Assessing the distribution of environmental stewardship organizations and their relationship to the demographics of Los Angeles County

An equal distribution of environmental stewardship organizations across the urban landscape provides an environment that facilitates community empowerment. The systemic issues found in Los Angeles County play an important role in the social development of the area. Through the utilization of modern technology and geographical mapping software, spatial distribution of environmental stewardship organizations provided an understanding of social conditions within Los Angeles County. Environmental stewardship organizations provide the capability for communities to be more engaged in helping to eliminate environmental injustice. The comparison of minority populations at the census tract-level emphasizes the importance of connecting environmental stewardship organizations with their target community at a static level of measurement. The assistance of the geographical mapping software provided the capability of conducting spatial autocorrelation, drawing the conclusion that environmental stewardship organizations are not equally distributed across Los Angeles County. The needs of the community continue to expand into different areas requiring an improvement to be made in order to improve the quality of life in various neighborhoods and the insurance of environmental equity. Currently it is difficult for organizations to cohesively work with one another to maximize their overlapping resources that would benefit the communities they provide environmental services to

Variation of Clonal, Mesquite-Associated Rhizobial and Bradyrhizobial Populations from Surface and Deep Soils by Symbiotic Gene Region Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism and Plasmid Profile Analysis

Genetic characteristics of 14 Rhizobium and 9 Bradyrhizobium mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa)-nodulating strains isolated from surface (0- to 0.5-rn) and deep (4- to 6-m) rooting zones were determined in order to examine the hypothesis that surface- and deep-soil symbiont populations were related but had become genetically distinct during adaptation to contrasting soil conditions. To examine genetic diversity, Southern blots of PstI-digested genomic DNA were sequentially hybridized with the nodDABC region of Rhizobium meliloti, the Klebsiella pneumoniae nifHDK region encoding nitrogenase structural genes, and the chromosome- localized ndvB region ofR. meliloti. Plasmid profile and host plant nodulation assays were also made. Isolates from mesquite nodulated beans and cowpeas but not alfalfa, clover, or soybeans. Mesquite was nodulated by diversespeciesofsymbionts(R.meliloti,Rhizobiumleguminosarumbv.phaseoli,andParasponiabradyrhizobia). There were no differences within the groups of mesquite-associated rhizobia or bradyrhizobia in cross- inoculation response. The ndvB hybridization results showed the greatest genetic diversity among rhizobial strains. The pattern of ndvB-hybridizing fragments suggested that surface and deep strains were clonally related, but groups of related strains from each soil depth could be distinguished. Less variation was found with nifHDK and nodDABC probes. Large plasmids (\u3e1,500 kb) were observed in al rhizobia and some bradyrhizobia

Biological Exploration of Immunoallergic Events at the Pasteur Institute of Côte d’Ivoire

Introduction : The Immunology Laboratory at the Pasteur Institute of Côte d\u27Ivoire (IPCI) provides the diagnosis of many diseases including immuno-allergic diseases. This study aimed to indicate the various biological tests used in the diagnosis of immuno-allergic diseases. Patients and methods: This was a retrospective study from 2012 to 2014with 113 patients. Multi allergenic specific IgE Test, ALL ONZE and ALL CHECK and automated assay VIDAS systemfor total IgE were used on sera of patients. Results: Private and public hospitals provided all the patients. The clinical manifestations were mostly skin,respiratory and ENT diseases (76,10%) .About 65,48 % of patients were aged 3 to 45 years. Pneumallergens occupied the first place,followed by dust cockroaches ,moulds, and pollens.Conclusion: It is necessary to advocate epidemiological investigation on a large scale following the U.S. and Europe investigation models to screen local allergens

Phytochemical screening and study of comparative antibacterial activity of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of the leaves and barks of Terminalia catappa on multiresistant strains.

Objectives: In this study, methanol, ethanol and aqueous extracts of Terminalia catappa L. leaves and barks were compared for antibacterial activity against clinical (sensitive and multidrug-resistant) and ATCC strains of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).Methodology and Results: The confirmation of the Enterobacteriaceae Extended-Spectrum-β-Lactamases (ESBL) producing strains was done by the double-disc synergy tests, the MRSA by disk diffusion method (cefoxitin 30 μg) according to the methods of CA-SFM, 2009. The agar dilution and broth dilution method was used for the determination of the antimicrobial parameters (MIC and MBC) on these sensitive, ESBL producing and MRSA strains. The bark extracts generally showed better activity compared to leaves extracts; but methanolic extracts of barks were the most active of all the extracts, exhibiting a broadspectrum activity. However, Staphylococcus aureus were sensitive compared to Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Antibacterial activity showed value ranged from 0.52 ± 0.13 to 4.16 ± 1.04 mg/ml (MIC) and 1.56 to 10.42 ± 2.08 mg/ml (MBC). Phytochemical screening showed the presence of Flavonoids, Alkaloid, Steroid, Terpenoids, Gallic Tannins, Saponins and with the exception of the aqueous extract for Coumarins.Conclusions: The results obtained suggest that methanolic extracts of T. catappa barks can be used in treating bacterial diseases.Key words: Phytochemical Screening; Comparative Antibacterial activity; Terminalia catappa; multiresistant strains

Differential climate impacts for policy-relevant limits to global warming: The case of 1.5 °c and 2 °c

Robust appraisals of climate impacts at different levels of global-mean temperature increase are vital to guide assessments of dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. The 2015 Paris Agreement includes a two-headed temperature goal: "holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C". Despite the prominence of these two temperature limits, a comprehensive overview of the differences in climate impacts at these levels is still missing. Here we provide an assessment of key impacts of climate change at warming levels of 1.5°C and 2°C, including extreme weather events, water availability, agricultural yields, sea-level rise and risk of coral reef loss. Our results reveal substantial differences in impacts between a 1.5°C and 2°C warming that are highly relevant for the assessment of dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. For heat-related extremes, the additional 0.5°C increase in global-mean temperature marks the difference between events at the upper limit of present-day natural variability and a new climate regime, particularly in tropical regions. Similarly, this warming difference is likely to be decisive for the future of tropical coral reefs. In a scenario with an end-of-century warming of 2°C, virtually all tropical coral reefs are projected to be at risk of severe degradation due to temperature-induced bleaching from 2050 onwards. This fraction is reduced to about 90% in 2050 and projected to decline to 70% by 2100 for a 1.5°C scenario. Analyses of precipitation-related impacts reveal distinct regional differences and hot-spots of change emerge. Regional reduction in median water availability for the Mediterranean is found to nearly double from 9% to 17% between 1.5°C and 2°C, and the projected lengthening of regional dry spells increases from 7 to 11%. Projections for agricultural yields differ between crop types as well as world regions. While some (in particular high-latitude) regions may benefit, tropical regions like West Africa, South-East Asia, as well as Central and northern South America are projected to face substantial local yield reductions, particularly for wheat and maize. Best estimate sea-level rise projections based on two illustrative scenarios indicate a 50cm rise by 2100 relative to year 2000-levels for a 2°C scenario, and about 10 cm lower levels for a 1.5°C scenario. In a 1.5°C scenario, the rate of sea-level rise in 2100 would be reduced by about 30% compared to a 2°C scenario. Our findings highlight the importance of regional differentiation to assess both future climate risks and different vulnerabilities to incremental increases in global-mean temperature. The article provides a consistent and comprehensive assessment of existing projections and a good basis for future work on refining our understanding of the difference between impacts at 1.5°C and 2°C warming

EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition, and Allergies (NDA); Scientific Opinion on establishing Food-Based Dietary Guidelines

This Opinion of the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition, and Allergies (NDA) provides guidance on the translation of nutrient based dietary advice into guidance, intended for the European population as a whole, on the contribution of different foods or food groups to an overall diet that would help to maintain good health through optimal nutrition (food-based dietary guidelines). The main focus of this Opinion is put on the scientific process of developing food-based dietary guidelines (FBDG) for the diverse European populations, following a stepwise approach which should ideally consist of: 1) Identification of diet-health relationships, 2) Identification of country specific diet-related health problems, 3) Identification of nutrients of public health importance, 4) Identification of foods relevant for FBDG, 5) Identification of food consumption patterns, 6) Testing and optimising FBDG and 7) Graphical representations of FBDG. FBDG should focus on the diet-disease relationships of particular relevance to the specific population and should be developed using a multi-disciplinary approach. The early involvement of stakeholders is recommended to promote the acceptance of the outcome. FBDG should be consistent with other public policies that have an impact on food availability and be integrated with other policies related to health promotion. Once established, FBDG should be implemented and their impact monitored and evaluate

Scientific opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to olive oil and maintenance of normal blood LDL-cholesterol concentrations (ID 1316, 1332), maintenance of normal (fasting) blood concentrations of triglycerides (ID 1316, 1332), maintenance of normal blood HDL-cholesterol concentrations (ID 1316, 1332) and maintenance of normal blood glucose concentrations (ID 4244) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006

Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies was asked to provide a scientific opinion on a list of health claims pursuant to Article 13 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. This opinion addresses the scientific substantiation of health claims in relation to olive oil and maintenance of normal blood LDL-cholesterol concentrations, maintenance of normal (fasting) blood concentrations of triglycerides, maintenance of normal blood HDL-cholesterol concentrations and maintenance of normal blood glucose concentrations. The scientific substantiation is based on the information provided by the Member States in the consolidated list of Article 13 health claims and references that EFSA has received from Member States or directly from stakeholders. The food that is the subject of the health claims is olive oil. The Panel considers that olive oil is sufficiently characterised in relation to the claimed effect

Scientific opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to maize oil and maintenance of normal blood LDL-cholesterol concentrations (ID 3086) pursuant to article 13(1) of regulation (EC) No 1924/2006

Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies was asked to provide a scientific opinion on a list of health claims pursuant to Article 13 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. This opinion addresses the scientific substantiation of health claims in relation to maize oil and maintenance of normal blood LDL-cholesterol concentrations. The scientific substantiation is based on the information provided by the Member States in the consolidated list of Article 13 health claims and references that EFSA has received from Member States or directly from stakeholders. The food that is the subject of the health claim is maize oil. The Panel considers that maize oil is sufficiently characterised in relation to the claimed effect. The claimed effect is \u201ccorn oil with a guaranteed polyunsaturated fatty acids content (56 % of total fatty acids), supplemented with vitamin E\u201d. The target population is assumed to be the general population. In the context of the proposed wordings, the Panel assumes that the claimed effect refers to maintenance of normal LDL-blood cholesterol concentrations. The Panel considers that maintenance of normal blood LDL-cholesterol concentrations is a beneficial physiological effect. No studies that investigated whether maize oil had a cholesterol-lowering effect beyond what could be expected from the fatty acid composition of maize oil have been provided. On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of maize oil and maintenance of normal blood LDL-cholesterol concentrations beyond what could be expected from the fatty acid composition of maize oil. A claim on the replacement of mixtures of SFAs with cis-MUFAs and/or cis-PUFAs in foods or diets and maintenance of normal blood LDL-cholesterol concentrations has already been assessed with a favourable outcome. A claim on linoleic acid and maintenance of normal blood cholesterol concentrations has also already been assessed with a favourable outcome

Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of a health claim related to fermented milk containing Lactobacillus casei DN-114 001 plus yoghurt symbiosis (Actimel\uae), and reduction of Clostridium difficile toxins in the gut of patients receiving antibiotics and reduced risk of acute diarrhoea in patients receiving antibiotics pursuant to Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006

Following an application from Danone Produits Frais France submitted pursuant to Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 via the Competent Authority of France, the Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies was asked to deliver an opinion on the scientific substantiation of a health claim related to a fermented milk drink Actimel\uae containing Lactobacillus casei (Lc) DN-114 001 and reduction of the presence of Clostridium difficile toxins in the gut which reduces the incidence of acute diarrhoea. The Panel considers that the food constituent, Actimel\uae, which is the subject of the health claim, is sufficiently characterised. The Panel considers that reducing the risk of Clostridium difficile diarrhoea by reducing the presence of C. difficile toxins is a beneficial physiological effect. In total the applicant indicated seven publications on human studies, three unpublished human studies, eight published and one unpublished non-human studies to be pertinent for the claimed effect. In weighing the evidence, the Panel took into account that human and animal studies showed partial survival of Lc DN-114 001 during its gastrointestinal passage, that one human intervention study with Actimel\uae which showed a statistically significant risk reduction for CDAD had considerable limitations, that there were only limited data on the effect of Actimel\uae on the reduction C. difficile toxins (the risk factor) in humans, that one study which showed an inhibitory effect of Lc DN-114 001 on the growth of C. difficile in vitro does not predict the occurrence of an effect against C. difficile in humans, that five further human studies do not support the proposed mechanisms by which Actimel\uae could exert the claimed effect, and that the evidence provided from a further two animal and three in vitro studies does not establish that effects of Actimel\uae or Lc DN-114 001 in these model systems related to immune function and infection can predict the occurrence of such effects in humans. The Panel concludes that the evidence provided is insufficient to establish a cause and effect relationship between the consumption of Actimel\uae and a reduction of the risk of C. difficile diarrhoea by reducing the presence of C. difficile toxins