Co-exposure effects of lead and TiO2 nanoparticles in primary kidney cell culture from the freshwater fish Hoplias malabaricus.

This study evaluated the effects of Lead (Pb) and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) alone or in combination in anterior kidney macrophages of the freshwater fish Hoplias malabaricus, naïve or stimulated with 1 ng.mL-1 lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Pb (1 ×10-5 to 1 ×10-1 mg.mL-1) or TiO2 NPs (1.5 ×10-6 to 1.5 ×10-2 mg.mL-1) reduced cell viability despite LPS stimulation, especially Pb 10-1 mg.mL-1. In combination, lower concentrations of NPs intensified Pb-induced cell viability reduction while higher concentrations restored the cell viability independently of LPS stimulation. Basal and LPS- induced NO production was reduced by both TiO2 NPs and Pb isolated. The combination of both xenobiotics avoided this reduction of NO production by the isolated compounds at lower concentrations but the protective effect was lost as the concentrations increased. None xenobiotic increase DNA fragmentation. Therefore, at specific conditions, TiO2 NPs may have a protective effect over Pb toxicity, may also provide additional toxicity at higher concentrations.

Alkylphenols cause cytotoxicity and genotoxicity induced by oxidative stress in RTG-2 cell line.

Alkylphenols ethoxylates are industrial surfactants, and the release in the environmental matrices produces degraded products, of which nonylphenol (NP) and octylphenol (OP) were the most common. They can be classified as endocrine disruptors since the estrogenic potential is widely recognized, but some others toxic aspects are in discussion. This study aimed to evaluate the toxicity of NP, OP, and mixtures of both through cellular, biochemical and genetic biomarkers in fish gonadal cell line RTG-2 exposed to nominal concentrations of 0.05; 0.5; 5; 50, and 100 µg mL-1 of each chemical and their mixtures of 0.05, 0.5; 5 µg mL-1 concentrations. After 24 h, the cells were collected for cytotoxic (neutral red - NR; crystal violet - CV, resazurin assay - RA and lactate-dehydrogenase - LDH), antioxidant system (glutathione-s-transferase - GST; superoxide-dismutase - SOD; glutathione-peroxidase - GPx and malondialdehyde - MDA) and genotoxic assays (alkaline comet assay and Fpg-modified alkaline comet assay). The chemicals and their mixtures were cytotoxic at 50 and 100 µg mL-1, in general aspect, but LDH showed cytotoxicity since 0.05 µg mL-1. The GST and SOD showed an activity increase trend in most tested groups, while GPx decreased at 5 µg mL-1 of the mixture. The MDA increase in all groups resulted in lipid peroxidation. The reactive oxygen species caused DNA damage for all groups. The tested chemicals and concentrations have been found in the freshwater systems. They can induce cell toxicity in several parameters that could impair the gonadal tissues considering the RTG-2 responses.

Designing for unpredictable uses: A case study on cargo handling.

BACKGROUND: Activity ergonomics aims to include work variability into design process to enable various dimensions of use in projects. As design evolves with use, understanding its characteristics is essential to decipher real working requirements. However, situated design can be pluralistic and may lead to different interpretations than initially intended. OBJECTIVE: This paper aims at understanding the relationship between the designing phase of work systems and the situated task design in high uncertainty operations. METHODS: In an ergonomic work analysis, cargo handling operations were observed at offshore platforms, followed by discussions with workers. Two case studies were selected for the intervention process to demonstrate how workers dealt with high uncertainty tasks on site. RESULTS: Situated task design exhibited three main characteristics: (1) the project emerges from the situation; (2) it has an intentional and original character; and (3) it is situated in time and space to solve local problems. CONCLUSIONS: This combination is the essence of a microproject, which is a concept proposed in this paper. The design must provide resources not only to execute work but also to redesign the task on site.

Nacionalidad deportiva versus nacionalidad estatal: el desafío de los atletas transnacionales en un mundo global / Sports citizenship versus state citizenship: a challenge for transnational athletes in a global word / Nacionalidade esportiva vs. nacionalidade estatal: o desafio de atletas transnacionais em um mundo global

A Carta Olímpica exige que, para participar de uma edição dos Jogos Olímpicos, um atleta seja vinculado a um Comitê Olímpico e seja nacional daquela localidade. O que é aparentemente simples, mas que torna- se um elemento importante em tempos de grande mobilidade e circulação de pessoas. Apesar de não ser um fenômeno recente, o aumento no número de atletas naturalizados nas últimas edições olímpicas chama a atenção de gestores e outros personagens envolvidos com o esporte. Este estudo se baseia em uma revisão teórica e em dados sobre a participação de atletas que não nasceram no Brasil e representaram o país nos Jogos Olímpicos, discute o conceito de nacionalidade esportiva e seu diálogo com a nacionalidade estatal ao longo da história, ressaltando que esta é uma temática com grande relevância nos dias atuais.

The Olympic Charter requires that, to participate in an edition of the Olympic Games, an athlete must be linked to an Olympic Committee, and must be a native of that locality. Something apparently simple, but it becomes an important element in times of high mobility and movement of people. Although not being a recent phenomenon, the increase in the number of naturalized athletes in the last Olympic editions commands the attention of managers and other persons involved with the sport. This study, based on theoretical review and data on the participation of athletes who were not born in Brazil and represented the country at the Olympic Games, discusses the concept of sports nationality and its dialogue with state nationality throughout history, emphasizing that it is a theme with great relevance today.

La Carta Olímpica requiere que, para participar en una edición de los Juegos Olímpicos, un atleta debe estar vinculado a un Comité Olímpico y debe ser nativo de ese lugar. Lo que es aparentemente simple, se convierte en un elemento importante en tiempos de gran movilidad y movimiento de personas. A pesar de no ser un fenómeno reciente, el aumento en el número de atletas naturalizados en las últimas ediciones olímpicas atrae la atención de los gerentes y otros personajes involucrados en el deporte. Este estudio, basado en una revisión teórica y datos sobre la participación de atletas que no nacieron en Brasil, y representaron al país en los Juegos Olímpicos, discute el concepto de nacionalidad deportiva y su diálogo con la nacionalidad estatal a lo largo de la historia, enfatizando en que esto es un tema de gran relevancia hoy.