Graphenes as Efficient Metal-Free Fenton Catalysts.

Reduced graphene oxide exhibits high activity as Fenton catalyst with HO(.) radical generation efficiency over 82 % and turnover numbers of 4540 and 15023 for phenol degradation and H2 O2 consumption, respectively. These values compare favorably with those achieved with transition metals, showing the potential of carbocatalysts for the Fenton reaction.

[Small bowel intussusception and Vanek's tumor in an elderly woman]. / Intususcepción intestinal por pólipo fibroide inflamatorio en una anciana.

Inflammatory fibroid polyps are non-frequent benign lesions, described by Vanek in 1949, originated in the sub mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract. They have an uncertain origin and they are formed of fibroblastic and mesenchymal proliferations with an important eosinophilic proportion. Depending on where are they localized, could present different type of symptoms. The inflammatory fibroid polyps are one of the rare benign conditions causing intestinal intussusception in adults. We present the case of a 82 years old woman, who presented an intestinal intussusception due to an inflammatory fibroid polyp localized in the small bowel.

Helping Others Helps Me: Prosocial Behavior and Satisfaction With Life During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Prosocial behavior (PsB) and its effects have been analyzed in times of crisis and natural disasters, although never before in the face of such exceptional circumstances as those created by the COVID-19 pandemic. This research analyzes the role of PsB on satisfaction with life (SWL) in Colombia, considering the negative emotional impact of events that began in February 2020. We conduct an exploratory analysis using a sample of Colombia's general population (N = 2,574; 53.2% women) with an average age of 44.66 years (SD = 15.36). Using the Classification Tree technique, we find that engaging in one or more PsBs (e.g., donating money or sharing food) enhances SWL and decreases the impact of negative emotions such as pessimism, indecisiveness, and irritability that have emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings are significant because they confirm the importance of life satisfaction as a personal resource for coping with complex situations and provide evidence of the benefits of PsB on one's wellbeing.

Workplace aggression, wellbeing, and job satisfaction: The specificity in border police organizations.

In male-dominated work contexts, the challenges faced by women and their impact on wellbeing and work attitudes have been documented, most extensively in other than police organizations. This study was conducted as a cross-sectional quantitative descriptive correlational predictive study to validate a model of relationships among workplace aggression, job satisfaction, and wellbeing at work with a sample of 1,066 female and male officers from the Romanian Border Police. The results obtained in the study showed that no differential gender effects were found, although women reported higher levels of workplace aggression than men (1.61 vs. 1.52; F = 4.20, p = 0.04). Also, workplace aggression significantly and negatively predicted job satisfaction (R 2 = 0.27) and wellbeing at work (R 2 = 0.31). In conclusion, although this research is an exploratory approach to the study of workplace aggression in the Romanian police organization, it can generate interventions that would lead to the reduction of undesirable behaviors such as verbal aggression, malicious jokes, discrimination, perception of inequalities, gossip, and defamatory words. In the future lines of research, different sources and conditions of victims and witnesses can be considered the. We also studied the limitations of the study and the future lines of research.

Coenzyme Q and protein/lipid oxidation in a BSE-infected transgenic mouse model.

Oxidative stress and antioxidants play an important role in neurodegenerative diseases. However, the exact participation of antioxidants in the evolution of prion diseases is still largely unknown. The aim of this study was to assess brain levels of coenzyme Q (CoQ), an endogenous lipophilic antioxidant, and the antioxidant/pro-oxidant status by determining oxidative damage to proteins and lipids after intracerebral bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) infection of transgenic mice expressing bovine prion protein (PrP). Our results indicate that, whereas the ratio between the two CoQ homologues present in mice (CoQ(9) and CoQ(10)) is not altered by prion infection during the course of the disease, significant increases in total CoQ(9) and CoQ(10) were observed in BSE-infected mice 150 days after inoculation. This time point coincided with the first manifestation of PrP(Sc) deposition in nervous tissue. In addition, CoQ(9) and CoQ(10) levels, neuropathological alterations, and PrP(Sc) deposition in nervous tissues underwent further increases as the illness progressed. Lipid and protein oxidation were observed only at the final stage of the disease after clinical signs had appeared. These findings indicate upregulation of CoQ(9)- and CoQ(10)-dependent antioxidant systems in response to the increased oxidative stress induced by prion infection in nervous tissue. However, the induction of these endogenous antioxidant systems seems to be insufficient to prevent the development of the illness.

Transmission and Replication of Prions.

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) are a group of progressive, invariably fatal diseases that affect the nervous system of many mammals including humans. The key molecular event in the pathogenesis of TSEs is the conversion of the cellular prion protein PrPC into a disease-associated isoform PrPSc. The "protein-only hypothesis" argues that PrPSc itself is the infectious agent. In effect, PrPSc can adopt several structures that represent different prion strains. The interspecies transmission of TSEs is difficult because of differences between the host and donor primary PrP sequence. However, transmission is not impossible as this occurred when bovine spongiform encephalopathy spread to humans causing variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD). This event determined a need for a thorough understanding of prion replication and transmission so that we could be one step ahead of further threats for human health. This chapter focuses on these concepts and on new insights gained into prion propagation mechanisms.

Liderazgo y comportamiento innovador del trabajador en personal administrativo de una institución educativa / Leadership and Innovative Work Behavior in the Administrative Staff of an Educational Institution

Resumen El propósito de este estudio fue describir las prácticas de liderazgo que percibe un grupo de 145 empleados respecto a su jefe inmediato y estimar si éstas guardan relación con su comportamiento innovador en el trabajo. El estudio se realizó en una institución de educación superior con funcionarios del área administrativa que pertenecían al mismo departamento. Para esto, se utilizó la Escala de Liderazgo para la Innovación (Innovational Leadership Scale [ils-15]) de Contreras, Espinosa y Dornberger (2019) y la Escala de Comportamiento Innovador en el Trabajo de Janssen (2000). Ambos cuestionarios mostraron altos niveles de confiabilidad (coeficientes alfa de Cronbach superiores a .90). De acuerdo con los resultados, se observa un nivel medio de desarrollo en las dos variables estudiadas. Así mismo, se observó que los empleados con mayor comportamiento innovador perciben un mayor liderazgo para la innovación en sus jefes. Estos hallazgos contribuyen a la formación de líderes que fomenten la innovación en las organizaciones y muestran la necesidad de continuar estudiando este estilo de liderazgo en las empresas colombianas en relación con el comportamiento innovador de sus trabajadores a fin de contribuir al desarrollo de organizaciones más adaptables a las circunstancias cambiantes del entorno.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to describe the leadership practices perceived by a group of 145 employees with regard to their immediate boss and to estimate whether these practices are related to their innovative behavior at work. The study was conducted in a higher education institution with employees from the administrative area who belonged to the same department. To this end, the Innovational Leadership Scale (ils-15]) of Contreras, Espinosa, and Dornberger (2019) and the Janssen Innovative Work Behaviour Scale (2000) were used. Both questionnaires showed high levels of reliability (Cronbach's alpha coefficients greater than .90). According to the results, an average level of development may observed in the two variables that were studied. Likewise, it was observed that the employees with greater innovative behavior perceive greater leadership for innovation in their bosses. These findings contribute to the training of leaders that foster innovation in organizations and demonstrate the need to continue studying this style of leadership in Colombian companies with regard to innovative behavior among their staff, so as to contribute to the development of organizations more adaptable to the changing circumstances of the environment.

Further characterisation of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy phenotypes after inoculation of cattle with two temporally separated sources of sheep scrapie from Great Britain.

BACKGROUND: The infectious agent responsible for the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) epidemic in Great Britain is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) strain with uniform properties but the origin of this strain remains unknown. Based on the hypothesis that classical BSE may have been caused by a TSE strain present in sheep, cattle were inoculated intracerebrally with two different pools of brains from scrapie-affected sheep sourced prior to and during the BSE epidemic to investigate resulting disease phenotypes and characterise their causal agents by transmission to rodents. RESULTS: As reported in 2006, intracerebral inoculation of cattle with pre-1975 and post-1990 scrapie brain pools produced two distinct disease phenotypes, which were unlike classical BSE. Subsequent to that report none of the remaining cattle, culled at 10 years post inoculation, developed a TSE. Retrospective Western immunoblot examination of the brains from TSE cases inoculated with the pre-1975 scrapie pool revealed a molecular profile similar to L-type BSE. The inoculation of transgenic mice expressing the bovine, ovine, porcine, murine or human prion protein gene and bank voles with brains from scrapie-affected cattle did not detect classical or atypical BSE strains but identified two previously characterised scrapie strains of sheep. CONCLUSIONS: Characterisation of the causal agents of disease resulting from exposure of cattle to naturally occurring scrapie agents sourced in Great Britain did not reveal evidence of classical or atypical BSE, but did identify two distinct previously recognised strains of scrapie. Although scrapie was still recognizable upon cattle passage there were irreconcilable discrepancies between the results of biological strain typing approaches and molecular profiling methods, suggesting that the latter may not be appropriate for the identification and differentiation of atypical, particularly L-type, BSE agents from cattle experimentally infected with a potential mixture of classical scrapie strains from sheep sources.

Preliminary validarion of Fry's Spiritual Leadership Model in Colombian and Ecuadorian workers / Validação preliminar do modelo de liderança espiritual de Fry em trabalhadores colombianos e equatorianos / Validación preliminar del modelo de liderazgo espiritual de Fry en trabajadores colombianos y ecuatorianos

Abstract The aim of this study was to examine the validity of the Spiritual Leadership model proposed by Fry (2003). Spiritual Leadership Questionnaire [SLT] (Fry & Matherly, 2006) was applied to 279 workers from Colombia and Ecuador. The two samples were equivalent by sex, age, education level and work experience. According to the results, all dimensions of the questionnaire showed to be highly consistent (alpha above .85) except Commitment dimension. Likewise, it found that just one of 35 items that composed the scale shows low item-scale correlation. In the most of the cases, the relationships between variables as well as the adjustment index of the model were lower than reported by Fry previously, which limited the construct validity. External evidences of validity of the model, demonstrated that the work experience and level of charge were significant for Spiritual Leadership dimensions. These findings were related to the psychometrics requirement of the scale and regarding of measured construct with organizational behavior. Finally, it is point out some research limitations and provide some suggestions for future studies.

Resumo O propósito deste estudo foi examinar a validade do modelo de liderança espiritual (Spiritual Leadership Theory, SLT) proposto por Fry (2003). Aplicou-se o Questionário de Liderança Espiritual (SLT Survey) (Fry & Matherly, 2006) a 279 trabalhadores da Colômbia e do Equador. Ambas as amostras foram equivalentes com respeito a sexo, idade, nível de formação e experiência profissional. De acordo com os resultados, todas as dimensões do instrumento, exceto a de Compromisso, demonstraram ser altamente consistentes (alpha superior a .85). Também se constatou que apenas um item dos 35 que compõem o instrumento apresentou baixa correlação item-escala. Na maioria dos casos, as relações entre as variáveis e os índices de ajuste do modelo foram menores que o indicado por Fry, o que limitou a validade de constructo. As evidências externas da validade do modelo demonstraram que a experiência profissional e o nível do cargo são significativos para as dimensões da liderança espiritual. Discutem-se essas descobertas com relação aos requerimentos psicométricos do instrumento e a relação do constructo medido com aspectos do comportamento organizacional. Finalmente, indicam-se as limitações do estudo e fazem-se recomendações para futuras pesquisas.

Resumen El propósito de este estudio fue examinar la validez del modelo de liderazgo espiritual propuesto por Fry (2003). Se aplicó el Cuestionario de Liderazgo Espiritual [SLT] (Fry & Matherly, 2006), a 279 trabajadores de Colombia y Ecuador. Ambas muestras fueron equivalentes respecto a sexo, edad, nivel de formación y experiencia laboral. De acuerdo con los resultados, todas las dimensiones del instrumento, excepto la de compromiso, demostraron ser altamente consistentes (alpha superior a .85). Asimismo, se encontró que solo un ítem de los 35 que componen el instrumento presentó baja correlación ítem-escala. En la mayoría de los casos, las relaciones entre las variables y los índices de ajuste del modelo fueron menores a lo reportado por Fry, lo que limitó la validez de constructo. Las evidencias externas de la validez del modelo demostraron que la experiencia laboral y el nivel del cargo son significativos para las dimensiones del liderazgo espiritual. Se discuten estos hallazgos respecto a los requerimientos psicométricos del instrumento y la relación del constructo medido con aspectos del comportamiento organizacional. Finalmente, se señalan las limitaciones del estudio y se hacen recomendaciones para futuras investigaciones.

Calidad de vidallaboral y liderazgo en trabajadres asistenciales y administrattivos en un centro oncológico de bogotá (Colombia)* / Work quality of life and leadership in administrative staff and health care personnel of an oncological center in Bogotá (Colombia)

El propósito de este estudio fue describir la Calidad de vida laboral (CVL) y el estilo de liderazgo percibido por el personal administrativo/asistencial de un centro oncológico y estimar la asociación entre ellas, considerando las características sociodemográficas. Para ello se aplicó el Cuestionario de Vida Profesional [CVP-35] y el Test de Adjetivos de Pitcher [pat] a 38 trabajadores de la salud, que constituyen el 97.2 % del total del personal que labora en el centro. En general, los participantes presentan una CVL satisfactoria, caracterizada principalmente por motivación intrínseca, lo cual fue más evidente en el personal asistencial. Se observó una percepción de ausencia de liderazgo o características poco deseables de este, lo cual, aunque no determina la CVL, sí constituye un factor modulador de la misma; las variables sociodemográficas no guardaron relación con la CVL. Por último se resalta la responsabilidad social que tienen los directivos en el bienestar de los trabajadores de la salud y, consecuentemente, en la atención al paciente. Se discuten estos hallazgos y lo pertinente de utilizar las categorías emergentes del pat.

The aim of this study was to describe the work Quality of Life (wql) and perceived leadership style by administrative staff/and health care personnel in an oncological center and estimate the association between them, considering socio-demographic characteristics. We applied the Professional Life Questionnaire [plq-35] and Pitcher Adjectives Test [PAT] to 38 health workers that represent 97.2 % of the total personal that work at the center. In general, participants have a satisfactory wql, mainly characterized by intrinsic motivation, which was most evident in the care team. With respect to leadership, lack of leadership or undesirable features of it were perceived, which do not determine the wql but constitute a modulator factor. Socio-demographic variables were not related to the wql. Finally it highlights the social responsibility that managers have on welfare of health workers, and consequently, on the patient care. We discuss these findings, and the relevance of using the emerging categories of pat.

Intususcepción intestinal por pólipo fibroide inflamatorio en una anciana / Small bowel intussusception and Vanek's tumor in an elderly woman

El pólipo fibroide inflamatorio es un tumor benigno poco frecuente del tubo digestivo, descripto por Vanek en 1949. Son lesiones de etiología desconocida, originadas en la submucosa. Están formadas por células mononucleares y mesenquimatosas con citoplasma fusocelular, con una importante proporción de eosinófilos. Sus síntomas son variables, dependiendo de su localización, y son una r ara causa de intususcepción intestinal en adultos. Presentamos el caso de una mujer de 82 años, que sufrió una rara intususcepción de intestino delgado, originada en un pólipo fibroide inflamatorio.

Inflammatory fibroid polyps are non-frequent benign lesions, described by Vanek in 1949, originated in the sub mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract. They have an uncertain origin and they are formed of fibroblastic and mesenchymal proliferations with an important eosinophilic proportion. Depending on where are they localized, could present different type of symptoms. The inflammatory fibroid polyps are one of the rare benign conditions causing intestinal intussusception in adults.We present the case of a 82 years old woman, who presented an intestinal intussusception due to an inflammatory fibroid polyp localized in the small bowel.

Reduced susceptibility to bovine spongiform encephalopathy prions in transgenic mice expressing a bovine PrP with five octapeptide repeats.

In this work, transgenic (Tg) mice were generated expressing a bovine prion protein containing five octarepeats (BoPrP(5OR)-Tg). After intracerebral inoculation of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) inoculum, these mice suffered a BSE-like neuropathology but survived longer compared with homologous Tg mice expressing similar levels of a six octarepeat BoPrP protein (BoPrP(6OR)-Tg). De novo-generated five octarepeat (5OR) PrP(Sc) showed no biochemical differences from 6OR-PrP(Sc), and the proteinase K-resistant core (PrP(res)) was biochemically indistinguishable from the 6OR counterpart. Lower susceptibility to BSE is suggested for BoPrP(5OR)-Tg mice, as they were not as efficient at replicating BSE prions from the same natural source inoculum as BoPrP(6OR)-Tg mice expressing similar PrP(C) levels. These results raise the possibility of selecting cattle breeds bearing the 5OR Prnp allele that are less susceptible to prion infection.

Distribution of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) in brains of livestock and domesticated species.

In transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) the prion protein (PrP) plays a central role in pathogenesis. The PrP gene (Prnp) has been described in a number of mammalian and avian species and its expression product, the cellular prion protein (PrP(C)), has been mapped in brains of different laboratory animals (rodent and non-human primates). However, mapping of PrP(C) expression in mammalian species suffering from natural (bovine and ovine) and experimental (swine) TSE or in species in which prion disease has never been reported (equine and canine) deserves further attention. Thus, localising the cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) distribution in brain may be noteworthy for the understanding of prion disease pathogenesis since lesions seem to be restricted to particular brain areas. In the present work, we analysed the distribution of PrP(C) expression among several brain structures of the above species. Our results suggest that the expression of PrP(C), within the same species, differs depending on the brain structure studied, but no essential differences between the PrP(C) distribution patterns among the studied species could be established. Positive immunoreaction was found mainly in the neuropil and to a lesser extent in neuronal bodies which occasionally appeared strongly stained in discrete regions. Overall, the expression of PrP(C) in the brain was significantly higher in grey matter areas than in white matter, where accumulation of PrP(Sc) is first observed in prion diseases. Therefore, other factors besides the level of expression of cellular PrP may account for the pathogenesis of TSEs.

Afrontamiento al estrés y modelo psicobiológico de la personalidad en estudiantes universitarios / Coping and psychobiological model of personality in college students

El propósito de este estudio fue observar la relación entre las dimensiones de personalidad propuestas por el Modelo de Temperamento/Carácter y las dimensiones del Afrontamiento al Estrés en una muestra aleatoria estratificada de 150 de estudiantes universitarios. Los resultados indican que los participantes tienden a usar estrategias activas para afrontar el estrés; asimismo, se confirman los supuestos biológicos y culturales del Modelo de Personalidad y se evidencia que el afrontamiento al estrés guarda estrecha relación con las características de personalidad, en especial con dos dimensiones del Carácter (Autodirectividad y Autotrascendencia) y poca relación con las dimensiones del temperamento en especial con evitación del daño y persistencia. Se discuten las implicaciones de estos resultados.

The purpose of this study was to observe the relationship between personality dimensions suggested for Temperament/Character Model and Coping in 150 undergraduate students in a randomized stratified sample. Results indicate that participants tended to use active strategies for coping. Assumptions about biological and cultural aspects of the Personality Model are confirmed and there is evidence that coping is closely related to personality traits, especially to Character dimensions (Self directiveness and Self transcendence), and to Temperament dimensions especially to avoidance. The implications of these results are discussed.

Polymerization of a dual-cured cement through ceramic: LED curing light vs halogen lamp.

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of light source, LED unit and halogen lamp (HL), on the effectiveness of Enforce dual-cured cement cured under a ceramic disc. Three exposure times (60, 80 and 120 s) were also evaluated. Two experimental groups, in which the polymerization of the dual-cured cement was performed through a ceramic disc, and two control groups, in which the polymerization of the dual-cured cement was performed directly without presence of ceramic disc were subdivided into three subgroups (three different exposure times), with five specimens each: G1A- HL 60s; G1B- HL 80s; G1C- HL 120s; G2A- LED 60s; G2B- LED 80s; G2C- LED 120s; and control groups: G3A- HL 60s; G3B- HL 80s; G3C- HL 120s; G4A- LED 60s; G4B- LED 80s and G4C- LED 120s. Cement was applied in a steel matrix (4mm diameter, 1.2mm thickness). In the experimental groups, a ceramic disc was placed on top. The cement was light-cured through the ceramic by a HL and LED, however, the control groups were cured without the ceramic disc. The specimens were stored in a light-proof container at 37ºC for 24 hours, then Vickers hardness was determined. A four-way ANOVA and Tukey test (p£ 0.05) were performed. All specimens cured by LED for 60s showed inferior values compared with the halogen groups. In general, light-curing by LED for 80s and 120s was comparable to halogen groups (60s and 80s) and their control groups. LED technology can be viable for light-curing through conventional ceramic indirect restorations, when curing time is increased in relation to HL curing time.

Polymerization of a dual-cured cement through ceramic: LED curing light vs halogen lamp

O objetivo deste estudo foi estudar a influência da fonte de luz, LED e lâmpada halógena (LH), na efetividade de polimerização do cimento resinoso dual Enforce fotoativado sob um disco de porcelana. Três tempos de exposição (60, 80 e 120 segundos) foram também avaliados. Dois grupos experimentais, na qual a polimerização do cimento resinoso foi feita através de um disco cerâmico, e dois controles, polimerização direta do cimento, sem presença do disco cerâmico foram subdivididos em três subgrupos, com cinco amostras em cada: G1A- LH 60s; G1B- LH 80s; G1C- LH 120s; G2A- LED 60s; G2B- LED 80s; G2C- LED 120s; e grupos controles: G3A- LH 60s; G3B- LH 80s; G3C- LH 120s; G4A- LED 60s; G4B- LED 80s e G4C- LED 120s. O cimento resinoso foi inserido em uma matriz de aço (4 mm de diâmetro e 1,2 mm de espessura). Nos grupos experimentais um disco de porcelana (6 mm de diâmetro por 2 mm de espessura) foi colocado sobre o cimento. Este foi fotoativado através da porcelana pela lâmpada halógena e pelo LED, por outro lado nos grupos controles a luz foi aplicada sem o disco de porcelana. As amostras foram armazenadas em um frasco que impedia a passagem de luz a 370C por 24 horas, para que depois a dureza Vickers fosse determinada. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância a quatro critérios seguido pelo teste Tukey (pú 0,05). Todas as amostras polimerizadas pelo LED por 60s mostraram valores inferiores quando comparadas com as do grupo da lâmpada halógena. Em geral, a fotoativação realizada por 80 e 120 s com o LED foi estatisticamente similar à fotoativação com a lâmpada halógena (60 e 80 s). A tecnologia LED pode ser viável para a fotoativação de restaurações indiretas de porcelana quando o tempo de polimerização é aumentado.