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BackgroundDuring the pandemic in Peru, the COVIDA (Collaboration Network of Volunteer Brigade Members for the Investigation, Detection, and Primary Management of Community Cases Affected by COVID-19) project proposed an innovative way to provide telemonitoring and teleorientation to COVID-19 patients, led by health care student volunteers. However, it has not been described how this interaction is perceived from the patient’s perspective and which factors increase their engagement with this service. ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to describe the perceptions of patients about COVIDA and identify factors associated with their engagement with this service. MethodsA mixed methods study was conducted to evaluate perceptions of patients that participated in the COVIDA project. This telehealth intervention organized by the National University of San Marcos was implemented in Peru from August to December 2020. The service involved daily phone calls by volunteer students to monitor registered COVID-19 patients until the completion of the 14th day of the illness or if a warning sign was identified. The volunteers also provided teleorientation to address the patients’ needs and concerns. Quantitative analysis was performed to describe the characteristics of the patients and to assess the factors related to their engagement with the service, which was defined by the percentage of participants who completed the follow-up according to their individual schedule. Qualitative analysis through semistructured interviews evaluated the patients’ perceptions of the service regarding the aspects of communication, interaction, and technology. ResultsOf the 770 patients enrolled in COVIDA, 422 (55.7%) were female; the median age was 39 (IQR 28-52) years. During the monitoring, 380 patients (49.4%) developed symptoms, and 471 (61.2%) showed warning signs of COVID-19. The overall median for engagement was 93% (IQR 35.7%-100%). Among those patients who did not develop warning signs, engagement was associated with the presence of symptoms (OR 3.04, 95% CI 2.22-4.17), a positive COVID-19 test at the start of follow-up (OR 1.97, 95% CI 1.48-2.61), and the presence of comorbidities (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.29-2.59). Patients reported that the volunteers provided clear and valuable information and emotional support. Communication via phone calls took place smoothly and without interruptions. ConclusionsCOVIDA represents a well-accepted and well-perceived alternative model for student volunteers to provide telemonitoring, teleorientation, and emotional support to patients with COVID-19 in the context of overwhelmed demand for health care services. The deployment of this kind of intervention should be prioritized among patients with symptoms and comorbidities, as they show more engagement with these services.

ObjectivesThe majority of patients with respiratory illness are seen in primary care settings. Given COVID-19 is predominantly a respiratory illness, the INTernational ConsoRtium of Primary Care BIg Data Researchers (INTRePID), assessed the pandemic impact on primary care visits for respiratory illnesses.DesignDefinitions for respiratory illness types were agreed on collectively. Monthly visit counts with diagnosis were shared centrally for analysis.SettingPrimary care settings in Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, Norway, Peru, Singapore, Sweden and the United States.ParticipantsOver 38 million patients seen in primary care settings in INTRePID countries before and during the pandemic, from January 1st, 2018, to December 31st, 2021.Main outcome measuresRelative change in the monthly mean number of visits before and after the onset of the pandemic for acute infectious respiratory disease visits including influenza, upper and lower respiratory tract infections and chronic respiratory disease visits including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, respiratory allergies, and other respiratory diseases.ResultsINTRePID countries reported a marked decrease in the average monthly visits for respiratory illness. Changes in visits varied from −10.9% [95% confidence interval (CI): −33.1 to +11.3%] in Norway to −79.9% (95% CI: −86.4% to −73.4%) in China for acute infectious respiratory disease visits and − 2.1% (95% CI: −12.1 to +7.8%) in Peru to −59.9% (95% CI: −68.6% to −51.3%) in China for chronic respiratory illness visits. While seasonal variation in allergic respiratory illness continued during the pandemic, there was essentially no spike in influenza illness during the first 2 years of the pandemic.ConclusionThe COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact on primary care visits for respiratory presentations. Primary care continued to provide services for respiratory illness, although there was a decrease in infectious illness during the COVID pandemic. Understanding the role of primary care may provide valuable information for COVID-19 recovery efforts and planning for future global emergencies.

Anklaje is a popular music group founded in the city of Castro in Chiloé Island, in southern Chile, whose creative work is characterized by the use of musical elements linked to the Mapuche Willliche people. In this article, we discuss how Anklaje represents Mapuche spirituality in its music, analyzing the interactions among territory, identity, and spirituality that articulate a particular creative process. We examine the band members’ discourses which characterize two ways of conceiving music practices, one linked to music as a rational expression and another as a spiritual experience. The results show how a construct of territory shapes a vision of spirituality, driving a representational practice based on the mediation between secular and sacred elements.

Summary: Background: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted mental health disorders, affecting both individuals with pre-existing conditions and those with no prior history. However, there is limited evidence regarding the pandemic's impact on mental health visits to primary care physicians. The International Consortium of Primary Care Big Data Researchers (INTRePID) explored primary care visit trends related to mental health conditions in Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, Norway, Peru, Singapore, Sweden, and the USA. Methods: We conducted an interrupted time series analysis in nine countries to examine changes in rates of monthly mental health visits to primary care settings from January 1st, 2018, to December 31st, 2021. Sub-group analysis considered service type (in-person/virtual) and six categories of mental health conditions (anxiety/depression, bipolar/schizophrenia/other psychotic disorders, sleep disorders, dementia, ADHD/eating disorders, and substance use disorder). Findings: Mental health visit rates increased after the onset of the pandemic in most countries. In Argentina, Canada, China, Norway, Peru, and Singapore, this increase was immediate ranged from an incidence rate ratio of 1·118 [95% CI 1.053–1.187] to 2.240 [95% CI 2.057–2.439] when comparing the first month of pandemic with the pre-pandemic trend. Increases in the following months varied across countries. Anxiety/depression was the leading reason for mental health visits in most countries. Virtual visits were reported in Australia, Canada, Norway, Peru, Sweden, and the USA, accounting for up to 40% of the total mental health visits. Interpretation: Findings suggest an overall increase in mental health visits, driven largely by anxiety/depression. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many of the studied countries adopted virtual care in particular for mental health visits. Primary care plays a crucial role in addressing mental ill-health in times of crisis. Funding: Canadian Institutes of Health Research grant #173094 and the Rathlyn Foundation Primary Care EMR Research and Discovery Fund.

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped healthcare delivery worldwide.ObjectiveTo explore potential changes in the reasons for visits and modality of care in primary care settings through the International Consortium of Primary Care Big Data Researchers (INTRePID).MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional, retrospective study from 2018-2021. We examined visit volume, modality, and reasons for visits to primary care in Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, Peru, Norway, Singapore, Sweden, and the USA. The analysis involved a comparison between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods.ResultsThere were more than 215 million visits from over 38 million patients during the study period in INTRePID primary care settings. Most INTRePID countries experienced a decline in monthly visit rates during the first year of the pandemic, with rate ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) ranging from RR:0.57 (95%CI:0.49-0.66) to RR:0.90 (95%CI:0.83-0.98), except for in Canada (RR:0.99, 95%CI:0.94-1.05) and Norway (RR:1.00, 95%CI:0.92-1.10), where rates remained stable and in Australia where rates increased (RR:1.19, 95%CI:1.11-1.28). Argentina, China, and Singapore had limited or no adoption of virtual care, whereas the remaining INTRePID countries varied in the extent of virtual care utilization. In Peru, virtual visits accounted for 7.34% (95%CI:7.33%-7.35%) of all interactions in the initial year of the pandemic, dipping to 5.22% (95%CI:5.21%-5.23%) in the subsequent year. However, in Canada 75.30% (95%CI:75.20%-75.40%) of the visits in the first year were virtual, decreasing to 62.77% (95%CI:62.66%-62.88%) in the second year. Diabetes, hypertension and/or hyperlipidemia and general health exams were in the top 10 reasons for visits in 2019 for all countries. Anxiety, depression and/or other mental health related reasons were among the top 10 reasons for virtual visits in all countries that had virtual care.ConclusionsThe pandemic resulted in changes in reasons for visits to primary care, with virtual care mitigating visit volume disruptions in many countries.

Abstract Background Telementoring seems to be a promising strategy to deliver training and counselling to physicians in remote areas. In Peru, early graduated physicians must work for the Rural and Urban-Edge Health Service Program where they face important training needs. The aim of this study was to describe the usage of a one-on-one telementoring program for rural physicians and evaluate the aspects related to the perceptions of acceptability and usability. Methods Mixed methods study on recently graduated physicians who work in rural areas and participate in the telementoring program. The program used a mobile application to connect these young doctors with specialized mentors to answer queries about real-life problems raised by working in a rural area. We summarize administrative data to assess participant characteristics and their participation in the program. Additionally, we conducted in-depth interviews to explore the perceived usability, ease of use, and reason for non-use of the telementoring program. Results Of 74 physicians (mean age 25, 51.4% women) enrolled, 12 (16.2%) actively used the program and performed a total of 27 queries, which received response in an average time of 5.4 ± 6.3 h. In the interviews, the main reasons for non-use were connectivity issues, feelings of shame, and self-efficacy. For those who used the telementoring program they referred it was easy to use and solve their inquiries timely. Conclusions The implementation of a telementoring program sought to provide guidance to recently graduated physicians working in rural areas. Low use rates show that administrative and process-related deficiencies in the program implementation need to be improved.

Green Analytical Chemistry (GAC) metrics include a variety of criteria, such as the regent amounts and toxicity, energy consumption, generated waste, among others. The analytical greenness metric (AGREE) and its variant for sample preparation (AGREEprep) cover different aspects that contribute to the environmental sustainability of sample preparation. White Analytical Chemistry (WAC) considers not only environmental aspects but also analytical and practical aspects with a holistic vision based on a Red-Green-Blue color model.A case study is presented to assess the green and white profile of a method based on ultrasound-assisted extraction and determination of Mn and Fe in beef using microwave-induced plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (MP AES). The method was validated and resulted simple, fast without external heating using diluted acids.It was concluded that we should think in green sample preparation with the AGREEprep tool, as well as in white holistic assessments (WAC) as both constitute complementary tools.

El envejecimiento saludable consiste en el fomento y mantención de una buena nutrición, actividad física, salud mental e integración social, sin embargo, el confinamiento asociado a la pandemia pudo obstaculizar estos procesos. Objetivo: conocer cuáles fueron las principales dificultades de las personas mayores para desarrollar envejecimiento saludable durante la pandemia por coronavirus. Método: revisión narrativa sobre el tema considerando las siguientes variables: estereotipos, salud mental, salud física y social de la persona mayor. Resultados: la pandemia, medido a través de las variables estudiadas, impactó sobre el desarrollo del envejecimiento saludable, provocando aislamiento social y perdida de la actividad física debido a las cuarentenas. Conclusión: la pandemia ha significado un desafío para el envejecimiento saludable de las personas mayores, que debemos prontamente ser capaces de superar, aunando esfuerzos para disminuir los estigmas del grupo etario, que generaron un aislamiento forzado y mayor vulnerabilidad.

This article aims to inform the first findings from a research that examines some urban musics performed in the Region of Los Lagos, which incorporate music elements linked to the mapuche-williche culture. In this article, we present the background information that shows the construction of a mapuche-williche musical movement, as well as the analysis developed that allowed us to determine the emergence of some music elements that could be understood as topic representations. As a result of that, we found the presence of a musical topic that we regard as “mapuche in resistance”, which expressed through musical items performed by a trutruka or that incorporate mimetic allusions about this instrument. Finally, we discuss the possible uses of this analysis and its influence for decentralizing the ethnomusicology practices in the chilean context, as well as the capability of diverse approaches to determine musical topics.

We report an analysis of a sample of 186 spectroscopically confirmed Type II supernova (SN) light curves (LCs) obtained from a combination of Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) and Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System observations. We implement a method to infer physical parameters from these LCs using hydrodynamic models that take into account the progenitor mass, the explosion energy, and the presence of circumstellar matter (CSM). The CSM is modeled via the mass-loss rate, wind acceleration at the surface of the progenitor star with a β velocity law, and the CSM radius. We also infer the time of explosion, attenuation ( A _V ), and the redshift for each SN. Our results favor low-mass progenitor stars ( M _ZAMS < 14 M _⊙ ) with a dense CSM ( $\dot{M}$ > 10 ^−3 M _⊙ yr ^−1 , CSM radius ∼ 10 ^15 cm, and β > 2). Additionally, we find that the redshifts inferred from the SN LCs are significantly more accurate than those inferred using the host galaxy photometric redshift, suggesting that this method could be used to infer more accurate host galaxy redshifts from large samples of Type II SNe in the LSST era. Lastly, we compare our results with similar works from the literature.

Background and Objectives: Redistribution hypothermia occurs during anesthesia despite active intraoperative warming. Prewarming increases the heat absorption by peripheral tissue, reducing the central to peripheral heat gradient. Therefore, the addition of prewarming may offer a greater preservation of intraoperative normothermia as compared to intraoperative warming only. Materials and Methods: A single-center clinical trial of adults scheduled for non-cardiac surgery. Patients were randomized to receive or not a prewarming period (at least 10 min) with convective air devices. Intraoperative temperature management was identical in both groups and performed according to a local protocol. The primary endpoint was the incidence, the magnitude and the duration of hypothermia (according to surgical time) between anesthetic induction and arrival at the recovery room. Secondary outcomes were core temperature on arrival in operating room, surgical site infections, blood losses, transfusions, patient discomfort (i.e., shivering), reintervention and hospital stay. Results: In total, 197 patients were analyzed: 104 in the control group and 93 in the prewarming group. Core temperature during the intra-operative period was similar between groups (p = 0.45). Median prewarming lasted 27 (17–38) min. Regarding hypothermia, we found no differences in incidence (controls: 33.7%, prewarming: 39.8%; p = 0.37), duration (controls: 41.6% (17.8–78.1), prewarming: 45.2% (20.6–71.1); p = 0.83) and magnitude (controls: 0.19 °C · h−1 (0.09–0.54), prewarming: 0.20 °C · h−1 (0.05–0.70); p = 0.91). Preoperative thermal discomfort was more frequent in the prewarming group (15.1% vs. 0%; p < 0.01). The interruption of intraoperative warming was more common in the prewarming group (16.1% vs. 6.7%; p = 0.03), but no differences were seen in other secondary endpoints. Conclusions: A preoperative prewarming period does not reduce the incidence, duration and magnitude of intraoperative hypothermia. These results should be interpreted considering a strict protocol for perioperative temperature management and the low incidence of hypothermia in controls.

A primary pollution source by pharmaceuticals is hospital wastewater (HWW). Herein, the methods involved in the action of a biological system (BS, aerobic activated sludge) or a sonochemical treatment (US, 375 kHz and 30.8 W), for degrading four relevant pharmaceuticals (azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, paracetamol, and valsartan) in HWW, are shown. Before treatment of HWW, the correct performance of BS was assessed using glucose as a reference substance, monitoring oxygen consumption, and organic carbon removal. Meanwhile, for US, a preliminary test using ciprofloxacin in distilled water was carried out. The determination of risk quotients (RQ) and theoretical analyses about reactive moieties on these target substances are also presented. For both, the degradation of the pharmaceuticals and the calculation of RQ, analyses were performed by LC-MS/MS. The BS action decreased the concentration of paracetamol and valsartan by ∼96 and 86%, respectively. However, a poor action on azithromycin (2% removal) was found, whereas ciprofloxacin concentration increased ∼20%; leading to an RQ value of 1.61 (high risk) for the pharmaceuticals mixture. The analyses using a biodegradation pathway predictor (EAWAG-BDD methodology) revealed that the amide group on paracetamol and alkyl moieties on valsartan could experience aerobic biotransformations. In turn, US action decreased the concentration of the four pharmaceuticals (removals > 60% for azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, and paracetamol), diminishing the environmental risk (RQ: 0.51 for the target pharmaceuticals mixture). Atomic charge analyses (based on the electronegativity equalization method) were performed, showing that the amino-sugar on azithromycin; piperazyl ring, and double bond close to the two carbonyls on ciprofloxacin, acetamide group on paracetamol, and the alkyl moieties bonded to the amide group of valsartan are the most susceptible moieties to attacks by sonogenerated radicals. The LC-MS/MS analytical methodology, RQ calculations, and theoretical analyses allowed for determining the degrading performance of BS and US toward the target pollutants in HWW. • Biological and sonochemical treatments as useful methods for degrading 4 representative pharmaceuticals are presented. • Sonochemical treatment had higher degrading action than the biological one on the target pharmaceuticals. • Methodologies for risk environmental calculation and identification of moieties on the pharmaceuticals susceptible to radical attacks are shown.

In recent years, automatic classifiers of image cutouts (also called “stamps”) have been shown to be key for fast supernova discovery. The Vera C. Rubin Observatory will distribute about ten million alerts with their respective stamps each night, enabling the discovery of approximately one million supernovae each year. A growing source of confusion for these classifiers is the presence of satellite glints, sequences of point-like sources produced by rotating satellites or debris. The currently planned Rubin stamps will have a size smaller than the typical separation between these point sources. Thus, a larger field-of-view stamp could enable the automatic identification of these sources. However, the distribution of larger stamps would be limited by network bandwidth restrictions. We evaluate the impact of using image stamps of different angular sizes and resolutions for the fast classification of events (active galactic nuclei, asteroids, bogus, satellites, supernovae, and variable stars), using data from the Zwicky Transient Facility. We compare four scenarios: three with the same number of pixels (small field of view with high resolution, large field of view with low resolution, and a multiscale proposal) and a scenario with the full stamp that has a larger field of view and higher resolution. Compared to small field-of-view stamps, our multiscale strategy reduces misclassifications of satellites as asteroids or supernovae, performing on par with high-resolution stamps that are 15 times heavier. We encourage Rubin and its Science Collaborations to consider the benefits of implementing multiscale stamps as a possible update to the alert specification.

Introduction: This research addresses the evaluation of teacher performance through the student-centered paradigm. Objective: To determine the teaching strategies and pedagogical skills with a constructivist approach used, from the teacher and student perspective, in the health master's programs of a Peruvian public university. Methodology: Quantitative, descriptive and cross-cutting study. Based on the Evaluation Questionnaire of the Teaching and Evaluative Methodology of University Professors (CEMEDEPU), an instrument was developed, which was validated by expert judgment with an Alpha cronbach reliability of 0.961, which was applied to teachers and students. The sample obtained was from 42 teachers and 130 students from eight master's degrees. The descriptive analysis was performed by categorizing the results in each group and the inferential analysis using the T-student test. Results: Predominated teachers over the age of 56 (55%), with the degree of master (61.9%); students under the age of 40 (79.2), who referred to the research subject when answering the questionnaire. (52.2%). Constructivist teaching strategies, according to the teacher, were regularly used (42.9%) and of low student use (52.6%) while constructivist pedagogical skills were acceptable (66.7%) according to the teacher in contrast to students who were not acceptable (42.3%). Conclusion: Significant difference was found in teaching strategies and pedagogical skills of constructivist approach between teachers and students.

In this study, we present a pre-feasibility analysis that examines the viability of implementing autonomous green hydrogen production plants in two strategic regions of Chile. With abundant renewable energy resources and growing interest in decarbonization in Chile, this study aims to provide a comprehensive financial analysis from the perspective of project initiators. The assessment includes determining the optimal sizing of an alkaline electrolyzer stack, seawater desalination system, and solar and wind renewable energy farms and the focus is on conducting a comprehensive financial analysis from the perspective of project initiators to assess project profitability using key economic indicators such as net present value (NPV). The analyses involve determining appropriate sizing of an alkaline electrolyzer stack, a seawater desalination system, and solar and wind renewable energy farms. Assuming a base case production of 1 kiloton per year of hydrogen, the capital expenditures (CAPEX) and operating expenses (OPEX) are determined. Then, the manufacturing and production costs per kilogram of green hydrogen are calculated, resulting in values of USD 3.53 kg−1 (utilizing wind energy) and USD 5.29 kg−1 (utilizing photovoltaic solar energy). Cash flows are established by adjusting the sale price of hydrogen to achieve a minimum expected return on investment of 4% per year, yielding minimum prices of USD 7.84 kg−1 (with wind energy) and USD 11.10 kg−1 (with photovoltaic solar energy). Additionally, a sensitivity analysis is conducted to assess the impact of variations in investment and operational costs. This research provides valuable insights into the financial feasibility of green hydrogen production in Chile, contributing to understanding renewable energy-based hydrogen projects and their potential economic benefits. These results can provide a reference for future investment decisions and the global development of green hydrogen production plants.

Tree mortality has been shown to be the dominant control on carbon storage in Amazon forests, but little is known of how and why Amazon forest trees die. Here the authors analyse a large Amazon-wide dataset, finding that fast-growing species face greater mortality risk, but that slower-growing individuals within a species are more likely to die, regardless of size.

El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar la asociación entre los factores motivacionales y el desempeño laboral, en los tecnólogos médicos en el área de radiología. Para esto se realizó un estudio descriptivo de corte transversal, analítico correlacional, en el cual se utilizaron como instrumentos de recolección de datos el «Test de evaluación de factores motivacionales» (para medir los factores motivacionales según F. Herzberg) y la «Ficha de Evaluación del desempeño laboral» (para medir el desempeño laboral de los participantes, según evaluación de su jefatura). Posteriormente, se determinó la asociación entre los FM y el desempeño laboral. Para el análisis estadístico se utilizó el programa Microsoft Excel, programa estadístico Stata v.16.0 y la correlación de Pearson. La población y la muestra estuvo compuesta por N=77 y n=64 participantes, respectivamente. Entre los factores motivacionales más resaltantes fueron el crecimiento profesional, relaciones con los compañeros, logro y seguridad laboral, con puntajes promedio de 9.015 ± 1.923, 8.812 ± 2.259, 8.406 ± 2.060 y 8.203 ± 2.520, respectivamente. A su vez, el desempeño laboral obtenido fue regular (7.81 %), bueno (28.13 %) y muy bueno (64.06 %). Con respecto a la asociación existente entre factores motivacionales y desempeño laboral, de los 15 factores motivacionales estudiados, los valores de mayor relevancia fueron obtenidos por «seguridad laboral» (r: 0.2511, p=0.04) y «relaciones con el jefe» (r: -0.2508, p=0.04). Se concluye que Los factores motivacionales «seguridad laboral» y «relaciones con el jefe» tienen una asociación significativa con el desempeño laboral en los TM del área de radiología. Donde se evidenció que, a mayor priorización de los factores motivacionales de las relaciones con el jefe, menor es el nivel de desempeño laboral; y que contrariamente, a mayor priorización de los factores motivacionales, mayor es el nivel de desempeño laboral.

Due to its benefits to promote student participation, develop skills, and strengthen the relationship with the teacher; Active learning methodologies (ALM) must be a priority in the university system. However, its optimal and massive use is still low. Since 2008, a program was initiated to facilitate the correct implementation of ALM in the Faculty of Medicine of the National University of San Marcos (UNMSM). In this paper, we explain holistically the interventions and results of multiple projects: Innovations in Problem Based Learning (PBL) and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). Significant achievements were made among students and empowering teachers in the use of computer databases and design of competency-based evaluation matrix. A virtual simulation laboratory was created, fostering a transdisciplinary exchange that strengthened the academic activity. We show the methodologies used and student perception in subjects such as Pharmacology, one of the most difficult in the medical career and which served as an intervention model.

Aluminum (Al) toxicity in acid soils influences plant development and yield. Almost 50% of arable land is acidic. Plants have evolved a variety of tolerance mechanisms for Al. In response to the presence of Al, various species exudate citrate from their roots. Rye (Secale cereale L.) secretes both citrate and malate, making it one of the most Al-tolerant cereal crops. However, no research has been done on the role of the mitochondrial citrate synthase (mCS) gene in Al-induced stress in the rye. We have isolated an mCS gene, encoding a mitochondrial CS isozyme, in two S. cereale cultivars (Al-tolerant cv. Ailés and Al-sensitive inbred rye line Riodeva; ScCS4 gene) and in two Brachypodium distachyon lines (Al-tolerant ABR8 line and Al-sensitive ABR1 line; BdCS4 gene). Both mCS4 genes have 19 exons and 18 introns. The ScCS4 gene was located on the 6RL rye chromosome arm. Phylogenetic studies using cDNA and protein sequences have shown that the ScCS4 gene and their ScCS protein are orthologous to mCS genes and CS proteins of different Poaceae plants. Expression studies of the ScCS4 and BdSC4 genes show that the amount of their corresponding mRNAs in the roots is higher than that in the leaves and that the amounts of mRNAs in plants treated and not treated with Al were higher in the Al-tolerant lines than that in the Al-sensitive lines of both species. In addition, the levels of ScCS4 and BdCS4 mRNAs were reduced in response to Al (repressive behavior) in the roots of the tolerant and sensitive lines of S. cereale and B. distachyon.

(1) Background: Phosphates are used in the food industry to improve water retention and product quality. However, when consumed in excess, they can be harmful to health. Instead, bovine skin gelatin hydrolysates present health benefits such as being a rejuvenating agent, stimulating collagen production, and improving food quality, in addition to being a source of protein. The effect of the addition of bovine skin gelatin hydrolysates on the texture and color of thermally processed chicken meat (boiled type) and antioxidant activity was evaluated. (2) Methods: Hydrolysates were prepared with subtilisin with the degree of hydrolysis being 6.57 and 13.14%, which were obtained from our previous study. (3) Results: The hydrolysates improved the firmness of the meat matrix compared to the control. Additionally, the hydrolysate with a 13.14% degree of hydrolysis reached the same firmness (p > 0.05) as the commercial ingredient sodium tripolyphosphate at its maximum limit allowed in the food industry when it was applied at 5% (w/w meat) in the meat matrix, improving firmness over the control by 63%. Furthermore, both hydrolysates reached a similar color difference to sodium tripolyphosphate at its maximum allowed limit when applied at a concentration of 2% (w/w meat). Additionally, it was found that these hydrolysates obtained the same antioxidant activity as sodium tripolyphosphate, capturing free radicals at 10%. (4) Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that bovine skin gelatin hydrolysates can be applied as an ingredient with functional properties, being an alternative to phosphates to improve the quality of meat products.

The effect of nitrogen and phosphorus availability on the growth of Sulfolobus metallicus was analyzed. This archaeon was subjected to a series of nitrogen and phosphorus limitation conditions to determine their effects on growth. The results indicate that Sulfolobus metallicus showed a relationship between one of the intermediate oxidation products (tetrathionate) and cell concentration during the exponential growth phase in the absence of nitrogen. Furthermore, significant differences were found in the specific growth rates under different scenarios with ammonia and phosphorus limitation, with values of 0.048 h−1 in the ammonia limitation case. The biomass substrate yield obtained was 0.107 gcel·g S−1. Meanwhile, in the absence of phosphorus, the specific growth rate was 0.017 h−1, and the substrate to biomass yield was 0.072 gcel·g S−1. The results indicate that the ability of Sulfolobus metallicus to bio-oxidize H2S depends on the availability of such nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), which affect cellular growth and the types of products generated. This, in turn, influences the oxidation process of various sulfur compounds, resulting in changes in the predominant products formed and the final oxidation of sulfate ions.

BackgroundThe administration of a third (booster) dose of COVID-19 vaccines in Peru initially employed the BNT162b2 (Pfizer) mRNA vaccine. The national vaccination program started with healthcare workers (HCW) who received BBIBP-CorV (Sinopharm) vaccine as primary regimen and elderly people previously immunized with BNT162b2. This study evaluated the reactogenicity and immunogenicity of the "booster" dose in these two groups in Lima, Peru.MethodsWe conducted a prospective cohort study, recruiting participants from November to December of 2021 in Lima, Peru. We evaluated immunogenicity and reactogenicity in HCW and elderly patients previously vaccinated with either two doses of BBIBP-CorV (heterologous regimen) or BTN162b2 (homologous regimen). Immunogenicity was measured by anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody levels immediately before boosting dose and 14 days later. IgG geometric means (GM) and medians were obtained, and modeled using ANCOVA and quantile regressions.ResultsThe GM of IgG levels increased significantly after boosting: from 28.5±5.0 AU/mL up to 486.6±1.2 AU/mL (pConclusionAlthough both boosting regimens were highly immunogenic, two doses of BBIBP-CorV boosted with BTN162b2 produced a stronger IgG antibody response than the homologous BNT162b2 regimen in the Peruvian population. Additionally, both regimens were mildly reactogenic and well-tolerated.

This work considered the sonochemical degradation (using a bath-type reactor, at 375 kHz and 106.3 W L-1, 250 mL of sample) of three representative halogenated pharmaceuticals (cloxacillin, diclofenac, and losartan) in urine matrices. The action route of the process was initially established. Then, the selectivity of the sonochemical system, to degrade the target pharmaceuticals in simulated fresh urine was compared with electrochemical oxidation (using a BDD anode, at 1.88 mA cm−2), and UVC/H2O2 (at 60 W of light and 500 mol L-1 of H2O2). Also, the treatment of cloxacillin in an actual urine sample by ultrasound and UVC/H2O2 was evaluated. More than 90% of the target compounds concentration, in the simulated matrix, was removed after 60 min of sonication. However, the sono-treatment of cloxacillin in the real sample was less efficient than in the synthetic urine. The ultrasonic process achieved 43% of degradation after 90 min of treatment in the actual matrix. In the sonochemical system, hydroxyl radicals in the interfacial zone were the main degrading agents. Meanwhile, in the electrochemical process, electrogenerated HOCl was responsible for the elimination of pharmaceuticals. In turn, in UVC/H2O2 both direct photolysis and hydroxyl radicals degraded the target pollutants. Interestingly, the degradation by ultrasound of the pharmaceuticals in synthetic fresh urine was very close to the observed in distilled water. Indeed, the sonodegradation had a higher selectivity than the other two processes. Despite the sono-treatment of cloxacillin was affected by the actual matrix components, this contrasts with the UVC/H2O2, which was completely inhibited in the real urine. The sonochemical process led to 100% of antimicrobial activity (AA) elimination after 75 min sonication in the synthetic urine, and ∼ 20% of AA was diminished after 90 min of treatment in the real matrix. The AA decreasing was linked to the transformations of the penicillin nucleus on cloxacillin, the region most prone to electrophilic attacks by radicals according to a density theory functional analysis. Finally, predictions of biological activity confirmed that the sono-treatment decreased the activity associated with cloxacillin, diclofenac, and losartan, highlighting the positive environmental impact of degradation of chlorinated pharmaceuticals in urine.

Objectives Accurate civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systems are the primary data source to measure the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mortality. This study assesses how the pandemic impacted CRVS system processes in Loreto region of Peru, one of the worst affected countries globally.Design Qualitative study.Setting Loreto, a remote region, which had the highest reported mortality rate in Peru during the pandemic.Participants Semistructured individual interviews and documentary analysis were conducted between September 2020 and May 2021 with 28 key informants from eight institutions involved in death certification. Key informants were identified using a purposive sampling strategy commencing at the Health Directorate of Loreto, and the snowball method was used where a participant suggested another organisation or person. Information from key informants was used to compare business process maps of the CRVS system before and during the pandemic.Results During early May 2020, there were seven times more registered deaths than in earlier years, but key informants believed this underestimated mortality by 20%–30%. During the pandemic, families had to interact with more institutions during the death certification process. Several issues disrupted death certification processes, including the burden of increased deaths, the Environmental Health Directorate often removing a body without the family’s express agreement, the creation of COVID-19 cemeteries where no death certificate was needed for burial, greater participation of funeral homes that often used outdated paper forms, and closure of civil registry offices. There was increased use of the online National Death System (SINADEF) but many users had problems with access.Conclusions The pandemic substantially disrupted CRVS processes in Loreto, making death certification more difficult, placing greater burden on the family and leading to more participation from unregulated organisations such as funeral homes or cemeteries. These disruptions were impacted by limitations of the CRVS system’s processes before the pandemic.

Mid-high-frequency ultrasound (200–1000 kHz) eliminates organic pollutants and also generates H2O2. To take advantage of H2O2, iron species can be added, generating a hybrid sono-Fenton process (sF). This paper presents the possibilities and limitations of sF. Heterogeneous (a natural mineral) and homogeneous (Fe2+ and Fe3+ ions) iron sources were considered. Acetaminophen, ciprofloxacin, and methyl orange were the target organic pollutants. Ultrasound alone induced the pollutants degradation, and the dual competing role of the natural mineral (0.02–0.20 g L−1) meant that it had no significant effects on the elimination of pollutants. In contrast, both Fe2+ and Fe3+ ions enhanced the pollutants’ degradation, and the elimination using Fe2+ was better because of its higher reactivity toward H2O2. However, the enhancement decreased at high Fe2+ concentrations (e.g., 5 mg L−1) because of scavenger effects. The Fe2+ addition significantly accelerated the elimination of acetaminophen and methyl orange. For ciprofloxacin, at short treatment times, the degradation was enhanced, but the pollutant complexation with Fe3+ that came from the Fenton reaction caused degradation to stop. Additionally, sF did not decrease the antimicrobial activity associated with ciprofloxacin, whereas ultrasound alone did. Therefore, the chemical structure of the pollutant plays a crucial role in the feasibility of the sF process.

The evaluation of medical students in the clinical setting (outside the classroom) is a great challenge due to the fact that the learning process becomes more complex. There is little scientific literature in which the research ends in an action to design efficient forms of evaluation. We aimed to design and validate an instrument to reach an evaluation by competencies in the Course: Introduction to Clinical Medicine at the National University of San Marcos (UNMSM) in Lima-Peru. This publication follows a research-action methodology, where the initial results led to the design of an evaluation methodology in clinical environments that is then re-evaluated again to determine if it really manages to evaluate the comprehensive skills required in a medical student. Results: 14 professors were interviewed. In the clinical environment, theoretical lectures and planned didactic sessions are used based on clinical cases. In clinical practice, the priority is given to clinical thinking, and problem-based learning (PBL). The reseach team in conjunction with the professors started the evaluation by competences process developing an evaluation instrument for the specific clinical practice. The participants observed resistance to the change because of certain administrative barriers y poor institutional support. The critical point in this investigation was the training in evaluation and learning methodologies. A training plan was required before starting their teaching activities. The professors agreed with the new form of evaluation and recognized the value of the teaching service with responsible and ethical dedication.

Losartan is a highly consumed antihypertensive worldwide and commonly found in effluents of municipal wastewater treatment plants. In the environment, losartan can promote harmful effects on organisms. Thus, an option to face this pollutant is the treatment by photochemical advanced oxidation processes. This dataset has two main components: 1) theoretical calculations on reactivity indexes for losartan, and 2) degradation of the pollutant throughout TiO2-photocatalysis and UVC/persulfate (UVC/PS). The first part of the work presents the data about HOMO and LUMO energies, optimized geometry, dipolar moment, HOMO/LUMO energy gap and total density distribution, in addition to ionization energy, electron affinity, chemical potential, hardness, softness and electrophilicity for losartan. Meanwhile, the second one depicts information on the routes involved in the degradation of the pharmaceutical by the oxidation processes, mineralization, toxicity evolution and losartan removal from a complex matrix (synthetic fresh urine). The data reported herein may be utilized for further researches related to elimination of pharmaceuticals in primary pollution sources such as urine. Moreover, this work also provides experimental and theoretical data useful for the understanding of the response of losartan to oxidative and photochemical processes.

We evaluated an educational intervention using Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to develop competences in the areas of 1. Pedagogy, 2. Communication, 3. Management and 4. Research, in 65 professors of the Faculty of Medicine of a Public University. Design: Quasi-experimental study according to the Research-Action methodology. Two intervention phases were carried out: Mixed training for teachers for 4 months and then the creation of functional virtual classrooms as a final product. The teaching competences, the quality of the virtual classrooms and the perception of the teachers about the limitations found were evaluated. It was achieved that 72% and 78% of teachers became competent at an integrative level in Pedagogy and Communication. 85% and 68% were proficient in an explorer level in Management and Research. Even so, only 25% of teachers created and implemented functional virtual classrooms. Important limitations regarding technological conditions and university policies were explored. It is a need of the majority that said work be recognized to integrate them into their teaching activity.

A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-20537-x

An on-line preconcentration system for the simultaneous determination of Copper (Cu) and manganese (Mn) in water samples was developed and coupled to a microwave-induced plasma optical emission spectrometer (MIP OES). The flow injection system was designed with a minicolumn packed with sisal fiber (Agave sisalana). A multivariate experimental design was performed to evaluate the influence of pH, preconcentration time, and eluent concentration. Optimal conditions for sample preparation were pH 5.5, preconcentration time was 90 s, and HCl 0.5 mol L−1 was the eluent. The main figures of merit were detection limits 3.7 and 9.0 µg L−1 for Cu and Mn, respectively. Precision was expressed as a relative standard deviation better than 10%. Accuracy was evaluated via spiked recovery assays with recoveries between 75–125%. The enrichment factor was 30 for both analytes. These results were adequate for water samples analysis for monitoring purposes. The preconcentration system was coupled and synchronized with the MIP OES nebulizer to allow simultaneous determination of Cu and Mn as a novel sample introduction strategy. The sampling rate was 20 samples/h. Sisal fiber resulted an economical biosorbent for trace element preconcentration without extra derivatization steps and with an awfully time of use without replacement complying with the principles of green analytical methods.

ABSTRACT The use of virtual simulation allows students to interactive learning with creativity and clarity in the theoretical foundation of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the drugs used in pharmacology. Objective: Know the level of satisfaction of students in the design and implementation of virtual simulation laboratory in the Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine of San Marcos Material and Methods: Descriptive, qualitative study of research-action type. The design and implementation of a virtual simulation laboratory, the intervention of improvement and perfection of teaching materials for the development of practical section of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine of San Marcos was planned, using the software Microlab® and CV Rat. A survey of user satisfaction virtual laboratory technique the interview was conducted, as an instrument, using a Likert scale of minimum satisfaction starting in 1 to maximum of 10. Sample size of 26 students. Results: A new process was implemented teaching - learning of Experimental Pharmacology Laboratory using virtual simulation. Most students in the virtual classroom lab have a satisfaction level 9-10 / 10 on the Likert scale. Conclusions: The virtual simulation laboratory Section of Pharmacology got a good level of satisfaction among students.

Los procesos electorales que utilizan dispositivos electrónicos permiten a los votantes emitir su voto de forma electrónica. Dispositivos tales como las computadoras de escritorio, las máquinas de registro directo (DRE), tarjetas inteligentes, etc., junto con las redes privadas o el Internet han sido las herramientas principales para implementar sistemas electrónicos de votación. Años atrás, los dispositivos móviles no habían sido considerados debido a sus restricciones en almacenamiento y poco poder de procesamiento; sin embargo, en la actualidad, la tecnología en estos dispositivos ha evolucionado, y es posible implementar aplicaciones cada vez más completas, que consideran los servicios de seguridad como son la confidencialidad y la autenticación. En este artículo, un sistema de votación electrónica (e-voting) es implementado para teléfonos inteligentes Android. El sistema está compuesto de tres entidades: Servidor de Autenticación (SA), Servidor de Votación (SV) y el votante (V) el cual se ejecuta en un teléfono inteligente Android. Dos mensajes de longitud corta son necesarios para generar una boleta electrónica entre el V y el SA. Con la finalidad de emitir el voto, la boleta es enviada en un mensaje más, del V al SV. Las funciones de emparejamiento bilineales son usadas para verificar las firmas contenidas en la boleta electrónica, la cual tiene una longitud corta, por tanto, el tiempo de transmisión es muy corto. Adicionalmente, considerando que las operaciones más costosas, como el emparejamiento bilineal, no son ejecutadas en el V, los resultados obtenidos de las pruebas muestran que el sistema de votación electrónica es muy eficiente.

Naproxeno (NPX), un anti-inflamatorio no esteroidal, empleado en el tratamiento del dolor leve a moderado, la fiebre, la inflamación y la rigidez, se ha venido detectando en sistemas acuáticos naturales debido a la inadecuada disposición o a sistemas de tratamiento de aguas deficiente. De esta manera, NPX representa un riesgo para el ambiente. El presente estudio investigó la degradación de NPX mediante ultrasonido (630 kHz) bajo diferentes condiciones experimentales. El efecto de la concentración (3-65 μmol L-1) y la potencia del ultrasonido (20-60 W) fueron evaluados. Las mejores eficiencias fueron obtenidas a altas concentraciones de NPX y altas potencias ultrasonoras. Bajo estas condiciones, NPX (65 μmol L-1) fue eliminado (~120 min) por los radicales °OH provenientes de las disociación de agua y oxígeno. La degradación de NPX siguió un modelo cinético tipo Langmuir. Sin embargo, mas del 80% del carbono orgánico total (TOC) permanece en solución incluso durante largos periodos de sonicación (4 h). La presencia de Fe2+ incrementó tanto la degradación como la mineralización del contaminante inicial. El efecto positivo de los iones hierro fue atribuido a la generación de radicales °OH adicionales vía la reacción entre estos iones y el peróxido de hidrogeno generado por el ultrasonido. El ultrasonido combinado con iones hierro se vislumbra como una alternativa promisoria para degradar completamente productos farmacéuticos en aguas.

Se analizan las siguientes publicaciones: Los movimientos sociales, conciencia y acción de una sociedad politizada / Paloma Román y Jaime Ferri (eds.). Y Técnicas de análisis de datos para investigadores sociales, aplicaciones prácticas con SPSS para Windows / Vidal Díaz de Rada

TWIST1 is a transcription factor that belongs to the family of basic helix-loop-helix proteins involved in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and invasion processes. The TWIST1 protein possesses oncogenic, drug-resistant, angiogenic and invasive properties, and has been related with several human tumors and other pathologies. Colorectal cancer is one of the tumors in which TWIST1 is over-expressed, but its involvement in the clinical outcome of the disease is still unclear. We tested, by RT-PCR, the expression levels of TWIST1 in normal and tumor paired-sample tissues from a series of 151 colorectal cancer patients, in order to investigate its prognostic value as a tumor marker. TWIST1 expression was restricted to tumor tissues (86.1%) and correlated with lymph node metastasis (LNM). Adjusted analysis showed that the expression levels of TWIST1 correlated with overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Importantly, TWIST1 expression levels predicted OS specifically at stages I and II. Moreover, patients with stage II tumors and high TWIST1 levels showed even shorter survival than patients with stage III tumors. These results suggest that TWIST1 expression levels could be a tumor indicator in stage II patients and help select patients at greater risk of poor prognosis who might benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: We studied anomalous extracellular mRNAs in plasma from patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and their survival implications. mRNAs studied have been reported in the literature as markers of poor (BCL2, CCND2, MYC) and favorable outcome (LMO2, BCL6, FN1) in tumors. These markers were also analyzed in lymphoma tissues to test possible associations with their presence in plasma. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: mRNA from 42 plasma samples and 12 tumors from patients with DLBCL was analyzed by real-time PCR. Samples post-treatment were studied. The immunohistochemistry of BCL2 and BCL6 was defined. Presence of circulating tumor cells was determined by analyzing the clonality of the immunoglobulin heavy-chain genes by PCR. In DLBCL, MYC mRNA was associated with short overall survival. mRNA targets with unfavorable outcome in tumors were associated with characteristics indicative of poor prognosis, with partial treatment response and with short progression-free survival in patients with complete response. In patients with low IPI score, unfavorable mRNA targets were related to shorter overall survival, partial response, high LDH levels and death. mRNA disappeared in post-treatment samples of patients with complete response, and persisted in those with partial response or death. No associations were found between circulating tumor cells and plasma mRNA. Absence of BCL6 protein in tumors was associated with presence of unfavorable plasma mRNA. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Through a non-invasive procedure, tumor-derived mRNAs can be obtained in plasma. mRNA detected in plasma did not proceed from circulating tumor cells. In our study, unfavorable targets in plasma were associated with poor prognosis in B-cell lymphomas, mainly MYC mRNA. Moreover, the unfavorable targets in plasma could help us to classify patients with poor outcome within the good prognosis group according to IPI.

Para establecer la importancia de la hemoglobina glicosilada (HbA1C), de la glicemia y del tiempo de evolución de la Diabetes Mellitus tipo 2 (DM tipo 2) en la determinación de la microalbuminuria, como predictora de nefropatia renal incipiente, mediante el empleo de la relación albúmina/creatinina, se estudiaron 30 pacientes de ambos sexos con DM tipo 2, 15 controlados y 15 no controlados y 30 individuos sanos, con proporción de sexo y edad similares. En ambos grupos, se efectuó glicemia basal, hemoglobina glicosilada en sangre y microalbuminuria en orina puntual en tres momentos diferentes. Los métodos empleados para su valoración fueron: glicemia (Trinder), HbA1C (Craine JE), creatinina (Benedict?Behre) y albúmina (inmunoturbidimetría). Mediante el análisis estadístico, se encontró una correlación directa entre la microalbuminuria, la glicemia, la hemoglobina glicosilada y el tiempo de evolución de la enfermedad, tanto en pacientes controlados como en no controlados, con un mayor nivel de significancia en este último grupo, lo que se puede correlacionar con la literatura referida, a pesar del tamaño de la muestra. En la progresión de la nefropatia diabética, medida en términos de microalbuminuria, hemoglobina glicosilada, glicemia y el tiempo de evolución de la enfermedad, se evidenció que son factores estrechamente relacionados, lo que los hace susceptibles de ser controlados clínicamente en favor del paciente DM tipo 2. Desde el punto de vista experimental y estadístico, la microalbuminuria, el control glicémico y la HbA1C y el tiempo de evolución de la enfermedad son indicadores de nefropatia renal incipiente.

Reseña de la obra de Vidal Díaz de Rada Igúzquiza. Técnicas de análisis de datos para investigadores sociales Aplicaciones prácticas con SPSS para Windows. Madrid: Rama. 294 p.

Reseña de la obra de Vidal Díaz de Rada aparecida en 2000, Problemas originados por la no respuesta en investigación social: Definición, control y tratamiento. Pamplona: Universidad Pública de Navarra. 142 p.