The Actuator Design and the Experimental Tests of a New Technology Large Deformable Mirror for Visible Wavelengths Adaptive Optics

Recently, Adaptive Secondary Mirrors showed excellent on-sky results in the Near Infrared wavelengths. They currently provide 30mm inter-actuator spacing and about 1 kHz bandwidth. Pushing these devices to be operated at visible wavelengths is a challenging task. Compared to the current systems, working in the infrared, the more demanding requirements are the higher spatial resolution and the greater correction bandwidth. In fact, the turbulence scale is shorter and the parameter variation is faster. Typically, the former is not larger than 25 mm (projected on the secondary mirror) and the latter is 2 kHz, therefore the actuator has to be more slender and faster than the current ones. With a soft magnetic composite core, a dual-stator and a single-mover, VRALA, the actuator discussed in this paper, attains unprecedented performances with a negligible thermal impact. Pre-shaping the current required to deliver a given stroke greatly simplifies the control system, whose output supplies the current generator. As the inductance depends on the mover position, the electronics of this generator, provided with an inductance measure circuit, works also as a displacement sensor, supplying the control system with an accurate feed-back signal. A preliminary prototype, built according to the several FEA thermo-magnetic analyses, has undergone some preliminary laboratory tests. The results of these checks, matching the design results in terms of power and force, show that the the magnetic design addresses the severe specifications

The Glassy Potts Model

We introduce a Potts model with quenched, frustrated disorder, that enjoys of a gauge symmetry that forbids spontaneous magnetization, and allows the glassy phase to extend from $T_c$ down to T=0. We study numerical the 4 dimensional model with $q=4$ states. We show the existence of a glassy phase, and we characterize it by studying the probability distributions of an order parameter, the binder cumulant and the divergence of the overlap susceptibility. We show that the dynamical behavior of the system is characterized by aging.Comment: 4 pages including 4 (color) ps figures (all on page 4

Diketo acid inhibitors of nsp13 of SARS-CoV-2 block viral replication

For RNA viruses, RNA helicases have long been recognized to play critical roles during virus replication cycles, facilitating proper folding and replication of viral RNAs, therefore representing an ideal target for drug discovery. SARS-CoV-2 helicase, the non-structural protein 13 (nsp13) is a highly conserved protein among all known coronaviruses, and, at the moment, is one of the most explored viral targets to identify new possible antiviral agents. In the present study, we present six diketo acids (DKAs) as nsp13 inhibitors able to block both SARS-CoV-2 nsp13 enzymatic functions. Among them four compounds were able to inhibit viral replication in the low micromolar range, being active also on other human coronaviruses such as HCoV229E and MERS CoV. The experimental investigation of the binding mode revealed ATP-non-competitive kinetics of inhibition, not affected by substrate-displacement effect, suggesting an allosteric binding mode that was further supported by molecular modelling calculations predicting the binding into an allosteric conserved site located in the RecA2 domain

Punta Querandí: disputas por el espacio entre las urbanizaciones cerradas y los movimientos sociales

El presente informe es el resultado del trabajo llevado a cabo por los alumnos del sexto año de la Escuela Secundaria del Colegio San Simón, de la ciudad de La Plata, en el marco de la asignatura de la Orientación en Ciencias Sociales denominada Proyectos de Investigación en Ciencias Sociales, durante el ciclo lectivo 2012. Se estudió el conflicto alrededor del paraje denominado Punta Querandí, ubicado entre los partidos de Tigre y Escobar, para abordar la problemática de las disputas por el espacio entre las urbanizaciones cerradas y los movimientos sociales. Se da cuenta de las sucesivas etapas de elaboración del diseño de investigación, la realización del trabajo de campo y las conclusiones alcanzadas al finalizar el año lectivo.Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educació

Neutralizing antibodies to Omicron after the fourth SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine dose in immunocompromised patients highlight the need of additional boosters

IntroductionImmunocompromised patients have been shown to have an impaired immune response to COVID-19 vaccines.MethodsHere we compared the B-cell, T-cell and neutralizing antibody response to WT and Omicron BA.2 SARS-CoV-2 virus after the fourth dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in patients with hematological malignancies (HM, n=71), solid tumors (ST, n=39) and immune-rheumatological (IR, n=25) diseases. The humoral and T-cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination were analyzed by quantifying the anti-RBD antibodies, their neutralization activity and the IFN-γ released after spike specific stimulation.ResultsWe show that the T-cell response is similarly boosted by the fourth dose across the different subgroups, while the antibody response is improved only in patients not receiving B-cell targeted therapies, independent on the pathology. However, 9% of patients with anti-RBD antibodies did not have neutralizing antibodies to either virus variants, while an additional 5.7% did not have neutralizing antibodies to Omicron BA.2, making these patients particularly vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The increment of neutralizing antibodies was very similar towards Omicron BA.2 and WT virus after the third or fourth dose of vaccine, suggesting that there is no preferential skewing towards either virus variant with the booster dose. The only limited step is the amount of antibodies that are elicited after vaccination, thus increasing the probability of developing neutralizing antibodies to both variants of virus.DiscussionThese data support the recommendation of additional booster doses in frail patients to enhance the development of a B-cell response directed against Omicron and/or to enhance the T-cell response in patients treated with anti-CD20

Reparação do tecido ósseo peri-implantar após enxerto ósseo autógeno e heterógeno: estudo experimental histológico em cães

Objetivo: avaliar a regeneração da crista óssea alveolar e o processo de osseointegração de implantes instalados em sítios enxertados com blocos de osso autógeno e osso bovino mineral (DBBM),associado a membrana de colágeno. Material e método: em 6 cães labradores foram extraidos os molares inferiores bilateralmente, nos quais foi removida a tábua óssea vestibular, criando-se um defeito em formato de caixa. Após 3 meses de regeneração, os retalhos foram elevados e posicionado um guia com uma lima endodôntica, com a finalidade de alinhar paralelamente à parede vestibular do defeito. O guia foi removido e, no lado direito inferior (grupo controle), foi obtido um enxerto ósseo do ramo ascendente da mandibula, que foi fixado a parede lateral do defeito por meio de parafusos. No lado esquerdo inferior (grupo teste), foi fixado um bloco de DBBM no defeito mandibular. Em ambos os lados, os blocos enxertados foram protegidos por uma membrana de colágeno reabsorvível. Em seguida os retalhos foram suturados. Após elevação do retalho, utilizou-se o guia para instalação de um implante de cada lado da mandíbula, entre o enxerto e o osso remanescente. Após 3 meses, os animais foram eutanasiados para obtenção das peças a serem processadas laboratorialmente para análise histológica. Resultados: Todos os implantes apresentaram-se clinicamente estáveis. A espessura da crista alveolar no grupo teste foi de 5.4, 9.4 e 9.3 mm, antes, imediatamente após a enxertia, e no momento da instalação dos implantes respectivamente. No grupo controle (enxerto ósseo autógeno), a espessura da crista alveolar foi de 5.2, 9.0 mm antes e imediatamente após o procedimento de enxertia (reconstrução). Após 3 meses...Aim: - to evaluate the healing of the alveolar bony crest and the integration of implants installed in augmented sites with autologous bone or DBBM blocks, concomitantly with a collagen membrane. Material & methods: Mandibular molars were extracted bilaterally in 6 Labrador dogs, the buccal bony wall was removed and a box-shaped defect was created. After 3 months, flaps were elevated and a device was applied to a stent and used for the placement of an endodontic file that was lined up parallel to the buccal wall of the defect. The stent was removed and, in the right mandibular side, a bony graft was harvested from the ascending ramus and secured to the lateral wall of the defect by means of screws. In the left mandibular side, a DBBM block was fixed to the defect. A resorbable membrane was applied both sides. The flaps were sutured. After three months, one bone graft was exposed, and the dog was excluded from further analysis. After flap elevation, the stent and the device were used as guide to install one implant in each mandibular side, between the graft and the parent bone. After 3 months, biopsies were harvested and ground sections prepared for histological evaluation. Results: All implants were clinically stable. The width of the alveolar crest at the test sites was 5.4mm before, 9.4mm immediately after grafting, and 9.3mm at implant installation. At the control sites (autologous bone graft), the width of the alveolar crest was 5.2mm before and 9.0mm immediately after the grafting procedure. After 3 months of healing, the width was 8.7mm. One autologous bone block graft was lost before implant installation. All implants installed were available for histological evaluation (n=5). The autologous bone... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES