Electron confinement-induced plasmonic breakdown in metals.

Plasmon resonance represents the collective oscillation of free electron gas density and enables enhanced light-matter interactions in nanoscale dimensions. Traditionally, the classical Drude model describes plasmonic excitation, wherein plasma frequency exhibits no spatial dispersion. Here, we show conclusive experimental evidence of the breakdown of plasmon resonance and a consequent metal-insulator transition in an ultrathin refractory plasmonic material, hafnium nitride (HfN).

Confinement-induced nonlocality and casimir force in transdimensional systems.

We study within the framework of the Lifshitz theory the long-range Casimir force for in-plane isotropic and anisotropic free-standing transdimensional material slabs. In the former case, we show that the confinement-induced nonlocality not only weakens the attraction of ultrathin slabs but also changes the distance dependence of the material-dependent correction to the Casimir force to go as contrary to the ∼1/ dependence of that of the local Lifshitz force. In the latter case, we use closely packed array of parallel aligned single-wall carbon nanotubes in a dielectric layer of finite thickness to demonstrate strong orientational anisotropy and crossover behavior for the inter-slab attractive force in addition to its reduction with decreasing slab thickness.

Nonlocal Near-Field Radiative Heat Transfer by Transdimensional Plasmonics.

Using transdimensional plasmonic materials (TDPM) within the framework of fluctuational electrodynamics, we demonstrate nonlocality in dielectric response alters near-field heat transfer at gap sizes on the order of hundreds of nanometers. Our theoretical study reveals that, opposite to the local model prediction, propagating waves can transport energy through the TDPM. However, energy transport by polaritons at shorter separations is reduced due to the metallic response of TDPM stronger than that predicted by the local model.

Sublayer-Enhanced Growth of Highly Ordered MnGe Thin Film on Si(111).

MnGe epitaxial thin films previously grown mainly on Ge substrate have been synthesized on Si(111) using the co-deposition of Mn and Ge at a temperature of 390 °C. RMS roughness decreases by almost a factor of two in the transition from a completely polycrystalline to a highly ordered growth mode. This mode has been stabilized by changing the ratio of the Mn and Ge evaporation rate from the stoichiometric in the buffer layer.

Thickness-Dependent Drude Plasma Frequency in Transdimensional Plasmonic TiN.

Plasmonic transdimensional materials (TDMs), which are atomically thin metals of precisely controlled thickness, are expected to exhibit large tailorability and dynamic tunability of their optical response as well as strong light confinement and nonlocal effects. Using spectroscopic ellipsometry, we characterize the complex permittivity of ultrathin films of passivated plasmonic titanium nitride with thicknesses ranging from 1 to 10 nm. By measuring passivated TiN, we experimentally distinguish between the contributions of an oxide layer and thickness to the optical properties.

Asymmetric Interfaces in Epitaxial Off-Stoichiometric FeSi/Ge/FeSi Hybrid Structures: Effect on Magnetic and Electric Transport Properties.

Three-layer iron-rich FeSi/Ge/FeSi (0.2 < < 0.64) heterostructures on a Si(111) surface with Ge thicknesses of 4 nm and 7 nm were grown by molecular beam epitaxy.

Charged Bosons Made of Fermions in Bilayer Structures with Strong Metallic Screening.

Two-dimensional monolayer structures of transition metal dichalogenides (TMDs) have been shown to allow many higher-order excitonic bound states, including trions (charged excitons), biexcitons (excitonic molecules), and charged biexcitons. We report here experimental evidence and the theoretical basis for a new bound excitonic complex, consisting two free carriers bound to an exciton in a bilayer structure. Our experimental measurements on structures made using two different materials show a new spectral line at the predicted energy with two different TMD materials (MoSe and WSe) with both n- and p-doping if and only if all the required theoretical conditions for this complex are fulfilled, in particular, only in the presence of a parallel metal layer that significantly screens the repulsive interaction between the like-charge carriers.

Monitoring Charge Separation Processes in Quasi-One-Dimensional Organic Crystalline Structures.

We perform the transient absorption spectroscopy experiments to investigate the dynamics of the low-energy collective electron-hole excitations in α-copper phthalocyanine thin films. The results are interpreted in terms of the third-order nonlinear polarization response function. It is found that, initially excited in the molecular plane, the intramolecular Frenkel exciton polarization reorients with time to align along the molecular chain direction to form coupled Frenkel-charge-transfer exciton states, the eigenstates of the one-dimensional periodic molecular lattice.

[Suppression of alternative telomere lengthening in cancer cells with reverse transcriptase inhibitors].

Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein enzyme that elongates telomeres and therefore maintains chromosomal stability in germline, and in the majority of cancer cells, during cell doubling. However, up to 30 % of human tumors of different types do not express telomerase, but instead use an alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT). Here authors show that human tumor-derived ALT cell lines express a LINE-1 (L1) retrotransposon, which suggests its participation in telomere maintenance, possibly by a «slippage» mechanism of telomeric DNA synthesis.

Plasmon enhanced Raman scattering effect for an atom near a carbon nanotube.

Quantum electrodynamics theory of the resonance Raman scattering is developed for an atom in a close proximity to a carbon nanotube. The theory predicts a dramatic enhancement of the Raman intensity in the strong atomic coupling regime to nanotube plasmon near-fields. This resonance scattering is a manifestation of the general electromagnetic surface enhanced Raman scattering effect, and can be used in designing efficient nanotube based optical sensing substrates for single atom detection, precision spontaneous emission control, and manipulation.

Optically promoted bipartite atomic entanglement in hybrid metallic carbon nanotube systems.

We study theoretically a pair of spatially separated extrinsic atomic type species (extrinsic atoms, ions, molecules, or semiconductor quantum dots) near a metallic carbon nanotube, that are coupled both directly via the inter-atomic dipole-dipole interactions and indirectly by means of the virtual exchange by resonance plasmon excitations on the nanotube surface. We analyze how the optical preparation of the system by using strong laser pulses affects the formation and evolution of the bipartite atomic entanglement. Despite a large number of possible excitation regimes and evolution pathways, we find a few generic scenarios for the bipartite entanglement evolution and formulate practical recommendations on how to optimize and control the robust bipartite atomic entanglement in hybrid carbon nanotube systems.

[Related to age and length of service, changes in psycho-physiologic occupationally important traits of technologic processes operators].

Psycho-physiologic occupational fitness of technologic processes operators changes during long-standing work in the occupation. The changes are age-related. Over 50 years of age, attention and mental performance do not satisfy the level required, so occupational fitness should be re-assessed after 50 years of age.

A carbon nanotube oscillator as a surface profiling device.

A double wall carbon nanotube oscillator near an infinite surface with the nanotube axis perpendicular to the surface is investigated. The oscillatory motion is governed in part by the van der Waals forces in the system, and we use the Lennard-Jones approximation for their calculation. In addition, friction losses due to the proximity of the oscillating nanotube near the infinite surface are taken into account using a phenomenological model.

[Prediction of the effectiveness of a health care organization system for Muscovites in case of scab].

The present paper gives data on prediction of the number of Muscovites and homeless individuals who suffered from scab in 1998-2005. As of 2005, the difference in the expected and actual number of scab patients among the Muscovites and the homeless was 4.3 and 13% less than the expected values, respectively.

[Multifunctional computer system for psychophysiologic selection for "human-technology" occupations].

Psychophysiologic selection for "human-technics" occupations. Expert evaluations determine composition and value of occupational traits for each occupation, fitness is assessed through match between the candidate's test parameters and psychophysiologic standard for each occupation.

Peptide promotes overcoming of the division limit in human somatic cell.

We previously showed that treatment of normal human diploid cells with Epithalon (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) induced expression of telomerase catalytic subunit, its enzymatic activity, and elongation of telomeres. Here we studied the effect of this peptide on proliferative potential of human fetal fibroblasts. Primary pulmonary fibroblasts derived from a 24-week fetus lost the proliferative potential at the 34th passage.

Epithalon peptide induces telomerase activity and telomere elongation in human somatic cells.

Addition of Epithalon peptide in telomerase-negative human fetal fibroblast culture induced expression of the catalytical subunit, enzymatic activity of telomerase, and telomere elongation, which can be due to reactivation of telomerase gene in somatic cells and indicates the possibility of prolonging life span of a cell population and of the whole organism.

Spontaneous decay of excited atomic states near a carbon nanotube.

The spontaneous decay process of an excited atom placed inside or outside a carbon nanotube is analyzed. Calculations have been performed for various achiral nanotubes. The effect of the nanotube surface is shown to increase the atomic spontaneous decay rate by up to 6 orders of magnitude compared with that of the same atom in vacuum.

Cloning and functional expression of a novel human connexin-25 gene.

Gap junctions are intercellular, water-filled channels composed of transmembrane proteins called connexins, six of which are arranged radially and dock with six homologous proteins in an adjacent cell to form an approximate 16 A pore. Through this pore cell-to-cell transfer of small water-soluble molecules up to about 1000 daltons occurs along concentration gradients. Connexins comprise a multigene family that share consensus sequences in the trans-membrane domains and the first and second extracellular loops.

[Informational support of the scabies control system in Moscow].

The paper describes the basic elements of informational provision of the scabies control system in Moscow which are presented as 3 components (sections): statistic, dynamic, and prognostic. Comparing the statistic and dynamic components of informational flows allows one to predict (a prognostic component) the evolution of the scabies epidemiological situation and the most promising trends in the improvement of the scabies control system in Moscow.

[Individual, social and psychologic factors of resistance to stress among operators and dispatchers in power plant].

Study in two operators' groups with high and low levels of psychic stability revealed that individuals with high emotional stability, good self-control, low frustration and sthenic reactivity type demonstrate higher resistance to psychologic stress at work. Opposite personal features lower resistance to stress and result in transfer of stress at work into family relationships sphere that itself could become a stressor.

[Effective scabies control system in Moscow].

The analysis using the systems approach, analogue simulation, practical conclusions of the probability theory, mathematical statistical methods, programme-oriented work organization revealed and eliminated a number of neglects that had put bounds to scabies morbidity reduction among Moscovites. In 1998, the number of the foci that dermatovenereological facilities were unaware of substantially showed a 6.9-fold decrease.

Inhibition of T cell proliferation by macrophage tryptophan catabolism.

We have recently shown that expression of the enzyme indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase (IDO) during murine pregnancy is required to prevent rejection of the allogeneic fetus by maternal T cells. In addition to their role in pregnancy, IDO-expressing cells are widely distributed in primary and secondary lymphoid organs. Here we show that monocytes that have differentiated under the influence of macrophage colony-stimulating factor acquire the ability to suppress T cell proliferation in vitro via rapid and selective degradation of tryptophan by IDO.

Prevention of allogeneic fetal rejection by tryptophan catabolism.

In 1953 Medawar pointed out that survival of the genetically disparate (allogeneic) mammalian conceptus contradicts the laws of tissue transplantation. Rapid T cell-induced rejection of all allogeneic concepti occurred when pregnant mice were treated with a pharmacologic inhibitor of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), a tryptophan-catabolizing enzyme expressed by trophoblasts and macrophages. Thus, by catabolizing tryptophan, the mammalian conceptus suppresses T cell activity and defends itself against rejection.