Kepler Exoplanet Candidate Host Stars are Preferentially Metal Rich

We find that Kepler exoplanet candidate (EC) host stars are preferentially metal-rich, including the low-mass stellar hosts of small-radius ECs. The last observation confirms a tentative hint that there is a correlation between the metallicity of low-mass stars and the presence of low-mass and small-radius exoplanets. In particular, we compare the J-H--g-r color-color distribution of Kepler EC host stars with a control sample of dwarf stars selected from the ~150,000 stars observed during Q1 and Q2 of the Kepler mission but with no detected planets. We find that at J-H = 0.30 characteristic of solar-type stars, the average g-r color of stars that host giant ECs is 4-sigma redder than the average color of the stars in the control sample. At the same time, the average g-r color of solar-type stars that host small-radius ECs is indistinguishable from the average color of the stars in the control sample. In addition, we find that at J-H = 0.62 indicative of late K dwarfs, the average g-r color of stars that host small-radius ECs is 4-sigma redder than the average color of the stars in the control sample. These offsets are unlikely to be caused by differential reddening, age differences between the two populations, or the presence of giant stars in the control sample. Stellar models suggest that the first color offset is due to a 0.2 dex enhancement in [Fe/H] of the giant EC host population at M_star = 1 M_Sun, while Sloan photometry of M 67 and NGC 6791 suggests that the second color offset is due to a similar [Fe/H] enhancement of the small-radius EC host population at M_star = 0.7 M_Sun. These correlations are a natural consequence of the core-accretion model of planet formation.Comment: 15 pages, 8 figures, and 1 table in emulateapj format; accepted for publication in Ap

Adaptive Optics Images of Kepler Objects of Interest

All transiting planets are at risk of contamination by blends with nearby, unresolved stars. Blends dilute the transit signal, causing the planet to appear smaller than it really is, or produce a false positive detection when the target star is blended with eclipsing binary stars. This paper reports on high spatial-resolution adaptive optics images of 90 Kepler planetary candidates. Companion stars are detected as close as 0.1 arcsec from the target star. Images were taken in the near-infrared (J and Ks bands) with ARIES on the MMT and PHARO on the Palomar Hale 200-inch. Most objects (60%) have at least one star within 6 arcsec separation and a magnitude difference of 9. Eighteen objects (20%) have at least one companion within 2 arcsec of the target star; 6 companions (7%) are closer than 0.5 arcsec. Most of these companions were previously unknown, and the associated planetary candidates should receive additional scrutiny. Limits are placed on the presence of additional companions for every system observed, which can be used to validate planets statistically using the BLENDER method. Validation is particularly critical for low-mass, potentially Earth-like worlds, which are not detectable with current-generation radial velocity techniques. High-resolution images are thus a crucial component of any transit follow-up program.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, accepted to A

Uso de ninhos de cupin como fonte de matéria orgânica em sistemas de produção agrosilviculturais na Amazônia

The growth of two annual crops, okra (Abelmoschus escutentus) and egg-plant (Solatium melongena) and one perennial crop, andiroba (Carapa guianensis, a native forest tree of Amazonia) under different treatments with organic manure derived from termite nest material of wood-feeding Nasutitermes species was tested (randomized block design). The use of 25-100 g of nest material gave no significant increase in okra productivity, and 25-200 g gave no significant response in andiroba. The combined use of NPK with 200 g of nest material gave a significant higher production in egg-plant (total number and total fresh weight of fruits) when compared to the control (without fertilizer) and to the treatment with NPK only.The results suggest the possibility to use termite nest material to enhance crop production in Amazonia, particularly in combination with low amounts of mineral fertilizer. Research lines for further investigations are outlined.Foi avaliado crescimento de duas espécies agriculturais anuais, quiabo (Abelmoschus esculentus) e berinjela (Solatium melongena), e de uma espécie perene, andiroba (Carapa guianensis, uma árvore nativa da Amazônia) sob diferentes tratamentos com matéria orgânica derivada de material de cupinzeiro de espécies xilófagas de Nasutitermes (desenho de bloco randomizado). O uso de 25-100 g de material de termiteiro não levou a um incremento significativo da produtividade em quiabo, e 25-200 g não resultou numa resposta significativa em andiroba. O uso combinado de NPK com 200 g de ninho de cupim resultou numa produção significantemente maior em S. melongena (número total e peso fresco total de frutos) se comparado com o controle (sem fertilizante nenhum) e com o tratamento de NPK apenas. Os resultados sugerem a possibilidade de usar material de cupinzeiro para melhorara produção agrossilvicultural na Amazônia, especialmente em combinação com pequenas quantidades de fertilizante mineral Linhas de pesquisa para futuras investigações são apresentadas

Evaluation of Microencapsulation of The UFV-AREG1 Bacteriophage in Alginate-Ca Microcapsules using Microfluidic Devices

The indiscriminate use of antibiotics and the emergence of resistant microorganisms have become a major challenge for the food industry. The purpose of this work was to microencapsulate the bacteriophage UFV-AREG1 in a calcium alginate matrix using microfluidic devices and to study the viability and efficiency of retention. The microcapsules were added to gel of propylene glycol for use as an antimicrobial in the food industry. The technique showed the number of the phage encapsulation, yielding drops with an average 100-250 $\mu$m of diameter, 82.1 $\pm$ 2% retention efficiency and stability in the gel matrix for 21 days. The gel added to the microencapsulated phage showed efficiency (not detectable on the surface) in reducing bacterial contamination on the surface at a similar level to antimicrobial chemicals (alcohol 70%). Therefore, it was possible to microencapsulate bacteriophages in alginate-Ca and apply the microcapsules in gels for use as sanitizers in the food industry.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figure

Isokinetics strength relation with fear of fall, falls and physical activity level in elderly women

Introduction: Low levels of physical activity (PA) in elderly has been related with the decline in physical and psychological functions, affecting the ability in the performance of activities of daily living (ADLs) and contributing to the occurrence of walking-related fall (Metz, Lee, Sui, Powell, Blair, 2010). The purpose of this study was to relate strength levels with fear of fall (FF), falls occurrence as well as with PA level on elderly women. Methods: One hundred not institutionalized post-menopausal women (aged 66.17 ± 8.21 years) volunteered to participate on this research. The peak torque (PT) at 60º.s-1 ( 3 rep) and 180º.s-1 (20 rep) angular speeds in knee extension and flexion concentric actions were measured using an isokinetic dynamometer (Biodex System 3). Muscular fatigue was also estimated at 180º.s-1. To achieve the occurrence of falls during last year as well FF score, we applied a standardized Questionnaire that included socio-demographic, health and falls parameters. PA level was accessed by interview with Yale Physical Activity Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics was performed using means and standard deviations. The Spearman correlation coefficient was used to investigate associations among quantitative independent variables. Results: PT at 60º.s-1 in knee extension and flexion and PT at 180º.s-1 in knee flexion showed a positive association with vigorous index (r=,205 p=,041; r=,249 p=,013; r=,218 p=,029 respectively). Standing index presented also a positive correlation with PT at 60º.s-1 and PT 180º.s-1 in knee extension (r=,205 p=,041 and r=,314 p=,004). FF registered a positive association with body mass (BM) and body mass index (BMI) (r=,205 p=,041 and r=,201 p=,045), and a negative association with PT in extension action on both angular velocities (r=-,241 p=,016 and r=-,203 p=,043). Muscular fatigue showed a positive correlation with the number of falls during the last year (r=,201 p=,036). Conclusions: Decreases of strength on lower limb is an important factor that contributes to falls occurrence once we registered a negative relation between PT on extension action and the FF. Our data related higher values of BM and BMI with higher fear of falling confirming that overweight are common associated to disturb on gait function and mobility that represents also a risk factor for falls. Present results suggest that more time of PA is needed to increase lower limb strength in the elderly

Development and validation of a continuous fall risk score in community-dwelling older people: an ecological approach

Background Fall risk assessment in older people is of major importance for providing adequate preventive measures. Current predictive models are mainly focused on intrinsic risk factors and do not adjust for contextual exposure. The validity and utility of continuous risk scores have already been demonstrated in clinical practice in several diseases. In this study, we aimed to develop and validate an intrinsic-exposure continuous fall risk score (cFRs) for community-dwelling older people through standardized residuals. Methods Self-reported falls in the last year were recorded from 504 older persons (391 women: age 73.1 ± 6.5 years; 113 men: age 74.0 ± 6.1 years). Participants were categorized as occasional fallers (falls ≤1) or recurrent fallers (≥ 2 falls). The cFRs was derived for each participant by summing the standardized residuals (Z-scores) of the intrinsic fall risk factors and exposure factors. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to determine the accuracy of the cFRs for identifying recurrent fallers. Results The cFRs varied according to the number of reported falls; it was lowest in the group with no falls (− 1.66 ± 2.59), higher in the group with one fall (0.05 ± 3.13, p < 0.001), and highest in the group with recurrent fallers (2.82 ± 3.94, p < 0.001). The cFRs cutoff level yielding the maximal sensitivity and specificity for identifying recurrent fallers was 1.14, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.790 (95% confidence interval: 0.746–0.833; p < 0.001). Conclusions The cFRs was shown to be a valid dynamic multifactorial fall risk assessment tool for epidemiological analyses and clinical practice. Moreover, the potential for the cFRs to become a widely used approach regarding fall prevention in community-dwelling older people was demonstrated, since it involves a holistic intrinsic-exposure approach to the phenomena. Further investigation is required to validate the cFRs with other samples since it is a sample-specific tool

Efeito de um treino de força em seco no desempenho em jovens nadadores

Em natação a performance depende da força e potência muscular (Newton et al., 2002) e a capacidade de exercer força na água é fundamental, especialmente em distâncias curtas (Morouço et al., 2011). Assim, os programas de treino de força em seco são comuns em natação ainda que o consenso sobre os benefícios específicos para o nadador ainda não tenha sido alcançado (Tanaka et al., 1993; Trappe and Pearson, 1994; Girold et al., 2007). Por um lado, várias investigações apresentaram melhorias na performance de nado após um programa de treino de força em seco (Strass, 1988; Girold et al., 2007; Aspenes et al., 2009; Girold et al., 2012). Por outro lado, várias investigações não apresentaram melhorias na performance de nado após um programa de treino de força em seco (Tanaka et al., 1993; Trappe and Pearson, 1994; Garrido et al., 2010; Sadowski et al., 2012). As razões para os resultados menos positivos podem dever-se a falhas nos protocolos de intervenção, tais como: especificidade do meio aquático (incapacidade de replicar os movimentos aquáticos em meio terrestre e a falta da resistência da água); escolha de exercícios pouco específicos ou que não solicitem os mesmos grupos musculares que o nado; velocidade de execução e cargas dos exercícios; amostra e os momentos das avaliações. As investigações com jovens nadadores são ainda mais escassas do que com adultos, o que revela alguma necessidade de investigação em torno deste assunto. Assim, os objetivos deste estudo foram examinar os efeitos de um programa de treino de força em seco: (i) na performance de nado e (ii) produção de força na água

Accretion-Induced Lithium Line Enhancements in Classical T Tauri Stars: RW Aur

It is widely accepted that much of the stochastic variability of T Tauri stars is due to accretion by a circumstellar disk. The emission line spectrum as well as the excess continuum emission are common probes of this process. In this communication, we present additional probes of the circumstellar environment in the form of resonance lines of low ionization potential elements. Using a set of 14 high resolution echelle observations of the classical T Tauri star (CTTS), RW Aur, taken between 1986 and 1996, we carefully measure the continuum veiling at each epoch by comparing more than 500 absorption lines with those of an appropriate template. This allows us to accurately subtract out the continuum emission and to recover the underlying photospheric spectrum. In doing so, we find that selected photospheric lines are enhanced by the accretion process, namely the resonance lines of LiI and KI. A resonance line of TiI and a low excitation potential line of CaI also show weak enhancements. Simple slab models and computed line bisectors lead us to propose that these line enhancements are markers of cool gas at the beginning of the accretion flow which provides an additional source of line opacity. These results suggest that published values of surface lithium abundances of classical T Tauri stars are likely to be overestimated. This would account for the various reports of surface lithium abundances in excess of meteoritic values among the extreme CTTS. Computing LTE lithium abundances of RW Aur in a low and then high accretion state yields abundances which vary by one order of magnitude. The low accretion state lithium abundance is consistent with theoretical predictions for a star of this age and mass while the high accretion state spectrum yields a super-meteoritic lithium abundance.Comment: 28 pages, 8 figures, accepted by Ap

Accidents in Children and Adolescents: What Context and What Approach? A Nine-Month Experience at the Emergency Department of a Level II Hospital

Introdução: Os acidentes constituem uma importante causa de morbimortalidade infantil e de recurso ao serviço de urgência pediátrica. A nível nacional conhecem-se apenas alguns dados epidemiológicos. Métodos: Estudo observacional transversal com análise da coorte das crianças observadas no serviço de urgência pediátrica de um hospital nível II por motivo de acidente, durante um período de nove meses, com dados obtidos através de um inquérito e submetidos a análise estatística. Resultados: Das 22502 admissões de crianças até aos 14 anos registadas, 1746 (7,8%) foram por acidentes. A maioria era do sexo masculino e tinha mais de 5 anos. Os acidentes ocorreram maioritariamente no exterior da escola (29,1%) e interior de casa (25%), predominando a queda como tipo de acidente (55,5%) e a contusão como mecanismo de lesão (54,2%). A maioria das crianças (77,3%) foi submetida a exames complementares de diagnóstico destacando-se os radiológicos. Os diagnósticos mais frequentes foram os traumatismos superficiais (47,9%) e os ferimentos (24,8%). Em 6,6% (115) dos casos os acidentes foram considerados graves. Estas admissões por acidentes associaram-se a uma despesa imediata estimada de 124 mil euros. Discussão: A frequência elevada e o local de ocorrência dos acidentes coincidiram com a literatura. Apesar do predomínio das lesões minor superficiais (47,9%) verificou-se um número significativo de crianças com necessidade de cuidados hospitalares. Não foram registados óbitos. Os autores concluem que os acidentes em crianças foram um motivo frequente de ida ao serviço de urgência pediátrica com importante consumo de recursos. A sensibilização dos cuidadores é essencial na prevenção dos acidentes