Methylmercury exposure in a subsistence fishing community in Lake Chapala, Mexico: an ecological approach

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Elevated concentrations of mercury have been documented in fish in Lake Chapala in central Mexico, an area that is home to a large subsistence fishing community. However, neither the extent of human mercury exposure nor its sources and routes have been elucidated.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Total mercury concentrations were measured in samples of fish from Lake Chapala; in sections of sediment cores from the delta of Rio Lerma, the major tributary to the lake; and in a series of suspended-particle samples collected at sites from the mouth of the Lerma to mid-Lake. A cross-sectional survey of 92 women ranging in age from 18-45 years was conducted in three communities along the Lake to investigate the relationship between fish consumption and hair mercury concentrations among women of child-bearing age.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Highest concentrations of mercury in fish samples were found in carp (mean 0.87 ppm). Sediment data suggest a pattern of moderate ongoing contamination. Analyses of particles filtered from the water column showed highest concentrations of mercury near the mouth of the Lerma. In the human study, 27.2% of women had >1 ppm hair mercury. On multivariable analysis, carp consumption and consumption of fish purchased or captured from Lake Chapala were both associated with significantly higher mean hair mercury concentrations.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our preliminary data indicate that, despite a moderate level of contamination in recent sediments and suspended particulate matter, carp in Lake Chapala contain mercury concentrations of concern for local fish consumers. Consumption of carp appears to contribute significantly to body burden in this population. Further studies of the consequences of prenatal exposure for child neurodevelopment are being initiated.</p

Conceptualizing translation revision competence : a pilot study on the ‘tools and research’ subcompetence

Translation revision is an important step in the translation workflow. However, translation revision competence remains ill-defined. After identifying what is understood by 'revision' in a translation context and discussing the theoretical translation revision competence (TRC) model previously designed by the authors, this article analyses and interprets the results of an empirical pilot study designed to test the presence of the tools and research subcompetence hypothesised in the TRC model. An experiment with 21 master-level translation and/or language students was carried out: the experimental group was given revision training as a form of treatment and the control group was not. The TRC subcompetence under investigation was tested adopting a pretest-posttest experimental design. Both groups performed four controlled revision tasks and their revision process was keylogged. The results, subjected to quantitative statistical analyses, show that revisers and translators use the same tools, as hypothesised, but that they use these tools differently

Conceptualizing translation revision competence : a pilot study on the ‘fairness and tolerance’ attitudinal component

Although translation revision plays a crucial role in the production of high-quality translations, research into translation revision competence (TRC) is relatively new and underdeveloped compared with research into translation competence. This article addresses that gap by focusing on the validation of the TRC model developed by Robert, Remael, and Ureel. Using questionnaires and revision tasks in a pretest-posttest experimental design, we investigated whether a course on revision and editing affected the degree of fairness and tolerance that participants showed when revising others' translations. Analyses of the results showed that the participants in the experimental group did not make fewer unnecessary changes after taking a course on revision and editing. In addition, the types and sizes of the unnecessary changes that they made were not influenced by taking the revision and editing course. However, when exposed to a revision task without clear instructions and context, participants who had taken the course on revision and editing were significantly less categorical when providing post-treatment answers, even though this behavior was not reflected in their attitudes in the revision tasks. These findings invite further research into the attitudinal component of TRC

Conceptualizing translation revision competence : a pilot study on the acquisition of the knowledge-about-revision and strategic subcompetences

Translation revision (TR) is an important step in the translation workflow. However, translation revision competence (TRC) remains an ill-defined concept. This article addresses that gap by operationalizing the TR concept and by presenting a theoretical TRC model. Subsequently, the article analyses and interprets the results of an empirical pilot study designed to test the presence of two TR subcompetences hypothesised by the TRC model, in an experimental group and a control group of 21 MA language students. The experimental group was given TR training halfway through the experiment whereas the control group was not. The two subcompetences that were tested by means of a pretest–posttest experimental design were declarative-procedural knowledge about TR and the procedural strategic revision subcompetence. Both groups of participants replied to questionnaires and performed controlled revision tasks, which were subjected to quantitative statistical analyses. The results show that the participants’ TR knowledge was limited in the pretest and that this knowledge improved marginally only in the experimental group in the posttest (i.e., after TR training). This article provides a detailed analysis of the results and the causes of the limited progress. In addition, it discusses the lessons learnt for both TR training and further research