Early maternal separation impacts cognitive flexibility at the age of first independence in mice.

Early life adversity is associated with increased risk for mental and physical health problems, including substance abuse. Changes in neural development caused by early life insults could cause or complicate these conditions. Maternal separation (MS) is a model of early adversity for rodents. Clear effects of MS have been shown on behavioral flexibility in rats, but studies of effects of MS on cognition in mice have been mixed. We hypothesized that previous studies focused on adult mice may have overlooked a developmental transition point when juvenile mice exhibit greater flexibility in reversal learning. Here, using a 4-choice reversal learning task we find that early MS leads to decreased flexibility in post-weaning juvenile mice, but no significant effects in adults. In a further study of voluntary ethanol consumption, we found that adult mice that had experienced MS showed greater cumulative 20% ethanol consumption in an intermittent access paradigm compared to controls. Our data confirm that the MS paradigm can reduce cognitive flexibility in mice and may enhance risk for substance abuse. We discuss possible interpretations of these data as stress-related impairment or adaptive earlier maturation in response to an adverse environment

Enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles y sus factores de riesgo en Argentina: prevalencia y prevención

This report focuses on non-communicable chronic diseases, their risk factors, and the preventive measures applied in Argentina. In particular, three goals are pursued: (1) to analyze the characteristics and determinants of chronic diseases and their risk factors, (2) to identify, at a theoretical level, what are the cost-effective primary and secondary prevention measures, and (3) to assess current levels of coverage of such strategies in Argentina. We employ the Encuesta Nacional de Factores de Riesgo 2005 and official vital records, as the main sources of information. Resumen Este trabajo se concentra en las enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles (EC), sus factores de riesgo evitables (FR) y las medidas preventivas que se aplican en la Argentina. En particular se persiguen tres objetivos: (1) analizar las características y determinantes de las EC y sus FR, (2) identificar a nivel teórico cuáles son las estrategias de prevención primaria y secundaria costo-efectivas, y (3) evaluar la cobertura de tales estrategias en el caso argentino. Como principales fuentes de información se emplean la Encuesta Nacional de Factores de Riesgo 2005 y los Registros de Estadísticas Vitales

Eliminating artificial trans fatty acids in Argentina: estimated effects on the burden of coronary heart disease and costs

Objective: To estimate the impact of Argentine policies to reduce trans fatty acids (TFA) on coronary heart disease (CHD), disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and associated health-care costs. Methods: We estimated the baseline intake of TFA before 2004 to be 1.5% of total energy intake. We built a policy model including baseline intake of TFA, the oils and fats used to replace artificial TFAs, the clinical effect of reducing artificial TFAs and the costs and DALYs saved due to averted CHD events. To calculate the percentage of reduction of CHD, we calculated CHD risks on a population-based sample before and after implementation. The effect of the policies was modelled in three ways, based on projected changes: (i) in plasma lipid profiles; (ii) in lipid and inflammatory biomarkers; and (iii) the results of prospective cohort studies. We also estimated the present economic value of DALYs and associated health-care costs of coronary heart disease averted. Findings: We estimated that projected changes in lipid profile would avert 301 deaths, 1066 acute CHD events, 5237 DALYs and 17 million United States dollars (US$) in health-care costs annually. Based on the adverse effects of TFA intake reported in prospective cohort studies, 1517 deaths, 5373 acute CHD events, 26 394 DALYs and US$ 87 million would be averted annually. Conclusion: Even under the most conservative scenario, reduction of TFA intake had a substantial effect on public health. These findings will help inform decision-makers in Argentina and other countries on the potential public health and economic impact of this policy.Fil: Rubinstein, Adolfo Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria; ArgentinaFil: Elorriaga, Natalia. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria; ArgentinaFil: Garay, Ulises. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria; ArgentinaFil: Poggio, Rosana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria; ArgentinaFil: Caporale, Joaquin. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria; ArgentinaFil: Matta, Maria Gabriela. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria; ArgentinaFil: Augustovski, Federico Ariel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria; ArgentinaFil: Pichón-Riviere, Andrés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria; ArgentinaFil: Mozaffarian, Dariush. Tufts University; Estados Unido

Enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles y sus factores de riesgo en Argentina: prevalencia y prevención

Este trabajo se concentra en las enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles (EC), sus factores de riesgo evitables (FR) y las medidas preventivas que se aplican en la Argentina. En particular se persiguen tres objetivos: (1) analizar las características y determinantes de las EC y sus FR, (2) identificar a nivel teórico cuáles son las estrategias de prevención primaria y secundaria costo-efectivas, y (3) evaluar la cobertura de tales estrategias en el caso argentino. Como principales fuentes de información se emplean la Encuesta Nacional de Factores de Riesgo 2005 y los Registros de Estadísticas Vitales.Centro de Estudios Distributivos, Laborales y Sociales (CEDLAS

Insights from the Inclusive Environments and Metrics in Biology Education and Research Network: Our Experience Organizing Inclusive Biology Education Research Events

In contrast to efforts focusing on improving inclusion in STEM classrooms from kindergarten through un-dergraduate (K–16), efforts to improve inclusion in scientific meetings and conferences, important hubs of STEM culture, are more recent. Markers of inclusion that are sometimes overlooked at these events can include the composition of panels, how workshops are run, the affordability of conferences, and various other mechanisms that maintain pre-existing hierarchies and norms that limit the participation of early-career researchers and individuals of minoritized cultural, linguistic, and economic backgrounds. The Inclusive Environments and Metrics in Biology Education and Research (iEMBER) network coordinates efforts of researchers from many fields interested in diversity and inclusion in biology education. Given the concerns regarding inclusion at professional meetings, iEMBER has developed and implemented several practices in planning and executing our meetings to make them more inclusive. In this report, we share our experiences developing inclusive meetings on biology education research and discuss the outcomes of such efforts. Spe-cifically, we present our approach to planning and executing the iEMBER 2019 conference and the National Association of Biology Teachers iEMBER 2019 workshop. This report adds to the growing body of resources on inclusive meetings, provides readers with an account of how such an attempt at implementation might unfold, and complements existing theories and work relating to the importance and functioning of such meetings in terms of representation in STEM

Avances y desafíos de la gestión costera en Uruguay en la última década

En este artículo se presenta, en base al análisis de los componentes del Decálogo de Barragán, los avances detectados de la última década y los principales desafíos que enfrenta el manejo costero integrado (MCI) en Uruguay. Tanto en Uruguay como en la región se han intensificado actividades con alta capacidad de impacto en zona costera (e.g. litoralización) lo que sumado a las tendencias regionales de la variabilidad y el Cambio Climático exige implementar acciones para modificar el uso dominante del espacio costero. En el período indicado se han mejorado las capacidades del país para abordar el manejo costero, tanto a nivel normativo como de políticas públicas, así como de integración de los niveles implicados, de articulación entre las instituciones competente y un mayor involucramiento de los actores sociales. Se aprobó una Directriz costera y se creó un Departamento de Gestión Costera y Marina en el Ministerio de Vivienda Ordenamiento Territorial y Medio Ambiente, a la vez que se incorporaron conceptos clave como el de componentes vulnerables. También se avanzó en el conocimiento científico, particularmente de índole interdisciplinaria, y se consolidó la formación terciaria con base conceptual en el MCI, así como en las instancias de capacitación a actores de la sociedad civil y de la gestión. Se evidencia una mayor concientización de la población en relación a estos temas y se han multiplicado las acciones de participación de la sociedad civil, si bien se requiere aún un importante esfuerzo para avanzar hacia un equilibrio entre desarrollo y conservación que cuente con la participación sustancial de los actores. A la vez, se constatan desafíos mayores como dar continuidad a las diversas iniciativas, y superar algunas incertidumbres propias de la Directriz sancionada. Un aspecto central sigue siendo la financiación adecuada de los programas y proyectos ya aprobados, y la mejora y ampliación de la capacitación de los actores. Finalmente, siguen siendo puntos débiles la puesta en práctica y diseminación de experiencias de MCI exitosas, principalmente de carácter local, así como lograr una mayor participación social en la toma de decisión

Motor cognition–motor semantics: Action perception theory of cognition and communication

A new perspective on cognition views cortical cell assemblies linking together knowledge about actions and perceptions not only as the vehicles of integrated action and perception processing but, furthermore, as a brain basis for a wide range of higher cortical functions, including attention, meaning and concepts, sequences, goals and intentions, and even communicative social interaction. This article explains mechanisms relevant to mechanistic action perception theory, points to concrete neuronal circuits in brains along with artificial neuronal network simulations, and summarizes recent brain imaging and other experimental data documenting the role of action perception circuits in cognition, language and communication

Early maternal separation impacts cognitive flexibility at the age of first independence in mice.

Early life adversity is associated with increased risk for mental and physical health problems, including substance abuse. Changes in neural development caused by early life insults could cause or complicate these conditions. Maternal separation (MS) is a model of early adversity for rodents. Clear effects of MS have been shown on behavioral flexibility in rats, but studies of effects of MS on cognition in mice have been mixed. We hypothesized that previous studies focused on adult mice may have overlooked a developmental transition point when juvenile mice exhibit greater flexibility in reversal learning. Here, using a 4-choice reversal learning task we find that early MS leads to decreased flexibility in post-weaning juvenile mice, but no significant effects in adults. In a further study of voluntary ethanol consumption, we found that adult mice that had experienced MS showed greater cumulative 20% ethanol consumption in an intermittent access paradigm compared to controls. Our data confirm that the MS paradigm can reduce cognitive flexibility in mice and may enhance risk for substance abuse. We discuss possible interpretations of these data as stress-related impairment or adaptive earlier maturation in response to an adverse environment

Enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles y sus factores de riesgo en Argentina: prevalencia y prevención

Este trabajo se concentra en las enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles (EC), sus factores de riesgo evitables (FR) y las medidas preventivas que se aplican en la Argentina. En particular se persiguen tres objetivos: (1) analizar las características y determinantes de las EC y sus FR, (2) identificar a nivel teórico cuáles son las estrategias de prevención primaria y secundaria costo-efectivas, y (3) evaluar la cobertura de tales estrategias en el caso argentino. Como principales fuentes de información se emplean la Encuesta Nacional de Factores de Riesgo 2005 y los Registros de Estadísticas Vitales.Enfermedades, Cuidado de salud