Search for exotic baryons in 800 GeV pp-->pXi+/-piX reactions

We report the results of a high-statistics, sensitive search for narrow baryon resonances decaying to Xi-pi-, Xi-pi+, Xi+pi-, and Xi+pi+. The only resonances observed are the well known Xi0(1530) and Xi0(1530). No evidence is found for the states near 1862 MeV, previously reported by NA49 [Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 042003 (2003)]. At the 95% confidence level, we find the upper limit for the production of a Gaussian enhancement with sigma=7.6 MeV in the Xi-pi- effective mass spectrum to be 0.3% of the number of observed Xi0(1530)-->Xi-pi+. We find similarly restrictive upper limits for an enhancement at 1862 MeV in the Xi-pi+, Xi+pi-, and Xi+pi+ mass spectra.     

The index of a plane curve and green’s formula

In this paper we compute the line integral of a complex function on a rectifiable cycle homologous to zero obtaining a Green’s formula with multiplicities that involves the of the function and the index of the cycle. We consider this formula in several settings and we obtain a sharp version in terms of the Lebesgue integrability properties of the partial derivatives of the function. This result depends on the proven fact that the index of a rectifiable cycle is square integrable with respect to the planar Lebesgue measure. The work of both authors is partially supported by grants 2000SGR-00059, 2001SGR 00172 of Generalitat de Catalunya and BFM 2002-04072-C02-02 of Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnologia     

FEM simulation of the Nitinol wire

In recent years, one of the most promising new actuator technologies is based on the use of Shape Memory Alloys (SMA). The main challenge for the application of devices that use these materials is the hysteresis in the phase transition they suffer during actuation. Finite element analysis (FEA) is an important aid in the simulation of mechanical properties and thermal fields in actuators. Dynamic simulations give in many cases enough information without the necessity of building a prototype. We have used ABAQUS to simulate a Nitinol wire used in a micropositioning actuator. The model parameters, not given by the supplier but required by the FEA program, have been obtained by thermal and mechanical characterization of the material used. The output force is computed and compared with the measurements.     

Survivable capacitated network design problem: new formulation and Lagrangean relaxation

This work is focused on the analysis of the survivable capacitated network design problem. This problem can be stated as follows: Given a supply network with point-to-point traffic demands, specific survivability requirements, a set of available capacity ranges and their corresponding discrete costs for each arc, find minimum cost capacity expansions such that these demands can be met even if a network component fails. Solving this problem consists of selecting the links and their capacity, as well as the routings for each demand in every failure situation. This type of problem can be shown to be NP-hard. A new linear mixed-integer mathematical programming formulation is presented. An effective solution procedure based on Lagrangean relaxation is developed. Comparison heuristics and improvement heuristics are also described. Computational results using these procedures on different sizes of randomly generated networks are reported.     

Eigenfunction expansions for infinite dimensional Ornstein-Uhlenbeck processes

Summary We give a general construction of infinite dimensional Ornstein-Uhlenbeck processes. We present expansions of these processes based on the expansion of the covariance operators in generalized eigenfunctions, and we answer positively some question left open by J.B. Walsh on properties of the hitting times of these processes.Partially supported by NSF-Grant MCS 8202045     

Immobilization and Stabilization of Beta-Xylosidases from Penicillium janczewskii

β-Xylosidases are critical for complete degradation of xylan, the second main constituent of plant cell walls. A minor β-xylosidase (BXYL II) from Penicillium janczewskii was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation (30% saturation) followed by DEAE-Sephadex chromatography in pH 6.5 and elution with KCl. The enzyme presented molecular weight (MW) of 301 kDa estimated by size exclusion chromatography. Optimal activity was observed in pH 3.0 and 70–75 °C, with higher stability in pH 3.0–4.5 and half-lives of 11, 5, and 2 min at 65, 70, and 75 °C, respectively. Inhibition was moderate with Pb⁺² and citrate and total with Cu⁺², Hg⁺², and Co⁺². Partially purified BXYL II and BXYL I (the main β-xylosidase from this fungus) were individually immobilized and stabilized in glyoxyl agarose gels. At 65 °C, immobilized BXYL I and BXYL II presented half-lives of 4.9 and 23.1 h, respectively, therefore being 12.3-fold and 33-fold more stable than their unipuntual CNBr derivatives (reference mimicking soluble enzyme behaviors). During long-term incubation in pH 5.0 at 50 °C, BXYL I and BXYL II glyoxyl derivatives preserved 85 and 35% activity after 25 and 7 days, respectively. Immobilized BXYL I retained 70% activity after 10 reuse cycles of p-nitrophenyl-β-D-xylopyranoside hydrolysis.

     

A theoretical study of the hydrogen bond donor capability and co-operative effects in the hydrogen bond complexes of the diaza-aromatic betacarbolines

In this work, we present a quantum mechanical investigation on the hydrogen bond interactions of N(9)-methyl-9H-pyrido[3,4-b]indole, MBC, and N(2)-methyl-9H-pyrido[3,4-b]indole, BCA, with different hydrogen bond donors. Thus, it has been analysed the influence that the hydrogen bond donor strength and the co-operative effect of the increasing number of donor molecules have on the shape of the potential energy surfaces versus the N···H distances, r(N–H). To rationalize the nature of the interactions, the Bader theory has been applied and the characteristics of the bond critical points analysed. The results show that two different hydrogen bond complexes can be formed depending on the donor capabilities or the number of donor molecules included in the calculations. The topological parameters from the Bader theory are used to justify the statement that the analysed interactions can be classified as weak or partially covalent hydrogen bond interactions, respectively. As experimentally observed, weak hydrogen bond donors form weak hydrogen bond complexes, called HBC. Upon the increase of the donor strength the N···H proton is shifted nearest to the nitrogen atom giving rise to the observation of a stronger hydrogen bond complex, the proton transfer complex, PTC. The most outstanding result of these studies is the fact that the formation of the PTC can also be managed just by changing the number of donor molecules, that is, by a co-operative effect of the hydrogen bonds.     

Search for sub-eV mass solar axions by the CERN Axion Solar Telescope with 3He buffer gas

The CERN Axion Solar Telescope (CAST) has extended its search for solar axions by using (3)He as a buffer gas. At T=1.8 K this allows for larger pressure settings and hence sensitivity to higher axion masses than our previous measurements with (4)He. With about 1 h of data taking at each of 252 different pressure settings we have scanned the axion mass range 0.39 eV?m(a)?0.64 eV. From the absence of excess x rays when the magnet was pointing to the Sun we set a typical upper limit on the axion-photon coupling of g(aγ)?2.3×10(-10) GeV(-1) at 95% C.L., the exact value depending on the pressure setting. Kim-Shifman-Vainshtein-Zakharov axions are excluded at the upper end of our mass range, the first time ever for any solar axion search. In the future we will extend our search to m(a)?1.15 eV, comfortably overlapping with cosmological hot dark matter bounds.