Rainfall-simulated quantification of initial soil erosion processes in sloping and poorly maintained terraced vineyards - Key issues for sustainable management systems

In the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), understanding landscape evolution is essential to design long-term management plans. In agricultural fields, such as the vineyards on steep slopes, the terraces offer one of the most important morphological changes. However, it is not clear if the poorly managed agricultural terraces are optimal to reduce soil erosion and overland flow, although the trafficability is improved. Therefore, the main aim of this research is to compare the differences between initial soil erosion processes on poorly managed terraced vineyards and sloping vineyards at the pedon scale, considering the key role of the SSC (Soil Surface Components). To achieve this goal, twenty-six rainfall simulations were performed, considering the inclination, vegetation and stone covers, and surface roughness. Our research was carried out in the sloping vineyards (>20°) of the Almáchar municipality, in the Montes de Málaga (Spain). Those vineyards are characterized by bare soils, low organic matter and high rock fragment contents. Our results showed that higher soil losses (42.2 g m−2 vs 9.4 g m−2) and runoff (4.9 l m−2 vs 1.6 l m−2) were detected in the plots of the poorly managed terraced vineyard than in the sloping one. Moreover, the time to runoff generation was lower in the poorly conserved terraces (232 s) than in the sloping vineyard (679 s), showing a faster saturation capacity. The SSC considered as the key factors were the reduction of the stone cover and an increase of roughness. As a conclusion, we confirm that the imminent transformation from sloping vineyards into terraced fields could lead several land degradation processes if a poor management is carried out, and no control measures are applied during the process, such as the conservation of stone walls or vegetation cover above the embankment, which is not in compliance with the SDG.Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte from Spain for the financial support of the FPU15/0149

High variability of soil erosion and hydrological processes in Mediterranean hillslope vineyards (Montes de Málaga, Spain)

Conventional Mediterranean vineyards from the Montes de Málaga (Axarquía region, Spain) are characterized by high average temperatures, extreme rainfall events during autumn and winter, elevated stoniness and steep slopes (20–50°). Traditionally, several problems of high soil loss, rill and ephemeral gully generation, and elevat- ed runoff are observed by farmers, which are increasing land degradation processes and a decrease of the productivity. According to this, the main aims of this paper were: i) to quantify the initial soil loss, surface flow and infiltration processes; ii) to characterize and describe the hydrological and geomorphological dynamics; iii) to detect the key factors, which control the soil erosion processes. For this purpose, a combined methodology was applied, using soil analysis, a small portable rainfall simulator and a Guelph permeameter on one experimental plot cultivated with vineyards with steep slopes. Results showed a high variability of soil erosion and permeability processes. Soil analysis showed an elevated concentration of silt particles and stoniness, with higher contents of sand particles between 0 and 5 cm, and clays from 5 cm. With a Guelph permeameter, high average of permeability and saturated hydraulic conductivity with elevated standard deviation were observed. Furthermore, an increase of these parameters from the upper to the foot slope was reg- istered. By using rainfall simulations, on the upper and the foot slope positions the highest runoff coefficient and soil loss were registered. The most elevated peak of sediment concentration was obtained on the middle slope. In general, high infiltration coefficients between 66.5 and 100% were observed. In conclusion it was observed that the activation of the soil erosion processes was due to the distribution of the surface soil components (high roughness, several cracks and high stoniness and silt content), the steep slopes and the impact of the soil traditional tillage practices. These Mediterranean hillslope vineyards registered a mixed Hortonian-Hewlettian model, which combines surface and sub-surface flow conditioned by the micro-topo- graphical changes and its saturation degree

Étude des processus de géo-morphodynamique dans les vignobles cultivés sur les pentes en circulation Ruwer Valley (Allemagne) champs de différentes techniques

The present work pretends to examine the erosive soil response of vineyards on the high steeps in the Ruwer Valley (Germany) with different methods. The experiments were developed between September and December along three different land management situation of the soil: before, during and after vintage. Firstly, with geometrical rill monitoring we quantify the lateral (7 to 13 cm) and vertical (1 to 4 cm) erosion. The high variability on the hydro-geomorphological process along the steep slopes is confirmed by the soil transport. Elevated infiltration rates were noted using the runoff curve number and rainfall simulations; however, the final results were different. Finally, the negative impact of the erosion by anthropic activities was confirmed with two methods: RUSLE (Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation) and using botanic marks on the grape-vines. With the first techniques, 11.28 t ha-1 and respectively with the second 3.4 t ha-1 soil erosion rate was calculated.El presente trabajo pretende examinar la respuesta erosiva del suelo en áreas cultivadas de viñedos sobre laderas en pendientes elevadas en el Valle del Ruwer (Alemania) a través de diferentes técnicas. Los experimentos se desarrollan entre los meses de septiembre y diciembre durante diferentes épocas de manejo del suelo: antes, durante y después de la vendimia. En primer lugar, se realiza un análisis de la variación geométrica de tres rills para cuantificar su expansión lateral (de 7 a 13 cm) y vertical (1 a 4 cm). El movimiento del suelo confirma una elevada variabilidad en los procesos hidro-geomorfológicos de la ladera. A continuación, a través del cálculo del coeficiente teórico de escorrentía a partir del número de curva y lluvias simuladas en diferentes épocas del año, se observan unas elevadas tasas de infiltración, aunque con resultados muy diferentes entre técnicas. Por último, con el cálculo de la RUSLE (Revised Universal Soil Loss Ecuation) y el análisis de las marcas botánicas en los tocones de las parras, se calcula el impacto negativo de la erosión con el manejo agrícola del ser humano sobre los suelos de los viñedos. Con ambos métodos, se han obtenido 11.28 t ha-1 y 3.4 t ha-1 año de pérdida de suelo, respectivamente.Ce document vise à déterminer la réponse de l’érosion des sols dans les zones cultivées de vignes dans la Vallée de Ruwer (Allemagne) par le biais de différentes techniques. Tout d’abord, une survie géométrique rills est réalisée afin de quantifier l›expansion verticale (1-4 cm) et latérale (7 à 13 cm) lors des différentes périodes de la gestion de l›utilisation des terres (entre Septembre et Décembre): avant, pendant et après la récolte. En outre, avec le calcul théorique du coefficient de ruissellement avec le nombre de courbe et des simulations de pluies le longs de différentes saisons ont été confirmée des élevés taux d›infiltration. Finalement, le calcul de la RUSLE (Universal Soil Loss révisée Equation) et l›analyse des marques botaniques sur les souches de vignes, l›impact négatif de la gestion agricole de l›homme sur le sol du vignoble est confirmée. Avec les deux méthodes 11.28 t ha-1 et 3.4 t ha-1 sont perdu respectivement

Soil erosion processes in european vineyards: a qualitative comparison of rainfall simulation measurements in Germany, Spain and France

Small portable rainfall simulators are considered a useful tool to analyze soil erosion processes in cultivated lands. European research groups in Spain (Valencia, Málaga, Lleida, Madrid and La Rioja), France (Reims) and Germany (Trier) have used different rainfall simulators (varying in drop size distribution and fall velocities, kinetic energy, plot forms and sizes, and field of application) to study soil loss, surface flow, runoff and infiltration coefficients in different experimental plots (Valencia, Montes de Málaga, Penedès, Campo Real and La Rioja in Spain, Champagne in France and Mosel-Ruwer valley in Germany). The measurements and experiments developed by these research teams give an overview of the variety of methodologies used in rainfall simulations to study the problem of soil erosion and describe the erosion features in different climatic environments, management practices and soil types. The aims of this study are: (i) to investigate where, how and why researchers from different wine-growing regions applied rainfall simulations with successful results as a tool to measure soil erosion processes; (ii) to make a qualitative comparison about the general soil erosion processes in European terroirs; (iii) to demonstrate the importance of the development of standard method for measurement of soil erosion processes in vineyards, using rainfall simulators; and (iv) and to analyze the key factors that should be taken into account to carry out rainfall simulations. The rainfall simulations in all cases allowed infiltration capacity, susceptibility of the soil to detachment and generation of sediment loads to runoff to be determined. Despite using small plots, the experiments were useful to analyze the influence of soil cover to reduce soil erosion, to make comparisons between different locations, and to evaluate the influence of different soil characteristics. The comparative analysis of the studies performed in different study areas points out the need to define an operational methodology to carry out rainfall simulations, which allows us to obtain representative and comparable results and to avoid errors in the interpretation in order to achieve comparable information about runoff and soil los

EFFECT OF SYZYGIUM CUMINI AND BAUHINIA FORFICATA AQUEOUS-LEAF EXTRACTS ON OXIDATIVE AND MITOCHONDRIAL PARAMETERS IN VITRO

ABSTRACT Aqueous-leaf extract of Syzygium cumini and Bauhinia forficata are traditionally used in the treatment of diabetes and cancer, especially in South America, Africa, and Asia. In this study, we analyzed the effects of these extracts on oxidative and mitochondrial parameters in vitro, as well as their protective activities against toxic agents. Phytochemical screenings of the extracts were carried out by HPLC analysis. The in vitro antioxidant capacities were compared by DPPH radical scavenging and Fe 2+ chelating activities. Mitochondrial parameters observed were swelling, lipid peroxidation and dehydrogenase activity. The major chemical constituent of S. cumini was rutin. In B. forficata were predominant quercetin and gallic acid. S. cumini reduced DPPH radical more than B. forficata, and showed iron chelating activity at all tested concentrations, while B. forficata had not similar property. In mitochondria, high concentrations of B. forficata alone induced a decrease in mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity, but low concentrations of this extract prevented the effect induced by Fe 2+ +H 2 O 2 . This was also observed with high concentrations of S. cumini. Both extracts partially prevented the lipid peroxidation induced by Fe 2+ /citrate. S. cumini was effective against mitochondrial swelling induced by Ca 2+ , while B. forficata alone induced swelling more than Ca 2+ . This study suggests that leaf extract of S. cumini might represent a useful therapeutic for the treatment of diseases related with mitochondrial dysfunctions. On the other hand, the consumption of B. forficata should be avoided because mitochondrial damages were observed, and this possibly may pose risk to human health

Development and analysis of the Soil Water Infiltration Global database.

In this paper, we present and analyze a novel global database of soil infiltration measurements, the Soil Water Infiltration Global (SWIG) database. In total, 5023 infiltration curves were collected across all continents in the SWIG database. These data were either provided and quality checked by the scientists who performed the experiments or they were digitized from published articles. Data from 54 different countries were included in the database with major contributions from Iran, China, and the USA. In addition to its extensive geographical coverage, the collected infiltration curves cover research from 1976 to late 2017. Basic information on measurement location and method, soil properties, and land use was gathered along with the infiltration data, making the database valuable for the development of pedotransfer functions (PTFs) for estimating soil hydraulic properties, for the evaluation of infiltration measurement methods, and for developing and validating infiltration models. Soil textural information (clay, silt, and sand content) is available for 3842 out of 5023 infiltration measurements (~76%) covering nearly all soil USDA textural classes except for the sandy clay and silt classes. Information on land use is available for 76% of the experimental sites with agricultural land use as the dominant type (~40%). We are convinced that the SWIG database will allow for a better parameterization of the infiltration process in land surface models and for testing infiltration models. All collected data and related soil characteristics are provided online in *.xlsx and *.csv formats for reference, and we add a disclaimer that the database is for public domain use only and can be copied freely by referencing it. Supplementary data are available at https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.885492 (Rahmati et al., 2018). Data quality assessment is strongly advised prior to any use of this database. Finally, we would like to encourage scientists to extend and update the SWIG database by uploading new data to it

Development and analysis of the Soil Water Infiltration Global database

In this paper, we present and analyze a novel global database of soil infiltration measurements, the Soil Water Infiltration Global (SWIG) database. In total, 5023 infiltration curves were collected across all continents in the SWIG database. These data were either provided and quality checked by the scientists who performed the experiments or they were digitized from published articles. Data from 54 different countries were included in the database with major contributions from Iran, China, and the USA. In addition to its extensive geographical coverage, the collected infiltration curves cover research from 1976 to late 2017. Basic information on measurement location and method, soil properties, and land use was gathered along with the infiltration data, making the database valuable for the development of pedotransfer functions (PTFs) for estimating soil hydraulic properties, for the evaluation of infiltration measurement methods, and for developing and validating infiltration models. Soil textural information (clay, silt, and sand content) is available for 3842 out of 5023 infiltration measurements ( ∼ 76%) covering nearly all soil USDA textural classes except for the sandy clay and silt classes. Information on land use is available for 76% of the experimental sites with agricultural land use as the dominant type ( ∼ 40%). We are convinced that the SWIG database will allow for a better parameterization of the infiltration process in land surface models and for testing infiltration models. All collected data and related soil characteristics are provided online in *.xlsx and *.csv formats for reference, and we add a disclaimer that the database is for public domain use only and can be copied freely by referencing it. Supplementary data are available at https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.885492 (Rahmati et al., 2018). Data quality assessment is strongly advised prior to any use of this database. Finally, we would like to encourage scientists to extend and update the SWIG database by uploading new data to it

Rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART): Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with high in-hospital mortality. Alveolar recruitment followed by ventilation at optimal titrated PEEP may reduce ventilator-induced lung injury and improve oxygenation in patients with ARDS, but the effects on mortality and other clinical outcomes remain unknown. This article reports the rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART). Methods/Design: ART is a pragmatic, multicenter, randomized (concealed), controlled trial, which aims to determine if maximum stepwise alveolar recruitment associated with PEEP titration is able to increase 28-day survival in patients with ARDS compared to conventional treatment (ARDSNet strategy). We will enroll adult patients with ARDS of less than 72 h duration. The intervention group will receive an alveolar recruitment maneuver, with stepwise increases of PEEP achieving 45 cmH(2)O and peak pressure of 60 cmH2O, followed by ventilation with optimal PEEP titrated according to the static compliance of the respiratory system. In the control group, mechanical ventilation will follow a conventional protocol (ARDSNet). In both groups, we will use controlled volume mode with low tidal volumes (4 to 6 mL/kg of predicted body weight) and targeting plateau pressure <= 30 cmH2O. The primary outcome is 28-day survival, and the secondary outcomes are: length of ICU stay; length of hospital stay; pneumothorax requiring chest tube during first 7 days; barotrauma during first 7 days; mechanical ventilation-free days from days 1 to 28; ICU, in-hospital, and 6-month survival. ART is an event-guided trial planned to last until 520 events (deaths within 28 days) are observed. These events allow detection of a hazard ratio of 0.75, with 90% power and two-tailed type I error of 5%. All analysis will follow the intention-to-treat principle. Discussion: If the ART strategy with maximum recruitment and PEEP titration improves 28-day survival, this will represent a notable advance to the care of ARDS patients. Conversely, if the ART strategy is similar or inferior to the current evidence-based strategy (ARDSNet), this should also change current practice as many institutions routinely employ recruitment maneuvers and set PEEP levels according to some titration method.Hospital do Coracao (HCor) as part of the Program 'Hospitais de Excelencia a Servico do SUS (PROADI-SUS)'Brazilian Ministry of Healt

The role of nitric oxide in the therapeutic potential of BPP-10c for the treatment of cancer-associated diseases

O óxido nítrico (NO) foi descrito primeiramente como um mensageiro secundário que regula a sinalização vasodilatadora no sistema cardiovascular. No entanto, nos últimos anos tem-se caracterizado outras importantes funções desempenhadas pelo NO, de funções fisiológicas à patológicas. O NO é sintetizado a partir de L-arginina e oxigênio por uma família de enzimas nomeada de óxido nítrico sintases (NOS). As três isoformas encontradas de NOS, induzível (iNOS), endotelial (eNOS) e neuronal (nNOS) são significativamente importantes, pois já foram demonstradas alterações na expressão das isoformas da NOS em diferentes tipos de câncer. Recentemente, foi demonstrado que alguns peptídeos anti-hipertensivos isolados do veneno da serpente Bothrops jararaca, os BPPs, induzem a produção de óxido nítrico (NO) via ciclo citrulina-NO, pois aumentam os níveis de L-arginina devido à ativação da argininosuccinato sintase (ASS), uma enzima passo-limitante na biossíntese de L-arginina. Neste trabalho estudamos o BPP-10c que modulando o ciclo citrulina-NO causou elevação na produção de nitrito e preveniu o aumento da produção de superóxido em células de neuroblastoma metastático (SH-SY5Y). O BPP-10c foi capaz de atenuar a proliferação clonogênica de tumoresferas, sem alterar a viabilidade celular. Além disso, camundongos com xenotumores derivados de tumoresferas de neuroblastomametastático exibiram significativa perda de peso e debilitação sistêmica comparado ao grupo que recebeu as células tratadas com BPP-10c, mostrando que o peptídeo inibiu os efeitos sistêmicos desencadeados pelo tumor. Nossos dados indicam que o BPP- 10c preveniu o desenvolvimento da caquexia nos animais, cujo mecanismo deve estar relacionado a redução na produção de superóxido e na expressão de atrogin-1 e MuRF-1, moléculas envolvidas no desenvolvimento da caquexia do câncer. Embora, os mecanismos envolvidos na caquexia do câncer sejam complexos e multifatoriais, a perda de peso e principalmente, a perda de massa muscular esquelética caracterizam essa síndrome, e esses efeitos não podem ser revertidos unicamente por suplementação nutricional. Assim, nossos dados revelam um potencial terapêutico do BPP-10c, impedindo a manifestação de caquexia, característico de pacientes em estados avançados de câncer e especialmente no neuroblastoma metastático.Nitric oxide (NO) was first described as a secondary messenger that regulates vasodilator signaling in the cardiovascular system. However, in recent years other important roles of NO have been characterized, both physiologically and in pathological conditions. NO is synthesized from L-arginine and oxygen in a reaction catalysed by a family of enzymes named nitric oxide synthases (NOS). The three isoforms described for NOS, inducible (iNOS), endothelial (eNOS) and neuronal (nNOS) are significantly important, since alterations in the expression of NOS isoforms in different types of cancer have been demonstrated. Recently, has been described that some antihypertensive peptides isolated from Bothrops jararaca snake venom, the BPPs, induce nitric oxide (NO) production via citrulline-NO cycle because they increase Larginine levels due to activation of argininosuccinate synthase (ASS), the rate-limiting step enzyme in L-arginine biosynthesis. In this work we demonstrated that the BPP-10c modulates the citrulline-NO cycle causing an increase in nitrite production and prevents the increase of superoxide production in metastatic neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y). BPP-10c was able to attenuate clonogenic proliferation of tumorespheres without altering cell viability. In addition, tumor-bearing mice exhibited significant weight loss and systemic debilitation compared to the group receiving BPP-10c-treated cells, showingthat the peptide inhibited tumor-triggered systemic effects. In addition, tumor-bearing mice exhibited significant weight loss and systemic impairment compared to the group receiving BPP-10c-treated cells showing that the peptide inhibited the tumor-triggered cachexia. Our data indicate that BPP-10c prevented the development of the cachetic condition in animals, whose mechanism is related to the decreased production of superoxide and in the expression of atrogin-1 and MuRF-1 which are molecules directly involved in the development of cancer cachexia. Although the mechanisms involved in cancer cachexia are complex and multifactorial, the weight loss and especially, the loss of skeletal muscle mass characterize this syndrome, and most importantly these effects cannot reverted simply by nutritional supplementation. We demonstrated that BPP-10c was able to prevent metastatic neuroblastoma-induced cachexia. Thus, our data reveal a therapeutic potential of BPP-10c, preventing the manifestation of cachexia, characteristic of patients with advanced stages of cancer and especially metastatic neuroblastoma