A three-step approach to post-fire mortality modelling in maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.) stands for enhanced forest planning in Portugal

Maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait) is a very important timber-producing species in Portugal with a yield of ~67.1 million m3 year21. It covers ~22.6 per cent of the forest area (710.6 × 103 ha). Fire is the most significant threat to maritime pine plantations. This paper discusses research aiming at the development of post-fire mortality models for P. pinaster Ait stands in Portugal that can be used for enhanced integration of forest and fire management planning activities. Post-fire mortality was modelled using biometric and fire data from 2005/2006 National Forest Inventory plots and other sample plots within 2006–2008 fire perimeters. A three-step modelling strategy based on logistic regression methods was used. Firstly, the probability of mortality to occur after a wildfire in a stand is predicted and secondly, the degree of mortality caused by a wildfire on stands where mortality occurs is quantified. Thirdly, mortality is distributed among trees. The models are based on easily measurable tree characteristics so that forest managers may predict post-fire mortality based on forest structure. The models show that relative mortality decreases when average d.b.h. increases, while slope and tree size diversity increase the mortalityinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The role of mass transfer and common envelope evolution in the formation of merging binary black holes

As the number of observed merging binary black holes (BHs) grows, accurate models are required to disentangle multiple formation channels. In models with isolated binaries, important uncertainties remain regarding the stability of mass transfer (MT) and common-envelope (CE) evolution. To study some of these uncertainties, we have computed simulations using MESA of a $30M_\odot$, low metallicity ($Z_\odot/10$) star with a BH companion. We developed a prescription to compute MT rates including possible outflows from outer Lagrangian points, and a method to self-consistently determine the core-envelope boundary in the case of CE evolution. We find that binaries survive a CE only if unstable MT happens after the formation of a deep convective envelope, resulting in a narrow range (0.2 dex) in period for envelope ejection. All cases where interaction is initiated with a radiative envelope have large binding energies ($\sim 10^{50}$ erg), and merge during CE even under the assumption that all the internal and recombination energy of the envelope, as well as the energy from an inspiral, is used for ejection. This is independent of core helium ignition for the donor, a condition under which various rapid-population synthesis calculations assume a successful ejection is possible. Moreover, we find that the critical mass ratio for instability is such that for periods between $\sim 1-1000$ days merging binary BHs can be formed via stable MT. A large fraction of these systems overflow their L$_2$ equipotential, in which case we find stable MT produces merging binary BHs even under extreme assumptions of mass and angular momentum outflows. Our conclusions are limited to the study of one donor star, but suggest that population synthesis calculations overestimate the formation rate of merging binary BHs produced by CE evolution, and that stable MT could dominate the rate from isolated binaries.Comment: 22 pages (including 4 pages of appendices). Abstract abridged for submission to the arXiv. Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysic

Productive and reproductive performance of dual-purpose cows in two systems of suckling in the tropics

With the objective of finding an alternative management to improve the reproductive and productive efficiencyof dual-purpose Bos taurus x Bos indicus cows in a tropical environment, 20 adult, ¾ Brown Swiss x ¼ Cebu cows were assigned to two treatments: traditional suckling (AT; n = 10) and delayed suckling (AR; n = 10). In AT, three quarters were milked mechanically and one quarter was left for the calf; after milking, the calf remained with its mother for 7 h. Cows in AR were milked completely and a suckling period of 1 h took place 8 h after milking. Estrus was detected twice daily, with the help of a bull with a deviated penis. Milk production and liveweight of the calves and cows were recorded every 7 and 15 days, respectively. Statistical analysis utilized the t-test for samples of independent populations; a model of fixed effects without interaction, with suckling management and number of parturition as the principal effects; and Chi-square. The number of cows observed in estrus was greater (P<.05) in AR (90%) than in AT (70%). Use of AR reduced by 11 d the interval from parturition to first estrus (69.9 ± 24.7 vs. 58.4 ± 23.6). No differences (P>.05) were found in rate of weight gain of the calves (637 ± 200 vs. 724 ± 100 g/d), in milk obtained mechanically (4.4 ± 1.5 vs. 5.1 ± 1.3 kg/d), or in liveweight change of the dams (-0.221 ± 0.2 vs -0.115 ± 0.3 kg/d) between AT and AR, respectively. Total milk production in AR exceeded (P<.05) that in AT (11.3 ± 1.6 vs. 9.4 ± 2.0 kg/d). It is concluded that delaying suckling for 8 h after milking benefits the interval from parturition to first estrus, the proportion of cows ovulating and milk production during the first 100 d postpartum, without adversely affecting calf growth, liveweight of the cow, and milk extracted mechanically

The alpha-galactosidase A p.Arg118Cys variant does not cause a Fabry disease phenotype: data from individual patients and family studies

Acessível em: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4423738/Lysosomal α-galactosidase A (α-Gal) is the enzyme deficient in Fabry disease (FD), an X-linked glycosphingolipidosis caused by pathogenic mutations affecting the GLA gene. The early-onset, multi-systemic FD classical phenotype is associated with absent or severe enzyme deficiency, as measured by in vitro assays, but patients with higher levels of residual α-Gal activity may have later-onset, more organ-restricted clinical presentations. A change in the codon 118 of the wild-type α-Gal sequence, replacing basic arginine by a potentially sulfhydryl-binding cysteine residue - GLA p.(Arg118Cys) -, has been recurrently described in large FD screening studies of high-risk patients. Although the Cys118 allele is associated with high residual α-Gal activity in vitro, it has been classified as a pathogenic mutation, mainly on the basis of theoretical arguments about the chemistry of the cysteine residue. However its pathogenicity has never been convincingly demonstrated by pathology criteria. We reviewed the clinical, biochemical and histopathology data obtained from 22 individuals of Portuguese and Spanish ancestry carrying the Cys118 allele, including 3 homozygous females. Cases were identified either on the differential diagnosis of possible FD manifestations and on case-finding studies (n=11; 4 males), or on unbiased cascade screening of probands' close relatives (n=11; 3 males). Overall, those data strongly suggest that the GLA p.(Arg118Cys) variant does not segregate with FD clinical phenotypes in a Mendelian fashion, but might be a modulator of the multifactorial risk of cerebrovascular disease. The Cys118 allelic frequency in healthy Portuguese adults (n=696) has been estimated as 0.001, therefore not qualifying for "rare" condition

Emricasan (IDN-6556) Lowers Portal Pressure in Patients with Compensated Cirrhosis and Severe Portal Hypertension

Caspases play a central role in apoptosis, inflammation and fibrosis. They produce hemodynamically-active, pro-inflammatory microparticles that cause intrahepatic inflammation, vasoconstriction and extrahepatic splanchnic vasodilation. Emricasan is a pan-caspase inhibitor that lowers portal hypertension (PH) and improves survival in murine models of cirrhosis. This exploratory study assessed whether emricasan lowers PH in patients with compensated cirrhosis. This multicenter, open-label study enrolled 23 subjects with compensated cirrhosis and PH (HVPG >5 mmHg). Emricasan 25 mg BID was given for 28 days. HVPG measurements were standardized and performed before and after emricasan. A single expert read all HVPG tracings.Median age was 59 (range 49-80); 70% were male. Cirrhosis etiologies were NASH and HCV. Subjects were Child class A (87%) with median MELD score of 8 (range 6-15). Twelve had severe PH (HVPG?12mmHg). Overall, there was no significant change in HVPG after emricasan (mean [SD] -1.1[4.57] mmHg). HVPG decreased significantly (mean [SD] -3.7[4.05] mmHg; p=0.003) in those with severe PH. 4/12 had a ?20% decrease; 8/12 had a ?10% decrease; and 2/12 HVPG decreased below 12mmHg. There were no significant changes in blood pressure or heart rate. AST/ALT decreased significantly in the entire group and in severe PH. Serum cCK18 and caspase-3/7 decreased significantly. Emricasan was well-tolerated. One subject discontinued for non-serious adverse events.Emricasan administered for 28 days decreased HVPG in patients with compensated cirrhosis and severe PH. An effect upon portal venous inflow is likely and concomitant decreases in AST/ALT suggest an intrahepatic anti-inflammatory effect

Free-flight experiments in LISA Pathfinder

The LISA Pathfinder mission will demonstrate the technology of drag-free test masses for use as inertial references in future space-based gravitational wave detectors. To accomplish this, the Pathfinder spacecraft will perform drag-free flight about a test mass while measuring the acceleration of this primary test mass relative to a second reference test mass. Because the reference test mass is contained within the same spacecraft, it is necessary to apply forces on it to maintain its position and attitude relative to the spacecraft. These forces are a potential source of acceleration noise in the LISA Pathfinder system that are not present in the full LISA configuration. While LISA Pathfinder has been designed to meet it's primary mission requirements in the presence of this noise, recent estimates suggest that the on-orbit performance may be limited by this `suspension noise'. The drift-mode or free-flight experiments provide an opportunity to mitigate this noise source and further characterize the underlying disturbances that are of interest to the designers of LISA-like instruments. This article provides a high-level overview of these experiments and the methods under development to analyze the resulting data.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figures. Accepted to Journal Of Physics, Conference Series. Presented at 10th International LISA Symposium, May 2014, Gainesville, FL, US