The impact of grazing cattle on soil physical properties and nutrient concentrations in overland flow from pasture, Part B

This report has been prepared as part of the Environmental Research Technological Development and Innovation Programme 2000–2006. The programme is financed by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan 2000–2006.End of project reportThe loss of nutrients from agricultural land to water bodies is a serious concern in many countries. To gain information on the contribution of grazing animals to diffuse nutrient losses from pasture areas to water, this study looked at the impact of cattle on nutrient concentrations in overland flow and on soil hydrology (bulk density, macroporosity and resistance to penetration). Rainfall simulations to produce overland flow were conducted and soil physical measurements were taken on experimental plots assigned to one of two treatments: 1) cattle had unrestricted access to the plot; 2) cattle could graze the plot but they could neither walk on the plot area nor deposit excrements on it. Areas to which the cattle had free access were characterised by 57%-83% lower macroporosity, by 8%-17% higher bulk density and by 27%-50% higher resistance to penetration than areas from which the cattle were excluded. The nutrients in overland flow from grassland that were affected by the presence of grazing animals were mainly the particulate nitrogen, the organic phosphorus and the potassium concentrations. Overall, the presence of cattle had a longer lasting effect on the soil hydrological parameters measured than on the nutrient concentrations in overland flow.Environmental Protection Agenc

The impact of the grazing animal on phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium and suspended solids loss from grazed pastures, Part A

Teagasc wishes to acknowledge the support of the Environmental Research Technological Development and Innovation (ERTDI) Programme under the Productive Sector Operational Programme which was financed by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan 2000-2006.End of project reportIn Ireland 90% of the 4.2 million ha of farmland is grassland. Phosphorus deficiency limited grassland production in Ireland and this was corrected by chemical fertiliser use in the 1960s and 1970s. The increased inputs of fertilisers led to increased intensification of grassland with a doubling of grass yield and of grazing animal numbers, from about 3 million to over 6 million livestock units. There is little information on relative contribution of increased chemical fertiliser use compared to increased grazing animal numbers on phosphorus loss to water. The main objective of this study was to obtain information on nutrient loss, particularly phosphorus, in overland flow from cut and grazed grassland plots, with a range of soil test phosphorus levels over three years and implications.Environmental Protection Agenc

APRESENTAR EM VEZ DE REPRESENTAR

Através do trabalho de Robyn Orlin1, diretora e coreógrafa nativa da Africa do Sul, vamos explorar neste artigo a questão da encarnação no palco. No seu trabalho artístico, Orlin quebra as normas em vigor pela apresentação de corpos, figuras e tipos ou caras muitas vezes ausentes das cenas ocidentais. Com a exploração deste trabalho será possível desenvolver uma reflexão em torno de um novo paradigma, se afirmando cada vez mais na cena contemporânea: o apresentar em vez do representar. Vamos considerar o ator, ou seja, o “ato no palco”, como a presença provocativa do ser humano no lugar da encarnação de um personagem. E assim perguntar o seguinte: como o novo paradigma, ou seja, a presença provocativa do ser humano em vez da encarnação, a apresentação no lugar da representação, pode abrir á uma nova maneira de pensar, ver e utilizar o ator no palco? Como pode assim ajudar a criar novos imaginários, seja na produção da obra ou na fase de recepção do espectador? 1 URL: http://www.robynorlin.com/

PRÉSENTER AU LIEU DE REPRÉSENTER: UNE ALTERNATIVE À LA QUESTION DE L'INCARNATION SUR SCÈNE?

Au travers du travail de Robyn Orlin1, artiste de la scène originaire d'Afrique du Sud, qui nous pose la question de la norme par la présentation de corps, de figures et de types souvent absents des scènes occidentales, nous explorerons dans cet article la question de l'incarnation sur scène. Nous développerons une réflexion autour d'un nouveau paradigme s'affirmant chaque fois davantage sur la scène contemporaine: le présenter en place du représenter. Nous envisagerons l'acteur, c'est à dire la personne en acte sur scène, en tant que présence provocante de l'humain en place de l'incarnation d'un personnage. Se posera ainsi la problématique suivante: en quoi ce nouveau paradigme, c'est à dire la présence provocante de l'humain au lieu de l'incarnation, la présentation en place de la représentation, peut-il ouvrir à une nouvelle façon de penser, de voir et d'utiliser l'acteur en scène? En quoi peut-il permettre la création de nouveaux imaginaires, que ce soit dans la production d'oeuvres scéniques ou dans la réception du spectateur?

Prostate Cancer Detection with mpMRI According to PI-RADS v2 Compared with Systematic MRI/TRUS-Fusion Biopsy: A Prospective Study

BACKGROUND: mpMRI assesses prostate lesions through their PI-RADS score. The primary goal of this prospective study was to demonstrate the correlation of PI-RADS v2 score and the volume of a lesion with the presence and clinical significance of prostate cancer (PCa). The secondary goal was to determine the extent of additionally PCa in inconspicuous areas. METHODS: All 157 patients underwent a perineal MRI/TRUS-fusion prostate biopsy. Targeted biopsies as well as a systematic biopsy were performed. The presence of PCa in the probes was specified by the ISUP grading system. RESULTS: In total, 258 lesions were biopsied. Of the PI-RADS 3 lesions, 24% were neoplastic. This was also true for 36.9% of the PI-RADS 4 lesions and for 59.5% of the PI-RADS 5 lesions. Correlation between ISUP grades and lesion volume was significant (p < 0.01). In the non-suspicious mpMRI areas carcinoma was revealed in 19.7% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: The study shows that the PI-RADS v2 score and the lesion volume correlate with the presence and clinical significance of PCa. However, there are two major points to consider: First, there is a high number of false positive findings. Second, inconspicuous mpMRI areas revealed PCa

Nonlinear Optical and Two-Photon Absorption Properties of Octupolar Tris(bipyridyl)metal Complexes

The linear (absorption and emission) and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of a series of D3 [(Fe(II), Ru(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II)] octupolar metal complexes featuring the 4,4'-bis[(dibutylamino)styryl]-2,2'- bipyridine ligand are reported. Zinc(II)

Effects of ACTH-Induced Long-Term Hypercortisolism on the Transcriptome of Canine Visceral Adipose Tissue

Cushing’s syndrome, or hypercortisolism (HC), a common endocrinopathy in adult dogs, is caused by chronic hypercortisolemia. Among different metabolic disorders, this syndrome is associated with enhanced subcutaneous lipolysis and visceral adiposity. However, effects of HC in adipose tissue, especially regarding visceral adipose tissue (VAT), are still poorly understood. Herein, the transcriptomic effects of chronic HC on VAT of dogs were evaluated. For this, subcutaneously implanted ACTH-releasing pumps were used, followed by deep RNA sequencing of the canine VAT. Prolonged HC seems to affect a plethora of regulatory mechanisms in VAT of treated dogs, with 1190 differentially expressed genes (DEGs, p and FDR < 0.01) being found. The 691 downregulated DEGs were mostly associated with functional terms like cell adhesion and migration, intracellular signaling, immune response, extracellular matrix and angiogenesis. Treatment also appeared to modulate local glucocorticoid and insulin signaling and hormonal sensitivity, and several factors, e.g., TIMP4, FGF1, CCR2, CXCR4 and HSD11B1/2, were identified as possible important players in the glucocorticoid-related expansion of VAT. Modulation of their function during chronic HC might present interesting targets for further clinical studies. Similarities in the effects of chronic HC on VAT of dogs and humans are highlighted