Complexity and predictability of daily precipitation in a semi-arid region: an application to Ceará, Brazil

International audienceComplexity and predictability of daily precipitation in a tropical semi-arid region (Ceará State, Brazil) is assessed by applying entropy concepts. Precipitation regimes in that region depend on several dynamical forcings, the most important being the displacement and activity of the Inter-tropical Convergence Zone in the Atlantic Ocean. Topography is another important factor that influences the spatial distribution of rainfall in the region. A hierarchical approach based on sequences of events of different lengths is used to estimate complexity of daily precipitation records. It is shown that precipitation in Ceará exhibit more random than periodic sequences, which indicates a large degree of complexity. Nevertheless, there is indication of potentially inherent rules in the precipitation time-series that could ultimately improve prediction on time-scales between 9?11 days. It is suggested that synoptic-scale disturbances (1?8 days) represent important sources of rules in the precipitation regimes in this region

Comportamento biométrico de cultivares de banana sob irrigaçao localizada no Recôncavo Baiano.

O Brasil em 2012 produziu aproximadamente 6,9 milhões de toneladas de bananas, sendo o quinto maior produtor mundial, após Índia, Filipinas, China e Equador (FAO, 2012). Segundo o IBGE (2012), a região Nordeste é a principal produtora, responsável por 37,9% da produção, e o estado da Bahia o segundo maior produtor. No entanto, a produtividade nacional tem se mostrado muito aquém de seu potencial em função de problemas nutricionais e de suprimento hídrico, apesar de existir condições favoráveis para seu cultivo em quase todo o país. O baixo rendimento constatado nas regiões produtoras de banana evidencia a necessidade de ajustes tecnológicos e de manejo da cultura nas diversas áreas do conhecimento

Rheological characterization under shear of a fraction of polymer produced via fermentation of whey-related media by Rahnella aquatilis

Production of lactan, a polysaccharide composed of mannose, galactose and galacturonic acid (at the ratio of 5:3:2), starting from a semidefined medium containing lactose via fermentation with Rahnella aquatilis was described previously. In this communication, such polysaccharide was produced from five alternative fermentation media: (1) a synthetic (defined) medium, plain whey (under (2) aerobic and (3) anaerobic conditions), (4) whey permeate and (5) whey with 2% NaCl (w/v). The effect of the concentration of polysaccharide, pH and ionic strength at harvest on the rheological properties of the polysaccharide was studied using lactan-enriched fractions recovered from each medium and analysed in solution under steady shear flow. Lactan solutions showed a shear-thinning behaviour in all cases, and increases in viscosity were observed at increasing concentrations of polysaccharide, as expected. The polysaccharide fraction produced from whey with 2% (w/v) NaCl and plain whey under anaerobic conditions exhibited lower viscosity than that produced from the other media, an observation that is associated with the lower concentration of polysaccharide. Post-harvest addition of salts (KCl or CaCl2) and changes in pH (3–11) affected slightly the viscosity of the polysaccharide solutions. q199

Conservação e caracterização de germoplasma de mandioca no Amazonas.

O trabalho objetivou caracterizar acessos de mandioca, coletados em plantações aparentemente livres de patógenos sistêmicos e retirados das plantas mais vigorosas e sadias, baseados em descritores morfológicos e agronômicos, considerados relevantes para efeito de seleção, com a finalidade de exploração do cultivo e das preferências do produtor/consumidor

Effects of Vagal Stimulation on Induction and Termination of Atrial Fibrillation in an in Vivo Rabbit Heart Model

INTRODUCTION: Vagal activity is thought to influence atrial electrophysiological properties and play a role in the initiation and maintenance of atrial fibrillation (AF). In this study, we assessed the effects of acute vagal stimulation (vagus_stim) on atrial conduction times, atrial and pulmonary vein (PV) refractoriness, and vulnerability to induction of AF in the rabbit heart with intact autonomic innervation. METHODS: An open-chest epicardial approach was performed in 11 rabbits (New Zealand; 3.9-5.0 kg), anesthetized and artificially ventilated after neuromuscular blockade. A 3-lead ECG was obtained. Atrial electrograms were recorded along the atria, from right to left (four monopolar electrodes), together with a circular electrode adapted for proximal left PV assessment. Acute vagus nerve stimulation was obtained with bipolar electrodes (20 Hz). Epicardial activation was recorded in sinus rhythm, and the conduction time from right (RA) to left atrium (LA), and from RA to PVs, was measured in basal conditions and during vagus_stim. The atrial effective refractory period (ERP) and dispersion of refractoriness (Disp_A) were analyzed. Vulnerability to AF induction was assessed at the right (RAA) and left (LAA) atrial appendages and the PVs. Atrial stimulation (50 Hz) was performed alone or combined with vagus_stim. Heart rate and blood pressure were monitored. RESULTS: In basal conditions, there was a significant delay in conduction from RA to PVs, not influenced by vagus_stim, and the PV ERPs were shorter than those measured in LA and LAA, but without significant differences compared to RA and RAA. During vagus_stim, conduction times between RA and LA increased from 16+8 ms to 27+6 ms (p 10 s in 45.4% of rabbits during vagus_stim, and ceased after vagus_stim in 4 out of these 5 cases. In 3 animals, PV tachycardia, with fibrillatory conduction, induced with 50 Hz PV pacing during vagus_stim. CONCLUSIONS: Vagus_stim reduces interatrial conduction velocity and significantly shortens atrial ERP, contributing to the induction and duration of AF episodes in the in vivo rabbit heart. This model may be useful for the assessment of autonomic influence on the pathophysiology of AF

Genomic analysis and immune response in a murine mastitis model of vB_EcoM-UFV13, a potential biocontrol agent for use in dairy cows

Bovine mastitis remains the main cause of economic losses for dairy farmers. Mammary pathogenic Escherichia coli (MPEC) is related to an acute mastitis and its treatment is still based on the use of antibiotics. In the era of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), bacterial viruses (bacteriophages) present as an efficient treatment or prophylactic option. However, this makes it essential that its genetic structure, stability and interaction with the host immune system be thoroughly characterized. The present study analyzed a novel, broad host-range anti-mastitis agent, the T4virus vB-EcoM-UFV13 in genomic terms, and its activity against a MPEC strain in an experimental E. coli-induced mastitis mouse model. 4,975 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) were assigned between vB-EcoM-UFV13 and E. coli phage T4 genomes with high impact on coding sequences (CDS) (37.60%) for virion proteins. Phylogenetic trees and genome analysis supported a recent infection mix between vB-EcoM-UFV13 and Shigella phage Shfl2. After a viral stability evaluation (e.g pH and temperature), intramammary administration (MOI 10) resulted in a 10-fold reduction in bacterial load. Furthermore, pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6 and TNF-\u3b1, were observed after viral treatment. This work brings the whole characterization and immune response to vB-EcoM-UFV13, a biocontrol candidate for bovine mastitis

Características agronômicas de cultivares de banana influenciadas por diferentes lâminas de irrigação, no Recôncavo baiano.

O Brasil em 2012 produziu aproximadamente 6,9 milhões de toneladas de bananas, sendo o quinto maior produtor mundial, após Índia, Filipinas, China e Equador (FAO, 2012). Segundo o IBGE (2012), a região Nordeste é a principal produtora, responsável por 37,9% da produção, e o estado da Bahia o segundo maior produtor