ABSTRACT We present a photometric and astrometric analysis of the NGC 2158 cluster using Gaia DR2 and 2MASS data. The cluster age, color excess, intrinsic distance modulus and distance are calculated to be t = 2.240 ± 0.260Gyr, E(B − V ) =0.420±0.050mag, m - M ⊙ = 12.540 ± 0.130 m a g and d ⊙ =3224±200 p c respectively. The photometric analysis and light curve modelling of the proposed eclipsing binary member [NBN2015]78 is performed using the latest version of the WilsonDevinney (W-D) code. The solutions show that the system is an over-contact binary with a secondary component filling its Roche lobe, with a mass ratio q = 0.262. The primary and the secondary components of the system consist of two late spectral types K1 and K2 respectively. The membership of [NBN2015]78 is discussed using two independent methods, and we find that [NBN2015]78 is an interloper and not a member of NGC 2158.

RESUMEN Presentamos un análisis fotométrico y astrométrico del cúmulo NGC 2158 con datos de Gaia DR2 y 2MASS. Calculamos la edad del cúmulo, el exceso de color, el módulo intrínseco de distancia y la distancia como t = 2.240 ± 0.260Giga-años, E(B − V ) = 0.420 ± 0.050mag, m - M ⊙ = 12.540 ± 0.130 m a g y d ⊙ =3224±200 p c, respectivamente. Mediante la última versión del código Wilson-Devinney modelamos la curva de luz de la binaria eclipsante [NBN2015]78 propuesta como miembro del cúmulo. Las soluciones muestran que el sistema es una binaria en sobre-contacto, cuya secundaria llena el lóbulo de Roche; el cociente de masas es q = 0.262. Las dos componentes del sistema son de tipo espectral tardío, K1 y K2. Discutimos la pertenencia de [NBN2015]78 al cúmulo mediante dos métodos independientes, y encontramos que no pertenece a él.

Abstract This paper focuses on analysis in determining the behaviour of variable amplitude strain signals based on extraction of segments. The constant Amplitude loading (CAL), that was used in the laboratory tests, was designed according to the variable amplitude loading (VAL) from Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). The SAE strain signal was then edited to obtain those segments that cause fatigue damage to components. The segments were then sorted according to their amplitude and were used as a reference in the design of the CAL loading for the laboratory tests. The strain signals that were obtained from the laboratory tests were then analysed using fatigue life prediction approach and statistics, i.e. Weibull distribution analysis. Based on the plots of the Probability Density Function (PDF), Cumulative Distribution Function (CDF) and the probability of failure in the Weibull distribution analysis, it was shown that more than 70% failure occurred when the number of cycles approached 1.0 x 1011. Therefore, the Weibull distribution analysis can be used as an alternative to predict the failure probability.

A determinação dos fenótipos Rh, Kell, Duffy e Kidd, associada ao ABO é utilizada para prevenir a aloimunização a antígenos eritrocitários e participam também no processo de identificação de anticorpos nos pacientes com beta talassemia. Todavia, a fenotipagem desses pacientes é trabalhosa e de difícil interpretação. Nesta situação, deve ser avaliada uma alternativa ao teste de hemaglutinação para determinar o padrão antigênico dos pacientes. Utilizamos para tal fim o método PCR-RFLP. Foram preparados DNAs de 50 pacientes com beta talassemia que haviam sido anteriormente fenotipados pela hamglutinação e testados para Kell, Kidd, Duffy/GATA mutação por PCR-RFLP. RHD/não-D foi analisado pelo tamanho do produto, do PCR associado à seqüência do gene RHD no intron 4 e exon 10/3' UTR. Os testes de genotipagem foram realizados sem o conhecimento dos resultados dos fenótipos. Para os RHD/não-D, 47 foram RhD+ e RHD+/RHCE+, e 3 foram RhD- e RHD-/RHCE+. Para o Kell, 48 kk foram K2K2 e 2 Kk foram K1K2. Para o Duffy, das 44 amostras que haviam sido normais, GATA box, 8 Fy(a+b-) foram FYA/FYA, 15 Fy(a+b-) foram FYB/FYB e 19 Fy(a+b+) foram FYA/FYB; das outras 4 amostras, 3 foram FYA/FYB e heterozigoto GATA mutação, e 1 Fy(a-b-) era FYB/FYB, homozigoto GATA mutação. Duas amostras fenotipadas como Fy(a+b-), que eram normais GATA, apresentavam as mutações 265T/298A e 2 amostras fenotipadas como Fy(a-b+) haviam sido genotipadas como FYA/FYB. Para o Kidd, 15 Jk(a+b-) foram JKA/JKA, 12 Jk(a-b+) foram JKB/JKB, e 20 Jk(a+b+) foram JKA/JKB. Três amostras fenotipadas como JK(a+b+) haviam sido genotipadas como JKB/JKB. A genotipagem é mais acurada que a fenotipagem para determinação de grupos sangüíneos em pacientes portadores de beta talassemia politransfundidos. A genotipagem nesses pacientes pode ser importante para selecionar hemácias antigenicamente negativas para transfusão de glóbulos vermelhos.

Determination of Rh, Kell, Duffy and Kidd phenotypes in addition to ABO is used to prevent the alloimmunization to red blood cells (RBCs) antigens and as part of the antibody identification process in patients with beta Thalassemia. However, phenotyping in these patients can be time consuming and difficult to interpret. In these situations, it would be valuable to have an alternative to hemagglutination tests to determine the patient's antigen profile. We used PCR-RFLP to genotype such patients. DNA was prepared from 50 patients with beta Thalassemia who had been phenotyped by routine hemagglutination, and tested for Kell, Kidd, Duffy/GATA mutation by PCR-RFLP. RHD/non-D was analysed by PCR product size associated to RHD gene sequence in intron 4 and exon 10/3'UTR. The genotyping assays were performed without knowledge of phenotype results. For RHD/non-D, 47 were RhD+ and RHD+/RHCE+, and 3 were RhD- and RHD-/RHCE+. For Kell, 48 kk were K2K2 and 2 Kk were K1K2. For Duffy, of 44 samples that had normal GATA box, 8 Fy(a+b-) were FYA/FYA, 15 Fy(a+b+) were FYB/FYB, and 19 Fy(a+b+) were FYA/FYB; of the other 4 samples 3 were FYA/FYB and heterozygous GATA mutation, and 1 Fy(a-b-) was FYB/FYB, homozygous GATA mutation. Two samples phenotyped as Fy(a+b-) that had normal GATA , presented the 265T/298A mutations and two samples phenotyped as Fy(a-b+) were genotyped was FYA/FYB.. For Kidd , 15 Jk(a+b) were JKA/JKA, 12 Jk(a-b+) were JKB/JKB, and 20 Jk(a+b+) were JKA/JKB. Three samples phenotyped as JK(a+b+) were genotyped as JKB/JKB. Genotype is more accurate than phenotype for determination of blood groups in polytransfused patients with betaThalassemia. Genotyping in these patients can be helpful to select antigen-negative RBCs for transfusion.

For the first time in Brazil it was investigated the occurrence of IgM anti-PGL-1 in the sera of household contacts of leprozy patients using the ELISA methodology. The sera of the multipatients. It was observed a high subclinical infection incidence among household contacts (19.4%). The percentage of leprosy development was 5% (1/21) among the seropositive contact group. This finding suggests that serology could be useful as prognostic test, but for better definition is necessary to tet a population from endemic area for long period time.