CP Violation and F-theory GUTs

Recent work on F-theory GUTs has shown that the predicted masses, and magnitudes of the mixing matrix elements in the quark and lepton sectors are in close accord with experiment. In this note we estimate the CP violating phase of the mixing matrices by considering the Jarlskog invariant. We find by carefully treating certain cancellations in the computation of the Jarlskog invariant that |J_quark| ~ alpha_GUT^(3) ~ 6*10^(-5), and that the CP violating phase of the quark sector is large, in accord with experiment. Moreover, we predict (up to order one factors) that |J_lepton| ~ alpha_GUT ~ 4*10^(-2) and that the CP violating phase of the lepton sector is also large.Comment: v2: 3 pages, Improved estimate of the Jarlskog invariant involving subtle cancellations, leading to a different conclusion for the CP violating phas

The identity of the nursing academic : between education and research

This study aimed to analyze how nurses represent their role as nursing academics and their conceptions, strategies and feelings involved in teaching-learning and research in nursing. A qualitative study was conducted. To achieve this goal, a semi-structured interview was carried out with seven nurses who worked as teachers and researchers at a university in Barcelona, Spain. The data were analyzed through categories validated in a previous study with the support of The Atlas Ti program. The results evidenced that nurses are less equipped to develop the researcher role, and that the profession is not justified without a close relationship between nursing theory and practice. The nursing academics look for a balance between teaching and research and they also wish to promote the development of models and theories in their own discipline.O estudo teve como objetivo analisar como as enfermeiras representam seu papel como acadêmicas de enfermagem, suas concepções, suas estratégias e seus sentimentos envolvidos nos processos de ensino-aprendizagem e pesquisa na enfermagem. Realizou-se uma pesquisa qualitativa. A coleta de dados foi através da entrevista semiestruturada aplicada a sete enfermeiras que trabalham como docentes e pesquisadoras em uma universidade de Barcelona, Espanha. Os dados foram analisados através de categorias validadas em um estudo anterior com o apoio do programa de ATLAS ti. Os resultados evidenciarem que as enfermeiras sentem-se menos preparadas para desenvolver o papel de investigadoras e que a profissão não se justifica sem uma estreita relação entre a teoria e a prática de enfermagem. As acadêmicas de enfermagem buscam equilíbrio entre a docência e a pesquisa e sentem-se desafiadas a desenvolver teorias e modelos em sua disciplina.El estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar cómo las enfermeras representan su rol como académicos de enfermería, sus concepciones, sus estrategias y los sentimientos involucrados en los procesos de enseñanza y aprendizaje e investigación en la enfermería. Se realizó un estudio cualitativo, y la recolección de datos fue a través de una entrevista semi-estructurada a siete enfermeras que trabajan como docentes e investigadoras en una universidad de Barcelona, España. Los datos se analizaron a través de categorías validadas en un estudio anterior con el apoyo del programa Atlas Ti. Los resultados evidenciaron que las enfermeras se sienten menos preparadas para desarrollar el rol de investigador, y que la profesión no se justifica sin una estrecha relación entre la teoría y la práctica de la enfermería. Los académicos de enfermería buscan un equilibrio entre la docencia y la investigación y se sienten desafiadas a desarrollar teorías y modelos en su propia disciplina

Techno‐environmental analysis of the use of green hydrogen for cogeneration from the gasification of wood and fuel cell

This paper aims to evaluate the use of wood biomass in a gasifier integrated with a fuel cell system as a low carbon technology. Experimental information of the wood is provided by the literature. The syngas is purified by using pressure swing adsorption (PSA) in order to obtain H2 with 99.99% purity. Using 132 kg/h of wood, it is possible to generate 10.57 kg/h of H2 that is used in a tubular solid oxide fuel cell (TSOFC). Then, the TSOFC generates 197.92 kW. The heat generated in the fuel cell produces 60 kg/h of steam that is needed in the gasifier. The net efficiency of the integrated system considering only the electric power generated in the TSOFC is 27.2%, which is lower than a gas turbine with the same capacity where the efficiency is around 33.1%. It is concluded that there is great potential for cogeneration with low carbon emission by using wood biomass in rural areas of developing countries e.g., with a carbon intensity of 98.35 kgCO2/MWh when compared with those of natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) without and with CO2 capture i.e., 331 kgCO2/MWh and 40 kgCO2/MWh, respectively. This is an alternative technology for places where biomass is abundant and where it is difficult to get electricity from the grid due to limits in geographical location

Altered response of adenylate cyclase to parathyroid hormone during compensatory renal growth

Altered response of adenylate cyclase to parathyroid hormone during compensatory renal growth. The loss of renal mass is associated with functional adaptations in the remaining nephrons to maintain homeostasis. Although parathyroid hormone (PTH) is important in the adaptations to phosphate, the mechanisms are not completely defined. In the present studies we examined the response of the adenylate cyclase system to PTH in renal cortical membranes of rat kidneys ten days after unilateral nephrectomy. The kidneys obtained at the time of the initial nephrectomy were used as controls. Unilateral nephrectomy resulted in contralateral compensatory renal growth, as demonstrated by a 24 ± 4.7% (P < 0.01) increase in weight in the remaining kidney. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) after unilateral nephrectomy was 62% of the control, while basal fractional phosphate excretion was higher in rats with unilateral nephrectomy (7.7 ± 2.1% vs. 2.9 ± 0.8%, P < 0.05). PTH infusion resulted in a similar increase of fractional phosphate excretion and urinary cAMP in both groups. In the absence of added guanine nucleotides, PTH-dependent adenylate cyclase activity in cortical membranes from kidneys with compensatory growth was decreased as compared to controls (Vmax807.5 ± 62.7 pmol cAMP/mg protein/30min vs. 1,384.8 ± 116.1, respectively, P < 0.01). The apparent affinity for PTH stimulation of adenylate cyclase (Kact) was unchanged. Magnesium-dependent adenylate cyclase activity was also decreased in the membranes from kidneys with compensatory growth. However, the kinetics of adenylate cyclase for the substrates ATP-Mg or ATP-Mn were similar. The addition of Gpp(NH)p resulted in a similar maximal response to PTH in the two groups, indicating an increased response of the enzyme to PTH in the presence of the guanine nucleotide. Cholera toxin-dependent ADP-ribosylation of the stimulatory guanine nucleotide binding protein (Gs) showed a marked decrease in the apparent content of the alpha subunit in membranes from kidneys with compensatory growth compared to controls. On the contrary, pertussis toxin-dependent ADP-ribosylation of the inhibitory guanine nucleotide binding protein (Gi) did not show differences in the content of the alpha subunit in both groups of membranes. Since the transduction of the hormone signal from the receptor is mediated by G proteins, the present studies suggest that during compensatory renal growth a decrease in the alpha subunit of Gs could account for the impaired response of adenylate cyclase to PTH in vitro, which could be overcome by high concentrations of guanine nucleotides