On optimizing micropower MOS regulated cascode circuits on switched current techniques

Trade-off between settling time and micropower consumption in MOS regulated cascode current sources as building parts in high-accuracy, current-switching D/A converters is analyzed. The regulation-loop frequency characteristic is obtained and difficulties to impose a dominant-pole condition to the resulting 2nd-order system are discussed. Raising pole frequencies while meeting consumption requirements is basically limited by parasitic capacitances. An alternative is found by imposing a twin-pole system in which design constraints are somewhat relaxed and settling slightly faster. Relationships between pole frequencies, transistor geometry and bias are established. Simulated waveforms obtained with PSpice of designed circuits following a voltage perturbation suggest a good agreement with theory. The proposed approach applied to the design of a micropower current-mode D/A converter improves its simulated settling performance.

Thermally activated dynamics of the tilts of the CuO6 octahedra, hopping of interstitial O, and possible instability towards the LTT phase in La2CuO4+δ

The anelastic spectrum (dynamic Young's modulus and elastic energy absorption) of La2CuO4+δ has been measured between 1 and 700 K with 0<δ<0.02. The spectrum of stoichiometric La2CuO4 in the low-temperature orthorhombic (LTO) phase is dominated by two intense relaxation processes which cause softenings of 16% around 150 K and 9% below 30 K at f∼1 kHz. The relaxation at 150 K is attributed to the presence of a fraction of the CuO6 octahedra which are able to change their tilted configuration by thermal activation between orientations which are nearly energetically equivalent, possibly within the twin boundaries. The relaxation below 30 K is governed by tunneling, and involves a considerable fraction of the lattice atoms. It is proposed that the double-well potentials for the low-temperature relaxation are created by the tendency of the LTO phase to form low-temperature tetragonal (LTT) domains, which however are not stabilized like when La is partially substituted with Ba. On doping with excess O, the relaxation rates of these processes are initially enhanced by hole doping, while their intensities are depressed by lattice disorder; an explanation of this behavior is provided. Excess O also causes two additional relaxation processes. The one appearing at lower values of δ is attributed to the hopping of single interstitial O2- ions, with a hopping rate equal to τ-1=2×10-14exp(-5600/T) s. The second process is slower and can be due to O pairs or other complexes containing excess O.

Morphological, mechanical and rheological properties of nylon 6/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene blends compatibilized with MMA/MA copolymers

The morphological, mechanical and rheological properties of nylon 6/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene blends compatibilized with MMA-MA [poly(methyl methacrylate-comaleic anhydride)] copolymers were studied. A twin screw extruder was used for melt-blended the polymers and the injection moulding process was used to mold the samples. The main focus was on nylon 6/ ABS blends compatibilized with one MMA-MA copolymer. This copolymer has PMMA segments that appear to be miscible with the styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN) phase of ABS and the anhydride groups can react with amine end groups of the nylon 6 (Ny6) to form graft copolymers at the interface between Ny6 and ABS rich phases. Tensile and impact and morphological properties were enhanced by the incorporation of this copolymer. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations revealed that the ABS domains are finely dispersed in nylon 6 matrix and led to the lowest ductile-brittle transition temperatures and highest impact properties. It can be concluded that the MMA-MA copolymer is an efficient alternative for the reactive compatibilization and can be used as a compatibilizer for nylon 6/ABS blends.© 2003 Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Conformal invariance of the pure spinor superstring in a curved background

It is shown that the pure spinor formulation of the heterotic superstring in a generic gravitational and super Yang-Mills background has vanishing one-loop beta functions. © SISSA/ISAS 2004.

Euclidean 4d exact solitons in a Skyrme type model

We introduce a Skyrme type, four-dimensional Euclidean field theory made of a triplet of scalar fields n→, taking values on the sphere S2, and an additional real scalar field φ, which is dynamical only on a three-dimensional surface embedded in R4. Using a special ansatz we reduce the 4d non-linear equations of motion into linear ordinary differential equations, which lead to the construction of an infinite number of exact soliton solutions with vanishing Euclidean action. The theory possesses a mass scale which fixes the size of the solitons in way which differs from Derrick's scaling arguments. The model may be relevant to the study of the low energy limit of pure SU(2) Yang-Mills theory. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Atlantic forest fragmentation and genetic diversity of an isolated population of the Blue-manakin, Chiroxiphia caudata (Pipridae), assessed by microsatellite analyses

Habitat fragmentation is predicted to restrict gene flow, which can result in the loss of genetic variation and inbreeding depression. The Brazilian Atlantic forest has experienced extensive loss of habitats since European settlement five centuries ago, and many bird populations and species are vanishing. Genetic variability analysis in fragmented populations could be important in determining their long-term viability and for guiding management plans. Here we analyzed genetic diversity of a small understory bird, the Blue-manakins Chiroxiphia caudata (Pipridae), from an Atlantic forest fragment (112 ha) isolated 73 years ago, and from a 10,000 ha continuous forest tract (control), using orthologous microsatellite loci. Three of the nine loci tested were polymorphic. No statistically significant heterozygote loss was detected for the fragment population. Although genetic diversity, which was estimated by expected heterozygosity and allelic richness, has been lower in the fragment population in relation to the control, it was not statistically significant, suggesting that this 112 ha fragment can be sufficient to maintain a blue-manakin population large enough to avoid stochastic effects, such as inbreeding and/or genetic drift. Alternatively, it is possible that 73 years of isolation did not accumulate sufficient generations for these effects to be detected. However, some alleles have been likely lost, specially the rare ones, what is expected from genetic drift for such a small and isolated population. A high genetic differentiation was detected between populations by comparing both allelic and genotypic distributions. Only future studies in continuous areas are likely to answer if such a structure was caused by the isolation resulted from the forest fragmentation or by natural population structure.

Implantation sites after embryo transfer into the central area of the uterine cavity

A total of 63 pregnancies (47 singleton, 15 twin, 1 triplet) from intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles were analysed. In all embryo transfers, the catheter was introduced into the endometrial cavity guided by abdominal ultrasound, with the catheter tip placed at the middle point of the endometrial cavity. Gestational sacs (GS) were located 21-24 days after transfer (gestational age = 5 weeks) by two-dimensional and three-dimensional transvaginal ultrasound. The uterine cavity was divided into three parts: upper, middle and lower. Furthermore, the upper region was subdivided into right, middle and left areas, and the middle region was subdivided into right and left areas. The frequency of gestational sacs in each area was evaluated. In singleton pregnancies 66.0% (31/47) of the GS were detected in the upper region, 29.8% (14/47) in the middle region and 4.2% (2/47) in the lower region. In multiple pregnancies (twins and triplet) 45.5% (15/33) of the GS were detected in the upper region, 51.5% (17/33) in the middle region and 3.0% (1/33) in the lower region. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that when embryos are transferred to the central area of the uterine cavity there is an increase in implantation rate in the middle region compared with the rate expected in naturally conceived pregnancies (9-15%).

The nuclear matter effects in π0 photoproduction at high energies

The in-medium influence on π0 photoproduction from spin zero nuclei is carefully studied in the GeV range using a straightforward Monte Carlo analysis. The calculation takes into account the relativistic nuclear recoil for coherent mechanisms (electromagnetic and nuclear amplitudes) plus a time dependent multi-collisional intranuclear cascade approach (MCMC) to describe the transport properties of mesons produced in the surroundings of the nucleon. A detailed analysis of the meson energy spectra for the photoproduction on 12C at 5.5 GeV indicates that both the Coulomb and nuclear coherent events are associated with a small energy transfer to the nucleus (≲ 5 MeV), while the contribution of the nuclear incoherent mechanism is vanishing small within this kinematical range. The angular distributions are dominated by the Primakoff peak at extreme forward angles, with the nuclear incoherent process being the most important contribution above θπ0 ≲ 20. Such consistent Monte Carlo approach provides a suitable method to clean up nuclear backgrounds in some recent high precision experiments, such as the PrimEx experiment at the Jefferson Laboratory Facility.

Gravitation: In search of the missing torsion

A linear Lorentz connection has always two fundamental derived characteristics: curvature and torsion. The latter is assumed to vanish in general relativity. Three gravitational models involving non-vanishing torsion are examined: teleparallel gravity, Einstein-Cartan, and new general relativity. Their dependability is critically examined. Although a final answer can only be given by experience, it is argued that teleparallel gravity provides the most consistent approach.

Cobertura da cultura da soja pela calda fungicida em função, de pontas de pulverização e volumes de aplicação

The goal of this research was to evaluate two tips of spraying nozzles (hollow cone nozzle and two flat fan nozzle annexed to a nozzle body DUO) and three spray volumes (100, 150 and 200 dm3 ha-1), whose application was for the control of the Asian soybean rust. An area of 288 m 2 was used, with a randomized blocks design in a factorial 2×3 with 4 repetitions, total of 24 experimental parcels of 12 m2. For the spraying with hydraulical nozzles a costal spray of constant pressure kept by C02 compressed with bar of 2 m was used. The analysis of the covering percentage was carried through by means of the use of hidro-sensible paper, that was placed in three position of the plant what it represents, in height, the third superior, average and inferior of the canopy. For both the third no interaction between the evaluated factors, was found and meither difference statistics between the spraying tips and the volumes. In absolute values the twin flat fan nozzle DUO presented minimum difference of covering in relation to the hollow cone nozzle, and for the spray volume of 200 dm3 ha -1 presented greater covering percentage.

Economic growth with equity: challenges for Latin America

Includes bibliography

Strengthening development: the interplay of macro- and microeconomics

Includes bibliography

Macroeconomic policies in times of crisis: options and perspectives

Includes bibliography

Prevention and insurance of conflict and terrorism: issues and evidence for Latin America

Includes bibliography

Description and genetic analysis of three sets of monozygotic twins resulting from transfers of single embryos to recipient mares

Case Description-3 sets of monozygotic twins resulting from transfers of single embryos to recipient mares were examined. Clinical Findings-In all 3 recipient mares with twin pregnancies, only 1 embryonic vesicle was detected before day 25 of gestation. In 1 recipient mare, 2 apparent adjacent vesicles, each containing an embryo with a heartbeat, were visualized on ultrasonographic examination on day 37 of gestation. The other 2 recipient mares underwent ultrasonographic examination on day 30 of gestation, at which time only 1 vesicle and embryo was identified. In these latter 2 recipient mares, however, a thorough ultrasonographic examination for a second conceptus on day 30 had not been performed, as only 1 embryo had been transferred and visualized on early ultrasonographic examination. Treatment and Outcome-All twin pregnancies resulted in death of both fetuses. Genetic analysis confirmed that each set of monozygotic twins originated from the transferred embryo. Clinical Relevance-Monozygotic twin pregnancy may occur after embryo transfer; thus recipient mares should be examined thoroughly for multiple conceptuses, especially between 25 and 30 days of gestation. At this time, the allantoides of monozygotic twins should be visible ultrasonographically and effective management may still be possible.