mGluR5 binding changes during a mismatch negativity task in a multimodal protocol with [11C]ABP688 PET/MR-EEG

Currently, the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) is the subject of several lines of research in the context of neurology and is of high interest as a target for positron-emission tomography (PET). Here, we assessed the feasibility of using [11C]ABP688, a specific antagonist radiotracer for an allosteric site on the mGluR5, to evaluate changes in glutamatergic neurotransmission through a mismatch-negativity (MMN) task as a part of a simultaneous and synchronized multimodal PET/MR-EEG study. We analyzed the effect of MMN by comparing the changes in nondisplaceable binding potential (BPND) prior to (baseline) and during the task in 17 healthy subjects by applying a bolus/infusion protocol. Anatomical and functional regions were analyzed. A small change in BPND was observed in anatomical regions (posterior cingulate cortex and thalamus) and in a functional network (precuneus) after the start of the task. The effect size was quantified using Kendall’s W value and was 0.3. The motor cortex was used as a control region for the task and did not show any significant BPND changes. There was a significant ΔBPND between acquisition conditions. On average, the reductions in binding across the regions were - 8.6 ± 3.2% in anatomical and - 6.4 ± 0.5% in the functional network (p ≤ 0.001). Correlations between ΔBPND and EEG latency for both anatomical (p = 0.008) and functional (p = 0.022) regions were found. Exploratory analyses suggest that the MMN task played a role in the glutamatergic neurotransmission, and mGluR5 may be indirectly modulated by these changes.

Оценка влияния икосаэдрических "магических" чисел на термическую стабильность малых нанокластеров серебра

A comparative analysis of thermally induced structural transitions in silver nanoclusters, the number of atoms of which corresponded to the “magic” numbers of the icosahedral (Ih) structure with variation of their initial morphology, was carried out by the molecular dynamics method using the modified tight-binding potential TB-SMA. It is shown that, in the case of the initial fcc phase, the formation of the Ih modification, depending on the particle size, occurred either at the stage of preliminary thermal relaxation or during further heating. At the initial amorphous morphology, the nature of the structural transitions underwent significant changes. Thus, even in the case of Ag55 clusters, the icosahedral structure was formed only in 50-60% of the experiments performed. Based on the data obtained, it was concluded that to create a stable Ih structure, it is necessary to use the thermal cycling procedure.

Hadrons as QCD Bound States

Bound state perturbation theory is well established for QED atoms. Today the hyperfine splitting of Positronium is known to 𝒪 (α7 log α). Whereas standard expansions of scattering amplitudes start from free states, bound states are expanded around eigenstates of the Hamiltonian including a binding potential. The eigenstate wave functions have all powers of α, requiring a choice in the ordering of the perturbative expansion. Temporal (A0 = 0) gauge permits an expansion starting from valence Fock states, bound by their instantaneous gauge field. This formulation is applicable in any frame and seems promising even for hadrons in QCD. The 𝒪(αs0) confining potential is determined (up to a universal scale) by a homogeneous solution of Gauss’ law.

Constructivist Analysis of Independence of Bangladesh

The Independence of Bangladesh was one of the most important event to have occurred in the World Politics of 20th Century. It was not just dismemberment of the then biggest Muslim State in terms of Population, but was also a great question mark on the survival of the state that was founded only on the basis of Religion. Constructivism is an approach in International Relations that contends that Reality is inter-subjective and is constructed through the interaction of different players and institutions. This Research Paper makes an in-depth analysis of different factors that played important role in creation of Bangladesh. The two Nation theory on which Pakistan was founded has been dealt in this paper. The value of given identity depends upon its number and the binding potential of an identity is more in case of identity being in substantive minority than when the identity is in majority. The colonial construct of labelling the entire community as either martial or coward was also responsible for the crisis. The lack of democratic development has also been highlighted as it reduced the capability of Pakistani state in dealing with aspirations of people of East Pakistan. The paper also seeks to critically analyze the role of India in formation of Bangladesh.

In Vivo Cerebral Translocator Protein (TSPO) Binding and Its Relationship with Blood Adiponectin Levels in Treatment-Naïve Young Adults with Major Depression: A [11C]PK11195 PET Study

Adiponectin is an adipokine that mediates cellular cholesterol efflux and plays important roles in neuroinflammatory processes. In this study, we undertook positron emission tomography (PET) with the translocator protein (TSPO) ligand [11C]PK11195 and measured serum adiponectin levels in groups of treatment-naïve young adult patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and matched healthy controls. Thirty treatment-naïve MDD patients (median age: 24 years) and twenty-three healthy controls underwent [11C]PK11195 PET. We quantified TSPO availability in brain as the [11C]PK11195 binding potential (BPND) using a reference tissue model in conjunction with the supervised cluster analysis (SVCA4) algorithm. Age, sex distribution, body mass index, and serum adiponectin levels did not differ between the groups. Between-group analysis using a region-of-interest approach showed significantly higher [11C]PK11195 BPND in the left anterior and right posterior cingulate cortices in MDD patients than in controls. Serum adiponectin levels had significant negative correlations with [11C]PK11195 BPND in the bilateral hippocampus in MDD patients, but significant positive correlations in the bilateral hippocampus in the control group. Our results indicate significantly higher TSPO binding in the anterior and posterior cingulate cortices in treatment-naïve young MDD patients, suggesting microglial activation in these limbic regions, which are involved in cognitive and emotional processing. The opposite correlations between [11C]PK11195 BPND in the hippocampus with serum adiponectin levels in MDD and control groups suggest that microglial activation in the hippocampus may respond differentially to adiponectin signaling in MDD and healthy subjects, possibly with respect to microglial phenotype.

STRUCTURAL STABILITY OF Ag AND Ag NANOCLUSTERS WITH A CHANGE IN THE INITIAL MORPHOLOGY

В статье методом молекулярной динамики с использованием модифицированного потенциала сильной связи TB-SMA (second moment approximation of tight-binding) проводится сравнительный анализ характера термически индуцированных структурных переходов в нанокластерах серебра, число атомов в которых соответствует «магическим» числам икосаэдрической структуры, при вариации их начальной морфологии. Показано, что в случае начальной ГЦК конфигурации формирование Ih модификации происходит либо на этапе предварительной термической релаксации, либо в ходе дальнейшего нагрева. При начальной аморфной морфологии характер структурных переходов претерпевает значительные изменения. Так, например, формирующаяся Ih модификация обладает большей стабильностью в области высоких температур и точка плавления нанокластеров смещается на величину более 100 К. Такой эффект обусловлен более плавным изменением удельной потенциальной энергии нанокластера в сравнении со случаем, когда устойчивая Ih конфигурация формируется при низких температурах. Полученные данные могут быть использованы при процессах создания нанокластеров серебра с требуемым внутренним строением. This article provides a comparative analysis of thermally induced structural transitions in silver nanoclusters with a change in their initial morphology. The study was executed by the molecular dynamics method using the modified TB-SMA (second moment approximation of tight-binding) tight binding potential. The number of atoms in nanoclusters corresponds to the icosahedral structure «magic» numbers. It is shown that for nanoclusters with the initial FCC configuration, the Ih modification is formed either at the stage of preliminary thermal relaxation or during further heating. For nanoclusters with an initial amorphous morphology, the nature of structural transitions undergoes significant changes. For example, the formed Ih modification is more stable at high temperatures and the melting point of nanoclusters shifts by more than 100 K. This effect is due to a smoother change in the specific potential energy of the nanocluster in comparison with the case when a stable Ih configuration is formed at low temperatures. The data obtained can be used in processes to create silver nanoclusters with the required internal structure.

ROLE OF «MAGIC» HCP NUMBERS IN STABILITY OF THE INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF Ag AND Ag NANOCLUSTERS

В настоящее время серебро активно применяется в микроэлектронике, в основном благодаря своей высокой электро- и теплопроводности. Учет процессов взаимодействия между металлом и световой волной (плазмонные эффекты) дает совершенно новые технические приложения серебра. Эти приложения становятся возможными благодаря сильному взаимодействию между падающим светом и свободными электронами в наноструктурах. К настоящему времени уже стало понятно, что размер, форма и структура наночастиц определяют их плазмонные свойства, в том числе резонансные частоты. Следовательно, подгонкой размера, внешнего вида металлической наноструктуры и ее внутреннего строения, можно управлять светом с очень большой степенью точности. В данной работе методом молекулярной динамики с использованием модифицированного потенциала сильной связи TB-SMA (second moment approximation of tight-binding) были изучены границы термической стабильности различной исходной структурной фазы в малых кластерах серебра с числом атомов, соответствующим «магическим» числам ГПУ структуры. Было показано, что характер термически индуцированных структурных переходов в исследуемых группах нанокластеров резко отличается. Данный факт может позволить создать малые кластеры серебра с требуемым внутренним строением. Currently, silver is actively used in microelectronics, mainly due to its high electrical and thermal conductivity. Taking into account the processes of interaction between a metal and a light wave (plasmon effects) gives completely new technical applications of silver. These applications are made possible by the strong interaction between incident light and free electrons in nanostructures. By now, it has already become clear that the size, shape, and structure of nanoparticles determine their plasmon properties, including resonance frequencies. Therefore, by adjusting the size, appearance of the metal nanostructure and its internal structure, it is possible to control light with a very high degree of accuracy. In this work, the boundaries of thermal stability of various initial structural phases in small silver clusters with the number of atoms corresponding to the «magic» numbers of the hcp structure were studied by the molecular dynamics method using the modified tight-binding potential TB-SMA (second moment approximation of tight-binding). It was shown that the nature of thermally induced structural transitions in the groups of nanoclusters under study differs sharply. This fact can make it possible to create small silver clusters with the required internal structure.

SIMULATION OF LAYER BY LAYER GROWTH OF FRACTAL METAL Pt-Rh FILMS

В данной работе методом молекулярной динамики с использованием потенциала сильной связи проведено моделирование процесса молекулярно-лучевой эпитаксии с целью определения закономерностей при формировании фрактальных металлических пленок платины на поверхности родия. Установлена возможность формирования фрактальных структур как в островковых пленках платины на поверхности родия, так и в сплошной пленке. Установлены параметры компьютерного эксперимента, определяющие переход от отдельных островковых пленок к сплошной пленке в указанной системе. С использованием различных программных продуктов Gwyddion и Image Analysis, а также собственной разработки FractalSurface проанализирован диапазон изменения фрактальной размерности при различных условиях молекулярно-динамического эксперимента методом подсчета кубов. Полученные значения фрактальной размерности в целом находятся в приемлемом согласии между собой, однако существует ряд исключений, которые обсуждаются более подробно. Сравнительный анализ получаемых результатов позволяет формулировать рекомендации для методики создания, корректировки и прецизионного контроля при «выращивании» структур с заданной морфологией поверхности. In this work, the molecular dynamics method and the tight-binding potential are used to simulate the process of molecular beam epitaxy in order to determine the regularities in the formation of fractal platinum metal films on the rhodium surface. The possibility of formation of fractal structures both in island platinum films on the rhodium surface and in a continuous film has been established. The parameters of the computer experiment, which determine the transition from individual island films to a continuous film in the indicated system, have been established. Using various software products Gwyddion and Image Analysis, as well as our own software FractalSurface, the range of changes in the fractal dimension has been analyzed under various conditions of a molecular dynamics experiment by the method of cube counting. The obtained values of the fractal dimension are generally in acceptable agreement with each other; however, there is a number of exceptions, which are discussed in more detail. A comparative analysis of the results obtained allows one to formulate recommendations for the methodology for creating, adjusting and precision control when «growing» structures with a given surface morphology.

INFLUENCE OF THE SIZE EFFECT ON THE REGULARITIES OF THE STRUCTURE FORMATION IN BIMETALLIC Au-Co NANOPARTICLES

В данной работе методом молекулярной динамики с использованием потенциала сильной связи исследовались биметаллические наночастицы Au - Co трёх стехиометрических составов различного размера. Установлены закономерности структурообразования, описаны их характерные особенности. В частности, в составах с 50ат.% и 75ат.% содержанием Au образуются множественные малые ядра локальной икосаэдрической симметрии. Только в составе Co -25ат.% Au с увеличением размера частиц преобладают кристаллические фазы. Выявлены составы, в которых внутренняя симметрия наночастицы определена наличием одного икосаэдра, либо сверхструктуры из нескольких икосаэдров. Рассчитаны концентрационные зависимости энергии смешения биметаллической наночастицы Au - Co. Показано, что в определённом диапазоне размеров существуют концентрационные составы, при которых биметаллический наносплав может проявлять нестабильность. С использованием калорических кривых потенциальной части внутренней энергии определены температуры кристаллизации. Установлено, что температура кристаллизации демонстрирует умеренный, либо существенный, в зависимости от состава, рост с увеличением размера биметаллических наночастиц Au - Co. This work studied bimetallic Au - Co nanoparticles of three stoichiometric compositions of various sizes by the molecular dynamics method using the tight-binding potential. The regularities of structure formation are established, their characteristic features are described. In particular, in compositions with 50at% and 75at% Au content, multiple small nuclei of local icosahedral symmetry are formed. Crystalline phases prevail only in the Co - 25 at% Au composition with an increase in the particle size. Compositions are revealed in which the internal symmetry of a nanoparticle is determined by the presence of one icosahedron or a superstructure of several icosahedrons. The concentration dependences of the mixing energy of a bimetallic Au - Co nanoparticle are calculated. It is shown that there are concentrations of compositions at which bimetallic nanoalloys can exhibit instability in a certain size range. Crystallization temperatures were determined using the caloric curves of the potential part of the internal energy. It was found that the crystallization temperature demonstrates a moderate or significant, depending on the composition as well as growth with an increase in the size of bimetallic Au - Co nanoparticles.

NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR HIGH-PERFORMANCE SIMULATIONS OF NANOSYSTEM USING METROPOLIS SOFTWARE

Описана архитектура и программное обеспечение Metropolis для проведения компьютерного моделирования методом Монте-Карло, а также его модификации. В качестве потенциала используется потенциал сильной связи, однако это не исключает возможности использования других модификаций апробированных многочастичных потенциалов. В сравнении с предыдущими программными реализациями метода Монте-Карло данная модификация увеличила скорость расчетов в 700 раз для выбранного размера наночастицы. Представлены данные по сходимости результатов моделирования методом Монте-Карло на примере температуры плавления. Разработанный программный комплекс постоянно апробируется для расчетов различных моно- и многокомпонентных наночастиц и наносистем. Полученные результаты показывают достаточно хорошее согласие с другими численными методами, в первую очередь с молекулярной динамикой, и реальным экспериментом. Дальнейшее развитие программного комплекса и улучшение показателей эффективности его работы планируется с использованием параллелизации вычислений и использование технологии вычислений на графических процессорах CUDA. The architecture and software Metropolis for computer simulation by the Monte Carlo method, as well as its modifications, are described. The tight-binding potential that does not exclude the possibility of using other modifications of many-body potentials. In comparison with previous software implementations of the Monte Carlo method, this modification has increased the rate of calculations by 700 times for a selected nanoparticle size. The data on the convergence of the results of modeling by the Monte Carlo method are presented on the example of the melting point. The developed software package is constantly tested for calculations of various mono- and multicomponent nanoparticles and nanosystems. The results obtained show fairly good agreement with other numerical methods, primarily molecular dynamics, and real experiment. Further development of the software package and its performance indicators are planned to be improved using parallelization of computations and the use of computing technology on graphics processors CUDA.