Inelastic Quantum Transport

We solve a Schrodinger equation for inelastic quantum transport that retains full quantum coherence, in contrast to previous rate or Boltzmann equation approaches. The model Hamiltonian is the zero temperature 1d Holstein model for an electron coupled to optical phonons (polaron), in a strong electric field. The Hilbert space grows exponentially with electron position, forming a non-standard Bethe lattice. We calculate nonperturbatively the transport current, electron-phonon correlations, and quantum diffusion. This system is a toy model for the constantly branching ``wavefunction of the universe''.Comment: revtex, 13 pages, 4 figure

A review on hot cathode ionisation gauges with focus on a suitable design for measurement accuracy and stability

project 16NRM05 'Ion gauge'A literature review starting from 1950 is given on the design and geometry of ionisation gauge types with hot cathodes. Considerations on the material of the electrodes and of surface effects are included. The review focuses on the design issues for measurement accuracy, linearity, repeatability, reproducibility, and stability of sensitivity. Also, the attempts to reduce the lower measurement limit are reviewed to some extent.publishersversionpublishe

Fullerenol nanoparticles as a new delivery system for doxorubicin

Doxorubicin is a very potent chemotherapeutic drug, however its side effects limit its clinical use. The aim of this research was to investigate the properties of a fullerenol/doxorubicin nanocomposite, its potentially cytotoxic and genotoxic effects on malignant cell lines, as well as its toxicity towards zebra fish embryos. Chromatographic, NMR and mass spectral analysis of the nanocomposite imply that interactions between doxorubicin and fullerenol are non-covalent bonds. The stability of the nanocomposite was confirmed by the use of atomic force microscopy, dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. The nanocomposite, compared to the free doxorubicin at equivalent concentrations, significantly decreased the viability of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. The flow cytometry results indicated that doxorubicin-loaded fullerenol could remarkably increase the uptake of doxorubicin suggesting that fullerenol might be a promising intracellular targeting carrier for the efficient delivery of antitumor drugs into tumor cells. The nanocomposite also affected cell cycle distribution. A genotoxicity test showed that the nanocomposite at all examined concentrations on MCF-7 and at lower concentrations on MDA-MB-231 cells caused DNA damage. Consequently, cell proliferation was notably reduced when compared with controls. Results of the zebrafish embryotoxicity assay showed a decreased overall toxicity, particularly cardiotoxicity and increased safety of the nanocomposite in comparison to doxorubicin alone, as manifested by a higher survival of embryos and less pericardial edema

The effect of surface oxidation on the catalytic properties of Ga3Ni2 intermetallic compound for carbon dioxide reduction

Background: In a routine handling of a catalyst material, exposure to air can usually not be avoided. For noble metal catalysts that are resistant to oxidation, this is not an issue, but becomes important for intermetallic catalysts composed of two or more non-noble chemical elements that possess much different standard enthalpies of the oxide formation. The element with higher affinity to oxygen concentrates on the surface in the oxide form, whereas the element with lower affinity sinks into the subsurface region. This changes the number of active sites and the catalytic performance of the catalyst. We have investigated the instability of the surface composition to oxidation of the Ga3Ni2 noble metal-free intermetallic compound, a new catalyst for the CO2 reduction to CO, CH4 and methanol. Methods: The instability of the oxidized Ga3Ni2 surface composition to different heating-annealing conditions was studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), used to determine the elemental composition and the chemical bonding in the near-surface region. The dispersion of active sites available for the chemisorption of H-2 and CO on the Ga3Ni2 catalyst surface was determined by H-2 and CO temperature-programmed desorption. CO2 conversion experiments were performed by using the catalyst material reduced in hydrogen at temperatures of 300 and 600 degrees C. Results: XPS study of the Ga3Ni2 surface subjected to different heating-annealing conditions has revealed that the concentration of Ga at the oxidized surface is strongly enhanced and the concentration of Ni is strongly depleted with respect to the values in the bulk. By annealing the surface at 600 degrees C in ultra-high vacuum, the oxides have evaporated and thermal diffusion of atoms near the surface has partially reconstructed the surface composition towards the energetically more favorable bulk value, whereas annealing at a lower temperature of 300 degrees C was ineffective to change the surface composition. Catalytic tests were in agreement with the XPS results, where an increased CO2 conversion for the catalyst reduced with hydrogen at a higher temperature followed an increased Ni/Ga surface concentration ratio. Conclusions: The instability of the active surface chemical composition to oxidation in air must be taken into account when considering noble metal-free intermetallic catalysts as alternatives to the conventional catalysts based on noble metals. Ga3Ni2 and other Ga-Ni intermetallic compounds are good examples of binary intermetallic catalysts, whose catalytic performance is strongly affected by exposure to the air

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel DNA gyrase Inhibitors and their siderophore mimic conjugates

Bacterial DNA gyrase is an important target for the development of novel antibacterial drugs, which are urgently needed because of high level of antibiotic resistance worldwide. We designed and synthesized new 4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzo[d]thiazole-based DNA gyrase B inhibitors and their conjugates with siderophore mimics, which were introduced to increase the uptake of inhibitors into the bacterial cytoplasm. The most potent conjugate 34 had an IC50 of 58 nM against Escherichia coli DNA gyrase and displayed MIC of 14 mu g/mL against E. coli.tolC strain. Only minor improvements in the antibacterial activities against wild-type E. coli in low-iron conditions were seen for DNA gyrase inhibitor - siderophore mimic conjugates.Peer reviewe

Exploring the impact of calcination parameters on the crystal structure, morphology, and optical properties of electrospun Fe 2 TiO 5 nanofibers

Nanostructured Fe2TiO5 (pseudobrookite), a mixed metal oxide material holds significant promise for utilization in energy and environmental applications. However, its full application is still hindered due to the difficulty to synthesize monophasic Fe2TiO5 with high crystallinity and a large specific surface area. Herein, Fe2TiO5 nanofibers were synthesized via a versatile and low-cost electrospinning method, followed by a calcination process at different temperatures. We found a significant effect of the calcination process and its duration on the crystalline phase in the form of either pseudobrookite or pseudobrookite–hematite–rutile and the morphology of calcined nanofibers. The crystallite size increased whereas the specific surface area decreased with an increase in calcination temperature. At higher temperatures, the growth of Fe2TiO5 nanoparticles and simultaneous coalescence of small particles was noted. The highest specific surface area was obtained for the sample calcined at 500 °C for 6 h (SBET = 64.4 m2 g−1). This work opens new opportunities in the synthesis of Fe2TiO5 nanostructures using the electrospinning method and a subsequent optimized calcination process for energy-related applications

New records and noteworthy data of plants, algae and fungi in SE Europe and adjacent regions, 11

This paper presents new records and noteworthy data on the following taxa in SE Europe and adjacent regions: red algae Sheathia confusa, parasitic fungus Anthracoidea caryophylleae, mycorrhizal fugus Hydnellum caeruleum, bryoparasitic fungus Octospora erzbergeri, liverwort Cephaloziella baumgartneri, mosses Hamatocaulis vernicosus, Streblotrichum convolutum var. commutatum and Ulota crispula, monocots Ophrys bertolonii subsp. bertolonii, Ophrys scolopax subsp. cornuta and Spiranthes spiralis and dicots Androsace hedraeantha, Hieracium mrazii, Ramonda nathaliae and Triglochin palustris are given within SE Europe and adjacent region

Evaluation and metrological performance of a novel ionisation vacuum gauge suitable as reference standard

Funding Information: This work has received funding from the EMPIR programme (projects 16NRM05 and 20SIP01) co-financed by the Participating States and from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and the Portuguese National Funding Agency for Science, Research and Technology in the framework of the project UIDB/FIS/ 00068/2020. Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Author(s)Recently, a new type of ionization vacuum gauge was introduced, which was proposed as a reference and transfer standard in the range of 10-6 Pa to 10-2 Pa because of its excellent stability and linearity. In contrast to present models of ionisation vacuum gauges, all electrons have a well-defined path length through the ionisation space. This even allows one to predict the sensitivity for a gas species provided that the ionisation cross section of the gas molecules for electrons between 50 eV and 200 eV is known. Following the development of this gauge we investigated its metrological performance in terms of linearity, resolution, repeatability, reproducibility, transport and long-term stability, disturbances by magnetic fields, influence of the surrounding earth potential and so on. The gauge demonstrated excellent metrological properties and is indeed suitable as an accurate reference and transfer standard, but can also provide important economic benefits to manufacturers and users.publishersversionpublishe