Global, Diffuse, Direct, and Ultraviolet Solar Irradiance Recorded in Malta and Atmospheric Component Influences

AbstractGlobal and diffuse shortwave (SW) and global erythemal (UVER) irradiances were measured in Malta, in the middle of Mediterranean Sea. The effect of solar zenith angle on these irradiances is studied using the measurements and simulations developed with a radiative transfer model. The role of ozone, scattering by gases, and aerosols is analyzed. Results show that ozone and Rayleigh scattering are the main drivers responsible for the behavior of UVER variations with SZA. In the case of global and diffuse irradiance, the role of aerosols is the principal determinant

Diagnóstico ambiental do Município de Iguaraci, PE.

O municipio de Iguaraci, com uma area de 770,96 km2, localiza-se na regiao semi-arida de Pernambuco, na Zona do Alto Pajeu. O estudo, na escala 1:100.000, identifica os diversos ambientes do municipio, com suas principais vocacoes, potencialidades e limitacoes. Pode, entao, subsidiar o planejamento de atividades agricolas, pecuarias, florestais ou outros tipos de atividades nao agricolas, incluindo recomendacoes de areas para preservacao ambiental. O municipio foi dividido em 15 segmentos geoambientais em funcao do arranjo e distribuicao dos diferentes solos em topossequencias, do grau xerofitico da caatinga (hiper e hipoxerofila) e, no caso das Serras e Serrotes, tambem foram consideradas suas dimensoes e diferencas geologicas. Estes segmentos geoambientais foram agrupados em 5 subunidades geoambientais em funcao de diferenciacoes geologicas, aspectos morfoestruturais, e de combinacoes de caracteristicas de geologia e relevo. As subunidades geoambientais identificadas foram as seguintes: (1) Tabuleiros Interioranos Dissecados Isolados - TD (com o segmento geoambiental TD1); (2) Superficies Avermelhadas do Cristalino - SA (com o segmento geoambiental SA1); (3) Pediplanos do Alto Pajeu - PD (com os segmentos geoambientais PD1 a PD6); (4) Terracos Aluviais - Baixios - TA (com os segmentos geoambientais TA1 e TA2); e (5) Serras, Serrotes e Elevacoes Residuais - SS (com os segmentos geoambientais SS1 a SS5). Os segmentos geoambientais indicados preferencialmente para lavouras sao TD1, SA1, TA1, TA2, PD1 e PD2, que perfazem uma area de 76,48 km2. Os segmentos indicados para lavouras e/ou pastagens (plantadas ou naturais) sao PD3 e PD4, abrangendo uma area de 206,74 km2. Os segmentos geoambientais recomendados para pecuaria extensiva, pastagem natural e/ou plantada e apicultura, sao PD5 e PD6, perfazendo uma area de 359,56 km2. Os segmentos indicados para preservacao ambiental sao os SS1 a SS5, perfazendo uma area de 18,18 km2.bitstream/CNPS/10851/1/circular_tecnica_07_2000.pd

Solos do campo experimental da Embrapa Algodão, em Patos-PB: levantamento detalhado e potencial edáfico.

bitstream/CNPS/11833/1/bpd17_2002_patos_pb.pd

New formulation of an old drug in hypertension treatment: the sustained release of captopril from cyclodextrin nanoparticles

Captopril (CAP) was the first angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor to be developed and is widely used in hypertension treatment. On the other hand, cyclodextrins (CDs) are cyclic oligosaccharides whose cone-shaped cavity allows formation of noncovalent inclusion complexes with appropriately sized guest molecules, thus modifying guest physical, chemical, and biological properties. Herein, the physicochemical characterization and in vivo ACE inhibition evaluation of seven CAP/CD complexes are reported. The inclusion complexes were prepared by spray-drying, freeze-drying, kneading, or lyophilization methods and characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and scanning electron microscopy techniques. In vivo assays compared CAP and CAP/CD complex administration (0.5 mg kg−1 or 0.09 mg kg−1, n = 4–7) to evaluate the ACE inhibition by continuous infusion of angiotensin I (30 ng 50 μL−1 min−1) in conscious Wistar rats. The physicochemical analysis demonstrated complete amorphization and complexation between CAP and CDs, indicating the substitution of water molecules inside the CD cavity with CAP. During the infusion of angiotensin I, the administration of all CAP/CD complexes induced a reduction in mean arterial pressure similar to that observed upon CAP administration. The nanoparticles obtained by the kneading method (CAP/α-CD:KM) showed a potent and long-lasting inhibitory activity (∼22 hours) on the angiotensin I pressor effect. The results suggest that the inclusion complex of CAP and α-CD can function as a novel antihypertensive formulation that may improve therapeutic use of CAP by reducing its oral dose administration to once per day, thus providing better quality of life for almost 25% of the world’s population who suffer from hypertension

Real world data in primary care: validation of diagnosis of atrial fibrillation in primary care electronic medical records and estimated prevalence among consulting patients

Primary care electronic medical records contain clinical-administrative information on a high percentage of the population. Before this information can be used for epidemiological purposes, its quality must be verified. This study aims to validate diagnoses of atrial fibrillation (AF) recorded in primary care electronic medical records and to estimate the prevalence of AF in the population attending primary care consultations. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional validation study of all diagnoses of AF recorded in primary care electronic medical records in Madrid (Spain). We also performed simple random sampling of diagnoses of AF (ICPC-2 code K78) registered by 55 physicians and random age- and sex-matched sampling of the records that included a diagnosis of AF. Electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, and hospital discharge or cardiology clinic reports were matched. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV), and overall agreement were calculated using the kappa statistic (κ). The prevalence of AF in the community of Madrid was estimated considering the sensitivity and specificity obtained in the validation. All calculations were performed overall and by sex and age groups. Results: The degree of agreement was very high (κ = 0.952), with a sensitivity of 97.84%, specificity of 97.39%, PPV of 97.37%, and NPV of 97.85%. The prevalence of AF in the population aged over 18 years was 2.41% (95%CI 2.39–2.42% [2.25% in women and 2.58% in men]). This increased progressively with age, reaching 16.95% in those over 80 years of age (15.5% in women and 19.44% in men). Conclusions: The validation results obtained enable diagnosis of AF recorded in primary care to be used as a tool for epidemiological studies. A high prevalence of AF was found, especially in older patientsThis study forms part of research funded by the FIS (Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias—Health Research Fund, Instituto de Salud Carlos III) grants no. PI13/00632, and co-funded by the European Union through the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER, “A way of shaping Europe”. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

Fe-substituted mullite powders for the in situ synthesis of carbon nanotubes by catalytic chemical vapor deposition

Powders of iron-substituted mullite were prepared by combustion and further calcination in air at different temperatures. A detailed study involving notably Mo¨ssbauer spectroscopy showed that the Fe3+ ions are distributed between the mullite phase and a corundum phase that progressively dissolves into mullite upon the increase in calcination temperature. Carbon nanotube-Fe-mullite nanocomposites were prepared for the first time by a direct method involving a reduction of these powders in H2-CH4 and without any mechanical mixing step. The carbon nanotubes formed by the catalytic decomposition of CH4 on the smallest metal particles are mostly double-walled and multiwalled, although some carbon nanofibers are also observed

Potenciales nuevas variedades de papa biofortificada con altos contenidos de hierro y zinc, para contribuir a la seguridad alimentaria y nutricional en agricultura familiar alto andina. Reporte Final STC.

La papa es un alimento fundamental en las zonas Alto Andinas del Perú donde alrededor de 730,000 familias (3.56 millones de personas) cultivan y consumen la papa directamente. Sin embargo, es también en las zonas rurales Alto Andinas donde los niveles de desnutrición en niños y madres gestantes son alarmantemente altos (41% y 21% de prevalencia de anemia respectivamente). Con el objetivo de mejorar la seguridad alimentaria y nutricional de familias en situación de vulnerabilidad en los Andes del Perú, el CIP ha desarrollado un grupo de clones biofortificados de papa resistencia a las plagas y enfermedades más importantes en el Perú (caso del tizón tardío), con rendimientos superiores y calidad culinaria para agricultores y consumidores y con altos contenidos de hierro y zinc. En este estudio, 30 clones biofortificados tetraploides elites fueron identificados y evaluados junto con 4 variedades testigos en 9 localidades del Perú, con el objetivo de cuantificar e interpretar la interacción genotipo por ambiente (GxA) de las variables rendimiento total de tubérculo (t ha-1), contenido de hierro (mg kg-1) BS y zinc (mg kg-1) BS. La metodología de selección participativa fue utilizada en cada una de las localidades. El estudio permitió seleccionar un total de 8 clones biofortificados según performance en campo, calidad culinaria y contenido nutricional para su posterior evaluación y lanzamiento de al menos una variedad de papa biofortificada según zona agroecológica en Perú

Levantamento de reconhecimento de baixa e média intensidade dos solos do Estado de Pernambuco.

Os estudos de solos foram desenvolvidos em nível de reconhecimento de baixa e média intensidade, escala 1:100.000, cobrindo toda superfície do Estado de Pernambuco, com aproximadamente 98.938 km2. Os trabalhos foram realizados por meio da parceria entre o Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Solos (CNPS) - Escritório Regional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Nordeste (ERP/NE) e o Governo do Estado de Pernambuco. O objetivo principal do levantamento de solos foi gerar dados para dar suporte à elaboração do Zoneamento Agroecológico do Estado. A metodologia utilizada seguiu as normas do Serviço Nacional de Levantamento e Conservação de Solos (SNLCS), atual Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Solos. Os resultados dos estudos mostram que os solos de maior expressão, ocupando cerca de 61% da área, pertencem às classes dos Podzólicos (25%), Solos Litólicos (20%) e, Planossolos e Solonetz Solodizados (16%). Ocupam cerca 23% da área, os solos das classes dos Latossolos (9%), Brunos Não Cálcicos (9%) e Areias Quartzosas (5%). Perfazem cerca de 7% da área, os solos das classes dos Regossolos (5%) e Solos Aluviais (2%). Cerca de 4% da área é ocupada por solos diversos, incluindo os Cambissolos, Gleissolos, Podzóis, Vertissolos, Solos Indiscriminados de Mangues, Brunizéns, Terra Roxa Estruturada e Plintossolos. Os tipos de terrenos, principalmente afloramentos de rocha, ocupam uma superfície ao redor de 3% da área. Cerca de 2% da superfície do Estado correspondem às águas internas.bitstream/item/69954/1/Boletim-de-Pesquisa-Final-11.pdf; bitstream/item/216858/1/Mapa-de-reconhecimento-de-baixa-e-media-intensidade-de-solos-do-estado-de-Pernambuco.pd

El binomio aprendizaje científico-emoción, una fórmula perfecta

El estudio que presentamos tiene como principal objetivo estudiar la evolución de las emociones del alumnado de primer curso de educación infantil al aplicar el método científico como procedimiento habitual dentro de la metodología de proyectos. En el transcurso del proceso de investigación constatamos la disminución progresiva de las emociones negativas iniciales que son sustituidas por emociones positivas que surgen en el desarrollo de los experimentos