Electric quadrupole and magnetic dipole moments of odd nuclei near the magic ones in a self-consistent approach

We present a model which describes the properties of odd-even nuclei with one nucleon more, or less, with respect to the magic number. In addition to the effects related to the unpaired nucleon, we consider those produced by the excitation of the closed shell core. By using a single particle basis generated with Hartree-Fock calculations, we describe the polarization of the doubly magic-core with Random Phase Approximation collective wave functions. In every step of the calculation, and for all the nuclei considered, we use the same finite-range nucleon-nucleon interaction. We apply our model to the evaluation of electric quadrupole and magnetic dipole moments of odd-even nuclei around oxygen, calcium, zirconium, tin and lead isotopes. Our Random Phase Approximation description of the polarization of the core improves the agreement with experimental data with respect to the predictions of the independent particle model. We compare our results with those obtained in first-order perturbation theory, with those produced by Hartree-Fock-Bogolioubov calculations and with those generated within the Landau-Migdal theory of finite Fermi systems. The results of our universal, self-consistent, and parameter free approach have the same quality of those obtained with phenomenological approaches where the various terms of the nucleon-nucleon interaction are adapted to reproduce some specific experimental data. A critical discussion on the validity of the model is presented.Comment: 18 pages, 7 figures, 7 table

Magnetic excitations in nuclei with neutron excess

The excitation of the $1^+$, $2^-$ and $3^+$ modes in $^{16}$O, $^{22}$O, $^{24}$O, $^{28}$O, $^{40}$Ca, $^{48}$Ca, $^{52}$Ca and $^{60}$Ca nuclei is studied with self-consistent random phase approximation calculations. Finite-range interactions of Gogny type, containing also tensor-isospin terms, are used. We analyze the evolution of the magnetic resonances with the increasing number of neutrons, the relevance of collective effects, the need of a correct treatment of the continuum and the role of the tensor force.Comment: 18 pages, 12 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication in Physical Review

Low-lying magnetic excitations of doubly-closed-shell nuclei and nucleon-nucleon effective interactions

We have studied the low lying magnetic spectra of 12C, 16O, 40Ca, 48Ca and 208Pb nuclei within the Random Phase Approximation (RPA) theory, finding that the description of low-lying magnetic states of doubly-closed-shell nuclei imposes severe constraints on the spin and tensor terms of the nucleon-nucleon effective interaction. We have first made an investigation by using four phenomenological effective interactions and we have obtained good agreement with the experimental magnetic spectra, and, to a lesser extent, with the electron scattering responses. Then we have made self-consistent RPA calculations to test the validity of the finite-range D1 Gogny interaction. For all the nuclei under study we have found that this interaction inverts the energies of all the magnetic states forming isospin doublets.Comment: 19 pages, 13 figures, 7 tables, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

The Astrocytic S100B Protein with Its Receptor RAGE Is Aberrantly Expressed in SOD1(G93A) Models, and Its Inhibition Decreases the Expression of Proinflammatory Genes

Neuroinflammation is one of the major players in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) pathogenesis, and astrocytes are significantly involved in this process. The astrocytic protein S100B can be released in pathological states activating the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE). Different indications point to an aberrant expression of S100B and RAGE in ALS. In this work, we observed that S100B and RAGE are progressively and selectively upregulated in astrocytes of diseased rats with a tissue-specific timing pattern, correlated to the level of neurodegeneration. The expression of the full-length and soluble RAGE isoforms could also be linked to the degree of tissue damage. The mere presence of mutant SOD1 is able to increase the intracellular levels and release S100B from astrocytes, suggesting the possibility that an increased astrocytic S100B expression might be an early occurring event in the disease. Finally, our findings indicate that the protein may exert a proinflammatory role in ALS, since its inhibition in astrocytes derived from SOD1(G93A) mice limits the expression of reactivity-linked/proinflammatory genes. Thus, our results propose the S100B-RAGE axis as an effective contributor to the pathogenesis of the disease, suggesting its blockade as a rational target for a therapeutic intervention in ALS

The 3Rs: reduction and refinement through a multivariate statistical analysis approach in a behavioural study to unveil anxiolytic effects of natural extracts of Tilia Tomentosa.

Proceedings of the second Centro 3R Annual Meeting - Young Scientists | June 20-21, 2019, Genoa (Italy

Tensor effective interaction in self-consistent Random Phase Approximation calculations

We present a study of the effects of the tensor-isospin term of the effective interaction in Hartree-Fock and Random Phase Approximation calculations. We used finite-range forces of Gogny type, and we added to them a tensor-isospin term which behaves, at large internucleonic distances, as the analogous term of the microscopic interactions. The strength of this tensor force has been chosen to reproduce the experimental energy of the lowest 0$^-$ excited state in $^{16}$O, which shows large sensitivity to this term of the interaction. With these finite-range interactions, we have studied the effects of the tensor-isospin force in ground and excited states of carbon, oxygen, calcium, nickel, zirconium, tin and lead isotopes. Our results show that the tensor force affects mainly the nucleon single particle energies. However, we found some interesting cases where also bulk nuclear properties are sensitive to the tensor interaction.Comment: 18 pages, 14 figures, 3 table

Use of an animal model to evaluate anxiolytic effects of dietary supplementation with tilia tomentosa moench bud extracts

Anxiety disorders are common and complex psychiatric syndromes affecting a broad spectrum of patients. On top of that, we know that aging produces an increase in anxiety vulnerability and sedative consumption. Moreover, stress disorders frequently show a clear gender susceptibility. Currently, the approved pharmacological strategies have severe side effects such as hallucinations, addiction, suicide, insomnia, and loss of motor coordination. Dietary integration with supplements represents an intriguing strategy for improving the efficacy and the safety of synthetic anxiolytics. Accordingly, a recent article demonstrated that glyceric bud extracts from Tilia tomentosa Moench (TTBEs) exert effects that are consistent with anxiolytic activity. However, the effects of these compounds in vivo are unknown. To examine this question, we conducted behavioral analysis in mice. A total of 21 days of oral supplements (vehicle and TTBEs) were assessed by Light Dark and Hole Board tests in male and female mice (young, 3 months; old, 24 months). Interestingly, the principal component analysis revealed gender and age-specific behavioral modulations. Moreover, the diet integration with the botanicals did not modify the body weight gain and the daily intake of water. Our results support the use of TTBEs as dietary supplements for anxiolytic purposes and unveil age and gender-dependent responses

HIV infection and frequency of micronucleus in human peripheral blood cells

Purpose. People living with HIV have higher rates of malignancies than the general population in the era of active antiretroviral therapy (ART). Genotoxic effects of HIV infection and/or ART that can induce neoplastic development are not yet well known. A prospective cohort study to investigate DNA damage measured through the micronuclei (MN) frequency in HIV-patients has been performed. Methods. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated from 52 HIV-patients treated with ART and 55 healthy controls. Results. By the comparison of MN frequency, a significant difference between HIV-patients (15.5 ± 9.8) and controls (6.0 ± 3.6) (p < 0.001) has been revealed. In univariate linear regression analysis, HCV infection (r = 0.31; p < 0.001), HIV-RNA (r = 0.29; p < 0.03) and duration of infection (r = - 0.16; p < 0.25) were associated with MN frequency; while only viral load (VL) significantly correlates (r = 0.29; p < 0.05) in a multiple regression model. Conclusions. The association of VL with MN frequency supports a genotoxic effect of HIV infection