New improvements in oligonucleotide synthesis by use of the p-nitrophenylethyl phosphate blocking group and its deprotection by DBU or DBN

Phosphate protection in the phosphotriester approach is improved by the new, versatile p-nitrophenylethyl group due to its stability in the condensation step and its clean removal by DBU and DBN respectively.     

Effects of phase separation on crystallization behavior

The effects of phase separation on the kinetics of crystal growth have been investigated for three compositions in the Na₂OSiO₂ system, containing about 1.5, 10 and 15 mol% Na₂O. In the two cases for which reliable data could be obtained over the full range of temperature (10 and 15% Na₂O), the measured growth rates are independent of time, for crystallization temperatures within as well as outside the miscibility gap. In both cases, the growth rate versus temperature relations are continuous through the region of the immiscible boundary. These results are related to previous data on the effects of phase separation on viscosity in the Na₂OSiO₂ system and on nucleation and crystallization in the Li₂OSiO₂ system. It is suggested that transport at the crystal-liquid interface in a phase-separating system involves different types of atomic rearrangements than those involved in viscous flow.     

Stochastic linear maps and transition probability

Some aspects of the transition probability P(, ) between states , on unital ^*-algebras are discussed. It is shown that P increases under the action of any stochastic linear map T, i.e., P(T, T)P(, ). Some properties of P are derived in starting from a recently-proved characterization of the quantity in question.     

A problem relating to positive linear maps on matrix algebras

In this paper we investigate conditions under which two finite-dimensional density matrices can be transformed simultaneously into two other ones by means of a positive linear map which maps density matrices into density matrices. The result of this paper provides a complete answer in case of the matrix algebra of two-by-two matrices.     

Resonant cavity photon creation via the dynamical Casimir effect

Motivated by a recent proposal for an experimental verification of the dynamical Casimir effect, the macroscopic electromagnetic field within a perfect cavity containing a thin slab with a time-dependent dielectric permittivity is quantized in terms of the dual potentials. For the resonance case, the number of photons created out of the vacuum due to the dynamical Casimir effect is calculated for both polarizations. It turns out that only TM modes can be excited efficiently.     

Combined QCM-D/GE as a tool to characterize stimuli-responsive swelling of and protein adsorption on polymer brushes grafted onto 3D-nanostructures

A combined setup of quartz crystal microbalance and generalized ellipsometry can be used to comprehensively investigate complex functional coatings comprising stimuli-responsive polymer brushes and 3D nanostructures in a dynamic, noninvasive in situ measurement. While the quartz crystal microbalance detects the overall change in areal mass, for instance, during a swelling or adsorption process, the generalized ellipsometry data can be evaluated in terms of a layered model to distinguish between processes occurring within the intercolumnar space or on top of the anisotropic nanocolumns. Silicon films with anisotropic nanocolumnar morphology were prepared by the glancing angle deposition technique and further functionalized by grafting of poly-(acrylic acid) or poly-(N- isopropylacrylamide) chains. Investigations of the thermoresponsive swelling of the poly-(N-isopropylacrylamide) brush on the Si nanocolumns proved the successful preparation of a stimuli-responsive coating. Furthermore, the potential of these novel coatings in the field of biotechnology was explored by investigation of the adsorption of the model protein bovine serum albumin. Adsorption, retention, and desorption triggered by a change in the pH value is observed using poly-(acrylic acid) functionalized nanostructures, although generalized ellipsometry data revealed that this process occurs only on top of the nanostructures. Poly-(N-isopropylacrylamide) is found to render the nanostructures non-fouling properties.     

Electromagnetic wormholes and virtual magnetic monopoles from metamaterials

We describe new configurations of electromagnetic (EM) material parameters, the electric permittivity epsilon and magnetic permeability micro, which allow one to construct devices that function as invisible tunnels. These allow EM wave propagation between the regions at the two ends of a tunnel, but the tunnels themselves and the regions they enclose are not detectable to lateral EM observations. Such devices act as wormholes with respect to Maxwell's equations and effectively change the topology of space vis-à-vis EM wave propagation. We suggest several applications, including devices behaving as virtual magnetic monopoles, invisible cables, and scopes for MRI-assisted surgery.     

SIMS-AES investigations on water vapour adsorption on nickel (100) at room temperature

By means of the methods SIMS and AES the adsorption of water vapour on the (100) surface of nickel was studied. We conclude from the results obtained that the adsorption has three stages: chemisorption of OH groups, formation of a surface hydroxide and finally, formation of an oxide layer containing O and OH. The quantity of oxygen detected corresponded maximally to about a monolayer coverage.     

SIMS-AES investigations of the oxygen adsorption on the (110) surface of Fe71Ni29

Oxygen adsorption was investigated on the (110) surface of Fe₇₁Ni₂₉ at room temperature by means of the methods AES and SIMS. Three stages of interaction of oxygen with the surface could be determined. A dissociative chemisorption occurs in the dose range up to 5 L, surface oxides are nucleated between 5 L and about 40 L, and in the case of longer oxygen exposures a thicker oxide layer grows. At first, iron and nickel contribute to the surface reaction in like manner.