Introduction: globalization, African workers and the terms of inclusion

This introductory article explores the transformative potential of global connections for African workers. It challenges recent claims that African workers have become functionally irrelevant to the global economy by examining the shift of global demand for African workers from formal to increasingly informalised labour arrangements, mediated by social enterprises, labour brokers and graduate entrepreneurs. Focusing on global employment connections initiated from above and from below, we consider why global labour linkages have tended to increase rather than reduce problems of vulnerable and unstable working conditions within African countries, and consider the economic and political conditions needed for African workers to capture the gains of inclusion in the global economy

Introduction: globalization, African workers and the terms of inclusion

This introductory article explores the transformative potential of global connections for African workers. It challenges recent claims that African workers have become functionally irrelevant to the global economy by examining the shift of global demand for African workers from formal to increasingly informalised labour arrangements, mediated by social enterprises, labour brokers and graduate entrepreneurs. Focusing on global employment connections initiated from above and from below, we consider why global labour linkages have tended to increase rather than reduce problems of vulnerable and unstable working conditions within African countries, and consider the economic and political conditions needed for African workers to capture the gains of inclusion in the global economy

Non invasive molecular diagnosis of Leishmaniasis in dogs

1 Background The molecular diagnosis of leishmaniasis by PCR on limph node and bone marrow is accurate, but it is invasive; however, the lymph nodes regression after therapy makes difficult their collection. Non-invasive sampling for parasite detection and quantitation is crucial for diagnosis and for monitoring Leishmania infection in dogs. The object of the present study was to search for a noninvasive collection methods for detecting and quantitating Leishmania infantum DNA in saliva samples from naturally infected dogs living in endemic area, comparison to the performance of IFAT and lymph node aspirates, serum and congiuntival swab by real time PCR. 2 Methods Leishmania infantum DNA detection was performed in biological sample from twenty dogs of different breeds and age, showing symptoms compatible with the infection, and fifteen leishmaniotic dogs undergoing antileishmanial treatments (meglumine antimoniate plus allopurinol/miltefosine plus allopurinol). 3 Results The detection of Leishmania DNA in saliva samples by real time (qPCR) was possible in untreated dogs and after anti-Leishmania treatment. The real-time PCR analysis showed higher levels of Leishmania DNA in the lymph node aspirates and saliva samples from all infected dogs than those measured in their congiuntival swab. 4 Conclusions Overall, the results indicated that real time PCR-saliva is a new sensitive, non-invasive molecular method and could represent a good option for diagnosis of leishmaniasis in dogs and for monitoring infection in drugtreated dogs.

Le nuove frontiere della diagnostica di laboratorio

Scienze omiche e loro applicazione in Medicina Veterinari

137Cs inventories along a climatic gradient in volcanic soils of Patagonia: Potential use for assessing medium term erosion processes

Fallout radionuclides, such as Caesium-137, were proven to be a valuable means for studying medium-term (c.a. 50 years) soil erosion processes. In order to gain knowledge on the spatial distribution of 137Cs in volcanic soils of Andean Patagonia, 137Cs reference inventories were established along a precipitation gradient. At the subhumid sector, patterns of 137Cs gain/loss associated with land use were also determined considering native forests under grazing, a degraded rangeland and a pine plantation. Along the rising rainfall gradient (750–1400 mm), pedogenesis of volcanic ash soils, non-crystalline mineral formation, organic matter content and soil porosity varied, increasing in moister areas. Radionuclide inventories varied along the edaphoclimatic gradient, reaching mean values of 192, 267 and 576 Bq m−2 , at study areas with 750, 950 and 1400 mm of annual precipitation, respectively. The 137Cs inventory followed an exponential relationship with precipitation, which could be related to the presence of allophane as the colloidal material in the soils from the rainiest area. The penetration depth reached by 137Cs varied between 15 and 25 cm, according to rain amount and soil texture. Most of the 137Cs fallout was retained in the uppermost 10 cm of the profiles and an exponential decline of 137Cs with depth, highly related to organic matter contents, was found. At the subhumid study area, both 137Cs mass activity and inventory, significantly decreased under the different land uses, with respect to reference soils. Although the pattern of 137Cs gain/loss varied according to topography, soil properties (organic matter and porosity) and vegetation cover, showing eroding and aggrading profiles, most samples had 137Cs values lower than the reference value, suggesting loss of soil as a consequence of erosion processes. Furthermore, as much as 45%, 58% and 70% of sample points from native forests, plantation and rangeland, respectively, had 137Cs values below the limit of detection. In the study transects, the loss of the upper 15 cm of soil in the subhumid sector during the last 50 years, highly exceeding tolerable erosion rates, highlights the urgent need for applying effective soil conservation measures. Reference inventories, which vary according to the edaphoclimatic gradient, and the loss of the radionuclide in sites with anthropic intervention, show the potential for using 137Cs measurements for assessing erosion processes in the Patagonian Andean Region.Fil: la Manna, Ludmila Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco". Facultad de Ingeniería - Sede Esquel. Centro de Estudios Ambientales Integrados; ArgentinaFil: Gaspar, Leticia. Estación Experimental de Aula Dei; Argentina. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; EspañaFil: Tarabini, Manuela Mabel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco". Facultad de Ingeniería - Sede Esquel. Centro de Estudios Ambientales Integrados; ArgentinaFil: Quijano, Laura. Université Catholique de Louvain; BélgicaFil: Navas, Ana. Estación Experimental de Aula Dei; Argentina. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; Españ

Renal function and physical fitness after 12-mo supervised training in kidney transplant recipients

To evaluate the effect of a 12-mo supervised aerobic and resistance training, on renal function and exercise capacity compared to usual care recommendations

Detection of Brucella abortus DNA and RNA in different stages of development of the sucking louse Haematopinus tuberculatus

Background: Brucellosis is considered the world’s most widespread zoonotic infection. It causes abortion and sterility in livestock leading to serious economic losses and has even more serious medical impact in humans, since it can be a trigger to more than 500,000 infections per year worldwide. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of Haematopinus tuberculatus, a louse that can parasitize several ruminants, as a new host of brucellosis. Louse specimens were collected from seropositive and seronegative water buffaloes and divided in 3 developmental stages: adults, nymphs and nits. All samples were separately screened for Brucella spp. DNA and RNA detection by Real Time PCR. In particular, primers and probes potentially targeting the 16S rRNA and the Brucella Cell Surface 31 kDalton Protein (bcsp31) genes were used for Real Time PCR and buffalo β actin was used as a housekeeping gene to quantify host DNA in the sample. A known amount of B. abortus purified DNA was utilized for standard curve preparation and the target DNA amount was divided by the housekeeping gene amount to obtain a normalized target value. A further molecular characterization was performed for Brucella strain typing and genotyping by the Bruce-ladder, AMOS-PCR and MLVA assays. Data were statistically analysed by ANOVA. Results: Brucella abortus DNA and RNA were detected in all developmental stages of the louse, suggesting the presence of viable bacteria. Data obtained by MLVA characterization support this finding, since the strains present in animals and the relative parasites were not always identical, suggesting bacterial replication. Furthermore, the detection of Brucella DNA and RNA in nits samples demonstrate, for the first time, a trans-ovarial transmission of the bacterium into the louse. Conclusions: These findings identified H. tuberculatus as a new host of brucellosis. Further studies are needed to establish the role of this louse in the epidemiology of the disease, such as vector or reservoir

Molecular Iodine for a General Synthesis of Binary and Ternary Inorganic and Hybrid Organic-inorganic Iodide Nanocrystals

We report the synthesis of various binary and ternary inorganic and hybrid organic-inorganic iodide nanocrystals starting from molecular iodine (I2). The procedure utilizes a reaction between I2 and oleylamine that yields oleylammonium iodide -the iodide precursor for a subsequent preparation of nanocrystals. The syntheses are facile, carried out under air, in vials heated on a hotplate and deliver nanocrystals with narrow size distributions and, in the case of red and near infrared-emitting lead-based perovskites, with 70-80% photoluminescence quantum yields. The latter were used to fabricate red and infrared bright light-emitting diodes, with external quantum efficiencies (EQE) exceeding 3%