Simply connected Alexandrov 4-manifolds with positive or nonnegative curvature and torus actions

We point out that a 4-dimensional topological manifold with an Alexandrov metric (of curvature bounded below) and with an effective, isometric action of the circle or the 2-torus is locally smooth. This observation implies that the topological and equivariant classifications of compact, simply connected Riemannian 4-manifolds with positive or nonnegative sectional curvature and an effective isometric action of a circle or a 2-torus also hold if we consider Alexandrov manifolds instead of Riemannian manifolds.Comment: 10 pages, title changed, results are now proved for Alexandrov 4-manifolds, added examples, simplified proof

Hydrogen bonds and asymmetrical heat diffusion in a-Helices. A Computational Analysis

In this work, we report the heat rectifying capability of a-helices. Using molecular dynamics simulations we show an increased thermal diffusivity in the C-Terminal to N-Terminal direction of propagation. The origin of this effect seems to be a function of the particular orientation of the hydrogen bonds stabilizing these a-helices. Our results may be relevant for the design of thermal rectification devices for materials science and lend support to the role of normal length hydrogen bonds in the asymmetrical energy flow in proteins