Abstract The increase in Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCR) flux intensity induces the Condensation Nuclei (CN) production, which intensifies rainfall occurrences. Then, the objective of this study was to analyze the rainfall distribution in the NEB and the impact of GCR flux on extreme rainfall events occurred in July 1998 in Natal/RN, Brazil. We used historical rainfall, Sea Surface Temperature (SST) and GCR flux data for Natal/RN. We used R software for statistical analysis. The results indicate that the GCR flux is important for intensifying extremes rainfall occurrences. This fact is observed when analyzing the relationship between rainfall greater than 10 mm and GCR flux above 6,390 counts/min. Pearson correlation coefficient between rainfall and GCR flux was 0.94 (p-value = 0.0005) and SST was -0.76 (p-value = 0.0263), both statistically significant. The rate between GCR flux and rainfall was +2.87 mm/count/min, while the rate between SST and rainfall was -7.91 mm/°C. The variance proportion explained by regression was 94.41%, with relative importance degree corresponding to 62.0% for GCR flux and 32.4% for SST, respectively. The results show that GCR flux had a greater contribution to extreme rainfall occurrence in the metropolitan region of Natal/RN and it is important in climatological studies.

Resumo A precipitação é um fenômeno meteorológico importante na região Tropical, caracterizada por sua variabilidade espacial-temporal e eventos extremos associados. Assim, a informação prévia da ocorrência de um dia ser seco ou chuvoso é de extrema importância para diversas atividades humanas, em especial a agricultura. O objetivo desse trabalho foi analisar a ocorrência de dias secos e chuvosos na região de Rio Largo–Alagoas, por meio da Cadeia de Markov. Dados diários de precipitação entre 1973 e 2008 foram utilizados. Na definição de dias secos e chuvosos consideraram-se seis limites de precipitação e, aplicou-se a Cadeia de Markov, para identificar as probabilidades de ocorrências condicionais de dias secos e chuvosos. A região de estudo apresentou estações seca (setembro a março) e chuvosa (abril a agosto) melhor definidas, considerados valores limites de precipitação entre 0 e 2 mm. Maior ocorrência de dias secos e chuvosos ocorreu de novembro a dezembro (94%) e junho a julho (84%), respectivamente. A Cadeia de Markov permitiu concluir que a transição entre dias secos e chuvosos é baixa ao longo do ano.

Abstract Rainfall is an important meteorological phenomenon in the tropical region, characterized by its spatial-temporal variability and associated extreme events. Thus, prior notification of the occurrence of one day being rainy or dry is extremely important for many human activities, especially for agriculture. The aim of this study was to analyze the occurrence of dry and rainy days in Rio Largo-Alagoas, Brazil, using the Markov chain. Daily rainfall data between 1973 and 2008 were used. It was considered six precipitation levels for dry and wet days and, it was applied to Markov chain to identify the probabilities of conditional occurrences of dry and rainy days. The study region had dry (September to March) and rainy (April to August) seasons well defined considered limits of precipitation values between 0 and 2 mm. Higher occurrences of dry and rainy days occurred from November to December (94%) and June to July (84%), respectively. The Markov chain concluded that the transition between dry and rainy days is low throughout the year.

A disponibilidade de água de uma região está diretamente relacionada a frequência e a magnitude dos eventos de chuva. Maiores ocorrências de dias caracterizados como seco podem gerar diversos prejuízos, principalmente, para a agricultura. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar a probabilidade das ocorrências de períodos secos em Rio Largo, Alagoas, e relacioná-la a fenômenos de escala climática, tais como, El Niño Oscilação Sul (El Niño e La Niña). Os períodos secos foram avaliados em três diferentes intervalos de tempo com sequência de dias secos (> 5 dias, > 7 dias e > 10 dias). O dia foi definido seco com base em diferentes limites de precipitação (< 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 e 5 mm). O fim de cada período seco foi determinado pela ocorrência de um dia chuvoso. As análises foram realizadas com a utilização do aplicativo Instat Climatic. O intervalo de 5 dias mostrou maior ocorrência na estação seca e chuvosa. Na estação chuvosa (abril a agosto), esse período seco apresentou probabilidade elevada de ocorrência (5 a 85%). Enquanto, a ocorrência de períodos secos de 7 dias (0 a 45%) e 10 dias (0 a 5%) foi inferior. Notou-se forte influência de eventos de ENOS (El Niño Oscilação Sul) nas ocorrências dos períodos secos da região. Em anos de El Niño, as ocorrências de períodos secos foram intensificadas (10 a 60%), e reduzidas em anos de eventos de La Niña atingindo (0 a 45%).

Water availability in a region is directly related to intensity and frequency of rain occurrence. Major occurrences of days with low amounts of precipitation can produce many losses, especially for agriculture. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the probability of occurrence of dry periods in Rio Largo, Alagoas, Brazil, and to relate it to climate scale phenomena such as El Niño - Southern Oscillation (El Niño and La Niña). The dry periods were evaluated for three different time intervals with sequence of dry days (> 5 days, > 7 days and > 10 days). The sequence of days was defined as dry based on different thresholds of precipitation (< 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 mm). The end of each dry period was determined by the occurrence of a rainy day. Analyses were performed using the Instat Climatic application. The 5 days interval was the most frequent in the dry and rainy seasons. In the rainy season (April-August), this dry period had higher frequency of occurrence of 5-85%. While the occurrence of dry periods of 7 days (0 to 45%) and 10 days (0 to 5%) was lower. It was noted the strong influence of ENSO events (El Niño Southern Oscillation) in the occurrence of dry periods. In El Niño years, the occurrences were enhanced (10-60%), and reduced in years of La Niña events (0-45%).

A precipitação pluvial é um dos principais fatores meteorológicos responsáveis pelo rendimento das culturas agrícolas. A sua irregularidade, observada de forma mais intensa na região Nordeste, causa a alternância das produções agrícolas anuais. Assim, esse trabalho objetivou determinar as características da estação chuvosa e de cultivo (início, fim e comprimento) baseado em dados diários de precipitação pluvial, entre 1973 e 2008, para o município de Rio Largo, Alagoas. O início (potencial e de sucesso), fim e comprimento da estação chuvosa e de cultivo foram definidos pela utilização de métodos diretos em função da precipitação pluvial e evapotranspiração de referência. As análises estatísticas das características da estação chuvosa e de cultivo foram realizadas pelo aplicativo Instat Climatic. A estação chuvosa, esperada a 80% de probabilidade, iniciou-se em 07 de abril e terminou em 24 de outubro, com comprimento de 221 dias. O início da estação chuvosa foi antecipado em anos de La Niña (dez dias) e retardado em alguns anos de El Niño (nove dias), e assim, ocorre diminuição no comprimento da estação de cultivo para anos de El Niño e aumento em anos de La Niña.

Rainfall is one of the main meteorological factors responsible for agricultural crops yield. Its irregularity observed more intensely in the Northeast causes the alternation of annual agricultural production. Thus, this study aimed to determine the characteristics of the wet and growing season based on daily rainfall data between 1973 and 2008 in Rio Largo, Alagoas. The beginning (potencial and success), ending and length of the cultivation and rainy season were determinate by direct methods using daily rainfall and reference evapotranspiration. Statistical analysis of cultivation and rainy season characteristics were done using the Instat Climatic software. The expected rainy season, at 80% probability, began on April 7th and finished on October 24th, with a duration of 221 days. The beginning of the rainy season was anticipated in La Niña years (ten days) and postponed in years of El Niño (nine days) and consequently, cause a decrease in the cultivation length season for El Niño years and increase in La Niña years.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to verify the association between human leukocyte antigens and the bcr-abl fusion protein resulting from t(9;22)(q34;q11) in chronic leukemia myeloid and acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients. METHODS: Forty-seven bcr-abl positive individuals were evaluated. Typing was performed bymicrolymphocytotoxicity and molecular biological methods (human leukocyte antigens Class I and Class II). A control group was obtained from the data of potential bone marrow donors registered in the Brazilian Bone Marrow Donor Registry (REDOME). RESULTS: Positive associations with HLA-A25 and HLA-B18 were found for the b2a2 transcript, as well as a tendency towards a positive association with HLA-B40 and a negative association with HLA-A68. The b3a2 transcript showed positive associations with HLA-B40 and HLA-DRB1*3. CONCLUSION: The negative association between human leukocyte antigens and the BCR-ABL transcript suggests that binding and presentation of peptides derived from the chimeric protein are effective to increase a cytotoxic T lymphocyte response appropriate for the destruction of leukemic cells.