938 research outputs found
Growth and dry matter production in sugarcane varieties grown under full irrigation
A análise de crescimento é considerada o método padrão para medir a produtividade biológica em espécies vegetais. Neste contexto objetivou-se avaliar, em onze variedades de cana-de-açúcar (SP79-1011, RB813804, RB863129, RB872552, RB943365, RB72454, RB763710, SP78-4764, SP81-3250, RB867515, RB92579) cultivadas sob irrigação plena, o crescimento e a produção de matéria seca no ciclo de cana planta. O experimento foi instalado em condições de campo no município de Carpina, PE. Utilizou-se o delineamento estatístico de blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições. A análise de crescimento correspondeu à quantificação dos números de perfilhos e à, na mensuração da altura e diâmetro dos colmos, avaliados mensalmente em onze períodos de cultivo, os quais se estenderam dos 60 aos 360 dias após o plantio (DAP). A produção de matéria seca foi quantificada a partir dos 120 DAP, com intervalos de amostragem a cada dois meses. Observou-se que as variedades RB92579 e SP81-3250 apresentaram o maior perfilhamento e produção de matéria seca e as variedades RB813804 e RB72454 às maiores médias de altura, enquanto as variedades RB867515 e RB72454 obtiveram os maiores diâmetros do colmo.Growth analysis is considered as a standard method for measuring the biological productivity of plant species. The objective of this research was to evaluate the growth and dry matter production of eleven sugarcane varieties (SP79-1011, RB813804, RB863129, RB872552, RB943365, RB72454, RB763710, SP78-4764, SP81-3250, RB867515, RB92579), grown under full irrigation, in the planted cane cycle. The experiment was conducted in field conditions in the municipality of Carpina, PE. A randomized block design with four replications was used. The varieties' growth analysis was represented by the quantification of the tillers numbers, stalk height and diameter, measured monthly, in eleven periods of cultivation that extended from 60 to 360 days after planting (DAP). The dry matter production was measured from 120 DAP, with sampling intervals of every two months. It was observed that, at 360 DAP, the RB92579 and SP81-3250 varieties showed the highest tillering and dry matter production. The RB813804 and RB72454 varieties had the highest average for height, while the RB72454 and RB867515 varieties presented the largest stalk diameters
The Brazilian Tunable Filter Imager for the SOAR telescope
This paper presents a new Tunable Filter Instrument for the SOAR telescope.
The Brazilian Tunable Filter Imager (BTFI) is a versatile, new technology,
tunable optical imager to be used in seeing-limited mode and at higher spatial
fidelity using the SAM Ground-Layer Adaptive Optics facility at the SOAR
telescope. The instrument opens important new science capabilities for the SOAR
community, from studies of the centers of nearby galaxies and the insterstellar
medium to statistical cosmological investigations. The BTFI takes advantage of
three new technologies. The imaging Bragg Tunable Filter concept utilizes
Volume Phase Holographic Gratings in a double-pass configuration, as a tunable
filter, while a new Fabry-Perot (FP) concept involves technologies which allow
a single FP etalon to act over a large range of interference orders and
spectral resolutions. Both technologies will be in the same instrument.
Spectral resolutions spanning the range between 25 and 30,000 can be achieved
through the use of iBTF at low resolution and scanning FPs beyond R ~2,000. The
third new technologies in BTFI is the use of EMCCDs for rapid and cyclically
wavelength scanning thus mitigating the damaging effect of atmospheric
variability through data acquisition. An additional important feature of the
instrument is that it has two optical channels which allow for the simultaneous
recording of the narrow-band, filtered image with the remaining (complementary)
broad-band light. This avoids the uncertainties inherent in tunable filter
imaging using a single detector. The system was designed to supply tunable
filter imaging with a field-of-view of 3 arcmin on a side, sampled at 0.12" for
direct Nasmyth seeing-limited area spectroscopy and for SAM's visitor
instrument port for GLAO-fed area spectroscopy. The instrument has seen first
light, as a SOAR visitor instrument. It is now in comissioning phase.Comment: accepted in PAS
Conservação de energia em habitação de interesse social: um estudo aplicado ao sistema de cobertura/ Energy conservation in social interest housing: a study applied to the coverage system
Com incentivo do governo federal, Habitações de Interesse Social (HIS) estão sendo construídas para minimizar o déficit de moradias em todo o Brasil. Essas habitações têm projetos semelhantes para todo o país, não sendo trabalhada a sua adequação climática para as distintas regiões bioclimáticas. Partindo desta constatação, o objetivo geral deste trabalho foi quantificar a redução do consumo de energia advindo de intervenções na envoltória de uma Habitação de Interesse Social (HIS), visando a análise do custo benefício das mesmas. A metodologia adotada baseou-se na avaliação de desempenho da habitação em seu modelo atual e por meio de três propostas de modificação na cobertura da habitação: pintura das telhas cerâmicas de cor branca, colocação de subcobertura do tipo barreira radiante mantendo-se as telhas na cor cerâmica e a associação das duas anteriores (barreira radiante e pintura de branco). Em relação ao desempenho térmico a melhor intervenção em relação à HIS atual foi a HIS com cobertura pintada de branco que obteve desempenho superior de acordo com a NBR 15575-1. O maior percentual de conservação de energia ocorreu na HIS com a cobertura pintada de branco e com barreira radiante, economizando 93,3kWh/mês. A melhor relação custo benefício indicou que a única intervenção viável é a pintura da cobertura de branco, item este que também obteve menor tempo de retorno (2,94 anos). Assim, recomenda-se que as habitações de interesse social sejam projetadas com o telhado pintado na cor branca com vista a melhorar o conforto térmico da edificação e consumir menor energia em caso dos seus ambientes serem condicionados artificialmente.
Assessment of pain during rest and during activities in the postoperative period of cardiac surgery
OBJECTIVE: to assess the intensity and site of pain after Cardiac Surgery through sternotomy during rest and while performing five activities. METHOD: descriptive study with a prospective cohort design. A total of 48 individuals participated in the study. A Multidimensional Scale for Pain Assessment was used. RESULTS: postoperative pain from cardiac surgery was moderate during rest and decreased over time. Pain was also moderate during activities performed on the 1st and 2nd postoperative days and decreased from the 3rd postoperative day, with the exception of coughing, which diminished only on the 6th postoperative day. Coughing, turning over, deep breathing and rest are presented in decreased order of intensity. The region of the sternum was the most frequently reported site of pain. CONCLUSION: the assessment of pain in the individuals who underwent cardiac surgery during rest and during activities is extremely important to adapt management and avoid postoperative complications and delayed surgical recovery
Developments on drug discovery and on new therapeutics: highly diluted tinctures act as biological response modifiers
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In the search for new therapies novel drugs and medications are being discovered, developed and tested in laboratories. Highly diluted substances are intended to enhance immune system responses resulting in reduced frequency of various diseases, and often present no risk of serious side-effects due to its low toxicity. Over the past years our research group has been investigating the action of highly diluted substances and tinctures on cells from the immune system.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We have developed and tested several highly diluted tinctures and here we describe the biological activity of M1, M2, and M8 both <it>in vitro </it>in immune cells from mice and human, and <it>in vivo </it>in mice. Cytotoxicity, cytokines released and NF-κB activation were determined after <it>in vitro </it>treatment. Cell viability, oxidative response, lipid peroxidation, bone marrow and lymph node cells immunophenotyping were accessed after mice <it>in vivo </it>treatment.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>None of the highly diluted tinctures tested were cytotoxic to macrophages or K562. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages treated with all highly diluted tinctures decreased tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) release and M1, and M8 decreased IFN-<it>γ </it>production. M1 has decreased NF-κB activity on TNF-α stimulated reporter cell line. <it>In vivo </it>treatment lead to a decrease in reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO) production was increased by M1, and M8, and lipid peroxidation was induced by M1, and M2. All compounds enhanced the innate immunity, but M1 also augmented acquired immunity and M2 diminished B lymphocytes, responsible to acquired immunity.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Based on the results presented here, these highly diluted tinctures were shown to modulate immune responses. Even though further investigation is needed there is an indication that these highly diluted tinctures could be used as therapeutic interventions in disorders where the immune system is compromised.</p
Perspectives on the Trypanosoma cruzi-host cell receptor interaction
Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. The critical initial event is the interaction of the trypomastigote form of the parasite with host receptors. This review highlights recent observations concerning these interactions. Some of the key receptors considered are those for thromboxane, bradykinin, and for the nerve growth factor TrKA. Other important receptors such as galectin-3, thrombospondin, and laminin are also discussed. Investigation into the molecular biology and cell biology of host receptors for T. cruzi may provide novel therapeutic targets
The bi-directional associations between psychotic experiences and DSM-IV mental disorders
OBJECTIVE: While it is now recognized that psychotic experiences are associated with an increased risk of later mental disorders, we lack a detailed understanding of the reciprocal time-lagged relationships between first onsets of psychotic experiences and mental disorders. Using data from World Health Organization World Mental Health (WMH) Surveys, the authors assessed the bidirectional temporal associations between psychotic experiences and mental disorders. METHOD: The WMH Surveys assessed lifetime prevalence and age at onset of psychotic experiences and 21 common DSM-IV mental disorders among 31,261 adult respondents from 18 countries. Discrete-time survival models were used to examine bivariate and multivariate associations between psychotic experiences and mental disorders. RESULTS: Temporally primary psychotic experiences were significantly associated with subsequent first onset of eight of the 21 mental disorders (major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, posttraumatic stress disorder, adult separation anxiety disorder, bulimia nervosa, and alcohol abuse), with odds ratios ranging from 1.3 (95% CI=1.2-1.5) for major depressive disorder to 2.0 (95% CI=1.5-2.6) for bipolar disorder. In contrast, 18 of 21 primary mental disorders were significantly associated with subsequent first onset of psychotic experiences, with odds ratios ranging from 1.5 (95% CI=1.0-2.1) for childhood separation anxiety disorder to 2.8 (95% CI=1.0-7.8) for anorexia nervosa. CONCLUSIONS: While temporally primary psychotic experiences are associated with an elevated risk of several subsequent mental disorders, these data show that most mental disorders are associated with an elevated risk of subsequent psychotic experiences. Further investigation of the underlying factors accounting for these time-order relationships may shed light on the etiology of psychotic experiences
Single hadron response measurement and calorimeter jet energy scale uncertainty with the ATLAS detector at the LHC
The uncertainty on the calorimeter energy response to jets of particles is
derived for the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). First, the
calorimeter response to single isolated charged hadrons is measured and
compared to the Monte Carlo simulation using proton-proton collisions at
centre-of-mass energies of sqrt(s) = 900 GeV and 7 TeV collected during 2009
and 2010. Then, using the decay of K_s and Lambda particles, the calorimeter
response to specific types of particles (positively and negatively charged
pions, protons, and anti-protons) is measured and compared to the Monte Carlo
predictions. Finally, the jet energy scale uncertainty is determined by
propagating the response uncertainty for single charged and neutral particles
to jets. The response uncertainty is 2-5% for central isolated hadrons and 1-3%
for the final calorimeter jet energy scale.Comment: 24 pages plus author list (36 pages total), 23 figures, 1 table,
submitted to European Physical Journal
Measurement of χ c1 and χ c2 production with s√ = 7 TeV pp collisions at ATLAS
The prompt and non-prompt production cross-sections for the χ c1 and χ c2 charmonium states are measured in pp collisions at s√ = 7 TeV with the ATLAS detector at the LHC using 4.5 fb−1 of integrated luminosity. The χ c states are reconstructed through the radiative decay χ c → J/ψγ (with J/ψ → μ + μ −) where photons are reconstructed from γ → e + e − conversions. The production rate of the χ c2 state relative to the χ c1 state is measured for prompt and non-prompt χ c as a function of J/ψ transverse momentum. The prompt χ c cross-sections are combined with existing measurements of prompt J/ψ production to derive the fraction of prompt J/ψ produced in feed-down from χ c decays. The fractions of χ c1 and χ c2 produced in b-hadron decays are also measured
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