Nutrient-efficient catfish-based aquaponics for producing lamb's lettuce at two light intensities.

BACKGROUND: Aquaponic systems are sustainable processes of managing water and nutrients for food production. An innovate nutrient-efficient catfish-based (Clarias gariepinus) aquaponics system was implemented for producing two cultivars of two leafy vegetables largely consumed worldwide: lamb's lettuce (Valerianella locusta var. Favor and Valerianella locusta var. de Hollande) and arugula (Eruca vesicaria var. sativa and Eruca sativa). Different growing treatments (4 × 2 factorial design) were applied to plants of each cultivar, grown at two light intensities (120 and 400 µmol m-2 s-1). During growth, several morphological characteristics (root length, plant height, leaf number, foliage diameter and biggest leaf length) were measured. At harvest, plants were weighed and examined qualitatively in terms of greenness and health status. Additionally, leaf extracts were obtained and used to determine total phenolic contents, antioxidant capacities, and levels of cytotoxicity to Caco-2 intestinal model cells. RESULTS: After a 5-week growth period, both lamb's lettuce cultivars presented high levels of greenness and health status, at both light intensities, particularly the var. de Hollande that also showed higher average performance in terms of plant morphology. In turn, arugula cultivars showed lower levels of greenness and health status, especially the cultivar E. vesicaria var. sativa submitted to direct sunlight during growth. In addition, plant specimens submitted to higher levels of light intensity showed higher contents in antioxidants/polyphenols. Cultivars with a higher content in antioxidants/polyphenols led to higher Caco-2 cell viability. CONCLUSION: For successful industrial implementation of the aquaponics technology, different and optimized acclimatizing conditions must be applied to different plant species and cultivars. © 2024 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

CIF ou CIAP: o que falta classificar na atenção básica? / ICF or ICPC: what is missing for primary care?

A Classificação Internacional de Atenção Primária (CIAP) tem sido, frequentemente, confundida com a Classificação Internacional de Funcionalidade, Incapacidade e Saúde (CIF) por se tratar de uma ferramenta que indica problemas relacionados à saúde, mas que não são doenças. Embora tenha sua importância reconhecida na atenção básica, a CIAP aponta, por exemplo, as razões para contato com serviços de saúde, informações clínicas por consulta e algumas intervenções. Em nenhum desses aspectos, a CIAP aborda a questão da funcionalidade e da incapacidade, tampouco, as relações dos fatores ambientais no desempenho humano. Sendo uma mera intermediária para a Classificação Estatística Internacional de Doenças e Problemas Relacionados à Saúde (CID), a CIAP não contempla todas as informações necessárias para um diagnóstico da situação de saúde e seus determinantes nas populações. Dessa forma, os gestores precisam conhecer a CIF de maneira mais aprofundada, já que trata-se de uma classificação referência da Organização Mundial da Saúde, sendo a verdadeira complementar da CID para informações populacionais. A CIF contém as características necessárias para estimular o trabalho trans-setorial, mas tem sido levada apenas para a atenção especializada, deixando-se de lado todo o potencial de sua aplicação na atenção primária.

The International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC) has often been confused with the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) because it is a tool that indicates problems related to health, but which are not diseases. Although its importance be recognized in primary care, the ICPC points, for example, the reasons for contact with health services, clinical information and some interventions. In none of these respects, the ICPC addresses the issue of functioning and disability, either, the relationship of environmental factors on human performance. ICPC is a mere intermediary for the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD), it does not include all information necessary for a diagnosis of health status or the health determinants. Thus, managers need to thoroughly know the ICF, since it is a reference classification of the World Health Organization and the real complement for the ICD to population data. The ICF contains the necessary tolls to stimulate a cross-sectoral work, but it has been done only for specialized care, what leave aside all the potential of its application inprimary care

Feasibility of focal transcranial DC polarization with simultaneous EEG recording: preliminary assessment in healthy subjects and human epilepsy.

We aimed to investigate the feasibility of an experimental system for simultaneous transcranial DC stimulation (tDCS) and EEG recording in human epilepsy. We report tolerability of this system in a cross-over controlled trial with 15 healthy subjects and preliminary effects of its use, testing repeated tDCS sessions, in two patients with drug-refractory Continuous Spike-Wave Discharges During Slow Sleep (CSWS). Our system combining continuous recording of the EEG with tDCS allows detailed evaluation of the interictal activity during the entire process. Stimulation with 1 mA was well-tolerated in both healthy volunteers and patients with refractory epilepsy. The large reduction in interictal epileptiform EEG discharges in the two subjects with epilepsy supports further investigation of tDCS using this combined method of stimulation and monitoring in epilepsy. Continuous monitoring of epileptic activity throughout tDCS improves safety and allows detailed evaluation of epileptic activity changes induced by tDCS in patients.