Abstract (Objective) The objective wasto determine which of the two hydra species (Hydraattenuata or Hydraviridis) was more sensitive to two pesticides, and the nuse the most sensitive species as part of the battery of testorganisms of the Ecotoxicological Studies Laboratory (ECOTOX). (Methodology) For this purpose, dilutions of two of the most comm only used pesticides in pineapple cultivation in CostaRica which were detectedin water samples were used: the herbicide diuron and the insecticide ethoprophos. Toxicity bioassays were conducted with each of the sesubstances and with amixture of the sesubstances.Themorphological state of the hydras was recorded. Inaddition,the mean effective concentration (EC50), mean lethal concentration (LC50) andtoxicity interactions wer evaluated interm sof three possibilities: antagonistic, additiveor synergistic. (Results) H. attenuata as the most sensitive species to both pesticides,withan LC50sof16.84mg/Land103.01mg/L, and an EC50sof4.24mg/Land23.4mg/L for diuronan dethoprophos, respectively. Furthermore, H. viridishadan LC50sof36.94mg/Land103.01mg/L, withan EC50sof13.64mg/Land53.12mg/L, also for diuronande thoprophos, respectively. Exposure to the pesticide mixture only caused mortality in H.viridisandhadas y nergistic effect on both species. (Conclusions) These results suggest that H. attenuata is the most appropriate species for the evaluation of pesticide effects, but fur the rstudies should be conducted on the interactions of contaminants in mixtures, since these may modify their toxicity for different species.

Resumen (Objetivo) El objetivo fue determinar cuál de las dos especies de hidras (Hydraattenuatao Hydraviridis) resultaba más sensible a dos plaguicidas,para luego usar la como parte de la batería de organismos de prueba del Laboratorio de Estudios Ecotoxicológicos(ECOTOX). (Metodología) Para esto se utilizaron diluciones dedos de los plaguicidas más común mente usados en el cultivo de piña en Costa Rica y detectados en muestras de agua: el herbicida diuron y el insecticida etoprofos. Se realizaron bioensayos de toxicidad con cada una de estas sustancias y con una mezcla de estas.Se registró el estado morfológico de las hidras. Además,se evaluaron la concentración de efecto medio (EC50), la concentración letal media (LC50),y las interacciones de toxicidad según tres posibilidades: antagónica, aditiva o sinérgica. (Resultados) La H. attenuata fue la especiemás sensible a ambos plaguicidas, con LC50s de 16,84mg/L y 103,01mg/L; y EC50s de 4,24mg/L y 23,74mg/L paradiuron y etoprofos, respectivamente. Mientras tanto la H. viridistuvo LC50s de 36,94mg/L y 103,01mg/L, con EC50s de 13,64mg/L y 53,12mg/L, también para diuron y etoprofos, respectivamente. La exposiciónal a mezcla de plaguicidas solo causó mortalidad a la H.viridis y tuvo efectos inérgico en ambas especies. (Conclusiones) Estos resultados sugieren que la H. attenuata es la especie más apropiada para la evaluación de efectos de plaguicidas, pero se deben realizar más estudios sobre las interacciones de los contaminantes en mezclas, porque estas pueden modificar su toxicidad para diferentes especies.

Resumo (Objetivo): O objetivo foi determinar qual das duas espécies de hydra (Hydra attenuata ou Hydra viridis) era mais sensível a dois pesticidas, para ser usada como parte da bateria de organismos de teste do Laboratório de Estudos Ecotoxicológicos (ECOTOX). (Metodologia): Foram usadas diluições de dois dos pesticidas mais comumente aplicados no cultivo de abacaxi na Costa Rica e detectados em amostras de água: o herbicida diuron e o inseticida etoprofós. Foram realizados bioensaios de toxicidade com cada uma dessas substâncias e com uma mistura delas. Foi registrado o status morfológico das hidras. Além disso, a concentração de efeito médio (CE50), a concentração letal média (CL50) e as interações de toxicidade foram avaliadas de acordo com três possibilidades: antagônica, aditiva ou sinérgica. (Resultados) A H. attenuata foi a espécie mais sensível a ambos os pesticidas, com CL50s de 16,84 mg/L e 103,01 mg/L; e CE50s de 4,24 mg/L e 23,74 mg/L para diuron e etoprofós, respectivamente. Enquanto isso, o H. viridis apresentou CL50s de 36,94 mg/L e 103,01 mg/L, com CL50s de 13,64 mg/L e 53,12 mg/L, também para diuron e etoprofós, respectivamente. A exposição à mistura de pesticidas causou mortalidade apenas em H. viridis e teve um efeito sinérgico em ambas as espécies. (Conclusões): Esses resultados sugerem que a H. attenuata é a espécie mais adequada para a avaliação dos efeitos dos pesticidas, mas estudos adicionais sobre as interações de contaminantes em misturas devem ser realizados, pois as misturas podem modificar sua toxicidade para diferentes espécies.

Colourism is a form of discrimination where dark-skinned people of colour are perceived and treated less favourably than lighter-skinned people of the same ethnic group or racial classification. Much of the scholarly literature on colourism is focused on the experiences of African-Americans in the United States, but there is also substantial literature examining colourism's impacts for Americans of Latinx, Indigenous, and Asian ancestry, and for people of colour in the Caribbean, Latin America, the UK, Europe, the Asia-Pacific, and parts of Africa. To date, there has not been significant scholarly focus on the phenomenon as it manifests in Kenya. This study sought to address that research gap by: (1) exploring the extent to which colourism is an issue of concern among Kenyan users of the social media platform Twitter; and (2) identifying the main colourism themes present in posts in the Kenyan Twitter ecosystem. The research entailed mining Kenyan Twitter data for nine and a half months in 2022, which resulted in the documentation of 7,726 unique posts on elements of colourism, as posted from 5,094 unique Twitter user accounts. Using inductive frame analysis, three predominant thematic categories were identified across the posts: (1) colourism perceptions; (2) colourism experiences; and (3) colourism influence. The frame analysis also uncovered sub-themes in each of these three broad categories. It was found that most of the Kenyan Twitter users who tweeted on matters of colourism during the period studied both acknowledged the existence of colourism's manifestations and at the same time rejected the manifestations, advocating for a future free from such discrimination.

The thick-shelled clam Meretrix morphina, previously referred to as Meretrix meretrix, now occurs in the west Indian Ocean region, along the eastern seaboard of Africa, from the Red Sea to the Mlalazi Estuary, close to the Tugela River. Its presence in South Africa is only of recent recording. Meretrix morphina was detected for the first time in Lake St Lucia in 2000. The population declined and was not detected from 2005 until 2011, most likely as a result of a severe drought that resulted in widespread desiccation and hypersalinity in the lake. The system then experienced increased freshwater input resulting in lower salinities from 2011 until 2014, during which time M. morphina reappeared and their population gradually increased. In 2015, M. morphina became abundant in St Lucia, attaining unprecedented densities of 447 ind./m². Biomass, expressed as a fresh weight, varied in the different basins of St Lucia, ranging from 195 g/m² at Lister's Point to 1909.8 g/m² at Catalina Bay. However, in 2016, when drought conditions returned, M. morphina disappeared. This species appears to thrive under brackish salinities and high temperatures. It is able to establish large populations with high biomass and can become dominant. However, M. morphina is sensitive to desiccation and hypersaline conditions. This clam has substantial commercial value and is exploited along the African east coast, particularly in Mozambique. In future, it may feature more prominently in South African estuaries. However, the ecology of M. morphina is still largely unknown. SIGNIFICANCE: • First record of population irruption of M. morphina in South Africa. • Report on the largely unknown ecology of a commercially valuable bivalve. • Update on the taxonomy and poleward spread of M. morphina.

Os propósitos do estudo foram: 1) apresentar valores de referência percentílica às quatro provas da bateria de testes KTK; 2) comparar o desempenho coordenativo entre crianças vouzelenses e de outros estudos do país e exterior; e 3) apresentar pseudo-curvas de velocidade para cada prova. Foram avaliadas 811 crianças com idades entre os seis e os 10 anos. O desempenho coordenativo foi estimado por meio da bateria KTK. Cartas percentílicas e pseudo-curvas de velocidade foram construídas com base no método LMS, implementado no "software" LMSchartmarker Pro versão 2.54. Os valores de referência percentílicas expressam forte variabilidade interindividual do desempenho coordenativo. Em geral, os valores médios vouzelenses são inferiores aos belgas e alemães. O comportamento do percentil 50 das quatro provas do KTK é similar entre Vouzela, Peru e Açores. As pseudo-curvas de velocidade sugerem especificidade em cada prova e sexo, bem como diminuição dos ganhos coordenativos ao longo da idade.

The purposes of this study were 1) to construct reference values to KTK test battery; 2) to compare Vouzela children’s motor coordination with those from other Portuguese sites and international references; 3) to present pseudo-velocity curves for each KTK test. The sample comprises 811 children aged six to 11 years. Motor coordination was assessed with the four tests of the KTK Battery. Centile charts were constructed using the LMS method implemented in LMSchartmarker Pro software. Pervasive interindividual differences were noted in all coordination tests. Mean values of Vouzela children’s motor coordination were lower than German and Belgian samples. 50th percentile was similar among Vouzela, Peruvian and Azorean samples. Pseudo-velocity curves suggested a marked specificity to each test and sex, as well as decreasing of the coordinative gains per year.