Proximity effect at superconducting Sn-Bi2Se3 interface

We have investigated the conductance spectra of Sn-Bi2Se3 interface junctions down to 250 mK and in different magnetic fields. A number of conductance anomalies were observed below the superconducting transition temperature of Sn, including a small gap different from that of Sn, and a zero-bias conductance peak growing up at lower temperatures. We discussed the possible origins of the smaller gap and the zero-bias conductance peak. These phenomena support that a proximity-effect-induced chiral superconducting phase is formed at the interface between the superconducting Sn and the strong spin-orbit coupling material Bi2Se3.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figure

Formation of dense partonic matter in relativistic nucleus-nucleus collisions at RHIC: Experimental evaluation by the PHENIX collaboration

Extensive experimental data from high-energy nucleus-nucleus collisions were recorded using the PHENIX detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). The comprehensive set of measurements from the first three years of RHIC operation includes charged particle multiplicities, transverse energy, yield ratios and spectra of identified hadrons in a wide range of transverse momenta (p_T), elliptic flow, two-particle correlations, non-statistical fluctuations, and suppression of particle production at high p_T. The results are examined with an emphasis on implications for the formation of a new state of dense matter. We find that the state of matter created at RHIC cannot be described in terms of ordinary color neutral hadrons.Comment: 510 authors, 127 pages text, 56 figures, 1 tables, LaTeX. Submitted to Nuclear Physics A as a regular article; v3 has minor changes in response to referee comments. Plain text data tables for the points plotted in figures for this and previous PHENIX publications are (or will be) publicly available at http://www.phenix.bnl.gov/papers.htm

Adaptabilidade e estabilidade fenotípica de cultivares de café arábica em Minas Gerais

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a adaptabilidade e a estabilidade fenotípicas para a produtividade de cultivares de cafeeiro do grupo Catuaí, pela metododologia de Annicchiarico. Foram instalados e conduzidos experimentos em Três Pontas, Campos Altos e Capelinha, em Minas Gerais. O delineamento foi o de blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições e seis plantas por parcela. Os tratamentos foram constituídos por 15 cultivares do grupo Catuaí e cinco testemunhas. As avaliações da produtividade foram realizadas em seis colheitas nas safras de 2003/2004 a 2008/2009. Posteriormente, foi realizada a análise conjunta dos três locais e a avaliação da adaptabilidade e da estabilidade das cultivares. Na safra 2008/2009, foi avaliado o percentual de frutos chochos e a percentagem de grãos em peneira alta. As cultivares Catuaí Vermelho IAC 15, Catuaí Amarelo IAC 30, Catuaí Amarelo IAC 62 e Catuaí Vermelho IAC 72 são mais promissoras, pois aliam maiores estabilidade e adaptabilidade em ambientes favoráveis e desfavoráveis com alta média de produtividade. As cultivares Catuaí Vermelho IAC 100, Catuaí Amarelo IAC 86, Rubi MG 1192 e Catuaí Vermelho IAC 144 têm o mais alto percentual de peneira alta. Todas as progênies têm baixo percentual de grãos chocho

Influence of monoolein on progesterone transdermal delivery

abstract This work aimed to investigate in vitro the influence of monoolein (MO) on progesterone (PG) transdermal delivery and skin retention. Information about the role of MO as an absorption enhancer for lipophilic molecules can help on innovative product development capable of delivering the hormone through the skin in a consistent manner, improving transdermal therapy of hormonal replacement. MO was dispersed in propylene glycol under heat at concentrations of 0% (control), 5% w/w, 10% w/w and 20% w/w. Then, 0.6% of PG (w/w) was added to each formulation. Permeation profile of the hormone was determined in vitro for 48 h using porcine skin in Franz diffusion cells. PG permeation doubled when 5% (w/w) of MO was present in formulation in comparison to both the control and higher MO concentrations (10% and 20% w/w). An equal trend was observed for PG retention in stratum corneum (SC) and reminiscent skin (E+D). PG release rates from the MO formulations, investigated using cellulose membranes, revealed that concentrations of MO higher than 5% (w/w) hindered PG release, which indeed negatively reflected on the hormone permeation through the skin. In conclusion, this work demonstrated the feasibility of MO addition (at 5% w/w) in formulations as a simple method to increase transdermal PG delivery for therapies of hormonal replacement. In contrast, higher MO concentrations (from 10% to 20% w/w) can control active release, and this approach could be extrapolated to other lipophilic, low-molecular-weight molecules

Inoculação de Sclerotinia sclerotiorum em sementes de oleaginosas: transmissão e seus efeitos sobre a emergência de plantas

O trabalho propôs-se a verificar a transmissibilidade de Sclerotinia sclerotiorum de sementes de canola, cártamo, crambe, girassol, nabo forrageiro e níger inoculadas artificialmente e suas implicações na emergência de plântulas. O isolado fúngico foi repicado em placas de Petri, contendo meio BDA, incubado a 20ºC e fotoperíodo de 12 horas. Após o crescimento do patógeno, foram colocadas 50 sementes de cada cultura por placa, onde permaneceram por 20 horas. Como testemunha, utilizaram-se sementes incubadas nas mesmas condições, porém apenas em meio BDA. Observou-se que S. sclerotiorum pode ser transmitido para as plântulas das culturas quando associado às suas sementes, sendo estas uma importante fonte de inóculo. O fungo provocou tombamento de pré e pós-emergência em todas as espécies estudada