Interplay between Mesoscopic and Microscopic Fluctuations in Ferromagnets

A model of a ferromagnet is considered, in which there arise mesoscopic fluctuations of paramagnetic phase. The presence of these fluctuations diminishes the magnetization of the ferromagnet, softens the spin-wave spectrum, increases the spin-wave attenuation, shortens the magnon free path, lowers the critical point, and can change the order of phase transition. A special attention is paid to the interplay between these mesoscopic paramagnetic fluctuations and microscopic fluctuations due to magnons. One of the main results of this interplay is an essential extension of the region of parameters where the ferromagnet-paramagnet phase transition is of first order.Comment: 1 file, 19 pages, LaTe

Statistical Derivation of Basic Equations of Diffusional Kinetics in Alloys with Application to the Description of Diffusion of Carbon in Austenite

Basic equations of diffusional kinetics in alloys are statistically derived using the master equation approach. To describe diffusional transformations in substitution alloys, we derive the "quasi-equilibrium" kinetic equation which generalizes its earlier versions by taking into account possible "interaction renormalization" effects. For the interstitial alloys Me-X, we derive the explicit expression for the diffusivity D of an interstitial atom X which notably differs from those used in previous phenomenological treatments. This microscopic expression for D is applied to describe the diffusion of carbon in austenite basing on some simple models of carbon-carbon interaction. The results obtained enable us to make certain conclusions about the real form of these interactions, and about the scale of the "transition state entropy" for diffusion of carbon in austenite.Comment: 26 pages, 5 postscript figures, LaTe

Characteristic features of anharmonic effects in the lattice dynamics of fcc metals

The dispersion in the entire Brillouin zone and the temperature dependence (right up to the melting temperature) of the anharmonic frequency shift and phonon damping in a number of fcc metals is investigated on the basis of microscopic calculations. It is found that the anharmonic effects depend sharply on the wave vector in the directions $\Gamma$-X, X-W, and $\Gamma$-L and, in contrast to bcc metals, the magnitude of the effects is not due to the softness of the initial phonon spectrum. It is shown that the relative frequency shifts and the phonon damping near melting do not exceed 10-20%. The relative role of various anharmonic processes is examined, and the relation between the results obtained and existing experimental data is discussed.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, LaTe

Strong electron-lattice coupling as the mechanism behind charge density wave transformations in transition-metal dichalcogenides

We consider single band of conduction electrons interacting with displacements of the transitional ions. In the classical regime strong enough coupling transforms the harmonic elastic energy for an ion to the one of the well with two deep minima, so that the system is described in terms of Ising spins. Inter-site interactions order spins at lower tempratures. Extention to the quantum regime is discussed. Below the CDW-transition the energy spectrum of electrons remains metallic because the structural vector Q and the FS sizes are not related. Large values of the CDW gap seen in the tunneling experiments correspond to the energy of the minima in the electron-ion two-well complex. The gap is defined through the density of states (DOS) inside the electronic bands below the CDW transition. We focus mainly on electronic properties of transition-metal dichalcogenides.Comment: new references added; accepted for publication in Physical Review B. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1110.043

Available Options for Funding the Insolvency Proceedings of Corporate Debtors

As a rule, corporate insolvency proceedings are financed from the debtor’s estate. To avoid the abatement of bankruptcy proceedings, other, extraordinary arrangements extending beyond this must be found when the estate is insufficient to cover the costs of the proceedings.  Such extraordinary arrangements are deposits by creditors, assistance from public funds, and post-commencement financing (loans), all of these aimed at financing the trustees’ activities in proceedings. It is necessary to have rules regulating the duties of the individuals responsible for the timely filing of corporate bankruptcy petitions in payment of the costs of the corresponding insolvency proceedings. The author finds that in jurisdictions linking insolvency proceedings to a broader range of aims than only the best possible satisfaction of the creditors’ claims (including ascertaining the causes of insolvency), public funding for conducting the proceedings should be available. There is a possibility of combining several sources of funding to achieve the best possible result and fulfilment of multiple aims of insolvency proceedings

Transition from a one-dimensional to a quasi-one-dimensional state in interacting quantum wires

Upon increasing the electron density in a quantum wire, the one-dimensional electron system undergoes a transition to a quasi-one-dimensional state. In the absence of interactions between electrons, this corresponds to filling up the second subband of transverse quantization, and there are two gapless excitation modes above the transition. On the other hand, strongly interacting one-dimensional electrons form a Wigner crystal, and the transition corresponds to it splitting into two chains (zigzag crystal). The two chains are locked, so their relative motion is gapped, and only one gapless mode remains. We study the evolution of the system as the interaction strength changes, and show that only one gapless mode exists near the transition at any interaction strength.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

In vivo characteristics of targeted drug-carrying filamentous bacteriophage nanomedicines

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Targeted drug-carrying phage nanomedicines are a new class of nanomedicines that combines biological and chemical components into a modular nanometric drug delivery system. The core of the system is a filamentous phage particle that is produced in the bacterial host <it>Escherichia coli</it>. Target specificity is provided by a targeting moiety, usually an antibody that is displayed on the tip of the phage particle. A large drug payload is chemically conjugated to the protein coat of the phage via a chemically or genetically engineered linker that provides for controlled release of the drug after the particle homed to the target cell. Recently we have shown that targeted drug-carrying phage nanomedicines can be used to eradicate pathogenic bacteria and cultured tumor cells with great potentiation over the activity of the free untargeted drug. We have also shown that poorly water soluble drugs can be efficiently conjugated to the phage coat by applying hydrophilic aminoglycosides as branched solubility-enhancing linkers.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>With an intention to move to animal experimentation of efficacy, we tested anti-bacterial drug-carrying phage nanomedicines for toxicity and immunogenicity and blood pharmacokinetics upon injection into mice. Here we show that anti-bacterial drug-carrying phage nanomedicines that carry the antibiotic chloramphenicol conjugated via an aminoglycoside linker are non-toxic to mice and are greatly reduced in immunogenicity in comparison to native phage particles or particles to which the drug is conjugated directly and are cleared from the blood more slowly in comparison to native phage particles.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results suggest that aminoglycosides may serve as branched solubility enhancing linkers for drug conjugation that also provide for a better safety profile of the targeted nanomedicine.</p