Localization for Schrodinger operators with random vector potentials

We prove Anderson localization at the internal band-edges for periodic magnetic Schr{\"o}dinger operators perturbed by random vector potentials of Anderson-type. This is achieved by combining new results on the Lifshitz tails behavior of the integrated density of states for random magnetic Schr{\"o}dinger operators, thereby providing the initial length-scale estimate, and a Wegner estimate, for such models

Localization for the random displacement model at weak disorder

This paper is devoted to the study of the random displacement model on $\R^d$. We prove that, in the weak displacement regime, Anderson and dynamical localization holds near the bottom of the spectrum under a generic assumption on the single site potential and a fairly general assumption on the support of the possible displacements. This result follows from the proof of the existence of Lifshitz tail and of a Wegner estimate for the model under scrutiny

Caffeine blocks disruption of blood brain barrier in a rabbit model of Alzheimer's disease

High levels of serum cholesterol and disruptions of the blood brain barrier (BBB) have all been implicated as underlying mechanisms in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Results from studies conducted in animals and humans suggest that caffeine might be protective against Alzheimer's disease but by poorly understood mechanisms. Using rabbits fed a cholesterol-enriched diet, we tested our hypothesis that chronic ingestion of caffeine protects against high cholesterol diet-induced disruptions of the BBB. New Zealand rabbits were fed a 2% cholesterol-enriched diet, and 3 mg caffeine was administered daily in drinking water for 12 weeks. Total cholesterol and caffeine concentrations from blood were measured. Olfactory bulbs (and for some studies hippocampus and cerebral cortex as well) were evaluated for BBB leakage, BBB tight junction protein expression levels, activation of astrocytes, and microglia density using histological, immunostaining and immunoblotting techniques. We found that caffeine blocked high cholesterol diet-induced increases in extravasation of IgG and fibrinogen, increases in leakage of Evan's blue dye, decreases in levels of the tight junction proteins occludin and ZO-1, increases in astrocytes activation and microglia density where IgG extravasation was present. Chronic ingestion of caffeine protects against high cholesterol diet-induced increases in disruptions of the BBB, and caffeine and drugs similar to caffeine might be useful in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Understanding the Random Displacement Model: From Ground-State Properties to Localization

We give a detailed survey of results obtained in the most recent half decade which led to a deeper understanding of the random displacement model, a model of a random Schr\"odinger operator which describes the quantum mechanics of an electron in a structurally disordered medium. These results started by identifying configurations which characterize minimal energy, then led to Lifshitz tail bounds on the integrated density of states as well as a Wegner estimate near the spectral minimum, which ultimately resulted in a proof of spectral and dynamical localization at low energy for the multi-dimensional random displacement model.Comment: 31 pages, 7 figures, final version, to appear in Proceedings of "Spectral Days 2010", Santiago, Chile, September 20-24, 201

Spectral extrema and Lifshitz tails for non monotonous alloy type models

In the present note, we determine the ground state energy and study the existence of Lifshitz tails near this energy for some non monotonous alloy type models. Here, non monotonous means that the single site potential coming into the alloy random potential changes sign. In particular, the random operator is not a monotonous function of the random variables

Primera investigación sobre el perfil de ácidos grasos de Mactra corallina (Bivalvia, Mactridae) de la costa norte de Túnez

This study reveals information for the first time about the total lipid (TL) content and fatty acid composition (FA) of Mactra stultorum (M. corallina). Three edible organs (foot, mantle and adductor muscle) were the subjects of this research in order to determine the most favorable periods for their consumption in relation to seasonal variability. The results showed lower lipid content in the adductor muscles in summer (12.73 ± 2.55 mg/g dry matter); while a higher content was observed in winter (28.97 ± 3.50 mg/g dry matter). However, similar lipid contents were observed in the mantle and foot tissues among the seasons. The fatty acid composition of Mactra stultorum adductor muscles, mantle and foot was dominated by saturated fatty acids (SFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Palmitic acid (16:0) was the major saturated fatty acid (SFA) and reached higher levels during summer in the foot (26%), mantle (21%) and adductor muscles (25%). Among PUFA, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) showed significant variation among seasons with high levels recorded during winter and spring. Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) did not show any remarkable variation among seasons for the three studied tissues. Seasonal changes in fatty acids were observed for all samples, reaching a maximum level in winter or spring.Este estudio proporcionó información por primera vez sobre el contenido total de lípidos (TL) y la composición de ácidos grasos (AG) Mactra stultorum (M. corallina). Tres órganos comestibles (pie, manto y músculo aductor) son el objeto de esta investigación para determinar los períodos más favorables para su consumo en relación con la variabilidad estacional. Los resultados mostraron niveles más bajos de lípidos en los músculos aductores en verano (12,73 ± 2,55 mg/g de materia seca), mientras que en invierno se observó un mayor contenido (28,97 ± 3,50 mg/g de materia seca). Sin embargo, se observaron contenidos similares de lípidos en los tejidos del manto y el pie entre las estaciones. La composición grasa de los músculos aductores Mactra stultorum, el manto y el pie estuvo dominada por ácidos grasos saturados (AGS) y ácidos grasos poliinsaturados (AGPI). El ácido palmítico (16:0) fue el principal ácido graso saturado (AGS) alcanzando niveles más altos durante el verano en pie (26%), el manto (21%) y los músculos aductores (25%). Entre los ácidos grasos poliinsaturados (AGPI), el ácido eicosapentaenoico (EPA, 20:5n-3) y ácido docosahexaenoico (DHA, 22:6n-3), han mostrado una variación significativa entre las estaciones, con niveles altos registrados durante el invierno y la primavera. Mientras que, los ácidos grasos monoinsaturados (AGMI) no mostraron ninguna variación notable entre las estaciones para los tres tejidos estudiados. Se pueden observar cambios estacionales de los ácidos grasos para todas las muestras que alcanzan un nivel máximo en invierno o primavera

Cambios en la composición de los ácidos grasos y evaluación de la oxidación de lípidos y proteínas en almejas comerciales (Ruditapes decussatus) cocinadas

This study aimed to provide information about the changes in fatty acid composition and quality in Ruditapes decussatus tissue after four culinary treatments (steamed, baked, grilled and fried). All treated samples showed a significant decrease in moisture and protein. In contrast, a significant increase in fat content resulted from the grilled and fried treatments. Saturated fatty acid was significantly higher in fresh clams than all cooking processes, except in fried ones. Monounsaturated fatty acid and polyunsaturated fatty acid varied significantly between fresh and cooked clams with high values recorded for fried clams. The n-3/n-6 ratio, peroxide index, EPA+DHA and atherogenicity index decreased significantly after the cooking processes particularly in fried clams. The mineral levels (Mg, Ca and Mn) of cooked clams decreased considerably with grilled and fried treatments. The impacts of cooking on the fatty acid composition and protein content in clam tissue was evaluated by lipid peroxidation (TBARS, PV, FFA, TOR) and protein oxidation (AOPP and PCO), which varied statistically in fried, steamed, grilled and baked samples; indicating alterations in cooked clam tissues structure. Based on our results, steaming is recommended for the preparation of clams because it preserves the most nutritional tissue quality.El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo proporcionar información innovadora sobre los cambios en la composición y calidad de los ácidos grasos presentes en el tejido de Ruditapes decussatus tras cuatro tratamientos culinarios distintos (vapor, horno, parrilla y fritura). Todas las muestras tratadas mostraron una disminución significativa en el contenido de humedad y proteínas. Por el contrario, los tratamientos a la parrilla y frito resultaron en un aumento significativo de la cantidad de grasa. El contenido en ácidos grasos saturados fue significativamente mayor en las almejas frescas comparado con todas las almejas cocinadas, a excepción de las fritas. Los ácidos grasos mono- y poliinsaturados variaron significativamente entre las almejas frescas y cocinadas, mostrando el valor más alto en las almejas fritas. La relación n-3/n-6, el índice de peróxidos, el contenido de EPA + DHA y el índice de aterogenicidad disminuyeron significativamente después de todos los procesos de cocción, especialmente en las almejas fritas. Los niveles de minerales (Mg, Ca y Mn) de las almejas cocinadas disminuyeron considerablemente tras los tratamientos a la parrilla y frito. El impacto del cocinado sobre la calidad de los ácidos grasos y las proteínas se evaluó mediante la medida de la peroxidación de lípidos (TBARS, PV, FFA, TOR) y la oxidación de proteínas (AOPP y PCO), valores que variaron significativamente en las muestras fritas, al vapor, a la parrilla y al horno, indicando una alteración de la estructura de los tejidos de la almeja cocinada. De acuerdo a los resultados obtenidos, se recomienda la cocción al vapor para la preparación de las almejas, ya que es el tratamiento que mejor preserva calidad nutricional de los tejidos

Variación geográfica en la composición de ácidos grasos y fuente de alimento de la almeja comercial (Venerupis decussata, Linnaeus, 1758), de las costas tunecinas: cadenas tróficas

Lake and coastal Tunisian areas are rich biodiversity habitats, although little information is available about the distribution of food sources for the inhabitant species. In this study, a fatty acid analysis was used to study the trophic ecology of Venerupis decussatac ommunities from 10 sites located along the Tunisian Coast. The richest population in fatty acids was found in S4 followed by S5 and S8, while that of S1, S3 and S10 were the least rich. Results from multivariate analysis confirmed the ecological position of the studied population based on their fatty acid composition. Our results divided the ten studied populations into three similar groups according to their ecological and geographical positions in relation to environmental parameters and food and trophic links. A principal component analysis revealed that diatoms and dinoflagellates were the predominate diets in all the sampling stations. Bacteria and urban discharge dominated the dietary source of clams from S10 and S9. Zooplankton were the preferred diet of V. decussata harvested from the two S2 and S3 lakes; although green algae, phytoplankton and detritus were absent from the dietary source of the two previous populations. Despite spatial differences, clams from the north and the south could be easily distinguished from each other, which indicates the utility of this method in the dietary analysis of different food chain links. This study proves that geographic, ecologic and abiotic factors as well as their mutual interaction should be properly investigated in studies focusing on the trophic chains of aquatic ecosystems.Los lagos y las zonas costeras de Túnez son ricos en hábitats de biodiversidad. Sin embargo, hay poca información disponible sobre la distribución de las fuentes de alimentos para las especies residentes. En este trabajo se utilizó el análisis de ácidos grasos para estudiar la ecología trófica de las comunidades de Venerupis decussata de 10 localizaciones a lo largo de las costas tunecinas. La población más rica en ácidos grasos se encontró en S4 seguida de S5 y S8, mientras que la de S1, S3 y S10 fueron las menos ricas. Los resultados del análisis multivariante confirmaron la posición ecológica de la población estudiada en función de su composición de ácidos grasos. Nuestros resultados dividieron las diez poblaciones estudiadas en tres grupos similares según sus posiciones ecológicas y geográficas en relación con los parámetros ambientales y con los enlaces tróficos y alimentarios. El análisis de los componentes principales reveló que las dietas predominantes eran las diatomeas y los dinoflagelados en todas las estaciones de muestreo. Mientras que, las bacterias y la descarga urbana dominaron la fuente dietética de almejas de S10 y S9. Sin embargo, el zooplancton fue la dieta preferida de V. decussata cosechada de los dos lagos S2 y S3; las algas verdes, el fitoplancton y los detritos estaban ausentes en la fuente dietética de las dos poblaciones anteriores. A pesar de las diferencias espaciales, las almejas del norte y del sur se pueden distinguir fácilmente entre sí, lo que indica la utilidad de este método en el análisis dietético de los diferentes enlaces de la cadena alimentaria. Este estudio demuestra que los factores geográficos, ecológicos y abióticos, así como su interacción mutua deben investigarse adecuadamente en estudios centrados en las cadenas tróficas de los ecosistemas acuáticos

The new generation CMB B-mode polarization experiment: POLARBEAR

We describe the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) polarization experiment called Polarbear. This experiment will use the dedicated Huan Tran Telescope equipped with a powerful 1,200-bolometer array receiver to map the CMB polarization with unprecedented accuracy. We summarize the experiment, its goals, and current status

QUBIC: The QU Bolometric Interferometer for Cosmology

One of the major challenges of modern cosmology is the detection of B-mode polarization anisotropies in the CMB. These originate from tensor fluctuations of the metric produced during the inflationary phase. Their detection would therefore constitute a major step towards understanding the primordial Universe. The expected level of these anisotropies is however so small that it requires a new generation of instruments with high sensitivity and extremely good control of systematic effects. We propose the QUBIC instrument based on the novel concept of bolometric interferometry, bringing together the sensitivity advantages of bolometric detectors with the systematics effects advantages of interferometry. Methods: The instrument will directly observe the sky through an array of entry horns whose signals will be combined together using an optical combiner. The whole set-up is located inside a cryostat. Polarization modulation will be achieved using a rotating half-wave plate and interference fringes will be imaged on two focal planes (separated by a polarizing grid) tiled with bolometers. We show that QUBIC can be considered as a synthetic imager, exactly similar to a usual imager but with a synthesized beam formed by the array of entry horns. Scanning the sky provides an additional modulation of the signal and improve the sky coverage shape. The usual techniques of map-making and power spectrum estimation can then be applied. We show that the sensitivity of such an instrument is comparable with that of an imager with the same number of horns. We anticipate a low level of beam-related systematics thanks to the fact that the synthesized beam is determined by the location of the primary horns. Other systematics should be under good control thanks to an autocalibration technique, specific to our concept, that will permit the accurate determination of most of the systematics parameters.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures, submitted to Astronomy and Astrophysic