LEAF AREA INDEX RELATED TO WEED SUPPRESSION IN UPLAND TARO

LEAF AREA INDEX RELATED TO WEED SUPPRESSION IN UPLAND TAR

Direct and indirect approaches based on paper analysis by Py-GC/MS for estimating the age of documents

The age of a relatively old document is one of the pending issues to be resolved in the field of forensic documentary examination. Although nowadays there are a variety of analytical methodologies focused in the analysis of inks for dating documents, the paper analysis has attained little attention. This work aims to develop two complementary approaches for estimating the age of documents based on paper analysis employing the pyrolysis technique coupled to gas chromatography with detection by mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS): (i) a direct approach using the pyrolytic fingerprints and multivariate regression with artificially aged samples, and (ii) an indirect approach based on the identification of compounds characteristic of the document period. The direct approach has successfully allowed the age estimation of relatively old documents under police custody (up to 30 years of age) and the determination of a relation between the natural and the accelerated aging of paper under the used conditions. This approach is applicable to papers that have the same (or similar) composition and have been stored under comparable storage conditions. Additionally, the indirect approach is presented as an interesting perspective to ratify valuable information of the document age

Influence of a combination of agricultural chemicals on embryos of the endangered gold-striped salamander (Chioglossa lusitanica)

Pollution from agrochemicals may be contributing to the global decline of amphibian populations. Environmentally relevant concentrations of a fertiliser, ammonium nitrate, and a commercial formulation of the herbicide glyphosate Roundup Plus were tested on the embryonic development of Chioglossa lusitanica. This study introduces new data at three different levels. First, we provide previously unknown information about hatchling traits of C. lusitanica. Second, we present the first ecotoxicological study of this endangered species, to which environmental pollution is considered a major threat. Third, we conduct the first experiment with an amphibian species exposed to a mixture of a glyphosate-based herbicide and a nitrogenous fertiliser. Control individuals hatched with an average (±SD) total length of 18.77 (±2.02) mm and at an average Harrison’s developmental stage of 44.58 (±1.24). Mean hatching time among controls was 11.52 (±1.29) weeks. None of the chemicals or their interaction produced lethal effects; however, a significant interaction was found when analysing total length at hatching. Individuals exposed to the herbicide hatched at a larger size than controls, and this effect was especially clear when the fertiliser was added to the water. The absence of pollutant-related mortality or severe sublethal effects is in agreement with most studies indicating a high tolerance of amphibian embryos to agrochemicals. However, further research considering other life stages and additional natural factors (i.e., predators, food availability) is needed to estimate the ecological impact of chemical mixtures on C. lusitanica.Peer reviewe

Adaptation of the “Assessment of Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy Questionnaire” (“Cuestionario de Evaluación de la Adhesión al Tratamiento antirretroviral” - CEAT-VIH) for its use in Peru

Objetivos: El objetivo de este estudio fue adaptar y validar el “Cuestionario para evaluar la adhesión al tratamiento antirretroviral” (CEAT-VIH) para su uso en el Perú, en pacientes VIH y SIDA en tratamiento antirretroviral de gran actividad (TARGA). Métodos: Se evaluó la comprensión del cuestionario así como sus propiedades psicométricas en una muestra de 41 pacientes con VIH y SIDA en tratamiento antirretroviral de gran actividad (TARGA) por más de tres meses. El periodo de estudio estuvo comprendido entre diciembre 2005 y enero 2006, el proceso de validación incluyó la aplicación del cuestionario el mismo día de la toma de muestra para el análisis de la carga viral y de los linfocitos TCD4. Se analizó la fi abilidad, la correlación de la puntuación con el recuento de linfocitos TCD4 y la carga viral. Resultados: Los resultados mostraron una adecuada fi abilidad (α = 0,706) y validez de criterio externa: respecto al recuento de linfocitos TCD4 (r = 0,439, p < 0,005), y respecto a la carga viral (r = - 0,548, p < 0, 005). Conclusiones: El CEAT-VIH ha demostrado ser una adecuada herramienta para evaluar el nivel de adherencia e identifi car los factores que infl uyen en la adherencia al tratamiento antirretroviral en una muestra de pacientes VIH y SIDA en Perú.Objective: To adapt and validate the “Assessment of Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy Questionnary” “Cuestionario para evaluar la adhesión al tratamiento antirretroviral” (CEAT-VIH) for use in Peru, in HIV-infected patients in highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Method: Understanding of the questionnaire was evaluated as well as its psychometric properties in 41 HIV-infected patients; antiretroviral therapy for at least 3 months was required. Data was obtained between December 2005 and January 2006. CEAT-VIH was carried out the day when sample for HIV viral load and CD4 cell count were taken. Reliability and validity related to two external criterions were evaluated. Results: CEAT-VIH showed appropriate reliability (α = 0,706) and adequate external criterion-related validity for CD4 cell count (r = 0,439, p < 0.005), and for HIV viral load (r = - 0,548, p < 0, 005). Conclusions: CEAT-VIH has proved to be useful to assess the level of adherence and to identify the factors affecting patient adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy in Peru

Analysis of products, mechanisms of reaction, and some functional properties of soy protein hydrolysates

Soybean protein isolates were hydrolyzed with papain, bromelain, cucurbita, hieronymin, and pomiferin. The highest hydrolysis rate for cucurbita and the lowest for papain was detected at 720 min. Gel filtration, reversed-phase liquid chromatography, and electrophoresis showed that the action of each protease was different. Pomiferin acted on the native structure of β-conglycinin and glycinin, generating a large number of small hydrolysis products with hydrophilic and hydrophobic characteristics. The hydrolysates obtained with cucurbita showed residual structures that were almost intact and very similar to the substrate and contained a low number of small peptides. The hydrolyzates obtained with papain, bromelain, and hieronymin had hydrolysis products with structures similar to the partially hydrolyzed native isolate. The molecular masses of these products were similar to or lower than the controls. Polypeptides of low molecular mass were also detected. The prevalence of one-by-one and zipper mechanisms was suggested for cucurbita and pomiferin, respectively. For the other proteases both mechanisms were likely to coexist. The solubility of hydrolysates and their ability to form and stabilize foams correlated well with the structural properties and with the suggested mechanisms of hydrolysis. The best properties were presented by the hydrolysates prepared with cucurbita. Foaming ability for pomiferin hydrolysates was as high as that for unhydrolyzed soy isolate, but the foams were extremely unstable.Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimento

A novel method to scale up fungal endophyte isolations

This record contains the Author’s Accepted Manuscript of an article published in Biocontrol Science and Technology 2015, available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/ http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09583157.2015.1033382. Manuscript will be openly accessible in March 2016

Sex-Specific Effects of High Yolk Androgen Levels on Constitutive and Cell-Mediated Immune Responses in Nestlings of an Altricial Passerine

Avian embryos are exposed to yolk androgens that are incorporated into the egg by the ovulating female. These steroids can affect several aspects of embryo development, often resulting in increases in overall size or the speed of growth of different traits. However, several studies suggest that they also entail immune costs to the offspring. In this study, we explored whether variation in yolk androgen concentration affected several measures of the constitutive and cell-mediated immune axes in the spotless starling (Sturnus unicolor). Using a within-brood design, we injected different doses of androgens (testosterone and androstenedione) into the eggs. Our study showed that experimentally increased yolk androgens led to sex-specific immunosuppression in both the innate and adaptive axes of the immune system. Both cell-mediated immune response (CMI) and lysozyme activity decreased with increasing androgen levels injected into the egg in the case of male nestlings, whereas there were no effects on females. The effects that we found were always linear: no quadratic or threshold patterns were detected. We found no effects of the experimental treatment in hemolysis or agglutination capacity, but these measures were negatively correlated with CMI, suggesting negative correlation among different branches of the immune system. Blood (trypanosomes and hemosporidians) and intestinal (coccidia) parasites were not affected by the experimental increase of yolk androgen levels. Our results show that in our study species yolk androgens induce immunosuppression in some axes of the male nestling immune system. Further studies should analyze the proximate causes for these contrasting effects in different axes of the immune system and the reason for the differential impact on males and females