Exact numerical diagonalization of one-dimensional interacting electrons nonadiabatically coupled to phonons

We study the role of non-adiabatic Holstein electron-phonon coupling on the neutral-ionic phase transition of charge transfer crystals which can be tuned from continuous to discontinuous, using exact numerical diagonalization. The variation of electronic properties through the transition is smoothed by nonadiabaticity. Lattice properties are strongly affected, and we observe both squeezing and antisqueezing, depending on details of the adiabatic potentials, and identify the quantum uncertainty of the phonons as the most sensitive measure of nonadiabaticity. The adiabatic limit is regular for a continuous transition but turns out completely inadequate near a discontinuous transition. The relevance of coherent state approaches is assessed critically.Comment: latex manuscript (7 pages), 3 eps figures; revised version, better discussion, one figure replaced; to be published in Europhys. Let

Zofenopril: Blood pressure control and cardio-protection

Current hypertension guidelines suggest various strategies to reduce blood pressure levels, thereby reducing cardiovascular events: combinations of drugs with different mechanisms of action, such as an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and a diuretic, are the cornerstone of the modern treatment of hypertension, also as initial therapy. Among ACEIs, zofenopril has been shown to be effective in the management of hypertension both as monotherapy and in combination with a diuretic: zofenopril/hydrochlorothiazide fixed dose combination is particularly useful to improve treatment adherence through simplification of treatment regimen. Moreover, thanks to the sulfhydryl group, zofenopril has some peculiar properties (higher lipophilicity and tissue penetration, lower bradykinin-dependent effect, higher affinity for, and more persistent binding to, tissue ACE, significant antioxidant effect), which may account for the cardioprotective effects of the drug demonstrated in both pre-clinical studies and randomized clinical trials. The positive impact of zofenopril on clinical outcomes has been extensively documented by the SMILE program, including several clinical trials in patients with different conditions of myocardial ischemia treated with zofenopril: the results of the SMILE program, demonstrating the benefits of zofenopril vs. placebo and other ACEIs, emphasize the importance of a differentiated approach to patients with ischemic heart disease, based on a careful choice of the adopted agent, in order to improve the overall impact of pharmacological treatment on clinical outcomes

Inverse Estimation of Temperature Profiles in Landfills Using Heat Recovery Fluids Measurements

In addition to leachate and gas emission analysis, temperature variations in municipal solid waste landfills are routinely monitored for safety and health reasons, such as the increased production of biogas or the danger of spontaneous combustion phenomena if the temperature exceeds 70–75°C. The increasing constraints on greenhouse gas emissions and the convenience of fuel and heat recovery have helped develop a global approach to landfills' operation and maintenance, generally referred to as bioreactor landfill management. The heat recovery piping we are presently designing can be a significant part of this approach. The heat gained by a fluid circulated in a closed network through the landfill is transferred to an external heat exchanger or used directly as warm water. Additionally, it can help reduce landfill temperature levels and control biogas generation. Since the pipes diameter is large enough to allow for a radial temperature gradient, this information can be used for an inverse estimation of the temperature profile in the landfill which constitutes the boundary conditions of the resulting heat transfer problem. In this paper, we describe an algorithm for regularising the resulting ill-posed free boundary estimation problem using sampled data of the heat recovery fluid on exiting the landfill

Simbol-X Hard X-ray Focusing Mirrors: Results Obtained During the Phase A Study

Simbol-X will push grazing incidence imaging up to 80 keV, providing a strong improvement both in sensitivity and angular resolution compared to all instruments that have operated so far above 10 keV. The superb hard X-ray imaging capability will be guaranteed by a mirror module of 100 electroformed Nickel shells with a multilayer reflecting coating. Here we will describe the technogical development and solutions adopted for the fabrication of the mirror module, that must guarantee an Half Energy Width (HEW) better than 20 arcsec from 0.5 up to 30 keV and a goal of 40 arcsec at 60 keV. During the phase A, terminated at the end of 2008, we have developed three engineering models with two, two and three shells, respectively. The most critical aspects in the development of the Simbol-X mirrors are i) the production of the 100 mandrels with very good surface quality within the timeline of the mission; ii) the replication of shells that must be very thin (a factor of 2 thinner than those of XMM-Newton) and still have very good image quality up to 80 keV; iii) the development of an integration process that allows us to integrate these very thin mirrors maintaining their intrinsic good image quality. The Phase A study has shown that we can fabricate the mandrels with the needed quality and that we have developed a valid integration process. The shells that we have produced so far have a quite good image quality, e.g. HEW <~30 arcsec at 30 keV, and effective area. However, we still need to make some improvements to reach the requirements. We will briefly present these results and discuss the possible improvements that we will investigate during phase B.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, invited talk at the conference "2nd International Simbol-X Symposium", Paris, 2-5 december, 200

Biomass production and accumulation of nutrients in shoots of Giant Guinea sorghum plants.

Choosing species with high phytomass production to be cropped in no tillage system is extremely important in dry winter regions. The purpose of this research was to study plant biomass production and accumulation of nutrients in shoots of Giant Guinea sorghum plants (Sorghum bicolor subspecies bicolor race Guinea) sown in different sowing dates. A randomized complete block design with six treatments and four replications was performed. Treatments consisted of six sowing dates (09/25/2000; 10/25/2000; 11/24/2000; 12/22/2000; 02/22/2001 and 04/03/2001). At flowering, dry matter production, number and diameter of stems and plant height were evaluated. Macro and micronutrient levels and accumulation were determined as well as C/N ratio. Plant cycle decreased as sowing date was delayed and, consequently, dry matter production and C/N ratio decreased as well. The opposite was observed for nutrient contents. ?Giant Guinea? sorghum is sensitive to photoperiod thus late sowing reduces plant development, which leads to low biomass production and nutrient accumulation. ?Giant Guinea? sorghum cultivated as cover crop is a good option when implementing no tillage system due to high dry matter production and N, P, and K recycling

Nitrogen fertilization (15 NH4 NO3) of palisadegrass and residual effect on subsequent no-tillage corn.

ABSTRACT - Nitrogen is required in large amounts by plants and their dinamics in corn and perennial forages intercropped is little known. This study analyzed the efficiency of nitrogen fertilization (15NH4NO3) applied after corn grain harvest to palisadegrass (Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu) in intercrops sown at two times, as well as the N residual effect on the subsequent corn crop. The field experiment was performed in Botucatu, São Paulo State, in southeastern Brazil, on a structured Alfisol under no-tillage. The experiment was arranged in a randomized block design in a split plot scheme with four replications. The main plots consisted of two intercropping systems (corn and palisadegrass sown together and palisadegrass sown later, at corn top-dressing fertilization). The subplots consisted of four N rates (0, 30, 60, and 120 kg ha-1 N). The subplots contained microplots, in which enriched ammonium nitrate (15NH4NO3) was applied at the same rates. The time of intercrop sowing affected forage dry matter production, the amount of fertilizer-derived N in and the N use efficiency by the forage plants. Nitrogen applied in autumn to palisadegrass intercropped with corn, planted either at corn sowing or at N top-dressing fertilization, increased the forage yield up to a rate of 60 kg ha-1 The amount of fertilizer-derived N by the forage plants and the fertilizer use efficiency by palisadegrass were highest 160 days after fertilization for both intercrop sowing times, regardless of N rates. Residual N did not affect the N nutrition of corn plants grown in succession to palisadegrass, but increased grain yield at rates of 60 and 120 kg ha-1 N, when corn was grown on palisadegrass straw from the intercrop installed at corn fertilization (top-dressing). Our results indicated that the earlier intercropping allowed higher forage dry matter production. On the other hand, the later intercrop allowed a higher corn grain yield in succession to N-fertilized palisadegrass. RESUMO - O nitrogênio é requerido em grandes quantidades pelas plantas e sua dinâmica no consórcio entre milho e forrageiras tropicais perenes é pouco conhecida. Objetivou-se avaliar a eficiência de utilização da adubação nitrogenada (15NH4NO3) no capim-marandu (Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu), proveniente de duas épocas de consórcios com o milho, realizadas após a colheita da cultura granífera, bem como o efeito residual no milho cultivado em sucessão. O experimento foi conduzido na Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas da UNESP em Botucatu, SP, em Nitossolo Vermelho sob sistema plantio direto. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados em parcelas subdivididas. As parcelas foram constituídas pelas épocas de consórcio: milho e capim-marandu semeados simultaneamente; e capim-marandu semeado na adubação de cobertura do milho. As subparcelas foram compostas pelas doses de 30, 60 e 120 kg ha-1 de N, aplicadas no capim-marandu após a colheita da cultura do milho. Nas subparcelas, foram alocadas microparcelas para aplicação de nitrato de amônio enriquecido (15NH4NO3) nessas mesmas doses. A época de implantação do consórcio influenciou a produção de massa de matéria seca da forrageira, a quantidade de N na planta proveniente do fertilizante e a eficiência de utilização do N pelas plantas forrageiras. A aplicação de N no outono no capimmarandu, implantado por meio do consórcio com o milho, tanto na semeadura quanto na adubação nitrogenada de cobertura, proporcionou aumento de produtividade da forrageira até a dose de 60 kg ha-1. Os maiores acúmulos de N e a eficiência de utilização do fertilizante pelo capim-marandu, oriundo de ambas as épocas de consórcio, ocorreram aos 160 dias após a fertilização, independentemente das doses de N. O residual das doses de N, aplicadas no capimmarandu, não interferiu na nutrição nitrogenada do milho em sucessão, porém incrementou a produtividade de grãos nas doses de 60 e 120 kg ha-1 de N, quando o cereal foi cultivado sobre palhada proveniente do consórcio implantado na adubação de cobertura do milho. Com base nos resultados, pode-se inferir que a implantação antecipada do consórcio proporciona maior produtividade de massa de matéria seca da forrageira, enquanto quando implantado mais tarde propicia maior produtividade de grãos do milho em sucessão à forrageira adubada com N

Management of pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders in patients infected with SARS CoV-2: pharmacological and clinical issues

Aims: Coronavirus-19 infection (COVID-19) continues to spread throughout the world. It is known that among patients with hypertension, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, or cardiovascular (CV) diseases, COVID-19 is associated with greater morbidity and mortality compared to patients without these conditions. This correlation is of great importance in pregnant women affected by COVID-19 since it usually leads to the development of a serious clinical complication. In particular, managing hypertensive disorders in pregnancy can be problematic because anti-hypertensive medications may interact pharmacologically with drugs used to treat COVID-19. This review focuses on the safety of drug treatment for COVID-19 in pregnant women treated with anti-hypertensive medication. Methods and results: Several databases were searched to identify relevant literature. A few anti-hypertensive drugs and antithrombotic treatments are known for having a beneficial effect in the management of hypertension and hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. In this review, we focus on the expected drug-drug interactions with the experimental agents mostly used to treat COVID-19. Conclusions: The current indication for the management of hypertension-related disorders in pregnancy maintain their validity, while the risk of pharmacological interaction with the currently tested anti-SARS-CoV-2 medications is relatively low

Nutrição e produtividade de híbridos de sorgo granífero de ciclos contrastantes consorciados com capim-marandu.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do consórcio com capim-marandu (Urochloa brizantha) na nutrição e produtividade de híbridos de sorgo granífero de ciclos contrastantes, em sistema plantio direto. Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso, em arranjo fatorial 2x2, com seis repetições. Os tratamentos consistiram de dois híbridos de sorgo granífero de ciclos contrastantes (P8118, ciclo médio; e P8419, ciclo precoce) e dois sistemas de cultivo (monocultivo e consórcio com capim-marandu na linha de semeadura), com semeadura no início de dezembro. Avaliou-se a nutrição, as características agronômicas, os componentes da produção e a produtividade de matéria seca e grãos da cultura do sorgo. Com exceção do potássio e do enxofre, os teores foliares dos demais nutrientes foram adequados à cultura do sorgo granífero, em todos os tratamentos. O híbrido P8118 apresentou a maior produtividade de grãos e, após o consórcio, contribuiu para a maior produtividade de matéria seca da forragem de capim-marandu, no corte realizado em outubro. O cultivo consorciado com capim-marandu não afeta a nutrição e a produtividade de matéria seca e de grãos de sorgo, em comparação ao monocultivo, independentemente do ciclo do híbrido utilizado

Adubação nitrogenada de sorgo granífero consorciado com capim em sistema de plantio direto.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do manejo da adubação nitrogenada sobre a cultura do sorgo granífero, cultivado solteiro e em consócio com capim-marandu e capim-mombaça, e determinar a produtividade de matéria seca das forrageiras, nos anos agrícolas 2003/2004 e 2004/2005, em plantio direto. Foi utilizado o delineamento experimental em blocos ao acaso, em arranjo fatorial 3x5, com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos consistiram de três sistemas de cultivo de sorgo granífero (solteiro e consorciado com capim-marandu ou capim-mombaça, na linha de semeadura) e cinco manejos de adubação nitrogenada: 30?70; 70?30; 50?50; 100?0; e 0?100 kg ha-1 de N, quantidades aplicadas na semeadura e na cobertura, respectivamente. O cultivo consorciado não afetou a nutrição nem a produtividade de grãos de sorgo. Apenas no primeiro ano de cultivo, o parcelamento 50?50 kg ha1 de N proporcionou maior produtividade de grãos. O manejo da palhada interferiu no estabelecimento do sorgo no segundo ano de cultivo, e diminuiu a produtividade de grãos. As maiores doses de N aplicadas em cobertura elevaram a produtividade de matéria seca do capim-marandu e, as aplicadas em semeadura, a elevaram no capim-mombaça