Meta-analysis of a large industrial latex diagnosis database provides insight on Hevea brasiliensis clonal adaptation and site-specific yield potential in Western Africa

A meta-analysis of the Latex Diagnosis (LD) database gathering all LD data stored from 2006 to 2018 in SIFCA/SIPH plantations of Côte d'Ivoire (SAPH), Ghana (GREL) and Nigeria (RENL) has been performed. Average clonal LD data comprising Sucrose (Suc), Inorganic Phosphorus (Pi), Reduced Thiols (RSH) and latex Total Solid Content (TSC) were analyzed and compared for different plantation sites of SAPH (Toupah, Ousrou, Bongo, Rapides Grah, Digahio, Divo and Bettie), GREL (Abura) and RENL (Osse River, New Land, Utagba Uno, Araromi, Waterside and Iguobazuwa). The database was filtered in order to keep only the LD data obtained either from conventional and standard tapping systems (S/2 downward and S/4 upward), excluding the intensified period before slaughtering. Data were processed and analyzed on clones GT1, RRIM600, PR107, AV2037, RRIC100, AF261, PB5/51, PB217, PB235, PB260, PB312, PB314, IRCA18, IRCA41, IRCA109, IRCA111, IRCA130, IRCA209 and IRCA230. All clones were tapped either in d4 or d5 6d/7 tapping frequencies. Stimulation was applied on panel (Pa), under industrial stimulation rates adapted to each clone metabolism and clonal sugar loading characteristics. Based on the relation between Suc and Pi, the analysis of these LD data confirms the latex physiological positioning in clonal typology of all clones. It confirms in particular the high latex sugar loading capacity of clones PB217 (as this clone obtains the highest latex Suc level whatever the plantation site), IRCA109, IRCA41 and IRCA230. It also reveals a systematic positive correlation for all sites between RSH and Suc latex contents: Clones with high latex Suc maintain higher RSH latex concentrations than clones with lower Suc, confirming at industrial scale earlier research results. The physiological hypothesis is that a high clonal latex sugar loading, allowing higher stimulation rates and improved stimulation response, would as well maintain higher latex RSH levels resulting in an improved resistance to oxidative stress resulting from latex metabolic activation. This improved scavenging protection would therefore have positive effects on membranes integrity, on latex stability, on latex flow and on tapping panel dryness (TPD) onset. Moreover, as tapping intensity (tapping frequency and stimulation) was almost similar in all sites, we also make the hypothesis that the latex RSH level and the Pi x RSH value might be accurate indicators to describe, at plantation site level, the local clonal suitability as well as the global stress conditions of trees on each plantation site. This study will be completed later on in order to set up a standard interpretation method of such LD databases

Large-angle Polarization of the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation and Reionization

We discuss the effect of matter reionization on the large-angular-scale anisotropy and polarization of the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR) in the standard CDM model. We separate three cases in which the anisotropy is induced by pure scalar, pure tensor, and mixed metric perturbations respectively. It is found that, if reionization occurs early enough, the polarization can reach a detectable level of sequentially $6\%$, $9\%$, and $6.5\%$ of the anisotropy. In general, a higher degree of polarization implies a dominant contribution from the tensor mode or reionization at high redshift. Since early reionization will suppress small-scale CMBR anisotropies and polarizations significantly, measuring the polarization on few degree scales can be a direct probe of the reionization history of the early universe.Comment: Changes in the revised version: 1. Below Eq. (2), we demonstrate the method of our numerical work, by adding the evolution equations for the Legendre coefficents for both the scalar and tensor mode pertubations. 2. Below Eq. (9), we added a paragraph on discussing the basis we employed in computing the polarization correlation function. 3. In Sec. 4, we have rewritten the first and second paragraphs, where we illustrate how to the explain the discrepancies with the previous wor

A reappraisal of online mathematics teaching using LaTeX

The mathematics language LaTeX is often seen outside of academic circles as a legacy technology that is awkward to use. MathML - a verbose language designed for data-exchange, and to be written and understood by machines - is sometimes by contrast seen as something that will aid online mathematics and lack of browser support for it bemoaned. However LaTeX can already do many of the things that MathML might promise. LaTeX is here proposed as a language from which small fragments, with concise syntax, can be used by people to easily create and share mathematical expressions online. The capability to embed fragments of LaTeX code in online discussions is described here and its impact on a group of educators and learners evaluated. Here LaTeX is posited as a useful tool for facilitating asynchronous, online, collaborative learning of mathematics

Molecular profile of sensitization in subjects with short occupational exposure to latex

Objectives: We examined the prevalence of latex allergy in subjects with occupational exposure to latex allergens for less than 5 years, determining the disease spectrum in symptomatic workers. We identified the most frequent molecular allergens by Immuno- CAP (ICAP), correlating the findings with skin prick test (SPT) results. Material and Methods: Seven hundred twenty-three healthcare students using latex gloves on a regular basis were invited to participate in a baseline questionnaire screening. An ICAP serum test was performed only when a possible latex allergy was indicated by the questionnaire. Results: The total number of participants responding to the baseline survey was 619. Glove-related symptoms were indicated by 4% (N = 25) of the students. The most common symptom was contact dermatitis (N = 18, 72%). In 12 subjects, ICAP revealed a real sensitization to latex, with a recombinant latex allergen profile showing a high frequency for rHev b 6.01 specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) (N = 9, 67%). In these individuals, skin symptoms were more prevalent than other types (88%). Conclusions: The combined positivity for rHev b 6.01, rHev 8 and rHev b 5 determined by ICAP identified 92% of latex-allergic subjects with short-term exposure to latex

BRST Treatment of the Bohr Collective Hamiltonian at High Spins

The BRST treatment of triaxial systems rotating at high spins is used to solve perturbatively the $\gamma$-independent Bohr collective hamiltonian.Comment: 10 pages in LaTeX using Esp-LaTeX and Feynman package

Hubbard Model with Luscher fermions

First applications of the new algorithm simulating dynamical fermions are reported. The method reproduces previous results obtained with different techniques.Comment: talk presented at the XII International Symposium LATTICE94, Bielefeld, Germany, September 1994, to appear in the Proceedings. 3 pages, LATEX, required Elsevier espcrc2.sty style file is attached at the end of this LATEX text. Postscript figures included in the latex document with the epsf facilit