Size dependence on the ordering process in colloidal FePt nanoparticles

An alternative method to study the effects of annealing process on colloidal FePt nanoparticles (2-4 nm) has been achieved. Annealing experiments at temperatures between 773 and 1073 K under inert atmosphere flux were performed in powder samples with excess of surfactant molecules on nanoparticle surface. Transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction and magnetic measurements were performed to evidence the evolution of the chemically disordered fcc to chemically ordered face-centered tetragonal phase transformation. Magnetization measurements under zero-field-cooling and field-cooling (M-ZFC-M-FC) conditions, and hysteresis loops are extremely sensitive to the particle size distribution and were strongly affected by the annealing treatment. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.101

Area-Wide Suppression of the Mediterranean Fruit Fly, Ceratitis capitata, and the Oriental Fruit Fly, Bactrocera dorsalis, in Kamuela, Hawaii

The United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service initiated an area-wide fruit fly management program in Hawaii in 2000. The first demonstration site was established in Kamuela, Hawaii, USA. This paper documents suppression of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), and the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae), in a 40 km2 area containing urban, rural and agricultural zones during a 6 year period. The suppression techniques included sanitation, GF-120 NF Naturalyte Fruit Fly Bait sprays, male annihilation, Biolure® traps, and parasitoids against C. capitata and B. dorsalis. In addition, small numbers of sterile males were released against B. dorsalis. Substantial reductions in fruit infestation levels were achieved for both species (90.7 and 60.7% for C. capitata and B. dorsalis, respectively) throughout the treatment period. Fruit fly captures in the 40 km2 treatment area were significantly lower during the 6 year period than those recorded in three non-treated areas. The strategy of combining suppression techniques in an area-wide approach is discussed

New miniPromoter Ple345 (NEFL) drives strong and specific expression in retinal ganglion cells of mouse and primate retina.

Retinal gene therapy is leading the neurological gene therapy field, with 32 ongoing clinical trials of recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV)-based therapies. Importantly, over 50% of those trials are using restricted promoters from human genes. Promoters that restrict expression have demonstrated increased efficacy and can limit the therapeutic to the target cells thereby reducing unwanted off-target effects. Retinal ganglion cells are a critical target in ocular gene therapy; they are involved in common diseases such as glaucoma, rare diseases such as Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy, and in revolutionary optogenetic treatments. Here, we used computational biology and mined the human genome for the best genes from which to develop a novel minimal promoter element(s) designed for expression in restricted cell types (MiniPromoter) to improve the safety and efficacy of retinal ganglion cell gene therapy. Gene selection included the use of the first available droplet-based single-cell RNA sequencing (Drop-seq) dataset, and promoter design was bioinformatically driven and informed by a wide range of genomics datasets. We tested seven promoter designs from four genes in rAAV for specificity and quantified expression strength in retinal ganglion cells in mouse, and then the single best in nonhuman primate retina. Thus, we developed a new human-DNA MiniPromoter, Ple345 (NEFL), which in combination with intravitreal delivery in rAAV9 showed specific and robust expression in the retinal ganglion cells of the nonhuman-primate rhesus macaque retina. In mouse, we also developed MiniPromoters expressing in retinal ganglion cells, the hippocampus of the brain, a pan neuronal pattern in the brain, and peripheral nerves. As single-cell transcriptomics such as Drop-seq become available for other cell types, many new opportunities for additional novel restricted MiniPromoters will present

Nonlinear force-free extrapolation of emerging flux with a global twist and serpentine fine structures

We study the flux emergence process in NOAA active region 11024, between 29 June and 7 July 2009, by means of multi-wavelength observations and nonlinear force-free extrapolation. The main aim is to extend previous investigations by combining, as much as possible, high spatial resolution observations to test our present understanding of small-scale (undulatory) flux emergence, whilst putting these small-scale events in the context of the global evolution of the active region. The combination of these techniques allows us to follow the whole process, from the first appearance of the bipolar axial field on the east limb, until the buoyancy instability could set in and raise the main body of the twisted flux tube through the photosphere, forming magnetic tongues and signatures of serpentine field, until the simplification of the magnetic structure into a main bipole by the time the active region reaches the west limb. At the crucial time of the main emergence phase high spatial resolution spectropolarimetric measurements of the photospheric field are employed to reconstruct the three-dimensional structure of the nonlinear force-free coronal field, which is then used to test the current understanding of flux emergence processes. In particular, knowledge of the coronal connectivity confirms the identity of the magnetic tongues as seen in their photospheric signatures, and it exemplifies how the twisted flux, which is emerging on small scales in the form of a sea-serpent, is subsequently rearranged by reconnection into the large-scale field of the active region. In this way, the multi-wavelength observations combined with a nonlinear force-free extrapolation provide a coherent picture of the emergence process of small-scale magnetic bipoles, which subsequently reconnect to form a large-scale structure in the corona. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V

Satisfação no trabalho da equipe de enfermagem: revisão integrativa

Job satisfaction consists of a feeling of wellbeing, resulting from the interaction of several occupational aspects, and may influence the worker's relationship with the organization, clients and family. Hence, it becomes important for the quality of nursing care to reflect on this topic in depth. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the scientific evidence related to job satisfaction in Brazilian nursing. An integrative literature review was carried out in the databases LILACS, MEDLINE, BDENF and Cochrane Library, totaling 17 publications, categorized in: Job Satisfaction, Job Dissatisfaction and Associated Factors. It was concluded that job satisfaction is determined by a complex network of factors and may vary depending on the group studied. Additional research, particularly of evidence level III in different nursing fields, covering all of Brazil, is necessary to support the implementation of occupational improvements.La satisfacción en el trabajo consiste en un sentimiento de bienestar resultante de la interacción de varios aspectos ocupacionales, pudiendo influenciar la relación del trabajador con la organización, clientes y familia. Es importante para la calidad de la asistencia de enfermería realizar una reflexión profunda sobre este tema, por eso se objetivó en este estudio analizar las evidencias científicas referentes a la satisfacción en el trabajo del equipo de enfermería brasileño. Se trató de una revisión integradora de la literatura en las bases de datos LILACS, MEDLINE, BDENF y Biblioteca Cochrane, totalizando 17 publicaciones categorizadas en: Satisfacción en el Trabajo, Insatisfacción en el Trabajo y Factores Asociados. Se concluyó que la satisfacción en el trabajo es determinada por una red compleja de factores, pudiendo variar conforme el grupo estudiado. Investigaciones adicionales, especialmente con niveles de evidencias III, en diferentes campos de actuación de la enfermería, abarcando todo el Brasil, son necesarias para subsidiar la implantación de mejorías ocupacionales.A satisfação no trabalho consiste em sentimento de bem-estar. resultante da interação de vários aspectos ocupacionais, podendo influenciar a relação do trabalhador com a organização, clientes e família. Torna-se importante, para a qualidade da assistência de enfermagem, reflexão aprofundada sobre esse tema, e, por isso, objetivou-se neste estudo analisar as evidências científicas referentes à satisfação no trabalho da equipe de enfermagem brasileira. Trata-se de revisão integrativa da literatura nas bases de dados LILACS, MEDLINE, BDENF e Biblioteca Cochrane, totalizando 17 publicações categorizadas em: satisfação no trabalho, insatisfação no trabalho e fatores associados. Conclui-se que a satisfação no trabalho é determinada por rede complexa de fatores, podendo variar conforme o grupo estudado. Pesquisas adicionais, especialmente com níveis de evidências III, em diferentes campos de atuação da enfermagem, abrangendo todo Brasil, são necessárias para subsidiar a implantação de melhorias ocupacionais

Exposure to arsenic in drinking water is associated with increased prevalence of diabetes: a cross-sectional study in the Zimapán and Lagunera regions in Mexico

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Human exposures to inorganic arsenic (iAs) have been linked to an increased risk of diabetes mellitus. Recent laboratory studies showed that methylated trivalent metabolites of iAs may play key roles in the diabetogenic effects of iAs. Our study examined associations between chronic exposure to iAs in drinking water, metabolism of iAs, and prevalence of diabetes in arsenicosis-endemic areas of Mexico.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We used fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting plasma insulin (FPI), oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) to characterize diabetic individuals. Arsenic levels in drinking water and urine were determined to estimate exposure to iAs. Urinary concentrations of iAs and its trivalent and pentavalent methylated metabolites were measured to assess iAs metabolism. Associations between diabetes and iAs exposure or urinary metabolites of iAs were estimated by logistic regression with adjustment for age, sex, hypertension and obesity.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The prevalence of diabetes was positively associated with iAs in drinking water (OR 1.13 per 10 ppb, p < 0.01) and with the concentration of dimethylarsinite (DMAs^III) in urine (OR 1.24 per inter-quartile range, p = 0.05). Notably, FPI and HOMA-IR were negatively associated with iAs exposure (β -2.08 and -1.64, respectively, p < 0.01), suggesting that the mechanisms of iAs-induced diabetes differ from those underlying type-2 diabetes, which is typically characterized by insulin resistance.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our study confirms a previously reported, but frequently questioned, association between exposure to iAs and diabetes, and is the first to link the risk of diabetes to the production of one of the most toxic metabolites of iAs, DMAs^III.</p

LEMUR: Large European Module for solar Ultraviolet Research. European contribution to JAXA's Solar-C mission

Understanding the solar outer atmosphere requires concerted, simultaneous solar observations from the visible to the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) and soft X-rays, at high spatial resolution (between 0.1" and 0.3"), at high temporal resolution (on the order of 10 s, i.e., the time scale of chromospheric dynamics), with a wide temperature coverage (0.01 MK to 20 MK, from the chromosphere to the flaring corona), and the capability of measuring magnetic fields through spectropolarimetry at visible and near-infrared wavelengths. Simultaneous spectroscopic measurements sampling the entire temperature range are particularly important. These requirements are fulfilled by the Japanese Solar-C mission (Plan B), composed of a spacecraft in a geosynchronous orbit with a payload providing a significant improvement of imaging and spectropolarimetric capabilities in the UV, visible, and near-infrared with respect to what is available today and foreseen in the near future. The Large European Module for solar Ultraviolet Research (LEMUR), described in this paper, is a large VUV telescope feeding a scientific payload of high-resolution imaging spectrographs and cameras. LEMUR consists of two major components: a VUV solar telescope with a 30 cm diameter mirror and a focal length of 3.6 m, and a focal-plane package composed of VUV spectrometers covering six carefully chosen wavelength ranges between 17 and 127 nm. The LEMUR slit covers 280" on the Sun with 0.14" per pixel sampling. In addition, LEMUR is capable of measuring mass flows velocities (line shifts) down to 2 km/s or better. LEMUR has been proposed to ESA as the European contribution to the Solar C mission.Comment: 35 pages, 14 figures. To appear on Experimental Astronom

Event Monitoring System to Classify Unexpected Events for Production Planning

[EN] Production planning prepares companies to a future production scenario. The decision process followed to obtain the production plan considers real data and estimated data of this future scenario. However, these plans can be affected by unexpected events that alter the planned scenario and in consequence, the production planning. This is especially critical when the production planning is ongoing. Thus providing information about these events can be critical to reconsider the production planning. We herein propose an event monitoring system to identify events and to classify them into different impact levels. The information obtained from this system helps to build a risk matrix, which determines the significance of the risk from the impact level and the likelihood. 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