Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

Testing a global standard for quantifying species recovery and assessing conservation impact.

Recognizing the imperative to evaluate species recovery and conservation impact, in 2012 the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) called for development of a "Green List of Species" (now the IUCN Green Status of Species). A draft Green Status framework for assessing species' progress toward recovery, published in 2018, proposed 2 separate but interlinked components: a standardized method (i.e., measurement against benchmarks of species' viability, functionality, and preimpact distribution) to determine current species recovery status (herein species recovery score) and application of that method to estimate past and potential future impacts of conservation based on 4 metrics (conservation legacy, conservation dependence, conservation gain, and recovery potential). We tested the framework with 181 species representing diverse taxa, life histories, biomes, and IUCN Red List categories (extinction risk). Based on the observed distribution of species' recovery scores, we propose the following species recovery categories: fully recovered, slightly depleted, moderately depleted, largely depleted, critically depleted, extinct in the wild, and indeterminate. Fifty-nine percent of tested species were considered largely or critically depleted. Although there was a negative relationship between extinction risk and species recovery score, variation was considerable. Some species in lower risk categories were assessed as farther from recovery than those at higher risk. This emphasizes that species recovery is conceptually different from extinction risk and reinforces the utility of the IUCN Green Status of Species to more fully understand species conservation status. Although extinction risk did not predict conservation legacy, conservation dependence, or conservation gain, it was positively correlated with recovery potential. Only 1.7% of tested species were categorized as zero across all 4 of these conservation impact metrics, indicating that conservation has, or will, play a role in improving or maintaining species status for the vast majority of these species. Based on our results, we devised an updated assessment framework that introduces the option of using a dynamic baseline to assess future impacts of conservation over the short term to avoid misleading results which were generated in a small number of cases, and redefines short term as 10 years to better align with conservation planning. These changes are reflected in the IUCN Green Status of Species Standard

Knowledge, attitudes and practices on contraception for teens

OBJETIVO: Identificar como os adolescentes têm se comunicado sobre contracepção, seus conhecimentos, atitudes e comportamento sexual salientando a iniciação sexual e o uso de métodos contraceptivos (MCs).MÉTODOS: Estudo exploratório realizado com 570 estudantes do 7º ao 9º ano de escolaridade, no município de João Pessoa/Paraíba, Brasil, de ambos os sexos. Os dados foram realizados a partir de um questionário e analisados pela frequência, testes de qui-quadrado, t de student e regressão logística. RESULTADOS: Dos 570 participantes, a maioria tinha 14 a 16 anos e apresentaram pouco conhecimento e atitudes desfavoráveis ou ambivalentes. CONCLUSÃO: Apenas 65% conversaram sobre contracepção e 21,4% eram iniciados sexualmente. Entre esses, 49,3% nunca usaram métodos contraceptivos (MC). Não houve diferença significativa no uso de MCs entre os que conversaram ou não sobre contracepção (p= 0.201)

Design and Validation of an Image for Dissemination and Implementation of Chilean Dietary Guidelines

Artículo de publicación ISIIntroducción: las Guías Alimentarias Basadas en Alimentos (GABA) generalmente van acompañadas de una imagen para su difusión e implementación. Objetivo: diseñar y validar una imagen que represente la variedad y proporcionalidad de las nuevas guías alimentarias para la población chilena, incluyendo los alimentos altos en nutrientes críticos que es necesario evitar y la actividad física. Método: un panel de expertos analizó siete propuestas gráficas y seleccionó tres que fueron validadas con 12 grupos focales de personas de 10-14 y 20-40 años, distinto sexo, nivel socioeconómico y sector urbano/rural. Se analizó la percepción de la variedad y proporcionalidad de los grupos de alimentos a comer diariamente y la motivación a la acción en alimentación y actividad física. Se trabajó con METAPLÁN, método ya utilizado en la validación de las GABA. Resultados y discusión: la imagen definitiva es un círculo que presenta la variedad y proporcionalidad de los grupos de alimentos a consumir durante el día (en fotografías), incluye la actividad física en una franja que rodea la mitad del círculo y un rectángulo inferior con ejemplos de alimentos altos en nutrientes críticos en blanco y negro. La imagen elegida fue modificada con las aportaciones de los participantes y validada con tres nuevos grupos focales, mejorando su comprensión y aceptación. Conclusión: la mayoría de los participantes comprendió que la imagen representaba la relación entre la alimentación saludable y la actividad física diaria, identificando los grupos de alimentos de los que se sugiere comer más y de los que se necesita reducir o evitar su consumo.Introduction: Food-Based Dietary Guidelines (FBDG) are usually accompanied by an image for dissemination and implementation. Objective: to design and validate an image to represent the variety and proportions of the new Chilean dietary guidelines, include foods high in critical nutrients that should be avoided and physical activity guidelines. Method: a panel of experts tested seven graphics and selected three that were validated with 12 focus groups of people aged 10-14 and 20-40 years, of both sexes, from different socioeconomic groups and from both rural and urban areas. We analyzed the perception of variety and proportions of the food groups for daily intake and motivation for action in diet and physical activity. We utilized the METAPLAN method used previously in the validation of FBDG. Results and discussion: the final image was a circle that showed the variety and proportions of each food group for daily consumption (in pictures), included physical activity guidelines in a strip around the middle of the circle and a rectangle towards of bottom of the image with examples of foods high in critical nutrients in black and white. The chosen picture was modified using input from participants and validated with three additional focus groups, improving its understanding and acceptance. Conclusion: most participants understood that the image represented the relationship between healthy eating and daily physical activity, correctly identifying the food groups for which increased intake was suggested and those groups in which intake should be reduced or avoided

Experiencia en el proceso de construcción de Tecnologías Sociales en el campo de la Soberanía y Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutricional en América del Sur

Experiencia en el proceso de construcción de tecnologías sociales en el campo de la Soberanía y Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutricional en América del Sur, o processo de construção de diálogos entre pesquisadores é retomado, dessa vez do ponto de vista dos parceiros latino-americanos, contando com colaboração de argentinos, bolivianos, chilenos, colombianos e equatorianos, além de brasileiros. Nesse capítulo, os autores apresentam as atividades e as lições aprendidas, mas reconhecem também as descontinuidades e barreiras enfrentadasFil: González, Ana Lía. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Escuela de Nutrición; ArgentinaFil: Fernandes, Anna Christina Pinheiro. Universidad del Desarrollo; ChileFil: Albrecht, Claudia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; ArgentinaFil: Román, María Dolores. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; ArgentinaFil: Araneda Flores, Jacqueline Alejandra. Universidad del Bio Bio; ChileFil: Delgado Burgoa, José Manuel Freddy. Comunidad Pluricultural Andino Amazónico para la Sustentabilidad ; BoliviaFil: Oliveira, María Rita Marques de. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; BrasilFil: Castillo Carrión, Maritza Janeth. Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja; PerúFil: Popelka, Regina Maria. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Escuela de Nutrición; ArgentinaFil: Martinez Espinosa, Ruth Irene. Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja; PerúFil: Koester Webe, Thabata. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; BrasilFil: García Ramírez, Yudi Paulina. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; Brasi

Update on the Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Guideline of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology-2019

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NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES: a data set on carnivore distribution in the Neotropics

Mammalian carnivores are considered a key group in maintaining ecological health and can indicate potential ecological integrity in landscapes where they occur. Carnivores also hold high conservation value and their habitat requirements can guide management and conservation plans. The order Carnivora has 84 species from 8 families in the Neotropical region: Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Otariidae; Phocidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae. Herein, we include published and unpublished data on native terrestrial Neotropical carnivores (Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae). NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES is a publicly available data set that includes 99,605 data entries from 35,511 unique georeferenced coordinates. Detection/non-detection and quantitative data were obtained from 1818 to 2018 by researchers, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private consultants. Data were collected using several methods including camera trapping, museum collections, roadkill, line transect, and opportunistic records. Literature (peer-reviewed and grey literature) from Portuguese, Spanish and English were incorporated in this compilation. Most of the data set consists of detection data entries (n = 79,343; 79.7%) but also includes non-detection data (n = 20,262; 20.3%). Of those, 43.3% also include count data (n = 43,151). The information available in NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES will contribute to macroecological, ecological, and conservation questions in multiple spatio-temporal perspectives. As carnivores play key roles in trophic interactions, a better understanding of their distribution and habitat requirements are essential to establish conservation management plans and safeguard the future ecological health of Neotropical ecosystems. Our data paper, combined with other large-scale data sets, has great potential to clarify species distribution and related ecological processes within the Neotropics. There are no copyright restrictions and no restriction for using data from this data paper, as long as the data paper is cited as the source of the information used. We also request that users inform us of how they intend to use the data

Geoeconomic variations in epidemiology, ventilation management, and outcomes in invasively ventilated intensive care unit patients without acute respiratory distress syndrome: a pooled analysis of four observational studies

Background: Geoeconomic variations in epidemiology, the practice of ventilation, and outcome in invasively ventilated intensive care unit (ICU) patients without acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remain unexplored. In this analysis we aim to address these gaps using individual patient data of four large observational studies. Methods: In this pooled analysis we harmonised individual patient data from the ERICC, LUNG SAFE, PRoVENT, and PRoVENT-iMiC prospective observational studies, which were conducted from June, 2011, to December, 2018, in 534 ICUs in 54 countries. We used the 2016 World Bank classification to define two geoeconomic regions: middle-income countries (MICs) and high-income countries (HICs). ARDS was defined according to the Berlin criteria. Descriptive statistics were used to compare patients in MICs versus HICs. The primary outcome was the use of low tidal volume ventilation (LTVV) for the first 3 days of mechanical ventilation. Secondary outcomes were key ventilation parameters (tidal volume size, positive end-expiratory pressure, fraction of inspired oxygen, peak pressure, plateau pressure, driving pressure, and respiratory rate), patient characteristics, the risk for and actual development of acute respiratory distress syndrome after the first day of ventilation, duration of ventilation, ICU length of stay, and ICU mortality. Findings: Of the 7608 patients included in the original studies, this analysis included 3852 patients without ARDS, of whom 2345 were from MICs and 1507 were from HICs. Patients in MICs were younger, shorter and with a slightly lower body-mass index, more often had diabetes and active cancer, but less often chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart failure than patients from HICs. Sequential organ failure assessment scores were similar in MICs and HICs. Use of LTVV in MICs and HICs was comparable (42·4% vs 44·2%; absolute difference -1·69 [-9·58 to 6·11] p=0·67; data available in 3174 [82%] of 3852 patients). The median applied positive end expiratory pressure was lower in MICs than in HICs (5 [IQR 5-8] vs 6 [5-8] cm H2O; p=0·0011). ICU mortality was higher in MICs than in HICs (30·5% vs 19·9%; p=0·0004; adjusted effect 16·41% [95% CI 9·52-23·52]; p<0·0001) and was inversely associated with gross domestic product (adjusted odds ratio for a US$10 000 increase per capita 0·80 [95% CI 0·75-0·86]; p<0·0001). Interpretation: Despite similar disease severity and ventilation management, ICU mortality in patients without ARDS is higher in MICs than in HICs, with a strong association with country-level economic status