Antiferromagnetic Ordering in TmCu2

Intermetallic compound TmCu₂ crystalizes in the orthorhombic structure, orders antiferromagnetically (AF) and exhibits four different AF phases below T _N = 6.5 K. In all these phases the Tm magnetic moment is parallel to the b-axis. The ground-state AF1 (T < 3.4 K) corresponds to the squared-up AF structure with propagation vector ₀₁ = (5/8, 0, 0) and magnetic unit cell 8a × b × c. Narrow phases AF2 and AF3 (3.3 K < T < 3.7 K and 3.6 K < T < 4.6 K) are 'spin-slip'-derivatives from the AF1 structure, yielding propagation vectors ₀₂ = (0.633, 0, 0.02) and ₀₃ = (0.618, 0, 0), respectively. The phase AF4 (4.4 K < T < T _N) is then incommensurate transversal spin-wave with the propagation ₀₄ = (0.64, 0, 0). The co-existence of AF phases indicates the first-order transitions between them.     

Charge ordering characteristics in Y0.5Ca0.5MnO3 manganite

The charge ordering characteristics in Y_0.5Ca_0.5MnO₃ manganite, prepared by sol–gel process, have been investigated experimentally. It is found that the superlattice diffractions appear in the electron diffraction patterns recorded at low temperatures, while only basic Brag diffraction spots can be observed when temperature is higher than 300 K. This provides direct evidence for the existence of charge ordering in Y_0.5Ca_0.5MnO₃. The magnetization and specific heat measurements indicate the charge ordering temperature of Y_0.5Ca_0.5MnO₃ is 290 K, around which both the magnetization and specific heat reveal anomalous behaviors. We also observed that the MnO bond length changed remarkably and the effective number of carriers reduced prominently with decreasing temperature around charge ordering temperature through transform infrared spectra measurements.     

Empirical,Semi-Empirical and Experimental Determination of K X-Ray Fluorescence Parameters of Some Elements in the Atomic Range 21 ≤ Z ≤ 30

In this study, the semi-empirical and empirical calculations of K X-ray intensity ratios, K-shell fluorescence yields, and vacancy transfer probabilities have been performed for 3d transition elements. Also, σ_Kα, σ_Kβ production cross-sections, K_β/K_α intensity ratios, ω_K fluorescence yields, and η_KL vacancy transfer probabilities of 3d transition elements have been measured. The samples were excited by 59.5 keV γ-rays from a ²⁴¹Am annular radioactive source. K X-rays emitted by samples were counted by an Ultra-LEGe detector with a resolution of 150 eV at 5.9 keV.     

Quantitative Detection of Superoxide Ions in Whole Blood of the American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)

WST-1 and nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) were used to quantify production of superoxide ions by leukocytes of the American alligator in whole blood. Because of the difficulty of isolating healthy leukocytes in alligators, these compounds were employed in whole blood instead of leukocyte preparations commonly used in other studies. The detection of superoxide was concentration- and time-dependent and linear with serial dilutions of whole blood. WST-1 reduction was inhibited by superoxide dismutase, indicating that the reduction was due to the presence of superoxide. Light microscopy revealed that superoxide production occurred in leukocytes, with no detectable contributions from other blood components.     

New insights on the role of ROS in the mechanisms of sonoporation-mediated gene delivery

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are hypothesized to play a role in the sonoporation mechanisms. Nevertheless, the acoustical phenomenon behind the ROS production as well as the exact mechanisms of ROS action involved in the increased cell membrane permeability are still not fully understood. Therefore, we investigated the key processes occurring at the molecular level in and around microbubbles subjected to ultrasound using computational chemistry methods. To confirm the molecular simulation predictions, we measured the ROS production by exposing SonoVue® microbubbles (MBs) to ultrasound using biological assays. To investigate the role of ROS in cell membrane permeabilization, cells were subjected to ultrasound in presence of MBs and plasmid encoding reporter gene, and the transfection level was assessed using flow cytometry. The molecular simulations showed that under sonoporation conditions, ROS can form inside the MBs. These radicals could easily diffuse through the MB shell toward the surrounding aqueous phase and participate in the permeabilization of nearby cell membranes. Experimental data confirmed that MBs favor spontaneous formation of a host of free radicals where HO was the main ROS species after US exposure. The presence of ROS scavengers/inhibitors during the sonoporation process decreased both the production of ROS and the subsequent transfection level without significant loss of cell viability. In conclusion, the exposure of MBs to ultrasound might be the origin of chemical effects, which play a role in the cell membrane permeabilization and in the in vitro gene delivery when generated in its proximity.     

Implementing a Two-Photon Three-Degrees-of-Freedom Hyper-Parallel Controlled Phase Flip Gate Through Cavity-Assisted Interactions

Hyper-parallel quantum information processing is a promising and beneficial research field. Herein, a method to implement a hyper-parallel controlled-phase-flip (hyper-CPF) gate for frequency-, spatial-, and time-bin-encoded qubits by coupling flying photons to trapped nitrogen vacancy (NV) defect centers is presented. The scheme, which differs from their conventional parallel counterparts, is specifically advantageous in decreasing against the dissipate noise, increasing the quantum channel capacity, and reducing the quantum resource overhead. The gate qubits with frequency, spatial, and time-bin degrees of freedom (DOF) are immune to quantum decoherence in optical fibers, whereas the polarization photons are easily disturbed by the ambient noise.     

Probe chiral magnetic effect with signed balance function

In this paper a pair of observables are proposed as alternative ways,by examining the fluctuation of net momentum-ordering of charged pairs,to study the charge separation induced by the Chiral Magnetic Effect(CME)in relativistic heavy ion collisions.They are,the out-of-plane to in-plane ratio of fluctuation of the difference between signed balance functions measured in pair’s rest frame,and the ratio of it to similar measurement made in the laboratory frame.Both observables have been studied with simulations including flow-related backgrounds,and for the first time,backgrounds that are related to resonance's global spin alignment.The two observables have similar positive responses to signal,and opposite,limited responses to identifiable backgrounds arising from resonance flow and spin alignment.Both observables have also been tested with two realistic models,namely,a multi-phase transport(AMPT)model and the anomalous-viscous fluid dynamics(AVFD)model.These two observables,when cross examined,will provide useful insights in the study of CME-induced charge separation.     

Special features of the EPR spectroscopy of a system of centers with different relaxation times

We found that the interaction of paramagnetic centers that have different relaxation times differs fundamentally from the interaction of centers having close relaxation times. Simulation showed that in this case there is an anomalous redistribution of the spectral-line intensity from the center to the wings with a virtually preserved distance between extremal points (super-Lorentzian shape of the line), which leads to underestimation of the total intensity recorded. The results obtained make it possible to explain a number of aspects of the radiospectroscopy of carbon materials of practical importance such as the nature of the generally accepted maximum on the curve for the dependence of the total intensity of an EPR signal on the temperature of the heat treatment of organic compounds and the degree of metamorphism of natural coals, the specific features of the effect of oxygen molecules and paramagnetic ions of metals on the EPR spectra of carbon materials, etc. Belarusian State University, 4, F. Skorina Ave., Minsk, 220080 Belarus. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 65, No. 2, pp. 224–229, March–April, 1998.     

A Mössbauer study of octahedral site symmetries in systems Co x Mn3−x−y Fe y O4 and Ni x Mn3−x−y Fe y O4

A Mössbauer study of cation distribution in systems Co _x Mn_3?x?y Fe _y O₄ and Ni _x Mn_3?x?y Fe _y O₄ has been made. It has been found that in both systems all specimens withy<0.6 value exhibit quadrupole doublets corresponding to site symmetries Fe³⁺(I) and Fe³⁺(II) of octahedral site. As more and more cobalt or nickel is introduced into the matrix the intensity of the inner quadrupole doublet increases while on introducing iron that of the outer quadrupole doublet increases. After a certain concentration of iron the inner doublet starts becoming more intense. It is suggested that this arises possibly from the substitution of cations in the second co-ordination sphere of Fe³⁺(I) and Fe³⁺(II) sites. Fory>0.6 the Mössbauer spectra show relaxation effects.     

Synchrotron radiation photoelectron spectroscopy and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure study on oxidative etching of diamond-like carbon films by hyperthermal atomic oxygen

Surface structural changes of a hydrogenated diamond-like carbon (DLC) film exposed to a hyperthermal atomic oxygen beam were investigated by Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS), synchrotron radiation photoelectron spectroscopy (SR-PES), and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS). It was confirmed that the DLC surface was oxidized and etched by high-energy collisions of atomic oxygen. RBS and real-time mass-loss data showed a linear relationship between etching and atomic oxygen fluence. SR-PES data suggested that the oxide layer was restricted to the topmost surface of the DLC film. NEXAFS data were interpreted to mean that the sp² structure at the DLC surface was selectively etched by collisions with hyperthermal atomic oxygen, and an sp³-rich region remained at the topmost DLC surface. The formation of an sp³-rich layer at the DLC surface led to surface roughening and a reduced erosion yield relative to the pristine DLC surface.