When rational functions meet virtual elements: The lightning Virtual Element Method

We propose a lightning Virtual Element Method that eliminates the stabilisation term by actually computing the virtual component of the local VEM basis functions using a lightning approximation. In particular, the lightning VEM approximates the virtual part of the basis functions using rational functions with poles clustered exponentially close to the corners of each element of the polygonal tessellation. This results in two great advantages. First, the mathematical analysis of a priori error estimates is much easier and essentially identical to the one for any other non-conforming Galerkin discretisation. Second, the fact that the lightning VEM truly computes the basis functions allows the user to access the point-wise value of the numerical solution without needing any reconstruction techniques. The cost of the local construction of the VEM basis is the implementation price that one has to pay for the advantages of the lightning VEM method, but the embarrassingly parallelizable nature of this operation will ultimately result in a cost-efficient scheme almost comparable to standard VEM and FEM

Subfractionation of human very low density lipoproteins by heparin-Sepharose affinity chromatography.

Very low density lipoproteins obtained from normolipidemic subjects were fractionated into subclasses by means of affinity chromatography on a heparin-Sepharose column in the presence of MnCl2. The four subfractions eluted at 0.05, 0.12, 0.20, and 0.38 M NaCl and they differed in chemical composition and apoprotein pattern. The relative amounts of apoB and apoE in subfractions increased with increasing concentrations of the NaCl eluant. Modification of the arginyl residues with 1-2 cyclohexadione demonstrated that arginine plays an important role in determining the elution pattern of VLDL. In vitro studies indicated that only fractions eluted at 0.2 and 0.5 M NaCl compete with LDL for cellular receptors. These data suggest that the various subfractions may represent VLDL at different stages of catabolism

Habilidade competitiva de genótipos de feijão comum do grupo "preto" com plantas daninhas.

A hipótese dessa pesquisa é de que há variabilidade entre genótipos de feijão do grupo Preto quanto à competitividade com plantas daninhas e é possível identificar características de plantas que explicam expressivamente a habilidade competitiva. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar a habilidade competitiva de genótipos de feijão do grupo preto com plantas daninhas. As perdas de produtividade de grãos em genótipos de feijão preto, decorrentes da interferência exercida pelas plantas daninhas, variaram de 30,8 a 54,9 %, sendo que os genótipos que apresentaram as menores perdas de produtividade também suprimiram em maior grau o crescimento das plantas daninhas. Houve tendência de aumento das reduções de produtividade de grãos em razão da interferência de plantas daninhas com o aumento da produtividade verificada na ausência de interferência. Não foi possível identificar características de plantas que afetam significativamente a habilidade dos genótipos de feijão em competir com plantas daninhas

Tracing U mobility in deep groundwater using Ra isotopes

The mobility of natural U is compared among four boreholes in a fractured granite using Ra isotopes and geochemical modelling. Rn-222/Ra-226 activity ratios (ARs) spanning an order of magnitude underline differences in reactive surface area. (Ra-224/Ra-228)(ARs) up to 9 indicate recent changes in hydrogeochemistry, and (Ra-226/Ra-228)(ARs) 0.6-30 indicate variable deposition of U. Dissolved U is related to dissolution of a solid U(VI) phase by groundwater with HCO3- > 20 mg.L-1. U reduction is hindered by Ca2UO2(CO3)(3)(0)

Influence of Quince rootstocks on Entomosporium Leaf Spot (Entomosporium mespili) susceptibility in European Pear cv. Abate Fetel

Entomosporium leaf spot (ELS) is caused by the fungus Fabraea maculata (anamorph: Entomosporium mespili) and affects most pear cultivars and quince rootstocks in Brazil. The aim of this study was to characterize the effect of Adams, EMA and EMC quince rootstocks on ELS in European pear cultivar “Abate Fetel” in Southern Brazil, during the 2009/2010, 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 growing season. The incidence and severity of disease was quantified weekly in 100 randomly leaves distributed in four medium-height branches per plant with eight replications. Disease progress curves of ELS were constructed and the epidemics compared according to: (1) the beginning of symptoms appearance (BSA); (2) the time to reach the maximum disease incidence and severity (TRMDI and TRMDS); (3) area under the incidence and severity disease progress curve (AUIDPC and AUSDPC). The data were analyzed by linear regression and adjusted for three empirical models: Logistic, Monomolecular and Gompertz. The Abate Fetel cultivar under all rootstocks evaluated was susceptible to E. mespili. However, there were significant differences in ELS intensity among rootstocks evaluated. The highest ELS intensities were observed in combinations with EMA and Adams quince rootstock. Abate Fetel cultivar grafted on EMC quince rootstock showed all epidemiological variables results significantly different when compared with EMA quince rootstock. EMC quince rootstock induced late resistance compared with the other considerated rootstocks. The Logistic model was the most appropriates to describe the ELS progress of Abate Fetel cultivar under all rootstocks evaluated in the edafoclimatic conditions of Southern Brazil, during the 2009/2010, 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 growing season

Desempenho de foransulfuron + iodosulfuron e imazapic + imazapyr em biótipos de Bidens spp.

Bidens spp. especies are present in 74% of the farms of central plateaus of the state of Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil. The species Bidens pilosa was the first weed to be documented as resistant to herbicides inhibitors of the enzyme acetholactate sinthase (ALS), in Brazil. Foransulfuron + iodosulfuron and imazapic + imazapyr are ALS inhibitors recently launched to use on the corn crop. Since, there is no record of the action of these herbicidas on resistant Bidens spp. biotypes, the objective of this work was to evaluate the performance of foransulfuron + iodosulfuron and imazapic + imazapyr on biotypes collected in several places in Brazil. Experiments were conducted in the greenhouse at Federal University at Rio Grande do Sul. Seeds of Bidens spp. had been sown in trays with capacity for 2000 ml, with soil:sand substratum (2:1). After emergence, seedlings were transfered to vases with 300 ml capacity and kept irrigated. When seedlings had reached the four leaved stage they were sprayed with the herbicides with rates from 0 up to 8 times the recommended dose. The experimental design was a complete random design with four replicates. At 21 days after the application it was evaluated the plant control. The results had been submitted to the analysis of variance and when evidenced interaction of biotype and rate, dose-response curves had been adjusted, for each biotype. The results confirmed difference of sensitivity to the herbicides between the tested biotypes. The biotypes susceptible to other ALS inhibitors had confirmed its susceptibility to the herbicidas foransulfuron + iodosulfuron and imazapic + imazapyr. But, the biotypes resistant to other ALS-inhibitors were also resistant to these herbicidas. The mixtures of foransulfuron + iodosulfuron and imazapic + imazapyr are new herbicidas for the corn crop but do not solve the problem of ALS-resistance in Bidens spp.Bidens spp. encontra-se presente em 74% das lavouras do planalto central do Rio Grande do Sul. A espécie Bidens pilosa foi a primeira planta daninha a ser relatada como resistente aos herbicidas inibidores da enzima acetolactato sintase (ALS) no Brasil. Foransulfuron + iodosulfuron e imazapic + imazapyr são herbicidas inibidores da enzima ALS usados nacultura de milho e não há relatos na literatura sobre a ação destes herbicidas em biótipos resistentes de Bidens spp. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o desempenho de foransulfuron + iodosulfuron e imazapic + imazapyr em biótipos de Bidens ssp. oriundas de vários locais do país. Foram instalados experimentos em casa de vegetação na Faculdade de Agronomia da UFRGS. Sementes de Bidens spp. foram semeadas em bandejas com capacidade para 2000 ml, com substrato de solo-areia (2:1). Após emergência, plântulas foram transplantadas para vasos de 300 ml e mantidas sem déficit hídrico. Quando as plântulas atingiram quatro folhas verdadeiras foram aspergidas com os herbicidas em até 8 vezes a dose recomendada, em quatro repetições. Aos 21 dias após a aplicação, avaliou-se o controle das plantas. Os resultados foram submetidos à análise de variância e quando constatada interação entre biótipo e dose ajustaram-se curvas de resposta à dose, para cada biótipo. Os resultados confirmaram diferença de sensibilidade aos herbicidas entre os biótipos testados. Os biótipos suscetíveis a outros inibidores de ALS, confirmaram a sua susceptibilidade aos herbicidas foransulfuron + iodosulfuron e imazapic + imazapyr. Mas, os biótipos resistentes a outros inibidores de ALS também confirmaram sua resistência a estes herbicidas. Conclui-se que foransulfuron + iodosulfuron e imazapic + imazapyr são novos herbicidas para a cultura de milho e são iguamente ineficientes sobre os biótipos de Bidens spp resistentes aos inibidores da ALS

Air pollutants and daily number of admissions to psychiatric emergency services: evidence for detrimental mental health effects of ozone

Abstract Aims Aim of the current study is to investigate the associations between daily levels of air pollutants (particulate matter, ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide) and daily admissions for mental disorders to the emergency department of two general hospitals in Umbria region (Italy). Methods We collected data about daily admissions to psychiatric emergency services of two general hospitals, air pollutants' levels and meteorological data for the time period 1 January 2015 until 31 December 2016. We assessed the impact of an increase in air pollutants on the number of daily admissions using a time-series econometric framework. Results A total of 1860 emergency department admissions for mental disorders were identified. We observed a statistically significant impact of ozone levels on daily admissions. The estimated coefficient of O3 is statistically significant at the 1% level. All other pollutants were not significantly associated with the number of daily admissions. Conclusions Short-term exposure to ozone may be associated with increased psychiatric emergency services admissions. Findings add to previous literature on existing evidence for air pollution to have an impact on mental health. Ozone may be considered a potential environmental risk factor for impaired mental health

Progressive encephalomyelitis with rigidity and myoclonus associated with anti-GlyR antibodies and Hodgkin's lymphoma : A case report

Introduction: A 60-year-old man presented with a 6-month history of low back pain and progressive rigidity of the trunk and lower limbs, followed by pruritus, dysphonia, hyperhydrosis, and urinary retention. Brain and spinal imaging were normal. EMG showed involuntary motor unit hyperactivity. Onconeural, antiglutamic acid decarboxylase (anti-GAD), voltage-gated potassium channel, and dipeptidyl peptidase-like protein 6 (DPPX) autoantibodies were negative. CSF was negative. Symptoms were partially responsive to baclofen, gabapentin, and clonazepam, but he eventually developed severe dysphagia. Antiglycine receptor (anti-GlyR) antibodies turned out positive on both serum and CSF. A plasmapheresis cycle was completed with good clinical response. A PET scan highlighted an isolated metabolically active axillary lymphnode that turned out to be a classic type Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), in the absence of bone marrow infiltration nor B symptoms. Polychemotherapy with ABVD protocol was completed with good clinical response and at 1-year follow-up the neurological examination is normal. Background: Progressive encephalomyelitis with rigidity and myoclonus (PERM) is a rare and severe neurological syndrome characterized by muscular rigidity and spasms as well as brain stem and autonomic dysfunction. It can be associated with anti-GAD, GlyR, and DPPX antibodies. All of these autoantibodies may be variably associated with malignant tumors and their response to immunotherapy, as well as to tumor removal, is not easily predictable. Conclusion: Progressive encephalomyelitis with rigidity and myoclonus has already been described in association with HL, but this is the first case report of a HL manifesting as anti-GlyR antibodies related PERM. Our report highlights the importance of malignancy screening in autoimmune syndromes of suspected paraneoplastic origin