Multiplex amplified product-length polymorphism analysis of 36 mitochondrial single-nucleotide polymorphisms for haplogrouping of East Asian populations

We present a reliable, rapid, and economical multiplex amplified product-length polymorphism (APLP) method for analyzing the haplogroup-diagnostic mitochondrial single-nucleotide polymorphisms (mtSNPs) in East Asian populations. By examining only 36 haplogroup-specific mtSNPs in the coding region by using four 9-multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and subsequent electrophoresis, we could safely assign 1815 individuals from 8 populations of Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and Germans to 45 relevant haplogroups. This multiplex APLP analysis of coding-region mtSNPs for haplogrouping is especially useful not only for molecular phylogenetic studies but also for large-scale association studies due to its rapid and economical nature. This is the first panel of mtSNPs in the coding region to be used for haplogrouping of East Asian populations.     

Influence of Urbach Energy,Temperature, and Longitudinal Position in the Active Layer on Carrier Diffusion Length in Perovskite Solar Cells

The diffusion length of charge carriers in the active layer of a perovskite solar cell (PSC) of the structure Glass/PEDOT: PSS/CH₃NH₃PbI₃/PC60BM/Al is modelled. It is found that the diffusion length depends on the position x in the active layer measured from the PEDOT: PSS interface, Urbach energy and temperature. By varying the voltage in the range from zero to , it is shown that the dependence of diffusion length on the position x in the active layer reduces at higher voltage. The combined influence of applied voltage and temperature on the diffusion length of charge carriers is investigated and it is found that in the low voltage range the diffusion length is temperature independent, but it becomes significantly temperature dependent at higher voltages. Also, it is found that the diffusion length decreases as the applied voltage increases and this reduction becomes much more significant at higher voltage and temperatures. The combined influence of applied voltage and Urbach energy on diffusion length of charge carriers reveals that the diffusion length decreases when both the applied voltage and Urbach energy increase. However, the reduction in the diffusion length due to the increase in Urbach energy becomes less significant at higher voltage.     

Performance of hollow-fiber flow field-flow fractionation in protein separation

Since hollow-fiber flow field-flow fractionation (HF FIFFF) utilizes a cylindrical channel made of a hollow-fiber membrane, which is inexpensive and simple in channel assembly and thus disposable, interests are increasing as a potential separation device in cells, proteins, and macromolecules. In this study, performance of HF FIFFF of proteins is described by examining the influence of flow rate conditions and length of fiber (polyacrylonitrile or PAN in this work) on sample recovery as well as experimental plate heights. The interfiber reproducibility in terms of separation time and recovery was also studied. Experiments showed that sample recovery was consistent regardless of the length of fiber when the effective field strength (equivalent to the mean flow velocity at the fiber wall) and the channel void time were adjusted to be equivalent for channels of various fiber lengths. This supported that the majority of sample loss in HF FIFFF separation of apoferritin and their aggregates may occur before the migration process. It is finally demonstrated that HF FIFFF can be applied for characterizing the reduction in Stokes' size of low density lipoproteins from blood plasma samples obtained from patients having coronary artery disease and from healthy donors.     

Multipeak distributions of first passage times in bistable dynamics in a model of a thermochemical system.

A master equation is used to study transitions between the stable limit cycle and stable focus in the two-variable bistable system. The distribution function of the mean first passage time between these attractors and the relative dispersion of the mean first return time from the stable focus to itself as a function of the intensity of fluctuations are calculated and discussed. A coherence resonance is observed for the return time from the focus to itself.     

Studies of the soluble part of oxidised coals

Soluble products obtained from the oxidation of four types of coal, each characterised by different degree of coalification and different degree of sulphur content, are studied. The coals are oxidised with peracetic acid (PAA) and nitric acid. Analyses are performed by Atmospheric Pressure-Temperature Programmed Reduction (AP-TPR) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The soluble products contain much more sulphur than the insoluble products of oxidation. The products obtained from the reaction with HNO₃ contain higher amounts of inorganic sulphur compounds, while those obtained from the reaction with PAA are characterised by an increased content of organic sulphur species.     

乙烯-α-烯烃共聚物的结晶性能及其临界序列结晶长度的研究

本文用DSC、WAXD及偏光显微镜(PLM)方法,研究了化学反应法催化剂合成的乙烯-α-烯烃共聚物的结晶性能及其临界序列结晶长度。结果表明,随共聚物中α-烯烃含量增大,共聚物的微晶尺寸、结晶度及熔点均逐渐减小,而晶胞参数增大。变化的辐度戊烯>辛烯。共聚物的临界结晶序列长度(n)和k值均戊烯<辛烯。上述结果表明影响支链进入晶格的主要因素是α-烯烃支链长度和结构。     

Large deviation analysis of the single server queue

We establish the large deviation principle (LDP) for the virtual waiting time and queue length processes in the GI/GI/1 queue. The rate functions are found explicitly. As an application, we obtain the logarithmic asymptotics of the probabilities that the virtual waiting time and queue length exceed high levels at large times. Additional new results deal with the LDP for renewal processes and with the derivation of unconditional LDPs for conditional ones. Our approach applies in large deviations ideas and methods of weak convergence theory.This work was supported in part by AT&T Bell Labs.     

The covariance matrix of the Potts model: A random cluster analysis

We consider the covariance matrix,G ^mm =q ²<(_x,m);(_y,m)>, of thed-dimensionalq-states Potts model, rewriting it in the random cluster representation of Fortuin and Kasteleyn. In any of theq ordered phases, we identify the eigenvalues of this matrix both in terms of representations of the unbroken symmetry group of the model and in terms of random cluster connectivities and covariances, thereby attributing algebraic significance to these stochastic geometric quantities. We also show that the correlation length corresponding to the decay rate of one of the eigenvalues is the same as the inverse decay rate of the diameter of finite clusers. For dimensiond=2, we show that this correlation length and the correlation length of the two-point function with free boundary conditions at the corresponding dual temperature are equal up to a factor of two. For systems with first-order transitions, this relation helps to resolve certain inconsistencies between recent exact and numerical work on correlation lengths at the self-dual point _o. For systems with second order transitions, this relation implies the equality of the correlation length exponents from above and below threshold, as well as an amplitude ratio of two. In the course of proving the above results, we establish several properties of independent interest, including left continuity of the inverse correlation length with free boundary conditions and upper semicontinuity of the decay rate for finite clusters in all dimensions, and left continuity of the two-dimensional free boundary condition percolation probability at _o. We also introduce DLR equations for the random cluster model and use them to establish ergodicity of the free measure. In order to prove these results, we introduce a new class of events which we call decoupling events and two inequalities for these events. The first is similar to the FKG inequality, but holds for events which are neither increasing nor decreasing; the second is similar to the van den Berg-Kesten inequality in standard percolation. Both inequalities hold for an arbitrary FKG measure.     

Quantitative millimetre wavelength spectrometry at pressures approaching atmospheric: II. Determination of oxygen at atmospheric pressure

A millimetre wavelength (MMW) Fabry-Perot cavity spectrometer described in earlier work has been applied to the measurement of oxygen absorption at 60 GHz and atmospheric pressure in a gas matrix of nitrogen. The spectrometer has also been modified such that the MMW source is stabilised by a sub-harmonic microwave signal transmitted by an infrared carrier on a single mode telecommunications fibre optic. This is a step towards developing an instrument comprising minimal electronic components that can perform MMW spectrometry remotely. Oxygen determinations were achieved by monitoring the change in the quality factor (Q) of a resonant Fabry-Perot cavity due to the presence of an absorbing sample. The MMW absorption of the sample was determined by incrementing the frequency modulation (FM) deviation of the source frequency scanning the cavity resonance profile. The response curve of absorption signal versus fraction of oxygen in nitrogen was found to be linear throughout the working range of 1-100% O₂ (v/v) in N₂ with a slope of (1.407±0.007)×10⁻⁴ m⁻¹ (% O₂)⁻¹. The detection limit (3× standard deviation of the background) was found to be ∼0.8% (v/v). The MMW technique employed is advantageous since, unlike common MMW techniques, there is no vacuum requirement. Application of this method, to the monitoring of oxygen in gas mixtures of practical importance, is proposed. Values of the oxygen spectral absorption coefficients of lines between 55 and 60 GHz were measured at reduced pressure and found to be within ±2% of previous literature values. A pressure correction coefficient for O₂ absorption at 60 GHz in the 45-121 kPa range was obtained and found to be (1.354±0.014)×10⁻⁴ m⁻¹ kPa⁻¹.     

Removal of H2S from Exhaust Gas by Use of Alkaline Activated Carbon

The purpose of this research was to select an activated carbon and alkaline solution blend that generated the best H₂S adsorption on alkaline-activated carbon. RB₂ (activated carbon) impregnated with NaOH solution was shown to have the optimum H₂S removal efficiency. The optimum NaOH concentration was 50 mg per gram of carbon. H₂S adsorption via RB₂-NaOH₅₀ was five times that of a corresponding fresh-activated carbon. The adsorption equivalent of H₂S is nearly 1 (mol-H₂S/mol-AOH), therefore, H₂S + AOH AHS + H₂O was the major reaction. The H₂S adsorption isotherm corresponded to the Freundlich isotherm.