Showing papers by "Chalmers University of Technology published in 1999"

Spectroscopy of Single Hemoglobin Molecules by Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering

Abstract: We demonstrate the detection of molecular vibrations in single hemoglobin (Hb) protein molecules attached to isolated and immobilized silver nanoparticles by surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). A comparison between calculation and experiment indicates that electromagnetic field effects dominate the surface enhancement, and that single molecule Hb SERS is possible only for molecules situated between Ag particles. The vibrational spectra exhibit temporal fluctuations of unknown origin which appear to be characteristic of the single molecule detection limit.

Viscoelastic Acoustic Response of Layered Polymer Films at Fluid-Solid Interfaces: Continuum Mechanics Approach

Abstract: We have derived the general solution of a wave equation describing the dynamics of two-layer viscoelastic polymer materials of arbitrary thickness deposited on solid (quartz) surfaces in a fluid environment. Within the Voight model of viscoelastic element, we calculate the acoustic response of the system to an applied shear stress, i.e. we find the shift of the quartz generator resonance frequency and of the dissipation factor, and show that it strongly depends on the viscous loading of the adsorbed layers and on the shear storage and loss moduli of the overlayers. These results can readily be applied to quartz crystal acoustical measurements of the viscoelasticity of polymers which conserve their shape under the shear deformations and do not flow, and layered structures such as protein films adsorbed from solution onto the surface of self-assembled monolayers.

Dipole correction for surface supercell calculations

Abstract: When performing density-functional calculations of surfaces using a plane-wave pseudopotential code, it is necessary to embed a slab with two surfaces in a periodic supercell. In many situations, it is desirable to study an asymmetric slab with a net surface dipole density. The periodic boundary conditions imposed on the electrostatic potential then give rise to an artificial electric field across the slab. We present a dipole correction that cancels the artificial field, and show how this correction can be incorporated in the density-functional theory total-energy expression. The results are supported by total-energy calculations of water-molecule layers.

Scenario-based performance analysis of routing protocols for mobile ad-hoc networks

Abstract: This study is a comparison of three routing protocols proposed for wireless mobile ad-hoc networks. The protocols are: Destination Sequenced Distance Vector (DSDV), Ad-hoc On demand Distance Vector (AODV) and Dynamic Source Routing (DSR). Extensive simulations are made on a scenario where nodes moves randomly. Results are presented as a function of a novel mobility metric designed to reflect the relative speeds of the nodes in a scenario. Furthermore, three realistic scenarios are introduced to test the protocols in more specialized contexts. In most simulations the reactive protocols (AODV and DSR) performed significantly better than DSDV. At moderate traffic load DSR performed better than AODV for all tested mobility values, while AODV performed better than DSR at higher traffic loads. The latter is caused by the source routes in DSR data packets, which increase the load on the network. routers and hosts, thus a node may forward packets between other nodes as well as run user applications. Mobile ad-hoc networks have been the focus of many recent research and development efforts. Ad-hoc packet radio networks have so far mainly concerned military applications, where a decentralized network configuration is an operative advantage or even a necessity. Networks using ad-hoc configuration concepts can be used in many military applications, ranging from interconnected wireless access points to networks of wireless devices carried by individuals, e.g., digital maps, sensors attached to the body, voice communication, etc. Combinations of wide range and short range ad-hoc networks seek to provide robust, global coverage, even during adverse operating conditions.

Ferroelectric and Antiferroelectric Liquid Crystals

Abstract: Ferroelectric liquid crystals have been a major research topic since 30 years. However, when it comes to liquid crystals, the term “ferroelectric” is strongly ambiguous and frequently not only leads to confusion and misunderstanding but also obscures the basic concepts. The property of ferroelectricity in liquid crystals was first claimed in 1975. Five years later so-called surface-stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystals were described, which caused a surge in industrial interest because of their promising electro-optical applications, in particular for high-resolution liquid crystal displays. The industrial interest led to a considerable activity in synthesizing new compounds with the desired properties. In the course of this materials development antiferroelectricity in liquid crystals was then also sought for and was finally identified in 1989. At the same time as the first industrial ferroelectric devices (the Canon displays) came on the market in 1995, the antiferroelectric liquid crystals were bein...

Timing anomalies in dynamically scheduled microprocessors

Abstract: Previous timing analysis methods have assumed that the worst-case instruction execution time necessarily corresponds to the worst-case behavior. We show that this assumption is wrong in dynamically scheduled processors. A cache miss, for example, can in some cases result in a shorter execution time than a cache hit. Many examples of such timing anomalies are provided. We first provide necessary conditions when timing anomalies can show up and identify what architectural features that may cause such anomalies. We also show that analyzing the effect of these anomalies with known techniques results in prohibitive computational complexities. Instead, we propose some simple code modification techniques to make it impossible for any anomalies to occur. These modifications make it possible to estimate WCET by known techniques. Our evaluation shows that the pessimism imposed by these techniques is fairly limited; it is less than 27% for the programs in our benchmark suite.

The base-rate fallacy and its implications for the difficulty of intrusion detection

Abstract: Many different demands can be made of intrusion detection systems. An important requirement is that it be effective i.e. that it should detect a substantial percentage of intrusions into the supervised system, while still keeping the false alarm rate at an acceptable level.This paper aims to demonstrate that, for a reasonable set of assumptions, the false alarm rate is the limiting factor for the performance of an intrusion detection system. This is due to the base-rate fallacy phenomenon, that in order to achieve substantial values of the Bayesian detection rate, P(Intrusion|Alarm), we have to achieve—a perhaps unattainably low—false alarm rate.A selection of reports of intrusion detection performance are reviewed, and the conclusion is reached that there are indications that at least some types of intrusion detection have far to go before they can attain such low false alarm rates.

Detecting computer and network misuse through the production-based expert system toolset (P-BEST)

Abstract: The paper describes an expert system development toolset called the Production-Based Expert System Toolset (P-BEST) and how it is employed in the development of a modern generic signature analysis engine for computer and network misuse detection. For more than a decade, earlier versions of P-BEST have been used in intrusion detection research and in the development of some of the most well known intrusion detection systems, but this is the first time the principles and language of P-BEST are described to a wide audience. We present rule sets for detecting subversion methods against which there are few defenses-specifically, SYN flooding and buffer overruns-and provide performance measurements. Together, these examples and performance measurements indicate that P-BEST based expert systems are well suited for real time misuse detection in contemporary computing environments. In addition, the simplicity of the P-BEST language and its close integration with the C programming language makes it easy to use while still being very powerful and flexible.

Implant Surfaces and Interface Processes

Abstract: The past decades and current R&D of biomaterials and medical implants show some general trends. One major trend is an increased degree of functionalization of the material surface, better to meet the demands of the biological host system. While the biomaterials of the past and those in current use are essentially bulk materials (metals, ceramics, polymers) or special compounds (bioglasses), possibly with some additional coating (e.g., hydroxyapatite), the current R&D on surface modifications points toward much more complex and multifunctional surfaces for the future. Such surface modifications can be divided into three classes, one aiming toward an optimized three-dimensional physical microarchitecture of the surface (pore size distributions, "roughness", etc.), the second one focusing on the (bio) chemical properties of surface coatings and impregnations (ion release, multi-layer coatings, coatings with biomolecules, controlled drug release, etc.), and the third one dealing with the viscoelastic properties (or more generally the micromechanical properties) of material surfaces. These properties are expected to affect the interfacial processes cooperatively, i.e., there are likely synergistic effects between and among them: The surface is "recognized" by the biological system through the combined chemical and topographic pattern of the surface, and the viscoelastic properties. In this presentation, the development indicated above is discussed briefly, and current R&D in this area is illustrated with a number of examples from our own research. The latter include micro- and nanofabrication of surface patterns and topographies by the use of laser machining, photolithographic techniques, and electron beam and colloidal lithographies to produce controlled structures on implant surfaces in the size range 10 nm to 100 microns. Examples of biochemical modifications include mono- or lipid membranes and protein coatings on different surfaces. A new method to evaluate, e.g., biomaterial-protein and biomaterial-cell interactions--the Quartz Crystal Microbalance--is described briefly.

Interactions of CO with Pt/ceria catalysts

Abstract: The interaction between CO and Pt/ceria catalysts was investigated by oxygen storage capacity measurements, CO and CO 2 isotope exchange and FT-IR measurements. A Pt/alumina sample was also investigated for comparison. The capacity to store and release oxygen as a function of ceria surface-area and Pt–ceria contact was estimated. The presence of chlorine from the Pt pre-cursor was found not to decrease the oxygen storage capacity. However, FT-IR measurements showed that chlorine hindered the carbonate formation during CO exposure, which was found to be the main form of carbon storage on the pre-oxidized sample. On a strongly reduced sample, CO disproportionation was found to occur to an increasing extent with increasing degree of reduction. CO and CO 2 isotope exchange showed that these molecules exchange their oxygen with Pt/ceria and ceria quite easily at 400°C. CO chemisorption at −78°C as a method to determine the metal dispersion was also investigated. At this temperature, the CO uptake on ceria was strongly suppressed, especially on the Cl-free sample, but not completely hindered.

The implant neck: smooth or provided with retention elements. A biomechanical approach.

Abstract: A combined three-dimensional and axisymmetric finite element analysis was made of the effect upon the peak interfacial shear stress of providing an axially loaded mandibular dental implant with retention elements all the way up to the crest of the implant as opposed to a smooth neck The effect of increased wall thickness of the implant and of using bi-cortical fixation as opposed to uni-cortical fixation was also studied Retention elements at the implant neck were found to bring about a major decrease in the peak interfacial shear stress Increased wall thickness and bi-cortical fixation also resulted in decreased peak interfacial shear stress but this effect was minor The interpretation of this was that all these three measures increase the capacity of the implant to carry axial loads Thus from a biomechanical viewpoint it appears to be advantageous to provide the neck of screw-shaped implants with retention elements, for example a rough surface of suitable micro-architecture and/or a micro-thread It is furthermore suggested that retention elements at the implant neck will counteract marginal bone resorption in accordance with Wolff's law This paper is a revision of: Hansson, S (1997) Some steps to improve the capacity of dental implants to resist axial loads In: Hansson, S, ed Towards an optimized dental implant and implant bridge design: A biomechanical approach Thesis Goteborg: Chalmers University of Technology

Substituted polythiophenes designed for optoelectronic devices and conductors

Abstract: Polythiophenes are a very versatile class of conjugated polymers. Substituted polythiophenes can be tailored for various applications by designing the side groups to give the polymer different desired properties. Our work on preparing polythiophenes designed to have high stability in the doped state is described. We also discuss our efforts on tuning the colour of the emission from polythiophenes for use in polymer light-emitting diodes. Design criteria for the synthesis of polythiophenes with high luminescence efficiency for use in light-emitting diodes and lasers are also described. Finally, the design of polythiophenes for use in photodiodes is discussed.

Investigation of precipitation in an Al–Zn–Mg alloy after two-step ageing treatment at 100° and 150°C

Abstract: Fine-scale precipitation of the metastable Zn- and Mg-rich η′ phase and its precursors is essential for the mechanical properties of Al–Zn–Mg alloys. However, at present neither the precipitation sequence nor the structure and composition of the intermediate precipitate phases are completely clear. This paper deals with an investigation of precipitation in an industrial Al–Zn–Mg alloy at various stages of a conventional two-step ageing treatment at 100° and 150°C. Studies were performed using both transmission electron microscopy and atom-probe field ion microscopy. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis revealed two parallel precipitation paths; one involving formation and dissolution of the ordered GP (I) zones, the other involving formation of clusters (type II), having a different atomic arrangement compared to the Al-matrix, which transform to the η′ phase. Atom-probe study of the material after short time ageing at 100°C did not show any observable distinction between GP (I) and type II precipitates. In the peak-aged material the best classification of precipitates was obtained using their morphology (the cigar-like and the plate-like) because there was significant overlap in the range of total solute contents of each type of precipitate. Generally the Zn:Mg ratio in all observed types of precipitates was close to 1:1 and the total solute atom content increased with ageing time. Distribution of alloying elements in the precipitates and in the surrounding matrix is discussed.

Rotating accretion flows around black holes: convection and variability

Abstract: Numerical, two-dimensional, time-dependent hydrodynamical models of geometrically thick accretion discs around black holes are presented. Accretion flows with non-effective radiation cooling (ADAFs) can be both convectively stable or unstable depending on the value of the viscosity parameter α. The high-viscosity flows (α≃ 1) are stable and have a strong equatorial inflow and bipolar outflows. The low-viscosity flows (α≤ 0.1) are convectively unstable and this induces quasi-periodic variability, with typical time-scales in the observed range of quasi-periodic oscillations.

Thermal conductivity and diffusivity of wood.

Abstract: Transient simultaneous measurements of thermal conductivity and diffusivity of Swedish wood have been performed with the plane source technique on oven-dry hardwood (birch) samples at room temperature and at 100 °C. The influences of temperature, density, porosity and anisotropy on thermal conduction were investigated. The measurements were done in longitudinal (parallel to the grain) and transverse (intermediate between radial and tangential) directions. As the temperature increased from 20 to 100 °C, the thermal conductivity of each sample increased slightly for both longitudinal and transverse directions. The effect of density and porosity on the thermal conductivity may be related to the presence of other scattering mechanisms such as voids and cell boundaries. It seems that the dominant mechanism of heat transfer across the cell lumina in these types of wood is the heat conduction through the voids. An attempt was made to explain the behaviour of the effective thermal conductivity by adopting a model based on the ratio between heat conduction in parallel and serial layers of gas, liquid, and solid phases.

Continuum excitations in 6 He

Abstract: T. Aumann et al. ; 11 pags.; 6 figs.; 2 tabs. ; PACS number(s): 27.20.1n, 25.60.Gc, 25.70.De, 29.30.Hs

Evaluation of the leaching characteristics of wood ash and the influence of ash agglomeration

Abstract: The release of mineral nutrients and other species from untreated and stabilised wood ash has been investigated. Stabilisation is applied with the aim to modify the solubility of ash components and the ash particle size, i.e. to form dense ash particle agglomerates. This process induces the formation of several secondary minerals. The most important reaction is the transformation of Ca(OH) 2 into CaCO 3 which lowers the calcium leaching rate significantly. A significant fraction of the alkali metals, K and Na, is present in salts which are rapidly released. The short-term release of these salts, as simulated in laboratory experiments, was not reduced by the stabilisation methods applied. Generally, low leaching rates were observed for the important plant nutrients P and Mg as well as for Fe and other metals from both untreated and agglomerated ashes. Thermodynamic equilibrium modelling of the hardening process showed that in addition to the transformation of Ca(OH) 2 to CaCO 3 , formation of the mineral ettringite is possible at a high pH. Experimental results have confirmed this. As the pH in the pore solution decreases during long-term leaching ettringite will be transformed into calcium carbonate and gypsum. In accordance with the experimental results, no formation of secondary solubility controlling potassium or sodium minerals was indicated by the modelling results.