Adduction to arginine detoxifies aflatoxin B1 by eliminating genotoxicity and altering in vitro toxicokinetic profiles

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), a class 1 carcinogen and prominent food contaminant, is highly linked to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and plays a causative role in a large portion of global HCC cases. We have demonstrated that a mixture of common organic acids (citric and phosphoric acid) along with arginine can eliminate >99% of AFB1 in solution as well as on corn kernels and convert it to the AFB2a-Arg adduct, acting as a potential detoxification process for contaminated foods. Evaluation of toxicokinetic changes after AFB2a-Arg formation show that the product is highly stable in biological fluids, is not metabolized by P450 enzymes, is highly plasma protein bound, has low lipid solubility, and has poor intestinal permeability/ high intestinal efflux compared to AFB1. Ames’ test results show that at mutagenic concentrations of AFB1, AFB2a-Arg does not have any measurable mutagenic effect which was confirmed by DNA adduct identification by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Evaluation in HepG2 and HepaRG cells showed that AFB2a-Arg did not cause any significant decreases in cell viability nor did it increase micronuclei formation when administered at toxic concentrations of AFB1. These results show that conversion of AFB1 to AFB2a-Arg is a potential strategy to detoxify contaminated food

Runs of homozygosity in killer whale genomes provide a global record of demographic histories

Runs of homozygosity (ROH) occur when offspring inherit haplotypes that are identical by descent from each parent. Length distributions of ROH are informative about population history; specifically, the probability of inbreeding mediated by mating system and/or population demography. Here, we investigated whether variation in killer whale (Orcinus orca) demographic history is reflected in genome-wide heterozygosity and ROH length distributions, using a global data set of 26 genomes representative of geographic and ecotypic variation in this species, and two F1 admixed individuals with Pacific-Atlantic parentage. We first reconstructed demographic history for each population as changes in effective population size through time using the pairwise sequential Markovian coalescent (PSMC) method. We found a subset of populations declined in effective population size during the Late Pleistocene, while others had more stable demography. Genomes inferred to have undergone ancestral declines in effective population size, were autozygous at hundreds of short ROH (1.5 Mb) were found in low latitude populations, and populations of known conservation concern. These include a Scottish killer whale, for which 37.8% of the autosomes were comprised of ROH >1.5 Mb in length. The fate of this population, in which only two adult males have been sighted in the past five years, and zero fecundity over the last two decades, may be inextricably linked to its demographic history and consequential inbreeding depression

L'immigration étrangère dans le Lot-et-Garonne

Dalla Rosa Gilbert. L'immigration étrangère dans le Lot-et-Garonne. In: Travaux de l'Institut Géographique de Reims, n°9, 1972. Problèmes de population. pp. 27-41

Le cas de l'IUP « Aménagement et développement territorial »

Dalla Rosa Gilbert. Le cas de l'IUP « Aménagement et développement territorial ». In: Géographes associés n°23,1999. Aménagement et géographie. Approches comparées françaises et hispaniques. Géoforum Pau 14 et 15 mai 1999. pp. 47-49

Vallée d'Aspe en survie ou les limites d'une politique en faveur de l'agriculture de montagne dans les Pyrénées françaises

The Aspe Valley is a typical periphery : very negative net migration, commercialization of its products by middlemen not belonging to the area, use of its hydro-electrical resources outside the region, urban pressure on real estate. Except a few farms which try modernization at the price of a dangerous debt, the whole valley is in survival. The State relieves are often considered by recipients as alms which only restrain an apparently inexorable decline. This decline seems to be corroborated by the lack of communication, which plays a great part in destructuring local society.La vallée d'Aspe est une périphérie typique : solde migratoire fortement négatif, commercialisation de ses produits par des intermédiaires étrangers à la région, utilisation à l'extérieur de ses ressources hydro-électriques, pression urbaine sur le foncier. A part une minorité d'exploitants agricoles qui ont joué la carte de la modernisation au prix d'un dangereux endettement, l'ensemble de la vallée est en survie. Les aides accordées par l'Etat sont souvent considérées par les bénéficiaires comme des aumônes qui n'apportent qu'une solution provisoire à un déclin apparemment inexorable. Ce déclin semble confirmé par la progression de l'individualisme et de la non-communication, ce qui contribue à déstructurer la société locale.Dalla Rosa Gilbert. Vallée d'Aspe en survie ou les limites d'une politique en faveur de l'agriculture de montagne dans les Pyrénées françaises. In: Travaux de l'Institut Géographique de Reims, n°51-52, 1982. Géographie et aménagement, sous la direction de Alain Reynaud. pp. 59-77

Les migrations des montagnards basco-béarnais en France

Parmi les montagnards basco-béarnais ayant quitté leurs communes essentiellement rurales, on dénombre une très forte proportion de femmes et d'inactifs. Si quelques Béarnais restent agriculteurs, les autres s'emploient surtout comme ouvriers ou fonctionnaires. Les Basques préfèrent les professions du secteur tertiaire (service, commerce, religion). Les migrations s'effectuent sur des distances assez courtes : 58 % d'entre elles ne dépassent pas le Sud-Ouest, profitant surtout aux villes des Pays de l'Adour (Pau, Bayonne, Oloron, Tarbes, etc.), à Bordeaux et plus récemment à Toulouse. Au-delà, Paris et la région méditerranéenne constituent les principales zones d'accueil.Dalla-Rosa Gilbert. Les migrations des montagnards basco-béarnais en France. In: Revue géographique des Pyrénées et du Sud-Ouest, tome 41, fascicule 1, 1970. Pays de l'Adour. pp. 43-52

Les saisonniers étrangers dans l'agriculture du Lot-et-Garonne

Since 1962, many foreign temporary migrant agricultural workers are employed in the department of Lot-et-Garonne, mainly in the lower valley of the Lot river : they pick fruits, french beans and various, vegetables. They generally come with their family, most of them from Andalusia (Spain). They can find some complementary jobs and are able to stay in Aquitaine from May to October. Their earnings allow them to improve their social status in their home country. On the other hand, their French employers profit from their work, even when they manage only small estates. For these reasons this type of seasonal migration is regularly growing. The workers from Morocco are employed in orchards where the peak season is shorter and the level of wages lower.Since 1962, many foreign temporary migrant agricultural workers are employed in the department of Lot-et-Garonne, mainly in the lower valley of the Lot river : they pick fruits, french beans and various, vegetables. They generally come with their family, most of them from Andalusia (Spain). They can find some complementary jobs and are able to stay in Aquitaine from May to October. Their earnings allow them to improve their social status in their home country. On the other hand, their French employers profit from their work, even when they manage only small estates. For these reasons this type of seasonal migration is regularly growing. The workers from Morocco are employed in orchards where the peak season is shorter and the level of wages lower.Dalla-Rosa Gilbert. Les saisonniers étrangers dans l'agriculture du Lot-et-Garonne. In: Revue géographique des Pyrénées et du Sud-Ouest, tome 43, fascicule 1, 1972. pp. 5-22

La zone de montagne dans les Pyrénées Atlantiques : une délimitation controversée

Abstract. — In the Pyrénées Atlantiques department, according to national and then european criterious the mountain area definition has been difficult, because specific and greatly debated. Since 1961, some extension by Civil Service has been granted, underpressures only of farmers and elected representatives. Actually, this definition is not complethy satisfactory, particularly the « indemnité compensatoire » system would be reviewed.Résumé. — Dans les Pyrénées Atlantiques, la délimitation de la zone de montagne en fonction de critères nationaux puis européens a été difficile à cause d'un milieu spécifique, et de plus, fortement controversé. Depuis 1961, les différentes extensions n'ont été concédées par une administration s' abritant derrière une pseudo-technicité, qu'à la suite de fortes pressions de la profession agricole ou des élus. La délimitation actuelle n 'est pas encore totalement satisfaisante, mais c'est surtout le système de l'indemnité compensatoire trop individualisée qu 'il conviendrait de reconsidérer. Cette politique des zones est un nouveau moyen de contrôle social.Dalla-Rosa G. La zone de montagne dans les Pyrénées Atlantiques : une délimitation controversée. In: Revue de géographie alpine, tome 72, n°2-4, 1984. pp. 347-361