Perceived neighbourhood quality and adult health status: new statistical advices useful to answer old questions?

Interest in the quantitative effects of neighbourhood characteristics on adult health has recently increased in social epidemiology. Particularly, investigations concern the statistical influence on health of several individual demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and of neighbourhood characteristics as perceived by respondents. We analyze these issues within an original conceptual framework and employing statistical models unusual in this context. We use data collected in the Los Angeles Family and Neighbourhood Survey (L.A.FANS) to model the number of hospital admissions occurred to each individual as a function of some individual and neighbourhood characteristics, the latter being related to the individual perceptions about the neighbourhood he lives in. We employ generalized additive models with different distributional assumptions: Poisson, Negative Biomial and Zero Inflated Poisson (ZIP). Such models allow us to estimate (through spline functions) potential non linear effects of the covariates on the response. Moreover, non standard representations are used to overcome difficulties in interpreting the results for ZIP models. It turns out that perceived neighbourhood characteristics, and in particular the perception of social cohesion, have a significant effect after controlling for individual characteristics relevant to hospital admissions frequency. From a modeling point of view ZIP and Negative binomial models prove to be superior to standard Poisson model. We have confirmed the role of the neighbourhood where an individual lives in determining his health status. A strength of this analysis is that, due to the choice of the neighbourhood characteristics to be included in the model, the results do not depend of a particular definition of neighbourhood (which is traditionally based on administrative boundaries), since each individual refers his perceptions to his personal definition of it

Pacto de não concorrência nos contratos com transferência de know-how: a opção pela sua não aplicação e suas limitações

O presente trabalho buscou mostrar a inaplicabilidade do pacto de não-concorrência nos contratos com transferência de know-how com a análise dos princípios contratuais, tanto os clássicos quanto os modernos, dos direitos da personalidade em comparação com os direitos fundamentais, assim como suas limitações e a interferência estatal por meio do dirigismo contratual e das disposições constantes na Constituição Federal e na legislação civil, além da doutrina e da jurisprudência. Entretanto, o mais relevante princípio contratual é o da autonomia da vontade, o qual deveria prevalecer acima do dirigismo contratual nos negócios jurídicos em que as partes convencionarem a não-aplicabilidade do pacto de nãoconcorrência conforme disposto na legislação e na jurisprudência, desde que não interfira nas relações com os terceiros de boa-fé

Optimized somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration in elite Argentinian sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) cultivars

Background: Biotechnological breeding of elite sugarcane cultivars is currently limited because of the difficulty of regenerating plants by tissue culture. Here, we report that commercially elite sugarcane genotypes, which are adapted to Argentinian agro-ecological conditions, are capable of being regenerated via indirect somatic embryogenesis. Leaf rolls of five elite genotypes were cultured following two callus induction protocols using different concentrations of 2,4-D as the growth regulator. Embryogenic calluses were regenerated under light conditions. Regenerated plants were subsequently acclimatized in the greenhouse under two acclimatization procedures before being transplanted to the field. Results: Four of the five genotypes were able to form somatic embryos following the two induction protocols. The variables related to embryogenic callus production were influenced by the interaction between genotype and culture conditions. For plant regeneration, the embryogenic calluses were further cultured on an IBA-supplemented medium, where we observed a high genotype dependence. Calluses from the four cultivars regenerated a good number of plants. With the procedures described here, we obtained more than 90% of well-acclimatized plants both in the greenhouse and in the field. Conclusions: This protocol provides a simple way to regenerate sugarcane plants through indirect somatic embryogenesis. Also, the results confirm that tissue culture ability is highly genotype-dependent in sugarcane. Our findings suggest that these elite cultivars could be good candidates for biotechnological breeding.EEA FamailláFil: Di Pauli, Valentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; ArgentinaFil: Fontana, Paola Daniela. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; ArgentinaFil: Lewi, Dalia Marcela. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Genética; ArgentinaFil: Felipe, Arturo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; ArgentinaFil: Erazzú, Luis E. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; Argentina

Voluntary sport programs for individuals with mental health disorders: The trainer’s and participant’s view

Introduction There is strong evidence that physical activities are important in increasing and maintaining mental health as well as in preventing relapse after mental health disorders (Schulz et al., 2011). Physical activity is an integral part of the treatment program in psychiatric hospitals in Switzerland (CH; Brand et al., 2016). However, after discharge from the hospital in CH, there are insufficient opportunities to engage in physical activity for individuals with mental health disorders (IMHD). To close this gap, voluntary sports groups (VSG) for IMHD have been growing in Switzerland since 2016, mainly organized by the PluSport Umbrella Organization of Swiss Disabled Sports (Kiselev & Loosli, 2019). Yet, little is known about these VSG and their training settings. The perspectives of IMHD and trainers of these groups as well as the perceived barriers and facilitators for participating for IMHD have neither been assessed nor included in the design of sports programs. Therefore, two studies aimed to explore the point of view of the IMHD (first study) and the trainers of these groups (second study) on challenges, barriers, and facilitators for IMHD regarding participation in VSG for IMHD. Additionally, given the crucial role of the trainers in the training process and the importance of their interpersonal characteristics, both studies aimed to identify reasons/motivations and proper personality characteristics of the VSG trainers from the interviewees’ perspective. Methods Both studies consisted of 15 semi-structured interviews each (with participants (1st study) and with trainers (2nd study) of VSG for IMHD). The results were analyzed using thematic analysis using Nvivo (Guest et al., 2012). Results Several training facilitators and trainers’ characteristics supporting the participation of the IMHD in VSG for IMHD were named by interviewees (e.g., offer-specific, emotional, rational motives, social skills of the trainers, and ability to set boundaries). At the same time, respondents reported several barriers as possible inhibitors for the participation of IMHD in VSG for IMHD (e.g., intrapersonal, structural, offer-specific, interpersonal and socio-cultural). Within the interviews, IMHD described predominantly positive perceived outcomes from participating in VSG for IMHD. On the other side, trainers of VSG for IMHD highlighted the satisfaction of doing sports with IMHD and of the contribution to improving the physical activity habits of IMHD as the main factors for their commitment as coaches (Baumberger et al., under review; Epiney et al., 2023). Discussion/Conclusion IMHD benefit socially, physically, and psychologically from participating in VSG for IMHD. However, participation is associated with barriers that need to be minimized in the future to make participation more accessible. Furthermore, the findings suggest improving the recruitment of future trainers of VSG for IMHD by focusing on assessing the appropriate personality characteristics of trainers and their motives. Additionally, findings should be integrated into the educational materials of Swiss disabled sports systems to ensure the proper upskilling of the new and present trainers of VSG for IMHD and ensure the quality and attractiveness of these groups for the target population . Finally, a large-scale survey is necessary to validate the results among the population. References Baumberger, C., Wieber, F., Pauli, C., Loosli, D., Kleim, B., & Kiselev, N. (under review). Active bodies - Active minds? A deep dive into the voluntary sports programs for individuals with psychiatric disorders in Switzerland: Participants view. BMC Public Health. Brand, S., Colledge, F., Beeler, N., Pühse, U., Kalak, N., Sadeghi Bahmani, D., Mikoteit, T., Holsboer-Trachsler, E., & Gerber, M. (2016). The current state of physical activity and exercise programs in German-speaking, Swiss psychiatric hospitals: Results from a brief online survey. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 12, 1309-1317. https://doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S107313 Epiney, F., Wieber, F., Loosli, D., Znoj, H., & Kiselev, N. (2023). Voluntary sports programs for individuals with mental health disorders: The trainer’s view. Plos one, 18(10), Article e0290404. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0290404 Guest, G., MacQueen, K., & Namey, E. (2012). Applied Thematic Analysis. SAGE. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781483384436 Kiselev, N., & Loosli, D. (2019). Kann ich mitmachen? Behinderten- und Rollstuhlsportclubs in der Schweiz und der Zugang zum Behinderten- und Rollstuhlsport [Disabled and wheelchair sports clubs in Switzerland and access to disabled and wheelchair sports]. Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Heilpädagogik, 25(5-6), 13-20. Schulz, K. H., Meyer, A., & Langguth, N. (2011). Körperliche Aktivität und psychische Gesundheit [Physical activity and mental health]. Bundesgesundheitsblatt - Gesundheitsforschung - Gesundheitsschutz, 55(1), 55-65. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00103-011-1387-

Multilocus Sequence Analysis highlights genetic diversity of Acidovorax avenae strains associated with sugarcane red stripe

XXX Congress of the ISSCT (International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists), Tucumán, from 31 August to 8 September 2019Pathogenic species of Acidovorax cause economically important diseases in monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous crops, including sugarcane, corn, rice, oats, millet, foxtail, watermelon and orchids. Sugarcane red stripe, caused by Acidovorax avenae, is present in the main production areas around the world. In Argentina, red stripe affects about 30% of stalks milled with important economic losses when severe infections occur. MLST was used to explore the genetic diversity of this bacterium associated with red stripe in Argentina, as well as their phylogenetic relationships. The MLST analysis included sequences from a total of 118 Acidovorax, 15 A. avenae strains isolated from Argentina sugarcane production areas, A. citrulli (93) from melon and watermelon, A. avenae (9) from rice, millet, corn, vasey grass and sorghum, and A. oryzae (1) from rice. MLST analysis revealed five novel sequence types (STs) for the sugarcane A. avenae strains, constituting a clonal complex with a common and close origin. When genetic relationships with other Acidovorax were explored, sugarcane strains were related to A. avenae from other hosts and more distantly to A. citrulli. Signals of frequent recombination in several lineages of A. avenae were detected and we observed that A. oryzae is closely related to A. avenae strains. This study provides valuable data in the field of epiphytological and evolutionary investigations of A. avenae strains causing sugarcane red stripe. Knowledge of the genetic diversity and host-strain specificity are important to select the genotypes with the best response to red stripe disease.Las especies fitopatógenas de Acidovorax causan enfermedades en cultivos tanto monocotiledóneos y dicotiledóneos, que incluyen caña de azúcar, maíz, arroz, avena, mijo, sandía y orquídeas. La estría roja de caña de azúcar, causada por Acidovorax avenae, está presente en las principales áreas de producción del mundo. En Argentina, esta enfermedad llegó a afectar hasta un 30% de tallos molibles en infecciones severas con importantes pérdidas económicas. Para explorar la diversidad genética de esta bacteria, así como sus relaciones filogenéticas, se aplicó un análisis MLST. El MLST incluyó un total de 118 secuencias de cepas de Acidovorax, 15 A. avenae aisladas de diferentes áreas de producción de caña de azúcar de Argentina, A. citrulli (93) de melón y sandía, A. avenae (9) de arroz, mijo, maíz, pasto vasey y sorgo y A. oryzae (1) de arroz. El análisis de MLST reveló cinco nuevos tipos de secuencia (ST) para las cepas de caña de azúcar A. avenae, que constituyen un complejo clonal con un origen común y cercano. Cuando se investigó la relación genética con otras Acidovorax, las cepas de caña de azúcar se mostraron cercanas con A. avenae de otros huéspedes, pero más distante de A. citrulli. Se evidenciaron señales de recombinación frecuente en varios linajes de A. avenae y observamos que A. oryzae está estrechamente relacionada con las cepas de A. avenae. Este estudio proporciona datos valiosos en el campo de las investigaciones epifitológicas y evolutivas de las cepas de A. avenae que causan estría roja en caña de azúcar. El conocimiento de la diversidad genética y la especificidad cepa-hospedante son importantes para seleccionar genotipos con la mejor respuesta frente a los biotipos más virulentos y predominantes en la región.Les espèces pathogènes d'Acidovorax sont responsables de maladies importantes sur le plan économique dans les cultures monocotylédones et dicotylédones, notamment la canne à sucre, le maïs, le riz, l'avoine, le millet, la sétaire, la pastèque et l’orchidée. Les rayures rouges de la canne à sucre, causée par Acidovorax avena, est présente dans les principales zones de production du monde. En Argentine, les rayures rouges touchent environ 30% des tiges usinables, entraînant d'importantes pertes économiques en cas d'infection grave. Le MLST a été utilisé pour explorer la diversité génétique de cette bactérie associée aux rayures rouges en Argentine, ainsi que leurs relations phylo-génétiques. L'analyse MLST comprenait des séquences provenant d'un total de 118 souches Acidovorax, 15 souches d'A. avenae isolées des zones de production de canne à sucre de l’Argentine, A. citrulli (93) du melon et de pastèque, A. avenae (9) du riz, le mil, le maïs, l’herbe de vasey et le sorgho et A. oryzae (1) obtenue du riz. L'analyse MLST a révélé cinq nouveaux types de séquence (ST) pour les souches de canne à sucre d’A. avenae, constituant un complexe clonal d'origine commune et proche. Lorsque les relations génétiques avec d'autres Acidovorax ont été explorées, les souches provenant de la canne à sucre étaient apparentées à A. avenae provenant d'autres hôtes et plus lointainement à A. citrulli. Des signaux de recombinaison fréquente dans plusieurs lignées d'A. avenae ont été détectés et nous avons observé qu'A. oryzae est étroitement apparenté aux souches d'A. avenae. Cette étude fournit des données précieuses dans le domaine des études épiphytologiques et évolutives des souches d'A. avenae provoquant les rayures rouges de la canne à sucre. La connaissance de la diversité génétique et de la spécificité souche-hôte est importante pour sélectionner les génotypes présentant la meilleure résistance à la maladie des rayures rouges.EEA FamailláFil: Fontana, Paola Daniela. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; ArgentinaFil: Tomasini, Nicolás. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Salta. Instituto de Patología Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Tomasini, Nicolás. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Instituto de Patología Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Fontana, Cecilia Alejandra. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; ArgentinaFil: Di Pauli, Valentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; ArgentinaFil: Cocconcelli, P.S. Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore. Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Alimentari per una filiera agro-alimentare Sostenibile (DISTAS); ItaliaFil: Vignolo, Graciela Margarita. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Tucumán. Centro de Referencia Para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Salazar, Sergio Miguel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; Argentin

Quantization of the complex linear superfield

The quantization of the complex linear superfield requires an infinite tower of ghosts. We use the Batalin-Vilkovisky method to obtain a gauge-fixed action. In superspace, the method brings in some novel features.Comment: 21 pages, latex, no figure

Efecto del etil metanosulfonato sobre la capacidad embriogénica y la regeneración in vitro en caña de azúcar

PosterEl mejoramiento genético de caña de azúcar se enfrenta a su complejo genoma, la estrecha base genética, y la fertilidad deficiente que dificultan la obtención de genotipos superiores.EEA FamailláFil: Di Pauli, Valentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; ArgentinaFil: Fontana, Paola Daniela. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; ArgentinaFil: Lewi, Dalia Marcela. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Genética; ArgentinaFil: Erazzú, Luis E. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; Argentina

Long-Term Follow-Up of High-Risk Breast Lesions at Vacuum-Assisted Biopsy without Subsequent Surgical Resection

INTRODUCTION B3-lesions of the breast are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms, associated with a higher risk of breast cancer. Recent studies show a low upgrade rate into malignancy after subsequent open surgical excision (OE) of most B3-lesions when proven by vacuum-assisted biopsy (VAB). However, there is a lack of long-term follow-up data after VAB of high-risk lesions. The primary aim of this study was to demonstrate whether follow-up of B3 lesions is a beneficial and reliable alternative to OE in terms of long-term outcome. The secondary aim was to identify patient and lesion characteristics of B3 lesions for which OE is still necessary. METHODS This retrospective multicenter study was conducted at 8 Swiss breast centers between 2010 and 2019. A total of 278 women (mean age: 53.5 ± 10.7 years) with 286 B3-lesions who had observation only and who had at least 24 months of follow-up were included. Any event during follow-up (ductal carcinoma in situ [DCIS], invasive cancer, new B3-lesion) was systematically recorded. Data from women who had an event during follow-up were compared with those who did not. The results for the different B3 lesions were analyzed using the t test and Fisher's exact test. A p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS The median follow-up interval was 59 months (range: 24-143 months) with 52% (148/286) having a follow-up of more than 5 years. During follow-up, in 42 women, 44 suspicious lesions occurred, with 36.4% (16/44) being invasive cancer and 6.8% (3/44) being DCIS. Thus, 6.6% (19/286) of all women developed malignancy during follow-up after a median follow-up interval of 6.5 years (range: 31-119 months). The initial histology of the B3 lesion influenced the subsequent occurrence of a malignant lesion during follow-up (p 0.12). CONCLUSION With a low risk of 10 years). Knowledge of these long-term outcome results will be helpful in making treatment decisions and determining the optimal radiological follow-up interval

Clinical correlates of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody profiles in Spanish COVID-19 patients from a high incidence region

Laboratory testing for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) consists of two pillars: the detection of viral RNA via rt-PCR as the diagnostic gold standard in acute cases, and the detection of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. However, concerning the latter, questions remain about their diagnostic and prognostic value and it is not clear whether all patients develop detectable antibodies. We examined sera from 347 Spanish COVID-19 patients, collected during the peak of the epidemic outbreak in Spain, for the presence of IgA and IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and evaluated possible associations with age, sex and disease severity (as measured by duration of hospitalization, kind of respiratory support, treatment in ICU and death). The presence and to some degree the levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies depended mainly on the amount of time between onset of symptoms and the collection of serum. A subgroup of patients did not develop antibodies at the time of sample collection. Compared to the patients that did, no differences were found. The presence and level of antibodies was not associated with age, sex, duration of hospitalization, treatment in the ICU or death. The case-fatality rate increased exponentially with older age. Neither the presence, nor the levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies served as prognostic markers in our cohort. This is discussed as a possible consequence of the timing of the sample collection. Age is the most important risk factor for an adverse outcome in our cohort. Some patients appear not to develop antibodies within a reasonable time frame. It is unclear, however, why that is, as these patients differ in no respect examined by us from those who developed antibodies