Portae Inferi Non Praevalebunt

To believe that a latent and very discrete process continuously improves the quality of life all around is called \u201cto have a positive attitude\u201d. However, there is enough matter all-around for generating some stress and misunderstanding. We need air-conditioners and the more the climate is warming, the faster we will be in the hell. Worrisome data are available about biodiversity. Our earliest ancestor Sahelanthropus tchadensis was living about 7 million years ago. Compared to other species, we are relatively young. A site characterized by low biodiversity may be incompatible with a species (Homo sapiens) born in a very biodiverse space-time. Are we sure that system Earth will be sensible to our will and respond to our influence keeping us in its evolving germination forever? As every species in an expansion phase, humans are experiencing a collective, optimistic, unconscious prospect of immortality. On this point, why do not ask our peers for advice and consider a worldwide organized riposte for: a) Have less impacting actions on the climate, or at least try to stem those too impacting in progress; b) Better use the natural and human resources we own, avoiding excessive losses of time and money; c) Planning the continuity of the humankind, following common hopeful rules. Easier to say than to do, of course

News about humus systems and forms

Focusing on the classification of units corresponding to specific types of functioning, the humus group identified the characters allowing an easy recognition of these humus systems in the field. The survey of few main morphological features (horizons, structure\u2026with intrinsic physic-biological features to collect and specify) reveals even more detailed humus forms. The redaction of an accessible well-illustrated reference is on the road in collaboration with more than 30 specialists. The aim of this presentation is also to draw attention to the soil in agriculture, forestry and urban areas building

Scalable and Accurate Variational Bayes for High-Dimensional Binary Regression Models

Modern methods for Bayesian regression beyond the Gaussian response setting are computationally impractical or inaccurate in high dimensions. As discussed in recent literature, bypassing this trade-off is still an open problem even in basic binary regression models, and there is limited theory on the quality of variational approximations in high-dimensional settings. To address this gap, we study the approximation accuracy of routine-use mean-field variational Bayes in high-dimensional probit regression with Gaussian priors, obtaining new and practically relevant results on the pathological behavior of this strategy in uncertainty quantification, estimation and prediction, that also suggest caution against maximum a posteriori estimates when p>n. Motivated by these results, we develop a new partially-factorized variational approximation for the posterior distribution of the probit coefficients that leverages a representation with global and local variables but, unlike for classical mean-field assumptions, it avoids a fully factorized approximation, and instead assumes a factorization only for local variables. We prove that the resulting approximation belongs to a tractable class of unified skew-normal densities that incorporates skewness and, unlike for state-of-the-art mean-field solutions, converges to the exact posterior density as p goes to infinity. To solve the variational optimization problem, we derive a tractable CAVI algorithm that easily scales to p in tens of thousands, and provably requires a number of iterations converging to 1 as p goes to infinity. Such findings are also illustrated in extensive empirical studies where our new solution is shown to improve the accuracy of mean-field variational Bayes for any n and p, with the magnitude of these gains being remarkable in those high-dimensional p>n settings where state-of-the-art methods are computationally impractical

Humusica 1, article 2 : Essential bases-Functional considerations

Humusica 1 and 2 Applied Soil Ecology Special issues are field guides for humipedon classification. Contrary to other similar manuals dedicated to soil, the objects that one can describe with these guides are living, dynamic, functional, and relatively independent soil units. This is the reason to why the authors dedicated the whole article number 2 to functional considerations even before readers could go in the field and face the matter to be classified. Experienced lectors can overstep many of the sections reported in this article. If the titles of sections "1 A functional classification", "2 What is a humus system?" and "3 Energetic considerations in terrestrial systems" stimulate the reader's curiosity, then we suggest to pass through them. Otherwise, only section "4 Climatic, plant litter, or nutritional constraints?" is crucial. Readers will understand how the soil works in terms of litter and Carbon accumulation, which one(s) among climatic, vegetational, or geological factors that intervene and strongly affect the formation processes of terrestrial (oxygenated) soils. The article concludes with a debate about a tergiversated question: can temperature influence humus decomposition? Preceding statements were used for explaining how the biological soil net can store in the soil a maximum of energy in the form of SOM, by raising a plateau partially independent of climatic conditions.Peer reviewe

is there a way to rate insecticides that is less detrimental to human and environmental health

Plant protection is essential for providing high-quality food in adequate quantities. However, the use of insecticides often induces adverse effects on environment and human health. The Agency for the Environmental Protection of Tuscany (Italy) arranges pesticide ingredients in five classes basing on their impact on human health. We classified the pesticide treatments carried out by 48 winegrowers of the Veneto Region (Italy) in relation to the active ingredients contained into the used pesticides over a three-year period (2015–2017). It was found that the cost of insecticides and their class of impact were related, and that the cost's pressure led farmers to favor insecticides with active ingredients having a high negative impact on human health. The same active ingredients are used worldwide. We propose to implement taxation measures and subsidies to deter the use of the most harmful insecticides. Keywords: Insecticides, Biodiversity decline, Sustainable viticulture, Human health, Vine cultivatio

Importance of nutritional counseling and dietary fiber content on glycemic control in type 2 diabetic patients under intensive educational intervention

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the importance of nutritional counseling within a set of multidisciplinary interventions. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty-seven patients with type 2 diabetes and hyperglycemia (A1C > 8%), treated conventionally (n = 19, GC) or intensively in six weekly visits (n = 28, GI) were analyzed. We evaluated mean weekly blood glucose (MWG) at baseline and after 6 weeks in both groups. RESULTS: GI reduced caloric (p = 0.001), carbohydrate (p = 0.004), and fat (p = 0.001) intake, and increased fiber consumption, while GC reduced fiber intake (p = 0.018). Glycemic control (MWG < 150 mg/dL) occurred in 75% of GI patients and in 31.6% of CG patients (p = 0.003), with negative correlation between changes in fiber intake and MWG values (r =-0.309; P = 0.035). Results were maintained after 12 weeks. CONCLUSION: Educational short-term intensive intervention was more effective than conventional treatment to achieve glycemic control. Our results also indicate that a more appropriate fiber content in the diet contributes for better blood glucose control in these patients.OBJETIVO: Avaliar a orientação nutricional dentro de um conjunto de intervenções multidisciplinares. SUJEITOS E MÉTODOS: Quarenta e sete pacientes diabéticos tipo 2, hiperglicêmicos, tratados de forma convencional (n = 19) ou intensiva (n = 28) e avaliados pela glicemia média semanal (GMS) no início e após 6 semanas. RESULTADOS: GI reduziu o consumo de calorias (p = 0,001), carboidratos (p = 0,004), lipídios (p = 0,001) e aumentou o de fibras, enquanto o GC reduziu o consumo de fibras (p = 0,018). Controle glicêmico (GMS < 150 mg/dL) ocorreu em 75% do GI e, em 31,6% do GC (p = 0,003), houve correlação negativa entre as variações do consumo de fibras e a GMS (r =-0,309; p = 0,035). Os resultados mantiveram-se por 12 semanas. CONCLUSÃO: A intervenção educacional intensiva de curto prazo mostrou-se mais eficaz que o tratamento convencional para a obtenção do controle glicêmico. Nossos resultados ainda indicam que um consumo mais adequado de fibras na alimentação contribui para a obtenção de um melhor controle da glicemia.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Departamento de MedicinaUNIFESP-EPM Departamento de Medicina PreventivaUNIFESP, EPM, Depto. de MedicinaUNIFESP, EPM Depto. de Medicina PreventivaSciEL

Motivos da Escolha da Educação a Distância: O Aluno como Consumidor

O grau de envolvimento do consumidor na compra ou contratação de um serviço está diretamente ligado ao grau de riscos percebidos por ele, durante todo o processo de avaliação e aquisição. Assim, por que há riscos envolvidos na escolha de um curso de nível superior, a dissonância cognitiva surge como um componente importante a ser analisado nesse processo de decisão de compra. Por esta razão, o objetivo geral deste artigo é identificar os principais motivos da preferência de um aluno de graduação em estudar na modalidade Educação a Distância (EAD) em detrimento à modalidade presencial. No Brasil, esse tema é particularmente relevante já que a educação a distância tem crescido de forma expressiva, sobretudo em virtude da expansão das Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação (TIC) e a partir da promulgação da Lei de Diretrizes e Bases da Educação Nacional (LDB) de 1996.  Como procedimento metodológico foi feita uma pesquisa exploratória, utilizando-se a técnica da entrevista semiestruturada, com uma amostra de dez pessoas que fizeram ou ainda fazem uma graduação na modalidade EAD, independente do curso. Para análise dos dados utilizou-se a Análise de Conteúdo. Nos resultados finais constatou-se que a maior flexibilidade de tempo possibilitada pela educação a distância por meio das TIC foi o principal motivo na escolha da EAD em detrimento a um curso presencial

Structural Characteristics of Porto Rico Stargrass (\u3cem\u3eCynodon nlemfuensis\u3c/em\u3e) Pastures under Different Frequencies and Severities of Defoliation

An understanding of the effects of frequency and severity of defoliation on the sward structure of pastures is essential for identifying pasture management strategies that are more efficient in forage usage in tropical environments (Da Silva and Nascimento Jr 2007; Euclides et al. 2010). Some pasture species have not yet been investigated in this way, e.g. cultivars of Cynodon. The potential of this grass in tropical environments suggests that it should be given priority (Pedreira 2010). This study was designed to evaluate the effects of 2 frequencies (90 and 95% light interception) and severities (20 and 30 cm residue) of defoliation on the structural characteristics of Puerto Rico stargrass pasture (Cynodon nlemfuensis) during 3 seasons (fall, winter and spring)

Soil, humipedon, forest life and management

In recent years, three sections (Humipedon, Copedon and Lithopedon) were recognized in the soil profile. It was then possible to link the first and most biologically active section to the characteristics of the environment and soil genesis. In particular, it is now possible to distinguish organic horizons, mainly produced by arthropods and enchytraeids in cold and acidic or dry and arid environments, from organo-mineral horizons produced by earthworms in more temperate and mesotrophic environments. Each set of horizons can be associated with a humus system or form, with important implications for forestry. Anecic/endogeic earthworms and Mull or Amphi systems are more abundant in the early and late stages of sylvogenesis; by completely recycling litter, earthworms accelerate the availability of organic and inorganic soil nutrients to roots and pedofauna. On the other hand, arthropods and Moder or Tangel systems characterize the intermediate stages of sylvogenesis, where thickening in the organic horizons and the parallel impoverishment/reduction in the underlying organo-mineral horizons are observed. Recognizing the humus system at the right spatial and temporal scale is crucial for the biological management of a forest. This article includes a data review, new data from a doctoral thesis, and recent comparisons of Italian and French investigation