Psychometric properties of the Perceptions of Organizational Politics -POPS- Scale in Puerto Rico / Propiedades psicométricas de la Escala de Percepción Política Organizacional -POPS- en Puerto Rico

Abstract Background: perceptions of organizational politics have many consequences on work behavior. Therefore, organizational politics has gained an interest in research examining the influential factors and behaviors in which organizations operate over the past few years. Objectives: this work aims to explore and present the psychometric properties of the Perceptions of Organizational Politics Scale adapted version. Method: a quantitative study of cross-sectional and instrumental type design in a sample of 205 participants representing public and private working sectors in Puerto Rico and the analysis carried out to verify the factorial structure of the scale and the reliability and validity indicators. Results: the Confirmatory Factor Analysis with Structural Equation Modeling showed better fit indices and a three-factor structure according to the original scale and obtained optimal internal consistency values for each factor. Conclusion: this study provides an instrument for both researchers and professionals to study the phenomenon of organizational politics in the workplace and organizations and allows them to contribute new studies and literature in Puerto Rico.

Resumen Antecedentes: las percepciones respecto a la política organizacional tienen muchas consecuencias en el comportamiento laboral. En consecuencia, la política organizacional ha ganado interés en la investigación que examina los factores y comportamientos influyentes en los que operan las organizaciones, durante los últimos años. Objetivos: este trabajo tiene como objetivo explorar las propiedades psicométricas de la versión adaptada de la Escala de Percepciones de Política Organizacional -POPS- (siglas de Perceptions of Organizational Politics -POPS- Scale). Método: estudio cuantitativo de diseño de tipo transversal e instrumental en una muestra de 205 participantes de los sectores laborales público y privado en Puerto Rico. Se realizó un análisis para verificar la estructura factorial de la Escala y los indicadores de confiabilidad y validez. Resultados: el Análisis Factorial Confirmatorio con Ecuaciones Estructurales mostró mejores índices de ajuste y una estructura de tres factores de acuerdo con la escala original y obtuvo valores óptimos de consistencia interna para cada factor. Conclusión: este estudio proporciona un instrumento para que investigadores y profesionales estudien el fenómeno de la política organizacional en el lugar de trabajo y las organizaciones y les permite aportar nuevos estudios científicos en Puerto Rico.

Determining organochlorine pesticides in samples of green sea turtles by QuEChERS approach / Determinação de pesticidas organoclorados em amostras de tartarugas verdes pelo método QuEChERS

Some Organochlorine Pesticides (OCPs) can pose numerous adverse effects on biota. Marine turtles face numerous threats, in particular those related to anthropogenic activities. Therefore, development and improvement methodologies for monitoring chemical compounds are a relevant task. In this work, we developed a methodology based on the QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe) extraction for detection of twelve OCPs, by gas chromatography with electron capture detector, in fat and liver samples of green sea turtles. Quantification limits were lower than 5.3 ng g-1; acceptable recovery rates for most compounds; medium matrix effect; matrix-calibration with linearity at the range from 1.0 to 200 ng g-1. This methodology provides contributions for the study of pesticide residues with adverse effects on sea turtle health, important skills for new directions in conservation issues...

Alguns Pesticidas organoclorados (OCPs) podem causar numerosos efeitos adversos na biota. As tartarugas marinhas enfrentam diversas ameaças, em especial aquelas relacionadas às atividades antropogênicas, por isso o desenvolvimento de melhorias nos métodos para monitorar compostos químicos são tarefas importantes. Neste trabalho foi desenvolvida uma metodologia baseada na extração QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe) para a detecção de doze OCPs, por cromatografia gasosa com captura de elétrons, em amostras de gordura e fígado de tartarugas verdes. Os limites de quantificação ficaram abaixo de 5.3 ng g-1; com taxas de recuperação aceitáveis para a maioria de compostos; efeito matriz médio; calibração da matriz com linearidade variando de 1.0 a 200 ng g-1. Esta metodologia traz contribuições ao estudo de resíduos com efeito adverso na saúde das tartarugas marinhas, sendo importante instrumento para novas direções em temas de conservação...

Endocrine disruptors in water filters used in the Rio dos Sinos Basin region, Southern Brazil / Disruptores endócrinos em filtros de água utilizados na região da Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio dos Sinos no Sul do Brasil

The activated carbon filter is used in residences as another step in the treatment of drinking water, based on a physical-chemical process to absorb pollutants that are not removed in conventional treatment. Endocrine disruptors (EDCs) are exogenous substances or mixtures of substances that acts on the endocrine system similarly to the endogenously produced hormones, triggering malfunctions and harmful changes to human and animal health. The objective of the present work was to study EDCs through semi-quantitative analysis of residential water filters collected in the region of Rio dos Sinos basin, focusing on two specific classes: hormones and phenols. The solid phase extraction principle was used for the extraction of compounds and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry for the separation and characterization of EDCs. Four samples of residential filters collected from public water distribution and artesian wells, from the cities of Novo Hamburgo and São Leopoldo were analysed. Using the developed methodology, it was possible to detect and comparatively quantify selected EDCs in all studied samples, which indicates the presence of these contaminants in drinking water from different sources.

O filtro de carvão ativado é utilizado em residências como mais uma etapa no processo de tratamento da água potável, tendo como base um processo físico-químico para adsorção de poluentes presentes na água que não são removidos no tratamento convencional. Os Disruptores Endócrinos (DEs) são substâncias ou misturas exógenas que atuam no sistema endócrino de maneira similar aos hormônios produzidos endogenamente, desencadeando disfunções e alterações nocivas à saúde humana e animal. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi estudar DEs através da análise semi-quantitativa de amostras de filtros de água coletados na região da bacia do Rio dos Sinos focando em duas classes químicas: hormômios estrogênicos e fenóis. Foram utilizados os princípios da técnica de extração em fase sólida (SPE) para a extração dos compostos, e cromatografia gasosa acoplada à espectrometria de massas para a separação e detecção de DEs. Foram analisadas quatro amostras de filtros residenciais provenientes de água tratada e água de poço artesiano, das cidades de Novo Hamburgo e São Leopoldo. Com o método desenvolvido foi possível detectar e quantificar comparativamente DEs selecionados em todas as amostras estudadas, o que indica a presença desses contaminantes na água de consumo humano oriunda de diferentes fontes.

Endocrine disruptors in water filters used in the Rio dos Sinos Basin region, Southern Brazil

p>The activated carbon filter is used in residences as another step in the treatment of drinking water, based on a physical-chemical process to absorb pollutants that are not removed in conventional treatment. Endocrine disruptors (EDCs) are exogenous substances or mixtures of substances that acts on the endocrine system similarly to the endogenously produced hormones, triggering malfunctions and harmful changes to human and animal health. The objective of the present work was to study EDCs through semi-quantitative analysis of residential water filters collected in the region of Rio dos Sinos basin, focusing on two specific classes: hormones and phenols. The solid phase extraction principle was used for the extraction of compounds and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry for the separation and characterization of EDCs. Four samples of residential filters collected from public water distribution and artesian wells, from the cities of Novo Hamburgo and São Leopoldo were analysed. Using the developed methodology, it was possible to detect and comparatively quantify selected EDCs in all studied samples, which indicates the presence of these contaminants in drinking water from different sources. /p>

p>O filtro de carvão ativado é utilizado em residências como mais uma etapa no processo de tratamento da água potável, tendo como base um processo físico-químico para adsorção de poluentes presentes na água que não são removidos no tratamento convencional. Os Disruptores Endócrinos (DEs) são substâncias ou misturas exógenas que atuam no sistema endócrino de maneira similar aos hormônios produzidos endogenamente, desencadeando disfunções e alterações nocivas à saúde humana e animal. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi estudar DEs através da análise semi-quantitativa de amostras de filtros de água coletados na região da bacia do Rio dos Sinos focando em duas classes químicas: hormômios estrogênicos e fenóis. Foram utilizados os princípios da técnica de extração em fase sólida (SPE) para a extração dos compostos, e cromatografia gasosa acoplada à espectrometria de massas para a separação e detecção de DEs. Foram analisadas quatro amostras de filtros residenciais provenientes de água tratada e água de poço artesiano, das cidades de Novo Hamburgo e São Leopoldo. Com o método desenvolvido foi possível detectar e quantificar comparativamente DEs selecionados em todas as amostras estudadas, o que indica a presença desses contaminantes na água de consumo humano oriunda de diferentes fontes. /p>

Assessment of biodegradability of PVC containing cellulose by white rot fungus

Aims: Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is the most widely used and environmentally damaging plastic. Processing, production and disposal of PVC cause release of toxic chlorine based compounds into environment. The objective of the present study was to assess the biodegradability of cellulose blended PVC by white rot fungi i.e. Phanerochaete chrysosporium. Methodology and results: Biodegradability of the strain for the polymer was tested on plate assay, sturm test, soil burial and shake flask experiments. The biodegradability of the polymer was determined by visual changes, plate assay and carbon dioxide production. Morphological changes in the polymer such as pits, extensive spotting, clear surface erosion, fungal attachment, roughening and deterioration of some parts were observed using scanning electron microscopy. Chemical changes like appearance and shortening of peaks using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy also confirmed the biodegradability of the polymer. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: The present study confirmed that mixing of small amount of cellulose increases the hydrophilicity of the polymer and lead to its microbial degradation and Phanerochaete chrysosporium has great potential for the treatment of solid waste containing plastics.

Chemical composition of ice pops produced in a microindustry from hidalgo, Mexico / Composición quimica de paletas congeladas producidas en una microindustria de hidalgo, México

The chemical composition of water and milk based ice pops produced by a microindustry in Hidalgo, Mexico were determined. Fifteen samples of several flavors were analyzed. The proximate composition was carried out according AOAC techniques. The identification and quantification of fatty acids in the milk based ice pops was performed by Gas Chromatography provided with a flame ionization detector. Water based ice pops did not present a significant nutritional value. Regarding milk based ice pops all samples contained from 6.83 to 12.7% offat and some samples showed interesting contents of protein (3.55 and 4.21%). The fatty acid profile revealed higher contents of unsaturated fatty acids compared with saturated fatty acids. Trans fatty acids were detected in five of seven milk based samples, representing 20-60% of total fatty acids. Analysis showed that the mixes used to prepare ice pops are different according to their flavor, kind, and amount of fruit which alters their nutritional value and the levels of trans-fatty acids.

Se determinó la composición química de paletas congeladas, en base agua y en base láctea, producidas por una microindustria en Hidalgo, México. Se analizaron quince muestras de diferentes sabores. La composición proximal se llevó a cabo de acuerdo a las técnicas de la AOAC. La identificación y cuantificación de ácidos grasos en las paletas base láctea se realizó por cromatografía de gases con detector de ionización de llama. Las paletas base agua no presentaron un valor nutricional significativo. Con respecto a las paletas base láctea, se observaron contenidos de grasa de 6.83 a 12.7%; algunas presentaron valores interesantes de proteína (3.55 y 4.21%). El perfil de ácidos grasos reveló altos contenidos de ácidos grasos insaturados comparados con los saturados. Cinco de las siete paletas de base láctea analizadas presentaron ácidos grasos trans, representando 20-60% del total de ácidos grasos. Los análisis realizados han mostrado que las mezclas usadas para preparar las paletas son diferentes de acuerdo a su sabor, tipo y cantidad de fruta la cual modifica el valor nutricional y el nivel de ácidos grasos trans.

Biodegradación ee compuestos orgánicospersistenes (cop): i. el caso de los biffenilospoliclorados (pbb) / Biodegradation Of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs): I The Case Of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB)

Los contaminantes orgánicos persistentes poseen propiedades tóxicas, son resistentes a la degradación, se bioacumulan y son transportados por el aire, el agua y las especies migratorias a través de las fronteras internacionales; en consecuencia se depositan lejos del lugar de su liberación, acumulándose en ecosistemas terrestres y acuáticos. Para atender a esta problemática a nivel mundial se firmó el 23 de mayo de 2001 el Convenio de Estocolmo. Aunque por ahora los COP estan prohibidos en la mayoria de los países, todavía existen en el mundo muchos sitios contaminados con estas sustancias. La remediación de sitios que presentan contaminantes orgánicos persistentes requiere consideraciones distintas a las contempladas en la recupe-ración por contaminación de hidrocarburos. El siguiente texto revisa la literatura sobre la biodegradación anaeróbica y aeróbica de los bifeniles policlorados (PCB) y las posibles estrategias para estimular dicha biodegradación. La degradación de los demás COP será descritas en textos adicionales.

Persistent organic pollutants are chemicals that are toxic to humans and wildlife, remain intact in the environment for long periods, accumulate in living organisms and can become widely distributed geographically by air, water or migrating species. As a result, these contaminants have been found all over the world including in places, such as the Polar Regions, which are very far from their application site. The Stockholm Convention was signed in 23/5/01 in order to cope with this international environmental problem. Although POPs were banned by most countries, there are still a lot of sites contaminated with these substances. The remediation of these sites is problematic and requires distinct considerations from those which are established for hydrocarbon remediation. This manuscript reviews the literature about anaerobic and aerobic biodegradation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and possible strategies to stimulate these processes. The degradation of the other POPs would be reviewed in additional texts.