The viability of coral reefs worldwide has been seriously compromised in the last few decades due in part to the emergence of coral diseases of infectious nature. Despite important efforts to ...understand the etiology and the contribution of environmental factors associated to coral diseases, the mechanisms of immune response in corals are just beginning to be studied systematically. In this study, we analyzed the set of conserved immune response genes of the Caribbean reef-building coral
Pseudodiploria strigosa
by Illumina-based transcriptome sequencing and annotation of healthy colonies challenged with whole live Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Searching the annotated transcriptome with immune-related terms yielded a total of 2782 transcripts predicted to encode conserved immune-related proteins that were classified into three modules: (a) the immune recognition module, containing a wide diversity of putative pattern recognition receptors including leucine-rich repeat-containing proteins, immunoglobulin superfamily receptors, representatives of various lectin families, and scavenger receptors; (b) the intracellular signaling module, containing components from the Toll-like receptor, transforming growth factor, MAPK, and apoptosis signaling pathways; and (3) the effector module, including the C3 and factor B complement components, a variety of proteases and protease inhibitors, and the melanization-inducing phenoloxidase.
P. strigosa
displays a highly variable and diverse immune recognition repertoire that has likely contributed to its resilience to coral diseases.
The europium(III) complex, Eu(TTA)3PhenSe, where TTA = 2-thenoyl trifluoroacetone and PhenSe = 1,2,5selenadiazolo3,4-f1,10phenanthroline, was synthesized and their structure established by ...single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The electroluminescence properties of the complex were also studied, the intensity ratio of the peaks is determined by the active layer thickness, allowing us to obtain light sources varying from orange to red.
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Herein we describe the synthesis, characterization and spectroscopic properties of the complex tris-(thenoyltrifluoroacetonate)(1,2,5selenadiazolo3,4-f1,10phenanthroline) europium(III) acetonitrile solvate, Eu(TTA)3PhenSe1.5CH3CN, where TTA = 2-thenoyl trifluoroacetone and PhenSe = 1,2,5selenadiazolo3,4-f1,10phenanthroline. X-ray crystallography reveals that it is an eight-coordinate Eu(III) complex, containing three β-diketonate chelates and one N,N-bidentate ligand, 1,2,5selenadiazolo3,4-f1,10phenanthroline. Under excitation at 350 nm at room temperature, the europium complex in chloroform solution displayed the typical Eu(III) red emission as a sharp band at 612 nm, characteristic of Eu(III) electronic transition 5D0-7F2. Thermally evaporated films of this complex showed the same emission band under photoexcitation. However, the electroluminescence from multilayer devices displayed different profiles. The 5D0 → 7FJ (J = 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4) transitions of Eu(III) ion appear over a broad emission band which can be attributed to the electroluminescence of the ligand or excimer formation. Although light emitting diodes show the same profile independently of driving voltage, the intensity ratio of the peaks is determined by the active layer thickness, allowing us to obtain light sources varying from orange to red.
Family behavior models may influence health promoting conducts among adolescents.
To determine the association between health promoting behaviors among parents and healthy behaviors of early ...adolescents.
Analysis of the baseline assessment of a longitudinal study of early adolescents in the city of San Felipe, Region of Valparaiso, Chile. Parents and their teenage children, attending 5th to 7th grade, from ten municipal schools, participated in this study. Self-reported questionnaires were used to assess healthy lifestyles, answered separately by parents and their children. Univariable and multivariable ordinal logistic regression analyses with complete data were carried out, using the students health promoting behaviors as dependent variables and the same behaviors among parents as the main predictors, controlling for other personal and family variables.
We contacted 1,035 parents and 682 consented to participate along with 560 students. The mean age of adolescents was 11.5 ± 1.2 years (49% females) The mean age of parents was 39.8 ± 8.8 years and 90% were women. The parental behaviors associated with teenage health promoting behaviors were eating vegetables (odds ratio (OR) = 1.22, p < 0.05), having breakfast (OR = 1.27, p < 0.05), do stretching exercises every day (OR = 1.19, p < 0.05) and take some time for relaxation (OR = 1.24, p < 0.05).
These results show an association between healthy behaviors among parents and these behaviors among their adolescent offspring.
Background: The promotion of healthy behaviors is a relevant issue worldwide, especially among adolescent populations, as this is the developmental stage where most unhealthy behaviors become ...ingrained. Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Adolescent Health Promotion Scale (AHPS) in a Chilean sample of early adolescents. Methods: The sample was composed of 1,156 adolescents aged 10-14 years from schools in San Felipe, Chile. Item structure was assessed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses; reliability was measured using Cronbach's alpha; and differences in terms of gender, age, and socioeconomic status (SES) were established using analysis of variance. Results: The analyses of item structure identified all of the six original factors (nutrition behaviors, health responsibility, social support, life appreciation, stress management and exercise behavior) as significant. However, eight items did not fit the Chilean population well. Therefore, the AHPS in Chile has been reduced to 32 items. The Cronbach's alpha of the 32-item Chilean AHPS was .95, with the subscale coefficients ranging from .76 to .94. In addition, female subjects performed better than male subjects, and individuals of higher SES scored higher than the middle and lower socioeconomic groups. No differences on AHPS scores were found in different age groups. Conclusions: The AHPS appears to have good psychometric properties in terms of item structure and reliability. Consistent with studies carried out in other countries, health promotion behavioral differences were observed in association with gender and SES. The results support the Chilean version of the AHPS as an appropriate instrument for measuring the health promotion behaviors of early adolescents in Chile and for comparing results with those from other countries.
The present research shows the results of a national study documenting the occurrence and genetic diversity of Echinococcus and Taenia species across Bhutan. Environmental dog faecal samples (n = ...953) were collected from 2016 to 2018 in all 20 Bhutanese districts, mainly in urbanised areas. Cystic echinococcosis cysts were isolated from 13 humans and one mithun (Bos frontalis). Isolation of taeniid eggs from faeces was performed by sieving/flotation technique, followed by DNA isolation, PCR and sequence analyses for species identification (gene target: small subunit of ribosomal RNA). Genetic diversity of E. granulosuss.s. was based on the sequence (1609 bp) of the cox1 gene. A total of 67 out of 953 (7%) dog faecal samples were positive for at least one taeniid species. From the 670 free-roaming dog faecal samples, 40 (5.9%) were positive for taeniid DNA, 22 (3.2%) of them were identified as E. granulosuss.s. and four (0.5%) as E. ortleppi (G5). From the 283 faecal samples originating from yak-grazing areas, 27 (9.5%) were taeniid positive, including eight (2.8%) infected with E. granulosuss.s. and four (1.4%) with E. ortleppi. E. granulosuss.s. was identified in all isolates from human and the cyst from mithun. A haplotype network (cox1 gene) from E. granulosuss.s, including isolates from 12 dogs, two human and one mithun, revealed eight different haplotypes. The most common cox1 haplotype was the globally distributed Eg01, followed by Eg40 and Eg37 (previously described in China). Five new cox1 haplotypes (EgBhu1–5) originated from human, dogs, and a mithun were identified. The study indicated the contamination of urban areas and pastures with Echinococcus eggs in seven districts in Bhutan. The molecular characterisation of E. granulosuss.l. revealed different E. granulosuss.s. haplotypes as well as E. ortleppi. The transmission of T. multiceps was documented only in the western part of the country. Considering the zoonotic feature of E. granulosus s.s. and E. ortleppi and the economic impact of coenurosis caused by T. multiceps (also known as gid) in Bhutan, the findings of this study represent a significant contribution towards an epidemiological baseline for the establishment of a national control programme.
A field trial of the EG95 vaccine against cystic echinococcosis was initiated in the Rio Negro province of Argentina. Base-line data are presented for the field trial region as well as preliminary ...data on the effects of the vaccine's use on Echinococcus granulosus prevalence in sheep.
•A field trial of the EG95 vaccine against cystic echinococcosis was initiated in Rio Negro, Argentina.•The prevalence of ovine echinococcosis is 61.3% in old animals at necropsy.•Preliminary assessment identified a reduction in infection in the vaccinated animals.
Cystic echinococcosis is endemic in the Rio Negro province of Argentina. After 30 years of control using praziquantel in dogs the transmission rate to humans and sheep has decreased significantly, however transmission persists. The objective of the study is to assess the impact of the inclusion of the EG95 vaccine for sheep in the control programme, including analysis of the vaccine's operative feasibility in field conditions. The vaccine was applied in an area comprising four communities of native people including 79 farms with 3146 lambs and 311 dogs in total. Seventy one farms were designated as control areas where no vaccinations were undertaken while vaccinations of lambs undertaken on 91 farms. Lambs received two vaccinations with the EG95 vaccine followed by a single booster injection when the animals were 1–1.5 years of age. Farm locations were defined using GPS coordinates for the houses. Evidence for Echinococcus granulosus transmission was monitored by coproantigen ELISA on samples of dog faeces, by E. granulosus-specific PCR using soil samples, and anti-E. granulosus antibody assessments in sera from 2 to 4 teeth lambs, purgation of dogs to detect E. granulosus worms and necropsy on adult sheep. Before the vaccine was introduced, 26.2% of sheep with 2–4 teeth were positive using ELISA/WB, the prevalence decreased to 7.8% at the third year following use of the vaccine. Necropsy of animals older than 6 years (not vaccinated) showed that 66.1% of animals were infected with E. granulosus. In dogs, 4% was found positive for E. granulosus using arecoline purgation and 24.7% of the farms were infected using coproELISA/WB. During the first year of vaccination 2721 lambs received the first vaccine dose and 2448 received a booster. In the second year 2138 lambs were initially vaccinated and 1745 received a booster, and 1308 animals received the third dose. During the third year 1110 lambs received the first dose from which 539 received a booster and 723 animals received the third dose. An analysis of advantages and limitations of the diagnostic techniques used and the ability of the geospatial analysis to detect risk area are included. Based in the immunodiagnostic techniques, the EG95 vaccine has been able to prevent the infection in animals up to 3 years old. Also, the difficulties in the field for the correct vaccine administration and the social features and habits that may impact on echinococcosis control are included in the analysis.
El trastorno del lenguaje es un problema de la comunicación con alta incidencia y prevalencia en la población escolar, el cual afecta negativamente el desempeño académico, y el desarrollo social y ...afectivo de los niños que lo padecen. Existe evidencia de que en este trastorno se encuentran afectadas funciones ejecutivas (fe), además de los componentes del lenguaje (fonológico, morfosintáctico, semántico y pragmático), los cuales se han estudiado tradicionalmente. Este artículo tiene por objetivo caracterizar las principales fe que se encuentran afectadas en el trastorno del lenguaje. Para ello, se trabajó con un método de revisión narrativa. Se realizó una revisión del desarrollo del lenguaje desde la primera infancia, del trastorno del lenguaje y de fe. Los estudios reportan que la principal fe afectada en el trastorno del lenguaje es la memoria de trabajo, y se presentan algunos déficits en atención, flexibilidad cognitiva y control inhibitorio. Finalmente, se discute el rol de las fe en el trastorno del lenguaje y las implicancias que esto tiene tanto para la evaluación como para la generación de apoyos pedagógicos pertinentes.
Research Findings: The present study evaluated the impact of a working memory (WM) stimulation program on the development of WM and early literacy skills (ELS) in preschoolers from socioeconomically ...deprived rural and urban schools in Chile. The sample consisted of 268 children, 144 in the intervention group and 124 in the comparison group. The computer-based intervention comprised 16 sessions of 30 min each. Children in the intervention group demonstrated significantly more progress in WM than those in the comparison group when we evaluated them 3 months after exposure to the program and controlled for initial differences with an analysis of covariance. ELS were significantly stronger in children who were exposed to the stimulation program, which supports a link between WM and ELS. Practice or Policy: Results suggest that children's WM can be improved from an early age regardless of socioeconomic context or geographic location (rural or urban). This has direct implications for early education and may compensate for some of the difficulties that children experience when starting school.
Smoking and alcohol use are risky behaviors that can start early in life.
To determine the lifetime prevalence of tobacco and alcohol use in adolescents aged 10 to 14 years and related factors.
A ...survey about smoking and alcohol use was answered by 1,392 teenagers aged 10 to 14 years (46% women) from seven schools in a small city near Santiago. Personal, family, and school factors were evaluated through self-report scales. Smoking and alcohol use, as dichotomous dependent variables, were defined as having consumed any of these substances throughout life. Prevalence was calculated as percentages with 95% confidence intervals. Association analyses were conducted using multivariable logistic regression models.
Six and eleven percent of participants reported having smoked and used alcohol in their life, respectively. Smoking was associated with age, having behavioral problems, mothers smoking, perceiving that parents had drug problems, and not living with both parents. Alcohol use was mainly associated with age, having behavioral problems, perceiving that other students consumed drugs, alcohol use by both parents, and perceiving a lack of family support.
Tobacco and alcohol use is highly prevalent in adolescents aged 10-14 years. There were common risk factors for smoking and alcohol use such as age and having behavioral problems, while other factors were more specific such as mothers smoking, or parental alcohol use.
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