Designing an experimental HIV/HCV intervention to promote the safe re-use of drug preparation materials by injection drug users in Puerto Rico

Injection drug users (IDUs) in San Juan, Puerto Rico are characterized by high rates of daily injecting, injection of shared drugs, re-use of injection syringes, and use of shooting galleries. They lack adequate access to new injection syringes and drug preparation equipment, and experience elevated rates of HIV and HCV infection. Between April and August, 2006, researchers and active IDUs collaborated in the development of an experimental HIV/HCV intervention aimed at identifying drug preparation items and practices that will enable IDUs to make drug solutions without potentially contaminated injection syringes contacting materials used to prepare drugs. The collaboration involved discussing and testing a variety of drug preparation items and practices in office and community settings. The process was repeated until concerns that had been raised were resolved, and a tentative set of intervention items and practices to be evaluated in a community field trial was identified. Throughout, a strong emphasis was placed on the capacity of an item or practice to address common problems confronted by IDUs (blunted needles, clogged syringes, injected particles) in addition to the core aim of reducing contamination of preparation materials by blood in injection syringes

A Mainly Circum-Mediterranean Origin for West Eurasian and North African mtDNAs in Puerto Rico with Strong Contributions from the Canary Islands and West Africa

Maternal lineages of West Eurasian and North African origin account for 11.5% of total mitochondrial ancestry in Puerto Rico. Historical sources suggest that this ancestry arrived mostly from European migrations that took place during the four centuries of the Spanish colonization of Puerto Rico. This study analyzed 101 mitochondrial control region sequences and diagnostic coding region variants from a sample set randomly and systematically selected using a census-based sampling frame to be representative of the Puerto Rican population, with the goal of defining West Eurasian-North African maternal clades and estimating their possible geographical origin. Median-joining haplotype networks were constructed using HVR-I and –II sequences from various reference populations in search of shared haplotypes. A posterior probability analysis was performed to estimate the percentage of possible origins across wide geographic regions for the entire sample set and for the most common haplogroups on the island. Principal component analyses were conducted to place the Puerto Rican mtDNA set within the variation present amongst all reference populations. Our study shows that up to 38% of West Eurasian and North African mitochondrial ancestry in Puerto Rico most likely migrated from the Canary Islands. However, most of those haplotypes had previously migrated to the Canary Islands from elsewhere, and there are substantial contributions from various populations across the circum-Mediterranean region and from West African populations related to the modern Wolof and Serer peoples from Senegal and the nomad Fulani who extend up to Cameroon. In conclusion, the West Eurasian mitochondrial ancestry in Puerto Ricans is geographically diverse. However, haplotype diversity seems to be low and frequencies have been shaped by population bottlenecks, migration waves, and random genetic drift. Consequently, approximately 47% of mtDNAs of West Eurasian and North African ancestry in Puerto Rico probably arrived early in its colonial history

Development of Method for Synthesis of Pt–Co Cathode Catalysts for PEM Fuel Cells

A procedure was developed to synthesize a platinum–cobalt (Pt–Co) alloy electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction using Co/C composite as a support. The Pt–Co/C catalysts were synthesized through: (i) chemical oxidation of carbon black, (ii) Co deposition on the oxidized carbon using a chelation method, (iii) chemical treatment in an acidic medium to remove excess of Co on the carbon surface, (iv) Pt deposition onto the Co/C support, and (v) postheat treatment to form the Pt–Co alloy catalyst. The synthesized Pt–Co/C catalyst showed improved activity and long-term stability in polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells when compared with a conventional Pt–Co/C catalyst. The electron probe microanalysis combined with scanning electron microscopy indicated that the Co content in the alloy catalyst remains stable without poisoning of the electrolyte membrane during long-term operation

Hepatitis-C Multimedia Prevention Program in Poor Hispanic HIV-Infected Injecting drug users: Six Months after Intervention

In order to prevent the spread of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) amongst Hispanic injecting drug users (IDUs), we developed, validated, and implemented a multimedia educational intervention program

Infrared thermography as a tool for the detection of sub-clinical mastitis in bovine dairy cattle

Se evaluó la termografía infrarroja (TIR) como herramienta de detección de mastitis sub-clínica durante el proceso del ordeño en muestras de leche (TIRM) y en tubos cortos de la unidad de ordeño (TIRT). Durante el pre-ordeño, se colectaron muestras asépticas de leche para determinar el recuento de células somáticas (RCS) y bacteriología, seguido por TIRM (n=127). Durante el ordeño, la temperatura real de la leche (TRL) y TIRT (n=129) fueron registradas a intervalos de 30s. Se determinó la TRL en los tubos cortos y muestras de leche durante la colección de datos de TIRT y TIRM usando termómetros de sonda, para establecer su asociación con TIR. La determinación de la asociación entre la TIR y el grado de mastitis por cuarto empleó la categorización según su RCS (103cél.ml-1) en bajo (≤ 200), intermedio (>200≤750) y alto (>750). También se determinó la temperatura ambiental (TA), humedad relativa y temperatura rectal de los animales. Resultados bacteriológicos fueron agrupados por familia-Gram para análisis posterior. No se encontraron diferencias en TIR según los diferentes niveles del RCS (P>0.05). Sin embargo, la TIRT tendió a ser mayor (P=0.0579) en muestras donde se aislaron bacterias Gram-negativas y Gram-positivas relativo a muestras carentes de crecimiento bacteriano. En conclusión, la utilidad de TIRM y TIRT como herramienta de diagnóstico de mastitis subclínica fue limitada. Atribuible entre otros factores, a variaciones diurnas de TA durante el ordeño [e.g., r=0.69 (P<0.0001) entre TIRT y hora de ordeño]. Estudios futuros deberán caracterizar mejor la asociación entre la TIR y patógenos mastíticos.Infrared thermography (IRT) was evaluated as a means of detecting sub-clinical mastitis during the milking process, in milk samples (IRTMS) and in the short milking tubes (IRTST). During pre-milking, aseptic milk samples were collected for bacteriological and somatic cell count (SCC) analysis followed by IRTMS (n=127). During milking, data on the real temperature of the milk (RTM) and IRTST (n=129 quarters) were recorded at 30 s intervals. The RTM of the short tube and milk samples were measured with thermometer probes and used to study the association of the variables with IRT. To describe the relationship between TIR and the sensitivity of mastitis in individual mammary quarters, a scheme of classification by SCC (103 cél.ml1) was used: low count (≤200), intermediate (>200≤750) and high (>750). Ambient temperature (AT), relative humidity and rectal temperature of the animals were also determined. Bacteriological results were grouped by Gram-family for further analysis. No differences in mean IRT were found between low-, medium- and high-SCC (P > 0.05). However, TIRST tended to be higher (P=0.0579) in milk samples with Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria relative to samples with no bacterial growth. In conclusion, the utility of IRTMS and IRTST as a sub-clinical mastitic detection tool was limited. This could be attributed, at least in part, to diurnal AT variations [e.g., r=0.69 (P<0.0001) between IRTST and time of day at milking]. Future studies are required to better characterize the association between IRT and mastitic pathogens

CaptuRING: A do‐it‐yourself tool for wood sample digitization

Producción CientíficaStandard procedures to obtain high-quality images of wood samples have become a bottleneck in the digitization of dendrochronology. Digitization is currently dominated by flatbed scanners, but the use of these devices is limited by sample length and surface flatness. Although several solutions based on digital photography have been published, they lack effective digitization processes or are too expensive to be widely adopted. Free open-source software and hardware has emerged as an alternative to create research tools that combine reduced costs with high reliability. Here we present CaptuRING, an open-source tool for wood sample digitization combining a do-it-yourself hardware based on Arduino® with a DSLR camera and a free open-source software with an easy-to-use graphical user interface. We compared CaptuRing with image acquisition from a standard flatbed scanner Epson® V750PRO. CaptuRING outperforms scanner image resolution and sharpness, while it removes sample size limitations. Moreover, CaptuRing performs this task in less than half of the time needed by Epson® V750PRO flatbed scanner. CaptuRING emerges as a reliable and low-cost tool to capture high-resolution images of wood samples boosting current digitization processes. The combination of free open software and hardware empowers dendrochronology to advance in wood sample digitization.Junta de Castilla y León, project OUTBREAK (VA171P20) and (IR2020-1-UVA08)Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, grant number (CGL2017-87309-P) (MGH PRE2018-084106) and project PROWARM (PID2020-118444GA-I00)Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (through Project RP200060107

NeuroBoricuas: a novel approach for incorporating neuroscience education in schools of Puerto Rico

[EN] Puerto Rico is in dire need of transforming its education system to counter the current economic recession and ensure a future with talented Puerto Ricans at the forefront of scientific research and technology development.  Here we present a group of neuroscientists and educators, the NeuroBoricuas, committed to revolutionize the scientific culture of Puerto Rico by incorporating neuroscience research training and inquiry-based activities in public and private schools. We carry out our vision through diverse methods, such as community outreach activities, where we promote neuroscience literacy using diverse learning activities. In parallel, we are designing a neuroscience course and textbook with educators to be implemented in schools. We also established neuroscience laboratories in K-12 schools and trained science teachers to manage such laboratories, using equipment from the company “Backyard Brains”. These laboratory experiences are integrated into the academic curriculum in high schools and the equipment is also available for students interested in designing their independent research projects. Lastly, we are expanding a network of committed scientists who partner with educators to help nurture future neuroscientists early in their academic endeavors. Here, we describe our trajectory and our approach to transform scientific education in Puerto Rico.We thank Dr. Gregory J. Quirk, Dr. Daniel Colon-Ramos and Dr. Mark Miller for their support. We thank Tim Marzullo, from Backyard Brains, for supporting NeuroBoricuas. We also thank Palabreria, Digi-Serv and Puerto Rico 4.0 for their constant support. We thank all the NeuroBoricuas that selflessly work hard for a better Puerto Rico. This work has been supported by generous donations from the Puerto Rican people, a grant from the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus’ Chancellor’s office, and the Grass Foundation.http://ocs.editorial.upv.es/index.php/HEAD/HEAD18Bravo-Rivera, C.; Díaz-Ríos, M.; Aldarondo-Hernández, A.; Santos-Vera, B.; Ramos-Medina, L.; De Jesús-Burgos, M.; Bravo-Rivera, H.... (2018). NeuroBoricuas: a novel approach for incorporating neuroscience education in schools of Puerto Rico. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 1447-1455. https://doi.org/10.4995/HEAD18.2018.8223OCS1447145