A Preliminary Climatology of Tropical Moisture Exports in the Southern Hemisphere

Heavy precipitation events in the midlatitudes can be supported by the poleward transport of tropical air masses within the warm sector of extratropical cyclones. Previous studies have established a climatology of the four preferred pathways of tropical moisture export (TME) events into the midlatitudes over the Northern Hemisphere (NH). The present study constructs a similar climatology of TME timing and frequency over the Southern Hemisphere (SH), highlighting three preferential regions for tropicalmidlatitude interaction. These regions correspond to the locations of the: (i) South Pacific convergence zone (Pacific Ocean pathway, PO), (ii) South Atlantic convergence zone (South American pathway, SA), and (iii) South Indian convergence zone (Southeast African pathway, SEA). A Eulerian precipitable water (PW) climatology is constructed to isolate individual TME events within the three preferred pathways in the SH. The climatology identifies PW values along 30°S at 5° increments, extracting values four-times-daily from the 2.5° NCEP-NCAR reanalysis dataset for 1979−2007. Potential TME events are identified when two neighboring grid points have PW values \u3e93rd percentile of their monthly PW distribution for \u3e24 h. Potential events are classified as TMEs following human verification of the event‘s tropospheric structure. The present investigation reveals that TME frequency in the SH varies on intraseasonal and interannual timescales. The PO pathway exhibits the least seasonal variability of the three examined locations, while the SEA pathway is over three times as active during the SH meteorological summer (DJF). An in-depth analysis of the overall synoptic/dynamic mechanisms associated with TME events in the SEA pathway is performed in this study, linking the observed DJF peak in TME activity to the to the active phase of the South Indian convergence zone

Energy expenditure compared to physical activity measured by accelerometry and self-report in adolescents: a validation study

Background Physical inactivity is responsible for 5.3 million deaths annually worldwide. To measure physical activity energy expenditure, the doubly labeled water (DLW) method is the gold standard. However, questionnaires and accelerometry are more widely used. We compared physical activity measured by accelerometer and questionnaire against total (TEE) and physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE) estimated by DLW. Methods TEE, PAEE (TEE minus resting energy expenditure) and body composition were measured using the DLW technique in 25 adolescents (16 girls) aged 13 years living in Pelotas, Brazil. Physical activity was assessed using the Actigraph accelerometer and by self-report. Physical activity data from accelerometry and self-report were tested against energy expenditure data derived from the DLW method. Further, tests were done to assess the ability of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) to predict variability in TEE and to what extent adjustment for fat and fat-free mass predicted the variability in TEE. Results TEE varied from 1,265 to 4,143 kcal/day. It was positively correlated with physical activity (counts) estimated by accelerometry (rho = 0.57; p = 0.003) and with minutes per week of physical activity by questionnaire (rho = 0.41; p = 0.04). An increase of 10 minutes per day in moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) relates to an increase in TEE of 141 kcal/day. PAEE was positively correlated with accelerometry (rho = 0.64; p = 0.007), but not with minutes per week of physical activity estimated by questionnaire (rho = 0.30; p = 0.15). Physical activity by accelerometry explained 31% of the vssariability in TEE. By incorporating fat and fat-free mass in the model, we were able to explain 58% of the variability in TEE. Conclusion Objectively measured physical activity significantly contributes to the explained variance in both TEE and PAEE in Brazilian youth. Independently, body composition also explains variance in TEE, and should ideally be taken into account when using accelerometry to predict energy expenditure values

Realização de um modelo térmico-elétrico para simulação unidimensional de um painel fotovoltaico / Realization of a thermal-electrical model for one-dimensional simulation of a photovoltaic panel

Um modelo de um painel fotovoltaico (painel FV) tem a função de simular o seu funcionamento, podendo assim estimar a quantidade de eletricidade que será gerada, ou estimar quantos painéis são necessários para gerar certa quantidade de eletricidade. O objetivo deste trabalho é o de desenvolver um modelo térmico-elétrico de um painel fotovoltaico, que possibilite a simulação de diferentes painéis, em diferentes condições climáticas. O modelo térmico, unidimensional e estacionário, foi acoplado ao modelo elétrico baseado no modelo de Villalva. A temperatura da célula fotovoltaica e a eficiência elétrica foram calculadas ao longo de dias simulados, e comparadas com as de outros modelos térmico-elétricos e puramente térmicos. As temperaturas calculadas apresentaram maior proximidade às do modelo térmico T Faiman, enquanto que a eficiência se comportou de maneira semelhante à do modelo térmico-elétrico TE Smets. As comparações realizadas indicaram que o modelo desenvolvido apresentou resultados semelhantes aos encontrados na literatura.

Isoflurane produces antidepressant effects and induces TrkB signaling in rodents

A brief burst-suppressing isoflurane anesthesia has been shown to rapidly alleviate symptoms of depression in a subset of patients, but the neurobiological basis of these observations remains obscure. We show that a single isoflurane anesthesia produces antidepressant-like behavioural effects in the learned helplessness paradigm and regulates molecular events implicated in the mechanism of action of rapid-acting antidepressant ketamine: activation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) receptor TrkB, facilitation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway and inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3 beta). Moreover, isoflurane affected neuronal plasticity by facilitating long-term potentiation in the hippocampus. We also found that isoflurane increased activity of the parvalbumin interneurons, and facilitated GABAergic transmission in wild type mice but not in transgenic mice with reduced TrkB expression in parvalbumin interneurons. Our findings strengthen the role of TrkB signaling in the antidepressant responses and encourage further evaluation of isoflurane as a rapid-acting antidepressant devoid of the psychotomimetic effects and abuse potential of ketamine.Peer reviewe

The satisfaction assessment of intrauterine device T CU 380A users followed in the ambulatory of family planning in a teaching hospital in Recife, Pernambuco

Objectives: to evaluate the satisfaction of women who are using the IUD T Cu 380 A; to show their sociodemographic profile, and to establish the impact of IMIP`s family planning class in their selection of the IUD T Cu 380 A as birth control method. Methods: It´s a descriptive, quantitative, and cross-sectional study performed between September 2016 and June 2017 with 97 users of IUD T Cu 380 A followed up at the family planning ambulatory of the Medical Institute Professor Fernando Figueira (IMIP).The patients were interviewed and answered a pre-formulated questionnaire related to their sociodemographic aspects and their experience with the intrauterine device. Results: 93,8% were satisfied with the method, 47,4% were older than 35 years-old, 84,5% were married or had a spouse, 59,7% had about eight to 11 years of education, 55,7% had monthly income up to R$ 880,00, 67,0% recognized the relevance of the family planning class to select the IUD T Cu 380 A as their contraceptive method. Conclusion: The higher degree of satisfaction of women using the IUD T Cu 380 A ensures its relevance as a contraceptive method. Lectures about family planning should always be encouraged at women’s reproductive health assistance services.Objetivos: avaliar a satisfação das usuárias do dispositivo intrauterino (DIU) T Cu 380A acompanhadas no ambulatório de planejamento familiar; caracterizar o seu perfil sociodemográfico e constatar a contribuição da palestra na escolha desse método. Métodos: estudo descritivo, quantitativo, de corte transversal, no período de setembro de 2016 a junho de 2017 com 97 usuárias do DIU T Cu 380A acompanhadas no ambulatório de Planejamento Familiar no Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP), sendo aplicados questionários previamente elaborados contendo variáveis sociodemográficas e questões a respeito da experiência com o método utilizado. Resultados: 93,8% das usuárias entrevistadas estão satisfeitas com o método; 47,4% entre 35 anos ou mais; 84,5% são casadas ou com companheiro; 59,7% com escolaridade entre oito e 11 anos de estudo; 55,7% com renda mensal de um salário mínimo; estado civil, trabalho remunerado, presença de algum incômodo, alterações do fluxo e da duração da menstruação e mudança na frequência de relação sexual semanal apresentaram associação significativa com a satisfação das usuárias (p<0,05); 67,0% consideraram importante a participação nas palestras para a escolha do método. Conclusões: o grau de satisfação das usuárias no uso do DIU T Cu 380A, reforça a importância do método contraceptivo. Palestras esclarecedoras, sobre o planejamento familiar nos serviços de atenção à mulher na fase reprodutiva devem ser sempre estimuladas

Internet of Things for Water Sustainability

The water is a finite resource. The issue of sustainable withdrawal of freshwater is a vital concern being faced by the community. There is a strong connection between the energy, food, and water which is referred to as water-food-energy nexus. The agriculture industry and municipalities are struggling to meet the demand of water supply. This situation is particularly exacerbated in the developing countries. The projected increase in world population requires more fresh water resources. New technologies are being developed to reduce water usage in the field of agriculture (e.g., sensor guided autonomous irrigation management systems). Agricultural water withdrawal is also impacting ground and surface water resources. Although the importance of reduction in water usage cannot be overemphasized, major efforts for sustainable water are directed towards the novel technology development for cleaning and recycling. Moreover, currently, energy technologies require abundant water for energy production. Therefore, energy sustainability is inextricably linked to water sustainability. The water sustainability IoT has a strong potential to solve many challenges in water-food-energy nexus. In this chapter, the architecture of IoT for water sustainability is presented. An in-depth coverage of sensing and communication technologies and water systems is also provided