The applications of wireless power transmission have become widely increasing over the last decade, mainly in the battery charging systems for electric vehicles. This paper focuses on the single-phase wireless power transfer prototype controlled by magnetic core reactors in either side of the system: that of the transmitter, and that of the receiver. The described wireless power transfer system prototype employs a strong magnetic coupling technology to improve the power transmission efficiency. In the same time, a magnetic core reactor is used to control the “tuning” between the transmitter and the receiver frequencies, allowing for that increase of the system efficiency. Finally, practical results of the implemented prototype are presented.

A linear cluster formulated as [S2MoS2CuS2MoS2](3-), a unique heterometallic cluster found in biological systems, was identified in a small monomeric protein (named as Orange Protein). The gene coding for this protein is part of an operon mainly present in strict anaerobic bacteria, which is composed (in its core) by genes coding for the Orange Protein and two ATPase proposed to contain Fe-S clusters. In Desulfovibrio desulfuricans G20, there is an ORF, Dde_3197 that encodes a small protein containing several cysteine residues in its primary sequence. The heterologously produced Dde_3197 aggregates mostly in inclusion bodies and was isolated by unfolding with a chaotropic agent and refolding by dialysis. The refolded protein contained sub-stoichiometric amounts of iron atoms/protein (0.5+/-0.2), but after reconstitution with iron and sulfide, high iron load contents were detected (1.8+/-0.1 or 3.4+/-0.2) using 2- and 4-fold iron excess. The visible absorption spectral features of the iron-sulfur clusters in refolded and reconstituted Dde_3197 are similar and resemble the ones of [2Fe-2S] cluster containing proteins. The refolded and reconstituted [2Fe-2S] Dde_3197 are EPR silent, but after reduction with dithionite, a rhombic signal is observed with gmax=2.00, gmed=1.95 and gmin=1.92, consistent with a one-electron reduction of a [2Fe-2S](2+) cluster into a [2Fe-2S](1+) state, with an electron spin of S=(1/2). The data suggests that Dde_3197 can harbor one or two [2Fe-2S] clusters, one being stable and the other labile, with quite identical spectroscopic properties, but stable to oxygen.

Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer, 174 + (2016) 79-87. doi:10.1016/j.jqsrt.2016.01.026

Neisseria gonorrhoeae colonizes the genitourinary track, and in these environments, especially in the female host, the bacteria are subjected to low levels of oxygen, and reactive oxygen and nitrosyl species. Here, the biochemical characterization of N. gonorrhoeae Laz is presented, as well as, the solution structure of its soluble domain determined by NMR. N. gonorrhoeae Laz is a type 1 copper protein of the azurin-family based on its spectroscopic properties and structure, with a redox potential of 277+/-5 mV, at pH7.0, that behaves as a monomer in solution. The globular Laz soluble domain adopts the Greek-key motif, with the copper center located at one end of the beta-barrel coordinated by Gly48, His49, Cys113, His118 and Met122, in a distorted trigonal geometry. The edge of the His118 imidazole ring is water exposed, in a surface that is proposed to be involved in the interaction with its redox partners. The heterologously expressed Laz was shown to be a competent electron donor to N. gonorrhoeae cytochrome c peroxidase. This is an evidence for its involvement in the mechanism of protection against hydrogen peroxide generated by neighboring lactobacilli in the host environment.

Energy consumption is becoming an evident concern to software developers. This is even more notorious due to the propagation of mobile devices. Such propagation of devices is also influencing software development: a software system is now developed has a set of similar products sharing common features.
In this short paper, we describe our methodology aim at static and accurately predict the energy consumption of software products in such variability systems, typically called software product lines.

Floods are recurrent events that can have a catastrophic impact. In this work we are interested in the analysis of a data set of gauged daily flows from the Whiteadder Water river, Scotland. Using statistic techniques based on extreme value theory, we estimate several extreme value parameters, including extreme quantiles and return periods of high levels.Floods are recurrent events that can have a catastrophic impact. In this work we are interested in the analysis of a data set of gauged daily flows from the Whiteadder Water river, Scotland. Using statistic techniques based on extreme value theory, we estimate several extreme value parameters, including extreme quantiles and return periods of high levels.

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Abstract This paper deals with multiobjective analog circuit optimization taking into consideration performance sensitivity vis-a-vis parameters' variations. It mainly considers improving computation time of the inloop optimization approaches by including sensitivity considerations in the Pareto front generation process, not as a constraint, but by involving it within the used metaheuristic evolution process. Different approaches are proposed and compared. NSGA-II metaheuristic is considered. The proposed sensitivity aware approaches are showcased via two analog circuits, namely, a second generation \{CMOS\} current conveyor and a \{CMOS\} voltage follower. We show that the proposed ideas considerably alleviate the long computation time of the process and improve the quality of the generated front, as well.

Iberian extinct ziphiid, Globicetus hiberus, bears a peculiar large bony sphere in the rostrum, the Mesorostral Process of the Premaxillae or MPP. The MPP varies in size and shape of growth in the six specimens studied and seems to have an allometrically growth in one subgroup, but not in the other, suggesting subgroups correspond to males and females (sexual dimorphism). Even more, some rostral structures, such as the medial pad of the premaxillae seem to be associated with the specimens with lower and leaner MPP’s and ossification of the mesorostral canal by the vomer can also be of value in differentiating sex. Beaked whales are deep-diving, echolocation-user odontocetes and able to perceive bones as distinctive echoic images with their sonar; therefore the MPP may work as a secondary sexual organ (“antlers inside” hypothesis by Gol´din, 2014), a mute display structure acting as an “acoustic flag” to be perceived through echolocation by other individuals, giving information about the shape and size of the MPP.