Metallic nanograins: spatially nonuniform pairing induced by quantum confinement

It is well-known that the formation of discrete electron levels strongly influences the pairing in metallic nanograins. Here we focus on another effect of quantum confinement in superconducting grains that was not studied previously, i.e., spatially nonuniform pairing. This effect is very significant when single-electron levels form bunches and/or a kind of shell structure: in highly symmetric grains the order parameter can exhibit variations with position by an order of magnitude. Nonuniform pairing is closely related to a quantum-confinement induced modification of the pairing-interaction matrix elements and size-dependent pinning of the chemical potential to groups of degenerate or nearly degenerate levels. For illustration we consider spherical metallic nanograins. We show that the relevant matrix elements are as a rule enhanced in the presence of quantum confinement, which favors spatial variations of the order parameter, compensating the corresponding energy cost. The size-dependent pinning of the chemical potential further increases the spatial variation of the pair condensate. The role of nonuniform pairing is smaller in less symmetric confining geometries and/or in the presence of disorder. However, it always remains of importance when the energy spacing between discrete electron levels $\delta$ is approaching the scale of the bulk gap $\Delta_B$, i.e., $\delta > 0.1$-$0.2\,\Delta_B$

ASSESSORIA EM MARKETING POR INTERMÉDIO DO PROFISSIONAL DE SECRETARIADO EXECUTIVO

The study has as main goal to identify how the practices of Executive Secretary may contribute to marketing management in the service field with Individual Microentrepreneur. As the secretary presents a lot of skills, and the professional evolution has changed some paradigms, it turned significant their performance inside the companies. The professional changing over the years established that it acquired more abilities and responsibilities to the professional, therefore seeking constantly new knowledge to their performance. He/she is enable to develop group activities, as well as, manage process and people in different acting fields, even public or private school. This professional makes the connection between the internal and external environment of a company. The marketing advisory may be one option to secretary professional, it might especially intent to advise micro and small entrepreneur. Thus, they may develop marketing advisory, observing and suggesting new ideas to increase a better quality of marketing. This profile presents a great component inside the organizations. The study used the qualitative approach, with descriptive characteristic, the data collection took place in the form of systematic observations and semi-structured interviews. The strategy delineates a case study with an entrepreneur inside aesthetics field, in order to advise in its marketing management. Thus, it is suggested that aesthetics adopt societal marketing and after-sales marketing.El estudio tiene como objetivo general determinar cómo las prácticas de la secretaría ejecutiva pueden contribuir al asesoramiento en materia de comercialización en la esfera de la prestación de servicios. Dado que el secretario ejecutivo tiene varias competencias, y con la evolución de la profesión cambió ciertos paradigmas, se volvió relevante para su área de actividad dentro de la empresa. Con el cambio en la profesión a lo largo de los años, se percibe que el profesional ha adquirido más habilidades y responsabilidades, buscando así nuevos conocimientos continuos para su desempeño. Está capacitado para desarrollar actividades en grupos, así como para gestionar procesos y personas en los más diversos campos de actividad, tanto en una organización pública como privada. Este profesional es una conexión en el entorno interno y externo de una empresa. El asesoramiento de marketing se convierte en una de las opciones profesionales, con el fin de instruir el mejor camino, especialmente a los micro y pequeños empresarios. De esta manera se puede desarrollar asesoramiento en el área de marketing, observando y sugiriendo nuevas ideas para que la empresa desarrolle un marketing de calidad. Este perfil se convierte en una parte clave en las organizaciones. El estudio utilizó un abordaje cualitativo, con características descriptivas, la recolección de datos ocurrió en forma de observaciones sistemáticas y entrevistas semiestructuradas. La estrategia delimitó un estudio de caso con un emprendedor en el área de estética, con el fin de ayudarla en la gestión de su comercialización.O estudo possui objetivo geral de identificar como as práticas de Secretariado Executivo podem contribuir para a assessoria de Marketing na área de prestação de serviços. Visto que o secretário executivo apresenta diversas competências, e com a evolução da profissão mudou certos paradigmas, tornou-se relevante a sua área de atuação dentro da empresa. Com a mudança na profissão ao longo dos anos, percebe-se que o profissional adquiriu mais habilidades e responsabilidades, buscando assim novos conhecimentos contínuos para o seu desempenho. É capacitado para desenvolver atividades em grupos, bem como, gerir processos e pessoas nos mais diversos campos de atuação, tanto em uma organização pública ou privada. Esse profissional é uma conexão no ambiente interno e externo de uma empresa. A assessoria em marketing torna-se uma das opções profissionais, com o intuito de instruir o melhor caminho, principalmente aos micro e pequenos empreendedores. Desta forma pode desenvolver a assessoria na área de marketing, observando e sugerindo novas ideias para que a empresa desenvolva um marketing de qualidade. Este perfil se torna uma peça fundamental nas organizações. O estudo utilizou-se de uma abordagem qualitativa, com característica descritiva, as coletas dos dados ocorreram em forma de observações sistemáticas e entrevistas semiestruturadas. A estratégia delimitou um estudo de caso com uma empreendedora da área de estética, a fim de assessorá-la na gestão do seu marketing. Assim, sugere-se que a estética adote o marketing societal e marketing de pós-venda.O estudo possui objetivo geral de identificar como as práticas de Secretariado Executivo podem contribuir para a assessoria de Marketing na área de prestação de serviços. Visto que o secretário executivo apresenta diversas competências, e com a evolução da profissão mudou certos paradigmas, tornou-se relevante a sua área de atuação dentro da empresa. Com a mudança na profissão ao longo dos anos, percebe-se que o profissional adquiriu mais habilidades e responsabilidades, buscando assim novos conhecimentos contínuos para o seu desempenho. É capacitado para desenvolver atividades em grupos, bem como, gerir processos e pessoas nos mais diversos campos de atuação, tanto em uma organização pública ou privada. Esse profissional é uma conexão no ambiente interno e externo de uma empresa. A assessoria em marketing torna-se uma das opções profissionais, com o intuito de instruir o melhor caminho, principalmente aos micro e pequenos empreendedores. Desta forma pode desenvolver a assessoria na área de marketing, observando e sugerindo novas ideias para que a empresa desenvolva um marketing de qualidade. Este perfil se torna uma peça fundamental nas organizações. O estudo utilizou-se de uma abordagem qualitativa, com característica descritiva, as coletas dos dados ocorreram em forma de observações sistemáticas e entrevistas semiestruturadas. A estratégia delimitou um estudo de caso com uma empreendedora da área de estética, a fim de assessorá-la na gestão do seu marketing. Assim, sugere-se que a estética adote o marketing societal e marketing de pós-venda

Locative Media and Identity

The role of location-based social networks (LBSNs) on identity is a relatively unexplored area within the growing cannon of work on locative media. Following an exegesis of Giddens’s argument that narrative biographical accounts are critical in self-identity in the modern age and Foucault’s technologies of the self, this article positions LBSN, and in particular Foursquare, as a contributor to self-identity in users’ lives. A close reading of ethnographic and interview data from Foursquare users reveals that in the context of the presentation, maintenance, and reflection upon self-identity, LBSN use can play an integral role in the self-identity of its users. The contribution of LBSN to indicators of user lifestyle, the intentional sharing of particular locations, and user recollection of events and locations are the key features of how LBSNs provide conduits to self-identity. The degree of usage in everyday life is identified as critical in the positioning of LBSN as a key contributor to identity narratives. With the integration of LBSN features into more mainstream social media platforms, this contribution to self-identity in the social media age is resilient to the demise of stand-alone LBSN application

The FGLamide-Allatostatins Influence Foraging Behavior in Drosophila melanogaster

Allatostatins (ASTs) are multifunctional neuropeptides that generally act in an inhibitory fashion. ASTs were identified as inhibitors of juvenile hormone biosynthesis. Juvenile hormone regulates insect metamorphosis, reproduction, food intake, growth, and development. Drosophila melanogaster RNAi lines of PheGlyLeu-amide-ASTs (FGLa/ASTs) and their cognate receptor, Dar-1, were used to characterize roles these neuropeptides and their respective receptor may play in behavior and physiology. Dar-1 and FGLa/AST RNAi lines showed a significant reduction in larval foraging in the presence of food. The larval foraging defect is not observed in the absence of food. These RNAi lines have decreased for transcript levels which encodes cGMP- dependent protein kinase. A reduction in the for transcript is known to be associated with a naturally occuring allelic variation that creates a sitter phenotype in contrast to the rover phenotype which is caused by a for allele associated with increased for activity. The sitting phenotype of FGLa/AST and Dar-1 RNAi lines is similar to the phenotype of a deletion mutant of an AST/galanin-like receptor (NPR-9) in Caenorhabditis elegans. Associated with the foraging defect in C. elegans npr-9 mutants is accumulation of intestinal lipid. Lipid accumulation was not a phenotype associated with the FGLa/AST and Dar-1 RNAi lines

Naltrexone Reverses Ethanol Preference and Protein Kinase C Activation in Drosophila melanogaster

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a major health, social and economic problem for which there are few effective treatments. The opiate antagonist naltrexone is currently prescribed clinically with mixed success. We have used naltrexone in an established behavioral assay (CAFE) in Drosophila melanogaster that measures the flies’ preference for ethanol-containing food. We have confirmed that Drosophila exposed to ethanol develop a preference toward this drug and we demonstrate that naltrexone, in a dose dependant manner, reverses the ethanol-induced ethanol preference. This effect is not permanent, as preference for alcohol returns after discontinuing naltrexone. Additionally, naltrexone reduced the alcohol-induced increase in protein kinase C activity. These findings are of interest because they confirm that Drosophila is a useful model for studying human responses to addictive drugs. Additionally because of the lack of a closely conserved opiate system in insects, our results could either indicate that a functionally related system does exist in insects or that in insects, and potentially also in mammals, naltrexone binds to alternative sites. Identifying such sites could lead to improved treatment strategies for AUD

Caenorhabditis elegans behavioral genetics: where are the knobs?

Thousands of behavioral mutants of Caenorhabditis elegans have been studied. I suggest a set of criteria by which some genes important in the evolution of behavior might be recognized, and identify neuropeptide signaling pathways as candidates

Circuits that encode and guide alcohol-associated preference

A powerful feature of adaptive memory is its inherent flexibility. Alcohol and other addictive substances can remold neural circuits important for memory to reduce this flexibility. However, the mechanism through which pertinent circuits are selected and shaped remains unclear. We show that circuits required for alcohol-associated preference shift from population level dopaminergic activation to select dopamine neurons that predict behavioral choice in Drosophila melanogaster. During memory expression, subsets of dopamine neurons directly and indirectly modulate the activity of interconnected glutamatergic and cholinergic mushroom body output neurons (MBON). Transsynaptic tracing of neurons important for memory expression revealed a convergent center of memory consolidation within the mushroom body (MB) implicated in arousal, and a structure outside the MB implicated in integration of naive and learned responses. These findings provide a circuit framework through which dopamine neuronal activation shifts from reward delivery to cue onset, and provide insight into the maladaptive nature of memory

Gustatory Perception and Fat Body Energy Metabolism Are Jointly Affected by Vitellogenin and Juvenile Hormone in Honey Bees

Honey bees (Apis mellifera) provide a system for studying social and food-related behavior. A caste of workers performs age-related tasks: young bees (nurses) usually feed the brood and other adult bees inside the nest, while older bees (foragers) forage outside for pollen, a protein/lipid source, or nectar, a carbohydrate source. The workers' transition from nursing to foraging and their foraging preferences correlate with differences in gustatory perception, metabolic gene expression, and endocrine physiology including the endocrine factors vitellogenin (Vg) and juvenile hormone (JH). However, the understanding of connections among social behavior, energy metabolism, and endocrine factors is incomplete. We used RNA interference (RNAi) to perturb the gene network of Vg and JH to learn more about these connections through effects on gustation, gene transcripts, and physiology. The RNAi perturbation was achieved by single and double knockdown of the genes ultraspiracle (usp) and vg, which encode a putative JH receptor and Vg, respectively. The double knockdown enhanced gustatory perception and elevated hemolymph glucose, trehalose, and JH. We also observed transcriptional responses in insulin like peptide 1 (ilp1), the adipokinetic hormone receptor (AKHR), and cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG, or “foraging gene” Amfor). Our study demonstrates that the Vg–JH regulatory module controls changes in carbohydrate metabolism, but not lipid metabolism, when worker bees shift from nursing to foraging. The module is also placed upstream of ilp1, AKHR, and PKG for the first time. As insulin, adipokinetic hormone (AKH), and PKG pathways influence metabolism and gustation in many animals, we propose that honey bees have conserved pathways in carbohydrate metabolism and conserved connections between energy metabolism and gustatory perception. Thus, perhaps the bee can make general contributions to the understanding of food-related behavior and metabolic disorders