Collision-Induced Non-Adiabatic Transitions Between The Ion-Pair States Of Molecular Iodine: A Challenge For Experiment And Theory

The ion-pair states of molecular iodine provide a unique system for studying the efficiency, selectivity, and mechanisms of collision-induced non-adiabatic transitions. Non-adiabatic transitions between the first-tier ion-pair states in collisions with molecular partners and rare gases are analyzed and discussed. The qualitative features of the rate constants and product state distributions under single collision conditions are summarized and interpreted in terms of appropriate theoretical approaches. Two mechanisms for the non-adiabatic transitions are clearly identified. The first, operative for collisions involving molecular partners possessing permanent or transition electrostatic moments, is highly selective. It connects the initially prepared level in the E 0(g)(+) electronic state with the near-resonant vibronic level of the D 0(u)(+) state with a minimum change of the total angular momentum. In an extreme quasi-resonant case when the gap between initial and final rovibronic level is less than 1 cm(-1), this mechanism has a giant cross section, 40 times that of a gas kinetic collision. An electrostatic model, which includes the coupling of the giant E-D transition dipole moment with a moment of the colliding partner and the semiclassical Born approximation, provides a plausible interpretation of this mechanism. A second mechanism is shown to govern collisions with rare gas atoms. It results in population of several ion-pair states and broad distributions over rovibronic levels. This mechanism is successfully interpreted by quantum scattering calculations based on the diatomics-in-molecule diabatic potential energy surfaces and coupling matrix elements. The calculations provide good agreement with experimental measurements and reveal different mechanisms for the population of different electronic states. Unexplained features of the non-adiabatic dynamics and directions of future work are outlined

Ballistic magnon heat conduction and possible Poiseuille flow in the helimagnetic insulator Cu2_2OSeO3_3

We report on the observation of magnon thermal conductivity $\kappa_m\sim$ 70 W/mK near 5 K in the helimagnetic insulator Cu$_2$OSeO$_3$, exceeding that measured in any other ferromagnet by almost two orders of magnitude. Ballistic, boundary-limited transport for both magnons and phonons is established below 1 K, and Poiseuille flow of magnons is proposed to explain a magnon mean-free path substantially exceeding the specimen width for the least defective specimens in the range 2 K $<T<$ 10 K. These observations establish Cu$_2$OSeO$_3$ as a model system for studying long-wavelength magnon dynamics.Comment: 10pp, 9 figures, accepted PRB (Editor's Suggestion

Picropodophyllin causes mitotic arrest and catastrophe by depolymerizing microtubules via Insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor-independent mechanism

Picropodophyllin (PPP) is an anticancer drug undergoing clinical development in NSCLC. PPP has been shown to suppress IGF-1R signaling and to induce a G2/M cell cycle phase arrest but the exact mechanisms remain to be elucidated. The present study identified an IGF-1-independent mechanism of PPP leading to pro-metaphase arrest. The mitotic block was induced in human cancer cell lines and in an A549 xenograft mouse but did not occur in normal hepatocytes/mouse tissues. Cell cycle arrest by PPP occurred in vitro and in vivo accompanied by prominent CDK1 activation, and was IGF-1R-independent since it occurred also in IGF-1R-depleted and null cells. The tumor cells were not arrested in G2/M but in mitosis. Centrosome separation was prevented during mitotic entry, resulting in a monopolar mitotic spindle with subsequent prometaphase-arrest, independent of Plk1/Aurora A or Eg5, and leading to cell features of mitotic catastrophe. PPP also increased soluble tubulin and decreased spindle-associated tubulin within minutes, indicating that it interfered with microtubule dynamics. These results provide a novel IGF-1R-independent mechanism of antitumor effects of PPP

Recycling-Oriented Design of the Al-Zn-Mg-Ca Alloys

Presented at the 1st International Electronic Conference on Metallurgy and Metals, 22 February–7 March 2021; Available online: https://iec2m.sciforum.net/.Approaches to the design of recycling-tolerant Al-Zn-Mg alloys were formulated to be achieved via combined Ca, Fe, and Si, and appropriate solidification conditions and heat treatment. A CalPhaD calculation and experimental study were employed for analysis of the Al-8%Zn-3%Mg alloy doped with 1–2%Ca, 0.5%Fe, and 0.5%Si. The Al-8%Zn-3%Mg-1%Ca-0.5%Fe-0.5%Si (AlZnMg1CaFeSi) alloy was preliminarily found to be promising since it showed a high equilibrium solidus, and an as-cast structure including curved phases (Al), Al3Fe, Al2CaSi2, Al10CaFe2, and (Al, Zn)4Ca; favouring a further spheroidization response during a two-step annealing at 450 °C, 3 h + 520 °C, 3 h. Furthermore, the alloy showed an excellent age-hardening response (195 HV, T6), which did not yield the values of the base alloy and outperformed the values of the other experimental counterparts. Regarding feasibility, 80% reduction hot rolling was successfully conducted, as well as a brief comparison with commercial 6063 impurity-tolerant alloys. As it showed qualitatively similar structural patterns and Fe and Si alloying opportunities, the AlZnMg1CaFeSi alloy may serve as a sustainable basis for the further development of high-strength aluminum alloys tailored for manufacture from scrap materials.Russian Science Foundation, Project No. 20-79-10373

A search for massive neutral bosons in orthopositronium decay

We have searched for an exotic decay of orthopositronium into a single photon and a short-lived neutral boson in the hitherto unexplored mass region above 900 ${\rm keV}/{\it c}^{2}$, by noting that this decay is one of few remaining candidates which could explain the discrepancy of the orthopositronium decay-rate. A high-resolution measurement of the associated photon energy spectrum was carried out with a germanium detector to search for a sharp peak from this two-body decay. Our negative result provides the upper-limits of\mbox{ }$2.0 \times 10^{-4}$ on the branching ratio of such a decay in the mass region from 847 to 1013 ${\rm keV}/{\it c}^{2}$, and excludes the possibility of this decay mode explaining the discrepancy in the orthopositronium decay-rate.Comment: a LaTeX file (text 7 pages) and a uuencoded gz-compressed PostScript file (text 7 pages + figures 4 pages

Influence of severe plastic deformation on the structure and mechanical properties of eutectic Al-Zn-Mg-Fe-Ni alloy

The structure and phase evolution of the new eutectic high strength aluminium alloy Nikalin were investigated under high pressure torsion (HPT) by several numbers of the revolution of the anvil. The chemical composition of the investigated Nikalin alloy was as follows: Al (base)- 7.22Zn-2.95 Mg-0.52 Fe-0.57 Ni-0.2 Zr. (wt.%). The initial material was a coarse grained cast ingot after homogenization. It was established that the HPT process resulted in the deformation dissolution of the nanosized T-phase precipitates and the formation of a supersaturated aluminum solid solution simultaneously with the strong refinement of the structure to the grain-subgrain size of 130-150 nm. Due to that, the yield stress of the HPT alloy increased by a factor of 1.5, the ultimate tensile strength increased by a factor of 1.4, while preserving good ductility of 6-7%. The observed effect of the additional supersaturated solution upon HPT relative to the homogenized state appeared upon post-deformation annealing at 140 °C. An increase in the microhardness of the HPT alloy due to the MgZn2 phase precipitation was observed at 0.5- hours of annealing. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.Russian Foundation for Basic Research, RFBR: 18-03-00102Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation: АААА-А18-118020190116-6The research was carried out within the state assignment of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (theme “Structura”, № АААА-А18-118020190116-6) supported in part by RFBR (project № 18-03-00102). The electron microscopy investigations were performed at the Center of Collaborative Access “Testing Center of Nanotechnologies and Advanced Materials” of the M.N. Mikheev Institute of Metal Physics of Ural Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences

Common principles for optimization of the athletes’ acclimatization to hot and humid climate

Objective: to develop an adaptation control technology to the hot climate for elite athletes. Materials and methods: data analysis, summarizing the experience of adaptation and acclimatization measures in preparation of national teams of Russia for the major international competitions; development and testing of integrated technologies for acceleration and optimization of the athletes’ body state in the light of specific features of the sport in a hot and humid climate. Results: materials about preparation of teams of the USSR and Russia for the largest international competition in hot and humid climates were analyzed. ^e plan of implementation of an integrated management technology for adaptation of athletes was developed at the stage of immediate preparation for major competitions and included activities in three areas: organizational, scientific-methodical and educational. Methodological recommendations were developed including monitoring of the athletes’ status and prevention of disorders of the major organs and systems. Conclusions: an acclimatization training camp should be advantageously carried out in an intermediate geographic area, similar in time zone, climatic and geographic characteristics of the competition place. The sport team should be moved to the competition place within two or three days before the championship’s beginning. It is important to monitor hydration status, electrolyte balance and levels of key hormones in the process of adaptation

A Solid-State Synthesis Route Allows the Preparation of Dense Ceramic Materials Based on Alkaline Earth Stannates

Dense single-phase perovskites ceramic materials based on alkaline earth stannates BaSnO3, SrSnO3 и CaSnO3 were obtained. Scanning electron microscopy pictures were collected. A solid-state synthesis route used 0.5 wt% CuO as sintering additive is appropriate

Экспериментальное изучение единичных треков, полученных из смеси порошков Ti и Al при варьируемых параметрах процесса селективного лазерного плавления

The paper studies the effect of the laser scanning speed (vs) on the morphology of single tracks obtained from a mixture of Ti and Al powders in a stoichiometric ratio of 1 : 1 in longitudinal and cross sections. Droplets of splashed liquid were found on the outer surface of the track obtained at vs = 300 mm/s. Their appearance is resulted most likely from the release of gas bubbles formed due to the evaporation of aluminum having a lower melting point. A distortion of a single track along its length was observed with an increase in vs values up to 600 mm/s. It was found that tracks loose stability as the laser beam speed increases with «balls» formed on the track surface due to the significant Marangoni convection and the capillary liquid instability in the molten bath. An increase in the laser speed led to the appearance of pores mainly concentrated in the formed balls, and also influenced the track morphology in the cross section, namely, the width and height of the track, as well as the depth of substrate fusion. An increase in the scanning speed from 300 to 900 mm/s led virtually no substrate fusion, and the track width decreased from 194 to 136 μm, while its height increased almost 4 times – from 21 to 88 μm. X-ray microanalysis was conducted and element distribution maps were obtained to assess the structure of the tracks under study. It was found that the degree of liquid mixing in the molten bath is insufficient at scanning speeds of 300 and 600 mm/s, which leads to the segregation of elements over the track cross section. The central zone turns out to be enriched in aluminum, while titanium predominates at the base and is practically absent in the extreme zone (4.57 at.% Ti). X-ray microanalysis revealed the presence of unmelted titanium powder particles at vs = 900 mm/s. Presumably, it may be caused by insufficient laser power at such a high scanning speed.В ходе исследований изучено влияние скорости сканирования лазера (vс) на морфологию единичных треков, полученных из смеси порошков Ti и Al в стехиометрическом соотношении 1 : 1 в продольном и поперечном сечениях. На наружной поверхности трека, полученного при vс= 300 мм/с, были обнаружены капли выплеснувшейся жидкости, появление которых скорее всего было вызвано выбросом пузырьков газа, образовавшихся из-за испарения более легкоплавкого алюминия. С ростом значений vс до 600 мм/с наблюдалось искажение единичного трека по длине. Было установлено, что с увеличением скорости лазерного луча треки перестают быть стабильными, и из-за значительной конвекции Марангони и нестабильности капиллярной жидкости в расплавленной ванне по поверхности трека формируются «шарики». Повышение скорости лазера привело к появлению пор, которые в основном сконцентрированы в образовавшихся шариках, а также оказало влияние на морфологию трека в поперечном сечении, а именно – на ширину, высоту трека и глубину проплавления подложки. С увеличением скорости сканирования с 300 до 900 мм/с проплавления подложки практически не наблюдалось, ширина трека уменьшилась с 194 до 136 мкм, а его высота увеличилась почти в 4 раза – с 21 до 88 мкм. Для оценки структуры изучаемых треков был проведен микрорентгеноспектральный анализ (МРСА) и получены карты распределения элементов. Установлено, что при скоростях сканирования 300 и 600 мм/с перемешивание жидкости в ванне расплава происходит в недостаточной степени, что приводит к ликвации элементов по сечению треков. Центральная зона оказывается обогащеной алюминием, в то время как в основании преобладает титан, а в крайней зоне он практически отсутствует (4,57 ат.% Ti). При vс = 900 мм/с, по данным МРСА, наблюдалось наличие нерасплавившихся частиц порошка титана. Предположительной причиной этого может являться недостаточная мощность лазера при столь высокой скорости сканирования

РАСЧЕТ ФАЗОВЫХ ДИАГРАММ СИСТЕМ Al–Cu–Zn–Mg и Al–Cu–Zn–Mg–Fe–Si

Using the results of thermodynamic calculations with «Thermo-Сalc» software package, the fragments of the Al–Cu–Zn–Mg and Al–Cu–Zn–Mg–Fe–Si– (Mn) phase diagrams in the range of densities, (%): 4–6 Сu, 2–4 Zn, 0,5–2,0 Mg, 1,5–2,0 Fe, 1,5–5,0 Si have been built as well as the composition of the solid solution for a number of alloys of the Al–Cu–Zn–Mg–Fe–Si–(Mn) system has been calculated at temperatures near to the solidus line. The X-ray microspectral analysis was used for experimental proof of the thermodynamic calculations, which show the satisfactory precision of the calculated and experimental data. It is found that maximally alloyed aluminum solid solution can be produced at an iron and silicon density ratio of Fe/Si = 0,5 for the alloys of the Al–Cu–Zn–Mg–Fe–Si–(Mn) system.По результатам термодинамических расчетов с использованием пакета программ «Thermo-Сalc» построены фрагменты фазовых диаграмм Al–Cu–Zn–Mg и Al–Cu–Zn–Mg–Fe–Si–(Mn) в интервале концентраций (%) 4–6 Сu, 2–4 Zn, 0,5–2,0 Mg, 1,5–2,0 Fe, 1,5–5,0 Si, а также рассчитан состав твердого раствора для ряда сплавов системы Al–Cu–Zn–Mg–Fe–Si–(Mn) при температурах вблизи солидуса. Методом микрорентгеноспектрального анализа проведена экспериментальная проверка термодинамических расчетов, которая показала удовлетворительную сходимость расчетных и экспериментальных данных. Выявлено, что при соотношении концентраций железа и кремния Fe/Si = 0,5 для сплавов системы Al–Cu–Zn–Mg–Fe–Si–(Mn) возможно получение максимально легированного алюминиевого твердого раствора