Dehydroindigo: a new piece into the Maya Blue puzzle from the voltammetry of microparticles approach

Combining a novel technique, the voltammetry of microparticles, with spectrometric, nuclear magnetic resonance, electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy data, Maya Blue is detected in wall paintings of the Substructures A-3, A-5, and A-6, dated in the Early Classical period (440-450 a.c.), and the Substructure II-C, dated in the Late Preclassical period (150 b.C.), in the archaeological site of Calakmul (Campeche, Mexico), thus providing evidence on the use of the pigment 750 years prior to the date currently accepted. Electrochemical measurements, supported by spectrometric data, indicate that the presence of palygorskite-attached dehydroindigo, the oxidized form of indigo, contributes to the greenish color of Maya Blue. Enthalpy and entropy of attachment of such compounds to palygorskite are calculated from the temperature dependence of electrochemical data. Both attachment processes are endothermic, becoming thermodynamically spontaneous at moderate temperatures. Accordingly, ancient Mayas may modulate the hue of Maya Blue from turquoise to greenish blue by controlling the temperature during the crushing process.     

The VIP Experimental Limit on the Pauli Exclusion Principle Violation by Electrons

In this paper we describe an experimental test of the validity of the Pauli Exclusion Principle (for electrons) which is based on a straightforward idea put forward a few years ago by Ramberg and Snow (Phys. Lett. B 238:438, 1990). We perform a very accurate search of X-rays from the Pauli-forbidden atomic transitions of electrons in the already filled 1S shells of copper atoms. Although the experiment has a very simple structure, it poses deep conceptual and interpretational problems. Here we describe the experimental method and recent experimental results, which we interpret in the framework of quon theory. We also present future plans to upgrade the experimental apparatus using Silicon Drift Detectors.     

Epidemics and chaotic synchronization in recombining monogamous populations

We analyze the critical transitions (a) to endemic states in an SIS epidemiological model, and (b) to full synchronization in an ensemble of coupled chaotic maps, on networks where, at any given time, each node is connected to just one neighbour. In these “monogamous” populations, the lack of connectivity in the instantaneous interaction pattern—that would prevent both the propagation of an infection and the collective entrainment into synchronization—is compensated by occasional random reconnections which recombine interacting couples by exchanging their partners. The transitions to endemic states and to synchronization are recovered if the recombination rate is sufficiently large, thus giving rise to a bifurcation as this rate varies. We study this new critical phenomenon both analytically and numerically.     

Applications of computational homology to the analysis of treatment response in breast cancer patients

The experimental method comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) array provides a full picture of chromosome amplifications and deletions of an individual's genome. The multi-dimensional nature of these data, however, has not been fully explored. Current methods for CGH analysis focus on specific markers, but deeper understanding can be gained by examining the properties of the overall genomic profile. In this paper we propose a novel method for characterizing CGH profiles mathematically using algebraic homology. We apply our method to breast cancer CGH profiles from patients that have been subjected to different treatments. We show that our results obtained using homology are in agreement with previous studies and are able to distinguish between frequency of cancer recurrence in chemotherapy and non-treated patient populations.     

New precision measurements of the strong interaction in kaonic hydrogen

The DEAR experiment performed at the DAΦNE electron-positron collider (Frascati, Italy) studied the strong interaction shift and width of the 1s state in kaonic hydrogen using X-ray spectroscopy. The repulsive character of the kaon-proton interaction at threshold was confirmed and the most precise values of the shift and width were obtained. However, high precision data at the percent level are highly requested to further develop the theories and thus our understanding of the low-energy antikaon-nucleon interaction. Therefore, a new series of precision experiments on kaonic hydrogen and kaonic deuterium are planned at LNF.     

Correlation between the photoluminescence and different types of Si nano-clusters in amorphous silicon

This paper presents the results of PL spectrum study for Si nano-clusters in amorphous silicon matrix. The hydrogenated amorphous Si layers were prepared by the hot-wire CVD method on glass substrates. The layers were deposited at different wafer temperatures 280, 360, 420 and 460 °C and at one filament temperature of 1650 °C. The joint analysis of PL and X-ray diffraction spectra in dependence on the technological conditions and on different sizes of Si nano-clusters has been done. The mechanisms of PL are discussed as well.     

Single domain wall dynamics in thin magnetic wires

Here we present the low-field domain wall dynamics in thin magnetic wires. It is shown that the domain wall dynamics at low applied fields is described by the power law. The role of all parameters in the domain wall dynamics was studied in a wide temperature range. The power exponent β, which should reflect the changes of the domain wall shape due to its pinning on the local defects, is almost temperature independent. This points to the fact the mechanism of the domain wall pinning does not change with the temperature in the temperature range 77–350 K. This fact is also consistent with the temperature dependence of the switching field H_sw.     

Interaction of uranium(VI) with phthalic acid

Phthalic acid, a ubiquitous organic compound found in soil, water, and in domestic and nuclear wastes can affect the mobility and bioavailability of metals and radionuclides. We examined the complexation of uranium with phthalic acid by potentiometric titration, electrospray ionization-mass spectroscopy (ESI-MS), and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis. Potentiometric titration of a 1:1 U/phthalic acid indicated uranyl ion bonding with both carboxylate groups of phthalic acid; above pH 5 the uranyl ion underwent hydrolysis with one hydroxyl group coordinated to the inner-sphere of uranium. In the presence of excess phthalic acid, ESI-MS analysis revealed the formation of both 1:1 and 1:2 U/phthalic acid complexes. EXAFS studies confirmed the mononuclear biligand 1:2 U/phthalic acid complex as the predominant form. These results show that phthalates can form soluble stable complexes with uranium and may affect its mobility.     

Regularity of Interfaces in Diffusion Processes under the Influence of Strong Absorption

We present a method of analysis which allows us to establish the interface equation and to prove Lipschitz continuity of interfaces and solutions which appear in a large class of nonlinear parabolic equations and conservation laws posed in one space dimension. Its main feature is intersection comparison with travelling waves. The method is explained on the following study case: We consider the Cauchy problem for the diffusion-absorption model: u_t = ( u^m )_xx - u^p,     u 3 0, u_t = \left( u^m \right)_{xx} - u^p, \quad u\ge 0, in the range of parameters m > 1, 0 < p < 1, m+p 3 2m>1,\ 0p 3 1p\ge 1, or the purely diffusive equation u_t=(u^m)_xx, m > 1u_t=(u^m)_{xx},\ m>1, where the support of the solution expands with time and the motion is governed by Darcy's law, in the strong absorption range there might appear shrinking interfaces and the interface evolution obeys a different mechanism. Previous methods have failed to provide an adequate analysis of the interface motion and regularity in such a situation.