Simulation of gas-phase nanoparticle dynamics in the plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition of carbon nanostructures

The results of 1D simulation of nanoparticle dynamics in the areas adjacent to nanostructured carbon-based films exposed to chemically active complex plasma of CH4 + H2 + Ar gas mixtures are presented. The nanoparticle-loaded near-substrate (including sheath and presheath) areas of a low-frequency (0.5 MHz) inductively coupled plasma facility for the PECVD growth of the ordered carbon-based nanotip structures are considered. The conditions allowing one to predict the size of particles that can pass through the plasma sheath and softly land onto the surface are formulated. The possibility of soft nano-cluster deposition without any additional acceleration common for some existing nano-cluster deposition schemes is demonstrated. The effect of the substrate heating power and the average atomic mass of neutral species is studied numerically and verified experimentally.

Circuito de la corriente alterna con resistencia aÑy autoinducción (Equipo Torres Quevedo).

Acompaña a la experiencia un gráfico representativo y una ilustración del circuito desarrollado

Diferenças sazonais no padrão endócrino e ovariano do ciclo estral de novilhas bos taurus indicus (Nelore)

Estrous cycle of eight Nelore heifers were evaluated during different seasons of the year (autumn n=11; winter n=8; spring n=9 and summer n=9) with daily count and measurement of follicles ≥3mm, blood was collected every 12h for LH and progesterone (P4), and after estrous every 3h for LH peak. Five ovariectomized heifers were injected with 17β-estradiol (2μg/kg) every season and blood samples collected every 3h (for 30h) thereafter for LH quantification. The monthly percent body weight difference (Δ%) did not vary among seasons. P4 concentration was higher (p<0.01) and follicle number lower during autumn and summer compared to winter and spring. During winter there were more estrous cycles with three and during summer only cycles with two follicular waves (p<0.01). As LH secretion did not vary despite P4 concentration and as there was negative correlation between higher P4 values and daily percentile variation of photoperiod (Δ%, p<0.01; r= -0.45) it is possible to suppose that there is seasonal variation on luteal cell sensitivity to LH. In the ovariectomized Nelore heifers, the LH basal concentration (without estradiol stimulus, p=0.02) and the LH response to estradiol (p<0.01) were lower during summer, leading to the hypothesis that there is seasonal variation of hypothalamic sensitivity to estradiol. According to the present experiment there are suggestions of seasonal reproduction in Nelore heifers.

Late Glacial and Holocene vegetational changes on the Ulagan high-mountain plateau, Altai Mountains, southern Siberia

Three well-dated pollen diagrams from 1985 m, 2050 m, and at the tree line at 2150 m asl show the vegetational succession in the central Altai Mountains since 16 cal ka BP. Pioneer vegetation after deglaciation was recorded first at the lowest site. Subsequently, dense dry steppe vegetation developed coincident with the change from silt to organic sediments at the two lower sites, but silt lasted longer at the highest site, indicating the persistence of bare ground there. Forests of Pinus sibirica, Pinus sylvestris, Picea obovata, Larix sibirica, Abies sibirica, and Betula pendula started to develop about 12 cal ka BP with the change to a warmer and wetter climate at the beginning of the Holocene. Results indicate that the timberline did not rise above the highest site. Mesophilous dark-coniferous forests were fully developed by 9.5 cal ka BP. The role of Abies and Picea decreased by about 7.5 cal ka BP suggesting cooler climate, after which the forests changed little until today. The vegetational development in this portion of the central Altai Mountains is compatible with that described in neighbouring areas of the Altai, southern Siberia, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan.