2,134 research outputs found
Connection between slow and fast dynamics of molecular liquids around the glass transition
The mean-square displacement (MSD) was measured by neutron scattering at
various temperatures and pressures for a number of molecular glass-forming
liquids. The MSD is invariant along the glass-transition line at the pressure
studied, thus establishing an ``intrinsic'' Lindemann criterion for any given
liquid. A one-to-one connection between the MSD's temperature dependence and
the liquid's fragility is found when the MSD is evaluated on a time scale of
approximately 4 nanoseconds, but does not hold when the MSD is evaluated at
shorter times. The findings are discussed in terms of the elastic model and the
role of relaxations, and the correlations between slow and fast dynamics are
addressed.Comment: accepted by Phys Rev E (2010
Rotationally resolved spectroscopy of (20000) Varuna in the near-infrared
Models of the escape and retention of volatiles by minor icy objects exclude
any presence of volatile ices on the surface of TNOs smaller than ~1000km in
diameter at the typical temperature in this region of the solar system, whereas
the same models show that water ice is stable on the surface of objects over a
wide range of diameters. Collisions and cometary activity have been used to
explain the process of surface refreshing of TNOs and Centaurs. These processes
can produce surface heterogeneity that can be studied by collecting information
at different rotational phases. The aims of this work are to study the surface
composition of (20000)Varuna, a TNO with a diameter ~650km and to search for
indications of rotational variability. We observed Varuna during two
consecutive nights in January 2011 with NICS@TNG obtaining a set of spectra
covering the whole rotation period of Varuna. After studying the spectra
corresponding to different rotational phases, we did not find any indication of
surface variability. In all the spectra, we detect an absorption at 2{\mu}m,
suggesting the presence of water ice on the surface. We do not detect any other
volatiles on the surface, although the S/N is not high enough to discard their
presence. Based on scattering models, we present two possible compositions
compatible with our set of data and discuss their implications in the frame of
the collisional history of the Kuiper Belt. We find that the most probable
composition for the surface of Varuna is a mixture of amorphous silicates,
complex organics, and water ice. This composition is compatible with all the
materials being primordial. However, our data can also be fitted by models
containing up to a 10% of methane ice. For an object with the characteristics
of Varuna, this volatile could not be primordial, so an event, such as an
energetic impact, would be needed to explain its presence on the surface.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, to be published in A&
Quattordicesimo Rapporto dell’Osservatorio della Congiuntura Turistica nella Provincia di Brescia: novembre 2012
Report relativo al sondaggio Congiuntur Consuntivo Estate 201
On the correlation between fragility and stretching in glassforming liquids
We study the pressure and temperature dependences of the dielectric
relaxation of two molecular glassforming liquids, dibutyl phtalate and
m-toluidine. We focus on two characteristics of the slowing down of relaxation,
the fragility associated with the temperature dependence and the stretching
characterizing the relaxation function. We combine our data with data from the
literature to revisit the proposed correlation between these two quantities. We
do this in light of constraints that we suggest to put on the search for
empirical correlations among properties of glassformers. In particular, argue
that a meaningful correlation is to be looked for between stretching and
isochoric fragility, as both seem to be constant under isochronic conditions
and thereby reflect the intrinsic effect of temperature
Decay accelerating factor (CD55) protects neuronal cells from chemical hypoxia-induced injury
Background: Activated complement system is known to mediate neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration following exposure to hypoxic-ischemic insults. Therefore, inhibition of the complement activation cascade may represent a potential therapeutic strategy for the management of ischemic brain injury. Decay-accelerating factor (DAF, also known as CD55) inhibits complement activation by suppressing the function of C3/C5 convertases, thereby limiting local generation or deposition of C3a/C5a and membrane attack complex (MAC or C5b-9) production. The present study investigates the ability of DAF to protect primary cultured neuronal cells subjected to sodium cyanide (NaCN)-induced hypoxia from degeneration and apoptosis. Methods: Cultured primary cortical neurons from embryonic Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned one of four groups: control, DAF treatment alone, hypoxic, or hypoxic treated with DAF. Hypoxic cultures were exposed to NaCN for 1 hour, rinsed, followed by 24 hour exposure to 200 ng/ml of recombinant human DAF in normal medium. Human DAF was used in the present study and it has been shown to effectively regulate complement activation in rats. Neuronal cell function, morphology and viability were investigated by measuring plateau depolarization potential, counting the number dendritic spines, and observing TUNEL and MTT assays. Complement C3, C3a, C3a receptor (R) production, C3a-C3aR interaction and MAC formation were assessed along with the generation of activated caspase-9, activated caspase-3, and activated Src. Results: When compared to controls, hypoxic cells had fewer dendritic spines, reduced plateau depolarization accompanied by increased apoptotic activity and accumulation of MAC, as well as up-regulation of C3, C3a and C3aR, enhancement of C3a-C3aR engagement, and elevated caspase and Src activity. Treatment of hypoxic cells with 200 ng/ml of recombinant human DAF resulted in attenuation of neuronal apoptosis and exerted significant protection against neuronal dendritic spine loss and plateau depolarization reduction. Furthermore, treatment with DAF resulted in decreased accumulation of C3a, MAC, C3a-C3aR interaction, caspase-9, activated caspase-3, and pTyr416-Src (activated Src) tyrosine kinase. Conclusion: DAF was found to reduce neuronal cell death and apoptosis in NaCN induced hypoxia. This effect is attributed to the ability of DAF to limit complement activation and inhibit the activity of Src and caspases 9 and 3. This study supports the inhibiting of complement as a neuroprotective strategy against CNS ischemia/reperfusion injury
Morphology and mechanical properties of isotactic polypropylene glass mat thermoplastic composites modified with organophilic montmorillonite
Satisfactory impregnation of glass fiber mats may be obtained with isotactic polypropylene/montmorillonite (MMT) nanocomposites under conditions comparable with industrial conditions. However, it is demonstrated here that the high melt viscosity of the nanocomposite matrix at low shear rates may significantly influence the release of the compressive load in the glass mat and hence the glass fiber distribution in consolidated specimens. Thus, depending on the initial lay-up and overall glass fiber content, the bending modulus may either increase or decrease with increasing MMT content, whereas the tensile modulus is more consistent with micromechanical models assuming a uniform glass fiber distribution. Results from fractographic analyses show that the presence of matrix rich layers at the specimen surfaces may also lead to premature crack initiation and failure in flexio
The consequence of excess configurational entropy on fragility: the case of a polymer/oligomer blend
By taking advantage of the molecular weight dependence of the glass
transition of polymers and their ability to form perfectly miscible blends, we
propose a way to modify the fragility of a system, from fragile to strong,
keeping the same glass properties, i.e. vibrational density of states,
mean-square displacement and local structure. Both slow and fast dynamics are
investigated by calorimetry and neutron scattering in an athermal
polystyrene/oligomer blend, and compared to those of a pure 17-mer polystyrene
considered to be a reference, of same Tg. Whereas the blend and the pure 17-mer
have the same heat capacity in the glass and in the liquid, their fragilities
differ strongly. This difference in fragility is related to an extra
configurational entropy created by the mixing process and acting at a scale
much larger than the interchain distance, without affecting the fast dynamics
and the structure of the glass
Colloids in light fields: particle dynamics in random and periodic energy landscapes
The dynamics of colloidal particles in potential energy landscapes have
mainly been investigated theoretically. In contrast, here we discuss the
experimental realization of potential energy landscapes with the help of light
fields and the observation of the particle dynamics by video microscopy. The
experimentally observed dynamics in periodic and random potentials are compared
to simulation and theoretical results in terms of, e.g. the mean-squared
displacement, the time-dependent diffusion coefficient or the non-Gaussian
parameter. The dynamics are initially diffusive followed by intermediate
subdiffusive behaviour which again becomes diffusive at long times. How
pronounced and extended the different regimes are, depends on the specific
conditions, in particular the shape of the potential as well as its roughness
or amplitude but also the particle concentration. Here we focus on dilute
systems, but the dynamics of interacting systems in external potentials, and
thus the interplay between particle-particle and particle-potential
interactions, is also mentioned briefly. Furthermore, the observed dynamics of
dilute systems resemble the dynamics of concentrated systems close to their
glass transition, with which it is compared. The effect of certain potential
energy landscapes on the dynamics of individual particles appears similar to
the effect of interparticle interactions in the absence of an external
potential
Study on the nutrient adequacy of feeds for pet rabbits available in the Italian market
[EN] This study was carried out to determine the proximate composition and nutritional adequacy of six complete commercial feeds for pet rabbits available in the Italian market. Wide variability was observed in the chemical composition of the complete feeds selected. Two feeds exceeded crude protein recommended level (172 g/kg and 182 g/kg), whereas 50% of the diets selected did not meet the minimal crude fibre requirements of 130 g/kg. The estimated digestible energy (DE) showed an oversupply in five feeds, attributable to high starch content (from 195 to 380 g/kg) in four of them. Fat levels resulted adequate in all feeds (between 10 and 50 g/kg), whereas a wide variability was observed in fatty acid (FA) composition. All feeds were deficient in phosphorus (<5 g/kg) and three of them also in calcium (<8 g/kg). All feeds were below the minimal vitamin E requirements (<40 mg/kg). One feed showed an aflatoxin B1 content of 11.36 ¿g/kg which is slightly higher than the European recommended maximum amount of 10 ¿g/kg. The six pet rabbit feeds obtained from the Italian market did not fulfil the nutrient requirements for pet rabbits and feeding animals with these products might produce detrimental health effects in the long term.Ricci, R.; Sartori, A.; Palagiano, C.; Dalle Zotte, A. (2010). Study on the nutrient adequacy of feeds for pet rabbits available in the Italian market. World Rabbit Science. 18(3). doi:10.4995/wrs.2010.753218
Surface Composition of Pluto's Kiladze Area and Relationship to Cryovolcanism
A link between exposures of water (HO) ice with traces of an
ammoniated compound (e.g., a salt) and the probable effusion of a water-rich
cryolava onto the surface of Pluto has been established in previous
investigations (Dalle Ore et al. 2019). Here we present the results from the
application of a machine learning technique and a radiative transfer model to a
water-ice-rich exposure in Kiladze area and surroundings on Pluto. We
demonstrate the presence of an ammoniated material suggestive of an
undetermined but relatively recent emplacement event. Kiladze lies in a region
of Pluto's surface that is structurally distinct from that of the areas where
similar evidence points to cryovolcanic activity at some undetermined time in
the planet's history. Although the Kiladze depression superficially resembles
an impact crater, a close inspection of higher-resolution images indicates that
the feature lacks the typical morphology of a crater. Here we suggest that a
cryolava water carrying an ammoniated component may have come onto the surface
at the Kiladze area via one or more volcanic collapses, as in a resurgent
volcanic caldera complex. Large regions east of Kiladze also exhibit the
presence of HO ice and have graben-like structures suggestive of
cryovolcanic activity, but with existing data are not amenable to the detailed
search that might reveal an ammoniated component.Comment: 28 pages, 11 figures, submitted to Icaru
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