Vortex lattice studies in CeCoIn5 with H is orthogonal to c

We present small angle neutron scattering studies of the vortex lattice (VL) in CeCoIn5 with magnetic fields applied parallel (H) to the antinodal [100] and nodal [110] directions. For H is parallel to [100], a single VL orientation is observed, while a 90° reorientation transition is found for H is parallel to [110]. For both field orientations and VL configurations we find a distorted hexagonal VL with an anisotropy, Γ=2.0±0.05. The VL form factor shows strong Pauli paramagnetic effects similar to what have previously been reported for H is parallel to [001]. At high fields, above which the upper critical field (H(c2)) becomes a first-order transition, an increased disordering of the VL is observed.     

Fluid membranes can drive linear aggregation of adsorbed spherical nanoparticles

Using computer simulations, we show that lipid membranes can mediate linear aggregation of spherical nanoparticles binding to it for a wide range of biologically relevant bending rigidities. This result is in net contrast with the isotropic aggregation of nanoparticles on fluid interfaces or the expected clustering of isotropic insertions in biological membranes. We present a phase diagram indicating where linear aggregation is expected and compute explicitly the free-energy barriers associated with linear and isotropic aggregation. Finally, we provide simple scaling arguments to explain this phenomenology.     

Some Results on Condition Numbers in Convex Multiobjective Optimization

Various notions of condition numbers are used to study some sensitivity aspects of scalar optimization problems. The aim of this paper is to introduce a notion of condition number to study the case of a multiobjective optimization problem defined via m convex C ^1,1 objective functions on a given closed ball in ? ⁿ . Two approaches are proposed: the first one adopts a local point of view around a given solution point, whereas the second one considers the solution set as a whole. A comparison between the two notions of well-conditioned problem is developed. We underline that both the condition numbers introduced in the present work reduce to the same condition number proposed by Zolezzi in 2003, in the special case of the scalar optimization problem considered there. A pseudodistance between functions is defined such that the condition number provides an upper bound on how far from a well–conditioned function f a perturbed function g can be chosen in order that g is well–conditioned too. For both the local and the global approach an extension of classical Eckart–Young distance theorem is proved, even if only a special class of perturbations is considered.     

Storage and retrieval of ultrametric patterns in a network of CA1 neurons of the hippocampus

We explore the possibility of storage and retrieval of ultrametrically organized patterns in hippocampus, the part of the brain devoted to the memory processes. The ultrametric structure has been chosen for having a good representation of the categories of memory. The storage and retrieval process is the one typical of the hippocampus and it is based on the dynamic of the CA1 neurons under the input from the neurons of the Enthorinal cortex and the Ca3 system. We explore if this real system of neurons exhibits the property of associative memory introduced since a long time in the artificial neural networks. We study how the performance is dependent on the deviation of the system of patterns from ultrametricity. The evolution of the system is simulated by means of a parallel computer and the statistics of storage and retrieval is investigated.     

Superstructure based on β-CD self-assembly induced by a small guest molecule

The size, shape and surface chemistry of nanoparticles play an important role in cellular interaction. Thus, the main objective of the present study was the determination of the β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) self-assembly thermodynamic parameters and its structure, aiming to use these assemblies as a possible controlled drug release system. Light scattering measurements led us to obtain the β-CD's critical aggregation concentration (cac) values, and consequently the thermodynamic parameters of the β-CD spontaneous self-assembly in aqueous solution: Δ(agg)G(o) = -16.31 kJ mol(-1), Δ(agg)H(o) = -26.48 kJ mol(-1) and TΔ(agg)S(o) = -10.53 kJ mol(-1) at 298.15 K. Size distribution of the self-assembled nanoparticles below and above cac was 1.5 nm and 60-120 nm, respectively. The number of β-CD molecules per cluster and the second virial coefficient were identified through Debye's plot and molecular dynamic simulations proposed the three-fold assembly for this system below cac. Ampicillin (AMP) was used as a drug model in order to investigate the key role of the guest molecule in the self-assembly process and the β-CD:AMP supramolecular system was studied in solution, aiming to determine the structure of the supramolecular aggregate. Results obtained in solution indicated that the β-CD's cac was not affected by adding AMP. Moreover, different complex stoichiometries were identified by nuclear magnetic resonance and isothermal titration calorimetry experiments.     

Sampling period,statistical complexity,and chaotic attractors

We analyze the statistical complexity measure vs. entropy plane-representation of sampled chaotic attractors as a function of the sampling period τ$\tau$ and show that, if the Bandt and Pompe procedure is used to assign a probability distribution function (PDF) to the pertinent time series, the statistical complexity measure (SCM) attains a definite maximum for a specific sampling period  _tM$t_M$. On the contrary, the usual histogram approach for assigning PDFs to a time series leads to essentially constant SCM values for any sampling period τ$\tau$. The significance of _tM$t_M$ is further investigated by comparing it with typical times found in the literature for the two main reconstruction processes: the Takens’ one in a delay-time embedding, on one hand, and the exact Nyquist–Shannon reconstruction, on the other one. It is shown that _tM$t_M$ is compatible with those times recommended as adequate delay ones in Takens’ reconstruction. The reported results correspond to three representative chaotic systems having correlation dimension 2<_D2<3$2<D_2<3$. One recent experiment confirms the analysis presented here.     

Confinement-driven translocation of a flexible polymer

We consider the escape of a flexible, self-avoiding polymer chain out of a confined geometry. By means of simulations, we demonstrate that the translocation time can be described by a simple scaling law that exhibits a nonlinear dependence on the degree of polymerization and that is sensitive to the nature of the confining geometry. These results contradict earlier predictions but are in agreement with recently confirmed geometry-dependent expressions for the free energy of confinement.     

Eta' photoproduction on the proton for photon energies from 1.527 to 2.227 GeV

Differential cross sections for the reaction gamma p --> eta' p have been measured with the CLAS spectrometer and a tagged photon beam with energies from 1.527 to 2.227 GeV. The results reported here possess much greater accuracy than previous measurements. Analyses of these data suggest for the first time the coupling of the eta'N channel to both the S11(1535) and P11(1710) resonances, known to couple strongly to the etaN channel in photoproduction on the proton, and the importance of J = 3/2 resonances in the process.     

Coordination features of a terpyridine-containing polyamine receptor. Effect of protonation on the photophysical properties of the complexes

The synthesis of the new terpyridine-containing macrocycle 2,6,10,14-tetraaza[15](6,6')cyclo(2,2':6',2')terpyridinophane (L) is reported. The ligand contains a tetraamine chain linking the 6,6' positions of a terpyridine unit. A potentiometric, (1)H NMR, UV-vis spectrophotometric and fluorescence emission study on the basicity properties of in aqueous solutions shows that the first four protonation steps occur on the polyamine chain, while the terpyridine nitrogens are involved in proton binding only in the last protonation step at strongly acidic pH values. Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II) complexation was studied in aqueous solution by means of potentiometric, spectrophotometric and spectrofluorimetric measurements. Cu(II) and Zn(II) can form both mono- and dinuclear complexes in solution, while the larger Cd(II) and Pb(II) give only mononuclear complexes. In the [ML](2+) complexes (M = Zn(II) or Cd(II)) the metal is unequivocally bound to the terpyridine unit. Some amine groups are not coordinated and can quench the fluorescence emission of the terpyridine unit thanks to an electron transfer process. Protonation of the unbound amine groups inhibits the eT process, affording fluorescent [MLH(x)]((2+x)+) complexes.     

From Scalar to Vector Optimization

Initially, second-order necessary optimality conditions and sufficient optimality conditions in terms of Hadamard type derivatives for the unconstrained scalar optimization problem ϕ(x) → min, x ∈ ℝ ^m , are given. These conditions work with arbitrary functions ϕ: ℝ ^m → ℝ, but they show inconsistency with the classical derivatives. This is a base to pose the question whether the formulated optimality conditions remain true when the “inconsistent” Hadamard derivatives are replaced with the “consistent” Dini derivatives. It is shown that the answer is affirmative if ϕ is of class (i.e., differentiable with locally Lipschitz derivative). Further, considering functions, the discussion is raised to unconstrained vector optimization problems. Using the so called “oriented distance” from a point to a set, we generalize to an arbitrary ordering cone some second-order necessary conditions and sufficient conditions given by Liu, Neittaanmaki, Krizek for a polyhedral cone. Furthermore, we show that the conditions obtained are sufficient not only for efficiency but also for strict efficiency.