Radiative Omega(-)->Xi(-)gamma decay and physics beyond the standard model

We investigate the impact of new physics beyond the Standard Model to the s --> d gamma process, which is responsible for the short-distance contribution to the radiative decay Omega-( )--> Xi(-) gamma. We study three representative extensions of the Standard Model, namely a one-family technicolor model, a two Higgs doublet model and a model containing scalar leptoquarks. When constraints arising from the observed b --> s gamma transition and the upper limit on D-0-(D) over bar(0) mixing are taken into account, we find no significant contributions of new physics to the s --> d gamma process.

Evaluation of Lines of Phosphorus and Potassium by High-Resolution Continuum Source Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry for Liquid Fertilizer Analysis

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Development and validation of a HPLC method for standardization of herbal and commercial extracts of Myrcia uniflora

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Perfil de ácidos graxos e fatores antinutricionais de amêndoas de pequi crua e torrada

O pequi é um dos frutos mais abundantes no Cerrado, sendo sua polpa muito apreciada na culinária regional, porém, sua amêndoa (também comestível) é pouco aproveitada. O consumo da amêndoa crua pode acarretar em problemas digestivos, devido à possível presença de fatores antinutricionais, assim como a torra pode alterar, nutricionalmente, a amêndoa. Este trabalho objetivou verificar a composição centesimal, o perfil de ácidos graxos e os fatores antinutricionais, em amêndoas de pequi crua e torrada (a 270ºC, por 15 minutos), oriundas do Estado de Goiás e submetidas às análises de composição centesimal (umidade, proteínas, lipídeos, cinzas, carboidratos e valor energético), perfil de ácidos graxos e fatores antinutricionais (inibidores de tripsina, tanino e fitatos). A composição centesimal e os fatores antinutricionais, respectivamente para as amêndoas crua e torrada, apresentaram os seguintes teores: umidade: 25,40% e 1,70%; cinzas: 3,90% e 4,60%; proteínas: 13,40% e 14,70%; lipídeos: 24,70% e 25,70%; carboidratos: 32,50% e 53,30%; e valor energético: 406,20 kcal/100 g e 503,00 kcal/100 g, com ausência de inibidores de tripsina e taninos com 1,21% e 1,17% e fitatos com 2,64% e 1,86%. No perfil de ácidos graxos, respectivamente para as amêndoas crua e torrada, foram obtidos 86,90% e 84,61% de ácidos saturados e 10,57% e 10,40% de insaturados. A torra das amêndoas não influenciou, significativamente (p > 0,05), somente a variável proteína, interferindo, assim, nas características nutricionais e antinutricionais.

Description of Leishmania (Leishmania) forattinii sp. n., a new parasite infecting opossums and rodents in Brazil

A new parasite species of Leishmania is described, L. (Leishmania) forattinii sp. n., which was isolated from a pooled triturate of liver and spleen of a opossum (Didelphis marsupialis aurita) and from skin samples from a rodent (Proechmys iheringi denigratus), captured in primary forest on the Atlantic Cost of Brazil. Our results on the basis of biological and molecular criteria indicate that this taxonomically distinct parasite ias a new species of the L. mexicana complex, but closely related to L. (L.) aristidesi Laison & shaw, 1979, as revelated by phenetic and phylogenetic numerical analyses of the enzyme data. L. forattinii was clearly distinguishable from other Leishmania species of the genus usisng enzyme electrophoresis, monoclonal antibodies, molecular karyotypes, analysis of restriction enzyme digestion patterns of kinetoplast DNA (kDNA), as well as the use of kDNA hybridization procedures.

Redes de empresas e seus efeitos sobre o turismo

O presente artigo tem como objetivo propor um modelo de alinhamento competitivo para a rede de atores do turismo, visando aumentar sua coesão e facilitar a busca de objetivos comuns. Tal proposta foi definida com base na expertise dos autores na análise de redes de turismo, aliada a resultados obtidos na pesquisa em Ouro Preto (MG). Dessa forma, foi possível perceber o peso dos atores envolvidos em função dos critérios de escolha utilizados pelos visitantes para configurar seu caminho dentro da região turística analisada e, assim, reforçar os relacionamentos existentes.

Taxonomic and evolutionary analysis of Zaprionus indianus and its colonization of Palearctic and Neotropical regions

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Localization of the optimal solution and a posteriori bounds for aggregation

After an aggregated problem has been solved, it is often desirable to estimate the accuracy loss due to the fact that a simpler problem than the original one has been solved. One way of measuring this loss in accuracy is the difference in objective function values. To get the bounds for this difference, Zipkin (Operations Research 1980;28:406) has assumed, that a simple (knapsack-type) localization of an original optimal solution is known. Since then various extensions of Zipkin's bound have been proposed, but under the same assumption. A method to compute the bounds for variable aggregation for convex problems, based on general localization of the original solution is proposed. For some classes of the original problem it is shown how to construct the localization. Examples are given to illustrate the main constructions and a small numerical study is presented.

Visual timing and adaptive behavior in a road-crossing simulation study

In this road-crossing simulation study, we assessed both participant's ability to visually judge whether or not they could cross a road, and their adaptive walking behavior. To this end, participants were presented with a road inside the laboratory on which a bike approached with different velocities from different distances. Eight children aged 5-7, ten children aged 10-12, and ten adults were asked both to verbally judge whether they could cross the road, and to actually walk across the road if possible. The results indicated that the verbal judgments were not similar to judgments to actually cross the road. With respect to safety and accuracy of judgments, groups did not differ from each other, although the youngest group tended to be more cautious. All groups appeared to use a strategy to cross the road based both on the distance and the velocity of the approaching bike. Young children waited longer on the curb before crossing the road than older children and adults. All groups adjusted their crossing time to the time-to-arrival of the bike. These findings are discussed in relation to the ecological psychological approach and the putative dissociation between vision for perception (i.e. verbal judgment) and vision for action (i.e. actual crossing). (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Sedimentation rates in the Corumbatai River basin, Brazil, derived from Pb-210 measurements

Activity profiles of excess Pb-210 measured in four sediment cores from the Corumbatai River basin, São Paulo State, Brazil, provided an opportunity to evaluate sedimentation rates that are helpful for defining appropriate management strategies for the hydrological resources in the basin. This is because Rio Claro city and other municipalities make extensive use of surface waters for drinking water supply. The radiochemical analysis of the sediment cores yielded apparent sediment mass accumulation rates of between 406 and 1014 mg cm(-2) year(-1) for secondary drainage lines, whereas an intermediate value of 546 mg cm(-2) year(-1) was found in the Corumbatai River, the main drainage system of the studied area. These values provided estimates of average linear sedimentation rates of between 3.1 and 16.2 mm year(-1) that are compatible with field evidence, with the highest value corresponding with an area characterized by accumulation of sediment.

Isolation and structure elucidation of two new flavonoid glycosides from the infusion of Maytenus aquifolium leaves. Evaluation of the antiulcer activity of the infusion

Droplet countercurrent chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography fractionation of the aqueous infusion from Maytenus aquifolium Martius leaves afforded two flavonoid tetrasaccharides: quercetin 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->6)-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->3)-O-alpha-L-rhamnopranosyl( 1-->2)-O-beta-D-galactopyranoside and kaempferol 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->6)-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl( 1-->3)-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosy(1-->2-2)-O-beta-D-galactopyranoside. All structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Pharmacological essays of the infusion showed antiulcer activity in rats.

In situ degradability of hand harvested or extrusa samples of Tanzania grass (Panicum maximum, Jacq.)

In order to compare the in situ degradability of tanzania grass samples obtained as by extrusa or hand plucked, three ruminal fistulated cows were used in a completely randomized block design with split-plot scheme. Five grams of extrusa or hand harvested grasses were placed in nylon bags rumen incubated during 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 96 and 120 hours. The degradability of DM, CP, NDF and ADF were, in this sequence, 62.59, 80.88, 50.73 and 46.65%, for hand-harvested grass; and 79.53, 90.97, 71.21 and 65.68%, for extrusa. In situ degradability data of hand harvested samples were not reliable.

Genetic and environmental effects on parturition and lactation intervals in water buffaloes from Brazil

Genetic and environmental effects on parturition interval (PI) and duration of lactation (DL) were evaluated in 107 Jafarabadi, 98 Mediterranean, 1027 Murrah and 624 crossbred buffalo females (n=1856), based on data from the Buffalo Genetic Improvement Program-PROMEBUL from 1980 to 2003. The statistical model included effects of herd, parturition year and month, calf's sex, parturition order and genetic group, composing 11, 34, 12, 2, 12 and 4 classes, respectively. A significant effect over PI was observed (P<0.01) in all classes, excepting sex. Mean parturition intervals per genetic group presented significant differences through SNK test (P<0.05), with mean values of 451.29; 429.47; 406.97 and 389.78 days in Mediterranean, crossbred, Murrah and Jafarabadi, respectively. Mean DL values were 276.68; 270.33; 258.03 and 235.59 days for Mediterranean, Murrah, crossbred and Jafarabadi groups, respectively. No significant differences in DL were observed in relation to genetic groups. However, herd and parturition order, year and month significantly influenced DL (P<0.01). The herd was the main source of variation over DL, followed by parturition year and month. A regression based on parturition month in relation to PI and DL showed that females giving birth in the last months of the year presented higher PI and DL.