Dirac-Hestenes spinor fields on Riemann-Cartan manifolds

In this paper we study Dirac-Hestenes spinor fields (DHSF) on a four-dimensional Riemann-Cartan spacetime (RCST). We prove that these fields must be defined as certain equivalence classes of even sections of the Clifford bundle (over the RCST), thereby being certain particular sections of a new bundle named the spin-Clifford bundle (SCB). The conditions for the existence of the SCB are studied and are shown to be equivalent to Geroch's theorem concerning the existence of spinor structures in a Lorentzian spacetime. We introduce also the covariant and algebraic Dirac spinor fields and compare these with DHSF, showing that all three kinds of spinor fields contain the same mathematical and physical information. We clarify also the notion of (Crumeyrolle's) amorphous spinors (Dirac-Kähler spinor fields are of this type), showing that they cannot be used to describe fermionic fields. We develop a rigorous theory for the covariant derivatives of Clifford fields (sections of the Clifford bundle, CB) and of Dirac-Hestenes spinor fields. We show how to generalize the original Dirac-Hestenes equation in Minkowski spacetime for the case of RCST. Our results are obtained from a variational principle formulated through the multiform derivative approach to Lagrangian field theory in the Clifford bundle.     

光学双稳性临界点的相变行为

本文详细地讨论了光学双稳性(OB)的临界现象。理论分析主要以忽略量子涨落的Fokker-Plank方程的静态解为基础。结果发现,OB的临界现象可以纳入Landau二级相变理论的框架,并且有关临界指数之间的关系也服从标度律。 关键词：     

Oxidation of some catecholamines by sodium N-chloro-p-toluenesulfonamide in acid medium: A kinetic and mechanistic approach

The kinetics of the oxidation of five catecholamines viz., dopamine (A), L-dopa (B), methyldopa (C), epinephrine (D) and norepinephrine (E) by sodium N-chloro-p-toluenesulfonamide or chloramine-T (CAT) in presence of HClO₄ was studied at 30±0.1 °C. The five reactions followed identical kinetics with a first-order dependence on [CAT] _o , fractional-order in [substrate] _o , and inverse fractional-order in [H⁺]. Under comparable experimental conditions, the rate of oxidation of catecholamines increases in the order D>E>A>B>C. The variation of ionic strength of the medium and the addition of p-toluenesulfonamide or halide ions had no significant effect on the reaction rate. The rate increased with decreasing dielectric constant of the medium. The solvent isotope effect was studied using D₂O. A Michaelis-Menten type mechanism has been suggested to explain the results. Equilibrium and decomposition constants for CAT-catecholamine complexes have been evaluated. CH₃C₆H₄SO₂NHCl of the oxidant has been postulated as the reactive oxidizing species and oxidation products were identified. An isokinetic relationship is observed with β=361 K, indicating that enthalpy factors control the reaction rate. The mechanism proposed and the derived rate law are consistent with the observed kinetics.     

NMR Conformational Analysis and Theoretical Calculations for 2‐Aryl‐ 1,3‐dihydroxy‐4,4,5,5‐tetramethylimidazolidines

Conformational studies of 1,3‐dihydroxy‐4,4,5,5‐tetramethyl‐2‐(pyridin‐1‐yl)imidazolidine ( 1a ) and 1,3‐dihydroxy‐4,4,5,5‐tetramethyl‐2‐(pyridin‐3‐yl)imidazolidine ( 1b ), carried out by using 1D ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR and 2D HMQC, HMBC, and NOESY experiments and with the aid of theoretical calculations, indicate that the OH groups are trans to the pyridinyl substituent. Because the two ¹H‐NMR signals of the Me groups are distinguishable and do not change between 290 and 380 K, it is proposed that 1a and 1b have each only one conformation in this temperature range. This behavior was not found with 1,3‐dihydroxy‐4,4,5,5‐tetramethyl‐2‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)imidazolidine ( 1c ) because its Me ¹H‐NMR signals cross over at 300 K. Hence, more than one conformation must be present, beyond those produced by simple inversions. Theoretical calculations including temperature and solvent effects were performed to provide further information on the conformational analysis and to help to assign the NMR data. The combination of NMR measurements and quantum‐chemical calculations is shown to be a very promising strategy for conformational analysis studies in solution.     

Crystal and molecular structure and magnetic exchange properties of bis(di-micro-ethoxo-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsemiquinonato)dicopper(II)) complex. A synergy between DFT and experimental magnetochemistry

The compound bis(di-micro-ethoxo-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsemiquinonato)dicopper(II)) has been synthesized and its structure was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group C2/c, with a = 37.736(8) A, b = 9.173(2) A, c = 23.270(5) A, beta = 122.24(3) degrees. The structure can be described as a Lewis adduct between two dinuclear [Cu(DBSQ)(C(2)H(5)O)](2) units (DBSQ = 3,5-di-tert-butyl-semiquinonato). The temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility was efficiently analyzed by a combined DFT/experimental approach, showing that a rather strong ferromagnetic interaction exists between the DBSQ(-) and the copper(II) ions modulated by an antiferromagnetic interaction between the two copper(II) ions of the dinuclear units. Weak antiferromagnetism between the two units in the unit cell was measured.     

Utilization of Agro-Industrial Residues in the Rearing and Nutritional Enrichment of Zophobas atratus Larvae: New Food Raw Materials

Edible insects are a potential alternative food source of high feed conversion efficiency and protein content. Zophobas atratus is an edible insect that adapts to different diets, enabling sustainable rearing by adding value to by-products and agro-industrial residues. This study aimed to evaluate the performance and nutritional characterization of Zophobas atratus larvae fed with different proportions of grape residue. Physicochemical analysis of the diets and larvae (AOAC procedures), fatty acid profile (chromatographic techniques), metals and non-metals (inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry), larval mass gain, feed conversion efficiency, and mortality rate were assessed. The replacement of 25% of the conventional diet with grape residue increased lipid, ash, and fiber contents and reduced protein, carbohydrates, and energy. It promoted greater mass gain, lower mortality rate, and reduced larval growth time by 51%. Among the replacements, 25% resulted in the second-highest content of calcium, sodium, magnesium, and zinc, and the lowest content of potassium and phosphorus in the larvae. The 100% replacement resulted in the highest amounts of C18:2n6 (27.8%), C18:3n3 (2.2%), and PUFA (30.0%). Replacing 25% of the conventional diet with grape residue is equivalent to the conventional diet in many aspects and improves several larvae performance indices and nutritional values.     

Biosynthesis and antioxidant activity of 4NRC β-glycoside

This Letter describes glycosylation of 4-Nerolidylcatechol (4-NRC) the major secondary metabolite from Pothomorphe peltata and Pothomorphe umbellata showing remarkable antioxidant, antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-HIV activities. One step biosynthesis was catalyzed by Cunninghamella echinulata ATCC 9245 and the reaction was undertaken in PDSM medium at 27 °C, 200 rpm for 96 h. After purification by silica gel flash column chromatography the 4-NRC β-glycoside was identified by ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry and ¹H NMR. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by differential pulse voltammetry.     

A green-emitting α-substituted β-diketonate Tb3+ phosphor for ultraviolet LED-based solid-state lighting

The α-substituted β-diketonate [Ln(3Cl-acac)₃(H₂O)₂] [Ln = Tb, Gd] complexes (with 3Cl-acac^– being 3-chloro-2,4-pentanedionate) were characterized by elemental analysis, infrared, ultraviolet (UV)-visible and photoluminescence spectroscopies. For comparison purposes regarding photoluminescence, the well-known [Tb(acac)₃(H₂O)₂] complex was also synthesized. By considering the phosphorescence spectra of [Gd(3Cl-acac)₃(H₂O)₂], the effect of chloride replacement of hydrogen on the triplet state energy of the 3Cl-acac ligand was revealed. To support the interpretation and rationalization of the experimental results, Time-dependent DFT calculations were performed on Tb(3Cl-acac)₃(H₂O)₂. Additionally, the possibility of Tb(3Cl-acac)₃(H₂O)₂ to be used as potential green-emitting phosphor material for solid-sate light emitting diodes was evaluated. A prototype was successfully fabricated coating a near-UV LED (370 nm) with the Tb(3Cl-acac)₃(H₂O)₂ complex.     

Sweet Cherries as Anti-Cancer Agents: From Bioactive Compounds to Function

Sweet cherries (Prunus avium L.) are among the most appreciated fruits worldwide because of their organoleptic properties and nutritional value. The accurate phytochemical composition and nutritional value of sweet cherries depends on the climatic region, cultivar, and bioaccessibility and bioavailability of specific compounds. Nevertheless, sweet cherry extracts are highly enriched in several phenolic compounds with relevant bioactivity. Over the years, technological advances in chemical analysis and fields as varied as proteomics, genomics and bioinformatics, have allowed the detailed characterization of the sweet cherry bioactive phytonutrients and their biological function. In this context, the effect of sweet cherries on suppressing important events in the carcinogenic process, such as oxidative stress and inflammation, was widely documented. Interestingly, results from our research group and others have widened the action of sweet cherries to many hallmarks of cancer, namely metabolic reprogramming. The present review discusses the anticarcinogenic potential of sweet cherries by addressing their phytochemical composition, the bioaccessibility and bioavailability of specific bioactive compounds, and the existing knowledge concerning the effects against oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, deregulated cell proliferation and apoptosis, invasion and metastization, and metabolic alterations. Globally, this review highlights the prospective use of sweet cherries as a dietary supplement or in cancer treatment.