Leptogenesis as the origin of matter-antimatter asymmetry in extra dimensional and supersymmetric models

The Standard Model of particle physics is currently the best description of fundamental particles and their interactions. All particles save the Higgs boson have been observed in particle accelerator experiments over the years. Despite the predictive power the Standard Model there are many phenomena that the scenario does not predict or explain. Among the most prominent dilemmas is matter-antimatter asymmetry, and much effort has been made in formulating scenarios that accurately predict the correct amount of matter-antimatter asymmetry in the universe. One of the most appealing explanations is baryogenesis via leptogenesis which not only serves as a mechanism of producing excess matter over antimatter but can also explain why neutrinos have very small non-zero masses. Interesting leptogenesis scenarios arise when other possible candidates of theories beyond the Standard Model are brought into the picture. In this thesis, we have studied leptogenesis in an extra dimensional framework and in a modified version of supersymmetric Standard Model. The first chapters of this thesis introduce the standard cosmological model, observations made on the photon to baryon ratio and necessary preconditions for successful baryogenesis. Baryogenesis via leptogenesis is then introduced and its connection to neutrino physics is illuminated. The final chapters concentrate on extra dimensional theories and supersymmetric models and their ability to accommodate leptogenesis. There, the results of our research are also presented.

Efeito da maturação e temperatura na germinação de sementes de Phoenix canariensis hort. ex Chabaud - Arecaceae

Phoenix canariensis hort. ex Chabaud, originária das Ilhas Canárias, é uma palmeira que apresenta grande valor ornamental. A propagação das palmeiras, de modo geral, é considerada lenta, desuniforme e influenciada por vários fatores, como estádio de maturação e temperatura. Devido à sua importância e à falta de informações na literatura sobre a propagação da espécie, este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar o efeito do estádio de maturação e da temperatura na germinação de sementes de P. canariensis. Realizou-se um experimento cujo delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial 2 x 5 (2 para maturação e 5 para temperatura), com quatro repetições de 25 sementes. Frutos de colorações alaranjada (intermediário) e marrom (maduro) foram despolpados e os diásporos, colocados em caixas plásticas (tipo gerbox) contendo vermiculita como substrato, nas temperaturas de 25, 30, 35, 20-30 e 25-35 ºC, com fotoperíodo de 16 h de luz e 8 h de escuro, utilizando-se câmaras incubadoras tipo BOD com controle de temperatura e fotoperíodo. Pelos resultados, conclui-se que a condição que permitiu maior porcentagem de germinação das sementes de P. canariensis foi a partir de frutos maduros (de coloração marrom), na temperatura alternada de 20-30 ºC, atingindo 98% de germinação.

Invasão por espécies arbóreas exóticas em remanescentes florestais no Planalto Sul Catarinense

Este estudo objetivou avaliar a invasão por espécies arbóreas exóticas em dois fragmentos (F1 e F2) de Floresta Ombrófila Mista (FOM) em Lages, SC. Foram alocadas 25 parcelas por fragmento, distribuídas em cinco transeções de 20 x 100 m, perpendiculares às bordas e com distância de 100 m entre si, onde foram avaliados os indivíduos dos estratos adulto (DAP - diâmetro à altura do peito > 5 cm) e regenerante (DAP < 5 cm e altura >10 cm). Esses foram identificados e mensurados (circunferência e altura). Foi calculado, para as espécies de cada estrato e de cada fragmento, o Índice de Invasão Biológica (IIB). A relação entre o IIB e a distância da borda foi verificada por meio de regressões lineares simples. O agrupamento de espécies exóticas e nativas foi determinado por meio de correlações de Spearman e de dendrogramas. Foram amostrados 3.701 indivíduos distribuídos em 105 espécies, sendo cinco espécies invasoras. No F1 houve valores de IIB relativamente baixos (0,05 e 0,54), com Pinus taeda L., obtendo-se a maior participação na invasão, e esse esteve agrupado com espécies nativas pioneiras. Os IIB´s no F2 foram altos (0,61 e 1,96), principalmente pela elevada participação de Ligustrum lucidum W.T. Aiton., que ficou agrupado a espécies típicas da FOM. Não foi observada relação entre a distância da borda e a intensidade da invasão biológica. Os resultados indicaram que os fragmentos apresentaram diferentes padrões de invasão biológica, determinados pela natureza da matriz de entorno e pelas características ecológicas das espécies invasoras.

Similaridade florística das florestas superomontanas no domínio Atlântico, Brasil

Este estudo teve como objetivos avaliar a similaridade florística do componente arbóreo de 39 remanescentes de florestas superomontanas no domínio atlântico, Brasil, e analisar a influência de variáveis geográficas e climáticas sobre os padrões observados. Foi utilizada uma matriz binária de presença e ausência das espécies arbóreas compiladas dos 39 levantamentos florísticos e fitossociológicos. Para conhecer a relação da composição florística das áreas com variáveis ambientais e espaciais, foram extraídas as coordenadas geográficas e os dados climáticos de cada área. Com o objetivo de avaliar a similaridade florística dos remanescentes, foi utilizado um dendrograma e, para determinar a influência de variáveis ambientais e espaciais sobre os padrões florísticos, foi utilizada a análise multivariada NMDS. O dendrograma e a NMDS demonstraram a formação de agrupamentos, predominantemente entre remanescentes localizados em uma mesma unidade fitogeográfica. Observou-se a existência de um gradiente ambiental ligado às condições climáticas. Em áreas com maiores valores de sazonalidade térmica, amplitude térmica anual, precipitação, latitude e longitude, ocorreram florestas superomontanas com matriz ombrófila e, em áreas com maiores valores de temperatura média, amplitude térmica diária, isotermalidade, sazonalidade da precipitação e temperatura mínima no mês mais frio, ocorreram predominantemente florestas com matriz estacional.

DISTRIBUIÇÃO E RIQUEZA DE ESPÉCIES ARBÓREAS RARAS EM FRAGMENTOS DE FLORESTA OMBRÓFILA MISTA AO LONGO DE UM GRADIENTE ALTITUDINAL, EM SANTA CATARINA

RESUMOEste estudo teve por objetivo analisar como a distribuição e riqueza de espécies raras em fragmentos de Floresta Ombrófila Mista ocorrem ao longo de um gradiente altitudinal. Para isso, espécies arbóreas (diâmetro à altura do peito > 5 cm) foram amostradas em 10 fragmentos florestais localizados em diferentes pisos altitudinais do Planalto Sul-Catarinense, em uma área total de 10 ha. As espécies que apresentaram número de indivíduos igual ou inferior a 2 em pelo menos um fragmento foram classificadas como raras. A distribuição das espécies foi verificada por meio de dendrograma construído a partir do índice de distância florística de Jaccard e do algoritmo de agrupamento UPGMA. A riqueza total de espécies por fragmento e o número de espécies raras foram comparados entre as subformações montana e alto-montana, por meio do teste de Mann-Whitney (U). As relações entre altitude e os valores de riqueza total e número de espécies raras em cada fragmento foram determinadas por regressões lineares simples. Os resultados indicaram a formação de dois grandes grupos de espécies raras em função do piso altitudinal. Apesar de a riqueza total das comunidades reduzir com o aumento da altitude, o número de espécies raras não apresentou alterações significativas. Conclui-se que na região do Planalto Sul-Catarinense os fragmentos de Floresta Ombrófila Mista apresentam diferentes conjunto de espécies arbóreas raras de acordo com a altitude e que a diminuição da riqueza das comunidades com o aumento do piso altitudinal não é acompanhada pela redução do número de espécies raras.

Biomass allocation and water use efficiency in fertigated sweet pepper

The use of productivity information and efficiency of water use is important for the economic analysis of production and irrigation management, and also helps the economy of water use, which is essential to plant life. The objective of this study was to evaluate the biomass allocation, the water use efficiency and water content in fruits of sweet pepper cropped under the influence of irrigation blades and potassium doses. The statistic design was a completely randomized factorial scheme (5 x 2) and four replications, with five irrigation blades (80; 90; 100; 110 and 120% of crop evapotranspiration) and two levels of potassium (80 and 120 kg K2O ha-1 ), applied according to phenological phase, through a system of drip irrigation with self-compensated drippers, installed in a battery of 40 drainage lysimeters cultivated with sweet pepper (Maximos F1), at Federal Rural University of Pernambuco (UFRPE), Recife, state of Pernambuco, Brazil. The dry biomass production of sweet pepper was influenced by fertigation regimes; when it was set the lowest dose, estimates of the efficiency of water use and moisture in the fruit occurred with the use of irrigation depth of 97 and 95% of ETc, respectively.

Identification of croplands of winter cereals in Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, through unsupervised classification of normalized difference vegetation index images

This study aimed to propose methods to identify croplands cultivated with winter cereals in the northern region of Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Thus, temporal profiles of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) from MODIS sensor, from April to December of the 2000 to 2008, were analyzed. Firstly, crop masks were elaborated by subtracting the minimum NDVI image (April to May) from the maximum NDVI image (June to October). Then, an unsupervised classification of NDVI images was carried out (Isodata), considering the crop mask areas. According to the results, crop masks allowed the identification of pixels with greatest green biomass variation. This variation might be associated or not with winter cereals areas established to grain production. The unsupervised classification generated classes in which NDVI temporal profiles were associated with water bodies, pastures, winter cereals for grain production and for soil cover. Temporal NDVI profiles of the class winter cereals for grain production were in agree with crop patterns in the region (developmental stage, management standard and sowing dates). Therefore, unsupervised classification based on crop masks allows distinguishing and monitoring winter cereal crops, which were similar in terms of morphology and phenology.

Leaf concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus in phaseolus vulgaris l. Plants under high CO2 concentration and drought stress

This study aims to evaluate the leaf concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus correlated to the production of photoassimilates in beans plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) under high [CO2] and drought stress. The experiment was conducted in Viçosa (Brazil), during the period from April to July 2009, by using open-top chambers equipped with CO2 injection system. The drought stress was applied, through the irrigation suspension, during the period from flowering to maturation. The experimental design was randomized blocks in split-plot scheme with four replication, where the plots with plants grown in [CO2] of 700 mg L-1 and [CO2] environment of 380 mg L-1 and the subplots with plants with and without drought stress. The results were submitted to ANOVA and Tukey test (p < 0.05). In the plants under high [CO2] with and without drought stress, the photosynthetic rate increased by 59%, while the dry matter presented an increment of 20% in the plants under high [CO2] without drought stress. Reductions in [N] and [P] occurred in plants grown under high [CO2], resulting in greater efficiency in nitrogen use for photosynthesis. The high [CO2] increase only the total dry matter and not the total mass of grains. The drought stress reduces the dry matter and mass of grain, even at high [CO2].

Código Florestal brasileiro: impactos econômicos e sociais no município de Bandeirantes – PR

RESUMOO trabalho teve como objetivo analisar os impactos econômicos e sociais provocados pela recomposição florestal do município de Bandeirantes – PR, considerando dois cenários: o Código Florestal vigente e a proposta de alteração. No município, 83,63% dos imóveis rurais enquadram-se na categoria de agricultura familiar, com predomínio de minifúndios e pequenas propriedades, nos quais, problemas sociais poderão surgir caso as alterações na legislação ambiental não apresentem alternativas justas e viáveis economicamente. Se aprovada a proposta, as áreas de mata ciliar ao longo dos córregos serão reduzidas de 4.270,74 ha para 2.122,18 ha; enquanto nas nascentes e nos rios principais, que não sofrerão alteração, serão de 434,17 ha e 1.152,32 ha, respectivamente. Pelo Código atual, os imóveis com área de até 72 ha deverão recompor 3.939,66 ha, enquanto os maiores, 3.740,31 ha. Pela proposta em trâmite, aqueles recomporiam 1.352,19 ha, e estes, 2.558,99 ha, traduzindo-se em ganho de área produtiva para ambos; entretanto, esse aumento pode não compensar os danos ambientais provocados.

Avaliação da função pulmonar em pacientes submetidas à mastoplastia redutora

OBJETIVO: Avaliar prospectivamente a função pulmonar de pacientes submetidas à mastoplastia redutora. MÉTODOS: Doze pacientes femininas portadoras de gigantomastia e sem antecedentes médicos, realizaram mastoplastia redutora no Hospital das Clínicas da UFBA. As pacientes foram submetidas ao teste de função pulmonar e medidas de gases sanguíneos arteriais nos períodos pré-operatório e pós-operatório (três a seis meses). Os dados obtidos foram analisados por meio do teste de Wilcoxon e o nível de significância estatística foi p< 0,05. RESULTADOS: Nos dados obtidos por intermédio dos testes de função pulmonar, a capacidade pulmonar total e o volume residual foram maiores no pós-operatório (p < 0,05). Quanto aos dados de gases arteriais, não houve variações estatisticamente significantes. CONCLUSÃO: O aumento da capacidade pulmonar total e volume residual podem sugerir uma melhor função pulmonar após mastoplastia redutora em gigantomastia, apesar de não alterarem os gases arteriais das pacientes saudáveis.

Atenolol prevents the formation of expansive hematoma after rhytidoplasty

Objective: To evaluate the perioperative use of atenolol in reducing the incidence of hematoma after rhytidoplasty.Methods: Between January 2007 and February 2013, 80 patients were randomized into two groups: Group A (n = 26) received perioperative atenolol in order to maintain heart rate (PR) around 60 per minute; Group B (n = 54) did not receive atenolol. Both groups underwent the same anesthetic and surgical technique. We monitored blood pressure (BP), HR, hematoma formation and the need for drainage. Patients were followed-up until the 90th postoperative day. The variables were compared between the groups using the ANOVA test. Continuous variables were presented as mean ± standard deviation and the differences were compared with the Student's t test. Values of p d" 0.05 were considered significant.Results: In group A the mean BP (110-70mmHg ± 7.07) and HR (64 / min ± 5) were lower (p d" 0.05) than in group B (135-90mmHg ± 10.6) and (76 / min ± 7.5), respectively. There were four cases of expansive hematoma in group B, all requiring reoperation for drainage, and none in group A (p d" 0,001).Conclusion: The perioperative use of atenolol caused a decrease in blood pressure and heart rate and decreased the incidence of expanding hematoma after rhytidectomy.

Correlation between the Alvarado Scale and the macroscopic aspect of the appendix in patients with appendicitis

Objective: To evaluate the possible association between the scale of Alvarado (EA) and macroscopic appearance (MA) of the appendix in patients with acute appendicitis.Methods: after receiving the diagnosis of acute appendicitis, EA data were collected. During appendectomy, MA data were collected. Data from patients without appendicitis were excluded. The Spearman correlation test was used to compare EA with Appendix MA (p < 0.05). Other variables were represented by simple frequency. The confidence interval (CI) of 95% was calculated for the correlation test.Results: Data were collected from 67 consecutive patients. The mean age was 37.1 ± 12.5 years and 77.6% of patients were male. The Spearman correlation test used for EA and MA was + 0.77 (95% CI 0.65-0.85, p < 0.0001).Conclusion: although correlation was not perfect, our data indicate that a high score on the scale of Alvarado in patients with appendicitis is correlated with advanced stages of the inflammatory process of acute appendicitis.

Use of alcohol before and after bariatric surgery

OBJECTIVE: to assess alcohol intake in the bariatric surgery pre and postoperative periods. METHODS: Patients were interviewed atSurgery Clinic of the Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco - HC/UFPE (Brazil) from July 2011 to March 2012. We analyzed socioeconomic, anthropometric and clinical variables. We used the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT C). RESULTS: One hundred nineteen patients were enrolled (mean age: 41.23+11.30 years), with a predominance of the female gender (83.2%), non-Caucasian race (55%), married individuals or in a stable union (65.5%), with a high school education (40.3%)and active in the job market (37%). Weight and body mass index (BMI) were 128.77+25.28Kg and 49.09+9.26Kg/m2,respectively in the preoperative period (class II obesity) and 87.19+19.16Kg and 33.04+6.21Kg/m2, respectively in the postoperative period (class I obesity) (p<0.001). Hypertension was the most frequent disease in the pre (66.6%) and postoperative (36.5%) periods. The prevalence of alcohol use was 26.6% in the preoperative period, of which 2.2% of high risk, and 35.1% in the postoperative period, of which 1.4% of probable dependence; this difference did not achieve statistical significance (p=0.337). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of abusive alcohol intake and/or probable dependence was low in both the pre and postoperative periods, with little evidence of risky consumption among the patients submitted to bariatric surgery.

Preliminary study of coconut water for graft tissues preservation in transplantation

OBJECTIVE: to verify the effectiveness of coconut water in preserving tissues for transplant. METHODS: Fifty male Wistar rats were randomly distributed in five groups, according to the following preservation solutions for tissue grafts: Group 1: Lactated Ringer; Group 2: Belzer solution; Group 3: mature coconut water; Group 4: green coconut water; Group 5: modified coconut water. In Group 5, the green coconut water has been modified like the Belzer solution. From each animal we harvasted the spleen, ovaries and skin of the back segment. These tissues were preserved for six hours in one of the solutions. Then, the grafts were reimplanted. The recovery of the function of the implanted tissues was assessed 90 days after surgery, by splenic scintigraphy and blood exame. The implanted tissues were collected for histopathological examination. RESULTS: The serum levels did not differ among groups, except for the animals in Group 5, which showed higher levels of IgG than Group 1, and differences in relation to FSH between groups 1 and 2 (p <0.001), 4 and 2 (p = 0.03) and 5 and 2 (p = 0.01). The splenic scintigraphy was not different between groups. The ovarian tissue was better preserved in mature coconut water (p <0.007). CONCLUSION: the coconut water-based solutions preserves spleen, ovary, and rat skin for six hours, maintaining their normal function.

Implementation of the trauma registry as a tool for quality improvement in trauma care in a brazilian hospital: the first 12 months

ABSTRACTObjective:to analyze the implementation of a trauma registry in a university teaching hospital delivering care under the unified health system (SUS), and its ability to identify points for improvement in the quality of care provided.Methods:the data collection group comprised students from medicine and nursing courses who were holders of FAPESP scholarships (technical training 1) or otherwise, overseen by the coordinators of the project. The itreg (ECO Sistemas-RJ/SBAIT) software was used as the database tool. Several quality "filters" were proposed to select those cases for review in the quality control process.Results:data for 1344 trauma patients were input to the itreg database between March and November 2014. Around 87.0% of cases were blunt trauma patients, 59.6% had RTS>7.0 and 67% ISS<9. Full records were available for 292 cases, which were selected for review in the quality program. The auditing filters most frequently registered were laparotomy four hours after admission and drainage of acute subdural hematomas four hours after admission. Several points for improvement were flagged, such as control of overtriage of patients, the need to reduce the number of negative imaging exams, the development of protocols for achieving central venous access, and management of major TBI.Conclusion: the trauma registry provides a clear picture of the points to be improved in trauma patient care, however, there are specific peculiarities for implementing this tool in the Brazilian milieu.