Dual-Regge approach to high-energy, low-mass diffraction dissociation

A dual-Regge model with a nonlinear proton Regge trajectory in the missing mass (MX2) channel, describing the experimental data on low-mass single diffraction dissociation (SDD), is constructed. Predictions for the LHC energies are given.

Cross section of a resonant-mass detector for scalar gravitational waves

Gravitationally coupled scalar fields, originally introduced by Jordan, Brans and Dicke to account for a non-constant gravitational coupling, are a prediction of many non-Einsteinian theories of gravity not excluding perturbative formulations of string theory. In this paper, we compute the cross sections for scattering and absorption of scalar and tensor gravitational waves by a resonant-mass detector in the framework of the Jordan-Brans-Dicke theory. The results are then specialized to the case of a detector of spherical shape and shown to reproduce those obtained in general relativity in a certain limit. Eventually we discuss the potential detectability of scalar waves emitted in a spherically symmetric gravitational collapse.

Molecular dynamics study of the longitudinal modes in disparate-mass binaryliquid mixtures.

A series of molecular dynamics simulations of simple liquid binary mixtures of soft spheres with disparate-mass particles were carried out to investigate the origin of the marked differences between the dynamic structure factors of some liquid binary mixtures such as the Li0.7Mg0.3 and Li0.8Pb0.2 alloys. It is shown that the facility for observing peaks associated with fast-propagating modes in the partial Li-Li dynamic structure factor of Li0.8Pb0.2 should be mainly attributed to the structure of this alloy, which is characterized by an incipient ABAB ordering as found in molten salts. The longitudinal dispersion relations at intermediate wave vectors obtained from the longitudinal current spectra are very similar for the two alloys and reflect the existence of both fast-and slow-propagating modes of kinetic character associated with light and heavy particles, respectively. The influence of the hardness of the repulsive potential cores as well as the composition of the mixture on the longitudinal collective modes is also discussed.

Dramatic decline of serogrup C meningococcal disease incidence in Catalonia (Spain) 24 months after a mass vaccination programme of children and young people

STUDY OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a mass vaccination programme carried out in Catalonia (Spain) in the last quarter of 1997 in response to an upsurge of serogroup C meningococcal disease (SCMD). DESIGN Vaccination coverage in the 18 month to 19 years age group was investigated by means of a specific vaccination register. Vaccination effectiveness was calculated using the prospective cohort method. Cases of SCMD were identified on the basis of compulsory reporting and microbiological notification by hospital laboratories. Vaccination histories were investigated in all cases. Unadjusted and age adjusted vaccination effectiveness referred to the time of vaccination and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of follow up. SETTING All population aged 18 months to 19 years of Catalonia. MAIN RESULTS A total of seven cases of SCMD were detected at six months of follow up (one in the vaccinated cohort), 12 cases at 12 months (one in the vaccinated cohort), 19 cases at 18 months (two in the vaccinated cohort) and 24 at 24 months (two in the vaccinated cohort). The age adjusted effectiveness was 84% (95%CI 30, 97) at six months, 92% (95%CI 63, 98) at 12 months, 92% (95% CI 71, 98) at 18 months and 94% (95%CI 78, 98) at 24 months. In the target population, cases have been reduced by more than two thirds (68%) two years after the vaccination programme. In the total population the reduction was 43%. CONCLUSION Vaccination effectiveness has been high in Catalonia, with a dramatic reduction in disease incidence in the vaccinated cohort accompanied by a relevant reduction in the overall population. Given that vaccination coverage was only 54.6%, it may be supposed that this vaccination effectiveness is attributable, in part, to the herd immunity conferred by the vaccine.

Seismic detection and characterization of landslides and other mass movements

Seismic methods used in the study of snow avalanches may be employed to detect and characterize landslides and other mass movements, using standard spectrogram/sonogram analysis. For snow avalanches, the spectrogram for a station that is approached by a sliding mass exhibits a triangular time/frequency signature due to an increase over time in the higher-frequency constituents. Recognition of this characteristic footprint in a spectrogram suggests a useful metric for identifying other mass-movement events such as landslides. The 1 June 2005 slide at Laguna Beach, California is examined using data obtained from the Caltech/USGS Regional Seismic Network. This event exhibits the same general spectrogram features observed in studies of Alpine snow avalanches. We propose that these features are due to the systematic relative increase in high-frequency energy transmitted to a seismometer in the path of a mass slide owing to a reduction of distance from the source signal. This phenomenon is related to the path of the waves whose high frequencies are less attenuated as they traverse shorter source-receiver paths. Entrainment of material in the course of the slide may also contribute to the triangular time/frequency signature as a consequence of the increase in the energy involved in the process; in this case the contribution would be a source effect. By applying this commonly observed characteristic to routine monitoring algorithms, along with custom adjustments for local site effects, we seek to contribute to the improvement in automatic detection and monitoring methods of landslides and other mass movements.

Rapid and sensitive hormonal profiling of complex plant samples by liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Background Plant hormones play a pivotal role in several physiological processes during a plant's life cycle, from germination to senescence, and the determination of endogenous concentrations of hormones is essential to elucidate the role of a particular hormone in any physiological process. Availability of a sensitive and rapid method to quantify multiple classes of hormones simultaneously will greatly facilitate the investigation of signaling networks in controlling specific developmental pathways and physiological responses. Due to the presence of hormones at very low concentrations in plant tissues (10-9 M to 10-6 M) and their different chemistries, the development of a high-throughput and comprehensive method for the determination of hormones is challenging. Results The present work reports a rapid, specific and sensitive method using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization tandem spectrometry (UPLC/ESI-MS/MS) to analyze quantitatively the major hormones found in plant tissues within six minutes, including auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins, abscisic acid, 1-amino-cyclopropane-1-carboxyic acid (the ethylene precursor), jasmonic acid and salicylic acid. Sample preparation, extraction procedures and UPLC-MS/MS conditions were optimized for the determination of all plant hormones and are summarized in a schematic extraction diagram for the analysis of small amounts of plant material without time-consuming additional steps such as purification, sample drying or re-suspension. Conclusions This new method is applicable to the analysis of dynamic changes in endogenous concentrations of hormones to study plant developmental processes or plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses in complex tissues. An example is shown in which a hormone profiling is obtained from leaves of plants exposed to salt stress in the aromatic plant, Rosmarinus officinalis.

Basics of mass spectrometry

This article summarizes the basic principles of mass spectrometry instrumentation with special emphasis in sample introduction methods, ionization techniques and mass analyzers used in the different mass spectrometrytechniques.

Liquid chromatography - Mass spectrometry

In this article, selected examples of applications of liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry are given. The examples include the analysis of i) impurities in manufactured, pharmaceutical or synthesis products, ii) polyphenols in natural products, and iii) phytohormones in plant extracts. Finally, examples of applications of molecular characterization via flow injection analysis by electron spray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) are also given.

Isotope ratio - Mass spectrometry

This article summarizes the configurations involving isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) technology available at the CCiTUB and the wide range of possible applications. Some examples of these applications are shown.

Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS): principles and applications

This article outlines the basis of the technique and shows some examples of applications in order to exhibit the expectations of this technique invaried scientific fields.

Analyzing peptides and proteins by mass spectrometry: principles and applications in proteomics

The study of proteins has been a key element in biomedicine and biotechnology because of their important role in cell functions or enzymatic activity. Cells are the basic unit of living organisms, which are governed by a vast range of chemical reactions. These chemical reactions must be highly regulatedin order to achieve homeostasis. Proteins are polymeric molecules that havetaken on the evolutionary process the role, along with other factors, of controlthese chemical reactions. Learning how proteins interact and control their up anddown regulations can teach us how living cells regulate their functions, as well asthe cause of certain anomalies that occur in different diseases where proteins areinvolved. Mass spectrometry (MS) is an analytical widely used technique to studythe protein content inside the cells as a biomarker point, which describesdysfunctions in diseases and increases knowledge of how proteins are working.All the methodologies involved in these descriptions are integrated in the fieldcalled Proteomics.

Club Deportivo Maratón

Aplicación web para el Club Deportivo Maratón mediante la que se da a conocer el club y sus actividades e instalaciones. Así mismo, se proporciona una aplicación de escritorio para la gestión de los contenidos de la web.

Surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry: A tool to predict pork quality

Expression of water soluble proteins of fresh pork Longissimus thoracis from 4 pure breed pigs (Duroc, Large White, Landrace, and Piétrain) was studied to identify candidate protein markers for meat quality. Surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS) was used to obtain the soluble protein profiles of Longissimus thoracis muscles. The pure breeds showed differences among the studied meat quality traits (pHu, drip loss, androstenone, marbling, intramuscular fat, texture, and moisture), but no significant differences were detected in sensory analysis. Associations between protein peaks obtained with SELDI-TOF-MS and meat quality traits, mainly water holding capacity, texture and skatole were observed. Of these peaks, a total of 10 peaks from CM10 array and 6 peaks from Q10 array were candidate soluble protein markers for pork loin quality. The developed models explained a limited proportion of the variability, however they point out interesting relationships between protein expression and meat quality

Gestión de un club de pádel

Este proyecto es un estudio que pretende realizar una aplicación dirigida a centros deportivos, implementando a través de BIOMAX el acceso a las instalaciones utilizando tarjetas de proximidad. Además la aplicación permitirá gestionar de forma eficiente a sus socios e instalaciones. De esta manera se consigue automatizar - mejorando en tiempo y calidad -una tarea imprescindible de realizar, control de accesos de forma sencilla y con un mantenimiento fácil por parte de los usuarios que la utilicen. Para ello se utilizará un dispositivo KIMALDI que nos permitirá gestionar el control de accesos