Electronic support tools for identification and management of rice weeds in Africa for better-informed agricultural change agents

International audienceWe developed an interactive electronic weed identification tool, AFROweeds, and an online network, Weedsbook, for agricultural change agents to aid communication and offer assistance to rice farmers with specific weed problems. We collected quantitative and qualitative data to assess effectiveness and usefulness of these products with potential users. With the online version of AFROweeds, used on an electronic tablet, average weed identification time in the field was 7 min 6 s with 44% successful identifications. Poor mobile network coverage and slow internet were the main reasons for the relative long identification time and low success rate. A second trial was done with the offline version, pre-installed on a tablet. The average identification time was 6 min 34 s, with a success rate of 75%. The online network Weedsbook, established alongside AFROweeds, was assessed by the test users as a useful additional aid, enabling agricultural change agents and agronomists to exchange information or request assistance on all aspects of weeds and weed management. The potential improvements of both products are discussed

Small molecule anion carriers facilitate lactate transport in model liposomes and cells

An excessive production of lactate by cancer cells fosters tumor growth and metastasis. Therefore, targeting lactate metabolism and transport offers a new therapeutic strategy against cancer, based on dependency of some cancer cells for lactate as energy fuel or as oncogenic signal. Herein we present a family of anionophores based on the structure of click-tambjamines that have proved to be extremely active lactate carriers across phospholipid membranes. Compound 1, the most potent lactate transmembrane carrier, was studied in HeLa cells. The use of a monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) inhibitor proved that 1 is an active lactate transporter in living cells, confirming the results obtained in phospholipid vesicles. Moreover, an additive effect of compound 1 with cisplatin was observed in HeLa cells. Identification of active lactate anionophores working in living cells opens up ways to exploit this class of compounds as molecular tools and drugs addressing dysregulated lactate metabolism

Viabilidad práctica de la flexibilidad en atletas de Gimnasia Artística categoría 9-12 años sexo masculino. (Original)

The present investigation has the purpose of establishing a methodology for the recovery and maintenance of flexibility in male athletes of Artistic Gymnastics category 9-12 years. In it, a bibliographical and documentary review is carried out in which it is intended to delve into the main current trends of the flexibility training process. Theoretical methods such as inductive-deductive, analysis-synthesis, descriptive history and logical history are applied, as well as empirical, structured observation, interview and measurement, which allowed diagnosing the state of flexibility during technical preparation and training. Physical preparation, before and after applying the methodological proposal, with the aim of carrying out a study that allows solving the insufficiencies in the development of flexibility in the athletes under study. Considering that flexibility tends to decrease with age after puberty. In this way we will know its genesis and milestones that frame the development of the training and competition of Artistic Gymnastics. With the application of the experiment, in its pre-experimental modality with a minimal control design, through a pre-test and post-test, without a control group, the results obtained were analyzed, which allowed determining the feasibility of the means applied in the methodological proposal.La presente investigación tiene el propósito de establecer una metodología para la recuperación y mantención de la flexibilidad en atletas masculinos de Gimnasia Artística categoría 9-12 años. En la misma se realizó una revisión bibliográfica y documental en la que se pretende ahondar en las principales tendencias actuales del proceso de entrenamiento de la flexibilidad. Se aplican métodos teóricos como el inductivo- deductivo, análisis-síntesis, el histórico descriptivo y el histórico lógico, así como empíricos la observación estructurada, la entrevista y la medición, los cuales permitieron diagnosticar el estado de la flexibilidad durante la preparación técnica y la preparación física, antes y después de aplicada la propuesta metodológica, con el objetivo de perpetrar un estudio que permita resolver las insuficiencias en el desarrollo de la flexibilidad de los atletas objeto de estudio; teniendo en cuenta que la flexibilidad tiende a disminuir con la edad después de la pubertad, de esta manera conoceremos su génesis e hitos que enmarcan el desarrollo del entrenamiento y competición de la Gimnasia Artística. Con la aplicación del experimento, en su modalidad pre-experimental, con un diseño de control mínimo, mediante un pre-test y post-test, sin grupo de control, se analizaron los resultados obtenidos que permitieron determinar la factibilidad de los medios aplicados en la propuesta metodológica

Estrategia didáctica para desarrollar la habilidad motriz deportiva de nado libre en los estudiantes de cultura Física (Original)

The present investigation has the purpose of establishing a didactic strategy, supported by a model of the same nature, to develop the sport motor skill of free swimming in the teaching-learning process of the swimming subject in students of the Physical Culture career. As a referential framework of this study, the knowledge system and the sport motor skill of free swimming, its development at the international level and in Cuba are analyzed; as well as its materialization in the training of the Physical Culture professional, since a first approximation to the dimensions and indicators present in this sphere is proposed. It is developed in the period from 2017 to December 2019. With the application of the experiment, in its pre-experimental modality with a minimal control design, through a pre-test and post-test, without a control group, it is analyzed the results obtained in a correlational study, when introduced into practice. The importance of the proposal is given in the contribution to the didactics of the swimming subject, by giving it a formative, contextualized and logical sequential character in the development of free swimming sports motor skills. The project generated several publications by the author that, although they are not mentioned in the thesis, are delimited in the bibliography.La presente investigación tiene el propósito de establecer una estrategia didáctica, sustentada en un modelo de igual naturaleza, para desarrollar la habilidad motriz deportiva de nado libre en el proceso enseñanza-aprendizaje de la asignatura natación en estudiantes de la carrera de  Cultura Física. Como marco referencial de este estudio, son analizados el sistema de conocimientos y la habilidad motriz deportiva de nado libre, su desarrollo en el plano internacional y en Cuba; así como, su materialización en la formación del profesional de la Cultura Física, pues se plantea una primera aproximación a las dimensiones e indicadores presentes en esta esfera. Se desarrolla en el período comprendido entre el año 2017 a diciembre del 2019. Con la aplicación del experimento, en su modalidad pre-experimental con un diseño de control mínimo, mediante un pre-test y post-test, sin grupo de control, se analizaron los resultados obtenidos en un estudio correlacional, al ser introducido en la práctica. La importancia de la propuesta está dada en la contribución a ladidáctica de la asignatura natación, al imprimirle un carácter formativo, contextualizado y lógico secuencial en el desarrollo de la habilidad motriz deportiva de nado libre. El proyecto generó varias publicaciones del autor que, si bien no se mencionan en la tesis, se acotan en la bibliografía

Monitoramento e identificação da espécie da mosca-das-frutas no município do Amboim província do Cuanza Sul (Original)

Appearance of fruit fly (Diptera-Tephritidae) pests in the municipality of Amboim has caused negative impacts on the production chain, low fruit quality and economic losses for local producers. Hence, identification of the main species of fruit flies and their monitoring are essential and strategic requirements for sustainable production. The present study aimed to monitor the appearance of fruit flies in different mango tree varieties planted at the farm Quinta dos Pomares in Zâmbia, municipality of Amboim from October 2021 to March 2022. There were 30 McPhail-types traps set up in every eight mango trees interval, to capture fruit flies, using mango juice at 90% concentration as an attractant in the traps. Three species were captured, totaling 3 469 fruit flies, of which Bactrocera carambolae was the largest population with 60,1%, followed by Anastrepha fraterculus with 33,2% and Ceratitis capitata with 6,7%. The peak of all species was in January, with significant differences between species and a higher rate of fruits parasitized with larvae in the Haden variety.O aparecimento de pragas da mosca-da-fruta, no município do Amboim tem provocado impactos negativos na cadeia produtiva, baixa qualidade e prejuízos económicos para os produtores locais. Pelo que, a identificação das principais espécies de mosca-da-fruta e o seu monitoramento são requisitos indispensáveis e estratégicos para uma produção sustentável. O presente trabalho teve como objectivo identificar e monitorar a presença de mosca-da-fruta em diferentes variedades de mangueira plantadas na fazenda Quinta dos Pomares na localidade da Zâmbia, município de Amboim no período Outubro de 2021 à Março de 2022. Foram montadas 30 armadilhas do tipo McPhail para captura das moscas, em cada oito mangueiras, utilizando suco de manga numa concentração de 90% como atractivo nas armadilhas. Foram capturadas 3469 moscas-da-fruta de três espécies, sendo maior a população Bactrocera carambolae com 60,1%, seguida pela população Anastrepha fraterculus com 33,2% e por último a população Ceratitis capitata com 6,7%. Todas espécies apareceram em maior quantidade no mês de Janeiro, com diferenças significativas entre as espécies e maior índice de frutas parasitadas com as larvas a variedade Haden

Enfermedades colorrectales en pacientes mayores de 45 años

Introduction: colorectal cancer is the third most frequently type of cancer diagnosed, both men and women; adequate and timely research is required to decrease morbidity and mortality rates from this type of cancer.Objective: to carry out research work of colorectal diseases in patients  from 45 years old and older belonging to No- 18 Medical Office at Raúl Sánchez Polyclinic, in 2017.Methods: an observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted; the target group comprised 29 positive patients into the research, working with the totality of them. Theoretical, empirical and statistical percentage methods were applied; data were taken to tables for better understanding.Results: 15.05% of the population over 45 years old was positive in the study conducted into the research, where 58.97% belonged to male sex, out of them 35.90% were over 65 years old, and 53.85% had family history of colorectal diseases; 56.41% of the patients were overweight or obese; 76.92% presented smoking as a risk factor and it was found that 89.74% consumed high amounts of animal fat, 58.97% of the them were asymptomatic; while 30.77% presented colic or abdominal pain as symptoms.Conclusions: male patients over 65 years were susceptible to the development of colorectal diseases, where poor eating habits, obesity and smoking represented the major risk factors for the development of this disease.Introducción: el cáncer colorrectal es el tercer cáncer que se diagnostica con más frecuencia tanto en los hombres como en las mujeres; se requiere de una adecuada y oportuna pesquisa para disminuir la morbilidad y de la mortalidad de este cáncerObjetivo: to characterize the patients with colorectal diseases older than 45 years belonging to the medical office 18 of the University Polyclinic “Raúl Sánchez Rodríguez” in 2017.Método: se realizó un estudio observacional, descriptivo de corte transversal, el universo estuvo constituido por 29 pacientes positivos a la pesquisa, trabajándose con la totalidad. Se utilizaron métodos teóricos, empíricos y estadístico porcentual, los datos se llevaron a tablas para su mejor comprensión.Resultados: el 15,05 % de la población mayor de 45 años resultó ser positivo el estudio de la pesquisa, donde el 58,97 % resultaron del sexo masculino, el 35,90 % mayores de 65 años, y el 53,85 % presentó antecedentes patológicos familiares de enfermedades colorrectales. El 56,41 % de los pacientes presentaban sobrepeso u obesidad; el 76,92 % presentó el tabaquismo como factor de riesgo y se encontró que el 89,74 % consumían altas cantidades de grasa animal. El 58,97 % de los pacientes se mostró asintomático; mientras que el 30,77 % presentó cólicos o dolor abdominal como sintomatologíaConclusiones: Los pacientes masculinos mayores de 65 años fueron susceptibles al desarrollo de enfermedades colorrectales; donde los hábitos alimenticios inadecuados, la obesidad y el tabaquismo representan factores de riesgo para el desarrollo de la misma

Mature T Cells Depend on Signaling through the IKK Complex

AbstractThe transcription factor NF-κB is implicated in various aspects of T cell development and function. The IκB kinase (IKK) complex, consisting of two kinases, IKK1/α and IKK2/β, and the NEMO/IKKγ regulatory subunit, mediates NF-κB activation by most known stimuli. Adoptive transfer experiments had demonstrated that IKK1 and IKK2 are dispensable for T cell development. We show here that T lineage-specific deletion of IKK2 allows survival of naive peripheral T cells but interferes with the generation of regulatory and memory T cells. T cell-specific ablation of NEMO or replacement of IKK2 with a kinase-dead mutant prevent development of peripheral T cells altogether. Thus, IKK-induced NF-κB activation, mediated by either IKK1 or IKK2, is essential for the generation and survival of mature T cells, and IKK2 has an additional role in regulatory and memory T cell development