Shape and Feshbach resonances in inner-shell photodetachment of negative ions

nner-shell photodetachment of negative ions has been investigated using the photon-ion merged beam technique for atomic and small cluster systems. The case of atomic systems is illustrated by reporting on the first measurements of the absolute cross-sections for the formation of Pt(+), pt(2+), and Pt(3+) following 4f and 5p inner-shell photoexcitation and detachment of Pt(-) 4f(14)5d(9)6s(2) (2)D. The Pt(3+) production channel is dominated by 4f detachment and allows for the first observation of a d-wave Wigner threshold law following single-photon absorption. Our measurements show that promoting a 5p electron into the 5d orbital produces a shape resonance, while promoting a 4f electron produces Feshbach resonances, demonstrating the importance of core-valence interactions. The photodetachment of small cluster systems is illustrated with the measurement and the calculation of K-shell photodetachment of size-selected B(2)(-) and B(3)(-) clusters. The experimental absolute photodetachment cross-sections exhibit bound resonances below threshold and two shape resonances above the K-shell threshold. Similar results were obtained for all of the cationic products observed, B(+) and B(2)(+). from B(2)(-), as well as B(+), B(2)(+) and B(3)(+) from B(3)(-). The overall agreement between measured and calculated photodetachment cross-sections is very good. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Efeito da inibição da óxido nítrico sintase induzível na capacitação in vitro de espermatozoides bovinos Effect of inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase on in vitro capacitation of bovine spermatozoa

Avaliaram-se o papel do óxido nítrico (NO) por meio da inibição da enzima óxido nítrico sintase induzível (iNOS), após a adição da aminoguanidina (AG), na motilidade, no vigor e na integridade da membrana plasmática nos tempos de 15, 60, 120, 180, 240 e 300min e a atividade mitocondrial e a capacitação de espermatozoides bovinos após 300min de cultivo. Adicionaram-se diferentes concentrações (0,001, 0,01 e 0,1M) de AG durante a capacitação induzida pela heparina e 500&#956;M de nitroprussiato de sódio (SNP, doador de NO) à concentração deletéria. A adição de 0,1M de AG diminuiu a motilidade e o vigor espermático e a integridade da membrana (P<0,05). A adição de SNP ao meio de cultivo com 0,1M de AG somente reverteu a integridade da membrana após 300min. A inibição da síntese de NO pela adição de AG não alterou a atividade mitocondrial. A percentagem de oócitos penetrados com espermatozoides tratados com 0,01 e 0,1M de AG diminuiu 20,3 e 100%, respectivamente, em relação aos não tratados (controle) (P<0,05), contudo houve aumento de 15% na percentagem de oócitos desnudados penetrados com espermatozoides capacitados em presença de 0,1M de AG. Conclui-se que a inibição da síntese de NO pela AG diminuiu a qualidade espermática durante a capacitação de espermatozoides bovinos in vitro, exceto a atividade mitocondrial. Somente a integridade da membrana foi revertida após adição de NO, sugerindo diferentes vias de ação do NO na qualidade espermática ao longo da capacitação in vitro de espermatozoides bovinos.<br>The role of nitric oxide (NO) was evaluated by inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), with aminoguanidine (AG) on motility, vigor, and plasmatic membrane integrity of bovine spermatozoa culture after 15, 60, 120, 180, 240, and 300min and on mitochondrial activity and capacitation after 300min, respectively. Different concentrations, 0.001, 0.01, and 0.1M of AG were added during the heparin induced capacitation and sodium nitroprusside (SNP, NO donor-500&#956;M) to the deleterious concentration. The addition of 0.1M of AG diminished progressive motility, spermatic vigor, and membrane integrity (P<0.05). SNP addition to the 0.1M of AG did revert only plasmatic membrane integrity after 300min. Mitochondrial activity was not influenced by addition of AG. Percentage of penetrated oocytes after addition of 0.01 and 0.1M of AG diminished, 20.3 and 100%, respectively, in relation to the control oocytes (P<0.05). However, an increase of 15% was observed when denuded oocytes were used with 0.1M AG treated sperm (P<0.05). It was concluded that the inhibition of NO synthesis with aminoguanidine diminished sperm quality during in vitro capacitation of bovine spermatozoa, except the mitochondrial activity. Only membrane integrity was reverted with the addition of NO to culture medium, suggesting different pathways of NO action on bovine sperm quality during in vitro capacitation

Apparent wall slip in non-Brownian hard-sphere suspensions

We analyze apparent wall slip, the reduction of particle concentration near the wall, in hard-sphere suspensions at concentrations well below the jamming limit utilizing a continuum level diffusion model. The approach extends a constitutive equation proposed earlier with two additional potentials describing the effects of gravitation and wall-particle repulsion. We find that although both mechanisms are shear independent by nature, due to the shear-rate-dependent counter-balancing particle migration fluxes, the resulting net effect is non-linearly shear dependent, causing larger slip at small shear rates. In effect, this shows up in the classically measured flow curves as a mild shear thickening regime at the transition from small to intermediate shear rates

Use of soft computing techniques in renewable energy hydrogen hybrid systems

Soft computing techniques are important tools that significantly improve the performance of energy systems. This chapter reviews their many contributions to renewable energy hydrogen hybrid systems, namely those systems that consist of different technologies (photovoltaic and wind, electrolyzers, fuel cells, hydrogen storage, piping, thermal and electrical/electronic control systems) capable as a whole of converting solar energy, storing it as chemical energy (in the form of hydrogen) and turning it back into electrical and thermal energy. Fuzzy logic decision-making methodologies can be applied to select amongst renewable energy alternative or to vary a dump load for regulating wind turbine speed or find the maximum power point available from arrays of photovoltaic modules. Dynamic fuzzy logic controllers can furthermore be utilized to coordinate the flow of hydrogen to fuel cells or employed for frequency control in micro- grid power systems. Neural networks are implemented to model, design and control renewable energy systems and to estimate climatic data such as solar irradiance and wind speeds. They have been demonstrated to predict with good accuracy system power usage and status at any point of time. Neural controls can also help in the minimization of energy production costs by optimal scheduling of power units. Genetic or evolutionary algorithms are able to provide approximate solutions to several complex tasks with high number of variables and non-linearities, like optimal operational strategy of a grid-parallel fuel cell power plant, optimization of control strategies for stand-alone renewable systems and sizing of photovoltaic systems. Particle swarm optimization techniques are applied to find optimal sizing of system components in an effort to minimize costs or coping with system failures to improve service quality. These techniques can also be implemented together to exploit their potential synergies while, at the same time, coping with their possible limitations. This chapter covers soft computing methods applied to renewable energy hybrid hydrogen systems by providing a description of their single or mixed implementation and relevance, together with a discussion of advantages and/or disadvantages in their applications. \uc2\ua9 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2011