Finite-size Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless transition at grain boundaries in solid 4He and the role of 3He impurities

We analyze the complex phenomenology of the nonclassical rotational inertia (NCRI) observed at low temperature in solid 4He within the context of a two-dimensional Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless transition in a premelted 4He film at the grain boundaries. We show that both the temperature and 3He doping dependence of the NCRI fraction (NCRIF) can be ascribed to finite size effects induced by the finite grain size. We give an estimate of the average size of the grains which we argue to be limited by the isotopic 3He impurities and we provide a simple power-law relation between the NCRIF and the 3He concentration.     

A Conditional Moment Closure Study of Chemical Reaction Source Terms in SCCI Combustion

The objective of this study is to evaluate conditional moment closure (CMC) approaches to model chemical reaction rates in compositionally stratified, autoigniting mixtures, in thermochemical conditions relevant to stratified charge compression ignition (SCCI) engines. First-order closure, second-order closure and double conditioning are evaluated and contrasted as options in comparison to a series of direct numerical simulations (DNSs). The two-dimensional (2D) DNS cases simulate ignitions in SCCI-like thermochemical conditions with compositionally stratified n-heptane/air mixtures in a constant volume. The cases feature two different levels of stratification with three mean temperatures in the negative-temperature coefficient (NTC) regime of ignition delay times. The first-order closure approach for reaction rates is first assessed using hybrid DNS-CMC a posteriori tests when implemented in an open source computational fluid dynamics (CFD) package known as OpenFOAM\(^{{\circledR }}\). The hybrid DNS-CMC a posteriori tests are not a full CMC but a DNS-CMC hybrid in that they compute the scalar and velocity fields at the DNS resolution, thus isolating the first-order reaction rate closure model as the main source of modelling error (as opposed to turbulence model, scalar probability density function model, and scalar dissipation rate model). The hybrid DNS-CMC a posteriori test reveals an excellent agreement between the model and DNS for the cases with low levels of stratification, whereas deviations from the DNS are observed in cases which exhibit high level of stratifications. The a priori analysis reveals that the reason for disagreement is failure of the first-order closure hypothesis in the model due to the high level of conditional fluctuations. Second-order and double conditioning approaches are then evaluated in a priori tests to determine the most promising path forwards in addressing higher levels of stratification. The a priori tests use the DNS data to compute the model terms, thus directly evaluating the model assumptions. It is shown that in the cases with a high level of stratification, even the second-order estimation of the reaction rate source term cannot provide a reasonably accurate closure. Double conditioning using mixture-fraction and sensible enthalpy, however, provides an accurate first-order closure to the reaction rate source term.     

Anisotropy enhanced X‐ray scattering from solvated transition metal complexes

Time‐resolved X‐ray scattering patterns from photoexcited molecules in solution are in many cases anisotropic at the ultrafast time scales accessible at X‐ray free‐electron lasers (XFELs). This anisotropy arises from the interaction of a linearly polarized UV–Vis pump laser pulse with the sample, which induces anisotropic structural changes that can be captured by femtosecond X‐ray pulses. In this work, a method for quantitative analysis of the anisotropic scattering signal arising from an ensemble of molecules is described, and it is demonstrated how its use can enhance the structural sensitivity of the time‐resolved X‐ray scattering experiment. This method is applied on time‐resolved X‐ray scattering patterns measured upon photoexcitation of a solvated di‐platinum complex at an XFEL, and the key parameters involved are explored. It is shown that a combined analysis of the anisotropic and isotropic difference scattering signals in this experiment allows a more precise determination of the main photoinduced structural change in the solute, i.e. the change in Pt—Pt bond length, and yields more information on the excitation channels than the analysis of the isotropic scattering only. Finally, it is discussed how the anisotropic transient response of the solvent can enable the determination of key experimental parameters such as the instrument response function.     

Effects of energy spread on brightness and coherence of undulator sources

The (spectral) brightness for partially transverse coherent sources such as synchrotron radiation and free‐electron laser sources can be defined as the maximum of the Wigner distribution. Then, the brightness includes information on both coherence and wavefront characteristics of the radiation field. For undulator sources, it is customary to approximate the single‐electron electric field at resonance with a Gaussian beam, leading to great simplifications. Attempts to account for the modified spatial and angular profile of the undulator radiation in the presence of detuning due to energy spread, currently build on the simplified brightness expression derived under the assumption of Gaussian beams. The influence of energy spread on undulator radiation properties is becoming important in view of diffraction‐limited rings with ultralow emittance coming on‐line. Here the effects of energy spread on the brightness of undulator radiation at resonance are discussed, as well as relevant relations with coherence properties.     

An Easy Access to Furan-Fused Polyheterocyclic Systems

Nitrostilbenes characterized by two different or differently substituted aryl moieties can be obtained from the initial ring-opening of 3-nitrobenzo[b]thiophene with amines. Such versatile building blocks couple the well-recognized double electrophilic reactivity of the nitrovinyl moiety (addition to the double bond, followed by, e.g., intramolecular replacement of the nitro group) with the possibility to exploit a conjugated system of double bonds within an electrocyclization process. Herein, nitrostilbenes are reacted with different aromatic enols provided by a double (carbon and oxygen) nucleophilicity, leading to novel, interesting naphthodihydrofurans. From these, as a viable application, aromatization and electrocyclization lead in turn to valuable polycondensed, fully aromatic O-heterocycles.     

Specific Heat Capacity and Thermal Conductivity Measurements of PLA-Based 3D-Printed Parts with Milled Carbon Fiber Reinforcement

This research focuses on the thermal characterization of 3D-printed parts obtained via fused filament fabrication (FFF) technology, which uses a poly(lactic acid) (PLA)-based filament filled with milled carbon fibers (MCF) from pyrolysis at different percentages by weight (10, 20, 30 wt%). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal conductivity measurements were used to evaluate the thermal characteristics, morphological features, and heat transport behavior of the printed specimens. The experimental results showed that the addition of MCF to the PLA matrix improved the conductive properties. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs were used to obtain further information about the porosity of the systems.     

Essential Oil from Eucalyptus globulus (Labill.) Activates Complement Receptor-Mediated Phagocytosis and Stimulates Podosome Formation in Human Monocyte-Derived Macrophages

Eucalyptus essential oil and its major constituent eucalyptol are extensively employed in the cosmetic, food, and pharmaceutical industries and their clinical use has recently expanded worldwide as an adjuvant in the treatment of infective and inflammatory diseases. We previously demonstrated that essential oil from Eucalyptus globulus (Labill.) (EO) stimulates in vitro the phagocytic activity of human monocyte-derived macrophages and counteracts the myelotoxicity induced by the chemotherapeutic 5-fluorouracil in immunocompetent rats. Here we characterize some mechanistic aspects underlying the immunostimulatory ability exerted by EO on macrophages. The internalization of fluorescent beads, fluorescent zymosan BioParticles, or apoptotic cancer cells was evaluated by confocal microscopy. Pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine release was determined by flow cytometry using the BD cytometric bead array. Receptor involvement in EO-stimulated phagocytosis was assessed using complement- or IgG-opsonized zymosan particles. The localization and expression of podosome components was analyzed by confocal microscopy and western blot. The main results demonstrated that: EO-induced activation of a macrophage is ascribable to its major component eucalyptol, as recently demonstrated for other cells of innate immunity; EO implements pathogen internalization and clearance by stimulating the complement receptor-mediated phagocytosis; EO stimulates podosome formation and increases the expression of podosome components. These results confirm that EO extract is a potent activator of innate cell-mediated immunity and thereby increase the scientific evidence supporting an additional property of this plant extract besides the known antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.     

Interplay between Lignans and Gut Microbiota: Nutritional,Functional and Methodological Aspects

Lignans are non-flavonoid polyphenols present in a wide range of foods frequently consumed in the Western world, such as seeds, vegetables and fruits, and beverages such as coffee, tea and wine. In particular, the human gut microbiota (GM) can convert dietary lignans into biologically active compounds, especially enterolignans (i.e., enterolactone and enterodiol), which play anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant roles, act as estrogen receptor activators and modulate gene expression and/or enzyme activity. Interestingly, recent evidence documenting those dietary interventions involving foods enriched in lignans have shown beneficial and protective effects on various human pathologies, including colorectal and breast cancer and cardiovascular diseases. However, considering that more factors (e.g., diet, food transit time and intestinal redox state) can modulate the lignans bioactivation by GM, there are usually remarkable inter-individual differences in urine, fecal and blood concentrations of enterolignans; hence, precise and validated analytical methods, especially gas/liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, are needed for their accurate quantification. Therefore, this review aims to summarize the beneficial roles of enterolignans, their interaction with GM and the new methodological approaches developed for their evaluation in different biological samples, since they could be considered future promising nutraceuticals for the prevention of human chronic disorders.