Superfluid turbulence and pulsar glitch statistics

Experimental evidence is reviewed for the existence of superfluid turbulence in a differentially rotating, spherical shell at high Reynolds numbers (\Rey\gsim 10^3), such as the outer core of a neutron star. It is shown that torque variability increases with \Rey, suggesting that glitch activity in radio pulsars may be a function of \Rey as well. The \Rey distribution of the 67 glitching radio pulsars with characteristic ages $\tau_c \leq 10^6$ {\rm yr} is constructed from radio timing data and cooling curves and compared with the \Rey distribution of all 348 known pulsars with $\tau_c \leq 10^6$ {\rm yr}. The two distributions are different, with a Kolmogorov-Smirnov probability $\geq 1 - 3.9 \times 10^{-3}$. The conclusion holds for (modified) Urca and nonstandard cooling, and for Newtonian and superfluid viscosities

Effect of specified edge load on Eucalyptus globulus paper properties

Refining is an important unit operation in the paper production process and consists in the mechanical beating of the pulp fibres in an aqueous medium. The refining conditions affect fibre morphology, pulp suspension characteristics and paper properties. In this study we investigated the effect of refining intensity - given by the specific edge load (SEL) - on the fibre and paper properties. Lower refining intensity led to lower fibre cutting, lower fines generation, and lower ºSR development. Commercial Eucalyptus globulus bleached pulp was refined in a pilot refiner, using different specific edge loads (0.05; 0.1 and 0.2 J/m) and specific energy consumption of 40, 80 and 120 kWh/ton in order to evaluate paper potential. The highest specific edge load tested (0,2 J/m) resulted in a lower average fibre length, as a result of a higher fibre cutting. The papers produced presented higher mechanical resistance, but increasing refinement energy from 80 to 120 kWh/ton did not improve paper properties. On the contrary, with a lowest specific edge load (0,05 J/m), the papers obtained for different specific energy consumption exhibited lower density (i.e., higher open structure, higher air permeability and lower smoothness)

Effect of biofertilizers and neem oil on the entomopathogenic fungi beauveria bassiana (Bals.) vuill. and metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) sorok.

The in vitro fungitoxic effect of three biofertilizers, E.M.-4, Multibion Ô and Supermagro used in organic agriculture and the neem oil (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) on the entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana was studied. These products were mixed in a medium where the two fungi were inoculated, and germination, vegetative growth and conidiogenesis were assessed. The biofertilizers Supermagro and E.M.- 4 showed to be less toxic for the two fungi whereas MultibionÔ caused major inhibition on M. anisopliae, with reductions in germination (-37.74%), colony diameter (-30.26%) and conidiogenesis (-42.62%). Neem oil promoted a larger negative effect on B. bassiana, inhibiting germination (-45.27%), colony diameter (-36.62%) and conidiogenesis (-84.93%)

A randomised control trial protocol of MuST for vascular access cannulation in hemodialysis patients (MuST Study): contributions for a safe nursing intervention

Background: The vascular access preservation and the maintenance of a complication-free fistula remains an Achilles’heel of hemodialysis in chronic kidney patients due to its substantial contribution to the morbidity and mortality. Systematic studies in the area of examining cannulation practices, achieving complication-free cannulation, and strategies to improve fistula survival are needed. For this reason, we consider it essential to create and investigate new methodologies for approaching fistula in patients on regular HD. The Multiple Single Cannulation Technique (MuST) is based on the association between the rope-ladder (RL) using the arteriovenous vessel through progressive rotation, and the buttonhole (BH) since there are three specific cannulation sites for each cannulation day during the week. The MuST is simple to implement and seems to be a very promising technique in terms of patient safety. Previous studies already showed an arteriovenous fistula survival similar to RL but significantly higher than BH. Methods: This MuST study is a multicenter, prospective, non-blind, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial with the intervention group submitted to MuST and a control group undergoing the rope-ladder, up to 100 subjects for each group. Patients will be randomized 1:1 to one of two cannulation technique (CT), and the follow-up period of this study will be 12 months. Primary outcome is to evaluate the arteriovenous fistula survival rate at 12 months determined by the percentage of fistulas in use from the beginning of the study to the date of the first clinical intervention by angioplasty or vascular surgery, to maintain or restore patency (unassisted patency). Secondary outcome is to evaluate arteriovenous fistula survival rate at 12 month determined by the percentage of fistulas in use from the study start to the date of access abandonment due to dysfunction, patient abandonment, or death, treatment change modality or study end. We will also evaluate the assisted primary patency and include the following secondary outcomes associated with the cannulation technique: Infection, Hematoma, Aneurysm development, and pain. Discussion: The study will investigate whether fistula survival can be improved when using cannulation by MuST compared to the RL. MuST study will provide important information on fistula survival when cannulated by MuST but also information related to its use in fistulas previously cannulated by other CTs.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Microstructural And Mechanical Study of The Al-20Sn (MASS%) Alloy Processed By Equal-Channel Angular Pressing By Route C

In this work, the feasibility of an Al–20Sn (mass%) alloy to improve its mechanical properties through the Equal Channel Angular Pressing (ECAP) process is presented and discussed. Al–20Sn (mass%) alloy samples with a square section of 16 × 16 mm and a length of 100 mm were subjected to the ECAP process through route C (i.e., rotation of 180 degrees between each pass). The characterization of the samples was carried out using X-ray diffraction and the sin^2(ψ) method for residual stresses. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to analyze the morphology and grain size. Vickers microhardness was carried out to analyze the homogeneity of the states of deformation and tensile testing to evaluate the yield strength, ultimate tensile strength and elongation. The results showed that the residual stresses were relatively low, confirming the effect of Sn as stress reliever. The grain size was refined to a sub-micron scale and a ribbon-like morphology was observed. The microhardness values of the severely deformed samples showed a significant increase when compared to the as-cast sample. The tensile tests showed an increase in the yield strength after the first pass, that doubled the yield strength of the as cast sample. A marginal increase in the yield strength after the fifth pass was observed; whilst the ductility remained very similar from 1 to 5 passes.In this work, the feasibility of an Al–20Sn (mass%) alloy to improve its mechanical properties through the Equal Channel Angular Pressing (ECAP) process is presented and discussed. Al–20Sn (mass%) alloy samples with a square section of 16 × 16 mm and a length of 100 mm were subjected to the ECAP process through route C (i.e., rotation of 180 degrees between each pass). The characterization of the samples was carried out using X-ray diffraction and the sin^2(ψ) method for residual stresses. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to analyze the morphology and grain size. Vickers microhardness was carried out to analyze the homogeneity of the states of deformation and tensile testing to evaluate the yield strength, ultimate tensile strength and elongation. The results showed that the residual stresses were relatively low, confirming the effect of Sn as stress reliever. The grain size was refined to a sub-micron scale and a ribbon-like morphology was observed. The microhardness values of the severely deformed samples showed a significant increase when compared to the as-cast sample. The tensile tests showed an increase in the yield strength after the first pass, that doubled the yield strength of the as cast sample. A marginal increase in the yield strength after the fifth pass was observed; whilst the ductility remained very similar from 1 to 5 passes

Observations of microglitches in HartRAO radio pulsars

A detailed observation of microglitch phenomenon in relatively slow radio pulsars is presented. Our analyses for these small amplitude jumps in pulse rotation frequency ($\nu$) and/or spin down rate ($\dot{\nu}$) combine the traditional manual detection method (which hinges on careful visual inspections of the residuals of pulse phase residuals) and a new, and perhaps more objective, automated search technique (which exploits the power of the computer, rather than the eyes, for resolving discrete events in pulsar spin parameters). The results of the analyses of a sample of 26 radio pulsars reveal that: (i) only 20 pulsars exhibit significant fluctuations in their arrival times to be considered suitable for meaningful microglitch analyses; (ii) a phenomenal 299 microglitch events were identified in $\nu$ and/or $\dot{\nu}$: 266 of these events were found to be simultaneously significant in $\nu$ and $\dot{\nu}$, while 19 and 14 were noticeable only in $\nu$ and $\dot{\nu}$, respectively; (iii) irrespective of sign, the microglitches have fractional sizes which cover about 3 orders of magnitude in $\nu$ and $\dot{\nu}$ ($10^{-11} < |\Delta{\nu}/\nu| < 2.0\times10^{-8}$ and $5.0\times10^{-5} < |\Delta{\dot{\nu}}/\dot{\nu}| < 2.0\times10^{-2}$) with median values as $0.78\times10^{-9}$ and $0.36\times10^{-3}$, respectively.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures, 2 Tables. Accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Main Journa

Avaliação do real potencial inibidor de extratos etanólicos de Ottonia martiana sobre Cylindrocladium spathulatum e Botrytis cinerea.

Extratos etanólicos de anestesia, Ottonia martiana Miq., foram reavaliados quanto à inibição do crescimento micelial dos fungos Cylindrocladium spathulatum (pinta-preta da erva-mate) e Botrytis cinerea (mofo-cinzento do eucalipto), por meio do planejamento fatorial. A ocorrência de decomposição de bioativos no processo de autoclavagem também foi investigada, por meio de teste de eficiência de extratos filtrados (filtro Millipore) e esterilizados (autoclave) no controle dos fitopatógenos, nas concentrações de 1, 10, 100 e 1000 ppm. Os extratos etanólicos filtrado e esterilizado inibiram o crescimento micelial dos fungos e foram mais ativos frente a B. cinerea. O extrato filtrado exibiu maior potencial antifúngico que o extrato esterilizado. O processo de esterilização por autoclavagem causou pequena decomposição dos bioativos presentes no extrato de anestesia

Apoptosis resistance in HIV-1 persistently-infected cells is independent of active viral replication and involves modulation of the apoptotic mitochondrial pathway

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>HIV triggers the decline of CD4⁺T cells and leads to progressive dysfunction of cell-mediated immunity. Although an increased susceptibility to cell death occurs during the acute phase of HIV infection, persistently-infected macrophages and quiescent T-cells seem to be resistant to cell death, representing a potential reservoir for virus production.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Lymphoid (H9/HTLVIII_Band J1.1) and pro-monocytic (U1) HIV-1 persistently-infected cell lines were treated with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and staurosporine (STS) for 24 h, and susceptibility to apoptosis was evaluated and compared with uninfected counterparts (H9, Jurkat and U937 respectively). When exposed to different pro-apoptotic stimuli, all persistently-infected cell lines showed a dramatic reduction in the frequency of apoptotic cells in comparison with uninfected cells. This effect was independent of the magnitude of viral replication, since the induction of viral production in lymphoid or pro-monocytic cells by exposure to TNF-α or PMA did not significantly change their susceptibility to H₂O₂- or STS-induced cell death. A mechanistic analysis revealed significant diferences in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and caspase-3 activation between uninfected and persistently-infected cells. In addition, Western blot assays showed a dramatic reduction of the levels of pro-apototic Bax in mitochondria of persistently-infected cells treated with H₂O₂or STS, but not in uninfected cells.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study represents the first evidence showing that resistance to apoptosis in persistently-infected lymphoid and monocytic cells is independent of active viral production and involves modulation of the mitochondrial pathway. Understanding this effect is critical to specifically target the persistence of viral reservoirs, and provide insights for future therapeutic strategies in order to promote complete viral eradication.</p