Behavioural impairment and oxidative stress by acute exposure of zebrafish to a commercial formulation of tebuconazole

Tebuconazole is a systemic follicular fungicide known to cause diverse problems in non-target organisms namely associated to the pure active ingredient. As such, the objective of this work was to evaluate developmental changes induced by a tebuconazole commercial formulation to a non-target animal model. Zebrafish embryos at ± 2 h post-fertilization were exposed to tebuconazole wettable powder concentrations (0.05, 0.5 and 5 mg L^-1) for 96 h with developmental toxicity assessed throughout the exposure period and biochemical parameters evaluated at the end of the exposure. Behavioural assessment (spatial exploration and response to stimuli) was conducted 24 h after the end of the exposure. While no developmental and physiological alterations were observed, exposure to tebuconazole resulted in an increased generation of reactive oxidative species at the 0.05 and 0.5 mg L^-1 concentrations and a decreased GPx activity at the 0.5 mg L^-1 concentration suggesting a potential protection mechanism. There was also a change in the avoidance-escape behaviour supporting an anxiolytic effect suggesting possible alterations in the central nervous system development demanding further studies.     

Associations of residential greenspace exposure and fetal growth across four areas in Spain

An accumulating body of evidence has associated exposure to greenspace with improved birth outcomes, including higher birth weight and lower risk of low birth weight; however, evidence on such association with in-utero fetal growth is scarce. We explored the influence of maternal exposure to residential greenspace and fetal growth in four INMA (Infancia y Medio Ambiente) Spanish birth cohorts (2003–2008), with 2,465 participants. Residential greenspace was characterised by the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) average across 100 m, 300 m, and 500 m buffers around the residence. Repeated ultrasound measurements of the abdominal circumference (AC), biparietal diameter (BPD), femur length (FL), and estimated fetal weight (EFW) were used. We created customised-generalised least squares models to evaluate associations of residential greenspace exposure on each fetal growth parameter, controlled for the relevant confounders. There were associations between the 500 m buffer and BPD, FL, and AC. We also found associations in the 300 m buffer and FL and AC. The associations in the 100 m buffer were null. Estimates were higher among participants with lower socioeconomic status. Mediation analyses found that air pollution might explain 15–37% of our associations. Mediation by physical activity was not observed. Greenspace exposure may be beneficial for fetal growth.     

基于合作对象探讨我国学术期刊专题/专栏建设

【目的】 了解学术期刊专题/专栏建设的现状,以切实发挥学术期刊专题/专栏建设的作用,为期刊的品牌建设、学术创新、影响力提升和办刊质量提高提供策略。【方法】 采用问卷调查法,对全国范围内397名专题/专栏合作对象(包括期刊主编、编委、审稿人、作者)进行调查,了解他们对期刊专题/专栏建设的态度和意见,从合作对象视角探讨影响学术期刊专题/专栏建设成功率和有效性的因素。【结果】 合作对象态度上,表示支持专题/专栏建设工作的比例较高(71.28%),但供稿率不高(43.37%),存在态度和行为分离的现象。排名前5的供稿率影响因素是期刊被本专业领域研究者认可、期刊被数据库收录情况、期刊影响力、期刊品牌、期刊的处理速度。最优的约稿方式是行业内的学术带头人联系约稿,其次是熟识的专家委托和期刊主编亲自联系进行约稿。合作对象最希望获得的帮助是稿件快速审理发表和确定选题方向。【结论】 为提高学术期刊专题/专栏建设质量,应进一步挖掘重要合作对象的作用,有针对性地选择高供稿率的合作对象;努力挖掘和利用影响合作对象供稿的因素,在期刊品牌建设、扩大影响力方面下功夫;优化约稿方式方法,重视行业学术带头人的作用;同时通过稿件快速审理发表、帮助确定选题并提供发表后推广等服务,提高合作对象对专题/专栏建设工作的认可度和参与度。     

Zhang Weishen: A Pioneer in the Development and Industrial Production of Penicillin in New China

The research and development of penicillin started with difficulty before 1949 and achieved certain results. In 1951, after the founding of the People's Republic of China, Zhang Weishen, as the only Chinese scientist who had been trained and worked in a penicillin research and development center in the United States for many years, overcame many difficulties and returned to China. In 1953, with the efforts of Zhang Weishen and his colleagues, China realized the industrialized production of penicillin, alleviating the urgent needs of the masses. Antibiotics has also become the first discipline to achieve major scientific and technological achievements after the founding of the New China. In the mid-1950s, the technical breakthrough in the localization of lactose substitutes marked the localization of the raw materials of the penicillin-producing culture medium, which paved the way for the industrialized production of penicillin with Chinese characteristics. Antibiotics have become one of the most widely used and affordable drugs for hundreds of millions of patients in China, and China has since ended the humiliating history of the “Sick Man of East Asia".     

新生儿营养与儿童早期发展

儿童早期发展是从受精卵到8岁儿童体格、心理和社会能力的生长和发育,其发展过程受到遗传、环境等多方面影响。其中,新生儿的优质营养是儿童早期发展的重要物质基础,新生儿期的母乳喂养、新生儿疾病的筛查、早产儿和低出生体重儿的合理喂养都是促进儿童早期发展的关键之一。本文将从新生儿营养的角度,全面总结其对儿童早期发展的作用,为更好地优化母婴营养,促进儿童早期发展提供新的方向与参考。     

Vaccine innovation model: A technology transfer perspective in pandemic contexts

This work identifies the innovations that made it possible for the Bio-Manguinhos/Fiocruz Immunobiological Technology Institute to engage in the entire production of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine (ChAdOx1 nCov-19) in Brazil, just 1.8 years after the COVID-19 pandemic was declared. The results were summarized in a case-based innovation model composed of 11 workstreams, 32 stages, 22 gates, 11 innovations, and 38 events. In terms of research contributions, three were found: (i) the identification of firm and government-level innovations allowing the substantial reduction in the COVID-19 vaccine time-to-market in Brazil; (ii) the presentation of empirical evidence supporting the new Outbreak Paradigm for vaccine research, development, and production; and (iii) the proposition of a conceptual model for describing innovations through the vaccine value chain in pandemic contexts, particularly when technology transfer is involved.     

Reacreditación o recertificación de los cirujanos generales en España: esa es la cuestión. Resultados de una encuesta nacional

IntroductionThe Law for the Regulation of Health Professions (LOPS) indicates that health professionals will carry out continuous training throughout their professional life, and will regularly prove their professional competence. The objective of the study was to carry out a national survey to find out the opinion of Spanish surgeons and thus be able to prepare a recertification project by the Spanish Association of Surgeons (AEC).MethodsCross-sectional observational study carried out in June-July 2020, through a survey sent to the members of the AEC.ResultsThe survey had a total of 1230 visits and an overall completion rate of 784 responses (67.3%). 69.6% were unaware of the LOPS forecasts and 83.4% were unaware of similar initiatives in other specialties and 95.5% agreed to demand adequate information. 71.4% believed it necessary but only 57% believed that it should be mandatory. 82.9% would agree that it should be regulated through an objective and predictable official procedure.ConclusionsThe concept of re-accreditation is not well known in our specialty and in view of the results obtained, adequate and reliable information seems necessary. Therefore, it would be pertinent to propose by the AEC a specific project to assess activities and skills.     

Whose place? Lessons from a case study of a guardianship determination for an Australian Indigenous child

Whose values matter when considering which environment is healthier for a child whose guardianship is contested? The biological mother from a remote Australian Aboriginal community, who voluntarily relinquished her but has now requested her return? The foster mother who has cared for her in a metropolitan centre in another State of Australia, thousands of kilometres away? The welfare professionals who also live in that city? Or the child herself, who left her birth home and community five years earlier at the age of two? Drawing on a case study of a seven-year old Aboriginal girl, the authors argue that non-Indigenous values trumped Indigenous values without the realisation of key players who were empowered to make such determinations. The article uses Manuel DeLanda's neo-assemblage theory to consider the range of processes that exert themselves to shape place-values and social identity in colonised nations. It will also draw on Erik Erikson's and Lev Vygotsky's theories of psychosocial development to consider competing sets of values that raised feelings of dissonance within the child. Beliefs about what makes a place health-giving are revealed to be complex in colonised nations. Despite policy and legislative changes to better support Aboriginal people and their right to difference, non-Indigenous professionals can continue to be driven by an unrecognised systemic racism. While place-values are not, of course, the only (or perhaps even the most significant) consideration in guardianship determinations, this article will argue they can play a significant and covert role.