Organic farming in northeast of Portugal: effects of soil fertility management on DM yield and nutrients composition of pastures

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of six types of soil fertility management: no fertiliser (NF), lime inputs (Ca), mineral fertilisation combined with hming (CaP (lime and phosphorous), CaPB (lime, phosphorous and boron), manure (M), and manure+lime+mineral fertilisation (MCaPB), and two types of pasture (unsown and sown) on DM yield, botanical composition and nutrients content of pasture during two years of study. DM yield was significantly increased when plots were fertilised with manure (M and MCaPB), which also improved the proportion of legumes, mainly in the sown pasture

Conceptual model of the Quenturas hydromineral resource (Furnas volcano, S. Miguel Island): a contribution

RESUMO: O Vulcão das Furnas, na ilha de São Miguel, comporta no seu interior uma grande variabilidade de nascentes, que se podem classificar em 5 tipos distintos, nomeadamente frias lisas, frias gasocarbónicas, termais ácidas, termais básicas e condensado de fumarola, de características marcadas e variadas, originando a designada “Hidrópole” das Furnas. A Concessão Hidromineral das Furnas comporta parte importante destas nascentes, entre elas o Recurso Hidromineral das Quenturas, ou Água Férrea das Quenturas, referida como “3”. Trata-se de uma água termal ácida, com 59 °C de temperatura, pH ácido e mineralização elevada, cuja origem se considera corresponder ao aquecimento de aquíferos mais superficiais por vapor hidrotermal que ascende do aquífero hidrotermal profundo, conferindo a estas águas temperatura e uma importante componente gasocarbónica. Dados isotópicos apontam uma altitude de recarga de cerca de 800 m para esta nascente e uma idade compreendida entre os 23 e os 30 anos.ABSTRACT: Furnas Volcano, located on S. Miguel Island, is home to a large variety of springs, that can be classified in 5 different groups, namely cold waters, cold CO2-rich waters, thermal waters with low pH, thermal waters with high pH and fumaroles, each with distinctive characteristics, originating the “Furnas Hydropolis”. The Furnas Hidromineral Permit includes some of these springs, including the Quenturas spring, also known as Água Férrea das Quenturas, which is referred in the permit by the number “3”. Quenturas is a thermal water with low pH, with a temperature of 59 °C and high mineralization. It has its origin in the shallower aquifers that are heated by the hydrothermal steam provided by the deep-seated hydrothermal aquifers, providing them with temperature and an important gaseous component. Isotopic data estimates a recharge altitude of approximately 800 m for this spring, and 23 to 30 years of age.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Constraints on Cosmic Strings from the LIGO-Virgo Gravitational-Wave Detectors

Cosmic strings can give rise to a large variety of interesting astrophysical phenomena. Among them, powerful bursts of gravitational waves (GWs) produced by cusps are a promising observational signature. In this Letter we present a search for GWs from cosmic string cusps in data collected by the LIGO and Virgo gravitational wave detectors between 2005 and 2010, with over 625 days of live time. We find no evidence of GW signals from cosmic strings. From this result, we derive new constraints on cosmic string parameters, which complement and improve existing limits from previous searches for a stochastic background of GWs from cosmic microwave background measurements and pulsar timing data. In particular, if the size of loops is given by the gravitational backreaction scale, we place upper limits on the string tension (Newton's Constant x mass per unit length) below 10(exp 8) in some regions of the cosmic string parameter space

Transplant options for patients with diabetes and advanced kidney disease: a review

Optimal glycemic control in kidney transplant recipients with diabetes is associated with improved morbidity and better patient and allograft survival. Transplant options for patients with diabetes requiring insulin therapy and chronic kidney disease who are suitable candidates for kidney transplantation should include consideration of beta-cell replacement therapy: pancreas or islet transplantation. International variation related to national regulatory policies exists in offering one or both options to suitable candidates and is further affected by pancreas/islet allocation policies and transplant waiting list dynamics. The selection of appropriate candidates depends on patient age, coexistent morbidities, the timing of referral to the transplant center (predialysis versus on dialysis) and availability of living kidney donors. Therefore, early referral (estimated glomerular filtration rate < 30 mL/min/1.73 m(2)) is of the utmost importance to ensure adequate time for informed decision making and thorough pretransplant evaluation. Obesity, cardiovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, smoking, and frailty are some of the conditions that need to be addressed before acceptance on the transplant list, and ideally before dialysis becoming imminent. This review offers insights into selection of pancreas/islet transplant candidates by transplant centers and an update on posttransplant outcomes, which may have practice implications for referring nephrologists.Diabetes mellitus: pathophysiological changes and therap