281 research outputs found
Shape memory alloy for vibration isolation and damping
This work investigates the use of shape memory alloys (SMAs) for vibration isolation
and damping of mechanical systems. The first part of this work evaluates the nonlinear
dynamics of a passive vibration isolation and damping (PVID) device through
numerical simulations and experimental correlations. The device, a mass connected
to a frame through two SMA wires, is subjected to a series of continuous acceleration
functions in the form of a sine sweep. Frequency responses and transmissibility of the
device as well as temperature variations of the SMA wires are analyzed for the case
where the SMA wires are pre-strained at 4.0% of their original length. Numerical
simulations of a one-degree of freedom (1-DOF) SMA oscillator are also conducted
to corroborate the experimental results. The configuration of the SMA oscillator is
based on the PVID device. A modified version of the constitutive model proposed
by Boyd and Lagoudas, which considers the thermomechanical coupling, is used to
predict the behavior of the SMA elements of the oscillator.
The second part of this work numerically investigates chaotic responses of a 1-
DOF SMA oscillator composed of a mass and a SMA element. The restitution force
of the oscillator is provided by an SMA element described by a rate-independent,
hysteretic, thermomechanical constitutive model. This model, which is a new version
of the model presented in the first part of this work, allows smooth transitions
between the austenitic and the martensitic phases. Chaotic responses of the SMA oscillator are evaluated through the estimation of the Lyapunov exponents. The Lyapunov
exponent estimation of the SMA system is done by adapting the algorithm
by Wolf and co-workers. The main issue of using this algorithm for nonlinear, rateindependent,
hysteretic systems is related to the procedure of linearization of the
equations of motion. The present work establishes a procedure of linearization that
allows the use of the classical algorithm. Two different modeling cases are considered
for isothermal and non-isothermal heat transfer conditions. The evaluation of
the Lyapunov exponents shows that the proposed procedure is capable of quantifying
chaos in rate-independent, hysteretic dynamical systems
Recent developments of the Hierarchical Reference Theory of Fluids and its relation to the Renormalization Group
The Hierarchical Reference Theory (HRT) of fluids is a general framework for
the description of phase transitions in microscopic models of classical and
quantum statistical physics. The foundations of HRT are briefly reviewed in a
self-consistent formulation which includes both the original sharp cut-off
procedure and the smooth cut-off implementation, which has been recently
investigated. The critical properties of HRT are summarized, together with the
behavior of the theory at first order phase transitions. However, the emphasis
of this presentation is on the close relationship between HRT and non
perturbative renormalization group methods, as well as on recent
generalizations of HRT to microscopic models of interest in soft matter and
quantum many body physics.Comment: 17 pages, 5 figures. Review paper to appear in Molecular Physic
Differential expression of 12 histone deacetylase (HDAC) genes in astrocytomas and normal brain tissue: class II and IV are hypoexpressed in glioblastomas
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Glioblastoma is the most lethal primary malignant brain tumor. Although considerable progress has been made in the treatment of this aggressive tumor, the clinical outcome for patients remains poor. Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are recognized as promising targets for cancer treatment. In the past several years, HDAC inhibitors (HDACis) have been used as radiosensitizers in glioblastoma treatment. However, no study has demonstrated the status of global <it>HDAC </it>expression in gliomas and its possible correlation to the use of HDACis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare mRNA and protein levels of class I, II and IV of HDACs in low grade and high grade astrocytomas and normal brain tissue and to correlate the findings with the malignancy in astrocytomas.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Forty-three microdissected patient tumor samples were evaluated. The histopathologic diagnoses were 20 low-grade gliomas (13 grade I and 7 grade II) and 23 high-grade gliomas (5 grade III and 18 glioblastomas). Eleven normal cerebral tissue samples were also analyzed (54 total samples analyzed). mRNA expression of class I, II, and IV <it>HDACs </it>was studied by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and normalized to the housekeeping gene <it>β-glucuronidase</it>. Protein levels were evaluated by western blotting.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found that mRNA levels of class II and IV <it>HDACs </it>were downregulated in glioblastomas compared to low-grade astrocytomas and normal brain tissue (7 in 8 genes, <it>p </it>< 0.05). The protein levels of class II HDAC9 were also lower in high-grade astrocytomas than in low-grade astrocytomas and normal brain tissue. Additionally, we found that histone H3 (but not histone H4) was more acetylated in glioblastomas than normal brain tissue.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our study establishes a negative correlation between <it>HDAC </it>gene expression and the glioma grade suggesting that class II and IV <it>HDACs </it>might play an important role in glioma malignancy. Evaluation of histone acetylation levels showed that histone H3 is more acetylated in glioblastomas than normal brain tissue confirming the downregulation of <it>HDAC </it>mRNA in glioblastomas.</p
O mártir, o humanista, o pedagogo: a contemporaneidade de Rui Barbosa e a educação nas comemorações do centenário de seu nascimento (1949)¹
Regulated Nuclear Trafficking of rpL10A Mediated by NIK1 Represents a Defense Strategy of Plant Cells against Virus
The NSP-interacting kinase (NIK) receptor-mediated defense pathway has been identified recently as a virulence target of the geminivirus nuclear shuttle protein (NSP). However, the NIK1–NSP interaction does not fit into the elicitor–receptor model of resistance, and hence the molecular mechanism that links this antiviral response to receptor activation remains obscure. Here, we identified a ribosomal protein, rpL10A, as a specific partner and substrate of NIK1 that functions as an immediate downstream effector of NIK1-mediated response. Phosphorylation of cytosolic rpL10A by NIK1 redirects the protein to the nucleus where it may act to modulate viral infection. While ectopic expression of normal NIK1 or a hyperactive NIK1 mutant promotes the accumulation of phosphorylated rpL10A within the nuclei, an inactive NIK1 mutant fails to redirect the protein to the nuclei of co-transfected cells. Likewise, a mutant rpL10A defective for NIK1 phosphorylation is not redirected to the nucleus. Furthermore, loss of rpL10A function enhances susceptibility to geminivirus infection, resembling the phenotype of nik1 null alleles. We also provide evidence that geminivirus infection directly interferes with NIK1-mediated nuclear relocalization of rpL10A as a counterdefensive measure. However, the NIK1-mediated defense signaling neither activates RNA silencing nor promotes a hypersensitive response but inhibits plant growth and development. Although the virulence function of the particular geminivirus NSP studied here overcomes this layer of defense in Arabidopsis, the NIK1-mediated signaling response may be involved in restricting the host range of other viruses
Freshwater temperature in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Southern Brazil, and its implication for fish culture
The role of Lithodoras dorsalis (Siluriformes: Doradidae) as seed disperser in Eastern Amazon
Alterações ultra-sonográficas na gravidez Rh negativo sensibilizada avaliada pela espectrofotometria do líquido amniótico e pela dopplervelocimetria da artéria cerebral média
Intake, digestibility and performance of lambs fed with diets containing cassava peels
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