Properly coloured copies and rainbow copies of large graphs with small maximum degree

Let G be a graph on n vertices with maximum degree Δ. We use the Lovász local lemma to show the following two results about colourings χ of the edges of the complete graph K_n. If for each vertex v of K_n the colouring χ assigns each colour to at most (n ‐ 2)/(22.4Δ²) edges emanating from v, then there is a copy of G in K_n which is properly edge‐coloured by χ. This improves on a result of Alon, Jiang, Miller, and Pritikin [Random Struct. Algorithms 23(4), 409–433, 2003]. On the other hand, if χ assigns each colour to at most n/(51Δ²) edges of K_n, then there is a copy of G in K_n such that each edge of G receives a different colour from χ. This proves a conjecture of Frieze and Krivelevich [Electron. J. Comb. 15(1), R59, 2008]. Our proofs rely on a framework developed by Lu and Székely [Electron. J. Comb. 14(1), R63, 2007] for applying the local lemma to random injections. In order to improve the constants in our results we use a version of the local lemma due to Bissacot, Fernández, Procacci, and Scoppola [preprint, arXiv:0910.1824]. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 40, 425–436, 2012     

Resonant Raman spectroscopy and spectroelectrochemistry characterization of carbon nanotubes/polyaniline thin film obtained through interfacial polymerization

Thin, transparent, and self‐assembled films of neat polyaniline and polyaniline/carbon nanotube nanocomposites were deposited over glass substrates by interfacial polymerization. The effect of the carbon nanotubes on the structure and conformation of the polyaniline, and the type of interaction between the polymer and the nanotubes, have been studied by resonant Raman spectroscopy and UV–Vis and Raman spectroelectrochemistry. The results indicate clearly that the carbon nanotubes induce important changes in the electronic structure of the polymer, resulting in a more polaronic organization. Additionally, an effective interaction between the polymer and the nanotube, based on a polyaniline‐to‐nanotube charge transfer, is proposed in this work. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Generalization of thermodynamic potentials including information

In this work we analyze the connection between information theory and thermodynamics. Three different potentials are presented, all related to the Kullback–Leibler divergence. These potentials represent three different conditions of energy and information exchange between a reservoir and a subsystem. The first potential describes a situation where the two systems are exchanging energy without any external control. The second potential considers the situation where the reservoir can get information through the state of another secondary system about the internal state of the subsystem. This information can then be used by a Maxwell demon to increase the free energy of the subsystem. In this second scenario it is assumed that the energy cost of the information probe and the Maxwell demon are at the expense of the reservoir. Finally, a third case is considered where the information obtained through the secondary system is used not only to manipulate an internal Maxwell demon, but to perform directly work over the subsystem. This last case involves a direct modification of the Hamiltonian of the subsystem.     

Identification and structural characterization by LC-ESI-IONTRAP and LC-ESI-TOF of some metabolic conjugation products of homovanillic acid in urine of neuroblastoma patients

The levels of urinary catecholamine metabolites, such as homovanillic acid (HVA) and vanillylmandelic acid, are routinely used as a clinical tool in the diagnosis and follow-up of neuroblastoma (NB) patients. Recently, in the Clinical Pathology Laboratory Unit of G. Gaslini Children Hospital, a commercial method that employs liquid chromatography coupled to electrochemical detection (LC-EC) has been introduced for the measurement of these metabolites in the routine laboratory practice. Using this LC-EC method, an unknown peak could be observed only in samples derived from NB patients. To investigate the nature of this peak, we used a combination of liquid chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-TOF-MS) and liquid chromatography-ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (LC-IT-MS). The first approach was used to obtain the elemental composition of the ions present in this new signal. To get additional structural information useful for the elucidation of unknown compounds, the ion trap analyzer was exploited. We were able to identify not just one, but three unknown signals in urine samples from NB patients which corresponded to three conjugated products of HVA: HVA sulfate and two glucuronoconjugate isomers. The enzymatic hydrolysis with β-glucuronidase confirmed the proposed structures, while the selective alkaline hydrolysis allowed us to distinguish the difference between phenol- and acyl-glucuronide of HVA. The latter was the unknown peak observed in LC-EC separations of urine samples from NB patients.     

Curcumin Modifies the Activity of Plasmatic Antioxidant Enzymes and the Hippocampal Oxidative Profile in Rats upon Acute and Chronic Exposure to Ozone

Ozone (O₃) is an oxidating tropospheric pollutant. When O₃ interacts with biological substrates, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) are formed. Severe oxidative damage exhausts the endogenous antioxidant system, which leads to the decreased activity of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Curcumin (CUR) is a natural polyphenol with well-documented antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this work is to evaluate the effects of curcumin on CAT, GPx, and SOD activity and the inhibition of oxidative damage after the acute and chronic exposure to O₃. Fifty male Wistar rats were divided into five experimental groups: the intact control, CUR-fed control, exposed-to-O₃ control, CUR-fed (preventive), and CUR-fed (therapeutic) groups. These two last groups received a CUR-supplemented diet while exposed to O₃. These experiments were performed during acute- and chronic-exposure phases. In the preventive and therapeutic groups, the activity of plasma CAT, GPx, and SOD was increased during both exposure phases, with slight differences; concomitantly, lipid peroxidation and protein carbonylation were inhibited. For this reason, we propose that CUR could be used to enhance the activity of the antioxidant system and to diminish the oxidative damage caused by exposure to O₃.     

An Entropy-Based Measure of Complexity: An Application in Lung-Damage

The computed tomography (CT) chest is a tool for diagnostic tests and the early evaluation of lung infections, pulmonary interstitial damage, and complications caused by common pneumonia and COVID-19. Additionally, computer-aided diagnostic systems and methods based on entropy, fractality, and deep learning have been implemented to analyse lung CT images. This article aims to introduce an Entropy-based Measure of Complexity (EMC). In addition, derived from EMC, a Lung Damage Measure (LDM) is introduced to show a medical application. CT scans of 486 healthy subjects, 263 diagnosed with COVID-19, and 329 with pneumonia were analysed using the LDM. The statistical analysis shows a significant difference in LDM between healthy subjects and those suffering from COVID-19 and common pneumonia. The LDM of common pneumonia was the highest, followed by COVID-19 and healthy subjects. Furthermore, LDM increased as much as clinical classification and CO-RADS scores. Thus, LDM is a measure that could be used to determine or confirm the scored severity. On the other hand, the d-summable information model best fits the information obtained by the covering of the CT; thus, it can be the cornerstone for formulating a fractional LDM.     

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic study of poly[4,4′-isopropylidenebis(1,4-phenyleneoxyethylene) diacrylate] photocured in the presence of a fluorine containing monomer

A preliminary X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) investigation on poly[4,4′-isopropylidenebis(1,4-phenyleneoxyethylene) diacrylate] samples obtained by photocuring on several substrates in the presence of a fluorine containing acrylic monomer is reported. Quantitative calculations based on F_1s/C_1s area ratios and C_1s peak fitting show a noticeable fluorine surface enrichment that ranges, depending on the substrate, from 17 wt.-% to 59 wt.-% of fluorine containing moiety. The calculations also reveal the presence of a concentration gradient at the surface.     

Engineered Green Fluorescence Proteins for Proteomics and Biomolecular Electronic Applications

The discovery of the photochromic characteristics of engineered green fluorescent proteins (GFPs) allows new proteomics and biomolecular electronic applications. In particular, photoreversibility among two distinct optical states can lead to the realization of a bio-optical high density storage memory. Here we review our recent work on an optically bistable GFP and we report the recent developments of self-assembly methods for spatial immobilization of proteins into well-definite 2D patterns.     

Preparation of coatings via cationic photopolymerisation: influence of alcoholic additives

Coatings obtained through photopolymerisation of vinylethers, propenyl ethers and epoxy resins are described. The influence of alcohols and of comonomers bearing OH groups on the cationic mechanism of the curing process is discussed. The final properties of the coatings are evaluated and correlated to the structures of the additives.