Luminescence characteristics of quartz from Brazilian sediments and constraints for OSL dating

This study analyzes the optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) characteristics of quartz grains from fluvial, eolian and shallow marine sands of northeastern and southeastern Brazil, with especial focus on the applicability of the single-aliquot regenerative dose (SAR) dating protocol. All analyzed Brazilian sediments presented relatively high OSL sensitivity and good behavior regarding their luminescence characteristics relevant for radiation dose estimation. However, some samples from the Lençóis Maranhenses region in northeastern Brazil showed inadequate OSL sensitivity correction, hampering the implementation of the SAR protocol and their ability to behave as a natural dosimeter. While the shallow marine and eolian samples showed a narrow and reliable dose distribution, the fluvial sample had a wide dose distribution, suggesting incomplete bleaching and natural doses estimates dependent on age models

The meanings of death and dying: the perspective of crack users Los significados de la muerte y el morir: la perspectiva de los consumidores de crack Os significados da morte e do morrer: a perspectiva de usuários de crack

The consumption of crack can constitute in an inauthentic form of the existence that leads a person to live improperly the being-toward-death. Given this reality, this study aimed to comprehend the significance of death and dying for the user of crack and to unveil the meanings attributed to this significance. This qualitative study was conducted, based on the phenomenological method, with 12 crack users, in the therapeutic process, in a Psychosocial Care Center - Alcohol and Drugs (CAPSad), in the period from February to April 2011, in Teresina, Piauí. The results show that death is signified, ontically, as a companion, a partner, a passage, a journey and as the crack itself. It was concluded that this significance expressed an inauthentic experience, directed toward the incessant interaction with crack, accompanied by a feeling of nullity and relational disengagement.<br>El consumo de cocaína puede estar en un modo auténtico de la existencia que lleva la persona a vivir mal ser-para-la-muerte. Ante esta realidad se tuvo como objetivo comprender el significado de la muerte y el morir para los consumidores del crack revelar los significados atribuidos a estos significados. Se realizó un estudio cualitativo sobre el método fenomenológico con 12 usuarios de crack en el proceso terapéutico en un Centro de Atención Psicosocial de alcohol y otras drogas en el período de febrero a abril de 2011 en Teresina, Piauí. Los resultados muestran que la muerte se entiende, onticamente por socio, asociación, entradas, viajes y el propio crack. Se concluye que el sentido es expresado en una experiencia inauténtica dirigido a la convivencia de la grieta incesante acompañada por un sentimiento de la nada y la retirada relacional.<br>O consumo de crack pode constituir-se em forma inautêntica da existência que leva a pessoa a viver de forma imprópria o ser-para-a-morte. Diante dessa realidade, objetivou-se compreender o significado da morte e do morrer para o usuário de crack e desvelar os sentidos atribuídos a esses significados. Realizou-se pesquisa qualitativa, fundamentada no método fenomenológico, com 12 usuários de crack, em processo terapêutico, em um Centro de Atenção Psicossocial - Álcool e Drogas (CAPSad), no período de fevereiro a abril de 2011, em Teresina, Piauí. Os resultados mostram que a morte é significada, onticamente, por companheira, parceira, passagem, viagem e pelo próprio crack. Conclui-se que esse significado expressa uma vivência inautêntica, direcionada ao convívio incessante do crack, acompanhada por sentimento de nulidade e descompromisso relacional

Rivaroxaban with or without aspirin in stable cardiovascular disease

BACKGROUND: We evaluated whether rivaroxaban alone or in combination with aspirin would be more effective than aspirin alone for secondary cardiovascular prevention. METHODS: In this double-blind trial, we randomly assigned 27,395 participants with stable atherosclerotic vascular disease to receive rivaroxaban (2.5 mg twice daily) plus aspirin (100 mg once daily), rivaroxaban (5 mg twice daily), or aspirin (100 mg once daily). The primary outcome was a composite of cardiovascular death, stroke, or myocardial infarction. The study was stopped for superiority of the rivaroxaban-plus-aspirin group after a mean follow-up of 23 months. RESULTS: The primary outcome occurred in fewer patients in the rivaroxaban-plus-aspirin group than in the aspirin-alone group (379 patients [4.1%] vs. 496 patients [5.4%]; hazard ratio, 0.76; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66 to 0.86; P<0.001; z=−4.126), but major bleeding events occurred in more patients in the rivaroxaban-plus-aspirin group (288 patients [3.1%] vs. 170 patients [1.9%]; hazard ratio, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.40 to 2.05; P<0.001). There was no significant difference in intracranial or fatal bleeding between these two groups. There were 313 deaths (3.4%) in the rivaroxaban-plus-aspirin group as compared with 378 (4.1%) in the aspirin-alone group (hazard ratio, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.71 to 0.96; P=0.01; threshold P value for significance, 0.0025). The primary outcome did not occur in significantly fewer patients in the rivaroxaban-alone group than in the aspirin-alone group, but major bleeding events occurred in more patients in the rivaroxaban-alone group. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with stable atherosclerotic vascular disease, those assigned to rivaroxaban (2.5 mg twice daily) plus aspirin had better cardiovascular outcomes and more major bleeding events than those assigned to aspirin alone. Rivaroxaban (5 mg twice daily) alone did not result in better cardiovascular outcomes than aspirin alone and resulted in more major bleeding events