Hydrodynamic signatures and spectral properties of the quantum vortex

We characterize the low-lying excitations of a quantum vortex in a quasi-two-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) using the standard definition of the density of states (DOS) and a modified version that is sensitive to complementary aspects of the excitation's spectrum. The latter proves to be particularly relevant to studying the polaronic state realized when an impurity is embedded in a quantum vortex. We establish that the impurity becomes sensitive to the transversal fluctuations of the vortex, via its remnant kelvon mode, and to the phase fluctuations of the BEC Nambu-Goldstone mode. The presence of the vortex yields an anomalous excitation spectrum with a finite energy gap and non-linear DOS at low energies. We find that the high sensitivity of the kelvon mode to external potentials provides a channel of quantum-level control over impurities trapped in a vortex. This extra control channel may be of practical use for the proposal of using vortex-trapped impurities as qubit units for quantum information processing.Comment: (v. 2) Changes in the language and structure of the abstract, introduction and conclusion; minimal change in the title. Typos corrected; slight change in nomenclature (incl. figures) in the main body of the text. References adde

Estimation of the dynamic modal parameters of a small-scaled mockup

This paper presents the experimental and numerical research carried out on a reduced-scaled model to obtain and simulate its dynamic modal properties. A roving impact hammer test was carried out to identify the dynamic modal properties of the structure. The measured input and output values were acquired using a Data Acquisition System (DAQ) in order to compute the corresponding Frequency Response Function (FRF) to characterize its dynamic response. Finally, the experimental results were used to optimize the parameters of a numerical model of the mockup. In this case, the model updating procedure is based on an optimization problem in which a set of parameters representing uncertainties in the modeling process of the mass, stiffness and damping is optimized to minimize the difference between the predicted and measured dynamics of the actual structure.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Mechanical analysis of PDMS material using biaxial test

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) materials are classified as a silicone and commonly present a hyperelastic behaviour. Many researchers have studied PDMS in recent years, motivated by its applications in the biomedical field. In the present manuscript, a biaxial tensile test performed at different speeds is described. The displacement field for the different experimental test conditions is measured using the digital image correlation technique. Numerical studies were also carried out using the most popular constitutive models, namely Mooney-Rivlin, Yeoh and Ogden, for comparison with the experimental measurements. From the experimental displacement profile taken along the central section of each sample, that this tensile test presents linear behaviour; it is an independent speed test. The same conclusion can be found from the numerical results. The results of the numerical simulation show that they are strongly dependent on the constitutive model of the material. The numerical simulations with the Yeoh model presented the most accurate results for PDMS behaviour. Another important conclusion is that the digital image correlation technique is well suited for the analysis of hyperelastic materials.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Indicadores de contato entre populações de suínos domésticos e suídeos asselvajados na Região Sul de Mato Grosso do Sul

O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a existência de contato entre as populações de suínos domésticos e suídeos asselvajados na região de concentração de suinocultura do sul do estado de Mato Grosso do Sul por meio da utilização de indicadores de contato entre essas populações e construir um modelo de adequabilidade ambiental para o javali nas áreas de suinocultura do sul do estado de Mato Grosso do Sul. Was objectived to investigate the existence of contact between populations of domestic swine and wild swabs in the swine concentration region of southern Mato Grosso do Sul state through the use of contact indicators between these populations and build a model of environmental suitability for the wild boar in the areas of swine breeding in southern Mato Grosso do Sul.Orientadora: Prof.ª Dr.ª Aiesca de Oliveira Pellegrin

Necrotic neurons enhance microglial neurotoxicity through induction of glutaminase by a MyD88-dependent pathway

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Microglia are macrophage-like cells that constantly sense the microenvironment within the central nervous system (CNS). In the event of neuronal stress or injury, microglial cells rapidly react and change their phenotype. This response may lead to a deleterious type of microglial activation, which is often associated with neuroinflammation and neurotoxicity in several neuropathological conditions. We investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying triggering of microglial activation by necrotic neuronal damage.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Primary cultures of microglia were used to study the effect of necrotic neurons on microglial inflammatory responses and toxicity towards cerebellar granule neurons (CGN). The mouse hippocampal cell line, HT22, was used in this study as the main source of necrotic neurons to stimulate microglia. To identify the signal transduction pathways activated in microglia, primary microglial cultures were obtained from mice deficient in Toll-like receptor (TLR) -2, -4, or in the TLR adapter protein MyD88.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Necrotic neurons, but not other necrotic cell types, induced microglial activation which was characterized by up-regulation of: i) MHC class II; ii) co-stimulatory molecules, i.e. CD40 and CD24; iii) β2 integrin CD11b; iii) pro-inflammatory cytokines, i.e. interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-12p40 and tumor-necrosis factor (TNF); iv) pro-inflammatory enzymes such as nitric oxide synthase (iNOS, type II NOS), indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and increased microglial motility. Moreover, microglia-conditioned medium (MCM) obtained from cultures of activated microglia showed increased neurotoxicity mediated through the <it>N</it>-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR). The activation of microglia by necrotic neurons was shown to be dependent on the TLR-associated adapter molecule myeloid differentiation primary response gene (<it>MyD88</it>). Furthermore, MyD88 mediated enhanced neurotoxicity by activated microglia through up-regulation of the expression and activity of glutaminase, an enzyme that produces glutamate, which is an NMDAR agonist.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results show that necrotic neurons activate in microglia a MyD88-dependent pathway responsible for a pro-inflammatory response that also leads to increased neurotoxic activity through induction of glutaminase. This finding contributes to better understanding the mechanisms causing increased neuroinflammation and microglial neurotoxicity in a neurodegenerative environment.</p

The time response of anaerobic digestion microbiome during an organic loading rate shock.

Knowledge of connections between operational conditions, process stability, and microbial community dynamics is essential to enhance anaerobic digestion (AD) process efficiency and management. In this study, the detailed temporal effects of a sudden glycerol-based organic overloading on the AD microbial community and process imbalance were investigated in two replicate anaerobic digesters by a time-intensive sampling scheme. The microbial community time response to the overloading event was shorter than the shifts of reactor performance parameters. An increase in bacterial community dynamics and in the abundances of several microbial taxa, mainly within the Firmicutes, Tenericutes, and Chloroflexi phyla and Methanoculleus genera, could be detected prior to any shift on the reactor operational parameters. Reactor acidification already started within the first 24 h of the shock and headed the AD process to total inhibition in 72 h alongside with the largest shifts on microbiome, mostly the increase of Anaerosinus sp. and hydrogenotrophic methanogenic Archaea. In sum, this work proved that AD microbial community reacts very quickly to an organic overloading and some shifts occur prior to alterations on the performance parameters. The latter is very interesting as it can be used to improve AD process management protocols.pre-print1710 K

Tolerância do feijoeiro a herbicidas aplicados na cultura da cana-de-açúcar.

O trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a seletividade dos principais herbicidas utilizados na cultura da cana-de-açúcar, aplicados em pré ou pós-emergência, ao feijão-comum (Grupo Jalo ? cultivar Jalo Precoce). Na modalidade de pré-emergência os tratamentos avaliados foram: ametryn (2.500 g ha-1), tebuthiuron (800 g ha-1), [hexazinone + diuron] (237,6 + 842,4 g ha-1), metribuzin (1.440 g ha-1), clomazone (800 g ha-1), isoxaflutole (112,5 g ha-1), sulfentrazone (600 g ha-1), imazapic (105 g ha-1), trifluralin (1.800 g ha-1) e S-metolachlor (1.920 g ha-1), mais uma testemunha sem aplicação. Já na modalidade de pós-emergência os tratamentos foram: MSMA (1.440 g ha-1), MSMA + diuron (1.080 + 420 g ha-1), [hexazinone + diuron] (237,6 + 842,4 g ha-1), metribuzin (1.440 g ha-1), ametryn (1.500 g ha-1), [ametryn + trifloxysulfuron sodium] (1.280 + 32,4 g ha-1), halosulfuron (112,5 g ha-1), 2,4-D (1.005 g ha-1) e mesotrione (120 g ha-1), mais uma testemunha sem aplicação. Foram avaliadas a fitointoxicação, estande e altura de plantas, matéria verde e seca da parte aérea, número de plantas na colheita, altura de inserção da primeira vagem, além da produtividade. Os herbicidas S-metolachlor, tebuthiuron, trifluralin e clomazone apresentaram seletividade satisfatória às plantas de feijão cv. Jalo Precoce, quando aplicados em pré-emergência. No entanto, ametryn, [hexazinone + diuron], metribuzin, isoxaflutole, sulfentrazone e imazapic não foram seletivos, também em aplicações de préemergência. Nenhum dos herbicidas avaliados apresentou condições de seletividade para ser utilizado em pós-emergência em um sistema de cultivo integrado de feijão (cv. Jalo Precoce) em áreas de produção de cana-de-açúcar. Common bean tolerance to herbicides applied in sugarcane crop. This work was aimed to evaluate the selectivity of main herbicides used in sugar cane crop applied in pre or post emergence conditions to common bean (?Jalo? Group ? cultivar ?Jalo Precoce?). In pre emergence modality the treatments evaluated consisted of: ametryn (2.500 g ha-1), tebuthiuron (800 g ha-1), [hexazinone + diuron] (237.6 + 842.4 g ha-1), metribuzin (1,440 g ha-1), clomazone (800 g ha-1), isoxaflutole (112.5 g ha-1), sulfentrazone (600 g ha-1), imazapic (105 g ha-1), trifluralin (1,800 g ha-1), S-metolachlor (1,920 g ha-1), and a check without herbicide application. In post emergence modality treatments evaluated were: MSMA (1,440 g ha-1), MSMA + diuron (1,080 + 420 g ha-1), [hexazinone + diuron] (237.6 + 842.4 g ha-1), metribuzin, (1,440 g ha-1), ametryn (1,500 g ha-1), [ametryn + trifloxysulfuron sodium] (1,280 + 32.4 g ha-1), halosulfuron (112.5 g ha-1), 2.4-D (1,005 g ha-1) and mesotrione (120 g ha-1) besides a check without herbicide application. Phytointoxication, stand, plant height, wet and dry matter of shoots, number of plants at harvest, height of first pod insertion, and grain yield were evaluated. S-metolachlor, tebuthiuron, trifluralin and clomazone herbicides showed satisfactory selectivity to bean plants cv. Jalo Precoce, when applied in pre-emergence. However, ametryn [hexazinone + diuron], metribuzin, isoxaflutole, sulfentrazone and imazapic were not selective, even in preemergence applications. None of tested herbicides showed selectivity conditions for being used in post-emergence in one bean integrated cultivation system (cv. Jalo Precoce) in areas with sugar cane crop production

Site selection for dendroclimatological studies with Bertholletia excelsa.

Edição dos abstracts do 24º IUFRO World Congress, 2014, Salt Lake City. Sustaining forests, sustaining people: the role of research