Vibrational energy transfer in N(2D)+N2 collisions: a quasiclassical trajectory study

Rate coefficients for the N(2D)+N2 collisions were calculated employing quasiclassical trajectories and the first available set of potential energy surfaces for such excited nitrogen interactions. The details of the vibrational energy transfer are discussed, such as the contributions from reactive and non-reactive trajectories as well as the contribution of each electronic symmetry. The calculated state-to-state and state-to-all rate coefficients show that deactivation is far more probable than excitation, and multi-quanta deactivation play an important role

Controle genético da resistência aos enfezamentos do milho.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar o controle genético da resistência aos enfezamentos do milho (Zea mays L.). foram realizados dois experimentos em março de 2001 nos municípios de Coimbra e Sete Lagoas, em Minas Gerais. Cada experimento foi constituído por 25 tratamentos, dos quais cinco foram representados pelos híbridos e os demais pelas combinações híbridas e suas recíprocas. Utilizou-se o delineamento em blocos ao acaso, com três repetições. a parcela experimental foi aproveitada integralmente, constituindo de duas linhas com 5 m de comprimento e espaçamento de 0,9 m, com 25 plantas por linha, representando uma população de aproximadamente 55.000 plantas por hectare. Na época do enchimento dos grãos realizaram-se as avaliações de incidência e severidade dos enfezamentos. Utilizou-se, ainda, o índice de doença. Nos dois locais, foram avaliadas as produções de grãos de milho em cada parcela. Em virtude de o método baseado na incidência dos sintomas apresentar alta herdabilidade, foi possível confirmar sua eficiência. Os alelos com efeitos predominantemente aditivos controlam a resistência do milho aos enfezamentos; os genitores diferiram quanto à freqüência de alelos aditivos e não-aditivos para resistência aos enfezamentos

An overview of COST Action TU1406, quality specifications for roadway bridges (BridgeSpec)

Publicado em "Life-cycle of engineering systems: emphasis on sustainable civil infrastructure: proceedings of the Fifth International Symposium on Life-Cycle Civil Engineering (IALCCE 2016), ISBN 978-1-138-02847-0"Life-cycle analyses are used in condition assessment of new and existing bridges as well as for evaluation of maintenance strategies. During the implementation of asset management strategies, maintenance actions are required to keep assets at desired performance levels. In case of roadway bridges, performance indicators, which can be obtained by inspections, non-destructive tests or monitoring systems, are established for components. These indicators, along with the definition of standardized performance goals, allow to assess the accomplishment of quality control plans. In Europe there is a large disparity regarding the way performance indicators are quantified and goals specified. Therefore, a discussion at a European networking level, seeking to achieve a standardized approach in this subject, will bring significant benefits. COST Action TU1406 aims to bring together research and practicing communities in order to establish a European guideline in this issue, based on the existing practices across the involved European countries.COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology

Estabilidade de agregados e distribuição de carbono e nutrientes em Argissolo sob adubação orgânica e mineral.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o impacto da adubacao organica e mineral sobre a estabilidade de agregados e a distribuicao de C, N e P, em classes de agregados de um Argissolo Vermelho-Amarelo. Os tratamentos consistiram de 0 e 40 m3 ha.1 por ano de adubacao organica e de 0, 250 e 500 kg ha.1 de adubacao mineral N.P.K da formula 4.14.8. Uma area sob floresta atlantica foi utilizada como referencia. Amostras foram coletadas nas camadas de 0.10 e 10.20 cm. Houve predominio da classe de agregados entre 4 e 2 mm, que correspondeu a 39,7% do total de agregados separados por via seca no tratamento com composto organico. Os teores de C organico total para adubacao organica foram 17,5 e 36,7% maiores para as classes 4.2 e 0,105.0,25 mm. A adubacao organica contribuiu para teores de N e P totais de 43 e 38,7% (0.10 cm) e 35,4 e 36,8% (10.20 cm), maiores que os dos tratamentos sem adubo organico. A relacao carbono/nitrogenio se manteve constante entre as classes de agregados de um mesmo tratamento, enquanto a de carbono/fosforo reduziu com o uso de adubo organico ou mineral, em relacao a mata nativa. Os indices de estabilidade de agregados se correlacionaram positivamente aos teores de carbono organico total da classe 4.2 mm

Biventricular Takotsubo vs Myocarditis – a diagnostic challenge

Background: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) is an important differential diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome and myocarditis. It is characterized by normal or near-normal coronary arteries and regional wall motion abnormalities that extend beyond a single coronary vascular bed. Variants of the classical left ventricular (LV) apical ballooning are increasing in recognition as cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is more extensively used. Case report: We present a case of 69-year-old woman with a previous history of hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidaemia, transferred to our emergency department due to suspected acute coronary syndrome. She had a history of two episodes of an oppressive chest pain longer than 1 hour, orthopnoea and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea 36 hours before. Two weeks before she had had a lower tract respiratory infection, that was not totally resolved. On admission, she only had dyspnoea. On examination, she had wheezing, arrhythmic pulse and hypertension. Breath sounds were absent in lower chest and rales were also noted. Electrocardiogram showed rapid atrial fibrillation, poor R wave progression in anteroseptal leads and inverted T waves in I, aVL and V2-V6 leads. Modest elevation in cardiac troponin (4.55 ng/mL) was observed. Chest x-ray showed bilateral pleural effusion. A transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was immediately performed and revealed akinesis/dyskinesis of mid to apical segments (apical ballooning) of both ventricles, extended beyond a single epicardial coronary distribution, compatible with biventricular TCM. Cardiac catheterization showed absence of obstructive coronary disease. A CMR, performed two days later, showed moderate biventricular systolic dysfunction, hypokinesis in mid to apical segments of LV and hypokinesis in apical right ventricle. It also showed non-ischemic late gadolinium enhancement in antero-apical and lateral apical segments. After several days of medical management, the patient was discharged from the hospital in stable condition. TTE performed 6-month after evidenced complete biventricular function recovery and no segmental contractility changes. CMR supported the functional recovery and the resolution of contractility abnormalities, but noticed the intramyocardial late gadolinium enhancement in the segments previously reported. Conclusion: There are fewer reports of this unusual presentation of TCM, described by ETT. This case represents a good example of the diagnostic challenge between myocarditis and takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Taking in account the exuberance of the case, the mild elevation of troponin, the full recovery of biventricular function and resolution of contractility abnormalities, it seems more probably to be a TCM, in a patient who, probably had a previous scar of myocarditis. Although, the hypothesis of acute myocarditis as the primary diagnosis cannot be excluded

Temporal trends of risk profile among patients admitted with acute coronary syndrome

Background: Clinical practice focuses on the primary prevention of cardiovascular (CVD) disease through the modification and pharmacological treatment of elevated risk factors, in order to minimize long-term CVD risk. Aim: To determine if there are differences in risk profile of patients admitted with acute coronary syndrome over time. Methods: We analysed 4871 patients admitted consecutively in our coronary care unit with a diagnosis of ACS and included in a prospective registry, from January 2002 to October 2013. Patients were divided in 3 groups of 4 consecutive years: group 1 – from 2002 to 2005 (n=1245, 25.6%); group 2 – from 2006 to 2009 (n=1562, 32%); group 3 - from 2010 to 2013 (n=2064, 42.4%). For each group we studied the prevalence of conventional risk factors (CRF) including diabetes, hypertension, smoking and dyslipidaemia over time and compared findings according to sex and type of acute coronary syndrome: Results: Women were less prevalent in group 3 (26.2% vs 26.9% vs 22.6%, p=0.006). Temporal trends of age and diabetes didn’t show statistic signify. Group 2 and 3 evidenced higher body mass index (26.48±4.0 vs 27.13±5.8 vs 27.15±4.67 kg/m2; p<0.001), had higher prevalence of dyslipidaemia (43.1% vs 49.2% vs 56.3%; p<0.001), smoking (39.4% vs 65.0% vs 64.4%; p<0.001) and hypertension (55.7% vs 65.0% vs 64.4%; p<0.001). We found at least 1 CRF in 92,4% of patients. The first temporal period had higher prevalence of 1 or 2 CRF, on the contrary two thirds of patients in group 3 had 2 or 3 CRF. Over time, hypertension was more prevalent in women (69.3% vs 77,4% vs 78.6%; p=0,007), on the other hand, smoking and dyslipidaemia occurred more often in men. It was observed an increasing tendency of smoking (44% vs 41.6% vs 54%; p100 mg/dl more often (66% vs 57% vs 68.8%; p=0.022), but higher control of systolic blood pressure below 140mmHg (54.2% vs 59.6% vs 65.7%, p<0.001. Conclusion: We found that the risk profile of patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome worsened over the years. In recent time, patients had more CRF, being smoking and hypertension the leaders