Potassium leaching from millet straw as affected by rainfall and potassium rates

Pearl millet (Penisetum glaucum) is an interesting species to be used as cover crop in tropical areas, showing a high ability in potassium uptake. Potassium (K) is not linked to organic compounds in the plant, and can easily be released from decaying straw becoming available for subsequent crops. This experiment evaluated K leaching from millet straw grown under potassium rates (0, 100, 200, and 300 mg dm-3), and submitted to five levels of simulated rain (5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 mm). Plants were grown in soil filled pots in a greenhouse. On the 50th day after emergence, the plants were desiccated with glyphosate. Artificial rain was applied over the straw. Potassium deficiency speeds up millet dehydration after herbicide application and increases lightly rain water retention in the straw. The amount of K leached right after plant desiccation is correlated with the residue nutrient content and can be as high as 64 kg ha-1 considering a mulch of 8 t ha -1. Although well-nourished millet plants release considerable amounts of K with the first rains, a large percentage of the nutrient is still retained in the straw. Copyright © Taylor & Francis, Inc.

Spontaneous resolution rates of vesicoureteral reflux in Brazilian children: A 30-year experience

Objective: We evaluated clinical characteristics of primary vesicoureteral reflux (VLJR) in infants in a 30-year period in Brazil with special reference to the relation of renal parenchymal damage to urinary tract infection and gender. Materials and Methods: From 1975 through 2005, 417 girls (81.6%) and 94 boys (18.4%) with all grades of reflux were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were categorized by the worst grade of reflux, maintained on antibiotic prophylaxis and underwent yearly voiding cystourethrography until the reflux was resolved. VUR was considered resolved when a follow-up cystogram demonstrated no reflux. Surgical correction was recommended for those who fail medical therapy, severe renal scarring or persistent VUR. Results: Grades I to V VUR resolved in 87.5%, 77.6%, 52.8%, 12.2% and 4.3%, respectively. Renal scars were present at presentation in 98 patients (19.2%). Neither gender nor bilaterality versus unilaterality was a helpful predictor of resolution. The significant difference was found among the curves using the log rank (p < 0.001) or Wilcoxon (p < 0.001) test. Conclusion: Despite the current use of screening prenatal ultrasound, many infants are still diagnosed as having vesicoureteral reflux only after the occurrence of urinary tract infection in our country. Scarring may be associated to any reflux grade and it may be initially diagnosed at any age but half of the scars are noted with higher grades of reflux (IV and V). The incidence of reflux related morbidity in children has significantly diminished over the last three decades.

Effects of gender on stroke rates, critical speed and velocity of a 30-min swim in young swimmers

Our objective was to analyze the effect of gender on the relationship between stroke rates corresponding to critical speed (SRCS) and maximal speed of 30 min (SRS30) in young swimmers. Twenty two males (GM1) (Age = 15.4 ± 2.1 yr., Body mass = 63.7 ± 12.9 kg, Stature = 1.73 ± 0.09 m) and fourteen female (GF) swimmers (Age = 15.1 ± 1.6 yr., Body mass = 58.3 ± 8.8 kg, Stature = 1.65 ± 0.06 m) were studied. A subset of males (GM2) was matched to the GF by their velocity for a 30 min swim (S30). The critical speed (CS) was determined through the slope of the linear regression line between the distances (200 and 400 m) and participant's respective times. CS was significantly higher than S30 in males (GM1 - 1.25 and 1.16 and GM2 - 1.21 and 1.12 m·s-1) and females (GF - 1.15 and 1.11 m·s-1). There was no significant difference between SRCS and SRS30 in males (GM1 - 34.16 and 32.32 and GM2 - 34.67 and 32.46 cycle·s-1, respectively) and females (GF - 34.18 and 33.67 cycle·s-1-1, respectively). There was a significant correlation between CS and S30 (GM1 - r = 0.89, GF - r = 0.94 and GM2 - r = 0.90) and between SRCS and SRS30 (GM1 - r = 0.89, GF - r = 0.80 and GM2 - r = 0.88). Thus, the relationship between SRCS and SRS30 is not influenced by gender, in swimmers with similar and different aerobic capacity levels. ©Journal of Sports Science and Medicine (2007).

Cryopreservation of dog spermatozoa: Effect of bovine serum albumin on acrosomal integrity and pregnancy rates after artificial insemination

The objective of the present study was to compare the in vitro and in vivo profile of frozen dog semen with Tris-bovine serum albumin (TB) and Tris-egg yolk (TE) extenders. Twenty dogs were used as donors. Each dog was stimulated by penile massage and only the sperm-rich fraction was collected weekly until 40 ejaculates were obtained. After macroscopic and microscopic analysis, equal parts of each ejaculate were diluted with TB and TE by the one-step method at 37 °C. The semen was added to 0.5-mL French straws which presented normal characteristics before freezing and after thawing. Acrosomal integrity was evaluated by double Trypan blue-Giemsa staining, in which alive intact (LI), alive reacted (LR), dead intact (DI) and dead reacted (DR) spermatozoa, were identified by the time of thawing and up to 4 h of incubation at 39 °C, the TE being significantly superior to TB (P<0,01) in the LI and LR variables. The TB being significantly superior to TE (P<0,01) in the DR variable. Female dogs in natural heat were submitted to artificial insemination, 20 receiving TE-semen and 20 receiving TB-semen with the Osiris probe (IMV, L'Aigle, France) and the numbers indicate that TE was significantly better than TB (P<0,01) to pregnancy rate and number of puppies/delivery. We concluded from this study, that TE was better than TB, because this, induced an eady acrossome reaction in dog's sperm.

Analysis of culling probability in dairy buffalo using survival models

In order to contribute to the genetic breeding programs of buffaloes, this study aimed to determine the influence of environmental effects on the stayability (ST) of dairy female Murrah buffalo in the herd. Data from 1016 buffaloes were used. ST was defined as the ability of the female to remain in the herd for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 years after the first calving. Environmental effects were studied by survival analysis, adjusted to the fixed effects of farm, year and season of birth, class of first-lactation milk yield and age at first calving. The data were analyzed using the LIFEREG procedure of the SAS program that fits parametric models to failure time data (culling or ST = 0), and estimates parameters by maximum likelihood estimation. Breeding farm, year of birth and first-lactation milk yield significantly influenced (P < 0.0001) the ST to the specific ages (1 to 6 years after the first calving). Buffaloes that were older at first calving presented higher probabilities of being culled 1 year after the first calving, without any effect on culling at older ages. Buffaloes with a higher milk yield at first calving presented a lower culling probability and remained for a longer period of time in the herd. The effects of breeding farm, year of birth and first-lactation milk yield should be included in models used for the analysis of ST in buffaloes. Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2010.

Neither plasma progesterone concentrations nor exogenous eCG affects rates of ovulation or pregnancy in fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) protocols for puberal Nellore heifers

The objective was to evaluate the effects of plasma progesterone (P4) concentrations and exogenous eCG on ovulation and pregnancy rates of pubertal Nellore heifers in fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) protocols. In Experiment 1 (Exp. 1), on Day 0 (7 d after ovulation), heifers (n = 15) were given 2 mg of estradiol benzoate (EB) im and randomly allocated to receive: an intravaginal progesterone-releasing device containing 0.558 g of P4 (group 0.5G, n = 4); an intravaginal device containing 1 g of P4 (group 1G, n = 4); 0.558 g of P4 and PGF2α (PGF; 150 μg d-cloprostenol, group 0.5G/PGF, n = 4); or 1 g of P4 and PGF (group 1G/PGF, n = 3). On Day 8, PGF was given to all heifers and intravaginal devices removed; 24 h later (Day 9), all heifers were given 1 mg EB im. In Exp. 2, pubertal Nellore heifers (n = 292) were treated as in Exp. 1, with FTAI on Day 10 (30 to 36 h after EB). In Exp. 3, pubertal heifers (n = 459) received the treatments described for groups 0.5G/PGF and 1G/PGF and were also given 300 IU of eCG im (groups 0.5G/PGF/eCG and 1G/PGF/eCG) at device removal (Day 8). In Exp. 1, plasma P4 concentrations were significantly higher in heifers that received 1.0 vs 0.588 g P4, and were significantly lower in heifers that received PGF on Day 0. In Exp. 2 and 3, there were no significant differences among groups in rates of ovulation (65-77%) or pregnancy (Exp. 2: 26-33%; Exp. 3: 39-43%). In Exp. 3, diameter of the dominant ovarian follicle on Day 9 was larger in heifers given 0.558 g vs 1.0 g P4 (10.3 ± 0.2 vs 9.3 ± 0.2 mm; P < 0.01). In conclusion, lesser amounts of P4 in the intravaginal device or PGF on Day 0 decreased plasma P4 from Days 1 to 8 and increased diameter of the dominant follicle on Day 9. However, neither of these nor 300 IU of eCG on Day 8 significantly increased rates of ovulation or pregnancy. © 2011.

Equilibrium real exchange rates, misalignment and competitiveness in the Southern Cone

Includes bibliography

Methodology for DSC calibration in high heating rates

Despite the large use of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) technique in advanced polymer materials characterization, the new methodology called DSC in high heating rates was developed. The heating rate during conventional DSC experiments varying from 10 to 20°C.min-1, sample mass from 10 to 15mg and standard aluminum sample pan weighting, approximately, 27mg. In order to contribute to a better comprehension of DSC behavior in different heating rates, this work correlates as high heating rate influences to the thermal events in DSC experiments. Samples of metallic standard (In, Pb, Sn and Zn) with masses varying from 0.570mg to 20.9mg were analyzed in multiples sample heating rate from 4 to 324°C. min-1. In order to make properly all those experiments, a precise and careful temperature and enthalpy calibrations were performed and deeply discussed. Thus, this work shows a DSC methodology able to generate good and reliable results on experiments under any researcher choice heating rates to characterize the advanced materials used, for example, for aerospace industry. Also it helps the DSC users to find in their available instruments, already installed, a better and more accurate DSC test results, improving in just one shot the analysis sensitivity and resolution. Polypropylene melting and enthalpy thermal events are also studied using both the conventional DSC method and high heating rate method.

Survey methods, based on periodically repeated interviews, aimed at determining demographic rates

Includes bibliography

Los tipos de cambio duales y el desarrollo económico = Dual exchange rates and economic development

Publicado separadamente en cada idioma

United States interest rates, Latin American debt and financial contagion

Includes bibliography

High-density nanoparticle ceramic bodies: A study of heating rates in the sinterization of Gadolinium-doped Ceria

An investigation on the sinterization of Gd:CeO2 (Ce 0.85Gd0.15O1.9-δ ceramic system) 3-10 nm nanoparticles in pressed bodies was done. The heating rate was taken as a key parameter and two competing sinterization processes were identified, associated with different diffusional mechanisms. Using heating rates of 113 C min -1, a high-final density (98 % of the theoretical) was obtained by superposing the two aforementioned mechanisms, resulting in a homogeneous microstructure at lower temperatures. © 2012 Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, Hungary.

Mexico: what is the impact of monetary policy on unemployment rates?

Includes bibliography

Intensified peginterferon α-2a dosing increases sustained virologic response rates in heavy, high viral load hepatitis c genotype 1 patients with high low-density lipoprotein

BACKGROUND AND GOAL: Patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) with elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels achieve higher sustained virologic response (SVR) rates after peginterferon (PegIFN)/ribavirin treatment versus patients with lower LDL. Our aim was to determine whether SVR rates in patients with low/elevated LDL can be improved by dose intensification. STUDY: In PROGRESS, genotype 1 patients with baseline HCV RNA≥400,000 IU/mL and body weight ≥85 kg were randomized to 48 weeks of 180 μg/wk PegIFN α-2a (40 kDa) plus ribavirin (A: 1200 mg/d; B: 1400/1600 mg/d) or 12 weeks of 360 μg/wk PegIFN α-2a followed by 36 weeks of 180 μg/wk, plus ribavirin (C: 1200 mg/d; D: 1400/1600 mg/d). This retrospective analysis assessed SVR rates among patients with low (<100 mg/dL) or elevated (≥100 mg/dL) LDL. Patients with high LDL (n=256) had higher baseline HCV RNA (5.86×10 IU/mL) versus patients with low LDL (n=262; 4.02×10 IU/mL; P=0.0003). RESULTS: Multiple logistic regression analysis identified a significant interaction between PegIFN α-2a dose and LDL levels on SVR (P=0.0193). The only treatment-related SVR predictor in the nested multiple logistic regression was PegIFN α-2a dose among patients with elevated LDL (P=0.0074); therefore, data from the standard (A+B) and induction (C+D) dose arms were pooled. Among patients with low LDL, SVR rates were 40% and 35% in the standard and induction-dose groups, respectively; SVR rates in patients with high LDL were 44% and 60% (P=0.014), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Intensified dosing of PegIFN α-2a increases SVR rates in patients with elevated LDL even with the difficult-to-cure characteristics of genotype 1, high baseline viral load, and high body weight. Copyright © 2013 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.