Some new bounds on eigenvalues of the Hadamard product and the Fan product of matrices

Let A and B be nonsingular M-matrices. A lower bound on the minimum eigenvalue q(B circle A(-1)) for the Hadamard product of A(-1) and B, and a lower bound on the minimum eigenvalue q(A star B) for the Fan product of A and B are given. In addition, an upper bound on the spectral radius rho(A circle B) of nonnegative matrices A and B is also obtained. These bounds improve several existing results in some cases and the estimating formulas are easier to calculate for they are only depending on the entries of matrices A and B. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Episodic evolution of prolactin receptor gene in mammals: coevolution with its ligand

Divergence of proteins in signaling pathways requires ligand and receptor coevolution to maintain or improve binding affinity and/or specificity. In this paper we show a clear case of coevolution between the prolactin (PRL) gene and its receptor (prolactin receptor, PRLR) in mammals. First we observed episodic evolution of the extracellular and intracellular domains of the PRLR, which is closely consistent with that seen in PRL. Correlated evolution was demonstrated both between PRL and its receptor and between the two domains of the PRLR using Pearson's correlation coefficient. On comparing the ratio of the nonsynonymous substitution rate to synonymous substitution rate (omega=d(N)/d(S)) for each branch of the star phylogeny of mammalian PRLRs, separately for the extracellular domain (ECD) and the transmembrane domain/intracellular domain (TMD/ICD), we observed a lower omega ratio for ECD than TMD/ICD along those branches leading to pig, dog and rabbit but a higher ratio for ECD than TMD/ICD on the branches leading to primates, rodents and ruminants, on which bursts of rapid evolution were observed. These observations can be best explained by coevolution between PRL and its receptor and between the two domains of the PRLR.

High order schemes on three-dimensional general polyhedral meshes - Application to the level set method

In this article, we detail the methodology developed to construct arbitrarily high order schemes - linear and WENO - on 3D mixed-element unstructured meshes made up of general convex polyhedral elements. The approach is tailored specifically for the solution of scalar level set equations for application to incompressible two-phase flow problems. The construction of WENO schemes on 3D unstructured meshes is notoriously difficult, as it involves a much higher level of complexity than 2D approaches. This due to the multiplicity of geometrical considerations introduced by the extra dimension, especially on mixed-element meshes. Therefore, we have specifically developed a number of algorithms to handle mixed-element meshes composed of convex polyhedra with convex polygonal faces. The contribution of this work concerns several areas of interest: the formulation of an improved methodology in 3D, the minimisation of computational runtime in the implementation through the maximum use of pre-processing operations, the generation of novel methods to handle complex 3D mixed-element meshes and finally the application of the method to the transport of a scalar level set. © 2012 Global-Science Press.

Sensor graphs for guaranteed cooperative localization performance

A group of mobile robots can localize cooperatively, using relative position and absolute orientation measurements, fused through an extended Kalman filter (ekf). The topology of the graph of relative measurements is known to affect the steady-state value of the position error covariance matrix. Classes of sensor graphs are identified, for which tight bounds for the trace of the covariance matrix can be obtained based on the algebraic properties of the underlying relative measurement graph. The string and the star graph topologies are considered, and the explicit form of the eigenvalues of error covariance matrix is given. More general sensor graph topologies are considered as combinations of the string and star topologies, when additional edges are added. It is demonstrated how the addition of edges increases the trace of the steady-state value of the position error covariance matrix, and the theoretical predictions are verified through simulation analysis.

Structural and thermodynamic properties of different phases of supercooled liquid water.

Computer simulation results are reported for a realistic polarizable potential model of water in the supercooled region. Three states, corresponding to the low density amorphous ice, high density amorphous ice, and very high density amorphous ice phases are chosen for the analyses. These states are located close to the liquid-liquid coexistence lines already shown to exist for the considered model. Thermodynamic and structural quantities are calculated, in order to characterize the properties of the three phases. The results point out the increasing relevance of the interstitial neighbors, which clearly appear in going from the low to the very high density amorphous phases. The interstitial neighbors are found to be, at the same time, also distant neighbors along the hydrogen bonded network of the molecules. The role of these interstitial neighbors has been discussed in connection with the interpretation of recent neutron scattering measurements. The structural properties of the systems are characterized by looking at the angular distribution of neighboring molecules, volume and face area distribution of the Voronoi polyhedra, and order parameters. The cumulative analysis of all the corresponding results confirms the assumption that a close similarity between the structural arrangement of molecules in the three explored amorphous phases and that of the ice polymorphs I(h), III, and VI exists.

Stiffness and strength of tridimensional periodic lattices

This paper presents a method for the linear analysis of the stiffness and strength of open and closed cell lattices with arbitrary topology. The method hinges on a multiscale approach that separates the analysis of the lattice in two scales. At the macroscopic level, the lattice is considered as a uniform material; at the microscopic scale, on the other hand, the cell microstructure is modelled in detail by means of an in-house finite element solver. The method allows determine the macroscopic stiffness, the internal forces in the edges and walls of the lattice, as well as the global periodic buckling loads, along with their buckling modes. Four cube-based lattices and nine cell topologies derived by Archimedean polyhedra are studied. Several of them are characterized here for the first time with a particular attention on the role that the cell wall plays on the stiffness and strength properties. The method, automated in a computational routine, has been used to develop material property charts that help to gain insight into the performance of the lattices under investigation. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.

Molecular phylogeography of endangered sharp-snouted pitviper (Deinagkistrodon acutus; Reptilia, Viperidae) in Mainland China

Using phylogenetic and population genetic approaches, the present study reports the phylogeographic structure of the sharp-snouted pitviper (Deinagkistrodon acutus), a threatened snake species with commercial and medicinal importance in China. The entire mitochondrial ND2 gene (NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2) sequences of 86 individuals of D. acutus from 14 localities across its range in China were determined. Based on the results of phylogenetic analyses, distribution of diagnostic sites, haplotype network, and AMOVA hierarchical analysis, an cast-west division of the whole D. acutus population could be observed. Geographically, a line formed by a lake, river, and mountain chain (the Poyang Lake, Gan River to the southern end of the Wuyi Mountains), results in vicariance and approximately vertically splits the range into two and the whole population into two main lineages (western and eastern). The bifurcating tree suggested generally west to east dispersal trend. The data fit the isolation by distance (IBD) model well. Star-like clusters in haplotype network, significantly negative values of Fs statistics, and unimodal mismatch distributions all suggest recent demographic expansions in four areas. The results show that isolation, dispersal, bottleneck, and expansion jointly constitute the history of D. acutus. In a haplotype network, the excessive predominance of central haplotypes, few medium-frequency haplotypes, predominance (73.1 %) of the singletons among the derived haplotypes, most of which are connected to the central haplotype by only one mutational step, unsymmetrical campanulate unimodal curve of mismatch distributions and leftwards shift of the peaks, all suggest that the whole D. acutus population is a young population with low genetic diversity. Based on the data, the first priority for conservation action should be given to the Huangshan unit. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effects of brominated flame retardants and brominated dioxins on steroidogenesis in H295R human adrenocortical carcinoma cell line

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and brominated dioxins are emerging persistent organic pollutants that are ubiquitous in the environment and can be accumulated by wildlife and humans. These chemicals can disturb endocrine function. Recent studies have demonstrated that one of the mechanisms of endocrine disruption by chemicals is modulation of steroidogenic gene expression or enzyme activities. In this study, an in vitro assay based on the H295R human adrenocortical carcinoma cell line, which possesses most key genes or enzymes involved in steroidogenesis, was used to examine the effects of five bromophenols, two polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs 77 and 169), 2,3,7,8-tetrabromodibenzo-p-dioxin, and 2,3,7,8-tetrabromodibenzofuran on the expression of 10 key steroidogenic genes. The H295R cells were exposed to various BFR concentrations for 48 h, and the expression of specific genescytochrome P450 (CYP11A, CYP11B2, CYP17, CYP19, and CYP21), 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3PHSD2), 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17 beta HSD1 and 17 beta HSD4), steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR)-was quantitatively measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Cell viability was not affected at the doses tested. Most of the genes were either up- or down-regulated, to some extent, by BFR exposure. Among the genes tested, 3PHSD2 was the most markedly up-regulated, with a range of magnitude from 1.6- to 20-fold. The results demonstrate that bromophenol, bromobiphenyls, and bromodibenzo-p-dioxin/furan are able to modulate steroidogenic gene expression, which may lead to endocrine disruption.

Degenerate four-wave mixing based all-optical wavelength conversion in a semiconductor optical amplifier and highly-nonlinear photonic crystal fiber parametric loop mirror

The idler is separated from the co-propagating pump in a degenerate four-wave mixing (DFWM) with a symmetrical parametric loop mirror (PALM), which is composed of two identical SOAs and a 70 m highly-nonlinear photonic crystal fiber (HN-PCF). The signal and pump are coupled into the symmetrical PALM from different ports, respectively. After the DFWM based wavelength conversion (WC) in the clockwise and anticlockwise, the idler exits from the signal port, while the pump outputs from its input port. Therefore, the pump is effectively suppressed in the idler channel without a high-speed tunable filter. Contrast to a traditional PALM, the DFWM based conversion efficiency is increased greatly, and the functions of the amplification and the WC are integrated in the smart SOA and HN-PCF PALM. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

High-Temperature Continuous-Wave Single-Mode Operation of 1.3 mu m p-Doped InAs-GaAs Quantum-Dot VCSELs

In this letter, we have demonstrated continuous-wave single-mode operation of 1.3-mu m InAs-GaAs quantum-dot (QD) vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) with p-type modulation-doped QD active region from 20 degrees C to 60 degrees C. The highest output power of 0.435mW and lowest threshold current of 1.2 mA under single-mode operation are achieved. The temperature-dependent output characteristics of QD-VCSELs are investigated. Single-mode operation with a sidemode suppression ratio of 34 dB is observed at room temperature. The critical size of oxide aperture for single-mode operation is discussed.

Fabrication and modulation characteristics of 1.3 mu m p-doped InAs quantum dot vertical cavity surface emitting lasers

We present the fabrication of 1.3 mu m waveband p-doped InAs quantum dot (QD) vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) with an extremely simple process. The continuous-wave saturated output power of 1.1 mW with a lasing wavelength of 1280 nm is obtained at room temperature. The high-speed modulation characteristics of p-doped QD VCSELs of two different oxide aperture sizes are investigated and compared. The maximum 3 dB modulation bandwidth of 2.5 GHz can be achieved at a bias current of 7 mA for a p-doped QD VCSEL with an oxide aperture size of 10 mu m in the small signal frequency response measurements. The crucial factors for the 3 dB bandwidth limitation are discussed according to the parameters' extraction from frequency response.

Dual-wavelength photochromic fulgides for parallel recording memory

Two photochromic fulgides, 2-{2-[4-(N,N-dimethylnilino)-5-methyl-4-oxazoly]}ethylidene-4-(1-methylethylidene) tetrahydrofuran-2,5-dione (A) and 3-(1,2-dimethyl-5-phenyl-3-pyrolloethylidene)-4-(1-methylethylidene)tetrahydrofuran-2,5-dione (B), doped in PMMA as candidates of dual-wavelength optical memory for parallel recording has been investigated. With 488 nm-laser and 650 nm-laser, both "cross" and "star" images are recorded on the fulgides-PMMA film and read out clearly, respectively. Crosstalk between two fulgides in PMMA matrix and nondestructive readout has also been explored. The results show that no significant cross-talk is detected between them, and nondestructive readout is up to 201 times. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Quakes in solid quark stars

A starquake mechanism for pulsar glitches is developed in the solid quark star model. It is found that the general glitch natures (i.e., the glitch amplitudes and the time intervals) could be reproduced if solid quark matter, with high baryon density but low temperature, has properties of shear modulus mu(c) = 10(30-34) erg/cm(3) and critical stress sigma(c) = 10(18similar to24) erg/cm(3). The post-glitch behavior may represent a kind of damped oscillations. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

星形和多嵌生物降解聚合物

本论文针对聚ε-己内酯（PCL）为代表的可生物降解脂肪族聚酷亲水性差等缺点，通过共聚反应，在聚酷中引入了亲水性的聚环氧乙烷链段（PEO），制备了具有四臂星形结构的聚己内酯一聚环氧乙烷两亲性共聚物。通过氨基酸N-拨酸配开环反应制备了含有聚氨基酸链段的两亲性三嵌段共聚物，该结构共聚物与脂肪族聚酷均聚物相比具有更好的组织相容性。本论文的创新性和主要研究结果如下：1．通过采用以二乙基锌为催化剂，季戊四醇为引发剂的引发体系，合成了具有端轻基结构的四臂星形聚ε-己内酯。聚合产物的分子量可以通过改变单体与引发剂之比进行有效的控制。通过GPC、IR、NMR等测试手段证实聚合物分子链具有星形结构。2．以四臂星形聚ε-己内酯为大分子引发剂、二乙基锌为催化剂，通过引发环氧乙烷的开环反应制备了具有星形结构的嵌段共聚物。根据各种测试分析的实验结果确定了共聚物的链结构。3．DSC和WAXD的分析表明，星形嵌段共聚物由于核心部分为PCL，其结晶能力受到了处于外部的PEO链段的限制。当PEO足够长时，将观察不到PCL段的结晶。4．运用蔡钾和乙睛为活性聚合引发体系，通过分步加入环氧乙烷和ε-己内酯两种 单体的方法合成了带有睛端基的两亲性嵌段共聚物。5．采用把／碳和Raney-Nickel混合催化体系，成功地将端睛基PCL-PEO加氢还原为端氨基共聚物。6．以端氨基PCL-PEO为大分子引发剂引发γ-苄基-L-谷氨酸NCA开环聚合制备了带有聚氨基酸醋链段的两亲性共聚物。

应激对大鼠海马突触可塑性和学习记忆的影响

突触可塑性参与学习记忆，是学习记忆过程中必不可少的重要环节。应激能损伤或提高学习记忆、抑制长时程增强（Long一termPotentiation，LTP）、易化长时程抑制（Long一termdePressfon，LTD）。然而，应激经历依赖的长时程抑制（StressexperiencedePendentLTD，SLTD）在学习记忆中有什么意义还不清楚，这正是本文首先要探讨问题。其次，尽管我们在不同年龄时期的学习记忆能力不同，但是对所经历的重大应激事件仍然能产生牢固的记忆，这就有必要进一步通过阐明应激对突触可塑性的影响是否有年龄差异来解释SLTD的意义。再者，我们甚至不清楚为什么有的时候应激损伤学习记忆而有的时候又提高学习记忆。为了阐明这个问题，本文在最后一部分研究了哪些因素决定应激损伤还是提高学习记忆。为了探讨SLTD与学习记忆的关系，我们在第一部分实验中研究急性或亚急性的高台（ElevatedPlatform，EP）或足部电击（Footshock，Fs）对4周龄诚star大鼠海马CAI区LTD诱导的影响，以及这些应激条件对大鼠空间学习记忆的影响。结果显示：（l）急性EP易化LTD，亚急性EP不易化LTD；急性和亚急性FS都易化了LTD。（2）急性EP损伤空间记忆，亚急性EP对空间记忆没有影响；急性FS不影响空间记忆，亚急性FS却提高了空间记忆。这部分的实验结果表明：sLTD存在与否与应激对空间记忆的影响不是一一对应的关系，提示sLTD可能参与了应激记忆（对应激经历产生的记忆）。如果SLTD参与应激记忆，那么，研究应激对突触可塑性的影响是否有年龄依赖性将有助于解释不同年龄时期的学习记忆能力不同但是都能牢固记忆应激事件这一现象。为此，我们在第二部分实验中进一步研究EP对幼年、中年和老年动物（4，10和74周龄的Wistar大鼠）海马CAI区LTP／LTD诱导的影响。结果表明：（1）没有应激的情况下，LTP的大小随动物年龄的增加呈明显的倒U型关系，而低频刺激都不能诱导出LTD。（2）EP易化了这些年龄段大鼠的LTD，并完全阻断它们的LTP。值得注意的是，在三个年龄段大鼠中，EP易化的LTD大小一样。该部分实验结果提示：SLTD没有年龄依赖性，这与人和动物在不同年龄时期对所受到的重大应激事件都能产生牢固记忆这一现象相一致。所以，该部分结果进一步加强了第一部分结果的推测：SLTD参与应激记忆。应激有的时候提高动物的空间记忆能力，有的时候又损伤其空间记忆。为了阐明是什么因素决定应激损伤还是提高学习记忆，我们在第三部分实验中研究EP、FS和水迷宫游泳应激经历对六个年龄段动物（4，10，13，20，67，76周龄）在水迷宫任务中的影响。结果显示：（l）EP应激损伤无水迷宫游泳应激经历大鼠的空间记忆。（2）EP应激提高有游泳应激经历幼年大鼠的空间记忆；训练前外源性补充皮质酮或FS都抑制皮质酮或FS导致的空间记忆受损。（3）糖皮质激素受体的拮抗剂RU38486阻断上述的空间记忆成绩提高。所以，不同的应激经历和动物年龄两个因素共同决定了应激损伤还是提高学习记忆。