Performance Evaluation Of SMOS Soil Moisture Retrieval Parameters For Hydrological Application

Microwave remote sensing has high potential for soil moisture retrieval. However, the efficient retrieval of soil moisture depends on optimally choosing the soil moisture retrieval parameters. In this study first the initial evaluation of SMOS L2 product is performed and then four approaches regarding soil moisture retrieval from SMOS brightness temperature are reported. The radiative transfer equation based tau-omega rationale is used in this study for the soil moisture retrievals. The single channel algorithms (SCA) using H polarisation is implemented with modifications, which includes the effective temperatures simulated from ECMWF (downscaled using WRF-NOAH Land Surface Model (LSM)) and MODIS. The retrieved soil moisture is then utilized for soil moisture deficit (SMD) estimation using empirical relationships with Probability Distributed Model based SMD as a benchmark. The square of correlation during the calibration indicates a value of R2 =0.359 for approach 4 (WRF-NOAH LSM based LST with optimized roughness parameters) followed by the approach 2 (optimized roughness parameters and MODIS based LST) (R2 =0.293), approach 3 (WRF-NOAH LSM based LST with no optimization) (R2 =0.267) and approach 1(MODIS based LST with no optimization) (R2 =0.163). Similarly, during the validation a highest performance is reported by approach 4. The other approaches are also following a similar trend as calibration. All the performances are depicted through Taylor diagram which indicates that the H polarisation using ECMWF based LST is giving a better performance for SMD estimation than the original SMOS L2 products at a catchment scale.

Avaliação clínica e histológica da resposta periodontal a procedimentos restauradores subgengivais em cães com peridontite

Foram avaliadas a resposta periodontal, clínica e histologicamente, a procedimentos restauradores subgengivais com amálgama de prata (Am), cimento de ionômero de vidro (CIV) e sítios controle não restaurados (CT), em um período de 120 dias, em 3 cães suscetíveis à doença periodontal. Após 4 meses de uma raspagem e alisamento supragengival, foram realizados retalhos totais seguidos de raspagem e alisamento radicular em pré-molares apresentando perda de inserção e sinais inflamatórios. Cavidades radiculares experimentais foram restauradas com Am ou CIV. Durante os 3 meses do pós-operatório os quadrantes 2 e 3 receberam controle mecânico de placa (c/ct). Previamente às restaurações e ao final do período experimental, foram anotados os índices de placa visível (IPV), sangramento gengival (ISG), sangramento à sondagem (SS), profundidade de sondagem (PS), perda de inserção (PI) e distância da margem gengival à uma marca referência na coroa (DMM). Nove dentes foram restaurados com Am, 11 com CIV, e 10 serviram como controles. Após processamento, em espécimes representativos, foram avaliados histologicamente o grau de inflamação no conjuntivo, integridade e posição do epitélio em relação à face cervical das restaurações e da crista óssea (epit/co), e a altura da crista óssea em relação ao preparo cavitário (cav/co). Todos os locais apresentavam inicialmente 100% de IPV, ISG e SS. Foram restaurados dez dentes com cada material e outros 10 locais foram utilizados como controle (CT). O IPV apresentou-se reduzido nos quadrantes 2 e 3 enquanto que o ISG apresentou reduções também nos locais sem controle de placa (s/ct). A redução no SS ocorreu somente em um cão. A PS apresentou alterações variadas, com as maiores reduções (-0,5mm) associadas ao CIV c/ct e os maiores aumentos com Am s/ct e CT s/ct (1,00mm). Aumentos da PI foram também variados, sendo os menores associados com áreas CT c/ct (1,00mm) e os maiores com Am s/ct. As diferenças entre DMM final e inicial variaram de –1,00mm (Am c/ct e CT c/ct) a 1,50mm (CIV c/ct). Alterações epiteliais foram mais freqüentemente observadas em sitos Am s/ct e c/ct. As médias das distâncias cav/co variaram de 1,77mm (CIV c/ct) a 2,51mm (CIV s/ct). As médias das distâncias epit/co variaram de 1,49mm (CIV c/ct) a 2,09mm (CT c/ct). Quanto ao infiltrado inflamatório, sítios Am s/ct e c/ct , e CIV s/ct estiveram mais associados a escores Severo. Pode-se concluir que quadros clínicos e histológicos de maior inflamação e destruição periodontal foram associados a locais restaurados em relação a locais não restaurados, sendo que a resposta inflamatória parece estar na dependência do controle da placa bacteriana supragengival.

Associação entre eventos de vida, ansiedade e depressão e a doença periodontal

Este foi um estudo de caso controle desenvolvido para avaliar a associação entre eventos de vida, ansiedade e depressão com a doença periodontal avançada. No grupo caso, participaram 96 indivíduos entre 35 e 60 anos, de ambos os sexos e com doença periodontal avançada; no grupo controle, participaram 69 sujeitos da mesma faixa etária, de ambos os sexos e sem histórico de periodontite. Cada participante respondeu um questionário sobre história médica e odontológica, condições socioeconômicas e hábitos comportamentais. Após este momento, passaram por exame clínico realizado por um único examinador calibrado e responderam quatro testes de avaliação psicológica, auxiliados por um estudante de psicologia: Escala de Eventos Vitais, Inventário de Ansiedade de Beck, Inventário de Ansiedade Traço/Estado e Inventário de Depressão de Beck. A média final dos parâmetros clínicos de profundidade de sondagem e nível clínico de inserção foram de 3,44 e 4,01, no grupo caso e de 1,96 e 0,95, no grupo controle. Confirmou-se associação positiva da doença periodontal avançada com a idade, o gênero masculino, o fumo e o grau de escolaridade. Os resultados demonstraram que não houve diferenças significativas nas médias dos eventos de vida, dos sintomas de ansiedade, do traço e estado de ansiedade, bem como dos sintomas de depressão, entre os grupos caso e controle. Quando comparados apenas os indivíduos não-fumantes, as diferenças permaneceram sem significância. Cabe destacar a alta consistência interna das escalas de avaliação, a correlação positivas entre as escalas de ansiedade entre si e a correlação dos sintomas de ansiedade com os de depressão. Pode-se concluir, com a metodologia aplicada, que não houve associação significativa dos fatores psicossociais, avaliados através das escalas psicométricas, com a doença periodontal avançada.

Medicina periodontal : doenças periodontais, duração de gravidez e peso ao nascer

Resumo não disponível.

Periodontal diseases in a representative urban population in south Brazil

Background and Aims: There is little information about the epidemiology and risk factors of periodontal diseases in Latin America in general, and Brazil in particular. The principal aims of this study were to: 1) describe the prevalence and severity of periodontal attachment loss and gingival recession, and to assess the contribution of demographic, behavioral, and environmental exposures to the occurrence of periodontal disease outcomes in a sample representative of the urban population in the state of Rio Grande do Sul in south Brazil; and 2) report the epidemiology and risk indicators of aggressive periodontitis in this population. Methods: A representative sample consisting of 1,586 subjects 14-103 years of age (mean 38 y) and comprising 45.3% males and 54.7% females was selected using a multi-stage, probability, cluster sampling strategy. The subjects were interviewed using a structured questionnaire and underwent a full-mouth, six sites per tooth clinical examination in a mobile examination center. Results: Moderate and severe clinical attachment loss and gingival recession were widespread among adults in this population. The prevalence and extent of attachment loss ³5 and ³7 mm were 79% and 52% subjects, and 36% and 16% teeth; and for gingival recession ³3 mm and ³5 mm were 52% and 22% subjects, and 17% and 6% teeth, respectively. Aggressive periodontitis was diagnosed in 5.5% of subjects, which is significantly higher than the reported prevalence in most other populations. Among the main risk indicators for chronic as well as aggressive destructive periodontal diseases were: older age, low socioeconomic status, dental calculus, and smoking. Cigarette smoking accounted for an important part of periodontal disease burden, particularly in adults, and should be considered an important target in any prevention strategy aimed at reducing the burden of periodontal diseases. Partial recording methods consistently underestimated the prevalence of attachment loss in the population, and the extent of underestimation was dependent on the type of system used and the threshold of attachment loss. Conclusions: Destructive periodontal diseases are prevalent in this Brazilian population. Suitable disease prevention and health promotion programs should be established to improve the periodontal health in this population.

Bounds on policy relevant parameters with discrete policy variation

When estimating policy parameters, also known as treatment effects, the assignment to treatment mechanism almost always causes endogeneity and thus bias many of these policy parameters estimates. Additionally, heterogeneity in program impacts is more likely to be the norm than the exception for most social programs. In situations where these issues are present, the Marginal Treatment Effect (MTE) parameter estimation makes use of an instrument to avoid assignment bias and simultaneously to account for heterogeneous effects throughout individuals. Although this parameter is point identified in the literature, the assumptions required for identification may be strong. Given that, we use weaker assumptions in order to partially identify the MTE, i.e. to stablish a methodology for MTE bounds estimation, implementing it computationally and showing results from Monte Carlo simulations. The partial identification we perfom requires the MTE to be a monotone function over the propensity score, which is a reasonable assumption on several economics' examples, and the simulation results shows it is possible to get informative even in restricted cases where point identification is lost. Additionally, in situations where estimated bounds are not informative and the traditional point identification is lost, we suggest a more generic method to point estimate MTE using the Moore-Penrose Pseudo-Invese Matrix, achieving better results than traditional methods.

Estimates of genetic parameters for visual scores and their correlation with production and reproductive traits in Brahman cattle

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

Source populations in coastal crabs: parameters affecting egg production

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

Profile of cortisol, glycaemia, and blood parameters of American Bullfrog tadpoles Lithobates catesbeianus exposed to density and hypoxia stressors

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

Perfil periodontal de pacientes portadores de alterações endócrino-metabólicas

Objective- Convinced that periodontium, many times, can show alterations in human health, the aim of these studies was to investigate the periodontal situation in patients with endocrine-metabolic disorders such as, Berardinelli-Seip Syndrome, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism and acromegaly. Methods- Eight patients with Berardinelli-Seip Syndrome, 16 acromegalics, 30 hypothyroids, 30 hyperthyroids, and a control group with 35 patients were evaluated. Clinical attachment loss, probing depth, gingival bleeding index, gingival overgrowth and Index of Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth were measured in each patient. All ethical aspects were rigidly observed, being the study conducted after its approval by the University of Fortaleza Research Ethics Committee. Results- The presence of periodontitis was marked in hyperthyroids and in patients with Berardinelli-Seip Syndrome. Hypothyroids showed not much presence of periodontitis, while all acromegalics presented absence of periodontitis. Conclusions- The protective effect of periodontitis in acromegalic patients is a new finding, whose mechanisms are not yet clear, but may be related to the anabolic effects of growth hormone. The presence of periodontitis in Berardinelli-Seip Syndrome may occur due the early onset of diabetes. In hyperthyroids, the high prevalence of periodontitis could be linked to thyroid hormones effects on bone, explaining also the minor prevalence in hypothyroids

Haematological characteristics of Brazilian Teleosts: III. Parameters of the hybrid tambacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus Holmberg x Colossoma macropomum Cuvier) (Osteichthyes, Characidae)

Fifty six specimens of the hybrid tambacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus Holmberg, 1887 male x Colossoma macropomum Cuvier, 1818 female) were collected from fishfarm of Guariba, São Paulo, to evaluate their haematology. Fishes presented 400.0 to 3,100.0 g total weight and 20.0 to 52.0 cm total length. Haemoglobin, haematocrit, mean corpuscular haemoglobin content (MCHC) and percentage of defense blood cells including leucocytes and thrombocytes, were studied. Statistical analysis showed positive correlation (P<0.01) between haematocrit, MCHC and haemoglobin rate. Nevertheless, thrombocytes and lymphocytes showed negative correlation (P<0.01).

Estimates of genetic parameters for visual scores and daily weight gain in Brangus animals

(Co) variance components were estimated for visual scores of conformation (CY), early finishing (PY) and muscling (MY) at 550 days of age (yearling), average daily gain from weaning to yearling (GWY), conformation (CW), early finishing (PW) and muscling (MW) scores at weaning, and average daily gain from birth to weaning (GBW) in animals forming the Brazilian Brangus breed born between 1986 and 2002 from the livestock files of GenSys Consultants Associados S/C Ltda. The data set contained 53 683; 45 136; 52 937; 56 471; 24 531; 21 166; 24 006 and 25 419 records for CW, PW, MW, GBW, CY, PY, MY and GWY, respectively. Data were analyzed by the restricted maximum likelihood method using single-and two-trait animal models. Direct heritability estimates obtained by single-trait analysis were 0.12, 0.14, 0.13 and 0.14 for CY, PY and MY scores and GWY, respectively. A positive association was observed between the same visual scores at weaning and yearling, with correlations ranging from 0.64 to 0.94. Estimated correlations between GBW and weaning and yearling scores ranged from 0.60 to 0.77. The genetic correlation between GBW and GWY was low (0.10), whereas correlations of 0.55, 0.37 and 0.47 were observed between GWY and CY, PY and MY, respectively. Moreover, GWY showed a weak correlation with CW (0.10), PW (-0.08) and MW (-0.03) scores. These results indicate that selection of the traits that was studied would result in a small response. In addition, selection based on average daily gain may have an indirect effect on visual scores as the correlations between GWY and visual scores were generally strong.

Effect of crude protein levels and organic selenium supplementation in the diets fed during the breeding season on reproductive parameters of red-winged tinamous (Rhynchotus rufescens)

There is little information on the nutrition of red-winged tinamous (Rhynchotus rufescens) reared in captivity, and their nutritional requirements still need to be determined. This study aimed at determining dietary crude protein requirements and testing four organic selenium supplementation levels in the diet of red-winged tinamous during the breeding season. Birds were housed in a conventional broiler house divided in 16 boxes with one male and three females each. Iso-energy (2800kcal ME/kg) pelleted feeds, based on corn and soybean meal, were supplied in tube feeders. In the first experiment, treatments consisted of four different diets containing different crude protein (CP) contents (15, 18, 21, or 24%) and in the second experiment, the four diets contained equal protein level (22.5%) and four different organic selenium levels (0, 0.2, 0.4, or 0.8ppm). Data were analyzed by the least square method. The best egg weight and eggshell thickness were obtained with 22.5% dietary CP. Organic selenium did not influence the studied reproductive traits of red-winged tinamous (Rhynchotus rufescens) males or females.