The fractal dimension of agricultural parcels considering maize yield

Before making any decisions, all farm managers would like to have some indication about the effectiveness of a particular investment, especially when investing in precision agriculture technologies. Usually, the best indicator should be associated with the yield geometric complexity and its spatial and temporal dynamics. The fractal dimension of corn yield in a given year was calculated for six studied parcels, considering the fractal dimension of yield buffer zones above and below average yield. The less complex geometries usually have a fractal dimension close to the unit which can reach a value close to 2 in more complex geometries. This study shows that the number of yield buffer zones, above or below average yield, changes over time, with a different pattern, from parcel to parcel, and that there is a greater change in the smaller yield buffer zones compared to the larger ones. Fractal dimension can be a very strong indicator when the spatial complexity of a particular parcel is considered, and it is therefore a strong indicator of the greater or lesser need for precision agriculture technologies. The higher the fractal dimension of a given parcel, the higher will be the economic and environmental return of that parcel, when using precision agriculture technologies

Multiplexing optical fiber Fabry-Perot interferometers based on air-microcavities

In this work we demonstrate the multiplexing capability of new optical fiber Fabry-Perot interferometers based on airmicrocavities using a commercial FBG interrogator. Three optimized air-microcavity interferometer sensors have been multiplexed in a single network and have been monitored using the commercial FBGs interrogator in combination with FFT calculations. Results show a sensitivity of 2.18 π rad/mε and a crosstalk-free operation.This work was supported by the Spanish AEI TEC2016-76021-C2, FEDER Funds; and also by the ERDF – European Regional Development Fund through the Operational Programme for Competitiveness and Internationalization - COMPETE 2020 Programme and by National Funds through the Portuguese funding agency, FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia within project ENDOR - Endoscope based on New Optical Fibre Technology for Raman Spectroscopy (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029724). M. Bravo received funding from Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No 838143

Root high-affinity K+ and Cs+ uptake and plant fertility in tomato plants are dependent on the activity of the high-affinity K+ transporter SlHAK5

Root K+ acquisition is a key process for plant growth and development, extensively studied in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Because important differences may exist among species, translational research supported by specific studies is needed in crops such as tomato. Here we present a reverse genetics study to demonstrate the role of the SlHAK5 K+ transporter in tomato K+ nutrition, Cs+ accumulation and its fertility. slhak5 KO lines, generated by CRISPR-Cas edition, were characterized in growth experiments, Rb+ and Cs+ uptake tests and root cells K+-induced plasma membrane depolarizations. Pollen viability and its K+ accumulation capacity were estimated by using the K+-sensitive dye Ion Potassium Green 4. SlHAK5 is the major system for high-affinity root K+ uptake required for plant growth at low K+, even in the presence of salinity. It also constitutes a pathway for Cs+ entry in tomato plants with a strong impact on fruit Cs+ accumulation. SlHAK5 also contributes to pollen K+ uptake and viability and its absence produces almost seedless fruits. Knowledge gained into SlHAK5 can serve as a model for other crops with fleshy fruits and it can help to generate tools to develop low Cs+ or seedless fruits crops.Fil: Nieves Cordones, Manuel. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura; EspañaFil: Lara, Alberto. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura; EspañaFil: Silva, Martha. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr. Raúl Alfonsín" (sede Chascomús). Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr. Raúl Alfonsín" (sede Chascomús); ArgentinaFil: Amo, Jesús. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura; EspañaFil: Rodriguez Sepulveda, Pascual. No especifíca;Fil: Rivero, Rosa M.. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura; EspañaFil: Martínez, Vicente. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura; EspañaFil: Botella, María Ángeles. Universidad de Miguel Hernández; EspañaFil: Rubio, Francisco. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura; Españ

Laura ++ : a Dalitz plot fitter

The Dalitz plot analysis technique has become an increasingly important method in heavy flavour physics. The Laura fitter has been developed as a flexible tool that can be used for Dalitz plot analyses in different experimental environments. Explicitly designed for three-body decays of heavy-flavoured mesons to spinless final state particles, it is optimised in order to describe all possible resonant or nonresonant contributions, and to accommodate possible violation effects

Fiber cavity ring down and gain amplification effect

The effect of an erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) placed inside the fiber ring of a cavity ring down (CRD) configuration is studied. The limitations and advantages of this configuration are discussed, and the study of the ring-down time as a function of the current applied and gain to the EDFA is also presented. In this case, the power fluctuations in the output signal are strongly dependent on the cavity ring-down time with the EDFA gain.This work was supported by Project "CORAL – Sustainable Ocean Exploitation: Tools and Sensors, NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000036, financed by the North Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, and through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). S.S. received a Pos-Doc fellowship (ref. SFRH/BPD/92418/2013) also funded by FCT – Portuguese national funding agency for science, research and technology

Evaluaciones toxicológicas de un extracto acuoso del alga marina Bryothamnion triquetrum (Gmelin) M.A.Howe en estudios in vitro y modelos animales

Objetivo: El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar la toxicidad de un extracto acuoso del alga marina Bryothamnion triquetrum. Métodos: El ensayo de Ames se desarrolló con las cepas de S. typhimurium TA 1535, TA 1537 y TA 1538 con y sin activación metabólica. El estudio de citotoxicidad se realizó con células intestinales Caco-2 durante 24 y 48 horas de exposición al extracto y la viabilidad fue evaluada con la técnica de yoduro de propidio. El Estudio de Toxicidad Aguda se realizó con ratones Balc/c machos por vía oral e intraperitoneal y el Ensayo de Toxicidad por Dosis Repetidas se desarrolló con ratas Wistar de ambos sexos, durante 3 meses por vía oral con dosis de 8 y 32 mg/kg. Resultados: En el estudio de citotoxicidad con células Caco-2 se obtuvieron CL50 de 9,3 y 4,5 mg/mL con exposiciones de 24 y 48 horas respectivamente. El ensayo de Ames evidencia que no es mutágeno directo ni promutágeno hasta 1000 μg. La DL50 del extracto por vía intraperitoneal fue de 1205 mg/kg y por vía oral no se observó mortalidad en dosis de 2000 mg/kg. En el estudio de Toxicidad por Dosis Repetidas no se observó toxicidad. Conclusiones: A partir de estos resultados se puede postular que el extracto acuoso del alga marina B. triquetrum es inocuo, consideración necesaria, entre otras, para su posible uso como nutracéutico y/o fitofármaco.Aim: The aim of this work was to evaluate the toxicity of an aqueous extract from seaweed Bryothamnion triquetrum. Materials and Methods: Ames assay was developed with S. typhimurium TA 1535, TA 1537 and TA 1538 with and without metabolic activation. Citotoxicity study was carried out with intestinal cells Caco-2 during 24 and 48 hours of exhibition to the extract and the viability was evaluated with the technique of Propidium iodide. Acute Toxicity was carried out with mice Balc/c males for via oral and intraperitoneal and the Toxicity for Repeated Dose was developed with rats Wistar of both sexes, during 3 months for via oral with dose of 8 and 32 mg/kg. Results: Results of Ames assays showed that this extract is not direct mutagen or promutagen in quantity until 1000 μg. The cytotoxic effect (LC50) of Caco-2 cells after 24 and 48 h of exposition were 9,3 and 4,5 mg/mL respectively. The LD50 of the extract, with intraperitoneal administration was 1205 mg/kg and by oral via not produce mortality in doses until 2000 mg/kg. At the doses of 8 and 32 mg/kg of extract, the repeated oral administration produced no toxic effects. Conclusions: In summary, this paper adds convincing evidences in support of innocuous of the aqueous extract of B.triquetrum. Altogether; these results represent another step towards the use of this natural product as phytotherapeutical agent.CNPq (Brasil), número de proyecto PV 400001/2009 8

Fiber Optic Sensing System for Temperature and Gas Monitoring in Coal Waste Pile Combustion Environments

International audienceIt is presented an optical fiber sensing system projected to operate in the demanding conditions associated with coal waste piles in combustion. Distributed temperature measurement and spot gas sensing are requirements for such a system. A field prototype has been installed and is continuously gathering data, which will input a geological model of the coal waste piles in combustion aiming to understand their dynamics and evolution. Results are presented on distributed temperature and ammonia measurement, being noticed any significant methane emission in the short time period considered. Carbon dioxide is also a targeted gas for measurement, with validated results available soon. The assessment of this technology as an effective and reliable tool to address the problem of monitoring coal waste piles in combustion opens the possibility of its widespread application in view of the worldwide presence of coal related fires

Analysis of gender equality competence present in cultural positions

Articulating the gender dimension in organizations is not easy because their members have to be trained to adopt positions that facilitate the implementation of solutions that help to combat inequalities. The aim of this article was to identify the gender equality competence present in the three types of cultural positions Castells proposed in members of a City Council in Sevilla-Spain, who wanted to implement gender mainstreaming. The participants were 27 people (16 women and 11 men). The method used was discourse analysis. The obtained results show that, while all competences were present in the project position, in the resistance position, there was none. In the legitimizers, we observed inconsistency in the discourse presented. This arouses considerations on the importance of knowing the gender equality competences in order to implement gender mainstreaming in organization