There is growing evidence about the potential negative psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ethnoracially minoritized young adults. Emerging adulthood is a developmental stage (ages 18-29 ...years old) that is characterized by identity exploration, instability, self-focus, feeling "in between" and having a sense of possibilities. Latinx emerging adults have reported significant socio-emotional consequences as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to explore the psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Latinx emerging adults (N = 31; ages 18-29) in California and Florida through online focus group interviews. A qualitative constructivist grounded theory approach was used in an effort to develop empirical knowledge, as research on the psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Latinx young adults is limited. This method served to capture the richness of the experiences of participants by allowing analytic codes and categories to drive theory development. In total, seven focus groups were held and participants attended a virtual focus group with other Latinx emerging adults from their state. The focus groups were transcribed verbatim and coded using constructivist grounded theory. Five themes were identified from the data concerning the impact of the pandemic on Latinx emerging adults, which centered around mental health experiences, navigating family factors, pandemic-related communication, career and academic disruptions, and systemic and environmental factors. A theoretical model was constructed to generate an understanding about factors influencing psychosocial functioning for Latinx emerging adults during the pandemic. The study has implications for advancing science on the consequences of pandemics on mental health and cultural considerations that may influence disaster recovery. Examples of these cultural considerations that emerged from this study include multigenerational values, heightened responsibilities, and mediating pandemic information. Results can inform efforts to increase support and resources for Latinx emerging adults in order to address the psychological difficulties resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The volume of discarded tires continues to increase each year, becoming a major topic of concern for society. Motivated by this environmental issue, this experimental study aims to evaluate the ...mechanical behavior and the feasibility of distinct contents (5, 10 and 15% by dry weight of soil) of recycled tire rubber used as chips and fibers for clayey soil reinforcement. Standard Proctor compaction and consolidated-drained triaxial tests under effective stresses of 50, 100 and 150 kPa were accomplished. Regardless of size, 5% rubber addition resulted in similar maximum dry density values, while optimum moisture content is influenced by the specific surface area. Overall, both particle sizes improved the mechanical behavior of natural soil, in which fiber reinforcement leads to superior interfacial bonding. The elastic behavior of clayey soil was enhanced by the residue, wherein the recycled tire rubber incorporation is more efficient for low confining stresses. Notwithstanding the equally satisfactory enhancements obtained by 5% chips and 10% fibers, cohesive intercept was affected by the interaction between rubber size and clayey particles. Even though soil-fiber rubber mixture tends to be a more promising technique in fine soil due to higher incorporation content, both reinforcing agents proved to be a technical and a socio-environmental solution to the problems associated with residues disposal and natural resources exploration.
Lutzomyia evansi, a phlebotomine insect endemic to Colombia's Caribbean coast, is considered to be the main vector of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis in the region. Although insects of this ...species can harbor pathogenic and non-pathogenic microorganisms in their intestinal microbiota, there is little information available about the diversity of gut bacteria present in Lutzomyia evansi. In this study, conventional microbiological methods and molecular tools were used to assess the composition of bacterial communities associated with Lutzomyia evansi guts in immature and adult stages of natural populations from the department of Sucre (Caribbean coast of Colombia).
Sand flies were collected from two locations (peri-urban and jungle biotype) in the Department of Sucre (Caribbean coast of Colombia). A total of 752 Lutzomyia evansi intestines were dissected. In this study, 125 bacterial strains were isolated from different culture media (LB Agar, MacConkey Agar). Different methods were used for bacterial identification, including ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis (RISA) and analysis of the 16S rRNA and gyrB gene sequences. The genetic profiles of the bacterial populations were generated and temporal temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TTGE) was used to compare them with total gut DNA. We also used PCR and DNA sequence analysis to determine the presence of Wolbachia endosymbiont bacteria and Leishmania parasites.
The culture-dependent technique showed that the dominant intestinal bacteria isolated belong to Acinetobacter, Enterobacter, Pseudomonas, Ochrobactrum, Shinella and Paenibacillus in the larval stage; Lysobacter, Microbacterium, Streptomyces, Bacillus and Rummeliibacillus in the pupal stage; and Staphylococcus, Streptomyces, Brevibacterium, Acinetobacter, Enterobacter and Pantoea in the adult stage. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between the fingerprint patterns of the PCR-TTGE bands in bacterial communities from immature and adult stages. Additionally, differences were found in bacterial community structure in fed females, unfed females, males and larvae. The intestinal bacteria detected by PCR-TTGE were Enterobacter cloacae and Bacillus thuringiensis, which were present in different life stages of Lu. evansi, and Burkholderia cenocepacia and Bacillus gibsonii, which were detected only in the larval stage. Wolbachia and Leishmania were not detected in gut samples of Lutzomyia evansi.
The analyses conducted using microbiological and molecular approaches indicated significant variations in the bacterial communities associated with the gut of Lu. evansi, depending on the developmental stage and food source. We propose that these elements affect microbial diversity in L. evansi guts and may in turn influence pathogen transmission to humans bitten by this insect.
Silk degumming is considered the first point in the preparation of silk-based materials since this process could modify the silk fiber and the properties of its related products. This study evaluated ...the differences in morphology, secondary structure, amino acid content, thermal stability, and mechanical properties of two types of raw materials, defective cocoons (DC) and silk fibrous waste (SW), degummed by chemical (C) and autoclaving (A) methods. Subsequently, silk fibroin films were prepared by dissolving each type of degummed fibers, and thermal and structural films properties were determined. The findings demonstrated that autoclaving is an efficient alternative to remove silk sericin, as the resulting fibers presented improved structural, thermal, and mechanical properties compared to those obtained by the chemical method. For films preparation, autoclave resulted in a good option, but dissolution parameters need to be adjusted for defective cocoons. Furthermore, similarities between the physicochemical properties of fibers and films from both fibrous wastes suggest that SW is a promising raw material for producing fibrous resources and regenerated silk fibroin materials. Overall, these findings suggest new recycling methods for fibrous waste and by-products generated in the silk textile production process.
Streptococcus constellatus pharyngis
is a gram-positive commensal bacterium commonly found in the oropharynx, gastrointestinal and urogenital tracts. It might be an aggressive opportunistic pathogen ...causing invasive pyogenic infections in sterile areas, mostly as peritonsillar and orofacial abscesses. We report the case of a 6-year-old girl, who presented multiple head and neck abscesses and bilateral cavernous sinus thrombosis secondary to
Streptococcus constellatus pharyngis
. Cavernous sinus thrombosis, consequent to this microorganism, has not been reported to date in the literature. Due to the invasive features of this pathogen, a long-term antibiotherapy (up to 9 months) is required. Additionally, a surgical drainage is indicated in case of head and neck, or brain abscesses, larger than 20 or 25 mm respectively. Anticoagulation should be considered in case of venous thrombosis. The interest of this case is not only based on the rarity and severity of the disease, but also on the success of medical and surgical therapy (including long- term antibiotics, anticoagulation and two surgical procedures). This experience may serve as a guide to treat future cases.
Prognosis of advanced cardiac light-chain amyloidosis (ACAL) is ominous. Diagnosis of ACAL is frequently preceded by several biopsies of non-clinically affected tissues, which can result in dangerous ...treatment delays. Combinations of alkylators and steroids have a limited role in its therapy. Definitive efficacy of bortezomib in ACAL is not widely described. In this study we analyze the diagnostic yield of biopsies and compare the effect of bortezomib with other therapeutic strategies in ACAL patients.
This study is a retrospective analysis of 40 consecutive ACAL patients treated at our hospital (2005 to 2015). For comparison purposes, the cohort was divided into 2 groups: patients treated with bortezomib (n = 23) and those treated with other therapeutic approaches (non-bortezomib, n = 8).
Sensitivity of biopsies of non-clinically affected organs was 23%, as compared with 97% for affected organ biopsies (p < 0.0001). The need for >2 biopsies resulted in an average delay in diagnosis of 4.1 months (p = 0.007). Hematologic response was observed in 96% of patients in the bortezomib group compared with 25% in the non-bortezomib group (relative risk = 3.8; 95% confidence interval 1.14 to 12.75; p = 0.0002). Cardiac response criteria were met by 60% of patients in the bortezomib group as compared with none in the non-bortezomib group (p = 0.005). Survival at 6 months and 1 and 2 years for bortezomib patients was 91%, 91% and 73%, as compared with 58%, 15% and 0% for non-bortezomib patients (log rank, p < 0.0001), respectively.
In our experience, the sensitivity of biopsies from non-affected organs in ACAL is poor and could result in diagnostic delay. Bortezomib was associated with higher hematologic and cardiac response rates as well as survival when compared with other therapies.
The food security of each country depends on agricultural development, which is sensitive to the implementation of agricultural public policies. These must evolve as new ruralities arise, with new ...phenomena, such as climate change, ecosystem services, changes in consumer preferences, globalization, sustainability and ecological awareness. Hence, of ex-ante and ex-post evaluations of agricultural policies, are important because they provide timely information to government entities. There are different methodologies for policy evaluation, which have evolved over time.
This systematic review aims to identify manuscript that systematically review methodologies, policies and variables evaluated during the last 50 years to determine whether a policy has been efficient. To assess the quality of the included manuscript and to describe the measures and domains identified.
EBSCO, Dialnet, SciELO, Scopus, Science Direct, Dimensions and Web of Science were searched. A total of 154 manuscript were identified, the review was finalized by reviewing the title, and abstract and the review was finalized by reviewing the title, abstract and full text, resolving disagreements. Of these 154 manuscripts, 37 met the criteria and were included in the analysis. PRISMA checklists were used to evaluate the methodology.
It were found that there are few studies on the design of evaluation methodologies for agricultural policies in the literature. Research shows that the latest policy evaluation proposals present more complex methodologies involving tools such as machine learning and agent-based modelling (ABM). On the other hand, the issue of sustainability as a policy is seen in the agri-environmental policy evaluation.
The evolution of agricultural policy methodologies can be observed at the beginning with the use of quantitative methodologies, such as matrices, statistics and econometrics. With the emergence of new variables, such as agri-environmental variables, citizen participation and market opening, methodologies have become more comprehensive, combining qualitative and quantitative variables. Methodologies were identified that evaluate robust agricultural policies and others that focus on the evaluation of one or two policies. These studies are important for research that focuses not only on the evaluation of agricultural policies but also on their design and implementation processes.
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•The methodologies applied to policy evaluation are more elaborate and allow the combination of various methodologies.•There is a global concern about reducing the environmental footprint in economic, social, and cultural activities. This is evidenced by the publication of papers assessing the impact of agricultural policies on natural resources.•Although methodologies that evaluate agricultural policies were found, it is still a problem that requires further research, because new variables are being added that current methodologies cannot evaluate.
el presente texto tiene como propósito analizar la búsqueda de ‘sentido de vida’ en relación con los espacios en la novela Los hombres invisibles del escritor Mario Mendoza. Para ello se toma como ...referencia dicho concepto a partir de los presupuestos de Viktor Frankl y Alfred Längle en la Logoterapia y el Análisis Existencial, respectivamente, a través de los cuales se logra demostrar que encontrar el sentido de vida es un imperativo en el ser humano, y que en dicha consecución son determinantes los espacios en los cuales este se establece y desarrolla su proyecto de vida.
Abstract Objectives Severe right ventricular failure often is considered a contraindication for left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy and necessitates use of biventricular assist devices ...(BiVADs). Available options for BiVADs are limited, and comparative outcomes are largely unknown. Methods Heart transplant candidates who were registered on the United Network for Organ Sharing waitlist and underwent long-term contemporary LVAD (n = 3195) or BiVAD (n = 408) implantation, from January 2010 through June 2014, were retrospectively analyzed. We evaluated clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients requiring a BiVAD, as well as regional differences in utilization of this technology. Results Patients requiring a BiVAD were younger (48.9 vs 53.3 years), had a higher proportion of nonischemic disease (69.1% vs 58.2%), a higher bilirubin level (0.9 vs 0.7 mg/dL), and a lower 6-month survival rate (68.1% vs 92.7%) after device implantation (all P < .05). Postimplantation and posttransplantation survival was comparable for commonly used BiVAD configurations, including total artificial heart, continuous flow BiVAD, a continuous-flow LVAD coupled with a right-sided device, and pulsatile flow. Significant variation was found in regional utilization of these devices, regardless of differences in transplantation waitlist times. A large body surface area was an independent predictor of mortality on a BiVAD (hazard ratio = 2.12, P = .017). Conclusions Outcomes of patients requiring a BiVAD remain poor in the contemporary device era, regardless of the configuration used. Among other clinical factors, body surface area should be incorporated into decision making for device selection in these patients.
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