Amplified signal response in scale-free networks by collaborative signaling

Many natural and artificial two-states signaling devices are connected forming networks. The information-processing potential of these systems is usually related to the response to weak external signals. Here, using a network of overdamped bistable elements, we study the effect of a heterogeneous complex topology on the signal response. The analysis of the problem in random scale-free networks, reveals that heterogeneity plays a crucial role in amplifying external signals. We have contrasted numerical simulations with analytical calculations in simplified topologies.     

Real‐Time In Vivo Detection of Cellular Senescence through the Controlled Release of the NIR Fluorescent Dye Nile Blue

In vivo detection of cellular senescence is accomplished by using mesoporous silica nanoparticles loaded with the NIR‐FDA approved Nile blue (NB) dye and capped with a galactohexasaccharide ( S3 ). NB emission at 672 nm is highly quenched inside S3 , yet a remarkable emission enhancement is observed upon cap hydrolysis in the presence of β‐galactosidase and dye release. The efficacy of the probe to detect cellular senescence is tested in vitro in melanoma SK‐Mel‐103 and breast cancer 4T1 cells and in vivo in palbociclib‐treated BALB/cByJ mice bearing breast cancer tumor.     

Determination of personal care products in water using UHPLC–MS after solid phase extraction with mesoporous silica‐based MCM‐41 functionalized with cyanopropyl groups

A silica‐based MCM‐41 mesoporous material functionalized with cyanopropyl groups has been synthesized by cocondensation, characterized and applied to preconcentrate six parabens and three UV filters in river and swimming‐pool waters. The analytes were quantified by ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry, according to the Directive 96/23/EC. Even though matrix effect was negligible, quantification in river water samples with the standard addition approach improved the recoveries obtained using solvent‐based and even with matrix‐matched calibration. The method quantification limits in river water samples were 0.05 ng/mL for 2,4‐dihydroxybenzophenone and 0.01 ng/mL for the rest. Recoveries, evaluated for a concentration level of 0.5 ng/L, were in the range 93.5‐107.6% for parabens and in the range 64.2‐85.8% for UV filters, with relative standard deviations intraday ≤10.2 and 10.8%, respectively. This parameter, evaluated for a concentration level of 0.1 ng/L, ranged between 98.3 and 110.4% for parabens and between 61.9 and 89.9% for UV filters, with relative standard deviation intraday ≤15.3 and 15.5%, respectively. The two UV filters with lower recoveries were the most affected by the addition of sodium chloride. River and swimming pool waters were analyzed and all the personal care products were found in the swimming pool water, whereas only methylparaben was detected in the river water.     

The magnetic properties of RuF5

The structural unit of the pentafluorides MF₅ (M = Ru, Rh, Os, Ir, Pt) consists of M₄F₂₀ tetramers with the transition elements occupying the corners of the rhombus. In the case of RuF₅ the magnetic susceptibility vs. temperature curve shows a broad maximum at T ? 40 K. Neutron diffraction experiments below and above this temperature show that this maximum does not correspond to a magnetic three-dimensional ordering. Theoretical calculations based on isolated tetra-nuclear clusters of identical $\text{S =}\text{3}\text{2}$ spins have been applied. The intracluster exchange interactions are antiferromagnetic. The fitting of the susceptibility data leads to an exchange constant of $\text{J}\text{k}\text{= ?8.3 K}$.     

Molecular structure-dynamics relationships in glassy poly(isophthalamide)s as revealed by wide angle x-ray scattering, dielectric loss spectroscopy, and molecular modelling

The effect of molecular structure on the gamma relaxation dynamics has been studied in a set of aromatic poly(isophthalamide)s. This polymer family differ in the bridge group between phenylene rings [hexafluoroisopropylidene (C(CF(3))(2)) or ether] and also in the presence of t-butyl groups (C(CH(3))(3)) as pendant substituent on the five position of isophthalic ring. The results obtained from wide angle x-ray scattering in the glassy state indicated that both (C(CF(3))(2)) and (C(CH(3))(3)) groups favor the separation between chains, which is reflected on different interchain average distances. Dielectric experiments showed that both bulky groups favor the mobility in the glassy state. Molecular modelling methods were used to know the kind of molecular motions associated to the dielectric relaxation observed below the glass transition temperature.     

Magnetic and structural properties of mechanically alloyed Tb0.257−x Nd x Fe0.743 alloys, with x = 0 and 0.257

The alloys between a transition metal and a rare earth present magnetic and magneto optical properties of exceptional interest for the production of magnetic devices for information storage. In this work we report the magnetic and structural properties, obtained by Mössbauer spectrometry (MS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), of Tb_0.257?x Nd _x Fe_0.743 alloys with x?=?0 and 0.257 prepared by mechanical alloying during 12, 24 and 48 h, to study the influence of the milling time in their magnetic and structural properties. The X-rays results show for all the samples that the α-Fe and an amorphous phase are always present. The first decreases and the second increases with the increase of the milling time. Mössbauer results show that the amorphous phase in samples with Nd is ferromagnetic and appears as a hyperfine field distribution and a broad doublet, and that as the milling time increases the paramagnetic contribution increases. For samples with Tb the amorphous phase is paramagnetic and appears as a broad doublet which increases with the milling time and for 48 h milling it appears an additional broad singlet.     

Chromatographic characterization of proanthocyanidins after thiolysis with cysteamine

Summary Cysteamine is proposed as a user-friendly thiol donor with application to the analysis of proanthocyanidins by thiolysis. Oligomeric proanthocyanidins are potent antioxidants and disease-preventing agents. The efficiency of which depends on their composition and size. The degree of polymerization of proanthocyanidins is usually estimated by thiolysis then reversedphase high-performance liquid chromatography. The new derivatization procedure is an alternative to the use of toluene-α-thiol as thiol donor. In addition to enabling the direct chromatographic analysis of curude material, the amino function introduced facilitates prior discrimination between terminal and extension flavanoid moieties by means of cation-exchange chromatography.     

Spectroscopic investigations on polypropylene‐carbon nanofiber composites. I. Raman and electron spin resonance spectroscopy

Isotactic polypropylene‐vapor grown carbon nanofiber composites containing various fractions of carbon nanofibers, ranging from 0 to 20 wt %, have been prepared. Raman spectroscopy was used to analyze the effect of the dispersion of carbon nanofibers within polypropylene and the interactions between carbon nanofibers and macromolecular chains. The as‐recorded Raman spectra have been successfully fitted by a linear convolution of Lorentzian lines. Changes of the Raman lines parameters (position, intensity, width, and area) of polypropylene and carbon nanofibers were analyzed in detail. The Raman spectra of the polymeric matrix—at low concentrations of nanofibers—show important modifications that indicate strong interactions between carbon nanofibers and the polymeric matrix reflecting by vibrational dephasing of macromolecular chains. The Raman spectrum of carbon nanofibers is sensitive to the loading with carbon nanofibers, showing changes of the resonance frequencies, amplitudes, and width for both D‐ and G‐bands. Raman data reveals the increase of the disorder, as the concentration of carbon nanofibers is increased. The presence of the typical ESR line assigned to conducting electrons delocalized over carbon nanofibers is confirmed and the presence of a spurious magnetic line due to catalyst's residues is reported. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 1644–1652, 2009     

Local Rings of Rings of Quotients

The aim of this paper is to characterize those elements in a semiprime ring R for which taking local rings at elements and rings of quotients are commuting operations. If Q denotes the maximal ring of left quotients of R, then this happens precisely for those elements if R which are von Neumann regular in Q. An intrinsic characterization of such elements is given. We derive as a consequence that the maximal left quotient ring of a prime ring with a nonzero PI-element is primitive and has nonzero socle. If we change Q to the Martindale symmetric ring of quotients, or to the maximal symmetric ring of quotients of R, we obtain similar results: an element a in R is von Neumann regular if and only if the ring of quotients of the local ring of R at a is isomorphic to the local ring of Q at a. Partially supported by the Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia and Fondos Feder, jointly, trough projects MTM2004-03845, MTM2007-61978 and MTM2004-06580-C02-02, MTM2007-60333, by the Junta de Andalucía, FQM-264, FQM336 and FQM02467 and by the Plan de Investigación del Principado de Asturias FICYT-IB05-017.