An Integrative, Multiparametric Approach for the Comprehensive Assessment of Microbial Quality and Pollution in Aquaculture Systems

As the aquaculture sector significantly expanded worldwide in the past decades, the concept of sustainable aquaculture has developed with the challenge of not only maximizing benefits but also minimizing the negative impacts on the environment assuring, at the same time, food security. In this framework, monitoring and improving the microbiological water quality and animal health are a central topic. In the present study, we evaluated the seawater microbiological quality in a mariculture system located in a Mediterranean coastal area (Northern Ionian Sea, Italy). We furnished, for the first time, a microbial inventory based on conventional culture-based methods, integrated with the 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding approach for vibrios identification and diversity analyses, and further implemented with microbial metabolic profiling data obtained from the Biolog EcoPlate system. Microbiological pollution indicators, vibrios diversity, and microbial metabolism were determined in two different times of the year (July and December). All microbial parameters measured in July were markedly increased compared to those measured in December. The presence of potentially pathogenic vibrios is discussed concerning the risk of fish disease and human infections. Thus, the microbial inventory here proposed might represent a new multiparametric approach for the suitable surveillance of the microbial quality in a mariculture system. Consequently, it could be useful for ensuring the safety of both the reared species and the consumers in the light of sustainable, eco-friendly aquaculture management

Precision stellar radial velocity measurements with FIDEOS at the ESO 1-m telescope of La Silla

We present results from the commissioning and early science programs of FIDEOS, the new high-resolution echelle spectrograph developed at the Centre of Astro Engineering of Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, and recently installed at the ESO 1m telescope of La Silla. The instrument provides spectral resolution R = 43,000 in the visible spectral range 420-800 nm, reaching a limiting magnitude of 11 in V band. Precision in the measurement of radial velocity is guaranteed by light feeding with an octagonal optical fibre, suitable mechanical isolation, thermal stabilisation, and simultaneous wavelength calibration. Currently the instrument reaches radial velocity stability of = 8 m/s over several consecutive nights of observation

Potential human and plant pathogenic species in airborne pm10 samples and relationships with chemical components and meteorological parameters

A preliminary local database of potential (opportunistic) airborne human and plant pathogenic and non-pathogenic species detected in PM10 samples collected in winter and spring is provided, in addition to their seasonal dependence and relationships with meteorological parameters and PM10 chemical species. The PM10 samples, collected at a Central Mediterranean coastal site, were analyzed by the 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding approach, and Spearman correlation coefficients and redundancy discriminant analysis tri-plots were used to investigate the main relationships. The screening of 1187 detected species allowed for the detection of 76 and 27 potential (opportunistic) human and plant pathogens, respectively. The bacterial structure of both pathogenic and non-pathogenic species varied from winter to spring and, consequently, the inter-species relationships among potential human pathogens, plant pathogens, and non-pathogenic species varied from winter to spring. Few non-pathogenic species and even fewer potential human pathogens were significantly correlated with meteorological parameters, according to the Spearman correlation coefficients. Conversely, several potential plant pathogens were strongly and positively correlated with temperature and wind speed and direction both in winter and in spring. The number of strong relationships between presumptive (human and plant) pathogens and non-pathogens, and meteorological parameters slightly increased from winter to spring. The sample chemical composition also varied from winter to spring. Some potential human and plant pathogens were correlated with chemicals mainly associated with marine aerosol and/or with soil dust, likely because terrestrial and aquatic environments were the main habitats of the detected bacterial species. The carrier role on the species seasonal variability was also investigated

Cordyla pinnata améliore les propriétés du sol et la productivité des cultures

Dans les systèmes agroforestiers, les cultures sous le couvert des arbres (SC) bénéficient de plus de nutriments, après décomposition et minéralisation des litières, que celles hors de leur couvert (HC). La fertilité des sols et la productivité du mil et de l’arachide ont été évaluées sur des sols prélevés à différentes distances de Cordyla pinnata, une légumineuse arborée qui forme un parc agroforestier au Sénégal. Les analyses de sols ont montré des valeurs plus élevées pour N total, Ca échangeable et CEC sous le couvert de l’espèce. Pour le mil, la hauteur, les biomasses aérienne et racinaire ont également été plus élevées sur les sols SC. Par conséquent, la biomasse totale du mil a fortement augmenté (+ 90%) sur les sols SC. Pour l’arachide, la longueur totale, les biomasses (tiges, feuilles, gousses, racines) ont été supérieures sur les sols SC. Comme pour le mil, la biomasse totale de l’arachide a augmenté (+ 94%) sur les sols SC par rapport au découvert. La plupart des variables des cultures ont été plus élevées sur les sols SC, probablement à cause de leur meilleur statut nutritif. L’introduction des arbres dans les systèmes de production au Sahel pourrait ainsi constituer une bonne stratégie pour améliorer la fertilité des sols et contribuer au développement d’une agriculture durable.Mots clés: Arachide, Fertilité des sols, Mil, Parc agroforestier, Sénéga

Constraints to liberty of movement and attachment styles significantly account for well-being in three Palestinian samples

Background: Political violence and constraints on liberty of movement can have consequences for health and well-being but affect individuals differently. Objective: In three Palestinian samples, we sought to examine the relationship between key environmental and psychological factors and general and mental health, including the previously unexplored roles of constraints to liberty of movement and attachment orientation. Method: Participants (n=519) in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Jordan completed questionnaires on constraints to liberty of movement (4-item scale devised by the authors for the purpose of the current study), attachment insecurity (Experiences in Close Relationships Scale – Short Form, Wei et al., 2007), resource loss (Conservation of Resources Evaluation scale, Hobfoll & Lilly, 1993), experience of political violence (Experience and fear of political violence, Hobfoll et al., 2011), demographics, general health (adapted from DeSalvo et al, 2006) and mental health (PHQ4 for depression, and Ballenger et al.’s, (2001) 2 item screener for anxiety). All measures were translated from English to Arabic and back-translated into English. Results: Findings from regression and mediation analyses indicated that (i) differences in general and mental health among Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and the diaspora in Jordan, can be explained by the assessed constructs; (ii) constraints to liberty of movement, attachment avoidance, and resource loss significantly accounted for poor general health; (iii) constraints to liberty of movement, attachment anxiety, and resource loss significantly explained general anxiety symptoms; and (iv) attachment anxiety, resource loss, and experience of political violence significantly explained depression symptoms. Conclusion: Findings have theory-building implications for psychological models of human flourishing and suffering, suggesting that they are incomplete without consideration of liberty as a context, as well as implications for policymakers and champions of global health initiatives, as they highlight the psychological effects of constraints to liberty of movement on health

Comparison of Relaxin Levels Between Premenopausal Women and Menopausal Women with and without Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Introduction: Aging has been associated with pelvic floor dysfunction, a condition related to secondary effects of various predisposing factors, including postmenomausal estrogenee levels. Decreasing estrogene levels during this period may manifest in degenerative changes in certain organs, including pelvic organ supporting structures. Other contributing predisposing factors for pelvic floor dysfunction include pregancy and delivery. This physiological condition has also been synergentically associated with the endocrine or hormonal system that prepares reproductive organs and supporting structures during pregancy, known as relaxin. This study was conducted to determine relaxin hormonal levels in premenopausal and menopasual women with and without pelvic organ prolapse Methods: This cross-sectional study examined premenopausal and menopausal women to determine severity degrees of uterine prolapse using the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q). Twenty five patients diagnosed with pelvic organ prolapse were allotted in to the case group whereas 38 non pelvic organ prolapsed patients comprised the control group. Relaxin serum was measured using Enzym Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA). Statistics were analysed using the Mann Whitney test. Results: Mean relaxin serum levels in premenopausal pelvic organ prolapsed and non pelvic organ prolapsed women were 91.450 ± 52.962 pq/ml and 109.441 ± 134.365 pq/ml, respectively, indicating no significant difference in relaxin serum levels between the two groups (p>0,05). Mean relaxin serum levels in menopausal pelvic organ prolapsed and non pelvic organ prolapsed women were 56.571 ± 37.875 pq/ml and 56.800 ± 57.097 pq/ml, respectively. Statistic testing also showed no significant difference in relaxin levels between the two groups (p>0,05). Conclusion: Relaxin serum levels in premenopausal pelvic organ prolapsed women did not significantly differ with their non pelvic organ prolapsed counter parts. The same conclusion was drawn between menopausal pelvic organ prolapsed women and their non pelvic organ prolapsed counterparts. Key words : Relaxin serum, menopause, Pelvic organ prolaps

Physical modeling of echelle spectrographs: the CARMENES case study

We have developed a generic physical modeling scheme for high resolution spectroscopy based on simple optical principles. This model predicts the position of centroids for a given set of spectral features with high accuracy. It considers off-plane grating equations and rotations of the different optical elements in order to properly account for tilts in the spectral lines and order curvature. In this way any astronomical spectrograph can be modeled and controlled without the need of commercial ray tracing software. The computations are based on direct ray tracing applying exact corrections to certain surfaces types. This allows us to compute the position on the detector of any spectral feature with high reliability. The parameters of this model, which describe the physical properties of the spectrograph, are continuously optimized to ensure the best possible fit to the observed spectral line positions. We present the physical modeling of CARMENES as a case study. We show that our results are in agreement with commercial ray tracing software. The model prediction matches the observations at a pixel size level, providing an efficient tool in the design, construction and data reduction of high resolution spectrographs. © 2018 SPIE

Investigation of production possibility of monosex female and sterile fish in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss

This investigation carried out for the first time in Iran inorder to prodcution of monosex female and also sterilization in Rainbow trout. In this study, the eggs of general females were fertilized with the sperm of sex reversed male and so monosex female population was produced in second generation and sterilization carried out with oral administration of 17α methy 1 testosterone and immenrsion and oral administiration methods were used in embryonic stage and from commencing of acitve feeding of larvae, respectiverly. For sex reversal , 13 treatments were considered totally, that the most percentage of male (100%) was observedc in a treatment including of orally administration of 0.5 ppm hormone for 60 days after commencing active feeding (P<0.001). In the other treamtnet, different percentages of sex ratio including male, female, intersex and sterility were observed. The offspring of genral eggs fertilization with the sperm of masculinized fish were 100% female, chisquare test was shown the treatment of orally administration of 30 ppm hormone for 120 days after commencing active feeding that had been considered for sterilization, was produced 90% sterile fish (P<0.001) and was changed the sex ratio significancthy. Morphological changes of the gonads and sperm ducts in matured fish and also histological changes in the gonads of fish in the treamtints were considerable