RESUMEN La estimación precisa de la evapotranspiración (ET) es esencial para gestionar el riego en cultivos, pero no es una tarea fácil. Las metodologías empíricas de ET requieren mediciones precisas de la radiación neta (Rn) para obtener resultados confiables. Sin embargo, estas mediciones no son rutinarias en las estaciones meteorológicas. Este trabajo exploró el uso de aprendizaje automático para estimar la ET diaria con dos sustitutos de Rn: la radiación solar extraterrestre (Ra) y la Rn modelada (RnM). Se utilizó Support Vector Machine (SVM), Kernel Ridge (KR), Decision Tree (DT), Adaptive Boosting (AB) y Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) para modelar observaciones de FLUXNET. Adaptive Boosting brindó los mejores resultados con observaciones de Rn (RnO), con un valor para la raíz del error cuadrático medio de aproximadamente el 16 % de Rn medio observado. La Rn resultante (AB RnM) se utilizó para modelar la ET, usando RnO, AB RnM y Ra, junto a variables meteorológicas y el índice NDVI. Los métodos evaluados estimaron adecuadamente la ET, arrojando errores similares a los obtenidos con RnO, cuando se contrastan con las observaciones de ET. Estos resultados demuestran que AB y KR son aplicables con datos rutinarios meteorológicos y de satélite para estimar la ET.

SUMMARY Accurate evapotranspiration (ET) estimation is essential for water management in crops, but it is not an easy task. Empirical ET methodologies require precise net radiation (Rn) measurements to obtain accurate results. Nevertheless, Rn measurements are not easy to obtain from meteorological stations. Thus, this study explored the use of machine learning algorithms with two Rn substitutes, to estimate daily ET: the extraterrestrial solar radiation (Ra) and a modelled Rn (RnM). Support Vector Machine (SVM), Kernel Ridge (KR), Decision Tree (DT), Adaptive Boosting (AB), and Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) were applied to model FLUXNET Rn and ET observations. Adaptive Boosting produced the best field Rn measurements (RnO), yielding a Root Mean Square Error of about 16 % of the mean observed Rn. The resulting Rn (AB RnM) was used to model daily crops ET employing the above-mentioned machine learning methods with RnO, AB RnM, and Ra, in conjunction with meteorological variables and the NDVI index. The evaluated methods were suitable to estimate ET, yielding similar errors to those obtained with RnO, when contrasted with ET observations. These results demonstrate that AB and KR are applicable with rutinary meteorological and satellite data to estimate ET.

O artigo descreve e documenta o importante papel e a influência do Hospital Real de Todos-os-Santos na formação de físicos e cirurgiões licenciados para serviço no mundo lusófono. Durante o século XVII e a primeira metade do século XVIII, até ao terramoto de 1755, o Hospital Real de Todos-os-Santos em Lisboa (que oferecia instrução formal na prática da medicina), em conjunto com o antiquado curriculum medieval da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Coimbra, foram os únicos centros de treino médico estruturado em Portugal. Este facto teve sérias implicações no tratamento e práticas médicas convencionais. Mesmo na época iluminista em Portugal, o treino oficial destes licenciados era, na melhor das possibilidades, limitado e inadequado. O Hospital foi o principal local de treino das artes médicas durante o final do século XVII e a primeira metade do século XVIII, estando mais aberto às inovações em técnicas cirúrgicas e em medicina aplicada; foi aí que ocorreram as mais inovadoras técnicas oficiais de ensino médico em Portugal até ao final do reinado de D. João V. Como exemplos, a construção de uma ala isolada especialmente equipada para doentes mentais, e experiências com medicamentos para doenças tropicais, muitas vezes com base em medicina indígena importada do império colonial.

This article describes and documents the important role and influence of the Todos-os-Santos Royal Hospital in producing trained, licensed physicians and surgeons for service in the Lusophone world. During the seventeenth and the first half of the eighteenth centuries, until to the 1755 earthquake, the Todos-os-Santos Royal Hospital in Lisbon (which offered formal instruction in practical medicine), along with the antiquated medieval curriculum of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra, were the only medical training centers structured in Portugal. This had serious implications for conventional medical treatment and practices. Even in Enlightenment era, in Portugal, training for state- -licensed healers was, at best, limited and inadequate. The Hospital was the main practical training facility for the medical arts during the late seventeenth and first half of the eighteenth century, and was more open to innovations of surgical technique and applied medicines; it was there that the most innovative official medical teaching in Portugal occurred until the end of the reign of Dom João V. For example, the hospital boasted of a separate ward built and staffed especially for the mentally ill, and experimented with remedies for tropical diseases, often with indigenous medicines imported from the colonial empire.

Resumo Stiretrus decastigmus (Herrich-Schaeffer) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) é um importante predador do inseto-praga Microtheca ochroloma Stal (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar o desenvolvimento pré-imaginal de S. decastigmus em diferentes temperaturas. Foram utilizadas as temperaturas de 20, 25, e 30 °C, umidade relativa do ar de 70 ± 10% e fotofase de 12 h, sendo as ninfas alimentadas com larvas de M. ochroloma. Foram avaliados a duração e viabilidade dos estágios de ovo e ninfa, a duração de cada instar e o potencial de predação. O período de incubação diminuiu com o aumento da temperatura e apresentou maior viabilidade a 25 °C. A duração do estágio ninfal foi inversamente proporcional a temperatura com 18 dias a 30 °C e 40,6 dias a 20 °C. A maior taxa de predação de S. decastigmus foi encontrada a 20 °C (90,4 larvas) e 30 °C (72,5 larvas). S. decastigmus teve maior viabilidade e menor consumo de larvas de M. ochroloma a 25 °C.

Abstract Stiretrus decastigmus (Herrich-Schaeffer) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is an important predator of the insect pest Microtheca ochroloma Stal (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). The present study investigated the pre-imaginal development of S. decastigmus at different temperatures. The temperatures were: 20, 25, and 30 °C, with a relative humidity of 70 ± 10% and a photofase of 12 h, and the nymphs were fed larvae of M. ochroloma. We evaluated the duration and viability of the egg and nymphal stages, the duration of each instar, and the predation potential. The incubation time decreased with increasing temperature, and the viability was highest at 25 °C. The duration of the nymphal stage was inversely proportional to the temperature, ranging from 18 days at 30 °C to 40.6 days at 20 °C. The highest S. decastigmus predation rates were found at 20 °C (90.4 larvae) and 30 °C (72.5 larvae). S. decastigmus showed the highest viability and lowest consumption of larvae of M. ochroloma at 25 °C.

Raising a child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a stressful experience and has been associated with poor maternal mental health and increased maternal emotional distress. However, the experiences of fathers of children with ASD are largely unexplored and the coping strategies these men employ to cope with the challenges they face have received little research attention. This research aimed to explore the phenomenological experiences of fathers of preschool children with ASD by gaining a better understanding of the manner in which these individuals attempted to cope with their situation. A multiple, single-case study design was employed and five participants were recruited via two local paediatric practices. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the participants and data were analysed making use of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). This analysis yielded three superordinate themes, which were labelled as follows: (a) the experience of fathering a child with ASD, (b) challenges of fathering a child with ASD, and (c) coping with fathering a child with ASD. The results suggest that the fathers of children with ASD experience their parental role as stressful. The participants in the current study related the stress they experienced to a number of challenges associated directly with their children's behaviour, as well as to the effects that parenting a child with ASD had on their own wellbeing and functioning. The participants reported making use of a number of coping strategies in order to deal with the challenges they faced. The participants used both problem-focussed and avoidant coping strategies. The results are discussed and recommendations made with regard to future research.

This report looks at the group of patients who required a laparotomy for blunt torso trauma at a busy metropolitan trauma service in South Africa. METHODS: A prospective trauma registry is maintained by the surgical services of the Pietermaritzburg metropolitan complex. This registry is interrogated retrospectively. All patients who required admission for blunt torso trauma over the period September 2006 - September 2007 were included for review. Proformas documenting mechanism of injury, age, vital signs, blood gas, delay in presentation, length of hospital stay, intensive care unit stay and operative details were completed. RESULTS: A total of 926 patients were treated for blunt trauma by the Pietermaritzburg metropolitan services during the period under consideration. A cohort of 65 (8%) required a laparotomy for blunt trauma during this period. There were 17 females in this group. The mechanisms of injury were motor vehicle accident (MVA) (27), pedestrian vehicle accident (PVA) (21), assault (5), fall from a height (3), bicycle accident (6), quad bike accident (1) and tractor-related accident (2). The following isolated injuries were discovered at laparotomy: liver (9), spleen (5), diaphragm (1), duodenum (2), small bowel (8), mesentery (8), bladder (10), gallbladder (1), stomach (2), colon/rectum (2) and retrohepatic vena cava (1). The following combined injuries were discovered: liver and diaphragm (2), spleen and pancreas (1), spleen and liver (2), spleen, aorta and diaphragm (1), spleen and bladder (1) and small bowel and bladder (2). Eighteen patients in the series (26%) required relaparotomy. In 10 patients temporary abdominal containment was needed. The mortality rate was 26% (18 patients). There were 6 deaths from massive bleeding, all within 6 hours of operation, and 3 deaths from renal failure; the remaining 9 patients died of multiple organ failure. There were 8 negative laparotomies (7%). In the negative laparotomy group false-positive computed tomography (CT) scan findings were a problem in 3 cases, in 1 case hypotension and a fractured pelvis on admission prompted laparotomy, and in the other cases clinical findings prompted laparotomy. All patients who underwent negative laparotomy survived. There were 10 pelvic fractures, 5 lower limb fractures, 2 spinal injuries, 4 femur fractures and 2 upper limb fractures. CT scans were done in 25 patients. In 20 patients the systolic blood pressure on presentation was <90 mmHg and in 41 the pulse rate was >110 beats/min. In 16 patients there was a base excess of <-4 on presentation. CONCLUSION: Laparotomy is needed in less than 10% of patients who sustain blunt abdominal trauma. Solid visceral injury requiring laparotomy presents with haemodynamic instability. Hollow visceral injury has a more insidious presentation and is associated with a delay in diagnosis. CT scan is the most widely used investigation in blunt abdominal trauma. It is both sensitive and specific for solid visceral injury, but its accuracy for the diagnosis of hollow visceral injury is less well defined. Clinical suspicion must be high, and hollow visceral injury needs to be actively excluded.

OBJECTIVE: Estimates of vaccination costs usually provide only point estimates at national level with no information on cost variation. In practice, however, such information is necessary for programme managers. This paper presents information on the variations in costs of delivering routine immunization services in three diverse districts of Peru: Ayacucho (a mountainous area), San Martin (a jungle area) and Lima (a coastal area). METHODS: We consider the impact of variability on predictions of cost and reflect on the likely impact on expected cost-effectiveness ratios, policy decisions and future research practice. All costs are in 2002 prices in US$ and include the costs of providing vaccination services incurred by 19 government health facilities during the January-December 2002 financial year. Vaccine wastage rates have been estimated using stock records. FINDINGS: The cost per fully vaccinated child ranged from US$ 16.63-24.52 in Ayacucho, US$ 21.79-36.69 in San Martin and US$ 9.58-20.31 in Lima. The volume of vaccines administered and wastage rates are determinants of the variation in costs of delivering routine immunization services. CONCLUSION: This study shows there is considerable variation in the costs of providing vaccines across geographical regions and different types of facilities. Information on how costs vary can be used as a basis from which to generalize to other settings and provide more accurate estimates for decision-makers who do not have disaggregated data on local costs. Future studies should include sufficiently large sample sizes and ensure that regions are carefully selected in order to maximize the interpretation of cost variation.

OBJETIVO: Las estimaciones de los costos de la vacunación sólo suelen proporcionar datos puntuales referidos al ámbito nacional sin ninguna información sobre la variación de los costos. En la práctica, sin embargo, los gestores de programas necesitan ese tipo de datos. En este artículo se presenta información sobre la variación de los costos de la prestación de servicios de inmunización sistemática en tres distritos del Perú: Ayacucho (una zona montañosa), San Martin (una zona selvática) y Lima (una zona costera). MÉTODOS: Examinamos la repercusión de la variabilidad en las predicciones del costo y evaluamos el impacto probable en las relaciones costo-eficacia previstas, las decisiones de política y las prácticas de investigación futuras. Todos los costos se expresan como precios de 2002 en US$ e incluyen los gastos en prestación de servicios de vacunación efectuados por 19 centros de salud públicos durante el ejercicio de enero a diciembre de 2002. Las tasas de desperdicio de vacunas se calcularon a partir de los registros de existencias. RESULTADOS: El costo por niño totalmente vacunado se situó en los márgenes de US$ 16,63-24,52 en Ayacucho, US$ 21,79-36,69 en San Martin, y US$ 9,58-20,31 en Lima. El volumen de vacuna administrada y las tasas de desperdicio son los factores determinantes de la variación de los costos de la prestación de servicios de inmunización sistemática. CONCLUSIÓN: Este estudio muestra que los costos de la administración de vacunas varían de forma considerable entre regiones geográficas y entre diferentes establecimientos. La información sobre el grado de variación de los costos puede servir de base para generalizar a otros entornos y ofrecer estimaciones más precisas a los decisores que no disponen de datos desglosados sobre los gastos locales. Es necesario que los estudios que se hagan en el futuro utilicen muestras suficientemente grandes y seleccionen las regiones con sumo cuidado para optimizar la interpretación de la variación de los costos.

OBJECTIF: Les estimations des coûts de vaccination ne fournissent habituellement que des chiffres ponctuels à l'échelon national, sans information sur les variations subies par ces coûts. Dans la pratique cependant, de telles informations sont nécessaires aux gestionnaires de programmes. Le présent article apporte des informations sur les variations subies par les coûts des services de vaccination systématique de trois districts péruviens différents : Ayacucho (zone de montagnes), San Martin (zone de jungle) et Lima (région côtière). MÉTHODES: Nous examinons l'incidence de cette variabilité sur les prévisions en matière de coûts et présentons son impact probable sur les rapports coût-efficacité attendus, les décisions politiques et les travaux de recherche futurs. Tous les coûts sont exprimés en US$ 2002 et incluent les coûts d'administration des vaccins supportés par les services de vaccination de 19 établissements de santé publics au cours de l'exercice financier janvier-décembre 2002. Les taux de gaspillage des vaccins ont été estimés à partir des registres de stock. RÉSULTATS: Le coût par enfant entièrement vacciné va de US$ 16,63-24,52 à Ayacucho, de US$ 21,79-36,69 à San Martin et de US$ 9,58-20,31 à Lima. Le volume de vaccins administrés et les taux de gaspillage constituent des paramètres déterminants dans la variation des coûts des services de vaccination systématique. CONCLUSION: Cette étude montre qu'il existe des variations considérables dans les coûts d'administration des vaccins d'une région géographique à l'autre et d'un type d'établissement à l'autre. Les informations relatives au mode de variation des coûts sont utilisables comme base pour opérer des généralisations à d'autres situations et fournir des estimations plus exactes à l'intention des décideurs qui ne disposent pas de données désagrégées sur les coûts locaux. Les études futures devraient porter sur des échantillons de taille suffisante et s'assurer d'un choix judicieux des régions pour optimiser l'interprétation des variations de coût.

High spin states in the neutron rich 188Os and 190Os nuclei have been populated using the 82Se + 192Os deepinelastic reaction. The level schemes are extended up to spin I <FONT FACE=Symbol>»</FONT>21. The observed new structures are tentatively interpreted as fragments of rotational bands built on multi-quasiparticle configurations.

Entre 1991 e 1995 a composição das macrófitas aquáticas da porção inferior do reservatório da hidrelétrica de Balbina foi observada. Após o fechamento do lago pela barragem em 1987 a cobertura do lago por macrófitas aquáticas, principalmente por Eichhornia crassipes, foi alta, mas não existem dados quantitativos. A partir de 1990 a redução da cobertura foi rápida, e notou-se uma sucessão nítida e consistente em diversas áreas do lago: Eichhornia ® Utricularia e Cyperaceae ® Salvinia. As ciperáceas e outras plantas menos dominantes foram associadas com madeiras flutuantes provenientes da floresta emergente em decomposição. O monitoramento contínuo das condições químicas da água (1983 - presente) sugere que a sucessão é o resultado de um período relativamente curto de eutrofização, seguido por um declínio rápido do teor de nutrientes. Devido as variações anuais do nível d'água, a faixa marginal das ilhas e dos igarapés inundados é caraterizada por solos relativamente ricos, graças à decomposição periódica de plantas terrestres inundadas na cheia, e de macrófitas aquáticas na seca. Portanto, espera-se que o lago, com suas milhares de ilhas e igarapés inundados, sustente uma certa produtividade pesqueira, apesar do baixo nível de nutrientes do lago.

Between 1991 and 1995 aquatic macrophyte composition was observed in the lower part of the reservoir of the hydroelectric power plant of Balbina (Amazonas, Brazil). After closure of the dam in 1987, vegetation cover - mostly Eichhornia crassipes - was high, but was not quantified. After 1990 it declined rapidly with a characteristic succession pattern: Eichhornia ® Vincularia + Cyperaceae ® Salvinia. The Cyperaceae, and many other less dominant species, were mostly associated with drift wood, produced by the decomposing, emergent forest. Comparison of the chemical data of the Uatumã river before the construction of the dam (1983) with those of later years (1989 - 1995) suggests that the succession was the result of a relatively mild and short period of eutrophication, followed by declining nutrient levels. Annual variation of water levels, followed by aquatic and terrestrial decomposition of the marginal vegetation, may allow for the maintenance of relatively productive vegetation belts along the shore lines of islands and inundated stream valleys.