Self-similar transmission properties of aperiodic Cantor potentials in gapped graphene

We investigate the transmission properties of quasiperiodic or aperiodic structures based on graphene arranged according to the Cantor sequence. In particular, we have found self-similar behaviour in the transmission spectra, and most importantly, we have calculated the scalability of the spectra. To do this, we implement and propose scaling rules for each one of the fundamental parameters: generation number, height of the barriers and length of the system. With this in mind we have been able to reproduce the reference transmission spectrum, applying the appropriate scaling rule, by means of the scaled transmission spectrum. These scaling rules are valid for both normal and oblique incidence, and as far as we can see the basic ingredients to obtain self-similar characteristics are: relativistic Dirac electrons, a self-similar structure and the non-conservation of the pseudo-spin. This constitutes a reduction of the number of conditions needed to observe self-similarity in graphene-based structures, see D\'iaz-Guerrero et al. [D. S. D\'iaz-Guerrero, L. M. Gaggero-Sager, I. Rodr\'iguez-Vargas, and G. G. Naumis, arXiv:1503.03412v1, 2015]

Dysfunction of Inflammatory Pathways and Their Relationship With Psychological Factors in Adult Female Patients With Eating Disorders.

The attempts to clarify the origin of eating disorders (ED) have not been completely successful and their etiopathogenesis remains unknown. Current research shows an activation of the immune response in neuropsychiatric diseases, including ED. We aimed to investigate immune response parameters in patients with ED and to identify psychological factors influencing the inflammatory response. The relationship between inflammation markers and impulsivity and affective symptomatology was explored as well. Thirty-four adult female patients with current diagnosis of ED, none of them under psychopharmacological treatment (excluding benzodiazepines), were included in this study. Patients were compared with a healthy control group of fifteen adult females. The levels of inflammatory markers and indicators of oxidative/nitrosative stress were evaluated in plasma and/or in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Subjects were assessed by means of different ED evaluation tools. Additionally, the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale were also employed. Patients with ED shown increased plasma levels of the pro-inflammatory nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) and the cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), among other factors and an increment in the oxidative/nitrosative stress as well as increased glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression levels in their PBMCs. Moreover, the inflammatory prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) correlated with impulsiveness and the anti-inflammatory prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2) correlated with depressive symptomatology. Our results point towards a relationship between the immune response and impulsiveness and between the immune response and depressive symptomatology in female adult patients with ED.post-print1075 K

Experimental and theoretical assessment of native oxide in the superconducting TaN

In this manuscript, we show through an experimental-computational proof of concept the native oxide formation into superconducting TaN films. First, TaN was synthesized at an ultra-high vacuum system by reactive pulsed laser deposition and characterized in situ by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The material was also characterized ex situ by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and the four-point probe method. It was detected that TaN contained considerable oxygen impurities (up to 26 %O) even though it was grown in an ultra-high vacuum chamber. Furthermore, the impurified TaN evidence a face-centered cubic crystalline structure only and exhibits superconductivity at 2.99 K. To understand the feasibility of the native oxide in TaN, we study the effect of incorporating different amounts of O atoms in TaN using ab-initio calculations. A thermodynamic stability analysis shows that a TaOxN1-x model increases its stability as oxygen is added, demonstrating that oxygen may always be present in TaN, even when obtained at ultra-high vacuum conditions. All analyzed models exhibit metallic behavior. Charge density difference maps reveal that N and O atoms have a higher charge density redistribution than Ta atoms. The electron localization function maps and line profiles indicate that Ta-O and Ta-N bonds are mainly ionic. As expected, stronger ionic behavior is observed in the Ta-O bonds due to the electronegativity difference between O and N atoms. Recent evidence points to superconductivity in bulk TaO, confirming the asseverations of superconductivity in our samples. The results discussed here highlight the importance of considering native oxide when reporting superconductivity in TaN films since the TaO regions formed in the compound may be key to understanding the different critical temperatures reported in the literature.Comment: 23 pages, 7 figure

Analysis of noise temperature sensitivity for the design of a broadband thermal noise primary standard

A broadband primary standard for thermal noise measurements is presented and its thermal and electromagnetic behaviour is analysed by means of a novel hybrid analytical?numerical simulation methodology. The standard consists of a broadband termination connected to a 3.5mm coaxial airline partially immersed in liquid nitrogen and is designed in order to obtain a low reflectivity and a low uncertainty in the noise temperature. A detailed sensitivity analysis is made in order to highlight the critical characteristics that mostly affect the uncertainty in the noise temperature, and also to determine the manufacturing and operation tolerances for a proper performance in the range 10MHz to 26.5 GHz. Aspects such as the thermal bead design, the level of liquid nitrogen or the uncertainties associated with the temperatures, the physical properties of the materials in the standard and the simulation techniques are discussed

PARP-1 activation after oxidative insult promotes energy stress-dependent phosphorylation of YAP1 and reduces cell viability

[EN]Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1) is a nuclear enzyme that catalyze the transfer of ADP-ribose units from NAD+ to several target proteins involved in cellular stress responses. Using WRL68 (HeLa derivate) cells, we previously showed that PARP-1 activation induced by oxidative stress after H2O2 treatment lead to depletion of cellular NAD+ and ATP, which promoted cell death. In this work, LC-MS/MS-based phosphoproteomics in WRL68 cells showed that the oxidative damage induced by H2O2 increased the phosphorylation of YAP1, a transcriptional co-activator involved in cell survival, and modified the phosphorylation of other proteins involved in transcription. Genetic or pharmacological inhibition of PARP-1 in H2O2-treated cells reduced YAP1 phosphorylation and degradation and increased cell viability. YAP1 silencing abrogated the protective effect of PARP-1 inhibition, indicating that YAP1 is important for the survival of WRL68 cells exposed to oxidative damage. Supplementation of NAD+ also reduced YAP1 phosphorylation, suggesting that the loss of cellular NAD+ caused by PARP-1 activation after oxidative treatment is responsible for the phosphorylation of YAP1. Finally, PARP-1 silencing after oxidative treatment diminished the activation of the metabolic sensor AMPK. Since NAD+ supplementation reduced the phosphorylation of some AMPK substrates, we hypothesized that the loss of cellular NAD+ after PARP-1 activation may induce an energy stress that activates AMPK. In summary, we showed a new crucial role of PARP-1 in the response to oxidative stress in which PARP-1 activation reduced cell viability by promoting the phosphorylation and degradation of YAP1 through a mechanism that involves the depletion of NAD+

Homens, saúde sexual e saúde reprodutiva: avanços nas pesquisas recentes na América Latina

From a gender perspective, a critical reading was conducted on recent research about men, sexual health and reproductive health in Latin America, based on a literature review. Were analyzed 55 studies. Despite some changes seen in the transit to new masculinities, mainly linked to paternity, it was found that hegemonic masculinity is still present in the sexual and reproductive experiences of Latin American men. Since adolescence, there are practices, ideas and construction of values interrelated with a male sexuality distant from caring for oneself and others. Studies on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV and AIDS reflect manhood stereotypes as a cause of not perceiving the risk of being infected and prevent men from consulting if they have problems that affect they sex life. Sexual and reproductive health services are shown in some studies as men excluding and with a lack of preparation with a broad set of health requirements in the different stages of their lives. In addition there is little comprehension and sensitivity in their approach to the diversity. As knowledge about sexuality is not enough to develop attitudes of self-care and awareness of the care of others, authors insist in the relevance of revaluating the masculinity definitions. Programs including a masculine perspective achieve positive changes when they are designed to respond to the necessities of men.Se realizó una lectura crítica con perspectiva de género de la investigación reciente sobre hombres, salud sexual y salud reproductiva en América Latina, basada en una revisión de la literatura. Fueron sistematizados y analizados 55 estudios. Se halló que la masculinidad hegemónica sigue presente en las vivencias sexuales y reproductivas de los varones en la región, a pesar de observase el tránsito hacia nuevas masculinidades especialmente enlazado con la vivencia de la paternidad. Desde la adolescencia se observa la construcción de valores, ideas y prácticas anudadas a la naturalización de una sexualidad masculina ajena al cuidado de sí y de otros.  Los estudios sobre infecciones de transmisión sexual y VIH-sida muestran que los estereotipos viriles llevan a no percibir el riesgo de infectarse. De igual modo, impiden a los hombres consultar ante la presencia de problemas que afectan la sexualidad. Los servicios de salud sexual y reproductiva aparecen en los estudios como excluyentes de los hombres y poco preparados para atender a la población masculina en los diferentes momentos del curso de vida y en la amplitud de sus necesidades de salud, además de mostrar ser poco integrales en su abordaje y poco sensibles a la diversidad. Como los conocimientos sobre sexualidad no son suficientes para desarrollar actitudes de autocuidado y conciencia del cuidado de otros, los autores insisten en la importancia de impactar las construcciones sobre la masculinidad. Cuando están diseñados para responder a las necesidades de los hombres, con perspectiva de masculinidades, los programas logran ejercer cambios positivos.A partir da perspectiva de gênero, uma leitura crítica foi conduzida utilizando uma recente pesquisa relacionada aos homens, à saúde sexual e à saude reprodutiva na América Latina, tudo isto baseado em revisão da literatura. Dessa forma, um total de 55 estudos foi analisado. Foi observado que a masculinidade hegemônica está ainda presente nas experiências sexuais e reprodutivas do homem da América Latina, apesar de algumas mudanças serem vistas na transição para novas masculinidades, principalmente ligadas à paternidade. Desde a adolescência, observa-se a construção de valores, ideias e práticas vinculadas à naturalização da sexualidade masculina alheia ao cuidado de si e dos outros. Estudos relacionados à doenças sexualmente transmissíveis (DSTs) e SIDA (Síndrome da Imunodeficiência Adquirida - AIDS-HIV) mostram que os estereótipos masculinos são a causa da não percepção dos riscos de ser infectado e impedem que os homens consultem caso eles tenham problemas que afetem sua vida sexual. Serviços de saúde sexual e reprodutiva são apontados em alguns estudos como sendo excludentes masculinos e mal preparados para atendê-los na amplitude de suas necessidades de saúde e nos diferentes estágios de suas vidas. E além disso, apresentam pouca compreensão e sensibilidade ao abordar a diversidade. Como o conhecimento sobre a sexualidade não é suficiente para desenvolver atitudes de autocuidado e consciência do cuidado com os outros, os autores insistem na importância de reavaliar as definições de masculinidade. Quando projetados para responder às necessidades dos homens, sob uma perspectiva masculina, os programas conseguem exercer mudanças positivas