Interpreting Quantum Entanglement: Steps Towards Coherentist Quantum Mechanics

In this paper, a new, ‘coherentist’ account of quantum entanglement is put forward. According to it, entangled systems are characterized by symmetric relations of ontological dependence among the component particles. We compare this coherentist viewpoint with the two most popular alternatives currently on offer - structuralism and holism – and argue that it is essentially different from, and preferable to, both. In the course of the paper, we point out ways in which coherentism might be extended beyond the case of entanglement and further articulated

Interpreting Quantum Entanglement: Steps towards Coherentist Quantum Mechanics

In this paper, a new, ‘coherentist’ account of quantum entanglement is put forward. According to it, entangled systems are characterized by symmetric relations of ontological dependence among the component particles. We compare this coherentist viewpoint with the two most popular alternatives currently on offer - structuralism and holism – and argue that it is essentially different from, and preferable to, both. In the course of the paper, we point out ways in which coherentism might be extended beyond the case of entanglement and further articulated

Investigation of the LCST-Thermoresponsive Behavior of Novel Oligo(Ethylene Glycol)-Modified Pentafluorostyrene Homopolymers

Amphiphilic tetrafluorostyrene monomers (EFS8) carrying in the para position an oligoethylene glycol chain containing 8 oxyethylenic units on average were synthesized and used for preparation via activator regenerated by electron transfer atom transfer radical polymerization (ARGET-ATRP) of the corresponding amphiphilic homopolymers (pEFS8-x) with different degrees of polymerization (x = 26 and 46). Combining light transmittance and nano-differential scanning calorimetry (n-DSC) measurements revealed that pEFS8-x homopolymers displayed a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) thermoresponsive behavior in water solutions. Moreover, n-DSC measurements revealed the presence in heating scans of a broad endothermic peak ascribable to the dehydration process of the polymer single chains (unimers) and their collapse into aggregates. Consistently, dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements showed below the LCST the presence of small nanostructures with a hydrodynamic diameter size Dh of 6–7 nm, which collapsed into concentration-dependent larger multichain aggregates (Dh = 300–3000 nm) above LCST. Interestingly, n-DSC data showed that the unimer-aggregate transition was reversible up to a specific temperature (Trev) of each homopolymer, which in any case was higher than Tmax. When heating above Trev the transition was no longer reversible, causing the shift of Tonset and Tmax at lower values, thus suggesting an increase in hydrophobicity of the polymer systems associated with a temperature-dependent dehydration process

Protection from cigarette smoke-induced vascular injury by recombinant human relaxin-2 (serelaxin)

Smoking is regarded as a major risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). This study investigates whether serelaxin (RLX, recombinant human relaxin‐2) endowed with promising therapeutic properties in CVD, can be credited of a protective effect against cigarette smoke (CS)‐induced vascular damage and dysfunction. Guinea pigs exposed daily to CS for 8 weeks were treated with vehicle or RLX, delivered by osmotic pumps at daily doses of 1 or 10 μg. Controls were non‐smoking animals. Other studies were performed on primary guinea pig aortic endothelial (GPAE) cells, challenged with CS extracts (CSE) in the absence and presence of 100 ng/ml (17 nmol/l) RLX. In aortic specimens from CS‐exposed guinea pigs, both the contractile and the relaxant responses to phenylephrine and acetylcholine, respectively, were significantly reduced in amplitude and delayed, in keeping with the observed adverse remodelling of the aortic wall, endothelial injury and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) down‐regulation. RLX at both doses maintained the aortic contractile and relaxant responses to a control‐like pattern and counteracted aortic wall remodelling and endothelial derangement. The experiments with GPAE cells showed that CSE significantly decreased cell viability and eNOS expression and promoted apoptosis by sparkling oxygen free radical‐related cytotoxicity, while RLX counterbalanced the adverse effects of CSE. These findings demonstrate that RLX is capable of counteracting CS‐mediated vascular damage and dysfunction by reducing oxidative stress, thus adding a tile to the growing mosaic of the beneficial effects of RLX in CVD

Oligo(ethylene glycol) modified poly(pentafluorostyrene): synthesis and characterization of the self-aggregation behavior in solution

Amphiphilic tetrafluorostyrene monomers (EFSn) carrying in para position an oligoethylene glycol chain with different lengths (n = 3-13) were synthesized and used for the preparation of the corresponding amphiphilic homopolymers (pEFSn-x) having different degrees of polymerization (x = 8-135) by a controlled radical polymerization reaction, such as ARGET-ATRP. The self-assembly behavior of monomers and homopolymers in water and organic solvents was studied by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). In particular, DLS measurements on water solutions of the water-soluble homopolymers at room temperature evidenced the presence of nanoassemblies with hydrodynamic radius Rh = 2.5 - 6 nm, compatible with the formation of unimer micelles. These nanoassemblies were proven to be disrupted by the addition of THF to the water/polymer solution. SAXS measurements revealed that self-folded nanoassemblies were compact globular spheres, with radius of gyration Rg in the range 1.7 - 2 nm, corresponding to radii of a spherical particle in the range 2 - 3 nm. The Rg/Rh radius was <0.5, consistent with a core-shell nanostructure. On heating above a critical temperature, identified as a cloud point temperature by light transmittance measurements, multi-chain microassemblies were formed, which reverted to nanoassemblies on cooling below this critical temperature. This LCST-type thermoresponsive transition was fully and sharply reversible. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis revealed that the homopolymers with n <= 8 were amorphous, while those with n = 13 were semicrystalline, owing to the crystallization of the longer oxyethylenic side chains. In any case the glass transition temperatures (Tg) were lower than room temperature, indicating that the EFSn backbone featured a relatively high flexibility. Moreover, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that the polymer backbone possessed an increased thermal stability with respect to the corresponding oligoethylene glycol side chain. Wettability and surface composition of the homopolymers were investigated by static contact angle and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements. XPS measurements confirmed the presence of fluorine at the film surface, even though its concentration was lower than the theoretical amount, thus indicating a low effectiveness in surface migration of the fluorinated backbone. Consistently, homopolymer films exhibited moderate to low hydrophobicity as estimated by the measurements of water and n-hexadecane contact angles. However, the initial water contact angle and the film ability to respond to the wetting liquid were generally correlated to the hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance of the specific repeating unit of the polymer

Humean Supervenience, Composition as Identity and Quantum Wholes

In this paper, we focus on two related reductive theses in metaphysics—Humean Supervenience and Composition as Identity—and on their status in light of the indications coming from science, in particular quantum mechanics. While defenders of these reductive theses claim that they can be updated so as to resist the quantum evidence, we provide arguments against this contention. We claim that physics gives us reason for thinking that both Humean Supervenience and Composition as Identity are at least contingently false, as the very process of composition determines, at least in some cases, the nature of composed systems. The argument has essentially to do with the fact that denying the reductive theses in question allows one to provide better explanations for the quantum evidenc

Single-chain folding and self-assembling of amphiphilic polyethyleneglycol-modified fluorinated styrene homopolymers in water solution

Amphiphilic tetrafluorostyrene monomers (EFSn) carrying in the para position a polyethyleneglycol (PEG) chain with varied lengths (n = 3-13) were synthesized and polymerized by ARGET-ATRP to obtain the corresponding amphiphilic homopolymers pEFSn-x with controlled and tailored polymerization degrees (x = 8-135). All polymers presented a reversible thermoresponsive LCST-type behavior, in water/methanol mixture when n &lt;= 4 or in pure water when n &gt;= 8, with a cloud point (C-p) temperature in the range 30-40 degrees C strictly dependent on the length of the PEG side chain. Combined small angle X-scattering (SAXS) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements were used to study the self-assembly behavior in water of the water-soluble amphiphilic homopolymers. SAXS confirmed the formation of compact-sized and spherical single-chain self-folded nanostructures below C-p, that generally presented small hydrodynamic diameters (D-h &lt;= 11 nm) as proven by DLS analysis. Above C-p, much larger multi-chain aggregates were formed (D-h &gt;= 800 nm), that reversibly turned back to collapsed nanostructures on cooling below the C-p temperature. By contrast, the polymers were not able to self-assemble in THE or DMF solutions, in which they adopted conventional random coil conformations