Minimal mechanisms for vegetation patterns in semiarid regions

The minimal ecological requirements for formation of regular vegetation patterns in semiarid systems have been recently questioned. Against the general belief that a combination of facilitative and competitive interactions is necessary, recent theoretical studies suggest that, under broad conditions, nonlocal competition among plants alone may induce patterns. In this paper, we review results along this line, presenting a series of models that yield spatial patterns when finite-range competition is the only driving force. A preliminary derivation of this type of model from a more detailed one that considers water-biomass dynamics is also presented. Keywords: Vegetation patterns, nonlocal interactionsComment: 8 pages, 4 figure

Axioms for consensus functions on the n-cube

An elementary general result is proved that allows for simple characterizations of well-known location/consensus functions (median, mean and center) on the n-cube. In addition, alternate new characterizations are given for the median and anti-median functions on the n-cube.Comment: 12 page

Radiative corrections to the three-body region of the Dalitz plot of baryon semileptonic decays with angular correlation between polarized emitted baryons and charged leptons: The initial-baryon rest frame case

We complement the results for the radiative corrections to the s2.l angular correlation of baryon semileptonic decays of Ref. [1] with the final results in the rest frame of the decaying baryon.Comment: 7 pages, Revtex4, no figure

Divergent dynamics and the Kauzmann temperature in glass forming systems

In the last decade the challenging analysis of previtreous behavior of relaxation time (Ï.,(T)) in ultraviscous low molecular weight liquids led to the conceptual shift of the glass transition physics toward theories not predicting a finite-temperature divergence. This "breakthrough" experimental finding was strengthened by the discovery that "dynamic "(i.e. from τ(T) fitting) and thermodynamic estimations of the ideal glass (Kauzmann) temperature do not match, what in fact questioned its existence. In this report, due to the novel way of analysis based on the transformation of τ(T) experimental data to the activation energy temperature index form, the clear prevalence of the finite-temperature divergence is proved. The obtained dynamic singular temperatures clearly coincide with thermodynamic estimations of the Kauzmann temperature, thus solving also the second mystery. The comprehensive picture was obtained due to the analysis of 55 experimental data-sets, ranging from low molecular weight liquids and polymers to liquid crystal and plastic crystals

L1CAM binds ErbB receptors through Ig-like domains coupling cell adhesion and neuregulin signalling.

During nervous system development different cell-to-cell communication mechanisms operate in parallel guiding migrating neurons and growing axons to generate complex arrays of neural circuits. How such a system works in coordination is not well understood. Cross-regulatory interactions between different signalling pathways and redundancy between them can increase precision and fidelity of guidance systems. Immunoglobulin superfamily proteins of the NCAM and L1 families couple specific substrate recognition and cell adhesion with the activation of receptor tyrosine kinases. Thus it has been shown that L1CAM-mediated cell adhesion promotes the activation of the EGFR (erbB1) from Drosophila to humans. Here we explore the specificity of the molecular interaction between L1CAM and the erbB receptor family. We show that L1CAM binds physically erbB receptors in both heterologous systems and the mammalian developing brain. Different Ig-like domains located in the extracellular part of L1CAM can support this interaction. Interestingly, binding of L1CAM to erbB enhances its response to neuregulins. During development this may synergize with the activation of erbB receptors through L1CAM homophilic interactions, conferring diffusible neuregulins specificity for cells or axons that interact with the substrate through L1CAM

Control de la madurez en frutos por medio de ensayos de impacto.

En anteriores trabajos se ha observado que la respuesta de los frutos a un impacto mecánico está muy influida por su estado de madurez. Se realizaron ensayos de impacto sobre peras cv. Limonera, a lo largo de 12 semanas de conservación frigorífica y de maduración controlada. El impacto desde 4 cm de altura (equivalente a 0,02 J) resulta no destructivo y puede utilizarse para la determinación del estado de madurez de estos frutos. Por métodos de regresión lineal múltiple sobre los 15 para metros del impacto más representativos se obtienen buenas p r e dicciones de la madurez, representada por la fuerza de corte de probetas de pulpa, FC (N)