Instituto Politécnico Nacional

About: Instituto Politécnico Nacional is a education organization based out in Mexico City, Mexico. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 43351 authors who have published 63315 publications receiving 938532 citations. The organization is also known as: Instituto Politécnico Nacional & Instituto Politecnico Nacional.

Mechanics of a discrete chain with bi-stable elements

Abstract: It has become common to model materials supporting several crystallographic phases as elastic continua with non (quasi) convex energy. This peculiar property of the energy originates from the multi-stability of the system at the microlevel associated with the possibility of several energetically equivalent arrangements of atoms in crystal lattices. In this paper we study the simplest prototypical discrete system—a one-dimensional chain with a finite number of bi-stable elastic elements. Our main assumption is that the energy of a single spring has two convex wells separated by a spinodal region where the energy is concave. We neglect the interaction beyond nearest neighbors and explore in some detail a complicated energy landscape for this mechanical system. In particular we show that under generic loading the chain possesses a large number of metastable configurations which may contain up to one (snap) spring in the unstable (spinodal) state. As the loading parameters vary, the system undergoes a number of bifurcations and we show that the type of a bifurcation may depend crucially on the details of the concave (spinodal) part of the energy function. In special cases we obtain explicit formulas for the local and global minima and provide a quantitative description of the possible quasi-static evolution paths and of the associated hysteresis.

Discovery of high-energy gamma-ray emission from the binary system PSR B1259–63/LS 2883 around periastron with Fermi

Abstract: We report on the discovery of 100 MeV γ -rays from the binary system PSR B1259−63/LS 2883 using the Large Area Telescope (LAT) on board Fermi. The system comprises a radio pulsar in orbit around a Be star. We report on LAT observations from near apastron to ∼128 days after the time of periastron, tp, on 2010 December 15. No γ -ray emission was detected from this source when it was far from periastron. Faint γ -ray emission appeared as the pulsar approached periastron. At ∼tp + 30 days, the 100 MeV γ -ray flux increased over a period of a few days to a peak flux 20-30 times that seen during the pre-periastron period, but with a softer spectrum. For the following month, it was seen to be variable on daily timescales, but remained at ∼(1-4) × 10−6 cm−2 s−1 before starting to fade at ∼tp +57 days. The total γ -ray luminosity observed during this period is comparable to the spin-down power of the pulsar. Simultaneous radio and X-ray observations of the source showed no corresponding dramatic changes in radio and X-ray flux between the pre-periastron and post-periastron flares. We discuss possible explanations for the observed γ -ray-only flaring of the source.

A Polypyrimidine Tract Binding Protein, Pumpkin RBP50, Forms the Basis of a Phloem-Mobile Ribonucleoprotein Complex

Abstract: RNA binding proteins (RBPs) are integral components of ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes and play a central role in RNA processing. In plants, some RBPs function in a non-cell-autonomous manner. The angiosperm phloem translocation stream contains a unique population of RBPs, but little is known regarding the nature of the proteins and mRNA species that constitute phloem-mobile RNP complexes. Here, we identified and characterized a 50-kD pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima cv Big Max) phloem RNA binding protein (RBP50) that is evolutionarily related to animal polypyrimidine tract binding proteins. In situ hybridization studies indicated a high level of RBP50 transcripts in companion cells, while immunolocalization experiments detected RBP50 in both companion cells and sieve elements. A comparison of the levels of RBP50 present in vascular bundles and phloem sap indicated that this protein is highly enriched in the phloem sap. Heterografting experiments confirmed that RBP50 is translocated from source to sink tissues. Collectively, these findings established that RBP50 functions as a non-cell-autonomous RBP. Protein overlay, coimmunoprecipitation, and cross-linking experiments identified the phloem proteins and mRNA species that constitute RBP50-based RNP complexes. Gel mobility-shift assays demonstrated that specificity, with respect to the bound mRNA, is established by the polypyrimidine tract binding motifs within such transcripts. We present a model for RBP50-based RNP complexes within the pumpkin phloem translocation stream.

Human Pathophysiological Adaptations to the Space Environment

Abstract: Space is an extreme environment for the human body, where during long-term missions microgravity and high radiation levels represent major threats to crew health. Intriguingly, space flight (SF) imposes on the body of highly selected, well-trained and healthy individuals (astronauts and cosmonauts) pathophysiological adaptive changes akin to an accelerated ageing process and to some diseases. Such effects, becoming manifest over a time span of weeks (i.e. cardiovascular deconditioning) to months (i.e. loss of bone density and muscle atrophy) of exposure to weightlessness, can be reduced through proper countermeasures during SF and in due time are mostly reversible after landing. Based on these considerations, it is increasingly accepted that SF might provide a mechanistic insight into certain pathophysiological processes, a concept of interest to pre-nosological medicine. In this article, we will review the main stress factors encountered in space and their impact on the human body and will also discuss the possible lessons learned with space exploration in reference to human health on Earth. In fact, this is a productive, cross-fertilized, endeavour in which studies performed on Earth yield countermeasures for protection of space crew health, and space research is translated into health measures for Earth-bound population.