506 research outputs found
Evidence for a floating phase of the transverse ANNNI model at high frustration
We study the transverse quantum ANNNI model in the region of high frustration
(k>0.5) using the DMRG algorithm. We obtain a precise determination of the
phase diagram, showing clear evidence for the existence of a floating phase,
separated from the paramagnetic modulated phase by a high-order critical line
ending at the multicritical point. We obtain simple and accurate formulae for
the two critical lines.Comment: 20 pages, 16 figures. Major revision: numerical evidence improved,
presentation clarified, discussion on KT phase transitions added, references
update
Parity effects in the scaling of block entanglement in gapless spin chains
We consider the Renyi alpha-entropies for Luttinger liquids (LL). For large
block lengths l these are known to grow like ln l. We show that there are
subleading terms that oscillate with frequency 2k_F (the Fermi wave number of
the LL) and exhibit a universal power-law decay with l. The new critical
exponent is equal to K/(2 alpha), where K is the LL parameter. We present
numerical results for the anisotropic XXZ model and the full analytic solution
for the free fermion (XX) point.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures. Final version accepted in PR
Improvement of Cellulose Hydrolysis Process and Cost Savings
The hydrolysis process to obtain the so-called \u201creducing sugars\u201d represents the main step involved in the
production of the second generation bioethanol. This product can be obtained directly from various types of green
biomass, replacing the use of cereals cultivations, with obvious benefits to the environment and the economy of
agricultural production. However, it is necessary to improve the hydrolysis process of the cellulose to achieve this
goal. To this purpose, we applied a chemical process formerly used. The values of sugars yield were increased by
about 40% with respect to the previous study. Further significant cost savings were accomplished, resulting from
the recovery of the by-product, calcium sulfate, commercially known as gypsum
Secondary Metabolites in Nectar-Mediated Plant-Pollinator Relationships
n recent years, our understanding of the complex chemistry of floral nectar and its ecological implications for plant-pollinator relationships has certainly increased. Nectar is no longer considered merely a reward for pollinators but rather a plant interface for complex interactions with insects and other organisms. A particular class of compounds, i.e., nectar secondary compounds (NSCs), has contributed to this new perspective, framing nectar in a more comprehensive ecological context. The aim of this review is to draft an overview of our current knowledge of NSCs, including emerging aspects such as non-protein amino acids and biogenic amines, whose presence in nectar was highlighted quite recently. After considering the implications of the different classes of NSCs in the pollination scenario, we discuss hypotheses regarding the evolution of such complex nectar profiles and provide cues for future research on plant-pollinator relationships
Quality Characteristics and Radioactive Contamination of Wood Pellet Imported in Italy
The problem of Caesium-137 (137 Cs) contamination of the imported wood pellet used for burning
has been reported in Italy since June 2009. Since then, sampling and analysis were performed at
the crossing border points of the provinces of Trieste and Gorizia, on request of the Health and
Customs Border Bureau. This paper presents the results of the analysis performed on 65 samples
from August 2010 to March 2012, which covered a total of products over 1500 tons of various origins,
imported from Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Most of the samples showed very low 137 Cs
activity concentrations; only a few hot spots showed 137 Cs activity concentrations higher than
100 Bq 19kg 121. The results of dose evaluations for wood pellet stoves users under the hypotheses
assumed in this study were largely below the threshold of radiological relevance
Radiological clinical trials: Proposal of a problem-finding questionnaire to improve study success
open5AIM
To develop a survey to help define the main problems in radiological clinical trials.
METHODS
Since 2006, we have managed seven different radio-logical clinical trials recruiting patients in academic and non-academic centres. We developed a preliminary questionnaire using a four-round Delphi approach to identify problems occurring in radiological clinical trials run at our centre. We investigated the recruitment experience, involvement of all multi-disciplinary team members and main obstacles to completing the projects. A final round of Delphi processes elucidated solutions to the identified problems.openValdora, Francesca; Bignotti, Bianca; Calabrese, Massimo; Houssami, Nehmat; Tagliafico, AlbertoValdora, Francesca; Bignotti, Bianca; Calabrese, Massimo; Houssami, Nehmat; Tagliafico, Albert
Desorption of artemisinin extracts of CIM-Arogya by supercritical carbon dioxide
Artemisinin is a drug for chloroquine resistant malaria and cerebral malaria treatments. In the recent past, there was an acute shortage of this drug and hence World Health Organization made a strategy to fulfil the Artemisinin demand.
In this study, artemisinin was extracted by supercritical Carbon Dioxide (SFCO2) from CIM-Arogya, a variety of Artemisia annua, in temperature and pressure ranges of 313.1-333.1 K and 15\u201325 MPa. Artemisinin global yield isotherms were determined obtaining a maximum yield of 3.65 wt%. Artemisinin extracts were also obtained by hexane Soxhlet extraction: then, the crude extracts were purified using SFCO2, after adsorption on silica gel. Different desorption runs were performed with a 6 ml/min CO2 flow rate, in temperature and pressure ranges of 313.1\u2013333.1 K and 15\u201325 MPa. At different time intervals, extracts were collected and analysed: their yields varied from 2.75% to 4.34% function of the experimental conditions. Desorption trials were also correlated with different models
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