Analysis of barrier distributions data for16O + 64Zn reaction at sub-barrier energies

The barrier distribution data for the 16O + 64Zn reaction at energies spanning around the no minal barrier are examined by employing symmetric-asymmetric Gaussian barrier distribution (SAGBD) approach. The cumulative role of dominant channel couplings in the SAGBD method are determined in terms of the channel coupling parameter λ and percentage decrease of fusion barrier VCBRED with reference to nominal Coulomb barrier. The non-zero and positive values of these parameters for the studied system quantitively measure the influences of dominant intrinsic channels originated from the structure of the participants. The barrier distribution data of 16O + 64Zn reaction is quantitatively as well as qualitatively explained by SAGBD outcomes.

New Multifunctional Agents Based on Conjugates of 4-Amino-2,3-polymethylenequinoline and Butylated Hydroxytoluene for Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment

New hybrids of 4-amino-2,3-polymethylenequinoline with different sizes of the aliphatic ring linked to butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) by enaminoalkyl (7) or aminoalkyl (8) spacers were synthesized as potential multifunctional agents for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) treatment. All compounds were potent inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) with selectivity toward BChE. Lead compound 8c, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-{[2-(7,8,9,10- tetrahydro-6H-cyclohepta[b]quinolin-11-ylamino)-ethylimino]-methyl}-phenol exhibited an IC50(AChE) = 1.90 ± 0.16 µM, IC50(BChE) = 0.084 ± 0.008 µM, and 13.6 ± 1.2% propidium displacement at 20 μM. Compounds possessed low activity against carboxylesterase, indicating likely absence of clinically unwanted drug-drug interactions. Kinetics were consistent with mixed-type reversible inhibition of both cholinesterases. Docking indicated binding to catalytic and peripheral AChE sites; peripheral site binding along with propidium displacement suggest the potential of the hybrids to block AChE-induced β-amyloid aggregation, a disease-modifying effect. Compounds demonstrated high antioxidant activity in ABTS and FRAP assays as well as inhibition of luminol chemiluminescence and lipid peroxidation in mouse brain homogenates. Conjugates 8 with amine-containing spacers were better antioxidants than those with enamine spacers 7. Computational ADMET profiles for all compounds predicted good blood-brain barrier distribution (permeability), good intestinal absorption, and medium cardiac toxicity risk. Overall, based on their favorable pharmacological and ADMET profiles, conjugates 8 appear promising as candidates for AD therapeutics.

Coupled channels calculations of fusion reactions for 46Ti+64Ni, 40Ca+194Pt and 40Ar+148Sm systems

In this work, the fusion cross section , fusion barrier distribution and the probability of fusion have been investigated by coupled channel method for the systems 46Ti+64Ni, 40Ca+194Pt and 40Ar+148Sm with semi-classical and quantum mechanical approach using SCF and CCFULL Fortran codes respectively. The results for these calculations are compared with available experimental data. The results show that the quantum calculations agree better with experimental data, especially bellow the Coulomb barrier, for the studied systems while above this barrier, the two codes reproduce the data.

Investigation of the Calculation of Coupled Channels for Some Halo Systems

The fusion reaction for systems involving halo nuclei are investigated by two- and multicoupled channel calculations for the systems 8B+58Ni, 11Be+209Bi, and 15C+232Th. The effect of coupling between the breakup channel and the elastic channel have been considered using the Continuum Discretized Coupled Channels (CDCC) method in full quantum and semiclassical approaches. The calculation of the fusion cross-section qfus (mb), fusion barrier distribution Dfus (mb/MeV) and fusion probability Pfus reproduces the measured data for the systems under study quite well above and below the Coulomb barrier VB. In the case of two-channel coupling both in semiclassical and quantum mechanical approaches, the measured data above the Coulomb barrier VB are overestimated.

Glassforming Liquids, Amorphous and Semicrystalline Polymers: Exploring their Energy Landscape and Dynamical Heterogeneity by Multi-frequency High-Field EPR

We review past and recent work carried out on viscous liquids, amorphous and semicrystalline polymers by multifrequency high-field electron paramagnetic resonance (HF-EPR) facility in Pisa. The emphasis is on the enhanced ability to provide fine details of the reorientation process of the paramagnetic guest, the spin probe, revealing features driving the dynamics of the host system, including the energy-barrier distribution of glassy polymers, the dynamical heterogeneity of semicrystalline polymers, and the dynamical changes occurring at the critical temperature predicted by the ideal mode-coupling theory.