Bamboo Biochar and a Nopal-Based Biofertilizer as Improvers of Alkaline Soils with Low Buffer Capacity

Alkaline soils with low buffering capacity are susceptible to amendments such as biochar or biofertilizers, which could drastically alter their pH. For that, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a low biochar and biofertilizer addition to improve soil characteristics and the use of nutrients to reduce the doses of chemical fertilizer. For that, we measured the initial effect of biochar addition on the soil characteristics. Then, to evaluate the changes produced by biochar and biofertilizer on cultivated soil, we carried out a greenhouse experiment with Physalis ixocarpa for two crop cycles. We also studied the nutrient use efficiency, comparing chemical fertilization at 100% (without biochar) against 50% and 20% with biochar on crop yield, plant height, fruit weight, and root length. Finally, we compared the combination of biochar and biofertilizer with the treatments mentioned earlier. The results showed that after adding 0.2% of bamboo biochar, bulk density (BD) decreased while CEC, as well as OM, Pav, Fe, and Cu contents, increased in the soil. The combination of biochar and biofertilizer improved WHC, Pav, and OM comparing to the soil added with biochar. We found that the bamboo biochar and nopal-based fertilizer are suitable improvers for the studied soil.

Does the Common Core Have a Common Effect? An Exploration of Effects on Academically Vulnerable Students

Policymakers have long sought to raise expectations for students through standards-based reform. I examine the extent to which the Common Core State Content Standards (CC) affected student achievement and the size of achievement gaps. I merge together data on preparation for and implementation of the CC with the National Assessment of Educational Progress student-level data. To identify the effect of CC on student outcomes, I compare early implementors of the CC to late implementors of the CC in a difference-in-differences framework. I find the initial effect of the CC on math scores was positive. The CC had a large positive initial effect on economically advantaged students but no detectable initial effect on economically disadvantaged students. Raising state expectations without addressing the structural issues burdening economically disadvantaged students may result in unintended consequences.

Propaganda and Protest in Autocracies

Does propaganda reduce the rate of popular protest in autocracies? To answer this question, we draw on an original dataset of state-run newspapers from thirty countries, encompassing six languages and over four million articles. We find that propaganda diminishes the rate of protest, and that its effects persist over time. By increasing the level of pro-regime propaganda by one standard deviation, autocrats have reduced the odds of protest the following day by 15%. The half-life of this effect is between five and ten days, and very little of the initial effect persists after one month. This temporal persistence is remarkably consistent with campaign advertisements in democracies.

P0436REFRACTORY IGA NEPHROPATHY. A MULTICYTOKINE NORMALIZED LEVELS THERAPY FOR T CELLS IMBALANCE

Background and Aims Interleukine-17(IL-17) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine which influences in glomerulonephritis (GN) in animal models. IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is a primary GN with auto-inflammatory and autoimmune features. Imbalances in Th1/Th17 and Treg/Th17 have been associated with the pathogenesis of the IgAN. We evaluated the effect of sequential treatment with a selective vitamin D receptor activator and with an IL-17 blocker in patients with refractory IgA GN (r-IgAN). Method Five patients with r-IgAN (previously treated with steroids, mycophenolate, tacrolimus and a renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitor) were treated initially with paricalcitol and six months later with secukinumab (IL-17A blocker) with the objective to improve anti-inflammatory and subsequentially inhibit pro-inflammatory milieu, respectively. We evaluate the evolution of the proteinuria, haematuria, plasma creatinine and urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase: u-NAG, as a measure of lysosomal activity during the first month of treatment (induction phase) and at month 3 after treatment. We also evaluate the evolution of the evolution of the Th1/Th17 and Treg/Th17 ratio in whole blood. We evaluated the changes at month (M) 0, 1 and 3. Results Five males were included. Age: 43±11 years. Proteinuria (24h-collected) decreased along the study from 3.5, 2.1 to 1.6g (P<0.01) at M0, M1 and M3 respectively. Four (80%) patients who presented haematuria at month 0 disappeared at month 3. Creatinine did not show changes over time (1.84, 1.88 and 1.95 mg/dl for M0, M1 and M3, P=0.44). uNAG increased after induction phase from 7.2 to 9.8(P= 0.01) and finally decreased to 8.3 at month 3(P=1, respect to month1). Uric acid decreased but not significantly from 8.0, 7.1 and 7.6g/dl at any time point. The ratio Th1/Th17 and Treg/TH17 changed from the month 0 to month 3, from 1.8 to 2.6 (P =0.25) and 0.23 to 0.32 (P=0.16), respectively. Conclusion Sequential treatment was associated with a reduction in proteinuria and haematuria was well controlled. The changes in u-NAG suggest and intensive initial effect on the lysosomal activity since no changes in renal function was observed. The theoretical benefit of the Th1/Th17 and Treg/Th17 ratio represents a new modality of treatment that need to be rigorously evaluated for its clinical implication in r-IgAN patients.

UV-C Irradiation of Rolled Fillets of Ham Inoculated with Yersinia enterocolitica and Brochothrix thermosphacta

Bacteria on ready-to-eat meat may cause diseases and lead to faster deterioration of the product. In this study, ready-to-eat sliced ham samples were inoculated with Yersinia enterocolitica or Brochothrix thermosphacta and treated with ultraviolet (UV) light. The initial effect of a UV-C irradiation was investigated with doses of 408, 2040, 4080, and 6120 mJ/cm2 and the effect after 0, 7, and 14 days of refrigerated storage with doses of 408 and 4080 mJ/cm2. Furthermore, inoculated ham samples were stored under light and dark conditions after the UV-C treatment to investigate the effect of photoreactivation. To assess the ham quality the parameters color and antioxidant capacity were analyzed during storage. UV-C light reduced Yersinia enterocolitica and Brochothrix thermosphacta counts by up to 1.11 log10 and 0.79 log10 colony forming units/g, respectively, during storage. No photoreactivation of the bacteria was observed. Furthermore, significantly lower a* and higher b* values after 7 and 14 days of storage and a significantly higher antioxidant capacity on day 0 after treatment with 4080 mJ/cm2 were detected. However, there were no other significant differences between treated and untreated samples. Hence, a UV-C treatment can reduce microbial surface contamination of ready-to-eat sliced ham without causing considerable quality changes.