Superiority of the new sex-adjusted models to remove the female disadvantage restoring equity in liver transplant allocation.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) and MELDNa are used worldwide to guide graft allocation in liver transplantation (LT). Evidence exists that females are penalized in the present allocation systems. Recently, new sex-adjusted scores have been proposed with improved performance respect to MELD and MELDNa. GEMA-Na, MELD 3.0, and sex-adjusted MELDNa were developed to improve the 90-day dropout prediction from the list. The present study aimed at evaluating the accuracy and calibration of these scores in an Italian setting. METHODS: The primary outcome of the present study was the dropout from the list up to 90 days because of death or clinical deterioration. We retrospectively analysed data from 855 adults enlisted for liver transplantation in the Lazio region (Italy) (2012-2018). Ninety-day prediction of GEMA-Na, MELD 3.0 and sex-adjusted MELDNa with respect to MELD and MELDNa was analysed. Brier score and Brier Skill score were used for accuracy, and the Greenwood-Nam-D'Agostino test was used to evaluate the calibration of the models. RESULTS: GEMA-Na (concordance = .82, 95% CI = .75-.89), MELD 3.0 (concordance = .81, 95% CI = .74-.87) and sex-adjusted MELDNa (concordance = .81, 95% CI = .74-.88) showed the best 90-day dropout prediction. GEMA-Na showed a higher increase in accuracy with respect to MELD (p = .03). No superiority was shown with respect to MELDNa. All the tested scores showed a good calibration of the models. Using GEMA-Na instead of MELD would potentially save one in nine dropouts and could save one dropout per 285 patients listed. CONCLUSIONS: Validation and reclassification of the sex-adjusted score GEMA-Na confirm its superiority in predicting short-term dropout also in an Italian setting when compared with MELD.

Analyzing Person-Place Interactions During Walking Episodes: Innovative Ambulatory Assessment Approach of Walking-Triggered e-Diaries.

BACKGROUND: Walking behavior is positively associated with physiological and mental health as much evidence has already shown. Walking is also becoming a critical issue for health promotion in urban environments as it is the most often used form of active mobility and helps to replace carbon dioxide emissions from motorized forms of transport. It therefore contributes to mitigate the negative effects of climate change and heat islands within cities. However, to promote walking among urban dwellers and to utilize its health-enhancing potential, we need to know more about the way in which physical and social environments shape individual experiences during walking episodes. Such person-place interactions could not adequately be analyzed in former studies owing to methodological constraints. OBJECTIVE: This study introduces walking-triggered e-diaries as an innovative ambulatory assessment approach for time-varying associations, and investigates its accuracy with 2 different validation strategies. METHODS: The walking trigger consists of a combination of movement acceleration via an accelerometer and mobile positioning of the cellphone via GPS and transmission towers to track walking activities. The trigger starts an e-diary whenever a movement acceleration exceeds a predetermined threshold and participants' locations are identified as nonstationary outside a predefined place of residence. Every 420 (±300) seconds, repeated e-diaries were prompted as long as the trigger conditions were met. Data were assessed on 10 consecutive days. First, to investigate accuracy, we reconstructed walking routes and calculated a percentage score for all triggered prompts in relation to all walking routes where a prompt could have been triggered. Then, to provide data about its specificity, we used momentary self-reports and objectively assessed movement behavior to describe activity levels before the trigger prompted an e-diary. RESULTS: Data of 67 participants could be analyzed and the walking trigger led to 3283 e-diary prompts, from which 2258 (68.8%) were answered. Regarding accuracy, the walking trigger prompted an e-diary on 732 of 842 (86.9%) reconstructed walking routes. Further, in 838 of 1206 (69.5%) triggered e-diaries, participants self-reported that they were currently walking outdoors. Steps and acceleration movement was higher during these self-reported walking episodes than when participants denied walking outdoors (steps: 106 vs 32; acceleration>0.2 g in 58.4% vs 19% of these situations). CONCLUSIONS: Accuracy analysis revealed that walking-triggered e-diaries are suitable to collect different data of individuals' current experiences in situations in which a person walks outdoors. Combined with environmental data, such an approach increases knowledge about person-place interactions and provides the possibility to gain knowledge about user preferences for health-enhancing urban environments. From a methodological viewpoint, however, specificity analysis showed how changes in trigger conditions (eg, increasing the threshold for movement acceleration) lead to changes in accuracy.

Requirement of a putative mitochondrial GTPase, GemA, for azole susceptibility, virulence, and cell wall integrity in Aspergillus fumigatus.

Drug resistance in fungal pathogens is a new challenge in clinical aspergillosis treatment. Mitochondria as dynamic organelles are involved in numerous biological processes in fungi, including drug resistance. However, little is known about the mechanism underlying mitochondrial regulation of the response of fungal pathogens to antifungal drugs. Here, we showed that a putative mitochondrial GTPase, GemA, a yeast Gem1 homolog, is crucial for the azole response and cell wall integrity in the opportunistic pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. The fluorescence observation showed that GFP-labeled GemA is located in mitochondria, and loss of gemA results in aberrant giant mitochondrial morphology and abnormal mitochondrial membrane potential. Moreover, a ΔgemA mutant attenuates fungal virulence in the Galleria mellonella model of aspergillosis. Furthermore, gemA loss increases resistance to azoles and terbinafine but not to amphotericin B. Of note, RNA-seq combined with RT-qPCR showed that a series of drug efflux pumps were upregulated in the gemA deletion mutant. Deleting mdr1 or inhibiting the expression of drug efflux pumps can partially decrease the resistance to azoles resulting from the gemA mutant, implying that GemA influences azole response by affecting the expression of drug efflux pumps. Importantly, the ΔgemA mutant is susceptible to the cell wall-perturbing reagent CR, but not to CFW, and this defect can be partly rescued by hyperosmotic stress. TEM revealed that the cell wall of ΔgemA was thicker than that of the WT strain, demonstrating that GemA plays a role in cell wall composition and integrity. Collectively, we identified a putative mitochondrial GTPase, GemA, which is critical for hyphal growth, virulence, azole susceptibility, and cell wall integrity and acts by affecting mitochondrial function.

Acceptability and Feasibility of Geographically Explicit Ecological Momentary Assessment Among Men Who Have Sex with Men.

Syphilis among men who have sex with men (MSM) has increased greatly in the past twenty years in the U.S. Geographically explicit ecological momentary assessment (GEMA), in which behaviors are geotagged and contextualized in time and space, may contribute to a greater understanding of transmission risk. The objective was to determine the acceptability and feasibility of GEMA for assessing HIV and syphilis transmission risk behaviors among a sample of MSM. Participants responded to a brief survey five times a day for two weeks. Feasibility was measured by participant recruitment, enrollment, prompts received and answered, geotagged prompts, and technical interference with data collection. Acceptability was measured by ratings of enjoyment and willingness for future participation. Summaries of five behavioral measures from the brief survey were calculated. Among the 83 participants contacted, 67.5% (56) expressed interest, 98% (55) were scheduled, and 81.8% (45) were enrolled. Participants answered 78.3% (2,277) of prompts received and 87.7% (1,998) of answered prompts were geotagged. Overall, 70.5% (31) enjoyed participating and 91.1% (41) were willing to participate in the future. Among prompts answered, missingness was low for five behavioral measures (range 0.2% (4) to 0.7% (16)). Feasibility and acceptability were high and missingness was low on behavioral measures in this MSM study population. Most participants reported that they would participate again. Future work should focus on whether GEMA improves our understanding of syphilis and HIV transmission risk.

Youth tobacco and cannabis use and co-use: Associations with daily exposure to tobacco marketing within activity spaces and by travel patterns.

BACKGROUND: We investigated youth daily activity spaces, travel patterns, exposure to tobacco retail marketing, and tobacco and cannabis use and co-use. METHODS: Data included 1,060 daily assessments from 100 participants (16-20 years old) in 8 California cities. Using GPS-enabled smartphones with a survey application, youth completed brief daily surveys, and location coordinates were obtained at one-minute intervals. Tobacco outlets in study cities were visited by observers to record outlet GPS point locations and data concerning tobacco marketing. Tobacco outlet addresses and GPS location coordinates were geocoded. Activity spaces were constructed by joining sequential location points. Measures included the number of outlets with outdoor tobacco marketing within 50 m of activity space polylines and the amount of time participants were within 50 m of these outlets each day. Participants also reported tobacco and cannabis use and whether they saw tobacco ads by their neighborhood, school, workplace, and anywhere else each day. Additionally each day they reported how much time they traveled by different modes of transportation, with parents/guardians, and with friends. RESULTS: In mixed effects multinomial regression models, perceived exposure to tobacco marketing was associated with co-use of tobacco and cannabis on a given day (RRR = 1.66, p < 0.05). Although perceived exposure to tobacco marketing was not associated with tobacco use only, moderation analysis indicated that the likelihood of tobacco use was greater among youth who walked/biked/skated more (RRR = 5.22, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Perceived exposure to tobacco marketing contributes to youth tobacco and cannabis use or co-use, especially for those who travel by walking/biking/skating.

Effect of low-density lipoproteins and trehalose on the quality of cryopreserved bovine semen / Efecto de las lipoproteínas de baja densidad y la trehalosa en la calidad del semen bovino criopreservado / Efeito das lipoproteínas de baixa densidade e trealose na qualidade do sêmen bovino criopreservado

Abstract Background: In artificial insemination, chicken egg yolk is added to bovine semen to protect it during the cryopreservation process, although it contains substances that can affect the microbiological quality and metabolism of sperm. Objective: To evaluate post-thaw quality of bovine cryopreserved semen added with centrifuged and non-centrifuged egg yolk, low-density lipoproteins (LDL), and trehalose (T). Methods: Ten ejaculates from five bulls were cryopreserved under the treatments T1: pure egg yolk (PEY) at 20% v/v, T2: centrifuged egg yolk (CEY) at 20% v/v, T3: LDL at 8% v/v, T4: T at 100 mM, and T5: T at 100 mM plus LDL at 8% v/v (TLDL). Spermatic motility and kinetics, functional membrane integrity (FMI), structural membrane integrity (SMI), sperm vitality (SV) and abnormal morphology (AM) were assessed using the Sperm Class Analyzer (SCA®) system, hypoosmotic test (HOST), SYBR/PI probes, and eosin-nigrosin staining, respectively. A completely randomized design was used. Normal distribution of the variables was validated through the Kolmogórov- Smirnov test. A generalized linear model was used to determine sources of variation. Means were compared using the Tukey test. Results: Inclusion of CEY or LDL had a similar effect on sperm protection, and were superior for motility, kinetics and membrane integrity compared to the other treatments (p<0.05). CEY was superior for progressive motility (p<0.05). The cryoprotective action of LDL was similar to TLDL for motility and kinetics, SMI, SV, and AM (p<0.05). Inclusion of PEY and T resulted in the lowest semen quality (p<0.05). The use of T resulted in a reduction in FMI and SMI (p<0.05). No differences in AM between treatments were found (p>0.05). Conclusions: Egg yolk can be replaced by centrifuged egg yolk or low-density lipoproteins in the freezing extender used for bovine semen used in artificial insemination.

Resumen Antecedentes: la yema de huevo de gallina se agrega al semen bovino usado en inseminación artificial para protegerlo durante el proceso de criopreservación, aunque ésta tiene sustancias que pueden afectar el metabolismo espermatico y la calidad microbiológica del semen. Objetivo: evaluar la calidad post-descongelación del semen bovino criopreservado agregado con yema de huevo centrifugada y no centrifugada, lipoproteínas de baja densidad (LDL) y trehalosa (T). Métodos: diez eyaculados de cinco toros se criopreservaron bajo los tratamientos, T1: yema de huevo pura (PEY) al 20% v/v, T2: yema de huevo centrifugada (CEY) al 20% v/v, T3: LDL al 8% v/v, T4: T a 100 mM, y T5: T a 100 mM más LDL al 8% v/v (TLDL). La movilidad y la cinética espermática, la integridad funcional de la membrana (FMI), la integridad estructural de la membrana (SMI), la vitalidad espermática (SV) y la morfología anormal (AM), se determinaron mediante el sistema Sperm Class Analyzer (SCA®), la prueba hipoosmótica (HOST), las sondas SYBR/PI y la tinción con eosina-nigrosina, respectivamente. Se utilizó un diseño completamente al azar. La normalidad de las variables se validó mediante la prueba de Kolmogórov-Smirnov. Se utilizó un modelo lineal generalizado para determinar las fuentes de variación. Las medias de los tratamientos se compararon mediante la prueba de Tukey. Resultados: CEY y LDL tuvieron un efecto similar en la protección de los espermatozoides, siendo superiores a los demás tratamientos respecto a movilidad, cinética e integridad de la membrana (p<0,05). CEY fue superior para la movilidad progresiva (p<0,05). La acción crioprotectora de LDL fue similar a TLDL para movilidad y cinética, SMI, AM y SV (p<0,05). PEY y T resultaron en la más baja calidad seminal (p<0,05). El uso de T redujo la FMI y la SMI (p<0,05). No se encontraron diferencias en AM entre los tratamientos (p>0,05). Conclusiones: la yema de huevo puede reemplazarse por yema de huevo centrifugada o por lipoproteinas de baja densidad en el diluyente de congelación usado para semen bovino destinado a inseminacion artificial.

Resumo Antecedentes: a gema de ovo de galinha tem sido utilizada com a finalidade de proteger o sêmen bovino durante o processo de criopreservação, embora tenha substâncias que possam afetar o metabolismo dos espermatozóides e a qualidade microbiológica do sêmen utilizado para a inseminação artificial. Objetivo: avaliar a qualidade pós-descongelamento do sêmen bovino criopreservado com gema de ovo centrifugada e não centrifugada, lipoproteínas de baixa densidade (LDL) e trealose (T). Métodos: dez ejaculados de cinco touros foram criopreservados sob os tratamentos, T1: gema de ovo pura (PEY) 20% v/v, T2: gema de ovo centrifugada (CEY) 20% v/v, T3: LDL 8% v/v, T4: T 100 mM e T5: T 100 mM mais LDL 8% v/v (TLDL). Mobilidade e cinética espermática, integridade funcional da membrana (FMI), integridade estrutural da membrana (SMI), vitalidade espermática (SV) e morfologia anormal (AM) foram determinadas por o sistema Sperm Class Analyzer (SCA®), teste hiposmótico (HOST), coloração com SYBR/PI e eosina-nigrosina, respectivamente. Um design completamente aleatoriedade foi usado. A normalidade das variáveis foi validada pelo teste de Kolmogorov-Smirnov. Um modelo linear generalizado foi utilizado para determinar as fontes de variação. As médias dos tratamentos foram comparadas pelo teste de Tukey. Resultados: T2 (CEY) e T3 (LDL) tiveram efeito similar na proteção espermática, sendo superior aos demais tratamentos para mobilidade, cinética e integridade da membrana (p<0,05). T2 (CEY) foi superior para mobilidade progressiva (p<0,05). A ação crioprotetora de T3 (LDL) foi semelhante à T5 (TLDL) para motilidade e cinética, SMI, SV e AM (p<0,05). T1 (PEY) e T4 (T) tiveram a menor qualidade seminal (p<0,05). O uso de T4 (T) produziu uma redução na SMI e FMI (p<0,05). Não foram encontradas diferenças na AM entre os tratamentos (p>0,05). Conclusões: a gema de ovo pode ser substituída por gema de ovo centrifugada ou lipoproteínas de baixa densidade no diluente de congelamento de sêmen bovino.

Compliance with the clinical guidelines for managing asthma by primary care physicians: An ambispective observational study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the degree of compliance with the recommendations of the 2009 and 2015 versions of the Spanish guidelines for managing asthma (Guía Española para el Manejo del Asma [GEMA]) and the effect of this compliance on controlling the disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted an observational ambispective study between September 2015 and April 2016 in which 314 primary care physicians and 2864 patients participated. RESULTS: Using retrospective data, we found that 81 of the 314 physicians (25.8%; 95% CI 21.3-30.9) stated that they complied with the GEMA2009 recommendations. At the start of the study, 88 of the 314 physicians (28.0%; 95% CI 23.4-33.2) complied with the GEMA2015 recommendations. Poorly controlled asthma (OR, 0.19; 95% CI 0.13-0.28) and persistent severe asthma at the start of the study (OR, 0.20; 95% CI 0.12-0.34) were negatively associated with having well-controlled asthma by the end of the follow-up. In contrast, compliance with the GEMA2015 recommendations was positively associated with a greater likelihood that the patient would have well-controlled asthma by the end of the follow-up (OR, 1.70; 95% CI 1.40-2.06). CONCLUSIONS: Low compliance with the clinical guidelines for managing asthma is a common problem among primary care physicians. Compliance with these guidelines is associated with a better asthma control. Actions need to be taken to improve primary care physician compliance with the asthma management guidelines.

Geographically-explicit Ecological Momentary Assessment (GEMA) Architecture and Components: Lessons Learned from PMOMS.

Geographically explicit Ecological Momentary Assessment (GEMA), an extension of Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA), allows to record time-stamped geographic location information for behavioral data in the every-day environments of study participants. Considering that GEMA studies are continually gaining the attention of researchers and currently there is no single approach in collecting GEMA data, in this paper, we propose and present a GEMA architecture that can be used to conduct any GEMA study based on our experience developing and maintaining the Postpartum Mothers Mobile Study (PMOMS). Our GEMA client-server architecture can be customized to meet the specific requirements of each GEMA study. Key features of our proposed GEMA architecture include: utilization of widely used smartphones to make GEMA studies practical; alleviation of the burden of activities on participants by designing clients (mobile applications) that are very lightweight and servers that are heavyweight in terms of functionality; utilization of at least one positioning sensor to determine EMA contexts marked with locations; and communication through the Internet. We believe that our proposed GEMA architecture, with the illustrated foundation for GEMA studies in our exemplar study (PMOMS), will help researchers from any field conduct GEMA studies efficiently and effectively.

Effect of egg yolk-based extender and seminal plasma removal on sperm viability of cooled donkey semen / Efeito do diluente à base de gema de ovo e remoção do plasma seminal na viabilidade espermática do sêmen refrigerado de jumento

Developing effective cooled semen protocols is essential to increase pregnancy rates and reproductive efficiency in donkeys. This study aimed to evaluate the effect on sperm kinetic parameters and membrane integrity in cooled donkey semen diluted with defined milk proteins extender with 1% or 2% of egg yolk and the removal of seminal plasma. Twenty-four ejaculates from six jackasses were collected. Each ejaculate was divided into four aliquots that were diluted in extender with 1% (EY1) or 2% (EY2) egg yolk. One sample from each group was centrifuged, seminal plasma was removed (CEY1, CEY2 groups, respectively), and the samples were then refrigerated at 5 °C for 24 h. Fresh and cooled semen samples were assessed for sperm motility, morphology, and plasma membrane integrity. Total motility, progressive motility, sperm kinetic parameters, or live sperm cells were not statistically different when semen was cooled with an extender supplemented with 1% or 2% of egg yolk. Seminal plasma removal does not affect total motility or sperm kinetic parameters. However, progressive motility decreased (P<0.05) when semen was extended with 2% of egg yolk and seminal plasma was removed. Membrane integrity was affected (P<0.05) in centrifuged samples. In conclusion, the obtained results suggest that there is no difference in sperm kinetics and membrane integrity when 1% or 2% of egg yolk was added to the Equiplus extender. Also, the removal of seminal plasma by centrifugation did not have any beneficial effect on cooled donkey semen. Further studies are needed to relate these results with in vivo fertility tests with cooled donkey semen.(AU)

O desenvolvimento de protocolos de sêmen resfriado eficazes é essencial para aumentar as taxas de prenhez e eficiência reprodutiva em jumentos. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar o efeito do diluente à base de proteínas do leite com 1 ou 2% de gema de ovo sobre os parâmetros cinéticos do sêmen e integridade da membrana em sêmen resfriado de jumento, com ou sem a remoção do plasma seminal. Vinte e quatro ejaculados de seis jumentos foram coletados. Cada ejaculado foi dividido em quatro alíquotas e diluído em diluente com 1% (EY1) ou 2% (EY2) de gema de ovo. Uma amostra por grupo foi centrifugada e o plasma seminal removido (grupos CEY1 e CEY2, respectivamente). Os pellets foram novamente ressuspendidos nas mesmas concentrações e diluentes. Em seguida, as quatro alíquotas foram refrigeradas a 5°C por 24 horas. Amostras de sêmen fresco e refrigerado foram avaliadas quanto à motilidade espermática e integridade da membrana plasmática. Motilidade total, motilidade progressiva, parâmetros de cinética espermática ou células espermáticas vivas não apresentaram diferença significativa quando o sêmen foi resfriado com diluente suplementado com 1% ou 2% de gema de ovo. A remoção do plasma seminal não afetou a motilidade total ou os parâmetros de cinética espermática; entretanto, a motilidade progressiva diminuiu (P<0,05) quando o sêmen foi diluído com 2% de gema de ovo e o plasma seminal removido. Nas amostras centrifugadas, a integridade da membrana foi afetada (P<0,05). Em conclusão, os resultados sugerem que não há diferença na cinética espermática e na integridade da membrana quando 1% ou 2% de gema de ovo são adicionados ao diluente Equiplus e a remoção do plasma seminal por centrifugação não teve nenhum efeito benéfico no resfriamento de sêmen de jumento. Mais estudos são necessários para relacionar esses resultados com testes de fertilidade in vivo com sêmen resfriado em jumentos.(AU)

Effectiveness and safety of a glutaraldehyde-modified, L-tyrosine-adsorbed and monophosphoryl lipid A-Adjuvanted allergen immunotherapy in patients with allergic asthma sensitized to olive pollen: A retrospective, controlled real-world study.

BACKGROUND: Allergy to olive pollen is one of the primary causes of allergic asthma in Spain. Even though allergen immunotherapy (AIT) has shown clinical benefits in patients sensitized to different allergens, studies in asthmatic patients sensitized to olive pollen are insufficient. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness and safety of an ultra-short course of AIT with an L-tyrosine-adsorbed and monophosphoryl lipid A-adjuvanted olive pollen and olive/grass pollen extract (Pollinex Quattro®) in patients with allergic asthma in the real-world setting. METHODS: Retrospective, controlled study including patients with asthma, with and without allergic rhinitis, caused by sensitization to olive pollen from 11 centers in Spain. Patients received out-of-season (October-March) treatment with AIT in addition to their pharmacological treatment (active group) or pharmacological treatment (control group). Effectiveness variables, including unscheduled visits to the healthcare center, emergency room admissions, symptoms of asthma and rhinitis (following GEMA and ARIA classifications, respectively), and use of medication to treat asthma and rhinitis during the subsequent pollen season were compared between treatment groups. RESULTS: Of 131 study patients, 42 were treated with their usual asthma medication (control group) and 89 were treated with AIT (active group), either Pollinex Quattro® 100% olive pollen (n = 43, 48.3%) or 50% olive pollen/50% grass pollen (n = 46, 51.7%). Patients' demographic and clinical characteristics were similar between groups. The mean (SD) number of unscheduled visits to a healthcare center and emergency room admissions due to allergy symptoms was 2.19 (1.40) and 0.43 (0.63) in the control group, and 1.09 (1.25) and 0.11 (0.51) in the active group (P = 0.001 and P = 0.006, respectively). Severity and control of asthma symptoms remained unchanged (P = 0.347 and P = 0.179, respectively), rhinitis type improved (P = 0.025), and severity remained unchanged in the active compared to the control group. The use of short-acting beta-agonists and inhaled corticosteroids to treat asthma symptoms decreased in the active vs. the control group (P = 0.001 and P = 0.031, respectively). Twelve (13.5%) and two (2.2%) patients in the active group experienced local adverse reactions (edema, swelling, erythema, hives, pruritus, and heat), and systemic adverse reactions (hypertensive crisis and low-grade fever) to AIT, respectively; none was serious. CONCLUSION: AIT with Pollinex Quattro® specific for olive pollen and olive/grass pollens resulted in reduced visits to the healthcare center and emergency room and the use of asthma medication during the pollen season, indicating that this treatment was safe and effective in treating asthma in patients sensitized to these pollens.

Geographic Ecological Momentary Assessment (GEMA) of environmental noise annoyance: the influence of activity context and the daily acoustic environment.

BACKGROUND: Noise annoyance is considered to be the most widespread and recognized health effect of environmental noise. Previous research is mostly based on the static study of residential environmental noise, but few studies have focused on the effects of noise exposure in different activity contexts on real-time annoyance. The two deficiency are that they neglect the influence of activity context besides residence and fail to reflect the difference of time-scale effect of noise influence. METHODS: Using portable noise and air sensors, GPS-equipped mobile phones, questionnaire survey, and geographic ecological momentary assessment (GEMA), this paper measured the environmental noise and real-time noise annoyance of participants at different activity places. Hierarchical logistic regression models were used to examine the effects of environmental noise on people's real-time annoyance. The paper further considered the influence of the geographic context of the activity places and daily acoustic environment on participants' real-time annoyance. Further, a nonlinear regression model was constructed using Random Forest to further examine the nonlinear relationship between environmental noise and real-time annoyance. RESULTS: The results showed that: (1) the average cumulative equivalent sound level during was 55 dB (A) when the participants responded to the EMA surveys; (2) Only the temperature of activity places had an influence on momentary annoyance and the higher the temperature, the more likely participants were annoyed; (3) Participants with higher perception of noise pollution in residential communities were more likely to be annoyed. However, participants with higher daily exposure to noise were less likely to feel annoyed; (4) The threshold value of the effect of noise on real-time annoyance was 58 dB (A) to 78 dB (A). CONCLUSIONS: These findings can guide the development of urban planning and environmental noise standards and also provide a reference for noise barrier requirements for different activity places.

Nutritional value and inclusion levels of residual annatto seed meal in diets for Japanese quails / Valor nutricional y niveles de inclusión de harina residual de semilla de achiote en dietas para codorniz Japonesa / Valor nutritivo e níveis de inclusão do farelo residual da semente de urucum em dietas para codornas Japonesas

Abstract Background: Residual annatto seed meal (RASM) is a byproduct after extraction of bixin in the cosmetic industry and may be used in animal diets. Objective: Two experiments were carried out to determine the nutritive value and effect of RASM inclusion levels in the diets of Japanese quails. Methods: For the digestibility experiment, 160 Japanese quails were distributed in a randomized study with two treatments and 10 replicates with eight birds each. The treatments consisted of a reference diet and a test diet containing 75% of the reference diet and 25% of RASM. For the performance assay, 192 Japanese quails were used in a randomized study with six treatments and four replicates with eight birds each. Treatments consisted of a control corn-based diet (Contr1) and another diet based on sorghum + canthaxanthin (Contr2), and four diets based on sorghum with increasing inclusion levels of RASM (0, 3, 6, and 9%). Results: Digestibility of dry matter and crude protein, metabolization coefficient of gross energy, and retention of calcium and phosphorus were 41.05, 43.12, 47.97, 25.49, and 30.35%, respectively. RASM inclusion did not influence bird productivity; however, feed conversion worsened in treatments with 0-6% RASM inclusion relative to that in Contr1. Yolk color increased due to RASM treatment. Conclusion: RASM may be included in sorghum-based diets for quails at 9%, with improvement in yolk color and no negative effects on productivity and egg quality.

Resumen Antecedentes: La harina de la semilla de achiote (RASM) es un subproducto de la extracción de bixina por la industria cosmética y puede ser usada en alimentación animal. Objetivo: Se realizaron dos experimentos para determinar el valor nutritivo y los efectos de la inclusión de RASM en dietas para codorniz. Métodos: Para el experimento de digestibilidad, 160 codornices japonesas fueron distribuidas en un estudio al azar con dos tratamientos y 10 repeticiones con ocho aves cada uno. Los tratamientos consistieron en una dieta referencia y una dieta de prueba, la cual estuvo compuesta por 75% de la dieta referencia y 25% de RASM. Para el ensayo de desempeño, 192 codornices japonesas fueron usadas en un estudio al azar con seis tratamientos y cuatro repeticiones con ocho aves cada uno. Los tratamientos consistieron en una dieta control a base de maíz (Contr1) y otra a base de sorgo + cantaxantina (Contr2) y cuatro dietas a base de sorgo con niveles de inclusión de RASM (0, 3, 6 y 9%). Resultados: Los coeficientes de digestibilidad de materia seca y proteína bruta, el coeficiente de metabolización de la energía bruta y la retención de calcio y fósforo fueron 41,05; 43,12; 47,97; 25,49 y 30,35%, respectivamente. La inclusión de RASM no influyó la productividad de las aves; entretanto la conversión alimenticia empeoró debido a los tratamientos con 0-6% RASM comparado con el tratamiento Contr1. El color de la yema aumentó debido a la RASM. Conclusión: RASM puede ser incluido en dietas a base de sorgo para codornices en un 9%, debido a la mejora en el color de la yema, además de no tener ningún efecto negativo en el desempeño productivo y calidad del huevo.

Resumo Antecedentes: O farelo residual da semente de urucum (RASM) é um subproduto da extração da bixina pela indústria cosmética e pode ser usado na alimentação animal. Objetivo: Dois experimentos foram conduzidos para determinar o valor nutritivo e os efeitos de inclusão do FRSU em dietas para codornas Japonesas. Métodos: Para o experimento de digestibilidade, 160 codornas Japonesas foram distribuídas em um estudo casualizado com dois tratamentos e 10 repetições com oito aves cada. Os tratamentos consistiram em uma dieta referência e uma dieta teste, a qual era composta por 75% da dieta referência e 25% de RASM. Para o ensaio de desempenho, 192 codornas Japonesas foram usadas em estudo ao acaso com seis tratamentos e quatro repetições com oito aves cada. Os tratamentos consistiram em uma dieta controle a base de milho (Contr1) e outra à base de sorgo com cantaxantina (Contr2) e quatro dietas a base de sorgo com níveis de inclusão de RASM (0, 3, 6 e 9%). Resultados: Os coeficientes de digestiblidade de matéria seca e proteína bruta, coeficiente de metabolização da energia bruta e retenção de cálcio e fósforo foram 41,05; 43,12; 47,97; 25,49 e 30,35%, respectivamente. A inclusão do FRSU não influenciou a produtividade das aves; entretanto, a conversão alimentar piorou devido aos tratamentos com 0-6% FRSU comparado com o tratamento Contr1. A cor da gema aumentou devido ao FRSU. Conclusão: RASM pode ser incluido em dietas baseadas em sorgo para codornas em 9%, devido a mehoria na cor da gema e nenhum efeito negativo no desempenho produtivo e qualidade de ovo.

Inclusion of crude corn oil with high acidity in the feed of laying hens: analysis of egs production and quality / Inclusão de óleo de milho bruto com alta acidez na alimentação de poedeiras: análise da produção e qualidade de ovos

The objective of this study was to evaluate egg production and quality after including crude corn oil with high acidity (CCOHA) in the feed of laying hens. The design was completely randomized to three treatments and six replicates each. The sample included 90 hens of the Lohmann LSL lineage, housed in cages; each cage contained five animals and constituted an experimental unit. The evaluated feeds were corn-based feed with degummed soybean oil (CSO), corn-based feed with CCOHA (CC) and sorghum-based feed with CCOHA (SC). At the end of the 28-day cycle, the following productivity parameters were evaluated: egg weight at laying (EWL), laying percentage (LP), feed conversion per dozen eggs (FCDZ) and feed conversion per egg mass (FCEM). The evaluated internal and external quality parameters of the eggs were yolk percentage (YP), yolk index (YI), and yolk pH (YpH); albumen percentage (AP), albumen index (AI), and albumen pH (ApH); percentage shell (PS) and shell surface area (SSA); Haugh unit (HU) and egg yolk color (EYC). There were no significant differences in EW, LP, FCDZ, and FCEM between the experimental feeds. Moreover, the use of crude corn oil with high acidity in laying hens rations did not influence the parameters of YP, YI, YpH, AP, AI, ApH, PS, SSA, HU, and EYC.

Objetivou-se avaliar a inclusão do óleo bruto de milho com alta acidez (OBMAA) em rações de galinhas poedeiras sobre a produção de ovos e sua qualidade interna e externa. O delineamento foi inteiramente casualizado com três tratamentos e seis repetições cada, com 90 galinhas da linhagem Lohmann LSL®, alojadas em número de cinco aves por gaiola, constituindo cada gaiola uma unidade experimental. Os tratamentos foram: rações base milho com óleo degomado de soja (MOS), milho com OBMAA (MOM) e sorgo com OBMAA (SOM). Ao final do ciclo de 28 dias determinou-se os parâmetros de produtividade: peso dos ovos na postura (POP), porcentagem de postura (POS) e conversões alimentares por dúzia (CAD) e por massa de ovos (CAM). Em seguida foram realizadas as análises de qualidade interna e externa dos ovos: percentagem, índice e pH da gema (GE%, IGE, pHGE), percentagem, índice e pH do albúmen (AL%, IAL, pHAL), percentagem e superfície de área de casca (CAS%, SACAS), unidade Haugh (UH) e colorimetria da gema. Não houve diferença para POS e POP, CAD e CAM das rações experimentais. A utilização do óleo bruto de milho com alta acidez nas rações de galinhas poedeiras não influenciou nos parâmetros de GE%, IGE, pHGE, AL%, IAL, pHAL, CAS%, SACAS, UH e colorimetria da gema

Compliance with the clinical guidelines for managing asthma by primary care physicians: An ambispective observational study. / Seguimiento de las guías españolas para el manejo del asma por el médico de atención primaria: un estudio observacional ambispectivo.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the degree of compliance with the recommendations of the 2009 and 2015 versions of the Spanish guidelines for managing asthma (Guía Española para el Manejo del Asma [GEMA]) and the effect of this compliance on controlling the disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted an observational ambispective study between September 2015 and April 2016 in which 314 primary care physicians and 2864 patients participated. RESULTS: Using retrospective data, we found that 81 of the 314 physicians (25.8%; 95% CI 21.3-30.9) stated that they complied with the GEMA2009 recommendations. At the start of the study, 88 of the 314 physicians (28.0%; 95% CI 23.4-33.2) complied with the GEMA2015 recommendations. Poorly controlled asthma (OR, 0.19; 95% CI 0.13-0.28) and persistent severe asthma at the start of the study (OR, 0.20; 95% CI 0.12-0.34) were negatively associated with having well-controlled asthma by the end of the follow-up. In contrast, compliance with the GEMA2015 recommendations was positively associated with a greater likelihood that the patient would have well-controlled asthma by the end of the follow-up (OR, 1.70; 95% CI 1.40-2.06). CONCLUSIONS: Low compliance with the clinical guidelines for managing asthma is a common problem among primary care physicians. Compliance with these guidelines is associated with better asthma control. Actions need to be taken to improve primary care physician compliance with the asthma management guidelines.

Youth daily exposure to tobacco outlets and cigarette smoking behaviors: does exposure within activity space matter?

AIMS: To examine whether daily exposure to tobacco outlets within activity spaces is associated with cigarette smoking and with the number of cigarettes smoked by youth that day. DESIGN: The study used geographic ecological momentary assessment (GEMA) data that combined daily surveys with ecological momentary assessment of global positioning systems (GPS) using geographic information systems (GIS) to allow for real-time data collection of participants' environments and behaviors. SETTING: Eight mid-sized California (USA) city areas. PARTICIPANTS: The analytical sample included 1065 days, which were clustered within 100 smoker and non-smoker participants (aged 16-20 years, 60% female). MEASUREMENTS: Any cigarette smoking and number of cigarettes smoked on a given day, the number of tobacco outlets within 100 m of activity space polylines each day, the number of minutes participants spent within 100 m of tobacco outlets each day and demographic characteristics (age, sex, race/ethnicity and perceived socio-economic status). FINDINGS: Controlling for demographic characteristics, the findings of multi-level mixed effects logistic models were inconclusive, whether or not the number of tobacco outlets within 100 m of youths' activity space polylines or the number of minutes spent within 100 m of tobacco outlets were associated with whether the participant smoked cigarettes on a given day [odds ratio (OR) = 1.05, P = 0.24; OR = 0.99, P = 0.81, respectively]. However, in multi-level zero-inflated negative binomial models, the risk of smoking an additional cigarette on a given day increased with each additional tobacco outlet [incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 1.04, P < 0.05] and each additional minute spent within 100 m of tobacco outlets (IRR = 1.01, P < 0.001) each day. CONCLUSIONS: Among young people in urban California, differences in day-to-day exposure to tobacco outlets within activity spaces does not seem to be significantly associated with whether a person smokes a cigarette on a given day, but higher exposure to tobacco outlets appears to be positively associated with the number of cigarettes smoked on that day.

Asthma, rhinitis, and nasal polyp multimorbidities. / Rinitis, poliposis nasal y su relación con el asma.

The aim of this review is to assist pulmonologists in the management of diseases involving both the upper and lower respiratory tract that are linked by a common, interrelated epidemiology, clinical signs and symptoms, and inflammatory mechanism - asthma, in particular. The document discusses the definitions of the various sinonasal phenotypes associated with asthma: allergic and non-allergic rhinitis and chronic rhinosinusitis with or without nasal polyps. Diagnostic criteria and severity levels are also listed. Particular attention has been given to the 2 main syndromes associated with asthma: (i)allergic rhinitis, the most common, and (ii)chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, the disease most closely associated with severe asthma. To summarize, the upper respiratory tract should always be evaluated in order to achieve a single diagnosis and comprehensive treatment of the "united airway".

Egg quality assessment at different storage conditions, seasons and laying hen strains / Avaliação da qualidade do ovo em diferentes condições de armazenamento, estações do ano e linhagens de poedeiras

ABSTRACT Eggs are one of nearly perfect protein foods, offering nutrients of great biological value. However, during storage, egg albumen and yolk components may alter and deteriorate egg quality. Therefore, the aim of this work was to assess egg quality during 9-week storage. Parameters such as Haugh unit, weight loss, egg width and length, specific gravity, yolk and albumen dimensions and their pH were evaluated weekly. A total of 270 eggs (n=5) collected from two different hen strains were evaluated under room (20 to 35 °C in summer; 11.2 to 29.7 °C in autumn) and refrigerated (0 to 5 °C in summer; -3.1 to 6.5 °C in autumn) temperatures. For storage time, an unfolding analysis was accomplished by regression analysis using orthogonal polynomials. As a second approach, principal component analysis (PCA) was performed in order to assess correlations among quality parameters on storage conditions and laying hen strains. By the end of the 9-week storage period, eggs kept under refrigeration presented similar quality parameters to eggs stored at room temperature for only 3 weeks. In contrast, eggs kept at room temperature presented faster degradation from week 1 to 5. No differences on egg quality parameters were noticed between white and brown shells eggs. PCA suggests that better egg quality (first week) was associated mainly with higher egg weight and its specific gravity, Haugh unit and albumen height. Eggs stored at room temperature should be consumed in 2 weeks or refrigerated until 8 weeks, preserving internal quality from farm to retail.

RESUMO Os ovos são um dos alimentos que oferecem nutrientes de grande valor biológico. Entretanto, no armazenamento, alguns componentes da clara e gema podem se alterar, deteriorando a qualidade dos ovos. Assim, este trabalho objetivou avaliar semanalmente parâmetros de qualidade como unidade Haugh, perda de peso, largura/comprimento do ovo, densidade específica, dimensões da clara/gema e pH durante 9 semanas de armazenamento. Foram coletados 270 ovos de duas linhagens de poedeiras e avaliados a temperatura ambiente (20 a 35 °C no verão; 11,2 a 29,7 °C no outono) e refrigerada (0 a 5 °C no verão; -3,1 a 6,5 ºC no outono). Para as condições de armazenamento, foi realizada uma análise de desdobramento por regressão por polinômios ortogonais. Ainda, análise de componentes principais (PCA), objetivou avaliar correlações entre parâmetros de qualidade em diferentes condições de armazenamento e linhagens de poedeira. Após 9 semanas de armazenamento, os ovos refrigerados apresentaram qualidade similar àqueles armazenados a temperatura ambiente por 3 semanas. Porém, sem refrigeração, os ovos apresentaram uma degradação mais rápida da semana 1 a 5. Não foram observadas diferenças nos parâmetros de qualidade dos ovos entre as diferentes colorações de casca (linhagens de poedeiras). PCA sugere que a melhor qualidade dos ovos (primeira semana) foi associada principalmente com valores elevados de peso e densidade específica do ovo, unidade Haugh e altura do albúmen. Ovos armazenados a temperatura ambiente devem ser consumidos até duas semanas ou mantidos sob refrigeração até 8 semanas, preservando a qualidade interna desde a granja até o armazenamento no varejo.

Effect of dietary addition of unprocessed, autoclaved, or pre-germinated fenugreek seeds on laying hens' performance and egg quality / Efecto de la adición de semillas de alholva no tratadas, tratadas en autoclave o pre-germinadas en dietas de gallinas ponedoras sobre el rendimiento y la calidad de los huevos / Efeito da adição de sementes de feno-grego não tratados, autoclavados ou pre-germinadas em rações de poedeiras no rendimento e na qualidade dos ovos

Abstract Background: previous studies have shown that fenugreek seed given at 6 g/hen/d in an attempt to reduce yolk cholesterol tended to reduce laying performance and that autoclaving and pre-germination improved its in vitro nutritional values. Objective: to evaluate the effect of dietary addition of unprocessed (UPFS), autoclaved (AFS) or pre-germinated (PGFS) fenugreek seeds on laying hens' performance, egg physical characteristics and chemical composition. Methods: forty-eight 31 week-old Novogen white laying hens were divided into four groups and given 100 g/hen/d of a basal diet containing 0 (control) or 5.7 g of UPFS, AFS, or PGFS during nine weeks. Repeated and non-repeated data were analyzed using the Mixed and GLM procedures, respectively. Results: diet, week on diet and their interaction affected consumption (p<0.05). Laying rate was not affected (p>0.05) by week on diet but was reduced (p<0.05) by UPFS-diet. Moreover, UPFS-diet reduced (p<0.05) daily egg mass production. Feed conversion ratio was not affected (p>0.05) by dietary treatment or by week on diet. Egg, yolk, albumen and shell weights were affected (p<0.05) by week on diet but not by diet nor diet-week interaction. Dietary inclusion of fenugreek seeds did not affect total egg crude protein, yolk lipids, and triglyceride nor yolk cholesterol contents. Conclusion: unprocessed fenugreek reduced laying rate and daily egg mass production, but these effects were removed by autoclaving or pre-germination. Further investigations are needed to evaluate the impact of fenugreek seeds dietary supplementation on fatty acids profile and lipid peroxidation.

Resumen Antecedentes: estudios anteriores sugirieron que el suministro de 6 g/gallina/día de semillas de alholva utilizadas con el fin de bajar el contenido en colesterol en la yema, tendió a reducir el rendimiento en gallinas ponedoras y que el tratamiento en autoclave y la pre-germinación mejoraron su valor nutritivo in vitro. Objetivo: evaluar los efectos de la adición de semillas de alholva no tratadas (UPFS), tratadas en autoclave (AFS) o pregerminadas (PGFS) en dietas de gallinas ponedoras sobre la producción, la composición química y la calidad física del huevo. Métodos: cuarenta y ocho gallinas ponedoras blancas de 31 semanas de edad de la línea Novogen white fueron divididas en cuatro grupos, a las cuales se les suministró 100 g/gallina/día de una dieta base que contenía 0 (control) o 5,7 g de UPFS, AFS o PGFS durante nueve semanas. Los datos con o sin repeticiones fueron analizados mediante los modelos mixtos y GLM, respectivamente. Resultados: la dieta, la semana en la dieta y su interacción afectaron el consumo (p<0,05). El porcentaje de puesta no varió (p>0,05) por la semana en las dietas, sin embargo, fue reducida (p<0,05) solamente por la dieta UPFS. Además, la dieta UPFS disminuyó (p<0,05) la producción diaria de masa de huevo. El índice de conversión alimenticio no varió (p>0,05) ni por la dieta ni por la semana en la dieta. Los pesos del huevo, de la yema, de la albúmina y de la cáscara fueron afectados (p<0,05) por la semana en la dieta, pero no por la dieta ni su interacción. La inclusión de semillas del alholva en la dieta no influyó (p<0,05) en la concentración total de proteína bruta del huevo, de lípidos, triglicéridos ni en los contenidos de colesterol en la yema. Conclusión: las semillas de alholva no tratadas redujeron el porcentaje de puesta y la producción diaria de masa de huevo, pero estos efectos fueron removidos por el autoclavado o la pregerminación. Se necesitan más investigaciones para evaluar el impacto de la incorporación dietética de las semillas de la alholva sobre el perfil de los ácidos grasos y la peroxidación lipídica.

Resumo Antecedentes: estudos anteriores mostraram que as sementes de feno-grego dado em 6 g/galinha/dia na tentativa de reduzir o colesterol na gema tendiam a reduzir o desempenho e que a autoclavagem e pré- germinação melhorou os valores nutricionais in vitro. Objetivo: avaliar os efeitos da adição de sementes de feno-grego não tratadas (UPFS), autoclavadas (AFS) ou pré-germinadas (PGFS) em dietas em galinhas poedeiras no desempenho, características físicas dos ovos e composição química. Métodos: quarenta e oito galinhas poedeiras Novogen white de 31 semanas de idade foram divididas em quatro grupos e fornecidos 100 g/galinha/dia de uma dieta basal contendo 0 (controle) ou 5,7 g de UPFS, AFS ou PGFS durante nove semanas. Os dados repetidos e não-repetidos foram analisados utilizando os procedimentos mistos e GLM, respectivamente. Resultados: a dieta, a semana sobre a dieta e a sua interação afetaram o consumo (p<0,05). A taxa de postura não foi afetada (p>0,05) por semana na dieta, mas foi reduzida (p<0,05) apenas por a dieta UPFS. Além disso, a dieta UPFS reduziu (p<0,05) a produção diária de massa de ovos. A taxa de conversão de alimentação não foi afetada (p>0,05) nem pela dieta nem pela semana na dieta. Os pesos do ovo, da gema, da albumina e da casca foram afetados (p<0,05) pela semana na dieta mas não pela dieta ou a interação. A inclusão de sementes de feno-grego na dieta não afetou (p>0,05) o conteúdo de proteína bruta total dos ovos, dos lipídios, triglicérides nem do conteúdo de colesterol da gema. Conclusão: sementes de feno-grego não tratadas reduziu a taxa de postura e a produção diária de massa de ovos, mas estes efeitos foram removidos pela autoclavagem e pré-germinação. São necessárias novas investigações para avaliar o impacto da suplementação alimentar sobre a semente de feno-grego no perfil de ácidos graxos e peroxidação lipídica.

Sperm-binding to the perivitelline membrane of chicken egg yolk as a functional test for sperm evaluation in dogs / Teste de ligação espermática à membrana perivitelínica da gema de ovo de galinha como avaliação funcional do sêmen de cães

During fertilization, spermatozoa interact with the zona pellucida (ZP) through the binding between the acrosome and proteins 2 and 3 (ZP2 and ZP3). The perivitelline membrane of chicken egg yolk is homologous to the mammalian ZP3, which allows the binding of sperm of several species. The aim of this study was to standardize and evaluate the efficiency of sperm-binding to the perivitelline membrane of chicken eggs as a functional method for canine semen evaluation. For this purpose, nine post-thaw sperm samples were used, which were divided into two aliquots: the first was kept in water bath at 37ºC (live sample) and the second was submitted to cold shock to induce cellular damage (dead sample). The two aliquots were mixed on five proportions, corresponding to 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of viable cells, and the binding test was performed by analyzing the number of spermatozoa bonded to the perivitelline membrane by means of computerized assessment of sperm motility (CASA) or conventional microscopy. Additionally, samples were submitted to sperm motility analysis, evaluation of plasmatic and acrosomal membrane integrity, and sperm mitochondrial activity. The sperm-binding test to the perivitelline membrane of chicken egg yolk was considered a feasible sperm analysis test for both fertilizing capacity and overall sperm attributes evaluation, mainly when the analysis is performed by a conventional microscope, which expands its practicality to the majority of canine reproduction laboratories.(AU)

Durante a fecundação, os espermatozoides interagem com a zona pelúcida (ZP) por meio da ligação entre o acrossomo e as proteínas 2 e 3 (ZP2 e ZP3). A membrana perivitelínica da gema de ovo de galinhas é homóloga à ZP3 de mamíferos, possibilitando a ligação espermática de diversas espécies. Este trabalho padronizou e avaliou a eficiência do teste de ligação espermática à membrana perivitelínica da gema de ovo de galinhas como avaliação funcional do sêmen de cães. Para tal, foram utilizadas nove amostras seminais previamente criopreservadas. Cada amostra foi dividida em duas alíquotas: a primeira foi mantida em banho-maria à 37ºC (vivos) e a segunda submetida a choque térmico com o intuito de induzir dano celular (mortos). As duas alíquotas foram misturadas, correspondendo a 0, 25, 50, 75 e 100% de células viáveis. As amostras foram avaliadas quanto ao número de espermatozoides ligados à membrana perivitelínica por meio da análise computadorizada da motilidade (CASA) ou microscopia convencional. Ademais, as amostras foram avaliadas quanto à motilidade espermática, integridade das membranas acrossomal e plasmática e atividade mitocondrial espermática. O teste de ligação espermática à membrana perivitelínica de ovos de galinha foi considerado um teste de análise seminal exequível tanto para avaliar a capacidade fecundante dos espermatozoides como atributos seminais gerais, especialmente quando realizado em microscopia convencional, expandindo sua praticidade para a maioria dos laboratórios de análise de sêmen canino.(AU)

Spatio-temporal determinants of mental health and well-being: advances in geographically-explicit ecological momentary assessment (GEMA).

PURPOSE: Overview of geographically explicit momentary assessment research, applied to the study of mental health and well-being, which allows for cross-validation, extension, and enrichment of research on place and health. METHODS: Building on the historical foundations of both ecological momentary assessment and geographic momentary assessment research, this review explores their emerging synergy into a more generalized and powerful research framework. RESULTS: Geographically explicit momentary assessment methods are rapidly advancing across a number of complimentary literatures that intersect but have not yet converged. Key contributions from these areas reveal tremendous potential for transdisciplinary and translational science. CONCLUSIONS: Mobile communication devices are revolutionizing research on mental health and well-being by physically linking momentary experience sampling to objective measures of socio-ecological context in time and place. Methodological standards are not well-established and will be required for transdisciplinary collaboration and scientific inference moving forward.