Is the meander growth in the Brazil Current system off Southeast Brazil due to baroclinic instability?

Temporally-growing frontal meandering and occasional eddy-shedding is observed in the Brazil Current (BC) as it flows adjacent to the Brazilian Coast. No study of the dynamics of this phenomenon has been conducted to date in the region between 22 degrees S and 25 degrees S. Within this latitude range, the flow over the intermediate continental slope is marked by a current inversion at a depth that is associated with the Intermediate Western Boundary Current (IWBC). A time series analysis of 10-current-meter mooring data was used to describe a mean vertical profile for the BC-IWBC jet and a typical meander vertical structure. The latter was obtained by an empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis that showed a single mode explaining 82% of the total variance. This mode structure decayed sharply with depth, revealing that the meandering is much more vigorous within the BC domain than it is in the IWBC region. As the spectral analysis of the mode amplitude time series revealed no significant periods, we searched for dominant wavelengths. This search was done via a spatial EOF analysis on 51 thermal front patterns derived from digitized AVHRR images. Four modes were statistically significant at the 95% confidence level. Modes 3 and 4, which together explained 18% of the total variance, are associated with 266 and 338-km vorticity waves, respectively. With this new information derived from the data, the [Johns, W.E., 1988. One-dimensional baroclinically unstable waves on the Gulf Stream potential vorticity gradient near Cape Hatteras. Dyn. Atmos. Oceans 11, 323-350] one-dimensional quasi-geostrophic model was applied to the interpolated mean BC-IWBC jet. The results indicated that the BC system is indeed baroclinically unstable and that the wavelengths depicted in the thermal front analysis are associated with the most unstable waves produced by the model. Growth rates were about 0.06 (0.05) days(-1) for the 266-km (338-km) wave. Moreover, phase speeds for these waves were low compared to the surface BC velocity and may account for remarks in the literature about growing standing or stationary meanders off southeast Brazil. The theoretical vertical structure modes associated with these waves resembled very closely to the one obtained for the current-meter mooring EOF analysis. We interpret this agreement as a confirmation that baroclinic instability is an important mechanism in meander growth in the BC system. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Sugarcane genes differentially expressed during water deficit

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Influência do parasitismo pelo nematoide de galhas nos níveis de nutrientes em folhas e na fenologia de goiabeira 'Paluma'

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Um estudo de estruturas com PBG e fotônica

One of the objectives of this work is the ana1ysis of planar structures using the PBG (photonic Bandgap), a new method of controlling propagation of electromagnetic waves in devices with dielectrics. Here the basic theory of these structures will be presented, as well as applications and determination of certain parameters. In this work the analysis will be performed concerning PBG structures, including the basic theory and applications in planar structures. Considerations are made related to the implementation of devices. Here the TTL (Transverse Transmission Line) method is employed, characterized by the simplicity in the treatment of the equations that govern the propagation of electromagnetic waves in the structure. In this method, the fields in x and z are expressed in function of the fields in the traverse direction y in FTD (Fourier Transform Domain). This method is useful in the determination of the complex propagation constant with application in high frequency and photonics. In this work structures will be approached in micrometric scale operating in frequencies in the range of T erahertz, a first step for operation in the visible spectra. The mathematical basis are approached for the determination of the electromagnetic fields in the structure, based on the method L TT taking into account the dimensions approached in this work. Calculations for the determination of the constant of complex propagation are also carried out. The computational implementation is presented for high frequencies. at the first time the analysis is done with base in open microstrip lines with semiconductor substrate. Finally, considerations are made regarding applications ofthese devices in the area of telecommunications, and suggestions for future

Extração e Representação de Conhecimento de Séries Temporais de Demanda de Energia Elétrica Usando TSKR

The opening of the Brazilian market of electricity and competitiveness between companies in the energy sector make the search for useful information and tools that will assist in decision making activities, increase by the concessionaires. An important source of knowledge for these utilities is the time series of energy demand. The identification of behavior patterns and description of events become important for the planning execution, seeking improvements in service quality and financial benefits. This dissertation presents a methodology based on mining and representation tools of time series, in order to extract knowledge that relate series of electricity demand in various substations connected of a electric utility. The method exploits the relationship of duration, coincidence and partial order of events in multi-dimensionals time series. To represent the knowledge is used the language proposed by Mörchen (2005) called Time Series Knowledge Representation (TSKR). We conducted a case study using time series of energy demand of 8 substations interconnected by a ring system, which feeds the metropolitan area of Goiânia-GO, provided by CELG (Companhia Energética de Goiás), responsible for the service of power distribution in the state of Goiás (Brazil). Using the proposed methodology were extracted three levels of knowledge that describe the behavior of the system studied, representing clearly the system dynamics, becoming a tool to assist planning activities

Análise da precipitação no semi-árido potiguar

The semiarid rainfall regime is northeastern Brazil is highly variable. Climate processes associated with rainfall are complex and their effects may represent extreme situations of drought or floods, which can have adverse effects on society and the environment. The regional economy has a significant agricultural component, which is strongly influenced by weather conditions. Maximum precipitation analysis is traditionally performed using the intensity-duration-frequency (IDF) probabilistic approach. Results from such analysis are typically used in engineering projects involving hydraulic structures such as drainage network systems and road structures. On the other hand, precipitation data analysis may require the adoption of some kind of event identification criteria. The minimum inter-event duration (IMEE) is one of the most used criteria. This study aims to analyze the effect of the IMEE on the obtained rain event properties. For this purpose, a nine-year precipitation time series (2002- 2011) was used. This data was obtained from an automatic raingauge station, installed in an environmentally protected area, Ecological Seridó Station. The results showed that adopted IMEE values has an important effect on the number of events, duration, event height, mean rainfall rate and mean inter-event duration. Furthermore, a higher occurrence of extreme events was observed for small IMEE values. Most events showed average rainfall intensity higher than 2 mm.h-1 regardless of IMEE. The storm coefficient of advance was, in most cases, within the first quartile of the event, regardless of the IMEE value. Time series analysis using partial time series made it possible to adjust the IDF equations to local characteristics

Análise tempo-intensidade dos estímulos doce e amargo de extrato de folhas de estévia [Stevia rebaudiana (Bert.) Bertoni] em doçura equivalente a sacarose

O extrato de folhas de estévia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) é o único edulcorante utilizado na substituição da sacarose, que pode ser produzido totalmente no Brasil. O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar os comportamentos de características temporais dos estímulos doce e amargo da estevia em doçuras equivalentes a soluções de sacarose (DESS) a 3 e 10%. As curvas tempo-intensidade (T-I) para cada substância foram coletadas utilizando-se o programa Sistema de Coleta de Dados Tempo-Intensidade - SCDTI para Windows, onde os provadores registravam com auxílio do mouse a percepção de cada estímulo solicitado em função do tempo, para cada amostra. Os parâmetros das curvas T-I coletados foram: tempo de intensidade máxima (TImax), intensidade máxima (Imax), tempo onde a intensidade máxima começa a declinar (Td), tempo de platô (Platô), área sob a curva (Área) e tempo total de duração do estímulo (Ttot). Os parâmetros Td, Ttot, Área e Platô das curvas T-I para o estímulo doce nos dois níveis de doçura foram significativamente superiores para estévia, enquanto TImax e Imax foram significativamente menores (p£0,05), sendo que as diferenças entre os valores para as duas substâncias foram muito maiores a DESS a 10%. A sacarose não apresentou nenhum registro para o estímulo amargo tanto a 3 como a 10%, enquanto a estévia apresentou curvas T-I características, com intensidade e o tempo total de duração dependente da concentração.

Análise tempo-intensidade dos gostos doce e amargo de extrato de folhas de estévia (Stévia rebaudiana Bertoni) em doçura equivalente a sacarose

O extrato de folhas de estévia (Stévia rebaudiana Bertoni) é o único edulcorante utilizado na substituição da sacarose, que pode ser produzido totalmente no Brasil. Este trabalho objetivou determinar o comportamento de características temporais dos estímulos doce e amargo do extrato de estévia em doçuras equivalentes a soluções de sacarose (DESS) a 3 e 10%. As curvas tempo-intensidade (T-I) para cada substância foram coletadas utilizando-se o programa Sistema de Coleta de Dados Tempo-Intensidade - SCDTI para Windows, onde os provadores registravam com auxílio do mouse a percepção de cada estímulo solicitado em função do tempo, para cada amostra. Os parâmetros das curvas T-I determinados foram: tempo de intensidade máxima (TImax), intensidade máxima (Imax), tempo onde a intensidade máxima começa a declinar (Td), tempo de platô (Platô), área sob a curva (Área) e tempo total de duração do estímulo (Ttot). Os parâmetros Td, Ttot, Área e Platô das curvas T-I para o estímulo doce nos dois níveis de doçura significativamente foram superiores para o extrato de estévia, enquanto TImax e Imax foram significativamente menores (p£ 0,05). As diferenças entre os valores de sacarose e extrato de estévia foram muito maiores a DESS a 10%. A sacarose não apresentou nenhum registro para o estímulo amargo tanto a 3 como a 10%, enquanto a estévia apresentou curvas T-I características, com intensidade e o tempo total de duração dependente da concentração.

Propagação de danos no modelo de ising em redes de bravais e em fractais

In this work we have studied, by Monte Carlo computer simulation, several properties that characterize the damage spreading in the Ising model, defined in Bravais lattices (the square and the triangular lattices) and in the Sierpinski Gasket. First, we investigated the antiferromagnetic model in the triangular lattice with uniform magnetic field, by Glauber dynamics; The chaotic-frozen critical frontier that we obtained coincides , within error bars, with the paramegnetic-ferromagnetic frontier of the static transition. Using heat-bath dynamics, we have studied the ferromagnetic model in the Sierpinski Gasket: We have shown that there are two times that characterize the relaxation of the damage: One of them satisfy the generalized scaling theory proposed by Henley (critical exponent z~A/T for low temperatures). On the other hand, the other time does not obey any of the known scaling theories. Finally, we have used methods of time series analysis to study in Glauber dynamics, the damage in the ferromagnetic Ising model on a square lattice. We have obtained a Hurst exponent with value 0.5 in high temperatures and that grows to 1, close to the temperature TD, that separates the chaotic and the frozen phases

Em busca de um novo indicador Espectroscópico do período de rotação das Estrelas do tipo solar

The study of sunspots consistently contributed to a better understanding of magnetic phenomena of the Sun, as its activity. It was found with the dynamics of sunspots that the Sun has a rotation period of twenty-seven days around your axis. With the help of Project Sun-As-A-Star that solar spectra obtained for more than thirty years we observed oscillations of both the depth of the spectral line and its equivalent width, and analysis of the return information about the characteristics of solar magnetism. It also aims to find patterns of solar magnetic activity cycle and the average period of rotation of the Sun will indicate the spectral lines that are sensitive to magnetic activity and which are not. Sensitive lines how Ti II 5381.0 Å stands as the best indicator of the solar rotation period and also shows different periods of rotation cycles of minimum and maximum magnetic activity. It is the first time we observe clearly distinct rotation periods in the different cycles. The analysis also shows that Ca II 8542.1 Å and HI 6562.0 Å indicate the cycle of magnetic activity of eleven years. Some spectral lines no indicated connection with solar activity, this result can help us search for programs planets using spectroscopic models. Data analysis was performed using the Lomb-Scargle method that makes the time series analysis for unequally spaced data. Observe different rotation periods in the cycles of magnetic activity accounts for a discussion has been debated for many decades. We verified that spectroscopy can also specify the period of stellar rotation, thus being able to generalize the method to other stars

Direct and simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of Ni (II) and Co (II) using diethanoldithiocarbamate as complexing agent

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Echocardiographic detection of congestive heart failure in postinfarction rats

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Extreme degree of chromosome number variability in species of the spider genus Scytodes (Araneae, Haplogynae, Scytodidae)

Genus Scytodes includes most species of the spider family Scytodidae. Until now, 187 species of the genus have been described. In spite of this great diversity, only three Scytodes species were karyotyped so far. The present paper provides for the first time karyotype analysis of two synanthropic species, Scytodes fusca and Scytodes itapevi. Furthermore, new data on karyotype of Scytodes globula are also provided using conventional and differential cytogenetical procedures. The diploid number in the genus Scytodes varied considerably, namely from 2n = 13 to 2n = 31. The diploid number found in S. globula (2n male = 13) is the lowest in haplogyne spiders with monocentric chromosomes. Except S. globula, this number has been found only in one haplogyne spider with monocentric chromosomes, namely Ochyrocera sp. (Ochyroceratidae). on the contrary, the diploid number of S. fusca (2n male = 31) is one of the highest diploid numbers recorded in haplogyne spiders. The degree of intrageneric variation found in the genus Scytodes is the highest recorded in araneomorph spiders with monocentric chromosomes so far. Some karyotype characteristics (diploid number, chromosome morphology, total chromosome length, and distribution of constitutive heterochromatin) allowed us to postulate a close relationship between S. globula and S. itapevi. According to the karyotype data, S. fusca is not closely related to these two species. This conclusion corroborates a recent taxonomic work that grouped S. globula, S. itapevi, and other four Scytodes species in the 'globula group'.

High Prevalence of bla(CTX-M) Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase Genes in Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolates from a Tertiary Care Hospital: First report of bla(SHV-12), bla(SHV-31), bla(SHV-38), and bla(CTX-M-15) in Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Low dimensional behavior in three-dimensional coupled map lattices

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)