Global dynamics of stationary solutions of the extended Fisher-Kolmogorov equation

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Fluoxetine Inhibits Inflammatory Response and Bone Loss in a Rat Model of Ligature-Induced Periodontitis

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

Critical temperature for first-order phase transitions in confined systems

We consider the Euclidean D-dimensional -lambda vertical bar phi vertical bar(4)+eta vertical bar rho vertical bar(6) (lambda,eta > 0) model with d (d <= D) compactified dimensions. Introducing temperature by means of the Ginzburg-Landau prescription in the mass term of the Hamiltonian, this model can be interpreted as describing a first-order phase transition for a system in a region of the D-dimensional space, limited by d pairs of parallel planes, orthogonal to the coordinates axis x(1), x(2),..., x(d). The planes in each pair are separated by distances L-1, L-2, ... , L-d. We obtain an expression for the transition temperature as a function of the size of the system, T-c({L-i}), i = 1, 2, ..., d. For D = 3 we particularize this formula, taking L-1 = L-2 = ... = L-d = L for the physically interesting cases d = 1 (a film), d = 2 (an infinitely long wire having a square cross-section), and for d = 3 (a cube). For completeness, the corresponding formulas for second-order transitions are also presented. Comparison with experimental data for superconducting films and wires shows qualitative agreement with our theoretical expressions.

Measurement of the differential cross section for the production of an isolated photon with associated jet in p(p)over-bar collisions at root s=1.96 TeV

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

Dimensional Compactification and Two-Particle Binding

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

Measurement of gamma + b + X and gamma + c + X Production Cross Sections in pp > Collisions at s=1.96 TeV

First measurements of the differential cross sections d(3)sigma/(dp(T)(gamma)dy(gamma)dy(jet)) for the inclusive production of a photon in association with a heavy quark (b, c) jet are presented, covering photon transverse momenta 30 < p(T)(gamma)< 150 GeV, photon rapidities |y(gamma)|< 1.0, jet rapidities |y(jet)|< 0.8, and jet transverse momenta p(T)(jet)> 15 GeV. The results are based on an integrated luminosity of 1 fb(-1) in pp collisions at s=1.96 TeV recorded with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. The results are compared with next-to-leading order perturbative QCD predictions.

A thermoporometry and small-angle x-ray scattering study of wet silica sonogels as the pore volume fraction is varied

Silica sonogels with different porosities were prepared by acid sono-hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane. Wet sonogels were studied using small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The DSC shows a broad thermal peak below the normal water melting point associated with the melting of confined ice nanocrystals, or nanoporosity. The nanopore size distribution was determined from the Gibbs-Thomson equation. As the porosity is increased, a second sharp DSC thermal peak with onset temperature at the water melting point is apparent, which was associated with the melting of ice macrocrystals, or macroporosity. The DSC result could be causing misinterpretation of the macroporosity because water may not be exactly confined in very feeble silica network regions in sonogels with high porosity. The structure of the wet gels can be described fairly well as mutually self-similar mass fractal structures with characteristic length. increasing from similar to 1.8 to similar to 5.4 nm and mass fractal dimension D diminishing discretely from similar to 2.6 to similar to 2.3 as the porosity increases in the range studied. More specifically, such a structure could be described using a two-parameter correlation function gamma(r) similar to r(D-3) exp(-r/xi), which is limited at larger scale by the cut-off distance xi but without a well-defined small scale cut-off distance, at least up to the maximum angular domain probed using SAXS in the present study.

Deformational evolution of a Cretaceous subduction complex: Elephant Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica

New structural data from Elephant Island and adjacent islands are presented with the objective to improve the understanding of subduction kinematics in the area northeast of the Antarctic Peninsula. on the island, a first deformation phase, D-1, produced a strong SL fabric with steep stretching and mineral lineations, partly defined by relatively high pressure minerals, such as crossite and glaucophane. D-1 is interpreted to record southward subduction along an E-W trench with respect to the present position of the island. A second phase, D-2, led to intense folding with steep E-W-trending axial surfaces. The local presence of sinistral C'-type sheer bands related to this phase and the oblique inclination of the L-2 stretching lineations are the main arguments to interpret this phase as representing oblique sinistral transpressive shear along steep, approximately E-W-trending shear zones, with the northern (Pacific) block going down with respect to the southern (Antarctic Peninsula) block. The sinistral strike-slip component may represent a trench-linked strike-slip movement as a consequence of oblique subduction. Lithostatic pressure decreased and temperature increased to peak values during D-2, interpreted to represent the collision of thickened oceanic crust with the active continental margin. The last deformation phase, D-3, is characterised by post-metamorphic kink bands, partially forming conjugate sets consistent with E-W shortening and N-S extension. The rock units that underlie the island probably rotated during D-3, in Cenozoic times, together with the trench, from an NE-SW to the present ENE-WSW position, during the progressive opening of the Scotia Sea. The similarity between the strain orientation of D-3 and that of the sinistral NE-SW Shackleton Fracture Zone is consistent with this interpretation. (C) 2000 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Characterization of micro-bubble size distribution and flow configuration in DAF contact zone by a non-intrusive image analysis system and tracer tests

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

Fatores genéticos e ambientais envolvidos na degeneração do disco intervertebral

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Effect of an experimental 4% titanium tetrafluoride varnish on dental erosion by a soft drink

Objectives: This in vitro study assessed the effect of an experimental 4%TiF4 varnish on enamel erosion.Methods: Sixty bovine enamel blocks were randomly allocated to each type of varnish:Duraphat((R)) -D (NaF, 2.26%F), Duofluorid((R))-F(NaF, 2.71% F), TiF4-T(2.45%F) and no-fluoride-P. After application of the varnishes, the blocks were subjected to six sequential pH cycles (cola drink for 10 min and artificial saliva for 50 min, each) per day, during 4 days. After the pH cycles, the blocks were maintained in artificial saliva for 18 h. Enamel alterations were determined in the 2nd and 4th days, using profilometry (wear) and microhardness (%SMHC) tests. Data were tested using ANOVA and Tukey's tests (p < 0.05).Results: the mean %SMHC (+/- S.D.) at the 2nd and 4th day was, respectively, D (-77.26 +/- 5.04(a) and -88.59 +/- 5.11(A)), F (-76.79 +/- 7.82(a) and -88.78 +/- 6.10(A)), T(-88.28 +/- 3.19(b) and -92.04 +/- 2.54(A,B)) and P (-87.96 +/- 2.23(b) and -94.15 +/- 1.14(B)). The mean wear (mu m +/- S.D.) at the 2nd and 4th day was, respectively, D (3.16 +/- 0.32(a) and 7.56 +/- 0.90(A)), F(3.35 +/- 0.78(a,b) and 7.92 +/- 0.98(A)), T (3.81 +/- 0.43(b) and 7.69 +/- 0.76(A)) and P (3.43 +/- 1.13(a,b) and 7.31 +/- 0.53(A)).Conclusions: the NaF varnishes reduced the softening, but had no effect on the reduction of the wear. The TiF4 varnish was not able to reduce the softening and wear. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Soft chemical deposition of BiFeO3 multiferroic thin films

BiFeO3 thin films free of secondary phases were obtained by the soft chemical solution on Pt(111)/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates after annealing at 500 degrees C for 2 h. The film grown in the (100) direction presented a remanent polarization P-r of 31 mu C/cm(2) at room temperature. Electrical measurements using both quasistatic hysteresis and pulsed polarization confirm the existence of ferroelectricity with a switched polarization of 60-70 mu C/cm(2), Delta P=(P-*-P). Low leakage conduction and an out-of-plane piezoelectric (d(3)) coefficient of 40 pm/V were obtained by the improvement of preparation technology.

COMPLEX KOHN VARIATIONAL PRINCIPLE FOR 2-NUCLEON BOUND-STATE AND SCATTERING WITH THE TENSOR POTENTIAL

Complex Kohn variational principle is applied to the numerical solution of the fully off-shell Lippmann-Schwinger equation for nucleon-nucleon scattering for various partial waves including the coupled S-3(1), D-3(1), channel. Analytic expressions are obtained for all the integrals in the method for a suitable choice of expansion functions. Calculations with the partial waves S-1(0), P-1(1), D-1(2), and S-3(1)-D-3(1) of the Reid soft core potential show that the method converges faster than other solution schemes not only for the phase shift but also for the off-shell t matrix elements. We also show that it is trivial to modify this variational principle in order to make it suitable for bound-state calculation. The bound-state approach is illustrated for the S-3(1)-D-3(1) channel of the Reid soft-core potential for calculating the deuteron binding, wave function, and the D state asymptotic parameters. (c) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.

Metamorphic evolution of a subduction complex, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica

A subduction complex composed of ocean floor material mixed with arc-derived metasediments crops out in the Elephant Island group and at Smith Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, with metamorphic ages of 120-80 Ma and 58-47 Ma? respectively. Seven metamorphic zones (I-VII) mapped on Elephant Island delineate a gradual increase in metamorphic grade from the pumpellyite-actinolite facies, through the crossite-epidote blueschist facies, to the lower amphibolite facies. Geothermometry in garnet-amphibole and garnet-biotite pairs yields temperatures of about 350 degrees C in zone III to about 525 degrees C in zone VII. Pressures were estimated on the basis of Si content in white mica, Al2O3 content in alkali amphibole, Na-M4/Al-IV in sodic-calcic and calcic amphibole, Al-VI/Si in calcic amphibole, and jadeite content in clinopyroxene. Mean values vary from about 6-7.5 kbar in zone II to about 5 kbar in zone VII. Results from the other islands of the Elephant Island group are comparable to those from the main island; Smith Island yielded slightly higher pressures, up to 8 kbar, with temperatures estimated between 300 and 350 degrees C. Zoned minerals and other textural indications locally enable inference of P-T-t trajectories, all with a clockwise evolution. A reconstruction in space and time of these P-T-t paths allows an estimate of the thermal structure in the upper crust during the two ductile deformation phases (D-1 & D-2) that affected the area. This thermal structure is in good agreement with the one expected for a subduction zone. The arrival and collision of thickened oceanic crust may have caused the accretion and preservation of the subduction complex. In this model, D-1 represents the subduction movements expressed by the first vector of the clockwise P-T-t path, D-2 reflects the collision corresponding to the second vector with increasing temperature and decreasing pressure, and D-3 corresponds to isostatic uplift accompanied by erosion, under circumstances of decreasing temperature and pressure.

Perturbative bosonization from two-point correlation functions

Here we address the problem of bosonizing massive fermions without making expansions in the fermion masses in both massive QED(2) and QED(3) with N fermion flavors including also a Thirring coupling. We start from two-point correlators involving the U(1) fermionic current and the gauge field. From the tensor structure of those correlators we prove that the U(1) current must be identically conserved (topological) in the corresponding bosonized theory in both D=2 and D=3 dimensions. We find an effective generating functional in terms of bosonic fields which reproduces these two-point correlators and from that we obtain a map of the Lagrangian density (ψ) over bar (r)(ipartial derivative-m)psi(r) into a bosonic one in both dimensions. This map is nonlocal but it is independent of the electromagnetic and Thirring couplings, at least in the quadratic approximation for the fermionic determinant.