Deconfinement transition in protoneutron stars: analysis within the Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model

We study the effect of color superconductivity and neutrino trapping on the deconfinement transition of hadronic matter into quark matter in a protoneutron star. To describe the strongly interacting matter a two-phase picture is adopted. For the hadronic phase we use different parameterizations of a non-linear Walecka model which includes the whole baryon octet. For the quark matter phase we use an $SU(3)_f$ Nambu-Jona-Lasinio effective model which includes color superconductivity. We impose color and flavor conservation during the transition in such a way that just deconfined quark matter is transitorily out of equilibrium with respect to weak interactions. We find that deconfinement is more difficult for small neutrino content and it is easier for lower temperatures although these effects are not too large. In addition they will tend to cancel each other as the protoneutron star cools and deleptonizes, resulting a transition density that is roughly constant along the evolution of the protoneutron star. According to these results the deconfinement transition is favored after substantial cooling and contraction of the protoneutron star

Characterization of natural cork agglomerate functionalised by plasma treatment

This work intends to study the chemical and physical modifications of natural cork agglomerate after plasma treatment using dielectric barrier discharge (DBD). Different experimental techniques were used to evaluate the surface alterations of the substrate pre- treated with DBD plasma, namely, static and dynamic contact angle, surface energy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Plasma discharge greatly increases the wettability and surface energy of the samples. Chemical and physical analyses of the cork agglomerate confirmed considerable surface modification.The authors gratefully acknowledge the CsF – CNPq and CAPES Foundation, Brazil, for the doctoral grants 202539/2011-3 and BEX0978/12-4. We would also like to thank the Project no 2011/19280 (“COLTEC”), FCT and FEDER-COMPETE funding PEt-C/CTM/UI0264/2011

Cortiça, tecnologia e moda : aplicação da descarga plasmática para viabilizar a utilização de novos produtos.

Este trabalho pretende estudar potenciais aplicações da cortiça. Por ser tratar de um material inerte, muitas vezes torna-se necessário modificar a superfície deste substrato com o intuito de melhorar a sua interação com outros tipos de materiais nos processos de estamparia, tingimento, acabamentos entre outros. Diferentes técnicas foram utilizadas para analisar a cortiça após o tratamento plasmático. Verificou-se, com os resultados obtidos, que o plasma DBD foi capaz de melhorar as propriedades superficiais de um aglomerado de cortiça e sua interação com microcápsulas, criando a possibilidade de desenvolver produtos sustentáveis e inovadores.Os autores agradecem o programa CsF - CNPq e a Fundação CAPES, pelas bolsas de doutorado 202539/2011-3 e BEX0978/12-4, respectivamente. Gostaríamos também de agradecer ao Projeto n o 2011/19280 ("COLTEC"), FCT e FEDER-COMPETE financiamento PEt-C/CTM/UI0264/2011.This paper intends to explore potential applications of the cork. Because it is an inert material, several times becomes necessary to modify the surface of this substrate in order to improve its interaction with other types of materials in the printing, dyeing, finishing processes. Different techniques were used to analyze the cork agglomerate after plasma treatment. The results obtained showed that the DBD plasma was able to improve the surface properties of this substrate and its interaction with PCMs microcapsules, creating the possibility to develop innovative and sustainable products

Functionalization of cork agglomerate composite with pcm microcapsules after dbd plasma treatment

This research intends to study the influence of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma treatment on the adsorption of Phase Change Materials (PCM) microcapsules applied to cork agglomerate laminated with a polymer membrane. Several experimental techniques were used to evaluate cork and membrane surface modification after plasma treatment and the influence on the microcapsules adsorption, namely, Static and Dynamic Contact Angle, Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Tensile Strength. The plasma treatment greatly increases the hydrophilicity of both materials, justifying that more microcapsules are adsorbed on this composite. Chemical and physical characterization of the cork agglomerate and polymer membrane confirmed significant surface alteration.The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from - Programme CsF–CNPq and CAPES Foundation, Brazil, for the doctoral grants 202539/2011-3 and BEX0978/12-4. The authors would also like to express their acknowledgment to FCT and FEDER-COMPETE funding, under the project PEst-C/CTM/UI0264/2011

Mechanisms of Manganese-Assisted Nonradiative Recombination in Cd(Mn)Se/Zn(Mn)Se Quantum Dots

Mechanisms of nonradiative recombination of electron-hole complexes in Cd(Mn)Se/Zn(Mn)Se quantum dots accompanied by interconfigurational excitations of Mn$^{2+}$ ions are analyzed within the framework of single electron model of deep {\it 3d}-levels in semiconductors. In addition to the mechanisms caused by Coulomb and exchange interactions, which are related because of the Pauli principle, another mechanism due to {\it sp-d} mixing is considered. It is shown that the Coulomb mechanism reduces to long-range dipole-dipole energy transfer from photoexcited quantum dots to Mn$^{2+}$ ions. The recombination due to the Coulomb mechanism is allowed for any states of Mn$^{2+}$ ions and {\it e-h} complexes. In contrast, short-range exchange and ${\it sp-d}$ recombinations are subject to spin selection rules, which are the result of strong {\it lh-hh} splitting of hole states in quantum dots. Estimates show that efficiency of the {\it sp-d} mechanism can considerably exceed that of the Coulomb mechanism. The phonon-assisted recombination and processes involving upper excited states of Mn$^{2+}$ ions are studied. The increase in PL intensity of an ensemble of quantum dots in a magnetic field perpendicular to the sample growth plane observed earlier is analyzed as a possible manifestation of the spin-dependent recombination.Comment: 14 pages, 2 figure

Obesity-related knowledge and body mass index : a national survey in Portugal

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG. Part of Springer Nature.Purpose: Obesity-related knowledge predicts weight control but previous studies only comprise individuals with excessive weight and assess very specific aspects of knowledge. This study aims to evaluate several domains of obesity-related knowledge according to the body mass index (BMI) in a representative sample of Portuguese-speaking dwellers in mainland Portugal. Methods: A sample of 1624 participants aged 16–79 years was analyzed. Eighteen questions comprising eight obesity domains were asked: prevalence, physical activity, number of calories, adiposity location, causes, diagnosis, treatment and consequences; each one was dichotomized into correct/incorrect knowledge. Results: The majority of Portuguese-speaking dwellers recognized the benefits of physical activity, the risks of abdominal obesity and most consequences of excessive weight, independently of their BMI. However, knowledge gaps were identified regarding prevalence, calories and BMI diagnosis. BMI influenced specific obesity-related knowledge: participants with a normal BMI knew the BMI formula more often, identified 22 as normal BMI more frequently and had the highest proportion of correct knowledge regarding the number of calories an adult should eat; obese individuals identified natural products as not being good treatments for obesity more often. After adjusting for age, sex and educational level, obese individuals identified natural products and supplements as not being good obesity treatments more often. Conclusions: Obesity-related knowledge gaps (prevalence, calories, and diagnosis) were identified among Portuguese adults. Moreover, correct knowledge does not necessarily translate into a healthier BMI. Besides the dissemination of accurate information, public health interventions should focus on the transfer of knowledge to behaviors that will guarantee better weight management. Evidence-based medicine rankings: Level V: Opinions of respected authorities, based on descriptive studies, narrative reviews, clinical experience, or reports of expert committees.This study was supported by FEDER funds through Operational Programme Competitiveness and Internationalization and by national funding from The Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology—FCT (Portuguese Ministry of Education and Science) within the project (HMSP-IISE/SAU-ICT/0004/2009) and within the Epidemiology Research Unit—Institute of Public Health, University of Porto (EPIUnit) (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006862; Ref. UID/ DTP/04750/2013). Additionally, we gratefully acknowledge the FCT Investigator contract IF/01674/2015 (Susana Silva) and also a Scientifc Employment Stimulus contract CEECIND/01793/2017 (Ana Henriques). The funding source had no role in the study design, collection, analysis, or interpretation of data, writing the manuscript, or the decision to submit the manuscript for publication.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Diagnóstico do estado nutricional de seringais da região da Zona da Mata de Minas Gerais.

Este trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de elaborar um diagnóstico do estado nutricional de seringais na região da Zona da Mata de Minas Gerais e, a partir desse resultado, contribuir com um programa racional de adubação.bitstream/CNPS/11601/1/circtec14_2003.pd

Fatty acid composition, TLC screening, ATR-FTIR analysis, anti-cholinesterase activity, and in vitro cytotoxicity to A549 tumor cell line of extracts of 3 macroalgae collected in Madeira

Three macroalgae collected at Madeira Island were included in this study to determine their potential for drug, nutraceutical, food, or supplement application. Fatty acid content was higher in Zonaria tournefortii (12.32 mg g−1 dw) with 16.58% of PUFAs, eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5ω3), and arachidonic acid (20:4ω6) having concentrations of 2.59 and 1.17%, respectively. The anti-thrombogenic and anti-atherogenicity potential was higher for Z. tournefortii due to relevant fatty acids in the biochemical composition this macroalgae. Lipid classes were assessed in the lipid extract and neutral lipids (NL) were in higher yield in Asparagopsis taxiformis (51.16%) and lower in Z. tournefortii (26.96%). The glycolipids (GL) were between 36.03 and 16.11% in Z. tournefortii and Ulva lactuca. Phospholipids (PL) fraction varied from 35.91 and 31.60% in A. taxiformis and Z. tournefortii. TLC screening identified that U. lactuca contains phytol and cholesterol in its NL, digalactosyldiacylglycerol in its GL, and cardiolipin and L-α-phosphatidylcholine in its PL. Zonaria tournefortii contains phytol and cholesterol in its NL classes, and the PL classes contain L-α-phosphatidylethanolamine and 1-(3-sn-phosphatidyl)-rac-glycerol. The macroalgae A. taxiformis revealed cholesterol in its NL fraction and the same phospholipids as Z. tournefortii in its PL fraction. ATRFTIR analysis enabled a “fingerprint” spectra and important sulfation absorption bands were identified, revealing the functional polysaccharides within these macroalgae. Anti-cholinesterasic activity was assessed in A. taxiformis, with a low IC50 for AChE (8.92 ± 0.43 μg mL−1 ) and BuChE (13.96 ± 0.32 μg mL−1 ), demonstrating dual inhibitory activity, justifying the interest to identify the active principle which may be the scaffold of a novel drug.This work was financially supported by DemoBlueAlgae “Desenvolvimento de metodologias e optimização dos processos de cultivo e processamento de macroalgas para a indústria e economia azul” PROCiência 2020 (M1420-01-0247-FEDER000002);MACBIOBLUE “Proyecto demostrativo y de transferencia tecnológica para ayudar a las empresas a desarrollar nuevos produtos y procesos en el ambito de la Biotecnología Azul de la Macaronesia” (MAC/1.1b/ 086), program Interreg MAC 2014–2020; ARDITI - Regional Agency for the Development of Research Technology and Innovation (M14-20-09- 5369-FSE-000001-Doctorate in Business; Blue Iodine II “Boost Blue economy through market uptake an innovative seaweed bioextract for iodine fortification II”, grant agreement no. 733552, H2020-SMEInst2016-2017.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Estimativa da determinação do carbono orgânico acumulado na biomassa da seringueira.

Este trabalho apresenta a metodologia para estimar o estoque de carbono orgânico, por compartimento, acumulado na biomassa da seringueira.bitstream/CNPS-2010/14906/1/comtec29-2005-determ-c.pd

Surface modification of Co-doped ZnO nanocrystals and its effects on the magnetic properties

A series of chemically prepared Co2+-doped ZnO colloids has been surface modified either by growing shells of ZnSe or by the in situ encapsulation in poly styrene . The surface modification effects using these two distinct chemical strategies on the magnetic properties of the nanocrystals were probed by electron paramagnetic resonance EPR . Structural characterization by means of x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy gave no evidence of second phase formation within the detection limits of the used equipment. The EPR analysis was carried out by simulations of the powderlike EPR spectra. The results confirm that in the core of these nanocrystals Co was incorporated as Co2+, occupying the Zn2+ sites in the wurtzite structure of ZnO. Additionally we identify two Co signals stemming from the nanocrystals’ shell. The performed surface modifications clearly change the relative intensity of the EPR spectrum components, revealing the core and shell signals