Multiple-trapping model of dielectric relaxation of the ice Ih.

A microscopic theory of dielectric relaxation of the hexagonal ice (Ih) is proposed based on the multiple-trapping model. The theory explains the distinctive peculiarities of the relaxation time temperature behavior and the peak broadening parameter in a wide temperature range from the unified positions.

Probing nanofriction and Aubry-type signatures in a finite self-organized system.

Friction in ordered atomistic layers plays a central role in various nanoscale systems ranging from nanomachines to biological systems. It governs transport properties, wear and dissipation. Defects and incommensurate lattice constants markedly change these properties. Recently, experimental systems have become accessible to probe the dynamics of nanofriction. Here, we present a model system consisting of laser-cooled ions in which nanofriction and transport processes in self-organized systems with back action can be studied with atomic resolution. We show that in a system with local defects resulting in incommensurate layers, there is a transition from sticking to sliding with Aubry-type signatures. We demonstrate spectroscopic measurements of the soft vibrational mode driving this transition and a measurement of the order parameter. We show numerically that both exhibit critical scaling near the transition point. Our studies demonstrate a simple, well-controlled system in which friction in self-organized structures can be studied from classical- to quantum-regimes.

Universality in the Dynamics of Second-Order Phase Transitions.

When traversing a symmetry-breaking second-order phase transition at a finite rate, topological defects form whose number dependence on the quench rate is given by simple power laws. We propose a general approach for the derivation of such scaling laws that is based on the analytical transformation of the associated equations of motion to a universal form rather than employing plausible physical arguments. We demonstrate the power of this approach by deriving the scaling of the number of topological defects in both homogeneous and nonhomogeneous settings. The general nature and extensions of this approach are discussed.

Correction of the power law of ac conductivity in ion-conducting materials due to the electrode polarization effect.

Based on the supposition related to fractal nature of transport processes in ion-conducting materials, an expression for the low-frequency ac conductivity dependence was derived. This expression for the ac conductivity generalizes the power-law dependence and gives a possibility to take into account the influence of the electrode polarization effect. The ac conductivity expression obtained is in excellent agreement with experimental data for a wide frequency range.

Observation of the Kibble-Zurek scaling law for defect formation in ion crystals.

Traversal of a symmetry-breaking phase transition at finite rates can lead to causally separated regions with incompatible symmetries and the formation of defects at their boundaries, which has a crucial role in quantum and statistical mechanics, cosmology and condensed matter physics. This mechanism is conjectured to follow universal scaling laws prescribed by the Kibble-Zurek mechanism. Here we determine the scaling law for defect formation in a crystal of 16 laser-cooled trapped ions, which are conducive to the precise control of structural phases and the detection of defects. The experiment reveals an exponential scaling of defect formation γ(ß), where γ is the rate of traversal of the critical point and ß=2.68±0.06. This supports the prediction of ß=8/3≈2.67 for finite inhomogeneous systems. Our result demonstrates that the scaling laws also apply in the mesoscopic regime and emphasizes the potential for further tests of non-equilibrium thermodynamics with ion crystals.

Topological defect formation and spontaneous symmetry breaking in ion Coulomb crystals.

Symmetry breaking phase transitions play an important role in nature. When a system traverses such a transition at a finite rate, its causally disconnected regions choose the new broken symmetry state independently. Where such local choices are incompatible, topological defects can form. The Kibble-Zurek mechanism predicts the defect densities to follow a power law that scales with the rate of the transition. Owing to its ubiquitous nature, this theory finds application in a wide field of systems ranging from cosmology to condensed matter. Here we present the successful creation of defects in ion Coulomb crystals by a controlled quench of the confining potential, and observe an enhanced power law scaling in accordance with numerical simulations and recent predictions. This simple system with well-defined critical exponents opens up ways to investigate the physics of non-equilibrium dynamics from the classical to the quantum regime.

The influence of the secondary relaxation processes on the structural relaxation in glass-forming materials.

In the frame of fractional-kinetic approach, the model of the structural α-relaxation in the presence of the secondary ß-relaxation processes is suggested. The model is based on the rigorous bond between ß-processes with α-process and leads to the generalized and justified expression for the complex dielectric permittivity (CDP). It allows to form a new sight on the problem of the fitting of multi-peak structure of the dielectric loss spectra in glass-forming materials. The consistency of the CDP expressions obtained is based on a good fit of experimental data for binary methanol-water mixtures.

[The state of sympathetic-adrenal system in patients with chronic cardiac insufficiency].

Activation of sympato-adrenal system plays an important role in the development of chronic cardiac failure (CCF). However, its relation to morpho-functional state of myocardium in CCF patients is virtually unknown. HPLC with electrochemical detection was used to determine plasma noradrenalin, adrenalin, and their precursors, 3,4-dioxyphenylalanine (DOPA) and dopamine, in patients with different morpho-functional changes in myocardium. The study demonstrated enhanced activity of sympato-adrenal system in patients with CCF. It showed for the first time that activity of sympato-adrenal system in CCF patients depends on the morpho-functional status of myocardium.

[The membrane allotransplantate use in surgery for hygroma].

Reparative processes in calcaneal tendon after the use of new repair technique were studied in two animal series. In both groups the calcaneal tendon was incised to the half of its width. In control group no further manipulations were performed and in the experimental group the defect was covered with allotransplantate of dura mater (membrane stop). The control group demonstrated less active tendon reaction, whereas the experimental group demonstrated stimulation of reparation with the rapid change of inflammatory stages. The membrane stop serves as a modeling frame for new fibers of the regenerate. The obtained results permit recommending the membrane stop in treatment of hand hygromas for the cover of weak tendon areas.

Spatial sequencing of microbial reduction of chromate and nitrate in membrane bioreactor.

Sequential reduction of chromate and nitrate, two competitive electron acceptors, has been demonstrated for strains of Pseudomonas genus for both planktonic cells and cells immobilised in agar layers on the surface of synthetic membrane. Denitrification occurs practically after chromate depletion. This order of reduction process is consistent with redox potentials of the respective reactions. In a membrane bioreactor, competitive inhibition results in nitrate transfer through the membrane without transformation. Thus the receiving phase is contaminated with nitrate. To address this problem, a membrane has been used for spatial sequencing of chromate and nitrate reduction. Bacterial cells were immobilised in two layers with each layer placed on opposing sides of the membrane. By this means, chromate reduction is localised into the layer contacting the feed phase while nitrate reduction occurs in the layer facing the receiving phase. As a result, only traces of the pollutants are detected in the receiving phase.

[Prophylactics of urological complications in patients with a vertebro-spinal trauma].

An original method of evacuation of urine from the bladder in spinal patients and patients with infravesical obstruction of different genesis (cystocuteneostoma) was worked out by the authors in experiments and introduced into clinical practice. A comparative analysis of the results of treatment of patients using ordinary methods and that developed by the authors has shown considerable advantages of the latter: less number of complications such as urethritis, urinary bladder calculi, pyelonephritis.

Dielectric study of neutral and charged hydrogels during the swelling process.

Dielectric spectroscopy measurements of conductivity were applied for understanding the change in the internal morphology of the neutral and permanently charged polyacrylamide (PAAm) hydrogels during the swelling process. For the first time four distinct peaks (each corresponding to a different swelling stage) in the conductivity of the neutral gel were observed during the swelling of this gel. These peaks are related to the distribution of dense polymer regions (they are defined as the "blobs") appearing in a microstructure of the given PAAm gel having at least four average sizes. For the charged gel the heterogeneity decreases due to the internal electric field of the charged sites. Thus, this characteristic behavior in the conductivity becomes almost negligible for the gel charged with permanent SO(3) (-) groups. It seems this fact causes considerable decrease in amplitude of the peaks and overall decrease the conductivity during the whole swelling process especially at high frequencies. The new theory of dielectric relaxation based on the fractional kinetics containing the complex power-law exponents was used for verifying these swelling processes and received an excellent confirmation in description of the real part of the complex conductivity Re[sigma(omega)] by the fitting function that follows from the suggested theory. The calculated power-law exponents describe the behavior of Re[sigma(omega,mm(0))] in the available frequency range (30 Hz-13 MHz) and for all values of the relative masses (volumes) measured in the process of the experiment. The excellent coincidence between the new theory and measured data gives a possibility to suggest more reliable physical picture of the swelling process that takes place in neutral/charged gels.

[Effect of radiation sterilization on biomaterial structure and properties].

The purpose of the investigation was the study of structural changes connective tissue biomaterials after different combinations of their radiation sterilization, physico-chemical treatment and conservation. Using a complex of histological methods (polarization microscopy of unstained sections, van Gieson's stain, scanning electron microscopy), an analysis was performed to detect the structural changes in tendons and dermis which underwent various physico-chemical treatment and subjected to the radiation sterilization using different types (3- radiation and fast-moving electron stream) and doses (1.5, 2.5 and 4 Mrad) of radiation. The dependence of the structural changes in the biomaterials on the fibroarchitectonics of the tissue as well as on the physico-chemical treatment and radiation type and dose was demonstrated. The tendons underwent clear-cut significant changes in all regimes and radiation doses studied. Dermis was found to be most resistant to radiation challenge.

Application of probability circles analysis to the construction of calibration curves for infra red spectroscopy.

A new method, based on the presentation of initial data in the form of probability circles (PC), has been developed for constructing a calibration curve, which shows a monotonic dependence with respect to the given concentration. The centre of the reference probability circle is defined by its mean value and the radius of the circle is calculated as the value of the standard deviation of the sampling considered. The comparative probability circle is defined by the same corresponding parameters but rotated, relative to the initial reference circle, by an angle, which is related to the Pearson's correlation coefficient (PCC). The two parameters of the PCC and the statistical proximity factor (PCF), which defines the positions of the centres of the circles relative to each other, can be chosen as statistical parameters for the construction of the desired calibration curve. Experiments realized with the mixture of two liquids (chloroform serves as the basic matrix) and acetone (serves as an additive) confirm the efficiency of this new analytical method and demonstrate a possible increase sensitivity for the detection of lower concentration limit by approximately one order of magnitude. This new approach, which is free from model assumptions, and having very clear geometrical meaning, can be applied for different types of spectra and has many potential applications in the construction of calibration curves for different additives embedded within different matrices.

The role of macrophages in the tissues regeneration stimulated by the biomaterials.

Allogenic grafted tissues are subjected to biodegradation and replaced by the regenerate. To minimize the immune response and improve the rebuilding of tissues there was developed a technology to treat tissues with a cells elimination and dosed out extraction of proteoglycanes (Alloplant. With aim to clarify the role of macrophages in the tissues regeneration resulting implantation the biomaterials 112 rats were injected the allogenic and xenogenic (rabbit's) pulverized biomaterials in the form of suspension. Injections were performed subcutaneously into the animals' back by the base of the tail. The control group (14 rats) were injected a physiologic saline. Animals were killed by ether inhalation on day 2, 4, 7, 14, 30, 90 and 180 and tissue sections were studied by light and electron microscopy. The study showed the key role of the macrophages in resorption of the allogenic biomaterial and formation of the newly-formed tissue. Implantation of the biomaterial induced activity a great number of the mature macrophages, which completely lysed and resorbed the biomaterial particles. Expression TNFalpha was significantly higher whereas expression TGF-beta1 was significantly lower. With xenogenic biomaterial implantation there were less macrophages, their activity was restricted. Macrophages containing large vacuoles with an active endo- and exocytosis were revealed in the allogenic biomaterial implantation and were named 'matrix-forming macrophages'. We may suppose that these macrophages synthesize (or re-synthesize) proteoglycan component of the newly-formed collagen fibers. There was put forward a hypothesis about the two component mechanism of the collagen fibers formation.

Atomic force microscopy study of cellulose surface interaction controlled by cellulose binding domains.

Colloidal probe microscopy has been used to study the interaction between model cellulose surfaces and the role of cellulose binding domain (CBD), peptides specifically binding to cellulose, in interfacial interaction of cellulose surfaces modified with CBDs. The interaction between pure cellulose surfaces in aqueous electrolyte solution is dominated by double layer repulsive forces with the range and magnitude of the net force dependent on electrolyte concentration. AFM imaging reveals agglomeration of CBD adsorbed on cellulose surface. Despite an increase in surface charge owing to CBD binding to cellulose surface, force profiles are less repulsive for interactions involving, at least, one modified surface. Such changes are attributed to irregularity of the topography of protein surface and non-uniform distribution of surface charges on the surface of modified cellulose. Binding double CBD hybrid protein to cellulose surfaces causes adhesive forces at retraction, whereas separation curves obtained with cellulose modified with single CBD show small adhesion only at high ionic strength. This is possibly caused by the formation of the cross-links between cellulose surfaces in the case of double CBD.

Possibility between earthquake and explosion seismogram differentiation by discrete stochastic non-Markov processes and local Hurst exponent analysis.

The basic scientific point of this paper is to draw the attention of researchers to new possibilities of differentiation of similar signals having different nature. One example of such kinds of signals is presented by seismograms containing recordings of earthquakes (EQ's) and technogenic explosions (TE's). EQ's are among the most dramatic phenomena in nature. We propose here a discrete stochastic model for possible solution of a problem of strong EQ forecasting and differentiation of TE's from the weak EQ's. Theoretical analysis is performed by two independent methods: by using statistical theory of discrete non-Markov stochastic processes [Phys. Rev. E 62, 6178 (2000)] and the local Hurst exponent. The following Earth states have been considered among them: before (Ib) and during (I) strong EQ, during weak EQ (II) and during TE (III), and in a calm state of Earth's core (IV). The estimation of states I, II, and III has been made on the particular examples of Turkey (1999) EQ's, state IV has been taken as an example of Earth's state before underground TE. Time recordings of seismic signals of the first four dynamic orthogonal collective variables, six various planes of phase portrait of four-dimensional phase space of orthogonal variables and the local Hurst exponent have been calculated for the dynamic analysis of states of systems I-IV. The analysis of statistical properties of seismic time series I-IV has been realized with the help of a set of discrete time-dependent functions (time correlation function and first three memory functions), their power spectra, and the first three points in the statistical spectrum of non-Markovity parameters. In all systems studied we have found a bizarre combination of the following spectral characteristics: the fractal frequency spectra adjustable by phenomena of usual and restricted self-organized criticality, spectra of white and color noises and unusual alternation of Markov and non-Markov effects of long-range memory, detected earlier [J. Phys. A 27, 5363 (1994)] only for hydrodynamic systems. Our research demonstrates that discrete non-Markov stochastic processes and long-range memory effects play a crucial role in the behavior of seismic systems I-IV. The approaches, permitting us to obtain an algorithm of strong EQ forecasting and to differentiate TE's from weak EQ's, have been developed.