Anomalous in-plane magneto-optical anisotropy of self-assembled quantum dots

We report on a complex nontrivial behavior of the optical anisotropy of quantum dots that is induced by a magnetic field in the plane of the sample. We find that the optical axis either rotates in the opposite direction to that of the magnetic field or remains fixed to a given crystalline direction. A theoretical analysis based on the exciton pseudospin Hamiltonian unambiguously demonstrates that these effects are induced by isotropic and anisotropic contributions to the heavy-hole Zeeman term, respectively. The latter is shown to be compensated by a built-in uniaxial anisotropy in a magnetic field B_c = 0.4 T, resulting in an optical response typical for symmetric quantum dots.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Orientation, Size, and Temperature Dependent Ductile Brittle Transition in NiAl Nanowire under Tensile Loading - A Molecular Dynamics Study

In the present paper, thermo-mechanical response of B2-NiAl nanowire along the <100>, <110>, and <111> orientations has been studied using molecular dynamics simulations. Nanowire with cross-sectional dimensions of ~20x20 Å2, ~25x25 Å2, and ~30x30 Å2 and temperature range of 10 K-900 K has been considered. A Combined effect of size, orientation, and temperature on the stress-strain behavior under uniaxial tensile loading has been presented. It has been observed that <111> oriented NiAl nanowire that is energetically most stable gives highest yield stress which further reduces with <110> and <100> orientations. A remarkable ductile brittle transition (DBT) with an increase in temperature has also been reported for all the orientations considered in the present study. The DBT observed for the nanowire has also been compared with the reported DBT of bulk B2-NiAl obtained from experiments. Alternate technique has also been proposed to increase the toughness of a given material especially at lower temperature regions, i.e. below DBT.Defence Science Journal, 2014, 64(2), pp. 179-185. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.64.431

Progress on the hybrid gun project at UCLA

UCLA/INFN-LNF/Univ. Rome has been developing the hybrid gun which has an RF gun and a short linac for velocity bunching in one structure. After the cavity was manufactured at INFN-LNF in 2012, tests of the gun was carried out at UCLA. The field in the standing wave part was 20 % smaller than the simulation but the phase advance was fine. The cavity was commissioned successfully up to 13 MW. The beam test was performed at 11.5 MW and demonstrated the bunch compression

Spillover of Peste des Petits Ruminants Virus from Domestic to Wild Ruminants in the Serengeti Ecosystem, Tanzania

We tested wildlife inhabiting areas near domestic livestock, pastures, and water sources in the Ngorongoro district in the Serengeti ecosystem of northern Tanzania and found 63% seropositivity for peste des petits ruminants virus. Sequencing of the viral genome from sick sheep in the area confirmed lineage II virus circulation

ENHANCEMENT OF BIOAVAILABILITY OF GLIPIZIDE USING SOLID DISPERSIONS WITH GUM AEGLE MARMELOS

Objective: The aim of the proposed study was formulation and in vitro/ vivo evolution   of solid dispersions of glipizide with gum Aegle marmelos. Methods: The phase solubility of glipizide in 0.1N HCl was investigated in the presence of different concentrations of gum Aegle marmelos. The solid dispersions (SDs) of glipizide with gum Aegle marmelos were formulated using solvent evaporation method at ratios of 1:1, 1:2, and 1:5 (glipizide: gum Aegle marmelos). Dissolution studies were conducted. The physicochemical characterization of the formulations was performed by using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Subsequently, bioavailability of pure glipizide, solid dispersion and marketed product was performed in rat. Results: Glipizide solubility increased as the concentration of gum Aegle marmelos in 0.1N HCl was raised. The solubility study indicates spontaneous drug solubilization, which is supported by negative values of Gibb's free energy (ΔGotr). Glipizide rate of dissolution was increased in SDs containing gum, and the rate increased as the concentration of gum in the SDs increases. After preparing SDs and physical mixtures with gum, the mean dissolution time (MDT) of glipizide decreases considerably. FTIR spectroscopy study revealed that stability and the absence of a well-defined glipizide-gum interaction. The amorphous condition of glipizide in SDs of glipizide with gum was revealed by DSC and XRD studies. Conclusion: The DSC and XRD studies indicate conversion of drug from crystalline to microcrystalline or amorphous form after formulation of solid dispersion with Aegle gum. The solid dispersion of glipizide with Aegle gum (893.04±25.5) showed better therapeutic activity compared to pure glipizide (535.65±11.5) and marketed formulation (767.5±13.6)

microRNAs Orchestrate Pathophysiology of Breast Cancer Brain Metastasis: Advances in Therapy

Brain metastasis (BM) predominantly occurs in triple-negative (TN) and epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer (BC) patients, and currently, there is an unmet need for the treatment of these patients. BM is a complex process that is regulated by the formation of a metastatic niche. A better understanding of the brain metastatic processes and the crosstalk between cancer cells and brain microenvironment is essential for designing a novel therapeutic approach. In this context, the aberrant expression of miRNA has been shown to be associated with BM. These non-coding RNAs/miRNAs regulate metastasis through modulating the formation of a metastatic niche and metabolic reprogramming via regulation of their target genes. However, the role of miRNA in breast cancer brain metastasis (BCBM) is poorly explored. Thus, identification and understanding of miRNAs in the pathobiology of BCBM may identify a novel candidate miRNA for the early diagnosis and prevention of this devastating process. In this review, we focus on understanding the role of candidate miRNAs in the regulation of BC brain metastatic processes as well as designing novel miRNA-based therapeutic strategies for BCBM

Droplet dynamics on a wettability patterned surface during spray impact

Wettability patterning of a surface is a passive method to manipulate the flow and heat transport mechanism in many physical processes and industrial applications. This paper proposes a rational wettability pattern comprised of multiple superhydrophilic wedges on a superhydrophobic background, which can continuously remove the impacted spray droplets from the horizontal surface. We observed that the spray droplets falling on the superhydrophilic wedge region spread and form a thin liquid film, which is passively transported away from the surface. However, most of the droplets falling on the superhydrophobic region move towards the wedge without any flooding. The physics of the passive transport of the liquid film on a wedge is also delved into using numerical modelling. In particular, we elucidate the different modes of droplet transport in the superhydrophobic region and the interaction of multiple droplets. The observed droplet dynamics could have profound implications in spray cooling systems and passive removal of liquid from a horizontal surface. This study’s findings will be beneficial for the optimization of efficient wettability patterned surfaces for spray cooling application

Oxidation mechanism in metal nanoclusters: Zn nanoclusters to ZnO hollow nanoclusters

Zn nanoclusters (NCs) are deposited by Low-energy cluster beam deposition technique. The mechanism of oxidation is studied by analysing their compositional and morphological evolution over a long span of time (three years) due to exposure to ambient atmosphere. It is concluded that the mechanism proceeds in two steps. In the first step, the shell of ZnO forms over Zn NCs rapidly up to certain limiting thickness: with in few days -- depending upon the size -- Zn NCs are converted to Zn-ZnO (core-shell), Zn-void-ZnO, or hollow ZnO type NCs. Bigger than ~15 nm become Zn-ZnO (core-shell) type: among them, NCs above ~25 nm could able to retain their initial geometrical shapes (namely triangular, hexagonal, rectangular and rhombohedral), but ~25 to 15 nm size NCs become irregular or distorted geometrical shapes. NCs between ~15 to 5 nm become Zn-void-ZnO type, and smaller than ~5 nm become ZnO hollow sphere type i.e. ZnO hollow NCs. In the second step, all Zn-void-ZnO and Zn-ZnO (core-shell) structures are converted to hollow ZnO NCs in a slow and gradual process, and the mechanism of conversion proceeds through expansion in size by incorporating ZnO monomers inside the shell. The observed oxidation behaviour of NCs is compared with theory of Cabrera - Mott on low-temperature oxidation of metal.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figure

Quantum-dot-based optical polarization conversion

We report circular-to-linear and linear-to-circular conversion of optical polarization by semiconductor quantum dots. The polarization conversion occurs under continuous wave excitation in absence of any magnetic field. The effect originates from quantum interference of linearly and circularly polarized photon states, induced by the natural anisotropic shape of the self assembled dots. The behavior can be qualitatively explained in terms of a pseudospin formalism.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures; a reference adde