Nuevos datos petrográficos, geoquímicos y geocronológicos del plutón de Reguengos de Monsaraz (Zona de Ossa Morena, SO del Macizo Ibérico, Portugal)

The Reguengos de Monsaraz pluton is a late to post-tectonic Variscan intrusion occurring in the Ossa Morena Zone (Iberian Variscan Chain). The dominant lithological types are tonalites and granodiorites, but the internal area of the massif is composed of gabbro-dioritic rocks. Field evidence shows that the intrusion is heterogeneous at mesoscopic scale suggesting that the emplacement of mafic and felsic magmas was contemporaneous. Petrographic and geochemical studies reveal that the different lithologic types define a continuous sequence with compositions varying from metaluminous to slightly peraluminous and a typical calc-alkaline signature. In Harker variation diagrams, it is possible to observe systematic rectilinear correlations pointing to the involvement of magma mingling/mixing processes in the petrogenesis of this sequence. Rb-Sr isotopic data, using a mineral-mineral pair from a granodiorite sample, yielded an age of 298 Ma, interpreted as a cooling age after igneous crystallization.El plutón de Reguengos de Monsaraz es una intrusión varisca tardi- a post- tectónica localizada en la Zona de Ossa Morena (Cadena Varisca Ibérica). Los tipos litológicos dominantes son las tonalitas y las granodioritas aunque la zona mas interna del macizo está formada por rocas gabro-dioríticas. Las evidencias de campo muestran que todos los tipos litológicos son heterogéneos a escala mesoscópica y sugeren que el emplazamiento de los magmas máficos y félsicos fue contemporáneo. Los estudios petrográficos y geoquímicos muestran que los diferentes litotipos definen una secuencia continua con una afinidad calcoalcalina típica y composiciones variando desde metaluminosas a peraluminosas. En los diagramas de Harker se observan correlaciones rectilíneas sistemáticas, lo que sugiere que la mezcla de magmas tuvo un papel decisivo en su petrogénesis. Los datos isotopicos de Rb-Sr, usando un par mineral-mineral de una granodiorita, da una edad de 298 Ma, que se interpreta como la edad del enfriamiento posterior a la cristalización ígnea

Effectiveness of Chitosan Films Impregnated With Ciprofloxacin for the Prophylaxis of Osteomyelitis in Open Fractures: An Experimental Study in Rats

Background: The systemic antimicrobial prophylaxis is the standard treatment in the prevention of osteomyelitis after open fractures, with topical application of antimicrobials as an alternative due to their high concentrations at the site of the fracture, low systemic concentrations and fewer side effects. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of prophylaxis of osteomyelitis through experimental model of open fractures with the use of chitosan films, whether or not impregnated with ciprofloxacin. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 24 Holtzman rats were distributed into 4 groups of 6 rats each. The CT (control of treatment) group: an open fracture model treated with systemic antimicrobial; the IC (infection control) group: an open fracture untreated model; the C (chitosan) group: an open fracture model treated using a chitosan film; and the CA (chitosan with antimicrobial) group: an open fracture model treated using a chitosan film impregnated with antimicrobial. After 3 weeks the animals were killed by an overdose of anesthetic, and a fragment osseous was removed for histological and microbiological analysis. The comparisons between the groups considered significant values of P ≤ 0.05. Results: In cultures of the CT group, there was less bacterial growth compared to the results of the cultures of the IC (P = 0.005), C (P = 0.005) and CA (P = 0.009) groups. The inflammation was lower in the CT group compared to the IC (P = 0.014), C (P = 0.001) and CA (P = 0.007) groups. Conclusions: In this experimental model of open fracture, the chitosan film pure or impregnated with ciprofloxacin was not effective in the prophylaxis of osteomyelitis

Rising rural body-mass index is the main driver of the global obesity epidemic in adults

Body-mass index (BMI) has increased steadily in most countries in parallel with a rise in the proportion of the population who live in cities 1,2 . This has led to a widely reported view that urbanization is one of the most important drivers of the global rise in obesity 3�6 . Here we use 2,009 population-based studies, with measurements of height and weight in more than 112 million adults, to report national, regional and global trends in mean BMI segregated by place of residence (a rural or urban area) from 1985 to 2017. We show that, contrary to the dominant paradigm, more than 55 of the global rise in mean BMI from 1985 to 2017�and more than 80 in some low- and middle-income regions�was due to increases in BMI in rural areas. This large contribution stems from the fact that, with the exception of women in sub-Saharan Africa, BMI is increasing at the same rate or faster in rural areas than in cities in low- and middle-income regions. These trends have in turn resulted in a closing�and in some countries reversal�of the gap in BMI between urban and rural areas in low- and middle-income countries, especially for women. In high-income and industrialized countries, we noted a persistently higher rural BMI, especially for women. There is an urgent need for an integrated approach to rural nutrition that enhances financial and physical access to healthy foods, to avoid replacing the rural undernutrition disadvantage in poor countries with a more general malnutrition disadvantage that entails excessive consumption of low-quality calories. © 2019, The Author(s)

Repositioning of the global epicentre of non-optimal cholesterol

High blood cholesterol is typically considered a feature of wealthy western countries1,2. However, dietary and behavioural determinants of blood cholesterol are changing rapidly throughout the world3 and countries are using lipid-lowering medications at varying rates. These changes can have distinct effects on the levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol, which have different effects on human health4,5. However, the trends of HDL and non-HDL cholesterol levels over time have not been previously reported in a global analysis. Here we pooled 1,127 population-based studies that measured blood lipids in 102.6 million individuals aged 18 years and older to estimate trends from 1980 to 2018 in mean total, non-HDL and HDL cholesterol levels for 200 countries. Globally, there was little change in total or non-HDL cholesterol from 1980 to 2018. This was a net effect of increases in low- and middle-income countries, especially in east and southeast Asia, and decreases in high-income western countries, especially those in northwestern Europe, and in central and eastern Europe. As a result, countries with the highest level of non-HDL cholesterol�which is a marker of cardiovascular risk�changed from those in western Europe such as Belgium, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Malta in 1980 to those in Asia and the Pacific, such as Tokelau, Malaysia, The Philippines and Thailand. In 2017, high non-HDL cholesterol was responsible for an estimated 3.9 million (95 credible interval 3.7 million�4.2 million) worldwide deaths, half of which occurred in east, southeast and south Asia. The global repositioning of lipid-related risk, with non-optimal cholesterol shifting from a distinct feature of high-income countries in northwestern Europe, north America and Australasia to one that affects countries in east and southeast Asia and Oceania should motivate the use of population-based policies and personal interventions to improve nutrition and enhance access to treatment throughout the world. © 2020, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited

Effect of tannery sludge on the cellulose decompostion in the soil

The effect of tannery sludge on the cellulose decomposition was studied in the laboratory as a dose-response experiment. Cellulose decomposition rates were determined by the weight loss from cellulose filter disks buried in soil samples. The amount of tannery sludge used were 0, 11, 22, 44, 88 and 172 Mg ha-1, and, corresponded, respectively, to incorporation of 250, 500, 1,000, 2,000 and 4,000 mg Cr3+ kg-1 of soil. The cellulose filter disks presented different degrees of decomposition with application of tannery sludge. After 30 days of incubation the cellulose decomposition rate, corresponding to application of 11, 22 and 44 Mg ha-1 were higher than soil untreated (control), respectively 5%, 20% and 10%, but the difference was only significant for the 22 Mg ha-1. There was a significant decrease of 50% in the cellulose decomposition, compared to untreated soil (control), with application of 172 Mg ha-1 of tannery sludge. This study has demonstrated that cellulolytic activities are susceptible to be inhibited by high rates of tannery sludge. When applied to low amounts, tannery sludge did not affect cellulose decomposition by the soil microflora. Key words: Industrial waste, soil microbial activity, dose-response ABSTRACT O efeito do lodo de curtume sobre a decomposição da celulose foi avaliado em laboratório. A taxa de decomposição da celulose foi determinada através da perda de peso de discos de celulose incorporados em amostras de solo. As quantidade de lodo de curtume usadas foram 0, 11, 22, 44, 88 e 172 Mg ha-1, e corresponderam, respectivamente, a incorporação de 250, 500, 1.000, 2.000 e 4.000 mg Cr-3+ kg-1 de solo. Os discos de celulose apresentaram diferentes graus de decomposição com a aplicação de lodo de curtume. Após 30 dias de incubação, as taxas de decomposição da celulose, correspondentes a aplicação de 11, 22 e 44 Mg ha-1 foram maiores que o solo não tratado (controle), respectivamente, 5%, 20% e 10%, mas a diferença somente foi significante para a aplicação de 22 Mg ha-1. Houve um significativo decréscimo de 50% na decomposição da celulose, comparado ao solo controle, com a aplicação de 172 Mg ha-1. Este estudo demonstrou que a atividade celulolítica é susceptível a inibição por altas doses de lodo de curtume. Aplicado em baixa quantidade, o lodo de curtume não afeta a decomposição da celulose pela microbiota do solo. Palavras-chave: Resíduos industriais, atividade microbiana do solo, dose-respost

EVALUATION OF TOXICITY OF TEXTILE SLUDGE COMPOST ON SEED GERMINATION AND ROOT ELONGATION OF SOYBEAN AND WHEAT

The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxicity of textile sludge compost on seed germination and root elongation of soybean and wheat. Aqueous extracts of the compost and textile sludge were prepared by shaking the sample with distilled water (1:2, w/v) and diluted to concentrations of 100%, 50%, 25%, 6.25% and 0% (control). The toxicity was evaluated on 10 seeds, in triplicate, exposed for 5 days, in the dark. The results show that the extract of textile sludge compost did not show inhibitory effects on the seed germination and root elongation of soybean and wheat. On the other hand, there were toxic effects of textile sludge extract to both soybean and wheat tested. The wheat presented more sensitivity to the extracts compared to the soybean. This preliminary study demonstrated that the composting process might be used to eliminate or decrease the biological toxicity of textile sludge. However, others studies is necessary for an complete evaluation of textile sludge compost before applying in soil. Key Words: Phytotoxicity, composting, seed germination, toxicity test. ABSTRACT O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a toxicidade de lodo têxtil compostado na germinação de sementes e alongamento de raiz de soja e trigo. Extratos aquosos do composto e do lodo têxtil foram preparados, através da agitação de amostras com água destilada (1:2, p/v), e diluídas para concentrações de 100%, 50%, 25%, 6,25% e 0% (controle). A fitotoxicidade dessas concentrações de extrato foi avaliada em 10 sementes, em triplicata, expostas durante cinco dias, no escuro. Os resultados mostraram que o extrato do composto não apresentou efeito inibitório sobre a germinação de sementes e alongamento das raizes de soja e trigo. Por outro lado, houveram efeitos tóxicos do extrato do lodo têxtil para ambas espécies testadas. O trigo apresentou maior sensibilidade aos extratos, comparado com a soja. Este estudo preliminar demonstra que a compostagem pode ser utilizada para eliminar ou diminuir a toxicidade biológica do lodo têxtil. Entretanto, outros estudos são necessários para avaliação completa do composto de lodo têxtil antes da sua aplicação no solo.. Palavras-Chave: Fitotoxicidade, compostagem, germinação de sementes, teste de toxicidad

Mineralogical Characterisation of Iron Ore Tailings by Integrated Mineral Analyser

Volume 4 Issue 8 (August 2016

INFLUÃNCIA DE DIFERENTES NÃVEIS DE NITROGÃNIO E FÃSFORO EM LEUCENA INOCULADA COM Rhizobium E FUNGO MICORRÃZICO ARBUSCULAR

Este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar os efeitos da adubação de N e P na formação de mudas de leucena inoculada com Rhizobium sp. e Fungo Micorrízico Arbuscular (FMA). Utilizando-se sacos de plásticos com solo fertilizados nos níveis de N (0, 20) e P (0, 20, 40). Foram usados Rhizobium sp. e uma mistura de FMA (Gigaspora margarita, Glomus etunicatum e Scutellospora nigra). Os resultados demonstraram que, a adubação com nitrogênio inibiu a atuação da bactéria na fixação do nitrogênio em relação à altura de plantas, peso seco da parte aérea e raiz. Ainda em relação ao peso seco da parte aérea e raiz o nível de 20 Kg de N e P foi quem apresentou um melhor desempenho. Em relação ao número de nódulos, a presença do FMA contribuiu para uma maior nodulação pela bactéria introduzida, incrementando a fixação de nitrogênio. Concluímos que a dupla inoculação da bactéria e FMA contribuiu de forma direta na fixação e nodulação podendo ser uma alternativa para diminuir a adubação de Nitrogênio e Fósforo. Palavras-Chave: Adubação, Fixação de Nitrogênio, Nodulação. ABSTRACT The objective of this research evaluate the effects of the fertilization of N and P in the leucena seedlings persons formation inoculated with Rhizobium sp. and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF). It was used polyetilene containers with fertilized soil on level polyetilene containers with soil fertilized on levels of N (0, 20) and P (0, 20, 40). It was used Rhizobium sp. and a blend of AMF (Gigaspora margarita, Glomus etunicatum and Scutellospora nigra). The results pointed out that fertilization with nitrogen inhibited the performance of the bacteria in the fixation of the nitrogen in relation of the plants height, dry weight of the aerial part and root. Still in relation to the dry weight of the aerial part and root the level of 20 Kg of N and P were who presented a better acting. About the number of nodules, the presence of AMF get increasing nodulation for the introduced bacteria, increasing the fixation of nitrogen. We concluded that the double inoculation bacteria and AMF contributed directly on the fixation and nodulation would be an alternative to decrease the fertilization of Nitrogen and Phosphorus. Key-Word: Fertilization, Nitrogen Fixation, Nodulatio

The generation and utilization of a cancer-oriented representation of the human transcriptome by using expressed sequence tags.

Whereas genome sequencing defines the genetic potential of an organism, transcript sequencing defines the utilization of this potential and links the genome with most areas of biology. To exploit the information within the human genome in the fight against cancer, we have deposited some two million expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from human tumors and their corresponding normal tissues in the public databases. The data currently define approximately 23,500 genes, of which only approximately 1,250 are still represented only by ESTs. Examination of the EST coverage of known cancer-related (CR) genes reveals that <1% do not have corresponding ESTs, indicating that the representation of genes associated with commonly studied tumors is high. The careful recording of the origin of all ESTs we have produced has enabled detailed definition of where the genes they represent are expressed in the human body. More than 100,000 ESTs are available for seven tissues, indicating a surprising variability of gene usage that has led to the discovery of a significant number of genes with restricted expression, and that may thus be therapeutically useful. The ESTs also reveal novel nonsynonymous germline variants (although the one-pass nature of the data necessitates careful validation) and many alternatively spliced transcripts. Although widely exploited by the scientific community, vindicating our totally open source policy, the EST data generated still provide extensive information that remains to be systematically explored, and that may further facilitate progress toward both the understanding and treatment of human cancers