4,673 research outputs found
Raman microprobe characterization of electrodeposited S-rich CuIn(S,Se)2 for photovoltaic applications: Microstructural analysis
This article reports a detailed Raman scattering and microstructural characterization of S-rich CuIn(S,Se)2 absorbers produced by electrodeposition of nanocrystalline CuInSe2 precursors and subsequent reactive annealing under sulfurizing conditions. Surface and in-depth resolved Raman microprobe measurements have been correlated with the analysis of the layers by optical and scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and in-depth Auger electron spectroscopy. This has allowed corroboration of the high crystalline quality of the sulfurized layers. The sulfurizing conditions used also lead to the formation of a relatively thick MoS2 intermediate layer between the absorber and the Mo back contact. The analysis of the absorbers has also allowed identification of the presence of In-rich secondary phases, which are likely related to the coexistence in the electrodeposited precursors of ordered vacancy compound domains with the main chalcopyrite phase, in spite of the Cu-rich conditions used in the growth. This points out the higher complexity of the electrodeposition and sulfurization processes in relation to those based in vacuum deposition techniques
Effect of Aspirin on Cell Growth of Human MG-63 Osteosarcoma Line
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used in bone tissue repair treatment for their pharmacological action. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of aspirin, on osteoblast growth, using MG63 cell line as osteoblast model. MTT spectrophotometry results showed that 20, 100, and 1000 μM aspirin doses have an inhibitory effect on growth. Cell cycle analysis revealed that aspirin doses of 100 and 1000 μM arrest the cell cycle in phase GO/G1. Parallel apoptosis/necrosis studies showed no changes in comparison to control cells after treatment with 1 or 10 μM aspirin but a significantly increased percentage of cells in apoptosis at doses of 20, 100, and 1000 μM. We highlight that treatment of osteoblast-like cells with 1000 μM aspirin increased not only the percentage of cells in apoptosis but also the percentage of necrotic cells, which was not observed in aspirin treatments at lower doses
Domain-wall profile in the presence of anisotropic exchange interactions: Effective on-site anisotropy
Starting from a D-dimensional XXZ ferromagnetic Heisenberg model in an
hypercubic lattice, it is demonstrated that the anisotropy in the exchange
coupling constant leads to a D-dependent effective on-site anisotropy
interaction often ignored for D>1. As a result the effective width of the wall
depends on the dimensionality of the system. It is shown that the effective
one-dimensional Hamiltonian is not the one-dimensional XXZ version as assumed
in previous theoretical work. We derive a new expression for the wall profile
that generalizes the standard Landau-Lifshitz form. Our results are found to be
in very good agreement with earlier numerical work using the Monte Carlo
method. Preceding theories concerning the domain wall contribution to
magnetoresistance have considered the role of D only through the modification
of the density of states in the electronic band structure. This Brief Report
reveals that the wall profile itself contains an additional D dependence for
the case of anisotropic exchange interactions.Comment: 4 pages; new title and abstract; 1 figure comparing our results with
earlier numerical work; a more general model containing the usual on-site
anisotropy; new remarks and references on the following two topics: (a)
experimental evidence for the existence of spin exchange anisotropy, and (b)
preceding theories concerning the domain wall contribution to
magnetoresistance; to appear in Phys. Rev.
The kinematics of the quadrupolar nebula M1-75 and the identification of its central star
The link between the shaping of bipolar planetary nebulae and their central
stars is still poorly understood. The kinematics and shaping of the multipolar
nebula M 1-75 are hereby investigated, and the location and nature of its
central star are briefly discussed. Fabry-Perot data from GHaFAS on the WHT
sampling the Doppler shift of the [N II] 658.3 nm line are used to study the
dynamics of the nebula, by means of a detailed 3-D spatio-kinematical model.
Multi-wavelength images and spectra from the WFC and IDS on the INT, and from
ACAM on the WHT, allowed us to constrain the parameters of the central star.
The two pairs of lobes, angularly separated by ~22 degrees, were ejected
simultaneously approx. ~3500-5000 years ago, at the adopted distance range from
3.5 to 5.0 kpc. The larger lobes show evidence of a slight degree of point
symmetry. The shaping of the nebula could be explained by wind interaction in a
system consisting of a post-AGB star surrounded by a disc warped by radiative
instabilities. This requires the system to be a close binary or a single star
which engulfed a planet as it died. On the other hand, we present broad- and
narrow-band images and a low S/N optical spectrum of the highly-reddened,
previously unnoticed star which is likely the nebular progenitor. Its estimated
V-I colour allows us to derive a rough estimate of the parameters and nature of
the central star.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy &
Astrophysic
First record of the genus Leptodactylus (Anura: Leptodactylidae) in Cuba: Leptodactylus fragilis, a biological invasion?
The Neotropical genus Leptodactylus is currently represented by three species in the West Indies (Leptodactylus albilabris, Leptodactylus fallax and Leptodactylus validus). Based on morphological, acoustic and molecular evidence, we document the presence of a fourth species in the Caribbean region, Leptodactylus fragilis (Brocchi, 1877). The species was found at two localities in western Cuba, and molecular data suggest a northern South American origin, possibly Venezuela, for these populations. We discuss the potential invasive status of L. fragilis, based on its known distribution, relative abundance, behaviour and possible impacts on native species of Cuban amphibians
Simultaneous Surface Plasmon Resonance and X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy
We present here an experimental set-up to perform simultaneously measurements
of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) in a
synchrotron beamline. The system allows measuring in situ and in real time the
effect of X-ray irradiation on the SPR curves to explore the interaction of
X-rays with matter. It is also possible to record XAS spectra while exciting
SPR in order to detect the changes in the electronic configuration of thin
films induced by the excitation of surface plasmons. Combined experiments
recording simultaneously SPR and XAS curves while scanning different parameters
can be carried out. The relative variations in the SPR and XAS spectra that can
be detected with this set-up ranges from 10-3 to 10-5, depending on the
particular experiment
ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS FROM THE HUAUTLA SIERRA BIOSPHERE RESERVE IN MORELOS (MÉXICO)
Twenty-two extracts from nine Mexicanmedicinal plants of eight different familiesused for people neighbor to Huautla SierraBiosphere Reserve (REBIOSH) in differentinfectious diseases were assayed in vitro todetermine their antibacterial activity againstStaphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus faecalis; Escherichia coli; Proteus mirabilis;Salmonella typhi and the yeast Candidaalbicans. Most plants showed antibacterialactivity, while two plants showed activityagainst range 0.25 a 4 mg/mL almost onemicroorganism used. The extracts showedminimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)against S. aureus and S. faecalis, representsmicroorganisms Gram-positive were hexanic and acetonic extracts of Bursera copallifera and hexanic extract of B. grandifolia.The ethanol extract of Lippia graveolensshowed a MIC value of 1 mg/mL againstyeast Candida albicans.Se determinó la actividad antimicrobianade veintidós extractos orgánicos de nueveespecies vegetales medicinales de ochodiferentes familias, que son comúnmenteempleadas por los habitantes de las comunidades vecinas a la reserva de la biosferaSierra de Huautla (REBIOSH), Morelos,para tratar diferentes padecimientos infecciosos. Los microorganismos empleadosfueron: Staphylococcus aureus; Streptococcus faecalis; Escherichia coli; Proteusmirabilis; Salmonella typhi y la levaduraCandida albicans. La mayoría de los extractos de las plantas probadas inhibieronel crecimiento microbiano en un rango de0.25 a 4 mg/mL de al menos uno de losmicroorganismos utilizados. Los extractosque mostraron las menores concentracionesmínimas inhibitorias (CMI) frente a losmicroorganismos S. aureus y S. faecalis,representativos de Gram-positivos fueron el extracto hexánico y acetónico de Burseracopallifera y el hexánico de B. grandifolia.El extracto etanólico de Lippia graveolenslogró inhibir a C. albicans con una CMIde 1 mg/mL
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