Tentativas de suicidio en el municipio de Valencia.

Se obtuvo información sobre las tentativas de suicidio registradas en los libros de urgencias de los hospitales de Valencia ejecutados por residentes de este municipio mayores de 14 años, desde 1982 a 1985. Su análisis mostró que las tasas, la edad, el sexo y el método empleado fueron similares a lo descrito en otros países europeos. Sin embargo, la proporción de personas remitidas a su casa sin mediar ingreso fue comparativamente muy elevad

Tentativas de suicidio en el municipio de Valencia.

Se obtuvo información sobre las tentativas de suicidio registradas en los libros de urgencias de los hospitales de Valencia ejecutados por residentes de este municipio mayores de 14 años, desde 1982 a 1985. Su análisis mostró que las tasas, la edad, el sexo y el método empleado fueron similares a lo descrito en otros países europeos. Sin embargo, la proporción de personas remitidas a su casa sin mediar ingreso fue comparativamente muy elevad

El imaginario del zombi cinematográfico en la representación de los desamparados: del esclavo del clasicismo hollywoodense al inmigrante de la contemporaneidad europea

El presente artículo propone un recorrido crítico e iconográfico a través de las principales manifestaciones históricas de los zombis en el cine. Desde los orígenes del cine clásico, la figura del zombi se ha visto asociada al inmigrante, al esclavo. El objetivo de este trabajo es observar y establecer cuál ha sido la evolución de este arquetipo en la historia, y analizar su vigencia en los filmes del cine europeo contemporáneo que abordan la realidad socio política de los sin papeles, revisitando la figura del zombi. En este sentido, el artículo plantea una relectura histórico-política sobre este arquetipo de la cultura popular, tan presente en el cine y la televisión de nuestro tiempo

Calculation of Response matrix of a BSS with 6LiI scintillator

The response matrix of a Bonner sphere spectrometer was calculated using MCNP 4C and MCNPX 2.4.0 codes. As thermal neutron detector a 0.4 cm £; 0.4 cm 6LiI which is located at the center of a set of polyethylene spheres. The response was calculated for 0, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10, and 12 inches-diameter polyethylene spheres for neutrons whose energy goes from 2.50E(-8) to 100 MeV. The response matrix was calculated for 23 neutron energies, the response functions were energy-interpolated to 51 neutron energies and were compared with a matrix response reported in the literature, in this comparison both response matrices are in agreement. The main differences were found in the bare detector and are attributed to the irradiation conditions and cross sections, for the other detectors the differences are due to the cross sections libraries

Observació directa de cicles redox de Ag(I)/Ag(III) de dos electrons en catàlisi de funcionalització d'halurs d'aril

La plata és avui dia àmpliament utilitzada en catàlisi homogènia per a la síntesi de compostos orgànics a causa del seu caràcter d'àcid de Lewis i el seu poder oxidant. La Ag(I) és un potent oxidant monoelectrònic que troba utilitat en un gran nombre de processos catalítics. Tanmateix, els cicles catalítics de dos electrons, molt comuns en la química organometàl·lica dels metalls nobles, no han estat mai considerats possibles per a la plata. En aquest estudi descrivim un cicle catalític Ag(I)/Ag(III) que és operatiu en una reacció model d'acoblament creuat per a la formació d'enllaços C–O. Espècies aril–Ag(III) han estat inequívocament identificades com a intermedis d'aquest cicle catalític. L'estudi de la síntesi i la reactivitat de l'esmentat complex ha permès per primera vegada la caracterització de les etapes d'addició oxidant i eliminació reductiva de formació d'enllaços carboni–nucleò- fil en centres monometàl·lics de plata. El present treball demostra que els processos d'eliminació reductiva en espècies aril–Ag(III) són efectius en reaccions d'acoblament creuat per a la formació d'enllaços C–O, C–N, C–S, C–C i C–halur, incloses les reaccions de fluoració d'arils. Aquest estudi suposa un punt de partida per a l'expansió de la química redox Ag(I)/Ag(III) a noves metodologies per a la síntesi orgànica, en analogia a la química d'acoblament creuat del coure o el pal·ladi. A més, els resultats descrits proporcionen una comprensió mecanística fonamental única en les reaccions d'acoblament creuat catalitzades per plata i refuten la concepció generalment acceptada que la química redox de la plata només pot provenir de processos d'un sol electró.Silver is extensively used in homogeneous catalysis for organic synthesis owing to its Lewis acidity and unique high oxidation power. The high oxidation potential of Ag(I) makes it a powerful one-electron oxidant that finds utility in a large number catalytic processes. However, two-electron redox catalytic cycles, most common in noble metal organometallic reactivity, have never been considered. Herein we show that an Ag(I)/Ag(III) catalytic cycle is operative in a model C–O cross-coupling reaction. Aryl–Ag(III) species have been unequivocally identified as an intermediate in the catalytic cycle. The study of the synthesis and reactivity of this complex has enabled for the first time the direct characterization of aryl halide oxidative addition and carbon–nucleophile bond-forming reductive elimination steps at monometallic silver centers. This report demonstrates that reductive elimination processes at aryl–Ag(III) species are effective for C–O, C–N, C–S, C–C and C–halide coupling reactions, including aryl fluorination. We anticipate our study as the starting point for expanding Ag(I)/Ag(III) redox chemistry into new methodologies for organic synthesis, resembling well-known copper or palladium cross-coupling catalysis. Furthermore, findings described herein provide a unique fundamental mechanistic understanding of Ag-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions and dismiss the generally accepted conception that silver redox chemistry can only arise from one-electron processes

A walk in the PARC:developing and implementing 21st century chemical risk assessment in Europe

Current approaches for the assessment of environmental and human health risks due to exposure to chemical substances have served their purpose reasonably well. Nevertheless, the systems in place for different uses of chemicals are faced with various challenges, ranging from a growing number of chemicals to changes in the types of chemicals and materials produced. This has triggered global awareness of the need for a paradigm shift, which in turn has led to the publication of new concepts for chemical risk assessment and explorations of how to translate these concepts into pragmatic approaches. As a result, next-generation risk assessment (NGRA) is generally seen as the way forward. However, incorporating new scientific insights and innovative approaches into hazard and exposure assessments in such a way that regulatory needs are adequately met has appeared to be challenging. The European Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals (PARC) has been designed to address various challenges associated with innovating chemical risk assessment. Its overall goal is to consolidate and strengthen the European research and innovation capacity for chemical risk assessment to protect human health and the environment. With around 200 participating organisations from all over Europe, including three European agencies, and a total budget of over 400 million euro, PARC is one of the largest projects of its kind. It has a duration of seven years and is coordinated by ANSES, the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety

Nutritional and socio-economic factors associated with Plasmodium falciparum infection in children from Equatorial Guinea: results from a nationally representative survey

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Malaria has traditionally been a major endemic disease in Equatorial Guinea. Although parasitaemia prevalence on the insular region has been substantially reduced by vector control in the past few years, the prevalence in the mainland remains over 50% in children younger than five years. The aim of this study is to investigate the risk factors for parasitaemia and treatment seeking behaviour for febrile illness at country level, in order to provide evidence that will reinforce the EG National Malaria Control Programme.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study was a cross-sectional survey of children 0 to 5 years old, using a multistaged, stratified, cluster-selected sample at the national level. It included a socio-demographic, health and dietary questionnaires, anthropometric measurements, and thick and thin blood smears to determine the <it>Plasmodium </it>infection. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to determine risk factors for parasitaemia, taking into account the cluster design.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The overall prevalence of parasitemia was 50.9%; it was higher in rural (58.8%) compared to urban areas (44.0%, p = 0.06). Age was positively associated with parasitemia (p < 0.0001). In rural areas, risk factors included longer distance to health facilities (p = 0.01) and a low proportion of households with access to protected water in the community (p = 0.02). Having had an episode of cough in the 15 days prior to the survey was inversely related to parasitemia (p = 0.04). In urban areas, the risk factors were stunting (p = 0.005), not having taken colostrum (p = 0.01), and that someone in the household slept under a bed net (p = 0.002); maternal antimalarial medication intake during pregnancy (p = 0.003) and the household socio-economic status (p = 0.0002) were negatively associated with parasitemia. Only 55% of children with fever were taken outside their homes for care, and treatment seeking behaviour differed substantially between rural and urban populations.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Results suggest that a national programme to fight malaria in Equatorial Guinea should take into account the differences between rural and urban communities in relation to risk factors for parasitaemia and treatment seeking behaviour, integrate nutrition programmes, incorporate campaigns on the importance of early treatment, and target appropriately for bed nets to reach the under-fives.</p

Genome wide linkage study, using a 250K SNP map, of Plasmodium falciparum infection and mild malaria attack in a Senegalese population

Multiple factors are involved in the variability of host's response to P. falciparum infection, like the intensity and seasonality of malaria transmission, the virulence of parasite and host characteristics like age or genetic make-up. Although admitted nowadays, the involvement of host genetic factors remains unclear. Discordant results exist, even concerning the best-known malaria resistance genes that determine the structure or function of red blood cells. Here we report on a genomewide linkage and association study for P. falciparum infection intensity and mild malaria attack among a Senegalese population of children and young adults from 2 to 18 years old. A high density single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) genome scan (Affimetrix GeneChip Human Mapping 250K-nsp) was performed for 626 individuals: i.e. 249 parents and 377 children out of the 504 ones included in the follow-up. The population belongs to a unique ethnic group and was closely followed-up during 3 years. Genome-wide linkage analyses were performed on four clinical and parasitological phenotypes and association analyses using the family based association tests (FBAT) method were carried out in regions previously linked to malaria phenotypes in literature and in the regions for which we identified a linkage peak. Analyses revealed three strongly suggestive evidences for linkage: between mild malaria attack and both the 6p25.1 and the 12q22 regions (empirical p-value = 5 x 10(-5) and 96 x 10(-5) respectively), and between the 20p11q11 region and the prevalence of parasite density in asymptomatic children (empirical p-value = 1.5 x 10(-4)). Family based association analysis pointed out one significant association between the intensity of plasmodial infection and a polymorphism located in ARHGAP26 gene in the 5q31-q33 region (p-value = 3.7 x 10(-5)). This study identified three candidate regions, two of them containing genes that could point out new pathways implicated in the response to malaria infection. Furthermore, we detected one gene associated with malaria infection in the 5q31-q33 region

Detecting Foci of Malaria Transmission with School Surveys: A Pilot Study in the Gambia.

BACKGROUND: In areas of declining malaria transmission such as in The Gambia, the identification of malaria infected individuals becomes increasingly harder. School surveys may be used to identify foci of malaria transmission in the community. METHODS: The survey was carried out in May-June 2011, before the beginning of the malaria transmission season. Thirty two schools in the Upper River Region of The Gambia were selected with probability proportional to size; in each school approximately 100 children were randomly chosen for inclusion in the study. Each child had a finger prick blood sample collected for the determination of antimalarial antibodies by ELISA, malaria infection by microscopy and PCR, and for haemoglobin measurement. In addition, a simple questionnaire on socio-demographic variables and the use of insecticide-treated bed nets was completed. The cut-off for positivity for antimalarial antibodies was obtained using finite mixture models. The clustered nature of the data was taken into account in the analyses. RESULTS: A total of 3,277 children were included in the survey. The mean age was 10 years (SD = 2.7) [range 4-21], with males and females evenly distributed. The prevalence of malaria infection as determined by PCR was 13.6% (426/3124) [95% CI = 12.2-16.3] with marked variation between schools (range 3-25%, p<0.001), while the seroprevalence was 7.8% (234/2994) [95%CI = 6.4-9.8] for MSP119, 11.6% (364/2997) [95%CI = 9.4-14.5] for MSP2, and 20.0% (593/2973) [95% CI = 16.5-23.2) for AMA1. The prevalence of all the three antimalarial antibodies positive was 2.7% (79/2920). CONCLUSIONS: This survey shows that malaria prevalence and seroprevalence before the transmission season were highly heterogeneous