In-season calcium-spray formulations improve calcium balance and fruit quality traits of peach.

Experiments to evaluate the effect of in-season calcium (Ca) sprays on late-season peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch cv. Calrico) were carried out for a 2-year period. Calcium formulations (0.5% and 1.0% in 2008 and only 0.5% tested in 2009) supplied either as CaCl2 or Ca propionate in combination with two or three adjuvants (0.05% of the nonionic surfactants Tween 20 and Break Thru, and 0.5% carboxymethylcellulose, CMC) were sprayed four to five times over the growing season. Peach mesocarp and endocarp Ca concentrations were determined on a 15-day basis from the beginning of May until the end of June. Further tissue analyses were performed at harvest. A decreasing trend in fruit Ca concentrations over the growing season was always observed regardless of the Ca treatments. Both in 2008 and 2009, significant tissue Ca increments associated with the application of Ca-containing sprays in combination with adjuvants were only observed in June, which may be coincident with the period of pit hardening. In 2008, both at harvest and after cold storage, the total soluble-solids concentration (° Brix) of fruits supplied with Ca propionate (0.5% and 1.0% Ca) was always lower as compared to the rest of treatments. The application of multiple Ca-containing sprays increased firmness at harvest and after cold storage, especially when CaCl2 was the active ingredient used. Supplying the adjuvants Tween 20 and CMC increased fruit acidity both at harvest and after cold storage. Evaluation of the development of physiological disorders after cold storage (2 weeks at 0°C) indicated a lower susceptibility of Ca-treated fruits to internal browning. Fruits treated with multiple CaCl2-, CMC-, and Break Thru®-containing sprays during the growing season were significantly less prone to the development of chilling injuries as compared to untreated peaches

A Decoupled 3D Facial Shape Model by Adversarial Training

Data-driven generative 3D face models are used to compactly encode facial shape data into meaningful parametric representations. A desirable property of these models is their ability to effectively decouple natural sources of variation, in particular identity and expression. While factorized representations have been proposed for that purpose, they are still limited in the variability they can capture and may present modeling artifacts when applied to tasks such as expression transfer. In this work, we explore a new direction with Generative Adversarial Networks and show that they contribute to better face modeling performances, especially in decoupling natural factors, while also achieving more diverse samples. To train the model we introduce a novel architecture that combines a 3D generator with a 2D discriminator that leverages conventional CNNs, where the two components are bridged by a geometry mapping layer. We further present a training scheme, based on auxiliary classifiers, to explicitly disentangle identity and expression attributes. Through quantitative and qualitative results on standard face datasets, we illustrate the benefits of our model and demonstrate that it outperforms competing state of the art methods in terms of decoupling and diversity.Comment: camera-ready version for ICCV'1

From plant surface to plant metabolism: the uncertain fate of foliar-applied nutrients

The application of agrochemical sprays to the aerial parts of crop plants is an important agricultural practice world-wide. While variable effectiveness is often seen in response to foliar treatments, there is abundant evidence showing the beneficial effect of foliar fertilizers in terms of improving the metabolism, quality, and yields of crops. This mini-review is focused on the major bottlenecks associated with the uptake and translocation of foliar-applied nutrient solutions. A better understanding of the complex scenario surrounding the ultimate delivery of foliar-applied nutrients to sink cells and organs is essential for improving the effectiveness and performance of foliar fertilizers

Avances en el control del bitter pit en manzano.

En este trabajo se realiza una sucinta recopilación de los últimos avances en la investigación aplicada al control del bitter pit en la Estación Experimental de Aula Dei (EEAD-CSIC). Se describen nuevas formulaciones y estrategias de aplicación foliar con calcio, un método físico postcosecha y el método de tinción selectiva de calcio en frut

Differential activities of glutathione s-transferase isoenzymes in strains of fasciola hepatica susceptible and resistant to triclabendazole

Fasciolosis, a parasitic zoonosis of intrahepatic location, is caused by the trematode Fasciola hepatica. Its control is mainly based on the use of the anthelminthic Triclabendazole (TCBZ). The indiscriminate use of this drug has favored the development of anthelmintic resistance. The Glutation S-Transferases (GSTs) are multifunctional enzymes involved in the detoxification of xenobiotics and endogenous compounds using conjugation with endogenous glutathione. Recently, it has been shown an active participation of this family of enzymes in the detoxification of TCBZ related to the phenomenon of resistance. In F. hepatica, eight isoenzymes of the GST are present. Since it is well known that different isoenzymes do not necessarily have the same metabolic activity, this study evaluated the cytosolic activity of mu and pi GST isoenzymes in TCBZ resistant (Sligo and Oberon strains) and TCBZ susceptible (Cullompton strains) of F. hepatica. The results obtained in this study confirm that, although both isoenzymes are involved in different processes of detoxification in F. hepatica, only the GSTmu isoenzyme is involved in the manifestation of resistance to TCBZ.Fil: Fernandez, Vanesa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tandil. Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comision de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil; ArgentinaFil: Ortiz Oblitas P.. Universidad Nacional de Cajamarca; PerúFil: Solana, María Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tandil. Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comision de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil; Argentina. Ministerio de Ciencia. Tecnología e Innovación Productiva. Agencia Nacional de Promoción Cientifíca y Tecnológica; ArgentinaFil: Solana, Hugo Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tandil. Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comision de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil; Argentin

Crossroads Rhode Island: Proposed Social Enterprise Business Plan

Crossroads Rhode Island provides their clients with a continuum of care that includes basic emergency needs, shelter, housing, case management and vocational services for individuals and families. In order to provide these services they rely on the generosity of their donors and supporters who have helped Crossroads to become the largest homeless services organization in Rhode Island. It is important to Crossroads that they stick to their core values of safety, respect, and effectiveness when helping the homeless or at-risk individuals and families secure stable homes

Using TREC for cross-comparison between classic IR and ontology-based search models at a Web scale

The construction of standard datasets and benchmarks to evaluate ontology-based search approaches and to compare then against baseline IR models is a major open problem in the semantic technologies community. In this paper we propose a novel evaluation benchmark for ontology-based IR models based on an adaptation of the well-known Cranfield paradigm (Cleverdon, 1967) traditionally used by the IR community. The proposed benchmark comprises: 1) a text document collection, 2) a set of queries and their corresponding document relevance judgments and 3) a set of ontologies and Knowledge Bases covering the query topics. The document collection and the set of queries and judgments are taken from one of the most widely used datasets in the IR community, the TREC Web track. As a use case example we apply the proposed benchmark to compare a real ontology-based search model (Fernandez, et al., 2008) against the best IR systems of TREC 9 and TREC 2001 competitions. A deep analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of this benchmark and a discussion of how it can be used to evaluate other ontology-based search systems is also included at the end of the paper

The pathophysiology of motor thalamus

The thalamus is considered an important structure of sensitive pathways, and also intervenes in motor tasks. It receives multiple cortical and subcortical afferent fibers and the relations between their different nuclei are intense. After anatomic and functional study of the thalamic structure and its connections, we will analyze the different classifications and proposed subdivisions of the thalamic nuclear groups both in primates and humans. We will direct our study towards those aspects of the thalamus related to movement. The motor thalamus is described in most non-human primate studies as the thalamic region that receives subcortical afferent fibers from the basal ganglia and the cerebellum, and cortical fibers of the primary motor and pre-motor areas and these functions are also inferred to the human thalamus based on the cytoarchitectonic similarity between them. Later on, the pathological clinical aspects related to the motor thalamus are discussed. Disturbances or impairments in the coordination and course of movement, in muscular tone, and movement planning can be associated with injuries located in the motor thalamus and its connections. The research related to surgical procedures involving the thalamic structure for the treatment of impairments or disturbances of motion and movement are examined and will permit a comprehensive summary of the different mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of the motor thalamus.peer-reviewe

Fouling assemblages associated with off-coast aquaculture facilities: an overall assessment of the Mediterranean Sea

Aquaculture facilities provide a suitable habitat for a wide group of marine species that are able to colonise and settle on artificial structures. This study aims to determine the composition of fouling communities in off-coast facilities, with special emphasis on motile epifauna and amphipods as a main group. Seventeen aquaculture sites were sampled along the Mediterranean coast, collecting samples by scraping fouling organisms directly from the ropes. Additionally, thirty publications were reviewed, in order to assess the similarity of aquaculture fouling with other fouling communities. Our results reflect that amphipods accounted for more than 80% of the epifauna associated with farms fouling communities. This characteristic epifauna was defined by seven amphipod species well-adapted to colonise and survive in these off-coast habitats. Most species common in farms have also been commonly found in harbours, marinas, and/or offshore on turtles, buoys or platforms etc., showing a great resistance to polluted areas but also to dispersal via rafting on floating objects. In this study, two exotic species were identified: Caprella scaura and Stenothoe georgiana, the latter being the first report from the Mediterranean Sea. The presence of Jassa slatteryi was also confirmed, underestimated until now in the Mediterranean

A clearing-and-staining procedure for the study of the chondrocranium and other aspects of skeletal development in crocodilian embryos

Skull development has been of particular interest to crocodilian researchers, largely because their highly derived skulls have obscured homology of key phylogenetic characters. The chondrocranium has been of particular interest given its role in providing the substrate for endochondral ossification and the scaffold for dermal (intramembranous) ossification. Development of the skeleton in general and chondrocranium in particular has been studied via histology and contrast-enhanced computed microtomography (microCT), but clearing and staining of whole-mount specimens remains a relatively rapid and cost-effective means of generating adequate sample sizes. Historically, there have been many protocols for clearing and staining vertebrate skeletons that produce striking specimens with bluish cartilage and reddish bone within a relatively transparent body. However, application of this technique to crocodilians has been poorly described and standardized. Crocodylia is one of only two extant clades of Archosauria (Aves being the other), and thus the study of the development of the elements of crocodilian skeletons is crucial for evolutionary and paleontological studies. In this contribution, we describe a precise procedure for clearing and staining crocodilian embryos and young post-hatchlings, focusing on three species: Alligator mississippiensis, Caiman latirostris, and C. yacare. In brief, the steps include: initial preparation, bleaching, fixation, dehydration, cartilage and bone staining, clearing (with 0.5% KOH/glycerol series and enzymatic treatment), and storage. Using these procedures, we obtained specimens that provided clear discrimination of bony and cartilaginous anatomy, demonstrating the efficacy of this protocol for crocodilians, particularly with regard to elucidating the structure of the chondrocranium, which is illustrated here for three species.Fil: Fernandez Blanco, María Victoria. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Paleontología Vertebrados; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Witmer, Lawrence. Ohio University; Estados Unido