Perspectives in stem cell proteomics

A brief report on the Perspectives in Stem Cell Proteomics Conference, Hinxton, UK, 22-23 March, 2009

A benchmark study on identification of inelastic parameters based on deep drawing processes using pso – nelder mead hybrid approach

Optimization techniques have been increasingly used to identification of inelastic material parameters owing to their generality. Development of robust techniques to solving this class of inverse problems has been a challenge to researchers mainly due to the nonlinear character of the problem and behaviour of the objective function. Within this framework, this work discusses application of Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and a PSO – Nelder Mead hybrid approach to identification of inelastic parameters based on a benchmark solution of the deep drawing process

Exact Solution of the Munoz-Eaton Model for Protein Folding

A transfer-matrix formalism is introduced to evaluate exactly the partition function of the Munoz-Eaton model, relating the folding kinetics of proteins of known structure to their thermodynamics and topology. This technique can be used for a generic protein, for any choice of the energy and entropy parameters, and in principle allows the model to be used as a first tool to characterize the dynamics of a protein of known native state and equilibrium population. Applications to a $\beta$-hairpin and to protein CI-2, with comparisons to previous results, are also shown.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, RevTeX 4. To be published in Phys. Rev. Let

Seismic hazard in Nicaragua: a case study of Managua

Nicaragua, país centroamericano de 6.2 millones de habitantes, conocido por sus grandes lagos y volcanes activos, se encuentra en el cinturón de fuego del Pacífico, en la zona de subducción de la Placa Coco bajo la Placa Caribe. El país tiene un amplio historial de destrucción causado por sucesivos terremotos de fuerte magnitud. Centenas de fallas geológicas causan sismos frecuentes en la capital, Managua. El propósito de este trabajo es analizar el caso singular de Managua y su alto riesgo de sufrir pérdidas y daños por desastres naturales catastróficos, presentando para eso, el escenario tectónico-volcánico del país; el estudio se enfoca en los episodios más extremos ocurridos, analizando la amenaza sísmica en Managua. Como resultado de este trabajo se entrega un panorama general de los tipos de amenazas geológicas que desafían Nicaragua, concentrándose en las amenazas sísmicas y algunos episodios trágicos en el historial de desastres naturales geológicos, contribuyendo así con la difusión de conocimientos necesarios al planteamiento de políticas de mitigación y prevención de desastres geológicos sísmicos y volcánicos.Nicaragua, Central American country of 6.2 million people, is known for its large lakes and active volcanoes. Yet, the country has a long history of destruction caused by successive strong earthquakes, due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire in the subduction zone of the Cocos plate under the Caribbean plate. As such, Managua, the capitol, with 1.480.000 million inhabitants, is the most susceptible area to disasters, as a result of hundreds of faults that cause frequent earthquakes. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the risks that the city of Managua faces of suffering material and human losses, in the event of an extreme natural disaster, by describing the tectonic-volcanic conditions of the country, taking as theoretical reference the concepts of natural hazards and natural disasters. The empirical section analyzes data from Nicaraguan scientific institutes and specialized literature, from which an overview of the types of geological hazards that prevail in the country is laid out. By focusing on seismic hazards and on some tragic episodes in the history of geological disasters,the paper aims to contribute to the current body of knowledge necessary for the definition of mitigation and prevention policies of seismic and volcanic geological disasters

Kinetics of Intramolecular Chemical Exchange by Initial Growth Rates of Spin Saturation Transfer Difference Experiments (SSTD NMR)

We report here the Initial Growth Rates SSTD NMR method, as a new powerful tool to obtain the kinetic parameters of intramolecular chemical exchange in challenging small organic and organometallic molecules

Improved models of upper-level wind for several astronomical observatories

An understanding of wind speed and direction as a function of height are critical to the proper modeling of atmospheric turbulence. We have used radiosonde data from launch sites near significant astronomical observatories and created mean profiles of wind speed and direction and have also computed Richardson number profiles. Using data from the last 30 years, we extend the 1977 Greenwood wind profile to include parameters that show seasonal variations and differences in location. The added information from our models is useful for the design of adaptive optics systems and other imaging systems. Our analysis of the Richardson number suggests that persistent turbulent layers may be inferred when low values are present in our long term averaged data. Knowledge of the presence of these layers may help with planning for adaptive optics and laser communications.Comment: 21 pages, 15 Figures, 8 table

Microspatial differentiation of Drosophila melanogaster populations in and around a wine cellar in southern Spain

International audienc

Droplet impact onto moving liquids

From rain drops landing on the ocean to inkjet printing, the impact of droplets onto moving liquid surfaces is a ubiquitous process in nature and in industry. A rich range of phenomena can arise. The behaviour depends on the inertia, the properties of the drops and the relative speeds in the impact zone. While the result ranges from tranquil coalescence to violent splashing, intermediate regimes also occur, including partial and complete bouncing and even 'surfing' of the droplet. These regimes are determined by the ratio of the drop and surface velocities and the liquid properties. A regime diagram can be constructed in which distinct dynamical regimes are clearly identified.This project was supported by the EPSRC (grant EP/H018913/1), the John Fell Oxford University Press Research Fund, and the Royal Society (through a University Research Fellowship and a Research Grant)

Gravitino dark matter in the constrained next-to-minimal supersymmetric standard model with neutralino next-to-lightest superpartner

The viability of a possible cosmological scenario is investigated. The theoretical framework is the constrained next-to-minimal supersymmetric standard model (cNMSSM), with a gravitino playing the role of the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP) and a neutralino acting as the next-to-lightest supersymmetric particle (NLSP). All the necessary constraints from colliders and cosmology have been taken into account. For gravitino we have considered the two usual production mechanisms, namely out-of equillibrium decay from the NLSP, and scattering processes from the thermal bath. The maximum allowed reheating temperature after inflation, as well as the maximum allowed gravitino mass are determined.Comment: 20 pages, 5 figure

Discordant Alternans Mechanism for Initiation of Ventricular Fibrillation In Vitro

Background: Ventricular tachyarrhythmias are often preceded by short sequences of premature ventricular complexes. In a previous study, a restitution-based computational model predicted which sequences of stimulated premature complexes were most likely to induce ventricular fibrillation in canines in vivo. However, the underlying mechanism, based on discordant-alternans dynamics, could not be verified in that study. The current study seeks to elucidate the mechanism by determining whether the spatiotemporal evolution of action potentials and initiation of ventricular fibrillation in in vitro experiments are consistent with model predictions. Methods and Results: Optical mapping voltage signals from canine right-ventricular tissue (n=9) were obtained simultaneously from the entire epicardium and endocardium during and after premature stimulus sequences. Model predictions of action potential propagation along a 1-dimensional cable were developed using action potential duration versus diastolic interval data. The model predicted sign-change patterns in action potential duration and diastolic interval spatial gradients with posterior probabilities of 91.1%, and 82.1%, respectively. The model predicted conduction block with 64% sensitivity and 100% specificity. A generalized estimating equation logistic-regression approach showed that model-prediction effects were significant for both conduction block (P \u3c 1x10E-15, coefficient 44.36) and sustained ventricular fibrillation (P=0.0046, coefficient, 1.63) events. Conclusions: The observed sign-change patterns favored discordant alternans, and the model successfully identified sequences of premature stimuli that induced conduction block. This suggests that the relatively simple discordant-alternans-based process that led to block in the model may often be responsible for ventricular fibrillation onset when preceded by premature beats. These observations may aid in developing improved methods for anticipating block and ventricular fibrillation