Effective Hamiltonian for non-minimally coupled scalar fields

In the post Newtonian limit, a non-relativistic Hamiltonian is derived for scalar fields with quartic self-interaction and non-minimal coupling to the curvature scalar of the background spacetime. These effects are found to contribute to the non-relativistic Hamiltonian by adding nonlinearities and by modifying the gravitational Darwin term. As we discuss briefly in the text, the impact of these novel structures can be sizable in dense media like neutron star core, and can have observable signatures in phase transitions, for example.     

Two meta-heuristics for parallel machine scheduling with job splitting to minimize total tardiness

Parallel machine scheduling is a popular research area due to its wide range of potential application areas. This paper focuses on the problem of scheduling n independent jobs to be processed on m identical parallel machines with the aim of minimizing the total tardiness of the jobs considering a job splitting property. It is assumed that a job can be split into sub-jobs and these sub-jobs can be processed independently on parallel machines. We present a mathematical model for this problem. The problem of total tardiness on identical parallel machines is NP-hard. Obtaining an optimal solution for this type of complex, large-sized problem in reasonable computational time by using an optimization solver is extremely difficult. We propose two meta-heuristics: Tabu search and simulated annealing. Computational results are compared on random generated problems with different sizes.     

Synthesis, characterization, DNA interaction and potential applications of gold nanoparticles functionalized with Acridine Orange fluorophores

Two new water-soluble gold nanoparticles (AO-TEG-Au and AO-PEG-Au NPs) are prepared and characterized. They are stabilized by thioalkylated oligoethylene glycols and functionalized with fluorescent Acridine Orange (AO) derivatives. Despite the different core sizes (11.8 and 3.9 nm respectively) and shell composition, they are both well dispersed and are stable in water, even if some self-aggregation is observed in the case of AO-TEG-Au NPs. However, AO-PEG-Au NPs show much lower emission efficiency with respect to AO-TEG-Au NPs. Spectrophotometric and spectrofluorometric experiments indicate that both types of nanoparticle are able to bind to calf thymus DNA, either by external binding or partial intercalation. Preliminary FACS flow cytometry tests seem to indicate that the AO-TEG-Au nanoparticle is able to cross the cell membrane where it is absorbed by Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells at the picomolar concentration level.     

Two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy of antiparallel beta-sheet secondary structure

We investigate the sensitivity of femtosecond Fourier transform two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy to protein secondary structure with a study of antiparallel beta-sheets. The results show that 2D IR spectroscopy is more sensitive to structural differences between proteins than traditional infrared spectroscopy, providing an observable that allows comparison to quantitative models of protein vibrational spectroscopy. 2D IR correlation spectra of the amide I region of poly-l-lysine, concanavalin A, ribonuclease A, and lysozyme show cross-peaks between the IR-active transitions that are characteristic of amide I couplings for polypeptides in antiparallel hydrogen-bonding registry. For poly-l-lysine, the 2D IR spectrum contains the eight-peak structure expected for two dominant vibrations of an extended, ordered antiparallel beta-sheet. In the proteins with antiparallel beta-sheets, interference effects between the diagonal and cross-peaks arising from the sheets, combined with diagonally elongated resonances from additional amide transitions, lead to a characteristic "Z"-shaped pattern for the amide I region in the 2D IR spectrum. We discuss in detail how the number of strands in the sheet, the local configurational disorder in the sheet, the delocalization of the vibrational excitation, and the angle between transition dipole moments affect the position, splitting, amplitude, and line shape of the cross-peaks and diagonal peaks.     

An Entry into Obtaining Pyrazole‐, Chromone‐, or Oxadiazole‐Substituted 1H‐Pyrazoles via 2,3‐Furandiones

Some new pyrazole‐, chromone‐, or oxadiazole‐substituted 1H‐pyrazoles were obtained via 2,3‐furandiones. Also, we have presented their plausible mechanisms based on rearrangement; one of these rearrangements is Baker–Venkataraman.     

A noncooperative power control game in multi-access fading channels with quality of service (QoS) constraints

In this paper, a game-theoretic analysis for the resource allocation policies in fading multiple-access channels (MACs) in the presence of statistical quality of service (QoS) constraints in the form of limitations on the buffer length is performed. We employ effective capacity, which provides the maximum constant arrival rate that a given process can support while satisfying statistical buffer constraints, to measure the throughput for each user. We assume that the channel side information (CSI) is available at both the receiver and the transmitters, and the transmitters are selfish, rational with certain QoS and average power constraints. Without the aid of the receiver, we show that there is always a unique admissible Nash equilibrium of the noncooperative power control game, for which numerical results at low signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) have been provided. The Nash equilibrium of the power control game is proved to be always inside the rate region where successive decoding techniques are used at the receiver.     

Activation of Spruce Wood Surfaces by Plasma Treatment After Long Terms of Natural Surface Inactivation

Surface inactivation is a phenomenon that causes poor adhesion. A wood surface exposed to contaminants such as dust or atmospheric grime can experience surface inactivation. Inactivation mechanisms can reduce the attractive forces on the wood surface and lead to a decrease in wettability. Plasma treatment has been applied to recover inactivated wood surfaces for better adhesion and bonding. Plasma treatment technology is very simple and the cost is rather low. In addition, this treatment produces no environmental pollution. In this study, low pressure plasma treatment was applied to reactivate the surfaces of spruce wood for glue bonding and to increase wettability after a 9-year period of natural surface inactivation. Changes in contact angles, surface energy, surface colour and bonding strength of inactivated and oxygen plasma treated wood surfaces were studied. Wettability, bonding and other mechanical strength properties of plywood panels increased with the oxygen plasma treatment.     

Minimal and Pseudo-Umbilical Rotational Surfaces in Euclidean Space {\mathbb{E}^4}

In this paper we study general rotational surfaces in ${\mathbb{E}^4}$ whose meridian curves lie in two-dimensional planes. We firstly find all minimal general rotational surfaces by solving the differential equation that characterizes minimal general rotational surfaces. Then we determine all pseudo-umbilical general rotational surfaces in ${\mathbb{E}^4}$ .     

IBM-2 calculations of some even-even selenium nuclei

In this study, we determined the most appropriate Hamiltonian that is needed for present calculations of nuclei in the A≅ 80 region by the view of interacting boson model (IBM-2). Using the best-fitted values of parameters in the Hamiltonian, we have calculated energy levels and B(E2) values for a number of transitions in some doubly even Se nuclei. The results were compared with the previous experimental and theoretical data and it is observed that they are in good agreement. The calculations have been extended to Se isotopes with A < 76 for which some B(E2) values are still not known.