Multiscaling analysis of ferroelectric domain wall roughness

Using multiscaling analysis, we compare the characteristic roughening of ferroelectric domain walls in PZT thin films with numerical simulations of weakly pinned one-dimensional interfaces. Although at length scales up to a length scale greater or equal to 5 microns the ferroelectric domain walls behave similarly to the numerical interfaces, showing a simple mono-affine scaling (with a well-defined roughness exponent), we demonstrate more complex scaling at higher length scales, making the walls globally multi-affine (varying roughness exponent at different observation length scales). The dominant contributions to this multi-affine scaling appear to be very localized variations in the disorder potential, possibly related to dislocation defects present in the substrate.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Introducing Semi-Interpenetrating Networks of Chitosan and Ammonium-Quaternary Polymers for the Effective Removal of Waterborne Pathogens from Wastewaters

The present work aims to study the influence of ammonium-quaternary monomers and chitosan, obtained from different sources, upon the effect of semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) hydrogels upon the removal of waterborne pathogens and bacteria from wastewater. To this end, the study was focused on using vinyl benzyl trimethylammonium chloride (VBTAC), a water-soluble monomer with known antibacterial properties, and mineral-enriched chitosan extracted from shrimp shells, to prepare the semi-IPNs. By using chitosan, which still contains the native minerals (mainly calcium carbonate), the study intends to justify that the stability and efficiency of the semi-IPN bactericidal devices can be modified and better improved. The new semi-IPNs were characterized for composition, thermal stability and morphology using well-known methods. Swelling degree (SD%) and the bactericidal effect assessed using molecular methods revealed that hydrogels made of chitosan derived from shrimp shell demonstrated the most competitive and promising potential for wastewater (WW) treatment.Introducing Semi-Interpenetrating Networks of Chitosan and Ammonium-Quaternary Polymers for the Effective Removal of Waterborne Pathogens from WastewaterspublishedVersio

Combining half-metals and multiferroics into epitaxial heterostructures for spintronics

We report on the growth of epitaxial bilayers of the La2/3Sr1/3MnO3 (LSMO) half-metallic ferromagnet and the BiFeO3 (BFO) multiferroic, on SrTiO3(001) by pulsed laser deposition. The growth mode of both layers is two-dimensional, which results in unit-cell smooth surfaces. We show that both materials keep their properties inside the heterostructures, i.e. the LSMO layer (11 nm thick) is ferromagnetic with a Curie temperature of ~330K, while the BFO films shows ferroelectricity down to very low thicknesses (5 nm). Conductive-tip atomic force microscope mappings of BFO/LSMO bilayers for different BFO thicknesses reveal a high and homogeneous resistive state for the BFO film that can thus be used as a ferroelectric tunnel barrier in tunnel junctions based on a half-metal

Disordered Elastic Systems and One-Dimensional Interfaces

We briefly introduce the generic framework of Disordered Elastic Systems (DES), giving a short `recipe' of a DES modeling and presenting the quantities of interest in order to probe the static and dynamical disorder-induced properties of such systems. We then focus on a particular low-dimensional DES, namely the one-dimensional interface in short-ranged elasticity and short-ranged quenched disorder. Illustrating different elements given in the introductory sections, we discuss specifically the consequences of the interplay between a finite temperature T>0 and a finite interface width \xi>0 on the static geometrical fluctuations at different lengthscales, and the implications on the quasistatic dynamics.Comment: Proceedings of the International Workshop on Electronic Crystals (ECRYS), Cargese (2011

In silico design of novel probes for the atypical opioid receptor MRGPRX2

The primate-exclusive MRGPRX2 G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) has been suggested to modulate pain and itch. Despite putative peptide and small molecule MRGPRX2 agonists, selective nanomolar potency probes have not yet been reported. To identify a MRGPRX2 probe, we first screened 5,695 small molecules and found many opioid compounds activated MRGPRX2, including (−)- and (+)-morphine, hydrocodone, sinomenine, dextromethorphan and the prodynorphin-derived peptides, dynorphin A, dynorphin B, and α- and β-neoendorphin. We used these to select for mutagenesis-validated homology models and docked almost 4 million small molecules. From this docking, we predicted ZINC-3573, which represents a potent MRGPRX2-selective agonist, showing little activity against 315 other GPCRs and 97 representative kinases, and an essentially inactive enantiomer. ZINC-3573 activates endogenous MRGPRX2 in a human mast cell line inducing degranulation and calcium release. MRGPRX2 is a unique atypical opioid-like receptor important for modulating mast cell degranulation, which can now be specifically modulated with ZINC-3573

Erratum: Studies on organolithium-induced alkylative desymmetrisation of epoxides: Synthesis of enantioenriched β-amino cycloheptenols from 6,7-epoxy-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes (Tetrahedron (2004) 60 (5185))

The synthesis and enantioselective α-deprotonation - double ring opening of 6,7-epoxy-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes 5 using organolithiums in the presence of (-)-sparteine or (4S)-2,2′-(1-ethylpropylidene)bis-4-(1- methylethyl)-4,5-dihydrooxazole, giving amino cycloheptenols in up to 85% yield and 82% ee is described. The impact of different reaction variables on reaction profiles has been studied, including the nature of organolithium, solvent, ligand, temperature and epoxide structure. The reactions proved to be dependent on all these variables, in particular on the structure of substrate. A mixed organolithium system (PriLi/TMSCH2Li) has been successfully used to introduce potentially versatile allylsilane functionality. © 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved