Particle Ratios and the QCD Critical Temperature

We show how the measured particle ratios at RHIC can be used to provide non-trivial information about the critical temperature of the QCD phase transition. This is obtained by including the effects of highly massive Hagedorn resonances on statistical models, which are used to describe hadronic yields. Hagedorn states are relevant close to $T_c$ and have been shown to decrease $\eta/s$ to the KSS limit and allow for quick chemical equilibrium times in dynamical calculations of hadrons. The inclusion of Hagedorn states creates a dependence of the thermal fits on the Hagedorn temperature, $T_H$, which is assumed to be equal to $T_c$, and leads to an overall improvement of thermal fits. We find that for Au+Au collisions at RHIC at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV the best square fit measure, $\chi^2$, occurs at $T_c \sim 176$ MeV and produces a chemical freeze-out temperature of 170.4 MeV and a baryon chemical potential of 27.8 MeV.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, talk presented at the International Conference on Strangeness in Quark Matter, Buzios, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sept. 27 - oct. 2, 200

Oribatídeos em clones de Byrsonima crassifolia (L.) Rich. na Embrapa Amazônia Oriental.

A acarofauna em muricizeiro ainda é pouco conhecida. Espécimes de ácaros pertencentes à ordem Oribatida foram coletados em muricizeiro em um levantamento preliminar, o que motivou o presente trabalho que teve como objetivo avaliar a presença de oribatídeos em clones Byrsonima crassifolia em área experimental da Embrapa Amazônia Oriental, em Belém, PA. De janeiro a novembro de 2012, folhas de muricizeiro foram coletadas quinzenalmente em dez clones. Em laboratório os ácaros foram quantificados e os espécimes pertencentes à ordem Oribatida foram separados por clone e data de coleta, acondicionados em microtubos com álcool 70% para identificação. Dos ácaros coletados 53,77% foram oribatídeos, presentes em todos os clones com maior abundância nos clones Santarém 2 e Tocantins 2. O percentual de ocorrência variou de 29,41% a 89,47%

Associação de ácaros predadores e fitófagos em híbridos de dendê na Embrapa Amazônia Oriental.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar as espécies de ácaros predadores associados aos ácaros fitófagos presentes em mudas de dendezeiro (Elaeis guineensis Jacq. ? Arecaceae) em casa de vegetação e viveiro na Embrapa Amazônia Oriental. No período de julho de 2010 a outubro de 2012, folíolos de mudas de dendê foram amostrados e em laboratório os ácaros foram coletados, montados e identificados. Foram observadas infestações de ácaros pertencentes à família Tetranychidae, com Tetranychus palmarum Flechtmann & Noronha em casa de vegetação e Tetranychus mexicanus (McGregor) em viveiro. Foram encontradas quatro famílias de predadores associadas aos ácaros Tetranychidae: Bdellidae, Cheyletidae, Cunaxidae e Phytoseiidae. Dentre os Phytoseiidae, Amblyseius aerialis Muma e Amblyseius tamatavensis Blommers foram predominantes

Evidence-Based Practice: Knowledge, Attitude, Practice and Perceived Barriers to Practice among Nurses in Oman

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to describe nurses’ practices, attitudes, knowledge/skills and perceived barriers in relation to evidence-based practice (EBP) in Oman. METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between February and November 2012. A self-reported 24-item questionnaire was used to measure EBP practices, attitudes and knowledge/skills among a convenience sample of 600 nurses working in four governmental hospitals in Muscat, Oman. Responses were scored on a one to seven rating scale. Barriers to EBP were measured on a five-point Likert scale using two subscales. Descriptive statistics and general linear regression were used to analyse the data. RESULTS: A total of 414 nurses were included in the study. The greatest barriers to developing EBP among nurses were insufficient time for research (3.51 ± 0.97) and insufficient resources to change practices (3.64 ± 0.99). Nurses with more years of experience reported increased use of EBP (P <0.01), more positive attitudes towards EBP (P <0.001) and fewer barriers to research (P <0.01). Significant positive correlations were found between years of experience and practice (r = 0.16) and attitudes (r = 0.20). Nurses with a baccalaureate degree reported fewer barriers to research than those qualified at a diploma level (P <0.001). Nurses who perceived more barriers to research reported less use of EBP (P <0.001), less positive attitudes towards EBP (P <0.001) and limited EBP knowledge/skills (P <0.001). CONCLUSION: These findings provide a basis for enhancing nursing practices, knowledge and skills. Continuing education for nurses and minimising barriers is crucial to increasing the use of EBP in Oma

O Comportamento Cíclico do Capital dos Bancos Brasileiros

In the context of the implementation of the Basel II accord, this paper analyzes the cyclical behavior of Brazilian bank capital under the current regulation. We use an unbalanced panel data of banks operating in Brazil between 2003 and 2008 to estimate an equation of the bank economic capital. Our results show that this variable moves with the business cycle.

Levantamento preliminar de ácaros em muricizeiro.

Este trabalho teve por objetivo registrar as espécies de ácaros que ocorrem em muricizeiro (Byrsonima crassifolia (L.) Rich. - Malpighiaceae) no Estado do Pará. Um levantamento preliminar foi realizado com amostragem quinzenal de folhas em dez clones em área da Embrapa Amazônia Oriental, em Belém, PA. Em laboratório os ácaros foram coletados nas faces abaxial e adaxial das folhas, acondicionados em álcool 70% e montados em meio de Hoyer para identificação. Foram coletados 109 ácaros pertencentes às famílias Ascidae, Austrachipteriidae, Ceratozetidae, Cunaxidae, Oripodidae, Phytoseiidae, Tarsonemidae, Tenuipalpidae, Tydeidae, e à ordem Astigmata