Inter-observer variability for cardiac ultrasound measurements in cats repeated at different time points in early adult life

Abstract A high degree of accuracy is required when using echocardiography to diagnose hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in cats, as variation in measurements of 0.5 mm may affect classification of individuals as ‘abnormal’. This study in adult cats examined at different time points inter-observer variability between two Board certified echocardiographers in veterinary cardiology. Twenty-four female European shorthair cats were examined at 12, 18 and 24 months of age by observer 1. Two dimensional (2D) echocardiographic images were collected in conscious cats to measure left ventricular, aortic and left atrial dimensions. Measurements were repeated by observer 2 on stored images, and analyzed for effect of time, observer and time-observer interaction. Based on end-diastolic left ventricular wall thickness, cats were diagnosed as ‘normal’ or 'abnormal'. Linear mixed models (generalized when appropriate) were performed. A significant difference between observers was found for all septal (IVSd) and free wall (LVFWd) thickness measurements and left ventricular internal diameters but not for aortic or left atrial measurements. All measurement coefficients of variation (CV) were 5 mm in cats >6 kg bodyweight) was significantly different between observers for IVSd but not LVFWd. Caution is warranted when diagnosing as ‘abnormal’ or interpreting small changes based on IVSd, due to significant inter-observer differences in this measurement

UN Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-Custodial Sanctions for Women Offenders (the Bangkok Rules) : a Gendered Critique

In 2010, the United Nations adopted the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-Custodial Measures for Women Offenders (the "Bangkok Rules"). This was a landmark step in adapting the 1955 Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners to women offenders and prisoners, and was an important precursor for the revision of the 1955 rules themselves. As 'soft law', they are human rights principles that recognize that female prisoners have different needs from male prisoners. They take into account, among others, the presence of high levels of victimization among women prisoners and their greater propensity for self-harm and suicide; the special status of some women prisoners as mothers of children; the particular health and hygiene concerns of women; the stigma and discrimination facing women prisoners; the need for gender-responsive programs and activities for women in prison; and the particular needs of indigenous women prisoners and those from diverse religious and cultural backgrounds. They call for gender-responsive and gender-sensitive policies and programs in prison in a wide variety of areas: intake, classification, mental and physical healthcare, mothering in prison, searches, and the development of pre- and post-release programs that take into account the stigmatization and discrimination that women face upon release from prison, among others. We will explore the history and background of these rules, offer a critique, and discuss their implications for feminist criminological interventions related to women in prison around the world.En 2010, las Naciones Unidas adoptaron las Reglas de las Naciones Unidas para el tratamiento de las reclusas y medidas no privativas de la libertad para las mujeres delincuentes (las «reglas de Bangkok»). Esto fue un paso importante en la adaptación de las Reglas mínimas de las Naciones Unidas para el tratamiento de los reclusos de 1955 a las mujeres delincuentes y reclusas y fue un precursor importante para la revisión de las propias reglas de 1955. Como instrumentos jurídicos no vinculantes, son principios de derechos humanos que reconocen que las mujeres reclusas tienen diferentes necesidades con respecto a los reclusos varones. Entre otras cosas, tienen en cuenta la presencia de altos niveles de victimización entre las reclusas y su mayor propensión a autolastimarse y suicidarse; la condición especial de algunas mujeres reclusas como madres; las necesidades particulares de salud e higiene de las mujeres; el estigma y la discriminación que sufren las mujeres reclusas; la necesidad de programas y actividades sensibles al género para las mujeres encarceladas; y las necesidades particulares de las mujeres reclusas indígenas y de diversos orígenes religiosos y culturales. Piden políticas y programas sensibles al género en los centros penitenciarios en una amplia gama de ámbitos: ingreso, clasificación, cuidados de salud física y mental, maternidad en las prisiones, registros y elaboración de programas previos y posteriores a la puesta en libertad que tengan en cuenta la estigmatización y la discriminación que esperan a las mujeres al salir de la cárcel, entre otras. Examinaremos la historia y antecedentes de estas reglas, ofreceremos una crítica y discutiremos sus implicaciones para las intervenciones criminológicas feministas relacionadas con las mujeres reclusas en todo el mundo.El 2010, les Nacions Unides van adoptar les Regles de les Nacions Unides per al tractament de les recluses i mesures no privatives de la llibertat per a les dones delinqüents (les «regles de Bangkok»). Això va ser un pas important en l'adaptació de les Regles mínimes de les Nacions Unides per al tractament dels reclusos de 1955 a les dones delinqüents i recluses, i va ser un precursor important per a la revisió de les regles de 1955. Com a instruments jurídics no vinculants, són principis de drets humans que reconeixen que les dones recluses tenen diferents necessitats respecte dels reclusos homes. Entre d'altres, tenen en compte la presència d'alts nivells de victimització entre les recluses i la seva major propensió a autolesionar-se i suïcidar-se; la condició especial d'algunes dones recluses com a mares; les necessitats particulars de salut i higiene de les dones; l'estigma i la discriminació que pateixen les dones recluses; la necessitat de programes i activitats sensibles al gènere per a les dones empresonades; i les necessitats particulars de les dones recluses indígenes i de diversos orígens religiosos i culturals. Demanen polítiques i programes sensibles al gènere als centres penitenciaris en una àmplia gamma d'àmbits: ingrés, classificació, cures de salut física i mental, maternitat a les presons, registres i elaboració de programes previs i posteriors a la posada en llibertat que tinguin en compte l'estigmatització i la discriminació de les dones en sortir de la presó, entre d'altres. Examinarem la història i els antecedents d'aquestes regles, n'oferirem una crítica i discutirem les seves implicacions per a les intervencions criminològiques feministes relacionades amb les dones recluses a tot el món

Victimización de prostitutas en Sevilla y Málaga

La prostitución es un fenómeno social difícil de categorizar. Se ejerce en una multitud de lugares (abiertos y cerrados), entre personas de la misma o distinta nacionalidad, orientación sexual y clase social, como autónoma/o o mediante un proxeneta o intermediario, y en zonas rurales y urbanas. En algunos contextos, es una práctica marginal, arriesgada y estigmatizante, mientras que en otros, es una práctica aceptada, relativamente segura, y ejercida de modo «profesional». Nuestro interés en este boletín es examinar las experiencias de victimización de un grupo de mujeres prostitutas que, justamente podríamos considerar menos propicio a la victimización: está compuesto por mujeres mayores españolas, la mayoría de las cuales trabajan en lugares cerrados, tienen bastante experiencia y se preocupan por su salud física. Sin embargo el informe sugiere que aunque este grupo intenta ejercer su profesión en las mejores condiciones de seguridad sufre agresiones, robos y estafas con mucha frecuencia

Simulation of cellular irradiation with the CENBG microbeam line using GEANT4

Light-ion microbeams provide a unique opportunity to irradiate biological samples at the cellular level and to investigate radiobiological effects at low doses of high LET ionising radiation. Since 1998 a single-ion irradiation facility has been developed on the focused horizontal microbeam line of the CENBG 3.5 MV Van de Graaff accelerator. This setup delivers in air single protons and alpha particles of a few MeV onto cultured cells, with a spatial resolution of a few microns, allowing subcellular targeting. In this paper, we present results from the use of the GEANT4 toolkit to simulate cellular irradiation with the CENBG microbeam line, from the entrance to the microprobe up to the cellular medium.Comment: 6 pages, 8 figures, presented at the 2003 IEEE-NSS conference, Portland, OR, USA, October 20-24, 200

Tráfico de cocaína

Este informe es la parte española de un proyecto europeo sobre “Mercados de cocaína y la respuesta legal en Europa” llevado a cabo por UNICRI y en el que han participado España, Holanda, Reino Unido e Italia

Technical developments for computed tomography on the CENBG nanobeam line

The use of ion microbeams as probes for computedtomography has proven to be a powerful tool for the three-dimensional characterization of specimens a few tens of micrometers in size. Compared to other types of probes, the main advantage is that quantitative information about mass density and composition can be obtained directly, using specific reconstruction codes. At the Centre d’Etudes Nucléaires de Bordeaux Gradignan (CENBG), this technique was initially developed for applications in cellular biology. However, the observation of the cell ultrastructure requires a sub-micron resolution. The construction of the nanobeamline at the Applications Interdisciplinaires des Faisceaux d’Ions en Region Aquitaine (AIFIRA) irradiation facility has opened new perspectives for such applications. The implementation of computedtomography on the nanobeamline of CENBG has required a careful design of the analysis chamber, especially microscopes for precise sample visualization, and detectors for scanning transmission ion microscopy (STIM) and for particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE). The sample can be precisely positioned in the three directions X, Y, Z and a stepper motor coupled to a goniometer ensures the rotational motion. First images of 3D tomography were obtained on a reference sample containing microspheres of certified diameter, showing the good stability of the beam and the sample stage, and the precision of the motion

Assessing the influence of distinct culture media on human pre-implantation development using single-embryo transcriptomics

The use of assisted reproductive technologies is consistently rising across the world. However, making an informed choice on which embryo culture medium should be preferred to ensure satisfactory pregnancy rates and the health of future children critically lacks scientific background. In particular, embryos within their first days of development are highly sensitive to their micro-environment, and it is unknown how their transcriptome adapts to different embryo culture compositions. Here, we determined the impact of culture media composition on gene expression in human pre-implantation embryos. By employing single-embryo RNA-sequencing after 2 or 5 days of the post-fertilization culture in different commercially available media (Ferticult, Global, and SSM), we revealed medium-specific differences in gene expression changes. Embryos cultured pre-compaction until day 2 in Ferticult or Global media notably displayed 266 differentially expressed genes, which were related to essential developmental pathways. Herein, 19 of them could have a key role in early development, based on their previously described dynamic expression changes across development. When embryos were cultured after day 2 in the same media considered more suitable because of its amino acid enrichment, 18 differentially expressed genes thought to be involved in the transition from early to later embryonic stages were identified. Overall, the differences were reduced at the blastocyst stage, highlighting the ability of embryos conceived in a suboptimal in vitro culture medium to mitigate the transcriptomic profile acquired under different pre-compaction environments

Assessing the influence of distinct culture media on human pre-implantation development using single-embryo transcriptomics

The use of assisted reproductive technologies is consistently rising across the world. However, making an informed choice on which embryo culture medium should be preferred to ensure satisfactory pregnancy rates and the health of future children critically lacks scientific background. In particular, embryos within their first days of development are highly sensitive to their micro-environment, and it is unknown how their transcriptome adapts to different embryo culture compositions. Here, we determined the impact of culture media composition on gene expression in human pre-implantation embryos. By employing single-embryo RNA-sequencing after 2 or 5 days of the post-fertilization culture in different commercially available media (Ferticult, Global, and SSM), we revealed medium-specific differences in gene expression changes. Embryos cultured pre-compaction until day 2 in Ferticult or Global media notably displayed 266 differentially expressed genes, which were related to essential developmental pathways. Herein, 19 of them could have a key role in early development, based on their previously described dynamic expression changes across development. When embryos were cultured after day 2 in the same media considered more suitable because of its amino acid enrichment, 18 differentially expressed genes thought to be involved in the transition from early to later embryonic stages were identified. Overall, the differences were reduced at the blastocyst stage, highlighting the ability of embryos conceived in a suboptimal in vitro culture medium to mitigate the transcriptomic profile acquired under different pre-compaction environments

First results obtained using the CENBG nanobeam line: performances and applications

A high resolution focused beam line has been recently installed on the AIFIRA (“Applications Interdisciplinaires des Faisceaux d’Ions en Région Aquitaine”) facility at CENBG. This nanobeam line, based on a doublet–triplet configuration of Oxford Microbeam Ltd. OM-50™ quadrupoles, offers the opportunity to focus protons, deuterons and alpha particles in the MeV energy range to a sub-micrometer beam spot. The beam optics design has been studied in detail and optimized using detailed ray-tracing simulations and the full mechanical design of the beam line was reported in the Debrecen ICNMTA conference in 2008. During the last two years, the lenses have been carefully aligned and the target chamber has been fully equipped with particle and X-ray detectors, microscopes and precise positioning stages. The beam line is now operational and has been used for its firstapplications to ion beam analysis. Interestingly, this set-up turned out to be a very versatile tool for a wide range of applications. Indeed, even if it was not intended during the design phase, the ion optics configuration offers the opportunity to work either with a high current microbeam (using the triplet only) or with a lower current beam presenting a sub-micrometer resolution (using the doublet–triplet configuration). The performances of the CENBGnanobeam line are presented for both configurations. Quantitative data concerning the beam lateral resolutions at different beam currents are provided. Finally, the firstresults obtained for different types of application are shown, including nuclear reaction analysis at the micrometer scale and the firstresults on biological sample