Effects of hydrogen bonding on amide-proton chemical shift anisotropy in a proline-containing model peptide

Longitudinal relaxation due to cross-correlation between dipolar ((HN-1H alpha)-H-1) and amide-proton chemical shift anisotropy (H-1(N) CSA) has been measured in a model tripeptide Piv-(L)Pro-(L)Pro-(L)Phe-OMe. The peptide bond across diproline segment is known to undergo cis/trans isomerization and only in the cis form does the lone Phe amide-proton become involved in intramolecular hydrogen bonding. The strength of the cross correlated relaxation interference is found to be significantly different between cis and trans forms, and this difference is shown as an influence of intramolecular hydrogen bonding on the amide-proton CSA. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Heterochromatic paths in edge colored graphs without small cycles and heterochromatic-triangle-free graphs

Conditions for the existence of heterochromatic Hamiltonian paths and cycles in edge colored graphs are well investigated in literature. A related problem in this domain is to obtain good lower bounds for the length of a maximum heterochromatic path in an edge colored graph G. This problem is also well explored by now and the lower bounds are often specified as functions of the minimum color degree of G - the minimum number of distinct colors occurring at edges incident to any vertex of G - denoted by v(G). Initially, it was conjectured that the lower bound for the length of a maximum heterochromatic path for an edge colored graph G would be 2v(G)/3]. Chen and Li (2005) showed that the length of a maximum heterochromatic path in an edge colored graph G is at least v(G) - 1, if 1 <= v(G) <= 7, and at least 3v(G)/5] + 1 if v(G) >= 8. They conjectured that the tight lower bound would be v(G) - 1 and demonstrated some examples which achieve this bound. An unpublished manuscript from the same authors (Chen, Li) reported to show that if v(G) >= 8, then G contains a heterochromatic path of length at least 120 + 1. In this paper, we give lower bounds for the length of a maximum heterochromatic path in edge colored graphs without small cycles. We show that if G has no four cycles, then it contains a heterochromatic path of length at least v(G) - o(v(G)) and if the girth of G is at least 4 log(2)(v(G)) + 2, then it contains a heterochromatic path of length at least v(G) - 2, which is only one less than the bound conjectured by Chen and Li (2005). Other special cases considered include lower bounds for the length of a maximum heterochromatic path in edge colored bipartite graphs and triangle-free graphs: for triangle-free graphs we obtain a lower bound of 5v(G)/6] and for bipartite graphs we obtain a lower bound of 6v(G)-3/7]. In this paper, it is also shown that if the coloring is such that G has no heterochromatic triangles, then G contains a heterochromatic path of length at least 13v(G)/17)]. This improves the previously known 3v(G)/4] bound obtained by Chen and Li (2011). We also give a relatively shorter and simpler proof showing that any edge colored graph G contains a heterochromatic path of length at least (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Invisible decays of the heavier Higgs boson in the minimal supersymmetric standard model

We consider the possibility that the heavier CP-even Higgs boson (H-0) in the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM) decays invisibly into neutralinos in the light of the recent discovery of the 126 GeV resonance at the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC). For this purpose we consider the minimal supersymmetric standard model with universal, nonuniversal and arbitrary boundary conditions on the supersymmetry breaking gaugino mass parameters at the grand unified scale. Typically, scenarios with universal and nonuniversal gaugino masses do not allow invisible decays of the lightest Higgs boson (h(0)), which is identified with the 126 GeV resonance, into the lightest neutralinos in the MSSM. With arbitrary gaugino masses at the grand unified scale, such an invisible decay is possible. The second lightest Higgs boson can decay into various invisible final states for a considerable region of the MSSM parameter space with arbitrary gaugino masses as well as with the gaugino masses restricted by universal and nonuniversal boundary conditions at the grand unified scale. The possibility of the second lightest Higgs boson of the MSSM decaying into invisible channels is more likely for arbitrary gaugino masses at the grand unified scale. The heavier Higgs boson decay into lighter particles leads to the intriguing possibility that the entire Higgs boson spectrum of the MSSM may be visible at the LHC even if it decays invisibly, during the searches for an extended Higgs boson sector at the LHC. In such a scenario the nonobservation of the extended Higgs sector of the MSSM may carefully be used to rule out regions of the MSSM parameter space at the LHC.

Light stop in the MSSM after LHC Run 1

The discovery of a Higgs boson with a mass of 126 GeV at the LHC when combined with the non-observation of new physics both in direct and indirect searches imposes strong constraints on supersymmetric models and in particular on the top squark sector. The experiments for direct detection of dark matter have provided with yet more constraints on the neutralino LSP mass and its interactions. After imposing limits from the Higgs, flavour and dark matter sectors, we examine the feasibility for a light stop in the context of the pMSSM, in light of current results for stop and other SUSY searches at the LHC. We only require that the neutralino dark matter explains a fraction of the cosmologically measured dark matter abundance. We find that a stop with mass below similar to 500 GeV is still allowed. We further study various probes of the light stop scenario that could be performed at the LHC Run-II either through direct searches for the light and heavy stop, or SUSY searches not currently available in simplified model results. Moreover we study the characteristics of heavy Higgs for the points in the parameter space allowed by all the available constraints and illustrate the region with large cross sections to fermionic or electroweakino channels. Finally we show that nearly all scenarios with a small stop-LSP mass difference will be tested by Xenon1T provided the NLSP is a chargino, thus probing a region hard to access at the LHC.

Tailoring energy absorption capacity of CNT forests through application of electric field

This study examines the effect of electric field on energy absorption capacity of carbon nanotube forests (CNTFs), comprising of vertically aligned multiwalled carbon nanotubes, under both quasistatic (strain rate, (epsilon) over dot = 10(-3) s(-1)) and dynamic ((epsilon) over dot = similar to 10(3) s(-1)) loading conditions. Under quasistatic condition, the CNTFs were cyclically loaded and unloaded while electric field was applied along the length of carbon nanotube (CNT) either throughout the loading cycle or explicitly during either the loading or the unloading segment. The energy absorbed per cycle by CNTF increased monotonically with electric field when the field was applied only during the loading segment: A 7 fold increase in the energy absorption capacity was registered at an electric field of 1 kV/m whereas no significant change in it was noted for other schemes of electro-mechanical loading. The energy absorption capacity of CNTF under dynamic loading condition also increased monotonically with electric field; however, relative to the quasistatic condition, less pronounced effect was observed. This intriguing strain rate dependent effect of electric field on energy absorption capacity of CNTF is explained in terms of electric field induced strengthening of CNTF, originating from the time dependent electric field induced polarization of CNT. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Stabilization of the high-temperature and high-pressure cubic phase of ZnO by temperature-controlled milling

The reversible transition of wurtzite to rock salt phase under pressure is well reported in literature. The cubic phase is unstable under ambient conditions both in the bulk and in nanoparticles. This paper reports defect-induced stabilization of cubic ZnO phase in sub 20 nm ZnO particles and explores their optical properties. The size reduction was achieved by ball milling in a specially designed mill which allows a control of the milling temperature. The process of synthesis involved both variation of milling temperature (including low temperature similar to 150 K) and impact pressure. We show that these have profound influence in the introduction of defects and stabilization of the cubic phase. A molecular dynamics simulation is presented to explain the observed results. The measured optical properties have further supported the observations of defect-induced stabilization of cubic ZnO and reduction in particle size.

White luminescence in Dy3+ doped BiOCl phosphors and their Judd-Ofelt analysis

White-light emitting Dy3+ doped layered BiOCl phosphors were synthesized by the solid state route and their structure was confirmed by the Rietveld refinement method. On substitution of Dy3+ ion to Bi3+-site in BiOCl, the photoluminescence spectra exhibit blue (F-4(9/2) -> H-6(15/2)), yellow (F-4(9/2) -> H-6(13/2)) and red (F-4(9/2) -> H-6(11/2)) emissions which function together to generate white light. It was found that the emission intensity increases up to 9 mol% of Dy3+ and then quenched due to dipole-dipole interaction. Judd-Ofelt theory and radiative properties suggest that the present phosphors have a long lifetime, high quantum efficiency, excellent color purity and better stimulated emission cross-section compared to reported Dy3+ doped compounds. The obtained color chromaticity results are close to the National Television System Committee standard and clearly establish the bright prospects of these phosphors in white luminescence. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

White luminescence in Dy3+ doped BiOCl phosphors and their Judd-Ofelt analysis

White-light emitting Dy3+ doped layered BiOCl phosphors were synthesized by the solid state route and their structure was confirmed by the Rietveld refinement method. On substitution of Dy3+ ion to Bi3+-site in BiOCl, the photoluminescence spectra exhibit blue (F-4(9/2) -> H-6(15/2)), yellow (F-4(9/2) -> H-6(13/2)) and red (F-4(9/2) -> H-6(11/2)) emissions which function together to generate white light. It was found that the emission intensity increases up to 9 mol% of Dy3+ and then quenched due to dipole-dipole interaction. Judd-Ofelt theory and radiative properties suggest that the present phosphors have a long lifetime, high quantum efficiency, excellent color purity and better stimulated emission cross-section compared to reported Dy3+ doped compounds. The obtained color chromaticity results are close to the National Television System Committee standard and clearly establish the bright prospects of these phosphors in white luminescence. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Identification of type and degree of railway ballast fouling using ground coupled GPR antennas

GPR is widely used for ballast fouling identification, however, there are no robust guidelines to find the degree and type of fouling quantitatively. In this study, GPR studies were carried out on model and actual railway tracks using three ground coupled antennas and considering three fouling materials. Three ground coupled antennas viz., 100 MHz, 500 MHz and 800 MHz antennas were used for the initial survey and it was found that the 800 MHz ground coupled antenna is an optimum one to get quality results. Three major fouling materials viz., screened/broken ballast, coal and iron ore were used to construct prototype model sections, which were 1/2 of the actual Indian broad-gauge railway track. A separate model section has been created for each degree and type of fouling and GPR surveys were carried out. GPR study shows that increasing the fouling content results in a decrease in the Electromagnetic Wave (EMW) velocity and an increase in the dielectric constant. EMW velocity of ballast fouled with screened ballast was found to be more than coal fouled ballast and iron ore fouled ballast at any degree of fouling and EMW velocity of iron ore fouled ballast was found to be less than coal and screen ballast fouled ballast. Dielectric constant of iron ore fouled ballast was found to be higher than coal and screen ballast fouled ballast for all degrees of fouling. Average slope of the trend line of screen ballast fouled section is low (25.6 degrees), coal fouled ballast is medium (27.8 degrees) and iron ore fouled ballast is high (47.6 degrees). (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Estudio del crecimiento del camarón de agua dulce (M rosenbergu), en condiciones semi-intensivas en la comunidad de Alos Encuentros, Municipio de Limay, Esteli

Con el propósito de determinar el comportamiento de rasgos de crecimiento del camarón de agua dulce M. rosenbergii. Se montó un ensayo en la comunidad de los Encuentros, municipio de Limay, Estelí. Para tal efecto se utilizaron tres estanques de tierra de 200m 3 c/u en los que se sembraron 5 post larvas/m2. La alimentación fue a base de concentrado con 35%, 25%, 20% de proteína respectivamente de manera igual para los tres estanques. Se efectuaron muestreos, de talla, peso con respecto a la edad siendo estos el primer muestreo al momento de la siembra el segundo a los 30 días y los restantes cada 20 días, hasta los 190 días que culminó el ensayo, para determinar el crecimiento de los camarones de agua dulce M. rosenhergií mediante análisis estadísticos se empleó el modelo no lineal sugerido por Pearl-read (1923) y = k/1+bea:. Para realizar un menor ajuste de los datos se procedió a linealizarlos por medio de una regresión con la ecuación: Ln (k/y)-1 = Lnb±ax. Para el primer estanque se construyó el modelo Ln(k/y)-1 = 6.69459 = 0.97948 (cm), el error estándar para Lnb y a son de 0.338010.57300 respectivamente, laPr> ltl iguala 1.0001con r2 = 0.976605 y C.V= 29.66412. En el segundo estanque se obtuvo Ln(kly)-1 = 6.53469- 0.89897 (cm) el error standard para Lnb y a son de 0.4235;0.6858. La Pr > ltl para ambos son de 0.0001 con r1 = 0.96084 y C.V= 36.20477, para el tercer estanque se tiene valores de Ln (k/y)-1 = 6.93459- 1.116595 (cm) con error standard de Lnb y a = 1.04923; 0.180752 y para Pr > ltl fue de 0.0003;0.0005 con un r2= 0.8450 y C.V = 126.7102, al hacer un análisis de regresión combinando los tres estanques se obtuvo valores deLn(k/y)-1 = 5.5224-0.8068 (cm) con errores standard de Lnb y a= O.2878; 0.480 y para Pr > ltl fue de 0.0001 con un r2=; 0.9700 y C.V = 31.489, el comportamiento de crecimiento de los camarones de agua dulce M. rosenbergii sometidos a estudio bajo las mismas condiciones de cultivo tuvieron diferencias de talla y peso siendo éstas de 0.331 cm; 2.S02 g. del estanque 2 vs estanque 1; 1.093 cm, 4.3500 g del estanque 2 vs estanque 3 y 0.762 cm; 1.848 g para el estanque 1 vs estanque 3, sin embargo para los estanques en estudio se observó un aumento de talla y peso entre los 110-130 días de edad.

Caracterización de la curva de lactancia y el comportamiento reproductivo de vaquillas Holstein bajo implementación de medidas de manejo en el período pre-parto

Con el objetivo de caracterizar la curva de lactancia y evaluar el comportamiento reproductivo se analizaron los registros mensuales (N=10) de vaquillas Holstein bajo la implementación y falta de implementación de medidas de manejo pre-parto en la Empresa Agropecuaria “San Ignacio” Mateare, Nicaragua. Para caracterizar la curva de lactancia, se utilizó el modelo de Wood (1967) de forma linealizada Ln Yx = Lna + b Lnx - ex , donde Yx es la producción diaria en el período x, a representa la producción inicial, b el ascenso al pico, c el descenso de producción, a partir del mismo se generaron la Persistencia (S), Rendimiento al pico (RP), Tiempo al pico (TP), también se evaluó el Intervalo parto - concepción (IPC) y el Número de servicios por concepción (NSPC) . Al presentar problemas reproductivos la proporción de curvas atípicas encontradas en este Trabajo fue de 40%. Al analizar la curva de lactancia del grupo experimental se observa un a= 11.00212 kg, b = 0.083528 kg, e = 0.00407148 kg, RP = 12.790 kg, TP = 29.54 días, S = 6.126. El grupo testigo presenta un a = 6.4384 kg, b = 0.193048 kg, e = 0.00466974 kg, RP = 9.49 kg, TP = 34.32 días, S = 6.421. En el análisis de varianza se encontró que el RP tiene diferencia significativa entre los tratamientos a un nivel de significancia (P<0.05). Los parámetros reproductivos IPC y NSPC para el grupo experimental fueron de 243.6 días y 3 servicios respectivamente, el grupo testigo presentó un IPC = 221.8 días y NSPC = 3.6 servicios .

Diagnóstico de plagas y enemigos naturales en el cultivo del ajonjolí (Sesamum indicum L.) durante el ciclo 1997/1998 en cuatro comunidades del departamento de León, Nicaragua

Durante el año 1997 se realizó un diagnóstico para identificar las plagas y benéficos en el cultivo del ajonjolí durante las épocas de primera y postrera, estableciéndose parcelas en las comunidades Chacraseca, La Ceiba, Abangasca y Los Lechecuagos del departamento de León, Nicaragua.Se realizaron muestreos semanales, los métodos de muestreos utilizados fueron: Panas amarillas, trampas Pitfull, red entomológica así como muestreos de plagas de suelo usándose el método del pie cúbico. Además se cuantificó visualmente el porcentaje de plantas enfermas, identificándose el agente causal y se determinó a través de estimación visual el porcentaje de defoliación de las plantas. Al momento del emparve se realizó un análisis de la calidad de los granos. Los resultados obtenidos fueron 114 géneros de insectos encontrados de los cuales 69 géneros fitófagos, 38 géneros benéficos y siete géneros sin relación con el cultivo, los fitófugos que se presentaron con más frecuencia fueron Estigmene acrea, Spodoptera sunia, Trichoplusia ni, Diabrotica balteata, Cerotoma sp y chinches fitófagos como Nezara viridula, Euchistus sp, Stenocoris sp y Hyalimenus sp, al comparar la calidad de los granos secados en el campo y bajo condiciones controladas, después del análisis T- student los resultados indican que no hubo diferencias significativas entre ellos. Los insectos benéficos más frecuentes fueron los depredadores Polybia sp, Megacephala sp, Zelus sp, Sinea sp y arañas, los parasitoides se presentaron en menores poblaciones sobresaliendo Chelonus sp y Ophion sp, los insectos de suelo mas frecuentes fueron: Blapstinus sp, Epitragus sp, Phyllophaga sp y Conoderus sp. La época de primera presentó poblaciones insectiles más bajas que la época de postrera, pero en ambas épocas de siembra los fitófagos fueron mayores que los benéficos, las precipitaciones en la época de primera fueron de 33.3 mm promedio por mes y de 126 mm promedio por mes para la época de postrera. Las enfermedades presentes en el cultivo fueron Cercospora sesami y Macrophomina phaseoli, siendo la que se presentó con mayor intensidad C. sesami con un promedio máximo de plantas infectadas de 47.71 %en la etapa & y M phaseoli alcanzó un promedio de 31 %de plantas infectadas en la misma etapa fenológica. Se recomienda estudiar la biología y ecología de los insectos más importantes encontrados en este estudio, con el propósito de conocer su comportamiento durante las diferentes etapas fenológicas del cultivo y trazar mejores estrategias de manejo para las plagas del ajonjolí en Nicaragua.

深水地质和土工调查的新进展

介绍了近十年来国外在深水地质和土工调查方面取得的新进展,包括:地质调查方法;钻孔取样技术、原位试验方法以及CPT、PCPT分析理论;天然气水合物的地质调查.