Quantum tunneling of the magnetic moment in a free nanoparticle

We study tunneling of the magnetic moment in a particle that has full rotational freedom. Exact energy levels are obtained and the ground-state magnetic moment is computed for a symmetric rotor. The effect of the mechanical freedom on spin tunneling manifests itself in a strong dependence of the magnetic moment on the moments of inertia of the rotor. Energy of the particle exhibits quantum phase transitions between states with different values of the magnetic moment. Particles of various shapes are investigated and quantum phase diagram is obtained

Landau-Zener dynamics of a nanoresonator containing a tunneling spin

We study the Landau-Zener dynamics of a tunneling spin coupled to a torsional resonator. For strong spin-phonon coupling, when the oscillator frequency is large compared to the tunnel splitting, the system exhibits multiple Landau-Zener transitions. Entanglement of spin and mechanical angular momentum results in abrupt changes of oscillator dynamics which coincide in time with spin transitions. We show that a large number of spins on a single oscillator coupled only through the in-phase phonon field behaves as a single large spin, greatly enhancing the spin-phonon coupling. We compare purely quantum and semiclassical dynamics of the system and discuss their experimental realizations. An experiment is proposed in which the field sweep is used to read out the exact quantum state of the mechanical resonator

A Robust and Biocompatible Bismuth Ellagate MOF Synthesized Under Green Ambient Conditions

The first bioinspired microporous metal-organic framework (MOF) synthesized using ellagic acid, a common natural antioxidant and polyphenol building unit, is presented. Bi2O(H2O)2(C14H2O8)\ub7nH2O (SU-101) was inspired by bismuth phenolate metallodrugs, and could be synthesized entirely from nonhazardous or edible reagents under ambient aqueous conditions, enabling simple scale-up. Reagent-grade and affordable dietary supplement-grade ellagic acid was sourced from tree bark and pomegranate hulls, respectively. Biocompatibility and colloidal stability were confirmed by in vitro assays. The material exhibits remarkable chemical stability for a bioinspired MOF (pH = 2-14, hydrothermal conditions, heated organic solvents, biological media, SO2 and H2S), attributed to the strongly chelating phenolates. A total H2S uptake of 15.95 mmol g-1 was recorded, representing one of the highest H2S capacities for a MOF, where polysulfides are formed inside the pores of the material. Phenolic phytochemicals remain largely unexplored as linkers for MOF synthesis, opening new avenues to design stable, eco-friendly, scalable, and low-cost MOFs for diverse applications, including drug delivery

Dynamic Blood-Brain Barrier Regulation in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Whereas the diagnosis of moderate and severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is readily visible on current medical imaging paradigms (magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] and computed tomography [CT] scanning), a far greater challenge is associated with the diagnosis and subsequent management of mild TBI (mTBI), especially concussion which, by definition, is characterized by a normal CT. To investigate whether the integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is altered in a high-risk population for concussions, we studied professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters and adolescent rugby players. Additionally, we performed the linear regression between the BBB disruption defined by increased gadolinium contrast extravasation on dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) on MRI and multiple biomechanical parameters indicating the severity of impacts recorded using instrumented mouthguards in professional MMA fighters. MMA fighters were examined pre-fight for a baseline and again within 120 h post-competitive fight, whereas rugby players were examined pre-season and again post-season or post-match in a subset of cases. DCE-MRI, serological analysis of BBB biomarkers, and an analysis of instrumented mouthguard data, was performed. Here, we provide pilot data that demonstrate disruption of the BBB in both professional MMA fighters and rugby players, dependent on the level of exposure. Our data suggest that biomechanical forces in professional MMA and adolescent rugby can lead to BBB disruption. These changes on imaging may serve as a biomarker of exposure of the brain to repetitive subconcussive forces and mTBI

Crystallographic Descriptions of Regular 2-Periodic Weavings of Threads, Loops and Nets

We present piecewise linear descriptions of weavings of threads, loops, and 2-periodic nets. We provide crystallographic data for regular structures, defined as those with one kind (symmetry-related) of vertex (corner) and edge (stick). These include infinite families of biaxial thread weaves, interwoven square lattices (sql), honeycomb (hcb) nets and tetragonal and hexagonal polycatenanes.</p

Isogonal Weavings on the Sphere: Knots, Links, Polycatenanes

We describe mathematical knots and links as piecewise linear – straight, non-intersecting sticks meeting at corners. Isogonal structures have all corners related by symmetry ("vertex" transitive). Corner- and stick-transitive structures are termed regular. We find no regular knots. Regular links are cubic or icosahedral and a complete account of these is given, including optimal (thickest-stick) embeddings. Stick 2-transitive isogonal structures are again cubic and icosahedral and also encompass the infinite family of torus knots and links. The major types of these structures are identified and reported with optimal embeddings. We note the relevance of this work to materials- and bio-chemistry.</p

Nitrofurans: Measuring Tissue-Bound Residues in Meat

End of project reportThe aims of this project were to (a) develop a range of screening and confirmatory test methods that might be applied to effectively test for the illicit use of the prohibited nitrofuran antimicrobials,(b) study the persistence of nitrofuran antimicrobials as bound metabolite residues inedible tissues and (c) undertake a pan-European survey of the incidence of nitrofurans in retail pork.European Unio

Potential Zeolites Related to Faujasite (FAU): Structures and Energetics.

We present a small set hypothetical zeolite frameworks that are structurally related to faujasite. They are found by examination of the -t nets of the Frank-Kasper phases, which optimize the conditions for regular-tetrahedral nets. The new frameworks have plausible framework energy, as estimated by empirical potential in the GULP program. One of the new frameworks, fav, has framework energy, as a pure silicate, that is only slightly higher than faujasite itself. These present appealing zeolite synthesis targets