Reabsorção de nutrientes por espécies arbóreas acumuladoras de fósforo na Amazônia: influência na qualidade da serrapilheira.

A importância de se conhecer as concentrações e os estoques de nutrientes como o fósforo (P) e o nitrogênio (N) na serrapilheira (liteira) produzida por espécies potencialmente acumuladoras de fósforo em florestas secundárias cujos solos são deficientes neste nutriente deve-se à necessidade de se identificar mulch de qualidade para a tecnologia de preparo de área do tipo chop and mulch recentemente praticada pela Agricultura Itinerante do Nordeste do Estado do Pará. Dessa forma, os teores e os estoques de fósforo e nitrogênio encontrados na serrapilheira foliar de Neea macrophylla foram superiores aos de Cecropia palmata e Casearia arborea, sugerindo que o melhor litter seria o produzido por Neea. Contudo, é Cecropia palmata a espécie com maior capacidade de retranslocação de fósforo das folhas senescentes para as folhas maduras, sugerindo uma estratégia de economia do nutriente em condição de estresse natural. Quanto ao nitrogênio, as retranslocações foram muito baixas para as três espécies, sinalizando que este nutriente parece não estar sendo limitante

Fósforo, nitrogênio, lignina, celulose e polifenóis em amostras de serrapilheira foliar de Neea macrophylla, Cecropia palmata e Casearia arborea no Nordeste do Estado do Pará.

A necessidade de se conhecer a dinâmica de decomposição da serrapilheira (liteira) foliar de espécies potencialmente acumuladoras de fósforo (P) como Neea macrophylla e Cecropia palmata ao longo do tempo, é fundamental na seleção de mulch para a tecnologia de preparo de área para plantio denominada slash and mulch adotada em alguns sistemas agrícolas a Nordeste do Estado do Pará. Com o intuito de caracterizar quantitativamente e temporalmente as Taxas de Incremento de P e N ao longo do processo inicial de decomposição da liteira foliar das espécies estudadas correlacionando com as concentrações iniciais de lignina, celulose e polifenóis, este experimento foi então desenvolvido alocando-se bolsas de decomposição sobre a serrapilheira de uma floresta secundária no Município de Igarapé-Açú, estado do Pará. Os resultados indicaram uma alta correlação (r=-0,82) entre a concentração de polifenóis iniciais no liteira e a perda de biomassa ao longo de 210 dias; a liberação de fósforo (P) durante o processo de decomposição foi determinada em parte pelas concentrações de lignina iniciais (r=-0,54) mas sobretudo de celulose (r=-0,73) e as concentrações de N-NH4 na liteira foliar ao final do período de observação mostraram dependência da concentração inicial de lignina. Neea macrophylla foi a espécie que perdeu mais rapidamente biomassa para o solo mostrando ser uma espécie importante no processo de ciclagem de fósforo em ambientes com deficiência

Propuesta de un plan director para una terminal de mega cruceros en Puerto Limón.

Proyecto de Graduación (Licenciatura en Ingeniería en Construcción). Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica. Escuela de Ingeniería en Construcción, 2002.Este trabajo consiste en formular una propuesta de plan director para una terminal de mega cruceros en Puerto Limón. Tomando en cuenta las condiciones socioeconómicas y naturales de la región, la infraestructura portuaria y general desarrollada, el crecimiento tanto mundial como en nuestro país del mercado de cruceros principalmente en el Caribe, y los nuevos mega buques que se encuentran navegando unos y en fabricación otros, se realiza una previsión de la demanda, cuya proyección de crecimiento está fundamentada en los registros estadísticos que tiene JAPDEVA sobre el arribo de cruceros y pasajeros a la costa caribeña costarricense en los últimos ocho años. A partir de esa información, la cual es fundamental para determinar el dimensionamiento y sus características, se llega a establecer una configuración para la infraestructura necesaria, que se propone sea desarrollada por fases, tanto por aspectos de índole presupuestaria como de adecuación de los actuales puestos de atraque para los buques cargueros. También se realiza un análisis de la relación beneficio – costo, enfocándola más hacia los beneficios para la ciudad y sus habitantes que al puerto mismo como tal, ya que a este último le resulta más atractivo el negocio de manejo de carga, tanto de importación como de exportación

Coordenação vertical e contratos informais na agricultura irrigada: um estudo de caso com aplicação do modelo Tobit

The theory of contracts assumes that human nature is essentially opportunistic, and economic agents protect themselves against adverse selection and moral hazard by elaborating contracts. In the case of irrigated areas in the Brazilian northeast, such contracts are not necessarily formal. That is, arrangements based on economic agent’s word are common. The data used are from acerola producers in the Petrolina-Juazeiro irrigation project. The empirical model was tobit, given that the dependent variable was characterized by a truncated distribution. The results showed that the decision to engage on contractual relations is fundamentally defined by the degree of dependence of the farmer in respect to the processing industry. Furthermore, past experience of contractual relationship with the processing industry is a strong determinant of the individual’s behavior.Vertical coordination, Contracts, Irrigation, Tobit model, Industrial Organization,

Revisiting the STEC Testing Approach: Using espK and espV to Make Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) Detection More Reliable in Beef

Current methods for screening Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157 and non-O157 in beef enrichments typically rely on the molecular detection of stx, eae, and serogroup-specific wzx or wzy gene fragments. As these genetic markers can also be found in some non-EHEC strains, a number of “false positive” results are obtained. Here, we explore the suitability of five novel molecular markers, espK, espV, ureD, Z2098, and CRISPRO26:H11 as candidates for a more accurate screening of EHEC strains of greater clinical significance in industrialized countries. Of the 1739 beef enrichments tested, 180 were positive for both stx and eae genes. Ninety (50%) of these tested negative for espK, espV, ureD, and Z2098, but 12 out of these negative samples were positive for the CRISPRO26:H11 gene marker specific for a newly emerging virulent EHEC O26:H11 French clone. We show that screening for stx, eae, espK, and espV, in association with the CRISPRO26:H11 marker is a better approach to narrow down the EHEC screening step in beef enrichments. The number of potentially positive samples was reduced by 48.88% by means of this alternative strategy compared to the European and American reference methods, thus substantially improving the discriminatory power of EHEC screening systems. This approach is in line with the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) opinion on pathogenic STEC published in 2013

Revisiting the STEC Testing Approach: Using espK and espV to Make Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) Detection More Reliable in Beef

Current methods for screening Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157 and non-O157 in beef enrichments typically rely on the molecular detection of stx, eae, and serogroup-specific wzx or wzy gene fragments. As these genetic markers can also be found in some non-EHEC strains, a number of “false positive” results are obtained. Here, we explore the suitability of five novel molecular markers, espK, espV, ureD, Z2098, and CRISPRO26:H11 as candidates for a more accurate screening of EHEC strains of greater clinical significance in industrialized countries. Of the 1739 beef enrichments tested, 180 were positive for both stx and eae genes. Ninety (50%) of these tested negative for espK, espV, ureD, and Z2098, but 12 out of these negative samples were positive for the CRISPRO26:H11 gene marker specific for a newly emerging virulent EHEC O26:H11 French clone. We show that screening for stx, eae, espK, and espV, in association with the CRISPRO26:H11 marker is a better approach to narrow down the EHEC screening step in beef enrichments. The number of potentially positive samples was reduced by 48.88% by means of this alternative strategy compared to the European and American reference methods, thus substantially improving the discriminatory power of EHEC screening systems. This approach is in line with the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) opinion on pathogenic STEC published in 2013

Editorial: Modulating glial cells phenotype. New findings and therapies

Aging and neurodegenerative diseases are closely related, and the common point between both scenarios is neuroinflammation. Neuroinflammation is mainly mediated by glial cells, astrocytes, and microglia; while endothelial cells transfer the pro-inflammatory signals from periphery. The mechanism that underlies glial cells activation and neuroinflammation-related damage is not fully understood, being the study of glial cells during aging as well as neurodegenerative diseases, a key point to identify targets and to develop therapies that modulate adverse outcomes and mitigate neurodegeneration. This Research Topic has produced a highly informative collection of original research and reviews, that cover multiple aspects for delving neuroinflammation and glial phenotypic changes in neurological diseases and aging. Researchers have presented their work and views to explain cellular and molecular mechanisms acquired by glial cells as well as possible interventions that can modify their functions and phenotypes associated with a broad spectrum of neurological diseases.Fil: Bellini, Maria Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata "Prof. Dr. Rodolfo R. Brenner". Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata "Prof. Dr. Rodolfo R. Brenner"; ArgentinaFil: Diz Chaves, Yolanda. Universidad de Vigo; EspañaFil: Ramos, Alberto Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Preference of veterinarians to select an udder health programme for milk producers

This investigation was carried out to gain more insight about the preference of veterinarians on the implementation of an udder health programme (UHP) in a dairy farm. Methods A choice experiment was designed to elicit the preferences of the participants. The study population consisted of 36 veterinarians from Argentina specialised on milk quality. The choice experiment offered several UHPs, which were combinations of some of the interventions included in the so-called five-point plan. To reduce bias among the participants, the UHPs offered were unlabelled and considered two farm contexts: One was on a pasture system and the other was on a dry-lot with pasture access system. The basic criteria (the so-called attribute) to describe veterinarians' preferences for each UHP proposed were efficacy on clinical mastitis (CM) and bulk milk somatic cell count (BMSCC) reduction, cost and technical support. The data collected were analysed using conjoint analysis. Results UHP cost and UHP efficacy on BMSCC and CM had a significant influence on veterinarians' ranking decisions under both dairy production contexts. The efficacy on CM was the most important attribute to prefer a particular UHP, while technical assistance was the least important attribute considered. The attributes related to efficacy on both BMSCC and CM explained over 60 per cent of the total importance of all attributes. Conclusion To the authors' knowledge, this is the first research in South America focused on studying veterinarians' preferences to suggest a UHP. The cost and efficacy attributes were the veterinarians' top priority attributes to decide the best UHP.Fil: Vissio, Claudina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria. Departamento de Patología Animal; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Instituto para el Desarrollo Agroindustrial y de la Salud. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto para el Desarrollo Agroindustrial y de la Salud; ArgentinaFil: Richardet, Melina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria. Departamento de Patología Animal; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Chaves, Javier. Lactodiagnóstico Sur; ArgentinaFil: Larriestra, Alejandro Jose. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria. Departamento de Patología Animal; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Villa María. Instituto Académico Pedagógico de Ciencias Básicas y Aplicadas; Argentin

Assessment of hormonal parameters in long-term karate Practitioners

Introduction: Karate is a Japanese martial art which is widely practiced in the Western world as a form of self-defense, as well as a discipline to achieve physical and mental balance.However, little is known with respect to its specific psychobiological effects, particularly in relation to the influence that karate may exert on the endocrine system. Thus, in the present study we analyzed the effects of regular karate practice on several hormonal parameters. Methods: 27 healthy volunteer subjects participated in the study, of whom 15 were allocated to the experimental group, and 12 were assigned to the control group. Experimental subjects were karate players with a minimum of 3 years of practice in this discipline. Blood samples for the quantification of hormonal parameters (TSH, T3, T4, PTH, ACTH, cortisol, and DHEA) were taken in both groups. To compare the means of the control and experimental group, a t-test for independent groups was performed in each dependent variable. Results: Significant differences between the experimental and control group were found in T3, T4, and cortisol, with karate players showing lower blood levels of these hormones than control. Conclusions: These findings reveal that long-term karate practice is associated to a significant endocrine modulation, which suggests interesting psychobiological implications, and lends itself to potential clinical considerations. Further research is needed to properly assess the scope of the peculiar hormonal profile displayed by advanced karate practitioners.Universidad de Málaga, Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec