Predators do not spill over from forest fragments to maize fields in a landscape mosaic in central Argentina

South America is undergoing a rapid and large scale conversion of natural habitats to cultivated land. Ecosystem services (ESs) still remain important but their level and sustainability are not known. We quantified predation intensity in an Argentinian agricultural landscape containing remnants of the original chaco serrano forest by using artificial sentinel prey. We sought to identify the main predators, and the effect of landscape configuration and maize phenology on predation pressure by invertebrate and vertebrate predators in this landscape. The most common predators were chewing insects (50.4% predation events), birds (22.7%), and ants (17.5%). Overall predation rates in forest fragments (41.6% d-1) were significantly higher than in the surrounding maize fields (21.5% d-1). Invertebrate predation was higher inside and at the edge of forest fragments than within fields, and did not change with increasing distance from a fragment edge, indicating a lack of spillover from the native habitat remnants to the cultivated matrix at the local scale. Distance from a continuous forest had a positive impact on predation by invertebrates and a negative impact on vertebrate predation.Fil: Ferrante, Marco. Aarhus University. Flakkebjerg Research Centre. Department of Agroecology; DinamarcaFil: González, Ezequiel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Gabor L., Lovei. Aarhus University. Flakkebjerg Research Centre. Department of Agroecology; Dinamarc

Quantifying Acetaldehyde in Astronomical Ices and Laboratory Analogues: IR Spectra, Intensities, 13C Shifts, and Radiation Chemistry

Acetaldehyde is of interest to astrochemists for its relevance to both interstellar and cometary chemistry, but little infrared (IR) spectral data have been published for the solid phases of this compound. Here we present IR spectra of three forms of solid acetaldehyde, with spectra for one form being published for the first time. Direct measurements of band strengths and absorption coefficients also are reported for the first time for amorphous aldehyde, the form of greatest interest for astrochemical work. An acetaldehyde band strength at 1350 cm1 that has been used as a reference for about 20 yr is seen to be in error by about 80 per cent when compared to the direct measurements presented here. Spectra and peak positions also are presented for H13C(O)13CH3, and then used for the first identification of ketene as a radiation product of solid acetaldehyde

Gli strumenti finanziari nazionali di supporto alla riduzione dei consumi energetici negli edifici delle pubbliche amministrazioni

Public Administrations are currently constrained, in their aims of carrying out actions and projects for the limitation of the energy consumption of buildings, by the scarcity of adequate budgets and by the need of observing the Growth and Stability Pact. On the contrary, the availability of (and the access to) suitable financial sources would represent significant opportunities for an economic development characterized by energy and environmental sustainability. This paper, after a short review of the domestic financial tools actually available for the reduction of their energy consumption of municipalities, analyses the technical and economic barriers that limit their effective utilization and that should be properly removed

Age estimation in children by measurement of open apices in teeth: an Indian formula.

The aim of this paper is twofold: first, to evaluate an Indian sample by Cameriere\u2019s European formula; and second, if this formula turns out to be unsuitable, to study a specific formula for Indian children. Orthopantomographs taken from 480 Indian children (227 girls and 253 boys) aged between 3 and 15 years were analyzed. Following the pilot study, subjects\u2019 age was modeled as a function of gender (g), region of country (C), and morphological variables (predictors: x5, the distance between the inner sides of the open apex of the second premolar divided by the tooth length; s \ubc x1 \ufe x2 \ufe x3 \ufe x4 \ufe x5 \ufe x6 \ufe x7, sum of normalized open apices; N0, the number of teeth with root development complete. Results showed that all these variables except gender and second premolar contributed significantly to the fit so that all were included in the regression model, yielding the following linear regression formula: Age \ubc 9:402 0:879 C \ufe 0:663 N0 0:711 s 0:106s N0 where C is a dummy variable equal to 0 for the center or north of India and 1 for the south. The above equation, with the variables considered, explained 89.7% (R2=0.897) of total deviance. The median of the residuals (observed age minus predicted age) was \u20130.063 years, with an interquartile range of 1.10 years

Age estimation in children by measurement of open apices in teeth

This paper concerns a method for estimating the age of children based on their teeth. The sample consisted of 455 Italian white children (213 boys, 242 girls) aged between 5 and 15 years. The purpose of the present investigation was to present a method for assessing chronological age based on the relationship between age and measurement of the open apices in teeth. Pearson\u2019s correlation coefficients between age and these variables showed that the correlations between age and the open apices in teeth were significant and negative. Furthermore, gender and the number of teeth with the apical end of the root canals completely closed (N0) showed a significant correlation with chronological age. With the aid of a stepwise multiple regression model, a linear relationship between open apices, N0, and age was shown. Statistical analysis indicated that these morphological variables explain 83.6% of the variations in estimated chronological age. The median of residual errors between the actual and estimated ages was 120.035 years [interquartile range (IQR)=1.18 years]

Age estimation using carpals: study of a Slovenian sample to test Cameriere\u2019s method

Carpals are often used as age indicators. In a recent study, Cameriere et al. studied the use of the ratio between the total area of carpal bones and epiphyses of the ulna and radius (Bo) and carpals (Ca) as age indicators. The present study, of a sample of 158 Slovenian children and adolescents aged between 6 and 16 years, focused on analysing the best regression for age estimation. The regression model yielded the following equation:age = 3.411 + 0.942g + 20.927(Bo/Ca), and explained 91.6% of total variance (R2 = 0.916). The median of the absolute values of residuals (observed age minus predicted age) was 0.09 years, with a quartile deviation of 0.786 years, and a standard error of estimate of 0.658 years. Comparisons between the previous equation referring to Slovenian children and the equivalent linear equation proposed by Cameriere et al. did not reveal any significant differences between the intercepts and slopes of the two linear models. These results suggested a common regression model for both Italian and Slovenian samples. The common regression model, describing age as a linear function of gender and Bo/Ca ratio, yielded the following linear regression formula: age = 2.907 + 0.408g + 20.757(Bo/Ca). This model explained 86% of total variance (R2 = 0.86). The median of the absolute values of residuals (observed age minus predicted age) was 0.02 years, with a quartile deviation of 1.02 years and a standard error of estimate of 0.96 years

Mediterranean diet adherence and synergy with acute myocardial infarction and its determinants. a multicenter case-control study in Italy.

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in Western countries. The possible synergistic effect of poor adherence to a Mediterranean diet (MD) and other risk factors for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) such as hypertension, cholesterol, ever smoker, BMI> 25, diabetes, has not been deeply studied. Design Case-control study. Methods Patients with first AMI and controls from four tertiary referral Italian centers were screened for enrolment. Dietary information was collected through a questionnaire and a MD adherence score was calculated. Physical activity and smoking habits were also registered. The Synergy Index was calculated according to Rothman. Results 127 cases and 173 controls were enrolled. The analysis was conducted using a dichotomous variable for the MD score with values 7 representing good adherence. Multivariate analysis showed the following variables associated to AMI: ever smoker (OR = 2.08), diabetes (OR = 1.42), hypertension (OR = 2.08), hypercholesterolemia (OR = 2.47), BMI> 25 (OR = 1.99), while a protective effect emerged both in subjects scoring > 7 on the MD score(OR = 0.55) and in subjects resident of Southern Italy (OR = 0.38). A synergistic effect does exist between poor adherence to the MD and the following risk factors: hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, BMI >25, diabetes and being a resident in central and northern Italy. Conclusion Synergy between heart disease risk factors and MD underlines the need to enlarge the list of known modifiable cardiovascular risk factors to include and promote adherence to Mediterranean dietary habits

Variations in pulp/tooth area ratio as an indicator of age: a preliminary study

This paper details for age determination of adult from single rooted theeth. The sample consisted of 100 Italians white Caucasioan patients (46 men, 54 womwn) aged between 18 and 72 years. The single rooted maxillary right canine was utilized in this preliminary study. Pulp/root ration, tooth length ratio, pulp/root area and pulp/root width ratios at three different levels were computed. Pearson's correlation coefficients between age and these variables showed that the ratio between pulp and tooth area correlated best with age (r2 = 0,85). Stepwise multiple regression models yielded a linear relationship between pulp/root width at mid-root level and chronological age and a linear relationship when pulp/tooth area was compared to age. Statistical analysis indicated that these two variables explain 84,9% of variations in estimated chronological age. The median of the absolute value of residual errors between actual and estimated ages was less than four years