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ABSTRACT Background Materials & Methods Results Discussion Conclusion In Latin America, there is a high incidence of vampire bat‐transmitted rabies in cattle causing increased mortality of livestock, which heavily impacts the agricultural sector. Anticoagulants‐based control methods for the common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) have been employed continuously since the 1970s with various methods of application, presentations, doses and active ingredients. Studies from half a century ago still serve as a reference for the current use of anticoagulants for bat‐borne rabies control in Latin America. The objective of this study was to structurally and bibliometrically review literature on the use of anticoagulants for the control of D. rotundus as a means of rabies control.Scientific literature on the use of anticoagulant products for D. rotundus control was obtained, reviewed and analysed. Articles were retrieved from Scopus and Web of Science databases. Research articles from 1971 to 2021 in Spanish, English and Portuguese were included in the review. Results were visualised using RStudio, Bibliometrix and VOSviewer.The body of literature indicates effectiveness of up to 100% in the use of anticoagulants to induce bat mortality. The effectiveness of anticoagulants for rabies control, however, remains uncertain. No evidence was found to support or refute the use of anticoagulants for rabies control.Instead, literature suggests that disturbing bat colonies increases rabies prevalence. This finding suggests that anticoagulants may have the opposite intended effect on rabies control and highlights the importance of further research on the practical methods for bat‐borne rabies prevention.Field experimental studies that include control groups over areas and periods that account for D. rotundus ecology are needed to determine the effectiveness of anticoagulants for rabies control in livestock. In conclusion, the use of anticoagulants for rabies control is questionable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2022, 65.1% of people without access to at least basic water services and 44.6% of people without access to at least basic sanitation services in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) lived in rural areas. Addressing the disparity of access to drinking water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services requires appropriate and differentiate regulation for rural areas. This paper presents the results of a research and consultation process, with more than 80 experts in governance and WASH from 14 regulators and other WASH institutions in LAC on regulatory priorities for rural areas in the region. The 11 priorities identified are related to the development of rural services governance, support to rural service providers and users' role. These priority areas include the formalization and association of providers, the definition of specific service delivery standards for rural areas, the design of subsidies and non-economic incentives, training and technical assistance to providers, inter-institutional coordination and peer learning, information reporting, integrated management of water resources, and the promotion of user's participation and accountability, behavioral change programmes, gender equity and an intercultural approach. While promising experiences are presented in all areas, we propose that collective action is required to transform rural WASH regulation into a supportive, collaborative and integrative function that improves quality access to sustainable and resilient WASH services in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Instructional practices can be strengthened when the education system allows teachers to upgrade themselves professionally, and leadership plays a key role in upgrading their professional competencies. In this regard, the current study aims to explore the role of identified leadership practices in enhancing the professional development of primary school teachers. At the same time, the moderation role of training between the association of identified leadership practices and teachers' professional development was also examined. The study followed a descriptive survey research design headed by questionnaires to collect the data, which was analysed through the different statistical tests. The findings of the study provide evidence that leadership practices contribute significantly in developing teachers' professional competencies by specifying the benefits of different identified leadership roles. Meanwhile, the study implied explicitly that training magnifies the positive effect of identified leadership practices on the professional development of teachers. The findings further suggest that school heads should perform their leadership tasks regularly and pay more focus to the training of teachers to upgrade their professional skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: HER2-low breast cancer is a newly recognized subtype that has shown promising responses to treatment with antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs). However, there is still little known about its clinical and molecular characteristics. In this study, we examined the clinical and pathological features, survival rates, and expression of HER2-related genes in Colombian patients with HER2-low breast cancer, comparing them to HER2-negative and positive groups. We found that HER2-low tumors were better differentiated and had a lower proliferation index compared to HER2-positive tumors. Additionally, compared to HER2-negative cases, HER2-low patients had higher mRNA expression of the ERBB2 gene and longer overall survival rates. Despite these findings, there were no significant differences in survival when adjusted for estrogen receptor status and clinical stage. These results highlight the need for further research on HER2-low breast cancer to optimize treatment strategies for this unique group. HER2-low tumors have shown promise in response to antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) in recent clinical trials, underscoring the need to characterize this group's clinical phenotype. In this study, we aimed to explore the clinicopathological features, survival rates, and HER2 amplicon mRNA expression of women affected with HER2-low breast cancer, compared with HER2-negative and HER2-positive groups. We included 516 breast cancer patients from Colombia, for whom we compared clinicopathological features, mRNA expression of three HER2 amplicon genes (ERBB2, GRB7 and MIEN1), survival and risk of mortality between HER2-low cases (1+ or 2+ with negative in situ hybridization (ISH) result) with HER2-positive (3+ or 2+ with positive ISH test) and HER2-negative (0+) cases. A higher proportion of patients with better-differentiated tumors and a lower proliferation index were observed for HER2-low tumors compared to the HER2-positive group. Additionally, HER2-low tumors showed higher mRNA expression of the ERBB2 gene and longer overall survival rates compared to HER2-negative cases. Nonetheless, a Cox-adjusted model by ER status and clinical stage showed no statistically significant differences between these groups. Our results show differences in important clinicopathological features between HER2-low and both HER2-positive and negative tumors. Given this unique phenotype, it is crucial to evaluate the potential advantages of ADC therapies for this emerging subtype of breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogels were prepared from methyl methacrylate, glycerol, and sulfuric or citric acid. A novel route for the synthesis of crosslinked materials using unconventional initiators was evaluated using a 23 factorial experimental design. Effects of independent variables (polymerization time, type, and acid concentration) were statistically analyzed through ANOVA. The synthesis route includes condensation, free-radical and transesterification reactions with modifications of the polymer chemical properties such as the formation of a crosslinking polyester with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and improvement of the mechanical and thermal properties of the hydrogel. A polymerization time of 4-hour produced the highest amount of material when 1.37 g sulfuric acid was used and 3.46 g when citric acid was added. The polymer synthesized with citric acid has a swelling rate up to 214.6%, compared with the materials produced with sulfuric acid that reach up to 31.3% of water absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer health disparities are linked to clinical-pathological determinants, socioeconomic inequities, and biological factors such as genetic ancestry. These factors collectively interact in complex ways, influencing disease behavior, especially among highly admixed populations like Colombians. In this study, we assessed contributing factors to breast cancer health disparities according to genetic ancestry in Colombian patients from a national cancer reference center. We collected non-tumoral paraffin embedded (FFPE) blocks from 361 women diagnosed with breast cancer at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to estimate genetic ancestry using a 106-ancestry informative marker (AIM) panel. Differences in European, Indigenous American (IA) and African ancestry fractions were analyzed according to potential sources of breast cancer health disparities, like etiology, tumor-biology, treatment administration, and socioeconomic-related factors using a Kruskal–Wallis test. Our analysis revealed a significantly higher IA ancestry among overweight patients with larger tumors and those covered by a subsidized health insurance. Conversely, we found a significantly higher European ancestry among patients with smaller tumors, residing in middle-income households, and affiliated to the contributory health regime, whereas a higher median of African ancestry was observed among patients with either a clinical, pathological, or stable response to neoadjuvant treatment. Altogether, our results suggest that the genetic legacy among Colombian patients, measured as genetic ancestry fractions, may be reflected in many of the clinical-pathological variables and socioeconomic factors that end up contributing to health disparities for this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With increasing violence, political, and economic instability in Latin America, there is a record number of migrants crossing the U.S. southern border. Latin American migrants are often exposed to traumatic events before leaving their home country and during migration. While prior studies document that sex may play a role in types of traumatic exposure, few studies compare differences in traumatic exposure by sex and place of occurrence of recently arrived immigrants. Addressing this gap, we recruited 120 adults who had recently crossed the U.S.-Mexico border. Participants completed questionnaires to characterize trauma exposures in their home country and during their migration journey. Results found that men reported higher levels of exposure to combat situations, while women were more likely to experience sexual assault. Both combat exposure and sexual traumas occurred more often in home countries than during migration. More than half of the full sample reported being threatened with a firearm. These data confirm gender differences in type of trauma and that exposures in the country of origin may provide the impetus to migrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents the proposal design for the completion of a polymer flooding injector well with waterflood flow regulator valves (FRV) in a Colombian field, based on experimental evaluations at the laboratory, intending to reduce the mechanical degradation suffered by the polymer solution at the time of injection, which allows to maintain the design parameters of the improved recovery project and reach the expected recovery factor. An analysis of the parameters and variables that influence the mechanical degradation of the polymer solution during the injection process (polymer solution concentration and the diameters of the FRV) was carried out using one laboratory methodology based on the recommended practices for the evaluation of polymers used in enhanced oil recovery operations API RP63. This work focuses on the following highlights: Evaluation of a waterflood flow regulator valve through experimental tests for polymer flooding and the designing of an initial well completion strategy to minimize mechanical degradation. The proposed valve and diameter resulted in a reduction of only 15 percentage points in the mechanical degradation of the polymeric solution when compared to a commercial water valve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This article reflects on how Colombia, as an important laboratory in transitional restorative justice, a 60-year long internal conflict, is experiencing an 'ecocentric turn.' This transition is not free from contradiction, ambivalence or great challenges. For this article, 'ecocentric turn' means an epistemological movement from anthropocentrism to ecocentrism, with biocentrism as the middle stage between the two ends. We argue that the ecocentric turn does not exclusively imply postures that are purely anthropocentric or ecocentric, but also ones that are hybrid and eclectic, which for the purposes of this article will be called biocentric positions. The ecocentric turn is reviewed on two levels: the first is the institutional level, focusing on the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP for its name in Spanish); and the second level corresponds to the experience of Palestina, Huila, a non-ethnic campesino community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colorectal cancer mortality rate and highly altered proteins from the Wnt/β-catenin pathway increase the scientific community's interest in finding alternatives for prevention and treatment. This study aims to determine the biological effect of chlorogenic acid (CGA) on two colorectal cancer cell lines, HT-29 and SW480, and its interactions with β-catenin and LRP6 to elucidate a possible modulatory mechanism on the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. These effects were determined by propidium iodide and DiOC6 for mitochondrial membrane permeability, MitoTracker Red for mitochondrial ROS production, DNA content for cell distribution on cell cycle phases, and molecular docking for protein–ligand interactions and binding affinity. Here, it was found that CGA at 2000 µM significantly affects cell viability and causes DNA fragmentation in SW480 cells rather than in HT-29 cells, but in both cell lines, it induces ROS production. Additionally, CGA has similar affinity and interactions for LRP6 as niclosamide but has a higher affinity for both β-catenin sites than C2 and iCRT14. These results suggest a possible modulatory role of CGA over the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in colorectal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this research is to determine the impact of the covid-19 outbreak on Peruvian higher education. Surveys were issued to 349 instructors at various institutions to obtain information. As a result of the study's findings, it appears that COVID-19 has a detrimental influence on higher education, running interruptions to teaching and learning, less access to educational and research resources, job losses and increased student debt. However, virtual education has been impeded by limited internet connectivity, a scarcity of computer equipment, and a lack of digital literacy. The study underlines the importance of adopting distance education technology in order to mitigate the consequences of COVID-19 and potential future pandemics on university education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of metals in soils used for primary economic activities can negatively impact the environment and public health. This research identified soil contamination by heavy metals (Lead, Copper, Zinc, and Manganese) by examining physical and chemical properties (Phosphorus, Potassium, organic carbon, cation exchange capacity, pH, texture, and bulk density) of the area during the dry and rainy seasons of 2017. Composite samplings of soil were carried out in both seasons, in order to obtain a representative value of the soil in certified laboratories. Thereafter, through interpolation by means of the Kriging method, a spatial scale of metal concentrations was conducted. This led to the conclusion that the study area has an acceptable environmental quality (5.8-6.9) for its current use of grazing. Likewise, the area presents a medium level (75.37), pursuant to the Potential Ecological Risk Index (RI) for the dry season, and a very high risk (195.04) during the rainy season. These estimates are directly related to lead concentrations, introduced to the soil of the area by human development activities and by contributions of parent material to the soil surface layers, through natural processes of weathering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Our previous study reported higher mRNA levels of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-amplicon genes ERBB2 and GRB7 in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer patients with relatively high Indigenous American (IA) ancestry from Colombia. Even though the protein expression of HER2 and GRB7 is highly correlated, they may also express independently, an event that could change the patients' prognosis. In this study, we aimed to explore the differences in ER, HER2 and GRB7 protein expression according to genetic ancestry, to further assess the clinical implications of this association. Methods: We estimated genetic ancestry from non-tumoral breast tissue DNA and assessed tumoral protein expression of ER, HER2, and GRB7 by immunohistochemistry in a cohort of Colombian patients from different health institutions. We used binomial and multinomial logistic regression models to test the association between genetic ancestry and protein expression. Kaplan-Meier and log-rank tests were used to evaluate the effect of HER2/GRB7 co-expression on patients' survival. Results: Our results show that patients with higher IA ancestry have higher odds of having HER2+/GRB7-breast tumors, compared to the HER2-/GRB7- subtype, and this association seems to be stronger among ER-positive tumors (ER+/HER2+/GRB7-: OR=3.04, 95% CI, 1.47-6.37, p<0.05). However, in the multivariate model this association was attenuated (OR=1.80, 95% CI, 0.72- 4.44, p=0.19). On the other hand, it was observed that having a higher European ancestry patients presented lower odds of ER+/HER2+/GRB7- breast tumors, this association remained significant in the multivariate model (OR=0.36, 95% CI, 0.13 - 0.93, p= 0.0395). The survival analysis according to HER2/GRB7 co-expression did not show statistically significant differences in the overall survival and recurrence-free survival. Conclusions: Our results suggest that Colombian patients with higher IA ancestry and a lower European fraction have higher odds of ER+/HER2+/GRB7- tumors compared to ER+/HER2-/GRB7- disease. However, this association does not seem to be associated with patients' overall or recurrence-free survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mexico's violence related to organized crime activity has grown to epidemic levels in the last 12 years. We interviewed 22 Mexican health care providers from five states to examine how violence impacts health care services and health. We transcribed and analyzed semi-structured interviews using framework analysis. Our findings describe the ways in which community violence in Mexico permeates health care services, impacting health care providers, and the health of patients. We developed a model to reflect our main themes that illustrate how violence permeates health care services over geographic space and time. We identified three thematic categories: (a) the impact of violence on health care facilities and service provision, (b) the impact of violence on providers, and (c) the impact of violence on the health of the community. Our model articulates a dynamic process of the spread and permeation of violence. Prior literature focuses on the impact of violence as an occupational hazard and the effect of war or civil conflict on health care services. We extend this literature by documenting the impacts of widespread violence on Mexican health care services and providers. We discuss how violence impacts services, providers, and health in a country that is not officially at war. We compare our findings to previous literature on occupational violence in health professions and the impacts on health services in official war zones. Finally, we highlight the implications for health care practice and policy. We suggest that violence should be considered throughout the care continuum in Mexico and make the case for violence as a structural contributor to health and health disparities in Mexico. We suggest additional research on this under-investigated topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to study the phospholipase A (PLA) enzyme activity of extracts from Trichoderma harzianum 1A and Trichoderma atroviride αCp8 culture media. Fermentation on submerged culture was performed and PLA activity of extracts was evaluated as a function of culture time. A turbidimetric method for continuous analysis of phospholipase activity was applied. By this, vesicles rather than soluble substrates are used resembling the in vivo environment. In Trichoderma's culture experiments, lecithin phospholipids as inductors promoted a PLA expression level of the same order to the corresponding strain control assay. T. harzianum developed the highest PLA activity and was considered as the most potent strain. Furthermore, the activity level was clearly greater when the culture medium included the plant pathogenic fungus Sclerotium rolfsii. The T. harzianum strain showed the highest PLA potential. Besides, both T. harzianum and T. atroviride, developed higher PLA activity at the first days of culture. In the present work, T. harzianum 1A and T. atroviride αCp8 at a lower level, showed an important PLA potential for S. rolfsii control. On the other side, a lower relative response was observed when both Trichoderma strains were assayed against other pathogens such as Macrophomina phaseolina and Rhizoctonia solani. The present work contributes to the scientific knowledge about PLA activity in Trichoderma and could be useful for technological purposes to prepare formulations for the biological control of S. rolfsii in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]