Health inequity in workers of Latin America and the Caribbean

Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is the world’s most inequitable region in terms of wealth distribution. The full scale of social inequalities in health has been hidden by the lack of reliable data. This study aimed to measure and compare health inequalities in the working population within and between 15 countries of LAC

Monitoring Self-Perceived Occupational Health inequities in Central america, 2011 and 2018

Objectives. to analyze changes in occupational health inequity between 2011 and 2018 among workers in Central America. Methods. Data were collected by face-to-face interviews at the workers\u27 homes for the 2 Central America Working Conditions Surveys (n = 12 024 in 2011 and n = 9030 in 2018). We estimated health inequity gaps by means of absolute and relative population attributable risks and the weighted Keppel index. We stratified all analyses by gender. Results. Between 2011 and 2018, the proportion of workers reporting poor self-perceived health decreased both in women (from 32% to 29%) and men (from 33% to 30%). However, the health inequity gaps remained wide in the 4 stratifiers. Measured by the Keppel index, health inequity gaps between countries increased from 22% to 39% in women and from 20% to 29% in men. Conclusions. While health improved between 2011 and 2018, health inequity gaps remained wide. Wider health inequity gaps were observed between countries than by gender, age, occupation, or education. Public Health Implications. This first benchmark of occupational health inequities in Central America could be useful when developing and evaluating the impact of public policies on work

Routes to develop a [S]/([S]+[Se]) gradient in wide band-gap Cu2ZnGe(S,Se)4 thin-film solar cells

Wide band-gap kesterite-based solar cells are very attractive to be used for tandem devices as well as for semi-transparent photovoltaic cells. Here, Cu2ZnGe(S,Se)4 (CZGSSe) thin films have been grown by sulfurization of co-evaporated Cu2ZnGeSe4. The influence of a NaF precursor layer and of a Se capping film on CZGSSe absorbers and solar cells has been investigated. It has been found that the distribution of [S]/([S]+[Se]) through the CZGSSe absorber layer is strongly dependent on the Na content. Na promotes the diffusion of S towards the bulk of the absorber layer. Thicker NaF layers>6 nm lead to a higher S content in the bulk of the absorber layer, but to a decreased accumulation of sulphur at the surface, as detected by GIXRD, GD-OES, and Raman spectroscopy measurements. A relationship between Jsc, FF and Na-content supplied was found; higher Na content resulted in improved solar cell efficiencies. It has also been possible to modify the [S]/([S]+[Se])-gradient throughout the CZGSSe film by the absence of the Se capping layer, achieving devices with 2.7% performance and Eg = 2.0 eV. This work reveals two ways to control the [S]/([S]+[Se]) depth-profile to produce wide band gap CZGSSe absorber layers for efficient solar cells

Prevalencia de leptospirosis en roedores sinantrópicos de la Ciudad de Corrientes, Argentina. Período mayo 2005–junio 2008

La leptospirosis es una zoonosis causada por bacterias del género Leptospira sp., las cuales regularmente provocan brotes de la enfermedad en Argentina, donde el conocimiento de su epidemiología es incompleto. Los roedores (ratas y ratones sinantrópicos y silvestres) son los principales reservorios de leptospirosis en nuestro medio. El objetivo del estudio fue investigar la presencia de Leptospira sp. en roedores de la Ciudad de Corrientes, Argentina, así como la especie, sexo y edad de los ejemplares positivos a leptospirosis. Fueron capturados 101 especimenes, cuyo tejido renal fue utilizado para demostrar la presencia de Leptospira sp. mediante microscopio de campo oscuro a partir de cultivos de 15 días hasta un máximo de 6 meses. La tasa de positividad detectada fue de 58,4%, con una alta proporción de animales machos de la especie Rattus rattus. Solamente pudo capturarse un ejemplar de Mus musculus, que resultó infectado. Se concluye que la alta prevalencia de leptospirosis en roedores del área en estudio constituye un alarmante factor de riesgo de infección en animales domésticos y seres humanos

Magnetic properties of ZnO nanoparticles

[EN] We experimentally show that it is possible to induce room-temperature ferromagnetic-like behavior in ZnO nanoparticles without doping with magnetic impurities but simply inducing an alteration of their electronic configuration. Capping ZnO nanoparticles (∿10 nm size) with different organic molecules produces an alteration of their electronic configuration that depends on the particular molecule, as evidenced by photoluminescence and X-ray absorption spectroscopies and altering their magnetic properties that varies from diamagnetic to ferromagnetic-like behavior. © 2007 American Chemical Society.This work has been supported by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (project NAN2004-09125-C07-05)

La lingüística a través del humor: aplicaciones didácticas

Las investigaciones que hemos llevado a cabo en el marco del grupo GRIALE (Proyecto I+D “Innovaciones lingüísticas del humor: géneros textuales, identidad y enseñanza del español” (FFI2012-30941), así como en una Red docente anterior (2774 “Humor y perspectiva de género: análisis y aplicaciones didácticas”, 2012-2013) nos han conducido a plantear esta nueva tarea docente (Red 3161: “La lingüística a través del humor: aplicaciones didácticas”) que se centra en la elaboración de propuestas metodológicas sobre el uso del humor como herramienta de optimización en la presentación de contenidos teóricos de las asignaturas de lingüística y de lenguas en los diversos grados de Filología y de Traducción. En efecto, el formato de discurso humorístico proporciona un marco ideal para crear instrumentos didácticos que conviertan en atractivos los contenidos de materias lingüísticas que a menudo resultan difíciles por su alto nivel de abstracción. Creemos que nuestro enfoque puede contribuir al aumento de la motivación del alumnado y facilitar el proceso de asimilación de la información. Asimismo, otro aspecto clave, como es la formación de la competencia metalingüística, recibe nuestra atención dado que el desentrañamiento de los patrones lingüísticos del humor constituye una tarea altamente reflexiva y resulta útil de cara al ejercicio profesional de los futuros filólogos y traductores

Prevalence of leptospirosis in sinantropic rodents from Corrientes City, Argentina. Period May 2005-June 2008

Fil: Marder, G. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina.Fil: Ruiz, Raquel Mónica. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina.Fil: Bottinelli, Omar. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina.Fil: Peiretti, Hugo Alberto. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina.Fil: Zorzo, Liliana. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina.Fil: Merino, D. E. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Medicina; Argentina.Fil: Czernik, G. E. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Medicina; Argentina.La leptospirosis es una zoonosis causada por bacterias del género Leptospira sp., las cuales regularmente provocan brotes de la enfermedad en Argentina, donde el conocimiento de su epidemiología es incompleto. Los roedores (ratas y ratones sinantrópicos y silvestres) son los principales reservorios de leptospirosis en nuestro medio. El objetivo del estudio fue investigar la presencia de Leptospira sp. en roedores de la Ciudad de Corrientes, Argentina, así como la especie, sexo y edad de los ejemplares positivos a leptospirosis. Fueron capturados 101 especimenes, cuyo tejido renal fue utilizado para demostrar la presencia de Leptospira sp. mediante microscopio de campo oscuro a partir de cultivos de 15 días hasta un máximo de 6 meses. La tasa de positividad detectada fue de 58,4%, con una alta proporción de animales machos de la especie Rattus rattus. Solamente pudo capturarse un ejemplar de Mus musculus, que resultó infectado. Se concluye que la alta prevalencia de leptospirosis en roedores del área en estudio constituye un alarmante factor de riesgo de infección en animales domésticos y seres humanos.Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by Leptospira sp., affecting both animals and human beings. Outbreaks of leptospirosis occur frequently in Argentina, but little is known about its epidemiology. Reservoirs of leptospirosis in the environment are mainly rodents (mice, rats, and wild mice), that live in the vicinity of human settlements. Aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Leptospira sp. infection in rodents from Corrientes City, Argentina, as well as to gather information regarding species, sex and age of infected animals. One hundred and one rodents were captured from different areas of the city, classified and euthanized to collect kidney samples. To determine the presence of leptospiras, tissues were cultured during 15 days to a maximum of 6 months, and analyzed by means of dark–filed microscope. From the total of the tissue samples, 58% of the animals were positive to leptospira infection, with a high proportion of males of Rattus rattus species. We consider that the high prevalence of leptospirosis in rodents of the areas under study is a risk factor for both human beings and domestic animals, and control of these populations has to be taken into account

Biological behavior of familial papillary thyroid microcarcinoma: Spanish multicenter study

Purpose Familial papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (FPTMC) can present a more aggressive behavior than the sporadic microcarcinoma. However, few studies have analyzed this situation. The objective is to analyze the recurrence rate of FPTMC and the prognostic factors which determine that recurrence in Spain. Methods Spanish multicenter longitudinal analytical observational study was conducted. Patients with FPTMC received treatment with curative intent and presented cure criteria 6 months after treatment. Recurrence rate and disease-free survival (DFS) were analyzed. Two groups were analyzed: group A (no tumor recurrence) vs. group B (tumor recurrence). Results Ninety-four patients were analyzed. During a mean follow-up of 73.3 +/- 59.3 months, 13 recurrences of FPTMC (13.83%) were detected and mean DFS was 207.9 +/- 11.5 months. There were multifocality in 56%, bilateral thyroid involvement in 30%, and vascular invasion in 7.5%; that is to say, they are tumors with histological factors of poor prognosis in a high percentage of cases. The main risk factors for recurrence obtained in the multivariate analysis were the tumor size (OR: 2.574, 95% CI 1.210-5.473; p = 0.014) and the assessment of the risk of recurrence of the American Thyroid Association (ATA), both intermediate risk versus low risk (OR: 125, 95% CI 10.638-1000; p < 0.001) and high risk versus low risk (OR: 45.454, 95% CI 5.405-333.333; p < 0.001). Conclusion FPTMC has a recurrence rate higher than sporadic cases. Poor prognosis is mainly associated with the tumor size and the risk of recurrence of the ATA

On-Surface Driven Formal Michael Addition Produces m-Polyaniline Oligomers on Pt(111)

On-surface synthesis is emerging as a highly rational bottom-up methodology for the synthesis of molecular structures that are unattainable or complex to obtain by wet chemistry. Here, oligomers of meta-polyaniline, a known ferromagnetic polymer, were synthesized from para-aminophenol building-blocks via an unexpected and highly specific on-surface formal 1, 4 Michael-type addition at the meta position, driven by the reduction of the aminophenol molecule. We rationalize this dehydrogenation and coupling reaction mechanism with a combination of in situ scanning tunneling and non-contact atomic force microscopies, high-resolution synchrotron-based X-ray photoemission spectroscopy and first-principles calculations. This study demonstrates the capability of surfaces to selectively modify local molecular conditions to redirect well-established synthetic routes, such as Michael coupling, towards the rational synthesis of new covalent nanostructures

Prospective multicenter study of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae from 83 hospitals in Spain reveals high in vitro susceptibility to colistin and meropenem

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) in Spain in 2013 by describing the prevalence, dissemination, and geographic distribution of CPE clones, and their population structure and antibi- otic susceptibility. From February 2013 to May 2013, 83 hospitals (about 40,000 hospital beds) prospectively collected nondupli- cate Enterobacteriaceae using the screening cutoff recommended by EUCAST. Carbapenemase characterization was performed by phenotypic methods and confirmed by PCR and sequencing. Multilocus sequencing types (MLST) were determined for Kleb- siella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. A total of 702 Enterobacteriaceae isolates met the inclusion criteria; 379 (54%) were CPE. OXA-48 (71.5%) and VIM-1 (25.3%) were the most frequent carbapenemases, and K. pneumoniae (74.4%), Enterobacter cloacae (10.3%), and E. coli (8.4%) were the species most affected. Susceptibility to colistin, amikacin, and meropenem was 95.5%, 81.3%, and 74.7%, respectively. The most prevalent sequence types (STs) were ST11 and ST405 for K. pneumoniae and ST131 for E. coli. Forty-five (54.1%) of the hospitals had at least one CPE case. For K. pneumoniae, ST11/OXA-48, ST15/OXA-48, ST405/ OXA-48, and ST11/VIM-1 were detected in two or more Spanish provinces. ST11 isolates carried four carbapenemases (VIM-1, OXA-48, KPC-2, and OXA-245), but ST405 isolates carried OXA-48 only. A wide interregional spread of CPE in Spain was ob- served, mainly due to a few successful clones of OXA-48-producing K. pneumoniae (e.g., ST11 and ST405). The dissemination of OXA-48-producing E. coli is a new finding of public health concern. According to the susceptibilities determined in vitro, most of the CPE (94.5%) had three or more options for antibiotic treatment