Detection of chlorantraniliprole residues in tomato using field-deployable MIP photonic sensors

A photonic sensor based on inversed opal molecular imprinted polymer (MIP) film to detect the presence of chlorantraniliprole (CHL) residue in tomatoes was developed. Acrylic acid was polymerized in the presence of CHL inside the structure of a colloidal crystal, followed by etching of the colloids and CHL elution. Colloidal crystals and MIP films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and FT-IR, confirming the inner structure and chemical structure of the material. MIP films supported on polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) slides were incubated in aqueous solutions of the pesticide and in blended tomato samples. The MIP sensor displayed shifts of the peak wavelength of the reflection spectra in the visible range when incubated in CHL concentrations between 0.5 and 10 μg L−1, while almost no peak displacement was observed for non-imprinted (NIP) films. Whole tomatoes were blended into a liquid and spiked with CHL; the sensor was able to detect CHL residues down to 0.5 μg kg−1, significantly below the tolerance level established by the US Environmental Protection Agency of 1.4 mg kg−1. Stable values were reached after about 30-min incubation in test samples. Control samples (unspiked processed tomatoes) produced peak shifts both in MIP and NIP films; however, this matrix effect did not affect the detection of CHL in the spiked samples. These promising results support the application of photonic MIP sensors as an economical and field-deployable screening tool for the detection of CHL in crops.Fil: Rossi, Ezequiel. Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Tecnología en Polímeros y Nanotecnología. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Tecnología en Polímeros y Nanotecnología; ArgentinaFil: Salahshoor, Zahra. University of Missouri; Estados UnidosFil: Ho, Khanh Van. University of Missouri; Estados UnidosFil: Lin, Chung Ho. University of Missouri; Estados UnidosFil: Errea, María Inés. Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Fidalgo, Maria M.. University of Missouri; Estados Unido

The role of the freshwater shrimp atyaephyra desmarestii in leaf litter breakdown in streams

This version does not correspond to the published one. To access the final version go to: http://www.springerlink.com/content/a31518u452m03286/In aquatic ecosystems, microorganisms and invertebrates provide critical links between plant detritus and higher trophic levels. Atyaephyra desmarestii is an omnivorous decapod that inhabits freshwaters and exhibits high tolerance to temperature oscillations and high ability to colonize new habitats. Although A. desmarestii is able to ingest a variety of foods, few studies have been conducted to elucidate the role of this freshwater shrimp on detritus breakdown in streams. In this study, A. desmarestii was allowed to feed on conditioned or unconditioned alder and eucalyptus leaves in microcosms with or without access to its fecal pellets. At the end of the experiment, total body length of the animals was measured, and the remaining leaves and fecal pellets were used for dry mass quantification and assessment of bacterial and fungal diversity by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Cluster analyses of DGGE fingerprints indicated that the major differences in microbial communities on leaves were between leaf types, while on fecal pellets were between conditioned and unconditioned leaves. However, the consumption rate by the shrimp did not differ between leaf types, and was significantly higher on leaves conditioned by microorganisms and in treatments without access to feces. In treatments without access to feces, the production of feces and fine particulate organic matter was also significantly higher for conditioned leaves. Overall, our results support the feeding plasticity of A. desmarestii and its potential role in plant litter breakdown in streams. This might have implications for maintaining stream ecosystem functioning, particularly if more vulnerable shredders decline.The Portuguese Foundation for the Science and Technology supported S. Duarte (SFRH/BPD/47574/2008

SEOM clinical guideline in ovarian cancer (2020)

Despite remarkable advances in the knowledge of molecular biology and treatment, ovarian cancer remains the leading cause of death from gynecologic cancer. In the last decade, there have been important advances both in systemic and surgical treatment. However, there is no doubt that the incorporation of PARP inhibitors as maintenance after the response to platinum-based chemotherapy, first in recurrent disease and recently also in first line, will change the natural history of the disease. The objective of this guide is to summarize the current evidence for the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of ovarian cancer, and to provide evidence-based recommendations for clinical practice

A search for spectral hysteresis and energy-dependent time lags from X-ray and TeV gamma-ray observations of Mrk 421

Blazars are variable emitters across all wavelengths over a wide range of timescales, from months down to minutes. It is therefore essential to observe blazars simultaneously at different wavelengths, especially in the X-ray and gamma-ray bands, where the broadband spectral energy distributions usually peak. In this work, we report on three "target-of-opportunity" (ToO) observations of Mrk 421, one of the brightest TeV blazars, triggered by a strong flaring event at TeV energies in 2014. These observations feature long, continuous, and simultaneous exposures with XMM-Newton (covering X-ray and optical/ultraviolet bands) and VERITAS (covering TeV gamma-ray band), along with contemporaneous observations from other gamma-ray facilities (MAGIC and Fermi-LAT) and a number of radio and optical facilities. Although neither rapid flares nor significant X-ray/TeV correlation are detected, these observations reveal subtle changes in the X-ray spectrum of the source over the course of a few days. We search the simultaneous X-ray and TeV data for spectral hysteresis patterns and time delays, which could provide insight into the emission mechanisms and the source properties (e.g. the radius of the emitting region, the strength of the magnetic field, and related timescales). The observed broadband spectra are consistent with a one-zone synchrotron self-Compton model. We find that the power spectral density distribution at $\gtrsim 4\times 10^{-4}$ Hz from the X-ray data can be described by a power-law model with an index value between 1.2 and 1.8, and do not find evidence for a steepening of the power spectral index (often associated with a characteristic length scale) compared to the previously reported values at lower frequencies.Comment: 45 pages, 15 figure

Can scenario-planning support community-based natural resource management? Experiences from three countries in latin america

Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) is a concept critical to managing socio-ecological systems, but whose implementation needs strengthening. Scenario-planning is one approach that may offer benefits relevant to CBNRM, but whose potential is not yet well understood. We therefore designed, trialled and evaluated a scenario-planning method intended to support CBNRM at three cases, located in Colombia, Mexico and Argentina. Implementing scenario-planning was judged as worthwhile in all three cases, although aspects of it could be challenging to facilitate. The benefits generated were relevant to strengthening CBNRM: encouraging the participation of local people and using their knowledge; enhanced consideration and adaption of future change; and supporting the development of systems thinking. Tracing exactly when and how these benefits arise is challenging, but two elements of the method seemed particularly useful. Firstly, using a systematic approach to discuss how drivers of change may affect local socio-ecological systems helped to foster systems thinking and identify connections between issues. Secondly, explicitly focusing on how to use and respond to scenarios helped identify specific practical activities ('response options') that would support CBNRM despite the pressures of future change. Discussions about response options also highlighted the need for support by other actors (e.g. policy groups): this raises the question of when and how other actors and other sources of knowledge should be involved in scenario-planning, so as to encourage their buy-in to actions identified by the process. We suggest other CBNRM initiatives may benefit from adapting and applying scenario-planning. However, these initiatives should be carefully monitored since further research is required to understand how and when scenario-planning methods may produce benefits, and their strengths and weaknesses versus other methods

Dinâmicas de (investig)ação em contextos de promoção da língua portuguesa: a presença do CIDTFF na rede Camões, I.P.

Sem resumo disponível.publishe

Elective Cancer Surgery in COVID-19-Free Surgical Pathways During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: An International, Multicenter, Comparative Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19-free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19-free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS: Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19-free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19-free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score-matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION: Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19-free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

Elective cancer surgery in COVID-19-free surgical pathways during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: An international, multicenter, comparative cohort study

PURPOSE As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19–free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19–free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19–free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19–free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score–matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19–free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks