786 research outputs found
FPU phenomenon for generic initial data
The well known FPU phenomenon (lack of attainment of equipartition of the
mode--energies at low energies, for some exceptional initial data) suggests
that the FPU model does not have the mixing property at low energies. We give
numerical indications that this is actually the case. This we show by computing
orbits for sets of initial data of full measure, sampled out from the
microcanonical ensemble by standard Montecarlo techniques. Mixing is tested by
looking at the decay of the autocorrelations of the mode--energies, and it is
found that the high--frequency modes have autocorrelations that tend instead to
positive values. Indications are given that such a nonmixing property survives
in the thermodynamic limit. It is left as an open problem whether mixing
obtains within time--scales much longer than the presently available ones
Tail resonances of FPU q-breathers and their impact on the pathway to equipartition
Upon initial excitation of a few normal modes the energy distribution among
all modes of a nonlinear atomic chain (the Fermi-Pasta-Ulam model) exhibits
exponential localization on large time scales. At the same time resonant
anomalies (peaks) are observed in its weakly excited tail for long times
preceding equipartition. We observe a similar resonant tail structure also for
exact time-periodic Lyapunov orbits, coined q-breathers due to their
exponential localization in modal space. We give a simple explanation for this
structure in terms of superharmonic resonances. The resonance analysis agrees
very well with numerical results and has predictive power. We extend a
previously developed perturbation method, based essentially on a
Poincare-Lindstedt scheme, in order to account for these resonances, and in
order to treat more general model cases, including truncated Toda potentials.
Our results give qualitative and semiquantitative account for the superharmonic
resonances of q-breathers and natural packets
SnO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles in silica: nanosized tools for femtosecond-laser machining of refractive index patterns
We show that SnO2 nanoclusters in silica interact with ultrashort infrared laser pulses focused inside the material generating a hydrostatic compression and photoelastic response of the surrounding glass. This effect, together with the laser-induced nanocluster amorphization, gives rise to positive or negative refractive-index changes, up to 10–2, depending on the beam-power density. This result points out a wide tuning of the refractive index patterns obtainable in silica-based optical technology
Giant g factor tuning of long-lived electron spins in Ge
Control of electron spin coherence via external fields is fundamental in
spintronics. Its implementation demands a host material that accommodates the
highly desirable but contrasting requirements of spin robustness to relaxation
mechanisms and sizeable coupling between spin and orbital motion of charge
carriers. Here we focus on Ge, which, by matching those criteria, is rapidly
emerging as a prominent candidate for shuttling spin quantum bits in the mature
framework of Si electronics. So far, however, the intrinsic spin-dependent
phenomena of free electrons in conventional Ge/Si heterojunctions have proved
to be elusive because of epitaxy constraints and an unfavourable band
alignment. We overcome such fundamental limitations by investigating a two
dimensional electron gas (2DEG) confined in quantum wells of pure Ge grown on
SiGe-buffered Si substrates. These epitaxial systems demonstrate exceptionally
long spin relaxation and coherence times, eventually unveiling the potential of
Ge in bridging the gap between spintronic concepts and semiconductor device
physics. In particular, by tuning spin-orbit interaction via quantum
confinement we demonstrate that the electron Land\'e g factor and its
anisotropy can be engineered in our scalable and CMOS-compatible architectures
over a range previously inaccessible for Si spintronics
Why small particle fixed dose triple therapy? An excursus from COPD pathology to pharmacological treatment evolution
Although bronchodilators are the cornerstone in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) therapy, the treatment with a single-agent bronchodilator may not provide adequate symptoms control in COPD. The combination of drugs with different mechanisms of action may be more effective in inducing bronchodilation and preventing exacerbations, with a lower risk of side-effects in comparison with the increase of the dose of a single molecule. Several studies comparing the triple therapy with the association of long-acting ß2 agonist (LABA)/inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) or long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA)/LABA reported improvement of lung function and quality of life. A significant reduction in moderate/severe exacerbations has been observed with a fixed triple combination of beclometasone dipropionate (BDP), formoterol fumarate (FF) and glycopyrronium (G) in a single inhaler. The TRILOGY, TRINITY and TRIBUTE studies have provided confirming evidence for a clinical benefit of triple therapy over ICS/LABA combination treatment, LAMA monotherapy and LABA/LAMA combination, with prevention of exacerbations being a key finding. A pooled post hoc analysis of the published clinical studies involving BDP/FF/G fixed combination demonstrated a reduction in fatal events in patients treated with ICS-containing medications, with a trend of statistical significance [hazard ratio = 0.72, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.50–1.02, p = 0.066], that becomes significant if we consider reduction in fatal events for non-respiratory reasons (hazard ratio = 0.65, 95% CI 0.43–0.97, p = 0.037). In conclusion, a fixed combination of more drugs in a single inhaler can improve long-term adherence to the therapy, reducing the risk of exacerbations and hospital resources utilization. The twice a day administration may provide a better coverage of night, particularly in COPD patients who are highly symptomatic. The inhaled extrafine formulation that allows drug deposition in both large and small – peripheral – airways, is the value added
Standardization of the HbA2 assay
Background
A project for the standardization of HbA2 was launched by the IFCC back in 2004.
Materials and methods
In this work we report on the state-of-the-art of the project on standardization of HbA2. Data obtained from various EQAS studies, and from previous experimental evaluations, are presented.
Results
We have proven that biases between various commercial methods are still currently significant. We have also shown that calibration by commutable control materials may halve the inter-method variability.
Conclusions
The foundation of the reference system for HbA2, together with a brief preliminary presentation of the proposed primary reference measurement procedure based on ID-MS are outlined
Advances in the investigation of shock-induced reflectivity of porous carbon
AbstractWe studied the behavior of porous carbon compressed by laser-generated shock waves. In particular, we developed a new design for targets, optimized for the investigation of carbon reflectivity at hundred-GPa pressures and eV/k temperatures. Specially designed "two-layer-two materials" targets, comprising porous carbon on transparent substrates, allowed the probing of carbon reflectivity and a quite accurate determination of the position in the P, T plane. This was achieved by the simultaneous measurement of shock breakout times, sample temperature (by optical pyrometry) and uid velocity. The experiments proved the new scheme is reliable and appropriate for reflectivity measurements of thermodynamical states lying out of the standard graphite or diamond hugoniot. An increase of reflectivity in carbon has been observed at 260 GPa and 14,000 K while no increase in reflectivity is found at 200 GPa and 20,000 K. We also discuss the role of numerical simulations in the optimization of target parameters and in clarifying shock dynamics
The Dlx5 homeodomain gene is essential for normal olfactory development and connectivity in the mouse.
Inhibition of the Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors by Cobra Venom α-Neurotoxins: Is There a Perspective in Lung Cancer Treatment?
Nicotine exerts its oncogenic effects through the binding to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and the activation of downstream pathways that block apoptosis and promote neo-angiogenesis. The nAChRs of the α7 subtype are present on a wide variety of cancer cells and their inhibition by cobra venom neurotoxins has been proposed in several articles and reviews as a potential innovative lung cancer therapy. However, since part of the published results was recently retracted, we believe that the antitumoral activity of cobra venom neurotoxins needs to be independently re-evaluated
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