Is there Enough Justification for Questioning Body Mass Index (BMI) as Exclusion Criteria of Reduction Mammoplasty in the Surgical Treatment of Symptomatic Macromastia?

Background: Despite the fact that reduction mammaplasty is an effective and efficient treatment to symptomatic macromastia, frequently, women demanding this treatment are accepted or not depending on body mass index criteria. The aim of this work was to compare changes of quality of life on obese and no-obese women who undergoing breast reduction mammaplasty. Methods: A prospective study was performed on 56 consecutive women undergoing bilateral reduction mammaplasty for symptomatic macromastia, 21 of them had a BMI lower than 30 (No-obese group) and 35 with 30 or higher BMI (Obese group). Short Form SF-36 quality of life questionnaires were answered at interviews a week before the surgery and six months after. To evaluate the change of quality of life we used “effect size”. Results: Preoperative SF36 scores did not make differences between both groups. Six months after surgery only postoperative physical score of no-obese patients was significantly higher than obese one (52.11 vs 48.47, p>0.05). Both groups increased clearly their quality of life showing an increment of all SF36 domains with an effect size ranged from 0.53 to 2.07. More than seventy percent of obese women improved their scores exceeding means of preoperative scores. Conclusion: According to our results and the fact that the main goal of the breast reduction is ameliorate the quality of life there is no justification for exclusion obese patients with BMI >30 who suffer from symptomatic macromastia from reduction mammaplasty

Linear Polyethyleneimine-Based and Metal Organic Frameworks (DUT-67) Composite Hydrogels as Efficient Sorbents for the Removal of Methyl Orange, Copper Ions, and Penicillin V

This research explores the integration of DUT-67 metal organic frameworks into polyethyleneimine-based hydrogels to assemble a composite system with enough mechanical strength, pore structure and chemical affinity to work as a sorbent for water remediation. By varying the solvent-to-modulator ratio in a water-based synthesis path, the particle size of DUT-67 was successfully modulated from 1 μm to 200 nm. Once DUT-67 particles were integrated into the polymeric hydrogel, the composite hydrogel exhibited enhanced mechanical properties after the incorporation of the MOF filler. XPS, NMR, TGA, FTIR, and FT Raman studies confirmed the presence and interaction of the DUT-67 particles with the polymeric chains within the hydrogel network. Adsorption studies of methyl orange, copper(II) ions, and penicillin V on the composite hydrogel revealed a rapid adsorption kinetics and monolayer adsorption according to the Langmuir’s model. The composite hydrogel demonstrated higher adsorption capacities, as compared to the pristine hydrogel, showcasing a synergistic effect, with maximum adsorption capacities of 473 ± 21 mg L−1, 86 ± 6 mg L−1, and 127 ± 4 mg L−1, for methyl orange, copper(II) ions, and penicillin V, respectively. This study highlights the potential of MOF-based composite hydrogels as efficient adsorbents for environmental pollutants and pharmaceuticals.This research was funded by the Agencia Nacional de Promoción de la Investigación, el Desarrollo Tecnológico y la Innovación (ANPCYT, Argentina), project PICT 2019-00845; Universidad de Buenos Aires, project UBACyT 2020-2024/11BA and Ministry of Science and Innovation (Spain), project PID2021-126235OB-C32 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and FEDER and project TED2021-130756B-C31 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by “ERDF A way of making Europe” by the European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR. The MSCA-RISE-2017 (No 778412) INDESMOF, which received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, is also acknowledged

Strategies for the dissemination of Geology to general audiences. The province of León as a case study

En este trabajo se describen y analizan diversas actividades de divulgación de la Geología realizadas en la provincia de León (España) entre los años 2017 y 2019. Para su exposición, se agrupan en tres categorías que tienen en cuenta tanto su periodicidad como el tipo de entidades patrocinadoras. Se da a conocer la herramienta de difusión Canal GEO, que ha ayudado a incrementar el número de asistentes. Estas actividades han permitido reconocer tres estrategias que favorecen la persistencia de aspectos geológicos en el imaginario colectivo de los asistentes, así como la integración de la divulgación geológica en el turismo cultural y de naturaleza. Estas estrategias son: 1) el uso del patrimonio geológico como recurso, 2) la integración de los aspectos geológicos en contextos culturales y naturales más amplios, y 3) el establecimiento de sinergias con entidades que trabajan temas usualmente alejados de la Geología pero que tienen gran arraigo en territorios con alta geodiversidadThis paper describes and analyzes several activities to disseminate geology carried out in the province of León (Spain) between 2017 and 2019. For their presentation, they are grouped in three categories that take into account both their periodicity and the type of sponsoring entities. The diffusion tool Canal GEO is presented, which has helped to increase the number of attendees. These activities have allowed the recognition of three strategies that favour the persistence of geological aspects in the collective imagination of the attendees as well as the integration of geological dissemination in cultural and nature tourism. These strategies are: 1) the use of geological heritage as a resource, 2) the integration of any geological feature in wider cultural and natural contexts, and 3) the stablishment of synergies with entities that usually work on issues far from geology but are deeply rooted in territories with high geodiversit

Secondary poisoning of non-target animals in an Ornithological Zoo in Galicia (NW Spain) with anticoagulant rodenticides: a case report

The use of anticoagulants has increased in recent times as a method for controlling rodent populations. However, this increased use also provokes accidental and intentional ingestion for both animals and humans, triggering poisoning of non-target organisms. In the present report, a clinical case of secondary-poisoning of birds with anticoagulant rodenticides, which took place after a general rodenticide treatment in an Ornithological Zoological Park, is described. Three birds died as a result and samples were submitted to the Veterinary Hospital in Lugo (Galicia, NW Spain). After necropsy, samples of the birds, together with molluscs and faeces, were submitted to the Toxicology Unit of Caceres (Extremadura, W Spain) in order to detect possible chemicals. Results from HPLC analyses revealed the presence of the rodenticides difenacoum and brodifacoum. The present report shows that the risk of secondary exposure resulting from the scavenging of molluscs is likely to be significant. The potential routes of uptake by invertebrates include the consumption of rodent faeces, rodent carcases, the ingestion of soil-bound residues, and the direct consumption of poison baits.Irene de la Casa-Resino was supported by fellowship PRE09001 from Department of Employment, Enterprise and Innovation (Gobierno de Extremadura, Spain)S

Very high-energy gamma-ray follow-up program using neutrino triggers from IceCube

We describe and report the status of a neutrino-triggered program in IceCube that generates real-time alerts for gamma-ray follow-up observations by atmospheric-Cherenkov telescopes (MAGIC and VERITAS). While IceCube is capable of monitoring the whole sky continuously, high-energy gamma-ray telescopes have restricted fields of view and in general are unlikely to be observing a potential neutrino-flaring source at the time such neutrinos are recorded. The use of neutrino-triggered alerts thus aims at increasing the availability of simultaneous multi-messenger data during potential neutrino flaring activity, which can increase the discovery potential and constrain the phenomenological interpretation of the high-energy emission of selected source classes (e. g. blazars). The requirements of a fast and stable online analysis of potential neutrino signals and its operation are presented, along with first results of the program operating between 14 March 2012 and 31 December 2015

The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) as a potential natural reservoir of human cryptosporidiosis by Cryptosporidium hominis in Northwest Spain.

Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. are ubiquitous intestinal protozoa that parasitize domestic and wild animals, as well as human beings. Due to their zoonotic potential, the objective of the present study was to determine the presence of these pathogens in the fox population (Vulpes vulpes) located in Northwest Spain. A total of 197 faecal samples from legally hunted foxes were collected in the autonomous region of Galicia. The presence of G. duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. was investigated by PCR-based methods amplifying the small subunit ribosomal RNA (ssu rRNA) gene of the parasites. Attempts to genotype obtained positive samples were subsequently conducted at the glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) and β-giardin (bg) genes of G. duodenalis, and the 60 kDa glycoprotein (gp60) gene of Cryptosporidium. Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. were identified in 19 (9.6%) and 12 (6.1%) of the investigated samples, respectively. However, five Cryptosporidium species were detected at the ssu rRNA locus: C. hominis (33.4%, 4/12), C. canis (25.0%, 3/12), C. parvum (16.7%, 2/12), C. ubiquitum (8.3%, 1/12) and C. suis (8.3%, 1/12). An additional Cryptosporidium-positive sample was identified at the genus level only. Typing and subtyping of Giardia- and Cryptosporidium-positive samples were unsuccessful. The detection of C. hominis in wild foxes indicates the probable overlapping of sylvatic and domestic cycles of this parasite in rural settings. Besides, this finding raises the question of whether red foxes may act as natural reservoirs of C. hominis. The detection of C. parvum and C. suis is suggestive of active transmission events between farm and wild animals, opening up the possibility of transmission to human beings.The red foxes used in this study were provided by the Wildlife Recovery Centres of Galicia, Dirección Xeral de Patrimonio Natural (Xunta de Galicia, Spain) and by Federación Galega de Caza. Molecular analyses conducted in this survey were funded by the Health Institute Carlos III, Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness under project CP12/03081.S

A search for spectral hysteresis and energy-dependent time lags from x-ray and TeV gamma-ray observations of Mrk 421

Blazars are variable emitters across all wavelengths over a wide range of timescales, from months down to minutes. It is therefore essential to observe blazars simultaneously at different wavelengths, especially in the X-ray and gamma-ray bands, where the broadband spectral energy distributions usually peak. In this work, we report on three " target-of-opportunity" observations of Mrk 421, one of the brightest TeV blazars, triggered by a strong flaring event at TeV energies in 2014. These observations feature long, continuous, and simultaneous exposures with XMM-Newton (covering the X-ray and optical/ultraviolet bands) and VERITAS (covering the TeV gamma-ray band), along with contemporaneous observations from other gamma-ray facilities (MAGIC and Fermi-Large Area Telescope) and a number of radio and optical facilities. Although neither rapid flares nor significant X-ray/TeV correlation are detected, these observations reveal subtle changes in the X-ray spectrum of the source over the course of a few days. We search the simultaneous X-ray and TeV data for spectral hysteresis patterns and time delays, which could provide insight into the emission mechanisms and the source properties (e. g., the radius of the emitting region, the strength of the magnetic field, and related timescales). The observed broadband spectra are consistent with a one-zone synchrotron self-Compton model. We find that the power spectral density distribution at greater than or similar to 4 x 10(-4) Hz from the X-ray data can be described by a power-law model with an index value between 1.2 and 1.8, and do not find evidence for a steepening of the power spectral index (often associated with a characteristic length scale) compared to the previously reported values at lower frequencies

Drug overdose deaths in Brazil between 2000 and 2020: an analysis of sociodemographics and intentionality

Objectives: To examine drug overdose records in Brazil from 2000 to 2020, analyzing trends over time in overdoses and overall sociodemographic characteristics of the deceased. Methods: Using data from the Brazilian Mortality Information System (Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade), we identified records from 2000-2020 in which the underlying cause-of-death was one of the following codes: X40-X45 (accidental poisoning), X60-X65 (intentional poisoning), or Y10-Y15 (undetermined intentionality poisoning). The Brazilian dataset included 21,410 deaths. We used joinpoint regression analysis to assess changes in trends over time. Results: People who died of drug overdoses in Brazil between 2000 and 2020 had a mean age of 38.91 years; 38.45% were women, and 44.01% were identified as White. Of the overdose deaths, 44.70% were classified as intentional and 32.12% were classified as unintentional. Among the identified drugs, stimulants were the most common class. However, most records did not report which drug was responsible for death. Conclusion: Sociodemographic trends in overdose deaths in Brazil must guide country-specific policies. Nevertheless, data collection protocols must be improved, particularly regarding the drug used in overdoses

Can scenario-planning support community-based natural resource management? Experiences from three countries in latin america

Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) is a concept critical to managing socio-ecological systems, but whose implementation needs strengthening. Scenario-planning is one approach that may offer benefits relevant to CBNRM, but whose potential is not yet well understood. We therefore designed, trialled and evaluated a scenario-planning method intended to support CBNRM at three cases, located in Colombia, Mexico and Argentina. Implementing scenario-planning was judged as worthwhile in all three cases, although aspects of it could be challenging to facilitate. The benefits generated were relevant to strengthening CBNRM: encouraging the participation of local people and using their knowledge; enhanced consideration and adaption of future change; and supporting the development of systems thinking. Tracing exactly when and how these benefits arise is challenging, but two elements of the method seemed particularly useful. Firstly, using a systematic approach to discuss how drivers of change may affect local socio-ecological systems helped to foster systems thinking and identify connections between issues. Secondly, explicitly focusing on how to use and respond to scenarios helped identify specific practical activities ('response options') that would support CBNRM despite the pressures of future change. Discussions about response options also highlighted the need for support by other actors (e.g. policy groups): this raises the question of when and how other actors and other sources of knowledge should be involved in scenario-planning, so as to encourage their buy-in to actions identified by the process. We suggest other CBNRM initiatives may benefit from adapting and applying scenario-planning. However, these initiatives should be carefully monitored since further research is required to understand how and when scenario-planning methods may produce benefits, and their strengths and weaknesses versus other methods

Gammapy: A Python package for gamma-ray astronomy

In this article, we present Gammapy, an open-source Python package for the analysis of astronomical $\gamma$-ray data, and illustrate the functionalities of its first long-term-support release, version 1.0. Built on the modern Python scientific ecosystem, Gammapy provides a uniform platform for reducing and modeling data from different $\gamma$-ray instruments for many analysis scenarios. Gammapy complies with several well-established data conventions in high-energy astrophysics, providing serialized data products that are interoperable with other software packages. Starting from event lists and instrument response functions, Gammapy provides functionalities to reduce these data by binning them in energy and sky coordinates. Several techniques for background estimation are implemented in the package to handle the residual hadronic background affecting $\gamma$-ray instruments. After the data are binned, the flux and morphology of one or more $\gamma$-ray sources can be estimated using Poisson maximum likelihood fitting and assuming a variety of spectral, temporal, and spatial models. Estimation of flux points, likelihood profiles, and light curves is also supported. After describing the structure of the package, we show, using publicly available $\gamma$-ray data, the capabilities of Gammapy in multiple traditional and novel $\gamma$-ray analysis scenarios, such as spectral and spectro-morphological modeling and estimations of a spectral energy distribution and a light curve. Its flexibility and power are displayed in a final multi-instrument example, where datasets from different instruments, at different stages of data reduction, are simultaneously fitted with an astrophysical flux model.Comment: 26 pages, 16 figure