Individual diet specialisation in sparrows is driven by phenotypic plasticity in traits related to trade-offs in animal performance.

Individual diet specialisation (IS) is frequent in many animal taxa and affects population and community dynamics. The niche variation hypothesis (NVH) predicts that broader population niches should exhibit greater IS than populations with narrower niches, and most studies that examine the ecological factors driving IS focus on intraspecific competition. We show that phenotypic plasticity of traits associated with functional trade-offs is an important, but unrecognised mechanism that promotes and maintains IS. We measured nitrogen isotope (δ15 N) and digestive enzyme plasticity in four populations of sparrows (Zonotrichia capensis) to explore the relationship between IS and digestive plasticity. Our results show that phenotypic plasticity associated with functional trade-offs is related in a nonlinear fashion with the degree of IS and positively with population niche width. These findings are opposite to the NVH and suggest that among individual differences in diet can be maintained via acclimatisation and not necessarily require a genetic component.

[Legal health services of abortion in Uruguay. Strategies of the primary health care public services]. / Servicios legales de interrupción voluntaria del embarazo en Uruguay. Estrategias de los servicios públicos del primer nivel de atención.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the strategies developed by the health centers to implement the law of legal abortion (LA) in public services of the primary care in Montevideo, Uruguay. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A qualitative research was conducted combining techniques of document analysis, self-administered questionnaires to key informants, and in-depth interviews with directors of health centers. A simple summative index of accessibility to abortion services was built. RESULTS: The law approved in Uruguay in 2012 demanded the development of a strategy to promote women's accessibility to LA in the public primary care system. The services failed to fully implement the strategy, due to institutional barriers. CONCLUSION: Despite the wide availability of LA services in primary care and that they are an integral part of sexual and reproductive health benefits, there is an important barrier to their use in the number of gynecologists that appeal to conscientious objection.

OBJETIVO: Analizar las estrategias desarrolladas por los centros de salud para implementar la ley de interrupción voluntaria del embarazo (IVE) en los servicios públicos del primer nivel de atención en Montevideo, Uruguay. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Investigación cualitativa, que combinó técnicas de análisis documental y cuestionarios autoadministrados a informantes clave y entrevistas semidirigidas a directores de centros de salud. Se construyó un índice sumatorio simple de accesibilidad a las prestaciones de IVE en el centro de salud. RESULTADOS: La ley aprobada en Uruguay en 2012 exigió el desarrollo de una estrategia para favorecer la accesibilidad de las mujeres a la IVE en el primer nivel de atención público. Los servicios no lograron implementar cabalmente la estrategia por dificultades institucionales. CONCLUSIÓN: Pese a la amplia disponibilidad de servicios públicos de IVE en el primer nivel de atención y a que forman parte de las prestaciones en salud sexual y reproductiva, lo que favorece integralidad en la atención, persiste una barrera importante en el alto porcentaje de ginecólogos objetores de conciencia.

[Sexual and reproductive rights regarding contraception in a human rights framework in Bolivia, Colombia, and UruguayDireitos sexuais e reprodutivos de contracepção na Bolívia, Colômbia e Uruguai como parte dos princípios dos direitos humanos]. / Derechos sexuales y reproductivos para la anticoncepción en Bolivia, Colombia y Uruguay en el marco de los derechos humanos.

OBJECTIVE: Compare World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for contraception in a human rights framework with the existing regulatory frameworks of Bolivia, Colombia, and Uruguay and evaluate which aspects of those regulations need to be developed. METHODS: A systematic analysis was based on the WHO analytical framework "Ensuring human rights in the provision of contraceptive information and services: Guidance and recommendations" to determine whether the legislation of Bolivia, Colombia, and Uruguay contain general references to the population, specific references to adolescents, or do not refer to the topic. To this end, 36 documents related to contraception were analyzed: 9 from Bolivia, 15 from Colombia, and 12 from Uruguay. RESULTS: It was confirmed that each country's legislation complies with several WHO recommendations. The three countries have strengths in nondiscrimination and in opportunity for informed decision-making, and have weaknesses in accessibility, quality, and accountability. Acceptability is a strength in Colombia and Bolivia, and confidentiality is a strength in Bolivia and Uruguay. Colombia has weaknesses in availability, confidentiality, and participation. CONCLUSIONS: Comparison of national legislation with WHO guidance helps to see the strengths and weaknesses of national regulatory frameworks and to see opportunities to improve regulations.

OBJETIVO: Comparar as diretrizes da Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS) para contracepção como parte dos princípios dos direitos humanos com os enquadramentos regulamentares existentes na Bolívia, Colômbia e Uruguai e avaliar os elementos destes enquadramentos que precisam ser melhorados. MÉTODOS: Realizou-se uma análise sistemática segundo a metodologia analítica descrita no documento da OMS ¨Respeito aos direitos humanos ao prestar informações e serviços sobre contracepção: orientação e recomendações com o propósito de verificar se as legislações da Bolívia, Colômbia e Uruguai fazem referências gerais à população, referências específicas aos adolescentes ou não fazem referências. Ao todo, 36 documentos sobre contracepção foram analisados: 9 provenientes da Bolívia, 15 da Colômbia e 12 do Uruguai. RESULTADOS: Verificou-se que as legislações dos três países cumprem com diversas recomendações da OMS. Não discriminação e oportunidade para decidir de forma esclarecida são os pontos fortes e acessibilidade, qualidade e prestação de contas são os pontos fracos. A aceitabilidade é um ponto forte na Colômbia e Bolívia e a confidencialidade, na Bolívia e Uruguai. Disponibilidade, confidencialidade e participação são os pontos fracos na Colômbia. CONCLUSÃO: A comparação das legislações nacionais com o guia da OMS possibilita identificar os pontos fortes e fracos no enquadramento regulamentar nacional e encontrar oportunidades para melhorar.

Using Systems Dynamics for Capturing the Multicausality of Factors Affecting Health System Capacity in Latin America while Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Similar interventions to stop the spread of COVID-19 led to different outcomes in Latin American countries. This study aimed to capture the multicausality of factors affecting HS-capacity that could help plan a more effective response, considering health as well as social aspects. A facilitated GMB was constructed by experts and validated with a survey from a wider population. Statistical analyses estimated the impact of the main factors to the HS-capacity and revealed the differences in its mechanisms. The results show a similar four-factor structure in all countries that includes public administration, preparedness, information, and collective self-efficacy. The factors are correlated and have mediating effects with HS-capacity; this is the base for differences among countries. HS-capacity has a strong relation with public administration in Bolivia, while in Nicaragua and Uruguay it is related through preparedness. Nicaragua lacks information as a mediation effect with HS-capacity whereas Bolivia and Uruguay have, respectively, small and large mediation effects with it. These outcomes increase the understanding of the pandemic based on country-specific context and can aid policymaking in low-and middle-income countries by including these factors in future pandemic response models.

Energetic Effects of Pre-hatch Albumen Removal on Embryonic Development and Early Ontogeny in Gallus gallus.

Studies on the yolk and albumen content in bird eggs, and the effects of variations in their relative loads in the phenotype of the birds, have revealed multiple consequences at different levels of biological organization, from biochemical traits to behavior. However, little is known about the effect of albumen variation on energetics performance during development and early ontogeny, despite the fact that variation in energy expenditure may have consequences in terms of fitness for both feral and domestic species. In this work, we evaluated experimentally whether variations in the content of albumen of Gallus gallus eggs could generate differences in metabolic rates during embryonic development. Additionally, we assessed changes in the activity of mitochondrial enzymes (cytochrome c oxidase and citrate synthase) in skeletal muscles and liver. Finally, we evaluated the success of hatching of these embryos and their metabolic rates (MR) post-hatching. The results revealed a significant reduction in MR in the last fifth of embryonic life, and reduced catabolic activities in the skeletal muscle of chicks hatched from albumen-removed eggs. However, the same group demonstrated an increase in catabolic activity in the liver, suggesting the existence of changes in energy allocation between tissues. Besides, we found a decrease in hatching success in the albumen-removed group, suggesting a negative effect of the lower albumen content on eggs, possibly due to lower catabolic activities in skeletal muscle. We also found a compensatory phenomenon in the first week after hatching, i.e., birds from albumen-removed eggs did not show a decrease in MR either at thermoneutral temperatures or at 10°C, compared to the control group. Collectively, our data suggest that a reduction in albumen may generate a trade-off between tissue metabolic activities, and may explain the differences in metabolic rates and hatching success, supporting the immediate adaptive response (IAR) hypothesis.

Is Maximum Food Intake in Endotherms Constrained by Net or Factorial Aerobic Scope? Lessons from the Leaf-Eared Mouse.

Food availability varies substantially throughout animals' lifespans, thus the ability to profit from high food levels may directly influence animal fitness. Studies exploring the link between basal metabolic rate (BMR), growth, reproduction, and other fitness traits have shown varying relationships in terms of both magnitude and direction. The diversity of results has led to the hypothesis that these relationships are modulated by environmental conditions (e.g., food availability), suggesting that the fitness consequences of a given BMR may be context-dependent. In turn, there is indirect evidence that individuals with an increased capacity for aerobic work also have a high capacity for acquiring energy from food. Surprisingly, very few studies have explored the correlation between maximum rates of energy acquisition and BMR in endotherms, and to the best of our knowledge, none have attempted to elucidate relationships between the former and aerobic capacity [e.g., maximum metabolic rate (MMR), aerobic scope (Factorial aerobic scope, FAS; Net aerobic scope, NAS)]. In this study, we measured BMR, MMR, maximum food intake (recorded under low ambient temperature and ad libitum food conditions; MFI), and estimated aerobic scope in the leaf-eared mouse (Phyllotis darwini). We, then, examined correlations among these variables to determine whether metabolic rates and aerobic scope are functionally correlated, and whether an increased aerobic capacity is related to a higher MFI. We found that aerobic capacity measured as NAS is positively correlated with MFI in endotherms, but with neither FAS nor BMR. Therefore, it appears plausible that the capacity for assimilating energy under conditions of abundant resources is determined adaptively by NAS, as animals with higher NAS would be promoted by selection. In theory, FAS is an invariant measurement of the extreme capacity for energy turnover in relation to resting expenditure, whereas NAS represents the maximum capacity for simultaneous aerobic processes above maintenance levels. Accordingly, in our study, FAS and NAS represent different biological variables; FAS, in contrast to NAS, may not constrain food intake. The explanations for these differences are discussed in biological and mathematical terms; further, we encourage the use of NAS rather than FAS when analyzing the aerobic capacity of animals.

Subchronic exposure to chlorpyrifos affects energy expenditure and detoxification capacity in juvenile Japanese quails.

Effects of pesticides on non-target organisms have been studied in several taxa at different levels of biological organization, from enzymatic to behavioral responses. Although the physiological responses may be associated with higher energy costs, little is known about metabolic costs of pesticide detoxification in birds. To fill this gap, we exposed orally (diet) 15-d old Coturnix coturnix japonica individuals to sublethal doses of chlorpyrifos (10 and 20 mg active ingredient/kg dry food) for four weeks. Carboxylesterase (CbE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities were periodically measured in multiple tissues along with measurements of resting (RMR) and maximum metabolic rates (M(sum)). Furthermore, glucuronic acid in bird excreta was also assessed at the end of the trial. While CbE and BChE activities were inhibited by chlorpyrifos in all tissues during the third and fourth weeks following pesticide treatment, AChE activity was unaffected. At this sampling times, both M(sum) and RMR expansibility decreased. These results suggest that the exposure to chlorpyrifos caused a negative effect on aerobic performance. Additionally, excretion rate of glucuronic acid was up to 2-fold higher in the 20-mg/kg group than in the control and 10-mg/kg chlorpyrifos groups. The inhibition of CbE and BChE activities corroborated that these enzymes are fulfilling their role as bioscavengers for organophosphate pesticides, decreasing its concentration and thus protecting AChE activity against inhibition by chlorpyrifos.

Servicios legales de interrupción voluntaria del embarazo en Uruguay. Estrategias de los servicios públicos del primer nivel de atención / Legal health services of abortion in Uruguay. Strategies of the primary health care public services

Resumen: Objetivo: Analizar las estrategias desarrolladas por los centros de salud para implementar la ley de interrupción voluntaria del embarazo (IVE) en los servicios públicos del primer nivel de atención en Montevideo, Uruguay. Material y métodos: Investigación cualitativa, que combinó técnicas de análisis documental y cuestionarios autoadministrados a informantes clave y entrevistas semidirigidas a directores de centros de salud. Se construyó un índice sumatorio simple de accesibilidad a las prestaciones de IVE en el centro de salud. Resultados: La ley aprobada en Uruguay en 2012 exigió el desarrollo de una estrategia para favorecer la accesibilidad de las mujeres a la IVE en el primer nivel de atención público. Los servicios no lograron implementar cabalmente la estrategia por dificultades institucionales. Conclusión: Pese a la amplia disponibilidad de servicios públicos de IVE en el primer nivel de atención y a que forman parte de las prestaciones en salud sexual y reproductiva, lo que favorece integralidad en la atención, persiste una barrera importante en el alto porcentaje de ginecólogos objetores de conciencia.

Abstract: Objective: To analyze the strategies developed by the health centers to implement the law of legal abortion (LA) in public services of the primary care in Montevideo, Uruguay. Materials and methods: A qualitative research was conducted combining techniques of document analysis, self-administered questionnaires to key informants, and in-depth interviews with directors of health centers. A simple summative index of accessibility to abortion services was built. Results: The law approved in Uruguay in 2012 demanded the development of a strategy to promote women's accessibility to LA in the public primary care system. The services failed to fully implement the strategy, due to institutional barriers. Conclusion: Despite the wide availability of LA services in primary care and that they are an integral part of sexual and reproductive health benefits, there is an important barrier to their use in the number of gynecologists that appeal to conscientious objection.

Derechos sexuales y reproductivos para la anticoncepción en Bolivia, Colombia y Uruguay en el marco de los derechos humanos / Sexual and reproductive rights regarding contraception in a human rights framework in Bolivia, Colombia, and Uruguay / Direitos sexuais e reprodutivos de contracepção na Bolívia, Colômbia e Uruguai como parte dos princípios dos direitos humanos

RESUMEN Objetivo Realizar una comparación entre las Directrices de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) para la anticoncepción en el marco de los derechos humanos (DDHH) con el marco normativo existente en Bolivia, Colombia y Uruguay y evaluar los aspectos que son necesarios desarrollar en la normativa. Métodos Se realizó un análisis sistemático con base al marco analítico de la OMS ¨Respeto de los DDHH cuando se proporciona información y servicios de anticoncepción: orientación y recomendaciones¨ para determinar si la legislación de Bolivia, Colombia y Uruguay contienen referencias generales a la población, referencias específicas para los adolescentes o no hacen referencia. Para este fin, se analizó un total de 36 documentos relacionados con la anticoncepción: 9 de Bolivia, 15 de Colombia y 12 de Uruguay. Resultados Se verificó que la legislación de cada país cumple con varias recomendaciones de la OMS. Los tres países tienen fortalezas en la no discriminación y el espacio para las decisiones informadas; sus debilidades están en la accesibilidad, la calidad y la rendición de cuentas. La aceptabilidad es una fortaleza para Colombia y Bolivia; la confidencialidad es para Bolivia y Uruguay. Colombia tiene como debilidad la disponibilidad, la confidencialidad y la participación. Conclusiones La comparación de la legislación nacional con la guía de la OMS ayuda a ver las fortalezas y las debilidades en el marco normativo nacional y ver oportunidades para mejorar la normativa.

ABSTRACT Objective Compare World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for contraception in a human rights framework with the existing regulatory frameworks of Bolivia, Colombia, and Uruguay and evaluate which aspects of those regulations need to be developed. Methods A systematic analysis was based on the WHO analytical framework "Ensuring human rights in the provision of contraceptive information and services: Guidance and recommendations" to determine whether the legislation of Bolivia, Colombia, and Uruguay contain general references to the population, specific references to adolescents, or do not refer to the topic. To this end, 36 documents related to contraception were analyzed: 9 from Bolivia, 15 from Colombia, and 12 from Uruguay. Results It was confirmed that each country's legislation complies with several WHO recommendations. The three countries have strengths in nondiscrimination and in opportunity for informed decision-making, and have weaknesses in accessibility, quality, and accountability. Acceptability is a strength in Colombia and Bolivia, and confidentiality is a strength in Bolivia and Uruguay. Colombia has weaknesses in availability, confidentiality, and participation. Conclusions Comparison of national legislation with WHO guidance helps to see the strengths and weaknesses of national regulatory frameworks and to see opportunities to improve regulations.

RESUMO Objetivo Comparar as diretrizes da Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS) para contracepção como parte dos princípios dos direitos humanos com os enquadramentos regulamentares existentes na Bolívia, Colômbia e Uruguai e avaliar os elementos destes enquadramentos que precisam ser melhorados. Métodos Realizou-se uma análise sistemática segundo a metodologia analítica descrita no documento da OMS ¨Respeito aos direitos humanos ao prestar informações e serviços sobre contracepção: orientação e recomendações com o propósito de verificar se as legislações da Bolívia, Colômbia e Uruguai fazem referências gerais à população, referências específicas aos adolescentes ou não fazem referências. Ao todo, 36 documentos sobre contracepção foram analisados: 9 provenientes da Bolívia, 15 da Colômbia e 12 do Uruguai. Resultados Verificou-se que as legislações dos três países cumprem com diversas recomendações da OMS. Não discriminação e oportunidade para decidir de forma esclarecida são os pontos fortes e acessibilidade, qualidade e prestação de contas são os pontos fracos. A aceitabilidade é um ponto forte na Colômbia e Bolívia e a confidencialidade, na Bolívia e Uruguai. Disponibilidade, confidencialidade e participação são os pontos fracos na Colômbia. Conclusão A comparação das legislações nacionais com o guia da OMS possibilita identificar os pontos fortes e fracos no enquadramento regulamentar nacional e encontrar oportunidades para melhorar.

Corioamnionitis histológica en el recién nacido menor de 1.000 gramos. Incidencia y resultados perinatales / Histological chorioamnionitis in less than 1000 grams newbons. Incidence and perinatal results

Objetivo: evaluar la incidencia de corioamnionitis clínica e histológica en los neonatos menores de 1.000 gramos y su correlación con los resultados perinatales.Material y método: se realiza un estudio descriptivo prospectivo entre mayo de 2004 y abril de 2005. Se incluyen recién nacidos con un peso al nacer entre 500 y 1.000 g con estudio histopatológico de la placenta.Resultados: en el período analizado nacieron 52 menores de 1.000 g, se realiza estudio de la placenta en 44 (84,6%). El peso al nacer promedio fue de 822,3 g (DE 127 g); la edad gestacional promedio 26 semanas (DE 2 semanas). Presentaron trabajo de parto pretérmino 28 madres (63,6%) y rotura prematura de membranas 18 (40,9%). Se observó corioamnionitis histológica en 27 casos (61,4%); 12 pacientes (27,2%) presentaban corioamnionitis clínica. En 13 de los 27 casos de corioamnionitis histológica no se consignó ruptura de membranas ovulares. 75% de los casos con clínica de coriamnionitis presentaron, en el estudio histopatológico, corioamnionitis con respuesta fetal. En cinco casos se constató corioamnionitis histológica con respuesta fetal en ausencia de diagnóstico clínico. Se produjo muerte neonatal temprana en 15 (34,0%) y durante la internación en 23 (52,2%). Dos pacientes presentaron sepsis neonatal temprana (4,5%), y 11 sepsis clínica temprana (25,0%) que se asoció a corioamnionitis histológica (*p=0,02). Cinco pacientes presentaron enterocolitis necrotizante (11,3%). Se observó hemorragia intraventricular en 12 (27,2%), siete grados 3-4 (16,2%). En nueve pacientes se comprobó displasia broncopulmonar, que se asoció a corioamnionitis histológica con compromiso fetal (*p=0,01).Conclusiones: la corioamnionitis histológica tiene elevada incidencia en la población estudiada y en 44% de los casos se pudo comprobar que precede a la rotura de membranas. ...

Objective: to determine the incidence of clinical and histological chorioamnionitis on extremely-low-birth-weight infants and its correlation with perinatal outcome. Material and methods: a descriptive and prospective study was carried out between May 2004 and April 2005. All infants weighing between 500 to 1.000 g with histopathological study of the placenta were included. Results: a total of 52 infants fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Histological study of the placenta was done in 44 patients (84,6%). The average birth weight was 822,3 g (SD 127 g) and the mean gestational age was 26 weeks (SD 2 weeks). Preterm labor was recorded in 28 mothers (63,6%), 18 (40,9%) had preterm membrane rupture. Histological diagnosis of chorioamnionitis was done in 27 cases (61,4%), 12 (27,2%) a clinical diagnosis of chorioamnionitis had been previously done. In 13 of the 27 cases of histological chorioamnionitis no premature rupture of membranes was recorded. 75% (9) of the patients with clinical diagnosis had in the histological study chorioamnionitis with fetal response in the placenta. In 5 cases histological chorioamnionitis with fetal response was found in absence of clinical diagnosis. Early neonatal mortality was observed in 15 (34%) cases and mortality during hospitalization in 23 (52,2%). Neonatal sepsis was seen in 2 patients (4,5%); in 11 cases (25%) early clinical sepsis, all of them associated with histological chorioamnionitis (* p=0,02). In 5 cases necrotizing enterocolitis was observed (11.3%); intraventricular hemorrhage in 12 (27,2%), 7 with grades 3 to 4 (16.2%). And finally 9 had bronchopulmonary dyplasia, associated to histological chorioamnionitis with fetal response (*p=0,01).

Corioamnionitis histológica en el recien nacido menor de 1. 000 gramos. incidencia y resultados perinatales / Histological chorioamnionitis newborn less than 1, 000 grams. incidence and perinatal outcomes

Evaluar la incidencia de corioamnionitis clínica e histológica en los neonatos menores de 1000 gramos y su correlación con los resultados perinatales.