South Atlantic Ocean cyclogenesis climatology simulated by regional climate model (RegCM3)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Extension of the Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model predictions at high densities and temperatures using an implicit regularization scheme

Traditional cutoff regularization schemes of the Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model limit the applicability of the model to energy-momentum scales much below the value of the regularizing cutoff. In particular, the model cannot be used to study quark matter with Fermi momenta larger than the cutoff. In the present work, an extension of the model to high temperatures and densities recently proposed by Casalbuoni, Gatto, Nardulli, and Ruggieri is used in connection with an implicit regularization scheme. This is done by making use of scaling relations of the divergent one-loop integrals that relate these integrals at different energy-momentum scales. Fixing the pion decay constant at the chiral symmetry breaking scale in the vacuum, the scaling relations predict a running coupling constant that decreases as the regularization scale increases, implementing in a schematic way the property of asymptotic freedom of quantum chromodynamics. If the regularization scale is allowed to increase with density and temperature, the coupling will decrease with density and temperature, extending in this way the applicability of the model to high densities and temperatures. These results are obtained without specifying an explicit regularization. As an illustration of the formalism, numerical results are obtained for the finite density and finite temperature quark condensate and applied to the problem of color superconductivity at high quark densities and finite temperature.

An application of a modified constructive heuristic algorithm to transmission expansion planning

Transmission expansion planning (TEP) is a non-convex optimization problem that can be solved via different heuristic algorithms. A variety of classical as well as heuristic algorithms in literature are addressed to solve TEP problem. In this paper a modified constructive heuristic algorithm (CHA) is proposed for solving such a crucial problem. Most of research papers handle TEP problem by linearization of the non-linear mathematical model while in this research TEP problem is solved via CHA using non-linear model. The proposed methodology is based upon Garver's algorithm capable of applying to a DC model. Simulation studies and tests results on the well known transmission network such as: Garver and IEEE 24-bus systems are carried out to show the significant performance as well as the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. © 2011 IEEE.

Parecoxib reduces renal injury in an ischemia/reperfusion model in rats

To evaluate the effect of parecoxib (an NSAID) on renal function by measuring plasma NGAL (serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin) levels in an induced-ischemia rat model. METHODS: Forty male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to one of four groups: Ischemia (I), Ischemia/parecoxib (IP), No-ischemia (NI), and No-ischemia/parecoxib (NIP). Body weight, mean arterial pressure, heart rate, body temperature, NGAL levels, and renal histology were compared across groups. RESULTS: The Ischemia (I) group, which did not receive parecoxib, showed the highest NGAL levels (p=0.001), while the IP group, which received the medication, had NGAL levels similar to those of the non-ischemic (NI and NIP) groups. CONCLUSION: Parecoxib resulted in renal protection in this experimental model.

Melatonin attenuates the TLR4-mediated inflammatory response through MyD88-and TRIF-dependent signaling pathways in an in vivo model of ovarian cancer

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Tide-topography interaction along the eastern Brazilian shelf

In the Tropics, continental shelves governed by western boundary currents are considered to be among the least productive ocean margins in the world, unless eddy-induced shelf-edge upwelling becomes significant. The eastern Brazilian shelf in the Southwest Atlantic is one of these, and since the slight nutrient input from continental sources is extremely oligotrophic. It is characterized by complex bathymetry with the presence of shallow banks and seamounts. In this work, a full three-dimensional nonlinear primitive equation ocean model is used to demonstrate that the interaction of tidal currents and the bottom topography of the east Brazil continental shelf is capable of producing local upwelling of South Atlantic Central Water, bringing nutrients up from deep waters to the surface layer. Such upper layer enrichment is found to be of significance in increasing local primary productivity. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Design of a control system using linear matrix inequalities for the active vibration control of a plate

The study of algorithms for active vibration control in smart structures is an area of interest, mainly due to the demand for better performance of mechanical systems, such as aircraft and aerospace structures. Smart structures, formed using actuators and sensors, can improve the dynamic performance with the application of several kinds of controllers. This article describes the application of a technique based on linear matrix inequalities (LMI) to design an active control system. The positioning of the actuators, the design of a robust state feedback controller and the design of an observer are all achieved using LMI. The following are considered in the controller design: limited actuator input, bounded output (energy) and robustness to parametric uncertainties. Active vibration control of a flat plate is chosen as an application example. The model is identified using experimental data by an eigensystem realization algorithm (ERA) and the placement of the two piezoelectric actuators and single sensor is determined using a finite element model (FEM) and an optimization procedure. A robust controller for active damping is designed using an LMI framework, and a reduced model with observation and control spillover effects is implemented using a computer. The simulation results demonstrate the efficacy of the approach, and show that the control system increases the damping in some of the modes.

Control Design Applied to a Micro Electro Mechanical System: MEMS Comb drive

This paper presents the linear optimal control technique for reducing the chaotic movement of the micro-electro-mechanical Comb Drive system to a small periodic orbit. We analyze the non-linear dynamics in a micro-electro-mechanical Comb Drive and demonstrated that this model has a chaotic behavior. Chaos control problems consist of attempts to stabilize a chaotic system to an equilibrium point, a periodic orbit, or more general, about a given reference trajectory. This technique is applied in analyzes the nonlinear dynamics in an MEMS Comb drive. The simulation results show the identification by linear optimal control is very effective.

A university extension course in leprosy: telemedicine in the Amazon for primary healthcare

There is a high prevalence of leprosy in the Amazon region of Brazil. We have developed a distance education course in leprosy for training staff of the Family Health Teams (FHTs). The course was made available through a web portal. Tele-educational resources were mediated by professors and coordinators, and included the use of theoretical content available through the web, discussion lists, Internet chat, activity diaries, 3-D video animations (Virtual Human on Leprosy), classes in video streaming and case simulation. Sixty-five FHT staff members were enrolled. All of them completed the course and 47 participants received a certificate at the end of the course. At the end of the course, 48 course-evaluation questionnaires were answered. A total of 47 participants (98%) considered the course as excellent. The results demonstrate the feasibility of an interactive, tele-education model as an educational resource for staff in isolated regions. Improvements in diagnostic skills should increase diagnostic suspicion of leprosy and may contribute to early detection.

BORN-INFELD ELECTRODYNAMICS and EULER-HEISENBERG-LIKE MODEL: OUTSTANDING EXAMPLES of THE LACK of COMMUTATIVITY AMONG QUANTIZED TRUNCATED ACTIONS and TRUNCATED QUANTIZED ACTIONS

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Anomalous diffusion of pions at RHIC

After pointing out the difference between normal and anomalous diffusion, we consider a hadron resonance cascade (HRC) model simulation for particle emission at RHIC and point out that rescattering in an expanding hadron resonance gas leads to a heavy tail in the source distribution. The results are compared to recent PHENIX measurements of the tail of the particle emitting source in Au+Au collisions at RHIC. In this context, we show how can one distinguish experimentally the anomalous diffusion of hadrons from a second order QCD phase transition.

High precision GPS network with precise ephemerides and earth body tide model

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

An algebraic q-deformed form for shape-invariant systems

A quantum deformed theory applicable to all shape-invariant bound-state systems is introduced by defining q-deformed ladder operators. We show that these new ladder operators satisfy new q-deformed commutation relations. In this context we construct an alternative q-deformed model that preserves the shape-invariance property presented by the primary system. q-deformed generalizations of Morse, Scarf and Coulomb potentials are given as examples.

A model for the Schottky anomaly in metallic Nd2-yCeyCuO4

We present a simple model for the doped compound Nd2-yCevCuO4, in order to explain some recent experimental results on the latter. Within a Hartree-Fock context, we start from an impurity Anderson-like model and consider the magnetic splitting of the Nd-4f ground state Kramers doublet due to exchange interactions with the ordered Cu moments. Our results are in very good agreement with the experimental data, yielding a Schottky anomaly peak for the specific heat that reduces its amplitude, broadens and shifts to lower temperatures, upon Ce doping. For overdoped compounds at low temperatures, the specific heat behaves linearly and the magnetic susceptibility is constant. A smooth transition from this Fermi liquid-like behavior occurs as temperature is increased and, at high temperatures, the susceptibility exhibits a Curie-like behavior. Finally, we discuss some improvements our model is amenable to incorporate, (C) 1998 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Magnetic susceptibility of an exactly solvable anisotropic spin ladder system

We investigate the thermodynamics of an integrable spin ladder model which possesses a free parameter besides rung and leg couplings. The model is exactly solvable by means of the Bethe ansatz and exhibits a phase transition between a gapped and a gapless spin excitation spectrum. The magnetic susceptibility is obtained numerically and its dependence on the anisotropy parameter is determined. The spin gap obtained from the susceptibility curve and the one obtained from the Bethe ansatz equations are in very good agreement. Our results for the magnetic susceptibility fit well the experimental data for the organometallic compounds (5IAP)(2)CuBr4 . 2H(2)O (Landee C. P. et al., Phys. Rev. B, 63 (2001) 100402(R)) Cu-2(C5H12N2)(2)Cl-4 (Hayward C. A., Poilblanc D. and Levy L. P., Phys. Rev. B, 54 (1996) R12649, Chaboussant G. et al., Phys. Rev. Lett., 19 ( 1997) 925; Phys. Rev. B, 55 ( 1997) 3046.) and (C5H12N)(2)CuBr4 (Watson B. C. et al., Phys. Rev. Lett., 86 ( 2001) 5168) in the strong-coupling regime.