Duration of anticoagulation after venous thromboembolism in real world clinical practice.

INTRODUCTION: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) carries a considerable risk of recurrence and anticoagulants should be administered for a minimum of three months. Since little is known about real life management of VTE, we aimed to describe current practice in the secondary prevention of VTE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using the database of an international, prospective registry on patients treated for VTE, RIETE, information was collected on risk factors for VTE and bleeding, anticoagulant treatment, and clinical outcomes during follow up. Multivariate analysis using logistic regression was performed to identify predictors of treatment duration. RESULTS: Of 6944 patients with a first episode of VTE 41.1% had unprovoked VTE, 31.8% had transient risk factors, 27.1% had cancer. After the exclusion of patients who died during the first year of observation, the rate of patients treated for >12 months was 55.1%, 41.9%, and 43.2%, respectively (p<0.001). Pulmonary embolism at presentation, recurrence while on treatment, chronic heart failure and age >65 years were independently associated with treatment for >12 months. Body weight <75 kg, anemia, cancer, and the presence of transient risk factors were associated with treatment for 12 months or less. Major bleeding occurred more frequently than recurrent VTE in patients with VTE secondary to transient risk factors and cancer; fatal bleeding was more frequent than fatal recurrent PE in all subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: We observed heterogeneous duration of anticoagulant treatment for the secondary prevention of VTE. A substantial proportion of patients, in particular those with VTE secondary to transient risk factors, may be exposed to a possibly unnecessary risk of bleeding.

Did Dumbo suffer a heart attack? independent association between earlobe crease and cardiovascular disease.

BACKGROUND: Earlobe crease (ELC) has been associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) or risk factors (CVRF) and could be a marker predisposing to CVD. However, most studies studied only a small number of CVRF and no complete assessment of the associations between ELC and CVRF has been performed in a single study. METHODS: Population-based study (n = 4635, 46.7 % men) conducted between 2009 and 2012 in Lausanne, Switzerland. RESULTS: Eight hundred six participants (17.4 %) had an ELC. Presence of ELC was associated with male gender and older age. After adjusting for age and gender (and medication whenever necessary), presence of ELC was significantly (p < 0.05) associated with higher levels of body mass index (BMI) [adjusted mean ± standard error: 27.0 ± 0.2 vs. 26.02 ± 0.07 kg/m(2)], triglycerides [1.40 ± 0.03 vs. 1.36 ± 0.01 mmol/L] and insulin [8.8 ± 0.2 vs. 8.3 ± 0.1 μIU/mL]; lower levels of HDL cholesterol [1.61 ± 0.02 vs. 1.64 ± 0.01 mmol/L]; higher frequency of abdominal obesity [odds ratio and (95 % confidence interval) 1.20 (1.02; 1.42)]; hypertension [1.41 (1.18; 1.67)]; diabetes [1.43 (1.15; 1.79)]; high HOMA-IR [1.19 (1.00; 1.42)]; metabolic syndrome [1.28 (1.08; 1.51)] and history of CVD [1.55 (1.21; 1.98)]. No associations were found between ELC and estimated cardiovascular risk, inflammatory or liver markers. After further adjustment on BMI, only the associations between ELC and hypertension [1.30 (1.08; 1.56)] and history of CVD [1.47 (1.14; 1.89)] remained significant. For history of CVD, further adjustment on diabetes, hypertension, total cholesterol and smoking led to similar results [1.36 (1.05; 1.77)]. CONCLUSION: In this community-based sample ELC was significantly and independently associated with hypertension and history of CVD.

La fabrique des urbanistes : une identité professionnelle controversée ?

Ce texte de débat s'intéresse à l'identité professionnelle des urbanistes à un moment singulier de l'histoire de la discipline, celui de l'avènement d'une nouvelle professionnalité dans le champ de la pratique. Les auteurs cherchent à comprendre, dans un contexte caractérisé par 1) une mutation des institutions et outils de la production urbaine ; 2) une refondation des cursus susceptibles de conduire au titre d'urbaniste, comment les acteurs historiques de la profession s'organisent pour défendre une conception de la pratique professionnelle conforme à leur cursus de formation - singulièrement axée sur le projet, considéré notamment comme un art de la représentation graphique. La discussion porte sur la République et canton de Genève en Suisse, laboratoire d'une flexibilisation de l'urbanisme, dont l'Institut d'architecture a récemment été fermé, laissant le champ aux spécialistes des sciences sociales de l'aménagement en matière de formation des professionnels de la fabrique des territoires urbains. Les auteurs montrent comment un discours sur la déprofessionnalisation a été créé, principalement par des acteurs individuels et peu relayés par les associations professionnelles, qui vise à protéger la licence (au sens d'Everett Hughes) octroyée aux architectes-urbanistes de faire la ville. Les auteurs mobilisent un matériau recueilli dans le cadre de deux enquêtes, dont l'une en cours, consacrées pour la première aux transformations de métiers de l'urbanisme et, pour la seconde, aux nouvelles filières de formation aux métiers de la fabrique des territoires.

A Meta-Analysis of Trabecular Bone Score in Fracture Risk Prediction and Its Relationship to FRAX.

Trabecular bone score (TBS) is a gray-level textural index of bone microarchitecture derived from lumbar spine dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) images. TBS is a bone mineral density (BMD)-independent predictor of fracture risk. The objective of this meta-analysis was to determine whether TBS predicted fracture risk independently of FRAX probability and to examine their combined performance by adjusting the FRAX probability for TBS. We utilized individual-level data from 17,809 men and women in 14 prospective population-based cohorts. Baseline evaluation included TBS and the FRAX risk variables, and outcomes during follow-up (mean 6.7 years) comprised major osteoporotic fractures. The association between TBS, FRAX probabilities, and the risk of fracture was examined using an extension of the Poisson regression model in each cohort and for each sex and expressed as the gradient of risk (GR; hazard ratio per 1 SD change in risk variable in direction of increased risk). FRAX probabilities were adjusted for TBS using an adjustment factor derived from an independent cohort (the Manitoba Bone Density Cohort). Overall, the GR of TBS for major osteoporotic fracture was 1.44 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.35-1.53) when adjusted for age and time since baseline and was similar in men and women (p > 0.10). When additionally adjusted for FRAX 10-year probability of major osteoporotic fracture, TBS remained a significant, independent predictor for fracture (GR = 1.32, 95% CI 1.24-1.41). The adjustment of FRAX probability for TBS resulted in a small increase in the GR (1.76, 95% CI 1.65-1.87 versus 1.70, 95% CI 1.60-1.81). A smaller change in GR for hip fracture was observed (FRAX hip fracture probability GR 2.25 vs. 2.22). TBS is a significant predictor of fracture risk independently of FRAX. The findings support the use of TBS as a potential adjustment for FRAX probability, though the impact of the adjustment remains to be determined in the context of clinical assessment guidelines. © 2015 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

Desenvolvimento e validação de método espectrofotométrico para determinação de corante à base de luteína adicionado em iogurte desnatado

A simple analytical method for extraction and quantification of lutein colorant added to yogurt was developed and validated. The method allowed complete extraction of carotenoids using tetrahydrofuran in vortex, followed by centrifugation, partition to diethyl ether/petroleum ether, and drying. The carotenoids dissolved in ethanol were quantified by UV-Vis spectrophotometry. This method showed linearity in the range tested (1.41-13.42 µg g-1), limits of detection and quantification of 0.42 and 1.28 µg g-1, respectively, low relative standard deviation (3.4%) and recovery ranging from 95 to 103%. The method proved reliable for quantification of lutein added to yogurt.

Estudo das dispersões aquosas de nanotubos de carbono utilizando diferentes surfactantes

The dispersion of carbon nanotubes in water for their utilization in nanoscale devices is a challenging task. Comparative studies on interaction and dispersion of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNT) using two different surfactants (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS, and polyoxyethylenesorbitanmonooleate, Tween 80) are presented. The interaction between carbon nanotubes and surfactants was studied by tensiometry, conductivimetry, and fluorimetry. The dispersions of MWNT in surfactants were characterized using a UV-vis spectrophotometer. For effective dispersion, the minimum weight ratio of MWNT to surfactant was 1:41 and 1:3 for SDS and Tween 80, respectively.

Dry biomass distribution in a cerrado sensu stricto site in Brazil central

The Cerrado has been the main source of firewood and charcoal in Brazil, but despite being one of the hot spots for conservation of the world's biodiversity, neither plantations of native species nor sustainable management has been adopted in the region. The aim of this work was to investigate the biomass distribution and the potential for energy production of the cerrado species. The study was conducted in a cerrado sensu stricto site at the Água Limpa Farm (15º 56'14'' S and 47º 46'08'' W) in the Cerrado Biosphere Reserve. An area of 63.54ha was divided in 20 x 50m plots and, a random sample consisting of ten of these plots, representing 1.56% of the study-site, was assessed. All woody individuals from 5 cm diameter at 30 cm above ground level were identified and measured. Each individual was felled, the twigs thinner than 3cm were discarded while the larger branches and the trunks, both with bark, were weighted separately. After that, 2.5cm transverse sections of the trunk with bark were taken at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of the length. A similar sample was also taken at the base of each branch. A total of 47 species in 35 genera and 24 families were found, with an average density of 673 individuals per ha. The diameter distribution showed a reversed-J shape with 67% of the individuals up to 13cm, while the maximum diameter was 32.30cm. Seven species represented 72% of the total biomass. In general, the species with higher production per tree were among those with higher production per ha. This content was distributed by diameter classes, reaching a maximum of 2.5ton/ha between 9 to 13cm and then, decreasing to 0.96 ton/ha between 29 to 33cm diameter. Carbon sequestering was 6.2ton/ha (until the actual stage of cerrado) based on an average 50% carbon content in the dry matter. The heat combustion of the wood varied from 18,903kj/kg to 20,888kj/kg with an average of 19,942kj/kg. The smaller diameter classes fix more carbon due to the large number of small plants per ha. But, for a species that reached larger dimensions and contained individuals in all diameter classes, Vochysia thyrsoidea, one can verify an increase in carbon fixation from 1.41 kg/ha in the first class (5 to 9cm) to 138,3kg/ha in the last (25 to 33cm). That indicates that it is possible to select species that reach larger size with a higher capacity of carbon accumulation per plant. The species that reached larger dimensions, with a production per tree above average and had high calorific power values were Dalbergia miscolobium, Pterodon pubescens and Sclerolobium paniculatum. These species have potential for use in fuelwood plantations and sustainable management.

Características biométricas de mudas de Eucalyptus sp sob estresse salino

Para a reabilitação e utilização de áreas afetadas por excesso de sais, é necessário avaliar como as espécies vegetais respondem à salinidade. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar o efeito do aumento da concentração de NaCl sobre características biométricas da parte aérea e sistema radicular de mudas de E. camaldulensis, E. tereticornis, E. pellita e E. robusta. O experimento, em casa de vegetação, foi conduzido em vasos de 11,5 L, contendo areia, e irrigados com solução nutritiva. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial com quatro espécies e cinco níveis de salinidade (1,41; 2,50; 4,50; 6,45; e 8,33 dS m-1), em cinco repetições. Avaliaram-se as características biométricas (masa seca, comprimento e diâmetro) da parte aérea e do sistema radicular das mudas. O aumento no nível de salinidade até a condutividade elétrica de 8,33 dS m-1 não prejudicou o crescimento inicial de mudas de E. tereticornis, mas causou redução na massa seca de raízes grossas dessa espécie. O crescimento das mudas de E. camaldulensis, E. pellita e E. robusta foi reduzido em resposta ao aumento do nível de salinidade. O E. tereticornis, na fase de crescimento inicial, apresenta resistência à salinidade, considerando-se a condutividade elétrica testada de até 8,33 dS m-1. As características comprimento e área de raízes, nas quatro espécies estudadas, não responderam ao aumento do nível de salinidade.

Removal of nitrogen, phosphorus, copper and zinc from swine breeding waste water by bermudagrass and cattail in constructed wetland systems

This work aimed to study the agronomic performance and capacity of nutrient removal by bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) and cattail (Typha sp.) when grown in constructed wetlands systems (CWSs) of vertical and horizontal flow, respectively, used in the post-treatment of swine breeding wastewater (ARS). The average yield of dry matter (DM) of bermudagrass in sections of 60-day interval ranged from 14 to 43 t ha-1, while the cultivated cattail produced in a single cut after 200 days of cultivation between 45 and 67 t ha-1 of DM. Bermudagrass extracted up to 17.65 kg ha-1 d-1 of nitrogen, 1.76 kg ha-1 d-1 of phosphorus, 6.67 g ha-1 d-1 of copper and 54.75 g ha-1 d-1 of zinc. Cattail extracted up to 5.10 kg ha-1 d-1 of nitrogen, 1.07 kg ha-1 d-1 of phosphorus, 1.41 g ha-1 d-1 of copper and 16.04 g ha-1 d-1 of zinc. Cattail and bermudagrass were able to remove, respectively, 5.0 and 4.6% of the nitrogen and 11.2 and 5.4% of the phosphorus applied via ARS, being less efficient in extracting N and P when the initial intake of these nutrients is evaluated.

Grau de subestimação histopatológica por core biopsy de lesões não palpáveis da mama

OBJETIVO: Determinar o grau de subestimação de core biopsy, guiada por imagem, de lesões impalpáveis da mama subsequentemente submetidas à exérese cirúrgica. MÉTODOS: Foram revisados retrospectivamente 352 casos com biópsias de fragmento que foram submetidos à cirurgia entre fevereiro de 2000 e dezembro de 2005, cujo laudo histopatológico estava registrado no sistema interno de informação. Os resultados foram comparados com os da cirurgia e a taxa de subestimação foi calculada dividindo-se o número de carcinoma in situ e/ou invasivo à cirurgia pelo número de lesões de alto risco ou carcinoma in situ que foram submetidas à cirurgia. O grau de concordância entre os resultados foi obtido pelo percentual de concordância e pelo coeficiente kappa de Cohen. A associação das variáveis estudadas com a subestimação do diagnóstico foi verificada pelos testes do c2 exato de Fisher, ANOVA e Mann-Whitney U. O risco de subestimação foi medido por meio do risco relativo acompanhado dos respectivos intervalos com 95% de confiança (IC95%). RESULTADOS: Core biopsy foi inconclusiva em 15,6%. O laudo histopatológico foi benigno em 26,4%, sugestivo de lesão de alto risco em 12,8% e maligno em 45,2%. A concordância entre a core biopsy e a cirurgia foi de 82,1% (kappa=0,75). A taxa de falso negativo foi de 5,4% e a lesão foi completamente removida em 3,4%. A taxa de subestimação foi de 9,1% e esteve associada com BI-RADS® categoria 5 (p=0,01), microcalcificações (p < 0,001) e estereotaxia (p= 0,002). Todos os casos subestimados apresentavam diâmetro menor que 20 mm e em todos foram retirados pelo menos cinco fragmentos. A taxa de subestimação para lesões de alto risco foi de 31,1%, 41,2%, para hiperplasia ductal atípica, 31,2% para lesões papilíferas, 16,7% para tumor filóides e 41,9% para carcinoma ductal in situ. CONCLUSÕES: Core biopsy guiada por imagem é um procedimento confiável, contudo permanece a recomendação de ressecção cirúrgica de lesões de alto risco detectadas à biópsia de fragmento já que não foi possível estabelecer características clínicas, imaginológicas, do procedimento e patológicas que pudessem predizer subestimação e evitar a cirurgia. Amostras representativas da lesão são mais importantes que o número de fragmentos.

Finnish cleantech SMEs in China: Challenges and solutions

The rapid economic growth in China has resulted in environmental challenges ranging from air pollution to water-related issues. Thus supporting clean technology, or cleantech, that encompasses industries that focus on alternative energy, pollution and recycling, power supplies and conservation has become one of the focal points in the Chinese economic policy for the next decade. Simultaneously, the Finnish government has initiated programs to support the internationalisation of domestic cleantech companies in an attempt to spiral the industry into one of the pillars of Finnish economic growth. This study concentrates on the conjunction of these two themes and studies the challenges faced by Finnish cleantech SMEs in the Chinese market. Consequently, the study answers the following sub questions: 1. What human and financial resource-based challenges do Finnish cleantech SMEs face in the Chinese market and what are their solutions? 2. What knowledge-based challenges do Finnish cleantech SMEs face in the Chinese market and how can these difficulties be resolved? 3. What network-based challenges do Finnish cleantech SMEs face in the Chinese market, how do they relate to the resource- and knowledge-based challenges, and how can these difficulties be resolved? This qualitative study is conducted by analysing four semi structured interviews collected from four Finnish SMEs that operate in China. The findings of the study indicate that in human resources the most important challenges are related to the hiring and retaining of employees. In contrast to extant academic literature results distinguish salary and social status as the main solutions to this challenge. Regarding financial resources it is discovered that cleantech companies enjoy a benign business environment in China and benefit from the Chinese government’s support for cleantech industry. Challenges related to knowledge resources can be grouped into categories with the most interesting knowledge flows being the stream of local market knowledge into to the foreign parent company and the outward flow of manufacturing and business practice information into the target venture. The challenge related to the first flow is gathering relevant information and the main solutions are clustering at the foreign location and hiring knowledge prior to internationalisation. Regarding the second flow the main challenge is related to intellectual property rights and the most interesting solution is the purposeful transformation of explicit knowledge into tacit knowledge. Finally, it is discovered that networks, called guanxi in China, greatly affect the business processes. Within the guanxi system there is the concept of face which was found to affect employee propensity to stay as well as, as a novel academic result, employees’ knowledge sharing intention.

Prevalência e achados epidemiológicos, anatomopatológicos e imuno-histoquímicos dos tumores hepáticos malignos primários de cães da Região Central do Rio Grande do Sul (1965-2012)

A prevalência e os aspectos epidemiológicos, anatomopatológicos e imuno-histoquímicos dos tumores hepáticos malignos primários (THMP) em cães foram estudados. De 7.373 cães necropsiados em 48 anos (1965-2012), 64 morreram de THMP, o que corresponde a 0,9% do total de cães que morreram por qualquer causa, 7,8% do total de cães que morreram por tumores em geral e 33,5% do total de cães que morreram por tumores hepáticos. Desses 64 casos de THMP, 51 foram revistos histologicamente, avaliados imuno-histoquimicamente e reclassificados como carcinomas (colangiocarcinomas [n=36], carcinomas hepatocelulares [n=9] e hepatocolangiocarcinoma [n=1]) e sarcomas (hemangiossarcomas [n=5]). Dos cães com colangiocarcinomas e carcinomas hepatocelulares em que a idade estava disponível nos protocolos, 64,7% e 77,8% eram idosos, respectivamente. Na necropsia, colangiocarcinomas caracterizaram-se principalmente por ocorrerem em um padrão multinodular (83,3%), enquanto carcinomas hepatocelulares ocorreram tanto de forma massiva (44,4%) quanto nodular (44,4%). Metástases extra-hepáticas foram vistas em 77,8% e 33,3% dos casos de colangiocarcinomas e carcinomas hepatocelulares, respectivamente, e em relação aos colangiocarcinomas afetaram principalmente pulmões (52,8%), linfonodos (50%) e peritônio (19,4%). Ascite (22,2%) e icterícia (22,2%) foram achados associados ocasionalmente com ambos os tumores. Na histologia, a maior parte dos colangiocarcinomas (86,1%) e dos carcinomas hepatocelulares (55,6%) tinha padrão tubular e trabecular, respectivamente. Na imuno-histoquímica, a maioria (63,9%) dos colangiocarcinomas demonstrou imunomarcação para CK7 e nenhum imunomarcou para Hep Par 1. A maioria (55,6%) dos carcinomas hepatocelulares demonstrou imunomarcação para Hep Par 1 e nenhum imunomarcou para CK7. Os resultados aqui apresentados demonstram uma altíssima prevalência de THMP, principalmente colangiocarcinomas, e servem para auxiliar, através dos achados de necropsia, histologia e imuno-histoquímica, patologistas veterinários no diagnóstico dessa tão comum forma de câncer em cães da Região Central do RS, Brasil.

Efeito de desfolhantes na cultura algodoeira (Gossypium hirsutum L.) no Triângulo Mineiro

Foram testados 4 desfolhantes com diferentes doses, e em misturas, sobre a cultivar IAC 13-1 em solo argiloso de Ipiaçú-MG. Os tratamentos constituiram de 0,71 e 1,42 kg i.a./ha de folex (71,2% de fosforotritoato de tributila), 1,06 e 1,41 kg i.a./ha de def (70,5% de s,s,s-tributiltritiofosfato), 0,36 e 0,54 kg i.a.fha de paraquat (36,2% de 1,1 dimetil-4,4' bipiridilio-dicloreto, 1,92 kg i.a./ha de etileno (48% de ácido cloroetilfosfórico), paraquat + def (0,36 + 0,70 kg i.a./ha), paraquat + def. (0,54 + 1,41 kg i.a./ha), paraquat + folex (0,36 + 0,70 kg i.a./ha), paraquat + folex (0,54 + 1,42 kg i.a./ha), paraquat (0,36 e 0,54 kg i.a./ha) e urna testemunha isenta de desfolhantes. As aplicações foram feitas com 70% a 80% de capulhos abertos usando 800 1 de água/ha. A avaliação dos resultados consistiu na contagem de folhas secas + verdes e dos efeitos dos desfolhantes sobre plantas daninhas segundo a escala E.W.R.C. Def (1,41 kg i.a./ha), paraquat + folex (0,54 + 1,42 kg i.a./ha) e paraquat + def (0,54 + 1,41 kg i.a./ha) foram os melhores na avaliação feita 5 dias após a aplicação. O rebrotamento, causado pelas chuvas, igualou todos os tratamentos aos 10 dias, diferenciando-os apenas da testemunha e, aos 15 dias, igualando-os a ela. Todos os tratamentos com paraquat resultaram em melhor controle sobre plantas daninhas que os demais, contribuindo para facilitar a colheita mecânica e melhorar o tipo de algodão. Os tratamentos estudados não afetaram as características tecnológicas da fibra.

Produtividade de massa e dessecação de forrageiras perenes para integração lavoura-pecuária

A viabilidade da sucessão soja-milho safrinha em plantio direto no cerrado depende de adequada produção de resíduos na superfície do solo, o que pode ser obtido através do cultivo consorciado de milho com forrageira perene. Objetivou-se neste trabalho avaliar a produtividade de massa e a facilidade para dessecação de nove forrageiras perenes. As espécies foram cultivadas em consórcio com milho safrinha, de março a julho de 2009. Em outubro, as plantas foram cortadas a 0,20 m do solo, e 20 dias após foram aplicadas as doses de glyphosate (0,72, 1,44, 2,06 e 2,88 kg e.a. ha-1). O efeito das doses foi avaliado aos 10 e 20 dias após a dessecação, mediante pesagem e secagem da massa em estufa a 60 ºC. O controle foi considerado excelente quando a umidade das plantas dessecadas estava menor ou igual a 30%; assim, as forrageiras foram separadas em três grupos por facilidade de dessecação, sendo: 1) Urochloa (Syn Brachiaria) ruziziensis, Megatyrsus (syn Panicum) maximum cv. Massai e M. maximum cv. Aruana, com excelente resultado; 2) U. decumbens cv. Basilisk, U. brizantha cv. Xaraés e U. brizantha cv. Marandu, de moderada facilidade; e 3) M. maximum cv. Tanzânia, M. maximum cv. Mombaça e U. brizantha cv. Piatã, de difícil dessecação. Considerando a produtividade de massa, o menor período entre dessecação e avaliação e a dose de herbicida, destacam-se U. ruziziensis (0,45 e 1,29 kg e.a. ha-1) e M. maximum cv. Aruana (1,41 e 1,66 kg e.a. ha-1) como de fácil dessecação, visando à semeadura da soja em sucessão.

Water relations of tree species growing on a rock outcrop in the "Parque Estadual de Itapuã", RS

Water relations of the tree species Myrsine umbellata Mart. ex A. DC., Dodonaea viscosa Jacq. and Erythroxylum argentinum O. E. Schulz, growing on a rock outcrop in the "Parque Estadual de Itapuã" (RS), were studied. Environmental (precipitation, temperature, soil water) and plant (water potential, vapor pressure deficit, stomatal conductance, transpiration, leaf specific hydraulic conductance, osmotic potential and cell wall elasticity) parameters were collected in five periods and pooled into two sets of data: wet and dry periods. Myrsine umbellata showed great stability of the plant parameters, including the maintenance of high pre-dawn (psiwpd) and mid-day (psiwmd) water potentials in the dry period (-0.48 and -1.12 MPa, respectively), suggesting the presence of a deep root system. Dodonaea viscosa and E. argentinum reached lower psiwpd (-1.41 and -1.97 MPa, respectively) and a greater degree of stomatal closure in the dry period, suggesting a shallower root system. Differential exposure to soil drought was also corroborated by differential drought effects on the whole-plant leaf specific hydraulic conductance (Gt). Correlation analysis pointed to weak correlations between psiwpd and g s. Erythroxylum argentinum was the only species to show osmotic adjustment in response to drought. It is suggested that M. umbellata has low tolerance to water deficits, adopting an avoidance behavior. The much lower values of psiw reached by D. viscosa and E. argentinum suggest a greater tolerance to drought by these species.