Angra Neutrino Project: status and plans

We present the status and plans of the Angra Project, a new nuclear reactor neutrino oscillation experiment, proposed to be built in Brazil at the Angra dos Reis nuclear reactor complex. This experiment is aimed to measure theta_13, the last unknown of the three neutrino mixing angles. Combining a high luminosity design, very low background from cosmic rays and careful control of systematic errors at the 1% level, we propose a high sensitivity multi-detector experiment, able to reach a sensitivity to antineutrino disappearance down to sin^2(2*theta_13) = 0.006 in a three years running period, improving present limits constrained by the CHOOZ experiment by more than an order of magnitude.Comment: 2 pages, 1 figure, talk presented by J.C. Anjos ([email protected]) at NuFact05, 21-26 June 2005, Frascati, Ital

In Situ Synchrotron Radiation Small-angle X-ray Scattering Study Of The Kinetics Of Growth Of Cdte Nanocrystals In Borosilicate Glass

A number of isolator-semiconductor nanocrystal composites exhibit quantum confinement effects and nonlinear optical properties. In this work, the formation and growth of CdTe and CdTe0.9S0.1 nanocrystals immersed in a borosilicate glass host matrix were studied by small-angle x-ray scattering using synchrotron radiation during in situ annealing in the 560-580°C temperature range. The values of the average radii of the CdTe nanocrystals determined by using Guinier plots for different annealing times (20-30 Å) agree with those obtained from optical absorption spectroscopy measurements. The nanocrystal size distribution depends on the thermal history and composition of the samples. The existence of other structural heterogeneities having an average size of several hundred ångstroms was detected. © 1995 American Institute of Physics.6621338134

Métodos de amostragem para a detecção e estimativa das populações de insectos associados ao arroz pós-colheita

The present work has the objective to implement the components of Integrated Pest Management into the current system of the paddy rice post-harvest. The assays had been initiated in bulk paddy stored in warehouse and silos after the harvest. Some methods of sampling were evaluated to get more quantitative estimates of insect pest populations in the cereal: examination of grain samples and investigating pitfall and StorGard WB Probe II traps without attraction baits. Also, Storgard Dome traps were used, with atractants (food and pheromones) for ascertaining residual infestations under drying silos. The results show that traps are much more efficient than the examination of grain samples for determining infestation. The StorGard WB Probe II traps captured significantly more insects and more species than did pitfall traps. StorGard WB Probe II traps have the advantage to intercept insects to some depths, are easy to handle, are durable, are continuously acting and can detect the insect populations at low densities. The Storgard Dome traps captured several insect species and was useful in the detection of sources of infestations. The relative density and the spatial pattern were examined for Cryptophagus saginatus, Sitophilus zeamais, S. oryzae, Coninomus constrictus, Carpophilus dimediatus, Ptinus raptor, Oryzaephilus surinamensis, Tribolium castaneum, Gnathocerus cornutus and Sitotroga cerealella

Estudos sobre a nutriçao mineral do arroz: XXVII . Fatores que influenciam a absorção radicular do fósforo pela variedade IAC-164

Within the range of 15 to 240 minutes it was found that absorption increased in a linear fashion.By varying the external concentration of H2PO-4 from 10-7M to 10-2 M a dual pattern uptake was observed: a high affinity macnamism with a Km= 6.17 x 10-6M and a second one with low affinity (Km= 1.64 x 10-2M) . Absorption was raised when the external concentration of Mg ions varied from 10-6 to 10-4When supplied in the range of 10-6 to 10-2M the chloride salis of K and Ca rediced the absorption, the effect being traced to the CI ion. Zincsulfate (10-8to 10-4M) had no effect on phosphate absorption.Na faixa de 15 a 240 minutos a absorção do fósforo marcado com P32 é crescente e linear. A variação na concentração externa de H2PO4 mostrou existirem duas isotermas, uma operando em baixas concentrações (Km = 6,17x10-6M) e outra correspondente a altas concentrações (Km = 1,64x10-2M). Oíon magnésio aumenta a absorção e o Cl- causa diminuição quando fornecido na concentração de 10-2m.SO4-2e Zn+2 não mostraram efeito

Spatial antibunching of photons with parametric down-conversion

The theoretical framework behind a recent experiment by Nogueira et. al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 86}, 4009 (2001)] of spatial antibunching in a two-photon state generated by collinear type II parametric down-conversion and a birefringent double-slit is presented. The fourth-order quantum correlation function is evaluated and shown to violate the classical Schwarz-type inequality, ensuring that the field does not have a classical analog. We expect these results to be useful in the rapidly growing fields of quantum imaging and quantum information.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures. Minor changes made, accepted for publication in PR

Entangled-Photon Generation from Parametric Down-Conversion in Media with Inhomogeneous Nonlinearity

We develop and experimentally verify a theory of Type-II spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) in media with inhomogeneous distributions of second-order nonlinearity. As a special case, we explore interference effects from SPDC generated in a cascade of two bulk crystals separated by an air gap. The polarization quantum-interference pattern is found to vary strongly with the spacing between the two crystals. This is found to be a cooperative effect due to two mechanisms: the chromatic dispersion of the medium separating the crystals and spatiotemporal effects which arise from the inclusion of transverse wave vectors. These effects provide two concomitant avenues for controlling the quantum state generated in SPDC. We expect these results to be of interest for the development of quantum technologies and the generation of SPDC in periodically varying nonlinear materials.Comment: submitted to Physical Review

NEOTROPICAL ALIEN MAMMALS: a data set of occurrence and abundance of alien mammals in the Neotropics

Incluye contenido parcial de los autoresBiological invasion is one of the main threats to native biodiversity. For a speciesto become invasive, it must be voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into a nonna-tive habitat. Mammals were among first taxa to be introduced worldwide for game, meat, and labor, yet the number of species introduced in the Neotropics remains unknown. In this dataset, we make available occurrence and abundance data on mammal species that (1) transposeda geographical barrier and (2) were voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into theNeotropics. Our data set is composed of 73,738 historical and current georeferenced recordson alien mammal species of which around 96% correspond to occurrence data on 77 speciesbelonging to eight orders and 26 families. Data cover 26 continental countries in the Neotrop-ics, ranging from Mexico and its frontier regions (southern Florida and coastal-central Floridain the southeast United States) to Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay, and the 13 coun-tries of Caribbean islands. Our data set also includes neotropical species (e.g.,Callithrixsp.,Myocastor coypus,Nasua nasua)considered alien in particular areas of Neotropics. The mostnumerous species in terms of records are fromBossp. (n=37,782),Sus scrofa(n=6,730), andCanis familiaris(n=10,084); 17 species were represented by only one record (e.g., Syncerus caf-fer, Cervus timorensis, Cervus unicolor, Canis latrans). Primates have the highest number of spe-cies in the data set (n=20 species), partly because of uncertainties regarding taxonomicidentification of the generaCallithrix,which includes the speciesCallithrix aurita, Callithrixflaviceps, Callithrix geoffroyi, Callithrix jacchus, Callithrix kuhlii, Callithrix penicillata, andtheir hybrids. This unique data set will be a valuable source of information on invasion riskassessments, biodiversity redistribution and conservation-related research. There are no copy-right restrictions. Please cite this data paper when using the data in publications. We alsorequest that researchers and teachers inform us on how they are using the dat

Influência de herbicidas na atividade fotossintética de genótipos de cana-de-açúcar

Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar em campo os efeitos de herbicidas sobre a atividade fotossintética de genótipos de cana-de-açúcar. Para isso, foi realizado um experimento em blocos casualizados, em parcelas subdivididas, com quatro repetições. Nas parcelas principais alocaram-se os herbicidas ametryn (2.000 g ha-1), trifloxysulfuron-sodium (22,5 g ha 1), a mistura de ametryn + trifloxysulfuron-sodium (1.463 + 37,0 g ha-1) e uma testemunha capinada. Nas subparcelas foram avaliados seis genótipos de cana-de-açúcar (RB72454, RB835486, RB855113, RB867515, RB947520 e SP80-1816). Aos 70 dias após o plantio e 15 dias após a aplicação dos herbicidas, foram realizadas as avaliações da taxa de fluxo de gases pelos estômatos (U - μmol s-1), concentração de CO2 subestomática (Ci = μmol mol-1), taxa fotossintética (A - μmol m 2 s-1) e CO2 consumido (ΔC - μmol mol-1), na primeira folha da cana-de-açúcar com a lígula visível (dewlap visível). O ametryn causou danos significativos nas características fisiológicas ligadas à atividade fotossintética da cana-de-açúcar, em comparação com o trifloxysulfuron-sodium. Os genótipos de cana-de-açúcar apresentam sensibilidade diferencial aos herbicidas. Os mais suscetíveis ao ametryn foram o RB835486 e RB867515, e os mais tolerantes, o RB72454, RB855113, RB947520 e SP80-1816. Quanto às características avaliadas, não se observou diferença entre os genótipos tratados com o trifloxysulfuron-sodium e a mistura de ametryn + trifloxysulfuron-sodium.The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of herbicides on the photosynthetic activity of sugarcane genotypes, under field conditions. An experiment was arranged in a randomized block design with split-plots and four replications.The following herbicides were allocated in the main plot: ametryn (2.000 g ha-1), trifloxysulfuron-sodium (22.5 g ha-1), mixture of ametryn + trifloxysulfuron-sodium (1,463 + 37 g ha-1) and a hoed treatment without herbicide. In the subplots, six sugarcane genotypes (RB72454, RB835486, RB855113, RB867515, RB947520 and SP80-1816) were allocated. At 70 days after planting and 15 days after herbicide application, evaluations of stomatal gas flow rate (U - μmol s-1), sub-stomatal CO2 concentration (Ci - μmol mol-1) , photosynthetic rate (A - μmol m-2 s-1) and CO2 consumed (ΔC - μmol mol-1) were conducted on the first plant leaf with visible ligule. Ametryn caused significant damage to the physiological characteristics related to sugarcane photosynthetic activity compared to the trifloxysulfuron-sodium. Sugarcane genotypes show differential sensitivity to herbicide treatments, with the most susceptible to ametryn being RB835486 and RB867515, and the most tolerant RB72454, RB855113, RB947520, SP80-1816 and RB867515. Regarding the evaluated characteristics, there was no difference between the genotypes treated with trifloxysulfuron- sodium and the mixture of ametryn + trifloxysulfuron-sodium

Vírus da encefalite São Luis: primeiro isolamento de humano no Estado de São Paulo, Brasil

O presente estudo relata o isolamento do vírus da encefalite São Luis (SLEV) de um caso febril humano suspeito de dengue, em São Pedro, Estado de São Paulo. MAC-ELISA realizado com soros das fases aguda e convalescente foi inconclusivo e anticorpos IgG foram detectados por inibição da hemaglutinação para flavivirus. Imunofluorescência indireta com cultura de células C6/36 inoculadas com soro da fase aguda foi positivo para flavivirus mas negativo quando testado com anticorpos monoclonais para dengue. O RNA extraído de cultura de células infectadas foi amplificado na presença de primers universais para o gênero Flavivirus, deduzidos de uma região da proteína não estrutural 5 e diretamente sequenciado. Os resultados da pesquisa no BLAST indicaram que a seqüência apresenta 93% de similaridade de nucleotídeos com a seqüência de SLEV (cepa MS1.7), confirmado por RT-PCR, realizado com primers específicos para SLEV. O fato de SLEV ter sido identificado como a causa de doença humana indica a necessidade de aprimorar a vigilância a fim de detectar precocemente esse agente no Estado de São Paulo e no Brasil. Esse caso é também um alerta para os profissionais de saúde sobre a necessidade de investigações clínicas e epidemiológicas mais completas sobre doenças febris como no caso relatado. Infecções por SLEV podem não ser reconhecidas ou confundidas com outras causadas por arbovírus como a dengue.This paper reports the isolation of St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) from a febrile human case suspected to be dengue, in São Pedro, São Paulo State. A MAC-ELISA done on the patient's acute and convalescent sera was inconclusive and hemagglutination inhibition test detected IgG antibody for flaviviruses. An indirect immunofluorescent assay done on the C6/36 cell culture inoculated with the acute serum was positive for flaviviruses but negative when tested with dengue monoclonal antibodies. RNA extracted from the infected cell culture supernatant was amplified by RT-PCR in the presence of NS5 universal flavivirus primers and directly sequenced. Results of BLAST search indicated that this sequence shares 93% nucleotide similarity with the sequence of SLEV (strain-MSI.7), confirmed by RT-PCR performed with SLEV specific primers. Since SLEV was identified as the cause of human disease, it is necessary to improve surveillance in order to achieve early detection of this agent in the state of São Paulo and in Brazil. This finding is also an alert to health professionals about the need for more complete clinical and epidemiological investigations of febrile illnesses as in the reported case. SLEV infections can be unrecognized or confused with other ones caused by an arbovirus, such as dengue