NASA DC-8 airborne research laboratory

Since the summer of 1987, NASA Ames Research Center has been operating a DC-8 equipped with CFM 56 engines as a flying research laboratory. In this relatively short time, the DC-8, with its tremendous capabilities, has made significant contributions to numerous scientific fields. Capable of staying aloft for over 12 hours, the DC-8 has flown directly over both the North and South Poles, gathering data relating to the ozone hole. Operating from a few thousand feet to over 40,000 feet above sea level the interchangeable payload capability of the DC-8 has made it a versatile scientific tool. The DC-8 also plays a vital role in the development of new satellite-borne sensors as very often those sensors are test-flown on the DC-8 before they are launched into space. The tremendous range and instrument carrying capability make the DC-8 an ideal flying laboratory. A few of the programs the DC-8 has participated in as well as a sampling of the instruments carried are outlined

The Arthroscopic Ulnohumeral Arthroplasty: From Mini-Open to Arthroscopic Surgery

In cubarthritis—osteoarthritis of the elbow—surgical procedures may be considered to debride the elbow joint to reduce pain, to increase mobility, and to postpone joint replacement surgery. The ulnohumeral arthroplasty as described by Outerbridge and Kashiwagi was originally introduced to debride both anterior and posterior elbow compartments through a direct posterior mini-open approach. To achieve this, a distal humeral fenestration throughout the humeral fossa is performed. Although with an elbow arthroscopy, a technique that was obviously developed later on, all compartments can be easily visualized. The arthroscopic fenestration of the humerus preserves its advantages, with good clinical results focused on pain relief and gaining mobility. On top, future elbow joint locking based on degenerative loose bodies can be prevented. Therefore, this surgery is often done in young, more active patients and even in sportsmen. These patients, however, need to be prompted to restrict loading on the elbow in the immediate postoperative period, because the elbow is biomechanically weakened and may be prone to a fracture. However, both outcome and postoperative rehabilitation are promising and the arthroscopic Outerbridge procedure is a reliable procedure with an easy rehabilitation. Therefore, the threshold is relatively low in early cubarthritis and recurrent locking of the elbow. In this paper, we present a literature review and the author's experience and own research on the Outerbridge procedure

Culture de trois espèces fongiques sauvages comestibles du Groupement de Kisantu (R.D. Congo) sur des substrats ligno-cellulosiques compostés

Des essais de culture de trois souches de trois espèces de champignons lignicoles comestibles: Pleurotus cystidiosus O.K. Miller, Lentinus cladopus Lév. et Marasmius buzungolo Singer isolées sur milieu gélosé PDA et dont les mycéliums ont été repiqués sur substrats de semis de grains de maïs et de sciure de bois ont produit des sporophores sur substrats ligno-cellulosiques faits de pailles de la graminée sauvage (Digitaria polybotrya), sciure de bois, gousses sèches d’Acacia auriculiformis, feuilles sèches de bananier, bagasse de canne à sucre et inflorescences mâles de palmier de palmier à huile trempés dans l’eau de distribution pendant 24 heures, fermentés sous bâche pendant 10 jours et compostés pendant 30 jours avant d'être pasteurisés par immersion dans l’eau chaude ou dans un baril de 200 litres pendant 6 h et stérilisés. Des rendements moyens les plus élevés suivants en sporophores ont été enregistrés avec la souche locale de Pleurotus cystidiosus O.K.Miller sur BCP (22%) et BCS (23%), STS (24%) et SFP (25%), GCP (15%), PCP (17%), FBCS (22%) et ICS (17%). Des rendements moyens de 12% ont été enregistrés avec la souche locale de Lentinus cladopus, sur les substrats SFP, SCP et GCP. Des rendements moyens respectifs de 10%, 15% et 17% ont été enregistrés sur les substrats SFP, SCP et GCP. Ce travail constitue une contribution à la mise en culture de souches locales de champignons comestibles par des méthodes simples et moins coûteuses.Mots-clés: champignons lignicoles comestibles, culture, substrat ligno-cellulosique, RD Congo. Culture of three wild edible fungal species of the Group of Kisantu (DR Congo) on lignocellulosic substrates -cellulosiques compostedCultivation trials of three strains of three species of edible wood fungi: Pleurotus cystidiosus OK Miller, Lentinus cladopus Lev. and Marasmius buzungolo Singer agar medium on isolated PDA and whose mycelia were transplanted on substrates planting corn and sawdust grains produced fruit bodies on lignocellulosic substrates made of straw wild grass (Digitaria polybotrya) sawdust, dry pods of Acacia auriculiformis, dry banana leaves, sugar cane bagasse and male inflorescences oil palm palm soaked in tap water for 24 hours, fermented under cover for 10 days and composted for 30 days before being pasteurized by immersion in hot water or in a 200 liter drum for 6 h and sterilized. Following the highest average yields fruit bodies were registered with the local strain of Pleurotus cystidiosus OK Miller on BCP (22%) and BCS (23%), STS (24%) and SFP (25%), GCP (15% ), PCP (17%), FBCS (22%) and ICS (17%). 12% of the average yields were recorded with the local strain of Lentinus cladopus on the SFP substrates, SCP and GCP. Respective average yields of 10%, 15% and 17% were recorded on SFP substrates, SCP and GCP. This work is a contribution to the cultivation of local strains of edible mushrooms with simple and less costly methods.Keywords: edible mushrooms lignicolous, culture, sporophores, lignocellulosic substrate, DR of Cong

Eating on Campus: Assessing the Nutrition Environment for Students

The food environment is increasingly thought to have a major influence on eating behavior. University campuses offer a unique opportunity to study the extent to which food environments influence eating, but such studies must be based on reliable measures. The objective of this project is to use a standard and reliable instrument, the Nutrition Environment Measures Survey (NEMS), to describe dining venues on the Cal Poly campus, and to compare Cal Poly food stores with off-campus alternatives. The five student investigators on this multidisciplinary, team-­based project will undergo training to use standard protocols to apply the NEMS to 18 campus dining venues, two campus food stores, and ~30 off‐campus supermarkets, groceries, and convenience stores in San Luis Obispo. Repeat assessments will allow for evaluation of inter­‐rater and test-retest reliability. Statistical analyses will include calculating prevalence of healthy and unhealthy constructs from the NEMS, comparing overall scores across venues, and comparing scores between on-­ and off-­campus stores. Findings will be used as a basis for future work to investigate the potential of modifying the Cal Poly food environment to facilitate students’ healthful food choices

Chronic respiratory diseases related to tabagism

Les broncho-pneumopathies chroniques obstructives (B.P.C.O.), qui associent bronchite chronique et emphysème, constituent un important problème de santé publique, à l’origine duquel le tabagisme joue un rôle capital. De nombreuses enquêtes cliniques et épidémiologiques ont montré qu’il existait une relation étroite entre ces maladies et le nombre de cigarettes fumées, la précocité du tabagisme et la façon d’inhaler la fumée. De plus, l’inhalation passive de fumée de tabac est susceptible d’altérer la fonction respiratoire chez l’enfant et l’adolescent, notamment chez les asthmatiques. L’expérimentation animale a montré que la fumée provoquait une inflammation de la muqueuse bronchique, avec paralysie ciliaire et hyper sécrétion muqueuse, favorisant la colonisation bactérienne locale et la survenue d’infections bronchiques. Au niveau du poumon profond, les macrophages alvéolaires présentent des altérations de leurs activités sécrétoires, avec notamment libération accrue de radicaux libres de l’oxygène, activité chimiotactique des neutrophiles, et production d’enzy mes protéolytiques. Cela mène à un déséquilibre de la balance protéases- antiprotéases, et entraîne une destruction des parois alvéolaires caracté ristiques de l’emphysème. De nouvelles recherches sont indispensables pour préciser les effets des composants de la fumée de tabac sur l’appa reil respiratoire, et pour mettre au point de nouvelles tactiques de pré vention.Chronic obstructive lung diseases (COPD) — including chronic bron chitis and emphysema — are an important and increasing public health problem, in which cigarette smoking has been identified as the main responsible factor. Clinical and epidemiological investigations have indicated a strong dose-response relation between COPD and the number of cigarettes smoked per day, the earliness of smoking initiation and the depth of smoke inhalation. In addition, passive inhalation of tobacco smoke may have adverse effects on the respiratory function in children and adolescents, particularly in asthmatics. Experimental studies have demonstrated that tobacco smoke induced inflammatory changes in bronchial mucosa, with ciliary dysfunction and excessive mucus secretion, favouring bacterial colonization and bronchial infection. In the lower respiratory tract of smokers, alveolar macro phages demonstrate many metabolic and functional alterations, with increase in superoxide anion production, neutrophil chemotactic activity and protease secretion, leading to an imbalance between proteases, espe cially elastase, and alpha 1 protease inhibitor. These changes in alveolar macrophage activities result in alveolar wall damage and enlargement of the distal air spaces. Further research is needed to identify the effects of tobacco smoke components on the respiratory tract, and to evaluate preventive approaches

The development of short food supply chain for locally produced honey. Understanding consumers' opinions and willingness to pay in Argentina

Purpose: The development of the short food supply chain (SFSC) is one of the issues of the current agri-food systems. Consumers are re-connecting the food they eat with the farming process and are increasingly asking for fresh, seasonal and traceable food products from known producer source. The purpose of this paper is to analyse consumers' opinions towards the SFSC and willingness to pay (WTP) for local honeys in Mar del Plata, Argentina before and after a hedonic evaluation test. Design/methodology/approach: In an incentive compatible approach, using real purchasing scenarios, two non-hypothetical discrete choice experiments were applied, accounting for the impact of the SFSC understanding and hedonic evaluation on consumers' WTP. Findings: Results showed that consumers' WTP, a premium for local honey products, is conditioned to specific quality cues and the global sensory acceptance. Consumers with high level of agreement with the social and environmental roles of the SFSC were more quality demanding and exhibited higher WTP towards the locally produced honeys. The development of local market by re-connecting producers and consumers, allowing for in-site tasting, has a strong implication for the structure of the honey added-value chain due to the potential role that may play in satisfying consumers' preference and needs. Originality/value: The authors measured consumers' opinions towards the SFSC and analyse their impact on consumer WTP for honey product by including real purchasing scenarios and hedonic evaluation test, to reduce the hypothetical bias of the traditional surveys. Questionnaires were completed in a controlled laboratory environment for with real product and real money.Fil: Kallas, Zein. Centre for Research in Agro-Food Economics and Development (CREDA). Polytechnic University of Catalonia; Spain.Fil: Alba, Martin Federico. Centre for Research in Agro-Food Economics and Development (CREDA). Polytechnic University of Catalonia; Spain.Fil: Casellas, Karina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Economía y Sociología; Argentina.Fil: Berges, Miriam. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Sociales; Argentina.Fil: Degreef, Gustavo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Centro de Investigación de Agroindustria; Argentina.Fil: Gil, José M. Centre for Research in Agro-Food Economics and Development (CREDA). Polytechnic University of Catalonia; Spain

Edible fungi consumed by the Lamba and Bemba people of Haut-Katanga (DR Congo)

The objective of this work is to establish a list of species of edible fungi consumed by the Lamba and Bemba people of Haut-Katanga (DR Congo). This study contributes to the valorization of edible fungi gathered in the miombo woodlands of Haut-Katanga. A survey was conducted among Lamba and Bemba people of the peri-urban area of Lubumbashi. The first author conducted structured and semi-structured surveys among 331 people, mostly women aged 30-50. The results show the existence of thirty-eight edible species belonging to 9 genera and 8 families. The majority is ectomycorrhizal (66%) followed by Termitomyces (21%), while only a few are saprotrophic (13%). Lamba and Bemba people consume all taxa. Twenty-three local names have been recorded in their respective languages, i.e., Kilamba and Kibemba, two closely related Bantu languages belonging to the family’s Eastern clade. The Lamba and Bemba do not consume species of the genera Russula (Russulaceae) and Boletus (Boletaceae). We succeeded in reconstructing the conceptualization underlying the creation of several Kibemba and Kilamba mushroom names. Popular and scientific taxonomies rarely overlap: one and the same species may have different names in Kilamba and Kibemba, while one and the same name in Kilamba and/or Kibemba is often used for several congeneric species. Species considered toxic and not consumed do not have a Kilamba or Kibemba name of their own. Instead, they are collectively referred to by a term fyana fya bene, literally meaning “big (dangerous) children of them” and signaling that local consumers reject those species