Quantum-classical transition and quantum activation of ratchet currents in the parameter space

The quantum ratchet current is studied in the parameter space of the dissipative kicked rotor model coupled to a zero temperature quantum environment. We show that vacuum fluctuations blur the generic isoperiodic stable structures found in the classical case. Such structures tend to survive when a measure of statistical dependence between the quantum and classical currents are displayed in the parameter space. In addition, we show that quantum fluctuations can be used to overcome transport barriers in the phase space. Related quantum ratchet current activation regions are spotted in the parameter space. Results are discussed {based on quantum, semiclassical and classical calculations. While the semiclassical dynamics involves vacuum fluctuations, the classical map is driven by thermal noise.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure

Plantio direto de feijão Phaseolus sobre a palhada da leguminosa Guandu na agricultura familiar da Transamazônica.

bitstream/item/28092/1/com.tec.81.pd

Pixel-level APS Sensor Integration and Sensitivity Scaling for Vision Based Speed Measurement

A dual-pixel APS sensor architecture is proposed in this paper, for vision based speed measurement applications, based on a novel double exposure method. The sensor integrates two type of imaging elements on pixel level, and is designed to generate two spatially and temporally coherent images. The primary sensor generates a good quality image for vehicle identification, while the output of the secondary sensor is used to calculate speed estimates, based on the intra-frame displacement of the vehicle's headlight. A scaling process has also been developed for the sensitivity of the secondary sensor, based on photodiode parasitic capacitor discharge time

Psychological well-being in young women working in the promotional marketing industry: the role of body image factors

For young women working in some industries their judged physical attractiveness is directly related to their employment. This study investigated the role of objective physical status, societal influences on body image, and self-appraisals of personal appearance in determining the psychological well-being of young women employed in the promotional industry. Participants were 132 women (mean age = 22 years) with a Body Mass Index in healthy or underweight categories. Both depression and global self-esteem scores were in the normal range. The group reported high levels of stress and self-liking but low levels of anxiety and self-competence. The body image factors significantly predicted variance in anxiety, stress, self-competence, and self-liking. Appearance Evaluation and Appearance Orientation scores were the strongest predictors of psychological well-being. These results suggest that while social comparison can result in self-enhancement effects for those who have achieved the thin-ideal, maintaining such a physique results in ongoing stress and pressure

Glutathione increase by the n-butanoyl glutathione derivative (GSH-C4) inhibits viral replication and induces a predominant Th1 immune profile in old mice infected with influenza virus

During aging, glutathione (GSH) content declines and the immune system undergoes a deficiency in the induction of Th1 response. Reduced secretion of Th1 cytokines, which is associated with GSH depletion, could weaken the host defenses against viral infections. We first evaluated the concentration of GSH and cysteine in organs of old mice; then, the effect of the administration of the N-butanoyl GSH derivative (GSH-C4) on the response of aged mice infected with influenza A PR8/H1N1 virus was studied through the determination of GSH concentration in organs, lung viral titer, IgA and IgG1/IgG2a production and Th1/Th2 cytokine profile. Old mice had lower GSH than young mice in organs. Also the gene expression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers involved in GSH metabolism and folding of proteins, i.e. Nrf2 and PDI, was reduced. Following infection, GSH content remained low and neither infection nor GSH-C4 treatment affected Nrf2 expression. In contrast, PDI expression was upregulated during infection and appeared counterbalanced by GSH-C4. Moreover, the treatment with GSH-C4 increased GSH content in organs, reduced viral replication and induced a predominant Th1 response. In conclusion, GSH-C4 treatment could be used in the elderly to contrast influenza virus infection by inducing immune response, in particular the Th1 profile

La sorveglianza della tubercolosi in Sicilia

Obiettivi. Descrivere l’andamento dei casi di tubercolosi (TB) in Sicilia negli anni 2010-2013. Disegno e partecipanti. Indagine osservazionale delle notifiche di TB relative agli anni 2010-2013 mediante l’analisi dei dati del Sistema informativo delle malattie infettive (SIMI) e indagine epidemiologico-molecolare mediante tipizzazione spoligo- e 24- loci mycobacterial interspersed repetitive units-variable number of tandem repeats (MIRU-VNTR) dei ceppi di Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) isolati a Palermo negli anni 2012-2013. Risultati. Negli anni 2010-2013 sono stati notificati in Sicilia 876 casi di TB con un tasso medio annuale di notifica pari a 4,4 casi per 100.000 abitanti. La proporzione di casi di TB in soggetti nati all’estero è crescente e nel 2012 e 2013 supera quella nella popolazione autoctona. L’età mediana dei pazienti stranieri è risultata significativamente inferiore agli italiani (30,5 vs. 51,2 anni, p <0,001). La distribuzione per classi di età è stata significativamente differente nelle due subpopolazioni, con la proporzione più elevata di casi nelle fascia di età 15-44 anni tra gli stranieri e, al contrario, una distribuzione uniforme dei pazienti italiani tra le fasce di età 15-44, 45-64 e >64 anni. Nell’82,5% dei casi è stata diagnosticata una localizzazione polmonare. La tipizzazione molecolare è stata effettuata su 151 ceppi di MTBC. Mediante spoligotyping essi sono stati attribuiti a 14 differenti lineage e 33 sublineage rappresentati con frequenza diversa tra le due subpopolazioni di pazienti. Soltanto nove ceppi (6,2%) sono stati inclusi in quattro cluster. Sono stati identificati, infine, due ceppi multiresistenti. Conclusioni. L’epidemiologia della TB in Sicilia è complessa e in rapida evoluzione, con una crescente proporzione di casi in soggetti non italiani e una grande eterogeneità dei ceppi di MTBC circolanti. L’integrazione di strumenti convenzionali e molecolari è necessaria per una sorveglianza efficace e un’interpretazione accurata dell’epidemiologia della TB in Sicilia

BRSMG Curinga: cultivar de arroz lançada para as condições de terra firme no Estado do Pará.

bitstream/item/27801/1/Com.Tec.216.pdfVersão eletrônica. 1ª impressão: 2010