Codeveloping theories of change for improved community-based violence intervention evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Community-based violence intervention (CVI) programs are considered important strategies for preventing community violence and promoting health and safety. Mixed and inconclusive results from some prior CVI evaluations, as well as our general lack of understanding about the reasons for such varied findings, may be explained in part by misalignment of program theories of change and evaluation measures. Furthermore, most prior evaluations have focused solely on deficit-based outcomes; this narrow focus is inconsistent with the premise of CVI and may fail to capture improvements in health and well-being that are on the hypothesized pathway from intervention to violence reduction. METHODS: This article describes the process and results of codeveloping a theory of change for community-based youth firearm violence intervention and prevention programs in Washington state through a community-researcher partnership. We followed a multistep iterative process, involving (1) CVI program documentation review, (2) individual meetings, and (3) a day-long workshop. RESULTS: The theory of change included six key domains: (1) root causes, (2) promotive factors, (3) activities, (4) intermediate outcomes, (5) longer-term outcomes, and (6) multilevel context (youth/family, staff/organizational, community, and societal). Root causes were social and structural drivers of community violence. Promotive factors were assets and resources among the community, youth/their families, and community organizations that promote health and safety. Activities were supports and services the program provided to youth and their families, staff, and, potentially, the broader community. Intermediate and longer-term outcomes were the changes among youth, their families, staff, and the community that resulted from program activities. Intermediate outcomes may be felt within 6 months to 1 year, and longer-term outcomes may be felt after 1 to 2 years and beyond. CONCLUSION: The theory of change we codeveloped provides a common lens to conceptualize, compare, and evaluate CVI programs in Washington state and may support more rigorous and equity-centered evaluations. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic Test/Criteria; Level V.

Optimal Laboratory Cultivation Conditions of Limnospira maxima for Large-Scale Production.

Cultivating Limnospira maxima, renowned for its abundant proteins and valuable pigments, faces substantial challenges rooted in the limited understanding of its optimal growth parameters, associated high costs, and constraints in the procurement of traditional nitrogen sources, particularly NaNO3. To overcome these challenges, we conducted a comprehensive 4 × 3 factorial design study. Factors considered included white, red, blue, and yellow light spectra, along with nitrogen sources NaNO3 and KNO3, as well as a nitrogen-free control, for large-scale implementation. Optimal growth, measured by Optical Density, occurred with white and yellow light combined with KNO3 as the nitrogen source. These conditions also increased dry weight and Chl-a content. Cultures with nitrogen deprivation exhibited high values for these variables, attributed to carbon accumulation in response to nitrogen scarcity. Phycocyanin, a crucial pigment for nutrition and industry, reached its highest levels in cultures exposed to white light and supplemented with KNO3, with an impressive content of 384.11 g kg-1 of dry weight. These results highlight the efficacy and cost-efficiency of using a combination of white light and KNO3 for large-scale L. maxima cultivation. This strategy offers promising opportunities to address global food security challenges and enhance the production of industrially relevant pigments.

A New and Profitable Protocol to DNA Extraction in Limnospira maxima.

Limnospira maxima is a remarkable organism showing great potential as a versatile and sustainable food source, offering a powerful solution to address the pressing issues of malnutrition and undernourishment worldwide. L. maxima contains high amounts of proteins, vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids. It can be grown in both bioreactors and open systems; however, before considering industrial production, optimization studies of the cultivation must be conducted to obtain knowledge about the ideal environmental conditions. Additionally, for the molecular typing of L. maxima strains and their industrial scaling, high-quality and large quantity DNA extraction is required. Notwithstanding, DNA extraction from L. maxima can be challenging due to the low amount of DNA in cells and the presence of difficult-to-remove substances such as polysaccharides and polyphenols. In this study, the quality and quantity of DNA extracted from two types of L. maxima samples (Limnospira maxima strain SISCA accession GenBank: OR195505.1) were evaluated using three commercially available DNA extraction kits and two types of input biological material. The results showed that Pbact-P kit had the highest quantity and quality of DNA, while CTAB-P allowed for a higher quantity and quality of RNA, making them optimal protocols for nucleic acid extraction to improve PCR, rt-PCR, and genome sequencing of L. maxima compared with other extraction methods.

Water Stress Inhibits Germination While Maintaining Embryo Viability of Subtropical Wetland Seeds: A Functional Approach With Phylogenetic Contrasts.

Wetland species commonly exhibit a range of strategies to cope with water stress, either through drought tolerance or through avoidance of the period of limited water availability. Natural populations provide a genetic resource for ecological remediation and may also have direct economic value. We investigated the effects of drought stress on the seed germination of wetland species. Nineteen species were germinated in four concentrations of polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG) and were evaluated daily (12-h light photoperiod) or after 35 days (continuous darkness) to determine seed germination under water stress. Germination percentage decreased with an increase in polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG) concentration, but species' germination response to PEG concentration varied significantly. Seeds recovered their germinability after the alleviation of water stress, but the extent of recovery was species-dependent.

Physiological, metabolic, and stomatal adjustments in response to salt stress in Jatropha curcas.

Salinity is a major issue affecting photosynthesis and crop production worldwide. High salinity induces both osmotic and ionic stress in plant tissues as a result of complex interactions among morphological, physiological, and biochemical processes. Salinity, in turn, can provoke inactivation of some enzymes in the Calvin-Benson cycle and therefore affect the fine adjustment of electron transport in photosystem I and carbon related reactions. Here, we used three contrasting Jatropha curcas genotypes namely CNPAE183 (considered tolerant to salinity), CNPAE218 (sensible), and JCAL171 (intermediate) to understand salinity responses. By performing a long-term (12 months) experiment in land conditions, we investigated distinct mechanisms used by J. curcas to cope with threatening salinity effects by analyzing gas exchange, mineral nutrition and metabolic responses. First, our results highlighted the plasticity of stomatal development and density in J. curcas under salt stress. It also demonstrated that the CNPAE183 presented higher salt-tolerance whereas CNPAE218 displayed a more sensitive salt-tolerance response. Our results also revealed that both tolerance and sensitivity to salinity were connected with an extensive metabolite reprogramming in the Calvin-Benson cycle and Tricarboxylic Acid cycle intermediates with significant changes in amino acids and organic acids. Collectively, these results indicate that the CNPAE183 and CNPAE218 genotypes demonstrated certain characteristics of salt-tolerant-like and salt-sensitive-like genotypes, respectively. Overall, our results highlight the significance of metabolites associated with salt responses and further provide a useful selection criterion in during screening for salt tolerance in J. curcas in breeding programmes.

Macronutrientes en el tejido foliar de albahaca Ocimum basilicum L. en respuesta a la aplicación de nitrógeno y potasio / Macronutrients in the leaf tissue of basil Ocimum basilicum L. in response to applications of nitrogen and potassium

RESUMEN La albahaca (Ocimum basilicum L.) es un cultivo promisorio de reciente explotación y expansión en Colombia; sin embargo, esta tendencia se ve limitada por el desconocimiento de la nutrición con elementos, como N y K. Con la aplicación de dosis óptimas de N y K, los productores pueden incrementar la productividad y calidad de este sistema productivo, atrayendo nuevos productores. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el efecto de la aplicación de nitrógeno y potasio sobre el contenido y relación de los macronutrientes en el tejido vegetal de albahaca. Las dosis de N y K fueron combinadas con base en la matriz Box-Berard aumentada (3):2k+2k+2k+1+1, constituyendo un total de 14 tratamientos, dispuestos bajo un diseño completamente al azar, con tres repeticiones. Se estudió la masa seca (MS) y las relaciones N/K, N/P, N/S, N/Ca, K/Ca, K/Mg, K/P y K/S, las cuales, fueron analizas con pruebas de medias y la metodología de superficie de respuesta. La albahaca desarrolló una mayor MS cuando la relación foliar de N y K con el resto de los nutrientes fue alta, a excepción de la relación de estos (N/K), la cual, fue estrecha. En este sentido, la MS fue 116,72% superior para las relaciones asociadas con nitrógeno y 120,84% para las de potasio, con respecto a las dosis mínimas de N y K. En albahaca, la concentración foliar de N y K debe predominar sobre el resto de macroelementos, condición obtenida con dosis de 100-190kg ha-1 de N y de 125-237,5kg ha-1 de K.

ABSTRACT Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is a promising crop of recent exploitation and expansion in Colombia, however, this trend is limited by ignorance of nutrition requirements of elements such as N and K. With the application of optimal doses of N and K, producers can increase the productivity and quality of this production system, attracting new producers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the application of nitrogen and potassium on the content and ratio of macronutrients in basil plant tissue. The doses of N and K were combined based on the increased Box-Berard matrix (3): 2k+2k+2k+1+1, constituting a total of 14 treatments, arranged under a completely randomized design with three repetitions. The dry mass (DM) and the relationships N/K, N/P, N/S, N/Ca, K/Ca, K/Mg, K/P and K/S were studied, and analyzed with tests of means and the response surface methodology. Basil developed a higher DM when the leaf ratio of N and K with the rest of the nutrients was high, except for the ratio of these (N/K), which was close. In this sense, the DM was 116.72% higher for the ratios associated with nitrogen and 120.84% for those of potassium, with respect to the minimum doses of N and K. In basil, the foliar concentration of N and K should predominate over the rest of macroelements, a condition obtained with doses of 100-190kg ha-1 of N and 125-237.5kg ha-1 of K.

Consumo diferenciado de macronutrientes según sexo y edad en estudiantes de educación superior / Differentiated consumption of macronutrients according to sex and age in higher education students

RESUMEN Objetivo Analizar la ingesta de macronutrientes y su relación con la edad y sexo en estudiantes de educación superior. Métodos Se realizó un estudio transversal conformado con 218 estudiantes de educación superior de 18 a 30 años. Se utilizó un instrumento validado y confiable, para medir el consumo de macronutrientes. Resultados Respecto a la ingesta de consumo de macronutrientes se observa que hay diferencia estadística por sexo, a favor de los hombres (p>0,05), excepto en el consumo de proteínas en los estudiantes mayores de 25 años. En el grupo etario menor a 20 años, los hombres tienen un mejor consumo de proteínas. En estudiantes de 20 a 25 años el consumo de macronutrientes es parecido entre hombres y mujeres. Discusión Los resultados evidencian que el porcentaje de consumo respecto del valor ideal de requerimiento estimado para actividad ligera según FAO/OMS/ONU 2004, está por debajo, con un déficit de consumo de macronutrientes que oscila entre el 20% y el 60%.(AU)

ABSTRACT Objective To analyze the intake of macronutrients and its relationship with age and sex in higher education students. Materials and Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out with 218 higher education students, aged between 18 and 30 years. A validated and reliable instrument was used to measure macronutrient consumption. Results Regarding the intake of macronutrients, a statistical difference by sex was observed in favor of men (p>0.05), except for the consumption of proteins in students older than 25 years. In the group under 20 years of age, men showed better protein intake. Finally, in students between 20 and 25 years, the consumption of macronutrients is similar among men and women. Discussion The results show that the percentage of consumption with respect to ideal value of the estimated requirement for light activity according to FAO/WHO/UN 2004 is below the recommendations, with a macronutrient consumption deficit that ranges between 20% and 60%.(AU)

[Mortalidad por enfermedad de Alzheimer en México de 1980 a 2014].

BACKGROUND: Dementias are rarely considered to be a main cause of death; therefore there are only few studies on Alzheimer's mortality covering long periods. OBJECTIVE: To describe mortality from Alzheimer's disease in México for the period from 1980 to 2014. METHOD: Cross-sectional study where, with official mortality data in Mexico according to codes 331.0 and G30, respectively, of the 9th and 10th revisions of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, crude and standardized Alzheimer's disease mortality rates were obtained, both nationally and by states. RESULTS: From almost being inexistent, deaths from Alzheimer's disease went to a rate of 65.12 per 1000 females and 43.66 per 1000 males in the 2010-2014 five-year period. Throughout the study period, the age group with highest mortality rates for this cause were those older than 80 years, with 0.29 per 100,000 population in 1980-1984 and 55.02 in 100,000 in the 2010-2014 period. The region with the highest mortality was the northwest, with rates higher than 2.28 per 100,000 population. CONCLUSIONS: Mortality from Alzheimer's disease is a public health problem in Mexico with a growing trend, especially among women and older adults. Early diagnostic measures and opportune treatment are required in primary care in order to reduce this problem.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Raramente se considera a las demencias como causa principal de muerte, por consiguiente existen pocos estudios sobre la mortalidad por Alzheimer a través de largos periodos. OBJETIVO: Describir la mortalidad por enfermedad de Alzheimer en México durante el periodo 1980-2014. MÉTODO: Estudio transversal en el que, con datos oficiales de mortalidad en México según los códigos 331.0 y G30 de la novena y décima revisiones de la Clasificación Estadística Internacional de Enfermedades y Problemas Relacionados con la Salud, se obtuvieron tasas crudas y estandarizadas de mortalidad por enfermedad de Alzheimer, nacional y por entidad federativa. RESULTADOS: De ser casi inexistentes, en el quinquenio 2010-2014 se registraron tasas de 65.12 y 43.66 muertes por enfermedad de Alzheimer por cada 1000 mujeres y 1000 hombres, respectivamente. En todo el periodo estudiado, el grupo etario con las mayores tasas de mortalidad por esta causa fue el de mayores de 80 años, con 0.29 en 100 000 habitantes durante 1980-1984 y 55.02 durante 2010-2014. La región con mayor mortalidad fue la noroeste, con tasas mayores a 2.28 en 100 000 habitantes. CONCLUSIONES: La mortalidad por enfermedad de Alzheimer es un problema de salud pública en México con tendencia creciente, especialmente entre mujeres y adultos mayores. Se requieren medidas diagnósticas precoces y tratamiento oportuno en primer nivel para aminorar este problema.

[Differentiated consumption of macronutrients according to sex and age in higher education students]. / Consumo diferenciado de macronutrientes según sexo y edad en estudiantes de educación superior.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the intake of macronutrients and its relationship with age and sex in higher education students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 218 higher education students, aged between 18 and 30 years. A validated and reliable instrument was used to measure macronutrient consumption. RESULTS: Regarding the intake of macronutrients, a statistical difference by sex was observed in favor of men (p>0.05), except for the consumption of proteins in students older than 25 years. In the group under 20 years of age, men showed better protein intake. Finally, in students between 20 and 25 years, the consumption of macronutrients is similar among men and women. DISCUSSION: The results show that the percentage of consumption with respect to ideal value of the estimated requirement for light activity according to FAO/WHO/UN 2004 is below the recommendations, with a macronutrient consumption deficit that ranges between 20% and 60%.

OBJETIVO: Analizar la ingesta de macronutrientes y su relación con la edad y sexo en estudiantes de educación superior. MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio transversal conformado con 218 estudiantes de educación superior de 18 a 30 años. Se utilizó un instrumento validado y confiable, para medir el consumo de macronutrientes. RESULTADOS: Respecto a la ingesta de consumo de macronutrientes se observa que hay diferencia estadística por sexo, a favor de los hombres (p>0,05), excepto en el consumo de proteínas en los estudiantes mayores de 25 años. En el grupo etario menor a 20 años, los hombres tienen un mejor consumo de proteínas. En estudiantes de 20 a 25 años el consumo de macronutrientes es parecido entre hombres y mujeres. DISCUSIÓN: Los resultados evidencian que el porcentaje de consumo respecto del valor ideal de requerimiento estimado para actividad ligera según FAO/OMS/ONU 2004, está por debajo, con un déficit de consumo de macronutrientes que oscila entre el 20% y el 60%.

A search for a safer bucket to prevent children drowning at home.

BACKGROUND: Unintentional drowning is the leading cause of death for children younger than 5 years old. A bucket is one of the most common water container in which children can drown. The objective of this work was to evaluate the base diameter of a bucket and the necessary force to shed it. METHODS: This was an experimental study. We used six galvanized buckets of different diameters. Each selected bucket was pulled using a pulley with other buckets full of water until the water spilled out. The statistical analysis was done by linear regression with p less than 0.05 as statistically significant. RESULTS: This research shows a direct relation between the wide base diameter (in a bucket 23 cm high, 25 cm rim, with a 20 cm water depth) and the strength required to spill the liquid contents (ß= 1.21; x= diameter of the base in centimeters; α= 14.59; r= 0.99 and p less than 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the bucket structure could determine the risk of child drowning. The risk could increase directly as its base width increases.

Physiological and bromatological aspects of Brachiariahumidicola / Aspectos fisiológicos y bromatológicos de Brachiaria humidicola / Aspectos fisiológicos e bromatológicos de Brachiaria humidicola

Brachiaria humidicola was brought to Colombia in order to improve forage production and poor acid soils wherethere was no fodder adapted to these conditions in which this species could be an excellent alternative. However,work to compile aspects and qualitative physiological characteristics are scarce, for this reason, a brief review botanyand morphophysiological of this species also present results of various studies that show the values of quality foragesuch as content protein, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (FDA), in vitro digestibility of dry matter and lignin content among others. The review took into account the behavior of Brachiaria in environments of special interest such as: soil, nutrients and water.

Brachiaria humidicola, fue traída a Colombia con el propósito de mejorar la producción de forraje en suelos ácidos y pobres donde no se contaba con forrajes adaptados a estas condiciones, en las cuales esta especie pudiera ser una excelente alternativa. Sin embargo, trabajos que compilen aspectos relacionados con sus características fisiológicas y bromatológicas son escasos; por tal motivo se realizó una breve revisión botánica y morfofisiologíca de estaespecie, además se presentan resultados de diversas investigaciones que muestran valores de calidad de este forraje tales como contenido proteico, fibra en detergente neutra (FDN) y fibra en detergente acida (FDA), digestibilidad in vitro de la materia seca y contenido de lignina entre otros. En la revisión se tuvo en cuenta el comportamiento de Brachiaria en ambientes de especial interés como son: suelos, nutrientes y agua.

Brachiaria humidicola, foi trazida para a Colômbia com um propósito de melhorar a produção de forragem emsolos ácidos e pobres onde não se contava com forragens adaptadas a estas condições, nas quais esta espécie pudesse ser uma excelente alternativa. Contudo, trabalhos que juntem aspectos relacionados com as suas característicasfisiológicas e bromatológicas são escassos; por tal motivo foi realizada uma breve revisão botânica e morfofisiológicadesta espécie, ademais são dados resultados de diversas pesquisas que mostram valores de qualidade desta forragem tais como conteúdo proteico, fibra em detergente neutra (FDN) e fibra em detergente acida (FDA), digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca e conteúdo de lignina entre outros. Na revisão foi tido em conta o comportamento de Brachiariaem ambientes de interesse especial como: solos, nutrientes e água.

SINTESIS DE ESTEVIOSIDOS EN ESTEVIA (Stevia rebaudiana Bert.) / STEVIOSIDE SYNTHESIS IN STEVIA (Stevia rebaudiana Bert)

Stevia rebaudiana Bert. es una planta selvática subtropical nativa de Paraguay, que posee un potente edulcorante de hasta 300 veces más dulce que la sacarosa y no tiene calorías. Las moléculas responsables de esta característica son glucósidos de diterpeno, presentes en hojas y sintetizados, al menos en los estados iniciales, usando la misma ruta de síntesis del ácido giberélico, en la que el ácido shiquímico, da origen a muchos compuestos aromáticos. El acetato es el precursor de los terpenos o isoprenoides por la ruta del acetato-mevalonato, donde se encuentran los esteviósidos, aunque en este artículo se discute una ruta alternativa. La presente actualización pretende aportar algunas herramientas para el entendimiento de las principales rutas de síntesis de los glucósidos de esteviol.

Stevia rebaudiana Bert. is a subtropical wild plant of Paraguay , that possesses a potent sweetener up to 300 times higher than sucrose and has no calories. The molecules responsible for these characteristics are diterpen glycosides, found in leaves and synthesized at least, at initial states, which use the same pathway of the gibberellic acid in which the shiquimic acid gives origin to many aromatic compounds. The acetate is the precursor of the terpens or isoprenoids through the acetate-mevalonate pathway, where steviosides are found. Although in this article, an alternative route is discussed. This updating pretends to contribute tools for the understanding of the main pathways of steviol glycosides synthesis.