Genome-wide association analysis identifies susceptibility loci for migraine without aura

Migraine without aura is the most common form of migraine, characterized by recurrent disabling headache and associated autonomic symptoms. To identify common genetic variants associated with this migraine type, we analyzed genome-wide association data of 2,326 clinic-based German and Dutch individuals with migraine without aura and 4,580 population-matched controls. We selected SNPs from 12 loci with 2 or more SNPs associated with P values of <1 x 10(-5) for replication testing in 2,508 individuals with migraine without aura and 2,652 controls. SNPs at two of these loci showed convincing replication: at 1q22 (in MEF2D; replication P = 4.9 x 10(-4); combined P = 7.06 x 10(-11)) and at 3p24 (near TGFBR2; replication P = 1.0 x 10(-4); combined P = 1.17 x 10(-9)). In addition, SNPs at the PHACTR1 and ASTN2 loci showed suggestive evidence of replication (P = 0.01; combined P = 3.20 x 10(-8) and P = 0.02; combined P = 3.86 x 10(-8), respectively). We also replicated associations at two previously reported migraine loci in or near TRPM8 and LRP1. This study identifies the first susceptibility loci for migraine without aura, thereby expanding our knowledge of this debilitating neurological disorder.

Genetic background of bipolar disorder and related cognitive impairments

Bipolar disorder (BP) is a complex psychiatric disorder characterized by episodes of mania and depression. BP affects approximately 1% of the world’s population and shows no difference in lifetime prevalence between males and females. BP arises from complex interactions among genetic, developmental and environmental factors, and it is likely that several predisposing genes are involved in BP. The genetic background of BP is still poorly understood, although intensive and long-lasting research has identified several chromosomal regions and genes involved in susceptibility to BP. This thesis work aims to identify the genetic variants that influence bipolar disorder in the Finnish population by candidate gene and genome-wide linkage analyses in families with many BP cases. In addition to diagnosis-based phenotypes, neuropsychological traits that can be seen as potential endophenotypes or intermediate traits for BP were analyzed. In the first part of the thesis, we examined the role of the allelic variants of the TSNAX/DISC1 gene cluster to psychotic and bipolar spectrum disorders and found association of distinct allelic haplotypes with these two groups of disorders. The haplotype at the 5’ end of the Disrupted-in-Schizophrenia-1 gene (DISC1) was over-transmitted to males with psychotic disorder (p = 0.008; for an extended haplotype p = 0.0007 with both genders), whereas haplotypes at the 3’ end of DISC1 associated with bipolar spectrum disorder (p = 0.0002; for an extended haplotype p = 0.0001). The variants of these haplotypes also showed association with different cognitive traits. The haplotypes at the 5’ end associated with perseverations and auditory attention, while the variants at the 3’ end associated with several cognitive traits including verbal fluency and psychomotor processing speed. Second, in our complete set of BP families with 723 individuals we studied six functional candidate genes from three distinct signalling systems: serotonin-related genes (SLC6A4 and TPH2), BDNF -related genes (BDNF, CREB1 and NTRK2) and one gene related to the inflammation and cytokine system (P2RX7). We replicated association of the functional variant Val66Met of BDNF with BP and better performance in retention. The variants at the 5’ end of SLC6A4 also showed some evidence of association among males (p = 0.004), but the widely studied functional variants did not yield any significant results. A protective four-variant haplotype on P2RX7 showed evidence of association with BP and executive functions: semantic and phonemic fluency (p = 0.006 and p = 0.0003, respectively). Third, we analyzed 23 bipolar families originating from the North-Eastern region of Finland. A genome-wide scan was performed using the 6K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array. We identified susceptibility loci at chromosomes 7q31 with a LOD score of 3.20 and at 9p13.1 with a LOD score of 4.02. We followed up both linkage findings in the complete set of 179 Finnish bipolar families. The finding on chromosome 9p13 was supported (maximum LOD score of 3.02), but the susceptibility gene itself remains unclarified. In the fourth part of the thesis, we wanted to test the role of the allelic variants that have associated with bipolar disorder in recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS). We could confirm findings for the DFNB31, SORCS2, SCL39A3, and DGKH genes. The best signal in this study comes from DFNB31, which remained significant after multiple testing corrections. Two variants of SORCS2 were allelic replications and presented the same signal as the haplotype analysis. However, no association was detected with the PALB2 gene, which was the most significantly associated region in the previous GWAS. Our results indicate that BP is heterogeneous and its genetic background may accordingly vary in different populations. In order to fully understand the allelic heterogeneity that underlies common diseases such as BP, complete genome sequencing for many individuals with and without the disease is required. Identification of the specific risk variants will help us better understand the pathophysiology underlying BP and will lead to the development of treatments with specific biochemical targets. In addition, it will further facilitate the identification of environmental factors that alter risk, which will potentially provide improved occupational, social and psychological advice for individuals with high risk of BP.

Steroids and related natural products. VIII. Synthesis of oxasteroids

Peroxydisulfuric acid oxidation of testosterone propionate, progesterone, and cholest-4-en-3-one has been shown to yield 3-oxo-17β-hydroxy-4-oxa-5α-androstane (I, after saponification), 3,20-dioxo-4-oxa-5α-pregnane (V) and 3-oxo-4-oxa-5α-cholestane (VII) respectively. Boron trifluoride etherate-lithium aluminum hydride reduction of δ-lactones I, V, and VII led to the corresponding tetrahydropyran derivatives (IIb, VIa, and VIII). Similar reduction of 3β-hydroxy-17-oxo-17a-oxa-D-homo-5α-androstane (XI) gave 3β-hydroxy-17a-oxa-D-homo-5α-androstane (XIIa). Diborane-boron trifluoride etherate was also found to reduce lactones to cyclic ethers, while reduction with diborane gave hemiacetals. Evidence in support of the structures and stereochemistry assigned to the lactones and their unusual reduction products has been summarized. A tentative mechanism is proposed for lactone → ether reduction employing diborane-boron trifluoride etherate.

Orbital evolution and orbital phase resolved spectroscopy of the HMXB pulsar 4U 1538-52 with RXTE-PCA and BeppoSAX

We report here results from detailed timing and spectral studies of the high mass X-ray binary pulsar 4U 1538-52 over several binary periods using observations made with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) and BeppoSAX satellites. Pulse timing analysis with the 2003 RXTE data over two binary orbits confirms an eccentric orbit of the system. Combining the orbitial parameters determined from this observation with the earlier measurements we did not find any evidence of orbital decay in this X-ray binary. We have carried out orbital phase resolved spectroscopy to measure changes in the spectral parameters with orbital phase, particularly the absorption column density and the iron line flux. The RXTE-PCA spectra in the 3-20 keV energy range were fitted with a power law and a high energy cut-off along with a Gaussian line at similar to 6.4 keV, whereas the BeppoSAX spectra needed only a power law and Gaussian emission line at similar to 6.4keV in the restricted energy range of 0.3-10.0 keV. An absorption along the line of sight was included for both the RXTE and BeppoSAX data. The variation of the free spectral parameters over the binary orbit was investigated and we found that the variation of the column density of absorbing material in the line of sight with orbital phase is in reasonable agreement with a simple model of a spherically symmetric stellar wind from the companion star.

A simple synthesis and characterization of CuS nanocrystals

Water-soluble CuS nanocrystals and nanorods were prepared by reacting copper acetate with thioacetamide in the presence of different surfactants and capping agents. The size of the nanocrystals varied from 3-20 nm depending on the reaction parameters such as concentration, temperature, solvent and the capping agents. The formation of nanocrystals was studied by using UV-visible absorption spectroscopy.

On formation, growth and concentrations of air ions

Aerosol particles have effect on climate, visibility, air quality and human health. However, the strength of which aerosol particles affect our everyday life is not well described or entirely understood. Therefore, investigations of different processes and phenomena including e.g. primary particle sources, initial steps of secondary particle formation and growth, significance of charged particles in particle formation, as well as redistribution mechanisms in the atmosphere are required. In this work sources, sinks and concentrations of air ions (charged molecules, cluster and particles) were investigated directly by measuring air molecule ionising components (i.e. radon activity concentrations and external radiation dose rates) and charged particle size distributions, as well as based on literature review. The obtained results gave comprehensive and valuable picture of the spatial and temporal variation of the air ion sources, sinks and concentrations to use as input parameters in local and global scale climate models. Newly developed air ion spectrometers (Airel Ltd.) offered a possibility to investigate atmospheric (charged) particle formation and growth at sub-3 nm sizes. Therefore, new visual classification schemes for charged particle formation events were developed, and a newly developed particle growth rate method was tested with over one year dataset. These data analysis methods have been widely utilised by other researchers since introducing them. This thesis resulted interesting characteristics of atmospheric particle formation and growth: e.g. particle growth may sometimes be suppressed before detection limit (~ 3 nm) of traditional aerosol instruments, particle formation may take place during daytime as well as in the evening, growth rates of sub-3 nm particles were quite constant throughout the year while growth rates of larger particles (3-20 nm in diameter) were higher during summer compared to winter. These observations were thought to be a consequence of availability of condensing vapours. The observations of this thesis offered new understanding of the particle formation in the atmosphere. However, the role of ions in particle formation, which is not well understood with current knowledge, requires further research in future.

Concentrations and loads of some metals and fluorine in the River Kokemäenjoki in 1975 and 1977

Tiivistelmä: Metallien ja fluorin pitoisuuksista ja määristä Kokemäenjoessa vuosina 1975—1977

Transformation of 16-dehydroprogesterone and 17?-hydroxyprogesterone by Mucor piriformis

Mucor piriformis was used to study the mode of transformation of 16-dehydroprogesterone (I, pregna-4, 16-diene-3, 20-dione) and 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (II, 17 alpha-hydroxypregn-4-ene-3, 20-dione). Biotransformation products formed from I were 14 alpha-hydroxypregna-4, 16-diene-3, 20-dione (Ia), 7 alpha, 14 alpha-dihydroxypregna-4 16-diene-3, 20-dione (Ib), 3 beta, 7 alpha, 14 alpha-trihydroxy-5 alpha-pregn-16-en-20-one (Ic), and 3 alpha, 7 alpha, 14 alpha-trihydroxy-5 alpha-pregn-16-en-20-one (Id). Metabolites Ic and Id appear to be hitherto unknown. Timecourse studies suggested that the transformation is initiated by hydroxylation at the 14 alpha-position (Ia) followed by hydroxylation at the 7 alpha-position (Ib). Microsomes (105,000 g sediment) prepared from 16-dehydroprogesterone-induced cells hydroxylate I to its 14 alpha-hydroxy derivative (Ia) in the presence of NADPH. Incubation of Ia with the organism resulted in the formation of Ib, Ic and Id. Biotransformation products formed from compound II were 17 alpha, 20 alpha-dihydroxypregn-4-en-3-one (IIa), 7 alpha, 17 alpha-dihydroxypregn-4-ene-3, 20-dione (IIb), 6 beta, 17 alpha, 20 alpha-trihydroxypregn-4-en-3-one (IIc) and 11 alpha, 17 alpha, 20 alpha-trihydroxypregn-4-en-3-one (IId). Time-course studies indicated that IIa is the initial product formed, which is further hydroxylated either at the 6 beta or 11 alpha position. Incubation of IIa with the organism resulted in the formation of IIc and IId. Reduction of the 4-en-3-one system and 20-keto group has not been observed before in organisms of the order Mucorales. In addition, M. piriformis has been shown to carry out hydroxylation at the C-6, C-7, C-11 and C-14 positions in the steroid molecules tested.

SuSeFLAV 1.2: Program for supersymmetric mass spectra with seesaw mechanism and rare lepton flavor violating decays

Accurate supersymmetric spectra are required to confront data from direct and indirect searches of supersymmetry. SuSeFLAV is a numerical tool capable of computing supersymmetric spectra precisely for various supersymmetric breaking scenarios applicable even in the presence of flavor violation. The program solves MSSM RGEs with complete 3 x 3 flavor mixing at 2-loop level and one loop finite threshold corrections to all MSSM parameters by incorporating radiative electroweak symmetry breaking conditions. The program also incorporates the Type-I seesaw mechanism with three massive right handed neutrinos at user defined mass scales and mixing. It also computes branching ratios of flavor violating processes such as l(j) -> l(i)gamma, l(j) -> 3 l(i), b -> s gamma and supersymmetric contributions to flavor conserving quantities such as (g(mu) - 2). A large choice of executables suitable for various operations of the program are provided. Program summary Program title: SuSeFLAV Catalogue identifier: AEOD_v1_0 Program summary URL: http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/summaries/AEOD_v1_0.html Program obtainable from: CPC Program Library, Queen's University, Belfast, N. Ireland Licensing provisions: GNU General Public License No. of lines in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 76552 No. of bytes in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 582787 Distribution format: tar.gz Programming language: Fortran 95. Computer: Personal Computer, Work-Station. Operating system: Linux, Unix. Classification: 11.6. Nature of problem: Determination of masses and mixing of supersymmetric particles within the context of MSSM with conserved R-parity with and without the presence of Type-I seesaw. Inter-generational mixing is considered while calculating the mass spectrum. Supersymmetry breaking parameters are taken as inputs at a high scale specified by the mechanism of supersymmetry breaking. RG equations including full inter-generational mixing are then used to evolve these parameters up to the electroweak breaking scale. The low energy supersymmetric spectrum is calculated at the scale where successful radiative electroweak symmetry breaking occurs. At weak scale standard model fermion masses, gauge couplings are determined including the supersymmetric radiative corrections. Once the spectrum is computed, the program proceeds to various lepton flavor violating observables (e.g., BR(mu -> e gamma), BR(tau -> mu gamma) etc.) at the weak scale. Solution method: Two loop RGEs with full 3 x 3 flavor mixing for all supersymmetry breaking parameters are used to compute the low energy supersymmetric mass spectrum. An adaptive step size Runge-Kutta method is used to solve the RGEs numerically between the high scale and the electroweak breaking scale. Iterative procedure is employed to get the consistent radiative electroweak symmetry breaking condition. The masses of the supersymmetric particles are computed at 1-loop order. The third generation SM particles and the gauge couplings are evaluated at the 1-loop order including supersymmetric corrections. A further iteration of the full program is employed such that the SM masses and couplings are consistent with the supersymmetric particle spectrum. Additional comments: Several executables are presented for the user. Running time: 0.2 s on a Intel(R) Core(TM) i5 CPU 650 with 3.20 GHz. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A Bottom-Up Approach toward Fabrication of Ultrathin PbS Sheets

Two-dimensional (2D) sheets are currently in the spotlight of nanotechnology owing to high-performance device fabrication possibilities. Building a free-standing quantum sheet with controlled morphology is challenging when large planar geometry and ultranarrow thickness are simultaneously concerned. Coalescence of nanowires into large single-crystalline sheet is a promising approach leading to large, molecularly thick 2D sheets with controlled planar morphology. Here we report on a bottom-up approach to fabricate high-quality ultrathin 2D single crystalline sheets with well-defined rectangular morphology via collective coalescence of PbS nanowires. The ultrathin sheets are strictly rectangular with 1.8 nm thickness, 200-250 nm width, and 3-20 mu m length. The sheets show high electrical conductivity at room and cryogenic temperatures upon device fabrication. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that a single row of delocalized orbitals of a nanowire is gradually converted into several parallel conduction channels upon sheet formation, which enable superior in-plane carrier conduction.

Superior Performance of a MoS2-RGO Composite and a Borocarbonitride in the Electrochemical Detection of Dopamine, Uric Acid and Adenine

A MoS2-RGO composite and borocarbonitride (BC5N) have been used as electrodes to selectively detect dopamine and uric acid in the presence of ascorbic acid. Both the electrodes show excellent eletrocatalytic activity towards the detection of dopamine, the detection limits being 0.55 mu M and 2.1 mu M in the case of MoS2-RGO and BCN respectively. MoS2-RGO shows a linear range of current over the 1-110 mu M concentrations of dopamine, while BCN shows over the 2.3-20 mu M range. BCN also exhibits satisfactory performance in the oxidation of uric acid with a detection limit of 3.8 mu M and the linear range from 4 to 40 mu M. The MoS2-RGO has also been used to detect adenine as well.

Potential source identification for aerosol concentrations over a site in Northwestern India

The collocated measurements of aerosols size distribution (ASD) and aerosol optical thickness (AOT) are analyzed simultaneously using Grimm aerosol spectrometer and MICROTOP II Sunphotometer over Jaipur, capital of Rajasthan in India. The contrast temperature characteristics during winter and summer seasons of year 2011 are investigated in the present study. The total aerosol number concentration (TANC, 0.3-20 mu m) during winter season was observed higher than in summer time and it was dominated by fine aerosol number concentration (FANC < 2 mu m). Particles smaller than 0.8 mu m (at aerodynamic size) constitute similar to 99% of all particles in winter and similar to 90% of particles in summer season. However, particles greater than 2 mu m contribute similar to 3% and similar to 0.2% in summer and winter seasons respectively. The aerosols optical thickness shows nearly similar AOT values during summer and winter but corresponding low Angstrom Exponent (AE) values during summer than winter, respectively. In this work, Potential Source Contribution Function (PSCF) analysis is applied to identify locations of sources that influenced concentrations of aerosols over study area in two different seasons. PSCF analysis shows that the dust particles from That Desert contribute significantly to the coarse aerosol number concentration (CANC). Higher values of the PSCF in north from Jaipur showed the industrial areas in northern India to be the likely sources of fine particles. The variation in size distribution of aerosols during two seasons is clearly reflected in the log normal size distribution curves. The log normal size distribution curves reveals that the particle size less than 0.8 pm is the key contributor in winter for higher ANC. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Efecto del momento de fertilización, posición de la yema y sustratos en tres clones de quequisque (Xanthosoma sagittifolium (L) Schott) propagados a través de la técnica de reproducción acelerada de semillas

El presente estudio se realizó con el objetivo de determinar el efecto que ejercen la posición de la yema, el momento de fertilización y sustrato sobre la velocidad de brotación y el crecimiento de las plantas de los genotipos de quequisque (Xanthosoma sagittifolium (L.) Schott): Blanco (Bco), Masaya (My) y Nueva Guinea (NG) propagados a través de la técnica de reproducción acelerada de semillas - CRAS, además se pretendió contribuir en la definición de una metodología para la propagación rápida y masiva de plantas a través de esta técnica. Los estudios se llevaron a cabo en canteros con dimensiones de 4.75 m de largo por 1.3 m de ancho, con una capa de 5 cm de hormigón rojo y otra de 15 crn de arena y en bolsas de polietileno para vivero (0.91 kg). Se establecieron tres ensayos bifactoriales siguiendo el arreglo de diseños completos al azar (DCA): posición de la yema (hacia abajo y hacia arriba); momento de fertilización (sin fertilización -testigo-; con fertilizaciones a los 15 dds, 30 dds y 45 dds; a los 30 y 45 dds; y a los O, 15, 30 y 45 dds); y sustratos (arena, humus, suelo; 1:1 humus-suelo; 1:1:2 arena-humus-suelo). Se evaluaron las variables altura de planta (cm), grosor del pseudotallo (cm), número de hojas y área foliar (cm2 . A los datos numéricos de las variables se les realizó un análisis de varianza (ANDEVA). Las yemas colocadas hacia abajo registraron una velocidad de brotación estadísticamente superior (8.15 cm) a la registrada por las yemas colocadas hacia arriba (5.92 cm), independientemente del genotipo. El quequisque Bco, sin importar la posición de la yema, brotó más rápido (8.36 cm) que los otros genotipos; el genotipo My lo hizo más lentamente (5.16 cm). Los genotipos donde se fertilizó a los 30 y 45 dds obtuvieron resultados estadísticamente superiores en todas las variables (Bco 23.21, My 15.23 y NG 22.86 cm de altura). El testigo (sin fertilización) obtuvo los resultados más discretos (Bco 8.71, My 13.83 y NG 14.25 cm de altura). Ningún genotipo prevaleció en todas las variables evaluadas, sin embargo, el genotipo NG registró los resultados más sobresalientes. Las combinaciones más destacadas en las interacciones genotipo - fertilización fueron el clon Bco y NG fertilizadas a los 30 y 45 dds (23.21 y 22.86 cm de altura respectivamente); el testigo y la fertilización aplicada a los O, 15, 30 y 45 dds en combinación con los tres genotipos reportaron los resultados más bajos. Las plantas de los genotipos Bco (27.98 cm de altura) y My (25.65 cm de altura) desarrolladas en humus registraron valores estadísticamente superiores. En los sustratos arena (Bco 9.82 y My 11.59 cm de altura) y suelo (Bco 16.29 y My 3.20 cm de altura) se obtuvieron plantas con los valores más bajos en las variables evaluadas. En las interacciones, el genotipo Blanco reportó los mayores valores (altura 19.5 cm, grosor 1.13 cm y área foliar 122 cm 2 coincidiendo con los dos ensayos anteriores

Evaluación agronómica con enfoque agroecológico en un sistema diversificado de guayaba (Psidium guajava L.), nopal (Opuntia ficus L.), piña (Ananas comosus L.) y papaya (carica papaya L.) utilizando vermicompost, Managua, Nicaragua, 2009-2011

Con el propósito de responder a preguntas de orden nutricional y biológico del suelo con un enfoque agroecológico se desarrolló el presente trabajo, en un terreno calcáreo, no salino, que permaneció en barbecho cinco años antes de iniciado el estudio. Se evaluó la implementación de una diversificación de cultivos (guayaba, nopal, piña y papaya) y tres dosis de vermicompost (a 1 :10, a 2 :15 y a 3 :20 t (ha año) - 1 . La investigación se inició en mayo del 2009 hasta diciembre del 2011 y el diseño usado fue cuasiexperimental en franjas pareadas. Las características físicas - químicas de suelo analizadas fueron: pH en H 2 O, materia orgánica , N, arena, limo y arcilla en %; P disponible, Fe, Cu, Mn y Zn en ppm; K disponible, Ca y Mg en meq, conductividad eléctrica en μS/cm y la relación C/N. Desde el punto de vista biológico del suelo se determinaron presencia de hongos, bacterias y actinomicetos. Antes de iniciar el estudio en 2009, y durante el ensayo, se determinaron las variables físicas, químicas y biológicas del suelo. Para la interpretación agronómica de la nutrición para cada cultivo se hizo un análisis combinado entre los resultados de las propiedades físico - químicas y los rangos definidos para cada cultivo por la metodología propuesta por Quintana (1983) . La diversificación de cultivos, influyó sobre las propiedades físicas, químicas y biológicas del suelo. En el cultivo de guayaba si se aplica 20 t (ha año) - 1 hay que realizar aplicaciones suplementarias de Cu. Aplicaciones de a 1 y a 2 en nopal y papaya respectivamente, además de aplicaciones complementarias de Cu, también necesitan suplemento de P. Sin efecto antropogénico los microorganismos que predominaron fueron bacterias del género Bacillus y esporádicamente Pseudomona y Sarcina . Con la diversificación de cultivos y aplicaciones de vermicompost se incrementó la diversidad de géneros de microorganismos. El total de géneros de microorganismos, al concluir el estudio fueron 13; de éstos 10 fueron diferentes (Cinco hongos: Curvularia, A spergillus, Pestalotia, Fusarium, Penicillium ; cuatro bacterias: Serratia, Erwinia, Sporolactobacillus y Caryophanon y un actinomiceto: Streptomyces). Variables del crecimiento en el cultivo de guayaba demostraron que con un mayor número de ramas terciarias existe un 70 % de probabilidad de tener más frutos comerciales. En nopal, el tratamiento con los mejores resultados para variables del crecimiento es 15 t (ha año) - 1 cosechado cada 90 días. Para piña, se encontró resultados superiores con 10 t (ha año) - 1 . Papaya obtuvo los mejores resultados con 20 t (ha año) - 1 . Con el cultivo de guayaba el mejor rendimiento se alcanzó utilizando 20 t (ha año) - 1 . En nopal un mayor número de cladodios se alcanza aplicando 15 t (ha año) - 1 cosechado cada 30 días. Un mayor peso en el cladodio se obtiene al aplicar 20 t (ha año) - 1 , cosechado cada 90 días. La piña obtiene mayor número de frutos aplicando 15 t (ha año) - 1 . En el cultivo de papaya un mayor número de frutos cosechados fue alcanzado con 15 - 20 t (ha año) - 1.

Influencia de la fertilización edáfica NPK sobre el comportamiento agronómico del cultivo de la cebolla (Allium cepa L.) cv. Toro white en el valle de Sebaco

Se realizó un estudio sobre fertilización N-P_K en el cultivo de cebolla (Allium cepaL) cv Tcro White, en terrenos de la cooperativa “Leonel Valdivia del Valle de Sebaco, entre los meses de Noviembre 1989- Marzo 1986, con el objetivo de determinar que tratamiento induce el mejor comportamiento agronómico y produce la mejor relación beneficio coste. Se estudiaron cuatro niveles de Nitrógeno (0, 50,y 150 kg /ha) tres de fosforo (0,50 y 100 kg/ha), y tres de potasio (3,20 y 40 kg/ha). Para el análisis estadístico de los datos se utilizó un diseño de bloques Completos al azar con cuatro repeticiones, los tratamientos evaluados se obtuvieron mediante un arreglo combinatorio de un trifactorial modificado. Se determinó que el tratamiento 100-100-20 kilogramos por hectárea de Nitrógeno, Fosforo y potasio respectivamente presentó la mejor estabilidad, ya que siempre indujo a obtener respuesta agronómicas, además de producir la mejor relación beneficio consto obteniendo un ingreso neto de C$ 1.158.188.6/ha con una tasa de retorno marginal de C$ 10.45 por cada córdoba invertido.