17,041 research outputs found
Gravitational Wave Signatures of Highly Magnetized Neutron Stars
Motivated by the recent gravitational wave detection by the LIGO-VIRGO
observatories, we study the Love number and dimensionless tidal polarizability
of highly magnetized stars. We also investigate the fundamental quasi-normal
mode of neutron stars subject to high magnetic fields. To perform our
calculations we use the chaotic field approximation and consider both nucleonic
and hyperonic stars. As far as the fundamental mode is concerned, we conclude
that the role played by the constitution of the stars is far more relevant than
the intensity of the magnetic field and if massive stars are considered, the
ones constituted by nucleons only present frequencies somewhat lower than the
ones with hyperonic cores, a feature that can be used to point out the real
internal structure of neutron stars. Moreover, our studies clearly indicate
that strong magnetic fields play a crucial role in the deformability of low
mass neutron stars, with possible consequences on the interpretation of the
detected gravitational waves signatures.Comment: 24 pages, 4 figures, 6 table
Reflectance of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) for Xenon Scintillation Light
Gaseous and liquid xenon particle detectors are being used in a number of
applications including dark matter search and neutrino-less double beta decay
experiments. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is often used in these detectors
both as electrical insulator and as a light reflector to improve the efficiency
of detection of scintillation photons. However, xenon emits in the vacuum
ultraviolet wavelength region (175 nm) where the reflecting properties of PTFE
are not sufficiently known.
In this work we report on measurements of PTFE reflectance, including its
angular distribution, for the xenon scintillation light. Various samples of
PTFE, manufactured by different processes (extruded, expanded, skived and
pressed) have been studied. The data were interpreted with a physical model
comprising both specular and diffuse reflections. The reflectance obtained for
these samples ranges from about 47% to 66% for VUV light. Fluoropolymers,
namely ETFE, FEP and PFA were also measured
Activation of adenosine A2A receptors induces TrkB translocation and increases BDNF-mediated phospho-TrkB localization in lipid rafts : implications for neuromodulation
Copyright © 2010 the authorsBrain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling is critical for neuronal development and transmission. Recruitment of TrkB receptors to lipid rafts has been hown to be necessary for the activation of specific signaling pathways and modulation of neurotransmitter release by BDNF. Since TrkB receptors are known to be modulated by adenosine A2A receptor activation, we hypothesized that activation of A2A receptors could influence TrkB receptor localization among different membrane microdomains. We found that adenosine A2A receptor agonists increased the levels of TrkB receptors in the lipid raft fraction of cortical membranes and potentiated BDNF-induced augmentation of phosphorylated TrkB levels in lipid rafts. Blockade of the clathrin-mediated endocytosis with monodansylcadaverine(100µM) did not modify the effects of theA2A receptor agonists but significantly impairedBDNFeffects on TrkB recruitment to lipid rafts.
The effect of A2A receptor activation in TrkB localization was mimicked by 5 µM forskolin, an adenylyl cyclase activator. Also, it was blocked by the PKA inhibitors Rp-cAMPs and PKI-(14 –22), and by the Src-family kinase inhibitor PP2. Moreover, removal of endogenous adenosine or disruption of lipid rafts reduced BDNF stimulatory effects on glutamate release from cortical synaptosomes.
Lipid raft integrity was also required for the effects of BDNF on hippocampal long-term potentiation at CA1 synapses. Our data
demonstrate, for the first time, a BDNF-independent recruitment of TrkB receptors to lipid rafts induced by activation of adenosine A2A receptors, with functional consequences for TrkB phosphorylation and BDNF-induced modulation of neurotransmitter
release and hippocampal plasticity.Supported by Fundacão para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (SFRH/BD/21374/2005 for N.A.L., SFRH/BD/21359/2005 for V.C.S., and SFRH/BPD/11528/2002 for D.B.P.) and by the European Union [European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) COST B30 concerted action, Neural Regeneration and Plasticity (NEREPLAS)]
Localized states at zigzag edges of bilayer graphene
We report the existence of zero energy surface states localized at zigzag
edges of bilayer graphene. Working within the tight-binding approximation we
derive the analytic solution for the wavefunctions of these peculiar surface
states. It is shown that zero energy edge states in bilayer graphene can be
divided into two families: (i) states living only on a single plane, equivalent
to surface states in monolayer graphene; (ii) states with finite amplitude over
the two layers, with an enhanced penetration into the bulk. The bulk and
surface (edge) electronic structure of bilayer graphene nanoribbons is also
studied, both in the absence and in the presence of a bias voltage between
planes.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure
Black hole entropy functions and attractor equations
The entropy and the attractor equations for static extremal black hole
solutions follow from a variational principle based on an entropy function. In
the general case such an entropy function can be derived from the reduced
action evaluated in a near-horizon geometry. BPS black holes constitute special
solutions of this variational principle, but they can also be derived directly
from a different entropy function based on supersymmetry enhancement at the
horizon. Both functions are consistent with electric/magnetic duality and for
BPS black holes their corresponding OSV-type integrals give identical results
at the semi-classical level. We clarify the relation between the two entropy
functions and the corresponding attractor equations for N=2 supergravity
theories with higher-derivative couplings in four space-time dimensions. We
discuss how non-holomorphic corrections will modify these entropy functions.Comment: 21 pages,LaTeX,minor change
Contagem de células somáticas, perfil de sensibilidade antimicrobiana e microorganismos isolados de mastites em búfalos: uma breve revisão.
Resumo: Apesar de haver alguns mitos sobre a espécie bubalina, esses animais apresentam problemas sanitários semelhantes aos dos bovinos, dentre eles a ocorrência de casos de mastite. Embora algumas particularidades relacionadas a características anatômicas do úbere e imunologia da glândula mamária proporcionem maior resistência contra a infecção, búfalas com elevada contagem de células somáticas (CCS) apresentam redução da produção de leite e alterações dos teores de seus constituintes. Esta revisão teve como objetivo levantar informações sobre o padrão de CCS normalmente encontrado para a espécie, os microorganismos mais frequentemente isolados e a resistência microbiana frente à antibióticoterapia. Abstract: Despite there are some myths about the buffalo, these animals have health problems similar to those of cattle, among them the occurrence of mastitis. Although some peculiarities related to anatomical features of the udder and immunology of the mammary gland provide greater resistance to infection, buffaloes with high somatic cell count (SCC) present lower productivity and changes in milk constituent?s levels. This review aimed to gather information about pattern of SCC usually found for specie, most frequently isolated microorganisms and microbial resistance against antibiotic therapy
Bilayer graphene: gap tunability and edge properties
Bilayer graphene -- two coupled single graphene layers stacked as in graphite
-- provides the only known semiconductor with a gap that can be tuned
externally through electric field effect. Here we use a tight binding approach
to study how the gap changes with the applied electric field. Within a parallel
plate capacitor model and taking into account screening of the external field,
we describe real back gated and/or chemically doped bilayer devices. We show
that a gap between zero and midinfrared energies can be induced and externally
tuned in these devices, making bilayer graphene very appealing from the point
of view of applications. However, applications to nanotechnology require
careful treatment of the effect of sample boundaries. This being particularly
true in graphene, where the presence of edge states at zero energy -- the Fermi
level of the undoped system -- has been extensively reported. Here we show that
also bilayer graphene supports surface states localized at zigzag edges. The
presence of two layers, however, allows for a new type of edge state which
shows an enhanced penetration into the bulk and gives rise to band crossing
phenomenon inside the gap of the biased bilayer system.Comment: 8 pages, 3 fugures, Proceedings of the International Conference on
Theoretical Physics: Dubna-Nano200
- …