Several scientific areas have benefited significantly from the introduction of nanotechnology and the respective evolution. This is especially noteworthy in the development of new drug substances and products. This review focuses on the introduction of nanomedicines in the pharmaceutical market, and all the controversy associated to basic concepts related to these nanosystems, and the numerous methodologies applied for enhanced knowledge. Due to the properties conferred by the nanoscale, the challenges for nanotechnology implementation, specifically in the pharmaceutical development of new drug products and respective regulatory issues are critically discussed, mainly focused on the European Union context. Finally, issues pertaining to the current applications and future developments are presented.

A short-term, sublethal, and cost-effective in situ sediment toxicity assay for routine assessments with the midge Chironomus riparius Meigen, based on postexposure feeding, was developed and evaluated. An inexpensive and easy-to-use assay chamber was designed. A sediment toxicity assay was successfully performed at a lentic system impacted by acid mine drainage, at sites with different types of sediment. It consisted of a 48-h exposure period followed by a 1-h postexposure feeding during which the larvae were fed on Artemia franciscana nauplii. Methodologies for feeding quantification of fourth-instar larvae (10-d old) were first developed and optimized under laboratory conditions. A. franciscana nauplii were shown to be more suited than fish flake food for postexposure feeding quantification, allowing higher precision and cost-effectiveness. It also required a shorter postexposure feeding period, thus minimizing the chances for an eventual organism physiological recovery from toxicant exposure. The influence of several environmental conditions during exposure on postexposure feeding was also evaluated: temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, salinity, hardness, substrate, humic acids, light, and food availability. Only temperature was found to significantly influence postexposure feeding rates; exposure at 5 degrees C led to reduced feeding activity compared to 30 degrees C. Recovery rates of 87% were obtained after the 48-h field exposure at all sites (except site R2). A statistically significant postexposure feeding depression was observed at the three sites impacted by acid mine drainage. Therefore, the proposed short-term in situ assay is a potentially useful tool to assess sediment sublethal toxicity on a routine basis.

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Reflete-se neste texto a respeito do acesso dos estudantes de escolas públicas do Ensino Básico ao ingresso nas instituições de ensino superior. Atualmente, o Ensino Básico Nacional é continuamente criticado pela sua evasão e por sua demasiada carga de conteúdo. O Ensino Médio, que são os três ou quatro últimos anos dessa etapa são ainda mais arduamente criticados, por se tratar de uma produção criada sem uma identidade muito bem definida e por se esvaziar na sua própria falta de moldura e contexto. Esse problema é gerado por esta expansão e a falta de capacitação e acompanhamento destes estudantes, para que os mesmos não sofram com a evasão do Ensino Médio. Para sanar essas questões, pensamos que um cursinho preparatório de forma voluntária e gratuita. Nesta perspectiva, articular os processos de ensino como uma possibilidade destes sujeitos a ingressar no curso superior.