Signal Transmission Across Tile Assemblies: 3D Static Tiles Simulate Active Self-Assembly by 2D Signal-Passing Tiles

The 2-Handed Assembly Model (2HAM) is a tile-based self-assembly model in which, typically beginning from single tiles, arbitrarily large aggregations of static tiles combine in pairs to form structures. The Signal-passing Tile Assembly Model (STAM) is an extension of the 2HAM in which the tiles are dynamically changing components which are able to alter their binding domains as they bind together. For our first result, we demonstrate useful techniques and transformations for converting an arbitrarily complex STAM$^+$ tile set into an STAM$^+$ tile set where every tile has a constant, low amount of complexity, in terms of the number and types of ``signals'' they can send, with a trade off in scale factor. Using these simplifications, we prove that for each temperature $\tau>1$ there exists a 3D tile set in the 2HAM which is intrinsically universal for the class of all 2D STAM$^+$ systems at temperature $\tau$ (where the STAM$^+$ does not make use of the STAM's power of glue deactivation and assembly breaking, as the tile components of the 2HAM are static and unable to change or break bonds). This means that there is a single tile set $U$ in the 3D 2HAM which can, for an arbitrarily complex STAM$^+$ system $S$, be configured with a single input configuration which causes $U$ to exactly simulate $S$ at a scale factor dependent upon $S$. Furthermore, this simulation uses only two planes of the third dimension. This implies that there exists a 3D tile set at temperature $2$ in the 2HAM which is intrinsically universal for the class of all 2D STAM$^+$ systems at temperature $1$. Moreover, we show that for each temperature $\tau>1$ there exists an STAM$^+$ tile set which is intrinsically universal for the class of all 2D STAM$^+$ systems at temperature $\tau$, including the case where $\tau = 1$.Comment: A condensed version of this paper will appear in a special issue of Natural Computing for papers from DNA 19. This full version contains proofs not seen in the published versio

Chiral symmetry and quantum hadro-dynamics

Using the linear sigma model, we study the evolutions of the quark condensate and of the nucleon mass in the nuclear medium. Our formulation of the model allows the inclusion of both pion and scalar-isoscalar degrees of freedom. It guarantees that the low energy theorems and the constrains of chiral perturbation theory are respected. We show how this formalism incorporates quantum hadro-dynamics improved by the pion loops effects.Comment: 24 pages, 2 figure

Neutron production by cosmic-ray muons at shallow depth

The yield of neutrons produced by cosmic ray muons at a shallow depth of 32 meters of water equivalent has been measured. The Palo Verde neutrino detector, containing 11.3 tons of Gd loaded liquid scintillator and 3.5 tons of acrylic served as a target. The rate of one and two neutron captures was determined. Modeling the neutron capture efficiency allowed us to deduce the total yield of neutrons $Y_{tot} = (3.60 \pm 0.09 \pm 0.31) \times 10^{-5}$ neutrons per muon and g/cm$^2$. This yield is consistent with previous measurements at similar depths.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figure

Synthesis of hollow vaterite CaCO(3) microspheres in supercritical carbon dioxide medium

We here describe a rapid method for synthesizing hollow core, porous crystalline calcium carbonate microspheres composed of vaterite using supercritical carbon dioxide in aqueous media, without surfactants. We show that the reaction in alkaline media rapidly conducts to the formation of microspheres with an average diameter of 5 mu m. SEM, TEM and AFM observations reveal that the microspheres have a hollow core of around 0.7 mu m width and are composed of nanograins with an average diameter of 40 nm. These nanograins are responsible for the high specific surface area of 16 m(2) g(-1) deduced from nitrogen absorption/desorption isotherms, which moreover confers an important porosity to the microspheres. We believe this work may pave the way for the elaboration of a biomaterial with a large potential for therapeutic as well as diagnostic applications

Linac modeling for external beam radiotherapy quality assurance using a dedicated 2D pixelated detector

International audienceQuality assurance is a key issue in intensity modulated radiotherapy. Errors can occur in the dose delivery process induces significant differences between the planned treatment and the delivered one. In this context, the Medical Application Physics group of the LPSC is developing TraDeRa (Transparent Detector for Radiotherapy), a 2D pixelated matrix of ionization chambers located upstream to the patient. The signal map obtained with TraDeRa has to be processed to provide medical observables to quantify the quality of the treatment delivery. This relies on accurate Monte Carlo simulations benchmarked with measurements performed under a linear accelerator (Linac).The work described in this paper lies in the optimization of the Linac head simulation and the development of an innovative Monte Carlo/measurements comparison method to perform an accurate enough model of the X-ray production device. An optimized parametrization of the particles transport allowed an increase of the simulation efficiency by a factor 3. The characteristics of an electron beam of a reference Linac were matched with the simulation results by using dose deposition of the created X-ray beam in a water tank. Two parameters are particularly critical: the nominal energy of the electrons and the radial distribution of impact on the target. The innovative method was able to provide within minutes those two parameters for any Linac, achieving, for example, a 10 keV precision on the energy determination for a 6 MV operating Linac

Meson Condensation in Dense Matter Revisited

The results for meson condensation in the literature vary markedly depending on whether one uses chiral perturbation theory or the current-algebra-plus-PCAC approach. To elucidate the origin of this discrepancy, we re-examine the role of the sigma-term in meson condensation. We find that the resolution of the existing discrepancy requires a knowledge of terms in the Lagrangian that are higher order in density than hitherto considered.Comment: 10pages, USC(NT)-94-

Osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells seeded on melt based chitosan scaffolds for bone tissue engineering applications

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the growth patterns and osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) when seeded onto new biodegradable chitosan/polyester scaffolds. Scaffolds were obtained by melt blending chitosan with poly(butylene succinate) in a proportion of 50% (wt) each and further used to produce a fiber mesh scaffold. hBMSCs were seeded on those structures and cultured for 3 weeks under osteogenic conditions. Cells were able to reduce MTS and demonstrated increasing metabolic rates over time. SEM observations showed cell colonization at the surface as well as within the scaffolds. The presence of mineralized extracellular matrix (ECM) was successfully demonstrated by peaks corresponding to calcium and phosphorus elements detected in the EDS analysis. A further confirmation was obtained when carbonate and phosphate group peaks were identified in Fourier Transformed Infrared (FTIR) spectra. Moreover, by reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR analysis, it was observed the expression of osteogenic gene markers, namely, Runt related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), type 1 collagen, bone sialoprotein (BSP), and osteocalcin. Chitosan-PBS (Ch- PBS) biodegradable scaffolds support the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs cultured at their surface in vitro, enabling future in vivo testing for the development of bone tissue engineering therapies.Ana Costa-Pinto was supported by a grant (SFRH/24735/2005) from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology "Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia" (FCT). This work was partially supported by the EU Integrated Project GENOSTEM (Adult Mesenchymal Stem Cells Engineering for connective tissue disorders: from the bench to the bedside, LSHB-CT-2003-5033161), and the European Network of Excellence EXPERTISSUES (NMP3-CT-2004-500283). The authors would like to acknowledge to the School of Health Sciences of the University of Minho for the opportunity of using its facilities

Muon capture on nuclei with N > Z, random phase approximation, and in-medium renormalization of the axial-vector coupling constant

We use the random phase approximation to describe the muon capture rate on ${}^{44}$Ca,${}^{48}$Ca, ${}^{56}$Fe, ${}^{90}$Zr, and ${}^{208}$Pb. With ${}^{40}$Ca as a test case, we show that the Continuum Random Phase Approximation (CRPA) and the standard RPA give essentially equivalent descriptions of the muon capture process. Using the standard RPA with the free nucleon weak form factors we reproduce the experimental total capture rates on these nuclei quite well. Confirming our previous CRPA result for the $N = Z$ nuclei, we find that the calculated rates would be significantly lower than the data if the in-medium quenching of the axial-vector coupling constant were employed.Comment: submitted to Phys. Rev.

Deep search for companions to probable young brown dwarfs

We have obtained high contrast images of four nearby, faint, and very low mass objects 2MASSJ04351455-1414468, SDSSJ044337.61+000205.1, 2MASSJ06085283-2753583 and 2MASSJ06524851-5741376 (here after 2MASS0435-14, SDSS0443+00, 2MASS0608-27 and 2MASS0652-57), identified in the field as probable isolated young brown dwarfs. Our goal was to search for binary companions down to the planetary mass regime. We used the NAOS-CONICA adaptive optics instrument (NACO) and its unique capability to sense the wavefront in the near-infrared to acquire sharp images of the four systems in Ks, with a field of view of 28"*28". Additional J and L' imaging and follow-up observations at a second epoch were obtained for 2MASS0652-57. With a typical contrast DKs= 4.0-7.0 mag, our observations are sensitive down to the planetary mass regime considering a minimum age of 10 to 120 Myr for these systems. No additional point sources are detected in the environment of 2MASS0435-14, SDSS0443+00 and 2MASS0608-27 between 0.1-12" (i.e about 2 to 250 AU at 20 pc). 2MASS0652-57 is resolved as a \sim230 mas binary. Follow-up observations reject a background contaminate, resolve the orbital motion of the pair, and confirm with high confidence that the system is physically bound. The J, Ks and L' photometry suggest a q\sim0.7-0.8 mass ratio binary with a probable semi-major axis of 5-6 AU. Among the four systems, 2MASS0652-57 is probably the less constrained in terms of age determination. Further analysis would be necessary to confirm its youth. It would then be interesting to determine its orbital and physical properties to derive the system's dynamical mass and to test evolutionary model predictions.Comment: Research note, 5 pages, 2 tables and 3 figures, accepted to A&