Impact of volume transition on the net charge of poly-NN-isopropyl acrylamide microgels

We explore the electrostatic properties of poly-N-isopropyl acrylamide microgels in dilute, quasi-de-ionized dispersions and show that the apparent net charge of these thermosensitive microgels is an increasing function of their size, the size being conveniently varied by temperature. Our experimental results obtained in a combination of light scattering, conductivity, and mobility experiments are consistent with those obtained in Poisson-Boltzmann cell model calculations, effectively indicating that upon shrinking the number of counterions entrapped within the microgels increases. Remarkably, this behavior shows that the electrostatic energy per particle remains constant upon swelling or deswelling the microgel, resulting in a square root dependence of the net charge on the particle radius

Obtención de jarabes glucosados por hidrólisis enzimática empleando almidón de sorgo CIAPR-132

La presente investigación está encaminada al estudio de la posible sustitución del maíz por el sorgo en la producción de jarabes glucosados para la industria alimenticia, considerando la evaluación de las potencialidades de dicho cereal. En este sentido se realizó un diseño experimental compuesto del tipo 2k, utilizando  el Software Statgraphics Centurion XV en elprocesamiento de los resultados del proceso desarrolladoen el laboratorio. Para ello se analizó la influenciade las variables independientes: concentración deenzima alfa amilasa (X1) en los niveles de 0,06 y 0,16%p/p, la concentración de enzima amiloglucosidasa(AMG) (X2) en los niveles de 0,18 y 0,375 %p/p ytiempo de sacarificación (X3) de 24 y 48 horas sobrelas variables respuestas °Brix y Azúcares ReductoresTotales (ART); además se determinó el rendimiento de cada experimento, obteniéndose los mejores resultados para la mayor concentración de enzima alfaamilasa, concentración de enzima AMG y tiempo de sacarificación en los menores valores. Los mejores resultados se obtuvieron para el Brix de 52,22 y ARTde 68,76%

Multipactor radiation analysis within a waveguide region based on a frequency-domain representation of the dynamics of charged particles

[EN] A technique for the accurate computation of the electromagnetic fields radiated by a charged particle moving within a parallel-plate waveguide is presented. Based on a transformation of the time-varying current density of the particle into a time-harmonic current density, this technique allows the evaluation of the radiated electromagnetic fields both in the frequency and time domains, as well as in the near- and far-field regions. For this purpose, several accelerated versions of the parallel-plate Green's function in the frequency domain have been considered. The theory has been successfully applied to the multipactor discharge occurring within a two metal-plates region. The proposed formulation has been tested with a particle-in-cell code based on the finite-difference time-domain method, obtaining good agreement.The authors would like to thank ESA/ESTEC for having funded this research activity through the Contract "RF Breakdown in Multicarrier Systems" (Contract No. 19918/06/NL/GLC).Gimeno, B.; Sorolla, E.; Anza, S.; Vicente, C.; Gil, J.; Pérez, AM.; Boria Esbert, VE.... (2009). Multipactor radiation analysis within a waveguide region based on a frequency-domain representation of the dynamics of charged particles. Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics. 79(4):1-9. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.79.046604S19794Figueroa, H., Gai, W., Konecny, R., Norem, J., Ruggiero, A., Schoessow, P., & Simpson, J. (1988). Direct Measurement of Beam-Induced Fields in Accelerating Structures. Physical Review Letters, 60(21), 2144-2147. doi:10.1103/physrevlett.60.2144Ng, K.-Y. (1990). Wake fields in a dielectric-lined waveguide. 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Dipole-mode wakefields in dielectric-loaded rectangular waveguide accelerating structures. Physical Review E, 68(1). doi:10.1103/physreve.68.016502Stupakov, G., Bane, K. L. F., & Zagorodnov, I. (2007). Optical approximation in the theory of geometric impedance. Physical Review Special Topics - Accelerators and Beams, 10(5). doi:10.1103/physrevstab.10.054401Hatch, A. J., & Williams, H. B. (1954). The Secondary Electron Resonance Mechanism of Low‐Pressure High‐Frequency Gas Breakdown. Journal of Applied Physics, 25(4), 417-423. doi:10.1063/1.1721656Hatch, A. J., & Williams, H. B. (1958). Multipacting Modes of High-Frequency Gaseous Breakdown. Physical Review, 112(3), 681-685. doi:10.1103/physrev.112.681Vaughan, J. R. M. (1988). Multipactor. IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices, 35(7), 1172-1180. doi:10.1109/16.3387Gilardini, A. L. (1995). Multipacting discharges: Constant‐ktheory and simulation results. Journal of Applied Physics, 78(2), 783-795. doi:10.1063/1.360336Riyopoulos, S. (1997). Multipactor saturation due to space-charge-induced debunching. Physics of Plasmas, 4(5), 1448-1462. doi:10.1063/1.872319Kryazhev, A., Buyanova, M., Semenov, V., Anderson, D., Lisak, M., Puech, J., … Sombrin, J. (2002). Hybrid resonant modes of two-sided multipactor and transition to the polyphase regime. Physics of Plasmas, 9(11), 4736-4743. doi:10.1063/1.1514969Udiljak, R., Anderson, D., Ingvarson, P., Jordan, U., Jostell, U., Lapierre, L., … Sombrin, J. (2003). New method for detection of multipaction. IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, 31(3), 396-404. doi:10.1109/tps.2003.811646De Lara, J., Perez, F., Alfonseca, M., Galan, L., Montero, I., Roman, E., & Garcia-Baquero, D. R. (2006). Multipactor prediction for on-board spacecraft RF equipment with the MEST software tool. IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, 34(2), 476-484. doi:10.1109/tps.2006.872450Torregrosa, G., Coves, A., Vicente, C. P., Perez, A. M., Gimeno, B., & Boria, V. E. (2006). Time evolution of an electron discharge in a parallel-plate dielectric-loaded waveguide. IEEE Electron Device Letters, 27(7), 619-621. doi:10.1109/led.2006.877284Udiljak, R., Anderson, D., Lisak, M., Semenov, V. E., & Puech, J. (2007). Multipactor in a coaxial transmission line. I. Analytical study. Physics of Plasmas, 14(3), 033508. doi:10.1063/1.2710464Semenov, V. E., Zharova, N., Udiljak, R., Anderson, D., Lisak, M., & Puech, J. (2007). Multipactor in a coaxial transmission line. II. Particle-in-cell simulations. Physics of Plasmas, 14(3), 033509. doi:10.1063/1.2710466Anza, S., Vicente, C., Gimeno, B., Boria, V. E., & Armendáriz, J. (2007). Long-term multipactor discharge in multicarrier systems. Physics of Plasmas, 14(8), 082112. doi:10.1063/1.2768019Udiljak, R., Anderson, D., Lisak, M., Puech, J., & Semenov, V. E. (2007). Multipactor in a Waveguide Iris. IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, 35(2), 388-395. doi:10.1109/tps.2007.892737Burton, R. J., de Jong, M. S., & Funk, L. W. (1991). Vacuum and multipactor performance of the hadron electron ring accelerator 52 MHz cavities. Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology A: Vacuum, Surfaces, and Films, 9(3), 2081-2084. doi:10.1116/1.577417Yamaguchi, S., Saito, Y., Anami, S., & Michizono, S. (1992). Trajectory simulation of multipactoring electrons in an S-band pillbox RF window. IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, 39(2), 278-282. doi:10.1109/23.277497Kishek, R., & Lau, Y. Y. (1995). Interaction of Multipactor Discharge and rf Circuit. Physical Review Letters, 75(6), 1218-1221. doi:10.1103/physrevlett.75.1218Lay-Kee Ang, Lau, Y. Y., Kishek, R. A., & Gilgenbach, R. M. (1998). Power deposited on a dielectric by multipactor. IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, 26(3), 290-295. doi:10.1109/27.700756Kishek, R. A., Lau, Y. Y., Ang, L. K., Valfells, A., & Gilgenbach, R. M. (1998). Multipactor discharge on metals and dielectrics: Historical review and recent theories. Physics of Plasmas, 5(5), 2120-2126. doi:10.1063/1.872883Neuber, A., Hemmert, D., Krompholz, H., Hatfield, L., & Kristiansen, M. (1999). Initiation of high power microwave dielectric interface breakdown. Journal of Applied Physics, 86(3), 1724-1728. doi:10.1063/1.370953Chojnacki, E. (2000). Simulations of a multipactor-inhibited waveguide geometry. Physical Review Special Topics - Accelerators and Beams, 3(3). doi:10.1103/physrevstab.3.032001Cimino, R., Collins, I. R., Furman, M. A., Pivi, M., Ruggiero, F., Rumolo, G., & Zimmermann, F. (2004). Can Low-Energy Electrons Affect High-Energy Physics Accelerators? Physical Review Letters, 93(1). doi:10.1103/physrevlett.93.014801Abe, T., Kageyama, T., Akai, K., Ebihara, K., Sakai, H., & Takeuchi, Y. (2006). Multipactoring zone map of an rf input coupler and its application to high beam current storage rings. 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Efficient computation of the 2-D Green’s function for 1-D periodic structures using the Ewald method. IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, 53(9), 2977-2984. doi:10.1109/tap.2005.854556Kustepeli, A., & Martin, A. Q. (2000). On the splitting parameter in the Ewald method. IEEE Microwave and Guided Wave Letters, 10(5), 168-170. doi:10.1109/75.85036

Providing 3D video services: the challenge from 2D to 3DTV quality of experience

Recently, three-dimensional (3D) video has decisively burst onto the entertainment industry scene, and has arrived in households even before the standardization process has been completed. 3D television (3DTV) adoption and deployment can be seen as a major leap in television history, similar to previous transitions from black and white (B&W) to color, from analog to digital television (TV), and from standard definition to high definition. In this paper, we analyze current 3D video technology trends in order to define a taxonomy of the availability and possible introduction of 3D-based services. We also propose an audiovisual network services architecture which provides a smooth transition from two-dimensional (2D) to 3DTV in an Internet Protocol (IP)-based scenario. Based on subjective assessment tests, we also analyze those factors which will influence the quality of experience in those 3D video services, focusing on effects of both coding and transmission errors. In addition, examples of the application of the architecture and results of assessment tests are provided

Effective interactions of colloids on nematic films

The elastic and capillary interactions between a pair of colloidal particles trapped on top of a nematic film are studied theoretically for large separations $d$. The elastic interaction is repulsive and of quadrupolar type, varying as $d^{-5}$. For macroscopically thick films, the capillary interaction is likewise repulsive and proportional to $d^{-5}$ as a consequence of mechanical isolation of the system comprised of the colloids and the interface. A finite film thickness introduces a nonvanishing force on the system (exerted by the substrate supporting the film) leading to logarithmically varying capillary attractions. However, their strength turns out to be too small to be of importance for the recently observed pattern formation of colloidal droplets on nematic films.Comment: 13 pages, accepted by EPJ

Gestión y Aplicación de Metadatos Asociados al Tráfico Multimedia en Videoconferencia 3D

En los terminales multimedia de nueva generación se están incorporando cada vez más funcionalidades capaces de generar información adicional que enriquece la comunicación audiovisual en sí misma. Esta nueva información adicional, metainformación o metadatos, deberán poder ser gestionados y transmitidos de forma independiente pero sincronizados con el propio flujo multimedia. En este trabajo se presenta una arquitectura que permite resolver el problema identificado y que ha sido implementada con éxito en el proyecto CENIT VISION, dando soporte a diversos servicios de valor añadido asociados a una Videoconferencia 3D inmersiva: interacción con el usuario, grabación de sesiones, gestión de calidad, etc. La misma solución también tiene aplicación en otros entornos del sector multimedia como publicidad personalizada para IPTV, y de otros, como videovigilancia

Evaluation of the efficiency of a conventional PCR protocol for the diagnosis of bacterial spot disease caused by Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni in stone fruits and almond

Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni (Xap), the causal agent of bacterial spot disease of stone fruits and almond, has a quarantine status for the European Union and the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization. The symptoms in the diverse hosts show some differences and, although being quite typical, could be confused with those of some fungal diseases or other biotic or abiotic causes. Consequently, an accurate molecular diagnosis method is required for a rapid identification of the pathogen in samples of imported plants, from nurseries, orchards, etc. A protocol for conventional PCR designed by Pagani (2004) has been the only molecular analytic tool available for several years. It has been optimised for improving its specificity and sensitivity, and the results of its evaluation in 316 bacterial spot-like symptomatic samples of almond, apricot, cherry, Japanese plum and peach, compared with those of isolation and real-time PCR, are reported. The optimised PCR protocol showed specificity for a collection of Xap strains tested. Few non-desired reactions were obtained with some other xanthomonads which have not been reported from Prunus species. Sensitivity thresholds ranged from 102 to 105 CFU ml-1, depending on the hosts and type of plant material. This conventional PCR assay proved to be an excellent candidate for a rapid screening and presumptive diagnosis in cases where real-time PCR equipment is not available

Study of the mechanical behavior of asphalt mixtures using fractional rheology to model their viscoelasticity

This study focuses on the mechanical behavior of asphalt mixtures composed of aggregate particles attached with an asphalt binder. Asphalt mixtures are viscoelastic composite materials widely used in the construction of pavement layers. The modelling of such materials is currently done using the Burgers model. However, this model is limited when explaining some of the viscoelastic phenomena of an asphalt mixture, mainly because the Burgers model was developed for a single material with a dual nature. This work presents a new approach that provides a more appropriate framework for studying asphalt mixtures. The model assumes an aggregate particle enclosed by an asphalt material. Viscoelastic equations were developed using derivatives of fractional order. Then, the creep, recovery, and relaxation phenomena in an asphalt mixture were analyzed using the new model. Unlike the Burgers model, the new model can predict the elastic jump observed at the beginning of the creep modulus. Thus, the new model seems to describe better those practical cases of asphalt mixtures used in the construction of pavement layers. The new model can be used to modify the properties of the binder for designing optimized and more resistant asphalt mixtures

Bladder Mucosal CO2 Compared with Gastric Mucosal CO2 as a Marker for Low Perfusion States in Septic Shock

Recent reports indicate the possible role of bladder CO2 as a marker of low perfusion states. To test this hypothesis, shock was induced in six beagle dogs with 1 mg/kg of E. coli lipopolysaccharide, gastric CO2 (CO2-G) was measured with a continuous monitor, and a pulmonary catheter was inserted in the bladder to measure CO2 (CO2-B). Levels of CO2-B were found to be lower than those of CO2-G, with a mean difference of 36.8 mmHg (P < 0.001), and correlation between both measurements was poor (r2 = 0.16). Even when the correlation between CO2-G and ΔCO2-G was narrow (r2 = 0.86), this was not the case for the relationship between CO2-B and ΔCO2-B (r2 = 0.29). Finally, the correlation between CO2-G and base deficit was good (r2 = 0.45), which was not the case with the CO2-B correlation (r2 = 0.03). In our experience, bladder CO2 does not correlate to hemodynamic parameters and does not substitute gastric CO2 for detection of low perfusion states

Association between physiological stress and skin temperature response after a half marathon

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the association between skin temperature response and the physiological stress after a half marathon. APPROACH: Seventeen runners were measured 48 h before, 24 h before, 24 h after and 48 h after completing a half marathon. The measurements on each day of testing included blood markers (creatine kinase [CK] and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase [GOT]), perception of pain and fatigue (using a visual analogue scale), skin temperature (using infrared thermography), and jump performance (using countermovement jump test). MAIN RESULTS: CK (p     1.0) increased 24 h after the half marathon, whereas jump performance decreased (p   <  0.01 and ES  =  0.4). No increase of skin temperature was observed in the tests after the competition and no regression model was able to predict physiological stress using skin temperature. Only a bivariate correlation was observed between the 24 h variation (pre-24 h) of CK and the skin temperature of the posterior upper limb (p   =  0.04 and r  =  0.5), and between the 48 h variation (pre-48 h) of pain perceived and the skin temperature of the knee (p   <  0.01 and r  =  0.6). SIGNIFICANCE: In conclusion, follow-up on basal skin temperatures does not seem to be an adequate method to detect physiological stress after a half marathon. In line with the observed results, we recommend caution when interpreting peaks in basal skin temperature in field sports assessments