Coarse Molecular-Dynamics Determination of the Onset of Structural Transitions: Melting of Crystalline Solids

Using a coarse molecular-dynamics (CMD) approach with an appropriate choice of coarse variable (order parameter), we map the underlying effective free-energy landscape for the melting of a crystalline solid. Implementation of this approach provides a means for constructing effective free-energy landscapes of structural transitions in condensed matter. The predictions of the approach for the thermodynamic melting point of a model silicon system are in excellent agreement with those of ''traditional'' techniques for melting-point calculations, as well as with literature values

Quelques réflexions depuis Nancy à propos des forêts méditerranéennes françaises

A l'occasion de la publication du n°100 de la revue Forêt Méditerranéenne, il a été demandé aux grandes institutions nationales qu'elles nous présentent leur vision des espaces forestiers méditerranéens "depuis Paris". Cet article nous donne le regard porté par les enseignants forestiers (AgroParisTech - ENGREF) sur la forêt méditerranéenne

Magnetic actuator based on giant magnetostrictive material Terfenol-D with strain and temperature monitoring using FBG optical sensor

We have designed a temperature and strain monitoring system for a magnetic actuator based on the giant magnetostrictive material Terfenol-D (Tb0.3 Dy0.7Fe1.92) with Fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors. Magneto-elastic properties of Terfenol-D depend on magnetization, stress pre-history, and temperature. In order to simultaneously monitor these effects, we have implemented a system based on a cylindrical Terfenol-D rod monitored with four FBGs that allows making the appropriate compensations on the strain measurement due to temperature drift. We have measured the magnetostriction in the axial and the transverse directions for the Terfenol-D rod with two perpendicular FBGs, and calculated the Poisson ratio. An additional mechanical system for strain amplification has been designed in order to increase sensitivity, by a factor of 4, in the strain measurement with the FBG sensor.García Miquel, ÁH.; Barrera Vilar, D.; Amat, R.; Kurlyandskaya, GV.; Sales Maicas, S. (2016). Magnetic actuator based on giant magnetostrictive material Terfenol-D with strain and temperature monitoring using FBG optical sensor. Measurement. 80(2):201-206. doi:10.1016/j.measurement.2015.11.035S20120680

Inclusion of a Furin Cleavage Site Enhances Antitumor Efficacy against Colorectal Cancer Cells of Ribotoxin α-Sarcin- or RNase T1-Based Immunotoxins

Immunotoxins are chimeric molecules that combine the specificity of an antibody to recognize and bind tumor antigens with the potency of the enzymatic activity of a toxin, thus, promoting the death of target cells. Among them, RNases-based immunotoxins have arisen as promising antitumor therapeutic agents. In this work, we describe the production and purification of two new immunoconjugates, based on RNase T1 and the fungal ribotoxin α-sarcin, with optimized properties for tumor treatment due to the inclusion of a furin cleavage site. Circular dichroism spectroscopy, ribonucleolytic activity studies, flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy, and cell viability assays were carried out for structural and in vitro functional characterization. Our results confirm the enhanced antitumor efficiency showed by these furin-immunotoxin variants as a result of an improved release of their toxic domain to the cytosol, favoring the accessibility of both ribonucleases to their substrates. Overall, these results represent a step forward in the design of immunotoxins with optimized properties for potential therapeutic application in vivo

Lesson from the habitat suitability models to evaluate the environmental of Pinus nigra Arnold and Pinus sylvesris L. in the Iberian Peninsula

PREDICT POTENTIAL DISTRIBUTION. Spatial and temporal evolution of the species under different climate scenarios. Generation of habitat suitability models (HSM) high degree of uncertainty and limitations. The importance of their validation has been stressed. In this work we discuss the present potential distribution of P. sylvestris and P. nigra in the Iberian Peninsula by using MaxEnt, and evaluate the influence of the different environmental variables. Our intention is to select a set of environmental variables that explains better their current distribution, to achieve the most accurate and reliable models. Then we project them to the past climatic conditions (21 to 0 kyrs BP), to evaluate the outputs with existing palaeo-ecological data

Lista de especies de los escarabajos fruteros (Melolonthidae: Cetoniinae) de Colombia

The particular characteristics of both adults and larvae, have led some authors to consider them an independent group within the Scarabaeidae family. Several Latin American authors follow the proposal of Endrodi (1966), who considers the Cetoniinae a subfamily within the Melolonthidae family. The suprageneric revision of Krikken, (1984), elevates this group to the level of the Cetoniidae family, including the subfamilies Cetoniinae, Trichinae and Valginae who make up a monophyletic group related to the Rutelinae-Dynastinae (Morón & Deloya, 1997). Although this proposal is followed by the American school, there is not yet a consensus between the Latin American and American specialists. In this work the Latin American proposal is adopted.Las características particulares tanto de los adultos como de las larvas, han llevado a algunos autores a considerarlos como un grupo independiente dentro de la familia Scarabaeidae. Varios autores latinoamericanos siguen la propuesta de Endrodi, (1966), quién considera a los Cetoninos, como una subfamilia dentro de la familia Melolonthidae. La revisión supragenérica de Krikken, (1984), eleva este grupo a un nivel de familia Cetoniidae, incluyendo en ella a las subfamilias Cetoniinae, Trichinae y Valginae las cuales conforman grupo monofilético relacionado con los Rutelinae-Dynastinae (Morón & Deloya, 1997) Esta propuesta es seguida por la escuela americana, sin embargo aún no existe un consenso entre los especialistas latinos y americanos. En el presente trabajo se adopta la propuesta latinoamericana