bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of Environmental Conditions on the Susceptibility of the Territories to the Occurence of Forest Fires
Authors: Pasko Olga Anatolievna , Kovyazin Vasily Fedorovich , Lebedeva Nadezhda Anatolyevna
Published: October 2019

The chapter describes the conditions of predisposition of territories to the emergence of forest fires on different continents of the world. Information on the types of forest fires and the characteristics of burning materials is given. Human and economic losses from the forest fires and other emergencies (earthquake, flood) are compared. The causes of forest fires and their dynamics in Europe, USA, Canada, Southeast Asia, and Russia are given in this chapter. An analysis of the factors of their occurrence is given. Forest fires in the Russian Federation, where they annually cover large areas, have been studied in detail. The dynamics of the burning of Russian forests in the regions and administrative districts of the Tomsk region is considered. The causes of fire emergence is revealed. The forecast of forest fires is given and zoning of forest areas of the region as for fire danger is carried out. The research identifies the role of natural conditions in the occurrence of forest fires at various territorial levels (continents, countries, regions, areas).
Editorial
Authors: Marambe Buddhi
Published: October 2019

No abstract available
Influence of flag leaf characteristics on pollen sterility of rice (Oryza sativa L.) under heat stress
Authors: Silva L. C. , Dharshana H. G. B. P. , Weerakoon W. M. W. , Dissanayake D. M. D.
Published: October 2019

Late flowering-affected spikelet sterility was found in dry zone of Sri Lanka. It was defined as a combination effect of air temperature and relative humidity at anthesis. It is considered important to develop mitigation options to avoid temperature stress. Therefore, the impact of some phenotypic markers on pollen sterility was studied. This paper highlights flag leaf characteristics regulate the direct sunlight penetration and augment the spikelet surface temperature. A field trial was conducted at the Field Crops Research and Development Institute, Mahailluppallama, Sri Lanka during 2013/14 and 2014/15 Maha seasons (main cultivating season; October to February). Due to water shortage, this experiment was not conducted in the Yala season (March to September). A split plot design was adopted with early and late planting as a main factor and two rice (Oryza sativa L) varieties (Bg358 and Bg366) and two rice lines (Bg3171 and Bw03-1198) as a sub factor, in a two factor factorial arrangement. Flag leaf characters at late booting stage, daily maximum air temperature and relative humidity during anthesis were recorded. Spikelet surface temperature and pollen sterility were recorded throughout the flowering period. Spikelet temperature changed with air temperature. While synchronizing high temperature in late flowering, the spikelet temperature increased. However, significant temperature changes were occurred only in 2014/15 Maha season. Pollen sterility was affected by late planting with genotypic variations. Flag leaf length and area correlated (R2 = -0.79 and -0.78 for pollen fertility and -0.74 and -0.75 for spikelet temperature) with spikelet surface temperature and pollen sterility. The best combinations of flag leaf characters to obtain the maximum canopy cooling with lesser spikelet temperature in 85 cm2 of flag area and 55.0 cm of flag leaf length. Therefore, it is better to select rice varieties having longer flag leaf than panicle with lesser leaf temperature for variety development programmes aimed at temperature stress.
Labour productivity in agriculture: a case from Sri Lanka and some food for thoughts
Authors: Marambe Buddhi
Published: October 2019

No abstract available
Identifying sustainable and efficient broiler farms in the light of energy use efficiency and GHG emission reduction: data envelopment analysis approach
Authors: Sadiq M. S. , Singh I. P. , Lawal M.
Published: October 2019

This study used a non-parametric method in determining the efficiency of farmers, discriminate efficient farmers from inefficient ones, identify wasteful uses of energy in order to optimize the energy inputs for broiler production, investigate the effect of energy optimization on greenhouse gas (GHG) emission and the actual total amount of GHG emission compared to the optimum quantity. A total sample size of 55 broiler farmers were selected from Kaduna State of Nigeria through a multi-stage sampling technique. Total energy used in various operations during broiler production was 77916.14 MJ (500 birds)-1. Results revealed that 63% of producers were technically efficient, while 43 producers under pure technical efficiency (PTE) were identified as efficient (79.6%). The mean values of technical efficiency (TE), PTE and scale efficiency (SE) of farmers were observed to be 0.976; 0.993 and 0.983, respectively. Further, 1.38% [1071.54 MJ (500 birds)-1] of overall input energies can be saved if the performance of inefficient farms rose to a high level. The study concludes that the total GHG emission can be reduced to the value of 981.08 Kg CO2eq by energy optimization.
Sources of crop production instability in Rajasthan State, India
Authors: Sadiq M. S. , Singh I. P. , Lawal M.
Published: October 2019

An empirical investigation was conducted on the sources of crop production instability in Rajasthan State, India. Time series data spanning from 1994-2015 (post-green revolution) viz. area, yield and production of 17 crops produced in 27 potential districts and the state were used and meticulously analyzed using Coefficient of Variation and Hazell technique. Results indicated high variability/fluctuation in yield to be the major cause of production instability in all the kharif crops and some rabi crops viz. wheat and mustard. On the contrary, high instability in area was the major source of production instability for crops viz. taramira, gram, barley, cumin and coriander. Performance of kharif crops were poor in general, as the production and productivity of crops were observed to be declining. Therefore, location specific technology development is needed in order to give higher yield even in adverse weather condition, along with price support, which would eventually expand the production. Rabi crops performed better; as well their production increase was contributed by increased area and yields. However, this performance was subjected to high instability in both area and yields. Technological inputs viz. seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and location-specific production technologies, timely and assured electricity supply were important factors that will minimize instability, thus, further increase in production. Furthermore, creation of other infrastructural facilities like irrigation is imperative to increase acreage and production stability.
Regulatory T Cell Transmigration and Intravascular Migration Undergo Mechanistically Distinct Regulation at Different Phases of the Inflammatory Response
Authors: Snelgrove Sarah L. , Abeynaike Latasha D. , Thevalingam Sukarnan , Deane James A. , Hickey Michael J.
Published: October 2019

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play important roles in limiting inflammatory responses in the periphery. During these responses, Treg abundance in affected organs increases and interfering with their recruitment results in exacerbation of inflammation. However, the mechanisms whereby Tregs enter the skin remain poorly understood. The aim of this study was to use intravital microscopy to investigate adhesion and transmigration of Tregs in the dermal microvasculature in a two-challenge model of contact sensitivity. Using intravital confocal microscopy of Foxp3-GFP mice, we visualized endogenous Tregs and assessed their interactions in the dermal microvasculature. Four hours after hapten challenge, Tregs underwent adhesion with ∼25% of these cells proceeding to transmigration, a process dependent on CCR4. At 24 h, Tregs adhered but no longer underwent transmigration, instead remaining in prolonged contact with the endothelium, migrating over the endothelial surface. Four hours after a second challenge, Treg transmigration was restored, although in this case transmigration was CCR4 independent, instead involving the CCR6/CCL20 pathway. Notably, at 24 h but not 4 h after challenge, endothelial cells expressed MHC class II (MHC II). Moreover, at this time of peak MHC II expression, inhibition of MHC II reduced Treg adhesion, demonstrating an unexpected role for MHC II in Treg attachment to the endothelium. Together these data show that Treg adhesion and transmigration can be driven by different molecular mechanisms at different stages of an Ag-driven inflammatory response. In addition, Tregs can undergo prolonged migration on the inflamed endothelium.
In vitro haemostatic effect of amphibian crude skin secretions in rabbit blood plasma
Authors: Udovychenko Iryna , Dudkina Yuliia , Oliinyk Denys , Oskyrko Oleksandra , Marushchak Oleksii , Halenova Tetiana , Savchuk Olexii
Published: October 2019

In this research we have studied whether the amphibian crude skin secretions can modify some parameters of haemostatic system. We prepared the samples of crude skin secretions of Bombina bombina, Bombina variegata, Bufo bufo, and Bufotes viridis and investigated the plasma clotting function in vitro by performing activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), prothrombin time and thrombin time (TT) assays. The data indicate that the components of B. bombina and B. variegata skin secretions significantly prolonged aPTT clotting time, while the components of B. viridis skin secretions prolonged the time of plug formation in TT. The proteolytic activity and the ability of the skin secretions components to activate plasma proenzymes were assayed in vitro using synthetic chromogenic substrates. The components of B. variegata skin secretions cleaved all studied chromogenic substrates, whereas the B. viridis secretions intensively cleaved thrombin specific substrate and protein C specific substrate. The components of B. bombina and B. bufo skin secretions activated prothrombin and protein C in plasma. The components of B. variegata, B. bufo and B. viridis skin secretions in a dosedependent manner induced platelet aggregation.
’n Opname na die effektiwiteit van fisioterapeutiese behandelingsmetodes vir skouergewrigtoestande
Authors: Genis E.
Published: October 2019

A RECORD OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PHYSIOTHERAPEUTIC TREATMENT METHODS FOR SHOULDER JOINT CONDITIONS. In this project the results of two methods of physiotherapeutic treatment for shoulder pathology are compared. Two groups of patients were treated. Group A with passive mobilisation techniques according to Maitland and Group B with active exercises, ultrasound and transverse frictions. The results indicate that passive mobilisation is a more effective method of treatment than the conservative methods.
Коммутирующие однородные локально нильпотентные дифференцирования
Authors: Matveev Dmitry Aleksandrovich
Published: October 2019

Пусть $X$ - аффинное алгебраическое многообразие с действием алгебраического тора $\mathbb T$ сложности 1. Известно, что однородные локально нильпотентные дифференцирования алгебры регулярных функций $\mathbb K[X]$ допускают описание в терминах собственного полиэдрального дивизора на кривой, отвечающего $\mathbb T$-многообразию $X$. В работе получены комбинаторные критерии коммутирования для пары однородных локально нильпотентных дифференцирований. Эти результаты использованы для изучения действий двумерной унипотентной группы на аффинных $\mathbb T$-многообразиях.
Библиография: 10 названий.
Scattering matrices of mineral dust aerosols: a refinement of the
refractive index impact
Authors: Huang Yifan , Liu Chao , Yin Yan , Bi Lei
Published: October 2019

Abstract. Dust, as one of the most important aerosols, plays a crucial role in the atmosphere by directly scattering and absorbing solar and infrared radiation, while there are significant uncertainties in determining dust optical properties to quantify radiative effects and to retrieve their properties. Both laboratory and in situ measurements show variations in dust refractive indices (RIs), and different RIs have been applied in different numerical studies of model developments, aerosol retrievals, and radiative forcing simulations. This study reveals the importance of the dust RI for the model development of its optical properties. The Koch-fractal polyhedron is used as the modeled geometry, and the pseudo-spectral time domain method and improved geometric-optics method are combined to cover optical property simulations over the entire size range. Our results indicate that the scattering matrix elements of different kinds of dust particles can be reasonably reproduced by choosing appropriate RIs even using a fixed particle geometry. The uncertainty of the RI would greatly affect the determination of the geometric model, as a change in the RI, even in the widely accepted RI range, strongly affects the appropriate shape parameters to reproduce the measured dust phase matrix elements. A further comparison shows that the RI influences the scattering matrix elements differently from geometric factors, and, more specifically, the P11, P12, and P22 elements seem more sensitive to dust RI. In summary, more efforts should be devoted to account for the uncertainties on the dust RI in modeling its optical properties, and the development of corresponding optical models can potentially be simplified by considering only variations over different RIs. Considerably more research, especially from direct measurements, should be carried out to better constrain the uncertainties related to the dust aerosol RIs.
AN AEROSOL LIDAR DATA VISUALIZATION METHOD BASED ON ARCGIS
Authors: Shu C. , Zhao H. , Zhang H. L. , Wang X. K. , Liu Y. P.
Published: October 2019

Abstract. The geographical information, temporal and spatial distribution of pollution sources cannot be accurately described by the traditional aerosol lidar inversion data. In order to accurately locate the pollution sources and monitor the spatial and temporal distribution of pollutants, an aerosol lidar data visualization method based on ArcGIS is proposed in this paper. A natural neighborhood method is used to perform group interpolation on ArcGIS software, and the range range-extinction coefficient relationship diagram is plotted using the aerosol optical data obtained from Klett inversion algorithm. The geographic information is added to the lidar inversion data in this diagram. The aerosol spatial and temporal distribution range and the direction of aerosol diffusion are accurately displayed directly. The change of aerosol concentration is plotted in different colors, the visually displaying the concentration of pollutants in the detection area is realized. The aerosol detection data in the sunny and haze days in Yinchuan are visualized in this paper. The result shows that this method can quickly determine the geographical location of pollution sources and visualize the spatial and temporal distribution of aerosols. This method can be used to display aerosol data with geographic information for meteorological and environmental protection departments. This method can provide data support for meteorological and environmental protection departments to quickly determine the location and concentration of pollution sources.
ALBEDO RETRIEVING FROM DSCOVR/EPIC DATA AND PRELIMINARY VALIDATION
Authors: Tian Q. Y. , Liu Q. , Zhang H. W. , Che Y. H. , Wen Y. N. , Shi Z. , Guang J.
Published: October 2019

Abstract. Land surface albedo plays an important role in climate change research. Satellite remote sensing has the characteristic of wide observation range, and it can make repeated observations on the same area. Therefore, using the remote sensing data to retrieve surface albedo becomes a main method to obtain the surface albedo in a wide range or even on a global scale. However, the time resolution of existing albedo products is usually low, which has a great impact on the analysis of rapid changes in surface vegetation and the climate change research. The Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) was launched to a sun-earth first Lagrange point (L1) orbit, which is a new and unique vantage point to observe the continuously full, sunlit disk of Earth. DSCOVR can provide observation data with high time resolution, therefore, it is necessary to explore the feasibility of the new sensor DSCOVR/EPIC inversion of the daily albedo product. The relationship between the surface broadband albedo and the surface reflectance was established, and then the surface albedo with high temporal resolution was calculated using the DSCOVR/EPIC data. The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and parts of the Sahara Desert were selected to verify the accuracy of DSCOVR albedo compared with MODIS albedo. The results show that the correlation coefficients between DSCOVR albedo and MODIS albedo are greater than 0.7 and RMSE are less than 0.05 both in visible band and shortwave band. It can be seen that this method can be used for the albedo retrieval using DSCOVR/EPIC data.
EXPLORING LAND COVER EFFECTS ON URBAN AIR QUALITY: A CASE OF 659 DISTRICTS IN INDIA
Authors: Gao W. W. , Bai L. Y. , Feng J. Z. , Cao D. , Cui M. R. , Li Z. W. , Duan C. Y.
Published: October 2019

Abstract. Land use and land cover changes (LUCC) affects the atmospheric environment directly or indirectly. Therefore, understanding the atmospheric response to LUCC is of great significance to maintain and improve the ecological environment. In this study, based on fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and LC products, we first compared the differences of PM2.5 between urban and surrounding areas, and then further investigated the variations of PM2.5 in different and land cover (LC) using Mann-Kendall (MK) test and Sen’s trend analysis approach at the district-level in India during 1998–2015. The results showed that the numbers of districts where the differences of PM2.5 (DPM2.5) between urban and the surrounding areas were greater than zero were increasing during 1998–2015. There is an upward trendency of annual mean PM2.5. The annual mean PM2.5 was higher than 40 μg/m3 in 58% of India’s areas where there were mainly located in the Ganges plains of northern India with cropland (L01) and urban areas (L07). The annual mean PM2.5 was less than 10 μg/m3 were mainly found in north-western India with permanent ice and snow (L10), accounting for 10% of India’s area. There are significant positive trends of PM2.5 concentration in 90% of cropland (L01) and 88% of urban area (L07) and the average slope were 0.83 μg/m3 and 0.82 μg/m3 respectively, which were higher than those in the rest of LC. This research serves as the basis of reference for the equitable allocation of land resources and restructuring of land use and land cover patterns in urban areas of India that severely affected by air pollution.
IMPACT OF TIBETAN PLATEAU SNOW COVER ON ABRUPT INTERDECADAL PRECIPITATION CHANGE OVER THE INDOCHINA PENINSULA IN THE MID-1990S
Authors: Ha Y. , Zhu Y. M. , Hu Y. J. , Zhong Z.
Published: October 2019

Abstract. Abrupt interdecadal changes in summer precipitation (May – September) over the Indochina Peninsula in the past 40 years have been investigated based on the NCEP-NCAR reanalysis product over 1979–2013 and multiple precipitation datasets. The mechanism for the abrupt change is explored. Results indicate that an abrupt interdecadal change in summer precipitation over the Indochina Peninsula occurred in the middle 1990s, and the annual mean summer precipitation during 1994–2002 increased by about 10% compared to that during 1982–1993. The most significant precipitation change occurred in the central and northern peninsula. Further analysis reveals that the interdecadal decrease in snow cover over the Tibetan Plateau in the winter and spring contributed to the summer precipitation increase over the Indochina Peninsula. The decrease in snow cover over the Tibetan Plateau actually increased the thermal contrast between the Tibetan Plateau and the tropical Indian Ocean-northwestern Pacific, leading to intensified summer monsoon over the northwestern Pacific and the South China Sea. As a result, westerly anomalies occurred from the Bay of Bengal to the northwestern Pacific, while anomalous cyclonic circulation prevailed in the upper levels above East Asia. Correspondingly, the western Pacific subtropical high weakened and shifted eastward. Under the joint effects of the above circulation patterns, the atmosphere became wetter in the Indochina Peninsula and summer precipitation increased. Results of the present study provide a theoretical basis for the prediction of long-term summer precipitation change in the Indochina Peninsula.
A SCATTERING SIMULATION MODEL FOR NONSPHERICAL AEROSOL PARTICLES BASED ON PARALLEL FDTD SCHEME
Authors: Hu S. , Liu L. , Gao T. C. , Zhang T. , Chen M.
Published: October 2019

Abstract. In order to simulate the scattering properties of nonspherical aerosol particles in visible and near infrared band precisely and efficiently, a scattering computation model for aerosol particles based on parallel FDTD (Finite Difference Time Domain) is developed. The basic principle of FDTD is introduced, and a new parallel computation scheme for FDTD is proposed, and is realized by MPI repeated non-blocking communication technique. The FDTD scattering model is validated against Lorenz-Mie theory and T Matrix method. Simulation results show that, the scattering properties obtained parallel FDTD scattering model are qualitatively in good agreement with the T matrix method and Lorenz-Mie theory, validating the accuracy of our model. The relative simulation error of Mueller is slightly larger in forward scattering directions than that in backward directions for particles with small size parameter, while for large particles, the result is opposite.
Le roman contre la barbarie : récits d’un engagement pour le vivre ensemble dans la littérature marocaine d’expression française de la Nouvelle Génération
Authors: HOUDZI Ahmed Aziz
Published: October 2019

Cet article tente de montrer que le roman marocain de la nouvelle génération est marqué, tant sur le plan thématique que formel, par un désir de dévoilement, c’est-à-dire, d’une part, par le souci permanent de mettre des mots sur les entraves qui sabordent les tentatives de construction de « l’éthos d’un vivre ensemble démocratique. » et, d’autre part, par la volonté de mener une réflexion approfondie sur les dérives qui pourraient éventuellement résulter de cette impasse. La mise en fiction des mutations sociales et des tensions politiques et religieuses fait des romanciers marocains, non seulement, des observateurs attentifs de leur propre société, mais aussi et surtout des acteurs engagés dans son changement.Que ce soit d’une manière latente, affichée ou autoproclamée, c’est la capacité de déchiffrer les conflits qui déchirent la société contemporaine et le désir de repenser « le vivre ensemble » dans l’optique de le panser, qui animent leur production.
Au-delà des frontières : la représentation de la femme dans L’Amour, la fantasia d’Assia Djebar et La Joueuse de go de Shan Sa
Authors: Galmiche Julia
Published: October 2019

L’Amour, la fantasia (1985) d'Assia Djebar et La Joueuse de go (2001) de Shan Sa ont en commun de décrire deux sociétés sous le joug colonial, l'Algérie sous occupation française et la Mandchourie sous occupation japonaise, mais aussi de s'interroger sur la place de la femme indigène dans ces dernières. En effet, la nature du clivage dans lequel s’inscrit la femme indigène est double : par rapport à la société coloniale d’une part et par rapport à la place qui lui est allouée au sein de sa société et culture d’origine d’autre part. Cette bipolarité est apparente au sein des romans à l’étude, à la fois au niveau de la forme, notamment à travers une narration où la dualité occupe une place centrale, mais aussi au niveau du fond. La fiction, qui a ici pour cadre de référence des événements historiques réels, devient ainsi, selon nous, le lieu d'articulation d’un féminisme transculturel et transnational s'inscrivant hors du continuum colonial des idées.
Tierno Monénembo : un engagement de biais. Une lecture de L’aîné des orphelins
Authors: Tsakeu Mazan Stephanie Diane
Published: October 2019

L’article explore les sentiers sinueux qu’emprunte Tierno Monénembo pour dire le génocide des Tutsis au Rwanda dans son roman L’aîné des orphelins. Certaines lectures antérieures sur ce roman questionnent sa pertinence comme témoignage sur une page aussi sombre de l’histoire rwandaise contemporaine du fait du manque de réalisme qui le caractériserait. Loin de se livrer à une description réaliste, le texte de Monénembo plonge le lectorat dans des versions fictives et parfois contradictoires dudit génocide. Monénembo joue ou donne à son personnage principal de jouer avec les plaies du génocide sans pour autant monter dans sa tour d’ivoire. De plus, son emploi particulier de la langue offre un aspect plaisant à la lecture de ce texte inspiré d’un évènement si dramatique tout en suscitant moult interrogations chez le lecteur capable de lire entre les lignes. En effet, Le caractère désinvolte avec lequel Faustin Nsenghimana donne ses versions dudit génocide, son désir de parader qui l’éloigne de la description percutante de la souffrance des victimes, n’exclut pourtant pas la possibilité d’une lecture politique de cet évènement. C’est de façon détournée ou de biais que Monénembo s’engage dans l’écriture de ce roman de commande pour la commission « Écrire par devoir de mémoire » sur ce génocide. Il passe de l’engagement classique à langagement, qui consiste à mettre en avant son talent d’écrivain, d’artisan de la langue avant celui de témoin ou d’historien. Ainsi, l’écrivain bien que s’inspirant de l’histoire ou écrivant sur des évènements historiques est loin de remplir la fonction d’historien.
Culturally Specific Patterns to Close a Medical Consultation in Jordan: A Conversation Analysis Case Study
Authors: A. Abu-Elrob Rula
Published: October 2019

Closing is the last phase in a consultation in which participants will understand that the visit is almost done and some topic might be shifted to be discussed in the future visits. This phase is divided into two parts: preparing for closing, and the closing of the consultation which is the concern of the present paper. This article is a part of a large study examining the overall structure of doctor- patient interaction in a Jordanian university hospital. The present article focuses on the analysis of naturally occurring data by using conversation analysis (hereafter CA) framework. A deep analysis is performed to identify the patterns that construct the ending of the consultations. The findings reveal similarities in obvious features, such as ‘goodbye’ and ‘thanking words’, and cultural specific features to the medical consultations in a Jordanian university hospital, such as the use of religious greeting,‘in∫a Allah’ and ‘well wishes’.
An Analysis of Deviation of Conceptual and Interpersonal Meaning from the Perspective of Cognitive Narratology --A Case Study of Shapiro's Translation of Lost and Shadows on Egret Lake
Authors: Zhu Hongyu
Published: October 2019

Cognitive Naratology is a subject connecting narratology and cognitive science which puts its focus on the readers' cognitive frame and explores the relation between text hints and readers' cognition. This paper, taking cognitive narratology as the starting point and Shapiro' s translation of Lost and Shadows on Egret Lake in National Translation Program as investigated subject, makes an overall research of the deviation in conceptual meaning as well as interpersonal meaning. It also investigates the multiple factors hidden behind the phenomenon in the hope of giving some inspiration to the national translation in the trend of Chinese Literature going abroad.
“Night after Night and Day after Day”: Mark Twain and the Natural World
Authors: Ladd Barbara
Published: October 2019

Although Mark Twain was not himself an environmentalist, he was deeply sensitive to the interdependence of humankind and the natural world, to the conditions, often difficult, under which we inhabit the natural world, and to its ultimate indifference to our desires—issues that continue to preoccupy ecocritics, whether they are inclined toward philosophy or public policy. This article argues that the Mississippi River is touchstone for the natural world in Twain's work and that Life on the Mississippi, a record of his return to the river in the aftermath of the great flood of 1882, demonstrates the power of a natural world both beautiful and indecipherable in Twain's imagination.
“A Wilderness of Oil Pictures”: Reframing Nature inA Tramp Abroad
Authors: Bishop Katherine E.
Published: October 2019

Mark Twain begins his 1880 travelogue, A Tramp Abroad, with the ostensible goal of studying art. Early on, he describes inserting his own paintings into a gallery's “wilderness of oil pictures,” calling attention to the text's complicated relationship with nature and art. Quite often, Twain approaches art as a reflection of human hubris, his own included: his consideration of the overblown reputations of Old Masters who owe time more than skill for their veneration is a case in point. But it is notable that throughout A Tramp Abroad, Twain perseverates on the imagistic and physical imposition of the human over the landscape, questioning what goes into, and comes out of, anthropocentric visions of the environment. Rather than perpetuating the split between human and nature, so prominent in nineteenth-century picturesque and sublime art, he reorients himself and his reader so that we are off to the side, no longer chasing after dominance but coexisting, even minimized. In A Tramp Abroad, Twain disrupts the petrification of the natural world and the overwriting of the human onto the nonhuman from aesthetic, touristic, and nationalist vantage points by confronting the way the world is often translated into human terms. While Twain's characteristic humor ripples across the surface of A Tramp Abroad, the text uses his course of study to pose serious questions, ones connecting the author's aesthetic reflections with his perambulations. He asks what is wilderness? how do we define (or refine) it? and how do our renderings of it affect our relationship to it?
Physiology of the production of strawberries inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
Authors: Cordeiro Ely Cristina Negrelli , Resende Juliano Tadeu Vilela de , Saggin Júnior Orivaldo José , Nascimento Daniele Aparecida , Zeist André Ricardo , Favaro Renata , Córdova Katielle Rosalva Voncik , Gabriel André
Published: October 2019

The use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is a strategy to increase the absorption of nutrients by plants, stimulate the plant defense system, and promote the synthesis of bioactive compounds. In addition, AMF can reduce production costs and improve the agricultural and environmental sustainability of farming systems. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of AMF on production and physiological parameters of strawberry cultivars. The cultivars Camarosa, Aromas, Camino Real, Monterrey, Portola, San Andreas, and Albion were evaluated in the year 2016, and Camarosa, Camino Real, Monterrey, and Albion were analyzed in the year 2017. These cultivars were grown either with or without AMF. The analyzed production variables were the total number of fruits and fruit yield and weight. Gas exchange and leaf area were also determined in 2017. Fruit yield in treated and control plants was assessed in the two study years. AMF inoculation augmented the leaf area in all cultivars except for Monterrey, photosynthetic performance in the cultivars Camarosa and Camino Real, and the transpiration rate in the cultivar Camarosa. These results indicate that AMF improve agronomic and physiological characteristics of strawberry cultivars.
Gompertz and Logistic models for morphological traits of sudangrass cultivars during sowing seasons
Authors: Pezzini Rafael Vieira , Cargnelutti Filho Alberto , Bem Cláudia Marques de , Souza Jéssica Maronez de , Chaves Gabriela Görgen , Neu Ismael Mario Marcio , Procedi Andréia
Published: October 2019

The use of mathematical models in the study plant growth allows the identification of phases important to the cultivars and comparison between cultivars of the same species. The objectives of this work were to fit the Gompertz and Logistic growth models for the traits of plant height and stem length as a function of the accumulated thermal sum and accumulated solar radiation, to compare the fittings and the behavior of the sudangrass cultivars and indicate the model that best describes the growth of the cultivars during four sowing seasons. Were conducted eight uniformity trials with sudangrass. At 15 days after emergence, were began the collect and evaluation of five plants from each trial. Were measured plant height and stem length. The models were fitted using the values obtained for the traits of the five plants in each evaluation as a function of the accumulated thermal sum and accumulated solar radiation. Were estimated the parameters, determined their interval of confidence, critical points in the growth curves and quality indicators of the fit. The intrinsic nonlinearities and the parameter effect were also quantified. The accumulated thermal sum and accumulated solar radiation are adequate for the use as an independent variable in the model fitted. Both models were adequate to describe the growth of the traits plant height and stem length of cultivars BRS Estribo and CG Farrapo. However, the Logistic model is more accurate.
Evolution of the grapevine bud dormancy under different thermal regimes
Authors: Anzanello Rafael
Published: October 2019

Fluctuations in winter chilling availability impact bud dormancy and budburst. This study aimed to quantify the thermal requirements during dormancy for ‘Italia’ grape, under different thermal regimes. Cuttings of grapevines ‘Itália’ were collected in Veranópolis-RS, on April/2017, with zero chilling hours (CH). The cuttings were exposed to constant (7.2°C) or alternating (7.2 and 18°C for 12/12h, 12/12h or 18/6h) temperatures, or yet, a constant temperature (7.2°C) or alternating (7.2 and 18°C for 12/12h), combined with one or two days a week at 25°C. Periodically, part of the cuttings was transferred to 25°C for daily budburst evaluation. The induction of the endodormancy (dormancy induced by cold) occurred with 200 CH, independent of the thermal regime, and the overcoming with 300 HF, at 7.2°C. The alternating heat of 18°C in the middle of the cold did not affect the process of overcoming endodormancy. Heat waves during endodormancy resulted in an increased CH to overcome the bud dormancy. The negative effect of high temperature depended on the exposure time. Chilling was partly cancelled during dormancy when the heat wave lasted 36 continuous hours or more. These evidences serve as basis for new model adjustments for budburst prediction, especially for regions with mild and irregular winters, such as those of Southern Brazil.
An analysis of energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions from organic soybean cultivation in Brazil
Authors: Guareschui Roni Fernandes , Martins Marcio dos Reis , Sarkis Leonardo Fernandes , Alves Bruno Jose Rodrigues , Jantalia Claudia Pozzi , Boddey Robert Michael , Caballero Segundo Sacramento Urquiaga
Published: October 2019

The assessment of energy efficiency (EE) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions can highlight the sustainability of agro-systems and decision-making regarding reduction of production costs and environmental pollution. In this context, the objective of this work was to evaluate the EE and GHG emissions (CO2, CH4 e N2O) of a soybean crop under organic cultivation in different regions of Brazil in the agricultural year 2014-2015. For this, 19 soybean areas were evaluated. The inputs and outputs of the agricultural operations and / or inputs used were calculated by multiplying the quantity used by their calorific value or energy coefficient at each stage of production. The energy efficiency was obtained by the ratio between the amount of total output energy and the total energy consumption during the production process. In order to estimate GHG emissions, the principles of the life cycle assessment methodology and recommendations of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) were applied. For each 1.0 MJ of energy consumed in the organic production of soybeans, an average of 7.9 MJ of renewable energy was produced in the form of grains of this crop. The main energy costs of growing these organic crops were with seeds, fuel and with tractors, machines and agricultural implements (TMI). For each 1 kg of organic grain produced from soybeans, 0.19 kg of CO2eq are emitted during their production and delivery cycles in the warehouse. The main sources of CO2eq emission to the atmosphere were the seeds, fuels and organic fertilizers.
Cardiac biomarkers and blood metabolites in cows with clinical ketosis
Authors: Soares Gliére Silmara Leite , Ribeiro Ana Clara Sarzedas , Cajueiro Jobson Filipe de Paula , Souto Rodolfo José Cavalcanti , Oliveira Filho Emanuel Felipe de , Soares Pierre Castro , Mendonça Carla Lopes de , Afonso José Augusto Bastos
Published: October 2019

The increase in energy imbalance at the beginning of lactation leads to metabolic disorders, especially clinical ketosis, in highly productive dairy cows. The objective of this study is to evaluate the clinical characteristics, biochemical parameters, and cardiac biomarkers creatine kinase MB isoenzyme (CK-MB) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) of 15 cows diagnosed with clinical ketosis treated at the Bovine Clinic of Garanhuns at the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco. Nine of the 15 cows were diagnosed with primary ketosis and six had concomitant diseases, including left abomasal displacement, metritis, pneumonia, and renal failure. The observed clinical signs were non-specific and included decreased appetite and milk production and weight loss. Approximately 53% of the animals had central nervous system involvement. For biochemical evaluation, 15 high-production healthy dairy cows at the initial stage of lactation served as the control group. The data were subjected to analysis of variance for simultaneous comparison between two means allowing testing the hypothesis on the means of the different groups and subjected to Pearson correlation at a level of significance of 5%. The levels of ?-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), glucose, fructosamine, total protein, albumin, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase, CK-MB, and cTnI were higher in the group with ketosis. The diseased animals presented changes in glycemia, reduction in tissue sensitivity to insulin, and a lower RQUICKI-BHB index, especially hyperglycemic animals. The increase in the levels of cardiac biomarkers suggests the occurrence of myocardial injury associated with bovine ketosis.
Calf performance when fed with cheese whey associated with discarded powdered milk
Authors: Moura Andrezza Kyarelle Bezerra de , Lima Renata Nayhara de , Lopes Kátia Tatiana de Lima , Lima Neto João Artur de , Melo Vítor Lucas de Lima , Lima Patrícia de Oliveira , Gonçalves Josemir de Souza
Published: October 2019

The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of calves (Holstein × No Defined Breed Standard) fed powdered cheese whey associated with discarded powdered milk up to 60 days of age. Forty calves (35 kg initial average weight) were used, distributed in a completely randomized design with four treatments and ten repetitions per treatment: whole milk (control), 100% milk powder, 80% milk powder + 20% cheese whey powder, 60% milk powder + 40% cheese whey powder. Consumption, performance, and economic analysis were evaluated. Data were analyzed for variance and comparison of orthogonal contrasts (P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed between the treatments tested regarding the evaluated variables. The animals from all treatments had a final average weight of 50.28 kg as the result of an average weight gain of 0.255 ± 0.03 kg/day and a total dry matter intake of 34.28 ± 1.47 kg/day per calf. The examined diets offered the lowest cost compared to the control treatment, generating an average additional profit of 113.19 R$/animal. Diets containing whey cheese powder are the most economically advantageous options, as replacing 100% of milk with these by-products did not impair animal performance. The use of discarded industrial milk powder combined with whey powder in a ratio of up to 80:20 is a viable option for feeding male calves in dairy farms.
Phytogenic additive Noni (Morinda citrifolia) in feed of confined lambs
Authors: Geron Luiz Juliano Valerio , Veloso Luiz Eduardo Cantão , Moraes Eduardo Henrique Bevitori Kling de , Moraes Kamila Andreatta Kling de , Gomes Helen Fernanda Barros , Zanin Suellem Fernanda Perosa , Carvalho Geovany Macêdo , Brito Thaís Ribeiro , Silva Priscila dos Santos , Almeida Thaís Andrade
Published: October 2019

The objective of this study was to evaluate the inclusion of different levels of 0.0%; 0.7%; 1.4% and 2.1% of Noni (Morinda citrifolia) in the feeding of lambs regarding ingestive behavior and physiological variables. The experiment was carried out in a double Latin (4x4) experimental design with eight animals, consisting of four periods and four experimental rations. Eight lambs with no defined racial pattern were used, with mean initial body weight (BW) of 23.74 ± 1.00 kg. The ingestive behavior was performed during 24 hours, always on the last day of each experimental period. The physiological variables and the environmental variables were measured during three days of each period. Data were submitted for analysis of variance and, when significant, regression equation was applied at 5% of probability. Statistical analysis was performed considering the subdivision of the plot, which consisted of the diurnal and nocturnal evaluation times for the ingestive behavior and the morning and afternoon periods for the physiological variables. The inclusion of Noni in fed lambs did not change (p > 0.05) the time spent with ingestive behaviors for dry matter intake (DMI), rumination (RUM), idleness (IDL), water intake (WIN) and other activity (OAC). However, the daytime During the period there was gr eater (p < 0.05) time use for DMI, WIN and OAC. Inclusion of Noni to diets provided higher (p > 0.05) time use during the night time for RUM and IDL. The physiological variables were not influenced (p > 0.05) by the inclusion of Noni in the diets of lambs. However, higher mean (p < 0.05) body temperature of the front and rear, rectal temperature and respiratory rate of the lambs were observed during the afternoon. The inclusion of up to 2.1% of Noni in lamb feed does not alter ingestive behavior and physiological variables. However, the consumption of dry matter and water is higher during the diurnal period, while rumination and idleness are more active during the night period.
Urinary infection in dogs with chronic kidney disease: aetiology and resistance
Authors: Fernandes Ariane Martins , Sousa Alessandra Tammy Hayakawa Ito de , Conceição Luciana Auxiliadora Viebrantz da , Silva Felipe Gomes da , Cayuela Mayara Aparecida Araújo , Mendonça Adriane Jorge , Almeida Arleana do Bom Parto Ferreira de , Dutra Valéria , Sousa Valeria Régia Franco
Published: October 2019

Infections of the genitourinary system are among the most frequent in the clinical routine of small animals. Treatment with the most appropriate antimicrobial therapy, according to the uropathogen susceptibility test, can avoid the spread of bacterial resistance to antimicrobials. A clinical study was performed in 32 canines, of both sexes and differing ages, who attended the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Urine samples underwent culture, with the objective of evaluating urinary tract infection in dogs with renal disease, identifying the associated bacterial pathogens, and verifying their antimicrobial susceptibility in vitro. Urine culture was positive in 10 dogs, mostly males, with no predisposition for breed, and a mean age of 8.28 years. Most of the urinary tract infections (UTIs) were monobacterial, with the most common microorganisms being Pseudomonas sp. and Staphylococcus sp. The antimicrobials imipenem and meropenem had the best overall sensitivity profile, and ampicillin showed the highest resistance. The variation in epidemiological profiles, and susceptibility to uropathogens, reinforces the importance of the veterinarian in the prevention and control of infection, in addition to the need for further research to identify new antimicrobial agents.
Goat incubator: Can bovine oocytes be matured in the uterine horn of a goat?
Authors: Fonseca Jeferson Fereira da , Batista Ribrio Ivan Tavares Pereira , Trevizan Juliane Teramachi , Souza-Fabjan Joanna Maria Gonçalves , Brandão Felipe Zandonadi , Camargo Luiz Sérgio Almeida
Published: October 2019

We used a goat as a live incubator, along with associated nonsurgical embryo transfer techniques, to perform ex situ (in vivo) maturation of bovine oocytes. Immature bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) aspirated from 3-8 mm follicles from slaughterhouse ovaries were randomly split into two groups for in vitro (IVM; n = 38) and ex situ maturation (ESM; n = 40). IVM was performed for a period of 24 h at 38.5 ºC and with 5% CO2 in the air of maximum humidity. For ESM, a presynchronized nulliparous goat (12 months old) received 40 immature COCs in the uterine horn apiece, via the transcervical route. After 24 h the structures were retrieved through uterine flushing. Analyses of nuclear maturation and lipid quantification were performed on oocytes from both groups. Fluorescent intensity was compared using the Student’s t-test. Forty-seven percent of the structures were recovered after uterine flushing (19/40). The nuclear maturation rate was 94.5% (18/19) and 81.6% (31/38) for the ESM and IVM groups, respectively. In vitro-matured COCs contained more lipid droplets, expressed as a higher amount (p < 0.05) of emitted fluorescent light than ex situ-matured COCs (858 ± 73 vs. 550 ± 64 arbitrary fluorescence units, respectively). This is the first report to associate nonsurgical embryo transfer techniques and a goat as a live incubator for the maturation of bovine oocytes. We conclude that bovine oocytes can progress meiotically in the uterus horn of a goat and that transcervical transfer of bovine oocytes to a goat’s uterus could present an alternative to nuclear maturation.
The Impact of the Board of Directors Characteristics on the Risk of IPO Earnings Forecasts Errors
Authors: Alsahlawi Abdulaziz Mohammed , Ammer Mohammed Abdullah
Published: October 2019

This paper aimed to investigate the effect of corporate governance mechanism on the risk of IPO earnings forecasts errors. It focuses on the relationship between the board of directors characteristics and the risk of earnings forecasts errors. Required data was gathered from 190 Malaysian IPO prospectuses for the year 2002 to 2012, after which data was analyzed using ordinary least squares (OLS) regression. Based on the obtained findings, the earnings forecasts of Malaysian IPO reflected a pessimistic picture with unsatisfactory percentage of accuracy. In particular, the findings of multiple regression analysis of the relationships between the size, independence and CEO duality of the board of directors, and the risk of earnings forecasts errors were negative and insignificant. The study findings have several implications for relevant individuals, including regulators, investors, financial analysts and financial statements users.