Modelling population growth vialaguerre-type exponentials

We use the Laguerre-type exponentials, i.e., eigenfunctions of the Laguerre-type derivatives, in order to construct new models for population growth. Relevant modifications of the classical exponential, logistic, and Volterra-Lotka models are investigated.     

Efficient hollow fiber compression scheme for generating multi-mJ,carrier-envelope phase stable,sub-5 fs pulses

We show that a standard hollow-core fiber (HCF) compressor device can be used to efficiently compress multi-mJ energy laser pulses down to few-cycle duration, when seeded with linearly chirped, circularly polarized pulses. With this approach, we routinely generate carrier-envelope phase (CEP)-locked, 1.6 mJ, 4.8 fs pulses using only 3 mJ, 25 fs pulses as the seed.     

Cryogenics and Einstein Telescope

The dominant noises which limit the present sensitivity of the gravitational wave detectors are the thermal noise of the suspended mirrors and the shot noise. For the third generation of gravitational wave detectors as the Einstein Telescope (ET), the reduction of the shot noise implies to increase the power stored in the detector at 1 MW level and, at the same time, to compensate the huge optic distortion due to induced thermal lensing. At low temperature it is possible to reduce both these effects. However, lowering the temperature of the test masses without injecting vibration noise from the cooling system is a technological challenge. We review here the thermal noise impact on the ultimate ET sensitivity limit and we discuss possible cryogenic configurations to cool the mirror.     

Reconstitution of aluminium and iron core in horse spleen apoferritin

This study investigates the uptake of iron and aluminium by apoferritin. In particular, we provide the first evidence that apoferritin is able to bind in vitro the physiological form of aluminium, Al(OH)₄ ^?, to reach an Al/Fe atomic ratio of about 0.15. Mass spectrometry analysis shows that the Al content increases linearly as a function of Al concentration in solution. These findings provide a better understanding of the Al uptake in vivo, confirming that the metal content of ferritin depends on the metal bio-availability.     

Dependence of Photochemical Reactivity of the All-trans Retinal Protonated Schiff Base on the Solvent and the Excitation Wavelength

An all-optical experimental technique aimed at measuring photoisomerization quantum yield (ϕ) of the all-trans protonated Schiff base of retinal in solution has been implemented. Upon the increase in the excitation wavelength from 400 to 540 nm a slight increase in ϕ from 0.16 ± 0.03 to 0.20 ± 0.02 is observed in the chromophore dissolved in methanol, whereas the ϕ value of the one dissolved in acetonitrile varies only from 0.22 ± 0.03 (400 nm) to 0.23 ± 0.04 (540 nm). The results suggest that dissipation of the excited-state vibrational energy excess, along with environment-induced modifications of the potential energy surfaces are necessary for an efficient retinal photoisomerization in both solvent and protein environment.     

Clustering states in the62Ni(58Ni,58Ni)62Ni reaction

Excitation function and angular distributions of the⁶²Ni(⁵⁸Ni,⁵⁸Ni)⁶²Ni elastic scattering have been measured at incident⁵⁸Ni energies from 220.0 to 230.0 MeV in steps of 0.5 MeV. Evidence of two structures was found in the excitation function; a statistical analysis suggests a possible nuclear cluster quasi-molecular nature for these structures.     

Damped oscillations in the energy autocorrelation functions of the 58Ni+46Ti elastic and 58Ni+62Ni elastic and inelastic scattering cross sections

Structures of non-statistical character, recently observed in ⁵⁸ Ni +⁴⁶ Ti elastic and ⁵⁸ Ni +⁶² Ni elastic and inelastic excitation functions, produce damped oscillations in the cross section energy autocorrelation functions. The analysis of these damped oscillations in terms of S-matrix spin and parity decoherence indicates, as a possible interpretation, damping of the coherent rotational motion of the intermediate dinuclear system formed in the reaction.