Fluctuation effects in the theory of microphase separation of diblock copolymers in the presence of an electric field

We generalize the Fredrickson-Helfand theory of the microphase separation in symmetric diblock copolymer melts by taking into account the influence of a time-independent homogeneous electric field on the composition fluctuations within the self-consistent Hartree approximation. We predict that electric fields suppress composition fluctuations, and consequently weaken the first-order transition. In the presence of an electric field the critical temperature of the order-disorder transition is shifted towards its mean-field value. The collective structure factor in the disordered phase becomes anisotropic in the presence of the electric field. Fluctuational modulations of the order parameter along the field direction are strongest suppressed. The latter is in accordance with the parallel orientation of the lamellae in the ordered state.Comment: 16 page

Nuclear basket protein ZC3HC1 and its yeast homolog Pml39p feature an evolutionary conserved bimodular construction essential for initial binding to NPC-anchored homologs of scaffold protein TPR

Proteins ZC3HC1 and TPR are construction elements of the nuclear pore complex (NPC)-attached nuclear basket (NB). NB-location of ZC3HC1 depends on TPR already occurring NPC-anchored, whereas additional TPR polypeptides are appended to the NB by ZC3HC1. The current study examined the molecular properties of ZC3HC1 that enable it to bind to the NB and TPR. We report the identification and definition of a nuclear basket-interaction domain (NuBaID) of HsZC3HC1 comprising two similarly built modules, both essential for the binding to the NB’s NPC-anchored HsTPR. Furthermore, we describe such a bimodular construction as evolutionarily conserved and exemplify the kinship of HsZC3HC1 by the NB- and DdTPR-interacting homolog of Dictyostelium discoideum and by characterizing protein Pml39 as the ZC3HC1 homolog in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Among several properties shared by the different species’ homologs, we unveil the integrity of the bimodular NuBaID of ScPml39p as being essential for binding to the yeast’s NBs and its TPR homologs ScMlp1p and ScMlp2p, and we further present Pml39p as enabling interlinkage of Mlp1p subpopulations. In addition to phyla-specific features, we delineate the three species’ common NuBaID as the characterizing structural entity of a one-of-a-kind protein found not in all but likely most taxa of the eukaryotic realm

Model signatures and aridity indices enhance the accuracy of water balance estimations in a data-scarce Eastern Mediterranean catchment

Study region: Wadi Faria catchment, Palestine. Study focus: The upper part of the Faria catchment (139 km2) is a typical semi-arid karst catchment in the Eastern Mediterranean, where, up to recently, data availability has hindered the accurate assessment of renewable water resources. Newly available six-year time-series of rainfall and runoff data, combined with thorough field campaigns, enabled the application of the distributed TRAIN-ZIN watershed model. The model was constrained using seven hydrological signatures derived from the available time-series. New hydrological insights for the region: We found that the mean annual actual evapotranspiration was about 70% of precipitation, recharge was about 30% and natural runoff (excluding baseflow) 1%. Aggregated model results also supported aridity indicators that show the presence of Infiltration Excess (Hortonian) Overland Flow, as well as the importance of indirect groundwater recharge and evaporation from soil during dry months. In total, maximum annual water availability was of the same order of magnitude as actual demand estimates (23 MCM). However, high spatial and inter-annual variability, and the presence of karst features suggest that water resources in the region are highly vulnerable

Transport limits in defect-engineered LaAlO3/SrTiO3 bilayers

The electrical properties of the metallic interface in LaAlO3/SrTiO3 (LAO/STO) bilayers are investigated with focus on the role of cationic defects in thin film STO. Systematic growth-control of the STO thin film cation stoichiometry (defect-engineering) yields a relation between cationic defects in the STO layer and electronic properties of the bilayer-interface. Hall measurements reveal a stoichiometry-effect primarily on the electron mobility. The results indicate an enhancement of scattering processes in as-grown non-stoichiometric samples indicating an increased density of defects. Furthermore, we discuss the thermodynamic processes and defect-exchange reactions at the LAO/STO-bilayer interface determined in high temperature equilibrium. By quenching defined defect states from high temperature equilibrium, we finally connect equilibrium thermodynamics with room temperature transport. The results are consistent with the defect-chemistry model suggested for LAO/STO interfaces. Moreover, they reveal an additional healing process of extended defects in thin film STO

Sexual Robots: The Social-Relational Approach and the Concept of Subjective Reference

In this paper we propose the notion of “subjective reference” as a conceptual tool that explains how and why human-robot sexual interactions could reframe users approach to human-human sexual interactions. First, we introduce the current debate about Sexual Robotics, situated in the wider discussion about Social Robots, stating the urgency of a regulative framework. We underline the importance of a social-relational approach, mostly concerned about Social Robots impact in human social structures. Then, we point out the absence of a precise framework conceptualizing why Social Robots, and Sexual Robots in particular, may modify users’ sociality and relationality. Within a psychological framework, we propose to consider Sexual Robots as “subjective references”, namely objects symbolically referring to human subjects: we claim that, for the user experience, every action performed upon a Sexual Robot is symbolically directed toward a human subject, including degrading and violent practices. This shifting mechanism may transfer the user relational setting from human-robot interactions to human-human interactions