Cofinement, entropy, and single-particle dynamics of equilibrium hard-sphere mixtures

We use discontinuous molecular dynamics and grand-canonical transition-matrix Monte Carlo simulations to explore how confinement between parallel hard walls modifies the relationships between packing fraction, self-diffusivity, partial molar excess entropy, and total excess entropy for binary hard-sphere mixtures. To accomplish this, we introduce an efficient algorithm to calculate partial molar excess entropies from the transition-matrix Monte Carlo simulation data. We find that the species-dependent self-diffusivities of confined fluids are very similar to those of the bulk mixture if compared at the same, appropriately defined, packing fraction up to intermediate values, but then deviate negatively from the bulk behavior at higher packing fractions. On the other hand, the relationships between self-diffusivity and partial molar excess entropy (or total excess entropy) observed in the bulk fluid are preserved under confinement even at relatively high packing fractions and for different mixture compositions. This suggests that the partial molar excess entropy, calculable from classical density functional theories of inhomogeneous fluids, can be used to predict some of the nontrivial dynamical behaviors of fluid mixtures in confined environments.Comment: submitted to JC

Effects of environmental variables on invasive amphibian activity: using model selection on quantiles for counts

Many different factors influence animal activity. Often, the value of an environmental variable may influence significantly the upper or lower tails of the activity distribution. For describing relationships with heterogeneous boundaries, quantile regressions predict a quantile of the conditional distribution of the dependent variable. A quantile count model extends linear quantile regression methods to discrete response variables, and is useful if activity is quantified by trapping, where there may be many tied (equal) values in the activity distribution, over a small range of discrete values. Additionally, different environmental variables in combination may have synergistic or antagonistic effects on activity, so examining their effects together, in a modeling framework, is a useful approach. Thus, model selection on quantile counts can be used to determine the relative importance of different variables in determining activity, across the entire distribution of capture results. We conducted model selection on quantile count models to describe the factors affecting activity (numbers of captures) of cane toads (Rhinella marina) in response to several environmental variables (humidity, temperature, rainfall, wind speed, and moon luminosity) over eleven months of trapping. Environmental effects on activity are understudied in this pest animal. In the dry season, model selection on quantile count models suggested that rainfall positively affected activity, especially near the lower tails of the activity distribution. In the wet season, wind speed limited activity near the maximum of the distribution, while minimum activity increased with minimum temperature. This statistical methodology allowed us to explore, in depth, how environmental factors influenced activity across the entire distribution, and is applicable to any survey or trapping regime, in which environmental variables affect activity

Novel Characteristics of Valveless Pumping

This study investigates the occurrence of valveless pumping in a fluidfilled system consisting of two open tanks connected by an elastic tube. We show that directional flow can be achieved by introducing a periodic pinching applied at an asymmetrical location along the tube, and that the flow direction depends on the pumping frequency. We propose a relation between wave propagation velocity, tube length, and resonance frequencies associated with shifts in the pumping direction using numerical simulations. The eigenfrequencies of the system are estimated from the linearized system, and we show that these eigenfrequencies constitute the resonance frequencies and the horizontal slope frequencies of the system; 'horizontal slope frequency' being a new concept. A simple model is suggested, explaining the effect of the gravity driven part of the oscillation observed in response to the tank and tube diameter changes. Results are partly compared with experimental findings.Art. no. 22450

Identification of a QTL on chromosome 7AS for sodium exclusion in bread wheat

Tese de doutoramento em Engenharia Física (Instrumentação), apresentada à Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade de CoimbraO número de ciclotrões com capacidade para acelerar protões até cerca de 20 MeV tem vindo a aumentar em todo o mundo. Apesar de o objectivo principal das instalaçõoes que contêm estas máquinas ser a produção de radionuclídeos para tomografia por emissão de positrões (PET, do inglês positron emission tomography), algumas dessas instalações estão equipadas com várias linhas de feixe que podem ser adaptadas para investigação científica. Por exemplo, radiobiologia, radiofisiolgia e outros estudos de dosimetria podem ser realizados utilizando uma destas linhas de feixe devidamente adaptada para o efeito. Neste trabalho, uma das linhas de feixe do ciclotrão PET da Universidade de Coimbra foi complementada e instrumentada por forma a possibilitar a irradiação de um arranjo experimental com um feixe de protões de elevada qualidade. Esta nova linha de feixe foi construída de raíz e sem causar qualquer interferência com as demais linhas do ciclotrão, dedicadas à produção de radionuclídeos. São apresentados resultados tanto experimentais como de simulação, estes últimos obtidos através dos pacotes de simulação SRIM/TRIM e Geant4, tendo como objectivo a medição do pico de Bragg depositado pelo feixe de protões do ciclotrão PET, com uma energia nominal de 18 MeV. Utilizando um bloco de plástico cintilador e uma câmara fotográfica com ligação à internet da marca D-link foi possível medir tanto o alcance como a largura do feixe de protões com uma resolução espacial inferior a 0,1 mm. Os alcances do feixe medidos após este passar pelo meio de um tubo de alumínio com vácuo com 40 cm de comprimento e um segundo tubo com 2,4 m de comprimento permitiram confirmar que a energia efectiva do feixe é de 18 MeV. Mediu-se também o pico de Bragg utilizando um alvo constituído por várias folhas de alumínio intercaladas com lâminas de polietileno. O sinal de corrente foi recolhido das várias folhas de alumínio através de amplificadores de transimpedância fabricados no âmbito desta tese. Verificou-se que o pico de Bragg assim medido é consistente com simulações realizadas utilizando o pacote SRIM/TRIM. Após a instalação da linha de feixe no perímetro exterior do ciclotrão, esta foi caracterizada, calibrada e validada. Para tal, o sinal induzido pela passagem do feixe por uma folha de alumínio com 20 μm de espessura é lido através do amplificador de transimpedância mencionado. Este sinal amplificado providencia informação de dose em tempo real através de um programa desenvolvido em C/C++. Para além da dose, as principais variáveis de monitorização que este programa providencia incluem a corrente do feixe, a carga integrada em conjunto com a taxa de dose. Deste modo a dose e a corrente integrada (carga total) entregue até um dado instante na montagem experimental pode ser controlada por meio de um obturador controlado por computador. Feixes de protões com correntes tão baixas como 10 pA podem deste modo ser aferidas. A folha de alumínio foi escolhida por ser resistente à radiação, possuir baixa densidade e baixa probabilidade de radioactividade induzida pelo feixe e, finalmente, por representar um custo negligenciável. Junta-se a estas vantagens o facto de o método potenciar o cálculo da dose entregue a um alvo durante uma irradiação, com uma perda mínima da energia do feixe de protões, e com dispersão igualmente mínima. Resultados experimentais e simulações com o Geant4 são apresentados que revelam a aplicação, pela primeira vez, de um feixe de 18 MeV proveniente de um ciclotrão para irradiação de uma região seleccionada de um alvo. Fazendo uso do sistema de dosimetria apresentado no parágrafo anterior foi possível irradiar de modo homogéneo uma região circular com 18 mm de diâmetro. Torna-se assim possível irradiar culturas celulares localizadas em placas multi-poços com um diâmetro por poço de 16 mm, como é usual em experiências de radiobiologia. Verificou-se que o controlo do campo magnético aplicado dentro do ciclotrão é crucial para se obter uma irradiação uniforme em todo o campo do alvo. Para tal, efetua-se antes de cada irradiação e com o obturador fechado, um varrimento à corrente que gera o campo magnético dentro do ciclotrão, medindo-se um perfil quase gaussiano e tomando-se o seu valor central para se obter uma irradiação homogénea. As taxas de dose no alvo (entre 500 mGy/s e 5 mGy/s) são obtidas através de um disco em rotação posicionado na trajectória do feixe. O disco, com 150 mm de raio e uma fenda de 0,5 mm na sua extermidade, permite reduzir a taxa de dose por um factor de 5×10−4. Finalmente, vários filmes do tipo Gafchromic EBT2 foram expostos a diferente valores de dose por forma a validar toda a instalação para irradiação de um alvo com feixes de protões. Para tal validação fez-se uso do sistema de dosimetria em filme 2D do Serviço de Radioterapia do Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Coimbra. A dose absoluta nos filmes irradiados com protões foi verificada neste sistema e apresentou uma precisão melhor que 2%.The number of cyclotrons capable of accelerating protons to about 20MeV is increasing throughout the world. Originally aiming at the production of positron emission tomography (PET) radionuclides, some of these facilities are equipped with several beamlines suitable for scientific research. Radiobiology, radiophysiology, and other dosimetric studies can be performed using these beamlines. In this work, a PET cyclotron was fitted with a long beam transport line to irradiate with a good quality proton beam experimental setups. The beamline was configured as a natural extension of one of the cyclotron beam ports, while keeping available the other beam ports for PET radionuclides production. Experimental results are reported, together with SRIM/TRIM and Geant4 simulations, which aim at measuring the Bragg peak of the 18 -MeV proton beam from the PET cyclotron. By using a piece of plastic scintillator and a D-link Ethernet-based camera, the proton beam range and width were measured with a spatial resolution of 0.1mm. The ranges of the proton beam in the plastic scintillator were used to assess its energy after trespassing one or two Havar R windows and either a 40-cm-long or a 2.4-m-long aluminum pipe. The initial energy of the proton beam from the PET cyclotron was found to be 18 MeV. Additionally, the Bragg peak of the protons from the PET cyclotron was assessed using a stacked target consisting of several aluminum foils interleaved with polyethylene sheets, readout by in-house made transimpedance electronics. The measured Bragg peak is consistent with simulations performed using the SRIM/TRIM simulation toolkit. An out-of-yoke irradiation setup using the accelerated proton beam coming from the PET cyclotron was developed, characterized, calibrated, and validated. A 20-μm-thick aluminum transmission foil is readout by in-house made transimpedance electronics, providing online dose information via a C/C++ program. xvii Overview The main monitoring variables include beam current, integrated charge together with dose rate. The beam monitor is able to readout and deliver these variables in real-time. Hence the dose and integrated current (total charge) delivered upto a given instant to an experimental setup may be controlled via a computercontrolled shutter that was installed in the beam path. Proton beam currents down to 10 pA can be assessed using the thin aluminum foil. The aluminum was chosen for this task because it is radiation hard, it has low density and low radiation activity, and finally because it is easily available at negligible cost. In addition, this method allows for calculating the dose delivered to a target during an irradiation with high efficiency, and with minimal proton energy loss and scattering. Experimental results and Geant4 simulations are reported, which aim at using for the first time the 18 -MeV proton beam from a PET cyclotron to irradiate a selected region of a target using the developed dosimetry system. By using this system, a homogeneous beam spot on target with a diameter of 18mm can be controlled. This allows controlled irradiation of cell cultures located in typical biological multi-well dishes with diameters of 16mm each. It was found that the control of the magnetic field applied inside the cyclotron plays a major role for achieving said homogeneity. For that, scanning the magnet current and measuring the corresponding dose rate reveals a quasi-Gaussian shaped curve that must be known before any irradiation procedure (the final shutter is closed during such measurements). The optimum magnet current is taken from the center of the Gaussian-shaped curve, hence producing a homogenous dose on target. The measured dose rate on target ranges from 500mGy/s down to 5mGy/s. This is achieved with a 150mm radius rotating disk with a slit of 0.5mm width, that decreases target dose rates by a factor of 5 × 10−4. Several Gafchromic R EBT2 films were exposed to different values of dose for validating the developed irradiation setup using the 2D film dosimetry system of the Department of Radiotherapy of Coimbra University Hospital Center. The absolute dose in the irradiated films were assessed with a precision better than 2%. It is planned, in the near future, to irradiate small animals, cell cultures, or other materials or samples

Factors Governing Pasting Properties of Waxy Wheat Flours

Citation: Purna, S. K. G., Shi, Y. C., Guan, L., Wilson, J. D., & Graybosch, R. A. (2015). Factors Governing Pasting Properties of Waxy Wheat Flours. Cereal Chemistry, 92(5), 529-535. doi:10.1094/cchem-10-14-0209-rWaxy wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) contains endosperm starch lacking in amylose. To realize the full potential of waxy wheat, the pasting properties of hard waxy wheat flours as well as factors governing the pasting properties were investigated and compared with normal and partial waxy wheat flours. Starches isolated from six hard waxy wheat flours had similar pasting properties, yet their corresponding flours had very different pasting properties. The differences in pasting properties were narrowed after endogenous alpha-amylase activity in waxy wheat flours was inhibited by silver nitrate. Upon treatment with protease, the extent of protein digestibility influenced the viscosity profile in waxy wheat flours. Waxy wheat starch granules swelled extensively when heated in water and exhibited a high peak viscosity, but they fragmented at high temperatures, resulting in more rapid breakdown in viscosity. The extensively swelled and fragmented waxy wheat starch granules were more susceptible to a-amylase degradation than normal wheat starch. A combination of endogenous a-amylase activity and protein matrix contributed to a large variation in pasting properties of waxy wheat flours

Contrast in chloride exclusion between two grapevine genotypes and its variation in their hybrid progeny

Potted grapevines of 140 Ruggeri (Vitis berlandieri × Vitis rupestris), a good Cl− excluder, and K 51-40 (Vitis champinii × Vitis riparia ‘Gloire’), a poor Cl− excluder, and of a family obtained by crossing the two genotypes, were used to examine the inheritance of Cl− exclusion. Rooted leaves were then used to further investigate the mechanism for Cl− exclusion in 140 Ruggeri. In both a potting mix trial (plants watered with 50 mM Cl−) and a solution culture trial (plants grown in 25 mM Cl−), the variation in Cl− accumulation was continuous, indicating multiple rather than single gene control for Cl− exclusion between hybrids within the family. Upper limits of 42% and 35% of the phenotypic variation in Cl− concentration could be attributed to heritable sources in the potting mix and solution culture trials, respectively. Chloride transport in roots of rooted leaves of both genotypes appeared to be via the symplastic pathway, since addition of 8-hydroxy-1,3,6-pyrenetrisulphonic acid (PTS), an apoplastic tracer, revealed no obvious PTS fluorescence in the laminae of either genotype, despite significant accumulation of Cl− in laminae of K 51-40 during the PTS uptake period. There was no significant difference in either unidirectional 36Cl− flux (10 min) or 36Cl− uptake (3 h) into roots of rooted leaves exposed to 5, 10, or 25 mM Cl−. However, the percentage of 36Cl− transported to the lamina (3 h) was significantly lower in 140 Ruggeri than in K 51-40, supporting reduced Cl− loading into xylem and implicating the root stele in the Cl− exclusion mechanism

Socially sensitive lactation: Exploring the social context of breastfeeding

Many women report difficulties with breastfeeding and do not maintain the practice for as long as intended. Although psychologists and other researchers have explored some of the difficulties they experience, fuller exploration of the relational contexts in which breastfeeding takes place is warranted to enable more in-depth analysis of the challenges these pose for breastfeeding women. The present paper is based on qualitative data collected from 22 first-time breastfeeding mothers through two phases of interviews and audio-diaries which explored how the participants experienced their relationships with significant others and the wider social context of breastfeeding in the first five weeks postpartum. Using a thematic analysis informed by symbolic interactionism, we develop the overarching theme of ‘Practising socially sensitive lactation’ which captures how participants felt the need to manage tensions between breastfeeding and their perceptions of the needs, expectations and comfort of others. We argue that breastfeeding remains a problematic social act, despite its agreed importance for child health. Whilst acknowledging the limitations of our sample and analytic approach, we suggest ways in which perinatal and public health interventions can take more effective account of the social challenges of breastfeeding in order to facilitate the health and psychological well-being of mothers and their infants

Broadcasting graphic war violence: the moral face of Channel 4

Drawing on empirical data from Channel 4 (C4) regarding the broadcasting of violent war imagery, and positioned within Goffman’s notion of the interaction ritual (1959, 1967), this article investigates how C4 negotiate potentially competing commercial, regulatory and moral requirements through processes of discretionary decision-making. Throughout, the article considers the extent to which these negotiations are presented through a series of ‘imaginings’ – of C4 and its audience – which serve to simultaneously guide and legitimate the decisions made. This manifestation of imaginings moves us beyond more blanket explanations of ‘branding’ and instead allows us to see the final programmes as the end product of a series of complex negotiations and interactions between C4 and those multiple external parties significant to the workings of their organization. The insights gleaned from this case study are important beyond the workings of C4 because they help elucidate how all institutions and organizations may view, organize and justify their practices (to both themselves and others) within the perceived constraints in which they operate