Acute Exposure to Two Biocides Causes Morphological and Molecular Changes in the Gill Ciliary Epithelium of the Invasive Golden Mussel Limnoperna fortunei (Dunker, 1857).

Limnoperna fortunei, the golden mussel, is a bivalve mollusk considered an invader in South America. This species is responsible for ecological and economic damages due to its voluminous fouling capability. Chemical biocides such as MXD-100™ and sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC) are often used to control L. fortunei infestations in hydraulic systems. Thus, we proposed to investigate the effects of different periods (24, 48 and 72 h) of exposure to MXD-100™ (0.56 mg L-1) and NaDCC (1.5 mg L-1) on the gills of L. fortunei through morphological and molecular analyses. NaDCC promoted progressive morphological changes during the analyzed periods and only an upregulation of SOD and HSP70 expression during the first 24 h of exposure. MXD-100™ led to severe morphological changes from the first period of exposure, in addition to an upregulation of SOD, CAT, HSP70 and CYP expression during the first 24 h. In contrast, MXD-100™ led to a downregulation of CAT transcription between 24 and 48 h. In static conditions, NaDCC causes lethal damage after 72 h of exposure, and that exposure needs to be continuous to achieve the control of the species. Meanwhile, the MXD-100™ treatment presented several effects during the first 24 h, showing acute toxicity in a shorter period of time.

Impact of the affected population size assessment on the decision-making after a nuclear event.

In this study an improvised nuclear device (IND) is simulated using a software called HotSpot. The explosion took place in a theoretical central business district (CBD), for the major issue addressed in this paper is the comparison of two methods used for estimating the size of the potentially affected population. The first method estimates the size by multiplying the local average demographic density by the area of the zone of interest. The second method uses the population density gradient model developed by Colin Clark in 1951. The comparison of the two methods enables authorities to better estimate the allocation of resources. The conservative approach allocates the maximum resources possible. However, the Clark model enables a more realistic approach which allocates minimum resources to the emergency response. This study shows how accurate information can be quintessential for authorities to maximize the efficiency of their decisions.

Potential urban threat after a radiological fire event.

An accident involving both fire and radioactive material might eventually deteriorate into a dual-threat situation. Such scenario connects two important consequences: (a) fire damage and (b) radiation health threat. Computational simulations considering hypothetic fire scenarios in hospitals using radioactive material can provide valuable information about such an event. The initial decision in regards to an emergency response should consider the fire consequences and radiation doses distribution in the environment with consequences appearing at different times. While the fire presents an immediate threat, radiation exposure also creates immediate and future concerns. The purpose of this study is to evaluate leukemia risk from a hypothetical radiological fire event in a hospital operating Cs-137 gamma blood irradiator. The simulation in this study used the Hotspot Health Physics software to generate output data such as total effective dose (TED). The data from HotSpot was then used as an input to the leukemia risk equations from Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation Committee V and VII (BEIR V and VII) models accordingly. Results suggest that the risks are dependent of wind speed and height of release; however, when age and sex are taken into account different outputs are shown. Also, the risk model can be changed from BEIR VII (low doses) to BEIR V (high doses) as radiation doses rise due to its time-dependent behavior. Such change would bring potential impacts on logistics and risk communication.

Microbial composition of a hydropower cooling water system reveals thermophilic bacteria with a possible role in primary biofilm formation.

Microfouling, ie biofilm formation on surfaces, can have an economic impact and requires costly maintenance in water-powered energy generation systems. In this study, the microbiota of a cooling system (filter and heat exchanger) in the Irapé hydroelectric power plant in Brazil was examined. The goal was to identify bacteria that could be targeted to more efficiently reduce biofilm formation. Two sampling campaigns were made corresponding to two well-defined seasons of the Brazilian Cerrado biome: the dry (campaign 1) and the wet (campaign 2). Microfouling communities varied considerably over time in samples obtained at different times after the last clearance of the heat exchanger. The thermophilic bacteria Meiothermus, Thermomonas and Symbiobacterium were exclusive and abundant in the microfouling of the heat exchanger in campaign 2, while methanotrophs and iron-reducing bacteria were abundant only in filter sediments. These findings could help to guide strategies for ecofriendly measures to reduce biofilm fouling in hydroelectric power plants, minimizing environmental and economic losses.

Urban critical infrastructure disruption after a radiological dispersive device event.

This study aims to evaluate the impacts of the activation of a hypothetical radiological dispersal device (RDD) on the urban critical infrastructure (health facilities and public transport). A densely populated urban region was chosen as a scenery. Additionally, the influence of local environmental factors in the post-detonation process was verified. The source term was Cs-137 due to its mobility in the environment and relative ease of access. The approach used for the evaluation of the consequences was a computer simulation by Gaussian modeling. The HotSpot Health Physics Codes software was applied in conjunction with the RESRAD-RDD software. The results suggest that there is a strong influence of the local atmospheric stability classes (Pasquill-Gifford classes) on both the total equivalent effective dose (TEDE) and soil contamination. Consequently, the impacts on critical urban infrastructure follow the same trend. The method used for comparing the simulated and reference limits was the proportional ratio. All calculated values for radioactive contamination were divided by the reference value adopted by the RESRAD-RDD model for urban critical infrastructure. The results indicate that the information compiled is useful to support the decision-making process, although it is not sufficient to provide care and support for longer periods than those considered in the initial response phase.

Comparative modeling of proteins: a method for engaging students' interest in bioinformatics tools.

The huge increase in data being produced in the genomic era has produced a need to incorporate computers into the research process. Sequence generation, its subsequent storage, interpretation, and analysis are now entirely computer-dependent tasks. Universities from all over the world have been challenged to seek a way of encouraging students to incorporate computational and bioinformatics skills since undergraduation in order to understand biological processes. The aim of this article is to report the experience of awakening students' interest in bioinformatics tools during a course focused on comparative modeling of proteins. The authors start by giving a full description of the course environmental context and students' backgrounds. Then they detail each class and present a general overview of the protein modeling protocol. The positive and negative aspects of the course are also reported, and some of the results generated in class and in projects outside the classroom are discussed. In the last section of the article, general perspectives about the course from students' point of view are given. This work can serve as a guide for professors who teach subjects for which bioinformatics tools are useful and for universities that plan to incorporate bioinformatics into the curriculum.

[New medicines registered in Brazil: can they be considered as a therapeutic advance?]. / Novos medicamentos registrados no Brasil: podem ser considerados como avanço terapêutico?

Technological advances in the last century led to the discovery of a variety of medicines. Their introduction, not always with significant therapeutic gains and not without risk, made the register by regulatory agency an important moment in their evaluation. The aim of this study was to analyze 49 new medicines registered by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), between the years 2000 and 2002 and commercialized in the first half of 2003, considering their therapeutic advantage. Most medicines (42.9%) were from the American pharmaceutical industry. Most of them (63.3%) were classified as a new molecular entity, followed by the new fixed dose combinations (28.6%). Seventy-five percent were registered at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It was possible to obtain the classification of its New Drug Application (NDA) according to their therapeutic potential to 33 medicines and 57.6% of them were classified as standard. Most of the new registered medicines did not provide any therapeutic advantage. It is suggested that Anvisa disseminate the analysis information on innovation, efficacy, safety, brought (or not) by new drugs. This kind of information is important to consumers, health professionals and health managers.

Instabilidade ântero-inferior traumática do ombro: Procedimento de Bankart em atletas não profissionais / Traumatic Antero-inferior instability of the shoulfer: Bankart's procedure in nonprofessional athletes

Foram avaliados vinte e um atletas não profissionais (vinte e um ombros) no período de Fevereiro de 1999 a Março de 2002 com idade média de 26,63 anos portadores de instabilidade antero-inferior traumática. Todos foram submetidos ao tratamento cirúrgico pela técnica de Bankart com âncoras. O retensionamento capsuloligamentar foi realizado quando o sinal do sulco foi detectado ao exame físico ou durante o ato cirúrgico. Segundo os critérios de Rowe et al., obteve-se quinze resultados excelentes, três bons, dois regulares e um ruim. No pós-operatório, a mádia da rotação interna, utilizando o nível vertebrala como parâmetro foi de T12, rotação externa de 27,19 graus e a abdução medial de 166,80 graus, o teste do sulco foi positivo em um (4,76 por cento) paciente e houve recidiva em dois (9,52 por cento). O retorno as atividades esportivas deu-se em 16 atletas (76,19 por cento). Um dos principais fatores relacionados ao abandono e à reabilitação parcial foram o medo de recorrência da dor residual e instabilidade.