The CONNIE detector prototype is operating at a distance of 30 m from the core of a 3.8 GW sub(th) nuclear reactor with the goal of establishing Charge-Coupled Devices (CCD) as a new technology for ...the detection of coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering. We report on the results of the engineering run with an active mass of 4 g of silicon. The CCD array is described, and the performance observed during the first year is discussed. A compact passive shield was deployed around the detector, producing an order of magnitude reduction in the background rate. The remaining background observed during the run was stable, and dominated by internal contamination in the detector packaging materials. The in-situ calibration of the detector using X-ray lines from fluorescence demonstrates good stability of the readout system. The event rates with the reactor ON and OFF are compared, and no excess is observed coming from nuclear fission at the power plant. The upper limit for the neutrino event rate is set two orders of magnitude above the expectations for the standard model. The results demonstrate the cryogenic CCD-based detector can be remotely operated at the reactor site with stable noise below 2 e super(-) RMS and stable background rates. The success of the engineering test provides a clear path for the upgraded 100 g detector to be deployed during 2016.
As low‐level laser therapy immune cells responses are not always clarified, this study aimed to evaluate cytokines and immune cells profile after low‐level laser therapy (LLLT) on arthritis‐induced ...model. Arthritis was induced in C57BL/6 mice divided into five groups: euthanized 5 hours after inflammation induction; untreated; dexamethasone treated; LLLT at 3 Jcm−2; LLLT at 30 Jcm−2. Cytokine measurements by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and mRNA cytokine relative levels by real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction were performed with arthritic ankle (IL‐1β, IL‐6, TNF‐α, IL‐10 and TGF‐β). Macrophages, dendritic cells, natural killer cells, lymphocytes CD4+, CD8+, Treg and costimulatory proteins were quantified in proximal lymph node by flow cytometry. Data showed decrease in all cytokine levels after LLLT and alteration in mRNA relative levels, depending on the energy density used. LLLT was able to increase of immune cell populations analyzed in the lymph node as well as costimulatory proteins expression on macrophages and dendritic cells. Treg TCD4+ and TCD8+ population enrichment were observed in LLLT at 3 and 30 Jcm−2 groups, respectively. Furthermore, Treg TCD8+ cells expressing higher levels of CD25 were observed at LLLT at 30 Jcm−2 group. Our results indicate that LLLT could change the inflammatory course of arthritis, tending to accelerate its resolution through immune cells photobiostimulation.
Low‐level laser therapy (LLLT) is extensively used in rheumatoid arthritis treatment, due to its anti‐inflammatory properties; however, little is known about immune response modifications induced by this treatment. This study brings novelties for understanding LLLT immunological modulation mechanisms, demonstrating changes lymph node cell populations, which drains joint inflammation, especially increase in Treg cells populations and cytokine reduction in inflamed ankle after irradiation.
A new species of Knodus is described from the rio Cupari drainage, a tributary from the right margin of the lower rio Tapajós, Pará State, Brazil. The new species differs from its congeners, except ...K. geryi, by having a dark basal blotch on each caudal fin lobe (vs. caudal fin lobes with sparse chromatophores, lacking basal blotches) and, with the exception of K. borki, K. heteresthes, and K. pasco, by having 10-12 scales around the caudal peduncle (vs. 13-15).
The aims of this study were (1) to identify attributes for patient safety at a primary healthcare level and (2) to analyze conceptions of patients, professionals, and managers about how these ...attributes are being addressed.
This was a qualitative study.
Participants were recruited from three primary care settings in Brazil. A total of 37 subjects (four physicians, three nurses, three dentists, three managers, five community assistants, and 19 patients) participated on interviews about their perceptions of safety attributes at the primary care settings involved in the study. Some of these participants attended a focus group meeting. A thematic categorical analysis was carried out to interpret the interviews.
The main attributes for patient safety were valued by the participants. However, barriers such as discontinuity of care, interruptions during consultations, breakdowns in the communication, and ineffective teamwork were reported as frequent sources of patient safety issues. Reports of patients left unattended for excessive time because of the lack of accurate information and disruptions that took up to 35 min show that there is still a long way to go for primary care to be safe and effective in the study settings.
It is necessary that the strategies meet the patient safety needs more effectively and efficiently. Further research is needed to understand the complex nature of the problems that affect patient safety in these settings so that appropriate decisions can be made.
•People involved in primary health care acknowledge the attributes for patient safety.•Discontinuity of care and interruptions are perceived sources of safety issues.•Ineffective teamwork was reported by most workers at primary care services.
Increasing competition in hospitality is one of the industry challenges, which depends mainly on human capital. Thus, this research investigated the relationship between human resources practices, ...employee motivation, and online hotel reviews. Hypotheses were tested using two-phase survey data collected from 308 respondents corresponding to 154 dyads of frontline employees and human resources managers from hotels located in Brazil and England. Quantitative online hotel review ratings were collected from the surveyed hotels as performance indicators. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to examine the data collected. Employee intrinsic motivation negatively influenced online hotel review ratings. The online hotel review overall ratings were positively affected by extrinsic motivation. Likewise, human resources practices had a strong influence on the online hotel review service ratings. This study presented some insights to hospitality organizations, identifying relationships among three important topics on hotel management. This information can help hoteliers develop better competitive strategies, using human resources to increase online hotel review ratings, considered critical hotel performance indicators.
Extracellular lipase from Yarrowia lipolytica was immobilized by ionotropic gelation with alginate and chitosan as encapsulating agents. Photomicrographs revealed a collapsed and heterogeneous ...surface of these microcapsules due to freeze-drying process. The optimum reaction temperature for the microencapsulated lipase (40 °C) was higher than for free lipase (35 °C) as well as the optimum pH (8.0 and 7.5, respectively). The study of the reaction kinetics showed that a higher maximum reaction rate (Vmax) (221.1 U/mg) for the free lipase in comparison to the immobilized form (175.3 U/mg). A protective effect of the microcapsule was detected in the storage of the enzyme at room temperature, as after 75 days 35% of activity was maintained for the microcapsules, while no activity remained after 15 days with the free enzyme. Lower values for inactivation constant (kd) and increase in half-life for immobilized lipase showed that lipase microencapsulation favored the thermostability of this enzyme.
•Yarrowia lipolytica lipase was entrapped in alginate-chitosan matrix.•Lyophilization of the capsules increased surface area and lipolytic activity.•Entrapment in alginate-chitosan beads shifted lipase optimum pH and temperature.•Polymeric matrix increased lipase thermal stability.•Immobilized lipase presented higher storage stability at room temperature.
In this {work}, the X-ray fluorescence technique was employed to characterize the pictorial materials used in two sculptures from the 18th. In addition, Raman spectroscopy was used to characterize ...the preparation layers used in the sculptures. {The analyzed sculptures} are carved in wood, with gilding and polychrome, and represent the biblical characters, Bathsheba, and King David. The sculptures are property of the Church of \textit{Nossa Senhora do Pilar}, in Duque de Caxias, RJ. XRF {analyzes} were performed using a portable ED-XRF system, which has a low-power X-ray tube (Amptek) with a silver target (Ag) and an SDD detector (Amptek). Raman spectroscopy {analyzes} were performed using the DXR2 Raman microscopy equipment (Thermo Fisher Scientific) with a 785 nm laser source. The results obtained from the XRF and Raman spectroscopy techniques suggest the presence of Gypsum, Calcite, Calcium Sulfate. In addition, the results obtained suggest the presence of the following pigments in the sculptures: Lead white, Titanium White, Lithopone, Ochre, Vermilion, Red Lead and gilding with gold leaf. The studies also showed that the Bathsheba sculpture was probably subjected to some processes of chromatic reintegration over the years due to the heterogeneity of pigments found in the same region
A study on cosmic muons has been performed for the two identical near and far neutrino detectors of the Double Chooz experiment, placed at $\sim$120 and $\sim$300 m.w.e. underground respectively, ...including the corresponding simulations using the MUSIC simulation package. This characterization has allowed to measure the muon flux reaching both detectors to be (3.64 $\pm$ 0.04) $\times$ 10$^{-4}$ cm$^{-2}$s$^{-1}$ for the near detector and (7.00 $\pm$ 0.05) $\times$ 10$^{-5}$ cm$^{-2}$s$^{-1}$ for the far one. The seasonal modulation of the signal has also been studied observing a positive correlation with the atmospheric temperature, leading to an effective temperature coefficient of $\alpha_{T}$ = 0.212 $\pm$ 0.024 and 0.355 $\pm$ 0.019 for the near and far detectors respectively. These measurements, in good agreement with expectations based on theoretical models, represent one of the first measurements of this coefficient in shallow depth installations.
•This study revealed the biomedical potential of Libidibia ferrea.•Results inserted this species as promising tool for phytotherapy.•The antimicrobial activity of compounds present in LFCH was ...achieved.•This analysis revealed the various phytoconstituents present in the cyclohexanic extract.
Libidibia ferrea var. ferrea is a plant used popularly in Brazil in the treatment of diabetes, inflammation, wounds in general and bronchopulmonary disorders. The aim of this study was to characterize the chemical composition of extracts from Libidibia ferrea var. ferrea leaves collected from Vale do Catimbau in Caatinga region and to evaluate the antibacterial potential. Extracts of leaves were prepared using solvents of various polarities in order to extract a wide range of phytochemicals. Thin-layer chromatography and gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (GC–MS) were used to determine the chemical constituents of extracts and fractions. The antibacterial activity of these extracts was evaluated by micro-dilution assay, against Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus) as well as Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus vulgaris) bacteria. Phytochemical analysis of crude extracts from L. ferrea revealed presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, cinnamic derivates, terpenes and tannins. Generally, the cyclohexane (LFCH), chloroform (LFCF) and ethyl acetate (LFEA) extracts demonstrated the best activities, exhibiting the highest average activity for all pathogens. Of these, LFCH was the most active with MIC ranging from 0.39 mg/mL to 12.5 mg/mL. From this, LFCH was submitted to chromatography process and four fractions were obtained with antimicrobial potential. The results obtained for the fractions were lower than the ones obtained with the crude extract LFCH. Some other notable activity was observed for the chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts against Staphylococcus aureus with an MIC values of 0.19 mg/mL and 0.39 mg/mL respectively. The GC–MS analysis revealed that the major compound present in the cyclohexane extract was heptacosane. In conclusion, Libidibia ferrea var. ferrea leaves extracts have antibacterial potential which can inhibit in vitro growth of human pathogens being as a promising tool for phytotherapy.
The photostimulated luminescence (PSL) is the basis for the digital image formation of image plates (IPs). However, the PSL decreases exponentially with the increasing of the elapsed time between the ...exposure and the IP scanning (t), and consequently, there is a fading of the digital image. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between IPs physical structure and elemental composition with the fading behavior. Three different types of IPs, with distinct resolutions, were analyzed. The fading behavior with the time, t, has been measured and correlated with their physical structure. Furthermore, micro X‐ray fluorescence (μXRF) analysis was used to provide information on the elemental composition of this layer. The results showed that standard resolution plate have larger grains, thicker sensitive layer, and generate a bigger effect of image fading. The μXRF technique showed that, to compensate the low emission, the high‐resolution IP has a higher concentration of Br and Sr.
PDF
