Homogeneous abundance analysis of dwarf, subgiant and giant FGK stars with and without giant planets

We have analyzed high-resolution and high signal-to-noise ratio optical spectra of nearby FGK stars with and without detected giant planets in order to homogeneously measure their photospheric parameters, mass, age, and the abundances of volatile (C, N, and O) and refractory (Na, Mg, Si, Ca, Ti, V, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, and Ba) elements. Our sample contains 309 stars from the solar neighborhood (up to the distance of 100 pc), out of which 140 are dwarfs, 29 are subgiants, and 140 are giants. The photospheric parameters are derived from the equivalent widths of Fe I and Fe II lines. Masses and ages come from the interpolation in evolutionary tracks and isochrones on the HR diagram. The abundance determination is based on the equivalent widths of selected atomic lines of the refractory elements and on the spectral synthesis of C_2, CN, C I, O I, and Na I features. We apply a set of statistical methods to analyze the abundances derived for the three subsamples. Our results show that: i) giant stars systematically exhibit underabundance in [C/Fe] and overabundance in [N/Fe] and [Na/Fe] in comparison with dwarfs, a result that is normally attributed to evolution-induced mixing processes in the envelope of evolved stars; ii) for solar analogs only, the abundance trends with the condensation temperature of the elements are correlated with age and anticorrelated with the surface gravity, which is in agreement with recent studies; iii) as in the case of [Fe/H], dwarf stars with giant planets are systematically enriched in [X/H] for all the analyzed elements, except for O and Ba (the former due to limitations of statistics), confirming previous findings in the literature that not only iron has an important relation with the planetary formation; and iv) giant planet hosts are also significantly overabundant for the same metallicity when the elements from Mg to Cu are combined together.Comment: 20 pages, 16 figures, 8 table

A perspectiva dos consumidores portugueses sobre os medicamentos de marca vs medicamentos genéricos

Os medicamentos são considerados a principal “ferramenta” terapêutica para a prevenção, recuperação ou manutenção das condições de saúde pública1. Existem inúmeros medicamentos destinados para o mesmo fim, por este motivo, compete à Indústria Farmacêutica desenvolver alternativas de mercado, suficientemente capazes de competir com os outros medicamentos pré-existentes. Um medicamento genérico é um medicamento com a mesma substância activa, forma farmacêutica, dosagem e a mesma indicação terapêutica que o medicamento original, de marca, que serviu de referência, sendo identificados pela sigla (MG). Os medicamentos genéricos para além da mesma qualidade, têm igual, eficácia, segurança, biodisponibilidade e bioequivalência, mas a um preço inferior ao do medicamento original

Antihypertensive therapy adherence among hypertensive patients from Bragança county, Portugal

Hypertension increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases and is highly prevalent worldwide, reaching more than a quarter of the Portuguese population. Poor antihypertensive therapy adherence has been identified as the main cause of failure to control hypertension. Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of antihypertensive therapy adherence and related factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study was based on a questionnaire, with MAT scale (measure of adherence to therapy) validated for the Portuguese population (Delgado & Lima, 2001), applied to 122 hypertensive patients from Bragança county, in northern Portugal. To assess therapy adherence, those whose average adherence levels were ≥5 were called adherent. It was used descriptive statistics, correlations were accessed using qui-square test, with a significance level of 5%. Results: The sample consisted mainly of females (59,1% vs. 40.9%), aged between 31 and 92 years old (mean 69.8). The participants show high antihypertensive therapy adherence level (82,8%). Only marital status is related to therapy adherence, being married or widowed who least adhered to antihypertensive treatment (p=0.04). Conclusions: This study shows that a high prevalence of hypertensive patients adhered to antihypertensive therapy prescribed, being married or widowed who least adhered to treatment.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Contributions of neuromarketing to design

The reported study aims to assign different perspectives for reflection; to consider how neuromarketing can assist in understanding consumer behavior, intending to investigate the best way to develop products and improve communication through neuroscience. The systematic literature review referred here applies as a scientific method of research and analysis in a specific area of science. Following the PRISMA guidelines (2009), the research was carried out in March and April 2020, in seven electronic databases for the inclusion of quantitative, qualitative, or mixed studies published in Portuguese or English, master's or doctoral theses and research reports that focused in neuromarketing. One hundred and fifty studies were conducted, 20 of which, met the inclusion criteria. 1st filter: title, abstract, keywords and references; 2nd filter: introduction and conclusion of studies; 3rd filter: full reading of the studies (Liberati et al., 2009).This work is financed by portuguese national funds through FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, under the project UIDB/05422/2020info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A Kalman filter application to a spectral wave model

International audienceA sequential time dependent data assimilation scheme based on the Kalman filter is applied to a spectral wave model. Usually, the first guess covariance matrices used in optimal interpolation schemes are exponential spreading functions, which remain constant. In the present work the first guess correlation errors evolve in time according to the dynamic constraints of the wave model. A system error noise is deduced and used to balance numerical errors. The assimilation procedure is tested in a standard situation of swell propagation, where the Kalman filter is used to assimilate the significant wave height. The evolution of the wave field is described by a linear two-dimensional advection equation and the propagation of the error covariance matrix is derived according to Kalman's linear theory. Model simulations were performed in a 2-dimensional domain with deep-water conditions, a relatively small surface area and without wind forcing or dissipation. A true state simulation and a first guess simulation were used to illustrate the assimilation outcome, showing a reasonable performance of the Kalman filter

Elaboração e caracterização de fruta estruturada mista de goiaba e cajá.

O objetivo deste trabalho é estabelecer procedimento tecnológico para produção de fruta estruturada mista a partir de polpa de goiaba e cajá, unindo-se as propriedades sensoriais e nutritivas de cada uma das frutas ao produto final. Avaliou-se o efeito de diferentes proporções de polpa de goiaba e cajá nas características físico-químicas e sensoriais do produto final. Os hidrocoloides utilizados para a formação do gel foram: pectina, gelatina e alginato de sódio. Foram realizadas avaliações físicoquímicas nos frutos in natura e nos estruturados obtidos, além da análise de aceitação e a intenção de compra do produto final. Os resultados mostram ser possível produzir fruta estruturada com alta concentração de polpas de cajá e goiaba. Sensorialmente os produtos obtidos apresentaram médias de aceitação elevadas, indicando potencial de consumo na forma apresentada, sendo considerados produtos de conveniência, além de saudáveis, tendo em vista seus teores significativos de vitamina C e carotenoides totais

Rifampicin-Resistant Serotype B Neisseria meningitidis: First Case in Portugal

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The ECSI model in higher education in tourism: a segmentation analysis in the Portuguese case

This research explores the European Consumer Satisfaction Index model applied to higher education in tourism by including the construct of employability and by accounting for unobserved heterogeneity. In particular, it intends to identify segments of higher education institutions' (HEI) consumers based on the structural model estimates of the European Consumer Satisfaction Index (ECSI), enlarged with the employability construct. A model-based segmentation approach using FIMIX in PLS path model-ling is used. Th e ECSI is properly adjusted to the educational framework and shows its effectiveness when assessing students' satisfaction regarding the attended HEI. Two distinctive graduate segments are identifi ed using a sample of 166 HEI consumers. The results confi rm the assumption of heterogeneity as the relationships differ across segments and the need for HEIs to target those segments differently in such a competitive context.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Nanoparticles and interfaces with toxic elements in fluvial suspended sediment

Studies examining nanoparticles (NPs) and hazardous elements (HEs) contained in suspended sediments (SSs) are vital for watershed administration and ecological impact evaluation. The biochemical consequence of titanium-nanoparticles (Ti-NPs) from SSs in Colombia's Magdalena River was examined utilizing an innovative approach involving nanogeochemistry in this study. In general, the toxicity and the human health risk assessment associated with the presence of some Ti-NPs + HEs in SSs from riverine systems need to be determined with a robust analytical procedure. The mode of occurrence of Ti-NPs, total Ti and other elements contained within SSs of the Magdalena River were evaluated through advanced electron microscopy (field emission scanning electron microscope-FE-SEM and high resolution transmission electron microscope-HR-TEM) coupled with an energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis system (EDS); X-Ray Diffractions (XRD); and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). This work showed that enormous quantities of Ti-NPs were present in the river studied and that they displayed diverse geochemical properties and posed various possible ecological dangers. Ti-NP contamination indices must be established for measuring the environmental magnitudes of NP contamination and determining contamination rank among rivers. Finally, SS contamination guidelines must be recommended on an international level. This study contributes to the scientific understanding of the relationship of HE and Ti-NP dynamics from SSs in riverine systems around the world