Damages caused by cotton rat, Sigmodon hispidus zanjonensis, on sugar cane in San Pedrosula, Honduras

Technical assistance was given to Compañía Azucarera Hondureña, S.A. (Agro-Industrial Co.), Honduras, Central America, to determine if a campaign against noxious rodents to agriculture crops was needed. Several trappings were carried out at different places using snap traps to determine the population structure of rodents associated with the crop, and live traps to determine the index or density of the Sigmodon hispidus rat population, which was identified as being responsible for the damage to sugarcane. Results were 43.24% adult males, 14.86% young males, 31.41% adult females, and 10.47% young females. Of the adult females captured, 54.83% were pregnant with an average of 3 to 4 embryos per rat. A control demonstration combat was carried out at one of the experimental stations with a bait prepared with 2% zinc phosphide in a place where it had been previously determined there was a population of 39 rats per hectare. After such control, the population was reduced to 18 rats per hectare, which represents an efficiency of 53.85%. An evaluation of damages was also measured at different places to determine the degree of loss caused by the rats, which proved to be 22.79% damage. The size of the sample was estimated in 3 samples per hectare, with a level of confidence of 95%

Pelvic actinimycosis

Actinomycosis is a chronic bacterial infection caused by Actinomyces, Gram-positive anaerobic bacteria. Its symptomatology imitates some malignant pelvic tumours, tuberculosis, or nocardiosis, causing abscesses and fistulas. Actinomycoses are opportunistic infections and require normal mucous barriers to be altered. No epidemiological studies have been conducted to determine prevalence or incidence of such infections. Objective. To analyse the clinical cases of pelvic actinomycosis reported worldwide, to update the information about the disease. Methods. A systematic review of worldwide pelvic actinomycosis cases between 1980 and 2014 was performed, utilising the PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. The following information was analysed: year, country, type of study, number of cases, use of intrauterine device (IUD), final and initial diagnosis, andmethod of diagnosis. Results. 63 articles met the search criteria, of which 55 reported clinical cases and 8 reported cross-sectional studies. Conclusions. Pelvic actinomycosis is confusing to diagnose and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pelvic chronic inflammatory lesions. It is commonly diagnosed through a histological report, obtained after a surgery subsequent to an erroneous initial diagnosis. A bacterial culture in anaerobic medium could be useful for the diagnosis but requires a controlled technique and should be performed using specialised equipment

Molecular identification of Nocardia species using the sodA gene Identificación molecular de especies de Nocardia utilizando el gen sodA.

Currently for bacterial identification and classification the rrs gene encoding 16S rRNA is used as a reference method for the analysis of strains of the genus Nocardia. However, it does not have enough polymorphism to differentiate them at the species level. This fact makes it necessary to search for molecular targets that can provide better identification. The sodA gene (encoding the enzyme superoxide dismutase) has had good results in identifying species of other Actinomycetes. In this study the sodA gene is proposed for the identification and differentiation at the species level of the genus Nocardia. We used 41 type species of various collections; a 386 bp fragment of the sodA gene was amplified and sequenced, and a phylogenetic analysis was performed comparing the genes rrs (1171 bp), hsp65 (401 bp), secA1 (494 bp), gyrB (1195 bp) and rpoB (401 bp). The sequences were aligned using the Clustal X program. Evolutionary trees according to the neighbour-joining method were created with the programs Phylo_win and MEGA 6. The specific variability of the sodA genus of the genus Nocardia was analysed. A high phylogenetic resolution, significant genetic variability, and specificity and reliability were observed for the differentiation of the isolates at the species level. The polymorphism observed in the sodA gene sequence contains variable regions that allow the discrimination of closely related Nocardia species. The clear specificity, despite its small size, proves to be of great advantage for use in taxonomic studies and clinical diagnosis of the genus Nocardia

Draft Genome Sequence of Saccharomonospora sp. Strain LRS4.154, a Moderately Halophilic Actinobacterium with the Biotechnologically Relevant Polyketide Synthase and Nonribosomal Peptide Synthetase Systems

The draft genome sequence of Saccharomonospora sp. strain LRS4.154, a moderately halophilic actinobacterium, has been determined. The genome has 4,860,108 bp, a G C content of 71.0%, and 4,525 open reading frames (ORFs). The clusters of PKS and NRPS genes, responsible for the biosynthesis of a large number of biomolecules, were identified in the genome

El paisaje rural antropogénico de Aisén, Chile: Estructura y dinámica de la vegetación [The anthropogenic rural landscape of Aisen, Chile: Structure and vegetation dynamic]

We studied the dynamic of the vegetation degradation in a rural anthropogenic mosaic vegetal landscape of the Aisen Region, Chile to establish relations of origin in space and time between communities and propose series of degradation. With plant sociological methodology we make up 50 vegetation samples. The initial table was sorted using differential species in 7 communities: nire scrub (Anemone multifida-Nothofagus antarctica), silvipasture with nire, silvipasture with chacay, trebol-ballica prairie (Bromus catharticus-Trifolium repens), chepica-cadillo prairie (Acaena ovalifolia-Agrostis capillaris), cadillo-Aira prairie and cadillo steppe, which were compared in their systematic, biological and origin spectra. The initial table previously transformed into a data matrix was treated with multivariate statistical analysis of classification (cluster analysis) and ordination (principal components analysis). Finally using the Ellenberg community similarity coefficient were compared and distributed in a communities constellation. The flora of the initial plant sociological table consisted of 78 species with a predominance of annual and perennial herbaceous foreign species that indicated a large anthropic influence. The following vegetation dynamic of degradation was established: fire scrub is degraded by grazing in a nire silvipasture, which is transformed in a anthropogenic overgrazed trebol-ballica prairie this becomes a cadillo-Aira prairie, which by default ends in a cadillo steppe without human management possibility. We discussed the results and applicability of the using methods.Se estudió la dinámica de degradación de la vegetación en un mosaico vegetal antropogénico del paisaje rural de la Región de Aisén para establecer las posibles relaciones de origen tanto espacial como temporal entre las comunidades y proponer series de degradación. Se trabajó con metodología fitosociológica levantando 50 censos de vegetación. La tabla inicial fue ordenada usando especies diferenciales en 7 comunidades: matorral de ñire (Anemone multifida-Nothofagus antarctica), silvopastoreo con ñire, silvopastoreo con chacay, pradera de trébol-ballica (Bromus catharticus-Trifolium repens), pradera de chépica-cadillo (Acaena ovalifolia-Agrostis capillaris), pradera de cadillo-Aira y estepa de cadillo, las que se compararon en sus espectros sistemáticos, biológicos y de origen. Posteriormente, se realizaron análisis estadísticos multivariados de clasificación (conglomerados) y de ordenación (componentes principales) a la tabla inicial transformada previamente en una matriz de datos. Finalmente, utilizando el índice de Ellenberg se compararon las comunidades encontradas, las que se distribuyeron en una constelación de comunidades. La flora de la tabla inicial estuvo conformada por 78 especies con un predominio de plantas herbáceas perennes y anuales alóctonas que indican un alto grado de antropización. Se estableció la siguiente dinámica vegetacional de degradación: el matorral de ñire se degrada por pastoreo a un silvopastoreo con ñire, el cual se transforma en una pradera antropogénica, con sobrepastoreo ésta da origen a una pradera de cadillo-Aira, la que por abandono desemboca en una estepa de cadillo. Se discuten los resultados obtenidos y la aplicabilidad del método

Búsqueda de capacidad productora de biosurfactantes en actinobacterias haloalcalófilas y haloalcalotolerantes

Una opción para biorremediar ambientes salinos contaminados con compuestos orgánicos hidrofóbicos, es el uso de microorganismos haloalcalófilos o haloalcalotolerantes capaces de producir biosurfactantes estables y consumir al compuesto hidrófobo. El biosurfactante solubiliza al contaminante haciéndolo biodisponible para el microrganismo. De estudios previos se conocía la capacidad de siete actinobacterias haloalcalotolerantes para transformar el antraceno. En este trabajo, a estas siete más 11 más aisladas de ambientes salinos, se les determinó la capacidad para producir biosurfactantes con propiedades emulsificantes. A las que la mostraron, fueron seleccionadas para saber si utilizaban al antraceno como única fuente de carbono y energía. La capacidad para producir biosurfactante fue determinada por los métodos de actividad hemolítica, gota colapsada y difusión del diámetro de la gota. La propiedad emulsificante y la estabilidad de la emulsión se caracterizaron con el índice de emulsificación y el índice de emulsificación relativo, respectivamente. De 18 actinobacterias evaluadas, cinco cepas mostraron capacidad para producir biosurfactantes con propiedades emulsificantes, alta estabilidad en la emulsión y utilización de antraceno como única fuente de carbono y energía. De estas cinco, dos son haloalcalófilas pertenecientes a la especie Nocardiopsis salina y tres son haloalcalotolerantes pertenecientes a las especies: Kocuria palustris, Microbacterium testaceum y Kocuria rosea. En un estudio previo se determinó la capacidad transformadora de antraceno en las tres cepas haloalcalotolerantes, por lo tanto los resultados de este estudio sugieren proponerlas como candidatas para procesos de biorremediación de ambientes salinos contaminados con compuestos hidrófobos. Asimismo se sugiere determinar la misma capacidad para las dos cepas haloalcalófilas.SIEA-UAEMex 3690/2014/CID SIEA-UAEMex 1039/2014RIFC SEP-PRODEP-Convocatoria de Redes 201

Haloalkalitolerant Actinobacteria with capacity for anthracene degradation isolated from soils close to areas with oil activity in the State of Veracruz, Mexico

The use of native strains of microorganisms from soils is an excellent option for bioremediation. To our knowledge, until now there has been no other group working on the isolation of Actinobacteria from contaminated soils in Mexico. In this study, samples of soils close to areas with oil activity in the State of Veracruz, Mexico, were inoculated for the isolation of Actinobacteria. The strains isolated were characterized morphologically, and the concentrations of NaCl and pH were determined for optimal growth. Strain selection was performed by the detection of a phylogenetic marker for Actinobacteria located at the 23S rRNA gene, followed by species identification by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene. Several haloalkalitolerant Actinobacteria were isolated and identified as: Kocuria rosea, K. palustris, Microbacterium testaceum, Nocardia farcinica and Cellulomonas denverensis. Except for C. denverensis, the biomass of all strains increased in the presence of anthracene. The strains capacity to metabolize anthracene (at 48 h), determined by fluorescence emission, was in the range of 46–54%. During this time, dihydroxy aromatic compounds formed, characterized by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy bands of 1205 cm–1 and 1217 cm–1. Those Actinobacteria are potentially useful for the bioremediation of saline and alkaline environments contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds

Determination of the Residual Anthracene Concentration in Cultures of Haloalkalitolerant Actinomycetes by Excitation Fluorescence, Emission Fluorescence, and Synchronous Fluorescence: Comparative Study

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are compounds that can be quantified by fluorescence due to their high quantum yield. Haloalkalitolerant bacteria tolerate wide concentration ranges of NaCl and pH. They are potentially useful in the PAHs bioremediation of saline environments. However, it is known that salinity of the sample affects fluorescence signal regardless of the method.The objective of this work was to carry out a comparative study based on the sensitivity, linearity, and detection limits of the excitation, emission, and synchronous fluorescence methods, during the quantification of the residual anthracene concentration from the following haloalkalitolerant actinomycetes cultures Kocuria rosea, Kocuria palustris, Microbacterium testaceum, and 4 strains of Nocardia farcinica, in order to establish the proper fluorescence method to study the PAHs biodegrading capacity of haloalkalitolerant actinobacteria. The study demonstrated statistical differences among the strains and among the fluorescence methods regarding the anthracene residual concentration. The results showed that excitation and emission fluorescence methods performed very similarly but sensitivity in excitation fluorescence is slightly higher. Synchronous fluorescence using Δ = 150nm is not the most convenient method.Therefore we propose the excitation fluorescence as the fluorescence method to be used in the study of the PAHs biodegrading capacity of haloalkalitolerant actinomycetes

Tackling body anxiety during pregnancy through flexible and sustainable garment design

LAUREA MAGISTRALELa bellezza, come intesa da Platone, era immateriale (spirituale), eterna. Tuttavia, sembra che oggigiorno sia il contrario. La bellezza si è spostata dal mondo delle idee al “mondo fisico”. Questo cambiamento ha avuto un impatto sul concetto di bellezza umana e, in molti contesti, ha influito negativamente sul benessere generale delle persone. Attori come i media e l’industria della moda hanno plasmato “bei corpi” secondo standard quasi irraggiungibili dalla maggior parte della popolazione. Inoltre, standard come l’estrema snellezza sono stati imposti alle donne, che si sottopongono a processi come diete e interventi di chirurgia estetica per adattarsi a questi standard e mitigare le ansie prodotte dai loro corpi. In questa tesi, ci proponiamo di indagare su come queste ansie corporee (“insoddisfazione corporea”) colpiscono una parte particolare delle donne, donne in gravidanza, e proponiamo una soluzione per affrontare questo problema dalla prospettiva di un design di abbigliamento flessibile e sostenibile. Abbiamo condotto la nostra ricerca attraverso diversi strumenti: revisione della letteratura, consultazione con esperti e ricerca incentrata sull’utente. I risultati ci portano a una proposta che mira a veicolare il messaggio di valorizzare il proprio corpo per ciò che è capace di fare, piuttosto che per la sua estetica. La proposta finale si chiama Nawale, basata su una creatura mitologica del popolo mesoamericano capace di mutare forma. Nello specifico, Nawale è un sistema prodotto-servizio che permette alle donne in gravidanza di personalizzare i capi in base al loro stile e alla particolare forma del corpo. Sono stati progettati due abiti e una cintura di sostegno. Tutti i capi sono adattabili a tutte le fasi della gravidanza e anche dopo il parto. I capi mirano ad essere prodotti in modo sostenibile e il servizio consente all’utente di scegliere se il prodotto è prodotto e spedito dal marchio, oppure di produrre autonomamente il capo da disegni tecnici forniti attraverso il servizio, avvalendosi di materiali e strutture disponibili localmente. Infine, abbiamo eseguito un sondaggio finale per capire come la soluzione proposta avrebbe funzionato sulle donne in gravidanza e abbiamo ricevuto una risposta complessivamente positiva insieme a un prezioso feedback per futuri miglioramenti del progetto.Beauty, as understood by Plato was immaterial (i.e., espiritual), eternal. However, it appears that nowadays it is the opposite. Beauty has moved from the world of ideas to the “physical world.” This shift has had an impact in the concept of human beauty, and in many contexts, it has negatively affected the overall well-being of people. Actors such as the media and the fashion industry have shaped “beautiful bodies” to almost unattainable standards by the majority of the population. What’s more, standards such as extreme slenderness have been imposed on women, who undergo processes such as diets and cosmetic surgeries to fit into these standards and mitigate the anxieties produced by their bodies. In this thesis, we set out to investigate how these body anxieties (“body dissatisfaction”) affect a particular portion of women, pregnant women, and propose a solution to tackle this issue from the perspective of flexible and sustainable garment design. We conducted our research via several instruments: literature review, consultation with experts and user-centered research. The results lead us to a proposal that aims to convey the message to value one’s body for what it is capable of doing, rather than its aesthetics. The final proposal is named Nawale, based on a mythological creature from mesoamerican folk that is capable of shapeshifting. Specifically, Nawale is a product-service system that allows pregnant women to customize garments based on their style and particular body shape. Two dresses and a support belt were designed. All the garments are adaptable to fit all the stages of pregnancy and even after giving birth. The garments are aimed to be produced sustainably and the service allows the user to choose if the product is produced and shipped by the brand, or to independently produce the garment from technical drawings provided through the service, making use of locally available materials and facilities. Finally, we performed a final survey to understand how the proposed solution would work on pregnant women and received an overall positive response along with valuable feedback for future improvements of the project