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

Emerging (Bio)Sensing Technology for Assessing and Monitoring Freshwater Contamination - Methods and Applications

Ecological Water Quality - Water Treatment and ReuseWater is life and its preservation is not only a moral obligation but also a legal requirement. By 2030, global demands will exceed more than 40 % the existing resources and more than a third of the world's population will have to deal with water shortages (European Environmental Agency [EEA], 2010). Climate change effects on water resources will not help. Efforts are being made throughout Europe towards a reduced and efficient water use and prevention of any further deterioration of the quality of water (Eurostat, European Comission [EC], 2010). The Water Framework Directive (EC, 2000) lays down provisions for monitoring, assessing and classifying water quality. Supporting this, the Drinking Water sets standards for 48 microbiological and chemical parameters that must be monitored and tested regularly (EC, 1998). The Bathing Water Directive also sets concentration limits for microbiological pollutants in inland and coastal bathing waters (EC, 2006), addressing risks from algae and cyanobacteria contamination and faecal contamination, requiring immediate action, including the provision of information to the public, to prevent exposure. With these directives, among others, the European Union [EU] expects to offer its citizens, by 2015, fresh and coastal waters of good quality

Label-free Detection of Microcystin-LR in Waters Using Real-Time Potentiometric Biosensors Based on Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Imprinted Polymers

Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is a dangerous toxin found in environmental waters, quantified by high performance liquid chromatography and/or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Quick, low cost and on-site analysis is thus required to ensure human safety and wide screening programs. This work proposes label-free potentiometric sensors made of solid-contact electrodes coated with a surface imprinted polymer on the surface of Multi-Walled Carbon NanoTubes (CNTs) incorporated in a polyvinyl chloride membrane. The imprinting effect was checked by using non-imprinted materials. The MC-LR sensitive sensors were evaluated, characterized and applied successfully in spiked environmental waters. The presented method offered the advantages of low cost, portability, easy operation and suitability for adaptation to flow methods

A population of Lychnophora Ericoides Mart. (arnica) (Asteraceae) is prone to extinction in a savanna of Central Brazil.

Made available in DSpace on 2018-01-16T23:20:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 populationoflychnophoraericoidesmartarnicaasteraceaeispronetoextinctioninasavannaofcentralbrazil.pdf: 1003063 bytes, checksum: 991d82dd7e0315dc542a499ae93b6f01 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-01-16bitstream/item/171141/1/population-of-lychnophora-ericoides-mart-arnica-asteraceae-is-prone-to-extinction-in-a-savanna-of-central-brazil.pd

Hercynian acid magmatism and related mineralizations in Nortern Portugal

Cabeceiras de Basto (CB), Vieira do Minho (VM) and Vila Pouca de Aguiar (VPA) granite plutons are located in the so-called Central Iberian Zone, northern Portugal. U-Pb zircon and monazite geochronology yielded the minimum emplacement age of 311 Ma for CB and the crystallization ages of 311 Ma for VM and 299 Ma for VPA, constraining the time interval of the third Hercynian deformation phase, relative to which these massifs can be grouped as follows: syn- to late-tectonic (CB and VM) and post-tectonic (VPA) granites.CB is a composite peraluminous two-mica granite pluton, occupying the core of a N 130° E antiform. Geochemical and isotopic data suggest a heterogeneous crustal source of mid-Proterozoic age (1.2 Ga). The granites are specialized in Sn, Li and, to a lesser extent, W mineralizations. Fractional crystallization is the main concentrator mechanism for these elements. Late-magmatic hydrothermal alteration processes (feldspar albitization and plagioclase and biotite muscovitization) enhanced the concentration promoted by the magmatic differentiation.Both the VM and VPA plutons are controlled by deep regional fault zones and consist of composite biotite granites, generated in the lower crust and installed in higher structural crustal levels, resulting in thermal metamorphism (P:2 kb; T: 500-600°C) capable of generating crustal convecting fluids. They are spatially related to important Sn, W and Au mineralizations. Although they are not highly specialized, they have contributed significantly as heat sources for the ore concentration

Tkachenko waves, glitches and precession in neutron star

Here I discuss possible relations between free precession of neutron stars, Tkachenko waves inside them and glitches. I note that the proposed precession period of the isolated neutron star RX J0720.4-3125 (Haberl et al. 2006) is consistent with the period of Tkachenko waves for the spin period 8.4s. Based on a possible observation of a glitch in RX J0720.4-3125 (van Kerkwijk et al. 2007), I propose a simple model, in which long period precession is powered by Tkachenko waves generated by a glitch. The period of free precession, determined by a NS oblateness, should be equal to the standing Tkachenko wave period for effective energy transfer from the standing wave to the precession motion. A similar scenario can be applicable also in the case of the PSR B1828-11.Comment: 6 pages, no figures, accepted to Ap&S