Closed-System Solution of the 1D Atom from Collision Model

Obtaining the total wavefunction evolution of interacting quantum systems provides access to important properties, such as entanglement, shedding light on fundamental aspects, e.g., quantum energetics and thermodynamics, and guiding towards possible application in the fields of quantum computation and communication. We consider a two-level atom (qubit) coupled to the continuum of travelling modes of a field confined in a one-dimensional chiral waveguide. Originally, we treated the light-matter ensemble as a closed, isolated system. We solve its dynamics using a collision model where individual temporal modes of the field locally interact with the qubit in a sequential fashion. This approach allows us to obtain the total wavefunction of the qubit-field system, at any time, when the field starts in a coherent or a single-photon state. Our method is general and can be applied to other initial field states.     

The acoustical characterization of orchestra platforms and uncertainty estimation of the results

Measurements have been carried out on furnished orchestra platforms in four concert halls in Italy in order to describe the sound field perceived by musicians. The heterogeneous nature of the orchestra suggested a procedure able to take into account the mutual hearing between instrumental sections. The measured parameters were the early, late and total support, the reverberation time, the early decay time and the clarity index. A part of the study has been devoted to the measurement uncertainty estimation. The source directivity and the small displacements of the microphone influence the early decay time to a great extent while the on-platform spatial variability affects both the early decay time and the clarity index. Per-section early support shows differences that render the overall spatial mean inappropriate to describe the stage as a whole. For the other parameters an overall mean platform value can instead be suitable, even though, for the case of clarity a more evident group variability is observed. The values of late support, reverberation time, early decay time and clarity index, proposed in literature as suitable measures of reverberance for musicians, are not all intercorrelated, indicating that not all these parameters can be associated to the same subjective impression.     

A longitudinal study of MR diffusion changes in normal appearing white matter of patients with early multiple sclerosis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The stage at which normal appearing white matter (NAWM) abnormalities first appear in multiple sclerosis (MS) is not clear. The aim of our study was to monitor water diffusion changes over time in NAWM of patients with early MS.METHODS: Out of a consecutive series of patients enrolled in a MR study on clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), we selected 19 subjects who had completed a one year follow-up. The MR scans obtained at baseline and at 12 months were reviewed according to the new criteria on the diagnosis of MS. Lesion load on T2 and T1 weighted images and the trace of the apparent diffusion coefficient in NAWM were measured both at baseline and at 12 months in patients and in 12 healthy controls.RESULTS: In three patients the diagnosis of MS was done at baseline based on MR. Thirteen patients developed MS during the study and in three patients the diagnosis remained "possible MS." TADC in NAWM in patients was significantly higher than in controls at the 12 months' follow-up but not at baseline (controls mean tADC +/- sd = 0.745 +/- 0.02 mm(2)/sec x 10(-3); patients mean tADC(12) +/- sd = 0.767 +/- 0.02 mm(2)/sec x 10(-3); p < 0.02). TADC and T2 lesion load at 12 months were significantly correlated (p < 0.01). Patients exhibiting tADC(12) above a confidence interval had a significantly greater EDSS score at the same time period (EDSS(12) +/- sd = 1.9 +/- 0.5 and = 1.1 +/- 0.4 respectively; p < 0.01).CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that diffusion MR cannot detect alterations in NAWM of patients with a CIS suggestive of MS. After one year, when most patients develop MS, diffusion MR abnormalities in NAWM become apparent. These abnormalities are correlated with T2 lesion load and may contribute to neurological impairment.     

Effect of Tomato Peel Extract Grown under Drought Stress Condition in a Sarcopenia Model

Tomatoes and their derivates represent an important source of natural biologically active components. The present study aims to investigate the protective effect of tomato peel extracts, grown in normal (RED-Ctr) or in drought stress (RED-Ds) conditions, on an experimental model of sarcopenia. The phenolic profile and total polyphenols content (TPC) of RED-Ctr and RED-Ds were determined by Ultra High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC) analyses coupled to electrospray ionization high-resolution mass spectrometry (ESI-HR-MS). Human skeletal muscle myoblasts (HSMM) were differentiated in myotubes, and sarcopenia was induced by dexamethasone (DEXA) treatment. Differentiation and sarcopenia were evaluated by both real-time PCR and immunofluorescent techniques. Data show that myosin heavy chain 2 (MYH2), troponin T (TNNT1), and miogenin (MYOG) were expressed in differentiated myotubes. 5 μg Gallic Acid Equivalent (GAE/mL) of TPC from RED-Ds extract significantly reduced muscle atrophy induced by DEXA. Moreover, Forkhead BoxO1 (FOXO1) expression, involved in cell atrophy, was significantly decreased by RED-Ds extract. The protective effect of tomato peel extracts depended on their qualitative polyphenolic composition, resulting effectively in the in vitro model of sarcopenia.     

Potassium-doped FePc thin-film on metal surfaces: observation of different empty state occupation

Iron-Phthalocyanine molecules deposited on the Cu(119) vicinal surface form molecular chains along the vicinal surface steps, as deduced by the low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) reconstruction pattern. The work-function lowers at the FePc single-layer completion, due to the formation of an interface dipole. Further FePc deposition induces a different growth morphology, as suggested by the slope discontinuity in the work function variation. Upon depositing potassium onto the FePc thin-film prepared on Cu(119), the K-injected electrons fill up the Fe-d-associated and ligand-π-related orbitals, as observed by means of high-resolution ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy.     

Study of Blood Porphyrin Spectral Profile for Diagnosis of Chronic Renal Failure

The progression to end-stage renal failure is independent of the initial pathogenic mechanism. Metabolic acidosis is a common consequence of chronic renal failure that results from inadequate ammonium excretion and decreased tubular bicarbonate reabsorption. Protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) is the immediate metabolic precursor of the heme molecule. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the levels of erythrocytes protoporphyrin IX at an animal model during progressive renal disease. A total of 36 eight-week-old male Wistar rats were divided into six groups: Normal, 4 and 8 weeks after 5/6 nephrectomy (NX). Renal function was evaluated by creatinine clearance and plasma creatinine levels. The autofluorescence of erythrocytes porphyrin of healthy and NX rats was analyzed using fluorescence spectroscopy. Emission spectra were obtained by exciting the samples at 405 nm. Significant differences between normal and NX rats autofluorescence shape occurred in the 600–700 nm spectral region. A correlation was observed between emission band intensity at 635 nm and progression of renal disease.     

Improvement of permanent memory effect in PDLC films using TX-100 as an additive

A number of polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) films based on dimethacrylate monomers were synthesised by polymer-induced phase separation (PIPS) using polyethylene glycol p-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)-phenyl ether (TX-100) as an additive up to total solution weight of 10% aiming to modify the initial anchorage force of the liquid crystal (LC) molecules to the polymeric matrix. The effects of the addition of this additive to the PDLC films were studied resorting to electro-optical studies. Using a fitting model, several parameters were correlated such as the permanent memory effect (PME), the voltage required to achieve 90% of maximum transmittance (E90), the average elastic constant (K) and the rotational viscosity of the director (γ). The use of TX-100 results on an increase on the PME and γ, and decrease on the E90 and K.     

First report of the nutritional profile and antioxidant potential of Holothuria arguinensis,a new resource for aquaculture in Europe

This work reports for the first time the nutritional profile and antioxidant potential of the edible sea cucumber Holothuria arguinensis from the North-eastern Atlantic. H. arguinensis has high levels of protein, with the amino acids profile dominated by alanine, glycine and proline and low lysine/arginine ratios. Its carbohydrate and energetic contents are also low as well as the total lipid levels, although its lipid profile is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), especially arachidonic, eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids. In addition, H. arguinensis has high levels of calcium. The water and ethanol extracts show ability to scavenge free radicals and to chelate copper and iron ions. Our results indicate that H. arguinensis has a balanced nutritional quality suitable for human consumption. In addition, it contains compounds with antioxidant potential; thus its intake can contribute for a healthy and well-balanced diet.