Descripción: Calcium signals participate in a large variety of physiological processes. In many instances, they involve calcium entry through inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) receptors (IP3Rs), which are usually organized in clusters. Recent high-resolution optical experiments by Smith & Parker have provided new information on Ca2+ release from clustered IP3Rs. In the present paper, we use the model recently introduced by Solovey & Ponce Dawson to determine how the distribution of the number of IP3Rs that become open during a localized release event may change by the presence of Ca2+ buffers, substances that react with Ca2+, altering its concentration and transport properties. We then discuss how buffer properties could be extracted from the observation of local signals. © 2010 The Royal Society.

Descripción: A general method is presented for computing matrix elements of quark operators on baryonic states with low strangeness and arbitrary number of colors N c . These results are useful in applications of the large N c expansion to baryons and exotics. As an application we compute the matrix elements of strangeness changing operators contributing to kaon couplings to ground state baryons and pentaquarks, in broken SU (3). © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Descripción: 1. 1. Gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 and Sepharose 4B were used to redetermine the molecular weight (MW) of porphobilinogenase, deaminase and isomerase purified from different sources, and determine the MW of these enzymes purified from Eugtena gracilis. 2. 2. Results reported here, indicate that porphobilinogenase can be found, into three different molecular forms, tetramers, dimers and monomers according to the source organism. 3. 3. It is proposed that minimal functional structure of PBGase is a hybrid protomer of MW 25,000, composed by two different domains, in a ratio of 1 mol of deaminase, MW 20,000 to 1 mol of isomerase. MW 5000. 4. 4. A model explaining the occurrence of different MW species of PBGase in nature and the possible interconversion among the various forms is postulated. © 1980.

Descripción: Early reports indicate that trophallaxis, i.e. the exchange of liquid food by mouth, may allow honeybees to assign nectar odours with predictive values to anticipate biological meaningful reward stimuli. Nevertheless, this type of learning has not been addressed directly. In the present study, pairs of animals were isolated to induce trophallaxis under controlled conditions and, afterwards, the honeybee proboscis extension reflex was used to investigate the possible role of trophallaxis in learning olfactory cues. The results demonstrate unambiguously that associative learning actually occurs by means of trophallaxis. Animals associate the odour (as the conditioned stimulus or CS) and the sucrose (as the unconditioned stimulus or US) present in the solution they receive through trophallaxis. Moreover, this particular kind of learning leads to long-term olfactory memories after a single learning trial, even when trophallaxis is brief. In addition, we found that the strength of association is clearly affected by CS and US intensity as well as the recent previous foraging experiences of the animals. Comparisons are presented among several features of the learning during trophallaxis and the classical conditioning of the proboscis extension reflex with restrained subjects. Finally, the relevance of learning through trophallaxis in the task of successful foraging is discussed.

Descripción: Camponotus mus ants can associate sucrose and odour at the source during successive foraging cycles and use this memory to locate the nectar in the absence of other cues. These ants perform conspicuous trophallactic behaviour during recruitment while foraging for nectar. In this work, we studied whether Camponotus mus ants are able to establish this odour-sucrose association in the social context of trophallaxis and we evaluated this memory in another context previously experienced by the ant, as a nectar source. After a single trophallaxis of a scented solution, the receiver ant was tested in a Y-maze without any reward, where two scents were presented: in one arm, the solution scent and in the other, a new scent. Ants consistently chose the arm with the solution scent and stayed longer therein. Trophallaxis duration had no effect on the arm choice or with the time spent in each arm. Workers are able to associate an odour (conditioned stimulus) with the sucrose (unconditioned stimulus) they receive through a social interaction and use this memory as choice criteria during food searching.

Descripción: The sense of olfaction in armadillos plays an important role, suggested by the great development of the nasal structures, olfactory bulbs, and related brain regions. The mammalian olfactory mucosa is a privileged site of neuronal death and regeneration during the whole life span. A detailed knowledge of its ultrastructure is convenient for gaining insight into the factors controlling those phenomena. We performed this work in species not previously studied in order to provide a firm basis for further research on those factors. No information is available on the histology and ultrastructure of the olfactory mucosa in the order Xenarthra to which armadillos belong. Samples from the endoturbinals of the armadillo Chaetophractus villosus were prepared for light and electron microscopic examination by the usual conventional means. The olfactory epithelium of Chaetophractus villosus shows the classical three types of cells: supporting cells, olfactory receptor neurons, and basal cells. The olfactory neurons and the basal cells were similar to that described in other species. Two different types of supporting cells are described. An outstanding characteristic of the supporting cells is the normal presence of abundant phagosomes, apical secretory granules, apocrine-like protrusions, and highly developed smooth endoplasmic reticulum. Apoptotic bodies are frequently found in the infranuclear cytoplasm of supporting cells. The ductular epithelium of Bowman's glands reveals secretory activity. The lamina propria shows mixed Bowman's glands. Great development of smooth endoplasmic reticulum is observed in the mucous acinar cells. Evidence for merocrine and apocrine mechanisms in the Bowman's glands is presented. The presence of apoptotic bodies and phagosomes in supporting cells suggests a participation in the cellular events induced by cell death and proliferation of the olfactory epithelium. The variety of characteristics exhibited by the supporting cells of the olfactory mucosa may contribute to a deeper understanding of their scarcely known functions.

Descripción: Oligonucleotides (ODNs) of the PyNTTTTGT class directly stimulate B lymphocytes and plasmacytoid dendritic cells of the immune system of primates. Here we investigated the ability of the PyNTTTTGT ODN prototype IMT504 to regulate the expression of surface molecules and apoptosis in human B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells. The surface molecules CD25, CD40, CD80 and CD86 were up-regulated upon incubation of the B-CLL cells with IMT504. Co-stimulation with IL-2 resulted in further up-regulation. IMT504-activated B-CLL cells were also good stimulators of T cells in allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reactions and co-stimulation with IL-2 improved this stimulation capacity. Apoptosis of the B-CLL cells in vitro was also stimulated by incubation with IMT504. In this case, co-stimulation with IL-2 was not significant. Furthermore, B-CLL cells of all the patients studied developed an immunogenic phenotype and entered stimulated apoptosis upon in vitro incubation with IMT504 independently of the mutational status of their 1gVH genes, becoming a good marker for tumor progression.

Descripción: We find a generalization of the restricted PBW basis for pointed Hopf algebras over abelian groups constructed by Kharchenko. We obtain a factorization of the Hilbert series for a wide class of graded Hopf algebras. These factors are parametrized by Lyndon words, and they are the Hilbert series of certain graded Hopf algebras. © 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Descripción: We show that several spaces of holomorphic functions on a Riemann domain over a Banach space, including the nuclear and Hilbert-Schmidt bounded type, are locally m-convex Fréchet algebras. We prove that the spectrum of these algebras has a natural analytic structure, which we use to characterize the envelope of holomorphy. We also show a Cartan-Thullen type theorem. © 2011 Elsevier Inc.

Descripción: In a previous paper [R. González, L. G. Sarasua, and A. Costa, "Kelvin waves with helical Beltrami flow structure," Phys. Fluids20, 024106 (2008)] we analyzed the formation of Kelvin waves with a Beltrami flow structure in an ideal fluid. Here, taking into account the results of this paper, the topological analogy between the role of the magnetic field in Woltjer's theorem [L. Woltjer, "A theorem on force-free magnetic fields," Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.44, 489 (1958)] and the role of the vorticity in the equivalent theorem is revisited. Via this analogy we identify the force-free equilibrium of the magnetohydrodynamics with the Beltrami flow equilibrium of the hydrodynamic. The stability of the last one is studied applying Arnold's theorem. We analyze the role of the enstrophy in the determination of the equilibrium and its stability. We show examples where the Beltrami flow equilibrium is stable under perturbations of the Beltrami flow type with the same eigenvalue as the basic flow one. The enstrophy variation results invariant with respect to a uniform rotating and translational frame and the stability is conserved when the flow experiences a transition from a Beltrami axisymmetric flow to a helical one of the same eigenvalue. These results are discussed in comparison with that given by Moffatt in 1986 [H. K. Moffatt, "Magnetostatic equilibria and analogous Euler flows of arbitrarily complex topology. Part 2. Stability considerations," J. Fluid Mech.166, 359 (1986)]. © 2010 American Institute of Physics.

Descripción: Weyl's theorem is extended making use of the theory of concomitants to obtain a Lagrangian density for the massless bosonic fields without dimensional constants. It turns out to be quadratic in the gravitational field and encompasses all the theories that usually appear in the literature. It is shown that the gauge invariance of the Lagrangian follows from the invariance of the field equations. © 1987 American Institute of Physics.

Descripción: Fil:Amster, P. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.

Descripción: A biclique is a maximal induced complete bipartite subgraph of a graph. We investigate the intersection structure of edge-sets of bicliques in a graph. Specifically, we study the associated edge-biclique hypergraph whose hyperedges are precisely the edge-sets of all bicliques. We characterize graphs whose edge-biclique hypergraph is conformal (i.e., it is the clique hypergraph of its 2-section) by means of a single forbidden induced obstruction, the triangular prism. Using this result, we characterize graphs whose edge-biclique hypergraph is Helly and provide a polynomial time recognition algorithm. We further study a hereditary version of this property and show that it also admits polynomial time recognition, and, in fact, is characterized by a finite set of forbidden induced subgraphs. We conclude by describing some interesting properties of the 2-section graph of the edge-biclique hypergraph. © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Descripción: In this article we prove a theorem on the size of the image of sections of a convex function under its normal mapping when the sections satisfy a geometric property. We apply this result to get new geometric characterizations for Monge-Ampère doubling measures. © 2002 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.

Descripción: This paper introduces a new class of fuzzy closure operators called implicative closure operators, which generalize some notions of fuzzy closure operators already introduced by different authors. We show that implicative closure operators capture some usual consequence relations used in Approximate Reasoning, like Chakraborty's graded consequence relation, Castro et al.'s fuzzy consequence relation, similarity-based consequence operators introduced by Dubois et al. and Gerla's canonical extension of classical closure operators. We also study the relation of the implicative closure operators to other existing fuzzy inference operators as the Natural Inference Operators defined by Boixader and Jacas and the fuzzy operators defined by Biacino, Gerla and Ying. © 2003 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.

Descripción: Fil:Braberman, V. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.

Descripción: A graph is balanced if its clique-matrix contains no edge-vertex incidence matrix of an odd chordless cycle as a submatrix. While a forbidden induced subgraph characterization of balanced graphs is known, there is no such characterization by minimal forbidden induced subgraphs. In this work, we provide minimal forbidden induced subgraph characterizations of balanced graphs restricted to graphs that belong to one of the following graph classes: complements of bipartite graphs, line graphs of multigraphs, and complements of line graphs of multigraphs. These characterizations lead to linear-time recognition algorithms for balanced graphs within the same three graph classes. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Descripción: We prove the existence of infinitely many stationary solutions of a nonlinear one-dimensional superlinear equation on time scales using a Lusternik-Schnirelmann type result.

Descripción: Traditionally, on-line problems have been studied under the assumption that there is a unique sequence of requests that must be served. This approach is common to most general models of on-line computation, such as Metrical Task Systems. However, there exist on-line problems in which the requests are organized in more than one independent thread. In this more general framework, at every moment the first unserved request of each thread is available. Therefore, apart from deciding how to serve a request, at each stage it is necessary to decide which request to serve among several possibilities. In this paper we introduce Multi-threaded Metrical Task Systems, that is, the generalization of Metrical Task Systems to the case in which there are many threads of tasks. We study the problem from a competitive analysis point of view, proving lower and upper bounds on the competitiveness of on-line algorithms. We consider finite and infinite sequences of tasks, as well as deterministic and randomized algorithms. In this work we present the first steps towards a more general framework for on-line problems which is not restricted to a sequential flow of information. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Descripción: We compute necessary conditions on Yetter-Drinfeld modules over the groups SL (2, Fq) and GL (2, Fq) to generate finite dimensional Nichols algebras. This is a first step toward a classification of pointed Hopf algebras with a group of grouplikes isomorphic to one of these groups. © 2007 American Institute of Physics.

Descripción: We study the existence of periodic solutions for a nonlinear system of nth-order differential equations on time scales. Assuming a suitable Nirenberg-type condition, we prove the existence of at least one solution of the problem using Mawhin's coincidence degree. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Descripción: The notion of p-compact sets arises naturally from Grothendieck's characterization of compact sets as those contained in the convex hull of a norm null sequence. The definition, due to Sinha and Karn (2002), leads to the concepts of p-approximation property and p-compact operators (which form an ideal with its ideal norm κ p). This paper examines the interaction between the p-approximation property and certain space of holomorphic functions, the p-compact analytic functions. In order to understand these functions we define a p-compact radius of convergence which allows us to give a characterization of the functions in the class. We show that p-compact holomorphic functions behave more like nuclear than compact maps. We use the ε-product of Schwartz, to characterize the p-approximation property of a Banach space in terms of p-compact homogeneous polynomials and in terms of p-compact holomorphic functions with range on the space. Finally, we show that p-compact holomorphic functions fit into the framework of holomorphy types which allows us to inspect the κ p-approximation property. Our approach also allows us to solve several questions posed by Aron, Maestre and Rueda (2010). © 2012 Elsevier Inc.

Descripción: Fil:Villamayor, O.E. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.

Descripción: We analyze the onset of classical behaviour in a scalar field after a continuous phase transition, in which the system-field, the long wavelength order parameter of the model, interacts with an environment of its own short-wavelength modes. We compute the decoherence time for the system-field modes from the master equation and compare it with the other time scales of the model. Within our approximations the decoherence time is in general the smallest dynamical time scale. Demanding diagonalisation of the decoherence functional produces identical results. The inclusion of other environmental fields makes diagonalisation occur even earlier.

Descripción: We present a new probabilistic algorithm to find a finite set of points intersecting the closure of each connected component of the realization of every sign condition over a family of real polynomials defining regular hypersurfaces that intersect transversally. This enables us to show a probabilistic procedure to list all feasible sign conditions over the polynomials. In addition, we extend these results to the case of closed sign conditions over an arbitrary family of real multivariate polynomials. The complexity bounds for these procedures improve the known ones. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2009.

Descripción: We present an overview of the validity of the Proximity Force Approximation (PFA) in the calculation of Casimir forces between perfect conductors for different geometries, with particular emphasis for the configuration of a cylinder in front of a plane. In all cases we compare the exact numerical results with those of PFA, and with asymptotic expansions that include the next to leading order corrections. We also discuss the similarities and differences between the results for Casimir and electrostatic forces. © 2009 IOP Publishing Ltd.

Descripción: A b-coloring of a graph is a coloring such that every color class admits a vertex adjacent to at least one vertex receiving each of the colors not assigned to it. The b-chromatic number of a graph G, denoted by χb(G), is the maximum number t such that G admits a b-coloring with t colors. A graph G is b-continuous if it admits a b-coloring with t colors, for every t=χ(G),...,χb(G), and it is b-monotonic if χb(H1)<χb(H2) for every induced subgraph H1 of G, and every induced subgraph H2 of H1. In this work, we prove that P4-tidy graphs (a generalization of many classes of graphs with few induced P4s) are b-continuous and b-monotonic. Furthermore, we describe a polynomial time algorithm to compute theb-chromatic number for this class of graphs. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Descripción: We study the dependence on the subset A ⊂ Ω of the Sobolev trace constant for functions defined in a bounded domain Ω that vanish in the subset A. First we find that there exists an optimal subset that makes the trace constant smaller among all the subsets with prescribed and positive Lebesgue measure. In the case that Ω is a ball we prove that there exists an optimal hole that is spherically symmetric. In the case p = 2 we prove that every optimal hole is spherically symmetric. Then, we study the behavior of the best constant when the hole is allowed to have zero Lebesgue measure. We show that this constant depends continuously on the subset and we discuss when it is equal to the Sobolev trace constant without the vanishing restriction. © 2005 Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.

Descripción: Fil:Marenco, J. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.

Descripción: We prove upper bounds on the order and degree of the polynomials involved in a resolvent representation of the prime differential ideal associated with a polynomial differential system for a particular class of ordinary first order algebraic-differential equations arising in control theory. We also exhibit a probabilistic algorithm which computes this resolvent representation within time polynomial in the natural syntactic parameters and the degree of a certain algebraic variety related to the input system. In addition, we give a probabilistic polynomial-time algorithm for the computation of the differential Hilbert function of the ideal. © 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Descripción: Fil:Bochicchio, R. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.

Descripción: The dynamic behavior of the anode-arc-root at the nozzle surface of a plasma torch was experimentally investigated in this work. A gas (N2) vortex-stabilized non-transferred arc torch with a thoriated tungsten rod (2wt %) cathode (3.2 mm diameter) and a coaxial anode (5 mm diameter, 30 mm length) was used in the experiment. By using a sweeping Langmuir probe in floating condition, the voltage of the plasma jet outside the nozzle was inferred. Arc voltage waveforms were also obtained. Data have been obtained for an arc current of 100 A and a gas flow rate of 30 Nl min-1. A typical sawtooth shape (i.e., restrike mode) (with a fluctuating level of ≈ ± 25 %) and a dominant frequency of ≈ 6.5 kHz was observed in the arc voltage waveforms, which is attributed to anode-arc-root movements along the anode surface followed by a restrike at a certain point close to the cathode. By performing a time correlation between the probe and arc voltage oscillograms together with simple estimations, the amplitude of the movement of the arc-root along the anode surface as well its velocity were inferred.

Descripción: Experimental observations on the plasma dynamics inside the nozzle of a 30 A oxygen cutting torch operated at conditions close to the double arcing are reported. It is employed a technique previously developed in our laboratory consisting in using the nozzle as a large-sized Langmuir probe. Based on the behavior of the ion current signal and simple estimations, it is concluded that (1) the non-equilibrium plasma inside the nozzle is far from the steady state in time, in contrast to what is frequently assumed. The power supply ripple was identified as the main fluctuations source and (2) large-scale plasma fluctuations inside the nozzle could cause transient (total duration of the order of 100 μs) Townsend avalanches developing in the space-charge layer located between the arc plasma and the nozzle wall. Such events trigger the so called non-destructive double-arcing phenomena without appealing to the presence of insulating films deposited inside the nozzle orifice, as was previously proposed in the literature. © 2011 American Institute of Physics.

Descripción: We recently showed that a ring of two bistable oscillators is capable of storing a single bit of information via stochastic resonance. Memory performance was characterized in terms of the probability of erroneous bit detection and was shown to be minimized for a range of noise intensities. Furthermore, memory persistence was also shown to exhibit a stochastic-resonance behavior. In this paper we investigate the influence on memory performance, in particular its resilience to noise, on both noise bandwidth and the limited time response of the bistable elements. We show that, for broad ranges of ST and noise bandwidths, the probability of erroneous bit retrieval is also minimized for an optimal noise intensity, exhibiting a deep well as a function of noise intensity. We are interested in the breadth of such a well as it points out to the robustness of the memory device under different working conditions. Moreover, we show that there exists a relation between the noise and ST bandwidths that favors wide wells. We believe that this relation may be of relevance as a design rule for practical memory devices sustained by noise. © 2011 American Institute of Physics.

Descripción: In this work we present the on-the-fly workload prediction and redistribution techniques used in Zeus [12, 13], a Distributed Model Checker that evolves from the tool Kronos [14]. After reviewing why it is so hard to have good speedups in distributed timed model checking, we present the methods used to get promising results when verifying reachability properties over timed automata [3]. © 2005 Elsevier B.V.

Descripción: In classical logics, the meaning of a formula is invariant with respect to the renaming of bound variables. This property, normally taken for granted, has been shown not to hold in the case of Independence Friendly (IF) logics. In this paper we argue that this is not an inherent characteristic of these logics but a defect in the way in which the compositional semantics given by Hodges for the regular fragment was generalized to arbitrary formulas. We fix this by proposing an alternative formalization, based on a variation of the classical notion of valuation. Basic metatheoretical results are proven. We present these results for Hodges' slash logic (from which these can be easily transferred to other IF-like logics) and we also consider the flattening operator, for which we give novel game-theoretical semantics. © 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Descripción: In 1833 during his journey across the Buenos Aires Pampas, Charles Darwin made observations that reflected his thoughts on two major landscape units, Pampa interserrana and Pampa deprimida, later identified by other authors. Darwin grouped the Pampean sediments into a single unit, the Pampean Formation, based upon the lithological homogeneity and the large extension of the deposits; the unit was thought to be of estuarine-marine origin and attributed to the Recent Epoch considering the paleontological content (vertebrates and mollusks). At present, the Pampean sedimentary succession, which accumulated approximately during the last 11-12 Ma, is interpreted as a pedosedimentary sequence due to the ubiquity of pedogenetic features throughout the deposits. Four main subcycles of sedimentation are identified related to reactivations of the Pampean landscape. At a regional scale, the outcrop distribution of Pampean sediments of different ages suggests the dominance of more stable conditions since the late Miocene-Pliocene in a vast area of Pampa interserrana, documented by the formation of calcretes. However, sedimentation during the late Pliocene-Pleistocene was active within the domain of the Salado tectonic basin and Sierras de Tandil. The regional disparity shown by the Pampean stratigraphic record reveals the major morphostructural differences of its basement.

Descripción: In this article we evaluate the Fourier transforms of retarded Lorentz-invariant functions (and distributions) as limits of Laplace transforms. Our method works generally for any retarded Lorentz-invariant functions φ(t) (t ε{lunate} Rn) which is, besides, a continuous function of slow growth. We give, among others, the Fourier transform of GR(t, α, m2, n) and GA(t, α, m2, n), which, in the particular case α = 1, are the characteristic functions of the volume bounded by the forward and the backward sheets of the hyperboloid u = m2 and by putting α = -k are the derivatives of k-order of the retarded and the advanced-delta on the hyperboloid u = m2. We also obtain the Fourier transform of the function W(t, α, m2, n) introduced by M. Riesz (Comm. Sem. Mat. Univ. Lund4 (1939)). We finish by evaluating the Fourier transforms of the distributional functions GR(t, α, m2, n), GA(t, α, m2, n) and W(t, α, m2, n) in their singular points. © 1981.

Descripción: Fil:Güller, M. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.

Descripción: In this work, an experimental study on the influence of the nozzle geometry on the physical properties of a cutting arc is reported. Ion current signals collected by an electrostatic probe sweeping across a 30 A oxygen cutting arc at 3.5 mm from the nozzle exit were registered for different nozzle lengths. The temperature and density radial profiles of the arc plasma were found in each case by an inversion procedure of these signals. A comparison between the obtained results shows that the shorter nozzle (RN = 0.50 mm, L N = 4.5 mm operated at 0.7 MPa and 35 Nl/min) produces a thinner and hotter arc than the larger nozzle (RN = 0.50 mm, LN = 9.0 mm operated at 1.1 MPa and 20 Nl/min). This behavior is attributed to the marked difference of gas flow rate due to the clogging effect. A smaller gas mass flow reduces the convective cooling at the arc border and decreases the power dissipation of the arc column, resulting in small axis temperatures. © 2009 IOP Publishing Ltd.

Descripción: Let ø(t) (t ∈ Rn) be a retarded, Lorentz-invariant function which satisfies, in addition, condition (c). We call "R" the family of such functions. Let f(z) be the Laplace transform of ø(t) ∈ R. We prove (Theorem 1) that f(z) can be expressed as a K-transform (formula (I, 2; 1)). We apply this formula to evaluate several Laplace transforms. We show that it affords simple proofs of important known results. Formula (I, 2; 1) is an effective complement to L. Schwartz' method of evaluating Fourier transforms via Laplace transforms ("Théorie des distributions," p. 264, Hermann, Paris, 1966). We think this is the most useful application of our formula. © 1979.

Descripción: Every small category C has a classifying space BC associated in a natural way. This construction can be extended to other contexts and set up a fruitful interaction between categorical structures and homotopy types. In this paper, we study the classifying space B2C of a 2-category C and prove that, under certain conditions, the loop space ΩcB2C can be recovered up to homotopy from the endomorphisms of a given object. We also present several subsidiary results that we develop to prove our main theorem. © 2011 Elsevier B.V.

Descripción: In this paper we propose a functional of the many-body cumulant of the second-order reduced density matrix within the spin-free formalism of quantum chemistry which quantifies the idea of electron correlation and allows one to detect spin entanglement. Its properties are rigorously stated and discussed for spin-adapted pure states. Numerical determinations are performed for both equilibrium conformations and dissociation processes in molecular systems. © 2010 American Institute of Physics.

Descripción: Working within the domain of inviscid incompressible MHD theory, we found that a tangential discontinuity (TD) separating two uniform regions of different density, velocity and magnetic field may be Kelvin-Helmholtz (KH) stable and yet a study of a transition between the same constant regions given by a continuous velocity profile shows the presence of the instability with significant growth rates. Since the cause of the instability stems from the velocity gradient, and since a TD may be considered as the ultimate limit of such gradient, the statement comes as a surprise. In fact, a long wavelength (λ) boundary for the KH instability does not exist in ordinary liquids being instead a consequence of the presence of magnetic shear, a possibility that has passed unnoticed in the literature. It is shown that KH modes of a magnetic field configuration with constant direction do not have the long A boundary. A theoretical explanation of this feature and examples of the violation of the TD stability condition are given using a model that can be solved in closed form. Stability diagrams in the (kd, MA) plane are given (where kd = 2πd/λ, 2d is the velocity gradient length scale, and MA is the Alfvénic Mach number) that show both the well-known limit at small λs and the boundary for large but finite As noted here. Consequences of this issue are relevant for stability studies of the dayside magnetopause as the stability condition for a TD should be used with care in data analysis work.

Descripción: We present a new positive lower bound for the minimum value taken by a polynomial P with integer coefficients in k variables over the standard simplex of Rk, assuming that P is positive on the simplex. This bound depends only on the number of variables k, the degree d and the bitsize τ of the coefficients of P and improves all the previous bounds for arbitrary polynomials which are positive over the simplex. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Descripción: We obtain a unique expression for a Darlington realization of a contractive matrix-valued function S(z)ε{lunate}Lτ, valid for the three following cases: (a)S(z) is inner: (b) S(z) is not inner and det[In - S*(ξ) S(ξ)] ≠ 0 a.e.: (c) S(z) is not inner and det[In - S*( 1 z) S(z)] = 0 (z ε{lunate} D). On the basis of this result we examinate the problem of multiplicity of realizations for the case (c). © 1987.

Descripción: Under certain hypotheses on the Banach space X, we show that the set of N-homogeneous polynomials from X to any dual space, whose Aron-Berner extensions are norm attaining, is dense in the space of all continuous N-homogeneous polynomials. To this end we prove an integral formula for the duality between tensor products and polynomials. We also exhibit examples of Lorentz sequence spaces for which there is no polynomial Bishop-Phelps theorem, but our results apply. Finally we address quantitative versions, in the sense of Bollobás, of these results. © 2012 Elsevier Inc..

Descripción: Reducible gauge theories with constraints linear in the momenta are quantized. The equivalence of the reduced phase space quantization, Dirac quantization, and BRST quantization is established, provided one transforms appropriately the Dirac wave functions under changes of representation of the constraint surface and of the reducibility functions. The ghosts of ghosts are found to play a crucial role in the equivalence proof. © 1993 American Institute of Physics.

Descripción: Feinberg and Pais have considered a "reduction" formula for the Fourier transform of functions which depend only on the hyperbolic distance. They have shown that the formula is valid in particular cases and stated that it should be valid in general. We show that it is valid for any causal distribution and furthermore that it is actually an extension of the well-known Bochner Theorem on the Fourier transform of radial functions.

Descripción: Fil:Saraceno, M. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.

Descripción: A scheme for resolving average optical rotatory power of a molecule into atomic contributions, applied to hydrogen peroxide, is presented. The scheme is based on the acceleration gauge for the electric dipole, and the torque formalism. Calculations are carried out to test the reliability of the partition method. The force and torque gauges provide different numerical values for atomic contributions.

Descripción: Natural protein domains must be sufficiently stable to fold but often need to be locally unstable to function. Overall, strong energetic conflicts are minimized in native states satisfying the principle of minimal frustration. Local violations of this principle open up possibilities to form the complex multifunnel energy landscapes needed for large-scale conformational changes. We survey the local frustration patterns of allosteric domains and show that the regions that reconfigure are often enriched in patches of highly frustrated interactions, consistent both with the idea that these locally frustrated regions may act as specific hinges or that proteins may "crack" in these locations. On the other hand, the symmetry of multimeric protein assemblies allows near degeneracy by reconfiguring while maintaining minimally frustrated interactions. We also anecdotally examine some specific examples of complex conformational changes and speculate on the role of frustration in the kinetics of allosteric change.

Descripción: A numerical study of the space-charge sheath adjacent to the nozzle wall of a cutting torch is presented. The hydrodynamic model corresponds to a collision-dominated sheath and does not assume cold ions, so drift-diffusion-type equations are used. Also an improved expression for the ion-neutral momentum transfer is employed rather than the usual constant ion-mean-free-path or constant ion collision frequency approximations. Assuming a constant electron temperature in the sheath and neglecting the electron inertial term, the continuity and momentum equations for ions and electrons, together with Poisson's equation, were solved for the electric potential, ion velocities (both normal and tangential components), and for the ion and electron densities. It was found that both the ion and electron densities present a sudden drop at the sheath-plasma edge. The ion density continues to decrease slowly inside the sheath, while the electron density presents a virtually zero value everywhere inside the sheath, the electron thermal conduction flux to the nozzle wall being negligible. These wall results thus become thermally isolated in spite of the high electron temperature in its adjacency. For a nozzle biasing voltage close to the gas breakdown, it was found that the electric field value is high, reaching a value of about 9× 106 V m-1 at the exit of the nozzle wall. This value is higher than the average field value across the sheath and is on the order of the breakdown threshold value. This means that an undesired sheath breakdown could occur at the vicinities of the nozzle exit even if the average electric field across the sheath is not strong enough. © 2009 American Institute of Physics.

Descripción: We present an intrinsic and concrete development of the subdivision of small categories, give some simple examples and derive its fundamental properties. As an application, we deduce an alternative way to compare the homotopy categories of spaces and small categories, by using partially ordered sets. This yields a new conceptual proof to the well-known fact that these two homotopy categories are equivalent. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Descripción: A many-particle system may exhibit non-local behavior in that measurements performed on one of the particles can affect a second particle that is far apart. These so-called entangled states are essential for the implementation of quantum information protocols and gates for quantum computation. Here, we use ultrafast optical pulses and coherent techniques to create spin entangled states of non-interacting electrons bound to donors in a CdTe quantum well. © 2005 American Institute of Physics.

Descripción: Recently, classical optics based systems to emulate quantum information processing have been proposed. The analogy is based on the possibility of encoding a quantum state of a system with a 2N-dimensional Hilbert space as an image in the input of an optical system. The probability amplitude of each state of a certain basis is associated with the complex amplitude of the electromagnetic field in a given slice of the laser wavefront. Temporal evolution is represented as the change of the complex amplitude of the field when the wavefront pass through a certain optical arrangement. Different modules that represent universal gates for quantum computation have been implemented. For instance, unitary operations acting on the qbits space (or U(2) gates) are represented by means of two phase plates, two spherical lenses and a phase grating in a typical image processing set up. In this work, we present CNOT gates which are emulated by means of a cube prism that splits a pair of adjacent rays incoming from the input image. As an example of application, we present an optical module that can be used to simulate the quantum teleportation process. We also show experimental results that illustrate the validity of the analogy. Although the experimental results obtained are promising and show the capability of the system for simulate the real quantum process, we must take into account that any classical simulation of quantum phenomena, has as fundamental limitation the impossibility of representing non local entanglement. In this classical context, quantum teleportation has only an illustrative interpretation. © 2008 American Institute of Physics.

Descripción: In this paper we study the problem of minimizing the Sobolev trace Rayleigh quotient ∥u∥W1,p(ω)p/∥u∥Lq(∂ω)p among functions that vanish in a set contained on the boundary ∂ ω of given boundary measure.We prove existence of extremals for this problem, and analyze some particular cases where information about the location of the optimal boundary set can be given. Moreover, we further study the shape derivative of the Sobolev trace constant under regular perturbations of the boundary set. © 2011 Elsevier Inc.

Descripción: In this paper we find the optimal regularity for viscosity solutions of the pseudo infinity Laplacian. We prove that the solutions are locally Lipschitz and show an example that proves that this result is optimal. We also show existence and uniqueness for the Dirichlet problem. © EDP Sciences, SMAI 2007.

Descripción: Given a set of functions F = {f1, ..., fm} ⊂ L2 (Rd), we study the problem of finding the shift-invariant space V with n generators {φ1, ..., φn} that is "closest" to the functions of F in the sense thatV = under(arg min, V′ ∈ Vn) underover(∑, i = 1, m) wi {norm of matrix} fi - PV′ fi {norm of matrix}2, where wis are positive weights, and Vn is the set of all shift-invariant spaces that can be generated by n or less generators. The Eckart-Young theorem uses the singular value decomposition to provide a solution to a related problem in finite dimension. We transform the problem under study into an uncountable set of finite dimensional problems each of which can be solved using an extension of the Eckart-Young theorem. We prove that the finite dimensional solutions can be patched together and transformed to obtain the optimal shift-invariant space solution to the original problem, and we produce a Parseval frame for the optimal space. A typical application is the problem of finding a shift-invariant space model that describes a given class of signals or images (e.g., the class of chest X-rays), from the observation of a set of m signals or images f1, ..., fm, which may be theoretical samples, or experimental data. © 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Descripción: The yeast Yarrowia lipolytica accumulates oils and is able to produce extracellular lipases when growing in different carbon sources including glycerol, the principal by-product of the biodiesel industry. In this study, biomass production of a novel mutant strain of Y. lipolytica was statistically optimized by Response Surface Methodology in media containing biodiesel-derived glycerol as main carbon source. This strain exhibited distinctive morphological and fatty acid profile characteristics, and showed an increased extracellular lipase activity. An organic source of nitrogen and the addition of 1.0 g/l olive oil were necessary for significant lipase production. Plackett-Burman and Central Composite Statistical Designs were employed for screening and optimization of fermentation in shaken flasks cultures, and the maximum values obtained were 16.1 g/l for biomass and 12.2 Units/ml for lipase, respectively. Optimized batch bioprocess was thereafter scaled in aerated bioreactors and the values reached for lipase specific activity after 95 % of the glycerol had been consumed, were three-fold higher than those obtained in shaken flasks cultures. A sustainable bioprocess to obtain biomass and extracellular lipase activity was attained by maximizing the use of the by-products of biodiesel industry.

Descripción: We explore different resistance states of La 0.325Pr 0.300 Ca 0.375 MnO 3- Ti interfaces as prototypes of non-volatile memory devices at room temperature. In addition to high and low resistance states accessible through bipolar pulsing with one pulse, higher resistance states can be obtained by repeatedly pulsing with a single polarity. The accumulative action of successive pulsing drives the resistance towards saturation, the time constant being a strong function of the pulsing amplitude. The experiments reveal that the pulsing amplitude and the number of applied pulses necessary to reach a target high resistance value appear to be in an exponential relationship, with a rate that results independent of the resistance value. Model simulations confirm these results and provide the oxygen vacancy profiles associated to the high resistance states obtained in the experiments. © 2012 American Institute of Physics.

Descripción: In this paper we study the optimization problem for the first eigenvalue of the p-Laplacian plus a potential V with respect to V, when the potential is restricted to a bounded, closed and convex Bet of Lq(Ω).

Descripción: We consider the optimization problem of minimizing ∫Ω | ∇ u |p d x with a constraint on the volume of { u > 0 }. We consider a penalization problem, and we prove that for small values of the penalization parameter, the constrained volume is attained. In this way we prove that every solution u is locally Lipschitz continuous and that the free boundary, ∂ { u > 0 } ∩ Ω, is smooth. © 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Descripción: We consider the optimization problem of minimizing ∫Ω G (| ∇ u |) d x in the class of functions W1, G (Ω), with a constraint on the volume of {u > 0}. The conditions on the function G allow for a different behavior at 0 and at ∞. We consider a penalization problem, and we prove that for small values of the penalization parameter, the constrained volume is attained. In this way we prove that every solution u is locally Lipschitz continuous and that the free boundary, ∂ {u > 0} ∩ Ω is smooth. © 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Descripción: Eleven Oxalis L. species from the province of Buenos Aires (Argentina) were investigated with scanning and transmission electron microscopes. We identified four different types and two subtypes of orbicules. We conclude that the close morphological similarity between these species is also reflected in their orbicules, and we suggest that the orbicules morphology may be a useful character in systematic studies.

Descripción: Motivated by the Invariant Subspace Problem, we describe explicitly the closed subspace H 2 generated by the limit points in the H 2 norm of the orbit of a thin Blaschke product B under composition operators C φ induced by non-elliptic automorphisms. This description exhibits a surprising connection to model spaces. Finally, we give a constructive characterization of the C φ-eigenfunctions in H p for 1≤p≤∞. © 2011 Elsevier Inc.

Descripción: The processing of information by the brain is reflected in dynamical changes of the electrical activity in time, frequency, and space. Therefore, the concomitant studies require methods capable of describing the quantitative variation of the signal in both time and frequency. Here we present a quantitative EEC (qEEG) analysis, based on the Orthogonal Discrete Wavelet Transform (ODWT), of generalized epileptic tonic-clonic EEG signals. Two quantifiers: the Relative Wavelet Energy (RWE) and the Normalized Total Wavelet Entmpy (NTWS) have been used. The RWE gives information about the relative energy associated with the different frequency bands present in the EEO and their corresponding degree of importance. The NTWS is a measure of the order/disorder degree in the EEG signal. These two quantifiers were computing in EEG signals as provided by scalp electrodes of epileptic patients. We showed that the epileptic recruitment rhythm observed for generalized epileptic tonic-clonic seizures is accurately described by the RWE quantifier. In addition, a significant decrease in the NTWS was observed in the recruitment epoch, indicating a more rhythmic and ordered behavior in the brain electrical activity.

Descripción: Background: Self-assembly is a common theme in proteins of unrelated sequences or functions. The human papillomavirus E7 oncoprotein is an extended dimer with an intrinsically disordered domain, that can form large spherical oligomers. These are the major species in the cytosol of HPV transformed and cancerous cells. E7 binds to a large number of targets, some of which lead to cell transformation. Thus, the assembly process not only is of biological relevance, but represents a model system to investigate a widely distributed mechanism. Methodology/Principal Findings: Using various techniques, we monitored changes in secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure in a time course manner. By applying a robust kinetic model developed by Zlotnik, we determined the slow formation of a monomeric "Z-nucleus" after zinc removal, followed by an elongation phase consisting of sequential second-order events whereby one monomer is added at a time. This elongation process takes place at a strikingly slow overall average rate of one monomer added every 28 seconds at 20 μM protein concentration, strongly suggesting either a rearrangement of the growing complex after binding of each monomer or the existence of a "conformation editing" mechanism through which the monomer binds and releases until the appropriate conformation is adopted. The oligomerization determinant lies within its small 5 kDa C-terminal globular domain and, remarkably, the E7 N-terminal intrinsically disordered domain stabilizes the oligomer, preventing an insoluble amyloid route. Conclusion: We described a controlled ordered mechanism with features in common with soluble amyloid precursors, chaperones, and other spherical oligomers, thus sharing determining factors for symmetry, size and shape. In addition, such a controlled and discrete polymerization reaction provides a valuable tool for nanotechnological applications. Finally, its increased immunogenicity related to its supramolecular structure is the basis for the development of a promising therapeutic vaccine candidate for treating HPV cancerous lesions. © 2012 Smal et al.

Descripción: The role of short-chain fatty acids in the host-seeking behaviour of Triatoma infestans larvae was investigated using a locomotion compensator. Several short-chain fatty acids were tested alone over a wide range of doses, or in combination with L-lactic acid (L-LA; 100 μg). Bugs showed no attractive response to single carboxylic acids, but when L-LA was added to airstreams carrying specific intensities of either propionic (C3; 100 μg), butyric (C4; 1 μg) or valeric acid (C5; 1 μg), these mixtures elicited an attractive response, evincing a synergistic effect. No orientation response was observed when caproic acid (C6) was offered with L-LA at the doses tested. Two blends were created: (1) C3, C4 and C5 combined at the effective doses when added with L-LA [C3C4C5 (1)], and (2) C3, C4 and C5 combined at a third of those intensities [C3C4C5 (2)]. Both blends were tested alone, with L-LA (100 μg), with a sub-threshold concentration of CO2 (300 p.p.m. above the ambient level), and combined with both compounds together. Oriented responses of bugs were only observed with the blend (2) added with L-LA and with the combination of this lure with CO2. This last combination evoked a behavioural response similar in intensity to that induced by a live mouse. © Oxford University Press 2004; all rights reserved.

Descripción: The pathways for putrescine biosynthesis and the effects of polyamine biosynthesis inhibitors on the germination and hyphal development of Gigaspora rosea spores were investigated. Incubation of spores with different radioactive substrates demonstrated that both arginine and ornithine decarboxylase pathways participate in putrescine biosynthesis in G. rosea. Spermidine and spermine were the most abundant polyamines in this fungus. The putrescine biosynthesis inhibitors α-difluoromethylarginine and α-difluoromethylornithine, as well as the spermidine synthase inhibitor cyclohexylamine, slightly decreased polyamine levels. However, only the latter interfered with spore germination. The consequences of the use of putrescine biosynthesis inhibitors for the control of plant pathogenic fungi on the viability of G. rosea spores in soil are discussed. © 2003 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Descripción: Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) of Crithidia fasciculata extracts shows maximal activity during exponential growth of the parasite and decreases markedly in the stationary phase. The inhibition of protein synthesis by cycloheximide evoked a rapid loss of enzyme activity with a half-life of about 30 min. Upon removal of DFMO from Crithidia cultures treated with the drug for 24 h, the ODC activity increased at the same rate as total protein synthesis. The addition of putrescine at high concentrations to parasites cultivated in a synthetic medium showed that Crithidia CDC levels were not reduced by polyamines. © 1992.

Descripción: Microbial oncoids have been found in the Oxfordian limestones of the La Manga Formation in the La Vaina section at Potimalal River, Mendoza province. The oncoids ocurr either in packstone or floatstone-rudstone or are scattered in the wackestones. They are mostly elliptical, ameboidal and subordinately spherical in shape. Different types of oncoids were recognized, according to their features of envelopes: (1) micritic laminations, (2) grumose laminations, and (3) organism-bearing laminations. Molluscs and echinoid fragments, peloids, and intraclasts acted as oncoid nuclei. Laminae follow the shape of nuclei, especially in the inner zone of the cortices. However, in the outer zones the laminae contain encrusting organisms dominated by nubeculariids and serpulids. Some oncoids, especially the ameboidal or elliptical forms, are characterized by multiple nuclei, represented by small oncoids. The oncoids are associated with bivalves, echinoderms, forams, and serpulids. The fauna is indicative of calm, shallow conditions and the excellent preservation of echinoderms suggests minimal transport prior to burial. Growth histories are in evidence. The oncoids grew in a shallow, low energy, slightly to moderate agitated subtidal normal sea water environment. The limited rolling growth oncoids was probably accompanished by intermittent currents that reoriented the oncoids parallel to stratification. The discontinuous organisms-bearing laminations reflect periods of non-agitation and litification, which facilitated the growth of encrusting organisms on static oncoid particles during a period of low sedimentation rate. Deposition of the oncoid-bearing limestones took place during shallowing of the carbonate interval and associated with emersion, subaerial exposition and paleokarst as consequence of sea level fluctuations.

Descripción: We study the existence of periodic solutions for a nonlinear fourth order ordinary differential equation. Under suitable conditions we prove the existence of at least one solution of the problem applying coincidence degree theory and the method of upper and lower solutions. © 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Descripción: 4-O-Substituted D-glucuronic acid derivatives were synthesized from D-glucose in order to study the regioselectivity of sulfation.

Descripción: The effects of rapid rotation and bi-stability upon the density contrast between the equatorial and polar directions of a B[e] supergiant are re-investigated. Based on a new slow solution for different high rotational radiation-driven winds and the fact that bi-stability allows a change in the line-force parameters (α, k, and δ), the equatorial densities are about 102-104 times higher than the polar ones. These values are in qualitative agreement with the observations. © ESO 2005.

Descripción: In this work, recent advances in numerical studies of local reconnection events in the turbulent plasmas are reviewed. Recently [1], the nonlinear dynamics of magnetic reconnection in turbulence has been investigated through high resolution numerical simulations. Both fluid (MHD and Hall MHD) and kinetic (HybridVlasov) 2D simulations reveal the presence of a large number of X-type neutral points, where magnetic reconnection locally occurs. The associated reconnection rates are distributed over a wide range of values and they depend on the local geometry of the diffusion region. This new approach to the study of magnetic reconnection has broad applications to the turbulent solar wind (SW). Strong magnetic SW discontinuities are in fact strongly related to these intermittent processes of reconnection [2, 3]. Methods employed to identify sets of possible reconnection events along a one-dimensional path through the turbulent field (emulating experimental sampling by a single detector in a highspeed flow) are here reviewed. These local reconnection/discontinuity events may be the main sites of heating and particle acceleration processes [4]. Results from hybrid-Vlasov kinetic simulations support these observations [5, 6]. In the turbulent regime, in fact, kinetic effects manifest through a deformation of the ion distribution function. These patterns of non-Maxwellian features are concentrated in space nearby regions of strong magnetic activity. These results open a new path on the study of kinetic processes such as heating, particle acceleration, and temperature anisotropy, commonly observed in astrophysics. © 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.

Descripción: 3α-Hydroxy-2,19-oxido-5αH-pregnan-20-one was synthesized in 6 steps from the easily available 19-hydroxypregnenolone 3-acetate. The 2,19-oxido bridge was formed in a single step upon spontaneous cyclization and desilylation of a TBDMS protected 19-hydroxy-2α,3α-epoxypregnane. The 4,19-oxido analogue was obtained as a byproduct upon cyclization of the isomeric 3α,4α-epoxide.

Descripción: Background: The Hypoxia Inducible Factor (HIF) mediates cellular adaptations to low oxygen. Prolyl-4-hydroxylases are oxygen sensors that hydroxylate the HIF alpha-subunit, promoting its proteasomal degradation in normoxia. Three HIFprolyl hydroxylases, encoded by independent genes, PHD1, PHD2, and PHD3, occur in mammals. PHD2, the longest PHD isoform includes a MYND domain, whose biochemical function is unclear. PHD2 and PHD3 genes are induced in hypoxia to shut down HIF dependent transcription upon reoxygenation, while expression of PHD1 is oxygen-independent. The physiologic significance of the diversity of the PHD oxygen sensors is intriguing. Methodology and Principal Findings: We have analyzed the Drosophila PHD locus, fatiga, which encodes 3 isoforms, FgaA, FgaB and FgaC that are originated through a combination of alternative initiation of transcription and alternative splicing. FgaA includes a MYND domain and is homologous to PHD2, while FgaB and FgaC are shorter isoforms most similar to PHD3. Through a combination of genetic experiments in vivo and molecular analyses in cell culture, we show that fgaB but not fgaA is induced in hypoxia, in a Sima-dependent manner, through a HIF-Responsive Element localized in the first intron of fgaA. The regulatory capacity of FgaB is stronger than that of FgaA, as complete reversion of fga loss-of-function phenotypes is observed upon transgenic expression of the former, and only partial rescue occurs after expression of the latter. Conclusions and Significance: Diversity of PHD isoforms is a conserved feature in evolution. As in mammals, there are hypoxia-inducible and non-inducible Drosophila PHDs, and a fly isoform including a MYND domain co-exists with isoforms lacking this domain. Our results suggest that the isoform devoid of a MYND domain has stronger regulatory capacity than that including this domain.