350 research outputs found
Kinetics of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma mRNA expression in islets and spleen of NOD mice
Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is caused by autoimmune destruction of pancreatic ß cells. Non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice spontaneously develop diabetes similar to the human disease. Cytokines produced by islet-infiltrating mononuclear cells may be directly cytotoxic and can be involved in islet destruction coordinated by CD4+ and CD8+ cells. We utilized a semiquantitative RT-PCR assay to analyze in vitro the mRNA expression of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma cytokine genes in isolated islets (N = 100) and spleen cells (5 x 10(5) cells) from female NOD mice during the development of diabetes and from female CBA-j mice as a related control strain that does not develop diabetes. Cytokine mRNAs were measured at 2, 4, 8, 14 and 28 weeks of age from the onset of insulitis to the development of overt diabetes. An increase in IFN-gamma expression in islets was observed for females aged 28 weeks (149 ± 29 arbitrary units (AU), P<0.05, Student t-test) with advanced destructive insulitis when compared with CBA-j mice, while TNF-alpha was expressed in both NOD and CBA-j female islets at the same level at all ages studied. In contrast, TNF-alpha in spleen was expressed at higher levels in NOD females at 14 weeks (99 ± 8 AU, P<0.05) and 28 weeks (144 ± 17 AU, P<0.05) of age when compared to CBA-j mice. The data suggest that IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha expression in pancreatic islets of female NOD mice is associated with ß cell destruction and overt diabetes.1347135
TRIZ: creativity as exact science?
TRIZ is the acronym for the Russian phrase Theory of Inventive Problem Solving. Over two million patents have been examined, classified by level of inventiveness, and analyzed to look for principles of innovation. If these principles could be identified and codified, they could be taught to people to make the process of invention more predictable. In this paper we discuss some ideas to use this method in the preparation of Physics students.TRIZ é a sigla para as palavras russas que, em português, significam Teoria para a Resolução de Problemas Criativos. O estudo de mais de dois milhões de patentes no mundo tem permitido identificar princípios universais de invenção. Ensinando estes princípios e com a ajuda de técnicas psicológicas de geração de idéias, a metodologia TRIZ pretende aprofundar e dinamizar o processo criativo. Neste artigo apresentamos algumas sugestões de como utilizar o método TRIZ na formação de estudantes de Física.205209Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq
Magnetic And Superconducting Properties Of Ru Sr2 Gd1.5 Ce0.5 Cu2 O10-δ Samples: Dependence On The Oxygen Content And Aging Effects
The magnetic and superconducting properties of Ru Sr2 Gd1.5 Ce0.5 Cu2 O10-δ polycrystalline samples with different oxygen-doping levels are presented. A strong suppression of the superconducting temperature (Tc), as well as a reduction in the superconducting fraction, occurs as the oxygen content is reduced by annealing the samples in oxygen-deprived atmospheres. Drastic changes in the electrical resistivity are observed above Tc, possibly associated with oxygen removal, mainly from grain boundaries. However, the magnetic ordering is relatively less affected by the changes in oxygen content of the samples. The spin-glass transition is enhanced and shifted to higher temperatures with the reduction in oxygen content. This could be correlated with an increase in the spin disorder and frustration for the oxygen-depleted samples. Also, the same oxygen-vacancy-induced disorder could explain the reduction in the fraction of the sample showing antiferromagnetic order. We also report significant changes in the measured properties of the samples as a function of time. © 2005 The American Physical Society.7113Felner, I., Asaf, U., Levi, Y., Millo, O., (1997) Phys. Rev. B, 55, p. 3374. , PRBMDO 0163-1829 10.1103/PhysRevB.55.R3374Bernhard, C., Tallon, J.L., Niedermayer, Ch., Blasius, Th., Golnik, A., Brücher, E., Kremer, R.K., Ansaldo, E.J., (1999) Phys. Rev. B, 59, p. 14099. , PRBMDO. 0163-1829. 10.1103/PhysRevB.59.14099Awana, V.P.S., Karppinen, M., Yamauchi, H., (2003) Studies of High Tc Superconductors, 46, p. 77. , edited by A. V. Narlikar (Nova Science Publishers, New YorkMatvejeff, M., Awana, V.P.S., Jang, L.-Y., Liu, R.S., Yamauchi, H., Karppinen, M., (2003) Physica C, 392-396, p. 87. , PHYCE6 0921-4534Cardoso, C.A., Araujo-Moreira, F.M., Awana, V.P.S., Kishan, H., Takayama-Muromachi, E., De Lima, O.F., (2004) Physica C, 405, p. 212. , PHYCE6 0921-4534Cardoso, C.A., Araujo-Moreira, F.M., Awana, V.P.S., Takayama-Muromachi, E., De Lima, O.F., Yamauchi, H., Karppinen, M., (2003) Phys. Rev. B, 67, p. 020407. , PRBMDO 0163-1829 10.1103/PhysRevB.67.020407Shi, L., Li, G., Fan, X.J., Feng, S.J., Li, X.-G., (2003) Physica C, 399, p. 69. , PHYCE6 0921-4534Felner, I., Asaf, U., Ritter, F., Klamut, P.W., Dabrowski, B., (2001) Physica C, 364-365, p. 368. , PHYCE6 0921-4534Felner, I., Asaf, U., Galstyan, E., (2002) Phys. Rev. B, 66, p. 024503. , PRBMDO 0163-1829 10.1103/PhysRevB.66.024503Felner, I., Asaf, U., Levi, Y., Millo, O., (2000) Physica C, 334, p. 141. , PHYCE6 0921-4534 10.1016/S0921-4534(00)00250-1Awana, V.P.S., Ansari, M.A., Gupta, A., Saxena, R.B., Kishan, H., Buddhikot, D., Malik, S.K., (2004) Phys. Rev. B, 70, p. 104520. , PRBMDO 0163-1829 10.1103/PhysRevB.70.104520Yoshizawa, H., Mitsuda, S., Aruga, H., Ito, A., (1987) Phys. Rev. Lett., 59, p. 2364. , PRLTAO 0031-9007 10.1103/PhysRevLett.59.2364Binder, K., Young, A.P., (1986) Rev. Mod. Phys., 58, p. 801. , RMPHAT 0034-6861 10.1103/RevModPhys.58.801Mydosh, J.A., (1993) Spin Glasses An Experimental Introduction, , Taylor & Francis, LondonFelner, I., Galstyan, E., Herber, R.H., Nowik, I., (2004) Phys. Rev. B, 70, p. 094504. , PRBMDO 0163-1829 10.1103/PhysRevB.70.094504Shengelaya, A., Khasanov, R., Eschenko, D.G., Felner, I., Asaf, U., Savić, I.M., Keller, H., Müller, K.A., (2004) Phys. Rev. B, 69, p. 024517. , PRBMDO. 0163-1829. 10.1103/PhysRevB.69.024517Xue, Y.Y., Cao, D.H., Lorenz, B., Chu, C.W., (2002) Phys. Rev. B, 65, p. 020511. , PRBMDO 0163-1829 10.1103/PhysRevB.65.02051
Spatial and seasonal contrasts of sedimentary organic matter in floodplain lakes of the central Amazon basin
In this study, we investigated the seasonal andspatial pattern of sedimentary organic matter (SOM) in fivefloodplain lakes of the central Amazon basin (Cabaliana,Janauaca, Canaçari, Mirituba and Curuai) which have differentmorphologies, hydrodynamics and vegetation coverages.Surface sediments were collected in four hydrologicalseasons: low water (LW), rising water (RW), high water(HW) and falling water (FW) in 2009 and 2010.We investigatedcommonly used bulk geochemical tracers such as theC V N ratio and the stable isotopic composition of organic carbon(?13Corg/. These results were compared with lignin phenolparameters as an indicator of vascular plant detritus andbranched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (brGDGTs) totrace the input of soil organic matter (OM) from land to theaquatic settings. We also applied the crenarchaeol as an indicatorof aquatic (rivers and lakes) OM. Our data showed thatduring the RW and FW seasons, the surface sediments wereenriched in lignin and brGDGTs in comparison to other seasons.Our study also indicated that floodplain lake sedimentsprimarily consisted of allochthonous, C3 plant-derived OM.However, a downstream increase in C4 macrophyte-derivedOM contribution was observed along the gradient of increasingopen waters – i.e., from upstream to downstream. Accordingly,we attribute the temporal and spatial difference inSOM composition to the hydrological dynamics between thefloodplain lakes and the surrounding flooded forests
The role of dynamical polarization of the ligand to metal charge transfer excitations in {\em ab initio} determination of effective exchange parameters
The role of the bridging ligand on the effective Heisenberg coupling
parameters is analyzed in detail. This analysis strongly suggests that the
ligand-to-metal charge transfer excitations are responsible for a large part of
the final value of the magnetic coupling constant. This permits to suggest a
new variant of the Difference Dedicated Configuration Interaction (DDCI)
method, presently one of the most accurate and reliable for the evaluation of
magnetic effective interactions. This new method treats the bridging ligand
orbitals mediating the interaction at the same level than the magnetic orbitals
and preserves the high quality of the DDCI results while being much less
computationally demanding. The numerical accuracy of the new approach is
illustrated on various systems with one or two magnetic electrons per magnetic
center. The fact that accurate results can be obtained using a rather reduced
configuration interaction space opens the possibility to study more complex
systems with many magnetic centers and/or many electrons per center.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure
Charge Fluctuations and Counterion Condensation
We predict a condensation phenomenon in an overall neutral system, consisting
of a single charged plate and its oppositely charged counterions. Based on the
``two-fluid'' model, in which the counterions are divided into a ``free'' and a
``condensed'' fraction, we argue that for high surface charge, fluctuations can
lead to a phase transition in which a large fraction of counterions is
condensed. Furthermore, we show that depending on the valence, the condensation
is either a first-order or a smooth transition.Comment: 16 pages, 1 figure, accepted to be published in PR
Estimativa de biomassa em parcelas amostrais de floresta tropical úmida, Usina Hidroelétrica de Samuel, Rondônia
Exchange coupling in CaMnO and LaMnO: configuration interaction and the coupling mechanism
The equilibrium structure and exchange constants of CaMnO and LaMnO
have been investigated using total energy unrestricted Hartree-Fock (UHF) and
localised orbital configuration interaction (CI) calculations on the bulk
compounds and MnO and MnO clusters. The
predicted structure and exchange constants for CaMnO are in reasonable
agreement with estimates based on its N\'eel temperature. A series of
calculations on LaMnO in the cubic perovskite structure shows that a
Hamiltonian with independent orbital ordering and exchange terms accounts for
the total energies of cubic LaMnO with various spin and orbital orderings.
Computed exchange constants depend on orbital ordering. UHF calculations tend
to underestimate exchange constants in LaMnO, but have the correct sign
when compared with values obtained by neutron scattering; exchange constants
obtained from CI calculations are in good agreement with neutron scattering
data provided the Madelung potential of the cluster is appropriate. Cluster CI
calculations reveal a strong dependence of exchange constants on Mn d e
orbital populations in both compounds. CI wave functions are analysed in order
to determine which exchange processes are important in exchange coupling in
CaMnO and LaMnO.Comment: 25 pages and 9 postscript figure
Spatial and seasonal variations in the stable carbon isotopic composition of methane in stream sediments of eastern Amazonia
The stable carbon isotopic composition of methane (δ13 C-CH4) gas bubbles formed in the sediments of three Amazonian streams was determined over a 5-yr period. The study sites were two ' 'várzea' floodplain (Açu and Maicá) and one 'terra-firme' (Jamaraquá) streams. The δ 13C of sedimentary organic matter (SOM) from the surrounding vegetation and bottom sediments were also determined. The mean δ13C value of SOM was lower in the terra-firme (-29.6‰) than in the várzea stream (-23.8‰) as a result of less C4 plant deposition in the former. The δ 13C-CH4 values varied systematically both seasonally and spatially among the sites during all 5 yr of the study, in association with changes during hydrologic cycle. Overall, the variation in values of δ 13C-CH4 during the high water phase covered a narrower range of values, -63 to -56‰. Contrastively, during the low water phase the δ 13C-CH4 values for várzea and terra-firme streams are different and are in direct opposition. At this phase, the δ13C-CH4 at terra-firme stream is at least 20‰ depleted of 13C compared to várzea streams. Changes in organic matter sources, water levels and associated microbial degradation processes control the observed seasonal and spatial variations in net stable carbon isotopic composition of methane
Variational Principle underlying Scale Invariant Social Systems
MaxEnt's variational principle, in conjunction with Shannon's logarithmic
information measure, yields only exponential functional forms in
straightforward fashion. In this communication we show how to overcome this
limitation via the incorporation, into the variational process, of suitable
dynamical information. As a consequence, we are able to formulate a somewhat
generalized Shannonian Maximum Entropy approach which provides a unifying
"thermodynamic-like" explanation for the scale-invariant phenomena observed in
social contexts, as city-population distributions. We confirm the MaxEnt
predictions by means of numerical experiments with random walkers, and compare
them with some empirical data
- …