Ripples in Tapped or Blown Powder

We observe ripples forming on the surface of a granular powder in a container submitted from below to a series of brief and distinct shocks. After a few taps, the pattern turns out to be stable against any further shock of the same amplitude. We find experimentally that the characteristic wavelength of the pattern is proportional to the amplitude of the shocks. Starting from consideration involving Darcy's law for air flow through the porous granulate and avalanche properties, we build up a semi-quantitative model which fits satisfactorily the set of experimental observations as well as a couple of additional experiments.Comment: 7 pages, four postscript figures, submitted PRL 11/19/9

Droplet and cluster formation in freely falling granular streams

Particle beams are important tools for probing atomic and molecular interactions. Here we demonstrate that particle beams also offer a unique opportunity to investigate interactions in macroscopic systems, such as granular media. Motivated by recent experiments on streams of grains that exhibit liquid-like breakup into droplets, we use molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the evolution of a dense stream of macroscopic spheres accelerating out of an opening at the bottom of a reservoir. We show how nanoscale details associated with energy dissipation during collisions modify the stream's macroscopic behavior. We find that inelastic collisions collimate the stream, while the presence of short-range attractive interactions drives structure formation. Parameterizing the collision dynamics by the coefficient of restitution (i.e., the ratio of relative velocities before and after impact) and the strength of the cohesive interaction, we map out a spectrum of behaviors that ranges from gas-like jets in which all grains drift apart to liquid-like streams that break into large droplets containing hundreds of grains. We also find a new, intermediate regime in which small aggregates form by capture from the gas phase, similar to what can be observed in molecular beams. Our results show that nearly all aspects of stream behavior are closely related to the velocity gradient associated with vertical free fall. Led by this observation, we propose a simple energy balance model to explain the droplet formation process. The qualitative as well as many quantitative features of the simulations and the model compare well with available experimental data and provide a first quantitative measure of the role of attractions in freely cooling granular streams

Graphene oxide sheets-based platform for induced pluripotent stem cells culture: toxicity, adherence, growth and application

It was prepared the graphene oxide (GO) sheets by suspension of GO in ultrapure deionized water or in Pluronic F-68 using a ultrasonicator bath. Total characterization of GO sheets was carried out. The results on suspension of GO in water showed excellent growth and cell adhesion. GO/Pluronic F-68 platform for the growth and adhesion of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) that exhibits excellent properties for these processes. GO in water suspension exhibited an inhibition of the cell growth over 5 mu g/mL In vivo study with GO suspended in water (100 g/mL) on Fisher 344 rats via i.p. administration showed low toxicity. Despite GO particle accumulates in the intraperitoneal cavity, this fact did not interfere with the final absorption of GO. The AST (aspartate aminotransferase) and ALT (alanine aminotransferase) levels (liver function) did not differ statistically in all experimental groups. Also, creatinine and urea levels (renal function) did not differ statistically in all experimental groups. Taking together, the data suggest the great potential of graphene oxide sheets as platform to ACSs, as well as, new material for treatment several urological diseases6174th International Conference on Safe Production and Use of Nanomaterials (Nanosafe

Mutations in LAMA5 disrupts a skeletal noncanonical focal adhesion pathway and produces a distinct bent bone dysplasia

Resultados de investigaciónIn addition to its structural role in skeletogenesis, the extracellular matrix (ECM), particularly basement membrane proteins, facilitates communication with intracellular signaling pathways and cell to cell interactions to control differentiation, proliferation, migration and survival. Alterations in extracellular proteins cause a number of skeletal disorders and one attributed mechanism results from the deleterious effects of mutated proteins on ECM structure. Yet, the consequences of abnormal ECM on cellular communication remains less well understood. Herein, we describe an unclassified form of bent bone dysplasia caused by recessively inherited mutations in LAMA5, the gene encoding the alpha-5 laminin basement membrane protein. This finding uncovered a mechanism of disease driven by ECM-cell interactions between alpha-5-containing laminins, and integrin- mediated focal adhesion signaling, particularly in cartilage. Loss of LAMA5 altered b1 integrin signaling through the non-canonical kinase PYK2 and the skeletal enriched SRC kinase FYN. Loss of LAMA5 negatively impacted the actin cytoskeleton, vinculin localization, and WNT signaling, tying focal adhesion molecules to key skeletal signaling molecules. This newly described mechanism reveals that a LAMA5-b1 Integrin-PYK2-FYN focal adhesion complex regulatesskeletogenesis and, when dysregulated, produces a distinct skeletal disorder.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

Broadband Microwave Filters Based on Open Split Ring Resonators (OSRRs) and Open Complementary Split Ring Resonators (OCSRRs): Improved Models and Design Optimization

The paper is focused on the design of broadband bandpass filters at microwave frequencies. The proposed filters are based on a combination of open split ring resonators (OSRRs) and open complementary split ring resonators (OCSRRs) loaded in a host transmission line. Since these resonators (OSRRs and OCSRRs) are electrically small, the resulting filters are compact. As compared to previous papers by the authors on this topic, the main aim and originality of the present paper is to demonstrate that by including a new series inductance in the circuit model of the OCSRR, it is possible to improve the predictions of these filter models and better fit the measured filter responses. Moreover, the parameter extraction method of the new circuit model and an automated filter design technique is introduced and demonstrated. The paper is complemented with the design and comparison of several prototypes

Component-resolved diagnosis of pollen allergy based on skin testing with profilin, polcalcin and lipid transfer protein pan-allergens

BACKGROUND Allergy diagnosis needs to be improved in patients suffering from pollen polysensitization due to the existence of possible confounding factors in this type of patients. OBJECTIVE To evaluate new diagnostic strategies by comparing skin responses to pan-allergens and conventional allergenic extracts with specific IgE (sIgE) to purified allergen molecules. METHODS One thousand three hundred and twenty-nine pollen-allergic patients were diagnosed by a combination of an in vitro method with a panel of 13 purified allergens, including major allergens and pan-allergens, using a high-capacity screening technology (ADVIA-Centaur®) and skin prick test (SPT) to pan-allergens and conventional extracts. RESULTS There was a high concordance (κ index) between in vitro (sIgE to major allergens) and in vivo (SPT to conventional extracts) methods in patients who were not sensitized to pan-allergens, but SPT with conventional extracts failed to diagnose patients with sensitization to pan-allergens. In patients who were simultaneously sensitized to polcalcins and profilins, there was a duplication both in the number of sensitizations to major allergens and in the years of disease evolution. There was a statistical association between sensitization to profilins and/or lipid transfer proteins and food allergy (P<0.0001). CONCLUSION The novel diagnostic strategy has proven to be a valuable tool in daily clinical practice. Introduction of routine SPT to pan-allergens is a simple and feasible way of improving diagnostic efficacy. Patients sensitized to pan-allergens should be tested by an adequate panel of allergenic molecules in order to identify the allergens that are responsible for the allergic disease

Graphene Oxide Sheets-based Platform For Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Culture: Toxicity, Adherence, Growth And Application

It was prepared the graphene oxide (GO) sheets by suspension of GO in ultrapure deionized water or in Pluronic F-68 using a ultrasonicator bath. Total characterization of GO sheets was carried out. The results on suspension of GO in water showed excellent growth and cell adhesion. GO/Pluronic F-68 platform for the growth and adhesion of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) that exhibits excellent properties for these processes. GO in water suspension exhibited an inhibition of the cell growth over 5 mu g/mL In vivo study with GO suspended in water (100 g/mL) on Fisher 344 rats via i.p. administration showed low toxicity. Despite GO particle accumulates in the intraperitoneal cavity, this fact did not interfere with the final absorption of GO. The AST (aspartate aminotransferase) and ALT (alanine aminotransferase) levels (liver function) did not differ statistically in all experimental groups. Also, creatinine and urea levels (renal function) did not differ statistically in all experimental groups. Taking together, the data suggest the great potential of graphene oxide sheets as platform to ACSs, as well as, new material for treatment several urological diseases.61