InSAR Meteorology: High-Resolution Geodetic Data Can Increase Atmospheric Predictability

AbstractThe present study assesses the added value of high‐resolution maps of precipitable water vapor, computed from synthetic aperture radar interferograms , in short‐range atmospheric predictability. A large set of images, in different weather conditions, produced by Sentinel‐1A in a very well monitored region near the Appalachian Mountains, are assimilated by the Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) model. Results covering more than 2 years of operation indicate a consistent improvement of the water vapor predictability up to a range comparable with the transit time of the air mass in the synthetic aperture radar interferograms footprint, an overall improvement in the forecast of different precipitation events, and better representation of the spatial distribution of precipitation. This result highlights the significant potential for increasing short‐range atmospheric predictability from improved high‐resolution precipitable water vapor initial data, which can be obtained from new high‐resolution all‐weather microwave sensors

Avaliação do modelo de mistura espectral com múltiplos componentes (MESMA) na discriminação de diferentes condições de cobertura em pastagens.

Os objetivos deste trabalho foram: (a) avaliar o potencial do modelo de mistura espectral com múltiplos componentes (multiple endmember spectral mixture analysis - MESMA) para discriminar as condições de cobertura em pastagens (pastagens bem manejadas - A, pastagens em degradação - B e pastagens degradadas- C) a partir de imagens de média resolução espacial; (b) verificar se as métricas de caracterização das pastagens in situ, através da percepção humana, foram realmente capazes de discriminar as diferentes condições de pastagens pré-estabelecidas (A, B e C) e (c) avaliar a possibilidade de utilizar a caracterização de pastagens in situ como calibração e/ou verdade de campo

Postural changes in women with chronic pelvic pain: a case control study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is a lower abdominal pain lasting at least 6 months, occurring continuously or intermittently and not associated exclusively with menstruation or intercourse. Although the musculoskeletal system has been found to be involved in CPP, few studies have assessed the contribution of posture in women with CPP. We aimed to determine if the frequency of postural changes was higher in women with CPP than healthy subjects.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A case-control study included 108 women with CPP of more than 6 months' duration (CPP group) who consecutively attended at the Hospital of the University of São Paulo and 48 healthy female volunteers (control group). Postural assessment was noninvasive and performed in the standing position, with the reference points of Kendall used as normal parameters. Factors associated with CPP were assessed by logistic regression analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Logistic regression showed that the independent factors associated with CPP were postural changes in the cervical spine (OR 4.1; 95% CI 1.6–10.7; p < 0.01) and scapulae (OR 2.9; 95% CI 1.1–7.6; p < 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Musculoskeletal changes were associated with CPP in 34% of women. These findings suggest that a more detailed assessment of women with CPP is necessary for better diagnosis and for more effective treatment.</p

In vitro maturation impacts cumulus–oocyte complex metabolism and stress in cattle

FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOCNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOThe influence of in vitro maturation (IVM) in oocytes is still not totally understood. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of IVM on the metabolism and homeostasis of bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes. In the present study, we demonstrated1546881893FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOCNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOCNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO2014/21034-32014/03281-32014/22887-02013/08135-22012/50533-2306978/2014-8The authors would like to thank the staff and students at the LMMD, Marcos Chiaratti, Gustavo Duarte, Marcel Nakashima, Hélio Alves Martins Júnior, José Luis Paz Jara, Patricia Kubo Fontes and Augusto de Castro Netto for their assistance with the sample

The genetic landscape of mitochondrial diseases in the next-generation sequencing era: a Portuguese cohort study

Introduction: Rare disorders that are genetically and clinically heterogeneous, such as mitochondrial diseases (MDs), have a challenging diagnosis. Nuclear genes codify most proteins involved in mitochondrial biogenesis, despite all mitochondria having their own DNA. The development of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies has revolutionized the understanding of many genes involved in the pathogenesis of MDs. In this new genetic era, using the NGS approach, we aimed to identify the genetic etiology for a suspected MD in a cohort of 450 Portuguese patients.Methods: We examined 450 patients using a combined NGS strategy, starting with the analysis of a targeted mitochondrial panel of 213 nuclear genes, and then proceeding to analyze the whole mitochondrial DNA.Results and Discussion: In this study, we identified disease-related variants in 134 (30%) analyzed patients, 88 with nuclear DNA (nDNA) and 46 with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variants, most of them being pediatric patients (66%), of which 77% were identified in nDNA and 23% in mtDNA. The molecular analysis of this cohort revealed 72 already described pathogenic and 20 novel, probably pathogenic, variants, as well as 62 variants of unknown significance. For this cohort of patients with suspected MDs, the use of a customized gene panel provided a molecular diagnosis in a timely and cost-effective manner. Patients who cannot be diagnosed after this initial approach will be further selected for whole-exome sequencing.Conclusion: As a national laboratory for the study and research of MDs, we demonstrated the power of NGS to achieve a molecular etiology, expanding the mutational spectrum and proposing accurate genetic counseling in this group of heterogeneous diseases without therapeutic options

Efeitos de ionóforos sobre consumo e digestibilidade aparente dos nutrientes em bovinos mantidos à pasto.

A utilização de ionóforos na nutrição de ruminantes vem ganhando destaque por melhorar a eficiência energética e desempenho dos animais. O objetivo foi avaliar os efeitos de fornecimento de ionóforos sobre o consumo e digestibilidade dos nutrientes em bovinos a pasto

Efeitos dos ionóforos sobre a degradabilidade in situ da matéria seca de bovinos mantidos à pasto.

O uso de ionóforos destaca-se por melhorar a eficiência energética e desempenho dos animais. Objetivou-se avaliar os efeitos dos ionóforos sobre a degradabilidade ruminal da matéria seca em bovinos mantidos à pasto. O estudo foi realizado na fazenda da UCDB em Campo Grande/MS e foram utilizados 4 bovinos mestiços providos de cânula ruminal, peso médio 547 kg, mantidos sob pastejo em capim Brachiaria brizantha