Validation of the GRAPE single view aerosol retrieval for ATSR-2 and insights into the long term global AOD trend over the ocean

The Global Retrieval of ATSR Cloud Parameters and Evaluation (GRAPE) project has produced a global data-set of cloud and aerosol properties from the Along Track Scanning Radiometer-2 (ATSR-2) instrument, covering the time period 1995�2001. This paper presents the validation of aerosol optical depths (AODs) over the ocean from this product against AERONET sun-photometer measurements, as well as a comparison to the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) optical depth product produced by the Global Aerosol Climatology Project (GACP). The GRAPE AOD over ocean is found to be in good agreement with AERONET measurements, with a Pearson's correlation coefficient of 0.79 and a best-fit slope of 1.0±0.1, but with a positive bias of 0.08±0.04. Although the GRAPE and GACP datasets show reasonable agreement, there are significant differences. These discrepancies are explored, and suggest that the downward trend in AOD reported by GACP may arise from changes in sampling due to the orbital drift of the AVHRR instruments.

Terminal: a miracle play with popular music from the end of the world

Terminal: A Miracle Play with Popular Music from the End of the World is a film and live performance project exploring the politics of post-apocalyptic fiction. A theatrical staging of a morality play for end times and future folk music, it recasts eschatology, as a foundational myth for a future society. Post-apocalyptic writing and cinema are grounded in an ethos of survivalism. Invoking Rousseau’s state of nature, or time before government, these fictions propose violent scenarios in which nuclear holocaust, environmental catastrophe and other disasters generate an individualistic politics of pure pragmatism, negating the possibility of democratic deliberation. Terminal narrates this familiar scenario, but at the same time questions its validity. The film, shot on black and white VHS at Kurt Schwitters’ Merzbarn in Cumbria, dramatises a series of conversations between future-historical archetypes about the needs and pressures of the situation in which they find themselves at the end of the world. The performers then gather to play worshipful songs about acid rain, radiation sickness and eating the dog, using a mix of conventional, obscure and makeshift instruments In the tradition of books such as Russell Hoban’s Riddley Walker and Arthur M. Miller Jr.’s A Canticle for Liebowitz, Terminal imagines artistic expression and new folk traditions for a world to come after the apocalypse. If, as Slavoj Žižek would have it, it is easier to imagine the end of the world than to think of the end of capitalism, the project juxtaposes these two endpoints to test out how alternative scenarios might emerge from the collaborative practice of making theatre and music against a setting of social collapse.

Multi-instrument ground-based observations of a travelling convection vortices event

A coordinated ground-based observational campaign using the IMAGE magnetometer network, EISCAT radars and optical instruments on Svalbard has made possible detailed studies of a travelling convection vortices (TCV) event on 6 January 1992. Combining the data from these facilities allows us to draw a very detailed picture of the features and dynamics of this TCV event. On the way from the noon to the drawn meridian, the vortices went through a remarkable development. The propagation velocity in the ionosphere increased from 2.5 to 7.4 km s−1, and the orientation of the major axes of the vortices rotated from being almost parallel to the magnetic meridian near noon to essentially perpendicular at dawn. By combining electric fields obtained by EISCAT and ionospheric currents deduced from magnetic field recordings, conductivities associated with the vortices could be estimated. Contrary to expectations we found higher conductivities below the downward field aligned current (FAC) filament than below the upward directed. Unexpected results also emerged from the optical observations. For most of the time there were no discrete aurora at 557.7 nm associated with the TCVs. Only once did a discrete form appear at the foot of the upward FAC. This aurora subsequently expanded eastward and westward leaving its centre at the same longitude while the TCV continued to travel westward. Also we try to identify the source regions of TCVs in the magnetosphere and discuss possible generation mechanisms.

Razões determinantes de decréscimo do ensino de francês na ultima década, nas escolas da rede oficial do ensino regular de 1. e 2. graus no município do Rio de Janeiro

Este estudo teve como objetivo principal a análise dos elementos que contribuíram e/ou contribuem para o decréscimo do ensino do francês na rede oficial do ensino regular do lº e 2º graus do Município do Rio de Janeiro. Paralelamente, no decorrer do estudo surgiu a oportunidade de avaliar a significação do ensino desta língua como instrumento que possibilita ao educando aperfeiçoar-se e ampliar o seu campo de informação, dando-lhe maiores possibilidades de acompanhar o desenvolvimento cultural , científico e tecnológico do mundo e de fazer um breve histórico da influência francesa na cultura brasileira. o objetivo foi atingido através de uma pesquisa de campo em todo o Município do Rio de Janeiro, junto a diretores das escolas federais, estaduais e municipais do 1º e 2º graus e a professores de francês. Foram utilizados, como instrumentos , dois questionários, A e B (anexo nº I), aplicados a 50% das escolas oficiais do ensino regular do 1º e 2º graus das diversas regiões administrativas do Município do Rio de Janeiro que, na época da pesquisa (outubro de 1977), correspondiam a 232 escolas e a 200 professores lecionando francês . Os resultados obtidos evidenciaram que: 1) o ensino do francês continua sendo ministrado no 1º e 2º Graus do ensino regular; 2) é uma profissão exercida predominantemente por profissionais do sexo feminino (85,5%), procurada por jovens entre 20 e 36 a nos (56,6%), dos quais 41,1% casados; 3) a maioria dos professores tem boa formação profissional, utiliza métodos modernos (como o Capelle, o Vive Voix, o Mauger Rouge, o Frère Jacques e o VIF) e fizeram cursos de pós-graduação (68%); 4) apenas 23,5% dos professores conseguiram bolsas de estudos ; 5) os professores com mais de 8 anos (64 ,4% ) , e com 2 a 4 anos (24,4%) de magistério parecem os mais interessados pelo ensino do francês ; 6) 23,5% dos professores observaram pelas escolas, e 48,9% parte dos alunos; 7) a uma diminuição na oferta desta disciplina observaram a diminuição na procura por IV e a XVIII Regiões Administrativas são as que contam com maior número de professores de francês; B) em 1965 no 1º grau, 270 alunos optaram por esta língua e 170 pelo inglês; em 1968 as opções pelo ensino do francês no 1º grau aumentaram para 633 chegando a 8.465 em 1977; 9) 1970 foi apontado como o ano do começo do decréscimo (0,5%), que aumentou em 1975(6,8%), sofrendo novamente uma queda em 1977 (3,6%); 10) o ensino do francês é oferecido em 61,2% das escolas, e 37,6% que não o fazem; 11) a partir das 7as, e 8as, séries o número de alunos diminui tanto para o francês como para o inglês; 12) as principais razoes apontadas pelas escolas e pelos professores como causas do decréscimo do ensino do francês no Município do Rio de Janeiro, por ordem de importância, são: a diminuição da oferta pelas escolas, a falta de professores, a falta de interesse dos alunos, a preocupação com a formação profissional, a influência norte-americana, além de métodos inadequados, programas mal elaborados, a do ensino (Leis 4024/61 e 5692/71) e a pouca divulgação francesa.

Medo de dentista em cena: uma análise de produções cinematográficas

The fear related to dental procedures can be acquired through disturbing experiences and/or negative cultural influences related in experiences of previous generations. Such influences may be present in diverse forms of cultural expression: in the cinema, plastic arts, music, literature, and diverse vehicles of printed and visual media. This research aimed investigates the images of fear related to the dental service and dentist in motion pictures. The study has qualitative approach, which used the documentary analysis of movies. The data collection was accomplished through research in the Internet by means of the Google tool (http://www.google.com.br), using the describing words filme and dentista . A total of 44 films were found. Of these, after selective criterion for films with scenes showing interaction between dentist and patient in the execution of clinical procedure, only 24 films were enclosed. Then, these were registered in data base created for this research. After second selective criterion of inclusion (scenes with suggestion of dental anxiety), 15 films remained. As regards cinematographic gender, the films with scenes showing "dental anxiety" varied between comedy (8), horror (3), drama (2), thriller (1) and childish (1). Of these films, scenes with images of situations that suggest fear of the dentist and his job were selected and described. The images were categorized by the identification of negative characteristics that incite "dental anxiety". Then, the classification of the categories was proceeded detaching the most recurrent characteristics in the scenes: situation of fear in the waiting-room; pain; instrument coarse/rudimentary; coarseness of the dentist; torture; and low qualification technique. The waiting-room was observed as a place of great tension, due to the noises coming from the dental attendance. The pain related to the Dentistry was the predominant subject in the majority of films (14), associated to others negative characteristics. The rudimentary aspects of procedures and instruments, and the coarse attitudes of the professional could be observed too. The dentist was characterized as confused, sadist, violent, insensitive, incompetent person and disturbed. Such results suggest that, despite the technological advances of the profession, the image of the dentist and his job is still transmitted in a negative way aspect and reinforces the dental anxiety

Alcohol screening instruments in elderly male: a population-based survey in metropolitan São Paulo, Brazil

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

Efficacy of NiTi rotary instruments in removing calcium hydroxide dressing residues from root canal walls

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of three rotary instrument systems (K3, ProTaper and Twisted File) in removing calcium hydroxide residues from root canal walls. Thirty-four human mandibular incisors were instrumented with the ProTaper System up to the F2 instrument, irrigated with 2.5% NaOCl followed by 17% EDTA, and filled with a calcium hydroxide intracanal dressing. After 7 days, the calcium hydroxide dressing was removed using the following rotary instruments: G1 - NiTi size 25, 0.06 taper, of the K3 System; G2 - NiTi F2, of the ProTaper System; or G3 - NiTi size 25, 0.06 taper, of the Twisted File System. The teeth were longitudinally grooved on the buccal and lingual root surfaces, split along their long axis, and their apical and cervical canal thirds were evaluated by SEM (×1000). The images were scored and the data were statistically analyzed using the Kruskall Wallis test. None of the instruments removed the calcium hydroxide dressing completely, either in the apical or cervical thirds, and no significant differences were observed among the rotary instruments tested (p > 0.05).

Effect of dental finishing instruments on the surface roughness of composite resins as elucidated by atomic force microscopy

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Impedance e-tongue instrument for rapid liquid assessment

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

O uso idiomático dos instrumentos de percussão brasileiros: principais sistemas notacionais para o pandeiro brasileiro

This article adresses the idiomatic use of Brazilian percussion instruments and their notation on compositions. It uses the Brazilian "pandeiro", which is the principal instrument of this category, to make a technical and comparative analysis of the two main notational systems for this instrument, which are the models developed by Luiz D'Anunciacao and the other by Carlos Stasi. It also includes suggestions to help the development of this notation. It gives a list and description of several method books that could help percussionists, composers and arrangers to deepen their knowledge of Brazilian percussion.

Ten years of NO2 comparisons between ground-based SAOZ and satellite instruments (GOME, SCIAMACHY, OMI)

SAOZ (Systeme d'Analyse par Observations Zenithales) is a ground-based UV-Visible zenith-sky spectrometer installed between 1988 and 1995 at a number of NDSC stations at various latitudes on the globe. The instrument is providing ozone and NO2 vertical columns at sunrise and sunset using the Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) technique in the visible spectral range. The ERS-2 GOME Ozone Monitoring Experiment (GOME) in 1995 was the first satellite mission to provide a global picture of atmospheric NO 2 with reasonable spatial and temporal resolution. It was then followed by SCanning ImAging spectroMeter for Atmospheric ChartographY (SCIAMACHY) onboard ENVISAT in 2002, and Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) onboard EOS-AURA in 2004, with a similar capacity to monitor total NO 2. All these instruments are nadir viewing mapping spectrometers, applying the DOAS technique in the visible for deriving the NO2 total column. Here we present the results of NO2 long-term comparisons between GOME and SAOZ for the whole period of GOME operation since 1995 at all latitudes - tropics, mid-latitudes and polar regions - in both hemispheres. Comparisons are also shown with the most recently available SCIAMACHY and OMI data in 2004-2005. Overall, the daytime satellite measurements (around noon) are found consistent with sunrise ground-based data, with an average smaller difference at the tropics and mid-latitudes than in the polar areas in the summer. The agreement is even improved after correcting for the NO2 photochemical change between sunrise and the satellite overpass using a box model. However, some seasonal dependence of the difference between ground-based and satellite total NO2 still remains, related to the accuracy of photochemical simulations and the set of NO2 air mass factors used in the retrievals of both systems.

Flexibility and torsional resistance of three nickel-titanium retreatment instrument systems

Aim To assess the dimensional characteristics, flexibility and torsional behaviour of nickel-titanium retreatment instruments. Methodology Using image analysis software and high-resolution digital images, the instrument length, tip angle, diameter at 3mm from the tip and the distance between the blades (pitch length) of the following eight instruments were measured (n=12 for each measurement parameter): the ProTaper Universal retreatment (PTU-R) D1, D2 and D3 instruments; the R-Endo R1, R2 and R3 retreatment instruments; and the Mtwo retreatment (Mtwo-R) sizes 25 and 15 retreatment instruments. Maximum torque and the angular deflection at fracture as well as the bending moment at 45° were measured (n=12) according to the International Standards Organisation (ISO) specification number 3630-1. Data were analysed using the analysis of variance (α=0.05). Results The length of the active part of the instruments was found to vary according to the depth of the canal into which they were designed to reach. The pitch length also increased along the active length. The PTU-R D1 and the Mtwo-R instruments had active tips. Measurements of the bending moment at 45° revealed that the Mtwo-R 15 instrument was the most flexible, whereas the PTU-R D1 was the least flexible. The maximum torque tended to increase as the instrument diameter at 3mm from the tip increased, whereas the angular deflection at fracture varied in the opposite direction. Conclusions The geometrical characteristics of the retreatment instruments and their flexibility and torsion behaviour were consistent with their intended clinical application. © 2011 International Endodontic Journal.

Antimicrobial effects of ozonated water on the sanitization of dental instruments contaminated with E. coli, S. aureus, C. albicans, or the spores of B. atrophaeus

Objectives: Ozone has been used as an alternative method for the decontamination of water, food, equipment and instruments. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effects of ozonated water on the sanitization of dental instruments that were contaminated by Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans and the spores of Bacillus atrophaeus. Methods: A total of one hundred and twenty standardized samples of diamond dental burs were experimentally contaminated with E. coli (ATCC 25922), S. aureus (ATCC 6538) and C. albicans (ATCC 18804) and the spores of B. atrophaeus (ATCC 6633) for 30min. After the contamination, the samples were exposed to ozonated water (10mg/L O3) for 10 or 30min. The control group was composed of samples that were exposed to distilled water for 30min. After the exposure to the ozonated water, 0.1mL aliquots were seeded onto BHI agar to count the colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU/mL) of E. coli, S. aureus, and B. atrophaeus. Sabouraud dextrose agar was used to count the CFU/mL of C. albicans. The results were subjected to an analysis of variance and the Tukey test. Results: For all of the microorganisms studied, the ozonated water reduced the number of CFU/mL after 10 and 30. min of sanitization, and this microbial reduction was dependent on the duration of the exposure to the ozonated water. E. coli exhibited the greatest reduction in CFU/mL (2.72-3.78. log) followed by S. aureus (2.14-3.19. log), C. albicans (1.44-2.14. log) and the spores of B. atrophaeus (1.01-1.98. log). Conclusion: The ozonated water was effective in reducing the CFU of E. coli, S. aureus, C. albicans and B. atrophaeus spores, suggesting that ozonated water can be used for the sanitization of dental instruments. © 2012 King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences.

Dedilhado pianístico e suas relações com princípios técnicos e musicais

Pós-graduação em Música - IA