Measurement of the Lambda(b) cross section and the anti-Lambda(b) to Lambda(b) ratio with Lambda(b) to J/Psi Lambda decays in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV

The Lambda(b) differential production cross section and the cross section ratio anti-Lambda(b)/Lambda(b) are measured as functions of transverse momentum pt(Lambda(b)) and rapidity abs(y(Lambda(b))) in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV using data collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC. The measurements are based on Lambda(b) decays reconstructed in the exclusive final state J/Psi Lambda, with the subsequent decays J/Psi to an opposite-sign muon pair and Lambda to proton pion, using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.9 inverse femtobarns. The product of the cross section times the branching ratio for Lambda(b) to J/Psi Lambda versus pt(Lambda(b)) falls faster than that of b mesons. The measured value of the cross section times the branching ratio for pt(Lambda(b)) > 10 GeV and abs(y(Lambda(b))) < 2.0 is 1.06 +/- 0.06 +/- 0.12 nb, and the integrated cross section ratio for anti-Lambda(b)/Lambda(b) is 1.02 +/- 0.07 +/- 0.09, where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively.Comment: Submitted to Physics Letters

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans – anteaters, sloths, and armadillos – have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with 24 domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, ten anteaters, and six sloths. Our dataset includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data-paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the south of the USA, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to its austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n=5,941), and Cyclopes sp. has the fewest (n=240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n=11,588), and the least recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n=33). With regards to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n=962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n=12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other datasets of Neotropical Series which will become available very soon (i.e. Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans dataset

Search for excited leptons in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV

This is the pre-print version of the final published paper that is available from the link belowResults are presented of a search for compositeness in electrons and muons using a data sample of pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy √s=7 TeV collected with the CMS detector at the LHC and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.0 fb−15.0 fb−1. Excited leptons (ℓ⁎) are assumed to be produced via contact interactions in conjunction with a standard model lepton and to decay via ℓ⁎→ℓγ, yielding a final state with two energetic leptons and a photon. The number of events observed in data is consistent with that expected from the standard model. The 95% confidence upper limits for the cross section for the production and decay of excited electrons (muons), with masses ranging from 0.6 to 2 TeV, are 1.48 to 1.24 fb (1.31 to 1.11 fb). Excited leptons with masses below 1.9 TeV are excluded for the case where the contact interaction scale equals the excited lepton mass. The limits on the cross sections are the most stringent ones published to date

Produtividade e qualidade de cana-de-açúcar cultivada em solo tratado com lodo de esgoto, vinhaça e adubos minerais Yield and quality of sugar cane cultivated in sewage sludge, vinasse and mineral fertilization supplied soil

O uso agrícola de resíduos orgânicos, de origem agrícola, urbana ou industrial, é uma interessante alternativa de disposição, permitindo a reciclagem de nutrientes (NPK) nos ecossistemas. Este trabalho avaliou o efeito da aplicação de lodo de esgoto como fonte de N e de vinhaça como fonte de K comparado ao uso de fontes minerais desses nutrientes sobre a produtividade e variáveis agroindustriais da cana-de-açúcar, por dois anos consecutivos (cana-planta e cana-soca). O experimento foi conduzido em Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo distrófico típico, em Pontal - SP, e a variedade de cana-de-açúcar avaliada foi a SP 81-3250. Utilizou-se de esquema fatorial 3x2x2+1, ou seja, três tipos de resíduos (lodo de esgoto + KCl; vinhaça + uréia, e lodo de esgoto + vinhaça); dois modos de aplicação (na linha de plantio ou em área total); duas doses (100 e 200% do N e K necessários à cultura) e um tratamento adicional com adubação mineral, sendo os tratamentos distribuídos na área em blocos ao acaso, com três repetições. Foram avaliadas a produtividade e as variáveis agroindustriais (&deg;brix, pol no caldo, fibra, pureza, pol na cana, AR e ATR). As produtividades de colmo e de açúcar para cana-planta foram mantidas quando N e K foram fornecidos pelo lodo de esgoto e vinhaça, respectivamente. A cana-soca apresentou maior produtividade de colmo e de açúcar quando foram utilizados os resíduos separadamente, complementados com fontes minerais. Quanto ao modo de aplicação, não foram observadas diferenças significativas para as variáveis analisadas.<br>The agricultural use of organic residues is an interesting alternative to disposal allowing the recycling of nutrients (NPK) in the ecosystems. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of sludge application as N source and vinasse as K source when compared to the use of mineral sources of these nutrients on yield and technological variables of the sugar cane, over two consecutive years (cane-plant and first ratoon cane). The experiment was conducted on a Haplustox, in Pontal county, São Paulo state, Brazil. The sugarcane variety was SP 81-3250. The results were organized in a factorial scheme 3x2x2+1: three residue types (sewage sludge + KCl, vinasse + urea and sewage sludge + vinasse); two application mode (planting line and total area); two doses (100 and 200% of N and K for sugarcane crop) and an additional treatment (mineral fertilization). The experimental design was a randomized blocks with three replications. The analyzed parameters were productivity and technological variables (juice brix, juice sucrose contents, reducing sugars juice contents, purity, cane sucrose contents, and recoverable total sugar (RTS) cane contents and RTS productivity). The stalks and the sugar yields of cane-plant did not change while the N and K were suplyied by the sludge and by vinasse, respectively. The first ratoon cane presented greater stalks and sugar yield when residue were used separated complemented by mineral fertilization. In relation to application mode, no differences were observed for all paremeters

Morphological aspects of the ovaries of turtle Kinosternon scorpioides raised in captivity

The swear turtle "jurará" (Kinosternon scorpioides) is a mud turtle of the Amazon region exposed to disordering capture in the rural areas of Maranhão, Brazil. Despite its popularity in these areas, little meaningful information regarding the reproductive morphology is currently available, fact that impedes the adoption of policies for preservation of the species. To obtain more information, we studied the ovarian morphology adult jurará females kept in captivity by morphological and morphometric analysis in the dry and rainy season. The results revealed that all females were sexually mature and were in a vitellogenic period. The ovaries are two irregular structures composed by follicles in different stages of development (primary, secondary and tertiary) scattered in a stroma of loose connective highly vascularized tissue. The ovary weight was 6.25±4.23g and 2.27±1.42g, for the right and left one respectively. The gonadosomatic indexes were 2.06% for the dry season and 1.79% for the rainy season. The average of the follicles was 29.83 units per ovary. Microscopically, the mature ovaries revealed a basal layer composed by four cellular layers: the inner and outer theca, stratum granulosum with perivitelline membrane and zona radiata with vitelline membrane. No significant differences were observed in the ovaries either in the dry or wet period

Análise da diversidade genética de cornichão com o uso de marcadores microssatélites Lotus corniculatus L. genetic diversity analysis through microsatellite markers

O objetivo neste trabalho foi analisar a diversidade genética de 14 materiais de Lotus corniculatus L. por meio de marcadores microssatélites. Foram analisados quatro cultivares e uma população de L. corniculatus e seus respectivos genótipos selecionados visando tolerância e sensibilidade ao alumínio. Foram utilizados 17 pares de primers que detectaram 36 alelos nos 17 locos microssatélites, com média de 2,25 alelos por loco. O resultado da análise de agrupamento com base nos índices de similaridade mostrou a formação de três grupos: um englobando germoplasmas e genótipos selecionados para sensibilidade ao alumínio e outros dois formados por genótipos selecionados visando tolerância ao alumínio tóxico. A análise molecular foi eficiente para detectar e quantificar a variabilidade entre os genótipos, acrescentando informações úteis ao programa de melhoramento. O uso de marcadores microssatélites permite a distinção de genótipos oriundos de um programa de seleção visando tolerância à toxidez por alumínio. As seleções realizadas originam genótipos polimórficos em relação às populações originais.<br>The aim of this work was to analyze the genetic diversity of 14 Lotus corniculatus L. materials through microsatellite markers. Four cultivars and one population of L. corniculatus and their respective genotypes selected were analyzed aiming aluminium tolerance and sensibility. The 17 markers used detected a total of 36 alleles, with an average of 2.25 alleles per locus. The result of the similarity analyses showed the formation of three groups: one enclosing germplasm and selected genotypes for aluminium sensibility, while the other two groups were formed by selected genotypes for aluminium tolerance. The molecular analysis was efficient in detecting and quantifying the variability among the genotypes, adding useful information to the breeding program. The utilization of microsatellite markers permitted the distinction of genotypes originated from a selection program aiming aluminium tolerance. The performed selections originate polymorphic genotypes in relation to the original populations