Space-based observations of crustal deflections for drought characterization in Brazil.

Widespread environmental impacts of frequent drought episodes in Brazil have resulted in several drought-related diagnostics studies. However, the potential of many "opportunistic sensors", such as the Global Positioning System (GPS), has not yet been considered in hydrological hazard monitoring in Brazil. In this study, the response of the Earth's crust to Brazil's 2012-2015 drought event in different structural provinces is analyzed by comparing GPS-observed vertical crustal deformations (VCDs) with the terrestrial water storage (TWS) derived from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE). The results indicate that there is no spatial correlation between annual amplitudes of the TWS and VCDs in different structural provinces apart from the purely elastic response of the crust to TWS dynamics, at almost all the 39 GPS stations that were analyzed. However, approximately 15% of the monitoring stations show that VCD leads TWS with a phase lag of 2-4 months. Errors associated with VCD and TWS are within the accepted range for space geodetic techniques (i.e., GPS and GRACE) and despite the need for further investigation, the phase lead seems to be associated with rainfall, which impacts the TWS through the hydrographs. Overall, the GPS-based drought index (DIVCD) reflects the water depletion in many regions of Brazil, which agrees with the GRACE-based DITWS in terms of the Spearman correlation coefficient (ranging from 0.4 to 0.9) in the Amazon, Tocantins, La Plata, and São Francisco river basins. This agreement confirms the drought persistence during the study period and that DIVCD can be used to monitor hydrological droughts. In regions in which DITWS sufficiently agrees with DIVCD (48% of the sites), near real-time drought monitoring is feasible. This could be useful in the optimization of models for the forward prediction of drought events in other regions worldwide, where GPS vertical displacements strongly correlate with hydrological GRACE signals.

Evaluation of near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) techniques for total and phytate phosphorus of common poultry feed ingredients.

The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of estimating the total and phytate P content of common poultry feed ingredients by near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS). Samples of 8 plant-origin feedstuffs were collected from poultry producers in the USA and Canada during the summer of 2009: corn (133), soybean meal (114), corn distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS; 89), bakery by-product meal (95), wheat (22), wheat middlings (31), canola meal (21), and wheat shorts (15). The samples were assayed by standard wet chemical techniques for total and phytate P contents. There was considerable variation found in most of the ingredient components. The average values for the laboratory determinations versus NIRS predictions were all within 0.030 for total phosphorus and 0.012 for phytate P. For phytate P, the magnitude of the standard errors of the predictions ranged from 0.009% for soybean meal to 0.012% for canola meal. These values may be sufficiently precise for nutritionists to use the NIRS predictions to estimate how much of the P in their ingredients is not available to the birds. For total P, the magnitude of the standard errors of the predictions ranged from 0.027% for corn DDGS to 0.142% for wheat middlings. In general, total P predictions by NIRS were not generally sufficiently precise for most nutritionists to use in feed formulation. Decision making may be quite easy in using NIRS estimates for the phytate P content of bakery by-product meal [R(2) = 0.89 for predicted = f (determined)] but not for the total P content of soybean meal (R(2) = 0.03). It is concluded that precise estimates of phytate P through NIRS should allow nutritionists for more efficient formulate and mix feed, lowering feed costs and reducing the amount of residual polluting phosphorus in poultry excreta.

Northern Uganda and paradigms of HIV prevention: the need for social analysis.

In settings of armed conflict, traditional HIV prevention programmes that promote risk avoidance via abstinence and fidelity and risk reduction via condom use and needle exchange are not viable. In such contexts, HIV risk depends less on personal choice than on exposure to physical, emotional and structural violence. War in northern Uganda has created three realities (internally displaced people's camps, night commuters and child abductions) which increase vulnerability to HIV transmission. Based upon this analysis of northern Uganda, we offer a conceptual framework for HIV transmission in conflict settings that recognizes the importance of local and global context in creating vulnerability to HIV infection. This framework is then used to delineate strategies for HIV prevention in northern Uganda, namely the provision of a safe physical environment and access to education, medical and psychological support, and the promotion of conflict resolution strategies and human rights law.

Linking anthropological analysis and epidemiological evidence: formulating a narrative of HIV transmission in Acholiland of northern Uganda.

For twenty years, a region of northern Uganda known as Acholiland has been heavily affected by war, leading to the formation of internally displaced people's camps, rape, transactional sex and child abductions. While it is clear that the war has had onerous consequences for the health of the Acholi people, the specific impact of the war on HIV transmission remains unclear, as the epidemiological evidence presents an ambiguous picture of HIV prevalence patterns. Other than a few non-governmental organization reports, very little qualitative data exists about the impact of HIV on the Acholi population. Attempting to formulate a clearer narrative of HIV transmission in Acholiland, this paper jointly analyses the historical and political context of the Acholi people and the war, the epidemiologic evidence of HIV prevalence patterns, and the ethnographic perspectives of Acholi healthcare workers and patients living with HIV/AIDS. Juxtaposing these sources of information allows for the emergence of a rich understanding of HIV in Acholiland. It is argued that three specific forms of violence--physical, symbolic and structural--create vulnerability to HIV infection in Acholiland, although to variable degrees dependent on location. The ethnographic evidence presented regarding HIV's impact on Acholiland suggests that an incorporation of historical, political, cultural and social factors must form the backbone of efforts both to understand HIV transmission and design strategies for curbing the epidemic in war settings.

Central representation of the sympathetic nervous system in the cerebral cortex.

The sympathetic-related regions of the cerebral cortex were identified in rats after pseudorabies virus injections were made in functionally different targets: adrenal gland, stellate ganglion which regulates the heart, or celiac ganglion which innervates the gastrointestinal tract. Extensive transneuronal labeling was found in limbic system areas: (1) extended amygdaloid complex, (2) lateral septum, and (3) infralimbic, insular, and ventromedial temporal cortical regions (viz., ectorhinal cortex=Brodmann's area 36, perirhinal cortex=area 35, lateral entorhinal=area 28, and ventral temporal association cortex=Te3 region). Deep temporal lobe structures were prominently labeled, including the amygdalopiriform and amygdalohippocampal transition areas, ventral hippocampus and ventral subiculum. The cortical circuits mediating emotional-autonomic changes (i.e., mind-body control) are discussed.

Sympathetic-related neurons in the preoptic region of the rat identified by viral transneuronal labeling.

The viral transneuronal labeling method was used to localize sympathetic-related neurons in the preoptic region following pseudorabies virus (PRV) injections into either the superior cervical ganglion, stellate ganglion, celiac ganglion, or adrenal gland of rats. A general pattern of infection was detected. First, neuronal labeling was found in the medial preoptic area, medial preoptic nucleus, median preoptic nucleus, and lateral preoptic area, and then it spread to the anteroventral periventricular, anteroventral preoptic, and parastrial nuclei. Finally, the forebrain circumventricular organs: organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis (OVLT) and subfornical organ (SFO) became infected. Neuropeptide-containing preoptic neurons were analyzed following PRV injections in the stellate ganglion. Some thyrotropin-releasing hormone and neurotensin neurons were labeled, but none of the calcitonin gene-related peptide, cholecystokinin, corticotropin-releasing factor, galanin, luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone, enkephalin, substance P, or tyrosine hydroxylase neurons were PRV infected. Two major sympathetic networks appear to be represented in the preoptic region. One is linked to the OVLT, SFO, and anteroventral third ventricular (AV3V) region, sites previously implicated in fluid and electrolyte balance as well as cardiovascular control. The other descending sympathetic pathway appears to target the medial preoptic nucleus as its key nodal point, receiving inputs from infralimbic cortex and limbic regions, such as the lateral septum, medial nucleus of the amygdala, subiculum, and amygdalohippocampal area, and then, projecting caudally to the hypothalamus and brainstem. This second sympathetic network may subserve affiliative, defensive and sexual behaviors.

Prediction of sheep responses by near infrared reflectance spectroscopy.

Prediction of animal response from near infrared reflectance spectra of feeds was compared with predictions from chemical analyses. Sixty samples of pure and mixed forage-based diets were obtained from sheep intake and digestion trials. Sheep responses measured were digestible energy, dry matter intake, and calculated intake of digestible energy. Diets were analyzed chemically for protein, neutral detergent fiber, and in vitro dry matter disappearance. Coefficients of multiple determination and standard errors for fitting the sheep responses to these 60 diverse diets by regression equations developed from chemical analyses (.62 to .70) or spectra (.63 to .72) were similar. The 60 diets were divided into two sets of 30; one set was used to develop calibration equations for each sheep response, and the second set was used to test the equations. Calibration and errors of prediction were similar. When wavelengths chosen for each of the laboratory measurements were used to fit the sheep responses, standard errors were higher than when responses of sheep were predicted directly from spectra. The scanning instrument has the capability of predicting laboratory analyses and shows potential for predicting animal response as accurately as animal response can be predicted from laboratory analyses.