Nitrogen fertilization of wheat for forage and grain production in the south west of Buenos Aires province (Argentina)

Cuando del cultivo de trigo (Triticum aestivum) se obtiene forraje y grano, i.e. cultivo doble propósito (DP), la disponibilidad de nitrógeno puede ser un aspecto clave para la expansión de esta alternativa. Se comparó la respuesta al N en trigo DP fertilizado en abril (DPF), en agosto (DPG), en ambas fechas (DPFG) y en el cultivo para grano (TC) en un experimento factorial con las dosis de N: 0, 40, 80, 120, y 160 kg ha-1, aplicado como urea al voleo. Se determinó el rendimiento de forraje y de grano y el contenido de N en cada producto. El rendimiento de forraje se incrementó en promedio en 10,3 kg MS kg-1 de N aplicado, hasta la dosis de 120 kg ha-1. El rendimiento de grano fue menor en los DP, pero tuvo una mayor respuesta a N, incrementándose en 8,3, 7,3, 4,7, y 4,7 kg kg-1 de N aplicado para DPG, DPFG, DPF y TC respectivamente. La eficiencia agronómica de la respuesta a N en el rendimiento de grano fue superior en los manejos de DP y estos resultados muestran una mayor conveniencia de la fertilización nitrogenada en estos que en TC.When forage and grain are obtained from a wheat crop, (Triticum aestivum), i.e. a dual purpose crop (DP), the availability of N can be a key factor for the expansion of this alternative system. The response to nitrogen fertilization of a DP crop fertilized in April (DPF), in August (DPG), in both dates (DPFG) and in wheat grown only for grain (TC) was compared in a factorial experiment with the N levels 0, 40, 80, 120, and 160 N kg ha-1, applied as broadcast urea. Forage and grain yield and N content of each product were determined. Forage yield increased, on average, 10.3 kg dry matter per kg of applied N, up to the 120 kg ha-1 level. Grain yield was lower in DP than TC but had a higher response to N, increasing on average 8.3, 7.3, 4.7, and 4.7 Kg per kg applied N, for DPG, DPFG, DPF and TC respectively. The agronomic efficiency of the response to N in grain yield was higher in DP than in TC and these results show that N fertilization in DP is more convenient than in TC.Fil: Arzadun, M.. Chacra Experimental Coronel Suárez; ArgentinaFil: Laborde, H.. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía; ArgentinaFil: Arroquy, Jose Ignacio. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia de Santiago del Estero; Argentin

Growth, blood metabolites and hormones in calves fed diets with different amounts of energy and protein during the pre- or post-weaning periods

We investigated the effects of diets differing in energy and protein concentrations given during pre- and post-weaning on hormone and metabolite levels in association to parameters of growth. Sixteen Aberdeen Angus calves four-day-old were allocated in individual pens during 105 days in a randomized complete design. Animals consumed ad libitum various diets differing in proportion of energy and protein (A: 80% of concentrate, 20% alfalfa hay; B: 60% concentrate, 40% of alfalfa hay; C: 40% concentrate, 60% alfalfa hay, and D: 20% concentrate, 80% alfalfa hay). Also, calves consumed milk substitute up to 60-day-old day. Serum growth hormone and cortisol levels were not altered with diet changes (P > 0.05) neither during the pre- nor the post-weaning periods. Plasma insulin concentration average daily intake, glucose and thyroid hormone levels, and concentrations of ammonia nitrogen and propionic acid were greater (P < 0.01) for diets having higher than lower energy and protein levels during the post-weaning but not during the pre-weaning period. These results suggest inclusion of higher amounts of concentrate in the diet of weaned calves.Fil: Fernández, H. T.. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía; ArgentinaFil: Busso, Carlos Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiarida. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiarida; ArgentinaFil: Laborde, Hugo Eduardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiarida. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiarida; ArgentinaFil: Torrea, M. B.. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía; ArgentinaFil: Fernández, L. M.. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: López, G. H.. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: Delucchi, F.. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: García, B. N.. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia; Argentin

Impact of aftertreatment devices on primary emissions and secondary organic aerosol formation potential from in-use diesel vehicles: results from smog chamber experiments

Diesel particulate matter (DPM) is a significant source of aerosol in urban areas and has been linked to adverse health effects. Although newer European directives have introduced increasingly stringent standards for primary PM emissions, gaseous organics emitted from diesel cars can still lead to large amounts of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) in the atmosphere. Here we present results from smog chamber investigations characterizing the primary organic aerosol (POA) and the corresponding SOA formation at atmospherically relevant concentrations for three in-use diesel vehicles with different exhaust aftertreatment systems. One vehicle lacked exhaust aftertreatment devices, one vehicle was equipped with a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) and the third vehicle used both a DOC and diesel particulate filter (DPF). The experiments presented here were obtained from the vehicles at conditions representative of idle mode, and for one car in addition at a speed of 60 km/h. An Aerodyne high-resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer (HR-ToF-AMS) was used to measure the organic aerosol (OA) concentration and to obtain information on the chemical composition. For the conditions explored in this paper, primary aerosols from vehicles without a particulate filter consisted mainly of black carbon (BC) with a low fraction of organic matter (OM, OM/BC < 0.5), while the subsequent aging by photooxidation resulted in a consistent production of SOA only for the vehicles without a DOC and with a deactivated DOC. After 5 h of aging ~80% of the total organic aerosol was on average secondary and the estimated "emission factor" for SOA was 0.23–0.56 g/kg fuel burned. In presence of both a DOC and a DPF, only 0.01 g SOA per kg fuel burned was produced within 5 h after lights on. The mass spectra indicate that POA was mostly a non-oxidized OA with an oxygen to carbon atomic ratio (O/C) ranging from 0.10 to 0.19. Five hours of oxidation led to a more oxidized OA with an O/C range of 0.21 to 0.37

Emotional intelligence buffers the effect of physiological arousal on dishonesty

We studied the emotional processes that allow people to balance two competing desires: benefitting from dishonesty and keeping a positive self-image. We recorded physiological arousal (skin conductance and heart rate) during a computer card game in which participants could cheat and fail to report a certain card when presented on the screen to avoid losing their money. We found that higher skin conductance corresponded to lower cheating rates. Importantly, emotional intelligence regulated this effect; participants with high emotional intelligence were less affected by their physiological reactions than those with low emotional intelligence. As a result, they were more likely to profit from dishonesty. However, no interaction emerged between heart rate and emotional intelligence. We suggest that the ability to manage and control emotions can allow people to overcome the tension between doing right or wrong and license them to bend the rules

Forage Quality of Mixtures of \u3ci\u3eBromus wildenowii\u3c/i\u3e and \u3ci\u3eB. parodii\u3c/i\u3e Influenced by Nitrogen Fertilization or Alfalfa Interseeding

Under good soil fertility conditions, Bromus wildenowii Kunth and Bromus parodii Covas et Itria are two high producing forage grasses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of nitrogen fertilization or the association with alfalfa (Medicago sativa L) on yield and forage quality of mixtures of both grasses during the establishment year. Nitrogen fertilizer (300 kg ha-1) was broadcasted in three 100 kg N dosis. Nitrogen fertilization or alfalfa intercropping did not increase dry matter yield. Tiller density and crude protein content of grass forage were increased by nitrogen application. Intercropped alfalfa increased N content of grasses mixture. In vitro dry matter disappearance, neutral detergent fiber and lignin content were not affected by treatments

Leaf Growth and Anatomy During Winter Droughting of Tetrachne Dregei Plants

The purpose of this work was to study the leaf growth and anatomy of Tetrachne dregei plants when they were subjected to a winter drought period. Plants were grown in semicontrolled conditions under two soil moisture regimes: irrigated and non-irrigated. Anatomical characterization was made using optical and scanning electron microscopy. No differences were found in stomatal index, stomatal length and epidermal cell size, between irrigated and non-irrigated plants. The adaxial epidermis of water stressed plants was more pubescent. Leaf abaxial epidermis of non-irrigated plants showed more intercostal plates of crystallized epicuticular wax than that of the irrigated ones. Leaf tissue distribution was not affected by the different moisture regimes. The effect of water deficit was neither detected on plant height, nor on leaf width and length. Except for the enhanced adaxial pubescence and abaxial wax crystal content, no other xeroplastic changes were noticed

Dating of the hominid (Homo neanderthalensis) remains accumulation from El Sidrón Cave (Piloña, Asturias, North Spain): an example of a multi-methodological approach to the dating of Upper Pleistocene sites.

The age of Neanderthal remains and associated sediments from El Sidrón cave has been obtained through different dating methods (14CAMS, U/TH, OSL, ESR and AAR) and samples (charcoal debris, bone, tooth dentine, stalagmitic flowstone, carbonate-rich sediments, sedi- mentary quartz grains, tooth enamel and land snail shells). Detrital Th contamination ren- dered Th/U dating analyses of flowstone unreliable. Recent 14C contamination produced spurious age-values from charcoal samples as well as from inadequately pretreated tooth samples. Most consistent 14C dates are grouped into two series: one between 35 and 40 ka and the other between 48 and 49 ka. Most ESR and AAR samples yielded concordant ages, ranging between 39 and 45 ka; OSL dating results permitted adequate bracketing of the sedimentary layer that contained the human remains. Our results emphasize the value of multi-dating approaches for the establishment of reliable chronologies of human remains

Una opinión sobre el estado actual y las perspectivas de la ganadería bovina en el sudoeste bonaerense

La presente exposición no tiene un carácter estrictamente técnico sino que trata de presentar las opiniones condensadas de varios actores que han tenido desempeño profesional en producción animal en distintas zonas que componen el sudoeste bonaerense (SOB). Con las entrevistas mantenidas con todos ellos se resumió una opinión sobre la evolución que tuvo la ganadería luego de los aportes en conocimientos en sanidad., genética y nutrición animal difundidos en los últimos de 30-40 años. Asimismo se evaluaron perspectivas hacia el futuro de la actividad en la región.Academia Nacional de Agronomía y Veterinari

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation in failed bioprosthetic surgical valves.

IMPORTANCE: Owing to a considerable shift toward bioprosthesis implantation rather than mechanical valves, it is expected that patients will increasingly present with degenerated bioprostheses in the next few years. Transcatheter aortic valve-in-valve implantation is a less invasive approach for patients with structural valve deterioration; however, a comprehensive evaluation of survival after the procedure has not yet been performed. OBJECTIVE: To determine the survival of patients after transcatheter valve-in-valve implantation inside failed surgical bioprosthetic valves. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Correlates for survival were evaluated using a multinational valve-in-valve registry that included 459 patients with degenerated bioprosthetic valves undergoing valve-in-valve implantation between 2007 and May 2013 in 55 centers (mean age, 77.6 [SD, 9.8] years; 56% men; median Society of Thoracic Surgeons mortality prediction score, 9.8% [interquartile range, 7.7%-16%]). Surgical valves were classified as small (≤21 mm; 29.7%), intermediate (&gt;21 and &lt;25 mm; 39.3%), and large (≥25 mm; 31%). Implanted devices included both balloon- and self-expandable valves. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Survival, stroke, and New York Heart Association functional class. RESULTS: Modes of bioprosthesis failure were stenosis (n = 181 [39.4%]), regurgitation (n = 139 [30.3%]), and combined (n = 139 [30.3%]). The stenosis group had a higher percentage of small valves (37% vs 20.9% and 26.6% in the regurgitation and combined groups, respectively; P = .005). Within 1 month following valve-in-valve implantation, 35 (7.6%) patients died, 8 (1.7%) had major stroke, and 313 (92.6%) of surviving patients had good functional status (New York Heart Association class I/II). The overall 1-year Kaplan-Meier survival rate was 83.2% (95% CI, 80.8%-84.7%; 62 death events; 228 survivors). Patients in the stenosis group had worse 1-year survival (76.6%; 95% CI, 68.9%-83.1%; 34 deaths; 86 survivors) in comparison with the regurgitation group (91.2%; 95% CI, 85.7%-96.7%; 10 deaths; 76 survivors) and the combined group (83.9%; 95% CI, 76.8%-91%; 18 deaths; 66 survivors) (P = .01). Similarly, patients with small valves had worse 1-year survival (74.8% [95% CI, 66.2%-83.4%]; 27 deaths; 57 survivors) vs with intermediate-sized valves (81.8%; 95% CI, 75.3%-88.3%; 26 deaths; 92 survivors) and with large valves (93.3%; 95% CI, 85.7%-96.7%; 7 deaths; 73 survivors) (P = .001). Factors associated with mortality within 1 year included having small surgical bioprosthesis (≤21 mm; hazard ratio, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.14-3.67; P = .02) and baseline stenosis (vs regurgitation; hazard ratio, 3.07; 95% CI, 1.33-7.08; P = .008). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this registry of patients who underwent transcatheter valve-in-valve implantation for degenerated bioprosthetic aortic valves, overall 1-year survival was 83.2%. Survival was lower among patients with small bioprostheses and those with predominant surgical valve stenosis