Magnetic-field-induced quantum criticality in a spin-<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis> planar ferromagnet with single-ion anisotropy

The effects of single-ion anisotropy on quantum criticality in a d-dimensional spin-S planar ferromagnet is explored by means of the two-time Green’s function method. We work at the Tyablikov decoupling level for exchange interactions and the Anderson-Callen decoupling level for single-ion anisotropy. In our analysis a longitudinal external magnetic field is used as the non-thermal control parameter and the phase diagram and the quantum critical properties are established for suitable values of the single-ion anisotropy parameter D. We find that the single-ion anisotropy has sensible effects on the structure of the phase diagram close to the quantum critical point. However, for values of the uniaxial crystal-field parameter below a positive threshold, the conventional magnetic-field-induced quantum critical scenario remains unchanged.     

Evidence for the importance of trapped particle resonances for resistive wall mode stability in high beta tokamak plasmas

Active measurements of the plasma stability in tokamak plasmas reveal the importance of kinetic resonances for resistive wall mode stability. The rotation dependence of the magnetic plasma response to externally applied quasistatic n=1 magnetic fields clearly shows the signatures of an interaction between the resistive wall mode and the precession and bounce motions of trapped thermal ions, as predicted by a perturbative model of plasma stability including kinetic effects. The identification of the stabilization mechanism is an essential step towards quantitative predictions for the prospects of "passive" resistive wall mode stabilization, i.e., without the use of an "active" feedback system, in fusion-alpha heated plasmas.     

MRI characterization of residual mediastinal masses in Hodgkin's disease: long-term follow-up

Our purpose was to evaluate the role of MRI in distinguishing fibrous from active residual masses in treated Hodgkin's disease. Forty patients with residual mediastinal mass larger than 1.5 cm underwent MRI 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after the end of cycles of prescribed chemotherapy or combined chemoradiotherapy. The MRI examinations were performed on a 0.5 and a 1.5 T systems, using T(1) before and after gadolinium injection and T(2)-weighted sequences. Each time the residual mass was evaluated in size and signal intensity on spin echo (SE) T(2)-weighted images and on SE T(1)-weighted images after contrast medium. Low signal intensity and low contrast enhancement were considered signs of inactive residues; homogeneous high signal intensity and high contrast enhancement were indicative of active residual disease; heterogeneous signal intensity and heterogeneous contrast enhancement were indicative of partial remission or necrotic/inflammatory phenomena. MR showed high diagnostic accuracy in the evaluation of Hodgkin's mediastinal residues after treatment, if performed at least 6 months after the end of therapy, reaching the highest sensitivity and specificity values at 12 month follow-up (considering the three parameters-T(2) signal intensity, contrast-enhancement, and size-all together). If we consider the single parameters individually, we can observe that size variation remains the more valuable parameter to predict or to exclude a relapse. MR diagnostic accuracy at the 6-month follow-up was lower due to the higher incidence of inhomogeneous pattern. The accuracy of MR performed at 1 and at 3 months after the end of therapy was not satisfying. This represents a clinical problem because the most important clinical decisions have to be taken just in this early post-treatment phase.     

Application of trilinear SLICING to analyse a single relaxation curve

Determining the time constants and amplitudes of exponential decays from relaxation data is a common task in LF-NMR. In this communication, we present an application of the SLICING algorithm to evaluate its possibilities for solving this problem. The method, originally introduced to compare different samples, is applied here to analyse a single relaxation curve, using the embedding technique. To test this procedure, we acquired data sets from samples of liquids properly separated, and characterized by different relaxation times. The results show a good estimation of parameters, comparable with those obtained applying Marquardt's algorithm, when the components have sufficiently different relaxation times.     

Geometric gradient-flow dynamics with singular solutions

The gradient-flow dynamics of an arbitrary geometric quantity is derived using a generalization of Darcy’s Law. We consider flows in both Lagrangian and Eulerian formulations. The Lagrangian formulation includes a dissipative modification of fluid mechanics. Eulerian equations for self-organization of scalars, 1-forms and 2-forms are shown to reduce to nonlocal characteristic equations. We identify singular solutions of these equations corresponding to collapsed (clumped) states and discuss their evolution.     

Ab initio study of the (2 × 2) phase of barium on graphene

We present a first-principles density functional theory study on the structural, electronic and dynamical properties of a novel barium doped graphene phase. Low energy electron diffraction of barium doped graphene presents clear evidence of (2 × 2) spots induced by barium adatoms with BaC₈ stoichiometry. First principles calculations reveals that the phase is thermodynamically stable but unstable to segregation towards the competitive BaC₆ monolayer phase. The calculation of phonon spectrum confirms the dynamical stability of the BaC₈ phase indicating its metastability, probably stabilized by doping and strain conditions due to the substrate. Barium induces a relevant doping of the graphene π states and new barium-derived hole Fermi surface at the M-point of the (2 × 2) Brillouin zone. In view of possible superconducting phase induced by foreign dopants in graphene, we studied the electron–phonon coupling of this novel (2 × 2) obtaining λ = 0.26, which excludes the stabilization of a superconducting phase.     

Healthy Properties of a New Formulation of Pomegranate-Peel Extract in Mice Suffering from Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

A new formulation of a pomegranate-peel extract (PEm) obtained by PUAE (Pulsed Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction) and titrated in both ellagic acid (EA) and punicalagin is proposed, characterized and then analyzed for potential health properties in mice suffering from the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). PEm effects were compared to those elicited by a formulation containing EA (EAm). Control and EAE mice were chronically administered EAm and Pem dissolved in the drinking water, starting from the day 10 post-immunization (d.p.i.), with a “therapeutic” protocol to deliver daily 50 mg/kg of EA. Treated EAE mice did not limit their daily access to the beverage, nor did they show changes in body weight, but they displayed a significant amelioration of “in vivo” clinical symptoms. “Ex vivo” histochemical analysis showed that spinal-cord demyelination and inflammation in PEm and EAm-treated EAE mice at 23 ± 1 d.p.i. were comparable to those in the untreated EAE animals, while microglia activation (measured as Ionized Calcium Binding Adaptor 1, Iba1 staining) and astrocytosis (quantified as glial fibrillar acid protein, GFAP immunopositivity) significantly recovered, particularly in the gray matter. EAm and PEm displayed comparable efficiencies in controlling the spinal pathological cellular hallmarks in EAE mice, and this would support their delivery as dietary supplementation in patients suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS).