Possible evidence of asymmetry in SN 2007rt, a type IIn supernova

An optical photometric and spectroscopic analysis of the slowly-evolving type IIn SN 2007rt is presented, covering a duration of 481 days after discovery. Its earliest spectrum, taken approximately 100 days after the explosion epoch, indicates the presence of a dense circumstellar medium, with which the supernova ejecta is interacting. This is supported by the slowly-evolving light curve. A notable feature in the spectrum of SN 2007rt is the presence of a broad He I 5875 line, not usually detected in type IIn supernovae. This may imply that the progenitor star has a high He/H ratio, having shed a significant portion of its hydrogen shell via mass-loss. An intermediate resolution spectrum reveals a narrow H(alpha) P-Cygni profile, the absorption component of which has a width of 128 km s (1). This slow velocity suggests that the progenitor of SN 2007rt recently underwent mass-loss with wind speeds comparable to the lower limits of those detected in luminous blue variables. Asymmetries in the line profiles of H and He at early phases bears some resemblance to double-peaked features observed in a number of Ib/c spectra. These asymmetries may be indicative of an asymmetric or bipolar outflow or alternatively dust formation in the fast expanding ejecta. In addition, the late time spectrum, at over 240 days post-explosion, shows clear evidence for the presence of newly formed dust.

Testing Lorentz Invariance and CPT Conservation with NuMI Neutrinos in the MINOS Near Detector

A search for a sidereal modulation in the MINOS near detector neutrino data was performed. If present, this signature could be a consequence of Lorentz and CPT violation as predicted by the effective field theory called the standard-model extension. No evidence for a sidereal signal in the data set was found, implying that there is no significant change in neutrino propagation that depends on the direction of the neutrino beam in a sun-centered inertial frame. Upper limits on the magnitudes of the Lorentz and CPT violating terms in the standard-model extension lie between 10(-4) and 10(-2) of the maximum expected, assuming a suppression of these signatures by a factor of 10(-17).

Upper limit on the diffuse flux of ultrahigh energy tau neutrinos from the Pierre Auger Observatory

The surface detector array of the Pierre Auger Observatory is sensitive to Earth-skimming tau neutrinos that interact in Earth's crust. Tau leptons from nu(tau) charged-current interactions can emerge and decay in the atmosphere to produce a nearly horizontal shower with a significant electromagnetic component. The data collected between 1 January 2004 and 31 August 2007 are used to place an upper limit on the diffuse flux of nu(tau) at EeV energies. Assuming an E(nu)(-2) differential energy spectrum the limit set at 90% C. L. is E(nu)(2)dN(nu tau)/dE(nu) < 1: 3 x 10(-7) GeV cm(-2) s(-1) sr(-1) in the energy range 2 x 10(17) eV< E(nu) < 2 x 10(19) eV.

Limit on the diffuse flux of ultrahigh energy tau neutrinos with the surface detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory

Data collected at the Pierre Auger Observatory are used to establish an upper limit on the diffuse flux of tau neutrinos in the cosmic radiation. Earth-skimming nu(tau) may interact in the Earth's crust and produce a tau lepton by means of charged-current interactions. The tau lepton may emerge from the Earth and decay in the atmosphere to produce a nearly horizontal shower with a typical signature, a persistent electromagnetic component even at very large atmospheric depths. The search procedure to select events induced by tau decays against the background of normal showers induced by cosmic rays is described. The method used to compute the exposure for a detector continuously growing with time is detailed. Systematic uncertainties in the exposure from the detector, the analysis, and the involved physics are discussed. No tau neutrino candidates have been found. For neutrinos in the energy range 2x10(17) eV < E(nu)< 2x10(19) eV, assuming a diffuse spectrum of the form E(nu)(-2), data collected between 1 January 2004 and 30 April 2008 yield a 90% confidence-level upper limit of E(nu)(2)dN(nu tau)/dE(nu)< 9x10(-8) GeV cm(-2) s(-1) sr(-1).

EIS study of Ti-23Ta alloy in artificial saliva

Although titanium and Ti-6Al-4V alloy have been widely used as dental materials, possible undesirable effects such as cytotoxic reactions and neurological disorder due to metal release led to the development of more corrosion resistant and V and Al free titanium alloys, containing Nb, Zr, Mo and Ta atoxic elements. Fluoride containing products used in the prevention of plaque formation and dental caries can affect the stability of the passive oxide films formed on the Ti alloys. In this work, the corrosion behaviour of the new Ti-23Ta alloy has been evaluated in artificial saliva of different pH and fluoride concentration using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy study showed that the oxide film formed on the alloy in artificial saliva consists of an inner compact film and an outer porous layer. The corrosion resistance of Ti-23Ta alloy which is reduced by increasing F concentration or decreasing pH is related to the resistance of the inner compact layer. The presence of fluoride and low pH of the saliva enhance the porosity of the oxide film and its dissolution.

The supernova remnant CTB 37B and its associated magnetar CXOU J171405.7-381031: evidence for a magnetar-driven remnant

We discuss the association between the candidate magnetar CXOU J171405.7-381031 and the supernova remnant CTB 37B. The recent detection of the period derivative of the object allowed an estimation of a young characteristic age of only similar to 1000 yr. This value is too small to be compatible even with the minimum radius of the remnant being >= 10 pc, the value corresponding to the lower limit of the estimated distance of 10.2 +/- 3.5 kpc, unless the true distance happens to be even smaller than the lower limit. We argue that a consistent scenario for the remnant`s origin, in which the latter is powered by the energy injected by a young magnetar, is indeed more accurate to explain the young age, and demonstrates its non-standard (i.e. magnetar-driven) nature.

NU-PROCESS IN EXOTIC MODELS

The exact physical conditions generating the abundances of r-elements in environments such as supernovae explosions are still under debate. We evaluated the characteristics expected for the neutrino wind in the proposed model of type-II supernova driven by conversion of nuclear matter to strange matter. Neutrinos will change the final abundance of elements after freeze out of r-process nucleosynthesis, specially those close to mass peaks.

The effect of a single supernova explosion on the cuspy density profile of a small-mass dark matter halo

Some observations of galaxies, and in particular dwarf galaxies, indicate a presence of cored density profiles in apparent contradiction with cusp profiles predicted by dark matter N-body simulations. We constructed an analytical model, using particle distribution functions (DFs), to show how a supernova (SN) explosion can transform a cusp density profile in a small-mass dark matter halo into a cored one. Considering the fact that an SN efficiently removes matter from the centre of the first haloes, we study the effect of mass removal through an SN perturbation in the DFs. We find that the transformation from a cusp into a cored profile occurs even for changes as small as 0.5 per cent of the total energy of the halo, which can be produced by the expulsion of matter caused by a single SN explosion.

Local star formation triggered by supernova shocks in magnetized diffuse neutral clouds

In this work, considering the impact of a supernova remnant (SNR) with a neutral magnetized cloud we derived analytically a set of conditions that are favourable for driving gravitational instability in the cloud and thus star formation. Using these conditions, we have built diagrams of the SNR radius, R(SNR), versus the initial cloud density, n(c), that constrain a domain in the parameter space where star formation is allowed. This work is an extension to previous study performed without considering magnetic fields (Melioli et al. 2006, hereafter Paper I). The diagrams are also tested with fully three-dimensional MHD radiative cooling simulations involving a SNR and a self-gravitating cloud and we find that the numerical analysis is consistent with the results predicted by the diagrams. While the inclusion of a homogeneous magnetic field approximately perpendicular to the impact velocity of the SNR with an intensity similar to 1 mu G within the cloud results only a small shrinking of the star formation zone in the diagram relative to that without magnetic field, a larger magnetic field (similar to 10 mu G) causes a significant shrinking, as expected. Though derived from simple analytical considerations these diagrams provide a useful tool for identifying sites where star formation could be triggered by the impact of a supernova blast wave. Applications of them to a few regions of our own Galaxy (e.g. the large CO shell in the direction of Cassiopeia, and the Edge Cloud 2 in the direction of the Scorpious constellation) have revealed that star formation in those sites could have been triggered by shock waves from SNRs for specific values of the initial neutral cloud density and the SNR radius. Finally, we have evaluated the effective star formation efficiency for this sort of interaction and found that it is generally smaller than the observed values in our own Galaxy (SFE similar to 0.01-0.3). This result is consistent with previous work in the literature and also suggests that the mechanism presently investigated, though very powerful to drive structure formation, supersonic turbulence and eventually, local star formation, does not seem to be sufficient to drive global star formation in normal star-forming galaxies, not even when the magnetic field in the neutral clouds is neglected.

A PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF THE ENERGY TRANSFER BETWEEN THE DARK SECTORS OF THE UNIVERSE

We study the mutual interaction between the dark sectors (dark matter and dark energy) of the Universe by resorting to the extended thermodynamics of irreversible processes and constrain the former with supernova type Ia data. As a by-product, the present dark matter temperature results are not extremely small and can meet the independent estimate of the temperature of the gas of sterile neutrinos.

Optimization of incubation time of protein Tc85 in the construction of biosensor: Is the EIS a good tool?

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in pH 6.9 phosphate buffer solution was used to investigate each step of the procedure employed to modify a screen-printed electrode (SPE). The SPE was modified with self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of cystamine (CYS, deposited from 20 mM solution), followed by glutaraldehyde (GA, 0.3 M solution). The Trypanosoma cruzi antigen was immobilized using different deposition times. The influence of incubation time (2-18 h) of protein was also investigated. The topography of modified electrode with this protein was investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Interpretation of impedance data was based on physical and chemical adsorption, and degradation of the layer at high and meddle frequencies, and charge transfer reaction involving mainly the reduction of oxygen at low frequencies. EIS studies on modified electrodes with Tc85 protein immobilized for different incubation times indicated that the optimum incubation time was 6-8 h. It was demonstrated that EIS is a good technique to evaluate the different steps and the integrity of the surface modifications, and to optimize the incubation time of protein in the development of biosensors. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Síndrome do X Frágil com variante de Dandy-Walker: estudo clínico das manifestações comunicativas orais e escritas

A síndrome do X Frágil é a causa mais frequente de deficiência intelectual hereditária. A variante de Dandy-Walker trata-se de uma constelação específica de achados neurorradiológicos. Este estudo relata achados da comunicação oral e escrita de um menino de 15 anos com diagnóstico clínico e molecular da síndrome do X-Frágil e achados de neuroimagem do encéfalo compatíveis com variante de Dandy-Walker. A avaliação fonoaudiológica foi realizada por meio da Observação do Comportamento Comunicativo, aplicação do ABFW - Teste de Linguagem Infantil - Fonologia, Perfil de Habilidades Fonológicas, Teste de Desempenho Escolar, Teste Illinois de Habilidades Psicolinguísticas, avaliação do sistema estomatognático e avaliação audiológica. Observou-se: alteração de linguagem oral quanto às habilidades fonológicas, semânticas, pragmáticas e morfossintáticas; déficits nas habilidades psicolinguísticas (recepção auditiva, expressão verbal, combinação de sons, memória sequencial auditiva e visual, closura auditiva, associação auditiva e visual); e alterações morfológicas e funcionais do sistema estomatognático. Na leitura verificou-se dificuldades na decodificação dos símbolos gráficos e na escrita havia omissões, aglutinações e representações múltiplas com o uso predominante de vogais e dificuldades na organização viso-espacial. Em matemática, apesar do reconhecimento numérico, não realizou operações aritméticas. Não foram observadas alterações na avaliação audiológica periférica. A constelação de sintomas comportamentais, cognitivos, linguísticos e perceptivos, previstos na síndrome do X-Frágil, somada às alterações estruturais do sistema nervoso central, pertencentes à variante de Dandy-Walker, trouxeram interferências marcantes no desenvolvimento das habilidades comunicativas, no aprendizado da leitura e escrita e na integração social do indivíduo.

Importância do fonoaudiólogo no acompanhamento de indivíduos com hipotireoidismo congênito

TEMA: o hipotireoidismo congênito é uma alteração metabólica que traz conseqüência graves para indivíduos não tratados e mesmo as crianças que realizam o tratamento podem apresentar distúrbios do desenvolvimento. O Programa Nacional de Triagem Neonatal, instituído pelo Ministério da Saúde, prevê o acompanhamento longitudinal de indivíduos com equipe multidisciplinar. Entretanto, a Fonoaudiologia não é incluída nesta equipe. Deste modo, considerando a ocorrência de distúrbios da comunicação nestes indivíduos, realizou-se levantamento bibliográfico nas bases de dados Lilacs, MedLine e PubMed, no período de 1987 a 2007, referente às alterações em habilidades do desenvolvimento decorrentes do hipotireoidismo congênito. OBJETIVO: verificar, na literatura científica, presença de alterações do desenvolvimento em indivíduos com hipotireoidismo congênito e refletir sobre a importância da atuação fonoaudiológica, em conjunto com equipe multidisciplinar especializada, no acompanhamento dos mesmos. CONCLUSÃO: a literatura relata alterações nas habilidades do desenvolvimento (motoras, cognitivas, lingüísticas e de autocuidados) e destaca que crianças com hipotireoidismo congênito são de risco para alterações no desenvolvimento lingüístico e, portanto, necessitam do acompanhamento longitudinal do desenvolvimento comunicativo. Torna-se evidente a importância da atuação do fonoaudiólogo nos Programas de Triagem Neonatal credenciados pelo Ministério da Saúde. Ressalta-se ainda a necessidade de investigações referentes às outras alterações metabólicas contempladas nestes programas, nas quais o fonoaudiólogo pode atuar de modo a prevenir, habilitar e reabilitar os distúrbios da comunicação, contribuindo para o trabalho em equipe, promovendo saúde nesta população.

Communicative and psycholinguistic abilities in children with phenylketonuria and congenital hypothyroidism

The Neonatal Screening for Inborn Errors of Metabolism of the Association of Parents and Friends of Special Needs Individuals (APAE) - Bauru, Brazil, was implanted and accredited by the Brazilian Ministry of Health in 1998. It covers about 286 cities of the Bauru region and 420 collection spots. Their activities include screening, diagnosis, treatment and assistance to congenital hypothyroidism (CH) and phenylketonuria (PKU), among others. In 2005, a partnership was established with the Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Bauru, seeking to characterize and to follow, by means of research studies, the development of the communicative abilities of children with CH and PKU. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe communicative and psycholinguistic abilities in children with CH and PKU. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-eight children (25 children aged 1 to 120 months with PKU and 43 children aged 1 to 60 months with CH) participated in the study. The handbooks were analyzed and different instruments were applied (Observation of Communication Behavior, Early Language Milestone Scale, Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, Gesell & Amatruda's Behavioral Development Scale, Portage Operation Inventory, Language Development Evaluation Scale, Denver Developmental Screening Test, ABFW Child Language Test-phonology and Illinois Test of Psycholinguistic Abilities), according to the children's age group and developmental level. RESULTS: It was observed that the children with PKU and CH at risk for alterations in their developmental abilities (motor, cognitive, linguistic, adaptive and personal-social), mainly in the first years of life. Alterations in the psycholinguistic abilities were also found, mainly after the preschool age. Attention deficits, language and cognitive alterations were more often observed in children with CH, while attention deficits with hyperactivity and alterations in the personal-social, language and motor adaptive abilities were more frequent in children with PKU. CONCLUSION: CH and PKU can cause communicative and psycholinguistic alterations that compromise the communication and affect the social integration and learning of these individuals, proving the need of having these abilities assisted by a speech and language pathologist.

Behaviors and hygiene habits of complete denture wearers

In this study, a questionnaire was applied to patients from Ribeirão Preto Dental School, University of São Paulo, Brazil, to evaluate the hygiene methods and habits concerning the use of complete dentures, the age of dentures, and whether patients have been instructed on how to clean their dentures. The mean age of patients was 63.35 years, and most of them were females (82.08%). The results showed that 62.26% of the respondents had been using the same maxillary complete denture for more than 5 years, and 49.06% used the same mandible complete denture for more than 5 years. Of the patients interviewed, 58.49% slept with the dentures. Mechanical brushing was the most used cleaning method by the patients (100%), using water, dentifrice and toothbrush (84.91%). Most patients (51.89%) reported never having been instructed by their dentists as to how to clean their dentures. Based on the limitations of this study, it was concluded that the patients interviewed had limited knowledge about prosthetic hygiene and oral care. The method more used by patients was the mechanical method of brushing, most patients used the same complete dentures for more than 5 years and slept with the dentures.