Diversity of N2-fixing cyanobacteria from Andalusian paddy fields and analysis of their potential as bioinoculants

The marshes of the Guadalquivir River contain the largest area of rice cultivation in Spain, where more than 40,000 ha are used every year for rice production. These wetland areas provide a perfect place for rice cultivation, and represent a unique aquaticterrestrial habitat that hold more wintering waterfowl than any other European wetland. Paddies require large amounts nitrogen and phosphorus for their growth, development and production. Though, flooded conditions used for rice cultivation drastically diminish efficiency inorganic nitrogen fertilizers, being only 30–40% used by the plant, and in some cases even less. Large amounts of nitrogen fertilizers are dissolved in the surface water and lost, causing environmental pollution and health problems due to losses through N2O and NO volatilization, denitrification, and leaching (Ishii et al., 2011)

Effect of hyperlipidic diets on normal and abnormal aortic valves in the Syrian hamster: A preliminary study

Effect of hyperlipidic diets on normal and abnormal aortic valves in the Syrian hamster: A preliminary study. MC Fernández 1,2, J Moncayo-Arlandi 1, MT Soto 1, MA López-Unzu 1, B Fernández 1,2 and AC Durán 1,2. 1 Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Málaga, Spain. 2 Biomedical Research Institute of Málaga (IBIMA), University of Málaga, Spain. Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is the most frequent human congenital cardiac malformation. It frequently becomes stenotic due to calcification by an atherosclerosis-like process. Hyperlipidic diets have been classically used to induce atherosclerosis in laboratory animals, including Syrian hamsters. The aim here is to evaluate the effect of hyperlipidic diets in hamsters having different incidence of BAVs. We used a unique inbred strain of Syrian hamsters with a high ( 40%) incidence of spontaneous BAV, morphologically similar to that in man, another inbred strain with a low ( 4%) incidence of BAV, and an outbred, second control line, acquired from Charles River Laboratories. Three experimental groups were fed with standard diet supplemented with 2% cholesterol plus 15% butter during five months. In parallel, three control groups were fed with unmodified standard diet. Hyperlipidic diets induced lesions in the aortic valve and ascending aortic wall, i.e. subendothelial lipid deposits, valve sclerosis, and neo-intima in the aorta. We performed a preliminary, qualitative, comparative study of the lesions associated with the different animal populations and valvular phenotypes. Our results indicate that (1) the type and severity of the lesions varied among the three hamster populations, suggesting that genetic factors may be involved; (2) the aortic valve morphology seems not to determine the severity of the valvular lesions. We conclude that our hamster strain with high incidence of BAV is a promising animal model for studies on human aortic stenosis. This work was supported by P10-CTS-6068.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Andalucía Tech. P10-CTS-6068

Diversity of N2-fixing cyanobacteria from Andalusian paddy fields and analysis of their potential as bioinoculants

The marshes of the Guadalquivir River contain the largest area of rice cultivation in Spain, where more than 40,000 ha are used every year for rice production. These wetland areas provide a perfect place for rice cultivation, and represent a unique aquatic-terrestrial habitat that hold more wintering waterfowl than any other European wetland.Paddies require large amounts nitrogen and phosphorus for their growth, development and production. Though, flooded conditions used for rice cultivation drastically diminish efficiency inorganic nitrogen fertilizers, being only 30–40% used by the plant, and in some cases even less. Large amounts of nitrogen fertilizers are dissolved in the surface water and lost, causing environmental pollution and health problems due to losses through N2O and NO volatilization, denitrification, and leaching (Ishii et al., 2011).The paddy field ecosystem provides a favourable environment for the growth of phototrophic microorganisms including nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria, as it meets their requirements for light, water, temperature and nutrient availability. The ability of this type of cyanobacteria to fix N2 provides a natural source of fixed nitrogen to the plant that is evidently priceless, and encourages research to develop new cyanobacteria-based biofertilizers for rice cultivation. In our laboratory, diversity of N2-fixing cyanobacteria from Andalusian paddies has been studied by means of metagenomic analysis and classical microbiological approaches. We have found that agronomic techniques influence microbial diversity (Ramírez-Moncayo et al., 2018). We have also isolated Nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria from the paddy fields and we have found that Nostocaceae and Rivulariaceae are the dominant N2-fixing cyanobacteria families in these isolates (Alves-Martínez et al., 2017). Genetic analysis of the different isolates revealed the presence of new uncharacterized strains. We have evaluated their potential as bioinoculants for plant fortification. Some of the strains showed a strong attraction and attachment to rice roots, which could be an indication of possible supply to the plant of nitrogen-fixed metabolites by the cyanobacterium. These isolates might be used for the formulation of new ecological biofertilizers alternative to chemical synthetic fertilizers

Dynamic Evaluation of Production Policies: Improving the Coordination of an Ethanol Supply Chain

AbstractThis paper uses System Dynamics modeling and process simulation to explore coordination in two logistic processes (procurement and production) of the supply chain of an ethanol plant. In that sense, three production scenarios are evaluated to identify: a) stock movement according to current inventory policies, and b) the critical variables affecting the coordination for these two processes. Since the main goal in the company is to meet customer demand, this research incorporates sales forecasting, and four performance indicators to evaluate the state of the processes: 1) average percentage of demand satisfaction, 2) maximum amount of ethanol in excess, 3) available ethanol at the end of the year, and 4) inventory costs. To model the case study, the change in production yield and specific constraints for the chain are considered. The simulation results show that System Dynamics modeling can be used to observe the effects of policies on inventory, and meeting the demand in a real system. It also can define the coordination for a supply chain and give information to improve it. The developed model uses STELLA® software to simulate the logistic processes and execute the evaluation employing the performance indicators

Heartland Virus in Lone Star Ticks, Alabama, USA

We detected Heartland virus (HRTV) in lone star nymphs collected in 2018 in northern Alabama, USA. Real-time reverse transcription PCR selective for the small segment of the HRTV genome and confirmatory sequencing of positive samples showed high identity with HRTV strains sequenced from Tennessee and Missouri

Virtual Flight Demonstration of the Stratospheric Dual-Aircraft Platform

A baseline configuration for the dual-aircraft platform (DAP) concept is described and evaluated in a physics-based flight dynamics simulations for two month-long missions as a communications relay in the lower stratosphere above central Florida, within 150-miles of downtown Orlando.The DAP configuration features two large glider-like (130 ft wing span) unmanned aerial vehicles connected via a long adjustable cable (total extendible length of 3000 ft) which effectively sail without propulsion using available wind shear. Use of onboard LiDAR wind profilers to forecast wind distributions are found to be necessary to enable the platform to efficiently adjust flight conditions to remain sailing by finding sufficient wind shear across the platform. The aircraft derive power from solar cells, like a conventional solar aircraft, but also extract wind power using the propeller as a turbine when there is an excess of wind shear available.Month-long atmospheric profiles (at 3-5 min intervals) in the vicinity of 60,000-ft are derived from archived data measured by the 50-Mhz Doppler Radar Wind Profiler at Cape Canaveral and used in the DAP flight simulations. A cursory evaluation of these datasets show that sufficient wind shear for DAP sailing is persistent, suggesting that DAP could potentially sail over 90% of the month-long durations even when limited by modest ascent/descent rates.DAP's novel guidance software uses a non-linear constrained optimization technique to define waypoints such that sailing mode of flight is maintained where possible, and minimal thrust is required where sailing is not practical. A set of constraints are identified which result in waypoints that enable efficient flight (i.e., minimal use of propulsion) over the two month-long flight simulations. Waypoint solutions may need to be tabulated for a wide range of potential atmospheric conditions and stored onboard for quick retrieval on a real DAP.DAP's flight control software uses an unconventional mixture of spacecraft and aircraft control techniques. Flight simulations confirms that this controls approach enables the platform to consistently reach successive waypoints over the month-long flight simulations.The ability of DAP to transition between the sailing mode (i.e., cable tension is high) and standard formation flight (i.e., cable tension is low) is a vital capability (e.g., to enable intermittent turns while stationkeeping). A new method to perform these transitions has been identified and characterized with flight simulation which requires special aircraft modifications.The energy-usage of the DAP configuration during two month-long stationkeeping missions over central Florida (i.e., stationkeeping over Orlando) is evaluated and compared to that of a pure solar aircraft of the same weight and aerodynamic performance. DAP is shown to consistently reduce net propulsion usage while simultaneously increasing solar energy capture.A baseline 700 GHz communications system is described and its performance evaluated for the proposed mission over central Florida. It is found that the variable roll orientation of the aircraft would increase the power required to maintain coverage over the stationkeeping radius of 150 miles (e.g., by as much as 100% when DAP is 150 miles from Orlando), compared to level flight. This effect can be mitigated via additional antenna design complexity or a more restricted stationkeeping radius

Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus Infection of Cotton Rats

VEEV killed 2 allopatric populations of cotton rats but not a sympatric population from Florida

Abdomen agudo Post- Quirúrgico

The postoperative acute abdomen is a plurisintomatica whose main causes lie in complications that can occur in a surgery performed. In the postoperative patient, peritonitis secondary to a complication occupies 20 to 45% of international statistics, within these, 70% may develop sepsis, which when it is not controlled it can cause a syndrome of multiple organic dysfunction with a highmortality; national and local complications vary between 10 to 20 per cent of statistics carried out in hospital units. Evaluate the postoperative acute abdomen is not an easy task since the postoperative pain, the normal adynamic ileus of a patient underwent surgery may mask the table clinical and more even if the patient is with ventilation and unstable hemodinamicamente. This clínico-quirúrgica entity currently occurs frequently, that is why it is necessary to the health professional is pending on the evolution of the patient to identify and diagnose these complications early that will be caused a postoperative acute abdomen, an essential condition to ensure even the same life of the patient.Abdomen agudo post-quirúrgico es una entidad plurisintomática cuyas causas principales radican en complicaciones que pueden presentarse en una intervención quirúrgica realizada. En el paciente postquirúrgico, la peritonitis secundaria a una complicación ocupa del 20% al 45% de las estadísticas internacionales, dentro de éstas el 70% puede desarrollar sepsis, que si no es controlada puede originar un síndrome de disfunción orgánica múltiple con elevada mortalidad; a nivel nacional y local las complicacionesoscilan entre el 10% al 20% de las estadísticas realizadas en las unidades hospitalarias. Evaluar el abdomen agudo postquirúrgico no es tarea fácil ya que el dolor postoperatorio, el íleo adinámico normal de un paciente intervenido quirúrgicamente puede enmascarar el cuadro clínico y más aún si el paciente está con ventilación asistida y hemodinamicamente inestable. Esta entidad clínico-quirúrgica en la actualidad se presenta con frecuencia, de ahí que es necesario que el profesional de salud esté pendiente de la evolución de su paciente para identificar y diagnosticar precozmente estas complicaciones que van a originar un abdomen agudo postquirúrgico, condición indispensable para garantizar incluso hasta la vida misma del enfermo

3D-MRI rendering of the anatomical structures related to acupuncture points of the Dai mai, Yin qiao mai and Yang qiao mai meridians within the context of the WOMED concept of lateral tension: implications for musculoskeletal disease

BACKGROUND: A conceptual model of lateral muscular tension in patients presenting thyroid associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) has been recently described. Clinical improvement has been achieved by using acupuncture on points belonging to the so-called extraordinary meridians. The aim of this study was to characterize the anatomical structures related to these acupuncture points by means of 3D MRI image rendering relying on external markers. METHODS: The investigation was carried out the index case patient of the lateral tension model. A licensed medical acupuncture practitioner located the following acupuncture points: 1) Yin qiao mai meridian (medial ankle): Kidney 3, Kidney 6, the plantar Kidney 6 (Nan jing description); 2) Yang qiao mai meridian (lateral ankle): Bladder 62, Bladder 59, Bladder 61, and the plantar Bladder 62 (Nan jing description); 3) Dai mai meridian (wait): Liver 13, Gall bladder 26, Gall bladder 27, Gall bladder 28, and Gall bladder 29. The points were marked by taping a nitro-glycerin capsule on the skin. Imaging was done on a Siemens Magnetom Avanto MR scanner using an array head and body coil. Mainly T1-weighted imaging sequences, as routinely used for patient exams, were used to obtain multi-slice images. The image data were rendered in 3D modus using dedicated software (Leonardo, Siemens). RESULTS: Points of the Dai mai meridian – at the level of the waist – corresponded to the obliquus externus abdominis and the obliquus internus abdominis. Points of the Yin qiao mai meridian – at the medial side of the ankle – corresponded to tendinous structures of the flexor digitorum longus as well as to muscular structures of the abductor hallucis on the foot sole. Points of the Yang qiao mai meridian – at the lateral side of the ankle – corresponded to tendinous structures of the peroneus brevis, the peroneous longus, and the lateral surface of the calcaneus and close to the foot sole to the abductor digiti minimi. CONCLUSION: This non-invasive MRI investigation has revealed the anatomical relations of acupuncture points belonging to 3 of the so-called extraordinary meridians. We conclude that the clinically developed "WOMED concept of lateral tension" is related to tendino-muscular structures

Global health has a stake in the upcoming UN Food Systems Summit

Good health requires healthy and nutritious food. In their current state, food systems are not providing access to sufficient, affordable, healthy, and safe food for all people. Worse, recent years have seen an explosive proliferation and active marketing of foods increasingly associated with negative health outcomes.At the same time, food systems are contributing to further environmental degradation that undermines the future continuity of food production and its quality and threatens human health. Food systems urgently need to be transformed to provide equitable access to healthy diets, produced in sustainable and resilient ways; the continuation of current trends is nearly guaranteed to be disastrous for humanity. Preserving past achievements in health and addressing remaining inequities depend on this food system transformation