Band atrophy leads to mRNFL and RGCL+ thinning, and INL thickening, and mRNFL and RGCL+ measurements are correlated strongly with VF loss. Segmented macular thickness measurements may be useful for quantifying neuronal loss in chiasmal compression.

The environmental benefits of producing biofuels from sugarcane have been questioned due to greenhouse gas emissions during the biomass production stage, especially nitrous oxide (N 2 O) associated with nitrogen (N) fertilization. The objective of this work was to evaluate the use of nitrification inhibitors (NIs) dicyandiamide (DCD) and 3,4 dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) and a controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) to reduce N 2 O emissions from urea, applied at a rate of 120 kg ha -1 of N. Two field experiments in ratoon cycle sugarcane were performed in Brazil. The treatments were (i) no N (control), (ii) urea, (iii) urea+DCD, (iv) urea+DMPP, and (v) CRF. Measurements of N 2 O fluxes were performed using static chambers with four replications. The measurements were conducted three times per week during the first 3 mo and biweekly afterward for a total of 217 and 382 d in the first and second seasons, respectively. The cumulative N 2 O-N emissions in the first ratoon cycle were 1098 g ha -1 in the control treatment and 1924 g ha -1 with urea (0.7% of the total N applied). Addition of NIs to urea reduced N 2 O emissions by more than 90%, which did not differ from those of the plots without N. The CRF treatment showed N 2 O emissions no different from those of urea. The results were similar in the second ratoon: the treatment with urea showed N 2 O emissions of 0.75% of N applied N. Application of NIs resulted in a strong reduction in N 2 O emissions, but CRF increased emissions compared with urea. We therefore conclude that both NIs can be options for mitigation of greenhouse gas emission in sugarcane used for bioenergy.

Multifocal visual evoked potential amplitude parameters were able to differentiate eyes with temporal hemianopia from controls and were significantly correlated with VF and OCT findings, suggesting mfVEP is a useful tool for the detection of visual abnormalities in patients with chiasmal compression.

Certain concentration of metal may influence survival in embryonic stages, reducing the birthrate and hatching emergence. This study aimed to evaluate concentration of metal in eggs and hatchlings of Dermochelys coriacea and correlate metal concentrations in eggs with hatching and emergence success. The samples were collected at Biological Reserve Station, ES, Brazil. At the nests' opening, unhatched eggs and stillborn hatchlings were collected to survey the successful hatching and emergence of D. coriacea. The eggs shell, egg content, and dead hatchlings metal concentrations were compared to hatching and emergence success. A positive correlation was found between the concentration of copper (Cu) in the hatchlings and the success of the emergence (r2 = .28, p < .05), and a moderate positive correlation between the concentrations of iron (Fe) and barium (Ba; r2 = .44, p < .05) and success hatching. The concentrations of metals in eggs and hatchlings of D. coriacea in the Espírito Santo are below the levels that could be considered harmful to the species. In summary, there is a positive correlation between metals levels and hatching and emergence success.

Purpose To evaluate the ability of confocal near-infrared reflectance (NIR) to diagnose retrograde microcystic maculopathy (RMM) in eyes with temporal visual field (VF) loss and optic atrophy from chiasmal compression. To compare NIR findings with optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings in the same group of patients. Methods Thirty-four eyes (26 patients) with temporal VF loss from chiasmal compression and 41 healthy eyes (22 controls) underwent NIR fundus photography, and macular OCT scanning. VF loss was estimated and retinal layers thickness were measured on OCT. Two examiners blinded to the diagnosis randomly examined NIR images for the presence of hyporeflective abnormality (HA) and OCT scans for the presence of microcystic macular abnormalities (MMA). The total average and hemi-macular HA area and number of microcysts were determined. The groups were compared and the level of agreement was estimated. Results The OCT-measured macular retinal nerve fiber and ganglion cell layers were thinner and the inner nuclear layer was thicker in patients compared to controls. HA and MMA were detected in 22 and 12 patient eyes, respectively, and in 0 controls (p<0.001, both comparisons). HA was significantly more frequent than MMA in patients with optic atrophy, and agreement between HA and MMA (both total and hemi-macular) was fair (kappa range: 0.24–0.29). The mean HA area was significantly greater in the nasal than temporal hemi-macula. A re-analysis of the 14 eyes with discrepant findings allowed to confirm RMM in 20 eyes (20/34) indicating that OCT detected RMM in 12 and missed it in 8 eyes. On the other hand, NIR correctly detected 18 out of 20 eyes, overcalled 4 and missed 2. Conclusions RMM is a frequent finding in eyes with severe VF loss from long-standing chiasmal compression. NIR photography appears to be more sensitive than OCT for detecting RMM and may be useful as screening method for its presence.