Access to security services and crime patterns. Case study: Manizales, Colombia

Accessibility planning allows a better understanding of the operational characteristics of transport networks in relation to economic, socio-demographic, and land-use variables. It has, however, experienced a much slower adoption in the Global South as opposed to industrialized societies, focusing mostly on work opportunities and other basic services. The city of Manizales in Colombia is considering incorporating accessibility models as part of policy design and decision-making processes for the implementation of new services. In this regard, we set out to assess the relationship between locations of police stations, operational characteristics of the transport network, and criminal offences by using territorial accessibility measures. Our research seeks to contribute to the debates on the applicability and usefulness of accessibility measure when applied to specific services in a developing context. The research builds on primary data obtained in a period of over a year with the aid of GPS equipment. These data are contrasted with information on criminal offences attended by local authorities. Our analyses confront accessibility levels on the road network and spatial coverage of police stations with density of reported criminaloffences. These analyses suggest correlations between areas of the city with higher density of criminal offences and constraints of local capacity and accessibility of police facilities. We provide evidence of the role of accessibility in seamlessly unrelated services and produce new information that can strengthen criteria for land management and locations of urban facilities in mid-sized cities

COVID-19, activity and mobility patterns in Bogotá. Are we ready for a ‘15-minute city’?

Social distancing and economic lockdown measures implemented in Global North countries have been mimicked in the Global South to contain the spread of COVID-19. However, the consequences of such measures on activity and mobility patterns among social groups in Global South cities remain unclear. This paper seeks to provide reliable evidence from changes in behaviors across income groups at the urban scale. We report a detailed analysis from a web-based survey to understand the effects of the early and complete lockdown adopted to contain the COVID-19 spread on activity and travel patterns in Bogotá. We also performed a geographical proximity analysis of non-work services and facilities located around surveyed households to challenge the rhetoric about the ‘15-minute’ city. We found that low-income people are more socially exposed to contagion being forced to go out to find their daily sustenance and having adverse economic and travel effects than other income groups. However, even though Bogotá is not so far from meeting the goal of 15 min proximity, particularly for non-work-related activities, we found marked inequalities among income groups regarding access to essential services in proximity. The paper’s findings serve as a reminder that travel behavior and accessibility are not the remits of only urban transport planning and that land-use and urban planning play a determining role in redressing social and spatial inequalities in a city

Inhibition of the sodium-dependent HCO₃ - transporter SLC4A4, produces a cystic fibrosis-like airway disease phenotype

\ua9 2022, eLife Sciences Publications Ltd. All rights reserved. Bicarbonate secretion is a fundamental process involved in maintaining acid-base homeostasis. Disruption of bicarbonate entry into airway lumen, as has been observed in cystic fibrosis, produces several defects in lung function due to thick mucus accumulation. Bicarbonate is critical for correct mucin deployment and there is increasing interest in understanding its role in airway physiology, particularly in the initiation of lung disease in children affected by cystic fibrosis, in the absence of detectable bacterial infection. The current model of anion secretion in mammalian airways consists of CFTR and TMEM16A as apical anion exit channels, with limited capacity for bicarbonate transport compared to chloride. However, both channels can couple to SLC26A4 anion exchanger to maximise bicarbonate secretion. Nevertheless, current models lack any details about the identity of the basolateral protein(s) responsible for bicarbonate uptake into airway epithelial cells. We report herein that the electrogenic, sodium-dependent, bicarbonate cotransporter, SLC4A4, is expressed in the basolateral membrane of human and mouse airways, and that it’s pharmacological inhibition or genetic silencing reduces bicarbonate secretion. In fully differentiated primary human airway cells cultures, SLC4A4 inhibition induced an acidification of the airways surface liquid and markedly reduced the capacity of cells to recover from an acid load. Studies in the Slc4a4-null mice revealed a previously unreported lung phenotype, characterized by mucus accumulation and reduced mucociliary clearance. Collectively, our results demonstrate that the reduction of SLC4A4 function induced a CF-like phenotype, even when chloride secretion remained intact, highlighting the important role SLC4A4 plays in bicarbonate secretion and mammalian airway function

Breve Confirmatorio de ... Benedicto XIV de las Pias Fundaciones y Memorias instituidas por el ... Cardenal Belluga para beneficio de la Diocesi de Cartagena ...

Las 75 p. corresponden a la Escritura de Fundacion otorgada por Belluga. Hay además doce Reales Cedulas, once con port. propia, y otros cuatro documentos, uno de ellos con port. propia, y un indice comúnTit. entre corchetes tomado de la cubiertaTexto del "Breve Confirmatorio..." en latinSign.: [ ]\p2\s, A-T\p2\s, [ ]\p3\s, [ ]\p4\s, [ ]\p4\s, A\p4\s, A\p4\s, [ ]\p5\s, A-D\p2\s, [E]\p1\s, [ ]\p1\s, A\p3\s, A\p4\s, [ ]\p2\s, [ ]\p2\s, A\p4\s, A\p4\s, [ ]\p1\s, *\p2\s, [ ]\p1\s, [ ]\p2\s, A\p4\s, [ ]\p2\s, [ ]\p1\

Preliminary phytochemical screening and In vitro antioxidant activities of the aqueous extract of Helichrysum longifolium DC

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Many oxidative stress related diseases are as a result of accumulation of free radicals in the body. A lot of researches are going on worldwide directed towards finding natural antioxidants of plants origins. The aims of this study were to evaluate <it>in vitro </it>antioxidant activities and to screen for phytochemical constituents of <it>Helichrysum longifolium </it>DC. [Family Asteraceae] aqueous crude extract.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We assessed the antioxidant potential and phytochemical constituents of crude aqueous extract of <it>Helichrysum longifolium </it>using tests involving inhibition of superoxide anions, DPPH, H₂O₂, NO and ABTS. The flavonoid, proanthocyanidin and phenolic contents of the extract were also determined using standard phytochemical reaction methods.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Phytochemical analyses revealed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, steroids and saponins. The total phenolic content of the aqueous leaf extract was 0.499 mg gallic acid equivalent/g of extract powder. The total flavonoid and proanthocyanidin contents of the plant were 0.705 and 0.005 mg gallic acid equivalent/g of extract powder respectively. The percentage inhibition of lipid peroxide at the initial stage of oxidation showed antioxidant activity of 87% compared to those of BHT (84.6%) and gallic acid (96%). Also, the percentage inhibition of malondialdehyde by the extract showed percentage inhibition of 78% comparable to those of BHT (72.24%) and Gallic (94.82%).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our findings provide evidence that the crude aqueous extract of <it>H. longifolium </it>is a potential source of natural antioxidants, and this justified its uses in folkloric medicines.</p

Protective effect of leptin against ischemia-reperfusion injury in the rat small intestine

BACKGROUND: The small intestine is extremely sensitive to ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury and a range of microcirculatory disturbances which contribute to tissue damage. Previous studies have shown that leptin plays an important physiological role in the microvasculature. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of leptin in I/R – induced mucosal injury in the small intestine. METHODS: Forty rats were divided into 5 groups (n = 8). Group I was subjected to a sham operation. Following mesenteric ischemia in group II (control); physiologic saline 1 cm(3), in group III; leptin 100 μg/kg, and physiologic saline 1 cm(3), in group IV; N(G)-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) 20 mg/kg, and physiologic saline 1 cm(3), in group V; leptin 100 μg/kg, L-NAME 20 mg/kg, and physiologic saline 1 cm(3 )were given intra-peritoneally. In these groups, an I/R procedure was performed by occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery for 45 min followed by 120 min reperfusion. After reperfusion, the small intestines were resected for malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) concentration and histopathologic properties. Mucosal lesions were scored between 0 and 5. Tissue MDA and NO concentration and histopathologic grades were compared statistically. RESULTS: Tissue MDA level significantly increased (P < 0.05), tissue NO level significantly decreased in group V animals, compared to group III animals respectively (P < 0.001). Histopathologically, intestinal injury significantly decreased in the leptin treated ischemic group. CONCLUSION: Leptin can be used safely in mesenteric occlusive diseases, since it induces NO formation and release in mesenteric vessels

In vivo biosensing via tissue-localizable near-infrared-fluorescent single-walled carbon nanotubes

Single-walled carbon nanotubes are particularly attractive for biomedical applications, because they exhibit a fluorescent signal in a spectral region where there is minimal interference from biological media. Although single-walled carbon nanotubes have been used as highly sensitive detectors for various compounds, their use as in vivo biomarkers requires the simultaneous optimization of various parameters, including biocompatibility, molecular recognition, high fluorescence quantum efficiency and signal transduction. Here we show that a polyethylene glycol ligated copolymer stabilizes near-infrared-fluorescent single-walled carbon nanotubes sensors in solution, enabling intravenous injection into mice and the selective detection of local nitric oxide concentration with a detection limit of 1 µM. The half-life for liver retention is 4 h, with sensors clearing the lungs within 2 h after injection, thus avoiding a dominant route of in vivo nanotoxicology. After localization within the liver, it is possible to follow the transient inflammation using nitric oxide as a marker and signalling molecule. To this end, we also report a spatial-spectral imaging algorithm to deconvolute fluorescence intensity and spatial information from measurements. Finally, we demonstrate that alginate-encapsulated single-walled carbon nanotubes can function as implantable inflammation sensors for nitric oxide detection, with no intrinsic immune reactivity or other adverse response for more than 400 days.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (T32 Training Grant in Environmental Toxicology ES007020)National Cancer Institute (U.S.) (Grant P01 CA26731)National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (Grant P30 ES002109)Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation (Young Investigator Award)National Science Foundation (U.S.). Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and EngineersScientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK 2211 Research Fellowship Programme)Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK 2214 Research Fellowship Programme)Middle East Technical University. Faculty Development ProgrammeSanofi Aventis (Firm) (Biomedical Innovation Grant

Translating the oxidative stress hypothesis into the clinic: NOX versus NOS

Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death in industrialised nations. Since the pathomechanisms of most cardiovascular diseases are not understood, the majority of therapeutic approaches are symptom-orientated. Knowing the molecular mechanism of disease would enable more targeted therapies. One postulated underlying mechanism of cardiovascular diseases is oxidative stress, i.e. the increased occurrence of reactive oxygen species such as superoxide. Oxidative stress leads to a dysfunction of vascular endothelium-dependent protective mechanisms. There is growing evidence that this scenario also involves impaired nitric oxide (NO)-cyclic GMP signalling. Out of a number of enzyme families that can produce reactive oxygen species, NADPH oxidases stand out, as they are the only enzymes whose sole purpose is to produce reactive oxygen species. This review focuses on the clinically validated targets of oxidative stress, NO synthase (NOS) and the NO receptor, soluble guanylate cyclase as well as the source of ROS, e.g. NADPH oxidases. We place recent knowledge in the function and regulation of these enzyme families into clinical perspective. For a comprehensive overview of the biology and pharmacology of oxidative stress and possible other sources and targets, we refer to other literature overviews