Phase transitions in quark matter and behaviour of physical observables in the vicinity of the critical end point

We study the chiral phase transition at finite T and μ _B within the framework of the SU(3) Nambu-Jona-Lasinio (NJL) model. The QCD critical end point (CEP) and the critical line at finite temperature and baryonic chemical potential are investigated: the study of physical quantities, such as the baryon number susceptibility near the CEP, will provide complementary information concerning the order of the phase transition. We also analyze the information provided by the study of the critical exponents around the CEP.     

Direct muon production in proton-nuclear collisions at 70, 50 and 35 GeV

Direct muon yields (μ^±) in the transverse momentum range of 1.9–3.1 GeV/c on Cu and Be nuclei at the proton energies 70, 50 and 35 GeV have been measured. The yield of direct μ/π is shown to considerably decrease when proton energy varies from 70 to 35 GeV. The charge ratio of direct muon μ⁺/μ^? as well as the dependence of the yield of direct muons on the atomic number of the target have been measured.     

Triterpene glycosides from Antarctic sea cucumbers III. Structures of liouvillosides A(4) and A(5), two minor disulphated tetraosides containing 3-O-methylquinovose as terminal monosaccharide units from the sea cucumber Staurocucumis liouvillei (Vaney)

Two new minor triterpene glycosides, liouvillosides A(4) (1) and A(5) (2) have been isolated from the sea cucumber Staurocucumis liouvillei living in Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic waters. The structures of the new glycosides were elucidated using extensive nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy ((1)H- and (13)C-NMR spectroscopy, (1)H-(1)H COSY, 1D-TOCSY, HMBC, HSQC and NOESY), ESI-MS and MALDI TOF MS. The glycosides 1 and 2 are disulphated tetraosides having very rare 3-O-methylquinovose as terminal monosaccharide.     

Steroid compounds from the starfish Lysastrosoma anthosticta collected in the Sea of Japan

Six polyhydroxylated steroids and their derivatives were isolated from the starfish Lysastrosoma anthosticta collected in the Posyet Bay, Sea of Japan. These include a new glycoside of the steroid polyol, lysastroside A (1), which was identified as (25S)-26-O--d-xylopyranosyl-5-cholestane-3,6,8,15,16,26-hexaol, and the previously known pycnopodioside C monoglycoside (2), marthasterone sulfate (3), (25S)-5-cholestane-3,6,8,15,16,26-hexaol (4), (25S)-5-cholestane-3,6,7,8,15,16,26-heptaol (5), and (25S)-5-cholestane-3,6,7,8,15,16,26-heptaol (6). The compounds were tested for the haemolytic activity and the action on the embryogenesis of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius.     

New metabolites from the marine-derived fungus Aspergillus fumigatus

A new alkaloid, fumiquinazoline K (1), and a new nordammarane triterpenoid (2), together with three known diketopiperazines (3-5) and tryptoquivaline F (6) have been isolated from a marine strain of Aspergillus fumigatus KMM 4 631 associated with the soft coral Sinularia sp. Their structures were determined by HR-MS and 1D and 2D NMR. Compounds 3-5 exhibit weak cytotoxicity against cytoplasm non-specific esterase in Ehrlich carcinoma cells. Compound 3 also induces early apoptosis of the same cells in a non-toxic range of concentrations.     

Decay of a scalar σ meson near the critical end point in the PNJL model

Properties of a scalar a meson are investigated in the two-flavor Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model with the Polyakov loop (PNJL). Model analysis of the phase diagram of strong interacting matter is performed. The temperature dependence of the σ → ππ decay width is studied at the zero chemical potential and near the critical end point. The calculated strong coupling constant g _σππ and the decay width are compared with available experimental data and other model results. Nonthermal enhancement of the total decay width is noted for the σ meson near the critical end point when the condition m _σ ≥ 2m _π is broken.     

Four new steroid glycosides from the Vietnamese starfish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Linckia laevigata</Emphasis>

Eighteen steroid compounds, including four new steroid glycosides, viz., linckosides L3–L6, along with the previously known nine glycosides and five free polyhydroxysteroids, were isolated from the starfish Linckia laevigata collected on the Vietnamese coast. New compounds contain the 2-O-methyl-β-D-xylopyranosyl unit at the C(3) atom of polyhydroxylated steroidal aglycone. Two of these compounds are monosides, and the other two belong to biosides and have an additional β-D-xylopyranosyl residue at C(26) in the side chain of the aglycone. The structures of the new compounds were determined by NMR spectroscopy, mainly by 2D NMR, and mass spectrometry. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 792–799, April, 2007.     

Scalar σ meson at a finite temperature in a nonlocal quark model

The properties and temperature behavior of the π and σ bound states are studied in the framework of the nonlocal model with a separable interaction kernel, based on the quark Dyson-Schwinger and meson Bethe-Salpeter equations. M _π(T), f _π(T), M _σ(T), and Γ_{σ → ππ}(T) are considered above and below the deconfinement and chiral restoration transitions. Talk at the Round-Table Discussion “Searching for a Mixed Phase of Strongly Interacting Matter at the JINR Nuclotron,” Dubna, July 7–9, 2005. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Kaon to Pion Ratio in SU(3) PNJL Model

Physics of Particles and Nuclei Letters - The article is devoted to investigation of the sharp peak in the $${{K}^{ + }}/{{\pi }^{ + }}$$ ratio, known as a ”horn”. We used the SU(3)...