The Role of Spontaneous Digital Play during Young Patients’ Cancer Treatment

In Europe alone, more than 120,000 children and 150,000 adolescents are diagnosed with cancer every year. Thanks to treatment innovations the survival rates of young patients’ cancer increase substantially every year, but improved prognoses are in many cases linked to longer treatments. To cope with the social, emotional, and developmental challenges associated with cancer, play and playful activities are widely recognized as fundamental for adolescents and children. This article presents the results of an exploratory study conducted to better understand the role of free digital play for young cancer patients (0–17 years). Methodology: 15 semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted, divided into two groups. The first group consisted of four experts and the second group consisted of 11 parents of young cancer patients. Conversations with the participants revolved around children’s use of digital platforms during cancer treatment, emphasizing their motivations to play digitally, methods and patterns of use, perceived benefits, and impact on children’s social interactions, identity development, and personal narrative. The results show that digital play becomes a valuable activity for young cancer patients during three phases of the treatment: (1) inpatient care; (2) outpatient care; and (3) remission. We also identified three types of digital play patients engage with: (1) playing with digital games; (2) playfully interacting with digital technologies; and (3) the overlap between digital and non-digital play. Finally, the results also show that digital play has an impact on at least three aspects of young patients’ lives: (1) social interactions; (2) identity development; and (3) communication

The varieties of the psychedelic experience: A preliminary study of the association between the reported subjective effects and the binding affinity profiles of substituted phenethylamines and tryptamines

Classic psychedelics are substances of paramount cultural and neuroscientific importance. A distinctive feature of psychedelic drugs is the wide range of potential subjective effects they can elicit, known to be deeply influenced by the internal state of the user (“set”) and the surroundings (“setting”). The observation of cross-tolerance and a series of empirical studies in humans and animal models support agonism at the serotonin (5-HT)2A receptor as a common mechanism for the action of psychedelics. The diversity of subjective effects elicited by different compounds has been attributed to the variables of “set” and “setting,” to the binding affinities for other 5-HT receptor subtypes, and to the heterogeneity of transduction pathways initiated by conformational receptor states as they interact with different ligands (“functional selectivity”). Here we investigate the complementary (i.e., not mutually exclusive) possibility that such variety is also related to the binding affinity for a range of neurotransmitters and monoamine transporters including (but not limited to) 5-HT receptors. Building on two independent binding affinity datasets (compared to “in silico” estimates) in combination with natural language processing tools applied to a large repository of reports of psychedelic experiences (Erowid’s Experience Vaults), we obtained preliminary evidence supporting that the similarity between the binding affinity profiles of psychoactive substituted phenethylamines and tryptamines is correlated with the semantic similarity of the associated reports. We also showed that the highest correlation was achieved by considering the combined binding affinity for the 5-HT, dopamine (DA), glutamate, muscarinic and opioid receptors and for the Ca+ channel. Applying dimensionality reduction techniques to the reports, we linked the compounds, receptors, transporters and the Ca+ channel to distinct fingerprints of the reported subjective effects. To the extent that the existing binding affinity data is based on a low number of displacement curves that requires further replication, our analysis produced preliminary evidence consistent with the involvement of different binding sites in the reported subjective effects elicited by psychedelics. Beyond the study of this particular class of drugs, we provide a methodological framework to explore the relationship between the binding affinity profiles and the reported subjective effects of other psychoactive compounds.Fil: Zamberlan, Federico. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Sanz, Camila. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Martínez Vivot, Rocío. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Pallavicini, Carla. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Fundación para la Lucha contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia; ArgentinaFil: Erowid, Fire. Grass Valley; Estados UnidosFil: Erowid, Earth. Grass Valley; Estados UnidosFil: Tagliazucchi, Enzo Rodolfo. Institut du cerveau et de la moelle épinière; Francia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires; Argentin

La siempreviva, de Miguel Torres y la construcción de memoria

Profesional en Estudios LiterariosPregrad

Sucrose-to-ethanol microalgae-based platform using seawater

Microalgal biomass is increasingly considered a promising feedstock for the production of bioethanol because it has simpler biochemical composition and structural features than plant feedstocks. However, it still requires hazardous and/or expensive acid or enzymatic saccharification processes before its conversion into ethanol by fermentation. To bypass this limitation, we identified microalgal strains that accumulate up to 10% (w/w) of sucrose, a readily fermentable sugar. Conditions were optimized to produce sucrose in half-strength seawater, as well as efficient extraction by very mild procedures, and conversion into ethanol. We present a model based on cultivation in environmental photobioreactors that predicted a productivity of 4,200 L ethanol · ha-1 · year-1 in raceway ponds in Brazil, approaching the average sucrose and ethanol productivity from sugarcane.Fil: Sanz Smachetti, María Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Biotecnología; ArgentinaFil: Coronel, Camila Denise. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Biotecnología; ArgentinaFil: Salerno, Graciela Lidia. Fundación para Investigaciones Biológicas Aplicadas; ArgentinaFil: Curatti, Leonardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Biotecnología; Argentin

A semi-closed loop microalgal biomass production-platform for ethanol from renewable sources of nitrogen and phosphorous

Production of microalgal biomass for feed and fuels demands unsustainable large amounts of fertilizers. The most broadly considered alternative sources of nutrients/fertilizer for microalgae are wastewater and internal recycling in closed-loop production platforms. However, these strategies largely disable co-production of feed and fuel in biomass biorefineries for an increased economic and environmental feasibility. In this study, we aimed at providing proof-of-concept for a semi-closed loop microalgal production-platform and biomass biorefinery for ethanol and feed from renewable resources of N and P. Atmospheric N 2 was assimilated into a N 2 -fixing cyanobacterial biomass, which sustained growth of a microalga that accumulated high levels of carbohydrates (up to 60% (w/w)) as a sole source of fertilizer. The microalgal biomass was efficiently saccharified with H 2 SO 4 , which was recycled to release soluble PO 4 3- from bone meal as a renewable source of P. Fermenting these P-enriched preparations with yeasts quantitatively produced ethanol at theoretical yields, a concentration of up to 50 g ethanol. L −1 and a yield of 0.25 g ethanol. g biomass −1 . Calculations suggested a potential yield from 7600 to 10,800 L ethanol. ha −1 . year −1 , under Buenos Aires environmental conditions, which would be higher than that currently obtained from maize feedstocks. The residual fermentation vinasse, supplemented with P and containing other downstream-process reagents, was recycled as a sole source of macronutrients for the cultivation of the N 2 -fixing cyanobacterium to close the production cycle. Water recycling and co-production of residual biomass enriched in fat and protein as potential feed are also shown. This semi-closed loop biomass production-platform reconciles the concepts of microalgal biomass biorefineries for the co-production of feedstocks for biofuels and feed and nutrients recycling in closed-loop systems that largely minimizes production of waste.Fil: Sánchez Rizza, Lara. Fundación para Investigaciones Biológicas Aplicadas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Biotecnología; ArgentinaFil: Coronel, Camila Denise. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Biotecnología; ArgentinaFil: Sanz Smachetti, María Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Biotecnología; ArgentinaFil: Do Nascimento, Mauro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Biotecnología; Argentina. Fundación para Investigaciones Biológicas Aplicadas; ArgentinaFil: Curatti, Leonardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Biotecnología; Argentin

El césped del vecino es más verde: Flora de patios a través de un gradiente social

Urban backyards have considerable potential for biodiversity conservation and the enhancement of food security. However, these spaces are poorly planned, there is little information on the diversity of flora present in the backyards of different social clases. We quantified and compared plant diversity of the backyards of two neighborhoods in the metropolitan area of Maringa, by calculating diversity indices, bivariate correlations, the planting potencial, and outline planning guidelines, with the goal of increasing the presence of woody vegetation, strengthen the food security and contribute to the conservation of biological diversity, including the preservation of endangered plant speciesAgradecemos al Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente del gobierno español, por la financiación al Proyecto Ecología Urbana en Regiones Metropolitanas de Brasil: Paisaje, Calidad de Vida y Desarrollo Humano [Plan Nacional de I+D+i (CSO2009-12689)

Ciudades medias de Brasil: una tipología socioambiental

La urbanización global de los territorios, que es el fenómeno ecológico humano más importante en curso, y cuyos impactos ambientales poseen niveles local, regional y mundial, presenta la característic notable de un crecimiento pronunciado de las ciudades pequeñas e intermedias, en las cuales la capacidad de planificación y gestión es usualmente ínfima, en comparación a las ciudades grandes. Es lo que se verifica en Brasil, donde las ciudades de tamaño medio, es decir, las que tienen poblaciones entre 100.000 y 500.000 vecinos están creciendo más rápidamente que las grandes ciudades, desde mediados de la década de 1990. El artículo tiene como objetivo trazar una tipología de las ciudades medias brasileñas por medio de análisis estadísticos multivariados. La tipología resultante señala dos tipos de ciudades, con demandas sociales, ambientales y de gestión diferentes. Algunas de estas ciudades se encuentran en hotspots de biodiversidad. En paralelo, hemos recopilado estadísticas sobre la gestión ambiental en marcha en estas ciudades. Nuestros resultados demuestran una baja efectividad de las acciones de gestión ambiental en estos municipios

SER PARATLETA DE ESPORTES DE AVENTURA EM UM PAÍS EM DESENVOLVIMENTO: MOTIVAÇÕES E DESAFIOS

Adventure sports is more than a sport and is a kind of lifestyle; however, little is known about the practice of athletes with disabilities. This article shows, based on the adventure/extreme sports athlete with a disability's comprehension, and learn about their challenges and motivations. With the qualitative method, 14 athletes answered an open online questionnaire. Quality of life, love by sport and freedom sensation were considered the main motivators for practice; adrenaline and adventure were the main reasons for choosing the modality; and the main inspiration was athletes with a disability. Notwithstanding, they scored many accessibility barriers (physical and nonphysical) that were overcome by willpower. Thus, the practice of adventure sport by such athletes is an achievement. It is the guarantee of citizenship even if based on overcoming and therefore considered a transgressive act.Los deportes de aventura son más que un deporte y son una especie de estilo de vida; sin embargo, poco se sabe sobre la práctica de los atletas con discapacidad. Este artículo muestra, a partir de la comprensión del deportista de aventura/deporte extremo con discapacidad, así como sus motivaciones y desafíos. Con el método cualitativo, 14 atletas respondieron un cuestionario abierto en línea. La calidad de vida, el amor por el deporte y la sensación de libertad fueron considerados los principales motivadores para la práctica; la adrenalina y la aventura fueron los principales motivos para elegir la modalidad; y la principal inspiración fueron los atletas con discapacidad. No obstante, se anotaron muchas barreras de accesibilidad (físicas y no físicas) que fueron superadas con fuerza de voluntad. Así, la práctica del deporte de aventura por parte de estos deportistas es un logro. Es la garantía de la ciudadanía aunque se base en la superación y por lo tanto se considere un acto transgresor.O esporte de aventura é mais que um esporte e é um estilo de vida; no entanto, pouco se sabe sobre a prática de atletas com deficiência. Este artigo mostra, a partir da compreensão do atleta de esportes radicais/aventura com deficiência, assim como suas motivações e desafios. Com o método qualitativo, 14 atletas responderam a um questionário online aberto. Qualidade de vida, amor pelo esporte e sensação de liberdade foram considerados os principais motivadores para a prática; adrenalina e aventura foram os principais motivos para a escolha da modalidade; e a principal inspiração foram os atletas com deficiência. Não obstante, pontuaram muitas barreiras de acessibilidade (físicas e não físicas) que foram superadas pela força de vontade. Assim, a prática do esporte de aventura por tais atletas é uma conquista. É a garantia da cidadania ainda que pautada na superação e, por isso, considerada um ato transgressor

Talleres virtuales prácticos para acercar chicas adolescentes a las ciencias de la computación en Uruguay: una experiencia

During the last decades the presence of women in the area of Computer Science has decreased in most countries. In the last years, at the Facultad de Ingeniería (School of Engineering), Universidad de la República, Uruguay, we have carried out several activities with the goal of bringing girls closer to Computer Science area, on the occasion of Girls in ICT Day. Through these activities, we intend to eliminate certain preconceived ideas and negative stereotypes that promote girls’ distancing from careers of this area. This paper presents the experience of the three virtual workshops carried out during 2021 (in virtual modality, due to the COVID-19 pandemic), which focused on programming, data, and geographic information systems, and the analysis of a set of virtual platforms considered for each workshop.Durante las últimas décadas la presencia de la mujer en las Ciencias de la Computación ha ido en decrecimiento en la mayoría de los países. En los últimos años, en la Facultad de Ingeniería de la Universidad de la República, Uruguay, hemos realizado actividades para acercar a las adolescentes mujeres al área de Ciencias de la Computación, con motivo del Día de las Niñas en las TIC. A través de estas actividades se intenta derribar ideas preconcebidas y estereotipos negativos que distancian a las niñas de las carreras de esta área. En este artículo se presenta la experiencia de los tres talleres que se realizaron durante 2021 (en forma virtual debido a la pandemia de COVID-19), los cuales se enfocaron en programación, datos y sistemas de información geográfica, junto con el análisis de un conjunto de plataformas virtuales que se consideraron para cada taller

Effectiveness of single-dose azithromycin to treat latent yaws: a longitudinal comparative cohort study

BACKGROUND: Treatment of latent yaws is a crucial component of the WHO yaws eradication strategy to prevent relapse and the resulting transmission to uninfected children. We assessed the effectiveness of single-dose azithromycin to treat patients with latent yaws. METHODS: This population-based cohort study included children (age <20 years) living on Lihir Island, Papua New Guinea, with high-titre (rapid plasma reagin titre >/=1:8) latent or active yaws, between April, 2013, and May, 2015. Latent yaws was defined as lack of suspicious skin lesions or presence of ulcers negative for Treponema pallidum subsp pertenue on PCR, and active yaws was defined as ulcers positive for T pertenue on PCR. All children received one oral dose of 30 mg/kg azithromycin. The primary endpoint was serological cure, defined as a two-dilution decrease in rapid plasma reagin titre by 24 months after treatment. Treatment of latent yaws was taken to be non-inferior to that of active yaws if the lower limit of the two-sided 95% CI for the difference in rates was higher than or equal to -10%. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01955252. FINDINGS: Of 311 participants enrolled, 273 (88%; 165 with latent yaws and 108 with active yaws) completed follow-up. The primary endpoint was achieved in 151 (92%) participants with latent yaws and 101 (94%) with active yaws (risk difference -2.0%, 95% CI -8.3 to 4.3), meeting the prespecified criteria for non-inferiority. INTERPRETATION: On the basis of decline in serological titre, oral single-dose azithromycin was effective in participants with latent yaws. This finding supports the WHO strategy for the eradication of yaws based on mass administration of the entire endemic community irrespective of clinical status. FUNDING: Newcrest Mining Limited and ISDIN laboratories