Inter and intra population phenotypic variability of Lippia integrifolia(Verbenaceae) and its natural situation in the west-center of Argentina

The species Lippia integrifoliais an aromatic, sub-woody shrub, distributed from Northwest and Central Argentina to Bolivia. It is among the most important native aromatic species. It presents medicinal properties, some of which have been scientifically proven. As an alternative to harvesting, the process of domestication of the species was initiated. The objective of this work was to assess the phenotypic variability based on botanical-taxonomic and morpho-agronomic descriptors and the use of indicators to evaluate its natural situation in the west-center of Argentina. We worked in five wild populations, registering morphological variables, phenology, natural regeneration, herbivory and presence of diseases. L. integrifoliapresents a wide morphological variability, which can be explained with three morphological descriptors. Natural regeneration ́s rate is very low to zero, in four of the sites. The results obtained are of importance to make decisions related to the sustainable use in situ, and to begin a program of domestication of the species.

Optimal fertilization dose in castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) using partial budgets analysis

Objective: To determine the economically adequate fertilization dose for a castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) crop that improves the producer's benefits using the partial budgeting technique. Design / methodology / approach: The experiment was established at a site located 500 m from the Centro de Chiapas experimental field, with an altitude of 800 m. Two production factors were studied: nitrogen (40, 60, and 80) and phosphorus (20, 40, and 60) with three levels each. The treatments had nine combinations in a randomized complete block experimental design and four replications. Phenological and morphological variables, seed yield, and variable costs economic components were evaluated as a response. Results: With the average yields the obtained net benefits were determined; an adjustment of the benefits was made, and its dominance was determined. Four experiments were dominated, and five showed favorable profits for the producer. The 80-60-00 formulation had a return rate (RR) of 23 %. Conclusions: The 40-20-00, 40-40-00, 40-60-00, 80-40-00 and 80-60-00 formulations were dominant. The 80-60-00 formulation reported the highest RR, an increase in variable cost of US$9.64, like other doses of lower costs and benefits. For this dose, the net benefits increase was us$ 222.61.

Maximum Voluntary Molar and Incisor Biting Force and Morphological Variables in Subjects With Different Vertical Skeletal Patterns

Objective: To estimate the maximum voluntary molar biting force (MBF) and incisor biting force (IBF) and their relationship to morphological variables in subjects with different vertical skeletal patterns. Materials and Methods: Maximum voluntary MBF, IBF, and morphological variables were recorded in 120 subjects (60 males and 60 females) with skeletal class I pattern in the age range of 14 to 24 years. All subjects were divided into 3 groups: Normodivergent, hypodivergent, and hyperdivergent, according to the maxillomandibular plane angle and Jarabak ratio. Bite force measurements were undertaken using a custom-made portable digital gnathodynamometer on the left and the right sides of the jaw in the molar and incisor regions during maximal clenching. Statistical analysis was performed using independent t-test, chi-square test, and ANOVA test using SPSS version 22.0.0.0 software. Results: MBF and IBF are influenced by gender with higher values obtained for male subjects in all groups in the following order: hypodivergent > normodivergent > hyperdivergent. No significant changes were seen with morphological variables in different groups. Conclusion: Molar and incisor biting forces are highest in hypodivergent subjects and least in hyperdivergent subjects as a reflection of jaw morphology and muscular efficiency. In all groups, males exhibit higher force values than females, underlining a strong gender influence on biting force and facial pattern.

Morphological diversity and relationship among cashew (Anacardium occidentale L) individuals in three districts of Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia

Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L), a species belonging to the family Anacardiaceae, has been cultivated throughout most of Indonesia’s areas and has become a priority commodity in Southeast Sulawesi for years. However, the information about its variation on morphology and relationship among individuals are still limited. This study aimed to determine the morphological variations and relationships among cashew individuals in three districts (Konawe, South Konawe, and East Kolaka) of Southeast Sulawesi. As many as ninety individuals were analyzed on 15 morphological variables for the variations and 47 variables using the complete linkage method based on Gower distance for the clustering. The coefficients of variation were varied on all evaluated variables. The highest was the height of main branches (cm), ranging from 47.32 % to 73.72 %. Meanwhile, nut length had the lowest coefficient of variation (6.75%-7.99%). The individuals were divided into two main clusters with two sub-clusters for each cluster.

Development of lawns in response to applications of imazapic alone or combined with imazapyr

ABSTRACT Successive mowings are the major maintenance cost of lawns. These costs have led to the search for alternatives to mechanical management. This study aimed to determine the effects of imazapic herbicide doses applied alone or combined with imazapyr as a growth regulator of Tifton 419 and Zoysia grasses. The experimental design was randomized blocks with four replicates, and the treatments consisted of four doses of herbicide imazapic applied alone (35; 70; 105 and 140 g a.i. ha-1) and three doses of imazapic + imazapyr mixture (7.875 + 2.625; 15.57 + 5.25 and 23.625 + 7.875 g a.i. ha-1) in two sequential applications on both grass lawns. Visible injury symptoms, canopy height, height and number of inflorescences, and total dry matter of clippings were determined. Applications of imazapic alone or combined with imazapyr effectively reduced all morphological variables of Tifton 419 grass. Imazapic applied alone or mixed with imazapyr provided adequate control of growth and quantity of dry matter of Zoysia grass clippings. Still, with some application doses of this herbicide, the number of inflorescences present in the lawns increased.

Analysis of Betawi Language Interference on the Morphology of Adolescent Speech in Jakarta

This research aims to identify the interference of Betawi language elements to the morphological variables of adolescent speech in Jakarta. The present study uses a qualitative method approach using descriptive analysis techniques. The subjects in the current study were adolescents who were in Jakarta. The data analyzed in this study are words in a sentence that interfered with the Betawi language, which contained aspects of affixation, reduplication, composition, and acronyms. The research findings indicate a Betawi language morphological interference to the morphological variables of speech from the aspects of affixation and reduplication. The results of other studies indicate that there is a Betawi language morphological interference to the morphological variables of speech from the affixation aspect, namely, words affixed with prefixes, suffixes, and confixes. The Betawi language morphological interference with the morphology of speech from the reduplication aspect, namely, dwilingga, can also be seen. The researcher did not find any Betawi language morphological interference to the morphology of speech from the aspects of composition and on the acronym teenagers speak in Jakarta.

The influence of aneurysm morphology on the volume of hemorrhage after rupture

OBJECTIVE Factors determining the risk of rupture of intracranial aneurysms have been extensively studied; however, little attention is paid to variables influencing the volume of bleeding after rupture. In this study the authors aimed to evaluate the impact of aneurysm morphological variables on the amount of hemorrhage. METHODS This was a retrospective cohort analysis of a prospectively collected data set of 116 patients presenting at a single center with subarachnoid hemorrhage due to aneurysmal rupture. A volumetric assessment of the total hemorrhage volume was performed from the initial noncontrast CT. Aneurysms were segmented and reproduced from the initial CT angiography study, and morphology indexes were calculated with a computer-assisted approach. Clinical and demographic characteristics of the patients were included in the study. Factors influencing the volume of hemorrhage were explored with univariate correlations, multiple linear regression analysis, and graphical probabilistic modeling. RESULTS The univariate analysis demonstrated that several of the morphological variables but only the patient’s age from the clinical-demographic variables correlated (p < 0.05) with the volume of bleeding. Nine morphological variables correlated positively (absolute height, perpendicular height, maximum width, sac surface area, sac volume, size ratio, bottleneck factor, neck-to-vessel ratio, and width-to-vessel ratio) and two correlated negatively (parent vessel average diameter and the aneurysm angle). After multivariate analysis, only the aneurysm size ratio (p < 0.001) and the patient’s age (p = 0.023) remained statistically significant. The graphical probabilistic model confirmed the size ratio and the patient’s age as the variables most related to the total hemorrhage volume. CONCLUSIONS A greater aneurysm size ratio and an older patient age are likely to entail a greater volume of bleeding after subarachnoid hemorrhage.

OCCURRENCE OF INSECT PESTS IN FRUITS OF Caryocar brasiliense (CARYOCARACEAE) IN THE NORTH OF MINAS GERAIS

ABSTRACT Caryocar brasiliense Camb. is a typical species from the Cerrado that represents a relevant income for the population where the fruit is produced. The ocorrence of insect pests provokes damage in the fruit and making its commercialization unfeasible. Then, this study aimed to identify the pest insect the fruit and the pit; to compare the morphological features of the fruit and pit and the damage caused by insects among mother plants and their origins and correlate the fruit and pit morphological features with the damage caused by the insects. Three different origins were evaluated, 12 mother plants by origin and ten fruit by mother plant. All the fruit were opened, checked for the insect damage and the fruit and pit morphological variables were determined. The insects that caused damage to the pequi embryo were identified as Carmenta sp. (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) and Amblycerus sp (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). The probability analysis showed significant effect on the mother plants and origins for the percentage of fruit and pit attacked where the location of Laje Velha obtained the lowest rates of the insect attack. The fruit and pit of the Fruta de Leite were bigger and heavier than the others, while the correlations among the predation rate and the other morphological variables of the fruit and pit were not significant. Amblycerus sp. and Carmenta sp. may be considered potential pests of pequi, with the risk of compromising the pequizeiro populations and the regional economics.

Urbanisation Footprints and the Distribution of Air Quality in Nairobi City, Kenya

Various postulations on the relationship between urban morphology and air quality are qualitative. This fails to establish the strength of the contributions of each morphological parameter in the spatial distribution of the air quality. It is this gap in knowledge that this study sought to fill by modelling the correlation existing between the urban morphological variables of development density, land uses, biomass index and air quality values of Nairobi city. While 30 development zones of the city constituted the target population, IKONOS satellite imagery of the city for the year 2015 was utilised in establishing the development densities, land uses and biomass index. The parameters were transformed into numerical surrogates ranging from 1 to 10 with lower values accorded to zones with low biomass index, the highest development density, noxious land uses, high gaseous concentrations and vice-versa. Pearson’s correlation coefficients (r), coefficients of determination (R), t-tests and the Analysis of Variance (F-tests) with levels of significance being 95% were used to determine the strengths, significances and consistencies of the established relationships. The study established that development density is the most significant morphological variable influencing the distribution of air quality. This is followed by biomass index and to a weaker extent, land uses.

Pruning Wastes From Fruit Trees as a Substrate for Pleurotus ostreatus

Plant material obtained by pruning and production of deciduous fruit trees was evaluated as substrates for the production of the oyster mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus . Lignified branches and stems from peach, apple, and pear trees were processed using a ripping machine to reduce the size of chips and to optimize disinfection. A completely randomized experimental design was proposed with six treatments (novel substrates) and one absolute control (100% hay substrate). Morphological variables such as thickness and diameter of the pileus, stipe length were assessed, as well as production variables (sprouting, fresh weight, and biological efficiency) and bromatological analysis (ash, ethereal extract, crude fiber, and crude protein). Apart from the 100%-hay substrate, biological efficiency ranged between 27% (100% apple tree as the substrate) and 140% (50% hay + 50% peach tree as the substrate). According to morphological analysis, the highest diameters were recorded from mixed substrates (50% hay + 50% wood), and a highly significant positive correlation was found between diameter and stipe length. Morphological parameters were not significantly correlated with biological efficiency. Analysis of biological efficiency confirmed that mixed substrates clustered together with 100%-wood substrates. Bromatological analysis showed that the mixed substrate (50% hay + 50% pear tree) had the highest protein content among the novel tested substrates. Bromatological parameters were not significantly correlated with biological efficiency. In conclusion, pruning residues from fruit trees can be valuable by using them as substrates for the cultivation of P. ostreatus . Production is quantitatively competitive with that using hay, on the condition that wood is mixed with hay.