Comment on "Critique of q-entropy for thermal statistics" by M. Nauenberg

It was recently published by M. Nauenberg [1] a quite long list of objections about the physical validity for thermal statistics of the theory sometimes referred to in the literature as {\it nonextensive statistical mechanics}. This generalization of Boltzmann-Gibbs (BG) statistical mechanics is based on the following expression for the entropy: S_q= k\frac{1- \sum_{i=1}^Wp_i^q}{q-1} (q \in {\cal R}; S_1=S_{BG} \equiv -k\sum_{i=1}^W p_i \ln p_i) . The author of [1] already presented orally the essence of his arguments in 1993 during a scientific meeting in Buenos Aires. I am replying now simultaneously to the just cited paper, as well as to the 1993 objections (essentially, the violation of "fundamental thermodynamic concepts", as stated in the Abstract of [1]).Comment: 7 pages including 2 figures. This is a reply to M. Nauenberg, Phys. Rev. E 67, 036114 (2003

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans – anteaters, sloths, and armadillos – have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with 24 domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, ten anteaters, and six sloths. Our dataset includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data-paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the south of the USA, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to its austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n=5,941), and Cyclopes sp. has the fewest (n=240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n=11,588), and the least recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n=33). With regards to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n=962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n=12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other datasets of Neotropical Series which will become available very soon (i.e. Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans dataset

Eficácia da clorexidina-cetrimida na desinfecção ambiental contra Aspergillus spp

Avaliou-se a ação in loco da clorexidina-cetrimida no controle de Aspergillus spp., considerando-se a influência de fatores climáticos e populacionais, em um centro de recuperação de animais marinhos. Durante dois anos, realizaram-se colheitas de amostras de ar por meio da técnica de sedimentação, com implantação no segundo ano de um programa de desinfecção com clorexidina-cetrimida. Os resultados do isolamento fúngico nos dois anos foram comparados estatisticamente pelo programa Epinfo 8.0. Demonstrou-se que o isolamento de Aspergillus spp. não apresentou relação significativa com fatores climáticos e populacionais e que a diminuição da concentração de conídios de Aspergillus spp. do ambiente ocorreu devido ao programa eficaz de desinfecção com a clorexidina-cetrimida.The study evaluated the in loco activity of chlorexidine-cetrimide for environmental control of Aspergillus spp. considering the climatic influence and population variations, in a recuperation center of marine animals. Samples of air were collected throughout two years by the sediment method, and the disinfection program was established in the second year. Data collected during the two years were statistically compared by Epinfo 8.0. program. It was demonstrated that both population and climate had no influence on the fungal isolation, and the disinfection program with chlorexidine-cetrimide was considered effective in the reduction of conidia Aspergillus concentration indoor

Estimativas de componentes de (co)variância para peso e escores visuais de conformação frigorífica em bovinos Nelore

Estimaram-se os componentes de (co)variância e herdabilidade da conformação frigorífica à desmama (CFD), conformação frigorífica ao sobreano (CFS), peso à desmama (PD) e peso ao sobreano (PS) de animais Nelore, e as correlações genéticas entre essas características. Um modelo animal multicaracterística foi proposto para analisar 6.397 informações de peso e escores visuais de conformação frigorífica, obtidas à desmama e ao sobreano. Esse modelo incluiu os efeitos aleatórios genético aditivo direto, genético aditivo materno, ambiente permanente materno e residual, além dos efeitos fixos de grupo contemporâneo e das covariáveis idade da mãe ao parto - para peso e conformação frigorífica à desmama e ao sobreano - e idade do animal à data da avaliação - para conformação frigorífica, à desmama e ao sobreano. As herdabilidades estimadas para CFD, CFS, PD e PS foram, respectivamente, 0,13, 0,25, 0,22 e 0,29. Correlações genéticas positivas e de alta magnitude entre as características de peso e as características de avaliação visual sugerem que a seleção para uma delas pode resultar em resposta indireta na outra. A característica de conformação frigorífica pode ser selecionada em idade mais precoce em razão da correlação genética alta e positiva entre mensurações feitas nas duas idades estudadas

Modeling carbon sequestration over the large-scale Amazon basin, aided by satellite observations. Part I: Wet- and dry-season surface radiation budget flux and precipitation variability based on GOES retrievals

In this first part of a two-part investigation, large-scale Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) analyses over the Amazônia region have been carried out for March and October of 1999 to provide detailed information on surface radiation budget (SRB) and precipitation variability. SRB fluxes and rainfall are the two foremost cloud-modulated control variables that affect land surface processes, and they require specification at space-time resolutions concomitant with the changing cloud field to represent adequately the complex coupling of energy, water, and carbon budgets. These processes ultimately determine the relative variations in carbon sequestration and carbon dioxide release within a forest ecosystem. SRB and precipitation retrieval algorithms using GOES imager measurements are used to retrieve surface downward radiation and surface rain rates at high space-time resolutions for large-scale carbon budget modeling applications in conjunction with the Large-Scale Biosphere-Atmosphere Experiment in Amazônia. To validate the retrieval algorithms, instantaneous estimates of SRB fluxes and rain rates over 8 km × 8 km areas were compared with 30-min-averaged surface measurements obtained from tower sites located near Ji-Paraná and Manaus in the states of Rondônia and Amazonas, respectively. Because of large aerosol concentrations originating from biomass burning during the dry season (i.e., September and October for purposes of this analysis), an aerosol index from the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer is used in the solar radiation retrieval algorithm. The validation comparisons indicate that bias errors for incoming total solar, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), and infrared flux retrievals are under 4%, 6%, and 3% of the mean values, respectively. Precision errors at the analyzed space-time scales are on the order of 20%, 20%, and 5%. The visible and infrared satellite measurements used for precipitation retrieval do not directly detect rainfall processes, and yet they are responsive to the rapidly changing cloud fields, which are directly associated with precipitation life cycles over the Amazon basin. In conducting the validation analysis at high space-time scales, the comparisons indicate systematic bias uncertainties on the order of 25%. These uncertainties are comparable to published values from an independent assessment of bias uncertainties inherent to the current highest-quality satellite retrievals, that is, from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission. Because precipitation is a weak direct control on photosynthesis for the Amazon ecosystem, that is, photosynthesis is dominated by the strong diurnal controls of incoming PAR and ambient air-canopy temperatures, such uncertainties are tolerable. By the same token, precipitation is a strong control on soil thermal properties and carbon respiration through soil moisture, but the latter is a time-integrating variable and thus inhibits introduction of modeling errors caused by random errors in the precipitation forcing. The investigation concludes with analysis of the monthly, daily, and diurnal variations intrinsic to SRB and rainfall processes over the Amazon basin, including explanations of how these variations arise during wet-and dry-season periods. © 2004 American Meteorological Society