Productive Grasslands – The Role of Adapted Species to Increase Ecosystems Resilience

Producers are interested in diversifying grazing systems with native warm-season grasses. Climate variations may result in extreme weather events. For instance, recent studies show strong evidence pointing to an increasing frequency of flooding in the central US, due to changes in both seasonal rainfall and temperature across this region. In a constantly changing climate, adapted species play a crucial role in increasing ecosystems resilience and resistance to extreme weather events. Native grasses may be well adapted to the future changes on climatic conditions, with wide ecological amplitude and resistance under different conditions. Use of adapted warm season grasses, associated with appropriate management practices may enhance pasture ecosystem resilience, and ultimately productivity

Immediate effect of bilateral talocrural joint manipulation on postural balance in healthy subjects

The aim of this study was to assess the immediate effect of bilateral talocrural joint manipulation on the postural balance of healthy subjects. Ninety healthy subjects (21 males and 69 females) were included in this study. The mean age, height and body weight of the subjects were 22.21 years, 165.1 cm and 62.58 Kg, respectively. Following collection of anthropometric data, the subjects were allocated randomly into an experimental group (receiving real talocrural joint manipulation), a placebo group and a control group. Before and after manipulation, the subjects performed two postural balance tasks, inquiet standing position (eyes open and eyes closed) on a force platform. The stabilometric data were recorded for 60 seconds in each condition. Sway area, medio-lateral (ML) and anteroposterior (AP) velocities and median frequency were calculated from the center of pressure (COP) displacements. The results showed that in the experimental group the COP sway velocity decreased in both directions of movement (AP and ML) and in both visual tasks (eyes open and eyes closed). In general, the placebo and control groups had similar postural balance across balance parameterss. Significant effect of the bilateral talocrural joint manipulation was found on main balance parameter like COP velocity in the anteroposterior and mediolateral directions. These results have some much implications for manual therapy rehabilitation of individuals with ankle instability

Microclimate and ramulosis occurrence in a cotton crop under three plant population densities in Southern Brazil

El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el microclima en el cultivo de algodón a tres densidades poblacionales y su efecto sobre la intensidad de la ramulosis. El experimento fue conducido en Piracicaba, SP, Brasil. Los genotipos IAC 23 y Coodetec 401 fueron sembrados a las densidades de 55.000, 111.000 y 166.000  plantas por hectárea. El cultivo fue inoculado con una suspensión de conidios de Colletotrichum gossypii var. cephalosporoides a los 30 y a los 45 días después de la siembra.Las variables temperatura del aire, humedad relativa y duración del follaje mojado fueron registradas a través de una estación automática instalada en el sitio experimental y de seis micro-estaciones ubicadas dentro de la canopia del cultivo (tres en cada genotipo). Los resultados mostraron que la densidad de plantas tuvo poco efecto sobre la temperatura del aire, aunque se registraron diferencias en la humedad relativa y la duración de follaje mojado. Estas diferencias fueron observadas hasta el momento en el cual la cobertura de la canopia fue total. El microclima generado por las tres densidades de plantas tuvo poco efecto en el progreso de la enfermedad, ya que el macroclima durante el experimento fue siempre favorable para el desarrollo de la ramulosis. El genotipo IAC 23 fue más resistente a la ramulosis.El área bajo la curva de progreso de la enfermedad presentó buena asociación con el rendimiento (R2 = 0,7 en todoslos tratamientos y R2 = 0,93 en los promedios), manifestándose como un parámetro potencial para la evaluación del impacto de la ramulosis en la producción de algodón en el sudeste de Brasil

Análise da diversidade genética de isolados de Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. malvacearum do algodoeiro.

A mancha angular do algodoeiro, causada por Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. malvacearum (Xam), é uma doença de importância econômica e pode causar perdas apreciáveis no rendimento. A doença pode ser controlada por resistência varietal desde que haja conhecimento sobre a variabilidade das populações do patógeno. A variabilidade genética e a estabilidade patogênica entre os isolados deste patógeno não foram suficientemente estudadas, principalmente considerando a introdução de novas cultivares e a expansão da cultura. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a variabilidade genética entre os 61 isolados de Xam, provenientes de diversas cultivares e regiões do Brasil, através de ensaios moleculares. Análises de ERIC e REP-PCR demonstraram dois grupos distintos de Xam associados a região geográfica de origem. Não foram observadas diferenças nos perfis dos isolados através de PCR-RFLP da região 16S-23S rDNA. A região espaçadora 16S-23S rDNA de três linhagens de Xam foi analisada através de clonagem e sequenciamento e seis diferenças nas seqüências foram encontradas. A técnica de RAPD revelou um maior nível de polimorfismo, distinguindo 6 grupos de Xam a 85% de similaridade. Os resultados indicam a existência de variabilidade muito restrita entre os isolados analisados

Transient acceleration events in LISA Pathfinder data: properties and possible physical origin

We present an in depth analysis of the transient events, or glitches, detected at a rate of about one per day in the differential acceleration data of LISA Pathfinder. We show that these glitches fall in two rather distinct categories: fast transients in the interferometric motion readout on one side, and true force transient events on the other. The former are fast and rare in ordinary conditions. The second may last from seconds to hours and constitute the majority of the glitches. We present an analysis of the physical and statistical properties of both categories, including a cross-analysis with other time series like magnetic fields, temperature, and other dynamical variables. Based on these analyses we discuss the possible sources of the force glitches and identify the most likely, among which the outgassing environment surrounding the test-masses stands out. We discuss the impact of these findings on the LISA design and operation, and some risk mitigation measures, including experimental studies that may be conducted on the ground, aimed at clarifying some of the questions left open by our analysis.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Transient acceleration events in LISA Pathfinder data: Properties and possible physical origin

We present an in depth analysis of the transient events, or glitches, detected at a rate of about one per day in the differential acceleration data of LISA Pathfinder. We show that these glitches fall in two rather distinct categories: fast transients in the interferometric motion readout on one side, and true force transient events on the other. The former are fast and rare in ordinary conditions. The second may last from seconds to hours and constitute the majority of the glitches. We present an analysis of the physical and statistical properties of both categories, including a cross-analysis with other time series like magnetic fields, temperature, and other dynamical variables. Based on these analyses we discuss the possible sources of the force glitches and identify the most likely, among which the outgassing environment surrounding the test-masses stands out. We discuss the impact of these findings on the LISA design and operation, and some risk mitigation measures, including experimental studies that may be conducted on the ground, aimed at clarifying some of the questions left open by our analysis