Selection of native trees for intercropping with coffee in the Atlantic Rainforest biome

A challenge in establishing agroforestry systems is ensuring that farmers are interested in the tree species, and are aware of how to adequately manage these species. This challenge was tackled in the Atlantic Rainforest biome (Brazil), where a participatory trial with agroforestry coffee systems was carried out, followed by a participatory systematisation of the farmers experiences. Our objective was to identify the main tree species used by farmers as well as their criteria for selecting or rejecting tree species. Furthermore, we aimed to present a specific inventory of trees of the Leguminosae family. In order to collect the data, we reviewed the bibliography of the participatory trial, visited and interviewed the farmers and organised workshops with them. The main farmers' criteria for selecting tree species were compatibility with coffee, amount of biomass, production and the labour needed for tree management. The farmers listed 85 tree species; we recorded 28 tree species of the Leguminosae family. Most trees were either native to the biome or exotic fruit trees. In order to design and manage complex agroforestry systems, family farmers need sufficient knowledge and autonomy, which can be reinforced when a participatory methodology is used for developing on-farm agroforestry systems. In the case presented, the farmers learned how to manage, reclaim and conserve their land. The diversification of production, especially with fruit, contributes to food security and to a low cost/benefit ratio of agroforestry systems. The investigated agroforestry systems showed potential to restore the degraded landscape of the Atlantic Rainforest biome

A comparison between plaque-based and vessel-based measurement for plaque component using volumetric intravascular ultrasound radiofrequency data analysis

Although percent plaque components on plaque-based measurement have been used traditionally in previous studies, the impact of vessel-based measurement for percent plaque components have yet to be studied. The purpose of this study was therefore to correlate percent plaque components derived by plaque- and vessel-based measurement using intravascular ultrasound Virtual Histology (IVUS-VH). The patient cohort comprised of 206 patients with de novo coronary artery lesions who were imaged with IVUS-VH. Age ranged from 35 to 88 years old, and 124 patients were male. Whole pullback analysis was used to calculate plaque volume, vessel volume, and absolute and percent volumes of fibrous, fibrofatty, necrotic core, and dense calcium. The plaque and vessel volumes were well correlated (r = 0.893, P < 0.001). There was a strong correlation between percent plaque components volumes calculated by plaque and those calculated by vessel volumes (fibrous; r = 0.927, P < 0.001, fibrofatty; r = 0.972, P < 0.001, necrotic core; r = 0.964, P < 0.001, dense calcium; r = 0.980, P < 0.001,). Plaque and vessel volumes correlated well to the overall plaque burden. For percent plaque component volume, plaque-based measurement was also highly correlated with vessel-based measurement. Therefore, the percent plaque component volume calculated by vessel volume could be used instead of the conventional percent plaque component volume calculated by plaque volume

Effect of statins on coronary bifurcation atherosclerosis: an intravascular ultrasound virtual histology study

This study is aimed at assessing by intravascular ultrasound virtual histology (VH-IVUS) the effect of statins on coronary bifurcation atherosclerosis in non-culprit vessels. In this non-randomized study, in 48 patients, 51 bifurcation atherosclerotic sites in non-culprit vessels without significant angiographic stenosis, underwent baseline and 12 months follow-up VH-IVUS. Patients received treatment with either simvastatin (20 mg daily, n = 24) or rosuvastatin (10 mg daily, n = 24) for the same period. VH-IVUS analysis of bifurcation lesions included the 5-mm proximal, bifurcation only (side-branch point) and 5-mm distal subsegments. Overall plaque and external elastic membrane volume decreased after 1 year (115.7 ± 35.5 to 106.1 ± 29.3 mm3, P < 0.001; and 241.0 ± 57.0 to 232.4 ± 54.2 mm3, P = 0.005, respectively). Similarly, overall dense calcium volume significantly increased (7.1 ± 5.3 to 11.0 ± 8.5 mm3, P < 0.010), while fibrous and fibrofatty volumes significantly decreased (36.9 ± 19.2 to 24.1 ± 11.7 mm3, P < 0.001; and 5.1 ± 3.8 to 2.3 ± 2.0 mm3, P < 0.001, respectively), and necrotic core volume did not change significantly (17.0 ± 11.1 to 19.8 ± 13.5 mm3, P = 0.053). There were no significant differences in compositional analysis between the simvastatin and rosuvastatin treatment groups. However, within groups, necrotic core volume significantly increased in the simvastatin treatment group (19.7 ± 13.9 to 24.3 ± 16.1 mm3, P = 0.029) but not in the rosuvastatin treatment group. (14.3 ± 6.7 to 15.6 ± 8.7 mm3, P = 0.423). The independent clinical predictors for reduction of necrotic core volume by multiple stepwise logistic regression analysis were the percent change of HDL-cholesterol level (P = 0.041, odds ratio: 1.052, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.002 to 1.104) and the percent change of hsCRP level (P = 0.021, odds ratio: 0.989, 95% CI: 0.980 to 0.998). After 1 year, overall dense calcium volume significantly increased whilst fibrous and fibrofatty volumes significantly decreased; no significant change in the content of necrotic core was observed. Although changes in the volumes of all plaque components were not significantly different between the simvastatin and rosuvastatin treatment groups, halting of necrotic core progression was apparent in the rosuvastatin group

The assessment of Shin's method for the prediction of creatinine kinase-MB elevation after percutaneous coronary intervention: an intravascular ultrasound study

Cardiac enzyme release is common after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). At present there is no established relationship between the quantity of necrotic core and dense calcium, as assessed by Shin's method using intravascular ultrasound virtual histology (VH-IVUS), and post-PCI creatinine kinase-MB (CK-MB) elevation. A total of 112 consecutive patients with unstable angina and a normal pre-PCI CK-MB level were imaged using VH-IVUS. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the presence (CK-MB group, n = 22) or absence (non CK-MB group, n = 90) of a post-PCI CK-MB elevation >1.0 the upper limit of normal (3.6 ng/ml). Using Shin's method contours were drawn around the IVUS catheter (instead of the lumen), and the vessel. Mean area and volume of necrotic core and dense calcium were significantly greater in CK-MB group than in non CK-MB group (1.7 ± 0.9 mm2vs. 0.9 ± 0.6 mm2, P < 0.001; 17.2 ± 8.8 mm3vs. 8.8 ± 5.8 mm3, P < 0.001, and 0.9 ± 0.6 mm2vs. 0.4 ± 0.4 mm2, P = 0.001; 9.1 ± 5.8 mm3vs. 3.9 ± 3.7 mm3, P < 0.001, respectively). Percent necrotic core and dense calcium areas calculated by external elastic membrane (EEM) area were significantly greater in CK-MB group than in non CK-MB group (11.9 ± 5.1 vs. 6.6 ± 4.0%, P < 0.001 and 6.5 ± 4.0 vs. 3.0 ± 2.9%, P 

On the ideals of equivariant tree models

We introduce equivariant tree models in algebraic statistics, which unify and generalise existing tree models such as the general Markov model, the strand symmetric model, and group based models. We focus on the ideals of such models. We show how the ideals for general trees can be determined from the ideals for stars. The main novelty is our proof that this procedure yields the entire ideal, not just an ideal defining the model set-theoretically. A corollary of theoretical importance is that the ideal for a general tree is generated by the ideals of its flattenings at vertices.Comment: 23 pages. Greatly improved exposition, in part following suggestions by a referee--thanks! Also added exampl

Compact Groups analysis using weak gravitational lensing II: CFHT Stripe 82 data

In this work we present a lensing study of Compact Groups (CGs) using data obtained from the high-quality Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Stripe 82 Survey. Using stacking techniques we obtain the average density contrast profile. We analyse the lensing signal dependence on the groups' surface brightness and morphological content, for CGs in the redshift range z = 0.2-0.4.We obtain a larger lensing signal for CGs with higher surface brightness, probably due to their lower contamination by interlopers. Also, we find a strong dependence of the lensing signal on the group concentration parameter, with the most concentrated quintile showing a significant lensing signal, consistent with an isothermal sphere with σV = 336 ± 28 km s-1 and a NFW profile with R200 = 0.60 ± 0.05 h-1 70 Mpc. We also compare lensing results with dynamical estimates finding a good agreement with lensing determinations for CGs with higher surface brightness and higher concentration indexes. On the other hand, CGs that are more contaminated by interlopers show larger dynamical dispersions, since interlopers bias dynamical estimates to larger values, although the lensing signal is weakened.Fil: Chalela Garcia, Martin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Observatorio Astronómico de Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Gonzalez, Elizabeth Johana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Observatorio Astronómico de Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Makler, Martín. Centro Brasileiro de Pesquisas Físicas; BrasilFil: Garcia Lambas, Diego Rodolfo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Observatorio Astronómico de Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Pereira, Maria E.S.. Centro Brasileiro de Pesquisas Físicas; BrasilFil: O'Mill, Ana Laura. Instituto de Astronomia Teorica y Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Shan, Huan Yuan. Argelander-Institut fur Astronomie; Alemani

Reproducibility of Shin's method for necrotic core and calcium content in atherosclerotic coronary lesions treated with bioresorbable everolimus-eluting vascular scaffolds using volumetric intravascular ultrasound radiofrequency-based analysis

Although Virtual Histology intravascular ultrasound (VH-IVUS) is increasingly used in clinical research, the reproducibility of plaque composition remains unexplored in significant coronary artery and stented lesions. The purpose of this study was to assess the reproducibility of necrotic core and calcium content in atherosclerotic coronary lesions that were treated with a bioresorbable everolimus-eluting vascular scaffold (BVS) using a new measurement method (Shin's method) by VH-IVUS. Eight patients treated with a BVS (Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, CA, USA) were analyzed with serial VH-IVUS assessments, i.e., pre- and post-stenting, and at 6 months and 2 years follow-up. A total of 32 coronary segments were imaged to evaluate the reproducibility of volumetric VH-IVUS measurements. In Shin's method, contours are drawn around the IVUS catheter (instead of the lumen) and vessel. Overall, in the imaged coronary segment, for necrotic core and dense calcium volumes, the relative intra-observer differences were 0.30 ± 0.22, 0.19 ± 0.16% for observer 1 and 0.45 ± 0.41, 0.36 ± 0.47% for observer 2, respectively. The interobserver relative differences of necrotic core and dense calcium volumes were 0.51 ± 0.79 and 0.56 ± 1.01%, respectively. The present study demonstrates a good reproducibility for both, intra-observer and interobserver measurements using Shin's method. This method is suitable for the measurement of necrotic core and dense calcium using VH-IVUS in longitudinal studies, especially studies on bioresorbable scaffolds, because the degradation process will be fully captured independently of the location of the struts and their greyscale appearance

Assessment of the serial changes of vessel wall contents in atherosclerotic coronary lesion with bioresorbable everolimus-eluting vascular scaffolds using Shin's method: an IVUS study

Although serial changes in necrotic core and calcium are regarded as surrogates for the bioresorption process in patients treated with the bioresorbable everolimus-eluting vascular scaffolds (BVS), these temporal changes have not yet been fully investigated. Shin's method may be offer a more suitable technique for this analysis because it includes all the contents of both the lumen and vessel wall. The purpose of this study was to assess the serial changes of necrotic core and dense calcium content in coronary lesions that were treated with a BVS implant using Virtual Histology intravascular ultrasound (VH-IVUS) analyzed using Shin's method. A total of 29 patients (92 coronary segments) were imaged to evaluate the serial changes in necrotic core and dense calcium using Shin's method. Lesions treated with a BVS implant were analyzed with serial VH-IVUS assessments, i.e., pre- and post-stenting, and at 6 months and 2 years follow-up. In Shin's method contours are drawn around the IVUS catheter (instead of delineating the lumen) and the vessel. The mean necrotic core area decreased by 6.9% from post-stenting to 6 months (1.71 ± 1.03 mm2vs. 1.36 ± 0.91 mm2, P = 0.027), and by 20.5% (1.71 ± 1.03 mm2vs. 1.20 ± 0.70 mm2, P = 0.003) from post-steting to 2 years; while the mean dense calcium areas decreased by 27.2% (1.07 ± 0.55 mm2vs. 0.78 ± 0.64 mm2, P = 0.039) from post-stenting and 2 years. At 2 years, absolute necrotic core and dense calcium content were significantly decreased as compared to post-stenting values. The present study demonstrates that the bioresorption process in patients who undergoing BVS device implantation can be assessed using VH-IVUS analysed using Shin's method

Enhancing Electrocatalytic Synthesis of Glycine with CuPb_1ML Electrode Synthesized via Pb UPD

In the field of reductive organic electrosynthesis, the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is considered a parasitic reaction that lowers the Faradaic efficiency of the synthesis. Metals with a high overpotential for HER are often used to prevent this. However, this limits the catalytic materials that can be used in these reactions. To expand upon the scope of available electrocatalysts, we prepared a CuPb electrode via underpotential deposition (UPD). We thereby created an electrocatalyst with a single monolayer of Pb, CuPb1ML, in which Pb weight loading is only 415 ng cm−2, yet its properties could still effectively inhibit HER. The CuPb1ML electrode was used in the electrosynthesis of glycine from oxalic acid and hydroxylamine. This reaction served as a model for a C−N bond forming reaction in acidic aqueous media. The CuPb1ML electrode was compared against a pure Pb and Cu metal electrode. The CuPb1ML electrode showed a Faradaic efficiency for glycine production of 57 %, which was 9-fold higher than Cu and rivaled the Pb electrode. The catalytic activity of CuPb1ML was 211 μmol h−1 cm−2, which is higher than both Cu and Pb. The mechanism of the electroreduction was then studied via in situ Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) spectroscopy. These results hinted to an evolution of the electrocatalyst during the electrolysis reaction, which was then studied via Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-Ray Photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). We found that the Pb monolayer restructured during catalysis, forming microparticles that were active in the reaction based on the listed experiments. Pb alloying into the lattice, which can occur during UPD, also lowered the HER, further facilitating glycine synthesis. Thus, our research also shows how Pb UPD impacts the catalytic properties of a metal both through monolayer deposition as well as surface alloying.</p