Calibração do modelo cropsyst para cana-de-açúcar: estudo preliminar.

O cultivo da cana-de-açúcar possui grande importância no Brasil, e sua produção deve aumentar nos próximos anos. Nesse contexto, a gerência da área agrícola demandará ferramentas de suporte à tomada de decisão, uma vez que o setor sucroenergético possui uma demanda por um fluxo de matéria-prima para atender a unidade industrial ao longo da safra, sendo necessário prever o quanto será produzido, e quando ocorrerá essa produção. Os métodos estatísticos disponíveis, atualmente, apresentam limitações quanto à extrapolação de resultados, enquanto os modelos ecofisiológicos permitem simular os efeitos das condições de cultivo na cana-de-açúcar, permitindo estimativas coerentes para a curva de crescimento. Dentre os diversos pacotes computacionais disponíveis para simular o crescimento da cana-de-açúcar, a plataforma CropSyst teve em 2009, o modelo para cana-de-açúcar implementado. Foi realizado um estudo preliminar da calibração do modelo CropSyst para cultivares de cana do Brasil com objetivo de melhorar o entendimento da ferramenta de calibração. O objetivo da calibração é de estabelecer os parâmetros ligados à acumulação de tempo termal, particionamento de biomassa e utilização de água e radiação pela cultura

Detachment analysis of dehumidified repair mortars applied to historical masonry walls

An innovative laboratory procedure for the pre-qualification of repair mortars is described. The tested mortars are suitable for use with new dehumidified plasters applied to historical masonry walls. Long-term plaster detachment frequently occurs because of the mechanical incompatibility of mortar. The procedure consists of the application of static loads to mixed stone block-mortar specimens with particular characteristics, in terms of geometry and adhesion at the interface. A numerical simulation based on the cohesive crack model was used to follow the experimental data, in order to describe the evolutionary phenomenon of detachment as a function of a small number of parameters. The methodology is currently being used at Sacro Monte di Varallo Special Natural Reserve (UNESCO heritage site) in Piedmont (Italy

Prenatal Environmental Exposure to Persistent Organic Pollutants and Indices of Overweight and Cardiovascular Risk in Dutch Adolescents

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) may have obesogenic effects. Knowledge about the effects of prenatal exposure to POPs on anthropometric measurements and metabolic parameters into adolescence is limited. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to determine whether prenatal environmental exposure to several POPs is associated with indices of overweight and cardiovascular risk in 13-15-year-old children. In this Dutch observational cohort study, 194 mother-infant pairs were included (1998-2002). Maternal pregnancy serum levels of PCBs, OH-PCBs, PBDEs, and other POPs were measured. At follow-up (2014-2016), levels of cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, triglycerides, fasting insulin, fasting glucose, leptin, and adiponectin were measured in their children. The children's height, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, and blood pressure were measured. In total, 101 adolescents (14.4 ± 0.8 years; 53.7% of invited) participated of which 55 were boys. Mean BMI was 19.1 ± 3.6 kg/m2 and mean BMI z-score 0.13 ± 1.14. Higher prenatal levels of PCBs were associated with lower levels of HDL-C and adiponectin in boys and higher levels of PBDEs with higher triglycerides in girls. We found significant differences by sex in the associations with OH-PCBs, with lower HDL-C and adiponectin, higher LDL-C/HDL-C ratio, fasting glucose, HOMA2-IR, height, and weight for boys. Our study indicates that higher prenatal exposure to PCBs, OH-PCBs, and PBDEs was associated with adolescent levels of some metabolic cardiovascular risk markers and hormones associated with the development of obesity and cardiovascular disease

Growth in Small-for-Gestational-Age Preterm-Born Children from 0 to 4 Years:The Role of both Prematurity and SGA Status

<p>Background: Fullterm small-for-gestational-age children (SGAs) are known for their ability to catch up on growth. Nevertheless, increased risk of growth restriction remains. Evidence on preterm SGA children's growth is lacking. Objective: To determine absolute gains in height and weight, relative growth, and growth restriction in preterm SGAs from 0 to 4 years and how prematurity and SGA status affect these measures. Design/ Methods: Community-based cohort study, n = 1,648 preterm-born (gestational age <36 weeks, 57 SGA) and 605 term-born (12 SGA). We defined SGA as a birth weight less than -2 SD (P 2.3) compared to counterparts matched for gestational age. Height, weight, and head circumference were obtained from medical records and translated to z -scores. We defined growth restriction as height or weight less than -2 SD compared to fullterm appropriate-for-gestational-age children (AGAs). Results: Absolute height and weight gains were similar, but the relative growth of preterms and fullterms differed. Preterm AGAs and fullterm SGAs, although not reaching it, caught up towards the fullterm AGA median (z -scores at 4 years: -0.3 to -1.0). By contrast, preterm SGA children's z -scores were still -1.4 to -1.7. Head circumference growth was less affected by prematurity and SGA birth (z -scores at 1 year: 0.1 to -0.7). Catch-up growth mainly took place during infancy. 30-39% of all preterm SGAs showed growth restriction at 4 years. Conclusions: Growth in preterm SGAs is affected considerably by the joint effects of preterm birth and SGA status, resulting in a high proportion of growth restriction. Copyright (C) 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel</p>

Risk of developmental delay increases exponentially as gestational age of preterm infants decreases:a cohort study at age 4 years

Aim The aim of the study was to assess the influence of decreasing gestational age on the risk of developmental delay in various domains at age 4 years among children born at a wide range of gestational ages. Method In a community-based cohort, the parents of 1439 preterm-born children (24 0/7 to 35 6/7wks) and 544 term-born children (38 0/7 to 41 6/7wks) born in 2002 and 2003 completed the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) when their child was 3 years 7 months to 4 years 1 month old. The prevalence rates of abnormal scores on the ASQ-total problems scale were compared in preterm and term-born children and the resulting odds ratios for gestational age groups were calculated and adjusted for social and biological covariates. Results The prevalence rates of abnormal scores on the ASQ-total problems scale increased with decreasing gestational age: from 4.2% among term-born children to 37.5% among children born at 2425 weeks gestation (p Interpretation The risk of developmental delay increases exponentially with decreasing gestational age below 36 weeks gestation on all developmental domains of the ASQ. Adjustment for covariates did not alter the pattern of exponential increase in developmental risk with decreasing gestational age. We speculate that both direct perinatal cerebral injuries and tropic and maturational brain disturbances are involved

Human biomonitoring health surveillance for metals near a waste-to-energy incinerator: The 1-year post-operam study

This human biomonitoring (HBM) follow-up survey, within the SPoTT project, assessed the temporal and spatial trends of exposure to 18 metals in a cohort living around the waste-to-energy (WTE) incinerator of Turin (Italy) before (T0, 2013) and after 1-year of plant activity (T1, 2014). Urine of 380 adult individuals (186 exposed and 194 unexposed subjects, classified on fallout maps) were analyzed by sector field inductively coupled mass spectrometry. A decrease trend of the majority of metals in all subjects indicates that the overall air quality of the studied sites was not significantly compromised, also in proximity of the WTE plant, as corroborated also by air monitoring data of the regional agency. The only relevant exception was the higher Cr levels found at T1 than T0 in exposed subjects, suggesting a possible contribution from the WTE plant. Chromium, Mn and Pt urine levels were also higher in the site far from the WTE, in relation to other sources as vehicular traffic, industrial and civil activities. Whilst, As and Cd were influenced by fish intake and tobacco smoke. A very small number of individuals at T1, equally distributed in both areas, exceeded the health-based guidance values and so, at current knowledge, living near the Turin incineration did not significantly influence the exposure status of the population

Growth of Preterm and Full-Term Children Aged 0-4 Years:Integrating Median Growth and Variability in Growth Charts

Objectives To assess the distribution of height, weight, and head circumference (HC) in preterm infants for ages 0-4 years, by gestational age (GA) and sex, and to construct growth reference charts for preterm-born children, again by GA and sex, for monitoring growth in clinical practice. Study design The community-based cohort study covered a quarter of The Netherlands. 1690 preterm infants (GA, 25-35(+6) weeks) and a random sample of 634 full-term control infants (GA 38-41(+6)), who were followed from birth to 4 years of age. Height, weight, and HC were regularly assessed during routine well-child visits and data were retrospectively collected. Results At all ages, the median height and weight of preterm children were lower compared with full-term children. Growth depended on the child's GA. Increase in HC showed an early catch-up and was similar to full-term children by the age of 1. Height, weight, and HC were more variable in boys, particularly in the very preterm children. Conclusions At 0 to 4 years, the growth of preterm children differed from that of full-term children and depended on their GA. The greater variability of growth in boys suggests that they are more vulnerable to the complications of preterm birth that influence growth. These growth charts are the most precise tools currently available for monitoring growth in preterm children. (J Pediatr 2012;161:460-5)

The role of T cell subsets and cytokines in the regulation of intracellular bacterial infection

Cellular immune responses are a critical part of the host's defense against intracellular bacterial infections. Immunity to Brucella abortus crucially depends on antigen-specific T cell-mediated activation of macrophages, which are the major effectors of cell-mediated killing of this organism. T lymphocytes that proliferate in response to B. abortus were characterized for phenotype and cytokine activity. Human, murine, and bovine T lymphocytes exhibited a type 1 cytokine profile, suggesting an analogous immune response in these different hosts. In vivo protection afforded by a particular cell type is dependent on the antigen presented and the mechanism of antigen presentation. Studies using MHC class I and class II knockout mice infected with B. abortus have demonstrated that protective immunity to brucellosis is especially dependent on CD8+ T cells. To target MHC class I presentation we transfected ex vivo a murine macrophage cell line with B. abortus genes and adoptively transferred them to BALB/c mice. These transgenic macrophage clones induced partial protection in mice against experimental brucellosis. Knowing the cells required for protection, vaccines can be designed to activate the protective T cell subset. Lastly, as a new strategy for priming a specific class I-restricted T cell response in vivo, we used genetic immunization by particle bombardment-mediated gene transfer