Child education and work choices in the presence of a conditional cash transfer programme in rural Colombia

This research is part of a large evaluation effort, undertaken by a consortium formed by IFS, Econometria and SEI, which has considered the effects of Familias en Accion on a variety of outcomes one year after its implementation. In early reports, we focussed on the effects of the programme on school enrolment. In this paper, we both expand those results, by carefully analysing anticipation effects along with other issues, and complement them with an analysis of child labour - both paid and unpaid (including domestic) work. The child labour analysis is made possible due to a rich time use module of the surveys that has not previously been analysed. We find that the programme increased the school participation rates of 14 to 17 year old children quite substantially, by between 5 and 7 percentage points, and had lower, but non-negligible effects on the enrolment of younger children of between 1.4 and 2.4 percentage points. In terms of work, the effects are generally largest for younger children whose participation in domestic work decreased by around 10 to 12 percentage points after the programme but whose participation in income-generating work remained largely unaffected by the programme. We also find evidence of school and work time not being fully substitutable, suggesting that some, but not all, of the increased time at school may be drawn from children's leisure time

Risk Classification of Bladder Cancer by Gene Expression and Molecular Subtype

This study evaluated a panel including the molecular taxonomy subtype and the expression of 27 genes as a diagnostic tool to stratify bladder cancer patients at risk of aggressive behavior, using a well-characterized series of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) as well as muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). The study was conducted using the novel NanoString nCounter gene expression analysis. This technology allowed us to identify the molecular subtype and to analyze the gene expression of 27 bladder-cancer-related genes selected through a recent literature search. The differential gene expression was correlated with clinicopathological variables, such as the molecular subtypes (luminal, basal, null/double negative), histological subtype (conventional urothelial carcinoma, or carcinoma with variant histology), clinical subtype (NMIBC and MIBC), tumor stage category (Ta, T1, and T2–4), tumor grade, PD-L1 expression (high vs. low expression), and clinical risk categories (low, intermediate, high and very high). The multivariate analysis of the 19 genes significant for cancer-specific survival in our cohort study series identified TP53 (p = 0.0001), CCND1 (p = 0.0001), MKI67 (p < 0.0001), and molecular subtype (p = 0.005) as independent predictors. A scoring system based on the molecular subtype and the gene expression signature of TP53, CCND1, or MKI67 was used for risk assessment. A score ranging from 0 (best prognosis) to 7 (worst prognosis) was obtained and used to stratify our patients into two (low [score 0–2] vs. high [score 3–7], model A) or three (low [score 0–2] vs. intermediate [score 3–4] vs. high [score 5–7], model B) risk categories with different survival characteristics. Mean cancer-specific survival was longer (122 + 2.7 months) in low-risk than intermediate-risk (79.4 + 9.4 months) or high-risk (6.2 + 0.9 months) categories (p < 0.0001; model A); and was longer (122 + 2.7 months) in low-risk than high-risk (58 + 8.3 months) (p < 0.0001; model B). In conclusion, the molecular risk assessment model, as reported here, might be used better to select the appropriate management for patients with bladder cancer

Gene deficiency in activating Fcγ receptors influences the macrophage phenotypic balance and reduces atherosclerosis in mice

Immunity contributes to arterial inflammation during atherosclerosis. Oxidized low-density lipoproteins induce an autoimmune response characterized by specific antibodies and immune complexes in atherosclerotic patients. We hypothesize that specific Fcγ receptors for IgG constant region participate in atherogenesis by regulating the inflammatory state of lesional macrophages. In vivo we examined the role of activating Fcγ receptors in atherosclerosis progression using bone marrow transplantation from mice deficient in γ-chain (the common signaling subunit of activating Fcγ receptors) to hyperlipidemic mice. Hematopoietic deficiency of Fcγ receptors significantly reduced atherosclerotic lesion size, which was associated with decreased number of macrophages and T lymphocytes, and increased T regulatory cell function. Lesions of Fcγ receptor deficient mice exhibited increased plaque stability, as evidenced by higher collagen and smooth muscle cell content and decreased apoptosis. These effects were independent of changes in serum lipids and antibody response to oxidized low-density lipoproteins. Activating Fcγ receptor deficiency reduced pro-inflammatory gene expression, nuclear factor-κB activity, and M1 macrophages at the lesion site, while increasing anti-inflammatory genes and M2 macrophages. The decreased inflammation in the lesions was mirrored by a reduced number of classical inflammatory monocytes in blood. In vitro, lack of activating Fcγ receptors attenuated foam cell formation, oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory gene expression, and increased M2-associated genes in murine macrophages. Our study demonstrates that activating Fcγ receptors influence the macrophage phenotypic balance in the artery wall of atherosclerotic mice and suggests that modulation of Fcγ receptor-mediated inflammatory responses could effectively suppress atherosclerosis

High intensity interval training exercise-induced physiological changes and their potential influence on metabolic syndrome clinical biomarkers: a meta-analysis

Abstract: Background: Despite the current debate about the effects of high intensity interval training (HIIT), HIIT elicits big morpho-physiological benefit on Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) treatment. However, no review or meta-analysis has compared the effects of HIIT to non-exercising controls in MetS variables. The aim of this study was to determine through a systematic review, the effectiveness of HIIT on MetS clinical variables in adults. Methods: Studies had to be randomised controlled trials, lasting at least 3 weeks, and compare the effects of HIIT on at least one of the MetS clinical variables [fasting blood glucose (BG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) triglyceride (TG), systolic (SBP) or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and waist circumference (WC)] compared to a control group. The methodological quality of the studies selected was evaluated using the PEDro scale. Results: Ten articles fulfilled the selection criteria, with a mean quality score on the PEDro scale of 6.7. Compared with controls, HIIT groups showed significant and relevant reductions in BG (− 0.11 mmol/L), SBP (− 4.44 mmHg), DBP (− 3.60 mmHg), and WC (− 2.26 cm). Otherwise, a slight increase was observed in HDL-C (+ 0.02 mmol/L). HIIT did not produce any significant changes in TG (− 1.29 mmol/L). Conclusions: HIIT improves certain clinical aspects in people with MetS (BG, SBP, DBP and WC) compared to people with MetS who do not perform physical exercise. Plausible physiological changes of HIIT interventions might be related with large skeletal muscle mass implication, improvements in the vasomotor control, better baroreflex control, reduction of the total peripheral resistance, increases in excess post-exercise oxygen consumption, and changes in appetite and satiety mechanisms

Crosslinked electrospun zein-based food packaging coatings containing bioactive chilto fruit extracts

peer-reviewedIn this work, zein fibers loaded with phenolic-enriched extracts from pulp, seed and skin of orange chilto were collected on polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) films through the electrospinning technique, for their potential use as bioactive internal coatings for food packaging applications. The zein fibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The water stability of the zein fibers was improved by crosslinking with glutaraldehyde vapors. The encapsulation efficiency of all bioactive phenolic-enriched extracts was greater than 90%. Encapsulation in the zein fibers improved the thermostability of the extracts. Two food simulants (50% ethanol and 3% acetic acid) were used to evaluate the release of the extracts from the crosslinked zein fibers. It was observed that crosslinking delayed the release of phenolic compounds (rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid and its derivates) in both solvents (80% released after 7 days of contact in 50% ethanol and 23 days in 3% acetic acid) and their antioxidant properties were kept. Therefore, this work demonstrates the potential of the developed zein-based encapsulation structures containing chilto extracts to be applied as antioxidant coatings in food packaging structures to contribute to the preservation of both hydrophilic and lipophilic food products

Families of superintegrable Hamiltonians constructed from exceptional polynomials

We introduce a family of exactly-solvable two-dimensional Hamiltonians whose wave functions are given in terms of Laguerre and exceptional Jacobi polynomials. The Hamiltonians contain purely quantum terms which vanish in the classical limit leaving only a previously known family of superintegrable systems. Additional, higher-order integrals of motion are constructed from ladder operators for the considered orthogonal polynomials proving the quantum system to be superintegrable

Percentile values of the standing broad jump in children and adolescents aged 6-18 years old

The standing broad jump (SBJ) is a valid, reliable and feasible field-based test, which can evaluate explosive strength of the lower limbs and physical fitness. This study aimed to provide normative data for the SBJ for male and female children and adolescents and describe differences in performance between age groups and genders. A total number of 2140 children and adolescents, sampled in seven European nations have been included for analysis. The SBJ was performed to derive percentile values for gender and each age group. In general, males have greater jumping performance compared to females. Data demonstrate a linear increase in the jumping distance for both males and females until adolescence. However, such increase is evident in males up to 16-17 years old, whereas in females a plateau value is met at 12-13 years old, with a subsequent decrease in the jumping performance. No differences were present in jumping performance between male and female children, however differences between male and female adolescents were evinced. The study has provided percentile values useful to monitor the physical fitness status of children and adolescents

Ocurrencia de cestodos anormales: hallazgo de Taenia multiceps trirradiado

Three atypical cestodes with abnormal morphology were found in a domestic dog. The cestodes had a scolex with six suction cups and a triradiate strobila. All parasites were gravid cestodes. In addition, the dog was infested with 324 normal cestodes. Both cestodes (normal and abnormal) were morphologically and molecularly identified as Taenia multiceps. The sequences of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene of the triradiate cestode and normal cestodes were identical to each other and had more than 99% similarity with other published and recorded sequences for T. multiceps. These findings represent the first record of atypical cestodes and massive cestode infestation by T. multiceps in a dog from Peru.Tres cestodos atípicos con morfología anormal fueron hallados en un perro doméstico. Los cestodos tenían un escólex con seis ventosas y un estróbilo trirradiado. Todos los parásitos fueron cestodos grávidos. Además, el perro estaba infestado con 324 cestodos normales. Ambos cestodos (normales y anormales) fueron morfológica y molecularmente identificados como Taenia multiceps. Las secuencias del gen citocromo c oxidasa subunidad 1 del cestodo trirradiado y de los cestodos normales eran idénticas entre sí, y tenían más de 99% de similitud con otras secuencias publicadas y registradas para T. multiceps. Estos hallazgos representan el primer registro de cestodos atípicos e infestación masiva de cestodos por T. multiceps en un perro de Perú

A variational approach to strongly damped wave equations

We discuss a Hilbert space method that allows to prove analytical well-posedness of a class of linear strongly damped wave equations. The main technical tool is a perturbation lemma for sesquilinear forms, which seems to be new. In most common linear cases we can furthermore apply a recent result due to Crouzeix--Haase, thus extending several known results and obtaining optimal analyticity angle.Comment: This is an extended version of an article appeared in \emph{Functional Analysis and Evolution Equations -- The G\"unter Lumer Volume}, edited by H. Amann et al., Birkh\"auser, Basel, 2008. In the latest submission to arXiv only some typos have been fixe