27,871 research outputs found

    Conical Nanoparticles for Blood Disease Detection

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    Metallic nanoparticles play an important role in the design of sensing platforms. In this paper, a new electromagnetic study for conical metal nanoparticles, working in the Near Infrared and Visible frequency regime, is proposed. The structures consist of inclusions, arranged in an array configuration, embedded in a dielectric environment. The aim of this work is to develop new analytical models, in order to describe the nanoparticles electromagnetic behavior in terms of extinction cross-section (absorption and scattering). The closed-form formulas link the conical nanoparticles geome- trical and electromagnetic parameters to their resonant frequency properties in terms of wavelength position, magnitude and bandwidth. The proposed models are compared to the numerical results and to the experimental ones, reported in literature. Good agreement is obtained. The proposed analytical formulas represent useful tools for sensing applications. For this reason, exploiting such models a new sensing platform able to detect different blood diseases is obtained. Nu- merical results confirm the capability of the proposed structure to be used as a sensing platform for medical diagnostics

    CASSCF calculations for photoinduced processes in large molecules: Choosing when to use the RASSCF, ONIOM and MMVB approximations

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    25/09/12 meb, Author version attached, OK to pub.In this article, we compare and contrast the RASSCF, ONIOM and MMVB electronic structure methods for calculating relaxation paths on potential energy surfaces of the excited states of large molecules, and for locating any resulting conical intersections at which nonadiabatic decay can take place. Each method is treated here as an approximation to CASSCF, which we choose as our reference level of theory, but which becomes prohibitively expensive computationally for large molecules. Both MMVB and ONIOM are hybrid computational methods – combining different levels of theory in an energy plus derivatives calculation at a particular molecular geometry – but they differ fundamentally in that MMVB is a hybrid-atom method, whereas ONIOM is a hybrid-molecule method. We explain this distinction through four representative applications: the photostability of pyracylene (studied with CASSCF, RASSCF, MMVB); large geometry changes in the singlet excited states of triangulene (studied with MMVB); a model for interstitial nickel defects in a synthetic diamond lattice (studied with ONIOM CAS:UFF); and the photochemical [4 + 4] cycloaddition of cyclohexadiene to naphthalene (studied with ONIOM CAS:MMVB). We show that each method is more appropriate for a particular type of photochemical problem. This article is part perspective, part review, and contains new results for three multi-state or photoinduced processes in complex systems

    Relation between molecular structure and ultrafast photoreactivity with application to molecular switches

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    Photoinduced ultrafast isomerizations are fundamental reactions in photochemistry and photobiology. This thesis aims for an understanding of the generic forces driving these reactions and a theoretical approach is set up, able to handle realistic systems, whose fast relaxation is mediated by conical intersections. The main focus is on the development of strategies for the prediction and accelerated optimization of conical intersections and their application to artificial compounds with promising physicochemical properties for technical applications as molecular switches. All calculations are based on advanced quantum chemical methods and mixed quantum-classical dynamics. In the first part of this thesis the two-electron two-orbital theory by Michl and Bonacic-Koutecky used in its original formulation to rationalize the structure of conical intersections in charged polyene systems is extended by including the interactions of the active pair of electrons with the remaining closed-shell electrons that are present in any realistic system. A set of conditions, called resonance and heterosymmetry conditions, for the formation of conical intersections in multielectronic systems are derived and verified by calculations on the basic units ethylene, cis-butadiene and 1,3-cyclohexadiene at various geometries and functionalizational patterns. The quantitative results help to understand the role of geometrical deformations and substituent effects for the formation of conical intersections and to derive rules of thumb for their qualitative prediction in arbitrary polyenes. An extension of the rules of thumb to conical intersection seams is formulated. The strategy pursued is to divide the molecular system into basic units and into functional groups. Each unit and its intersection space are treated independently, thereby reducing the dimensionality of the search space compared to the complete molecule. Subsequently, the interconnectivity of the intersection spaces of the different units is determined and an initial guess for the complete seam is constructed. This guess is then fed into a quantum chemistry package to finalize the optimization. The strategy is demonstrated for two multi-functionalized systems, hemithioindigo-hemistilbene and trifluoromethyl-pyrrolylfulgide. In the second part of this thesis state-of-the-art quantum chemical calculations and time-resolved transient and infrared spectroscopy are used to reconstruct the complex multi-channel isomerization mechanisms of hemithioindigo-hemistilbene and trifluoromethyl-indolylfulgide. Both the cis-trans isomerization in hemithioindigo-hemistilbene and the electrocyclic ring closure/opening in indolylfulgide are characterized by a charge transfer in the excited state. The ability of each system to stabilize this charge transfer is essential for the returning to the ground state. The relaxation to the ground state through extended regions of the seam is found to be the decisive step determining the reaction speed and the quantum yield. In the last part of this thesis mixed quantum-classical dynamics simulations at multi-configurational perturbation theory (MS-CASPT2) level, using Tully's fewest switches surface hopping approach, are performed to study the ultrafast photoreactivity of 1,3-cyclohexadiene in the gas-phase. For this purpose a numerical routine for the efficient calculation of non-adiabatic couplings at MS-CASPT2 level is presented. The major part of the excited molecules are found to circumvent the 1B2/2A1 conical intersection and reach the conical intersection seam between the excited state and the ground state instantaneuosly. Time constants for the evolution of the wavepacket on the bright 1B2-state, the relaxation into the 2A1-state and the return to the ground state are extracted. It is demonstrated that the accessibility of the conical intersection seam depends on its energetic and spatial relation to the minimum energy path, as well as on the momentum which is accumulated during relaxation on the excited state potential energy surface

    Buckling Behavior of Conical-Cylindrical Shells and Design Considerations for Launch-Vehicle Applications

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    Traditionally, launch vehicles are constructed with a series of buckling-prone thin-walled cylindrical and conical shells, in which the buckling behavior of these shells has been well studied and buckling design guidance exists. Conical-cylindrical shell geometry is now being utilized for launch-vehicle stage adapters and payload adapters due to advances in manufacturing and numerical techniques, but there is no available buckling design guidance for this nontraditional combined geometry. In order to provide design recommendations, the buckling behavior and imperfection sensitivity of conical-cylindrical shells and how it differs from the conical and cylindrical components needs to be better understood. From this premise, it is possible to investigate whether or not the buckling knockdown factor guidelines for conical and cylindrical shells outlined in NASA SP-8019 and NASA SP-8007, respectively, are still applicable. The results in this paper will show that the current recommendations are not appropriate in some cases. In addition, it was observed that the large rotations and displacements near the transition between the cone and cylinder can have a larger effect on the buckling load than the presence of radial imperfections for conical-cylindrical shells, which is different than for conical or cylindrical shells. More interesting is the fact that design modifications to increase the buckling capability of a conical-cylindrical shell such as adding reinforcement, which may add mass, will make the shell more sensitive to imperfections. The increased imperfection sensitivity may negate the increase in buckling capability that was thought to be achievable. In the end, it may be more beneficial to design a conical-cylindrical shell in which the buckling behavior is dominated by the more predictable geometric nonlinearity, which may lead to an overall lower buckling load, but a lower knockdown factor may be possible since it will not be as sensitive to the lessknown radial imperfections.Group Bisagn

    Conical Stainless Steel Luer Type Needles

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    A box of 12 Conical stainless steel, luer type needles. On the box it states, Stock No. 11-1070, Length: 1 5/8 in. Gauge Tapered, Type A . Inside the box are 13 needles.https://digitalcommons.dmu.edu/artifacts_medical/1013/thumbnail.jp

    Propagation through conical crossings: An asymptotic semigroup

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    We consider the standard model problem for a conical intersection of electronic surfaces in molecular dynamics. Our main result is the construction of a semigroup in order to approximate the Wigner function associated with the solution of the Schrodinger equation at leading order in the semiclassical parameter. The semigroup stems from an underlying Markov process that combines deterministic transport along classical trajectories within the electronic surfaces and random jumps between the surfaces near the crossing. Our semigroup can be viewed as a rigorous mathematical counterpart of so-called trajectory surface hopping algorithms, which are of major importance in molecular simulations in chemical physics. The key point of our analysis, the incorporation of the nonadiabatic transitions, is based on the Landau-Zener type formula of Fermanian-Kammerer and Gerard [10] for the propagation of two-scale Wigner measures through conical crossings. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

    Frequency-reconfigurable coplanar patch antenna with conical radiation

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    [[abstract]]A design for frequency-reconfigurable antennas with conical-beam radiation is described. The design is based on the TM 02 mode of a coplanar annular-ring microstrip antenna, and several shorting strips are symmetrically placed along the circumference of the radiating patch to vary its resonant frequency. The effects of the number of the shorting strips on the resonant frequency and radiation characteristic are respectively investigated. The obtained results indicate that the resonant frequency of the microstrip antenna has an increase of 33% when the number of the shorting strips is varied from 0 to 16. In addition, the antenna radiation can remain the conical beam pattern with the increasing of frequency. A frequency-reconfigurable prototype with electrical switching between 4.8 and 6 GHz has also been fabricated, and the experimental results are given

    Free speech: Author reading a popular, and cheap, night on the town

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    Anne Rice author reading and book signing at Books Inc

    Optimization of the conical angle design in conical implant-abutment connections: A pilot study based on the finite element method

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    [[abstract]]Conical implant-abutment connections are popular for their excellent connection stability, which is attributable to frictional resistance in the connection. However, conical angles, the inherent design parameter of conical connections, exert opposing effects on 2 influencing factors of the connection stability: frictional resistance and abutment rigidity. This pilot study employed an optimization approach through the finite element method to obtain an optimal conical angle for the highest connection stability in an Ankylos-based conical connection system. A nonlinear 3-dimensional finite element parametric model was developed according to the geometry of the Ankylos system (conical half angle = 5.7 degrees ) by using the ANSYS 11.0 software. Optimization algorithms were conducted to obtain the optimal conical half angle and achieve the minimal value of maximum von Mises stress in the abutment, which represents the highest connection stability. The optimal conical half angle obtained was 10.1 degrees . Compared with the original design (5.7 degrees ), the optimal design demonstrated an increased rigidity of abutment (36.4%) and implant (25.5%), a decreased microgap at the implant-abutment interface (62.3%), a decreased contact pressure (37.9%) with a more uniform stress distribution in the connection, and a decreased stress in the cortical bone (4.5%). In conclusion, the methodology of design optimization to determine the optimal conical angle of the Ankylos-based system is feasible. Because of the heterogeneity of different systems, more studies should be conducted to define the optimal conical angle in various conical connection designs

    Twisted and conical Kahler-Ricci solitons on Fano manifolds

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    In this paper, we first study the relationship between the existence of twisted Kahler-Ricci solitons and the properness of modified twisted K-energy. Approximating by a sequence of smooth twisted kahler-Ricci solitons, we obtain an existence result of conical Kahler-Ricci solitons. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.NSF in China [11571332, 11131007, 11526212]SCI(E)[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
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