Breath Testing by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy for Solvent Intoxication Diagnostics

Technical or contaminated ethanol products are sometimes ingested either accidentally or on purpose. Typical misused products are black-market liquor and automotive products, e.g., windshield washer fluids. In addition to less toxic solvents, these liquids may contain the deadly methanol. Symptoms of even lethal solvent poisoning are often non-specific at the early stage. The present series of studies was carried out to develop a method for solvent intoxication breath diagnostics to speed up the diagnosis procedure conventionally based on blood tests. Especially in the case of methanol ingestion, the analysis method should be sufficiently sensitive and accurate to determine the presence of even small amounts of methanol from the mixture of ethanol and other less-toxic components. In addition to the studies on the FT-IR method, the Dräger 7110 evidential breath analyzer was examined to determine its ability to reveal a coexisting toxic solvent. An industrial Fourier transform infrared analyzer was modified for breath testing. The sample cell fittings were widened and the cell size reduced in order to get an alveolar sample directly from a single exhalation. The performance and the feasibility of the Gasmet FT-IR analyzer were tested in clinical settings and in the laboratory. Actual human breath screening studies were carried out with healthy volunteers, inebriated homeless men, emergency room patients and methanol-intoxicated patients. A number of the breath analysis results were compared to blood test results in order to approximate the blood-breath relationship. In the laboratory experiments, the analytical performance of the Gasmet FT-IR analyzer and Dräger 7110 evidential breath analyzer was evaluated by means of artificial samples resembling exhaled breath. The investigations demonstrated that a successful breath ethanol analysis by Dräger 7110 evidential breath analyzer could exclude any significant methanol intoxication. In contrast, the device did not detect very high levels of acetone, 1-propanol and 2-propanol in simulated breath. The Dräger 7110 evidential breath ethanol analyzer was not equipped to recognize the interfering component. According to the studies the Gasmet FT-IR analyzer was adequately sensitive, selective and accurate for solvent intoxication diagnostics. In addition to diagnostics, the fast breath solvent analysis proved feasible for controlling the ethanol and methanol concentration during haemodialysis treatment. Because of the simplicity of the sampling and analysis procedure, non-laboratory personnel, such as police officers or social workers, could also operate the analyzer for screening purposes.

Immobilization of Aspergillus oryzae alpha-galactosidase in gelatin and its application in removal of flatulence-inducing sugars in soymilk

Raffinose oligosaccharides (RO) are the major factors responsible for flatulence following ingestion of soybean-derived products. Removal of RO from seeds or soymilk would then have a positive impact on the acceptance of soy-based foods. In this study, alpha-galactosidase from Aspergillus oryzae was entrapped in gelatin using formaldehyde as the hardener. The immobilization yield was 64.3% under the optimum conditions of immobilization. The immobilized alpha-galactosidase showed a shift in optimum pH from 4.8 to 5.4 in acetate buffer. The optimum temperature also shifted from 50 degrees C to 57 degrees C compared with soluble enzyme. Immobilized alpha-galactosidase was used in batch, repeated batch and continuous mode to degrade RO present in soymilk. In the repeated batch, 45% reduction of RO was obtained in the fourth cycle. The performance of immobilized alpha-galactosidase was tested in a fluidized bed reactor at different flow rates and 86% reduction of RO in soymilk was obtained at 25 ml h(-1) flow rate. The study revealed that immobilized alpha-galactosidase in continuous mode is efficient in reduction of RO present in soymilk.

Deformation and friction of MoS2 particles in liquid suspensions used to lubricate sliding contact

Tribology of a well known solid lubricant molybdenum disulphide is studied here in water and oil medium, over a large range of contact dimensions. Lateral force microscopy is used to identify the deformation modes, intra-crystalline slip, plastic grooving, fragmentation and fracture, of single particles The medium and agglomeration were found to dictate the deformation mode Steel on steel tribology lubricated by suspensions of these particles in liquid media was conducted over a range of contact pressure and sliding velocity. A scrutiny of the frictional data with the aid of Raman spectroscopy to identify the transfer film, suggested that the particle size, as it is at contact, is an important tribological parameter Ultrasonication of the suspension and dispersion of the particle by surfactants were used to control the apriori particle size fed into the suspension.Correspondence of friction data of the gently sonicated suspension with that of the ultrasonicated suspension with dispersants indicated the importance of liquid ingestion by these particles as it controls their mode of deformation and consequent tribology. (C) 2010 Elsevier B V All rights reserved.

Preterm birth and risk factors for chronic disease : Helsinki Study of Very Low Birth Weight Adults

Background: The improved prognosis of early preterm birth has created a generation of surviving very low birth weight (< 1500 g, VLBW) infants whose health risks in adulthood are poorly known. Of every 1000 live-born infants in Finland, about 8 are born at VLBW. Variation in birth weight, even within the normal range, relates to considerable variation in the risk for several common adult disorders, including cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. Small preterm infants frequently exhibit severe postnatal or prenatal growth retardation, or both. Much reason for concern thus exists, regarding adverse health effects in surviving small preterm infants later lives. We studied young adults, aiming at exploring whether VLBW birth and postnatal events after such a birth are associated with higher levels of risk factors for cardiovascular disease or osteoporosis. Subjects and Methods: A follow-up study for VLBW infants began in 1978; by the end of 1985, 335 VLBW survivors at Helsinki University Central Hospital participated in the follow-up. Their gestational ages ranged from 24 to 35 weeks, mean 29.2 and standard deviation 2.2 weeks. In 2004, we invited for a clinic visit 255 subjects, aged 18 to 27, who still lived in the greater Helsinki area. From the same birth hospitals, we also invited 314 term-born controls of similar age and sex. These two study groups underwent measurements of body size and composition, function of brachial arterial endothelium (flow-mediated dilatation, FMD) and carotid artery intima-media thickness (cIMT) by ultrasound. In addition, we measured plasma lipid concentrations, ambulatory blood pressure, fasting insulin, glucose tolerance and, by dual-energy x-ray densitometry, bone-mineral density. Results: 172 control and 166 VLBW participants underwent lipid measurements and a glucose tolerance test. VLBW adults fasting insulin (adjusted for body mass index) was 12.6% (95% confidence interval, 0.8 to 25.8) higher than that of the controls. The glucose and insulin concentrations 120 minutes after 75 g glucose ingestion showed similar differences (N=332) (I). VLBW adults had 3.9 mmHg (1.3 to 6.4) higher office systolic blood pressure, 3.5 mmHg (1.7 to 5.2) higher office diastolic blood pressure (I), and, when adjusted for body mass index and height, 3.1 mmHg (0.5 to 5.5) higher 24-hour mean systolic blood pressure (N=238) (II). VLBW birth was associated neither with HDL- or total cholesterol nor triglyceride concentrations (N=332) (I), nor was it associated with a low FMD or a high cIMT (N=160) (III). VLBW adults had 0.51-unit (0.28 to 0.75) lower lumbar spine Z scores and 0.56-unit (0.34 to 0.78) lower femoral neck Z scores (N=283). Adjustments for size attenuated the differences, but only partially (IV). Conclusions: These results imply that those born at VLBW, although mostly healthy as young adults, already bear several risk factors for chronic adult disease. The significantly higher fasting insulin level in adults with VLBW suggests increased insulin resistance. The higher blood pressure in young adults born at VLBW may indicate they later are at risk for hypertension, although their unaffected endothelial function may be evidence for some form of protection from cardiovascular disease. Lower bone mineral density around the age of peak bone mass may suggest increased risk for later osteoporotic fractures. Because cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis are frequent, and their prevention is relatively cheap and safe, one should focus on prevention now. When initiated early, preventive measures are likely to have sufficient time to be effective in preventing or postponing the onset of chronic disease.

Preterm birth and risk factors for chronic disease : Helsinki Study of Very Low Birth Weight Adults

Background: The improved prognosis of early preterm birth has created a generation of surviving very low birth weight (PIENEMPI KUIN 1500 g, VLBW) infants whose health risks in adulthood are poorly known. Of every 1000 live-born infants in Finland, about 8 are born at VLBW. Variation in birth weight, even within the normal range, relates to considerable variation in the risk for several common adult disorders, including cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. Small preterm infants frequently exhibit severe postnatal or prenatal growth retardation, or both. Much reason for concern thus exists, regarding adverse health effects in surviving small preterm infants later lives. We studied young adults, aiming at exploring whether VLBW birth and postnatal events after such a birth are associated with higher levels of risk factors for cardiovascular disease or osteoporosis. Subjects and Methods: A follow-up study for VLBW infants began in 1978; by the end of 1985, 335 VLBW survivors at Helsinki University Central Hospital participated in the follow-up. Their gestational ages ranged from 24 to 35 weeks, mean 29.2 and standard deviation 2.2 weeks. In 2004, we invited for a clinic visit 255 subjects, aged 18 to 27, who still lived in the greater Helsinki area. From the same birth hospitals, we also invited 314 term-born controls of similar age and sex. These two study groups underwent measurements of body size and composition, function of brachial arterial endothelium (flow-mediated dilatation, FMD) and carotid artery intima-media thickness (cIMT) by ultrasound. In addition, we measured plasma lipid concentrations, ambulatory blood pressure, fasting insulin, glucose tolerance and, by dual-energy x-ray densitometry, bone-mineral density. Results: 172 control and 166 VLBW participants underwent lipid measurements and a glucose tolerance test. VLBW adults fasting insulin (adjusted for body mass index) was 12.6% (95% confidence interval, 0.8 to 25.8) higher than that of the controls. The glucose and insulin concentrations 120 minutes after 75 g glucose ingestion showed similar differences (N=332) (I). VLBW adults had 3.9 mmHg (1.3 to 6.4) higher office systolic blood pressure, 3.5 mmHg (1.7 to 5.2) higher office diastolic blood pressure (I), and, when adjusted for body mass index and height, 3.1 mmHg (0.5 to 5.5) higher 24-hour mean systolic blood pressure (N=238) (II). VLBW birth was associated neither with HDL- or total cholesterol nor triglyceride concentrations (N=332) (I), nor was it associated with a low FMD or a high cIMT (N=160) (III). VLBW adults had 0.51-unit (0.28 to 0.75) lower lumbar spine Z scores and 0.56-unit (0.34 to 0.78) lower femoral neck Z scores (N=283). Adjustments for size attenuated the differences, but only partially (IV). Conclusions: These results imply that those born at VLBW, although mostly healthy as young adults, already bear several risk factors for chronic adult disease. The significantly higher fasting insulin level in adults with VLBW suggests increased insulin resistance. The higher blood pressure in young adults born at VLBW may indicate they later are at risk for hypertension, although their unaffected endothelial function may be evidence for some form of protection from cardiovascular disease. Lower bone mineral density around the age of peak bone mass may suggest increased risk for later osteoporotic fractures. Because cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis are frequent, and their prevention is relatively cheap and safe, one should focus on prevention now. When initiated early, preventive measures are likely to have sufficient time to be effective in preventing or postponing the onset of chronic disease.

Effect of colostrum feeding method and presence of dam on the sleep, rest and sucking behaviour of newborn calves

"In rats, sucking milk reduces anxiety and promotes non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, and in calves it induces resting but the effect on sleep is unknown. Here, we investigated how calves' sleep was affected by colostrum feeding methods. Forty-one calves were blocked by birth date and randomly allotted within blocks to the experimental treatments. Calves were housed for four days either with their dam (DAM) or individually with warm colostrum feeding (2 L four times a day) from either a teat bucket (TEAT) or an open bucket (BUCKET). DAM calves suckled their dam freely. Calves' sleeping and sucking behaviour was filmed continuously for 48 h at the ages of two and three days. Behavioural sleep (BS) was defined as calves resting at least 30 s with their head still and raised (non-rapid eye movement) or with their head against their body or the ground (rapid eye movement, REM). Latency from the end of colostrum feeding to the start of BS was recorded. We compared behaviour of TEAT calves with that of DAM and BUCKET calves using mixed models. Milk meal duration was significantly longer for TEAT calves than for BUCKET calves (mean +/- S.E.M.; 8.3 +/- 0.6 min vs. 5.2 +/- 0.6 min), but equal to that of DAM calves. We found no effect of feeding method on the duration of daily BS (12 h 59 min I h 38 min) but we found a tendency for the daily amount of NREM sleep; BUCKET calves had less NREM sleep per day than TEAT calves (6 h 18 min vs. 7 h 48 min, S.E.M. = 45 min) and also longer latencies from milk ingestion to BS (21.9 +/- 2.0 min vs. 16.2 +/- 2.0 min). DAM calves slept longer bouts than TEAT calves (10.8 +/- 1.0 min vs. 8.3 +/- 1.0 min) and less often (78 +/- 4 vs. 92 +/- 4). Sucking colostrum from a teat bucket compared with drinking from an open"

Identification of tropomyosin as the major shrimp allergen and characterization of its IgE-binding epitopes

The major heat-stable shrimp allergen (designated as Sa-II), capable of provoking IgE-mediated immediate type hypersensitivity reactions after the ingestion of cooked shrimp, has been shown to be a 34-kDa heat- stable protein containing 300 amino acid residues. Here, we report that a comparison of amino acid sequences of different peptides generated by proteolysis of Sa-II revealed an 86% homology with tropomyosin from Drosophila melanogaster, suggesting that Sa-II could be the shrimp muscle protein tropomyosin. To establish that Sa-II is indeed tropomyosin, the latter was isolated from uncooked shrimp (Penaeus indicus) and its physicochemical and immunochemical properties were compared with those of Sa-II. Both tropomyosin and Sa-II had the same molecular mass and focused in the isoelectric pH range of 4.8 to 5.4. In the presence of 6 M urea, the mobility of both Sa-II and shrimp tropomyosin shifted to give an apparent molecular mass of 50 kDa, which is a characteristic property of tropomyosins. Shrimp tropomyosin bound to specific IgE antibodies in the sera of shrimp-sensitive patients as assessed by competitive ELISA inhibition and Western blot analysis. Tryptic maps of both Sa-II and tropomyosin as obtained by reverse phase HPLC were superimposable. Dot-blot and competitive ELISA inhibition using sera of shrimp-sensitive patients revealed that antigenic as well as allergenic activities were associated with two peptide fractions. These IgE-binding tryptic peptides were purified and sequenced. Mouse anti-anti-idiotypic antibodies raised against Sa-II specific human idiotypic antibodies recognized not only tropomyosin but also the two allergenic peptides, thus suggesting that these peptides represent the major IgE binding epitopes of tropomyosin. A comparison of the amino acid sequence of shrimp tropomyosin in the region of IgE binding epitopes (residues 50-66 and 153-161) with the corresponding regions of tropomyosins from different vertebrates confirmed lack of allergenic cross-reactivity between tropomyosins from phylogenetically distinct species.

Electrochemical phase formation. Time-dependent nucleation and growth rates

The theory of phase formation is generalised for any arbitrary time dependence of nucleation and growth rates. Some sources of this time dependence are time-dependent potential inputs, ohmic drop and the ingestion effect. Particular cases, such as potentiostatic and, especially, linear potential sweep, are worked out for the two limiting cases of nucleation, namely instantaneous and progressive. The ohmic drop is discussed and a procedure for this correction is indicated. Recent results of Angerstein-Kozlowska, Conway and Klinger are critically investigated. Several earlier results are deduced as special cases. Evans' overlap formula is generalised for the time-dependent case and the equivalence between Avrami's and Evans' equations established.

Exploring sand and bentonite - enhanced sand as filter media for nitrate removal

Increasing nitrate concentrations in ground water is deleterious to human health as ingestion of such water can cause methemoglobinemia in infants and even cancer in adults (desirable limit for nitrate as NO3 - 45 mg/L, IS code 10500-1991). Excess nitrate concentrations in ground water is contributed by reason being disposal of sewage and excessive use of fertilizers. Though numerous technologies such as reverse osmosis, ion exchange, electro-dialysis, permeable reactive barriers using zerovalent iron etc exists, nitrate removal continues to be one of challenging issue as nitrate ion is highly mobile within the soil strata. The tapping the denitrification potential of soil denitrifiers which are inherently available in the soil matrix is the most sustainable approach to mitigate accumulation of nitrate in ground water. The insitu denitrification of sand and bentonite enhanced sand (bentonite content = 5%) in presence of easily assimilable organic carbon such as ethanol was studied. Batch studies showed that nitrate reduction by sand follows first order kinetics with a rate constant 5.3x10(-2) hr(-1) and rate constant 4.3 x 10(-2) hr(-1) was obtained for bentonite-enhanced sand (BS) at 25 degrees C. Filter columns (height = 5 cm and diameter = 8.2 cm) were constructed using sand and bentonite-enhanced sand as filter media. The filtration rate through both the filter columns was maintained at average value of 2.60 cm/h. The nitrate removal rates through both the filter media was assessed for solution containing 22.6 mg NO3-N/L concentrations while keeping C/N mass ratio as 3. For sand filter column, the nitrate removal efficiency reached the average value of 97.6% after passing 50 pore volumes of the nitrate solution. For bentonite-enhanced sand filter column, the average nitrate removal efficiency was 83.5%. The time required for effective operation for sand filter bed was 100 hours, while bentonite-enhanced sand filter bed did not require any maturation period as that of sand filter bed for effective performance because the presence of micropores in bentonite increases the hydraulic retention time of the solution inside the filter bed.

Efecto de herbicidas y mezclas sobre la cenosis, crecimiento, desarrollo y rendimiento del sorgo (Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench)

El crecimiento rápido de las áreas sorgueras, ha acarreado consigo problemas que afectan la producción, siendo uno de ellos el manejo de las malezas. Problema que se he acentuado por el uso incorrecto de herbicidas a base de atrazina. Es así que durante la época de postrera de 1988, en el Centro Nacional de Granos Básicos "Humberto Tapia Barquero", ubicado en el municipio de Manamos Región III se llevó a cabo el presente estudio con el objetivo de determinar el afecto de la terbutilazina en diferentes dosis y momentos de aplicación y la mezcla de metolacloro con este Ingrediente. Ademán se evaluó el efecto de la formulación Primextra 500-FW (atratina + metolaclorol y la mezcla física de estos ingredientes activos. sobre el control de las malezas. el crecimento, desarrollo y rendimiento del cultivo del sorgo. Para determinar PI efecto de los tratamientos sobre el control de malezas se realizaron muestreos de abundancia a los 9. 24. 39 PDS y a la cosecha, utilizando 1 m2 como área de muestreo. Además se tomaron datos de porcentajes de cobertura, peso poco de malezas y diversidad de las especies. Para evaluar el efecto de los tratamientos sobre la fenología del cultivo, se midieron las variables plántulas emergidas, fitotoxicidad, días a floración, altura de plantas, excersión, tamaño de panoja, número de Plantan y panojas a cosechar, peso de 1000 semillas, rendimiento de grano y peso seco del cultivo. Los resultados mostraron que el tratamiento mezcla 1.1 kg/ha atrazina + 1.3 kg/ha metolcloro pre-emergente presentó la menor abundancia total de malezas durante el ciclo del cultivo. Sin embargo causó toxicidad al mismo. Terbutilazina aplicada en post-emergencia realizó un buen control de Poaceas, Dicotiledóneas v Cyperaceas, al mismo tiempo redujo la diversidad de especies. El % de cobertura fue afectado por los tratamientos, sin embargo esto no afecto el rendimiento. La mayor acumulación de peso seco da malezas se presentó en los tratamientos con metolacloro al dejar vacíos en las parcelas. Los tratamientos con metolacloro afectaron las variables plántulas emergías, altura de planta. población. número de panoja. peso 1000 semillas v peso seco del cultivo por causar fitotoxicidad al Cultivo, sin embargo. el rendimento de grano no fue afectado significativamente.

Propeller unsteady distortion noise

Turbulence, as naturally occurs in the atmosphere, is known to become highly anisotropic in the presence of the flow induced by a propeller. This turbulent distortion, caused by the streamtube contraction, significantly affects the tonal content of the radiated noise due to turbulence ingestion. We present here an analytic framework in which turbulent distortion may be assessed for any irrotational mean flow which approaches uniform axial flow far upstream. Sound spectra are presented for the case of two rotors in close proximity, for which the distortion is asymmetric. Quantities such as the turbulence spectrum at the rotor face and sound directivity then vary with azimuthal angle φ. © 2010 by Rosalyn A.V. Robison & N. Peake.

Evaluación de diferentes efluentes de cerdo como bioabono sobre el crecimiento y el rendimiento del cultivo del sorgo (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) y las propiedades quimicas del suelo

El presente estudio se desarrolló en los terrenos de una finca ubicada en el municipio de Tisma, departamento de Masaya, durante la época de postrera, en el período comprendido de Agosto a Noviembre del año 2000, con el objetivo de evaluar el efecto de diferentes efluentes de cerdo sobre el crecimiento y rendimiento del cultivo del sorgo (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) y las propiedades químicas del suelo. El diseño empleado fue de bloques completos al azar (BCA), con cuatro réplicas y seis tratamientos. Los tratamientos fueron: sin fertilización, fertilización inorgánica; 45.4 Kg/ha (12-30-10) a los 15 días después de la siembra más urea (46 %) 202 Kg /ha, fraccionada, dos dosis de efluentes de cerdos alimentados con desperdicios de cocina (4,100.4 1/ha y 6,150.4 /ha) y dos dosis de efluentes de cerdos alimentados con concentrado (6,049.4 /ha y 9,074.0 1/ha). A los datos de las variables evaluadas se les aplicó un análisis de varianza (ANDEVA) y separación de medias por Tukey al 95 y 99 % de confianza. La mayoría de las variables evaluadas no presentaron diferencias estadísticas significativas entre los tratamientos, entre ellas se mencionan: altura de plantas, diámetro del tallo, población, número de panojas cosechadas, excepción de panoja y peso de mil granos. Las variables altura de inserción de panoja, longitud de panoja, número de granos por panoja, rendimiento de grano, peso seco de paja, sí presentaron diferencias estadísticas significativas entre los tratamientos en estudio. El sorgo híbrido cultivado en un suelo perturbado responde mejor a la fertilización inorgánica. Tanto la fertilización orgánica como inorgánica disminuyeron el pH del suelo. Los biofertilizantes favorecieron el contenido de materia orgánica y de nitrógeno en el suelo. El contenido de fósforo aumentó levemente, mientras que el de potasio disminuyó levemente. No se determinó toxicidad por el contenido de cobre y zinc presente en el suelo.

Efecto de diferentes residuos de origen vegetal y animal en algunas caracteristicas fisica, quimica y biológica del compost. Hacienda Las Mercedes, Managua, 2005

El estudio del efecto de diferentes residuos orgánicos de origen vegetal y animal en algunas características física, química y biológica del compost. Los objetivos fueron: C ontribuir a la búsqueda de alternativas de reciclaje de diferentes materiales de origen vegetal, animal y que contenga buenas características físicas, q uímicas y biológicas, evaluar el efecto de diferentes materiales orgánicos (pulpa de café, aserrín, basura verde + cascarilla de arroz, abono verde + cascarilla de arroz y residuos del comedor) sobre algunas propiedades químicas, físicas y biológicas del c ompost y determinar cuál de las mezclas orgánicas evaluadas (pulpa de café, aserrín, basura verde + cascarilla de arroz, abono verde + cascarilla de arroz y residuos del comedor) contribuyen a mejorar algunas de las propiedades químicas, físicas y biológic as del compost. Se estableció en la Hacienda Las Mercedes, propiedad de la Universidad Nacional Agraria, ubicada en el Km. 11 y ½ carretera norte, 1 Km. al lago frente a la empresa CARNIC en la localidad Las Mercedes perteneciente al departamento de Mana gua. Está finca se ubica geográficamente a los 12º8 ́36 ́ ́ latitud norte y 86º09 ́49 ́ ́ longitud oeste a una altitud de 56 msnm. El estudio comprendió cinco tratamientos y tres repeticiones: los cinco tratamientos compuestos de: basura seca recogida de la Ha cienda Las Mercedes, estiércol, cal y sica (carbón vegetal) en común; el tratamiento uno se diferenciaba por la presencia de pulpa de café, el dos por tener aserrín, el tres con basura verde más cascarilla de arroz, el cuatro con abono verde más cascarill a de arroz y el quinto con residuos provenientes del comedor de la Universidad Nacional Agraria. Se evaluaron las siguientes variables: temperatura, humedad, fitoxicidad , Contenido de macro y micro elementos y d iversidad de hongos y bacterias en el proce so de compostaje . El aná lisis estadístico utilizado fue el análisis de varianza a la variable: análisis químico, se realizó separación de medias por TUKEY al 5% de probabilidad de error. A las variables humedad, toxicidad y análisis microbiológico se les realizó un análisis cualitativo. La variable temperatura se le realizó análisis de varianz a a través del MANOVA. Se obtuvieron los siguientes resultados: existe diferencia significativa entre los tratamientos en la variable temperatura siendo la pulp a de café el material orgánico que favorece mayor actividad microbiana y que permitió obtener temperaturas más altas que el resto de mezclas . La pasteurización del abono se logró a través de que la temperatura entre 45 ºC y 50 ºC fue por un tiempo prolon gado. Según el resultado del análisis químico realizado en el laboratorio de suelos y aguas de la UNA indican por que los rangos de humedad al final del ensayo se mantuvieron dentro de los parámetros óptimos (50 - 65 %). Todos los tratamientos tienen una r elación carbono/nitrógeno alta, las que varían entre 79:1 a 60:1. Todas las mezclas tienen estabilidad, no hay presencia de sustancias fitotóxicas. En todos los tratamientos se obtiene una germinación arriba del 90 por ciento. La presencia de bacterias y hongos estuvo durante todo el proceso de descomposición, siendo menor el número de especies de hongos encontrados por tratamiento a los 30 días que a los 90 días. Entre las bacterias más encontradas están las del género Bacillus.

Toxicología veterinaria

La presente recopilación bibliográfica especializada en Toxicología Veterinaria, es un esfuerzo académico que refleja los logros en esta área de la ciencia por diversos investigadores, el cual va encaminado a fortalecer los conocimientos de los estudiantes de Medicina Veterinaria y como fuente de consulta para profesionales de las ciencias veterinarias. El clínico es quien debe enfrentarse a diario con pacientes potencialmente envenenados, y decidir si el diagnóstico de “envenenamiento” es verdadero y, si es así, cual de entre los miles de sustancias químicas o naturales (plantas tóxicas y animales de ponzoña) existentes puede ser la responsable del caso que lo ocupa. Con este documento no se pretende sustituir las diversas publicaciones existentes sobre este tema, pero que sirva de un medio de orientación en el campo de la toxicología veterinaria, ya que resalta los problemas toxicológicos que se presentan comúnmente en la producción de alimentos de naturaleza animal y en mantenimiento de animales de compañía. Se incluye información básica sobre dosisrespuesta y tipos de comprobaciones toxicológicas a que se someten los nuevos compuestos para determinar su seguridad y toxicidad, de forma que el estudiante tenga una idea del tipo de información disponible y de cómo se obtiene. Al organizar este documento se puso énfasis en las intoxicaciones por especie que se observan comúnmente en la práctica diaria. Se espera que el estudiante, veterinario toxicólogo se beneficien al disponer de una información adecuada y útil para tratar las intoxicaciones clínicas y de campo que se observan diariamente. La toxicología, es la ciencia que estudia los venenos o agentes tóxicos, incluyendo sus propiedades químicas, identificación, efectos biológicos y los posibles tratamientos de los efectos que producen. El toxicólogo veterinario requiere de entrenamiento especializado, así como de experiencia en el manejo de varias sustancias venenosas sintéticas o naturales (producida por plantas o animales). Debe además diferenciar las enfermedades infecciosas de las condiciones metabólicas causadas por venenos, también debe conocer la gran variedad de productos químicos agrícolas, aditivos de alimentos, contaminantes ambientales, radiaciones diversas, gases venenosos y venenos de origen vegetal y animal que puedan afectar la salud de los animales. La farmacología y la toxicología comparten muchos intereses, incluyendo mecanismo de absorción y eliminación, mecanismo de acción, principios de tratamiento y relaciones dosis–respuesta. Algunos medicamentos pueden actuar como venenos en ciertas condiciones, por lo tanto el farmacólogo como el toxicólogo comparten un interés por las reacciones adversas de los fármacos. La toxicología se divide en dos aspectos: La toxicología general. La toxicología específica.

Uso de extractos del árbol NIM Azadirachta indica A. Juss en la protección de plántulas de frijol común (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) contra mosca blanca Bemisia tabaci genn.

El presente trabajo constituye una de las alternativas para proteger al cultivo del frijol común phaseolus vulgaris L. de insectos vectores que lo atacan. Con aplicación de la sustancia insecticida proveniente de la semilla del árbol Azadiracha indica A. Juss conocido como Nim (6 neem), se afecta el comportamiento de adultos de mosca blanca Bemisia tabaco Genn en vez de hacer aplicaciones calendarizadas con químicos sintéticos. El estudio se realizó en invernaderos y laboratorios de ISCA y CNPV, desarrollado en dos pruebas: de oviposicion y fitotoxicidad: Cada prueba comprendió dos ensayos. El primero de Oviposicion en que se evaluaron ocho tratamientos con nueve repeticiones cada uno y el segundo incluyo el tratamiento promisorio 50 9/1 de semilla molida de Nim con el doble de repeticiones que el primer ensayo de oviposicion: para la prueba de toxicidad se evaluaron ocho tratamientos en plántulas de una variedad de frijol de grano rojo (Rv.-81), para el segundo ensayo se eligieron los dos tratamientos que provocaron mayor fitotoxicidad y se evaluaron en cinco variedades de frijol con ciclo vegetativo diferente. Los resultados preliminares indican que los extractos acuosos de semilla de Nim afectan la oviposicion de los adultos de B, tabaco en foliolos de frijol común, independiente de la concentración pero a su vez el tratamiento de mayor concentración provoca fitotoxicidad durante las dos primeras semanas de desarrollo de las plántulas. Este inconveniente se puede evitar al usar concentraciones bajas de extractos recién elaborados y aplicados, o bien con el uso de variedades de frijol de ciclo vegetativo corto, además que la recuperación posterior de las plantas es total. Se recomienda continuar ensayos tanto de laboratorio, invernadero y campo evaluando la acción por parte de los extractos de Nim sobre los insectos vectores de enfermedades viròticas. Los fitosanitarios proveen incrementos de población de B. tabacì al final del ciclo vegetativo del algodón Gossypiun hirsutun L. que luego se trasladan a las plantas del frijol con riego al iniciar éstas su ciclo vegetativo: sobre ésta base se pueden desarrollar epifitotias a causa de los virus transmitidos por B. Tabaci al frijol común. De la mayoría de enfermedades transmitidas por insectos en los países neo tropicales existe escasez de información y en especial de las relaciones vector patógeno-huésped. En consecuencia faltan bases de conocimiento sobre las que se deben tomar decisiones racionales de cuando intervenir en el ciclo de transmisión de insecto a fin de evitar éste. La investigación necesaria para construir tal base de conocimientos, debe de las herramientas para el manejo a mediano y largo plazo: sin embargo, en el corto plazo aún queda la interrogante: como proteger las plantaciones de frijol de los insectos vectores y los patógenos que estos transmiten?.