Molybdenum blue: binding to collagen fibres and microcrystal formation

Collagen fibres have been shown by transmission electron microscopy to progressively bind the polyoxomolybdate ring-complex, termed molybdenum blue. Nucleation of cuboidal molybdenum blue microcrystals occurs on the surface of the collagen fibres, leading eventually to extensive coating of the fibres with microcrystals.     

Parallel organization of contralateral and ipsilateral prefrontal cortical projections in the rhesus monkey

Background  

The neocortical commissures have a fundamental role in functional integration across the cerebral hemispheres. We investigated whether commissural projections in prefrontal cortices are organized according to the same or different rules as those within the same hemisphere, by quantitatively comparing density, topography, and laminar origin of contralateral and ipsilateral projections, labeled after unilateral injection of retrograde tracers in prefrontal areas.     

Release of N(2) from the carbon nanotubes via high-temperature annealing

Nitrogen (N)-doped carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were heated to 1000 degrees C under an ultrahigh vacuum. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) reveal three different N structures; graphitelike, pyridine-like, and molecular N(2). The vibrationally resolved XANES peaks of N(2) were first observed, suggesting the existence of molecular N(2) as intercalated and trapped forms. The annealing process can decrease the average N content from 6.3 at. % to 3.3 at. %, mainly by releasing molecular N(2). Electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) confirms that the annealing releases molecular N(2) from the CNTs.     

Improved measurement of the form factors in the decay lambda+c-->lambda + nue

Using the CLEO detector at the Cornell Electron Storage Ring, we have studied the distribution of kinematic variables in the decay lambda(+)(c)lambda--> e(+)nu(e). By performing a four-dimensional maximum likelihood fit, we determine the form factor ratio, R= f(2)/f(1) = -0.31 +/- 0.05(stat) +/- 0.04(syst), the pole mass, M(pole) = [2.21 +/- 0.08(stat) +/- 0.14(syst)] GeV/c(2), and the decay asymmetry parameter of the lambda(+)(c), alpha (lambda(c)) = -0.86 +/-0.03(stat) +/- 0.02(syst), for q(2) = 0.67 (GeV/c(2))(2). We compare the angular distributions of the lambda(+)(c) and lambda(-)(c) and find no evidence for CP violation: A(lambda(c)) = (alpha(lambda(c)) + alpha (lambda(c)))/(alpha(lambda(c))-alpha(lambda(c))) = 0.00 +/- 0.03(stat) +/- 0.01(syst) +/- 0.02, where the third error is from the uncertainty in the world average of the CP-violating parameter, A(lambda), for ppi(-).     

Twist-grain-boundary structure in the B4 phase of a bent-core molecular system identified by second harmonic generation circular dichroism measurement

Second harmonic generation circular dichroism (SHG CD) measurements are performed on the B4 phase of a bent-core molecular system. Numerical analysis of SHG CD incorporating magnetic-dipole as well as electric-dipole interaction shows that the B4 phase is in a twist-grain-boundary structure with the helical axis along the bent direction of the molecules. The result is extremely important in the sense that achiral molecules are spontaneously optically resolved, i.e., deracemization, the chiral domains of which give rise to huge chiral nonlinear optical effect.     

Asymmetrically coupled directed percolation systems

We introduce a dynamical model of coupled directed percolation systems with two particle species. The two species A and B are coupled asymmetrically in that A particles branch B particles, whereas B particles prey on A particles. This model may describe epidemic spreading controlled by reactive immunization agents. We study nonequilibrium phase transitions with attention focused on the multicritical point where both species undergo the absorbing phase transition simultaneously. In one dimension, we find that the inhibitory coupling from B to A is irrelevant and the model belongs to the unidirectionally coupled directed percolation class. On the contrary, a mean-field analysis predicts that the inhibitory coupling is relevant and a new universality appears with a variable dynamic exponent. Numerical simulations on small-world networks confirm our predictions.     

Homomorphisms between Poisson JC*-Algebras

It is shown that every almost linear mapping of a unital Poisson JC*-algebra to a unital Poisson JC*-algebra is a Poisson JC*-algebra homomorphism when h(2 ⁿ uy) = h(2 ⁿ u) h(y), h(3 ⁿ u y) = h(3 ⁿ u) h(y) or h(q ⁿ u y) = h(q ⁿ u) h(y) for all , all unitary elements and n = 0, 1, 2, · · · , and that every almost linear almost multiplicative mapping is a Poisson JC*-algebra homomorphism when h(2x) = 2h(x), h(3x) = 3h(x) or h(qx) = qh(x) for all . Here the numbers 2, 3, q depend on the functional equations given in the almost linear mappings or in the almost linear almost multiplicative mappings.Moreover, we prove the Cauchy–Rassias stability of Poisson JC*-algebra homomorphisms in Poisson JC*-algebras.*This work was supported by grant No. R05-2003-000-10006-0 from the Basic Research Program of the Korea Science & Engineering Foundation.     

Homomorphisms between JC＊-algebras and Lie C＊-algebras

It is shown that every almost ＊-homomorphism h ： A→B of a unital JC＊-algebra A to a unital JC＊-algebra B is a ＊-homomorphism when h（rx） = rh（x） （r 〉 1） for all x∈A, and that every almost linear mapping h ： A→B is a ＊-homomorphism when h（2^nu o y） - h（2^nu） o h（y）, h（3^nu o y） - h（3^nu） o h（y） or h（q^nu o y） = h（q^nu） o h（y） for all unitaries u ∈A, all y ∈A, and n = 0, 1,.... Here the numbers 2, 3, q depend on the functional equations given in the almost linear mappings. We prove that every almost ＊-homomorphism h ： A→B of a unital Lie C＊-algebra A to a unital Lie C＊-algebra B is a ＊-homomorphism when h（rx） = rh（x） （r 〉 1） for all x ∈A.     

Torsional wave experiments with a new magnetostrictive transducer configuration

For the efficient long-range nondestructive structural health inspection of pipes, guided waves have become widely used. Among the various guided wave modes, the torsional wave is most preferred since its first branch is nondispersive. Our objective in this work is to develop a new magnetostrictive transducer configuration to transmit and receive torsional waves in cylindrical waveguides. The conventional magnetostrictive transducer for the generation and measurement of torsional waves consists of solenoid coils and a nickel strip bonded circumferentially to test pipes. The strip must be premagnetized by a permanent magnet before actual measurements. Because of the premagnetization, the transducer is not suitable for the long-term on-line monitoring of pipes buried underground. To avoid the cumbersome premagnetization and to improve the transduction efficiency, we propose a new transducer configuration using several pieces of nickel strips installed at 45 degrees with respect to the pipe axis. If a static bias magnetic field is also applied, the transducer output can be substantially increased. Several experiments were conducted to study the performance of the proposed transducer configuration. The proposed transducer configuration was also applied for damage detection in an aluminum pipe.