential building blocks for micro-nano devices,one-dimensional semiconductor nanowires(NWs)have been widely studied in recent decades.Due to limited dimension and large surface-to-volume ratio,devices based on NWs are more likely to exhibit unique properties.NW photodetectors adopting different materials have been fabricated.However,the performance is greatly affected by several issues such as lattice quality,surface homogeneity,contact electrodes and