Softness dependence of the Anomalies for the Continuous Shouldered Well potential

By molecular dynamic simulations we study a system of particles interacting through a continuous isotropic pairwise core-softened potential consisting of a repulsive shoulder and an attractive well. The model displays a phase diagram with three fluid phases, a gas-liquid critical point, a liquid-liquid critical point, and anomalies in density, diffusion and structure. The hierarchy of the anomalies is the same as for water. We study the effect on the anomalies of varying the softness of the potential. We find that, making the soft-core steeper, the regions of density and diffusion anomalies contract in the T - {\rho} plane, while the region of structural anomaly is weakly affected. Therefore, a liquid can have anomalous structural behavior without density or diffusion anomalies. We show that, by considering as effective distances those corresponding to the maxima of the first two peaks of the radial distribution function g(r) in the high-density liquid, we can generalize to continuous two-scales potentials a criterion for the occurrence of the anomalies of density and diffusion, originally proposed for discontinuous potentials. We observe that the knowledge of the structural behavior within the first two coordination shells of the liquid is not enough to establish the occurrence of the anomalies. By introducing the density derivative of the the cumulative order integral of the excess entropy we show that the anomalous behavior is regulated by the structural order at distances as large as the fourth coordination shell. By comparing the results for different softness of the potential, we conclude that the disappearing of the density and diffusion anomalies for the steeper potentials is due to a more structured short-range order. All these results increase our understanding on how, knowing the interaction potential, we can evaluate the possible presence of anomalies for a liquid

Comparative analysis of ferroelectric domain statistics via nonlinear diffraction in random nonlinear materials

© 2018 [Optical Society of America]. Users may use, reuse, and build upon the article, or use the article for text or data mining, so long as such uses are for non-commercial purposes and appropriate attribution is maintained. All other rights are reserved.We present an indirect, non-destructive optical method for domain statistic characterization in disordered nonlinear crystals having homogeneous refractive index and spatially random distribution of ferroelectric domains. This method relies on the analysis of the wave-dependent spatial distribution of the second harmonic, in the plane perpendicular to the optical axis in combination with numerical simulations. We apply this technique to the characterization of two different media, Calcium Barium Niobate and Strontium Barium Niobate, with drastically different statistical distributions of ferroelectric domains.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Future trends of marine fish biomass distributions from the North Sea to the Barents Sea

\ua9 The Author(s) 2024. Climate warming is one of the facets of anthropogenic global change predicted to increase in the future, its magnitude depending on present-day decisions. The north Atlantic and Arctic Oceans are already undergoing community changes, with warmer-water species expanding northwards, and colder-water species retracting. However, the future extent and implications of these shifts remain unclear. Here, we fitted a joint species distribution model to occurrence data of 107, and biomass data of 61 marine fish species from 16,345 fishery independent trawls sampled between 2004 and 2022 in the northeast Atlantic Ocean, including the Barents Sea. We project overall increases in richness and declines in relative dominance in the community, and generalised increases in species’ ranges and biomass across three different future scenarios in 2050 and 2100. The projected decline of capelin and the practical extirpation of polar cod from the system, the two most abundant species in the Barents Sea, drove an overall reduction in fish biomass at Arctic latitudes that is not replaced by expanding species. Furthermore, our projections suggest that Arctic demersal fish will be at high risk of extinction by the end of the century if no climate refugia is available at eastern latitudes

Simulador para la estimación del campo acústico externo generado en la fase de despegue de un vehículo lanzador

En el diseño de sistemas de protección acústica para vehículos lanzadores resulta necesario disponer de información sobre el campo acústico externo que se desarrolla durante las distintas fases de vuelo, debido a que inducen cargas acústicas sobre la carga útil. De esta forma, los sistemas de protección son diseñados en función de los niveles sonoros incidentes esperados. Este trabajo tiene como propósito presentar un simulador basado en un método de cálculo semi-empírico, que permite estimar parámetros referentes a la presión acústica presente en el despegue, los cuales pueden ser utilizados para un prediseño de los sistemas de protección. Se describe el método de cálculo, junto con sus hipótesis y el alcance de aplicación, y se realizan comparaciones entre datos registrados para un lanzador y los resultados calculados. Además, se presenta una interfaz gráfica desarrollada en Python para la utilización del programa.Facultad de Ingenierí

Locomotor hyperactivity in 14-3-3Zeta KO mice is associated with dopamine transporter dysfunction

Dopamine (DA) neurotransmission requires a complex series of enzymatic reactions that are tightly linked to catecholamine exocytosis and receptor interactions on pre- and postsynaptic neurons. Regulation of dopaminergic signalling is primarily achieved through reuptake of extracellular DA by the DA transporter (DAT) on presynaptic neurons. Aberrant regulation of DA signalling, and in particular hyperactivation, has been proposed as a key insult in the presentation of schizophrenia and related neuropsychiatric disorders. We recently identified 14-3-3ζ as an essential component of neurodevelopment and a central risk factor in the schizophrenia protein interaction network. Our analysis of 14-3-3ζ-deficient mice now shows that baseline hyperactivity of knockout (KO) mice is rescued by the antipsychotic drug clozapine. 14-3-3ζ KO mice displayed enhanced locomotor hyperactivity induced by the DA releaser amphetamine. Consistent with 14-3-3ζ having a role in DA signalling, we found increased levels of DA in the striatum of 14-3-3ζ KO mice. Although 14-3-3ζ is proposed to modulate activity of the rate-limiting DA biosynthesis enzyme, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), we were unable to identify any differences in total TH levels, TH localization or TH activation in 14-3-3ζ KO mice. Rather, our analysis identified significantly reduced levels of DAT in the absence of notable differences in RNA or protein levels of DA receptors D1–D5. Providing insight into the mechanisms by which 14-3-3ζ controls DAT stability, we found a physical association between 14-3-3ζ and DAT by co-immunoprecipitation. Taken together, our results identify a novel role for 14-3-3ζ in DA neurotransmission and provide support to the hyperdopaminergic basis of pathologies associated with schizophrenia and related disorders.H Ramshaw, X Xu, EJ Jaehne, P McCarthy, Z Greenberg, E Saleh, B McClure, J Woodcock, S Kabbara, S Wiszniak, Ting-Yi Wang, C Parish, M van den Buuse, BT Baune, A Lopez and Q Schwar

Using trendsetting chefs to design new culinary preparations with the "Penjar" tomato

New food products are normally marketed after research regarding consumers' preferences. As an alternative, we used trendsetting chefs to develop and evaluate products with the traditional, long shelf life,Postprint (published version

Salvage carbon dioxide transoral laser microsurgery for laryngeal cancer after (chemo)radiotherapy: a European Laryngological Society consensus statement

Purpose: To provide expert opinion and consensus on salvage carbon dioxide transoral laser microsurgery (CO2 TOLMS) for recurrent laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) after (chemo)radiotherapy [(C)RT]. Methods: Expert members of the European Laryngological Society (ELS) Cancer and Dysplasia Committee were selected to create a dedicated panel on salvage CO2 TOLMS for LSCC. A series of statements regarding the critical aspects of decision-making were drafted, circulated, and modified or excluded in accordance with the Delphi process. Results: The expert panel reached full consensus on 19 statements through a total of three sequential evaluation rounds. These statements were focused on different aspects of salvage CO2 TOLMS, with particular attention on preoperative diagnostic work-up, treatment indications, postoperative management, complications, functional outcomes, and follow-up. Conclusion: Management of recurrent LSCC after (C)RT is challenging and is based on the need to find a balance between oncologic and functional outcomes. Salvage CO2 TOLMS is a minimally invasive approach that can be applied to selected patients with strict and careful indications. Herein, a series of statements based on an ELS expert consensus aimed at guiding the main aspects of CO2 TOLMS for LSCC in the salvage setting is presented

Dynamics of coherently pumped lasers with linearly polarized pump and generated fields

The influence of light polarization on the dynamics of an optically pumped single-mode laser with a homogeneously broadened four-level medium is theoretically investigated in detail. Pump and laser fields with either parallel or crossed linear polarizations are considered, as are typical in far-infrared-laser experiments. Numerical simulations reveal dramatically different dynamic behaviors for these two polarization configurations. The analysis of the model equations allows us to find the physical origin of both behaviors. In particular, the crossed-polarization configuration is shown to be effective in decoupling the pump and laser fields, thus allowing for the appearance of Lorenz-type dynamics

Spectral counting assessment of protein dynamic range in cerebrospinal fluid following depletion with plasma-designed immunoaffinity columns

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which is a rich source of biomarkers for neurological diseases, identification of biomarkers requires methods that allow reproducible detection of low abundance proteins. It is therefore crucial to decrease dynamic range and improve assessment of protein abundance.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We applied LC-MS/MS to compare the performance of two CSF enrichment techniques that immunodeplete either albumin alone (IgYHSA) or 14 high-abundance proteins (IgY14). In order to estimate dynamic range of proteins identified, we measured protein abundance with APEX spectral counting method.</p> <p>Both immunodepletion methods improved the number of low-abundance proteins detected (3-fold for IgYHSA, 4-fold for IgY14). The 10 most abundant proteins following immunodepletion accounted for 41% (IgY14) and 46% (IgYHSA) of CSF protein content, whereas they accounted for 64% in non-depleted samples, thus demonstrating significant enrichment of low-abundance proteins. Defined proteomics experiment metrics showed overall good reproducibility of the two immunodepletion methods and MS analysis. Moreover, offline peptide fractionation in IgYHSA sample allowed a 4-fold increase of proteins identified (520 vs. 131 without fractionation), without hindering reproducibility.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The novelty of this study was to show the advantages and drawbacks of these methods side-to-side. Taking into account the improved detection and potential loss of non-target proteins following extensive immunodepletion, it is concluded that both depletion methods combined with spectral counting may be of interest before further fractionation, when searching for CSF biomarkers. According to the reliable identification and quantitation obtained with APEX algorithm, it may be considered as a cheap and quick alternative to study sample proteomic content.</p

Ni Iguals ni Banals

Projecte: 2018PID-UB/026Ni iguals ni banals és un projecte col·laboratiu entre estudiants de diferents facultats i presentat com un mètode resolutiu per transmetre informació mèdica a la societat. La idea del projecte sorgeix a partir de l’observació de l’ús incorrecte dels fàrmacs de venda lliure i els riscos derivats del seu consum inadequat. L’ibuprofè i el paracetamol són un claríssim exemple, pel que es decideix fer una intervenció, en forma de campanya educativa, orientada a fomentar un consum responsable d’aquests fàrmacs que es poden adquirir sense recepta mèdica. Una anàlisi de l’entorn mostra que la població jove és la que té menys contacte amb el sistema de salut i, per tant, menys oportunitats de rebre indicacions sobre l’ús correcte dels medicaments. A més, els joves formen part del rang d’edat més propens a realitzar auto-consultes en línia. La forma com Ni iguals ni banals pretén donar resposta al problema del mal ús dels fàrmacs és amb la creació d’un producte audiovisual dirigit a la població jove on es defineixin les indicacions específiques del paracetamol i de l’ibuprofè, així com les conseqüències del seu ús incorrecte a causa de les seves similituds farmacològiques. El material audiovisual elaborat té dos propòsits: 1) seduir a la població diana a través de l’elecció del gènere audiovisual més adient, la síntesi de la informació científica i l’ajust del registre verbal divulgatiu i 2) facilitar la seva difusió a través de les xarxes socials. Així mateix, és un format tancat i revisable per professionals abans de la seva difusió i, per tant, factible per a estudiants de Medicina que encara no són facultatius. Ni iguals ni banals és un exemple clar sobre com es pot combinar la identificació d’un problema real mèdic, la recerca d’informació tant poblacional com bibliogràfica i la col·laboració interdisciplinària, per englobar-ho tot en una dinàmica didàctica, de forma que els estudiants adquireixen habilitats pràctiques a la vegada que es desenvolupen en un ambient transversal