Vertically coupled double quantum rings at zero magnetic field

Within local-spin-density functional theory, we have investigated the ¿dissociation¿ of few-electron circular vertical semiconductor double quantum ring artificial molecules at zero magnetic field as a function of interring distance. In a first step, the molecules are constituted by two identical quantum rings. When the rings are quantum mechanically strongly coupled, the electronic states are substantially delocalized, and the addition energy spectra of the artificial molecule resemble those of a single quantum ring in the few-electron limit. When the rings are quantum mechanically weakly coupled, the electronic states in the molecule are substantially localized in one ring or the other, although the rings can be electrostatically coupled. The effect of a slight mismatch introduced in the molecules from nominally identical quantum wells, or from changes in the inner radius of the constituent rings, induces localization by offsetting the energy levels in the quantum rings. This plays a crucial role in the appearance of the addition spectra as a function of coupling strength particularly in the weak coupling limit.

Template-Assisted Synthesis and Characterization of Passivated Nickel Nanoparticles

Potential applications of nickel nanoparticles demand the synthesis of self-protected nickel nanoparticles by different synthesis techniques. A novel and simple technique for the synthesis of self-protected nickel nanoparticles is realized by the inter-matrix synthesis of nickel nanoparticles by cation exchange reduction in two types of resins. Two different polymer templates namely strongly acidic cation exchange resins and weakly acidic cation exchange resins provided with cation exchange sites which can anchor metal cations by the ion exchange process are used. The nickel ions which are held at the cation exchange sites by ion fixation can be subsequently reduced to metal nanoparticles by using sodium borohydride as the reducing agent. The composites are cycled repeating the loading reduction cycle involved in the synthesis procedure. X-Ray Diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Transmission Electron microscopy, Energy Dispersive Spectrum, and Inductively Coupled Plasma Analysis are effectively utilized to investigate the different structural characteristics of the nanocomposites. The hysteresis loop parameters namely saturation magnetization and coercivity are measured using Vibrating Sample Magnetometer. The thermomagnetization study is also conducted to evaluate the Curie temperature values of the composites. The effect of cycling on the structural and magnetic characteristics of the two composites are dealt in detail. A comparison between the different characteristics of the two nanocomposites is also provided

Exploring strategies for coupled 4D-Var data assimilation using an idealised atmosphere-ocean model

Operational forecasting centres are currently developing data assimilation systems for coupled atmosphere-ocean models. Strongly coupled assimilation, in which a single assimilation system is applied to a coupled model, presents significant technical and scientific challenges. Hence weakly coupled assimilation systems are being developed as a first step, in which the coupled model is used to compare the current state estimate with observations, but corrections to the atmosphere and ocean initial conditions are then calculated independently. In this paper we provide a comprehensive description of the different coupled assimilation methodologies in the context of four dimensional variational assimilation (4D-Var) and use an idealised framework to assess the expected benefits of moving towards coupled data assimilation. We implement an incremental 4D-Var system within an idealised single column atmosphere-ocean model. The system has the capability to run both strongly and weakly coupled assimilations as well as uncoupled atmosphere or ocean only assimilations, thus allowing a systematic comparison of the different strategies for treating the coupled data assimilation problem. We present results from a series of identical twin experiments devised to investigate the behaviour and sensitivities of the different approaches. Overall, our study demonstrates the potential benefits that may be expected from coupled data assimilation. When compared to uncoupled initialisation, coupled assimilation is able to produce more balanced initial analysis fields, thus reducing initialisation shock and its impact on the subsequent forecast. Single observation experiments demonstrate how coupled assimilation systems are able to pass information between the atmosphere and ocean and therefore use near-surface data to greater effect. We show that much of this benefit may also be gained from a weakly coupled assimilation system, but that this can be sensitive to the parameters used in the assimilation.

Espectrometria de emissão óptica com plasma indutivamente acoplado aliada à quimiometria na determinação de íons metálicos no molusco Mytella falcata para discriminação de estuários potiguares

This work examined the possibility of using mussel Mytella falcata as bioindicator sample to detect metal ions in several estuaries potiguares, since species substances that accumulate in their tissues due to its characteristics filter feeders have been used for environmental monitoring. The chemometrics by principal components analysis was used to reduce the size of the original data in order to establish a pattern of distribution of metal ion. Samples were collected at three different points in the estuaries Curimataú, Guaraíra-Papeba, Potengi, Galinhos-Guamaré and Piranhas-Assu having been marked with the location using GPS (Global Positioning System). The determination of humidity content and digestion of the samples were performed using methods described in the Compendium of analytical standards of the Institute Adofo Lutz (2005) and the determination of metal ions of the elements Al, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sn and Zn were performed by optical emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma as described by USEPA method 6010C. The results show that it is possible to use this molluscum Mytella falcata in the estuaries of Rio Grande do Norte for the determination of metal ions. The data were subjected to principal components analysis (PCA) which enabled us to verify the distribution pattern of the metal ions studied in several estuaries potiguares and group them according to the metal ions in common with and relate them to the activities in each region

Shear viscosity from thermal fluctuations in relativistic conformal fluid dynamics

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Potencialidades analíticas do dietilditiofosfato de amônio em espectrometria de massas com plasma indutivamente acoplado empregando extração em fase sólida e sistemas de injeção em fluxo

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Characterization of humic-rich hydrocolloids and their metal species by means of competing ligand and metal exchange - an on-site approach

An improved on-site characterization of humic-rich hydrocolloids and their metal species in aquatic environments was the goal of the present approach. Both ligand exchange with extreme chelators ( diethylenetetraaminepentaacetic acid ( DTPA), ethylendiaminetetraacetic acid ( EDTA)) and metal exchange with strongly competitive cations (Cu(II)) were used on-site to characterize the conditional stability and availability of colloidal metal species in a humic-rich German bogwater lake ( Venner Moor, Munsterland). A mobile time-controlled tangential-flow ultrafiltration technique (cut-off: 1 kDa) was applied to differentiate operationally between colloidal metal species and free metal ions, respectively. DOC ( dissolved organic carbon) and metal determinations were carried out off-site using a home-built carbon analyzer and conventional ICP-OES ( inductively-coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry), respectively. From the metal exchange equilibria obtained on-site the kinetic and thermodynamic stability of the original metal species ( Fe, Mn, Zn) could be characterized. Conditional exchange constants K ex obtained from aquatic metal species and competitive Cu(II) ions follow the order Mn > Zn >> Fe. Obviously, Mn and Zn bound to humic-rich hydrocolloids are very strongly competed by Cu( II) ions, in contrast to Fe which is scarcely exchangeable. The exchange of aquatic metal species (e.g. Fe) by DTPA/EDTA exhibited relatively slow kinetics but rather high metal availabilities, in contrast to their Cu(II) exchange.

Decomposição de argilas em forno de microondas e determinação simultânea dos seus constituintes principais por espectrometria de emissão óptica em plasma indutivamente acoplado

ANALYSIS OF CLAYS BY INDUCTIVELY COUPLED PLASMA OPTICAL EMISSION SPECTROMETRY AFTER CLOSED-VESSEL MICROWAVE-ASSISTED ACID DECOMPOSITION. In this work a closed-vessel microwave-assisted acid decomposition procedure for clays was developed. Aluminum, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Na, Si, and Ti were determined in clay digestates by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. The most critical parameter for total decomposition of clays was the composition of the reagent mixture. The applied power and the heating time exerted a less critical influence. Best decomposition conditions were attained using a reagent mixture containing 4 mL aqua regia plus 3 mL HF and the heating program was implemented in 12 min. The accuracy of the results was demonstrated using two standard reference materials and a paired t-test showed a good agreement between determined and certified values at a 95% confidence level.

Use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae immobilized in agarose gel as a binding agent for diffusive gradients in thin films

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Técnica híbrida de plasma para a deposição de filmes de alumina

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Strong Coupling Isotropization of Non-Abelian Plasmas Simplified

We study the isotropization of a homogeneous, strongly coupled, non-Abelian plasma by means of its gravity dual. We compare the time evolution of a large number of initially anisotropic states as determined, on the one hand, by the full nonlinear Einstein's equations and, on the other, by the Einstein's equations linearized around the final equilibrium state. The linear approximation works remarkably well even for states that exhibit large anisotropies. For example, it predicts with a 20% accuracy the isotropization time, which is of the order of t(iso) less than or similar to 1/T, with T the final equilibrium temperature. We comment on possible extensions to less symmetric situations.

Entwicklung einer Online-Kopplung der Gelelektrophorese mit der induktiv gekoppelten Plasma-Massenspektrometrie und deren Anwendung in der Bioanalytik

Die Elementmassenspektrometrie wurde in den letzten Jahren sehr erfolgreich zur Aufklärung verschiedener Fragestellungen in der Bioanalytik eingesetzt. Hierbei spielen vor allem Kopplungstechniken von Trennmethoden wie der Flüssigchromatographie (LC) oder der Kapillarelektrophorese (CE) mit der induktiv gekoppelten Plasma-Massenspektrometrie (ICP-MS) als Multielementdetektor mit hervorragenden Quantifizierungseigenschaften eine entscheidende Rolle bei der Untersuchung von Biopolymeren und deren Wechselwirkung mit verschiedenen Metallen. So wurden beispielsweise verschiedene Methoden für die Trennung und Detektion von Metalloproteinen oder DNA-Metall-Addukten in unterschiedlichen Probenmaterialien entwickelt. Die traditionelle und leistungsstärkste Trennmethode für Biopolymere aller Art, die Gelelektrophorese, wurde jedoch bislang nicht in einem Online-Verfahren an die ICP-MS gekoppelt, um solche Fragestellungen zu bearbeiten. Verschiedene Versuche auf der Basis der Laserablation wurden in diese Richtung unternommen, wobei diese Techniken als sehr umständlich und zeitaufwändig anzusehen sind. In dieser Arbeit wird erstmals die technische Realisierung einer Online-Kopplung der Gelelektrophorese mit der ICP-MS beschrieben. Das System basiert auf einem Prinzip aus der präparativen Gelelektrophorese, in welcher eine kontinuierliche Elution der getrennten Komponenten aus dem Gel während der laufenden Elektrophorese durchgeführt wird. Die eluierten Komponenten werden mit dem Elutionspuffer direkt in das Zerstäubersystem des ICP-MS geführt. Die ersten Untersuchungen wurden am Beispiel der Fragemente von doppelsträngiger DNA (dsDNA) durchgeführt. Kommerziell erhältliche Standardlösungen wurden mit der Online-GE-ICP-MS mittels Detektion von 31P an einem hochauflösenden Massenspektrometer mit einer Massenauflösung von 4000 analysiert. Die Trennbedingungen (z.B. pH-Wert oder Ionenstärke der Pufferlösungen) wurden für die Trennung von dsDNA-Fragementen in Agarosegelen optimiert und auf verschiedene dsDNA-Fragmente angewandt. In einem nächsten Schritt wurden die Quantifizierungsmöglichkeiten für Biopolymere untersucht. Sehr kleine Mengen an dsDNA konnten mit einer Präzision von weniger als 3% quantifiziert werden. Hierfür kamen verschiedene Möglichkeiten der externen Kalibration zum Einsatz, wie der Kalibration mit einem Phosphat-Standard oder einem kommerziell erhältlichen quantitativen dsDNA-Standard. Um das Potenzial der entwickelten Methode für die Untersuchung von Biopolymer-Metall-Wechselwirkungen zu demonstrieren, wurden Oligonukleotide mit Cisplatin unter physiologischen Bedingungen inkubiert und die Reaktionsprodukte mit der Online-GE-ICP-MS mittels 31P- und 195Pt-Detektion untersucht. Verschiedene Cisplatin-Oligonukleotid-Addukte konnten auf diese Weise beobachtet werden, was zur Identifizierung die Anwendung der MALDI-TOF-MS als komplementärer Form der Massenspektrometrie notwendig machte. Abschließend wurde die Isotopenverdünnungsanalyse zum Zweck der Quantifizierung herangezogen.

Modelling, diagnostics and experimental analysis of plasma assisted processes for material treatment

This work presents results from experimental investigations of several different atmospheric pressure plasmas applications, such as Metal Inert Gas (MIG) welding and Plasma Arc Cutting (PAC) and Welding (PAW) sources, as well as Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) torches. The main diagnostic tool that has been used is High Speed Imaging (HSI), often assisted by Schlieren imaging to analyse non-visible phenomena. Furthermore, starting from thermo-fluid-dynamic models developed by the University of Bologna group, such plasma processes have been studied also with new advanced models, focusing for instance on the interaction between a melting metal wire and a plasma, or considering non-equilibrium phenomena for diagnostics of plasma arcs. Additionally, the experimental diagnostic tools that have been developed for industrial thermal plasmas have been used also for the characterization of innovative low temperature atmospheric pressure non equilibrium plasmas, such as dielectric barrier discharges (DBD) and Plasma Jets. These sources are controlled by few kV voltage pulses with pulse rise time of few nanoseconds to avoid the formation of a plasma arc, with interesting applications in surface functionalization of thermosensitive materials. In order to investigate also bio-medical applications of thermal plasma, a self-developed quenching device has been connected to an ICP torch. Such device has allowed inactivation of several kinds of bacteria spread on petri dishes, by keeping the substrate temperature lower than 40 degrees, which is a strict requirement in order to allow the treatment of living tissues.

Elementspeziation von Neptunium im Ultraspurenbereich

In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde der Nachweis des Isotops Np-237 mit Resonanzionisations-Massenspektrometrie (RIMS) entwickelt und optimiert. Bei RIMS werden Probenatome mehrstufig-resonant mit Laserstrahlung angeregt, ionisiert und anschließend massenspektrometrisch nachgewiesen. Die Bestimmung geeigneter Energiezustände für die Anregung und Ionisation von Np-237 erfolgte durch Resonanzionisationsspektroskopie (RIS), wobei über 300 bisher unbekannte Energieniveaus und autoionisierende Zustände von Np-237 identifiziert wurden. Mit in-source-RIMS wird für das Isotop eine Nachweisgrenze von 9E+5 Atome erreicht. rnrnDie Mobilität von Np in der Umwelt hängt stark von seiner Elementspeziation ab. Für Sicherheitsanalysen potentieller Endlagerstandorte werden daher Methoden benötigt, die Aussagen über die unter verschiedenen Bedingungen vorliegenden Neptuniumspezies ermöglichen. Hierzu wurde eine online-Kopplung aus Kapillarelektrophorese (CE) und ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) genutzt, mit der die Np-Redoxspezies Np(IV) und Np(V) noch bei einer Konzentrationen von 1E-9 mol/L selektiv nachgewiesen werden können. Das Verfahren wurde eingesetzt, um die Wechselwirkung des Elements mit Opalinuston unter verschiedenen Bedingungen zu untersuchen. Dabei konnte gezeigt werden, dass bei Gegenwart von Fe(II) Np(V) zu Np(IV) reduziert wird und dieses am Tongestein sorbiert. Dies führt insgesamt zu einer deutlich erhöhten Sorption des Np am Ton.

Composition of sedimentary material from the bottom and the area surrounding the Lake Untersee, East Antarctica

This paper presents data on geographic and geologic conditions of modern sedimentation in the Lake Untersee, the largest lake in the East Antarctica. Geochemical and sedimentation data indicate that the leading mechanism supplying aluminosilicate sedimentary material to the surface layer of bottom sediments is seasonal melting of the Anuchin glacier and the mountain glacier on the southeastern part of the valley hosting the lake. Strongly reduced conditions in the lowermost 25 m of the water column in the smaller of two depressions of the lake bottom were favorable for enrichment of the bottom sediments in bacteriogenic organic matter, Mo, Au, and Pd. H2S-contaminated water results to significant enrichment of the sediments only in redox-sensitive elements that are able to migrate in anionic complexes and precipitate (co-precipitate) as sulfides.