On the applications of IBA techniques to biological samples analysis: PIXE and RBS

The analyticaltechniques based on ion beamsorIBA techniquesgive quantitativeinformationonelemental concentrationin samples of awide variety of nature. In this work, weinformation on elemental concentrationin samples of awide variety of nature. In this work, weinformation on elemental concentrationin samples of awide variety of nature. In this work, weinformation on elemental concentrationin samples of awide variety of nature. In this work, wefocus on PIXE technique,analyzingthick target biologicalspecimens (TTPIXE),using 3MeVfocus on PIXE technique,analyzingthick target biologicalspecimens (TTPIXE),using 3MeVfocus on PIXE technique,analyzingthick target biologicalspecimens (TTPIXE),using 3MeVfocus on PIXE technique,analyzingthick target biologicalspecimens (TTPIXE),using 3MeVprotons producedby an electrostaticaccelerator.Anuclear microprobewas used performingprotons producedby an electrostaticaccelerator.Anuclear microprobewas used performingprotons producedby an electrostaticaccelerator.Anuclear microprobewas used performingprotons producedby an electrostaticaccelerator.Anuclear microprobewas used performingPIXEandRBSsimultaneously,inordertosolvetheuncertaintiesproducedintheabsolutePIXEPIXEandRBSsimultaneously,inordertosolvetheuncertaintiesproducedintheabsolutePIXEPIXEandRBSsimultaneously,inordertosolvetheuncertaintiesproducedintheabsolutePIXEPIXEandRBSsimultaneously,inordertosolvetheuncertaintiesproducedintheabsolutePIXEquantifying. Theadvantages of using both techniquesand anuclear microprobearediscussed.quantifying.Theadvantages of using both techniquesand anuclear microprobearediscussed.quantifying.Theadvantages of using both techniquesand anuclear microprobearediscussed.quantifying.Theadvantages of using both techniquesand anuclear microprobearediscussed.Quantitative resultsare shown to illustrate themultielemental resolutionof the PIXE technique;Quantitativeresults are shown to illustrate themultielemental resolutionof the PIXE technique;Quantitativeresults are shown to illustrate themultielemental resolutionof the PIXE technique;Quantitativeresults are shown to illustrate themultielemental resolutionof the PIXE technique;forthis,abloodstandardwasused.forthis,abloodstandardwasused.forthis,abloodstandardwasused.forthis,abloodstandardwasused

A Note on Non-compact Cauchy surface

It is shown that if a space-time has non-compact Cauchy surface, then its topological, differentiable, and causal structure are completely determined by a class of compact subsets of its Cauchy surface. Since causal structure determines its topological, differentiable, and conformal structure of space-time, this gives a natural way to encode the corresponding structures into its Cauchy surface

On the causal properties of warped product spacetimes

It is shown that the warped product spacetime P=M *_f H, where H is a complete Riemannian manifold, and the original spacetime M share necessarily the same causality properties, the only exceptions being the properties of causal continuity and causal simplicity which present some subtleties. For instance, it is shown that if diamH=+\infty, the direct product spacetime P=M*H is causally simple if and only if (M,g) is causally simple, the Lorentzian distance on M is continuous and any two causally related events at finite distance are connected by a maximizing geodesic. Similar conditions are found for the causal continuity property. Some new results concerning the behavior of the Lorentzian distance on distinguishing, causally continuous, and causally simple spacetimes are obtained. Finally, a formula which gives the Lorentzian distance on the direct product in terms of the distances on the two factors (M,g) and (H,h) is obtained.Comment: 22 pages, 2 figures, uses the package psfra

Degeneracy in excited state quantum phase transitions of two-level bosonic models and its influence on system dynamics

Excited state quantum phase transitions in collective many-body quantum systems influence the system spectral properties due to changing degeneracy patterns in different phases. We report a fundamental difference in the nature of the degeneracy for boson two-level models, depending on the dimension of the space where the models were defined. To illustrate the consequences, we assess the validity of an out-of-time-order correlator as a possible order operator for excited state quantum phase transitions in different models

A catalogue of Spanish archaeomagnetic data

International audienceA total of 58 new archaeomagnetic directions has been determined from archaeological structures in Spain. Together with five previous results they allow the compilation of the first archaeomagnetic catalogue for Spain, which includes 63 directions with ages ranging between the 2nd century BC and the 20th century AD. Characteristic remanence directions have been obtained from stepwise thermal and alternating field demagnetization. The hierarchical structure has been respected in the calculation of the mean site directions. Rock magnetic experiments reveal that the main magnetic carrier is magnetite or titanomagnetite with different titanium contents. The age estimate of the studied structures is generally well justified by archaeological constraints. For six structures the proposed date is also supported by physical methods. The data are in close agreement with the French secular variation (SV) curve. This catalogue represents the first step in the construction of a SV curve for the Iberian Peninsula, which will be of much use in archaeomagnetic dating and in modelling of the Earth's magnetic field in Western Europe

Understanding the interplay of carbon and nitrogen supply for ectoines production and metabolic overflow in high density cultures of Chromohalobacter salexigens

Background The halophilic bacterium Chromohalobacter salexigens has been proposed as promising cell factory for the production of the compatible solutes ectoine and hydroxyectoine. This bacterium has evolved metabolic adaptations to efficiently grow under high salt concentrations by accumulating ectoines as compatible solutes. However, metabolic overflow, which is a major drawback for the efficient conversion of biological feedstocks, occurs as a result of metabolic unbalances during growth and ectoines production. Optimal production of ectoines is conditioned by the interplay of carbon and nitrogen metabolisms. In this work, we set out to determine how nitrogen supply affects the production of ectoines. Results Chromohalobacter salexigens was challenged to grow in media with unbalanced carbon/nitrogen ratio. In C. salexigens, overflow metabolism and ectoines production are a function of medium composition. At low ammonium conditions, the growth rate decreased importantly, up to 80%. Shifts in overflow metabolism were observed when changing the C/N ratio in the culture medium. 13C-NMR analysis of ectoines labelling revealed a high metabolic rigidity, with almost constant flux ratios in all conditions assayed. Unbalanced C/N ratio led to pyruvate accumulation, especially upon N-limitation. Analysis of an ect − mutant demonstrated the link between metabolic overflow and ectoine biosynthesis. Under non ectoine synthesizing conditions, glucose uptake and metabolic overflow decreased importantly. Finally, in fed-batch cultures, biomass yield was affected by the feeding scheme chosen. High growth (up to 42.4 g L−1) and volumetric ectoine yields (up to 4.21 g L−1) were obtained by minimizing metabolite overflow and nutrient accumulation in high density cultures in a low nitrogen fed-batch culture. Moreover, the yield coefficient calculated for the transformation of glucose into biomass was 30% higher in fed-batch than in the batch culture, demonstrating that the metabolic efficiency of C. salexigens can be improved by careful design of culture feeding schemes. Conclusions Metabolic shifts observed at low ammonium concentrations were explained by a shift in the energy required for nitrogen assimilation. Carbon-limited fed-batch cultures with reduced ammonium supply were the best conditions for cultivation of C. salexigens, supporting high density growth and maintaining high ectoines production.España, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación BIO2011-29233-C02-01España, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad BIO2014-54411-C2-1-

Gamma Irradiation of Aqueos Solution of L-Aspartic Acid, L-Aspartic Acid in Solid State, and L-Aspartic Acid Adsorbed into Na-Montmorillonite: Its Relevance in Chemistry Prebiotic

Aspartic acid is an amino acid present in the modern proteins, however, is considered a primitive amino acid hence its importance in prebiotic chemistry experiments studies. In some works of prebiotic chemistry have been studied the synthesis and the stability of organic matter under high energy sources, and the role of clays has been highlighted due to clays that can affect the reaction mechanisms in the radiolytic processes. The present work is focused on the study of the role of Namontmorillonite in the gamma radiolysis processes of L-aspartic acid. Gamma radiolysis processes were carried out in three different systems a) L-aspartic acid in aqueous solution; b) L-aspartic acid in solid-state; and c) L-aspartic acid adsorbed into Na-montmorillonite. L-aspartic acid was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography−electrospray ionization−mass spectrometry (HPLCESI-MS). The results showed that the decomposition of L-aspartic acid considerably decreased in the presence of clay thus highlighting the protector role of clays and favors the stability of organic matter even under the possible high energy conditions of primitive environments. The principal product ofgamma radiolysis of L-aspartic acid was succinic acid produced by deamination reaction. On the other hand, when aspartic acid was irradiated in solid-state the main product was the L-aspartic acid dimer. Both radiolysis products are important for chemical evolution processes for L-aspartic acid in primitive environments

The photosynthetic cytochrome c550 from the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum

The photosynthetic cytochrome c550 from the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum has been purified and characterized. Cytochrome c550 is mostly obtained from the soluble cell extract in relatively large amounts. In addition, the protein appeared to be truncated in the last hydrophobic residues of the C-terminus, both in the soluble cytochrome c550 and in the protein extracted from the membrane fraction, as deduced by mass spectrometry analysis and the comparison with the gene sequence. Interestingly, it has been described that the C-terminus of cytochrome c550 forms a hydrophobic finger involved in the interaction with photosystem II in cyanobacteria. Cytochrome c550 was almost absent in solubilized photosystem II complex samples, in contrast with the PsbO and Psb31 extrinsic subunits, thus suggesting a lower affinity of cytochrome c550 for the photosystem II complex. Under iron-limiting conditions the amount of cytochrome c550 decreases up to about 45% as compared to iron-replete cells, pointing to an iron-regulated synthesis. Oxidized cytochrome c550 has been characterized using continuous wave EPR and pulse techniques, including HYSCORE, and the obtained results have been interpreted in terms of the electrostatic charge distribution in the surroundings of the heme centre