Factorization of nonnegative matrices—II

AbstractSuppose A is an n×n nonnegative matrix. Necessary and sufficient conditions are given for A to be factored as LU, where L is a lower triangular nonnegative matrix, and U is an upper triangular nonnegative matrix with uii = 1

Soil salinization in irrigated drylands : prospects for restoration in Cuyo, Argentina

Las tierras secas se caracterizan, entre otras cosas, por presentar precipitaciones escasas y suelos con insuficiente agua. En estas regiones, la producción agrícola depende del riego sistematizado que transforma los ecosistemas naturales en áreas irrigadas cultivables, tal como ocurre en la región de Cuyo, en el centro-oeste de Argentina. Aunque estos territorios constituyen el soporte de la mayoría de la población, frecuentemente se asocian con procesos de degradación. Una de las principales consecuencias de la agricultura no sustentable es la salinización del suelo, la cual se produce a causa del reemplazo de la vegetación nativa perenne de raíces profundas por cultivos anuales de raíces poco profundas o bien como consecuencia del riego excesivo y la falta de drenaje adecuado. La salinización constituye un problema a escala mundial, dado que reduce la productividad de grandes áreas cultivables, disminuye el valor de la tierra y conduce a su abandono. En este contexto, la restauración de ecosistemas representa un abordaje estratégico para revertir la degradación de estas tierras, recuperar servicios y promover la conservación de ecosistemas áridos a escala regional. En este trabajo se revisan los factores, tanto aquellos vinculados con el medio biofísico como los determinados por las actividades antrópicas, que fueron asociados con la salinización en distintas regiones, así como las medidas implementadas para rehabilitar estos ambientes. Asimismo, se revisa la terminología vinculada con la práctica de la restauración y se propone una alternativa apropiada para explorar este abordaje en Cuyo: la restauración productiva con especies del género Prosopis.Drylands are characterized among other things by low rainfall and soils with insufficient water. In these regions, agricultural production depends on irrigation, which transforms arid ecosystems into irrigated arable areas, as in the Cuyo region, in the central-western Argentina. Although these lands support the majority of the population, they are often associated with degradation processes. One of the main consequences of unsustainable agriculture is soil salinization, which occurs either because perennial deep-rooted native vegetation is replaced by annual crops or as a result of excessive irrigation and deficient drainage. Salinization is a global problem, since it reduces the productivity of large arable areas, decreases land value and leads to their abandonment. In this context, ecosystem restoration is a strategic approach to reverse the degradation of irrigated drylands, recover services and promote the conservation of arid ecosystems at the regional scale. In this paper we review the factors, both those linked to the biophysical environment and those determined by human activities, which are associated with salinization in different regions, as well as the implemented measures for rehabilitating these environments. Furthermore, the terminology associated with the practice of restoration is revised and a suitable alternative for exploring this approach in Cuyo is proposed: the productive restoration using species of the Prosopis genus.Fil: Guida-Johnson, Bárbara. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas Fil: Abraham, Elena M.. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas Fil: Cony, Mariano A.. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas <IADIZA

Effects of organic amendment application on soil quality and garlic yield in Central-Western Argentina

We analyzed during two garlic crop cycles, the effects of chicken manure and vermicompost on soil chemical and biological properties in an agricultural farm irrigated with municipal wastewater of central-western Argentina. Also we evaluate garlic yield and possible health risks as resulting from the organic amendments and the wastewater use. We found that: a) different doses and types of amendments did not have any significant effects on soil fertility; b) chicken manure and soil before planting, had E. coli and Salmonella spp.; and c) crop yields were quite similar in all treatments, only treatments with 8 Mg ha -1 of both amendments (chicken manure and vermicompost) without N fertilized, were significantly higher than control in both garlic assays. These results are probably the consequence of heavily tilled soils and poor quality of irrigation water with high abundance of enteric bacteria and labile organic matter content. We conclude that to obtain beneficial effects on soil fertility from organic amendment application, wastewater treatment systems must be improved and tillage practices must be reduced. © Filippini et al.Fil: Filippini, Maria Flavia Ramona. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Abril, Adriana. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias; ArgentinaFil: Cony, Mariano Anibal. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas; ArgentinaFil: Noé, L.. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias; ArgentinaFil: Venier, M.. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Cónsoli, Daniela Virginia. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Vallone, R.. INTA EEA Mendoza; Argentin

Examining the Effects of Relationship Quality and Calculative Commitment on Sport Consumer Behaviors for Intercollegiate Athletics

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of relationship quality and calculative commitment on sport consumers’ game attendance, donation intentions, and customer referral in the context of intercollegiate athletics. Relationship quality was operationalized as a higher-order construct containing trust, satisfaction, and affective commitment (De Wulf, Odekerken-Schröder, & Iacobucci, 2001). Calculative commitment, on the other hand, was conceptualized as a cost-induced commitment between relationship partners (Geyskens, Steenkamp, Scheer, & Kumar, 1996). Based on previous studies, a 29-item instrument was developed, and modifications were made to adapt it to intercollegiate athletics. Research participants (N = 350) were consumers of a Division I intercollegiate athletic program located in the southeast region of the United States. The result of a confirmatory factor analysis suggested that the measurement model fit the data well. In addition, the result of a structural equation modeling indicated that both relationship quality and calculative commitment are predictive of sport consumer behaviors at the intercollegiate level. Finally, the theoretical and managerial implications of this study’s findings are discussed

Salinización del suelo en tierras secas irrigadas: perspectivas de restauración en Cuyo, Argentina

Drylands are characterized among other things by low rainfall and soils with insufficient water. In these regions, agricultural production depends on irrigation, which transforms arid ecosystems into irrigated arable areas, as in the Cuyo region, in the central-western Argentina. Although these lands support the majority of the population, they are often associated with degradation processes. One of the main consequences of unsustainable agriculture is soil salinization, which occurs either because perennial deep-rooted native vegetation is replaced by annual crops or as a result of excessive irrigation and deficient drainage. Salinization is a global problem, since it reduces the productivity of large arable areas, decreases land value and leads to their abandonment. In this context, ecosystem restoration is a strategic approach to reverse the degradation of irrigated drylands, recover services and promote the conservation of arid ecosystems at the regional scale. In this paper we review the factors, both those linked to the biophysical environment and those determined by human activities, which are associated with salinization in different regions, as well as the implemented measures for rehabilitating these environments. Furthermore, the terminology associated with the practice of restoration is revised and a suitable alternative for exploring this approach in Cuyo is proposed: the productive restoration using species of the Prosopis genus.Las tierras secas se caracterizan, entre otras cosas, por presentar precipitaciones escasas y suelos con insuficiente agua. En estas regiones, la producción agrícola depende del riego sistematizado que transforma los ecosistemas naturales en áreas irrigadas cultivables, tal como ocurre en la región de Cuyo, en el centro-oeste de Argentina. Aunque estos territorios constituyen el soporte de la mayoría de la población, frecuentemente se asocian con procesos de degradación. Una de las principales consecuencias de la agricultura no sustentable es la salinización del suelo, la cual se produce a causa del reemplazo de la vegetación nativa perenne de raíces profundas por cultivos anuales de raíces poco profundas o bien como consecuencia del riego excesivo y la falta de drenaje adecuado. La salinización constituye un problema a escala mundial, dado que reduce la productividad de grandes áreas cultivables, disminuye el valor de la tierra y conduce a su abandono. En este contexto, la restauración de ecosistemas representa un abordaje estratégico para revertir la degradación de estas tierras, recuperar servicios y promover la conservación de ecosistemas áridos a escala regional. En este trabajo se revisan los factores, tanto aquellos vinculados con el medio biofísico como los determinados por las actividades antrópicas, que fueron asociados con la salinización en distintas regiones, así como las medidas implementadas para rehabilitar estos ambientes. Asimismo, se revisa la terminología vinculada con la práctica de la restauración y se propone una alternativa apropiada para explorar este abordaje en Cuyo: la restauración productiva con especies del género Prosopis

COPIGMENTAÇÃO INTRA E INTERMOLECULAR DE ANTOCIANINAS: UMA REVISÃO

Este trabalho apresenta revisão de literatura sobre a reação de copigmentação intra e intermolecular e sua relevância na estabilização de antocianinas. Flavonóides não-antociânicos, alcalóides, aminoácidos e nucleosídios, entre outros, podem atuar como copigmentos de antocianinas. O aumento na estabilidade das antocianinas ocorre devido à proteção fornecida pelo copigmento frente à reação de hidratação do cátion flavilium. Estudos ainda são necessários para avaliar a estabilidade de antocianinas adicionadas de copigmentos em sistemas modelos de alimentos, visando aumentar o espectro de aplicação dessas como corantes em alimentos e bebidas. ANTHOCYANINS INTRA AND INTERMOLECULAR COPIGMENTATION: A REVIEW Abstract This research presents literature review about the reaction of intra and intermolecular copigmentation and its revealance in anthocyanins stabilization. Non-anthocyanic flavonoids, alkaloids, amino acids, nucleosides, and others, can act as anthocyanins copigments. The increase in the stability of anthocyanins occurs due to protection supplied by the copigment towards the hydratation reaction of colored flavylium cation. Studies to evaluate anthocyanins stabilization added of copigments in food models system are still necessary, aiming to enhance the application spectra as colorants in foods and beverages

Caracterización del fitoplancton y estado trófico de la laguna Sauce Grande (provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina) en el otoño de 2010

The composition and abundance of the phytoplankton in the Sauce Grande Shallow Lake were studied during the autumn of 2010. Three sampling sites were established: In the output Sauce Grande River (E1), at the entrance of the Sauce Grande River in the water body (E2) and in the deepest sector of the water body (E3). Sixty taxa were identified, belonged to Chlorophyta (50%), Heterokontophyta (27%), Cyanobacteria (20%) and Dinophyta/Euglenophyta (3%). Phytoplankton abundance ranged between 84500 and 340600 ind/ml. No differences were observed in total phytoplankton abundances among sampling stations, but significant differences among sampling dates were found. Planctonema lauterbornii Schmidle (Chlorophyta) was the dominant species with abundances up to 70600 ind/ml. Several salinity indicators (as Chaetoceros muelleri, Cyclotella aff. meneghiniana and Protoperidinium achromaticum) and eutrophication indicators (as Microcystis aeruginosa and Pediastrum boryanum) were registered. Besides, representatives of Cyanobacteria putative toxic-bloom producers (as species of Anabaena, Anabaenopsis, Aphanocapsa and Microcystis) were identified. This shallow lake is classified as eutrophic according to Carlson TSI based on chlorophyll a. The high phytoplankton abundance and the low Secchi disk readings allow defining the Sauce Grande Shallow Lake as “turbid” and phytoplankton dominated.Instituto de Limnología "Raúl A. Ringuelet

Fusarium and allied fusarioid taxa (FUSA). 1

Seven Fusarium species complexes are treated, namely F. aywerte species complex (FASC) (two species), F. buharicum species complex (FBSC) (five species), F. burgessii species complex (FBURSC) (three species), F. camptoceras species complex (FCAMSC) (three species), F. chlamydosporum species complex (FCSC) (eight species), F. citricola species complex (FCCSC) (five species) and the F. concolor species complex (FCOSC) (four species). New species include Fusicolla elongata from soil (Zimbabwe), and Neocosmospora geoasparagicola from soil associated with Asparagus officinalis (Netherlands). New combinations include Neocosmospora akasia, N. awan, N. drepaniformis, N. duplosperma, N. geoasparagicola, N. mekan, N. papillata, N. variasi and N. warna. Newly validated taxa include Longinectria gen. nov., L. lagenoides, L. verticilliforme, Fusicolla gigas and Fusicolla guangxiensis. Furthermore, Fusarium rosicola is reduced to synonymy under N. brevis. Finally, the genome assemblies of Fusarium secorum (CBS 175.32), Microcera coccophila (CBS 310.34), Rectifusarium robinianum (CBS 430.91), Rugonectria rugulosa (CBS 126565), and Thelonectria blattea (CBS 952.68) are also announced her