Seed germination in plant species consumed by opossums, genus Didelphis, was investigated in southern Brazil, in order to improve knowledge of the strategies of zoochorous plants in the Neotropics. Seeds were obtained from opossum feces. Thirteen of the most frequent species in the diet of local opossums were tested for germination rates and germination responses under different qualities (red/...

Climatic conditions should not hinder nutrient release from decomposing leaf-litter (mineralization) in the humid tropics, even though many tropical forests experience drought lasting from several weeks to months. We used a dry-season irrigation experiment to examine the effect of seasonal drought on nutrient concentrations in leaffall and in decomposing leaf-litter. In the experiment, soil in ...

Climate change impacts agricultural productivity and farmers’ income, integrated farming systems (IFS) provide a mechanism to cope with such impacts. The nature extent of climatic aberrations, perceived impact, adaptation strategies by the farmers reduce adverse effects climate on agriculture. Therefore, study was conducted investigate 2160 IFS about their perceptions change, barriers, likeliho...

While the current food security is fulfilled in China, the substantial nitrogen fertilizer use has caused many far-reaching environmental problems. Therefore, reforming the fertilizer management is the key toward sustainable agriculture for 1.3 billion people. The present study is intended to test the applicability of a nitrogen fertilizer management approach for corn production developed in U....

Using the guinea pig model, we have previously shown that the aerosol transmission of a seasonal human influenza virus is blocked by humid (80% relative humidity) or warm (30 degrees C) ambient conditions. In contrast, we found that transmission by a contact route proceeded at high efficiency despite increased temperature or humidity. Based on these findings, and the observed seasonal behavior ...

Crews on tankers traveling and hauling cargo on the lower reaches of the Mississippi River during the hot and humid (H&H) summer season face various occupational safety and ergonomics problems. Evaluation of medical data reveals that a large number of the crewmembers experience job related injuries, diseases, disorders, and exhaustion as a result of adverse environmental conditions (National In...

BORON (B) is a micronutrient element that plants require in trace amounts.The concentration range in which plants exhibit neither deficiency nor toxicity symptoms is narrower for B than for any other nutrient element. Plants can experience both B deficiency and B toxicity in a single growing season (Reisenauer et al., 1973). In humid regions, rainfall can cause excessive leaching of B, and fert...

This study looked at the influence of inspired air water content on exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB). On separate days, 12 mild asthmatics (4M, 8F), aged 18-39 yrs (mean: 27 yrs), performed four six minute steady-state exercises on ergometer at 80% of their maximum workload. Exercises were randomized to the following inspired air conditions: dry air (0% relative humidity (RH] during exercise...

Green tree frogs, Litoria caerulea, in the wet-dry tropics of northern Australia remain active during the dry season with apparently no available water and temperatures that approach their lower critical temperature. We hypothesized that this surprising activity might be because frogs that are cooled during nighttime activity gain water from condensation by returning to a warm, humid tree hollo...