Urban suitability modelling and analysis in Canelones, Uruguay

Given the current urbanization processes occurring at global and national levels, this study develops an Urban Suitability Model (USM) for Canelones, Uruguay. The latter is carried out using GIS-based techniques and aims to locate suitable areas for urban development, considering physical, socioeconomic and environmental aspects of the case study area

Spirituality for Late Adolescents Coping with Grief and Loss

Experiencing the death of a loved one is often life changing, and learning ways to cope is an important part of the healing process. Such a change can be particularly difficult for late adolescents (individuals between 18 and 25 years of age) who are already going through significant life changes. Spirituality and mental health has received increasing scholarly attention in recent years, and the Association for Spirituality, Ethics, and Religious Values in Counseling has developed competencies for counselors to use when working with clients who wish to incorporate spirituality in their treatment. Despite increased interest in the field, there is little scholarly literature on the use of spirituality in counseling late adolescents who are experiencing grief and loss. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore the meaning and role of spirituality and spiritual practices in the grieving processes of late adolescents. Existential theory provided the framework for the study. Participants were recruited from a local grief center, college, and university as well as CESnet and ASERVIC listservs. Seven late adolescents took part in semistructured interviews regarding their grieving process. Lindseth and Norberg\u27s phenomenological hermeneutical method was used to analyze the data consisting of naïve reading, structural analysis, and comprehensive understanding. Themes included experiences with death, surviving the loss, and changes. Findings indicated that spiritual practices were beneficial in helping grieving late adolescents cope with the death of a loved one. Results may provide counselors with additional ways to work with this population during their grieving process

GATA-1 as a Regulator of Mast Cell Differentiation Revealed by the Phenotype of the GATA-1low Mouse Mutant

Here it is shown that the phenotype of adult mice lacking the first enhancer (DNA hypersensitive site I) and the distal promoter of the GATA-1 gene (neoΔHS or GATA-1low mutants) reveals defects in mast cell development. These include the presence of morphologically abnormal alcian blue+ mast cells and apoptotic metachromatic− mast cell precursors in connective tissues and peritoneal lavage and numerous (60–70% of all the progenitors) “unique” trilineage cells committed to erythroid, megakaryocytic, and mast pathways in the bone marrow and spleen. These abnormalities, which were mirrored by impaired mast differentiation in vitro, were reversed by retroviral-mediated expression of GATA-1 cDNA. These data indicate an essential role for GATA-1 in mast cell differentiation

Online Coloring of Bipartite Graphs with and without Advice

In the online version of the well-known graph coloring problem, the vertices appear one after the other together with the edges to the already known vertices and have to be irrevocably colored immediately after their appearance. We consider this problem on bipartite, i.e., two-colorable graphs. We prove that at least ⌊1.13746⋅log2(n)−0.49887⌋ colors are necessary for any deterministic online algorithm to be able to color any given bipartite graph on n vertices, thus improving on the previously known lower bound of ⌊log2 n⌋+1 for sufficiently large n. Recently, the advice complexity was introduced as a method for a fine-grained analysis of the hardness of online problems. We apply this method to the online coloring problem and prove (almost) tight linear upper and lower bounds on the advice complexity of coloring a bipartite graph online optimally or using 3 colors. Moreover, we prove that $O(\sqrt{n})$ advice bits are sufficient for coloring any bipartite graph on n vertices with at most ⌈log2 n⌉ colors

An internet-based approach for lifestyle changes in patients with NAFLD: Two-year effects on weight loss and surrogate markers

Background & Aims Interventions aimed at lifestyle changes are pivotal for the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and web-based programs might help remove barriers in both patients and therapists. Methods In the period 2010–15, 716 consecutive NAFLD cases (mean age, 52; type 2 diabetes, 33%) were treated in our Department with structured programs. The usual protocol included motivational interviewing and a group-based intervention (GBI), chaired by physicians, dietitians and psychologists (five weekly meetings, n = 438). Individuals who could not attend GBI entered a web-based intervention (WBI, n = 278) derived from GBI, with interactive games, learning tests, motivational tests, and mail contacts with the center. The primary outcome was weight loss ≥10%; secondary outcomes were alanine aminotransferase within normal limits, changes in lifestyle, weight, alanine aminotransferase, and surrogate markers of steatosis and fibrosis. Results GBI and WBI cohorts had similar body mass index (mean, 33 kg/m2), with more males (67% vs. 45%), younger age, higher education, and more physical activity in the WBI group. The two-year attrition rate was higher in the WBI group. Healthy lifestyle changes were observed in both groups and body mass index decreased by almost two points; the 10% weight target was reached in 20% of WBI cases vs. 15% in GBI (not significant). In logistic regression analysis, after adjustment for confounders and attrition rates, WBI was not associated with a reduction of patients reaching short- and long-term 10% weight targets. Liver enzymes decreased in both groups, and normalized more frequently in WBI. Fatty liver index was reduced, whereas fibrosis remained stable (NAFLD fibrosis score) or similarly decreased (Fib-4). Conclusion WBI is not less effective than common lifestyle programs, as measured by significant clinical outcomes associated with improved histological outcomes in NAFLD. eHealth programs may effectively contribute to NAFLD control. Lay summary In patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, participation in structured lifestyle programs may be jeopardized by job and time constraints. A web-based intervention may be better suited for young, busy patients, and for those living far from liver units. The study shows that, following a structured motivational approach, a web-based, interactive intervention coupled with six-month face-to-face meetings is not inferior to a standard group-based intervention with respect to weight loss, adherence to healthy diet and habitual physical activity, normalization of liver enzymes, and stable surrogate markers of fibrosis

Agravios de la salud, hipertensión arterial y predisposición al estrés en conductores de camión

O estudo investigou agravos à saúde que predispõem ao estresse com o uso do Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) que avalia possíveis transtornos mentais comuns não psicóticos e identificar a associação com a hipertensão arterial. A amostra foi de 258 motoristas profissionais de transporte de cargas em uma rodovia brasileira (37,5&plusmn;10,0 anos), 55% ingeriam bebidas alcoólicas, 37% com hipertensão arterial e 57% referiram já ter usado remédios para manter estado de alerta. Os motoristas referiram sentirem-se nervosos, tensos ou preocupados (56%), dormirem mal (47%), dores de cabeça (37%), terem dificuldade de tomar decisões (38%) e dificuldade de pensar com clareza (20%). Obteve-se como resultados que 33% eram portadores de possíveis transtornos mentais comuns e houve associação (p<0,05) com referência de cansaço, diminuição da concentração, considerar-se nervoso ou estressado, ter problemas pessoais ou no trabalho e transportar carga de horário. Não houve associação com hipertensão arterial. Conclui-se que foi expressiva a presença de prováveis transtornos mentais comuns provavelmente decorrentes das condições estressantes de trabalho.This study approached the health problems which were involved with stress using Self reporting Questionnaires (SRQ-20) in order to evaluate mental disorders. The sample was constituted of 258 trucker drivers in Brazilian roadway (37,5&plusmn;10,0 years old, 55% drink alcohol, 37% with arterial hypertension e 57% used drugs to get alert). The drivers informed they were nervous, tense and worried (56%), disturbed sleep (47%), headaches (37%), difficulties in making decisions (38%) and difficulties in thinking clearly (20%). The results of SRQ-20 showed that 33% were probably with common mental disorders and an association (p<0.05) with fatigue, diminished concentration, being nervous and worried, personal problems at work, and trucker transportation. As conclusion, the presence of common mental disorders was considered probably as consequence of stresseful conditions at work.El estudio investigó agravios de salud que predisponen al estrés mediante el uso del Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20), que evalúa posibles trastornos mentales comunes no psicóticos. La muestra abarco a 258 conductores profesionales de trasporte de cargas en una carretera nacional brasileña (37,5&plusmn;10,0 años, el 55% ingería bebidas alcohólicas, El 37% con hipertensión arterial y el 57% refirió uso anterior de medicamentos para mantener el estado de alerta). Los conductores indicaron sentir-se nervioso, tenso o preocupado (56%), dormir mal (47%), dolores de cabeza (37%), tener dificultad de tomar decisión (38%) y dificultad de pensar con claridad (20%). El SRQ-20 mostró que el 33% era portador de posibles trastornos mentales comunes y fue encontrada asociación (p<0,05) con referencia de cansancio, disminución de la concentración, considerarse nervioso o estresado, tener problemas personales o en el trabajo y transportar carga de horario. Se concluye que fue expresiva la presencia de probables trastornos mentales comunes que probablemente transcurren de las condiciones laborales estresantes