Efecto del enriquecimiento con nutrientes en la degradación de clorpirifos, malatión y metil paratión

Con el fin de evaluar el efecto del enriquecimiento con nutrientes (una sal de fósforo o un fertilizante comercial con N, P y K) como alternativa para mejorar la capacidad de degradación de los microorganismos en una matriz sólida, contaminada con los pesticidas organofosforados: clorpirifos, malatión y metil paratión, se realizaron experimentos de cultivo bajo condiciones controladas de oscuridad, temperatura y humedad por 30 días. En todos los tratamientos hubo degradación de los pesticidas; sin embargo, en el tratamiento con fósforo los tiempos para degradar el clorpirifos y el metil paratión fueron mayores. La presencia de los pesticidas no generó efectos tóxicos detectables sobre la microflora en ninguno de los tratamientos evaluados. La actividad biológica de las matrices no presentó una relación directa con la capacidad de degradación. Abstract In order to evaluate the effect of inorganic nutrient addition (phosphorus or commercial fertilizer) over the microbial degradation capacity present in a solid matrix contaminated with chlorpyrifos, malathion and methyl parathion, microcosms assays were held under controlled conditions of light, moisture and temperature for 30 days. Results showed that even though three treatments microorganisms were able to degrade the three organophosphorus pesticides, microorganisms of phosphorus-enrichment treatment were less efficient to degrade Chlorpyrifos and Methyl Parathion than microorganisms of Fertilizer-enrichment treatment. It was not observed a direct relation between mineralization and microbial pesticides degradation capacity. The microbial activity was not affected by the presence of organophosphorus pesticides

Humillación y Abusos en Centros de Tratamiento para uso de Drogas en Puerto Rico

Instead of receiving help from the institutions, public and private, that are supposed to safeguard their rights and ensure their bienestar, drug users in Puerto Rico are treated as merchandise without regard at all to the dignity and respect they deserve as human beings. The experiences and stories documented in this report show that in Puerto Rico they are still violating the human rights and the integrity of drug users under the guise of providing "treatment" in institutions operating mostly by organizations non-profit and faith-based, as Christian homes and Hogares CREA, Inc. These centers represent over 90% of residential programs licensed by the government. Within these centers the-post "treatment" for problematic drug use, daily acts that constitute cruel, inhuman and degraded treatment toward drug users are committed. The humillation and the threat of arbitrary and degrading punishment is our daily bread

SpikingLab: modelling agents controlled by Spiking Neural Networks in Netlogo

The scientific interest attracted by Spiking Neural Networks (SNN) has lead to the development of tools for the simulation and study of neuronal dynamics ranging from phenomenological models to the more sophisticated and biologically accurate Hodgkin-and-Huxley-based and multi-compartmental models. However, despite the multiple features offered by neural modelling tools, their integration with environments for the simulation of robots and agents can be challenging and time consuming. The implementation of artificial neural circuits to control robots generally involves the following tasks: (1) understanding the simulation tools, (2) creating the neural circuit in the neural simulator, (3) linking the simulated neural circuit with the environment of the agent and (4) programming the appropriate interface in the robot or agent to use the neural controller. The accomplishment of the above-mentioned tasks can be challenging, especially for undergraduate students or novice researchers. This paper presents an alternative tool which facilitates the simulation of simple SNN circuits using the multi-agent simulation and the programming environment Netlogo (educational software that simplifies the study and experimentation of complex systems). The engine proposed and implemented in Netlogo for the simulation of a functional model of SNN is a simplification of integrate and fire (I&F) models. The characteristics of the engine (including neuronal dynamics, STDP learning and synaptic delay) are demonstrated through the implementation of an agent representing an artificial insect controlled by a simple neural circuit. The setup of the experiment and its outcomes are described in this work

Synthesis, characterization and biological evaluation of rare earth complexes against tropical diseases Leishmaniasis, Malaria and Trypanosomiasis

Complejos lantánidos de Y(III), Ce(III), Nd(III), Sm(III) e Yb(III) con ligandos 4-R-cinamato y 4-R-fenilacetato (R = Cl, CH3O-) fueron sintetizados y caracterizados empleando análisis elemental, conductancia molar, mediciones espectroscópicas (infrarrojo, UV-Vis) y análisis térmico. La evaluación de la actividad citotóxica en células U-937 mostró que los complejos lantánidos no son tóxicos contra esta línea promonocítica humana. Todos los compuestos sintetizados fueron examinados para su actividad in vitro contra tres parásitos protozoarios: Leishmania panamensis, Plasmodium falciparum y Trypanosoma cruzi. El complejo de Ce(III) con ligando 4-metoxicinamato, a 20 μg/ml, redujo la infección en 22% y puede considerarse moderadamente activo contra L. panamensis. Todos los complejos seleccionados demostraron actividad anti-parasitaria contra T. cruzi.The lanthanide complexes Y(III), Ce(III), Nd(III), Sm(III) and Yb(III) with 4-R-cinnamate and 4-R-phenylacetate (R = Cl, CH3O-) ligands have been synthesized and characterized using elemental analysis, molar conductance, spectroscopic measurements (IR, UV-Vis spectra) and thermal analysis. The evaluation of cytotoxic activity in U-937 cells has revealed that lanthanide complexes are not toxic against this human promonocytic line. All synthesized compounds have been screened for in vitro activity against three parasitic protozoa: Leishmania panamensis, Plasmodium falciparum and Trypanosoma cruzi. The Ce(III) complex with the 4-methoxycinnamate ligand at 20 μg/ml reduces infection by 22% and may be considered moderately active against L. panamensis. All of the selected complexes demonstrate anti-parasitic activity against T. cruzi

A Space for Co-constructing Counter Stories Under Surveillance

Using our experiences as members of a participatory action research committee (from the City University of New York Graduate Center and the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility) documenting the impact of college in a maximum security prison, this essay illustrates the power of Participatory Action Research in the construction of counter stories. We raise for discussion a set of theoretical, methodological and ethical challenges that emerged from the co-production of counter stories under surveillance: the creation of a critical space for producing \u27counter knowledge\u27; the co-mingling of counter and dominant discourses, the negotiation of power over and within research in prison, and the opening of a dialogue between counter stories and public policy makers