Provenance affects the growth and mortality of teak (Tectona grandis L.f.) plantations cultivated in central Nicaragua

Teak has been planted extensively by smallholders in Central America within reforestation programmes and has become one of the most valuable timbers. The five-year growth and mortality of teak cultivated in a plantation in central Nicaragua, representing sites at the low limit of teak ecological valence, were evaluated. From 2006 to 2010, 72 pure teak stands were established, with 48.93 ha in total. For afforestation, planting stock from five provenances was used and planted at 1 m x 1 m spacing to stimulate the height growth and reduce broad crowns formed by self-pruning. In the pure teak stands, 144 permanent sample plots of 0.01 ha in size were established in 2011. From 2011 until 2015, the tree height and stem girth of all individuals in the studied sample plots were measured, and mortality based on the stand density was assessed. Significant differences between the provenances were observed. The highest growth was noted in the Local provenance originated from the studied area, whereas the Semilla provenance from Costa Rica, characterised by the lowest growth ability, was characterized by lower radial increment and mean tree height with high mortality.O

Surgical Treatment of Brachial Plexus Injury

In recent years, brachial plexus injury has been attracting increasing attention, partly because of an increasing incidence arising out of higher survival rates for patients after polytrauma. Brachial plexus injury is one of the hardest and most mutilating injuries. Owing to advances in microsurgical techniques, we can achieve success in restoring motor function for these patients. The purpose of this chapter is to introduce the reader with various microsurgical techniques, including nerve fascicle transfers and end-to-side neurorrhaphy (ETSN), which can be used for brachial plexus reconstruction based on personal experience with 1130 nerve reconstructions performed by the first author (PH) between 1993 and 2017. Another goal of brachial plexus surgery is the resolution of severe intractable pain which can develop in up to 20% of cases. Dorsal root entry zone (DREZ) thermocoagulation is a very effective method for treatment of severe neuropathic pain

Effect of species, fertilization and harvest date on microbial composition and mycotoxin content in forage

The aim of the project was to evaluate the potential of microbial threat to feed safety in the year 2018. Analyses of the epiphytic community of several forage species (clovers, cocksfoot, fescue, festulolium, perennial ryegrass, timothy and trefoil) in variants of fertilized and non-fertilized vegetation were performed. The hypothesis is based on the fact that microorganisms are normally present on plant material during its growth all the way from the seed to the senescence; they are influenced by a plant's fitness, and they affect its harvest and utilization. Microflora was analyzed by cultivation on specific substrates, total microbial count and five specific microbial groups were observed and quantified. Forage species did not affect plant microflora. The highest risk factor of microbial contamination of feed was proved to be harvest date. Mycotoxin contamination of fresh feed was determined (deoxynivalenol and zearalenone) using ELISA. Zearalenone (ZEA) levels were negatively correlated to fertilization intensity, although these results were not statistically significant. Deoxynivalenol (DON) levels were the lowest in a moderate fertilization regime. Significant differences in mycotoxin content were found among botanical species.O

Intersetorialidade saúde e educação : propondo um protocolo de encaminhamento para a continuidade do cuidado

Orientador : Lillian Daisy Gonçalves WolffProjeto Técnico (especialização) - Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Ciências Sociais Aplicadas. Curso de Especialização em Gestão da SaúdeInclui referênciasResumo: Este projeto técnico terá como objeto de estudo o Centro Municipal de Atendimento Interdisciplinar Especializado "Alex Figueiredo"- CMAIE, no município de Piraquara - PR, o qual está vinculado à Secretaria Municipal de Educação e presta atendimento fisioterapêutico, fonoaudiológico, psicológico e terapêutico ocupacional a crianças e adolescentes com dificuldade de aprendizagem, e que apresentam deficiências física, auditiva, visual e intelectual; além de tratar bebês com atraso no desenvolvimento neuromotor e patologias neurológicas. Alguns entraves na linha de cuidado com os pacientes atendidos pela instituição foram identificados, principalmente devido à falta de integralidade com a Secretaria Municipal de Saúde, o que prejudica a abordagem multiprofissional necessária aos cuidados para com esses pacientes. Visando melhorias do atendimento no CMAIE, o projeto propõe um protocolo de encaminhamento que direcione o atendimento e o encaminhamento dos pacientes atendidos pelos profissionais de saúde que atuam no Centro, de forma integrada ao Sistema Único de Saúde, por meio da intersetorialidade, buscando assim a resolutibilidade na assistência. Os dados foram obtidos por meio de reunião com os profissionais de saúde que atuam no Centro, onde se diagnosticou dificuldades referentes ao encaminhamento dos pacientes a outros serviços do setor saúde, devido à falta de intersetorialidade e de uma relação mais direta em entre saúde e educação. A partir disso, criou-se um protocolo de encaminhamento, o qual prevê o primeiro acesso do paciente a instituição, os encaminhamentos referentes à linha de cuidado, e o retorno sobre a resolubilidade dos problemas ao CMAIE. Com isso cria-se uma linha de cuidado mais eficaz, a qual gera agilidade no processo de encaminhamento, resolubilidade e integralidade na assistência por meio de ações intersetoriais

Comparison of LiDAR-based Models for True Leaf Area Index and Effective Leaf Area Index Estimation in Young Beech Forests

The leaf area index (LAI) is one of the most common leaf area and canopy structure quantifiers. Direct LAI measurement and determination of canopy characteristics in larger areas is unrealistic due to the large number of measurements required to create the distribution model. This study compares the regression models for the ALS-based calculation of LAI, where the effective leaf area index (eLAI) determined by optical methods and the LAI determined by the direct destructive method and developed by allometric equations were used as response variables. LiDAR metrics and the laser penetration index (LPI) were used as predictor variables. The regression models of LPI and eLAI dependency and the LiDAR metrics and eLAI dependency showed coefficients of determination (R2) of 0.75 and 0.92, respectively; the advantage of using LiDAR metrics for more accurate modelling is demonstrated. The model for true LAI estimation reached a R2of 0.88.O

Axonal supercharged interpositional jump‐graft with a hybrid artificial nerve conduit containing adipose‐derived stem cells in facial nerve paresis rat model

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146584/1/micr30389_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146584/2/micr30389.pd

Glial cell type-specific changes in spinal dipeptidyl peptidase 4 expression and effects of its inhibitors in inflammatory and neuropatic pain

Altered pain sensations such as hyperalgesia and allodynia are characteristic features of various pain states, and remain difficult to treat. We have shown previously that spinal application of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) inhibitors induces strong antihyperalgesic effect during inflammatory pain. In this study we observed low level of DPP4 mRNA in the rat spinal dorsal horn in physiological conditions, which did not change significantly either in carrageenan-induced inflammatory or partial nerve ligation-generated neuropathic states. In naive animals, microglia and astrocytes expressed DPP4 protein with one and two orders of magnitude higher than neurons, respectively. DPP4 significantly increased in astrocytes during inflammation and in microglia in neuropathy. Intrathecal application of two DPP4 inhibitors tripeptide isoleucin-prolin-isoleucin (IPI) and the antidiabetic drug vildagliptin resulted in robust opioid-dependent antihyperalgesic effect during inflammation, and milder but significant opioid-independent antihyperalgesic action in the neuropathic model. The opioid-mediated antihyperalgesic effect of IPI was exclusively related to mu-opioid receptors, while vildagliptin affected mainly delta-receptor activity, although mu- and kappa-receptors were also involved. None of the inhibitors influenced allodynia. Our results suggest pathology and glia-type specific changes of DPP4 activity in the spinal cord, which contribute to the development and maintenance of hyperalgesia and interact with endogenous opioid systems