An Interface Agent for the Management of COTS-based User Interfaces

The great development of the knowledge society on the Internet requires that Web information systems are adapted at runtime to user groups with common interests. Interface agents help us to observe and learn from user preferences making interfaces adaptable to user working habits. We propose an interface agent which works on Web interface based on COTS components, adapting the interface to the user needs or preferences. Our agent runs two main behaviors: observation behavior which analyses the user interaction on the interface and a second behavior which runs the adaptation actions to adapt the user interface at runtime

Presence of Bisphenol A and Parabens in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: An Exploratory Study of Potential Sources of Exposure

This paper is part of the PhD thesis developed by L.M.I.-D. in the context of the“Clinical Medicineand Public Health Program”of the University of Granada.BACKGROUND:Newborns in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) are in contact with a variety of medical products whose production might includesynthetic chemicals with hormonal activity.OBJECTIVES:Our aim was to assess the content of bisphenol A (BPA) and parabens (PBs) and the hormone-like activities of a subset of medical prod-ucts commonly used in NICUs in prolonged intimate contact with NICU newborns.METHODS:Fifty-two NICU items were analyzed, determining the concentrations of BPA and PBs [methyl- (MeP), ethyl- (EtP), propyl- (PrP), andbutylparaben (BuP)] and using the E-Screen and PALM-luciferase assays to measure thein vitro(anti-)estrogenic and (anti-)androgenic activity,respectively, of the extracts. Items found to have elevated BPA/PB content or hormone-like activities were further extracted using leachingmethodologies.RESULTS:BPA was found in three-fifths and PBs in four-fifths of tested NICU items, and∼25%and∼10%of extracts evidenced estrogenic andanti-androgenic activity, respectively. The highest BPA content was found in the three-way stopcock (>7:000 ng=g), followed by patterned transpar-entfilm dressing, gastro-duodenal feeding tubes, sterile gloves, single-lumen umbilical catheters, and intravenous (IV) infusion extension sets (con-centrations ranged from 100 to 700 ng=g BPA). A total PB concentration (PPBs) >100 ng=g was observed in several items, including light therapyprotection glasses, patterned transparentfilm dressing, winged IV catheters, IV infusion extension sets, and textile tape. The highest estrogenic activ-ity [>450 pM estradiol equivalent (E2eq)] was found in small dummy nipples, three-way stopcocks, and patterned transparentfilm dressing and thehighest anti-androgenic activity [>5 mM procymidone equivalent units per gram (Proceq=g)] in small dummy nipples and three-way stopcocksThis research was funded in part by grants from the European Union Commission (The European Human Biomonitoring Initiative H2020-EJP-HBM4EU), the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Institute of Health Carlos III - FEDER (PI16/01820, PI16/01812, PI16/01858, PI17/01743, and PI17/01526), the Andalusia Regional Government (PI-0538-2017), and the Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health(CIBERESP). The authors are also grateful to the Carlos IIIInstitute of Health (ISCIII) for the predoctoral research contract(FI17/00316) granted to L.M.I.-D., the postdoctoral researchcontract granted to C.F. (Miguel Servet-FEDER fund MS16/00085), and the José María Segovia de Arana contract granted to N.O. (INT18/00060)

The Deposition and Accumulation of Microplastics in Marine Sediments and Bottom Water from the Irish Continental Shelf

Abstract Microplastics are widely dispersed throughout the marine environment. An understanding of the distribution and accumulation of this form of pollution is crucial for gauging environmental risk. Presented here is the first record of plastic contamination, in the 5 mm–250 μm size range, of Irish continental shelf sediments. Sixty-two microplastics were recovered from 10 of 11 stations using box cores. 97% of recovered microplastics were found to reside shallower than 2.5 cm sediment depth, with the area of highest microplastic concentration being the water-sediment interface and top 0.5 cm of sediments (66%). Microplastics were not found deeper than 3.5 ± 0.5 cm. These findings demonstrate that microplastic contamination is ubiquitous within superficial sediments and bottom water along the western Irish continental shelf. Results highlight that cores need to be at least 4–5 cm deep to quantify the standing stock of microplastics within marine sediments. All recovered microplastics were classified as secondary microplastics as they appear to be remnants of larger items; fibres being the principal form of microplastic pollution (85%), followed by broken fragments (15%). The range of polymer types, colours and physical forms recovered suggests a variety of sources. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms influencing microplastic transport, deposition, resuspension and subsequent interactions with biota

Contribution of Cytochrome P450 and ABCB1 Genetic Variability on Methadone Pharmacokinetics, Dose Requirements, and Response

Although the efficacy of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) in opioid dependence disorder has been well established, the influence of methadone pharmacokinetics in dose requirement and clinical outcome remains controversial. The aim of this study is to analyze methadone dosage in responder and nonresponder patients considering pharmacogenetic and pharmacokinetic factors that may contribute to dosage adequacy. Opioid dependence patients (meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, [4th Edition] criteria) from a MMT community program were recruited. Patients were clinically assessed and blood samples were obtained to determine plasma concentrations of (R,S)-, (R) and (S)- methadone and to study allelic variants of genes encoding CYP3A5, CYP2D6, CYP2B6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and P-glycoprotein. Responders and nonresponders were defined by illicit opioid consumption detected in random urinalysis. The final sample consisted in 105 opioid dependent patients of Caucasian origin. Responder patients received higher doses of methadone and have been included into treatment for a longer period. No differences were found in terms of genotype frequencies between groups. Only CYP2D6 metabolizing phenotype differences were found in outcome status, methadone dose requirements, and plasma concentrations, being higher in the ultrarapid metabolizers. No other differences were found between phenotype and responder status, methadone dose requirements, neither in methadone plasma concentrations. Pharmacokinetic factors could explain some but not all differences in MMT outcome and methadone dose requirements