85 research outputs found
AN IRRIGATION MODEL FOR MANAGEMENT OF LIMITED WATER SUPPLIES
A two-stage simulation/mathematical programming model is presented for determining the optimal intraseasonal allocation of irrigation water under conditions of limited water supply. The model is applied to a series of water shortage scenarios under both surface and center pivot irrigation. Economically efficient irrigation management is shown to involve the coordination of a number of managerial decisions, including irrigation scheduling, crop substitution, the adoption of improved irrigation labor practices, and idling land. The results indicate that significant opportunities exist for conserving water in the study area under both surface and center pivot irrigation.Crop Production/Industries, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,
Comparison of Postoperative Pain in Children with Two Intracapsular Tonsillotomy Techniques and a Standard Tonsillectomy : Microdebrider and radiofrequency tonsillotomies versus standard tonsillectomies
Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the duration and severity of postoperative pain for two different tonsillotomy techniques (radiofrequency [RF] and microdebrider [MD]) with the standard tonsillectomy. Methods: This non-randomised retrospective study, carried out from February 2011 to September 2012, investigated 128 children in two independent centres: Heim PĂĄl Childrenâs Hospital in Budapest, Hungary, and Muscat Private Hospital in Muscat, Oman. Those undergoing conventional tonsillectomies acted as the control group. One centre tested the MD technique (n = 28) while the other centre tested the RF technique (n = 31). Results: The pain-free period after the tonsillotomies was similar between the two techniques and ranged up to three days. Other indicators of pain resolution, like the use of a single analgesic, reduced night-time waking and the time taken to resume a normal diet, were also similar for the two groups. However, patients benefited significantly from having a tonsillotomy rather than a tonsillectomy. Conclusion: The partial resectioning of tonsillar tissue using the MD and RF techniques showed promising outcomes for a better postoperative quality of life when compared to a traditional tonsillectomy. In this study, the results of both the MD and RF tonsillotomy methods were almost identical in terms of the duration of postoperative pain and recovery time
Hydrology of a claypan watershed
Digitized 2007 AES MoU.Includes bibliographical references (pages 42-43)
An X-ray and UV flare from the galaxy XMMSL1 J061927.1-655311
Aims. New high variability extragalactic sources may be identified by comparing the flux of sources seen in the XMM-Newton Slew Survey with detections and upper limits from the ROSAT All Sky Survey.Methods. A detected flaring extragalactic source was monitored with Swift and XMM-Newton to track its temporal and spectral evolution. Optical and radio observations were made to help classify the galaxy, investigate the reaction of circumnuclear material to the X-ray flare, and check for the presence of a jet.Results. In November 2012, X-ray emission was detected from the galaxy XMMSL1 J061927.1-655311 (a.k.a. 2MASX 06192755-6553079), a factor 140 times higher than an upper limit from 20 years earlier. Both the X-ray and UV flux subsequently fell over the following year by factors of 20 and 4, respectively. Optically, the galaxy appears to be a Seyfert I with broad Balmer lines and weak, narrow, low-ionisation emission lines, at a redshift of 0.0729. The X-ray luminosity peaks at LX ⌠8 Ă 1043 erg s-1 with a typical Sy I-like power-law X-ray spectrum of Π⌠2. The flare has either been caused by a tidal disruption event or by an increase in the accretion rate of a persistent active galactic nucleus
Combined Cisplatinum and Laser Thermal Therapy for Palliation of Recurrent Head and Neck Tumors
In recent years endoscopically controlled laser-induced thermal therapy (LITT) has been
increasingly accepted as a minimally invasive method for palliation of advanced or recurrent
head and neck or gastrointestinal cancer. Previous studies have shown that adjuvant
chemotherapy can potentiate endoscopic laser thermal ablation of obstructing tumors leading
to improved palliation in advanced cancer patients. Eight patients with recurrent head and
neck tumors volunteered to enroll as part of an ongoing phase II LITT clinical trial, and also
elected to be treated with systemic chemotherapy (cisplatin, 80 mg/m2) followed 24 h later by
palliative laser thermal ablation. Laser treatments were repeated in patients with residual
disease or recurrence for a total of 27 LITT sessions. Four of the 8 patients treated with laser
thermal chemotherapy remained alive after a median follow-up of 12 months. Of the 12 tumor
sites treated, complete responses were located in the oral cavity (3), oropharynx (1),
hypopharynx (1), maxillary sinus (1), and median survival for these patients was 9.5 months.
This initial experience with cisplatinum-based laser chemotherapy indicates both safety and
therapeutic potential for palliation of advanced head and neck cancer but this must be confirmed
by longer follow-up in a larger cohort of patients
Com o diabo no corpo: os terrĂveis papagaios do Brasil colĂŽnia
Desde a Antiguidade, papagaios, periquitos e afins (Psittacidae) fascinaram os europeus por seu vivo colorido e uma notĂĄvel capacidade de interação com seres humanos. A descoberta do Novo Mundo nada faria alĂ©m de acrescentar novos elementos ao trĂĄfico de animais exĂłticos hĂĄ muito estabelecido pelos europeus com a Ăfrica e o Oriente. Sem possuir grandes mamĂferos, a AmĂ©rica tropical participaria desse comĂ©rcio com o que tinha de mais atrativo, essencialmente felinos, primatas e aves - em particular os papagaios, os quais eram embarcados em bom nĂșmero. Contudo, a julgar pelos documentos do Brasil colĂŽnia, esses volĂĄteis podiam inspirar muito pouca simpatia, pois nenhum outro animal - exceto as formigas - foi tantas vezes mencionado como praga para a agricultura. AlĂ©m disso, alguns psitĂĄcidas mostravam-se tĂŁo loquazes que inspiravam a sĂ©ria desconfiança de serem animais demonĂacos ou possessos, pois sĂł trĂȘs classes de entidades - anjos, homens e demĂŽnios - possuĂam o dom da palavra. Nos dias de hoje, vĂĄrios representantes dos Psittacidae ainda constituem uma ameaça para a agricultura, enquanto os indivĂduos muito faladores continuam despertando a suspeita de estarem possuĂdos pelo demĂŽnio. Transcendendo a mera curiosidade, essa crença exemplifica o quĂŁo intrincadas podem ser as relaçÔes do homem com o chamado âmundo naturalâ, revelando um universo mais amplo e multifacetado do que se poderia supor a princĂpio. Nesse sentido, a existĂȘncia de aves capazes de falar torna essa relação ainda mais complexa e evidencia que as dificuldades de estabelecer o limite entre o animal e o humano se estendem alĂ©m dos primatas e envolvem as mais inusitadas espĂ©cies zoolĂłgicas.Since ancient times, parrots and their allies (Psittacidae) have fascinated Europeans by their striking colors and notable ability to interact with human beings. The discovery of the New World added new species to the international exotic animal trade, which for many centuries had brought beasts to Europe from Africa and the Orient. Lacking large mammals, tropical America participated in this trade with its most appealing species, essentially felines, primates and birds - especially parrots - which were shipped in large numbers. It should be noted, however, that at times these birds were not well liked. In fact, according to documents from colonial Brazil, only the ants rank higher than parrots as the animals most often mentioned as agricultural pests. On the other hand, some of these birds were so chatty that people suspected them to be demonic or possessed animals, since only three classes of beings - angels, men and demons - have the ability to speak. Nowadays, several Psittacidae still constitute a threat to agriculture, and the suspicion that extremely talkative birds were demon possessed has also survived. More than a joke or a mere curiosity, this belief exemplifies how intricate manâs relationships with the ânatural worldâ may be. In this sense, the existence of birds that are able to speak adds a further twist to these relationships, demonstrating that the problem of establishing a boundary between the animal and the human does not only involve primates, but also includes some unusual zoological species
Efficacy of hospital cleaning agents and germicides against epidemic Clostridium difficile strains
copyright 2007 by The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of AmericaTo compare the effects of hospital cleaning agents and germicides on the survival of epidemic Clostridium difficile strains.Peer reviewe
Freezing and Thawing of Agricultural Soils: Implications for Soil, Water, and Air Quality
Most agricultural lands in the USA are subject to subfreezing temperatures. Soil freezing and thawing affects both biotic and abiotic interactions and processes which vary with weather, soil type, land management, and topography. Soil fauna generally undergo physiological changes or rely on locomotion as a means of adapting to frozen soils. Managing faunal populations using soil management may be achievable with a better understanding of winter ecological processes. Many of the thermal, hydraulic, mechanical, and physical properties of soils are altered by freezing and thawing. Soil erosion may be accentuated by soil freezing and thawing as a result of changes in aggregate stability and shear strength. Soil processes such as heat, water, solute, and gas flux are affected by the freezing process, although simulation of solute and gas flux in frozen soils is not well documented. Solute and gas flux affect water and air quality owing to the loss of chemicals to surface and ground water systems and gaseous emissions to the atmosphere, respectively. Information about biotic and abiotic characteristics of frozen soils, presented at a national workshop in March 1994 in Minnesota, aids in the development of sound management strategies for agricultural lands to preserve our soil, water, and air resource
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