Cosmology of the Jackiw–Teitelboim Model

We investigate the cosmology of the two-dimensional Jackiw-Teitelboim model. Since the coupling of matter with gravitation is not defined uniquely, we consider two possible choices. The dilaton field plays an important role in the discussion of the properties of the solutions. In particular, the possibility of universes having a finite initial size emerges.     

Reaction of t-butoxy radicals with norbornadiene

95 percent of the reaction of t-butoxy radical with norbornadiene occurs by radical addition followed by rearrangement to nortricyclyl and 7-t-butoxynorbornenyl products; the remainder includes a novel radical rearrangement involving a 1,3-H shift and some radical abstraction observed for the first time.     

A note on temporal games

Summary We investigate strategic situations where the zero-sum two-person game in normal form is composed of a sequence of choices where the players are informed about the past and its relations between the orders of realizing them. The minimax theorem is improved for games having cartesian products as strategy sets.     

Population growth: Stochastic treatment in compartments

The growth of microbial cultures is studied by means of stochastic processes. A compartment structure is used to take into account cell maturation stages, having an inflow of cells from one compartment to the next. Dilution and cell division are also considered. A differential equation, first proposed by Kiefer, is studied and the expected number of cells in each compartment is found for several interesting cases.     

A generalization of von Neumann's assignment problem and K. Fan optimization result

Summary In this paper we generalize the assignment problem in higher dimensions, referring at to another study by the authors. The hide-and-seek game, which is intimately related to the assignment problem, is extended, and an elegant result due to K. Fan about extrema is generalized.     

Optimization of DNA extraction from dental remains

Efficient DNA extraction procedures is a critical step involved in the process of successful DNA analysis of such samples. Various protocols have been devised for the genomic DNA extraction from human tissues and forensic stains, such as dental tissue that is the skeletal part that better preserves DNA over time. However DNA recovery is low and protocols require labor‐intensive and time‐consuming step prior to isolating genetic material. Herein, we describe an extremely fast procedure of DNA extraction from teeth compared to classical method. Sixteen teeth of 100‐year‐old human remains were divided into two groups of 8 teeth and we compared DNA yield, in term of quantity and quality, starting from two different sample preparation steps. Specifically, teeth of group 1 were treated with a classic technique based on several steps of pulverization and decalcification, while teeth of group 2 were processed following a new procedure to withdraw dental pulp. In the next phase, the samples of both group underwent the same procedure of extraction, quantification and DNA profile analysis. Our findings provide an alternative protocol to obtain a higher amount of good quality DNA in a fast time procedure, helpful for forensic and anthropological studies.     

Strain rate effects on the mechanical behavior of two Dual Phase steels in tension

This paper presents an experimental investigation on the strain rate sensitivity of Dual Phase steel 1200 (DP1200) and Dual Phase steel 1400 (DP1400) under uni-axial tensile loads in the strain rate range from 0.001?s^?1 to 600?s^?1. These materials are advanced high strength steels (AHSS) having high strength, high capacity to dissipate crash energy and high formability. Flat sheet specimens of the materials having gauge length 10?mm, width 4?mm and thickness 2?mm (DP1200) and 1.25?mm (DP1400), are tested at room temperature (20^°C) on electromechanical universal testing machine to obtain their stress-strain relation under quasi-static condition (0.001?s^?1), and on Hydro-Pneumatic machine and modified Hopkinson bar to study their mechanical behavior at medium (3?s^?1, and 18?s^?1) and high strain rates (200?s^?1, 400?s^?1, and 600?s^?1) respectively. Tests under quasi-static condition are performed at high temperature (200^°C) also, and found that tensile flow stress is a increasing function of temperature. The stress-strain data has been analysed to determine the material parameters of the Cowper-Symonds and the Johnson-Cook models. A simple modification of the Johnson-Cook model has been proposed in order to obtain a better fit of tests at high temperatures. Finally, the fractographs of the broken specimens are taken by scanning electron microscope (SEM) to understand the fracture mechanism of these advanced high strength steels at different strain rates.     

Photoreduction of Thiosulfate in Semiconductor Dispersions

Conduction band electrons produced by band gap excitation of TiO₂-particles reduce efficiently thiosulfate to sulfide and sulfite. \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm 2e}_{{\rm cb}}^ - ({\rm TiO}_{\rm 2}) + {\rm S}_{\rm 2} {\rm O}_3^{2 - } \longrightarrow {\rm S}^{2 - } + {\rm SO}_3^{2 - } $\end{document} This reaction is confirmed by electrochemical investigations with polycrystalline TiO₂-electrodes. The valence band process in alkaline TiO₂-dispersions involves oxidation of S₂O to tetrathionate which quantitatively dismutates into sulfite and thiosulfate, the net reaction being: \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ 2{\rm h}^{\rm + } ({\rm TiO}_{\rm 2}) + 0.5{\rm S}_{\rm 2} {\rm O}_{\rm 3}^{{\rm 2} - } + 1.5{\rm H}_{\rm 2} {\rm O} \longrightarrow {\rm SO}_3^{2 - } + 3{\rm H}^{\rm + } $\end{document} This photodriven disproportionation of thiosulfate into sulfide and sulfite: \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ 1.5{\rm H}_{\rm 2} {\rm O } + 1.5{\rm S}_{\rm 2} {\rm O}_{\rm 3}^{{\rm 2} - } \mathop \to \limits^{h\nu} 2{\rm SO}_3^{2 - } + {\rm S}^{{\rm 2} - } + 3{\rm H}^{\rm + } $\end{document} should be of great interest for systems that photochemically split hydrogen sulfide into hydrogen and sulfur.