Modelling the distribution of Bonelli's eagle in Spain: Implications for conservation planning

Bonelli’s eagle, Hieraaetus fasciatus , has recently suffered a severe population decline and is currently endangered. Spain supports about 70% of the European population. We used stepwise logistic regression on a set of environmental, spatial and human variables to model Bonelli’s eagle distribution in the 5167 UTM 10 × 10 km quadrats of peninsular Spain. We obtained a model based on 16 variables, which allowed us to identify favourable and unfavourable areas for this species in Spain, as well as intermediate favourability areas. We assessed the stepwise progression of the model by comparing the model’s predictions in each step with those of the final model, and selected a parsimonious explanatory model based on three variables — slope, July temperature and precipitation — comprising 76% of the predictive capacity of th

Longitudinal study in 3,000 m male runners: relationship between performance and selected physiological parameters

The purpose of the present study was to analyze longitudinal changes in 3,000 m running performance and the relationship with selected physiological parameters. Eighteen well-trained male middle-distance runners were measured six times (x3 per year) throughout two consecutive competitive seasons. The following parameters were measured on each occasion: maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), running economy (RE), velocity at maximal oxygen uptake (vVO2max), velocity at 4mmol L-1 blood lactate concentration (V4), and performance velocity (km·h-1) in 3,000 m time trials. Values ranged from 19.59 to 20.16 km·h-1, running performance; 197 to 207 mL·kg-1·km-1. RE; 17.2 to 17.7 km·h-1, V4; 67.1 to 72.5 mL·kg-1·min-1, VO2max; and 19.8 to 20.2 km·h-1, vVO2max. A hierarchical linear model was used to quantify longitudinal relationships between running performance and selected physiological variables. Running performance decreased significantly over time, between each time point the decrease in running velocity was 0.06 km·h-1. The variables that significantly explained performance changes were V4 and vVO2max. Also, vVO2max and V4 were the measures most strongly correlated with performance and can be used to predict 3,000 m race velocity. The best prediction formula for 3,000 m running performance was: y = 0.646 + 0.626x + 0.416z (R2=0.85); where y = V3,000 m velocity (km·h-1), x = V4 (km·h-1) and z = vVO2max (km·h-1). The high predictive power of vVO2max and V4 suggest that both coaches and athletes should give attention to improving these two physiological variables, in order to improve running performance

Numerical modeling strategy for the simulation of nonlinear response of slender reinforced concrete structural walls

A three-dimensional nonlinear modeling strategy for simulating the seismic response of slender reinforced concrete structural walls with different cross-sectional shapes is presented in this paper. A combination of nonlinear multi-layer shell elements and displacement-based beam-column elements are used to model the unconfined and confined parts of the walls, respectively. A uniaxial material model for reinforcing steel bars that includes buckling and low-cyclic fatigue effects is used to model the longitudinal steel bars within the structural walls. The material model parameters related to the buckling length are defined based on an analytical expression for reinforcing steel bars embedded in reinforced concrete elements, which are developed based on beam-on-springs model, and validated with experimental tests of boundary elements of structural walls available in the literature. Six experimental case studies of reinforced concrete walls with rectangular-shape, T-shape, and U-shape cross-section are used to validate the structural wall numerical modeling strategy

Search for the Rare Decay KL --> pi0 ee

The KTeV/E799 experiment at Fermilab has searched for the rare kaon decay KL--> pi0ee. This mode is expected to have a significant CP violating component. The measurement of its branching ratio could support the Standard Model or could indicate the existence of new physics. This letter reports new results from the 1999-2000 data set. One event is observed with an expected background at 0.99 +/- 0.35 events. We set a limit on the branching ratio of 3.5 x 10^(-10) at the 90% confidence level. Combining the results with the dataset taken in 1997 yields the final KTeV result: BR(KL --> pi0 ee) < 2.8 x 10^(-10) at 90% CL.Comment: 4 pages, three figure

Levantamento fitossociológico de plantas daninhas em cafezal orgânico.

A adequação de um cafezal para o sistema orgânico causa grande mudança no sistema de manejo de plantas daninhas, mas as informações sobre o comportamento da comunidade infestante em áreas de cultivo de café orgânico são escassas no Brasil. Objetivou-se com este trabalho realizar um levantamento fitossociológico da comunidade infestante em três cafezais (variedades Mundo Novo, Bourbon Vermelho e Obatã) desenvolvidos em sistema orgânico, no município de Garça (SP). Nas três áreas estudadas foram arremessados ao acaso cem quadrados metálicos com área vazada de 0,25 m2, nas entrelinhas da cultura. As espécies contidas no interior dos quadros foram identificadas segundo a espécie botânica, nome popular e família. A partir dos resultados, determinaram-se os parâmetros fitossociológicos: frequência, densidade, abundância, frequência relativa, densidade relativa, abundância relativa, índice de valor de importância e similaridade florísticas pelos métodos de Simple Matching de Sneath & Sokal e similaridade de Sorensen. As famílias que mais se destacaram, com maior número de espécies nas três áreas foram Poaceae e Asteraceae. Houve alta similaridade em todos os contrastes testados, já que pelo menos metade das espécies identificadas foi comum às duas áreas contrastadas

Natural Hazards Challenges to Civil Engineering

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

HER Family Receptors are Important Theranostic Biomarkers for Cervical Cancer: Blocking Glucose Metabolism Enhances the Therapeutic Effect of HER Inhibitors

Persistent HPV infection alone is not sufficient for cervical cancer development, which requires additional molecular alterations for tumor progression and metastasis ultimately leading to a lethal disease. In this study, we performed a comprehensive analysis of HER family receptor alterations in cervical adenocarcinoma. We detected overexpression of HER protein, mainly HER2, which was an independent prognostic marker for these patients. By using in vitro and in vivo approaches, we provided evidence that HER inhibitors, allitinib and lapatinib, were effective in reducing cervical cancer aggressiveness. Furthermore, combination of these drugs with glucose uptake blockers could overcome the putative HIF1-a-mediated resistance to HER-targeted therapies. Thus, we propose that the use of HER inhibitors in association with glycolysis blockers can be a potentially effective treatment option for HER-positive cervical cancer patients.FINEP (MCTI/FINEP/MS/SCTIE/DECIT-BIOPLAT (1302/13), Brazil and co-funded by the project “ON.2 SR&TD Integrated Program (NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-000017)” co-funded by Programa Operacional Regional do Norte (ON.2- O Novo Norte), Quadro de Referência Estratégico Nacional (QREN), through Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER). OM is recipient of a post-doc fellowship (SFRH/BPD/108351/2015) from Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal. FC is recipient of a master fellowship (2014/03684-0) from Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP). VMG is recipient from a PhD fellowship (SFRH/BD/51997/2012) from Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), Portugalinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Selectivity of metribuzin in postemergence of culture of carrot

A citação dos autores está incorreto.The initial slow growth and short stature of carrot can allow that weeds settle in crop areas, requiring the management of these plants for productivity not to decrease. Nevertheless, weeds control has been difficult because there are few herbicides available for weeds control in postemergence of carrots. Two experiments in the field were carried out to evaluate selectivity of metribuzin applied in postemergence of carrots. A experimental randomized block design was utilized with four repetitions. Treatments consisted of metribuzin doses (0, 144, 288, 432, 576, 720, 960 and 1,200 g ha-1), applied in postemergence of carrots of the Nantes variety. Roots productivity was evaluated and percentage of commercial roots and no-commercial roots was calculated. Metribuzin has not caused visual symptoms of intoxication in carrots. Doses lower than 432 g ha-1 of metribuzin do not reduce the total productivity of roots, independent of the application period. Any doses of metribuzin changed the percentage of commercial and noncommercial roots. It is concluded that metribuzin is selective for carrots of the Nantes variety in postemergence applications at doses of 432 g ha-1.O lento crescimento inicial da cenoura favorece o estabelecimento de plantas daninhas nas áreas de cultivo, sendo necessário o manejo dessas plantas para que não ocorra redução da produtividade. Todavia, o controle tem sido dificultado por existirem poucas opções de herbicidas para o controle de plantas daninhas em pós-emergência da cultura. Dois experimentos de campo foram realizados para avaliar a seletividade do metribuzin aplicado em pós-emergência da cenoura, em dois diferentes períodos de cultivo (inverno e inverno-verão). O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos casualizados com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos corresponderam à aplicação de 0, 144, 288, 432, 576, 720, 960 e 1.200 g ha-1 do metribuzin na cultura da cenoura, cultivar Nantes. Foram avaliadas a produtividade total de raízes e a porcentagem de raízes comerciais e não comerciais. A produtividade total de raízes de cenoura não foi alterada pela aplicação de metribuzin até a dose de 432 g ha-1, independentemente da época de cultivo. A porcentagem de cenouras comercializáveis e descartáveis não foi alterada pelas doses do herbicida. Conclui-se que o metribuzin é seletivo para aplicação em pós-emergência da cenoura, cultivar Nantes, até a dose de 432 g ha-1

Optical And Physical Properties Of Er3+-yb3+ Co-doped Tellurite Fibers

In this work we present results of physical and optical properties of Er3+-Yb3+ co-doped tellurite glasses and fibers. The Double Clad Tellurite Fibers (DCTFs) are based on glasses with the composition: TeO2-WO3-Nb2O5-Na 2O-Al2O3-Er2O3-Yb 2O3. The DCTFs were fabricated by using the rod-in-tube technique and a Heathway drawing tower. The optical absorption spectra (ranging from 350 to 1750 nm) of these fibers were measured using an Optical Spectrum Analyzer (OSA). The emission spectra, around 1550 nm band, of these fibers (lengths varying from 1 to 60 cm) were obtained by using a 980nm diode laser pump. The optimal Amplified Spontaneous Emission (ASE) spectra were observed for fiber lengths ranging from 2 to 6 cm. The Er 3+/Yb3+ co-doped DCTFs show an efficient up-conversion process in comparison with the Er3+-doped DCTF. © 2011 Copyright Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE).8120The Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)Murugan, G.S., Suzuki, T., Ohishi, Y., Raman characteristics and nonlinear optical properties of tellurite and phosphotellurite glasses containing heavy metal oxides with ultrabroad Raman bands (2006) J. of Appl. Phys., 100, p. 023107Nandi, P., Jose, G., Ytterbium-doped P2O5-TeO2 glass for laser applications (2006) IEEE J. of Quat. Electron., 42, pp. 1115-1121Man, S.Q., Pun, E.Y.B., Chung, P.S., Tellurite glasses for 1.3 mm optical amplifiers" (1999) Opt. Comm., 168, pp. 369-373Wang, J.S., Vogel, E.M., Snitzer, E., Tellurite Glass: A New Candidate for Fiber Devices" (1994) Opt. Mat., 3, pp. 187-203Xu, S., Sun, H., Dai, S., Zhang, J., Jiang, Z., Upconversion luminescence of Tm3+/Yb3+-codoped oxyhalide tellurite glasses" (2005) Sol. St. Comm., 133, pp. 89-92Bookey, H.T., Lousteau, J., Jha, A., Gayraud, N., Thomson, R.R., Psaila, N.D., Li, H., Kar, A.K., Multiple rare earth emissions in a multicore tellurite fiber with a single pump wavelength" (2007) Opt. Express, 15, pp. 17554-17561Qin, G., Mori, A., Ohishi, Y., Brillouin lasing in a single-mode tellurite fiber" (2007) Opt. Lett., 32, pp. 2179-2181Zweig, A.D., Frenz, M., Romano, V., Weber, H.P., A comparative study of laser tissue interaction at 2.94 μm and 10.6 μm" (1988) Appl. Phys. B, 47, pp. 259-265Zhang, J., Dai, S., Wang, G., Sun, H., Zhang, L., Hu, L., Fabrication and emission properties of Er3+/Yb3+ codoped tellurite glass fiber for broadband optical amplification (2005) J. of Lum., 115, pp. 45-52Shixun, D., Tiefeng, X., Qiuhua, N., Xiang, S., Xunsi, W., Fabrication and gain performance of Er3+/Yb3+-codoped tellurite glass fiber (2008) J. of Rare Earths, 26, pp. 915-918Jakutis, J., Gomes, L., Amancio, C.T., Kassab, L.R.P., Martinelli, J.R., Wetter, N.U., Increased Er3+ upconversion in tellurite fibers and glasses by co-doping with Yb3+ (2010) Opt. Mat., 33, pp. 107-111Hruby, A., Evaluation of glass-forming tendency by means of DTA (1972) Czech J. Phys B, 22, pp. 1187-119