Sensitive Monitoring of the Minimum Inhibitor Concentration under Real Inorganic Scaling Scenarios.

Flow assurance is a long-term challenge for oil and gas exploration as it plays a key role in designing safe and efficient operation techniques to ensure the uninterrupted transport of reservoir fluids. In this regard, the sensitive monitoring of the scale formation process is important by providing an accurate assessment of the minimum inhibitor concentration (MIC) of antiscale products. The optimum dosage of antiscale inputs is of pivotal relevance as their application at concentrations both lower and higher than MIC can imply pipeline blockages, critically hindering the entire supply chain of oil-related inputs and products to society. Using a simple and low-cost impedimetric platform, we here address the monitoring of the scale formation on stainless-steel capillaries from its early stages under real topside (ambient pressure and 60 °C) and subsea (1000 psi and 80 °C) sceneries of the oil industry. The method could continuously gauge the scale formation with a sensitivity higher than the conventional approach, i.e., the tube blocking test (TBT), which proved to be mandatory for avoiding misleading inferences on the MIC. In fact, whereas our sensor could entail accurate MICs, as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, TBT suffered from negative deviations, with the predicted MICs being lower than the real values. Importantly, the impedance measurements were performed through a hand-held, user-friendly workstation. In this way, our method is envisioned to deliver an attractive and readily deployable platform to combat the scale formation issues because it can continuously monitor the salt precipitation from its early stages and yield the accurate determination of MIC.

Single-Response Duplexing of Electrochemical Label-Free Biosensor from the Same Tag.

Multiplexing is a valuable strategy to boost throughput and improve clinical accuracy. Exploiting the vertical, meshed design of reproducible and low-cost ultra-dense electrochemical chips, the unprecedented single-response multiplexing of typical label-free biosensors is reported. Using a cheap, handheld one-channel workstation and a single redox probe, that is, ferro/ferricyanide, the recognition events taking place on two spatially resolved locations of the same working electrode can be tracked along a single voltammetry scan by collecting the electrochemical signatures of the probe in relation to different quasi-reference electrodes, Au (0 V) and Ag/AgCl ink (+0.2 V). This spatial isolation prevents crosstalk between the redox tags and interferences over functionalization and binding steps, representing an advantage over the existing non-spatially resolved single-response multiplex strategies. As proof of concept, peptide-tethered immunosensors are demonstrated to provide the duplex detection of COVID-19 antibodies, thereby doubling the throughput while achieving 100% accuracy in serum samples. The approach is envisioned to enable broad applications in high-throughput and multi-analyte platforms, as it can be tailored to other biosensing devices and formats.

Hawksbill Sea Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) Blood and Eggs Organochlorine Pesticides Concentrations and Embryonic Development in a Nesting Area (Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico).

Environmental contaminants with chemical origins, such as organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) have major impacts on the health of marine animals, including sea turtles, due to the bioaccumulation of those substances by transference throughout the food chain. The effects of environmental pollution on the health of marine turtles are very important for management strategies and conservation. During recent decades, the south Gulf of Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula have suffered from increasingly frequent disturbances from continental landmasses, river systems, urban wastewater runoff, port areas, tourism, industrial activities, pesticides from agricultural use, and other pollutants, such as metals, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and hydrocarbons (from the oil industry activities), which contaminate water and sediments and worsen the environmental quality of the marine ecosystem in this region. In this study, we assessed the concentrations of OCPs in the blood and eggs of 60 hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) nesting at the Punta Xen turtle camp, and their effects on the nesting population's reproductive performance: specifically, maternal transfer and embryonic development were analyzed. Hematologic characteristics, including packed cell volume, white blood cell count, red blood cell count, and haemoglobin levels, and plasma chemistry values, including creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, uric acid, triglyceride, total cholesterol and glucose, were also measured. The general health of the turtles in this study, as well as their levels of urea, serum creatinine, glucose, uric, acid, cholesterol, and triglyceride, fell within normal ranges and was similar to other normal values, which could indicate the turtles' good energy levels and body conditions for nest-building activity, with all of the turtles able to successfully come ashore to nest. All the same, the obtained results also indicate that OCPs affect the nesting and reproductive performance of the hawksbill turtles, as well as their fertility and the development of the population of eggs and reproductive performance, specifically in terms of maternal transference and embryonic development. There were significant differences in the concentrations of OCPs (ΣHCHs and ΣDienes) between maternal blood and eggs, indicating that these chemicals are transferred from nesting females to eggs and, ultimately, to hatchlings. OCPs may, therefore, have an effect on the health and reproductive performance of hawksbill turtles, both in terms of their fertility and egg development. Conservation strategies need to be species-specific, due to differences in feeding, and address the reasons for any decline, focusing on regional assessments. Thus, accurate and comparable monitoring data are necessary, which requires the standardization of monitoring protocols.

Um ensaio de ecologia política e saúde coletiva sobre as crises contemporâneas / An essay on political ecology and collective health on contemporary crises / Un ensayo de la ecología política y la salud colectiva sobre las crisis contemporáneas

RESUMO: As crises que caracterizam nosso tempo espelham uma crise civilizatória com raízes no monopólio do saber, em que os modos de conhecer desenvolvidos pelo capitalismo científico degradam o ambiente e subjugam saberes construídos na coevolução das culturas com a natureza, os territórios e os meios de vida. A tecnologia e as inovações científicas assumiram papel central na sociedade atual, mediando um sem-número de relações sociais, ambientais e políticas hegemonizadas pelo capitalismo colonial contemporâneo. Neste ensaio, buscamos trazer reflexões sobre as relações entre os campos da energia e da saúde que, além de manifestarem sucessivas crises, vêm mobilizando o imaginário social nos últimos anos por serem regidos por sistemas sociotécnicos que condicionam os modos de vida modernos. As crises energética e sanitária são abordadas com base em suas construções históricas, nas estruturas produtivas que mobilizam, nos modos de vida que criam e nas relações sociais que ordenam. Apontamos para os mecanismos por meio dos quais os circuitos globais do capital exportam externalidades na direção das populações com menor acesso à energia mecânica disponível em seus sistemas sociotécnicos, gerando catástrofes socioambientais, expropriação de terras, perda de biodiversidade, mudanças climáticas, poluição, pobreza, fome e epidemias.

ABSTRACT: The crises that characterize our time mirror a civilizational crisis with roots in the monopoly of knowledge, in which the ways of knowing developed by scientific capitalism degrade the environment and subjugate knowledge built in the co-evolution of cultures with nature, territories and means of life. Technology and scientific innovations have taken a central role in today's society, mediating countless social, environmental and political relations hegemonized by contemporary colonial capitalism. In this essay, we seek to bring reflections on the relationships between the fields of energy and health which, in addition to manifesting successive crises, have been mobilizing the social imagination in recent years as they are governed by socio-technical systems that condition modern ways of life. Energy and health crises are addressed based on their historical constructions, the productive structures they mobilize, the ways of life they create and the social relations they order. We point to the mechanisms by which global circuits of capital export externalities towards populations with less access to mechanical energy available in their socio-technical systems, generating socio-environmental catastrophes, land expropriation, loss of biodiversity, climate change, pollution, poverty, famine and epidemics.

RESUMEN: Las crisis que caracterizan nuestro tiempo reflejan una crisis de civilización con raíces en el monopolio del conocimiento, en la que las formas de conocimiento desarrolladas por el capitalismo científico degradan el medio ambiente y subyugan el conocimiento construido en la coevolución de las culturas con la naturaleza, los territorios y los medios de vida. La tecnología y las innovaciones científicas han asumido un papel central en la sociedad actual, mediando innumerables relaciones sociales, ambientales y políticas hegemonizadas por el capitalismo colonial contemporáneo. En este ensayo buscamos traer reflexiones sobre las relaciones entre los campos de la energía y la salud que, además de manifestar crisis sucesivas, vienen movilizando el imaginario social en los últimos años al estar regidos por sistemas sociotécnicos que condicionan las formas modernas. de vida. Las crisis energética y sanitaria se abordan a partir de sus construcciones históricas, las estructuras productivas que movilizan, los modos de vida que crean y las relaciones sociales que ordenan. Señalamos los mecanismos a través de los cuales los circuitos globales de capital exportan externalidades hacia poblaciones con menor acceso a la energía mecánica disponible en sus sistemas sociotécnicos, generando catástrofes socioambientales, expropiación de tierras, pérdida de biodiversidad, cambio climático, contaminación, pobreza, hambruna y epidemias.

Optimization and validation of LLE-LTP to determine florpyrauxifen-benzyl herbicide in water samples by HPLC-DAD.

Florpyrauxifen-benzyl is a systemic herbicide which acts on weeds of common occurrence in rice cultivation areas using flooded or rainfed systems. The Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA) authorized the commercialization of this pesticide, but did not establish guidelines with an extraction and quantification method of residues of this compound as a form of environmental monitoring. Therefore, the present study aimed to optimize and validate the liquid-liquid extraction with low temperature purification (LLE-LTP) to determine florpyrauxifen-benzyl content in water samples by high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD). The recovery ranged from 95.84 to 105.4% with a relative standard deviation less than 1.5. LLE-LTP was selective, precise, accurate, linear in the range from 4.00 to 150 µg L-1, and the limit of quantification was 4.00 µg L-1. The stability study of the compound in water revealed its degradation in 25 days and DT50 in approximately 5 days. LLE-LTP coupled to HPLC-DAD presented itself as a simple, easy and efficient method of extracting and analyzing it in water samples.

Biocompatible Wearable Electrodes on Leaves toward the On-Site Monitoring of Water Loss from Plants.

Impedimetric wearable sensors are a promising strategy for determining the loss of water content (LWC) from leaves because they can afford on-site and nondestructive quantification of cellular water from a single measurement. Because the water content is a key marker of leaf health, monitoring of the LWC can lend key insights into daily practice in precision agriculture, toxicity studies, and the development of agricultural inputs. Ongoing challenges with this monitoring are the on-leaf adhesion, compatibility, scalability, and reproducibility of the electrodes, especially when subjected to long-term measurements. This paper introduces a set of sensing material, technological, and data processing solutions that overwhelm such obstacles. Mass-production-suitable electrodes consisting of stand-alone Ni films obtained by well-established microfabrication methods or ecofriendly pyrolyzed paper enabled reproducible determination of the LWC from soy leaves with optimized sensibilities of 27.0 (Ni) and 17.5 kΩ %-1 (paper). The freestanding design of the Ni electrodes was further key to delivering high on-leaf adhesion and long-term compatibility. Their impedances remained unchanged under the action of wind at velocities of up to 2.00 m s-1, whereas X-ray nanoprobe fluorescence assays allowed us to confirm the Ni sensor compatibility by the monitoring of the soy leaf health in an electrode-exposed area. Both electrodes operated through direct transfer of the conductive materials on hairy soy leaves using an ordinary adhesive tape. We used a hand-held and low-power potentiostat with wireless connection to a smartphone to determine the LWC over 24 h. Impressively, a machine-learning model was able to convert the sensing responses into a simple mathematical equation that gauged the impairments on the water content at two temperatures (30 and 20 °C) with reduced root-mean-square errors (0.1% up to 0.3%). These data suggest broad applicability of the platform by enabling direct determination of the LWC from leaves even at variable temperatures. Overall, our findings may help to pave the way for translating "sense-act" technologies into practice toward the on-site and remote investigation of plant drought stress. These platforms can provide key information for aiding efficient data-driven management and guiding decision-making steps.

5-Fluorouracil disrupts ovarian preantral follicles in young C57BL6J mice.

PURPOSE: 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), an anti-cancer drug, has been used for hepatoblastoma (HB) chemotherapy in children, who may have impaired  ovarian follicle pool reserve with lasting effects to reproduction. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate 5-FU effects on survival, growth, and morphology of ovarian preantral follicles from C57BL6J young mice. METHODS: Experiments were carried-out both in vivo and in vitro. Mice were treated with 5-FU injection (450 mg/kg i.p) or saline and sacrificed 3 days after to obtain ovaries for histology and molecular biology. Ovaries for in vitro studies were obtained from unchallenged mice and cultured under basic culture medium (BCM) or BCM plus 5-FU (9.2, 46.1, 92.2 mM). Preantral follicles were classified according to developmental stages, and as normal or degenerated. To assess cell viability, caspase-3 immunostaining was performed. Transcriptional levels for apoptosis (Bax, Bcl2, p53, Bax/Bcl2) and Wnt pathway genes (Wnt2 and Wnt4) were also analyzed. Ultrastructural analyses were carried-out on non-cultured ovaries. In addition, ß-catenin immunofluorescence was assessed in mouse ovaries. RESULTS: The percentage of all-types normal follicles was significantly lower after 5-FU challenge. A total loss of secondary normal follicles was found in the 5-FU group. The highest 5-FU concentrations reduced the percentage of cultured normal primordial follicles. Large vacuoles were seen in granulosa cells and ooplasm of preantral follicles by electron microscopy. A significantly higher gene expression for Bax and Bax/Bcl2 ratio was seen after 5-FU treatment. A marked reduction in ß-catenin immunolabeling was seen in 5-FU-challenged preantral follicles. In the in vitro experiments, apoptotic and Wnt gene transcriptions were significantly altered. CONCLUSION: Altogether, our findings suggest that 5-FU can deleteriously affect the ovarian follicle reserve by reducing preantral follicles survival.

Conocimientos, prácticas y actitudes para la higiene de manos del personal médico durante la pandemia COVID-19 en el Hospital Universitario de Caracas

Introducción: La práctica de la higiene de manos por el personal de salud es un elemento esencial para prevenir la transmisión de las infecciones asociadas a la atención sanitaria. El objetivo es evaluar el conocimiento, las prácticas y la actitud del personal de salud médico para la higiene de las manos y las condiciones sanitarias mínimas durante la pandemia de COVID-19 en el Hospital Universitario de Caracas, mayo 2020. Metodología: Estudio de corte transversal intrahospitalario. Población: Médicos adjuntos y residentes, y estudiantes presentes al momento de la visita al Hospital Universitario de Caracas. Instrumentos: Entrevistas, cuestionarios, inspecciones y observaciones del lavado de las manos en trabajo intrahospitalario. Análisis estadístico. Programa SPSS 21 para las estadísticas descriptivas con tablas de distribuciones de frecuencia, promedios, porcentajes, desviaciones estándar y percentiles. Pruebas de Chi2 con límites de confianza del 95 %. Resultados: 42 autocuestionarios, 32 a adjuntos y residentes, 75,6 % jóvenes menores de 30 años y 59 % femeninos. Conocimiento suficiente 74 %, las prácticas auto reportadas el 69 % correctas, y la actitud positiva 87 %. 51 áreas inspeccionadas con fallas de agua 16 %, lavamanos funcionales en 28 % de los ambientes, y falta de jabón, gel alcoholado o toallas desechables. 59 % de los baños para pacientes en malas condiciones sanitarias. Observaciones de higiene de manos durante el acto médico (100 momentos), solo 9 % correctos. La inspección del área de triaje de COVID-19 muestra que se cumplen con lavado de manos con gel alcoholado. La inspección del hospital (OMS) reporta 95 puntos nivel de higiene inadecuado con prácticas de HM y promoción deficientes. Formulario inspección de la OMS ante la COVID-19 arroja fallas en infraestructura, insumos y disponibilidad de EPP y falta de auditorías. Discusión: El conocimiento y las prácticas en puntajes moderados requieren educación médica continua, y la actitud muy positiva del personal de salud permitirán mejorar las prácticas en el lugar de trabajo, siempre que se disponga de la infraestructura, agua y jabón, y de gel alcoholado para el cumplimiento del lavado de las manos en los 5 momentos del acto médico. Conclusión: El hospital requiere mejoras importantes de la infraestructura y la entrega de materiales para la correcta higiene de las manos.

Background: The practice of correct hand hygiene by health workers is a key element in the prevention of health care associated infections. The aim of the study is to assess the knowledge, practice and attitudes of the medical staff on hand hygiene and the minimum sanitary conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic at the Hospital Universitario de Caracas during May 2020. Methods: Transversal study based at the Hospital. Population: medical staff, residents, and medical students present when the inspection team visited the Hospital Universitario de Caracas. Instruments: interviews, questionnaires, inspection and observation of the hand hygiene process during hospital work. Statistical analysis: SPSS 21 software for the descriptive statistics, with frequency distribution tables average, percentage, standard deviation and percentiles. Chi2 test with 95 % confidence limits. Results: 42 self-administered questionnaires, 32 to medical staff and residents, 75,6 % were less than 30 years old and 59 % were female. 74 % had sufficient knowledge, correct self reported practice 69 %, positive attitude 87 %. 51 inspected areas, water failure 16 %, working sinks in 28 % of the areas, lack of soap, alcoholic gel or paper towels. 59 % of patient toilet facilities in bad sanitary conditions. Observations of hand hygiene procedures during medical work (100 moments) were only 9 % correct. Inspection of the COVID-19 triage area showed proper alcoholic gel hand hygiene. Hospital inspection (WHO) reported 95 inadequate hygiene points with deficient hand hygiene and promotion. WHO COVID-19 Inspection Form showed infrastructure failures, lack of supplies and availability of PPE and lack of audits. Discussion: Knowledge and practice had moderate scores which require intervention on the continuous medical education. The staff's positive attitude will allow improvement of practices at the workplace whenever infrastructure and supplies are available, especially soap and water or alcoholic gel, for the 5 moment hand hygiene protocol compliance. Conclusion: The hospital requires important infrastructure and supplies improvements for this purpose.

Anethole Supplementation During Oocyte Maturation Improves In Vitro Production of Bovine Embryos.

Oxidative stress is one of the most detrimental factors that affect oocyte developmental competence and embryo development in vitro. The impact of anethole supplementation to in vitro maturation (IVM) media on oocyte maturation and further bovine in vitro embryo production was investigated. Oocytes of slaughterhouse-derived bovine ovaries were placed in IVM with anethole at different concentrations of 30 (AN30), 300 (AN300), and 2000 µg/mL (AN2000), or without (control treatment). The oocytes were assessed for maturation rates, and for reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) levels, and mitochondrial membrane potential. Embryo development was assessed by cleavage and blastocyst rates, and embryo cell number. The percentage of metaphase II oocytes were similar among the treatments (range, 77%-96%). Anethole at 300 µg/mL was the only treatment that yielded higher cleavage and embryo development (morula and blastocyst) rates compared to the control treatment. The ROS production in the oocytes after maturation did not differ among treatments. However, oocytes treated with anethole at 300 µg/mL had higher (P < .05) FRAP and mitochondrial membrane potential compared to the control treatment. Furthermore, AN300 treatment increased (P < .05) the average number of total cells in blastocysts compared to the control and AN30 treatments. The use of anethole at 300 µg/mL during IVM is suggested to improve the quantity and quality of bovine embryos produced in vitro. The beneficial effects of anethole on embryonic developmental competence in vitro seems to be related to its capacity to regulate the redox balance and improve mitochondrial function in oocytes and embryos.

Comparative Study between Multi-slice Computed Tomographic Arthrography and Arthroscopy in the Evaluation of Rotator Cuff Tears.

Objective To compare the imaging findings of anatomical alterations using multi-slice computed tomographic arthrography in the evaluation of rotator cuff tears in the shoulder, correlating them with the arthroscopy (the gold standard diagnostic test) findings. Materials and Methods A longitudinal, prospective, comparative study of diagnostic accuracy performed in the period between June 2016 and June 2017 in patients of both sexes, aged between 40 and 70 years, with shoulder rotator cuff tendon tears and therapeutic need to undergo shoulder arthroscopy. Patients with contraindication to magnetic resonance imaging were included. After multi-slice computed tomographic arthrography, all patients underwent arthroscopy. Results To obtain the results, the following parameters were determined: sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and Kappa coefficient, and contrast between the imaging method and arthroscopy. Conclusion In the impossibility of performing magnetic resonance imaging (the gold standard imaging technique), multi-slice computed tomographic arthrography is an imaging examination capable of evaluating/diagnosing rotator cuff tears.

Comparative Study between Multi-slice Computed Tomographic Arthrography and Arthroscopy in the Evaluation of Rotator Cuff Tears / Estudo comparativo entre artrotomografia computadorizada multi-slice e artroscopia na avaliação das lesões do manguito rotador

Abstract Objective To compare the imaging findings of anatomical alterations using multi-slice computed tomographic arthrography in the evaluation of rotator cuff tears in the shoulder, correlating them with the arthroscopy (the gold standard diagnostic test) findings. Materials and Methods A longitudinal, prospective, comparative study of diagnostic accuracy performed in the period between June 2016 and June 2017 in patients of both sexes, aged between 40 and 70 years, with shoulder rotator cuff tendon tears and therapeutic need to undergo shoulder arthroscopy. Patients with contraindication to magnetic resonance imaging were included. After multi-slice computed tomographic arthrography, all patients underwent arthroscopy. Results To obtain the results, the following parameters were determined: sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and Kappa coefficient, and contrast between the imaging method and arthroscopy. Conclusion In the impossibility of performing magnetic resonance imaging (the gold standard imaging technique), multi-slice computed tomographic arthrography is an imaging examination capable of evaluating/diagnosing rotator cuff tears.

Resumo Objetivo Comparar os achados por imagem das alterações anatômicas da artrotomografia computadorizada multi-slice na avaliação das lesões do manguito rotador do ombro e correlacioná-los com os achados da artroscopia (exame diagnóstico padrão-ouro). Materiais e Métodos Estudo longitudinal, prospectivo, comparativo de acurácia diagnóstica, feito de junho de 2016 a junho de 2017, em pacientes de ambos os sexos, com idades entre 40 e 70 anos, com lesão dos tendões do manguito rotador do ombro, e que tinham necessidade terapêutica de fazer artroscopia do ombro. Foram incluídos pacientes com contraindicação à realização de ressonância magnética. Após a artrotomografia computadorizada multi-slice, todos os pacientes foram submetidos a artroscopia. Resultados Para a obtenção dos resultados, os seguintes parâmetros foram considerados: sensibilidade, especificidade, acurácia, valor preditivo positivo, valor preditivo negativo, coeficiente Kappa, e contraposição do método de imagem com a artroscopia. Conclusão Na impossibilidade da realização da ressonância magnética (exame de imagem padrão-ouro), a artrotomografia computadorizada multi-slice se mostra um exame de imagem capaz de avaliar/diagnosticar as lesões do manguito rotador.

Anethole Supplementation During Oocyte Maturation Improves In Vitro Production of Bovine Embryos.

Oxidative stress is one of the most detrimental factors that affect oocyte developmental competence and embryo development in vitro. The impact of anethole supplementation to in vitro maturation (IVM) media on oocyte maturation and further bovine in vitro embryo production was investigated. Oocytes of slaughterhouse-derived bovine ovaries were placed in IVM with anethole at different concentrations of 30 (AN30), 300 (AN300), and 2000 µg/mL (AN2000), or without (control treatment). The oocytes were assessed for maturation rates, and for reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) levels, and mitochondrial membrane potential. Embryo development was assessed by cleavage and blastocyst rates, and embryo cell number. The percentage of metaphase II oocytes were similar among the treatments (range, 77%-96%). Anethole at 300 µg/mL was the only treatment that yielded higher cleavage and embryo development (morula and blastocyst) rates compared to the control treatment. The ROS production in the oocytes after maturation did not differ among treatments. However, oocytes treated with anethole at 300 µg/mL had higher ( P < .05) FRAP and mitochondrial membrane potential compared to the control treatment. Furthermore, AN300 treatment increased ( P < .05) the average number of total cells in blastocysts compared to the control and AN30 treatments. The use of anethole at 300 µg/mL during IVM is suggested to improve the quantity and quality of bovine embryos produced in vitro. The beneficial effects of anethole on embryonic developmental competence in vitro seems to be related to its capacity to regulate the redox balance and improve mitochondrial function in oocytes and embryos.

Organochlorines Contaminants in Eggs of Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) and Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas) from Mexico coast.

The investigation of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) levels in sea turtles is an important issue in conservation research, due to the harmful effects of these chemicals. In the present study, OCPs concentrations were determined in the eggs of two sea turtle species (Eretmochelys imbricata and Chelonia mydas) collected from the Punta Xen and Isla Aguada (Mexican coast) in 2014 and 2015. Concentrations of 20 OCPs were analysed, including isomers of hexachlorocyclohexane, aldrin, chlordanes, endosulfans, methoxychlor, DDTs, and heptachlor. From the group of contaminants considered (analysed as families), the results revealed higher concentrations of ΣHCH and ΣDienes on both selected species. We analysed the relationship between turtle size and the OCPs concentrations; no correlation was found between the size of the female and concentrations in the eggs. In addition, principal component analysis indicated pattern differences between species and years, in good agreement with concentrations differences.

Three-dimensional levitation culture improves in-vitro growth of secondary follicles in bovine model.

RESEARCH QUESTION: Does a three-dimensional culture system based on magnetic levitation with nanoparticles assembly maintain the follicular structure and viability with adequate growth rates leading to oocyte maturation after long-term culture? DESIGN: Randomized-controlled trial of treatments in a bovine model. Secondary follicles (n = 213) isolated from bovine ovaries were cultured in a two-dimensional system (two-dimensional control) or three-dimensional levitation system with different concentrations (three-dimensional 50 µl/ml, 100 µl/ml and 200 µl/ml) of magnetic nanoparticles. Follicular growth (diameter, daily growth and growth patterns), morphology (normal, degenerated and extruded follicles), antrum formation, oocyte viability and chromatin configuration were assessed. RESULTS: Secondary follicles of three-dimensional 200-µl/ml treatment showed higher viability, antrum formation and lower degeneration rates than two-dimensional control. Also, follicles cultured in the three-dimensional 200-µl/ml treatment presented a most homogenous daily growth rate as shown by the lowest variance and standard deviation. Compared with the two-dimensional control, the proportion of non-growing and slow-growing follicles were 3.8-fold lower and 1.6-fold higher, respectively, in the three-dimensional 200-µl/ml treatment. After in-vitro maturation, the three-dimensional 200-µl/ml had a greater proportion of viable oocytes (1.7-fold) and meiotic resumption rates (2.4-fold) than the two-dimensional control treatment. CONCLUSION: The three-dimensional levitation culture system improves the viability of in-vitro development of bovine secondary follicles, antrum formation and lower extrusion and degeneration rates and adequate growth rate leading to relevant oocyte viability and meiotic resumption after in-vitro maturation. This approach does not require a specific medium, and has the potential as an alternative method to in-vitro follicle culture in several species, including humans.

Supplementation of in vitro culture medium with FSH to grow follicles and mature oocytes can be replaced by extracts of Justicia insularis.

The present study evaluated the effect of supplementing in vitro culture medium with J. insularis compared to FSH on isolated secondary follicles and in vitro maturation of oocytes from those follicles. Secondary follicles were isolated from sheep ovaries and individually cultured for 18 days in α-MEM+ (Control), α-MEM+ supplemented with 100 ng/mL recombinant bovine follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) or with 0.3, 1.25, or 2.5 mg/mL of J. insularis extract (JI0.3, JI1.25, and JI2.5, respectively). Culture medium collected every 2 days was used to measure ROS levels. At the end of the culture period, cumulus oocytes complex (COCs) were collected and matured in vitro. Follicular walls were used for mRNA quantitation. JI0.3 led to a higher (P < 0.05) percentages of intact follicles than other groups after 18 days of culture. While follicular diameter remained unchanged from Day 6 onwards with JI0.3 and FSH, percentages of antral cavity formation were higher (P < 0.05) with JI0.3 at Day 6 than in all other treatments. No differences were observed between controls and treatment groups regarding ROS levels and mRNA expression of genes. Viability of resulting oocytes was higher (P < 0.05) in JI0.3 compared to FSH. Interestingly, in control experiment, supplementation of maturation medium with JI0.3 led to higher (P < 0.05) percentages of metaphase II compared to controls. Although more validations will be needed, it seems that this natural extract could be used as a cheap and easily available alternative to commercial FSH.

Gravity-assisted distillation on a chip: Fabrication, characterization, and applications.

Distillation is widely used in industrial processes and laboratories for sample pre-treatment. The conventional apparatus of flash distillation is composed of heating source, distilling flask, condenser, and receiving flask. As disadvantages, this method shows manual and laborious analyses with high consumption of chemicals. In this paper, all these limitations were addressed by developing a fully integrated microscale distiller in agreement with the apparatus of conventional flash distillation. The main challenge facing the distillation miniaturization is the phase separation since surface forces take over from the gravity in microscale channels. Otherwise, our chip had ability to perform gravity-assisted distillations because of the somewhat large dimensions of the distillation chamber (roughly 900 µL) that was obtained by 3D-printing. The functional distillation units were integrated into a single device composed of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Its fabrication was cost-effective and simple by avoiding the use of cleanroom and bonding step. In addition to user-friendly analysis and low consumption of chemicals, the method requires cost-effective instrumentation, namely, voltage supply and analytical balance. Furthermore, the so called distillation-on-a-chip (DOC) eliminates the use of membranes and electrodes (usually employed in microfluidic desalinations reported in the literature), thus avoiding drawbacks such as liquid leakage, membrane fouling, and electrode passivation. The DOC promoted desalinations at harsh salinity (NaCl 600.0 mmol L-1) with high throughput and salt removal efficiency (roughly 99%). Besides, the method was used for determination of ethanol in alcoholic beverages to show the potential of the approach toward quantitative purposes.

Oxidative stress biomarkers and organochlorine pesticides in nesting female hawksbill turtles Eretmochelys imbricata from Mexican coast (Punta Xen, Mexico).

Because of their vulnerable population status, assessing exposure levels and impacts of toxicants on the health status of Gulf of Mexico marine turtle populations is essential, and this study was aimed to obtain baseline information on oxidative stress indicators in hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata). In order to evaluate the health status of sea turtles and the effect of organochlorine compounds (OC) in the southern part of the Gulf of Mexico, we searched for relationships between carapace size and the activity of antioxidant enzymes in the blood of the hawksbill sea turtle. The level of oxidative stress biomarkers such as the enzymes catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and acetylcholinesterase (Ache) in the hawksbill sea turtle was analysed during nesting season in the years 2014-2015 at Punta Xen (Campeche, Mexico). The results of this study provide insight into data of antioxidant enzyme activities in relation to contaminant OCPs in hawksbill sea turtles and the possible health impacts of contaminant in sea turtles.

Monitoring the Surface Chemistry of Functionalized Nanomaterials with a Microfluidic Electronic Tongue.

Advances in nanomaterials have led to tremendous progress in different areas with the development of high performance and multifunctional platforms. However, a relevant gap remains in providing the mass-production of these nanomaterials with reproducible surfaces. Accordingly, the monitoring of such materials across their entire life cycle becomes mandatory to both industry and academy. In this paper, we use a microfluidic electronic tongue (e-tongue) as a user-friendly and cost-effective method to classify nanomaterials according to their surface chemistry. The chip relies on a new single response e-tongue with association of capacitors in parallel, which consisted of stainless steel microwires coated with SiO2, NiO2, Al2O3, and Fe2O3 thin films. Utilizing impedance spectroscopy and a multidimensional projection technique, the chip was sufficiently sensitive to distinguish silica nanoparticles and multiwalled carbon nanotubes dispersed in water in spite of the very small surface modifications induced by distinct functionalization and oxidation extents, respectively. Flow analyses were made acquiring the analytical readouts in a label-free mode. The device also allowed for multiplex monitoring in an unprecedented way to speed up the tests. Our goal is not to replace the traditional techniques of surface analysis, but rather propose the use of libraries from e-tongue data as benchmark for routine screening of modified nanomaterials in industry and academy.

In vitro growth and development of isolated secondary follicles from vitrified caprine ovarian cortex.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the viability, antrum formation and in vitro development of isolated secondary follicles from vitrified caprine ovarian cortex in a medium previously established for fresh isolated secondary follicles, in the absence (α-minimum essential medium (α-MEM+) alone) or presence of FSH and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF; α-MEM++FSH+VEGF). Ovarian fragments were distributed among five treatments (T1 to T5): fresh follicles were fixed immediately (T1), follicles from fresh tissue were cultured in vitro in α-MEM+ (T2) or α-MEM++FSH+VEGF (T3) and follicles from vitrified tissue were cultured in vitro in α-MEM+ (T4) or α-MEM++FSH+VEGF (T5). After 6 days of culture, treated follicles (T2, T3, T4 and T5) were evaluated for morphology, viability and follicular development (growth, antrum formation and proliferation of granulosa cells by Ki67 and argyrophilic nucleolar organiser region (AgNOR) staining). The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the culture media were also assessed. Overall, morphology of vitrified follicles was altered (P<0.05) compared with the fresh follicles. Follicular viability, antrum formation and ROS were similar between treatments (P>0.05). The average overall and daily follicular growth was highest (P<0.05) in T3. Granulosa cells in all treatments (T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5) stained positive for Ki67. However, fresh follicles from T3 had significantly higher AgNOR staining (P<0.05) compared with follicles of T1, T2, T4 and T5. In conclusion, secondary follicles can be isolated from vitrified and warmed ovarian cortex and survive and form an antrum when growing in an in vitro culture for 6 days.

Toxicity effect of Auxemma oncocalyx fraction and its active principle oncocalyxone A on in vitro culture of caprine secondary follicles and in vitro oocyte maturation / Efeito da toxicidade da fração da Auxemma oncocalyx e seu princípio ativo oncocalyxona A no cultivo in vitro de folículos secundários e na maturação in vitro de oócitos de caprinos

The extract of Auxemma oncocalyx (A. oncocalyx) and its main component, oncocalyxone A (onco A), possess anti-tumoral activity that may affect fertility. There is limited literature on the action of these substances regarding caprine folliculogenesis. In this study, we evaluated the effect of A. oncocaly and onco A on the in vitro culture of isolated secondary follicles (Experiment 1) and on the in vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes from caprine antral follicles grown in vivo (Experiment 2). Isolated secondary follicles were distributed in six groups: the non-cultured control was immediately fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde. The remaining follicles were cultured for 7 days in α-minimal essential medium (α-MEM+ ) alone (control) or with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), doxorubicin (DXR), A. oncocalyx, or onco A. After culture, the follicles were evaluated for antrum formation, growth rate, apoptosis (TUNEL), cellular proliferation (PCNA), as well as the expression of BCL2 and BAX. In addition, cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) were aspirated and allocated into five treatments for IVM: control, cultured only in maturation base medium (TCM 199+ ); or supplemented with DMSO; DXR; A. oncocalyx or onco A. After IVM, oocyte chromatin configuration and viability were assessed. After 7 days of culture, a reduction was noted in the percent of morphologically intact follicles, antrum formation, growth rate, and numbers of PCNApositive granulosa cells (P < 0.05). After culture, the DXR treatment showed a higher percent of TUNELpositive follicles and relative BAX:BCL2 mRNA ratio’s (P < 0.05). After IVM of the COCs, DXR, A. oncocalyx, and onco A treatments showed a greater percent (P < 0.05) of abnormal oocytes and a lower percent of viable oocytes as compared with the control group (P < 0.05)...

O extrato da Auxemma oncocalyx (A. oncocalyx) e seu componente, Oncocalyxona A (onco A), possui atividade antitumoral, podendo afetar a fertilidade. Entretanto, estudos sobre a ação dessas substâncias em relação à foliculogênese caprina são desconhecidos. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar o efeito da A. oncocalyx e onco A no cultivo in vitro de folículos secundários isolados (Experimento 1) e na maturação in vitro (MIV) de oócitos de folículos antrais caprinos crescidos in vivo (Experimento 2). Folículos secundários isolados foram distribuídos em seis grupos, em que o controle não-cultivado foi imediatamente fixado em paraformaldeído 4%. Os folículos restantes foram cultivados durante 7 dias em α-MEM+ sozinho (controle) ou suplementado com DMSO, doxorrubicina (DXR), A. oncocalyx ou onco A. Após o cultivo, os folículos foram avaliados quanto à formação de antro, taxa de crescimento, apoptose (TUNEL) e proliferação celular (PCNA), bem como a expressão dos genes BCL2 e BAX. Além disso, os complexos cumulus-oócitos (CCOs) foram aspirados e distribuídos em cinco tratamentos para MIV: o controle em meio de maturação (TCM 199+), e os demais tratamentos suplementados com DMSO, DXR, A. oncocalyx ou onco A. Depois da MIV, a configuração da cromatina e viabilidade oocitária foram avaliadas. Após 7 dias de cultivo, observou-se redução na percentagem de folículos morfologicamente intactos, na formação de antro, na taxa de crescimento e no número de células PCNA positivas (P < 0,05). Depois do cultivo, no tratamento DXR foi observada maior percentagem de folículos TUNEL positivos (P < 0,05) e também aumento na taxa de RNAm BAX: BCL2 (P < 0,05). Após MIV dos CCOs, nos tratamentos com DXR, A. oncocalyx e onco A, observou-se maior (P < 0,05) percentagem de oócitos anormais e menor de oócitos viáveis quando comparados ao grupo controle (P < 0,05)...