Lattice dynamics of impurity clusters. Application to pairs

A general solution is obtained for the lattice dynamics of a cluster ofn-impurity atoms using the double-time Green’s function formalism. The cluster is characterized byn-mass defect andm-force constant change parameters. It is shown that this general solution for the Green’s function for then-impurity cluster can also be expressed in terms of the Green’s function for the (n−1)-impurity cluster. As an application, the cluster impurity modes for a pair are calculated using the Debye model for the host lattice dynamics. The splitting of the high frequency local modes and nearly zero frequency resonant modes due to pairs show an oscillatory behaviour on varying the distance of separation between the two impurity atoms. These oscillations are most prominent for two similar impurities and get damped for two dissimilar impurities or if one of the impurities produces a force constant change. The predictions of the calculation provide qualitative explanation of the data obtained from the infrared measurements of the resonant modes in mixed crystal system of KBr_1−c Cl _c : Li⁺ and KBr_1−c I _c : Li⁺.     

Evidence for B-->phiphiK

We report evidence for the decay mode B-->phiphiK based on an analysis of 78 fb(-1) of data collected with the Belle detector at KEKB. This is the first example of a b-->sssss transition. The branching fraction for this decay is measured to be B(B+/--->phiphiK+/-)=(2.6(+1.1)(-0.9)+/-0.3)x10(-6) for a phiphi invariant mass below 2.85 GeV/c(2). Results for other related charmonium decay modes are also reported.     

Studies of the decay B+/- -->D(CP)K+/-

We report studies of the Cabibbo-suppressed decay B+/--->D(CP)K+/-, where D(CP) denotes CP eigenstates of the D0-D0; system. The analysis is based on a 29.1 fb(-1) sample collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric e(+)e(-) storage ring. We measure ratios of branching fractions, relative to Cabibbo-favored B+/--->D(CP)pi(+/-), of B(B--->D1K-)/B(B--->D1pi(-))=0.125+/-0.036+/-0.010 and B(B--->D2K-)/B(B--->D2pi(-))=0.119+/-0.028+/-0.006; the index 1 (2) denotes the CP=+1 (-1) eigenstate. We also extract the partial rate asymmetries for B+/--->D(CP)K+/-, finding A(1)=0.29+/-0.26+/-0.05 and A(2)=-0.22+/-0.24+/-0.04.     

Theory of two-phonon modes in layered charge-density-wave systems

A theoretical model with electron-phonon and anharmonic interactions is proposed to explain the two-phonon mode observed in the Raman spectra of layered transition metal dichalcogenides, which exhibit charge density wave (cdw) phase transition. The phonon self-energy, which involves the electron response function and the two-phonon Green’s function, is calculated using the double-time Green’s function formalism. It is shown that in these low-dimensional systems there exists an anharmonicity-mediated two-phonon mode in the phonon spectral function both in the normal and in thecdw phases. In the normal phase since the phonon Raman scattering proceeds through a single optic phonon the calculations are carried out for zero wave vector and hence the contribution of the electron response function to the self-energy vanishes. On the other hand explicit evaluation of the two-phonon Green’s function shows that the frequency of the two-phonon mode is twice that of the Kohn anomaly phonon and decreases with decreasing temperature. The strength of two-phonon peak is found to be comparable to that of the original optic phonon. In thecdw phase the phonon which enters into the Raman scattering is taken to be the one with thecdw wave vectorQ, which when zone-folded becomes equivalent to zero wave vector. The evaluation of the electron response function in this phase generates a phonon corresponding to thecdw-amplitude mode. The two-phonon Green’s function is assumed to be of similar form as in the normal phase. The spectral function evaluated at zero temperature shows a weak two-phonon peak besides the prominentcdw-amplitude mode. Numerical results are presented for the system 2H-NbSe₂ and are found to be in qualitative agreement with the experimental data.     

Synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties of amine-templated open-framework nickel(II) sulfates

Two organically templated nickel sulfates of the compositions [C(4)N(2)H(12)][Ni(3)F(2)(SO(4))(3)(H(2)O)(2)] (I) and [C(4)N(2)H(12)][Ni(2)F(4)(SO(4))H(2)O] (II) with open architectures have been synthesized under hydro/solvothermal conditions in the presence of piperazine. I has a layered structure formed by sinusoidal chains comprising hexameric units, whereas II has a three-dimensional structure with 10-membered channels. The layered Ni(II) sulfate, I, is ferrimagnetic, exhibiting hysteresis at low temperatures. The three-dimensional Ni(II) sulfate, II, is essentially paramagnetic. We have also obtained layered compounds isostructural with I containing other amines.     

Application of continuous-time programming problems to a class of variational-type inequalities

In this paper, we establish sufficiency criteria under generalized ρ−(η,θ)-invexity conditions for general continuous-time programming problems with nonlinear equality/inequality constraints. Using this we establish some existence criteria for solutions of a class of variational-type inequalities.     

Effect of internal mold release agent on flexural and inter laminar shear properties of carbon and glass fabric reinforced thermoset composites

The study is focused on thermoset composites reinforced with carbon and glass woven fabrics. Two types of thermoset resins, for example, epoxy and vinyl ester were used as the matrix. Varying concentrations of internal mold releasing (IMR) agent was used in the resin. The composites were cured both at room temperature and at 80°C. The flexural properties were studied using 3‐point bending test method. Further theinter‐laminar shear strength (ILSS) was investigated using the short beam shear strength test based on 3‐point bending. The flexural modulus of room temperature cured epoxy resin is higher than that of high temperature cured epoxy resin and cured vinyl ester resin. The flexural modulus is lowest for 1% IMR sample in epoxy system and the modulus for 0% and 2% epoxy are not significantly different. Lowest flexural strength and modulus can be observed for the combination of reinforcement and curing conditions for samples containing 1% IMR for the epoxy systems. Carbon fiber is found to be less compatible with the vinyl ester resin system and the addition of IMR to the resin degraded the properties further. Inter‐laminar shear strength for epoxy‐based composites is not much affected by presence of IMR, but in case of vinyl ester based composites there is a decrease in ILSS on addition of IMR agent. The study explains variation in flexural properties on addition of IMR and change of curing conditions. These results can be used for ascertaining variation in mechanical properties in real use.     

Chemically Synthesized,Self-Assembling Small Interfering RNA-Prohead RNA Molecules Trigger Dicer-Independent Gene Silencing

RNA interference (RNAi) mediated by small interfering RNA (siRNA) duplexes is a powerful therapeutic modality, but the translation of siRNAs from the bench into clinical application has been hampered by inefficient delivery in vivo. An innovative delivery strategy involves fusing siRNAs to a three-way junction (3WJ) motif derived from the phi29 bacteriophage prohead RNA (pRNA). Chimeric siRNA-3WJ molecules are presumed to enter the RNAi pathway through Dicer cleavage. Here, we fused siRNAs to the phi29 3WJ and two phylogenetically related 3WJs. We confirmed that the siRNA-3WJs are substrates for Dicer in vitro. However, our results reveal that siRNA-3WJs transfected into Dicer-deficient cell lines trigger potent gene silencing. Interestingly, siRNA-3WJs transfected into an Argonaute 2-deficient cell line also retain some gene silencing activity. siRNA-3WJs are most efficient when the antisense strand of the siRNA duplex is positioned 5′ of the 3WJ (5′-siRNA-3WJ) relative to 3′ of the 3WJ (3′-siRNA-3WJ). This work sheds light on the functional properties of siRNA-3WJs and offers a design rule for maximizing their potency in the human RNAi pathway.     

On attractive interaction of a colloid pair of like charge at infinite dilution

Numerical data on the potential of mean force W(r) at infinite dilution of a highly charged colloid pair embedded in a 1:1 electrolyte are reported. The authors obtain attractive minima (W<0) at short interparticle distance in these potential functions in hypernetted chain (HNC) approximation, as salt concentration is increased. These minima, however, disappear in all system sets studied when a self-consistent Zerah-Hansen (ZH) closure is used. The authors infer that the attractive minima obtained in a HNC closure are spurious and result from the neglect of bridge diagrams in HNC approximation. An expression of bridge function, which the ZH closure in effect incorporates in W(r) to remove attractive minima, is derived in terms of modification of correlation functions. Features of repulsive pair potentials obtained using the ZH closure, their dependence on particle charge and salt concentration, and their agreement with those of the Derajguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek theory are investigated.