Evaluation of indexes for the quantitative and objective estimation of grapevine bunch compactness

Bunch compactness is a key factor on the determination of grape quality. The use of qualitative visual systems for its determination is quite controversial, hindering some studies that require objective and quantitative measures of the trait. Here, eleven indexes published in literature and eight designed in this survey were tested with three different criteria to determine their usefulness for the estimation of bunch compactness. A sample of 110 grape bunches of different morphology, from 11 different varieties, were classified by a panel of 14 judges according to the visual OIV descriptor Nº 204. Besides, a number of measures were taken from the same bunches, which were used for the indexes’ calculations. Several indexes designed here proved to be more suitable to obtain quantitative estimations for this trait in a genetically diverse set of varieties than the indexes previously published. Two of the selected indexes, CI-18 and CI-19, are based on the combination of six metrics from bunches (bunch weight, number of berries per bunch, number of seeds per berry, bunch length, first ramification length and either pedicel length or number of ramifications per bunch, respectively). These two indexes are more suitable for intervarietal studies where obtaining quantitative data is critical. Other selected index (CI-12) is based on two easy-to-measure characteristics of the bunch (weight and length), and it is proposed as a fast estimator of bunch compactness for the viticulture sector

Técnicas especiales en el diagnóstico de tumores óseos

Se hace una exposición del valor actual desde el punto de vista diagnóstico y pronóstico de las técnicas especiales aplicables a los tumores óseos por el patólogo. En histoquimia se resalta el valor práctico de las técnicas de PAS y fosfatasa alcalina para el diagnóstico del sarcoma de Ewing y del osteosarcoma respectivamente. Se comenta el valor de la aplicación de la microscopía electrónica en el diagnóstico de los tumores de células redondas pequeñas (sarcoma de Ewing, tumor neuroectodérmico periférico, linfoma primitivo óseo y metástasis de neuroblastoma y de rabdomiosarcoma embrionario) y de los sarcomas fusocelulares (fibrosarcoma, leiomiosarcoma embrionario) y de los sarcoma fusocelulares (fibrosarcoma, leiomiosarcoma primitivo de hueso y sarcoma sinovial) y de la aplicación de la inmunocitoquimia en los mismos tó- picos así como el diagnóstico diferencial del condrosarcoma, cordoma y metástasis de carcinoma mucosecretor en columna. Se comenta que la citología sólo es válida cuando es utilizada por un patólogo experto en patología tumoral ósea y en citopatología y que su aplicación es muy limitada. Se hace una revisión del valor de los estudios de ploidia con las técnicas de citometría de flujo y estática, resaltando su valor en la valoración pronóstica de ciertos tumores (condrosarcoma; sarcoma de Ewing). Finalmente, se comenta la aplicación diagnóstica de los estudios citogenéticos en el sarcoma de Ewing y el futuro de dichas técnicas de esta patología.In terms of diagnosis and prognosis, the present value of different sophisticated techniques applied for the patologist on bone tumors is reviewed. Histochemically, alkaline phosphatase and PAS techniques are both very important for the diagnosis of osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma respectively. The value of electronic microscopy and immunohistochemistry for diagnosis of round small cells tumors (Ewing's sarcoma, neuroectodermic tumors, primary bone lymphoma and metastatic neuroblastoma) and fusocellular sarcomas (fibrosarcoma, leiomyosarcoma of bone and synovial sarcoma) isdiscussed. The differential diagnosis of chondrosarcoma, chordoma and metastatic mucosecretor carcinoma at the spine by using immunohistochemistry is reviewed. The aplication of cytology is very limited and only useful in the hands of patologist expert in bone tumors. Recent studies on cellular ploidy using the techniques of flow and static cytometry have shown prognostic value in certain tumors such as chondrosarcoma. The future seem s to be cytogenetics as have been demostrated already for Ewing sarcoma

Damages caused by cotton rat, Sigmodon hispidus zanjonensis, on sugar cane in San Pedrosula, Honduras

Technical assistance was given to Compañía Azucarera Hondureña, S.A. (Agro-Industrial Co.), Honduras, Central America, to determine if a campaign against noxious rodents to agriculture crops was needed. Several trappings were carried out at different places using snap traps to determine the population structure of rodents associated with the crop, and live traps to determine the index or density of the Sigmodon hispidus rat population, which was identified as being responsible for the damage to sugarcane. Results were 43.24% adult males, 14.86% young males, 31.41% adult females, and 10.47% young females. Of the adult females captured, 54.83% were pregnant with an average of 3 to 4 embryos per rat. A control demonstration combat was carried out at one of the experimental stations with a bait prepared with 2% zinc phosphide in a place where it had been previously determined there was a population of 39 rats per hectare. After such control, the population was reduced to 18 rats per hectare, which represents an efficiency of 53.85%. An evaluation of damages was also measured at different places to determine the degree of loss caused by the rats, which proved to be 22.79% damage. The size of the sample was estimated in 3 samples per hectare, with a level of confidence of 95%

Yammer: Investigating its Impact on Employee Knowledge Sharing during Product Development

Global manufacturing continues to grow, creating the need for enhanced innovation during New Product Development (NPD); this in-turn requires increased utilization of employee-generated knowledge. Enterprise Social Networks (ESNs), such as Yammer.com, is one method identified which can allow organisations to connect employees across departments and physical boundaries. This paper summarises the results of a dual-moderated focus group conducted with 15 employees of a UK-based sports manufacturer, aimed at identifying the impact of Yammer on employee knowledge generation and sharing during NPD projects. Results indicate that employees see benefit in its use and would welcome greater embeddedness of ESNs in the NPD process. However, barriers are identified which may inhibit its successful deployment, including issues relating to security and intellectual property rights. Identified benefits of using Yammer include: an improved ability to find people with specific domain knowledge; increased awareness of communities of practice; and the matching of problems with solutions

Physical Properties, Star Formation, and Active Galactic Nucleus Activity in Balmer Break Galaxies at 0 < z < 1

We present a spectroscopic study with the derivation of the physical properties of 37 Balmer break galaxies, which have the necessary lines to locate them in star-forming-AGN diagnostic diagrams. These galaxies span a redshift range from 0.045 to 0.93 and are somewhat less massive than similar samples of previous works. The studied sample has multiwavelength photometric data coverage from the ultraviolet to MIR Spitzer bands. We investigate the connection between star formation and AGN activity via optical, mass-excitation (MEx) and MIR diagnostic diagrams. Through optical diagrams, 31 (84%) star-forming galaxies, 2 (5%) composite galaxies and 3 (8%) AGNs were classified, whereas from the MEx diagram only one galaxy was classified as AGN. A total of 19 galaxies have photometry available in all the IRAC/Spitzer bands. Of these, 3 AGN candidates were not classified as AGN in the optical diagrams, suggesting they are dusty/obscured AGNs, or that nuclear star formation has diluted their contributions. Furthermore, the relationship between SFR surface density (\Sigma_{SFR}) and stellar mass surface density per time unit (\Sigma_{M_{\ast}/\tau}) as a function of redshift was investigated using the [OII] \lambda3727, 3729, H\alpha \lambda6563 luminosities, which revealed that both quantities are larger for higher redshift galaxies. We also studied the SFR and SSFR versus stellar mass and color relations, with the more massive galaxies having higher SFR values but lower SSFR values than less massive galaxies. These results are consistent with previous ones showing that, at a given mass, high-redshift galaxies have on average larger SFR and SSFR values than low-redshift galaxies. Finally, bluer galaxies have larger SSFR values than redder galaxies and for a given color the SSFR is larger for higher redshift galaxies.Comment: preprint version, 36 pages, 17 figures, 3 tables, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa

Neurokinin 3 receptor antagonists compared with serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors for non-hormonal treatment of menopausal hot flushes : a systematic qualitative review

Hot flushes/flashes (HFs) or other vasomotor symptoms affect between 45 and 97% of women during menopause. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is effective at alleviating menopausal symptoms, but some women cannot or prefer not to take HRT. Since current non-hormonal options have suboptimal efficacy/tolerability, there is a pressing need for an effective, well-tolerated alternative. The neurokinin 3 receptor (NK3R) has recently been implicated in the generation of menopausal HFs and represents a novel therapeutic target to ameliorate HF symptoms. This review aims to assess if NK3R antagonists (NK3Ras) are more effective than Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)—currently a common choice for non-hormonal treatment of menopausal HFs.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases-producing <i>Escherichia coli</i> in common vampire bats <i>Desmodus rotundus</i> and livestock in Peru

Antibiotic resistance mediated by bacterial production of extended‐spectrum beta‐lactamase (ESBL) is a global threat to public health. ESBL resistance is most commonly hospital‐acquired; however, infections acquired outside of hospital settings have raised concerns over the role of livestock and wildlife in the zoonotic spread of ESBL‐producing bacteria. Only limited data are available on the circulation of ESBL‐producing bacteria in animals. Here, we report ESBL‐producing Escherichia coli in wild common vampire bats Desmodus rotundus and livestock near Lima, Peru. Molecular analyses revealed that most of this resistance resulted from the expression of blaCTX‐M‐15 genes carried by plasmids, which are disseminating worldwide in hospital settings and have also been observed in healthy children of Peru. Multilocus sequence typing showed a diverse pool of E. coli strains carrying this resistance that were not always host species‐specific, suggesting sharing of strains between species or infection from a common source. This study shows widespread ESBL resistance in wild and domestic animals, supporting animal communities as a potential source of resistance. Future work is needed to elucidate the role of bats in the dissemination of antibiotic‐resistant strains of public health importance and to understand the origin of the observed resistance