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Biomedical subjects

M J Calderón

Publications and source records attributed to M J Calderón.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Quantum control of donor electrons at the Si-SiO2 interface.

Prospects for the quantum control of electrons in the silicon quantum computer architecture are considered theoretically. In particular, we investigate the feasibility of shuttling donor-bound electrons between the impurity in the bulk and the Si-SiO2 interface by tuning an external electric field. We calculate the shuttling time to range from subpicoseconds to nanoseconds depending on the distance (approximately 10-50 nm) of the donor from the interface. Our results establish that quantum control in such nanostructure architectures could, in principle, be achieved.

Journal Article↗

Electronically soft phases in manganites.

The phenomenon of colossal magnetoresistance in manganites is generally agreed to be a result of competition between crystal phases with different electronic, magnetic and structural order; a competition which can be strong enough to cause phase separation between metallic ferromagnetic and insulating charge-modulated states. Nevertheless, closer inspection of phase diagrams in many manganites reveals complex phases where the two order parameters of magnetism and charge modulation unexpectedly coexist. Here we show that such experiments can be naturally explained within a phenomenological Ginzburg-Landau theory. In contrast to models where phase separation originates from disorder or as a strain-induced kinetic phenomenon, we argue that magnetic and charge modulation coexist in new thermodynamic phases. This leads to a rich diagram of equilibrium phases, qualitatively similar to those seen experimentally. The success of this model argues for a fundamental reinterpretation of the nature of charge modulation in these materials, from a localized to a more extended 'charge-density wave' picture. The same symmetry considerations that favour textured coexistence of charge and magnetic order may apply to many electronic systems with competing phases. The resulting 'electronically soft' phases of matter with incommensurate, inhomogeneous and mixed order may be general phenomena in correlated systems.

Journal Article↗

Hexazinone and simazine dissipation in forestry field nurseries.

Hexazinone and simazine field dissipation was studied in two different soils from Spain (Toledo and Burgos), devoted to forest nurseries for Pinus nigra. Laboratory experiments (adsorption-desorption isotherms, leaching experiment and degradation study) were carried out to determine possible mechanisms of dissipation. Higher adsorption was observed for hexazinone in Toledo (KfT = 0.69) compare to in Burgos soil (KfB = 0.20) probably due to the higher organic matter (OM) content of Toledo soil. No differences in adsorption were obtained for simazine in both soils (KfT = 1.27; KfB = 1.34). In every case, adsorption was higher for simazine than for hexazinone, in both soils. The total recovery of hexazinone in the leachates from handpacked soil columns was higher in Burgos (100%) than in Toledo (80%), because of the larger adsorption of hexazinone in this last soil. No differences in simazine leaching between both soils were found, although the total amount of pesticide recovered in leachates (40% in the two soils) was lower for simazine than for hexazinone. Finally, lower degradation was found in Burgos (t1/2 = 91 d) vs Toledo (t1/2 = 47 d), directly related with the high OM content of Toledo. No half-life was calculated for simazine in Toledo because no changes in herbicide soil content were observed during the period of time studied. In the case of Burgos, the half-life for simazine was 50 days. The field residues study showed larger persistence of simazine than hexazinone mainly due to the higher adsorption and lower mobility of simazine in the two soils. The lower persistence of hexazinone in Toledo soil than in Burgos soil is related to the larger rainfall occurred in this soil besides the higher degradation of this herbicide observed in Toledo soil. The much lower temperature in Burgos than in Toledo soil during winter contribute to the higher persistence of the two herbicides in Burgos soil.

Adsorption↗

Organoclays for controlled release of the herbicide fenuron.

Organoclays were assayed as matrices in which to associate herbicides, with the aim of decreasing product losses that could give rise to water contamination from agricultural activities. Fenuron was selected as model of a very mobile and highly water-soluble herbicide. Two different organoclays of high (A-HDT) and low (H-C18) reversible fenuron sorption were selected. Herbicide-organoclay complexes were prepared from the two organoclays and with two different fenuron contents (20 and 40 g AI kg-1) and two different mixing times, so as to form a series of weak and strong complexes. The release of fenuron from those complexes into water and water/soil suspensions gave values of T50 (time to release 50% of the fenuron content) ranging from 0.3 min to 2400 h. The total fenuron released in these closed systems ranged from 48 to 80% of the fenuron in the complex. The organoclay type (high or low sorptivity) had the greatest influence on fenuron release, followed by the strong or weak complex, suggesting that herbicide-organoclay interactions are the main factors controlling release. Soil column leaching experiments showed fenuron-organoclay complexes to be effective in reducing the peak herbicide concentration in the leachate to a half (6 microns) or a quarter (3 microns) of that obtained from the free technical compound (12 microns). Herbicide lost through leaching was reduced from 78% for the free technical fenuron to 50-30%, depending on the organoclay used as carrier and the strength of the complex. Bioassay with ryegrass showed that the weak fenuron/H-C18 complex (40 g AI kg-1) gave the same herbicidal activity as technical fenuron. The potential suitability of low-sorptive organoclays for conferring slow-release properties on the fenuron complex has been demonstrated.

Adsorption↗

Generalized hypertrichosis after treatment with topical minoxidil.

Generalized hypertrichosis is a common side-effect of oral minoxidil treatment for hypertension. However, hypertrichosis is uncommon after treatment with topical minoxidil for alopecia, and normally only occurs in areas close to the site of application. A 16-year-old girl is presented who developed generalized hypertrichosis 3 months after applying topical minoxidil for treatment of diffuse alopecia in doses greater than that prescribed. Four months after discontinuing treatment, the abnormal hair gradually diminished and disappeared.

Administration, Topical↗