Thermoluminescence, structural and magnetic properties of a Li2O-B2O3-Al2O3 glass system doped with LiF and TiO2

A Li₂O-B₂O₃-Al₂O₃ glass system, un-doped and doped with LiF, and/or TiO₂ was synthesized by the fusion method and its physical properties were investigated by thermoluminescence (TL), X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The samples were subjected to γ-rays from a colbalt-60 (⁶⁰Co) source. These techniques provided evidence of LiF and LiF doped with Ti crystal formation in the glass system. A TL glow peak at about 433 K was sensitive to ⁶⁰Co γ-rays and showed good linearity with doses and consequently could be used to quantify radiation doses.     

Eu photoluminescence enhancement due to thermal energy transfer in Eu2O3-doped SiO2-B2O3-PbO2 glasses system

In this work, Eu³⁺-doped lead borosilicate glasses (SiO₂-B₂O₃-PbO₂) synthesized by fusion method had their optical properties investigated as a function of temperature. Atomic Force Microscopy images obtained for a glass matrix annealed at 350 and 500 °C show a precipitated crystalline phase with sizes 11 and 21 nm, respectively. Besides, as the temperature increases from 350 to 300 K a strong Eu³⁺ photoluminescence (PL) enhancement takes place. This anomalous feature is attributed to the thermally activated carrier transfer process from nanocrystals and charged intrinsic defects states to Eu³⁺ energy levels. In addition, the PL peaks in this temperature range were assigned to the Eu³⁺ transitions ⁵D₀→⁷F₂, at 612 nm, ⁵D₀→⁷F₁, at 595 nm, and ⁵D₀→⁷F₀, at 585 nm. It was also observed that the ⁵D₀→⁷F₃ and ⁵D₀→⁷F₄ PL bands at 655 and 700 nm, respectively, show a continuous decrease in intensity as the temperature increases.     

The chain graph sandwich problem

The chain graph sandwich problem asks: Given a vertex set V, a mandatory edge set E ¹, and a larger edge set E ², is there a graph G=(V,E) such that E ¹?E?E ² with G being a chain graph (i.e., a 2K ₂-free bipartite graph)? We prove that the chain graph sandwich problem is NP-complete. This result stands in contrast to (1) the case where E ¹ is a connected graph, which has a linear-time solution, (2) the threshold graph sandwich problem, which has a linear-time solution, and (3) the chain probe graph problem, which has a polynomial-time solution.     

High Quantum Efficiency of Nd3+ Ions in a Phosphate Glass System using the Judd–Ofelt Theory

The optical properties of trivalent neodymium embedded in a P₂O₅–Al₂O₃–Na₂O–K₂O phosphate glass system, synthesized by the fusion method, are studied. Absorption, luminescence, lifetime, and Raman spectroscopy measurements were performed and the Judd–Ofelt theory was applied to determine optical parameters such as the quantum efficiency and the stimulated emission cross section of the Nd³⁺-doped glass system. This structure has high quantum efficiency at low Nd³⁺ concentrations, comparable to the efficiency of a commercial YAG:Nd³⁺ crystal. We discuss the mechanisms responsible for the high quantum efficiency observed in the proposed phosphate glass system.     

Different cell death pathways induced by drugs in Trypanosoma cruzi: an ultrastructural study

Electron microscopy has proven to be a reliable and essential tool to determine morphological alterations and target organelles in the investigation of new drugs for Chagas disease. In this review, we focused on evaluating different agents that induce death of Trypanosoma cruzi, i.e. lysophospholipids analogues, naphthoquinones and derivatives, cytoskeletal inhibitors and natural products. Apoptosis-like presents as morphological characteristics DNA fragmentation, membrane blebbing and apoptotic body formation. Autophagy involves autophagosome formation, with the appearance of membranes surrounding organelles and cytosolic structures. Necrosis causes the loss of osmotic balance, an increase of cytoplasmic vacuolization and plasma membrane disruption. Mitochondrion appears as a central checkpoint in both apoptosis and necrosis. Our evidences of ultrastructural changes to T. cruzi treated with the different classes of compounds point to dramatic mitochondrial alterations and similar autophagic phenotypes. Lysophospholipid analogues interfere in the lipid biosynthesis in epimastigotes, altering the amount of both phospholipids and sterols, and consequently the physical properties of the membrane. Naphthoquinone derivatives led to a strong DNA fragmentation in trypomastigotes and to the release of cysteine proteases from reservosomes to cytosol in epimastigotes, starting a proteolytic process which results in parasite death. The susceptibility of reservosomes was also observed in parasites treated with propolis, suggesting impairment of lipid metabolism, compromising membrane fluidity and leading to lysis. The cytoskeletal agents blocked mitosis of epimastigotes, arresting cell cycle and impairing the parasite proliferation. The variety of drug stimuli converge to the same pathway of death suggests an intense cross-talking between the three types of PCD in the protozoa.     

Induced electric dipole in a quantum ring

In this contribution, we investigate the quantum dynamics of a neutral particle confined in a quantum ring potential. We use two different field configurations for induced electric dipole in the presence of electric and magnetic fields and a general confining potential, for which we solve the Schrödinger equation and obtain the complete set of eigenfunctions and eigenvalues.     

Phase transitions in Pb8O5(XO4)2 (X = As and V) compounds

Raman spectroscopy, polarized microscopy and thermal measurements were used to investigate the sequence of phase transition in the lead oxide salts Pb₈O₅(XO₄)₂ (where X = As and V). For Pb₈O₅(AsO₄)₂, a second‐order phase transition is observed at 500 K. For Pb₈O₅(VO₄)₂, a second‐order and a first‐order structural phase transitions are observed at 425 and 525 K, respectively. The ferroelastic character of Pb₈O₅(VO₄)₂ is also discussed. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Computer simulations of gold nanowire formation: the role of outlayer atoms

Metallic nanowires (NWs) have been the object of intense theoretical and experimental investigations in the last years. In this work we present and review a new methodology we developed to study NW formation from mechanical stretching. This methodology is based on tight-binding molecular dynamics techniques using second-moment approximations. This methodology had been proven to be very effective in the study of NWs, reliably reproducing the main experimentally observed structural features. We have also investigated the problem of determining from what regions the atoms composing the linear atomic chains come. Our results show that ∼90% of these atoms come from outmost external layers. Electronic supplementary material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at and is accessible for authorized users. PACS 66.30.Pa; 68.65.-k; 68.03.Hj