Ecophysiological modeling of grapevine water stress in Burgundy terroirs by a machine-learning approach.

13 pagesInternational audienceIn a climate change scenario, successful modeling of the relationships between plant-soil-meteorology is crucial for a sustainable agricultural production, especially for perennial crops. Grapevines (Vitis vinifera L. cv Chardonnay) located in eight experimental plots (Burgundy, France) along a hillslope were monitored weekly for 3 years for leaf water potentials, both at predawn (Ψpd) and at midday (Ψstem). The water stress experienced by grapevine was modeled as a function of meteorological data (minimum and maximum temperature, rainfall) and soil characteristics (soil texture, gravel content, slope) by a gradient boosting machine. Model performance was assessed by comparison with carbon isotope discrimination (δ13C) of grape sugars at harvest and by the use of a test-set. The developed models reached outstanding prediction performance (RMSE < 0.08 MPa for Ψstem and < 0.06 MPa for Ψpd), comparable to measurement accuracy. Model predictions at a daily time step improved correlation with δ13C data, respect to the observed trend at a weekly time scale. The role of each predictor in these models was described in order to understand how temperature, rainfall, soil texture, gravel content and slope affect the grapevine water status in the studied context. This work proposes a straight-forward strategy to simulate plant water stress in field condition, at a local scale; to investigate ecological relationships in the vineyard and adapt cultural practices to future conditions

“Speaking Truth to Power?” Intellectuals in Iraqi Baathist Cultural Production

How free can intellectuals (writers, poets, and artists) continue to exist in a political system that exercises a huge amount of pressure, control, and censorship, forcing them to conform to its heavily skewed ideological and historical perspectives? The core question of a dispute among Iraqi intellectuals since 2003 has been: Who has the right to speak for Iraq? This question underlines the need to delve deeper; it touches upon the urgency of re-examining the political and cultural dynamics of Baathist rule, the cultural institutions of which provided a restrictive framework within an overall atmosphere of intimidation, control, and surveillance. During this time, Iraqi intellectuals took on various attitudes, varying from compliance and collaboration, to resistance to the system or outright exile. The rift between Iraqi intellectuals is mostly between those on the "inside" and those on the "outside." This paper discusses the relationship between intellectuals and power and the peculiarities of Iraqi cultural production in Baathist times, and then analyses the role of intellectuals through two case studies, debating the strategies of survival and complicity

A (des) necessidade da oitiva do adotado, quando de seu desconhecimento de vida familiar biológica: um olhar crítico e afetivo!

This work presents an analysis of the articles set out in the Statute of Children and Adolescents, with emphasis on article 28, §2 of the Child and Adolescent Statute and the existing factual situation of the the protected person’s lack of knowledge regarding their history. To this end, he discussed the history of women's rights children and adolescents, as well as forms of adoption. Furthermore, recent decisions on the need for specifics to the subject and decisions indicating the need for a hearing from the protected person due to of ignorance, in compliance with other evidence contained in the process. It was noticed that the look judicious and affective aims to protect the principle of human dignity and ensure the right to origins, principles essential to the best interests of the infant.O presente trabalho traz a análise dos artigos dispostos no Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente, com ênfase ao artigo 28, §2º do Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente e a situação fática existente do desconhecimento do protegido a respeito de seu histórico. Para isso, discorreu sobre o histórico dos direitos das crianças e dos adolescentes, bem como sobre as formas de adoção. Ainda, analisou-se decisões recentes sobre a necessidade de específico ao assunto e decisões indicativas da desnecessidade de oitiva do protegido em razão do desconhecimento, com observância das demais provas constantes no processo. Notou-se que o olhar criterioso e afetivo tem como objetivo resguardar o princípio da dignidade humana e assegurar o direito às origens, princípios essenciais ao melhor interesse do infante

A locação financeira e os aspectos jurídicos do valor residual

O objetivo do presente estudo é, a partir da contextualização e análise do contrato de locação financeira em Portugal e do arrendamento mercantil no Brasil, identificar o real significado do valor residual, fazer o enfrentamento das posições jurídicas existentes e concluir pela melhor aplicação prática e técnica do instituto. Por meio de análise comparativa da locação financeira percebe-se que existe um cerne a identificá-la, independentemente do ordenamento jurídico na qual esteja inserida, destacando-se suas funções de financiamento e garantia. Singularidade e equilíbrio foram apontados como funções do valor residual, o qual é indispensável à caracterização da locação financeira. Como principal conclusão, aponta-se que, quando o legislador deixou às partes a definição sobre os limites do valor residual, trilhando o caminho da menor interferência do estado nas relações contratuais entre particulares, permitiu a sua utilização de forma a desequilibrar os objetivos do instituto..

Dicyclo­hexyl­ammonium 3-[(hy­droxy­meth­yl)carbamo­yl]propano­ate

The title compound, C12H24N+·C5H8NO4 −, contains one dicyclo­hexyl­ammonium cation and one 3-[(hy­droxy­meth­yl)carbamo­yl]propano­ate anion in the asymmetric unit. In the crystal, the ions are linked by inter­molecular N—H⋯O and O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming chains propagating along [100]

Susceptibility of Phoenix roebelenii to Xylella fastidiosa

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Plant Health Panel analysed a dossier submitted by Costa Rica Authorities to reach a conclusion on the host status of Phoenix roebelenii for Xylella fastidiosa. The Panel wishes first to stress the difficulties faced in providing compelling evidence for the non-susceptibility status of any particular plant species. The Panel acknowledges that the listing of P. roebelenii as a host of X. fastidiosa rests on a single report from California. Because isolation of X. fastidiosa from some hosts can be difficult, the Panel considers that the failure to isolate X. fastidiosa from P. roebelenii cannot be used to totally discard the detection of X. fastidiosa by ELISA and PCR. The Panel concludes that the detection of X. fastidiosa by two independent techniques provides sufficient evidence, although not totally conclusive, for the listing of P. roebelenii as a X. fastidiosa host plant. Concerning the survey data provided in the Costa Rican dossier, the Panel wishes to stress that such surveys cannot demonstrate the non-host status but can only provide a probability bound, upper estimate of the proportion of infected plants in the field. In the present case, and assuming all survey parameters to be optimal, the 95% confidence incidence threshold obtained is 0.2%, leaving the possibility that close to 25,000 P. roebelenii plants could be infected but undetected in the country. Accepting a scenario of local, non-systemic infection of P. roebelenii by X. fastidiosa would further increase uncertainties. In addition, the absence of data on the vector infection pressure further affects the ability to derive meaningful information on the P. roebelenii host status from the survey data. Appropriately conducted mechanical and/or vector-mediated inoculation experiments are critical to reach a more solid conclusion on the X. fastidiosa host status of P. roebelenii