44 research outputs found

    Toxicité aigue sur canetons pekin de souches de Fusarium monoliforme isolées du mais en Nouvelle-Calédonie

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    The toxicity of Fusarium monoliforme strains isolated from maize in New Caledonia has been tested on one day Pekin ducklings. Toxic isolates of the fungus killed the ducklings within 6 days only when mixed to an unbalanced ration. Ducklings fed on a well balanced ration containing the same isolates survived and showed only symptoms of intoxication. (Résumé d'auteur

    Multicriteria optimization of copper scrap management strategy

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    A model of copper scrap management at country level is proposed, taking all copper scrap collection streams into account, with their associated environmental impacts and costs. The method is applied to the treatment of printed wiring boards (PWB) in France. Considering the initial physical properties and composition of this scrap, seven flowsheets are constructed for the production of refined copper. Then, depending on the number of PWB treated in each processing chain, the production rate, energy consumption, operating cost and environmental impacts are evaluated. Three bi-objective optimizations are conducted based on the NSGA II multi-objective genetic algorithm: production versus energy consumption, production versus operating cost and production versus environmental impacts. Pareto fronts are obtained for each optimization, giving the set of non-dominated solutions. Then the decision support tool TOPSIS is used to find the best compromise solution for waste management

    Development and validation of a dynamic material flow analysis model for French copper cycle

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    This study performs a quantitative description of the copper life cycle at the scale of France from 2000 to 2009 with special focus on waste streams. The approach is based on substance flow analysis and includes data reconciliation. The model takes into account the relationships between economic system, resource consumption, product manufacturing, waste generation and pollution, thus broadening the traditional scope of process systems engineering. The more important results concern waste management since France exports most of its collected copper wastes because there is no industry for recycling low-grade scrap. The paper shows the interest of using substance flow analysis methodology coupled with data reconciliation to obtain a precise cartography of a substance flow inside a large area. Indeed, statistic data from institutional organisms and industries may vary from one source to the other, and the utilization of the redundancy of information is an efficient tool for obtaining more precise data. Moreover, the dynamic analysis allows modelling the stock evolution with more accuracy than in previous studies. Finally, theresults are compared with existing values for other countries or continents, and some perspectives concerning theuse of copper in France are given

    Nrf2-interacting nutrients and COVID-19 : time for research to develop adaptation strategies

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    There are large between- and within-country variations in COVID-19 death rates. Some very low death rate settings such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, the Balkans and Africa have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods whose intake is associated with the activation of the Nrf2 (Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2) anti-oxidant transcription factor. There are many Nrf2-interacting nutrients (berberine, curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate, genistein, quercetin, resveratrol, sulforaphane) that all act similarly to reduce insulin resistance, endothelial damage, lung injury and cytokine storm. They also act on the same mechanisms (mTOR: Mammalian target of rapamycin, PPAR gamma:Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, NF kappa B: Nuclear factor kappa B, ERK: Extracellular signal-regulated kinases and eIF2 alpha:Elongation initiation factor 2 alpha). They may as a result be important in mitigating the severity of COVID-19, acting through the endoplasmic reticulum stress or ACE-Angiotensin-II-AT(1)R axis (AT(1)R) pathway. Many Nrf2-interacting nutrients are also interacting with TRPA1 and/or TRPV1. Interestingly, geographical areas with very low COVID-19 mortality are those with the lowest prevalence of obesity (Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia). It is tempting to propose that Nrf2-interacting foods and nutrients can re-balance insulin resistance and have a significant effect on COVID-19 severity. It is therefore possible that the intake of these foods may restore an optimal natural balance for the Nrf2 pathway and may be of interest in the mitigation of COVID-19 severity

    Cabbage and fermented vegetables : From death rate heterogeneity in countries to candidates for mitigation strategies of severe COVID-19

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    Large differences in COVID-19 death rates exist between countries and between regions of the same country. Some very low death rate countries such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, or the Balkans have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods. Although biases exist when examining ecological studies, fermented vegetables or cabbage have been associated with low death rates in European countries. SARS-CoV-2 binds to its receptor, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). As a result of SARS-CoV-2 binding, ACE2 downregulation enhances the angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT(1)R) axis associated with oxidative stress. This leads to insulin resistance as well as lung and endothelial damage, two severe outcomes of COVID-19. The nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) is the most potent antioxidant in humans and can block in particular the AT(1)R axis. Cabbage contains precursors of sulforaphane, the most active natural activator of Nrf2. Fermented vegetables contain many lactobacilli, which are also potent Nrf2 activators. Three examples are: kimchi in Korea, westernized foods, and the slum paradox. It is proposed that fermented cabbage is a proof-of-concept of dietary manipulations that may enhance Nrf2-associated antioxidant effects, helpful in mitigating COVID-19 severity.Peer reviewe

    Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

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    Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries
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