Hodge polynomials of the moduli spaces of pairs

Let $X$ be a smooth projective curve of genus $g\geq 2$ over the complex numbers. A holomorphic pair on $X$ is a couple $(E,\phi)$, where $E$ is a holomorphic bundle over $X$ of rank $n$ and degree $d$, and $\phi\in H^0(E)$ is a holomorphic section. In this paper, we determine the Hodge polynomials of the moduli spaces of rank 2 pairs, using the theory of mixed Hodge structures. We also deal with the case in which $E$ has fixed determinant.Comment: 23 pages, typos added, minor change

Double dynamical regime of confined water

The Van Hove self correlation function of water confined in a silica pore is calculated from Molecular Dynamics trajectories upon supercooling. At long time in the $\alpha$ relaxation region we found that the behaviour of the real space time dependent correlators can be decomposed in a very slow, almost frozen, dynamics due to the bound water close to the substrate and a faster dynamics of the free water which resides far from the confining surface. For free water we confirm the evidences of an approach to a crossover mode coupling transition, previously found in Q space. In the short time region we found that the two dynamical regimes are overimposed and cannot be distinguished. This shows that the interplay between the slower and the faster dynamics emerges in going from early times to the $\alpha$ relaxation region, where a layer analysis of the dynamical properties can be performed.Comment: 6 pages with 9 figures. RevTeX. Accepted for pulbication in J. Phys. Cond. Mat

Sexual Symmetry in Natural Populations of the Patagonian Cypress (Austrocedrus chilensis)

AbstractSexual symmetry, defined as equal allelic frequencies among reproduction effective gametes of both sexes, was analysed by means of 10 isozyme loci in three natural populations of Austrocedrus chilensis (dioecious and wind pollinated tree species). Haplotypes of effective gametes were inferred by analysing side-by-side both the embryo and the endosperm of seeds collected from 20 to 27 trees per population. The allelic frequencies of effective ovules and pollen were compared in each of the three populations. The hypothesis of sexual symmetry could only be rejected in case of one locus in two out of three analysed populations. That is, most of the loci surveyed turned out to be symmetric in the three sampled populations in spite of their contrasting environmental conditions. Therefore, sexual symmetry in A. chilensis seems to be mainly uninfluenced by the environment. On the other hand, all loci showed Hardy- Weinberg (HW) proportions in the three populations, even those that resulted asymmetric. HW structure is usually considered as enough evidence of panmixia, what implies sexual symmetry, and consequently this result gives an example of the low reliability of indirect methods of testing genetic processes, such as the classical HW test

CXCR4-targeted and MMP-responsive iron oxide nanoparticles for enhanced magnetic resonance imaging

MRI offers high spatial resolution with excellent tissue penetration but it has limited sensitivity and the commonly administered contrast agents lack specificity. In this study, two sets of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) were synthesized that were designed to selectively undergo copper-free click conjugation upon sensing of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) enzymes, thereby leading to a self-assembled superparamagnetic nanocluster network with T2 signal enhancement properties. For this purpose, IONPs with bioorthogonal azide and alkyne surfaces masked by polyethylene glycol (PEG) layers tethered to CXCR4-targeted peptide ligands were synthesized and characterized. The IONPs were tested in vitro and T2 signal enhancements of around 160 % were measured when the IONPs were incubated with cells expressing MMP2/9 and CXCR4. Simultaneous systemic administration of the bioorthogonal IONPs in tumor-bearing mice demonstrated the signal-enhancing ability of these ‘smart’ self-assembling nanomaterials