Tetragonal to orthorhombic phase transition in SmFeAsO: a synchrotron powder diffraction investigation

The crystal structure of SmFeAsO has been investigated by means of Rietveld refinement of high resolution synchrotron powder diffraction data collected at 300 K and 100 K. The compound crystallizes in the tetragonal P4/nmm space group at 300 K and in the orthorhombic Cmma space group at 100 K; attempts to refine the low temperature data in the monoclinic P112/n space group diverged. On the basis of both resistive and magnetic analyses the tetragonal to orthorhombic phase transition can be located at T about 140 K.Comment: Submitted to: Superconductor Science and Technology PACS: 61.05.cp, 61.66.Fn, 74.10.+v, 74.62.Dh, 74.70.D

Individual and collective stock dynamics: intra-day seasonalities

We establish several new stylised facts concerning the intra-day seasonalities of stock dynamics. Beyond the well known U-shaped pattern of the volatility, we find that the average correlation between stocks increases throughout the day, leading to a smaller relative dispersion between stocks. Somewhat paradoxically, the kurtosis (a measure of volatility surprises) reaches a minimum at the open of the market, when the volatility is at its peak. We confirm that the dispersion kurtosis is a markedly decreasing function of the index return. This means that during large market swings, the idiosyncratic component of the stock dynamics becomes sub-dominant. In a nutshell, early hours of trading are dominated by idiosyncratic or sector specific effects with little surprises, whereas the influence of the market factor increases throughout the day, and surprises become more frequent.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure

Multicenter Adaptation Of The Guide Autonomous Management Of Medication

Rising psychotropic prescriptions and low empowerment of mental health users hamper qualified delivery of mental health services in Brazil and countries providing universal healthcare. This multicentric study performed in three Brazilian cities aimed to develop the Brazilian translation and adaptation upon the Quebecoise-Canadian Gaining Autonomy and Medication (GAM) Guide; and to evaluate the impact of its use on mental health workers education. Intervention Groups (IGs) were held to provide experience sharing on medication as relevant issues were brought up by the guide. Pre- and post- IGs focus groups were held. Major changes to the original text of the Quebecoise handbook were necessary according to the Brazilian scenario. Results show the Brazilian version as a powerful strategy to promote users' participation in decision making concerning treatment as well as the mental health services they are in treatment at. The handbook also has a positive impact on staff education.1643967980Secretaria Municipal de Campinas (2010) Informações da Secretaria Municipal de Campinas Departamento de Saúde, Saúde Mental, , CAMPINASCampos, G.W.S., (2000) Um Método Para Análise E Co-gestão De Coletivos - a Construção Do Sujeito, a Produção De Valor De Uso E a Democracia Em Instituições: O Método Da Roda, , São Paulo: HucitecCampos, G.W.S., Onocko, R.C., Co-construção de autonomia: O sujeito em questão (2005) A Construção Da Clínica Ampliada Na Atenção Básica, pp. 86-107. , CAMPOS, G.W.SMINAYO, M.C.SAKERMAN, M.CUNHA, G.T. (Orgs), São Paulo: HucitecFurtado, J.P., Onocko, R.C., Participation, knowledge production, and evaluative research: Participation by different actors in a mental health study (2008) Cad Saude Publica, 24 (11), pp. 2671-2680Gadamer, H.G., (1997) Verdade E Método: Traços Fundamentais De Uma Hermenêutica Filosófica, , Petrópolis: Editora VozesHull, S.A., Aquino, P., Cotter, S., Explaining variation in antidepressant prescribing rates in east London: A cross sectional study (2005) Fam Pract, 22 (1), pp. 37-42International Narcotics Control Board (2010) Psychotropic Substances, , http://www.incb.org/pdf/technical-reports/psychotropics/2010/Psychotropic_Substances_Publication_2010.pdf, VIENNA. United Nations, Vienna: UN, Disponível em, Acesso em: 04 jul. 2012Kinoshita, R.T., Contratualidade e reabilitação psicossocial (1996) Reabilitação Psicossocial No Brasil, pp. 55-59. , PITTA, A. (Org.), São Paulo: HucitecMaragno, L., Prevalence of common mental disorders in a population covered by the Family Health Program (QUALIS) in Sao Paulo, Brazil (2006) Cad Saude Publica, 22 (8), pp. 1639-1648Marques, C.C., (2012) Entre Nós: Sobre Mudar De Lugar E Produzir Diferenças, , 2012. Dissertação (Mestrado) - Instituto de Psicologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto AlegreOnocko, C.R.T., Avaliação de estratégias inovadoras na organização da Atenção Primária à Saúde (2012) Rev. Saúde Pública, 46 (1). , http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0034-89102012000100006&lng=en&nrm=iso, São Paulo, Feb, Disponível em, Acesso em: 04 jul. 2012. Epub Dec 13,2011. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0034-89102011005000083Onocko, C.R.T., Furtado, J.P., Narratives: Use in qualitative health-related research (2008) Rev Saude Publica, 42 (6), pp. 1090-1096Otanari, T.M.C., (2011) A Experiência De Participação Dos Residentes De Psiquiatria E Saúde Mental Nos Grupos De Gestão Autônoma Da Medicação? (GAM): Possíveis Efeitos Na Formação, , 2011. Dissertação (Mestrado). Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, CampinasRegier, D.A., The NIMH Epidemiologic Catchment Area Program: Historical context, major objectives, and study population characteristics (1984) Arch Gen Psychiatry, 41 (10), pp. 934-941Rodriguez, L., Perron, N., Ouellette, J.N., Psicotrópicos e saúde mental: Escutar ou regular o sofrimento? (2008) Pesquisa Avaliativa Em Saúde Mental: Desenho Participativo E Efeitos Da Narratividade, pp. 125-162. , ONOCKO CAMPOS, R.FURTADO, J.P.PASSOS, E.BENEVIDES, R. (Orgs), São Paulo: HucitecRodriguez, L., Corin, E., Poirel, M.L., Le point de vue des utilisateurs sur l'emploi de la médication en psychiatrie: Une voix ignorée (2001) Revue Québécoise De Psychologie, 22 (2), pp. 1-23Ricouer, P., (1997) Tempo E Narrativa, , Campinas: PapirusRicouer, P., (1990) Interpretação E Ideologias, , Rio de Janeiro: Francisco AlvesSantos, D.V.D., (2009) Uso De Psicotrópicos Da Atenção Primária Do Distrito Sudoeste De Campinas E Sua Relação Com Os Arranjos Da Clínica Ampliada: Uma Pedra No Sapato, , 2009. Dissertação (Mestrado) - Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, CampinasVedia, U.C., Study of use of psychiatric drugs in primary care (2005) Aten Primaria, 36 (5), pp. 239-245Winter, F., de Présentation, M., (2007), http://www.ladroit.org/texteforumgam.pdf, François Winter, coordonnateur de L'A-DROIT de Chaudière-Appalaches, lors de la 4ième table ronde du forum international sur les psychotropes des 3-4-5 avril, Disponível em, Acesso em: 04 jul 201

Density of neutral interstellar hydrogen at the termination shock from Ulysses pickup ion observations

By reevaluating a 13-month stretch of Ulysses SWICS H pickup ion measurements near 5 AU close to the ecliptic right after the previous solar minimum, this paper presents a determination of the neutral interstellar H density at the solar wind termination shock and implications for the density and ionization degree of hydrogen in the LIC. The density of neutral interstellar hydrogen at the termination shock was determined from the local pickup ion production rate as obtained close to the cut-off in the distribution function at aphelion of Ulysses. As shown in an analytical treatment for the upwind axis and through kinetic modeling of the pickup ion production rate at the observer location, with variations in the ionization rate, radiation pressure, and the modeling of the particle behavior, this analysis turns out to be very robust against uncertainties in these parameters and the modeling. Analysis using current heliospheric parameters yields the H density at the termination shock equal to $0.087\pm0.022$ cm$^{-3}$, including observational and modeling uncertainties.Comment: Re-edited version, density revised downward due to data re-processing, accepted by A&

The Structure and Dynamics of the Upper Chromosphere and Lower Transition Region as Revealed by the Subarcsecond VAULT Observations

The Very high Angular resolution ULtraviolet Telescope (VAULT) is a sounding rocket payload built to study the crucial interface between the solar chromosphere and the corona by observing the strongest line in the solar spectrum, the Ly-a line at 1216 {\AA}. In two flights, VAULT succeeded in obtaining the first ever sub-arcsecond (0.5") images of this region with high sensitivity and cadence. Detailed analyses of those observations have contributed significantly to new ideas about the nature of the transition region. Here, we present a broad overview of the Ly-a atmosphere as revealed by the VAULT observations, and bring together past results and new analyses from the second VAULT flight to create a synthesis of our current knowledge of the high-resolution Ly-a Sun. We hope that this work will serve as a good reference for the design of upcoming Ly-a telescopes and observing plans.Comment: 28 pages, 11 figure

Crystallographic Phase Transition and High-Tc Superconductivity in LaFeAsO:F

Undoped LaFeAsO, parent compound of the newly found high-Tc superconductor, exhibits a sharp decrease in the temperature-dependent resistivity at ~160 K. The anomaly can be suppressed by F doping and the superconductivity appears correspondingly, suggesting a close associate of the anomaly with the superconductivity. We examined the crystal structures, magnetic properties and superconductivity of undoped (normal conductor) and 14 at.% F-doped LaFeAsO (Tc = 20 K) by synchrotron X-ray diffraction, DC magnetic measurements, and ab initio calculations to demonstrate that the anomaly is associated with a phase transition from tetragonal (P4/nmm) to orthorhombic (Cmma) phases at ~160 K as well as an antiferromagnetic transition at ~140 K. These transitions can be explained by spin configuration-dependent potential energy surfaces derived from the ab initio calculations. The suppression of the transitions is ascribed to interrelated effects of geometric and electronic structural changes due to doping by F- ions.Comment: 22 pages, 8 figures, 2 tables, Supplementary information is included at the end of the document, accepted for publication in Supercond. Sci. Techno

Metabolically stable bradykinin B2 receptor agonists enhance transvascular drug delivery into malignant brain tumors by increasing drug half-life

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The intravenous co-infusion of labradimil, a metabolically stable bradykinin B2 receptor agonist, has been shown to temporarily enhance the transvascular delivery of small chemotherapy drugs, such as carboplatin, across the blood-brain tumor barrier. It has been thought that the primary mechanism by which labradimil does so is by acting selectively on tumor microvasculature to increase the local transvascular flow rate across the blood-brain tumor barrier. This mechanism of action does not explain why, in the clinical setting, carboplatin dosing based on patient renal function over-estimates the carboplatin dose required for target carboplatin exposure. In this study we investigated the systemic actions of labradimil, as well as other bradykinin B2 receptor agonists with a range of metabolic stabilities, in context of the local actions of the respective B2 receptor agonists on the blood-brain tumor barrier of rodent malignant gliomas.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Using dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI, the pharmacokinetics of gadolinium-diethyltriaminepentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA), a small MRI contrast agent, were imaged in rodents bearing orthotopic RG-2 malignant gliomas. Baseline blood and brain tumor tissue pharmacokinetics were imaged with the 1^stbolus of Gd-DTPA over the first hour, and then re-imaged with a 2^ndbolus of Gd-DTPA over the second hour, during which normal saline or a bradykinin B2 receptor agonist was infused intravenously for 15 minutes. Changes in mean arterial blood pressure were recorded. Imaging data was analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative methods.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The decrease in systemic blood pressure correlated with the known metabolic stability of the bradykinin B2 receptor agonist infused. Metabolically stable bradykinin B2 agonists, methionine-lysine-bradykinin and labradimil, had differential effects on the transvascular flow rate of Gd-DTPA across the blood-brain tumor barrier. Both methionine-lysine-bradykinin and labradimil increased the blood half-life of Gd-DTPA sufficiently enough to increase significantly the tumor tissue Gd-DTPA area under the time-concentration curve.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Metabolically stable bradykinin B2 receptor agonists, methionine-lysine-bradykinin and labradimil, enhance the transvascular delivery of small chemotherapy drugs across the BBTB of malignant gliomas by increasing the blood half-life of the co-infused drug. The selectivity of the increase in drug delivery into the malignant glioma tissue, but not into normal brain tissue or skeletal muscle tissue, is due to the inherent porous nature of the BBTB of malignant glioma microvasculature.</p

Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor Protects Striatal Neurons against Excitotoxicity by Enhancing Glial Glutamate Uptake

Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) is a potent neuroprotective cytokine in different animal models of glutamate-induced excitotoxicity, although its action mechanisms are still poorly characterized. We tested the hypothesis that an increased function of glial glutamate transporters (GTs) could underlie CNTF-mediated neuroprotection. We show that neuronal loss induced by in vivo striatal injection of the excitotoxin quinolinic acid (QA) was significantly reduced (by ∼75%) in CNTF-treated animals. In striatal slices, acute QA application dramatically inhibited corticostriatal field potentials (FPs), whose recovery was significantly higher in CNTF rats compared to controls (∼40% vs. ∼7%), confirming an enhanced resistance to excitotoxicity. The GT inhibitor dl-threo-β-benzyloxyaspartate greatly reduced FP recovery in CNTF rats, supporting the role of GT in CNTF-mediated neuroprotection. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from striatal medium spiny neurons showed no alteration of basic properties of striatal glutamatergic transmission in CNTF animals, but the increased effect of a low-affinity competitive glutamate receptor antagonist (γ-d-glutamylglycine) also suggested an enhanced GT function. These data strongly support our hypothesis that CNTF is neuroprotective via an increased function of glial GTs, and further confirms the therapeutic potential of CNTF for the clinical treatment of progressive neurodegenerative diseases involving glutamate overflow

The effect of swimming on oral health status: competitive versus non-competitive athletes

ABSTRACT Young swimmers are particularly susceptible to the onset of oral diseases. Objective To evaluate the oral health status in young competitive and non-competitive swimmers, involving an assessment of salivary cariogenic bacteria and secretory IgA (S-IgA) concentration. Material and Methods Before training sessions (T1), 54 competitive and 69 non-competitive swimmers had the following parameters assessed: decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT), Plaque Index (PlI), and Gingival Index (GI). At T1 and after training sessions (T2), stimulated saliva was collected and microbiological and immunological analyses were performed. Results Competitive swimmers trained 2.02±0.09 hours 5 times a week, while non-competitive swimmers trained 2.03±0.18 hours a week. A total of 14.7% of competitive swimmers suffered dental trauma related to sports. Only 11.76% of the competitive swimmers took a daily dose of fluoride, against 32.65% of non-competitive swimmers (p=0.029). Neither group followed an established diet or presented statistically significant differences in terms of nutritional supplement drink and chocolate intake. There were statistically significant differences in terms of oral hygiene. No significant difference in clinical indexes (DMFT, PlI, and GI) was present. S. mutans was harbored by 18.6% of competitive and the 32.2% of non-competitive swimmers. S. sobrinus was detected in 22.03% of competitive and 91.6% of non-competitive swimmers (p<0.05). S. sanguinis was found only in the saliva of competitive swimmers. The average S-IgA of competitive swimmers decreased significantly at T2 (p<0.05). The pool water had a daily average pH of 7.22. Conclusions Microbial markers, immune status and sporting characteristics are important for establishing guidelines for management of training load in order to minimize physical stress and the risk of oral infection