Photodegradation of sulfamethoxazole in environmental samples: the role of pH, organic matter and salinity

Sulfamethoxazole (SMX) is the most representative antibiotic of the sulfonamides group used in both human and veterinary medicine, and thus frequently detected in water resources. This has caused special concern due to the pronounced toxicity and potential to foster bacterial resistance of this drug. Therefore, and to further understand the fate of SMX in the aquatic environment, its photodegradation under simulated solar radiation was here studied in ultrapure water and in different environmental samples, namely estuarine water, freshwater and wastewater. SMX underwent very fast photodegradation in ultrapure water, presenting a half-life time (t1/2) of 0.86 h. However, in environmental samples, the SMX photodegradation rate was much slower, with 5.4 h < t1/2 < 7.8 h. The main novelty of this work was to prove that pH, salinity and dissolved organic matter are determinant factors in the decrease of the SMX photodegradation rate observed in environmental samples and, thus, they will influence the SMX fate and persistence, potentially increasing the risks associated to the presence of this pollutant in the environment.publishe

3D-printed functional cookies fortified with A. platensis: evaluation of its antioxidant potential and physicalchemical characterisation

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

El panorama educativo de la era digital: prácticas comunicativas que (nos) impulsan hacia adelante

En este artículo, se identificarán algunos modelos y tendencias emergentes en la producción de conocimiento. Se hará hincapié especialmente en cómo los individuos implicados en los procesos de consumo y de distribución de la información expresan diferentes niveles de solidaridad y de compromiso, y se sugerirá que es crucial que las personas no solo conozcan estos procesos, sino que también estén abiertas a otros modelos, oportunidades y posibilidades que, dadas las condiciones sociotecnológicas y comunicativas actuales, aún deben desarrollarse. Se abordará con especial interés el ámbito de la educación, puesto que se entiende que los educadores están participando de forma comprometida en una profunda renovación pedagógica a través de proyectos compartidos cimentados en interacciones profesionales y personales facilitadas por las redes. Estas interacciones favorecen la emergencia de modelos pedagógicos que permiten a profesores y a alumnos convertirse en expertos al mismo tiempo que rompen con muchas convenciones epistemológicas clásicas. Estas pedagogías generadas de abajo arriba no solo fomentan la creatividad y la colaboración, y se sustentan en el uso de nuevas herramientas digitales, sino que las promueven e impulsan los intereses del alumnado, y por ello, tienen el potencial suficiente para devolverle la alegría al proceso de aprendizaje. Por último, se argumentará que los modelos emergentes en la construcción del conocimiento a través de las TIC ofrecen nuevos paisajes culturales y ecologías de aprendizaje que trastocan las inscripciones tradicionales de las identidades individuales y las afinidades raciales y culturales.This paper identifies trends in the emerging models of knowledge production available in our society. We suggest it is crucial not only to be aware of these emerging models but also to be open to opportunities and possibilities that may still develop. We consider how people may express different levels of solidarity and commitment to these trends and models in their information consumption and distribution processes. We discuss how educators are now engaging in profound pedagogical renewal by expressing deeper levels of solidarity and commitment to knowledge production and educational projects through professional and personal interactions. These interactions are producing pedagogical models that allow both teachers and learners to become knowledgeable while simultaneously breaking away from domain conventions. These bottom-up pedagogies foster creativity, collaboration and the use of new digital tools. They are driven by learner interests and, as such, have the potential to bring the joy back into the learning process. Finally, we argue that emerging models of knowledge construction mediated by ICT provide new cultural landscapes and ecologies of learning that disrupt traditional inscriptions of individual identities and racial-cultural affinities

Producing magnetic nanocomposites from paper sludge for the adsorptive removal of pharmaceuticals from water: a fractional factorial design

In view of a simple after-use separation, the potentiality of producing magnetic activated carbon (MAC) by intercalation of ferromagnetic metal oxide nanoparticles in the framework of a powder activated carbon (PAC) produced from primary paper sludge was explored in this work. The synthesis conditions to produce cost effective and efficient MACs for the adsorptive removal of pharmaceuticals (amoxicillin, carbamazepine, and diclofenac) from aqueous media were evaluated. For this purpose, a fractional factorial design (FFD) was applied to assess the effect of the most significant variables (Fe3+ to Fe2+ salts ratio, PAC to iron salts ratio, temperature, and pH), on the following responses concerning the resulting MACs: Specific surface area (SBET), saturation magnetization (Ms), and adsorption percentage of amoxicillin, carbamazepine, and diclofenac. The statistical analysis revealed that the PAC to iron salts mass ratio was the main factor affecting the considered responses. A quadratic linear regression model A = f(SBET, Ms) was adjusted to the FFD data, allowing to differentiate four of the eighteen MACs produced. These MACs were distinguished by being easily recovered from aqueous phase using a permanent magnet (Ms of 22-27 emu g-1), and their high SBET (741-795 m2 g-1) were responsible for individual adsorption percentages ranging between 61% and 84% using small MAC doses (35 mg L-1).publishe

The Theoretical Description for the Perylaldehyde Aldoxyme Anodic Electrochemical Determination, Assisted by the Novel Squaraine Dye Composite with Copper(ii) Sulfide Nanoparticles

In this work the perillaldehyde aldoxime electrochemical determination on an anode, modified by squaraine dye composite with copper sulfide nanoparticles is analyzed. The electroanalytical process involves the formation of trivalent copper species, capable to oxidize the analyte by two parallel mechanisms. The correspondent mathematical model, correspondent to both of them, has been developed and analyzed by means of linear stability theory and bifurcation analysis. The model analysis clearly shows that the composite of a squaraine dye in organic phase and bivalent copper sulfide in the inorganic phase may be an efficient electrode modifier for perillaldehyde aldoxime electrochemical determination on an anode. The electroanalytical process will be mostly kinetically-controlled with the possibility of the transfer to diffusion-controlled mode. On the other hand, both oscillatory and monotonic instabilities may be realized in the electroanalytical process, and their probability will depend on the direction of the electroanalytical scenario in the concrete conditions, due to the possibility of the formation of ionic compounds in the pre-surface layer. DOI:&nbsp;http://dx.doi.org/10.17807/orbital.v13i5.150

Circulating small non-coding RNAs provide new insights into vitamin K nutrition and reproductive physiology in teleost fish

Background: Vitamin K (VK) is a fat-soluble vitamin known for its essential role in blood coagulation, but also on other biological processes (e.g. reproduction, brain and bone development) have been recently suggested. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms behind its particular function on reproduction are not yet fully understood. Methods: The potential role of VK on reproduction through nutritional supplementation in Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) was assessed by gonadal maturation and 11-ketosterone, testosterone and estriol plasma levels when fed with control or VK supplemented (1250 mg kg(-1) of VK,) diets along a six month trial. At the end, sperm production and quality (viability and DNA fragmentation) were evaluated. Circulating small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) in blood plasma from males were also studied through RNA-Seq. Results: Fish fed with dietary VK supplementation had increased testosterone levels and lower sperm DNA fragmentation. SncRNAs from blood plasma were found differentially expressed when nutritional and sperm quality conditions were compared. PiR-675//676//4794//5462 and piR-74614 were found up-regulated in males fed with dietary VK supplementation. Let-7g, let-7e(18nt), let-7a-1, let-7a-3//7a-2//7a-1, let-7e(23nt) and piR-675//676//4794//5462 were found to be up-regulated and miR-146a and miR-146a-1//146a-2//146a-3 down-regulated when fish with low and high sperm DNA fragmentation were compared. Bioinformatic analyses of predicted mRNAs targeted by sncRNAs revealed the potential underlying pathways. Conclusions: VK supplementation improves fish gonad maturation and sperm quality, suggesting an unexpected and complex regulation of the nutritional status and reproductive performance through circulating sncRNAs. General significance: The use of circulating sncRNAs as reliable and less-invasive physiological biomarkers in fish nutrition and reproduction has been unveiled.European Regional Development Funds (ERDF) through the Portuguese "Programa Operational" (PROMAR)European Union (EU) [31-03-05-FEP-0073]COST Office (Food and Agriculture COST Action) [FA1205: AQUAGAMETE]network LARVAplus "Estrategias de desarrollo y mejora de la production de larvas de peces en Iberoamerica" - Programa Iberoamericano de Ciencia y Tecnologia para el Desarrollo (CYTED) [117RT0521]CYTED [318RT0549][CCMAR/SC/BPD/09/2016]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

THE THEORETICAL DESCRIPTION FOR ECOPIPAM ELECTROCHEMICAL DETERMINATION ON A COBALT(III) OXYHYDROXIDE-BASED MATERIAL

The theoretical description for ecopipam electrochemical determination, assisted by cobalt(III) oxyhydroxide has been given. The correspondent mathematical model has been developed and analyzed by means of linear stability theory and bifurcation analysis. It has been shown that, despite of the electrochemical instabilities, more probable to occur than for the similar systems, the cobalt (III) oxyhydroxide is an efficient electrode modifier for ecopipam determination. The electroanalytical process is diffusion-controlled

SUCRALOSE CoO(OH)-ASSISTED ELECTROCHEMICAL DETECTION IN ALKALINE MEDIA. THE THEORETICAL ANALYSIS OF AN INTERESTING POSSIBILITY

The sucralose electrochemical determination, assisted by cobalt (III) oxyhydroxide, has been theoretically evaluated. The mathematical model, describing the electroanalytical process, has been developed. The analysis of the model by linear stability theory and bifurcation analysis has shown that CoO(OH) may be applied as an efficient electrode modifier in the sucralose determination in neutral and lightly alkaline media. The electrochemical response has to be clear and easy to interpret. The oscillatory and monotonic instabilities may occur due to double electric layer influences of the electrochemical process

Effects of testosterone and exercise training on bone microstructure of rats

[EN] Background and Aim: Male hypogonadism results from failure to produce physiological levels of testosterone. Testosterone in men is essential in masculine development, sperm production, and adult man’s health. Osteoporosis is one of the consequences of hypogonadism. Regular physical exercise and exogenous testosterone administration are frequently used to prevent or treat this condition. This study aimed to understand the effects of lifelong exercise training and testosterone levels (isolated and together) in the main bone structure parameters. Materials and Methods: A total of 24 rats were used and randomly divided into four groups: Control group (CG; n=6), exercised group (EG, n=6), testosterone group (TG, n=6), and testosterone EG (TEG, n=6). A micro-computed tomography equipment was used to evaluate 15 bone parameters. Results: Both factors (exercise training and testosterone) seem to improve the bone resistance and microstructure, although in different bone characteristics. Testosterone influenced trabecular structure parameters, namely, connectivity density, trabecular number, and trabecular space. The exercise promoted alterations in bone structure as well, although, in most cases, in different bone structure parameters as bone mineral density and medullar mineral density. Conclusion: Overall, exercise and testosterone therapy seems to have a synergistic contribution to the general bone structure and resistance. Further studies are warranted, comparing different individual factors, as gender, lifestyle, or testosterone protocols, to constantly improve the medical management of hypogonadism (and osteoporosis)SIWe thank to Eva Pascual de la Calle y Vanessa Loredo López, from Unidad de Imagen PreclínicaBioterio, Universidad de Oviedo. This study was supported by National Funds by FCT – Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, under the projects UIDB/04033/2020, UIDB/CVT/00772/2020 and the Ph.D. grant 2021.04520.B