Search for electroweak production of charginos and neutralinos using leptonic final states in pp collisions at root s=7 TeV

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Measurement of the relative prompt production rate of chi(c2) and chi(c1) in pp collisions at root s=7 TeV

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Study of adsorption isotherms of green coconut pulp

O Brasil é considerado um dos maiores produtores e consumidores de frutas tropicais. O coco verde (Cocos nucifera L.) se destaca tanto em termos de produção e consumo quanto em quantidade de resíduos gerada por indústrias de água de coco e pelo consumo in natura. Portanto, existe uma necessidade de aproveitamento deste subproduto. Este trabalho teve por objetivo estudar as isotermas de adsorção da polpa de coco verde e determinação do calor isostérico de sorção. As isotermas de adsorção para as temperaturas de 30, 40, 50, 60 e 70 °C foram analisadas e evidenciaram curvas do tipo III, típicas de alimentos ricos em açúcares. Os dados experimentais de umidade de equilíbrio foram correlacionados por modelos da literatura. O modelo de GAB apresentou melhor concordância com os dados experimentais, entre os modelos avaliados. O calor isostérico de sorção é considerado um indicativo de forças atrativas intermoleculares entre os sítios de sorção de vapor de água, consequentemente, um importante fator para predizer a vida de prateleira de produtos desidratados.

Dry matter production of shoots and root density of two cultivars of Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet

This experiment was conducted in green house conditions to evaluate the DM accumulation in the shoots and in the roots of two cultivars of Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet. A 2x3 factorial (two cultivars and three evaluation dates) was conducted according to a randomized complete block design with four replications, being the cultivars Highworth and Rongai evaluated at 42, 56, and 70 days after seedling emergence (DASE). The results indicated that the cvs. Highworth and Rongai have the same pattern of DM accumulation in the shoots. In the upper layer of the soil (0-0.20 in) it was found 38.83% and 43.64% of the DM accumulated in the roots down to 2.00 in depth, in the cvs. Highworth and Rongai, respectively. In the deepest layer (1.80-2.00 in) it was found 3.02% and 1.5% of the DM accumulated in the roots of the cvs. Highworth and Rongai, respectively. The root density showed a striking decrease upper layer from the soil (0-0.2 m) down to the depth of 0.60 0.80 in (from 10.83 to 1.75 cm.cm(-3) in the cv. Highworth and from 10.76 to 1.28 cm.cm(-3) in the cv. Rongai). At the bottom layer (1.80-2.00 in) the root density values were 0.98 cm.cm(-3) and 0.59 cm.cm(-3), respectively for the cvs. Highworth and Rongai. The root/shoot ratios were similar in both cvs. and decreased from 42 to 70 DASE showing that the cvs. evaluated had the same dynamics of DM accumulation.

Greenhouse gas balance due to the conversion of sugarcane areas from burned to green harvest in Brazil

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

Greenhouse gas balance due to the conversion of sugarcane areas from burned to green harvest, considering other conservationist management practices

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Spatial and temporal variability of soil CO2 emission in a sugarcane area under green and slash-and-burn managements

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Greenhouse gas emission associated with sugar production in southern Brazil

Background: Since sugarcane areas have increased rapidly in Brazil, the contribution of the sugarcane production, and, especially, of the sugarcane harvest system to the greenhouse gas emissions of the country is an issue of national concern. Here we analyze some data characterizing various activities of two sugarcane mills during the harvest period of 2006-2007 and quantify the carbon footprint of sugar production.Results: According to our calculations, 241 kg of carbon dioxide equivalent were released to the atmosphere per a ton of sugar produced (2406 kg of carbon dioxide equivalent per a hectare of the cropped area, and 26.5 kg of carbon dioxide equivalent per a ton of sugarcane processed). The major part of the total emission (44%) resulted from residues burning; about 20% resulted from the use of synthetic fertilizers, and about 18% from fossil fuel combustion.Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that the most important reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from sugarcane areas could be achieved by switching to a green harvest system, that is, to harvesting without burning. © 2010 de Figueiredo et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Prompt and non-prompt J/ψ production in pp collisions at √s =7 TeV

The production of J/ψ mesons is studied in pp collisions at √s = 7 TeV with the CMS experiment at the LHC. The measurement is based on a dimuon sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 314 nb-1. The J/ψ differential cross section is determined, as a function of the J/ψ transverse momentum, in three rapidity ranges. A fit to the decay length distribution is used to separate the prompt from the non-prompt (b hadron to J/ψ) component. Integrated over J/ψ transverse momentum from 6.5 to 30 GeV/c and over rapidity in the range {pipe}y{pipe} < 2.4, the measured cross sections, times the dimuon decay branching fraction, are 70.9 ± 2.1(stat.) ± 3.0(syst.) ± 7.8(luminosity) nb for prompt J/ψ mesons assuming unpolarized production and 26.0 ± 1.4(stat.) ± 1.6(syst.) ± 2.9(luminosity) nb for J/ψ mesons from b-hadron decays. © CERN for the benefit of the CMS collaboration 2011.

Measurement of the lepton charge asymmetry in inclusive W production in pp collisions at √s = 7 TeV

A measurement of the lepton charge asymmetry in inclusive pp → WX production at √s = 7TeV is presented based on data recorded by the CMS detector at the LHC and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36 pb -1. This high precision measurement of the lepton charge asymmetry, performed in both the W → eν and W → μν channels, provides new insights into parton distribution functions. Copyright CERN.

Baccharis dracunculifolia, the main source of green propolis, exhibits potent antioxidant activity and prevents oxidative mitochondrial damage

Baccharis dracunculifolia DC (Asteraceae) is the main botanical source used by honeybees to produce Brazilian green propolis whose hepatoprotective properties have been already described. In this work we investigated the protective effects of the glycolic extract of B. dracunculifolia (GEBd) against oxidative stress in isolated rat liver mitochondria (RLM). The GEBd was prepared by fractionated percolation using propylene glycol as solvent. The total phenols and flavonoids, which are substances with recognized antioxidant action, were quantified in GEBd and the phytochemical analysis was carried out by HPLC. GEBd exhibited significant scavenger activity towards DPPH radicals and superoxide anions in a concentration-dependent manner, and also a Fe 2+ chelating activity. GEBd decreased the basal H 2O 2 generation and the Fe 2+- or t-BuOOH-induced ROS production in isolated mitochondria. Lipid oxidation of mitochondrial membranes, protein thiol groups and GSH oxidation were also prevented by GEBd. This shows that B. dracunculifolia exhibit potent antioxidant activity protecting liver mitochondria against oxidative damage and such action probably contribute to the antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of green propolis. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.

J/ψ and ψ (2S) production in pp collisions at √s = 7 TeV

A measurement of the J/ ψ and ψ (2S) production cross sections in pp collisions at √s = 7TeV with the CMS experiment at the LHC is presented. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 37 pb -1. Using a fit to the invariant mass and decay length distributions, production cross sections have been measured separately for prompt and non-prompt charmonium states, as a function of the meson transverse momentum in several rapidity ranges and integrated in the kinematical regions considered in this study. In addition, cross sections restricted to the acceptance of the CMS detector are given, which are not affected by the polarization of the charmonium states. The ratio of the differential production cross sections of the two states, where systematic uncertainties largely cancel, is also determined. The branching fraction of the inclusive B → ψ (2S)X decay is extracted from the ratio of the non-prompt cross sections to be: B(B → ψ (2S)X) = (3:08 ± 0:12 (stat.+syst.) ± 0:13 (theor.) ± 0:42 (BPDG)) × 10 -3: B(B → ψ(2S)X) = (3.08 ± 0.12 (stat.+syst.) ± 0.13 (theor.) ± 0.42 (B PDG)) × 10 -3.

Search for resonant t̄t production in lepton+jets events in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV

A model-independent search for the production of heavy resonances decaying into top-antitop quark pairs is presented. The search is based on events containing one lepton (muon or electron) and at least two jets selected from data samples corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.4-5.0 fb -1 collected in pp collisions at √s =7 TeV. Results are presented from the combination of two dedicated searches optimized for boosted production and production at threshold. No excess of events is observed over the expected yield from the standard model processes. Topcolor Z′ bosons with narrow (wide) width are excluded at 95% confidence level for masses below 1.49 (2.04) TeV and an upper limit of 0.3 (1.3) pb or lower is set on the production cross section times branching fraction for resonance masses above 1 TeV. Kaluza-Klein excitations of a gluon with masses below 1.82 TeV (at 95% confidence level) in the Randall-Sundrum model are also excluded, and an upper limit of 0.7 pb or lower is set on the production cross section times branching fraction for resonance masses above 1 TeV.[Figure not available: See fulltext.] © 2012 CERN for the benefit of the CMS collaboration.

Observation of a diffractive contribution to dijet production in proton-proton collisions at √s=7 TeV

The cross section for dijet production in proton-proton collisions at √s=7 TeV is presented as a function of a variable that approximates the fractional momentum loss of the scattered proton in single-diffractive events. The analysis is based on an integrated luminosity of 2.7 nb-1 collected with the CMS detector at the LHC at low instantaneous luminosities, and uses events with jet transverse momentum of at least 20 GeV. The dijet cross section results are compared to the predictions of diffractive and nondiffractive models. The low- data show a significant contribution from diffractive dijet production, observed for the first time at the LHC. The associated rapidity gap survival probability is estimated. © 2013 CERN. Published by the American Physical Society.

Evidence for associated production of a single top quark and W Boson in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV

Evidence is presented for the associated production of a single top quark and W boson in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV with the CMS experiment at the LHC. The analyzed data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 4.9 fb -1. The measurement is performed using events with two leptons and a jet originated from a b quark. A multivariate analysis based on kinematic properties is utilized to separate the tt̄ background from the signal. The observed signal has a significance of 4.0σ and corresponds to a cross section of 16-4+5 pb, in agreement with the standard model expectation of 15.6±0.4-1.2+1.0 pb. © 2013 CERN, for the CMS Collaboration Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI.