Neutron stars with isovector scalar correlations

Neutron stars with the isovector scalar δ-field are studied in the framework of the relativistic mean-field (RMF) approach in a pure-nucleon-plus-lepton scheme. The δ-field leads to a larger repulsion in dense neutron-rich matter and to a definite splitting of proton and neutron effective masses. Both features are influencing the stability conditions of the neutron stars. Two parametrizations for the effective nonlinear Lagrangian density are used to calculate the nuclear equation of state (EOS) and the neutron star properties, and compared to correlated Dirac-Brueckner results. We conclude that in order to reproduce reasonable nuclear structure and neutron star properties within a RMF approach, a density dependence of the coupling constants is required.     

On the λλ spectroscopy in e+e− annihilation

The properties of the radial excitations of the ?, ω and ? mesons are discussed. In particular it is proposed to identify the recently observed states at √s ? 1.5, 1.82 and 2.13 GeV in e⁺e^? annihilation with the $\text{?}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>D</mtext>}}\text{≡}{}^3\text{D}{}_1\text{(λλ), ?″}\text{and}\text{?′″}$ mesons respectively. The ?′ meson is suggested to lie in the vicinity of 1.5 GeV and strongly coupled to the ?_D. The ?″(1.6) width is also suggested to be smaller than previously reported.     

Synthesis of some substituted pyridylsydnones

Synthesis of the I-oxide ( 2 ) of the photochromic N-(3-pyridyl) sydnone ( 1 ), of N-(5-bromo-3-pyridyl) sydnone ( 3 ), and the I-oxide ( 4 ) of 3 were undertaken in order to study the effect on photochromism exerted by substituents on the pyridine ring. Compounds 2 and 3 were prepared via the corresponding aminopyridines and N-pyridylglycines by the general procedure used earlier to prepare 1 . The required amines, 3-aminopyridine I-oxide and 3-amino-5-bromopyridine, were obtained by Hofmann rearrangement of the corresponding amides. An excellent preparation of 5-bromonicotinamide was developed involving bromination in thionyl chloride followed by reaction of the bromoacid chloride with ammonia in chloroform. Proof of structure for 2 and 3 was accomplished by acid hydrolysis to the corresponding hydrazines, which were isolated, respectively, as acetophenone 3-pyridylhydrazone I-oxide and as 5-bromo-3-pyridylhydrazine hydrochloride. These products were identical with samples prepared by reduction of the respective diazotized amines. Sydnone 4 eluded preparation by this general procedure. 3-Amino-5-bromopyridine I-oxide was prepared conveniently from 5-bromonicotinamide but attempts to prepare the corresponding glycine by catalytic hydrogenation of a mixture of the amine and butyl glyoxylate afforded, in acid solution, N-(3-pyridyl)glycine and, in neutral or alkaline solution, the I-oxide of N-(3-pyridyl)glycine. Both products resulted from the reductive cleavage of the bromine atom. Neither 2 nor 3 was photochromic.     

The stress tensor in entangled polymers

In entangled polymeric liquids, a subchain connecting two entanglements is an open system which can exchange particles (Kuhn segments) with its neighboring subchains along the polymer chain. We present a calculation of the subchain mechanical behavior as determined from the grand canonical formalism of statistical mechanics, with different subchains in the same chain sharing the same chemical potential. It is shown that the linear monomer density is a constant, as originally inferred by Doi and Edwards, but the tension is generally different from one subchain to another. Accounting for the latter effect leads to a new tensorial strain measure, somewhat different from that proposed by Doi and Edwards.     

Magnetic resonance imaging of molecular transport in living morning glory stems

MRI was applied to investigate the transport pathways in Morning Glory plant stems. The study was carried out on living plants without affecting their integrity. The architecture of a dicotyledonous plant was deeply characterized: the root system structure and the vascular bundle location were identified, the presence of central voids caused by cell maturation and loss were observed in the stem. Molecular transport components were recognized, by observing the concentration profile of a tracer, which changed with time after its absorption by the plant roots. MRI analysis revealed the presence of an axial transport as the progress of the tracer front through the vascular bundles and a radial molecular transport from the vascular bundles toward the surface of the stem. As a result, the tracer molecular transport formed the parabolic tracer front (PTF). A model was built up through the analysis of the PTF that consisted of an axial front at the peak position and a radial front at the width of the parabolic tail. PTF analysis revealed differences between the tracer transport velocities in the axial and the radial directions in the plant stem. The model revealed that the width of the parabolic tail reflected the magnitudes of diffusion and permeation of the tracer in the plant stem.     

Microdialysate analysis of monoamine neurotransmitters—A versatile and sensitive LC–MS/MS method

We have developed and validated a sensitive method for the simultaneous determination of some monoamine neurotransmitters like dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE) and serotonin (5-HT) in rat brain microdialysate using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). Sensitivity enhancement has been achieved by amine derivatization with the reagent (5-N-succinimidoxy-5-oxopentyl)triphenylphosphonium bromide (SPTPP) under mild conditions. The use of the selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode has allowed detection of the analytes at a concentration of 30 pM (lower limit of quantification, LLOQ, signal-to-noise ratio higher than 5) with an accuracy of ≤3.80% and a precision of ±7.39 (%CV) for all neurotransmitters. Derivatization improves resolution and chromatographic retention times (3 min) by lipophilization. Linearity has been good (R > 0.99) over a large concentration range (30–50,000 pM). The intra and inter-batch accuracy and precision were not greater than 4.8% and 6.4%, respectively. Therefore, the method was successfully applied for monitoring the concentration changes of neurotransmitters in microdialysis samples deriving from striatum rat brain region after amphetamine administration (3 mg kg⁻¹, i.p.).     

Non‐invasive approach in the study of polychrome terracotta sculptures: employment of the portable XRF to investigate complex stratigraphy

In the field of conservation science, in situ non‐invasive analytical techniques are widely used to investigate polychrome surfaces as frescoes, mural or easel paintings. Indeed, these techniques allow achieving information on materials composition and they often reduce the micro‐sampling. In this work, in situ non‐invasive techniques have been used to study a complex system, terracotta polychrome sculptures. The presence of the priming, the numerous painted layers and the ground layer spread on a porous material substrate are the main features of these sculptures; therefore, their study requires a scientific approach based on results obtained by different analytical techniques. In order to evaluate potentialities and limitations of the non‐invasive approach to this complex case, the results of energy‐dispersive X‐ray fluorescence (EDXRF), spectrophotometry and optical microscopy have been compared with the data achieved by laboratory analytical investigation as optical and scanning electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray microanalysis and Raman spectroscopy. In particular, XRF data collected on several polychrome terracotta are here re‐examined on the basis of the results obtained by laboratory techniques. Even if, in some cases, portable XRF may induce to a wrong interpretation of the stratigraphy, it can be considered a suitable instrument for a preliminary diagnostic campaign of terracotta polychrome sculptures. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.