Political Institutions, Policymaking Processes, and Policy Outcomes in Venezuela

This case study of Venezuela`s democratic institution and policymaking processes is part of the broader regional project based on the theoretical framework developed by Spiller, Stein and Tommasi (2003). The framework focuses on the conditions that foster political cooperation among political actors to sustain inter-temporal policy commitments. The study shows that the political institutions that established Venezuela`s democracy in the 1960s were deliberately set up to generate a cooperative equilibrium with low stakes of power. Constitutionally weak presidents and strong centralized political parties characterized this institutional framework. Cooperation induced a relatively effective policymaking process and good policy outcomes. However, an oil boom and its aftermath, in the 1970s and 1980s, unraveled the cooperative framework and induced rapid economic decay. The political reforms implemented in the late 1980s to improve the democratic process, although in itself desirable, further weakened the party system and induced a highly uncooperative and volatile policymaking process. The recent political reforms, increasing the stakes of power, have stimulated a complete breakdown in cooperation and a highly polarized political system.

Teaching aids to increase the learning process in the nursing career from the University Seats.

Se realizó un estudio de  desarrollo de tipo cualitativo retrospectivo encaminado a la confección de distintos medios de enseñanza  para que sean usados en las unidades universitarias de salud de manzanillo con el objetivo de mejorar la calidad del desarrollo de las conferencias  impartidas por los profesores de estos centros docentes. En estas sedes no existen estos medios de enseñanza para desarrollar las actividades docentes con calidad. La elaboración de estos medios ayudará a mejorar la calidad de las conferencias impartidas por los profesores de las asignaturas medico quirúrgico, morfología y otras en dichos centros. Se utilizó la técnica de Papier Maché  y fue realizado por los autores de este trabajo en horas extras, que con gran amor dedican a su sentido de profesional. El método empírico empleado fue la observación por la cual se detectó que no existen estos medios didácticos para el proceso enseñanza aprendizaje.It was performed a qualitative-retrospective research to elaborate a set of different  teaching aids to be used at the university health seats in Manzanillo with the objective to improve the quality of the development of conferences given by the teachers of these teaching centers. In these places the students cannot count on teaching aids to perform the teaching activities with the required quality. The elboration of these aids will help to improve the quality of the conferences from the clinical surgical morphology and some other subjects.The Papier Mache technique was applied and it was developed by the authors of this work in extra hours. The empirical method applied was the obervation through which it was perceived that the didactic methods do not exist for the teaching learning process in the aforementioned centers

A exposição a cães e gatos como fatores de risco para sibilância em crianças em idade pré-escolar: são os seus efeitos modificados pela remoção?

Objective: To define the relationship between current wheezing in preschoolers and exposure to dogs and cats at home, and to find out to what extent their removal modifies the associations.Methods: Previously validated questionnaires were completed by parents of 1784 preschoolers (mean age 4.08±0.8 years). Children were stratified according to the presence (20.0 %) or absence of wheezing in the previous year. Information regarding cat or dog exposure currently and during the first year of life was collected, as well as information about the removal of the pets.Results: A higher proportion of families owning a cat in the first year of the child’s life, as well as in the previous year, was found in the wheezing group. The proportion of families owning a dog was marginally higher in this group. Cat exposure was shown to be a significant risk factor when present in the first year of the child’s life (Adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] 1.73, 95 % CI 1.04-2.88), and an even higher association was found with current exposure (aOR 2.00, 95 % CI 1.22-3.26). The association was highest (aOR 2.68, 95 % CI 1.32-5.44) among the wheezing group for the subset of families that had removed a cat from the home. Dog exposure did not appear to be a significant risk factor, neither during the first year of life (aOR 1.24, 95 % CI 0.88-1.76) nor with current ownership (aOR 1.04, 95 % CI 0.73-1.50). However, a significant association was found in the group that had removed a dog from the home (aOR 5.88, 95 % CI 2.62-13.17).Conclusions: Exposure to cat allergens is a risk factor for asthma, when exposure occurs during the first 12 months of life. However, this factor is of limited influence beyond the first year. It is likely that children who are prone to developing an allergy would benefit from control of environmental allergen exposure, including cat avoidance. Objetivo: Definir la relación entre sibilancias activas en niños en edad preescolar y su exposición a gatos y perros en el hogar, y mostrar hasta qué punto la retirada de los mismos modifica dicha asociación.Métodos: Los padres de 1784 niños en edad preescolar (media de edad 4,08 ± 0,8) cumplimentaron los cuestionarios que previamente habían sido validados. Se realizó una estratificación de los niños en función de la presencia (20 %) o ausencia de sibilancias en el último año. Se recogió la información relacionada con la exposición actual a gatos o perros y durante el primer año de vida, además de información respecto a la retirada de las mascotas.Resultados: En el grupo con sibilancias se encontró una mayor proporción de familias que durante el primer año de vida del niño tuvieron un gato en casa. La proporción de familias con perro era ligeramente más alta en dicho grupo. La exposición a gatos apareció como factor de riesgo significativo si el gato había estado presente en el hogar durante el primer año de vida del niño (Odds Ratio ajustada [aOR] 1,73, IC 95 % 1,04 – 2,88), y se encontró una asociación incluso más alta con la exposición actual (aOR 2, IC 95 % 1,22 – 3,26). La asociación más elevada (aOR 2,68, IC 95 % 1,32 – 5,44) se encontró en el subgrupo de familias que habían retirado el gato del hogar. La exposición a perros no se mostró como factor de riesgo significativo, ni durante el primer año de vida (aOR 1,24, IC 95 % 0,88 – 1,76), ni en el momento actual (aOR 1,04, IC 95 % 0,73 – 1,50). Sin embargo, en el grupo que había retirado el perro del hogar sí se encontró una asociación significativa (aOR 5,88, IC 95 % 2,62 – 13,17).Conclusiones: La exposición a los alergenos del gato es un factor de riesgo para el asma si dicha exposición tiene lugar en los primeros 12 meses de vida. Sin embargo este factor tiene una influencia limitada si ocurre más allá del primer año de vida. Es probable que los niños con tendencia a desarrollar alergias se beneficien del control de la exposición a alergenos medioambientales, incluyendo evitar los gatos.Objetivo: Definir a relação entre a sibilância em crianças em idade pré-escolar e a exposição doméstica a cães e gatos. Verificar até que ponto a remoção dos animais altera as associações.Metodologia: Um questionário previamente validado foi respondido por pais de 1784 crianças em idade pré-escolar (média de idade 4.08±0.8 anos). As crianças foram estratificadas relativamente à presença (20.0 %) ou ausência de sibilância no ano anterior. Foi recolhida informação sobre a exposição a cães e gatos, atualmente e no primeiro ano de vida, bem como, informação sobre a remoção desses animais domésticos.Resultados: A maior proporção de famílias que possuem um gato no primeiro ano de vida da criança, assim como no anterior ao estudo, foram encontradas no grupo de crianças com manifestações de sibilância. A proporção de famílias que possuem um cão foi ligeiramente superior neste grupo. Verificou-se que a exposição a gatos no primeiro ano de vida é um fator de risco significante (Odds Ration Ajustado [aOR] 1.73, 95 % CI 1.04-2.88), sendo a associação ainda mais forte para uma exposição atual (aOR 2.00, 95 % CI 1.22-3.26). No grupo de crianças com sibilância a associação foi maior (aOR 2.68, 95 % CI 1.32-5.44) entre o subgrupo de famílias que removeram o gato da habitação. A exposição a cães não pareceu ser um fator de risco significante, nem para a exposição no primeiro ano de vida (aOR 1.24, 95 % CI 0.88-1.76) nem para a exposição atual (aOR 1.04, 95 % CI 0.73-1.50). Contudo, foi encontrada uma associação significante no grupo que tinha retirado o cão da habitação (aOR 5.88, 95 % CI 2.62-13.17). Conclusões: A exposição a alergénicos de gatos é um fator de risco para a asma, quando a exposição ocorre durante o primeiro ano de vida. Contudo, esse fator é de influência limitada além do primeiro ano. É provável que as crianças que são propensas a desenvolver uma alergia beneficiem de um controlo da exposição ambiental a alergénicos, incluindo evitar o contato com gatos

Molecular and biochemical characterization of extracellular tannin acyl hydrolase activity from a Mexican isolate of Aspergillus niger

"Microbial tannase, a hydrolysable tannin-degrading enzyme, is extensively used in manufacture of instant tea, beer, wine, and gallic acid. Aspergillus niger strain, obtained from a Mexican tannery wastewaters rich in gallic acid [Quebracho Phenolics-rich Tannery Wastewaters, (QPTW)], displayed a good growth and tannase activity in a minimal medium added with 1% (w/v) QPTW (Kr= 0.451 mm.h-1). Using PCR and RACE 3´ and 5´methodologies, a complete cDNA of a tannase was cloned from this isolate.Nucleotide sequence of complete cDNA was of 4690 bp with a complete ORF of 1833 bp encoding 611 amino acids. Transcriptionalinduction was observed in mineral medium added with carbon sources as tannic acid alone (1 and 10 g/l), as well as mix of glucose(1 and 10 g/l) and tannic acid (1 g/l) in the media. However, neither glucose (1 and 10 g/l) and sucrose (1 and 10 g/l) nor (+)-catechin(1 and 10 g/l) as sole carbon sources displayed gene induction in in vitro assays. A. niger-GTO is a new strain with interesting characteristics for industrial tannase production purposes.

Voltammetric study of the adsorbed thermophilic plastocyanin from Phormidium laminosum up to 90 °c

Redox thermodynamics and kinetics of plastocyanin from Phormidium laminosum, and of azurin from Pseudonomas aeruginosa, have been investigated as a function of temperature by protein film voltammetry. To this purpose, both proteins have been physisorbed on a pyrolytic graphite edge electrode. A pronounced negative shift of the plastocyanin standard potential, compared to a slight shift in the case of azurin, has been found upon increasing the temperature. Hence, significant conformational and/or solvation changes accompany the redox conversion of plastocyanin. Lower electron transfer rate constants (by c.a. one order of magnitude) and higher activation enthalpies have been found for plastocyanin as compared to azurin. The voltammetric response of azurin vanishes irreversibly at temperatures close to 60 °C, whereas the redox properties of plastocyanin remain unaltered, except for some loss of electroactive protein, after heating the electrode at temperatures as high as 90 °C.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad CTQ 2008-00371, BFU2009-07190Junta de Andalucía P07-FQM-02492, P06-CVI-0171

Estereotipos de género sexistas. Un estudio en jóvenes universitarios cubanos de medicina

Introduction: inequity among men and women in perpetuated by automatized and generational reproduction of gender stereotypes, which appear enrooted in social subjectivity and are expressed in daily life by multiple ways. The present study is framed in the current efforts for potentiating a world in which gender equity prevails among machista attitudes and behaviors of ancestral character. Objective: to characterize the stereotypes associated to gender roles in the house, professional and academic, and partnership ambits in a sample of Cuban university students of Medical Sciences. Material and method: the study starts from the dialectical-materialistic method supported in theoretical methods such as the logic-historic and the structural-systemic, which permitted to analyze, from multiple dimensions, the masculinity and femininity models as interrelated and socially opposed systems. Also, empirical methods were used, such as the survey, the interview and, the discussion groups and composition, and descriptive statistics. Results: the analysis carried out showed that gender stereotypes affect and predispose the conceptions and ideas of the inter-gender relationships in people, including medical students, who showed sexist attitudes associated to their diverse spheres of performance: family, professional and academic life, engagement. Conclusions: the study carried out shows that gender steriotypes, in the three stated dimesnions, although have been flexibilized over the time, are still srootedn in the youth imagineries, legitimizing historial inequlities and construction asymetric gender models and patterns centered in sexist attitudes of masculinity and femininity traditionally heritaged. Introducción: la inequidad entre hombres y mujeres se perpetúa mediante la reproducción automatizada y generacional de los estereotipos de género, los cuales aparecen arraigados en la subjetividad social y se expresan en la vida cotidiana bajo múltiples formas. El presente estudio se enmarca en los esfuerzos actuales por potenciar un mundo en el que prevalezca la equidad de género por encima de actitudes y comportamientos machistas de carácter ancestral. Objetivo: caracterizar los estereotipos asociados a los roles de género en los ámbitos doméstico, profesional-académico, y de pareja, en una muestra de estudiantes universitarios cubanos de ciencias médicas. Material y método: el estudio parte del método materialista dialéctico apoyado en métodos teóricos como el histórico-lógico y el sistémico-estructural, el cual permitió analizar desde la multidimensionalidad, los modelos de masculinidad y feminidad como sistemas interrelacionados y socialmente impuestos. Asimismo, se emplearon métodos empíricos como la encuesta, la entrevista, el grupo de discusión y la composición; además de la estadística descriptiva. Resultados: el análisis realizado demostró que los estereotipos de género matizan y predisponen las concepciones e ideas de las relaciones intergenéricas en las personas, incluidos los estudiantes de ciencias médicas, los cuales evidencian actitudes sexistas asociadas a sus diversas esferas de actuación y desempeño: familia, vida académica y profesional, relación de pareja. Conclusiones: el estudio llevado a cabo demuestra que los estereotipos de género en las tres dimensiones planteadas, aunque se han ido flexibilizando con el tiempo, continúan arraigados en el imaginario de los jóvenes, legitimando desigualdades históricas y construyendo modelos asimétricos de género centrados en actitudes sexistas de masculinidad y feminidad heredados de la tradición.

Genetic diversity and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella serotypes recovered throughout the beef production chain and from patients with salmonellosis

Salmonella is one of the major foodborne pathogens worldwide. The antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of this foodborne pathogen has raised a great concern in recent years. Studies on the frequency and characterization of Salmonella serotypes can help to improve our knowledge on the epidemiology of this pathogen. The purpose of this study was to compare the serotypes, AMR and genetic profiles of Salmonella isolates recovered from raw beef throughout the beef production chain and from human feces associated with clinical cases of salmonellosis. The serotype, AMR and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis profile of 243 Salmonella enterica isolates recovered from beef carcasses (n = 78), ground beef (n = 135), and human feces from clinical cases of salmonellosis (n = 30) were compared. Forty-three different Salmonella serotypes were identified and regardless of the source, the top five corresponded to Typhimurium, Give, Group B (partially serotyped), Infantis and Anatum. Twelve serotypes from beef carcasses were also found in ground beef, showing their presence throughout the beef production chain. Salmonella Typhimurium, Infantis, Anatum and Montevideo were the only serotypes identified in all sample types. Resistance to tetracyclines was the most frequent (41.2%) followed by resistance to aminoglycosides (37%), folate pathway inhibitors (21%), quinolones (20.2%), phenicols (17.1%), penicillins (15.6%) and cephems (7%). Multidrug resistance was observed in 28.8% of the isolates, and those from human feces showed resistance to a larger number of antimicrobials. Great concern arises from the resistance and reduced susceptibility observed to quinolones and cephalosporins because these drugs are the first line of treatment for invasive Salmonella infections. Twenty-seven distinct pulse-types were detected among 238 isolates. Clustering analysis for the most frequent serotypes identified groups of isolates with similar AMR profiles. Multidrug resistance spreading throughout the food production chain should be continually monitored and its importance emphasized

Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak in Murcia, Spain

An explosive outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease occurred in Murcia, Spain, in July 2001. More than 800 suspected cases were reported; 449 of these cases were confirmed, which made this the world’s largest outbreak of the disease reported to date. Dates of onset for confirmed cases ranged from June 26 to July 19 , with a case-fatality rate of 1%. The epidemic curve and geographic pattern from the 600 completed epidemiologic questionnaires indicated an outdoor point-source exposure in the northern part of the city. A case-control study matching 85 patients living outside the city of Murcia with two controls each was undertaken to identify the outbreak source; the epidemiologic investigation implicated the cooling towers at a city hospital. An environmental isolate from these towers with an identical molecular pattern as the clinical isolates was subsequently identified and supported that epidemiologic conclusion

Using a Taxonomy to Systematically Identify and Describe Self-Management Interventions Components in Randomized Trials for COPD

Self-management interventions (SMIs) may improve outcomes in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). However, accurate comparisons of their relative effectiveness are challenging, partly due to a lack of clarity and detail regarding the intervention content being evaluated. This study systematically describes intervention components and characteristics in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) related to COPD self-management using the COMPAR-EU taxonomy as a framework, identifying components that are insufficiently incorporated into the design of the intervention or insufficiently reported. Overall, 235 RCTs published between 2010 and 2018, from a systematic review were coded using the taxonomy, which includes 132 components across four domains: intervention characteristics, expected patient (or caregiver) self-management behaviours, patient relevant outcomes, and target population characteristics. Risk of bias was also assessed. Interventions mainly focused on physical activity (67.4%), and condition-specific behaviours like breathing exercise (63.5%), self-monitoring (50.8%), and medication use (33.9%). Support techniques like education and skills-training, self-monitoring, and goal setting (over 35% of the RCTs) were mostly used for this. Emotional-based techniques, problem-solving, and shared decision-making were less frequently reported (less than 15% of the studies). Numerous SMIs components were insufficiently incorporated into the design of COPD SMIs or insufficiently reported. Characteristics like mode of delivery, intensity, location, and providers involved were often not described. Only 8% of the interventions were tailored to the target population's characteristics. Outcomes that are considered important by patients were hardly taken into account. There is still a lot to improve in both the design and description of SMIs for COPD. Using a framework such as the COMPAR-EU SMI taxonomy may contribute to better reporting and to better informing of replication efforts. In addition, prospective use of the taxonomy for developing and reporting intervention content would further aid in building a cumulative science of effective SMIs in COPD