scholarly journals Prediction model for sap flow in cacao trees under different radiation intensities in the western Colombian Amazon

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Carlos Suárez ◽  
Fernando Casanoves ◽  
Marie Ange Ngo Bieng ◽  
Luz Marina Melgarejo ◽  
Julio A. Di Rienzo ◽  
...  

AbstractIn this study, we measured diurnal patterns of sap flow (Vs) in cacao trees growing in three types of agroforestry systems (AFs) that differ in the incident solar radiation they receive. We modeled the relationship of Vs with several microclimatic characteristics of the AFs using mixed linear models. We characterized microclimatic variables that may have an effect on diurnal patterns of sap flow: air relative humidity, air temperature, photosynthetically active radiation and vapor pressure deficit. Overall, our model predicted the differences between cacao Vs in the three different AFs, with cacao plants with dense Musaceae plantation and high mean diurnal incident radiation (HPAR) displaying the highest differences compared to the other agroforestry arrangements. The model was also able to predict situations such as nocturnal transpiration in HPAR and inverse nocturnal sap flows indicative of hydraulic redistribution in the other AFs receiving less incident radiation. Overall, the model we present here can be a useful and cost-effective tool for predicting transpiration and water use in cacao trees, as well as for managing cacao agroforestry systems in the Amazon rainforest.

2017 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 557-565
Author(s):  
María Alejandra Ramírez-Ruíz ◽  
Raúl Simá-Álvarez ◽  
Edgar Tórres-Irineo ◽  
Rossanna Rodríguez-Canul

The White Spot Syndrome Virus has been very detrimental for the shrimp industry. Up to date there is no cure for the disease, thus, it is necessary to implement reliable experimental strategies to evaluate the effect of drugs and the host response during the prognosis of the disease. In this study, we evaluated two ways of infection with WSSV (200 copies WSSV-DNA) (injection and immersion), at constant temperature (26 ± 0.5ºC), in juveniles of Litopenaeus vannamei (4.8 ± 0.38 g) in intermolt stage. In the infection by injection, the organisms were lethargic with reddish appearance 2 days after infection and mortality (100%) was observed within 2-5 days: 63% organisms with light degree of infection [20 copies of DNA & 1-5 Cowdry A-type inclusions in hypertrophied nuclei (CAI)/200 fields], 21% had moderate infection (200 copies of DNA & 1-2 CAI/20 fields) and 16% severely infected (2000 copies of DNA & more than 10 CAI/field). No mortality was observed in the controls. In the infection by immersion, the signs of WSSV were observed 3 days after infection: 38% of mortality was observed during 3-9 days: 25% of the organism with light degree of infection (20 copies of DNA & 1-2 CAI/20 fields), 5% moderately infected (200 copies of DNA & 1-2 CAI/20 fields) and 8% with severe infection (2000 copies of DNA & 1-5 CAI/2 fields. The other 62% organisms were necropsied at day 12 and tested positive to the WSSV-PCR (light infection = 20 copies of DNA), but did not show CAI by histology. No mortality was observed in the controls. For the statistical analysis, the data did not fit the criteria of independence and linearity needed for the analyses of variance, thus we used instead the mixed linear models and were able to observe a better prediction: in the injected organisms, the mortality reached the highest peak at day 5 after infection. In the organisms infected by immersion, the highest peak or mortality was observed at day 9 after infection. The analysis of variance of Kenward-Roger indicated significant differences between the days of mortality (F = 20.1, P = 0.001), as well as among the ways of infection (Random analysis) (P = 0.007).


2020 ◽  
pp. 1192-1198
Author(s):  
M.S. Mohammad ◽  
Tibebe Tesfaye ◽  
Kim Ki-Seong

Ultrasonic thickness gauges are easy to operate and reliable, and can be used to measure a wide range of thicknesses and inspect all engineering materials. Supplementing the simple ultrasonic thickness gauges that present results in either a digital readout or as an A-scan with systems that enable correlating the measured values to their positions on the inspected surface to produce a two-dimensional (2D) thickness representation can extend their benefits and provide a cost-effective alternative to expensive advanced C-scan machines. In previous work, the authors introduced a system for the positioning and mapping of the values measured by the ultrasonic thickness gauges and flaw detectors (Tesfaye et al. 2019). The system is an alternative to the systems that use mechanical scanners, encoders, and sophisticated UT machines. It used a camera to record the probe’s movement and a projected laser grid obtained by a laser pattern generator to locate the probe on the inspected surface. In this paper, a novel system is proposed to be applied to flat surfaces, in addition to overcoming the other limitations posed due to the use of the laser projection. The proposed system uses two video cameras, one to monitor the probe’s movement on the inspected surface and the other to capture the corresponding digital readout of the thickness gauge. The acquired images of the probe’s position and thickness gauge readout are processed to plot the measured data in a 2D color-coded map. The system is meant to be simpler and more effective than the previous development.


2013 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 624-631
Author(s):  
Chang-You LIU ◽  
Bao-Jie FAN ◽  
Zhi-Min CAO ◽  
Yan WANG ◽  
Zhi-Xiao ZHANG ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 95 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Rubel ◽  
N. Flaibani

Abstract The aim of this study was to explore through cross-sectional study the variation in the prevalence of parasitic helminths in canine faeces collected from green spaces of Buenos Aires according to the human density (HD) and economic level (EL) in the surroundings. HD and EL were considered as independent variables with three categories each. Twenty public squares (one hectare of surface) were randomly selected for each existing combination of the two independent variables. Ten random samples of fresh canine faeces were obtained in each square and analysed for helminths by the sedimentation and flotation techniques. The prevalence for each of the species was analysed using generalized linear models (GLM). The prevalence was modelled with a binomial error distribution and a logit link function. Helminth eggs were detected in 45 out of the 200 (22.5%) faecal samples collected and in 18 of the 20 green spaces sampled. The species observed were Ancylostoma caninum (13% of samples), Trichuris vulpis (8%) and Toxocara canis (4.5%). The GLM indicated that the prevalence of A. caninum in the slum areas (very high HD and very low EL) was higher than that in the other areas studied. However, the HD seemed to contribute more than the EL to the variations in the prevalence of A. caninum in faecal samples. The GLM showed no differences in the prevalence of the other parasite species for the different levels of the independent variables.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-112
Author(s):  
Richard Larouche ◽  
Nimesh Patel ◽  
Jennifer L. Copeland

The role of infrastructure in encouraging transportation cycling in smaller cities with a low prevalence of cycling remains unclear. To investigate the relationship between the presence of infrastructure and transportation cycling in a small city (Lethbridge, AB, Canada), we interviewed 246 adults along a recently-constructed bicycle boulevard and two comparison streets with no recent changes in cycling infrastructure. One comparison street had a separate multi-use path and the other had no cycling infrastructure. Questions addressed time spent cycling in the past week and 2 years prior and potential socio-demographic and psychosocial correlates of cycling, including safety concerns. Finally, we asked participants what could be done to make cycling safer and more attractive. We examined predictors of cycling using gender-stratified generalized linear models. Women interviewed along the street with a separate path reported cycling more than women on the other streets. A more favorable attitude towards cycling and greater habit strength were associated with more cycling in both men and women. Qualitative data revealed generally positive views about the bicycle boulevard, a need for education about sharing the road and for better cycling infrastructure in general. Our results suggest that, even in smaller cities, cycling infrastructure may encourage cycling, especially among women.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 67
Author(s):  
Seung-Min Yang ◽  
Jiwon Baek ◽  
Eiseul Kim ◽  
Hyeon-Be Kim ◽  
Seyoung Ko ◽  
...  

In recent years, Salmonella Infantis has become a predominant serovariant in clinical and poultry isolates, thereby imposing a substantial economic burden on both public health and the livestock industry. With the aim of coping with the steep increase in serovar Infantis prevalence, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based rapid and accurate diagnostic assay was developed in this study through pangenome profiling of 60 Salmonella serovars. A gene marker, SIN_02055, was identified, which is present in the S. Infantis genome but not in the pangenome of the other serovars. Primers specific to SIN_02055 were used to accurately detect serovar Infantis, and to successfully differentiate Infantis from the other 59 serovars in real-time PCR with a R2 of 0.999 and an efficiency of 95.76%. The developed method was applied to 54 Salmonella strains belonging to eight dominant serovars, and distinguished Infantis from the other seven serovars with an accuracy of 100%. The diagnostic primer set also did not show false positive amplification with 32 strains from eight non-Salmonella bacterial species. This cost-effective and rapid method can be considered an alternative to the classic serotyping using antisera.


1990 ◽  
Vol 73 (6) ◽  
pp. 1612-1624 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.L. Foulley ◽  
D. Gianola ◽  
M. San Cristobal ◽  
S. Im

2009 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 1383-1389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriella M. Scandurra ◽  
Geoffrey W. de Lisle ◽  
Sonia M. Cavaignac ◽  
May Young ◽  
R. Pamela Kawakami ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (basonym M. paratuberculosis) is the causative agent of paratuberculosis, a chronic enteritis of ruminants. To control the considerable economic effect that paratuberculosis has on the livestock industry, a vaccine that induces protection with minimal side effects is required. We employed transposon mutagenesis and allelic exchange to develop three potential vaccine candidates, which were then tested for virulence with macrophages, mice, and goats. All three models identified the WAg906 mutant as being the most attenuated, but some differences in the levels of attenuation were evident among the models when testing the other strains. In a preliminary mouse vaccine experiment, limited protection was induced by WAg915, as evidenced by a reduced bacterial load in spleens and livers 12 weeks following intraperitoneal challenge with M. paratuberculosis K10. While we found macrophages and murine models to be rapid and cost-effective alternatives for the initial screening of M. paratuberculosis mutants for attenuation, it appears necessary to do the definitive assessment of attenuation with a ruminant model.


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