cometadata/datacite-rtg-text-other-reclassification-records huggingface dataset:
Metal selective pressure in the modulation of the microbial community in sediments from transitional ecosystems
Creators: name: Almeida, E.
name: Torre, R.
name: Godinho, O.
name: Noyer, M.
name: Cravo-Laureau, C.
name: Duran, R.
name: Antunes, S. C.
name: Catita, J.
name: Lage, O. M.
Publisher: name: Scientific Letters
Year: 2023

description: Background: Microorganisms in sediments of estuarine ecosystems play key roles in the biogeochemical cycles [1]. These communities, essential for maintaining the ecosystems quality, are affected by natural and anthropogenic factors, such as metals, affecting the ecosystems health [2]. Objectives: This work aims to understand the effect/impact of metals on brackish sediment microbial community in a mesocosm experiment. Methods: Corers with sediment samples were collected from the Reserva Natural Local do Estuário do Douro. These sediments, already characterized with low levels of metals, were incubated in tanks with water collected from the same site (sediments control), and another set of sediments were incubated in higher levels of copper, lead, zinc and arsenic. The sediments in the tanks were incubated under natural conditions (light and temperature), with aeration and monitored for 30 days. Results: At time 0 of the experiment, the sediment bacterial and the archaeal communities were similar in both control and metal sediments samples. After 30 days, a significant decrease of alpha-diversity of the bacterial community (F = 9.24; p < 0.01) was observed for the sediments exposed to higher levels of metals which was not observed for the archaeal community. However, an increase the relative abundance of Amplicon Sequence Variant (ASV) was observed for the Archaea phyla Asgardarchaeota, Micrarchaeota, Nanoarchaeota, Thermoplasmatota, and the Bacteria phyla Bacillota, Desulfobacterota, Calditrichota, Bacteroidota, Pseudomonadota in the sediments exposed to higher levels of metals. Conclusions: This mesocosm experiment evidences the pressure exerted by metals in the microbial prokaryotic community of estuarine sediments, changing the dynamics of these organisms in the ecological quality of these ecosystems.
description: Scientific Letters, Vol. 1 No. Sup 1 (2023)
Airborne fibers: passive sampling and environmental contamination
Creators: name: Lucala, J.
name: Barbosa, J.
name: Faria, J.
name: Prata, J. C.
Publisher: name: Scientific Letters
Year: 2023

description: Background: Microplastics are synthetic particles or fibers <5mm [1] released from plastic objects into the environment, contaminating indoor and outdoor air and leading to human exposure with unknown consequences [2]. Only a small number of studies with a high geographical distribution have determined the concentration of airborne microplastics, especially of fibers. Objective: This work aimed at conducting passive sampling of airborne fibrous microplastics in four areas to study the deposition of synthetic fibers. Methods: Sampling was conducted on February 15th, 2023 in the CESPU’s university campus (Gandra, Portugal). Three indoor areas (Library, Auditorium, Cafeteria) and one outdoor area (Balcony) were sampled in four replicates, along with four blanks. Sampling was conducted by opening previously decontaminated glass petri dishes (30 min in 1% HNO3, distilled water, dried at 60˚C, cleaned with air jet) for approximately 4h, starting at 12:00. Fibers were photographed in an Eclipse TE2000-U microscope, controlled by the ACT-1 software, version 2.70 (Nikon); images analyzed in ImageJ, and data analysis conducted in IBM SPSS Statistics 26, considering α=0.05. Results: Fibrous and non-fibrous particles were detected in petri dishes. Deposited fibers showed a significantly greater length and smaller width than non-fibrous materials (length U=2477,0, p=<0.001; width U=810.5, p<0.001). The Auditorium presented significantly greater fiber lengths, except the Cafeteria (H= 10,772, p=0.029). The number of particles was only significantly different from blanks in the Library (H=14.588, p<0.006), presenting a total 3.1 particles hour-1 with median lengths 123 µm. Conclusions: Despite the decontamination procedure, blanks presented particles or artifacts which interfered with analysis. Moreover, the method requires user experience and has a wide area of analysis. The higher number of particles in the Library likely originated from foot traffic and harder to clean surfaces. Nonetheless, particles sizes found in the Library were not inhalable and do not pose a risk to health.
description: Scientific Letters, Vol. 1 No. Sup 1 (2023)
Assessment of Common Traits among Global Chiropractic Program Requirements, Standards, and Competencies: A Modified-Delphi Process
Creators: name: Johnson, Claire D.
Publisher: name: OSF Registries
Year: 2023
Subjects: subject: Educational Administration and Supervision
subject: Medicine and Health Sciences
subject: Curriculum and Instruction
subject: Education
subject: Health and Physical Education
subject: Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research

description: The purpose of this study is to identify and describe common traits among the four primary chiropractic accreditation agencies’ standards and competencies.
The use of nanomaterials for water splitting process: a safe solution or a risk for the environment?
Creators: name: Ganilho, C.
name: Cordeiro, A.M.
name: Andreani, T.
name: Pereira, C. M.
name: Pereira, R.
Publisher: name: Scientific Letters
Year: 2023

description: Background: Humanity is facing challenges in a modern world of rapidly increasing demand for energy sources. The production of clean energy systems is a major challenge, prompting an urgent need to implement new sustainable technologies that can meet global society’s needs. The energy solutions rely on renewable sources, cost-efficient and environmentally friendly such as hydrogen production by water splitting [1]. Efforts have been made to explore catalysts based on transition metal compounds - tungsten oxide (W) [2,3] and recently through nanotechnology with the application of tungsten nanoparticles (WNP) [4]. The use of W compounds results in environmental exposure to this metal. Ecotoxicological studies are limited, and a detailed investigation is crucial to evaluate the effect of this metal on the environment. Objectives: The aim of this work is to perform a toxicological comparative study of commercial W (Alfa Aesar) and WNP oxide (Sigma-Aldrich) exposure on terrestrial species (monocotyledonous Zea mays and Avena sativa, invertebrates (Folsomia candida and Eisenia fetida) and aquatic species (Aiivibrio fischeri, Raphidocelis subcapitata, Lemna minor, Daphnia magna, and Thamos platyrus). Methods: The tests with terrestrial species were performed with natural regosol (Estarreja, Aveiro, North of Portugal - 40°45′17″ N, 8°34′9″ W) contaminated with each one of the compounds (0 to 1000 mg W kgsoil-1), tested individually. Results: For aquatic species, the effects of both compounds were tested at concentrations from 0 to 200 mg W L-1. The results demonstrated that W negatively affected the fresh and dry biomass of plant species and the reproductive output of F. candida. All aquatic species were significantly affected after exposure to W, except D. magna. A reduction of R. subcapitata and L. minor growth rate, an inhibition of bioluminescence of A. fischeri and of T. platyrus ability to feed were also observed. Conclusions: Environmental safety studies showed risks for all species exposed to W and WNP.
description: Scientific Letters, Vol. 1 No. Sup 1 (2023)
Methylparaben as a concerning environmental pollutant compromising drinking water quality
Creators: name: Pereira, A. R.
name: Gomes, I.
name: Simões, M.
Publisher: name: Scientific Letters
Year: 2023

description: Background: Drinking water distribution systems are known to harbor biofilms, even after disinfection, which constitute a source of microorganisms that may remain in the drinking water (DW) delivered through a consumer's tap [1]. Nevertheless, the presence of parabens (an anthropogenic contaminant) in DW is another problem that may affect microbial characteristics and the susceptibility to chlorine, compromising DW disinfection [2]. Objective: This work is pioneer in evaluating the effects of methylparaben (MP) at concentrations found in DW (15 µg/L) on biofilm characteristics and their susceptibility to disinfection. Methods: Dual-species biofilms formed by bacteria isolated from DW (Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia) were grown for 7 days on polypropylene (PPL) in the absence and presence of 15 µg/L of MP [3]. Then, MP-exposed and non-exposed biofilms were characterized in terms of culturability, density, viability, biofilm structure (thickness) and composition (content of extracellular polysaccharides) [3]. To evaluate the effect of MP exposure on biofilm susceptibility to chlorine disinfection, MP-exposed and non-exposed dual-species biofilms were treated with free chlorine solutions at 5 and 50 mg/L for 30 min. Then, those biofilms were characterized in terms of cell culturability, density and viability. Results: MP exposure increased cell proliferation of dual-species biofilms formed on PPL (an increase of 36% and 63% in the number of culturable and total cells, respectively) in relation to non-exposed biofilms (P < 0.05). MP also altered biofilm viability, structure and composition. The thickness of MP-exposed biofilms increased by 45%, while the polysaccharides content decreased by 43%. Moreover, the results showed that MP- exposed dual-species biofilms formed on PPL were more tolerant to chlorine action than non-exposed counterparts. Conclusions: MP exposure induces the proliferation of biofilm cells and affects biofilm structure (thickness) and composition (polysaccharides content). MP presence in DW was found to compromise chlorination efficacy, especially in systems containing PPL.
description: Scientific Letters, Vol. 1 No. Sup 1 (2023)
Ecotoxicological effects of elutriates from coal mining waste in Lactuca sativa seed germination
Creators: name: Rajnauth, A.
name: Diogo, B. S.
name: Marques, J. E.
name: Flores, D.
name: Antunes, S. C.
Publisher: name: Scientific Letters
Year: 2023

description: Background: Fojo mine (Castelo de Paiva, Douro Carboniferous Basin) was used for anthracite exploitation until 1994, resulting in the production of coal waste piles without any environmental management [1,2]. In October 2017, a wildfire triggered the ignition of some of these waste piles. The extinguishing process of the fire included the remobilization of the coal mining residues using water mixed with a cooling accelerator agent. Objective: To assess the ecotoxicological effects of soil elutriates from the Fojo coal mine waste in seed germination assay with Lactuca sativa. Methods: 25 soil samples were taken: unburned coal waste (ENA); burned coal waste (EA); burned coal waste cover (EAC); mixed material (EE) resulting from the extinguishing process; uphill from the waste pile (B); downhill from the waste pile (SJ). The assay was performed with elutriates from each soil sample and four replicates were prepared per elutriate with 10 seeds. The percentage of germination, fresh biomass, and total size were measured at the end of 14 days. Results: The percentage of seed germination, leaf, and root growth were differently affected revealing high heterogeneity of soil characteristics. The highest seed germination was in EE soil samples (>80%), and the lowest values were in different heterogenic zones (ENA3, ENA5, EAC10, and SJ5). The lowest total size was observed in EE6 (< 4.3 cm) and ENA3 (< 5.3 cm). Leaf fresh biomass and size were higher in soil samples from B zone (1.64 g and 4.64 cm, respectively), and lower values in SJ (0.63 g and 3.34 cm). Conclusions: The results highlight the importance of the phytotoxicity studies with coal mining waste, since the lixiviates may affect the terrestrial ecosystems, reducing plant establishment and growth. Seed germination, and shoot and root elongation proved to be a sensitive endpoint to evaluate the phytotoxicity of coal waste.
description: Scientific Letters, Vol. 1 No. Sup 1 (2023)
Bulk viscosity, particle spectra and flow in heavy-ion collisions
Creators: name: Dusling, Kevin
name: Schaefer, Thomas
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2011
Subjects: subject: High Energy Physics - Phenomenology (hep-ph)
subject: Nuclear Experiment (nucl-ex)
subject: Nuclear Theory (nucl-th)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: We study the effects of bulk viscosity on pT spectra and elliptic flow in heavy ion collisions. For this purpose we compute the dissipative correction df to the single particle distribution functions in leading-log QCD, and in several simplified models. We consider, in particular, the relaxation time approximation and a kinetic model for the hadron resonance gas. We implement these distribution functions in a hydrodynamic simulation of Au + Au collisions at RHIC. We find significant corrections due to bulk viscosity in hadron pT spectra and the differential elliptic flow parameter v2(pT). These corrections are dominated by viscous corrections to the distribution function. We find that the relation between df and the bulk viscosity is different in the quark gluon plasma and hadronic phases. Reliable bounds on the bulk viscosity require accurate calculations of df in a hadronic resonance gas. Based on v2 spectra at RHIC we conservatively estimate zeta/s <= 0.05 near freeze-out. We also find that effects of the bulk viscosity on the pT integrated v2 are small.
The ecotoxicity evaluation of Gens ponds: are the pH values a confounding factor?
Creators: name: Pereira, R.
name: Diogo, B. S.
name: Rodrigues, I.
name: Antunes, S. C.
Publisher: name: Scientific Letters
Year: 2023

description: Background: Portuguese polymetallic mining activities were important for local development of economy and ceased in 1970s. However, these activities leave amounts of tailings susceptible to erosion and chemical weathering, representing a potential risk to the environment, due to a high concentration of heavy metals and acidic mine drainages [1,2]. Gens ponds arose due to open pit mining in a gold-antimony mine in Gondomar (north of Portugal). Objective: Evaluate the ecotoxicological effect of natural water samples from these ponds in Lemna minor (growth inhibition) and Daphnia magna (acute immobilization, survival, and feeding rate inhibition assays) along seasons from one year. Methods: The assays were performed according to standard guidelines using the natural water samples from each pond (P1, P2, and P3) and the same samples with pH adjustment (BP1, BP2, and BP3) according to the optimal value for the organisms tested. Results: L. minor showed a significant decrease in fronds number in all samples. However, after pH adjustment, the number of fronds increase significantly in summer samples (BP1 and BP2). D. magna exposed to P1 and P2 showed 100% mortality in less than 24 h, while P3 only after 48h was recorded mortality. Overall, BP1, BP2, and BP3 do not affect D. magna survival, however, a significant decrease in the feeding rate was observed, in BP1 and BP2 in summer samples. Nevertheless, the winter samples showed an increase in feeding rate after exposure to BP1, BP2, and BP3. Conclusions: The results emphasize the importance of conducting ecotoxicological studies in acidic mine drainage, as Gens Ponds, to assess the effects on the ecosystem health. Further studies will be necessary to evaluate the toxicity of these ponds, considering other physical and chemical characteristics (e.g., metals and nutrients), as well as other model organisms and endpoints from different levels of biological organization.
description: Scientific Letters, Vol. 1 No. Sup 1 (2023)
Enantiomeric profiling and drug consumption estimation
Creators: name: Langa, I.
name: Ribeiro, A. R. L.
name: Ratola, N.
name: Gonçalves, V. M. F.
name: Tiritan, M. E.
name: Ribeiro, C.
Publisher: name: Scientific Letters
Year: 2023

description: Background: Recent trends in new psychoactive substances (NPS) abuse have raised a serious public health issue that affects all communities. NPS comprise a wide range of substances, such as synthetic cathinones, synthetic cannabinoids, opioids, and benzodiazepines [1, 2]. These substances end up in the environment as excretion products or by direct disposal [3]. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) combined with the evaluation of enantiomeric fractions (EF) is used for complementing the drug monitoring methods traditionally used to estimate drug consumption. However, the adsorption of these substances to suspended particulate matters (SPM) has been neglected, leading to a potential underestimation of the consumption patterns [3, 4]. Objective: This study was aimed to better understand and to get knowledge on: (i) the enantiomeric profiling and consumption estimation of amphetamine-type substances (amphetamine (AMP), methamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) and synthetic cathinones (buphedrone, butylone, 3,4-dimethylmethcathinone and 3-methylmethcathinone); (ii) the behaviour and distribution of NPS in SPM. Methods: In this study, 24-h composite raw wastewaters were collected from a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) located in the north of Portugal. After the extraction, the SPM and influent extracts were analyzed using an indirect analytical method. Briefly, samples were subjected to chiral derivatization using (R)-(−)-α-methoxy-α-(trifluoromethyl) phenylacetyl chloride, leading to the formation of diastereomers that were further analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC–MS), as described elsewhere [3]. Results: Both enantiomers of AMP, MDMA and 3,4-DMMC and (S)-MAMP and the first eluted enantiomer of BPD and 3-MMC were detected. The selected NPS were found at concentrations between LOQ and 0.4 ng mg-1 and
description: Scientific Letters, Vol. 1 No. Sup 1 (2023)
EU-H2020-MSCA-ITN-European Training Networks. EURODOC survey on the Doctorate  structure across Europe (version May 2018) prepared by the EURODOC Doctoral Training Working Group
Creators: name: Borit, Melania
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2019

description: This is a summary of the doctoral programme described under European Training Networks (ETNs), a mode of Innovative Training Networks (ITNs), which are Marie Skłodowska-Curie  actions (MSCAs) under the Horizon 2020 programme (H2020) of the European Union (EU). This summary is part of the EURODOC project "Doctorates across Europe".  «Doctorates across Europe» is an ongoing survey project led by the Eurodoc Doctoral Training Working Group (DTWG) since the beginning of 2018. The survey provides a general overview on how doctorates are organised at a national level in each country or at European level.
Phase diagram and density large deviations of a nonconserving ABC model
Creators: name: Cohen, Or
name: Mukamel, David
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2011
Subjects: subject: Statistical Mechanics (cond-mat.stat-mech)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: The effect of particle-nonconserving processes on the steady state of driven diffusive systems is studied within the context of a generalized ABC model. It is shown that in the limit of slow nonconserving processes, the large deviation function of the overall particle density can be computed by making use of the steady state density profile of the conserving model. In this limit one can define a chemical potential and identify first order transitions via Maxwell's construction, similarly to what is done in equilibrium systems. This method may be applied to other driven models subjected to slow nonconserving dynamics.
description: 5 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Physics Review Letters
Impact of environmental caffeine contamination in zebrafish: ecotoxicological approach
Creators: name: Pinto, I.
name: Diogo, B. S.
name: Antunes, S. C.
name: Rodrigues, S.
Publisher: name: Scientific Letters
Year: 2023

description: Background: Caffeine (CAF) is considered a suitable indicator of anthropogenic contamination of aquatic environments, and several pharmacological and biological effects have been observed in target and non-target organisms [1,2]. Objective: Assess the chronic effects of environmental concentrations of CAF in several biomarker responses in Danio rerio. Methods: After chronic exposure to CAF (0.16, 0.42, 1.09, 2.84, 7.40, 19.23, and 50 μg/L) on Danio rerio, several biomarkers of antioxidant defense (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GRed) activities, and glutathione (GSH) content), biotransformation (glutathione S-transferase activity (GSTs)), lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels), energetic reserves (glycogen (GLY), lipids (LIP), protein (PROT) contents, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity), and neurotransmission (acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity) were evaluated. A multi-biomarker approach known as Integrated Biomarker Response (IBR) was also employed to perceive the most sensitive and responsive biomarker, after CAF exposure. Results: Exposure to CAF disrupts several metabolic pathways in D. rerio, such as changes in antioxidant defenses, specifically in the activities of SOD, GRed, and GSH content, which may have led to lipid peroxidation. LDH activity decreased at all tested concentrations, while AChE activity was only affected at the highest concentrations (19.23 and 50 μg/L). IBR revealed that the highest stress occurred at a concentration of 50 μg/L and showed clearly that biomarker responses were responsive and coherent to demonstrate the stress caused independently to CAF concentration in fish. Conclusions: These results highlight the urgent need to minimize the increasing load of CAF on the aquatic ecosystems, considering the adverse impacts of CAF pollution in the aquatic environment. These results show that the implementation of scientific programs and monitoring projects are imperative to classify the CAF as a high-priority environmentally hazardous emerging pollutant.
description: Scientific Letters, Vol. 1 No. Sup 1 (2023)
Finding safe spaces : historical trauma, housing status, and HIV vulnerability among young Aboriginal people who use illicit drugs
Creators: name: Jongbloed, Kate
Publisher: name: University of British Columbia
Year: 2013

description: Background: Dispossession and dislocation of Aboriginal people in Canada through the reserve, residential school and child welfare systems have contributed to the gross overrepresentation of HIV/AIDS infection, substance use, and housing instability in Aboriginal communities. Ensuring young Aboriginal people who use illicit drugs have access to safe spaces, including places to live, is a fundamental part of dismantling structural injustices that lead to their elevated vulnerability to HIV infection. Objective: This thesis investigates access to safe spaces among young Aboriginal men and women who use illicit drugs in Vancouver and Prince George, British Columbia, Canada within the context of historical and intergenerational trauma. It examines how accessibility of safe spaces, and housing in particular, affects young Aboriginal people’s vulnerability to HIV infection. Methods: Baseline categorical variables were compared based on participants’ housing status using Pearson’s Chi-squared test and Fisher’s exact tests when expected cell values were five or less. Continuous variables were analyzed using a Student t test and all p values are two sided. Longitudinal analyses utilized data collected every six-months between November 2005 and January 2010. Generalized linear mixed models fitted with a Gauss-Hermite approximation were used to find odds ratio (ORs) for associations between trauma, housing status, and sex- and drug-related HIV vulnerabilities over time. Results: We found an independent association between historical trauma and housing status: childhood sexual abuse was independently associated with 2.76 greater odds of living in an unstable type of housing over the study period. We uncovered important associations between sub-optimal housing status and drug- and sex-related HIV vulnerability, including sex work, sexual assault, use of injection drugs, high frequency opiate and cocaine injection, and public injection. Conclusions: Our findings reveal that both material and spatial dimensions of housing are closely linked to HIV vulnerability among young Aboriginal people. Further, the links between housing status and historical trauma indicate that addressing the legacy of historical trauma is a crucial component of tackling the underlying causes of housing instability among young Aboriginal people who use illicit drugs.
MDA effects on morphophysiology and reproduction of Daphnia magna – preliminary data
Creators: name: Morão, A. M.
name: Carvalho, A. R.
name: Couto, C.
name: Carrola, J. S.
name: Costa, P.
name: Castro, B.
name: Tiritan, M. E.
name: Ribeiro, C.
Publisher: name: Scientific Letters
Year: 2023

description: Background: Psychoactive substances and their metabolites are considered emergent contaminants, raising environmental concerns due to the continuous input into aquatic ecosystems [1]. MDA (3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine) is a pharmacologically active substance that represents the major metabolite of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA); MDA may be present in MDMA preparations or occur as an illegal psychoactive substance [2]. Considering the possible implementation of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy along with the increased recreational interest in MDA, the presence of MDA in aquatic ecosystems is expected to increase as well as its effects on non-target organisms, including invertebrates [1,3]. Since the ecotoxicological impact of MDA remains unknown, studying its toxic effects on an environmentally relevant organism is most important. Objective: This work aimed to assess the effects of possible MDA-induced toxicity on Daphnia magna through the evaluation of morphophysiological and reproductive endpoints. Methods: Neonates (<24 hours) were exposed to three concentrations of MDA (0.1, 1 and 10 mg/L) for 9 days. Exposures and control were performed with 5 replicates with 20 organisms each. On days 3 and 9, morphophysiological endpoints (body size, heart size and area, and heart rate) and reproductive endpoints (number of ovigerous daphnia and fertility) were determined. In parallel, a standard 21-d reproduction assay was conducted (MDA concentrations: 0, 0.10, 0.18, 0.32, 0.56, 1.00, 1.79 mg/L). Results: Morphophysiological endpoints increased with MDA concentration on the third and ninth day of exposure. An increase in the number of ovigerous daphnia and fecundity was found at 10 mg/L of MDA. In the 21-d assay, MDA caused a significant reduction in fecundity, body size and rate of increase from 0.18 mg/L upwards. Conclusions: Data are suggestive of some adverse influence of MDA on the analyzed endpoints. Nevertheless, other toxicity biomarkers should be evaluated to obtain insight on a mechanistic explanation for the observed effects.
description: Scientific Letters, Vol. 1 No. Sup 1 (2023)
Area law for black hole entropy in the SU(2) quantum geometry approach
Creators: name: Mitra, P.
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2011
Subjects: subject: General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology (gr-qc)
subject: High Energy Physics - Theory (hep-th)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: Black hole thermodynamics suggests that a black hole should have an entropy given by a quarter of the area of its horizon. Earlier calculations in U(1) loop quantum gravity have led to a dominant term proportional to the area, but there was a correction involving the logarithm of the area. We find however that SU(2) loop quantum gravity can provide an entropy that is strictly proportional to the area as expected from black hole thermodynamics.
description: final version
Changes on swimming behavior induced by 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) enantiomers on Daphnia magna
Creators: name: Pérez-Pereira, A.
name: Carvalho, A.
name: Castro, B.
name: Carrola, J. S.
name: Fernandes, C.
name: Tiritan, M.
name: Ribeiro, C.
Publisher: name: Scientific Letters
Year: 2023

description: Background: Synthetic cathinones (SC) are a group of novel illicit psychotropic substances that have been found in the aquatic environment at low concentrations [1] and nonetheless they can impact aquatic invertebrates [2]. SC can pose unwanted diverse adverse effects such as behavioral toxicity to non-target organisms [3]. The 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) is a chiral SC with psychotropic properties similar to methamphetamine and is traded as “bath salts” [4]. MDPV may be found in distinct forms, racemate or its enantiomers, that may exhibit different biological activities [2, 5]. Nevertheless, MDPV enantiotoxicity continued to be ignored as well as its impact on freshwater aquatic organisms, including invertebrates. Objective: This work aimed to assess the potential adverse effects of (R)-MDPV and (S)-MDPV on the swimming behavior of Daphnia magna. Methods: For that, neonates (< 24 hours) were exposed to 0.1 and 1.0 µg L-1 of both MDPV enantiomers for 5 days (5 replicates with 20 organisms each). After the end of exposure, 6 organisms of each replicate were randomly collected, placed into a 6-well plate (with ≈ 5 mL of the respective exposure medium) and video recorded for 1 minute. Parameters such as swimming speed, total distance travelled, and active time were evaluated using TheRealFishTracker program. Results: A significant increase in swimming speed was observed for the organisms exposed only to (S)-MDPV. On the contrary, an increase in active time was found in the organisms exposed to (R)-MDPV. No changes were detected for the total distance travelled for both enantiomers. Conclusions: This study showed that MDPV can interfere with the swimming behavior pattern of daphnia and that effects are enantioselective. However, for a better understanding of the enantioselective toxicity of MDPV on the fitness of daphnia, other parameters should be included (i.e., morphophysiological, reproductive and biochemical).
description: Scientific Letters, Vol. 1 No. Sup 1 (2023)
title: Business Process Outsourcing im deutschen Finanzdienstleistungssektor - Eine Darstellung möglicher Handlungsoptionen am Beispiel des FX-Abwicklungsprozesses
title: Business Process Outsourcing in the German Financial Services Industry - Possible courses of action for the processing of Foreign Exchange Transactions
Creators: name: Wicht, Wolfgang
name: Schröer, Stefan
Publisher: name: FH Münster
Year: 2005
Subjects: subject: 330 Wirtschaft

description: Ziel dieses Artikel ist eine Analyse des FX-Abwicklungsprozesses und die Darstellung generierbarer Outsourcing-Potenziale mit einer abschließenden Herleitung möglicher Sourcing-Strategien. Hierzu werden zunächst Chancen und Risiken des Outsourcings von Abwicklungsdienstleistungen im Bankenbereich detailliert gegenübergestellt. Es folgt eine kurze Betrachtung der aktuellen Situation im Outsourcing-Markt für Finanzdienstleister in Deutschland. Abschließend wird die Umsetzung von Outsourcing-Maßnahmen im FX-Processing diskutiert. Hier erfolgt zunächst eine Analyse des FX-Prozesses anhand von abgegrenzten Transaktions- und Vertragsarten. An die Modellierung des FX-Abwicklungsprozesses schließt sich eine Betrachtung der Rolle von CLS (Continuous Linked Settlement) an. Die Abwägung von Outsourcing-Potenzialen wird unter Einbezug der vorher definierten Chancen und Risiken vorgenommen. Hierauf aufbauend soll die Herleitung von möglichen Strategien für den FX-Bereich den Artikel abschließen. Wesentliche Quellen für den vorliegenden Text sind insbesondere Aufsätze, andere Fachveröffentlichungen sowie aktuelle Studien diverser fachkundiger Unternehmensberatungen. Zusammen mit speziell durchgeführten Fach- und Telefoninterviews des Verfassers mit Experten aus der Praxis gelingt es, einen besonderen Bezug zu aktuellen Entwicklungen und Trends herzustellen.
description: Business Information Management, 5
The Stellar IMF, Core Mass Function, & The Last-Crossing Distribution
Creators: name: Hopkins, Philip F.
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2012
Subjects: subject: Astrophysics of Galaxies (astro-ph.GA)
subject: Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics (astro-ph.CO)
subject: Solar and Stellar Astrophysics (astro-ph.SR)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: Hennebelle & Chabrier 2008 (HC08) attempted to derive the stellar IMF as a consequence of turbulent density fluctuations, using an argument similar to Press & Schechter 1974 for Gaussian random fields. Like that example, however, this solution does not resolve the 'cloud in cloud' problem; it also does not extend to large scales that dominate the velocity/density fluctuations. In principle, these can change the results at the order-of-magnitude level. Here, we use the results from Hopkins 2011 (H11) to generalize the excursion set formalism and derive the exact solution in this regime. We argue that the stellar IMF and core mass function (CMF) should be associated with the last-crossing distribution, i.e. the mass spectrum of bound objects defined on the smallest scale on which they are self-gravitating. This differs from the first-crossing distribution (mass function on the largest self-gravitating scale) which is defined cosmologically and which H11 show corresponds to the GMC mass function in disks. We derive an analytic equation for the last-crossing distribution that can be used for an arbitrary collapse threshold in ISM and cosmological studies. With this, we show that the same model that predicts the GMC mass function and large-scale structure of galaxy disks also predicts the CMF (and by extrapolation IMF) in good agreement with observations. The only adjustable parameter in the model is the turbulent velocity power spectrum, which in the range p~5/3-2 gives similar results. We also use this to justify why the approximate solution in HC08 is reasonable (up to a normalization) over the CMF/IMF mass range; however there are significant corrections at intermediate and high masses. We discuss how the exact solutions here can be embedded into time-dependent models that follow density fluctuations, fragmentation, successive generations of star formation.
description: 8 pages, 3 figures, accepted to MNRAS (revised to match accepted version; expanded discussion of CMF-IMF transition)
Data and Research Infrastructures and Open Science
Creators: name: Lazzeri, Emma
name: Manghi, Paolo
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2019
Subjects: Open Science
Open Access
EC Open Access Mandates
Research Data
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description: Slides of the Lesson given by Emma Lazzeri and Paolo Manghi in the framework of "ATTIVITÀ DIDATTICHE TRASVERSALI PER I DOTTORATI DI UNIPI A.A.2018-2019", Course 5 (cod. LABCD5) – "Curation and Preservation of Research Data"

Target: PhD candidates (all courses)

Lesson Duration: 1 hour

more information at the link: http://www.labcd.unipi.it/attivita-didattiche-trasversali-per-i-dottorati-di-unipi-a-a-2018-2019/
Decomposition of flow and nonflow in relativistic heavy-ion collisions
Creators: name: Xu, Lingshan
name: Yi, Li
name: Kikola, Daniel
name: Konzer, Joshua
name: Wang, Fuqiang
name: Xie, Wei
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2012
Subjects: subject: Nuclear Experiment (nucl-ex)
subject: Nuclear Theory (nucl-th)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: We propose a method to separate Δη-dependent and Δη-independent azimuthal correlations using two- and four-particle cumulants between pseudo-rapidity (η) bins in symmetric heavy-ion collisions. The Δη-independent correlation may be dominated by harmonic flows, a global correlation to the common collision geometry. The Δη-dependent correlation can be identified as nonflow, particle correlations unrelated to the common geometry. Our method exploits the ηsymmetry of the average harmonic flows and is "data-driven." We use the AMPT and HIJING event generators to illustrate our method. We discuss the decomposed Δη-independent and Δη-dependent correlations regarding flow and nonflow in the models.
description: 16 pages, 15 figures, 1 table
Hsa_circ_0044235 and hsa_circ_0001947 as novel biomarkers in plasma of patients with new-onset systemic lupus erythematosus
Creators: name: Luo, Qing
name: Ye, Yutao
name: Zhang, Lu
name: Gao, Yujie
name: Rao, Jiayue
name: Guo, Yang
name: Huang, Qingshui
name: Huang, Zikun
name: Li, Junming
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2023
Subjects: subject: Biophysics
subject: Physical Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Medicine
subject: Cell Biology
subject: Genetics
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Ecology
subject: Immunology
subject: FOS: Clinical medicine
subject: Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Statistics
subject: FOS: Mathematics
subject: Mental Health
subject: Infectious Diseases
subject: FOS: Health sciences

description: Circular RNA (circRNA) are novel types of non-coding RNA that may be used as non-invasive noninvasive biomarkers in clinical plasma samples. However, the role of circRNA in plasma samples from patients with new-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has not been extensively investigated. In the present study, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR was used to screen differentially-expressed circRNA (hsa_circ_0000175, hsa_circ_0044235, hsa_circ_0068367, hsa_circ_0002316, hsa_circ_0104871, hsa_circ_0001947, hsa_circ_0001481, hsa_circ_0008675, hsa_circ_0082689 and hsa_circ_0082688) in plasma samples isolated from 22 patients with new-onset SLE and 22 healthy control (HC). The results indicated hsa_circ_0000175, hsa_circ_ 0044235, hsa_circ_0068367, and hsa_circ_0001947 expression levels were significantly lower in plasma samples from new-onset SLE patients compared with corresponding levels in HC subjects and patients with new-onset rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Multivariate analysis indicated expression levels of hsa_circ_0044235 and hsa_circ_0001947 in plasma were independent risk factors for SLE. ROC curve analysis suggested that the combination of hsa_circ_0044235 and hsa_circ_0001947 indicated significant value in discriminating new-onset SLE from HC subjects and patients with RA. Moreover, the levels of hsa_circ_0044235 in plasma samples from patients with new-onset SLE were associated with platelet count, platelet-crit, and platelet distribution width; the expression of hsa_circ_0001947 in plasma from patients with SLE was associated with treatment. Thus, the present study demonstrated a promise for the combination of plasma hsa_circ_0044235 and hsa_circ_0001947 expression as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in patients with new-onset SLE.
In vitro toxicity assessment of firefighters’ breathable air collected on polyurethane foams in human lung epithelial cells
Creators: name: Bessa, M. J.
name: Teixeira, J.
name: Delerue-Matos, C.
name: Sarmento, B
name: Rodrigues, F.
name: Oliveira, M.
Publisher: name: Scientific Letters
Year: 2023

description: Background: Occupational exposure as a firefighter has been recently classified as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) [1]. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are one of the main fire-related pollutants [3], and their presence in the breathable air of firefighters was already demonstrated [4]. However, the toxicity mechanisms involved in such exposures have not yet been evaluated in human cell lines. Objective: The present work aimed at quantifying the PAH levels of breathable air collected in polyurethane foams (PUF) of non-exposed firefighters (control group) vs firefighters exposed during controlled forest fires, as well as assessing the in vitro toxicity of the collected PUF extracts in human alveolar (A549) and bronchial (Calu-3) epithelial cell lines. Methods: Firefighters used a pre-cleaned PUF foam on the breathing air zone during regular work shifts at the fire station (control group) or during three distinct controlled fire events (November 2021-February 2022). Samples were extracted by microwave-assisted extraction and analyzed by liquid chromatography with a diode array and fluorescence detectors. The PUF extracts were analyzed in vitro by exposing them to A549 and Calu-3 cell lines for 24h. A 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5diphenyl-tetrazolium-bromide (MTT) assay was performed to assess the cell viability. Results: The PAH levels determined in samples from controlled fire events were 1.9 to 23.2x higher than the control group and, the levels of carcinogenic PAH were 1.9 to 15.2x higher. Most of the PUF samples from non-exposed firefighters (control group) induced a significant viability decrease (<70%) for both cell lines. Although for controlled forest fire events, an accentuated decrease in A549 and Calu-3 cellular viability (similar to the positive control in most cases) was observed. Conclusions: The present results demonstrated that fire- or non-fire-related occupational activities may potentially contribute to the pulmonary health burden of firefighters.
description: Scientific Letters, Vol. 1 No. Sup 1 (2023)
Dynamics and effects of plastic contaminants’ assimilation in gulls
Creators: name: Veríssimo, S. N.
name: Cunha, S. C.
name: Fernandes, J. O.
name: Casero, M.
name: Vieira, M. T.
name: Ramos, J. A.
name: Norte, A. C.
name: Paiva, V. H.
Publisher: name: Scientific Letters
Year: 2023

description: Background: Opportunistic animals such as gulls are often associated with anthropogenic activities [1,2], and therefore highly susceptible to plastic ingestion and stomach chemical leaching [3]. Yet, such chemical process is still poorly studied and there is almost no information regarding potential hazardous effects in animal physiological processes. Even though it was already reported that gulls accumulate Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) [4], there is no information linking plastic ingestion with leaching and accumulation of these chemicals in different tissues. Moreover, it is still not fully known how PBDEs affect gulls’ health and stress parameters. Objective: To evaluate: 1) how BDE99 leaches from ingested plastics into tissues, and 2) how this leaching will impact the individuals’ immune status, nervous transmission and physiological stress parameters. Methods: We fed yellow-legged/black-backed gulls (Larus michahellis/Larus fuscus) in captivity with plastic pellets containing BDE99 (PBDE congener). BDE99 was measured in gulls’ brain, preen oil, liver and fat tissues. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, glutathione peroxidase activity, plasma antioxidant capacity and reactive oxygen metabolites and levels of cholinesterase and acetylcholinesterase activity were measured in blood samples. Cholinesterase activity levels were measured in the brain. Results: Gulls fed with plastics showed significantly higher concentrations of BDE99 in their fat and brain. There was a tendency for plastic-fed gulls to exhibit a more impaired health, yet only values of cholinesterase and acetylcholinesterase in plasma were significatively reduced at the end of the experiment. Cholinesterase in brain also tended to decrease in plastic-fed gulls. Conclusions: Our results indicate a clear relation of plastic ingestion with chemical leaching, a process occurring even if plastic stays in the stomach for a short period of time and that gulls’ health can be affected, particularly gulls’ neurofunction. Our results should have wider implications to understand the impacts of plastic contaminants’ assimilation in vertebrates.
description: Scientific Letters, Vol. 1 No. Sup 1 (2023)
Depletion potentials in highly size-asymmetric binary hard-sphere mixtures: Comparison of accurate simulation results with theory
Creators: name: Ashton, Douglas J.
name: Wilding, Nigel B.
name: Roth, Roland
name: Evans, Robert
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2011
Subjects: subject: Statistical Mechanics (cond-mat.stat-mech)
subject: Soft Condensed Matter (cond-mat.soft)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: We report a detailed study, using state-of-the-art simulation and theoretical methods, of the depletion potential between a pair of big hard spheres immersed in a reservoir of much smaller hard spheres, the size disparity being measured by the ratio of diameters q=σ_s/σ_b. Small particles are treated grand canonically, their influence being parameterized in terms of their packing fraction in the reservoir, η_s^r. Two specialized Monte Carlo simulation schemes --the geometrical cluster algorithm, and staged particle insertion-- are deployed to obtain accurate depletion potentials for a number of combinations of q\leq 0.1 and η_s^r. After applying corrections for simulation finite-size effects, the depletion potentials are compared with the prediction of new density functional theory (DFT) calculations based on the insertion trick using the Rosenfeld functional and several subsequent modifications. While agreement between the DFT and simulation is generally good, significant discrepancies are evident at the largest reservoir packing fraction accessible to our simulation methods, namely η_s^r=0.35. These discrepancies are, however, small compared to those between simulation and the much poorer predictions of the Derjaguin approximation at this η_s^r. The recently proposed morphometric approximation performs better than Derjaguin but is somewhat poorer than DFT for the size ratios and small sphere packing fractions that we consider. The effective potentials from simulation, DFT and the morphometric approximation were used to compute the second virial coefficient B_2 as a function of η_s^r. Comparison of the results enables an assessment of the extent to which DFT can be expected to correctly predict the propensity towards fluid fluid phase separation in additive binary hard sphere mixtures with q\leq 0.1.
description: 16 pages, 9 figures, revised treatment of morphometric approximation and reordered some material
Can culinary processing impact the lipid content and fatty acid profile of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus)?
Creators: name: Fiorin, A.
name: Marques, A.
name: Silva, A. F.
name: Castro, C.
name: Moreira, P.
name: Padrão, P.
name: Valente, L. M. P.
Publisher: name: Scientific Letters
Year: 2023

description: Background: Fish are the main source of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), such as EPA and DHA, which are known to be beneficial for human health [1,2]. However, thermal culinary processing may cause lipid oxidation and reduce its nutritional value [1]. Objective: This study aims to compare the lipid nutritional value of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) muscle before and after culinary processing, including traditional oven and grilled, with and without olive oil. Methods: The impact of muscle location (ventral and dorsal), and the skin presence on the fish’s lipid content and fatty acid (FA) profile was also evaluated. Total lipids were quantified gravimetrically by Folch methodology and the FA was analyzed by gas chromatography. Results: Results showed that skin presence did not significantly impact lipid content or FA profile, but the ventral muscle had a significantly higher total lipid content than the dorsal muscle, irrespective of the culinary processing or skin presence. The dorsal section had significantly higher relative concentrations of C20:4n-6, DHA and EPA+DHA, while the ventral section was richer in C14, C16:1n-7, C18:3n-3, and n-6/n-3 ratio. But the deposition of EPA (mg/100g), was greater in the ventral muscle section. The fatty acid profile of processed samples did not differ significantly from fresh muscle. However, the application of extra virgin olive oil increased MUFA and decreased PUFA levels in processed samples. A significant interaction between culinary processing, skin and oil presence was observed in n-3, n-6/n-3. The n-3 FA were significantly higher in muscle processed without oil resulting in the lowest n-6/n-3 ratio. Conclusions: Overall, the nutritional value of all muscle samples is very high irrespectively of culinary processing and all provided consumers with more than 500mg of EPA+DHA/100g, complying with EFSA recommended daily intakes to prevent cardiovascular diseases in adults [3].
description: Scientific Letters, Vol. 1 No. Sup 1 (2023)