From species descriptions to diversity patterns: the validation of taxonomic data as a keystone for ant diversity studies reproducibility and accuracy.

Research findings in natural sciences need to be comparable and reproducible to effectively improve our understanding of ecological and behavioural patterns. In this sense, knowledge frontiers in biodiversity studies are directly tied to taxonomic research, especially in species-rich tropical regions. Here we analysed the taxonomic information available in 470 studies on Brazilian ant diversity published in the last 50 years. We aimed to quantify the proportion of studies that provide enough data to validate taxonomic identification, explore the frequency of studies that properly acknowledge their taxonomic background, and investigate the primary resources for ant identification in Brazil. We found that most studies on Brazilian ant diversity (73.6%) explicitly stated the methods used to identify their specimens. However, the proportion of papers that provide complete data for the repository institutions and vouchered specimens is vanishingly small (5.8%). Additionally, only 40.0% of the studies consistently presented taxon authorities and years of description, rarely referencing taxonomic publications correctly. In turn, the number of specialists and institutions consulted for ant identification in Brazil has increased in the last years, along with the number of studies that explicitly provide their taxonomic procedures for ant identification. Our findings highlight a shift between generations regarding the recognition of taxonomy as fundamental science, deepening our understanding of biodiversity.

Testing the context dependence of ant nutrient preference across habitat strata and trophic levels in Neotropical biomes.

Animals are integrated into the wider ecosystem via their foraging and behavior. The compensation hypothesis predicts that animals target their foraging efforts (i) toward nutrients that are scarce in the environment and (ii) toward nutrients that are not present in the usual diet of species, which varies across trophic levels. Understanding how foraging for resources varies locally, such as across habitat strata, and trophic levels will help to elucidate the links between the local environment and communities to the ecological functions that animals mediate. We examined whether the relative resource use of ants varies consistently along a habitat strata gradient and across trophic levels across Neotropical biomes. We placed 4500 baited tubes, each containing one of five liquid resources (sugar, amino acid, lipid, sodium, and distilled water) in one of three habitat strata (subterranean, epigaeic, and arboreal) across 60 transects in Amazon, Atlantic Forest, Caatinga, Cerrado, Pampa, and Pantanal biomes. We assessed the relative resource use of all ants across the habitat strata and among two different trophic groups across biomes. The relative preference for sugar increased from subterranean to arboreal strata in all biomes, while the relative preference for lipids decreased at this gradient in five biomes. We also found that in general sugar-consuming ants foraged more for sugar and less for lipids than predatory ants across biomes. Conversely, we found no consistency across biomes in nutrient preference of amino acid and sodium across habitat strata or trophic levels. Overall, our results indicate sugar limitation in the arboreal stratum and lipid limitation on the ground across biomes and that the trophic level of ants strongly determines their foraging efforts-possibly because ants try to fix their dietary nutrient imbalances. Hence, our findings suggest strong local niche partitioning of sugar and lipid use across habitat strata and trophic levels and that other large spatial scale processes influence the local amino acid and sodium dynamics.

Os animais se integram nos ecossistemas pelos seus esforços e comportamento de forrageio. A hipótese da compensação prevê que os animais direcionam seus esforços de forrageio para (i) nutrientes que são escassos no ambiente e (ii) para nutrientes que não estão presentes em sua dieta, que variam entre os níveis tróficos. Assim, entender como a busca de recursos varia localmente entre os estratos de habitat e entre níveis tróficos, ajudará a entender as conexões entre o ambiente e suas comunidades com as funções ecológicas mediadas pelos animais. Avaliamos se o uso relativo de recursos das formigas varia consistentemente em um gradiente de estratos de habitat e em diferentes níveis tróficos nos biomas Neotropicais. Disponibilizamos um total de 4.500 tubos contendo um de cinco recursos líquidos (açúcar, aminoácido, lipídio, sódio e água destilada) em três estratos de habitat (subterrâneo, epigéico e arbóreo) em 60 transectos distribuídos nos biomas Amazônia, Mata Atlântica, Caatinga, Cerrado, Pampa e Pantanal. Avaliamos o uso relativo de recursos de todas as formigas ao longo dos estratos de habitat e entre dois grupos tróficos diferentes nos biomas. A preferência relativa por açúcar aumentou do estrato subterrâneo para o arbóreo em todos os biomas, enquanto a preferência relativa por lipídios diminuiu neste gradiente em cinco biomas. Também descobrimos que, em geral, as formigas consumidoras de açúcar procuram mais açúcar e menos lipídios do que as formigas predadoras nos biomas. Por outro lado, não encontramos consistência entre biomas na preferência nutricional de aminoácidos e sódio nos estratos de habitat ou níveis tróficos. No geral, nossos resultados indicam limitação de açúcar no estrato arbóreo e limitação de lipídios no solo em todos os biomas e que o nível trófico das formigas determina fortemente seus esforços de forrageamento - possivelmente porque as formigas tentam corrigir seus desequilíbrios de nutrientes na dieta. Portanto, nossas descobertas sugerem forte partição de nicho local de uso de açúcar e lipídios em estratos de habitat e níveis tróficos e que outros processos de grande escala espacial influenciam a dinâmica local de aminoácidos e sódio.

A risk assessment by metal contamination in a river used for public water supply.

Aquatic ecosystems provide habitats for many organisms. Historically, riverbanks have always been inhabited and exploited for subsistence and navigation. The present study evaluates the contamination and ecological risks caused by potentially toxic elements in surface sediments of the Paraguaçu River, Bahia, Brazil. Seven sediments samples were collected, and eight heavy metals were determined employing inductively coupled plasma spectrometry mass (ICP-MS). The concentrations range as (mg kg-1) found were 6.78-18.68 for lead, 14.21-42.16 for zinc, 27.61-48.63 for nickel, 2.03-6.50 for chromium, 6.06-12.90 for vanadium, 5.99-13.33 for cupper, 1.25-3.19 for cobalt, and 79.52-286.08 for manganese. Nickel showed significant enrichment (EF: 5.75; 7.62, and 14.11), followed by zinc, which showed moderate enrichment (EF: 2.16; 2.19, and 4.52). These enrichment levels are possible of anthropogenic origin. When the pollution index (PI) was evaluated, the elements V, Ni, Zn, Mn, Co, and Cu were strongly polluted (PI ≥3). In general, the pollution index (PI), geoaccumulation index (Igeo), enrichment factor (EF), and potential ecological risk indices (Er and PERI) show that contaminated sediments have adverse effects on aquatic environments, especially for o Mn, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn.

ATLANTIC ANTS: a data set of ants in Atlantic Forests of South America.

Ants, an ecologically successful and numerically dominant group of animals, play key ecological roles as soil engineers, predators, nutrient recyclers, and regulators of plant growth and reproduction in most terrestrial ecosystems. Further, ants are widely used as bioindicators of the ecological impact of land use. We gathered information of ant species in the Atlantic Forest of South America. The ATLANTIC ANTS data set, which is part of the ATLANTIC SERIES data papers, is a compilation of ant records from collections (18,713 records), unpublished data (29,651 records), and published sources (106,910 records; 1,059 references), including papers, theses, dissertations, and book chapters published from 1886 to 2020. In total, the data set contains 153,818 ant records from 7,636 study locations in the Atlantic Forest, representing 10 subfamilies, 99 genera, 1,114 ant species identified with updated taxonomic certainty, and 2,235 morphospecies codes. Our data set reflects the heterogeneity in ant records, which include ants sampled at the beginning of the taxonomic history of myrmecology (the 19th and 20th centuries) and more recent ant surveys designed to address specific questions in ecology and biology. The data set can be used by researchers to develop strategies to deal with different macroecological and region-wide questions, focusing on assemblages, species occurrences, and distribution patterns. Furthermore, the data can be used to assess the consequences of changes in land use in the Atlantic Forest on different ecological processes. No copyright restrictions apply to the use of this data set, but we request that authors cite this data paper when using these data in publications or teaching events.

Bioprospection of ligninolytic enzymes from marine origin filamentous fungi.

Fungi are excellent producers of extracellular enzymes. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the screening of marine fungi, which are laccase and manganese peroxidase potential producers, in solid fermentation for future applications in bioremediation processes of contaminated sites. For this purpose, two-level factorial planning was adopted, using time (6 and 15 days) and the absence or presence of oil (0 and 1%) as factors. The semi-quantitative evaluation was carried out by calculating radial growth, enzyme activity and enzyme index by measuring phenol red or syringaldazine oxidation halo. The results showed that all the studied strains showed a positive result for manganese peroxidase production, with an enzymatic activity in solid medium less than 0.61, indicating a strongly positive activity. Through the enzyme index, the study also showed prominence for Penicillium sp. strains, with values > 2. The enzyme index increase in oil presence and the inexpressive use of the genera studied for ligninolytic enzymes production from crude oil demonstrated these data importance for fermentative processes optimization. Considering the ability of these strains to develop into recalcitrant compounds and the potential for manganese peroxidase production, they are indicated for exploitation in various bioremediation technologies, as well as other biotechnological applications.

Temperature and productivity distinctly affect the species richness of ectothermic and endothermic multitrophic guilds along a tropical elevational gradient.

The diversity of endotherms and ectotherms may be differently affected by ambient temperature and net primary productivity (NPP). Additionally, little is known about how these drivers affect the diversity of guilds of different trophic levels. We assessed the relative role of temperature and NPP in multitrophic guilds of ectothermic (arthropods: ants, ground beetles, spiders, and harvestmen) and endothermic (large mammals) animals along a tropical elevational gradient. We sampled arthropods at eight elevation belts and large mammals at 14 elevation belts in Atlantic rainforest (ranging from 600 to 2450 m.a.s.l.) of Itatiaia National Park, Southeast Brazil. Overall arthropod species richness was more associated with temperature than overall large-mammal species richness, while the latter was more associated with NPP. When separated into trophic guilds, we found that the species richness associated with NPP increased across arthropod trophic levels from herbivores to predators. Conversely, although NPP influenced large-mammal herbivore species richness, its effects did not seem to accumulate across large-mammal trophic levels since the species richness of large-mammal omnivores was more associated with temperature and none of the variables we studied influenced large-mammal predators. We suggest that thermal physiological differences between ectotherms and endotherms are responsible for the way in which arthropods and large mammals interact with or are constrained by the environment. Furthermore, the inconsistency regarding the role of temperature and NPP on species richness across multitrophic guilds of ectotherms and endotherms could indicate that thermal physiological differences might also interfere with energy use and flux in the food web.

Diaspore Removal by Ants Does Not Reflect the Same Patterns of Ant Assemblages in Mining and Rehabilitation Areas.

Mining is responsible for drastic ecosystem changes and rehabilitation is used to promote the return of functions after these impacts. In this scenario, we investigated the responses of ant assemblages and diaspore removal by ants to the transformations caused by mining and rehabilitation predicting that (a) the increase in plant density (a proxy for mining intensity) led to an increase in ant richness, percentage of diaspores removed, and changes in species composition that in turn are correlated with changes in environmental variables; (b) the increase in vegetation structure (a proxy for rehabilitation ages) led to an increase in ant richness, percentage of diaspores removed, and changes in species composition that in turn are correlated with changes in environmental variables. Additionally, we also verified which functional groups were primarily responsible for diaspore removal. We sampled arboreal and epigeic ants, diaspore removal by ants, and environmental variables. We found that ant richness and diaspore removal in mining intensity gradient are positively correlated to plant density. Although vegetation structure is positively correlated with ant richness, we found no changes in diaspore removal in rehabilitation gradient. Epigeic omnivore and epigeic generalist predator ants were the most responsible for diaspore removal. Then, we observed that mining decreases ant richness, altering ant assemblages and their functions, and rehabilitation with exotic plants is ineffective to promote the colonization by the main diaspore-removing ants.

Analysis of column reactor results with organic decay by native organic microbiota and varying permeability.

Field bio-remediation techniques (FBRT) can be a low cost method to avoid the removal of top layers of soil which are rich in organic matter and bio diversity. The use of native microorganisms in FBRT is preferable because non-indigenous species can transfer their genetic material to the environment with negative impacts on the local ecological equilibrium. Petroleum Produced Water (PPW) is an important pollutant source in onshore production areas. However, due to high sodium concentrations in PPW and the occurrence of organic matter in dissolved and dispersed forms, obtaining pollutant transport parameters may be a difficult task. Results of column tests performed using a natural soil permeated by PPW are presented. All the samples presented a permeability decrease over time and the total hydrocarbon petroleum (TPH) breakthrough curves presented evidence of biological decay. Soil samples underwent biological characterization after tests (Metagenomic analyses and cultural media tests). Curves were modelled in an incremental way using a non-constant decay rate to better simulate the growing process of the microorganisms and consider the occurrence of varying velocity/permeability. Biological characterization results indicate the native organisms that are potentially more able to degrade PPW, including four bacteria (Bacillus and Lysinibacillus genus) and two fungi species (Malassezia and Talaromyces genus) that have not previously been mentioned in the consulted literature. The obtained results contribute to the development of more sustainable FBRTs focusing on native microorganisms, already adapted to the local environmental conditions.

Determination of Cu, Ni, Mn and Zn in diesel oil samples using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry after solid phase extraction using sisal fiber.

As a natural adsorbent, sisal (agave sisalana) fibers were used to extract Cu, Ni, Mn, and Zn from diesel oil samples for posterior determination (i.e., direct analytical measurements on the solid support) of the analytes by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (EDXRF). In the proposed procedure, 0.2 g of sisal fiber was directly added to 5.0 mL of diesel oil contained in a glass tube. After 5 min of contact time, the mixture was filtered, and the collected fibers were oven-dried for 30 min at 70 °C. After drying, the analytes were quantified directly by EDXRF using the sisal fibers as a solid support. The calibration curves showed linear concentration ranges of 0.09-1.00, 0.12-1.00, 0.09-1.00, 0.06-1.0 µg g-1 for Cu, Ni, Mn, and Zn, respectively. The limits of detection (LOD) for Cu, Ni, Mn, and Zn were 0.03, 0.04, 0.03, and 0.02 µg g-1, respectively. The repeatability, evaluated by performing ten measurements at a concentration of 0.50 µg g-1 for each metal, with the results expressed in terms of the relative standard deviation (RSD), was 3.2, 6.5, 6.8, and 6.1% for Cu, Ni, Mn, and Zn, respectively. The results obtained by the proposed method were compared with the results obtained by a comparative method using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry, and both results showed good agreement. The proposed method was applied for Ni, Cu, Mn, and Zn determination in diesel oil samples collected from different gas stations.

Violência no trabalho da enfermagem nos serviços hospitalares: ponderações teóricas / Violence against nursing workers in hospital settings: theoretical considerations / Violencia en el trabajo de enfermería en servicios hospitales: ponderaciones teóricos

Objetivo: analisar nas produções científicas a violência no trabalho contra profissionais de Enfermagem que atuam no serviço hospitalar. Método: trata-se de um estudo bibliográfico, descritivo, tipo revisão integrativa da literatura, abrangendo estudos científicos nacionais, no período entre 2015 a 2020, encontrados nas bases de dados LILACS, BDENF e MEDLINE, utilizando os descritores controlados. Analisaram-se os resultados de forma descritiva. Resultados: evidenciaram-se, pelos artigos encontrados, inadequadas condições de trabalho, como superlotação, carga horária de trabalho exaustiva, o que coloca em risco a exposição a estresse ocupacional e violência laboral. Demonstrou-se, da mesma forma, a presença de violência contra os profissionais de Enfermagem por parte dos usuários e, até mesmo, por outros profissionais da equipe. Conclusão: imbrica-se a violência no espaço laboral contra a equipe de Enfermagem de tal maneira que tem se tornado estrutural. Conclui-se que o paulatino sucateamento do SUS tem precarizado sobremaneira as relações de trabalho e tem causado efeito danoso na equipe de Enfermagem.(AU)

Objective: to analyze violence against nursing professionals in hospital settings in scientific productions. Method: this is a bibliographic, descriptive, and integrative literature review, covering national scientific studies published from 2015 to 2020, found in the LILACS, BDENF, and MEDLINE databases using controlled descriptors. The results were analyzed descriptively. Results: the articles reviewed show inadequate working conditions such as overcrowding and exhaustive workload, which generates exposure to occupational stress and occupational violence. Violence against nursing professionals by users and even by other professionals in the team was demonstrated. Conclusion: violence against the Nursing team in the workplace is interwoven so that it has become structural. It is concluded that the gradual precariousness of the Unified Health System has made work relationships extremely stressful and has harmed the nursing team.(AU)

Objetivo: analizar en producciones científicas la violencia contra los profesionales de Enfermería que laboran en el servicio hospitalario. Método: se trata de una revisión bibliográfica, descriptiva e integradora de la literatura, sobre estudios científicos nacionales, publicados en el período 2015-2020, encontrados en las bases de datos LILACS, BDENF y MEDLINE, utilizando descriptores controlados. Los resultados se analizaron de forma descriptiva. Resultados: los artículos encontrados evidenciaron condiciones de trabajo inadecuadas, como hacinamiento, carga de trabajo exhaustiva, que causan la exposición al estrés y la violencia laborales. De la misma forma se demostró la presencia de violencia contra los profesionales de enfermería por parte de los usuarios e profesionales del equipo. Conclusión: la violencia en el trabajo contra el equipo de Enfermería se entrelaza de tal manera que se ha vuelto estructural. Se concluye que el desmantelamiento paulatino del SUS ha hecho que las relaciones laborales sean sumamente precarias y ha provocado un efecto nocivo en el equipo de enfermería.(AU)

Temperature and productivity distinctly affect the species richness of ectothermic and endothermic multitrophic guilds along a tropical elevational gradient

The diversity of endotherms and ectotherms may be differently affected by ambient temperature and net primary productivity (NPP). Additionally, little is known about how these drivers affect the diversity of guilds of different trophic levels. We assessed the relative role of temperature and NPP in multitrophic guilds of ectothermic (arthropods: ants, ground beetles, spiders, and harvestmen) and endothermic (large mammals) animals along a tropical elevational gradient. We sampled arthropods at eight elevation belts and large mammals at 14 elevation belts in Atlantic rainforest (ranging from 600 to 2450 m.a.s.l.) of Itatiaia National Park, Southeast Brazil. Overall arthropod species richness was more associated with temperature than overall large-mammal species richness, while the latter was more associated with NPP. When separated into trophic guilds, we found that the species richness associated with NPP increased across arthropod trophic levels from herbivores to predators. Conversely, although NPP influenced large-mammal herbivore species richness, its effects did not seem to accumulate across large-mammal trophic levels since the species richness of large-mammal omnivores was more associated with temperature and none of the variables we studied influenced large-mammal predators. We suggest that thermal physiological differences between ectotherms and endotherms are responsible for the way in which arthropods and large mammals interact with or are constrained by the environment. Furthermore, the inconsistency regarding the role of temperature and NPP on species richness across multitrophic guilds of ectotherms and endotherms could indicate that thermal physiological differences might also interfere with energy use and flux in the food web.

Environmental disaster in the northeast coast of Brazil: Forensic geochemistry in the identification of the source of the oily material.

The characterization of petroleum or its products spilled in the environment in relation to its source rocks is an important tool to assist in the resolution of issues of environmental impact and legal responsibility since it clarifies the possible region or the producing country of that type of petroleum. This article analyzes the application of analytical techniques for petroleum geochemistry to identify the type and origin of oily material collected from beaches in Northeast Brazil in 2019. Samples of the oily material collected on the beaches in the states of Bahia and Sergipe were analyzed and for comparison purposes, samples of crude oils produced in Brazil, Middle East, Nigeria and Venezuela were also analyzed. The analytical results showed that the oily material that reached the beaches has geochemical characteristics compatible with those of the Venezuelan oil, indicating it was severely weathered or a product made with heavy oil produced.

REPERCUSSIONS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN INSTITUTIONAL LABORAL VIOLENCE TO NURSING PROFESSIONALS: COVID19 AND LABORAL VIOLENCE LIVED BY NURSING / REPERCUSIONES DE LA PANDEMIA DE COVID-19 EN VIOLENCIA LABORAL INSTITUCIONAL A PROFESIONALES DE ENFERMERÍA / REPERCUSSÕES DA PANDEMIA DE COVID-19 NA VIOLÊNCIA LABORAL INSTITUCIONAL AOS PROFISSIONAIS DE ENFERMAGEM: COVID19 E VIOLÊNCIA LABORAL VIVIDA PELA ENFERMAGEM

Objective: To discuss institutional labor violence against nursing professionals in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: Reflective study that took place through the analysis of articles relevant to the theme and the current pandemic scenario. Results: It is structured in two topics. In the first moment, entitled Violence in the health sector and the challenges for nursing work, it discusses the violence experienced by nursing in the health sector and how it affects the health of workers and patient safety. In the second moment, entitled The COVID-19 pandemic19 and institutional violence in the SUS, there is a discussion of the institutional violence experienced by nursing in the context of the pandemic by COVID-19, and notes for changes in this reality. Conclusion and implications for the practice: It is urgent that the Public Ministry of Labor, Unions and other inspection bodies are vigilant in the demand for better nursing working conditions, considering that Brazil is among the countries with high mortality due to COVID- 19 among health sector workers. It is suggested that such reflections encourage new research with a higher level of evidence and that they can address the reality experienced by nursing in different regions.

Objetivo: Discutir la violencia laboral institucional contra los profesionales de enfermería ante la pandemia de COVID-19. Método: estudio reflexivo que se realizó através del análisis de artículos relevantes para tema y escenario actual de la pandemia. Resultados: se estructura en dos temas. En el primer momento, titulado Violencia en sector de salud y los desafíos para el trabajo de enfermería, analiza la violencia que experimenta la enfermería en sector de salud y cómo afecta la salud de los trabajadores y la seguridad del paciente. En el segundo momento, titulado COVID-19 pandemia y violencia institucional en el SUS, se discute la violencia institucional experimentada por la enfermería en el contexto de la pandemia por COVID-19, y se observan cambios en esta realidad. Conclusión e implicaciones para la práctica: es urgente que el Ministerio Público de Trabajo, Sindicatos y otros organismos de inspección estén atentos la demanda de mejores condiciones de trabajo de enfermería, considerando que Brasil se encuentra entre los países con alta mortalidad debido a COVID- 19 entre trabajadores del sector salud. Se sugiere que tales reflexiones alienten nuevas investigaciones con un mayor nivel de evidencia y que puedan abordar la realidad que experimenta enfermería en diferentes regiones.

Objetivo: Discutir sobre a violência laboral institucional aos profissionais de enfermagem frente a pandemia de COVID-19. Método: Estudo reflexivo que se deu através da análise de artigos pertinentes ao tema e ao cenário de pandemia atual. Resultados: Está estruturado em dois tópicos. No primeiro momento, intitulado Violência no setor saúde e os desafios para o trabalho da enfermagem, discute-se a violência vivida pela enfermagem no setor saúde e como esta afeta a saúde dos trabalhadores e a segurança do paciente. No segundo momento, intitulado A pandemia de COVID-19 e a violência institucional no SUS, traz-se a discussão da violência institucional vivenciada pela enfermagem no contexto de pandemia por COVID-19, e apontamentos para mudanças dessa realidade. Conclusão e implicações para a prática: É urgente que o Ministério Público do Trabalho, Sindicatos e outros órgãos de fiscalização estejam vigilantes na exigência de melhores condições de trabalho da enfermagem, tendo em vista que o Brasil figura entre os países com alta mortalidade por COVID-19 entre os trabalhadores do setor saúde. Sugere-se que tais reflexões impulsionem novas pesquisas com maior nível de evidência e que possam abordar a realidade vivida pela enfermagem em diferentes regiões.

Sequential determination and chemical speciation analysis of inorganic As and Sb in airborne particulate matter collected in outdoor and indoor environments using slurry sampling and detection by HG AAS.

In this work, fast sequential determination and chemical speciation analysis of inorganic arsenic and antimony in airborne particulate matter collected in outdoor and indoor environments using slurry sampling and detection by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (HG-AAS) is proposed. A Doehlert design was applied to optimise the hydride generation conditions of As and Sb for fast sequential determination in the same aliquot of particulate matter samples after preparation of the slurry. The limits of quantification (LoQ) obtained for As and Sb were 0.3 and 0.9 ng m-3, respectively. The accuracy of the analytical method was confirmed by analysis of the certified reference material of urban particulate matter (SRM NIST 1648a), presenting concordance with certified values of 92.7±7.7% for As and 91.2±9.5% for Sb. Precision was expressed as relative standard deviation (% RSD, n=3), with our results presenting values better than 3.4% and 4.2% for total inorganic As and Sb, respectively. For all analysed samples, total As concentrations and its inorganic species were below the LoQ of the analytical method (<0.3 ng m-3). However, the averages of total inorganic Sb concentrations in airborne particulate matter, collected as total suspended outdoor particles (TSPoutdoor), inhalable particulate matter (PM10), and total suspended indoor particles (TSPindoor), were 3.1±0.5, 2.4±0.6, and 2.6±0.4 ng m-3, respectively. Trivalent Sb (Sb3+) was the predominant inorganic species in all samples investigated, with mean percentages of 76%, 72%, and 73% in TSPoutdoor, PM10, and TSPindoor, respectively. The presence of Sb and its predominant inorganic form (Sb3+) can be attributed to vehicular traffic close to the sampled urban areas. Therefore, fast sequential determination of As and Sb and their inorganic species in particulate matter samples prepared as slurry by FS-HG-AAS is an efficient, accurate, and precise method and can be successfully applied to routine analysis.

Research of OSA seasonal training in the São Paulo River, BTS: a tool to prevent potential ecotoxicological impacts.

Oil exploitation, the basis of the world energy sector, is linked to risks and accidents, causing damage to the affected regions. Oil-suspended particulate matter aggregate (OSA) is a promising technology to mitigate those effects. The present study periodically (February 2016 and July 2016) evaluated the dispersion of oil at 28 points in the São Paulo River's estuary, Todos os Santos Bay, Brazil, analyzing the influence of suspended particulate matter (SPM), particulate organic carbon (POC), ions, and chlorophyll on the formation OSA, targeting the prediction of possible ecotoxicological risks. The results showed that the estuary presented similar characteristics in the expeditions, reflecting the oil dispersion pattern through the formation of OSAs, being 92.86% dispersed in the column in the first and 85.71% in the second expedition. The results also pointed to the possibility of pollution in the food chain, reduced fertility, the emergence of abnormalities and the gradual disappearance of species across the whole river in a possible oil spill.

Optimization of sample preparation procedures for evaluation of the mineral composition of fish feeds using ICP-based methods.

This work describes the application of an experimental design in optimizing the decomposition and spectrometer operational conditions for analysis of fish feeds. The content of 22 elements (six macroelements, four microelements and eleven trace elements) in feeds for fishes (ornamental and for human consumption) was determined by inductively coupled plasma (ICP)-based methods. Limits of quantification were obtained and the values ranged between 0.02 mg kg-1 (Cd) and 76 mg kg-1 (Al). Evaluation of the methods was achieved through analysis of standard reference material, Oyster Tissue (NIST 1566b) and Tea (NCS DC 73351). Element concentrations in feed samples for ornamental fish ranged from <0.02 mg kg-1 (Cd) to 2.79% (P) and for fish breeding for human consumption from <0.02 mg kg-1 (Cd) to 2.00% (Ca). The concentrations of the elements obtained in the analyzed fish feeds were within the limits established by Brazilian and American legislation for regulated elements.

Potential application of oil-suspended particulate matter aggregates (OSA) on the remediation of reflective beaches impacted by petroleum: a mesocosm simulation.

This paper presents the oil-suspended particulate matter aggregate (OSA) resulted from the interaction of droplets of dispersed oil in a water column and particulate matter. This structure reduces the adhesion of oil on solid surfaces, promotes dispersion, and may accelerate degradation processes. The effects of the addition of fine sediments (clay + silt) on the formation of OSA, their impact on the dispersion and degradation of the oil, and their potential use in recovering reflective sandy beaches were evaluated in a mesoscale simulation model. Two simulations were performed (21 days), in the absence and presence of fine sediments, with four units in each simulation using oil from the Recôncavo Basin. The results showed that the use of fine sediment increased the dispersion of the oil in the water column up to four times in relation to the sandy sediment. There was no evidence of the transport of hydrocarbons in bottom sediments associated with fine sediments that would have accelerated the dispersion and degradation rates of the oil. Most of the OSA that formed in this process remained in the water column, where the degradation processes were more effective. Over the 21 days of simulation, we observed a 40 % reduction on average of the levels of saturated hydrocarbons staining the surface oil.

Hydrogel implant is as effective as osteochondral autologous transplantation for treating focal cartilage knee injury in 24 months.

PURPOSE: The treatment approach for a patient with knee joint focal cartilage lesion is a difficult decision. To date, there has been no randomized clinical trial involving Hydrogel (Cartiva™). This study evaluated and compared the results of a hydrogel implant (Cartiva™) with autologous osteochondral transplantation (AOT) for treating knee joint focal cartilage lesions. METHODS: Thirty-eight symptomatic patients, with a focal cartilage lesion of Outerbridge grades III or IV, were randomized into one of two groups according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Group I underwent AOT, and Group II was treated with a Hydrogel implant. Patients were evaluated preoperatively and again postoperatively at 6, 12, and 24 months using the subjective International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) scores, Visual Analog Scale for Pain (VAS Pain), Activities of Daily Living Scale (ADLS) and Lysholm score. RESULTS: Both groups showed significant improvements from baseline (pre-surgery) to post-surgery (6, 12, and 24 months; p < 0.05), but there was no difference between the groups. Regarding complications, prolonged pain was observed in four patients (10.5%), two from each group, with a regression of symptoms within 1 year. CONCLUSION: The Hydrogel implant showed similar efficiency as the autologous osteochondral graft for treating knee joint focal cartilage lesions. Both techniques showed satisfactory results compared to preoperative status. The Hydrogel implant was safe and effective, and it provided good stability and joint function at 2-year follow-up. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: I.

Multivariate optimization of a procedure employing microwave-assisted digestion for the determination of nickel and vanadium in crude oil by ICP OES.

This work presents the optimization of a sample preparation procedure using microwave-assisted digestion for the determination of nickel and vanadium in crude oil employing inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES). The optimization step was performed utilizing a two-level full factorial design involving the following factors: concentrated nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide volumes, and microwave-assisted digestion temperature. Nickel and vanadium concentrations were used as responses. Additionally, a multiple response based on the normalization of the concentrations by the highest values was built to establish a compromise condition between the two analytes. A Doehlert matrix optimized the instrumental conditions of the ICP OE spectrometer. In this design, the plasma robustness was used as chemometric response. The experiments were performed using a digested oil sample solution doped with magnesium(II) ions, as well as a standard magnesium solution. The optimized method allows for the determination of nickel and vanadium with quantification limits of 0.79 and 0.20µgg-1, respectively, for a digested sample mass of 0.1g. The precision (expressed as relative standard deviations) was determined using five replicates of two oil samples and the results obtained were 1.63% and 3.67% for nickel and 0.42% and 4.64% for vanadium. Bismuth and yttrium were also tested as internal standards, and the results demonstrate that yttrium allows for a better precision for the method. The accuracy was confirmed by the analysis of the certified reference material trace element in fuel oil (CRM NIST 1634c). The proposed method was applied for the determination of nickel and vanadium in five crude oil samples from Brazilian Basins. The metal concentrations found varied from 7.30 to 33.21µgg-1 for nickel and from 0.63 to 19.42µgg-1 for vanadium.

Sources and distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organic matter in surface sediments of an estuary under petroleum activity influence, Todos os Santos Bay, Brazil.

The present study evaluated the origin and distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and the organic matter (OM) in the surface sediment of the São Paulo River estuary, Todos os Santos Bay (TSB), Brazil. The samples were collected in the rainy (CP1) and the dry (CP2) seasons. We analyzed the 16 PAHs from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) priority pollutant list, total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (N), and stable carbon isotope (δ13C). The total concentration of PAHs ranged from 11.45±1.28 to 1825.35±107.96ngg-1, while TOC ranged from 3.8 to 27.7gkg-1. CP1 showed the highest concentrations for all parameters. The δ13C ratio indicated terrigenous OM (-23.81 to -26.63‰). The TOC/N ratio (C/N) indicated transitional OM (12.32 to 24.39), in addition to the continental origin. The diagnostic ratios of PAHs origin revealed only pyrolytic source, although close to areas with a history of petroleum contamination.