Valence shell electronically excited states of norbornadiene and quadricyclane.

The absolute photoabsorption cross sections of norbornadiene (NBD) and quadricyclane (QC), two isomers with chemical formula C7H8 that are attracting much interest for solar energy storage applications, have been measured from threshold up to 10.8 eV using the Fourier transform spectrometer at the SOLEIL synchrotron radiation facility. The absorption spectrum of NBD exhibits some sharp structure associated with transitions into Rydberg states, superimposed on several broad bands attributable to valence excitations. Sharp structure, although less pronounced, also appears in the absorption spectrum of QC. Assignments have been proposed for some of the absorption bands using calculated vertical transition energies and oscillator strengths for the electronically excited states of NBD and QC. Natural transition orbitals indicate that some of the electronically excited states in NBD have a mixed Rydberg/valence character, whereas the first ten excited singlet states in QC are all predominantly Rydberg in the vertical region. In NBD, a comparison between the vibrational structure observed in the experimental 11B1-11A1 (3sa1 ← 5b1) band and that predicted by Franck-Condon and Herzberg-Teller modeling has necessitated a revision of the band origin and of the vibrational assignments proposed previously. Similar comparisons have encouraged a revision of the adiabatic first ionization energy of NBD. Simulations of the vibrational structure due to excitation from the 5b2 orbital in QC into 3p and 3d Rydberg states have allowed tentative assignments to be proposed for the complex structure observed in the absorption bands between ∼5.4 and 7.0 eV.

Percutaneous left stellate ganglion block for refractory ventricular tachycardia in structural heart disease: our single-centre experience.

INTRODUCTION: When electrical storm (ES) is amenable to neither antiarrhythmic drugs, nor deep sedation or catheter ablation, autonomic modulation may be considered. We report our experience with percutaneous left stellate ganglion block (PSGB) to temporarily suppress refractory ventricular arrhythmia (VA) in patients with structural heart disease. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed at our institution of patients with structural heart disease and an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) who had undergone PSGB for refractory VA between January 2018 and October 2021. The number of times antitachycardia pacing (ATP) was delivered and the number of ICD shocks/external cardioversions performed in the week before and after PSGB were evaluated. Charts were checked for potential complications. RESULTS: Twelve patients were identified who underwent a combined total of 15 PSGB and 5 surgical left cardiac sympathetic denervation procedures. Mean age was 73 ± 5.8 years and all patients were male. Nine of 12 (75%) had ischaemic cardiomyopathy, with the remainder having non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy. Mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 35% (±â€¯12.2%). Eight of 12 (66.7%) patients were already being treated with both amiodarone and beta-blockers. The reduction in ATP did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.066); however, ICD shocks (p = 0.028) and ATP/shocks combined were significantly reduced (p = 0.04). At our follow-up electrophysiology meetings PSGB was deemed ineffective in 4 of 12 patients (33%). Temporary anisocoria was seen in 2 of 12 (17%) patients, and temporary hypotension and hoarseness were reported in a single patient. DISCUSSION: In this limited series, PSGB showed promise as a method for temporarily stabilising refractory VA and ES in a cohort of male patients with structural heart disease. The side effects observed were mild and temporary.

Stark control of multiphoton ionization through Freeman resonances in alkyl iodides.

Multiphoton ionization (MPI) of alkyl iodides (RI, R = CnH2n+1, n = 1-4) has been investigated with femtosecond laser pulses centered at 800 and 400 nm along with photoelectron imaging detection. In addition, the ultraviolet (UV)-vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) absorption spectra of gas-phase RIs have been measured in the photon energy range of 5-11 eV using the VUV Fourier transform spectrometer at the VUV DESIRS beamline of the synchrotron SOLEIL facility. The use of high-laser-field strengths in matter-radiation interaction generates highly non-linear phenomena, such as the Stark shift effect, which distorts the potential energy surfaces of molecules by varying both the energy of electronic and rovibrational states and their ionization energies. The Stark shift can then generate resonances between intermediate states and an integer number of laser photons of a given wavelength, which are commonly known as Freeman resonances. Here, we study how the molecular structure of linear and branched alkyl iodides affects the UV-VUV absorption spectrum, the MPI process, and the generation of Freeman resonances. The obtained results reveal a dominant resonance in the experiments at 800 nm, which counter-intuitively appears at the same photoelectron kinetic energy in the whole alkyl iodide series. The ionization pathways of this resonance strongly involve the 6p(2E3/2) Rydberg state with different degrees of vibrational excitation, revealing an energy compensation effect as the R-chain complexity increases.

Imaging the Photodissociation Dynamics and Fragment Alignment of CH2BrI at 193 nm.

The photodissociation dynamics and photofragment alignment of bromoiodomethane (CH2BrI) have been studied at 193 nm using a double experimental and theoretical approach. In addition, the ultraviolet (UV)-vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) absorption spectrum of gas phase CH2BrI has been measured in the photon energy range of 5-11 eV using the VUV Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) at the VUV beamline DESIRS of the synchrotron SOLEIL facility. The slice imaging technique in combination with resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) detection of the Br(2PJ) and I(2PJ) (with J = 3/2 and 1/2 for Br/I and Br*/I*, respectively) atomic photofragments have been used to produce experimental translational energy and angular distributions, which were analyzed to deliver, on one hand, the partitioning of the available energy among the different degrees-of-freedom of the photofragments and, on the other, the photofragment polarization in terms of aqk(p) alignment parameters. The experimental measurements were rationalized in terms of high-level ab initio calculations of vertical excitation energies, transition dipole moments and potential energy curves (PECs) along different reaction coordinates to provide a complete picture of the photodissociation dynamics. The results indicate that for excitation at 193 nm, prompt C-X cleavage (with X being either halogen atom, Br or I) competes with fast internal conversion and consequent stochastic dissociation in lower electronic states. In the case of the CH2Br + I(2P3/2)/I*(2P1/2) channels, the dynamics are greatly biased toward the stochastic dissociation process due to both the particular PECs landscape and the unfavored excitation of the CH2BrI ensemble with respect to the C-I molecular axis at this excitation energy. The ab initio PECs provide a tentative path for the fast dissociation process in either case. For the C-Br bond breakage, excitation to the 13A' electronic state and predissociation through the 11A'/11A″ or 12A'/12A″ states, leading to direct dissociation through the 10A'/9A″ states, appear as the most consistent dynamics. For the C-I channel, predissociation does not become a reliable possibility and a fast internal conversion may precede dissociation through the repulsive 6A'/6A″ and 4A'/4A″ states. The large content of rotational and vibrational excitation of the polyatomic cofragments is justified through the soft impulsive model and the geometrical changes produced along the dissociation pathway. Strikingly, the aqk(p) alignment parameters obtained for the Br(2P3/2) and I(2P3/2) photoproducts indicate that the rotational angular momentum of the CH2X (X = I or Br) cofragment appears highly constrained along the recoil direction. Finally, this work presents a highly plausible explanation for the branching ratio of secondary dissociation processes in the photodynamics of CH2BrI at 193 nm.

MicroRNAs expression profiles in early responses to different levels of water deficit in Setaria viridis.

Water deficit is a major constraint for crops of economic importance in almost all agricultural regions. However, plants have an active defense system to adapt to these adverse conditions, acting in the reprogramming of gene expression responsible for encoding microRNAs (miRNAs). These miRNAs promote the regulation to the target gene expression by the post-transcriptional (PTGS) and transcriptional gene silencing (TGS), modulating several pathways including defense response to water deficit. The broader knowledge of the miRNA expression profile and its regulatory networks in response to water deficit can provide evidence for the development of new biotechnological tools for genetic improvement of several important crops. In this study, we used Setaria viridis accession A10.1 as a C4 model plant to widely investigate the miRNA expression profile in early responses to different levels of water deficit. Ecophysiological studies in Setaria viridis under water deficit and after rewatering demonstrated a drought tolerant accession, capable of a rapid recovery from the stress. Deep small RNA sequencing and degradome studies were performed in plants submitted to drought to identify differentially expressed miRNA genes and their predicted targets, using in silico analysis. Our findings showed that several miRNAs were differentially modulated in response to distinctive levels of water deficit and after rewatering. The predicted mRNA targets mainly corresponded to genes related to cell wall remodeling, antioxidant system and drought-related transcription factors, indicating that these genes are rapidly regulated in early responses to drought stress. The implications of these modulations are extensively discussed, and higher-effect miRNAs are suggested as major players for potential use in genetic engineering to improve drought tolerance in economically important crops, such as sugarcane, maize, and sorghum. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-022-01226-z.

Experimental and Theoretical Investigation of the 3sp(d) Rydberg States of Fenchone by Polarized Laser Resonance-Enhanced-Multiphoton-Ionization and Fourier Transform VUV Absorption Spectroscopy.

The VUV absorption spectrum of fenchone is re-examined using synchrotron radiation Fourier transform spectrometry, revealing new vibrational structure. Picosecond laser (2+1) resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) spectroscopy complements this, providing an alternative view of the 3spd Rydberg excitation region. These spectra display broadly similar appearance, with minor differences that are largely explained by referring to calculated one- and two-photon electronic excitation cross-sections. Both show good agreement with Franck-Condon simulations of the relevant vibrational structures. Parent ion REMPI ionization yields with both femtosecond and picosecond excitation laser pulses are studied as a function of laser polarization and intensity, the latter providing insight into the relative two-photon excitation and one-photon ionization rates. The experimental circular-linear dichroism observed in the parent ion yields varies strongly between the 3s and 3p Rydberg states, in good overall agreement with the calculated two-photon excitation circular-linear dichroism, while corroborating other evidence that the 3pz sub-state plays no more than a very minor role in the (2+1) REMPI spectrum. Vibrationally resolved photoelectron spectra are recorded with picosecond pulse duration (2+1) REMPI at selected intermediate vibrational excitations. The 3s intermediate state displays a very strong Δv=0 propensity on ionization, but the 3p intermediate evidences more complex vibronic dynamics, and we infer some 3p→3s internal conversion prior to ionization.

Vacuum-Ultraviolet Absorption Spectrum of 3-Methoxyacrylonitrile.

The high-resolution absorption spectrum of 3-methoxyacrylonitrile (3MAN) was measured between 5.27 and 12.59 eV using a synchrotron-based Fourier-transform spectrometer. It was related to an absolute absorption cross-section scale. Complementary calculations at the DFT-MRCI/aug-cc-pVTZ level of theory document the vertical transition energies and oscillator strengths toward the first 19 states of both the E and Z geometrical isomers of 3MAN. Comparisons with the experimental absorption spectrum reveal the similarities and differences between 3MAN, a bifunctional molecule, with acrylonitrile and methylvinylether, where only one functional group is present. As in acrylonitrile, several broad valence transitions were observed up to the ionization limit. They are likely associated with the extended π-system induced by the nitrile group but might also involve σσ* transitions close to the ionization limit. As in methylvinylether, Rydberg series converging to the ionization limit are absent. This is attributed to a difference in neutral and cationic geometry due to a 60° rotation of the methyl group.

High-resolution vacuum ultraviolet absorption spectra of 2,3- and 2,5-dihydrofuran.

Using a synchrotron-based Fourier-transform spectrometer, the high-resolution absorption spectra of the C1-symmetric 2,3-dihydrofuran (23DHF) and C2v-symmetric 2,5-dihydrofuran (25DHF) have been measured from 5.5 eV to 9.4 eV with an absolute absorption cross section scale. Oscillator strengths and vertical excitation energies of the lowest 18 states have been computed using the average of the second- and third-order algebraic diagrammatic construction polarization propagator method and the equation-of-motion coupled-cluster method at the level of singles and doubles model. These show that the bright valence transitions of ππ*-character are embedded into Rydberg transitions, whose oscillator strengths are at least one order of magnitude lower. To account for intensity borrowing, the first broad valence transition between 5.5 eV and 6.8 eV was simulated using a nuclear ensemble, and the agreement between experiment and theory is excellent. Whereas 23DHF only exhibits one broad valence transition followed by d/f Rydberg series converging to the ionization energy, the absorption spectrum of 25DHF has four bands, attributed to a valence nπσ → π*-transition, nπσ → 3px,z/3dxz transitions, a second valence nπ → π*-transition followed by d/f Rydberg series converging to the ionization energy, respectively. All Rydberg series converging to the ionization energy have been characterized in terms of their quantum defects.

Chemical kinetics in an atmospheric pressure helium plasma containing humidity.

Atmospheric pressure plasmas are sources of biologically active oxygen and nitrogen species, which makes them potentially suitable for the use as biomedical devices. Here, experiments and simulations are combined to investigate the formation of the key reactive oxygen species, atomic oxygen (O) and hydroxyl radicals (OH), in a radio-frequency driven atmospheric pressure plasma jet operated in humidified helium. Vacuum ultra-violet high-resolution Fourier-transform absorption spectroscopy and ultra-violet broad-band absorption spectroscopy are used to measure absolute densities of O and OH. These densities increase with increasing H2O content in the feed gas, and approach saturation values at higher admixtures on the order of 3 × 1014 cm-3 for OH and 3 × 1013 cm-3 for O. Experimental results are used to benchmark densities obtained from zero-dimensional plasma chemical kinetics simulations, which reveal the dominant formation pathways. At low humidity content, O is formed from OH+ by proton transfer to H2O, which also initiates the formation of large cluster ions. At higher humidity content, O is created by reactions between OH radicals, and lost by recombination with OH. OH is produced mainly from H2O+ by proton transfer to H2O and by electron impact dissociation of H2O. It is lost by reactions with other OH molecules to form either H2O + O or H2O2. Formation pathways change as a function of humidity content and position in the plasma channel. The understanding of the chemical kinetics of O and OH gained in this work will help in the development of plasma tailoring strategies to optimise their densities in applications.

Intersectionality of Race, Gender, and Common Mental Disorders in Northeastern Brazil.

This study applies the perspective of intersectionality, defined as social identities combining with one another and with structural societal factors to produce health inequities, to assess the interaction between race, gender, and common mental disorders (CMD) in northeastern Brazil. The Self-Reporting Questionnaire was used to assess CMD among a representative sample of adults in Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil (N=3273). Four groups (Black men, Black women, White women, White men) represented the intersection of race and gender. We used a Chi square test to compare the four groups and Poisson regressions to determine prevalence ratios (PR). White men had the lowest prevalence of CMD (11.1%) and Black women had the highest (37.2%). After adjusting for covariates, Black women had a statistically significantly higher prevalence of CMD than White men (PR=2.43; 95% CI: 1.39-4.25), though the prevalence among White women was not statistically significantly different from White men (PR=1.74; 95% CI: .93-3.30). Interaction tests were conducted on the multiplicative and additive scale, although the results were not statistically significant. These findings indicate that the experience of being both Black and a woman in Brazil is associated with elevated prevalence of CMD. Programs and interventions are needed to address this burden and research is needed to further explore its cause.

The high-resolution absorption spectroscopy branch on the VUV beamline DESIRS at SOLEIL.

A VUV absorption spectroscopy facility designed for ultra-high spectral resolution is in operation as a dedicated branch on the DESIRS beamline at Synchrotron SOLEIL. This branch includes a unique VUV Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) and a dedicated versatile gas sample chamber. The FTS instrument can cover a large UV-VUV spectral range from 4 to 30 eV, with an ultimate line width of 0.08 cm(-1) on a large spectral window, ΔE/E = 7%, over which all spectral features can be acquired in a multiplex way. The performance can be considered to be a middle ground between broadband moderate-resolution spectrometers based on gratings and ultra-high-spectral-resolution VUV tunable-laser-based techniques over very narrow spectral windows. The various available gaseous-sample-handling setups, which function over a wide range of pressures and temperatures, and the acquisition methodology are described. A selection of experimental results illustrates the performance and limitations of the FTS-based facility.

Factors associated with cesarean delivery in public and private hospitals in a city of northeastern Brazil: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the prevalence and factors associated with cesarean delivery according to whether care was provided in public or private hospitals in Brazil. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study based on a cohort of live births between April 2004 and March 2005. A total of 1,344 mother-child pairs were followed up during the first month of life. The variables analyzed were the socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of the mother and newborn, as well as the healthcare provided during pregnancy and childbirth. Hierarchical analysis was carried out for both prediction models, i.e. healthcare provision either within the Brazilian National Health System (public service) or within the private network. Prevalence and association measurement calculations were carried out. Values were considered significant when pless than or equal to 5.0 %. RESULTS: A total of 1,019 (75,8 %) gave birth in public hospital. The prevalences of cesarean delivery were 29.9 % and 86.2 % in the public and private sectors, respectively. Through hierarchical logistic regression, the risk factors for cesarean delivery presented in the public hospital were maternal age greater than or equal to 20 years (p = 0.003), primiparity (p = 0.004), twinning (p = 0.039), prenatal care provided in the private network (p = 0.004), delivery in hospitals providing high complexity medical care (p = 0.000) and prenatal care with greater than or equal to 6 consultations (p = 0.035). In the private sector, no association was observed between the variables studied and cesarean delivery. CONCLUSIONS: The cesarean delivery rates were high in both sectors, although in the private network the rate was almost triple that of the public service. The absence of determinant factors of birth in the private sector drew attention. In planning measures against the growing cesarean rates, it is necessary to take into consideration the environmental determinants as primiparity, twinning and greater maternal age, frequent indications of primary cesarean delivery, as well as to implement actions that might improve the quality of prenatal and delivery care.

Maternal obesity, environmental factors, cesarean delivery and breastfeeding as determinants of overweight and obesity in children: results from a cohort.

BACKGROUND: Overweight and obesity are a public health problem with a multifactorial aetiology. The objective of this study was to evaluate risk factors for overweight and obesity in children at 6 years of age, including type of delivery and breastfeeding. METHODS: This study relates to a cohort of 672 mother-baby pairs who have been followed from birth up to 6 years of age. The sample included mothers and infants seen at all ten maternity units in a large Brazilian city. Genetic, socioeconomic, demographic variables and postnatal characteristics were analyzed. The outcome analyzed was overweight and/or obesity defined as a body mass index greater than or equal to +1 z-score. The sample was stratified by breastfeeding duration, and a descriptive analysis was performed using a hierarchical logistic regression. P-values of <0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: Prevalence rates (PR) of overweight and obesity among the children were 15.6% and 12.9%, respectively. Among the subset of breastfed children, factors associated with the outcome were maternal overweight and/or obesity (PR 1.92; 95% confidence interval "95% CI" 1.15-3.24) and lower income (PR 0.50; 95% CI 0.29-0.85). Among children who had not been breastfed or had been breastfed for shorter periods (less than 12 months), predictors were mothers with lower levels of education (PR 0.39; 95% CI 0.19-0.78), working mothers (PR 1.83; 95% CI 1.05-3.21), caesarean delivery (PR 1.98; 95% CI 1.14 - 3.50) and maternal obesity (PR 3.05; 95% CI 1.81 - 5.25). CONCLUSIONS: Maternal obesity and caesarean delivery were strongly associated with childhood overweight and/or obesity. Lower family income and lower levels of education were identified as protective factors. Breastfeeding duration appeared to modify the association between overweight/obesity and the other predictors studied.

Duration of exclusive breastfeeding in a Brazilian population: new determinants in a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Determinants of the duration of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) differ in effect and magnitude across populations. The present study aimed to identify factors associated with discontinuation of EBF in a municipality in northeastern Brazil, including variables that have received little or no attention in previous literature. METHODS: This cohort study involved 1,344 mother-child pairs selected from maternity hospitals in Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil. Subjects were followed up for 6 months through monthly home visits, and discontinuation of EBF was recorded. Possible determinants were tested using Cox's four-level hierarchical survival model, taking into consideration the temporal proximity of the predisposing factors to interruption of EBF. Median duration of EBF was estimated using Kaplan-Meier's survival curve. RESULTS: Median duration of EBF was 89 days. Out of the 19 variables tested, 9 showed an association with EBF cessation; of these, two had never been evaluated in Brazilian studies, namely, mother partner's appreciation for breastfeeding (hazard ratio [HR] 0.62; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.48-0.79) and limiting the number of nighttime feeds at the breast (HR 1.58; 95% CI 1.11-2.23). Another two variables that had been previously evaluated, but had never been described as determinants of discontinuation of EBF showed association: presence of cracked nipples (HR 2.54; 95% CI 2.06-3.13) and prenatal care provided by public services (HR 1.34; 95% CI 1.17-1.55). Other variables showing associations with the outcome were: guidance on breastfeeding received at the hospital (HR 0.80; 95% CI 0.68-0.92), birth in a Baby-Friendly Hospital (HR 0.85; 95% CI 0.73-0.99), less than or equal to 8 years of maternal schooling (HR 1.34, 95% CI 1.17-1.53), mother working outside the home (HR 1.73; 95% CI 1.53-1.95), and use of a pacifier (HR 1.40; 95% CI 1.14-1.71). CONCLUSIONS: The study confirmed that the factors associated with EBF duration are multiple, variable, and dependent on the population being evaluated. Characteristics that had never been previously evaluated or described, at least in Brazilian studies, behaved as determinants of EBF in the present study, and thus allow to expand the existing list of factors determining this practice.

High-resolution study of 13C16O A-X(v' = 0-9) bands using the VUV-FTS at SOLEIL: revised term values.

We present high-resolution absorption spectral measurements of the A(1)Π-X(1)Σ(+) band system of (13)C(16)O. These were recorded with the VUV Fourier transform spectrometer (VUV-FTS) installed on the DESIRS beamline at the SOLEIL synchrotron. This work includes revised term values that extend to higher J' values than previous measurements for most v' levels and lower J' values for v' = 0. We confirm previously observed perturbations of the rotational levels in greater detail and present evidence for new perturbations. The accuracy in the wavelength determination and term values is on average within 0.01 cm(-1), improving upon previous measurements.

Hypothermia for perinatal brain hypoxia-ischemia in different resource settings: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of hypothermia on mortality of neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in different economic resources settings. METHODS: We searched for randomized controlled trials on MEDLINE, Embase and other databases. Duplicate reviewers selected the studies and extracted data. We calculated meta-analyses of the relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), and used meta-regression to evaluate the gross domestic product per capita influence on hypothermia efficacy. RESULTS: Sixteen studies were included (n = 1889); eight were conducted in lower income countries (n = 662). Hypothermia significantly reduced mortality (RR = 0.77; 95% CI: 0.65-0.92). Meta-regression revealed that hypothermia efficacy does not increase as the gross domestic product per capita rises. CONCLUSIONS: There is enough evidence to support hypothermia as the standard care for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Evidence from low-resource settings is limited, but hypothermia efficacy was not shown to be associated with better resources countries.

DESIRS: a state-of-the-art VUV beamline featuring high resolution and variable polarization for spectroscopy and dichroism at SOLEIL.

DESIRS is a new undulator-based VUV beamline on the 2.75 GeV storage ring SOLEIL (France) optimized for gas-phase studies of molecular and electronic structures, reactivity and polarization-dependent photodynamics on model or actual systems encountered in the universe, atmosphere and biosphere. It is equipped with two dedicated endstations: a VUV Fourier-transform spectrometer (FTS) for ultra-high-resolution absorption spectroscopy (resolving power up to 10(6)) and an electron/ion imaging coincidence spectrometer. The photon characteristics necessary to fulfill its scientific mission are: high flux in the 5-40 eV range, high spectral purity, high resolution, and variable and well calibrated polarizations. The photon source is a 10 m-long pure electromagnetic variable-polarization undulator producing light from the very near UV up to 40 eV on the fundamental emission with tailored elliptical polarization allowing fully calibrated quasi-perfect horizontal, vertical and circular polarizations, as measured with an in situ VUV polarimeter with absolute polarization rates close to unity, to be obtained at the sample location. The optical design includes a beam waist allowing the implementation of a gas filter to suppress the undulator high harmonics. This harmonic-free radiation can be steered toward the FTS for absorption experiments, or go through a highly efficient pre-focusing optical system, based on a toroidal mirror and a reflective corrector plate similar to a Schmidt plate. The synchrotron radiation then enters a 6.65 m Eagle off-plane normal-incidence monochromator equipped with four gratings with different groove densities, from 200 to 4300 lines mm(-1), allowing the flux-to-resolution trade-off to be smoothly adjusted. The measured ultimate instrumental resolving powers are 124000 (174 µeV) around 21 eV and 250000 (54 µeV) around 13 eV, while the typical measured flux is in the 10(10)-10(11) photons s(-1) range in a 1/50000 bandwidth, and 10(12)-10(13) photons s(-1) in a 1/1000 bandwidth, which is very satisfactory although slightly below optical simulations. All of these features make DESIRS a state-of-the-art VUV beamline for spectroscopy and dichroism open to a broad scientific community.

VUV Fourier-transform absorption study of the Lyman and Werner bands in D2.

An extensive survey of the D(2) absorption spectrum has been performed with the high-resolution VUV Fourier-transform spectrometer employing synchrotron radiation. The frequency range of 90,000-119,000 cm(-1) covers the full depth of the potential wells of the B (1)Σ(u)(+), B' (1)Σ(u)(+), and C (1)Π(u) electronic states up to the D(1s) + D(2l) dissociation limit. Improved level energies of rovibrational levels have been determined up to respectively v = 51, v = 13, and v = 20. Highest resolution is achieved by probing absorption in a molecular gas jet with slit geometry, as well as in a liquid helium cooled static gas cell, resulting in line widths of ≈0.35 cm(-1). Extended calibration methods are employed to extract line positions of D(2) lines at absolute accuracies of 0.03 cm(-1). The D (1)Π(u) and B'' (1)Σ(u)(+) electronic states correlate with the D(1s) + D(3l]) dissociation limit, but support a few vibrational levels below the second dissociation limit, respectively, v = 0-3 and v = 0-1, and are also included in the presented study. The complete set of resulting level energies is the most comprehensive and accurate data set for D(2). The observations are compared with previous studies, both experimental and theoretical.

[Factors associated with the death of motorcyclists in traffic accidents]. / Fatores associados ao óbito de motociclistas nas ocorrências de trânsito.

In order to identify the factors associated with death among motorcyclists involved in traffic accidents in Maringá - PR, a retrospective study was performed, including motorcyclists involved in accidents in the year 2004. Data were collected from the Military Police records, the Integrated System for Emergency Trauma Care (Sistema Integrado de Atendimento ao Trauma em Emergência -SIATE) and the Institute of Legal Medicine. Bivariate analyses and binary logistical regression were performed. A total of 2,362 motorcyclists were identified in the Police Reports, 1,743 of whom also had records in the Emergency Responders reports. Victims who succumbed to their injuries differed from victims who survived in terms of age, place of residence, time elapsed since obtaining a driver's license, and their physiological condition at the scene of the accident. The following variables were maintained in the final model: Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Revised Trauma Score (RTS), pulse, and blood oxygen saturation. The physiological conditions of the victims at the scene of the accidents were highlighted in the final model, with GCS surpassing RTS in regards to association with death.