Probing surface diffuseness of nucleus-nucleus potential with quasielastic scattering at deep sub-barrier energies

We perform a systematic study on the surface property of nucleus-nucleus potential in heavy-ion reactions using large-angle quasielastic scattering at energies well below the Coulomb barrier. At these energies, the quasielastic scattering can be well described by a single-channel potential model. Exploiting this fact, we point out that systems which involve spherical nuclei require the diffuseness parameter of around 0.60 fm in order to fit the experimental data, while systems with a deformed target between 0.8 fm and 1.1 fm.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figure

Molecular weight effects on chain pull-out fracture of reinforced polymeric interfaces

Using Brownian dynamics, we simulate the fracture of polymer interfaces reinforced by diblock connector chains. We find that for short chains the interface fracture toughness depends linearly on the degree of polymerization $N$ of the connector chains, while for longer chains the dependence becomes $N^{3/2}$. Based on the geometry of initial chain configuration, we propose a scaling argument that accounts for both short and long chain limits and crossover between them.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Peculiarities of sub-barrier fusion with quantum diffusion approach

With the quantum diffusion approach the unexpected behavior of fusion cross section, angular momentum, and astrophysical S-factor at sub-barrier energies has been revealed. Out of the region of short-range nuclear interaction and action of friction at turning point the decrease rate of the cross section under the barrier becomes smaller. The calculated results for the reactions with spherical nuclei are in a good agreement with the existing experimental data.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure

Growth, microstructure, and failure of crazes in glassy polymers

We report on an extensive study of craze formation in glassy polymers. Molecular dynamics simulations of a coarse-grained bead-spring model were employed to investigate the molecular level processes during craze nucleation, widening, and breakdown for a wide range of temperature, polymer chain length $N$, entanglement length $N_e$ and strength of adhesive interactions between polymer chains. Craze widening proceeds via a fibril-drawing process at constant drawing stress. The extension ratio is determined by the entanglement length, and the characteristic length of stretched chain segments in the polymer craze is $N_e/3$. In the craze, tension is mostly carried by the covalent backbone bonds, and the force distribution develops an exponential tail at large tensile forces. The failure mode of crazes changes from disentanglement to scission for $N/N_e\sim 10$, and breakdown through scission is governed by large stress fluctuations. The simulations also reveal inconsistencies with previous theoretical models of craze widening that were based on continuum level hydrodynamics

Sub-barrier capture with quantum diffusion approach: actinide-based reactions

With the quantum diffusion approach the behavior of capture cross sections and mean-square angular momenta of captured systems are revealed in the reactions with deformed nuclei at subbarrier energies. The calculated results are in a good agreement with existing experimental data. With decreasing bombarding energy under the barrier the external turning point of the nucleusnucleus potential leaves the region of short-range nuclear interaction and action of friction. Because of this change of the regime of interaction, an unexpected enhancement of the capture cross section is expected at bombarding energies far below the Coulomb barrier. This effect is shown its worth in the dependence of mean-square angular momentum of captured system on the bombarding energy. From the comparison of calculated and experimental capture cross sections, the importance of quasifission near the entrance channel is shown for the actinide-based reactions leading to superheavy nuclei.Comment: 11 pages, 16 figures, Regular Articl

In-gas-cell laser spectroscopy of the magnetic dipole moment of the N≈126 isotope Pt199

The magnetic dipole moment and mean-square charge radius of 199gPt (Iπ= 5/2−,t1/2=30.8 min) ground state and 199mPt (Eex=424 keV, Iπ= (13/2)+,t1/2=13.6 s) isomeric state are evaluated for the first time from investigations of the hyperfine splitting of the λ1=248.792 nm transition by in-gas-cell laser ionization spectroscopy. Ground and isomeric states of neutron-rich 199Pt nucleus were produced by a multinucleon transfer reaction at the KEK Isotope Separation System (KISS), designed for the study of nuclear spectroscopy in the vicinity of N=126. The measured magnetic dipole moments +0.75(8)μN and −0.57(5)μN are consistent with the systematics of those of nuclei with Iπ= 5/2− and Iπ= 13/2+, respectively

Inhibition of G Protein-Activated Inwardly Rectifying K+ Channels by Different Classes of Antidepressants

Various antidepressants are commonly used for the treatment of depression and several other neuropsychiatric disorders. In addition to their primary effects on serotonergic or noradrenergic neurotransmitter systems, antidepressants have been shown to interact with several receptors and ion channels. However, the molecular mechanisms that underlie the effects of antidepressants have not yet been sufficiently clarified. G protein-activated inwardly rectifying K+ (GIRK, Kir3) channels play an important role in regulating neuronal excitability and heart rate, and GIRK channel modulation has been suggested to have therapeutic potential for several neuropsychiatric disorders and cardiac arrhythmias. In the present study, we investigated the effects of various classes of antidepressants on GIRK channels using the Xenopus oocyte expression assay. In oocytes injected with mRNA for GIRK1/GIRK2 or GIRK1/GIRK4 subunits, extracellular application of sertraline, duloxetine, and amoxapine effectively reduced GIRK currents, whereas nefazodone, venlafaxine, mianserin, and mirtazapine weakly inhibited GIRK currents even at toxic levels. The inhibitory effects were concentration-dependent, with various degrees of potency and effectiveness. Furthermore, the effects of sertraline were voltage-independent and time-independent during each voltage pulse, whereas the effects of duloxetine were voltage-dependent with weaker inhibition with negative membrane potentials and time-dependent with a gradual decrease in each voltage pulse. However, Kir2.1 channels were insensitive to all of the drugs. Moreover, the GIRK currents induced by ethanol were inhibited by sertraline but not by intracellularly applied sertraline. The present results suggest that GIRK channel inhibition may reveal a novel characteristic of the commonly used antidepressants, particularly sertraline, and contributes to some of the therapeutic effects and adverse effects

BDNF/TrkB Signaling as a Potential Novel Target in Pediatric Brain Tumors: Anticancer Activity of Selective TrkB Inhibition in Medulloblastoma Cells

Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant pediatric brain tumor. Deregulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)/tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) signaling has been associated with increased proliferative capabilities, invasiveness, and chemoresistance in several types of cancer. However, the relevance of this pathway in MB remains unknown. Here, we show that the selective TrkB inhibitor N-[2-[[(hexahydro-2-oxo-1H-azepin-3-yl)amino]carbonyl]phenyl]-benzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxamide (ANA-12) markedly reduced the viability and survival of human cell lines representative of different MB molecular subgroups. These findings provide the first evidence supporting further investigation of TrkB inhibition as a potential novel strategy for MB treatment

Beyond mean-field description of break-up, transfer and fusion.

International audienceMicroscopic theories beyond mean-field are developed to include pairing, in-medium nucleon-nucleon collisions as well as effects of initial fluctuations of one-body observables on nuclear dynamics. These theories are applied to nuclear reactions. The role of pairing on nuclear break-up is discussed. By including the effect of zero point motion of collective variables through a stochastic mean-field theory, not only average evolution of one-body observables are properly described but also fluctuations. Diffusion coefficients in fusion as well as mass distributions in transfer reactions are estimated