The Gamma-ray Albedo of the Moon

We use the GEANT4 Monte Carlo framework to calculate the gamma-ray albedo of the Moon due to interactions of cosmic ray (CR) nuclei with moon rock. Our calculation of the albedo spectrum agrees with the EGRET data. We show that the spectrum of gamma rays from the Moon is very steep with an effective cutoff around 3-4 GeV (600 MeV for the inner part of the Moon disk) and exhibits a narrow pion-decay line at 67.5 MeV, perhaps unique in astrophysics. Apart from other astrophysical sources, the albedo spectrum of the Moon is well understood, including its absolute normalisation; this makes it a useful "standard candle" for gamma-ray telescopes. The steep albedo spectrum also provides a unique opportunity for energy calibration of gamma-ray telescopes, such as the forthcoming Gamma Ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST). Since the albedo flux depends on the incident CR spectrum which changes over the solar cycle, it is possible to monitor the CR spectrum using the albedo gamma-ray flux. Simultaneous measurements of CR proton and helium spectra by the Payload for Antimatter-Matter Exploration and Light-nuclei Astrophysics (PAMELA), and observations of the albedo gamma rays by the GLAST Large Area Telescope (LAT), can be used to test the model predictions and will enable the LAT to monitor the CR spectrum near the Earth beyond the lifetime of the PAMELA.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, emulateapj.cls; to appear in the Astrophysical Journa

New records of moths (Insecta, Lepidoptera) from urban gardens on Terceira Island with new data on recently introduced species to the Azores

The urban Duque da Terceira Garden, in the main town of Angra do Heroísmo (Terceira, Azores), was investigated to describe the species composition of moths (Insecta, Lepidoptera). Moths were sampled with two methods: SLAM traps (between April and September 2017) and light trapping (two sessions in the summer of 2017). A total of 42 taxa were sampled with the addition of 19 new records for Duque da Terceira Garden, five of which were also new records for Terceira Island. The five species recorded as new for Terceira were subjected to an exhaustive taxonomic analysis. In addition, we revised the colonization status of some species. Our results show that urban gardens may help the establishment of exotic species and that it is necessary to monitor and control how these species established in urban environments.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Analisis struktur biaya dan efisiensi usaha ternak Ayam ras petelur di Kecamatan Pasan Kabupaten Minahasa Tenggara (Studi Kasus)

Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk menganalisis stuktur biaya dan efisiensi usaha ternak ayam ras petelur di Desa Liwutung Kecamatan Pasan Kabupaten Minahasa Tenggara. Menggunakan metode studi kasus, untuk mengetahui struktur biaya dan efisiensi usaha ternak ayam ras petelur menggunakan metode pengambilan data secara langsung, wawancara dengan menggunakan kuisoner pemilik perusahaan dan melihat pembukuan dari perusahaan. menggunakan analisis deskriptif yang dilengkapi dengan tabel dan model analisis biaya dengan rumus. Struktur biaya dalam penelitian ini dikelompokkan menjadi tiga yakni (a) biaya peralatan meliputi biaya pembuatan kandang, tempat pakan, minum, gudang, dan lain-lain (b) biaya sapronak meliputi biaya untuk bibit, pakan, vitamin, obat-obatan dan (c) biaya operasional meliputi biaya gas, listrik, sekam, dan tenaga kerja. hasil perhitungan diketahui bahwa jumlah pendapatan usaha peternakan ayam ras petelur sebesar Rp601.613.600/periode atau Rp25.067.233/bulan. Pendapatan tersebut diperoleh dengan memelihara 5.000 ekor ayam ras petelur. diketahui bahwa nilai efisiensi usaha peternakan ayam ras petelur sebesar 1,15 artinya usaha ternak ayam ras petelur di desa liwutung kecamatan pasan kabupaten minahasa tenggara sudah efisien

UTILIZACIÓN DE ESTIMADORES PARA DETERMINACIÓN DE BIOMASAA CAMPO

Direct or destructive methods determine the values of existing biomass area in the field exactly. However, usually some operating and evaluation of a natural resource can be a source of disturbance to the natural system. From the contribution of new technologies, they tried to replace these methods by other direct or indirect non-destructive, where the powers of observation and estimation of biomass researchers with values obtained by cutting biomass combined. Among these methods we can name: use the double sampling rates (BEI) and estimation of direct weight field (BEP). The aim of this study was to compare the use of such estimators with sampling point scale to assess the availability of dry matter in a community located at the beginning of the origin Chucul stream. Data collection was conducted over three years (2012-2013-2014). Bimonthly, ten samples, with quadrants of 0.25 m2, spaced 30 m was cut and the biomass was weighed. 50 visual observations uncut assigning categories 1 to 5 and values estimated by the amount of forage available. Then, through linear regression, the relationship between the BEI and visually estimated BEP and cutted and weighed. The total aboveground biomass of pasture ranged from 153.52 and 386.78 g / m2. The regression estimates for different sampling dates ranged between 0.47 and 0.92 to 0.02 and 0.96 BEI and for BEP. To perform the analysis of variance estimates obtained was observed that there are significant differences between the BEI and BEP results, indicating a greater degree of adjustment for BEI to BEP. Showing that both serve as estimates of primary production in the study site

Fungal Assemblages Associated with Roots of Halophytic and Non-halophytic Plant Species Vary Differentially Along a Salinity Gradient.

Structure of fungal communities is known to be influenced by host plants and environmental conditions. However, in most cases, the dynamics of these variation patterns are poorly understood. In this work, we compared richness, diversity, and composition between assemblages of endophytic and rhizospheric fungi associated to roots of two plants with different lifestyles: the halophyte Inula crithmoides and the non-halophyte I. viscosa (syn. Dittrichia viscosa L.), along a spatially short salinity gradient. Roots and rhizospheric soil from these plants were collected at three points between a salt marsh and a sand dune, and fungi were isolated and characterized by ITS rDNA sequencing. Isolates were classified in a total of 90 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), belonging to 17 fungal orders within Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. Species composition of endophytic and soil communities significantly differed across samples. Endophyte communities of I. crithmoides and I. viscosa were only similar in the intermediate zone between the salt marsh and the dune, and while the latter displayed a single, generalist association of endophytes, I. crithmoides harbored different assemblages along the gradient, adapted to the specific soil conditions. In the lower salt marsh, root assemblages were strongly dominated by a single dark septate sterile fungus, also prevalent in other neighboring salt marshes. Interestingly, although its occurrence was positively correlated to soil salinity, in vitro assays revealed a strong inhibition of its growth by salts. Our results suggest that host lifestyle and soil characteristics have a strong effect on endophytic fungi and that environmental stress may entail tight plant-fungus relationships for adaptation to unfavorable conditions

The Code White protocol: a mixed somatic-psychiatric protocol for managing psychomotor agitation in the ED

Objectives: Clinical management of patients presenting with acute psycho­motor agitation is difficult, often because there is no predefined protocol for dealing with it. The main objective of this article is to describe our ­institution’s Code White mixed somatic-psychiatric protocol for managing acute agitation in an emergency department. Its second objective is to ­present data on how long it took to initiate and complete treatment. Methods: We retrospectively analysed 250 clinical situations over 3 years (2014–2016) from the hospital emergency department in the canton of Neuchâtel, Switzerland. Results: The median time from emergency department arrival to treatment initiation was 7 minutes; the median duration of treatment was 119 minutes. The rate of hospitalisation after emergency department treatment was 49.2%. Conclusion: This mixed somatic-psychiatric protocol seemed to reduce both the time before treatment initiation and treatment duration for ­patients presenting with acute psychomotor agitation in an emergency ­department. Implications for practice: The Code White protocol improved the emergency department’s ability to keep acutely agitated patients flowing smoothly and efficiently through it to other units or to discharge. On the qualitative level, it also improved staff safety and peace of mind, allowing them to carry out their many tasks more calmly

Informalidad empresarial en Colombia: alternativas para impulsar la productividd, el empleo y los ingresos

Este documento estudia los determinantes de la informalidad empresarial en Colombia. El análisis se realiza tanto cuantitativa, como cualitativamente. El primero se desarrolla con base en el Censo Empresarial de Cali y Yumbo - 2005, el cual permite estudiar por primera vez la incidencia y los determinantes de la informalidad en empresas de cualquier tamaño. Los resultados indican que, en las microempresas, la informalidad es un fenómeno generalizado y que, en muchos casos, tiende a desvanecerse con el crecimiento de las empresas. Por otra parte, dentro del grupo de empresas grandes y medianas la informalidad obedece a otro tipo de factores, entre los que se destacan los altos costos de la formalidad y el desconocimiento de los beneficios a operar formalmente. Por otro lado, el análisis cualitativo se desarrolla con base a sesiones de grupo dirigidas a empresarios formales e informales, lo cual facilita estudiar aspectos que no pueden ser identificados sólo con análisis de cifras y estadísticas. Con base a los resultados de estos ejercicios, combinados con un análisis exhaustivo de los incentivos gubernamentales y una descripción de la experiencia internacional en torno a este fenómeno, se formula un grupo de recomendaciones de política dirigidas a aumentar los niveles de productividad empresarial en el país y, por esta vía, incrementar los niveles de empleo formal y de ingresos de los trabajadores y de sus familias. Éstas están orientadas principalmente a aumentar los beneficios netos de la formalidad.Abstract: This document studies the determinants of firm informality in Colombia based both on a quantitative and a qualitative approach. The former is carried out using the Cali and Yumbo Enterprise Census for the year 2005, which allowed, for the first time, to analyze informality over firms of any size. Estimations show that incidence of informality among of small firms (microempresas") is strikingly large and, many times, tends to disappear with its growth. Informality in larger firms, on the other hand, is associated to other factors, such as high formality costs and lack of knowledge about the benefits of being formal. The qualitative analysis was carried out based on a series of focus groups directed to informal and formal employers. These sessions facilitated the identification of their perceptions around this phenomenon, providing important "unobserved" clues as to why are they formal or informal. Based on the results of these exercises, plus the analyses of international experience and some governmental incentives related to informality, some policy recommendations were formulated to increase the pace of productivity growth in Colombia and, through this channel, to increase formal employment and labor incomes. These recommendations seek to raise the net benefits of formality in Colombia."Informalidad, informalidad empresarial, Colombia, costo-beneficio.Informality, firm informality, Colombia, cost-benefit.