Effects of polymer polydispersity on the phase behaviour of colloid-polymer mixtures

We study the equilibrium behaviour of a mixture of monodisperse hard sphere colloids and polydisperse non-adsorbing polymers at their $\theta$-point, using the Asakura-Oosawa model treated within the free-volume approximation. Our focus is the experimentally relevant scenario where the distribution of polymer chain lengths across the system is fixed. Phase diagrams are calculated using the moment free energy method, and we show that the mean polymer size $\xi_{\rm c}$ at which gas-liquid phase separation first occurs decreases with increasing polymer polydispersity $\delta$. Correspondingly, at fixed mean polymer size, polydispersity favours gas-liquid coexistence but delays the onset of fluid-solid separation. On the other hand, we find that systems with different $\delta$ but the same {\em mass-averaged} polymer chain length have nearly polydispersity-independent phase diagrams. We conclude with a comparison to previous calculations for a semi-grandcanonical scenario, where the polymer chemical potentials are imposed, which predicted that fluid-solid coexistence was over gas-liquid in some areas of the phase diagram. Our results show that this somewhat counter-intuitive result arose because the actual polymer size distribution in the system is shifted to smaller sizes relative to the polymer reservoir distribution.Comment: Changes in v2: sketch in Figure 1 corrected, other figures improved; added references to experimental work and discussion of mapping from polymer chain length to effective radiu

A Comparison of Behavioural Change in Drosophila During Exposure to Thermal Stress

In order to understand how adaptive tolerance to stress has evolved, we compared related species and populations of Drosophila for a variety of fitness relevant traits while flies directly experienced the stress. Two main questions were addressed. First, how much variation exists in the frequency of both courtship and mating among D. melanogaster, D. simulans, and D. mojavensis when each are exposed to a range of temperatures? Second, how does variation in these same behaviours compare among four geographically isolated populations of D. mojavensis, a desert species with a well defined ecology? Our hierarchical study demonstrated that mating success under stress can vary as much between related species, such as D. melanogaster and D. simulans, as between the ecologically disparate pair, D. melanogaster and D. mojavensis. Strains of this latter desert species likewise varied in tolerance, with differences approaching the levels observed among species. The consequences of stress on male courtship differed markedly from those on female receptivity to courtship, as mating behaviours among species and among strains of D. mojavensis varied in subtle but significant ways. Finally, a comparison of variation in thermotolerance of F1 hybrids between the two most extreme D. mojavensis populations confirmed that genetic variation underlying traits such as survival or the ability to fly after heat stress is completely different

Test of ID carbon-carbon composite prototype tiles for the SPIDER diagnostic calorimeter

Additional heating will be provided to the thermonuclear fusion experiment ITER by injection of neutral beams from accelerated negative ions. In the SPIDER test facility, under construction at Consorzio RFX in Padova (Italy), the production of negative ions will be studied and optimised. To this purpose the STRIKE (Short-Time Retractable Instrumented Kalorimeter Experiment) diagnostic will be used to characterise the SPIDER beam during short operation (several seconds) and to verify if the beam meets the ITER requirement regarding the maximum allowed beam non-uniformity (below \ub110%). The most important measurements performed by STRIKE are beam uniformity, beamlet divergence and stripping losses. The major components of STRIKE are 16 1D-CFC (Carbon matrix-Carbon Fibre reinforced Composite) tiles, observed at the rear side by a thermal camera. The requirements of the 1D CFC material include a large thermal conductivity along the tile thickness (at least 10 times larger than in the other directions); low specific heat and density; uniform parameters over the tile surface; capability to withstand localised heat loads resulting in steep temperature gradients. So 1D CFC is a very anisotropic and delicate material, not commercially available, and prototypes are being specifically realised. This contribution gives an overview of the tests performed on the CFC prototype tiles, aimed at verifying their thermal behaviour. The spatial uniformity of the parameters and the ratio between the thermal conductivities are assessed by means of a power laser at Consorzio RFX. Dedicated linear and non-linear simulations are carried out to interpret the experiments and to estimate the thermal conductivities; these simulations are described and a comparison of the experimental data with the simulation results is presented

From chemical neuroanatomy to an understanding of the olfactory system

The olfactory system of mammals is the appropriate model for studying several aspects of neuronal physiology spanning from the developmental stage to neural network remodelling in the adult brain. Both the morphological and physiological understanding of this system were strongly supported by classical histochemistry. It is emblematic the case of the Olfactory Marker Protein (OMP) staining, the first, powerful marker for fully differentiated olfactory receptor neurons and a key tool to investigate the dynamic relations between peripheral sensory epithelia and central relay regions given its presence within olfactory fibers reaching the olfactory bulb (OB). Similarly, the use of thymidine analogues was able to show neurogenesis in an adult mammalian brain far before modern virus labelling and lipophilic tracers based methods. Nowadays, a wealth of new histochemical techniques combining cell and molecular biology approaches is available, giving stance to move from the analysis of the chemically identified circuitries to functional research. The study of adult neurogenesis is indeed one of the best explanatory examples of this statement. After defining the cell types involved and the basic physiology of this phenomenon in the OB plasticity, we can now analyze the role of neurogenesis in well testable behaviours related to socio-chemical communication in rodents

Evolucao historica dos precos do suino, insumos e suas relacoes de troca na Regiao Oeste de Santa Catarina.

bitstream/item/67828/1/CUsersPiazzonDocumentsProntosCPATC-DOCUMENTOS-29-EVOLUCAO-HISTORICA-DOS-PRECOS-DO-SUINO-INSUMOS-E-SUAS-RELACOES-DE-TROCA-NA-RE.pd

HuMOVE: a low-invasive wearable monitoring platform in sexual medicine

OBJECTIVE: To investigate an accelerometer-based wearable system, named Human Movement (HuMOVE) platform, designed to enable quantitative and continuous measurement of sexual performance with minimal invasiveness and inconvenience for users. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Design, implementation, and development of HuMOVE, a wearable platform equipped with an accelerometer sensor for monitoring inertial parameters for sexual performance assessment and diagnosis, were performed. The system enables quantitative measurement of movement parameters during sexual intercourse, meeting the requirements of wearability, data storage, sampling rate, and interfacing methods, which are fundamental for human sexual intercourse performance analysis. HuMOVE was validated through characterization using a controlled experimental test bench and evaluated in a human model during simulated sexual intercourse conditions. RESULTS: HuMOVE demonstrated to be a robust and quantitative monitoring platform and a reliable candidate for sexual performance evaluation and diagnosis. Characterization analysis on the controlled experimental test bench demonstrated an accurate correlation between the HuMOVE system and data from a reference displacement sensor. Experimental tests in the human model during simulated intercourse conditions confirmed the accuracy of the sexual performance evaluation platform and the effectiveness of the selected and derived parameters. The obtained outcomes also established the project expectations in terms of usability and comfort, evidenced by the questionnaires that highlighted the low invasiveness and acceptance of the device. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, HuMOVE platform is the first device for human sexual performance analysis compatible with sexual intercourse; the system has the potential to be a helpful tool for physicians to accurately classify sexual disorders, such as premature or delayed ejaculation

Levantamento de reconhecimento dos solos da região sudeste do Estado do Paraná (áreas 4, 5 e 6).

bitstream/item/63300/1/BPD-13-2002-Parana-Sudeste-areas-4-5-6.pd

Is premature birth an environmental sensitivity factor? A scoping review protocol

Introduction Globally, around 10% of children are born preterm and are more at risk of negative developmental outcomes. However, empirical evidences and theoretical reasoning also suggest that premature birth can be a susceptibility factor, increasing sensitivity to the environment for better and for worse. Because available findings are controversial, with the current scoping review we will explore if, based on the available literature, preterm birth can be seen as an environmental sensitivity (ES) factor. In doing so, we will consider a series of moderating variables, including the level of prematurity, the type of environment and the outcome investigated. Methodological aspects, as the type of measures used and study design, will be considered. Methods and analysis The scoping review will be conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute Methodology guidelines. The report will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews checklist. We will perform the search between 15 January 2022 and 1 February 2022. Data will be chartered by independent reviewers. Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval is not required, as primary data will not be collected. This scoping review will be the first to explore whether prematurity is associated with an increased ES. This review can have important implications for tailoring prevention and intervention programmes. Results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal