Transverse fluctuation analysis of single extended DNA molecules

We observed fluctuations of elongated DNA molecules by fluorescence microscopy. The molecules are fixed at both ends and undulate. Mode analysis of the thermally excited undulations of the labeled DNA molecules gives access to the spectral density of the amplitude fluctuations. From these measurements we estimate the tension acting on the DNA molecules. We found the forces to be within the entropic elasticity range of a typical DNA molecule (measured on the single-molecule level). Received: 11 November 2002 / Accepted: 12 May 2002 / Published online: 4 June 2003 RID="a" ID="a"Present address: Center for Studies in Physics and Biology, Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA. e-mail: zoherg@rockefeller.edu     

Structure Characterization of HSQ Films for Low Dielectrics Using D5 as Sacrificial Porous Materials

Low-density materials, commercially available hydrogensilsesquioxane （HSQ） offer a low dielectric constant. HSQ films can be obtained by spin on deposition （SOD）. In this work, low-dielectric-constant HSQ films are prepared by using D5 （decamethylcyclopentasiloxane） as sacrificiaJ porous materials. The dielectric constant of silica films significantly changes from 3.0 to 2.4. We report the structural aspects of the films in relation to their composition after annealed at 300℃, 400℃, and 500℃ for 1.5h in nitrogen ambient and annealed at 400℃ for 1.5h in vacuum. Si-OH appears after annealed at 400℃ for 1.5h in vacuum. The results indicate that the proper condition is in nitrogen ambient. Intensity of the Sill peak increases with the increasing temperature. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy is used to identify the network structure and cage structure of Si-O-Si bonds and other possible bonds. Dielectric constant k is significantly lowered by annealing at 350℃ for 1.5h in nitrogen ambient. The I-V and C-V measurements are used to determine the dielectric constant, the electric resistivity and the breakdown electric field.     

Phase formation and magnetic anomalies in RuSr2RECu2O8 (RE=Eu, Gd, Ho) samples

We have synthesized bulk RuSr₂RECu₂O₈ (RE=Eu, Gd and Ho) compounds using the ammonium nitrate melt technique. The phase purity of the samples decreases as the ionic radii of the RE element decreases. For RE=Ho, magnetic Sr₂HoRuO₆ and CuO were formed instead of the 1212 phase. The magnetization vs. temperature curves of the samples are similar to those of the samples prepared using the solid-state reaction method. The magnetic anomalies observed in M-T curves are discussed.     

Floating zone growth and compositional inhomogeneity study of La0.75Y0.05Sr0.2MnO3 single crystals

Single crystals of La_0.75Y_0.05Sr_0.2 MnO₃ have been grown by the floating zone technique. The yttrium distribution in the radial and axial directions in the crystals was studied for different growth rates. The sample grown at high rate showed inhomogeneity in the yttrium content in the growth direction, while the sample grown at relatively low rate was homogeneous in the growth direction, but demonstrated compositional separation between the Y-poor central part and Y-enriched peripheral part in the perpendicular plane. The compositional separation led to magnetic inhomogeneity.     

Preparation and characterization of Cu-Cu2O cermet films

Metal-insulator composites (cermets) find use in a wide range of applications. In this paper the preparation of cermet films by dc reactive magnetron sputtering is presented. These cermets have been characterised by measuring their electrical resistance and the properties have been correlated to the microstructure and composition. Magnetron sputtering is found to be very effective in controlling the composition of the deposited films, enabling the preparation of films with tailored properties.     

Preparation of indium sulfide thin films by spray pyrolysis using a new precursor indium nitrate

Indium nitrate and thiourea were used as the precursor solutions for preparing indium sulfide thin films using Chemical Spray Pyrolysis (CSP) technique. Films having various In/S ratios were characterized using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDX), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), optical absorption, transmission and photosensitivity measurements. Sample having In/S ratio 2/3 showed better crystallinity with band gap 2.66 eV. Depth profile of the sample also indicated the formation of indium sulfide. It was also observed that In/S ratio in the initial precursor solution determined the composition as well as electrical properties of the films. Maximum photosensitivity was observed for the sample prepared using solution having In/S ratio 2/4.     

Analysis of microcystins by capillary zone electrophoresis coupling with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

In this paper, a rapid and effective method based on capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) was established for the trace analysis of microcystin (MC) isomers in crude algae sample. The experimental conditions including the composition, acidity and concentration of buffer, separation voltage, injection time, and MS detection parameters were investigated in detail. A capillary separation system was as follows: a uncoated fused-silica capillary tube (50 μm i.d. × 90 cm), 40 mmol L⁻¹ ammonium acetate solution (pH 9.86) as running buffer, 25 kV as separation voltage, 20 kV × 3 s water first and 20 kV × 20 s for sample injection. Mass analysis was performed in ESI source, with sheath gas temperature 150 °C, sheath gas pressure 10 psi, and sheath gas flow 6 L min⁻¹. And sheath liquid was 7.5 mmol L⁻¹ acetic acid in 50% isopropanol-water (3 μL min⁻¹). Protonation and ammonium adduct molecular ions m/z 506.9 (MC-LR) and 532.0 (MC-YR) were used for the quantification of MCs. Under these conditions, two MCs were baseline separated within 9 min, the calibration curves were obtained in the range of 0.11-10.0 μg mL⁻¹ and 0.16-10.5 μg mL⁻¹ for MC-LR and MC-YR, respectively. Meanwhile, limits of detection were 0.05 and 0.08 μg mL⁻¹ for MC-LR and MC-YR, respectively. The recoveries for the two MCs were in the range of 95.8-108%. The developed approach had been successfully applied to the analysis of MCs in crude algae samples.     

Photocatalytic and superhydrophilicity properties of N-doped TiO2 nanothin films

Pure TiO₂ and nitrogen doped titanium dioxide (N-TiO₂) thin films were prepared by sol-gel method through spin coating on soda lime glass substrates. TiCl₄ and urea were used as Ti and N sources in the sol. XRD results showed nitrogen doping has retarded anatase to rutile phase transformation. The doping also leads to a decrease in roughness of the samples from 4 nm (TiO₂) to 1 nm (N-TiO₂). However, surface analysis by statistical methods reveals that both surfaces have self-affine structure. Optical band gap of thin films was shifted from 3.65 eV (TiO₂) to 3.47 eV (N-TiO₂). Hydrophilic conversion and photocatalytic degradation properties of thin films were investigated and exhibited that N-TiO₂ thin film has more preferable hydrophilicity and photocatalytic properties under UV illumination.     

Surface of Zn-Mn-O and its role in room temperature ferromagnetism: An XPS analysis

The existence of ferromagnetism in Zn-Mn-O semiconductor samples and dependence on the preparation condition were investigated. We systematically examined the samples with manganese concentration ranging from 0 to 10 at.%, prepared by a solid state reaction route using (ZnC₂O₄·2H₂O)_1−x and (MnC₂O₄·2H₂O)_x as precursors. Thermal treatment was carried out in air at temperatures ranging from 400 to 900 °C. The samples were investigated by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, magnetization measurements and XPS spectroscopy. XPS surface composition, chemical analysis and depth profiling were successfully employed on powder revealing the chemical composition at the surface of the grains and underneath. The present investigation suggests that physical properties and observed room temperature ferromagnetism might be due to grain surface effects. It seems that the ferromagnetic phase is correlated with oxygen build up at the surface.     

About the influence of friction and polydispersity on the jamming behavior of bead assemblies

We study the jamming of bead assemblies placed in a cylindrical container whose bottom is pierced with a circular hole. Their jamming behavior is quantified here by the median jamming diameter, that is the diameter of the hole for which the jamming probability is 0.5. Median jamming diameters of monodisperse assemblies are obtained numerically using the Distinct Element Method and experimentally with steel beads. We obtain good agreement between numerical and experimental results. The influence of friction is then investigated. In particular, the formation of concentric bead rings is observed for low frictions. We identify this phenomenon as a boundary effect and study its influence on jamming. Relying on measures obtained from simulation runs, the median jamming diameter of bidisperse bead assemblies is finally found to depend only on the volume-average diameter of their constituting beads. We formulate this as a tentative law and validate it using bidisperse assemblies of steel beads.