Surface-Bound Selectin-Ligand Binding Is Regulated By Carrier Diffusion

Two-dimensional (2D) kinetics of receptor-ligand interactions governs cell adhesion in many biological processes. While the dissociation kinetics of receptor-ligand bond is extensively investigated, the association kinetics has much less been quantified. Recently receptor-ligand interactions between two surfaces were investigated using a thermal fluctuation assay upon biomembrane force probe technique (Chen et al. in Biophys J 94:694-701, 2008). The regulating factors on association kinetics, however, are not well characterized. Here we developed an alternative thermal fluctuation assay using optical trap technique, which enables to visualize consecutive binding-unbinding transition and to quantify the impact of microbead diffusion on receptor-ligand binding. Three selectin constructs (sLs, sPs, and PLE) and their ligand P-selectin glycoprotein ligand 1 were used to conduct the measurements. It was indicated that bond formation was reduced by enhancing the diffusivity of selectin-coupled carrier, suggesting that carrier diffusion is crucial to determine receptor-ligand binding. It was also found that 2D forward rate predicted upon first-order kinetics was in the order of sPs > sLs > PLE and bond formation was history-dependent. These results further the understandings in regulating association kinetics of surface-bound receptor-ligand interactions.

Ferromagnetism in Mn and Cr doped GaN by thermal diffusion

Doping of magnetic element Mn and Cr in GaN was achieved by thermal diffusion. The conductivity of the samples, which were all n-type, did not change significantly after the diffusion doping. X-ray diffraction measurements revealed no secondary phase in the samples. Experiments using superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) showed that the samples were ferromagnetic at 5 and 300 K, implying the Curie temperature to be around or over 300 K, despite their n-type conductivity. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

As-doped p-type ZnO films by sputtering and thermal diffusion process

As-doped p-type ZnO films were grown on GaAs by sputtering and thermal diffusion process. Hall effect measurements showed that the as-grown films were of n-type conductivity and they were converted to p-type behavior after thermal annealing. Moreover, the hole concentration of As-doped p-type ZnO was very impressible to the oxygen ambient applied during the annealing process. In addition, the bonding state of As in the films was investigated by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. This study not only demonstrated an effective method for reliable and reproducible p-type ZnO fabrication but also helped to understand the doping mechanism of As-doped ZnO. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.

Effect of lightly Si doping on the minority carrier diffusion length in n-type GaN films

We investigate the effects of lightly Si doping on the minority carrier diffusion length in n-type GaN films by analyzing photovoltaic spectra and positron annihilation measurements. We find that the minority carrier diffusion length in undoped n-type GaN is much larger than in lightly Si-doped GaN. Positron annihilation analysis demonstrates that the concentration of Ga vacancies is much higher in lightly Si-doped GaN and suggests that the Ga vacancies instead of dislocations are responsible for the smaller minority carrier diffusion length in the investigated Si-doped GaN samples due to the effects of deep level defects. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.

Isospin diffusion and equilibration for Sn plus Sn collisions at E/A=35 MeV

Equilibration and equilibration rates have been measured by colliding Sn nuclei with different isospin asymmetries at beam energies of E/A = 35 MeV. Using the yields of mirror nuclei of Li-7 and Be-7, we have studied the diffusion of isospin asymmetry by combining data from asymmetric Sn-112 + Sn-124 and Sn-124 + Sn-112 collisions with those from symmetric Sn-112 + Sn-112 and Sn-124 + Sn-124 collisions. We use these measurements to probe isospin equilibration in central collisions where nucleon-nucleon collisions are strongly blocked by the Pauli exclusion principle. The results are consistent with transport theoretical calculations that predict a degree of transparency in these collisions, but inconsistent with the emission of intermediate mass fragments by a single chemically equilibrated source. Comparisons with quantum molecular dynamics calculations are consistent with results obtained at higher incident energies that provide constraints on the density dependence of the symmetry energy.

The time delay in electrochemical measurements of a finite-volume system

For a sphere electrode enclosed in finite-volume electrolyte, the measured current will deviate from the result predicted by the semi-infinite diffusion theory after some time. By random-walk simulation, we compared this time to the one needed for diffusion layer to reach electrolyte boundary, and revealed a clear signal delay of electrochemical current. Further we presented a quantitative description of this delay time. The simulation results suggested that the semi-infinite diffusion theory can even be applied when the theoretical diffusion layer grows to 1.28 electrolyte thicknesses, with an accuracy better than 0.5%. We attributed this time delay to the molecules' finite propagation velocity. Finally, we discussed how this delay can influence and facilitate the following electrochemical detection towards the nanometer and single-cell scale.

On the evaluation of diffusivities in gels using the diffusion cell technique

Modeling of the gel-immobilized cell system requires accurate measurement of diffusion coefficients. Three methods of the quasi-steady-state (QSS) method, the time-lag (TL) method and a variant quasi-steady-state (VQSS) method were critically assessed and compared for the evaluation of diffusivities using the diffusion cell technique. Experimental data from our laboratory were used for the analysis of the influence of crucial theoretical assumptions not being fulfilled in each method. The results highlighted a risk in obtaining highly variable diffusion coefficients by not validating the QSS and the accuracy of the measurements. In the TL method, the estimation of diffusivities based on the plot intercept that was mostly used in the literature, results in a many fold lower value when compared to that based on the plot slope. The comparison with the QSS and VQSS methods confirmed similar diffusivity obtained by the TL method based on the plot slope. It thus suggested that the correct estimation of diffusivities by the TL method could be based on the plot slope only. Furthermore, the errors associated with the solute mass in the gel, the sample withdrawal and the non-negligible concentration changes in the chambers were also discussed. It is concluded that diffusion cell technique has to be employed cautiously for a correct evaluation of diffusivities. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Nano-hardness Techniques and Its Applications in Mechanical Property Measurements for Surface Engineering

结合纳米硬度技术测量各类薄膜和块体材料表层的纳米压痕硬度、弹性模量、断裂韧性、膜厚、微结构的弯曲变形,采用纳米划痕硬度技术测量各类薄膜和块体材料的粗糙度、临界附着力、摩擦系数、划痕横剖面.纳米硬度计是检测材料表层微米乃至几十纳米力学性能的先进仪器,可广泛应用于表面工程中的质量检测.

Boundary knot method for 2D and 3D Helmholtz and convection-diffusion problems under complicated geometry

The boundary knot method (BKM) of very recent origin is an inherently meshless, integration-free, boundary-type, radial basis function collocation technique for the numerical discretization of general partial differential equation systems. Unlike the method of fundamental solutions, the use of non-singular general solution in the BKM avoids the unnecessary requirement of constructing a controversial artificial boundary outside the physical domain. The purpose of this paper is to extend the BKM to solve 2D Helmholtz and convection-diffusion problems under rather complicated irregular geometry. The method is also first applied to 3D problems. Numerical experiments validate that the BKM can produce highly accurate solutions using a relatively small number of knots. For inhomogeneous cases, some inner knots are found necessary to guarantee accuracy and stability. The stability and convergence of the BKM are numerically illustrated and the completeness issue is also discussed.

Laboratory Study on Sediment Diffusion and Deposition into Blind Channels

Any waterway with one end closed and the other open is generally called a blind channel. The main flow tends to expand, separate, and cause circulation at the mouth of blind channels. The main flow continuously transfers momentum and sediment into the circulation region through the turbulent mixing region (TMR) between them, thus leading to a large amount of sediment deposition in the blind channels. This paper experimentally investigated the properties of the water flow and sediment diffusion in TMR, demonstrating that both water flow and sediment motion in TMR approximately coincide with a similar structure as in the free mixing layer induced by a jet. The similarity functions of flow velocity and sediment concentration are then assumed, based on observation, and the resulting calculation of these functions is substantially facilitated. For the kind of low velocity flow system of blind channels with a finite width, a simple formula for the sediment deposition rate in blind channels is established by analyzing the gradient of crosswise velocity and sediment concentration in TMR.

Diffusion mechanisms in the Fe3ASi

In this paper, the possible reasons for the high thermal vacancy concentration and the low migration barriers for the Fe atom diffusion in the DO3 structure Fe3Si have been discussed.

Further analysis of indentation loading curves: Effects of tip rounding on mechanical property measurements

The effects of indenter tip rounding on the shape of indentation loading curves have been analyzed using dimensional and finite element analysis for conical indentation in elastic-perfectly plastic solids. A method for obtaining mechanical properties from indentation loading curves is then proposed. The validity of this method is examined using finite element analysis. Finally, the method is used to determine the yield strength of several materials for which the indentation loading curves are available in the literature.

Comparative studies of AOT and NaDEHP by fluorescence technique and z-potential (ζ) measurements

The aggregation behaviors of two surfactants with the same hydrophobic tail, sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate (AOT) and sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)phosphate (NaDEHP), have been investigated by the fluorescence technique and z-potential (ζ) measurements. Five fine peaks of the pyrene molecule fluorescence spectroscopy appear in the surfactant solution, and the micropolarity at which pyrene locates is monitored from the intensity ratio of the first (I1) and the third peak (I3). A wide peak around 475 nm, the emission spectra of the excimer of pyrene molecules, is observed in the NaDEHP solution, while this is not found for the AOT system. The value of I1/I3 decreases in a more limited concentration range for the AOT system than for NaDEHP, indicating that small aggregates can be more easily formed by NaDEHP molecules. The z-potential results for the aggregates formed by the two surfactants show that the interaction between AOT and PVP is stronger than that between NaDEHP and PVP.

Shear Strength Measurements in LY-12 Aluminium Alloy During Shock Loading

Lateral stress of LY-12 alummium alloy under plate impact shock loading was measured. Based on the measured data, the Hugoniot relation and shear strength were obtained. The result has demonstrated that the shear strenath of the tested material increases remarkably with the increasing longitudinal stress. This means that the assumption of constant shear strength usually adopted in shock stress calculation is not suitable for the present material.