Heavy Metals Assessment in the Medjerda River Basin (Northeastern Algeria): A Preliminary Water Analysis and Toad Skin Biopsy

AbstractOur study attempted to monitor the quality of water in Medjarda basin (Northeastern Algeria) and to provide baseline information of heavy metals in the water as well as in a potential amphibian biosentinel, the spiny toad, Bufo spinosus. We measured pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen and biological oxygen demand of water and levels of heavy metals in toad skin using an atomic absorption flame spectrophotometer. Lead (Pb) concentration in water and in toad skin at all sites exceeded respectively 60 and 96 times the standard reference values. The heavy metal concentrations, in descending order, in water and in male toad skin were as follows: Pb > Fe > Cu > Zn and Fe > Pb > Zn > Cu respectively. This study highlights the ecological status of the surrounding areas upstream of the Medjarda basin as being a point source of heavy metal pollution. It is further stated that a non-invasive skin removal is an ethically sound technique to evaluate heavy metal accumulation in aquatic animals like toad, without euthanizing the specimens and making any loss to biodiversity of the species

Influenza vaccination coverage among medical residents: An Italian multicenter survey

Although influenza vaccination is recognized to be safe and effective, recent studies have confirmed that immunization coverage among health care workers remain generally low, especially among medical residents (MRs). Aim of the present multicenter study was to investigate attitudes and determinants associated with acceptance of influenza vaccination among Italian MRs. A survey was performed in 2012 on MRs attending post-graduate schools of 18 Italian Universities. Each participant was interviewed via an anonymous, self-administered, web-based questionnaire including questions on attitudes regarding influenza vaccination. A total of 2506 MRs were recruited in the survey and 299 (11.9%) of these stated they had accepted influenza vaccination in 2011-2012 season. Vaccinated MRs were older (P = 0.006), working in clinical settings (P = 0.048), and vaccinated in the 2 previous seasons (P < 0.001 in both seasons). Moreover, MRs who had recommended influenza vaccination to their patients were significantly more compliant with influenza vaccination uptake in 2011-2012 season (P < 0.001). "To avoid spreading influenza among patients" was recognized as the main reason for accepting vaccination by less than 15% of vaccinated MRs. Italian MRs seem to have a very low compliance with influenza vaccination and they seem to accept influenza vaccination as a habit that is unrelated to professional and ethical responsibility. Otherwise, residents who refuse vaccination in the previous seasons usually maintain their behaviors. Promoting correct attitudes and good practice in order to improve the influenza immunization rates of MRs could represent a decisive goal for increasing immunization coverage among health care workers of the future. © 2014 Landes Bioscience

Influence of Mediterranean Sea Temperature Increase on Gaeta Gulf (Tyrrhenian Sea) Biodiversity

In this study, temperature variations and invasion on marine fauna are investigated to ascertain their relationship in the Mediterranean at the Gaeta Gulf (Tyrrhenian Sea). Sea temperatures were collected from 1986 to 2009, the only period in which the AVHRR sensor installed on NOAA satellite was available. Changes in the sea surface temperature from satellite using GIS software were estimated. Research on marine species was carried out using the barcoding technique. Nine organisms of which one Anthozoa and one Malacostraca and eight belonging to Actinopterygii Class were barcoded from 2005 to 2019 and four of these were detected as non-indigenous species. The first sightings are related to Fistularia commersonii, and Sphoeroides pachygaster identified since 2009 and well reported in our previous publication. They have penetrated the Mediterranean from the Indian Ocean (through the Suez Canal) and from the Atlantic Ocean (Strait of Gibraltar) respectively and are still sporadic. These bioinvasions were linked for the first time to water heating, which increased by about 0.4 °C between 1989–1999 and 1999–2009. In addition, there are other identifications, such as Arothron diadematus from the Suez Canal, Percnon gibbesi from the Strait of Gibraltar; thermophilus indigenous species such as Pomadasys incisus and Astroides calycularis and sporadic autochthonous species such as Sudis hyalina, Tetragonurus cuvieri, Trachipterus trachipterus, and Remora osteochir. Non-native species and their invasions could lead to radical and sudden upheavals in the Mediterranean marine ecosystem and therefore require constant alert of sea surface temperature change

Design and implementation of a portable fNIRS embedded system

We report on the design, development and operation of a portable, low cost, battery-operated, multi-channel, functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy embedded system, hosting up to 64 optical sources and 128 Silicon PhotoMultiplier optical detectors. The system is realized as a scalable architecture, whose elementary leaf consists of a probe board provided with 16 SiPMs, 4 couples of bi-color LED, and a temperature sensor, built on a flexible stand. The hardware structure is very versatile because it is possible to handle both the switching time of the LED and the acquisition of the photodetectors, via an ARM based microcontroller