On the structure and normal modes of hydrogenated Ti-fullerene compounds

While nephrotoxicity of cadmium is well documented, very limited information exists on renal effects of exposure to cadmium-containing nanomaterials. In this work, ??omics?? methodologies have been used to assess the action of cadmium-containing silica nanoparticles (Cd-SiNPs) in the kidney of Sprague-Dawley rats exposed intratracheally. Groups of animals received a single dose of Cd-SiNPs (1?mg/rat), CdCl₂ (400???g/rat) or 0.1?ml saline (control). Renal gene expression was evaluated 7 and 30?days post exposure by DNA microarray technology using the Agilent Whole Rat Genome Microarray 4x44K. Gene modulating effects were observed in kidney at both time periods after treatment with Cd-SiNPs. The number of differentially expressed genes being 139 and 153 at the post exposure days 7 and 30, respectively. Renal gene expression changes were also observed in the kidney of CdCl₂-treated rats with a total of 253 and 70 probes modulated at 7 and 30?days, respectively. Analysis of renal gene expression profiles at day 7 indicated in both Cd-SiNP and CdCl₂ groups downregulation of several cluster genes linked to immune function, oxidative stress, and inflammation processes. Differing from day 7, the majority of cluster gene categories modified by nanoparticles in kidney 30?days after dosing were genes implicated in cell regulation and apoptosis. Modest renal gene expression changes were observed at day 30 in rats treated with CdCl₂. These results indicate that kidney may be a susceptible target for subtle long-lasting molecular alterations produced by cadmium nanoparticles locally instilled in the lung.     

Quadrupole effects of spin-3/2 nuclei on the solid-state magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of spin-1/2 nuclei Deviations from first-order theory and implications concerning the sign of the indirect coupling constant

The effect of the interaction between spin-3/2 and spin-1/2 nuclei on solid-state magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS NMR) spectra of the latter is studied in cases where deviations from first-order theory are expected. A comparison is made between the exact and first-order perturbation approaches. Both dipolar and indirect (iso- and anisotropic) coupling interactions are considered. Implications regarding ¹³C,^35,37Cl, ³¹P,^63,65Cu and ¹¹⁹Sn,^35,37Cl cases are discussed. It is shown that in the latter two cases the sign of the indirect coupling constant J can be derived.     

A Tsallis’ statistics based neural network model for novel word learning

We invoke the Tsallis entropy formalism, a nonextensive entropy measure, to include some degree of non-locality in a neural network that is used for simulation of novel word learning in adults. A generalization of the gradient descent dynamics, realized via nonextensive cost functions, is used as a learning rule in a simple perceptron. The model is first investigated for general properties, and then tested against the empirical data, gathered from simple memorization experiments involving two populations of linguistically different subjects. Numerical solutions of the model equations corresponded to the measured performance states of human learners. In particular, we found that the memorization tasks were executed with rather small but population-specific amounts of nonextensivity, quantified by the entropic index q. Our findings raise the possibility of using entropic nonextensivity as a means of characterizing the degree of complexity of learning in both natural and artificial systems.     

On the Stability of a Class of Modified Gravitational Models

Motivated by the dark energy issue, a minisuperspace approach to the stability for modified gravitational models in a four dimensional cosmological setting is investigated. Specifically, after revisiting the f(R) case, R being the Ricci curvature, we present a stability condition around a de Sitter solution valid for modified gravitational models of generalized type F(R,G,Q), G and Q being the Gauss-Bonnet and quadratic Riemann invariants respectively. A generalization to higher order invariants is presented.     

A guide on FIB preparation of samples containing stress corrosion crack tips for TEM and atom-probe analysis

The preparation of samples containing stress corrosion crack tips for 3D atom-probe tomography and transmission electron microscopy is of ultimate importance for understanding the mechanisms controlling crack propagation. In this paper, it will be shown that a focused ion beam machine equipped with an in situ micromanipulator is an ideal tool to systematically prepare such demanding samples. The methodology is described and discussed in detail, and several results are presented to demonstrate the potential of the technique.     

Genus Four Superstring Measures

A main issue in superstring theory are the superstring measures. D’Hoker and Phong showed that for genus two these reduce to measures on the moduli space of curves which are the product of modular forms of weight eight and the bosonic measure. They also suggested a generalisation to higher genus. We showed that their approach works, with a minor modification, in genus three and we announced a positive result also in genus four. Here we give the modular form in genus four explicitly. Recently, S. Grushevsky published this result as part of a more general approach.     

Quantum metrology: dynamics versus entanglement

A parameter whose coupling to a quantum probe of n constituents includes all two-body interactions between the constituents can be measured with an uncertainty that scales as 1/n3/2, even when the constituents are initially unentangled. We devise a protocol that achieves the 1/n3/2 scaling without generating any entanglement among the constituents, and we suggest that the protocol might be implemented in a two-component Bose-Einstein condensate.     

Steepest entropy increase is justified by information theory. The relations between Ziegler’s principle, Onsager’s formalism and Prigogine’s principle

Evidence for Ziegler’s principle of maximum entropy production has been accumulated from different fields such as climatic studies, crystal growth, dynamics of ecosystems and cellular metabolism. However, Ziegler’s principle is still seen with scepticism by the scientific community. The reasons for this scepticism are the absence of an accepted theoretical justification as well as the fact that Ziegler’s principle formulation seems to contradict Prigogine’s principle of minimum entropy production. In this work we aim to provide a theoretical justification for Ziegler’s principle based on information theory, which is at the basis of Gibbs’ formalism for statistical physics. Similar approaches have previously been attempted, however we believe that the justification provided here is simpler and relies in less questionable hypotheses. Once Ziegler’s principle has been formulated as a consequence of information theory, its relations with Onsager’s formulation and Prigogine’s principle are explored.