Geometrical shape comparison by size theory

Size Theory allows us to compare shapes of topological spaces and manifolds with respect to properties described by real functions. The main tools used in Size Theory are some pseudo-distances measuring the minimal changes of these real functions under the action of homeomorphisms. This method can be adapted to several different definitions of shape without changing its geometrical-topological framework. Some new results about this approach to shape comparison are illustrated. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Loss of ellipticity in additive logarithmic finite strain plasticity and related results on Hencky-type energies

The aim of this paper is to present some results regarding the Legendre-Hadamard ellipticity and loss of ellipticity of some energies depending on the logarithmic strain tensor. (© 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

New Poincaré-type inequalities

We present some Poincaré-type inequalities for quadratic matrix fields with applications e.g. in gradient plasticity or fluid dynamics. In particular, applications to the pseudostress–velocity formulation of the stationary Stokes problem and to infinitesimal gradient plasticity are discussed.     

Nanoparticle microinjection and Raman spectroscopy as tools for nanotoxicology studies

Microinjection techniques and Raman spectroscopy have been combined to provide a new methodology to investigate the cytotoxic effects due to the interaction of nanomaterials with cells. In the present work, this novel technique has been used to investigate the effects of Ag and Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles on Hela cells. The nanoparticles are microinjected inside the cells and these latter ones are probed by means of Raman spectroscopy after a short incubation time, in order to highlight the first and impulsive mechanisms developed by the cells to counteract the presence of the nanoparticles. The results put in evidence a different behaviour of the cells treated with nanoparticles in comparison with the control cells; these differences are supposed to be generated by an emerging oxidative stress due to the nanoparticles. The achieved results demonstrate the suitability of the proposed method as a new tool for nanotoxicity studies.     

Uniqueness of complex geodesics and characterization of circular domains

We study complex geodesics for complex Finsler metrics and prove a uniqueness theorem for them. The results obtained are applied to the case of the Kobayashi metric for which, under suitable hypotheses, we describe the exponential map and the relationship between the indicatrix and small geodesic balls. Finally, exploiting the connection between intrinsic metrics and the complex Monge-Ampère equation, we give characterizations for circular domains in ℂ ⁿ .     

Noble gas anions: a theoretical investigation of FNgBN- (Ng = He-Xe)

Noble gas anions of general formula FNgBN- (Ng = He-Xe) have been investigated by MP2, coupled-cluster, and multireference-CI calculations with correlation-consistent basis sets. These species reside in deep wells on the singlet potential energy surface and are thermodynamically stable with respect to the loss of F, F-, BN, and BN-. They are unstable with respect to Ng + FBN-, but at least for Ng = Ar, Kr, and Xe, the involved energy barriers are high enough to suggest their conceivable existence as metastable species. The stability of FNgBN- arises from the strong F--stabilization of the elusive NgBN. The character of the boron-noble gas bond passes from purely ionic for FHeBN- and FNeBN- to covalent for FXeBN-.