The Impact of Motown Drummers in Popular Music

The Impact of Motown Drummers in Popular Musi

Case study: risk associated to wearing silver or graphene nanoparticle‑coated facemasks for protection against COVID‑19

The world is living a pandemic situation derived from the worldwide spreading of SARS-CoV-2 virus causing COVID- 19. Facemasks have proven to be one of the most effective prophylactic measures to avoid the infection that has made that wearing of facemasks has become mandatory in most of the developed countries. Silver and graphene nanoparticles have proven to have antimicrobial properties and are used as coating of these facemasks to increase the effectivity of the textile fibres. In the case of silver nanoparticles, we have estimated that in a real scenario the systemic (internal) exposure derived from wearing these silver nanoparticle facemasks would be between 7.0 × 10– 5 and 2.8 × 10– 4 mg/kg bw/day. In addition, we estimated conservative systemic no effect levels between 0.075 and 0.01 mg/kg bw/day. Therefore, we estimate that the chronic exposure to silver nanoparticles derived form facemasks wearing is safe. In the case of graphene, we detected important gaps in the database, especially regarding toxicokinetics, which prevents the derivation of a systemic no effect level. Nevertheless, the qualitative approach suggests that the risk of dermal repeated exposure to graphene is very low, or even negligible. We estimated that for both nanomaterials, the risk of skin sensitisation and genotoxicity is also negligibl

THE URBAN FOOD DESERT AS A MODEL FOR THE URBAN HEALTH CARE DESERT: FUNDAMENTAL CAUSES AND ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS

Introduction: A “health care desert” is a part of the country where needed medical, behavioral, mental, dental, and/or pharmaceutical health care services are extremely limited or altogether unavailable. This terminology is based on the concept of a “food desert,” which describes an area where people have limited access to affordable and healthy foods, and which, together with the negative health consequences of eating lower-quality foods, is well described in public health literature. The application of this terminology to an urban environment with ready access to transportation has been limited and is controversial. However, the recent increase in urban hospital closures in certain communities is clearly impacting health care and the overall health of the people who live there. This study applies economic theory and fundamental cause theory to explore what establishes and maintains an urban health care desert. Additionally, the impact of this condition on health care and overall health is examined by comparing selected health care desert communities to robust (non-desert) health care communities in Brooklyn, New York. Objectives: The three overarching objectives of this study are to characterize an urban health care desert and describe the theoretical foundations that result in the creation and persistence of urban health care deserts; to examine the effects of living in Northern and Central Brooklyn health care desert communities on medical health care access and quality; and to examine the effects of living in Northern and Central Brooklyn health care desert communities on mental and behavioral health care access and quality. Methods: The outcomes of interest in this study are poor access to and quality of health care and resulting poor health. The risk factors for this outcome include: 1) preventable hospitalizations as defined using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Prevention Quality Indicators (PQIs) and selected high-risk mental/behavioral health diagnoses; 2) increased hospitalization length of stay (LOS); and 3) potentially preventable emergency department (ED) visits. Preventable hospitalizations and ED visits will be used to assess access and LOS will be used as a proxy for quality. The exposure for this study is living in a Brooklyn urban health care desert community. The health care desert communities are compared to nearby non-desert communities. This study also characterizes desert and non-desert community demographics. Results: Using the food desert framework, several health care desert communities were identified in Brooklyn, New York. These communities were compared to non-desert (robust) health care communities, also in Brooklyn. For medical hospitalizations, significant differences between desert and non-desert communities for PQI 1, PQI 3, PQI 14, and PQI 15 were seen across all three study years. These differences showed higher admission rates for health care desert community patients with several diabetes diagnoses as well as asthma. PQI 90, the composite, also showed higher hospitalization rates for health care desert communities from 2010 to 2012. For PQI 92, the chronic illness composite, health care desert communities again showed higher rates of hospitalization. ED utilization was greater in the health care desert communities for 11 of the 12 PQIs, and for each of the composite measures. For mental and behavioral hospitalizations, health care desert communities had higher rates for drug abuse, major depression, and schizophrenia for all three study years. For mental and behavioral emergency department utilization, desert communities showed higher rates. Additionally, the composite score, which included all diagnoses, also found higher overall utilization in desert communities. LOS data was only significant for PQI 2, perforated appendix; hospitalizations in health care desert communities and the Heckman correction were also significant. No difference was found in LOS for mental/behavioral conditions. Conclusion: Health care desert communities face challenges with accessing health care. This difference of access for desert communities, versus non-desert communities, results in increased hospitalization rates for several chronic diseases including diabetes and asthma. Additionally, hospitalizations for severe mental health and behavioral illness, including schizophrenia and drug abuse, were greater in the health care desert communities. In general LOS findings for both medical and mental/behavioral hospitalizations did not support a difference in quality of care between desert and non-desert communities. Emergency department utilization was also greater in health care desert communities for the vast majority of medical, mental, and behavioral illnesses. It is clear from this study that health care desert communities face health disparities, especially when considering chronic illness. The approach to addressing these disparities should include identifying health care desert communities and applying a focused population health approach

Daily patterns of activity in free-living Rio Negro Tuco-Tucos (Ctenomys rionegrensis)

Activity patterns are a fundamental aspect of the biology of many species, with important implications for survival and reproduction. Typically, such patterns of activity are thought to be entrained by light cues, raising intriguing questions about the nature of circadian rhythms in subterranean species, members of which spend virtually their entire lives in dark, underground burrows. As part of ongoing studies of the behavioural biology of the Rio Negro tuco-tuco (Ctenomys rionegrensis), we used data from free-living animals to characterize daily patterns of activity in this subterranean species of rodent. The locations of 5 radiocollared adults were recorded hourly for 72 consecutive hours during November, 2005. Analyses of 5 measures of activity based on these data revealed that individuals changed locations more often and moved greater distances between successive radio fixes during daylight hours. These data are consistent with studies of other ctenomyid rodents in suggesting that C. rionegrensis tends toward diurnality. Comparisons with other lineages of subterranean rodents indicate that activity patterns vary markedly among these burrow-dwelling mammals, with substantial intra- as well as inter-specific differences in activity reported

Mechanism-based models in reproductive and developmental toxicology

This chapter discusses the study of the currently available models for testing developmental toxicity (embryotoxicity and teratogenicity). The main alternative models for testing developmental toxicity are described. These models are divided between validated models (whole-embryo culture test (WEC), micromass test (MM) and embryonic stem cell test (EST)) and those that are not currently validated (although have proven scientific validity) as is the case of zebrafish, frog embryo teratogenesis assay (FETAX), in silico models for predicting embryotoxicity, in vitro cellular models different from the EST method, and methods using fragments of embryos. The non-validated alternative models for testing developmental toxicity are also explained here. To date, only three in vitro methods (MM, EST and WEC) have been validated by an international agency (ECVAM) in order to be used for testing the embryotoxicity potential of chemicals, although other models such as FETAX and zebrafish have also proved their validity for this purpose. Methods based on the employment of embryos allow the specific malformation expected after exposure to the chemical to be determined, while methods based on cellular systems are more relevant in order to determine the mechanism underlying the adverse observed effect and still display a wide field for improving their prediction capability

Reproductive toxicity: in vivo testing guidelines from OECD

The guidelines for testing the reproductive toxicity in vivo developed and validated by Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development allow for a systematic and internationally accepted testing and assessment of chemicals. Within reproductive toxicity two main categories of guidelines are usually identified: one dedicated to testing developmental toxicity, starting before the gestation period, while the other guidelines test the reproductive toxicity as a whole, therefore including male and female fertility and development. In this chapter, we summarize the guidelines on in vivo reproductive toxicity, by describing the general principles of the studies, the main aspects of the procedure, the endpoints and the observations, data reporting, and the criteria needed for the interpretation of their results

OECD guidelines and validated methods for in vivo testing of reproductive toxicity

This chapter discusses the methods adapted by the OECD and some other protocols, including the general principles of the study, the main aspects of the procedure, the endpoints and the observations, data reporting and criteria for interpreting results, and summarizing the guidelines. OECD 414 provides general information concerning the effects of prenatal exposure on the pregnant test animal and on the developing organism. OECD 415 is designed to provide general information concerning the effects of the tested substance on male and female reproductive performance. OECD 416 test is designed to provide general information concerning the effects of a tested substance on the integrity and performance of the male and female reproductive systems, including gonadal function, the estrus cycle, mating behavior, conception, gestation, parturition, lactation and weaning, and the growth and development of the offspring. The study also provides information about the effects on the first generation (F1) including neonatal morbidity, mortality and preliminary data on prenatal and postnatal developmental toxicity. OECD 421 offers only limited means of detecting postnatal manifestations of prenatal exposure, or effects that may be induced during postnatal exposure. OECD 422 is intended for identification of possible health hazards likely to arise from repeated exposure over a relatively limited period of time. OECD 426 is designed to provide data, including dose–response characterization, on the potential functional and morphological effects on the developing nervous system of the offspring that may arise from exposure in uterus and during early life

Chapter 7 - Alternative methods to animal experimentation for testing developmental toxicity

The available alternative methods for testing developmental toxicity comprise either cellular models or whole embryos of rodents, fish, or amphibian. The simplest cellular models consider the use of human or animal embryonic stem cells (embryonic or of induced pluripotency) under differentiation and one of the most widely used endpoints in these methods is the alterations in differentiated beating cardiomyocytes, although determination of other molecular markers is also extended. More complex cellular models consider the use of cocultures or 3D cultures or the so-called organoids. These models mimic the physiological environment in a much better way than the simple monolayer cultures. The use of whole embryos allows the determination of which teratogenic effects are expectable after exposure to developmental toxicants, which is one of the main disadvantages of the cellular methods. The appropriate assessment of chemical safety for development needs of a battery of alternative methods applied. Integrated Approaches to Testing and Assessment (IATA) would allow in the close future to perform safe and reliable assessment of developmental toxicity based on alternative methods

MECHANICAL COMPARISON BETWEEN ROUNDHOUSE KICK TO THE CHEST AND TO THE HEAD IN FUNCTION OF EXECUTION DISTANCE IN TAEKWONDO

The purpose of this research was to examine and compare maximum impact force (MIF) and execution time (ET) in two different Taekwondo techniques, roundhouse kick to the chest (Bandal Chagui) and roundhouse kick to the head (Dolio Chagui) in terms of the execution distance and to analyse the relationship between maximum impact force and weight for two different groups and kicks. To measure the mechanical parameters, a model explained in Falco et al. (2009) was used. In this study, the 23 male taekwondo players participating were divided into two groups: medallists (n = 12) and non-medallists (n = 11). For the medallists’ group no differences had been found in MIF or ET from either distance between roundhouse kick to the chest and to the head. However, significant differences were found in MIF in the non-medallists’ group from all execution distances between roundhouse kick to the chest and to the head. For the non-medallists’ group, weight significantly predicts MIF, but not in the medallists' group. In conclusion, medallist taekwondo players should perform roundhouse kick to the head instead to the chest, because it produces a better score in the same time