Phenomenology Tools on Cloud Infrastructures using OpenStack

We present a new environment for computations in particle physics phenomenology employing recent developments in cloud computing. On this environment users can create and manage "virtual" machines on which the phenomenology codes/tools can be deployed easily in an automated way. We analyze the performance of this environment based on "virtual" machines versus the utilization of "real" physical hardware. In this way we provide a qualitative result for the influence of the host operating system on the performance of a representative set of applications for phenomenology calculations.Comment: 25 pages, 12 figures; information on memory usage included, as well as minor modifications. Version to appear in EPJ

Dynamics of active membranes with internal noise

We study the time-dependent height fluctuations of an active membrane containing energy-dissipating pumps that drive the membrane out of equilibrium. Unlike previous investigations based on models that neglect either curvature couplings or random fluctuations in pump activities, our formulation explores two new models that take both of these effects into account. In the first model, the magnitude of the nonequilibrium forces generated by the pumps is allowed to fluctuate temporally. In the second model, the pumps are allowed to switch between "on" and "off" states. We compute the mean squared displacement of a membrane point for both models, and show that they exhibit distinct dynamical behaviors from previous models, and in particular, a superdiffusive regime specifically arising from the shot noise.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure

Autologous Transplantation of Adrenal Medulla Into the Caudate Nucleus: A Four Year Follow Up Study

The objective of this study was to determine whether the associated morbidity and mortality of adrenal medulla autologous transplantation into the striatum (open transcortical procedure) justifies this as a safe and effective treatment for Parkinson's Disease (PD)

Anomalous Higgs Couplings

We review the effects of new effective interactions on the Higgs boson phenomenology. New physics in the electroweak bosonic sector is expected to induce additional interactions between the Higgs doublet field and the electroweak gauge bosons leading to anomalous Higgs couplings as well as to anomalous gauge-boson self-interactions. Using a linearly realized $SU(2)_L \times U(1)_Y$ invariant effective Lagrangian to describe the bosonic sector of the Standard Model, we review the effects of the new effective interactions on the Higgs boson production rates and decay modes. We summarize the results from searches for the new Higgs signatures induced by the anomalous interactions in order to constrain the scale of new physics in particular at CERN LEP and Fermilab Te vatron colliders.Comment: 35 pages, latex using epsfig.sty psfig.sty and axodraw.sty, 16 postscript figure

Avaliação de cultivares de Coffea arabica L. ao parasitismo de Meloidogyne exigua.

Os nematóides podem causar grandes danos em cafezais no Brasil, dependendo da espécie e do tipo de solo. A espécie Meloidogyne exigua é a mais disseminada nas regiões cafeeiras, especialmente em lavouras mais velhas do Sul de Minas Gerais. As áreas com nematóides mostram redução tanto no desenvolvimento das plantas como na produção. Dentre as medidas de controle do nematóide, a que tem-se mostrado mais adequada é o uso de cultivares resistentes. O objetivo deste ensaio foi avaliar o comportamento de diferentes cultivares de Coffea arabica L. quando inoculados com M. exigua, visando a identificação de fontes de resistência. O ensaio foi instalado no setor de Nematologia da UFLA /Lavras-MG, em casa de vegetação, sob delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições e três plantas por parcela. Foram avaliadas 22 cultivares, utilizando-se a cultivar Acaiá 474/19 e IAPAR 59, como padrões de suscetibilidade e de resistência, respsctivamente. Cada planta foi inoculada 80 dias após transplantio com 5000 ovos de M. exigua e avaliadas 40 e 120 dias após inoculação quanto ao número de galhas por grama de raiz. A cultivar IAPAR 59 confirmou ser imune, já que nenhuma galha foi observada em seu sistema radicular. As cultivares Catucaí Vermelho 785/15 e Acauã apresentaram segregação sendo algumas plantas resistentes e outras de reduzida susceptibilidade. As cultivares Catucaí Vermelho 36/6, Siriema, Soledade, Bem-te-vi Amarelo, Catucaí Vermelho 20/15- cv 395, Catucaí Amarelo 3-5, Cultivar oriunda de Franca, Catucaí Vermelho 36/6- cv 470, Catucaí Amarelo 24/137, Sabiá Tardio, Catucaí Amarelo 2SL- cv 446, Catucaí Amarelo 3 SM, Catucaí Amarelo 20/15- 479, Icatu IAC 2944, IBC-Palma II, Canário, Catucaí Açu Vermelho, IBC-Palma I e Acaiá-IAC 474/19 foram classificadas como susceptíveis, embora tivessem apresentado na primeira avaliação baixos índices de infestação, quando comparadas a cultivar Acaiá-IAC 474/19, o que indica a possibilidade de diferentes níveis de susceptibilidade entre as mesmas

Computed tomography angiography for the interventional cardiologist

WOS:000339902400002In recent years, coronary CT angiography (CCTA) has become a widely adopted technique, not only due to its high diagnostic accuracy, but also to the fact that CCTA provides a comprehensive evaluation of the total (obstructive and non-obstructive) coronary atherosclerotic burden. More recently, this technique has become mature, with a large body of evidence addressing its prognostic validation. In addition, CT angiography has moved from the field of `imagers' and clinicians and entered the interventional cardiology arena, aiding in the planning of both coronary and structural heart interventions, being transcatheter aortic valve implantation one of its most successful examples. It is therefore of utmost importance that interventional cardiologists become familiar with image interpretation and up-to-date regarding several CTA features, taking advantage of this information in planning the procedure, ultimately leading to improvement in patient outcomes. On the other hand, the increasing use of CCTA as a gatekeeper for invasive coronary angiography is expected to lead to an increase in the ratio of interventional to diagnostic procedures and significant changes in the daily cath-lab routine. In a foreseeable future, cath-labs will probably offer an invasive procedure only to patients expected to undergo an intervention, perhaps becoming in this change true interventional-labs.publishersversionpublishe

Visualization by scanning SQUID microscopy of the intermediate state in the superconducting Dirac semimetal PdTe2{}_2

The Dirac semimetal PdTe${}_2$ becomes superconducting at a temperature $T_{c}=1.6$~K. Thermodynamic and muon spin rotation experiments support type-I superconductivity, which is unusual for a binary compound. A key property of a type-I superconductor is the intermediate state which presents a coexistence of superconducting and normal domains (flux structures) at magnetic fields lower than the thermodynamic critical field $H_{c}$. By means of scanning SQUID microscopy (SSM) we observe flux structures in the superconducting state of PdTe${}_2$. The flux structures are strongly history dependent with a transition from round shapes to laminar shapes as the magnetic field is more and more increased. The field amplitudes measured at the surface are indicative for the presence of Landau branching. The domain wall width in the intermediate state has been determined.Comment: 8 pages 5 figure

Pineapple by-products integrated valorisation towards functional foods

This work was financially supported by CBQF under the FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia through project Multibiorefinery – Multi-purpose strategies for the valorisation of a wide range of agroforestry by-products and fisheries: A step forward in the creation of an integrated biorefinery, (POCI-01-0145- FEDER-0066) and the project UID/Multi/50016/2019 and by PhD grant SFRH/BD/104074/2014 to Débora Campos.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Efficacy of an internet-based psychological intervention for problem gambling and gambling disorder: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Gambling Disorder is a prevalent non-substance use disorder, which contrasts with the low number of people requesting treatment. Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) could help to enhance the dissemination of evidence-based treatments and considerably reduce the costs. The current study seeks to assess the efficacy of an online psychological intervention for people suffering from gambling problems in Spain. The proposed study will be a two-arm, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial. A total of 134 participants (problem and pathological gamblers) will be randomly allocated to a waiting list control group (N = 67) or an intervention group (N = 67). The intervention program includes 8 modules, and it is based on motivational interviewing, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and extensions and innovations of CBT. It includes several complementary tools that are present throughout the entire intervention. Therapeutic support will be provided once a week through a phone call with a maximum length of 10 min. The primary outcome measure will be gambling severity and gambling-related cognitions, and secondary outcome measures will be readiness to change, and gambling self-efficacy. Other variables that will be considered are depression and anxiety symptoms, positive and negative affect, difficulties in emotion regulation strategies, impulsivity, and quality of life. Individuals will be assessed at baseline, post-treatment, and 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups. During the treatment, participants will also respond to a daily Ecological Momentary Intervention (EMI) in order to evaluate urges to gamble, self-efficacy to cope with gambling urges, gambling urge frequency, and whether gambling behaviour occurs. The EMI includes immediate automatic feedback depending on the participant''s responses. Treatment acceptance and satisfaction will also be assessed. The data will be analysed both per protocol and by Intention-to treat. As far as we know, this is the first randomized controlled trial of an online psychological intervention for gambling disorder in Spain. It will expand our knowledge about treatments delivered via the Internet and contribute to improving treatment dissemination, reaching people suffering from this problem who otherwise would not receive help