Combined effects of landscape composition and agrochemicals on frog communities amid sugarcane-dominated agroecosystems.

Global demand for crops will continue increasing over the next few decades to cover both food and biofuel needs. This demand will put further pressure to expand arable land and replace natural habitats. However, we are only beginning to understand the combined effects of agrochemicals and land-use change on tropical freshwater biodiversity. In this study, we analyzed how pond-dwelling anuran larvae responded to pond characteristics, landscape composition, and agrochemical contamination in a sugarcane-dominated agroecosystem in Brazil. Then we used an information theoretical approach with generalized linear models to relate species richness and abundance to predictor variables. The variation in tadpole abundance was associated with both agrochemical concentration (e.g., ametryn, diuron, and malathion) and landscape variables (e.g., percentage of forest, percentage of agriculture, and distance to closest forest). The relationship between species abundance and agrochemicals was species-specific. For example, the abundances of Scinax fuscovarius and Physalaemus nattereri were negatively associated with ametryn, and Dendropsophus nanus was negatively associated with tebuthiuron, whereas that of Leptodactylus fuscus was positively associated with malathion. Conversely, species richness was associated with distance to forest fragments and aquatic vegetation heterogeneity, but not agrochemicals. Although we were unable to assign a specific mechanism to the variation in tadpole abundance based on field observations, the lower abundance of three species in ponds with high concentrations of agrochemicals suggest they negatively impact some frog species inhabiting agroecosystems. We recommend conserving ponds near forest fragments, with abundant stratified vegetation, and far from agrochemical runoffs to safeguard more sensitive pond-breeding species.

Impact of Cooperative Learning and Project-Based Learning through Emotional Intelligence: A Comparison of Methodologies for Implementing SDGs.

Education for sustainable development (ESD) is a holistic and transformative form of education that seeks action-oriented pedagogy using self-directed learning, participation, and collaboration, among other aspects, and is suitable for developing active methodologies. Since affective-emotional aspects can contribute in the teaching-learning process, this work studies, through a case study, the comparison of the influence of two active methodologies: Cooperative Learning (CL) and Project-Based Learning (PBL) in student emotions and learning processes, as well as their awareness of ESD. For that purpose, a survey was conducted at the fourth secondary level in the science laboratory, subjected to the innovation project e-WORLD, which developed the content of the 7 and 13 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from the 2030 Agenda. Results of ANOVA and Tukey's tests carried out showed that both methodologies improved skills and knowledge related to climate change and energy, and triggered major positive emotions in students. Furthermore, CL allowed students to acquire more individual and group responsibility than communication skills developed with PBL. It is necessary to continue working on the involvement of students in these methodologies in order to improve their social skills and to reveal life changes towards more socio-sustainable ones.

Clinical and metabolic effect of a multidisciplinary intervention through a comprehensive care program for children and adolescents with obesity / [Efecto clínico y metabólico de una intervención multidisciplinaria en el marco de un programa de atención integral para niños y adolescentes con obesidad].

Introduction: The approach to childhood obesity requires multidisciplinary programs including all the dimensions susceptible to management. Objective: To describe the clinical and metabolic changes in patients with obesity after a comprehensive care program for childhood obesity. Materials and methods: We conducted a retrospective observational and analytical study in a cohort of patients between 6 and 17 years old treated in the obesity program at the Hospital Universitario San Vicente Fundación (2012-2015). We carried out multidisciplinary care and educational intervention. Anthropometric and laboratory variables were evaluated both at admission to the program and in the last evaluation and statistical differences were sought according to the follow-up time. Results: We evaluated 53 patients, of whom 52.8% were men, with an average age of 11 ± 2 years. The follow-up extended for 18 ± 6 months though 30% of the patients were followed for 31 to 36 months. There was a decrease in the BMI (Z score) between admission (2.75 ± 0.58 and the last control (2.32 ± 0.63) with a p-value of 0.000 (95% CI: 0.27 -0.58); 79.25% of the patients reduced the BMI Z score. This decrease was significant regardless of the follow-up time. The proportion of patients with a BMI Z score >3 decreased from 33.4% to 14.6%. The number of positive criteria for metabolic syndrome decreased in the follow-up. Triglycerides and HbA1c were the metabolic variables that improved significantly. Conclusions: The management of childhood obesity with an interdisciplinary intervention associated with continuous group educational support can significantly impact on clinical and metabolic changes. It is necessary to continue monitoring over time to prevent relapse.

Introducción. La obesidad infantil requiere una atención con programas multidisciplinarios que integren todas sus dimensiones. Objetivo. Describir los cambios clínicos y metabólicos en pacientes con obesidad después de su participación en un programa de atención integral en obesidad infantil. Materiales y métodos. Se hizo un estudio observacional y analítico retrospectivo de una cohorte de pacientes de 6 a 17 años de edad atendidos en el programa de obesidad del Hospital Universitario de San Vicente Fundación (2012-2015), el cual incluyó la atención multidisciplinaria y una intervención educativa. Se evaluaron variables antropométricas y de laboratorio en el momento del ingreso al programa y en la última evaluación. Se exploraron las diferencias según el tiempo de seguimiento. Resultados. Se evaluaron 53 pacientes con una edad promedio de 11 ± 2 años, 52,8 % de los cuales eran hombres. El seguimiento de los pacientes fue de 18 ± 6 meses, aunque en el 30 % de ellos fue de 31 a 36 meses. Se encontró una disminución del índice de masa corporal (IMC; puntaje Z) entre el ingreso (2,75 ± 0,58) y el último control (2,32 ± 0,63) con un valor de p de 0,000 (IC95% 0,27-0,58). El 79,25 % de los pacientes redujo el puntaje Z del IMC. Esta disminución fue significativa independientemente del tiempo de seguimiento. La proporción de pacientes con un puntaje Z del IMC mayor de 3 pasó del 33,4 al 14,6 %. El número de criterios positivos para el síndrome metabólico disminuyó en el seguimiento. Los niveles de triglicéridos y de hemoglobina 'glicada' o 'glicosilada' (HbA1c) mejoraron significativamente. Conclusiones. El manejo de la obesidad infantil con una intervención multidisciplinaria asociada a apoyo educativo grupal continuo puede influir significativamente en los cambios clínicos y metabólicos. Es necesario prolongar el tiempo de seguimiento para prevenir las recaídas.

Efecto clínico y metabólico de una intervención multidisciplinaria en el marco de un programa de atención integral para niños y adolescentes con obesidad / Clinical and metabolic effect of a multidisciplinary intervention through a comprehensive care program for children and adolescents with obesity

Introducción. La obesidad infantil requiere una atención con programas multidisciplinarios que integren todas sus dimensiones. Objetivo. Describir los cambios clínicos y metabólicos en pacientes con obesidad después de su participación en un programa de atención integral en obesidad infantil. Materiales y métodos. Se hizo un estudio observacional y analítico retrospectivo de una cohorte de pacientes de 6 a 17 años de edad atendidos en el programa de obesidad del Hospital Universitario de San Vicente Fundación (2012-2015), el cual incluyó la atención multidisciplinaria y una intervención educativa. Se evaluaron variables antropométricas y de laboratorio en el momento del ingreso al programa y en la última evaluación. Se exploraron las diferencias según el tiempo de seguimiento. Resultados. Se evaluaron 53 pacientes con una edad promedio de 11 ± 2 años, 52,8 % de los cuales eran hombres. El seguimiento de los pacientes fue de 18 ± 6 meses, aunque en el 30 % de ellos fue de 31 a 36 meses. Se encontró una disminución del índice de masa corporal (IMC; puntaje Z) entre el ingreso (2,75 ± 0,58) y el último control (2,32 ± 0,63) con un valor de p de 0,000 (IC95% 0,27-0,58). El 79,25 % de los pacientes redujo el puntaje Z del IMC. Esta disminución fue significativa independientemente del tiempo de seguimiento. La proporción de pacientes con un puntaje Z del IMC mayor de 3 pasó del 33,4 al 14,6 %. El número de criterios positivos para el síndrome metabólico disminuyó en el seguimiento. Los niveles de triglicéridos y de hemoglobina A1c (HbA1c) mejoraron significativamente. Conclusiones. El manejo de la obesidad infantil con una intervención multidisciplinaria asociada a apoyo educativo grupal continuo puede influir significativamente en los cambios clínicos y metabólicos. Es necesario prolongar el tiempo de seguimiento para prevenir las recaídas.

Introduction: The approach to childhood obesity requires multidisciplinary programs including all the dimensions susceptible to management. Objective: To describe the clinical and metabolic changes in patients with obesity after a comprehensive care program for childhood obesity. Materials and methods: We conducted a retrospective observational and analytical study in a cohort of patients between 6 and 17 years old treated in the obesity program at the Hospital Universitario San Vicente Fundación (2012-2015). We carried out multidisciplinary care and educational intervention. Anthropometric and laboratory variables were evaluated both at admission to the program and in the last evaluation and statistical differences were sought according to the follow-up time. Results: We evaluated 53 patients, of whom 52.8% were men, with an average age of 11 ± 2 years. The follow-up extended for 18 ± 6 months though 30% of the patients were followed for 31 to 36 months. There was a decrease in the BMI (Z score) between admission (2.75 ± 0.58 and the last control (2.32 ± 0.63) with a p-value of 0.000 (95% CI: 0.27 -0.58); 79.25% of the patients reduced the BMI Z score. This decrease was significant regardless of the follow-up time. The proportion of patients with a BMI Z score >3 decreased from 33.4% to 14.6%. The number of positive criteria for metabolic syndrome decreased in the follow-up. Triglycerides and HbA1c were the metabolic variables that improved significantly. Conclusions: The management of childhood obesity with an interdisciplinary intervention associated with continuous group educational support can significantlyimpact on clinical and metabolic changes. It is necessary to continue monitoring over time to prevent relapse.

Solid and Aqueous Speciation of Yttrium in Passive Remediation Systems of Acid Mine Drainage.

Yttrium belongs to the rare earth elements (REEs) together with lanthanides and scandium. REEs are commonly used in modern technologies, and their limited supply has made it necessary to look for new alternative resources. Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a potential resource since it is moderately enriched in REEs. In fact, in passive remediation systems, which are implemented to minimize the environmental impacts of AMD, REEs are mainly retained in basaluminite, an aluminum hydroxysulfate precipitate. In this study, the solid and liquid speciation and the local structure of yttrium are studied in high-sulfate aqueous solutions, basaluminite standards, and samples from remediation columns using synchrotron-based techniques and molecular modeling. Pair distribution function (PDF) analyses and ab initio molecular dynamics density functional theory models of the yttrium sulfate solution show that the YSO4+ ion pair forms a monodentate inner-sphere complex. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and PDF analyses show that Y is retained by basaluminite, forming a monodentate inner-sphere surface complex on the aluminum hydroxide surface. EXAFS of the column samples shows that more than 72% of their signal is represented by the signal of basaluminite with which YSO4+ forms an inner-sphere complex. The atomic view of the REE configuration in AMD environments could facilitate a deeper research of REE recovery from waste generated in AMD remediation systems.

Are oral deformities in tadpoles accurate indicators of anuran chytridiomycosis?

We evaluated the use of oral deformities as reliable proxies for determining Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) infection in tadpoles of six anuran species of the Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil. We examined oral discs of 2156 tadpoles of six species of anurans collected in 2016: Aplastodiscus albosignatus, Boana albopunctata, Boana faber, Scinax hayii, Crossodactylus caramaschii, and Physalaemus cuvieri. Three oral deformities were recognized: lack of keratinization only in upper and/or lower jaw sheaths, lack of keratinization only in upper or lower tooth rows, and both deformities together. A subsample composed of all the individuals possessing oral deformities (N = 195) plus randomly selected individuals without oral deformities (N = 184) were tested for Bd via qPCR. Oral deformities were observed in all six species, but only five were infected with Bd. Since we found that dekeratinization of tooth rows was not associated with the presence of Bd in any of the studied species we used a new proxy (jaw sheaths dekeratinization with or without dekeratinization in tooth rows: JSD-proxy) for Bd detection. Our results showed a nonrandom relationship between Bd infection and JSD-proxy in three species of the family Hylidae. However, the use of JSD-proxy for Bd detection in these species resulted in up to 30.8% false positives and up to 29.3% false negatives. The use of the JSD-proxy in species for which no relationship was found reached 100% of false positives. We conclude that the use of oral dekeratinization as a generalized proxy for Bd detection in tadpoles should not be used as a single diagnosis technique.

Recovery of Rare Earth Elements and Yttrium from Passive-Remediation Systems of Acid Mine Drainage.

Rare earth elements and yttrium (REY) are raw materials of increasing importance for modern technologies, and finding new sources has become a pressing need. Acid mine drainage (AMD) is commonly considered an environmental pollution issue. However, REY concentrations in AMD can be several orders of magnitude higher than in naturally occurring water bodies. With respect to shale standards, the REY distribution pattern in AMD is enriched in intermediate and valuable REY, such as Tb and Dy. The objective of the present work is to study the behavior of REY in AMD passive-remediation systems. Traditional AMD passive remediation systems are based on the reaction of AMD with calcite-based permeable substrates followed by decantation ponds. Experiments with two columns simulating AMD treatment demonstrate that schwertmannite does not accumulate REY, which, instead, are retained in the basaluminite residue. The same observation is made in two field-scale treatments from the Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB, southwest Spain). On the basis of the amplitude of this process and on the extent of the IPB, our findings suggest that the proposed AMD remediation process can represent a modest but suitable REY source. In this sense, the IPB could function as a giant heap-leaching process of regional scale in which rain and oxygen act as natural driving forces with no energy investment. In addition to having environmental benefits of its treatment, AMD is expected to last for hundreds of years, and therefore, the total reserves are practically unlimited.