Response of \u3cem\u3eAxonopus catarinensis\u3c/em\u3e and \u3cem\u3eArachis pintoi\u3c/em\u3e to Shade Conditions

In the north-east of Argentina, there are more than 100,000 hectares of silvopastoral systems where trees, forages and livestock are combined with the goal to diversify income, reduce financial risk, obtain more profit and enhance environmental benefit (Cubbage et al. 2013). The rapid adoption of this production system by farmers has generated high demand for information on shade tolerant grass and legume forage species. Axonopus catarinensis is a native grass from Itajai Vally (Brazil) that was introduced to the north-east of Argentina 10 years ago; whereas Arachis pintoi is a sub-tropical legume (also native to Brazil) adapted to acid soils and tolerant of medium levels of shade (Fisher and Cruz 1994). Visual observation of these species in the field indicated high yields and acceptable tolerance to shade. A trial was subsequently carried out with the aim to quantify dry matter yield and nutritive quality of the species under different levels of shade for silvopastoral use

Pachyrhizus ahipa: reassessment of ancient crop as alternative starch source

La ahipa (Pachyrhizus ahipa) es una planta Leguminosa cultivada antiguamente en la región andina, caracterizada por su resistencia al ataque de diversas plagas. Su raíz tuberosa acumula almidón como compuesto de reserva. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el comportamiento del cultivo de ahipa en la provincia de Misiones, caracterizar la composición química de las raíces obtenidas, analizar su conservación, implementar un proceso para obtener su almidón y evaluar las propiedades funcionales del mismo. P. ahipa se adaptó satisfactoriamente a las condiciones agroecológicas de Misiones, permitiendo obtener rendimientos máximos de 20.839 kg ha-1. Una vez en el CIDCA, las raíces se acondicionaron para su almacenamiento a 4, 10 ó 25ºC. Inicialmente, se cuantificó humedad, cenizas totales, materia grasa, fibra cruda, proteínas totales, compuestos libres de nitrógeno, concentración de sólidos solubles (ºBrix) y producción de CO2. Asimismo, durante el almacenamiento se determinó el color en el corte transversal de las raíces (usando un colorímetro Minolta CR400) y la textura (análisis del perfil de textura, TPA). Los resultados obtenidos permiten señalar que el tenor de proteínas (6,5%) resultaría medio, dado el elevado contenido de humedad de las muestras (82%). Sin embargo dicho contenido resultó superior al de otras raíces, como batata y mandioca. La conservación a bajas temperaturas produjo considerable daño por frío y ocasionó proliferación de microorganismos, en tanto que el almacenamiento a 25ºC no indujo cambios significativos en el color o la textura de las raíces de ahipa. El proceso de extracción de almidón comenzó con el lavado, pelado y procesado de las raíces. La pasta rallada se colocó en agua y se almacenó a 4°C durante 24h. La mezcla se filtró y se obtuvo el almidón en suspensión acuosa que se decantó a 4°C. El material insoluble sedimentado se secó a 40°C y se sometió a molienda. El rendimiento de la extracción de almidón de raíces de ahipa fue de 56,54 g/100 g de materia seca. Con el fin de proponer usos alimentarios para este producto, se evaluó la gelatinización y la retrogradación en condiciones de refrigeración de sus pastas mediante DSC, TPA y estudio del grado de sinéresis. Se halló que el almidón de ahipa gelatinizó a 67,18°C y sus pastas no retrogradaron en los tiempos ensayados, ya que la dureza de los geles no varió significativamente y el grado de sinéresis resultó muy bajo. Las propiedades funcionales evaluadas indican que el almidón de ahipa sería un espesante adecuado para la formulación de alimentos refrigerados.Ahipa (Pachyrhizus ahipa) is a leguminous plant cultivated formerly in the Andean region, characterized by its resistance to the attack of diverse pests. Ahipa tuberous root accumulates starch as reserve compound. The objective of this work was to evaluate ahipa crop management in Misiones (Argentina), to characterize the chemical composition of the obtained roots, to analyze its conservation, to implement a process to obtain ahipa starch and to evaluate its functional properties. P. ahipa successfully adapted to the agroecological conditions of Misiones, allowing maximum yield of 20,839 kg ha-1. Once in the CIDCA, roots were conditioned for storage at 4, 10 or 25 º C. Initially, moisture content, total ash, fat, crude fiber, total protein, nitrogen-free compounds, total soluble solids (º Brix) and CO2 production were quantified. During storage, color changes in the cut section of the roots (measured using a Minolta colorimeter CR400) and texture (texture profile analysis, TPA) were evaluated. Results indicate that the protein content (6.5%) would be intermediate, since samples showed relatively high moisture content (82%). However, protein levels were higher than that of other roots, like sweet potatoe and cassava. Conservation at low temperatures resulted in considerable injury and caused proliferation of microorganisms, while storage at 25 ° C did not cause significant changes in color or texture of the roots. The process of starch extraction began with the washing, peeling and processing of the ahipa roots. The paste of the grated ahipa was placed in water and stored at 4°C during 24hs. The mixture was filtered and the starch presented in the aqueous suspension was poured off at 4°C. The settled insoluble material was dried at 40°C and it was triturating. The yield of the extracted starch of the ahipa roots was 56.54 g/100 g of dry matter. In order to suggest food uses for this product, the starch pastes gelatinization and retrogradation under refrigeration conditions were evaluated by DSC, TPA and syneresis degree. Ahipa starch gelatinized at 67.18°C and its pastes did not retrograded during the assayed times, since the gels hardness did not significantly vary and the syneresis degree was too low. The evaluated starch functional properties indicate that it is an adequate thickener for refrigerated foods.Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimento

A pragmatic clinical effectiveness trial of a novel alternative to punishment for school-based substance use infractions: study protocol for the iDECIDE curriculum

BackgroundAdolescents who use alcohol and other drugs on school campuses are at heightened risk for adverse consequences to their health and wellbeing. Schools have historically turned to punitive approaches as a first-line response to substance use. However, punishment is an ineffective deterrent for substance use and may cause harm and increase inequities. iDECIDE (Drug Education Curriculum: Intervention, Diversion, and Empowerment) was developed as a scalable and youth-centered drug education and diversion program that can be used as a skills-based alternative to punishment. We aim to evaluate the effectiveness of the iDECIDE curriculum as an alternative to punishment (ATP) for school-based substance use infractions in the context of a large pragmatic clinical effectiveness study.MethodsWe will conduct a Type 1, hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial. Using a stepped wedge design with approximately 90 middle and high schools in Massachusetts, we will randomly allocate the timing of implementation of the iDECIDE curriculum compared to standard disciplinary response over approximately 36 months. We will test the overarching hypothesis that student-level outcomes (knowledge of drug effects and attitudes about substance use; frequency of substance use; school connectedness) improve over time as schools transition from a standard disciplinary response to having access to iDECIDE. The secondary aims of this trial are to (1) explore whether change in student-level outcomes vary according to baseline substance use, number of peers who use alcohol or other drugs, age, gender, and school urbanicity, and (2) determine the acceptability and feasibility of the iDECIDE curriculum through qualitative stakeholder interviews.DiscussionSubstance use continues to be a major and rapidly evolving problem in schools. The importance of moving away from punishment to more restorative approaches is widely accepted; however, scalable alternatives have not yet been identified. This will be the first study to our knowledge to systematically evaluate an ATP for students who violate the school substance use policy and is well poised to have important implications for policy making

Weight Variation over Time and Its Association with Tuberculosis Treatment Outcome: A Longitudinal Analysis

OBJECTIVE: Weight variation during therapy has been described as a useful marker to predict TB treatment outcome. No previous study has used longitudinal analysis to corroborate this finding. The goal of this study was to evaluate change and trends of patients' bodyweight over time depending on TB treatment outcome. METHODS AND FINDINGS: A retrospective cohort study with all TB cases diagnosed from 2000 to 2006 was carried out. Information from 5 public tuberculosis treatment facilities at Pampas de San Juan de Miraflores, Lima, Peru was analyzed. Poor outcome was defined as failure or death during TB therapy, and compared to good outcome defined as cured. Longitudinal analysis with a pre-specified marginal model was fitted using Generalized Estimating Equations to compare weight trends for patients with good and poor outcome adjusting for potential confounders. A total of 460 patients (55.4% males, mean age: 31.6 years) were included in the analysis: 42 (9.1%) had a poor outcome (17 failed and 25 died). Weight at baseline was not different comparing outcome groups (p = 0.17). After adjusting for age, gender, type of TB, scheme of treatment, HIV status and sputum variation during follow-up, after the first month of treatment, patients with good outcome gained, on average, almost 1 kg compared to their baseline weight (p<0.001), whereas those with poor outcome lost 1 kg (p = 0.003). Similarly, after 4 months, a patient with good outcome increased 3 kg on average (p<0.001), while those with poor outcome only gained 0.2 kg (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Weight variation during tuberculosis therapy follow-up can predict treatment outcome. Patients losing weight during TB treatment, especially in the first month, should be more closely followed as they are at risk of failure or death

Metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 as a potential target for smoking cessation

Rationale Most habitual smokers find it difficult to quit smoking because they are dependent upon the nicotine present in tobacco smoke. Tobacco dependence is commonly treated pharmacologically using nicotine replacement therapy or drugs, such as varenicline, that target the nicotinic receptor. Relapse rates, however, remain high and there remains a need to develop novel non-nicotinic pharmacotherapies for the dependence that are more effective than existing treatments. Objective The purpose of this paper is to review the evidence from preclinical and clinical studies that drugs that antagonise the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) in the brain are likely to be efficacious as treatments for tobacco dependence. Results Imaging studies reveal that chronic exposure to tobacco smoke reduces the density of mGluR5s in human brain. Preclinical results demonstrate that negative allosteric modulators (NAMs) at mGluR5 attenuate both nicotine self-administration and the reinstatement of responding evoked by exposure to conditioned cues paired with nicotine delivery. They also attenuate the effects of nicotine on brain dopamine pathways implicated in addiction. Conclusions Although mGluR5 NAMs attenuate most of the key facets of nicotine dependence they potentiate the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. This may limit their value as smoking cessation aids. The NAMs that have been employed most widely in preclinical studies of nicotine dependence have too many \u201coff target\u201d effects to be used clinically. However newer mGluR5 NAMs have been developed for clinical use in other indications. Future studies will determine if these agents can also be used effectively and safely to treat tobacco dependence

Teak (Tectona grandis) silviculture and research: applications for smallholders in Lao PDR

Teak is an important forest plantation species in Lao PDR (Laos), that has been planted extensively by smallholders, supplying domestic industries and international markets. There have been significant advances in the intensive silvicultural management of teak focused on the production of high-quality timber. Laos is not an exception. With support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, there have been advances in the understanding and knowledge of appropriate management practices for smallholder teak, as well as development of supporting technologies (i.e. ex situ conservation, genetic improvement, growth models, thinning and pruning prescriptions, and agroforestry systems). This paper summarises published information on the silviculture and management of teak, including improvement of genetic resources, stocking rate, thinning and agroforestry systems used in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Oceania, and relates this to the current situation in northern Laos. The challenge is to now transfer this knowledge to the teak smallholders, professionals, educators and policy decision makers of Laos

Factores que influencian la producción de biomasa forrajera de axonopus jesuiticus valls, bajo dosel de pinus taeda l. en el nordeste de corrientes

Datos de la producción de biomasa forrajera de Axonopus jesuiticus Valls bajo distintas estructuras de dosel de Pinus taeda L., entre los 5 y 10 años del rodal, fueron utilizados para ajustar modelos predictivos de la producción anual del estrato herbáceo. Mediante análisis de correlación fue posible establecer que la sección transversal debajo de la copa verde presentó un alto grado de asociación con la biomasa herbácea (r= 0,71). Modelos de predicción de la biomasa forrajera del pastizal para cada año de los rodales fueron ajustados empleando como variables independientes relaciones entre el producto del área basal en la base de la copa verde por la longitud de copa verde y el producto del área basal del rodal y la altura del árbol medio. Dado el ordenamiento presentado por los coeficientes de estos modelos, por medio de un ajuste paramétrico se obtuvo una ecuación única para todas las edades, aunque se debió excluir el año 5: precipitaciones muy elevadas en ese año afectaron significativamente la producción de forraje y el patrón de evolución del modelo correspondiente puede haberse visto afectado por ese hecho, no permitiendo su inclusión en el modelo genera

Using Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy to Measure Effects of Delta 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol on Prefrontal Activity and Working Memory in Cannabis Users

Intoxication from cannabis impairs cognitive performance, in part due to the effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis) on prefrontal cortex (PFC) function. However, a relationship between impairment in cognitive functioning with THC administration and THC-induced change in hemodynamic response has not been demonstrated. We explored the feasibility of using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to examine the functional changes of the human PFC associated with cannabis intoxication and cognitive impairment. Eighteen adult regular cannabis users (final sample, n = 13) performed a working memory task (n-back) during fNIRS recordings, before and after receiving a single dose of oral synthetic THC (dronabinol; 20–50 mg). Functional data were collected using a continuous-wave NIRS device, in which 8 Sources and 7 detectors were placed on the forehead, resulting in 20 channels covering PFC regions. Physiological changes and subjective intoxication measures were collected. We found a significant increase in the oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO) concentration after THC administration in several channels on the PFC during both the high working memory load (2-back) and the low working memory load (0-back) condition. The increased HbO response was accompanied by a trend toward an increased number of omission errors after THC administration. The current study suggests that cannabis intoxication is associated with increases in hemodynamic blood flow to the PFC, and that this increase can be detected with fNIRS