Utilización de Ethnograph 5.0 en la Evaluación Cualitativa ex post de Proyectos en Comunidades Rurales

Se realizó un estudio cualitativo con la finalidad de validar el programa Ethnograph v5.0 como una herramienta en la evaluación cualitativa ex post de proyectos agrícolas. Con este fin se aplicó la herramienta de análisis cualitativo de datos, Ethnograph v5.0 en la evaluación ex post de beneficios económico-sociales no cuantificables del proyecto de desarrollo agrícola "Desarrollo de productos orgánicos y funcionales en base a la avellana  (Gevuina avellana mol) y creación de mercados para su consumo" a modo de ejemplo de aplicación. Con la validación de esta herramienta se pretende entregar una opción metodológica para las evaluaciones cualitativas en el sector agrícola. Para ello, se hace entrega de un informe en el cual se detallan de manera clara y precisa cada uno de los pasos a seguir en la aplicación de esta metodología, el que incluye además un análisis de costos. Todo esto a objeto de que el investigador pueda dimensionar tanto la riqueza de información, tiempo, funcionalidad, accesibilidad, objetividad y costo; a modo de guía en lo que respecta a la toma de decisiones al momento de la elección de una metodología de análisis cualitativo. La metodología planteada demostró ser sistemática, rápida, rica en información concreta, fundamentada y a un costo de mercado aceptable al nivel de velocidad y calidad de información obtenida. Cabe destacar que el uso de esta metodología demanda conocimiento previo de análisis cualitativo y uso del software, pues de ello dependerá la calidad del análisis y la información obtenida

Ambivalence and innovative moments in grief psychotherapy: the cases of Emily and Rose

Several studies have suggested that the process of narrative change in psychotherapy occurs through the emergence and expansion of moments of novelty, known as innovative moments (IMs), that allow changes in the problematic self-narrative responsible for the client’s suffering. However, as these IMs challenge typical (and problematic) ways of acting, feeling, and thinking, they may also generate discrepancy or uncertainty. Clients may reduce uncertainty by returning to the problematic self-narrative immediately after the emergence of an IM, thus ensuring the homeostasis of the previous meaning system. This cyclical movement is a form of ambivalence, which can maintain problematic stability across therapy and lead to therapeutic failure. In this study, we identified return to the problem markers (RPMs), which are empirical indicators of the ambivalence process, for all IMs in two cases of constructivist grief psychotherapy. Both cases evidenced a high percentage of IMs with RPMs, and the evolution of IMs and RPMs along treatment was significantly correlated. We suggest that stability of the ambivalence process in grief psychotherapy may represent a form of self-protection from the anxiety or guilt of releasing pain as a disconnection from the deceased

Ambivalence in grief therapy: the interplay between change and self-stability

This article explores the role of ambivalence in grief therapy within a narrative framework. From this perspective, change starts with the occurrence of innovative moments, which can be nullified by reaffirmation of the problematic self-narrative as a sign of ambivalence. This study analyzed ambivalence in six complicated grief cases using the “Return to the Problem Coding System.” Markers of ambivalence emerged in all cases, with a decreasing profile in cases with greater symptomatic improvement, suggesting an association between clinical change and ambivalence evolution in therapy. Addressing ambivalence may bring to light important aspects of client’s selfreconstruction after a major loss.Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, through the Grant PTDC/PSI-PCL/121525/2010 (Ambivalence and Unsuccessful Psychotherapy,2012–2015) and the PhD Grant SFRH/BD/48607/200

Klebsiella pneumoniae is able to trigger epithelial-mesenchymal transition process in cultured airway epithelial cells

The ability of some bacterial pathogens to activate Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition normally is a consequence of the persistence of a local chronic inflammatory response or depends on a direct interaction of the pathogens with the host epithelial cells. In this study we monitored the abilities of the K. pneumoniae to activate the expression of genes related to EMT-like processes and the occurrence of phenotypic changes in airway epithelial cells during the early steps of cell infection. We describe changes in the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species and increased HIF-1α mRNA expression in cells exposed to K. pneumoniae infection. We also describe the upregulation of a set of transcription factors implicated in the EMT processes, such as Twist, Snail and ZEB, indicating that the morphological changes of epithelial cells already appreciable after few hours from the K. pneumoniae infection are tightly regulated by the activation of transcriptional pathways, driving epithelial cells to EMT. These effects appear to be effectively counteracted by resveratrol, an antioxidant that is able to exert a sustained scavenging of the intracellular ROS. This is the first report indicating that strains of K. pneumoniae may promote EMT-like programs through direct interaction with epithelial cells without the involvement of inflammatory cells

Comparación de la actividad mitótica de las células epiteliales tubulares, en dos zonas del riñón de ratones machos adultos posnefrectomía

La nefrectomía unilateral (Nx) generalmente, está asociada con degeneración a largo término del riñón remanente. Es sabido que la remoción de un riñón estimula inmediatamente el crecimiento y la función del otro pero, hay diferentes mecanismos que inician el crecimiento compensatorio renal (CCR) dependiendo en parte de la edad, del sexo y de la zona analizada. Algunos autores demostraron que en ratones de ambos sexos, durante las primeras horas siguientes a la Nx, hay un periodo inicial de crecimiento hiperplásico aunque, solamente en el compartimiento cortical. Sin embargo, en trabajos previos nosotros observamos que a las 50 horas de la Nx, los valores de ADNs de las células tubulares corticales (CTC) y de la médula externa (CTM), son similares a los de los ratones intactos y a los de los animales falsamente nefrectomizados (F Nx), en ambos sexos.Facultad de Ciencias Médica

Tracking pollutants in a municipal sewage network impairing the operation of a wastewater treatment plant

This work provides a screening of organic contaminants and characterization of the dissolved organic matter in the sewer network until the municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), identifying the network areas with a higher degree of contamination and their impact on the WWTP performance, particularly in the activated sludge reactor. Three monitoring campaigns were carried out at six selected locations of the sewage system (PVZ-1, PVZ-2, PS-F, PS-VC, CP-VC, and PS-T), influent (WWTPINF) and effluent (WWTPEFF) of the WWTP. Advanced analytical techniques were employed, namely excitation/emission matrix fluorescence-parallel factor analysis (EEM-PARAFAC), size exclusion chromatography with organic carbon detector (SEC-OCD), and liquid chromatography with high-resolution-mass spectrometric detection (LC-HRMS). EEM-PARAFAC showed higher fluorescence intensity for the protein-like component (C2), particularly at CP-VC (near seafood industries) associated with the presence of surfactants (~50 mg/L). SEC-OCD highlighted the WWTP efficiency in removing low molecular weight acids and neutrals. LC-HRMS tentatively identified 108 compounds of emerging concern (CEC) and similar detection patterns were obtained for all wastewater samples, except for PVZ-2 (lower detection), many of which occurred in the effluent. Eight CECs included on relevant Watch-Lists were detected in all WWTPEFF samples. Furthermore, 111 surfactants were detected, the classes more frequently found being alcohol ethoxylates (AEOs), nonylphenol polyethoxylates (NPEOs) and linear alkylbenzene sulphonates (LAS). The continuous presence of LAS and NPEOs allied to surfactants concentrations in the WWTPINF of 15–20 mg/L, with CP-VC location (linked with food industries) as an important contributor, explain the morphological changes in the activated sludge and high LAS content in the dewatered sludge, which may have impacted WWTP performance.i) Base-UIDB/50020/2020 and Programmatic-UIDP/50020/2020 Funding of LSRE-LCM, funded by national funds through FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC); ii) European Regional Development Fund through the Interreg V-A Spain-Portugal Programme (POCTEP) 2014–2020 (ref. 0725_NOR_WATER_1_P); iii) Xunta de Galicia (Verónica Castro predoctoral contract: ED481A-2017/156, and ED431C2017/36), the Spanish Agencia Estatal de Investigación – MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033 (ref. PID2020-117686RB-C32); iv) NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000069 (Healthy Waters) co-funded by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), through North Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement. The authors also acknowledge Águas do Norte, S.A. for supporting the development of this work. Daniela F.S. Morais acknowledges her Ph.D. scholarship supported by FCT (SFRH/BD/146476/2019). Bianca M. Souza Chaves gratefully acknowledges her postdoctoral scholarship supported by CNPq through the Science Without Borders Program (Process No. 201989/2014-0). Vítor J.P. Vilar acknowledges the FCT Individual Call to Scientific Employment Stimulus 2017 (CEECIND/01317/2017)S

Interlaboratory validation of a multiplex qPCR method for the detection of listeria monocytogenes in a ready-to-eat seafood product

Listeria monocytogenes is a major foodborne pathogen which mainly infects susceptible individuals through the consumption of contaminated foods. To this end, ready-to-eat (RTE) food products are of particular concern as this microorganism is widely distributed, can survive, and even grow, under adverse conditions, and thus must be carefully controlled. In the present study, an interlaboratory ring trial was organized to evaluate an open formula qPCR-based method for the detection of L. monocytogenes. The molecular method was evaluated on a novel RTE seafood product, developed in the framework of a European project, the SEAFOODAGE (EAPA_758/2018). Six laboratories located in Spain and Portugal participated in the study, and the results obtained indicated that this new method presented high diagnostic sensitivity (100%) reaching a low limit of detection (<10CFU/25 g) with an overall agreement with the reference method, attending to the Cohen's k, of 0.97 that is interpreted as almost complete agreement.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Modeling the natural gas knocking behaviour using gas-phase infrared spectra and multivariate calibration

[Abstract] To assess the knocking properties of natural gas (NG) when it is used as fuel for vehicles is vital to optimize the design and functioning of their motors. Analytical efforts in this field are needed as the engines used to define it empirically are not available anymore, and existent mathematical algorithms yield different accuracy. The hybridization of gas-phase infrared spectrometry and partial least squares multivariate regression is presented first time to address the determination of the methane number (MN) of NG samples. It circumvents the need for the previous knowledge of the NG composition required to apply dedicated equations. The use of true NG samples to develop the models is also quite new in the field. Proof-of-concept studies were made with synthetic spectra and, then, a collection of liquefied NG samples for which MN values were computed by the National Physics Laboratory algorithm (NPL) from their sample composition were used to develop operative models. Additional validation was made with a collection of synthetic standard mixtures prepared for two European projects (EMRP LNG II and EMPIR LNG III) whose service methane numbers (SMN) were measured with an engine. The FTIR-PLS approach yielded statistically unbiased predictions with average standard errors around 0.4% MN when compared to the NPL-MN and SMN values, and standard deviations of the means ca. 1% MN. The approach is fast, cost effective as it involves standard instrumentation, and can be considered compliant with the green chemistry principles.This work is part of the EMPIR 16ENG09 project ‘Metrological support for LNG and LBG as transport fuel (LNG III)’. This project has received funding from the EMPIR programme co-financed by the Participant States and from the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme. The authors from TU Braunschweig would like to thank IAV, Mahle, MAN Truck & Bus and Motortech for their support in preparing the test engine. The Group of Applied Analytical Chemistry of the University of A Coruña acknowledges Mestrelab, Reganosa and Naturgy for hiring its services for FTIR method developmentFinanciado para publicación en acceso aberto: Universidade da Coruña/CISU

Fat Mass and Obesity-Associated Gene (FTO) in Eating Disorders: Evidence for Association of the rs9939609 Obesity Risk Allele with Bulimia nervosa and Anorexia nervosa

Objective: The common single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs9939609 in the fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) is associated with obesity. As genetic variants associated with weight regulation might also be implicated in the etiology of eating disorders, we evaluated whether SNP rs9939609 is associated with bulimia nervosa (BN) and anorexia nervosa (AN). Methods: Association of rs9939609 with BN and AN was assessed in 689 patients with AN, 477 patients with BN, 984 healthy non-population-based controls, and 3,951 population-based controls (KORA-S4). Based on the familial and premorbid occurrence of obesity in patients with BN, we hypothesized an association of the obesity risk A-allele with BN. Results: In accordance with our hypothesis, we observed evidence for association of the rs9939609 A-allele with BN when compared to the non-population-based controls (unadjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.142, one-sided 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.001-infinity; one-sided p = 0.049) and a trend in the population-based controls (OR = 1.124, one-sided 95% CI 0.932-infinity; one-sided p = 0.056). Interestingly, compared to both control groups, we further detected a nominal association of the rs9939609 A-allele to AN (OR = 1.181, 95% CI 1.027-1.359, two-sided p = 0.020 or OR = 1.673, 95% CI 1.101-2.541, two-sided p = 0.015,). Conclusion: Our data suggest that the obesity-predisposing FTO allele might be relevant in both AN and BN. Copyright (C) 2012 S. Karger GmbH, Freibur

Comorbidities in Chilean patients with psoriasis: a Global Healthcare Study on Psoriasis

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease associated with several important medical comorbidities. There are scant data available on the comorbidities of patients with psoriasis in South America. Aim: To examine the comorbidity profile of adult patients with psoriasis in Chile and its association with severity of psoriasis. Methods: This was a multicentre, cross-sectional study involving 16 hospitals and clinics in Chile, which used a 48-item questionnaire to study clinician- and patient-reported outcomes and comorbidities. Inferential analyses were performed by psoriasis severity, using Fisher exact test, Student t-test and multivariable logistic regression. Results: In total, 598 adult patients with psoriasis were included (51.1% male; mean age 49.2 ± 15.1 years); 48.5% mild and 51.4% moderate to severe; Psoriasis Area and Severity Index 11.6 ± 11.5; body surface area 14.7 ± 18.2%. Plaque psoriasis was the most common phenotype (90.2%), followed by guttate (13.4%). Psoriatic arthritis occurred in 27.3% of patients. Comorbidities were reported in 60.2% of all patients with psoriasis. Frequent concomitant diseases were obesity (25.3%), hypertension (24.3%), Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (18.7%), dyslipidaemia (17.4%), metabolic syndrome (16.7%) and depression (14.4%). After adjustment, significant associations were found between moderate to severe psoriasis and obesity, T2DM and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) compared with mild psoriasis. Conclusions: We report a large study of comorbidities, including depression, dyslipidaemia, T2DM and NAFLD, in people with psoriasis in Chile. The prevalence of comorbidities with psoriasis in Chile appears similar to that found in Western countries, and emphasizes the importance of assessing patients with psoriasis for risk factors for and presence of, comorbid disease in a multidisciplinary setting