Using Participatory Research, Remote Sensing and Field Surveys to Build a State and Transition Model for the Native Pastures of Northern Uruguay

Native grasslands cover 55% of the agricultural lands of Uruguay. Balancing conservation, agricultural production and human well-being is a major management challenge. Adaptive management approaches have been developed for leased land, underpinned by a newly developed state and transition model (STM). The model was tested in northern Uruguay, in the Department of Paysandú, covering an area of 8300 ha. Floristic surveys were used to define five states, based on the relative cover of key plant species and functional types. Each state was characterized in terms of livestock density, sheep/cattle ratio and years since last ploughing. Aboveground Net Primary Production (ANPP) data were derived from MODIS NDVI data using the Monteith model. Total production and ANPP, including seasonal and inter-annual variability, were characterized for each state. Hypotheses on the drivers of the transitions between states of degradation were derived from local studies on the effect of grazing and cropping on grassland structure and function. A participatory engagement process with local stakeholders was used to develop actions that focused on managing the heterogeneity of forage resources and the desired transitions between states

Spring Forage Stash Module to Prevent Forage Crisis on Uruguayan Livestock Systems: An Evaluation Based on Model Simulations

In Uruguay, rangeland cattle production systems support national economy by beef exportation chain and economic inputs to the country. Soil hydric stress episodes results to forage crisis on grassland-based production systems, having high impact on its trajectory and leaving sequels at several farm levels mainly on rearing cattle systems in drought sensitive regions of the country. In that context, the proposal is to create a spring forage stash module, with a simple management rules as a mechanism to build stability to farms and to buffering drought impact. The concept is to differ spring forage (season with low variation coefficient on net primary production) to summer (season with high variation and susceptible to drought stress episodes). This forage stash module is actually started to be implemented in some monitored farms nevertheless, the use of simulation models can project some concrete result generating future possible evolutions for the system. A predator-prey model for extensive livestock systems -called PPGL- was set to understand the impact of that spring forage stash module on animal securing parameter, expressed as the proportion of adult rearing cows maintaining liveweight at summer grazing on a drought scenario. Results suggest that the stashing 10% of the farm surface can save approximatively 70% of rearing cows, even for drought episodes on closing time or in the summer grazing period. Additionally, a linear direct effect was observed between stashing surface on proportion of rearing cows secured. The resulting carrying capacity of the stash forage module is about 800 to 850 kg liveweight / ha on the grazing period, supporting high grazing pressure. Considering those results, the inclusion of a spring forage stash module is a promising tool to generate more resilient livestock production systems

Collaborative Construction of a Method that Contributes to Improve the Decision Making in Associative Ranches by Controlling the Grass Allowance in a Context of Climate Variability

Pasture management and the particular conditions of each year are responsible for productive results, farm income, and condition of the pasture. A simple and robust method that relates the available grass and the required grass was built in a participatory manner, and contributes to a critical reflection process among the group of decision-making, adapting to their context. In 17 farms from the Basalt region in Uruguay, grass and animals were monitored seasonally. A simple method was developed with farmers, and from de offer needed to meet production targets (KgMS/KgPV) the amount of grass requires was calculated. The grass height was measured with a ruler in order to obtain the available grass. From the relationship between the available grass and the necessary grass, a situation index (ISPC- Index on the food plate) was developed, and ranges were established with colors. Index less than 0.6 with Red color, between 0.6 and 0.8 Yellow, between 0.8 and 1.2 Green, and greater than 1,2 brown. Each group of ranchers analyzed their seasonal index together in workshops with other ranchers and guest technicians, who proposed alternatives to place the index whitin the optimum range. The host ranchers group selected and ordered the proposed alternatives by priority, and the resulting actions were described by using UML (Unified Modeling Lenguage) diagrams. Each rancher obtained one UML per season, with the right action to be taken in case of deficit or excess of grass. This process incorporated local, professional and academic knowledge, and by applying a simple method, measures were adapted according to the context of each rancher. The technician role was to facilitate the process by creating an environment that stimulated critical reflection, supported by real evidence. Participating ranchers achieved the ability to measure, relate, discuss an decide, and significantly improved their productive results by adopting participatory constructed methodology

CMT-3 targets different α-synuclein aggregates mitigating their toxic and inflammogenic effects

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder for which only symptomatic treatments are available. Repurposing drugs that target α-synuclein aggregation, considered one of the main drivers of PD progression, could accelerate the development of disease-modifying therapies. In this work, we focused on chemically modified tetracycline 3 (CMT-3), a derivative with reduced antibiotic activity that crosses the blood–brain barrier and is pharmacologically safe. We found that CMT-3 inhibited α-synuclein amyloid aggregation and led to the formation of non-toxic molecular species, unlike minocycline. Furthermore, CMT-3 disassembled preformed α-synuclein amyloid fibrils into smaller fragments that were unable to seed in subsequent aggregation reactions. Most interestingly, disaggregated species were non-toxic and less inflammogenic on brain microglial cells. Finally, we modelled the interactions between CMT-3 and α-synuclein aggregates by molecular simulations. In this way, we propose a mechanism for fibril disassembly. Our results place CMT-3 as a potential disease modifier for PD and possibly other synucleinopathies.Fil: González Lizarraga, Maria Florencia. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Investigaciones En Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Gobierno de la Provincia de Tucumán. Ministerio de Salud. Sistema Provincial de Salud. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet Noa Sur. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario; ArgentinaFil: Ploper, Diego. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Investigaciones En Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Gobierno de la Provincia de Tucumán. Ministerio de Salud. Sistema Provincial de Salud. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet Noa Sur. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario; ArgentinaFil: Avila, Cesar Luis. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Investigaciones En Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Gobierno de la Provincia de Tucumán. Ministerio de Salud. Sistema Provincial de Salud. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet Noa Sur. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario; ArgentinaFil: Socias, Sergio Benjamin. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Investigaciones En Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Gobierno de la Provincia de Tucumán. Ministerio de Salud. Sistema Provincial de Salud. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet Noa Sur. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario; ArgentinaFil: dos Santos Pereira, Mauricio. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Machín, Belén. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Investigaciones En Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Gobierno de la Provincia de Tucumán. Ministerio de Salud. Sistema Provincial de Salud. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet Noa Sur. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario; ArgentinaFil: Del Bel, Elaine. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Michel, Patrick Pierre. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; FranciaFil: Pietrasanta, Lia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Raisman Vozari, Rita. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; FranciaFil: Chehin, Rosana Nieves. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Investigaciones En Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Gobierno de la Provincia de Tucumán. Ministerio de Salud. Sistema Provincial de Salud. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet Noa Sur. Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada del Bicentenario; Argentin

Fertilización de campo natural.

¿Qué campos fertilizar? ¿Cuándo fertilizar?. Fertilización de otoño. Fertilización de primavera. ¿Cómo hacerlo?. Beneficios. Atención. Ejemplo

Hay equipo confirmado en el proyecto Gestión del Pasto.

Se ajusta la estrategia de juego y se trabaja en la alineación inicial del equipo del proyecto Gestión del Pasto. En un período complicado desde el punto de vista del contexto sanitario, se pone a caminar el proyecto Gestión del Pasto. Entre las metasque se fijaron a la fecha, está la conformación del equipo de trabajo, la nivelación de expectativas y conocimiento que requiere la ejecución de las actividades; pero sobre todo y fundamental, los 30 laboratorios de Campo Natural que, motivados por este tema en común, se presentaron, entre otros muchos, a ser parte de este proyecto