Multiple solutions to a magnetic nonlinear Choquard equation

We consider the stationary nonlinear magnetic Choquard equation [(-\mathrm{i}\nabla+A(x))^{2}u+V(x)u=(\frac{1}{|x|^{\alpha}}\ast |u|^{p}) |u|^{p-2}u,\quad x\in\mathbb{R}^{N}%] where $A\$is a real valued vector potential, $V$ is a real valued scalar potential$,$ $N\geq3$, $\alpha\in(0,N)$ and $2-(\alpha/N) <p<(2N-\alpha)/(N-2)$. \ We assume that both $A$ and $V$ are compatible with the action of some group $G$ of linear isometries of $\mathbb{R}^{N}$. We establish the existence of multiple complex valued solutions to this equation which satisfy the symmetry condition $$u(gx)=\tau(g)u(x)\text{\ \ \ for all}g\in G,\text{}x\in\mathbb{R}^{N},$$ where $\tau:G\rightarrow\mathbb{S}^{1}$ is a given group homomorphism into the unit complex numbers.Comment: To appear on ZAM

Portal protein functions akin to a DNA-sensor that couples genome-packaging to icosahedral capsid maturation.

Tailed bacteriophages and herpesviruses assemble infectious particles via an empty precursor capsid (or \u27procapsid\u27) built by multiple copies of coat and scaffolding protein and by one dodecameric portal protein. Genome packaging triggers rearrangement of the coat protein and release of scaffolding protein, resulting in dramatic procapsid lattice expansion. Here, we provide structural evidence that the portal protein of the bacteriophage P22 exists in two distinct dodecameric conformations: an asymmetric assembly in the procapsid (PC-portal) that is competent for high affinity binding to the large terminase packaging protein, and a symmetric ring in the mature virion (MV-portal) that has negligible affinity for the packaging motor. Modelling studies indicate the structure of PC-portal is incompatible with DNA coaxially spooled around the portal vertex, suggesting that newly packaged DNA triggers the switch from PC- to MV-conformation. Thus, we propose the signal for termination of \u27Headful Packaging\u27 is a DNA-dependent symmetrization of portal protein

An observing system for the collection of fishery and oceanographic data

Fishery Observing System (FOS) was developed as a first and basic step towards fish stock abundance nowcasting/forecasting within the framework of the EU research program Mediterranean Forecasting System: Toward an Environmental Prediction (MFSTEP). The study of the relationship between abundance and environmental parameters also represents a crucial point towards forecasting. Eight fishing vessels were progressively equipped with FOS instrumentation to collect fishery and oceanographic data. The vessels belonged to different harbours of the Central and Northern Adriatic Sea. For this pilot application, anchovy (&lt;I&gt;Engraulis encrasicolus&lt;/I&gt;, L.) was chosen as the target species. Geo-referenced catch data, associated with in-situ temperature and depth, were the FOS products but other parameters were associated with catch data as well. MFSTEP numerical circulation models provide many of these data. In particular, salinity was extracted from re-analysis data of numerical circulation models. Satellite-derived sea surface temperature (SST) and chlorophyll were also used as independent variables. Catch and effort data were used to estimate an abundance index (CPUE &amp;ndash; Catch per Unit of Effort). Considering that catch records were gathered by different fishing vessels with different technical characteristics and operating on different fish densities, a standardized value of CPUE was calculated. A spatial and temporal average CPUE map was obtained together with a monthly mean time series in order to characterise the variability of anchovy abundance during the period of observation (October 2003&amp;ndash;August 2005). In order to study the relationship between abundance and oceanographic parameters, Generalized Additive Models (GAM) were used. Preliminary results revealed a complex scenario: the southern sector of the domain is characterised by a stronger relationship than the central and northern sector where the interactions between the environment and the anchovy distribution are hidden by a higher percentage of variability within the system which is still unexplained. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt; GAM analysis showed that increasing the number of explanatory variables also increased the portion of variance explained by the model. Data exchange and interdisciplinary efforts will therefore be crucial for the success of this research activity

Plasmonic polyaniline/gold nanorods hybrid composites for selective NIR photodetection: Synthesis and characterization

Abstract In this study, we present the development of polyaniline/gold nanorod nanocomposites and the effect of the nanorods' aspect ratio and concentration on the overall electrical conductivity of nanocomposite systems. The electrical characterization showed that at the same atomic gold concentration, the conductivity of the nanocomposites increased by about 14% after increasing the gold nanorods' aspect ratio from 2.9 to 3.8. Furthermore, the conductivity of the nanocomposites increases linearly with the concentration of atomic gold, keeping the nanorods' aspect ratio stable, due to increasing the metallic content. The interaction between polyaniline and gold nanorods was investigated by FTIR, micro Raman, and XPS spectroscopic techniques, indicating the delocalization of the charges across the polymer chains induced by the incorporation of the nanorods. The interaction most likely occurs through the imine nitrogen of the polymer's backbone. The homogenous distribution of the gold nanorods in the polyaniline matrix was verified by TEM. Furthermore, the selective photosensitivity of the developed nanocomposites to NIR light was examined, and an increase in their current density was detected when the nanocomposites were irradiated at the wavelength that coincides with the longitudinal plasmonic resonance absorption of the incorporated nanorods. We foresee applications of the developed nanocomposites in numerous optoelectronic sectors

Photochemical synthesis: Effect of UV irradiation on gold nanorods morphology

Abstract Gold nanorods (AuNRs) were synthesized by photochemical method, through irradiation of a reaction solution, containing gold precursor, surfactant and a mild reducing agent to speed up the process. The effects of the irradiation parameters on the morphology of the formed AuNRs were investigated by UV–Vis absorption spectra and transmission electron microscopy. Specifically, the control of the UV irradiance (irradiation power per unit area) and irradiation time allowed the preparation of AuNRs with a wide range of sizes. Increase of the irradiation power leads to the formation of smaller AuNRs, with concomitant decrease of length and diameter. Since both axes show a simultaneous size decrease, the produced AuNRs have increased aspect ratio. Overall we show that application of high UV irradiance for short times favors the synthesis of small AuNRs with increased anisotropy. We propose that the rise of the irradiation power primarily accelerates the reduction of the gold precursor, promoting in such way the formation of smaller seeds. Short irradiation times guard against dissolution effects on the formed nanorods

Effect of precursor solution dark incubation on gold nanorods morphology

Abstract Gold nanorods were synthesized in an aqueous solution of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide via a combination of chemical reduction and UV photoirradiation. Gold ligand complexes, present in the stock solution, are initially reduced, by ascorbic acid as mild reducing agent. The gold ions nucleation and colloid growth proceeds then by subsequent UV irradiation of the so-obtained precursor solution. We present a systematic study of the effect of incubation of the precursor solution on the dispersion state and aspect ratio of the produced nanorods. Incubation of the precursor solution allows the synthesis of higher aspect ratio nanorods with narrower size distribution compared to those obtained without incubation. We propose a mechanism for the gold nanorods formation including two stages, a nucleation and a diffusive growth. This allows us to explain the synthesis improvement as a consequence of the increase in the size of the gold ligand complexes aggregates, leading to a decrease of the nanorods growth rate

Theory of optical spectra of polar quantum wells: Temperature effects

Theoretical and numerical calculations of the optical absorption spectra of excitons interacting with longitudinal-optical phonons in quasi-2D polar semiconductors are presented. In II-VI semiconductor quantum wells, exciton binding energy can be tuned on- and off-resonance with the longitudinal-optical phonon energy by varying the quantum well width. A comprehensive picture of this tunning effect on the temperature-dependent exciton absorption spectrum is derived, using the exciton Green's function formalism at finite temperature. The effective exciton-phonon interaction is included in the Bethe-Salpeter equation. Numerical results are illustrated for ZnSe-based quantum wells. At low temperatures, both a single exciton peak as well as a continuum resonance state are found in the optical absorption spectra. By contrast, at high enough temperatures, a splitting of the exciton line due to the real phonon absorption processes is predicted. Possible previous experimental observations of this splitting are discussed.Comment: 10 pages, 9 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev. B. Permanent address: [email protected]

Imaging Photoelectron Transmission through Self-Assembled Monolayers: The Work-Function of Alkanethiols Coated Gold

In this paper, we present a new approach for studying the electronic properties of self-assembled monolayers and their interaction with a conductive substrate, the low-energy photoelectron imaging spectroscopy (LEPIS). LEPIS relies on imaging of photoelectrons ejected from a conductive substrate and subsequently transmitted through organic monolayers. Using this method, we measure the relative work-function of alkanethiols of different length on gold substrate, and we are able to follow the changes occurring when the surface coverage is varied. We also computed the work-function of model alkanethiols using a plane-wave density functional theory approach, in order to demonstrate the correlation between changes in the work-function with the monolayer organization and density

Ionization degree of the electron-hole plasma in semiconductor quantum wells

The degree of ionization of a nondegenerate two-dimensional electron-hole plasma is calculated using the modified law of mass action, which takes into account all bound and unbound states in a screened Coulomb potential. Application of the variable phase method to this potential allows us to treat scattering and bound states on the same footing. Inclusion of the scattering states leads to a strong deviation from the standard law of mass action. A qualitative difference between mid- and wide-gap semiconductors is demonstrated. For wide-gap semiconductors at room temperature, when the bare exciton binding energy is of the order of T, the equilibrium consists of an almost equal mixture of correlated electron-hole pairs and uncorrelated free carriers.Comment: 22 pages, 6 figure