Highly-parallelized simulation of a pixelated LArTPC on a GPU

The rapid development of general-purpose computing on graphics processing units (GPGPU) is allowing the implementation of highly-parallelized Monte Carlo simulation chains for particle physics experiments. This technique is particularly suitable for the simulation of a pixelated charge readout for time projection chambers, given the large number of channels that this technology employs. Here we present the first implementation of a full microphysical simulator of a liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC) equipped with light readout and pixelated charge readout, developed for the DUNE Near Detector. The software is implemented with an end-to-end set of GPU-optimized algorithms. The algorithms have been written in Python and translated into CUDA kernels using Numba, a just-in-time compiler for a subset of Python and NumPy instructions. The GPU implementation achieves a speed up of four orders of magnitude compared with the equivalent CPU version. The simulation of the current induced on 10^3 pixels takes around 1 ms on the GPU, compared with approximately 10 s on the CPU. The results of the simulation are compared against data from a pixel-readout LArTPC prototype

Adenomiose uterina em gata associada à piometra

ABSTRACT Adenomyosis, a non-neoplastic myometrial proliferation, is a rare pathologic condition in domestic animals, of unknown etiology. There is a lack of information about the clinical and pathological features of this disease in cats, therefore just a few reports in that species. The study describes a case of adenomyosis in a feline female. A cat, six years old, undefined breed, not spayed, had abdominal swelling history and vaginal discharge. Clinically, upon abdominal palpation, a diffuse increase suggesting a uterine change was found. The vulva had sanguine-purulent exudates. The choice was for the neutering surgical. Uterine macroscopy revealed cystic endometrial hyperplasia/pyometra in uterine horns, and the presence of a diffuse mass on uterine corpus. Fragments of the mass were sent for histopathological analysis, which revealed adenomyosis of the uterine corpus. The patient exhibited adequate post-operative recovery. The adenomyosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis of uterine neoformation in domestic cats

Produção de batata-doce em função de doses de P2O5 em dois sistemas de cultivo Yield of sweet potato affected by P2O5 levels in two planting systems

Com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito da adubação fosfatada e de sistemas de plantio na produção total e comercial de raízes de batata-doce, cv. Rainha Branca, conduziu-se um experimento, de fevereiro a julho de 2003, na UFPB, em Areia (PB). O delineamento experimental foi de blocos casualizados com os tratamentos distribuídos em esquema fatorial 5 x 2, com os fatores doses de fósforo (0; 100; 200; 300 e 400 kg de P2O5 ha-1) e sistemas de plantio (uma e duas ramas por cova), em quatro repetições. As produções total e comercial de raízes de batata-doce, em resposta as doses de fósforo no sistema de plantio com uma rama por cova, foram de 21,6 e 18,7 t ha-1, obtidas com 237 e 210 kg de P2O5 ha-1, respectivamente. No sistema de plantio com duas ramas por cova, essas produções foram de 23,5 e 18,9 t ha-1, alcançadas com 259 e 231 kg de P2O5 ha-1, respectivamente, enquanto as doses econômicas para a produção de raízes comerciais, foram 173 e 194 kg de P2O5 ha-1, para os sistemas de plantio com uma e duas ramas, respectivamente. No sistema de plantio com uma rama e dose econômica correspondeu a 82% daquela para a máxima eficiência técnica (MET) e para o sistema de duas ramas a 84% da MET, constituindo um indicativo da viabilidade econômica do emprego de fósforo no cultivo da batata-doce. As doses de fósforo estimadas que resultaram nas máximas produções de raízes comerciais e retornos econômicos, quanto ao sistema de plantio com uma e duas ramas por cova corresponderam, respectivamente, com 21 e 19 mg de P disponível dm-3, extraído pelo extrator de Melich 1. Em solos semelhantes ao deste estudo, a adubação fosfatada na batata-doce poderá ser dispensada, quando os teores de fósforo disponível forem superiores a 19 e 20 mg dm-3 de solo, respectivamente, para os sistemas de plantio com uma e duas ramas por cova.<br>The influence of phosphate fertilization and planting systems were evaluated on the yield and quality of sweet potato roots, Rainha Branca cv. The experiment was carried out from February to July/2003 in a Quartz Psamment soil in Paraiba State, Brazil. The experimental design was of randomized blocks with four replications. Treatments were distributed in a 5 x 2 factorial design, with five levels of P2O5 (0; 100; 200; 300 and 400 kg ha-1 ) and two planting systems (one and two stems/hole). Total and commercial sweet potato roots production, in response to P2O5 levels with one stem/hole, were 21.6 and 18.7 t ha-1 obtained with 237 and 210 kg ha-1 of P2O5, respectively. Using two stems/hole, 23.5 and 18.9 t ha-1 were obtained when 259 and 231 kg of P2O5, were employed, respectively. Levels of 173 and 194 kg of P2O5 applied for one and two stems/hole, respectively, were economically viable for the commercial roots production. The economical level in the planting system using one stem/hole, was 82% of the technical maximum efficiency (TME) and for two stems/hole was 84% TME being an indicative of economical viability of phosphorus application in sweet potato. P2O5 levels that resulted in maximum production and economical returns for commercial roots for planting systems with one and two stems/hole were 21 and 19 mg dm-3 of phosphorus available, using Melich-1 extractor. In similar soil types for commercial roots production, the phosphate fertilization will be dispensed, when available phosphorus levels were higher than 19 and 20 mg dm-3 of soil in planting systems with one and two stems/hole

Influência de porta-enxertos na resistência de mudas de cajueiro ao estresse salino Influence of rootstocks on the resistance of cashew plantlets to salt stress

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência de porta-enxertos na resistência de mudas de cajueiro (Anacardium occidentale L.) à salinidade. As mudas foram obtidas pela enxertia do clone BRS 226 sobre os porta-enxertos CAPI 4, CCP 09 e BRS 226. Foram expostas a meio hidropônico sem NaCl (controle) ou com NaCl 200 mM (tratamento salino), sob condições controladas de temperatura, umidade e luminosidade, durante 12 dias. O delineamento foi o inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 3x2 (três combinações de enxerto/porta-enxerto e duas concentrações de NaCl), com quatro repetições. Foram determinados a concentração de Na+, Cl-, K+ e solutos orgânicos e os sintomas visuais de toxicidade nas folhas. Os conteúdos de Na+ e Cl-, a relação K+/Na+ e as concentrações de aminoácidos e de prolina livres nas folhas tiveram relação direta com os sintomas visuais de toxicidade. Os porta-enxertos CAPI 4, CCP 09 e BRS 226 foram classificados como sensível, intermediário e resistente à salinidade elevada, respectivamente. Essa variação foi decorrente da influência do porta-enxerto na partição do Na+ e do Cl-.<br>The aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) rootstocks on salt resistance in grafted plantlets. The plantlets were obtained by grafting the BRS 226 scion on CAPI 4, CCP 09 and BRS 226 rootstocks, and were exposed to nutrient solution without NaCl (control) or with 200 mM NaCl (salt treatment) in hydroponics under controlled temperature, humidity, and luminosity conditions during 12 days. The experimental design was a completely randomized in factorial arrangement 3x2 (three scion/rootstock combinations, two NaCl concentrations) with four replicates. Na+, Cl-, K+ and organic solute concentrations and toxicity symptoms on leaves were determined. Na+ and Cl- contents, the K+/Na+ ratio and the free amino acid and proline concentrations in leaves were directly related to the visual toxicity symptoms. The rootstocks were classified as sensitive (CAPI 4), intermediate (CCP 09), and resistant (BRS 226) to high salinity. This variation was a consequence of the rootstock influence on Na+ and Cl- partitioning