French good practice guidelines for management of the risk of low back pain among workers exposed to manual material handling: Hierarchical strategy of risk assessment of work situations

International audience

Quantification of key biological processes determining the dynamics and the assessment of the anchovy population in the Bay of Biscay: growth, reproduction, demography and natural mortality.

333 p.

Effects of Environmental Factors on the Growth, Optical Density and Biomass of the Green Algae Chlorella Vulgaris in Outdoor Conditions

Effect of environmental factors on the growth of the Chlorella vulgaris was studied. C. vulgaris was cultivated in sterilized natural seawater enriched with F/2-Si medium. Then grow in bucket, tub and photobioreactor (PBR) in outdoor condition. The daily routine work consisted of culture checkups of optical density, biomass gains, atmosphere lux, culture lux, atmosphere temperature and culture temperature were recorded. The highest biomass yields were (3.0 μg/ml-1) in December and (2.01 μg/ml-1) in November in PBR. The highest deviation was in atmosphere lux in time 8:30 (± 117.7) and lowest deviation was in atmosphere temperature in time 15:00 (± 1.0499). Optical density (OD) indicated that the best growth of C. vulgaris in outdoor condition was obtained in 650 lux and also it increased with increasing amount of lux. Tub report of C. vulgaris showed different growing behaviors at the various concentration of light and at the different temperatures. Algal production in outdoor PBR is relatively inexpensive, but is only suitable for a few, fast-growing specie. Finally, this fact is noteworthy that in outdoor conditions, temperature and light have important role in growth of C. vulgaris in present study.

Assessment of positive parenting programmes in the Autonomous Region of the Basque Country (Spain)

This paper presents the results of a study aimed at identifying and assessing positive parenting programmes and activities carried out in the Autonomous Region of the Basque Country (ARBC), Spain. The study is a development of the III Inter-institutional Family Support Plan (2011), drafted by the Basque Government's Department of Family Policy and Community Development, and its aim is to offer a series of sound criteria for improving existing programmes and ensuring the correct design and implementation of new ones in the future. It analyses 129 programmes and gathers data relative to institutional management and coordination, format, quality of the established aims, adaptation to the theoretical proposal for an Optimal Positive Parenting Curriculum, scientific base, use of the framework of reference for competences, working method, assessment techniques, budgets and publicity, among others. The results highlight the good quality of the programmes' aims and content, and the poor systematic assessment of these same aspects. The study concludes with a series of recommendations for improving the initiatives, integrated into a proposal for a system of indicators to assess and implement positive parenting programmes.

Optimization of growth and bacteriocin activity of the food bioprotective Carnobacterium divergens V41 in an animal origin protein free medium

Optimization of Carnobacterium divergens V41 growth and bacteriocin activity in a culture medium deprived of animal protein, needs for food bioprotection, was performed by using a statistical approach. In a screening experiment, twelve factors (pH, temperature, carbohydrates, NaCl, yeast extract, soy peptone, sodium acetate, ammonium citrate, magnesium sulphate, manganese sulphate, ascorbic acid and thiamine) were tested for their influence on the maximal growth and bacteriocin activity using a two-level incomplete factorial design with 192 experiments performed in microtiter plate wells. Based on results, a basic medium was developed and three variables (pH, temperature and carbohydrates concentration) were selected for a scale-up study in bioreactor. A 23 complete factorial design was performed, allowing the estimation of linear effects of factors and all the first order interactions. The best conditions for the cell production were obtained with a temperature of 15°C and a carbohydrates concentration of 20 g/l whatever the pH (in the range 6.5-8), and the best conditions for bacteriocin activity were obtained at 15°C and pH 6.5 whatever the carbohydrates concentration (in the range 2-20 g/l). The predicted final count of C. divergens V41 and the bacteriocin activity under the optimized conditions (15°C, pH 6.5, 20 g/l carbohydrates) were 2.4 x 1010 CFU/ml and 819200 AU/ml respectively. C. divergens V41 cells cultivated in the optimized conditions were able to grow in cold-smoked salmon and totally inhibited the growth of Listeria monocytogenes (< 50 CFU g-1) during five weeks of vacuum storage at 4° and 8°C.

Influence of stocking densities in the nursery phase on the growth of Macrobrachium amazonicum reared in net pens

The Amazon river prawn (Macrobrachium amazonicum) is a native species with great potential for aquaculture, based on promising results obtained from experimental culture trials in Brazil. The influence of different stocking densities on the development of prawns reared in cages in the nursery phase as well as on their growth when transferred to grow-out net pens at lower densities was evaluated. In the nursery phase, juveniles I (0.157 +/- 0.014 g, 47 days old) were stocked in 0.5 m(-2) cages at densities of 400, 800 and 1200 m(-2). After 71 days, prawns were transferred to grow-out net pens of 2.0 m(-2), at a density of 20 juveniles II m(-2). The treatments were determined by the mean weights registered for the prawns (118 days old) previously stocked at 400, 800 and 1200 juveniles I m(-2) in the nursery phase: 0.94 +/- 0.07 g (T1), 0.61 +/- 0.04 g (T2) and 0.48 +/- 0.07 g (T3), respectively. In the nursery phase, mean survival was above 96%, whereas mean weights were significantly higher (P<0.05) for the density of 400 prawns m(-2). The highest biomass (276.7 g) and productivity (1152 juveniles II m(-2)) were registered at the density of 1200 prawns m(-2), differing significantly (P<0.05) from the lower densities. One month after the transfer of the animals to the net pens, there was recovery in the specific growth rate (SGR) of prawns in all treatments which was significantly higher (P<0.05) in T3 (4.01 +/- 0.36% day(-1)) and T2 (3.60 +/- 0.18% day(-1)). The feed conversion efficiency (FCE) in the first month after the transfer was also significantly higher (P<0.05) in T3 (78.2 +/- 19.1%) when compared to T1 (39.8 +/- 9.5%). These results suggest the occurrence of a compensatory growth in M. amazonicum after transferring them to lower densities, which can point out high densities for nursery cages as a viable practice. After 277 days of grow-out phase in net pens in the cold season, survival, mean weight and biomass did not differ significantly among the treatments, indicating the viability of using net pens in stocking prawns during autumn and winter, since the minimum temperature does not drop below 17 degrees C. Influence of stocking density during the nursery phase on the grow-out of prawns was not observed. The population structure in prawns reared in net-pens was similar to that observed in earthen ponds. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Bayesian analysis of a mastitis control plan to investigate the influence of veterinary prior beliefs on clinical interpretation

The fundamental objective for health research is to determine whether changes should be made to clinical decisions. Decisions made by veterinary surgeons in the light of new research evidence are known to be influenced by their prior beliefs, especially their initial opinions about the plausibility of possible results. In this paper, clinical trial results for a bovine mastitis control plan were evaluated within a Bayesian context, to incorporate a community of prior distributions that represented a spectrum of clinical prior beliefs. The aim was to quantify the effect of veterinary surgeons’ initial viewpoints on the interpretation of the trial results. A Bayesian analysis was conducted using Markov chain Monte Carlo procedures. Stochastic models included a financial cost attributed to a change in clinical mastitis following implementation of the control plan. Prior distributions were incorporated that covered a realistic range of possible clinical viewpoints, including scepticism, enthusiasm and uncertainty. Posterior distributions revealed important differences in the financial gain that clinicians with different starting viewpoints would anticipate from the mastitis control plan, given the actual research results. For example, a severe sceptic would ascribe a probability of 0.50 for a return of <£5 per cow in an average herd that implemented the plan, whereas an enthusiast would ascribe this probability for a return of >£20 per cow. Simulations using increased trial sizes indicated that if the original study was four times as large, an initial sceptic would be more convinced about the efficacy of the control plan but would still anticipate less financial return than an initial enthusiast would anticipate after the original study. In conclusion, it is possible to estimate how clinicians’ prior beliefs influence their interpretation of research evidence. Further research on the extent to which different interpretations of evidence result in changes to clinical practice would be worthwhile.

Growth of the hermit crab Clibanarius vittatus (Bosc, 1802) (Crustacea, Anomura, Diogenidae) at São Vicente, São Paulo, Brazil

O presente estudo teve como objetivo analisar o crescimento de machos e fêmeas do ermitão Clibanarius vittatus (Bosc, 1802), da região de São Vicente, São Paulo, Brasil. Foram realizadas coletas mensais de maio/2001 a abril/2003, na Praia dos Pescadores em São Vicente. Os 2.501 animais capturados foram identificados, determinados quanto ao sexo e mensurados quanto ao seu comprimento de escudo cefalotorácico (CEC). Para o estudo sazonal do crescimento, a população foi dividida em classes de tamanho de 5mm de (CEC), e analisada pelo método de Bertalanffy, com o auxílio do software Fisat II. Foram obtidos 703 indivíduos machos e 1.798 fêmeas, com média de tamanho de 8.94±1.80 e 6.61±1.13mm, respectivamente. Constatou-se um padrão de crescimento sazonal, com machos atingindo um tamanho assintótico (14.92mm) superior ao das fêmeas (13.85mm), além de iniciarem o processo de crescimento aproximadamente cinco meses antes destas. Desta forma, é provável que este seja um padrão que auxilia na diminuição da disputa intra-específica por conchas, uma vez que os machos atingiram maior tamanho e estariam disponibilizando conchas menores para as fêmeas.

Marketing Plan: Sushi Artist

The objective of this Final Degree Work is the accomplishment of a Plan of Marketing for next year 2016 for the Sushi Artist company with the purpose of seating the present growth, especially in the geographic area of Bizkaia.

Use of Bioscreen C for growth of Mucor hiemalis in different carbon and nitrogen sources

O sistema automatizado Bioscreen C foi utilizado para o crescimento de quatro linhagens de Mucor hiemalis, isoladas do solo da Estação Ecológica de Juréia-Itatins (EEJI), estado de São Paulo, em meios líquidos com uma única fonte de carbono (2%) ou de nitrogênio (1%), pH 5,0, a 25ºC, e agitação de 150rpm por 5 dias. O meio com somente uma única fonte de nitrogênio foi adicionado com 2% de glicose. As leituras de densidade óptica foram realizadas a 540nm, em intervalos de 2h, por cinco dias. Os resultados foram analisados estatisticamente com o Teste de Friedman (alfa = 5%). Os melhores crescimentos foram obtidos com as linhagens M1, M2 e M3, que atingiram o início da fase log em 60 horas de cultivo. As melhores fontes de carbono variaram de acordo com a linhagem estudada, e extrato de levedura provou ser a melhor fonte de nitrogênio para todas as linhagens. Acetato de sódio inibiu o crescimento das quatro linhagens, sendo a M3 a mais afetada. O uso do sistema automatizado foi muito conveniente para as culturas em meio liquido, sendo rápido e automático, constituindo em uma boa técnica para a determinação das condições ambientais ótimas para crescimento de fungos filamentosos.

Fibroblast growth factors:new insights, new targets in the management of diabetes

The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family consists of 22 evolutionarily and structurally related proteins (FGF1 to FGF23; with FGF15 being the rodent ortholog of human FGF19). Based on their mechanism of action, FGFs can be categorized into intracrine, autocrine/paracrine and endocrine subgroups. Both autocrine/paracrine and endocrine FGFs are secreted from their cells of origin and exert their effects on target cells by binding to and activating specific single-pass transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptors (FGFRs). Moreover, FGF binding to FGFRs requires specific cofactors, namely heparin/heparan sulfate proteoglycans or Klothos for autocrine/paracrine and endocrine FGF signaling, respectively. FGFs are vital for embryonic development and mediate a broad spectrum of biological functions, ranging from cellular excitability to angiogenesis and tissue regeneration. Over the past decade certain FGFs (e.g. FGF1, FGF10, FGF15/FGF19 and FGF21) have been further recognized as regulators of energy homeostasis, metabolism and adipogenesis, constituting novel therapeutic targets for obesity and obesity-related cardiometabolic disease. Until recently, translational research has been mainly focused on FGF21, due to the pleiotropic, beneficial metabolic actions and the relatively benign safety profile of its engineered variants. However, increasing evidence regarding the role of additional FGFs in the regulation of metabolic homeostasis and recent developments regarding novel, engineered FGF variants have revitalized the research interest into the therapeutic potential of certain additional FGFs (e.g. FGF1 and FGF15/FGF19). This review presents a brief overview of the FGF family, describing the mode of action of the different FGFs subgroups, and focuses on FGF1 and FGF15/FGF19, which appear to also represent promising new targets for the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Roles of the Immune Cytokine Environment on Clonal Growth of Murine and Human Tet2 Mutant Bone Marrow Progenitors: Implications for Myelodysplastic Syndromes

TET2 is a tumor suppressor gene that has been implicated in the epigenetic regulation of gene expression. Inactivating TET2 mutations are common in MDS. These mutations may contribute to early clonal dominance and myeloid transformation, although the exact mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Common to the environment of MDS are elevations in cytokines, such as TNFα and IFN-γ. It was hypothesized that inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IFN-γ may promote clonal expansion of TET2 mutant progenitors. Adult (10-14 weeks-old) Tet2 wild type (+/+) and Tet2 mutant (-/-) C57BL/6 mice strains were chosen as a model system. Lineage negative cells (Lin-), enriched for hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, were isolated from Tet2 +/+ and -/- bone marrow and cultured in the absence or presence of varying concentrations of TNFα or IFN-γ in methylcellulose colony formation assays and long term cell culture assays, over a period of 12 and 30 days respectively, and their colony growth, cell count, immunophenotype and resistance to apoptosis were examined. Where indicated, serial re-plating was performed. Expression of apoptotic regulators was assessed by qRT-PCR. In the triplicate experiments, starting with equal densities of Tet2 +/+ and -/- Lin- cells, Tet2 -/- Lin- cells displayed increased resistance to cytokine-induced growth suppression and superior colony forming ability over +/+ in the serial re-plating assays under stress of increasing TNFα or IFN γ. Tet2 -/- progenitors also displayed a lower apoptotic index compared to +/+ under stress of increasing TNFα, suggesting increased resistance to TNFα induced apoptosis. Transcriptional data showed low expression of Tnfr1, Fas and caspase 8, as well as a high expression of Bcl-2 and Iap1 in Tet2 -/- compared to +/+ under stress of TNFα. Tet2-/- also showed increased basal expression of endogenous TNFα mRNA compared to +/+. In the human colony growth assay, the clonal growth of TET2 mutant CFU-GM progenitors was enhanced at low TNFα concentrations. Conclusion: Mutations that promote resistance to environmental stem cell stressors are a known mechanism of clonal selection in aplastic anaemia and JAK2-mutant MPN and our findings suggest that this mechanism may be critical to clonal selection and dominance in MDS.

Age and growth of the bigeye thresher shark, Alopias superciliosus, from the pelagic longline fisheries in the tropical northeastern Atlantic Ocean, determined by vertebral band counts

The bigeye thresher, Alopias supercilious, is commonly caught as bycatch in pelagic longline fisheries targeting swordfish. Little information is yet available on the biology of this species, however. As part of an ongoing study, observers sent aboard fishing vessels have been collecting set of information that includes samples of vertebrae, with the aim of investigating age and growth of A. supercilious. A total of 117 specimens were sampled between September 2008 and October 2009 in the tropical northeastern Atlantic, with specimens ranging from 101 to 242 cm fork length (FL) (176 to 407 cm total length). The A. supercilious vertebrae were generally difficult to read, mainly because they were poorly calcified, which is typical of Lamniformes sharks. Preliminary trials were carried out to determine the most efficient band enhancement technique for this species, in which crystal violet section staining was found to be the best methodology. Estimated ages in this sample ranged from 2 to 22 years for females and 1 to 17 years for males. A version of the von Bertalanffy growth model (VBGF) re-parameterised to estimate L(0), and a modified VBGF using a fixed L(0) were fitted to the data. The Akaike information criterion (AIC) was used to compare these models. The VBGF produced the best results, with the following parameters: L(inf) = 293 cm FL, k = 0.06 y(-1) and L(0) = 111 cm FL for females; L(inf) = 206 cm FL, k = 0.18 y(-1) and L(0) = 93 cm FL for males. The estimated growth coefficients confirm that A. supercilious is a slow-growing species, highlighting its vulnerability to fishing pressure. It is therefore urgent to carry out more biological research to inform fishery managers more adequately and address conservation issues.

Aportes de la cooperación internacional al desarrollo sostenible en Colombia: incidencia del Programa 21 en la agenda ambiental (Plan Nacional de Desarrollo 2010-2014)

Este estudio de caso presenta el rol de la cooperación internacional para avanzar hacia un modelo de desarrollo sostenible en Colombia, analizando los ámbitos en que el Programa 21 permeó la agenda ambiental del país durante el periodo de diseño e implementación del Plan Nacional de Desarrollo 2010-2014 (PND). Se analizan los logros y retos del PND a la luz del Programa 21 desde dos de los pilares que representan un mayor desafío para la construcción del desarrollo sostenible en el país: (1)crecimiento sostenible y competitivo y (2) la sostenibilidad ambiental

Plan de mejoramiento a la Supply Chain de BCD TRAVEL Colombia

Mediante el acercamiento que se hizo al área corporativa de BCD TRAVEL COLOMBIA y considerando el importante crecimiento actual del Sector Turismo y más precisamente de los viajes con motivo corporativo en el país, surge la necesidad del presente trabajo. Al hacer un análisis interno en la organización y de su entorno, se evidenció que la compañía tiene carencia en procesos y establecimiento de nuevas estrategias que le permitan identificar y potencializar oportunidades en su mercado objetivo y en torno a sus clientes y proveedores, lo cual, puede amenazar y comprometer la estabilidad y prestigio de empresa y así mismo su perdurabilidad. Se elaborará un propuesta de mejora en torno a el área de mercadeo y de logística con el fin de estructurar herramientas que le permitan a la compañía tener un horizonte definido, conocer su posición estratégica en el mercado actual, a donde quiere llegar y que debe hacer para lograr los objetivos establecidos en su unidad de negocio corporativa, la cual representa el mayor porcentaje de ingresos para la compañía. . Se espera que los planes de mejora y estrategias establecidas generen servicios de valor agregado e impacten positivamente a lo largo de la cadena de suministro logrando mayor rentabilidad, competitividad y seguimiento de todos los procesos de esta unidad de negocio.