Trapping effects on the vibration-inversion-rotation motions of an ammonia molecule encapsulated in C60_{60} fullerene molecule

The infrared bar-spectrum of a single ammonia molecule encapsulated in nano-cage C$_{60}$ fullerene molecule is modelled using the site inclusion model successfully applied to analyze spectra of CO$_2$ isotopologues isolated in rare gas matrix. Calculations show that NH$_3$ can rotate freely on a sphere of radius 0.184 $\text{\AA}$ around the site centre of the nano-cage and spin freely about its C$_3$ symmetry axis. In the static field inside the cage degenerate $\nu_3$ and $\nu_4$ vibrational modes are blue shifted and split. When dynamic coupling with translational motion is considered, the spectral signature of the $\nu_2$ mode is modified with a higher hindering barrier (2451 cm$^{-1}$), an effective reduced mass (6.569 g.mol$^{-1}$) and a longer tunneling time (55594 ps) for the fundamental level compared to gas-phase values (2047 cm$^{-1}$), (2.563 g.mol$^{-1}$) and (20.85 ps). As a result this mode is red shifted. Moreover, simulation shows that the changes in the bar-spectrum of the latter mode can be used to probe the temperature of the surrounding media in which fullerene is observed

Van't Hoff law for temperature dependent Langmuir constants in clathrate hydrate nanocavities

This work gives a van't Hoff law expression of Langmuir constants of different species for determining their occupancy in the nanocavities of clathrate hydrates. The van't Hoff law's parameters are derived from a fit with Langmuir constants calculated using a pairwise site-site interaction potential to model the anisotropic potential environment in the cavities, as a function of temperature. The parameters can be used for calculating clathrates compositions. Results are given for nineteen gas species trapped in the small and large cavities of structure types I and II [1]. The accuracy of this approach is based on a comparison with available experimental data for ethane and cyclo- propane clathrate hydrates. The numerical method applied in this work, was recently validated from a comparison with the spherical cell method based on analytical considerations [1]Comment: 2 figure

Vector potential quantization and the photon wave-particle representation

5th International Conference on Mathematical Modeling in Physical Sciences (IC-MSquare 2016)International audienceThe quantization procedure of the vector potential is enhanced at a single photon state revealing the possibility for a simultaneous representation of the wave-particle nature of the photon. Its relationship to the quantum vacuum results naturally. A vector potential amplitude operator is defined showing the parallelism with the Hamiltonian of a massless particle. It is further shown that the quantized vector potential satisfies both the wave propagation equation and a linear time-dependent Schrödinger-like equation

Spectroscopic Ellipsometry Study of Spark Plasma Sintered Nano Silver

International audienceSpark Plasma Sintered (SPS) silver layers were studied by Spectroscopic Ellipsometry (SE) using an M-2000V spectroscopic ellipsometer from J. A. Woollam Co., Inc. which operate in rotating compensator mod

Pressure and temperature sensors using two spin crossover materials

International audienceThe possibility of a new design concept for dual spin crossover based sensors for concomitant detection of both temperature and pressure is presented. It is conjectured from numerical results obtained by mean field approximation applied to a Ising-like model that using two different spin crossover compounds containing switching molecules with weak elastic interactions it is possible to measure P and T simultaneously. When the interaction parameters are optimized, the spin transition is gradual and for each spin crossover compounds, both temperature and pressure values being identified from their optical densities. This concept opens large perspectives for smart sensing devices

Simulating relaxation channels of CO2 in clathrate canocages

The energy levels of CO2 in the small (s) and large (l) nano-cages of cubic sI clathrates are calculated in the Born-Oppenheimer approximation using pairwise atom-atom interaction potentials. In the s cage, the centre of mass of CO2 oscillates with small amplitudes, asymmetrically about the cage center with harmonic frequencies around 100 cm-1. In the l cage, oscillations are anharmonic with large amplitude motions in a plane parallel to the hexagonal faces of the cage and the corresponding frequencies are calculated to be 55 cm-1 and 30 cm-1. Librational harmonic frequencies are calculated at 101.7 cm-1 and 56.0 cm-1 in the 5 cage and at 27.9 cm-1 and 46.4 cm-1 in the l cage. Results show that the coupling between the CO2 molecule and the nano-cage is quite different for the low frequency translational, rotational or librational modes and the high frequency vibrational modes, which consequently leads to different relaxation channels

Association of Fasciola gigantica co-infection with bovine tuberculosis infection and diagnosis in a naturally infected cattle population in Africa

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB), caused by Mycobacterium bovis, remains a major livestock and public health problem in both high and low-income countries. With the current absence of an effective vaccine, control in cattle populations is reliant on regular testing and removal of positive animals. However, surveillance and control are hampered by imperfect diagnostic tests that have poorly described properties in naturally infected populations. Recent research in cattle co-infected with the temperate liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica, has raised concerns about the performance of the intradermal skin test in high fluke incidence areas. Further, recent studies of parasitic co-infections have demonstrated their impact on Th1 and Th2 responses, concurrent disease pathology and susceptibility to mycobacterial infections. Here we report for the first time the association of co-infection with the tropical liver fluke, Fasciola gigantica, with the presence of bTB-like lesions and the IFN-γ response in naturally infected African cattle. After adjusting for age and sex we observed a complex interaction between fluke status and breed. Fulani cattle had a higher risk of having bTB-like lesions than the mixed breed group. The risk of bTB-like lesions increased in the mixed breed group if they had concurrent evidence of fluke pathology but was less clear in the coinfected Fulani breed. Further, we observed a slight decline in the IFN-γ levels in fluke infected animals. Finally we explored factors associated with IFN-γ false negative results compared to the presence of bTB-like lesions. Fulani cattle had a higher risk of having a false negative result compared to the mixed breed group. Further, the mixed breed cattle had an increased risk of being false negative if also co-infected with fluke. Interesting, as with the risk of bTB-like lesions, this association was less clear in the Fulani cattle with weak evidence of a slight decrease in risk of having a false negative test result when fluke pathology positive. This interesting interaction where different breeds appear to have different responses to co-infections is intriguing but further work is needed to confirm and understand more clearly the possible confounding effects of different other co-infections not measured here, breed, management or exposure risks

The importance of climatic factors and outliers in predicting regional monthly campylobacteriosis risk in Georgia, USA

Incidence of Campylobacter infection exhibits a strong seasonal component and regional variations in temperate climate zones. Forecasting the risk of infection regionally may provide clues to identify sources of transmission affected by temperature and precipitation. The objectives of this study were to (1) assess temporal patterns and differences in campylobacteriosis risk among nine climatic divisions of Georgia, USA, (2) compare univariate forecasting models that analyze campylobacteriosis risk over time with those that incorporate temperature and/or precipitation, and (3) investigate alternatives to supposedly random walk series and non-random occurrences that could be outliers. Temporal patterns of campylobacteriosis risk in Georgia were visually and statistically assessed. Univariate and multivariable forecasting models were used to predict the risk of campylobacteriosis and the coefficient of determination (R(2)) was used for evaluating training (1999–2007) and holdout (2008) samples. Statistical control charting and rolling holdout periods were investigated to better understand the effect of outliers and improve forecasts. State and division level campylobacteriosis risk exhibited seasonal patterns with peaks occurring between June and August, and there were significant associations between campylobacteriosis risk, precipitation, and temperature. State and combined division forecasts were better than divisions alone, and models that included climate variables were comparable to univariate models. While rolling holdout techniques did not improve predictive ability, control charting identified high-risk time periods that require further investigation. These findings are important in (1) determining how climatic factors affect environmental sources and reservoirs of Campylobacter spp. and (2) identifying regional spikes in the risk of human Campylobacter infection and their underlying causes