Dynamical reentrance and geometry imposed quantization effects in Nb-AlOx-Nb Josephson junction arrays

In this paper, we report on different phenomena related to the magnetic properties of artificially prepared highly ordered (periodic) two-dimensional Josephson junction arrays (2D-JJA) of both shunted and unshunted Nb-AlOx-Nb tunnel junctions. By employing mutual-inductance measurements and using a high-sensitive bridge, we have thoroughly investigated (both experimentally and theoretically) the temperature and magnetic field dependence of complex AC susceptibility of 2D-JJA. We also demonstrate the use of the scanning SQUID microscope for imaging the local flux distribution within our unshunted arrays

Analysis of drugs returned by inpatient services after unit dose distribution in a portuguese public hospital

Unit-dose has been considered the most effective dispensing system in hospital pharmacy, however not all drugs are administered, are then returned to the pharmacy. The analysis of non-administered drugs might provide important data regarding pharmacotherapeutic follow-up, but also regarding pharmacy management decisions. The present study aims at depicting the drugs returned to the pharmacy following their previous unit-dose dispensing. Methods: During a period of 45 days, the unused returned drugs of five different inpatient clinical services were analyzed regarding the state of conservation, justification for return, inpatient clinical service provenance, and dosage regimen. Of a total of 65280 unit-dose dispensed drugs, 25.2% were returned (n=16431) and 74.9% of SOS (i.e. medications prescribed as needed) drugs (n=6583) were unused. Excluding SOS drugs, more than a half of the returned drugs (52.4%, n=4967), were probably returned due to unintended omission of administration, after excluding patients that were not physically on the unit and patients whose treatments were modified. The large majority of returned drugs (98.6%, n=16201) were suitable for reintroduction in the medication circuit. In order to accomplish the basic principles of unit-dose dispensing genesis, the returned drugs must be kept to a minimum. Therefore, the suspension of dispensing SOS drugs by unit-dose should be considered. Additionally, the careful analysis of returned drugs should be promoted, in order to avoid, as much as possible, the omission of administration.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A meshless local Petrov-Galerkin method for three-dimensional scalar problems

In this paper, we apply a meshless method based on local boundary integral equations (LBIEs) to solve electromagnetic problems. The discretization process is carried out through the use of special basis functions that, unlike the Finite Element Method, are not confined to an element and do not require the support of an underlying mesh. The approach herein developed can be applied to general threedimensional scalar boundary value problems arising in electromagnetism. Index Terms-Electromagnetic field computation, local boundary integral equations (LBIEs), moving least squares

Potentially irritant preservatives in newborn baby cosmetics – analysis of labels of products sold in Portugal

The use of cosmetics containing preservatives might pose a risk to the skin health of newborns, despite improving their adaptation to the external environment. The present work aimed at depicting the potentially hazardous preservatives in cosmetics sold in the district of Porto, Portugal. A total of 281 labels from newborn cosmetics were analyzed. From 729 different ingredients found in the analyzed labels, 15 were preservatives with previously recorded irritant activity, being sodium benzoate the most mentioned (n = 118). There was a significant difference between the means of number of preservatives with an irritant potential present in the products sold in pharmacies and in the products sold in supermarkets. Most analyzed products contained at least one preservative. Still, the choice of cosmetics for newborns should consider those with a minimum number of preservatives, being more probable to choose a less sensitizing product in pharmacies than in supermarkets.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Specific heat and magnetic measurements in Nd0.5Sr0.5MnO3, Nd0.5Ca0.5MnO3 and Ho0.5Ca0.5MnO3 samples

We studied the magnetization as a function of temperature and magnetic field in the compounds Nd0.5Sr0.5MnO3, Nd0.5Ca0.5MnO3 and Ho0.5Ca0.5MnO3. It allowed us to identify the ferromagnetic, antiferromagnetic and charge ordering phases in each case. The intrinsic magnetic moments of Nd3+ and Ho3+ ions experienced a short range order at low temperatures. We also did specific heat measurements with applied magnetic fields between 0 and 9 T and temperatures between 2 and 300 K in all three samples. Close to the charge ordering and ferromagnetic transition temperatures the specific heat curves showed peaks superposed to the characteristic response of the lattice oscillations. Below 10 K the specific heat measurements evidenced a Schottky-like anomaly for all samples. However, we could not successfully fit the curves to either a two level nor a distribution of two-level Schottky anomaly. Our results indicated that the peak temperature of the Schottky anomaly was higher in the compounds with narrower conduction band.Comment: submitted to PR

Simulaçao numérica da dispersao de poluentes emitidos por incendios no verao de 2003 na Peninsula Ibérica

Ponencia presentada en: XXIX Jornadas Científicas de la AME y el VII Encuentro Hispano Luso de Meteorología celebrado en Pamplona, del 24 al 26 de abril de 2006.[PT]O objectivo deste trabalho é utilizar o modelo CATT-B-RAMS (Coupled Aerosol and Tracers Transport model to the Brazilian Regional Atmospheric Modeling System) para estudar o transporte atmosférico do monóxido de carbono (CO) e material particulado (PM2.5) emitidos por queimadas que ocorreram durante o Verão de 2003 na Península Ibérica, no período de 31 de Julho a 3 de Agosto com a situação sinóptica actuante na exportação destes poluentes. As simulações numéricas foram feitas com a assimilação dos dados de fogos derivados a partir de medidas do MODIS/AQUA para a Europa para implementar a posição da emissão. Para a caracterização do estado inicial do modelo foram usadas as análises do modelo global AVN/NCEP (Aviation run of the National Center for Environmental Prediction Global Spectral Model) com grade de resolução de 80 km. Os resultados indicam que o modelo de mesoescala pode ser uma boa ferramenta para descrever a circulação atmosférica reproduzindo as principais características da situação sinóptica e o entendimento e avaliação deste impacto, passam necessariamente, pela junção de estudos observacionais e modelação numérica gerando modelos complexos que descrevam as inter-relações biosfera-atmosfera, caracterizando um estudo multidisciplinar.[EN]This study presents the transport of gases and particulate emitted by large scale vegetation fires that took place in the Iberian Peninsula in summer of 2003. This study is carried out through a numerical simulation using a highresolution configuration of the 3-D transport model CATT-BRAMS (Coupled Aerosol and Tracer Transport to the Brazilian developments on the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System) coupled to a biomass burning emission model. The sources emission from biomass burning for carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate material (PM2.5) are defined using MODIS/TERRA fire product and local observations. The initial and lateral boundary conditions necessary to drive model were provided by the Aviation run of the National Center for Environmental Prediction Global Spectral Model (AVN/NCEP). The coarse grid resolution was defined with 80 km grid spacing. The results show that the mesoscale model can be used as a useful tool to describe the atmospheric circulation reproducing the main characteristics of the synoptic situation and how it controls the pollution transport

Stabilizing bubble and droplet interfaces using dipeptide hydrogels

Hydrophobic dipeptide molecules can be used to create interfacial films covering bubbles and droplets made from a range of oils. At high pH, the dipeptide molecules form micelles which transform into a hydrogel of fibres in response to the addition of salt. We characterize the properties of the hydrogel for two different salt (MgSO4) concentrations and then we use these gels to stabilize interfaces. Under high shear, the hydrogel is disrupted and will reform around bubbles or droplets. Here, we reveal that at low dipeptide concentration, the gel is too weak to prevent ripening of the bubbles; this then reduces the long-term stability of the foam. Under the same conditions, emulsions prepared from some oils are highly stable. We examine the wetting properties of the oil droplets at a hydrogel surface as a guide to the resulting emulsions

Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains are differentially recognized by TLRs with an impact on the immune response

Tuberculosis associates with a wide spectrum of disease outcomes. The Beijing (Bj) lineage of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is suggested to be more virulent than other Mtb lineages and prone to elicit non-protective immune responses. However, highly heterogeneous immune responses were reported upon infection of innate immune cells with Bj strains or stimulation with their glycolipids. Using both in vitro and in vivo mouse models of infection, we here report that the molecular mechanism for this heterogeneity may be related to distinct TLR activations. Among this Mtb lineage, we found strains that preferentially activate TLR2, and others that also activate TLR4. Recognition of Mtb strains by TLR4 resulted in a distinct cytokine profile in vitro and in vivo, with specific production of type I IFN. We also uncover a novel protective role for TLR4 activation in vivo. Thus, our findings contribute to the knowledge of the molecular basis underlying how host innate immune cells handle different Mtb strains, in particular the intricate host-pathogen interaction with strains of the Mtb Bj lineage.This work has been funded by Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia, Portugal. Project grants: PTDC/SAU-MII/101977/2008 and PTDC/BIA-BCM/102776/2008. Personal grants: SFRH/BD/35981/2007 to JC; SFRH/BPD/3306/2007 to AC; SFRH/BPD/77399/2011 to LMT; SFRH/BI/33456/2008 to CS; and SFRH/BPD/33959/2009 to NSO. MS is a Ciencia 2007 fellow. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript