2,336 research outputs found
A probabilistic model for crystal growth applied to protein deposition at the microscale
A probabilistic discrete model for 2D protein crystal growth is presented.
This model takes into account the available space and can describe growing
processes of different nature due to the versatility of its parameters which
gives the model great flexibility. The accuracy of the simulation is tested
against a real protein (SbpA) crystallization experiment showing high agreement
between the proposed model and the actual images of the nucleation process.
Finally, it is also discussed how the regularity of the interface (i.e. the
curve that separates the crystal from the substrate) affects to the evolution
of the simulation.Comment: 13 pages, 12 figure
The ALHAMBRA photometric system
This paper presents the characterization of the optical range of the ALHAMBRA
photometric system, a 20 contiguous, equal-width, medium-band CCD system with
wavelength coverage from 3500A to 9700A. The photometric description of the
system is done by presenting the full response curve as a product of the
filters, CCD and atmospheric transmission curves, and using some first and
second order moments of this response function. We also introduce the set of
standard stars that defines the system, formed by 31 classic spectrophotometric
standard stars which have been used in the calibration of other known
photometric systems, and 288 stars, flux calibrated homogeneously, from the
Next Generation Spectral Library (NGSL). Based on the NGSL, we determine the
transformation equations between Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) ugriz
photometry and the ALHAMBRA photometric system, in order to establish some
relations between both systems. Finally we develop and discuss a strategy to
calculate the photometric zero points of the different pointings in the
ALHAMBRA project.Comment: Astronomical Journal on the 14th of January 201
Mechanically bonded macromolecules
Mechanically bonded macromolecules constitute a class of challenging synthetic targets in polymer science. The controllable intramolecular motions of mechanical bonds, in combination with the processability and useful physical and mechanical properties of macromolecules, ultimately ensure their potential for applications in materials science, nanotechnology and medicine. This tutorial review describes the syntheses and properties of a library of diverse mechanically bonded macromolecules, which covers (i) main-chain, side-chain, bridged, and pendant oligo/polycatenanes, (ii) main-chain oligo/polyrotaxanes, (iii) poly[c2]daisy chains, and finally (iv) mechanically interlocked dendrimers. A variety of highly efficient synthetic protocols—including template-directed assembly, step-growth polymerisation, quantitative conjugation, etc.—were employed in the construction of these mechanically interlocked architectures. Some of these structures, i.e., side-chain polycatenanes and poly[c2]daisy chains, undergo controllable molecular switching in a manner similar to their small molecular counterparts. The challenges posed by the syntheses of polycatenanes and polyrotaxanes with high molecular weights are contemplated
Fuzzy Networked Control Systems Design Considering Scheduling Restrictions
Nowadays network control systems present a common approximation when connectivity is the issue to be solved based on time delays coupling from external factors. However, this approach tends to be complex in terms of time delays. Therefore, it is necessary to study the behavior of the delays as well as the integration into differential equations of these bounded delays. The related time delays needs to be
known a priory but from a dynamic real-time behavior. To do so, the use of priority dynamic Priority exchange scheduling is performed. The objective of this paper is to show a way to tackle multiple time delays that are bounded and the dynamic response from real-time scheduling approximation. The related control law is designed considering fuzzy logic approximation for nonlinear time delays coupling, where the main advantage is the integration of this behavior through extended state space representation keeping certain linear and bounded behavior and leading to a stable situation during events presentation by guaranteeing stability through Lyapunov
Nodal involvement evaluation in advanced cervical cancer: a single institutional experience
Purpose: To assess the usefulness of different imaging techniques in the detection of nodal involvement in patients with advanced
cervical carcinoma. Moreover, to analyze the correlation between the presurgical (FIGO) and postsurgical (pTNM) staging classifications.
Materials and Methods: All patients diagnosed with advanced cervical cancer (FIGO Stages IIB-IV) from 2005 to 2012 were
selected. The medical charts of 51 patients that underwent presurgical assessment with posterior surgical staging by means of paraaortic
lymphadenectomy, were reviewed. Nodal status assessment by computed tomography scan (CT scan), magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and sonography was compared, as well as the size given in imaging techniques
compared to the final pathologic report information. Results: Presurgical analysis by CT scan, MRI, PET, and sonography showed
pelvic nodal involvement in 51.3% of patients, and para-aortic involvement in 30.8% of cases. CT scan showed positive pelvic nodes
in 35% of cases, but pathologic confirmation was observed in just 17.6% of cases. However, MRI resulted in higher rates of up to
48.8% of cases. Concerning para-aortic nodal involvement, CT scan showed positive nodes in 25% of cases, MRI in 3.2% of cases,
and the pathologic report in 15.6% of cases. The authors found significant differences between staging groups among both classifications
(FIGO vs. pTNM; p < 0.001). Eight cases (15.7%) were understaged by FIGO classification. Conclusions: Despite all imaging
techniques available, none has demonstrated to be efficient enough to avoid the systematic study of para-aortic nodal status by
means of surgical evaluatio
Spin precession and spin Hall effect in monolayer graphene/Pt nanostructures
Spin Hall effects have surged as promising phenomena for spin logics
operations without ferromagnets. However, the magnitude of the detected
electric signals at room temperature in metallic systems has been so far
underwhelming. Here, we demonstrate a two-order of magnitude enhancement of the
signal in monolayer graphene/Pt devices when compared to their fully metallic
counterparts. The enhancement stems in part from efficient spin injection and
the large resistivity of graphene but we also observe 100% spin absorption in
Pt and find an unusually large effective spin Hall angle of up to 0.15. The
large spin-to-charge conversion allows us to characterise spin precession in
graphene under the presence of a magnetic field. Furthermore, by developing an
analytical model based on the 1D diffusive spin-transport, we demonstrate that
the effective spin-relaxation time in graphene can be accurately determined
using the (inverse) spin Hall effect as a means of detection. This is a
necessary step to gather full understanding of the consequences of spin
absorption in spin Hall devices, which is known to suppress effective spin
lifetimes in both metallic and graphene systems.Comment: 14 pages, 6 figures. Accepted in 2D Materials.
https://doi.org/10.1088/2053-1583/aa882
The ALHAMBRA Project: A large area multi medium-band optical and NIR photometric survey
(ABRIDGED) We describe the first results of the ALHAMBRA survey which
provides cosmic tomography of the evolution of the contents of the Universe
over most of Cosmic history. Our approach employs 20 contiguous, equal-width,
medium-band filters covering from 3500 to 9700 A, plus the JHKs bands, to
observe an area of 4 sqdeg on the sky. The optical photometric system has been
designed to maximize the number of objects with accurate classification by SED
and redshift, and to be sensitive to relatively faint emission lines. The
observations are being carried out with the Calar Alto 3.5m telescope using the
cameras LAICA and O-2000. The first data confirm that we are reaching the
expected magnitude limits of AB<~25 mag in the optical filters from the blue to
8300 A, and from AB=24.7 to 23.4 for the redder ones. The limit in the NIR is
(Vega) K_s~20, H~21, J~22. We expect to obtain accurate redshift values, Delta
z/(1+z) <~ 0.03 for about 5x10^5 galaxies with I<~25 (60% complete), and
z_med=0.74. This accuracy, together with the homogeneity of the selection
function, will allow for the study of the redshift evolution of the large scale
structure, the galaxy population and its evolution with redshift, the
identification of clusters of galaxies, and many other studies, without the
need for any further follow-up. It will also provide targets for detailed
studies with 10m-class telescopes. Given its area, spectral coverage and its
depth, apart from those main goals, the ALHAMBRA-Survey will also produce
valuable data for galactic studies.Comment: Accepted to the Astronomical Journal. 43 pages, 18 figures. The
images have been reduced in resolution to adapt to standard file sizes.
Readers can find the full-resolution version of the paper at the ALHAMBRA web
site (http://www.iaa.es/alhambra) under the "Publications" lin
Rigidity−Stability Relationship in Interlocked Model Complexes Containing Phenylene-Ethynylene-Based Disubstituted Naphthalene and Benzene
Structural rigidity has been found to be advantageous for molecules if they are to find applications in functioning
molecular devices. In the search for an understanding of the relationship between the rigidity and complex stability in mechanically
interlocked compounds, the binding abilities of two π-electron-rich model compounds (2 and 4), where rigidity is introduced in the
form of phenylacetylene units, toward the π-electron deficient tetracationic cyclophane, cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene) (CBPQT^(4+)),
were investigated. 1,4-Bis(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)-2,5-bis(2-phenylethynyl)benzene 2 and 1,5-bis(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)-
2,6-bis(2-phenylethynyl)naphthalene 4 were synthesized, respectively, from the appropriate precursor dibromides 1 and 3 of benzene
and naphthalene carrying two methoxyethoxyethoxy side chains. The rigid nature of the compounds 2 and 4 is reflected in the
reduced stabilities of their 1:1 complexes with CBPQT^(4+). Binding constants for both 2 (100 M^(-1)) and 4 (140 M^(-1)) toward CBPQT^(4+)
were obtained by isothermal titration microcalorimetry (ITC) in MeCN at 25 °C. Compounds 1-4 were characterized in the solid
state by X-ray crystallography. The stabilization within and beyond these molecules is achieved by a combination of intra- and
intermolecular [C-H· · · O], [C-H· · ·π], and [π-π] stacking interactions. The diethyleneglycol chains present in compounds 1-4
are folded as a consequence of both intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The preorganized structures in both precursors 1 and
3 are repeated in both model compounds 2 and 4. In the structures of compounds 2 and 4, the geometry of the rigid backbone is
differentsthe two terminal phenyl groups are twisted with respect to the central benzenoid ring in compound 2 and roughly
perpendicular to the plane central naphthalene core in compound 4. To understand the significantly decreased stabilities of these
complexes toward rigid guest molecules, relative to more flexible systems, we performed density functional theory (DFT) calculations
using the newly developed M06-suite of density functionals. We conclude that the reduced binding abilities are a consequence of
electronic and not steric factors, originating from the extended delocalization of the aromatic system
Low molecular weight ϵ-caprolactone-pcoumaric acid copolymers as potential biomaterials for skin regeneration applications
ϵ-caprolactone-p-coumaric acid copolymers at different mole ratios (ϵ-caprolactone:p-coumaric acid 1:0, 10:1, 8:1, 6:1, 4:1, and 2:1) were synthesized by melt-polycondensation and using 4-dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid as catalyst. Chemical analysis by NMR and GPC showed that copolyesters were formed with decreasing molecular weight as p-coumaric acid content was increased. Physical characteristics, such as thermal and mechanical properties, as well as water uptake and water permeability, depended on the mole fraction of pcoumaric acid. The p-coumarate repetitive units increased the antioxidant capacity of the copolymers, showing antibacterial activity against the common pathogen Escherichia coli. In addition, all the synthesized copolyesters, except the one with the highest concentration of the phenolic acid, were cytocompatible and hemocompatible, thus becoming potentially useful for skin regeneration applications
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