The duplicate method of uncertainty estimation: are eight targets enough?

This paper presents methods for calculating confidence intervals for estimates of sampling uncertainty (s(samp)) and analytical uncertainty (s(anal)) using the chi-squared distribution. These uncertainty estimates are derived from application of the duplicate method, which recommends a minimum of eight duplicate samples. The methods are applied to two case studies--moisture in butter and nitrate in lettuce. Use of the recommended minimum of eight duplicate samples is justified for both case studies as the confidence intervals calculated using greater than eight duplicates did not show any appreciable reduction in width. It is considered that eight duplicates provide estimates of uncertainty that are both acceptably accurate and cost effective.     

Distribution of animal population fluctuations

We show that the fluctuations of a variety of animal (insect, mammal and fish) populations are well-modeled by stable (Lévy) distributions, a family of distributions which includes the Gaussian. Our findings together with the finding [A.P. Allen, B.-L. Li, E.L. Charnov, Ecol. Lett. 4 (2001) 1-3] that bird population fluctuations are well-modeled by Gaussian distributions suggest the hypothesis that, in general, animal population fluctuations are well-modeled by stable distributions. If the hypothesis is confirmed, the stable law for the distribution of animal population fluctuations would be useful for animal population modeling, prediction and management.     

Measuring gravitational effect of superintense laser by spin-squeezed Bose—Einstein condensates interferometer

We consider an extremely intense laser, enclosed by an atom interferometer. The gravitational potential generated from the high-intensity laser is solved from the Einstein field equation under the Newtonian limit. We compute the strength of the gravitational force and study the feasibility of measuring the force by the atom interferometer. The intense laser field from the laser pulse can induce a phase change in the interferometer with Bose-Einstein condensates. We push up the sensitivity limit of the interferometer with Bose-Einstein condensates by spin-squeezing effect and determine the sensitivity gap for measuring the gravitational effect from intense laser by atom interferometer.     

Exotic Clusters Formed by Electrons and Positrons: Approximate Calculations of Binding Energies and Bonding Capabilities of Positronium Atom and Dipositronium and Positronium Hydride Molecules Based on Their Hydrogen Analogs

A simple method is presented which allows us to estimate the binding energies and bonding capabilities of exotic species formed by electrons, positrons, and protons, namely, the positronium atom (Ps) and the dipositronium (Ps₂) and positronium hydride (PsH) molecules. These exotic species are in fact the simplest clusters formed by the aforementioned fundamental particles and antiparticles. The simple Bohr atom model for hydrogen is extended to calculate the binding energies and radii of atomic orbitals of the Ps atom, as well as its atomic and covalent sizes and electronegativity. Based on these properties, the bond lengths and bond energies, including the covalent and ionic contributions, of the Ps₂ and the PsH molecules can be estimated from the corresponding (known) values of the dihydrogen molecule (H₂) using a Hückel-like molecular orbital calculation.     

Molecular dynamics calculation of molecular volumes and volumes of activation

Experimentally, the effects of pressure on reaction rates are described by their pressure derivatives, known as volumes of activation. Transition state theory directly links activation volumes to partial molar volumes of reactants and transition states. We discuss a molecular dynamics method for the accurate calculation of molecular volumes, within which the volumes of molecular species are obtained as a difference between the volumes of pure solvent and solvent with a single molecule inserted. The volumes thus obtained depend on the molecular geometry, the strength and type of the solute-solvent interactions, as well as temperature and pressure. The partial molar volumes calculated using this approach agree well with experimental data. Since this method can also be applied to transition state species, it allows for quantitative analysis of experimental volumes of activation in terms of structural parameters of the corresponding transition states. The efficiency of the approach is illustrated by calculation of volumes of activation for three nonpolar reactions in nonpolar solvents. The results agree well with the experimental data.     

Extrusion Based 3D Printing of Sustainable Biocomposites from Biocarbon and Poly(trimethylene terephthalate)

Three-dimensional (3D) printing manufactures intricate computer aided designs without time and resource spent for mold creation. The rapid growth of this industry has led to its extensive use in the automotive, biomedical, and electrical industries. In this work, biobased poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) blends were combined with pyrolyzed biomass to create sustainable and novel printing materials. The Miscanthus biocarbon (BC), generated from pyrolysis at 650 °C, was combined with an optimized PTT blend at 5 and 10 wt % to generate filaments for extrusion 3D printing. Samples were printed and analyzed according to their thermal, mechanical, and morphological properties. Although there were no significant differences seen in the mechanical properties between the two BC composites, the optimal quantity of BC was 5 wt % based upon dimensional stability, ease of printing, and surface finish. These printable materials show great promise for implementation into customizable, non-structural components in the electrical and automotive industries.     

Photoassisted magnetization of fullerene C60 with magnetic-field trapped Raman scattering

We report a photoassisted method to magnetize microcrystal fullerene C(60) at room temperature by exciting it to triplet states via a proper laser radiation and then trapping the spin-polarized states under a strong magnetic field. Novel changes on Raman scattering of the C(60) microcrystals were observed in the presence and absence of the magnetic field. In particular, the Raman spectra were found to exhibit a "hysteresis" phenomenon when the external magnetic field was removed. In light of this, we propose magnetic-field-trapped Raman spectroscopy (MFTRS) and employ first-principle calculations to reproduce the Raman activities of C(60) at different states. Further, MFTRS of the fullerene is demonstrated to originate from its photoassisted magnetization (PAM). The PAM strategy enables the magnetization of materials which consist of only light elements; meanwhile, the MFTRS investigation may open a new research field in Raman spectroscopy.     

Heme flattening is sufficient for signal transduction in the H-NOX family

The H-NOX family of nitric oxide (NO) sensing proteins has received considerable attention because its members include the mammalian NO sensor, soluble guanylate cyclase. Despite this attention, the mechanism of signal transduction has not been elucidated. Structural studies of bacterial members of the family have revealed that the H-NOX heme cofactor is extremely distorted from planarity. Furthermore, it has been determined that heme distortion is maintained primarily by a conserved proline residue located in the proximal heme pocket. It has been suggested that changes in heme planarity may contribute to signal transduction. Here we demonstrate that heme flattening is, indeed, sufficient for signal transduction in the H-NOX family. Using our previously described H-NOX/diguanylate cyclase functional partners from Shewanella woodyi, we demonstrate that mutation of the conserved proline (P117 in SwH-NOX) to alanine, which results in heme flattening, has the same affect on phosphodiesterase activity as NO binding to wildtype SwH-NOX. This study demonstrates, for the first time, that heme flattening mimics the activated, NO-bound state of H-NOX and suggests that NO binding induces heme flattening as part of the signal transduction mechanism in the H-NOX family.     

The mechanism of antiparallel <Emphasis Type="Italic">β</Emphasis>-sheet formation based on conditioned self-avoiding walk

By introducing an additional hydrogen bond to hydrogen bond interaction in the force field of the CSAW (Conditioned Self-Avoiding Walk) model, we investigate into the mechanism of antiparallel β-sheet formation based on the folding of a short polyalanine in gas phase. Through our numerical simulation, we detect the possible presence of a transient helix during β-sheet formation, whose presence is shown to have slowed the formation of β-sheets by an order of magnitude. While we observe the mechanisms of nucleation, zipping and induction that drives the formation of a β-sheet, we uncover a new mechanism that involves transient β-turns and short β-sheets during the formation of long β-sheets. Our results have enabled us to provide an overview on the mechanisms of β-sheet formation via two main folding pathways: slow folding through the intermediate state of transient helix, and fast folding from the nucleation of β-turn.     

Output voltage regulation of a k15 mode piezoelectric transformer by an external L/C component

Smooth regulation of output voltage of piezoelectric transformers can significantly widen the application range of piezoelectric transformers. So far the driving frequency of piezoelectric transformers has been used to regulate the output voltage at a matching load. However, the regulation range of voltage gain achieved by the method is usually very narrow within the acceptable range of efficiency. In this work, we investigate the possibility to regulate the output voltage of a k₁₅ mode piezoelectric transformer by an external L/C component. The effects of an L/C component in series or parallel with the input and output ports on the voltage gain are investigated theoretically and experimentally. It is found that the voltage gain can be smoothly regulated in a relatively wide range by a tunable inductor that is in series with the input port. At a matching load of 80 Ω, the voltage gain can be regulated between 0.31 and 0.94 with efficiency larger than 90% and between 0.34 and 1.18 with efficiency about 80%. It is also found that a tunable capacitor in parallel or series with the output port can be used to regulate the voltage gain with efficiency higher than 90%.