4f-4f intensities of the Tm3+ ions in fluoroindate glasses: the influence of third-order effects through odd intensity parameters

In this work an analysis of the phenomenological Omega(lambda) intensity parameters for the Tm3+ ion in fluoroindate glass is made using the standard Judd-Ofelt theory, and a modified oscillator strength taking into account odd-order contributions is utilized. Different sets of phenomenological intensity parameters Omega(lambda) (lambda=1,2,3,4,5,6) are discussed. The set of better quality is used to analyze the influence of third-order effects through odd intensity parameters in the new approximation. Fluoroindate glasses of compositions (40-x)InF3-20ZnF(2)-20SrF(2)-16BaF(2)-2GdF(3)-2NaF-xTmF(3) with x=1, 2 and 3 mol% were prepared, and the absorption spectra at room temperature in the spectral range from 300 to 2500 nm were obtained. The experimental oscillator strengths determined from the area under the absorption band are compared to the calculated ones. (C) 1998 Elsevier B.V. S.A.

NUMERICAL DETERMINATION OF THE ORDER OF PHASE-TRANSITIONS IN ISING SYSTEMS WITH MULTISPIN INTERACTIONS

The method of the fourth-order cumulant of Challa, Landau, and Binder is used together with the Monte Carlo histogram technique of Ferrenberg and Swendsen to study the order of the phase transitions of two-dimensional Ising systems with multispin interactions in the horizontal direction and two-body interactions in the vertical direction.

Contribution of structural order-disorder to the green photoluminescence of PbWO4

An intense and broad visible photoluminescence (PL) band was observed at room temperature in structurally disordered PbWO4 thin films. The scheelite lead tungstate (PbWO4) films prepared by the polymeric precursor method and annealed at different temperatures were structurally characterized by means of x-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy analysis. Quantum-mechanical calculations showed that the local disorder of the network modifier (Pb) has a very important role in the charge transfer involved in the green PL emission. The experimental and theoretical results are in good agreement, both indicating that the generation of the intense visible PL band is related to simultaneous structural order and disorder in the scheelite PbWO4 lattice.

Effect of the order and disorder of BaMoO4 powders in photoluminescent properties

The study of the photoluminescent properties affected by order and disorder of the BaMoO4 powders is the principal objective in this work. BaMoO4 compounds were prepared using soft chemical process called Complex Polymerization Method. In this work, different deagglomeration types and different heating rates were used to promote different disorder degrees. Scheelite type phase (BaMoO4) was determined by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transformed Infra-Red (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy after heat treating the sample at 400 degrees C. The room temperature luminescence spectra revealed an intense single-emission band in the visible region. Based on XRD and Raman data it was observed that the transition between the completely disordered structure to completely ordered structure is a good condition for photoluminescence (PL) emission. The best PL emission is obtained when the material possesses short range disorder, i.e., is periodically ordered (XRD), but some disorder as measured by Raman spectroscopy. The excellent optical properties observed for disordered BaMoO4 suggested that this material is a highly promising candidate for optical applications.

Electrochemical behavior of a nitrobenzenesulfonyl derivative of aniline in aqueous solution

The electrochemical behavior of aniline protected by a nitrobenzene sulphonyl group in aqueous solution at a mercury electrode is reported. At pH < 10 the compound was reduced in a single well-defined step. Reduction of the nitro group involving a preceding protonation step was postulated. Two reduction steps are present at higher pH (pH > 11). Controlled potential electrolysis confirms that the reduction of the nitro group in a four-electron step to N-phenyl-4-hydroxylamine sulphonamide is always the preponderant process. ©1997 Soc. Bras. Química.

Phylogenetic analysis of flatfish (order pleuronectiformes) based on mitochondrial 16s rDNA sequences

The phylogenetic relationships of the order Pleuronectiformes are controversial and at some crucial points remain unresolved. To date most phylogenetic studies on this order have been based on morpho-anatomical criteria, whereas only a few sequence comparisons based studies have been reported. In the present study, the phylogenetic relationships of 30 flatfish species pertaining to seven different families were examined by sequence analysis of the first half of the 16S mitochondrial DNA gene. The results obtained did not support percoids as the sister group of pleuronectiforms. The monophyletic origin of most families analyzed, Soleidae, Scophthalmidae, Achiridae, Pleuronectidae and Bothidae, was strongly supported, except for Paralichthyidae which was clearly subdivided into two groups, one of them associated with high confidence to Pleuronectidae. The analysis of the 16S rRNA gene also suggested the monophyly of Pleuronectiforms as the most probable hypothesis and consistently supported some major interfamily groupings.

Monotonicity and asymptotics of zeros of Laguerre-Sobolev-type orthogonal polynomials of higher order derivatives

In this paper we analyze the location of the zeros of polynomials orthogonal with respect to the inner product where α >-1, N ≥ 0, and j ∈ N. In particular, we focus our attention on their interlacing properties with respect to the zeros of Laguerre polynomials as well as on the monotonicity of each individual zero in terms of the mass N. Finally, we give necessary and sufficient conditions in terms of N in order for the least zero of any Laguerre-Sobolev-type orthogonal polynomial to be negative. © 2011 American Mathematical Society.

Influence of exercise order on upper body maximum and submaximal strength gains in trained men

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of exercise order on one-repetition maximum (1-RM) and ten-repetition maximum (10-RM) strength gains after 6 weeks of resistance training (RT) in trained men. Sixteen men were randomly assigned into two groups based on the order of exercises performed during training sessions: a group that performed large muscle group exercises first and progressed to small muscle group exercises (LG-SM); while a second group performed the opposite sequence and started with small muscle group exercises and progressed to large muscle group exercises (SM-LG). Four sessions of RT were conducted per week; all exercises were performed for three sets of 8-12 repetitions with 1-min rest intervals between sets. Maximal and submaximal strength were assessed at baseline and after 6 weeks of RT with 1-RM and 10-RM testing for the bench press (BP), lat pulldown (LPD), triceps pulley extension (TE) and biceps curl (BC), respectively. Two-way ANOVA for the 1-RM and 10-RM tests indicated a significant group x time interaction. The 1-RM values significantly increased for all exercises in both groups (P<0.05), but were not significantly different between groups. However, effect size (ES) data indicated that the LG-SM group exhibited a greater magnitude of gains (1-RM and 10-RM) for the BP and LPD exercises. Conversely, ES indicated that the SM-LG group exhibited a greater magnitude of gains (1-RM and 10-RM) for the TE and BC exercises. In conclusion, the results suggest that upper body movements should be prioritized and performed according to individual needs to maximize maximal and submaximal strength. © 2013 Scandinavian Society of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine.

Measurement of higher-order harmonic azimuthal anisotropy in PbPb collisions at root s(NN)=2.76 TeV

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Ordinary fractional differential equations are in fact usual entire ordinary differential equations on time scales

Despite the huge number of works considering fractional derivatives or derivatives on time scales some basic facts remain to be evaluated. Here we will be showing that the fractional derivative of monomials is in fact an entire derivative considered on an appropriate time scale.

Enhancement of Nematic Order and Global Phase Diagram of a Lattice Model for Coupled Nematic Systems

We use an infinite-range Maier-Saupe model, with two sets of local quadrupolar variables and restricted orientations, to investigate the global phase diagram of a coupled system of two nematic subsystems. The free energy and the equations of state are exactly calculated by standard techniques of statistical mechanics. The nematic-isotropic transition temperature of system A increases with both the interaction energy among mesogens of system B, and the two-subsystem coupling J. This enhancement of the nematic phase is manifested in a global phase diagram in terms of the interaction parameters and the temperature T. We make some comments on the connections of these results with experimental findings for a system of diluted ferroelectric nanoparticles embedded in a nematic liquid-crystalline environment.

On abstract differential equations with nonlocal conditions involving the temporal derivative of the solution

In this paper we discuss the existence of solutions for a class of abstract differential equations with nonlocal conditions for which the nonlocal term involves the temporal derivative of the solution. Some concrete applications to parabolic differential equations with nonlocal conditions are considered. (C) 2012 Royal Dutch Mathematical Society (KWG). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

IDM - A New Parallel Methodology to Calculate the Determinant of Matrices of the Order n, with Computational Complexity O(n)

This paper presents a new parallel methodology for calculating the determinant of matrices of the order n, with computational complexity O(n), using the Gauss-Jordan Elimination Method and Chio's Rule as references. We intend to present our step-by-step methodology using clear mathematical language, where we will demonstrate how to calculate the determinant of a matrix of the order n in an analytical format. We will also present a computational model with one sequential algorithm and one parallel algorithm using a pseudo-code.

NCX-1000, a nitric oxide-releasing derivative of UDCA, does not decrease portal pressure in patients with cirrhosis: results of a randomized, double-blind, dose-escalating study

NCX-1000 (2(acetyloxy) benzoic acid-3(nitrooxymethyl)phenyl ester) is an nitric oxide (NO)-releasing derivative of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), which showed selective vasodilatory effect on intrahepatic circulation in animal models of cirrhosis. This study was aimed at testing the efficacy and tolerability of this compound in patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension.

Using the Natural Period of a Structure as an Indicator of the Significance of Second-Order Effects

This study investigates the feasibility of predicting the momentamplification in beam-column elements of steel moment-resisting frames using the structure's natural period. Unlike previous methods, which perform moment-amplification on a story-by-story basis, this study develops and tests two models that aim to predict a global amplification factor indicative of the largest relevant instance of local moment amplification in the structure. To thisend, a variety of two-dimensional frames is investigated using first and secondorder finite element analysis. The observed moment amplification is then compared with the predicted amplification based on the structure's natural period, which is calculated by first-order finite element analysis. As a benchmark, design moment amplification factors are calculated for each story using the story stiffness approach, and serve to demonstrate the relativeconservatism and accuracy of the proposed models with respect to current practice in design. The study finds that the observed moment amplification factors may vastly exceed expectations when internal member stresses are initially very small. Where the internal stresses are small relative to the member capacities, thesecases are inconsequential for design. To qualify the significance of the observed amplification factors, two parameters are used: the second-order moment normalized to the plastic moment capacity, and the combined flexural and axial stress interaction equations developed by AISC