Dielectric boundary effects on the interaction between planar charged surfaces with counterions only

Using Monte Carlo simulations in conjunction with periodic Green’s function methods, we study the interaction between planar charged surfaces with point-like counterions only in the presence of dielectric boundaries. Based on the calculated pressure profiles, we derive phase diagrams featuring correlation-induced negative pressure and thus attraction between the plates for large coupling parameters, i.e., low temperature or high surface charge and high ion valency. The counterion density profiles for low-dielectric and high-dielectric (metallic) surfaces are very different from the idealized case of a homogeneous dielectric constant. By contrast, the phase diagrams including the critical point and the two-phase coexistence region are rather insensitive to the presence of dielectric boundary effects. The single-image approximation that has been used in simulations before is by comparison with the exact formalism shown to be very accurate for low-dielectric surfaces but not for metallic surfaces

Dielectric boundary effects on the interaction between planar charged surfaces with counterions only

Using Monte Carlo simulations in conjunction with periodic Green’s function methods, we study the interaction between planar charged surfaces with point-like counterions only in the presence of dielectric boundaries. Based on the calculated pressure profiles, we derive phase diagrams featuring correlation-induced negative pressure and thus attraction between the plates for large coupling parameters, i.e., low temperature or high surface charge and high ion valency. The counterion density profiles for low-dielectric and high-dielectric (metallic) surfaces are very different from the idealized case of a homogeneous dielectric constant. By contrast, the phase diagrams including the critical point and the two-phase coexistence region are rather insensitive to the presence of dielectric boundary effects. The single-image approximation that has been used in simulations before is by comparison with the exact formalism shown to be very accurate for low-dielectric surfaces but not for metallic surfaces

COMFORT SEAT MODULE - FIRST CLASS COMFORT FOR ALL

The Comfort Seat Module (CSM) is a project developed in the scope of the EDAM focus area of the MIT – Portugal program, within the Product Design and Development course. The team members involved in the project come from several Engineering backgrounds and includes research students and engineering professionals, from different geographical origins. In this project the team had the purpose of designing and developing a solution, from idea into concept and then onto a valid product that could potentially be produced and even marketed. In parallel, the objective was to train the product development competences and team’s working skills as much as possible, considering the physical distance between the team members.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Consistent description of ion-specificity in bulk and at interfaces by solvent implicit simulations and mean-field theory

Solvent-implicit Monte Carlo (MC) simulations and mean-field theory are used to predict activity coefficients and excess interfacial tensions for NaF, NaCl, NaI, KF, KCl, and KI solutions in good agreement with experimental data over the entire experimentally available concentration range. The effective ionic diameters of the solvent-implicit simulation model are obtained by fits to experimental activity coefficient data. The experimental activity coefficients at high salt concentrations are only reproduced if the ion-specific concentration-dependent decrement of the dielectric constant is included. The dielectric-constant dependent contribution of the single-ion solvation free energy to the activity coefficient is significant and is included. To account for the ion-specific excess interfacial tension of salt solutions, in addition to nonideal solution effects and the salt-concentration-dependent dielectric decrement, an ion-specific ion–interface interaction must be included. This ion–interface interaction, which acts in addition to the dielectric image-charge repulsion, is modeled as a box potential, is considerably more long-ranged than the ion radius, and is repulsive for all ions considered except iodide, in agreement with previous findings and arguments. By comparing different models that include or exclude bulk non-ideal solution behavior, dielectric decrement effects, and ion– interface interaction potentials, we demonstrate how bulk and interfacial ion-specific effects couple and partially compensate each other. Our MC simulations, which correctly include ionic correlations and interfacial dielectric image-charge repulsion, are used to determine effective ion–surface interaction potentials that can be used in a modified Poisson–Boltzmann theory

Consistent description of ion-specificity in bulk and at interfaces by solvent implicit simulations and mean-field theory

Solvent-implicit Monte Carlo (MC) simulations and mean-field theory are used to predict activity coefficients and excess interfacial tensions for NaF, NaCl, NaI, KF, KCl, and KI solutions in good agreement with experimental data over the entire experimentally available concentration range. The effective ionic diameters of the solvent-implicit simulation model are obtained by fits to experimental activity coefficient data. The experimental activity coefficients at high salt concentrations are only reproduced if the ion-specific concentration-dependent decrement of the dielectric constant is included. The dielectric-constant dependent contribution of the single-ion solvation free energy to the activity coefficient is significant and is included. To account for the ion-specific excess interfacial tension of salt solutions, in addition to non-ideal solution effects and the salt-concentration-dependent dielectric decrement, an ion-specific ion–interface interaction must be included. This ion–interface interaction, which acts in addition to the dielectric image-charge repulsion, is modeled as a box potential, is considerably more long-ranged than the ion radius, and is repulsive for all ions considered except iodide, in agreement with previous findings and arguments. By comparing different models that include or exclude bulk non-ideal solution behavior, dielectric decrement effects, and ion–interface interaction potentials, we demonstrate how bulk and interfacial ion-specific effects couple and partially compensate each other. Our MC simulations, which correctly include ionic correlations and interfacial dielectric image-charge repulsion, are used to determine effective ion–surface interaction potentials that can be used in a modified Poisson–Boltzmann theory

Equation of state of charged colloidal suspensions and its dependence on the thermodynamic route

The thermodynamic properties of highly charged colloidal suspensions in contact with a salt reservoir are investigated in the framework of the Renormalized Jellium Model (RJM). It is found that the equation of state is very sensitive to the particular thermodynamic route used to obtain it. Specifically, the osmotic pressure calculated within the RJM using the contact value theorem can be very different from the pressure calculated using the Kirkwood-Buff fluctuation relations. On the other hand, Monte Carlo (MC) simulations show that both the effective pair potentials and the correlation functions are accurately predicted by the RJM. It is suggested that the lack of self-consistency in the thermodynamics of the RJM is a result of neglected electrostatic correlations between the counterions and coions

Princípios gerais de culturas de células e citometria de fluxo para avaliação dos efeitos da radiação ionizante

Este relatório tem por objectivos expor em os princípios gerais de cultura de células e da citometria de fluxo para análise dos efeitos da radiação ionizante em culturas de células. Assim, conceitos relacionados com culturas de células, incluindo tipos de culturas e vantagens e desvantagens, são expostos no presente relatório. Adicionalmente, o princípio da técnica de citometria de fluxo, bem como, o seu uso em estudos dos efeitos da radiação ionizante em culturas de células, são igualmente apresentados.This report aims to explain in the basic principles of cells culture and flow citometry for the study of ionizing radiation effects on cells culture. Thus, subjects such as cells culture type and advantages/disadvantages of cells culture are explained. Additionally, basic principles of flow citometry, as well as, its applicability for the study of ionizing radiation effects on cell culture are also presented

Managing patients with dengue fever during an epidemic: the importance of a hydration tent and of a multidisciplinary approach

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Dengue fever is one of the most common tropical diseases worldwide. Early detection of the disease, followed by intravenous fluid therapy in patients with dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) or with warning signs of dengue has a major impact on the prognosis. The purpose of this study is to describe the care provided in a hydration tent, including early detection, treatment, and serial follow-up of patients with dengue fever.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>The analysis included all patients treated in the hydration tent from April 8 to May 9, 2008. The tent was set up inside the premises of the 2^ndMilitary Firemen Group, located in Meier, a neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The case form data were stored in a computerized database for subsequent assessment. Patients were referred to the tent from primary care units and from secondary city and state hospitals. The routine procedure consisted of an initial screening including vital signs (temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate), tourniquet test and blood sampling for complete blood count. Over a 31-day period, 3,393 case recordings were seen at the hydration tent. The mean was 109 patients per day. A total of 2,102 initial visits and 1,291 return visits were conducted. Of the patients who returned to the hydration tent for reevaluation, 850 returned once, 230 returned twice, 114 returned three times, and 97 returned four times or more. Overall, 93 (5.3%) patients with DHF seen at the tent were transferred to a tertiary hospital. There were no deaths among these patients.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>As the epidemics were already widespread and there were no technical conditions for routine serology, all cases of suspected dengue fever were treated as such. Implementing hydration tents decrease the number of dengue fever hospitalizations.</p

The revolving door : evidence from the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Belgium, Greece and Brazil

The following study analyses the academic background and careers of 175 members of Governments and Central Banks of seven countries (Belgium, Brazil, France, Germany, Greece, Spain and United Kingdom) for the years 1975 and 2015, in order to verify whether the “Revolving Door Theory” can be applied to these cases. After some research on the curricula vitae of the members of Governments and Central Banks, we found that, for instance, that more Government and Central Bank members studied abroad for the case of the UK and US than for the other countries. We also found that it is more common for Central Bank executive members to obtain PhDs than it is the case for Government members. Moreover, external promotions in the Central Banks in 1975 were quite relevant but no cases were registered for 2015; for Governments, the trend was the exact opposite, no external promotions in 1975 but many cases in 2015. While it is not possible to find irrefutable evidence to sustain the Revolving Door hypothesis, it is still possible to find recurrent patterns in different countries that may be explained by that theory. More expanded databases and a larger selection of countries is required for that analysis

A 2d model of the dynamic of the collision: i2-polymeric liquid surfaces of perfluorinatedpolyether (PFPE), polydimetilsiloxane (PDMS) and squalane

Este artigo apresenta um modelo em duas dimensões para o espalhamento de I 2 pela superfície de líquidos poliméricos: poliéterperfluorado (PFPE), polidimentilsiloxano (PDMS) e esqualano. A função energia potencial adotada para descrever a interação do gás com a superfície líquida formulada é do tipo LEPS. Cada molécula diatômica I 2 e o potencial I-superfície são representados como uma função de Morse, com parâmetros ajustados de dados experimentais do espalhamento sobre as referidas superfícies. A superfície líquida foi modelada como um oscilador harmônico bidimensional. Os resultados obtidos com este modelo simplificado da superfície reproduzem, satisfatoriamente, os dados experimentais da dinâmica do espalhamento, em que os processos de espalhamento inelástico e captura e desorção são caraterizados. A temperatura vibracional da molécula de I 2 espalhada foi determinada em concordância com os resultados experimentais. _________________________________________________________________________________ABSTRACT: This paper presents two dimension classical trajectory calculations for the scattering of an I 2 molecule in the liquid polymeric surfaces of perfluorinatedpolyether (PFPE), polydimethyl-siloxane (PDMS) and squalane. The potential function describing the interaction of the gas molecule with the liquid surface is formulated as a modified LEPS potential. Each diatomic I 2 molecule and the I-surface potential are represented as a Morse function, with parameters adjusted from experimental data of scattering experiments. The surface was modeled as a typical effective mass with two harmonic vibrational degrees of freedom. This dynamics of the scattering process is in good agreement with experimental dynamical data. The experimentally observed inelastic scattering (IS) and the trapping and desorption (TD) processes were characterized and the determined I 2 vibrational temperatures showed good agreement with experimental values