Fire frequency analysis in Portugal (1975-2005), using Landsat-based burnt area maps

Fire frequency in 21 forest planning regions of Portugal during the period 1975–2005 was estimated from historical burnt area maps generated with semi-automatic classification of Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) satellite imagery. Fire return interval distributions were modelled with the Weibull function and the estimated parameters were used to calculate regional mean, median and modal fire return intervals, as well as regional hazard functions. Arrangement of the available data into three different time series allowed for assessment of the effects of minimum mapping unit, time series length and use of censored data on the Weibull function parameter estimates. Varying the minimum mapping unit between 5 and 35 ha had a negligible effect on parameter estimates, whereas changing the time series length from 22 to 31 years substantially affected the estimates. However, the strongest effect was caused by censored data. Its exclusion led to substantial overestimation of fire frequency and of burning probability dependence on fuel age. We estimated a countrywide mean fire interval of 36 years and an annual burnt area of 1.2%. Regional variations in fire frequency descriptors were interpreted in terms of land cover and land use practices that affect the contemporary fire regime in Portugal

The Cobalt Oxide-Based Composite Nanomaterial Synthesis and Its Biomedical and Engineering Applications

The magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) are offering a wide range of applications in medical and engineering fields. Among all the magnetic nanoparticles, cobalt oxide (Co3O4) nanoparticles and its composite-based nanoparticles are attracting more interest from researchers because of its unique mechanical, thermal, and magnetic properties. The aim of this book is to bring together a number of recent contributions regarding the cobalt oxide-based composite nanoparticles from several researchers all over the world. The latest research results, innovations, and methodologies are reported in the book in order to support the discussion and to circulate ideas and knowledge about the applications of these materials in medical and engineering applications. This chapter presents the methodology for the synthesis and characterization and applications of cobalt oxide-based composite nanoparticles. The detailed analysis related to toxicity of these nanocomposite materials is also included in this book chapter

Efficiency, energy and economic analysis of twisted tape inserts in a thermosyphon solar flat plate collector with Cu nanofluids

Heat transfer, friction factor and efficiency of a thermosyphon type flat plate collector with and without twisted tape inserts were analyzed experimentally. Water based Cu nanofluids were used as the absorber fluid to receive the heat from solar radiation into the flat plate collector. The experiments were conducted for volume concentrations of 0.1% and 0.3% and twist ratios of H/D = 5, 10 and 15. Results reveal that the heat transfer rate and efficiency of nanofluids increase with the increase of particle volume concentrations. The Nusselt number of 0.3% nanofluid is enhanced up to 20.46%, and it is further enhanced up to 46.90% with twisted tape insert of H/D = 5 with a maximum friction factor penalty of 1.477-times compared to plain collector. The efficiency of the solar collector with water is 52% and it is enhanced to 58% for 0.3% nanofluid, whereas it is further enhanced to 64% for 0.3% nanofluid with twisted tape insert of H/D = 5. Empirical correlations are proposed based on the experimental data for the friction factor and Nusselt number with a standard deviation of less than ±6.5%. The study indicates that for 100 units of solar flat plate collector the use of 0.1% and 0.3% Cu nanofluids leads to weight savings of 284 kg and 567 kg, respectively. The total weight of 100 units of solar flat plate collector is further saved by 767 kg, 1050 kg and 1250 kg for 0.3% nanofluid with twisted tape inserts of H/D = 15, H/D = 10 and H/D = 5, respectively. The collector cost is reduced by 5.66% and 11.33% for 0.1% and 0.3% nanofluids, and it is further reduced to 25% for 0.3% nanofluid with a twisted tape insert of H/D = 5.publishe

Curvatura Da Superfície E Seu Efeito Na Variabilidade Espacial Dos Atributos Do Solo, Pinheiral - Rj/br

Understanding the spatial variability of soil chemical and physical attributes is important for improving management practices and soil conservation. In turn, the spatial variability of soil properties results from variation in morphological relief characteristics. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of landform curvature on the spatial variability of soil chemical and physical attributes in the Mar de Morros region (Pinheiral-Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil). Two adjacent landforms were selected with convex and concave curvature and sampled in a regularly spaced grid of 10 meters. A total of 56 soil samples (0-5 cm depth) from the two landforms were collected and analyzed for physical and chemical attributes. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and geostatistics. All chemical attributes showed random patterns of spatial variability in both landforms. The concave landform had higher values of pH and potassium and lower values of aluminum than the convex landform. In contrast, silt content showed spatial dependence in both the concave and convex landforms. Bulk density and clay showed spatial dependence in the convex landform. Bulk density and silt content increased from the shoulder to the footslope of both landforms. The results show that, for this study area, landform curvature has more influence on the spatial dependence of soil physical attributes than of soil chemical properties. © 2016, Federal University of Lavras. All rights reserved.22443143

The usefulness of serum adenosine deaminase 2 (ADA2) activity in adults for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis

AbstractRapid diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis remains an obstacle for therapy of tuberculosis (TB). Adenosine deaminase isoform 2 (ADA2) is produced by activated macrophages and has been used for diagnosis of TB from extra-pulmonary sites. However, few studies adequately address whether serum ADA2 activity is useful for diagnosis of active pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). We prospectively measured serum ADA2 activity in 110 patients with pulmonary disease (65 cases with active PTB and 45 cases with other respiratory diseases) and 78 healthy volunteers (eight with tuberculin skin test positive). The serum ADA2 for the diagnosis of PTB had the sensitivity of 36·9%, the specificity of 84·5%, the positive predictive value of 10·9% and the negative predictive value of 96·2%. We concluded that serum ADA2 activity is neither useful to diagnosis of active PTB nor to differentiate from other respiratory diseases

Hermetic carbon coatings for electro-thermal all-fiber phase modulators

Joule effect and thermal response of several carbon-coated fibers are modelled and analysed. An electro-thermally driven all-fiber phase modulator based on these principles is proposed and a proof of concept of it is characterized. This kind of fibers could be the basis for developing all-fiber components aimed to operate in environments where the strength increase and impermeability to hydrogen diffusion guaranteed by the carbon coating is crucial.European CommissionMinisterio de Economía y CompetitividadComunidad de Madri

Hermetic All-Fiber Phase Modulators Using Joule Heating in Carbon-Coated Fibers

26ª edición del congreso internacional Optical Fiber Sensors (OFS26), 24/09/2018-28/09/2018, Lausanne, Suiza.Certain applications of fiber sensors (e.g. avionics, oil industry) imply extreme operating conditions spurring the development of hermetic all-fiber devices. We present a hermetic all-fiber phase modulator based on Joule heating in a carbon-coated fiber.European CommissionMinisterio de Economía y CompetitividadComunidad de Madri

Non-destructive, dynamic detectors for Bose-Einstein condensates

We propose and analyze a series of non-destructive, dynamic detectors for Bose-Einstein condensates based on photo-detectors operating at the shot noise limit. These detectors are compatible with real time feedback to the condensate. The signal to noise ratio of different detection schemes are compared subject to the constraint of minimal heating due to photon absorption and spontaneous emission. This constraint leads to different optimal operating points for interference-based schemes. We find the somewhat counter-intuitive result that without the presence of a cavity, interferometry causes as much destruction as absorption for optically thin clouds. For optically thick clouds, cavity-free interferometry is superior to absorption, but it still cannot be made arbitrarily non-destructive . We propose a cavity-based measurement of atomic density which can in principle be made arbitrarily non-destructive for a given signal to noise ratio

Validity of the Generalized Second Law of Thermodynamics of the Universe Bounded by the Event Horizon in Holographic Dark Energy Model

In this letter, we investigate the validity of the generalized second law of thermodynamics of the universe bounded by the event horizon in the holographic dark energy model. The universe is chosen to be homogeneous and isotropic and the validity of the first law has been assumed here. The matter in the universe is taken in the form of non-interacting two fluid system- one component is the holographic dark energy model and the other component is in the form of dust.Comment: 8 page

Damage caused by defoliators and stink bugs to cultivars and lines of soybean of two maturity groups

The performance of soybean cultivars and lines belonging to two maturity groups (135-140 and 145-160 days of cycle) was evaluated during the 1995/96 and 1996/97 seasons in relation to damages caused by stink bugs and caterpillars in the field, at Ribeirão Preto, State of São Paulo, Brazil. Two experiments, one for each maturity group, were carried out, in each growing season, using a complete randomized block design. Infestation of Anticarsia gemmatalis Hüb. occurred only in the first year. Stink bugs, Nezara viridula (L.), Euschistus heros (Fabr.) and predominantly Piezodorus guildinii (West.), occurred in both years with more severe infestation in the first year. The caterpillar defoliation was estimated by the percentage of eaten leaf area (PAFC). Three criteria were used to evaluate the damage caused by stink bugs: percentage of foliar retention (PRF), index of percent pod damage (IPDV) and yield. Based mainly in the first year, and regarding the earlier maturing genotypes, it can be considered that the line IAC 90-2971 presented resistance to caterpillars as well as to stink bugs similar to the line IAC 78-2318, the resistant control. In the experiment with the longer cycle genotypes, line IAC 93-2162 showed susceptibility to both caterpillars and stink bugs, in spite of presenting low PRF. The opposite occurred with line IAC 90-1970, with high PRF but low leaf injuries caused by ceterpillars, low IPDV and high yield. Besides the good performance of IAC 90-1970, the behavior of the cultivar IAC 9 and the line IAC 90-3052 could also be distinguished in relation to the low damages caused by stink bugs.Objetivou-se avaliar a resistência de genótipos de soja de dois grupos de maturação em relação à infestação de insetos. Instalaram-se dois experimentos, um envolvendo germoplasma de ciclo médio e outro, germoplasma de ciclo semi-tardio, na Estação Experimental de Ribeirão Preto (IAC), SP, nos anos agrícolas 1995/96 e 1996/97. Infestação de lagartas de Anticarsia gemmatalis Hüb. ocorreu apenas no primeiro ano. Os percevejos Piezodorus guildinii (West.) (predominante), Euschistus heros (Fabr.) e Edessa meditabunda (Fabr.) ocorreram nos dois anos agrícolas, com maior infestação no primeiro. Os danos de lagartas foram avaliados mediante estimativa da percentagem de área foliar cortada e, os de percevejos, através da percentagem de retenção foliar (PRF), índice percentual de dano na vagem (IPDV) e produção. Para o experimento com genótipos de ciclo médio, baseando-se principalmente no primeiro ano, pode-se considerar que a linhagem IAC 90-2971 apresentou resistência a lagartas e a percevejos, comparável à da linhagem IAC 78-2318, o controle resistente. Para o experimento de genótipos de ciclo semi-tardio, detectou-se suscetibilidade na linhagem IAC 93-2162 a lagartas e a percevejos, apesar de apresentar baixa PRF. Fato oposto ocorreu com a linhagem IAC 90-1970, com alta PRF mas com baixas injúrias foliares causadas por lagartas, baixo IPDV e boa produção. Além do bom comportamento de IAC 90-1970, devem ser destacados o desempenho da cultivar IAC 9 e da linhagem IAC 90-3052 em relação aos menores danos provocados por percevejos.15716