Caldera collapse and tectonics along the Main Ethiopian Rift: Reviewing possible relationships

The Main Ethiopian Rift (MER) represents an area where volcanism and tectonics interact to create closely linked volcano-tectonic features. This linkage is paramount in the axial portion of the rift, where magmatic segments localize several large peralkaline eruptive centres. Many of them evolved into caldera collapse (the best preserved of which are younger than ${<}1~\mathrm{Ma}$) generating large ignimbrites and registering the interaction between magmatism and tectonics along the MER. In this work we review the structure of the main collapsed calderas along the axial portion of the MER, to summarize the relationships between volcanism and tectonics proposed in the literature explaining their structural evolution. By doing this, we infer that tectonics had a strong influence in controlling the elongation of the majority of examined calderas. This control was induced by reactivation of inherited crustal fabrics or by stretching of the magma reservoirs under the MER regional stress field

CD8 T-cell clones producing interleukin-5 and interferon-gamma in bronchial mucosa of patients with asthma induced by toluene diisocyanate

OBJECTIVES - The aims of the present study were to determine whether specific in vivo stimulation of asthmatics sensitized with toluene diisocyanate (TDI) induces the activation of T lymphocytes in bronchial mucosa and to characterize their phenotype and cytokine secretion profile.METHODS - Bronchial biopsies from two subjects with occupational asthma due to TDI were obtained 48 h after an asthmatic reaction induced by an inhalation challenge with TDI and after three months of no exposure to TDI, at the time when the subjects had recovered from their asthma. The fragments of bronchial mucosa were cultured in the presence of interleukin-2 so that the in vivo activated T cells present in the tissue would expand, and T blasts were then cloned under limiting dilution conditions.RESULTS - From the two 48-h specimens, 65 and 63 T-cell clones were obtained. Most of the clones exhibited the CD8 phenotype (82 and 83%). All of the CD8 clones produced interferon-gamma and 44% produced interleukin-5, but only 6% secreted interleukin-4 as well. Three months after the cessation of exposure, growing T cells could not be recovered from bronchial biopsies cultured in interleukin-2.CONCLUSIONS - The results suggest that, in sensitized subjects, exposure to TDI induces the activation of a subset of CD8 lymphocytes producing interferon-gamma and interleukin-5

Prototype of a Reduced Scale of a Refrigeration System of Environments Controlled with Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) Using Thermoelectric Modules by Peltier Effect

Abstract. This paper presents the design of a scaled-down prototype of a proposed for a cooling system on environments for replacement of air conditioners by compressor

ANÁLISE EXPLORATÓRIA DOS POTENCIAIS EFEITOS DAS MUDANÇAS CLIMÁTICAS NOS "VALES DA UVA GOETHE"

The future of agriculture has been conditioned by uncertainties about the effects of climate change. Thus, the main goal of this work is to develop an exploratory analysis of the potential impacts of climate change in dynamics in the vitiviniculture in the region bounded by the Indication of Origin of Vales da Uva Goethe. The analysis was developed based on direct consultation at producers and production and climate data. The results indicate that only share of producers has related changes in the quantity and quality of the grapes to the effects of climate change. However, there was an actual change in climate. The average monthly minimum temperatures increased from 5.75°C to 8.30°C 1924-2012, which can increase the probability of occurrence of disease and pests associated with high average temperatures.O futuro da agricultura está condicionado as incertezas envolvidas em relação aos efeitos das mudanças climáticas. Deste modo, o objetivo principal deste trabalho é desenvolver uma análise exploratória a respeito dos potenciais impactos decorrentes da mudança na dinâmica climática na vitivinicultura na região delimitada pela Indicação de Procedência dos Vales da Uva Goethe. A análise foi desenvolvida com base em consulta direta aos produtores e dados climáticos e da produção da região. Os resultados indicam que apenas parcela dos produtores relaciona as variações na quantidade e na qualidade das uvas aos efeitos das mudanças climáticas. Todavia, constatou-se uma efetiva alteração no clima. As temperaturas médias mínimas mensais aumentaram de 5,75° C para 8,30° C entre 1924 a 2012, o que pode elevar a probabilidade de ocorrência de doenças e pragas associadas às altas temperaturas médias.El futuro de la agricultura está condicionado las incertidumbres sobre los efectos del cambio climático. Por lo tanto, el objetivo principal de este trabajo es desarrollar un análisis exploratorio de los impactos potenciales del cambio climático en la dinámica de la viticultura en la región limitada por la Indicación del Origen de Vales da Uva Goethe. El análisis se desarrolló con base en la consulta directa con los productores y de los datos de la producción y climáticos. Los resultados indican que sólo una parte de los productores en relación con los cambios en la cantidad y calidad de la uva a los efectos del cambio climático. Sin embargo, hubo un cambio real en el clima. Las temperaturas mínimas promedio mensual aumentó de 5,75°C para 8,30°C entre 1924-2012, lo que puede aumentar la probabilidad de ocurrencia de enfermedades y plagas asociado con altas temperaturas medias

Influence of genetic factors on toluene diisocyanate-related symptoms: evidence from a cross-sectional study

Background: Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) is a highly reactive compound used in the production of, e. g., polyurethane foams and paints. TDI is known to cause respiratory symptoms and diseases. Because TDI causes symptoms in only a fraction of exposed workers, genetic factors may play a key role in disease susceptibility. Methods: Workers (N = 132) exposed to TDI and a non-exposed group ( N = 114) were analyzed for genotype (metabolising genes: CYP1A1*2A, CYP1A1*2B, GSTM1*O, GSTM3*B, GSTP1 1105V, GSTP1 A114V, GSTT1*O, MPO -463, NAT1*3, *4, *10, *11, *14, *15, NAT2*5, *6, *7, SULT1A1 R213H; immune-related genes: CCL5 -403, HLA-DQB1* 05, TNF-308, TNF-863) and symptoms of the eyes, upper and lower airways ( based on structured interviews). Results: For three polymorphisms: CYP1A1*2A, CYP1A1*2B, and TNF -308 there was a pattern consistent with interaction between genotype and TDI exposure status for the majority of symptoms investigated, although it did reach statistical significance only for some symptoms: among TDI-exposed workers, the CYP1A1 variant carriers had increased risk (CYP1A1*2A and eye symptoms: variant carriers OR 2.0 95% CI 0.68-6.1, p-value for interaction 0.048; CYP1A1*2B and wheeze: IV carriers OR = 12, 1.4-110, p-value for interaction 0.057). TDI-exposed individuals with TNF-308 A were protected against the majority of symptoms, but it did not reach statistical significance. In the non-exposed group, however, TNF -308 A carriers showed higher risk of the majority of symptoms ( eye symptoms: variant carriers OR = 2.8, 1.1-7.1, p-value for interaction 0.12; dry cough OR = 2.2, 0.69-7.2, p-value for interaction 0.036). Individuals with SULT1A1 213H had reduced risk both in the exposed and non-exposed groups. Other polymorphisms, showed associations to certain symptoms: among TDI-exposed, NAT1*10 carriers had a higher risk of eye symptoms and CCL5 -403 AG+AA as well as HLA-DQB1 *05 carriers displayed increased risk of symptoms of the lower airways. GSTM1, GSTM3 and GSTP1 only displayed effects on symptoms of the lower airways in the non-exposed group. Conclusion: Specific gene-TDI interactions for symptoms of the eyes and lower airways appear to exist. The results suggest different mechanisms for TDI- and non- TDI-related symptoms of the eyes and lower airways

Gender and respiratory findings in workers occupationally exposed to organic aerosols: A meta analysis of 12 cross-sectional studies

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Gender related differences in respiratory disease have been documented. The aim of this study was to investigate gender related differences in respiratory findings by occupation. We analyzed data from 12 of our previously published studies.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Three thousand and eleven (3011) workers employed in "organic dust" industries (1379 female and 1632 male) were studied. A control group of 806 workers not exposed to any kind of dust were also investigated (male = 419, female = 387). Acute and chronic respiratory symptoms and lung function were measured. The weighted average method and the Mantel-Haentszel method were used to calculate the odds ratios of symptoms. Hedge's unbiased estimations were used to measure lung function differences between men and women.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There were high prevalences of acute and chronic respiratory symptoms in all the "dusty" studied groups compared to controls. Significantly less chronic cough, chronic phlegm as well as chronic bronchitis were found among women than among men after the adjustments for smoking, age and duration of employment. Upper respiratory tract symptoms by contrast were more frequent in women than in men in these groups. Significant gender related lung function differences occurred in the textile industry but not in the food processing industry or among farmers.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results of this study suggest that in industries processing organic compounds there are gender differences in respiratory symptoms and lung function in exposed workers. Whether these findings represent true physiologic gender differences, gender specific workplace exposures or other undefined gender variables not defined in this study cannot be determined. These data do not suggest that special limitations for women are warranted for respiratory health reasons in these industries, but the issue of upper respiratory irritation and disease warrants further study.</p

Diversity and relationships in key traits for functional and apparent quality in a collection of eggplant: fruit phenolics content, antioxidant activity, polyphenol oxidase activity, and browning

This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, copyright © American Chemical Society after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work seehttp://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jf402429kEggplant (Solanum melongena) varieties with increased levels of phenolics in the fruit present enhanced functional quality, but may display greater fruit flesh browning. We evaluated 18 eggplant accessions for fruit total phenolics content, chlorogenic acid content, DPPH scavenging activity, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, liquid extract browning, and fruit flesh browning. For all the traits we found a high diversity, with differences among accessions of up to 3.36-fold for fruit flesh browning. Variation in total content in phenolics and in chlorogenic acid content accounted only for 18.9% and 6.0% in the variation in fruit flesh browning, and PPO activity was not significantly correlated with fruit flesh browning. Liquid extract browning was highly correlated with chlorogenic acid content (r = 0.852). Principal components analysis (PCA) identified four groups of accessions with different profiles for the traits studied. Results suggest that it is possible to develop new eggplant varieties with improved functional and apparent quality.This project has been funded by Universitat Politecnica de Valencia through the grants SP20120681 and PAID-06-11 Nr. 2082, and by Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad Grant AGL2012-34213 (jointly funded by FEDER).Plazas Ávila, MDLO.; López Gresa, MP.; Vilanova Navarro, S.; Torres Vidal, C.; Hurtado Ricart, M.; Gramazio, P.; Andújar Pérez, I.... (2013). Diversity and relationships in key traits for functional and apparent quality in a collection of eggplant: fruit phenolics content, antioxidant activity, polyphenol oxidase activity, and browning. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 61(37):8871-8879. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf402429kS88718879613