Search for third generation scalar leptoquarks decaying into τb

We have searched for third generation leptoquarks (LQ3) using 1.05fb-1 of data collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider operating at s=1.96TeV. We set a 95% C.L. lower limit of 210 GeV on the mass of a scalar LQ3 state decaying solely to a b quark and a τ lepton. © 2008 The American Physical Society.

Interfacial Regions Governing Internal Cavities of Dendrimers. Studies of Poly(alkyl aryl ether) Dendrimers Constituted with Linkers of Varying Alkyl Chain Length

This report deals with a study of the properties of internal cavities of dendritic macromolecules that are capable Of encapsulating and mediating photoreactions of guest molecules. The internal cavity structures of dendrimers are determined by the interfacial regions between the aqueous exterior and hydrocarbon like interior constituted by the linkers that connect symmetrically sited branch points constituting the dendrimer and head groups that cap the dendrimers. Phloroglucinol-based poly(alkyl aryl ether) dendrimers constituted with a homologous series of alkyl linkers were undertaken for the current study. Twelve dendrimers within first, second, and third generations, having ethyl, n-propyl, n-butyl, and n-pentyl groups as the linkers and hydroxyl groups at peripheries in each generation, were synthesized. Encapsulation of pyrene and coumarins by aqueous basic solutions of dendrimers were monitored-by UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopies, which showed that a lower generation dendrimer with an optimal alkyl linker presented better encapsulation abilities than a higher generation dendrimer. Norrish type I photoreaction of dibenzyl ketone was carried out within the above: series of dendrimers to probe their abilities to hold guests and reactive inthermediate radical pairs within themselves. The extent of cage effect from the series of third generation dendrimers was observed to be higher with dendrimers having an n-pentyl group as the linker.

Covalent assembly-disassembly of poly(ether imine) dendritic macromolecular monomers and megamers

Poly(ether imine) dendritic macromolecules were undertaken to study the reversible dendrimer monomer-megamer assembly-disassembly in aqueous solutions. Synthesis of thiol functionalized poly(ether imine) (PETIM) dendrimers and their covalent aggregation behavior in the aqueous solution of ethanol/water (2:1) is demonstrated. The dendritic megamers were characterized using microscopic techniques. Kinetics of the aggregation behavior was followed using turbidity measurements, light-scattering and atomic force microscopic techniques. Inherent luminescence behavior of PETIM dendrimer monomers was retained in the dendrimer megamers also, which allowed visualization of the megamers through confocal microscopy. Extent of thiol functionalities that remained after the megamer assembly was estimated through Ellman's assay. Subsequent to megamer assembly, disassembly of megamers to dendrimer monomers was conducted, using dithiothreitol reagent. Water-insoluble sudan I dye was encapsulated in dendrimer megamer and subsequent release profile was assessed during the disassembly in aqueous solutions. The studies were conducted using first, second and third generations, representing 4, 8 and 16 sulfhydryl groups at their peripheries of dendrimers, respectively. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

First Example of Organocatalysis by Polystyrene-Supported PAMAM Dendrimers: Highly Efficient and Reusable Catalyst for Knoevenagel Condensations

This paper describes the first use of polystyrene-supported poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers as heterogeneous basic organocatalysts for carbon–carbon bond formation. Polystyrene-supported PAMAM dendrimers of first, second and third generations have been used as reusable base catalysts in Knoevenagel condensations of carbonyl compounds with active methylene compounds. The reactions proceed in short periods of time and with 100% selectivity. This novel catalyst eliminates the use of aromatic and halogenated solvents, as well as complex purification processes. The catalysts can be recycled ten times.

Cyclopropylidenes, bicyclopropylidenes, and vinylcarbenes - some modes of formation and preparative applications

The routes of transformation of the simplest bicyclopropylidene into the derivatives of the second and third generations and synthesis of perspirocyclopropanated [3]rotane and linear spiral [4]- and [5]triangulanes are discussed.

Os fatores que influenciam a implementação das boas práticas da governança corporativa nas empresas familiares

Este estudo de caso tem como objetivo investigar quais são os fatores que influenciam a implementação das boas práticas da governança corporativa nas empresas familiares. A partir de uma abordagem qualitativa de pesquisa, adotou-se como método o estudo de caso único. Como instrumento de pesquisa recorreu-se a utilização de entrevistas semi-estruturadas com membros da família proprietária da segunda e terceira geração, representantes do Conselho de administração, sócios atuantes e não atuantes. Para o tratamento dos dados, recorreu-se à análise do conteúdo das entrevistas. Para fundamentar a pesquisa, houve a necessidade de uma revisão bibliográfica envolvendo governança corporativa; empresas familiares e suas particularidades; governança corporativa em empresas familiares e fatores que influenciam e dificultam o processo de implementação das boas práticas de governança corporativa à luz da literatura. A pesquisa aqui apresentada foi realizada na empresa Casa do Alemão Indústria e Comércio de Lanches LTDA, do setor alimentício, que se encontra sob comando da segunda e terceira geração da família fundadora, tendo como dominante a segunda geração. Os resultados obtidos nesta pesquisa apontam que as boas práticas de governança corporativa estão parcialmente presentes na Organização e que para uma implementação por completa, é necessário reformular os elementos já existentes e a criação de novas medidas de governança para melhorar a objetividade nos processos de qualificação, gestão, decisão e sucessão. Os fatores considerados como influentes e positivos para a implementação por completa das boas práticas de governança corporativa nesta Organização são: cultura de transparência; separação do patrimônio pessoal e empresa; predisposição de todos os sócios pela aceitação a utilização de processos mais formais na forma de trabalho. Dentre outros motivos ainda não implementados e que poderiam ser elementos influentes para a implantação são: necessidade de enfrentar os conflitos familiares; custos (investimento); resistência das pessoas (interesses divergentes dos sócios, família, executivos) e mais monitoramento (pessoas não gostam de ser monitoradas e avaliadas). Apesar de carregar a experiência que o tempo atribui aos sexagenários, a empresa também demonstra a agilidade da juventude para se manter com um visual moderno e iniciar uma nova política de expansão.

Otimização de modelos de predição da perda de propagação aplicáveis em 3,5GHZ utilizando algoritmos genéticos

The telecommunications industry has experienced recent changes, due to increasing quest for access to digital services for data, video and multimedia, especially using the mobile phone networks. Recently in Brazil, mobile operators are upgrading their networks to third generations systems (3G) providing to users broadband services such as video conferencing, Internet, digital TV and more. These new networks that provides mobility and high data rates has allowed the development of new market concepts. Currently the market is focused on the expansion of WiMAX technology, which is gaining increasingly the market for mobile voice and data. In Brazil, the commercial interest for this technology appears to the first award of licenses in the 3.5 GHz band. In February 2003 ANATEL held the 003/2002/SPV-ANATEL bidding, where it offered blocks of frequencies in the range of 3.5 GHz. The enterprises who purchased blocks of frequency were: Embratel, Brazil Telecom (Vant), Grupo Sinos, Neovia and WKVE, each one with operations spread in some regions of Brazil. For this and other wireless communications systems are implemented effectively, many efforts have been invested in attempts to developing simulation methods for coverage prediction that is close to reality as much as possible so that they may become believers and indispensable tools to design wireless communications systems. In this work wasm developed a genetic algorithm (GA's) that is able to optimize the models for predicting propagation loss at applicable frequency range of 3.5 GHz, thus enabling an estimate of the signal closer to reality to avoid significant errors in planning and implementation a system of wireless communication

Ingleses pretos, barbadianos negros, brasileiros morenos?: identidades e memórias (Belém, séculos XX e XXI)

Discorre sobre a imigração de negros do Caribe Inglês para Belém, ocorrida nas primeiras décadas do século XX, mais precisamente dos chamados, de modo geral, de barbadianos. Discute os contornos desta identificação em Belém, analisando os relatos de histórias de vida dos descendentes de segunda e terceira gerações. Procura discutir os contextos e situações nas quais os sinais de suas identificações foram manipulados para marcar distinções, por eles e pelos outros, em função dos símbolos (de prestígio e de estigma) das identidades inglesa, brasileira e barbadiana, quando postas em relação, perpassadas pelo processo de demarcação da alteridade, mas também pelo racismo.

Population Parameters Based on Known Pedigree Records from Brazilian Jaffarabadi Buffaloes

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effective number of founders and ancestors, generation intervals and completeness of pedigree in Jaffarabadi breed buffaloes raised in Brazil. Pedigree records of 1,272 animals born from 1966 were used. The parameters were estimated using ENDOG, computational population genetic software. The obtained value for completeness of pedigree was 99.5, 50.9, and 20.5 for, the first, second and third generations, respectively. Generation interval estimates expressed in years and considering different pathways were 12.28 +/- 6.90 (sire-son), 11.55 +/- 6.07 (sire-daughter), 8.20 +/- 2.63 (dam-son) and 8.794 +/-.33 (dam-daughter). The overall average generation interval was 10.17 +/- 5.43 years. The number of founders, equivalent founders and ancestor animals that contributed for the genetic diversity in the reference population (1059) were 136, 130 and 134, respectively. Effective number of founder (f(e)=8) and ancestors (f(a)=7) were small, and the calculated expected inbreeding increase per generation was 4.99%. Four ancestors explained 50% of the genetic variability in the population and the major ancestor contributed with approximately 33% of the total population genetic variation. The genetic diversity within the current population is low as a consequence of a reduced number of ancestors.

Search for supersymmetry at √8=8 TeV in final states with jets and two same-sign leptons or three leptons with the ATLAS detector

A search for strongly produced supersymmetric particles is conducted using signatures involving multiple energetic jets and either two isolated leptons (e or μ) with the same electric charge, or at least three isolated leptons. The search also utilises jets originating from b-quarks, missing transverse momentum and other observables to extend its sensitivity. The analysis uses a data sample corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 20.3 fb−1 of ps = 8TeV proton-proton collisions recorded with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider in 2012. No deviation from the Standard Model expectation is observed. New or significantly improved exclusion limits are set on a wide variety of supersymmetric models in which the lightest squark can be of the first, second or third generations, and in which R-parity can be conserved or violated.

Mineral, chemical and isotope compositions of clay subfractions from formations of the Srednii Peninsula, Murmansk coast of the Barents Sea

Fine-grained clay subfractions (SFs) with particle size of <0.1, 0.1-0.2, 0.2-0.3, 0.3-0.6, 0.6-2.0, and 2-5 µm separated from claystone of Upper Precambrian Pumanskaya and Poropelonskaya formations on the Srednii Peninsula were studied by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Rb-Sr methods. All subfractions consist of low-temperature illite and chlorite, and contribution of chlorite decreases with diminishing particle size. The crystallinity index and I002/I001 ratio increase from coarse- to fine-grained SFs. Leaching by ammonium acetate solution and Rb-Sr systematics in combination with mineralogical and morphological data indicate that illite in Upper Proterozoic claystone from the Srednii Peninsula formed during three time intervals: 810-830, 610-620, and about 570 Ma ago. The first generation of this mineral with low Rb/Sr ratio dominates in coarse-grained SFs while the second and third generations with a high Rb/Sr ratio prevail in fine-grained SFs. All of three generations are known in Poropelon claystone, whereas Puman claystone contains only illite of the first and second generations. Geological processes responsible for multistage illite evolution in claystones are discussed.

Camões - Instituto da Cooperação e da Língua Portuguesa [Camões, IP] português língua de herança [PLH] - língua e identidade

Neste artigo, abordamos, num primeiro momento, a relação entre língua e identidade, tendo em mente que um dos objetivos principais do EPE [Ensino Português no Estrangeiro] é reforçar o vínculo afetivo dos alunos com as suas raízes. O trabalho que aqui apresentamos visa, precisamente, contribuir para a valorização desse elo afetivo dos alunos do EPE na Alemanha, com a LP [Língua Portuguesa] e com uma parte integrante da sua identidade. Num segundo momento, tendo em conta a heterogeneidade dos nossos alunos, dos seus perfis linguísticos e culturais, identificamos que estatuto assume a LP para estes alunos, elucidando sobre as dimensões pedagógicas adotadas ou a adotar no processo de E/A [Ensino e aprendizagem] do EPE. Destacamos, assim, o conceito de Português Língua de Herança [PLH], estatuto que o português assume para os alunos do EPE na Alemanha, percecionado como a língua minoritária, usada pelos filhos dos emigrantes das segundas e terceiras gerações, em contexto restrito, no seio familiar, com a família e, de uma forma menos frequente, com os amigos portugueses.

Four generations of sequencing: Is it ready for the clinic yet?

Next-generation sequencing techniques have revolutionized over the last decade providing researchers with low cost, high-throughput alternatives compared to the traditional Sanger sequencing methods. These sequencing techniques have rapidly evolved from first-generation to fourth-generation with very broad applications such as unravelling the complexity of the genome, in terms of genetic variations, and having a high impact on the biological field. In this review, we discuss the transition of sequencing from the second-generation to the third- and fourth-generations, and describe some of their novel biological applications. With the advancement in technology, the earlier challenges of minimal size of the instrument, flexibility of throughput, ease of data analysis and short run times are being addressed. However, the need for prospective analysis and effectiveness to test whether the knowledge of any given new variants identified has an effect on clinical outcome may need improvement.

Generations and turnout : The generational effect in electoral participation in Finland

The relationship between age and turnout has been curve-linear as electoral participation first increases with age, remains relatively stable throughout middle-age and then gradually declines as certain physical infirmities set in (see e.g. Milbrath 1965). Alongside this life-cycle effect in voting, recent pooled cross-sectional analyses (see e.g. Blais et al. 2004; Lyons and Alexander 2000) have shown that there is also a generational effect, referring to lasting differences in turnout between various age groups. This study firstly examines the extent to which the generational effect applies in the Finnish context. Secondly, it investigates the factors accounting for that effect. The first article, based on individual-level register data from the parliamentary elections of 1999, shows that turnout differences between the different age groups would be even larger if there were no differences in social class and education. The second article examines simultaneously the effects of age, generation and period in the Finnish parliamentary elections of 1975-2003 based on pooled data from Finnish voter barometers (N = 8,634). The results show that there is a clear life cycle, generational and period effect. The third article examines the role of political socialisation in accounting for generational differences in electoral participation. Political socialisation is defined as the learning process in which an individual adopts various values, political attitudes, and patterns of actions from his or her environment. The multivariate analysis, based on the Finnish national election study 2003 (N=1,270), indicated that if there were no differences in socialisation between the youngest and the older generations, the difference in turnout would be much larger than if only sex and socioeconomic factors are controlled for. The fourth article examines other possible factors related to generational effect in voting. The results mainly apply to the Finnish parliamentary elections of 2003 in which we have data available. The results show that the sense of duty by far accounts for the generational effect in voting. Political interest, political knowledge and non-parliamentary participation also narrowed the differences in electoral participation between the youngest and the second youngest generations. The implication of the findings is that the lower turnout among the current youth is not a passing phenomenon that will diminish with age. Considering voting a civic duty and understanding the meaning of collective action are both associated with the process of political socialisation which therefore has an important role concerning the generational effect in turnout.

Degree of conversion of nanofilled and microhybrid composite resins photo-activated by different generations of LEDs

Objective: This study aimed at evaluating the degree of conversion (DC) of four composite resins, being one nanofilled and 3 microhybrid resins, photo-activated with second- and third-generation light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Material and methods: Filtek (TM) Z350 nanofilled composite resins and Amelogen (R) Plus, Vit-l-escence (TM) and Opallis microhybrid resins were photo-activated with two second-generation LEDs (Radii-cal and Elipar Free Light (TM) 2) and one third-generation LED (Ultra-Lume LED 5) by continuous light mode, and a quartz halogen-tungsten bulb (QHT, control). After 24 h of storage, the samples were pulverized into fine powder and 5 mg of each material were mixed with 100 mg of potassium bromide (KBr). After homogenization, they were pressed, which resulted in a pellet that was evaluated using an infrared spectromer (Nexus 470, Thermo Nicolet) equipped with TGS detector using diffuse reflectance (32 scans, resolution of 4 cm(-1)) coupled to a computer. The percentage of unreacted carbon-carbon double bonds (% C=C) was determined from the ratio of absorbance intensities of aliphatic C=C (peak at 1637 cm-1) against internal standard before and after curing of the specimen: aromatic C-C (peak at 1610 cm-1). Results: The ANOVA showed a significant effect on the interaction between the light-curing units (LCUs) and the composite resins (p<0.001). The Tukey's test showed that the nanofilled resin (Filtek (TM) Z350) and Opallis when photo-activated by the halogen lamp (QTH) had the lowest DC compared with the other microhybrid composite resins. The DC of the nanofilled resin (Filtek (TM) Z350) was also lower using LEDs. The highest degrees of conversion were obtained using the third-generation LED and one of second-generation LEDs (Elipar Free Light (TM) 2). Conclusions: The nanofilled resin showed the lowest DC, and the Vit-l-escence (TM) microhybrid composite resin showed the highest DC. Among the LCUs, it was not possible to establish an order, even though the second-generation LED Radii-cal provided the lowest DC.