The Effects of Passive Integrated Transponder Tagging on Cortisol Release in the Gulf Killifish, Fundulus Grandis

Due to its ease of use, low cost, and essentially limitless number of unique codes, PIT tagging has become the favored technique for tagging individuals in biological studies. However, studies employing PIT tagging generally assume that stress due to the implantation and presence of a PIT tag has no influence on the experimental results. This study investigated the effects of PIT tagging on levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the Gulf Killifish, Fundulus grandis, an estuarine fish of the Gulf of Mexico that is prone to daily or seasonal environmental stressors. Cortisol was measured non-invasively by extracting and assaying cortisol excreted by individual fish into their aquarium water. This technique was optimized by acidifying water cortisol samples and processing them by Oasis HLB 1cc solid phase extraction columns. Measurements of cortisol were taken from water samples prior to, immediately after, and over four weeks after PIT tagging. Overall, there was no significant effect of PIT tagging on cortisol release by fish. There was, however, a significant increase in cortisol release by control non-tagged, as well as PIT tagged fish, immediately after handling, suggesting a stress effect of capture, brief emersion from water, or anesthesia. Cortisol release returned to control levels within one week of the procedure, suggesting that fish be allowed to recover one week after handling prior to other experimental manipulations. Future work will measure cortisol release by uniquely PIT tagged fish exposed to natural and anthropogenic stressors

Sublethal concentrations of waterborne copper induce cellular stress and cell death in zebrafish embryos and larvae

http://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0716-97602011000100002&lng=es&nrm=isoCopper is an essential ion that forms part of the active sites of many proteins. At the same time, an excess of this metal produces free radicals that are toxic for cells and organisms. Fish have been used extensively to study the effects of metals, including copper, present in food or the environment. It has been shown that different metals induce different adaptive responses in adult fish. However, until now, scant information has been available about the responses that are induced by waterborne copper during early life stages of fish. Here, acute toxicity tests and LC50 curves have been generated for zebrafish larvae exposed to dissolved copper sulphate at different concentrations and for different treatment times. We determined that the larvae incorporate and accumulate copper present in the medium in a concentration-dependent manner, resulting in changes in gene expression. Using a transgenic fish line that expresses enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) under the hsp70 promoter, we monitored tissue-specific stress responses to waterborne copper by following expression of the reporter. Furthermore, TUNEL assays revealed which tissues are more susceptible to cell death after exposure to copper. Our results establish a framework for the analysis of whole-organism management of excess external copper in developing aquatic animals

Emotional Intelligence and Self-Perceptions of Counseling Competency in Counselors in Training

The purpose of this quantitative study was to assess the relationship between Emotional Intelligence (EI) and counseling competency. Results indicated that CIT status was positively correlated with counseling skills and therapeutic conditions. Results further showed that CITs with higher EI had a higher self-perception of all components of counseling competency

Organizacion: Tecnicas e Instrumentos de Analisis y Diseño en la Elaboracion de Manuales de Procedimientos Administrativos

El presente trabajo de seminario de graduación para optar al título en licenciado en administración de empresa, en donde se presenta el tema de organización y su subtema las técnicas e instrumentos de análisis y diseño en la elaboración de manuales de procedimientos y administrativos. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo general el análisis de las técnicas e instrumentos de análisis y diseño en la elaboración de manuales de procedimientos y administrativos; como específicos se mencionará la metodología de los estudios de organización y métodos, la descripción de las generalidades de organización y métodos administrativos, la determinación de los instrumentos de análisis a los sistemas administrativos y la explicación de las técnicas para la elaboración de manuales de procedimientos y manuales administrativos. El presente trabajo de seminario consta de cuatro capítulos en donde se trata de abarcar todo lo fundamental del tema en estudio. El capítulo uno metodología de los estudios de organización y métodos con sus principales temarios tales como planificación del estudio, recopilación de información, análisis de información, elaboración y presentación del informe final, y la implementación y seguimiento. El capítulo dos organización y métodos administrativos, y sus tópicos tales como conceptos, origen de organización y métodos, funciones, ubicación dentro de la empresa, personal de organización y métodos, y los obstáculos y limitaciones de la organización y métodos. El capítulo tres instrumentos de análisis a los sistemas administrativos, en donde se abarca temarios primordiales tales como el enfoque de los sistemas administrativos en las organizaciones, análisis y diseño de la distribución del trabajo, análisis y diseño de procesos y procedimientos de trabajo, análisis y diseño de portadores de información, y por último análisis y diseño de disposición de oficinas. Y el capítulo cuatro elaboración de manuales de procedimientos y administrativos con sus dos principales temarios que son elaboración de manuales de procedimientos, y elaboración de manuales administrativos. Al final del informe se presentan conclusiones, así como también las distintas fuentes bibliográficas

Innovative Secure eVoting System

Recent elections have highlighted the need for a more robust and error proof method of counting votes. An increasing number of studies find that the currently available commercial electronic voting machines have multiple security flaws. The lax security and lack of redundancy can, and possibly has, illegally disenfranchised voters by the dropping or mis-recording of votes. This project attempts to build an electronic balloting system that corrects the shortcomings of competing systems. An open and redundant project would solve many of the problems. The eVoting project is based on a client-server network architecture comprised of multiple ballot machines networked to a server machine. System authentication security prevents the unauthorized addition of rogue systems into the network before or during the vote. Vote data are encrypted during transmission from machines to prevent network sniffing. Many current systems have no paper trail; the proposed system features physical vote printouts as a backup in addition to the separate encrypted databases. The proposed system is currently being constructed with the intent of deployment into an actual voting environment

Emotional Intelligence and Self-Perceptions of Counseling Competency in Counselors in Training

Counselor educators and regulatory boards continue to develop criteria to prepare counselors in training (CITs) for clinical practice. Despite the significant support they receive within the counseling course curriculum, some students lack the necessary counseling competency to succeed in the field experience component of their training. Emotional intelligence (EI) may be relevant in the ability of CITs to manage their emotions and relationships in personal, professional, and academic settings, but there is a lack of empirical evidence regarding the relationship between EI and counseling competence. The purpose of this quantitative study was to assess the relationship between EI and self-perception of counseling competency while controlling for CIT counseling status. A cross-sectional, correlational, nonexperimental quantitative study design was used. Purposive and snowball sampling were used to recruit 78 CITs in the United States. Participants completed an online survey containing items from the Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test and the Counseling Competency Skills-Revised. Results of hierarchical multiple regression analysis indicated that CIT status was positively correlated with counseling skills and therapeutic conditions. Results further showed that CITs with higher EI had a higher self-perception of all components of counseling competency, including counseling skills, therapeutic conditions, counseling dispositions, and behaviors. Counseling educators can implement EI labs for students who need additional support. Enhancing students’ ability to be aware of their own emotions and those of their clients may allow these emerging professionals to better facilitate therapeutic conditions and serve the public

Projeto de intervenção atuação da equipe de saúde da família no controle da melhoria da situação epidemiológica das doenças parasitárias na ESF - 2 em Feliz Deserto - Alagoas

O trabalho tem como objetivo propor um projeto de intervenção para controle e melhoria da situação epidemiológica em relação às doenças parasitaria intestinais na Unidade da ESF-2, Feliz Deserto, por meio da formulação de estratégias para diminuir os prejuízos da saúde da população. As enteroparasitoses são um problema de saúde pública a nível mundial que apresenta alta incidência e prevalência. A população atingida situa-se em uma região de baixo nível socioeconômico e precárias condições de saneamento básico fatores que favorecem o surgimento dessas doenças. Para o desenvolvimento do Plano de Intervenção foi utilizado o Método do Planejamento Estratégico Situacional e realizada pesquisa na Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde, com os descritores: parasitoses, saúde pública e prevenção. Com a realização deste trabalho pretendeu- se melhorar a situação epidemiológica da população da ESF-2 Feliz Deserto no que se refere à promoção e prevenção de saúde. Assim como tratamento adequado de doenças parasitarias

Plasmon-Enhanced Raman and Fluorescence Spectroscopy with Gold and Silver Nanoparticles

This thesis contains five major contributions to the field of plasmon-enhanced spectroscopy. We start with the report of a unique SERS study of the amino acid hydroxyproline and a deuterated analogue. Later, we move on to the exploration of a major new research path known as shell-isolated nanoparticle-enhanced fluorescence (SHINEF), consisting in the application of silica-shelled noble metal nanoparticles to achieve surface-enhanced fluorescence. The proof of concept of this technique is explained in one chapter. The two following chapters are devoted to the exploration of the plasmonic properties of SHINEF: spectral profile modification showing the close relationship between the observed enhanced fluorescence and the nanoparticle scattering. The SHIN particles are employed to experimentally prove the relationship between the SEF and SERS enhancement factors, theoretically predicted before, but never verified experimentally until now. The thesis ends with an investigation, in aqueous solutions, of several different factors that play a role in the origin of SEF, showing greater enhancement for SHINEF after inducing nanoparticle aggregation

Evolución y tendencias de la investigación científica en circuitos cortos de comercialización: análisis bibliométrico internacional.

Short Food Supply Chains (SFSCs) are forms of agrifood product circulation that have the aim of bringing together producers and consumers, promoting fair trade, and giving access to local foods. The study of SFSCs is a developing area of knowledge. The objective of the research was to perform a bibliometric analysis of the evolution and the current state of international scientific research on SFSCs and to identify trends and opportunities for research, specifically in Latin America. For this purpose, we carried a bibliometric analysis out, through the databases Dimensions and Redalyc, during the period of 2000 to 2021 and processed in the VOSviewer software. Results show a total of 253 documents and it was determined that Europe represents 67% of the research on SFSCs; however, a growing production of studies can be seen in North America and Latin America, primarily in case studies, which represent 25%. The areas of knowledge where there are more studies are the social sciences, administration and economy. The conclusion is that COVID-19, food security and agrifood policies are areas of opportunity for research linked to Short Food Supply Chains in Latin America.Los Circuitos Cortos de Comercialización (CCC) son formas de circulación de productos agroalimentarios que tienen como finalidad el acercamiento de productores y consumidores, la promoción del comercio justo y el acceso a alimentos locales. El estudio de los CCC es un área del conocimiento en desarrollo. El objetivo de la investigación es realizar un análisis bibliométrico sobre la evolución y el estado actual de la investigación científica internacional de los CCC e identificar las tendencias y oportunidades de investigación específicamente en Latinoamérica. Para ello, se realizó un análisis bibliométrico, mediante las bases de datos Dimensions y Redalyc, durante el periodo 2000 al 2021 y se procesaron en el software VOSwiever. Los resultados arrojan un total de 253 documentos y se determina que Europa representa el 67% de la investigación sobre CCC; no obstante, en América del Norte y América Latina se observa una creciente producción de investigaciones, principalmente en estudios de caso, las cuales representan el 25%. Las áreas del conocimiento donde hay mayores estudios son las ciencias sociales, la administración y la economía. Se concluye que Covid-19, seguridad alimentaria y políticas agroalimentarias son áreas de oportunidad para la investigación vinculada a los Circuitos Cortos de Comercialización en Latinoamérica

Comparison of upper respiratory viral load distributions in asymptomatic and symptomatic children diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection in pediatric hospital testing programs

The distribution of upper respiratory viral loads (VL) in asymptomatic children infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is unknown. We assessed PCR cycle threshold (Ct) values and estimated VL in infected asymptomatic children diagnosed in nine pediatric hospital testing programs. Records for asymptomatic and symptomatic patients with positive clinical SARS-CoV-2 tests were reviewed. Ct values were (i) adjusted by centering each value around the institutional median Ct value from symptomatic children tested with that assay and (ii) converted to estimated VL (numbers of copies per milliliter) using internal or manufacturer data. Adjusted Ct values and estimated VL for asymptomatic versus symptomatic children (118 asymptomatic versus 197 symptomatic children aged 0 to 4 years, 79 asymptomatic versus 97 symptomatic children aged 5 to 9 years, 69 asymptomatic versus 75 symptomatic children aged 10 to 13 years, 73 asymptomatic versus 109 symptomatic children aged 14 to 17 years) were compared. The median adjusted Ct value for asymptomatic children was 10.3 cycles higher than for symptomatic children