Measurement of storage time, estimation of ion number and study of absorption line profile in a Paul trap

Europium (Eu⁺) ions were confined in a Paul trap and detected by non-destructive method. Storage time of Eu⁺ ions achieved in vacuum was improved by orders of magnitude employing buffer gas cooling. The experimentally detected signal was fitted to the ion response signal and the total number of ions trapped was estimated. It is found that the peak signal amplitude as well as the product of FWHM and the peak signal amplitude is proportional to the total number of trapped ions. The trapped ion secular frequency was swept at different rates and its effect on the absorption line profile was studied both experimentally and theoretically.     

Diagnostics of the atmospheric-pressure plasma parameters using the method of near-field microwave sounding

A method of resonant near-field microwave probing is developed for contactless diagnostics of a high-pressure plasma. The efficiency of this method in measuring the parameters of the plasma of an rf capacitive discharge in argon under atmospheric pressure is demonstrated. The experimental results are compared with the data obtained using the independent method, the microwave radiation “cutoff,” and with theoretical estimates.     

Fluctuations of cosmic rays and interplanetary magnetic field in the vicinity of interplanetary shock fronts

The spectral characteristic of fluctuations of cosmic rays (CRs) and the interplanetary magnetic field in the prefront region of interplanetary shock waves, where coherent CR fluctuations with energies from ～10 keV to ～1 GeV are often observed, have been studied. It is concluded that the spectrum of CR fluctuations is subjected to modulation by fast magnetosonic waves generated by low-energy CRs reflected and/or accelerated at the shock fronts.     

A planar problem of failure of structural materials in compression along two parallel cracks

Institute of Mechanics of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR, Kiev. Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika, Vol. 27, No. 4, pp. 29–38, April, 1991.     

Influence of nonlinear effects on whistler emission in magnetoactive plasma

The influence of thermal and strictional nonlinear effects on the whistler emission in magnetoactive plasma is studied experimentally. It is established that a nonlocal thermal nonlinearity determines the directional pattern of the antenna, while a strictional nonlinearity, which is strongest near the antenna surface, is responsible for the matching of the emitter with the surrounding plasma. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 67, No. 8, 548–551 (25 April 1998)     

Microgels for the encapsulation and stimulus-responsive release of molecules with distinct polarities

A microfluidic strategy for the encapsulation and stimulus-responsive release of molecules with distinct polarities from the interior of microgels is reported. The approach relies on (i) the generation of a primary O/W emulsion by the ultrasonication method, (ii) MF emulsification of the primary emulsion, and (iii) photopolymerization of the monomer present in the aqueous phase of the droplets, thereby transforming them into microgels. Non-polar molecules are dissolved in oil droplets embedded in the microgels. Polar molecules are physically associated with the hydrogel network. Upon heating, the microgels contract and release polar and non-polar cargo molecules. The approach paves the way for stimuli-responsive vehicles for multiple drug delivery.     

Correction: Dermatan sulfate in tunicate phylogeny: Order-specific sulfation pattern and the effect of [→4IdoA(2-Sulfate)β-1→3GalNAc(4-Sulfate)β-1→] motifs in dermatan sulfate on heparin cofactor II activity

After the publication of the work entitled "Dermatan sulfate in tunicate phylogeny: Order-specific sulfation pattern and the effect of [→4IdoA(2-Sulfate)β-1→3GalNAc(4-Sulfate)β-1→] motifs in dermatan sulfate on heparin cofactor II activity", by Kozlowski et al., BMC Biochemistry 2011, 12:29, we found that the legends to Figures 2 to 5 contain serious mistakes that compromise the comprehension of the work. This correction article contains the correct text of the legends to Figures 2 to 5.