Twisted few layer graphene (FLG) is highly attractive from an application point of view, due to its extraordinary electronic properties. In order to study its properties, we demonstrate and discuss three different routes to in situ create and identify (twisted) FLG. Single layer graphene (SLG) sheets mechanically exfoliated under ambient conditions on 6H-SiC(0001) are modified by (i) swift heav...

BACKGROUND Cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CCLR) is one of the most important stifle injuries and a common cause of lameness in dogs. Our objective was to measure the vertical forces in the pads of Pitbulls with cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CCLR) using a pressure sensitive walkway. A pressure sensitive walkway was used to collect vertical force data from the pads of 10 Pitbulls affecte...

The determination of mechanical properties unshelled Moringa oleifera seeds was studied under compression test at varying orientations and moisture contents for postharvest equipment design. A completely randomized block design (CRBD) applied in designing the experiment. impact content levels (10.25, 17.33, 24.47, 32.34% dry basis) on force bio-yield rupture, deformation, energy crushing streng...

The strength of binding between the Helicobacter pylori blood group antigen-binding adhesin (BabA) and its cognate glycan receptor, the Lewis b blood group antigen (Le(b)), was measured by means of atomic force microscopy. High-resolution measurements of rupture forces between single receptor-ligand pairs were performed between the purified BabA and immobilized Le(b) structures on self-assemble...

Nanometer-sized columns of condensed water molecules are formed by an atomic-resolution force microscope operated in ambient conditions. An unusual stepwise decrease of the force gradient associated with the ultrathin water bridge in the tip-substrate gap is observed during its stretch, exhibiting regularity in step heights (approximately 0.5 N/m) and plateau lengths (approximately 1 nm). Such ...

INTRODUCTION Lightning is the second most common storm-related cause of death. The mortality following lightning strike is 10% to 30% and a large proportion of these people suffer cardiopulmonary arrest at the time of the strike. Much less commonly, solid organ injuries occur from either primary or secondary blunt force trauma. CASE PRESENTATION To the best of our knowledge, this is the first...

Analysis of bond rupture data from single-molecule force spectroscopy experiments commonly relies on the strong assumption that dissociation process is irreversible. However, with increased spatiotemporal resolution instruments it now possible to observe multiple unbinding-rebinding (or unfolding-refolding) events in a single pulling experiment. Here we augment theory force-induced unbinding by...

The forced rupture of single chemical bonds in biomolecular compounds (e.g., ligand-receptor systems) as observed in dynamic force spectroscopy experiments is addressed. An optimized method of data analysis is proposed. This method significantly outperforms the current standard one when applied to data from an idealized numerical computer simulation of an experiment with realistic parameter val...

Motivated by the motion of nematode sperm cells, we present a model for the motion of an adhesive gel on a solid substrate. The gel polymerizes at the leading edge and depolymerizes at the rear. The motion results from a competition between a self-generated swelling gradient and the adhesion on the substrate. The resulting stress provokes the rupture of the adhesion points and allows for the mo...

The conversion of mechanical stress into a biochemical signal in a muscle cell requires a force sensor. Titin kinase, the catalytic domain of the elastic muscle protein titin, has been suggested as a candidate. Its activation requires major conformational changes resulting in the exposure of its active site. Here, force-probe molecular dynamics simulations were used to obtain insight into the t...