2,011 research outputs found
Inequality for wage earners and self-employed : evidence from panel data
In this paper we study the evolution of income inequality for employees and self-employed workers. We highlight the importance of separately analyze these different sources of income to gain a broader understanding of inequality. Using Spanish panel data on income and consumption from the ECPF for the period 1987-96, we decompose income shocks into a permanent and a transitory component. We find that there are noticeable differences in the evolution of income inequality, as well as in the relative importance of the permanent and transitory components across these groups. Our results points that the evolution of inequality can be basically explained by movements in the transitory component of income for the self-employed, while for the employees it is mainly driven by the permanent component, specially at the end of the period. Given these disparities, it seems that these two sources of income should be studied separately and that different policies are suitable for each group.
Project Kids CLUB: establishing a pediatric occupational therapy department in the public sector in Trinidad and Tobago
The benefits of occupational therapy (OT) intervention for children with disabilities are numerous and impactful. Among many other advantages, OT can help children to develop their functional living skills, form relationships with others, improve in motor co-ordination, and transition to adulthood (American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA], 2015). Restricted access to treatment, therefore, can deprive the child, and his or her family of the opportunities to reach their fullest potential. In Trinidad, pediatric occupational therapy is available at private clinics at great costs to families. This is incongruous with the healthcare climate of the nation, in which public-sector care is offered free of charge. Unfortunately, there are no pediatric Governmental OT positions available. Families who cannot afford OT simply will have no access to the services.
Three major explanations for the lack of public-sector OT could potentially include doubts of the demand for OT, lack of qualified therapists in the country, and the inability to supply necessary space and equipment. Project Kids CLUB responds to each of these concerns. Primary research demonstrates the irrefutable desire for services, the local Master of Occupational Therapy program provides sufficient staff, and past attempts to begin such a unit resulted in designated space and materials at the Eric William’s Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC), a public-sector hospital in Trinidad.
The realization of Project Kids CLUB has the potential to change the landscape of pediatric care for children and families, the Government, and occupational therapists. Families will benefit from free access to quality care that can increase participation, quality of life and wellbeing. The Government will meet an important societal need, as well as fulfill some of its promises to human rights treaties. Occupational therapists will have the opportunity to impact the public-sector and serve one of the most vulnerable groups of clients.
The information presented in this project will be disseminated to the target audiences to raise awareness of pediatric OT in hopes that one day, the proposed Centre for Learning and Understanding Behavior (CLUB) may come to fruition. Findings demonstrate that there is demand for and benefits of pediatric occupational therapy, as well as a realistic means of establishing a unit. This project demonstrates that there is no excuse for the lack of services, and no excuse for any child to be left without access to occupational therapy intervention.2019-07-06T00:00:00
A Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Curriculum for Secondary Biology Teachers
Research was conducted in the following areas, which help support the need for a culturally and linguistically responsive curriculum for secondary biology teachers. The history of both bilingual education and science, the importance of bilingual education, a summarization of selected bilingual and ESL models, bilingual and science curriculum, supported bilingual research, standardized tests, science and ELL students, and in closing secondary bilingual research. Based on the conducted research, the curriculum was developed utilizing the late-exit bilingual model, preview/review, and the incorporation of the student\u27s culture
Perception of neighborhood crime and drugs Increases cardiometabolic risk in Chilean adolescents
PURPOSE: Studies report an association between neighborhood risk and both obesity and cardiometabolic risk factors (CMR) among adolescents. Here we describe the effect of perceived neighborhood risk on adiposity and CMR among Chilean adolescents.
METHODS: Participants were 523 low- to middle-income Chilean adolescents. We assessed neighborhood risk in early adolescence, adiposity in childhood and in early and later adolescence, and blood pressure and fasting glucose in later adolescence. Neighborhood risk profiles were estimated using latent profile analysis (LPA) and based on reported perceptions of crime and drug sales/use. Using linear and logistic regression, we examined the effect of neighborhood risk on adiposity and CMR.
RESULTS: Mean age in early and later adolescence was 14 and 17 years, respectively. Participants were 52% male, with a mean BMI z-score of .67, and 8% met criteria for metabolic syndrome. LPA identified two neighborhood profiles: 61% low risk and 39% high risk. In later adolescence, being in the high risk profile predicted a higher BMI z-score, waist-to-height ratio, and fat mass index (p < .05). Adolescents in the high risk profile had three times greater odds of meeting criteria for metabolic syndrome (OR = 3.1, 95% CI: 1.5, 5.8) compared with those in the low risk profile.
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that there are physiological responses to living in a neighborhood perceived as "risky," which may contribute to obesity and CMR even in adolescence. For Chilean neighborhoods with high crime and drugs, targeted public health interventions and policies for youth could be beneficial.This research was funded by R01HL088530 (NIH-NHLBI, PI: Gahagan); R01HD33487 (NIH-NICHD, PIs: Lozoff and Gahagan); R01DA021181 (NIH-NIDA, PI: Delva). The first author acknowledges D. Eastern Kang Sim for his support. All authors would like to thank the study participants for their on-going commitment to the project. (R01HL088530 - NIH-NHLBI; R01HD33487 - NIH-NICHD; R01DA021181 - NIH-NIDA
Contribuición de las producciones de cerámica tardoantiguas para el estudio de la ciudad de Braga
Este artÃculo forma parte del proyecto de investigación titulado “Paisagens em mudança. Bracara Augusta e o seu territorio (séculos I-VII)O presente artigo tem por objetivo divulgar os resultados do estudo de uma série de contextos cerâmicos datados da Antiguidade Tardia, exumados nas escavações arqueológicas realizadas em Braga, ao longo das últimas três décadas, no âmbito do ‘Projeto de Bracara Augusta’. Concretamente serão avaliados os contextos estratigráficos correspondentes aos séculos V/VII das zonas arqueológicas correspondentes ao Teatro romano, aos n.ºs 42/56 da Rua Afonso Henriques e ao logradouro do Ex-Albergue Distrital. Será realizada uma breve contextualização de
cada uma das zonas arqueológicas, procedendo-se, de seguida, a uma caracterização das cerâmicas do ponto de vista tecnológico, tipológico e decorativo.This paper aims to disseminate the study results of a series
of ceramic contexts dated to Late Antiquity, resulting
from the archaeological excavations held in Braga during
the last three decades, within the framework of the ‘Project
of Bracara Augusta’. Specifically it will be assessed the
stratigraphic contexts corresponding to the centuries V /
VII of the archaeological areas of the Roman Theatre, of
‘Rua Afonso Henriques n.ºs 42/56’ and of ‘Ex-Albergue
Distrital’ backyard. A brief contextualization of each of
the archaeological sites will be held followed by a technological,
typological and decorative characterization of the
ceramic
Estimation of dietary intake and content of lead and cadmium in infant cereals marketed in Spain
Lead and cadmium have become highly toxic metallic elements. There is an obvious
5 toxicological impact of these elements on infants since their intestinal absorption is
6 significantly higher than in adults, thus it is desirable to quantify lead and cadmium levels in
7 commonly consumed infant foods. Zeeman background correction, transversely heated
8 graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry, was used to determine both the lead and
9 cadmium content of 91 Spanish infant cereals. Cereals were assessed in terms of different
10 types, cereal predominant in formulation and whether it was obtained organically or
11 conventionally. Preliminary analysis revealed a noticeably higher content of lead and
12 cadmium (median, Q1-Q3) in organic cereals (n = 17, Pb: 26.07; 21.36-51.63; Cd: 18.52;
16.56-28.50 μg kg-1 13 ) in relation to conventional ones (n =74, Pb: 10.78; 6.43-19.33; Cd: 7.12;
4.40-11.77 μg kg-1 14 ). Three formulations exceeded European lead maximum levels. Added
15 ingredients (milk, cocoa, fruit and honey) to the cereal base provide lead enrichment. For
16 cadmium, this pattern was observed by cereal based on cocoa, but also the raw materials
17 contributed with a dilution phenomenon, decreasing the final cadmium concentration in infant
18 cereal. Apart from several organically produced cereals, lead content showed a narrow
19 variation, where gluten-free cereals provide lower cadmium content than formulations
20 containing gluten. Dietary intakes of both elements were assessed in comparison with the
21 reference intake values proposed by the EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain.
22 Organic infant cereals based on honey and cocoa supplied the highest risk intakes of lead and
23 cadmium, respectively. In accordance with the actual state of knowledge on lead and
24 cadmium toxicity and attending to the upper limits calculated from risk intake values set by
25 EFSA, it seems prudent to call for a revision of both heavy metals content regulated by EC to
set a maximum guideline values for infant cereal at 55 and 45 μg kg-1 26 , respectively
Nestinþ cells direct inflammatory cell migration in atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is a leading death cause. Endothelial and smooth muscle cells participate in
atherogenesis, but it is unclear whether other mesenchymal cells contribute to this process.
Bone marrow (BM) nestinþ cells cooperate with endothelial cells in directing monocyte
egress to bloodstream in response to infections. However, it remains unknown whether
nestinþ cells regulate inflammatory cells in chronic inflammatory diseases, such as atherosclerosis.
Here, we show that nestinþ cells direct inflammatory cell migration during chronic
inflammation. In Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) knockout mice fed with high-fat diet, BM nestinþ
cells regulate the egress of inflammatory monocytes and neutrophils. In the aorta, nestinþ
stromal cells increase B30 times and contribute to the atheroma plaque. Mcp1 deletion in
nestinþ cells—but not in endothelial cells only— increases circulating inflammatory cells, but
decreases their aortic infiltration, delaying atheroma plaque formation and aortic valve
calcification. Therefore, nestin expression marks cells that regulate inflammatory cell
migration during atherosclerosis.Pro-CNIC FoundationSevero Ochoa Center of Excellence award SEV-2015-0505 to CNICWellcome Trust and MRC to the Cambridge Stem Cell InstituteMinisterio de EconomÃa y Competitividad (RETIC Grant RD12/0042/0028 to V.A.; SAF2012-40127 to J.M-G.; Plan Nacional Grant SAF-2011-30308, Ramón y Cajal Program Grant RYC-2009-04703 and Spanish Cell Therapy Network TerCel to S.M-F.)Marie Curie Career Integration Program Grant (FP7-PEOPLE-2011-294096)ConSEPOC-Comunidad de Madrid Grant (S2010/BMD-2542)National Health Institute Blood and Transplant (United Kingdom)Horizon2020 (ERC-2014-CoG-64765)Horizon2020 (ERC-2014-CoG-64765
Survey of total mercury and arsenic content in infant cereals marketed in Spain and estimated dietary intake.
Due to the fact that infants and children are especially sensitive to mercury and arsenic
7 exposure, predominantly through diet, a strict control of the most widely consumed
8 infant foods, especially infant cereals, is of paramount importance. Levels of both total
9 mercury and arsenic in 91 different infant cereals from ten different manufacturers in
10 Spain were determined by flow injection adapted to cold vapor and hydride generation
11 atomic absorption spectrometry, respectively. Cereals were assessed in terms of the
12 different types, the predominating cereal in the formulation, the added ingredients, and
13 whether the cereal was organically or conventionally obtained. In general, the content of
14 toxic elements (median (Q1;Q3)) found in infant cereals based on conventionally
obtained raw materials (n=74, Hg: 2.11 (0.42;4.58), As: 21.0 (9.4;50.9) μg·Kg-1 15 ) was
16 lower than in cereals produced by organic methods (n= 17, Hg: 5.48 (4.54;7.64), As:
96.3 (87.5;152.3) μg·Kg-1 17 ). Mercury content in infant cereals shows the higher values in
18 those formulations with ingredients susceptible to particulate contamination such as
19 gluten-free or cacao-based cereals. The highest arsenic content appears in the rice-based
20 cereals. The mercury and the inorganic arsenic dietary intakes for infants fed on the
21 infant cereals studied were assessed, taking into account the different stages of growth.
22 Organic infant cereals based on cocoa showed the highest risk intakes of mercury, very
23 close to exceeding the intake reference. Just the opposite, 95% of the organically
24 produced infant cereals and 70% of the conventional gluten-free infant cereals showed
25 an inadmissible risk of arsenic intake. Thus, it seems prudent to call for continued
26 efforts in standardizing routine quality control and in reducing arsenic levels in infant
27 cereals; in addition it is essential that relevant legislation be established and regulated
28 by EC regarding these two toxic elements
Surveillance of aflatoxin content in dairy cow feedstuff from Navarra (Spain)
Aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1 and G2) are produced by the fungi Aspergillus (A. flavus and A. parasiticus) in substrates used in cattle feed manufacturing. Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is a major metabolite of Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) which may be present in milk from animals that consume contaminated feed. Levels of aflatoxins in 78 dairy cow feedstuff samples from 40 farms located in Navarra were determined by HPLC-FLD (High Performance Liquid Chromatography with fluorescence detection) and post-column derivatization. The influence of geographical location, season and type of feeding system on aflatoxin content was studied. The climatic profile of AFB1 pointed to spring as the season with the highest aflatoxin level (0.086 μg/kg), followed by winter and summer (0.075 and 0.030 μg/kg, respectively), and to a lesser degree, autumn (0.017 μg/kg). Moreover, wet and dry TMR (Total Mixed Ration) feeding systems (i.e. AFB1: 0.076 and 0.068 μg/kg; Aflatoxin G1 (AFG1): 0.050 and 0.011 μg/kg, respectively) showed a greater content of the analyzed aflatoxins in comparison with compound feed (i.e. AFB1: 0.039 μg/kg; AFG1: 0.007 μg/kg). The fact that the majority of the samples collected were based on compound feed shows that this type was preferred by most dairy farmers. The undetectable levels of aflatoxins in the organic homemade compound feedstuff are also worth mentioning. While none of the feedstuff samples contained amounts over those permitted under European legislation (5 μg/kg), the theoretical extrapolation of the carryover rate suggested in previously published experiments of AFB1 to AFM1 in secreted cow's milk predicts that only one of the feed samples studied had a positive aflatoxin level (53.4 ng/kg) higher than the legal limit for raw cow's milk
- …