453 research outputs found

    A New Mechanism of Quark Energy Loss

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    We show that a heavy quark moving sufficiently fast through a quark-gluon plasma may lose energy by Cherenkov-radiating mesons. We demonstrate that this takes place in all strongly coupled, large-Nc plasmas with a gravity dual. The energy loss is exactly calculable in these models despite being an O(1/Nc)-effect. We discuss phenomenological implications for heavy-ion collision experiments.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures; v2: plot modified, conclusions unchange

    Study of self-consumption and net metering photovoltaic system

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    In Spain, regulations for Self-Consumption installations have been recently approved. However, regulations for Net Metering installations are still under discussion. The target of this study is to discuss different options for Net Metering implementation which are not defined yet. Also, an approach to new criteria for sizing this kind of installations will be done from different points of view: technical and economic. Different cases have been studied: the regulatory frame which was drafted by the former government (but not approved yet) and other proposals amending the mentioned draft that are being issued by other entities as National Energy Commission of Spain, Photovoltaic Producers Association, etc. The results let us conclude that the regulations which are drafted now will not permit the optimal performance of Net Metering installations neither from energy point of view nor economic point of view. It should be necessary to change the regulation draft just to reach the optimal performance of Net Metering installations.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

    Serum proteomics of active tuberculosis patients and contacts reveals unique processes activated during Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

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    Tuberculosis (TB) is the most lethal infection among infectious diseases. The specific aim of this study was to establish panels of serum protein biomarkers representative of active TB patients and their household contacts who were either infected (LTBI) or uninfected (EMI-TB Discovery Cohort, Pontevedra Region, Spain). A TMT (Tamdem mass tags) 10plex-based quantitative proteomics study was performed in quintuplicate containing a total of 15 individual serum samples per group. Peptides were analyzed in an LC-Orbitrap Elite platform, and raw data were processed using Proteome Discoverer 2.1. A total of 418 proteins were quantified. The specific protein signature of active TB patients was characterized by an accumulation of proteins related to complement activation, inflammation and modulation of immune response and also by a decrease of a small subset of proteins, including apolipoprotein A and serotransferrin, indicating the importance of lipid transport and iron assimilation in the progression of the disease. This signature was verified by the targeted measurement of selected candidates in a second cohort (EMI-TB Verification Cohort, Maputo Region, Mozambique) by ELISA and nephelometry techniques. These findings will aid our understanding of the complex metabolic processes associated with TB progression from LTBI to active disease

    Proteomic Applications in the Study of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells

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    Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are undifferentiated cells with an unlimited capacity for self-renewal and able to differentiate towards specific lineages under appropriate conditions. MSCs are, a priori, a good target for cell therapy and clinical trials as an alternative to embryonic stem cells, avoiding ethical problems and the chance for malignant transformation in the host. However, regarding MSCs, several biological implications must be solved before their application in cell therapy, such as safe ex vivo expansion and manipulation to obtain an extensive cell quantity amplification number for use in the host without risk accumulation of genetic and epigenetic abnormalities. Cell surface markers for direct characterization of MSCs remain unknown, and the precise molecular mechanisms whereby growth factors stimulate their differentiation are still missing. In the last decade, quantitative proteomics has emerged as a promising set of techniques to address these questions, the answers to which will determine whether MSCs retain their potential for use in cell therapy. Proteomics provides tools to globally analyze cellular activity at the protein level. This proteomic profiling allows the elucidation of connections between broad cellular pathways and molecules that were previously impossible to determine using only traditional biochemical analysis. However; thus far, the results obtained must be orthogonally validated with other approaches. This review will focus on how these techniques have been applied in the evaluation of MSCs for their future applications in safe therapies.Instituto de Salud Carlos III; PI11/0279

    A Class of Partially Solvable Two-Dimensional Quantum Models with Periodic Potentials

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    The supersymmetrical approach is used to analyse a class of two-dimensional quantum systems with periodic potentials. In particular, the method of SUSY-separation of variables allowed us to find a part of the energy spectra and the corresponding wave functions (partial solvability) for several models. These models are not amenable to conventional separation of variables, and they can be considered as two-dimensional generalizations of Lame, associated Lame, and trigonometric Razavy potentials. All these models have the symmetry operators of fourth order in momenta, and one of them (the Lame potential) obeys the property of self-isospectrality.Comment: 22 pages; some typos corrected; new reference adde
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