Rasgos anatómicos característicos del hidrosistema de las principales especies arbóreas de la Región Chaqueña Argentina.

Selected wood anatomy characteres of fourty six species of the principal trees of the Chaco Region were studied in order to analyze the hydraulic conductivity and safety of the xylem system, and compared with data from other habitats. Wood microscopic features considered were: ring porosity, vessel arrangement, tangential vessel diameter, number of vessels per mm2, Vulnerability Index, vessel element length, perforation plate, helical thickening and tracheas. A predominance of characters that probably contribute to hydraulic safety was observed: diffuse porous, numerous grouped or multiple vessels of small diameter, short vessel elements, with simple perforation plate. Maytenus vitis-idaea, Rupretchia apetala, Castela coccinea, Parkinsonia aculeata, Jodina rhombifolia species of the driest part of Chaco Region, present the most xerophytic features.Los objetivos de este trabajo son realizar un análisis comparativo de los caracteres anatómicos del leño que componen el sistema hidráulico del xilema de 46 especies arbóreas de la Región Chaqueña, Argentina y determinar las especies que presentan características xeromórficas destacadas de acuerdo a los parámetros escogidos. Los caracteres microscópicos considerados fueron: porosidad, tipo y diámetro de poros, número de poros por mm2, índice de vulnerabilidad, longitud de los miembros de vasos, placa de perforación, presencia de traqueidas y espesamientos espiralados. Las especies estudiadas siguen en el hidrosistema del xilema las tendencias generales observadas en otras regiones de características climáticas similares. Se observó el predominio de especies con caracteres que contribuyen a la seguridad en la conducción, tales como: porosidad difusa, diámetros tangenciales pequeños, vasos numerosos, con predominio de poros con diferentes combinaciones de múltiples cortos. Los elementos vasculares encontrados son cortos, con placas de perforación simple. Maytenus vitis-idaea, Rupretchia apétala, Castela coccinea, Parkinsonia aculeata y Jodinia rhombifolia, especies que habitan en la región más seca del Parque Chaqueño, son las que poseen mayor cantidad de características xeromórficas de acuerdo a los parámetros escogidos

Collecting built environment information using UAVs: Time and applicability in building inspection activities

The Italian way of thinking about maintenance is too often one-sided. Indeed, it is considered not so much as a useful practice to prevent the occurrence of a fault (ex ante), but as an intervention to solve it (ex post). Analyzing the legislation relating to the construction sector, it can be seen that it does not clearly define the responsibilities, timescales and methods in which maintenance interventions must be planned and carried out. For this reason, this practice is still very weak compared, for example, to the industrial sector, where it is an established practice. Currently, the complexity of reading the maintenance plans drawn up by designers and the considerable costs associated with maintenance operations discourage owners and managers from even carrying out preliminary inspection operations. This research aims to stimulate these stakeholders to carry out inspection operations regularly, highlighting their costs and benefits. In particular, working on a case study in Piedmont, the costs of visual inspections carried out in the traditional way are compared with those that would be incurred if unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were used. Finally, the collateral benefits of inspections carried out with UAVs are highlighted

Ecoanatomia del ébano sudamericano: “guayacán” (Libidibia paraguariensis, Fabaceae).

Ecoanatomy of southamerican ebony, ‘guayacán’ (Libidibia paraguariensis, Fabaceae). The wood of Libidibia paraguariensis (D. Parodi) G. P. Lewis, “guayacan” is homologous to that of Diospyros ebenum J. Koenig “ebony”. It is a wood with technological and organoleptic characteristics that giveexcellent quality and significant future potential. For this reason study objectives were: (1) deepen the knowledge of anatomical qualities of the wood and bark; (2) analyze sapwood-heartwood ratio, and (3) characterize the growth rings. The study was conducted using samples from Guasayán, Santiago delEstero, and Villa Rio Bermejito, Chaco (Argentina). Six trees from each site were selected randomly. A wood disk from the main shaft of each individual, at a height of 1.3 m was achieved. The description of the wood and bark was performed. The relevant anatomical character with high diagnostic value was fullstratification of radios. The rings are demarcated, with an average radial increment (RI) average 3.57 mm, the growth is slow-medium, with thick sapwood. The xylem has corresponding features to a mesomorphic species. The outer bark with one or two accumulated periderms, presents dehiscence in thin plates, which is a diagnostic element for field determination.La madera de Libidibia paraguariensis (D. Parodi) G. P. Lewis “guayacán”, es homóloga a la de Diospyros ebenum J. Koenig “ébano”. Es una madera cuyas características tecnológicas y organolépticas le otorgan extraordinaria calidad y gran potencial futuro. Por este motivo los objetivos del trabajo fueron: (1) profundizar el conocimiento de las cualidades anatómicas del leño y la corteza;(2) analizar la relación albura-duramen y (3) caracterizar los anillos de crecimiento. El estudio se realizó empleando muestras provenientes de Guasayán, Santiago del Estero y Villa Rio Bermejito, Chaco (Argentina). Seis árboles de cada sitio, fueron seleccionados al azar. Se consiguió una rodaja del fuste principal de cada individuo, a una altura de 1,3 m. Se realizó la descripción del leño y de la corteza. El carácter anatómico relevante con alto valor diagnóstico resultó la estratificación completa de los radios. Los anillos son demarcados, con un incremento radial (IR) medio de 3,57 mm, el crecimiento es lento a medio, con albura gruesa. El leño presenta características correspondientes a una especie mesomórfica. La corteza externa con una o dos peridermis acumuladas, presenta dehiscencia en placas delgadas, lo cual resulta un elemento diagnóstico para la determinación a campo

Rice farming systems in Southern Lao PDR: Interpreting farmers’ agricultural production decisions using Q methodology

© 2017 The agricultural sector in Lao PDR is forecast to move from subsistence rice production to a more modernized and market-oriented sector with greater focus on commercialization of agricultural production. Intensification of agricultural production in the southern and central rice growing regions of Lao PDR is problematic as dryland farmers rely on rainfall and soils are poor, yet rural households have been experiencing rapid change in their farming and livelihood systems. This paper employs Q methodology techniques to explore 35 farmers' viewpoints when contemplating their production goals and potential to adopt technologies to improve productivity. Findings describe the two emerging viewpoints among farmers as ‘labour saving productivity maximization’ and ‘traditional labour productivity using improved techniques’. The two viewpoints describe the different issues currently guiding production decisions. While the Lao Government forecasts substantial increases in rice production in the southern plains, farmers will require specialized and tailored support, accounting for their envisaged livelihood and production goals, to allow the sector transformation that many stakeholders currently envisage

"Distribución de nanofanerófitas de hojas suculentas en dos comunidades leñosas del Chaco semiárido salino "

Background and aims: In the semi-arid saline Chaco, Argentina, the nanophanerophytes presence and the succulent leaf type are frequent. To determine if the occurrence of both traits is related to soil salinity, this paper describes the distribution of life forms and leaf types in relation to soil salinity between two woody plant communities.M&M: Sampling of woody plant and soil was carried out in both a scrubland and a xerophilous forest on 25 subplots of 100 m2 at each site. Electrical conductivity and pH were determined on 50 cm deep. Stratification and plant cover, abundance, species richness and diversity index were described. The degree of similarity between sites was evaluated according to the number of nanofanerophyte and succulent-leaves shared species, using the Sørensen coefficient. The species were grouped considering simultaneously their life form and leaf type. Relationships between salinity and plant groups were evaluated by means of redundancy analysis. Results: Richness, diversity and structural complexity were greater in the forest. The similarity between sites was low. Succulent-leafed nanophanerophytes were dominant in the scrubland, with high salinity and pH. In the forest, sclerophyllous–leafed microphanerophytes were dominant, with low salinity and pH. Conclusion: The distribution of succulent-leaves nanophanerophytes presented differences according to the salinity of the soil of both woody communities.Introducción y objetivos: En los hábitats salinos del Chaco semiárido es frecuente la forma de vida nanofanerófita y tipo de consistencia de hoja suculenta. Para determinar si la ocurrencia de ambos rasgos está relacionada a la salinidad del suelo, en este trabajo se describe la distribución de formas de vida y tipos de consistencia de hoja en relación a la salinidad del suelo entre dos comunidades leñosas. M&M: Se realizó un censo de leñosas y un muestreo de suelo en un matorral halófilo y en un bosque xerófilo sobre 25 subparcelas de 100 m2 en cada sitio. Se determinó pH y conductividad eléctrica del suelo hasta 50 cm de profundidad. Se describieron la cobertura y estratificación de vegetación, riqueza, abundancia e índice de diversidad para especies leñosas. Se evaluó el grado de similitud entre sitios según la cantidad de especies de nanofanerófita y de hoja suculenta compartidas, mediante el coeficiente de Sørensen. Las especies fueron agrupadas considerando simultáneamente su forma de vida y tipo de consistencia de hoja. La relación entre salinidad y grupos de leñosas se evaluó mediante un análisis de redundancia. Resultados: La riqueza, diversidad y complejidad estructural fueron mayores en el bosque. La similitud entre sitios fue baja. Las nanofanerófitas de hojas suculentas dominaron en el matorral con elevada salinidad y pH. Las microfanerófitas de hojas semi-coriáceas fueron dominantes en el bosque con baja salinidad y pH. Conclusión: La distribución de las nanofanerófitas de hojas suculentas presentó diferencias según la salinidad del suelo de ambas comunidades leñosas

Risk factors and incidence of long-COVID syndrome in hospitalized patients: does remdesivir have a protective effect?

BACKGROUND: The definition of 'long-COVID syndrome' (LCS) is still debated and describes the persistence of symptoms after viral clearance in hospitalized or non-hospitalized patients affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). AIM: In this study, we examined the prevalence and the risk factors of LCS in a cohort of patients with previous COVID-19 and followed for at least 6 months of follow-up. DESIGN: We conducted a prospective study including all hospitalized patients affected by COVID-19 at our center of Infectious Diseases (Vercelli, Italy) admitted between 10 March 2020 and 15 January 2021 for at least 6 months after discharge. Two follow-up visits were performed: after 1 and 6 months after hospital discharge. Clinical, laboratory and radiological data were recorded at each visit. RESULTS: A total of 449 patients were included in the analysis. The LCS was diagnosed in 322 subjects at Visit 1 (71.7%) and in 206 at Visit 2 (45.9); according to the post-COVID-19 functional status scale we observed 147 patients with values 2-3 and 175 with values >3 at Visit 1; at Visit 2, 133 subjects had the score between 2-3 and 73 > 3. In multivariate analysis, intensive care unit (ICU) admission (OR = 2.551; 95% CI = 1.998-6.819; P = 0.019), time of hospitalization (OR = 2.255; 95% CI = 1.018-6.992; P = 0.016) and treatment with remdesivir (OR = 0.641; 95% CI = 0.413-0.782; P < 0.001) were independent predictors of LCS. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with remdesivir leads to a 35.9% reduction in LCS rate in follow-up. Severity of illness, need of ICU admission and length of hospital stay were factor associated with the persistence of PCS at 6 months of follow-up

Productividad y costos del raleo de algarrobo blanco (Prosopis alba) en Santiago del Estero, Argentina. Una primera aproximación

Se analizó la operación de raleo forestal en dos plantaciones experimentales de algarrobo blanco (Prosopis alba) en la zona de riego de la provincia de Santiago del Estero, Argentina, mediante un estudio de tiempos y movimientos para conocer la productividad operacional y los costos asociados al proceso de apeo con motosierra. Se midieron tiempos efectivos y operativos y se calculó volumen con corteza, eficiencia, productividad y costo directo del raleo. La muestra de 83 árboles completó un volumen abatido de 5,66 m3. El tiempo operativo promedio fue de 2,66 min/árbol, mientras que el tiempo efectivo medio fue de 1,36 min/árbol. Se halló gran variabilidad dimensional en los árboles de la muestra y un elevado grado de variabilidad en los tiempos de trabajo. Se verificó una fuerte correlación entre el tiempo efectivo de trabajo de la máquina y las variables diámetro y volumen de los árboles. La eficiencia operacional fue del 51 %. La productividad en el derribo fue de 1,54 m3/h (22,56 árboles/h). El costo unitario del raleo fue de 12,18 US$/m3, equivalente a 64,56$/m3 (1 US$= 5,30$ en mayo 2013). Los resultados para eficiencia, productividad y costo del raleo son preliminares y constituyen el primer antecedente en la zona.Operation of forest thinning in two experimental plantations of white mesquite (Prosopis alba) was analyzed in the irrigation area of the Santiago del Estero province in Argentina, through a study of time and motion for operational productivity and costs of chainsaw felling process. Effective and operative times were measured, and volume with bark, efficiency, productivity, and direct cost of thinning were calculated. The 83 sampled trees completed a volume of 5.66 m3 . The average operating time was 2.66 min/tree, while the average effective time was 1.36 min/tree. High dimensional variability of the sampled trees, and a high degree of variability in work times were found. A strong correlation between the uptime of the machine and the variables diameter and tree volume was verified. Operational efficiency was 51 %. Productivity in the felling was 1.54 m3 /h (22.56 tree/h). The cost of thinning was 12.18 US$/m3 , equivalent to 64.56$/m3 (US$1 =$ 5.30 in may 2013). The results for efficiency, productivity, and cost of thinning are preliminary; and they are the first record in the area.EEA Santiago del EsteroFil: Coronel de Renolfi, Marta. Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero. Facultad de Ciencias Forestales. Cátedra de Economía y Administración Forestal; ArgentinaFil: Cardona, Gabriela. Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero. Facultad de Ciencias Forestales. Cátedra de Economía y Administración Forestal; ArgentinaFil: Moglia, Juana G. Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero. Facultad de Ciencias Forestales. Cátedra de Dendrología; ArgentinaFil: Gomez, Adriana Teresita. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Santiago del Estero; Argentin