Cambios en el perfil de ácidos grasos del músculo de Holothuria forskali tras una exposición aguda a mercurio

The present study aimed to document the interaction between mercury (Hg), as a model chemical stressor to an aquatic organism, and Fatty acid (FA) profile in the longitudinal muscle of the sea cucumber Holothuria forskali. To assess the sensitivity of this species to the toxic effects of Hg, young H. forskali were exposed to gradual doses of Hg (40, 80 and160 µg·L-1) for 96 h. The results showed that following Hg exposure, the FA profile of H. forskali corresponded to an increase in the level of saturated fatty acids, and the decrease in the level of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. The most prominent changes in the FA composition were recorded at the lowest dose with noticeable decreases in linoleic, arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acid levels and an increase of docosahexaenoic acid. The occurrence of a state of oxidative stress induced by Hg contamination was evidenced by the enhanced levels of malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide and lipid hydroperoxide. Overall, the low concentration of mercury exerted the most obvious effects on lipid metabolism, suggesting that changes in fatty acid composition may be act as an early biomarker to assess mercury toxicity in this ecologically and economically important species.El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo demostrar la interacción entre el mercurio (Hg), como modelo de estresor químico para el organismo acuático, y el perfil de ácidos grasos (FA) en el músculo longitudinal del pepino de mar Holothuria forskali. Para evaluar la sensibilidad de esta especie a los efectos tóxicos del Hg, los juveniles de H. forskali fueron expuestos a dosis graduales de Hg (40, 80 y 160 µg·L-1) durante 96 h. Los resultados mostraron que después de la exposición al Hg, el perfil de FA de H. forskali respondió con una tendencia direccional anclada por el aumento en el nivel de ácidos grasos saturados y la disminución en el nivel de ácidos grasos monoinsaturados y poliinsaturados. Los cambios más prominentes en la composición de AG se registraron a la dosis más baja con una disminución notable en los niveles de ácido linoleico, araquidónico y eicosapentaenoico frente a un aumento de ácido docosahexaenoico. La aparición de un estado de estrés oxidativo inducido por la contaminación con Hg se puso de manifiesto por el aumento en los niveles de malondialdehído, peróxido de hidrógeno e hidroperóxido de lípidos. En general, la concentración más baja de mercurio ejerció efectos más obvios sobre el metabolismo de los lípidos, lo que sugiere que los cambios en la composición de los ácidos grasos pueden actuar como un biomarcador anterior para evaluar la toxicidad del mercurio en esta especie de importancia ecológica y económica

Avoiding pitfalls in interdisciplinary education

As the world's social-environmental problems increasingly extend across boundaries, both disciplinary and political, there is a growing need for interdisciplinarity, not only in research per se, but also in doctoral education. We present the common pitfalls of interdisciplinary research in doctoral education, illustrating approaches towards solutions using the Nordic Centre for Research on Marine Ecosystems and Resources under Climate Change (NorMER) research network as a case study. We provide insights and detailed examples of how to overcome some of the challenges of conducting interdisciplinary research within doctoral studies that can be applied within any doctoral/postdoctoral education programme, and beyond. Results from a self-evaluation survey indicate that early-career workshops, annual meetings and research visits to other institutions were the most effective learning mechanisms, whereas single discipline-focused courses and coursework were among the least effective learning mechanisms. By identifying the strengths and weaknesses of components of NorMER, this case study can inform the design of future programmes to enhance interdisciplinarity in doctoral education, as well as be applied to science collaboration and academic research in general.Peer reviewe

Demographic and Clinical Factors Associated with Response to Smallpox Vaccine in Preimmunized Volunteers

CONTEXT: In March 2003, the French Ministry of Health implemented a program on preparedness and response to a biological attack using smallpox as weapon. This program included the establishment of a preoutbreak national team that could be revaccinated against smallpox. OBJECTIVE: To identify demographic and clinical factors associated with vaccination success defined as the presence of a pustule at the inoculation site at day 8 (days 7-9), with an undiluted vaccinia virus derived from a Lister strain among preimmunized volunteers. VOLUNTEERS AND METHODS: From March 2003 to November 2006, we have studied prospectively 226 eligible volunteers. Demographic data were recorded for each volunteer (age, sex, number of previously smallpox vaccinations and date of the last vaccination). Smallpox vaccine adverse reactions were diagnosed on the basis of clinical examination performed at days 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 after revaccination. RESULTS: A total of 226 volunteers (sex ratio H/F = 2.7) were revaccinated. Median age was 45 years (range: 27-63 yrs). All volunteers completed follow-up. Median number of vaccinations before revaccination was 2 (range: 1-8). The median delay between time of the study and the last vaccination was 29 years (range; 18-60 yrs). Sixty-one volunteers (27%) experienced one (n = 40) or more (n = 21) minor side effects during the 2-14 days after revaccination. Successful vaccination was noted in 216/226 volunteers (95.6%) at day 8 and the median of the pustule diameter was 5 mm (range: 1-20 mm). Size of the pustule at day 8 was correlated with age (p = 0.03) and with the presence of axillary adenopathy after revaccination (p = 0.007). Sex, number of prior vaccinations, delay between the last vaccination and revaccination, and local or systemic side effects with the exception of axillary adenopathy, were not correlated with the size of the pustule at day 8. CONCLUSIONS: Previously vaccinated volunteers can be successfully revaccinated with the Lister strain

Establishing a new reference group of Keay 25.2 amphorae from Sidi Zahruni (Nabeul, Tunisia)

This paper presents the results of the archaeometric study of African Keay 25.2 amphorae from the archaeological site of Sidi Zahruni (Beni Khiar, NE Tunisia), where this pottery was massively produced. A set of 43 amphorae was analysed with a combined approach consisting of thin-section petrography, X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF), to establish a homogeneous reference group for this production. Although all the amphorae are petrographically very similar, three petro-fabrics were identified in terms of grain-size distribution and abundance of inclusions. Detailed digital image analysis, carried out on SEM-BSE images of some representative samples of each petro-fabric, was used to quantify the differences among them. Cluster analysis of XRPD data patterns also revealed groups of samples forwhich similar rawmaterials/paste and firing conditions were used, contributing to better assessment of information on the production process. Statistical multivariate treatment (principal component and cluster analyses) of chemical data and comparisons with 10 samples previously attributed to the Sidi Zahruni potteries show that the potsherds analysed here are similar from the geochemical viewpoint. Similar trends in the abundance and ratio of some trace and rare earth elements (REE) also indicate that the Sidi Zahruni amphorae were produced from a local clayey material collected from nearby outcrops of Upper Miocene deposits