Analytical solution of the optimal laser control problem in two-level systems

The optimal control of two-level systems by time-dependent laser fields is studied using a variational theory. We obtain, for the first time, general analytical expressions for the optimal pulse shapes leading to global maximization or minimization of different physical quantities. We present solutions which reproduce and improve previous numerical results.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figure

Seguimiento farmacoterapéutico en las prácticas tuteladas: aplicación de la metodología Dáder en la identificación de PRM

Within the framework of the subject “Practical Work Experience” forming part of the Pharmacy course at the NationalUniversity of Cordoba, Argentina, fifth year students carry out practical work in community pharmacies. This universitycourse, tutored by professional pharmacists, includes the pharmacotherapeutic monitoring of patients, using Dádermethodology, as one of its activities.In this study, the students ability to recognise Adverse Drug Reactions (ADR) is evaluated during the year 2001, anda comparison of the results is made with those obtained from a similar study carried out by professional communitypharmacists in August of the year 2000.50 students, supervised by pharmacist tutors, carried out the identification of ADR. Of the patients that were monitored(n=50): 70% were women; with a predominant age group from 70 to 79 years of age (34%) and an average of medicines/patient of 7.6±2.1 (range: 0-12); average ADR identified per patient 5.6±5.0 (range: 1-23).The standard of the teaching, at pre-graduate level, of Dáder methodology evaluated through the comparison of resultsbetween students and pharmacists, gave satisfactory results.En el marco de la asignatura “Practicanato Profesional” de la Carrera de Farmacia de la Universidad Nacional deCórdoba (Argentina), los alumnos del quinto año desarrollan sus prácticas en farmacias comunitarias. Allí cuentancon farmacéuticos tutores y, entre las actividades desarrolladas, se incluye el seguimiento farmacoterapéutico depacientes empleando la metodología Dáder.En este trabajo se evalúa la capacidad de los alumnos para identificar PRM, durante el año 2001, y se comparan,para fines académicos, con los resultados presentados por farmacéuticos comunitarios en agosto de 2000.50 alumnos realizaron la identificación de PRM supervisados por farmacéuticos tutores. De los pacientes bajoseguimiento (n=50): 70% fueron mujeres; grupo etario predominante, de 70 a 79 años (34%); promedio de medicamentos/paciente 7.6±2.1 (rango: 0-12); promedio de PRM identificados por paciente 5.6±5.0 (rango: 1-23).La calidad de la enseñanza de la metodología Dáder en el pregrado arrojó resultados satisfactorios al comparar entrealumnos y farmacéuticos

Experiencia con la metodología Dáder de seguimiento farmacoterapéutico en el pre-grado: encuesta a los alumnos

In the field of pharmaceutical studies, the inclusion of tutored practical experience is considered as a priority in theeducation of pre-graduate students. In the year 2001, the subject Practical Work Experience during the pharmacy degreecourse at the Faculty of Chemical Sciences, National University of Córdoba, was carried out, with the collaboration ofpharmacist tutors, participants in the Dáder program, in the Province of Córdoba, Argentina. Under their supervision,the students carrying out the final year of their studies, participated in practice sessions in community pharmacies. Inthe year 2001, a survey was designed in order to obtain student’s opinions of the project. On this basis, the activitiesand training tools developed, with the tutor pharmacist, were evaluated.A response rate of 89.6%, from the 48 surveys distributed, was achieved. With regard to the training received, themajority of students responded to questions 1,2, and 3, with excellent and very good. 97.7% considered the methodologyemployed as practical, and 95.3% believed that it was possible to incorporate these pharmaceutical care activities intotheir future working practices.La formación de grado en farmacia plantea como una prioridad la inclusión de prácticas tuteladas. En el año 2001,en la asignatura Practicanato Profesional de la Carrera de Farmacia (Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, UniversidadNacional de Córdoba), se trabajó con la colaboración de farmacéuticos tutores participantes del Programa Dáderen la Provincia de Córdoba (Argentina). Bajo su supervisión, los alumnos del último año realizaron sus prácticasen Farmacias Comunitarias. Se elaboró una encuesta para conocer la opinión de los estudiantes en esta experienciay, sobre esta base, evaluar actividades y herramientas de capacitación utilizadas junto a los farmacéuticos tutores,durante el año 2001.Se alcanzó un 89,6% de respuesta sobre 48 encuestas distribuidas. Sobre la capacitación recibida, en las preguntas1, 2 y 3, las calificaciones fueron mayoritariamente entre Excelente y Muy Bueno; el 97,7% considera práctica lametodología empleada; el 95,3% considera que es posible incorporar actividades de Atención Farmacéutica en sufuturo desempeño profesional

Alluvial xenotime and heavy minerals assemblage from the northern edge of Nisa-Albuquerque Batholith, eastern Portugal : provenance and geochemical implications

Alluvial xenotime and heavy minerals assemblage from the northern edge of Nisa-Albuquerque Batholith, eastern Portugal : provenance and geochemical implications / Rute Salgueiro... [et al.]. - Amsterdam : Elsevier, 2014. - [18] p. : il., 13 figuras e 8 tabelas ; 30 cm The xenotime-bearing heavy mineral assemblages present in the alluvial samples from Vila Velha de Ródão, Nisa, Póvoa e Meadas and Sto. António das Areias, localized in the northern edge of Nisa-Albuquerque Batholith, Eastern Portugal, were studied in detail. The insights for mineral provenance came from the analysis of the drainage network and from the composition of the regional alluvial samples and outcropping lithologies. Since xenotime is a mineral with economic interest, the motivation of the current work is its contribution for exploration studies, considering the potential information contained in the alluvial samples. In the study region, the alluvial heavy minerals and their morphology reflect clearly the mineralogy and relative distance to their source, respectively. In alluvial samples with direct provenance from the Nisa granite (late Carboniferous), the increase in xenotime concentration and decrease in monazite, apatite, zircon, ilmenite and iron oxide concentration, from W (Nisa) to E (Sto. António das Areias), matches the increase in P2O5 and decrease in REE, CaO, Zr, TiO2, and Fe2O3 contents in granite rocks. The geochemical signature of xenotime studied reveals an igneous source, characterized by the characteristic strong Eu negative anomaly in REE patterns. Their YPO4 values (72–78 mol%) are similar to xenotime from Erzgebirge (Germany) granites. The high values of Y/Ho (50–71) and, in some cases, downward kinks at Ho in REE plots, suggest generation in late stages of crystallization and association with a siliceous evolved magmatic system. The slight decrease in HREE contents in xenotime, from W to E, and Ho anomalies in the normalized REE pattern are similar to those identified in the Nisa granite, which supports the sourcing of xenotime from these granitic rocks. The genetic development of the batholith chemical zonation (more evolved to E) seems to have favoured the generation of xenotime instead of apatite, monazite and zircon, in the eastern end area (Sto. António das Areias). Supporting the geochemical signature, the alluvial zircons also display morphological typologies that are compatible with provenance from peraluminous granites formed at temperatures of 600–700 °C, possibly from the Nisa granite. Since all xenotime grains show the same magmatic affinity, this leads to the hypothesis that the xenotime from the Vila Velha de Ródão sample, with provenance from Cenozoic sedimentary rocks, has been transported to this northern area, after been disaggregated from Nisa batholith granites, most probably by braided anastomosing and erratically sandy channels, that explains its actual position in the opposite bank of the Tagus river. This phosphate has been deposited with other sediments in tectonic depressions and subsequently included in the formation of sedimentary rocks. The greater development of Ca, Th and U phosphate inclusions/substitutions in these xenotime grains can be explained by the chemical mobility provided during all the geological processes

Altered expression of the immunoregulatory ligand-receptor pair CD200-CD200R1 in the brain of Parkinson's disease patients

Neuroinflammation, in which activated microglia are involved, appears to contribute to the development of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the role of microglial activation and the mechanisms governing this process remain uncertain. We focused on one inhibitory mechanism involved in the control of microglial activation, the microglia inhibitory receptor CD200R1, and its ligand CD200, mainly expressed by neurons. The human CD200R1 gene encodes two membrane-associated and two soluble protein isoforms and the human CD200 gene encodes full-length proteins (CD200full) but also truncated (CD200tr) proteins which act as CD200R1 antagonists. Little is known about their expression in the human brain under pathological conditions. We used human peripheral blood monocytes and monocyte-derived microglia-like cells from control subjects to characterize the expression of the CD200R1 mRNA variants, which showed stimulus-specific responses. We provide evidence of increased CD200R1 (mRNA variants and protein isoforms) and CD200 expression (CD200tr mRNA) in brain tissue of PD patients, mainly in the hippocampus, as well as increased CD200 expression (CD200full and CD200tr mRNAs) in iPSCs-derived dopaminergic neurons generated from skin fibroblasts of PD patients. Our results suggest that CD200-CD200R1 signalling is altered in PD, which may affect the microglial function and constitute a potential target in therapeutic strategies for PD.© 2022. The Author(s)