Submitted by Vasti Diniz (vastijpa@hotmail.com) on 2017-09-11T14:46:48Z No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1205344 bytes, checksum: c7bac6a18f4623c77e994970333f09be (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-09-11T14:46:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1205344 bytes, checksum: c7bac6a18f4623c77e994970333f09be (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-23 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The transport of electrons through nanostructures is an important achievement of quantum mechanics. In this dissertation, quantum transport will be explored through the statistic formalism of random scattering matrices, wich will be thoroughly explored in its own chapter. This formalism will then be adequated to be used in computer simulation to achieve some interesting results. We will study Landauer’s formulation for the conductance at low temperatures adapted to scattering matrices. Through this formulation, we will obtain conductance curves, autocorrelation curves, and finally we will analyze the width of the autocorrelation curves for different resonances. We will also study a specific process of generation of entanglement of formation, as defined byWooters, following a model created by Beenakker. Following the same methodology used for the conductance, we will use the scattering matrices formalism to obtain autocorrelation curves for entanglement and conductance. Exclusively for entanglement and concurrence, some new results will be presented through graphs and histograms of probability of entanglement and concurrence for some energies of interest. The results for both the conductance and the entanglement will be obtained through similar systems, consisting of an open quantum dot with two leads and four channels, studied according to the necessity of each formulation. / Uma realizac¸ ˜ao importante da mecˆanica quˆantica ´e o transporte de el´etrons atrav´es de nanoestruturas. Neste trabalho o transporte quˆantico ser´a explorado atrav´es do formalismo estat´ıstico de matrizes de espalhamento aleat´orias, que, por sua vez, ser´a detalhadamente explorado. Este formalismo ser´a ent˜ao adequado a algumas formulac¸ ˜oes para a obtenc¸ ˜ao de resultados de interesse atrav´es de simulac¸ ˜ao computacional. Ser´a estudada a formulac¸ ˜ao de Landauer para a condutˆancia `a baixas temperaturas adaptada para matrizes de espalhamento. Atrav´es desta formulac¸ ˜ao, ser˜ao obtidas curvas de condutˆancia, curvas de autocorrelac¸ ˜ao da condutˆancia e, por fim, ser´a feita uma an´alise da largura das curvas de autocorrelac¸ ˜ao para diferentes resson ˆancias. Ser´a estudado tamb´em um processo espec´ıfico de criac¸ ˜ao de emaranhamento de formac¸ ˜ao definido por Wooters, seguindo um modelo criado por Beenakker. Igualmente, ser´a utilizado o formalismo de matrizes de espalhamento para obtenc¸ ˜ao de curvas de autocorrelac¸ ˜ao do emaranhamento e da concorrˆencia. No caso do emaranhamento e da concorrˆencia ser˜ao apresentados alguns resultados in´editos atrav´es de gr´aficos e histogramas de probabilidade de emaranhamento e concorrˆencia para energias de interesse. Os resultados ser˜ao obtidos atrav´es de sistemas similares, tratando de um ponto quˆantico aberto com dois guias e quatro canais, estudados de acordo com a necessidade de cada formulac¸ ˜ao.

Um sistema diferencial foi desenvolvido para resolver as principais dificuldades na medida do aumento da condução protônica na interface filme de Langmuir-água, a saber: a) pequeno aumento da condução devido ao filme comparado com a condução da água; b) diminuição da área imersa dos eletrodos para tensões superficiais diferentes da tensão da água; c) obtenção de uma subfase isenta de impurezas. Com o novo sistema mediu-se a condutância de filmes de Langmuir tradicionais (moléculas anfipáticas com cadeias de hidrocarbonos longas), de filmes mistos de fosfolipídio-fármacos e de um polímero condutor. Realizaram-se, também, medidas de pressão de superfície e potencial de superfície. Os resultados da condutância lateral e do potencial de superfície obtidos com os filmes tradicionais indicam que a área crítica (área em que a condutância do filme aparece e o potencial de superfície aumenta abruptamente) é área em que se forma uma rede de pontes de hidrogênio. Cálculos de área crítica realizados para os ácidos graxos, utilizando um modelo unidimensional para a transferência de prótons, reproduzem os resultados experimentais. Resultados obtidos com o polímero condutor mostram que é possível medir a contribuição eletrônica para a condutância com o novo sistema diferencial. Um estudo de filmes mistos de fosfolípídios-anestésicos locais (tetracaína e dibucaína) foi realizado utilizando a técnica de coespalhamento. Está técnica tem a vantagem, sobre as de adsorção de Langmuir usada tradicionalmente, de se ter certeza de que todas as mudanças nas propriedades do filme sejam causadas pelos compostos adicionados na monocamada. Ambos os anestésicos expandiram a matriz de fosfolípidios. Os resultados mostraram que a tetracaína possui ligações hidrofóbicas mais fortes que a dibucaína, fazendo com que a tetracaína penetrasse mais profundamente na matriz de fosfolipídio / A different system has been developed for overcoming the main difficulties associated with the measurement of an enhanced protonic conductance at the Langmuir film/water interface. These difficulties are: a) small increase in conductance due to the film as compared to the bulk water conductance; b) decrease in the electrode immersed area for surface tensions lower than that of the subphase water; c) obtaining an impurity-free subphase. With the new system the lateral conductance of traditional Langmuir films (possessing amphiphilic molecules with long hydrocarbon tails), of mixed films madeup of phospholipid and pharmaceutical drugs and of a conducting polymer. Measurements were also performed of monolayer surface pressure and surface potential. The conductance and surface potential results obtained with the traditional compounds have indicated that the critical area (at which the conductance appears and the surface potential increase abruptly) is the area for which a H-bonded network is formed. The critical area for fatty acids was calculated , employing a unidimensional proton transfer model, which is consistent with the measured value. Results obtained using the differential system with a conducting polymer also show that it is a possible to detect an electronic contribution to the lateral conductance. A study of mixed films from phospholipid and local anesthetics (tetracaine and dibucaine) was conducted using the co-spreading technique. This method offers the advantage, compared to the traditionally employed Langmuir adsorption method, of making sure that all changes in the film properties are caused by incorporation of the drugs added to the phospholipid monolayer. Both anesthetics caused the phospholipid matrix to expand. The results showed that tetracaine has stronger hydrophobic interaction than dibucaine, and therefore tetracaine penetrates deeper into the phospholipid matrix

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar, in vitro, quantitativamente e qualitativamente, a estabilidade de um híbrido experimental em duas concentrações diferentes (concentrado e diluído) aplicado sobre a simulação de uma dentina sensível. Dentes molares humanos foram selecionados e tiveram suas coroas seccionadas abaixo do sulco oclusal de forma a obter espécimes de discos de dentina que foram planificados e polidos até atingirem a espessura de 1,0 milímetro. Os espécimes foram divididos em 4 grupos (n=9) de acordo com os tratamentos de superfície propostos: saliva artificial (SAL), adesivo dentinário autocondicionante (AD), híbrido experimental concentrado (TC) e híbrido experimental diluído na proporção de 1:3 (TD). Dois métodos foram empregados para avaliar a estabilidade: condutância hidráulica (permeabilidade dentinária) e microscopia eletrônica de varredura. Foi realizada a leitura da permeabilidade dentinária em 6 tempos experimentais: Mínima (sem tratamento), Máxima (com túbulos abertos), Tratamento (após aplicação dos respectivos tratamentos), Erosão (após 5 minutos de imersão em ácido cítrico 0,05M pH 3,8), Escovação (após escovação de 3900 ciclos) e Erosão Pós (repetição da erosão após o processo de escovação). A microscopia eletrônica de varredura foi realizada em espécimes de dentina com área central de aplicação dos tratamentos e tecido natural nas laterais para evidenciar as características da película aplicada. As leituras foram feitas após a aplicação dos tratamentos, após a erosão, após a escovação e após a erosão pós escovação, para todos os 4 tratamentos propostos. O teste de análise de variância (ANOVA) de Medidas Repetidas com 2 fatores de variação foi aplicado juntamente com o teste de comparações múltiplas pareadas (Tukey). Para permeabilidade dentinária todos os tratamentos reduziram a condutância hidráulica (Lp) em relação à Máxima. TC e TD apresentaram os menores valores (24% e 15%) respectivamente. O TD continuou apresentando valores semelhantes estatisticamente após a Erosão (36%), sendo estatisticamente semelhante ao TC (55%).. No tempo Escovação o TD apresentou Lp estatisticamente semelhante aos tempos Tratamento e Erosão. Todos os grupos apresentaram-se estatisticamente semelhantes entre os tratamentos nos tempos Escovação e Erosão Pós. A análise das MEVs evidencia túbulos dentinários com conteúdo no seu interior nos grupos TC e TD, mantendo-se durante todos os tempos experimentais. O AD apresentou uma película evidente, que começou a se destacar e exibir falhas a partir do tempo Erosão. Conclui-se que o TD apresentou o melhor comportamento sendo capaz de diminuir a permeabilidade dentinária, formando uma película fina, transparente, imperceptível, capaz de vedar (totalmente ou parcialmente) e penetrar dentro dos túbulos dentinários, resistindo aos desafios erosivos e abrasivos. / The aim of this study was to evaluate, in vitro, quantitatively and qualitatively, the stability of an experimental hybrid with two different concentrations (concentrated and diluted) applied at a simulation of a sensitive dentin. Human molar teeth were selected and their crowns were sectioned below the occlusal groove in order to obtain specimens of dentine disks that were ground flat and polished to achieve a thickness of 1.0 millimeter. The specimens were divided into 4 groups (n = 9) in accordance with proposed surface treatments: Artificial saliva (SAL) dentinal self-etching adhesive (AD), concentrated experimental hybrid (TC) and experimental hybrid diluted in the ratio 1: 3 (TD). Two methods were used to assess the stability: hydraulic conductance (dentin permeability) and scanning electron microscopy. The dentin permeability in 6 experimental times was carried out: Minimum (no treatment), Maximum (with open tubules), treatment (after application of their treatments), erosion (after 5 minutes of immersion in citric acid 0.05M pH 3, 8), brushing (brushing after 3900 cycles) and Post erosion (erosion was repeated after brushing). The scanning electron microscopy was performed on dentin specimens with a central area of application of treatments and natural tissues on the sides to show the film characteristics applied. Readings were made after application of treatments, after erosion, after brushing and after erosion after brushing, for all 4 treatments proposed. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures with two variation factors was applied with the multiple comparisons paired test (Tukey). For dentin all treatments reduced hydraulic conductance (Lp) in relation to Maximum. TC and TD showed the lowest values (24% and 15%) respectively. The TD continued to show statistically similar values after erosion (36%), being statistically similar to TC (55%). In brushing time the TD Lp was statistically similar to Treatment and erosion times. All groups were statistically similar between treatments in brushing and Post Erosion times. The analysis of SEM shows dentinal tubules with content inside on the TC and TD groups, remaining during all experimental period. AD presented a clear film, which began to stand out and show failure from erosion time. It follows that the TD had better behavior being able to decrease permeability of dentin by forming a thin film transparent, imperceptible, capable of sealing (fully or partially) and penetrate within the dentine tubules, resisting the erosive and abrasive challenges.

O aumento para demanda na produção de alimentos associado a possíveis alterações climáticas globais tem promovido um interesse renovado em pesquisas envolvendo o metabolismo fotossintético. Acredita-se que com o melhoramento fotossintético a produtividade das culturas aumente. Para se alcançar este objetivo, além do uso de práticas biotecnológicas, ainda são necessários estudos abordando as limitações intrisecas do processo fotossintético que possam contribuir com a identificação de alvos para a engenharia genética. Neste contexto, esta tese aborda perguntas especificas sobre a regulação da fotossíntese C4 pela nutrição nitrogenada, o deficit hídrico e a interação destes dois fatores. No primeiro capítulo experimental foi desenvolvido um estudo envolvendo os efeitos da nutrição nitrogenada na difusão interna de CO2. Foi observado que o conteúdo de nitrogênio (N) foliar é determinante para a condutância interna de CO2 (? 18O-gm). Um menor conteúdo de N induz reduções iniciais em ? 18O-gm devido menor atividade das enzimas carboxilativas. Conforme o conteúdo de N reduz em folhas mais velhas alterações na antomia passaram a contribuir com a regulação de ? 18O-gm. No segundo capítulo, foi explorada a variação genotipica de cana-de-açúcar quanto a parâmetros relacionados a fotossíntese e o nitrogênio foliar, envolvendo a eficiência de uso de nitrogênio fotossintética (PNUE) e índices de herdabilidade. A variabilidade dos materiais genéticos foi explicada principalmente pelos parâmetros de trocas gasosas que contribuíram com o agrupamento dos materiais em três grupos. A partir deste agrupamento é possível verificar as diferenças entre os materiais em reposta a nutrição nitrogenada. Além disto, parâmetros de trocas gasosas como a taxa de assimilação de CO2 e condutância estomática junto com PNUE apresentaram altos índices de herdabilidade no sentido restrito. Por fim, o terceiro capítulo investigou a regulação do metabolismo de assimilação de CO2 em resposta ao deficit hídrico em folhas de cana-de-açúcar e como o metabolismo de nitrogênio está envolvido neste processo. Diferentes fatores envolvidos na regulação negativa da fotossíntese foram identicados. Interesantemente, alterações nos componentes nitrogenados só contribuíram com a inibição metabólica na fase de estresse severo. Adicionalmente foi observado que a superação da inibição metabólica durante a reidratação é mais rápida quando a cultivar apresenta decréscimos mais lentos no metabolismo de N no período de seca, associado a menores danos na capacidade fotossintética. / Increased demand for food production and the possibility of global climate change has promoted renewed interest in photosynthesis research. It is expected that with the photosynthetic improving the crop productivity increase. For this, besides of the use of biotechnological practices, further studies are needed about intrinsic limitations of the photosynthetic process that can contribute to the identification of targets for genetic engineering. In this context, this thesis discusses specific questions about photosynthesis regulation C4 by nitrogen nutrition, water deficit and the interaction of these two factors. In the chapter I, it was developed a study of the effects of nitrogen nutrition in the internal diffusion of CO2. It was observed that the leaf nitrogen (N) is essential for the internal CO2 conductance (Δ 18O-gm). A lower leaf N induces initial reductions in Δ18O-gm by lower activity of the carboxylation enzymes. With N leaf reduction in older leaves anatomy changes began to contribute to the regulation of Δ18 O-gm. In the chapter II, the genotypic variation of sugarcane to photosynthetic parameters and leaf nitrogen was explored, involving the photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (PNUE) and heritability analysis. The variability of the genetic material is explained mainly by gas exchange parameters that contributed to the grouping of materials into three groups. From this, it is possible examine the differences between the materials in response to nitrogen nutrition. Furthermore, gas exchange parameters such as CO2 assimilation rate and stomatal conductance along with PNUE showed high heritability in the narrow sense. Finally, the chapter III investigated the regulation of CO2 assimilation metabolism in response to water deficit sugarcane leaves and how nitrogen metabolism is involved in this process. Different factors involved in the negative regulation of photosynthesis were identified. Interestingly, changes in nitrogen components only contributed to metabolic inhibition in severe stress. Additionally it noted that overcoming metabolic inhibition during rehydration is faster when the cultivar presents slower decreases in N metabolism during water deficit, associated with less damage to the photosynthetic capacity.

O transporte de água nas plantas é um processo complexo e que envolve a passagem por membranas celulares. Nelas existem aquaporinas, proteínas integrais de membrana, que facilitam o fluxo passivo de água e pequenos solutos. Um fator importante que influencia o transporte de água nas plantas é a condutância hidráulica radicular (LPr), que pode contribuir com até 50% de toda a resistência ao fluxo de água na planta. Várias metodologias são propostas para estimar a LPr, porém os dados obtidos são altamente variáveis, ainda que para a mesma espécie vegetal. Diante do exposto, pretende-se desenvolver e propor uma nova metodologia, o sistema hidráulico de sucção para estimativa da LPr e avaliar a contribuição das aquaporinas no transporte de água radicular em plântulas de milho. O sistema hidráulico de sucção foi construído no Laboratório de Estudos de Plantas sob Estresse (LEPSE/USP) em parceria com Laboritoire d\'Ecophysiologie des Plants sous Stress Environnementaux de Montpellier, França. Os experimentos foram conduzidos no LEPSE, onde as plântulas cresceram em hidroponia na casa de vegetação. Para avaliação da atividade de aquaporinas foi utilizado o tratamento com peróxido de hidrogênio, que em concentrações milimolares inibe os canais de água. As medidas de condutância foram realizadas sempre na mesma hora do dia, uma vez que a própria LPr e as aquaporinas apresentam ritmo circadiano. Houve redução de 53% da condutância no tratamento com peróxido em relação ao controle e correlação significativa entre a LPr e o pH, de modo que o aumento do pH provocou queda de LPr, provavelmente causada por alterações na abundância e/ou atividade de aquaporinas nas raízes de milho. Esses resultados permitem afirmar que o método de sucção foi eficaz na estimativa da condutância hidráulica, podendo ser adotado como técnica alternativa na estimativa da LPr em plantas. / The water transport in plants is a complex process which involves passage through cell membranes. In them there are aquaporins, integral membrane proteins, that facilitate passive flux of water and small solutes. An important factor influencing the water transport in plants is root hydraulic conductance (LPr), which can contribute up to 50% of the water flow resistance in the plant. Various methods are proposed for estimating LPr, but the data are highly variable, even for the same plant species. Therefore, we intend to develop and propose a new methodology, the hydraulic suction system to estimate LPr and evaluate the contribution of aquaporins in root water transport in maize seedlings. The hydraulic suction system was built at the Laboratório de Estudos de Plantas sob Estresse (LEPSE / USP) in partnership with Laboritoire d\'Ecophysiologie Plants des sous Stress Environnementaux Montpellier, France. The experiments were conducted in LEPSE where the seedlings grew in the hydroponics greenhouse. To evaluate the activity of aquaporins was used treatment with hydrogen peroxide, which in millimolar concentrations inhibits water channels. The conductance measurements were performed at the same time of day, since the LPr itself and aquaporins presents the circadian rhythm. There was a 53% reduction in conductance peroxide treatment compared to control and significant correlation between LPr and pH, so that the pH increase caused a drop LPr probably caused by alterations in the abundance and/or activity of aquaporins in maize roots. These results indicate that the suction method was efficient in estimated hydraulic conductance, may be adopted as an alternative technique to estimate the LPr in plants.

Multicomponent metal alloys play an essential role in many technologies and their properties must be optimized by rational selection of the alloy’s components and its fractional composition of each. High-throughput materials synthesis allows us to prepare Composition Spread Alloy Films (CSAFs), sample libraries that contains all possible compositions of a binary or ternary alloy. In our lab, a Rotatable Shadow Mask (RSM) – CSAF deposition tool has been developed for the creation of CSAFs. Such CSAFs can be prepared with composition gradients and/or thickness gradients in arbitrarily controlled directions and on a variety of substrates. Once prepared, the CSAF libraries can be characterized thoroughly using a variety of highthroughput spectroscopic methods. Their bulk composition is mapped across the library using Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The near-surface compositions are mapped across composition space using X-ray Photoemission Spectroscopy (XPS). Finally, the electronic structure can be mapped using UV photoemission spectroscopy (UPS) and valence band XPS. Once characterized, these CSAFs are being used for high-throughput studies of alloy catalysis and thermal properties of the alloys and of alloy-substrate interfaces. First of all, PdzCu1-z CSAF was prepared to show that alloy nanoparticles (aNPs) and thin films can adopt phases that differ from those of the corresponding bulk alloy. The mapping of XPS-derived core level binding energy shifts across PdzCu1-z SCSNaP library shows a promising result that the FCC phase can be dimensionally stabilized over the composition range where B2 phase exists in the bulk. This observation can potentially improve the performance of PdzCu1-z NP catalysts in H2 separation. Secondly, the relationship between catalyst activity-electronic structure-composition has been investigated. A high throughput characterization of electronic structure (valence band energy) of binary PdxAg1-x and ternary PdxCuyAu1-x-y CSAFs were performed by XPS. This XPS-derived valence band center is compared with UPS-derived data across PdxCuyAu1-x-y CSAFs. In addition, H2-D2 exchange reaction was studied on PdxAg1-x CASF. A higher HD formation rate is experimentally observed but cannot be predicted by the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model when the surface coverage is saturated. However, the proposed H2-D2 exchange mechanism (breakthrough model) involved with surface and subsurface hydrogen reaction is investigated to produce a same reaction order as Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism, which cannot explain the experimental observation. Furthermore, the thermal interface conductance (G) was studied as a function of metal alloy composition. A high-throughput approach to preparation, characterization, and measurement of G was also demonstrated to study the thermal property of alloyed materials. Our result in studying the G across the AuxY1-x (Y = Pd and Cu) CSAFs-dielectric interfaces has shown a linear relationship with alloy composition, which monotonically increases with decreasing Au (at. %). Lastly, the effect of interdiffusion in metal films on G at metal-dielectric interface was also examined. The XPS depth profiling was designed to experimentally determine the temperature effect on compositional profiles in the Au-Cu system, and how to further influence G. This study provides fundamental understanding of stability of adhesion layer of Cu and the effect of interdiffusion in Cu-Au alloy on the heat dissipation. All in all, the key value to these CSAF libraries is that they enable measurement of important alloy properties across entire binary or ternary alloy composition spaces, without the need to prepare and characterize numerous discrete composition samples.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Biochemistry / Bruce D. Schultz / John M. Tomich / NC-1059 is a synthetic channel-forming peptide that provides for ion transport across, and transiently reduces barrier integrity of, cultured epithelial monolayers derived from canine kidney (MDCK cells; Broughman, J. R. et al; Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 286: C1312-23). In this first study experiments were conducted to determine whether epithelial cells derived from other sources were similarly affected. Human (T84, Calu-3) and non-human (IPEC-J2, PVD9902) epithelial cells derived from intestinal (T84, IPEC-J2), airway (Calu-3), and genitourinary (PVD9902) tissues were grown on permeable supports. Ion transport and barrier function were assessed electrically in a modified Ussing chamber. Basal short circuit current (I[subscript sc]) was typically less than 3 [Mu]A cm[superscript-2]. Apical NC-1059 exposure caused, in all cell types, an increase in I[subscript sc] to >15 [Mu]A cm[superscript-2], indicative of net anion secretion or cation absorption that was followed by an increase in transepithelial conductance (g[subscript te] in mS cm[superscript-2]; T-84, 1.6 to 62; PVD9902, 0.2 to 51; IPEC-J2, 0.3 to 26; Calu-3, 2.2 to 13). NC-1059 induces a concentration dependent change in the I[subscript sc] and g[subscript te] across these epithelia. The results in all cases were consistent with both a transcellular and a paracellular effect of the peptide. NC-1059 enhanced permeation of dextrans ranging from 10 kDa to 70 kDa across all epithelia tested. These results document an effect of NC-1059 on the paracellular route of epithelial barriers. Immunolabeling, confocal microscopy and immunoblotting methods were used in a second study to assess the molecular changes associated with increased paracellular permeability. NC-1059 induced a substantial reorganization of actin within 60 minutes of exposure. Confocal microscopy revealed that the changes in actin organization were accompanied by a pronounced change in the abundance and distribution of tight junction proteins occludin and ZO-1. Immunoblotting results suggest a time and concentration dependent effect on cellular abundance of these tight junction proteins. The effects on g[subscript te] and junctional proteins are transient with > 85% of recovery in 24 hours post exposure and full recovery within 48 hours. The reversible modulation of the epithelial tight junctions has therapeutic potential to increase the efficiency of drug delivery across barrier membranes.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited / Capacitance and conductance measurements using two and four wire techniques were developed and statically and dynamically calibrated in this thesis. The voltage sensitivities range from 7.3 to 8.1 ± 0.1 mV/cm for the two wire capacitance system static calibrations. This is ± 5.2% of the limiting theoretical value. The voltage sensitivities range from 0.3 to 0.4 ± 0.1 V/cm for the four wire conductance system static calibrations. Dynamic calibrations were only completed for the conductance system. The dynamic calibration results were weakly frequency dependent with a qj-0.15 decay in a limited, 2-4 Hz range. Wind power spectrum measurements were taken in the existing Upper Ocean Simulations Facility at the Naval Postgraduate School. There was excellent agreement in the spectra with both techniques. Driven gravity wave frequency downshifting and wind energy dumping was observed in the combined gravity wave and wind-wave measurements. The power spectra peaked near two Hertz and decayed at 50 to 70 dB per decade, or as CO -5 to G)" 7 for both systems. Gravity wave phase speed and wavelength measurements were performed with the capacitance system. The results were approximately 40% higher than theory. / http://archive.org/details/developmentcalib00yarb

The thesis studied quantized conductance in nanocontacts formed between two thin gold wires with one of the wires coated by alkainthiol self assembly monolayers (SAM), by using the cross-wire junction. Using the Lorenz force as the driving force, we can bring the two wires in contact in a controlled manner. We observed conductance with steps of 2e2 / h. The conductance plateaus last several seconds. The stability of the junction is attributed to the fact that the coating of SAM improves the stability and capability of the formed contact.

Abstract available in the Faseb Journal