Where were the monsoon regions and arid zones in Asia prior to the Tibetan Plateau uplift?

The impact of the Tibetan Plateau uplift on the Asian monsoons and inland arid climates is an important but also controversial question in studies of paleoenvironmental change during the Cenozoic. In order to achieve a good understanding of the background for the formation of the Asian monsoons and arid environments, it is necessary to know the characteristics of the distribution of monsoon regions and arid zones in Asia before the plateau uplift. In this study, we discuss in detail the patterns of distribution of the Asian monsoon and arid regions before the plateau uplift on the basis of modeling results without topography from a global coupled atmosphere–ocean general circulation model, compare our results with previous simulation studies and available biogeological data, and review the uncertainties in the current knowledge. Based on what we know at the moment, tropical monsoon climates existed south of 20°N in South and Southeast Asia before the plateau uplift, while the East Asian monsoon was entirely absent in the extratropics. These tropical monsoons mainly resulted from the seasonal shifts of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone. There may have been a quasi-monsoon region in central-southern Siberia. Most of the arid regions in the Asian continent were limited to the latitudes of 20–40°N, corresponding to the range of the subtropical high pressure year-around. In the meantime, the present-day arid regions located in the relatively high latitudes in Central Asia were most likely absent before the plateau uplift. The main results from the above modeling analyses are qualitatively consistent with the available biogeological data. These results highlight the importance of the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau in the Cenozoic evolution of the Asian climate pattern of dry–wet conditions. Future studies should be focused on effects of the changes in land–sea distribution and atmospheric CO2 concentrations before and after the plateau uplift, and also on cross-comparisons between numerical simulations and geological evidence, so that a comprehensive understanding of the evolution of the Cenozoic paleoenvironments in Asia can be achieved.

Gravimetric study of a potential mineral deposit in the Itapororoca region, Brazil

A semi-detailed gravity survey was carried out over an area of 650 km(2) localized in the Eo-Neoproterozoic coastal zone of Paraiba State where 548 new gravity stations were added to the existing database. Gravity measurements were made with a LaCoste and Romberg model G meter with a precision of 0.04 mGal. The altitude was determined by barometric levelling with a fixed base achieving a 1.2 m measure of uncertainty, corresponding to an overall accuracy of 0.24 mGal for the Bouguer anomaly. The residual Bouguer map for a 7th degree regional polynomial showed a circumscribed negative anomaly coincident with a localized aero-magnetic anomaly and with hydro-thermally altered outcrops, near the city of Itapororoca. The 3D gravity modelling, constrained by geologic mapping was interpreted as a low density, fractured and/or altered material with a most probable volume of approximately 23 km(3), extending to about 8,500 m depth. This result is in accordance with a volcanic body associated with hydrothermal processes accompanied by surface mineralization evidence, which may be of interest to the mining industry.

On the semi-Riemannian bumpy metric theorem

We prove the semi-Riemannian bumpy metric theorem using equivariant variational genericity. The theorem states that, on a given compact manifold M, the set of semi-Riemannian metrics that admit only nondegenerate closed geodesics is generic relatively to the C(k)-topology, k=2, ..., infinity, in the set of metrics of a given index on M. A higher-order genericity Riemannian result of Klingenberg and Takens is extended to semi-Riemannian geometry.

Pro-premiär eller pro-president? : Om distinktionen mellan parlamentarism, presidentialism och semi-presidentialism

Propremiar or pro-president? On the distinction between parliamentarism, presitentialism and semi-presidentialism. From comparative research on the constitutional development in Central and Eastern Europe and also from the longstanding debate on whether parliamentarism or presidentialism best facilitates democracy, it is apparent that there has been and continues to be, a certain degree of confusion concerning the concepts of semi-presidentialism and presidentialism. Different scholars mean different things by the terms and therefore classify countries differently. In this article I argue that the conceptual dichotomy between pro-premiär (premier-presidentialism) and pro-president systems (presidentparliamentary systems) provide the best solution to several of the problems related to categorising constitutional types, most importantly perhaps to the presidential power dilemma. I, furthermore, employ these concepts on the post-communist constitutional systems and try to reveal patterns with regard to presidential power, geographical region and democratisation.

Efeitos do enriquecimento com nutrientes (N e P) em diferentes condições de luz sobre o crescimento do fitoplâncton em um reservatório eutrófico no semi-árido brasileiro

The increasing of pollution in aquatic ecosystems in the last decades has caused an expansion of eutrophication and loss of water quality for human consumption. The increase of frequency and intensity of cyanobacteria blooms have been recognized as a major problem connected to water quality and eutrophication. The knowledge of environmental factors controlling these blooms is a key step towards the management for recovering aquatic ecosystems from eutrophic conditions. Primary productivity in aquatic ecosystems is dependent on light and nutrients availability. In the present work we evaluated the relative importance of the concentration of major nutrients, such as phosphorus and nitrogen, and light for phytoplankton growth in the main water reservoir of Rio Grande do Norte State, named Engenheiro Armando Ribeiro Gonçalves (EARG), which is an eutrophic system, dominated by potentially toxic cyanobacteria populations. Limitation of phytoplankton growth was evaluated through bioassays using differential enrichment of nutrients (N and/or P) under two light conditions (low light and high light) and monthly monitoring of chlorophyll-a and nutrients (total nitrogen and phosphorus) concentrations, and water transparency (Secchi depth) at the pelagic region. Our results confirm that EARG reservoir is an eutrophic system with a low water quality. Results of bioassays on the growth of phytoplankton limitation (N or P) were conflicting with the results predicted by the TN:TP ratios, which indicates that these ratios were not a good indicator of algal growth limitation. Nitrogen was the limiting nutrient, considering both frequency and magnitude. Light and hidrology affected phytoplankton response to nutrient enrichment. The extreme eutrophic conditions of this reservoir, dominated by cyanobacteria blooms, demand urgent managing strategies in order to guarantee the multiple uses for this system, including water supply for human population. Although nitrogen is the limiting nutrient, an effective management program must focus on the reduction of both phosphorus and nitrogen input

Infectious bronchitis virus: detection and vaccine Strain differentiation by semi-nested RT-PCR

A semi-nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (Semi-N-RT-PCR) was developed and used to detect the S glycoprotein gene of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) strains and to discriminate H120 vaccine strain from other strains. Viral RNA was extracted from the allantoic fluid of chicken embryos and from tissues of chickens experimentally infected with different strains of IBV. Amplification and identification of the viral RNA was performed using two sets of primers complementary to a region of the S glycoprotein gene in the Semi-N-RT-PCR assay. The pair of primers used in the first PCR consisted of universal oligonucleotides flanking a more variable region of S1-S2 gene. The second primer pair was used in the Semi-N-RT-PCR and was comprised of one of the primers from the first universal pair together with either another universal internal oligolucleotide or a oligonucleotide sequence specific for the H120 strain of IBV. The universal primers detected all reference IBV strains and field isolates tested herein. The Semi-N-RT-PCR had high sensitivity and specificity, and was able to differentiate the H120 vaccine strain from other reference IBV strains; including M41 strain. All tissue samples collected from chickens experimentally infected with H120 or M41 strains were positive in the semi-nested RT-PCR using universal primers, while only the H120-infected tissue samples were amplified by the set of primers containing the H120-oligonucleotide. In conclusion, the ability of Semi-N-RT-PCR to detect distinct IBV strains and preliminarily discriminate the vaccine strain (H120) closes a diagnostic gap and offers the opportunity to use comprehensive PCR procedures for the IBV diagnosis.

Epidemiological aspects of astrovirus and coronavirus in poults in the South Eastern Region of Brazil

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

Effects of thermal annealing on the semi-insulating properties of radio frequency magnetron sputtering-produced germanate thin films

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Semi-automatic modeling of buildings from digital surface models

Semi-automatic building detection and extraction is a topic of growing interest due to its potential application in such areas as cadastral information systems, cartographic revision, and GIS. One of the existing strategies for building extraction is to use a digital surface model (DSM) represented by a cloud of known points on a visible surface, and comprising features such as trees or buildings. Conventional surface modeling using stereo-matching techniques has its drawbacks, the most obvious being the effect of building height on perspective, shadows, and occlusions. The laser scanner, a recently developed technological tool, can collect accurate DSMs with high spatial frequency. This paper presents a methodology for semi-automatic modeling of buildings which combines a region-growing algorithm with line-detection methods applied over the DSM.

Use of algorithms for semi-automatic quantification of pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema

Obtaining a semi-automatic quantification of pathologies found in the lung, through images of high resolution computed tomography (HRCT), is of great importance to aid in medical diagnosis. Paraccocidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic disease that affects the lung and even after effective treatment leaves sequels such as pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema. It is very important to the area of tropical diseases that the lung injury be quantified more accurately. In this stud, we propose the development of algorithms in computational environment Matlab® able to objectively quantify lung diseases such as fibrosis and emphysema. The program consists in selecting the region of interest (ROI), and through the use of density masks and filters, obtaining the lesion area quantification in relation to the healthy area of the lung. The proposed method was tested on 15 exams of HRCT of patients with confirmed PCM. To prove the validity and effectiveness of the method, we used a virtual phantom, also developed in this research. © 2013 Springer-Verlag.

Report on the production of trade statistics in the Caribbean region

Includes bibliography

Entomofauna associada a goiabeira Psidium guajava L. em pomares experimentais comerciais em Vista Alegre do Alto – SP e semi-orgânicos em Pindorama – SP

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Identification of human T-cell lymphotropic virus infection in a semi-isolated Afro-Brazilian quilombo located in the Marajó Island (Pará, Brazil)

ABSTRACT: Antibodies to human T-cell lymphotropic virus-1 and 2 (HTLV-1 and 2) were tested in 259 inhabitants (98 males and 161 females) of four villages of the Marajó Island (Pará, Brazil) using enzyme immunoassays (ELISA and Western blot). Types and subtypes of HTLV were determined by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the pX, env and 5´LTR regions. HTLV-1 infection was detected in Santana do Arari (2.06%) and Ponta de Pedras (1%). HTLV-2 was detected only in Santana do Arari (1.06%). Sequencing of the 5´LTR region of HTLV-1 and the phylogenetic analysis identified the virus as a member of the Cosmopolitan Group, subgroup Transcontinental. Santana do Arari is an Afro-Brazilian community and the current results represent the first report of HTLV-1 infection in a mocambo located in the Brazilian Amazon region.

Região do espaço que mais influencia em medidas eletromagnéticas no domínio da frequência: caso de uma linha de corrente sobre um semi-espaço condutor

Localizar em subsuperfície a região que mais influencia nas medidas obtidas na superfície da Terra é um problema de grande relevância em qualquer área da Geofísica. Neste trabalho, é feito um estudo sobre a localização dessa região, denominada aqui zona principal, para métodos eletromagnéticos no domínio da freqüência, utilizando-se como fonte uma linha de corrente na superfície de um semi-espaço condutor. No modelo estudado, tem-se, no interior desse semi-espaço, uma heterogeneidade na forma de camada infinita, ou de prisma com seção reta quadrada e comprimento infinito, na direção da linha de corrente. A diferença entre a medida obtida sobre o semi-espaço contendo a heterogeneidade e aquela obtida sobre o semi-espaço homogêneo, depende, entre outros parâmetros, da localização da heterogeneidade em relação ao sistema transmissor-receptor. Portanto, mantidos constantes os demais parâmetros, existirá uma posição da heterogeneidade em que sua influência é máxima nas medidas obtidas. Como esta posição é dependente do contraste de condutividade, das dimensões da heterogeneidade e da freqüência da corrente no transmissor, fica caracterizada uma região e não apenas uma única posição em que a heterogeneidade produzirá a máxima influência nas medidas. Esta região foi denominada zona principal. Identificada a zona principal, torna-se possível localizar com precisão os corpos que, em subsuperfície, provocam as anomalias observadas. Trata-se geralmente de corpos condutores de interesse para algum fim determinado. A localização desses corpos na prospecção, além de facilitar a exploração, reduz os custos de produção. Para localizar a zona principal, foi definida uma função Detetabilidade (∆), capaz de medir a influência da heterogeneidade nas medidas. A função ∆ foi calculada para amplitude e fase das componentes tangencial (H_x) e normal (H_z) à superfície terrestre do campo magnético medido no receptor. Estudando os extremos da função ∆ sob variações de condutividade, tamanho e profundidade da heterogeneidade, em modelos unidimensionais e bidimensionais, foram obtidas as dimensões da zona principal, tanto lateralmente como em profundidade. Os campos eletromagnéticos em modelos unidimensionais foram obtidos de uma forma híbrida, resolvendo numericamente as integrais obtidas da formulação analítica. Para modelos bidimensionais, a solução foi obtida através da técnica de elementos finitos. Os valores máximos da função ∆, calculada para amplitude de H_x, mostraram-se os mais indicados para localizar a zona principal. A localização feita através desta grandeza apresentou-se mais estável do que através das demais, sob variação das propriedades físicas e dimensões geométricas, tanto dos modelos unidimensionais como dos bidimensionais. No caso da heterogeneidade condutora ser uma camada horizontal infinita (caso 1D), a profundidade do plano central dessa camada vem dada pela relação p_o = 0,17 δ_o, onde p_o é essa profundidade e δ_o o "skin depth" da onda plana (em um meio homogêneo de condutividade igual à do meio encaixante (σ₁) e a freqüência dada pelo valor de w em que ocorre o máximo de ∆ calculada para a amplitude de H_x). No caso de uma heterogeneidade bidimensional (caso 2D), as coordenadas do eixo central da zona principal vem dadas por d_o = 0,77 r₀ (sendo d_o a distância horizontal do eixo à fonte transmissora) e p_o = 0,36 δ_o (sendo p_o a profundidade do eixo central da zona principal), onde r₀ é a distância transmissor-receptor e δ_o o "skin depth" da onda plana, nas mesmas condições já estipuladas no caso 1D. Conhecendo-se os valores de r₀ e δ_o para os quais ocorre o máximo de ∆, calculado para a amplitude de H_x, pode-se determinar (d_o, p_o). Para localizar a zona principal (ou, equivalentemente, uma zona condutora anômala em subsuperfície), sugere-se um método que consiste em associar cada valor da função ∆ da amplitude de H_x a um ponto (d, p), gerado através das relações d = 0,77 r e p = 0,36 δ, para cada w, em todo o espectro de freqüências das medidas, em um dado conjunto de configurações transmissor-receptor. São, então, traçadas curvas de contorno com os isovalores de ∆ que vão convergir, na medida em que o valor de ∆ se aproxima do máximo, sobre a localização e as dimensões geométricas aproximadas da heterogeneidade (zona principal).

Multiple Determinants of Anuran Richness and Occurrence in an Agricultural Region in South-Eastern Brazil

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