Search for supersymmetry in hadronic final states using M-T2 in pp collisions at root s=7 TeV

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Characterization of operational safety in offshore oil wells

The main concern of activities developed in oil and gas well construction is safety. But safety during the well construction process is not a trivial subject. Today risk evaluation approaches are based in static analyses of existent systems. In other words, those approaches do not allow a dynamic analysis that evaluates the risk for each alteration of the context. This paper proposes the use of Quantitative and Dynamic Risk Assessment (QDRA) to assess the degree of safety of each planned job. The QDRA can be understood as a safe job analysis approach, developed with the purpose of quantifying the safety degree in entire well construction and maintenance activities. The QDRA is intended to be used in the planning stages of well construction and maintenance, where the effects of hazard on job sequence are important unknowns. This paper also presents definitions of barrier, and barriers integrated set (BIS), and a modeling technique showing their relationships. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Phase-Locked Loop design applied to frequency-modulated atomic force microscope

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

Tracing source and evolution of suspended particles in the Rio Negro Basin (Brazil) using chemical species of iron

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Electrochemical and spectroscopic characterization of screen-printed gold-based electrodes modified with self-assembled monolayers and Tc85 protein

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

SnO2 nanoparticles functionalized in amorphous silica and glass

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Photodegradation of lincomycin and diazepam in sewage treatment plant effluent by photo-Fenton process

First, the effect of ferrioxalate or iron nitrate on the photo-Fenton degradation efficiency of the pharmaceuticals lincomycin (LCM) and diazepam (DZP) was evaluated. The degradation of both pharmaceuticals was improved in the presence of ferrioxalate in relation to Fe(NO(3)), either under black-light or solar irradiation. The degradation of the pharmaceuticals was then evaluated when present in an effluent from sewage treatment plant (STP) under black-light irradiation. Pharmaceuticals oxidation was not influenced by the matrix, since very similar results were obtained when compared to the experiments carried out in distilled water. However, DOC removal was slightly affected by the matrix, due probably to the generation of recalcitrant intermediates during effluent photodegradation and to the high content of inorganic carbon of STP effluent. Even so, high DOC removal percentages were achieved, 65% for lincomycin and 80% for diazepam after 60 min irradiation. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Salivary parameters and teeth erosions in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Tempo de circulação extracorpórea como fator risco para insuficiência renal aguda

OBJETIVO: A insuficiência renal aguda (IRA) no pósoperatório (PO) de cirurgia cardíaca é complicação grave. O objetivo deste trabalho é avaliar o tempo de circulação extracorpórea (CEC) como fator de risco para IRA. MÉTODO: Foram avaliados 116 pacientes de um único centro, submetidos a cirurgia cardíaca com CEC. Foram avaliados os dados demográficos, características clínicas, variáveis intra e pós-operatórias. A creatinina sérica e o clearance de creatinina foram avaliados até o 5ºPO. IRA foi definida como necessidade de diálise. Os pacientes foram estratificados em dois grupos: grupo CEC< 70 min e grupo CEC> 90min. RESULTADOS: O aumento médio da creatinina sérica no PO foi 0,18+0,41 no grupo CEC<70min e 0,42+0,44 no grupo CEC>90min (p=0,005). Diálise foi necessária em 1,3% dos pacientes do grupo CEC<70min, e em 12,5% do grupo CEC> 90min (p=0,018). O risco relativo para diálise foi 1,12 (IC 95%, 1,00-1,20) para CEC>90min. Não houve diferença para mortalidade (5,2 versus 7,5%, p=0,631). CONSLUSÃO: O desenvolvimento de IRA no pós-operatório de cirurgia cardíaca foi observado em pacientes com tempo de CEC superior a 90 minutos, embora o clearance de creatinina não tenha demonstrado alteração entre os grupos.

Expression of p53, Ki-67, and CD31 in the vaginal margins of radical hysterectomy in patients with stage IB carcinoma of the cervix

Objectives. This study was undertaken to evaluate the expression of p53, Ki-67, and CD31 both in the tumor and in the vaginal margins of radical hysterectomy in patients with stage IB squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix, as an attempt to use these proteins as possible markers for residual tumor in cervical cancer.Methods. Thirty patients with stage IB squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix were submitted to radical hysterectomy (study group), and thirty patients with uterine myoma were submitted to vaginal hysterectomy (control group) and were prospectively studied from November 2001 to September 2002. Tissue samples were taken from the tumor or cervix, anterior vaginal margin (AVM), and posterior vaginal margin (PVM) and were immunohistochemically evaluated by monoclonal antibodies for p53, Ki-67, and CD31. Vaginal samples in which the histological examination showed tumor involvement were excluded from the study.Results. Patient's mean age was 48.7 +/- 10.4 years (27-73 years). The clinical stage was IB1 in 22 patients (73.3%) and IB2 in eight patients (26.7%). The expressions of p53, Ki-67, and CD31 were significantly higher in the tumor than in the benign cervix (P < 0.001). Higher expressions of these markers were noted in the vaginal margins of radical hysterectomy in patients with cervical carcinoma compared to the vaginal margins of control patients. This association was demonstrated for p53 in the AVM proximal (P = 0.045), for Ki-67 in AVM proximal (P < 0.001), AVM distal (P < 0.001), PVM proximal (P = 0.009), and PVM distal (P < 0.001), and for CD31 in AVM proximal (P = 0.003) and AVM distal (P = 0.018). There was no difference in p53, Ki-67, and CD31 expression between the proximal and distal regions of the vaginal margins in patients with carcinoma of the cervix.Conclusion. The expressions of p53, Ki-67, and CD31 were significantly higher in both the histologically positive (cervical tumor) and negative (vaginal margins) tissues of patients who had undergone radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer compared to the benign control tissues. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of rotary or manual instrumentation, with or without a calcium hydroxide/1% chlorhexidine intracanal dressing, on the healing of experimentally induced chronic periapical lesions

Objective. To evaluate the healing of experimentally induced chronic periapical lesions in dogs at 30, 75, and 120 days after root canal instrumentation with rotary NiTi files or manual K-files, with or without a calcium hydroxide/1% chlorhexidine paste intracanal dressing.Study design. The second, third, and fourth mandibular premolars and the second and third maxillary premolars of 5 dogs (12 to 18 months of age, weighing 8 to 15 kg) were selected for treatment (a total of 82 root canals). After pulp removal, the root canals were left exposed to the oral cavity for 7 days to allow microbial contamination, after which the root canals were sealed with ZOE cement until periapical lesions were confirmed with radiography. Group I and II teeth were instrumented with manual K-files using the crown-down technique. In group III and IV teeth, NiTi rotary files were used. The apical delta was perforated by using #20 to #30 K-files at the length of the tooth, thus creating a standardized apical opening. The apical stop was enlarged to size 70, with 2.5% sodium hypochlorite irrigation at each file change. Teeth in groups II and IV were dressed with calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)(2))/1% chlorhexidine (CHX) paste for 15 days before root filling. Group I and III teeth did not receive an intracanal dressing. The access openings of the teeth were permanently restored with silver amalgam condensed on a glass ionomer cement base. Pairs of standardized periapical radiographs were taken at the beginning of the treatment (0 days) and at 30, 75, and 120 days after filling.Results. There was no significant difference in the rate of radiographic healing of the periapical lesions between manual and rotary instrumentation. Radiographs taken at 120 days showed that the treatment with Ca(OH)(2)/1% CHX paste resulted in a significant reduction in mean size of the periapical lesions in comparison to single-session treatment. These findings were also true for histologic observations.Conclusion. The findings support the hypothesis that, regardless of the instrumentation technique (manual or rotary), the use of an intracanal dressing is important in the endodontic treatment of dog's teeth with experimentally induced chronic periapical lesions.

Effects of sire breed-grazing system and environmental parameters on the behaviour of beef calves just after birth

Effects of sire breed-grazing system and environmental factors on the first activities of high grade Nellore and crossbred Canchim x Nellore, Angus x Nellore, and Simmental x Nellore calves raised in intensive production systems and high grade Nellore calves raised in an extensive production system, after birth, were studied. During 2 years, 185 calves were observed from birth until the end of first suckling, and the following variables were estimated: duration of maternal attention (cow to calf) during the first 15 min after calving, latency to first attempt to stand up, latency to stand up, latency to first suckling, duration of first suckling and the interval from standing to suckling. Data were analyzed by least squares methods, with models that included fixed effects of year and time of the year of birth (March-April (early autumn) and May-June (late autumn)), sire breed-grazing system (Sy), sex of calf (Se), category of cow (primiparous and pluriparous), time of birth, Sy x Se, year x Sy and year x time of the year interactions and the covariates weight of calf, rainfall, air temperature and relative humidity in the day of birth. Calves born from 6:00 to 8:00 h presented the longest latencies to first stand up (40.3 +/- 5.1 min) and the shortest occur from 14:00 to 16:00 h (15.8 +/- 2.7 min) (P < 0.01). Primiparous cows provided longer attention toward the calf in the first 15 min after birth than pluriparous cows (13.0 +/- 0.7 min versus 11.1 +/- 0.5 min; P < 0.05). This attention was also shorter in earlier autumn (11.0 +/- 0.5 min) and longer in late autumn (13.1 +/- 0.8 min) (P < 0.05). Relative to sire breed-grazing system, Nellore calves raised intensively did take longer to stand and to suckle after birth as compared to crossbred calves also raised intensively (P < 0.01). However, grazing system did not affect (P > 0.05) any behaviour variable studied. As regard to sex differences, female calves did take less (P < 0.01) time to suckle after standing than male calves. Results showed that even purebred or crossbred Bos indicus calves in subtropical environmental need extra care when born on rainy days, especially during the first hours of the day. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Magnesium supplementation alleviates premenstrual symptoms of fluid retention

We investigated the effect of a daily supplement of 200 mg of magnesium (as MgO) for two menstrual cycles on the severity of premenstrual symptoms in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. A daily supplement of 200 mg of Mg (as MgO) or placebo was administered for two menstrual cycles to each volunteer, who kept a daily record of her symptoms, using a 4-point scale in a menstrual diary of 22 items. Symptoms were grouped into six categories: PMS-A (anxiety), PMS-C (craving), PMS-D (depression), PMS-H (hydration), PMS-O (other), and PMS-T (total overall symptoms). Urinary Mg output/24 hours was estimated from spot samples using the Mg/creatinine ratio. Analysis of variance for 38 women showed no effect of Mg supplementation compared with placebo in any category in the first month of supplementation. In the second month there was a greater reduction (p = 0.009) of symptoms of PMS-H (weight gain, swelling of extremities, breast tenderness, abdominal bloating) with Mg supplementation compared with placebo. Compliance to supplementation was confirmed by the greater mean estimated 24-hour urinary output of Mg (p = 0.013) during Mg supplementation (100.8 mg) compared with placebo (74.1 mg). A daily supplement of 200 mg of Mg (as MgO) reduced mild premenstrual symptoms of fluid retention in the second cycle of administration.

Photoluminescence in disordered Zn2TiO4

In this work, the polymeric precursor method Was used to obtain disordered Zn2TiO4 powders, either Undoped or doped with Sn4+, Cr3+ and V5+, to be applied its photoluininescent material. The characterization was undertaken by means of thermal analysis (TG and DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (IR) and photoluminescence (PL). Previous works stated that titanate octahedra containing a short Ti-O distance show efficient luminescence at roorn temperature if these octahedra are isolated from each other. In the present work, the phenomenon was observed in condensed octahedra, sharing edges. The room temperature PL noticed in undoped Zn2TiO4 had its intensity increased by the dopant addition-the increase was of about 300% for V5+ doping 400% for Cr3+ and 800% for Sn4+. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.