Search for anomalous production of prompt same-sign lepton pairs and pair-produced doubly charged Higgs bosons with s√ = 8 TeV pp collisions using the ATLAS detector

A low-background inclusive search for new physics in events with same-sign dileptons is presented. The search uses proton--proton collisions corresponding to 20.3 fb−1 of integrated luminosity taken in 2012 at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. Pairs of isolated leptons with the same electric charge and large transverse momenta of the type e±e±,e±μ±, and μ±μ± are selected and their invariant mass distribution is examined. No excess of events above the expected level of Standard Model background is found. The results are used to set upper limits on the cross sections for processes beyond the Standard Model. Limits are placed as a function of the dilepton invariant mass within a fiducial region corresponding to the signal event selection criteria. Exclusion limits are also derived for a specific model of doubly charged Higgs boson production.

Search for production of WW/WZ resonances decaying to a lepton, neutrino and jets in pp collisions at s√ = 8 TeV with the ATLAS detector

A search is presented for a narrow diboson resonances decaying to WW or WZ in the final state where one W boson decays leptonically (to an electron or a muon plus a neutrino) and the other W/Z boson decays hadronically. The analysis is performed using an integrated luminosity of 20.3 fb−1 of pp collisions at s√ = 8 TeV collected by the ATLAS detector at the LHC. No evidence for resonant diboson production is observed, and resonance masses below 700 GeV and 1490 GeV are excluded at 95% confidence level for the spin-2 Randall-Sundrum bulk graviton G∗ with coupling constant of 1.0 and the extended gauge model W′ boson respectively.

Search for resonant diboson production in the ℓℓqq¯ final state in pp collisions at s√=8 TeV with the ATLAS detector

This paper reports on a search for narrow resonances in diboson production in the ℓℓqq¯ final state using pp collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 20fb−1 collected at s√=8 TeV with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. No significant excess of data events over the Standard Model expectation is observed. Upper limits at the 95% confidence level are set on the production cross section times branching ratio for Kaluza--Klein gravitons predicted by the Randall--Sundrum model and for Extended Gauge Model W' bosons. These results lead to the exclusion of mass values below 740 GeV and 1590 GeV for the graviton and W' boson respectively.

Search for the bb¯ decay of the Standard Model Higgs boson in associated (W/Z)H production with the ATLAS detector

A search for the bb¯ decay of the Standard Model Higgs boson is performed with the ATLAS experiment using the full dataset recorded at the LHC in Run 1. The integrated luminosities used from pp collisions at s√=7 and 8 TeV are 4.7 and 20.3 fb−1, respectively. The processes considered are associated (W/Z)H production, where W→eν/μν, Z→ee/μμ and Z→νν. The observed (expected) deviation from the background-only hypothesis corresponds to a significance of 1.4 (2.6) standard deviations and the ratio of the measured signal yield to the Standard Model expectation is found to be μ=0.52±0.32(stat.)±0.24(syst.) for a Higgs boson mass of 125.36 GeV. The analysis procedure is validated by a measurement of the yield of (W/Z)Z production with Z→bb¯ in the same final states as for the Higgs boson search, from which the ratio of the observed signal yield to the Standard Model expectation is found to be 0.74±0.09(stat.)±0.14(syst.).

Biosynthetic production of curcuminoids

Curcuminoids are natural phenylpropanoids from plants that have been reported as potential cancer-fighting drugs. Nevertheless, these compounds present a poor bioavailability. Cellular uptake is low and curcuminoids are quickly metabolized once inside the cell, requiring repetitive oral doses to achieve an effective concentration for therapeutic activity [1]. Herein, we report an engineered artificial pathway for the production of curcuminoids in Escherichia coli. Arabidopsis thaliana 4-coumaroyl-CoA ligase and Curcuma longa diketide-CoA synthase (DCS) and curcumin synthase (CURS1) were used and 188 µM (70 mg/L) of curcumin was obtained from ferulic acid [2]. Bisdemethoxycurcumin and demethoxycurcumin were also produced, but in lower concentrations, by feeding p-coumaric acid or a mixture of p-coumaric acid and ferulic acid, respectively. Additionally, curcuminoids were produced from tyrosine through the caffeic acid pathway. To produce caffeic acid, tyrosine ammonia lyase from Rhodotorula glutinis and 4-coumarate 3-hydroxylase from Saccharothrix espanaensis were used [3]. Caffeoyl-CoA 3-O-methyl-transferase from Medicago sativa was used to convert caffeoyl-CoA to feruloyl-CoA. Using caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid or tyrosine as a substrate, 3.9, 0.3, and 0.2 µM of curcumin were produced, respectively. This is the first report on the use of DCS and CURS1 in vivo to produce curcuminoids. In addition, curcumin, the most studied curcuminoid for therapeutic purposes and considered in many studies as the most potent and active, was produced by feeding tyrosine using a pathway involving caffeic acid. We anticipate that by using a tyrosine overproducing strain, curcumin can be produced in E. coli without the need of adding expensive precursors to the medium, thus decreasing the production cost. Therefore, this alternative pathway represents a step forward in the heterologous production of curcumin using E. coli. Aiming at greater production titers and yields, the construction of this pathway in another model organism such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae is being considered.

Rational manipulation of mRNA folding free energy allows rheostat control of pneumolysin production by Streptococcus pneumoniae

Rational manipulation of mRNA folding free energy allows rheostat control of pneumolysin production by Streptococcus pneumoniae

Lean Production e Ergonomia: o impacto de estratégias implementadas nas condições de trabalho numa indústria de componentes para automóveis

Dissertação de mestrado em Engenharia Humana

Aplicação de técnicas e procedimentos Lean Production numa empresa da indústria automóvel

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Engenharia e Gestão Industrial

Fine-root production in two secondary forest sites with distinct ages in Eastern Amazon

The objective of this work was to assess the fine-root (≤ 2 mm diameter) production dynamics of two forest regrowths at different ages. Fine-root production was monitored by the ingrowth core method in one 18-year-old site (2 ha) and one 10-year-old site (0.5 ha), both localized in the Apeú region, Northern Pará State, Brazil. The sites were abandoned after successive shifting cultivation, beginning in 1940. Monthly production of live fine-root was similar between sites and was influenced by rainfall seasonality, with higher production during the dry season than the wet season for mass and length. However, mortality in terms of mass was higher in the 10-year-old site than in the 18-year-old site. The seasonality influenced mortality only in the 18-year old site following the pattern observed for live fine-root. The influence seasonal on mortality in terms of length was different between sites, with higher mortality during the wet season in the 10-year-old site and higher mortality during the dry season in the 18-year-old site. Specific root length was higher during the wet season and at the 10-year-old site. Fine-root production was not influenced by the chronosequence of the sites studied, probably fine-root production may have already stabilized in the sites or it depended more on climate and soil conditions. The production of fine-roots mass and length were indicators that generally showed the same pattern.

Measurement of the production of neighbouring jets in lead-lead collisions at √sNN=2.76 TeV with the ATLAS detector

This Letter presents measurements of correlated production of nearby jets in Pb+Pb collisions at sNN−−−√=2.76 TeV using the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The measurement was performed using 0.14 nb−1 of data recorded in 2011. The production of correlated jet pairs was quantified using the rate, RΔR, of ``neighbouring'' jets that accompany ``test'' jets within a given range of angular distance, ΔR, in the pseudorapidity--azimuthal angle plane. The jets were measured in the ATLAS calorimeter and were reconstructed using the anti-kt algorithm with radius parameters d=0.2, 0.3, and 0.4. RΔR was measured in different Pb+Pb collision centrality bins, characterized by the total transverse energy measured in the forward calorimeters. A centrality dependence of RΔR is observed for all three jet radii with RΔR found to be lower in central collisions than in peripheral collisions. The ratios formed by the RΔR values in different centrality bins and the values in the 40--80 % centrality bin are presented.

Melhoria do desempenho de uma secção de montagem final de uma empresa usando ferramentas Lean Production

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Engenharia e Gestão Industrial

Biomass production and essential oil yield from leaves, fine stems and resprouts using pruning the crown of Aniba canelilla (H.B.K.) (Lauraceae) in the Central Amazon

Aniba canelilla (H.B.K.) Mez. is a tree species from Amazon that produces essential oil. The oil extraction from its leaves and stems can be an alternative way to avoid the tree cutting for production of essential oil. The aim of this study was to analyse factors that may influence the essential oil production and the biomass of resprouts after pruning the leaves and stems of A. canelilla trees. The tree crowns were pruned in the wet season and after nine months the leaves and stems of the remaining crown and the resprouts were collected, in the dry season. The results showed that the essential oil yield and chemical composition differed among the stems, leaves and resprouts. The stems' essential oil production differed between the seasons and had a higher production in the resprouting stems than the old stems of the remaining crown. The production of essential oil and leaf biomass of resprouts were differently related to the canopy openness, indicating that light increases the production of the essential oil and decreases the biomass of resprouting leaves. This study revealed that plant organs differ in their essential oil production and that the canopy openness must be taken into account when pruning the A. canelilla tree crown in order to achieve higher oil productivity.

Protected environments and substrates for production of genipap seedlings

Genipap (Genipa americana L., Rubiaceae ) is a native Brazilian species and can be used in the recovery of degraded forest areas or for food supply. In order for the species to reach its potential, production of high quality seedlings is essential. The objective of this study was to evaluate genipap seedlings in protected environments and different substrates. The environments tested were: (1) a greenhouse with polyethylene film in the top, with aluminized screen (Aliminet®) of 50%-shading under this film, and lateral sides covered with 50%-shading nylon net (Sombrite®), (2) a shaded hut, all sides covered with 50%-shading nylon net (Sombrite®), and (3) a nursery shelter, with all lateral sides uncovered and the roof covered with leaves of buriti (Mauritia flexuosa). In these environments the following substrates were tested: 50% cattle manure + 50% cassava foliage, 50% cattle manure + 50% Vida Verde®, 50% cattle manure + 50% vermiculite, and 25% cattle manure + 25% vermiculite + 25% of cassava foliage + 25% Vida Verde®. Because there was no repetition of the growth environment, the effect of environment was examined using statistical procedures for analysis of combined experiments. Within environments a completely randomized design was used with five replications. All substrates are suitable for the formation of genipap seedlings, where the recommended substrates are: 50% cattle manure + 50% cassava foliage and 50% cattle manure + 50% Vida Verde® for the greenhouse and the substrates composed of 50% cattle manure + 50% vermiculite and 25% cattle manure + 25% cassava foliage + 25% Vida Verde®+ 25% vermiculite for the shaded hut. The buriti shelter is not recommended for production of genipap seedlings.

Cheese whey: a cost-effective alternative for hyaluronic acid production by Streptococcus zooepidemicus

This study focuses on the optimization of cheese whey formulated media for the production of hyaluronic acid HA by Streptococcus zooepidemicus. Culture media containing whey (W; 2.1 g/L) or whey hydrolysate (WH; 2.4 g/L) gave the highest HA productions. Both W and WH produced high yields on protein consumed, suggesting cheese whey is a good nitrogen source for S. zooepidemicus production of HA. Polysaccharide concentrations of 4.0 g/L and 3.2 g/L were produced in W and WH in a further scale-up to 5 L bioreactors, confirming the suitability of the low-cost nitrogen source. Cheese whey culture media provided high molecular weight (> 3000 kDa) HA products. This study revealed replacing the commercial peptone by the low-cost alternative could reduce HA production costs by up to a 70%compared to synthetic media.