Thermal Inactivation of Bacillus anthracis Spores Using Rapid Resistive Heating

Bacillus anthracis (B.a.) is the causative agent of anthrax. B.a. spores pose a threat because have been used as a bioweapon throughout history and can survive harsh conditions for prolonged periods of time. Rapid resistive heating was used for the thermal inactivation of spores in order to determine B.a. spore viability, to include partial and complete thermal inactivation. This microbiological study sought to obtain a correlation between exposure time, temperature, and spore viability. This information is invaluable when modeling employment effects for agent defeat weapons to destroy B.a. stockpiles through thermal inactivation. Partial and complete thermal inactivation of the spores were found using rapid resistive heating at short duration exposure times from 0.258 to 7 seconds and temperatures ranging from 73.5 to 888C. Power supply pulses were created by applying varying voltages ranging from 9 to 200 Volts for 12 separate power supply input times ranging from 0.1 to 10 seconds. Higher temperatures were needed to thermally inactivate the B.a. spores as exposure times decreased

Collaboration Versus Cheating

We outline how we detected programming plagiarism in an introductory online course for a master's of science in computer science program, how we achieved a statistically significant reduction in programming plagiarism by combining a clear explanation of university and class policy on academic honesty reinforced with a short but formal assessment, and how we evaluated plagiarism rates before SIGand after implementing our policy and assessment.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure, 5 tables, SIGCSE 201

2b-RAD genotyping for population genomic studies of Chagas disease vectors: Rhodnius ecuadoriensis in Ecuador

Background: Rhodnius ecuadoriensis is the main triatomine vector of Chagas disease, American trypanosomiasis, in Southern Ecuador and Northern Peru. Genomic approaches and next generation sequencing technologies have become powerful tools for investigating population diversity and structure which is a key consideration for vector control. Here we assess the effectiveness of three different 2b restriction site-associated DNA (2b-RAD) genotyping strategies in R. ecuadoriensis to provide sufficient genomic resolution to tease apart microevolutionary processes and undertake some pilot population genomic analyses. Methodology/Principal findings: The 2b-RAD protocol was carried out in-house at a non-specialized laboratory using 20 R. ecuadoriensis adults collected from the central coast and southern Andean region of Ecuador, from June 2006 to July 2013. 2b-RAD sequencing data was performed on an Illumina MiSeq instrument and analyzed with the STACKS de novo pipeline for loci assembly and Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) discovery. Preliminary population genomic analyses (global AMOVA and Bayesian clustering) were implemented. Our results showed that the 2b-RAD genotyping protocol is effective for R. ecuadoriensis and likely for other triatomine species. However, only BcgI and CspCI restriction enzymes provided a number of markers suitable for population genomic analysis at the read depth we generated. Our preliminary genomic analyses detected a signal of genetic structuring across the study area. Conclusions/Significance: Our findings suggest that 2b-RAD genotyping is both a cost effective and methodologically simple approach for generating high resolution genomic data for Chagas disease vectors with the power to distinguish between different vector populations at epidemiologically relevant scales. As such, 2b-RAD represents a powerful tool in the hands of medical entomologists with limited access to specialized molecular biological equipment. Author summary: Understanding Chagas disease vector (triatomine) population dispersal is key for the design of control measures tailored for the epidemiological situation of a particular region. In Ecuador, Rhodnius ecuadoriensis is a cause of concern for Chagas disease transmission, since it is widely distributed from the central coast to southern Ecuador. Here, a genome-wide sequencing (2b-RAD) approach was performed in 20 specimens from four communities from Manabí (central coast) and Loja (southern) provinces of Ecuador, and the effectiveness of three type IIB restriction enzymes was assessed. The findings of this study show that this genotyping methodology is cost effective in R. ecuadoriensis and likely in other triatomine species. In addition, preliminary population genomic analysis results detected a signal of population structure among geographically distinct communities and genetic variability within communities. As such, 2b-RAD shows significant promise as a relatively low-tech solution for determination of vector population genomics, dynamics, and spread

Regional Variations in Physical Fitness and Activity in Healthy and Overweight Ecuadorian Adolescents

Background: Insufficient physical activity (PA) and excessive sedentary behavior (SB) are the main contributors to adolescent obesity. However, it is uncertain whether recent economic growth and urbanization in Ecuador are contributing to an obesogenic environment. This study assessed the relationships among fitness, PA, SB, and perceived social support for PA in adolescents from urban (Quito) and rural (Loja) Ecuador. Methods: Fitness was estimated using 3-min step test and PA and SB participation and social support for PA were self-reported in 407 adolescents. T-tests and analysis of variance assessed differences by sex, obesity status, and region of Ecuador. Pearson correlations assessed relationships among PA, SB, fitness, and social support. Results: Males and rural adolescents (48.3 ± 9.4 and 47.1 ± 9.6 mL/kg/min) were more fit than females and urban adolescents (41.1 ± 7.5 and 39.7 ± 6.1 mL/kg/min). Fitness was negatively correlated with obesity only in rural Ecuador. Few adolescents reported ≥60 min/day of PA (8.4%) or ≤2 h/day of SB (30.2%), with greater SB participation in rural Ecuador. Weak correlations were observed among fitness, PA, SB, and parental/peer support for PA (r = −0.18 to 0.19; p \u3c 0.05). Conclusion: While fitness varied by sex, weight status, and region, SB participation and parent/peer support for PA, not PA participation itself, predicted fitness in rural Ecuadorean adolescents

La opinión de los reos sobre la justicia penal en México: explorando los efectos de la justicia procedimental

[ES] El objetivo de este trabajo es abordar un tema inexplorado hasta ahora: la justicia procedimental desde la visión de la población en reclusión en México. La intención es describir cuantitativamente la opinión de este grupo sobre los procedimientos que han experimentado, aspecto que puede ser muy interesante si se tiene en cuenta que estas personas han tenido un contacto directo con todas las instancias del proceso penal, a diferencia de la mayoría de la población que, por lo general, forma su opinión sin tener contacto con el sistema de justicia. Además del análisis descriptivo, se analiza la relación entre las experiencias de justicia procedimental de los internos con aspectos como la satisfacción con el sistema de justicia y la evaluación sobre la sentencia recibida. El análisis se realiza sobre datos de una encuesta aplicada a internos de centros de reclusión federal en México, en el año 2012. Los resultados muestran las variables y dimensiones de la justicia procedimental que más afectan la evaluación del sistema de justicia penal, con lo cual se realizan algunas sugerencias de política criminal dirigidas principalmente hacia los operadores del sistema de justicia

Ecological factors related to the widespread distribution of sylvatic Rhodnius ecuadoriensis populations in southern Ecuador

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Chagas disease transmission risk is a function of the presence of triatomines in domestic habitats. <it>Rhodnius ecuadoriensis </it>is one of the main vectors implicated in transmission of <it>Trypanosoma cruzi </it>in Ecuador. This triatomine species is present in domestic, peridomestic and sylvatic habitats in the country. To determine the distribution of sylvatic populations of <it>R. ecuadoriensis </it>and the factors related to this distribution, triatomine searches were conducted between 2005 and 2009 in southern Ecuador.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Manual triatomine searches were conducted by skilled bug collectors in 23 communities. Sylvatic searched sites were selected by a) directed sampling, where microhabitats were selected by the searchers and b) random sampling, where sampling points where randomly generated. Domiciliary triatomine searches were conducted using the one man-hour method. Natural trypanosome infection was determined by microscopic examination and PCR. Generalized linear models were used to test the effect of environmental factors on the presence of sylvatic triatomines.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In total, 1,923 sylvatic individuals were collected representing a sampling effort of 751 man-hours. Collected sylvatic triatomines were associated with mammal and bird nests. The 1,219 sampled nests presented an infestation index of 11.9%, a crowding of 13 bugs per infested nest, and a colonization of 80% of the nests. Triatomine abundance was significantly higher in squirrel (<it>Sciurus stramineus</it>) nests located above five meters from ground level and close to the houses. In addition, 8.5% of the 820 examined houses in the same localities were infested with triatomines. There was a significant correlation between <it>R. ecuadoriensis </it>infestation rates found in sylvatic and synanthropic environments within communities (<it>p </it>= 0.012). Parasitological analysis revealed that 64.7% and 15.7% of the sylvatic bugs examined (n = 300) were infected with <it>Trypanosoma cruzi </it>and <it>T. rangeli </it>respectively, and 8% of the bugs presented mixed infections.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The wide distribution of sylvatic <it>R. ecuadoriensis </it>populations may jeopardize the effectiveness of control campaigns conducted to eliminate domestic populations of this species. Also, the high <it>T. cruzi </it>infection rates found in sylvatic <it>R. ecuadoriensis </it>populations in southern Ecuador could constitute a risk for house re-infestation and persistent long-term Chagas disease transmission in the region.</p

TAMAÑO Y COMPOSICIÓN CORPORAL EN NIÑOS MEXICANOS II. EL USO DEL ÍNDICE DE MASA CORPORAL PARA LA EDAD EN LA EVALUACIÓN DEL SOBREPESO

Las relaciones entre el IMC y el porcentaje de grasa corporal difieren entre las poblaciones. Las diferencias geográficas y socioeconómicas entre las regiones de México pueden afectar a la composición corporal y el IMC no puede determinar la verdadera relación entre la masa corporal libre de grasa y de grasa. Se argumenta que las referencias de índice de masa corporal Internacional no son convenientes para ser aplicado a nivel epidemiológico nacional. Esta revisión discute el uso del índice de masa corporal para la edad en niños mexicanos. Abstract Relations between BMI and percent of body fat differ across populations. The geographical and socioeconomic differences among regions of Mexico may affect body composition and BMI cannot determine the true relation between body fat and fat free mass. It is argued that the International BMI references are not convenient to be applied a national epidemiological level. This review discusses the use of body mass index for age in Mexican children.  Palabras claves: indice de masa corporal , datos referenciales, composición corporal, sobrepeso, niños mexicano

Improvement of milk production systems on the Andean ecoregion of Ecuador

Dairying constitutes one method of land utilization in the Andean Ecoregion of Ecuador and is of value to promote the development of agriculture and cattle production. It possesses the characteristics of being efficient on a commercial scale, is owned by small-farm producers and generates a product with growing demand in modern society. Also, this activity is frequently performed on land which has limitations for other uses, particularly for growing annual crops, and in this way contributes directly to soil conservation since there is less risk of erosion of land covered by pasture herbage. This research seeks to contribute to the improvement of the income level of peasant communities of the Andean Ecoregion of Ecuador, by implementing options for animal production of minimum cost and risk of environmental impact. The project was carried out between January 1998 and December 2001 and encompassed the following activities: a) identification of restrictions on the systems, and technological innovations of low cost and risk; b) experimentation – validation of technological options; and c) training of technicians and producers and interinstitutional cooperation. The results obtained included average increases of 27% in milk production and 40% in net benefits due to the technological changes; and the area of improved pastures increased by 25%. The stocking rate went as high as 3.6 BAU/ha and daily weight gain of replacement animals as high as 0.7 kg. Additionally, the creation of modules for animal production in combination with multi-purpose trees and shrubs, based on minimum tillage practices for soil conservation, was stimulated

Collaborative tools for systematic revisions

En una Revisión Sistemática (RS), se sintetiza y analiza la información recopilada de diversas fuentes, siguiendo un proceso o protocolo. El objetivo de la investigación fue describir cómo las diferentes herramientas de software, utilizadas por los investigadores, se adaptan al protocolo para una revisión sistemática y cómo apoyan al trabajo colaborativo. Se realizó una búsqueda de las principales herramientas, analizando sus características y cumplimiento al protocolo, evaluando el trabajo colaborativo de RevMan que cumplió con el protocolo completo de RS.The objective of the Systematic Review (RS) is to synthesize the information gathered from different sources, organize it and validate it to optimize time. This article seeks to describe how different software tools support the research process, how they adapt to the protocol for carrying out systematic reviews, and how they contribute to collaborative work. An exhaustive research about the main tools was made, analyzing each of their characteristics and protocol compliance, evaluating Revman collaborative work, which fulfilled RS’s complete protocol.Facultad de Informátic