Limit theorems for renewal shot noise processes with decreasing response functions

We consider shot noise processes $(X(t))_{t \geq 0}$ with deterministic response function $h$ and the shots occurring at the renewal epochs $0= S_0 < S_1 < S_2 ...$ of a zero-delayed renewal process. We prove convergence of the finite-dimensional distributions of $(X(ut))_{u \geq 0}$ as $t \to \infty$ in different regimes. If the response function $h$ is directly Riemann integrable, then the finite-dimensional distributions of $(X(ut))_{u \geq 0}$ converge weakly as $t \to \infty$. Neither scaling nor centering are needed in this case. If the response function is eventually decreasing, non-integrable with an integrable power, then, after suitable shifting, the finite-dimensional distributions of the process converge. Again, no scaling is needed. In both cases, the limit is identified. If the distribution of $S_1$ is in the domain of attraction of an $\alpha$-stable law and the response function is regularly varying at $\infty$ with index $\beta$ (with $\beta < 1/\alpha$ or $\beta \leq 1/\alpha$, depending on whether $\mathbb{E} S_1 < \infty$ or $\mathbb{E} S_1 = \infty$), then scaling is needed to obtain weak convergence of the finite-dimensional distributions of $(X(ut))_{u \geq 0}$. The limiting processes are fractionally integrated stable L\'{e}vy motions if $\mathbb{E} S_1 < \infty$ and fractionally integrated inverse stable subordinators if $\mathbb{E} S_1 = \infty$.Comment: 58 pages, submitted in a shortened form; the present version corrects a coupling defined in Section 3.1 and used in various parts of the pape

Joining techniques for fabrication of composite air-cooled turbine blades and vanes

Activated diffusion brazing studies of joining methods for composite air-cooled turbine blade and vane fabricatio

An under-ice hyperspectral and RGB imaging system to capture fine-scale biophysical properties of sea ice

Sea-ice biophysical properties are characterized by high spatio-temporal variability ranging from the meso- to the millimeter scale. Ice coring is a common yet coarse point sampling technique that struggles to capture such variability in a non-invasive manner. This hinders quantification and understanding of ice algae biomass patchiness and its complex interaction with some of its sea ice physical drivers. In response to these limitations, a novel under-ice sled system was designed to capture proxies of biomass together with 3D models of bottom topography of land-fast sea-ice. This system couples a pushbroom hyperspectral imaging (HI) sensor with a standard digital RGB camera and was trialed at Cape Evans, Antarctica. HI aims to quantify per-pixel chlorophyll-a content and other ice algae biological properties at the ice-water interface based on light transmitted through the ice. RGB imagery processed with digital photogrammetry aims to capture under-ice structure and topography. Results from a 20 m transect capturing a 0.61 m wide swath at sub-mm spatial resolution are presented. We outline the technical and logistical approach taken and provide recommendations for future deployments and developments of similar systems. A preliminary transect subsample was processed using both established and novel under-ice bio-optical indices (e.g., normalized difference indexes and the area normalized by the maximal band depth) and explorative analyses (e.g., principal component analyses) to establish proxies of algal biomass. This first deployment of HI and digital photogrammetry under-ice provides a proof-of-concept of a novel methodology capable of delivering non-invasive and highly resolved estimates of ice algal biomass in-situ, together with some of its environmental drivers. Nonetheless, various challenges and limitations remain before our method can be adopted across a range of sea-ice conditions. Our work concludes with suggested solutions to these challenges and proposes further method and system developments for future research

O Índice de Desenvolvimento Municipal da Micro e Pequena Empresa (ID-MPE)

The promotion of public policy development, focusing on results, needs indicators for the monitoring of its effectiveness. The indices of municipal development, synthetic indices that capture certain aspects of local development, serve as reference for the diagnosis and monitoring of the results of the action of public management, such as important tools for planning. The ID-MPE - Municipal Development Index of Micro and Small Enterprise has as propose to guide the strategies and local policies of economic promotion, aiming to capture the favorable conditions for the establishment and growth of small local businesses. Applying the methodology of the ID-MPE Paraná shows the municipalities with the best business environments for the flourishing of MPE's, and serves as a benchmark for the promotion of local development policies based on the General Law of Micro and Small Enterprise.planning of local development; municipal development index; multivariate statistical analysis

Intestinal Acid Sphingomyelinase Protects From Severe Pathogen-Driven Colitis

Inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are emerging as a global problem with increased evidence and prevalence in numerous countries. A dysregulated sphingolipid metabolism occurs in patients with ulcerative colitis and is discussed to contribute to its pathogenesis. In the present study, we determined the impact of acid sphingomyelinase (Asm), which catalyzes the hydrolysis of sphingomyelin to ceramide, on the course of Citrobacter (C.) rodentium-driven colitis. C. rodentium is an enteric pathogen and induces colonic inflammation very similar to the pathology in patients with ulcerative colitis. We found that mice with Asm deficiency or Asm inhibition were strongly susceptible to C. rodentium infection. These mice showed increased levels of C. rodentium in the feces and were prone to bacterial spreading to the systemic organs. In addition, mice lacking Asm activity showed an uncontrolled inflammatory Th1 and Th17 response, which was accompanied by a stronger colonic pathology compared to infected wild type mice. These findings identified Asm as an essential regulator of mucosal immunity to the enteric pathogen C. rodentium

Development of a chromium-thoria alloy

Low temperature ductility and high temperature strength of pure chromium and chromium-thoria alloy prepared from vapor deposited powder

Fungal Spore Dispersal by the Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina)

Although spores from most macrofungi are wind- or water-dispersed, dispersal may also occur via biotic vectors. The Eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) is a facultative mycovore that may play an important role in fungal spore dispersal although, to date, no information exists on fungi occurring in fecal samples of box turtles or on the ecological significance of box turtles as spore dispersal vectors. Consequently, a study of the potential for Eastern box turtles to act as vectors for spore dispersal was initiated by capturing wild turtles and collecting fecal samples. Serial dilutions from fecal samples were made to enumerate spores, quantify the number of spores per gram of fecal material and to isolate and identify fungi. Fungal spores were found to be extremely abundant throughout all samples. Fecal samples from 36 turtles yielded a total of 23 different fungal taxa in the Zygomycota, Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. Two yeasts that were isolated, Cryptococcus albidus and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, are reported to naturally occur on Trifolium seeds found in fecal samples. A mold previously unreported from fecal material, Aspergillus wentii, was also found in fecal samples. Data collected suggests Eastern box turtles influence fungal spore dispersal by browsing on plant materials and defecating large numbers of fungal spores within their home ranges

Climate variability and recruitment success of European hake (Merluccius merluccius L.) in NW Africa

Recently it was stated a strong dependence of European hake abundance with climate variability in NW Africa. This relationship was explained by the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) driving the upwelling temporality and its geographic coverage, which could be responsible of changes in survival rate during early life stages of this species. Following this hypothesis, this work focuses on the relative importance of climate variability on recruitment dynamics of European hake. Interannual variability of recruitment success were analyzed through two types of time series: (i) from monthly and annual length distribution fishery data (1982-1999) of Spanish trawling fleet that worked under Spanish or European-Moroccan fishery agreements and (ii) recruits annual abundance from scientific Moroccan surveys (1982-2004). The time series were compared with the annual smoothed NAO index to evaluate the type of relationship, persistence and their relative contribution as a variation source of recruitment success. The recruitment to the fishery took place during all year with peaks in spring and summer, but the seasonal component was weak. The time series were in synchrony with NAO index of the previous year and showed strong positive correlation. The variation of recruitment success explained by NAO was 25 to 82 % depending on time series size. The main NAO effect in recruitment dynamics was the widening-contraction of Recruitment Window. During NAO+ phase several success cohorts were recruited by year, while in NAO- the success cohorts were scarce and weak. The climate signal in recruitment dynamics of European hake was robust, recurrent and persistent independently of fishing effort