Showing papers by "Bulgarian Academy of Sciences published in 2010"

Review of Particle Physics

Abstract: This biennial Review summarizes much of particle physics. Using data from previous editions, plus 2158 new measurements from 551 papers, we list, evaluate, and average measured properties of gauge bosons, leptons, quarks, mesons, and baryons. We also summarize searches for hypothetical particles such as Higgs bosons, heavy neutrinos, and supersymmetric particles. All the particle properties and search limits are listed in Summary Tables. We also give numerous tables, figures, formulae, and reviews of topics such as the Standard Model, particle detectors, probability, and statistics. Among the 108 reviews are many that are new or heavily revised including those on neutrino mass, mixing, and oscillations, QCD, top quark, CKM quark-mixing matrix, V-ud & V-us, V-cb & V-ub, fragmentation functions, particle detectors for accelerator and non-accelerator physics, magnetic monopoles, cosmological parameters, and big bang cosmology.

Observation of long-range, near-side angular correlations in proton-proton collisions at the LHC

Abstract: This is the pre-print version of the Published Article, which can be accessed from the link below - Copyright @ 2010 Springer Verlag

Transverse-Momentum and Pseudorapidity Distributions of Charged Hadrons in pp Collisions at root s=7 TeV

Abstract: Charged-hadron transverse-momentum and pseudorapidity distributions in proton-proton collisions at root s = 7 TeV are measured with the inner tracking system of the CMS detector at the LHC. The charged-hadron yield is obtained by counting the number of reconstructed hits, hit pairs, and fully reconstructed charged-particle tracks. The combination of the three methods gives a charged-particle multiplicity per unit of pseudorapidity dN(ch)/d eta vertical bar(vertical bar eta vertical bar<0.5) = 5.78 +/- 0.01(stat) +/- 0.23(stat) for non-single-diffractive events, higher than predicted by commonly used models. The relative increase in charged-particle multiplicity from root s = 0.9 to 7 TeV is [66.1 +/- 1.0(stat) +/- 4.2(syst)]%. The mean transverse momentum is measured to be 0.545 +/- 0.005(stat) +/- 0.015(syst) GeV/c. The results are compared with similar measurements at lower energies.

Nuclear Energy Density Optimization

Abstract: We carry out state-of-the-art optimization of a nuclear energy density of Skyrme type in the framework of the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov theory. The particle-hole and particle-particle channels are optimized simultaneously, and the experimental data set includes both spherical and deformed nuclei. The new model-based, derivative-free optimization algorithm used in this work has been found to be significantly better than standard optimization methods in terms of reliability, speed, accuracy, and precision. The resulting parameter set unedf0 results in good agreement with experimental masses, radii, and deformations and seems to be free of finite-size instabilities. An estimate of the reliability of the obtained parameterization is given, based on standard statistical methods. We discuss new physics insights offered by the advanced covariance analysis.

Antioxidant activity and phenolic content of betalain extracts from intact plants and hairy root cultures of the red beetroot Beta vulgaris cv. Detroit dark red.

Abstract: Betalains are water-soluble plant pigments that are widely used as food colorants, and have a wide range of desirable biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anti-cancer properties. They can be produced from various plants, notably beetroot, but betalain products obtained in this way also have some undesirable properties and are difficult to standardize. A potentially attractive alternative is to use hairy root cultures. In the study reported here, we found that betalain extracts obtained from hairy root cultures of the red beetroot B. vulgaris cv. Detroit Dark Red also had higher antioxidant activity than extracts obtained from mature beetroots: six-fold higher 2,2-dyphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging ability (90.7% inhibition, EC(50) = 0.11 mg, vs 14.2% inhibition, EC(50) = 0.70 mg) and 3.28-fold higher oxygen radical absorbance capacity (4,100 microM TE/g dry extract, vs 1,250 microM TE/g dry extract). The high antioxidant activity of the hairy root extracts was associated with increased concentrations (more than 20-fold) of total phenolic concomitant compounds, which may have synergistic effects with betalains. The presence of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, caffeic acid, catechin hydrate, and epicatechin were detected in both types of extract, but at different concentrations. Rutin was only present at high concentration (1.096 mg.g(-1) dry extract) in betalain extracts from the hairy root cultures, whereas chlorogenic acid was only detected at measurable concentrations in extracts from intact plants.

Revealing the design principles of high-performance biological composites using ab initio and multiscale simulations: the example of lobster cuticle.

Abstract: In the course of evolution nature developed materials based on organic–inorganic nanocomposites with complex, hierarchical organization from A u ngstroms to millimeters tailored via molecular self-assembly. [1–3] Such materials possess outstanding stiffness, toughness, and strength related to their low density, while the mechanical characteristics of their underlying constituents are rather modest. [2,4] This remarkable performance is a consequence of their hierarchical structure, the specific design at each level of organization, and the inherent strong heterogeneity [4] resulting in the accommodation of macroscopic loadings bydifferentdeformationmechanisms at differentlength scales. Therefore, to understand the macroscopic mechanical properties of the tissue, one should take into account its structure–property relations at all length scales down to the molecular level. To date, this key challenge has been only partly addressed due to severe obstacles in obtaining mechanical and structural data at the nanometer scale. The mechanical properties of important proteins and biominerals as well as some details about their exact structure are still unknown. A powerful tool to overcome these difficulties and to better understand the structure–property relationships in biomaterials is multiscale modeling encompassing all length scales. [3,5] Some progress in the development of multiscale structure–property relationships for mineralized tissues has been achieved by combined modeling and experimental approaches applied to bone, [4] nacre, [6] and fish skin armor. [7] However, these approaches do not explicitly integrate a molecular-level description and use continuum mechanics at the meso- and macroscale (e.g., finite element analysis) coupled with experimental data obtained, for example, by nanoindentation. A

Trends in utilization of the pharmacological potential of chalcones.

Abstract: Chalcones (1,3-diaryl-2-propen-1-ones) are open chain flavonoids that are widely biosynthesized in plants. They are important for the pigmentation of flowers and, hence, act as attractants to the pollinators. As flavonoids, chalcones also play an important role in defense against pathogens and insects. A longstanding scientific research has shown that chalcones also display other interesting biological properties such as antioxidant, cytotoxic, anticancer, antimicrobial, antiprotozoal, antiulcer, antihistaminic and anti-inflammatory activities. Some lead compounds with various pharmacological properties have been developed based on the chalcone skeleton. Clinical trials have shown that these compounds reached reasonable plasma concentrations and did not cause toxicity. For these reasons, chalcones became an object of continued interest in both academia and industry. Nowadays, several chalcones are used for treatment of viral disorders, cardiovascular diseases, parasitic infections, pain, gastritis, and stomach cancer, as well as like food additives and cosmetic formulation ingredients. However, much of the pharmacological potential of chalcones is still not utilized. The purpose of this review is to describe the recent efforts of scientists in pharmacological screening of natural and synthetic chalcones, studying the mechanisms of chalcone action and relevant structure-activity relationships. Put together, these activities aimed at synthesis of pharmacologically active chalcones and their analogs.

EARLINET correlative measurements for CALIPSO: First intercomparison results

Abstract: [1] A strategy for European Aerosol Research Lidar Network (EARLINET) correlative measurements for Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) has been developed. These EARLINET correlative measurements started in June 2006 and are still in progress. Up to now, more than 4500 correlative files are available in the EARLINET database. Independent extinction and backscatter measurements carried out at high-performance EARLINET stations have been used for a quantitative comparison with CALIPSO level 1 data. Results demonstrate the good performance of CALIPSO and the absence of evident biases in the CALIPSO raw signals. The agreement is also good for the distribution of the differences for the attenuated backscatter at 532 nm ((CALIPSO-EARLINET)/EARLINET (%)), calculated in the 1–10 km altitude range, with a mean relative difference of 4.6%, a standard deviation of 50%, and a median value of 0.6%. A major Saharan dust outbreak lasting from 26 to 31 May 2008 has been used as a case study for showing first results in terms of comparison with CALIPSO level 2 data. A statistical analysis of dust properties, in terms of intensive optical properties (lidar ratios, Angstrom exponents, and color ratios), has been performed for this observational period. We obtained typical lidar ratios of the dust event of 49 ± 10 sr and 56 ± 7 sr at 355 and 532 nm, respectively. The extinction-related and backscatter-related Angstrom exponents were on the order of 0.15–0.17, which corresponds to respective color ratios of 0.91–0.95. This dust event has been used to show the methodology used for the investigation of spatial and temporal representativeness of measurements with polar-orbiting satellites.

Pan-continental invasion of Pseudorasbora parva: towards a better understanding of freshwater fish invasions

Abstract: In recent years, policy-makers have sought the development of appropriate tools to prevent and manage introductions of invasive species. However, these tools are not well suited for introductions of non-target species that are unknowingly released alongside intentionally-introduced species. The most compelling example of such invasion is arguably the topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva, a small cyprinid species originating from East Asia. A combination of sociological, economical and biological factors has fuelled their rapid invasion since the 1960s; 32 countries (from Central Asia to North Africa) have been invaded in less than 50 years. Based on a combination of monitoring surveys (2535 populations sampled) and literature reviews, this paper aims to quantify and characterise important invasion parameters, such as pathways of introduction, time between introduction and detection, lag phase and plasticity of life history traits. Every decade, five new countries have reported P. parva introduction, mainly resulting from the movement of Chinese carps for fish farming. The mean detection period after first introduction was 4 years, a duration insufficient to prevent their pan-continental invasion. High phenotypic plasticity in fitness related traits such as growth, early maturity, fecundity, reproductive behaviour and the ability to cope with novel pathogens has predisposed P. parva to being a strong invader. The Pseudorasbora parva invasion has provided quantitative data for the development of 1) early warning systems across different spatial scales; 2) rapid eradication programmes prior to natural spread in open systems and 3) sound risk assessments with emphasis on plasticity of life history traits.

Neurons in primary motor cortex engaged during action observation

Abstract: Neurons in higher cortical areas appear to become active during action observation, either by mirroring observed actions (termed mirror neurons) or by eliciting mental rehearsal of observed motor acts. We report the existence of neurons in the primary motor cortex (M1), an area that is generally considered to initiate and guide movement performance, responding to viewed actions. Multielectrode recordings in monkeys performing or observing a well-learned step-tracking task showed that approximately half of the M1 neurons that were active when monkeys performed the task were also active when they observed the action being performed by a human. These ‘view’ neurons were spatially intermingled with ‘do’ neurons, which are active only during movement performance. Simultaneously recorded ‘view’ neurons comprised two groups: approximately 38% retained the same preferred direction (PD) and timing during performance and viewing, and the remainder (62%) changed their PDs and time lag during viewing as compared with performance. Nevertheless, population activity during viewing was sufficient to predict the direction and trajectory of viewed movements as action unfolded, although less accurately than during performance. ‘View’ neurons became less active and contained poorer representations of action when only subcomponents of the task were being viewed. M1 ‘view’ neurons thus appear to reflect aspects of a learned movement when observed in others, and form part of a broadly engaged set of cortical areas routinely responding to learned behaviors. These findings suggest that viewing a learned action elicits replay of aspects of M1 activity needed to perform the observed action, and could additionally reflect processing related to understanding, learning or mentally rehearsing action.

CMS Tracking Performance Results from early LHC Operation.

Abstract: The first LHC pp collisions at centre-of-mass energies of 0.9 and 2.36 TeV were recorded by the CMS detector in December 2009. The trajectories of charged particles produced in the collisions were reconstructed using the all-silicon Tracker and their momenta were measured in the 3.8 T axial magnetic field. Results from the Tracker commissioning are presented including studies of timing, efficiency, signal-to-noise, resolution, and ionization energy. Reconstructed tracks are used to benchmark the performance in terms of track and vertex resolutions, reconstruction of decays, estimation of ionization energy loss, as well as identification of photon conversions, nuclear interactions, and heavy-flavour decays.

Synthesis of Integrated Cathode Materials xLi2MnO3⋅ ( 1 − x ) LiMn1 / 3Ni1 / 3Co1 / 3O2 ( x = 0.3 , 0.5 , 0.7 ) and Studies of Their Electrochemical Behavior

Abstract: We report herein on the synthesis of "layered-layered" integrated xLi 2 Mno 3 ·(1 ― x)LiMn 1/3 Ni 1/3 Co 1/3 O 2 materials (x = 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7) using the self-combustion reaction in solutions containing metal nitrates and sucrose. The nanoparticles of these materials were obtained by further annealing of the as-prepared product in air at 700°C for 1 h and submicrometric particles were obtained by further annealing at 900°C for 22 h. The effect of composition on the electrochemical performance was explored in this work. By a rigorous study with high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), it became clear that the syntheses with the above stoichiometries produce two-phase materials comprising nanodomains of both rhombohedral LiNiO 2 -like and monoclinic Li 2 MnO 3 structures, which are closely integrated and interconnected with one another at the atomic level. Stable reversible capacities ∼220 mAh/g were obtained with composite electrodes containing submicrometer particles of 0.5Li 2 MnO 3 ·0.5LiMn 1/3 Ni 1/3 Co 1/3 O 2 . Structural aspects, activation of the monoclinic component, and stabilization mechanisms are thoroughly discussed using Raman spectroscopy, solid-state NMR, HRTEM, and X-ray diffraction (including Rietveld analysis) in conjunction with electrochemical measurements. This work provides a further indication that this family of integrated compounds contains the most promising cathode materials for high energy density Li-ion batteries.

Recent synthesis of aminophosphonic acids as potential biological importance

Abstract: Aminophosphonic acids are an important group of medicinal compounds, and their synthesis has been a focus of considerable attention in synthetic organic chemistry as well as medicinal chemistry. Although the phosphonic and carboxylic acid groups differ considerably with respect to shape, size, and acidity, α-aminophosphonic acids are considered to be structural analogues of the corresponding amino acids and the transition state mimics peptide hydrolysis. This review summarizes recent developments in the synthesis, characterization and biological activity of α-aminophosphonic acid and N-analogues. An account of both uses will be presented, emphasizing one of the potential future developments, and some implications in medicinal chemistry are also disclosed. In addition, a brief account on the characterization of N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine derivatives will be presented.

Enhancement of photocatalytic oxidation of oxalic acid by gold modified WO3/TiO2 photocatalysts under UV and visible light irradiation

Abstract: The photooxidation of oxalic acid, catalyzed by nanosized TiO2 or WO3 and composite photocatalysts: Au/TiO2, Au/WO3, WO3/TiO2, Au/WO3/TiO2 was studied under irradiation with UV, visible and combined UV–visible light. The catalysts were characterized by the XRD, XPS, SEM and TEM methods. The photocatalytic mineralization of oxalic acid, catalyzed by WO3/TiO2 or Au/WO3/TiO2, proceeded at a significantly higher rate under UV-A irradiation than that under visible light. This is due to the lower specific surface area of the WO3 and its small amount in the composite catalyst. Doping of the semiconductor materials with gold nanoparticles more than doubles the rates of mineralization of oxalic acid, compared to the un-doped samples, and more significantly in the case of Au/WO3/TiO2. The higher rate constants of oxalic acid decomposition under UV, visible or UV–visible light irradiation with the WO3/TiO2 and Au/WO3/TiO2 catalysts, compared with those measured with the individual oxide photocatalysts, are due to the more efficient separation of the electron–hole charges generated upon irradiation. Especially efficient is the charge separation in the case of the Au/WO3/TiO2 photocatalyst under irradiation with UV or combined UV–visible light, when the rate constants of oxalic acid destruction are approximately 1.7 times higher than that of the process catalyzed by Au/TiO2 and 3 times higher than that catalyzed by pure TiO2.

Complete n-hexane oxidation over supported Mn–Co catalysts

Abstract: Two series of Co–Mn samples were prepared by impregnation of silica with aqueous solutions of Co(NO3)2·6H2O and/or Mn(NO3)2·6H2O. Cobalt oxide was the predominant phase in one of the series and manganese was used as the promoter. The major component in the second series was manganese oxide and Co was the promoter. The prepared samples were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and tested in the reaction of complete n-hexane oxidation. The catalytic activity of both single component cobalt and manganese samples was similar, however, a combination between the two elements changed significantly the activity and this depended on the method of preparation. Catalysts prepared by a common solution of Co- and Mn nitrates manifested a considerable increase in activity as a result of very low crystallinity of the supported metal oxide phases, partial enrichment of the surface with cobalt and uniform distribution of oxide agglomerates on the support.

The multi-index Mittag-Leffler functions as an important class of special functions of fractional calculus

Abstract: This paper is a short description of our recent results on an important class of the so-called ''Special Functions of Fractional Calculus'' (SF of FC), which became important as solutions of fractional order (or multi-order) differential and integral equations, control systems and refined mathematical models of various physical, chemical, economical, management, bioengineering phenomena. Basically, under ''SF of FC'' we mean the Wright generalized hypergeometric function "[email protected]"q, as a special case of the Fox H-function. We have introduced and studied the multi-index Mittag-Leffler functions as their typical representatives, including many interesting special cases that have already proven their usefulness in FC and its applications. Some new results are also presented and open problems are discussed.

Determination of polarized parton densities from a QCD analysis of inclusive and semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering data

Abstract: A new combined next to leading order QCD analysis of the polarized inclusive and semi-inclusive deep inelastic lepton-hadron scattering (DIS) data is presented. In contrast to previous combined analyses, the 1/Q 2 terms (kinematic - target mass corrections, and dynamic - higher twist corrections) in the expression for the nucleon spin structure function g1 are taken into account. The new COMPASS data are included in the analysis. The impact of the semi-inclusive data on the polarized parton densities (PDFs) and on the higher twist corrections is discussed. The new results for the PDFs are compared to our (Leader, Sidorov, Stamenov) LSS’06 PDFs, obtained from the fit to the inclusive DIS data alone, and to those obtained from the de Florian, Sassot, Stratmann, and Vogelsang global analysis.

The expression of HMGB1 protein and its receptor RAGE in human malignant tumors.

Abstract: High Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1) is a nuclear non-histone protein discovered to be released in the extracellular medium as a response to various stimuli and implicated in cancerogenesis. High HMGB1 levels are reported in a variety of tumor types, but there are few data relating HMGB1 to the histological grade or to a particular cell type and cellular localization. We studied the expression of HMGB1 protein in malignant human tumors of different differentiation level and in tumor metastasis. In all tumor tissues, the protein level is elevated. In moderately differentiated carcinomas, the localization of the protein is perinuclear, while in the low differentiated; there is a tendency for non-specific nuclear localization. HMGB1 protein and its receptor RAGE are identified as a ligand-receptor pair that plays an important role in regulating the invasiveness of tumor cells. RAGE is not produced in all of the tested tumor specimens. We found high level of expression in hepatocellular, colorectal, and breast cribriform carcinomas, but not in malignant testicular specimens. Probably, the RAGE synthesis is related to distinctive tumor types. In metastatic cells, RAGE exhibits higher level of expression losing its specific granular cytosolic pattern characteristic for the primary tumors.

Short-range B -site ordering in the inverse spinel ferrite NiFe 2 O 4

Abstract: . The numberof experimentally observed Raman modes exceeds significantly that expected for a normal spinelstructure and the polarization properties of most of the Raman lines provide evidence for a micro-scopic symmetry lower than that given by the Fd¯3m space group. We argue that the experimentalresults can be explained by considering the short range 1:1 ordering of Ni

Search for dijet resonances in 7 TeV pp collisions at CMS

Abstract: A search for narrow resonances in the dijet mass spectrum is performed using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.9 inverse pb collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC. Upper limits at the 95% confidence level (CL) are presented on the product of the resonance cross section, branching fraction into dijets, and acceptance, separately for decays into quark-quark, quark-gluon, or gluon-gluon pairs. The data exclude new particles predicted in the following models at the 95% CL: string resonances, with mass less than 2.50 TeV, excited quarks, with mass less than 1.58 TeV, and axigluons, colorons, and E_6 diquarks, in specific mass intervals. This extends previously published limits on these models.

One-quasiparticle States in the Nuclear Energy Density Functional Theory

Abstract: We study one-quasiproton excitations in the rare-earth region in the framework of the nuclear Density Functional Theory in the Skyrme-Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov variant. The blocking prescription is implemented exactly with the time-odd mean field fully taken into account. The equal filling approximation is compared with the exact blocking procedure. We show that both procedures are strictly equivalent when the time-odd channel is neglected, and discuss how nuclear alignment properties affect the time-odd fields. The impact of time-odd fields on calculated one-quasiproton bandhead energies is found to be rather small, of the order of 100-200 keV; hence, the equal filling approximation is sufficiently precise for most practical applications. The triaxial polarization of the core induced by the odd particle is studied. We also briefly discuss the occurrence of finite-size spin instabilities that are present in calculations for odd-mass nuclei when certain Skyrme functionals are employed.