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&

Modelação da adequabilidade de habitat do Asphodelus bento-rainhae P. Silva com recurso ao Processo Analítico Hierárquico (AHP)

Asphodelus bento-rainhae P. Silva is a plant species belonging to the order of Liliales. This endemic plant occurs in central Portugal in an area of only 700 hectare on the northern slopes of the Serra da Gardunha (Fundão, Portugal). It is mainly present in north to northeast facing slopes and found in deep soils and open areas, where it is found at higher densities. It occurs along the edges of oak (Quercus robur and Quercus pyrenaica) and chestnut (Castanea sativa) forests, often reaching the herbaceous edges of these woods. Sometimes, it survives in pine forests of Pinus pinaster, mixed woods and slopes or roadsides and in lower abundances in scrubby vegetation. This species survival is threatened by forest fires and the conversion of woodland into cherry orchards, and the fruit growers’ extensive use of herbicides. The tree plantations, as well as urban sprawl, have decreased the extent and quality of its habitat. It is also confronted with invasive plants, such as Acacia dealbata. The mapping of the A. bento-rainhae habitat suitability index results on the integration of a set of biophysical factors using the ArcGIS 10.3 software, based on the Sectorial Plan for Natura 2000 Network and other literature concerning the species ecology. The data used included bioclimatic, soil and topographic variables, based on a digital terrain model (DTM). All the geographic themes (criteria) were classified into three suitability levels: unfavorable, less favorable and favorable. Based on the resulting reclassified themes, the habitat suitability index (HSI) for A. bento-rainhae P. Silva was calculated using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The fundamental concept of AHP lies in proceeding from a pairwise comparison of criteria to evaluate the weights that assign relative importance to these criteria. In the end, a map algebra was performed in order to obtain the final theme representing the habitat suitability for A. bento-rainhae. The results regarding the actual species distribution, obtained in the aim of fied work performed in the LIFE-Nature project “Asphodelus bento-rainhae - Measures to manage and preserve it" show a high correlation with the values of HSI

Processo de constituição do Nó Local de Castelo Branco da IDE-OTALEX

Com a constituição da Euroregião EUROACE, houve a necessidade de ampliar o âmbito territorial do Observatório Territorial Alentejo-Extremadura (OTALEX), de forma a incluir a região Centro. Assim, surgiu o Observatório Territorial Alentejo-Extremadura-Centro (OTALEX C), possibilitando a integração da informação produzida pelas diversas instituições que desenvolvem as suas competências nestas três regiões. Nesse sentido a Infraestrutura de Dados Espaciais IDE-OTALEX passou a abranger todo o território da Euroregião EUROACE, com o IPCB a constituir-se como nó local, tendo como objetivo a monitorização e análise de alterações decorrentes de fenómenos naturais e da atividade humana sobre o território, bem como a disponibilização de dados e Indicadores aos agentes que atuam nesse território. O Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco (IPCB) juntou-se, deste modo, ao grupo de trabalho consolidado em projetos anteriores (GEOALEX, OTALEX e OTALEX II), contribuindo com o conhecimento e os dados do seu território, necessários para esta ampliação de âmbito geográfico. De modo a completar os Dados e Indicadores (territoriais, ambientais, socioeconómicos e de sustentabilidade), especialmente os correspondentes à região Centro mas também os correspondentes a toda a área de atuação da EUROACE, foram desenvolvidos trabalhos de pesquisa e de tratamento de informação. De entre os trabalhos realizados no processo de compatibilização e atualização de informação, destacam-se: a recolha, análise e tratamento de dados alfanuméricos e geográficos, no âmbito do grupo de trabalho “Dados e indicadores”; e a elaboração de cartografia para a região Centro e para a área OTALEX C, adstrita ao grupo de trabalho de “WebGIS”. A informação conjunta disponível na IDE-OTALEX, obtida para as três regiões, passou ainda por processos de harmonização, tanto a nível gráfico como alfanumérico, de modo a permitir a criação de bases cartográficas contínuas para a totalidade da área. Foram ainda desenvolvidos um conjunto de estudos parcelares para o território da região Centro, designadamente a definição de áreas homogéneas de desenvolvimento com recurso a ferramentas de estatística espacial e a categorização de unidades de paisagem com base na agregação de um conjunto de métricas representativas da configuração geométrica do uso.POCTE

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

A good excuse for skipping the test: electrical storm in a teenager

We describe the case of a teenager with a structurally normal heart that presented with torsades de pointes and cardiac arrest. He had a history of epilepsy in childhood, mild cognitive impairment and cognitive visual dysfunction. The baseline electrocardiogram had prominent J waves and a marked early repolarization pattern in all the leads, with normal QT interval. We discuss the differential diagnosis for this interesting case, as well as the patient's management.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

High Trypanosoma spp. diversity is maintained by bats and triatomines in Espírito Santo state, Brazil

The aim of this study was to reevaluate the ecology of an area in the Atlantic Forest, southeast Brazil, where Chagas disease (CD) has been found to occur. In a previous study, immediately after the occurrence of a CD case, we did not observe any sylvatic small mammals or dogs with Trypanosoma cruzi cruzi infections, but Triatoma vitticeps presented high T. c. cruzi infection rates. In this study, we investigated bats together with non-volant mammals, dogs, and triatomines to explore other possible T. c. cruzi reservoirs/hosts in the area. Seventy-three non-volant mammals and 186 bats were captured at three sites within the Guarapari municipality, Espírito Santo state. Rio da Prata and Amarelos sites exhibited greater richness in terms of non-volant mammals and bats species, respectively. The marsupial Metachirus nudicaudatus, the rodent Trinomys paratus, and the bats Artibeus lituratus and Carollia perspicillata were the most frequently captured species. As determined by positive hemocultures, only two non-volant mammals were found to be infected by Trypanosoma species: Monodelphis americana, which was infected by T. cascavelli, T. dionisii and Trypanosoma sp., and Callithrix geoffroyi, which was infected by T. minasense. Bats presented T. c. cruzi TcI and TcIII/V, T. c. marinkellei, T. dionisii, T. rangeli B and D, and Trypanosoma sp. infections. Seven dogs were infected with T. cruzi based only on serological exams. The triatomines T. vitticeps and Panstrongylus geniculatus were found to be infected by trypanosomes via microscopy. According to molecular characterization, T. vitticeps specimens were infected with T. c. cruzi TcI, TcII, TcIII/V, and TcIV, T. c. marinkellei and T. dionisii. We observed high trypanosome diversity in a small and fragmented region of the Atlantic Forest. This diversity was primarily maintained by bats and T. vitticeps. Our findings show that the host specificity of the Trypanosoma genus should be thoroughly reviewed. In addition, our data show that CD cases can occur without an enzootic cycle near residential areas

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)

Caracterização agronômica de híbridos de bananeira nas condições do Recôncavo baiano.

O Brasil é o quinto produtor mundial de banana, com produção de 6,9 milhões de toneladas em 2010, em uma área aproximada de 487 mil hectares. A criação de variedades resistentes pode induzir a um aumento de produtividade e a um menor custo de produção, em função do reduzido emprego de defensivos agrícolas, além de proporcionar melhoria na qualidade dos frutos. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar genótipos de banana por meio de avaliações agronômicas no primeiro ciclo de produção em Cruz das Almas, estado da Bahia. O experimento foi conduzido na Embrapa Mandioca e Fruticultura