Novel Ruthenium-Silver PTA-Based Polymers and Their Behavior in Water

New coordination polymers based on two metal-containing moieties Ru–Ag are synthesized: Na[RuCpX(PTA)-μ-(PTA)-1κP:2κ2N-AgX2]∞ (X = Cl (1), Br (2), I (3)). Characterization is performed by NMR, UV-visible and FT-IR spectroscopy, optical-electron microscopy, and elemental analyses (C, H, N, S). Light scattering is employed to characterize the colloidal particles growth by polymer self-assembling. These structures are stable over a broad range of pH and exhibit thermally-driven swelling, thus resembling a typical thermosensitive hydrogel

Conocimiento tradicional sobre el uso y conservación del tequelite chico en Chipahuatlan, Olintla, Puebla.

The small tequelite (Peperomia peltilimba C. DC. ex Trelease) is a wild plant, native to Mexico, considered vulnerable to extinction. The aim of this study was to document knowledge and attitudes towards conservation and use of the small tequelite in the Totonac community of Chipahuatlan, Olintla, in the state of Puebla (Mexico). 53 semi-structured interviews were applied to a sample of the population; the number of families was considered to be representative. The interview consisted of the following sections; knowledge about the species, conservation, commercialization, uses and benefits. We explored the natural habitat of the species to document accompanying flora and fauna. Results indicated that the stems and leaves of the small tequelite are used to prepare traditional foods such as mole (sauce), broths, tamales, and boiled beans; with or without sesame seeds. The species is obtained from its natural habitat and in local markets, although some families grow plants in their home gardens. Traditional knowledge about the small tequelite relates to flora and fauna; only the most developed plants are used and those with buds or inflorescences are preserved. We discovered interest in conserving this resource because of its cultural and economic importance; although its commercial value is low, it offers additional income for families, who are dedicated to its collection. These results summarize Totonac knowledge and the perception they have regarding the conservation and use of small tequelite.El tequelite chico (Peperomia peltilimba C. DC. ex Trelease) es una planta nativa y silvestre de México, considerada vulnerable a la extinción. El objetivo de este estudio fue documentar el conocimiento y la percepción sobre la conservación y el uso del tequelite chico en la comunidad totonaca de Chipahuatlan, Olintla, en el estado de Puebla (México). Se aplicaron 53 entrevistas semiestructuradas a una muestra representativa de la población; se consideró como universo al número de familias. La entrevista estuvo conformada por las secciones, conocimiento de la especie, conservación, comercialización, usos y beneficios. Se realizaron recorridos en el hábitat natural de la especie para documentar flora y fauna acompañantes. Los resultados indicaron que los tallos y hojas del tequelite chico se utilizan para la elaboración de alimentos tradicionales como mole, caldos, tamales y frijoles hervidos con o sin ajonjolí. La especie se obtiene a través de su hábitat natural y en tianguis locales, aunque algunas familias tienen plantas en sus traspatios. Los conocimientos tradicionales sobre el tequelite chico están relacionados con la flora y la fauna, se aprovechan solo las plantas más desarrolladas y se conservan las que presentan brotes o inflorescencias. Se identificó interés por conservar este recurso debido a su importancia cultural y económica; aunque su valor comercial es bajo, representa un ingreso adicional para las familias que se dedican a su recolección. Estos resultados son una aproximación al conocimiento totonaca y su percepción en torno a la conservación y el aprovechamiento del tequelite chico

Food availability and affordability in a Mediterranean urban context: Associations by store type and area-level socioeconomic status

Objective: Although food environments have been highlighted as potentially effective targets to improve population diets, evidence on Mediterranean food environments is lacking. We examined differences in food availability and affordability in Madrid (Spain) by store type and area-level socioeconomic status. Design: Cross-sectional study. Trained researchers conducted food store audits using the validated NEMS-S-MED tool to measure the availability and price of 12 food groups(specific foods=35). We computed NEMS-S-MED scores and summarized price data with a Relative Price Index (RPI, comparing prices across stores) and an Affordability Index (normalizing prices by area-level income). We compared availability and affordability of ‘healthier–less healthy’ food pairs, scores between food store types (supermarkets, specialized, convenience stores, and others) and area-level socioeconomic status using ANOVA and multilevel regression models. Setting: City of Madrid. 2016 and 2019 to cover a representative sample. Participants: Food stores within a socioeconomically diverse sample of 63 census tracts (n=151). Results: Supermarkets had higher food availability (37.5/49 NEMS-S-MED points), compared to convenience stores(13.5/49), and specialized stores(8/49). Supermarkets offered lower prices (RPI: 0.83) than specialized stores(RPI: 0.97) and convenience stores(RPI: 2.06). Both ‘healthy’ and ‘less healthy’ items were more available in supermarkets. We found no differences in food availability or price by area-level socioeconomic status, but affordability was higher in higher-income areas. Conclusions: Supermarkets offered higher food availability and affordability for healthy and less healthy food items. Promoting healthy food availability through supermarkets and specialized stores and/or limiting access to convenience stores are promising policy options to achieve a healthier food environment.CFE was supported by the Institute of Health Carlos III under a Medical Residency programme. MF was supported by the European Research Council under the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme [FP7/2007-2013/ERC Starting Grant HeartHealthyHoods Agreement n. 336893]. UB was supported by an award from the National Institutes of Health's Office of the Director [DP5OD26429]. Open Access for this study was funded by the University of Alicante

Bridging the divide between biomedical and psychosocial approaches in dementia research: the 2019 INTERDEM manifesto

Objective: To provide a new perspective on integrated biomedical and psychosocial dementia research. Background: Dementia is being recognized as a multifactorial syndrome, but there is little interaction between biomedical and psychosocial approaches. A way to improve scientific knowledge is to seek better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the interaction between biomedical and psychosocial paradigms. One rationale for integrating biomedical and psychosocial research is the discordance between neuropathology and cognitive functioning. The concept of social health might bridge the two paradigms. It relates to how social resources influence the dynamic balance between capacities and limitations. Hypotheses: Social health can act as the driver for accessing cognitive reserve, in people with dementia through active facilitation and utilization of social and environmental resources. Thereby we link lifestyle social and opportunities to the brain reserve hypothesis. Manifesto: We provide a Manifesto on how to significantly move forward the dementia research agenda

ICF-Based Disability Survey in a Rural Population of Adults and Older Adults Living in Cinco Villas, Northeastern Spain: Design, Methods and Population Characteristics

Background: This article describes the methods of a door-to-door screening survey exploring the distribution of disability and its major determinants in northeastern Spain. This study will set the basis for the development of disability-related services for the rural elderly in northeastern Spain. Methods: The probabilistic sample was composed of 1,354 de facto residents from a population of 12,784 Social Security card holders (age: 6 50 years). Cognitive and disability screenings were conducted (period: June 2008-June 2009). Screening instruments were the MMSE and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule. Participants screened positive for disability underwent an assessment protocol focusing on primary care diagnoses, disability, lifestyle, and social and health service usage. Participants screened positive for cognitive functioning went through in-depth neurological evaluation. Results: The study sample is described. Usable data were available for 1,216 participants. A total of 625 individuals (51.4%) scored within the positive range in the disability screening, while 135 (11.1%) scored within the positive range of the cognitive screening. The proportion of positively screened individuals was higher for women and increased with age. Conclusions: Screening surveys represent a feasible design for examining the distribution of disability and its determinants among the elderly. Data quality may benefit from methodological developments tailored to rural populations with a low education level. Copyright (C) 2010 S. Karger AG, Base

Structure and Functioning of Acute Inpatient Psychiatric Units in Spain : Qualitative Study

As a consequence of the decentralization of health care provision to the different Regions (called Autonomous Communities) in Spain, different health care models and resources have been developed for psychiatric patients. It would be very useful to obtain comprehensive and comparative data on health care models, resources, and activity of acute inpatient psychiatric units (AIPUs) as a key part of mental health systems. The aim of this study was to determine the current state of AIPUs in Spain through a national scorecard that allows the current situation to be visualized in terms of resources, processes, and outputs. A 104-item online questionnaire was sent to all the AIPUs of the different Regions in Spain. It was divided into 11 sections, including data on the resources, processes, and outputs of the AIPUs plus general data, an indicator dashboard, and good practices. The questionnaire was completed by 60.0% (117/195) of the AIPUs invited to participate. The information collected has allowed us to obtain a detailed snapshot of the current situation of AIPUs in Spain at the levels of infrastructure and material resources, staffing, organization and activity of the units, coordination with other units, guidelines, processes and protocols used, participation and communication with patients and their families, teaching activity, and research linked to the units. This project aimed to help understand the general situation of AIPUs in Spain and its different Regions, contribute to enhancing the benchmarking and harmonization among Spanish Regions, and provide data for future comparisons with other countries. RR1-10.2196/2621

First 3-D Ru-Ru-Au organometallic polymer with layered structure

A new water soluble heterometallic polymeric complex [{(PTA)2 CpRu-l-CN-1jC:2j2N-RuCp(PTA)2}-l-{Au(CN)4}4]n 2H2O (1) is synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. This complex self-assembles forming 3D polymeric structures with large scale hexagonal conformation. They also organize as 3D stacks of polymer sandwiches that can be exfoliated providing mono heterometallic-3D layers, as shown by electron microscopy. Regarding the polymer dynamics, quasi-elastic neutron scattering shows a transition from vibrational Debye–Waller behaviour to a more dynamically active state as a result of the loss of structural water molecules

The interRAI suite of mental health assessment instruments: an integrated system for the continuum of care

The lives of persons living with mental illness are affected by psychological, biological, social, economic, and environmental factors over the life course. It is therefore unlikely that simple preventive strategies, clinical treatments, therapeutic interventions, or policy options will succeed as singular solutions for the challenges of mental illness. Persons living with mental illness receive services and supports in multiple settings across the health care continuum that are often fragmented, uncoordinated, and inadequately responsive. Appropriate assessment is an important tool that health systems must deploy to respond to the strengths, preferences, and needs of persons with mental illness. However, standard approaches are often focused on measurement of psychiatric symptoms without taking a broader perspective to address issues like growth, development, and aging; physical health and disability; social relationships; economic resources; housing; substance use; involvement with criminal justice; stigma; and recovery. Using conglomerations of instruments to cover more domains is impractical, inconsistent, and incomplete while posing considerable assessment burden. interRAI mental health instruments were developed by a network of over 100 researchers, clinicians, and policy experts from over 35 nations. This includes assessment systems for adults in inpatient psychiatry, community mental health, emergency departments, mobile crisis teams, and long-term care settings, as well as a screening system for police officers. A similar set of instruments is available for child/youth mental health. The instruments form an integrated mental health information system because they share a common assessment language, conceptual basis, clinical emphasis, data collection approach, data elements, and care planning protocols. The key applications of these instruments include care planning, outcome measurement, quality improvement, and resource allocation. The composition of these instruments and psychometric properties are reviewed, and examples related to homeless are used to illustrate the various applications of these assessment systems

Controlling endemic Neospora caninum-related abortions in a dairy herd from Argentina

After diagnosis of endemic abortions due to neosporosis in a commercial dairy farm, routes of Neospora caninum-transmission were evaluated in order to choose the best strategy for reducing its seroprevalence and related abortions. Fifty two dam-calf pairs were bled at parturition. Additionally, 22 female calves were also sampled at regular 3 month intervals until 18–22 months. N. caninum specific antibodies were assayed by IFAT. Serum samples were tested at a dilution 1:25 for calves before colostrum intake and heifers before mating and 1:100 for multiparous cows. Only serum samples from IFAT seropositive cattle involved in the evaluation of the routes of transmission were assessed by a commercial IgG avidity ELISA. Seropositive cows or heifers were artificially inseminated with semen from Hereford bulls. The progenies from these female animals were sent to a feed lot to produce meat. Different generalized linear models (GLM) were used to study the relationship between abortion, age category, and serostatus. Seropositive heifers were more likely to have a record of abortion (OR 2.7; 95% CI 1.6–4.7). Vertical transmission frequency was 55.5% (5 seropositive calves/9 seropositive cows). Horizontal transmission was 22.7% (5 female calves seroconverted at least one time/22 females calves sampled during 24 months) and these 5 female calves had low avidity. In heifers, both seroprevalence and abortion rates decreased from 22.1 and 8.4% of 475 in 2009 to 6.1 and 4.3% of 578 in 2015, respectively (p < 0.01). Over 5 years, N. caninum-seroprevalence and the related abortions in heifers decreased after the control strategy was assessed.EEA BalcarceFil: Lagomarsino, Horacio. Actividad privada; ArgentinaFil: Scioli, Agustín. Actividad privada; ArgentinaFil: Rodríguez, Alejandro. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; Argentina.Fil: Armendano, Joaquín. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina.Fil: Fiorani, Franco. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Fil: Bence, Ángel. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina.Fil: García, Joaquín. Actividad privada; ArgentinaFil: Hecker, Yanina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Fil: Gual, Ignacio. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina.Fil: Cantón, Germán. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; ArgentinaFil: Odeón, Anselmo Carlos. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce, ArgentinaFil: Campero, Carlos. Actividad privada; ArgentinaFil: Moore, Dadín. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina

Effect of annual rainfall and temperature on the selection of habitat and overwintering home range of grassland birds

Objective: To determine the effect of annual precipitation and winter temperature on habitat and winter home range size of two grassland birds in a native grassland of northern Durango, Mexico. Design/methodology/approach: Using telemetry techniques over four consecutive winters (2016-2019), we estimated the home range size (HR; by Kernel method), of Centronyx bairdii and Ammodramus savannarum. Likewise, we estimated the cover of grass, bush, grass, bare ground, dead vegetation, animal excrement and counted the seeds available in the soil (biomass, gr/m2) of the habitat. We compared these dependent variables with non-parametric statistics, with the minimum and maximum annual precipitation (mm) and temperature (°C) of the site. Results: The grassland sparrows used sites with equal coverage of grass, herbaceous plants, shrubs, bare ground, and others (Kruskal-Wallis, p≤0.05). In general, annual rainfall has no effect on the structure and vegetation cover. HR was negatively correlated (Sperman, p≤0.05) with annual rainfall for C. bairdii (rs=-0.90, n=45) and for A. savannarum (rs=-0.80, n=33). When the maximum temperature was higher, both species had a smaller HR. In contrast, when the minimum temperature was low, the HR increased for C. bairdii and decreased for A. savannarum. Study limitations/implications: We demonstrate the importance of considering quantifying the largest number of variables when research is required on the selection and use of grassland bird habitat. Findings/conclusions: This study allows us to increase our knowledge about the winter ecology of grassland birds and demonstrates that environmental variables such as annual rainfall and temperature influence habitat selection of C. bairdii and A. savannarum.Objective: To determine the effect of annual precipitation and winter temperature on the habitat and size of the overwintering home range of two grassland birds in a native grassland in northern Durango, Mexico. Design/ Methodology/ Approach: Using telemetry techniques during four consecutive winters (2016-2019), we estimated the size of the home range (HR; by the Kernel method) of Centronyx bairdii and Ammodramus savannarum. Likewise, the coverage of grassland, scrubland, bare soil, dead vegetation, and animal excrement was estimated and the seeds available in the soil (biomass, g m-2) of the habitat were counted. We correlated these dependent variables with non-parametric statistics, to the minimum and maximum annual rainfall (mm) and temperature (°C) of the site. Results: Grassland sparrows used sites with equitable cover of grass, herbaceous plants, shrubs, bare soil and others (Kruskal-Wallis, p≤0.05). Overall, annual precipitation has no effect on structure and vegetation cover. The HR was negatively correlated (Spearman, p≤0.05) with the annual precipitation for C. bairdii (rs=-0.90, n=45) and for A. savannarum (rs=-0.80, n=33). When the maximum temperature was higher, both species had lower HR. In contrast, when the minimum temperature was low, the HR increased for C. bairdii and decreased for A. savannarum. Study Limitations/ Implications: We demonstrated the importance of considering quantifying the greatest number of variables when research is required on the selection and use of grassland bird habitat. Findings/ Conclusions: This study allowed us to increase our knowledge about the winter ecology of grassland birds and demonstrated that environmental variables such as annual precipitation and temperature influenced the habitat selection of C. bairdii and A. savannarum