Submitted by Erika Demachki (erikademachki@gmail.com) on 2014-11-10T16:30:55Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Luizmar Adriano Júnior - 2011.pdf: 4167499 bytes, checksum: 4e36a5a1dc0e88a79a75b9cc835c5185 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Erika Demachki (erikademachki@gmail.com) on 2014-11-10T16:31:04Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Luizmar Adriano Júnior - 2011.pdf: 4167499 bytes, checksum: 4e36a5a1dc0e88a79a75b9cc835c5185 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2014-11-10T16:31:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Luizmar Adriano Júnior - 2011.pdf: 4167499 bytes, checksum: 4e36a5a1dc0e88a79a75b9cc835c5185 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-03-03 / Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / In this work we study the dipole moment, linear polarizability and first hiperpolarizability of 09cis, 11cis, 13cis and all-trans retinal derivatives in the gaseous phase and in different solvents. The solvent effects were modelled using the sequential Quantum Mechanics/Molecular Mechanics – S-QM/MM – methodology and the electric properties were calculated numerically with the finite field method. We use an average solvent electrostatic configuration – ASEC – to obtain the same statistical average with just one quantum mechanics calculation, instead of performing several quantum mechanics calculations for each one of the configurations of liquid. The second-order Møller–Plesset perturbation theory – MP2 – were used to describe the electronic structure. Our results show that the presence of the solvent increases the first hyperpolarizability of molecules of retinal [retinoic acid] by 17%-120% [5%-65%] when compared with corresponding gas phase results. It is found, in addition, that the dipole moment and the first hyperpolarizability are particularly affected by changes in the polarity and nature of solvent. A comparative analysis between cis and trans retinal derivatives shows that the isomerization effects have a marked influence on both the dipole moment and the average first hyperpolarizability. / Neste trabalho estudamos o momento de dipolo, a polarizabilidade linear, e a primeira hiperpolarizabilidade de derivados de retinal 09cis, 11cis, 13cis e todo-trans em fase gasosa e diferentes solventes. Os efeitos de solvente foram modelados usando a metodologia seqüencial Mecânica Quântica/Mecânica Molecular - S-QM/MM - e as propriedades elétricas foram calculadas numericamente com o método de campo finito. Usamos uma configuração eletrostática média de solvente – ASEC – para obter a mesma média estatística com apenas um cálculo de mecânica quântica, ao invés de realizar diversos cálculos de mecânica quântica para cada uma das configurações de líquido. A teoria de perturbação de Møller–Plesset de segunda ordem - MP2 - foi usada para descrever a estrutura eletrônica. Nossos resultados mostram que a presença do solvente aumenta a primeira hiperpolarizabilidade de moléculas de retinal [ácido retinóico] em 17%-120% [5%-65%] quando comparados com os correspondentes resultados de fase gasosa. É encontrado, além disso, que o momento de dipolo e a primeira hiperpolarizabilidade são particularmente afetados pela mudança na polaridade e natureza do solvente. Uma análise comparativa entre derivados de retinal cis e trans mostra que os efeitos de isomerização têm uma influência marcante sobre ambos, o momento de dipolo e a primeira hiperpolarizabilidade média.

The picosecond optical response of germanium is investigated by performing excitation-probe experiments on a thin, intrinsic-germanium wafer maintained at 135 K. The results of three distinct experiments are reported: (1) the transmission of a single pulse is measured as a function of irradiance, (2) the probe transmission is measured at a fixed time after excitation as a function of the excitation energy, and (3) the transmission of a probe pulse is monitored as a function of time after excitation. These experiments employ 10-picosecond laser pulses at 1.06 um and Stokes-shifted pulses at 1.55-um.

The current temperature operating range of semiconducting materials is given to be between -10°C and 105°C. Current plans are to increase this range due to an industry demand for semiconducting materials able to operate outside these bounds. Wide bandgap semiconductor materials have been researched for some time in an effort to manufacture commercially viable controlled semiconductor switches. Samples of such a controlled switch have been obtained and promises to be close to commercial rollout. This controlled switch takes on the form of a Junction Field Effect Transistor (JFET), which is a depletion mode component. Depletion mode switches are normally-on, and have thus far not been used in the power electronics field. Due to difficult switching and availibility of component which are switched more easily, these components were quicklier and easierly adopted for use. The Silicon Carbide JFET promises to circumvent these cons with the ability to block higher voltages, at higher temperatures and at higher speeds. Lower on resistance and smaller size of substrates are other benefits that the use of Silicon Carbide semiconducting material promises. A variety of properties of the Silicon Carbide JFET are investigated. Some of these properties include the component on-resistance, gate charge, breakthrough voltage of the gate and leakage current of the channel. Switching performance is also investigated as well as the reverse recovery of the body diode. All properties were measured as a function of temperature in an effort to describe the difference in performance at high temperatures. / Prof. Ivan Hofsajer

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No description available.

At low temperatures, strongly correlated materials, which typically contain partially filled d- or f-electron shells, often exhibit phases with interesting properties, which may be of both research value and technological significance. The mechanisms of phase formation in them if could be clarified, are believed to be able to provide important insights not only into physics but also into the design of new materials. In this thesis, the experimental study of two strongly correlated materials, Sr₂RuO₄ and CeAuSb₂ is presented. Sr₂RuO₄ is an unconventional superconductor, and a strong candidate for spin-triplet superconductivity. Its potential significance in relation to quantum computing also makes it of great scientific interest. In order to clarify the role of the Van Hove singularity (VHS) in its superconductivity, experimental study has been performed with the recently developed uniaxial strain methods. The experimental results suggest that as the sample is compressed towards the VHS, the transition temperature can be enhanced by a factor of =2.3 whilst the upper critical field can be enhanced by a factor of more than ten. The experimental findings are intriguing and new possibilities are open for future study. CeAuSb₂ is a Kondo lattice system which has been speculated to be close to a quantum critical point. The similarity between some of its low temperature properties and those of a well-known quantum critical system Sr₃Ru₂O₇ makes it especially interesting. In this thesis, new magnetoresistivity and torque magnetometry measurements are used to clarify its low temperature phase diagram, and reveal the strength of its magnetic anisotropy.

Orientador: Paulo Roberto Bueno / Coorientador: Marcio de Sousa Goes / Banca: Assis Vicente Beneditti / Banca: Antonio Aparecido Pupim Ferreira / Banca: Marcelo Mulato / Banca: Lupis Fernando Quintino Pereira Marchesi / Resumo: Dentro da eletroquímica, o estudo de reações de transferência de elétrons (TE) pode ser explorado por meio de eletrodos de ouro modificados com monocamadas auto-organizadas (SAMs), visto que elas são capazes de modificar as propriedades físico-químicas superficiais e controlar a cinética de TE. Este trabalho investigou as reações de TE em eletrodos de ouro modificados com SAMs eletroativas. Especificamente, foi estudado a cinética de TE em SAMs de 11-ferrocenil-undecanotiol sobre superfícies de ouro, por meio de análise de voltametria cíclica e espectroscopia de impedância/capacitância eletroquímica (EIE/ECE). Por meio dessas técnicas foi possível estimar variáveis como a densidade de estados redox (aproximadamente 3,4×〖10〗^14 estados cm-2 próximos aos valores reportados na literatura), de capacitância eletroquímica ou redox (137(±9) μF 〖cm〗^(-2)), a constante cinética de transferência de elétrons em 1,05×〖10〗^4 s^(-1) similares às reportadas por Creager, além da estimativa da energia de reorganização de Marcus (λ) em torno de 1,0 eV, valores similares a outros já previamente estimados para funcionalizações de SAMs eletroativas. Expandiram-se essas análises por meio da imobilização de complexos eletroativos de Bis(2,2′-bipiridina)-(5-Aminofenantrolina)rutênio bis(hexafluorofosfato) sobre superfícies de Au, por síntese orgânica com tióis ancoradores de diferentes cadeias (cisteína e 3-ácido carboxílico-6-mercaptopiridina), utilizando reação de ativação com DIC/HOBt em acetonit... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: In electrochemistry, the study of electron transfer reactions (TE) can be explored using Au electrodes modified with self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), since they are able to modify the physicochemical properties of electrodes surface and control the TE kinetics. This work investigated TE reactions on Au electrodes modified with SAMs. Specifically, TE kinetics were studied using 11-ferrocenyl-undecanethiol SAMs on Au surfaces by means of cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance/capacitance spectroscopy (EIS/ECS) analysis. By means of these techniques, it was possible to estimate variables such as the density of redox states (approximately 3.4 × 1014 states per cm-2, near the reported(...) / Doutor

An expression for the dielectric susceptibility tensor of a cubic ionic crystal has been derived using the classical Liouville operator. The effect of cubic anharmonic forces is included as a perturbation on the harmonic crystal solution, and a series expansion for the dielectric susceptibility is developed. The most important terms in the series are identified and summed, yielding an expression for the complex susceptibility with an anharmonic contribution which is linearly dependent on temperature. A numerical example shows that both the real and imaginary parts of the susceptibility are continuous, finite functions of frequency.

Spontaneously active primary cultures obtained from dissociated embryonic medial medulla tissue were grown on microelectrode arrays for investigating burst patterns and pharmacological responses of respiratory-related neurons. Multichannel burst rates and spike production were used as primary variables for analysis. Pacemaker-like neurons were identified by continued spiking under low Ca++/high Mg++conditions. The number of pacemakers increased with time under synaptic blocking medium. Sensitivity to CO2 levels was found in some neurons. Acetylcholine changed activity in a complex fashion. Curare, atropine and gallamine modified ACh effects. Eserine alone was ineffective, but potentiated ACh-induced responses. Norepinephrine caused channel-specific increases or decreases, whereas dopamine and serotonin had little effect at 30 μM. GABA and glycine stopped most spiking at 70 μM. Developmental changes in glycine sensitivity (increasing with age) were also observed. It is concluded that pacemaker and chemosensitive neurons develop in medial medulla cultures, and that these cultures are pharmacologically histiotypic.

Compartmentalization allows for the spatial organization of cellular components and is crucial for numerous biological functions. One recently uncovered strategy for intracellular compartmentalization is phase separation via the de-mixing of biomacromolecules. Membraneless organelles, also referred to as biomolecular condensates, are compartments formed by phase separation and create distinct environments that are essential to cellular processes ranging from cell signaling to gene expression. Biomolecular condensates offer several advantages – for example, dynamic restructuring of internal constituents and diffusion of cellular components into/out of compartments – that make them suitable for applications in biocatalysis or pharmaceutical production. However, the ability to independently engineer the formation and disassembly of condensates in vivo remains a challenge. Here, concepts from polymer science have been used to understand parameters that govern intracellular phase separation. Many biomolecular condensates exhibit physical properties that are similar to complex coacervates as both are liquid-like phase separated mixtures formed via associative phase separation, frequently with oppositely charged polyelectrolytes. We utilize the physical phenomenon of complex coacervation and principles underlying the formation of liquid-like biological condensates to identify design parameters for engineering synthetic, phase separated organelles in E. coli. In this dissertation, we employed a library of cationic charge variants derived from superfolder green fluorescent protein (sfGFP) to elucidate the effects of overall cationic charge on intracellular phase separation. We first investigated the complex coacervation of engineered proteins with biological polyelectrolytes to determine predictive design rules for protein phase separation and translated these design rules in vivo to engineer bacterial condensates. Characterization of the coacervate-like properties and macromolecular composition revealed that these condensates can undergo dynamic restructuring and exhibit biomolecular specificity. To facilitate the engineering of active supercharged proteins, we also developed short, cationic peptide tags, ranging from 6-27 amino acids in length, that can be appended onto any protein of interest to promote intracellular phase separation. We find that overall charge generally determines protein phase behavior and observe the formation and disassembly of condensates near the physiological phase boundary. Interestingly, we find that small modifications in charge density can tune the interaction strength between associating biomacromolecules and thus tune condensate stability. We demonstrate the use of these protein design parameters and cationic peptide tags to sequester catalytic enzymes and manipulate the intracellular localization of multiple proteins. These studies pave the way to building synthetic, functional organelles.