Reciprocal Relations Between Kinetic Curves

We study coupled irreversible processes. For linear or linearized kinetics with microreversibility, $\dot{x}=Kx$, the kinetic operator $K$ is symmetric in the entropic inner product. This form of Onsager's reciprocal relations implies that the shift in time, $\exp (Kt)$, is also a symmetric operator. This generates the reciprocity relations between the kinetic curves. For example, for the Master equation, if we start the process from the $i$th pure state and measure the probability $p_j(t)$ of the $j$th state ($j\neq i$), and, similarly, measure $p_i(t)$ for the process, which starts at the $j$th pure state, then the ratio of these two probabilities $p_j(t)/p_i(t)$ is constant in time and coincides with the ratio of the equilibrium probabilities. We study similar and more general reciprocal relations between the kinetic curves. The experimental evidence provided as an example is from the reversible water gas shift reaction over iron oxide catalyst. The experimental data are obtained using Temporal Analysis of Products (TAP) pulse-response studies. These offer excellent confirmation within the experimental error.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figure, the final versio

A kg-mass prototype demonstrator for DUAL gravitational wave detector: opto-mechanical excitation and cooling

The next generation of gravitational wave (gw) detectors is expected to fully enter into the quantum regime of force and displacement detection. With this aim, it is important to scale up the experiments on opto-mechanical effects from the microscopic regime to large mass systems and test the schemes that should be applied to reach the quantum regime of detection. In this work we present the experimental characterization of a prototype of massive gw detector, composed of two oscillators with a mass of the order of the kg, whose distance is read by a high finesse optical cavity. The mechanical response function is measured by exciting the oscillators though modulated radiation pressure. We demonstrate two effects crucial for the next generation of massive, cryogenic gw detectors (DUAL detectors): a) the reduction of the contribution of 'local' susceptibility thanks to an average over a large interrogation area. Such effect is measured on the photo-thermal response thanks to the first implementation of a folded-Fabry-Perot cavity; b) the 'back-action reduction' due to negative interference between acoustic modes. Moreover, we obtain the active cooling of an oscillation mode through radiation pressure, on the described mechanical device which is several orders of magnitude heavier than previously demonstrated radiation-pressure cooled systems

Calibração de um lisímetro simplificado de pesagem.

O crescente uso da água e a redução de sua disponibilidade têm se tornado preocupação cada vez maior em todo o mundo. Em termos mundiais, a agricultura é responsável pela utilização de 70% da água doce consumida no planeta, por isso tem sido alvo de crítica pela sociedade demandando que sua utilização seja da forma mais racional possível. O presente trabalho tem como objetivo a construção e calibração de um lisímetro de pesagem em solo não vegetado de custo reduzido

Parametrização de um modelo para estimativa da produtividade de soja para as regiões sul e centro-oeste do Brasil.

A produtividade de qualquer cultivo agrícola é resultado da interação genótipo e ambiente. No Brasil, cerca de 95% das indenizações pagas pelos instrumentos públicos de seguridade agrícola do Brasil estão relacionados à seca ou aos eventos de à chuva em excesso, mostrando sua importância. Na cultura de soja há dois períodos críticos no caso de déficit hídrico: da semeadura à emergência e no enchimento dos grãos. Em se tratando de um país como o Brasil cuja dimensão é continental e o cultivo de soja é nacional, a utilização de modelos que permitam obter estimativas confiáveis, rápidas e que necessitem de poucos dados operacionais são essenciais para seu gerenciamento. Usando o Modelo da Zona Agroecológica (MZA) foi feita a estimativa da produtividade de soja, a fim de se utilizar dados de fácil obtenção e que permitissem sua utilização em diversas localidades. O modelo foi avaliado para as condições das regiões Sul e Centro-Oeste entre as safras entre 2002 a 2006. Comparou-se as estimativas com os dados experimentais, verificando-se o bom desempenho do método para as regiões estudadas, com R²=0,54 numa análise global, mas com R²=0,97 para Dourados (MS) e R²=0,70 para Londrina (PR).CBA 2009

Long-term <i>hm</i>F2 trends in the Eurasian longitudinal sector from the ground-based ionosonde observations

International audienceThe method earlier used for the foF2 long-term trends analysis is applied to reveal hmF2 long-term trends at 27 ionosonde stations in the European and Asian longitudinal sectors. Observed M(3000)F2 data for the last 3 solar cycles are used to derive hmF2 trends. The majority of the studied stations show significant hmF2 linear trends with a confidence level of at least 95% for the period after 1965, with most of these trends being positive. No systematic variation of the trend magnitude with latitude is revealed, but some longitudinal effect does take place. The proposed geomagnetic storm concept to explain hmF2 long-term trends proceeds from a natural origin of the trends rather than an artificial one related to the thermosphere cooling due to the greenhouse effect

Evidence for a Role of Oxidative Stress in the Carcinogenicity of Ochratoxin A

The in vitro and in vivo evidence compatible with a role for oxidative stress in OTA carcinogenicity has been collected and described. Several potential oxido-reduction mechanisms have been identified in the past. More recently, the possibility of a reduction of cellular antioxidant defense has been raised as an indirect source of oxidative stress. Consequences resulting from the production of oxidative stress are observed at different levels. First, OTA exposure has been associated with increased levels of oxidative DNA, lipid, and protein damage. Second, various biological processes known to be mobilized under oxidative stress were shown to be altered by OTA. These effects have been observed in both in vitro and in vivo test systems. In vivo, active doses were often within doses documented to induce renal tumors in rats. In conclusion, the evidence for the induction of an oxidative stress response resulting from OTA exposure can be considered strong. Because the contribution of the oxidative stress response in the development of cancers is well established, a role in OTA carcinogenicity is plausible. Altogether, the data reviewed above support the application of a threshold-based approach to establish safe level of dietary human exposure to OTA

Image of The Communist Party of The Russian Federation as Viewed by Russian Students: Factor Semantic Reconstruction

The article presents the results of the semantic reconstruction of the image of a political party (the Communist Party of the Russian Federation) as viewed by students of classical and technical universities. This reconstruction allows determining the structure of political thinking typical of the Russian youth. To study students' beliefs and ideas, the authors of the article use the method of semantic differential. The article is based on a unipolar 50-scale semantic differential entitled "political party" and developed by V.V. Kalita and E.B. Marin to evaluate the properties of political parties. The evaluation results were subject to factor analysis in conformity with the method described by V.P. Serkin. The factor analysis of the data determines the evaluation structure used by respondents in relation to the Communist Party of the Russian Federation. The key axes for evaluating parties are the axes of "pride" and "fear". They contain basic criteria for evaluating parties. These axes, or evaluation criteria, reflect the key categories of political thinking common to the Russian youth. The study results can help develop youth policies of parties and government, as well as contribute to the further study of political ideas common to the Russian youth

Aplicação de cartas controle para avaliar resultados na verificação de balanças.

Resumo: A carta controle é um tipo de gráfico que pode ser utilizado para monitorar e controlar diversos tipos de análises. Na verificação de balanças o objetivo é monitorar, por meio de gráfico, se não ocorreu nenhum desvio significativo dos valores de massa obtidos no intervalo da calibração, além das tendencias de resultados para tomada de ações preventivas, garantindo a rastreabilidade e confiabilidade dos resultados analíticos. A elaboração, implementação e uso de cartas controle na verificação intermediária de balança analítica no Laboratório de Resíduos e Contaminantes na Embrapa Meio Ambiente, utilizando o programa Microsoft Excel, permite o controle estatístico das características da balança de modo que não se modifique até a próxima calibração, mantendo seu certificado válido. Neste trabalho, visamos à verificação da balança analítica Scientech SA210, para detectar tendências negativas nos trabalhos analíticos que possam ocorrer durante o intervalo da calibração

Hydrogen atom in a spherical well: linear approximation

We discuss the boundary effects on a quantum system by examining the problem of a hydrogen atom in a spherical well. By using an approximation method which is linear in energy we calculate the boundary corrections to the ground-state energy and wave function. We obtain the asymptotic dependence of the ground-state energy on the radius of the well.Comment: Revised version to appear in European Journal of Physic

Quantitative screening of an extended oxidative coupling of methane catalyst library

A comprehensive microkinetic model, including catalyst descriptors, that accounts for the homogeneous as well as heterogeneously catalyzed reaction steps in Oxidative Coupling of Methane (OCM) was used in the assessment of large kinetic datasets acquired on five different catalytic materials. The applicability of the model was extended from alkali magnesia catalysts represented by Li/MgO and Sn-Li/MgO and alkaline earth lanthana catalysts represented by Sr/La2O3 to rare earth-promoted alkaline earth calcium oxide catalysts, represented by LaSr/CaO, and to a Na-Mn-W/SiO2 catalyst. The model succeeded in adequately simulating the performance of all five investigated catalysts in terms of reactant conversion and product selectivities in the entire range of experimental conditions. It was found that the activity of Sr/La2O3, in terms of methane conversion, is approximately 2, 5, 30 and 33 times higher than over the La-Sr/CaO, Sn-Li/MgO, Na-Mn-W/SiO2 and Li/MgO catalysts, respectively, under identical operating conditions. This was attributed mainly to the high stability of adsorbed hydroxyls, the high stability of adsorbed oxygen and the high concentration of active sites of Sr/La2O3. The selectivity towards C2 products was found to depend on the methyl radical sticking coefficient and the stability of the adsorbed oxygen and was the highest on the Na-W-Mn/SiO2 catalyst, that is 75% at about 1% methane conversion and 1023 K, 190 kPa and inlet molar CH4/O2 ratio of 4