Wavelets: a powerful tool for studying rotation, activity, and pulsation in Kepler and CoRoT stellar light curves

Aims. The wavelet transform has been used as a powerful tool for treating several problems in astrophysics. In this work, we show that the time-frequency analysis of stellar light curves using the wavelet transform is a practical tool for identifying rotation, magnetic activity, and pulsation signatures. We present the wavelet spectral composition and multiscale variations of the time series for four classes of stars: targets dominated by magnetic activity, stars with transiting planets, those with binary transits, and pulsating stars. Methods. We applied the Morlet wavelet (6th order), which offers high time and frequency resolution. By applying the wavelet transform to the signal, we obtain the wavelet local and global power spectra. The first is interpreted as energy distribution of the signal in time-frequency space, and the second is obtained by time integration of the local map. Results. Since the wavelet transform is a useful mathematical tool for nonstationary signals, this technique applied to Kepler and CoRoT light curves allows us to clearly identify particular signatures for different phenomena. In particular, patterns were identified for the temporal evolution of the rotation period and other periodicity due to active regions affecting these light curves. In addition, a beat-pattern signature in the local wavelet map of pulsating stars over the entire time span was also detected.Comment: Accepted for publication on A&

Mineralization of 14C-diuron by Acinetobacter baumannii.

The diuron [3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea] is an herbicide used in sugarcane and other crops. This work evaluated the mineralization of the herbicide diuron by Acinetobacter baumannii and also was developed protocols for extraction and quantification of 14C-diuron. The strain (D12-12), isolated from rhizosphere of sugarcane, grown in soils treated with the herbicide, was cultivated in mineral media J.E. plus diuron at 20 ug/ml and plus 14C-diuron (specific activity = 2.43 MBq/mg) applied at 39,3215 KBq/50 ml, and incubated for 32 days in duplicate. The 14C-diuron extraction was carried out on C-18 SEP-PAK columns, resuspended in scintillation cocktail and the activity determined by liquid scintillation counting. The recuperation of diuron was more than 96,2% and 14CO2 accumulated after 32 days was 1,77%

Prognóstico após Paragem Cardio-Respiratória em Doentes Submetidos a Hipotermia Terapêutica: Factores Clínicos, Electrofisiológicos e Imagiológicos

INTRODUCTION: Predicting outcome in comatose survivors of cardiac arrest is based on data validated by guidelines that were established before the era of therapeutic hypothermia. We sought to evaluate the predictive value of clinical, electrophysiological and imaging data on patients submitted to therapeutic hypothermia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of consecutive patients receiving therapeutic hypothermia during years 2010 and 2011 was made. Neurological examination, somatosensory evoked potentials, auditory evoked potentials, electroencephalography and brain magnetic resonance imaging were obtained during the first 72 hours. Glasgow Outcome Scale at 6 months, dichotomized into bad outcome (grades 1 and 2) and good outcome (grades 3, 4 and 5), was defined as the primary outcome. RESULTS: A total of 26 patients were studied. Absent pupillary light reflex, absent corneal and oculocephalic reflexes, absent N20 responses on evoked potentials and myoclonic status epilepticus showed no false-positives in predicting bad outcome. A malignant electroencephalographic pattern was also associated with a bad outcome (p = 0.05), with no false-positives. Two patients with a good outcome showed motor responses no better than extension (false-positive rate of 25%, p = 0.008) within 72 hours, both of them requiring prolonged sedation. Imaging findings of brain ischemia did not correlate with outcome. DISCUSSION: Absent pupillary, corneal and oculocephalic reflexes, absent N20 responses and a malignant electroencephalographic pattern all remain accurate predictors of poor outcome in cardiac arrest patients submitted to therapeutic hypothermia. CONCLUSION: Prolonged sedation beyond the hypothermia period may confound prediction strength of motor responses

Avaliação de duas cultivares de bananeira mediante diferentes lâminas de irrigação.

A bananeira é a frutífera tropical mais difundida no mundo, apresentando grandes áreas cultivadas e grandes volumes de comercialização, tendo em vista tratar-se de uma das frutas mais consumidas e exploradas nos países tropicais. O Brasil se destaca como um dos países com maior produção e consumo de bananas. A exploração em condições irrigadas tem sido uma solução para os locais em que as precipitações não são suficientes para suprir as necessidades hídricas da bananeira (FAO, 1994)

Taxonomic revalidation and potential distribution of Armatocereus brevispinus Madsen (Cactaceae)

Se reporta el primer registro confirmado para el norte de Perú de Armatocereus brevispinus Madsen, una especie de cactácea considerada como endémica de la provincia de Loja, en la región sur del Ecuador. El registro corresponde a una localidad situada en el km 18 de la vía a Ayabaca (04º 42’ 21.0” S y 79º 48’ 51.0” W), en el distrito de Ayabaca, dentro de la provincia de Ayabaca, en el Departamento de Piura. Este registro representa una ampliación del rango distributivo conocido para esta especie en Ecuador. Se analiza la taxonomía, distribución y el estado de conservación y se comenta sobre su biogeografía en la región andina.We report the first confirmed record for northern Peru of Armatocereus brevispinus Madsen, a species of cactus regarded as endemic to the province of Loja, in the southern region of Ecuador. The record corresponds to a locality placed near the km 18 of the route to Ayabaca (04º42’21.0”S and 79º48’51.0”W), in the district of Ayabaca, within the province of Ayabaca, in the Department of Piura. This records represents an extension of the distributional range known for this species in Ecuador. We analyze its taxonomy and the distribution and conservation status and comments on its biogeography in the Andean region

Construção da primeira micoteca de Mycosphaerella Musicola Leach do Estado da Bahia.

O fungo Mycosphaerella musicola Leach é o agente causal da Sigatoka-amarela em bananeira. Essa doença é reduz da área foliar verde da planta, refletindo em menor produtividade. O objetivo do trabalho foi iniciar uma coleção de isolados de M. musicola coletados no Estado da Bahia. As amostras foram coletadas nas principais microrregiões produtoras de banana, a saber: Bom Jesus da Lapa ( Bom Jesus da Lapa), Ilhéus-Itabuna ( Presidente Tancredo Neves, Wenceslau Guimarães, Barro Preto, Gandu e Teolândia), Valença ( Morro de São Paulo) e Vitória da Conquista (Morro de São Paulo). A partir de 141 amostras coletadas consegui-se isolar e preservar 56 isolados (39,72%) em duplicata nos métodos de Castellani, BDA, BDA+Glicerol, Tiras de papel e Esferas de vidro. A primeira micoteca de Mycosphaerella musicola Leach do Estado da Bahia está sendo construída

Spodoptera cosmioides (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Brazil: spatial distribution and relationship in the S. latifascia species group.

Spodoptera cosmioides (Walker, 1858) is an economically relevant polyphagous moth, widely distributed in the Neotropics and part of the Spodoptera latifascia (Walker, 1856) species group. In this study, we used extensive sampling from different regions to describe the spatial distribution of S. cosmioides in Brazil and evaluate its variability both from morphological and molecular perspectives. Variable coloration and several morphological similarities were found among S. cosmioides and congeners of the S. latifascia complex, diverging from each 0.5 to 3.5% of mitochondrial DNA. The genetic divergence at the species level of S. cosmioides was 0.5% throughout Brazil, and a geographic structure was absent, including shared haplotypes with S. descoinsi Lalanne-Cassou & Silvain, 1994. Spodoptera cosmioides was found in all six biomes of Brazil, with the highest abundance recorded in the Cerrado, followed by the Amazon, Atlantic Rainforest, Caatinga, Pantanal, and Pampa

Comparison between cluster methods using simultaneous analysis of qualitative and quantitative data in bananas.

Understanding the genetic variability in germplasm banks is essential to genetic breeding programs. Usually quantification of the variability is carried out using quantitative and qualitative data separately, which may not be enough to infer about the similarity between the genotypes evaluated

Alterações de açúcares e amido em Banana 'Grande Naine' durante o amadurecimento.

A banana do cultivar 'Grande Naine' pertence ao grupo AAA, subgrupo Cavendish, com grande capacidade produtiva. Durante o desenvolvimento a banana acumula amido, podendo atingir acima de 20% do peso fresco do fruto. Após o pico de etileno e concomitante pico respiratório esta reserva é rapidamente mobilizada, podendo cair para níveis abaixo de 1% ao mesmo tempo em que ocorre a elevação na concentração de sólidos solúveis para valores próximos a 12%. Esse trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar as transformações relativas aos teores de amido e açúcares ao longo do amadurecimento de banana do cultivar 'Grande Naine', gerando informações sobre esta cultivar para o programa de melhoramento genético. Foram realizadas análises de teor de amido, teor de sólidos solúveis, açúcares totais e redutores. O delineamento experimental foi IC com 6 repetições de 2 frutos. O avanço pelos estádios de amadurecimento refletiu na redução dos teores de amido e aumento dos sólidos solúveis. As principais mudanças nas variáveis estudadas foram observadas entre os estádios 3 e 4. Com os dados obtidos foi possível acompanhar o comportamento do metabolismo dos açúcares da banana 'Grande Naine' produzida em Cruz das Almas