A back-of-the-envelope algorithm for the analysis of ABX systems

It is shown that one of the two conjugate solutions compatible with the AB part of an ABX system can easily be eliminated, at an early stage of the analysis, by considering intensity ratios in the X region.     

Hot twists for the single-point model of large-N QCD

We construct two types of twists for the SU(N→∞) twisted-Eguchi-Kawai model, which mimic a periodic boundary condition in the temporal direction only and over an arbitrary extent N₀. In this way we introduce finite temperature (T=N₀^?1 in lattice units) in the single-point model. In weak coupling one gets the correct planar expansion.     

Evaluation of process parameters of ultrasonic treatment of bacterial suspensions in a pilot scale water disinfection system

In this study, several process parameters that may contribute to the efficiency of ultrasound disinfection are examined on a pilot scale water disinfection system that mimics realistic circumstances as encountered in an industrial environment. The main parameters of sonication are: (i) power; (ii) duration of treatment; (iii) volume of the treated sample. The specific energy (E_s) is an indicator of the intensity of the ultrasound treatment because it incorporates the transferred power, the duration of sonication and the treated volume. In this study, the importance of this parameter for the disinfection efficiency was assessed through changes in volume of treated water, water flow rate and electrical power of the ultrasonic reactor. In addition, the influences of the initial bacterial concentration on the disinfection efficiency were examined. The disinfection efficiency of the ultrasonic technique was scored on a homogenous and on a mixed bacterial culture suspended in water with two different types of ultrasonic reactors (Telsonic and Bandelin). This study demonstrates that specific energy, treatment time of water with ultrasound and number of passages through the ultrasonic reactor are crucial influential parameters of ultrasonic disinfection of contaminated water in a pilot scale water disinfection system. The promising results obtained in this study on a pilot scale water disinfection system indicate the possible application of ultrasound technology to reduce bacterial contamination in recirculating process water to an acceptable low level. However, the energy demand of the ultrasound equipment is rather high and therefore it may be advantageous to apply ultrasound in combination with another treatment.     

Repetition Pitch glide from the step pyramid at Chichen Itza

Standing at the foot of the Mayan step pyramid at Chichen Itza in Mexico, one can produce a pitchy "chirp" echo by handclapping. As exposed by Declercq et al. [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 116, 3328-3335 (2004)], an acoustic model based on optical Bragg diffraction at a periodic structure cannot explain satisfactorily the chirp-echo sonogram. Alternatively, considering the echo as a sequence of reflections, and given the dimensions of the pyramid and source-receiver position, the chirp is predicted correctly as a Repetition Pitch glide of which the pitch height is continuously decreasing within 177 ms from 796 to 471 Hz-equivalent.     

Molecule-molecule versus molecule-substrate interactions in the assembly of oligothiophenes at surfaces

In this paper we present a joint experimental and theoretical approach for the study of the assembly of end-substituted oligothiophenes at surfaces with different polarities (i.e., mica vs graphite). Scanning probe microscopy studies of (sub)monolayer deposits show various types of structures (one-dimensional fibrils, two-dimensional regular layers, and monolayers), depending on the nature of the end groups and the substrate. Using molecular modeling with an atomistic approach, we focus on the interplay between the molecule-molecule (and segment-segment) interactions and the molecule-substrate interactions and their influence on the observed morphologies and the stacking geometry. Such information is relevant for controlling the structural order in thin layers of thiophene oligomers for use in field-effect transistor applications, for example, by modifying the nature of dielectric material over which those compounds are deposited.     

Do enzymes sleep and work?

Single-enzyme studies suggest that dynamic disorder is a general characteristic of enzyme catalysis.     

Characterising ontogenetic niche shifts in Nile crocodile using stable isotope (δ13C, δ15N) analyses of scute keratin

Nile crocodiles undergo a three to five order of magnitude increase in body size during their lifespan. This shift coincides with a change in resource and habitat use which influences the strength, type and symmetry of interactions with other species. Identifying size-specific crocodile groups displaying similar traits is important for conservation planning. Here, we illustrate how stable carbon (δ¹³ C) and nitrogen (δ¹⁵ N) isotope analysis of scute keratin, together with breakpoint modelling analysis can be used to characterise ontogenetic niche shifts. Using a sample set of 238 crocodiles from the Okavango Delta, Botswana (35–463 cm total length), we found prominent size-related changes in the scute keratin δ¹³ C and δ¹⁵ N profiles close to 40 and 119 cm snout-vent length. The first shift corroborated the findings of a traditional stomach-content study conducted on the same population at the same time, and the second conformed to known crocodile ecology. This approach can be used as a first approximation to identify size-specific groups within crocodile populations, and these can then be investigated further using isotopic or other methods.