Temperature modulates estrone degradation and biological effects of exposure in fathead minnows.

Environmental pollutants, including estrogens, are widespread in aquatic environments frequently as a result of treated wastewater effluent discharged. Exposure to estrogens has been correlated with disruption of the normal physiological and reproductive function in aquatic organisms, which could impair the sustainability of exposed populations. However, assessing the effects of estrogen exposure on individuals is complicated by the fact that rates of chemical uptake and environmental degradation are temperature dependent. Because annual temperature regimes often coincide with critical periods of biological activity, temperature-dependent changes in estrogen degradation efficacy during wastewater treatment could modulate biological effects. We examined the interactions between ambient water temperature and degradation of estrone (E1) during wastewater treatment. In addition, we exposed mature fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) to three environmentally relevant concentrations of E1 at four different water temperatures (15°C, 18°C, 21°C, and 24°C) to reflect natural seasonal variation. E1 degradation occurred with and without the support of robust nitrification at all temperatures; however, the onset of E1 degradation was delayed at cooler water temperatures. In addition, we observed significant interactive effects between temperature and E1 exposure. Female morphometric endpoints were more susceptible to temperature-modulating effects while physiological endpoints were more strongly affected in males. Collectively, the data demonstrate that natural seasonal fluctuations in temperature are sufficient to affect E1 degradation during wastewater treatment and induce sex-dependent physiological and anatomical changes in exposed fish.

Thermal modulation of anthropogenic estrogen exposure on a freshwater fish at two life stages.

Human-mediated environmental change can induce changes in the expression of complex behaviors within individuals and alter the outcomes of interactions between individuals. Although the independent effects of numerous stressors on aquatic biota are well documented (e.g., exposure to environmental contaminants), fewer studies have examined how natural variation in the ambient environment modulates these effects. In this study, we exposed reproductively mature and larval fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) to three environmentally relevant concentrations (14, 22, and 65ng/L) of a common environmental estrogen, estrone (E1), at four water temperatures (15, 18, 21, and 24°C) reflecting natural spring and summer variation. We then conducted a series of behavioral experiments to assess the independent and interactive effects of temperature and estrogen exposure on intra- and interspecific interactions in three contexts with important fitness consequences; reproduction, foraging, and predator evasion. Our data demonstrated significant independent effects of temperature and/or estrogen exposure on the physiology, survival, and behavior of larval and adult fish. We also found evidence suggesting that thermal regime can modulate the effects of exposure on larval survival and predator-prey interactions, even within a relatively narrow range of seasonally fluctuating temperatures. These findings improve our understanding of the outcomes of interactions between anthropogenic stressors and natural abiotic environmental factors, and suggest that such interactions can have ecological and evolutionary implications for freshwater populations and communities.

Assessing the similarity of burnout dimensions in two business samples.

The concept of career burnout has been investigated in a wide variety of human services settings. Several investigations have extended the study of burnout to individuals in private sector reorganizations although burnout factors have only been derived on one sample of private sector employees. In the current research, burnout factors from previous private sector research were replicated. Results showed a strong congruency between factors from the two studies. Support was provided for rewording burnout questions from the human services scales for private sector research.

Any nurse can prevent dehumanization by the CCU experience.

This presentation deals with the Air Force Nurse as a movice assigned to a CCU area and her contributions to patient care as a member of the Air Force Health Care Team. The novice nurse's contributions to the patients care lie in her ability to manage expected behavioral responses to the CCU experience even with a basic working knowledge of normal sinus rhythm and CPR procedure. The expected responses to the CCU expereince discussed are: anxiety, denial, depression, and aggressive sexual behavior. These usual behavioral responses have, at times, been referred to as "a disease of medical progress" or the so-called "intensive care syndrome". The nurse is in a key position to observe the patient's behavioral responses since she spends most of the time with the patient. When these behavioral patterns are considered as part of a normal patterns of adaptation, the nurse can utilize these for effective management of the patient's hospitalization experience as well as an indicator to the patient standpoint in his process of adaptation. It would be wise to mention that the detailed manifestations and primary causes of these behavioral responses should be part of the nurse's working knowledge and can be easily referred to in recent texts on coronary care nursing. The presentation progresses to specific discussion on nursing intervention of the behavioral responses. In summary, the Air Force novice nurse to a CCU area can be an equally contributory member on the Health Care Team if not compelled to place an exaggerated amount of attention on equipment, but focus more on the patient, leaving more technical learning until she becomes more aware of the unit administration and has the opportunity to attend a coronary training course.