Measurement of the Neutrino Mass Splitting and Flavor Mixing by MINOS

Measurements of neutrino oscillations using the disappearance of muon neutrinos from the Fermilab NuMI neutrino beam as observed by the two MINOS detectors are reported. New analysis methods have been applied to an enlarged data sample from an exposure of 7.25 x 10(20) protons on target. A fit to neutrino oscillations yields values of vertical bar Delta m(2)vertical bar = (2.32(-0.08)(+0.12) x 10(-3) eV(2) for the atmospheric mass splitting and sin(2)(2 theta) > 0.90 (90% C.L.) for the mixing angle. Pure neutrino decay and quantum decoherence hypotheses are excluded at 7 and 9 standard deviations, respectively.

Human settlements: Australia state of the environment report, 2001

Australia’s transition to the 21st century has been marked by an extended period of economic prosperity unmatched for several decades, but one in which a series of question marks are being raised in three principal areas: in relation to the environment, the social well-being of the population, and the future path of economic development. The first concern, which is of primary interest in this report, relates to the physical environment of cities and their surrounding regions, and the range of pressures exerted by population and human activity. The report begins by noting the increasing divergence of the prime indicator of national economic performance—gross domestic product (GDP)—from the Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI). GPI is a new experimental measure of sustainable development that accommodates factors currently unaccounted for in GDP, such as income distribution, value of household work, cost of unemployment, and various other social and environmental costs. The divergence of these two indicators in recent decades suggests that Australia’s growth has been heavily dependent on the draw-down of the nation’s stocks of capital assets (its infrastructure), its human and social capital, and its natural capital (Hamilton 1997).

Social-conservatism, Australian politics and cricket: The triumvirate of Prime Minister John Howard, Sir Robert Menzies and Sir Donald Bradman

This Article does not have an abstract.

Exploring through cover - the integrated interpretation of high resolution aeromagnetic, airborne electromagnetic and ground gravity data from the Grant's Patch area, Eastern Goldfields Province, Archaean Yigarn Craton Part B; Gravity inversion as a

The cost and risk associated with mineral exploration in Australia increases significantly as companies move into deeper regolith-covered terrain. The ability to map the bedrock and the depth of weathering within an area has the potential to decrease this risk and increase the effectiveness of exploration programs. This paper is the second in a trilogy concerning the Grant's Patch area of the Eastern Goldfields. The recent development of the VPmg potential field inversion program in conjunction with the acquisition of high-resolution gravity data over an area with extensive drilling provided an opportunity to evaluate three-dimensional gravity inversion as a bedrock and regolith mapping tool. An apparent density model of the study area was constructed, with the ground represented as adjoining 200 m by 200 m vertical rectangular prisms. During inversion VPmg incrementally adjusted the density of each prism until the free-air gravity response of the model replicated the observed data. For the Grant's Patch study area, this image of the apparent density values proved easier to interpret than the Bouguer gravity image. A regolith layer was introduced into the model and realistic fresh-rock densities assigned to each basement prism according to its interpreted lithology. With the basement and regolith densities fixed, the VPmg inversion algorithm adjusted the depth to fresh basement until the misfit between the calculated and observed gravity response was minimised. The resulting geometry of the bedrock/regolith contact largely replicated the base of weathering indicated by drilling with predicted depth of weathering values from gravity inversion typically within 15% of those logged during RAB and RC drilling.

A quantitative state and transition model for the Mitchell grasslands of central western Queensland

Concerns of reduced productivity and land degradation in the Mitchell grasslands of central western Queensland were addressed through a range monitoring program to interpret condition and trend. Botanical and eclaphic parameters were recorded along piosphere and grazing gradients, and across fenceline impact areas, to maximise changes resulting from grazing. The Degradation Gradient Method was used in conjunction with State and Transition Models to develop models of rangeland dynamics and condition. States were found to be ordered along a degradation gradient, indicator species developed according to rainfall trends and transitions determined from field data and available literature. Astrebla spp. abundance declined with declining range condition and increasing grazing pressure, while annual grasses and forbs increased in dominance under poor range condition. Soil erosion increased and litter decreased with decreasing range condition. An approach to quantitatively define states within a variable rainfall environment based upon a time-series ordination analysis is described. The derived model could provide the interpretive framework necessary to integrate on-ground monitoring, remote sensing and geographic information systems to trace states and transitions at the paddock scale. However, further work is needed to determine the full catalogue of states and transitions and to refine the model for application at the paddock scale.

The influence of the dispersion method on the electrical properties of vapor-grown carbon nanofiber/epoxy composites

The influence of the dispersion of vapor-grown carbon nanofibers (VGCNF) on the electrical properties of VGCNF/ Epoxy composites has been studied. A homogenous dispersion of the VGCNF does not imply better electrical properties. In fact, it is demonstrated that the most simple of the tested dispersion methods results in higher conductivity, since the presence of well-distributed nanofiber clusters appears to be a key factor for increasing composite conductivity.

Registro de Achatina fulica Bowdich, 1822 (Mollusca, Gastropoda) no Brasil: caramujo hospedeiro intermediário da angiostrongilíase

A introdução de Achatina fulica é assinalada em Itariri, SP, Brasil. Essa espécie de caramujo terrestre foi importada para cultivo, visando à comercialização para consumo humano como "escargot". O encontro de exemplares em vida livre mostra a dispersão de A. fulica e, conseqüentemente, o risco de transmissão de Angiostrongylus cantonensis, nematóide parasita do homem e de outros vertebrados. Além disso, o caramujo é uma praga importante da agricultura.

Os periódicos portugueses de emigração (1808-1822)

Esta dissertação analisa e compara os periódicos com uma componente de divulgação científica, editados por refugiados políticos em Londres e Paris, sendo o núcleo investigado composto por quatro títulos: o Correio Braziliense (1808-1822) e O Investigador Portuguez em Inglaterra (1811-1819), publicados em Londres, O Observador Lusitano em Pariz (1815) e os Annaes das Sciencias, das Artes, e das Letras (1818-1822), ambos com origem na capital francesa. Este estudo comporta uma discussão sobre questões historiográficas levantadas pelo estudo de periódicos de divulgação científica, nomeadamente num país com as particularidades de Portugal, a caracterização do período histórico em que decorreu a vida destas publicações, um panorama breve do estado das diversas ciências no plano internacional que nelas encontraram eco, seguidos da análise propriamente dita do núcleo de periódicos seleccionados. No âmbito desta última, deu-se particular destaque aos editores e ao seu percurso, ao lugar das ciências entre as matérias apresentadas por cada periódico, e aos temas e personalidades focadas. Foram identificadas as principais fontes citadas e analisou-se a participação dos leitores em cada periódico. Ressaltam como traços fundamentais destes periódicos o esforço desenvolvido pelos seus editores no sentido de sensibilizarem os governantes para a importância de alterarem práticas tradicionais e estruturas ultrapassadas, abrindo o país à informação proveniente do exterior e, em particular, ao desenvolvimento científico e económico.

Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Lutz, 1908) isolado por meio de hemocultura em um paciente portadora de símdrome de imunodeficiência adquirida (SIDA)

Relata-se o primeiro caso de isolamento de Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (P. brasiliensis) em sangue de paciente HIV positivo, 28 anos, sexo masculino, natural de Nova Londrina que, ao exame físico e ultrassonográfico, apresentava esplenomegalia febril a esclarecer. Para estabelecer o diagnóstico etiológico, hemoculturas em triplicata foram realizadas para pesquisa de bactérias aeróbias, micobactérias e fungos. As hemoculturas para bactérias aeróbias e micobactérias foram negativas e P. brasiliensis foi isolado de duas hemoculturas, na fase leveduriforme em ágar BHI, 20 dias após a semeadura, a partir do meio de Negroni. O paciente classificado, segundo o "Centers for Disease Control (CDC)", no grupo IV devido a uma pneumocistose pulmonar, interrompeu o tratamento por problemas particulares na segunda dose de anfotericina B, sendo tratado alternativamente com 800 mg/dia de cetoconazol. O óbito ocorreu um ano após o isolamento do P.brasiliensis em hemocultura.

Description of the egg of Anopheles (Anopheles) intermedius (Peryassu, 1908) (Diptera: Culicidae) by scanning electron microscopy

The egg of Anopheles (Anopheles) intermedius (Peryassu, 1908) is described and illustrated with scanning electron micrographs. Literature data on An. (Ano.) maculipes (Theobald, 1903) is provided