When quarantine is a privilege: Housing overcrowding and substandard living conditions of the urban poor

In a ruthless way, the pandemic has evidenced existing inequalities among cities around the world. It should not come as a surprise then, that social distancing, self-isolation, and working from home, are measures which are not easy or even possible to follow by an important part of the world’s population that live in substandard housing and overcrowded living conditions

Rethinking planning education using massive open online courses: The case of rethinking the city

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) are becoming a popular educational tool in different disciplines. Urban planning education is no exception and new MOOCs are being released every year. Despite this, it is still not clear how this new learning experience is being developed, delivered, and impacting upon planning education. This article sheds light on this issue using the case of the Rethink the City MOOC organised by the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment of TU Delft. The course received the AESOP Excellence on Teaching award in 2017 and serves as an example of how planning education is facing the change towards online education. The article briefly introduces the course and develops on the challenges and results of it. Based on the course team experience of preparing and delivering the course, the article contributes to the debate about online education and supports fellow academics involved with the creation of new MOOCs

Consuming Two Eggs per Day, as Compared to an Oatmeal Breakfast, Increases Plasma Ghrelin while Maintaining the LDL/HDL Ratio

Eggs contain high quality protein, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, yet regular consumption is still met with uncertainty. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the effects of consuming two eggs per day or a heart-healthy oatmeal breakfast on biomarkers of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and satiety measures in a young, healthy population. Fifty subjects participated in a randomized crossover clinical intervention; subjects were randomly allocated to consume either two eggs or one packet of oatmeal per day for breakfast for four weeks. After a three-week washout period, participants were allocated to the alternative breakfast. Fasting blood samples were collected at the end of each intervention period to assess plasma lipids and plasma ghrelin. Subjects completed visual analog scales (VAS) concurrent to dietary records to assess satiety and hunger. Along with an increase in cholesterol intake, there were significant increases in both low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol following the egg consumption period (p \u3c 0.01). However, there was no difference in the LDL/HDL ratio, a recognized biomarker of CVD risk, nor in the plasma glucose, triglycerides or liver enzymes, between diet periods. Several self-reported satiety measures were increased following the consumption of eggs, which were associated with lower plasma ghrelin concentrations (p \u3c 0.05). These results demonstrate that compared to an oatmeal breakfast, two eggs per day do not adversely affect the biomarkers associated with CVD risk, but increase satiety throughout the day in a young healthy population

Impacto de la regulación del impuesto según DL.1471 en la recaudación tributaria del impuesto a la renta de tercera categoría, dentro del estado de emergencia

Bajo la coyuntura frente a la pandemia, se emitió el Decreto Legislativo N°1471 que abarca dos regímenes tributarios que contribuyen en mayor proporción, y los cuales realizan pagos a cuenta del impuesto a la renta (IR): régimen MYPE tributario (RMT) y el régimen general (RG); de allí que, este estudio tiene como propósito analizar impacto de la regulación del impuesto según DL.1471 en la recaudación tributaria del impuesto a la renta de tercera categoría (IRT), dentro del estado de emergencia. El tipo de estudio es cuantitativo-descriptivo, de diseño no experimental de corte transversal, se analizó la información obtenida de reportes tributarios de recaudación tanto del IRT como de los pagos a cuenta del RMT y RG de los periodos abril, mayo, junio y julio, 2017-2020. Los resultados reflejan una variación porcentual negativa en cuanto a la recaudación de los pagos a cuenta del año 2020, a diferencia de los periodos 2017-2019, puesto que tenía una tendencia creciente; incidiendo de tal manera en la recaudación el IRT; de la misma manera se refleja una variación significativamente negativa en los diferentes sectores económicos. Por tanto, el estudio brinda un análisis de la recaudación de los pagos cuenta del IR por los periodos 2017-2020 y su impacto en la recaudación del IRT.LIMAEscuela Profesional de ContabilidadTributo

La imagen y la narrativa como herramientas para el abordaje psicosocial en escenarios de violencia. Departamentos de Córdoba, Antioquia y Bolívar

En las siguientes líneas se profundizará en el tema de los sufrimientos por violencia y que recursos de afrontamiento psicosocial se pueden proponer ante estas situaciones para observar los daños causados por estos. Desde el enfoque narrativo se reconocerán experiencias vividas a raíz del conflicto armado en el territorio colombiano y como todas las victimas que formaron parte de los hechos, hoy día se destacan por tener una gran capacidad de resiliencia luego de todos esos eventos traumáticos y los ataques sociopolíticos. Es importante mencionar que Colombia ha sido un país con múltiples historias de violencia que han marcado la vida de personas, familias y comunidades enteras por delitos cometidos, esto conlleva a revisar los problemas de salud mental en los cuales están inversos muchas personas víctimas, sufriendo graves consecuencias por todo lo vivido. Debido a estos sucesos estas víctimas han adquirido herramientas para poder afrontar esas situaciones que se han ido presentando; creando y construyendo esperanzas que permitan nuevos comienzos para un mejor futuro. Con el caso que se llevará a cabo, se implementaran diversas estrategias de abordaje psicosocial para el restablecimiento del tejido social, dado que, desde el rol del psicólogo esto es lo que se busca, brindar las herramientas adecuadas de acuerdo con cada situación vivida, teniendo en cuenta la dimensión de afectaciones que cada hecho ha traído consigo.In the following lines, the subject of suffering due to violence will be deepened and what psychosocial coping resources can be proposed in these situations to observe the damage caused by them. From the narrative approach, experiences lived as a result of the armed conflict in Colombian territory will be recognized and, like all the victims who were part of the events, today they stand out for having a great capacity for resilience after all those traumatic events and sociopolitical attacks. It is important to mention that Colombia has been a country with multiple stories of violence that have marked the lives of individuals, families and entire communities due to crimes committed, this leads to reviewing the mental health problems in which many victims are inverse, suffering serious consequences for everything lived. Due to these events, these victims have acquired tools to be able to face these situations that have been presented; creating and building hopes that allow new beginnings for a better future. With the case that will be carried out, various psychosocial approach strategies will be implemented for the reestablishment of the social fabric, given that, from the role of the psychologist, this is what is sought, to provide the appropriate tools according to each situation experienced, having taken into account the dimension of affectations that each fact has brought with it

Ampliación de la distribución de Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva, 1912) (Diptera: Psychodidae) en el departamento de Caldas: potencial aumento del riesgo de leishmaniasis visceral

Introduction. Diverse studies at a taxonomical and molecular level suggest that Lutzomyia longipalpis, main vector of visceral leishmaniasis in Latin America, is a complex of species with wide distribution throughout the continent and adaptation to different habitats. Objective. To carry out entomological surveillance in the area of influence of the Hydroelectric Plant Miel I. Materials and methods. Adhesive traps were used in a transect covering an area of approximately 400km for the capture of insects, which were then identified using the taxonomical key of Young and Duncan. Results. This study reports the presence of Lutzomyia longipalpis in the municipalities of Norcasia at an altitude of 392masl and in Marquetalia at 1387masl. Conclusions. We suggest that the increase in the geographical and altitudinal distribution could be related to the existence of the "Lutzomyia longipalpis" species complex, or to environmental factors such as the rise in temperature due to global climate change which creates the establishment of Lu. longipalpis, generating a new epidemiological risk for new visceral leishmaniasis foci in the country. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.7705/biomedica.v33i2.762Introducción. Diversos estudios a nivel taxonómico y molecular sugieren que Lutzomyia longipalpis, principal vector de la leishmaniasis visceral en Latinoamérica, es un complejo de especies con ampliadistribución a lo largo del continente y con adaptaciones a diferentes hábitats.Objetivo. Realizar vigilancia entomológica en el área de influencia de la hidroeléctrica Miel I.Materiales y métodos. Se utilizaron trampas adhesivas en una intersección de 400 km, aproximadamente, para la captura de insectos, los cuales fueron identificados con la clave taxonómica de Youngy Duncan.Resultados. En este estudio se reporta la presencia de Lu. longipalpis en los municipios de Norcasia a una altitud de 392 msnm y en Marquetalia a 1.387 msnm; es el primer reporte a esta altura para esta especie en Colombia.Conclusiones. Se sugiere que la ampliación de la distribución geográfica y altitudinal de Lu. longipalpis en el país podría estar relacionada con la existencia del complejo de especies Lu. longipalpis, o a factores ambientales como el aumento de temperatura debido al cambio climático global que viene sucediendo en las últimas décadas. Esta última hipótesis sugeriría que se están creando nuevos hábitats propiciospara el establecimiento de Lu. longipalpis, lo cual genera un nuevo riesgo epidemiológico de posiblesnuevos focos de leishmaniasis visceral en el país. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.7705/biomedica.v33i2.762

Reefs at Risk: A Map-Based Indicator of Threats to the Worlds Coral Reefs

This report presents the first-ever detailed, map-based assessment of potential threats to coral reef ecosystems around the world. "Reefs at Risk" draws on 14 data sets (including maps of land cover, ports, settle-ments, and shipping lanes), information on 800 sites known to be degraded by people, and scientific expertise to model areas where reef degradation is predicted to occur, given existing human pressures on these areas. Results are an indicator of potential threat (risk), not a measure of actual condition. In some places, particularly where good management is practiced, reefs may be at risk but remain relatively healthy. In others, this indicator underestimates the degree to which reefs are threatened and degraded.Our results indicate that:Fifty-eight percent of the world's reefs are poten-tially threatened by human activity -- ranging from coastal development and destructive fishing practices to overexploitation of resources, marine pollution, and runoff from inland deforestation and farming.Coral reefs of Asia (Southeastern); the most species-rich on earth, are the most threatened of any region. More than 80 percent are at risk (undermedium and high potential threat), and over half are at high risk, primarily from coastal development and fishing-related pressures.Overexploitation and coastal development pose the greatest potential threat of the four risk categories considered in this study. Each, individually, affects a third of all reefs.The Pacific, which houses more reef area than any other region, is also the least threatened. About 60 percent of reefs here are at low risk.Outside of the Pacific, 70 percent of all reefs are at risk.At least 11 percent of the world's coral reefs contain high levels of reef fish biodiversity and are under high threat from human activities. These "hot spot" areas include almost all Philippine reefs, and coral communities off the coasts of Asia, the Comoros, and the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean.Almost half a billion people -- 8 percent of the total global population -- live within 100 kilometers of a coral reef.Globally, more than 400 marine parks, sanctuaries, and reserves (marine protected areas) contain coral reefs. Most of these sites are very small -- more than 150 are under one square kilometer in size. At least 40 countries lack any marine protected areas for conserving their coral reef systems

JTT-130, a microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) inhibitor lowers plasma triglycerides and LDL cholesterol concentrations without increasing hepatic triglycerides in guinea pigs

BACKGROUND: Microsomal transfer protein inhibitors (MTPi) have the potential to be used as a drug to lower plasma lipids, mainly plasma triglycerides (TG). However, studies with animal models have indicated that MTPi treatment results in the accumulation of hepatic TG. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether JTT-130, a unique MTPi, targeted to the intestine, would effectively reduce plasma lipids without inducing a fatty liver. METHODS: Male guinea pigs (n = 10 per group) were used for this experiment. Initially all guinea pigs were fed a hypercholesterolemic diet containing 0.08 g/100 g dietary cholesterol for 3 wk. After this period, animals were randomly assigned to diets containing 0 (control), 0.0005 or 0.0015 g/100 g of MTPi for 4 wk. A diet containing 0.05 g/100 g of atorvastatin, an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor was used as the positive control. At the end of the 7(th )week, guinea pigs were sacrificed to assess drug effects on plasma and hepatic lipids, composition of LDL and VLDL, hepatic cholesterol and lipoprotein metabolism. RESULTS: Plasma LDL cholesterol and TG were 25 and 30% lower in guinea pigs treated with MTPi compared to controls (P < 0.05). Atorvastatin had the most pronounced hypolipidemic effects with a 35% reduction in LDL cholesterol and 40% reduction in TG. JTT-130 did not induce hepatic lipid accumulation compared to controls. Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) activity was reduced in a dose dependent manner by increasing doses of MTPi and guinea pigs treated with atorvastatin had the lowest CETP activity (P < 0.01). In addition the number of molecules of cholesteryl ester in LDL and LDL diameter were lower in guinea pigs treated with atorvastatin. In contrast, hepatic enzymes involved in maintaining cholesterol homeostasis were not affected by drug treatment. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that JTT-130 could have potential clinical applications due to its plasma lipid lowering effects with no alterations in hepatic lipid concentrations