Quality of a latosol-argisol system in the county of Lins/SP, Brazil

Este trabalho objetivou caracterizar um sistema de solos, evidenciando a propriedades que possam esclarecer sua dinâmica e contribuir para a definição de critérios que condicionem a aptidão destes solos como receptores de efluentes. Trata-se de uma área experimental de estudos, contígua à Estação de Tratamento de Esgoto do município de Lins (SP), onde o efluente é gerado a partir do tratamento de esgoto por sistema de lagoas de estabilização. Os solos, situados ao longo de uma vertente com ligeira inclinação, foram caracterizados por meio de análises, morfológica, granulométrica, química, mineralógica e micromorfológica, realizadas em amostras coletadas em cinco trincheiras em toposseqüência. Os solos são desenvolvidos a partir dos sedimentos arenosos da Formação Adamantina (Grupo Bauru) e constituem um sistema Latossolo - Argissolo onde a transição Bw - Bt ocorre lateralmente do topo para a base da vertente. Foram identificadas três fases pedogenéticas nesta associação de solos. A primeira, argiluviação e adensamento de partículas, responsável pela formação dos horizontes texturais, foi superposta pelos processos de latossolização e hidromorfismo, atuantes na dinâmica atual destes solos. Análises micromorfológicas mostraram tratar-se de solos com intensa porosidade, caracterizada pelo empilhamento dos grãos do esqueleto quartzoso amplamente predominante e pelo arranjo entre os microagregados granulares. A permeabilidade é ainda favorecida pela intensa ação da mesofauna. Os solos são distróficos e compostos por caulinita e óxidos de Fe na fração argilosa. Por constituírem um sistema frágil, a disposição de quaisquer tipos de resíduos nestes solos requer o monitoramento constante de suas propriedades, tanto para a manutenção, quanto para a recuperação da qualidade desta cobertura pedológica.The purpose of this study was the characterization of a soil system, focused on proprieties that can clarify the dynamics and contribute to the definition of criteria that determine the ability of these soils as recipients of effluents. An experimental study area was used, adjacent to the Sewage Treatment Station of the municipality of Lins (SP), where the sewage is treated in a system of stabilization ponds. The soil samples, taken from five trenches in a toposequence of a slight slope, were characterized in morphological, grain, chemical, mineralogical and micromorphological analyses. The soils had developed from the sandy sediment Adamantina (Group Bauru) and represent a Latosol - Argisol system where the transition Bw - Bt occurs laterally from the top to the bottom of the slope. Three pedogenetic phases were identified in this soil system. The first, clay illuviation and particle compaction, responsible for the formation of textural horizons, was overlayered by processes of latosolization and hydromorphism, which are currently active in these soils. Micromorphological analyses showed that the porosity of these soils is intense, characterized by the grain arrangement of the widely prevalent quartz skeleton and arrangement of the granular microaggregates. The permeability is still favored by the intense action of mesofauna. The soils are dystrophic and composed of kaolinite and iron oxides in the clay fraction. For being a fragile system, any type of waste disposal to the soil requires constant monitoring, both for quality maintenance and recovery of the pedological cover

Heme-Oxygenases during Erythropoiesis in K562 and Human Bone Marrow Cells

In mammalian cells, heme can be degraded by heme-oxygenases (HO). Heme-oxygenase 1 (HO-1) is known to be the heme inducible isoform, whereas heme-oxygenase 2 (HO-2) is the constitutive enzyme. Here we investigated the presence of HO during erythroid differentiation in human bone marrow erythroid precursors and K562 cells. HO-1 mRNA and protein expression levels were below limits of detection in K562 cells. Moreover, heme was unable to induce HO-1, at the protein and mRNA profiles. Surprisingly, HO-2 expression was inhibited upon incubation with heme. To evaluate the physiological relevance of these findings, we analyzed HO expression during normal erythropoiesis in human bone marrow. Erythroid precursors were characterized by lack of significant expression of HO-1 and by progressive reduction of HO-2 during differentiation. FLVCR expression, a recently described heme exporter found in erythroid precursors, was also analyzed. Interestingly, the disruption in the HO detoxification system was accompanied by a transient induction of FLVCR. It will be interesting to verify if the inhibition of HO expression, that we found, is preventing a futile cycle of concomitant heme synthesis and catabolism. We believe that a significant feature of erythropoiesis could be the replacement of heme breakdown by heme exportation, as a mechanism to prevent heme toxicity

RA-MAP, molecular immunological landscapes in early rheumatoid arthritis and healthy vaccine recipients

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder with poorly defined aetiology characterised by synovial inflammation with variable disease severity and drug responsiveness. To investigate the peripheral blood immune cell landscape of early, drug naive RA, we performed comprehensive clinical and molecular profiling of 267 RA patients and 52 healthy vaccine recipients for up to 18 months to establish a high quality sample biobank including plasma, serum, peripheral blood cells, urine, genomic DNA, RNA from whole blood, lymphocyte and monocyte subsets. We have performed extensive multi-omic immune phenotyping, including genomic, metabolomic, proteomic, transcriptomic and autoantibody profiling. We anticipate that these detailed clinical and molecular data will serve as a fundamental resource offering insights into immune-mediated disease pathogenesis, progression and therapeutic response, ultimately contributing to the development and application of targeted therapies for RA.</p

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome associated with COVID-19: An Emulated Target Trial Analysis.

RATIONALE: Whether COVID patients may benefit from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) compared with conventional invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) remains unknown. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the effect of ECMO on 90-Day mortality vs IMV only Methods: Among 4,244 critically ill adult patients with COVID-19 included in a multicenter cohort study, we emulated a target trial comparing the treatment strategies of initiating ECMO vs. no ECMO within 7 days of IMV in patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (PaO2/FiO2 <80 or PaCO2 ≥60 mmHg). We controlled for confounding using a multivariable Cox model based on predefined variables. MAIN RESULTS: 1,235 patients met the full eligibility criteria for the emulated trial, among whom 164 patients initiated ECMO. The ECMO strategy had a higher survival probability at Day-7 from the onset of eligibility criteria (87% vs 83%, risk difference: 4%, 95% CI 0;9%) which decreased during follow-up (survival at Day-90: 63% vs 65%, risk difference: -2%, 95% CI -10;5%). However, ECMO was associated with higher survival when performed in high-volume ECMO centers or in regions where a specific ECMO network organization was set up to handle high demand, and when initiated within the first 4 days of MV and in profoundly hypoxemic patients. CONCLUSIONS: In an emulated trial based on a nationwide COVID-19 cohort, we found differential survival over time of an ECMO compared with a no-ECMO strategy. However, ECMO was consistently associated with better outcomes when performed in high-volume centers and in regions with ECMO capacities specifically organized to handle high demand. This article is open access and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives License 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Physical, chemical, mineralogical and morphological characterization of a soil series in Lins/sp.

Este trabalho tem como objetivo a caracterização de um sistema de solos, evidenciando os parâmetros que possam esclarecer sua dinâmica e contribuir para a definição de critérios que possam determinar a aptidão destes solos como receptores de efluentes. Trata-se de uma área experimental de estudos, contígua à Estação de Tratamento de Esgoto do município de Lins (SP), onde efluentes são gerados a partir do tratamento de esgoto por sistema de lagoas de estabilização. Nesta área, vem sendo aplicada a técnica de irrigação com efluentes (fertirrigação). Os solos, situados ao longo de uma vertente com ligeira inclinação, foram caracterizados através de análises morfológicas, granulométricas, químicas, mineralógicas e micromorfológicas, realizadas em amostras coletadas em seis trincheiras abertas ao longo de duas topossequências, dispostas segundo o eixo de maior declive da vertente. Os solos são desenvolvidos a partir dos sedimentos arenosos da Formação Adamantina (Grupo Bauru) e constituem um sistema Latossolo - Argissolo, onde a transição Bw - Bt ocorre lateralmente do topo para a base da vertente. Foram identificadas quatro fases pedogenéticas nesta associação de solos. As duas primeiras, argiluviação e adensamento de partículas, responsáveis pela formação dos horizontes texturais, foram superpostas pelos processos de latossolização e hidromorfismo, atuantes na dinâmica atual destes solos. Análises micromorfológicas mostraram tratar-se de solos com intensa porosidade, caracterizada pelo empilhamento dos grãos do esqueleto quartzoso, amplamente predominante, e pelo arranjo entre os microagregados granulares. A permeabilidade é ainda favorecida pela intensa ação da mesofauna. Os solos são distróficos, com alta saturação por alumínio e compostos por caolinita e óxidos de ferro. Por se constituirem num sistema frágil, a disposição de quaisquer tipos de resíduos nestes solos, requer o monitoramento constante de suas propriedades, tanto para a manutenção, quanto para a recuperação da qualidade desta cobertura pedológica.The purpose of this study is to characterize a soil system, identifying the properties which can elucidate its dynamics and to define criterions for the ability of these soils to constitute an effluent disposal land. The experimental area is located nearby the Sewage Treatment Station (STS), in Lins (SP) and the effluent is proceeded for secundary treatment. In this area, is being applied the technique of fertirrigation. The soils are situated on a downslope and were characterized beside morphological, particle size, chemicals, mineralogicals and micromorphologicals analyses on samples collected in six profiles along two toposequences, across the axis of maximun gradient on downslope. These soils are expanded from sandstones of Adamantina Formation (Bauru Group) and compose an Oxisol-Ultisol system. The Bw-Bt transition accurs laterally, from the upper to the lowest part of downslope. It was recognized four pedogenetic phasis. Both first, argilluviation and compressed layer, explain the formation of argillic horizons and were superimposed from latossolization and hydromorphism, both last actuating on the actual dynamics of these soils. Micromorphological analysis showed that these soils are too porous, characterized for packing of skeletic grains and between granular aggregates. The permeability is increased by the activity of mesofaunal. These soils are dystrophics, have high aluminium saturation and are composed for kaolinite and iron oxides. This system is fragile, thus, the deposal of any kind of residues on these soils, needs the constant warning of all of their properties, so to the maintenance and also the recover of the quality of this pedologic cover

Argilominerais da porção basal da formação Corumbataí (Bacia do Paraná) na região de Rio Claro/SP

As rochas sedimentares da Formação Corumbataí (Neopermiano) afloram próximas à borda leste da Bacia do Paraná e na região de Rio Claro (SP) constituem importante fonte de matéria-prima para a indústria cerâmica regional. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a gênese e a evolução dos argilominerais presentes nos litotipos de dois perfis posicionados estratigraficamente na porção basal da Formação Corumbataí. As amostras foram coletadas nas frentes de lavra das minerações Pieroni e Estrela Dalva, localizadas no Distrito de Assistência, município de Rio Claro (SP) e analisadas através de difração de raios X, espectrometria de fluorescência de raios X, microscopia ótica e granulometria por absorção de raios X. A aplicação de técnicas complementares na interpretação dos difratogramas, como decomposição de picos e elaboração de difratogramas calculados, permititu a identificação dos argilominerais individualizados e interestratificados e associá-los aos processos deposicional, diagenético, hidrotermal e intempérico que atuaram ao longo da evolução geológica da Bacia do Paraná. A assembléia dos argilominerais é constituída por illita 2M1, illita 1Md, clorita, illita/clorita, clorita/esmectita e esmectita. O politipo illita 2M1 dioctaédrico é predominante e constitui o único argilomineral detrítico. Os argilominerais illita 1Md, clorita e illita/clorita resultam de transformações provocadas pela atuação de fluidos termais originados a partir da intrusão dos magmas básicos na forma de diques e sills correlatos à Formação Serra Geral, de idade Eocretácea. O interestratificado clorita/esmectita constitui o registro do início da fase pós-hidrotermal.Corumbataí Formation (Neopermian) sedimentary rocks arise near of the East edge of Parana Basin and in Rio Claro region (SP) constitute important raw material source for the regional ceramic industry. The aim of this work is to show genesis and evolution of clay minerals of the litotypes of two minings stratigraphycally located in Corumbatai Formation basal zone. The samples were collected from Pieroni and Estrela Dalva minings, in Assistencia District, Rio Claro city (SP) and analysed by techniques of X-ray diffraction, chemical analysis, optical microscopy and grain-size distribution. Aplicattion of complementary techniques in difratograms analysis as peak decomposition and calculated patterns difratograms allowed individualized and interstratified clay minerals identification and associate them with deposicional, diagenetic, hidrothermal and weathering processes during Parana Basin geological evolution. Clay minerals assemblage includes illite 2M1, illite 1Md, chlorite, illite/chlorite, chlorite/smectite and smectite. The polytipe illite 2M1dioctahedral is the predominant detritic clay mineral. Illite 1Md, chorite and illite/chlorite are the result of transformation due to basic magmas intrusions as sills and dykes associated to Serra Geral Formation (Eocretaceous). The presence of smectite at the top litotypes is due to weathering processes, conditioned for Cenozoic sediments that recover Corumbatai Formation rocks. The results suggest that the superimposed hidrothermalism on these pelitic rocks from the eocretaceous intrusions related to Serra Geral Formation constitutes the main geologic process during pelitic rocks evolution, changing the previous features and preparing all the posterior mechanisms, including the weathering alteration.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Management Practices and Sustainability of Rotative Savings and Credit Associations (ROSCAs) In Cameroon

The weaknesses observed in the management of ROSCAs from the 2000s until today have re-emphasized the debates on their management and sustainability. Thus, good governance in management practices has emerged as an instrument that can guarantee the sustainability of ROSCAs. The objective of our research is to understand the role and explore management practices that can ensure the sustainability of ROSCAs. The study focuses on several types of ROSCAs explored in Cameroon. The method of empirical study focused on the qualitative technique based on the documentary study and the realization of semi-structured interviews with the actors. The results of the study show that social, managerial and financial governance determines the sustainability of ROSCAs