Controlled photon transfer between two individual nanoemitters via shared high-Q modes of a microsphere resonator

We realize controlled cavity-mediated photon transfer between two single nanoparticles over a distance of several tens of micrometers. First, we show how a single nanoscopic emitter attached to a near-field probe can be coupled to high-Q whispering-gallery modes of a silica microsphere at will. Then we demonstrate transfer of energy between this and a second nanoparticle deposited on the sphere surface. We estimate the photon transfer efficiency to be about six orders of magnitude higher than that via free space propagation at comparable separations.Comment: accepted for publication in Nano Letter

Milk quality, manufacturing properties and blood biochemical profile from dairy cows fed peas ( Pisum sativum L.) as dietary protein supplement

Abstract. Pea (Pisum sativum L.), a protein-rich legume seed well adapted to many climatic areas and widely used for feed and food, was fed to Italian Friesian breed cows for 16 weeks to assess its effects on milk yield and production, renneting properties and metabolic responses. Cows within each group were assigned to two isonitrogenous and isoenergetic concentrates based on corn plus soybean meal or peas. Individual milk samples were collected from two consecutive milkings, composited, and then analysed for fat, protein, casein and lactose contents and somatic cells count as well as blood and milk urea and milk technological characteristics. Cow blood samples were taken and plasma were analysed for metabolites, biological enzymes, β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA). Peas supplementation had no effects on metabolic blood profile as well as on milk composition traits and clotting aptitude. Milk and blood from cows fed peas indicated a reduction (P<0.05) of their urea concentrations compared to those fed soybean meal. Our findings indicate that peas can replace soybean meal as protein source in diet of dairy cows without unfavourable effects on milk quality and cheesemaking properties

JORNAL O DIÁRIO: A CENSURA E O PAPEL DA PUBLICIDADE NOS ANOS DE CHUMBO (1968-1974)

Revisitar a história do jornal O Diário é resgatar um pouco da história da imprensa no Espírito Santo. A referida publicação circulou em terras capixabas entre 1955 e 1980, e deixou como legado a formação de uma brilhante geração de profissionais, que, mais tarde, ocuparam as mais destacadas posições da imprensa local. Trata mais detidamente acerca da relação entre o jornal O Diário e a censura, sobretudo nos Anos de Chumbo (1968-1974). Em boa parte do período em que O Diário circulou, o Brasil estava imerso em uma ditadura militar (1964-1985), que impôs o cerceamento da liberdade de expressão aos veículos de comunicação. O controle sobre o que era noticiado era intenso. As sanções sobre quem ousasse enfrentar o regime eram imensas. Jornalistas foram pressionados, ameaçados, torturados e até presos. A censura se fez presente na atividade diária do profissional da imprensa. A maioria dos veículos de comunicação, em grande parte, dependente do Estado, seja na liberação de empréstimos ou no recebimento de anúncios publicitários, acabaram por acatar as determinações oficiais sob o risco de sofrer com retaliações. Estabelecia-se, assim, uma relação assimétrica de poder sobre aquilo que era publicado e divulgado pelos veículos de comunicação. Estratégias de resistência foram montadas por parte das publicações, a fim de fugir da censura, bem como buscar meios de noticiar as reportagens produzidas. Nesse ínterim, um novo elemento entra em destaque: publicidade. Por meio dela, o governo externou o seu humor e simpatia aos veículos. Àqueles que caminhassem de acordo com os ditames propostos pelos militares, o governo acenava com a possibilidade de recebimento de bons volumes de anúncios de propaganda. Já aos que intentassem enfrentar o regime vigente, havia não só a retirada dos anúncios oficiais, como também dos oriundos de empresas particulares, em função das pressões do Estado. O jornal O Diário vivenciou amplamente a censura em sua prática diária. Diretores foram chamados constantemente para prestar esclarecimentos, jornalistas foram detidos várias vezes, sendo que um deles até perdeu o emprego por causa de uma matéria em que divulgou o patrimônio de políticos capixabas. Apesar da constante atmosfera de medo, o jornal O Diário era considerado um jornal alinhado e simpático à proposta ideológica sugerida pelos militares no poder. Por conta própria, a publicação incluía em suas páginas matérias e anúncios em consonância aos ideais do regime autoritário. Em contrapartida, em várias ocasiões, O Diário foi beneficiado no recebimento de anúncios publicitários vindos de fontes oficiais, bem como por empresas particulares dependentes financeiramente do Estado. Os diretores do Diário enxergaram aí um filão a ser explorado e não mediram esforços a fim de potencializar a relação com os militares e obter, com isso, favorecimentos financeiros, além de trabalhar para que se evitasse que o jornal entrasse em choque direto com a pesada mão dos militares

Computational fluid dynamic studies of mixers for highly viscous shear thinning fluids and PIV validation

Agitation of highly viscous shear thinning fluids is normally conducted with complex impeller designs. Often, impellers almost as large as the tanks containing them and impeller blades equipped with holes are adopted in industry. In this work, we studied experimentally the main features of the flow generated by this type of impellers for a mixture of glycerol with a carbomeric gel by means of particle image velocimetry. The experiments were conducted at temperatures ranging from 40 to 60 °C and impeller speeds ranging from 40 to 140 rpm. In all cases, the flow regime was laminar or in the transition region. We also used computational fluid dynamics simulations to describe the behaviour of the mixer, validating the results experimentally with good agreement. We used the numerical results to obtain information on the performance of the mixer, determining the locations and size of vigorous agitation zones and the local effect of the holes present on the impeller blades. The power curves of the mixer were obtained, and the mixer efficiency in terms of power consumption was found to be similar to other impellers used to mix highly viscous non-Newtonian fluids

Laparoscopy in bilio-pancreatic surgery in elderly

Articolo presente su PubMed Central. Sourcerecord id Scopus 28558 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3194374/ Background.More minimally invasive techniques are currently available for the surgical oncologist in the optimal staging of biliopancreatic cancer. With the increased age of population we can see an increase of age-related diseases, such a cardiovascular disease, hypertension, arthritis and other malignancies. With the development of endoscopy, laparoscopy, ultrasonography and biopsy equipment, more minimally invasive techniques are currently available for the surgical oncologist to provide a better optimal diagnosis and strategy, followed by an appropriate surgical treatment of biliopancreatic cancer. Improvement in the diagnostic and surgical care of elderly cancer patients will have a final impact on disease and overall survival rates of the different types of cancer treatment. Materials and methods.We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients between January 2001 and December 2008 who had either a mass in the biliopancreatic area classified as clinically resectable. Tumours were considered to be resectable when there was no evidence of distant extra pancreatic disease or involvement of lymphnodes outside the classic margins of resections. Occlusion or encasement of the superior mesenteric artery or vein, celiac artery or portal vein were used as a criteria for unresectability. Twenty-eight patients over 65 and under 75 years (middle age 69) with primary biliopancreatic cancer were submitted to operations for potentially operative resection. In all cases staging laparoscopy was performed just prior to planned open exploration and resection. Results.Twenty seven patients underwent laparoscopy exploration for potential resection. Two of five patients (40%) with distal cholangiocarcinoma survived at 5 years after DCP. Eighteen patients (66.6%) had unresectable disease identified at laparoscopy and fourteen were able to convert to laparotomy palliative surgery while for the others laparoscopy spared an unnecessary laparotomy. In four patients it was possible to perform a laparoscopy palliative surgery. Conclusions.Laparoscopy may have a role in the staging of patients with biliopancreatic malignancies, in particular, for reduction of unnecessary exploratory laparotomy. Moreover, even in old age, duodenocephalopancreasectomy, properly planned and executed, resulted in reduction of operative mortality and morbility and a clear long-term survival

New photometric investigation of the double ringed galaxy ESO474-G26. Unveiling the formation scenario

We present a detailed photometric study of the peculiar double ringed galaxy ESO474-G26. Near-Infrared (NIR) and optical data have been used, with the main goal to constrain the formation history of ESO474-G26. NIR photometry is fundamental in this kind of study, because gives better constraints on the Spectral Energy Distribution (SED) and well traces the older stellar population of the galaxy. This galaxy presents a very complex structure, with two almost orthogonal rings, one in the equatorial and another in the polar plane, around an elliptical-like object. Due to the peculiar morphology of ESO474-G26, we used both NIR images (J and K bands) to derive accurate analysis of the stellar light distribution, and optical images (in the B, V and R bands) to derive color profiles and color maps to study the structure of the rings. The observational characteristic of ESO474-G26 are typical of galaxies which have experienced some kind of interactions during their evolution. We investigated two alternatives: a merging process and an accretion event.Comment: 19 pages, 20 figures. Accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS

TEM in the treatment of recurrent rectal cancer in the elderly

Articolo presente su PubMed Central. Surcerecord id Scopus 28558 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3194378/ Introduction.Transanal endoscopic microsurgery is a useful technique of minimally invasive surgery that allows the realization of complex interventions, from transanal excisions to full thickness resections with anastomotic reconstructions. TEM can have a diagnostic and therapeutic value in the elderly for the treatment of primary rectal cancer as well as for recurrences. Materials and methods.During the period between January 2002 and December 2009 six patients, average age of 66 years, four men and two women, with early diagnosed rectal cancer recurrence were selected to undergo this palliative surgical procedure. 3 men and 1 woman underwent "ultra-low anterior resection”, followed by chemo / radio therapy (T3N1M0); in one woman a TEM (T1NxM0) and in one old man the local escission was performed after neoadiuvant chemo/radio therapy (T2NxM0). The selection of the patients was made by: rigid sigmoidoscope, transrectal us, colonoscopy, abdominal us to rule out liver metastases, CT and MRI abdomen and pelvis with and without contrast agents, PET CT. In all patients the lesions were superficial, smaller than 2 cm and located at the posterior wall of the rectum. Results.Follow-up was approximately 12-28 months; the pathologic staging confirmed the complete excision of recurrences. Patients were then referred for more complementary therapies. Only one patient presented a retro rectal abscess treated with conservative techniques, too. Conclusions.The alternative to conservative surgery is an abdomino-perineal resection sec. Miles, but also this really invasive procedure can be considered palliative in the most part of recurrences. So, based on equal oncological results, the reduction of surgical trauma and preservation of anatomical integrity are really important goals

Experimental and numerical studies on the flow characteristics and separation properties of dispersed liquid-liquid flows

© 2019 Author(s). The local dynamics of spatially developing liquid-liquid dispersed flows at low superficial velocities, ranging from 0.2 to 0.8 m s-1, are investigated. The dispersions are generated with an in-line static mixer. Detailed measurements with laser-based diagnostic tools are conducted at two axial pipe locations downstream of the mixer, namely, at 15 and 135 equivalent pipe diameters. Different flow patterns are recorded, and their development along the streamwise direction is shown to depend on the initial size and concentration of the drops as well as the mixture velocity. The drop size is accurately predicted by an empirical formula. The variations in drop concentration over the pipe cross-section along the pipe result in local changes of the physical properties of the mixture and consequently in asymmetrical velocity profiles, with the maxima of the velocity located in the drop-free region. Computational fluid dynamics simulations based on a mixture approach predict the experimental results close to the experimental uncertainties for the majority of the cases. The simulation results reveal that gravity and lift forces, as well as shear-induced diffusion are the most important mechanisms affecting the drop migration. It is found that the drops behave as suspensions of rigid spheres for the conditions investigated, despite the deformation effects, which are found experimentally to be stronger at the densely packed region

VEGAS: a VST Early-type GAlaxy Survey. IV. NGC 1533, IC 2038 and IC 2039: an interacting triplet in the Dorado group

This paper focuses on NGC 1533 and the pair IC 2038 and IC 2039 in Dorado a nearby, clumpy, still un-virialized group. We obtained their surface photometry from deep OmegaCAM@ESO-VST images in g and r bands. For NGC 1533, we map the surface brightness down to $\mu_g \simeq 30.11$ mag/arcsec$^{2}$ and $\mu_r \simeq 28.87$ mag/arcsec$^{2}$ and out to about $4R_e$. At such faint levels the structure of NGC 1533 appear amazingly disturbed with clear structural asymmetry between inner and outer isophotes in the North-East direction. We detect new spiral arm-like tails in the outskirts, which might likely be the signature of a past interaction/merging event. Similarly, IC 2038 and IC 2039 show tails and distortions indicative of their ongoing interaction. Taking advantages of deep images, we are able to detect the optical counterpart to the HI gas. The analysis of the new deep data suggests that NGC 1533 had a complex history made of several interactions with low-mass satellites that generated the star-forming spiral-like structure in the inner regions and are shaping the stellar envelope. In addition, the VST observations show that also the two less luminous galaxies, IC 2038 and IC 2039, are probably interacting each-other and, in the past, IC 2038 could have also interacted with NGC 1533, which stripped away gas and stars from its outskirts. The new picture emerging from this study is of an interacting triplet, where the brightest galaxy NGC 1533 has ongoing mass assembly in the outskirts.Comment: Accepted for publication in The Astronomical Journal. High-resolution version of paper is available at the following link: https://www.dropbox.com/preview/VEGAS_IV.pdf?role=persona