Ordered space-time structures: Quantum carpets from Gaussian sum theory

The term "quantum carpet" can be observed in many closed quantum systems, where the evolution of a wave function exhibits a carpet-like pattern. Quantum carpet mechanisms are also akin to the classical interference patterns of light. Although the origins of quantum carpets have previously been studied by various researchers, many interesting details are still worth exploring. In this study, we present a unified framework for simultaneously analyzing three different features of quantum carpets: full revival,fractional revival, and diagonal canal. For the fractional revival feature, a complete formula is presented to explain its formation through Gaussian sum theory, in which all essential features, including phases and amplitudes, are captured analytically. We also reveal important relationships between the interference terms of diagonal canals and their geometric interpretations such that a better understanding of the development of diagonal canals can be supported.     

Preparation of Antibacterial Waterborne Polyurethane/silver Nanocomposite

Stable aqueous dispersions of silver (Ag) nanoparticles were prepared by reducing silver nitrate solutions with sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) in the presence of waterborne polyurethane as a stabilizing agent. WPU/Ag nanocomposites were obtained after evaporating water. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) shows nanoscale Ag particles are well dispersed in WPU matrix at a lower concentration, while particles exhibit a little aggregation at a higher concentration. UV‐visible spectra, X‐ray powder diffraction, and energy dispersive X‐ray spectrometer (EDS) confirm the existence of Ag particle in WPU matrix. The WPU/Ag composite films show good antibiotic ability.     

A designed glycoprotein analogue of Gc-MAF exhibits native-like phagocytic activity

Rational protein design has been successfully used to create mimics of natural proteins that retain native activity. In the present work, de novo protein engineering is explored to develop a mini-protein analogue of Gc-MAF, a glycoprotein involved in the immune system activation that has shown anticancer activity in mice. Gc-MAF is derived in vivo from vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) via enzymatic processing of its glycosaccharide to leave a single GalNAc residue located on an exposed loop. We used molecular modeling tools in conjunction with structural analysis to splice the glycosylated loop onto a stable three-helix bundle (alpha3W, PDB entry 1LQ7). The resulting 69-residue model peptide, MM1, has been successfully synthesized by solid-phase synthesis both in the aglycosylated and the glycosylated (GalNAc-MM1) form. Circular dichroism spectroscopy confirmed the expected alpha-helical secondary structure. The thermodynamic stability as evaluated from chemical and thermal denaturation is comparable with that of the scaffold protein, alpha3W, indicating that the insertion of the exogenous loop of Gc-MAF did not significantly perturb the overall structure. GalNAc-MM1 retains the macrophage stimulation activity of natural Gc-MAF; in vitro tests show an identical enhancement of Fc-receptor-mediated phagocytosis in primary macrophages. GalNAc-MM1 provides a framework for the development of mutants with increased activity that could be used in place of Gc-MAF as an immunomodulatory agent in therapy.     

Highly protein-resistant coatings from well-defined diblock copolymers containing sulfobetaines

Three well-defined diblock copolymers of poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) [poly(SBMA)] and poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) were synthesized by the sequential addition of SBMA monomer to fixed amounts of PPO using an atom transfer radical polymerization method and varying poly(SBMA) lengths. These copolymers were characterized by 1H NMR and aqueous gel permeation chromatography. These copolymers were physically adsorbed onto a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor surface covered by methyl-terminated self-assembled monolayers, followed by the in situ evaluation of protein adsorption on the adsorbed copolymers. It is found that the behavior of the protein adsorption depends on the molecular weight of the copolymers. Results show that the diblock copolymers containing poly(SBMA) can be highly protein resistant when surface SBMA densities are well controlled. Thus, copolymers containing zwitterionic groups are ideal for resisting protein adsorption when the surface density of zwitterionic groups is controlled.     

Tens of GHz Tantalum pentoxide‐based micro‐ring all‐optical modulator for Si photonics

A tantalum pentoxide‐based (Ta₂O₅‐based) micro‐ring all‐optical modulator was fabricated. The refractive index inside the micro‐ring cavity was modified using the Kerr effect by injecting a pumped pulse. The transmittance of the ring resonator was controlled to achieve all‐optical modulation at the wavelength of the injected probe. When 12 GHz pulses with a peak power of 1.2 W were coupled in the ring cavity, the transmission spectrum of the Ta₂O₅ resonator was red‐shifted by 0.04 nm because of the Kerr effect. The relationship between the modulation depth and gap of the Ta₂O₅ directional coupler is discussed. An optimized gap of 1100 nm was obtained, and a maximum buildup factor of 11.7 with 84% modulation depth was achieved. The nonlinear refractive index of Ta₂O₅ at 1.55 μm was estimated as 3.4 × 10^?14 cm²/W based on the Kerr effect, which is almost an order of magnitude higher than that of Si₃N₄. All results indicate that Ta₂O₅ has potential for use in nonlinear waveguide applications with modulation speeds as high as tens of GHz.

     

Synthesis of 1,3,4‐Oxadiazole‐Based Aromatic and Heterocyclic/Phenylpyrazole Derivatives

A new series of 1,3,4‐oxadiazole‐based aromatic and heterocyclic/phenylpyrazole derivatives 6a–c , 7a–d , and 8 were synthesized via sequential 1,3‐dipolar cyclization, hydrazidation, benzoylation, dehydrative cyclization, and the Suzuki coupling reaction. Among the derivatives, compounds 7a and 7c with the corresponding 2‐thienyl and 2‐benzo[b]thienyl (Ar) at the phenyl group located at the N‐1 position of pyrazole showed a better conjugation range.      

Selective patterning and scribing of Ti thin film on glass substrate by 532 nm picosecond laser

In this paper, the feasibility of Ti film coated on glass substrate scribed via a 532 nm picosecond laser is investigated. Laser irradiations from the film side and from the transparent substrate side are performed for comparison. Optical microscopy, SEM, surface stylus and contact resistance measurement reveal that the Ti film can be completely removed with no damage to the glass substrate, using optimized process parameters. The complete removal threshold for the film for front-side scribing is found at 120 mJ/cm², while the minimum laser fluence for complete scribing is 70 mJ/cm² in the case of back-side scribing. The lines scribed from the front side exhibit obvious thermal effects such as heat affected zones, burr and micro cracks. Back-side scribing exhibits non-thermal behavior, which also can increase the process speed for the scribing of a Ti film on glass to 1000 mm/s. This makes the back-side laser scribing of Ti film a promising technique.     

Optimal selling time in stock market over a finite time horizon

In this paper, we examine the best time to sell a stock at a price being as close as possible to its highest price over a finite time horizon [0, T ], where the stock price is modelled by a geometric Brownian motion and the ’closeness’ is measured by the relative error of the stock price to its highest price over [0, T ]. More precisely, we want to optimize the expression: where (V t ) t≥0 is a geometric Brownian motion with constant drift α and constant volatility σ > 0, M t = max Vs is the running maximum of the stock price, and the supremum is taken over all possible stopping times 0 ≤τ≤ T adapted to the natural filtration (F t ) t≥0 of the stock price. The above problem has been considered by Shiryaev, Xu and Zhou (2008) and Du Toit and Peskir (2009). In this paper we provide an independent proof that when α = 1 2 σ 2 , a selling strategy is optimal if and only if it sells the stock either at the terminal time T or at the moment when the stock price hits its maximum price so far. Besides, when α > 1 2 σ 2 , selling the stock at the terminal time T is the unique optimal selling strategy. Our approach to the problem is purely probabilistic and has been inspired by relating the notion of dominant stopping ρτ of a stopping time τ to the optimal stopping strategy arisen in the classical "Secretary Problem".     

Investigation of the hydration of nonfouling material poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) by low-field nuclear magnetic resonance

The strong surface hydration layer of nonfouling materials plays a key role in their resistance to nonspecific protein adsorption. Poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (polySBMA) is an effective material that can resist nonspecific protein adsorption and cell adhesion. About eight water molecules are tightly bound with one sulfobetaine (SB) unit, and additional water molecules over 8:1 ratio mainly swell the polySBMA matrix, which is obtained through the measurement of T(2) relaxation time by low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR). This result was also supported by the endothermic behavior of water/polySBMA mixtures measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Furthermore, by comparing both results of polySBMA and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), it is found that (1) the hydrated water molecules on the SB unit are more tightly bound than on the ethylene glycol (EG) unit before saturation, and (2) the additional water molecules after forming the hydration layer in polySBMA solutions show higher freedom than those in PEG. These results might illustrate the reason for higher resistance of zwitterionic materials to nonspecific protein adsorptions compared to that of PEGs.