Infrared thermography for water management on high tunnel cultivation of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch)

Water management of strawberry cultivation is one of the main problems of production in Colombia, reflected in the loss of fruit or deformation of the same. Plants of two strawberry varieties (Fragaria x ananassa Duch), were irrigated in optimum and slight hydric deficit conditions, in a high tunnel system at the Savannah of Bogotá. Environmental variables (temperature, relative humidity, PAR radiation and vapor pressure deficit) and physiological variables (canopy temperature, substrate moisture content, stomatal conductance) were monitored for five months, in order to validate the hydric status of the crop through use of water stress index – CWSI. It was concluded that the use of thermographic images is a valid tool to detect hydric stress in protected small crops, given its high correlation with other methods and is one of the most complete monitoring methods for water management, since it relates the physiological characteristics of the crop with the climatic variables that affect it.El manejo hídrico del cultivo de fresa es uno de los principales problemas de producción en Colombia, reflejado en las perdidas de frutos o deformación de estos. Plantas de dos variedades de fresa (Fragaria x ananassa Duch), fueron irrigadas tanto en condiciones óptimas de riego como en déficit hídrico leve, en un macro túnel en la Sabana de Bogotá. Para el manejo hídrico se realizó el seguimiento durante cinco meses de variables climáticas (temperatura, humedad relativa, radiación PAR y déficit de presión de vapor) y del cultivo (temperatura del dosel, contenido de humedad de sustrato y conductancia estomática), buscando validar mediante la correlación de estos métodos conocidos el seguimiento del estado hídrico de las plantas de fresa mediante el método del índice de estrés hídrico del cultivo - CWSI. Se concluye que las imágenes termográficas mediante el CWSI son una herramienta válida y completa para la detección de estrés hídrico en cultivos protegidos de porte bajo, dada la alta correlación con otros métodos, y la ventaja que ofrece de relacionar el seguimiento de las características fisiológicas del cultivo con las variables climáticas que lo afectan

Ultraviolet Transparency of Plastic Films Determines the Quality of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) Grown in a Greenhouse

The quality of red lettuce is based on the content of anthocyanin pigments, and the content of these pigments increases when the plant receives ultraviolet radiation. Lettuce crops are increasingly being grown in greenhouses to provide better quality fresh lettuce; however, both quality and productivity are affected by the type of cover used. The effects of UV-transparent and UV-blocking plastic films on the growth and quality of three lettuce cultivars (‘Casabella’ and ‘Vera’, which are both green leaf, and ‘Lollo Rosso’, which is red leaf) were investigated. The crop was cultivated at an altitude of 2576 m a.s.l. to naturally expose it to high ultraviolet radiation. The height and diameter of plants, fresh and dry weight, leaf area index, chlorophyll fluorescence, and leaf colour were determined throughout the crop cycle. Growth characteristics were not significantly influenced by the plastic film in all cultivars, probably due to the high altitude and the high solar radiation received. The UV-transparent film could increase the red colour in ‘Lollo Rosso’, and a higher commercial quality was achieved. No effect of the plastic film on the yield component was observed in the ‘Casabella’ and ‘Vera’ cultivars. The findings of this study provide guidance on what cultivar and plastic film must be used in high-altitude areas where the solar and UV radiation is high

Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación aplicadas a procesos de investigación en Ciencias a nivel escolar

Una de las concepciones pedagógicas actuales para afianzar procesos de investigación en ciencias naturales a nivel escolar es la aplicación de tecnologías de la información y la comunicación (Internet, videoconferencias, mallas computacionales-grid, intranet, objetos virtuales de aprendizaje, foros aferentes online, laboratorios virtuales, redes computacionales, animaciones, recursos multimediales etc.), que permiten acercarse al mundo tecnológico actual y al tratamiento de información científica de frontera

Effect of Soil Use and Coverage on the Spectral Response of an Oxisol in the VIS-NIR-MIR Region

In this study, the spectral responses obtained from a Typic Red Hapludox (oxisol) were analyzed under different uses and occupations: Ficus elastica cultivation, Citrus + Arachis association cultivation, transitional crops, forest, Mangifera indica, Anacardium occidentale, Elaeis guineensis (18 years), Brachiaria decumbens, Brachiaria brizantha, and Musa × paradisiaca + Zea mays at the La Libertad Research Center in the department of Meta in Colombia (4°04′ North latitude, 73°30′ West longitude, 330 MAMSL). Sampling was performed with four random replicates of the horizon A and B to determine the contents of organic carbon (CO), pH, exchangeable acidity (Ac. I), cation exchange capacity (Cc), P, Ca, Mg, K, Na, sand, lime, and clay and spectral responses were obtained in the visible band (VIS), near infrared (NIR), and infrared (MIR) for each sample under laboratory conditions. A comparison was made between the obtained spectra, determining the main changes in soil properties due to their use and coverage. Variation of soil characteristics such as color, organic carbon content, presence of ferrous compounds, sand, silt, and clay content and mineralogy allow the identification of the main spectral changes of soils, demonstrating the importance of the use of reflectance spectroscopy as a tool of comparison and estimation between physical-chemical properties of the soils

Termografía infrarroja para el manejo hídrico del cultivo de fresa (Fragaria x ananassa Duch) bajo cubierta

Water management of strawberry cultivation is one the main problems of for crop production in Colombia causing fruit loss or malformation. The objective of this work was to evaluate the use of thermographic images as a tool to detect water stress in strawberry cultivation, using the crop water stress index method (CWSI). Plants of two strawberry varieties (Fragaria x ananassa Duch) were irrigated withoptimum and slight hydric deficit conditions, in a high tunnel system at the Savannah of Bogotá. Environmental variables (temperature, relative humidity, PAR radiation and vapor pressure deficit) and physiological variables (canopy temperature, substrate moisture content and stomata conductance) were monitored for five months, in order to validate the hydric status of the crop through the use of CWSI. It was concluded that using thermographic images is a valid tool to detect hydric stress in protected small crops, given its high correlation with other methods and is one of the most complete monitoring methods for water management, since it relates to physiological characteristics of the crop with environmental variables that affect it.El manejo hídrico del cultivo de fresa es uno de los principales problemas de producción en Colombia, reflejado en las perdidas de frutos o deformación de estos. El objetivo del presente trabajo, fue evaluar el uso de imágenes termográficas como herramienta para la detección del estrés hídrico en el cultivo de fresa, empleando el método del índice de estrés hídrico del cultivo CWSI. Plantas de dos variedades de fresa (Fragaria x ananassa Duch), fueron irrigadas tanto en condiciones óptimas de riego como en déficit hídrico leve, en un macro túnel en la Sabana de Bogotá. Para el manejo hídrico se realizó el seguimiento durante cinco meses de variables climáticas (temperatura, humedad relativa, radiación PAR y déficit de presión de vapor) y del cultivo (temperatura del dosel, contenido de humedad de sustrato y conductancia estomática), buscando validar mediante la correlación de estos métodos conocidos, el seguimiento del estado hídrico de las plantas mediante el método del índice CWSI. Se concluye que las imágenes termográficas mediante el CWSI son una herramienta válida y completa para la detección de estrés hídrico en cultivos protegidos de porte bajo, dada la alta correlación con otros métodos, y permite relacionar el seguimiento de las características fisiológicas del cultivo con las variables climáticas que lo afectan

Percepción campesina, uso e institucionalidad del recurso hídrico: caso de estudio en la vereda Aguapamba (Nariño-Colombia)

The decline in the supply and the quality of water resources due to mismanagement practices and excessive exploitation has become a direct threat to biodiversity, to the functionality of the ecosystem and to human wellbeing. This research presents the results of a series of interviews, workshops and portrayals of rural production systems, administered to a group of local producers in Aguapamba, a rural settlement in the Municipality of Pasto, in the Department of Nariño (Colombia), revealing the influence of the perceptions held by the farmers regarding the condition and the importance of water supply on its use and its management; it also explores the effectiveness of emerging organizations in managing the resource. The research concludes that perception is undeniably fundamental to how the resource is used; however, short-term financial benefits control decision-making concerning the use and management of water. Furthermore, it evidences emerging rural, entities seeking to regulate and manage the use of the resource; an institutional analysis is developed in regards to these.La perte de l'offre et la qualité de la ressource hydrique due aux mauvaises pratiques de gestion et la surexploitation, est devenue une menace directe pour la biodiversité, la fonctionnalité écosystémique et le bien-être de l'être humain. Cette recherche montre les résultats d'une série d�entretiens, d'ateliers et de caractérisations des systèmes productifs rurales, faits aux producteurs paysans à la vereda Aguapamba, située à la commune de Pasto dans le département de Nariño (Colombie), dans le but de mettre en évidence comment les perceptions paysans sur l'état et l'importance de la ressource hydrique ont de l'influence sur son usage et sa gestion. En conclusion, la perception fonde définitivement l'usage qui se fait de la ressource; cependant, les avantages économiques à court terme établissent la prise de décisions sur l'usage et la gestion de l'eau. De la même manière, l'enquête met en évidence les institutions rurales émergentes qui cherchent à réguler et à gérer l'usage de la ressource, à partir desquelles se développe une analyse institutionnelle.La pérdida de la oferta y calidad del recurso hídrico debido a malas prácticas de manejo y sobreexplotación, se ha convertido en una amenaza directa para la biodiversidad, la funcionalidad ecosistémica y el bienestar del ser humano. Esta investigación presenta los resultados de una serie de entrevistas, talleres y caracterizaciones de sistemas productivos rurales, realizados a productores campesinos en la vereda Aguapamba, localizada en el municipio de Pasto en el departamento de Nariño (Colombia), con el fin de evidenciar cómo las percepciones campesinas sobre el estado y la importancia del recurso hídrico influyen en su uso y manejo; así mismo, explora la efectividad de instituciones emergentes para el manejo del recurso. Se concluye que la percepción definitivamente fundamenta el uso que se haga del recurso; no obstante, los beneficios económicos a corto plazo determinan la toma de decisiones sobre el uso y manejo del agua. Así mismo, la investigación evidencia instituciones rurales campesinas emergentes que buscan regular y manejar el uso del recurso, a partir de las cuales se desarrolla un análisis institucional

Worldwide trends in population-based survival for children, adolescents, and young adults diagnosed with leukaemia, by subtype, during 2000–14 (CONCORD-3): analysis of individual data from 258 cancer registries in 61 countries

Background: Leukaemias comprise a heterogenous group of haematological malignancies. In CONCORD-3, we analysed data for children (aged 0–14 years) and adults (aged 15–99 years) diagnosed with a haematological malignancy during 2000–14 in 61 countries. Here, we aimed to examine worldwide trends in survival from leukaemia, by age and morphology, in young patients (aged 0–24 years). Methods: We analysed data from 258 population-based cancer registries in 61 countries participating in CONCORD-3 that submitted data on patients diagnosed with leukaemia. We grouped patients by age as children (0–14 years), adolescents (15–19 years), and young adults (20–24 years). We categorised leukaemia subtypes according to the International Classification of Childhood Cancer (ICCC-3), updated with International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, third edition (ICD-O-3) codes. We estimated 5-year net survival by age and morphology, with 95% CIs, using the non-parametric Pohar-Perme estimator. To control for background mortality, we used life tables by country or region, single year of age, single calendar year and sex, and, where possible, by race or ethnicity. All-age survival estimates were standardised to the marginal distribution of young people with leukaemia included in the analysis. Findings: 164 563 young people were included in this analysis: 121 328 (73·7%) children, 22 963 (14·0%) adolescents, and 20 272 (12·3%) young adults. In 2010–14, the most common subtypes were lymphoid leukaemia (28 205 [68·2%] patients) and acute myeloid leukaemia (7863 [19·0%] patients). Age-standardised 5-year net survival in children, adolescents, and young adults for all leukaemias combined during 2010–14 varied widely, ranging from 46% in Mexico to more than 85% in Canada, Cyprus, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, and Australia. Individuals with lymphoid leukaemia had better age-standardised survival (from 43% in Ecuador to ≥80% in parts of Europe, North America, Oceania, and Asia) than those with acute myeloid leukaemia (from 32% in Peru to ≥70% in most high-income countries in Europe, North America, and Oceania). Throughout 2000–14, survival from all leukaemias combined remained consistently higher for children than adolescents and young adults, and minimal improvement was seen for adolescents and young adults in most countries. Interpretation: This study offers the first worldwide picture of population-based survival from leukaemia in children, adolescents, and young adults. Adolescents and young adults diagnosed with leukaemia continue to have lower survival than children. Trends in survival from leukaemia for adolescents and young adults are important indicators of the quality of cancer management in this age group

Global economic burden of unmet surgical need for appendicitis

Background There is a substantial gap in provision of adequate surgical care in many low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the economic burden of unmet surgical need for the common condition of appendicitis. Methods Data on the incidence of appendicitis from 170 countries and two different approaches were used to estimate numbers of patients who do not receive surgery: as a fixed proportion of the total unmet surgical need per country (approach 1); and based on country income status (approach 2). Indirect costs with current levels of access and local quality, and those if quality were at the standards of high-income countries, were estimated. A human capital approach was applied, focusing on the economic burden resulting from premature death and absenteeism. Results Excess mortality was 4185 per 100 000 cases of appendicitis using approach 1 and 3448 per 100 000 using approach 2. The economic burden of continuing current levels of access and local quality was US $92 492 million using approach 1 and$73 141 million using approach 2. The economic burden of not providing surgical care to the standards of high-income countries was $95 004 million using approach 1 and$75 666 million using approach 2. The largest share of these costs resulted from premature death (97.7 per cent) and lack of access (97.0 per cent) in contrast to lack of quality. Conclusion For a comparatively non-complex emergency condition such as appendicitis, increasing access to care should be prioritized. Although improving quality of care should not be neglected, increasing provision of care at current standards could reduce societal costs substantially

Global economic burden of unmet surgical need for appendicitis

Background There is a substantial gap in provision of adequate surgical care in many low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the economic burden of unmet surgical need for the common condition of appendicitis. Methods Data on the incidence of appendicitis from 170 countries and two different approaches were used to estimate numbers of patients who do not receive surgery: as a fixed proportion of the total unmet surgical need per country (approach 1); and based on country income status (approach 2). Indirect costs with current levels of access and local quality, and those if quality were at the standards of high-income countries, were estimated. A human capital approach was applied, focusing on the economic burden resulting from premature death and absenteeism. Results Excess mortality was 4185 per 100 000 cases of appendicitis using approach 1 and 3448 per 100 000 using approach 2. The economic burden of continuing current levels of access and local quality was US $92 492 million using approach 1 and$73 141 million using approach 2. The economic burden of not providing surgical care to the standards of high-income countries was $95 004 million using approach 1 and$75 666 million using approach 2. The largest share of these costs resulted from premature death (97.7 per cent) and lack of access (97.0 per cent) in contrast to lack of quality. Conclusion For a comparatively non-complex emergency condition such as appendicitis, increasing access to care should be prioritized. Although improving quality of care should not be neglected, increasing provision of care at current standards could reduce societal costs substantially