RESERVA MINERAL DE K POR DIFERENTES MÉTODOS EM ARGISSOLOS SUBTROPICAIS

A integração de métodos químicos de extração e a difração de raios-X podem ampliar o entendimento das formas de reserva de K+ nas frações do solo e o seu potencial de liberação para as plantas. Os objetivos deste estudo foram empregar os métodos de extração química para estimar a reserva mineral de K+ das frações areia, silte e argila de solos subtropicais, associar os mecanismos de extração com as formas liberadas do nutriente e acompanhar a dinâmica dessa liberação em estudo de cinética. As frações areia, silte e argila dos horizontes A e Bt de três Argissolos subtropicais foram submetidas à extração de formas não trocáveis e estruturais de K+pelos métodos: ácido oxálico 0,01 mol L-1 (cinética de liberação até o tempo acumulado de 2.889 h); HNO3 1 mol L-1 fervente; NaHSO4 na forma de cristais; e HNO3/HF/H2SO4 concentrados (teores totais). A fração argila também foi submetida a tratamento com NaOH 5 mol L-1. As esmectitas dioctaedrais na fração argila foram consideradas importantes na dinâmica de liberação de formas de reserva de K+. A maior e menor liberação de formas não trocáveis e estruturais de K+ foram pela extração com NaHSO4 e pelo ataque ácido com HNO3, respectivamente. Com os dados da cinética de liberação de K+ é possível concluir que as plantas cultivadas, nos Argissolos estudados, no longo dos anos nos solos estariam bem nutridas a partir de formas não trocáveis e estruturais de K+.

On the existence of doubling measures with certain regularity properties

Given a compact pseudo-metric space, we associate to it upper and lower dimensions, depending only on the pseudo-metric. Then we construct a doubling measure for which the measure of a dilated ball is closely related to these dimensions.

Chemoconvection patterns in the Methylene-blue-glucose system: Weakly nonlinear analysis

The oxidation of solutions of glucose with methylene-blue as a catalyst in basic media can induce hydrodynamic overturning instabilities, termed chemoconvection in recognition of their similarity to convective instabilities. The phenomenon is due to gluconic acid, the marginally dense product of the reaction, which gradually builds an unstable density profile. Experiments indicate that dominant pattern wavenumbers initially increase before gradually decreasing or can even oscillate for long times. Here, we perform a weakly nonlinear analysis for an established model of the system with simple kinetics, and show that the resulting amplitude equation is analogous to that obtained in convection with insulating walls. We show that the amplitude description predicts that dominant pattern wavenumbers should decrease in the long term, but does not reproduce the aforementioned increasing wavenumber behavior in the initial stages of pattern development. We hypothesize that this is due to horizontally homogeneous steady states not being attained before pattern onset. We show that the behavior can be explained using a combination of pseudo-steady-state linear and steady-state weakly nonlinear theories. The results obtained are in qualitative agreement with the analysis of experiments.

Nonlinear chemoconvection in the Methylene-blue-glucose system

Interfacial hydrodynamic instabilities arise in a range of chemical systems. One mechanism for instability is the occurrence of unstable density gradients due to the accumulation of reaction products. In this paper we conduct two-dimensional nonlinear numerical simulations for a member of this class of system: the methylene-blue¿glucose reaction. The result of these reactions is the oxidation of glucose to a relatively, but marginally, dense product, gluconic acid, that accumulates at oxygen permeable interfaces, such as the surface open to the atmosphere. The reaction is catalyzed by methylene-blue. We show that simulations help to disassemble the mechanisms responsible for the onset of instability and evolution of patterns, and we demonstrate that some of the results are remarkably consistent with experiments. We probe the impact of the upper oxygen boundary condition, for fixed flux, fixed concentration, or mixed boundary conditions, and find significant qualitative differences in solution behavior; structures either attract or repel one another depending on the boundary condition imposed. We suggest that measurement of the form of the boundary condition is possible via observation of oxygen penetration, and improved product yields may be obtained via proper control of boundary conditions in an engineering setting. We also investigate the dependence on parameters such as the Rayleigh number and depth. Finally, we find that pseudo-steady linear and weakly nonlinear techniques described elsewhere are useful tools for predicting the behavior of instabilities beyond their formal range of validity, as good agreement is obtained with the simulations.

Fetal akinesia in metatropic dysplasia: The combined phenotype of chondrodysplasia and neuropathy?

Dominant mutations in the receptor calcium channel gene TRPV4 have been associated with a family of skeletal dysplasias (metatropic dysplasia, pseudo-Morquio type 2, spondylometaphyseal dysplasia, Kozlowski type, brachyolmia, and familial digital arthropathy) as well as with dominantly inherited neuropathies (hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy 2C, scapuloperoneal spinal muscular atrophy, and congenital distal spinal muscular atrophy). While there is phenotypic overlap between the various members of each group, the two groups were considered to be totally separate with the former being strictly a structural skeletal condition and the latter group being confined to the peripheral nervous system. We report here on fetal akinesia as the presenting feature of severe metatropic dysplasia, suggesting that certain TRPV4 mutations can cause both a skeletal and a neuropathic phenotype. Three cases were detected on prenatal ultrasound because of absent movements in the second trimester. Case 4 presented with multiple joint contractures and absent limb movements at birth and was diagnosed with "fetal akinesia syndrome". Post-interruption and post-natal X-rays showed typical features of metatropic dysplasia in all four. Sequencing of the TRPV4 gene confirmed the presence of de novo heterozygous mutations predicting G78W (Case 1), T740I (Cases 2 and 3), and K276E (Case 4). Although some degree of restriction of movements is not uncommon in fetuses with skeletal dysplasia, akinesia as leading sign is unusual and suggests that certain TRPV4 mutations produce both chondrodysplasia and a peripheral neuropathy resulting in a severe "overlap" phenotype.

Accuracy of four cardiovascular risk scores in a Swiss population-based cohort

Purpose: To assess the global cardiovascular (CV) risk of an individual, several scores have been developed. However, their accuracy and comparability need to be evaluated in populations others from which they were derived. The aim of this study was to compare the predictive accuracy of 4 CV risk scores using data of a large population-based cohort. Methods: Prospective cohort study including 4980 participants (2698 women, mean age± SD: 52.7±10.8 years) in Lausanne, Switzerland followed for an average of 5.5 years (range 0.2 - 8.5). Two end points were assessed: 1) coronary heart disease (CHD), and 2) CV diseases (CVD). Four risk scores were compared: original and recalibrated Framingham coronary heart disease scores (1998 and 2001); original PROCAM score (2002) and its recalibrated version for Switzerland (IAS-AGLA); Reynolds risk score. Discrimination was assessed using Harrell's C statistics, model fitness using Akaike's information criterion (AIC) and calibration using pseudo Hosmer-Lemeshow test. The sensitivity, specificity and corresponding 95% confidence intervals were assessed for each risk score using the highest risk category ([20+ % at 10 years) as the "positive" test. Results: Recalibrated and original 1998 and original 2001 Framingham scores show better discrimination (>0.720) and model fitness (low AIC) for CHD and CVD. All 4 scores are correctly calibrated (Chi2<20). The recalibrated Framingham 1998 score has the best sensitivities, 37.8% and 40.4%, for CHD and CVD, respectively. All scores present specificities >90%. Framingham 1998, PROCAM and IAS-AGLA scores include the greatest proportion of subjects (>200) in the high risk category whereas recalibrated Framingham 2001 and Reynolds include <=44 subjects. Conclusion: In this cohort, we see variations of accuracy between risk scores, the original Framingham 2001 score demonstrating the best compromise between its accuracy and its limited selection of subjects in the highest risk category. We advocate that national guidelines, based on independently validated data, take into account calibrated CV risk scores for their respective countries.

Reproducibility of species lists, visual cover estimates and frequency methods for recording high mountain vegetation

Question: When multiple observers record the same spatial units of alpine vegetation, how much variation is there in the records and what are the consequences of this variation for monitoring schemes to detect change? Location: One test summit in Switzerland (Alps) and one test summit in Scotland (Cairngorm Mountains). Method: Eight observers used the GLORIA protocols for species composition and visual cover estimates in percent on large summit sections (>100 m2) and species composition and frequency in nested quadrats (1 m2). Results: The multiple records from the same spatial unit for species composition and species cover showed considerable variation in the two countries. Estimates of pseudoturnover of composition and coefficients of variation of cover estimates for vascular plant species in 1m x 1m quadrats showed less variation than in previously published reports whereas our results in larger sections were broadly in line with previous reports. In Scotland, estimates for bryophytes and lichens were more variable than for vascular plants. Conclusions: Statistical power calculations indicated that, unless large numbers of plots were used, changes in cover or frequency were only likely to be detected for abundant species (exceeding 10% cover) or if relative changes were large (50% or more). Lower variation could be reached with the point methods and with larger numbers of small plots. However, as summits often strongly differ from each other, supplementary summits cannot be considered as a way of increasing statistical power without introducing a supplementary component of variance into the analysis and hence the power calculations.

Maximized Utility of the Global Positioning System, HR-316, 1991

This report describes a project begun in January 1989 and completed December 1990, with the primary objective of obtaining sufficiently accurate horizontal and vertical control by using Global Positioning System (GPS) for highway applications. The ISU research group studied the operations of the Ashtech GPS receiver in static, pseudo-static, kinematic, and pseudo-kinematic modes. By using the Electronic Distance Measuring Instrument (EDMI) Calibration Baseline at ISU, the GPS receiver was tested for distance measurement accuracy. It was found that GPS measurements differed from the baseline distance by about 5.3 mm. Four projects were undertaken to further evaluate and improve the horizontal as well as the vertical accuracies of the GPS receiver -- (1) The Campus Project: with all points concentrated within a one-mile radius; (2) The Des Moines Project: a typical DOT project with all the points within a five-mile radius; (3) The Iowa Project: with all points within a 100-mile radius in the state of Iowa; and (4) The Mustang Project: an extension of the Iowa project, including a typical DOT project of about 10 miles within the inner 30 mile radius of the Iowa project.

Effect of orthographic processes on letter identity and letter-position encoding in dyslexic children.

The ability to identify letters and encode their position is a crucial step of the word recognition process. However and despite their word identification problem, the ability of dyslexic children to encode letter identity and letter-position within strings was not systematically investigated. This study aimed at filling this gap and further explored how letter identity and letter-position encoding is modulated by letter context in developmental dyslexia. For this purpose, a letter-string comparison task was administered to French dyslexic children and two chronological age (CA) and reading age (RA)-matched control groups. Children had to judge whether two successively and briefly presented four-letter strings were identical or different. Letter-position and letter identity were manipulated through the transposition (e.g., RTGM vs. RMGT) or substitution of two letters (e.g., TSHF vs. TGHD). Non-words, pseudo-words, and words were used as stimuli to investigate sub-lexical and lexical effects on letter encoding. Dyslexic children showed both substitution and transposition detection problems relative to CA-controls. A substitution advantage over transpositions was only found for words in dyslexic children whereas it extended to pseudo-words in RA-controls and to all type of items in CA-controls. Letters were better identified in the dyslexic group when belonging to orthographically familiar strings. Letter-position encoding was very impaired in dyslexic children who did not show any word context effect in contrast to CA-controls. Overall, the current findings point to a strong letter identity and letter-position encoding disorder in developmental dyslexia.

Avaliação espectral de solos desenvolvidos em uma toposseqüência de diabásio e folhelho da região de Piracicaba, SP

Este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar as alterações de solosdesenvolvidos numa toposseqüência composta por diabásio e folhelho (Piracicaba, SP), e sua relação com os dados espectrais. Ocorrem na toposseqüência os solos Latossolo Roxo (LR), Latossolo Vermelho-Escuro (LE), Podzólico Vermelho-Escuro (PE), Litossolo (Li) e Aluvial (Al) dos quais foram coletadas amostras a três profundidades. Foram obtidos dados de reflectância bidirecional dessas amostras em laboratório com espectrorradiômetro na faixa de 350 a 2.500 nm. As alterações da reflectância das amostras de solo das camadas superficiais e subsuperficiais foram relacionadas às diferenças nos teores de matéria orgânica e argila, que foram parâmetros importantes na caracterização espectral dos solos. Ao longo da toposseqüência, ocorreram alterações nas características dos solos, principalmente nos teores de ferro e silte e na mineralogia, que influenciaram nos dados espectrais. Os solos desenvolvidos de diabásio apresentaram altos teores de ferro, o que refletiu em concavidades mais acentuadas nas curvas espectrais em 850 nm, e intensidades de reflectância menores, ao contrário dos solos desenvolvidos de folhelho. A reflectância do PE apresentou-se mais intensa do que o LR e LE. Os solos menos intemperizados Li e Al apresentaram intensidades de reflectância mais elevadas que os mais intemperizados, LR e LE.

Troubles psychiques et épilepsies [Mental disorders and epilepsies]

Mental disorders in patients having difficulties to treat their epilepsy are without a doubt more frequent than those presented by patients with controlled epilepsies or within a general population. These problems are especially affective disorders; clinical presentations of these troubles are often particular and difficult to classify through the current admitted classification guidelines. We speak generally about an interictal dysphoric disorder. The relationship between observed troubles in seizures is in some cases very particular: postictal depressions and psychosis are very peculiar disorders, self limited, difficult to detect and to treat. Some considerations are made about certain topics related to severe epilepsies: suicide, pseudo seizures and therapeutic attitude.

Novo método de classificação de coeficientes de variação para a cultura do arroz de terras altas

A avaliação de coeficientes de variação (CV) como medida de precisão em experimentos tem sido realizada em diversas culturas, com alguns trabalhos propondo métodos para obtenção de faixas de classificação de CV, e outros trabalhos definindo as faixas de classificação, sempre com base na média e no desvio-padrão dos CVs, e pressupondo que os mesmos têm distribuição normal, o que nem sempre é verdadeiro. Este trabalho teve por objetivo propor um método para definir faixas de classificação de CV, independentemente da distribuição que possam apresentar; o método é baseado no uso da mediana (Md) e do pseudo-sigma (PS). Utilizaramse, para este estudo, dados de 110 experimentos com arroz de terras altas, delineados em blocos completos casualizados, blocos incompletos generalizados, e reticulados quadrados, selecionandose os caracteres relacionados às doenças, ao acamamento, ao rendimento de grãos e a alguns componentes da produção. Foram construídas faixas de classificação de CV de cada caráter estudado, de forma geral e considerando o delineamento experimental empregado em experimentos com 30 a 100 tratamentos. O método proposto é eficiente para a definição de faixas dos CVs, independentemente de sua distribuição, e a variação nos valores do CV evidencia a importância de se considerar não só a variável em estudo, mas também o delineamento experimental utilizado. Experimentos que apresentaram menores CVs foram aqueles em que se empregaram os Delineamentos de Blocos Incompletos. As variáveis relacionadas às doenças e ao acamamento apresentam maiores coeficientes de variação.

Guidelines for Cleaning up Former Methamphetamine Labs, June 2009

Methamphetamine (meth) drug labs are not a new hazard to Iowa. In 2004, federal, state and local authorities seized more than 1,400 Iowa labs. These labs are discovered in houses, apartments, motel rooms, motor vehicles, and even an occasional combine. A dramatic decrease in the number of meth labs occurred in 2005 when a law restricting the purchase of pseudo-ephedrine was implemented. Although the number of meth labs has decreased, they continue to exist. Since there is currently no official federal guidance or regulations on how to clean up a former meth lab, the Iowa Department of Public Health, Division of Environmental Health, has created these basic guidelines to assist public health officials, property owners and the general public in cleaning up former meth lab properties.

Proposta de classificação dos coeficientes de variação em relação à produtividade e altura da planta de soja

O objetivo deste trabalho foi definir classificações de coeficientes de variação para produtividade e altura da planta de soja. Os dados foram obtidos de ensaios intermediários e finais realizados nos estados do Paraná e do Mato Grosso. Foram realizadas classificações distintas para cada localização e ciclo reprodutivo. Considerando-se a média e o desvio-padrão dos coeficientes de variação obtidos das análises de variância dos ensaios, os coeficientes foram classificados como baixo, médio, alto e muito alto. Uma classificação adicional foi feita utilizando a mediana e o pseudo-sigma, em substituição à média e ao desvio-padrão, respectivamente. A classificação dos coeficientes de variação dependeu do caráter e da localização, mas não variou muito em razão do ciclo reprodutivo. Os critérios adotados (média e desvio-padrão ou mediana e pseudo-sigma) foram semelhantes (independentemente da distribuição dos coeficientes de variação) e satisfatórios para determinar a precisão experimental. O limite máximo de coeficiente de variação aceitável para produtividade é de 16% e para altura da planta é de 12%.