Southern occupational therapies: Emerging identities, epistemologies and practices

Indexación: Web of Science; Scielo.For over a decade, debates in occupational therapy have extended into the profession's theoretical foundations as well as epistemological underpinnings thereof A series of proposals have emerged from around the world that aim to link the definition of occupational therapy, its knowledge and practices to contemporary social, political, cultural and economic conditions. Contributing to this is the increasing precariousness of the global social life, the economic crises of many social systems, and the deterioration of the ecological environment. The current paper critically reflects on the historical conditions that shape the institution of occupational therapy, particularly in the regions of South America and Africa. This involves a political, ethical, and epistemological rethinking of the foundations that underpin identities, knowledge and practices of occupational therapy and their effects on society. These foundations may favour processes of exclusion and ahistorical and individualist views of human occupation, as opposed to social perspectives expressed in collective occupations and human rights promoting practices. The authors propose to problematise the construction of a professional identity, knowledge and practices of occupational therapy, emphasising the need for a liberating discipline, committed to and acting alongside people and communities who are in situations of social exclusion. This implies the necessary positioning of occupational therapy within social transformation.http://ref.scielo.org/z57kz

Particle-Filtering-Based State-of-Health Estimation and End-of-Life Prognosis for Lithium-Ion Batteries at Operation Temperature

We present the implementation of a particle-filtering-based framework that estimates the State-of-Health (SOH) and predicts the End-of-Life (EOL) of Lithium-Ion batteries, efficiently incorporating variations of ambient temperature in the analysis. The proposed approach uses an empirical state-space model, in which inputs are explicitly defined as the average temperature of operation and the output of an external module that detects self-recharge phenomena, on the other hand the output is a function that relates the current SOH and temperature with the Usable Capacity in that cycle. In addition, this approach allows to deal with data losses and outliers. In order to correct erroneous initial conditions in state estimates, an Outer Feedback Correction Loop is implemented. Finally, this framework is validated using degradation data from four sources: experimental degradation data from two Li-Ion 18650 cells, accelerated degradation data openly provided by NASA Ames Research Center, and artificially generated degradation data at different ambient temperatures.We present the implementation of a particle-filtering-based framework that estimates the State-of-Health (SOH) and predicts the End-of-Life (EOL) of Lithium-Ion batteries, efficiently incorporating variations of ambient temperature in the analysis. The proposed approach uses an empirical state-space model, in which inputs are explicitly defined as the average temperature of operation and the output of an external module that detects self-recharge phenomena, on the other hand the output is a function that relates the current SOH and temperature with the Usable Capacity in that cycle. In addition, this approach allows to deal with data losses and outliers. In order to correct erroneous initial conditions in state estimates, an Outer Feedback Correction Loop is implemented. Finally, this framework is validated using degradation data from four sources: experimental degradation data from two Li-Ion 18650 cells, accelerated degradation data openly provided by NASA Ames Research Center, and artificially generated degradation data at different ambient temperatures

Nasal immunization with the c-terminal domain of bcla3 induced specific igg production and attenuated disease symptoms in mice infected with clostridioides difficile spores

Clostridioides difficile is a Gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium that causes a severe intestinal infection. Spores of this pathogen enter in the human body through the oral route, interact with intestinal epithelial cells and persist in the gut. Once germinated, the vegetative cells colonize the intestine and produce toxins that enhance an immune response that perpetuate the disease. Therefore, spores are major players of the infection and ideal targets for new therapies. In this context, spore surface proteins of C. difficile, are potential antigens for the development of vaccines targeting C. difficile spores. Here, we report that the C-terminal domain of the spore surface protein BclA3, BclA3CTD, was identified as an antigenic epitope, over-produced in Escherichia coli and tested as an immunogen in mice. To increase antigen stability and efficiency, BclA3CTD was also exposed on the surface of B. subtilis spores, a mucosal vaccine delivery system. In the experimental conditions used in this study, free BclA3CTD induced antibody production in mice and attenuated some C. difficile infection symptoms after a challenge with the pathogen, while the spore-displayed antigen resulted less effective. Although dose regimen and immunization routes need to be optimized, our results suggest BclA3CTD as a potentially effective antigen to develop a new vaccination strategy targeting C. difficile spores

Update on blunt thoracic aortic injury: Fifteen-year single-institution experience

ObjectivesDespite improvements in the management of blunt thoracic aortic injury, mortality remains high. We report our experience with blunt thoracic aortic injury at a level 1 trauma center over the past 15 years.MethodsBetween January 1, 1997, and January 1, 2012, data on 338 patients who presented with suspected blunt thoracic aortic injury were entered into the University of Texas Medical School at Houston Trauma Center Registry. A total of 175 patients (52%) underwent thoracic aortic repair; 29 (17%) had open repair with aortic crossclamping, 77 (44%) had open repair with distal aortic perfusion, and 69 (39%) had thoracic endovascular aortic repair. Outcomes were determined, including early mortality, morbidity, length of stay, and late survival. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to compute adjusted estimates for the effects of the operative technique.ResultsThe early mortality for all patients with blunt thoracic aortic injury was 41% (139/338). Early mortality was 17% (27/175) for operative aortic interventions, 4% (3/69) for thoracic endovascular aortic repairs, 31% (11/29) for open repairs with aortic crossclamping, and 14% (11/77) for open repairs with distal aortic perfusion. Survival for thoracic endovascular aortic repair at 1 year and 5 years was 92% and 87%, respectively. Survival for open repair at 1, 5, 10, and 15 years was 76%, 75%, 72%, and 68%, respectively.ConclusionsBlunt thoracic aortic injury remains associated with significant early mortality. Delayed selective management, when applied with open repair with distal aortic perfusion and the use of thoracic endovascular aortic repair, has been associated with improved early outcomes. The long-term durability of thoracic endovascular aortic repair is unknown, necessitating close radiographic follow-up

IMPORTANCIA DE LA NUTRICIÓN EN EL PLAN DE ESTUDIOS DE ENFERMERÍA DE LA FESI UNAM

Introduction: In Mexico there are some regions with starvation and undernourishment, therefore the medical research has to be increased. The Nursing Major program at Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala of Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (2006) includes the study of nutrition. This one is divided in different modules but not as an specific subject, however we have observed that students are not able to incorporate all the nutrition fundamental aspects. Currently the basic theory of nutrition takes 56 hours and 50 minutes, but this one is included such as a section in different courses. “Nutrition and Health care” is an elective subject and it takes 80 hours, nevertheless there are two disadvantages. The first one is that students are allowed to take it up to the fourth semester, and the second one is that there is a lack of time (23 hours), since nutrition is a wide topic. We need to get qualified people related to this topic in order to teach efficiently. We have noticed that students need to learn more about nutrition, for that reason it is necessary to assign the nutrition topic as a compulsory subject, otherwise not all the students will be able to take the course. Material and Method: Qualitative and quantitative methods were used for the current research. For the quantitative method was used a nominal scale that allowed to sort the 34 programs reviewed from mexican institutions which have the nursing major. Two researches (done by the students) were considerated to find out that only 70% of students enrolled in seventh semester had taken the nutrition subject. Regarding the qualitative method, 10 students proposed that nutrition must be included as a compulsory subject. Results: There was a study focused on the nursing major programs from mexican universities, in which 34 was the number of programs reviewed. 28 universities have already included nutrition topic in their programs and 6 universities have not considered this matter in their programs yet. According to the results from the qualitative research, nutrition must be considered as an essential subject on the programs. Discussion: As a result of a quantitative and qualitative research, it is important to take into account, in the next evaluation of the subject’s curriculum, the opportunity to reincorporate the nutrition topic in basic semesters, and emphasize this point on all the study programs. Conclusion: In an effort to improve the topics related to nutrition and health care, it is very important to reorganize and focus on study plans at Iztacala University.Introducción: México tiene algunas regiones con hambre y desnutrición. También la producción en investigación clínica en México se debe incrementar. El Plan de Estudios de la Licenciatura en Enfermería de la Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (2006) sí contempla el estudio de la Nutrición pero de manera fraccionada en diferentes módulos. Hemos observado que las y los estudiantes no han integrado todos los aspectos fundamentales de Nutrición. El tiempo empleado para abordar la temática teórica básica sobre Nutrición es de 56 horas con 50 minutos. Como optativa de “Nutrición y Salud” se imparten 80 horas. El primer inconveniente es que la optativa la pueden llevar hasta el 4° semestre; el segundo, es que hay un déficit de 23 horas de trabajo en el aula, si restamos las horas asignadas al módulo optativo con respecto a las horas de trabajo en los módulos obligatorios. Si México tiene problemas de nutrición, necesitamos contar con personal preparado en el tema. Vemos que no estamos aportándoles suficientemente estas herramientas, por lo que es necesario que no se estudie en forma de materia optativa, porque no todos los estudiantes la van a cursar. Material y Método: Es una investigación evaluativa cuanti-cualitativa. La parte cuantitativa empleó el nivel de escala nominal que permitió clasificar los 34 programas revisados de Instituciones de Educación Superior que imparten la Licenciatura en Enfermería en México. Se tomaron en cuenta los resultados de 2 investigaciones realizadas por estudiantes que encontraron que sólo el 70% de la matrícula de séptimo semestre han llevado Nutrición. En la parte cualitativa, 10 estudiantes sugirieron que Nutrición fuera un módulo obligatorio. Resultados: 28 Programas de los 34 revisados de Universidades de México SÍ tienen especificado en su Plan de Estudios el abordaje de Nutrición. Mientras que 6 Programas de los 34 revisados NO tienen especificado en su Plan de Estudios el abordaje de Nutrición. Los resultados cualitativos fueron constantes en cuanto a que “la optativa de Nutrición debería pasar a módulo obligatorio”. Discusión: Hay un peso cuantitativo y cualitativo que se pronuncia hacia revisar en una próxima Evaluación Curricular, la pertinencia de reincorporar en los primeros semestres obligatorios la temática de Nutrición de un manera más explícita en nuestro Plan de Estudios. Conclusión: Hay que reorganizar los contenidos programáticos en materia de Nutrición y Salud dentro de nuestro Plan de Estudios

Shear test on viscoelastic granular material using Contact Dynamics simulations

By means of 3D contact dynamic simulations, the behavior of a viscoelastic granular material under shear loading is investigated. A viscoelastic fluid phase surrounding the solid particles is simulated by a contact model acting between them. This contact law was implemented in the LMGC90 software, based on the Burgers model. This model is able to simulate also the effect of creep relaxation. To validate the proposed contact model, several direct shear tests were performed, experimentally and numerically using the Leutner device. The numerical samples were created using spheres with two particle size distribution, each one identified for two layers from a road structure. Our results show a reasonable agreement between experimental and numerical data regarding the strain-stress evolution curves and the stress levels measured at failure. The proposed model can be used to simulate the mechanical behavior of multi-layer road structure and to study the influence of traffic on road deformation, cracking and particles pull-out induced by traffic loading

Rapid proteasomal degradation of mutant proteins is the primary mechanism leading to tumorigenesis in patients with missense AIP mutations

CONTEXT The pathogenic effect of AIP mutations (AIPmuts) in pituitary adenomas is incompletely understood. We have identified the primary mechanism of loss of function for missense AIPmuts. OBJECTIVE To analyze the mechanism/speed of protein turnover of wild-type (WT) and missense AIP variants, correlating protein half-life with clinical parameters. DESIGN Half-life and protein-protein interaction experiments and cross-sectional analysis of AIPmut positive patients' data were performed. SETTING Clinical academic research institution. PATIENTS Data was obtained from our cohort of pituitary adenoma patients and literature-reported cases. INTERVENTIONS Protein turnover of endogenous AIP in two cell lines and fifteen AIP variants overexpressed in HEK293 cells was analyzed via cycloheximide chase and proteasome inhibition. GST pull-down and quantitative mass spectrometry identified proteins involved in AIP degradation; results were confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation and gene knockdown. Relevant clinical data was collected. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Half-life of WT and mutant AIP proteins and its correlation with clinical parameters. RESULTS Endogenous AIP half-life was similar in HEK293 and lymphoblastoid cells (43.5 and 32.7h). AIP variants were divided in stable proteins (median 77.7h [IQR 60.7-92.9]), and those with short (27h [21.6-28.7]) or very short (7.7h [5.6-10.5]) half-life; proteasomal inhibition rescued the rapid degradation of mutant proteins. The experimental half-life significantly correlated with age at diagnosis of acromegaly/gigantism (r=0.411, P=0.002). The FBXO3-containing SCF complex was identified as the E3 ubiquitin-ligase recognizing AIP. CONCLUSIONS AIP is a stable protein, driven to ubiquitination by the SCF complex. Enhanced proteasomal degradation is a novel pathogenic mechanism for AIPmuts, with direct implications for the phenotype

Moving from a Product-Based Economy to a Service-Based Economy for a More Sustainable Future

Traditionally, economic growth and prosperity have been linked with the availability, production and distribution of tangible goods as well as the ability of consumers to acquire such goods. Early evidence regarding this connection dates back to Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations (1776), in which any activity not resulting in the production of a tangible good is characterized as unproductive of any value." Since then, this coupling of economic value and material production has been prevalent in both developed and developing economies throughout the world. One unintended consequence of this coupling has been the exponential increase in the amount of solid waste being generated. The reason is that any production and consumption of material goods eventually generates the equivalent amount of (or even more) waste. Exacerbating this problem is the fact that, with today's manufacturing and supply chain management technologies, it has become cheaper to dispose and replace most products rather than to repair and reuse them. This has given rise to what some call a disposable society." To put things in perspective: In 2012 households in the U.K. generated approximately 22 thousand tons of waste, which amounted to 411 kg of waste generated per person (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, 2015). During the same time period, households in the U.S. generated 251 million tons of waste, which is equivalent to a person generating approximately 2 kg of waste every day (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2012). Out of these 251 million tons of total waste generated, approximately 20% of the discarded items were categorized as durable goods. The disposal of durable goods is particularly worrisome because they are typically produced using material from non- renewable resources such as iron, minerals, and petroleum-based raw materials