On local analysis of oscillations of a non-ideal and non-linear mechanical model

It is of major importance to consider non-ideal energy sources in engineering problems. They act on an oscillating system and at the same time experience a reciprocal action from the system. Here, a non-ideal system is studied. In this system, the interaction between source energy and motion is accomplished through a special kind of friction. Results about the stability and instability of the equilibrium point of this system are obtained. Moreover, its bifurcation curves are determined. Hopf bifurcations are found in the set of parameters of the oscillating system.

Application of Nonisothermal Cure Kinetics to the Interaction of Poly(ethylene terephthalate) with Alkyd Resin Varnish

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Non-isothermal decomposition kinetics of the interaction of poly(ethylene terephthalate) with alkyd varnish

The recycling of soft drink bottles poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) has been used as an additive in varnish containing alkyd resin. The PET, called to recycled PET (PET-R), was added to the varnish in increasing amounts. Samples of varnish containing PET-R (VPET-R) were used as a film onto slides and its thermal properties were evaluated using thermogravimetry (TG). Throughout the visual analysis and thermal behavior of VPET-R it is possible to identify that the maximum amount of PET-R added to the varnish without changing in the film properties was 2%.The kinetic parameters, such as activation energy (E) and the pre-exponential factor (A) were calculated by the isoconversional Flynn-Wall-Ozawa method for the samples containing 0.5 to 2.0% PET-R. A decrease in the values of E was verified for lower amounts of PET-R for the thermal decomposition reaction. A kinetic compensation effect (KCE) represented by the lnA=-13.42+0.23E equation was observed for all samples. The most suitable kinetic model to describe this decomposition process is the autocatalytic Sestak-Berggren, being the model applied to heterogeneous systems.

Ground state masses and binding energies of the nucleon, hyperon and heavy baryons in a light-front model

The ground state masses and binding energies of the nucleon, lambda0, lambdac+ , lambdab0 are studied within a constituent quark QCD-inspired light-front model. The light-front Faddeev equations for the Qqq composite spin 1/2 baryons, are derived and solved numerically. The experimental data for the masses are qualitatively described by a flavor independent effective interaction.

An exactly soluble multiatom-multiphoton coupling model

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

Design of a simplified neuro-fuzzy system based on CMAC Architectures

This work presents the design of a fuzzy controller with simplified architecture that use an artificial neural network working as the aggregation operator for several active fuzzy rules. The simplified architecture of the fuzzy controller is used to minimize the time processing used in the closed loop system operation, the basic procedures of fuzzification are simplified to maximum while all the inference procedures are computed in a private way. As consequence, this simplified architecture allows a fast and easy configuration of the simplified fuzzy controller. The structuring of the fuzzy rules that define the control actions is previously computed using an artificial neural network based on CMAC Cerebellar Model Articulation Controller. The operational limits are standardized and all the control actions are previously calculated and stored in memory. For applications, results and conclusions several configurations of this fuzzy controller are considered.

Spectroscopic investigation of a new hybrid glass formed by the interaction between croconate ion and calcium polyphosphate

In this work, a new organic-inorganic hybrid material has been synthesized by the incorporation of croconate ion into a calcium polyphosphate coacervate. The hybrid so obtained was characterized by means of electronic and vibrational spectroscopies. The material is a homogeneous mixture described by a structural model, which includes helical chains of polyphosphate ions, where the calcium ion occupies the internal vacancies of the structure. The croconate ion appears to be occupying the regions outside the polymeric structure, surrounded by several water molecules. The electronic spectrum of the incorporated material shows a broad band peaking at the same wavelength region (363 nm) observed for the aqueous solution of croconate ion, and manifesting the Jahn-Teller effect as evidenced by the doublet structure of the band. The infrared spectrum is widely dominated by the absorption bands of the polyphosphate ion and the appearance of the carbonyl stretching band at ca. 1550 cm(-1) indicates the presence of croconate ion incorporated in the structure. The Raman spectrum of the material shows several vibrational bands related to the oxocarbon moiety; most of them are shifted in comparison with the free ion. These shifts can be understood in terms of strong hydrogen bonding interactions between water molecules and the oxocarbon moiety. The low temperature methodology proposed here can be well used in the preparation of new phosphate glasses containing organic moieties opening the route to an entirely new class of hybrid glasses. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.

On non-ideal simple portal frame structural model: Experimental results under a non-ideal excitation

We present measurements of the non-linear oscillations of a portal frame foundation for a non-ideal motor. We consider a three-time redundant structure with two columns, clamped in their bases and a horizontal beam. An electrical unbalanced motor is mounted at mid span of the beam. Two non-linear phenomena are studied: a) mode saturation and energy transfer between modes; b) interaction between high amplitude motions of the structure and the rotation regime of a real limited power motor. The dynamic characteristics of the structure were chosen to have one-to-two internal resonance between the anti-symmetrical mode (sway motions) and the first symmetrical mode natural frequencies. As the excitation frequency reaches near resonance conditions with the 2nd natural frequency, the amplitude of this mode grows up to a certain level and then it saturates. The surplus energy pumped into the system is transferred to the sway mode, which experiences a sudden increase in its amplitude. Energy is transformed from low amplitude high frequency motion into high amplitude low frequency motion. Such a transformation is potentially dangerous.We consider the fact that real motors, such as the one used in this study, have limited power output. In this case, this energy source is said to be non-ideal, in contrast to the ideal source whose amplitude and frequency are independent of the motion of the structure. Our experimental research detected the Sommerfeld Effect: as the motor accelerates to reach near resonant conditions, a considerable part of its output energy is consumed to generate large amplitude motions of the structure and not to increase its own angular speed. For certain parameters of the system, the motor can get stuck at resonance not having enough power to reach higher rotation regimes. If some more power is available, jump phenomena may occur from near resonance to considerably higher motor speed regimes, no stable motions being possible between these two.

Neutrophil interaction with inflamed postcapillary venule endothelium alters annexin 1 expression

Annexin 1 (ANX-A1) exerts antimigratory actions in several models of acute and chronic inflammation, This is related to its ability to mimic the effect of endogenous ANX-A1 that is externalized on neutrophil adhesion to the postcapillary endothelium. In the present study we monitored ANX-A1 expression and localization in intravascular and emigrated neutrophils, using a classical model of rat peritonitis, For this purpose, a pair of antibodies raised against the ANX-A1 N-terminus tie, able to recognize intact ANX-A1) or the whole protein tie, able to interact with all ANX-A1 isoforms) was used by immunofluorescence and immunocytochemistry analyses. The majority (similar to 50%) of ANX-A1 on the plasma membrane of intravascular neutrophils was intact. Extravasation into the subendothelial matrix caused loss of this pool of intact protein (to similar to6%), concomitant with an increase in total amount of the protein; only similar to 25% of the total protein was now recognized by the antibody raised against the N-terminus tie, it was intact). In the cytoplasm of these cells, ANX-A1 was predominantly associated with large vacuoles, possibly endosomes, In situ hybridization confirmed de novo synthesis of ANX-A1 in the extravasated cells. In conclusion, biochemical pathways leading to the externalization, proteolysis, and synthesis of ANX-A1 are activated during the process of neutrophil extravasation.

Toward a global description of the nucleus-nucleus interaction

Extensive systematizations of theoretical and experimental nuclear densities and of optical potential strengths extracted from heavy-ion elastic scattering data analyses at low and intermediate energies are presented. The energy dependence of the nuclear potential is accounted for within a model based on the nonlocal nature of the interaction. The systematics indicates that the heavy-ion nuclear potential can be described in a simple global way through a double-folding shape, which basically depends only on the density of nucleons of the partners in the collision. The possibility of extracting information about the nucleon-nucleon interaction from the heavy-ion potential is investigated.

Ghost poles in the nucleon propagator in the linear sigma model approach and its role in pi N low-energy theorems

Complex mass poles, or ghost poles, are present in the Hartree-Fock solution of the Schwinger-Dyson equation for the nucleon propagator in renormalizable models with Yukawa-type meson-nucleon couplings, as shown many years ago by Brown, Puff and Wilets (BPW), These ghosts violate basic theorems of quantum field theory and their origin is related to the ultraviolet behavior of the model interactions, Recently, Krein et.al, proved that the ghosts disappear when vertex corrections are included in a self-consistent way, softening the interaction sufficiently in the ultraviolet region. In previous studies of pi N scattering using ''dressed'' nucleon propagator and bare vertices, did by Nutt and Wilets in the 70's (NW), it was found that if these poles are explicitly included, the value of the isospin-even amplitude A((+)) is satisfied within 20% at threshold. The absence of a theoretical explanation for the ghosts and the lack of chiral symmetry in these previous studies led us to re-investigate the subject using the approach of the linear sigma-model and study the interplay of low-energy theorems for pi N scattering and ghost poles. For bare interaction vertices we find that ghosts are present in this model as well and that the A((+)) value is badly described, As a first approach to remove these complex poles, we dress the vertices with phenomenological form factors and a reasonable agreement with experiment is achieved, In order to fix the two cutoff parameters, we use the A((+)) value for the chiral limit (m(pi) --> 0) and the experimental value of the isoscalar scattering length, Finally, we test our model by calculating the phase shifts for the S waves and we find a good agreement at threshold. (C) 1997 Elsevier B.V. B.V.

Charge-orbital ordering and phase separation in the two-orbital model for manganites: Roles of Jahn-Teller phononic and Coulombic interactions

The main properties of realistic models for manganites are studied using analytic mean-field approximations and computational numerical methods, focusing on the two-orbital model with electrons interacting through Jahn-Teller (JT) phonons and/or Coulombic repulsions. Analyzing the model including both interactions by the combination of the mean-field approximation and the exact diagonalization method, it is argued that the spin-charge-orbital structure in the insulating phase of the purely JT-phononic model with a large Hund couphng J(H) is not qualitatively changed by the inclusion of the Coulomb interactions. As an important application of the present mean-held approximation, the CE-type antiferromagnetic state, the charge-stacked structure along the z axis, and (3x(2) - r(2))/(3y(2) - r(2))-type orbital ordering are successfully reproduced based on the JT-phononic model with large JH for the half-doped manganite, in agreement with recent Monte Carlo simulation results. Topological arguments and the relevance of the Heisenberg exchange among localized t(2g) spins explains why the inclusion of the nearest-neighbor Coulomb interaction does not destroy the charge stacking structure. It is also verified that the phase-separation tendency is observed both in purely JT-phononic (large JH) and purely Coulombic models in the vicinity of the hole undoped region, as long as realistic hopping matrices are used. This highlights the qualitative similarities of both approaches and the relevance of mixed-phase tendencies in the context of manganites. In addition, the rich and complex phase diagram of the two-orbital Coulombic model in one dimension is presented. Our results provide robust evidence that Coulombic and JT-phononic approaches to manganites are not qualitatively different ways to carry out theoretical calculations, but they share a variety of common features.

LATTICE-DYNAMICS OF ALKALI-METALS IN A 3-BODY INTERACTION

The original model of Das et al. is modified in extending the electron-ion interaction on a three-body forces and including the crystal equilibrium condition to reduce one independent parameter. We studied the phonon dispersion relations along the three principal symmetry directions i.e. [xi, 0, 0], [xi, xi, 0] and [xi, xi, xi] and theta-T curves of alkali metals, Na, K, Rb, Cs and Li. There is close agreement between the computed results and the experimental observations.

A new biophysics approach using photoacoustic spectroscopy to study the DNA-ethidium bromide interaction

We have examined the binding processes of ethidium bromide interacting with calf thymus DNA using photoacoustic spectroscopy. These binding processes are generally investigated by a combination of absorption or fluorescence spectroscopies with hydrodynamic techniques. The employment of photoacoustic spectroscopy for the DNA-ethidium bromide system identified two binding manners for the dye. The presence of two isosbestic points (522 and 498 nm) during DNA titration was evidence of these binding modes. Analysis of the photoacoustic amplitude signal data was performed using the McGhee-von Hippel excluded site model. The binding constant obtained was 3.4 x 10(8) M(bp)(-1), and the number of base pairs excluded to another dye molecule by each bound dye molecule (n) was 2. A DNA drug dissociation process was applied using sodium dodecyl sulfate to elucidate the existence of a second and weaker binding mode. The dissociation constant determined was 0.43 mM, whose inverse value was less than the previously obtained binding constant, demonstrating the existence of the weaker binding mode. The calculated binding constant was adjusted by considering the dissociation constant and its new value was 1.2 x 10(9) M(bp)(-1) and the number of excluded sites was 2.6. Using the photoacoustic technique it is also possible to obtain results regarding the dependence of the quantum yield of the dye on its binding mode. While intercalated between two adjacent base pairs the quantum yield found was 0.87 and when associated with an external site it was 0.04. These results reinforce the presence of these two binding processes and show that photoacoustic spectroscopy is more extensive than commonly applied spectroscopies.

Differential gene expression by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis in host interaction conditions: Representational difference analysis identifies candidate genes associated with fungal pathogenesis

Paracoccidioides brasiliensis causes infection by the host inhalation of airborne propagules of the mycelia phase of the fungus. These particles reach the lungs, and disseminate to virtually all organs. Here we describe the identification of differentially expressed genes in studies of host-fungus interaction. We analyzed two cDNA populations of P. brasiliensis, one obtained from infected animals and the other an admixture of fungus and human blood thus mimicking the hematologic events of the fungal dissemination. Our analysis identified transcripts differentially expressed. Genes related to iron acquisition, melanin synthesis and cell defense were specially upregulated in the mouse model of infection. The upregulated transcripts of yeast cells during incubation with human blood were those predominantly related to cell wall remodeling/synthesis. The expression pattern of genes was independently confirmed in host conditions, revealing their potential role in the infection process. This work can facilitate functional studies of novel regulated genes that may be important for the survival and growth strategies of P. brasiliensis in humans. (c) 2006 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.