Summary: The Mexican Soil Science Society, C.A. (MSSS), gives a deep of post-mortem recognition to Dr. Benjamín Figueroa Sandoval, one of its most distinguished and active members. Dr. Figueroa Sandoval was born on April 30, 1949 in Guadalajara, Jalisco, México, and died on February 21, 2020 in Salinas de Hidalgo, San Luis Potosí, México. His scientific work included the areas of research: sustainable agriculture, conservation tillage and soil physics. In addition to being an excellent soil scientist, he had among his hobbies the sport, being a football fan and basketball player, as well as reading and music. Dr. Figueroa Sandoval served as General Director of the Colegio de Postgraduados for two consecutive periods, from 1999 to 2003 and from 2004 to 2007. Much of his scientific legacy is embodied in the records of MSSS, CA. (Figure 1).

Resumen: La Sociedad Mexicana de la Ciencia del Suelo, A.C. (SMCS), rinde un profundo reconocimiento post mortem al Dr. Benjamín Figueroa Sandoval, uno de sus más distinguidos y activos miembros. El Dr. Figueroa Sandoval nació el 30 de abril de 1949 en Guadalajara, Jalisco, México, y fallece el 21 de febrero de 2020 en Salinas de Hidalgo, San Luis Potosí, México. Su quehacer científico comprendió las áreas de investigación: agricultura sostenible, labranza de conservación y física de suelos. Además de ser un excelente edafólogo, tuvo entre sus aficiones el deporte, siendo aficionado al futbol y jugador de basquetbol, además de la lectura y la música. El Dr. Figueroa Sandoval fungió como Director General del Colegio de Postgraduados durante dos periodos consecutivos, de 1999 a 2003 y de 2004 a 2007. Gran parte de su legado científico queda plasmado en los registros de la SMCS, AC. (Figura 1).

OBJETIVO: comparar o desempenho físico e cardiorrespiratório do teste de caminhada de seis minutos (TC 6 min) em crianças asmáticas com valores de referência para saudáveis da mesma faixa etária e correlacioná-los com variáveis intervenientes.MÉTODOS: estudo transversal, prospectivo,em crianças com asma moderada/grave, entre seis e 16 anos, em acompanhamento ambulatorial. Coletaram-se dados demográficos e espirométricos. Os pacientes responderam questionário de qualidade de vida em asma (PAQLQ) e nível de atividade física basal. O TC 6 min foi realizado segundo recomendações da American Thoracic Society. Para comparações de médias usou-se teste t e correlação de Pearson para analisar o TC 6 min com variáveis estudadas. Nível de significância de 5%.RESULTADOS: incluídas 40 crianças, 52,5% meninos, 70% eutróficas e sedentárias. A média deidade 11,3 ± 2,1 anos, altura 1,5 ± 0,1 m e peso 40,8 ± 12,6 Kg. A média da distância percorrida no TC 6 min foi significativamente inferior correspondendo a 71,9% ± 19,7 dos valores previstos, onde as crianças sedentárias exibiram os piores valores. A diferença entre a distância percorrida no teste e os valores preditos mostrou correlação positiva com a idade (r = 0,373, p = 0,018) e negativa com a frequência cardíaca ao final do teste (r = -0,518, p < 0,001). Na avaliação da qualidade de vida, os valores do quesito limitações das atividades físicas, demonstraram pior pontuação com correlação negativa com a diferença das distâncias percorridas (r = -0,311,p = 0,051).CONCLUSÕES: o desempenho do TC6 min em crianças asmáticas avaliado através da distância percorrida é significativamente inferior aos valores previstos para saudáveis da mesma faixa etária, sendo influenciado diretamente pelo sedentarismo.

OBJECTIVE:to compare physical performance and cardiorespiratory responses in the six-minute walk test (6MWT) in asthmatic children with reference values for healthy children in the same age group, and to correlate them with intervening variables.METHODS:this was a cross-sectional, prospective study that evaluated children with moderate/severe asthma, aged between 6 and 16 years, in outpatient follow-up. Demographic and spirometric test data were collected. All patients answered the pediatric asthma quality of life (QoL) questionnaire (PAQLQ) and level of basal physical activity. The 6MWT was performed, following the American Thoracic Society recommendations. Comparison of means was performed using Student's t-test and Pearson's correlation to analyze the 6MWT with study variables. The significance level was set at 5%.RESULTS:40 children with moderate or severe asthma were included, 52.5% males, 70% with normal weight and sedentary. Mean age was 11.3 ± 2.1 years, mean height was 1.5 ± 0.1 m, and mean weight was 40.8 ± 12.6 Kg. The mean distance walked in the 6MWT was significantly lower, corresponding to 71.9% ± 19.7% of predicted values; sedentary children had the worst values. The difference between the distance walked on the test and the predicted values showed positive correlation with age (r = 0.373, p = 0.018) and negative correlation with cardiac rate at the end of the test (r = -0.518, p < 0.001). Regarding QoL assessment, the values in the question about physical activity limitations showed the worst scores, with a negative correlation with walked distance difference (r = -0.311, p = 0.051).CONCLUSIONS:asthmatic children's performance in the 6MWT evaluated through distance walked is significantly lower than the predicted values for healthy children of the same age, and is directly influenced by sedentary life style.

OBJETIVO: comparar o desempenho físico e cardiorrespiratório do teste de caminhada de seis minutos (TC 6 min) em crianças asmáticas com valores de referência para saudáveis da mesma faixa etária e correlacioná-los com variáveis intervenientes.MÉTODOS: estudo transversal, prospectivo,em crianças com asma moderada/grave, entre seis e 16 anos, em acompanhamento ambulatorial. Coletaram-se dados demográficos e espirométricos. Os pacientes responderam questionário de qualidade de vida em asma (PAQLQ) e nível de atividade física basal. O TC 6 min foi realizado segundo recomendações da American Thoracic Society. Para comparações de médias usou-se teste t e correlação de Pearson para analisar o TC 6 min com variáveis estudadas. Nível de significância de 5%.RESULTADOS: incluídas 40 crianças, 52,5% meninos, 70% eutróficas e sedentárias. A média deidade 11,3 ± 2,1 anos, altura 1,5 ± 0,1 m e peso 40,8 ± 12,6 Kg. A média da distância percorrida no TC 6 min foi significativamente inferior correspondendo a 71,9% ± 19,7 dos valores previstos, onde as crianças sedentárias exibiram os piores valores. A diferença entre a distância percorrida no teste e os valores preditos mostrou correlação positiva com a idade (r = 0,373, p = 0,018) e negativa com a frequência cardíaca ao final do teste (r = -0,518, p < 0,001). Na avaliação da qualidade de vida, os valores do quesito limitações das atividades físicas, demonstraram pior pontuação com correlação negativa com a diferença das distâncias percorridas (r = -0,311,p = 0,051).CONCLUSÕES: o desempenho do TC6 min em crianças asmáticas avaliado através da distância percorrida é significativamente inferior aos valores previstos para saudáveis da mesma faixa etária, sendo influenciado diretamente pelo sedentarismo.

OBJECTIVE:to compare physical performance and cardiorespiratory responses in the six-minute walk test (6MWT) in asthmatic children with reference values for healthy children in the same age group, and to correlate them with intervening variables.METHODS:this was a cross-sectional, prospective study that evaluated children with moderate/severe asthma, aged between 6 and 16 years, in outpatient follow-up. Demographic and spirometric test data were collected. All patients answered the pediatric asthma quality of life (QoL) questionnaire (PAQLQ) and level of basal physical activity. The 6MWT was performed, following the American Thoracic Society recommendations. Comparison of means was performed using Student's t-test and Pearson's correlation to analyze the 6MWT with study variables. The significance level was set at 5%.RESULTS:40 children with moderate or severe asthma were included, 52.5% males, 70% with normal weight and sedentary. Mean age was 11.3 ± 2.1 years, mean height was 1.5 ± 0.1 m, and mean weight was 40.8 ± 12.6 Kg. The mean distance walked in the 6MWT was significantly lower, corresponding to 71.9% ± 19.7% of predicted values; sedentary children had the worst values. The difference between the distance walked on the test and the predicted values showed positive correlation with age (r = 0.373, p = 0.018) and negative correlation with cardiac rate at the end of the test (r = -0.518, p < 0.001). Regarding QoL assessment, the values in the question about physical activity limitations showed the worst scores, with a negative correlation with walked distance difference (r = -0.311, p = 0.051).CONCLUSIONS:asthmatic children's performance in the 6MWT evaluated through distance walked is significantly lower than the predicted values for healthy children of the same age, and is directly influenced by sedentary life style.

The mining industry is looking forward for bacterial consortia for economic extraction of copper from low-grade ores. The main objective was to determine an optimal bacterial consortium from several bacterial strains to obtain copper from the leach of chalcopyrite. The major native bacterial species involved in the bioleaching of sulphide ore (Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans, Leptospirillum ferrooxidans and Leptospirillum ferriphilum) were isolated and the assays were performed with individual bacteria and in combination with At. thiooxidans. In conclusion, it was found that the consortium integrated by At. ferrooxidans and At. thiooxidans removed 70% of copper in 35 days from the selected ore, showing significant differences with the other consortia, which removed only 35% of copper in 35 days. To validate the assays was done an escalation in columns, where the bacterial consortium achieved a higher percentage of copper extraction regarding to control.