Island Shape Controls Magic-Size Effect for Heteroepitaxial Diffusion

Lattice mismatch of Cu on Ag(111) produces fast diffusion for special "magic sizes" of islands. A size- and shape-dependent reptation mechanism is responsible for low diffusion barriers. Initiating the reptation mechanism requires a suitable island shape, a property not considered in previous studies of 1D island chains and 2D closed-shell islands. Shape determines the dominant diffusion mechanism and leads to multiple clearly identifiable magic-size trends for diffusion depending on the number of atoms whose bonds are shortened during diffusion.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figure

Efeito de doses de nitrogênio sobre os teores de clorofila e nitrogênio foliar na pereira, cv. Princesinha, cultivada no Vale do São Francisco.

O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar os índices de clorofila total, clorofila A e clorofila B e teor de N foliar em pereiras da cultivar Princesinha, cultivada sob condições irrigadas no Semiárido pernambucano

Food Soybean Varieties in Low-Input Conditions Grain Yield and Quality from Three NE Italy Environments

Soybean has been diffusely grown in northern Italy since early 1980s. Indeed, at present the organic area (less than 3 % of the total) and the practical absence of certified non-GM productions are key issues for farmers and food processors. In 2013, four food-grade varieties were tested under organic or low-input conditions in three environments of Friuli, NE Italy. Environments had a large impact on grain yields, genotypes on grain composition. Late planting resulted in lower yields and high-protein seeds. Seed protein levels were associated to visual seed quality

Food Soybean Varieties in Low-Input Conditions Grain Yield and Quality from Three NE Italy Environments

Soybean has been diffusely grown in northern Italy since early 1980s. Indeed, at present the organic area (less than 3 % of the total) and the practical absence of certified non-GM productions are key issues for farmers and food processors. In 2013, four food-grade varieties were tested under organic or low-input conditions in three environments of Friuli, NE Italy. Environments had a large impact on grain yields, genotypes on grain composition. Late planting resulted in lower yields and high-protein seeds. Seed protein levels were associated to visual seed quality

Production of high-quality seedlings of Handroanthus spongiosus (Bignoniaceae), native to a seasonally dry tropical.

Studies of the use of alternative substrates have enabled producing seedlings of various species with high quality and low cost. The objective of this work was to evaluate the best cultivation conditions for production of Handroanthus spongiosus seedlings. The seeds were collected from five different populations in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil, and cultivated in six substrates: soil, sand, soil + vermiculite, soil + goat manure, soil + vermiculite + goat manure, and soil + goat manure + 30% biochar. We evaluated the emergence, shoot and root length, st em base diameter, shoot and root dry mass, and Dickson quality index. The substrates with addition of organic matter favored increased shoot length, stem diameter and dry mass. The incorporation of goat manure and biochar in the substrates favored the quality of the H. spongiosus seedlings.ODS 15

Collusion detection in public procurement auctions with machine learning algorithms

Collusion is an illegal practice by which some competing companies secretly agree on the prices (bids) they will submit to a future auction. Worldwide, collusion is a pervasive phenomenon in public sector procurement. It undermines the benefits of a competitive marketplace and wastes taxpayers' money. More often than not, contracting authorities cannot identify non-competitive bids and frequently award contracts at higher prices than they would have in collusion's absence. This paper tests the accuracy of eleven Machine Learning (ML) algorithms for detecting collusion using collusive datasets obtained from Brazil, Italy, Japan, Switzerland and the United States. While the use of ML in public procurement remains largely unexplored, its potential use to identify collusion are promising. ML algorithms are quite information-intensive (they need a substantial number of historical auctions to be calibrated), but they are also highly flexible tools, producing reasonable detection rates even with a minimal amount of information

Prostate Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment in Elderly Patients: A Cross-Sectional Survey Exploring Practice Patterns and Preferences of Uro-Oncologists in Northeast Italy

Background: The optimal diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for prostate cancer (PCa) in patients aged ≥75 years (mild-old and oldest-old) are still contentious. Resource allocation and ideal treatment for older patients are challenges, mainly due to their comorbidities and reduced life expectancy. This survey aims to assess current clinical practices and the experiences of healthcare providers in the diagnosis and management of elderly patients with PCa. Materials and Methods: In Northeast Italy, members of the Gruppo Uro-Oncologico del Nord-Est (GUONE) conducted a survey involving 104 physicians of different specialties (Nuclear Medicine, Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Radiology, Urology) between 1 November 2024 and 30 November 2024. The survey encompassed 51 questions, evaluating various diagnostic and therapeutic scenarios. Results: Digital rectal exam (DRE) was recommended by 35.9% of physicians for patients aged 75 or older at risk of PCa. PSA testing was continued in 76.3% of these patients. For 36.5% of the physicians, there should be no age limit for prostate biopsy. Moreover, 42.6% of physicians recommended a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided prostate biopsy regardless of age. A prostate biopsy was deemed mandatory before initiating any form of hormonal therapy by 57.7% of the participants. For 22.3% and 34.7% of physicians, there should be no age limit for prostate MRI and PET/CT for staging purposes. Interestingly, PET/CT was not recommended in 52% of cases as a staging tool for patients older than 85 years. For patients without comorbidities, the age limit to consider radical prostatectomy (RP) was 75, with 58.6% of physicians in favor. There were no definitive limits for radiotherapy (RT). Chemotherapy had an age limit for 81.6% of the respondents; for 18.4%, 22.5%, and 26.5% of physicians, age limits were 75, 80, and 85 years, respectively. The use of androgen receptor pathway inhibitors (ARPIs) had no definitive age limits for 46.5% of respondents. For patients with no comorbidities and low-volume metastatic PCa, the preferred option was androgen deprivation therapy + ARPIs + RT. The follow-up schedule after RP or RT exhibited heterogeneity with no consensus regarding the frequency of PSA testing or the age at which it should be discontinued. Conclusions: This survey highlights the need for consensus guidelines in diagnosing and managing mild-old and oldest-old elderly PCa patients. With the aging population, standardized protocols are essential to ensure optimal care

Caracterização de biocarvões regionais e efeitos sobre a produção de biomassa do milho BRS Caatingueiro.

O biocarvão é uma forma estável de carbono que proporciona melhoria em diversos atributos do solo e disponibilidade de nutrientes para as plantas. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram avaliar as características químicas do biocarvão e o efeito sobre a produção de biomassa do milho. O experimento foi conduzido na Embrapa Semiárido, Petrolina, PE utilizando-se o esquema fatorial [3x4+1] (3 tipos de biocarvão, 4 doses, mais um tratamento controle) em delineamento ao acaso, com quatro repetições, em setembro de 2018. Os biocarvões foram produzidos a partir de resíduos de poda de mangueira e de processamento de uva para suco. O terceiro material avaliado foi um carvão vegetal. Os biocarvões foram misturados ao solo nas doses de 0; 0,5; 1; 5; 10 Mg ha-1 e acondicionados em vasos em campo. O pH do biocarvão de resíduo de processamento de uva é ácido, enquanto o do carvão vegetal é neutro e o de resíduo de mangueira é alcalino. O biocarvão de resíduo de processamento de uva apresenta a maior capacidade de troca de cátions e disponibilidade de nutrientes e, quando aplicado na dose de 6 Mg ha-1, permite a obtenção do maior rendimento de biomassa de milho

Tree component influences soil carbon storage and litter decomposition in agrosilvopastoral system.

Integrated farming systems are recognized as agricultural production models that enhance soil carbon storage. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of the tree component on the litter dynamics and soil C and N stocks in an agrosilvopastoral system in the Brazilian Cerrado. We compared nine-years-old agrosilvopastoral system (ASP) with an arrangement of 3x2+14m, with a 24-years-old nominal pasture (NP) and a native vegetation (NV). Five treatments including three sampling points in ASP [between the eucalyptus trees (P1), in the canopy projection area (P2) and in the middle of the alley (P3)], and two areas (PN and VN) were evaluated. Litterfall production from eucalyptus were evaluated in suspended collectors while the decomposition rate was evaluated in litterbags. The assessments were carried out monthly over one year, as well as CO2 fluxes. Soil samples were taken at six soil layers until 0.5m depth to evaluate bulk density, soil fertility and soil C and N stocks. The litterfall production higher in P1, with decrease during the dry season. P1 and P3 showed higher decomposition rates, with final remaining mass of 28.71 and 32.33%. CO2 efflux was higher in the rainy season and showed similar pattern between P1 e NV. Regarding the soil fertility, NV showed higher values of macronutrients and base saturation, and these results can be associated to the nutrient exportation and the deficit of fertilization management in ASP and NP. Soil C and N stocks at 0-50 cm depth were higher in NV (115.4 and 11.3 Mg ha-1), followed by NP (92.4 and 8 .8 Mg ha-1) and ASP (89.9 and 9.0 Mg ha-1). In the sampled points within ASP, soil C and N stocks were higher in P1, showing the influence of tree component. Our results showed that the arrangement as well as the management of eucalyptus trees in the integrated farming system influenced the dynamics of litter decomposition and soil C and N storage over time