On the P-representable subset of all bipartite Gaussian separable states

P-representability is a necessary and sufficient condition for separability of bipartite Gaussian states only for the special subset of states whose covariance matrix are $Sp(2,R)\otimes Sp(2,R)$ locally invariant. Although this special class of states can be reached by a convenient $Sp(2,R)\otimes Sp(2,R)$ transformation over an arbitrary covariance matrix, it represents a loss of generality, avoiding inference of many general aspects of separability of bipartite Gaussian states.Comment: Final version with new results added. Slightly more detailed than the accepted manuscript (to appear in Phys. Rev. A

A numerical method for nonlinear age-structured population models with finite maximum age

AbstractWe propose a new numerical method for the approximation of solutions to a non-autonomous form of the classical Gurtin–MacCamy population model with a mortality rate that is the sum of an intrinsic age-dependent rate that becomes unbounded as the age approaches its maximum value, plus a non-local, non-autonomous, bounded rate that depends on some weighted population size. We prove that our new quadrature based method converges to second-order and we show the results of several numerical simulations

Are Gauss-Legendre methods useful in molecular dynamics?

AbstractWe apply the two-stage Gauss-Legendre method to the numerical simulation of liquid argon, a typical problem in molecular dynamics. It is found that the scheme is less efficient than the Verlet/leapfrog method, standard in this sort of simulation

Silicon Carbide as Base Material for MEMS Sensors of Aerospace Use: An Overview

This paper discusses the use of silicon carbide (SiC), in bulk and thin-film form, in MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) sensors for extreme environment applications, especially in aerospace. The physical and chemical properties of SiC that make it a suitable material for electronic devices and sensors are described. Concepts, developments and applications of MEMS technology are presented. An overview of the current stage of development of SiC-based MEMS sensors and an analysis of research conducted in this area in Brazil and abroad, both in universities and industries are also presented. The recent progress made, difficulties encountered and the impact of these investigations are discussed as well as the outlook for the near future.Este artigo discute o emprego do carbeto de silício (SiC), na forma de substrato e filme fino, em sensores MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) para aplicações em ambientes sujeitos a condições extremas, especialmente no setor aeroespacial. As propriedades físicas e químicas do SiC que o tornam um material adequado para dispositivos eletrônicos e sensores são descritas. Os conceitos, evolução e aplicações da tecnologia MEMS são apresentados. Uma visão geral sobre o estágio atual de desenvolvimento de sensores MEMS baseados em SiC e uma análise das pesquisas realizadas nesta área no exterior e no Brasil, tanto nas universidades quanto nas indústrias, são também apresentadas. Os recentes avanços alcançados, as dificuldades encontradas e o impacto dessas pesquisas são discutidos, bem como as perspectivas para um futuro próximo.FATEC CEETEPS Departamento de Ensino GeralUNIVAP Instituto de Pesquisa e DesenvolvimentoUNIFESP Instituto de Ciência e TecnologiaUNIFESP, Instituto de Ciência e TecnologiaSciEL

Excavando en los recuerdos

Se hace un recorrido histórico por las aportaciones arqueológicas de este Centro y los profesionales que en él han trabajado

Transcriptomics and the mediterranean diet: A systematic review

The Mediterranean diet has been proven to be highly effective in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and cancer and in decreasing overall mortality. Nowadays, transcriptomics is gaining particular relevance due to the existence of non-coding RNAs capable of regulating many biological processes. The present work describes a systematic review of current evidence supporting the influence of the Mediterranean diet on transcriptomes of different tissues in various experimental models. While information on regulatory RNA is very limited, they seem to contribute to the effect. Special attention has been given to the oily matrix of virgin olive oil. In this regard, monounsaturated fatty acid-rich diets prevented the expression of inflammatory genes in different tissues, an action also observed after the administration of olive oil phenolic compounds. Among these, tyrosol, hydroxytyrosol, and secoiridoids have been found to be particularly effective in cell cycle expression. Less explored terpenes, such as oleanolic acid, are important modulators of circadian clock genes. The wide range of studied tissues and organisms indicate that response to these compounds is universal and poses an important level of complexity considering the different genes expressed in each tissue and the number of different tissues in an organism

Dietary erythrodiol modifies hepatic transcriptome in mice in a sex and dose-dependent way

Erythrodiol is a terpenic compound found in a large number of plants. To test the hypotheses that its long-term administration may influence hepatic transcriptome and this could be influenced by the presence of APOA1-containing high-density lipoproteins (HDL), Western diets containing 0.01% of erythrodiol (10 mg/kg dose) were provided to Apoe-and Apoa1-deficient mice. Hepatic RNA-sequencing was carried out in male Apoe-deficient mice fed purified Western diets differing in the erythrodiol content. The administration of this compound significantly up-regulated 68 and down-regulated 124 genes at the level of 2-fold change. These genes belonged to detoxification processes, protein metabolism and nucleic acid related metabolites. Gene expression changes of 21 selected transcripts were verified by RT-qPCR. Ccl19-ps2, Cyp2b10, Rbm14-rbm4, Sec61g, Tmem81, Prtn3, Amy2a5, Cyp2b9 and Mup1 showed significant changes by erythrodiol administration. When Cyp2b10, Dmbt1, Cyp2b13, Prtn3 and Cyp2b9 were analyzed in female Apoe-deficient mice, no change was observed. Likewise, no significant variation was observed in Apoa1-or in Apoe-deficient mice receiving doses ranging from 0.5 to 5 mg/kg erythrodiol. Our results give evidence that erythrodiol exerts a hepatic transcriptional role, but this is selective in terms of sex and requires a threshold dose. Furthermore, it requires an APOA1-containing HDL

Implication of miR-612 and miR-1976 in the regulation of TP53 and CD40 and their relationship in the response to specific weight-loss diets

Background: Non-coding RNAs (i.e., miRNAs) play a role in the development of obesity and related comorbidities and the regulation of body weight. Objective: To identify candidate miRNA biomarkers throughout omics approaches in order to predict the response to specific weight-loss dietary treatments. Design: Genomic DNA and cDNA isolated from white blood cells of a subset from the RESMENA nutritional intervention study (Low-responders (LR) vs High-responders (HR)) was hybridized in Infinium Human Methylation450 BeadChip and in Illumina Human HT-12 v4 gene expression BeadChips arrays respectively. A bioinformatic prediction of putative target sites of selected miRNAs was performed by applying miRBase algorithms. HEK-293T cells were co-transfected with expression vectors containing the 3'-UTR of candidate genes to validate the binding of miRNAs to its target sites. Results: 134 miRNAs were differentially methylated between HR and LR in the methylation array, whereas 44 miRNAs were differentially expressed between both groups in the expression array. Specifically, miR-1237, miR-1976, miR-642, miR-636, miR-612 and miR-193B were simultaneously hypomethylated and overexpressed in HR. miR-612 and miR-1976 showed greatest differences in methylation and expression levels, respectively. The bioinformatic prediction revealed that TP53 was a putative target gene of miR-612 and CD40 of miR-1976. Moreover, TP53 was downregulated in the expression array when comparing HR vs LR expression levels adjusted by sex, diet, age and baseline weight, and CD40 showed a statistical trend. Furthermore, gene expression levels of TP53 and CD40 in white blood cells, when measured by qPCR, were also downregulated in HR. Finally, miR-612 and miR-1976 potently repressed TP53 and CD40 respectively by targeting its 3'-UTR regions. Conclusion: miR-612 and miR-1976 levels could be prospective biomarkers of response to specific weight-loss diets and might regulate the gene expression of TP53 and CD40

Microstructural and magnetic characterization of Fe- and Ir-based multilayers

Nominal [Fe(t)/Ir(t'')](n) (M/Mtype), [FeOx(t)/IrOx(t'')](n) (O/O), and [Fe(t)/IrOx(t'')](n) (M/O) multilayers have been prepared by magnetron sputtering at room temperature. Composition, structure, and magnetic behavior have been analyzed. In the M/M samples, the Fe and Ir phases are identified as bcc and fcc, respectively. The magnetism evolves from bulklike iron to granular behavior as the thickness of the Fe layers decreases. An induced magnetic moment, ferromagnetically coupled to Fe, is observed on Ir by x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD). Besides, the presence of negative remanent magnetization is observed in the M/M samples. As for the M/O samples, the stronger affinity of iron for oxygen displaces the oxygen atoms giving rise to actual heterostructures that strongly differ from the nominal ones. For similar thickness of the two layers the Fe layer become oxidized while a mixture of metal and oxide phases is found in the Ir layer. The increase of the Fe thickness leads to a metallic Ir layer and a highly coercive (similar to 4.4 kOe) core-shell metal-oxide structure in the Fe layers

Hábitos de sueño y problemas relacionados con el sueño en adolescentes: relación con el rendimiento escolar

ObjetivoConocer la prevalencia de trastornos de sueño en los adolescentes. Describir los hábitos de sueño de los adolescentes y su relación con los trastornos del sueño y los factores asociados. Conocer la relación entre los trastornos del sueño y/o los hábitos de sueño inadecuados con el rendimiento escolar.DiseñoEstudio observacional, descriptivo y transversal.EmplazamientoInstitutos de enseñanza secundaria obligatoria (ESO) de la ciudad de Cuenca.ParticipantesUn total de 1.293 alumnos escolarizados en primero y cuarto cursos de ESO.Mediciones principalesHábitos de sueño en días lectivos y fines de semana y prevalencia de trastornos del sueño medidos mediante un cuestionario estructurado con preguntas abiertas y cerradas, autoadministrado y anónimo. Se determinó el rendimiento escolar de los alumnos y su relación con los hábitos y trastornos de sueño.ResultadosDe los 1.293 alumnos matriculados, completaron la encuesta 1.155 (89,33%), 537 (45,9%) chicos y 618 (54,1%) chicas, con una media de edad de 14 años (rango, 11-18 años). Los días laborables se acuestan en promedio a las 23.17 y se levantan a las 7.46 (tiempo medio, 8 h y 18 min) y los fines de semana se acuestan a la 1.02 y se levantan a las 10.42 (tiempo medio, 9 h y 40 min). El 45,4% declara dormir mal la noche del domingo al lunes. El promedio de asignaturas suspendidas es mayor en los adolescentes con queja de sueño (2,28 frente a 1,91; p = 0,04), los que se levantan cansados (2,17 frente a 1,97; p = 0,048) y los que tienen somnolencia diurnal (2,17 frente a 1,75; p = 0,004).ConclusionesEl horario escolar conlleva deuda de sueño durante la semana que se recupera parcialmente el fin de semana. En los fines de semana se produce una rotura en los hábitos de sueño de los adolescentes. Los adolescentes con problemas relacionados con el sueño muestran peor rendimiento escolar.ObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of sleep disorders in adolescence.To describe sleeping habits of adolescents in relation to sleep disorders and associated factors. To determine the relation between sleep disorders/inappropiate sleeping habits and school performance.DesignObservational, descriptive, crosssectional study.SettingSecondary school of Cuenca (city in Spain).Participants1293 school children of first and fourth curses of secondary education.Main measuresStructured questionnaire with opened and closed questions on sleeping habits during weekdays and at weekends and sleep disorders to be answered by the adolescents anonymously and on their own. Student's school performance with relation with to sleeping habits and sleep disorders were determined.Results1155 students out of 1293 (response rate 89.33%) answered the questionnaire, 537 (45.9%) boys and 618 (54.1%) girls, 14 years old on average (between 11-18 years). On weekdays students went to bed at 23.17 h and got up at 7.46 h (average sleeping time =8 hours and 18 minutes). At weekends they went to bed at 1.02 h and got up at 10.42 h (average sleeping time =9 hours and 40 minutes). 45.4% of students said to sleep badly on Sunday night's.On average the number of subjects failed in class is higher with adolescents who complain about sleep (2.28 vs 1.91; P=.04), who are tired at waking up time (2.17 vs 1.97; P=.048) and who have morning sleepiness (2.17 vs 1.75; P=.004).ConclusionsSchools hours cause deficitsleeping time during weekdays which is partly made up for at weekend. At weekends there is an interruption of the adolescent's sleeping habits. School performance of adolescents with sleep disorders is lower