Wetting phenomenon in the liquid-vapor phase coexistence of a partially miscible Lennard-Jones binary mixture

We have carried out extensive equilibrium molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to study the structure and the interfacial properties in the liquid-vapor (LV) phase coexistence of partially miscible binary Lennard-Jones (LJ) mixtures. By analyzing the structural properties as a function of the miscibility parameter, $\alpha$, we found that at relatively low temperatures the system separates forming a liquid A-liquid B interface in coexistence with the vapor phase. At higher temperatures and, $0<\alpha\leq 0.5$, we found a temperature range, $T^{*}_{w}(\alpha) \leq T^{*} < T^{*}_{cons}(\alpha)$, where the liquid phases are wet by the vapor phase. Here, $T^{*}_{w}(\alpha)$ represents the wetting transition temperature (WTT) and $T^{*}_{cons}(\alpha)$ is the consolute temperature of the mixture. However, for $0.5< \alpha < 1$, no wetting phenomenon occurs. For the particular value, $\alpha=0.25$, we analyzed quantitatively the $T^{*}$ versus $\rho^{*}$, and $P^{*}$ versus $T^{*}$ phase diagrams and found, $T^{*}_{c}\simeq 1.25$, and $T^{*}_{cons}\simeq1.25$. We also studied quantitatively, as a function of temperature, the surface tension and the adsorption of molecules at the liquid-liquid interface. It was found that the adsorption shows a jump from a finite negative value up to minus infinity, when the vapor wets the liquid phases, suggesting that the wetting transition (WT) is of first order. The calculated phase diagram together with the wetting phenomenon strongly suggest the existence of a tricritical point. These results agree well with some experiments carried out in fluid binary mixtures.Comment: Enlarged version that include results of more extensive simulations. A total of 24 LaTeX pages that include 12 encapsulated poscript figures. To appear in PRE, Vol. 70, issue Sept. 1st (2004

Influence of a Concurrent Exercise Training Intervention during Pregnancy on Maternal and Arterial and Venous Cord Serum Cytokines: The GESTAFIT Project

The aim of the present study was to analyze the influence of a supervised concurrent exercise-training program, from the 17th gestational week until delivery, on cytokines in maternal (at 17th and 35th gestational week, and at delivery) and arterial and venous cord serum. Fifty-eight Caucasian pregnant women (age: 33.5 +/- 4.7 years old, body mass index: 23.6 +/- 4.1kg/m(2)) from the GESTAFIT Project (exercise (n = 37) and control (n = 21) groups) participated in this quasi-experimental study (per-protocol basis). The exercise group followed a 60-min 3 days/week concurrent (aerobic-resistance) exercise-training from the 17th gestational week to delivery. Maternal and arterial and venous cord serum cytokines (fractalkine, interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, interferon (IFN)-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha) were assessed using Luminex xMAP technology. In maternal serum (after adjusting for the baseline values of cytokines), the exercise group decreased TNF-alpha (from baseline to 35th week, p = 0.02), and increased less IL-1 beta (from baseline to delivery, p = 0.03) concentrations than controls. When adjusting for other potential confounders, these differences became non-significant. In cord blood, the exercise group showed reduced arterial IL-6 and venous TNF-alpha (p = 0.03 and p = 0.001, respectively) and higher concentrations of arterial IL-1 beta (p = 0.03) compared to controls. The application of concurrent exercise-training programs could be a strategy to modulate immune responses in pregnant women and their fetuses. However, future research is needed to better understand the origin and clearance of these cytokines, their role in the maternal-placental-fetus crosstalk, and the influence of exercise interventions on them

Utricular hypofunction in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Lobiettivo di questo studio è stato quello di valutare la funzione utricolare e la funzione dei canali semicircolari laterali in pazienti con diabete mellito di tipo 2, con o senza cadute, afferenti allassistenza sanitaria di base. Sono stati arruolati 101 pazienti con diabete mellito di tipo 2 (26 con storia di cadute, 75 senza), di età compresa tra 34 e 84 anni, e 51 volontari sani di età compresa tra 40 e 83 anni, i quali hanno negato vertigini, capogiri, instabilità, ipoacusia o disordini neurologici. Nessuno di loro era in cerca di cure per deficit sensoriali o dellequilibrio. Dopo aver effettuato una valutazione clinica e dopo aver indagato i sintomi relativi alla sfera dellequilibrio con lausilio di un questionario standardizzato, la funzione dei canali semicircolari laterali è stata studiata con il test sinusoidale alle velocità di 0,16 Hz e 1,28 Hz (il picco della velocità è stato fissato a 60°/s); la funzione otolitica, invece, è stata studiata con la verticale visiva soggettiva, determinata sia tramite test statico sia tramite test dinamico, durante centrifugazione unilaterale (300°/s a 3.5 cm); è stata eseguita inoltre la posturografia statica, su pedana soffice e dura, ad occhi aperti e chiusi. Confrontando i risultati ottenuti nei pazienti diabetici e in quelli sani, i pazienti diabetici hanno mostrato risposte inferiori alla centrifugazione unilaterale, ma risposte simili alla stimolazione dei canali semicircolari laterali, indipendentemente da età, neuropatie periferiche o storia di cadute (ANCoVA p < 0.05). I pazienti con storia di cadute, rispetto a quelli senza storia di cadute, erano per lo più donne e hanno raggiunto più facilmente un punteggio maggiore o pari a 4 al questionario sui sintomi relativi al senso dellequilibrio; tuttavia i due gruppi hanno mostrato simili età, indice di massa corporea e neuropatia periferica. Nei pazienti con diabete di tipo 2, afferenti allassistenza sanitaria di base e non in cerca di cure per deficit sensoriali o dellequilibrio, la funzione utricolare potrebbe essere alterata, anche in assenza di disfunzione dei canali semicircolari laterali o di storia di cadute

RF plasma cleaning of optical surfaces: A study of cleaning rates on different carbon allotropes as a function of RF powers and distances

An extended study on an advanced method for the cleaning of carbon contaminations on large optical surfaces using a remote inductively coupled low pressure RF plasma source (GV10x downstream asher) is reported in this work. Technical as well as scientific features of this scaled up cleaning process are analyzed, such as the cleaning efficiency for different carbon allotropes (amorphous and diamond-like carbon) as a function of feedstock gas composition, RF power (ranging from 30 to 300W), and source-object distances (415 to 840 mm). The underlying physical phenomena for these functional dependences are discussed.Comment: 16 pages, 9 figure

Electrical Properties and Electromagnetic Interference Shielding Effectiveness of Interlayered Systems Composed by Carbon Nanotube Filled Carbon Nanofiber Mats and Polymer Composites

The demand for multifunctional requirements in aerospace, military, automobile, sports, and energy applications has encouraged the investigation of new composite materials. This study focuses on the development of multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) filled polypropylene composites and carbon nanofiber composite mats. The developed systems were then used to prepare interlayered composites that exhibited improved electrical conductivity and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding efficiency. MWCNT-carbon nanofiber composite mats were developed by centrifugally spinning mixtures of MWCNT suspended in aqueous poly(vinyl alcohol) solutions. The developed nanofibers were then dehydrated under sulfuric acid vapors and then heat treated. Interlayered samples were fabricated using a nanoreinforced polypropylene composite as a matrix and then filled with carbon fiber composite mats. The in-plane and through-plane electrical conductivity of an eight-layered flexible carbon composite (0.65 mm thick) were shown to be 6.1 and 3.0 × 10−2 S·cm−1, respectively. The EMI shielding effectiveness at 900 MHz increased from 17 dB for the one-layered composite to 52 dB for the eight-layered composite. It was found that the reflection of the electromagnetic waves was the dominating mechanism for EMI shielding in the developed materials. This study opens up new opportunities for the fabrication of novel lightweight materials that are to be used in communication systems

Taller de inteligencia emocional en una organización de la rama tecnológica

El propósito del presente proyecto es generar un taller de inteligencia emocional, así como un prediagnóstico de la NOM-037 (Teletrabajo-Condiciones de seguridad y salud del trabajo) para propiciar una cultura de organización que permita garantizar un mayor aprovechamiento del capital humano y, a su vez, una mejor utilización de los recursos disponibles para una organización, logrando que los trabajadores reflexionen conforme a elementos importantes de espacio físico y mental. El proyecto es una continuación del PAP de verano 2022, en el que se llevó a cabo la impartición de un taller de manejo del tiempo, argumentado desde una evaluación que se preparó y se ejecutó en el semestre de primavera 2022 conforme la NOM-035, misma que tuvo como producto una identificación de los riesgos psicosociales destacables en la organización. El alcance de este proyecto está visualizado ante el personal de recursos humanos de una empresa de la rama tecnológica y las múltiples unidades de negocio que la conforman, de manera que la logística se llevó a cabo de manera colaborativa con la empresa. El resultado del presente fue un taller de inteligencia emocional que ofreció herramientas de trabajo y desarrollo personal, así como una visión más amplia de la importancia de ejercitar esta área de la vida. Por otro lado, se obtuvieron resultados representativos de la aplicación del prediagnóstico de la NOM-037 (60% de los colaboradores que trabajan desde casa contestaron las guías de referencia). Se condensaron y se sintetizaron los resultados para su futura implementación.ITESO, A.C

Epigenetic and post-transcriptional regulation of somatostatin receptor subtype 5 (SST5 ) in pituitary and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

Somatostatin receptor subtype 5 (SST5 ) is an emerging biomarker and actionable target in pituitary (PitNETs) and pancreatic (PanNETs) neuroendocrine tumors. Transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of SSTR5 gene expression and mRNA biogenesis is poorly understood. Recently, an overlapping natural antisense transcript, SSTR5-AS1, potentially regulating SSTR5 expression, was identified. We aimed to elucidate whether epigenetic processes contribute to the regulation of SSTR5 expression in PitNETs (somatotropinomas) and PanNETs. We analyzed the SSTR5/SSTR5-AS1 human locus in silico to identify CpG islands. SSTR5 and SSTR5-AS1 expression was assessed by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) in 27 somatotropinomas, 11 normal pituitaries (NPs), and 15 PanNETs/paired adjacent (control) samples. We evaluated methylation grade in four CpG islands in the SSTR5/SSTR5-AS1 genes. Results revealed that SSTR5 and SSTR5-AS1 were directly correlated in NP, somatotropinoma and PanNET samples. Interestingly, selected CpG islands were differentially methylated in somatotropinomas compared with NPs. In PanNETs cell lines, SSTR5-AS1 silencing downregulated SSTR5 expression, altered aggressiveness features, and influenced pasireotide response. These results provide evidence that SSTR5 expression in PitNETs and PanNETs can be epigenetically regulated by the SSTR5-AS1 antisense transcript and, indirectly, by DNA methylation, which may thereby impact tumor behavior and treatment response

Test results for the V0 detector in ALICE

ALIC