Measurement of the ttbar Production Cross Section in ppbar Collisions at sqrt(s)=1.96 TeV using Lepton + Jets Events with Lifetime b-tagging

We present a measurement of the top quark pair ($t\bar{t}$) production cross section ($\sigma_{t\bar{t}}$) in $p\bar{p}$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=1.96$ TeV using 230 pb$^{-1}$ of data collected by the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. We select events with one charged lepton (electron or muon), missing transverse energy, and jets in the final state. We employ lifetime-based b-jet identification techniques to further enhance the $t\bar{t}$ purity of the selected sample. For a top quark mass of 175 GeV, we measure $\sigma_{t\bar{t}}=8.6^{+1.6}_{-1.5}(stat.+syst.)\pm 0.6(lumi.)$ pb, in agreement with the standard model expectation.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures, 3 tables Submitted to Phys.Rev.Let

Global, regional, and national burden of stroke and its risk factors, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Background: Up-to-date estimates of stroke burden and attributable risks and their trends at global, regional, and national levels are essential for evidence-based health care, prevention, and resource allocation planning. We aimed to provide such estimates for the period 1990–2021. Methods: We estimated incidence, prevalence, death, and disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) counts and age-standardised rates per 100 000 people per year for overall stroke, ischaemic stroke, intracerebral haemorrhage, and subarachnoid haemorrhage, for 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2021. We also calculated burden of stroke attributable to 23 risk factors and six risk clusters (air pollution, tobacco smoking, behavioural, dietary, environmental, and metabolic risks) at the global and regional levels (21 GBD regions and Socio-demographic Index [SDI] quintiles), using the standard GBD methodology. 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) for each individual future estimate were derived from the 2·5th and 97·5th percentiles of distributions generated from propagating 500 draws through the multistage computational pipeline. Findings: In 2021, stroke was the third most common GBD level 3 cause of death (7·3 million [95% UI 6·6–7·8] deaths; 10·7% [9·8–11·3] of all deaths) after ischaemic heart disease and COVID-19, and the fourth most common cause of DALYs (160·5 million [147·8–171·6] DALYs; 5·6% [5·0–6·1] of all DALYs). In 2021, there were 93·8 million (89·0–99·3) prevalent and 11·9 million (10·7–13·2) incident strokes. We found disparities in stroke burden and risk factors by GBD region, country or territory, and SDI, as well as a stagnation in the reduction of incidence from 2015 onwards, and even some increases in the stroke incidence, death, prevalence, and DALY rates in southeast Asia, east Asia, and Oceania, countries with lower SDI, and people younger than 70 years. Globally, ischaemic stroke constituted 65·3% (62·4–67·7), intracerebral haemorrhage constituted 28·8% (28·3–28·8), and subarachnoid haemorrhage constituted 5·8% (5·7–6·0) of incident strokes. There were substantial increases in DALYs attributable to high BMI (88·2% [53·4–117·7]), high ambient temperature (72·4% [51·1 to 179·5]), high fasting plasma glucose (32·1% [26·7–38·1]), diet high in sugar-sweetened beverages (23·4% [12·7–35·7]), low physical activity (11·3% [1·8–34·9]), high systolic blood pressure (6·7% [2·5–11·6]), lead exposure (6·5% [4·5–11·2]), and diet low in omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (5·3% [0·5–10·5]). Interpretation: Stroke burden has increased from 1990 to 2021, and the contribution of several risk factors has also increased. Effective, accessible, and affordable measures to improve stroke surveillance, prevention (with the emphasis on blood pressure, lifestyle, and environmental factors), acute care, and rehabilitation need to be urgently implemented across all countries to reduce stroke burden. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Repetitive Muscle Responses Induced By Crotamine

The sustained contractions of the dog tibialis anterior muscle and the rat gastrocnemius which may appear after a tetanus or twitch or spontaneously in crotamine injected animals are associated with the discharge of high frequency and small amplitude potentials. They are, therefore, asynchronous tetanic contractions. These potentials are similar to those observed in myotonia. The potentiated maximal twitch observed in crotamine injected dogs is actually a brief tetanus. © 1979.1716167Bacq, Goffart, Utilisation des ions K dans la recherche de la contracture musculaire après travail et de l'épuisement de la réponse a l'excitant (effect Lundsgaard) (1940) C. r. Seanc. Soc. Biol., 133, p. 694Bacq, Goffart, Effet Lundsgaard produit par les vésicants sur le muscle de grenouille (1940) C. r. Seanc. Soc. Biol., 133, p. 696Barrio, Vital Brazil, Neuromuscular action of the Crotalus terrificus terrificus (Laur.) poisons (1951) Acta Physiol. latinoam., 1, p. 291Brown, Harvey, Congenital myotonia in the goat (1939) Brain, 62, p. 341Bryant, Morales-Aguilera, Chloride conductance in normal and myotonic muscle fibres and the action of monocarboxylic aromatic acids (1971) J. Physiol., Lond., 219, p. 367Cheymol, Goncalves, Bourillet, Roch-Arveiller, Action neuromusculaire comparée de la crotamine et du venin de Crotalus durissus terrificus var. crotaminicus—I. Sur préparations neuromusculaires in situ (1971) Toxicon, 9, p. 279Cheymol, Goncalves, Bourillet, Roch-Arveiller, Action neuromusculaire comparée de la crotamine et du venin de Crotalus durissus terrificus var. crotaminicus—II. Sur préparations isolées (1971) Toxicon, 9, p. 287Creutzfeld, Abbott, Fowler, Pearson, Muscle membrane potentials in Episodic Adynamia (1963) Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology, 15, p. 508Eyzaguire, Folk, Zierler, Lilienthal, Jr., Experimental myotonia and repetitive phenomena: the veratrinic effects of 2,4-dichlorphenoxyacetate (2,4-D) in the rat (1948) Am. J. Physiol., 155, p. 69Frank, Effect of veratrine on muscle fibre membrane and on negative after-potential (1958) J Neurophysiol, 21, p. 263Goncalves, Vieira, Estudos sobre venenos de serpentes brasileiras—I. Análise eletroforética (1950) Anais Acad. bras. Cienc., 22, p. 141Harvey, The action of quinine on skeletal muscle (1939) J Physiol, 95, p. 45Hofmann, Alston, Rowe, A study of individual neuromuscular junctions in myotonia (1966) Electroenceph. clin. Neurophysiol., 21, p. 521Kolb, Congenital myotonia in goats. Description of the disease. The effect of quinine, various cinchona derivatives, other alkaloids and salts upon the myotonic symptom (1938) Bull. Johns Hopkins Hosp., 63, p. 221Lammers, Ritchie, The action of quinine and quinidine on the contractions of striated muscle (1955) J Physiol, 129, p. 412Lipicky, Bryant, Salmon, Cable parameters, sodium, potassium, chloride and water content and potassium efflux in isolated external intercostal muscle of normal volunteers and patients with Myotonia Congenita (1971) J. clin. Invest., 50, p. 2091Lipicky, Bryant, Ion content, potassium efflux and cable properties of myotonic, human, external-intercostal muscle (1971) Trans. Am. neurol. Ass., 96, p. 34Moussatché, Vieira, Sôbre o Mechanismo de Contratura Produzida pelo Veneno de Cascavel (Crotalus terrificus terrificus) (1953) Anais Acad. bras. Cienc., 25, p. 249Moussatché, Goncalves, Vieira, Hasson, Pharmacological actions of two proteins from Brazilian rattlesnake venom (1956) Venoms, p. 275. , E.E. Buckley, N. Porges, A.A.A.S, WashingtonPellegrini Filho, Vital Brazil, Fontana, Laure, The action of crotamine on skeletal muscle: an electrophysiological study (1978) Toxins: Animal, Plant and Microbial. Proceedings of the 5th International Symposium on Animal, Plant and Microbial Toxins, pp. 375-382. , P. Rosenberg, Pergamon Press, LondonRudel, Senges, Mammalian skeletal muscle reduced chloride conductance in drug-induced myotonia and induction of myotonia by low-chloride solution (1972) Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology, 274, p. 337Vital Brazil, Pharmacology of crystalline crotoxin—II. Neuromuscular blocking action (1966) Mems Inst. Butantan, Simp. Internac., 33 (3), p. 981Vital Brazil, Neurotoxins from the South American rattlesnake venom (1972) J. Formsan med. Ass., 71, p. 294Weil, Tables for convenient calculation of median effective dose (LD50 or ED50) and instructions in their use (1952) Biometrics, 8, p. 249Winer, Martt, Somers, Wolcott, Dale, Burns, Induced myotonia in man and goat (1965) J. Lab. clin. Med., 66, p. 75

Tentative zinc biofortification of banana fruit via bunch spray and bunch stalk feeding

Due to the importance of banana consumption in developing countries and producing zinc-rich foods, the objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of banana bunch sprays and bunch stalk feeding with Zn aiming to biofortify this fruit. Zn sprays were carried out with a dose of 80 g ha−1 using ZnCl2 and ZnCl2 combined with a chelating agent in two banana cultivars (‘Maravilha’ and ‘FHIA 18’). Bunch stalk feeding with Zn was carried out by fixing plastic bags on the stem end containing solutions of ZnSO4 (0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 g L−1) in two banana cultivars (‘Williams’ and ‘Prata Anã’). Both strategies resulted in a maximum fruit Zn content of 0.14 mg 100 g−1. Although it was possible to increase the Zn content in banana fruit from ‘FHIA 18’ and ‘Prata Anã’ cultivars, both strategies did not result in biofortified banana fruit with a Zn level which would fulfil the Zn dietary reference intake (DRI) of 2 mg dia−1 for children. Banana bunch sprays with Zn did not affect the fruit quality, but bunch stalk feeding with Zn resulted in fruits with lower ratio, pH and ascorbic acid content.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Centro Universitário UNIFAFIBE, Rua Prof. Orlando França de Carvalho 325Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV) Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Via de acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane s/nEscola de Agronomia (EA) Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Setor de Horticultura, Avenida Esperança, s/n. Campus SamambaiaEmbrapa Mandioca e Fruticultura Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA), Rua Embrapa s/nº, Caixa Postal 007Faculdade de Ciencias Farmaceuticas (FCF) Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Campus de Araraquara. Rod. Araraquara - Jaú, km 1 s/nFaculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV) Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Via de acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane s/nFaculdade de Ciencias Farmaceuticas (FCF) Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Campus de Araraquara. Rod. Araraquara - Jaú, km 1 s/nFAPESP: 2015/16685-8FAPESP: 2016/2414

An investigation of microstructures and grain-boundary evolution during ECA pressing of pure aluminum

High-purity aluminum (99.99 pct) was processed by equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) at room temperature through a die with a 90 deg angle between the die channels. Samples were examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and orientation imaging microscopy (OIM) methods after one, four, and 12 passes through the die. Repetitively pressed samples were rotated by 90 deg in the same sense between successive pressing operations (route BC). After one pressing, TEM showed a subgrain structure which was elongated in the shearing direction. Corresponding OIM data illustrated an inhomogeneous microstructure in which bandlike features were also aligned with the shearing direction. The lattice orientation varied from location to location in the material. The boundary disorientation distribution determined from the OIM data exhibited a peak at 2 to 5 deg, in agreement with a predominance of subgrains in the microstructure. After four pressings, the microstructure data obtained by TEM and OIM were mutually consistent. The disorientation data revealed a decrease in the population of 2 to 5 deg boundaries accompanied by an overall upward shift in the distribution. Two orientations were generally apparent in the texture, although specific orientations varied with location. Often, a 111 orientation tended to align with the shear direction. Following 12 ECA passes, the grain size was reduced further to about 1.0 ?m. The populations of high-angle boundaries (15 deg) increased in the disorientation distribution. A texture characteristic of shear deformation of fcc metals became apparent, although the orientations and particular components varied with location. Microstructural refinement during severe straining includes the development of large fractions of high-angle boundaries

Propriedades da carne e perfil de ácidos graxos do pernil de catetos (Tayassu tajacu) alimentados com torta de babaçu (Orbignya phalerata) Meat properties and fatty acids profile of the ham of peccaries (Tayassu tajacu) fed babassu (Orbignya phalerata) meal

Analisaram-se as propriedades da carne e o perfil de ácidos graxos do pernil de catetos alimentados com dietas contendo diferentes porcentagens de torta de babaçu, usada como fonte energética alternativa substituindo parte do milho na alimentação, em sistemas de produção em cativeiro. Avaliou-se o pernil de 12 animais quanto às suas propriedades - perda de peso ao cozimento, força de cisalhamento, pH e capacidade de retenção de água-, depois extraiu-se o óleo da carne e determinou-se o perfil dos ácidos graxos. Não foram observados efeitos (P>0,05) das porcentagens de torta de babaçu sobre as propriedades da carne; os ácidos graxos (AG) insaturados, mono e poli-insaturados, foram encontrados em maior quantidade (51,6-57,8%) que os ácidos graxos saturados (42,2-48,4%) na carne do pernil. Baseando-se na teoria de que os AG poli-insaturados ingeridos na dieta humana são responsáveis pela redução nos níveis séricos de colesterol, sugere-se que a carne de catetos seja uma boa fonte alternativa de proteína.<br>The meat properties and the fatty acids profile of the ham of peccaries ham fed diets with different levels of babassu meal, used as an alternative energy source substituting part of corn on feeding peccaries in captivity, were studied. The ham meats of 12 animals were evaluated on their properties: cooking losses, shear force, pH, and water holding capacity. After that, the meat oil was extracted to determine the fatty acids contents. No effects (P>0.05) of the babassu meal levels on the meat properties were observed. The unsaturated fatty acids, mono and polyunsaturated, were found in higher quantity than the saturated fatty acids in the ham meat of peccaries. Based on the theory that the polyunsaturated fatty acids ingested in the human diet are responsible for reduction of the seric levels of cholesterol, it can be suggested that the peccary meat is a good alternative source of protein