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Objective: To determine the relationship among some soil chemical, physical and biological properties and the plant component in pastureland agroecosystems of Granma province, Cuba. Materials and Methods: The research was conducted in five pastureland agroecosystems of Granma province, Cuba, in the period 2014-2017. The granulometric composition, microstructure, structural stability, hygroscopic humidity, bulk density, real density, pH (H2O), Na, K, Ca, Mg, P2O5 and electrical conductivity were determined in the labora- tory of the National Institute of Agricultural Sciences. The edaphic macrofauna was collected according to the TSBF (Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility) and pitfall traps. Results: There was significant canonical correlation between chemical and physical properties of soils and macrofauna communities. The orders Isopoda and Haplotaxida were the edaphic macrofauna variables that contributed most to the variance shared by both groups of variables. Meanwhile, bulk density, true density, clay content, hygroscopic moisture, pH, Ca, K and Mg, were the physical and chemical properties with the highest correlation. Conclusions: The orders Haplotaxida and Isopoda are proposed as soil quality indicators, selected and validated from the analyses of canonical correlations with physical and chemical edaphic properties and with the plant component.

The utilization of Anaerobic Digestion (AD) technology for biogas and energy generation is often hindered by high concentration of sulfur-containing compounds in wastewater and consequential hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) in biogas. In this work, we demonstrated a process, where independent mechanisms of anaerobic microorganisms and an inorganic reactive adsorbent (zinc oxide nanowires) worked synergistically to remove soluble sulfide (HS − ) and prevent H 2 S formation during AD. Using a model aqueous sodium sulfide (Na 2 S) system, the nanowires (dosage 1 g/L) effectively removed sulfides from the Na 2 S solution to a maximum of 625 mg S 2− /L per gram of ZnO. During 24 h and 3-day long (involving three consecutive sulfate feeding cycles) AD studies using anaerobic microbial medium (2 g/L SO 4 2− and 1 g/L ZnO), no decrease in methanogenic activity and biogas production were observed using the ZnO nanowires, indicating that the nanowires can reduce the sulfide toxicity during AD. The post-process analysis of the recovered nanomaterial using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction showed the presence of sulfur and zinc sulfide (ZnS), respectively, validating HS − removal by the nanowires. This process intensification approach of combining AD and H 2 S removal into a single process step will help extend AD technology to high sulfate containing wastewaters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this paper was to review information related to the various factors which may trigger the mechanisms of cell death, induced or programmed, which take place in the nervous system and their relationship with the aetiopathogenesis of the neurodegenerative diseases., Development: In recent years it has been recognized that cell death may be not only the consequence of accidental damage but also a sign of a suicide programme. This form of death is currently known as apoptosis. It is a process which is morphologically distinct from accidental cell death or necrosis. It does not cause an inflammatory response. This type of death is not only involved in the development and haemostasis of tissues, but also in setting off neuronal degeneration in experimental models of Parkinson's disease, Huntington's chorea, etc., Conclusions: In the cell death occurring in neurodegenerative diseases there is more than one induction mechanisms. Understanding the factors which trigger cell death, and the chain of events leading to this, gives grounds for the design of new pharmacological strategies for the treatment of these diseases.

Introduction: Studies of neural transplants in experimental models of Parkinson's disease have concentrated their attention on ectopic transplants of foetal mesencephalic cells to denervated striatum. However, the external globus pallidus has recently been shown to play an important part in the physiopathology of this disease., Objective: Bearing in mind the importance of loss of extra-striatal dopamine in the genesis of the clinical signs found in parkinsonism, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of foetal mesencephalic transplantation to the globus pallidus of hemiparkinsonian rats., Material and Methods: Following conventional transplantation methodolgy, suspensions of cells from the ventral mesencephalum of rat embryos (E-14) were implanted. The tissue was grafted into the striatum, pallidum-striatum and pallidum areas of rats with unilateral lesions of the striatonigral bundle. One, two, three and six months after transplantation, the rotatory activity induced by D-amphetamine was evaluated. The rotatory behaviour induced by apomorphine was evaluated at three months. Motor ability of the front legs was evaluated in all experimental groups three months after transplantation using the 'ladder test'., Results: In the experimental groups in which a transplant was made to the globus pallidus there was a significant reduction (p < 0.01) in rotatory activity induced by D-amphetamine and by apomorphine as compared with the non-transplanted groups., Conclusions: Transplants of foetal dopaminergic cells survive in the globus pallidus of hemiparkinsonian rats and can improve the rotational activity induced by dopaminergic agonists.