Missing in translation: Maori language and oral tradition in scientific analyses of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK)

Recent conceptual shifts in ecology towards integration of humans into ecosystems requires all possible sources of ecological knowledge available (Berkes 2004, 2009 this issue). Māori traditional ecological knowledge of natural systems (TEK) can add valuable ecological data to more conventional scientific studies as the former tends to be diachronic, based on a cumulative system of understanding the environment founded on observations and experience (Gadgil et al. 1993; Berkes 2008), while the latter is frequently synchronic, with experiments that may explore causal effects in ecological patterns (Newman & Moller 2005; Moller et al. 2009a). However accessing TEK can be both difficult and time-consuming, as demonstrated by the 14-year research project Kia Mau Te Tītī Mo Ake Tonu Atu (the ‘Keep the Tītī Forever’ research project; Moller et al. 2009a). We argue that oral traditions offer a wealth of information that is frequently overlooked, in part because of a lack of knowledge of te reo Māori (the Māori language) and, further, a lack of recognition of the inextricable link between biological and cultural diversity (Maffi 2005)

Recanalization of the Chronically Occluded Internal Carotid Artery: Review of the Literature.

Introduction: We reviewed the literature on interventions for patients with medically refractory chronically occluded internal carotid artery (COICA) to assess the risks and/or benefits after recanalization via an endovascular technique (ET) or hybrid surgery (HS, i.e., ET plus carotid endarterectomy). Methods: A systematic search of the electronic databases was performed. Patients with COICA were classified into 4 different categories according to Hasan et al classification. Results: Eighteen studies satisfied the inclusion criteria. Only 6 studies involved an HS procedure. We identified 389 patients with COICA who underwent ET or HS; 91% were males. The overall perioperative complication rate was 10.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.4%-13.1%). For types A and B, the successful recanalization rate was 95.4% (95% CI: 86.5%-100%), with a 13.7% (95% CI: 2.3%-27.4%) complication rate. For type C, the success rate for ET was 45.7% (95% CI: 17.8%-70.7%), with a complication rate of 46.0% (95% CI: 20.0%-71.4%) for ET and for the HS technique 87.6% (95% CI: 80.9%-94.4%), with a complication rate of 14.0% (95% CI: 7.0%-21.8%). For type D, the success rate of recanalization was 29.8% (95% CI: 7.8%-52.8%), with a 29.8% (95% CI: 6.1%-56.3%) complication rate. Successful recanalization resulted in a symmetrical perfusion between both cerebral hemispheres, resolution of penumbra, normalization of the mean transit time, and improvement in Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score (ΔMoCA = 9.80 points; P = 0.004). Conclusions: Type A and B occlusions benefit from ET, especially in the presence of a large penumbra. Type C occlusions can benefit from HS. Unfortunately, we did not identify an intervention to help patients with type D occlusions. A phase 2b randomized controlled trial is needed to confirm these findings

Linearly independent pure-state decomposition and quantum state discrimination

We put the pure-state decomposition mathematical property of a mixed state to a physical test. We begin by characterizing all the possible decompositions of a rank-two mixed state by means of the complex overlap between two involved states. The physical test proposes a scheme of quantum state recognition of one of the two linearly independent states which arise from the decomposition. We find that the two states associated with the balanced pure-state decomposition have the smaller overlap modulus and therefore the smallest probability of being discriminated conclusively, while in the nonconclusive scheme they have the highest probability of having an error. In addition, we design an experimental scheme which allows to discriminate conclusively and optimally two nonorthogonal states prepared with different a priori probabilities. Thus, we propose a physical implementation for this linearly independent pure-state decomposition and state discrimination test by using twin photons generated in the process of spontaneous parametric down conversion. The information-state is encoded in one photon polarization state whereas the second single-photon is used for heralded detection.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, Submitted to Phys. Rev.

Entanglement of formation for a class of (2⊗d)(2\otimes d)-dimensional systems

Currently the entanglement of formation can be calculated analytically for mixed states in a $(2\otimes2)$-dimensional Hilbert space. For states in higher dimensional Hilbert space a closed formula for quantifying entanglement does not exist. In this regard only entanglement bounds has been found for estimating it. In this work, we find an analytical expression for evaluating the entanglement of formation for bipartite ($2\otimes d$)-dimensional mixed states.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures. Submitted for publicatio

Deformación de Branquias en Salmónidos: Análisis Macroscópico, Histológico, Ultraestructural y de Elementos

Rojas, M (Rojas, Mariana).Univ Talca, Unidad Anat Normal, Valparaiso, Chile

Evaluación de la degradabilidad in situ en bovinos suplementados con cuatro especies arbóreas

Objetivo. Evaluar degradabilidad in situ en rumen de cuatro especies forrajeras: Acacia Roja (Delonix regia), pízamo (Eritryna glauca), Cratilia (Cratylia argentea) y casco de vaca (Bahuinia variegata), para determinar su calidad nutricional. Materiales y métodos. Cuatro hembras rumino-fistuladas en un diseño de sobrecambio simple, pastoreando en Brachiaria decumbens, suplementadas en la mañana con tres kg de hojas deshidratadas de las cuatro especies mencionadas, de un año de establecidas y podadas cada 3 meses. En las pruebas in situ se utilizaron bolsas de nylon, adicionando 5 g de MS de cada arbórea/bolsa, incluyendo braquiaria, en diferentes horas (6, 12, 24, 48 y 72). Se evaluó la degradabilidad de la materia seca (DMS), fibra detergente neutro (DFDN) fibra detergente ácido (DFDA), nitrógeno total (DNT) y nitrógeno adherido a FDN (DNFDN). En el líquido ruminal se midió nitrógeno amoniacal a las 0, 4, 8 y 12 y pH a las 0, 3, 6, 9 y 12 horas. Resultados. La DMS fue mayor (p>0.05) para casco de vaca (53.3%) y acacia roja (56.1%) con relación a pízamo y cratilia. La DMS de braquiaria fue mayor (p>0.05) en 18.6% suplementando con casco de vaca con relación a las otras arbóreas. La DFDN potencial fue menor (p>0.05) para pízamo (7.6%) en comparación con cratilia. La DFDN de braquiaria fue similar en todas las forrajeras. Conclusiones. Algunos componentes de las arbóreas tienen efecto asociativo en la cinética de la tasa de degradación de MS y FDA del pasto, siendo superiores (p>0.05) cuando se suplementó con casco de vaca