PT-symmetric coupler with chi((2)) nonlinearity

We introduce the notion of a PT-symmetric dimer with a chi((2)) nonlinearity. Similarly to the Kerr case, we argue that such a nonlinearity should be accessible in a pair of optical waveguides with quadratic nonlinearity and gain and loss, respectively. An interesting feature of the problem is that because of the two harmonics, there exist in general two distinct gain and loss parameters, different values of which are considered herein. We find a number of traits that appear to be absent in the more standard cubic case. For instance, bifurcations of nonlinear modes from the linear solutions occur in two different ways depending on whether the first-or the second-harmonic amplitude is vanishing in the underlying linear eigenvector. Moreover, a host of interesting bifurcation phenomena appear to occur, including saddle-center and pitchfork bifurcations which our parametric variations elucidate. The existence and stability analysis of the stationary solutions is corroborated by numerical time-evolution simulations exploring the evolution of the different configurations, when unstable.

PT-symmetry management in oligomer systems

We study the effects of management of the PT-symmetric part of the potential within the setting of Schrodinger dimer and trimer oligomer systems. This is done by rapidly modulating in time the gain/loss profile. This gives rise to a number of interesting properties of the system, which are explored at the level of an averaged equation approach. Remarkably, this rapid modulation provides for a controllable expansion of the region of exact PT-symmetry, depending on the strength and frequency of the imposed modulation. The resulting averaged models are analysed theoretically and their exact stationary solutions are translated into time-periodic solutions through the averaging reduction. These are, in turn, compared with the exact periodic solutions of the full non-autonomous PT-symmetry managed problem and very good agreement is found between the two.

Magnetoelastic couplings in the distorted diamond-chain compound azurite

We present results of ultrasonic measurements on a single crystal of the distorted diamond-chain compound azurite Cu-3(CO3)(2)(OH)(2). Pronounced elastic anomalies are observed in the temperature dependence of the longitudinal elastic mode c(22) which can be assigned to the relevant magnetic interactions in the system and their couplings to the lattice degrees of freedom. From a semiquantitative analysis of the magnetic contribution to c(22) the magnetoelastic coupling G = partial derivative J(2)/partial derivative epsilon(b) can be estimated, where J(2) is the intradimer coupling constant and epsilon(b) the strain along the intrachain b axis. We find an exceptionally large coupling constant of | G| similar to 3650 K highlighting an extraordinarily strong sensitivity of J(2) against changes of the b-axis lattice parameter. These results are complemented by measurements of the hydrostatic pressure dependence of J2 by means of thermal expansion and magnetic susceptibility measurements performed both at ambient and finite hydrostatic pressure. We propose that a structural peculiarity of this compound, in which Cu2O6 dimer units are incorporated in an unusually stretched manner, is responsible for the anomalously large magnetoelastic coupling.

Thermal study of the solid-state reactions on Pt-15%Rh/Hg system

Thermogravimetry (TG), energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mapping surface and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used for the study of solid-state reaction on Pt-15%Rh with electrodeposited mercury. The results suggest when heated the mercury film react with the Pt-15%Rh alloy to form intermetallics having different thermal stabilities indicated by three mass loss steps. The first mass loss step occurs between room temperature and 184 degrees C only the bulk Hg is removed and PtHg4, PtHg2 and RhHg2 were characterized by XRD. The second step, between 184 and 271 degrees C, was attributed to PtHg4 decomposition with formation of PtHg2 stabilized by RhHg2. The third step, between 271 and 340 degrees C, was attributed to decomposition of a solid-solution of PtHg2/RhHg2. The fourth step, between 340 and 600 degrees C, was ascribed to: (1) a thermal decomposition of PtHg2, formed by a PtHg eutectoid reaction (similar to 340 degrees C) on the surface and (2) Hg removal from a solid solution of Pt-15%Rh(Hg). (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Acerola (Malpighia emarginata DC.) juice intake protects against alterations to proteins involved in inflammatory and lipolysis pathways in the adipose tissue of obese mice fed a cafeteria diet

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Corrective effects of acerola (Malpighia emarginata DC.) juice intake on biochemical and genotoxical parameters in mice fed on a high-fat diet

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Hard X-ray photoemission study of the Fabre salts (TMTTF)(2)X (X = SbF6 and PF6)

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

A simple method based on ICP-MS for estimation of background levels of arsenic, cadmium, copper, manganese, nickel, lead, and selenium in blood of the Brazillian population

Throughout the world, biomonitoring has become the standard for assessing exposure of individuals to toxic elements as well as for responding to serious environmental public health problems. However, extensive biomonitoring surveys require rapid and simple analytical methods. Thus, a simple and high-throughput method is proposed for the determination of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and selenium (Se) in blood samples by using inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICPMS). Prior to analysis, 200 ml of blood samples was mixed with 500 ml of 10% v/v tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) solution, incubated for 10 min, and subsequently diluted to 10 ml with a solution containing 0.05% w/v ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) + 0.005% v/v Triton X-100. After that, samples were directly analyzed by ICP-MS (ELAN DRC II). Rhodium was selected as an internal standard with matrix-matching calibration. Method detection limits were 0.08, 0.04, 0.5, 0.09, 0.12, 0.04, and 0.1 mg//L for As, Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Se, respectively. Validation data are provided based on the analysis of blood samples from the trace elements inter-\comparison program operated by the Institut National de Santé Publique du Quebec, Canada. Additional validation was provided by the analysis of human blood samples by the proposed method and by using electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). The method was subsequently applied for the estimation of background metal blood values in the Brazilian population. In general, the mean concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Se in blood were 1.1, 0.4, 890, 9.6, 2.1, 65.4, and 89.3 mg/L, respectively, and are in agreement with other global populations. Influences of age, gender, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, and geographical variation on the values were also considered. Smoking habits influenced the levels of Cd in blood. The levels of Cu, Mn, and Pb were significantly correlated with gender, whereas Cu and Pb were significantly correlated with age. There were also interesting differences in Mn and Se levels in the population living in the north of Brazil compared to the south.

Efeitos da dimerização na estrutura e atividade biológica dos peptídeos antimicrobianos Aureína 1.2 e Magainina 2

Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia - IQ

Mucoadhesive Amphiphilic Methacrylic Copolymer-Functionalized Poly(epsilon-caprolactone) Nanocapsules for Nose-to-Brain Delivery of Olanzapine

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Application of reverse Monte Carlo simulations to diatomic molecules. Part 1. Noncomplete radial distribution functions

The reverse Monte Carlo (RMC) method generates sets of points in space which yield radial distribution functions (RDFS) that approximate those of the system of interest. Such sets of configurations should, in principle, be sufficient to determine the structural properties of the system. In this work we apply the RMC technique to fluids of hard diatomic molecules. The experimental RDFs of the hard-dimer fluid were generated by the conventional MC method and used as input in the RMC simulations. Our results indicate that the RMC method is only satisfactory in determining the local structure of the fluid studied by means of only mono-variable RDF. Also we suggest that the use of multi-variable RDFs would improve the technique significantly. However, the accuracy of the method turned out to be very sensitive to the variance of the input experimental RDF. © 1995.

Peritoneal reactivity evaluation in horses subjected to experimental small colon enterotomy and treated with subcutaneous heparin

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

Structural and functional insights into the conductive pili of Geobacter sulfurreducens revealed in molecular dynamics simulations

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

Crystal structure of Staphylococcus aureus exfoliative toxin D-like protein: structural basis for the high specificity of exfoliative toxins

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

Thrombocytopenia and platelet hypoaggregation induced by Bothrops asper snake venom Toxins involved and their contribution to metalloproteinase-induced pulmonary hemorrhage

Thrombocytopenia and platelet dysfunction occur in patients bitten by Bothrops sp snakes in Latin America. An experimental model was developed in mice to study the effects of B. asper venom in platelet numbers and function. Intravenous administration of this venom induces rapid and prominent thrombocytopenia and ex vivo platelet hypoaggregation. The drop in platelet numbers was primarily due to aspercetin, a protein of the C-type lectin family which induces von Willebrand factor-mediated platelet aggregation/agglutination. In addition, the effect of class P-III hemorrhagic metalloproteinases on the microvessel wall also contributes to thrombocytopenia since jararhagin, a P-III metalloproteinase, reduced platelet counts. Hypoaggregation was associated with the action of procoagulant and defibrin(ogen)ating proteinases jararacussin-1 (a thrombin-like serine proteinase) and basparin A (a prothrombin activating metalloproteinase). At the doses which induced hypoaggregation, these enzymes caused defibrin(ogen)ation, increments in fibrin(ogen) degradation products and D-dimer and prolongation of the bleeding time. Incubation of B. asper venom with batimastat and α 2-macroglobulin abrogated the hypoaggregating activity, confirming the role of venom proteinases in this effect. Neither aspercetin nor the defibrin(ogen)ating and hypoaggregating components induced hemorrhage upon intravenous injection. However, aspercetin, but not the thrombin-like or the prothrombin-activating proteinases, potentiated the hemorrhagic activity of two hemorrhagic metalloproteinases in the lungs. © 2005 Schattauer GmbH, Stuttgart.