Three-body structure of low-lying 12Be states

We investigate to what extent a description of 12Be as a three-body system made of an inert 10Be-core and two neutrons is able to reproduce the experimental 12Be data. Three-body wave functions are obtained with the hyperspherical adiabatic expansion method. We study the discrete spectrum of 12Be, the structure of the different states, the predominant transition strengths, and the continuum energy spectrum after high energy fragmentation on a light target. Two 0+, one 2+, one 1- and one 0- bound states are found where the first four are known experimentally whereas the 0- is predicted as an isomeric state. An effective neutron charge, reproducing the measured B(E1) transition and the charge rms radius in 11Be, leads to a computed B(E1) transition strength for 12Be in agreement with the experimental value. For the E0 and E2 transitions the contributions from core excitations could be more significant. The experimental 10Be-neutron continuum energy spectrum is also well reproduced except in the energy region corresponding to the 3/2- resonance in 11Be where core excitations contribute.Comment: 16 pages, 9 figures. Accepted for publication in Physical Review

Isomeric 0- halo-states in 12Be and 11Li

We predict the existence of an isomeric 0$^-$-state in $^{12}$Be at an excitation energy of about 2.5 MeV, and a 0$^-$-resonance in $^{11}$Li with both energy and width of about 1 MeV corresponding to two-neutron emission. The structure of these halo-like states are like the 1$^-$-states which means essentially a core surrounded by two neutrons in single-particle $s$ and p-states. The life-time of the $^{12}$Be state is determined by $M1$ or $M2$-emission, $\tau(M1) \approx 10^{-11}$ s or $\tau(M2) \approx 10^{-8}$ s estimated for photon energies of 0.1 MeV and 0.6 MeV, respectively.Comment: to be published in Physics Letters

Open Charm Production at HERA

Measurements of charmed particle cross sections at HERA in the photoproduction and deep inelastic regimes are reviewed. The status of the comparison with perturbative QCD calculations is discussed.Comment: Presented at the Ringberg Workshop on ``New Trends in HERA Physics 2001'' 17-22 June 2001. 12 pages, 11 figure

Application of Resonance Perturbation Theory to Dynamics of Magnetization in Spin Systems Interacting with Local and Collective Bosonic Reservoirs

We apply our recently developed resonance perturbation theory to describe the dynamics of magnetization in paramagnetic spin systems interacting simultaneously with local and collective bosonic environments. We derive explicit expressions for the evolution of the reduced density matrix elements. This allows us to calculate explicitly the dynamics of the macroscopic magnetization, including characteristic relaxation and dephasing time-scales. We demonstrate that collective effects (i) do not influence the character of the relaxation processes but merely renormalize the relaxation times, and (ii) significantly modify the dephasing times, leading in some cases to a complicated (time inhomogeneous) dynamics of the transverse magnetization, governed by an effective time-dependent magnetic field

Thermal and morphological characterization of basalt continuous fibers

The basalts are abundant volcanic rocks formed from extensive wastes. The technology of continuous wiring produces basalt filaments in micrometric amorphous long fibers. In this work are presented results of the thermal and morphologic characterization of micrometric basalt fibers. These fibers showed excellent thermal stability, resulting in low weight change (less than 1 wt.%) up to 1000 ºC, under heating in inert or oxidant atmosphere. On the other hand, partial crystallization of basalt fibers occurred at ~ 800 ºC, resulting in diffraction peaks in the X-ray patterns, characteristic of silicates and aluminosilicates as the anorthite from the plagioclase class. The morphology of fibers after heating at 1000 ºC was changed due to the fusion and crystallization of the present phases.Os basaltos são rochas vulcânicas abundantes provenientes de extensos derrames de lava. A tecnologia de fiação contínua produz filamentos de basalto na forma de fios micrométricos amorfos. Neste trabalho são apresentados resultados da caracterização térmica e morfológica de fibras longas de basalto, de diâmetro micrométrico. Estas fibras apresentaram excelente estabilidade térmica, resultando em alterações de massa menor que 1% sob aquecimento até a temperatura de 1000 ºC, em atmosfera inerte ou oxidante. Por outro lado, a ~ 800 ºC ocorreu a cristalização parcial das fibras de basalto, com a formação de fases cristalinas de silicatos e alumino-silicatos, como a anortita, da classe dos plagioclásios. A morfologia das fibras, aquecidas a 1000 ºC, foi alterada devido à fusão e cristalização das fases presentes.212217Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Characterization of Lactococcus strains isolated from artisanal Oaxaca cheese

Lactococci strains obtained from raw-milk Oaxaca cheese through its production process in two factories from the Tulancingo Valley, Mexico, were isolated and characterized. A total of 120 colonies were selected from the growth in M17 and MRS agars. Twenty were identified as lactococci strains, all Lactococcus lactis, and were characterized by molecular and phenotypic methods including carbohydrate use, enzymatic profile, acidifying capacity, and antibiotic and phage resistance. High phenotypic diversity was observed and confirmed among the Lactococcus lactis strains by rep-PCR fingerprints. Fifty percent of the strains were resistant to streptomycin and 35% to erythromycin. Nine isolates were considered as fast acidifying strains. The predominant volatile compounds produced were 3-methylbutanol, 3-methylbutanal and butane-2,3-dione. A selection of strains isolated in this study has shown satisfactory characteristics to be used as potential starters for the industrial production of Oaxaca cheese.Peer reviewe

Magnetic properties of permalloy antidot arrayfabricated by interference lithography

The interference laser lithography and ion-beam sputtering have been reported. Magneto-optical Kerr effect magnetometry indicated that the sample exhibits four-fold anisotropic behaviour, i.e. different magnetization loops were observed when the external magnetic field was applied along either x-or y-axis, or along the array diagonal. Broadband ferromagnetic resonance measurements revealed a rich variety of different magnetization configurations in the unsaturated state that can be controlled by the orientation of the external magnetic field. Micromagnetic simulations have been performed to explain the observed results. On the contrary, in the saturated regime the system demonstrated almost isotropic magnetic behaviour that improves with external field increase. The obtained results show the potential of interference lithography for the fabrication of large area antidot arrays. (C) 2019 Author(s).The Portuguese team acknowledges the Network of Extreme Conditions Laboratories-NECL and Portuguese Foundation of Science and Technology (FCT) support through the projects NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-022096, MIT-EXPL/IRA/0012/2017, POCI-01-0145-FEDER-031302, EXPL/IF/01191/2013 (D.N.), EXPL/IF/00541/2015 (S.A.B.), EXPL/IF/00981/2013 (G.N.K). D.N., G.N.K., C.R and R.M. acknowledge the support by the European Union Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under Marie Sklodowska-Curie Grant Agreement EU H2020-MSCA-RISE-2016 (No 734801). The Spanish team acknowledges the support from Spanish MINECO through the grant FIS2016-76058 (AEI/FEDER, UE). A.H.-R. acknowledges the support from European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Action (reference H2020-MSCA-IF-2016-746958). G.N.K. and O.V.D. acknowledge the support from European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) project CA16218 "NANOCOHYBRI.

Dissecting the long-term emission behaviour of the BL Lac object Mrk 421

We report on long-term multiwavelengthmonitoring of blazar Mrk 421 by the GLAST-AGILE Support Program of the Whole Earth Blazar Telescope (GASP-WEBT) collaboration and Steward Observatory, and by the Swift and Fermi satellites. We study the source behaviour in the period 2007–2015, characterized by several extreme flares. The ratio between the optical, X-ray and γ -ray fluxes is very variable. The γ -ray flux variations show a fair correlation with the optical ones starting from 2012.We analyse spectropolarimetric data and find wavelengthdependence of the polarization degree (P), which is compatible with the presence of the host galaxy, and no wavelength dependence of the electric vector polarization angle (EVPA). Optical polarimetry shows a lack of simple correlation between P and flux and wide rotations of the EVPA.We build broad-band spectral energy distributions with simultaneous near-infrared and optical data from the GASP-WEBT and ultraviolet and X-ray data from the Swift satellite. They show strong variability in both flux and X-ray spectral shape and suggest a shift of the synchrotron peak up to a factor of ∼50 in frequency. The interpretation of the flux and spectral variability is compatible with jet models including at least two emitting regions that can change their orientation with respect to the line of sight.http://10.0.4.69/mnras/stx2185Accepted manuscrip

The diacylglycerol kinase α/Atypical PKC/β1 integrin pathway in SDF-1α mammary carcinoma invasiveness

Diacylglycerol kinase α (DGKα), by phosphorylating diacylglycerol into phosphatidic acid, provides a key signal driving cell migration and matrix invasion. We previously demonstrated that in epithelial cells activation of DGKα activity promotes cytoskeletal remodeling and matrix invasion by recruiting atypical PKC at ruffling sites and by promoting RCP-mediated recycling of α5β1 integrin to the tip of pseudopods. In here we investigate the signaling pathway by which DGKα mediates SDF-1α-induced matrix invasion of MDA-MB-231 invasive breast carcinoma cells. Indeed we showed that, following SDF-1α stimulation, DGKα is activated and localized at cell protrusion, thus promoting their elongation and mediating SDF-1α induced MMP-9 metalloproteinase secretion and matrix invasion. Phosphatidic acid generated by DGKα promotes localization at cell protrusions of atypical PKCs which play an essential role downstream of DGKα by promoting Rac-mediated protrusion elongation and localized recruitment of β1 integrin and MMP-9. We finally demonstrate that activation of DGKα, atypical PKCs signaling and β1 integrin are all essential for MDA-MB-231 invasiveness. These data indicates the existence of a SDF-1α induced DGKα - atypical PKC - β1 integrin signaling pathway, which is essential for matrix invasion of carcinoma cells

Exploring structure–activity relationships in photodynamic therapy anticancer agents based on Ir(III)-COUPY conjugates

Photodynamic therapy holds great promise as a non-invasive anticancer tool against drug-resistant cancers. However, highly effective, non-toxic, and reliable photosensitizers with operability under hypoxic conditions remain to be developed. Herein, we took the advantageous properties of COUPY fluorophores and cyclometalated Ir(III) complexes to develop novel PDT agents based on Ir(III)-COUPY conjugates with the aim of exploring structure–activity relationships. The structural modifications carried out within the coumarin scaffold had a strong impact on the photophysical properties and cellular uptake of the conjugates. All Ir(III)-COUPY conjugates exhibited high phototoxicity under green light irradiation, which was attributed to the photogeneration of ROS, while remaining non-toxic in the dark. Among them, two hit conjugates showed excellent phototherapeutic indexes in cisplatin-resistant A2780cis cancer cells, both in normoxia and in hypoxia, suggesting that photoactive therapy approaches based on the conjugation of far-red/NIR-emitting COUPY dyes and transition metal complexes could effectively tackle in vitro acquired resistance to cisplatin