The relationship between ENSO and Paraná River flow

International audienceSeveral studies indicate that there is a relationship between the climatic variability in the South American continent and alterations of the position and intensity of the heat sources in the equatorial region. The El Niño phenomenon can influence the precipitation over some regions of South America such as the Brazilian Northeast, Amazonia, South of Brazil and Uruguay. Over 80% of Brazil's energy comes from hydropower, and decisions concerning future availability and pricing require forecasts of river flow, ideally several months in advance. In this work the relationship between the Paraná River flow and the ENSO (El Niño/Southern Oscillation) mode is investigated and statistical forecasts of river flow are tested. An evaluation of the relationship between the Pacific sea surface temperature and the Paraná River flow indicates an ENSO pattern over the equatorial Pacific. The time series of the ENSO mode obtained by applying principal components analysis on the sea surface temperature (SST) were used as predictors for the Paraná River flow forecast. Improvement in the model forecast skill is also obtained by considering the lagged river flow time series as a predictor

Patterns of antenal sensilla of Panstrongylus megistus from three Brazilian states

The objective of the present study was to analyze and describe the phenotype of the antennal sensilla of Panstrongylus megistus, one of the epidemiologically most important species of triatomines in Brazil. Specimens from the Brazilian states of Goiás (GO), Minas Gerais (MG), and Rio Grande do Sul (RS) were compared, based on studies of four types of sensilla on three antennal segments: thick-walled trichoid (TK), thin-walled trichoid (TH), bristles (BR), and basiconica (BA). Discriminant analysis allowed the separation of the RS specimens from those of GO and MG. Multivariate discriminant analysis demonstrated that the sensilla of males differed from those of females, the variables with greatest weight being the BA of all three segments and the TK of flagellum 1. The basiconica sensilla were significantly more abundant in females, on all three segments. Antennal sensilla patterns also demonstrated significant differences among P. megistus specimens.Fil: Villela, M. M.. Fundación Oswaldo Cruz; BrasilFil: Catala, Silvia Susana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Universidad Nacional de La Rioja. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Universidad Nacional de Catamarca. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Secretaría de Industria y Minería. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Provincia de La Rioja. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja; ArgentinaFil: Juberg, J.. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz; Brasil. Fundación Oswaldo Cruz; BrasilFil: Silva, I. G.. Universidade Federal de Goiás; BrasilFil: Dias, J. C. P.. Fundación Oswaldo Cruz; Brasi

Bounds on the Simplest Little Higgs Model Mass Spectrum Through Z Leptonic Decay

We derive the leptonic neutral current in the simplest little Higgs model and compute the contribution of the model to the decay width $Z \to e^+e^-$. Using the precision electroweak data we obtain a strong lower bound $f\geq 5.6$ TeV at 95% C.L. on the characteristic energy scale of the model. It results in a lower bound for the new gauge bosons $W^{\prime\pm}$ and $Z^{\prime}$ as being $M_{W^{\prime\pm}}\geq 2.6$ TeV and $M_{Z^{\prime}}\geq 3.1$ TeV, respectively. We also present the allowed values of the $k=f_1/f_2$ which is the parameter relating the two vacuum expectation values of the scalar triplets in the model, and the $\mu$ parameter of a quadratic term, involving the triplets, necessary to provide an acceptable mass range for the standard Higgs boson.Comment: New references added, 13 pages. Version to be publishe

Remoção de metais pesados em solos residuais

Uma das aplicações mais comuns da reutilização de águas residuais tratadas (ART) é a recarga de aquíferos, que é especialmente útil em zonas com deficit hídrico, como é o caso da região da Beira Interior. No entanto, estas ART apresentam cargas residuais que podem causar impactes ambientais significativos no solo ou água. Entre os poluentes mais preocupantes encontram-se os metais pesados (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Ni, Pb e Zn) que têm origem em atividades domésticas e industriais, bem como na lavagem dos pavimentos com águas pluviais. De acordo com Marecos do Monte e Albuquerque (2010), os solos utilizados para a recarga de aquíferos podem atuar como filtros reativos com capacidade para remover a carga residual das ART. No entanto, é difícil avaliar a eficiência e modo de remoção de poluentes in situ, sendo mais prático realizá-lo em colunas laboratoriais ou em ensaios em batch. A maior parte dos solos residuais da Beira Interior apresenta até 15% de argila (Silva, 2011), sendo esta a componente reativa do solo que pode ter uma boa capacidade de adsorção de metais. O objetivo deste trabalho foi o de avaliar a capacidade de remoção de três metais pesados (Cr, Cu e Zn) na componente fina de solos residuais da Quinta de Gonçalo Martins (Marmeleiro, Guarda), utilizando ensaios batch

The Left-Right SU(3)(L)xSU(3)(R)xU(1)(X) Model with Light, keV and Heavy Neutrinos

We construct a full left-right model for the electroweak interactions based on the $SU(3)_{L}\otimes SU(3)_{R}\otimes U(1)_{X}$ gauge symmetry. The fermion content of the model is such that anomaly cancellation restricts the number of families to be a multiple of three. One of the most important features of the model is the joint presence of three light active neutrinos, three additional neutrinos at keV mass scale, and six heavy ones with masses around\textbf{$10^{11}$} GeV. They form a well-motivated part of the spectrum in the sense they address challenging problems related to neutrino oscillation, warm dark matter, and baryogenesis through leptogenesis.Comment: 11 pages. Small corrections and typos fixed. Accepted for publication in PR

The uncertain consequences of the interplay of old and new repertoires of social identity and inclusion

In this article, we explore the impact of the global cultural transformation that reconciles the values of equality and difference as parameters of the good life. Focusing on the way Brazilians perceive both equality and difference, we comment on the uncertain consequences of the interplay of old and new repertoires of social identity and inclusion. In particular, we look at the ethnoracial aspect, the most salient issue on the current debate about difference. Empirically, we analyze perceptions of inequality and difference among different segments of the Brazilian population. In particular, we focus on two issues. First, we discuss the interface of ethnoracial and national identifications in the country. Second, we explore perceptions about inequality and difference and their relationship, with special emphasis on attitudes towards affirmative action – the most traditional policy to take into account particular identities while distributing social resources – among distinct socioeconomic and racial groups