Photoproduction of J/psi and of high mass e(+)e(-) in ultra-peripheral Au plus Au collisions at root s(NN)=200 GeV

We present the first measurement of photoproduction of J/psi and of two-photon production of high-mass e(+)e(-) pairs in electromagnetic (or ultra-peripheral) nucleus-nucleus interactions, using Au + Au data at root s(NN) = 200 GeV. The events are tagged with forward neutrons emitted following Coulomb excitation of one or both Au* nuclei. The event sample consists of 28 events with m(e+e-) > 2 GeV/c(2) with zero like-sign background. The measured cross sections at midrapidity of d sigma/dy (J/psi + Xn, y = 0) = 76 +/- 33 (stat) +/- 11 (syst) pb and d(2)sigma /dm dy (e(+) e(-) + Xn, y = 0) = 86 +/- 23(stat) +/- 16(syst) mu b/ (GeV/c(2)) for m(e+e-) epsilon vertical bar 2.0, 2.8 vertical bar GeV/c(2) have been compared and found to be consistent with models for photoproduction of J/psi and QED based calculations of two-photon production of e(+)e(-) pairs. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Dilepton mass spectra in p plus p collisions at root s=200 GeV

PHENIX has measured the electron-positron pair mass spectrum from 0 to 8 GeV/c(2) in p + p collisions at root s = 200 GeV. The contributions from light meson decays to e(+)e(-) pairs have been determined based on measurements of hadron production cross sections by PHENIX. Within the systematic uncertainty of similar to 20% they account for all e(+)e(-) pairs in the mass region below similar to 1 GeV/c(2). The e(+)e(-) pair yield remaining after subtracting these contributions is dominated by semileptonic decays of charmed hadrons correlated through flavor conservation. Using the spectral shape predicted by PYTHIA, we estimate the charm production cross section to be 544 +/- 39(stat) +/- 142(syst) +/- 200(model) pb. which is consistent with QCD calculations and measurements of single leptons by PHENIX. (C) 2008 Elsevier BV. All rights reserved.

A interdisciplinaridade na ação pedagógica do professor de educação física da rede municipal de ensino de Porto Alegre

O presente estudo aborda a interdisciplinaridade na prática pedagógica dos professores de Educação Física da rede municipal de ensino de Porto Alegre, âmbito educativo onde é adotada a organização curricular por ciclos de formação. Trata-se de uma pesquisa realizada em uma escola desta rede de ensino, local onde procurei compreender, a partir dos professores de Educação Física, como eles constroem sua prática docente orientada por um projeto político pedagógico que prevê um ensino interdisciplinar como eixo norteador. Participaram, como colaboradores da pesquisa, sete professores de Educação Física. A intenção deste estudo é contribuir para a reflexão a respeito da compreensão do estar dos professores na escola através de um estudo de caso. A metodologia utilizada é do tipo etnográfico, o que permitiu um contato intenso com os professores de Educação Física em seu cotidiano. Durante o trabalho de campo foram utilizadas observações em aulas, análise de documentos e entrevistas em profundidade com os professores, possibilitando uma análise desde a perspectiva dos colaboradores sobre o trabalho interdisciplinar na escola. O processo analítico revelou que os professores de Educação Física, colaboradores deste estudo, apresentaram dificuldades em lidar com a prática interdisciplinar tanto no cotidiano de suas aulas quanto no conjunto das relações que são estabelecidas com os outros professores do coletivo docente. Essas dificuldades decorrem de limitações que surgem desde a formação profissional, que enfatiza o ensino esportivo e a transmissão de conhecimentos técnico-instrumentais, compondo, assim, o imprinting cultural dos professores de Educação Física; a estrutura física e a estrutura curricular da escola que não demonstra ter se alterado de forma significativa para possibilitar ações interdisciplinares, constituindo-se numa cultura escolar presa a parâmetros disciplinares e fragmentadores de conhecimentos.

The CMS experiment at the CERN LHC

The Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) detector is described. The detector operates at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN. It was conceived to study proton-proton (and lead-lead) collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 14 TeV (5.5 TeV nucleon-nucleon) and at luminosities up to 10(34)cm(-2)s(-1) (10(27)cm(-2)s(-1)). At the core of the CMS detector sits a high-magnetic-field and large-bore superconducting solenoid surrounding an all-silicon pixel and strip tracker, a lead-tungstate scintillating-crystals electromagnetic calorimeter, and a brass-scintillator sampling hadron calorimeter. The iron yoke of the flux-return is instrumented with four stations of muon detectors covering most of the 4 pi solid angle. Forward sampling calorimeters extend the pseudo-rapidity coverage to high values (vertical bar eta vertical bar <= 5) assuring very good hermeticity. The overall dimensions of the CMS detector are a length of 21.6 m, a diameter of 14.6 m and a total weight of 12500 t.

Ruminal degradability of neutral detergent fiber of Cynodon spp. grasses at four regrowth ages

The aim of this work was to determine ruminal degradation of neutral detergent fiber of grasses of the genus Cynodon, harvested at four cutting ages. It was used a randomized block design, with five treatments arranged in a split plot, the five evaluated genotypes: Tifton 85, Jiggs, Russel, Tifton 68 and Vaquero; were the plots and ages of cutting were the subplots: 28, 48, 63 and 79 days. By adding one day in the cutting age, there was a linear reduction in the effective degradability of neutral detergent fiber of blade and stem of 0.16 and 0.18%, respectively. The increase in the cutting age had a linear and positive influence on the undegradable neutral detergent fiber with daily increments for leaf and stem of 0.12 and 0.18%, respectively. At the 28 regrowth day, all genotypes showed higher content of potentially degradable insoluble fraction, effective degradability and lower undegradable fraction of the neutral detergent fiber of blade and stem in relation to other ages, in this way this interval is recommended for cutting management.

Performance of steers supplemented with mineral mixtures in the State of Mato Grosso

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

Valor nutricional de silagem de capim-mombaça com aditivos agroindustriais

It was aimed to evaluate the chemical composition of grass silage-mombasa associated with different additives in four times of opening the silo. The experiment was conducted in UFGD. After harvesting the forage, biomass in natura crushed, was taken to the lab, homogenized and enriched on the basis of natural mass, with the following additives: 5% wheat bran, 5% of waste (broken grain and soy ice cream cone) of soybean, 5% urea in natural matter and the witness (without additive). The silos were opened after (unprocessed material), 15, 30 and 45 days, for the analysis of chemical composition. The data obtained were analyzed through the statistical programme SISVAR and averages were compared to 5% of probability, by Skott-Knot. The grass silage-mombasa without additive presented major (P<0.05) dry matter content compared to other treatments at time 0 and 30 days of silage and did not differ (P>0.05) of grass silage- mombasa associated with 5 of urea in 15 days and 45 of silage. The grass silage-mombasa with 5% urea showed the highest crude protein content at time 0 and differed from other treatments. The silage of mombasa associated with 5% urea provided greater in vitro digestibility of dry matter to 15 days of silage.

Degradabilidade ruminal da matéria seca de folhas e colmo de genótipos de Cynodon spp. em quatro idades de rebrota

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Perioperative fluid therapy: a statement from the international fluid optimization group

Perioperative fluid therapy remains a highly debated topic. Its purpose is to maintain or restore effective circulating blood volume during the immediate perioperative period. Maintaining effective circulating blood volume and pressure are key components of assuring adequate organ perfusion while avoiding the risks associated with either organ hypo- or hyperperfusion. Relative to perioperative fluid therapy, three inescapable conclusions exist: overhydration is bad, underhydration is bad, and what we assume about the fluid status of our patients may be incorrect. There is wide variability of practice, both between individuals and institutions. The aims of this paper are to clearly define the risks and benefits of fluid choices within the perioperative space, to describe current evidence-based methodologies for their administration, and ultimately to reduce the variability with which perioperative fluids are administered. Based on the abovementioned acknowledgements, a group of 72 researchers, well known within the field of fluid resuscitation, were invited, via email, to attend a meeting that was held in Chicago in 2011 to discuss perioperative fluid therapy. From the 72 invitees, 14 researchers representing 7 countries attended, and thus, the international Fluid Optimization Group (FOG) came into existence. These researches, working collaboratively, have reviewed the data from 162 different fluid resuscitation papers including both operative and intensive care unit populations. This manuscript is the result of 3 years of evidence-based, discussions, analysis, and synthesis of the currently known risks and benefits of individual fluids and the best methods for administering them. The results of this review paper provide an overview of the components of an effective perioperative fluid administration plan and address both the physiologic principles and outcomes of fluid administration. We recommend that both perioperative fluid choice and therapy be individualized. Patients should receive fluid therapy guided by predefined physiologic targets. Specifically, fluids should be administered when patients require augmentation of their perfusion and are also volume responsive. This paper provides a general approach to fluid therapy and practical recommendations.

Defoliation of Terminalia catappa by Larvae of Thagona tibialis (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) in Viçosa, Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Nuclear-modification factor for open-heavy-flavor production at forward rapidity in Cu plus Cu collisions at root s(NN)=200 GeV

Background: Heavy-flavor production in p + p collisions is a good test of perturbative-quantum-chromodynamics (pQCD) calculations. Modification of heavy-flavor production in heavy-ion collisions relative to binary-collision scaling from p + p results, quantified with the nuclear-modification factor (R-AA), provides information on both cold-and hot-nuclear-matter effects. Midrapidity heavy-flavor R-AA measurements at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider have challenged parton-energy-loss models and resulted in upper limits on the viscosity-entropy ratio that are near the quantum lower bound. Such measurements have not been made in the forward-rapidity region. Purpose: Determine transverse-momentum (p(T)) spectra and the corresponding R-AA for muons from heavy-flavor meson decay in p + p and Cu + Cu collisions at root s(NN) = 200 GeV and y = 1.65. Method: Results are obtained using the semileptonic decay of heavy-flavor mesons into negative muons. The PHENIX muon-arm spectrometers measure the p(T) spectra of inclusive muon candidates. Backgrounds, primarily due to light hadrons, are determined with a Monte Carlo calculation using a set of input hadron distributions tuned to match measured-hadron distributions in the same detector and statistically subtracted. Results: The charm-production cross section in p + p collisions at root s = 200 GeV, integrated over p(T) and in the rapidity range 1.4 < y < 1.9, is found to be d(sigma e (e) over bar)/dy = 0.139 +/- 0.029 (stat)(-0.058)(+0.051) (syst) mb. This result is consistent with a perturbative fixed-order-plus-next-to-leading-log calculation within scale uncertainties and is also consistent with expectations based on the corresponding midrapidity charm-production cross section measured by PHENIX. The R-AA for heavy-flavor muons in Cu + Cu collisions is measured in three centrality bins for 1 < p(T) < 4 GeV/c. Suppression relative to binary-collision scaling (R-AA < 1) increases with centrality. Conclusions: Within experimental and theoretical uncertainties, the measured charm yield in p + p collisions is consistent with state-of-the-art pQCD calculations. Suppression in central Cu + Cu collisions suggests the presence of significant cold-nuclear-matter effects and final-state energy loss.

Measurement of Direct Photons in Au plus Au Collisions at root s(NN)=200 GeV

We report the measurement of direct photons at midrapidity in Au + Au collisions at root s(NN) = 200 GeV. The direct photon signal was extracted for the transverse momentum range of 4 GeV/c < pT < 22 GeV/c, using a statistical method to subtract decay photons from the inclusive photon sample. The direct photon nuclear modification factor R-AA was calculated as a function of p(T) for different Au + Au collision centralities using the measured p + p direct photon spectrum and compared to theoretical predictions. R-AA was found to be consistent with unity for all centralities over the entire measured pT range. Theoretical models that account for modifications of initial direct photon production due to modified parton distribution functions in Au and the different isospin composition of the nuclei predict a modest change of R-AA from unity. They are consistent with the data. Models with compensating effects of the quark-gluon plasma on high-energy photons, such as suppression of jet-fragmentation photons and induced-photon bremsstrahlung from partons traversing the medium, are also consistent with this measurement.

Climate signatures in corals of the tropical-temperate transition zone (Late Miocene, Crete/Greece)

The present study describes a Late Miocene (early Tortonian - early Messinian) transitional carbonate system that combines elements of tropical and cool-water carbonate systems (Irakleion Basin, island of Crete, Greece). As documented by stratal geometries, the submarine topography of the basin was controlled by tilting blocks. Coral reefs formed by Porites and Tarbellastrea occurred in a narrow clastic coastal belt along a „central Cretan landmass“, and steep escarpments formed by faulting. Extensive covers of level-bottom communities existed in a low-energy environment on the gentle dip-slope ramps of the blocks that show the widest geographical distribution within the basin. Consistent patterns of landward and basinward shift of coastal onlap in all outcrop studies reveal an overriding control of 3rd and 4th order sea level changes on sediment dynamics and facies distributions over block movements. An increasingly dry climate and the complex submarine topography of the fault block mosaic kept sediment and nutrient discharge at a minimum. The skeletal limestone facies therefore reflects oligotrophic conditions and a sea surface temperature (SST) near the lower threshold temperature of coral reefs in a climatic position transitional between the tropical coral reef belt and the temperate zone. Stable isotope records (δ18O, δ13C) from massiv, exceptionally preserved Late Miocene aragonite coral skeletons reflect seasonal changes in sea surface temperature and symbiont autotrophy. Spectral analysis of a 69 years coral δ18O record reveals significant variance at interannual time scales (5-6 years) that matches the present-day eastern Mediterranean climate variability controlled by the Arctic Oscillation/North Atlantic Oscillation (AO/NAO), the Northern Hemisphere’s dominant mode of atmospheric variability. Supported by simulations with a complex atmospheric general circulation model coupled to a mixed-layer ocean model, it is suggested, that climate dynamics in the eastern Mediterranean and central Europe reflect atmospheric variability related to the Icelandic Low 10 million years ago. Usually, Miocene corals are transformed in calcite spar in geological time and isotope values are reset by diagenetic alteration. It is demonstrated that the relicts of growth bands represent an intriguing source of information for the growth conditions of fossil corals. Recrystallized growth bands were measured systematically in massive Porites from Crete. The Late Miocene corals were growing slowly with 2-4 mm/yr, compatible with present-day Porites from high latitude reefs, a relationship that fits the position of Crete at the margin of the Miocene tropical reef belt. Over Late Miocene time (Tortonian - early Messinian) growth rates remained remarkably constant, and if the modern growth temperature relationship for massive Porites applies to the Neogene, minimum (winter) SST did not exceed 19-21°C.

Revision der paläarktischen Arten der Gattung Lygus Hahn (Heteroptera, Miridae)

Als Ergebnis der Revision der Gattung Lygus Hahn (Heteroptera, Miridae, Insecta) wurden die fünf neuen Arten beschrieben: L. sibiricus Aglyamzyanov, 1990, L. orientis Aglyamzyanov, 1994, L. izyaslavi Aglyamzyanov, 1994, L. monticola Aglyamzyanov, 1994 und L. martensi Aglyamzyanov, 2003. Die vier Speziessnamen wurden synonymisiert: L. dracunculi Josifov, 1992, L. alashanensis Qi, 1993, L. renati Schwartz, 1998 (L. elegans Aglyamzyanov, 1994) = L. poluensis (Wagner, 1967) und L. kerzhneri Qi, 1993 = L. punctatus (Zetterstedt, 1838). Artstatus von L. israelensis Linnavuori, 1962 wurde wiederhergestellt. Nach aktuellen Angaben wurden in der Paläarktis 19 Lygus-Arten festgestellt: L. discrepans Reuter, 1906; L. gemellatus (Herrich-Schaeffer, 1835); L. hsiaoi Zheng & Yu, 1992; L. israelensis Linnavuori, 1962; L. italicus Wagner, 1950; L. izyaslavi Aglyamzyanov, 1994; L. maritimus Wagner, 1949; L. martensi Aglyamzyanov, 2003; L. monticola Aglyamzyanov, 1994; L. orientis Aglyamzyanov, 1994; L. pachycnemis Reuter, 1879; L. paradiscrepans Zheng & Yu, 1992; L. poluensis (Wagner, 1967); L. pratensis (Linnaeus, 1758); L. punctatus (Zetterstedt, 1838); L. rugulipennis Poppius, 1911; L. sibiricus Aglyamzyanov, 1990; L. tibetanus Zheng & Yu, 1992 und L. wagneri Remane, 1955. Es wurden die diagnostischen Merkmale analysiert, eine Bestimmungstabelle erstellt und die Areale der Verbreitung der einigen Arten präzisiert.

Die Rolle der Mastzelle bei der Entstehung einer allergischen Atemwegserkrankung

In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde die Rolle der Mastzelle und deren Mediatoren für die Entstehung einer allergischen Atemwegsentzündung untersucht. Anhand von zwei mastzelldefizienten Mausstämmen (C57BL/6-KitWsh/Wsh und WBB6FI-KitW/Wv), konnte gezeigt werden, dass Mastzellen an der Entstehung einer allergischen Entzündung und Atemwegsüberempfindlichkeit beteiligt sind. Durch die Rekonstitution von mastzelldefizienten Tieren mit aus Knochenmark gewonnenen Mastzellen (BMMC) von Wildtyp-Spendern konnte die wichtige Funktion der Mastzelle in diesem Model bestätigt werden. Überdies konnte durch die Rekonstitution mit TNF-defizienten BMMC eine wichtige Rolle für diesen mastzellproduzierten Mediator im allergischen Modell demonstriert werden. Weiterhin konnte die Arbeit zeigen, dass Mastzellen wichtig für die Migration von antigenbeladenen Dendritischen Zellen aus der Lunge in die regionalen Lymphknoten sind. Dieses stellt einen wichtigen Schritt für die Ausbildung einer lokalen allergischen Antwort dar. Im Gegensatz dazu war die Entstehung einer allergischen Atemwegserkrankung nach Transfer von in vitro generierten DC und Allergenprovokation nicht mastzellabhängig. Diese Ergebnisse zeigen, dass es auf die Wahl des Sensibilisierungs- und Provokationsmodels ankommt, um mastzellspezifische Effekte zu demonstrieren. Die vorliegende Arbeit zeigt die wichtige Rolle der Mastzelle und von mastzellproduziertem TNF bei der Ausbildung einer allergischen Entzündung der Atemwege. Die Mastzelle und deren Mediatoren stellen somit mögliche Ziele für die therapeutische Behandlung der allergischen Entzündung der Atemwege dar.