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Adaptation to a repeated restraint stress schedule was monitored in ethanol-treated and control rats. A single episode of 2 h restraint decreased food intake in both control and ethanol-treated rats. The decreases in control rats were not observed following the 5th daily restraint of 2 h/day, suggesting that adaptation has occurred. Ethanol-treated rats, however, exhibited decreased food intake even after 5th daily restraint of 2 h/day. Ethanol administration decreased weekly but not daily cumulative food intake in unrestrained rats. Food intakes of ethanol-treated and control restrained rats were comparable following 1st-3rd daily restraints, but were smaller in ethanol-treated rats following the 4th and 5th daily restraints. Open-field ambulatory activities monitored 24 h after the 5th daily restraint on the 6th day were comparable in control restrained and unrestrained rats. Ethanol-treated and control unrestrained rats also exhibited comparable ambulation, but ethanol-treated rats exhibited smaller activity than control restrained or ethanol-treated unrestrained rats. Fluid intakes of ethanol and control rats were comparable during the 2 weeks of ethanol administration, but daily restraint schedule decreased ethanol intake. The findings show adaptation to repeated restraint in control rats and inability of ethanol-treated rats to adapt in the stress schedule. These findings imply that excessive alcohol consumption may impair adaptation to stress and thus conceivably precipitate depression.

Adaptation to a repeated restraint stress schedule was monitored in ethanol-treated and control rats. A single episode of 2 h restraint decreased food intake in both control and ethanol-treated rats. The decreases in control rats were not observed following the 5th daily restraint of 2 h/day, suggesting that adaptation has occurred. Ethanol-treated rats, however, exhibited decreased food intake even after 5th daily restraint of 2 h/day. Ethanol administration decreased weekly but not daily cumulative food intake in unrestrained rats. Food intakes of ethanol-treated and control restrained rats were comparable following 1st-3rd daily restraints, but were smaller in ethanol-treated rats following the 4th and 5th daily restraints. Open-field ambulatory activities monitored 24 h after the 5th daily restraint on the 6th day were comparable in control restrained and unrestrained rats. Ethanol-treated and control unrestrained rats also exhibited comparable ambulation, but ethanol-treated rats exhibited smaller activity than control restrained or ethanol-treated unrestrained rats. Fluid intakes of ethanol and control rats were comparable during the 2 weeks of ethanol administration, but daily restraint schedule decreased ethanol intake. The findings show adaptation to repeated restraint in control rats and inability of ethanol-treated rats to adapt in the stress schedule. These findings imply that excessive alcohol consumption may impair adaptation to stress and thus conceivably precipitate depression.

The climatic, energetic and political context promotes the development of bioenergies. However we have a lack of knowledge to find out the best energy crops, depending on the soil, the climate and the end­use. This work aimed at studying the adaptation and the biomass and biofuel yield, of several energy crops grown in France in different soil and climate conditions. The biomass yields were very variable between the different experimental sites and no differences were observed on the median biomass yield between crops. Moreover, there was no evidence of a highly productive crop in all the conditions of soil and climate. Because of little differences of the lower heating value between crops, no differences were observed on the primary energy yield. The ethanol yield per hectare was higher for miscanthus, switchgrass and fiber sorghum because of higher cellulose content in these crops. The nitrogen removed at harvest by miscanthus and switchgrass were significantly lower than the other crops witch could lead to reduced fertilizer­N requirements. Further research are needed to clarify the effect of limiting factors on the biomass yield of the different energy crops and to consider other parameters such as the environmental impacts to give rules to choose the most suitable crop in a given region. Proceedings of the 18th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 3-7 May 2010, Lyon, France, pp. 269-272

The climatic, energetic and political context promotes the development of bioenergies. However we have a lack of knowledge to find out the best energy crops, depending on the soil, the climate and the end­use. This work aimed at studying the adaptation and the biomass and biofuel yield, of several energy crops grown in France in different soil and climate conditions. The biomass yields were very variable between the different experimental sites and no differences were observed on the median biomass yield between crops. Moreover, there was no evidence of a highly productive crop in all the conditions of soil and climate. Because of little differences of the lower heating value between crops, no differences were observed on the primary energy yield. The ethanol yield per hectare was higher for miscanthus, switchgrass and fiber sorghum because of higher cellulose content in these crops. The nitrogen removed at harvest by miscanthus and switchgrass were significantly lower than the other crops witch could lead to reduced fertilizer­N requirements. Further research are needed to clarify the effect of limiting factors on the biomass yield of the different energy crops and to consider other parameters such as the environmental impacts to give rules to choose the most suitable crop in a given region. Proceedings of the 18th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 3-7 May 2010, Lyon, France, pp. 269-272

The developmental and behavioral effects of prenatal exposure to cocaine and/or ethanol were examined in rats. Pregnant rats received ethanol (E; 2 g/kg, b.i.d.) orally, cocaine (C; 6 mg/kg/day, IV), or both (C/E) on gestational days 8-20. Controls consisted of pair-fed (PF) and untreated (UNT) groups. Offspring were weighed and examined for developmental markers beginning postnatal day one (PD1). On PD21 pups were individually observed in an open-field following either an injection of cocaine (10 mg/kg, IP), an injection of saline, or no treatment. Drug-treated and PF dams ate less food and gained less weight than the UNT dams. C and E litters had slightly increased mortality rates. Pups from both the C and E groups appeared less sensitive to the locomotor stimulant effect of cocaine. Pups from the E group engaged in significantly less spontaneous stereotypic locomotion than UNT and PF pups, while male pups from the C group exhibited a decrease in spontaneous exploratory behavior. Thus, prenatal exposure to C or E altered spontaneous and/or cocaine-induced behavior in weanling-aged rats, while the C/E combination did not augment either effect.

The developmental and behavioral effects of prenatal exposure to cocaine and/or ethanol were examined in rats. Pregnant rats received ethanol (E; 2 g/kg, b.i.d.) orally, cocaine (C; 6 mg/kg/day, IV), or both (C/E) on gestational days 8-20. Controls consisted of pair-fed (PF) and untreated (UNT) groups. Offspring were weighed and examined for developmental markers beginning postnatal day one (PD1). On PD21 pups were individually observed in an open-field following either an injection of cocaine (10 mg/kg, IP), an injection of saline, or no treatment. Drug-treated and PF dams ate less food and gained less weight than the UNT dams. C and E litters had slightly increased mortality rates. Pups from both the C and E groups appeared less sensitive to the locomotor stimulant effect of cocaine. Pups from the E group engaged in significantly less spontaneous stereotypic locomotion than UNT and PF pups, while male pups from the C group exhibited a decrease in spontaneous exploratory behavior. Thus, prenatal exposure to C or E altered spontaneous and/or cocaine-induced behavior in weanling-aged rats, while the C/E combination did not augment either effect.

High levels of air pollution caused by domestic coal burning create human health problems and unwarranted economic loss. The associated health cost is estimated at R1.2 billion per annum. The Basa Njengo Magogo (BNM) alternative fire lighting method represents the highest impact on health from a benefit-cost and employment point of view since the method can potentially reduce ambient air pollution caused by the use of household coal in a relatively short period, by approximately 40-50%. In a pilot study funded by the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME), the method was demonstrated to 16 000 households through a series of direct demonstrations in Orange Farm. The study found that 99% of households who attended a demonstration used the BNM method and continued to use it after a month, households saved on average 25 kilograms of coal, translating in a R26 saving per month. A wide scale implementation of the BNM method holds the potential not only to reduce air pollution but also to result in coal and monetary savings for low-income households.

High levels of air pollution caused by domestic coal burning create human health problems and unwarranted economic loss. The associated health cost is estimated at R1.2 billion per annum. The Basa Njengo Magogo (BNM) alternative fire lighting method represents the highest impact on health from a benefit-cost and employment point of view since the method can potentially reduce ambient air pollution caused by the use of household coal in a relatively short period, by approximately 40-50%. In a pilot study funded by the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME), the method was demonstrated to 16 000 households through a series of direct demonstrations in Orange Farm. The study found that 99% of households who attended a demonstration used the BNM method and continued to use it after a month, households saved on average 25 kilograms of coal, translating in a R26 saving per month. A wide scale implementation of the BNM method holds the potential not only to reduce air pollution but also to result in coal and monetary savings for low-income households.