Magnetic relaxation phenomena and cluster glass properties of La{0.7-x}Y{x}Ca{0.3}MnO{3} manganites

The dynamic magnetic properties of the distorted perovskite system La{0.7-x}Y{x}Ca{0.3}MnO{3} (0 <= x <= 0.15) have been investigated by ac-susceptibility and dc magnetization measurements, with emphasis on relaxation and aging studies. They evidence for x >= 0.10 the appearance of a metallic cluster glass phase, that develops just below the ferromagnetic transition temperature. The clusters grow with decreasing temperature down to a temperature T(f0) at which they freeze due to severe intercluster frustration. The formation of these clusters is explained by the presence of yttrium induced local structural distortions that create localized spin disorder in a magnetic lattice where double-exchange ferromagnetism is dominant.Comment: Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Incorporation Of Nanocrystals With Different Dimensionalities In Hybrid Tio2/p3ht Solar Cells

We investigate the effect of TiO2 nanoparticles-nanospheres and nanorods-inserted in the poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) matrix of TiO2?P3HT inverted hybrid solar cells. X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, small-angle x-ray scattering, photoluminescence, and photoelectrochemical experiments were employed to investigate the structure, morphology, and photoactivity of TiO2 nanoparticles modified with 2-thiopheneacetic acid, mixed or not with P3HT. Both TiO2 nanospheres and TiO2 nanorods presented a good dispersion in the polymer matrix. The incorporation of TiO2 nanospheres and nanorods has improved the photocurrent generation, and devices with efficiency values up to 1.35% were obtained. Our results reveal that the nanoscale morphology enables an enhanced interfacial area for exciton dissociation. In particular, the nanospheres contribute with their high specific area, and the nanorods contribute with their high aspect ratio.51Lee, C.-K., Pao, C.-W., Chen, C.-W., Correlation of nanoscale organizations of polymer and nanocrystals in polymer/inorganic nanocrystal bulk heterojunction hybrid solar cells: Insights from multiscale molecular simulations (2013) Energy Environ. Sci., 6, pp. 307-315Huynh, W.U., Dittmer, J.J., Alivisatos, A.P., Hybrid nanorod: Polymer solar cells (2002) Science, 295, pp. 2425-2427Sian, S., Chen, C.-W., Polymer-metal-oxide hybrid solar cells (2013) J. Mater. Chem. A, 1, pp. 10574-10591Das, J., A facile nonaqueous route for fabricating titania nanorods and their viability in quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (2010) J. Mater. Chem., 20, pp. 4425-4431Cozzoli, P.D., Kornowski, A., Weller, H., Low-temperature synthesis of soluble and processable organic-capped anatase TiO2 nanorods (2003) J. Am. Chem. Soc., 125, pp. 14539-14548Zeng, T.W., A large interconnecting network within hybrid MEH-PPV/TiO2 nanorod photovoltaic devices (2006) Nanotechnology, 17, p. 5387Yang, P., TiO2 nanowire electron transport pathways inside organic photovoltaics (2013) Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 15, pp. 4566-4572Lin, Y., Morphology control in TiO2 nanorod/polythiophene composites for bulk heterojunction solar cells using hydrogen bonding (2012) Macromolecules, 45, pp. 8665-8673Ranjitha, A., Inverted organic solar cells based on Cd-doped TiO2 as an electron extraction layer (2014) Superlattices Microstruct., 74, pp. 114-122Bolognesi, M., The effect of selective contact electrodes on the interfacial charge recombination kinetics and device efficiency of organic polymer solar cells (2011) Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 13, pp. 6105-6109Mor, G.K., High efficiency double heterojunction polymer photovoltaic cells using highly ordered TiO2 nanotube arrays (2007) Appl. Phys. Lett., 91, p. 152111Planells, M., Oligothiophene interlayer effect on photocurrent generation for hybrid TiO2/P3HT solar cells (2014) Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 6, pp. 17226-17235Freitas, F.S., Tailoring the interface using thiophene small molecules in TiO2/P3HT hybrid solar cells (2012) Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 14, pp. 11990-11993Liu, K., Efficient hybrid plasmonic polymer solar cells with Ag nanoparticle decorated TiO2 nanorods embedded in the active layer (2014) Nanoscale, 6, pp. 6180-6186Lin, Y.-Y., Interfacial nanostructuring on the performance of polymer/TiO2 nanorod bulk heterojunction solar cells (2009) J. Am. Chem. Soc., 131, pp. 3644-3649Eom, S.H., Roles of interfacial modifiers in hybrid solar cells: Inorganic/polymer bilayer versus inorganic/polymer: Fullerene bulk heterojunction (2014) Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 6, pp. 803-810Ravirajan, P., Hybrid polymer/zinc oxide photovoltaic devices with vertically oriented ZnO nanorods and an amphiphilic molecular interface layer (2006) J. Phys. Chem. B, 110, pp. 7635-7639Abate, A., Protic ionic liquids as p-dopant for organic hole transporting materials and their application in high efficiency hybrid solar cells (2013) J. Am. Chem. Soc., 135, pp. 13538-13548Beaucage, G., Approximations leading to a unified exponential/power-law approach to small-angle scattering (1995) J. Appl. Cryst., 28, pp. 717-728Beaucage, G., Small-angle scattering from polymeric mass fractals of arbitrary mass-fractal dimension (1996) J. Appl. Cryst., 29, pp. 134-146Beaucage, G., Kammler, H.K., Pratsinis, S.E., Particle size distributions from smallangle scattering using global scattering functions (2004) J. Appl. Cryst., 37, pp. 523-535Khatri, I., Similar device architectures for inverted organic solar cell and laminated solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (2012) ISRN Electron., 10Choi, H.C., Jung, Y.M., Kim, S.B., Size effects in the Raman spectra of TiO2 nanoparticles (2005) Vib. Spectrosc., 37, pp. 33-38Li, G., Polymer self-organization enhances photovoltaic efficiency (2005) J. Appl. Phys., 98, p. 43704Salim, T., Solvent additives and their effects on blend morphologies of bulk heterojunctions (2011) J. Mater. Chem., 21, pp. 242-250Hwang, I.W., Carrier generation and transport in bulk heterojunction films processed with 1,8-octanedithiol as a processing additive (2008) J. Appl. Phys., 104, p. 033706Nguyen, H.Q., Synthesis and characterization of a polyisoprene-b-polystyrene-b-poly (3-hexylthiophene) triblock copolymer (2013) Polym. Chem., 4, pp. 462-465Prosa, T.J., X-ray structural studies of poly(3-alkylthiophenes): An example of an inverse comb (1992) Macromolecules, 25, p. 4364De Freitas, J.N., Connecting the (quantum) dots: Towards hybrid photovoltaic devices based on chalcogenide gels (2012) Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 14, pp. 15180-15184Yang, P., Identifying effects of TiO2 nanowires inside bulk heterojunction organic photovoltaics on charge diffusion and recombination (2014) J. Mater. Chem. C, 2, pp. 4922-4927Grancini, G., Boosting infrared light harvesting by molecular functionalization of metal oxide/polymer interfaces in efficient hybrid solar cells (2012) Adv. Funct. Mater., 22, pp. 2160-2166Liao, H.-C., Diketopyrrolopyrrole-based oligomer modified TiO2 nanorods for airstable and all solution processed poly(3-hexylthiophene): TiO2 bulk heterojunction inverted solar cell (2012) J. Mater. Chem., 22, pp. 10589-1059

Restructuring of the "Macaronesia" biogeografic unit: a marine multi-taxon biogeographical approach

The Azores, Madeira, Selvagens, Canary Islands and Cabo Verde are commonly united under the term “Macaronesia”. This study investigates the coherency and validity of Macaronesia as a biogeographic unit using six marine groups with very different dispersal abilities: coastal fishes, echinoderms, gastropod molluscs, brachyuran decapod crustaceans, polychaete annelids, and macroalgae. We found no support for the current concept of Macaronesia as a coherent marine biogeographic unit. All marine groups studied suggest the exclusion of Cabo Verde from the remaining Macaronesian archipelagos and thus, Cabo Verde should be given the status of a biogeographic subprovince within the West African Transition province. We propose to redefine the Lusitanian biogeographical province, in which we include four ecoregions: the South European Atlantic Shelf, the Saharan Upwelling, the Azores, and a new ecoregion herein named Webbnesia, which comprises the archipelagos of Madeira, Selvagens and the Canary Islandsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: one or multiple causes?

The Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common form of motor neuron disease in the adulthood, and it is characterized by rapid and progressive compromise of the upper and lower motor neurons. The majority of the cases of ALS are classified as sporadic and, until now, a specific cause for these cases still is unknown. To present the different hypotheses on the etiology of ALS. It was carried out a search in the databases: Bireme, Scielo and Pubmed, in the period of 1987 to 2011, using the following keywords: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, motor neuron disease, etiology, causes and epidemiology and its similar in Portuguese and Spanish. It did not have consensus as regards the etiology of ALS. Researches demonstrates evidences as regards intoxication by heavy metals, environmental and occupational causes, genetic mutations (superoxide dismutase 1), certain viral infections and the accomplishment of vigorous physical activity for the development of the disease. There is still no consensus regarding the involved factors in the etiology of ALS. In this way, new research about these etiologies are necessary, for a better approach of the patients, promoting preventive programs for the disease and improving the quality of life of the patients

Benign fasciculations and corticosteroid use: possible association? An update

Fasciculations are characterized by visible subtle and fast contractions of muscle, even wormlike in movement, by the contraction of a fascicle of muscle fibers. The authors present the case study of a 28-year-old patient with the appearance of migratory and diffuse fasciculations with an onset after partial tapering off of oral corticosteroides (60 mg total dose) indicated for treatment of Minimal change Glomerulopathy. Clinical Neurological physical exam allied with an ENMG, besides other complementary laboratory exams were used for screening the above-mentioned patient. Afterwards, current research relating to the topic at hand was made in order to update the data available in the Bireme, Scielo and PubMed Data Banks using the following key words: Fasciculation's, motor neuron disease, and benign fasciculations in the Portuguese, English as well as Spanish language. Although fasciculation's are most commonly associated with Motor neuron disease as well as with certain metabolic disorders, they may also be present in individuals with absolutely no underlying pathological disorders. In our case, fasciculation potentials that have been present for six months, with no other signs of a neurogenic disorder as well as absence of laboratory findings, the patient received a diagnosis of Benign Fasciculation Syndrome (BFS).We believe that the use of corticosteroides in high doses with subsequent tapering contributed to the fasciculation's, especially due to the changes that this causes on the ionic channels. Fasciculation's are symptoms seen in a large range of conditions, and also being the main symptom of the so-called Benign Fasciculation Syndrome. We have presented an example of this clinical syndrome in a patient whose complaint was fasciculation's, with complete clinical remission of symptoms following complete tapering off of corticosteroid six months previously

Spectroscopy studies of 4H-SiC

Calculations of the total dielectric functions and the optical bandgap energy (OBGE) of 4HSiC were performed by the full-potential linear muffin-tin-orbital method. The results are compared to spectroscopic ellipsometry dielectric measurements agreeing closely over in a wide range of energies. The obtained theoretical value of the (OBGE) agrees very closely with the measured ones obtained by transmission and photoacoustic spectroscopies at room temperature performed on 470 µm thick wafer and a 25 µm thick homoepitaxial layer of 4H-SiC samples grown (n-type, Siface) by hot wall CVD

Ongoing monkeypox virus outbreak, Portugal, 29 April to 23 May 2022

Up to 27 May 2022, Portugal has detected 96 confirmed cases of monkeypox. We describe 27 confirmed cases (median age: 33 years (range: 22–51); all males), with an earliest symptom onset date of 29 April. Almost all cases (n = 25) live in the Lisbon and Tagus Valley health region. Most cases were neither part of identified transmission chains, nor linked to travel or had contact with symptomatic persons or with animals, suggesting the possible previously undetected spread of monkeypox.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio