A qualidade de vida em jovens adultos por meio de redes semânticas naturais modificadas

The objective of this research was to know the meaning of quality of life for young adults. To do so, 100 people (50% men and 50% women) from 18 to 35 years of age, residents of Mexico City participated. The technique of Modified Natural Semantic Networks (Reyes-Lagunes, 1993) was applied to obtain: Network Size (TR), Semantic Weight (PS), Network Nucleus (NR), Quantitative Semantic Distance (DSC) and Index of Group Consensus (ICG). The results indicated that health was considerably the best defining variable of the quality of life. When analyzing the defining factors that appear in the nuclei of the networks, it can be noted that they are congruent with the dimensions of physical health, psychological health, interpersonal relationships and available material resources proposed by Skevington, Lotfy and O'Connell (2004). This turns out to be useful in the construction of a culturally relevant quality of life scale.El objetivo de la presente investigación fue conocer el significado de la calidad de vida para adultos jóvenes. Para esto, participaron 100 personas (50% hombres y 50% mujeres) de 18 a 35 años de edad, residentes de la Ciudad de México. Se aplicó la técnica de Redes Semánticas Naturales Modificadas (Reyes-Lagunes, 1993) para obtener: Tamaño de la Red (TR), Peso Semántico (PS), Núcleo de la Red (NR), Distancia Semántica Cuantitativa (DSC) e Índice de Consenso Grupal (ICG). Los resultados indicaron que salud fue considerablemente la mejor definidora de la calidad de vida; al analizar las definidoras que se presentan en los núcleos de las redes, se puede notar que son congruentes con las dimensiones de salud física, salud psicológica, relaciones interpersonales y recursos materiales disponibles propuestas por Skevington, Lotfy y O'Connell (2004), lo cual resulta útil para considerar en la construcción de una escala de calidad de vida culturalmente relevante.O objetivo da presente pesquisa foi reconhecer o significado da qualidade de vida para jovens adultos. Com este fim, participaram 100 pessoas (50% homens e 50% mulheres) de entre 18 e 35 anos de idade, residentes na cidade de México. Foi aplicada a técnica de Redes Semânticas Modificadas (Reyes-Lagunes, 1993) para obter: tamanho da rede (TR), Peso semântico (OS), Núcleo da rede (NR), Distancia Semântica Quantitativa (DSC) e índice de consenso grupal (ICG). Os resultados indicaram que “saúde” foi consideravelmente a melhor definidora da qualidade de vida. Ao analisar as definidoras que se apresentam nos núcleos das redes, pode-se notar que são congruentes com as dimensões de saúde física, saúde psicológica, relações interpessoais e recursos materiais disponíveis propostos por Skevintin, Lotfy e O’Conell (2004), o que resulta útil para ser considerado na construção de uma escala de qualidade de vida culturalmente relevante

Moving Policies Toward Racial and Ethnic Equality: The Case of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

We analyze the role played by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in alleviating or exacerbating inequality across racial and ethnic groups in food expenditures and in the resources needed to meet basic food needs (the “food resource gap”). To do this, we propose a simple framework that decomposes differences across groups in SNAP benefit transfer levels into three components: eligibility, participation, and generosity. This decomposition is then linked to differences in food expenditures and the food resource gap. Our results reveal that among the three components, differences in eligibility contribute the most to SNAP benefits differentials for Black and Hispanic households relative to White households. Given that SNAP is often a target of policy changes, we employ the framework to provide counterfactual analyses of how selected SNAP policy changes can impact group differences in benefits and, ultimately, disparities in food expenditures and the food resource gap. The proposed framework can be applied to analyze other safety net programs

The Global Alliance for Infections in Surgery: Defining a Model for Antimicrobial Stewardship-Results From an International Cross-Sectional Survey

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs (ASPs) have been promoted to optimize antimicrobial usage and patient outcomes, and to reduce the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant organisms. However, the best strategies for an ASP are not definitively established and are likely to vary based on local culture, policy, and routine clinical practice, and probably limited resources in middle-income countries. The aim of this study is to evaluate structures and resources of antimicrobial stewardship teams (ASTs) in surgical departments from different regions of the world. METHODS: A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted in 2016 on 173 physicians who participated in the AGORA (Antimicrobials: A Global Alliance for Optimizing their Rational Use in Intra-Abdominal Infections) project and on 658 international experts in the fields of ASPs, infection control, and infections in surgery. RESULTS: The response rate was 19.4%. One hundred fifty-six (98.7%) participants stated their hospital had a multidisciplinary AST. The median number of physicians working inside the team was five [interquartile range 4-6]. An infectious disease specialist, a microbiologist and an infection control specialist were, respectively, present in 80.1, 76.3, and 67.9% of the ASTs. A surgeon was a component in 59.0% of cases and was significantly more likely to be present in university hospitals (89.5%, p \u3c 0.05) compared to community teaching (83.3%) and community hospitals (66.7%). Protocols for pre-operative prophylaxis and for antimicrobial treatment of surgical infections were respectively implemented in 96.2 and 82.3% of the hospitals. The majority of the surgical departments implemented both persuasive and restrictive interventions (72.8%). The most common types of interventions in surgical departments were dissemination of educational materials (62.5%), expert approval (61.0%), audit and feedback (55.1%), educational outreach (53.7%), and compulsory order forms (51.5%). CONCLUSION: The survey showed a heterogeneous organization of ASPs worldwide, demonstrating the necessity of a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach in the battle against antimicrobial resistance in surgical infections, and the importance of educational efforts towards this goal

Thiamethoxam in Papaya (Carica papaya Linnaeus) Agroecosystems

Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is a profitable fruit of economic and food importance in Mexico and Central America. Veracruz is the state in Mexico with the highest cultivable area, eventhough its production presents numerous phytosanitary problems, which are being faced with the use of the pesticide thiamethoxam. The aim of this study was to make a diagnosis of the use and management of thiamethoxam in papaya agroecosystems in the municipality of Cotaxtla, Veracruz. Two surveys were applied, one to a 30% of the total number of producers organized by an association dedicated to papaya culture, and the other survey was through key informants, both surveys were designed using the snowball sampling, a non-probability sampling technique. The results indicate that 6% of papaya producers use mainly the pesticide thiamethoxam, which belongs to the chemical group of neonicotinoids. It was found out that for five years there have been records of thiamethoxam use in vertisoils. During the cycle of papaya cultivation the producers use a maximum dose of 3 L/ha and a minimum dose of 250 ml/ha per crop cycle. One hundred per cent of those who apply thiamethoxam are not aware of its use and efficient management, nor of the damage they are doing or have caused to agroecosystems

Validación de la Escala de Gravedad de Fatiga en Población General de la Ciudad de México

Reliable and valid ways to measure fatigue are required in order to determine its prevalence and consequences. One of the methods widely used to measure fatigue is the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS; Krupp, LaRocca, Muir-Nash, & Steinberg, 1989). Thus, the purpose of this study was to validate this scale psychometrically in a culturally relevant manner, to identify whether its structure is the most appropriate through a confirmatory factor analysis, and to test the invariance by sex. Two groups of participants, inhabitants of Mexico City, were included in the present study, 150 for validation studies, and 220 for confirmatory factor analysis and invariance test studies. A structure with six items, ade-quate reliability (α = .93), goodness of fit [χ2(9) = 12.56, p = .183; CF1 = .99; RMSEA = .05] and invariance by sex was found. So, it is concluded that FSS is a reliable and valid measure of fatigue.Para conocer la prevalencia y las consecuencias de la fatiga se necesitan formas confiables y válidas para medirla. Una de las escalas más usadas es la Escala de Gravedad de Fatiga (FSS; Krupp, LaRocca, Muir-Nash, & Steinberg, 1989), por lo que el propósito de este trabajo fue validar esta escala psicométricamente de manera culturalmente relevante, identificar si su estructura es la más adecuada a través de un análisis factorial confirmatorio y comprobar la invarianza factorial por sexo. Se trabajó con dos grupos de participantes, 150 habitantes de la Ciudad de México para la validación y 220 habitantes de la Ciudad de México para el análisis factorial confirmatorio y prueba de invarianza. Se encontró una estructura con seis reactivos, adecuada confiabilidad (α = .93) correcto ajuste [X2 (9) = 12.56, p = .183; CF1 = .99; RMSEA = .05] e invarianza por sexo, por lo que se concluye que la Escala de Gravedad de Fatiga es una medida confiable y válida

Influence of Micropatterned Grill Lines on Entamoeba histolytica Trophozoites Morphology and Migration

Entamoeba histolytica, the causal agent of human amoebiasis, has two morphologically different phases: a resistant cyst and a trophozoite responsible for the invasion of the host tissues such as the colonic mucosa and the intestinal epithelium. During in vitro migration, trophozoites usually produce protuberances such as pseudopods and rarely filopodia, structures that have been observed in the interaction of trophozoites with human colonic epithelial tissue. To study the different membrane projections produced by the trophozoites, including pseudopods, filopodia, uropods, blebs, and others, we designed an induction system using erythrocyte extract or fibronectin (FN) in micropatterned grill lines (each micro-line containing multiple micro-portions of FN or erythrocyte extract) on which the trophozoites were placed in culture for migration assays. Using light, confocal, and scanning electron microscopy, we established that E. histolytica trophozoites frequently produce short and long filopodia, large retractile uropods in the rear, pseudopods, blebs, and others structures, also showing continuous migration periods. The present study provides a simple migration method to induce trophozoites to generate abundant membrane protrusion structures that are rarely obtained in normal or induced cultures, such as long filopodia; this method will allow a–better understanding of the interactions of trophozoites with FN and cell debris. E. histolytica trophozoites motility plays an important role in invasive amoebiasis. It has been proposed that both physical forces and chemical signals are involved in the trophozoite motility and migration. However, the in vivo molecules that drive the chemotactic migration remain to be determined. We propose the present assay to study host molecules that guide chemotactic behavior because the method is highly reproducible, and a live image of cell movement and migration can be quantified

ECOLOGICAL NICHE OF SEMIDOMESTICATED POPULATIONS OF Capsicum pubescens RUIZ & PAV. BASED ON ACCESSIONS FROM VERACRUZ, MEXICO

Para cultivar una especie silvestre es necesario modificar el esquema genético resultante de los procesos de selección natural a uno adaptado a las condiciones manejadas por el hombre, e implica detectar áreas geográficas similares a aquellas donde se originó la especie. En este estudio se analiza un modelo de áreas geográficas potenciales para la adaptación de Capsicum pubescens Ruiz & Pav. con el objetivo de detectar las condiciones de nicho ecológico apropiado, determinar zonas potenciales en México y describir las relaciones entre el medio ambiente y las características morfológicas del fruto. Se utilizó el algoritmo reciente de máxima entropía (MaxEnt) para modelar el nicho de C. pubescens dentro de una región de importancia en el centro de Veracruz, México. Se utilizó un total de 44 sitios de presencia y cuatro variables bioclimáticas para detectar nichos adecuados para la especie; así mismo, se realizó un análisis de regresión por mínimos cuadrados parciales (PLS) combinando los sitios de presencia, variables bioclimáticas y características morfológicas del fruto. Se construyó un mapa final de idoneidad identificando las áreas adecuadas para el crecimiento de C. pubescens. Las contribuciones de las variables predictoras al modelo fueron preipitación anual (Bio12) 43.9 %, capa de potasio (K) 23 %, altitud (DEM) 22.3 % y temperatura media anual (Bio1) 10.7 %, con valor del área bajo la curva de 99.7 %. Los mínimos cuadrados parciales corroboraron la importancia de las covariables, que intervienen en la expresión de características morfológicas del fruto, ayudando a entender mejor las relaciones entre especies y el medio ambiente. Áreas aún no exploradas arrojaron probabilidades de ocurrencia mayores a 90 %, principalmente en las zonas montañosas de Chihuahua, Tamaulipas, Nuevo León y la Sierra de Santa Martha al sur del estado de Veracruz. Se identificó un grupo de accesiones sobresalientes que podrían servir como base para iniciar un programa de mejoramiento genético en esta especie

Economic analysis of alternative nutritional management of dual-purpose cow herds in central coastal Veracruz, Mexico

Market information was combined with predicted input–output relationships in an economic analysis of alternative nutritional management for dual-purpose member herds of the Genesis farmer organization of central coastal Veracruz, Mexico. Cow productivity outcomes for typical management and alternative feeding scenarios were obtained from structured sets of simulations in a companion study of productivity limitations and potentials using the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System model (Version 6.0). Partial budgeting methods and sensitivity analysis were used to identify economically viable alternatives based on expected change in milk income over feed cost (change in revenues from milk sales less change in feed costs). Herd owners in coastal Veracruz have large economic incentives, from $584 to$1,131 in predicted net margin, to increase milk sales by up to 74% across a three-lactation cow lifetime by improving diets based on good quality grass and legume forages. This increment is equal to, or exceeds, in value the total yield from at least one additional lactation per cow lifetime. Furthermore, marginal rates of return (change in milk income over feed costs divided by change in variable costs when alternative practices are used) of 3.3 ± 0.8 indicate clear economic incentives to remove fundamental productivity vulnerabilities due to chronic energy deficits and impeded growth of immature cows under typical management. Sensitivity analyses indicate that the economic outcomes are robust for a variety of market conditions

Limitations and potentials of dual-purpose cow herds in Central Coastal Veracruz, Mexico

Feed chemical and kinetic composition and animal performance information was used to evaluate productivity limitations and potentials of dual-purpose member herds of the Genesis farmer organization of central coastal Veracruz, Mexico. The Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System model (Version 6.0) was systematically applied to specific groups of cows in structured simulations to establish probable input–output relationships for typical management, and to estimate probable outcomes from alternative management based on forage-based dietary improvements. Key herd vulnerabilities were pinpointed: chronic energy deficits among dry cows of all ages in late gestation and impeded growth for immature cows. Regardless of the forage season of calving, most cows, if not all, incur energy deficits in the final trimester of gestation; thus reducing the pool of tissue energy and constraining milking performance. Under typical management, cows are smaller and underweight for their age, which limits feed intake capacity, milk production and the probability of early postpartum return to ovarian cyclicity. The substitution of good-quality harvested forage for grazing increased predicted yields by about one-third over typical scenarios for underweight cows. When diets from first parturition properly supported growth and tissue repletion, milk production in second and third lactations was predicted to improve about 60%. Judiciously supplemented diets based on good quality grass and legume forages from first calving were predicted to further increase productivity by about 80% across a three-lactation cow lifetime. These dual-purpose herd owners have large incentives to increase sales income by implementing nutritional strategies like those considered in this study