Study of nuclear reactions relevant for astrophysics by Micro-AMS

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Doutor em FísicaThis work of this thesis was dedicated to the application of the Micro-AMS(Accelerator Mass spectrometry with micro-beam) to the study of nuclear reactions relevant to Astrophysics, namely reactions involving the radioisotope 36Cl. Before this could be done, the system had to be installed, tested and optimized. During the installation and testing phase, several isotopes were measured, principally lead and platinum isotopes, which served to show the potential of this technique for applications to Material science and archeology. After this initial stage, the work with 36Cl began. 36Cl is one of several short to medium lived isotopes (as compared to the earth age) whose abundances in the earlier solar system may help to clarify its formation process. There are two generally accepted possible models for the production of this radionuclide: it originated from the ejecta of a nearby supernova (where 36Cl was most probably produced via the s-process by neutron irradiation of 35Cl) and/or it was produced by in-situ irradiation of nebular dust by energetic particles(mostly, p, a, 3He -X-wind irradiation model). The objective of the present work was to measure the cross section of the 35Cl(n,γ)36Cl nuclear reaction which opened the possibility to the future study of the 37Cl(p,d)36Cl and 35Cl(d,p)36Cl nuclear reactions, by measuring the 36Cl content of AgCl samples with Micro-AMS, taking advantage of the very low detection limits of this technique for chlorine measurements. For that, the micro-AMS system of the CTN-IST laboratory had to be optimized for chlorine measurements, as to our knowledge this type of measurements had never been performed in such a system (AMS with micro-beam). This thesis presents the results of these developments, namely the tests in terms of precision and reproducibility that were done by comparing AgCl blanks irradiated at the Portuguese National Reactor with standards produced by the dilution of the NIST SRM 4943 standard material. With these results the cross section of the 37Cl(n,γ)36Cl was calculated

BRS Esteio: common bean cultivar with black grain, high yield potential and moderate resistance to anthracnose

BRS Esteio is a common bean cultivar with black grains of excellent cooking quality, suited for cultivation in 21 BrazilianStates. In 77 trials of Value for Cultivation and Use, the cultivar had a normal cycle (90 days), an average yield of 2,529 kg ha-1,which is 8.1% higher than that of the control cultivars, a high yield potential (4,702 kg ha-1), upright growth, tolerance to lodging,and moderate resistance to anthracnose

Anestesia epidural em cutias (Dasyprocta azarae) submetidas à ovariossalpingohisterectomia

In this research, the epidural anesthesia technique in nulliparous and non non-nulliparous submitted to ovarysalpingohysterectomy was studied. These are rodents belonging to the Missina Palmeira Zancaner municipal zoo of catanduva in São Paulo. The tranquilization was achieved using azaperone (4mg/kg) and meperidine (4mg/kg) followed by injection of cetamine (20mg/kg) and xylazine (0.4mg/kg), intramuscularly from the same syringe. Subsequently, lidocaine (5mg/kg) was injected into the lumbosacral space. The time of latency of the anesthesic association (4.0[plus or minus]1.51min), time of latency of epidural lidocaine (6.87[plus or minus]2.35min) and time of analgesia (115.0[plus or minus]12.49min) were analyzed, in addition to rectal temperature, which decreased 2.12[plus or minus]0.86[degree]C on average from the beginning of the anesthesia to the end of its effective time. All animals recovered satisfactorily without presenting signs of excitation or complications due to the epidural tecnique. It was concluded that the balanced anesthesia tecnique provided adequate analgesia during a time considered sufficient for several procedures, by means of low doses of xylazine and ketamine

Epidural anesthesia in agoutis (Dasyprocta azarae)

In this research, the epidural anesthesia technique in nulliparous and non non-nulliparous submitted to ovarysalpingohysterectomy was studied. These are rodents belonging to the “Missina Palmeira Zancaner” municipal zoo of catanduva in São Paulo. The tranquilizationwas achieved using azaperone (4mg/kg) and meperidine (4mg/kg) followed by injection of cetamine (20mg/kg) and xylazine (0.4mg/kg), intramuscularly from the same syringe. Subsequently, lidocaine (5mg/kg) was injected into the lumbosacral space. The time of latency of the anesthesic association (4.0±1.51min), time of latency of epidural lidocaine (6.87±2.35min) and time of analgesia (115.0±12.49min) were analyzed, in addition to rectal temperature, which decreased 2.12±0.86°C on average from the beginning of the anesthesia to the end of its effective time. All animals recovered satisfactorily without presenting signs of excitation or complications due to the epidural tecnique. It was concluded that the balanced anesthesia tecnique provided adequate analgesia during a time considered sufficient for several procedures, by means of low doses of xylazine and ketamine

3D Device for Forces in Swimming Starts and Turns

Biomechanical tools capable of detecting external forces in swimming starts and turns have been developed since 1970. This study described the development and validation of a three-dimensional (six-degrees of freedom) instrumented block for swimming starts and turns. Seven force plates, a starting block, an underwater structure, one pair of handgrips and feet supports for starts were firstly designed, numerically simulated, manufactured and validated according to the Fédération Internationale de Natation rules. Static and dynamic force plate simulations revealed deformations between 290 to 376 µε and 279 to 545 µε in the anterior-posterior and vertical axis and 182 to 328.6 Hz resonance frequencies. Force plates were instrumented with 24 strain gauges each connected to full Wheatstone bridge circuits. Static and dynamic calibration revealed linearity ( R 2 between 0.97 and 0.99) and non-meaningful cross-talk between orthogonal (1%) axes. Laboratory and ecological validation revealed the similarity between force curve profiles. The need for discriminating each upper and lower limb force responses has implied a final nine-force plates solution with seven above and two underwater platforms. The instrumented block has given an unprecedented contribution to accurate external force measurements in swimming starts and turns

Cutaneous changes in rats induced by chronic skin exposure to ultraviolet radiation and organophosphate pesticide

PURPOSE: To study the possible potentiation of the carcinogenic effects of ultraviolet radiation associated with an organophosphate pesticide.METHODS: Forty Wistar rats were assigned into four groups (n=10 each) randomized according to the procedures: group A received only UVR-B radiation; group B, UVR-B for eight weeks followed by a seven week period of pesticide exposure; group C, UVR-B + pesticide concomitantly: group D, only pesticide application. At the end of the fifth, tenth and fifteenth weeks the animals were photographed. Skin biopsy and histopathological study with Hematoxylin-Eosin were done on the fifteenth week. Statistical analysis with Fisher's and Sign (unilateral) tests, 5% value for significance.RESULTS: Macroscopic lesions in the group A evolved from the erythema to erythema + desquamation. The groups B and C, with the association of two carcinogens, and group D presented evolution to keratosis, with higher incidence in group D. The histology showed a significant increase in the severity of injuries when the UVR-B and the pesticide were applied simultaneously, leading to cellular atypia.CONCLUSIONS: Concurrent association of UVR-B to organophosphate pesticide produced more severe lesions microscopically, although this has not been so apparent macroscopically. In daily practice the clinical evaluation should be complemented with laboratory evaluation

Effective Swimmer's Action during the Grab Start Technique.

The external forces applied in swimming starts have been often studied, but using direct analysis and simple interpretation data processes. This study aimed to develop a tool for vertical and horizontal force assessment based on the swimmers' propulsive and structural forces (passive forces due to dead weight) applied during the block phase. Four methodological pathways were followed: the experimented fall of a rigid body, the swimmers' inertia effect, the development of a mathematical model to describe the outcome of the rigid body fall and its generalization to include the effects of the inertia, and the experimental swimmers' starting protocol analysed with the inclusion of the developed mathematical tool. The first three methodological steps resulted in the description and computation of the passive force components. At the fourth step, six well-trained swimmers performed three 15 m maximal grab start trials and three-dimensional (3D) kinetic data were obtained using a six degrees of freedom force plate. The passive force contribution to the start performance obtained from the model was subtracted from the experimental force due to the swimmers resulting in the swimmers' active forces. As expected, the swimmers' vertical and horizontal active forces accounted for the maximum variability contribution of the experimental forces. It was found that the active force profile for the vertical and horizontal components resembled one another. These findings should be considered in clarifying the active swimmers' force variability and the respective geometrical profile as indicators to redefine steering strategies

Tissue composition and qualitative attributes of lamb meat of animals finished with diets containing thermally treated soybeans

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of thermally treated (processed) soybeans in finishing diets for lambs containing two levels of concentrate on the tissue composition and qualitative traits of lamb meat. Twenty uncastrated mongrel lambs with an initial body weight of 22.6 ± 2.06 kg were housed in individual pens during the finishing phase and allocated to a completely randomized design in a 2x2 factorial scheme (fresh or processed soybeans x 50% or 80% concentrate). The animals were slaughtered once they had reached a body condition score of 3.0 and the mean slaughter weight was 32.51 ± 3.08 kg. After slaughter and carcass cooling, loin samples were collected for dissection and separation of the tissue components of the commercial cut. Next, the muscle portion was submitted to qualitative analysis. There was no effect of the interaction between soybean processing and concentrate level in the diet (P&gt;0.05). The loin of animals fed the higher concentrate diet was heavier (0.80 kg). A higher quantity of the muscle was also observed in animals fed the higher proportion of concentrate and diets containing processed soybeans (0.56 and 0.54 kg). The treatments including processed soybeans provided a higher muscle:bone ratio (5.62) and higher muscle percentage (68.13%). The treatments did not influence qualitative meat traits (P&gt;0.05). Heat treatment of soybeans improves the edible portion without altering the qualitative traits of lamb meat.</span