Increasing Employment Opportunities and Improving Workplace Health

Evidence Review 5 - Increasing employment opportunities and improving workplace health Briefing 5a - Workplace interventions to improve health and wellbeing Briefing 5b - Working with local employers to promote good quality work Briefing 5c - Increasing employment opportunities and retention for people with a long-term health condition or disability Briefing 5d - Increasing employment opportunities and retention for older people This set of documents, commissioned by Public Health England, and written by the UCL Institute of Health Equity, address the role of employment opportunities and good quality work in improving health. These papers provide a summary of evidence on the effects of unemployment and poor working conditions on health and the unequal distribution of these effects. They then outlines the potential actions that can be taken in local areas around four specific topics: - Workplace interventions to improve health and well-being- Working with local employers to encourage, incentivise and enforce good quality work- Interventions to increase employment opportunities and retention for people with a long-term health condition or disability- Interventions to increase employment opportunities and retention for older people The full evidence review and four shorter summary briefings are available to download above. This document is part of a series. An overview document which provides an introduction to this and other documents in the series, and links to the other topic areas, is available on the ‘Local Action on health inequalities’ project page. A video of Michael Marmot introducing the work is also available on our videos page.

Residual effect of a micro-encapsulated formulation of organophosphates and piriproxifen on the mortality of deltamethrin resistant Triatoma infestans populations in rural houses of the Bolivian Chaco region

The Bolivian Chaco is part of the endemic region of Chagas disease and an area where pyrethroid resistant Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) populations has been reported. The World Health Organization identified these resistant populations as an important focus for research. The objective of this study was to evaluate the residual effect of a micro-encapsulated formulation containing organophosphate active ingredients and a juvenile hormone analogue (Inesfly 5A IGR) on the mortality of T. infestans. Studies took place in rural houses of the Bolivian Chaco that were treated up to 34 months before and evaluated the susceptibility to pyrethroids of the offspring of field collected insects. Thirty houses were randomly selected within three communities to carry out wall bio-assays with T. infestans nymphs. Mortality was recorded 24, 48 and 72 h after wall contact. Eggs laid by females collected in the area were used to obtain first-instar nymphs and carry out pyrethroid susceptibility tests. The wall bio-assays showed that the micro-encapsulated insecticide eliminates T. infestans populations and produces detectable mortality of insects exposed to walls treated 34 months prior to the tests. The discriminant dose of deltamethrin (0.01 mg/mL) showed 65% nymph survival, whereas at the highest tested dose (1.0 mg/mL) 14% of the nymphs survived. These results show that Inesfly 5A IGR is an appropriate tool for the elimination of intradomestic and peridomestic populations of T. infestans resistant to pyrethroids.

Collectio sermonum de dominicis, de festis et de sanctis, ad usum Fratrum Minorum.

« Sermo adaptabillis b. Laurentio... Dispersit, dedit pauperibus... Quia secundum b. Dionixium in De ecclesiastica Yerarchia... » (1-2) ; — « Sermo de assumptione b. Marie... Quid hoc audio de te... Quid nos tantilly... » (2v-3), suivi d'une note à l'usage des prédicateurs : « Nota quod ne sermo sit deffectuosus... » (3) ; — « Sermo de conceptione b. Marie. Que est ista que progreditur... Karissimi, predicator evangelicus, beatitudinis eterne preco... » (3v-4v) ; — « Sermo de quatuor festis principalibus b. Marie... Que est ista que progreditur... Verba ista sunt tocius curie celestis... » (4v-5v) ; — « Sermo de Purificatione. In mansuetudine suscipite... Secundum b. Gregorium, Mor. 23... » (6-7) ; — « Sermo de b. Francischo... Cujus est ymago hec et superscriptio... Secundum b. Gregorium, omelia 30... » (7v-8v) ; — « Sermo in dominica [in Quinquagesima]. Ecce ascendimus Jerosolimam... Karissimi, sicut scitis, finis est... » (9-10) ; — [Sermo in dominica IIa post Epiphaniam] « Tu servasti vinum bonum usque adhuc... In verbis istis spiritualiter intellectus... » (10-10v) ; — « Sermo de b. Francischo. Ad ymaginem similitudinis sue... Verba ista ad litteram scripta... » (11-12) ; — « Sermo de b. Johane Baptista. Magnus es tu et faciens mirabilia... Secundum Gregorium quia tute... » (12v-13) ; — « Sermo de angelis. Inmittit angelus Domini... Sanctus ille David, acceptus de ovibus... » (13v-14) ; — « In ascensione Domini. Exultavit ut gigas... Duo sunt inter cetera Christi misteria... » (14v-16) ; — « De asumpcione Domine nostre. Ad preceptum tuum elevabitur aquila... Quia, karissimi, Mater Domini... » [FRANCISCUS DE MAYRONIS] ; cf. éd. Bâle, 1498, f. CIV-CIIIV, avec variantes (16v-18) ; — « De Maria Magdalena. Permittuntur [sic pro : Remittuntur] tibi peccata tua... Sicut solent maximi principes... » [Idem], sermon abrégé ; cf. éd. cit., f. LXXXVIIIV-XCI (18-19v) ; — « De s. Johane Evangelista. Dillectus meus michi... Ostenditur b. Johannes prout inflamatus... » [Idem], résumé ; cf. éd. cit., f. XXIX-XXIXV (20) ; — « In festo apostolorum Petri et Pauli. Accepimus gratiam et apostolatum... Gloriosissimi christiane fidei religionis... » (20v-23v) ; — « Sermo de gratia divina acquirenda. Accepimus gratiam etc. Vivat, obsecro, anima mea ... quoniam... » (24) ; — « Accepimus gratiam etc. Restat ostendere via physionomica... » (24v-26) ; — « Sermo de beatitudine, sive gloria celesti, sive in festo Omnium sanctorum. Fons sapientie verbum Dei... Ecce ego sto prope fontem... In hoc festo precipue et anno... » (26-29) ; — « De nativitate Domine nostre. Egredietur virga de radice Jesse... Percutiet terram virga... Clementissimus pastor ovium... » (29v-32) ; — « Sermo de uno confessore pontifice. Rector fratrum et stabilimentum populi... Inter viros eximie sanctitatis... » (32v) ; — « De nativitate Domini. Transeamus usque Bethelem... Innocencius in quodam sermone de predicatione... » (34v-36) ; — « In die nativitatis Domini. Sol ortus est et humiles exaltati sunt... Beatus Augustinus, De Civitate Dei : Anima participacione... » (36-37v) ; — « Dominica infra octavas Nativitatis. Ecce positus est hic in ruinam... Secundum doctrinam Philosophi in diversis locis... » (38-38v) ; — « Dominica quarta in quadragesima. Sequebatur eum multitudo magna... Secundum Damascenum libro primo, capitulo XV°, diversitas actionum... » (39-40v) ; — « De Canane[a], dominica secunda [sic] in quadragesima [Feria 5a post dom. Ia in XLa]. Dimitte illam quia clamat... Si attendamus ordinem generacionis... » (41-42v) ; — « Dominica de Passione. Si veritatem dico vobis... Secundum sententiam Phylosophi primo Metaphysice... » (43-43v) ; — « In cena Domini. Hodie est rex et cras morietur... Omne agens ordinate prius inquirit... » (44-45) ; — « De resurectione. Hec dies quam fecit Dominus... Scilicet est ex dictis Philosophi in diversis locis... » (45v-47) ; — « Dominica in Quadragesima. Ecce nunc tempus acceptabile... Ut dicit Philosophus, secundo de Celo et mundo... » (47-48v) ; — « De b. Clara. Sicut lux meridiana clara est... Secundum Philosophum tertio Methaphysice, si res creatas... » (48v-49v) ; — « Sermo de Cruce. Vidit mulier quod bonum esset lignum... Sicut ex doctrina Philosophi primo Ethicorum... » (50-51) ; — « De s. Anthonio. Misit servum suum hora cene... Sicut in rebus naturalibus docet experiencia... » (51v-52v) ; — « De b. Johane Batista. Tu puer propheta Altissimi... Secundum doctrinam Hugonis in commento de angelica Jerarchia... » (53-54) ; — « De b. Bertholameo [sic]. Dedit illi contra inimicos potenciam... Racio docet et experiencia manifestat... » (54v-55) ; — « De b. Francischo. Amice, ascende superius... Dicit Philosophus quinto Physicorum quod motus... » (55v-56) ; — [De b. Bernardo] « Omnia parata sunt, venite ad nupcias... Sicut videmus in motu naturali... » (56v-57) ; — « De sacerdote novo. Vos elegit Dominus... Ut potest haberi ex dictis Dyonisii... » (57v-58v) ; — « De assumpcione Virginis gloriose. Elevetur tronus David super Israel... Videmus quod triplici racione aliqua corpora... » (58v-59v) ; — « De assumpcione Virginis. Veni de Libano sponsa mea... Secundum testimonium Scripturarum et humane consuetudinis... » (59v-61) ; — « De Trinitate. Tripliciter sol exurens montes... Secundum quod dicit Philosophus, tota nostra noticia... » (61-61v) ; — « De b. Francischo. Hic beatus in facto suo erit... Post doctrinam philosophorum et experienciam... » (62-62v) ; — [De b. Eligio] « Provideat rex virum sapientem... Secundum sententiam (secundum) sapientis primo Metaphysice . » (63-64) ; — « De resurrectione Domini. Tercia dies est hodie... Tripliciter alicujus rei non vise accipimus fidem certam... » (64-65) ; — «Stetit in medio discipulorum et dixit : Pax vobis... Ut dicit b. Augustinus undevicesimo de Civitate Dei... » (65v-67) ; — « De Omnibus sanctis... Gloriosa dicta sunt de te... Aperta est civitas... Doctore egregio Bernardo scilicet attestante... » (67-69) ; — « De b. Johane Batista. Hic venit in testimonium... Sicut potest probari ex dictis Philosophi et exemplis... » (69v-70) ; — « De b. Petro apostolo. Tu pasce populum meum Israel... Secundum sententiam Philosophi tertio Politicorum... » (70v-71) ; — « De assumpcione Virginis gloriose. Transibo in locum tabernaculi... Triplici ratione secundum philosophorum doctrinam aliqua moventur... » (71v-72v) ; — [De b. Francisco] « Adolescens, tibi dico surge... Consideranti sciderum revolucionem... » (73-74v) ; — [De s. Michaele] « Michael et angeli preliabantur... Sicut ex doctrina Phylosophi in pluribus locis patet... » (74v-76) ; — « De b. Nicholao. Petra fundebat michi rivos olei... Secundum philosophicam doctrinam, diversitas effectuum... » (76-77) ; — « In festo apostolorum Petri et Pauli. Fecit Deus duo luminaria magna... Secundum sententiam Philosophi secundo Methaphysice... » (77v-78) ; — « De b. Bertholameo. Vidi angelum fortem... Secundum dictum Philosophi, omnes transferentes... » (78v-79) ; — « Dominica in Quadragesima. Ductus est Jhesus in desertum... Sicut naturalium operationum multiplex experiencia... » (79v-80v) ; — « De s. Thoma apostolo. Ecce cognovi quoniam Deus meus es... Bernardus in sermone : Deus noverim me... » (81-81v) ; — « De sacerdote novo. Misit Dominus servum suum... Secundum quod dicit Philosophus primo Ethicorum, diversarum operationum... » (82-82bis) ; — « In purificatione Virginis. Parasti ante faciem omnium populorum... Si attendamus formationem rerum temporalium... » (82bisv-83v) ; — « De uno martire. Esto vir fortis, et prelia bella Domini... Secundum consuetudinem hominum... » (84-85) ; — « De festo Purificacionis. Lucerna splendens super candelabrum... Doctrina philosophorum et tradit... » (85v-86v) ; — « Feria quarta Cinerum. Cum jejunas unge caput tuum... Morum Philosophi doctrinam perlegens et attendens... » (87-88v) ; — « In quarta feria Cinerum. Cum jejunatis, nolite fieri sicut ypocrite... Sicut ex doctrina Philosophi primo Ethicorum potest colligi... » (88v-89v) ; — « In festo b. Lodovici [episcopi]. Surrexit rex de solio suo... Ut dicit Philosophus quarto Methaphysicorum... » (90-91v) ; — « De b. Jacobo. Vox tonitrui tui in rota... Secundum doctrinam philosophicam formarum naturalium... » (91v-92v) ; — [In festo Annunciationis] « Ecce concipies in utero... Secundum doctrinam Philosophi septimo de Animalibus, ad generationem... » (93-94) ; — « De s. Ludovico [episcopo]. Reposita est michi corona justitie... Secundum sententiam Philosophi secundo Phisicorum, omne agens... » (94-96).

A dynamic view of hepatitis C virus replication complexes.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) replicates its genome in a membrane-associated replication complex (RC). Specific membrane alterations, designated membranous webs, represent predominant sites of HCV RNA replication. The principles governing HCV RC and membranous web formation are poorly understood. Here, we used replicons harboring a green fluorescent protein (GFP) insertion in nonstructural protein 5A (NS5A) to study HCV RCs in live cells. Two distinct patterns of NS5A-GFP were observed. (i) Large structures, representing membranous webs, showed restricted motility, were stable over many hours, were partitioned among daughter cells during cell division, and displayed a static internal architecture without detectable exchange of NS5A-GFP. (ii) In contrast, small structures, presumably representing small RCs, showed fast, saltatory movements over long distances. Both populations were associated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) tubules, but only small RCs showed ER-independent, microtubule (MT)-dependent transport. We suggest that this MT-dependent transport sustains two distinct RC populations, which are both required during the HCV life cycle.

Quality of life after pulmonary embolism: validation of the French version of the PEmb-QoL questionnaire.

Background The PEmb-QoL is a validated 40-item questionnaire to quantify health-related quality of life in patients having experienced pulmonary embolism (PE). It covers six health dimensions: frequency of complaints, activities of daily living limitations, work-related problems, social limitations, intensity of complaints, and emotional complaints. Originally developed in Dutch and English, we sought to prospectively validate the psychometric properties of a French version of the PEmb-QoL.MethodsWe performed a forward and backward translation of the English version of the PEmb-QoL into French. French-speaking consecutive adult patients with an acute, objectively confirmed PE admitted to the emergency department of a Swiss university hospital between 08/2009 and 09/2011 were recruited telephonically. We used standard psychometric tests and criteria to evaluate the acceptability, reliability, and validity of the French version of the PEmb-QoL. We also performed an exploratory factor analysis.ResultsOverall, 102 patients were enrolled in the study. The French version of the PEmb-QoL showed good reliability (internal consistency, item¿total and inter-item correlations), reproducibility (test-retest reliability), and validity (convergent, discriminant) in French-speaking patients with PE. The exploratory factor analysis suggested three underlying dimensions: limitations in daily activity (items 4b-m, 5a-d), symptoms (items 1a-h and 7), and emotional complaints (items 9a-f and j).ConclusionWe successfully validated the French version of the PEmb-QoL questionnaire in patients with PE. Our results show that the PEmb-QoL is a valuable tool for assessing health-related quality of life after PE in French-speaking patients.

SV40-induced expression of calretinin protects mesothelial cells from asbestos cytotoxicity and may be a key factor contributing to mesothelioma pathogenesis.

The calcium-binding protein calretinin has emerged as a useful marker for the identification of mesotheliomas of the epithelioid and mixed types, but its putative role in tumor development has not been addressed previously. Although exposure to asbestos fibers is considered the main cause of mesothelioma, undoubtedly, not all mesothelioma patients have a history of asbestos exposure. The question as to whether the SV40 virus is involved as a possible co-factor is still highly debated. Here we show that increased expression of SV40 early gene products in the mesothelial cell line MeT-5A induces the expression of calretinin and that elevated calretinin levels strongly correlate with increased resistance to asbestos cytotoxicity. Calretinin alone mediates a significant part of this protective effect because cells stably transfected with calretinin cDNA were clearly more resistant to the toxic effects of crocidolite than mock-transfected control cells. Down-regulation of calretinin by antisense methods restored the sensitivity to asbestos toxicity to a large degree. The protective effect observed in clones with higher calretinin expression levels could be eliminated by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors, implying an important role for the PI3K/AKT signaling (survival) pathway in mediating the protective effect. Up-regulation of calretinin, resulting from either asbestos exposure or SV40 oncoproteins, may be a common denominator that leads to increased resistance to asbestos cytotoxicity and thereby contributes to mesothelioma carcinogenesis.

Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase 5b: a Serum Marker of Bone Resorption

Bone is a physiologically dynamic tissue being constantly regenerated throughout life as a consequence of bone turnover by bone-resorbing osteoclasts and bone-forming osteoblasts. In certain bone diseases, such as osteoporosis, the imbalance in bone turnover leads to bone loss and increased fracture risk. Measurement of bone mineral density (BMD) predicts the risk of fracture, but also biochemical markers of bone metabolism have been suggested to be suitable for prediction of fractures and monitoring the efficacy of antiresorptive treatment. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP 5b) is an enzyme released from osteoclasts into the circulation, from where it can be detected kinetically or immunologically. Conventional assays for serum total TRACP were spectrophotometric and suffered from interference by other acid phosphatases and non-osteoclastic TRACP 5a isoform. Our aim was to develop novel immunoassays for osteoclastic TRACP 5b. Serum TRACP 5b levels were elevated in individuals with high bone turnover, such as children, postmenopausal women, patients with osteoporosis, Paget’s disease and breast cancer patients with bone metastases. As expected, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in postmenopausal women decreased the levels of serum TRACP 5b. Surprisingly, the highest TRACP 5b levels were observed in individuals with rare autosomal dominant osteopetrosis type II (ADO2), which is characterized by high BMD and fracture risk with simultaneously elevated levels of deficient osteoclasts. In ADO2 patients, elevated levels of serum TRACP 5b were associated with high fracture frequency. It is likely that serum TRACP 5b reflects the number of inactive osteoclasts in ADO2. Similar results supporting the hypothesis that TRACP 5b would reflect the number of osteoclasts instead of their activity were observed with cultured osteoclasts and in animal models. Novel TRACP 5b immunoassays may prove to be of value either as independent or combinatory tools with other bone metabolic markers and BMD measurements in clinical practice and bone research.

Integrated Materials and Construction Practice for Concrete Pavement: A State-of-the-Practice Manual, 2006

At the heart of all concrete pavement projects is the concrete itself. This manual is intended as both a training tool and a reference to help concrete paving engineers, quality control personnel, specifiers, contractors, suppliers, technicians, and tradespeople bridge the gap between recent research and practice regarding optimizing the performance of concrete for pavements. Specifically, it will help readers do the following:

Bilateral renal artery entrapment by diaphragmatic crura: a rare cause of renovascular hypertension with a specific management.

We present the case of a young man with compression of both renal arteries by the crura of the diaphragm. Correct diagnosis of renal artery entrapment is difficult but crucial. The investigations rely on an high index of suspicion and include Doppler ultrasound and spiral computed tomography angiography, which permits visualization of the diaphragm and its relationships with the aorta. This pathology, unlike common renal artery stenoses, requires surgical decompression and sometimes aortorenal bypass graft.

Wheat germ cell-free expression: Two detergents with a low critical micelle concentration allow for production of soluble HCV membrane proteins.

Membrane proteins are notoriously difficult to express in a soluble form. Here, we use wheat germ cell-free expression in the presence of various detergents to produce the non-structural membrane proteins 2, 4B and 5A of the hepatitis C virus (HCV). We show that lauryl maltose neopentyl glycol (MNG-3) and dodecyl octaethylene glycol ether (C12E8) detergents can yield essentially soluble membrane proteins at detergent concentrations that do not inhibit the cell-free reaction. This finding can be explained by the low critical micelle concentration (CMC) of these detergents, which keeps the monomer concentrations low while at the same time providing the necessary excess of detergent concentration above CMC required for full target protein solubilization. We estimate that a tenfold excess of detergent micelles with respect to the protein concentration is sufficient for solubilization, a number that we propose as a guideline for detergent screening assays.

Differential phosphorylation of MAP1b during postnatal development of the cat brain.

Microtubule-associated protein 1b, previously also referred to as microtubule-associated protein 5 or microtubule-associated protein 1x, is a major component of the juvenile cytoskeleton, and is essential during the early differentiation of neurons. It is required for axonal growth and its function is influenced by phosphorylation. The distribution of microtubule-associated protein 1b in kitten cerebellum and cortex during postnatal development was studied with two monoclonal antibodies. Hybridoma clone AA6 detected a non-phosphorylated site, while clone 125 detected a site phosphorylated by casein-kinase II. On blots, both monoclonal antibodies stained the same two proteins of similar molecular weights, also referred to as microtubule-associated protein 5a and 5b. Antibody 125 detected a phosphorylated epitope on both microtubule-associated protein 1b forms; dephosphorylation by alkaline phosphatase abolished the immunological detection. During development of cat cortex and cerebellum, AA6 stained the perikarya and dendrites of neurons during their early differentiation, and especially labelled newly generated axons. The staining decreased during development, and axonal staining was reduced in adult tissue. In contrast to previous reports which demonstrated that antibodies against phosphorylated microtubule-associated protein 1b label exclusively axons, antibody 125 also localized microtubule-associated protein 1b in cell bodies and dendrites, even in adulthood. Some nuclear staining was observed, indicating that a phosphorylated form of microtubule-associated protein 1b may participate in nuclear function. These results demonstrate that microtubule-associated protein 1b is subject to CK2-type phosphorylation throughout neuronal maturation and suggest that phosphorylation of microtubule-associated protein 1b may participate in juvenile and mature-type microtubule functions throughout development.

Formation continue: comment concilier devoir et besoins [Continuing education: how to reconcile needs and wants]

La formation continue fait à l'évidence partie intégrante de la vie du médecin, elle est non seulement un devoir éthique envers les patients mais également l'expression du besoin de se maintenir «à la page» dans sa pratique quotidienne, conséquence des progrès rapides en médecine, particulièrement en oncologie médicale. Elle peut être également source de plaisir quand il s'agit d'accroître ses connaissances. Ses règles minimales ont été définies depuis plusieurs années par la FMH qui délègue aux sociétés de disciplines son application pratique. En 2008, une révision nécessaire pour différentes raisons a facilité le calcul des crédits. Même si le total des heures de formation est resté le même (50 crédits), il a été partagé par deux : 25 pour la formation spécifique et 25 qui peuvent être acquis dans une autre discipline (révision de mars 2009 du Règlement pour la formation continue, art. 5a). Cette révision n'a pas réjoui toutes les sociétés de spécialistes qui gardent la faculté de revoir à la hausse le minimum jugé nécessaire à leur discipline. La quantité des offres de formation continue pour les médecins pose le problème d'être proprement pléthorique (congrès nationaux et internationaux, e-learning, symposiums locaux, etc.), il n'en va pas de même de leur qualité. Dans le domaine de l'oncologie médicale, les offres sont abondantes dans un contexte de marketing évident : les maisons pharmaceutiques parrainent des réunions avec un orateur mercenaire, prestigieux si possible, invité à vanter un produit spécifique dans un cycle de présentations en différents lieux de Romandie (avec à chaque fois, la possibilité d'inscrire des crédits à l'actif des participants)... Elles soutiennent également, par leur logistique, de miniconférences organisées par les différentes institutions locales et auxquelles les médecins ne participent que de façon sporadique vu leur intérêt souvent très secondaire - il n'est pas rare que l'auditoire médical se résume à cinq ou dix participants. Au final, ces offres dispersées et de qualité discutable monopolisent les ressources qui se raréfient rapidement dans le contexte économique actuel et qui doivent impérativement être utilisées de manière plus judicieuse, notamment en évitant les manifestations répétitives. Devant toutes ces offres, il est souvent difficile pour la société de discipline de séparer le bon grain de l'ivraie et en conséquence d'attribuer de manière objective les crédits de formation. Partant de ce constat, un petit groupe romand de médecins oncologues praticiens installés et des centres universitaires ont réfléchi à l'idée de regrouper au sein d'une seule structure romande l'organisation d'une formation continue qui réponde à la fois aux besoins et à l'exigence de qualité. Ses tâches sont multiples : mettre sur pied annuellement plusieurs demi-journées de formation, préaviser avec un comité scientifique de la qualité de la formation continue distillée sur son territoire de compétence (sans empiéter sur les prérogatives de la commission pour la formation postgraduée de la Société suisse d'oncologie médicale - SSOM) en rapprochant les centres universitaires, les hôpitaux cantonaux et régionaux, et les praticiens. Ainsi est née l'association FoROMe (Formation romande en oncologie médicale). Sa légitimité a été établie par la SSOM et par le Comité pour la formation postgraduée et continue (nouvellement SIWF) de la FMH. Elle est maintenant en mesure de mettre en application les tâches pour lesquelles elle a été constituée. Il est évident que cela n'ira pas sans résistance et que certains diront qu'ils ne voient pas la nécessité d'une structure supplémentaire, que les sociétés de disciplines font très bien leur travail, qu'il s'agit encore là d'une atteinte à la liberté. Cependant les nécessités économiques vont tôt ou tard venir au secours de la logique pour confirmer les changements que cette démarche a permis d'anticiper. A l'avenir, il s'agira d'assurer le bien-fondé de cette initiative et de rester vigilant au bon fonctionnement de cette structure à la satisfaction de nos membres.

Enzymatic activity measured by microcalorimetry in soil amended with organic residues

Enzymatic activity is an important property for soil quality evaluation. Two sequences of experiments were carried out in order to evaluate the enzymatic activity in a soil (Rhodic Eutrudox) amended with cattle manure, earthworm casts, or sewage sludges from the municipalities of Barueri and Franca. The activity of commercial enzymes was measured by microcalorimetry in the same soil samples after sterilization. In the first experiment, the enzyme activities of cellulase, protease, and urease were determined in the soil samples during a three month period. In the second sequence of experiments, the thermal effect of the commercial enzymes cellulase, protease, and urease on sterilized soil samples under the same tretaments was monitored for a period of 46 days. The experimental design was randomized and arranged as factorial scheme in five treatments x seven samplings with five replications. The treatment effects were statistically evaluated by one-way analysis of variance. Tukey´s test was used to compare means at p < 0.05. The presence of different sources of organic residues increased the enzymatic activity in the sampling period. Cattle manure induced the highest enzymatic activity, followed by municipal sewage sludge, whereas earthworm casts induced the lowest activity, but differed from control treatment. The thermal effect on the enzyme activity of commercial cellulase, protease, and urease showed a variety of time peaks. These values probably oscillated due to soil physical-chemical factors affecting the enzyme activity on the residues.

MICROBIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SOILS UNDER AN INTEGRATED CROP-LIVESTOCK SYSTEM

Integrated crop-livestock systems (ICLs) are a viable strategy for the recovery and maintenance of soil characteristics. In the present study, an ICL experiment was conducted by the Instituto Agronômico do Paraná in the municipality of Xambre, Parana (PR), Brazil, to evaluate the effects of various grazing intensities. The objective of the present study was to quantify the levels of microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and soil enzymatic activity in an ICL of soybean (summer) and Brachiaria ruziziensis (winter), with B. ruziziensis subjected to various grazing intensities. Treatments consisted of varying pasture heights and grazing intensities (GI): 10, 20, 30, and 40 cm (GI-10, GI-20, GI-30, and GI-40, respectively) and a no grazing (NG) control. The microbial characteristics analysed were MBC, microbial respiration (MR), metabolic quotient (qCO2), the activities of acid phosphatase, β-glucosidase, arylsuphatase, and cellulase, and fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolysis. Following the second grazing cycle, the GI-20 treatment (20-cm - moderate) grazing intensity) contained the highest MBC concentrations and lowest qCO2 concentrations. Following the second soybean cycle, the treatment with the highest grazing intensity (GI-10) contained the lowest MBC concentration. Soil MBC concentrations in the pasture were favoured by the introduction of animals to the system. High grazing intensity (10-cm pasture height) during the pasture cycle may cause a decrease in soil MBC and have a negative effect on the microbial biomass during the succeeding crop. Of all the enzymes analyzed, only arylsuphatase and cellulase activities were altered by ICL management, with differences between the moderate grazing intensity (GI-20) and no grazing (NG) treatments.

Magmatic-dominated fluid evolution in the Jurassic Nambija gold skarn deposits (southeastern Ecuador)

The Jurassic (approximately 145 Ma) Nambija oxidized gold skarns are hosted by the Triassic volcanosedimentary Piuntza unit in the sub-Andean zone of southeastern Ecuador. The skarns consist dominantly of granditic garnet (Ad(20-98)) with subordinate pyroxene (Di(46-92)Hd(17-42)Jo(0-19)) and epidote and are spatially associated with porphyritic quartz-diorite to granodiorite intrusions. Endoskarn is developed at the intrusion margins and grades inwards into a potassic alteration zone. Exoskarn has an outer K- and Na-enriched zone in the volcanosedimentary unit. Gold mineralization is associated with the weakly developed retrograde alteration of the exoskarn and occurs mainly in sulfide-poor vugs and milky quartz veins and veinlets in association with hematite. Fluid inclusion data for the main part of the prograde stage indicate the coexistence of high-temperature (500A degrees C to > 600A degrees C), high-salinity (up to 65 wt.% eq. NaCl), and moderate- to low-salinity aqueous-carbonic fluids interpreted to have been trapped at pressures around 100-120 MPa, corresponding to about 4-km depth. Lower-temperature (510-300A degrees C) and moderate- to low-salinity (23-2 wt.% eq. NaCl) aqueous fluids are recorded in garnet and epidote of the end of the prograde stage. The microthermometric data (Th from 513A degrees C to 318A degrees C and salinity from 1.0 to 23 wt.% eq. NaCl) and delta(18)O values between 6.2aEuro degrees and 11.5aEuro degrees for gold-bearing milky quartz from the retrograde stage suggest that the ore-forming fluid was dominantly magmatic. Pressures during the early retrograde stage were in the range of 50-100 MPa, in line with the evidence for CO(2) effervescence and probable local boiling. The dominance of magmatic low-saline to moderately saline oxidizing fluids during the retrograde stage is consistent with the depth of the skarn system, which could have delayed the ingression of external fluids until relatively low temperatures were reached. The resulting low water-to-rock ratios explain the weak retrograde alteration and the compositional variability of chlorite, essentially controlled by host rock compositions. Gold was precipitated at this stage as a result of cooling and pH increase related to CO(2) effervescence, which both result in destabilization of gold-bearing chloride complexes. Significant ingression of external fluids took place after gold deposition only, as recorded by delta(18)O values of 0.4aEuro degrees to 6.2aEuro degrees for fluids depositing quartz (below 350A degrees C) in sulfide-rich barren veins. Low-temperature (< 300A degrees C) meteoric fluids (delta(18)O(water) between -10.0aEuro degrees and -2.0aEuro degrees) are responsible for the precipitation of late comb quartz and calcite in cavities and veins and indicate mixing with cooler fluids of higher salinities (about 100A degrees C and 25 wt.% eq. NaCl). The latter are similar to low-temperature fluids (202-74.5A degrees C) with delta(18)O values of -0.5aEuro degrees to 3.1aEuro degrees and salinities in the range of 21.1 to 17.3 wt.% eq. CaCl(2), trapped in calcite of late veins and interpreted as basinal brines. Nambija represents a deep equivalent of the oxidized gold skarn class, the presence of CO(2) in the fluids being partly a consequence of the relatively deep setting at about 4-km depth. As in other Au-bearing skarn deposits, not only the prograde stage but also the gold-precipitating retrograde stage is dominated by fluids of magmatic origin.