Resonances in a spring-pendulum: algorithms for equivariant singularity theory

A spring-pendulum in resonance is a time-independent Hamiltonian model system for formal reduction to one degree of freedom, where some symmetry (reversibility) is maintained. The reduction is handled by equivariant singularity theory with a distinguished parameter, yielding an integrable approximation of the Poincaré map. This makes a concise description of certain bifurcations possible. The computation of reparametrizations from normal form to the actual system is performed by Gröbner basis techniques.

Differential modulation of cisplatin accumulation in leukocytes and tumor cell lines by the paclitaxel vehicle Cremophor EL

Background: Several clinical studies have shown that polychemotherapy with the taxanes paclitaxel or docetaxel preceded or followed by cisplatin is associated with important schedule-dependent differences in toxicities, such as leukocytopenia. In general, the pharmacokinetics of both drugs during the combined treatment are unaltered, suggesting that a pharmacodynamic interaction might have occurred. Materials and methods: In order to gain insight into this pharmacologic interaction, we performed in vitro drug accumulation studies using peripheral blood leukocytes and a panel of tumor and non-malignant cell lines with paclitaxel and docetaxel, as well as with their respective formulation vehicles Cremophor EL and Tween 80. Results: Our results show a significant reduction in the intracellular cisplatin concentration in leukocytes of up to 42% in the presence of Cremophor EL and Tween 80 as compared to the control. This pharmacodynamic interaction of these surfactants with cisplatin seems to be specific for haematopoietic cells, and does not occur in solid tumor cells. Conclusion: The present data suggest that the pharmaceutical vehicles Cremophor EL and Tween 80 might contribute to the reduced cisplatin-associated myelotoxicity observed in the clinical combination chemotherapy studies with paclitaxel and docetaxel

Advanced turboprop multidisciplinary design and optimization within agile project

The present paper deals with the design, analysis and optimization of a 90 passengers turboprop aircraft with a design range of 1200 nautical miles and a cruise Mach number equal to 0.56. The prescribed aircraft is one of the use cases of the AGILE European project, aiming to provide a 3rd generation of multidisciplinary design and optimization chain, following the collaborative and remote aircraft design paradigm, through an heterogenous team of experts. The multidisciplinary aircraft design analysis is set-up involving tools provided by AGILE partners distributed worldwide and run locally from partners side. A complete design of experiment, focused on wing planform variables, is performed to build response surfaces suitable for optimization purposes. The goal of the optimization is the direct operating cost, subject to wing design variables and top-level aircraft requirements

Excited Charmed Mesons: Observations, Analyses and Puzzles

We review the status of recently observed positive parity charmed resonances, both in the non-strange and in the strange sector. We describe the experimental findings, the main theoretical analyses and the open problems deserving further investigations.Comment: LaTeX, 25 pages, 5 figures. Invited revie

Blogging the Virtual: New Geographies of Domination and Resistance In and Beyond Russia

Russia’s accelerating authoritarian turn has not ignored the internet, and in recent years, the Russian state has clamped down on internet activities that diverge from the statist line, employing a variety of strategies to dominate online spaces. Nevertheless, oppositional voices flourish on the Russian internet, taking shape in independent blogs and videos. This paper explores three political bloggers through surveillant and resistance assemblages, making sense of this contestation through an interpretation of the Deleuzian virtual that underscores the emancipatory potential of online activities for producing more egalitarian configurations, but also taking stock of the ways that these technologies have increased domination. Encompassing the blurriness between digital and corporeal spaces, the paper contributes by revealing new geographies of contestation against state strategies to dominate the Russian internet. Overlapping with but not corresponding to Russian territorial boundaries, these dynamics highlight shifting spaces of power and resistance in the increasingly illiberal world

Metal nanoparticles for microscopy and spectroscopy

Metal nanoparticles interact strongly with light due to a resonant response of their free electrons. These ‘plasmon’ resonances appear as very strong extinction and scattering for particular wavelengths, and result in high enhancements of the local field compared to the incident electric field. In this chapter we introduce the reader to the optical properties of single plasmon particles as well as finite clusters and periodic lattices, and discuss several applications