AbstractWith different origins and perspectives, urban sprawl has been recognized as a threat to the quality of life in both developed and emerging countries. However, although in developed ...countries, the effects of such sprawl have been assessed in terms of extra fuel consumption and traffic congestion, in emerging economies, such effects have not been quantified and analyzed in detail. It was the purpose of this research to estimate the effects of urban sprawl on the transportation costs and fuel consumption in a rapidly growing metropolitan area in Mexico. This was performed through a strategy consisting of applying known analytical methodologies to data that were obtained by direct home surveys. Although the results reveal that such an urban sprawling process represents increases in transportation costs and fuel consumption on the order of 65 and 20%, respectively, it was found that other externalities should be considered in future studies, particularly with respect to the extra costs associated with the transportation of consumption goods in the sprawled areas. Conversely, the results correlate well with data from other emerging economies, but identify specific needs concerning the public transport infrastructure, particularly with regard to optimizing the running frequency of public transportation systems and the consideration of polycentric structures to minimize externalities.
Patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA) may develop a glomerulopathy with proteinuria and progressive renal insufficiency, leading to ESRD. Albuminuria is a sensitive marker of glomerular damage in ...this population and precedes the development of renal insufficiency. For determination of the prevalence of glomerular damage in SCA and the clinical correlates of renal insufficiency, 300 adult patients with SCA were studied (hemoglobin SS = 184; and 116 with other sickling hemoglobinopathies: SC, SD, and S-beta thalassemia); albumin excretion rates (AER) and renal function (Cockroft-Gault formula) were determined, and clinical and hematologic evaluations were conducted. In hemoglobin SS disease, increased AER (micro- and macroalbuminuria) occurred in 68% of adult patients, and macroalbuminuria occurred in 26%. In other sickling disorders, increased AER occurs in 32% of adults, and macroalbuminuria occurs in 10%. The development of graded albuminuria was age dependent, so at 40 yr, 40% of patients with SS disease had macroalbuminuria. There were no differences in hematologic parameters (hemoglobin levels, white blood cell count, percentage of reticulocytes, platelet counts, or lactate dehydrogenase levels) between patients with normoalbuminuria and those with micro- or macroalbuminuria. By multivariate analysis, albuminuria correlated with age and serum creatinine in SS disease but not with BP or hemoglobin levels. In other sickling disorders, albuminuria tended to be associated with age but not with hemoglobin or BP levels. The diastolic BP was lower in patients with SCA than in African American control subjects, and the development of renal insufficiency, which was present in 21% of adults with SS disease, was not accompanied by significant hypertension. It is concluded that glomerular damage in adults with SCA is very common, and a majority of patients with SS disease are at risk for the development of progressive renal failure. The development of micro- and macroalbuminuria is not related to the degree of anemia, suggesting that sickle cell glomerulopathy is not solely related to hemodynamic adaptations to chronic anemia. In contrast to other glomerulopathies, the development of systemic hypertension is uncommon in SS disease with renal insufficiency.
Quality of reporting refers to how published articles communicate how the research was done and what was found. Gaps and imprecisions of reporting hamper the assessment of the methodological quality ...and internal and external validity. The CONsolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) are a set of evidence-based recommendations of the minimum elements to be included in the reporting of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to ensure a complete and transparent account of what was done, how it was done and what was found. Few studies have been conducted on the impact of CONSORT on RCTs published in Latin American and Spanish journals. We aim to assess the reporting quality of RCTs of three clinical specialities published in Spanish and Latin American journals, as well as to assess changes over time and associations of quality with journal and country indicators.
We will conduct a systematic survey of all RCTs published in Spanish-language journals in three clinical fields (dentistry, neurology and geriatrics) from 1990 to 2018. We will include RCTs from previous work that has identified all RCTs on these medical fields published in Spain and Latin America. We will update this work via handsearching of relevant journals. Assessment of quality of reporting will be conducted independently and in duplicate using the CONSORT 2010 Statement. We will also extract journal and country indicators. We will conduct descriptive statistics and secondary analyses considering the year, country, and journal of publication, among others.
The Universidad de Santiago de Chile's ethics committee approved the protocol. We will disseminate the results of this work in peer-reviewed scientific journals and conference proceedings. We expect to raise awareness among researchers, journal editors and funders on the importance of training in reporting guidelines and using them from the inception of RCT protocols.
Among the challenges that wastewater treatment plants face in the path towards sustainability, reducing CO2 emissions and decrease the amount of waste highlight. Within these wastes, those that can ...cause eutrophication, such as nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorous) are of great concern. Herein we study a novel process to concentrate nutrients via membrane technology. In particular, we propose the use of forward osmosis, applying the carbonated solvent which contains the CO2 captured from the biogas stream as draw solution. This carbonated solvent has a high potential osmotic pressure, which can be used in forward osmosis to concentrate the nutrients stream. To this end, we present the results of an experimental plan specifically designed and performed to evaluate two main parameters: (1) nutrients concentration; and (2) water recovery. The process designed involves pH adjustment, membrane filtration to separate solids, pH reduction and forward osmosis concentration of nutrients. With this process, concentrations factor for nutrients in between 2 and 2.5 and water recovery of approximately 50 % with water flux of 7 to 8 L/(m2h) can be achieved.
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•Formulation of an innovative membrane-based process to concentrate nutrients.•The process involves pH adjustment, membrane filtration, and forward osmosis.•We obtain concentrations factor for nutrients in between 2 and 2.5.•Water recovery of approximately 50 % with water flux of 7 to 8 L/(m2h) can be achieved.
In vitro propagated plants are believed to be free of microbes. However, after 5 years of in vitro culture of pineapple plants, without evidence of microbial contamination, the use of ...culture-independent molecular approach classifying heterogeneous nucleic acids amplified via universal and specific 16S rRNA gene by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and further analysis by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) revealed endophytic bacteria in roots, young and mature leaves of such plants. The amplification of 16S rRNA gene (
Bacteria
domain) with the exclusion of the plant chloroplast DNA interference, confirmed the presence of bacterial DNA, from endophytic microorganisms within microplant tissues. PCR–DGGE analysis revealed clear differences on bacterial communities depending on plant organ. Group-specific DGGE analyses also indicated differences in the structures of
Actinobacteria
,
Alphaproteobacteria
and
Betaproteobacteria
communities in each part of plants. The results suggest the occurrence of a succession of bacterial communities colonizing actively the microplants organs. This study is the first report that brings together evidences that pineapple microplants, previously considered axenic, harbor an endophytic bacterial community encompassing members of
Actinobacteria
,
Alphaproteobacteria
and
Betaproteobacteria
group which is responsive to differences in organs due to plant development.
The road to publication: Advice from journal editors Navarrete-Dechent, Cristian; Ashique, Karalikkattil T.; Ingram, John R. ...
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology,
April 2024, 2024-Apr, 2024-04-00, 20240401, Letnik:
90, Številka:
4
Journal Article
Objectives
To provide a comprehensive CERT (Consensus on Exercise Reporting Template)-based description of the resistance exercise program implemented in the AGUEDA (Active Gains in brain Using ...Exercise During Aging) study, a randomized controlled trial investigating the effects of a 24-week supervised resistance exercise program on executive function and related brain structure and function in cognitively normal older adults.
Design and Participants
90 cognitively normal older adults aged 65 to 80 were randomized (1:1) to a: 1) resistance exercise group; or a 2) wait-list control group. Participants in the exercise group (n = 46) performed 180 min/week of resistance exercise (3 supervised sessions per week, 60 min/session) for 24 weeks.
Intervention
The exercise program consisted of a combination of upper and lower limb exercises using elastic bands and the participant’s own body weight as the main resistance. The load and intensity were based on the resistance of the elastic bands (7 resistances), number of repetitions (individualized), motor complexity of exercises (3 levels), sets and rest (3 sets/60 sec rest), execution time (40–60 sec) and velocity (as fast as possible).
Settings
The maximum prescribed-target intensity was 70–80% of the participants’ maximum rate of perceived exertion (7–8 RPE). Heart rate, sleep quality and feeling scale were recorded during all exercise sessions. Those in the wait-list control group (n = 44) were asked to maintain their usual lifestyle. The feasibility of AGUEDA project was evaluated by retention, adherence, adverse events and cost estimation on the exercise program.
Results and Conclusions
This study details the exercise program of the AGUEDA trial, including well-described multi-language manuals and videos, which can be used by public health professionals, or general public who wish to implement a feasible and low-cost resistance exercise program. The AGUEDA exercise program seems to be feasible by the high retention (95.6%) and attendance rate (85.7%), very low serious adverse event (1%) and low economic cost (144.23 € /participant/24 weeks). We predict that a 24-week resistance exercise program will have positive effects on brain health in cognitively normal older adults.
Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. Understanding the functional mechanisms associated with metabolic reprogramming, which is a typical feature of cancer cells, is key to effective therapy. ...CD38, primarily a NAD + glycohydrolase and ADPR cyclase, is a multifunctional transmembrane protein whose abnormal overexpression in a variety of tumor types is associated with cancer progression. It is linked to VEGFR2 mediated angiogenesis and immune suppression as it favors the recruitment of suppressive immune cells like Tregs and myeloid-derived suppressor cells, thus helping immune escape. CD38 is expressed in M1 macrophages and in neutrophil and T cell-mediated immune response and is associated with IFNγ-mediated suppressor activity of immune responses. Targeting CD38 with anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies in hematological malignancies has shown excellent results. Bearing that in mind, targeting CD38 in other nonhematological cancer types, especially carcinomas, which are of epithelial origin with specific anti-CD38 antibodies alone or in combination with immunomodulatory drugs, is an interesting option that deserves profound consideration.
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