SAR, SARin, RDSAR and FF-SAR Altimetry Processing on Demand for Cryosat-2, Sentinel-3 & Sentinel-6 at ESA's Altimetry Virtual Lab

This paper presents the RDSAR, SAR/SARin &amp; FF-SAR altimetry processors available in the ESA Altimetry Virtual Lab (AVL) hosted on the EarthConsole® platform. An overview on processors and features as well as preliminary analyses using AVL output data are reported to demonstrate the quality of the ESA Altimetry Virtual Lab altimetry services. Soon additional processors from ESA research contracts will be added to the AVL portfolio to continue providing innovative solutions to the radar altimetry community.</p

Leucocytozoon cariamae n. sp. and Haemoproteus pulcher coinfection in Cariama cristata (Aves: Cariamiformes): first mitochondrial genome analysis and morphological description of a leucocytozoid in Brazil

The distribution of avian haemosporidians of the genus Leucocytozoon in the Neotropics remains poorly understood. Recent studies confirmed their presence in the region using molecular techniques alone, but evidence for gametocytes and data on putative competent hosts for Leucocytozoon are still lacking outside highland areas. We combined morphological and molecular data to characterize a new Leucocytozoon species infecting a non-migratory red-legged seriema (Cariama cristata), the first report of a competent host for Leucocytozoon in Brazil. Leucocytozoon cariamae n. sp. is distinguished from the Leucocytozoon fringillinarum group by its microgametocytes that are not strongly appressed to the host cell nucleus. The bird studied was coinfected with Haemoproteus pulcher, and we present a Bayesian phylogenetic analysis based on nearly complete mitochondrial genomes of these 2 parasites. Leucocytozoon cariamae n. sp. morphology is consistent with our phylogenetic analysis indicating that it does not share a recent common ancestor with the L. fringillinarum group. Haemoproteus pulcher and Haemoproteus catharti form a monophyletic group with Haemocystidium parasites of Reptilia, supporting the polyphyly of the genus Haemoproteus. We also discussed the hypothesis that H. pulcher and H. catharti may be avian Haemocystidium, highlighting the need to study non-passerine parasites to untangle the systematics of Haemosporida

Dinâmica do emprego e custos de ajustamento na indústria do Rio Grande do Sul

O presente estudo tem como propósito fazer uma análise empírica da estrutura dos custos de ajustamento do emprego industrial usando dados do Brasil. As estruturas teóricas para custos de ajustamento do emprego encontradas na literatura podem ser agrupadas em custos convexos (que incluem a popular função quadrática) e não-convexos (como custos fixos). Seguindo o trabalho de Varejão e Portugal (2007), empregamos metodologias complementares para a identificação da estrutura de custos de ajustamento de modo inovador no Brasil. Primeiro, usando matrizes de transição entre regimes de emprego. Segundo, empregando modelos de sobrevivência, que são mais gerais que os modelos de matriz de transição Markoviana. Os resultados obtidos sugerem que os custos de ajustamento não-convexos têm mais apoio nos dados do que o modelo usual de custos de ajustamentos quadráticos.<br>We evaluate the structure of adjustment costs in manufacturing employment using Brazilian firm data. While quadratic adjustment costs are widely used this type of costs are not compatible with the extensive within sector gross job flows. Following Varejão and Portugal (2007), we use survival analysis as an empirical tool, as previous results associate non-convex adjustment costs with inactivity time dependent exit probabilities. Our estimates using quarterly firm level data from manufacturing industries, from 1991 to 2004 soundly reject time independent exit probabilities from labor adjustment inactivity, a result that is compatible with non-convex adjustment costs

Implementation of a Brazilian Cardioprotective Nutritional (BALANCE) Program for improvement on quality of diet and secondary prevention of cardiovascular events: A randomized, multicenter trial

Background: Appropriate dietary recommendations represent a key part of secondary prevention in cardiovascular disease (CVD). We evaluated the effectiveness of the implementation of a nutritional program on quality of diet, cardiovascular events, and death in patients with established CVD. Methods: In this open-label, multicenter trial conducted in 35 sites in Brazil, we randomly assigned (1:1) patients aged 45 years or older to receive either the BALANCE Program (experimental group) or conventional nutrition advice (control group). The BALANCE Program included a unique nutritional education strategy to implement recommendations from guidelines, adapted to the use of affordable and regional foods. Adherence to diet was evaluated by the modified Alternative Healthy Eating Index. The primary end point was a composite of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular death, cardiac arrest, myocardial infarction, stroke, myocardial revascularization, amputation, or hospitalization for unstable angina. Secondary end points included biochemical and anthropometric data, and blood pressure levels. Results: From March 5, 2013, to Abril 7, 2015, a total of 2534 eligible patients were randomly assigned to either the BALANCE Program group (n = 1,266) or the control group (n = 1,268) and were followed up for a median of 3.5 years. In total, 235 (9.3%) participants had been lost to follow-up. After 3 years of follow-up, mean modified Alternative Healthy Eating Index (scale 0-70) was only slightly higher in the BALANCE group versus the control group (26.2 ± 8.4 vs 24.7 ± 8.6, P <.01), mainly due to a 0.5-serving/d greater intake of fruits and of vegetables in the BALANCE group. Primary end point events occurred in 236 participants (18.8%) in the BALANCE group and in 207 participants (16.4%) in the control group (hazard ratio, 1.15; 95% CI 0.95-1.38; P =.15). Secondary end points did not differ between groups after follow-up. Conclusions: The BALANCE Program only slightly improved adherence to a healthy diet in patients with established CVD and had no significant effect on the incidence of cardiovascular events or death. © 2019 The Author