Quantum simulation of small-polaron formation with trapped ions

We propose a quantum simulation of small-polaron physics using a one-dimensional system of trapped ions acted upon by off-resonant standing waves. This system, envisioned as an array of microtraps, in the single-excitation case allows the realization of the anti-adiabatic regime of the Holstein model. We show that the strong excitation-phonon coupling regime, characterized by the formation of small polarons, can be reached using realistic values of the relevant system parameters. Finally, we propose measurements of the quasiparticle residue and the average number of phonons in the ground state, experimental probes validating the polaronic character of the phonon-dressed excitation.Comment: accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Let

Influence of dietary mannanoligosaccharides on histological parameters of the jejunal mucosa and growth performance of broiler chickens

The trial involved 480 Hubbard Classic broiler chicks which were from either mannanoligosaccharide (MOS) fed breeder flock (Bio-Mos, Alltech Inc. USA at level of 1 kg/t) or control fed breeder flock (without MOS). Three groups with four replicates per treatment were formed: control fed breeders/control fed broilers (C/C); MOS fed breeders/control fed broilers (BM/C) and MOS fed breeders/MOS fed broilers (BM/BM). All chicks were fed the same basal diet, except for the inclusion of Bio-Mos (1, 0.75 and 0.5 kg/t in the starter, grower and finisher diet, respectively). The results showed a significant improvement (p<0.05) in the body weight gain with the addition of Bio-Mos in broiler feed. Feed conversion ratio was improved by 0.03 points, but the difference was not significant (P>0.05). The gut morphology examination showed that chick origin (chicks that originated from Bio-Mos fed breeders or control fed breeders) did not influence the morphological parameters of the jejunum in the broiler chickens, but addition of Bio-Mos directly to the broiler feed had a significant influence on the gut morphology and played an important role in processes of digestion and absorption, leading to improved performance.Key words: Broiler, mannanoligosaccharides, growth, jejunum, histology

Investigation of the role of AIP gene in pituitary adenoma pathogenesis on animal and human models

Naučno interesovanje za aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein (AIP) gen poteklo je od saznanja da su pacijenti sa inaktivirajućim AIP mutacijama predisponirani za razvoj velikih, invazivnih tumora hipofize, somatotropinoma ili prolaktinoma, koji se javljaju u mlađem dobu i otporni su na lečenje. Zebrice (Danio rerio) - (ZF) kao eksperimetalni životinjski model pružaju anatomske i fukcionalne sličnosti sa ljudskim neuroendokrinim sistemom. AIP gen je evoluciono visoko konzerviran i široko eksprimiran u organizmu. Fiziološka uloga AIP proteina u zdravoj hipofizi nije poznata. Zapažena je kolokalizacija AIP proteina sa hormonom rasta (HR) u sekretornim vezikulama somatotrofa. Prisustvo proteina AIP u serumu pokazano je proteomičkom analizom. Ciljevi: Na životinjskom modelu ZF ispitivan je uticaj inaktivacije AIP gena na tumorigenezu na nivou hipofize. Na ljudskom modelu ispitivana je fiziološka uloga AIP proteina na nivou hipofize. Pretpostavljena kosekrecija AIP i HR je ispitivana analizom serumskog nivoa AIP i HR bazno i u toku testova stimulacije ili supresije sekrecije HR kod ispitanika sa očuvanom sekrecijom HR, pacijenata sa deficitom HR (GHD) i pacijenata sa akromegalijom – nekontrolisanom hipersekrecijom HR. Studija na životinjskom modelu – Materijal i metode: Inaktivacija AIP gena - knock down (AIP KD) na embrionima ZF ostvarena je primenom antisens morfolino oligonukleotida u jednoćelijskom stadijumu razvoja. Kontrolni embrioni su tretirani neaktivnim oligonukleotidima sa 5 promenjenih baznih parova (KMo). Neinjektirani embrioni iz istog legla - wild type (WT) analizirani su kao netretirana kontrola. Svi embrioni (N=307) su inkubirani pod istim uslovima po 5 dana tokom kojih je morfometrijski analiziran njihov razvoj. Whole mount in situ hibridizacija za AIP korišćena je za ispitivanje ekspresije AIP gena kod normalnih zebrica (WT) i za potvrdu inaktivacije kod AIP KD. 120h nakon oplodnje, sprovedeno je whole mount imunobojenje ispitivanih i kontrolnih embriona primenom anti-PRL antitela (zečija antilosos poliklonalna 1:2000). Po 5 embriona iz svake grupe je slučajnim izborom izdvojeno za analizu digitalnom mikroskopijom. Površina bojenja na nivou hipofize analizirana je pomoću softvera za analizu slike (NIH ImageJ 1.48v). Studija na životinjskom modelu - Rezultati: Kod ZF embriona sa inaktivacijom AIP gena (AIP KD) zapažen je ukupni zastoj u rastu i razvoju u odnosu na kontrolne grupe WT i KMo...Scientific interest for aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein (AIP) gene originates from the fact that patients with inactivating AIP mutations are predisposed to large, invasive, GH- or PRL-secreting pituitary tumours, occurring at a younger age and poorly responsive to treatment. The zebrafish (ZF) model provides anatomical and functional similarities to human neuroendocrine system. AIP is evolutionarily well conserved and widely distributed throughout organism. The role of AIP in normal pituitary function is largely unknown. AIP is co-localized with growth hormone (GH) in somatotroph secretory vesicles. Serum AIP protein was proteomically identified. We aimed at investigating the role of AIP inactivation on pituitary tumorigenesis in ZF model and investigating the physiological role of AIP at pituitary level in human model. We investigated whether AIP and GH are co-secreted by measuring serum AIP and GH levels at baseline and after GH stimulation and suppression tests using in vivo human models of normal GH secretion, patients with GH deficiency (GHD) and patients with GH hypersecretion - acromegaly. Animal model study - Material and Methods: AIP knock down (KD) ZF embryos were generated using antisense morpholino oligonucleotides injected at one-cell stage. Control embryos were injected with 5-base mispaired oligonucleotide as control morpholinos (CM). Wild type (WT) embryos from the same batch served as uninjected controls. All embryos (N=307) were incubated in the same conditions for 5 days, and assessed during development. Whole mount in situ hybridization for AIP was used to confirm the inactivation in AIP KD and to asses AIP expression in WT. At 120 hours post fertilization (hpf) whole mount immunostaining of all embryos was performed with anti-PRL antibodies (rabbit anti-salmon polyclonal 1:2000). A total of 15 embryos (5 from each group) were randomly selected for digital microscopy. Pituitary staining was assessed by image analysis software (NIH ImageJ 1.48v). Animal model sudy - Results: Overall developmental delay and retardation was observed in the AIP KD compared to WT and CM control groups. KD embryos exhibited reduced total body length, transitory midbrain enlargement, pericardium enlargement and swim bladder underdevelopment..

Photochemistry of methyl hypobromite (CH₃OBr): excited states and photoabsorption spectrum

The singlet and triplet excited states of CH3OBr with excitation energies up to ∼9.5 eV are studied using the multi-reference configuration interaction with singles and doubles method (MRCI-SD) and several single-reference methods, including time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT), coupled-cluster (linear-response CC2 and equation-of-motion CCSD and CCSD(T)), and algebraic diagrammatic construction (ADC(2)). Among the single-reference methods, coupled-cluster gives vertical excitation energies and oscillator strengths comparable to the MRCI-SD values for the majority of excited states. The absorption cross section in the gas phase in the region between 2 and 8.5 eV was simulated with CCSD using the nuclear ensemble approach. The computed spectrum predicts two intense absorption bands. The first band, peaked at ∼7.0 eV, is induced by Rydberg excitation. The second band has a strong overlap between a broad σσ* transition and three Rydberg transitions, resulting in two peaks at 7.7 and 7.9 eV. The spectrum also features a low-intensity band peaking at ∼4.6 eV due to nσ* excitation. The intensity of this band is influenced by spin–orbit coupling effects. We analyzed the dissociation pathways along the O–Br and C–O coordinates by computing rigid potential energy curves of the ground and the lowest-lying singlet and triplet excited states, and discussed the possible dissociation products. Due to the specific electronic structure of the excited states, characterized by multireference, double excitations, and Rydberg states occurring in the low-energy region, their correct description along dissociation coordinates is feasible only with MRCI-SD

Electron-phonon coupling in graphene antidot lattices: an indication of polaronic behavior

We study graphene antidot lattices -- superlattices of perforations (antidots) in a graphene sheet -- using a model that accounts for the phonon-modulation of the $\pi$-electron hopping integrals. We calculate the phonon spectra of selected antidot lattices using two different semi-empirical methods. Based on the adopted model, we quantify the nature of charge carriers in the system by computing the quasiparticle weight due to the electron-phonon interaction for an excess electron in the conduction band. We find a very strong phonon-induced renormalization, with the effective electron masses exhibiting nonmonotonic dependence on the superlattice period for a given antidot diameter. Our study provides an indication of polaronic behavior and points to the necessity of taking into account the inelastic degrees of freedom in future studies of transport in graphene antidot lattices.Comment: Selected PRB Editors' Suggestio

The influence of technological treatment, composition and properties of milk on quality of kajmak under experimental conditions

Proces izdvajanja mliječne masti i dobivanja kajmaka zavisi od mnogo parametara. U ovom radu proučen je utjecaj temperature i dužine zagrijavanja, fizičko-kemijskih osobina i sastava mlijeka na količinu i kvalitetu izdvojenog kajmaka. Dobiveni rezultati su potvrdili da su odabrane temperature zagrijavanja mlijeka osigurale proizvod odgovarajuće kvalitete i organoleptičkih osobina. Količina kajmaka zavisi od fizičko-kemijskih osobina mlijeka, a sastav mlijeka, u odnosu na postotak masti i suhe tvari, značajan je parametar za kvalitetu i količinu kajmaka.The process of milk fat separation in kajmak production depends on a number of parameters. The influence of heat treatment, heating exposure time, physicochemical properties and milk composition as well as their quantity and quality on separated kajmak were studied. Experimental data proved that appropriate quality and organoleptic properties of kajmak were determined by selected milk heat treatment. Yield of kajmak depends upon physicochemical properties and composition of milk, i. e. its fat and total solids contents. Studied parameters were of importance to kajmak\u27s quality and quantity

Applying multi-criteria analysis for preliminary assessment of the properties of alginate immobilized Myriophyllum spicatum in lake water samples

The preliminary assessment of the properties of alginate immobilized aquatic weed Myriophyllum spicatum beads-MsAlg in a multi-element system of nine Serbian lakes water samples was done. Herein, the results obtained in the biosorption experiment with MsAlg contents of twenty-two elements analysed by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry, biosorption capacity, element removal efficiency, total hardness (TH) and quality index of water (WQI) are presented. Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy was used for the characterization of M. spicatum and its beads. The study showed that aluminium, magnesium and strontium were adsorbed by MsAlg in the water samples from all examined lakes; barium and iron in the water samples from six lakes. The overall average efficiency of MsAlg in biosorption of elements was in the following order: Al > Ba > Sr > Fe > Mg (58.6, 51.7, 48.2, 23.9 and 17.7%, respectively). The increase of TH and WQI values after the biosorption was noticed in all studied lake water samples. The most significant correlations for pH were regarding the contents of B, Mg and Ca, whereas WQI was highly correlated to the contents of B and Mg, and pH. The complexity of the obtained data was explained by Cluster Analysis and Principal Component Analysis, which showed good discrimination capabilities between the water samples taken from different locations. Considering that the invasive M. spicatum is natural, widespread and that its immobilization is cheap and eco-friendly, presented findings could be helpful in further assessment of MsAlg beads for its potential use as biofilter

Effects of different mechanical treatments on structural changes of lignocellulosic waste biomass and subsequent Cu(II) removal kinetics

In this paper, the character of structural changes induced by different mechanical treatments to Prunus persica stones (PSs), and its subsequent effect on biosorption kinetics of Cu(II) were investigated. PSs were processed in vibratory disk mill (PS-V) and ultra-centrifugal mill (PS-C) and characterized by XRD, BET, SEM and FTIR spectroscopy. It was shown that PS-V was smaller and more reactive with less crystallinity index and hydrogen bond intensity compared to PS-C. In opposite, surface area of the PS-C was bigger than that of the PS-V. The total pore volume was about threefold, while the volume of micro pores was 9.29 times higher in PS-Cs than in PS-Vs. The kinetics of Cu(II) biosorption by both PSs was tested through various kinetic models: pseudo-first and pseudo-second order rate equations, Elovich equation, Boyd model, Weber–Morris and Urano–Tachikawa intraparticle diffusion model. For both sample types, Cu(II) biosorption occurred through combination of intraparticle and film diffusion mechanism, while kinetic results were best described by the pseudo-second order kinetic model. At the same time, the results indicated that together with kinetic rate the biosorption capacity of PS-C (21.20 mg g−1) was higher than that of PS-V (16.30 mg g−1). Mechanical activation like crushing and grinding will change material particle size, specific surface area and porosity, as well as its crystallinity. However, this paper elucidates that such physical structural changes will impact on heavy metal ions removal efficiency. This investigation suggests that the type of size reduction in lignocellulosic biosorbent preparation plays a very important role in overall biosorption performance, so it should be carefully considered every time when the mechanical treatment of material is necessary to be applied

Konzervirana morska riba na srpskome tržištu: razine cinka, bakra i željeza i njihov doprinos dnevnom unosu ovih esencijalnih metala

The aim of this study was to determine the levels of Zn, Cu, and Fe in three canned fish species marketed Serbia to see if they meet recommended daily intake requirements or exceed safety limits. We collected a total of 207 samples of canned tuna, sardine, and mackerel, in oil or tomato sauce and analysed them with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) after acid digestion. The highest levels were obtained for Zn (15.1 mg kg-1) and Cu (1.37 mg kg-1) in sardine in oil and tomato sauce, respectively, and for Fe (18.98 mg kg-1) in mackerel in tomato sauce. Our results keep within the ranges reported by several national food databases and available literature data, with a few exceptions. Our findings also single out canned sardines as the richest source of the three essential elements combined. The estimated daily intake (EDI) of the three essential elements, however, was subpar, and ranged between 0.14 % and 0.72 % of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for Zn, Cu, and Fe.Cilj ovoga rada bio je utvrditi razinu cinka, bakra i željeza u trima vrstama ribljih konzervi sa srpskoga tržišta kako bi se ustanovilo zadovoljavaju li zahtjeve za preporučenim dnevnim unosom, ili pak prekoračuju sigurnosne granice. Sadržaj esencijalnih elemenata utvrđen je u ukupno 207 uzoraka konzerve tune, sardine i skuše primjenom masene spektrometrije s induktivno spregnutom plazmom (ICP-MS) nakon kisele digestije uzoraka. Najveći sadržaj cinka (15,1 mg kg-1) utvrđen je u sardini u ulju, bakra (1,37 mg kg-1) u sardini u umaku od rajčice, a željeza (18,98 mg kg-1) u skuši u umaku od rajčice. Dobiveni rezultati su u opsegu vrijednosti za analizirane elemente koje je objavilo nekoliko nacionalnih baza podataka o hrani, kao i u opsegu dostupnih literaturnih podataka, s nekoliko iznimaka. Rezultati istraživanja izdvajaju sardinu u konzervi kao najbogatiji izvor proučavanih esencijalnih elementa. Procijenjeni dnevni unos (EDI) bio je između 0,14 % i 0,72 % preporučenih dnevnih unosa cinka, bakra i željeza. Iako sardina u konzervi, u odnosu na tunu i skušu, doprinosi oko 1,5 puta više preporučenom dnevnom unosu (RDI) esencijalnih elemenata, konzervirana morska riba ne može se smatrati značajnim izvorom cinka, bakra i željeza u prehrani srpskoga stanovništva