Semiquantitative interpretation of anticardiolipin and antiβ2glycoprotein I antibodies measured with various analytical platforms: communication from the ISTH SSC subcommittee on Lupus Anticoagulant/Antiphospholipid antibodies

Background Antiβ2glycoprotein I (aβ2GPI) and anticardiolipin (aCL) IgG/IgM show differences in positive/negative agreement and titers between solid phase platforms. Method specific semiquantitative categorization of titers could improve and harmonize the interpretation across platforms. Aim To evaluate the traditionally 40/80 units thresholds used for aCL and aβ2GPI for categorization into moderate/high positivity with different analytical systems, and to compare with alternative thresholds. Material and methods aCL and aβ2GPI thresholds were calculated for two automated systems (chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) and multiplex flow immunoassay (MFI)) by ROC-curve analysis on 1108 patient samples, including patients with and without APS, and confirmed on a second population (n=279). Alternatively, regression analysis on diluted standard material was applied to identify thresholds. Thresholds were compared to 40/80 threshold measured by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Additionally, likelihood ratios (LR) were calculated. Results Threshold levels of 40/80 units show poor agreement between ELISA and automated platforms for classification into low/moderate/high positivity, especially for aCL/aβ2GPI IgG. Agreement for semiquantitative interpretation of aPL IgG between ELISA and CLIA/MFI improves with alternative thresholds. LR for aPL IgG increase for thrombotic and obstetric APS based on 40/80 thresholds for ELISA and adapted thresholds for the other systems, but not for IgM. Conclusion Use of 40/80 units as medium/high thresholds is acceptable for aCL/aβ2GPI IgG ELISA, but not for CLIA and MFI. Alternative semiquantitative thresholds for non-ELISA platforms can be determined by a clinical approach or by using monoclonal antibodies. Semiquantitative reporting of aPL IgM has less impact on increasing probability for APS

Aplicação de água residuária de processamento de mandioca em sistema de irrigação por gotejamento

The wastewater discarded from the cassava processing causes a serious environmental problem when dumped into water bodies. On the other hand, this residue can be used as a source of nutrients for crops. However, it is necessary to control the quality of this effluent because of the negative effects that it may cause to the irrigation system. This study aimed to evaluate a drip irrigation system with the application of cassava wastewater by determining the coefficients of variation of emitter discharge (CVq), distribution uniformity (DUC) and Christiansen’s uniformity (CUC). The experiment was conducted at C. Vale cassava processing factory in the city of Terra Roxa (Paraná, Brazil). Four systems of 66 m² were installed, with 7 lateral lines of 11 m, spaced in 1 m, with one dripper at each 0.30 m. The systems were fed by two tanks of 1000 L, situated at 1.5 m and 2.0 m above the ground and containing water for irrigation and the cassava wastewater for fertigation. A plastic mesh filter was installed in the tank and two digital manometers controlled the pressure. Thirty trials were performed for each treatment, using the methodologies of Keller and Karmeli (1975) and Denículi (1980). Excellent averages, above 90%, were obtained for both DUC and CUC. The results showed no expressive differences between the use of water and the use of effluent, demonstrating that cassava wastewater can be applied efficiently on a drip irrigation system.A água residuária do processamento de mandioca ocasiona um sério problema ambiental quando lançada em corpos hídricos. Por outro lado, este resíduo pode ser utilizado como fonte de nutrientes para as culturas. Contudo, é necessário controlar a qualidade desse efluente devido aos efeitos negativos que pode acarretar ao sistema. O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar um sistema de irrigação por gotejamento com aplicação de resíduo de mandioca, por meio da determinação dos coeficientes de variação de vazão total (CVt), de uniformidade de distribuição (CUD) e de uniformidade de Christiansen (CUC). O estudo foi conduzido na Amidonaria da C. Vale, em Terra Roxa (PR). Foram instalados quatro sistemas de 66 m², com sete linhas laterais de 11 m, espaçadas em 1 m, com um gotejador a cada 0,30 m. Os sistemas foram alimentados por dois reservatórios de 1000 L, elevados a 1,5 m e 2,0 m do chão, onde foram armazenadas a água para irrigação e a água residuária do processamento de mandioca para fertirrigação. Foram instalados um filtro de tela plástica de 1” junto ao reservatório e dois manômetros digitais. Foram realizados 30 ensaios para cada tratamento, por meio das metodologias de Keller e Karmeli (1975) e de Denículi (1980). Obteve-se uma média geral excelente, acima dos 90%, para CUD e CUC. Os resultados evidenciam que não houve diferença expressiva entre a utilização de água ou de efluente no sistema, demonstrando que a água residuária de processamento de mandioca pode ser aplicada com eficiência em um sistema de irrigação por gotejamento

Three-Dimensional Integrable Models and Associated Tangle Invariants

In this paper we show that the Boltzmann weights of the three-dimensional Baxter-Bazhanov model give representations of the braid group, if some suitable spectral limits are taken. In the trigonometric case we classify all possible spectral limits which produce braid group representations. Furthermore we prove that for some of them we get cyclotomic invariants of links and for others we obtain tangle invariants generalizing the cyclotomic ones.Comment: Number of pages: 21, Latex fil

The Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model: Group Summary Report

CONTENTS: 1. Synopsis, 2. The MSSM Spectrum, 3. The Physical Parameters, 4. Higgs Boson Production and Decays, 5. SUSY Particle Production and Decays, 6. Experimental Bounds on SUSY Particle Masses, 7. References.Comment: 121 pages, latex + epsfig, graphicx, axodraw, Report of the MSSM working group for the Workshop "GDR-Supersym\'etrie",France. Rep. PM/98-4

Densidades de plantio e cultivares de soja convencionais para a região Sul de MG, safra 2013/14.

Objetivou-se identificar a melhor população de plantas (100.000 a 400.000 plantas ha-1) para 3 cultivares de soja convencional (BRSMG 752S; BRSMG 772S; BRSMG 810C), visando semeadura para região Sul de Minas Gerais. A cv BRSMG 772S apresentou máxima produtividade quando conduzida com 284.000 plantas ha-1, podendo ser cultivada entre 200.000 a 400.000 plantas ha-1. A variação na população de plantas não alterou o rendimento e a maioria dos caracteres agronômicos para as cultivares BRSMG 752S e BRSMG 810C, podendo as mesmas serem utilizadas com ampla faixa de população

Caracterização de duas cultivares de soja RR para cultivo no Sul de Minas Gerais.

Avaliou-se duas cultivares de soja transgênicas RR (BRSMG 780RR e BRSMG 820RR) oriundas do Programa de Melhoramento Genético de Soja para o estado de Minas Gerais, convênio Embrapa/Epamig/Fundação Triângulo, submetidas à quatro populações de plantas (100.000, 200.000, 300.000 e 400.000 plantas ha-1). Utilizou se o delineamento de blocos casualizados com três repetições, determinando-se altura de plantas e de inserção de 1° legume, índice de acamamento, n° de legumes por planta, n° de grãos por legume, peso de 100 grãos e rendimento de grãos. As cultivares BRSMG 780RR e BRSMG 820RR mostraram alta plasticidade à medida que a variação na população de plantas alterou somente os índices de acamamento de plantas. No entanto, recomenda-se estudos por mais de um ano agrícola

Les Houches 2011: Physics at TeV Colliders New Physics Working Group Report

We present the activities of the "New Physics" working group for the "Physics at TeV Colliders" workshop (Les Houches, France, 30 May-17 June, 2011). Our report includes new agreements on formats for interfaces between computational tools, new tool developments, important signatures for searches at the LHC, recommendations for presentation of LHC search results, as well as additional phenomenological studies.Comment: 243 pages, report of the Les Houches 2011 New Physics Group; fix three figure

Measurement of the ttˉproductioncrosssectionint\bar{t} production cross section in p\bar{p}collisionsat collisions at \sqrt{s}$ = 1.8 TeV

We update the measurement of the top production cross section using the CDF detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. This measurement uses $t\bar{t}$ decays to the final states $e+\nu$+jets and $\mu+\nu$+jets. We search for $b$ quarks from $t$ decays via secondary-vertex identification or the identification of semileptonic decays of the $b$ and cascade $c$ quarks. The background to the $t\bar{t}$ production is determined primarily through a Monte Carlo simulation. However, we calibrate the simulation and evaluate its uncertainty using several independent data samples. For a top mass of 175 $GeV/c^2$, we measure $\sigma_{t\bar{t}}=5.1 \pm 1.5$ pb and $\sigma_{t\bar{t}}=9.2 \pm 4.3$ pb using the secondary vertex and the lepton tagging algorithms, respectively. Finally, we combine these results with those from other $t\bar{t}$ decay channels and obtain $\sigma_{t\bar{t}} = 6.5^{+1.7}_{-1.4}$ pb.Comment: The manuscript consists of 130 pages, 35 figures and 42 tables in RevTex. The manuscript is submitted to Physical Review D. Fixed typo in author lis

Measurement of the Strong Coupling Constant from Inclusive Jet Production at the Tevatron pˉp\bar pp Collider

We report a measurement of the strong coupling constant, $\alpha_s(M_Z)$, extracted from inclusive jet production in $p\bar{p}$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=$1800 GeV. The QCD prediction for the evolution of $\alpha_s$ with jet transverse energy $E_T$ is tested over the range 40<$E_T$<450 GeV using $E_T$ for the renormalization scale. The data show good agreement with QCD in the region below 250 GeV. In the text we discuss the data-theory comparison in the region from 250 to 450 GeV. The value of $\alpha_s$ at the mass of the $Z^0$ boson averaged over the range 40<$E_T$<250 GeV is found to be $\alpha_s(M_{Z})= 0.1178 \pm 0.0001{(\rm stat)}^{+0.0081}_{-0.0095}{\rm (exp. syst)}$. The associated theoretical uncertainties are mainly due to the choice of renormalization scale (^{+6%}_{-4%}) and input parton distribution functions (5%).Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, using RevTeX. Submitted to Physical Review Letter