Polynomial Relations in the Centre of U_q(sl(N))

When the parameter of deformation q is a m-th root of unity, the centre of U_q(sl(N))$ contains, besides the usual q-deformed Casimirs, a set of new generators, which are basically the m-th powers of all the Cartan generators of U_q(sl(N)). All these central elements are however not independent. In this letter, generalising the well-known case of U_q(sl(2)), we explicitly write polynomial relations satisfied by the generators of the centre. Application to the parametrization of irreducible representations and to fusion rules are sketched.Comment: 8 pages, minor TeXnical revision to allow automatic TeXin

The fractal nature of a diffusion front and the relation to percolation

International audienceUsing a two dimensional simulation, a diffusion front is shown to have a fractal geometry in a range increasing with the diffusion length. The number of particles on the front, and the width measuring its spread, follow power laws as a function of the diffusion length. The associated exponents and the fractal dimension can be expressed as simple functions of the critical exponents of the two dimensional percolation problem

Transition between two dendritic growth mechanisms in electrodeposition

We report in this paper the observation of a transition between two different dendritic growth mechanisms in the electrodeposition of a metal from a binary electrolyte. Our results, in particular concerning the dendritic growth velocities, enable us to explain this behavior in terms of models previously proposed in the literature.Fil: González, Graciela Alicia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química, Física de los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energía. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química, Física de los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energía; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Computación. Ciencias Computacionales de la Vida, Simulación y Sistemas Complejos; ArgentinaFil: Rosso, Michel. No especifíca;Fil: Chassaing, Elisabeth. Institut de Recherche et Développement sur l'Énergie Photovoltaïque; Franci

Measuring odours in the environment vs. dispersion modelling: A review

Source characterization alone is not sufficient to account for the effective impact of odours on citizens, which would require to quantify odours directly at receptors. However, despite a certain simplicity of odour measurement at the emission source, odour measurement in the field is a quite more complicated task. This is one of the main reasons for the spreading of odour impact assessment approaches based on odour dispersion modelling. Currently, just a very limited number of reports discussing the use of tracer gas dispersion experiments both in the field and in wind tunnels for model validation purposes can be found in literature. However, when dealing with odour emissions, it is not always possible to identify a limited number of tracer compounds, nor to relate analytical concentrations to odour properties, thus giving that considering single odorous compounds might be insufficient to account for effective odour perception. For these reasons, the possibility of measuring of odours in the field, both as a way for directly assessing odour annoyance or for verifying that modelled odour concentrations correspond to the effective odour perception by humans, is still an important objective. The present work has the aim to review the techniques that can be adopted for measuring odours in the field, particularly discussing how such techniques can be used in alternative or in combination with odour dispersion models for odour impact assessment purposes, and how the results of field odour measurements and model outputs can be related and compared to each other

Kinetics of Reduction of Fe(III) Complexes by Outer Membrane Cytochromes MtrC and OmcA of \u3ci\u3eShewanella oneidensis\u3c/i\u3e MR-1

Because of their cell surface locations, the outer membrane c-type cytochromes MtrC and OmcA of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 have been suggested to be the terminal reductases for a range of redox-reactive metals that form poorly soluble solids or that do not readily cross the outer membrane. In this work, we determined the kinetics of reduction of a series of Fe(III) complexes with citrate, nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), and EDTA by MtrC and OmcA using a stopped-flow technique in combination with theoretical computation methods. Stopped-flow kinetic data showed that the reaction proceeded in two stages, a fast stage that was completed in less than 1 s, followed by a second, relatively slower stage. For a given complex, electron transfer by MtrC was faster than that by OmcA. For a given cytochrome, the reaction was completed in the order Fe-EDTA \u3e Fe-NTA \u3e Fe-citrate. The kinetic data could be modeled by two parallel second-order bimolecular redox reactions with second-order rate constants ranging from 0.872 µM-1 s-1 for the reaction between MtrC and the Fe-EDTA complex to 0.012µM-1 s-1 for the reaction between OmcA and Fe-citrate. The biphasic reaction kinetics was attributed to redox potential differences among the heme groups or redox site heterogeneity within the cytochromes. The results of redox potential and reorganization energy calculations showed that the reaction rate was influenced mostly by the relatively large reorganization energy. The results demonstrate that ligand complexation plays an important role in microbial dissimilatory reduction and mineral transformation of iron, as well as other redox-sensitive metal species in nature

Angiogenic and angiostatic factors in systemic sclerosis: increased levels of vascular endothelial growth factor are a feature of the earliest disease stages and are associated with the absence of fingertip ulcers

To examine whether the lack of sufficient neoangiogenesis in systemic sclerosis (SSc) is caused by a decrease in angiogenic factors and/or an increase in angiostatic factors, the potent proangiogenic molecules vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor, and the angiostatic factor endostatin were determined in patients with SSc and in healthy controls. Forty-three patients with established SSc and nine patients with pre-SSc were included in the study. Serum levels of VEGF, basic fibroblast growth factor and endostatin were measured by ELISA. Age-matched and sex-matched healthy volunteers were used as controls. Highly significant differences were found in serum levels of VEGF between SSc patients and healthy controls, whereas no differences could be detected for endostatin and basic fibroblast growth factor. Significantly higher levels of VEGF were detected in patients with Scl-70 autoantibodies and in patients with diffuse SSc. Patients with pre-SSc and short disease duration showed significant higher levels of VEGF than healthy controls, indicating that elevated serum levels of VEGF are a feature of the earliest disease stages. Patients without fingertip ulcers were found to have higher levels of VEGF than patients with fingertip ulcers. Levels of endostatin were associated with the presence of giant capillaries in nailfold capillaroscopy, but not with any other clinical parameter. The results show that the concentration of VEGF is already increased in the serum of SSc patients at the earliest stages of the disease. VEGF appears to be protective against ischemic manifestations when concentrations of VEGF exceed a certain threshold level

Growth of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis in human plasma: impacts on virulence and metabolic gene expression

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In man, infection by the Gram-negative enteropathogen <it>Yersinia pseudotuberculosis </it>is usually limited to the terminal ileum. However, in immunocompromised patients, the microorganism may disseminate from the digestive tract and thus cause a systemic infection with septicemia.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>To gain insight into the metabolic pathways and virulence factors expressed by the bacterium at the blood stage of pseudotuberculosis, we compared the overall gene transcription patterns (the transcriptome) of bacterial cells cultured in either human plasma or Luria-Bertani medium. The most marked plasma-triggered metabolic consequence in <it>Y. pseudotuberculosis </it>was the switch to high glucose consumption, which is reminiscent of the acetogenic pathway (known as "glucose overflow") in <it>Escherichia coli</it>. However, upregulation of the glyoxylate shunt enzymes suggests that (in contrast to <it>E. coli</it>) acetate may be further metabolized in <it>Y. pseudotuberculosis</it>. Our data also indicate that the bloodstream environment can regulate major virulence genes (positively or negatively); the <it>yadA </it>adhesin gene and most of the transcriptional units of the pYV-encoded type III secretion apparatus were found to be upregulated, whereas transcription of the pH6 antigen locus was strongly repressed.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results suggest that plasma growth of <it>Y. pseudotuberculosis </it>is responsible for major transcriptional regulatory events and prompts key metabolic reorientations within the bacterium, which may in turn have an impact on virulence.</p

A comprehensive review on the colorless carotenoids phytoene and phytofluene

Carotenoids and their derivatives are versatile isoprenoids involved in many varied actions, hence their importance in the agri-food industry, nutrition, health and other fields. All carotenoids are derived from the colorless carotenes phytoene and phytofluene, which are oddities among carotenoids due to their distinct chemical structure. They occur together with lycopene in tomato and other lycopene-containing foods. Furthermore, they are also present in frequently consumed products like oranges and carrots, among others. The intake of phytoene plus phytofluene has been shown to be higher than that of lycopene and other carotenoids in Luxembourg. This is likely to be common in other countries. However, they are not included in food carotenoid databases, hence they have not been linked to health benefits in epidemiological studies. Interestingly, there are evidences in vitro, animal models and humans indicating that they may provide health benefits. In this sense, the study of these colorless carotenes in the context of food science, nutrition and health should be further encouraged. In this work, we review much of the existing knowledge concerning their chemical characteristics, physico-chemical properties, analysis, distribution in foods, bioavailability and likely biological activities

The role of AtMUS81 in DNA repair and its genetic interaction with the helicase AtRecQ4A

The endonuclease MUS81 has been shown in a variety of organisms to be involved in DNA repair in mitotic and meiotic cells. Homologues of the MUS81 gene exist in the genomes of all eukaryotes, pointing to a conserved role of the protein. However, the biological role of MUS81 varies between different eukaryotes. For example, while loss of the gene results in strongly impaired fertility in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and nearly complete sterility in Schizosaccharomyces pombe, it is not essential for meiosis in mammals. We identified a functional homologue (AtMUS81/At4g30870) in the genome of Arabidopsis thaliana and isolated a full-length cDNA of this gene. Analysing two independent T-DNA insertion lines of AtMUS81, we found that they are sensitive to the mutagens MMS and MMC. Both mutants have a deficiency in homologous recombination in somatic cells but only after induction by genotoxic stress. In contrast to yeast, no meiotic defect of AtMUS81 mutants was detectable and the mutants are viable. Crosses with a hyperrecombinogenic mutant of the AtRecQ4A helicase resulted in synthetic lethality in the double mutant. Thus, the nuclease AtMUS81 and the helicase AtRecQ4A seem to be involved in two alternative pathways of resolution of replicative DNA structures in somatic cells

Computational Studies in Molecular Geochemistry and Biogeochemistry

The ability to predict the transport and transformations of contaminants within the subsurface is critical for decisions on virtually every waste disposal option facing the Department of Energy (DOE), from remediation technologies such as in situ bioremediation to evaluations of the safety of nuclear waste repositories. With this fact in mind, the DOE has recently sponsored a series of workshops on the development of a Strategic Simulation Plan on applications of high perform-ance computing to national problems of significance to the DOE. One of the areas selected for application was in the area of subsurface transport and environmental chemistry. Within the SSP on subsurface transport and environmental chemistry several areas were identified where applications of high performance computing could potentially significantly advance our knowledge of contaminant fate and transport. Within each of these areas molecular level simulations were specifically identified as a key capability necessary for the development of a fundamental mechanistic understanding of complex biogeochemical processes. This effort consists of a series of specific molecular level simulations and program development in four key areas of geochemistry/biogeochemistry (i.e., aqueous hydrolysis, redox chemistry, mineral surface interactions, and microbial surface properties). By addressing these four differ-ent, but computationally related, areas it becomes possible to assemble a team of investigators with the necessary expertise in high performance computing, molecular simulation, and geochemistry/biogeochemistry to make significant progress in each area. The specific targeted geochemical/biogeochemical issues include: Microbial surface mediated processes: the effects of lipopolysacchardies present on gram-negative bacteria. Environmental redox chemistry: Dechlorination pathways of carbon tetrachloride and other polychlorinated compounds in the subsurface. Mineral surface interactions: Describing surfaces at multiple scales with realistic surface functional groups Aqueous Hydrolysis Reactions and Solvation of Highly Charged Species: Understanding the formation of polymerized species and ore formation under extreme (Hanford Vadose Zone and geothermo) conditions. By understanding on a fundamental basis these key issues, it is anticipated that the impacts of this research will be extendable to a wide range of biogeochemical issues. Taken in total such an effort truly represents a “Grand Challenge” in molecular geochemistry and biogeochemistry