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Background and purpose: Although air pollution (AP) has been associated with stroke and dementia, data regarding its relationship with covert cerebrovascular disease (cCVD) and cognition over time are sparse. The aim of this study was to explore these relationships. Methods: A prospective population‐based study of 976 stroke‐free and non‐demented individuals living in Barcelona, Spain, was conducted during 2010–2016. A land use regression model was used to estimate the exposure of each participant to AP: NOx, NO2, PM2.5, PM10, PMcoarse and PM2.5 absorbance. Cognitive function and cCVD were assessed at baseline (n = 976) and 4 years after (n = 317). Multivariate‐adjusted models were developed. Results: At baseline, 99 participants (10.1%) had covert brain infarcts and 91 (9.3%) had extensive periventricular white matter hyperintensities (WMHs). Marked subcortical WMH progression was seen in 19.7%; the incidence of other covert cerebrovascular lessons ranged between 5% and 6% each. PM2.5 was related to higher odds of having a covert brain infarct (odds ratio [OR] 2.21; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06–4.60). PM2.5 absorbance was related to higher odds of having extensive subcortical WMHs (OR 1.72; 95% CI 1.13–2.60), whereas NO2 was related to higher odds of having extensive subcortical (OR 1.66; 95% CI 1.17–2.35) or periventricular (OR 1.96; 95% CI 1.10–3.50) WMHs and to higher odds of developing marked subcortical WMH progression (OR 1.40; 95% CI 1.05–1.90). NOx was related to incident cerebral microbleeds (OR 1.36; 95% CI 1.04–1.79). There was no association between AP and cognition. Conclusions: Air pollutant predicts the presence and accumulation of cCVD. Its impact on cognitive impairment remains to be determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

El objetivo del presente trabajo fue contrastar los porcentajes de las diferentes fracciones de caseína en leche de cabras Criollas y Saanen. Para ellos se evaluaron 6 cabras adultas de cada raza de una gana-dería comercial, ubicada en la región semi-árida del centro oeste de Argentina. Las cabras se alimentaron en base a alfalfa y grano de maíz. Las muestras se colectaron por ordeño manual, tomando 100 cm3 por animal a los 15, 30 y 45 días post-parto. Para determinación de los porcentajes de alfa-caseína, beta-caseína y kappa-caseína, se utilizó el método de electroforesis vertical en gel de UREA-PAGE y las bandas se leyeron aplicando el método de semi-cuantificación con software ImageJ. Los resultados expusieron que en ambas razas los valores de alfa-caseína fueron en aumento, mientras los de beta y kappa-caseí-na disminuyeron a lo largo del muestreo. Asimismo, se encontró que alfa-caseína fue más elevada en leche de cabra Saanen, mientras que los porcentajes de beta y kappa-caseína fueron más elevada en leche de cabra Criolla, encontrando diferencia estadística significativa para alfa y beta-caseína en los tres momentos evaluados y en el caso de kappa-caseína solo en el muestreo de los 45 días. Se concluyó que la leche de cabra Criolla posee menor porcentaje de alfa-caseína que la leche de cabra Saanen, lo que la haría menos alergénica y posee un porcentaje más elevado de beta y kappa-caseína, situación que per-mitiría una coagulación rápida para la elaboración de quesos y una estabilidad y firmeza más elevado en los yogures.

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are extraordinary astrophysical phenomena characterized by short radio pulses that last only a few milliseconds, yet their power can surpass that of 500 million suns. To date, most detected FRBs originate from beyond our galaxy. However, if an FRB were to originate within the Milky Way, it could be detected using small antennas. In this paper, we propose a compact and ad-hoc antenna array designed for the efficient detection and localization of FRBs within the Milky Way. The antenna operates within the 1200–1800 MHz range and consists of three sub-arrays placed in an L-shape for source localization, occupying a total volume of 8 0 × 2 5 × 6 cm 3 . Each sub-array consists of 4 miniaturized, dual-polarized, half-space radiation antenna elements, forming a one-dimensional array that allows shaping the radiation pattern to match the form of the Milky Way without exhibiting grating lobes. A prototype was constructed and characterized to validate the design. The measured results exhibit good agreement with the simulations. In addition to having a custom elongated radiation pattern, the array has attractive merits, such as low reflections at the input ports, high radiation efficiency, and a distribution that inhibits the existence of phase ambiguities, thus facilitating source localization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe the morphology and microstructure of the egg chorion, and the morphology of the first instar larva of Gyriosomus luczotii Laporte, 1840 (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Nycteliini). Bionomical and distributional data on this species are also provided. To obtain eggs and larvae, couples were collected in the field and kept in rearing cages until oviposture and ecclosion. The structure and adornment of the egg exochorion, and the exterior morphological features of larvae were examined with electron scanning microscopy. The eggs of G. luczotii showed a rounded micropyle and a smooth exochorion, composed of hexagonal cells without aeropyles. The larvae of G. luczotii showed morphological characteristics suited for an edaphic life similar to that of Pedobionta: digging prothoracic legs, cephalic capsule with abundant sensilla, and well–developed pygopodium. We analysed the importance of larval morphology as an element for specific diagnosis and found that interspecific differences regarding frontal sensilla, clypeus shape, and anterior part of labrum, had a taxonomic value and possibly a phylogenetic value.

Copyright of Revista Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales, Niñez y Juventud is the property of Centro de Estudiso Avanzados en Ninez y Juventud alaianza Cinde, Universidad de Manizales and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Research describes the construction of M(II)-(N(sub)3)(sub)2-4,4'bipy extended structures and their application to the synthesis and magnetostructural characterization of 4 coordination polymers. Data reveal that compound 1 exhibits an acentric 3D structure, whereas compounds 2,3, and 4 are isomorphous exhibiting 2D array with pi-pi stacked columns of pyridyl rings.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to explore the degree of agreement of intensive care unit nurses working on a set of medication error preventive strategies and to examine possible predictors of nurses' knowledge, attitude and behavior. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Observational, international, and cross-sectional study. Iran, Malta, Spain, Pakistan, Nepal, Qatar, Ecuador, Australia, Finland, Italy, Egypt, and Jordan were the countries included in this survey. To collect data, the Knowledge, Attitude and Behavior in Medication Errors questionnaire was used. A descriptive statistical analysis was performed for the socio-demographic characteristics of the sample and three multiple logistic regressions were performed. RESULTS: The international sample consists of 1383 nurses, of whom 478 (34.6%) were men and 900 (65.1%) were women and their mean age was 35.61 years with a range of 19-61. Descriptive statistics conducted on the international sample show a medium to high degree of agreement among participants concerning some preventive strategies of medication error. In addition, the results of the present study show a strong relationship between positive nurses' attitudes and correct behaviors and/or adequate knowledge, as well as between adequate knowledge and correct behaviors (p< 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Further studies are needed to explore the issue of medication error concerning nurses' cultural backgrounds, as well as to assess similarities and disparities among international nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of pseudohalide ligand on the final molecular structure and magnetic properties of Mn(II)-bipyrimidine systems was established. Different dinuclear (NCS), one-dimensional (NCO) and two-dimensional (N(sub 3)) species resulted from the same synthetic method targeted to achieve the connection of Mn(II)-pseudohalide systems through bpm ligands. In the two former systems, the manganese(II) ions were linked through bpm bridges, whereas in the latter, EO azido and bpm bridges were present.

The reaction of (Ni(bipy)2(N3)2)H2O with sodium perchloroate and potassium hexafluorophosphate yields cis-catena-(Mu-N3)(Ni(bipy)2)ClO4 and cis-catena-(Mu-N3)(Ni(bipy)2)PF6, respectively. X-ray and spectral studies reveal that octahedral Ni(II) ions have two bipy ligands and end-to-end azido bridges inh a cis arrangement. Magnetic measurements reveal the existence of strong antiferromagnetic coupling between Ni(II) ions in both compounds.

X-ray diffraction technique determines the structure of bis(mu-end-on-azide)-bis(2,2':6',2'-terpyridine)dimanganese(II) dihydrate crystals. An intradimer ferromagnetic exchange interaction is observed with the help of magnetic properties of the compound. Increase in bond angle and bond asymmetry leads to a decrease in antiferromagnetic contribution. Spin-polarization effect analyzes the ferromagnetic interaction in this complex.

Effective long-term management is needed to address the impacts of invasive alien species (IAS) that cannot be eradicated. We describe the fundamental characteristics of long-term management policies for IAS, diagnose a major shortcoming, and outline how to produce effective IAS management. Key international and transnational management policies conflate addressing IAS impacts with controlling IAS populations. This serious purpose–implementation gap can preclude the development of broader portfolios of interventions to tackle IAS impacts. We posit that IAS management strategies should directly address impacts via impact-based interventions, and we propose six criteria to inform the choice of these interventions. We review examples of interventions focused on tackling IAS impacts, including IAS control, which reveal the range of interventions available and their varying effectiveness in counteracting IAS impacts. As the impacts caused by IAS increase globally, stakeholders need to have access to a broader and more effective set of tools to respond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine global trends in ecological restoration (ER) research, we conducted a geographically-explicit English-language literature review. We assessed a representative sample (n=603) of publications that use the ER concept (n=8,678). Only 19.2% (n=118) were explicit ER studies, and these were evaluated to determine geographic location, research framework, ER paradigm, journal disciplinary orientation, article type, disturbance factor studied, and ER-response measurements. The Global North produced 2x more studies than the South, and ecological research frameworks predominated overall. However, significantly more Southern studies operated under a postmodern paradigm (i.e., addressing ecosystem processes, functions and health) than in the North, where more studies sought to reconstitute pre-disturbance biotic assemblages (i.e., classical paradigm). Both regions published mostly in natural science journals, but significantly more in the North; in the South, there were significantly more publications in engineering journals. An incipient socio-ecological research framework was detected in the North (23.1%) and South (32.5%), but social science studies were only found in the North (11.5%). Plus, the North had significantly more conceptual publications. Opportunities exist in both regions to enhance a holistic ER perspective. Southern scientists and practitioners could pay attention to context-specific concepts and approaches. Understanding global and regional ER research trends can contribute to improving theoretical, practical and ethical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Uranium demand is expected to increase due to the worldwide growth in electricity demand and the shift towards more sustainable and reliable low carbon energy sources. For more than 10 years, the Australian uranium industry production (primarily represented by production from the Ranger and Olympic Dam Mines) has been affected by adverse weather conditions. Since Australia meets 12% of the current world uranium demand, there is a need to study, at depth, any potential threat to this market. This study has included a vulnerability assessment of the impact that climate change currently makes, and potentially might have on the supply chain of the two biggest uranium mines currently operating in Australia. The assessment identified the most vulnerable parts (past and future) of both operational chains, in addition to the chain participants with the greatest and least adaptive capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atom probe tomography (APT) has the ability to identify the nature and position of single atoms in a material with an almost 3D atomic resolution. However, the quantification of the material composition requires an appropriate treatment of the discrete APT data. When the amount of atoms selected to quantify the composition is relatively small, the spatial resolution is enhanced but the statistical error worsens. Conversely, the increase in the number of atoms considered reduces the spatial resolution, but improving the statistics. We have developed a methodology to reach an optimum equilibrium between the positional and the statistical error in an unsupervised form using Gaussian Kernel density functions. The validity of the method has been tested using APT simulated data of semiconductor materials. It has been proved that the chemical quantification in these materials requires the appropriate selection of the smoothing parameter, obtained without user intervention. In addition, the results have been compared to the usual techniques for composition measurement from APT data (voxelization and proximity histograms), showing better precision for high spatial resolution. This work supplies a data driven methodology based in Gaussian Kernel density functions for the accurate quantification of the composition from APT data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human-wildlife dynamics exhibit novel characteristics in the Anthropocene, given the unprecedented degree of globalization that has increased the linkages between habitats and people across space and time. This is largely caused by transnational mobility and migration, international labor, resource markets, and trade. Understanding the relationship between humans and wildlife, and their associated telecoupling processes, helps to promote better management practices and governance for reconciling socioeconomic and conservation interests. Even remote places on the globe exhibit these features. For example, in southern Patagonia's coastal and marine ecosystems, seabirds are not only very abundant and charismatic members of the wildlife community, nowadays, their colonies are a main tourism attraction of global significance, and in the past they were used for consumptive and scientific purposes that also linked the "uttermost ends of the Earth" with distant places. Thus, in this study, we review human-seabird interactions in the iconic Beagle Channel (BC) in the Argentine portion of the Tierra del Fuego Archipelago. We adapted and employed the coupled human and natural systems (CHANS) approach and telecoupling framework to integrate disparate social and biological information and obtain a more holistic understanding of current human-seabird dynamics and trends in the BC. Although our assessment includes the temporal scale of human-seabird relationships, we centered the CHANS and telecoupling analysis on the modern seabird-tourism interaction, focused on the channel's Argentine sector, in which tourism is most intensively developed. Our synthesis of the BC's telecoupled CHANS allowed us to recognize the strong historical local-to-global interactions between both human and natural subsystems and the sharp increase in distance telecoupling during the 20th century. Despite this globalizing trend in seabirds connecting the BC's local ecosystems to distant places, ironically we found few linkages between Argentina and Chile, despite both countries sharing political sovereignty over this single biogeographical unit. Recognizing and studying the telecouplings identified in this study would help multilateral efforts to incorporate the spillover systems (especially with Chile) and sending systems (i.e., transnational tourists' countries of origin) into extant regional policies (e.g., state protected areas) and global initiatives (e.g., the United Nations' sustainable development goals). It would also enable more informed decisions regarding specific proposals based on market-based incentives (e.g., payment for ecosystem services), certification schemes (e.g., Distintivo Onashaga) and participatory approaches (e.g., comanagement of natural resources with local communities). Integrating these scales into the management of the BC would help ensure that humans continue to enjoy meaningful relationships with this unique and charismatic wildlife and at the same time reinforce responsible tourism as a local-global strategy for sustainable development and global conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ecologia Austral is the property of Asociacion Argentina de Ecologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Bosque (03048799) is the property of Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad Austral de Chile and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: Childhood Obesity has become a Public Health priority due to it high prevalence and consequences in health status.Objective: To estimate prevalence of obesity in the children included in the National Health Survey of 2006-2007 and to determine its association with socioeconomic position and other socio-demographic variables.Methods: Cross-sectional study using data available from 6,139 Spanish children between 2-15 years old, included in the National Health Survey. Parents or guardians reported weight and height to estimate obesity prevalence according to the International Obesity Task Force cut-offs for body mass index.Results: Obesity prevalence was 10,3% and overweight prevalence was 18,8%. Obesity was more prevalent in children from 4-5 years age (18,3%) and overweight in the 8-9 years stratus (25,5%). Overweight was more frequent in boys than girls (19,8% versus 17,8%; p = 0,04). Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla, Valencia and Andalusia were the Autonomous Communities with higher obesity prevalence in contrast with the Basque Country, Galicia and Madrid which showed the lowest prevalence. This distribution generates a north to south gradient in obesity prevalence. Both, obesity and overweight showed an inverse association with socioeconomic position (p < 0,05).Conclusion: Childhood obesity rates in Spain accounts from ones of the highest in Europe, with a strong geographic and socioeconomic gradient. Priority should be given to effective interventions that can reach the most vulnerable groups as identified in this study, like restrictions on TV food advertising and tax reliefs to promote healthy eating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Locally abundant ungulates often come into conflict with human activities. After a population collapse that reached its nadir in the 1970s, the guanaco Lama guanicoe population in Tierra del Fuego, Chile, recovered and is now in conflict with sheep ranching and commercial logging. We studied the effects of livestock density and environmental factors on guanaco abundance and spatial ecology, using seasonal counts and radio-telemetry in a private protected area (Karukinka) and neighbouring ranches in a forest–grassland mosaic in Tierra del Fuego. Guanaco density was highest in low-elevation areas with more grassland cover and little snow accumulation in winter. In low-elevation areas, guanaco density decreased with increasing livestock density. Radio-tracked guanacos exhibited a partial migration pattern: two individuals migrated seasonally, selecting grasslands and avoiding forests mainly in summer, whereas six sedentary individuals used habitats according to their availability. Migratory guanacos spent the summer in Karukinka and winter on nearby ranches. High sheep densities and poor range condition on the ranches reduce key forage resources available to guanacos and may promote use of forests by guanacos, affecting forest regeneration and increasing conflict with logging. Current guanaco harvest by loggers may fail to reduce the impact of guanacos on logged-forest regeneration if guanaco spatial ecology and sheep management are not considered. Our results provide insight into the interactions among guanacos, forests and livestock ranching, and may be used to reduce conflicts and guide conservation in the Fuegian ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two cases of Absence Status Epilepticus (ASE), in two patients of different ages, within two different clinical contexts, and with two different Electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns. I describe here, two female patients, 30 years old (case report one) and 76 years old (case report two) that were diagnosed with ASE after prolonged EEG (260 hours and 20.5 hours, respectively) had been performed. In these cases, the clinical manifestation of ASE was different, with the cardinal symptom being memory loss in case report one and confusion in case report two. Furthermore, the EEG pattern of each patient was different as well. In case report one there were very frequent runs of high amplitude, at times sharpened, slow activity over frontal or fronto-temporal regions and bursts of 1-2Hz generalised spike/polyspike and slow wave. Conversely, in case report two there were continuous 2-3Hz generalised spike and slow wave discharges for approximately 30 hour. EEG is the gold standard technique for the diagnosis of ASE, however, it can still present variable electrographic patterns that sometimes may cast doubt on whether it constitutes a definite ASE in particular it can be difficult to ascertain whether the pattern seen is ictal or interictal, especially when clinical signs are subtle. These two cases illustrate the difficulties in diagnosis and the range of presentations of ASE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electron tomography (ET) can be used to determine the shape, and therefore the properties, of an object. It deals with retrieving tridimensional (3D) information from bidimensional (2D) projections of the object under study. While ET has been used widely in biology, its application to the nanoscale world is relatively recent because of the limitations in resolution and aberration of electron microscopes. At atomic scale, classical tomography reconstruction can be replaced by tomography through points reconstruction, that is, the 3D information can be obtained by applying image processing techniques to the projections and by using geometrical models instead of the classical integral approach. In this paper, a methodology for the study of corrugated graphene will be presented. It will be shown how to apply tomographic techniques to the determination of the corrugations in graphene layers with error in 3D location in the range of pm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intermediate operating temperature solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are actually under research; one of the system developments consists in adding an interlayer between the electrodes and the electrolyte materials. In the cathodic sequence, one possible solution to improve the electrochemical performance consists of a yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and a samaria-doped ceria (SDC) bilayer. But this layer sequence is still problematic due to solid-state reactions and interdiffusion at the YSZ/SDC interface. The phase formation and element diffusion have been studied when samples are sintered at different atmospheres (oxidizing, inert, and reducing) and temperatures (1100, 1200, and 1300°C) by X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray analysis/wavelength dispersive X-ray analysis, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The reaction and interdiffusion are preceded by the migration of the cerium to the YSZ lattice: Structural, microstructural, and electrochemical results can be improved when the deposited SDC is sintered at 1200°C in air atmosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a randomized experiment, women (N = 441) watched either a loss- or gain-framed video emphasizing the prevention or detection functions of the Pap test to test the hypothesis that loss- and gain-framed messages differentially influence health behaviors depending on the risk involved in performing the behavior. As predicted, loss-framed messages emphasizing the costs of not detecting cervical cancer early (a risky behavior) and gain-framed messages emphasizing the benefits of preventing cervical cancer (a less risky behavior) were most persuasive in motivating women to obtain a Pap test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This field experiment examined the persuasiveness of matching health messages to individuals' health locus of control beliefs in an effort to promote screening mammography. Women (N = 499) who called the New England regional office of the Cancer Information Service were stratified by their health locus of control and randomly assigned to receive a telephone message and follow-up print materials matched to either an internal or external health locus of control orientation. As expected, women who received information consistent with their health locus of control beliefs generally were more likely to obtain a mammogram 6 and 12 months after the intervention than women who received information that was not consistent with their health locus of control orientation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]