Tilted excitation implies odd periodic resonances

This work was supported by the Brazilian agencies FAPESP and CNPq. MSB also acknowledges the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council grant Ref. EP/I032606/1. GID thanks Felipe A. C. Pereira for fruitful discussions.Peer reviewedPostprin

Experimental observation of a complex periodic window

The existence of a special periodic window in the two-dimensional parameter space of an experimental Chua's circuit is reported. One of the main reasons that makes such a window special is that the observation of one implies that other similar periodic windows must exist for other parameter values. However, such a window has never been experimentally observed, since its size in parameter space decreases exponentially with the period of the periodic attractor. This property imposes clear limitations for its experimental detection.Comment: 4.2 pages, 4 figure

Behavior of the Dripping Faucet over a Wide Range of the Flow Rate

The time interval of successive water-drips from a faucet was examined over a wide range of the flow rate. The dripping interval alternately exhibits a stable state and a chaotic state as the flow rate increases. In the stable state, the volume of the drip is kept constant at fixed flow rates, and the constant volume increases with the flow rate. In the chaotic state, in addition to a mechanics that the drip is torn by its own weight, the vibration of the drip on the faucet takes part in the strange behavior of the interval.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figures, to be published in J. Phys. Soc. Jpn vol 68-2(1999

Dynamical estimates of chaotic systems from Poincar\'e recurrences

We show that the probability distribution function that best fits the distribution of return times between two consecutive visits of a chaotic trajectory to finite size regions in phase space deviates from the exponential statistics by a small power-law term, a term that represents the deterministic manifestation of the dynamics, which can be easily experimentally detected and theoretically estimated. We also provide simpler and faster ways to calculate the positive Lyapunov exponents and the short-term correlation function by either realizing observations of higher probable returns or by calculating the eigenvalues of only one very especial unstable periodic orbit of low-period. Finally, we discuss how our approaches can be used to treat data coming from complex systems.Comment: subm. for publication. Accepted fpr publication in Chao

Monte Carlo Simulations of Some Dynamical Aspects of Drop Formation

In this work we present some results from computer simulations of dynamical aspects of drop formation in a leaky faucet. Our results, which agree very well with the experiments, suggest that only a few elements, at the microscopic level, would be necessary to describe the most important features of the system. We were able to set all parameters of the model in terms of real ones. This is an additional advantage with respect to previous theoretical works.Comment: 7 pages (Latex), 6 figures (PS) Accepted to publication in Int. J. Mod. Phys. C Source Codes at http://www.if.uff.br/~arlim

Simulation of a Dripping Faucet

We present a simulation of a dripping faucet system. A new algorithm based on Lagrangian description is introduced. The shape of drop falling from a faucet obtained by the present algorithm agrees quite well with experimental observations. Long-term behavior of the simulation can reproduce period-one, period-two, intermittent and chaotic oscillations widely observed in experiments. Possible routes to chaos are discussed.Comment: 20 pages, 15 figures, J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. (in press

Dripping Faucet Dynamics Clarified by an Improved Mass-Spring Model

An improved mass-spring model for a dripping faucet is presented. The model is constructed based on the numerical results which we recently obtained from fluid dynamical calculations. Both the fluid dynamical calculations and the present mass-spring model exhibit a variety of complex behavior including transition to chaos in good agreement with experiments. Further, the mass-spring model reveals fundamental dynamics inherent in the dripping faucet system.Comment: 17 pages, 17 figure

Non-transitive maps in phase synchronization

Concepts from the Ergodic Theory are used to describe the existence of non-transitive maps in attractors of phase synchronous chaotic systems. It is shown that for a class of phase-coherent systems, e.g. the sinusoidally forced Chua's circuit and two coupled R{\"o}ssler oscillators, phase synchronization implies that such maps exist. These ideas are also extended to other coupled chaotic systems. In addition, a phase for a chaotic attractor is defined from the tangent vector of the flow. Finally, it is discussed how these maps can be used to real time detection of phase synchronization in experimental systems

Assessment Of Inflammation Based On The Release Of Oxygen Radicals By Granulocytes In Chronic Uncontrolled Asthma [avaliação Da Inflamação Com Base Na Liberação De Radicais Oxidantes Por Granulócitos Na Asma Crônica Não-controlada]

Objective: To evaluate spontaneous release of superoxide anion by peripheral blood granulocytes of atopic patients with uncontrolled asthma undergoing glucocorticoid therapy and of healthy subjects. Methods: We studied 32 patients, aged 6 to 18 (mean 12.04), and 29 healthy subjects as a comparative group. Patients were grouped according to the forced expiratory vital capacity in the first second. Group I, forced expiratory vital capacity in the first second of between 60 and 80%, had 19 patients, and group II, forced expiratory vital capacity in the first second = 60%, had 13 patients. Spontaneous superoxide release by granulocytes was measured by a spectrophotometer method based on superoxide dismutase, before and after oral prednisone and beclomethasone, budesonide or fluticasone inhaled therapy. Statistical analyses were performed using ANOVA, Wilcoxon and Tukey tests. Results: Comparing the superoxide anion release by granulocytes of asthmatic patients and healthy subjects, we observed a higher release by cells of the uncontrolled patient group II (p < 0.05). Evaluating the superoxide release by cells of asthmatic patients before and after steroid therapy, a significant decrease was found only in patient group I. Conclusion: The impact of corticosteroids on inflammatory modulation occurred in the uncontrolled asthmatics with forced expiratory vital capacity in the first second between 60 and 80%. In those with forced expiratory vital capacity in the first second of = 60%, this finding was not observed. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the effect of this finding on asthmatic patients. Copyright © 2009 by Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria.852143148Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention. Revised 2006, , http://www.ginasthma.com/Guidelineitem.asp??l1=2&l2=1&intId=60, site na internet. Acesso: 29/03/2006Solé, D., Melo, K.C., Camelo-Nunes, I.C., Freitas, L.S., Britto, M., Rosário, N.A., Changes in the prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases among Brazilian schoolchildren (13-14 years old): Comparison between ISAAC Phases One and Three (2007) J Trop Pediatr, 53, pp. 13-21Barnes, P.J., Immunology of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2008) Nat Rev Immunol, 8, pp. 183-192Speer, C.P., Ambruso, D.R., Grimsley, J., Johnston Jr., R.B., Oxidative metabolism in cord blood monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages (1985) Infect Immun, 50, pp. 919-921Sugiura, H., Ichinose, M., Oxidative and nitrative stress in bronchial asthma (2008) Antioxid Redox Signal, 10, pp. 785-797Chanez, J.P., Dent, G., Yukawa, T., Barnes, P.J., Chung, K.F., Generation of oxygen free radicals from blood eosinophils from asthma patients after stimulation with PAF or phorbol ester (1990) Eur Resp J, 3, pp. 1002-1007Kanazawa, H., Kurihara, N., Hirata, K., Takeda, T., The role of free radicals in airway obstruction in asthmatic patients (1991) Chest, 100, pp. 1319-1322Vachier, I., Damon, M., Le Doucen, C., De Paulet, A.C., Chanez, P., Michel, F.B., Increased oxygen species generation in blood monocytes of asthmatic patients (1992) Am Rev Respir Dis, 146, pp. 1161-1166Jarjour, N.N., Busse, W.W., Calhoun, W.J., Enhanced production of oxygen radicals in nocturnal asthma (1992) Am Rev Respir Dis, 146, pp. 905-911Yawn, B.P., Brenneman, S.K., Allen-Ramey, F.C., Cabana, M.D., Markson, L.E., Assessment of asthma severity and asthma control in children (2006) Pediatrics, 118, pp. 322-329Fonseca, A.C., Fonseca, M.T., Rodrigues, M.E., Lasmar, L.M., Camargos, P.A., Peak expiratory flow monitoring in asthmatic children (2006) J Pediatr, 82, pp. 465-469. , Rio JJames, A.L., Wenzel, S., Clinical relevance of airway remodelling in airway diseases (2007) Eur Respir J, 30, pp. 134-155Romagnoli, M., Vachier, I., Tarodo De La Fuente, P., Meziane, H., Chavis, C., Bousquet, J., Godard, P., Chanez, P., Eosinophilic inflammation in sputum of poorly controlled asthmatics (2002) European Respiratory Journal, 20 (6), pp. 1370-1377. , DOI 10.1183/09031936.02.00029202Nadeem, A., Raj, H.G., Chabra, S.K., Increased oxidative stress in acute exacerbations of asthma (2005) J Asthma, 42, pp. 45-50Gogate, S., Katial, R., Pediatric biomarkers in asthma: Exhaled nitric oxide, sputum eosinophils and leukotriene E4 (2008) Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol, 8, pp. 154-157Boyum, A., Isolation of mononuclear cells and granulocytes from human blood. Isolation of monuclear cells by one centrifugation, and of granulocytes by combining centrifugation and sedimentation at 1 g (1968) Scand J Clin Lab Invest Suppl, 97, pp. 77-89McCord, J.M., Fridovich, I., Superoxide dismutase. An enzymatic function for erythrocuprein (hemocuprein) (1969) J Biol Chem, 244, pp. 6044-6055Condino-Neto, A., Newburger, P.E., NADPH oxidase activity and cytochrome b558 content of human Epstein-Barr-virus-transformed B lymphocytes correlate with expression of genes encoding components of the oxidase system (1998) Arch Biochem Biophys, 360, pp. 158-164Montgomery, D.C., (2004) Design and Analysis of Experiments. 6th Ed., , New York, NY: John Wiley & SonsMarçal, L.E., Rehder, J., Newburger, P.E., Condino-Neto, A., Superoxide release and cellular glutathione peroxidase activity in leukocytes from children with persistent asthma (2004) Braz J Med Biol Res, 37, pp. 1607-1613Majori, M., Vachier, I., Godard, P., Farce, M., Bousquet, J., Chanez, P., Superoxide anion production by monocytes of corticosteroid-treated asthmatic patients (1998) Eur Resp J, 11, pp. 133-138Stirling, R.G., Kharitonov, S.A., Campbell, D., Robinson, D.S., Durham, S.R., Chung, K.F., Increase in exhaled nitric oxide levels in patients with difficult asthma and correlation with symptoms and disease severity despite treatment with oral and inhaled corticosteroids (1998) Thorax, 53, pp. 1030-1034. , Asthma and Allergy GroupLa Grutta, S., Gagliardo, R., Mirabella, F., Pajno, G.B., Bonsignore, G., Bousquet, J., Bellia, V., Vignola, A.M., Clinical and Biological Heterogeneity in Children with Moderate Asthma (2003) American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 167 (11), pp. 1490-1495. , DOI 10.1164/rccm.200206-549OCBisgaard, H., Use of inhaled corticosteroids in pediatric asthma (1997) Pediatr Pulmonol Suppl, 15, pp. 27-33Kharitonov, S.A., Barnes, P.J., Effects of corticosteroids on noninvasive biomarkers on inflammation in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2004) Proc Am Thorac Soc, 1, pp. 191-199Green, R.H., Brightling, C.E., Bradding, P., The reclassification of asthma based on subphenotypes (2007) Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol, 7, pp. 43-50Strunk, R.C., Szefler, S.J., Phillips, B.R., Zeiger, R.S., Chinchilli, V.M., Larsen, G., Hodgdon, K., Lemanske Jr., R.F., Relationship of exhaled nitric oxide to clinical and inflammatory markers of persistent asthma in children (2003) Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 112 (5), pp. 883-892. , DOI 10.1016/j.jaci.2003.08.014Pontin, J., Blaylock, M.G., Walsh, G.M., Turner, S.W., Sputum eosinophil apoptotic rate is positively correlated to exhaled nitric oxide in children (2008) Pediatr Pulmonol, 43, pp. 1130-1134Baraldi, E., De Jongste, J.C., Measurement of exhaled nitric oxide in children, 2001 (2002) Eur Respir J, 20, pp. 223-237. , European Respiratory SocietyAmerican Thoracic SocietySadowska, A.M., Klebe, B., Germonpré, P., De Backer, W.A., Glucocorticosteroids as antioxidants in treatment of asthma and COPD. New application for and old medication? (2007) Steroids, 72, pp. 1-