Synchronized multiple regression of diagnostic radiation-induced rather than spontaneous: disseminated primary intracranial germinoma in a woman: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Examples of the spontaneous regression of primary intracranial germinomas can be found in the literature. We present the case of a patient with disseminated lesions of primary intracranial germinoma which synchronously shrunk following diagnostic irradiation. We will discuss whether this regression was spontaneous or radiation-induced.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 43-year-old Japanese woman presented to our hospital complaining of memory problems over a period of one year and blurred vision over a period of three months. Following magnetic resonance imaging, she was found to have a massive lesion in the third ventricle and small lesions in the pineal region, fourth ventricle, and in the anterior horn of the left lateral ventricle. Prior to an open biopsy to confirm the pathology of the lesions, she underwent a single cranial computed tomography scan and a single cranial digital subtraction angiography for a transcranial biopsy. Fourteen days after the first magnetic resonance image - 12 and eight days after the computed tomography scan and digital subtraction angiography, respectively - a pre-operative magnetic resonance image was taken, which showed a notable synchronous shrinkage of the third ventricle tumor, as well as shrinkage of the lesions in the pineal region and in the fourth ventricle. She did not undergo steroid administration until after a biopsy that confirmed the pathological diagnosis of pure germinoma. She then underwent whole craniospinal irradiation and went into a complete remission.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In our case report, we state that diagnostic radiation can induce the regression of germinomas; this is the most reasonable explanation for the synchronous multiple regression observed in this case of germinoma. Clinicians should keep this non-spontaneous regression in mind and monitor germinoma lesions with minimal exposure to diagnostic radiation before diagnostic confirmation, and also before radiation treatment with or without chemotherapy begins.</p

Effect of herbicides and fungicides on progress curves and damage quantification caused by soybean rust

O fungo Phakopsora pachyrhizi Sydow & Sydow representa grande ameaça à sojicultura nas principais regiões produtoras do mundo, onde significativas perdas foram relatadas. Na quantificação de danos causados, muitas são as variáveis a serem estudadas, como área abaixo da curva de progresso da doença (AACPD), absorção de luz da área foliar sadia (HAA) e duração da área foliar sadia (HAD), além das curvas de progresso da doença. Neste trabalho, objetivou-se verificar a influência de diferentes herbicidas e fungicidas no progresso da doença, bem como suas implicações nas variáveis referentes à área foliar sadia e à produtividade da cultura. Os tratamentos testados em duas cultivares ('MG/BR46 Conquista' e 'BRS Valiosa RR') foram: 1. Testemunha; 2. Testemunha com herbicidas; 3. Herbicidas e pyraclostrobin (V4) + pyraclostrobin + epoxiconazole (R2 e R5.1); 4. Herbicidas e pyraclostrobin (V4) + epoxiconazole (R2 e R5.1); e 5. Herbicidas (V4) + pyraclostrobin + epoxiconazole (R2 e R5.1). Os herbicidas utilizados em 'MG/BR-46 Conquista' foram sethoxydim, bentazon e chlorimuron-ethyl, sendo utilizado glyphosate na 'BRS Valiosa RR'. O modelo logístico foi o que melhor se adequou à severidade média das avaliações e à curva de progresso da doença. Para o terço inferior, posição do dossel mais propícia à doença, o modelo logístico com taxa variável foi o que mais se ajustou aos dados. A pulverização de pyraclostrobin + epoxiconazole reduziu a taxa de desenvolvimento de P. pachyrhizi em relação à epoxiconazole. A utilização da mistura influenciou as variáveis AACPD, HAA e HAD, sendo estas consideradas apropriadas para a quantificação dos danos provocados pela ferrugem asiática. Na 'MG/BR-46 Conquista', a ação dos herbicidas afetaram temporariamente a área foliar, atingindo indiretamente as variáveis HAA e HAD.Phakopsora pachyrhizi Sydow & Sydow is the worst threat for soybean crop in the most important growing regions around the world, where great losses were observed. Many variables are studied in the quantification of damage such as area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC), healthy leaf area absorption (HAA), healthy leaf area duration (HAD), in addition to disease progress curves. The present research aimed to evaluate the effect of several herbicides and fungicides on the progress of the disease and its implications for variables related to healthy leaf area and yield. The treatments were evaluated in two cultivars (MG/BR-46 Conquista e BRS Valiosa RR): 1. Control; 2. Control with herbicides; 3. Herbicides and pyraclostrobin (V4) + pyraclostrobin+ epoxiconazole (R2 and R5.1), 4. Herbicides and pyraclostrobin (V4) + epoxiconazole (R2 and R5.1). 5. Herbicides (V4) + pyraclostrobin + epoxiconazole (R2 and R5.1). The herbicides used in MG/BR-46 Conquista were sethoxydim, bentazon and chlorimuron-ethyl; in BRS Valiosa RR, glyphosate was used. The logistic was the model that best adapted to the mean severity ratings and the disease progress curve. At the bottom of canopy, position more favorable to this disease, the logistic model with variable rate was the model that better explain the data. The spraying of strobilurin's group associated with triazole (pyraclostrobin + epoxiconazole) reduced the rate of asian rust development, in relation to the group of ergosterol biosynthesis inhibitors fungicide (epoxiconazole). The pyraclostrobin + epoxiconazole influenced the variables AUDPC, HAA and HAD, and these can be considered suitable to quantify damage caused by this disease. In MG/BR-46 Conquista, the herbicides action affects temporarily the leaf area, affecting indirectly the HAA and HAD variables

Asian Rust control and performance of two soybean cultivars submitted to different fungicides and application time

O fungo Phakopsora pachyrhizi Syd. & Syd, representa grande ameaça à sojicultura nas principais regiões produtoras do mundo, onde perdas significativas foram relatadas. Na quantificação de danos causados por esta doença muitas são as variáveis a serem estudadas como Área abaixo da curva de progresso da doença (AACPD), Absorção da área foliar sadia (HAA) e Duração da área foliar sadia (HAD), além das curvas de progresso da doença. Visando seu controle químico torna-se necessário a aplicação de defensivos agrícolas, os quais podem afetar o crescimento e metabolismo das plantas, resultando em consequências negativas ou positivas. Existem relatos de que a aplicação de fungicidas do grupo das estrobilurinas na cultura da soja tem promovido aumento de produtividade mesmo em locais sem incidência de doenças, indicando que alterações de ordem fisiológica devem ser quantificadas. Este estudo foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de verificar a influência dos diferentes fungicidas no progresso da doença, bem como suas implicações nas variáveis referentes à área foliar sadia, no crescimento e na produtividade de duas cultivares semeadas em época tardia. Os tratamentos testados nas duas cultivares foram: 1. Testemunha; 2. Testemunha com herbicidas (V4); 3. Herbicida + pyraclostrobin (V4); 4. Herbicidas + pyraclostrobin (V4) e pyraclostrobin + epoxiconazole (R2); 5. Herbicidas + pyraclostrobin (V4) e pyraclostrobin + epoxiconazole (R2 e R5.1); 6. Herbicida + pyraclostrobin (V4), pyraclostrobin + epoxiconazole (R2) e epoxiconazole (R5.1) 7. Herbicida + pyraclostrobin (V4) e epoxiconazole (R2 e R5.1); 8. Herbicida (V4) e pyraclostrobin + epoxiconazole (R2 e R5.1). A análise dos resultados permitiu afirmar que a associação da estrobilurina (pyraclostrobin) com bentazon e chlorimuron-ethyl, em V4, possibilitou a antecipação da recuperação dos efeitos provocados pelos herbicidas citados. A mistura de estrobilurinas associado à triazol (pyraclostrobin + epoxiconazole) promoveu maior controle e período residual sobre o fungo Phakopsora pachyrhizi, em relação ao fungicida do grupo dos triazóis (epoxiconazole). O modelo logístico foi o que mais se adequou à severidade média das avaliações e à curva de progresso da doença. Para o terço inferior, posição da copa mais propicia ao desenvolvimento da doença, o modelo logístico com taxa variável foi o que mais se ajustou aos dados obtidos. As variáveis AACPD, HAA e HAD podem ser consideradas apropriadas para se quantificar os danos provocados por esta doença. Na análise de crescimento, foi observado que a referida mistura aplicada em R2 e R5.1, promoveu maior índice de área foliar e acúmulo de massa seca de parte aérea, resultando em maiores valores de taxa de crescimento absoluto (TCA), taxa de crescimento relativo (TCR), taxa assimilatória líquida (TAL) e taxa de crescimento da cultura (TCC) em estádios reprodutivo, diferenciando, inclusive, dos tratamentos com aplicação isolada de triazóis (epoxiconazole). Ainda, a utilização dos fungicidas estudados, a partir de R2, melhorou a qualidade fisiológica de sementes. Assim, de acordo com estes resultados a utilização da mistura pyraclostrobin + epoxiconazole resultou no aumento significativo dos valores dos componentes de produção, possibilitando a obtenção de ganhos de produtividade.Phakopsora pachyrhizi Syd. & Syd. is the worst threat for soybean crop in the main producers regions around the world, where significant loses has been observed. Many variables in the quantification of damage of this disease have to be studied, such as area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC), healthy leaf area absorption (HAA), healthy leaf area duration (HAD), in addition to disease progress curves. Aiming the chemical control of this disease, it becomes necessary fungicide applications, which may change the metabolism and the growth of the plant, resulting in negative or positive alterations. There are reports showing that fungicide applications of the strobilurin group on soybean crop have promoted yield enhancement, even in situations without the incidence of diseases, indicating that physiologic changes should be quantified. This study aimed at evaluating the influence of different fungicides on the progress of the disease and its implications on variables related to healthy leaf area, the growth and productivity of two cultivars sowed in late season. The treatments were evaluated in two cultivars: 1. Control; 2. Control with herbicides (V4); 3. Herbicide + pyraclostrobin (V4); 4. Herbicide + pyraclostrobin (V4) and pyraclostrobin + epoxiconazole (R2); 5. Herbicide + pyraclostrobin (V4) and pyraclostrobin + epoxiconazole (R2 and R5.1); 6. Herbicide + pyraclostrobin (V4), pyraclostrobin + epoxiconazole (R2) and epoxiconazole (R5.1) 7. Herbicide + pyraclostrobin (V4) and epoxiconazole (R2 and R5.1) 8. Herbicide (V4) and pyraclostrobin + epoxiconazole (R2 and R5.1). The analysis of the results obtained has made it possible to conclude that the association of pyraclostrobin with bentazon e chlorimuron-ethyl, in V4, allowed an early recovery from the effects caused by the above-mentioned herbicides. The spraying of strobilurins group associated with triazole (pyraclostrobin + epoxiconazole) promoted greater control and longer residual period of Phakopsora pachyrhizi, in relation to the group of ergosterol biosynthesis inhibitors fungicide (epoxiconazole). The logistic model was the one which best adapted to the mean severity ratings and the disease progress curve. At the bottom of the canopy, the most favorable position to the development of the disease, the logistic model with variable rate was the model that most fitted the obtained data. The variables AUDPC, HAA and HAD can be considered suitable to quantify the damage caused by this disease. On the growth analysis, it was observed that the mixture cited above, applied on R2 and R5.1, promoted higher leaf area index and shoots dry mass accumulation, resulting in increase of absolute growth rate (AGR), relative growth rate (RGR), net assimilation rate (NAR) and crop growth rate (CGR) in reproductive stages, differing even from the treatment with single triazole applications. The use of these studied fungicides, starting from stage R2, provided better physiological quality of seeds. Thus, according to these results, the application of strobilurin group associated with triazoles (pyraclostrobin + epoxiconazole) fungicide resulted in significant increase in values of the productivity compounds, resulting in yield gains

Growth and yield of maize intercropped with different species of brachiaria, in Piracicaba, SP.

A consorciação do milho com gramíneas forrageiras pode ser utilizada tanto para renovações de pastagens, como para a formação de cobertura morta de qualidade e longevidade para o sistema de Plantio Direto. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as interações e interferências de diferentes espécies de braquiárias no desempenho da cultura de milho, bem como determinar qual das espécies seria a mais adequada para o sistema de consórcio. O experimento foi conduzido em Nitossolo eutrófico típico, sob pivô central, em área experimental pertencente ao Departamento de Produção Vegetal da Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz"/ Universidade de São Paulo, situado no Município de Piracicaba, SP. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso com sete tratamentos e quatro repetições. Os tratamentos foram constituídos da combinação de três espécies de braquiárias (Brachiaria decumbens, Brachiaria brizantha e Brachiaria ruziziensis) semeadas em duas épocas (concomitantemente ao milho e quando o milho apresentava quatro folhas totalmente expandidas), acrescido de um tratamento testemunha (milho solteiro). Com relação ao milho, os resultados evidenciaram ausência de diferença estatística entre os tratamentos para as seguintes variáveis: altura de plantas; índice de área foliar; diâmetro do colmo; análise foliar; número de fileiras de grãos; número de grãos por espiga; peso de mil grãos e produtividade. Todavia, o número de folhas de milho e a sanidade de espigas foram afetados pelos tratamentos estudados. Assim, o tratamento 6 (B. brizantha semeada na quarta folha do milho) propiciou maior número de folhas em plantas de milho e a B. decumbens semeada na mesma data do milho propiciou menor taxa de grãos deteriorados na espiga em comparação ao tratamento testemunha. Com relação às braquiárias, todas as espécies semeadas na primeira época (semeadura concomitante ao milho) diferiram daquelas semeadas quando o referido cereal apresentava quatro folhas, quanto à produção de massa verde e seca. A B.decumbens e a B. brizantha, semeadas na primeira época, apresentaram maior produção de matéria seca de raiz em comparação à B. brizantha, semeada na segunda época. Após a roçagem, a produção de massa verde e seca de parte aérea das B. decumbens e B. brizantha semeadas na primeira época foi superior à produção da B. ruziziensis semeada na segunda época. A B. decumbens, independentemente da época de semeadura, apresentou maior efeito supressor de plantas daninhas. Assim, a análise e a interpretação dos resultados, permitiram concluir que a presença das braquiárias, indiferentemente à época de semeadura, não afeta o desenvolvimento e a produtividade do milho, demonstrando a viabilidade técnica de sistemas consorciados de produção. Entretanto, a presença do milho influencia negativamente o acúmulo de fitomassa das braquiárias, principalmente, quando estas são semeadas quando o milho apresenta quatro folhas. Para a formação de pastagens, as forrageiras estudadas apresentam melhor desempenho e produtividade quando implantadas na mesma data da cultura do milho. Dentre as braquiárias, destaca-se a B. decumbens pela quantidade de forragem produzida, bem como pelo efeito supressor de plantas daninhas. Entretanto, para a produção de forragem a B. brizantha apresenta resultados semelhantes a B. decumbens.Maize intercropped with grass can be used both to pasture renewals and to quality and longevity of soil cover formation in no-tillage system. The present work aimed at evaluating the interactions and interferences of different brachiaria species on maize yield, as well as determining which would be the most appropriate species for a intercropping system. The experiment was carried out in Piracicaba, São Paulo State, Brazil (Universidade de São Paulo, ESALQ), in a typical Rhodudalf soil, under central pivot, in an experimental area belonging to the Department of Crop Production. The experimental design was in randomized blocks with seven treatments and four replications. The treatments consisted of a combination of three brachiaria species (Brachiaria decumbens, Brachiaria brizantha and Brachiaria ruziziensis) sowed in two different dates (together with maize and when maize had four fully expanded leaves), as well as a control treatment (single maize). In relation to maize, the results showed no statistical differences among the treatments for the following parameters: plant height; leaf area index; stem diameter; foliar analysis; number of grain rows; number of grain per rows in ear; thousand grain weight and productivity. However, the number of maize leaves and the sanity of ears were affected by the treatments. Thus, treatment 6 (B. brizantha sowed at the four leaves stage of maize) favored larger number of leaves on maize plants, and B. decumbens sowed on the same dates as maize presented lower rate of deteriorated grains per spike in comparison to the control treatment. In relation to brachiaria, all of the species sowed on the first date (concomitant sowing with maize) differed from those sowed at the four leaves stage of maize, for green and dry mass production. The B. decumbens and B. brizantha, sowed in the first time, presented larger production of root dry matter in comparison to B. brizantha, sowed on the second date. After cutting, the green and dry mass production of shoot of B. decumbens and B. brizantha sowed on the first date was superior to the green and dry mass production of B. ruziziensis sowed on the second date. B. decumbens, regardless of the sowing date, presented a greater suppressor effect on weeds. The analysis and the interpretation of the results allowed to conclude that the presence of brachiaria, regardless of sowing date, doesn't affect the development and the productivity of maize, thus demonstrating the technical viability of intercropped systems of production. However, the presence of maize negatively influences the biomass accumulation of brachiaria, especially, when these are sowed when maize has four leaves. For pasture formation, the studied forage grasses present better yield and productivity when sowed at the same date as maize. Among the brachiaria, B. decumbens stands out for the amount of forage produced, as well as for the suppressor effect on weeds. However, for forage production, B. brizantha presents similar results to B. decumbens

Specialty fibers for sensors and sensor components

ABSTRACT This paper surveys a variety of special fibers which have been developed for the sensor and component markets, based upon the Polarization-mainmining And Absorption-reducing (PANDA) design. Various types of polarization-maintaining (PM) fibers, rare-earth doped fibers, image-transmitting fibers, and other special fibers will be discussed. L INTRODUCTION PANDA polarization-maintaining fibers [1] have been developed over a period of years by NTT and Fujikura into a variety of specialized optical fibers for sensor applications. Interferomethc fiber optic sensors often demand preservation of a linear state.of-polarization (SOP), and other sensors require deterministic retardation values in the fiber. This paper will review fibers used in these applications, and special fibers developed for the fabrication of sensor building blocks such as PM couplers, amplifiers, polarizers, and splices. L POLARIZATION-MAINTAININGFIBER High performance PANDA fiber The cross-section of a typical PANDA fiber is shown in PANDA fiber has been made for numerous wavelengths with losses as low as 0.22 dB/km at 1.55 un wavelength [1]. For more details of PANDA fiber, refer to [1] Bend resistant PANDA fiber One major application for PM fiber is in the Fiber Optic Gyroscope (FOG); this and other sensor configurations require small-diameter coiling of the fiber to minimize sensor size. Often there is an additional requirement of small cladding and coating diameters to help reduce the sensing coil volume. By utilizing smaller core diameter and a larger amount of Ge-doping than for standard PANDA fiber several things happen: the n between core and cladding increases, the modes are more tightly guided, and the numerical aperture (NA) increases. If high-birefringence can be maintained along with these conditions, improved attenuation and polarization performance under bending conditions will resul