Clostridium difficile ribotypes in humans and animals in Brazil

Clostridium difficile is an emerging enteropathogen responsible for pseudomembranous colitis in humans and diarrhoea in several domestic and wild animal species. Despite its known importance, there are few studies aboutC. difficile polymerase chain reaction (PCR) ribotypes in Brazil and the actual knowledge is restricted to studies on human isolates. The aim of the study was therefore to compare C. difficileribotypes isolated from humans and animals in Brazil. Seventy-six C. difficile strains isolated from humans (n = 25), dogs (n = 23), piglets (n = 12), foals (n = 7), calves (n = 7), one cat, and one manned wolf were distributed into 24 different PCR ribotypes. Among toxigenic strains, PCR ribotypes 014/020 and 106 were the most common, accounting for 14 (18.4%) and eight (10.5%) samples, respectively. Fourteen different PCR ribotypes were detected among human isolates, nine of them have also been identified in at least one animal species. PCR ribotype 027 was not detected, whereas 078 were found only in foals. This data suggests a high diversity of PCR ribotypes in humans and animals in Brazil and support the discussion of C. difficile as a zoonotic pathogen

Agronomic performance of cotton and soybean cultivated under different cover crops and lime and gypsum doses

Soil management with the use of lime and agricultural gypsum can influence the development and yield of cotton and soybean crops. The use of cover crops avoids soil degradation and ensures nutrient cycling on the soil surface. In most cultivated species, the application of lime and agricultural gypsum provides corrections in the sub-surface soil, keeping the nutrients available. This study aimed to (i) verify whether cotton and soybean cultivated in succession to cover crops affect its agronomic performance and (ii) evaluate the influence of lime and gypsum doses on the agronomic performance of these crops. Two experiments were performed. The first experiment consisted of cotton cultivated in the off-season, and the second, of soybean cultivated in the regular season. The experiment was carried out under three plant residues (Urochloa ruziziensis, Pennisetum glaucum, and fallow area), combined with lime and gypsum doses. The experiment consisted of a completely randomized block design with four replications. For the cotton crop, only the gypsum doses influenced the variables plant height, initial and final population, and yield. Cover crops did not influence the agronomic performance of cotton and soybeans. The increase of lime doses resulted in a linear increase in cotton and soybean yield. The highest gympsum dose improved the agronomic performance of cotton plants; however, it only influenced the height of soybean plants

Runalytics, 3D gait analysis system

[EN] Nowadays running is one of the most popular sports, which has fostered the development of its technology, both in the materials used and in their selection. Footwear is the basic component for the practice of running, as well as the most important one due to its ability to adapt to each runner through the proper choice. Such was the case that nowadays there is a lack of substance in the methods used for counseling. Runalytics is created with the idea of analyzing in detail the biomechanical characteristics each runner, based on an exhaustive research study to facilitate the choice of footwear that best suits the needs of each runner.[ES] Actualmente el running es uno de los deportes más practicados, lo que ha fomentado el desarrollo de su tecnología, tanto en los materiales utilizados como en su elección. El calzado es el componente básico para la práctica de la carrera, siendo además el más importante por su capacidad de adaptación a cada corredor mediante una correcta elección del mismo. Tanto es así que actualmente se plantea una falta de métodos precisos y robustos para el asesoramiento en la selección del mejor calzado de running para un usuario específico. Runalytics nace con la idea de analizar al detalle las características biomecánicas de cada corredor a partir de criterios validados en un exhaustivo estudio de investigación con la finalidad de facilitar la elección del calzado que mejor se adapte a las necesidades de cada deportista.Medina Ripoll, E.; Parrilla Bernabé, E.; Romero Olucha, E.; Montero Vilela, J.; Parra Gonzalez, F.; Gonzalez Garcia, JC.; Gil Mora, S.... (2013). Runalytics, sistema de análisis 3D de la pisada. Revista de biomecánica. 60:21-24. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/38696S21246

Soil biomass and microbial activity in soybean crop area under different cover crops and different soil correction systems

The objective of this work was to evaluate soil biomass and microbial activity and soybean yield under different limestone and gypsum doses and different cover crops. The experiment was carried out in the experimental area of ​​the Fundação de Apoio a Pesquisa Agropecuária de Chapadão, on a Dystrophic Red Latosol, using cultivar Desafio. The experiment consisted of a randomized blocks design, in a split-plot factorial scheme (3x4x3), with three replications. Plots consisted of three gypsum doses: control (without gypsum), recommended dose (2.3 Mg ha-1), and double dose (4.6 Mg ha-1). Subplots consisted of four limestone doses (2, 4, and 6 Mg ha-1) and the control (without limestone). Each block had three different cover crops: Brachiaria, Millet, and allow. The values obtained with the test revealed that brachiaria had better basal respiration in the absence of gypsum. Conversely, millet had better basal respiration in with the gypsum dose. Basal respiration, using brachiaria as cover crop, was higher at the dose of 2700 kg ha-1 of limestone. However, for the fallow and the millet, basal respiration was higher when using the highest limestone dose of 6000 kg ha-1. The variable microbial biomass showed differences between cover crops only in the absence of gypsum. Brachiaria and fallow presented the highest mean for microbial biomass. The use of millet as a cover crop together with gypsum doses increased the microbial biomass. The variables mass of 100 grains and grain yield had higher mean at the limestone dose of 6000 kg ha-1

Effects of walking football on adherence, safety, quality of life and physical fitness in patients with prostate cancer: Findings from the PROSTATA_MOVE randomized controlled trial

AimsTo analyze the feasibility and impact of a walking football (WF) program on quality of life (QoL), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), muscle strength, and balance program in men with prostate cancer under androgen deprivation therapy (ADT).MethodsFifty patients with prostate cancer (stages IIb-IVb) under ADT were randomized to a 16-week WF program plus usual care (n=25) or usual care control group (n=25). The WF program consisted of three 90-minute sessions per week. Recruitment, withdrawal, adherence, enjoyment rate, and safety of the intervention were recorded throughout the study. Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed before and after the interventions, while handgrip strength, lower limb muscle strength, static balance, and QoL were assessed before, during (week 8), and after (week 16) the interventions. Adverse events during sessions were also recorded.ResultsThe WF group showed high levels of adherence (81.6 ± 15.9%) and enjoyment rate (4.5 ± 0.5 out of 5 points). In the intention-to-treat analysis, the WF group showed an improvement in chair sit-to-stand (p=0.035) compared to the control group. Within-group comparisons showed that handgrip strength in the dominant upper limb (p=0.024), maximal isometric muscle strength in the non-dominant lower limb (p=0.006), and balance in the dominant limb (p=0.009) improved over time in the WF group but not in the usual care group. The results obtained from the per-protocol analysis indicate that CRF improved significantly in the WF group as compared to the control group (p=0.035). Within-group analysis revealed that CRF (p=0.036), muscle strength in dominant (p=0.006) and non-dominant (p=0.001) lower limbs, and balance in the non-dominant lower limb (p=0.023) improved after 16 weeks of WF, but not in the control group. One major traumatic injury (muscle tear) was reported with a complete recovery before the end of the intervention.ConclusionThis study suggests that WF is feasible, safe, and enjoyable in patients with prostate cancer under hormonal therapy. Furthermore, patients who adhere to the WF program can expect cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, and balance improvements.Clinical trials registrationclinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT04062162

Ambitec-TICs: avaliação de impactos de tecnologias de informação e comunicação aplicadas à agropecuária.

Este trabalho tem o objetivo de apresentar um módulo metodológico derivado do sistema de indicadores Ambitec-Agro4 (Rodrigues et al., 2003, 2010), voltado à avaliação de impactos de inovações oriundas das TICs e à verificação de sua aplicabilidade a seis diferentes TPPS da Embrapa, em avaliações-piloto com seus desenvolvedores e usuários.bitstream/item/215195/1/P-Ambitec-TICs-Avaliacao-de-impactos-de-tecnologias-....pd

Mapping density, diversity and species-richness of the Amazon tree flora

Using 2.046 botanically-inventoried tree plots across the largest tropical forest on Earth, we mapped tree species-diversity and tree species-richness at 0.1-degree resolution, and investigated drivers for diversity and richness. Using only location, stratified by forest type, as predictor, our spatial model, to the best of our knowledge, provides the most accurate map of tree diversity in Amazonia to date, explaining approximately 70% of the tree diversity and species-richness. Large soil-forest combinations determine a significant percentage of the variation in tree species-richness and tree alpha-diversity in Amazonian forest-plots. We suggest that the size and fragmentation of these systems drive their large-scale diversity patterns and hence local diversity. A model not using location but cumulative water deficit, tree density, and temperature seasonality explains 47% of the tree species-richness in the terra-firme forest in Amazonia. Over large areas across Amazonia, residuals of this relationship are small and poorly spatially structured, suggesting that much of the residual variation may be local. The Guyana Shield area has consistently negative residuals, showing that this area has lower tree species-richness than expected by our models. We provide extensive plot meta-data, including tree density, tree alpha-diversity and tree species-richness results and gridded maps at 0.1-degree resolution