Theoretical description of phase coexistence in model C60

We have investigated the phase diagram of the Girifalco model of C60 fullerene in the framework provided by the MHNC and the SCOZA liquid state theories, and by a Perturbation Theory (PT), for the free energy of the solid phase. We present an extended assessment of such theories as set against a recent Monte Carlo study of the same model [D. Costa et al, J. Chem. Phys. 118:304 (2003)]. We have compared the theoretical predictions with the corresponding simulation results for several thermodynamic properties. Then we have determined the phase diagram of the model, by using either the SCOZA, or the MHNC, or the PT predictions for one of the coexisting phases, and the simulation data for the other phase, in order to separately ascertain the accuracy of each theory. It turns out that the overall appearance of the phase portrait is reproduced fairly well by all theories, with remarkable accuracy as for the melting line and the solid-vapor equilibrium. The MHNC and SCOZA results for the liquid-vapor coexistence, as well as for the corresponding critical points, are quite accurate. All results are discussed in terms of the basic assumptions underlying each theory. We have selected the MHNC for the fluid and the first-order PT for the solid phase, as the most accurate tools to investigate the phase behavior of the model in terms of purely theoretical approaches. The overall results appear as a robust benchmark for further theoretical investigations on higher order C(n>60) fullerenes, as well as on other fullerene-related materials, whose description can be based on a modelization similar to that adopted in this work.Comment: RevTeX4, 15 pages, 7 figures; submitted to Phys. Rev.

Evaluación de métodos para medir la actividad inhibitoria de extractos vegetales nativos del departamento de sucre sobre bacterias y levadura patógenas

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of two methods for measuring inhibitory activity of native ethanolic extracts plant of the Department of Sucre on bacteria and yeast human pathogenic. Sampling was conducted in the municipalities of Morroa and Sincelejo. The leaves of the plants Melia azederach, Sapium sp, Jatropha gossypilia, Psidium guajava, Origanum vulgare, Melissa officinalis, Eucalyptus sp and Cymbopogon citratus were processed using the methods of percolation and Soxhlet for the extraction of the extract. Methods were tested on agar hole method (Method 1) and the sensitive disk method (method 2) to measure the inhibitory effect on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella oxytoca, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, and Bulkolderia glumaea Zygosaccharomyces microellipsoides. The results demonstrate that the method 2 allows greater efficiency and interpretation of results with regard to method 1 where there was diffusion of the extracts in the hole, which creates interference in the measurement. This is the first work in the department of Sucre where two methods are evaluated to determine inhibitory activity of a large group of native plants on pathogenic bacteria and yeast.El objetivo del presente trabajo fue evaluar la eficiencia de dos métodos para medir actividad inhibitoria de extractos vegetales etanólicos nativos del Departamento de Sucre sobre bacterias y levadura patógenas de humanos y plantas. Los muestreos se realizaron en los municipios de Morroa y Sincelejo. Las hojas de las plantas Melia Azederach, Sapium sp, Jatropha gossypilia, Psidium guajava, Origanum vulgare Melissa officinalis, Eucalyptus sp y Cymbopogon citratus fueron procesadas utilizando los métodos de percolación y de soxhlet para la extracción de los extractos. Se evaluaron los métodos de orificio sobre agar (método 1) y el método de disco sensitivos (método 2) para medir el efecto inhibitorio sobre Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella oxytoca, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Bulkolderia glumaea y Zygosaccharomyces microellipsoides. Los resultados obtenidos demuestran que el método 2 permite una mayor eficacia e interpretación de los resultados con relación al método 1 donde se observó difusión de los extractos en el orificio, lo cual crea interferencia en la medición. Este es el primer trabajo en el departamento de Sucre donde se evalúan dos métodos para determinar actividad inhibitoria de un grupo amplio de plantas nativas sobre bacterias y levadura patógenas

Iron depletion in the hot bubbles in planetary nebulae

We have searched for the emission from \fex and \fexiv that is expected from the gas emitting in diffuse X-rays in \bd, NGC 6543, NGC 7009, and NGC 7027. Neither line was detected in any object. Models that fit the X-ray spectra of these objects indicate that the \fex emission should be below our detection thresholds, but the predicted \fexiv emission exceeds our observed upper limits (one sigma) by factors of at least 3.5 to 12. The best explanation for the absence of \fexiv is that the X-ray plasma is depleted in iron. In principle, this result provides a clear chemical signature that may be used to determine the origin of the X-ray gas in either the nebular gas or the stellar wind. At present, though various lines of evidence appear to favour a nebular origin, the lack of atmospheric and nebular iron abundances in the objects studied here precludes a definitive conclusion.Comment: 23 pages, 4 figure

Chemical characterization and enological potential of less frequent red grape Uruguayan varieties by study secondary metabolites

Study of secondary grape metabolites, such as polyphenol compounds (anthocyanins, flavonols, flavan-3-ols), volatile compounds present in grapes in both free and glycoside forms (monoterpenols, norisoprenoids, benzenoids), allowed us to characterize grape varieties and to suggest the best winemaking practices to maximize their enological potential. The Vitis viníferas studied in the present work are less frequent red grape varieties cultivated in small vineyards in southern Uruguay (Montevideo and Canelones Provinces): Ancellota, Aspiran Bouschet (syn. Lacryma Christi), Marselan (Grenache × Cabernet Sauvignon), Arinarnoa (Tannat × Cabernet Sauvignon), Egiodola (Abouriou × Tinta Negra Mole) and Caladoc (Malbec × Grenache)

A Taxonomy of Explainable Bayesian Networks

Artificial Intelligence (AI), and in particular, the explainability thereof, has gained phenomenal attention over the last few years. Whilst we usually do not question the decision-making process of these systems in situations where only the outcome is of interest, we do however pay close attention when these systems are applied in areas where the decisions directly influence the lives of humans. It is especially noisy and uncertain observations close to the decision boundary which results in predictions which cannot necessarily be explained that may foster mistrust among end-users. This drew attention to AI methods for which the outcomes can be explained. Bayesian networks are probabilistic graphical models that can be used as a tool to manage uncertainty. The probabilistic framework of a Bayesian network allows for explainability in the model, reasoning and evidence. The use of these methods is mostly ad hoc and not as well organised as explainability methods in the wider AI research field. As such, we introduce a taxonomy of explainability in Bayesian networks. We extend the existing categorisation of explainability in the model, reasoning or evidence to include explanation of decisions. The explanations obtained from the explainability methods are illustrated by means of a simple medical diagnostic scenario. The taxonomy introduced in this paper has the potential not only to encourage end-users to efficiently communicate outcomes obtained, but also support their understanding of how and, more importantly, why certain predictions were made

Identification of Interleukin-27 (IL-27)/IL-27 Receptor Subunit Alpha as a Critical Immune Axis for In Vivo HIV Control

Intact and broad immune cell effector functions and specific individual cytokines have been linked to HIV disease outcome, but their relative contribution to HIV control remains unclear. We asked whether the proteome of secreted cytokines and signaling factors in peripheral blood can be used to discover specific pathways critical for host viral control. A custom glass-based microarray, able to measure >600 plasma proteins involved in cell-to-cell communication, was used to measure plasma protein profiles in 96 HIV-infected, treatment-naive individuals with high (>50,000) or low (600 soluble proteins, our data highlight the importance of Th17 cells and Wnt/β-catenin signaling in HIV control and especially identify the IL-27/IL-27 receptor subunit alpha (IL-27RA) axis as a predictor of plasma viral load and proviral copy number in the peripheral blood. These data may provide important guidance to therapeutic approaches in the HIV cure agenda

Static and Dynamic Analysis of Bistable Piezoelectric-Composite Plates for Energy Harvesting

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/97054/1/AIAA2012-1492.pd

Ibero-American Society of Interventionism (SIDI) and the Spanish Society of Vascular and Interventional Radiology (SERVEI) Standard of Practice (SOP) for the management of inferior Vena Cava filters in the treatment of acute venous Thromboembolism

Objectives: to present an interventional radiology standard of practice on the use of inferior vena cava filters (IVCFs) in patients with or at risk to develop venous thromboembolism (VTE) from the Iberoamerican Interventional Society (SIDI) and Spanish Vascular and Interventional Radiology Society (SERVEI). Methods: a group of twenty-two interventional radiologist experts, from the SIDI and SERVEI societies, attended online meetings to develop a current clinical practice guideline on the proper indication for the placement and retrieval of IVCFs. A broad review was undertaken to determine the participation of interventional radiologists in the current guidelines and a consensus on inferior vena cava filters. Twenty-two experts from both societies worked on a common draft and received a questionnaire where they had to assess, for IVCF placement, the absolute, relative, and prophylactic indications. The experts voted on the different indications and reasoned their decision. Results: a total of two-hundred-thirty-three articles were reviewed. Interventional radiologists participated in the development of just two of the eight guidelines. The threshold for inclusion was 100% agreement. Three absolute and four relative indications for the IVCF placement were identified. No indications for the prophylactic filter placement reached the threshold. Conclusion: interventional radiologists are highly involved in the management of IVCFs but have limited participation in the development of multidisciplinary clinical practice guidelines

Characterizing the gamma-ray long-term variability of PKS 2155-304 with H.E.S.S. and Fermi-LAT

Studying the temporal variability of BL Lac objects at the highest energies provides unique insights into the extreme physical processes occurring in relativistic jets and in the vicinity of super-massive black holes. To this end, the long-term variability of the BL Lac object PKS 2155-304 is analyzed in the high (HE, 100 MeV 200 GeV) gamma-ray domain. Over the course of ~9 yr of H.E.S.S observations the VHE light curve in the quiescent state is consistent with a log-normal behavior. The VHE variability in this state is well described by flicker noise (power-spectral-density index {\ss}_VHE = 1.10 +0.10 -0.13) on time scales larger than one day. An analysis of 5.5 yr of HE Fermi LAT data gives consistent results ({\ss}_HE = 1.20 +0.21 -0.23, on time scales larger than 10 days) compatible with the VHE findings. The HE and VHE power spectral densities show a scale invariance across the probed time ranges. A direct linear correlation between the VHE and HE fluxes could neither be excluded nor firmly established. These long-term-variability properties are discussed and compared to the red noise behavior ({\ss} ~ 2) seen on shorter time scales during VHE-flaring states. The difference in power spectral noise behavior at VHE energies during quiescent and flaring states provides evidence that these states are influenced by different physical processes, while the compatibility of the HE and VHE long-term results is suggestive of a common physical link as it might be introduced by an underlying jet-disk connection.Comment: 11 pages, 16 figure