Structural and optical studies of FeSb2 under high pressure

Nanostructured orthorhombic FeSb2 and an amorphous phase were formed by mechanical alloying starting from a mixture of high purity elemental Fe and Sb powders. The effects of high pressures on structural and optical properties were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy (RS). XRD patterns showed the presence of the orthorhombic FeSb2 phase up to the maximum pressure applied (28.2 GPa). The XRD patterns showed also an increase in the amount of the amorphous phase with increasing pressure up to 23.3 GPa. At 14.3 GPa, together with the former phases, a new phase was observed and indexed to a tetragonal FeSb2 phase, but its volume fraction is small at least up to 23.3 GPa. For the orthorhombic FeSb2 phase, the pressure dependence of the volume fitted to a Birch-Murnaghan equation of state gave a bulk modulus = 74.2 +- 3.0 GPa and its pressure derivative = 7.5 +- 0.6. RS measurements were performed from atmospheric pressure up to 45.2 GPa. For the orthorhombic FeSb2 phase, the Raman active mode was observed up to the maximum pressure applied, while the mode disappeared at 16.6 GPa. For pressures higher than 21 GPa, the Raman active mode of a tetragonal FeSb2 phase was observed, confirming ab initio calculations reported in the literature.Comment: 31 pages, 11 figures and 2 tables. Already submitted for publicatio

A Cantelli-type inequality for constructing non-parametric p-boxes based on exchangeability.

In this paper we prove a new probability inequality that can be used to construct p-boxes in a non-parametric fashion, using the sample mean and sample standard deviation instead of the true mean and true standard deviation. The inequality relies only on exchangeability and boundedness

Composition Of ω-3 And ω-6 Fatty Acids In Freeze-dried Chicken Embryo Eggs With Different Days Of Development

Fatty acids ω-3 and ω-6 composition and specially DHA were determined in freeze-dried chicken embryo eggs with pre-determined incubation periods. Fertile and embryo eggs presented palmitic (23.18 ± 0.54%), stearic (7.70 ± 0.28%), palmitoleic (3.00 ± 0.19%), oleic (36.28 ± 0.58%), linoleic (22.18 ± 0.34%), linolenic (1.08 ± 0.04%), arachidonic (2.04 ± 0.03%), docosahexaenoic (0.91 ± 0.03%), total ω-3 acids (2.26 ± 0.10%) and total ω-6 acids (24.62 ± 0.33%). There were no significant differences in total contents of ω-3 fatty acids (p=0.1226) between freeze-dried chicken embryo eggs with different incubation periods (3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 days) and fertile freeze-dried chicken eggs (day 0). However, there were significant differences in total medium contents of ω-6 fatty acids (P=0.001). There was also a strong statistical evidence that quadratic model was related with expected values of DHA content (p= 0.0013).472219224Abril, R., Barclay, B., Fatty acid analysis of poultry eggs as methyl esters (1999) Método OT-GCPE, Rev. 3.1, , OmegaTech. Bolder, Co. 24/03/99(1996) Official Methods and Recommended Practices of de American Oil Chemists' Society. 4th Ed., , American Oil Chemists' Society, Champaign IIBragagnolo, N., Turatti, J.M., Evaluation of "light" eggs in Brazil (1999) Associazione Italiana di Avicoltura Scientifica, Instituto di Zootecnia, 2, pp. 177-181. , Paper presented at VIII European Symposium on the Quality of Eggs and Eggs Products, Bologna, ItáliaBeig, D., Garcia, F.C.M., (1986) O Embrião de Galinha, , Campo Grande : UFMS/ Imprensa UniversitáriaCherian, G., Sim, J.S., Net transfer and incorporation of yolk n-3 fatty acids into developing chick embryos (1993) Poultry Science, 72, pp. 98-105Cherian, G., Gopalakrishnan, N., Akiba, Y., Sim, J.S., Effect of maternal dietary n-3 fatty acids on the accretion of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in the tissues of developing chick embryo (1997) Biology of Neonate, 72, pp. 165-174Connor, W.E., Importance of n-3 fatty acids in health and disease (2000) American Journal of Clinical Nutritional, 71 (SUPPL.), pp. 171S-175SFarkas, K., Noble, R.C., Speake, B.K., Development changes in the levels of molecular species of triacylglicerol that contain docosahexaenoic acid in adipose tissue of chick embryo (1996) Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology B-Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 115, pp. 1-6Ferrier, L.K., Gaston, L.J., Leeson, S., Squires, J., Weaver, B.J., Holub, B.J., α-linolenic acid - and docosahexaenoic acid - enriched eggs from hens fed flaxseed: Influence on blood lipids and platelet phospholipid fatty acids in human (1995) The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 62, pp. 81-86Lin, D.S., Connor, W.E., Anderson, G.J., The incorporation of n-3 and n-6 essential fatty acids into chicken embryo from eggs yolks having vastly different fatty acid compositions (1991) Pediatric Research, 29, pp. 601-605Maldjian, A., Falkas, K., Noble, R.C., Cocchi, M., Speake, B.K., The transfer of docosahexaenoic acid from the yolk to the tissues of chicken embryo (1995) Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 1258, pp. 81-99Nettleton, J.A., (1995) Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Health, , Chapman and Hall, New YorkNoble, R.C., Cocchi, M., Lipid metabolism and the neonatal chicken (1990) Prog. Lipid Res., 29, pp. 107-140Park, Y.K., Koo, M.H., Carvalho, P.O., Recentes Progresses dos Alimentos Funcionais (1997) Bol. SBCTA, 31Salatin, J., Pastured poultry profits (1993) Polyface Swoope, , VirginiaSpeake, B.K., Murray, A.M.B., Noble, R.C., Transport and transformations of yolk lipids during development of avian embryo (1998) Prog. Lipid Res., 37, pp. 1-32Stadelman, W.J., Pratt, D.E., Factors influencing composition the hen's egg (1989) World's Poultry Science Journal, 45, pp. 247-261Thapon, J.L., Bourgeois, C.M., L'oeuf et les ovoproduits (1994) Lavoisier -Technique et Documentation, , ParisVieira, S., Hoffmann, R., Estatísitica experimental (1989) Atlas, , São Paul

Two-state imprecise Markov chains for statistical modelling of two-state non-Markovian processes.

This paper proposes a method for fitting a two-state imprecise Markov chain to time series data from a twostate non-Markovian process. Such non-Markovian processes are common in practical applications. We focus on how to fit modelling parameters based on data from a process where time to transition is not exponentially distributed, thereby violating the Markov assumption. We do so by first fitting a many-state (i.e. having more than two states) Markov chain to the data, through its associated phase-type distribution. Then, we lump the process to a two-state imprecise Markov chain. In practical applications, a two-state imprecise Markov chain might be more convenient than a many-state Markov chain, as we have closed analytic expressions for typical quantities of interest (including the lower and upper expectation of any function of the state at any point in time). A numerical example demonstrates how the entire inference process (fitting and prediction) can be done using Markov chain Monte Carlo, for a given set of prior distributions on the parameters. In particular, we numerically identify the set of posterior densities and posterior lower and upper expectations on all model parameters and predictive quantities. We compare our inferences under a range of sample sizes and model assumptions. Keywords: imprecise Markov chain, estimation, reliability, Markov assumption, MCM

Predictors of long-term adverse events after Absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffold implantation: a 1,933-patient pooled analysis from international registries

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the predictors of long-term adverse clinical events after implantation of the everolimus-eluting Absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS). Methods and results: We pooled patient-level databases derived from the large-scale ABSORB EXTEND study and five high-volume international centres. Between November 2011 and November 2015, 1,933 patients underwent PCI with a total of 2,372 Absorb BVS implanted. The median age was 61.0 (IQR 53.0 to 68.6) years, 24% had diabetes, and 68.2% presented with stable coronary artery disease. At a median follow-up of 616 days, MACE occurred in 93 (4.9%) patients, all-cause death in 36 (1.9%) patients, myocardial infarction in 47 (2.5%) patients, and target vessel revascularisation in 72 (3.8%) patients. Definite or probable scaffold thrombosis occurred in 26 (1.3%) patients. On multivariable logistic regression analysis, acute coronary syndromes (hazard ratio [HR] 2.79, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.47 to 5.29; p=0.002), dyslipidaemia (HR 1.43, 95% CI: 1.23 to 1.79; p=0.007), scaffold/reference diameter ratio >1.25 (HR 1.49, 95% CI: 1.18 to 1.88; p=0.001), and residual stenosis >15% (HR 1.67, 95% CI: 1.34 to 2.07; p<0.001) were independent predictors of MACE, whereas the use of intravascular imaging was independently associated with a reduction in MACE (HR 0.13, 95% CI: 0.06 to 0.28; p<0.001). Conclusions: Optimal Absorb BVS implantation and the use of intravascular imaging guidance are associated with lower rates of adverse events at long-term follow-up

Balanços energéticos agropecuários: uma importante ferramenta como indicativo de sustentabilidade de agroecossistemas.

No Brasil, pouca atenção se tem dado às formas e caminhos com que os fluxos energéticos se distribuem nos sistemas produtivos. Na agropecuária, a atenção tem sido voltada a novas fontes de energia (biomassa) ou em tecnologia alternativa, visando a racionalização do uso de energia fóssil ou elétrica. Entretanto, a agricultura tem se desenvolvido baseada fortemente na utilização intensiva de máquinas agrícolas, com conseqüente uso de combustíveis fósseis. Um fator de estrangulamento muito forte no consumo energético geral tem sido a utilização massiva de fertilizantes derivados do petróleo nos agroecossistemas. Estudos de Balanços Energéticos visam determinar os pontos de estrangulamento energético fundamentando a busca por tecnologias poupadoras de energia, especialmente aquelas de origem fóssil (combustível, fertilizante, agrotóxicos, energia despendida na fabricação das máquinas e implementos, etc.). No Brasil, a Região Sul, é onde se encontram vários trabalhos buscando uma agricultura mais auto-sustentável, do ponto de vista da utilização da energia. Em vista da possibilidade de eventuais futuras crises energéticas, o presente trabalho procura analisar o estado-da-arte dos estudos em Balanço Energético, no Brasil e no Mundo, como uma ferramenta de indicação da sustentabilidade dos sistemas agropecuários

Balanço do nitrogênio e fósforo em solo com cultivo orgânico de hortaliças após a incorporação de biomassa de guandu.

Os objetivos deste trabalho foram avaliar os efeitos de faixas de guandu (Cajanus cajan) e da incorporação da biomassa proveniente de sua poda na fertilidade do solo e na produtividade de três hortaliças sob cultivo orgânico. O delineamento usado foi de blocos casualizados completos em esquema de parcelas subsubdivididas com três repetições. As produtividades de beterraba, cenoura e feijão-de-vagem não foram afetadas pelos tratamentos. Nas parcelas onde não houve incorporação da biomassa de guandu, o balanço de nitrogênio no sistema foi negativo, ao passo que com a incorporação, esse balanço foi positivo. Embora tenha ocorrido balanço positivo para o fósforo nas parcelas sem a incorporação de biomassa de guandu, houve um aumento significativo na absorção desse elemento pelas hortaliças quando o material foi incorporado. O sistema de cultivo em aléias de guandu pode representar uma prática vantajosa para os produtores orgânicos, por contribuir na manutenção da fertilidade do solo