Effects of external nutrient sources and extreme weather events on the nutrient budget of a Southern European coastal lagoon

The seasonal and annual nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and carbon (C) budgets of the mesotidal Ria Formosa lagoon, southern Portugal, were estimated to reveal the main inputs and outputs, the seasonal patterns, and how they may influence the ecological functioning of the system. The effects of extreme weather events such as long-lasting strong winds causing upwelling and strong rainfall were assessed. External nutrient inputs were quantified; ocean exchange was assessed in 24-h sampling campaigns, and final calculations were made using a hydrodynamic model of the lagoon. Rain and stream inputs were the main freshwater sources to the lagoon. However, wastewater treatment plant and groundwater discharges dominated nutrient input, together accounting for 98, 96, and 88 % of total C, N, and P input, respectively. Organic matter and nutrients were continuously exported to the ocean. This pattern was reversed following extreme events, such as strong winds in early summer that caused upwelling and after a period of heavy rainfall in late autumn. A principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that ammonium and organic N and C exchange were positively associated with temperature as opposed to pH and nitrate. These variables reflected mostly the benthic lagoon metabolism, whereas particulate P exchange was correlated to Chl a, indicating that this was more related to phytoplankton dynamics. The increase of stochastic events, as expected in climate change scenarios, may have strong effects on the ecological functioning of coastal lagoons, altering the C and nutrient budgets.Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (FCT) [POCI/MAR/58427/2004, PPCDT/MAR/58427/2004]; Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (FCT

Nursing in the hospital accreditation process: practice and implications in the work quotidian

The aim of this study was to investigate the role and influence of nursing in the hospital accreditation process. It is a qualitative study, conducted in a private hospital of Belo Horizonte. The study subjects were nine nurses and 15 nursing technicians. Data collection was through semi-structured interviews, which were subjected to content analysis. The results showed that the role of the nursing team in the accreditation involves care, administrative, educational and research issues. The study subjects presented different perceptions regarding the influence of the accreditation process in their work. The positive aspects of personal growth and valorization of the curriculum were highlighted as well as negative aspects such as stress and little professional valorization. Therefore, it is necessary that the professionals understand the logic of the process and act with a view to the interdisciplinarity and overcoming the fragmentation of care, thus achieving integral healthcare and the quality of care desired.Este estudio investigó el papel y la influencia de la enfermería en el proceso de acreditación de hospitales. Se trata de un estudio cualitativo realizado en un hospital en Belo Horizonte. Los sujetos del estudio fueron 09 enfermeras y 15 técnicos de enfermería. Los datos fueron recolectados a través de entrevistas semiestructuradas, las que fueron sometidas a análisis de contenido. Los resultados mostraron que la actuación de la enfermería en el proceso de acreditación implica cuestiones relacionadas con la atención, administración, educación e investigación. Los profesionales tenían percepciones diferentes acerca de la influencia del proceso de acreditación en su trabajo. Se destacaron aspectos positivos como el crecimiento personal y el desarrollo del currículo; los negativos fueron estrés y poco desarrollo profesional. Por lo anterior es necesario que los profesionales entiendan la lógica del proceso y actúen con una finalidad interdisciplinaria superando la fragmentación en el cuidado, logrando así la atención integral y la calidad de la atención.Os objetivos neste estudo foram conhecer a atuação e as influências da enfermagem no processo de acreditação hospitalar. Trata-se de pesquisa qualitativa, realizada em um hospital privado de Belo Horizonte, MG. Esta pesquisa ficou composta por nove enfermeiros e quinze técnicos de enfermagem. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevistas com roteiro semiestruturado, submetidas à análise de conteúdo. Os resultados mostraram que a atuação da enfermagem na acreditação envolve questões assistenciais, administrativas, educativas e de pesquisa. Os sujeitos da pesquisa apresentaram percepções diversas sobre a influência do processo de acreditação no seu trabalho. Foram destacados aspectos positivos como crescimento pessoal e valorização do currículo e aspectos negativos como estresse e pouca valorização profissional. Assim, é necessário que os profissionais entendam a lógica do processo, atuem com vistas à interdisciplinaridade e superação da fragmentação da assistência, alcançando assim o cuidado integral e a qualidade assistencial desejada

Toxic but Drank: Gustatory Aversive Compounds Induce Post-ingestional Malaise in Harnessed Honeybees

BACKGROUND: Deterrent substances produced by plants are relevant due to their potential toxicity. The fact that most of these substances have an unpalatable taste for humans and other mammals contrasts with the fact that honeybees do not reject them in the range of concentrations in which these compounds are present in flower nectars. Here we asked whether honeybees detect and ingest deterrent substances and whether these substances are really toxic to them. RESULTS: We show that pairing aversive substances with an odor retards learning of this odor when it is subsequently paired with sucrose. Harnessed honeybees in the laboratory ingest without reluctance a considerable volume (20 µl) of various aversive substances, even if some of them induce significant post-ingestional mortality. These substances do not seem, therefore, to be unpalatable to harnessed bees but induce a malaise-like state that in some cases results in death. Consistently with this finding, bees learning that one odor is associated with sugar, and experiencing in a subsequent phase that the sugar was paired with 20 µl of an aversive substance (devaluation phase), respond less than control bees to the odor and the sugar. Such stimulus devaluation can be accounted for by the malaise-like state induced by the aversive substances. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that substances that taste bitter to humans as well as concentrated saline solutions base their aversive effect on the physiological consequences that their ingestion generates in harnessed bees rather than on an unpalatable taste. This conclusion is only valid for harnessed bees in the laboratory as freely-moving bees might react differently to aversive compounds could actively reject aversive substances. Our results open a new possibility to study conditioned taste aversion based on post-ingestional malaise and thus broaden the spectrum of aversive learning protocols available in honeybees

Antitumor activity against murine lymphoma L5178Y model of proteins from cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) seeds in relation with in vitro antioxidant activity

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Recently, proteins and peptides have become an added value to foodstuffs due to new knowledge about its structural analyses as related to antioxidant and anticancer activity. Our goal was to evaluate if protein fractions from cacao seeds show antitumor activity on lymphoma murine L5178Y model. The antioxidant activity of these fractions was also evaluated with the aim of finding a correlation with the antitumor activity.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Differential extraction of proteins from unfermented and semi-fermented-dry cacao seeds was performed and characterized by SDS-PAGE and FPLC size-exclusion chromatography. Antitumor activity was evaluated against murine lymphoma L5178Y in BALB/c mice (6 × 10⁴cells i.p.), with a treatment oral dose of 25 mg/kg/day of each protein fraction, over a period of 15 days. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by the ABTS⁺and ORAC-FL assays.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Albumin, globulin and glutelin fractions from both cacao seed type were obtained by differential solubility extraction. Glutelins were the predominant fraction. In the albumin fraction, polypeptides of 42.3 and 8.5 kDa were found in native conditions, presumably in the form of two peptide chains of 21.5 kDa each one. The globulin fraction presented polypeptides of 86 and 57 kDa in unfermented cacao seed that produced the specific-cacao aroma precursors, and after fermentation the polypeptides were of 45 and 39 kDa. The glutelin fraction presented proteins >200 kDa and globulins components <100 KDa in lesser proportion. Regarding the semifermented-dry cacao seed, it was observed that the albumin fraction showed antitumoral activity, since it caused significant decreases (p < 0.05) in the ascetic fluid volume and packed cell volume, inhibiting cell growth in 59.98 ± 13.6% at 60% of the population; while the greatest antioxidant capacity due to free radical scavenging capacity was showed by the albumin and glutelin fraction in both methods assayed.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study is the first report on the biological activity of semifermented-dry cacao protein fractions with their identification, supporting the traditional use of the plant. The albumin fraction showed antitumor and free radical scavenging capacity, however both activities were not correlated. The protein fractions could be considered as source of potential antitumor peptides.</p