An orbital perturbation approach of enzymatic catalysis

An orbital perturbation approach of enzymatic catalysis is proposed. Orbital symmetry restrictions to a fast reaction pathway is lifted by first order perturbation of the catalyst potential. The drastic decrease of the energy gap is a second order effect enhance by the band-like structure of the enzymes. The model incorporates conformational specify and signals the importance of the low symmetries of the active sites. It is proposed that allosteric effects are due to shifts of the enzyme band structure.     

A study of the influence of mounting conditions on the measured sound absorption in laboratory tests of suspended ceilings

This letter presents the results of an investigation into the influence of mounting conditions on the measured sound absorption coefficients of a suspended ceiling specimen. A series of measurements and analyses were carried out using a fixed standard sample, varying independently different mounting parameters and introducing controlled leaks. A correction of room volume in the calculation of the sound absorption coefficients was also examined. The tests were carried out in accordance with the ISO 354:2003 standard (International Organisation for Standardisation, Geneva, 2003), using the type E mounting. The test specimen consisted of fiberglass wool panels covered with a plastic film. Some of the experiments resulted in no statistically significant alteration. This included, unexpectedly, the sealing requirements of E type mountings.     

UV/Vis spectra and solubility of some naphthoquinones, and the extraction behavior of plumbagin from Plumbago scandens roots in supercritical CO2

The solubility of 1,4-naphthoquinone, plumbagin, lawsone, and juglone in supercritical carbon dioxide was determined spectroscopically at 40°C, and in the pressure range 8–18 MPa. Their solubilities at 12 MPa were between 0.3 and 10 g L⁻¹. Plumbagin from Plumbago scandens L. roots was extracted at 40°C and 20 MPa. The extracted plumbagin mass fraction was up to 0.2% in fresh roots but down to about 0.006% in aged roots. n-Hexane and chloroform extraction of such aged roots indicates that the older and dryer the roots are, the stronger they bind plumbagin. Reversed-phase HPLC indicated a relatively pure plumbagin extract with supercritical carbon dioxide.      

A quantum model of option pricing: When Black-Scholes meets Schrödinger and its semi-classical limit

The Black-Scholes equation can be interpreted from the point of view of quantum mechanics, as the imaginary time Schrödinger equation of a free particle. When deviations of this state of equilibrium are considered, as a product of some market imperfection, such as: Transaction cost, asymmetric information issues, short-term volatility, extreme discontinuities, or serial correlations; the classical non-arbitrage assumption of the Black-Scholes model is violated, implying a non-risk-free portfolio. From Haven (2002) [1] we know that an arbitrage environment is a necessary condition to embedding the Black-Scholes option pricing model in a more general quantum physics setting. The aim of this paper is to propose a new Black-Scholes-Schrödinger model based on the endogenous arbitrage option pricing formulation introduced by Contreras et al. (2010) [2]. Hence, we derive a more general quantum model of option pricing, that incorporates arbitrage as an external time dependent force, which has an associated potential related to the random dynamic of the underlying asset price. This new resultant model can be interpreted as a Schrödinger equation in imaginary time for a particle of mass 1/σ² with a wave function in an external field force generated by the arbitrage potential. As pointed out above, this new model can be seen as a more general formulation, where the perfect market equilibrium state postulated by the Black-Scholes model represent a particular case. Finally, since the Schrödinger equation is in place, we can apply semiclassical methods, of common use in theoretical physics, to find an approximate analytical solution of the Black-Scholes equation in the presence of market imperfections, as it is the case of an arbitrage bubble. Here, as a numerical illustration of the potential of this Schrödinger equation analogy, the semiclassical approximation is performed for different arbitrage bubble forms (step, linear and parabolic) and compare with the exact solution of our general quantum model of option pricing.     

Continuous opinion model in small-world directed networks

In the compromise model of continuous opinions proposed by Deffuant et al., the states of two agents in a network can start to converge if they are neighbors and if their opinions are sufficiently close to each other, below a given threshold of tolerance ?. In directed networks, if agent i is a neighbor of agent j,j need not be a neighbor of i. In Watts-Strogatz networks we performed simulations to find the averaged number of final opinions 〈F〉 and their distribution as a function of ? and of the network structural disorder. In directed networks 〈F〉 exhibits a rich structure, being larger than in undirected networks for higher values of ?, and smaller for lower values of ?.     

Dynamics of change of mathematics education in Brazil and a scenario of current research

Mathematics education in Brazil, if we consider what one may call the scientific phase, is about 30 years old. The papers for this special issue focus mainly on this period. During these years, many trends have emerged in mathematics education to address the complex problems facing Brazilian society. However, most Brazilian mathematics educators feel that the separation of research into trends is a theoretical idealization that does not respond to the dynamics of the problems we face. We raise the conjecture that the complexity of Brazilian society, where pockets of wealth coexist with the most shocking poverty, has contributed to the adoption and generation of different strands in mathematics education, crossing the boundaries between trends. At a more micro level, we also raise the conjecture that Brazilian trends in research are interwoven because of the way that Brazilian mathematics educators have experienced the process of globalization over these 30 years. This tapestry of trends is a predominant characteristic of mathematics education in Brazil.     

Secure information transfer based on computing reservoir

There is a broad area of research to ensure that information is transmitted securely. Within this scope, chaos-based cryptography takes a prominent role due to its nonlinear properties. Using these properties, we propose a secure mechanism for transmitting data that relies on chaotic networks. We use a nonlinear on–off device to cipher the message, and the transfer entropy to retrieve it. We analyze the system capability for sending messages, and we obtain expressions for the operating time. We demonstrate the system efficiency for a wide range of parameters. We find similarities between our method and the reservoir computing.     

KDP/PEDOT:PSS mixture as a new alternative in the fabrication of pressure sensing devices

In this work we studied the mixture of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), a commercial polymer, with monobasic potassium phosphate (KDP), a piezoelectric salt, as a possible novel material in the fabrication of a low cost, easy-to-make, flexible pressure sensing device. The mixture between KDP and PEDOT:PSS was painted in a flexible polyester substrate and dried. Afterwards, I × V curves were carried out. The samples containing KDP presented higher values of current in smaller voltages than the PEDOT:PSS without KDP. This can mean a change in the chain arrays. Other results showed that the material responds to directly applied pressure to the sample that can be useful to sensors fabrication.     

ESR investigation of graphite-like amorphous carbon films revealing itinerant states as the ones responsible for the signal

The origin of paramagnetic centers in graphite-like amorphous carbon is investigated. The films were deposited by the ion beam assisted deposition (IBAD) and have a concentration of sp² sites of about 90% and zero energy band gap. The density of the film and the electrical resistivity are close to these of crystalline graphite. However, the hardness and stress of the films are similar to those of diamond-like carbon. Electron spin resonance (ESR) performed at the X-band (9.4 GHz) revealed an unexpected low density of paramagnetic centers, ascribed to conduction electrons with a g-value of about 2.003.