Thermal treatment of superconductor thin film of the BSCCO system using domestic microwave oven

In this work, we report the preparation of a superconductor thin film of the BSCCO system using a good quality powder with nominal composition Bi_{1.8}Pb_{0.4}Sr_2CaCu_2O_x which was thermally treated using a domestic microwave oven (2.45 GHz, 800 W). This film was grew on a single crystal of LaAlO_3(100) substrate and exhibited a crystalline structure with the c-axis perpendicular to the plane of the substrate. An onset superconducting transition temperature was measured at 80 K.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Zinc abundances in Galactic bulge field red giants: implications for DLA systems

Zinc in stars is an important reference element because it is a proxy to Fe in studies of damped Lyman-alpha systems, permitting a comparison of chemical evolution histories of bulge stellar populations and DLAs. In terms of nucleosynthesis, it behaves as an alpha element because it is enhanced in metal-poor stars. The aim of this work is to derive the iron-peak element Zn abundances in 56 bulge giants from high resolution spectra. These results are compared with data from other bulge samples, as well as from disk and halo stars, and damped Lyman-alpha systems, in order to better understand the chemical evolution in these environments. High-resolution spectra were obtained using FLAMES+UVES on the Very Large Telescope. We find [Zn/Fe]=+0.24+-0.02 in the range -1.3 < [Fe/H] < -0.5 and [Zn/Fe]=+0.06+-0.02 in the range -0.5 < [Fe/H] -0.1, it shows a spread of -0.60 < [Zn/Fe] < +0.15, with most of these stars having low [Zn/Fe]<0.0. These low zinc abundances at the high metallicity end of the bulge define a decreasing trend in [Zn/Fe] with increasing metallicities. A comparison with Zn abundances in DLA systems is presented, where a dust-depletion correction was applied for both Zn and Fe. Finally, we present a chemical evolution model of Zn enrichment in massive spheroids, representing a typical classical bulge.Comment: Accepted in Astronomy & Astrophysics, in press Date of acceptance: 13/05/2015. 19 pages, 14 Figs in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 201

Biometric study on canine population of Cimarron breed dog

In this paper is presented a biometrical study about a population of the Cimarron dog breed, using some measurements of the cephalic and body parameters in a random sample of 23 adults dogs (12 female and 11 males), all inscribed in the genealogic book of the breed. With our results we describe a brachicephalus and longilineous dog, with compact and strong appearance. Their characteristics could remain the primitive molosoid animals (caught breeds). With respect the coat pigmentation shown by the sampled animals, we found a predominance of the dark brindle coat (14/23) over the other typical coats of the breed; clear brindle coat (5/23) and yellow-red coat (2/23).En el presente trabajo se presenta un estudio biométrico en una población de la raza Cimarrona utilizando algunas mediciones de los parámetros cefálicos y corporales en una muestra aleatoria de 23 perros adultos (12 hembras y 11 machos), inscritos en los libros genealógicos de la raza. De los resultados obtenidos se describe un perro braquicéfalo, longilíneo, de apariencia compacta y fuerte, que puede llegar a recordar ciertas características de los perros primitivos de presa y agarre. En relación a la pigmentación de las capas presentes en los animales muestreados, se encontró un claro predominio de la capa atigrado oscura (14/23) sobre las otras típicas de la raza, atigrado claro (5/23), bayo claro (2/23) y bayo colorado (2/23)

Avaliação de genótipos de arroz de sequeiro para tolerância à deficiência hídrica.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar a produtividade de três genótipos de arroz de sequeiro, submetidos a três condições de deficiência hídrica: 30 %, 50 % e 70 % do fornecimento de água dado ao tratamento controle (tratamento sem restrição de água)

Effect of antibodies on the expression of Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein gene

Antibodies are known to play an important role in the control of malaria infection. However, they can modulate parasite development enhancing infection. The effect of anti-Plasmodium antibodies on the expression of circumsporozoite protein gene (csp) was investigated. Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 in vitro cultures were submitted to: i) anti- circumsporozoite protein monoclonal antibody (anti-CSP-mAb) [1μg/ml, 0.1μg/ml, 0.01μg/ml and 0.001μg/ml] and ii) purified IgG Fab fragment from a pool of malaria patients [1mg/ml and 1μg/ml]; and compared to control cultures. After 24h the number of ring infected erythrocytes was determined in order to calculate invasion efficacy. At 48h culture supernatant was collected, and the amount of circumsporozoite protein determined by ELISA, parasitaemia was calculated and cells were processed for RNA preparation. Expression of csp gene was quantified using Real time RT-PCR. There was an increase in parasite growth when treated with lower anti-CSP-mAb concentration, which was associated with lower csp expression, while 1μg/ml anti-CSP-mAb treatment presented a growth inhibitory effect accompanied by high csp expression

Determination of tetracycline and its major degradation products by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

A liquid chromatographic method of tetracycline and its major degradation products on a C8-reversed phase column with acidic mobile phase and fluorescence detection is described. The quantification limit, measured as the amount of sample that gave a signal ten times the peak-to-peak noise of the baseline, was: 0.25 ng for tetracycline (TC) and epitetracycline (ETC), 25 ng for and 4-epianhydrotetracycline (EATC) and 50 ng for anhydrotetracycline (ATC) of injected standard. By means of this liquid chromatography (LC) assay TC, ETC, EATC and ATC as main degradation products of tetracycline, can be separated and determined with good sensitivity and specificity within 15 min.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6TGX-43HVHWC-1D/1/9763379e028400de01242a673bd4528