Increase in forest structural complexity along a precipitation gradient is mediated by partial harvests in temperate Patagonian forests.

Increasing forest structural complexity is becoming a common goal in forestry worldwide. However, the lack of empirical quantification clouds its implementation. Here we quantified the long-term effects (> 30 y) of partial harvest on stand structural complexity and net primary productivity using the east-west precipitation gradient (318-2508 mm, mean annual precipitation-MAP) of western Patagonian as a study system. In this gradient, pairs of 1-ha plots on 20 sites (20 plots harvested and 20 plots unharvested) were installed. In each plot terrestrial laser scanning was used to quantify the stand structural complexity index (SSCI), and Sentinel satellite images to obtain the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI: proxy of net primary productivity). Generalized linear mixed-effect models were used to relate SSCI to MAP and EVI to SSCI, with harvesting as indicator variable, and site as random variable (two plots nested to same precipitation). Results showed that harvested plots on mesic-to-humid sites (but not on dry sites) had higher SSCI and EVI values compared to unharvested plots, likely due to a greater vertical canopy packing. These results show the influence of precipitation on SSCI, which resulted in a more diversified stand structure and higher EVI. Such insights support site-specific management aimed to increase forest structural complexity.

Identification of Electrical Tree Aging State in Epoxy Resin Using Partial Discharge Waveforms Compared to Traditional Analysis.

Electrical treeing is one of the main degradation mechanisms in high-voltage polymeric insulation. Epoxy resin is used as insulating material in power equipment such as rotating machines, power transformers, gas-insulated switchgears, and insulators, among others. Electrical trees grow under the effect of partial discharges (PDs) that progressively degrade the polymer until the tree crosses the bulk insulation, then causing the failure of power equipment and the outage of the energy supply. This work studies electrical trees in epoxy resin through different PD analysis techniques, evaluating and comparing their ability to identify tree bulk-insulation crossing, the precursor of failure. Two PD measurement systems were used simultaneously-one to capture the sequence of PD pulses and another to acquire PD pulse waveforms-and four PD analysis techniques were deployed. Phase-resolved PD (PRPD) and pulse sequence analysis (PSA) identified tree crossing; however, they were more sensible to the AC excitation voltage amplitude and frequency. Nonlinear time series analysis (NLTSA) characteristics were evaluated through the correlation dimension, showing a reduction from pre- to post-crossing, and thus representing a change to a less complex dynamical system. The PD pulse waveform parameters had the best performance; they could identify tree crossing in epoxy resin material independently of the applied AC voltage amplitude and frequency, making them more robust for a broader range of situations, and thus, they can be exploited as a diagnostic tool for the asset management of high-voltage polymeric insulation.

Combining epidemiology and economics to assess control of a viral endemic animal disease: Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS).

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is an extremely contagious disease that causes great damage to the U.S. pork industry. PRRS is not subject to official control in the U.S., but most producers adopt control strategies, including vaccination. However, the PRRS virus mutates frequently, facilitating its ability to infect even vaccinated animals. In this paper we analyze how increased vaccination on sow farms reduces PRRS losses and when vaccination is profitable. We develop a SIR model to simulate the spread of an outbreak between and within swine farms located in a region of Minnesota. Then, we estimate economic losses due to PRRS and calculate the benefits of vaccination. We find that increased vaccination of sow farms increases the private profitability of vaccination, and also transmits positive externalities to farms that do not vaccinate. Although vaccination reduces industry losses, a low to moderate vaccine efficacy implies that large PRRS losses remain, even on vaccinated farms. Our approach provides useful insight into the dynamics of an endemic animal disease and the benefits of different vaccination regimens.

Costs of cannabis testing compliance: Assessing mandatory testing in the California cannabis market.

Most U.S. states that have regulated and taxed cannabis have imposed some form of mandatory safety testing requirements. In California, the country's largest and oldest legal cannabis market, mandatory testing was first enforced by state regulators in July 2018, and additional mandatory tests were introduced at the end of 2018. All cannabis must be tested and labeled as certified by a state-licensed cannabis testing laboratory before it can be legally marketed in California. Every batch that is sold by licensed retailers must be tested for more than 100 contaminants, including 66 pesticides with tolerance levels lower than the levels allowable for any other agricultural product in California. This paper estimates the costs of compliance with mandatory cannabis testing laws and regulations, using California's testing regime as a case study. We use state government data, data collected from testing laboratories, and data collected from lab equipment suppliers to run a set of Monte Carlo simulations and estimate the cost per pound of compliance with California's new cannabis testing regulations. We find that cost per pound is highly sensitive to average batch size and testing failure rates. We present results under a variety of different assumptions about batch size and failure rates. We also find that under realistic assumptions, the loss of cannabis that must be destroyed if a batch fails testing accounts for a larger share of total testing costs than does the cost of the lab tests. Using our best estimates of average batch size (8 pounds) and failure rate (4%) in the 2019 California market, we estimate testing cost at $136 per pound of dried cannabis flower, or about 10 percent of the reported average wholesale price of legal cannabis in the state. Our findings explain effects of the testing standards on the cost of supplying legal licensed cannabis, in California, other U.S. states, and foreign jurisdictions with similar testing regimes.

Composition and structure of synaptic ectosomes exporting antigen receptor linked to functional CD40 ligand from helper T cells.

Planar supported lipid bilayers (PSLB) presenting T cell receptor (TCR) ligands and ICAM-1 induce budding of extracellular microvesicles enriched in functional TCR, defined here as synaptic ectosomes (SE), from helper T cells. SE bind peptide-MHC directly exporting TCR into the synaptic cleft, but incorporation of other effectors is unknown. Here, we utilized bead supported lipid bilayers (BSLB) to capture SE from single immunological synapses (IS), determined SE composition by immunofluorescence flow cytometry and enriched SE for proteomic analysis by particle sorting. We demonstrate selective enrichment of CD40L and ICOS in SE in response to addition of CD40 and ICOSL, respectively, to SLB presenting TCR ligands and ICAM-1. SE are enriched in tetraspanins, BST-2, TCR signaling and ESCRT proteins. Super-resolution microscopy demonstrated that CD40L is present in microclusters within CD81 defined SE that are spatially segregated from TCR/ICOS/BST-2. CD40L+ SE retain the capacity to induce dendritic cell maturation and cytokine production.

Production Losses From an Endemic Animal Disease: Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) in Selected Midwest US Sow Farms.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is an endemic disease causing important economic losses to the US swine industry. The complex epidemiology of the disease, along with the diverse clinical outputs observed in different types of infected farms, have hampered efforts to quantify PRRS' impact on production over time. We measured the impact of PRRS on the production of weaned pigs using a log-linear fixed effects model to evaluate longitudinal data collected from 16 sow farms belonging to a specific firm. We measured seven additional indicators of farm performance to gain insight into disease dynamics. We used pre-outbreak longitudinal data to establish a baseline that was then used to estimate the decrease in production. A significant rise of abortions in the week before the outbreak was reported was the strongest signal of PRRSV activity. In addition, production declined slightly one week before the outbreak and then fell markedly until weeks 5 and 6 post-outbreak. Recovery was not monotonic, cycling gently around a rising trend. At the end of the study period (35 weeks post-outbreak), neither the production of weaned pigs nor any of the performance indicators had fully recovered to baseline levels. This result suggests PRSS outbreaks may last longer than has been found in most other studies. We assessed PRRS' effect on farm efficiency as measured by changes in sow production of weaned pigs per year. We translated production losses into revenue losses assuming an average market price of $45.2/weaned pig. We estimate that the average PRSS outbreak reduced production by approximately 7.4%, relative to annual output in the absence of an outbreak. PRRS reduced production by 1.92 weaned pigs per sow when adjusted to an annual basis. This decrease is substantially larger than the 1.44 decrease of weaned pigs per sow/year reported elsewhere.

A Review of Quantitative Tools Used to Assess the Epidemiology of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome in U.S. Swine Farms Using Dr. Morrison's Swine Health Monitoring Program Data.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) causes far-reaching financial losses to infected countries and regions, including the U.S. The Dr. Morrison's Swine Health Monitoring Program (MSHMP) is a voluntary initiative in which producers and veterinarians share sow farm PRRS status weekly to contribute to the understanding, in quantitative terms, of PRRS epidemiological dynamics and, ultimately, to support its control in the U.S. Here, we offer a review of a variety of analytic tools that were applied to MSHMP data to assess disease dynamics in quantitative terms to support the decision-making process for veterinarians and producers. Use of those methods has helped the U.S. swine industry to quantify the cyclical patterns of PRRS, to describe the impact that emerging pathogens has had on that pattern, to identify the nature and extent at which environmental factors (e.g., precipitation or land cover) influence PRRS risk, to identify PRRS virus emerging strains, and to assess the influence that voluntary reporting has on disease control. Results from the numerous studies reviewed here provide important insights into PRRS epidemiology that help to create the foundations for a near real-time prediction of disease risk, and, ultimately, will contribute to support the prevention and control of, arguably, one of the most devastating diseases affecting the North American swine industry. The review also demonstrates how different approaches to analyze and visualize the data may help to add value to the routine collection of surveillance data and support infectious animal disease control.

Using Machine Learning to Predict Swine Movements within a Regional Program to Improve Control of Infectious Diseases in the US.

Between-farm animal movement is one of the most important factors influencing the spread of infectious diseases in food animals, including in the US swine industry. Understanding the structural network of contacts in a food animal industry is prerequisite to planning for efficient production strategies and for effective disease control measures. Unfortunately, data regarding between-farm animal movements in the US are not systematically collected and thus, such information is often unavailable. In this paper, we develop a procedure to replicate the structure of a network, making use of partial data available, and subsequently use the model developed to predict animal movements among sites in 34 Minnesota counties. First, we summarized two networks of swine producing facilities in Minnesota, then we used a machine learning technique referred to as random forest, an ensemble of independent classification trees, to estimate the probability of pig movements between farms and/or markets sites located in two counties in Minnesota. The model was calibrated and tested by comparing predicted data and observed data in those two counties for which data were available. Finally, the model was used to predict animal movements in sites located across 34 Minnesota counties. Variables that were important in predicting pig movements included between-site distance, ownership, and production type of the sending and receiving farms and/or markets. Using a weighted-kernel approach to describe spatial variation in the centrality measures of the predicted network, we showed that the south-central region of the study area exhibited high aggregation of predicted pig movements. Our results show an overlap with the distribution of outbreaks of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, which is believed to be transmitted, at least in part, though animal movements. While the correspondence of movements and disease is not a causal test, it suggests that the predicted network may approximate actual movements. Accordingly, the predictions provided here might help to design and implement control strategies in the region. Additionally, the methodology here may be used to estimate contact networks for other livestock systems when only incomplete information regarding animal movements is available.

Measuring Progress on the Control of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) at a Regional Level: The Minnesota N212 Regional Control Project (Rcp) as a Working Example.

Due to the highly transmissible nature of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), implementation of regional programs to control the disease may be critical. Because PRRS is not reported in the US, numerous voluntary regional control projects (RCPs) have been established. However, the effect of RCPs on PRRS control has not been assessed yet. This study aims to quantify the extent to which RCPs contribute to PRRS control by proposing a methodological framework to evaluate the progress of RCPs. Information collected between July 2012 and June 2015 from the Minnesota Voluntary Regional PRRS Elimination Project (RCP-N212) was used. Demography of premises (e.g. composition of farms with sows = SS and without sows = NSS) was assessed by a repeated analysis of variance. By using general linear mixed-effects models, active participation of farms enrolled in the RCP-N212, defined as the decision to share (or not to share) PRRS status, was evaluated and used as a predictor, along with other variables, to assess the PRRS trend over time. Additionally, spatial and temporal patterns of farmers' participation and the disease dynamics were investigated. The number of farms enrolled in RCP-N212 and its geographical coverage increased, but the proportion of SS and NSS did not vary significantly over time. A significant increasing (p<0.001) trend in farmers' decision to share PRRS status was observed, but with NSS producers less willing to report and a large variability between counties. The incidence of PRRS significantly (p<0.001) decreased, showing a negative correlation between degree of participation and occurrence of PRRS (p<0.001) and a positive correlation with farm density at the county level (p = 0.02). Despite a noted decrease in PRRS, significant spatio-temporal patterns of incidence of the disease over 3-weeks and 3-kms during the entire study period were identified. This study established a systematic approach to quantify the effect of RCPs on PRRS control. Despite an increase in number of farms enrolled in the RCP-N212, active participation is not ensured. By evaluating the effect of participation on the occurrence of PRRS, the value of sharing information among producers may be demonstrated, in turn justifying the existence of RCPs.

Novel analytic tools for the study of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSv) in endemic settings: lessons learned in the U.S.

Since its emergence in the late 1980's, the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSv) has posed a significant challenge to the pig industry worldwide. Since then, a number of epidemiological tools have been created to support control and eventual elimination of the disease at the farm and regional levels. Still, many aspects of the disease dynamics are yet-to-be elucidated, such as what are the economically optimal control strategies at the farm and regional level, what is the role that the voluntary regional control programs may play, how to optimize the use of molecular tools for surveillance and monitoring in infected settings, what is the full impact of the disease in a farm, or what is the relative contribution of alternative transmission routes on the occurrence of PRRSv outbreaks. Here, we summarize a number of projects demonstrating the use of novel analytical tools in the assessment of PRRSv epidemiology in the United States. Results presented demonstrate how quantitative analysis of routinely collected data may help in understanding regional epidemiology of PRRSv and to quantify its full impact, and how the integration of phylodynamic methods as a standard tool for molecular surveillance of PRRSv might help to inform control and prevention strategies in high-risk epidemiological situations. Ultimately, these tools will help to support PRRSv control at farm and regional levels in endemically infected settings.

Environmental factors affect the spatial arrangement of survival and damage of outplanted nothofagus dombeyi seedlings in the chilean andes / Factores ambientales afectan el arreglo espacial de la sobrevida y daño en plantas transplantadas de nothofagus dombeyi en los andes chilenos / Fatores ambientais afetam o arranjo espacial da sobrevida e dano em plantas transplantadas de nothofagus dombeyi nos andes chilenos

Mortality patterns were analyzed in a one-year old Nothofagus dombeyi plantation at mid-elevation in the Chilean Andes. Ripley´s univariate function was used to detect spatial patterns of mortality and damage (as reflected in crown dieback) of seedlings by assigning them into four categories: no crown damage, 1/3 of the crown damaged, 2/3 of the crown damaged and dead. Through correspondence analysis, variables (plant attributes, topography, weed competition, neighboring vegetation and fertilization) that could affect mortality were tested. At the end of the first growing season 67% of the seedlings survived, and by the end of the following dormant season only 37% were alive. Mortality patterns were random for seedlings with 1/3 of the crown damaged, and clustered for all other categories. Environmental variables with the greatest influence on mortality were increasing distance to a neighboring 10m tall plantation, absence of tall vegetation cover and convex micro-topography. Results suggest that large temperature oscillations with events of freezing temperatures (defined as the reported lethal temperature for 50% of its leaves) during the growing season, and severe frost during the dormant season, were the main causes of mortality and damage. The convenience of providing seedlings with some shelter when outplanted, or with an appropriate cold-acclimation treatment to resist low freezing temperatures when outplanted in open fields in harsh cold regions of the south-central Andes is discussed.

Se analizaron los patrones de mortandad en una plantación de Nothofagus dombeyi de un año de edad a altura media en los Andes chilenos. La función univariada de Ripley fue utilizada para detectar patrones espaciales de mortalidad y daño de las plantas asumiendo cuatro categorías: sin daño en la copa, 1/3 de copa dañada, 2/3 de copa dañada y muerte. Las variables (atributos de la planta, topografía, competencia de maleza, vegetación vecina y fertilización) fueron probadas por análisis de correspondencia. Al final de la primera estación de crecimiento 67% de las plantas sobrevivieron y al final del siguiente período latente solo 37% sobrevivían. Los patrones de mortalidad fueron aleatorios en plantas con 1/3 de la copa dañada, y agrupados en las otras tres categorías. Las variables ambientales con la mayor influencia en mortalidad fueron: distancia a una plantación vecina de 10m de altura, ausencia de cobertura vegetal alta y microtopografía convexa. Los resultados sugieren que grandes variaciones de temperatura con eventos de congelamiento (definido como la temperatura reportada como letal para 50% de las hojas) en la estación de crecimiento y congelamiento severo en la estación de latencia fueron las causas principales de mortalidad y daño. Se discute la conveniencia de proteger las plantaciones transplantadas o de una aclimatación apropiada para resistir las bajas temperaturas en plantas transplantadas a campo abierto en zonas frías de los Andes chilenos sur-centrales.

Analisaram-se os padrões de mortalidade em uma plantação de Nothofagus dombeyi de um ano de idade a altura média nos Andes chilenos. A função univariada de Ripley foi utilizada para detectar padrões espaciais de mortalidade e dano das plantas assumindo quatro categorias: sem dano na coroa, 1/3 de coroa danificada, 2/3 de coroa danificada e morte. As variáveis (atributos da planta, topografia, competência de maleza, vegetação vizinha e fertilização) foram provadas por análise de correspondência. No final da primeira estação de crescimento 67% das plantas sobreviveram e no final do seguinte período latente somente 37% sobreviviam. Os padrões de mortalidade foram aleatórios em plantas com 1/3 da coroa danificada, e agrupados nas outras três categorias. As variáveis ambientais com a maior influência em mortalidade foram: distância a uma plantação vizinha de 10m de altura, ausência de cobertura vegetal alta e microtopografía convexa. Os resultados sugerem que grandes variações de temperatura com momentos de congelamento (definido como a temperatura relatada como letal para 50% das folhas) na estação de crescimento e, congelamento severo na estação de latência, foram as causas principais de mortalidade e dano. Discute-se a conveniência de proteger as plantações transplantadas ou de uma aclimatação apropriada para resistir as baixas temperaturas em plantas transplantadas a campo aberto em zonas frias dos Andes chilenos sul-centrais.

Resección córtico-focal en epilepsia lesional focal / Focal cortical resection in focal lesional epilepsy

Se presenta y analiza un protocolo en cirugía resectiva córtico-focal en epilepsias focales lesionales fármaco resistentes con lesión visible única a la neuroimagen, iniciado en el Instituto de Neurocirugía e Investigaciones Cerebrales Asenjo en 1990. Hasta la fecha se han operado 40 pacientes, 32 (80 porciento) niños, 8 (20 porciento) adultos. El área más frecuentemente intervenida fue el lóbulo temporal en 24 casos (60 porciento); la cirugía extratemporal se practicó en 16 pacientes, frontal en 11 y parietal en 5. No hubo mortalidad y 2 pacientes quedaron con secuela de defecto del campo visual

Criptococosis del sistema nervioso central en el niño / Cryptococosis of the central nervous system in children

Se describen 4 pacientes con infecciones del Sistema Nervioso Central causadas por criptococo neoformans, cuyas edades fluctúan entre 1 año 9 meses y 14 años. Tres de ellos con una forma meningoencefalítica y uno con forma granulomatosa.Se analizan las características clínicas, tipos de presentación, factores de riesgo, diagnóstico de laboratorio y tratamiento de la enfermedad. La revisión de publicaciones recientes de esta enfermedad indican un potencial aumento en el número de casos, dada la mayor frecuencia de SIDA y otras enfermedades o terapias que afectan el sistema inmunitario, aumentando el riesgo de infecciones oportunistas. Sin embargo un diagnóstico oportuno y tratamiento adecuado pueden mejorar el pronóstico

Aneurisma intrapetroso de la carótida interna: a propósito de un caso clínico / Intrapetrosal aneurysm of the internal carotid artery: apropos of a clinical case

Se presenta el caso de una niña de 10 años con una dilatación aneurismática fusiforme de toda la carótida interna intrapetrosa, que se manisfestó por dolor fronto-orbitario, tinnitus, parálisis del motor ocular externo, leve ptosis palpebral y sialorrea, estudiada mediante angiografía y TAC, tratada mediante la ligadura de la carótida interna en el cuello, con regresión completa de la sintomatología

Hematoma espontáneo del cerebelo: clínica y terapéutica / Spontaneous cerebellar hematoma: clinical aspects and treatment

Se analizan 7 casos de hematoma cerebeloso espontáneo diagnosticados con TAC desde noviembre de 1982 a la fecha. Se señalan las características clínicas de esta patología y su incidencia. Se enfatiza la necesidad de sospechar el diagnóstico y de estudio precoz con TAC de todo paciente con historia de accidente vascular endefálico, sin descuidar la fosa posterior. Se destaca que sólo en casos con ubicación medial del hematoma y de un tamaño mayor que 3 cm hubo hidrocefalia secundaria, que necesitó derivativa de urgencia. Sólo en un paciente hubo la necesidad de evacuación quirúrgica del hematoma. Estos fueron siempre a la resolución total, independientemente del tamaño y de la ubicación. Se propone que frente a un paciente ya diagnosticado, la conducta debe ser expectante, especialmente frente a la aparición de hidrocefalia que deberá derivarse o ante la aparición de signos de comprensión troncal que determinará la evacuación del hematoma