Impulsive and antisocial personality characteristics amongst male adolescent sexual offenders :

Although adolescent violent crime arrests have declined over the years (Snyder and Sickmund, 2006; Sickmund 2005) the number of adolescent nonviolent and violent sexual offenses continues to peril social health. As such, empirically based treatment options are needed to meet the diverse needs of this heterogeneous group of youth. The purpose of this study was to review current literature for impulsive and antisocial personality characteristics amongst male adolescent sexual offenders. Two separate quantitative research papers were written to assess the significant relationship between these personality traits and adolescent sexual offenders. To help leverage our understanding of these youth, the first paper explored differences of impulsivity between adolescent sexual offenders and non-sexual delinquents and further investigated impulsive traits in relation to adolescent sexual acts. The assumption of insignificant difference between groups on levels of impulsivity was supported. Unexpected findings included impulsivity being significantly related to the adolescent sexual offenders\u27 delinquent crimes rather than his sexual acts. The second paper sought to explore prominent antisocial traits, such as impulsivity, destruction of property, lifestyle instability, substance abuse, hostility, and a history of rule violation, amongst the sexual and delinquent acts of adolescent sexual offenders. The assumption that antisocial acts are related to both the adolescent sexual offenders\u27 delinquent crimes and his sexual acts was supported

Caracterización biológica de una nueva serie de compuestos químicos con actividad antimicrobiana

Antimicrobial resistance has become a serious global health problem, not only because resistant bacteria cause millions of deaths worldwide, but also because fewer antibiotics are approved to treat these infections. Currently, there is a great need to find new antimicrobial agents effective against multi-drug resistant strains. In this project, we have characterized the antimicrobial activity of a library containing 47 chemical compounds with related structural features never tested before in biological processes. To this aim, a screening strategy was followed to select those compounds showing in vitro activity and without cytotoxicity. First, a single concentration assay (single shot) was performed against 17 bacterial strains, including Gram-positives, Gram-negatives, and mycobacteria. Thirteen compounds were selected with activity at 50 μM against at least one of the strains. Second, dose-response and time-kill kinetics assays were also performed, selecting 5 compounds with bactericidal activity against Gram-positive bacteria at concentrations ranging from 0.78 to 50 μM. Third, cytotoxicity assays in human hepatic cells were performed to determine selectivity indexes (S.I); these ranged from 3.4 to 70.5. Fourth, concentrations of 5 μM were found not mutagenic by the Ames’ Test. Finally, structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies defined chemical structural features determining the compounds’ antimicrobial activity. In summary, we have identified active compounds against Gram-positive bacteria with good S.I., which opens a new research line with the potential to develop new antimicrobial agents. Future assays may include more detailed studies of in vitro and in vivo activity, toxicity, determination of the molecular mechanism of action and medicinal chemistry efforts in order to optimize these series of compounds

Tratamiento fisioterapéutico de la patología TMC

La artrosis en la articulación trapecio metacarpiana (TMC) es una patología muy frecuente que causa dolor y debilidad, provocando problemas para el desarrollo normal de las actividades cotidianas (AVD). Hemos realizado una revisión sistemática de los ensayos clínicos y ensayos clínicos aleatorizados de los últimos 10 años donde se compara la intervención mediante ejercicios con tratamiento conservador sin ejercicio terapéutico consideran las variables dolor, funcionalidad, debilidad muscular y calidad de vida como medida “outcome”. No fue posible cegar a los participantes al tratamiento a pesar de que en la mayoría de los estudios el terapeuta sí estaba cegado. Determinadas medidas de resultados como el dolor, la función o la calidad de vida son medidas de auto-evaluacion, lo cual también debe ser considerado como un sesgo en los resultados. Tras la intervención con ejercicios en la artrosis TMC solo en cinco estudios se hace referencia a una disminución del dolor. (SMD-0.27, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.47 to -0.07). Cuatro estudios determinan una mejora en la función tras la intervención con ejercicios (SMD -0.28, 95% CI -0.58 to 0.02). Sólo un estudio evalúa la mejora en la calidad de vida y sus efectos sobre esta variable son inciertos. Acorde a estos resultados, existe una evidencia baja sobre el beneficio de los ejercicios en pacientes con artrosis TMC sobre el dolor y la función. El tamaño del efecto de los resultados es muy pequeño y pocos estudios emplean la mejora en la calidad de vida como medida de resultado. Basándonos en los estudios descritos y biomecánicos, proponemos una protocolo de tratamiento conservador basado en ejercicios específicos sobre determinados grupos musculares para ayudar a estabilizar la artrosis TMC

High-risk screening and diagnosis of inborn errors of metabolism : a practical guide for laboratories

Inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) are a large and heterogeneous group of genetic diseases. In most of these conditions, the presence of variants in specific genes leads to enzyme deficiencies that affect a particular metabolic step. The number of laboratories dedicated to the study of IEM is very limited worldwide, and its multiplication is urgently required for a more effective diagnosis. With the scarcity of specialized centers, the diagnosis of affected individuals comes too late or does not happen at all. Moreover, the biological samples have to travel long distances, compromising its quality and delaying still more the diagnosis. In this work, we suggest a practical guide for a basic biochemical laboratory to get involved in the study of IEM. This proposal was based on already described metabolic tests and involves the need of just a few, simple, and affordable instruments that can give an enormous quantity of information about the possible metabolic defect faced, such as a spectrophotofluorometer and a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) instrument. The procedures proposed can be customized and adapted to particular needs and situations, which make it especially useful for developing countries

High temperature total consumption sample introduction system coupled to microwave plasma optical emission spectrometry (MIP-OES) for the analysis of aqueous samples

The high temperature torch integrated sample introduction system (hTISIS) is coupled to microwave plasma optical emission spectrometry (MIP-OES) for the first time. The goal of this work is to develop an accurate analysis of digested samples under continuous sample aspiration mode by coupling the hTISIS to a MIP-OES instrument. To achieve this, different operating conditions such as, nebulization flow rate, liquid flow rate and the spray chamber temperature were optimized in terms of sensitivity, limits of quantification (LOQs) and background equivalent concentration (BECs) for the determination of Ca, Cr, Cu Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Pb and Zn, and these values were compared with those reported with a conventional sample introduction system. Under optimum conditions (0.8–1 L min−1, 100 μL min−1 and 400 ᵒC, respectively), the hTISIS improved MIP-OES analytical figures of merit and shortened 4-times wash out times with respect to a conventional cyclonic spray chamber, reporting an enhancement factor in the sensitivity among 2–47 times and LOQs from 0.9 to 360 μg kg−1. Once the best operating conditions were set, the magnitude of the interference caused by 15 different acid matrices (2, 5 and 10% w/w of HNO3, H2SO4, HCl and mixtures of HNO3 with H2SO4 and HNO3 with HCl) was significantly lower for the former device. Finally, 6 different digested oily samples (used cooking oil, animal fat, corn oil and the same samples after a filtration step) were analyzed by means of an external calibration approach based on the use of multielemental standards prepared in 3% (w/w) HCl solution. The obtained results were compared against those supplied by a conventional methodology employing an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry, ICP-OES, instrument. It was clearly concluded that the hTISIS coupled to MIP-OES afforded similar concentrations as compared to the conventional methodology

Influence of contextual factors in the adoption of models of unsustainable agriculture : the adoption of the greenhouse in farmers in the horticultural belt of La Plata

En las últimas décadas, en el Cinturón Hortícola Platense, gran parte de la producción hortícola al aire libre fue reemplazada por producción bajo invernáculo. A pesar de ser más rentable, esta modalidad afecta de una forma más acentuada las dimensiones ecológica y social de la sustentabilidad. El proceso de toma de decisiones de los agricultores es complejo y en él se ponen en juego factores individuales y factores contextuales (económicos, técnicos y políticos). Se analizó la influencia de los factores contextuales en la toma de decisión de incorporar la tecnología del invernáculo en diferentes agricultores del Cinturón Hortícola Platense. Se utilizó una metodología cualitativa, con entrevistas en profundidad a horticultores de diferente origen y que trabajan con diversos sistemas de producción. Los resultados demuestran que los factores contextuales fueron de gran importancia para que los agricultores optaran por incorporar innovaciones tecnológicas no sustentables. A su vez, se observó que los agricultores que cultivan bajo invernáculo fueron más influenciados por los factores contextuales que aquellos que cultivan al aire libre. Ante un Estado ausente, una ciencia débil y la falta de valoración de bienes ambientales, predominó la dimensión económica en la adopción de sistemas no sustentables.In recent decades, in the Horticultural Platense Region, much of the open field horticultural farming has been replaced by greenhouse cultivation systems. Even though this practice is more profitable than open field farming, it has a more accentuated negative impact on the ecological and social dimensions of sustainability. The decision-making process of farmers is complex and it's subject to individual and contextual factors (economic, technical, political and social). The influence of contextual factors in the adoption of greenhouse technology in different Horticultural Platense farmers was analyzed. A qualitative methodology was used, with in-depth interviews with farmers of different origin, who work with various production systems. The results confirm that contextual factors exerted great pressure on farmers when it came to incorporating unsustainable technological innovations. Additionally, it was observed that farmers who practiced greenhouse farming were more influenced by contextual factors than those who practiced open field farming. With a mostly absent State, a weak science and the lack of monetary valuation of environmental assets, the economic dimension prevails when it comes to adopting unsustainable systems.Fil: Blandi, María Luz. Buenos Aires (Argentina). Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET).Fil: Rigotto, Raquel María.Fil: Sarandón, Santiago Javier. Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Impactos de la modernización tecnológica sobre dimensiones contextuales en el cinturón hortícola platense

En las últimas décadas, el cinturón hortícola platense sufrió un proceso de modernización tecnológica representado por la incorporación del invernáculo y su paquete tecnológico asociado. El objetivo del trabajo es analizar cómo este proceso impactó sobre las dimensiones económica, técnica, política y social del territorio. Se utilizó una metodología cualitativa, con entrevistas en profundidad a agricultores de diferente origen y sistemas de producción. La incorporación del invernáculo impactó en el territorio a través de la dimensión económica, que subordinó a las dimensiones científico-técnica y política. En los últimos años algunas dimensiones han comenzado a tomar más protagonismo. Se concluye que todavía el vínculo entre los agricultores y el sector privado es muy fuerte pero se visualiza un estado que está retomando su presencia.In recent decades, the Horticultural Platense Region underwent a process of technological modernization, represented by the incorporation of the greenhouse and its associated package of technology. The aim of this paper is to analyze how this process affected the economic, technical, political and social dimensions of the territory. The methodology used was qualitative, with in-depth interviews with farmers of different origin and production systems. The incorporation of the greenhouse made an impact on the territory through the economic dimension, that subordinated the scientific, technical and political dimensions. In recent years, some dimensions have begun to regain importance. It is concluded that the bond between farmers and the private sector is still very strong, but there is evidence of a State regaining ground.Eje: A2: Paisajes, Territorios y Agroecologí