Variability of fusion vergence measurements in heterophoria

Purpose: The aims of this study were to compare fusional vergence measurements between orthophoria, esophoria, and exophoria, and to determine the strength of correlations between fusional convergence and divergence and angle of deviation. Methods and materials: A cross-sectional study was performed in children with best-corrected visual acuity of 0.0 LogMAR in either eye, compensated heterophoria within 10 prism diopters (PD), full ocular rotations, presence of fusional vergence, and stereopsis (60 seconds of arc or better). Fusional amplitudes were compared between orthophoric and heterophoric children. The fusion reserve ratio was determined as compensating vergence divided by alternating cover test. Results: Five hundred and thirty children (7.66±1.20 years) were recruited to this study. The most common heterophoria was exophoria (n=181, 34.2% for near; n=20, 3.8% for distance). Exophoric children had significant lower mean positive fusional vergences (exophoria-orthophoria: P=0.003; exophoria-esophoria: P=0.035) for near (19.54±5.23 base-out) compared with children with orthophoria (20.48±4.83 base-out) and esophoria (22.27±5.60 base-out). Smaller convergence fusion amplitudes were associated with larger angles of deviation at near (rs=-0.115; P=0.008) and lower fusion reserve ratios were associated with larger angles of deviation at distance (rs=-0.848; P<0.001) and at near (rs=-0.770; P<0.001). Conclusions: Exophoric children have reduced convergence break points when compared with orthophoric and esophoric children. Vergence measurements, taking into consideration the baseline heterophoria, give important information about the ability of the patient to increase their vergence demand and maintain ocular alignment

Understanding the clinical spectrum of complicated Plasmodium vivax malaria: a systematic review on the contributions of the Brazilian literature

The resurgence of the malaria eradication agenda and the increasing number of severe manifestation reports has contributed to a renewed interested in the Plasmodium vivax infection. It is the most geographically widespread parasite causing human malaria, with around 2.85 billion people living under risk of infection. The Brazilian Amazon region reports more than 50% of the malaria cases in Latin America and since 1990 there is a marked predominance of this species, responsible for 85% of cases in 2009. However, only a few complicated cases of P. vivax have been reported from this region. A systematic review of the Brazilian indexed and non-indexed literature on complicated cases of vivax malaria was performed including published articles, masters' dissertations, doctoral theses and national congresses' abstracts. The following information was retrieved: patient characteristics (demographic, presence of co-morbidities and, whenever possible, associated genetic disorders); description of each major clinical manifestation. As a result, 27 articles, 28 abstracts from scientific events' annals and 13 theses/dissertations were found, only after 1987. Most of the reported information was described in small case series and case reports of patients from all the Amazonian states, and also in travellers from Brazilian non-endemic areas. The more relevant clinical complications were anaemia, thrombocytopaenia, jaundice and acute respiratory distress syndrome, present in all age groups, in addition to other more rare clinical pictures. Complications in pregnant women were also reported. Acute and chronic co-morbidities were frequent, however death was occasional. Clinical atypical cases of malaria are more frequent than published in the indexed literature, probably due to a publication bias. In the Brazilian Amazon (considered to be a low to moderate intensity area of transmission), clinical data are in accordance with the recent findings of severity described in diverse P. vivax endemic areas (especially anaemia in Southeast Asia), however in this region both children and adults are affected. Finally, gaps of knowledge and areas for future research are opportunely pointed out

Effects of different soil tillage systems and coverages on soybean crop in the Botucatu Region in Brazil

Nowadays, agricultural practices should combine high yields with a sustainable use of resources. Different tillage practices and crop covers, if combined, may help to achieve both objectives. In this work, several traits of a soybean (Glycine max L. Merr) cultivar were studied under different conditions of tillage and previous soil coverages. The experiment was installed at Lageado Research Station, Botucatu county, SP, Brazil, on a Paleudult. It consisted of nine treatments (combining three systems of soil tillage and three cover crops) and 4 replicates, yielding 36 plots of a randomized block experimental design. The soil tillage systems considered were: (1) conventional tillage with two heavy harrowing and a levelling harrowing; (2) chiseling, and (3) no-tillage with chemical drying of vegetation. The three cover crops used were: black oat, sorghum and spontaneous vegetation. Analyzed variables were: plant height, initial and final plant densities, height of first pod insertion, weight of a thousand grains, number of pods per plant, number of grains per pod, and crop yield. No significant differences were observed for most of the analyzed variables; however, conventional tillage produced significantly heavier grains and a higher number of pods per plant. The selected covers were considered an excellent coverage prior to planting soybean in a crop rotation. The three tillage systems can be used for deployment of culture without compromising the development of soybean

Effects of different soil tillage systems and coverages on soybean crop

Abstract Nowadays, agricultural practices should combine high yields with a sustainable use of resources. Different tillage practices and crop covers, if combined, may help to achieve both objectives. In this work, several traits of a soybean (Glycine max L. Merr) cultivar were studied under different conditions of tillage and previous soil coverages. The experiment was installed at Lageado Research Station, Botucatu county, SP, Brazil, on a Paleudult. It consisted of nine treatments (combining three systems of soil tillage and three cover crops) and 4 replicates, yielding 36 plots of a randomized block experimental design. The soil tillage systems considered were: (i) conventional tillage with two heavy harrowing and a levelling harrowing; (ii) chiseling, and (iii) no-tillage with chemical drying of vegetation. The three cover crops used were: black oat, sorghum and spontaneous vegetation. Analyzed variables were: plant height, initial and final plant densities, height of first pod insertion, weight of a thousand grains, number of pods per plant, number of grains per pod, and crop yield. No significant differences were observed for most of the analyzed variables; however, conventional tillage produced significantly heavier grains and a higher number of pods per plant. The selected covers were considered an excellent coverage prior to planting soybean in a crop rotation. The three tillage systems can be used for deployment of culture without compromising the development of soybean. Additional key words: black oat, chisel, Glycine max, heavy harrow, sorghum, yield. Resumen Efectos de diferentes sistemas de laboreo del suelo y coberturas vegetales sobre la cosecha de soja en la región de Botucatu en Brasil Actualmente, las prácticas agrícolas deben combinar elevadas productividades con un uso sostenible de los recursos. Diferentes sistemas de laboreo y coberturas vegetales, combinados, pueden ayudar a conseguir ambos objetivos. En este trabajo se han estudiado diversos aspectos de un cultivar de soja (Glycine max L. Merr) sometido a diferentes condiciones de laboreo y cobertura vegetal. El experimento se llevó a cabo en la Estación Experimental de Lageado, Botucatu (São Paulo, Brasil) sobre un Paleudult, y constó de nueve tratamientos (tres sistemas de laboreo y tres coberturas vegetales combinados) y cuatro repeticiones, totalizando 36 parcelas con un diseño experimental en bloques aleatorios. Los sistemas de laboreo considerados fueron (i) laboreo convencional con dos gradas pesadas y una niveladora; (ii) escarificado y (iii) no laboreo con desecación química de la vegetación. Las tres coberturas utilizadas fueron la avena negra, el sorgo y la vegetación espontánea. Las variables analizadas fueron altura de las plantas, densidad inicial y final de plantas, altura de la inserción de la primera vaina, peso de mil granos, número de vainas por planta y de granos por vaina y productividad de la cosecha. No se observaron diferencias significativas en la mayoría de las variables; sin embargo, el laboreo convencional produjo granos significativamente más pesados y un mayor número de vainas por planta. Las coberturas seleccionadas se consideraron excelentes previas a la plantación de soja en una rotación de cultivos. Los tres sistemas de laboreo pueden implementar el cultivo sin comprometer el desarrollo de la soja

Evaluating movement and populations Dynamics of meagre (Argyrosomus regius) using na interdisciplinar approach

Meagre (Argyrosomus regius) forms ephemeral aggregations during the reproductive season that, given the large size and high commercial value of this species, lead to increased risk of overexploitation. Data paucity together with the inability to apply classical fisheries assessment techniques and management measures due to the seasonally-elusive dynamics of adult meagre, and the diffuse nature of artisanal fishing pressure, demonstrate the importance to search for innovative alternatives that can inform fisheries management and safeguard the reproductive resilience of this iconic species. Here, we use an interdisciplinary approach that combines tagging, natural markers, and bioacoustics. Molecular markers are used to assess population structure of meagre throughout its distribution range, with emphasis on the stocks associated to Portuguese estuaries. Genetic population structure is complemented by fatty acid composition of heart tissue phospholipids, a promising tool to assess population structure at small spatial scale. Otolith chemistry of meagre is used to reconstruct ontogenetic migration patterns and to determine natal or nursery origin of adults. Acoustic tags are used to study the movement patterns of juvenile and adult meagre, particularly to understand the use of estuaries as spawning and nursery habitats and to track movements along the Portuguese Coast. The distinct sounds produced by meagre are used in passive bioacoustics monitoring to delimit spawning aggregations and describe their dynamics within estuaries. This multifaceted approach aims to explore spatial population structure and assess connectivity at different degrees of resolution, and thus providing key information towards the sustainable management of meagre fisheries