Impact of regulated and emerging pollutants and microplastics in marine ecosystems (IMPACTA project)

Marine ecosystems are nowadays subjected to a massive input of synthetic chemicals from everywhere. Unfortunately only a small portion of them is being monitored, and it is necessary to identify which pollutants can produce adverse impacts in the marine environment. IMPACTA project (CTM2013-48194-C3) is characterizing the distribution of regulated and emerging contaminants and microplastics in marine sediments, and evaluating the biological effects that they can cause (sing sublethal embryotoxicity tests, endocrine disruption and biomarkers). Sensitive and selective analytical methods are being developed and validated for pharmaceuticals, perfluorinated compounds, organophosphorus pesticides, triazines, personal care products, nonylphenols and alkylated PAHs in sediments. Thus, relevant pollutants present in coastal and offshore areas will be identified. Furthermore potential toxic effects of the contaminants present in coastal sediments are being assessed through embryotoxicity bioassays and also the biological effects on different marine species as a consequence of their exposition to specific compounds. Another relevant contribution of this project will be the assessment of the impact of micro-plastics, first time in the Spanish coastal areas. Their potential toxic effects and their role in the transference of pollutants in the marine environment are being assessed. The concentration and composition of microplastics in sediments and demersal fish stomachs are being characterized, and their potential biological effects on marine invertebrates are also being investigated

Engaging Undergraduates in Science Research: Not Just About Faculty Willingness.

Despite the many benefits of involving undergraduates in research and the growing number of undergraduate research programs, few scholars have investigated the factors that affect faculty members' decisions to involve undergraduates in their research projects. We investigated the individual factors and institutional contexts that predict faculty members' likelihood of engaging undergraduates in their research project(s). Using data from the Higher Education Research Institute's 2007-2008 Faculty Survey, we employ hierarchical generalized linear modeling to analyze data from 4,832 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) faculty across 194 institutions to examine how organizational citizenship behavior theory and social exchange theory relate to mentoring students in research. Key findings show that faculty who work in the life sciences and those who receive government funding for their research are more likely to involve undergraduates in their research project(s). In addition, faculty at liberal arts or historically Black colleges are significantly more likely to involve undergraduate students in research. Implications for advancing undergraduate research opportunities are discussed

Revisão de derivações ventrículo-peritoneais assistidas por videolaparoscopia como uma opção para pacientes pediátricos com complicações intra-abdominais

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-26T17:29:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Laparoscopic assisted ventriculoperitoneal.pdf: 124918 bytes, checksum: 05b25d11d9aff93c305c7d986de85fe3 (MD5) license.txt: 1914 bytes, checksum: 7d48279ffeed55da8dfe2f8e81f3b81f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Fernandes Figueira. Serviço de Neurocirurgia Pediátrica. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Fernandes Figueira. Serviço de Neurocirurgia Pediátrica. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Fernandes Figueira. Departamento de Cirurgia Pediátrica. Serviço de Cirurgia Pediátrica. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Fernandes Figueira. Serviço de Neurocirurgia Pediátrica. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Múltiplas disfunções de derivações ventrículo-peritoneais em pacientes crônicos são complicações temidas no tratamento das hidrocefalias e um desafio na prática neurocirúrgica. Objetivo: Demonstrar que a abordagem laparoscópica para o tratamento das obstruções distais das derivações ventrículo-peritoneais é uma opção eficaz em pacientes submetidos a múltiplas revisões, manipulação repetitiva da cavidade abdominal, pseudocisto abdominal, peritonite ou outras complicações indutoras de peritônio “não confiável”. Método: Os autores revisaram retrospectivamente, de março de 2012 a fevereiro de 2013, os prontuários de seis pacientes nascidos e acompanhados em um hospital pediátrico, que apresentaram múltiplas complicações intraperitoneais e tiveram a revisão de derivações ventrículo-peritoneais assistida por videolaparoscopia. Resultados: Todos os pacientes melhoraram clinicamente e nenhuma outra disfunção foi identificada após um período de acompanhamento médio de 9 meses. Conclusão: Revisão distal de derivações ventrículo-peritoneais assistida por videolaparoscopia em crianças é, em casos selecionados, uma opção eficaz para pacientes crônicos com história de múltiplas complicações peritoneais.Multiple shunt failure is a challenge in pediatric neurosurgery practice and one of the most feared complications of hydrocephalus. Objective: To demonstrate that laparoscopic procedures for distal ventriculoperitoneal shunt failure may be an effective option for patients who underwent multiple revisions due to repetitive manipulation of the peritoneal cavity, abdominal pseudocyst, peritonitis or other situations leading to a “non reliable” peritoneum. Method: From March 2012 to February 2013, the authors reviewed retrospectively the charts of six patients born and followed up at our institution, which presented with previous intra-peritoneal complications and underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunt revision assisted by video laparoscopy. Results: After a mean follow-up period of nine months, all patients are well and no further shunt failure was identified so far. Conclusion: Laparoscopy assisted shunt revision in children may be, in selected cases, an effective option for patients with multiple peritoneal complications due to ventriculo-peritoneal shunting

Integrated use of antioxidant enzymes in mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis, for monitoring pollution in highly productive coastal areas of Galicia (NW Spain)

Publicado

Bioaccumulation of PCB-153 and effects on molecular biomarkers acetylcholinesterase, glutathione-S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase in Mytilus galloprovincialis mussels

In this study, PCB-153 bioaccumulation kinetics and concentration-response experiments were performed employing wild Mytilus galloprovincialis mussels. In addition, the activity of three enzymatic biomarkers: glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE), were measured in the mussel gills. The experimental data fitted well to an asymptotic accumulation model with a high bioconcentration factor (BCF) of 9324 L Kg-1 and a very limited depuration capacity, described by a low excretion rate coefficient (Kd = 0.083 d-1). This study reports by first time in mussels significant inhibition of GST activity and significant induction of GPx activity as a result of exposure to dissolved PCB-153. In contrast, AChE activity was unaffected at all concentrations and exposure times tested. The effects on both enzymes are time-dependent, which stresses the difficulties inherent to the use of these biomarkers in chemical pollution monitoring programs.Versión del editor3,746

Neurosurgical implications of pott's puffy tumor in children and adolescents

Made available in DSpace on 2015-06-08T14:06:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Neurosurgical implications of Pott-s puffy tumor in children and adolescents.pdf: 845793 bytes, checksum: 0ea8ff7932bf251146b71951a7375a31 (MD5) license.txt: 1914 bytes, checksum: 7d48279ffeed55da8dfe2f8e81f3b81f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Nacional de Saúde da Mulher, da Criança e do Adolescente Fernandes Figueira. Departamento de Cirurgia Pediátrica. Seção de Neurocirurgia Pediátrica. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Nacional de Saúde da Mulher, da Criança e do Adolescente Fernandes Figueira. Departamento de Cirurgia Pediátrica. Seção de Neurocirurgia Pediátrica. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Nacional de Saúde da Mulher, da Criança e do Adolescente Fernandes Figueira. Departamento de Cirurgia Pediátrica. Seção de Neurocirurgia Pediátrica. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Nacional de Saúde da Mulher, da Criança e do Adolescente Fernandes Figueira. Departamento de Radiologia. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Nacional de Saúde da Mulher, da Criança e do Adolescente Fernandes Figueira. Seção de Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Nacional de Saúde da Mulher, da Criança e do Adolescente Fernandes Figueira. Seção de Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Hospital Municipal Salgado Filho. Departamento de Neurocirurgia. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Introduction Pott’s puffy tumor (PPT) is rare and usually seen as a complication of frontal sinusitis resulting in subperiosteal abscess of the frontal bonewith underlying osteomyelitis. PPT is potentially severe and can lead to life-threatening intracra-nial complications. Patients and methodsThe authors present a series of six pediatric patients diagnosed with PPT and intracranial com-plications between 1999 and 2012. There were five boys and one girl, and the mean age at diagnosis was 11.8 years. All patients presented with frontal swelling, headache, and fever. Two patients had lowered level of consciousness and severe hemodynamic instability. ResultsAll patients had epidural abscess, and one also pre-sented subdural empyema. Five patients underwent drainage of all associated abscesses, bone resection, and sinusitis treat-ment. One was treated conservatively with broad-spectrum antibiotics, and no surgical intervention was required. All patients fully recovered their neurologic status, without further complications

Sharing data of the Spanish Oceanographic Institute Observing System in the Framework of International Initiatives.

From the beginning of the IEOOS, linked to local oceanographic studies, the IEO has promoted initiatives in order to make them accessible for the wide researcher community and any other users. In 1968 the IEO had designed as National Oceanographic Data Center for safeguarding of marine data and its activities are aimed to favour the quality controlled data and metadata permanent archive and data reusing, as well as the development of aggregated data product