Search

Rheumatic diseases are more prevalent and aggressive in indigenous population groups, providing medical attention for which poses a challenge for the rheumatologist. Objective To estimate the prevalence of musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders and rheumatic diseases in the Saraguro indigenous people in Ecuador, as well as to identify the main factors associated with the health status of this population. Methods This observational, cross-sectional study focused on the community was conducted using the COPCORD (Community-Oriented Program for Control of Rheumatic Diseases) methodology. The required data were obtained using the following instruments: (1) a screening for MSK disorders and rheumatic diseases; (2) a sociodemographic questionnaire; (3) a functional capacity Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index questionnaire; and (4) the quality of life EQ-5D-3L (EuroQoL) questionnaire. The rheumatologists working with the indigenous community were responsible for examining and treating study participants suffering from MSK disorders. Results The study sample comprised 2687 individuals, with mean age of 44 (SD, 19.9) years, 1690 (62.9%) of whom were women; Kichwa speakers comprised 32.4% (872), and 1244 (46.3%) reported MSK pain. The most prevalent conditions were as follows: low back pain (9.3%), hand osteoarthritis (OA, 7.2%), knee OA (6.5%), rheumatic regional pain syndrome (5.8%), fibromyalgia (1.8%), and rheumatoid arthritis (1.3%). Lower education level, unemployment, cooking with firewood, and rheumatic diseases were associated with a lower quality of life. Conclusions Musculoskeletal disorders, rheumatic diseases, and rheumatoid arthritis were found to be highly prevalent in the studied population. Rheumatoid arthritis and hand OA had the most significant impact on the quality of life.

Nine neurodegenerative disorders are caused by the abnormal expansion of polyglutamine (polyQ) regions within distinct proteins. Genetic and biochemical evidence has documented that the molecular chaperone, heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), modulates polyQ toxicity and aggregation, yet it remains unclear how Hsp70 might be used as a potential therapeutic target in polyQ-related diseases. We have utilized a pair of membrane-permeable compounds that tune the activity of Hsp70 by either stimulating or by inhibiting its ATPase functions. Using these two pharmacological agents in both yeast and PC12 cell models of polyQ aggregation and toxicity, we were surprised to find that stimulating Hsp70 solubilized polyQ conformers and simultaneously exacerbated polyQ-mediated toxicity. By contrast, inhibiting Hsp70 ATPase activity protected against polyQ toxicity and promoted aggregation. These findings clarify the role of Hsp70 as a possible drug target in polyQ disorders and suggest that Hsp70 uses ATP hydrolysis to help partition polyQ proteins into structures with varying levels of proteotoxicity. Our results thus support an emerging concept in which certain kinds of polyQ aggregates may be protective, while more soluble polyQ species are toxic.

We tested the effects of using an inoculum containing natural ericoid roots and soil (NERS) with two fertilizer and irrigation rates on plant growth, shoot (stems and leaves) nutrient concentration, leachate quality, and mycorrhizal colonization of container-grown Coast Leucothoe [Leucothoe axillaris (Lam.) D. Don] and Japanese Pieris [Pieris japonica (Thunb.) D. Don ex G. Don]. Uniform rooted liners were grown in 10.8-L containers in a pine bark, peatmoss, and sand (8:1:1 by volume) substrate medium in a randomized complete block design with four replications. A controlled-release fertilizer, Polyon® Plus 14-16-8 (14N–7P–6.6K), was incorporated in the substrate medium at the 100% manufacturer's recommended fertilizer rate [representing high fertilizer rate (HF)] (56 g per container) to supply 7.84 g nitrogen (N) and at 50% the manufacturer's recommended rate [representing low fertilizer rate (LF)]. Plants were irrigated using a cyclic drip irrigation system at high (HI) and low (LI) irrigation rates calibrated to supply 25.2 L of water and 16.8 L per week, respectively. On average, NERS inoculation increased shoot growth of Leucothoe and Pieris by 56% and 60%, respectively. Shoots of Leucothoe inoculated with NERS had higher N, phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), and manganese (Mn) concentrations than non-inoculated plants. At LF, nitrous-N (NOx-N) and orthophosphorus (PO4-P) concentrations in the leachate were reduced by 53% from Leucothoe and 62% from Pieris compared with HF-treated plants. A reduction of 37% and 36% in PO4-P concentration in leachates from Leucothoe and Pieris, respectively, were achieved at the reduced irrigation (LI) rate. The NERS inoculation reduced PO4-P concentrations in leachate from Leucothoe by 26% and NOx-N concentration by 33% in leachates from Pieris compared with non-inoculated plants. Compared with plants grown in the HI–HF treatment, the combination of LI–LF treatment reduced NOx-N concentrations in leachates from Leucothoe by 60% (P = 0.016) and reduced PO4-P leachate concentrations from Pieris by 72% (P = 0.0096). Decreasing the fertilizer rate to 50% of the recommended rate and the irrigation rate to 67% of the recommended rate in conjunction with the incorporation of NERS reduced leachate nutrient concentrations of two main water pollutants (NOx-N and PO4-P). Adopting the practice of adding NERS containing fungi and bacteria can be an effective system to increase shoot dry weight, allow reduction in fertilizer application, conserve water for irrigation, and minimize subsequent nutrient runoff in nursery operations.

Little information is available about the changes of the proton charge of goethite in the presence of phosphate (P) and humic acid (HA). The objectives of this study were to systematically measure the proton charge of the ternary mixture and adsorption of HA and P on goethite. The potentiometric titration method was used to measure proton charges in single, binary, and ternary mixtures of goethite, HA, and P as a function of pH and ionic strengths. Results showed that proton charge in the ternary mixture became more negative with increasing pH and the loadings of HA and P. The point of zero charge (PZC) decreased linearly with the initial concentrations of HA and P. At low to intermediate pH, little variation was observed in adsorption of P on goethite in the presence of HA. A small reduction in the adsorption of P in the presence of HA was observed when compared with the control (without HA loading) at high pH. In 2008, Weng et al. developed a model describing the electrostatic interaction between HA and P at the 1-plane of the compact part of the electrical double layer (EDL). In this study, Weng et al.'s model was used to interpret the effect of adsorbed HA on the adsorption of P on goethite as well as the nonsignificant interaction of PZC between HA and P.

In the warm and wet north Florida climate, growing Italian parsley (Petroselinum crispum [Mill.]) is gaining popularity with small producers as a short duration crop on sandy soil. Application of compost to agricultural land can benefit the low fertile sandy soils in Florida and subsequent crop production, while providing an outlet for recycling municipal solid wastes (MSW) and biosolids. A field study was laid out in a randomized complete block design with four replications to evaluate the effects of compost (75% MSW:25% biosolids) application in comparison to fertilizer, fertilizer + compost (50:50), and control treatments on: (a) parsley fresh weight (FW), (b) soil and plant tissue nutrient concentrations, and (c) soil bulk density and moisture retention in winter and spring seasons. Soil amended with fertilizer or compost + fertilizer doubled parsley FW from 15.02 Mg ha−1 in the non-amended control plot to 30.75 and 32.67 Mg ha−1 in soils that received fertilizer + compost or fertilizer alone, respectively. Significantly higher total soil carbon (C) levels of 2.16% and 1.95% and nitrogen (N) levels of 0.19% and 0.16% were recorded in compost and fertilizer + compost treatments, respectively. Addition of compost reduced soil bulk density significantly to 1.03 Mg m−3 and increased soil moisture retention in simulated drier conditions at 1500 kPa to 0.12 m3 m−3 in plots that received only compost at the end of winter growing season. Overall, addition of compost resulted in improvement of both physical and chemical properties as well as increased parsley yields.

Physical and chemical properties of container media are important factors in controlling the supply and movement of water and nutrients for nursery plant growth. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the physical and chemical properties and quality of media formulated with systematic substitution of composted pine bark (bark) for sphagnum peat (peat) in the presence of sand. Ten formulations were prepared that contained 40-90% bark, 0-50% peat, and 10 or 20% sand by volume. Increasing the percentage of bark increased the percentage of coarse particles, and linearly decreased the medium-sized particles in media in either 10% or 20% sand. Increasing the percentage of bark in the media significantly decreased water holding capacity, whereas bulk and particle densities and total porosity were influenced by the interaction of bark x peat x sand. Increasing the percentage of bark increased electrical conductivity and total C, P, K, Ca, Fe, Cu and Zn. Availability of nutrients were also increased by increasing percentages of bark. Substitution of bark for peat did not influence the pH of the formulated media. Our results suggest that formulated media with 70 to 80% composted pine bark and 10 to 20% peat (V/V) exhibited physical and chemical properties considered optimum for the growth of container nursery plant crops.

Composts improve organic carbon content and nutrients of calcareous soils but the accumulation and distribution of phosphorus and heavy metals among various fractions in soil may vary under the south Florida conditions. The accumulation of P, Cd, Ni, and Pb with depth and the distribution of water soluble, exchangeable, carbonate, Fe-Mn oxides, organic and residual forms of each element were investigated in soils amended with municipal solid waste (MSW) compost, co-compost and biosolids compost and inorganic fertilizer (as control). Total concentrations of P, Cd, Ni, and Pb were higher in the 0-22 cm soil layers and decreased considerably in the rock layers. These elements were in the decreasing order of PPbNiCd. Amounts of water soluble and exchangeable forms of P, Cd, Ni and Pb were negligible at 0-22 cm soil depths except for Cd in the 10-22 cm depth. Amending calcareous soil with either organic or inorganic amendments rendered phosphorus, nickle and lead in the residual form followed by Fe-Mn oxides form in the 0-10 and 10-22 cm soil layers. Cadmium was predominantly in the Fe-Mn oxides fraction followed by the residual and carbonate forms in both soil layers. A significant positive correlation was found between various organic carbon fractions and organic forms of P, Cd and Pb in the surface soil layer. Soil amended with MSW compost had higher concentration of Cd in the organic fraction whereas, co-compost and MSW compost amended soil had higher concentrations of organic Ni fraction in the 0-10 cm soil layer.

From 1997 to 1999, 16 cultivars/accessions of perennial forage Arachis sp. were evaluated at the Tropical Research and Education Center. IFAS, Homestead, FL. Evaluation focused on adaptability to soil and climatic conditions of south Florida and included criteria deemed desirable for a multipurpose cover crop that might be used as a living mulch in no-till vegetable production fields and orchards, forage for animal feeding, and ornamental ground cover along highway ramps and sidewalks. Four cultivars/accessions of Pinto's peanut, A. pintoi Krapov. & W.C. Gregory, plus IRFL 6968 grew well in the low-fertility calcareous soils with minimal fertilizer, minimal irrigation and no pesticide. They were compared with ‘Florigraze’ rhizoma peanut (A. glabrata Benth.) in all the evaluation criteria used. The stands had become well established 31 months after planting. Biomass yields for the selected accessions at 31 months ranged from 12.0 to 21.5 mt ha−1. Nitrogen content in the dry biomass of plant parts ...

Assessment of nitrogen (N) fertilizer needs for sugarbeet requires knowledge of the amount of N available from the soil including the profile below the plow layer. Field studies were conducted to examine 1) spatial and temporal distribution of 15N tracer applied at different soil depths and 2) temporal pattern of N uptake by sugarbeet from various depths. Tracer 15N was applied in confined spots at depths of 30, 75 and 120 cm. Soil samples were collected at 5, 8 and 16 weeks after planting and analyzed for atom excess and mineral N. For the second objective, tracer N was applied on the surface and at depths of 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 cm. Sugarbeet plants were collected 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 weeks after planting. Soil mineral N declined with time at all depths and the decline was most pronounced at 30-cm deep. Lateral movement of tracer 15N 10 cm from the point of injection was detected at the 75 and 120 cm depths 8-weeks after planting. Tracer N was recovered from all depths 9 weeks after planting but ...

A field experiment was conducted at the Tropical Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Homestead, to determine the effects on plant morphology, biomass yield, and flower production. of cutting the main stem of sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) plants at different heights. Seeds treated with cowpea (Vigua unguicalata)-type rhizobium were sown on 15 April 1999. The main stems were cut at 30, 60, and 90 cm above soil surface 100 days after seeding when the plants were about 1.5 m tall. Control plants were left uncut. Biomass that had been cut from plants was included in the total biomass yield. Seventy days following stem cutting, individual plants were evaluated for: plant height; main stem diameter; fresh and dry weights of roots, main stems, primary branches, secondary branches, leaves, open flowers, and unopened flowers. Leaf area and nutritional analyses of the plant parts were determined. Cutting the main stem at 30 and 60 cm above soil surface reduced total plant biomass, where...

Amending soils with compost may lead to accumulation of metals and their fractions at various concentrations in the soil profile. The objectives of this study were to determine 1) the accumulation of Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn with depth and 2) the distribution of water soluble, exchangeable, carbonate, Fe-Mn oxides, organic and residual forms of each metal in soils amended with MSW compost, co-compost, biosolids compost and inorganic fertilizer (as control). Total concentrations of Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn were concentrated in the 0-22 cm soil layer and scant in the rock layer. These metals were in the decreasing order of Fe >> Mn > Zn > or = Cu. Copper, Fe, and Zn were predominantly in the residual form followed by fractions associated with Fe-Mn oxides, carbonate, organic, exchangeable and water soluble in all treatments except MSW compost amended soil where the organic fraction was higher than the carbonate fraction. In fertilizer, co-compost and biosolids compost treated soils Mn concentrated mainly in the Fe-Mn oxides form followed by residual, carbonate, and organic forms whereas, in MSW compost treated soil the same pattern occurred except that Mn organic fraction was higher than that in the carbonate form. The MSW compost has a greater potential to be used as a soil amendment to supply plants with Cu, Mn and Zn than other treatments in calcareous soils of south Florida.

Proteins with expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) segments cause a number of fatal neurodegenerative disorders, including Huntington's disease (HD). Previous high-throughput screens in cellular and biochemical models of HD have revealed compounds that mitigate polyQ aggregation and proteotoxicity, providing insight into the mechanisms of disease and leads for potential therapeutics. However, the structural diversity of natural products has not yet been fully mobilized toward these goals. Here, we have screened a collection of ~11 000 natural product extracts for the ability to recover the slow growth of ΔProQ103-expressing yeast cells in 384-well plates (Z' ~ 0.7, CV ~ 8%). This screen identified actinomycin D as a strong inhibitor of polyQ aggregation and proteotoxicity at nanomolar concentrations (~50-500 ng/mL). We found that a low dose of actinomycin D increased the levels of the heat-shock proteins Hsp104, Hsp70 and Hsp26 and enhanced binding of Hsp70 to the polyQ in yeast. Actinomycin also suppressed aggregation of polyQ in mammalian cells, suggesting a conserved mechanism. These results establish natural products as a rich source of compounds with interesting mechanisms of action against polyQ disorders.

In Saccharomyces cerevisae, expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) fragments are assembled into discrete cytosolic aggregates in a process regulated by the molecular chaperones Hsp26, Hsp70, Hsp90, and Hsp104. To better understand how the different chaperones might cooperate during polyQ aggregation, we used sequential immunoprecipitations and mass spectrometry to identify proteins associated with either soluble (Q25) or aggregation-prone (Q103) fragments at both early and later times after induction of their expression. We found that Hsp26, Hsp70, Hsp90, and other chaperones interact with Q103, but not Q25, within the first 2 h. Further, Hsp70 and Hsp90 appear to be partially released from Q103 prior to the maturation of the aggregates and before the recruitment of Hsp104. To test the importance of this seemingly ordered process, we used a chemical probe to artificially enhance Hsp70 binding to Q103. This treatment retained both Hsp70 and Hsp90 on the polyQ fragment and, interestingly, limited subsequent exchange for Hsp26 and Hsp104, resulting in incomplete aggregation. Together, these results suggest that partial release of Hsp70 may be an essential step in the continued processing of expanded polyQ fragments in yeast.

This work deals with the semi-automatic generation of subcategorization frames (SCFs) of Spanish verbs; specifically, given a set of verbs in Spanish and their respective sense, their SCFs are obtained. The acquisition of SCFs in Spanish has been approached in different works: in some the frames are generated manually, while in others they are obtained semi-automatically from a tagged corpus; unfortunately in this case, the results depend on the characteristics of the texts used. The method proposed in this document combines an ontology-based approach (through lexical relations of verbs) and linguistic knowledge (functional class of verbs). The relations among base verbs and other verbs were obtained from the Spanish WordNet ontology, which contains lexical relations among words. Also, the existing relation between the SCF and the functional class of verbs was used to generate the SCFs. In order to evaluate the method the SCFs for 44 base verbs were generated manually, from which 239 SCFs were semi-automatically generated and validated, yielding an accuracy of 89.38%.

Given the importance of domain ontologies for developing terminographic products, we propose a seven-step methodology -- OntoMethodus -- to build ontologies especially from unstructured sources. Finally, we present e-Termos, an ongoing project to develop an environment to support generation of terminographic products in Brazilian Portuguese which uses the OntoMethodus.

Compared to upland forests, riparian forest soils have greater potential to remove nitrate (NO3) from agricultural runoff through denitrification. It is unclear, however, whether prolonged exposure of riparian soils to nitrogen (N) loading will affect the rate of denitrification and its end products. This research assesses the rate of denitrification and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from riparian forest soils exposed to prolonged nutrient runoff from plant nurseries and compares these to similar forest soils not exposed to nutrient runoff. Nursery runoff also contains high levels of phosphate (PO4). Since there are conflicting reports on the impact of PO4 on the activity of denitrifying microbes, the impact of PO4 on such activity was also investigated. Bulk and intact soil cores were collected from N-exposed and non-exposed forests to determine denitrification and N2O emission rates, whereas denitrification potential was determined using soil slurries. Compared to the non-amended treatment, denitrification rate increased 2.7- and 3.4-fold when soil cores collected from both N-exposed and non-exposed sites were amended with 30 and 60 µg NO3-N g−1 soil, respectively. Net N2O emissions were 1.5 and 1.7 times higher from the N-exposed sites compared to the non-exposed sites at 30 and 60 µg NO3-N g−1 soil amendment rates, respectively. Similarly, denitrification potential increased 17 times in response to addition of 15 µg NO3-N g−1 in soil slurries. The addition of PO4 (5 µg PO4-P g−1) to soil slurries and intact cores did not affect denitrification rates. These observations suggest that prolonged N loading did not affect the denitrification potential of the riparian forest soils; however, it did result in higher N2O emissions compared to emission rates from non-exposed forest soils.