Comparing Carapa guianensis Seed Production in 3 Amazonian Forests

This paper is the first part of a project that has the purpose of creating models that help us better understand variation in seed production in Carapa guianensis, a species in the mahogany family. The goal of this paper is to visualize seed production patterns to inform species management. When this study is completed, it will aid local communities harvesting Carapa in projecting revenue from the oil produced from the seeds. Carapa is a masting species, which means it has an intermittent synchronous production of large seed crops. The major suspected causes of variation in seed production are resource acquisition and allocation, while some trees may use masting as a defense mechanism against predators. We compiled data from 2005-2017 in three forests in Brazil, Acre, Amapá, and Roraima, and by using statistical computing language R, we found that Carapa did not have consistent seed production in these forests. In Acre, masting years 2005, 2008, 2011, and 2013 had medians of 73.15, 328.54, 134.80 and 235.90 kg seeds, respectively (Appendix A). In Amapá, the medians from 2012-2016 were 1,481.52, 276.62, 573.52, 1,467.67, and 1135.12 kg, respectively, and those years were the only recorded. In Roraima, masting years 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2012 had medians of 312.80, 1016.60, 1919.81, 164.22, 469.20, and 316.71 kg, respectively, with zero median production in 2010 and 2017. These data have variation between years, and in the future, we will work to see what causes this variation and how we can model seed production for revenue projections

Los maestros de obras en Galicia durante el siglo XIX. Actividad y conflictos legales

Quizás sea difícil encontrar una categoría profesional que experimentara una situación tan inestable como la vivida por la clase de los maestros de obras en Es~ paña durante el siglo XIX. Pese al reconocimiento de su actividad y estudios dentro del mismo seno de la Academia de San Fernando,' antes de que acabara la centuria dieciochesca y sobre todo a lo largo del XIX fue precisamente la rivalidad con los arquitectos el desencadenante de las sucesivas disposiciones legales que intentaron recortar o incluso suprimir sus competencias,2 objetivo finalmente alcanzado con el establecimiento desde 1895 de la figura del aparejador

Canagliflozin and renal outcomes in type 2 diabetes and nephropathy

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of kidney failure worldwide, but few effective long-term treatments are available. In cardiovascular trials of inhibitors of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2), exploratory results have suggested that such drugs may improve renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS In this double-blind, randomized trial, we assigned patients with type 2 diabetes and albuminuric chronic kidney disease to receive canagliflozin, an oral SGLT2 inhibitor, at a dose of 100 mg daily or placebo. All the patients had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 30 to <90 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 of body-surface area and albuminuria (ratio of albumin [mg] to creatinine [g], >300 to 5000) and were treated with renin–angiotensin system blockade. The primary outcome was a composite of end-stage kidney disease (dialysis, transplantation, or a sustained estimated GFR of <15 ml per minute per 1.73 m2), a doubling of the serum creatinine level, or death from renal or cardiovascular causes. Prespecified secondary outcomes were tested hierarchically. RESULTS The trial was stopped early after a planned interim analysis on the recommendation of the data and safety monitoring committee. At that time, 4401 patients had undergone randomization, with a median follow-up of 2.62 years. The relative risk of the primary outcome was 30% lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group, with event rates of 43.2 and 61.2 per 1000 patient-years, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59 to 0.82; P=0.00001). The relative risk of the renal-specific composite of end-stage kidney disease, a doubling of the creatinine level, or death from renal causes was lower by 34% (hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.81; P<0.001), and the relative risk of end-stage kidney disease was lower by 32% (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.86; P=0.002). The canagliflozin group also had a lower risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke (hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.95; P=0.01) and hospitalization for heart failure (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.80; P<0.001). There were no significant differences in rates of amputation or fracture. CONCLUSIONS In patients with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, the risk of kidney failure and cardiovascular events was lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group at a median follow-up of 2.62 years

Beyond al-Qaeda.

Five years after September 11, 2001, al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups continue to threaten the lives and well being of Americans and the security of our friends and allies. This study first examines how al-Qaeda has changed since September 11. It then turns to an analysis of the broader global jihadist movement-al-Qaeda and affiliated or associated terrorist groups or groups that may not be formally part of the al-Qaeda network but that have assimilated its worldview and concept of mass-casualty terrorist attacks. These groups, the authors believe, are where the center of gravity of the current global terrorist threat now lies. They conclude by setting out a four-pronged strategy against terrorist groups: Attack the ideological underpinnings of global jihadism; seek to sever the links-ideological and otherwise-between local and global jihadists; deny sanctuaries to terrorists; and strengthen the capabilities of front-line states to counter local terrorist threats."MG-429"--Page 4 of cover.Includes bibliographical references.Introduction -- al-Qaeda's ideology and propaganda -- Strategy, structure, and operational evolution -- al-Qaeda's finances -- al-Qaeda's operational planning cycle -- The al-Qaeda Nebula -- South Asian clusters -- The caucasus and Central Asia -- The North and East African clusters -- The al-Zarqawi network: Jordanian and Iraqi Jihadis -- The Southeast Asian cluster -- Conclusions and recommendations.Five years after September 11, 2001, al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups continue to threaten the lives and well being of Americans and the security of our friends and allies. This study first examines how al-Qaeda has changed since September 11. It then turns to an analysis of the broader global jihadist movement-al-Qaeda and affiliated or associated terrorist groups or groups that may not be formally part of the al-Qaeda network but that have assimilated its worldview and concept of mass-casualty terrorist attacks. These groups, the authors believe, are where the center of gravity of the current global terrorist threat now lies. They conclude by setting out a four-pronged strategy against terrorist groups: Attack the ideological underpinnings of global jihadism; seek to sever the links-ideological and otherwise-between local and global jihadists; deny sanctuaries to terrorists; and strengthen the capabilities of front-line states to counter local terrorist threats.Print version record.JSTO