Median algebras acting on sets

A distributive polylattice is a setS together with a setN of mutually distributive semilattice operations. Any such setN generates a median algebraM consisting of mutually distributive operations onS.Presented by R. W. Quackenbush.     

Biologically relevant conformational features of linear and cyclic proteolipid protein (PLP) peptide analogues obtained by high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance and molecular dynamics

Proteolipid protein (PLP) is one of the main proteins of myelin sheath that are destroyed during the progress of multiple sclerosis (MS). The immunodominant PLP_139–151 epitope is known to induce experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE, animal model of MS), wherein residues 144 and 147 are recognized by T cell receptor (TCR) during the formation of trimolecular complex with peptide-antigen and major histocompability complex. The conformational behavior of linear and cyclic peptide analogues of PLP, namely PLP_139–151 and cyclic (139–151) (L¹⁴⁴, R¹⁴⁷) PLP_139–151, have been studied in solution by means of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) methods in combination with unrestrained molecular dynamics simulations. The results indicate that the side chains of mutated amino acids in the cyclic analogue have different spatial orientation compared with the corresponding side chains of the linear analogue, which can lead to reduced affinity to TCR. NMR experiments combined with theoretical calculations pave the way for the design and synthesis of potent restricted peptides of immunodominant PLP_139–151 epitope as well as non peptide mimetics that rises as an ultimate goal.     

Zinc(II) binding ability of tri-, tetra- and penta-peptides containing two or three histidyl residues

Macroscopic and microscopic protonation processes and zinc(II) complexes of a series of multihistidine peptides (Ac-HGH-OH, Ac-HGH-NHMe, Ac-HHGH-OH, Ac-HHGH-NHMe, Ac-HVGDH-NH(2), Ac-HHVGD-NH(2), Ac-HVHAH-NH(2), Ac-HAHVH-NH(2), Ac-HPHAH-NH(2) and Ac-HAHPH-NH(2)) were studied by potentiometric, NMR and ESI-MS spectroscopic techniques. Protonations of histidyl imidazole-N donor functions were not much affected by the number and location of histidyl residues, but the presence of C-terminal carboxylate groups had a significant impact on the basicities of the neighbouring histidyl sites. The formation of 2N(im) and 3N(im) macrochelates with the stoichiometry of [ZnL] was the major process in the complexation reactions of all peptides followed by the formation of hydroxo or amide bonded species. Thermodynamic stabilities of the zinc(II) complexes were primarily determined by the number of histidyl residues, but the presence of C-terminal carboxylate functions has also a significant contribution to metal binding. The stabilizing effect of the aspartyl beta-carboxylate group was also observed, but its extent is much weaker than that of the C-terminal carboxylate with a neighbouring histidyl residue. Zinc(II) promoted peptide amide deprotonation and co-ordination was observed only in the zinc(II)-Ac-HHVGD-NH(2) system above pH 8.     

On the number of essential arguments of homomorphisms between products of median algebras

In this paper we characterize classes of median-homomorphisms between products of median algebras, that depend on a given number of arguments, by means of necessary and sufficent conditions that rely on the underlying algebraic and on the underlying order structure of median algebras. In particular, we show that a median-homomorphism that take values in a median algebra that does not contain a subalgebra isomorphic to the m-dimensional Boolean algebra as a subalgebra cannot depend on more than \(m-1\) arguments. In view of this result, we also characterize the latter class of median algebras. We also discuss extensions of our framework on homomorphisms over median algebras to wider classes of algebras.     

One-pot synthesis of highly crystalline mesoporous TiO2 nanoparticle assemblies with enhanced photocatalytic activity

We report an unprecedented formation of mesoporous titania via a surfactant-assisted aggregating assembly of TiO(2) nanoparticles. These mesostructures possess a highly crystalline anatase phase, large and accessible pore surface area, and exhibit superior photocatalytic performance.     

Solution-Processed Quantum Dot Photodetectors

Digital imaging has traditionally been enabled by single-crystalline photodetectors. This approach typically either mandates the use of silicon as photon-to-electron converter or requires a hybrid-integrated solution. In contrast, solution-processed optoelectronic materials offer convenient integration of light-sensing materials atop an electronic readout circuit. Colloidal quantum dots offer particular advantages, combining solution-processing with the spectral tunability afforded by the quantum size effect. Here we review recent progress in solution-processed quantum dot photodetectors and their application in future imaging systems. We focus on progress towards high responsivity (photon-to-electron gains exceeding 1000) and sensitivity (normalized detectivity D* ~ 10¹³Jones) in the visible, the near infrared, and the short-wavelength infrared. We also highlight the achievement of solution-processed photoconductive photodetectors combining photoconductive gain and temporal responses faster than 30 ms, devices therefore compatible with video-frame-rate imaging. We conclude with a discussion of recent colloidal quantum dot photodiodes having megahertz bandwidth and detectivity of 10¹¹ Jones.     

A differential flatness theory approach to observer-based adaptive fuzzy control of MIMO nonlinear dynamical systems

The paper proposes a solution to the problem of observer-based adaptive fuzzy control for MIMO nonlinear dynamical systems (e.g. robotic manipulators). An adaptive fuzzy controller is designed for a class of nonlinear systems, under the constraint that only the system’s output is measured and that the system’s model is unknown. The control algorithm aims at satisfying the $H_\infty $ tracking performance criterion, which means that the influence of the modeling errors and the external disturbances on the tracking error is attenuated to an arbitrary desirable level. After transforming the MIMO system into the canonical form, the resulting control inputs are shown to contain nonlinear elements which depend on the system’s parameters. The nonlinear terms which appear in the control inputs are approximated with the use of neuro-fuzzy networks. Moreover, since only the system’s output is measurable the complete state vector has to be reconstructed with the use of a state observer. It is shown that a suitable learning law can be defined for the aforementioned neuro-fuzzy approximators so as to preserve the closed-loop system stability. With the use of Lyapunov stability analysis, it is proven that the proposed observer-based adaptive fuzzy control scheme results in $H_{\infty }$ tracking performance.