Carbon Materials as Additives to WO3 for an Enhanced Conversion of Simulated Solar Light

We have explored the impact of the incorporation of nanoporous carbons as additives to tungsten oxide on the photocatalytic degradation of two recalcitrant pollutants: rhodamine B and phenol, under simulated solar light. For this purpose, WO3/carbon mixtures were prepared using three carbon materials with different properties (in terms of porosity, structural order and surface chemistry). Despite the low carbon content used (2 wt. %), a significant increase in the photocatalytic performance of the semiconductor was observed for all the catalysts. Moreover, the influence of the carbon additive on the performance of the photocatalysts was found to be very different for the two pollutants. Carbon additives of hydrophobic nature increased the photodegradation yield of phenol compared to bare WO3, likely due to the higher affinity and stronger interactions of phenol molecules towards basic nanoporous carbons. Oppositely, the use of acidic carbon additives led to higher rhodamine B conversions due to increased acidity of the WO3/carbon mixtures and the stronger affinity of the pollutant for acidic catalyst’s surfaces. As a result, the photooxidation of rhodamine B is favored by means of a coupled (photosensitized and photocatalytic) degradation mechanism. All these results highlight the importance of favoring the interactions of the pollutant with the catalyst’s surface through a detailed design of the features of the photocatalyst

Análise da prevalência e fatores associados à incontinência urinária entre idosos do Município de São Paulo, Brasil: Estudo SABE (Saúde, Bem-Estar e Envelhecimento)

To investigate the prevalence of urinary incontinence among elderly people living in São Paulo, Brazil and their associated risk factors. The Pan-American Health Organization and World Health Organization coordinated a multicenter study named Health, Wellbeing and Aging (SABE Study) in elderly people (over 60 years old) living in seven countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. In Brazil, the study was carried out in São Paulo in the year 2000. The total Brazilian sample included 2,143 people. The prevalence of self reported urinary incontinence was 11.8% among men and 26.2% for women. It was verified that among those reporting urinary incontinence, 37% also reported stroke and 34% depression. It was found that the greater the dependence that the elderly people presented, the greater the prevalence of urinary incontinence. The associated factors found were depression (odds ratio = 2.49), female (2.42), advanced age (2.35), important functional limitation (2.01). Urinary incontinence is a highly prevalent symptom among the elderly population of the municipality of São Paulo, especially among women. The adoption of preventive measures can reduce the negative effects of urinary incontinence.Investigar a prevalência de incontinência urinária entre idosos de São Paulo, Brasil, e fatores associados e de risco. A Organização Pan-Americana da Saúde e a Organização Mundial da Saúde coordenaram estudo multicêntrico denominado Saúde, Bem-Estar e Envelhecimento (Estudo SABE) em pessoas idosas (60 anos ou mais) que vivem em sete países da América Latina e Caribe. No Brasil, o estudo populacional foi realizado no Município de São Paulo no ano 2000. A amostra total brasileira foi de 2.143 pessoas. A prevalência da incontinência urinária auto-referida foi de 11,8% entre homens e 26,2% entre mulheres. Verificou-se que entre aqueles que relataram incontinência urinária, 37% também relataram acidente vascular cerebral e 34%, depressão. Observou-se que quanto maior a dependência do idoso, maior era a prevalência de incontinência urinária. Os fatores associados encontrados foram depressão (OR = 2,49), sexo feminino (2,42), idade avançada (2,35), limitação funcional (2,01). Incontinência urinária é um sintoma altamente prevalente entre a população idosa do Município de São Paulo, especialmente entre as mulheres. A adoção de medidas preventivas pode reduzir os efeitos negativos da incontinência urinária

The impact on disability of initial treatment with methotrexate in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: results from the MARI study

The study aimed to assess in a population of subjects with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with methotrexate (MTX) how the initial approach to the treatment influenced subsequent disability. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of data collected during the baseline visit of the MARI study, a multicenter observational study on patients with RA on treatment with MTX for at least 12 months. Subjects who fulfilled the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) were included in the evaluation. For every patient we retrospectively evaluated the disease duration, the duration of symptoms before the diagnosis, the time elapsed before first MTX treatment, the initial MTX dose, and the concomitant medications in the first six months of therapy. Disability was defined as a DI-HAQ score ≥1. The study population included 1015 subjects. Patients with a DI-HAQ score ≥1 had a longer duration of symptoms before diagnosis, a higher delay in treatment initiation, a lower initial dose of MTX and a more frequent co-treatment with symptomatic drugs. Disability was found less frequently in subjects treated with other concomitant disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) but not with biological agents. Logistic regression analysis identified as significant predictors of disability: older age, female sex, a longer time to complete diagnosis, a delay in starting MTX treatment higher than 6 months, and a concomitant treatment with symptomatic drugs, while a combination therapy with other DMARDs was associated with a lower risk of disability. A late diagnosis and a delay in starting a treatment with MTX are associated with poorer functional outcomes in patients with RA

The Ring Imaging Cherenkov detector (RICH) of the AMS experiment

The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) experiment to be installed on the International Space Station (ISS) will be equipped with a proximity focusing Ring Imaging Cherenkov (RICH) detector for measuring the electric charge and velocity of the charged cosmic particles. A RICH prototype consisting of 96 photomultiplier units, including a piece of the conical reflector, was built and its performance evaluated with ion beam data. Preliminary results of the in-beam tests performed with ion fragments resulting from collisions of a 158 GeV/c/nuc primary beam of Indium ions (CERN SPS) on a Pb target are reported. The collected data included tests to the final front-end electronics and to different aerogel radiators. Cherenkov rings for a large range of charged nuclei and with reflected photons were observed. The data analysis confirms the design goals. Charge separation up to Fe and velocity resolution of the order of 0.1% for singly charged particles are obtained.Comment: 29th International Conference on Cosmic Rays (Pune, India

The AMS-RICH velocity and charge reconstruction

The AMS detector, to be installed on the International Space Station, includes a Ring Imaging Cerenkov detector with two different radiators, silica aerogel (n=1.05) and sodium fluoride (n=1.334). This detector is designed to provide very precise measurements of velocity and electric charge in a wide range of cosmic nuclei energies and atomic numbers. The detector geometry, in particular the presence of a reflector for acceptance purposes, leads to complex Cerenkov patterns detected in a pixelized photomultiplier matrix. The results of different reconstruction methods applied to test beam data as well as to simulated samples are presented. To ensure nominal performances throughout the flight, several detector parameters have to be carefully monitored. The algorithms developed to fulfill these requirements are presented. The velocity and charge measurements provided by the RICH detector endow the AMS spectrometer with precise particle identification capabilities in a wide energy range. The expected performances on light isotope separation are discussed.Comment: Contribution to the ICRC07, Merida, Mexico (2007); Presenter: F. Bara

The RICH detector of the AMS-02 experiment: status and physics prospects

The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS), whose final version AMS-02 is to be installed on the International Space Station (ISS) for at least 3 years, is a detector designed to measure charged cosmic ray spectra with energies up to the TeV region and with high energy photon detection capability up to a few hundred GeV. It is equipped with several subsystems, one of which is a proximity focusing RICH detector with a dual radiator (aerogel+NaF) that provides reliable measurements for particle velocity and charge. The assembly and testing of the AMS RICH is currently being finished and the full AMS detector is expected to be ready by the end of 2008. The RICH detector of AMS-02 is presented. Physics prospects are briefly discussed.Comment: 5 pages. Contribution to the 10th ICATPP Conference on Astroparticle, Particle, Space Physics, Detectors and Medical Physics Applications (Como 2007). Presenter: Rui Pereir

Comportamento e possibilidades da cultura do milho em plantio direto no Estado do Paraná

On a long term trial, IAPAR is developing multidisciplinary research since 1976 in two major patterns of soil and climatic, in the State of Paraná, aiming to: a. Compare no-tillage and conventional tillage systems, among different crop rotations, in terms of production and profit return; b. Assess the effects of the tillage systems and rotations on the occurrence of weeds, insects and plant diseases; c. Find new crop alternatives for the no-tillage system. The effects on no-tillage, measured from 1976 to 1980 indicated the following: faster rate of seedling emergency; more uniform and vigorous initial plant growth and lower lodging rates; greater rate of broken stalks and reduction on the grain yield; this was probably related to nitrogen deficiency, which became less pronounced under soybean rotation; greater incidence of weed population and stalk rot: lesser consumption of fuel and more consumption of herbicides. The 4-year mean grain yield and the variable costs for maize (Zea mays L.) production did not differ significantly between the tillage systems. Alternating maize and soybean in rotation with wheat was more profitable than continuous soybean and wheat.Em ensaio de longa duração, o IAPAR realiza pesquisa multidisciplinar, desde 1976, em áreas com diferentes características edafoclimáticas, no Estado do Paraná. Os objetivos são: a) comparar o plantio direto com o convencional, em rotações de culturas, quanto à produtividade e rentabilidade; b) avaliar os efeitos dos sistemas de cultivo e das rotações de culturas na ocorrência de ervas daninhas, pragas e moléstias; e) definir alternativas de rotações de culturas para o plantio direto. No período de 1976 a 1980, o milho (Zea mays L.) em plantio direto evidenciou: maior velocidade de emergência, crescimento inicial mais uniforme e vigoroso e menos danos por acamamento; maior índice de quebramento de colmos e redução na produtividade de grãos, por deficiências de nitrogênio mais acentuadas, com diminuição desses efeitos na rotação com soja; maior ocorrência de ervas daninhas e maior incidência de podridão do colmo; menor consumo de óleo diesel e maior consumo de herbicidas. Na média de quatro safras consecutivas, os rendimentos de grãos foram similares e os custos variáveis de produção não diferiram significativamente entre os sistemas de cultivo. A alternância de milho com soja na rotação com trigo proporcionou melhor resultado econômico comparado com a rotação contínua de soja com trigo

Efeito da calagem e fertilizantes aplicados à taxa variável nos atributos químicos do solo e custos de produção de pastagem de capim Tanzânia manejadas intensivamente.

O conhecimento da variabilidade espacial das propriedades do solo é útil para o uso racional dos insumos, como na aplicação localizada de calcário e fertilizantes. O manejo intensivo de pastagens integra várias tecnologias como correção do solo e adubação, irrigação e pastejo rotacionado. O uso de calcário e o fertilizante são fatores-chave para a intensificação do manejo de pastagens, a agricultura de precisão (PA) é a ferramenta para melhorar a eficiência do uso destes insumos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi mapear e avaliar a variabilidade espacial das propriedades do solo após calagem e aplicação de fertilizante fosfatado e o custo de produção de uma pastagem manejada intensivamente. O estudo de campo foi realizado em uma área de 1,7 ha de pastagem de capim Tanzânia irrigado em São Carlos, SP. Na safra seguinte, após a correção do solo com calcário e adubação com fósforo e potássio utilizando a tecnologia da taxa variável de aplicação, amostras de solo foram coletadas a 0-0,2 m de profundidade, e cada amostra representou um piquete. A variabilidade espacial das propriedades do solo e das necessidades específicas de calcário e fertilizantes foram modeladas utilizando-se semivariogramas. A variabilidade espacial das propriedades do solo e a necessidade de calagem e adubação foram modeladas por semi-variogramas, e os dados interpolados. Os resultados mostraram que a tecnologia de aplicação em taxa variável de calcário e superfosfato simples proporcionaram aumentos dos valores do pH, P, Ca, Mg e a V%. A tecnologia da aplicação de insumos à taxa variável pode ser utilizada como ferramenta de correção e adubação do solo levando à maior homogeneidade dos atributos químicos do solo, e também na redução do custo de produção

Termografia de superfície e índices de vegetação por sensoriamento remoto em sistema de integração lavoura-pecuária-floresta.

Os índices de vegetação e ambientais obtidos por sensoriamento remoto têm sido utilizados para estimar a biomassa vegetal e os efeitos dos estresses bióticos e abióticos, pois são indicativoas das mudanças temporais e espaciais dos ecossistemas