Lower Energy α Elastic Scattering on ^20Ne and Anomaly of α＋^20Ne Scattering System

The α+²⁰Ne elastic scattering angular distributions at lower incident energies of Eα= 12.7--31.1 MeV have been analyzed by using the α-folding potential based on the α+¹⁶O structure model of the ²⁰Ne nucleus. The α-folding potential with a standard Woods-Saxon type imaginary part, can reasonably describe experimental cross sections and the anomalous large angle scattering (ALAS) features. The anomaly of the α+²⁰Ne scattering system is further confirmed in the lower incident energy region.     

Stability of benzoporphyrin photosensitizers in water/ethanol mixtures: pKa determination and self‐aggregation processes

Benzoporphyrin monoacid derivatives, here named B3A and B3B, are promising new drugs for photodynamic therapy. Although both isomers show interesting characteristics as photosensitizing compounds, they have some distinct physicochemical properties such as the tendency to self‐aggregate in water‐rich media. Because pH drives the presence of each species, the pK_a of these compounds assumes strategic importance. However, traditional micro‐titration methods and UV–Vis absorption techniques fail to give reliable pK_a values due to the characteristics of this highly complex system, such as the precipitation of hydrophobic species, close pK_a values, and high absorption band superposition. In the present work, chemometric tools are employed to evaluate pK_a, and the kinetic tendency of monomers to undergo self‐aggregation is investigated. In solvent mixtures at low water percentage in ethanol, both B3A and B3B are stabilized in a monomeric state. However, in mixtures with a high water content, self‐aggregation takes place, mainly under a mild pH acid condition (3 < pH < 6), in which the prevalent protolytic species of both isomers is the neutral charged form, compounds with carboxylic and porphyrin free‐base groups. It is demonstrated that both isomers can undergo aggregation following a self‐catalytic mechanism, which is 2000 times slower to B3A than B3B. For B3A, the aggregation is manifested by a decrease in the monomer band with the aggregation band probably superposed to that of the monomer. For B3B, together with the decrease in the monomer band, a new band related to self‐aggregates is observed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Generation of hyperentangled four-photon cluster state via cross-Kerr nonlinearity

We propose a scheme for generating a hyperentangled four-photon cluster state that is simultaneously entangled in polarization modes and spatial modes. This scheme is based on linear optical elements, weak cross-Kerr nonlinearity, and homodyne detection. Therefore, it is feasible with current experimental technology.     

Detecting community structure using label propagation with consensus weight in complex network

Community detection is a fundamental work to analyse the structural and functional properties of complex networks.The label propagation algorithm(LPA) is a near linear time algorithm to find a good community structure. Despite various ubsequent advances, an important issue of this algorithm has not yet been properly addressed. Random update orders within the algorithm severely hamper the stability of the identified community structure. In this paper, we executed the asic label propagation algorithm on networks multiple times, to obtain a set of consensus partitions. Based on these onsensus partitions, we created a consensus weighted graph. In this consensus weighted graph, the weight value of the dge was the proportion value that the number of node pairs allocated in the same cluster was divided by the total number f partitions. Then, we introduced consensus weight to indicate the direction of label propagation. In label update steps,y computing the mixing value of consensus weight and label frequency, a node adopted the label which has the maximum mixing value instead of the most frequent one. For extending to different networks, we introduced a proportion parameter o adjust the proportion of consensus weight and label frequency in computing mixing value. Finally, we proposed an pproach named the label propagation algorithm with consensus weight(LPAcw), and the experimental results showed that he LPAcw could enhance considerably both the stability and the accuracy of community partitions.     

Acoustic power dependences of sonoluminescence and bubble dynamics

The decreasing effect of sonoluminescence (SL) in water at high acoustic powers was investigated in relation to bubble dynamics and acoustic emission spectra. The intensity of SL was measured in the power range of 1–18 W at 83.8 kHz for open-end (free liquid surface and film-covered surface) and fixed-end boundaries of sound fields. The power dependence of the SL intensity showed a maximum and then decrease to zero for all the boundaries. Similar results were obtained for sonochemiluminescence in luminol solution. The power dependence of the SL intensity was strongly correlated with the bubble dynamics captured by high-speed photography at 64 k fps. In the low-power range where the SL intensity increases, bubble streamers were observed and the population of streaming bubbles increased with the power. At powers after SL maximum occurred, bubble clusters came into existence. Upon complete SL reduction, only bubble clusters were observed. The subharmonic in the acoustic emission spectra increased markedly in the region where bubble clusters were observed. Nonspherical oscillations of clustering bubbles may make a major contribution to the subharmonic.     

Analytical approximations for the hierarchically constrained kinetic Ising chain

The hierarchically constrained kinetic Ising model in one dimension is reviewed, and the results of several analytical approaches to the model are presented. Two standard approximation schemes, an effective-medium approximation and a mode-coupling approximation, are shown to fail. A new class of approximations, termed cluster approximations, is better suited for the model. It yields good results for the spin autocorrelation function, and also elucidates important general properties of the model—its connection with defect-diffusion models and the asymptotic long-time behavior of the autocorrelation function.     

The role of mammalian autophagy in protein metabolism

Autophagy is in principle a non-selective degradation system within cells, which is conserved in all eukaryotic cells. Autophagy is usually suppressed at low levels but can be upregulated during periods of nutrient starvation, which facilitates cell survival. In addition to this fundamental role, basal autophagy was recently revealed to be important for constitutive turnover of intracellular proteins and organelles. Autophagy has been considered to be involved also in presentation of endogenous antigens, degradation of invasive bacteria, tumor suppression, cell death and development. This review will discuss the biological significance of autophagy, particularly focusing on its implications in protein metabolism in mammals.     

Dynamic Scaling of Ramified Clusters Formed on Liquid Surfaces

A comprehensive simulation model -deposition,diffusion, rotation, reaction and aggregation model is presented to simulate the formation processes of ramified clusters on liquid surfaces, where clusters can diffuse and rotate easily. The mobility (including diffusion and rotation) of clusters is related to its mass, which is given by Dm = Dos-γD and θm =′θos-γθ, respectively. The influence of the reaction probability on the kinetics and structure formation is included in the simulation model. We concentrate on revealing dynamic scaling during ramified cluster formation. For this purpose, the time evolution of the cluster density and the weight-average cluster size as well as the cluster-size distribution scaling function at different time are determined for various conditions. The dependence of the cluster density on the deposition flux and time-dependence of fractal dimension are also investigated. The obtained results are helpful in understanding the formation of clusters or thin film growth on liquid surfaces.     

Improvement of ultrasound speckle image velocimetry using image enhancement techniques

Ultrasound-based techniques have been developed and widely used in noninvasive measurement of blood velocity. Speckle image velocimetry (SIV), which applies a cross-correlation algorithm to consecutive B-mode images of blood flow has often been employed owing to its better spatial resolution compared with conventional Doppler-based measurement techniques. The SIV technique utilizes speckles backscattered from red blood cell (RBC) aggregates as flow tracers. Hence, the intensity and size of such speckles are highly dependent on hemodynamic conditions. The grayscale intensity of speckle images varies along the radial direction of blood vessels because of the shear rate dependence of RBC aggregation. This inhomogeneous distribution of echo speckles decreases the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of a cross-correlation analysis and produces spurious results. In the present study, image-enhancement techniques such as contrast-limited adaptive histogram equalization (CLAHE), min/max technique, and subtraction of background image (SB) method were applied to speckle images to achieve a more accurate SIV measurement. A mechanical sector ultrasound scanner was used to obtain ultrasound speckle images from rat blood under steady and pulsatile flows. The effects of the image-enhancement techniques on SIV analysis were evaluated by comparing image intensities, velocities, and cross-correlation maps. The velocity profiles and wall shear rate (WSR) obtained from RBC suspension images were compared with the analytical solution for validation. In addition, the image-enhancement techniques were applied to in vivo measurement of blood flow in human vein. The experimental results of both in vitro and in vivo SIV measurements show that the intensity gradient in heterogeneous speckles has substantial influence on the cross-correlation analysis. The image-enhancement techniques used in this study can minimize errors encountered in ultrasound SIV measurement in which RBCs are used as flow tracers instead of exogenous contrast agents.