Relações Água-Rocha e a Hidrogeoquímica do Cromo na Água Subterrânea de Poços de Monitoramento Multiníveis de Urânia, SP, Brasil

Teores anômalos e naturais de cromo ocorrem nas águas subterrâneas do Aquífero Adamantina no município de Urânia (SP) e em uma ampla região do oeste do Estado de São Paulo, algumas vezes ultrapassando o limite de potabilidade (0,05 mg.L-1). Visando identificar as possíveis reações geoquímicas que justificam a ocorrência do cromo na água subterrânea em Urânia, foram realizadas perfurações com coleta de amostras contínuas de rocha para a condução de análises mineralógicas e químicas, construídos poços de monitoramento multiníveis e realizadas coletas e análises de amostras estratificadas de água subterrânea. Análises das amostras de testemunhos de sondagem indicaram a ocorrência de uma anomalia geoquímica de cromo (concentrações médias de 221 ppm), sendo o diopsídio cromífero provavelmente o mineral geoquimicamente mais reativo que contribui para esta anomalia, apresentando concentrações de cromo de 1.000 a 6.000 ppm. As análises químicas de amostras de água coletadas dos poços de monitoramento indicaram uma estratificação hidroquímica do aquífero: águas na base do aquífero apresentam pH anomalamente alcalino (superior a 10), enquanto águas mais rasas possuem pH neutro a ligeiramente ácido. O cromo ocorre predominantemente na forma hexavalente e alcança concentrações máximas de 0,13 mg.L-1. As reações geoquímicas que explicam a passagem do cromo da fase sólida para a água provavelmente envolvem a dissolução de minerais contendo Cr3+ (diopsídios), seguida de uma reação redox que oxida o Cr3+ para o Cr6+, provavelmente relacionada com a redução de óxidos de manganês presentes no aquífero. Adicionalmente, devem também ocorrer reações de adsorção, sendo que os ambientes de pH elevados favorecem a dessorção e mobilização do Cr6+ para a águaAnomalous natural concentrations of chromium, sometimes exceeding the potability limit (0.05 mg.L-1), have been detected in the groundwater of Adamantina Aquifer in the municipality of Urânia, and in a wide region of the western part of the State of São Paulo. In order to identify the possible geochemical reactions that may explain the occurrence of chromium in groundwater, chemical and mineralogical analyses were conducted in rock samples collected from deep boreholes drilled in the city of Urânia. Multilevel monitoring wells were installed in the boreholes, and stratified groundwater samples were collected for chemical analyses. The analyses of the borehole samples indicated the occurrence of a geochemical anomaly of chromium (average concentrations of 221 ppm) and pointed to chrome-diopside containing from 1,000 to 6,000 ppm Cr as the main reactive mineral that contributes to this anomaly. Groundwater chemical analyses indicated the occurrence of a hydrochemical stratification of the aquifer: waters from the base of the aquifer are alkaline (pH higher than 10) whereas in the shallow zone of the aquifer, pH is neutral to mildly acid. Chromium has been identified in its hexavalent form, and prevails in the aquifer, reaching the maximum concentration of 0.13 mg.L-1. The geochemical reactions that explain the release of chromium from the solid phase to the water probably involve the dissolution of Cr3+ minerals such as diopside, followed by a redox reaction that oxidizes Cr3+ to Cr6+ and reduces manganese oxide minerals. Additionally, adsorption reactions may take place, and desorption and mobilization of Cr6+ may be favored in some portions of the deep aquifer where pH is anomalously alkalin

Validation of a global scale to assess the quality of interprofessional teamwork in mental health settings

BACKGROUND: Few scales currently exist to assess the quality of interprofessional teamwork through team members' perceptions of working together in mental health settings. AIMS: The purpose of this study was to revise and validate an interprofessional scale to assess the quality of teamwork in inpatient psychiatric units and to use it multi-nationally. METHODS: A literature review was undertaken to identify evaluative teamwork tools and develop an additional 12 items to ensure a broad global focus. Focus group discussions considered adaptation to different care systems using subjective judgements from 11 participants in a pre-test of items. Data quality, construct validity, reproducibility, and internal consistency were investigated in the survey using an international comparative design. RESULTS: Exploratory factor analysis yielded five factors with 21 items: 'patient/community centred care', 'collaborative communication', 'interprofessional conflict', 'role clarification', and 'environment'. High overall internal consistency, reproducibility, adequate face validity, and reasonable construct validity were shown in the USA and Japan. CONCLUSIONS: The revised Collaborative Practice Assessment Tool (CPAT) is a valid measure to assess the quality of interprofessional teamwork in psychiatry and identifies the best strategies to improve team performance. Furthermore, the revised scale will generate more rigorous evidence for collaborative practice in psychiatry internationally

Insulin-like growth factor 1 modulates bioengineered tooth morphogenesis

Regenerative therapy to replace missing teeth is a critical area of research. Functional bioengineered teeth have been produced by the organ germ method using mouse tooth germ cells. However, these bioengineered teeth are significantly smaller in size and exhibit an abnormal crown shape when compared with natural teeth. The proper sizes and shapes of teeth contribute to their normal function. Therefore, a method is needed to control the morphology of bioengineered teeth. Here, we investigated whether insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) can regulate the sizes and shapes of bioengineered teeth, and assessed underlying mechanisms of such regulation. IGF1 treatment significantly increased the size of bioengineered tooth germs, while preserving normal tooth histology. IGF1-treated bioengineered teeth, which were developed from bioengineered tooth germs in subrenal capsules and jawbones, showed increased sizes and cusp numbers. IGF1 increased the number of fibroblast growth factor (Fgf4)-expressing enamel knots in bioengineered tooth germs and enhanced the proliferation and differentiation of dental epithelial and mesenchymal cells. This study is the first to reveal that IGF1 increases the sizes and cusp numbers of bioengineered teeth via the induction of enamel knot formation, as well as the proliferation and differentiation of dental epithelial and mesenchymal cells

精神科における多職種チームに関する評価尺度の開発と妥当性の検討

Currently, no evaluative scale exists to assess the quality of interprofessional teamwork in mental health settings across the globe. As a result, little is known about the detailed process of team development within this setting. The purpose of this study is to develop and validate a global interprofessional scale that assesses teamwork in mental health settings using an international comparative study based in Japan and the United States. This report provides a description of this study and reports progress made to date. Specifically, it outlines work on literature reviews to identify evaluative teamwork tools as well as identify relevant teamwork models and theories. It also outlines plans for empirical work that will be undertaken in both Japan and the United States.首都大学東京学位論文乙第146号 副論

Increased prostaglandin e2 has a positive correlation with plasma calcium during goldfish reproduction

We recently demonstrated that prostaglandin E2 PG¿ increases osteoclastic activity and induces bone resorption in both in vitro and in vivo experiments using goldfish. In the fish reproductive period, the plasma calcium (Ca) level in female teleosts increases remarkably to make vitellogenin, which is a major component of egg protein and a Ca-binding protein. In this period, however, there is no reported relationship between PGE2 and Ca metabolism in fish. To clarify the Ca metabolism in fish reproduction, we examined plasma PGE2 and Ca levels and measured tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activities as an indicator of osteoclastic activity in goldfish. Plasma PGE2 levels in the reproductive stage significantly increased as compared with those in non-reproductive stages. Also, both plasma Ca and TRAP increased in the reproductive stage. Significant positive correlations were recognized between plasma Ca and the gonad somatic index (r=0.81, p<0.001), plasma Ca and plasma PGE2 levels (r=0.635, p<0.05), and plasma Ca and plasma TRAP activities (r=0.584, p<0.05) from the analysis using samples of both reproductive and nonreproductive stages. Taking these data into consideration, we suggested that PGE, acts on osteoclasts and increases plasma Ca as a result of osteoclastic bone resorption, and we concluded that PGE, is an important hormone in Ca metabolism during fish reproduction

Seawater Polluted with Highly Concentrated Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Suppresses Osteoblastic Activity in the Scales of Goldfish, Carassius auratus

We have developed an original in vitro bioassay using teleost scale, that has osteoclasts, osteoblasts, and bone matrix as each marker: alkaline phosphatase (ALP) for osteoblasts and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) for osteoclasts. Using this scale in vitro bioassay, we examined the effects of seawater polluted with highly concentrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and nitro-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (NPAHs) on osteoblastic and osteoclastic activities in the present study. Polluted seawater was collected from two sites (the Alexandria site on the Mediterranean Sea and the Suez Canal site on the Red Sea). Total levels of PAHs in the seawater from the Alexandria and Suez Canal sites were 1364.59 and 992.56 ng/l, respectively. We were able to detect NPAHs in both seawater samples. Total levels of NPAHs were detected in the seawater of the Alexandria site (12.749 ng/l) and the Suez Canal site (3.914 ng/l). Each sample of polluted seawater was added to culture medium at dilution rates of 50, 100, and 500, and incubated with the goldfish scales for 6 hrs. Thereafter, ALP and TRAP activities were measured. ALP activity was significantly suppressed by both polluted seawater samples diluted at least 500 times, but TRAP activity did not change. In addition, mRNA expressions of osteoblastic markers (ALP, osteocalcin, and the receptor activator of the NF-κB ligand) decreased significantly, as did the ALP enzyme activity. In fact, ALP activity decreased on treatment with PAHs and NPAHs. We conclude that seawater polluted with highly concentrated PAHs and NPAHs influences bone metabolism in teleosts. © 2016 Zoological Society of Japan.Embargo Period 12 month

Seismic exploration at Fuji volcano with active sources : The outline of the experiment and the arrival time data

Fuji volcano (altitude 3,776m) is the largest basaltic stratovolcano in Japan. In late August and early September 2003, seismic exploration was conducted around Fuji volcano by the detonation of 500 kg charges of dynamite to investigate the seismic structure of that area. Seismographs with an eigenfrequency of 2 Hz were used for observation, positioned along a WSW-ENE line passing through the summit of the mountain. A total of 469 seismic stations were installed at intervals of 250-500 m. The data were stored in memory on-site using data loggers. The sampling interval was 4 ms. Charges were detonated at 5 points, one at each end of the observation line and 3 along its length. The first arrival times and the later-phase arrival times at each station for each detonation were recorded as data. P-wave velocities in the surface layer were estimated from the travel time curves near the explosion points, with results of 2.5 km/s obtained for the vicinity of Fuji volcano and 4.0 km5/s elsewhere

Domain Motion in 3-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase: A Strategy to Enhance its Thermal Stability

In order to elucidate the thermal properties of Thermus thermophilus 3-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase, mutant structures with mutations at the C-terminus were compared with each other. The structural movement can be anticipated from the structural changes among mutants in regions of a minor groove and pillar. Our previous studies revealed that the open-close movement of the active site groove antagonizes to that of the minor groove (like a paperclip) and the thermostability of the enzyme increases when the active site groove is closed. In the present study, it is shown that the motion of the enzyme mainly occurs in the first domain and strand D in the pillar structure is a hinge-bending region of the movement. The motion of the first domain to expand the minor groove may close the active site groove suggesting a mechanism for the enhanced thermal stability of 3-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase