Fixed point results for multivalued contractions on ordered gauge spaces

The purpose of this article is to present fixed point results for multivalued E _≤-contractions on ordered complete gauge space. Our theorems generalize and extend some recent results given in M. Frigon [7], S. Reich [12], I.A. Rus and A. Petruşel [15] and I.A. Rus et al. [16].      

Spectroscopic mode mapping of resonant plasmon nanoantennas

We present spatially resolved spectral mode mapping of resonant plasmon gap antennas using two-photon luminescence microspectroscopy. The obtained maps are in good agreement with 3D calculations of the antenna modes. The evolution of the modal field with wavelength, both in the gap and along the two coupled gold nanowires forming the antenna, is directly visualized. At resonance, the luminescence for the gap area is enhanced at least 80 times and a comparison with the antenna extremities shows a dynamical charge redistribution due to the near-field coupling between the two arms.     

Chemical and Antimicrobial Characterization of Mentha piperita L. and Rosmarinus officinalis L. Essential Oils and In Vitro Potential Cytotoxic Effect in Human Colorectal Carcinoma Cells

Colorectal cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed forms of cancer, and the therapeutic solutions are frequently aggressive requiring improvements. Essential oils (EOs) are secondary metabolites of aromatic plants with important pharmacological properties that proved to be beneficial in multiple pathologies including cancer. Mentha piperita L. (M_EO) and Rosmarinus officinalis L. (R_EO) essential oils are well-known for their biological effects (antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic in different cancer cells), but their potential as complementary treatment in colorectal cancer is underexplored. The aim of the present study was to investigate the M_EO and R_EO in terms of chemical composition, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic effects in a colorectal cancer cell line—HCT 116. The gas-chromatographic analysis revealed menthone and menthol, and eucalyptol, α-pinene and L-camphor as major compounds in M_EO and R_EO respectively. M_EO exhibited potent antimicrobial activity, moderate antioxidant activity and a low cytotoxic effect in HCT 116 cells. R_EO presented a significant cytotoxicity in colorectal cancer cells and a low antimicrobial effect. The cytotoxic effect on non-cancerous cell line HaCaT was not significant for both essential oils. These results may provide an experimental basis for further research concerning the potential use of M_EO and R_EO for anticancer treatment.     

Second order differential inequalities in the complex plane

Let w(z) be regular in the unit disk U and let h(r, s, t) be a complex function defined in a domain of C³. The authors determine conditions on h such that $\text{¦ h(w(z), zw′(z), z}{}^2\text{w″(z))¦ < 1}$ implies $\text{¦ w(z)¦ < 1}$ and such that Re h(w(z), zw′(z), z²w″(z)) > 0 implies Re w(z) > 0. Applications of these results to univalent function theory, differential equations and harmonic functions are given.     

Ginzburg–Landau minimizers with prescribed degrees: dependence on domain

We study minimizers of the Ginzburg–Landau functional in an annular type domain with holes. We assume degrees 1 and ?1 on the boundary of the annulus, degree 0 on the boundaries of the holes. Two types of qualitatively different behavior of minimizers occur, depending on the value of the H¹-capacity of the domain. We also describe the asymptotic behavior of minimizers as the coherency length tends to ∞. To cite this article: L. Berlyand, P. Mironescu, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 337 (2003).     

A perturbation theoretical method for determination of the dependence of the intramolecular X–H(D) potential on the hydrogen bond strength

A perturbation theoretical method is proposed that allows determination of the function describing the dependence of the intramolecular XH(D) potential on the hydrogen bond strength. Treating the XH(D) oscillators as mixed cubic–quartic oscillators in which the stretch–stretch couplings of the ν(X–H(D)) mode with the internal modes of the radical X may be neglected, and introducing the hydrogen bonding influence through the changes in the harmonic diagonal force constants (as proposed by Sceats and Rice [41]), it is possible to extract the analytical form of the function ) from the experimental versus correlations. The other parameters obtained by the empirical correlations, within this model, also have an exact physical meaning. The method is applicable to weak hydrogen bonds as well as to hydrogen bonds of intermediate strength, and, strictly speaking, to linear X– systems. However, extension to arbitrary geometry may be easily done. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Speciation analysis of mercury by solid-phase microextraction and multicapillary gas chromatography hyphenated to inductively coupled plasma-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry

This paper reports the development of an analytical approach for speciation analysis of mercury at ultra-trace levels on the basis of solid-phase microextraction and multicapillary gas chromatography hyphenated to inductively coupled plasma-time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Headspace solid-phase microextraction with a carboxen/polydimethylsyloxane fiber is used for extraction/preconcentration of mercury species after derivatization with sodium tetraethylborate and subsequent volatilization. Isothermal separation of methylmercury (MeHg), inorganic mercury (Hg2+) and propylmercury (PrHg) used as internal standard is achieved within a chromatographic run below 45 s without the introduction of spectral skew. Method detection limits (3 x standard deviation criteria) calculated for 10 successive injections of the analytical reagent blank are 0.027 pg g(-1) (as metal) for MeHg and 0.27 pg g(-1) for Hg2+. The repeatability (R.S.D., %) is 3.3% for MeHg and 3.8% for Hg2+ for 10 successive injections of a standard mixture of 10pg. The method accuracy for MeHg and total mercury is validated through the analysis of marine and estuarine sediment reference materials. A comparison of the sediment data with those obtained by a purge-and-trap injection (PTI) method is also addressed. The analytical procedure is illustrated with some results for the ultra-trace level analysis of ice from Antarctica for which the accuracy is assessed by spike recovery experiments.     

Volume Nonadditivity of Liquid Mixtures: Modifications to Classical Demonstrations

Departures from Raoults law are often found in liquid mixtures resulting in volume nonadditivity. Modifications are proposed for experiments demonstrating volume contraction of water/ethanol and volume expansion of ethyl acetate/carbon disulfide liquid mixtures. A layer of paraffin oil or water is used to prevent mixing of the liquids at an earlier stage then desired. A demonstration of volume expansion in a CS₂/ethyl acetate system is proposed as well. The modifications significantly improve the ease of the demonstrations, which can be made even more impressive by coloring the liquids. A reaction vessel of simple construction is offered for a more vivid demonstration of the phenomenon.