Stochastic simulation of maize productivity: spatial and temporal uncertainty

There is emerging interest in evaluating the uncertainty of agricultural production to support the production process and for guidance in decision making. The main objective of this work was to estimate the spatial and temporal maize yield uncertainty using stochastic simulation techniques to reduce the economic risk considering the producer risk profile and the international prices of maize and inputs. The results showed that (i) the class yield percentage variation in yield stochastic simulation depends on the sampling density; (ii) higher sampling densities promote an overestimation of low and high yield values compared to those of real yield data; (iii) reducing sampling density promotes the low and high values of overestimation reduction while increasing the central classes values compared to those of real yield data; (iv) the ideal point density for yield stochastic simulation is approximately 65 points/ha; (v) in Mediterranean environments, more than 3–4 years’ worth of real yield data considered as a whole do not seem to improve the parcel level of confidence when cropping irrigated maize; and (vi) the number of equiprobable surfaces that were generated by sequential Gaussian simulation helped to calculate the yield class uncertainty and permitted the study of class yield probabilities for a particular position of the parcel and, therefore, to manage the yield risk and support future decisions. The approach that is presented in this paper may increase prior knowledge of agricultural parcel behavior in the absence of multi-year data, thereby increasing the possibility of reducing economic risks

LibQUAL+ Spring 2003 Survey. Institution Results. Cornell University Library.

Cornell University Library's (CUL's) 2003 LibQUAL+ results. This report was produced by LibQUAL+ for Cornell University Library. LibQUAL+ is a suite of services that libraries use to solicit, track, understand, and act upon users' opinions of service quality. These services are offered to the library community by the Association of Research Libraries (ARL). For more information, visit www.libqual.org.Fund for the Improvement of Post-secondary Education (FIPSE), U.S. Department of Educatio

LibQUAL+ Spring 2002 survey results - Cornell University Library

Cornell University Library's (CUL's) 2002 LibQUAL+ results. This report was produced by LibQUAL+ for Cornell University Library. LibQUAL+ is a suite of services that libraries use to solicit, track, understand, and act upon users' opinions of service quality. These services are offered to the library community by the Association of Research Libraries (ARL). For more information, visit www.libqual.org.Fund for the Improvement of Post-secondary Education (FIPSE, U.S. Department of Educatio

Eruptive shearing of tube pumice: pure and simple

Abstract. Understanding the physico-chemical conditions extant and mechanisms operative during explosive volcanism is essential for reliable forecasting and mitigation of volcanic events. Rhyolitic pumices reflect highly vesiculated magma whose bubbles can serve as a strain indicator for inferring the state of stress operative immediately prior to eruptive fragmentation. Obtaining the full kinematic picture reflected in bubble population geometry has been extremely difficult, involving dissection of a small number of delicate samples. The advent of reliable high-resolution tomography has changed this situation radically. Here we demonstrate via the use of tomography how a statistically powerful picture of the shapes and connectivity of thousands of individual bubbles within a single sample of tube pumice emerges. The strain record of tube pumice is dominated by simple shear (not pure shear) in the late deformational history of vesicular magma before eruption. This constraint in turn implies that magma ascent is conditioned by a velocity gradient at the point of origin of tube pumice. Magma ascent accompanied by simple shear should enhance high eruption rates inferred independently for these highly viscous systems. </jats:p

Brazilian flora extracts as source of novel antileishmanial and antifungal compounds

Natural products have long been providing important drug leads for infectious diseases. Leishmaniasis is a protozoan parasitic disease found mainly in developing countries, and it has toxic therapies with few alternatives. Fungal infections have been the main cause of death in immunocompromised patients and new drugs are urgently needed. In this work, a total of 16 plant species belonging to 11 families, selected on an ethnopharmacological basis, were analyzed in vitro against Leishmania (L.) chagasi, Leishmania (L.) amazonensis, Candida krusei, and C. parapsilosis. Of these plant species, seven showed antifungal activity against C. krusei, five showed antileishmanial activity against L. chagasi and four against L. amazonensis, among them species of genus Plectranthus. Our findings confirm the traditional therapeutic use of these plants in the treatment of infectious and inflammatory disorders and also offer insights into the isolation of active and novel drug prototypes, especially those used against neglected diseases as Leishmaniasis.Instituto Adolfo Lutz Serviço de Parasitologia Laboratório de Toxinologia AplicadaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de Ciências Exatas e da TerraInstituto Plantarum de Estudos da FloraUNIFESP, Depto. de Ciências Exatas e da TerraSciEL

Cytokine Production but Lack of Proliferation in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from Chronic Chagas' Disease Cardiomyopathy Patients in Response to T. cruzi Ribosomal P Proteins

Background:Trypanosoma cruzi ribosomal P proteins, P2β and P0, induce high levels of antibodies in patients with chronic Chagas' disease Cardiomyopathy (CCC). It is well known that these antibodies alter the beating rate of cardiomyocytes and provoke apoptosis by their interaction with β1-adrenergic and M2-muscarinic cardiac receptors. Based on these findings, we decided to study the cellular immune response to these proteins in CCC patients compared to non-infected individuals.Methodology/Principal findings:We evaluated proliferation, presence of surface activation markers and cytokine production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) stimulated with P2β, the C-terminal portion of P0 (CP0) proteins and T. cruzi lysate from CCC patients predominantly infected with TcVI lineage. PBMC from CCC patients cultured with P2β or CP0 proteins, failed to proliferate and express CD25 and HLA-DR on T cell populations. However, multiplex cytokine assays showed that these antigens triggered higher secretion of IL-10, TNF-α and GM-CSF by PBMC as well as both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells subsets of CCC subjects. Upon T. cruzi lysate stimulation, PBMC from CCC patients not only proliferated but also became activated within the context of Th1 response. Interestingly, T. cruzi lysate was also able to induce the secretion of GM-CSF by CD4+ or CD8+ T cells.Conclusions/Significance:Our results showed that although the lack of PBMC proliferation in CCC patients in response to ribosomal P proteins, the detection of IL-10, TNF-α and GM-CSF suggests that specific T cells could have both immunoregulatory and pro-inflammatory potential, which might modulate the immune response in Chagas' disease. Furthermore, it was possible to demonstrate for the first time that GM-CSF was produced by PBMC of CCC patients in response not only to recombinant ribosomal P proteins but also to parasite lysate, suggesting the value of this cytokine to evaluate T cells responses in T. cruzi infection.Fil: Longhi, Silvia Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; ArgentinaFil: Atienza, Augusto. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Ramos Mejía"; ArgentinaFil: Perez Prados, Graciela. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Juan A. Fernández"; ArgentinaFil: Buying, Alcinette. Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies; Estados UnidosFil: Balouz, Virginia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas; ArgentinaFil: Buscaglia, Carlos Andres. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas; ArgentinaFil: Santos, Radleigh. Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies; Estados UnidosFil: Tasso, Laura Mónica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; ArgentinaFil: Bonato, Ricardo. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Ramos Mejía"; ArgentinaFil: Chiale, Pablo. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Ramos Mejía"; ArgentinaFil: Pinilla, Clemencia. Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies; Estados UnidosFil: Judkowski, Valeria A.. Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies; Estados UnidosFil: Gomez, Karina Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; Argentin

Effect of indole butyric acid on micrografting of cactus

Grafting is a common technique to propagate cacti species. Gymnocalycium mihanovichii is an ornamental plant and they should be grafted to root stock containing chlorophyll. In this research, exogenous auxin treatments were applied for grafting improvement. G. mihanovichii and Trichocereus spachianus were used as a scion and root stock, respectively. Indole butyric acid (IBA) was used as an auxin. Plants were treated with four different concentrations of IBA (0, 50, 100 and 150 ppm) and repeated at three different times (3, 9 and 15 days after micrografting). Measured parameters were scion height and diameter, cambial layer diameter, areole numbers, activated areole numbers and successful graft percentage. The histological studies were done on grafted plants with cross section. Auxin of 100 ppm was the most effective treatment to improve measured parameters. Auxin at the optimal concentrations, especially at 100 ppm, resulted in better vascular differentiation, an important process in grafting. Therefore, the optimal concentration of IBA was 100 ppm, especially when it was repeated three times. The obtained results from the present study indicated that IBA at the optimal concentration is an effective treatment, and may lead to increased successful grafts.Key words: Gymnocalycium mihanovichii, Trichocereus spachianus, micrografting, hormone, auxin, areole, ornamental plant, vascular differentiation

Paediatric surgical abdominal emergencies in a north central Nigerian centre

Background/objective Paediatric surgical abdominal emergencies (PSAEs) account for 2.4–3.1% of all paediatric admissions. The causes of PSAEs vary worldwide, and the management is challenging, often with unimaginably poor outcome if not carefully handled. The aim of this study was to determine the patterns and factors influencing the outcome of PSAE at a tertiary healthcare centre in Nigeria.Patients and methods The biodata, clinical features, perioperative findings and outcome of management of 100 consecutive children aged up to 12 years with confirmed PSAE were prospectively collected and analysed using SPSS 15.0 software, taking P-value to be &lt; 0.05. Five children who had undergone an initial surgical intervention and those who were discharged against medical advice during care were excluded.Results The 100 children included in this study constituted 38.3% and 3.4% of the total paediatric surgical operations and paediatric admissions that took place during the study period, respectively. Their mean age was 4.6 ±0.469 years, and the male-to-female ratio was 2.5 : 1. About 64% of patients presented within the first 5 days of onset of symptoms with abdominal pain/distension and/or vomiting as chief complaint. Fourteen (63.7%) of patients with perforated typhoid ileitis presented after a week, whereas 10% presented with the same symptoms after 2 weeks. Mechanical intestinal obstruction was the most common cause of PSAE among neonates and infants, whereas peritonitis was the main presenting cause in late childhood (7–12 years). Only 54 patients underwent surgical intervention within 24 h of presentation. Twenty-four (24%) patients underwent surgical intervention after 48 h. The main causes of delay for surgical intervention were hospital logistics in 58 patients and lack of funds to procure drugs and consumables in nine patients. The overall median hospital stay was 10 days. Eighty-nine (89%) patients were discharged, whereas 11 (11%) died. Mortality was significantly higher in neonates and infants (P = 0.016) and in those with peritonitis (P = 0.008).Conclusion PSAE constitutes a large percentage of the paediatric surgical workload at our centre. Mechanical intestinal obstruction in neonates and infants is the leading cause. Aggressive resuscitation, accurate diagnosis, and prompt surgical intervention, in addition to provision of paediatric intensive care facilities, will assist in reducing morbidity and mortality among these children.Keywords: abdominal emergencies, acute abdomen, children, morbidity, mortalit

Relation of Šenoas novel "Seljačka buna" and oral literature from Zagorje about Peasants' revolt

Ovaj završni rad bavi se temom povijesnog romana jednog od najboljih pisaca koji je cijelog sebe unio u pisanje svog djela. Povijesno obilježen, roman je protež ljudskom borbom, nadom, željom za boljim sutra. Ovaj povijesni roman više nije materija povijesti i činjenica, ali je bezvremenska kreacija koju generacije trebaju čuvati i prenositi u budućnost. Roman Seljačka buna dokaz je kako usmena književnost može stvoriti bezvremensko napisano djelo. Možemo zaključiti da je ovaj roman temeljen na usmenoj književnosti te da je jednim dijelom oblikovan preko vlastitih tradicionalnih sadržaja, a djelomice preko vanjskih poticaja.This final work is dealing with the theme of the historical novel of one of the best Croatian writers who has entered every bit of their battle into writing their works. Roman is the one who is crying with his own roots by struggle, desire, hope, bitterness, happiness, enthusiasm, an impetus for a better tomorrow and a better nation. This historical novel is no longer just a matter of history and fact but it is a timeless creation that all generations can keep and transmit in the future. Roman Seljacka Buna is a proof of how oral literature can create a timely written work. The usenetic tradition is not overwhelming, but is being upgraded, and the interest in comparative study of oral and written creativity is still there. If we consider that literary literature is based on oral, then we can conclude that Croatian literature has been shaped partly by its own traditional content, and partly by external stimuli

Toxicidade reprodutiva do glifosato e herbicidas à base de glifosato: uma abordagem bibliográfica.

TCC(graduação) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Centro de Ciências da Saúde. Farmácia.O Glifosato (N-(fosfonometil)glicina), é um herbicida pós-emergente, sistêmico, não seletivo, hidrossolúvel e de amplo espectro. Pertencente à classe química dos organofosforados, não inibidor da colinesterase. Há anos que esse herbicida está na posição de agrotóxico mais consumido no mundo, sendo constituinte de mais de 750 formulações, produtos utilizados não só em aplicações agrícolas e florestais como em urbanas e residenciais. Embora o glifosato e o AMPA (principal metabólito do glifosato) sejam classificados na categoria de praticamente não tóxico e não irritante pela EPA (US Environmental Protection Agency), muitos estudos tem demonstrado efeitos tóxicos em testes realizados com Glifosato puro e herbicidas a base de glifosato (HBGs) sobre o sistema hepático e renal, sistema neurológico, sistema reprodutivo de machos e fêmeas e sistema endócrino, assim como potenciais efeitos teratogênicos e carcinogênicos. Levando em consideração os efeitos já relatados, o presente estudo tem como objetivo avaliar os efeitos da exposição ao glifosato e HBGs sobre o sistema reprodutivo de mamíferos, utilizando como metodologia uma revisão bibliográfica do tipo narrativa. Para isso foi realizado um levantamento de publicações nacionais e internacionais abordando o tema da problemática através de busca nas bases de dados Medline, via Pubmed, Scientific Electronic Library (SciELO) e Web of Science, utilizando as seguintes palavras chave e suas associações: Glifosato, Herbicidas à base de Glifosato, toxicologia e toxicidade reprodutiva. A seleção dos artigos foi realizada segundo critérios de inclusão e exclusão previamente determinados. Foram selecionados um total de 17 artigos (14 artigos da base do PubMed e 3 artigos da Web of Science). De acordo com a literatura revisada neste estudo, tanto o glifosato quanto as suas formulações comerciais parecem atuar como tóxicos reprodutivos. Efeitos deletérios foram encontrados em fêmeas e machos tratados com doses variadas do herbicida, em diferentes modelos experimentais em mamíferos. Estudos realizados in vivo e in vitro encontraram efeitos como desregulação endócrina, dano ao DNA, alteração na morfologia de gametas femininos e masculinos, redução na motilidade e concentração dos espermatozoides, assim como estresse oxidativo e disfunção na gametogênese. Embora muitos efeitos já estejam bem elucidados, mais estudos são necessários para esclarecer os efeitos do glifosato na saúde reprodutiva humana.Glyphosate (N- (phosphonomethyl) glycine), is a post-emergent, systemic, non-selective, water-soluble and broad-spectrum herbicide. Belonging to the chemical class of organophosphates, not cholinesterase inhibitor. This herbicide has been in the position of the most consumed pesticide in the world for years, being a constituent of more than 750 formulations, products used not only in agricultural and forestry applications, but also in urban and residential ones. Although glyphosate and AMPA (the main glyphosate metabolite) are classified as practically non-toxic and non-irritating by the EPA (US Environmental Protection Agency), many studies have shown toxic effects in tests performed with pure glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides. (GBHs) on the liver and kidney system, neurological system, male and female reproductive system and endocrine system, as well as potential teratogenic and carcinogenic effects. Taking into consideration the effects already reported, the present study aims to evaluate the effects of exposure to glyphosate and GBHs on the reproductive system of mammals, using as methodology a bibliographic review of the narrative type. To this end, a survey of national and international publications addressing the issue of the problem was carried out by searching the databases Medline, by Pubmed, Scientific Electronic Library (SciELO) and Web of Science, using the following keywords and their associations: Glyphosate, Glyphosate-based herbicides, toxicology and reproductive toxicity. The selection of articles was carried out according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. A total of 17 articles were selected (14 articles from the PubMed database and 3 articles from the Web of Science). According to the literature reviewed in this article, both glyphosate and its commercial formulations appear to act as reproductive toxicants. Studies carried out in vivo and in vitro found effects such as endocrine disruption, DNA damage, changes in the morphology of female and male gametes, reduced motility and concentration of sperm, as well as oxidative stress and dysfunction in gametogenesis. Although many effects are well understood, further studies are necessary to clarify the effects of glyphosate on human reproductive health