The cosmic evolution of radio-AGN feedback to z=1

This paper presents the first measurement of the radio luminosity function of 'jet-mode' (radiatively-inefficient) radio-AGN out to z=1, in order to investigate the cosmic evolution of radio-AGN feedback. Eight radio source samples are combined to produce a catalogue of 211 radio-loud AGN with 0.5<z<1.0, which are spectroscopically classified into jet-mode and radiative-mode (radiatively-efficient) AGN classes. Comparing with large samples of local radio-AGN from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, the cosmic evolution of the radio luminosity function of each radio-AGN class is independently derived. Radiative-mode radio-AGN show an order of magnitude increase in space density out to z~1 at all luminosities, consistent with these AGN being fuelled by cold gas. In contrast, the space density of jet-mode radio-AGN decreases with increasing redshift at low radio luminosities (L_1.4 < 1e24 W/Hz) but increases at higher radio luminosities. Simple models are developed to explain the observed evolution. In the best-fitting models, the characteristic space density of jet-mode AGN declines with redshift in accordance with the declining space density of massive quiescent galaxies, which fuel them via cooling of gas in their hot haloes. A time delay of 1.5-2 Gyr may be present between the quenching of star formation and the onset of jet-mode radio-AGN activity. The behaviour at higher radio luminosities can be explained either by an increasing characteristic luminosity of jet-mode radio-AGN activity with redshift (roughly as (1+z) cubed) or if the jet-mode radio-AGN population also includes some contribution of cold-gas-fuelled sources seen at a time when their accretion rate was low. Higher redshifts measurements would distinguish between these possibilities.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRA

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring - comparison with office blood pressure in patients on antihypertensive therapy in private practice

Introduction. Available data on the use of 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure recordings in private practice are limited. For this purpose we studied 39 consecutive hypertensive patients on treatment in a private practice.Method. Office blood pressure, 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure, daytime ambulatory blood pressure and M-mode echocardiography were undertaken in 39 consecutive hypertensive patients (21 men, 18 women) on treatment.Results. Mean 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure and mean daytime ambulatory blood pressure were lower than office blood pressure, similar to findings seen in academic settings. A blood pressure load of more than 50% was seen in 12 out of 39 patients (31 %). Left ventricular hypertrophy, assessed by means of Framingham criteria, was seen in 33% of patients. A white-coat effect was seen in 15.4% of patients.Conclusions. A large proportion (33%) of patients on treatment for hypertension had left ventricular hypertrophy, despite normal electrocardiograms. Ambulatory blood pressure measurements identified a blood pressure load of more than 50% in 31 % of patients on treatment for hypertension

Generation of seismic waves by explosions in prestressed media

The mechanisms of generation of seismic waves by an explosion in prestressed media are studied using both field seismograms and controlled laboratory experiments. LRSM seismograms from the underground nuclear explosion BILBY are analyzed to determine the source parameters from the radiated Love and Rayleigh waves. From the normalized amplitudes of Rayleigh waves as well as the Love-Rayleigh amplitude ratios, a composite source consisting of an isotropic explosion and a double couple is synthesized for the explosion and the associated tectonic strain release. From BILBY and other explosions studied by similar techniques, it is found that the tectonic strain energy release strongly depends on the medium properties in the immediate vicinity of the explosion. For “harder” media (such as granite) the tectonic strain energy release and the relative amplitude of Love waves are significantly higher than for softer media such as alluvium. Source-time functions of Love waves associated with the explosions are closer to time functions of earthquakes than to those of explosions. The mechanisms of the pre-existing strain energy release by explosive sources are studied in two separate laboratory experiments. In a one-dimensional experiment where an explosive source is detonated in a rod stressed in torsion, the S-wave amplitudes are found to be linearly proportional to prestrain. In the second experiment, radiation of seismic waves and the near-source phenomena of explosive sources in prestressed plates are studied by photoelastic as well as strain gauge observations. The generation of S-waves is greatly enhanced by the prestress condition. It is found that extended cracking (faulting) occurs along directions determined by the prestress field. The transverse (SH) waves are generated primarily by the relaxation of the stress field along these cracks. The explosion-generated cavity alone could not account for the radiated transverse seismic energy

Dynamic Photoelastic Studies of P and S Wave Propagation in Prestressed Media

The occasional existence of very pronounced, anomalous, horizontally polarized seismic waves from underground nuclear bomb blasts has been reported by several investigators. In order to further understanding of this phenomenon and the processes of mechanical radiation from explosions, particularly in prestressed media, a model study has been undertaken. Experimental apparatus has been developed which permits the generation and propagation of body waves from explosions in transparent plate models prestressed to various two-dimensional stress configurations. High-speed framing camera sequences are presented showing the explosion process and the resulting plate compressional and shear wave propagation in prestressed models. These are compared to theoretical calculations of isochromatic and π/4 isoclinic fringe patterns associated with the wave propagation in stress-free plates and plates prestressed in tension and shear. The following distinctive optical phenomena were predicted theoretically and observed in the high-speed photoelastic patterns: a π/4 discontinuity between P and S wave isoclinics for the unstressed case; a tendency for the isoclinics to broaden and envelope the isochromatics in regions where the P and S waves are superimposed; development of serrations in the dynamic isoclinics in the presence of a prestressing field (yielding a pseudo-isochromatic appearance to isoclinics when viewed monochromatically); and finally, a general similarity between the dynamic optical effects in media under tensile and shear prestress

Solos ferruginosos em áreas de canga, sinclinal do gandarela, quadrilátero ferrífero (MG).

O presente trabalho visa contribuir na caracterização de solos relacionados a áreas de canga (ferricrete, ironstone) no Quadrilátero Ferrífero (Minas Gerais, Brasil), para melhor entendimento sobre seus processos de gênese e da dinâmica ambiental desses ecossistemas. A Sinclinal do Gandarela abriga as maiores extensões de canga e ecossistemas relacionados preservados em Minas Gerais, e constitui importante local de recarga dos mananciais que abastecem a Região Metropolitana de Belo Horizonte. Foram descritos, coletados e analisados 6 perfis de solo, sob diferentes fitofisionomias, ocorrendo numa sequência de topos da serra do Gandarela, sobre a mesma litologia (itabiritos da Fm. Cauê - Gr. Itabira). Em laboratório foi separada a fração terra fina (< 2 mm) e quantificados a composição granulométrica, pH em água, complexo sortivo, carbono orgânico, e óxidos de ferro, alumínio e silício pelo ataque sulfúrico. Todos os solos estudados são argilosos, de cores vermelhas, com teores muito elevados de óxidos de ferro indicados pelo ataque sulfúrico, distróficos ou álicos, com altos teores de carbono orgânico, e ocorrência expressiva de concreções ferruginosas na fração grosseira, em geral em proporção superior a 50% em volume. A matéria orgânica constitui elemento chave na manutenção e ciclagem de nutrientes nos ecossistemas relacionados aos solos estudados. Todos os solos estudados são classificados como Oxisols pela Soil Taxonomy, mas de acordo com o Sistema Brasileiro de Classificação de Solos, alguns enquadram-se como Latossolos e outros como Plintossolos. O enquadramento taxonômico segundo critérios atuais do SiBCS restringe sua utilização como estraficador ambiental na realidade estudada

Estudo expedito de solos do trecho Cuiabá-Aripuanã, MT, para fins de correlação e classificação.

Exame dos solos e amostragens; Roteiro da excursão; Sequencia e discussão sucinta dos estudos realizados: percurso: Cuiabá-Jangada-Barra do Bugres-Nova Olimpia-Tangará da Serra-Fazenda Itamarati-Campo Novo do Parecis; percurso: Juina-Castanheira-Juruena-Aripuanã; percurso: Aripuanã-Juina-Vilhena; Percurso: Vilhena-Cuiabá.bitstream/CNPS/8525/1/documentos_04_1998.pdfContrato Fundacao Candido Rondon / EMBRAPA SNLCS; Autoria: Paulo Klinger Tito Jacomine, João Carlos Ker, Lelis Nogueira Gonzaga, João B. Pereira Leite Sobrinho, Tereza Neide N. Vasconcelos, Sério Lins de Melo, Gonçalo Leite Moreira, Luiz Gonzaga de Oliveira, José Lopes de Paula, Maria Amélia de Moraes Duriez, Marie Elisabeth Christine Claessen, Ruth Andrade Leal Johas, Wilson Sant'Anna de Araújo, Washington de Oliveira Barreto, Evanda Maria Rodrigues, Therezinha da Costa Lima, Loiva Lizia Antonello

Liver Surgery for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Laparoscopic versus Open Approach

In this study, we try to compare the benefit of laparoscopic versus open operative procedures. Patients and Methods. One hundred and sixteen patients underwent laparoscopic liver resection (LR) and another 208 patients went for open liver resection (OR) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Patients' selection for open or laparoscopic approach was not randomized. Results. The CLIP score for LR and OR was 0.59 ± 0.75 and 0.86 ± 1.04, respectively, (P = .016). The operation time was 156.3 ± 308.2 and 190.9 ± 79.2 min for LR and OR groups, respectively. The necessity for blood transfusion was found in 8 patients (6.9%) and 106 patients (50.9%) for LR and OR groups. Patients resumed full diet on the 2nd and 3rd postoperative day, and the average length of hospital stay was 6 days and 12 days for LR and OR groups. The complication rate and mortality rate were 0% and 6.0%, 2.9% and 30.2% for LR and OR groups, respectively. The 1-yr, 3-yr, and 5-yr survival rate was 87.0%, 70.4%, 62.2% and 83.2%, 76.0%, 71.8% for LR and OR group, respectively, of non-significant difference. From these results, HCC patients accepted laparoscopic or open approach were of no significant differences between their survival rates

Mineralogy of some soils from the Amazonia Sedimentary Basin.

ABSTRACT: The Amazonia Forest is an important biome that possesses great diversity of fauna and flora, which can play a significant role in several science areas, specially, the gene reserve for the future of humankind. Nevertheless, it is a very poorly understood environment, particularly the basis of this ecosystem, its soils. This study was conducted to gain insight in the mineralogy of important soils classes of the Amazonia sedimentary basin. The soils in the upland position in the landscape are developed from tertiary sediments belonging to the Alter do Chão series and those in the floodplain position are derived from quaternary, more specifically, Holocene´s sediments. Sand, silt and clay fractions were separated and X-ray diffraction analysis was conducted. Very simple mineralogy composed basically of quartz in the coarser fractions and kaolinite, goethite and anatase for the finer fraction was found for the Oxisol, the Ultisol and the Entisol from an upland toposequence but differences in kaolinite crystallography could be noticed among them. Gibbsite was virtually absent, in spite of the advanced degree of development of most of these soils. More distinctive mineralogy was revealed for the soils developed in the more recent sediments with quartz and feldspars in the sand and silt fractions and a suite of 2:1 minerals also appearing in their clay fraction, besides kaolinite and goethite. In one upland soil petroplinthite is the main feature and its mineralogy reflected its environment of formation which is usually associated with level to gently sloping areas with fluctuating water table