The Lights4Violence project was created to promote healthy relationships among adolescents using a school intervention in which participants developed video-capsules where they highlighted skills to ...resolve situations of dating violence. This study aims to assess the results of the Lights4Violence training program by identifying different types of violence and positive development assets that Spanish adolescents use in their video-capsule scripts.
A thematic analysis of the Lights4Violence video capsules was carried out. Open coding was used to identify violence patterns. A deductive analysis was used to identify student assets using the "Positive Youth Development Model".
Adolescents describe different patterns of violence, such as psychological violence, sexist violence or verbal violence that is present on the scripts. However, they showed themselves capable of resolving these situations using language and personal empowerment skills as resources. Family, friends and community were identified in adolescents' scenarios as the most frequent assets to address situations of conflict.
Adolescents can promote healthy relationships using protective factors against violence. Interventions that use this approach can potentially be useful in preventing violence.
Objective: The aim of the current study is to determine the efficiency of an external prosthesis made of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene reinforced with a continuous silicone spiral to prevent ...postanastomotic stenosis after surgical correction of extensive tracheal defects in rabbits.
Methods: Forty-five rabbits were used, divided into three groups of 15 animals each. Group A was the control group. Group B animals underwent resection of six-ring segments of the cervical trachea and primary anastomosis. The procedure used in group C was similar to that used in group B, but the tracheal anastomosis was supported by an external expanded polytetrafluoroethylene prosthesis.
Results: Direct anastomosis after resection of six tracheal rings caused anastomotic stenosis in 100% of the animals. We did not observe tracheal stenosis in any rabbit when we applied an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene tube as an external stent for the tracheotracheal suture.
Conclusion: We conclude that an external stent can be used to prevent tracheal stenosis resulting from the resection of six cervical tracheal rings in rabbits(J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1997;114:76-83)
Blockade of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling with bevacizumab, a humanized anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody (mAb), or with receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors, has improved ...progression-free survival and, in some indications, overall survival across several types of cancers by interrupting tumor angiogenesis. However, the clinical benefit conferred by these therapies is variable, and tumors from treated patients eventually reinitiate growth. Previously we demonstrated, in mouse tumor models, that galectin-1 (Gal1), an endogenous glycan-binding protein, preserves angiogenesis in anti-VEGF-resistant tumors by co-opting the VEGF receptor (VEGFR)2 signaling pathway in the absence of VEGF. However, the relevance of these findings in clinical settings is uncertain. Here, we explored, in a cohort of melanoma patients from AVAST-M, a multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled phase 3 trial of adjuvant bevacizumab versus standard surveillance, the role of circulating plasma Gal1 as part of a compensatory mechanism that orchestrates endothelial cell programs in bevacizumab-treated melanoma patients. We found that increasing Gal1 levels over time in patients in the bevacizumab arm, but not in the observation arm, significantly increased their risks of recurrence and death. Remarkably, plasma Gal1 was functionally active as it was able to reprogram endothelial cell biology, promoting migration, tubulogenesis, and VEGFR2 phosphorylation. These effects were prevented by blockade of Gal1 using a newly developed fully human anti-Gal1 neutralizing mAb. Thus, using samples from a large-scale clinical trial from stage II and III melanoma patients, we validated the clinical relevance of Gal1 as a potential mechanism of resistance to bevacizumab treatment.
Algae have an indisputable role in coastal ecosystems, but their accumulation and uncontrolled proliferation cause severe damage for the local municipalities. Fertilization with seaweed has been ...shown to increase soil fertility and crop production reducing ultimately the need for inorganic fertilizers. However, contradictory results of the compost effect have been reported. In the present work, we aimed at testing the suitability of three composted algae materials obtained in a previous study as soil amendments for vines. The composted materials consisted of pruning waste (P) and seaweed (S) mixed (henceforth, P2S1, P1S1 and P1S2, referring the number to the ratio of P to S). Overall, we observed an increase in soil organic matter, phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in the soil treated in comparison with soils with inorganic fertilization. A moderate N soil enrichment (ca. 20%) was also detected. The leaf analysis reflected generally the greatest concentrations of NPK for the organic treatments, but this was remarkable only during the first year after seaweed application. A noticeable improvement in grape production was detected especially with the P1S1 compost without compromising grape quality although a decrease in sucrose content was noted with the compost with higher productivity (e.g. P2S1 and P1S1). This slight sucrose drop could be attributable to a greater water availability mediated by the compost or to a dilution factor of the sucrose content caused by a greater number of berries in those vines. These findings suggest that although monitoring of the long‐term effects is needed, the use of seaweed amendments for agriculture could offer a cost‐effective method for coastal municipalities to reduce excessive algae debris while also minimizing the impacts of inorganic fertilization.
The COVID-19 pandemic poses a significant global health threat, characterized by high morbidity, severity, and the emergence of concerning variants. Latin America has been greatly affected, with high ...infection and mortality rates. Vaccination plays a crucial role in mitigating severe disease and controlling the pandemic. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in preventing SARS-CoV-2 severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) in hospitalized vaccination target groups in Ecuador.
This is a test-negative design study. We used data reported through sentinel surveillance of SARI between May 2021 and March 2022 in Ecuador. Patients with case criteria of SARI and hospitalized for a minimum of 24 hours were included in the study. Cases were defined as patients with SARI with a positive RT-qPCR test for SARS-CoV-2 and controls were those with a negative result. Information on vaccination status was obtained from the national vaccination registry, a valid dose of vaccination was considered when it was administered at least 14 days prior to symptom onset. Vaccine effectiveness (VE) (1-OR/OR) was calculated using a logistic regression.
A total of 1,277 patients were included in the analysis of VE. The adjusted vaccine effectiveness (aVE) in preventing hospitalization, adjusted for sex, age group, presence of one or more comorbidities, and period of the predominance of the omicron variant, was 44.5% for the partial primary schedule, 74.7% for the complete primary schedule, and 79.9% for the complete primary schedule plus booster doses. The aVE in avoiding ICU admissions was close to 80% with both the complete primary schedule and the booster doses, and in avoiding deaths, the aVE was 89% and 98%, respectively.
In Ecuador, COVID-19 vaccination prevents hospitalizations, ICU admissions, and deaths. The effectiveness of the vaccines improves with more doses, offering increased protection across all age groups.
The indigenous communities of Mexico have a long tradition of consuming quelites. In this research, eight species of quelites that are traditionally consumed by indigenous communities of the Sierra ...Norte of Oaxaca, Mexico, were characterized:
Eryngium foetidum
L.,
Galinsoga parviflora
Cav.,
Calceolaria mexicana
Benth.,
Andinocleome magnifica
(Briq.) Iltis & Cochrane,
Cleoserrata speciosa
(Raf.) H.H. Iltis,
Phytolacca icosandra
L.,
Cestrum nocturnum
L. and
Solanum nigrescens
M.Martens & Galeotti. The ethnobotanical information of these species was recorded and the proximate composition, mineral content, and total phenolic and flavonoid content were determined. The antioxidant capacity of the samples was also investigated using ABTS (2,2′-Azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), DPPH (2,2-di(4-tert-octylphenyl)-1-picrylhydrazyl), and ORAC (oxygen radical absorption capacity) methods. Quelites are available in the dry and rainy season. Quelites were found to have low energy contents while being good sources of fiber, of which
A. magnifica
possessed the highest concentration (8.61 ± 0.35 g/100 g fresh weight FW). Quelites were also found to provide essential minerals, with the primary contributions being potassium (4097.35 ± 12.28 mg/100 g FW) in
C. mexicana
, calcium (2418.63 ± 22.91 mg/100 g FW) in
S. nigrescens
, magnesium (1021.83 ± 10.58 mg/100 g FW) in
E. foetidum
, among others.
C. speciosa
and
C. mexicana
exhibited the highest concentration of phenols and flavonoids, which were found to be associated with higher antioxidant capacity. The quelites analyzed in this study are a potential source of accessible, nutritious, and healthy food, and can potentially help improve food security and health.
Background
Down syndrome (DS) is the most common chromosomal survival aneuploidy. The increase in DS life expectancy further heightens the risk of dementia, principally early‐onset Alzheimer's ...disease (AD). AD risk in DS is higher, considering that this population may also develop metabolic diseases such as obesity, dyslipidemias, and diabetes mellitus. The extra genetic material that characterizes DS causes an imbalance in the genetic dosage, including over‐expression of AD's key pathophysiological molecules and the gene expression regulators, the microRNAs (miRNAs). Two miRNAs, chromosome 21‐encoded, miR‐155, and let‐7c, are associated with cognitive impairment and dementia in adults; but, expression dynamics and relationship with clinical variables during the DS's lifespan had remained hitherto unexplored.
Methods
The anthropometric, clinical, biochemical, and profile expression of circulating miR‐155 and let‐7c were analyzed in a population of 52 control and 50 DS subjects divided into the young group (Aged ≤20 years) and the adult group (Aged ≥21 years).
Results
The expression changes for miR‐155 were not significant; nevertheless, a negative correlation with HDL‐Cholesterol concentrations was observed. Notably, let‐7c was over‐expressed in DS from young and old ages.
Conclusion
Overall, our results suggest that let‐7c plays a role from the early stages of DS's cognitive impairment while overexpression of miR‐155 may be related to lipid metabolism changes. Further studies of both miRNAs will shed light on their potential as therapeutic targets to prevent or delay DS's cognitive impairment.
Extra chromosome 21 may imbalance key pathological miRNAs, miR‐155, and let7c. Overexpression of miR‐155 may be related to lipid metabolism changes, meanwhile, let‐7c may play a role from the early stages of Down syndrome cognitive impairment.
This paper reports on the biosynthesis, characterization, as well as the bactericide and cytotoxic properties of silver nanoparticles supported on bovine bone powder (Ag-NPs/BBP). The silver ...nanoparticles were obtained through the bioreduction of AgNO3, using an infusion of Heterotheca inuloides leaves and flowers as a reducing agent and bovine bone powder as a support. The ratio of Ag-NPs/bovine bone powder was set as 1:10. The characterization was performed with SEM–EDS, XRD, UV–Vis, and TEM, which showed the formation of nanoparticles with an average size of 22.6 ± 10.8 nm and a quasi-spherical Ag-NPs morphology supported on the BBP surface. The nanocomposite exhibited a band gap of 2.19 eV. The minimal inhibitory concentration and the minimal bactericidal concentration against S. aureus, E. coli, and S. epidermidis were determined for each strain. In addition, the cytotoxic evaluation of the Ag-NPs/BBP on J774.2 mouse macrophage cells was performed. The Ag-NPs/BBP exhibited a bactericide effect on the strains studied, and the cytotoxicity had a dose-dependent behavior on the cells studied. Therefore, it was found that the ecofriendly synthesized Ag-NPs supported on bovine bone powder resulted in an effective bactericidal system against the strains studied, without significant cytotoxicity.
This paper presents a refined Mesolithic chronocultural sequence as a result of matching data provided by the set of archaeological research conducted at Cueva de la Cocina (Valencia, Spain) in the ...20th and 21st centuries and the new radiocarbon dates record. Because available data are of different quality, we apply a methodological framework based on Bayesian modelling approaches. To do this, we systematically order each one of the archaeological registers and then combine the information in a unitary general chronology. Our novel approach introduces Bayesian modelling from a double analytical procedure: using Bayesian chronological models applied to the stratigraphic sequence of Pericot's excavation in Cocina cave we build a general phase model using data from multiple years of archaeological fieldwork. One the most reliable layers have been defined, we use this information to define the rest of the sequence through a Predictive Bayesian approach. This approach sheds light on evolutionary questions from a macroscale regarding the socioecological dynamics of the last hunter-gatherers and their role for explaining the subsequent agricultural spread.
Purpose
Seaweed blooms are an irregular but frequent phenomenon in many coastal areas and during the touristic season, can cause limitations for recreational use of beaches. Here, we propose ...composting of seaweed removed from the shoreline as alternative to current management practices (e.g. disposal in landfills or incineration).
Methods
A co-composting strategy with garden prune waste was chosen for the treatment of seaweed blooms removed from the beaches. Composting was performed in windrows of 10 m long, 1.5 m wide and 1 m high using different ratios of algae and garden prune residues (1:2; 1:1 and 2:1) at a composting facility in Rota (Cádiz, Spain).
Results
Characteristic temperature profiles consisting of a very brief mesophilic phase, a 15–20-day thermophilic phase (maximum of 50–70 °C) and a second mesophilic phase (40–35ºC) after 30–50 days were observed. After curing for more than 160 days, a stabilized non-phytotoxic composted material (50–70 g kg
−1
C; 2–3 g kg
−1
N; C/N ratio of 21–27 and electrical conductivity between 1.8–2.4 mS cm
−1
) was obtained. Composting worked best using a 2:1 ratio (prune waste:algae). The composted organic material showed larger presence of stabilized lignin-derived compounds as assessed via nuclear magnetic resonance. No odors were detected during the composting process suggesting that open-air treatment is feasible.
Conclusion
The co-composting strategy provides a safe, local and sustainable approach to deal with seaweed blooms during peaks of recreational use and in situations where algae have to be removed.
Graphic Abstract
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