Cytotoxicity and recognition of receptor-like protein tyrosine phosphatases, RPTPa and RPTPb, by Helicobacter pylori m2VacA

長崎大学学位論文 学位記番号:博(医)乙第1,749号 学位授与年月日:平成18年1月31

Chagas Disease in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

American trypanosomiasis or Chagas disease is caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, which affects a wide variety of hosts including the man, until now treatment options or vaccines developed are not enough to control or prevent infected cases. The main way of transmission is vectorial, through insects of the Reduviidae family, as well by congenital transmission, blood/organ transplants or oral transmission. Chagas disease are considered as endemic in many areas due to the presence and lack of control of insect vectors. Many touristic places in Latin America are located in endemic areas; however, there is a nonexistence of knowledge by touristic service providers about the theme. For that reason, there is a latent risk that tourists who come to vacation in endemic areas are exposed get the infection. The risk factors are well identified, and this allows that well-defined prevention strategies can be established in order to avoid the presentation of cases in visitors to the tourist zones. This chapter aimed to describe the situation of Chagas disease in touristic areas of the Caribbean of America Latina as and to provide a brief review of information that allows visitors to know about the epidemiology and potential risks of this infection

Seroprevalencia y factores de riesgos asociados a Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis en bovinos de Villavicencio, Colombia

The study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence and risk factors for Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in Villavicencio, Colombia. Blood samples were taken from 1000 dual-purpose cattle in 24 farms. The diagnosis was done by indirect ELISA for the detection of antibodies. Risk factors were determined using univariate and multivariate tests. The overall seroprevalence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis was 52.4% and that of the herd was 100%. Female sex, animals older than 4 years, and sale of animals were identified as risk factors. The zebu breed was considered as a protection factor.El estudio tuvo como objetivo estimar la seroprevalencia y factores de riesgo para Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis en Villavicencio, Colombia. Se tomaron muestras de sangre a 1000 bovinos de doble propósito en 24 fincas. El diagnóstico se realizó mediante ELISA indirecta para la detección de anticuerpos. Los factores de riesgo fueron determinados mediante pruebas univariadas y multivariadas. La seroprevalencia general de Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis fue 52.4% y la del hato de 100%. Se identificaron como factores de riesgo el sexo hembra, animales mayores de 4 años, y venta de animales. La raza cebú fue considerado como factor de protección

In search of sustainable livestock management in the Dry Chaco: effect of different shrub-removal practices on vegetation

Increasing shrub density hinders cattle raising in central Argentina rangelands. While roller- chopping and hand-cutting are used to remove shrubs and make land accessible for cattle grazing, studies on the effects of these practices on ecosystem composition, structure and functioning are scarce. We assessed the impact of shrub removal on (a) vegetation cover, composition, species richness and diversity and (b) green biomass and seasonal phenological dynamics. We used a randomised design with three treatments (degraded rangeland; roller-chopping and hand-cutting) with four replicates, and compared the treatments with the least disturbed woodland (conserved woodland). Cenchrus ciliaris L. was sown following removal treatments and grass cover increased significantly (45% roller-chopping and 84% hand-cutting vs 27% degraded rangeland, and 13% conserved woodland), and tree cover decreased (3% roller-chopping and 2% hand-cutting vs 16% degraded rangeland, and 23% conserved woodland). Shrub cover reached 45% under roller- chopping, similar to the degraded rangeland treatment (46% degraded rangeland, 60% conserved woodland), but in hand-cutting reached only 3% cover. Hand-cutting reduced species richness and vegetation diversity, whereas roller-chopping had no effect. Shrub-removal treatments decreased normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI; proxy of green biomass) and modified ecosystem phenology. Under both shrub treatments, the maximum, minimum and integral NDVI (area under the NDVI curve) were significantly lower than those of the degraded rangeland treatment. The results suggest that shrub-removal practices increase forage for livestock, but reduce functional diversity and compromise the return to less disturbed states (woodland), where tree populations are maintained.EEA La RiojaFil: Guzman, Luis Miguel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria La Rioja; ArgentinaFil: Villagra, Pablo Eugenio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET). Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales (IANIGLA); ArgentinaFil: Villagra, Pablo Eugenio. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales (IANIGLA); ArgentinaFil: Quiroga, Raul Emiliano. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Catamarca; ArgentinaFil: Pereyra, Diego Ivan. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria La Rioja; ArgentinaFil: Pelliza, Ernesto Martin. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria La Rioja; ArgentinaFil: Ricarte, Ramon Armando. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria La Rioja; ArgentinaFil: Blanco, Lisandro Javier. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria La Rioja; Argentin

Enhancing Sustainable Mobility: Multi-Criteria Analysis for Electric Vehicle Integration and Policy Implementation

In contemporary times, regulations have been established to govern access and integration of electric vehicles, which hold immense potential in mitigating the adverse impacts of transportation arising from escalating mobility demands and rapid urbanization. Nevertheless, their implementation poses intricate challenges due to the multifaceted nature of sustainability and other complexities, as they are considered a prospective solution to address the pressing issue of climate change and achieve holistic sustainability.  Moreover, this study elucidates the methodological approach employed for selecting a comprehensive set of criteria to be considered in energy planning initiatives involving the incorporation of electric vehicles, encompassing both renewable and conventional energy sources. The selection process was informed through a thorough review of existing literature and the insightful input from experts, utilizing the Likert scale and arithmetic mean as reference benchmarks. The outcomes of this research have yielded the identification of 27 sub-criteria, categorized into five distinct groups: technical, economic, social, environmental, and risk-related factors, thereby enabling a comprehensive evaluation of energy planning projects associated with the adoption of electric vehicles. The findings derived from employing the hierarchical analytical process with fuzzy logic FAHP highlight the considerable potential of most criteria and sub-criteria in devising effective measures. Notably, criteria related to policy-governance and environmental aspects emerged as the most influential, according to the collective expertise of the consulted group. This study significantly contributes to enhancing sustainable mobility and advancing progress towards attaining sustainable development goals. By delineating pertinent criteria and sub-criteria for the planning process, this research augments the literature dedicated to supporting informed decision-making in sustainable transportation, particularly through the potential application of a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) method

Airborne particulate matter PM2.5 from Mexico City affects the generation of reactive oxygen species by blood neutrophils from asthmatics: an in vitro approach

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Mexico City Metropolitan Area is densely populated, and toxic air pollutants are generated and concentrated at a higher rate because of its geographic characteristics. It is well known that exposure to particulate matter, especially to fine and ultra-fine particles, enhances the risk of cardio-respiratory diseases, especially in populations susceptible to oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of fine particles on the respiratory burst of circulating neutrophils from asthmatic patients living in Mexico City.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In total, 6 subjects diagnosed with mild asthma and 11 healthy volunteers were asked to participate. Neutrophils were isolated from peripheral venous blood and incubated with fine particles, and the generation of reactive oxygen species was recorded by chemiluminescence. We also measured plasma lipoperoxidation susceptibility and plasma myeloperoxidase and paraoxonase activities by spectrophotometry.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Asthmatic patients showed significantly lower plasma paraoxonase activity, higher susceptibility to plasma lipoperoxidation and an increase in myeloperoxidase activity that differed significantly from the control group. In the presence of fine particles, neutrophils from asthmatic patients showed an increased tendency to generate reactive oxygen species after stimulation with fine particles (PM_2.5).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These findings suggest that asthmatic patients have higher oxidation of plasmatic lipids due to reduced antioxidant defense. Furthermore, fine particles tended to increase the respiratory burst of blood human neutrophils from the asthmatic group.</p> <p>On the whole, increased myeloperoxidase activity and susceptibility to lipoperoxidation with a concomitant decrease in paraoxonase activity in asthmatic patients could favor lung infection and hence disrupt the control of asthmatic crises.</p

A 5LCHB Inverter for PV transformerless applications with reduced leakage ground current

Transformerless inverters for photovoltaic systems are widely used as it features low cost, volume, and weight. Thus, in recent years, its study has been of great interest to the research community. In this paper a transformerless cascade multilevel inverter for photovoltaic applications with leakage ground current compensation capability is presented. The proposed solution involves a second-order LC output filter with a particular connection, which is referred to as the DC-link-tied LC output filter. This solution is aimed to deal with the leakage-ground current issue, regardless of the considered PWM strategy. The mathematical model of the system involving such a particular LC output passive filter configuration is presented, out of which, both the differential-mode and the common-mode models are obtained. These models are used to explain the leakage-ground current improvement of the proposed DC-link-tied LC output filter. This hardware solution is evaluated under different modulation schemes to contrast the converter output response and the leakage-ground current performance. Finally, simulation and experimental results are performed using a 1 kW academic prototype to assess the performance of the proposed DC-link-tied LC output filter used in a transformerless inverter application.Peer ReviewedObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::7 - Energia Assequible i No ContaminantObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::11 - Ciutats i Comunitats SosteniblesPostprint (published version

Epidemiology of Candidemia in Latin America: A Laboratory-Based Survey

Background: the epidemiology of candidemia varies depending on the geographic region. Little is known about the epidemiology of candidemia in Latin America.Methods: We conducted a 24-month laboratory-based survey of candidemia in 20 centers of seven Latin American countries. Incidence rates were calculated and the epidemiology of candidemia was characterized.Results: Among 672 episodes of candidemia, 297 (44.2%) occurred in children (23.7% younger than 1 year), 36.2% in adults between 19 and 60 years old and 19.6% in elderly patients. the overall incidence was 1.18 cases per 1,000 admissions, and varied across countries, with the highest incidence in Colombia and the lowest in Chile. Candida albicans (37.6%), C. parapsilosis (26.5%) and C. tropicalis (17.6%) were the leading agents, with great variability in species distribution in the different countries. Most isolates were highly susceptible to fluconazole, voriconazole, amphotericin B and anidulafungin. Fluconazole was the most frequent agent used as primary treatment (65.8%), and the overall 30-day survival was 59.3%.Conclusions: This first large epidemiologic study of candidemia in Latin America showed a high incidence of candidemia, high percentage of children, typical species distribution, with C. albicans, C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis accounting for the majority of episodes, and low resistance rates.independent medical grant from Pfizer Inc.Univ Fed Rio de Janeiro, Univ Hosp, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilUniv Fed Parana, Hosp Clin, BR-80060000 Curitiba, Parana, BrazilHosp Escuela Tegucigalpa, Tegucigalpa, HondurasHosp Clin Jose San Martin, Buenos Aires, DF, ArgentinaUniv Nacl Colombia, Dept Internal Med, Bogota, ColombiaPontificia Univ Catolica Ecuador, Fac Med, Hosp Vozandes, Quito, EcuadorHosp Vargas de Caracas, Caracas, VenezuelaCtr Med Caracas, Caracas, VenezuelaUniv Chile, Fac Med, Dept Pediat, Hosp Luis Calvo Mackenna, Santiago 7, ChileUniv Desarrollo, Clin Alemana, Dept Med, Infect Dis Unit, Santiago, ChileInst Nacl Ciencias Med & Nutr Salvador Zubiran, Mexico City, DF, MexicoUniv Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Dept Med, Lima, PeruUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Div Infect Dis, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Div Infect Dis, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Long Beach Transit Strategic Sustainability Plan

Strategic Sustainability Plan for Long Beach Transit (LBT). This plan has been developed for LBT to respond to its sustainability objectives and complement its recent Strategic Plan. To prepare this plan, during the fall of 2018 and spring of 2019, the research team reviewed LBT documents, conducted research on selected topics, interviewed executive management, Board members and managers in the agency, as well as held a workshop with executives and management in the spring of 2019. LBT is a major public transit agency in the county of Los Angeles with over 23 million boardings during FY 2018, and over 800 employees. With a service area covering over 100 square miles, LBT provides fixed-route, paratransit, and water taxi services. It has two major operating facilities in the city of Long Beach, and a fleet of 249 buses. LBT is a city of Long Beach municipal public benefit corporation governed by a Board of Directors. LBT's President and CEO is Kenneth McDonald, who is supported by Deputy CEO Debra Johnson, and an executive and management team

Social Responsibility and University Teacher Training: Keys to Commitment and Social Justice into Schools

(1) Background: International crisis situations (social, economic, health and education) need solutions. These situations need high doses of social responsibility among the population. In the educational field, different studies express that training future teachers in “Social Responsibility”, from ethics and social commitment; provides social justice and welfare in citizens. (2) Methods: This study developed a quantitative methodology; non-experimental and descriptive type. The research sample was university students registered in the Education Sciences degrees of different Spanish universities. The statistical analysis has been carried out with the SPSS software version 25 for Windows. (3) Results: The results express that the competence for social responsibility should be established in the university environment through training (university studies) contributing to the increase in the degree of social responsibility of the university student to face the changes of society (socially committed professional). (4) Conclusion: Social responsibility and university training should be key in the theoretical-practical and professional exercise of future teachers, since the quality and improvement of education will be determined by the real promotion of social responsibility as a basic competence in the curriculum of future teachers