The Eccentric Connectivity Polynomial of some Graph Operations

The eccentric connectivity index of a graph G, ξ^C, was proposed by Sharma, Goswami and Madan. It is defined as ξ^C(G) = ∑ u ∈ V(G) degG(u)εG(u), where degG(u) denotes the degree of the vertex x in G and εG(u) = Max{d(u, x) | x ∈ V (G)}. The eccentric connectivity polynomial is a polynomial version of this topological index. In this paper, exact formulas for the eccentric connectivity polynomial of Cartesian product, symmetric difference, disjunction and join of graphs are presented.

Las potencias subregionales en el sistema internacional de posguerra fría: ¿nuevos actores en la política internacional?

En trabajos anteriores, hemos avanzado en la identificación y diferenciación de tres categorías de potencias: potencias mundiales, potencias medias y potencias regionales. Pero, más allá de las potencias mundiales y las potencias medias que se encuentran en el centro del sistema-mundial, y las potencias regionales que se ubican en la semiperiferia, ¿es posible hablar de potencias que se encuentren en la periferia? Como se trata de Estados periféricos, ¿pueden ser calificados como “potencias”? ¿En qué radicaría su relevancia y envergadura? Dichas “potencias” ¿pueden ser agrupadas en una nueva categoría? De ser así ¿qué características compartirían? El objetivo de este documento es proponer una nueva  categoría de potencias en el sistema internacional: las potencias subregionales.

Optimal day-ahead scheduling of integrated urban energy systems

An optimal day-ahead scheduling method (ODSM) for the integrated urban energy system (IUES) is introduced, which considers the reconfigurable capability of an electric distribution network. The hourly topology of a distribution network, a natural gas network, the energy centers including the combined heat and power (CHP) units, different energy conversion devices and demand responsive loads (DRLs), are optimized to minimize the day-ahead operation cost of the IUES. The hourly reconfigurable capability of the electric distribution network utilizing remotely controlled switches (RCSs) is explored and discussed. The operational constraints from the unbalanced three-phase electric distribution network, the natural gas network, and the energy centers are considered. The interactions between the electric distribution network and the natural gas network take place through conversion of energy among different energy vectors in the energy centers. An energy conversion analysis model for the energy center was developed based on the energy hub model. A hybrid optimization method based on genetic algorithm (GA) and a nonlinear interior point method (IPM) is utilized to solve the ODSM model. Numerical studies demonstrate that the proposed ODSM is able to provide the IUES with an effective and economical day-ahead scheduling scheme and reduce the operational cost of the IUES.

Delivering Regional Extension in Qld Farming Systems - Central Queensland

The CQ Cotton Regional Extension project has been a key to the delivery of emerging, cutting edge research information and knowledge to the Central Queensland cotton industry. The direct relevance of southern research to cotton production under the conditions experienced in CQ always has been an issue which could be addressed through regional assessment and adaptation. The project links the national research to the region through development and extension, with a strong focus on the major industry production issues including but not limited to disease, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), soils, nutrition and integrated weed management. Susan Mass has supported the implementation of national industry-wide programs particularly the industry Best Management Practices program (myBMP). This project has successfully transitioned to a focus on delivering national outcomes in target lead areas as part of National Development and Delivery Team established by Cotton CRC, CRDC and Cotton Australia, while maintaining a regional extension presence for Central Queensland cotton & grain farming systems. Susan Mass has very effectively merged and integrated strong regional extension support to cotton growers in Central Queensland with delivery of industry extension priorities across the entire industry in the Development and Delivery Team model. Susan is the target lead for disease and farm hygiene. Recognising the challenges of having regionally relevant research in Central Queensland, this project has facilitated locally based research including boll rot, Bt cotton resistance management, and mealybug biology through strong collaborations. This collaborative approach has included linkage to Department of Environment and Resource Managmeent (DERM) groups and myBMP programs resulting in a high uptake in CQ.

Avaliação das constantes térmicas das fases de desenvolvimento do Psilídeo-de-concha Glycaspis brimblecombei em laboratório.

A infuência da temperatura no desenvolvimento dos insetos é fundamental para a tomada de decisão relacionada à estratégia de controle biológico de pragas. Este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a necessidades de graus-dias acumulados entre a oviposição e a eclosão de adultos do psilídeo-de-concha Glycaspis brimblecombei (Hemiptera: Psillydae) em resposta às temperaturas máxima e mínima diárias, observadas em condições de sala de criação do Laboratório de Quarentena ?Costa Lima? da Embrapa Meio Ambiente, em Jaguariúna-SP. Três gaiolas com a mesma quantidade inicial de adultos (preservadas a razão fêmea: macho de 1,06) foram monitoradas até o aparecimento da primeira geração e mortalidade total dos adultos introduzidos. Durante todo o período foram registradas as temperaturas máxima e mínima (em ºC) e a umidade relativa (em %) diárias. Posteriormente foram realizados os cálculos dos graus-dias pelo método da senóide horizontal, considerando a temperatura base de desenvolvimento do inseto de 9,26 ºC . Os cálculos foram realizados utilizando programa eletrônico da Universidade da Califórnia - Davis (UC-IPM). Como resultado, obteve-se uma necessidade média de 377,49 ± 16,09 GD acumulados entre a oviposição e a eclosão de adultos do inseto, bem como de 350,40 ± 18,62 GD para atingir a morte total de todos os adultos introduzidos.

Avaliação da potencial migração de Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) por massas de ar para áreas produtoras de cultivos hospedeiros do Estado de São Paulo.

Resumo Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner, 1808) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) é um inseto exótico, altamente polífago, que foi detectado no Brasil em 2013 causando sérios danos em cultivos de soja, milho e algodão, localizados em áreas estaduais específicas das regiões Nordeste e Centro-Oeste com a presença do bioma Cerrado. Após o período de um ano o inseto foi identificado em várias regiões do País. A literatura indica que o inseto adulto apresenta características físicas que favorecem sua grande capacidade de voo, tanto em distância (100-1000 km) quanto a elevadas altitudes (maiores que 1,5 km acima do nível do solo), aumentando o seu potencial para dispersão de longo alcance, principalmente por voos migratórios das áreas já atacadas. Por essa razão, as massas de ar brasileiras podem atuar como potenciais facilitadoras à atividade migratória do inseto a longas distâncias para as áreas de maior concentração de seus cultivos hospedeiros preferenciais, resultante da atração natural do inseto aos fatores químicos delas decorrentes. Desse modo, devem ser consideradas em avaliações de áreas mais propícias à presença de H. armigera para orientar monitoramentos e estratégias de manejo locais. Este trabalho avaliou a potencial migração de H. armigera por massas de ar para áreas produtoras de cultivos hospedeiros do estado de São Paulo, considerando seus municípios produtores de algodão, soja, milho, tomate, feijão, café e laranja; as principais massas de ar brasileiras; a presença de grandes áreas com cultivos de eucalipto e pinus (outras potenciais barreiras físicas ao inseto); e a localização do bioma Cerrado paulista. Informações das áreas produtoras e das áreas plantadas por município de 2008, 2012 e 2014, disponibilizadas pelo IBGE, foram utilizadas em planos de informação georreferenciados, elaborados em ArcGis 10.3, para identificar a localização de suas respectivas grandes áreas em cada ano. O cruzamento georreferenciado também resultou mapas das áreas plantadas em 2014 com todos os cultivos citados, indicando as de maior potencial de infestação/reinfestações de H. armigera no estado de São Paulo, para orientar monitoramentos e estratégias de Manejo Integrado de Pragas - MIP locais. Abstract Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner, 1808) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is an exotic insect highly polyphagous, which was detected in Brazil in 2013 causing serious damage to soybean, corn and cotton crops located in specific state areas in the northeast and center-west regions with the presence of Cerrado Biome (similar to the Savannah). After a oneyear period, the insect was detected in several regions of the country. Foreign literature indicates that the adult phase of the insect shows certain physical characteristics which favor its great flight capacity, even related to reach long distances (100-1000 Km) as many as to reach high altitudes (overtaken 1.5 Km above the ground level), increasing its potential of farthest dispersion, mainly by migratory flights from the areas already attacked. Therefore, the Brazilian air masses may act as potentially enhance the insect's farthest migratory activity to areas of greater concentration of its preferential host crops due to the insect's natural attraction to their chemical factors. Thus, migration potential of H. armigera by air masses toward preferential host crop areas must be considered in evaluations of most favorable areas to the presence of the insect to guide monitoring and local management strategies. The present work evaluated the H. armigera migration potential by air masses toward producing areas of host crops in São Paulo state, Brazil, considering its municipalities producing cotton, soybean, corn, tomato, bean, coffee, orange, eucalyptus and pine trees, as well as the main Brazilian air masses and the presence of Cerrado Biome in the state. Information of producing and of planting areas with the annual crops by municipalities in 2008, 2012 and 2014, provided by IBGE, were used in cross-maps made using ArcGis 10.3, in order to identify the location of their respective greater areas in each year. Cross-maps also provided results indicating the planting areas in 2014 with all crops already mentioned, as well as the potential areas to infestation/reinfestations of H. armigera in São Paulo State, in order to guide monitoring and local strategies of IPM.

Quarantine facilities and legal issues of the use of biocontrol agents in Brazil.

The objective of this work was to address the classical biological control of pests in Brazil, regarding procedures to import and export native biological material. A brief introduction will be given on the current legal issues on the use of biocontrol agents, as well as some considerations on the existing quarantine pests and actions already carried out in the country. The safety in the introduction of exotic organisms is important for Brazilian phytosanitary defense and for a higher adoption of classical biocontrol, making it available for integrated pest management (IPM). Legal and normative aspects establish the procedures that must to be adopted, not only to protect bioprospecting and native organisms, but also to minimize risks to the national genetic patrimony associated with the introduction of exotic organisms. Furthermore, the import/export procedures adopted for vegetal and useful organisms for pest biological control and for other genetic material must be subjected to phytosanitary measures performed in government?certified quarantine facilities and diagnostic laboratories. Finally, the quarantine activities listed here are strategic for safeguarding the country from potential problems arising from border transit of living organisms.

Effectivity of Various β-Carotene Concentration on Quality of Frozen-Thawed Semen of Garut Rams

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the quality of frozen-thawed semen of Garut rams that cryopreserved with Tris extender containing the various β-carotene concentrations. Semen was collected from four mature Garut rams using artificial vagina once a week. Immediately after initial evaluation, semen was divided into four parts and diluted with Tris extender containing 5% glycerol + 0% (control), 0.001% (Kt0.001), 0.002% (Kt0.002), and 0.003% (Kt0.003) β-carotene, respectively. Semen was loaded in 0.25 ml mini straw with the concentration of 200 million motile sperm. Semen was equilibrated at 5ºC for three hours, then frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen container for 7 days. Quality of processed-semen including motility, live sperm, intact acrosomal cap (IAC), and intact plasma membrane (IPM) were evaluated after diluted, equilibrated, and thawed, respectively. Concentration of malondialdehide (MDA) semen after thawing were evaluated. Data were analyzed as completely randomized design with four treatments and nine replicates. Means values were compared by least significant difference test at 0.05 significant level. Results indicated that mean value of post thawing motility and live sperm for Kt0.002 (50.55% and 56.78%) were significantly higher (P<0.05) than Kt0.001 (46.11% and 52.89%), Kt0.003 (46.67% and 53.33%) and control (46.67% and 52.33%). Mean value of post thawing IAC and IPM for Kt0.002 (51.00% and 53.78%) were significantly higher (P<0.05) than control ( 47.11% and 48.44%), but not significantly different with Kt0.001 (49.00% and 50.00%), and Kt0.003 (48.89% and 49.67%). MDA concentration of frozen-thawed semen for Kt0.001 (3.37 mg/kg), Kt0.002 (3.80 mg/kg), and Kt0.003 (4.61 mg/kg) were significantly lower (P<0.05) than control (5.24 mg/kg). in conclusion, concentration of 0.002% β-carotene in Tris extender is the optimal dose in improving frozen semen quality of garut rams. (Animal Production 7(1): 6-13 (2005) Key Words : β-carotene, frozen-thawed semen, intact plasma membrane, MDA, Garut Rams