Capture cross-section and density of deep gap states in a−SiHx schottky barrier structures

Recombination of charge carriers in a?SiH_x Schottky barriers with density of states near mid-gap ranging from 2.8×10¹⁵?7×10¹⁶cm^-1eV^-1 is attributed to recombination centers with hole capture cross-section of 1.3×10^-15cm².     

From PCA's to equilibrium systems and back

Stationary measures for probabilistic cellular automata (PCA's) ind dimensions give rise to space-time histories whose statistics may naturally be described by Gibbs states ind+1 dimensions for an interaction energy ? obtained from the PCA. In this note we study the converse question: Do all Gibbs states for this ? correspond to statistical space-time histories for the PCA? Our main result states that the answer is yes, at least for translation invariant or periodic Gibbs states. Thus ergodicity questions for PCA's can, at least partially, be formulated as questions of uniqueness of Gibbs states.     

On polyharmonic maps into spheres in the critical dimension

We prove that every polyharmonic map u∈Wm,2(Bn,SN−1)$u\in W^{m,2}({\mathbb{B}}^n,{\mathbb{S}}^{N-1})$ is smooth in the critical dimension n=2m$n=2m$. Moreover, in every dimension n  , a weak limit u∈Wm,2(Bn,SN−1)$u\in W^{m,2}({\mathbb{B}}^n,{\mathbb{S}}^{N-1})$ of a sequence of polyharmonic maps uj∈Wm,2(Bn,SN−1)$u_j\in W^{m,2}({\mathbb{B}}^n,{\mathbb{S}}^{N-1})$ is also polyharmonic.     

Topological Factors Derived from Bohmian Mechanics

We derive for Bohmian mechanics topological factors for quantum systems with a multiply-connected configuration space $$ \mathcal{Q}. $$ These include nonabelian factors corresponding to what we call holonomy-twisted representations of the fundamental group of $$ \mathcal{Q}. $$ We employ wave functions on the universal covering space of $$ \mathcal{Q}. $$ As a byproduct of our analysis, we obtain an explanation, within the framework of Bohmian mechanics, of the fact that the wave function of a system of identical particles is either symmetric or anti-symmetric. Communicated by Yosi Avron Submitted: 21/06/2005 Revised: 10/01/2006 Accepted: 27/01/2006     

Continuous flow stable isotope methods for study of delta(13)C fractionation during halomethane production and degradation

Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/MS/IRMS) methods for delta(13)C measurement of the halomethanes CH(3)Cl, CH(3)Br, CH(3)I and methanethiol (CH(3)SH) during studies of their biological production, biological degradation, and abiotic reactions are presented. Optimisation of gas chromatographic parameters allowed the identification and quantification of CO(2), O(2), CH(3)Cl, CH(3)Br, CH(3)I and CH(3)SH from a single sample, and also the concurrent measurement of delta(13)C for each of the halomethanes and methanethiol. Precision of delta(13)C measurements for halomethane standards decreased (+/-0.3, +/-0.5 and +/-1.3 per thousand) with increasing mass (CH(3)Cl, CH(3)Br, CH(3)I, respectively). Given that carbon isotope effects during biological production, biological degradation and some chemical (abiotic) reactions can be as much as 100 per thousand, stable isotope analysis offers a precise method to study the global sources and sinks of these halogenated compounds that are of considerable importance to our understanding of stratospheric ozone destruction.     

PHOTOSENSITIZATION BY PORPHYRINS DELIVERED TO L CELL FIBROBLASTS BY HUMAN SERUM LOW DENSITY LIPOPROTEINS. A MICROSPECTROFLUOROMETRIC STUDY

Human serum LDL were used as vehicles to deliver protoporphyrin and hematoporphyrin dimer to L cell mouse fibroblasts. Topographic analysis by microspectrofluorometry on single living cells shows that after digestion of LDL, protoporphyrin is localized in cytoplasmic areas. Protoporphyrin and hematoporphyrin dimer are readily bleached by 420 ± 60 nm radiations at the high fluence rate used. Complex bleaching kinetics are observed. Spectral studies using the same technique demonstrate that an intense fluorescent emission (λ_max= 450 nm) is produced immediately after the onset of irradiation with 365 ± 2 nm or 420 ± 60 nm radiations using LDL loaded with protoporphyrin or Photofrin II. These fluorescent products have been previously identified as lipofuscin-like pigments formed by reaction of lipid photoperoxides with amino groups. The permeation of lysosomal membranes is also induced after delivery of the porphyrins by LDL. This permeation can be strongly inhibited not only by the lysosomal inhibitors chloroquine and monensin but also by a-tocopherol. On the other hand, neither α-tocopherol nor chloroquine or monensin inhibit the lipofuscin-like pigment formation.     

Kinetics and mechanism of *NO2 reacting with various oxidation states of myoglobin

Nitrogen dioxide ((*)NO(2)) participates in a variety of biological reactions. Of great interest are the reactions of (*)NO(2) with oxymyoglobin and oxyhemoglobin, which are the predominant hemeproteins in biological systems. Although these reactions occur rapidly during the nitrite-catalyzed autoxidation of hemeproteins, their roles in systems producing (*)NO(2) in the presence of these hemeproteins have been greatly underestimated. In the present study, we employed pulse radiolysis to study directly the kinetics and mechanism of the reaction of oxymyoglobin (MbFe(II)O(2)) with (*)NO(2). The rate constant of this reaction was determined to be (4.5 +/- 0.3) x 10(7) M(-1)s(-1), and is among the highest rate constants measured for (*)NO(2) with any biomolecule at pH 7.4. The interconversion among the various oxidation states of myoglobin that is prompted by nitrogen oxide species is remarkable. The reaction of MbFe(II)O(2) with (*)NO(2) forms MbFe(III)OONO(2), which undergoes rapid heterolysis along the O-O bond to yield MbFe(V)=O and NO(3-). The perferryl-myoglobin (MbFe(V)=O) transforms rapidly into the ferryl species that has a radical site on the globin ((*)MbFe(IV)=O). The latter oxidizes another oxymyoglobin (10(4) M(-1)s(-1) < k(17) < 10(7) M(-1)s(-1)) and generates equal amounts of ferrylmyoglobin and metmyoglobin. At much longer times, the ferrylmyoglobin disappears through a relatively slow comproportionation with oxymyoglobin (k(18) = 21.3 +/- 5.3 M(-1)s(-1)). Eventually, each (*)NO(2) radical converts three oxymyoglobin molecules into metmyoglobin. The same intermediate, namely MbFe(III)OONO(2), is also formed via the reaction peroxynitrate (O(2)NOO(-)/O(2)NOOH) with metmyoglobin (k(19) = (4.6 +/- 0.3) x 10(4) M(-1)s(-1)). The reaction of (*)NO(2) with ferrylmyoglobin (k(20) = (1.2 +/- 0.2) x 10(7) M(-1)s(-1)) yields MbFe(III)ONO(2), which in turn dissociates (k(21) = 190 +/- 20 s(-1)) into metmyoglobin and NO(3-). This rate constant was found to be the same as that measured for the decay of the intermediate formed in the reaction of MbFe(II)O(2) with (*)NO, which suggests that MbFe(III)ONO(2) is the intermediate observed in both processes. This conclusion is supported by thermokinetic arguments. The present results suggest that hemeproteins may detoxify (*)NO(2) and thus preempt deleterious processes, such as nitration of proteins. Such a possibility is substantiated by the observation that the reactions of (*)NO(2) with the various oxidation states of myoglobin lead to the formation of metmyoglobin, which, though not functional in the gas transport, is nevertheless nontoxic at physiological pH.     

Imaging mesoscopic nuclear spin noise with a diamond magnetometer

Magnetic resonance imaging can characterize and discriminate among tissues using their diverse physical and biochemical properties. Unfortunately, submicrometer screening of biological specimens is presently not possible, mainly due to lack of detection sensitivity. Here we analyze the use of a nitrogen-vacancy center in diamond as a magnetic sensor for nanoscale nuclear spin imaging and spectroscopy. We examine the ability of such a sensor to probe the fluctuations of the "classical" dipolar field due to a large number of neighboring nuclear spins in a densely protonated sample. We identify detection protocols that appropriately take into account the quantum character of the sensor and find a signal-to-noise ratio compatible with realistic experimental parameters. Through various example calculations we illustrate different kinds of image contrast. In particular, we show how to exploit the comparatively long nuclear spin correlation times to reconstruct a local, high-resolution sample spectrum.     

Peeking Inside the Black Box: Visualizing Statistical Learning With Plots of Individual Conditional Expectation

This article presents individual conditional expectation (ICE) plots, a tool for visualizing the model estimated by any supervised learning algorithm. Classical partial dependence plots (PDPs) help visualize the average partial relationship between the predicted response and one or more features. In the presence of substantial interaction effects, the partial response relationship can be heterogeneous. Thus, an average curve, such as the PDP, can obfuscate the complexity of the modeled relationship. Accordingly, ICE plots refine the PDP by graphing the functional relationship between the predicted response and the feature for individual observations. Specifically, ICE plots highlight the variation in the fitted values across the range of a covariate, suggesting where and to what extent heterogeneities might exist. In addition to providing a plotting suite for exploratory analysis, we include a visual test for additive structure in the data-generating model. Through simulated examples and real datasets, we demonstrate how ICE plots can shed light on estimated models in ways PDPs cannot. Procedures outlined are available in the R package ICEbox.