On the similarity of Sturm-Liouville operators with non-Hermitian boundary conditions to self-adjoint and normal operators

We consider one-dimensional Schroedinger-type operators in a bounded interval with non-self-adjoint Robin-type boundary conditions. It is well known that such operators are generically conjugate to normal operators via a similarity transformation. Motivated by recent interests in quasi-Hermitian Hamiltonians in quantum mechanics, we study properties of the transformations in detail. We show that they can be expressed as the sum of the identity and an integral Hilbert-Schmidt operator. In the case of parity and time reversal boundary conditions, we establish closed integral-type formulae for the similarity transformations, derive the similar self-adjoint operator and also find the associated "charge conjugation" operator, which plays the role of fundamental symmetry in a Krein-space reformulation of the problem.Comment: 27 page

Study of the 26Al(n,p)26Mg and 26Al(n,α)23Na reactions using the 27Al(p,p')27Al inelastic scattering reaction

26Al was the first cosmic radioactivity ever detected in the galaxy as well as one of the first extinct radioactivity observed in refractory phases of meteorites. Its nucleosynthesis in massive stars is still uncertain mainly due to the lack of nuclear information concerning the 26Al(n,p)26Mg and 26 Al(n,α)23Na reactions. We report on a single and coincidence measurement of the 27Al(p,p')27Al(p)26Mg and 27Al(p,p')27Al(α)23Na reactions performed at the Orsay TANDEM facility aiming at the spectroscopy study of 27Al above the neutron threshold. Fourteen states are observed for the first time within 350 keV above the 26Al+n threshold

Lab-on-a-Chip Analysis Using Benchtop NMR Technology

We present the design and optimization of a benchtop NMR spectrometer for real-time metabolic monitoring of 3D tissue on microfluidic platforms, utilizing hyperpolarization via dynamic nuclear polarisation. We show the modifications made to a commercial benchtop NMR spectrometer, the design and fabrication of a microfluidic platform ensuring consistent injection of hyperpolarized substrates and ongoing cell media renewal, and its integration with a radio frequency (RF) coil for data transmission and reception (Tx/Rx). Additionally, the construction of a sample carrier is presented. Preliminary NMR results from this system are also provided.This work has received funding from: The European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (GA-863037); the Spanish grants with reference PID2020- 117859RA-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 (NARMYD), RYC2020-029099-I funded by MCIN/AEI10.13039/501100011033 and by “ESF Investing in your future”, PLEC2022-009256 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by the “European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR”; The BIST (Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology)-“la Caixa” Banking Foundation Chemical Biology programme

Lab-on-a-Chip Analysis Using Benchtop NMR Technology

We present the design and optimization of a benchtop NMR spectrometer for real-time metabolic monitoring of 3D tissue on microfluidic platforms, utilizing hyperpolarization via dynamic nuclear polarisation. We show the modifications made to a commercial benchtop NMR spectrometer, the design and fabrication of a microfluidic platform ensuring consistent injection of hyperpolarized substrates and ongoing cell media renewal, and its integration with a radio frequency (RF) coil for data transmission and reception (Tx/Rx). Additionally, the construction of a sample carrier is presented. Preliminary NMR results from this system are also provided.This work has received funding from: The European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (GA-863037); the Spanish grants with reference PID2020- 117859RA-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 (NARMYD), RYC2020-029099-I funded by MCIN/AEI10.13039/501100011033 and by “ESF Investing in your future”, PLEC2022-009256 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by the “European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR”; The BIST (Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology)-“la Caixa” Banking Foundation Chemical Biology programme

Preference Change

International audienceMost models of rational action assume that all possible states and actions are pre-defined and that preferences change only when beliefs do. But several decision and game problems lack these features, calling for a dynamic model of preferences: preferences can change when unforeseen possibilities come to light or when there is no specifiable or measurable change in belief. We propose a formally precise dynamic model of preferences that extends an existing static model (Boutilier et al. in J Artif Intell Res 21:135-191, 2004). Our axioms for updating preferences preserve consistency while minimising change, like Hansson's (Theory Decis 38(1):1-28, 1995). But unlike prior models of preference change, ours supports default reasoning with partial preference information, which is essential to handle decision problems where the decision tree isn't surveyable. We also show that our model avoids problems for other models of preference change discussed in Spohn (Preference change: approaches from philosophy. Economics and Psychology: Springer, pp 109-121, 2009)

Intensional Question Answering using ILP: What does an answer mean?

Cimiano P, Hartfiel H, Rudolph S. Intensional Question Answering using ILP: What does an answer mean? In: Kapetanios E, Sugumaran V, Spiliopoulou M, eds. Natural Language and Information Systems. Lecture Notes in Computer Science. Vol 5039. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer; 2008: 151-162

Activités antioxydantes de quelques fruits communs et sauvages d’Algérie

Les activités antioxydantes (AA) de 27 fruits provenant principalement du nord algérien sont analysées par mesure du pouvoir réducteur du fer (III) à fer (II). De tous les fruits étudiés, la fraction (pulpe  +   pelure) des baies de l’arbre à fraises (Arbutus  unedo L.), les mûres sauvages (Morus  nigra L.) et les dattes (Phoenix  dactylifera L.) noires arrondies montrent des AA plus élevées  : 2  049, 1  115 et 1  091  mg de vitamine C par 100  g de masse fraîche (mf) respectivement. L’effet synergique (ES), calculé uniquement pour les pelures de trois fruits est de 1,29  ± 0,04 (arbousier/datte grenat à noyaux), 1,74  ± 0,07 (arbousier/raisins noirs), 2,24  ± 0,11 (dattes grenat à noyau/raisins noirs) et 1,45  ± 0,05 (arbousier/datte grenat à noyau/raisins noirs). L’indice d’hétérogénéité (IH) introduit dans cette étude renseigne sur la répartition des substances antioxydantes entre les différentes parties des fruits étudié