Determination of hydraulic parameters in experimental soil columns from the southeast of Buenos Aires province

La cuenca del Río Quequén Grande constituye una región representativa de los sistemas agrícolas pampeanos. El acuífero en esta región es la principal fuente de abastecimiento de agua para todos los usos, lo que pone de manifiesto la importancia de desarrollar los elementos necesarios para el estudio de la movilidad de los contaminantes a través de los suelos hacia la zona saturada. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue obtener parámetros hidráulicos bajo condiciones de saturación en columnas intactas de distintos tipos de suelos de la región, contemplando suelos de uso agrícola y natural. Se estudiaron dos series de suelo: Serie Azul y Serie Semillero Buck, con muestras tomadas en dos sectores próximos a las localidades de Lobería y La Dulce, respectivamente. Las columnas fueron eluidas con una solución acuosa de iones cloruro y se midió el incremento progresivo de conductividad. A partir de las curvas de arribo obtenidas, se ajustó la ecuación de transporte, obteniendo los valores de dispersividad y porosidad. Dichos parámetros no presentaron diferencias significativas según el uso para los suelos de Lobería, de textura franco arcillosa, indicando que la labranza no produciría modificaciones evidentes en el perfil del suelo. En La Dulce, donde los suelos poseen una textura más arenosa, los parámetros variaron según el uso del suelo, presentando una mayor dispersividad y menor porosidad del suelo bajo explotación agrícola extensiva.The Quequén Grande river basin is representative of the farming systems from the Pampas region. The aquifer is the main source of water supply for all uses, which highlights the importance to study the mobility of contaminants through the soil to the saturated zone. The aim of this study was to obtain hydraulic parameters of different soil types in the region according to land use (agricultural and natural) under saturated conditions. Two study areas were selected close to the cities La Dulce (Azul Series Soil) and Lobería (Semillero Buck Series Soil), as representatives of the dominant soil types in this area. The columns were eluted with an aqueous solution containing chloride ions and the progressive increase was measured at the end of the column. From the experimental data the breakthrough curve was adjusted using MATLAB software while dispersivity and porosity values were determined from modeled data. These parameters did not differ significantly in Lobería, so it is assumed that tillage does not produce significant changes in the soil profile. Conversely, in La Dulce land use affects the hydraulic properties of the soil leading to lower porosity and higher dispersivity values in soils under tillage use.Fil: Grondona, Sebastián I.. Universidad Nacional de Mar del PlataFil: Martínez, Daniel E.. Universidad Nacional de Mar del PlataFil: Benavente, Miguel. Universidad Nacional de Mar del PlataFil: Gonzalez, Mariana. Universidad Nacional de Mar del PlataFil: Massone, Héctor E.. Universidad Nacional de Mar del PlataFil: Miglioranza, Karina S. B.. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plat

Persistent pulmonary congestion before discharge predicts rehospitalization in heart failure: a lung ultrasound study

BACKGROUND: B-lines evaluated by lung ultrasound (LUS) are the sonographic sign of pulmonary congestion, a major predictor of morbidity and mortality in patients with heart failure (HF). Our aim was to assess the prognostic value of B-lines at discharge to predict rehospitalization at 6 months in patients with acute HF (AHF). METHODS: A prospective cohort of 100 patients admitted to a Cardiology Department for dyspnea and/or clinical suspicion of AHF were enrolled (mean age 70 ± 11 years). B-lines were evaluated at admission and before discharge. Subjects were followed-up for 6-months after discharge. RESULTS: Mean B-lines at admission was 48 ± 48 with a statistically significant reduction before discharge (20 ± 23, p 15) (log rank χ(2) 20.5, p 15 before discharge (hazard ratio [HR] 11.74; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.30-106.16) was an independent predictor of events at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Persistent pulmonary congestion before discharge evaluated by ultrasound strongly predicts rehospitalization for HF at 6-months. Absence or a mild degree of B-lines identify a subgroup at extremely low risk to be readmitted for HF decompensation

Determinación de parámetros hidráulicos en columnas experimentales de suelos del sudeste de la provincia de Buenos Aires

The Quequén Grande river basin is representative of the farming systems from the Pampas region. The aquifer is the main source of water supply for all uses, which highlights the importance to study the mobility of contaminants through the soil to the saturated zone. The aim of this study was to obtain hydraulic parameters of different soil types in the region according to land use (agricultural and natural) under saturated conditions. Two study areas were selected close to the cities La Dulce (Azul Series Soil) and Lobería (Semillero Buck Series Soil), as representatives of the dominant soil types in this area. The columns were eluted with an aqueous solution containing chloride ions and the progressive increase was measured at the end of the column. From the experimental data the breakthrough curve was adjusted using MATLAB software while dispersivity and porosity values were determined from modeled data. These parameters did not differ significantly in Lobería, so it is assumed that tillage does not produce significant changes in the soil profile. Conversely, in La Dulce land use affects the hydraulic properties of the soil leading to lower porosity and higher dispersivity values in soils under tillage use.La cuenca del Río Quequén Grande constituye una región representativa de los sistemas agrícolas pampeanos. El acuífero en esta región es la principal fuente de abastecimiento de agua para todos los usos, lo que pone de manifiesto la importancia de desarrollar los elementos necesarios para el estudio de la movilidad de los contaminantes a través de los suelos hacia la zona saturada. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue obtener parámetros hidráulicos bajo condiciones de saturación en columnas intactas de distintos tipos de suelos de la región, contemplando suelos de uso agrícola y natural. Se estudiaron dos series de suelo: Serie Azul y Serie Semillero Buck, con muestras tomadas en dos sectores próximos a las localidades de Lobería y La Dulce, respectivamente. Las columnas fueron eluidas con una solución acuosa de iones cloruro y se midió el incremento progresivo de conductividad. A partir de las curvas de arribo obtenidas, se ajustó la ecuación de transporte, obteniendo los valores de dispersividad y porosidad. Dichos parámetros no presentaron diferencias significativas según el uso para los suelos de Lobería, de textura franco arcillosa, indicando que la labranza no produciría modificaciones evidentes en el perfil del suelo. En La Dulce, donde los suelos poseen una textura más arenosa, los parámetros variaron según el uso del suelo, presentando una mayor dispersividad y menor porosidad del suelo bajo explotación agrícola extensiva

Efectos de microplásticos en vertebrados acuáticos de América Latina y el Caribe

La presencia de micro (MPs) y nanoplásticos (NPs) ha sido objeto de exhaustivos estudios a nivel mundial. Sin embargo, la investigación enfocada en evaluar las consecuencias ecotoxicológicas de la exposición en ecosistemas es limitada, especialmente en especies presentes en la región de América Latina y el Caribe. En tal sentido, se llevó a cabo una revisión sistemática de la información disponible sobre los efectos de MPs y/o NPs en organismos acuáticos de esta región. Desde el año 2001, los MPs han sido identificados como contaminantes de preocupación emergente. A lo largo del tiempo, se observó un incremento marcado de estudios que documentan su presencia en organismos, destacando a Brasil como uno de los países con mayor número de investigaciones a nivel regional. Entre los polímeros más estudiados para evaluar los efectos toxicológicos se encuentran el poliestireno y el polietileno, y en menor medida otros compuestos y mezclas. Estudios realizados en diversas especies de vertebrados acuáticos, han revelado una amplia diversidad de efectos en los organismos, siendo la clase Pisces el grupo más estudiado. Alteraciones inmunológicas y neurológicas, cambios en el comportamiento reproductivo, genotoxicidad y la modificación de la ingesta de alimentos son algunos de los efectos comúnmente documentados. En América Latina y el Caribe, intensificar la investigación sobre los efectos de MPs y NPs emerge como un imperativo estratégico. Este esfuerzo no solo expandirá el conocimiento acerca de las dinámicas específicas de estos contaminantes a nivel regional, sino que también enriquecerá la comprensión global de esta problemática en constante crecimiento

CURSO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE ENFERMIDADES DE BOVINOS: DA EXTENSÃO AO EAD

Com a constante evolução do conhecimento, torna-se essencial que os profissionais médicos veterinários busquem aperfeiçoamento contínuo. Diante dessa necessidade e buscando disseminar o conhecimento prático, o Laboratório de Patologia Veterinária (LPV) do Instituto Federal Catarinense Campus Concórdia (IFC-Concórdia) desenvolveu o curso de Aperfeiçoamento em diagnóstico de enfermidades de bovinos. É ofertado como ensino a distância (EaD) para alunos de todo o país. O curso de qualificação profissional faz parte do projeto de extensão do LPV, que visa capacitar profissionais para determinar a melhor técnica e/ou procedimento de necropsia a cada situação, disponibilizar material bibliográfico e didático e capacitar os alunos na realização correta de necropsia, bem como o diagnóstico das principais enfermidades de bovinos. A segunda edição previa em edital a oferta de 60 vagas, mas devido ao grande número de inscritos e ao sucesso da primeira edição no ano de 2021, retificou-se para 100 vagas. O curso possui duração de seis meses, sendo destinado exclusivamente à médicos veterinários formados ou em formação, abrangendo neste ano 97 matriculados de 20 estados do país; assim como, três alunos estrangeiros: Panamá e Bolívia. As aulas são ministradas uma vez por mês, de forma síncrona, e gravadas aos discentes, assim têm-se a possibilidade de esclarecer dúvidas e questionamentos referentes às aulas ou a assuntos relacionados. Além das aulas, os alunos contam com a plataforma institucional no moodle, que possui diversos materiais como textos, fotos e vídeos; separados em diferentes capítulos. Esses são continuamente produzidos pelo LPV durante necropsias a campo em animais de produção, e buscam complementar o conhecimento adquirido em aula, auxiliando na memorização e compreensão do conteúdo. Além dos materiais disponíveis, no moodle também há questionários referentes ao conteúdo e as aulas; esses devem ser obrigatoriamente respondidos pelos alunos. Diante da repercussão positiva que o curso obteve em sua primeira edição (2021) e a grande procura de candidatos na segunda, espera-se ofertar uma terceira edição em 2023, buscando sempre aperfeiçoar e atualizar os materiais disponíveis, para prover conhecimento gratuito e de qualidade a todos os participantes. Um desafio na condução do curso é a carência em suporte pedagógico ao EaD oferecido pelo IFC. Suporte financeiro IFC Campus Concórdia. Edital número 22/2021

GAPS-megacities: A new global platform for investigating persistent organic pollutants and chemicals of emerging concern in urban air

A pilot study was initiated in 2018 under the Global Atmospheric Passive Sampling (GAPS) Network named GAPS-Megacities. This study included 20 megacities/major cities across the globe with the goal of better understanding and comparing ambient air levels of persistent organic pollutants and other chemicals of emerging concern, to which humans residing in large cities are exposed. The first results from the initial period of sampling are reported for 19 cities for several classes of flame retardants (FRs) including organophosphate esters (OPEs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) including new flame retardants (NFRs), tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD). The two cities, New York (USA) and London (UK) stood out with ∼3.5 to 30 times higher total FR concentrations as compared to other major cities, with total concentrations of OPEs of 15,100 and 14,100 pg/m, respectively. Atmospheric concentrations of OPEs significantly dominated the FR profile at all sites, with total concentrations in air that were 2–5 orders of magnitude higher compared to other targeted chemical classes. A moderately strong and significant correlation (r = 0.625, p < 0.001) was observed for Gross Domestic Product index of the cities with total OPEs levels. Although large differences in FR levels were observed between some cities, when averaged across the five United Nations regions, the FR classes were more evenly distributed and varied by less than a factor of five. Results for Toronto, which is a ‘reference city’ for this study, agreed well with a more in-depth investigation of the level of FRs over different seasons and across eight sites representing different urban source sectors (e.g. traffic, industrial, residential and background). Future sampling periods under this project will investigate trace metals and other contaminant classes, linkages to toxicology, non-targeted analysis, and eventually temporal trends. The study provides a unique urban platform for evaluating global exposome.A global study across 20 megacities/major cities reporting urban air concentrations of flame retardants and plasticizers.Authors thank the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Chemicals Management Plan (CMP) for financial support. The worldwide implementation of the Global Monitoring Plan is made possible thanks to the generous contributions to the Stockholm Convention Voluntary Trust Fund from the Governments of Japan, Norway, Sweden, and through the European Commission’s Thematic Programme for Environment andSustainable Management of Natural Resources, including Energy (ENRTP). Further, the contribution of the projects to support POPs monitoring activities in regions, funded through the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM), is greatly acknowledged. Monitoring activities and data collection and analysis are implemented in the five UN regions in cooperation with strategic partners and through the involvement of Regional Organization Groups and Global Coordination Group. We also thank Yasuyuki Shibata and Yoshikatsu Takazawa (Tokyo, Japan); Juan Mu~noz-Arnanz (Madrid, Spain) and Dilek €Ozkan and Sinan Kızıltug (_Istanbul, Turkey) for their help and assistance in the sampling campaign