Estimativa de Fluxo de Massa de Ar Via Diferenças de Temperatura das Superfícies do Mar e do Continente Comparadas com Dados Observacionais

This work conducted analysis of the behavior of the sea breeze at the surface and at altitude, in the city of Rio de Janeiro, using surface weather stations, computational model, atmospheric sounding and wind profiler. This analysis has established the non-linear correlation between the flow of breeze and the variation of the temperatures of the ocean and the continent and it was estimated the flow of wet mass carried by the sea breeze from the ocean to the interior of the continent, taking examples of observations in winter and summer days. The results showed that the mass flow of moist air is transported from the sea to the mainland is about three times higher in summer compared to winter. Featuring non-linear correlation of the variation of surface temperature with the intensity of the sea breeze.Neste trabalho foi realizada uma análise da brisa marítima na cidade do Rio de Janeiro, utilizando-se estações meteorológicas de superfície, sondagem atmosférica, perfilador de vento acústico e modelo computacional de balanço de energia à superfície. A partir desta análise foi estabelecida a correlação entre o fluxo de brisa marítima e a variação das temperaturas do oceano e do continente, bem como estimou-se o fluxo de vapor d'água transportado pela brisa marítima do oceano para o interior do continente, tomando exemplos de observações em dias de inverno e verão. Os resultados mostraram que o fluxo de vapor d'água transportado do mar ao continente é aproximadamente três vezes maior no verão quando comparado ao inverno, apresentando correlação não linear da variação da temperatura da superfície com a intensidade da brisa marítima

Evaluation of the magnetic permeability for the microstructural characterization of a duplex stainless steel

Non-Destructive Testing has been commonly used to assess the presence of discontinuities that may affect the integrity of materials in service. In this study, a Hall effect sensor is used in a methodology developed to study in a non-destructive manner the microstructural variations of a material that occur due to the single-phase decomposition. The material selected was the UNS S31803 duplex stainless steel, particularly due to its behavior under temperatures below 525 °C. Measurements of magnetic permeability based on Hall voltage values were performed as well as hardness measurements and X-ray diffraction studies. The results confirm that the magnetic permeability can be used to successfully track the formation of α' phase from α phase in a duplex stainless steel

Métodos biológico e alternativo no controle da mancha aquosa no meloeiro / Biological and alternative methods to control watery spot in melon

O meloeiro (Cucumis melo L.) é uma das hortaliças mais relevantes no mundo. Devido ao manejo inadequado inúmeras doenças como a mancha aquosa vem acometendo está cultura, causando prejuízos econômicos pela redução da quantidade e/ou qualidade de frutos comercializados. As medidas eficientes para controle da doença são escassas, e após introduzida em uma área, é de difícil erradicação. Assim, alternativas para o seu controle devem ser avaliadas e, dentre elas, cita-se os controles: biológico e alternativo, através de leveduras biocontroladoras e o uso de silício. A presente revisão teve como objetivo elucidar os métodos biológico e alternativo no controle da mancha-aquosa no meloeiro. A mancha aquosa vem sendo assinalada como uma doença de grande impacto econômico mundial, com riscos elevados para cucurbitáceas, principalmente para o meloeiro. No entanto, o estabelecimento de algumas estratégias alternativas através do biocontrole utilizando as leveduras e o Silício, vem demonstrando resultados promissores para o manejo da doença, possibilitado a redução das perdas nos campos de produção e garantido a melhoria na qualidade dos frutos

AVALIAÇÃO NEUROBIOLOGICA DO USO DA RITALINA EM PACIENTES NÃO PORTADORES DE TDHA

The non-therapeutic use of Ritalin, or methylphenidate, among individuals without Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has increased, especially in academic settings, due to its potential to improve attention and cognitive performance. This study reviews the neurobiological effects of this use in individuals without ADHD. Changes in brain activity, especially in the prefrontal cortex and limbic system, were compared, alterations in dopaminergic neurotransmission were investigated, and differences in neuropsychological performance before and after the use of Ritalin were assessed. The review included articles published between 2011 and 2024 in the PubMed, SciELO, LILACS, and Google Scholar databases, focusing on the neurobiological effects of Ritalin in individuals without ADHD. Results indicate that, despite temporary improvements in concentration and working memory, prolonged use may cause anxiety, tachycardia, changes in appetite, and dependence, as well as reduce the effectiveness of the medication due to tolerance. It is concluded that the risks to physical and mental health outweigh the short-term cognitive benefits. It is essential to raise awareness about the dangers of non-prescribed use of Ritalin and to promote healthy alternatives for cognitive enhancement, as well as to develop evidence-based guidelines to minimize the risks of unsupervised stimulant use.O uso não terapêutico da Ritalina, ou metilfenidato, entre indivíduos sem Transtorno de Déficit de Atenção e Hiperatividade (TDAH) tem aumentado, principalmente em ambientes acadêmicos, devido ao seu potencial para melhorar a atenção e o desempenho cognitivo. Este estudo revisa os efeitos neurobiológicos desse uso em indivíduos sem TDAH. Foram comparadas as alterações na atividade cerebral, especialmente no córtex pré-frontal e sistema límbico, investigadas mudanças na neurotransmissão dopaminérgica e avaliadas as diferenças no desempenho neuropsicológico antes e após o uso da Ritalina.    A revisão incluiu artigos publicados entre 2011 e 2024 nas bases PubMed, SciELO, LILACS e Google Scholar, focando nos efeitos neurobiológicos da Ritalina em indivíduos sem TDAH. Resultados indicam que, apesar de melhorias temporárias na concentração e memória de trabalho, o uso prolongado pode causar ansiedade, taquicardia, alterações no apetite e dependência, além de reduzir a eficácia do medicamento devido à tolerância.    Conclui-se que os riscos à saúde física e mental superam os benefícios cognitivos de curto prazo. É essencial conscientizar sobre os perigos do uso não prescrito da Ritalina e promover alternativas saudáveis para o aprimoramento cognitivo, além de desenvolver diretrizes baseadas em evidências para minimizar os riscos do uso não supervisionado de estimulantes

ANÁLISE COMPARATIVA DO USO DA ESTATINA E DO ÁCIDO NICOTÍNICO NO TRATAMENTO DA SÍNDROME METABÓLICA

Considering metabolic syndrome (MS) as a pathophysiological condition characterized by arterial hypertension, central obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and hyperglycemia, this study aims to compare the use of statins and nicotinic acid in the treatment of MS. To this end, a comparative analysis based on relevant clinical and epidemiological studies was conducted. Thus, it is observed that statins significantly reduce LDL cholesterol by about 50% and decrease the risk of cardiovascular events by 25% to 35%, with an odds ratio (OR) of improvement between 0.70 and 0.80. Statins are widely available and accessible, especially in generic versions, and have a relatively manageable adverse effect profile. In contrast, nicotinic acid reduces LDL cholesterol by 15% to 25%, increases HDL cholesterol, and reduces triglycerides, but with less consistent efficacy in preventing cardiovascular events (OR ranging from 0.90 to 1.10) and significant side effects, such as skin flushing and hepatotoxicity. The cost and availability of nicotinic acid are more limited compared to statins. It is concluded that statins are the preferred choice for the treatment of MS due to their robust efficacy and accessibility, while nicotinic acid may be considered in specific cases, with caution due to its adverse effects.Considerando a síndrome metabólica (SM) como uma condição fisiopatológica caracterizada por hipertensão arterial, obesidade central, resistência à insulina, dislipidemia e hiperglicemia, este estudo objetiva comparar o uso de estatinas e ácido nicotínico no tratamento da SM. Para tanto, procede-se a uma análise comparativa baseada em estudos clínicos e epidemiológicos relevantes. Desse modo, observa-se que as estatinas reduzem significativamente o LDL-colesterol em cerca de 50% e diminuem o risco de eventos cardiovasculares em 25% a 35%, com odds ratio (OR) de melhora entre 0,70 e 0,80. As estatinas são amplamente disponíveis e acessíveis, especialmente nas versões genéricas, e apresentam um perfil de efeitos adversos relativamente manejável. Em contraste, o ácido nicotínico reduz o LDL-colesterol em 15% a 25%, aumenta o HDL-colesterol e reduz os triglicerídeos, mas com uma eficácia menos consistente na prevenção de eventos cardiovasculares (OR variando de 0,90 a 1,10) e efeitos colaterais significativos, como rubor cutâneo e hepatotoxicidade. O custo e a disponibilidade do ácido nicotínico são mais limitados em comparação às estatinas. Conclui-se que as estatinas são a escolha preferida para o tratamento da SM devido à sua eficácia robusta e acessibilidade, enquanto o ácido nicotínico pode ser considerado em casos específicos, com precaução devido aos seus efeitos adversos

Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil: setting the baseline knowledge on the animal diversity in Brazil

The limited temporal completeness and taxonomic accuracy of species lists, made available in a traditional manner in scientific publications, has always represented a problem. These lists are invariably limited to a few taxonomic groups and do not represent up-to-date knowledge of all species and classifications. In this context, the Brazilian megadiverse fauna is no exception, and the Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil (CTFB) (http://fauna.jbrj.gov.br/), made public in 2015, represents a database on biodiversity anchored on a list of valid and expertly recognized scientific names of animals in Brazil. The CTFB is updated in near real time by a team of more than 800 specialists. By January 1, 2024, the CTFB compiled 133,691 nominal species, with 125,138 that were considered valid. Most of the valid species were arthropods (82.3%, with more than 102,000 species) and chordates (7.69%, with over 11,000 species). These taxa were followed by a cluster composed of Mollusca (3,567 species), Platyhelminthes (2,292 species), Annelida (1,833 species), and Nematoda (1,447 species). All remaining groups had less than 1,000 species reported in Brazil, with Cnidaria (831 species), Porifera (628 species), Rotifera (606 species), and Bryozoa (520 species) representing those with more than 500 species. Analysis of the CTFB database can facilitate and direct efforts towards the discovery of new species in Brazil, but it is also fundamental in providing the best available list of valid nominal species to users, including those in science, health, conservation efforts, and any initiative involving animals. The importance of the CTFB is evidenced by the elevated number of citations in the scientific literature in diverse areas of biology, law, anthropology, education, forensic science, and veterinary science, among others

Rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART): Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with high in-hospital mortality. Alveolar recruitment followed by ventilation at optimal titrated PEEP may reduce ventilator-induced lung injury and improve oxygenation in patients with ARDS, but the effects on mortality and other clinical outcomes remain unknown. This article reports the rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART). Methods/Design: ART is a pragmatic, multicenter, randomized (concealed), controlled trial, which aims to determine if maximum stepwise alveolar recruitment associated with PEEP titration is able to increase 28-day survival in patients with ARDS compared to conventional treatment (ARDSNet strategy). We will enroll adult patients with ARDS of less than 72 h duration. The intervention group will receive an alveolar recruitment maneuver, with stepwise increases of PEEP achieving 45 cmH(2)O and peak pressure of 60 cmH2O, followed by ventilation with optimal PEEP titrated according to the static compliance of the respiratory system. In the control group, mechanical ventilation will follow a conventional protocol (ARDSNet). In both groups, we will use controlled volume mode with low tidal volumes (4 to 6 mL/kg of predicted body weight) and targeting plateau pressure <= 30 cmH2O. The primary outcome is 28-day survival, and the secondary outcomes are: length of ICU stay; length of hospital stay; pneumothorax requiring chest tube during first 7 days; barotrauma during first 7 days; mechanical ventilation-free days from days 1 to 28; ICU, in-hospital, and 6-month survival. ART is an event-guided trial planned to last until 520 events (deaths within 28 days) are observed. These events allow detection of a hazard ratio of 0.75, with 90% power and two-tailed type I error of 5%. All analysis will follow the intention-to-treat principle. Discussion: If the ART strategy with maximum recruitment and PEEP titration improves 28-day survival, this will represent a notable advance to the care of ARDS patients. Conversely, if the ART strategy is similar or inferior to the current evidence-based strategy (ARDSNet), this should also change current practice as many institutions routinely employ recruitment maneuvers and set PEEP levels according to some titration method.Hospital do Coracao (HCor) as part of the Program 'Hospitais de Excelencia a Servico do SUS (PROADI-SUS)'Brazilian Ministry of Healt

Visibility and Ceiling Nowcasting Using Artificial Intelligence Techniques for Aviation Applications

This work presents a novel approach for simulating visibility (Vis) and ceiling base height (Hc) in up to 1 h using several machine learning (ML) algorithms. Ten years of meteorological data at 15 min intervals for Santos Dumont airport (SDA), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil were used in the ML method training and testing process. In the investigation, several categorical and regressive algorithms were trained and tested, and the results were verified with observations. The forecast results reveal that the categorical methods produced satisfactory results only up to 15 min for visibility prediction with the probability of detection greater than 85%. On the other hand, the regressive methods were found to be more capable of generating an accurate prediction of Vis and Hc compared to categorical method up to 60 min. The forecast evaluation metrics for Vis and Hc had correlation coefficients of 0.99 ± 0.00 and 0.96 ± 0.00, with mean absolute errors of 324 ± 77 m, and 167 ± 21 m, respectively. Results suggested that ML methods can improve the prediction of Vis and Hc up to 1 h when accurate observations are used for the analysis

Visibility and Ceiling Nowcasting Using Artificial Intelligence Techniques for Aviation Applications

This work presents a novel approach for simulating visibility (Vis) and ceiling base height (Hc) in up to 1 h using several machine learning (ML) algorithms. Ten years of meteorological data at 15 min intervals for Santos Dumont airport (SDA), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil were used in the ML method training and testing process. In the investigation, several categorical and regressive algorithms were trained and tested, and the results were verified with observations. The forecast results reveal that the categorical methods produced satisfactory results only up to 15 min for visibility prediction with the probability of detection greater than 85%. On the other hand, the regressive methods were found to be more capable of generating an accurate prediction of Vis and Hc compared to categorical method up to 60 min. The forecast evaluation metrics for Vis and Hc had correlation coefficients of 0.99 ± 0.00 and 0.96 ± 0.00, with mean absolute errors of 324 ± 77 m, and 167 ± 21 m, respectively. Results suggested that ML methods can improve the prediction of Vis and Hc up to 1 h when accurate observations are used for the analysis