Synthetic gene network for entraining and amplifying cellular oscillations

We present a model for a synthetic gene oscillator and consider the coupling of the oscillator to a periodic process that is intrinsic to the cell. We investigate the synchronization properties of the coupled system, and show how the oscillator can be constructed to yield a significant amplification of cellular oscillations. We reduce the driven oscillator equations to a normal form, and analytically determine the amplification as a function of the strength of the cellular oscillations. The ability to couple naturally occurring genetic oscillations to a synthetically designed network could lead to possible strategies for entraining and/or amplifying oscillations in cellular protein levels.     

Photocontrolled mechanical phenomena in photochromic doped polymeric systems

This work examines volume changes at the sub-micron scale, induced photochemically in polymeric matrices doped with photochromic molecules. To achieve this, spiropyran is employed as a photochromic molecule embedded in polyethylmethacrylate-co-methylacrylate (PEMMA) matrices. Spiropyran can be reversibly interconverted to merocyanine, its coloured isomer, by irradiation at 248 nm and 532 nm, correspondingly. It is demonstrated that the interconversion between the two forms activates volume changes in the polymer matrix. To this end, off-axis reflection holographic interferometry is employed as a sensitive probe of the induced volume changes. This scheme provides a novel method for controlling sub-micron volume changes reversibly, as required in several microactuator designs. Received: 17 April 2002 / Accepted: 18 April 2002 / Published online: 10 September 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +30-810/391-318, E-mail: nassia@iesl.forth.gr     

Multi-bump, self-similar, blow-up solutions of the Ginzburg-Landau equation

For the Ginzburg-Landau equation (GL), we establish the existence and local uniqueness of two classes of multi-bump, self-similar, blow-up solutions for all dimensions 2<d<4 (under certain conditions on the coefficients in the equation). In numerical simulation and via asymptotic analysis, one class of solutions was already found; the second class of multi-bump solutions is new.In the analysis, we treat the GL as a small perturbation of the cubic nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLS). The existence result given here is a major extension of results established previously for the NLS, since for the NLS the construction only holds for d close to the critical dimension d=2.The behaviour of the self-similar solutions is described by a nonlinear, non-autonomous ordinary differential equation (ODE). After linearisation, this ODE exhibits hyperbolic behaviour near the origin and elliptic behaviour asymptotically. We call the region where the type of behaviour changes the mid-range. All of the bumps of the solutions that we construct lie in the mid-range.For the construction, we track a manifold of solutions of the ODE that satisfy the condition at the origin forward, and a manifold of solutions that satisfy the asymptotic conditions backward, to a common point in the mid-range. Then, we show that these manifolds intersect transversely. We study the dynamics in the mid-range by using geometric singular perturbation theory, adiabatic Melnikov theory, and the Exchange Lemma.     

Large time behaviour of solutions of the Swift–Hohenberg equation

We study the limiting profiles v of solutions of the Swift–Hohenberg equation on a one-dimensional domain (0,L) for different values of L. We identify those values of L for which v=0, and discuss the size and the shape of v when it is nontrivial and a global minimiser of an associated energy functional. To cite this article: L.A. Peletier, V. Rottschäfer, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 336 (2003).     

Integrated analytical techniques for the study of ancient Greek polychromy

The materials used in the decoration of three painted astragaloi (knucklebones) from the Koroneia cave (Greece) were investigated by means of sequential application of non-destructive and destructive techniques: optical microscopy, environmental scanning electron microscopy coupled with X-ray microanalysis (ESEM-EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) with micro-attenuated total reflection (μ-ATR) technique, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with UV-fluorescence and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were used.The main results highlighted that the three astragaloi were prepared with a ground of ochre or iron clay and painted with a proteinaceous matter such as binder egg tempera. Both FTIR and GC-MS agree in the detection of lipids that can be related to egg. Organic dyestuffs identified as madder lake and shellfish purple were used together with inorganic pigments.     

Measurement of stress waves in polymers generated by UV laser ablation

Propagation of stress waves into polymer substrates undergoing UV laser ablation has been studied by means of laser Doppler vibrometry technique. The measurements acquired far from the ablation point demonstrate oscillations of high amplitude and low decay. For all the studied samples, realized in polystyrene and polymethylmethacrylate of two different molecular weights, ablation generates mechanical excitation of the structure, which propagates all over the bulk as vibrational modes and stress waves.     

Silica xerogels as a delivery system for the controlled release of different molecular weight heparins

In this work, we investigated a sol–gel derived silica matrix as a delivery system for the prolonged release of different molecular weight heparins, which allows the glycosaminoglicons to retain their whole biological activity. Several xerogels were obtained by embedding different molecular weight heparins into matrices prepared by using different amount of NH₄OH as a catalyst during gel formation. Gel synthesis parameters, drug release properties, and xerogels surface area were evaluated. Unfractionated, low and oligo-molecular weight heparins were embedded into xerogels and the effect of the molecular weight on the release kinetics and the retained biological activity has been investigated. The results show that the surface area of the matrix is a determinant parameter affecting drug release kinetics. This structural feature can be modified by varying the catalyst tetraethoxysilane molar ratio used during the matrix synthesis. In most cases release kinetics fitted the Higuchi diffusive model and a lower diffusion rate was observed from silica matrices characterized by a smaller surface area. In the case of matrices with lower surface area, loaded with unfractionated heparin, zero order kinetics was observed. In this paper, we have defined a heparin release silica xerogel system and we have pointed out how modulation of its synthesis parameters allows adjusting the release of heparin according to therapeutic needs.     

Holographic interferometry for the structural diagnostics of UV laser ablation of polymer substrates

Holographic interferometry is examined for its potential as a diagnostic tool of the structural modifications effected in laser-processing applications. The interferometric ‘comparison’ of the holographic images of the sample recorded before and after irradiation enables the full-field spatially resolved detection of the induced structural modifications. The potential of the method is illustrated in the ablation of polymer (polymethylmethacrylate and polystyrene) films with nanosecond pulses at 193 and 248 nm. The detailed characterization and quantitative monitoring of the growth of the induced modifications as a function of laser-material parameters is attained. A most novel result is the observation of delocalised structural modifications at distances relatively far away (d≈2 cm) from the irradiated area. Received: 15 August 2001 / Accepted: 16 August 2001 / Published online: 2 October 2001     

Interference fringe-patterns association to defect-types in artwork conservation: an experiment and research validation review

The paper is directed to all classes of optical inspection technologies that are causing a fringe pattern like output, such as interferometry, fringe projection, holography, speckle techniques. The explanations given here are also valid for incoherent fringe projection, moire, and short-coherent techniques, which are producing fringe-like output correlated with the surface structure and the surface change, respectively.