Life Cycle Thinking for the environmental and financial assessment of rice management systems in the Senegal River Valley.

Rice is a staple food in Senegal, which however imports more than 70% of the rice consumed annually to meet its domestic demand. Despite governmental efforts to increase rice self-sufficiency, both rice supply and yields remain low. Senegalese farmers face challenges related to irrigation infrastructure and fertiliser access, besides those derived from climate change. This study applies Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) combined with financial Life Cycle Costing (LCC) to evaluate alternative scenarios for rice management in the Senegal River Valley and identify sustainability hotspots and potential improvements. Specifically, rice cultivation in Ross Béthio (Saint Louis, Senegal) is assessed based on the observed agricultural practices during the dry seasons of 2016 and 2017. Two scenarios capturing conventional (CONV) and intensive (INT) practices are compared to two reference scenarios (SAED scenarios) according to the recommendations of the official agricultural advisory service. The INT scenario generates the lowest impacts per kg of paddy rice in seven out of thirteen impact categories, including climate change, freshwater and marine eutrophication, ozone depletion and water scarcity. This is due to the higher yields (7.4 t ha-1) relative to CONV (4.8 t ha-1) and the two reference SAED scenarios (6.0 t ha-1). The two latter scenarios show the lowest values in the remaining categories, although they also generate slightly lower profits than INT (138 € t-1 vs. 149 € t-1) due to increased labour costs for additional fertilisation treatments. The results from both LCA and LCC underline the importance of increasing yields to decrease environmental impacts and production costs of rice when estimated per kg of product. Well-designed fertiliser application doses and timing and increased mechanisation can deliver further environmental benefits. Additional improvements (e.g. in irrigation, crop rotations, straw management) could be considered to promote the long-term sustainability and profitability of rice production in Senegal. LCA in combination with financial LCC is identified as a decision-support tool for evaluating the sustainability of alternative crop management practices. Life Cycle Thinking can still benefit from experiential learning based on information exchange between farmers, researchers and extension agents to contribute to a sustainable agriculture and ultimately to food security in Africa.

Inexpensive metagenomic DNA extraction protocol with high quality from marine sediments contaminated by petroleum hydrocarbons.

Marine environments are a reservoir of relevant information on dangerous contaminants such as hydrocarbons, as well as microbial communities with probable degradation skills. However, to access microbial diversity, it is necessary to obtain high-quality DNA. An inexpensive, reliable, and effective metagenomic DNA (mgDNA) extraction protocol from marine sediments contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons was established in this study from modifications to Zhou's protocol. The optimization included pretreatment of sediment with saline solutions for the removal of contaminants, a second precipitation and enzymatic degradation of RNA, followed by purification of mgDNA extracted by electroelution. The results obtained indicated that the modifications applied to 12 sediments with total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) concentrations from 22.6-174.3 (µg/g dry sediment) yielded 20.3-321.3 ng/µL mgDNA with A260/A280 and A260/A230 ratios of 1.75 ± 0.08 and 1.19 ± 0.22, respectively. The 16S rRNA amplification confirmed the purity of the mgDNA. The suitability of this mgDNA extraction protocol lies in the fact that all chemical solutions utilized are common in all molecular biology laboratories, and the use of dialysis membrane does not require any sophisticated or expensive equipment, only an electrophoretic chamber.

Análisis de la fabilidad inter-sesión de las medias para la fuerza, potencia y velocidad en la realización de test-retest para press de banca / Confabilidade de força, potência e velocidade em um teste-Retest de um supino / Reliability of force, power and velocity in a test-Retest of a bench press

El propósito de este estudio fue analizar la fiabilidad inter-sesión de las medidas de carga (kg), fuerza pico (N), fuerza media (N), potencia media (W), potencia pico (W), velocidad media (m*s-1) y velocidad pico (m*s- 1) obtenidas en tres niveles distintos de intensidades (carga inicial, máxima potencia y repetición máxima) y a través de un protocolo incremental en press de banca en máquina Smith.). Dieciséis participantes (12 hombres y 4 mujeres) realizaron un test incremental hasta llegar a la 1RM en dos ocasiones diferentes, con un mínimo de 48 horas de recuperación. Todas las variables fueron registradas mediante un transductor de posición lineal. La fiabilidad test-retest fue medida mediante el índice de correlación intraclase (ICC2,1), el error estándar de la medida (SEM) y las mínimo cambio detectable con un 95% de probabilidad (MCD95% ). Para la carga inicial (CI), máxima potencia (MP) y la repetición máxima (RM). Los resultados mostraron altos valores de ICC en 1RM (ICC2,1= 0,96, SEM= 3,2 kg y MD= 9,9 kg). La potencia y velocidad pico y media presentaron valores altos de ICC (0,91-0,98) en la CI y valores moderados-altos (ICC2,1= 0,52-0,89) en las intensidades de MP y RM. El protocolo incremental realizado posee una adecuada fiabilidad test-retest tanto para la 1RM como para el resto de variables analizadas (AU)

The purpose of this study was to analyze the reliability of intersession measurements of load (kg), peak force (N), mean force (N), mean power (W), peak power (W), average velocity (m * s-1) and peak velocity (m * s-1) obtained at three different levels of intensity (initial load, maximum power and maximum repetition) through an incremental protocol on bench press in a Smith machine. Sixteen healthy subjects (12 males and 4 females) participated in this study voluntarily. Subjects performed an incremental test to reach 1RM on two separate occasions, with at least a 48-hour recovery. A linear position transducer was used to record mean and peak force, power and velocity. All variables were recorded using a customized software of the linear position transducer. The test-retest reliability was measured by the intraclass correlation index (ICC2,1), the standard error of measurement (SEM) and minimum detectable change with 95% probability (MCD95%) for the initial load (CI), maximum power (MP) and repetition maximum (RM). The reliability analysis showed high values in 1RM (ICC2,1 = 0.96, SEM = 3.2 kg and MD = 9,9 kg). Peak power and mean and peak velocity had high ICC values (0,91-0,98) in IL and moderate-high values (ICC2,1= 0,52-0,89) in the MP and 1RM loads. The incremental protocol performed has good reliability in 1RM as well as the rest of the variables calculated (AU)

O propósito deste estudo, foi analisar a finalidade inter-sessão das medidas de carga (kg), pico de força (N), força média (N), potência média (W), pico de potência (W), velocidade média (m*s-1) e pico de velocidade (m*s-1) obtidas em três níveis distintos de intensidades (carga inicial, potência máxima e repetição máxima) através de um protocolo incremental em supino plano na máquina smith. Dezesseis sujeitos (12 homens e 4 mulheres) participaram no estudo de forma voluntária. Os participantes realizaram o teste incremental até atingirem 1RM em duas ocasiões diferentes, com um intervalo mínimo de 48 horas de recuperação. Todas as variáveis foram registadas mediante um transdutor de posição linear. A fiabilidade foi medida com base no teste-reteste do índice de correlação intra-classe (ICC2,1), erro padrão de medição (SEM) diferença mínima detectável, com 95% de probabilidade (MDC95% ) para a carga inicial (CI), potência máxima (MP) e repetição máxima (RM). Os resultados apresentam altos valores de ICC no 1RM (ICC2,1= 0.96, SEM= 3,2 kg e MD= 9.9 kg). A potência e a velocidade máxima apresentaram valores altos de ICC (0.91-0.98) na CI e valores moderados-altos (ICC2,1= 0.52-0.89) nas intensidades de MP e RM. O protocolo incremental realizado apresenta uma adequada fiabilidade teste-reteste tanto para 1RM como para as restantes variáveis analisadas (AU)

Relationship between analytic values and canine obesity.

The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between canine body condition and metabolic parameters like serum lipids, blood glucose and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) concentrations. We selected 127 dogs (42 males and 85 females) that were taken to our veterinary medicine service during routine visits. The mean age was 6.67 +/- 5.24 years. Body condition (BC) was measured by Laflamme scale and dogs were considered as obese when BC score was over 6. The following variables were collected: total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, basal glucose and ALT. 66.1% of the dog cohort were obese. Total cholesterol and triglycerides were found to be higher (p < 0.05) in obese dogs with respect to normal weight dogs. In conclusion, obesity in dogs is associated with higher serum lipid levels.

TCF7L2 is associated with high serum triacylglycerol and differentially expressed in adipose tissue in families with familial combined hyperlipidaemia.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Common DNA variants of the transcription factor 7-like 2 gene (TCF7L2) are associated with type 2 diabetes. Familial combined hyperlipidaemia (FCHL) is characterised by hypertriacylglycerolaemia, hypercholesterolaemia, or both. Additionally, disturbances in glucose metabolism are commonly seen in FCHL. Therefore, we hypothesised that TCF7L2 may contribute to the genetic susceptibility for this common dyslipidaemia. METHODS: We investigated the effect of the TCF7L2 variants, rs7903146 and rs12255372, on FCHL and its component traits triacylglycerol (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and apolipoprotein B (ApoB) in 759 individuals from 55 Mexican families. As a replication sample, 719 individuals from 60 Finnish FCHL families were analysed. We also used quantitative RT-PCR to evaluate the transcript levels of TCF7L2 in 47 subcutaneous fat biopsies from unrelated Mexican FCHL and normolipidaemic participants. RESULTS: Significant evidence for association was observed for high TG for the T alleles of rs7903146 and rs12255372 (p = 0.005 and p = 0.01) in Mexican FCHL families. No evidence for association was observed for FCHL, TC, ApoB or glucose in Mexicans. When testing rs7903146 and rs12255372 for replication in Finnish FCHL families, these single nucleotide polymorphisms were associated with TG (p = 0.01 and p = 0.007). Furthermore, we observed statistically significant decreases in the mRNA levels (p = 0.0002) of TCF7L2 in FCHL- and TG-affected individuals. TCF7L2 expression was not altered by the SNP genotypes. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: These data show that rs7903146 and rs12255372 are significantly associated with high TG in FCHL families from two different populations. In addition, significantly decreased expression of TCF7L2 was observed in TG- and FCHL-affected individuals.

[Vertebral osteomyelitis associated with epidural block]. / Osteomielitis vertebral asociada a bloqueo epidural.

Infectious complications after epidural anesthesia are infrequent and the most common are epidural and subdural abscess. We report one rare case of vertebral osteomyelitus associated with an epidural catheter and review the literature.

Screening of potential antibiotic action of cellulolytic fungi.

Twenty different strains of filamentous fungi were initially selected for evaluation of cellulolytic activity using a single test in a simple mineral salts culture medium with filter paper as the only carbon source. Those fungi strains that were capable of completely breaking the filter paper strip within 4-8 d were assayed also for antimicrobial action, using Staphyloccocus aureus ATCC 6538P according to the so-called agar piece method. We screened three different strains with both capacities: the production of cellulolytic activity and antibiotic action. The experimental results suggest that the fungi Penicillium sp. F0PC01, Aspergillus sp. F0Q001, and Cephalosporium sp. F03800 have both capabilities because they grew rapidly on cellulose as the only carbon source and were able to produce an area of growth inhibition in S. aureus of approx 2.04, 1.57, and 2.39 cm, respectively, on agar plates using the agar piece method. Subsequently, the antibiotic production obtained with those cellulolytic strains was evaluated by submerged fermentation at the flask level, in a simple culture medium containing lactose without biosynthesis precursor, obtaining 3670, 2830, and 4060 antibiotic units/mL, referred to as penicillin G, whereas for cellulolytic activity, the results were 1.34, 1.81 and 0.57 FPU/mL, respectively.

Solid-phase extraction and GC/MS quantitation of cocaine, ecgonine methyl ester, benzoylecgonine, and cocaethylene from meconium, whole blood, and plasma.

A selective solid-phase extraction technique has been applied to the analysis of cocaine and selected cocaine metabolites in meconium, whole blood, and plasma. This technique uses a mixed-mode Bond Elut Certify column that utilizes the characteristics of hydrophobic and polar interactions and ion exchange chromatography. Following extraction, cocaine, ecgonine methyl ester, benzoylecgonine, and cocaethylene were identified and quantitated using GC/MS. Linear quantitative response curves have been generated for the metabolites over a concentration range of 0-1000 ng/g for meconium and 0-1000 ng/mL for whole blood and plasma. The overall extraction efficiencies, depending on the metabolite, were between 58.1 and 99.7% for meconium, 95.6 and 124.0% for blood, and 86.9 and 128.9% for plasma. Linear regression analyses of the standard curve for the four analytes exhibited correlation coefficients ranging from 0.850 to 0.946 for meconium, 0.939 to 0.993 for whole blood, and 0.981 to 0.996 for plasma. Because of its capability to detect cocaethylene in meconium, blood, and plasma, the procedure can be used to determine if drug exposure occurred during the latter stages of gestation and if it involved only cocaine or a combination of cocaine and ethanol.