A probabilistic approach to spectral analysis of growth-fragmentation equations

The growth-fragmentation equation describes a system of growing and dividing particles, and arises in models of cell division, protein polymerisation and even telecommunications protocols. Several important questions about the equation concern the asymptotic behaviour of solutions at large times: at what rate do they converge to zero or infinity, and what does the asymptotic profile of the solutions look like? Does the rescaled solution converge to its asymptotic profile at an exponential speed? These questions have traditionally been studied using analytic techniques such as entropy methods or splitting of operators. In this work, we present a probabilistic approach: we use a Feynman–Kac formula to relate the solution of the growth-fragmentation equation to the semigroup of a Markov process, and characterise the rate of decay or growth in terms of this process. We then identify the Malthus exponent and the asymptotic profile in terms of a related Markov process, and give a spectral interpretation in terms of the growth-fragmentation operator and its dual.     

菌丝内生细菌及其宿主真菌共生体系研究进展

微生物共生普遍存在于自然界中，真菌-细菌联合体能以多种方式相互作用，共同发挥各种生态功能。有些细菌驻留在真菌菌丝内部，借以调控真菌的生长、发育、分布和次级代谢过程，这些细菌被称为菌丝内生细菌（endohyphal bacteria, EHB）。EHB的研究揭开了微生物生态学的一个新篇章，是真菌与细菌共生关系中最紧密的代表。在逆境条件下，EHB可以调节寄主生殖机制相关的关键成分或步骤，诱导植物激素类物质的产生，对寄主真菌具有辅助性保护作用。研究最深入的真菌-EHB共生体系是植物致病性根霉菌Rhizopus sp.与伯克霍尔德氏菌Burkholderia sp.，引起水稻幼苗枯萎病所必需的植物毒素——根霉素是由伯克霍尔德氏菌所产生的，而非寄主根霉菌本身产生的。EHB也会影响定殖于高等植物的内生真菌的生态和多样性。在某些情况下，EHB还有助于激活参与识别、转录调节和初级代谢蛋白合成过程的相关基因。目前已开发出了无菌培养分离EHB的方法，然而对真菌-EHB共生体系的研究尚不够深入。综述了菌丝内生细菌EHB及其与宿主真菌的共生体系，阐述这些伴侣之间复杂微妙的相互关系，以及EHB对宿主真菌和宿主植物生长和发育的影响，并对该领域的研究方向提出了建议。     

一个包含Smarandache Ceil函数的对偶函数的方程

利用初等方法研究了一个包含Smarandache Ceil函数Sk(n)的对偶函数-Sk(n),给出了当k=6时方程-S6(1)+-S6(2)+…+-S6(n)=6Ω(n)的具体正整数解。     

Crystallization of Poly(ethylene adipate) within γ-Phase Poly(vinylidene fluoride) Matrix

The effects of PEA on the γ-phase PVDF crystal structure and the crystallization of PEA within the pre-existing γ-phase PVDF spherulites have been investigated by optical microscopy(OM), infrared spectroscopy(IR) and scanning electron microscopy(SEM). The results demonstrate that the γ-phase PVDF spherulites consist of the lamellae exhibiting a highly curved scroll-like morphology and develop preferentially in PEA-rich blend. With increasing PEA concentration, the scroll diameter increases and the scrolls are better separated from each other. PEA crystallizes first in the interspherulitic region and transcrystalline layer develops. Subsequently, the transcrystalline layer of PEA continues to grow within the γ-phase PVDF spherulites, e.g., in the region between the scrolls, until impinging on other PEA transcrystalline layers or spherulites. The crystallization kinetics results indicate that the growth rate of PEA crystals in the intraspherulitic region of γ-phase PVDF shows a positive correlation with content of PEA, but a negative one with the crystallization temperature of γ-phase PVDF.     

TDPAC and first-principles study of electronic and structural properties of a Pd-vacancy complex in undoped germanium

Pd is one of the metals suitable for inducing low-temperature crystallization in Ge. However, it is not clear how residual Pd atoms are integrated into the Ge lattice. Therefore, time-differential γ–γ perturbed angular correlations (TDPAC) technique using the ¹⁰⁰Pd(→¹⁰⁰Rh) nuclear probe produced by recoil implantation has been applied to study the hyperfine interactions of this probe in single-crystalline undoped Ge. A Pd-vacancy complex aligned along the <111> crystallographic direction with a unique interaction frequency of 8.4(5) Mrad/s has been identified. This complex was measured to have a maximum relative fraction of about 76(4)% following annealing at 350 ^°C. Further annealing at higher temperatures reduced this fraction, possibly via dissociation of the complex. Calculations suggest dissociation energy of 1.94(5) eV for the complex. DFT calculations performed in this work are in reasonable good agreement with the experimental values for the electric-field gradient of the defect complex in Ge and Si for comparison. The calculations predict a split-vacancy configuration with the Pd on a bond-centred interstitial site having a nearest-neighbour semi-vacancy on both sides (V-Pd_BI-V) in Ge and Si.     

Modular Synthetic Approach to Carboranyl‒Biomolecules Conjugates

The development of novel, tumor-selective and boron-rich compounds as potential agents for use in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) represents a very important field in cancer treatment by radiation therapy. Here, we report the design and synthesis of two promising compounds that combine meta-carborane, a water-soluble monosaccharide and a linking unit, namely glycine or ethylenediamine, for facile coupling with various tumor-selective biomolecules bearing a free amino or carboxylic acid group. In this work, coupling experiments with two selected biomolecules, a coumarin derivative and folic acid, were included. The task of every component in this approach was carefully chosen: the carborane moiety supplies ten boron atoms, which is a tenfold increase in boron content compared to the l-boronophenylalanine (l-BPA) presently used in BNCT; the sugar moiety compensates for the hydrophobic character of the carborane; the linking unit, depending on the chosen biomolecule, acts as the connection between the tumor-selective component and the boron-rich moiety; and the respective tumor-selective biomolecule provides the necessary selectivity. This approach makes it possible to develop a modular and feasible strategy for the synthesis of readily obtainable boron-rich agents with optimized properties for potential applications in BNCT.     

Analytic hierarchy process for multi-sensor data fusion based on belief function theory

Multi-sensor data fusion is an evolving technology whereby data from multiple sensor inputs are processed and combined. The data derived from multiple sensors can, however, be uncertain, imperfect, and conflicting. The present study is undertaken to help contribute to the continuous search for viable approaches to overcome the problems associated with data conflict and imperfection. Sensor readings, represented by belief functions, have to be fused according to their corresponding weights. Previous studies have often estimated the weights of sensor readings based on a single criterion. Mono-criteria approaches for the assessment of sensor reading weights are, however, often unreliable and inadequate for the reflection of reality. Accordingly, this work opts for the use of a multi-criteria decision aid. A modified Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) that incorporates several criteria is proposed to determine the weights of a sensor reading set. The approach relies on the automation of pairwise comparisons to eliminate subjectivity and reduce inconsistency. It assesses the weight of each sensor reading, and fuses the weighed readings obtained using a modified average combination rule. The efficiency of this approach is evaluated in a target recognition context. Several tests, sensitivity analysis, and comparisons with other approaches available in the literature are described.