Methods for the extraction, storage, amplification and sequencing of DNA from environmental samples

Advances in the sequencing of DNA extracted from media such as soil and water offer huge opportunities for biodiversity monitoring and assessment, particularly where the collection or identification of whole organisms is impractical. However, there are myriad methods for the extraction, storage, amplification and sequencing of DNA from environmental samples. To help overcome potential biases that may impede the effective comparison of biodiversity data collected by different researchers, we propose a standardised set of procedures for use on different taxa and sample media, largely based on recent trends in their use. Our recommendations describe important steps for sample pre-processing and include the use of (a) Qiagen DNeasy PowerSoil® and PowerMax® kits for extraction of DNA from soil, sediment, faeces and leaf litter; (b) DNeasy PowerSoil® for extraction of DNA from plant tissue; (c) DNeasy Blood and Tissue kits for extraction of DNA from animal tissue; (d) DNeasy Blood and Tissue kits for extraction of DNA from macroorganisms in water and ice; and (e) DNeasy PowerWater® kits for extraction of DNA from microorganisms in water and ice. Based on key parameters, including the specificity and inclusivity of the primers for the target sequence, we recommend the use of the following primer pairs to amplify DNA for analysis by Illumina MiSeq DNA sequencing: (a) 515f and 806RB to target bacterial 16S rRNA genes (including regions V3 and V4); (b) #3 and #5RC to target eukaryote 18S rRNA genes (including regions V7 and V8); (c) #3 and #5RC are also recommended for the routine analysis of protist community DNA; (d) ITS6F and ITS7R to target the chromistan ITS1 internal transcribed spacer region; (e) S2F and S3R to target the ITS2 internal transcribed spacer in terrestrial plants; (f) fITS7 or gITS7, and ITS4 to target the fungal ITS2 region; (g) NS31 and AML2 to target glomeromycota 18S rRNA genes; and (h) mICOIintF and jgHCO2198 to target cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) genes in animals. More research is currently required to confirm primers suitable for the selective amplification of DNA from specific vertebrate taxa such as fish. Combined, these recommendations represent a framework for efficient, comprehensive and robust DNA-based investigations of biodiversity, applicable to most taxa and ecosystems. The adoption of standardised protocols for biodiversity assessment and monitoring using DNA extracted from environmental samples will enable more informative comparisons among datasets, generating significant benefits for ecological science and biosecurity applications

Banking structure performance in the Central Africa Economic and Monetary Community : Intern efficacity of firms and impact on the wellbeing by the example of microfinance in Cameroon.

Cette étude porte sur l’évaluation de la performance du système bancaire de la zone CEMAC sur la période 1993-2008. La performance interne est captée par l’efficacité technique des firmes bancaires. Celle-ci est mesurée par les approches non paramétriques des modèles de frontière de production, en considérant les crédits comme output de l’industrie bancaire. La décomposition de l’indice de MALMQUIST permet de constater que les banques de la zone présentent des scores contrastés, même si globalement elles affichent une meilleure efficacité d’échelle. L’analyse des externalités des services financiers est limitée au seul cadre du Cameroun et elle est évaluée par l’impact du microcrédit sur le niveau de vie des ménages bénéficiaires, dans une logique de réduction de la pauvreté monétaire et de la pauvreté multidimensionnelle. Les résultats indiquent que la variation du revenu des ménages est conditionnée par l’usage fait du crédit et par les facteurs environnementaux.The objective of this work is to evaluate the performance of the banking system of CEMAC countries from 1993 to 2008. We capture the internal performance of the bank through the technical efficiency of banking firms. We measure this, using non-parametric approaches of production frontier models, while considering credit as the output of the banking industry. Using the MALMQUIST decomposition index, we observe that banks in the zone have quite different scores, even if globally they have a better scale efficiency. The analysis of the externalities of financial services is limited to Cameroon only. We evaluate this through the impact of micro-credits on the standard of living of the beneficiary households within the framework of monetary poverty and multi-dimensional poverty reduction. The results show that the change in households’ incomes is determined by what the loans are used for and by environmental factors

[Monnaie : Tétradrachme, Argent, Héliopolis (Baalbeck), Koïlé Syrie, Province de Syrie, Caracalla]

Ancien possesseur : Seyrig, Henri (1895-1973). Ancien possesseurAppartient à l’ensemble documentaire : MonnGr

[Monnaie : Bronze, Héliopolis (Baalbeck), Koïlé Syrie, Province de Syrie, Julia Domna]

Ancien possesseur : Seyrig, Henri (1895-1973). Ancien possesseurAppartient à l’ensemble documentaire : MonnGr

[Monnaie : Bronze, Héliopolis (Baalbeck), Koïlé Syrie, Province de Syrie, Philippe I L'Arabe]

Ancien possesseur : Chandon de Briailles, François (1892-1956). Ancien possesseurAppartient à l’ensemble documentaire : MonnGr

[Monnaie : Bronze, Héliopolis (Baalbeck), Koïlé Syrie, Province de Syrie, Gallien]

Ancien possesseur : Chandon de Briailles, François (1892-1956). Ancien possesseurAppartient à l’ensemble documentaire : MonnGr

[Monnaie : Tétradrachme, Argent, Héliopolis (Baalbeck), Koïlé Syrie, Province de Syrie, Caracalla]

Ancien possesseur : Seyrig, Henri (1895-1973). Ancien possesseurAppartient à l’ensemble documentaire : MonnGr

[Monnaie : Bronze, Héliopolis (Baalbeck), Koïlé Syrie, Province de Syrie, Valérien]

Ancien possesseur : Chandon de Briailles, François (1892-1956). Ancien possesseurAppartient à l’ensemble documentaire : MonnGr

[Monnaie : Bronze, Héliopolis (Baalbeck), Koïlé Syrie, Province de Syrie, Septime Sévère]

Ancien possesseur : Chandon de Briailles, François (1892-1956). Ancien possesseurAppartient à l’ensemble documentaire : MonnGr