Subcentimeter depth resolution using a single-photon counting time-of-flight laser ranging system at 1550 nm wavelength

We demonstrate subcentimeter depth profiling at a stand off distance of 330m using a time-of-flight approach based on time-correlated single-photon counting. For the first time to our knowledge, the photon-counting time-of-flight technique was demonstrated at a wavelength of 1550nm using a superconducting nanowire single-photon detector. The performance achieved suggests that a system using superconducting detectors has the potential for low-light-level and eye-safe operation. The system’s instrumental response was 70ps full width at half-maximum, which meant that 1cm surface-to-surface resolution could be achieved by locating the centroids of each return signal. A depth resolution of 4mm was achieved by employing an optimized signal-processing algorithm based on a reversible jump Markov chain Monte Carlo method

Greenhouse gas emissions mitigation in more sustainable agroecosystems in Cerrado.

In this work, we show that the transition to more sustainable rural production can mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by agroecosystems without compromising revenues, particularly in the Cerrado region.(Embrapa Gado de Corte. Documentos, 216). Coordenador Roberto Giolo de Almeida. II SIGEE. Disponível em: . Acesso em: 30 nov. 2016

Gaseous fluxes in oxisol soil surfaces at integrated plant-livestock systems.

The experiment consisted of additionally applying swine effluent of biodigester as an organic fertilizer with known doses (measured, not shown) in sites with arrangements of forestry mixed with agriculture (soya/corn rotation).(Embrapa Gado de Corte. Documentos, 216). Coordenador Roberto Giolo de Almeida. II SIGEE. Disponível em: . Acesso em: 30 nov. 2016

Systemic behavior of a Brazilian municipality whose economy is based on agricultural commodities.

The municipality evaluated is São Gabriel do Oeste, located in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. In the 1960's the region was occupied by migrants from southern Brazil who have converted native vegetation (savanna) into extensive cattle and monocrops (coffee, cotton, soybeans and corn, successively), and more recently intensive swine was introduced. The following emergy indicators were calculated for the current municipal situation: Renewability (%R): 8%; Emergy yield ratio (EYR): 14; Emergy investment ratio (EIR): 0.08; Environmental loading ratio (ELR): 11; Emergy exchange ratio (EER): 13 and Transformity of the commodities: 8x105seJ.J-1. The very low %R and high environmental pressure (ELR) signalize that the municipality's economy is highly dependent on external inputs. Above all, there is a high loss of system internal stocks (soil) and the high EYR obtained is directly related to this predatory land use. The emergy value of the soil loss is 83% of the total emergy, which is an environmental imbalanced situation. The main land use in São Gabriel do Oeste, accounting for 39% of the territory, is extensive cattle farming that demands few agricultural inputs, what explains the very low EIR. The EER shows that the rural area is subsidizing urban economies that import products from the study area. The real value of the agricultural products should be 13 times the market value of such commodities to be considered as a fair trade. The inclusion of soil loss as a negative externality shows that (in economic terms) the amount of soil lost by erosion and leaching (4,149x106 emUSD.year-1) corresponds to 46% of the total production monetary value (9,018x106 emUSD.year-1). The emergy diagnosis shows that the business model established for commodities producers is highly dependent on the external market, which does not remunerate the imported resources accordingly to its real value. To settle this situation, a dialogue between farmers, consumers and authorities should be established. The latter two should involve not only local representatives as well as players of the importing countries.BIWAES 2015

Community perspectives on the extent to which transactional sex is viewed as sexual exploitation in Central Uganda.

BACKGROUND: Definitions of child sexual exploitation vary. Sexual exploitation violates children's rights and exposes them to mental and physical harm. There exist differences in views of behaviour that is considered exploitative, including transactional sex. This paper explores community perspectives on the extent to which transactional sex is considered exploitative. METHODS: In 2014, we conducted 19 focus group discussions and 44 in-depth interviews with young people and adults in two communities in Uganda. Participants were presented with vignettes describing sexual encounters between adolescent girls and young women and men to explore under what conditions participants considered the scenario to be exploitative and why. Interviews were conducted in Luganda using a semi-structured tool, audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Analysis was thematic and complemented by constant comparison and deviant case analysis techniques. RESULTS: Definitions by multilateral, bilateral, and non-governmental organisations of the sexual exploitation of children shared similarities with community conceptualisations of wrong or unfair sex. Although in community conceptualisations there was no consensus on what constituted sexual exploitation, transactional sex was condemned to the extent to which it involved sex with a minor or misled a naïve or immature girl; involved lack of consent, particularly in relationships characterised by power differentials; or worsened the pre-existing status of the girl. Also relevant was the extent to which a man's intentions were considered inappropriate; the adolescent girl or young woman was considered vulnerable; and the adolescent girl or young woman was considered responsible for 'her situation'. CONCLUSIONS: Existing social norms that condemn sex with a minor or sex that involves deception, sexual coercion or misleading an immature girl, present opportunities to mobilise communities to protect adolescent girls and young women at risk. Any intervention must, however, be designed with full cognisance of the social and structural drivers that underlie transactional sex and limit adolescent girls' and young women's opportunities to provide for themselves without recourse to sexual relationships with men. Interventions must also be designed to recognise that girls in transactional sex relationships may not consider themselves as exploited, thus requiring engagement with them based on their own concerns, aspirations, and expectations

Poxvirus Bioinformatics Resource Center: a comprehensive Poxviridae informational and analytical resource

The Poxvirus Bioinformatics Resource Center (PBRC) has been established to provide informational and analytical resources to the scientific community to aid research directed at providing a better understanding of the Poxviridae family of viruses. The PBRC was specifically established as the result of the concern that variola virus, the causative agent of smallpox, as well as related viruses, might be utilized as biological weapons. In addition, the PBRC supports research on poxviruses that might be considered new and emerging infectious agents such as monkeypox virus. The PBRC consists of a relational database and web application that supports the data storage, annotation, analysis and information exchange goals of the project. The current release consists of over 35 complete genomic sequences of various genera, species and strains of viruses from the Poxviridae family. Sequence and annotation information for these viruses has been obtained from sequences publicly available from GenBank as well as sequences not yet deposited in GenBank that have been obtained from ongoing sequencing projects. In addition to sequence data, the PBRC provides comprehensive annotation and curation of virus genes; analytical tools to aid in the understanding of the available sequence data, including tools for the comparative analysis of different virus isolates; and visualization tools to help better display the results of various analyses. The PBRC represents the initial development of what will become a more comprehensive Viral Bioinformatics Resource Center for Biodefense that will be one of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases' ‘Bioinformatics Resource Centers for Biodefense and Emerging or Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases’. The PBRC website is available at http://www.poxvirus.org

Dynamics of C/N and nutrients in Oxisol soils treated with swine digestate.

We present C/N and nutrient soil data of 6 integrated swine-cattle farms in São Gabriel do Oeste that have been applying effluent to pasture over different time spans and variable effluent doses. The results are discussed under the light of effluent application, soil depth and time spans of effluent application.(Embrapa Gado de Corte. Documentos, 216). Coordenador Roberto Giolo de Almeida. II SIGEE. Disponível em: . Acesso em: 30 nov. 2016

Comportamento de gramíneas perenes recentemente introduzidas no Brasil Central

Dry matter production of fourteen recently introduced perennial grasses was compared with that of pangolagrass (Digitaria decumbens) and of "Taiwan A-24" (Digitaria pentzii) in cutting trials at the Matão Training Center of the IRI Research Institute in the State of São Paulo. Each grass was evaluated at two soil fertility levels on a red latosol. Brachiaria decumbens (IRI 562) was the outstanding grass with respect to dry matter yield over a two year period. Its yield was significantly higher than that of any of the other grasses, at both high and low fertilizer levels. Another Brachiaria species, IRI 409, and various other Digitaria species were superior to pangolagrass and to "Taiwan A-24". Additional research on animal acceptability, nutritive value, and performance under grazing is necessary for a better evaluation of this new germsplasm as promising contributions to pasture improvement in South-Central Brazil.O propósito do estudo foi avaliar gramíneas recentemente introduzidas, em comparação com o capim pangola (Digitaria decumbens) e o pangola "Taiwan A-24" (Digitaria pentzii). Foram comparadas quatorze gramíneas perenes, em um ensaio de corte, no Centro de Treinamento de Matão, do Instituto de Pesquisas IRI, no Estado de São Paulo. Cada gramínea foi avaliada em dois níveis diferentes de fertilidade de solo, em um latossolo vermelho. Brachiaria decumbens (IRI 562) foi excelente com respeito ao rendimento de matéria sêca durante um período de dois anos. Seu rendimento foi significativamente mais alto do que o de qualquer das outras gramíneas, tanto em alta fertilidade como em baixa. Uma outra Brachiaria sp., IRI 409, e várias outras Digitaria foram também superiores ao capim pangola e ao pangola "Taiwan A-24". É necessário que sejam realizados outros estudos sôbre a aceitação pelos animais, valor nutritivo e comportamento sob pastoreio, para melhor avaliação desses novos germoplasmas como contribuições promissoras para o melhoramento de pastagens no Brasil Central