Interplay between the vortex phase coherence and extended disorder defects in the vortex-liquid regime of thin films and superlattices of 123 superconductors

a-axis oriented (CuO_2 planes perpendicular to the substrate) films and superlattices grown on cubic substrates show a structure with 90° microdomains. The microdomains are grains with a 90° rotation of the c axis. In the vortex liquid region, this microstructure induces a change from the usual three-dimensional (3D) behavior of the anisotropy toward a 2D behavior, in a temperature range above the usual crossover from 2D to 3D. Moreover, when the thickness of the superconducting part of the multilayers becomes smaller (or of the same order as) than the microdomain size the 3D dimensional anisotropy behavior is recovered

´Primary productivity in winter in the Ria of Pontevedra (NW of Spain) and the changes caused by the contamination

Spatial distribution in winter of the primary productivity in the Ria of Pontevedra (NW of Spain), is shown. It is proved that industrial and urban efluents have a negative effect on photosynthesis, especially on the surface of the water, and on the Northern Coast, which is in accordance with the dynamics of the RiaOn indique la distribution spatial d'hiver de la production primaire dans la Ria de Pontevedra (NO d'Espagne). Les debuts industrielles et urbains affectent negativement la photosynthése. Cette influence est plus noté dans la surface et spécialement dans la zone Nord de la Ria

Benthic litter distribution on circalittoral and deep sea bottoms of the southern Bay of Biscay: Analysis of potential drivers

En prens

Weak Hopf algebras with projection and weak smash bialgebra structures

AbstractIn this paper we study weak Hopf algebras with projection. If f:H→B, g:B→H are morphisms of weak Hopf algebras such that g∘f=idH, we prove that it is possible to find an object BH, in the new category of weak Yetter–Drinfeld modules, that verifies similar conditions to the ones include in the definition of weak Hopf algebra. Finally, we define weak smash bialgebra structures and prove that, under central and cocentral conditions, BH and H determine an example of them

Birth-and-death evolution with strong purifying selection in the histone H1 multigene family and the origin of "orphon" H1 genes

[Abstract:] Histones are small basic nuclear proteins with critical structural and functional roles in eukaryotic genomes. The H1 multigene family constitutes a very interesting histone class gathering the greatest number of isoforms, with many different arrangements in the genome, including clustered and solitary genes, and showing replication-dependent (RD) or replication-independent (RI) expression patterns. The evolution of H1 histones has been classically explained by concerted evolution through a rapid process of interlocus recombination or gene conversion. Given such intriguing features, we have analyzed the long-term evolutionary pattern of the H1 multigene family through the evaluation of the relative importance of gene conversion, point mutation, and selection in generating and maintaining the different H1 subtypes. We have found the presence of an extensive silent nucleotide divergence, both within and between species, which is always significantly greater than the nonsilent variation, indicating that purifying selection is the major factor maintaining H1 protein homogeneity. The results obtained from phylogenetic analysis reveal that different H1 subtypes are no more closely related within than between species, as they cluster by type in the topologies, and that both RD and RI H1 variants follow the same evolutionary pattern. These findings suggest that H1 histones have not been subject to any significant effect of interlocus recombination or concerted evolution. However, the diversification of the H1 isoforms seems to be enhanced primarily by mutation and selection, where genes are subject to birth-and-death evolution with strong purifying selection at the protein level. This model is able to explain not only the generation and diversification of RD H1 isoforms but also the origin and long-term persistence of orphon RI H1 subtypes in the genome, something that is still unclear, assuming concerted evolution.Xunta de Galicia; PGIDT (10PX110304

Molecular and evolutionary analysis of mussel histone genes ("Mytilus" spp.): possible evidence of an "orphon origin" for H1 histone genes

[Abstract:] Linker histones are a divergent group of histone proteins with an independent evolutionary history in which, besides somatic subtypes, tissue- and differentiation-specific subtypes are included. In the present work H1 histone coding and noncoding segments from five Mytilus mussel species (Mollusca: Bivalvia) widely distributed throughout the world have been determined and characterized. Analysis of promoter regions shows clear homologies among Mytilus H1 genes, sea urchin H1 genes, and vertebrate differentiation-specific H1 subtypes (H5 and H10), all having an H4 box motif in common. The amino acid sequence of the H1 protein central conserved domain is also closely related to that previously defined for the vertebrate divergent subtypes. A phylogenetic tree reconstructed from different H1 genes from several species strengthens the hypothesis of an “orphon” origin for the Mytilus H1 genes, as well as for the H10/H5 genes from vertebrates and the H1D gene from the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, is suggested. As additional data, the average copy number of the H1 genes in the species analyzed was estimated as being 100 to 110 copies per haploid genome, where FISH revealed telomeric chromosomal location for several H1 copies in M. galloprovincialis. The contribution of such proximity to heterochromatic regions over the amount of codon bias detected for H1 genes is discussed.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación; IFD97-129

FT-Raman and infrared spectroscopic study of aragonite-strontianite (CaxSr1-xC03) solid solution

Synthetic aragonite-strontianite solid-solution samples have been studied using dispersive IR and FT-Raman spectroscopy. In addition to the end-members, nine samples over a range of composition from Ca0,9Sr0,1CO3 to Ca0,1Sr0,9CO3 were analysed. Carbonate anion internal modes are examined in detail by means of band-shape analysis and component fitting procedures. Positional disorder induced by the random cationic substitution results in strong increase of the halfwidth in several vibrational bands. Results obtained for the doubly degenerate modes (antisymmetric stretching and bending, v3 and v4) reveal the presence of three components both in the IR antisymmetric stretching band as well as in the Raman antisymmetric bending band. These observations are interpreted in terms of an overtone 2v4 in possible Fermi resonance with the corresponding vg fundamental in the IR spectra, and the presence of Davidov (factor group) splitting in the FT-Raman v4 band. Lattice modes in the FT-Raman spectra demonstrate weaker cohesion between the cation/carbonate/cation layers in aragonite (synth) than in strontianite (synth)

Seismotectonic characterization of the Becerreá area (NW Spain)

The NW sector of the Iberian Peninsula has been classically considered as a seismically stable area, with only dispersed and low-magnitude activity. Around the village of Becerreá (Lugo) a significant concentration of earthquakes is observed. Since the beginning of instrumental record in 1979, seven seismic crisis have been reported in that zone, including 14 events of magnitude >4 and a larger event of magnitude 5.1mbLg (VII EMS) in 1997. Even if this seismicity is to be related to the general compressive regime between Africa and Eurasia, the seismotectonic characterization of the area is still controversial, as the different hypotheses considered are based on insufficiently accurate data. New insights to the problem are discussed here, coming from the deployment of a seismic portable network between 1999 and 2002, which has provided new accurate seismic data. The corresponding events are distributed around a subvertical axis, reaching a depth of 12km, and epicentres tend to concentrate beneath the intersection of the main Becerreá fault and secondary, ENE/WSW oriented faults. This intersection structure is thus interpreted as being responsible for the relatively high level of seismic activity over the area

Continental shelf zones influenced by the suspended matter flows coming from Cadiz Bay

Due to the diversity of environments and hydrodynamics in Cadiz Bay, it is of interest to study the dynamics of sedimentary exchange between the coastal zones and continental shelf. The most abundant clay minerals on the floor of the continental shelf and Cadiz Bay, and in the particulate matter in suspension, are: illite, smectite, kaolinite + chlorite, and the interstratified clay minerals illite-smectite. The average concentration of suspended matter is 6.5 mg/l, the lowest (1.37 mg/l) being found on the inner shelf and in the inner zones of the bay less affected by currents and surge. The highest values (14 mg/l) are found in the outer bay, consistent with the distribution of muddy facies on the sea floor. The flow paths have been established from the local variations in the mineralogical associations found at the sampling stations, and by means of the alignments of the lowest values of the factor loadings at those stations most affected by the flows. The mineralogical similarity of the components of the clay fraction is related to the mixing action undergone by the components of the suspended matter reaching the bay from various sources, probably produced by the continuous action of the tidal ebb currents flowing from the inner sectors of the bay towards the continental shelf.El estudio de la dinámica de intercambio sedimentario entre las zonas litorales y la plataforma continental es de gran interés en el caso de la bahía de Cádiz, debido a su diversidad de ambientes y situaciones hidrodinámicas. Los minerales de la arcilla más abundantes en los fondos de la plataforma y la bahía, y en la materia en suspensión, son ilita, esmectita, caolinita + clorita e interestratificados ilita-esmectita. La concentración de materia sólida en suspensión indica un contenido promedio de 6,5 mg/l, apareciendo los mínimos (1,37 mg/l) en la plataforma interna y en zonas internas de la bahía no afectadas por corrientes y oleaje. Los valores más altos se dan en la bahía externa (14 mg/l), de acuerdo con la distribución de facies fangosas en el fondo. Las trayectorias de los flujos salientes se han establecido a partir de las variaciones locales de las asociaciones mineralógicas en las diferentes estaciones de muestreo, alineándose los valores más bajos de los factores en las estaciones más afectadas por la acción de los flujos. La similitud mineralógica de los componentes de la fracción arcilla en todos los ambientes se debe a la mezcla de componentes de la materia en suspensión que, desde diferentes fuentes, llegan a la bahía, y es favorecida por la acción de la corriente de reflujo mareal desde el sector más interno de la bahía a la plataforma continental.Instituto Español de Oceanografí

Service-oriented architecture of adaptive, intelligent data acquisition and processing systems for long-pulse fusion experiments

The data acquisition systems used in long-pulse fusion experiments need to implement data reduction and pattern recognition algorithms in real time. In order to accomplish these operations, it is essential to employ software tools that allow for hot swap capabilities throughout the temporal evolution of the experiments. This is very important because processing needs are not equal during different phases of the experiment. The intelligent test and measurement system (ITMS) developed by UPM and CIEMAT is an example of a technology for implementing scalable data acquisition and processing systems based on PXI and CompactPCI hardware. In the ITMS platform, a set of software tools allows the user to define the processing algorithms associated with the different experimental phases using state machines driven by software events. These state machines are specified using the State Chart XML (SCXML) language. The software tools are developed using JAVA, JINI, an SCXML engine and several LabVIEW applications. Within this schema, it is possible to execute data acquisition and processing applications in an adaptive way. The power of SCXML semantics and the ability to work with XML user-defined data types allow for very easy programming of the ITMS platform. With this approach, the ITMS platform is a suitable solution for implementing scalable data acquisition and processing systems based on a service-oriented model with the ability to easily implement remote participation applications