Critical energy-density profile near walls.

We examine critical adsorption for semi-infinite thermodynamic systems of the Ising universality class when they are in contact with a wall of the so-called normal surface universality class in spatial dimension d=3 and in the mean-field limit. We apply local-functional theory and Monte Carlo simulations in order to quantitatively determine the properties of the energy density as the primary scaling density characterizing the critical behaviors of Ising systems besides the order parameter. Our results apply to the critical isochore, near two-phase coexistence, and along the critical isotherm if the surface and the weak bulk magnetic fields are either collinear or anticollinear.

Off-critical Casimir effect in Ising slabs with symmetric boundary conditions in d=3.

Extended de Gennes-Fisher (EdGF) local-functional method has been applied to the thermodynamic Casimir effect away from the critical point for systems in the Ising universality class confined between parallel plane plates with symmetric boundary conditions [denoted (ab)=(++)]. Results on the universal scaling functions of the Casimir force W++(y) (y is a temperature-dependent scaling variable) and Gibbs adsorption G[over ](y) are presented in spatial dimension d=3. Also, the mean-field form of the universal scaling function of the Gibbs adsorption G[over ](y) is derived within the local functional theory.

The application of neoglycopeptides in the development of sensitive surface plasmon resonance-based biosensors.

The development of a biosensor based on surface plasmon resonance is described for the detection of carbohydrate-binding proteins in solution on a Biacore 2000 instrument, using immobilized glycopeptides as ligands. Their selection was based on previous screenings of solid-phase glycopeptide libraries with Ricinus communis agglutinin (RCA(120)) and human adhesion/growth-regulatory galectin-1 (h-Gal-1). Glycopeptides were immobilized on Au sensor chips functionalized with mixed self-assembled monolayers of different ratios of 11-mercapto-1-undecanol and 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid, and of 3-mercapto-1-propanol and 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid.

Affinity determination of ricinus communis agglutinin ligands identified from combinatorial O- and S-,N-glycopeptide libraries.

Two combinatorial glycopeptide libraries were synthesized on solid support via the "split-and-mix" method combined with the ladder synthesis strategy. The O-glycopeptide library contained Gal(beta1-O)Thr, whereas the S-,N-glycopeptide library contained both Gal(beta1-S)Cys and Gal(beta1-N)Asn. In this model study, the two libraries were screened against the fluorescently labeled lectin Ricinus communis agglutinin (RCA120).

Step dynamics on vicinal surfaces using discrete interface models.

Fluctuations of a single step on a vicinal surface are investigated using a discrete model designed to go further in capturing atomistic effects than usually achieved with continuum models. Variants of the model to incorporate the following three types of adatom dynamics are studied: attachment-detachment; periphery (step-edge) diffusion; and terrace diffusion. The dynamic exponent z is determined for each type as well as crossover functions joining three distinct scaling regimes.

Exact interface model for wetting in the planar Ising model.

At the wetting transition in the two-dimensional Ising model the long contour (interface) gets depinned from the substrate. It is found that on sufficiently large length scales the statistics of the long contour are described by a unique probability measure corresponding to a continuous "interface model" with an interface binding "potential" given by a Dirac delta function supported on the substrate. A lattice solid-on-solid model is shown to give similar results.

Local-functional theory of critical adsorption.

Local-functional methods are applied to critical adsorption in three-dimensional Ising-like systems. The universal order-parameter-profile scaling functions, P(+/-)(x), along the critical isochore (+) and phase boundary (-), are calculated along with their associated universal amplitudes. Good agreement is found with the results of Monte Carlo simulations.

Orientation dependence of surface critical phenomena in antiferromagnets: exact results in two dimensions.

For an Ising antiferromagnet, we analyze exact expressions for the one- and two-point correlation functions for spins on the edge of a square lattice with a magnetic field applied to the surface sites. Two different edge orientations, with respect to the crystal axes, are treated. At bulk criticality, we confirm that the surface universality class depends on the edge orientation and show the importance of having the bulk phase in a pure state.