New variable stars discovered in the fields of three Galactic open clusters using the VVV Survey

This project is a massive near-infrared (NIR) search for variable stars in highly reddened and obscured open cluster (OC) fields projected on regions of the Galactic bulge and disk. The search is performed using photometric NIR data in the $J$-, $H$- and $K_s$- bands obtained from the Vista Variables in the V\'ia L\'actea (VVV) Survey. We performed in each cluster field a variability search using Stetson's variability statistics to select the variable candidates. Later, those candidates were subjected to a frequency analysis using the Generalized Lomb-Scargle and the Phase Dispersion Minimization algorithms. The number of independent observations range between 63 and 73. The newly discovered variables in this study, 157 in total in three different known OCs, are classified based on their light curve shapes, periods, amplitudes and their location in the corresponding color-magnitude $(J-K_s,K_s)$ and color-color $(H-K_s,J-H)$ diagrams. We found 5 possible Cepheid stars which, based on the period-luminosity relation, are very likely type II Cepheids located behind the bulge. Among the newly discovered variables, there are eclipsing binaries, $\delta$ Scuti, as well as background RR Lyrae stars. Using the new version of the Wilson & Devinney code as well as the "Physics Of Eclipsing Binaries" (PHOEBE) code, we analyzed some of the best eclipsing binaries we discovered. Our results show that these studied systems turn out to be ranging from detached to double-contact binaries, with low eccentricities and high inclinations of approximately $80^{\circ}$. Their surface temperatures range between $3500$K and $8000$K.Comment: 34 pages, 10 figures, 7 tables. Accepted for publication in New Astronom

The Transition Zone Beneath West Argentina‐Central Chile Using P ‐to‐ S Converted Waves

We investigate the mantle transition zone beneath the Chile‐Argentina flat subduction region by means of P‐to‐S conversions at mantle discontinuities from teleseismic events recorded at 103 seismic stations. From the analysis of receiver functions, we obtain clear converted phases from the 410 and 660 discontinuities, and we identify a robust precursory signal to P660s, of negative amplitude, that we name P590s. We observe little frequency dependence in the amplitude of the P410s converted phase, while the P660s is less visible toward higher frequencies. The 410 is on average deeper than 410 km by 10 ± 1 km in the higher‐frequency bands, and it is relatively sharp, being consistent with a 10% velocity jump over less than 20 km. The observed 660 depth varies with frequency; it is deeper by up to 18 ± 2 km for lower frequencies and close to reference at higher frequencies, being consistent with a 13% broad velocity gradient over 30–40 km, probably caused by a composite of multiple phase transitions. The transition zone thickness is controlled by the frequency‐dependent depth variability of the 660. Our findings of relative depth, width, and velocity jump of the detected discontinuities, combined with tomographic images of the mantle transition zone, cannot be explained by thermal variations alone. Compositional constraints from mineral physics show that a near pyrolitic mantle is consistent with the ratio of the estimated velocity jumps. However, the negative P590s phase in this region could be signal from the velocity reduction due to basalt accumulation at the base of the transition zone

Avaliação de empreendimentos habitacionais de interesse social com base na hierarquia de valor percebido pelo usuário

A avaliação de empreendimentos tem grande importância no esforço de melhoria da habitação de interesse social, podendo auxiliar na avaliação de resultados, e identificação de erros e acertos frente aos objetivos e ações do projeto. No entanto, a diversidade e dinâmica de programas habitacionais e a falta de clareza nos objetivos dos empreendimentos podem dificultar o processo de avaliação desse tipo de produto. Com freqüência, as avaliações realizadas nos empreendimentos de habitação de interesse social têm como foco os atributos do produto, sem estabelecer uma conexão com os objetivos esperados. Neste artigo, propõe-se um modelo para estruturar as avaliações de empreendimentos habitacionais de interesse social, adotando uma hierarquia de valor que vincula os atributos às suas conseqüências de uso e aos objetivos esperados. O modelo não está limitado a um programa habitacional específico e parte da idéia de produto ampliado, ou seja, não está focado apenas no produto habitação. As principais contribuições do estudo referem-se ao mapeamento do produto habitacional e à identificação de influências entre os atributos do produto avaliados e os resultados esperados pelos gestores e percebidos pelos usuários

The contribution of the seismic component of Topo-Iberia to the imaging of the deep structure of the Iberian Peninsula and North Morocco

Topo-Iberia has been a large-scale Spanish project running from 2007 to 2013 that integrated more than 150 researchers on Earth Sciences. One of its key assets was the management of an observatory platform, named IberArray, aimed to provide new geophysical datasets (seismic, GPS, MT) to constrain the structure of Iberia with unprecedented resolution. The IberArray seismic pool was composed by 70+ BB stations, covering the study area in 3 deployments with a site-density of 60km x 60km. The data base holds ~300 sites, including the permanent networks in the area. Hence it forms a unique seismic database in Europe that allows for multiple analyses to constrain the complex geodinamics of the Western Mediterranean. A summary of new results coming from different techniques is presented here. The SKS splitting analysis has provided a spectacular image of the rotation of the fast velocity direction along the Gibraltar Arc. In central and northern Iberia, the fast polarization directions are close to EW, consistently with global mantle flow models considering contributions of surface plate motion, density variations and net lithosphere rotation. Those results suggest an asthenospheric origin of the observed anisotropy related to present-day mantle flow. Receiver functions have revealed the crustal thickness variations beneath the Atlas, Rif and southern Iberia, evidencing a relevant crustal root beneath the Rif, in agreement with recent, high- density active seismic experiments. The Variscan Iberian massif shows a flat Moho discontinuity, while the areas reworked in the Alpine orogeny show a slightly thicker crust. Beneath N Iberia, the imbrication of the Iberian and Eurasian crusts results in complex receiver functions. Depths exceeding 45 km are observed along the Pyrenean range, while the crust thins to values of 26-28 km close to the Atlantic coasts. The geometry of the 410-km and 660-km discontinuities has been investigated using novel cross-correlation/stacking techniques. Ambient noise tomography allows to identify the main sedimentary basins and to discriminate between the Variscan and the Alpine reworked areas. Local body-wave tomography in North Morocco has improved the location of the small magnitude events on the area and the details of the crustal structure. Teleseismic tomography has confirmed, using an independent data set, the presence of a high-velocity slab beneath the Gibraltar Arc.Peer Reviewe

Gone With the Water: The Loss of Genetic Variability in Black and Gold Howler Monkeys (Alouatta caraya) Due to Dam Construction

Black and gold howler monkeys (Alouatta caraya) inhabit several eco-regions in South America with the highest population densities in riverine forests. Dam construction for electricity production represents a severe human alteration of ecosystems with consequences for primate conservation. To evaluate the possible loss of genetic diversity in A. caraya, we analysed and compared the genetic structure of the species across 22 study sites in Argentina (14), Paraguay (1), and Brazil (7). Four of these study sites (referred to as flooded) were sampled before dam-linked flooding which most likely caused a drastic decline or functional extinction of these populations. The genetic variability of 256 individuals was evaluated using 10 autosomal microsatellites (STRs) and 112 individuals by sequencing a fragment of 507 bp of mtDNA. DNA was extracted from tissue, blood, and faecal samples. Significantly higher values of genetic variability were observed for the flooded populations both in mtDNA and STRs. Population genetic structure showed a K = 1, 2, or 5 depending on the method, separating Argentinian and Paraguayan sites from Brazilian sites and, in the case of K = 5, two clusters were mostly represented by flooded populations. Isolation-by-distance analyses showed that geographic distances influence gene flow. Analytical methods, such as Pairwise Fst’s and Nei’s and regression model of Harpending and Ward, were concordant in detecting significant genetic structuring between flooded and remaining sites examined. Although some sites have very low sample sizes, these samples are of great importance since these sampling sites are currently flooded. Our results show that the study sites where dams were built had the greatest genetic diversity. As A. caraya is currently severely threatened by yellow fever outbreaks, the remaining populations may be more vulnerable to disease outbreaks due to impoverished genetic variability. Accordingly, it is essential to implement management actions to conserve the remaining populations. Our results underline the importance for Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) to include data on the genetic structure of species in the affected sites prior to their alteration or destruction. These genetic data are also remarkably important for determining where to relocate specific individuals to help avoid biodiversity loss.Fil: Oklander, Luciana Inés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Posadas | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Posadas; ArgentinaFil: Caputo, Mariela. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología. Cátedra de Genética y Biología Molecular; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; ArgentinaFil: Fernández, Gabriela Paula. Universidad Nacional del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Centro de Bioinvestigaciones (Sede Pergamino); Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Universidad Nacional del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Jerusalinsky, Leandro. Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Primatas Brazileiros; BrasilFil: de Oliveira, Silviene F.. Universidade do Brasília; BrasilFil: Bonatto, Sandro Luis. Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Corach, Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología. Cátedra de Genética y Biología Molecular; Argentin

Capoeira e temas transversais: avaliação de um blog didático para as aulas de educação física

The Internet nowadays is a significant source of information, being important the construction of educational sites resulting from scientific research to foster pedagogical reflections. It is also important to support possibilities of relations between transversal themes, big problems of society that must be contextualized in school, in educational practice. In Physical Education, capoeira, part of the movement body culture, should also be addressed during the pedagogical practice. We evaluated a blog developed to address the Transversal Themes and Capoeira, taking into consideration the opinions of 23 teacher participants (12 women and 11 men, mean age 30 years). We opted for qualitative research and analysis of content from a questionnaire developed to evaluate the blog. The analysis was divided into two categories: presentation of the educational blog developed and analysis of results from the evaluation of participants, this category being divided into three subcategories: opinions about the design and configuration of the blog, interest and motivation; considerations about the transversal themes. The results were positive in terms of consistency, language, appropriateness of content to the topic and audience, visualization, reliability and conceptual rigor of the blog. All participants said they could use the content proposed in the blog for the development of their classes. From these results, it is considered that the blog can become a virtual educational material, assisting teachers in the teaching-learning process, helping the didactic process in Physical Education classes.A internet, atualmente, é uma significativa fonte de informação, sendo necessária a construção de sites educacionais resultantes de pesquisas científicas que fomentem reflexões pedagógicas. É preciso também fundamentar possibilidades de relações entre os temas transversais, grandes problemas da sociedade que devem ser contextualizados na escola, na prática educativa. Na Educação Física, a capoeira, parte integrante da cultura corporal de movimento, deve também ser abordada ao longo da prática pedagógica. Avaliou-se um blog desenvolvido para abordar os Temas Transversais e a Capoeira, levando-se em consideração a opinião de 23 professores participantes (12 mulheres e 11 homens, média de idade de 30 anos). Optou-se pela pesquisa qualitativa e análise de conteúdo a partir de um questionário desenvolvido para avaliar o blog. Dividiu-se a análise em duas categorias: apresentação do blog didático elaborado e análise dos resultados oriundos da avaliação dos participantes, sendo esta categoria dividida em 3 subcategorias: opiniões a respeito do design e da configuração do blog; interesse e motivação; considerações acerca dos temas transversais. Os resultados foram favoráveis quanto à coerência, à linguagem, a adequação do conteúdo ao tema e ao público-alvo, à visualização, à confiabilidade e o rigor conceitual do blog. Todos os participantes afirmaram ainda que utilizariam o conteúdo sugerido pelo blog para o desenvolvimento de suas aulas. A partir destes resultados, considera-se que o blog pode se tornar um material didático virtual, auxiliando os professores no processo de ensino-aprendizagem, contribuindo para o fazer didático da Educação Física escolar

Moho depths beneath the European Alps: a homogeneously processed map and receiver functions database

We use seismic waveform data from the AlpArray Seismic Network and three other temporary seismic networks, to perform receiver function (RF) calculations and time-to-depth migration to update the knowledge of the Moho discontinuity beneath the broader European Alps. In particular, we set up a homogeneous processing scheme to compute RFs using the time-domain iterative deconvolution method and apply consistent quality control to yield 112 205 high-quality RFs. We then perform time-to-depth migration in a newly implemented 3D spherical coordinate system using a European-scale reference P and S wave velocity model. This approach, together with the dense data coverage, provide us with a 3D migrated volume, from which we present migrated profiles that reflect the first-order crustal thickness structure. We create a detailed Moho map by manually picking the discontinuity in a set of orthogonal profiles covering the entire area. We make the RF dataset, the software for the entire processing workflow, as well as the Moho map, openly available; these open-access datasets and results will allow other researchers to build on the current study

Miopatia por acúmulo de polissacarídeo em dois equinos da raça Percheron

Polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM) is a genetic disorder or by undetermined cause characterized by the abnormal accumulation of glycogen and polysaccharides in skeletal muscle fibers. The present report describes two Percheron horses, from different properties in the municipality of Pouso Redondo - SC, with locomotor clinical signs that started after work. The clinical signs observed were rigid gait, mainly of the pelvic limbs, muscle weakness, and recumbency. In the first case, the animal was diagnosed with severe multifocal rhabdomyonecrosis, moderate multifocal myoglobin nephrosis and severe diffuse transmural fibrinonecrotic gastritis. PSSM was confirmed by the presence of polysaccharide inclusions in myofiber sarcolemma visualized by periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining. In the second case, the horse presented two episodes of muscle disorder after work. The therapeutic protocol was based on penicillin, flunixin meglumine and fluid therapy with ringer lactate. An increase in creatine kinase (669.0 UI/L) and aspartate aminotransferase (669.0 UI/L) was observed in the serum biochemical evaluation. Research for mutation in the GYS1 gene was performed, with a positive heterozygote result. After rest and gradual recovery, the horse was only submitted to light work, with no return of the clinical condition since then. Thus, this report describes two cases of PSSM with distinct clinical evolution and diagnostic methods.A miopatia por acúmulo de polissacarídeos (PSSM) é uma desordem genética ou de causa indeterminada caracterizada pelo acúmulo anormal de glicogênio e polissacarídeos nas fibras musculares esqueléticas. O presente relato descreve dois cavalos Percheron, oriundos de diferentes propriedades do município de Pouso Redondo – SC, com sinais clínicos locomotores que iniciaram após o trabalho. Os sinais clínicos observados foram marcha rígida, principalmente dos membros pélvicos, fraqueza muscular, e decúbito. No primeiro caso, o animal foi diagnosticado com rabdomionecrose multifocal acentuada, nefrose mioglobínica multifocal moderada e gastrite fibrinonecrótica transmural difusa acentuada. A PSSM foi confirmada pela presença de inclusões polissacarídicas no sarcolema de miofibras visualizadas pela coloração com ácido periódico de Schiff (PAS). No segundo caso, o equino apresentou dois episódios de disfunção muscular após o trabalho. O protocolo terapêutico foi baseado em penicilina, flunixin megluminee fluidoterapia com ringer lactato. Um aumento de creatina quinase (669,0 UI/L) e aspartato aminotransferase (669,0 UI/L) foi observado na avaliação bioquímica sérica. Foi realizada pesquisa de mutação no gene GYS1, com resultado heterozigoto positivo. Após repouso e recuperação gradual, o cavalo foi submetido apenas a trabalhos leves, sem retorno do quadro clínico desde então. Assim, este relato descreve dois casos com PSSM com evolução clínica e métodos diagnósticos distintos

O uso de checklist como estratégia para redução de Pneumonia Associada à Ventilação Mecânica em uma Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Adulto

Justificativa e objetivos: Avaliar a efetividade uso do instrumento Fast-Check List desenvolvido por uma equipe interdisciplinar como estratégia de redução de tempo de ventilação mecânica(VM) e Pneumonia Associada à Ventilação Mecânica (PAV) em uma Unidade de Terapia Intensiva – Adulto. Métodos: Estudo quantitativo, longitudinal, observacional, realizado entre os meses de janeiro de 2018 a junho de 2019. Os dados foram analisados pelo teste de T. Resultados: Foram avaliados 759 internamentos entre janeiro de 2018 a junho de 2019, destes 283 utilizaram ventilação mecânica (VM). Os dados mostraram que antes do Fast-CheckList havia uma média de 3,22 de PAV e após a instituição do instrumento, o valor reduziu significativamente para 0,33(p=0,001). Condição igualmente observado para os dias de VM. A média de VM era de 157 dias, e passou para 133 (p=0,037) e a Densidade de PAV (DIPAV) era de 21,62 e passou para 2,82 (p=0,003). Através da análise, dá para inferir uma redução de 4,9% mês a mês dos casos de PAV. Conclusão: O uso de instrumentos como o checklist para redução de pneumonia associada à ventilação mecânica, acompanhado da mudança de cultura e participação ativa de equipes interdisciplinares são de extrema relevância na redução deste tipo de infecção e infecções relacionadas à assistência à saúde