Water storage in wetted strips under irrigated coffee trees with different criteria of irrigation management Armazenamento de água em faixas molhadas sob cafeeiros irrigados com diferentes critérios de manejo de irrigação

The increasing demand for water resources accentuates the need to reduce water waste through a more appropriate irrigation management. In the particular case of irrigated coffee planting, which in recent years presented growth with the predominance of drip irrigation, the improvement of drip irrigation management techniques is a necessity. The proper management of drip irrigation depends on the knowledge of the spatial pattern of soil moisture distribution inside the wetted strip formed under the irrigation lines. In this study, grids of 24 tensiometers were used to determine the water storage within the wetted strip formed under drippers, with a 3.78 L h-1 discharge, evenly spaced by 0.4 m, subjected to two different management criteria (fixed irrigation interval and 60 kPa tension). Estimates of storage based on a one-dimensional analysis, that only considers depth variations, were compared with two-dimensional estimates. The results indicate that for high-frequency irrigation the one-dimensional analysis is not appropriate. However, under less frequent irrigation, the two-dimensional analysis is dispensable, being the one-dimensional sufficient for calculating the water volume stored in the wetted strip.<br>A crescente demanda por recursos hídricos acentua a necessidade de redução do desperdício de água através de um manejo mais adequado da irrigação. No caso particular da cafeicultura irrigada, que nos últimos anos apresentou crescimento com predominância da irrigação por gotejamento, o aprimoramento das técnicas de manejo da irrigação por gotejamento é uma necessidade. O manejo adequado do gotejamento depende do conhecimento do padrão espacial de distribuição de umidade no interior da faixa molhada, formada sob as linhas de irrigação. Neste trabalho, foram utilizadas malhas de 24 tensiômetros para determinar o armazenamento de água no interior de faixas molhadas, formadas sob gotejadores, com vazão de 3,78 L h-1, uniformemente espaçados de 40 cm, submetidos a dois critérios distintos de irrigação (turno fixo e tensão de 60 kPa). Estimativas de armazenamento baseadas em análises unidimensionais, considerando apenas variações na profundidade, foram comparadas com estimativas bidimensionais. Os resultados indicam que, com menor turno de irrigação, a análise unidimensional não é adequada. Para maior turno de irrigação, a análise bidimensional é dispensável, sendo a unidimensional suficiente para o cálculo do volume da água armazenada na faixa molhada

Simultaneous optimization of coffee quality variables during storage

ABSTRACT The objective of the study was to use methodology of simultaneous optimization of multiple responses applied to an experimental design to determine the best combination of storage period and conditions for preservation of coffee beans. Coffea arabica L. fruits were harvested in the ripe stage of maturation, processed using wet and dry methods, and dried to 11% (wet basis) moisture content. Part of the beans was hulled, while the other part was hulled only after the beans were stored under two different environmental conditions: cooled air at 10 ºC with 50% relative humidity; and at 25 ºC without controlling the relative humidity. Samples were taken at 3, 6, and 12 months intervals in order to evaluate quality. The data were submitted to the simultaneous optimization of responses for each processing and hulling condition separately, in a completely randomized design and 2 x 3 factorial scheme (two storage conditions and three storage periods). In conclusion, the use of the simultaneous optimization of responses is viable to be applied for determining the ideal storage conditions in a refrigerated condition

Antibody persistence following meningococcal C conjugate vaccination in children and adolescents infected with human immunodeficiency virus

Objective: HIV‐infected individuals (HIVI) are threatened by meningococcal infection and presented lower response to vaccines. Data are scarce on long‐term persistence of human serum bactericidal antibody (hSBA) after a meningococcal C conjugate (MCC) vaccine in HIVI youth; the authors aimed to describe this persistence in HIVI. Methods: HIVI and HIV uninfected individuals (HIVU), aged 2–18 years, CD4 >15% were recruited. Seroprotection (hSBA ≥1:4) at baseline and at 12–18 months after immunization was evaluated and the association of the different factors with the long‐term persistence was calculated using logistic regression. Results: A total of 145 HIVI, 50 HIVU were recruited and immunized, and their median age was 11 years (median age in HIVI group was 12 years, and 10 years in HIVU group, p‐value = 0.02). 85 HIVI (44%) had undetectable viral load (UVL). Seroprotection rate was 27.2%: 24.1% in HIVI and 36% in HIVU 12–18 months after immunization (p = 0.14). Baseline immunity (odds ratio [OR] = 70.70, 95% CI: 65.2–766.6); UVL at entry (OR: 2.87, 95% CI: 0.96–8.62) and lower family income (OR: 0.09, 95% CI: 0.01–0.69) were associated with seroprotection among HIVI. Conclusion: Seroprotection at 12–18 months after single dose of MCC was low for both groups, and higher among individuals who presented baseline immunity. Among HIVI, vaccine should be administered after UVL is achieved

Effects of maternal artificial vocalization on hyperprolific lactating sows and piglets behavior

Abstract The objective of this trial was to evaluate the behavioral patterns and performance of lactating sows and their litters under the effect of artificial vocalization. Twenty-eight sows and their litters were distributed in a completely randomized design in a 2x2 factorial scheme (artificial vocalization x lactation week). The behavior of the animals was monitored during 24 hours on the 7th and 15th days of lactation, analyzing the number, interval, and frequency of nursings. The body condition and performance of the sows were also evaluated. Artificial vocalization promoted higher frequencies of eating for sow and nursing for piglets (P 0.05). The use of maternal artificial vocalization during lactation of sows promoted greater lactation efficiency and longer rest time, favoring the sows’ welfare

Antibody persistence following meningococcal C conjugate vaccination in children and adolescents infected with human immunodeficiency virus

Abstract Objective: HIV-infected individuals (HIVI) are threatened by meningococcal infection and presented lower response to vaccines. Data are scarce on long-term persistence of human serum bactericidal antibody (hSBA) after a meningococcal C conjugate (MCC) vaccine in HIVI youth; the authors aimed to describe this persistence in HIVI. Methods: HIVI and HIV uninfected individuals (HIVU), aged 2–18 years, CD4 >15% were recruited. Seroprotection (hSBA ≥1:4) at baseline and at 12–18 months after immunization was evaluated and the association of the different factors with the long-term persistence was calculated using logistic regression. Results: A total of 145 HIVI, 50 HIVU were recruited and immunized, and their median age was 11 years (median age in HIVI group was 12 years, and 10 years in HIVU group, p-value = 0.02). 85 HIVI (44%) had undetectable viral load (UVL). Seroprotection rate was 27.2%: 24.1% in HIVI and 36% in HIVU 12–18 months after immunization (p = 0.14). Baseline immunity (odds ratio [OR] = 70.70, 95% CI: 65.2–766.6); UVL at entry (OR: 2.87, 95% CI: 0.96–8.62) and lower family income (OR: 0.09, 95% CI: 0.01–0.69) were associated with seroprotection among HIVI. Conclusion: Seroprotection at 12–18 months after single dose of MCC was low for both groups, and higher among individuals who presented baseline immunity. Among HIVI, vaccine should be administered after UVL is achieved

Crystal structure and theoretical calculations of Julocrotine, a natural product with antileishmanial activity

Julocrotine, N-(2,6-dioxo-l-phenethyl-piperidin-3-yl)-2-methyl-butyramide, is a potent antiproliferative agent against the promastigote and amastigote forms of Leishmania amazonensis (L.). In this work, the crystal structure of Julocrotine was solved by X-ray diffraction, and its geometrical parameters were compared with theoretical calculations at the B3LYP and HF level of theory. IR and NMR spectra also have been obtained and compared with theoretical calculations. IR absorptions calculated with the B3LYP level of theory employed together with the 6-311G+(d,p) basis set, are close to those observed experimentally. Theoretical NMR calculations show little deviation from experimental results. The results show that the theory is in accordance with the experimental data. (C) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc