Summary
In October 2017, the first outbreak of bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV‐3) began in Italy, specifically in western Sicily. The route of entrance remains unclear, although since 2016 the same ...strain had been circulating only 150 km away, on the Tunisian peninsula of Cape Bon. The present analysis assessed the feasibility that wind could have carried BTV‐3‐infected Culicoides spp. from Tunisia to Sicily. An advection‐deposition‐survival (ADS) model was used to estimate when and where Culicoides spp. were likely to be introduced prior to the first BTV‐3 report in Italy. Additionally, the Hybrid Single‐Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model was used to support ADS outputs. The modelling suggests that during September 2017, strong wind currents and suitable climatic conditions could have allowed the transportation of Culicoides spp. from BTV‐3‐infected areas in Tunisia into Sicily. ADS simulations suggest that particles could have reached the province of Trapani in western Sicily on 2 and 12 September. These simulations suggest the feasibility of aerial transportation of infected Culicoides spp. from Tunisia into Sicily. They demonstrate the suitability of the ADS model for retrospective studies of long‐range transportation of insects across large water bodies, which may enhance the early detection of vectorial disease introduction in a region.
Bluetongue virus (BTV) is an arbovirus of ruminants that has been circulating in Europe continuously for more than two decades and has become endemic in some countries such as Spain. Spain is ideal ...for BTV epidemiological studies since BTV outbreaks from different sources and serotypes have occurred continuously there since 2000; BTV-1 has been reported there from 2007 to 2017. Here we develop a model for BTV-1 endemic scenario to estimate the risk of an area becoming endemic, as well as to identify the most influential factors for BTV-1 persistence. We created abundance maps at 1-km2 spatial resolution for the main vectors in Spain, Culicoides imicola and Obsoletus and Pulicaris complexes, by combining environmental satellite data with occurrence models and a random forest machine learning algorithm. The endemic model included vector abundance and host-related variables (farm density). The three most relevant variables in the endemic model were the abundance of C. imicola and Obsoletus complex and density of goat farms (AUC 0.86); this model suggests that BTV-1 is more likely to become endemic in central and southwestern regions of Spain. It only requires host- and vector-related variables to identify areas at greater risk of becoming endemic for bluetongue. Our results highlight the importance of suitable Culicoides spp. prediction maps for bluetongue epidemiological studies and decision-making about control and eradication measures.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder in elderly people. Existent therapies are directed at alleviating some symptoms, but are not effective in altering the course ...of the disease.
Based on our previous study that showed that an Aβ-interacting small peptide protected against the toxic effects of amyloid-beta peptide (Aβ), we carried out an array of in silico, in vitro, and in vivo assays to identify a molecule having neuroprotective properties.
In silico studies showed that the molecule, referred to as M30 (2-Octahydroisoquinolin-2(1H)-ylethanamine), was able to interact with the Aβ peptide. Additionally, in vitro assays showed that M30 blocked Aβ aggregation, association to the plasma membrane, synaptotoxicity, intracellular calcium, and cellular toxicity, while in vivo experiments demonstrated that M30 induced a neuroprotective effect by decreasing the toxicity of Aβ in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus and improving the alteration in spatial memory in behavior assays.
Therefore, we propose that this new small molecule could be a useful candidate for the additional development of a treatment against AD since it appears to block multiple steps in the amyloid cascade. Overall, since there are no drugs that effectively block the progression of AD, this approach represents an innovative strategy.
Currently, there is no effective treatment for AD and the expectations to develop an effective therapy are low. Using in silico, in vitro, and in vivo experiments, we identified a new compound that is able to inhibit Aβ-induced neurotoxicity, specifically aggregation, association to neurons, synaptic toxicity, calcium dyshomeostasis and memory impairment induced by Aβ. Because Aβ toxicity is central to AD progression, the inhibition mediated by this new molecule might be useful as a therapeutic tool.
Introducción: La satisfacción con la vida es un importante indicador de la calidad de vida de las personas adultas mayores. El propósito del estudio fue identificar factores asociados a la ...satisfacción con la vida en personas costarricenses y extranjeras de 60 años o más. Métodos: Se analizó información de una muestra de corte transversal que incluye hombres y mujeres participantes del proyecto Costa Rica: Estudio de Longevidad y Envejecimiento Saludable. Se estimó un modelo de regresión logística con el fin de determinar el efecto de variables sociodemográficas, del estado de salud, de la situación económica y de apoyo en la satisfacción con la vida. Resultados: Se determinó que la satisfacción con la vida está asociada con la tenencia de pareja, el insomnio, la presencia de más de una discapacidad en las actividades cotidianas, la salud autoevaluada y la percepción de la situación económica. Conclusiones: Identificar factores que influyen en la satisfacción con la vida en personas de 60 años o más puede aportar elementos al tema del desarrollo de políticas orientadas a mejorar la calidad de vida de esta población.
La sistematización tuvo como finalidad la creación de una colección de tarjetas, por parte del grupo de estudiantes, para ser empleadas como recurso didáctico en la enseñanza de un concepto ...estadístico o probabilístico del currículo de la educación secundaria costarricense. La experiencia se llevó a cabo con 26 docentes de matemática en formación en el contexto de un curso de didáctica de la estadística en la que se abordó la temática sobre materiales y recursos para la enseñanza de la Estadística y la Probabilidad. El trabajo asignado consistió en crear una colección de tarjetas que pudieran utilizarse como recurso didáctico para la enseñanza de un tema de estas áreas, realizar una exposición en la que se pudiera compartir con el resto del grupo el material elaborado de modo que esto permitiera recibir realimentación para una posible mejora en su confección e implementación y responder un cuestionario que brindara información sobre retos, oportunidades y opciones de mejora de la experiencia de aula. Entre los principales resultados, se obtuvo que este tipo de actividades contribuye con el desarrollo de habilidades y constituyen un reto para el profesorado en formación pues los convierte en actores directos de su proceso de aprendizaje. Así, para una adecuada transformación del quehacer profesional del profesorado en Estadística es importante implementar actividades que permitan la elaboración de recursos pertinentes y adaptados a los contextos de aprendizaje de cada estudiante, favoreciendo consigo el desarrollo de competencias que fomenten el pensamiento crítico y la resolución de problemas.
This work develops a methodology for estimating risk of wind-borne introduction of flying insects into a country, identifying areas and periods of high risk of vector-borne diseases incursion. This ...risk can be characterized by the role of suitable temperatures and wind currents in small insects' survival and movements, respectively. The model predicts the number density of introduced insects over space and time based on three processes: the advection due to wind currents, the deposition on the ground and the survival due to climatic conditions. Spanish livestock has suffered many bluetongue outbreaks since 2004 and numerous experts point to Culicoides transported by wind from affected areas in North Africa as a possible cause. This work implements numerical experiments simulating the introduction of Culicoides in 2004. The model identified southern and eastern Spain, particularly between June and November, as being at greatest risk of wind-borne Culicoides introduction, which matches field data on bluetongue outbreaks in Spain this year. This validation suggests that this model may be useful for predicting introduction of airborne pathogens of significance to animal productivity.
Bluetongue virus (BTV) causes a disease that is endemic in Spain and its two major biological vector species,
and the Obsoletus complex species, differ greatly in their ecology and distribution. ...Understanding the seasonality of BTV transmission in risk areas is key to improving surveillance and control programs, as well as to better understand the pathogen transmission networks between wildlife and livestock. Here, monthly risk transmission maps were generated using risk categories based on well-known BTV
equations and predicted abundances of the two most relevant vectors in Spain. Previously,
spp. predicted abundances in mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands were obtained using remote sensing data and random forest machine learning algorithm. Risk transmission maps were externally assessed with the estimated date of infection of BTV-1 and BTV-4 historical outbreaks. Our results highlight the differences in risk transmission during April-October, June-August being the period with higher
values. Likewise, a natural barrier has been identified between northern and central-southern areas at risk that may hamper BTV spread between them. Our results can be relevant to implement risk-based interventions for the prevention, control and surveillance of BTV and other diseases shared between livestock and wildlife host populations.
Objetivo: estudiar la distribución de la proteína C reactiva (PCR) e identificar factores de riesgo cardiovascular asociados a los niveles de PCR en personas costarricenses nacidas entre 1945 y 1955. ...Métodos: se realizó un estudio de corte transversal con una muestra de 932 hombres y 1363 mujeres del proyecto Costa Rica: Estudio de Longevidad y Envejecimiento Saludable, referido como CRELES-RC. Las principales variables del estudio fueron la PCR, el índice de masa corporal, la circunferencia de la cintura, el sexo, entre otras. Se determinó el coeficiente de correlación de Spearman y se estimaron modelos de regresión cuantílica. Resultados: el nivel de PCR mostró una mediana de 2 mg/L. Las mujeres presentaron niveles más elevados que los hombres y la diferencia resultó significativa (p < 0,001). El análisis multivariado reveló que el índice de masa corporal, la circunferencia de la cintura y la hemoglobina glicosilada están asociadas con PCR en las mujeres, mientras que circunferencia de la cintura, colesterol total y tabaquismo resultaron predictores independientes de la PCR en los hombres. Conclusiones: la PCR en personas costarricenses mostró niveles más elevados si se compara con las poblaciones asiáticas pero muy cercanos a los que se reportan para personas de la región. Existe fuerte correlación entre PCR e IMC en las mujeres y con circunferencia de la cintura en los hombres.
Objective: This investigation focuses on the association between arm circumference and body mass index, and the estimation of cutoff values of this arm measurement for identifying low weight in Costa ...Rican residents aged 60 years and over. Methods: The study included a total of 2514 persons 60 years old or older who participated in the project “Costa Rica: Study of Longevity and Healthy Aging.” The analysis included calculation of Spearman’s correlation coefficient between arm circumference and the body mass index, the area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve, and sensitivity and specificity values for measurements of arm circumference corresponding to a body mass index lower than 22 kg/m2. Results: The Spearman’s correlation coefficient between the body mass index and the arm circumference was 0.794 (0.774 for men and 0.806 for women). The optimum cutoff point was estimated at 26.5 cm, with a Youden’s Index of 0.7256, a sensitivity of 87.79 %, and a specificity of 84.77 %. Specific cutoff points for men and women were 26.5 cm and 25.9 cm, respectively. Conclusions: There is a strong relationship between arm circumference and body mass index in Costa Rican residents aged 60 years and over. A first approach was established to determine an adequate cutoff point in the measurement of arm circumference that will allow the detection of persons with low weight and greater nutritional risk in this population.
In this work we have developed low-cost, renewable and sustainable materials based on cellulose for electronic applications. The UV–Vis spectroscopy, water contact angle and differential scanning ...calorimetry results reveal a marked effect of absorbed water on the physical properties of cellulose nanopaper. Morphological observations reveal that the TEMPO oxidized cellulose-based foils were successfully covered by a 200-nm-thick copper layer by DC sputtering. The obtained low surface roughness, porosity and hydrophilicity of the nanopaper allow an efficient deposition of Cu on synthesized nanopaper. The thermal stability of cellulose nanopaper is markedly increased from 240 to 324 °C after Cu sputtering, results that are especially interesting for applications in which devices should withstand high temperatures. Dynamic mechanical analysis shows that the Cu-covered nanopaper maintains its mechanical stiffness up to ~180 °C. Finally, dielectric spectroscopy measurements reveal that developed Cu-coated nanopaper could emerge as a suitable bio-based material for radiofrequency applications. In this work we explore sputter coating as an alternative method to reduce the intrinsic hydrophilicity of synthesized nanopaper instead of including a polymer in the nanocellulose or functionalizing its surface chemically. The obtained findings highlight the potential application of transparent and mechanically robust cellulose nanopaper in the field of electronics and communication engineering.
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