Torsion-adding and asymptotic winding number for periodic window sequences

In parameter space of nonlinear dynamical systems, windows of periodic states are aligned following the routes of period-adding configuring periodic window sequences. In state space of driven nonlinear oscillators, we determine the torsion associated with the periodic states and identify regions of uniform torsion in the window sequences. Moreover, we find that the measured torsion differs by a constant between successive windows in periodic window sequences. Finally, combining the torsion-adding phenomenon, reported in this work, and the known period-adding rule, we deduce a general rule to obtain the asymptotic winding number in the accumulation limit of such periodic window sequences.     

Weak solutions for a system of nonlinear Klein-Gordon equations

Summary We prove the existence and uniqueness of weak solutions of the mixed problem for a class of systems of nonlinear Klein-Gordon equations. Uniqueness is proved when the spatial dimension is either n=1, 2or 3.Partially supported by CNPq-Brasil.     

Microfluidic purification and analysis of hematopoietic stem cells from bone marrow

Hematopoietic stem cells are larger in size than other cells present in bone marrow, with the exception of monocytes. This distinguishing characteristic can be used to separate them from a whole-marrow sample. A microfluidic device was fabricated using an integrated membrane that is porous at defined areas. This allows for simultaneous valving and filtering functionality, which is crucial for preventing irreversible clogging. This device, as well as a separation procedure, was optimized in this work to enrich hematopoietic progenitor cells from diluted bone marrow of leukemia patients without any additional sample preparation. An enrichment of up to 98% was achieved with this method and the process was scaled up to 17.2 μL min(-1) of processed sample. Additionally, stem cells were stained with specific antibodies for further analysis. Using a custom-made computer program, the filter was scanned to characterize and quantify cells based on fluorescence. The results were evaluated by comparing them against the results obtained from flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, and Coulter counting.     

Antimicrobial activities of indole alkaloids from Tabernaemontana catharinensis

Tabernaemontana catharinensis root bark ethanol extract, EB2 fraction and the MMV alkaloid (12-methoxy-4-methylvoachalotine) were evaluated for their antimicrobial activities. T. catharinensis ethanol extract was effective against both strains of the dermatophyte Trichophyton rubrum at concentrations of 2.5 mg/mL (wild strain) and 1.25 mg/mL (mutant strain), while the EB2 fraction and MMV alkaloid showed a strong antifungal activity against wild and mutant strains with MIC values of <0.02 and 0.16 mg/mL, respectively. The EB2 fraction showed a strong antibacterial activity against ATCC strains of S. aureus, S. epidermidis, E. coli and P. aeruginosa with MICs from <0.02 to 0.04 mg/mL, as well as against resistant clinical isolates species of Enterococcus sp, Klebsiella oxytoca, Citrobacter, K. pneumoniae, P. mirabilis, S. aureus, S. epidermidis, E. coli and P. aeruginosa with MIC values ranging from 0.04 to 0.08 mg/mL. The MMV alkaloid presented a MIC of 0.16 mg/mL against the strains of S. aureus and E. coli ATCC. For the resistant clinical isolates Enterococcus sp, Citrobacter, S. aureus, S. epidermidis, E. coli and P. aeruginosa the MIC of MMV ranged from 0.08 to 0.31 mg/mL. The chromatography analysis of the EB2 fraction revealed the presence of indole alkaloids, including MMV, possibly responsible for the observed antimicrobial activity.     

TA of non-stoichiometric ceria obtained via hydrothermal synthesis

Doped ceria was studied in the last 20 years as a solid electrolyte capable of replacing stabilized zirconia in fuel cells. Nevertheless, one of the problems concerned with the application of this material is the joint presence of the Ce(III) and Ce(IV) in the ceria sublattice, mainly under low partial pressure of oxygen. TG and DTA measurements were performed in order to verify non-stoichiometric character for cerias hydrothermally treated under reflux and in autoclave. X-ray powder diffraction was used to observe long-range structural evolution varying time and temperature of reaction and the type of hydrothermal synthesis. Finally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) gave the temperature influence for powder morphology. Those techniques pointed out that: i) reaction temperature is not important for converting Ce³⁺ to Ce⁴⁺; ii) testing the reaction time parameter, it is observed quite complete oxidation for the 2-12 h range; and iii) the type of hydrothermal synthesis parameter influences the crystallinity and non-stoichiometric character of products. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Weak solutions for a nonlinear dispersive equation

In this paper we study the existence, uniqueness, and regularity of the solutions for the Cauchy problem for the evolution equation $\text{u}{}_{\mathrm{t}}\text{+ (f (u))}{}_{\mathrm{x}}\text{? u}{}_{\mathrm{xxt}}\text{= g(x, t), (}{}^1\text{)}\text{where}\text{u = u(x, t), x}$ is in (0, 1), 0 ? t ? T, T is an arbitrary positive real number,f(s)?C¹$\text{R}$, and g(x, t)?L^∞(0, T; L²(0, 1)). We prove the existence and uniqueness of the weak solutions for (¹) using the Galerkin method and a compactness argument such as that of J. L. Lions. We obtain regular solutions using eigenfunctions of the one-dimensional Laplace operator as a basis in the Galerkin method.     

On a new class of nonlinear wave equations

In this paper we prove the existence and uniqueness of regular solutions for the Cauchy problem for the evolution equation $\text{u″ + A}{}^2\text{u + (α + M(¦A}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{u¦}{}^2\text{) Au = 0}$, suggested by the study of beams and plates. We represent by A a linear operator of a Hilbert space H with norm ∥, α is a real number, and M(λ) > 0 a real function, for λ ? 0.