Paying it Forward: Training doulas as a form of reintegration and support for communities of color

As part of the birth justice movement in Alameda County, Roots of Labor Birth Collective (RLBC) is committed to support, empower and care for birthing members of the community. RLBC works to empower people of color with education and tools to have healthy babies and positive birth experiences regardless of their: gender, size, sexuality, orientation, culture or family structure. Healthy families begin with healthy communities and with that in mind, RLBC decided to tackle two major public health issues at once: recidivism and poor birth outcomes in communities of color. Doula training is not just an intervention to improve birth outcomes but also an opportunity for those who have been previously incarcerated to create a career by giving back to the community. Even with evidence-based research supporting doula care as an intervention to improve birth outcomes in low-income communities, it is still seen as a luxury. RLBC believes that doula care and any care related to birth is a need and a right everyone should have. Throughout my fieldwork I have completed: grant writing, key informant interviews and budgeting to help RLBC become a sustainable organization. The entire collective administration team has been working in-kind to make sure that the collective continues to provide free doula care regardless of their funding status. It is their hard work and dedication that has inspired those I have reached out to, to provide their professional services to help in any way that they can to help launch the Doula Community Fund campaign. With this marketing strategy, RLBC aims to gain clients who can pay full market value for a doula so that they can use part of the income to pay an RLBC doula to gift a birth to the community

Implementation of activities for the evaluation of the specific instrumental transversal competence in subjects in the area of mechanical engineering

[EN] Most of the higher education frameworks work and evaluate transversal competences, to achieve the excellence of graduates, not only academically but also integrating social aspects, ethics, communication, teamwork, etc. To this end, the present work studies a common methodology both in the activities, to improve the acquisition of the ¿Specific Instrumental¿ transversal competence, as well as in its evaluation. In the practical sessions, the student uses a detailed tutorial with the procedure to obtain the numerical result. The evaluation of the ¿Specific Instrumental¿ transversal competence is deficient following this structure, since it does not show whether the student acquires autonomy to solve similar problems. Therefore, an unguided alternative activity was proposed at the end of each session, which allows to see the evolution of the student in the face of a different problem without guidelines. Experience shows that it is rash to expect the student to handle the program autonomously in the first session. For this reason, the delivery deadline for tasks will be extended by a few weeks. Obviously, guarantee of authenticity is lost, but responsibility for learning is transferred to the student. Allowing the student to spend the time necessary for deep learning, without the pressure of ending the session.Authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Vicerrectorado de Estudios, Calidad y Acreditación and the Vicerrectorado de Recursos Digitales y Documentación of the Universitat Politècnica de València (project PIME B/19-20/165) and the Instituto de Ciencias de la Educación of the Universitat Politècnica de València (EICE INTEGRAL).Pedrosa, AM.; Sánchez Orgaz, EM.; Lozano-Mínguez, E.; Martinez-Sanchis, S. (2020). Implementation of activities for the evaluation of the specific instrumental transversal competence in subjects in the area of mechanical engineering. IATED Academy. 597-602. https://doi.org/10.21125/iceri.2020.0197S59760

Estimating the Relative Stiffness between a Hepatic Lesion and the Liver Parenchyma through Biomechanical Simulations of the Breathing Process

[EN] In this paper, a method to in vivo estimate the relative stifness between a hepatic lesion and the liver parenchyma is presented. Tis method is based on the fnite element simulation of the deformation that the liver undergoes during the breathing process. Boundary conditions are obtained through a registration algorithm known as Coherent Point Drif (CPD), which compares the liver form in two phases of the breathing process. Finally, the relative stifness of the tumour with respect to the liver parenchyma is calculated by means of a Genetic Algorithm, which does a blind search of this parameter. Te relative stifness together with the clinical information of the patient can be used to establish the type of hepatic lesion. Te developed methodology was frst applied to a test case, i.e., to a control case where the parameters were known, in order to verify its validity. Afer that, the method was applied to two real cases and low errors were obtained.This work has been funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) through research projects DPI2013-40859-R and TIN2014-52033-R, both also supported by European FEDER funds.Martinez-Sanchis, S.; Rupérez Moreno, MJ.; Nadal, E.; Pareja, E.; Brugger, S.; Borzacchiello, D.; López, R.... (2018). Estimating the Relative Stiffness between a Hepatic Lesion and the Liver Parenchyma through Biomechanical Simulations of the Breathing Process. Mathematical Problems in Engineering. 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/5317324S110Kmieć, Z. (2001). Introduction — Morphology of the Liver Lobule. Advances in Anatomy Embryology and Cell Biology, 1-6. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-56553-3_1Cequera, A., & García de León Méndez, M. C. (2014). Biomarkers for liver fibrosis: Advances, advantages and disadvantages. Revista de Gastroenterología de México (English Edition), 79(3), 187-199. doi:10.1016/j.rgmxen.2014.07.001Vilar-Gomez, E., & Chalasani, N. (2018). Non-invasive assessment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: Clinical prediction rules and blood-based biomarkers. Journal of Hepatology, 68(2), 305-315. doi:10.1016/j.jhep.2017.11.013Giannini, E. G. (2005). Liver enzyme alteration: a guide for clinicians. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 172(3), 367-379. doi:10.1503/cmaj.1040752Oliva, M. R. (2004). Liver cancer imaging: role of CT, MRI, US and PET. Cancer Imaging, 4(Special Issue A), S42-S46. doi:10.1102/1470-7330.2004.0011Mouw, J. K., Yui, Y., Damiano, L., Bainer, R. O., Lakins, J. N., Acerbi, I., … Weaver, V. M. (2014). Tissue mechanics modulate microRNA-dependent PTEN expression to regulate malignant progression. Nature Medicine, 20(4), 360-367. doi:10.1038/nm.3497Paszek, M. J., Zahir, N., Johnson, K. R., Lakins, J. N., Rozenberg, G. I., Gefen, A., … Weaver, V. M. (2005). Tensional homeostasis and the malignant phenotype. Cancer Cell, 8(3), 241-254. doi:10.1016/j.ccr.2005.08.010Kuo, Y.-H., Lu, S.-N., Hung, C.-H., Kee, K.-M., Chen, C.-H., Hu, T.-H., … Wang, J.-H. (2010). Liver stiffness measurement in the risk assessment of hepatocellular carcinoma for patients with chronic hepatitis. Hepatology International, 4(4), 700-706. doi:10.1007/s12072-010-9223-1Heide, R., Strobel, D., Bernatik, T., & Goertz, R. (2010). Characterization of Focal Liver Lesions (FLL) with Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) Elastometry. Ultraschall in der Medizin - European Journal of Ultrasound, 31(04), 405-409. doi:10.1055/s-0029-1245565Frulio, N., Laumonier, H., Carteret, T., Laurent, C., Maire, F., Balabaud, C., … Trillaud, H. (2013). Evaluation of Liver Tumors Using Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse Elastography and Correlation With Histologic Data. Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, 32(1), 121-130. doi:10.7863/jum.2013.32.1.121Ma, X., Zhan, W., Zhang, B., Wei, B., Wu, X., Zhou, M., … Li, P. (2014). Elastography for the differentiation of benign and malignant liver lesions: a meta-analysis. Tumor Biology, 35(5), 4489-4497. doi:10.1007/s13277-013-1591-4Guo, L.-H., Wang, S.-J., Xu, H.-X., Sun, L.-P., Zhang, Y.-F., Xu, J.-M., … Xu, X.-H. (2015). Differentiation of benign and malignant focal liver lesions: value of virtual touch tissue quantification of acoustic radiation force impulse elastography. Medical Oncology, 32(3). doi:10.1007/s12032-015-0543-9Dietrich, C., Bamber, J., Berzigotti, A., Bota, S., Cantisani, V., Castera, L., … Thiele, M. (2017). EFSUMB Guidelines and Recommendations on the Clinical Use of Liver Ultrasound Elastography, Update 2017 (Long Version). Ultraschall in der Medizin - European Journal of Ultrasound, 38(04), e16-e47. doi:10.1055/s-0043-103952Ferraioli, G., Filice, C., Castera, L., Choi, B. I., Sporea, I., Wilson, S. R., … Kudo, M. (2015). WFUMB Guidelines and Recommendations for Clinical Use of Ultrasound Elastography: Part 3: Liver. Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology, 41(5), 1161-1179. doi:10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2015.03.007Sigrist, R. M. S., Liau, J., Kaffas, A. E., Chammas, M. C., & Willmann, J. K. (2017). Ultrasound Elastography: Review of Techniques and Clinical Applications. Theranostics, 7(5), 1303-1329. doi:10.7150/thno.18650Cosgrove, D., Piscaglia, F., Bamber, J., Bojunga, J., Correas, J.-M., Gilja, O., … Dietrich, C. (2013). EFSUMB Guidelines and Recommendations on the Clinical Use of Ultrasound Elastography.Part 2: Clinical Applications. Ultraschall in der Medizin - European Journal of Ultrasound, 34(03), 238-253. doi:10.1055/s-0033-1335375Palmeri, M. L., & Nightingale, K. R. (2011). What challenges must be overcome before ultrasound elasticity imaging is ready for the clinic? Imaging in Medicine, 3(4), 433-444. doi:10.2217/iim.11.41Samir, A. E., Dhyani, M., Vij, A., Bhan, A. K., Halpern, E. F., Méndez-Navarro, J., … Chung, R. T. (2015). Shear-Wave Elastography for the Estimation of Liver Fibrosis in Chronic Liver Disease: Determining Accuracy and Ideal Site for Measurement. Radiology, 274(3), 888-896. doi:10.1148/radiol.14140839Toshima, T., Shirabe, K., Takeishi, K., Motomura, T., Mano, Y., Uchiyama, H., … Maehara, Y. (2011). New method for assessing liver fibrosis based on acoustic radiation force impulse: a special reference to the difference between right and left liver. Journal of Gastroenterology, 46(5), 705-711. doi:10.1007/s00535-010-0365-7Barr, R. G., Ferraioli, G., Palmeri, M. L., Goodman, Z. D., Garcia-Tsao, G., Rubin, J., … Levine, D. (2015). Elastography Assessment of Liver Fibrosis: Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound Consensus Conference Statement. Radiology, 276(3), 845-861. doi:10.1148/radiol.2015150619Venkatesh, S. K., Yin, M., & Ehman, R. L. (2013). Magnetic resonance elastography of liver: Technique, analysis, and clinical applications. Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 37(3), 544-555. doi:10.1002/jmri.23731Low, G. (2016). General review of magnetic resonance elastography. World Journal of Radiology, 8(1), 59. doi:10.4329/wjr.v8.i1.59Thompson, S. M., Wang, J., Chandan, V. S., Glaser, K. J., Roberts, L. R., Ehman, R. L., & Venkatesh, S. K. (2017). MR elastography of hepatocellular carcinoma: Correlation of tumor stiffness with histopathology features—Preliminary findings. Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 37, 41-45. doi:10.1016/j.mri.2016.11.005Myronenko, A., & Xubo Song. (2010). Point Set Registration: Coherent Point Drift. IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence, 32(12), 2262-2275. doi:10.1109/tpami.2010.46Martínez-Martínez, F., Lago, M. A., Rupérez, M. J., & Monserrat, C. (2013). Analysis of several biomechanical models for the simulation of lamb liver behaviour using similarity coefficients from medical image. Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, 16(7), 747-757. doi:10.1080/10255842.2011.637492Untaroiu, C. D., & Lu, Y.-C. (2013). Material characterization of liver parenchyma using specimen-specific finite element models. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 26, 11-22. doi:10.1016/j.jmbbm.2013.05.013Large deformation isotropic elasticity – on the correlation of theory and experiment for incompressible rubberlike solids. (1972). Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. A. Mathematical and Physical Sciences, 326(1567), 565-584. doi:10.1098/rspa.1972.0026Chui, C., Kobayashi, E., Chen, X., Hisada, T., & Sakuma, I. (2006). Transversely isotropic properties of porcine liver tissue: experiments and constitutive modelling. Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing, 45(1), 99-106. doi:10.1007/s11517-006-0137-yHostettler, A., George, D., Rémond, Y., Nicolau, S. A., Soler, L., & Marescaux, J. (2010). Bulk modulus and volume variation measurement of the liver and the kidneys in vivo using abdominal kinetics during free breathing. Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine, 100(2), 149-157. doi:10.1016/j.cmpb.2010.03.003Chatterjee, S., Laudato, M., & Lynch, L. A. (1996). Genetic algorithms and their statistical applications: an introduction. Computational Statistics & Data Analysis, 22(6), 633-651. doi:10.1016/0167-9473(96)00011-4Martínez-Martínez, F., Rupérez, M. J., Martín-Guerrero, J. D., Monserrat, C., Lago, M. A., Pareja, E., … López-Andújar, R. (2013). Estimation of the elastic parameters of human liver biomechanical models by means of medical images and evolutionary computation. Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine, 111(3), 537-549. doi:10.1016/j.cmpb.2013.05.005Lago, M. A., Rupérez, M. J., Martínez-Martínez, F., Monserrat, C., Larra, E., Güell, J. L., & Peris-Martínez, C. (2015). A new methodology for the in vivo estimation of the elastic constants that characterize the patient-specific biomechanical behavior of the human cornea. Journal of Biomechanics, 48(1), 38-43. doi:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2014.11.009Lago, M. A., Rupérez, M. J., Martínez-Martínez, F., Martínez-Sanchis, S., Bakic, P. R., & Monserrat, C. (2015). Methodology based on genetic heuristics for in-vivo characterizing the patient-specific biomechanical behavior of the breast tissues. Expert Systems with Applications, 42(21), 7942-7950. doi:10.1016/j.eswa.2015.05.058Hoyt, K., Castaneda, B., Zhang, M., Nigwekar, P., di Sant’Agnese, P. A., Joseph, J. V., … Parker, K. J. (2008). Tissue elasticity properties as biomarkers for prostate cancer. Cancer Biomarkers, 4(4-5), 213-225. doi:10.3233/cbm-2008-44-505Xu, W., Mezencev, R., Kim, B., Wang, L., McDonald, J., & Sulchek, T. (2012). 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Hyperuricemic Renal Failure in Nonhematologic Solid Tumors: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is an oncologic emergency that is caused by massive tumor cell lysis. It is commonly associated with hematological cancers like leukemia and lymphoma and uncommonly with solid nonhematologic tumors as well. However, spontaneous tumor lysis syndrome (STLS) without any cytotoxic chemotherapy rarely occurs in solid tumors. We describe a case of STLS in a metastatic adenocarcinoma of unknown primary and review the literature of STLS in solid non-hematologic tumors to identify various risk factors for pathogenesis of this entity

Parabacteroides distasonis:intriguing aerotolerant gut anaerobe with emerging antimicrobial resistance and pathogenic and probiotic roles in human health

Parabacteroides distasonis is the type strain for the genus Parabacteroides, a group of gram-negative anaerobic bacteria that commonly colonize the gastrointestinal tract of numerous species. First isolated in the 1930s from a clinical specimen as Bacteroides distasonis, the strain was re-classified to form the new genus Parabacteroides in 2006. Currently, the genus consists of 15 species, 10 of which are listed as 'validly named' (P. acidifaciens, P. chartae, P. chinchillae, P. chongii, P. distasonis, P. faecis, P. goldsteinii, P. gordonii, P. johnsonii, and P. merdae) and 5 'not validly named' (P. bouchesdurhonensis, P. massiliensis, P. pacaensis, P. provencensis, and P. timonensis) by the List of Prokaryotic names with Standing in Nomenclature. The Parabacteroides genus has been associated with reports of both beneficial and pathogenic effects in human health. Herein, we review the literature on the history, ecology, diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and genetics of this bacterium, illustrating the effects of P. distasonis on human and animal health

Conservation of the endemic dwarf carnivores of Cozumel Island, Mexico.

Cozumel Island, Mexico, harbours two endemic species of dwarf procyonids: the Pygmy Raccoon Procyon pygmaeus and the Dwarf Coati Nasua nelsoni. Both species are Critically Endangered, and are among the world&rsquo;s most threatened Carnivora. Here we summarise the research we have been conducting on their ecology, evolution, genetics, and conservation. We also summarise the conservation initiatives we have been undertaking and promoting in order to advance the conservation of these unique species and their habitats. This effort illustrates the importance of an interdisciplinary approach in conservation science and action in maximising effectiveness. Nevertheless, the precarious status of the species make it imperative to continue and expand the work we have carried out in Cozumel to prevent two imminent global extinctions.<br /

Dual role of USP 30 in controlling basal pexophagy and mitophagy

USP 30 is an integral protein of the outer mitochondrial membrane that counteracts PINK 1 and Parkin‐dependent mitophagy following acute mitochondrial depolarisation. Here, we use two distinct mitophagy reporter systems to reveal tonic suppression by USP 30, of a PINK 1‐dependent component of basal mitophagy in cells lacking detectable Parkin. We propose that USP 30 acts upstream of PINK 1 through modulation of PINK 1‐substrate availability and thereby determines the potential for mitophagy initiation. We further show that a fraction of endogenous USP 30 is independently targeted to peroxisomes where it regulates basal pexophagy in a PINK 1‐ and Parkin‐independent manner. Thus, we reveal a critical role of USP 30 in the clearance of the two major sources of ROS in mammalian cells and in the regulation of both a PINK 1‐dependent and a PINK 1‐independent selective autophagy pathway

Carcinoma-derived interleukin-8 disorients dendritic cell migration without impairing T-cell stimulation

BACKGROUND: Interleukin-8 (IL-8, CXCL8) is readily produced by human malignant cells. Dendritic cells (DC) both produce IL-8 and express the IL-8 functional receptors CXCR1 and CXCR2. Most human colon carcinomas produce IL-8. IL-8 importance in malignancies has been ascribed to angiogenesis promotion. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: IL-8 effects on human monocyte-derived DC biology were explored upon DC exposure to recombinant IL-8 and with the help of an IL-8 neutralizing mAb. In vivo experiments were performed in immunodeficient mice xenografted with IL-8-producing human colon carcinomas and comparatively with cell lines that do not produce IL-8. Allogenic T lymphocyte stimulation by DC was explored under the influence of IL-8. DC and neutrophil chemotaxis were measured by transwell-migration assays. Sera from tumor-xenografted mice contained increasing concentrations of IL-8 as the tumors progress. IL-8 production by carcinoma cells can be modulated by low doses of cyclophosphamide at the transcription level. If human DC are injected into HT29 or CaCo2 xenografted tumors, DC are retained intratumorally in an IL-8-dependent fashion. However, IL-8 did not modify the ability of DC to stimulate T cells. Interestingly, pre-exposure of DC to IL-8 desensitizes such cells for IL-8-mediated in vitro or in vivo chemoattraction. Thereby DC become disoriented to subsequently follow IL-8 chemotactic gradients towards malignant or inflamed tissue. CONCLUSIONS: IL-8 as produced by carcinoma cells changes DC migration cues, without directly interfering with DC-mediated T-cell stimulation

Evaluation activities performance of the specific instrumental transversal competence in subjects of the mechanical engineering area

[Otros] Nowadays, the European higher education space is concerned, not only about the transmission of theoretical knowledge, but also about the acquisition of soft-skills, which are increasingly demanded in the professional profiles of graduates. Therefore, the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) has elaborated its own program aiming to develop these generic capabilities, which are embedded in 13 Transversal Competences (CT in Spanish). All of them are worked on and evaluated in all UPV degrees, whether undergraduate or graduate. Specifically, the "Specific Instrumental" transversal competence has been working for two years by a team of lecturers from the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering (DIMM in Spanish). Their objective is to develop an effective methodology to work on the acquisition and evaluation of this competence. The tool chosen to work with is ANSYS®, which is widely used in the field of mechanical engineering. This commercial software provides numerical solutions to complex problems using the Finite Element Method (FEM). The proposed methodology has been implemented during this year in three different subjects with a total of 335 students and is based on previous experience carried out in small groups last year. The objective is also to consolidate a procedure suitable for large groups without increasing lecturer's dedication time. After analysing the characteristics that were not entirely satisfactory, the new proposal seeks to improve them while maintaining the correct actions of the previous experience. Thus, laboratory training sessions and a different timed exercise for each student are kept. The most important changes affect the distribution of the worktime of the student and the assessable exercises. The number of evaluable exercises has been reduced to one, as well as the content and the test score. The proposed exercise consists of modelling a mechanical component and carrying out several tasks related to the mechanical study of a component. The correct completion of the different sections allows a numerical evaluation of the laboratory sessions and the suitability of the methodology. At the same time, the justification of the steps followed, and the adequacy of the strategies followed give the level reached in the ¿Specific Instrumental¿ transversal competence. The results reveal that students have achieved a greater degree of autonomy in managing the software. Furthermore, the new evaluation system discriminates the mastery with greater rigor, in the past there were no intermediate marks, the capability was achieved or not. Additionally, all the practical sessions have been adapted to the sanitary situation following an online format. This adaptation to the COVID scenario has provided the opportunity to introduce changes in the lecturing material that will be maintained in the next courses.Authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Vicerrectorado de Estudios, Calidad y Acreditación, the Vicerrectorado de Recursos Digitales y Documentación of the Universitat Politècnica de València (Project PIME B/19-20/165 and Project PIME C/20-21/201) and the Instituto de Ciencias de la Educación of the Universitat Politècnica de València (EICE INTEGRAL).Pedrosa, AM.; Lozano-Mínguez, E.; Besa Gonzálvez, AJ.; Vila Tortosa, MP.; Martinez-Sanchis, S.; Sánchez Orgaz, EM. (2021). Evaluation activities performance of the specific instrumental transversal competence in subjects of the mechanical engineering area. IATED Academy. 4347-4354. https://doi.org/10.21125/edulearn.2021.0915S4347435