Probing microscopic chaotic dynamics by observing macroscopic transport processes

We derive the Kramers equation, namely, the Fokker-Planck equation for an oscillator, from a completely deterministic picture. The oscillator is coupled to a “booster”, i.e., a deterministic system in a fully chaotic state, wherein diffusion is derived from the sensitive dependence of chaos on initial conditions and friction is a consequence of the linear response of the booster to the action exerted on it by the oscillator. To deal with the Hamiltonian nature of the system of interest and of its coupling to the booster, we extend the earlier theoretical derivation of macroscopic transport coefficients from deterministic dynamics. We show that the frequency of the oscillator can be tuned to the microscopic frequencies of the booster without affecting the canonical nature of the “macroscopic” statistics. The theoretical predictions are supported by numerical simulations.     

Size,chromatic number,and connectivity

We consider the minimum number of edges in ak-edge-connected graph of ordern with chromatic number at leastc, obtaining the optimal bounds in most cases.     

An ultrasonic velocity borehole logger for use in rock

An ultrasonic velocity borehole logger has been developed for use in small diameter boreholes drilled in rock for probing ahead of tunnels. The paper gives details of its design and construction and examples of its use in logging boreholes drilled in a laboratory trial and in an underground stone quarry. Two special features of the logging tool are that the transducers are mechanically pressed against the rock in the borehole wall and therefore no liquid is needed in the borehole to provide a coupling for the signal, and that the whole tool has been made compact enough to fit into a 56 mm diameter borehole. The instrument measures the compressional wave velocity of the rock, which may be interpreted to provide a qualitative indication of rock properties. In addition a method of deriving the rock strength from the velocity is suggested and demonstrated for the two test boreholes. Recommendations for developing the prototype into an instrument for routine use are made.     

Contactless gating,surface charging and illumination effects in a buried Al<Subscript>0.24</Subscript>Ga<Subscript>0.76</Subscript>As/GaAs quantum well structure

The conductivity of an Al_0.24Ga_0.76As/GaAs quantum well was studied as a function of the surface charge generated by electron bombardment of the sample in the absence of an externally applied surface electric field. Under a suitable rate of electron irradiation, it was possible to completely shut off the conductive channel, implying a surface density . Light illumination quenches the increase of the resistivity, apparently due to photoemission from the metastable surface states. Upon turning off the electron bombardment the surface charge on adsorbed layers of xenon and water at 8 K decays in room temperature darkness with a lifetime τ= 0.30 ±0.02 s. The average charging efficiency, is μ₀ ≃0.001. Surface charging is shown to be an effective method for contactless gating of field effect devices.     

Gold nanoshell bioconjugates for molecular imaging in living cells

Advances in scattering-based optical imaging technologies offer a new approach to noninvasive point-of-care detection, diagnosis, and monitoring of cancer. Emerging photonics technologies provide a cost-effective means to image tissue in vivo with high resolution in real time. Advancing the clinical potential of these imaging strategies requires the development of optical contrast agents targeted to specific molecular signatures of disease. We describe the use of a novel class of contrast agents based on nanoshell bioconjugates for molecular imaging in living cells. Nanoshells offer significant advantages over conventional imaging probes including continuous and broad wavelength tunability, far greater scattering and absorption coefficients, increased chemical stability, and improved biocompatibility. We show that nanoshell bioconjugates can be used to effectively target and image human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), a clinically relevant biomarker, in live human breast carcinoma cells.     

Dynamic and redundant regulation of LRRK2 and LRRK1 expression

Background  

Mutations within the leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) gene account for a significant proportion of autosomal-dominant and some late-onset sporadic Parkinson's disease. Elucidation of LRRK2 protein function in health and disease provides an opportunity for deciphering molecular pathways important in neurodegeneration. In mammals, LRRK1 and LRRK2 protein comprise a unique family encoding a GTPase domain that controls intrinsic kinase activity. The expression profiles of the murine LRRK proteins have not been fully described and insufficiently characterized antibodies have produced conflicting results in the literature.     

Strongly anisotropic electronic transport in higher Landau levels

Low-temperature, electronic transport in higher Landau levels (N>1) in a two-dimensional electron system is strongly anisotropic. At half-filling of either spin level of such Landau levels ( etc.) the magnetoresistance either collapses to form a deep minimum or is peaked in a sharp maximum, depending on the in-plane current direction. The anisotropic axis can be reoriented by applying an in-plane magnetic field of 1–2 T strength. The magnetoresistance at and (N=1) is initially isotropic but an in-plane field induces a strong anisotropy. Our observations are strong evidence for a new many-electron phase in higher Landau levels, which forms spontaneously or can be induced by an in-plane field.     

Aggregated colloids under flow

Summary We have recently reported on a new scaling theory of the rupture of colloid aggregates. The scaling theory is compared with a simulation study of the transient response of sheared 2d aggregates. In this paper we discuss the origins of deviations from the predicted scaling behaviour. We also report some of the steady-state configurations formed post rupture. Paper presented at the I International Conference on Scaling Concepts and Complex Fluids, Copanello, Italy, July 4–8, 1994.     

Analogy between the Lorenz strange attractor and a bistable stochastic oscillator

The relation between the aperiodic solution of the Lorenz model and that of a stochastic anharmonic oscillator is explored. The stochastic oscillator is constructed by replacing (t) in the Lorenz model by a stochastic variable(t) of specified statistics. The resulting system is of course not isomorphic to the Lorenz model, but does share with it a number of statistical properties. Thus, within the confines of these measures the two systems are physically very similar.