Challenges of selective collection of the household waste: A case study in a Brazilian metropolis.

This work sought to analyse the main difficulties in implementing and maintaining the selective waste collection in a Brazilian metropolis with more than one million inhabitants. Therefore, a qualitative method was used through in-depth interviews with 18 professionals working in the area of selective collection. The interviews were recorded and the data submitted to content analysis. The results showed the following difficulties: lack of management by the government, low efficiency and limited coverage; poor separation of waste at source; distortions in the selective collection logistics chain and in the distribution of waste by cooperatives; high informality, precarious work and low pay for waste collectors; the presence of middlemen and corruption in the system; and idle capacity of cooperatives and public organs. It was concluded that to overcome the difficulties in the selective collection and for it to be more effective, there is a need to improve the management of the process by the government with greater transparency and integration between the various actors involved, education of the population, better working conditions and remuneration for waste collectors.

Reassessment of the extinction risk status of the ponytail palm Beaucarnea inermis / Reevaluación del riesgo de extinción de la pata de elefante Beaucarnea inermis

Abstract Beaucarnea inermis is an endemic species from Northeast Mexico, in the states of San Luis Potosí and Tamaulipas. It is appreciated as an ornamental plant, so its populations are subject to the poaching of individuals for illegal trade. Previous studies determined that their populations have been affected due to the disturbance since the incidence of anthropogenic activities affects the viability of the species. Here we determine the current conservation status of B. inermis and identify their main risk factor by performing an extinction risk assessment based on the Annex II "Method for Evaluation of Risk of Extinction of Plants in Mexico". We studied 10 populations of B. inermis from protected and non-protected areas in San Luis Potosí and Tamaulipas. We considered the MER criteria: A) geographical distribution characteristics, B) habitat characteristics, C) intrinsic biological vulnerability, and D) impact of human activity. Using field and analyzed data, the MER assessment gives 1.91 points that confirm B. inermis is correctly classified as an Endangered species. The natural protected areas where the species occurs represent cores for its protection; however, the surface of these areas may not be sufficient without biological corridors that connect them.

Resumen Beaucarnea inermis es una especie endémica del Noroeste de México distribuida en los estados de San Luis Potosí y Tamaulipas. Es apreciada como planta ornamental, por lo que sus poblaciones están sujetas al saqueo de individuos para su comercialización ilegal. En trabajos anteriores se determinó que sus poblaciones han sido afectadas debido al disturbio por la incidencia de actividades antrópicas que afectan su viabilidad. En la presente contribución se determina el nivel de riesgo de B. inermis con base en el Anexo Normativo II "Método de Evaluación de Riesgo de Extinción de Plantas en México". Se estudiaron 10 poblaciones de B. inermis en San Luis Potosí y Tamaulipas, tanto en áreas naturales protegidas como en sitios no protegidos. Los criterios MER considerados fueron: A) características de la distribución geográfica, B) características del hábitat, C) vulnerabilidad biológica intrínseca y D) impacto de la actividad humana. El análisis MER arroja un valor de 1.91 que, confirma a B. inermis dentro de la categoría de Amenazada. Las áreas naturales protegidas donde se distribuye la especie funcionan como núcleos de protección, sin embargo, su superficie puede no ser suficiente sin la presencia de corredores biológicos que las conecten.

Synthesis and Insecticidal Evaluation of Chiral Neonicotinoids Analogs: The Laurel Wilt Case.

Xyleborus sp beetles are types of ambrosia beetles invasive to the United States and recently also to Mexico. The beetle can carry a fungus responsible for the Laurel Wilt, a vascular lethal disease that can host over 300 tree species, including redbay and avocado. This problem has a great economic and environmental impact. Indeed, synthetic chemists have recently attempted to develop new neonicotinoids. This is also due to severe drug resistance to "classic" insecticides. In this research, a series of neonicotinoids analogs were synthesized, characterized, and evaluated against Xyleborus sp. Most of the target compounds showed good to excellent insecticidal activity. Generally, the cyclic compounds also showed better activity in comparison with open-chain compounds. Compounds R-13, 23, S-29, and 43 showed a mortality percent of up to 73% after 12 h of exposure. These results highlight the enantioenriched compounds with absolute R configuration. The docking results correlated with experimental data which showed both cation-π interactions in relation to the aromatic ring and hydrogen bonds between the search cavity 3C79 and the novel molecules. The results suggest that these sorts of interactions are responsible for high insecticidal activity.

l-Proline as a Valuable Scaffold for the Synthesis of Novel Enantiopure Neonicotinoids Analogs.

In this research, six neonicotinoid analogs derived from l-proline were synthesized, characterized, and evaluated as insecticides against Xyleborus affinis. Most of the target compounds showed good to excellent insecticidal activity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report dealing with the use of enantiopure l-proline to get neonicotinoids. These results highlighted the compound 9 as an excellent candidate used as the lead chiral insecticide for future development. Additionally, molecular docking with the receptor and compound 9 was carried out to gain insight into its high activity when compared to dinotefuran. Finally, the neurotoxic evaluation of compound 9 showed lower toxicity than the classic neonicotinoid dinotefuran.

Enabling Elements for the Implementation of Community Health Promoter Led Interventions: A Literature Review / Elementos Habilitadores para la Implementación de Intervenciones Dirigidas por Promotores de Salud Comunitaria: Una Revisión de la Literatura

ABSTRACT: This research seeks to present Community Lay Advisor interventions as a health promoting strategy that have appeared in the international literature, in order to highlight these enabling elements in the intervention's implementation and establish a comparison among the aspects addressed in the analyzed experiences and the "Schoolbased Oral Health Promoters Program" at the Universidad de La Frontera in Temuco, Chile. A comprehensive scoping review was held between February and March 2018, with searches performed in both the academic and grey literature. Peer-reviewed scientific papers were found using the interdisciplinary database Scopus (including MEDLINE) and EBSCOhost, while grey literature and media sources were extracted from the Google and Google Scholar search engines, supplemented with a visit to the EPES foundation in Chile and an analysis of the reference lists for the selected articles. 369 articles were identified, of which 23 met eligibility criteria for this review. Based on the analysis of the experiences, some facilitators were found more pertinent when achieving the goals concerning the intervention's design, implementation and assessment. This paper makes recommendations for the design and execution of peer-led health promotion interventions in order to increase its effectiveness and success rate.

RESUMEN: Esta investigación busca presentar las intervenciones del Community Lay Advisor como una estrategia de promoción de la salud que ha aparecido en la literatura internacional, para resaltar estos elementos habilitadores en la implementación de la intervención y establecer una comparación entre los aspectos abordados en las experiencias analizadas y el "Programa de Promotores de Salud Bucal en las Escuelas" de la Universidad de La Frontera, en Temuco, Chile. Entre febrero y marzo de 2018 se llevó a cabo una revisión exhaustiva del alcance, con búsquedas realizadas tanto en la literatura académica como en la gris. Se encontraron artículos científicos revisados por pares utilizando la base de datos interdisciplinaria Scopus (incluyendo MEDLINE) y EBSCOhost, mientras que la literatura gris y las fuentes de medios se extrajeron de los motores de búsqueda Google y Google Scholar, complementados con una visita a la fundación EPES en Chile y un análisis de las listas de referencias de los artículos seleccionados. Se identificaron 369 artículos, de los cuales 23 cumplieron con los criterios de elegibilidad para esta revisión. Sobre la base del análisis de las experiencias, algunos facilitadores resultaron más pertinentes al alcanzar los objetivos relacionados con el diseño, la implementación y la evaluación de la intervención. Este documento hace recomendaciones para el diseño y la ejecución de intervenciones de promoción de la salud dirigidas por pares para aumentar su eficacia y su tasa de éxito.

Ontogenetic Changes in Azoxyglycoside Levels in the Leaves of Dioon edule Lindl.

Plants have multiple strategies, including phytochemicals that protect their vulnerable tissues against pathogens and herbivores. Dioon edule, like all cycads, possess unique azoxy-type compounds, azoxyglycosides (AZGs) as a chemical defense; however, the ontogenetic variability of these compounds in this long-lived cycad is unknown. Here, we investigated the effects of plant age, sex, genotype and individual heterozygosity on AZG levels in mature leaves of wild D. edule populations from eastern Mexico. Individuals were divided into three ontogenetic stages: seedlings, juveniles and adults. We established overall leaf quality by quantifying pigments associated with photosynthesis; chlorophylla, chlorophyllb and lutein. Leaf chlorophylla levels were higher in seedlings compared to adult cycads. Plants were genotyped using 11 microsatellite markers and foliar AZG levels were quantified by HPLC. AZG levels do not correlate with plant genotype or the individual's heterozygosity. Genetic analysis identified a distinction between lowland and highland individuals; foliar AZG levels were higher in lowland adult cycads compared to highland individuals. In both populations, the highest AZG levels were found in seedlings compared to adult cycads. These young cycads are highly reliant on their few leaves since seedlings bear one or two leaves for the first years of their life and, thus, are unlikely to recover from defoliation. The results suggest that cycad leaves with a greater nutritive content and a higher value for long-term survival are better protected with higher AZG levels. Female adult cycads have higher AZG levels compared to males, suggesting that the benefits of defense could also be linked to reproductive costs.

Epicardial adipose tissue thickness and its association with adiponectin in metabolic syndrome patients from Mérida, Venezuela.

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness and plasma levels of adiponectin in Venezuelan patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Thirty-one patients diagnosed with metabolic syndrome (study group) and 27 controls were selected and tested for glycemia, lipids, and adiponectin. EAT thickness, ejection fraction, diastolic function, left ventricular mass (LVM), and left atrial volume (LAV) were determined by transthoracic echocardiography. RESULTS: EAT thickness was greater in metabolic syndrome patients (5.69 ± 1.12 vs. 3.52 ± 0.80 mm; p = 0.0001), correlating positively with body mass index (BMI) (r = 0.661; p = 0.0001); waist circumference (WC) (r = 0.664; p = 0.0001); systolic (SBP) (r = 0.607; p = 0.0001), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (r = 0.447; p = 0.0001); insulin (r = 0.505; p = 0.0001); Tg/HDL-C ratio (r = 0.447; p = 0.0001), non-HDL-C (r = 0.353; p = 0.007); LAV (r = 0.432; p = 0.001), and LVM (r = 0.469; p = 0.0001). EAT thickness correlated negatively with adiponectin (r = -0.499; p = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: A significant association exists between EAT thickness and both metabolic syndrome components and adiponectin concentration, a link that might be used as a biomarker for this disease.

Epicardial adipose tissue thickness and its association with adiponectin in metabolic syndrome patients from Mérida, Venezuela / Associação entre a espessura do tecido adiposo epicárdico e a adiponectina em pacientes com síndrome metabólica em Mérida, Venezuela

Objective: To study the relationship between epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness and plasma levels of adiponectin in Venezuelan patients. Subjects and methods: Thirty-one patients diagnosed with metabolic syndrome (study group) and 27 controls were selected and tested for glycemia, lipids, and adiponectin. EAT thickness, ejection fraction, diastolic function, left ventricular mass (LVM), and left atrial volume (LAV) were determined by transthoracic echocardiography. Results: EAT thickness was greater in metabolic syndrome patients (5.69 ± 1.12 vs. 3.52 ± 0.80 mm; p = 0.0001), correlating positively with body mass index (BMI) (r = 0.661; p = 0.0001); waist circumference (WC) (r = 0.664; p = 0.0001); systolic (SBP) (r = 0.607; p = 0.0001), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (r = 0.447; p = 0.0001); insulin (r = 0.505; p = 0.0001); Tg/HDL-C ratio (r = 0.447; p = 0.0001), non-HDL-C (r = 0.353; p = 0.007); LAV (r = 0.432; p = 0.001), and LVM (r = 0.469; p = 0.0001). EAT thickness correlated negatively with adiponectin (r = -0.499; p = 0.0001). Conclusion: A significant association exists between EAT thickness and both metabolic syndrome components and adiponectin concentration, a link that might be used as a biomarker for this disease. .

Objetivo: Estudar a relação entre a espessura do tecido adiposo epicárdico (TAE) e os níveis plasmáticos de adiponectina em pacientes venezuelanos. Sujeitos e métodos: Foram selecionados 31 pacientes com diagnóstico de síndrome metabólica (SM) (grupo de estudo) e 27 controles. Foram medidos a glicose, os lipídios e a adiponectina. Foram determinados a espessura do TAE, a fração de ejeção, a função diastólica, a massa ventricular esquerda (MVE) e o volume atrial esquerdo (VAI) pela ecocardiografia transtorácica. Resultados: A espessura do TAE foi maior em pacientes com SM (5,69 ± 1,12 contra 3,52 ± 0,80 mm; p = 0,0001) com uma correlação positiva com o índice de massa corporal (IMC) (r = 0,661; p = 0,0001), circunferência da cintura (CC) (r = 0,664; p = 0,0001), pressão arterial sistólica (PAS) (r = 0,607; p = 0,0001), diastólica (PAD) (r = 0,447; p = 0,0001), insulina (r = 0,505; p = 0,0001), com a relação TG/HDL-C (r = 0,447; p = 0,0001), com o colesterol HDL (r = 0,353; p = 0,007), VAI (r = 0,432; p = 0,001) e MVI (r = 0,469; p = 0,0001). A espessura do TAE se correlacionou negativamente com a adiponectina (r = -0,499; p = 0,0001). Conclusão: Existe uma relação significativa entre a espessura do TAE, os componentes do SM e a concentração plasmática de adiponectina, o que poderia ser utilizado como um biomarcador para essa doença. .

Influence of germination date on Dioon edule (Zamiaceae) seedling tolerance to water stress.

Dioon edule seedling mortality is mostly attributed to dehydration by prolonged drought, even when they present xeromorphic characteristics like the adult plants. The effect of germination date (GD) and soil water deficit on seedling tolerance to water stress was assessed. The seedlings germinated and grown from mature seeds every month from December to April GD were selected to evaluate the leaf area, photosynthetic pigment content, crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) activity, stomatal conductance (gs) and leaflet anatomy at soil water potential (Ψs) of 0.0 MPa (day 1), -0.1 MPa (day 40), -1.0 MPa (day 90), -1.5 MPa (day 130), and a control (0.0 MPa at day 130) to recognize differences due to leaf development. The seedlings shifted from C3 to CAM cycling when exposed to water stress at Ψs of -1.0 MPa, like adult plants. The March-April GD seedlings with undeveloped sclerified hypodermis and stomata, presented reduced leaf area, lower Chlorophyll a/b ratio, higher CAM activity and midday partial stomatal closure when reached Ψs of -1.0 MPa. These have higher probability of dehydration during severe drought (February-April) than those of the December-February GD with similar Ψs. Plants used for restoration purposes must have full leaf development to increase the survival.

Synthesis and antiviral activity of HCV NS3/4A peptidomimetic boronic acid inhibitors.

A new series of NS3/4A protease boronic acid inhibitors is described. The compounds show good biochemical potency and cellular activity. The peptidomimetic inhibitors were evaluated against proteases from different HCV genotypes and clinically relevant NS3/4A mutants. Compound 28 displayed subnanomolar to single digit nanomolar potencies in the enzymatic assays and an EC50 of 25 nM in the replicon cell-based assay.

Correlación de los niveles de aluminio en agua, sangre completa y dializado en pacientes en hemodiálisis crónica / Correlation of aluminum levels in water, whole blood, and dialysate from patients on chronic hemodialysis

En el presente trabajo se reportan las concentraciones de aluminio en la sangre completa y en el líquido de diálisis de pacientes con insuficiencia renal crónica y sometidos a tratamientos periódicos de hemodiálisis. Estos valores se correlacionaron con las concentraciones de aluminio existentes en el agua empleada para preparar la solución de diálisis. Las determinaciones de aluminio se realizaron mediante la técnica de la espectrometría atómica con atomización electrodérmica (horno de grafito). Las muestras de sangre completa y de dializado fueron tomadas antes y después de las diálisis; las primeras fueron diluídas con Triton X--100 y las últimas con ácido nítrico 0.01M. Los resultados señalaron que los pacientes incorporaban aluminio durante los tratamientos de hemodiálisis, debido a las elevadas concentraciones que de este elemento existían en el agua que se usaba para la preparación del dializado

Desnutrición e infección / Desnutrition and infection

Para el hombre, desde la concepción hasta su muerte, la nutrición es quizá el factor más frecuente e importante que afecta su salud. Durante la gestación el estado nutricional de la madre determina la buena evolución pre y posnatal, además de la resistencia óptima del individuo ante las enfermedades a lo largo de su vida, en relación a la susceptibilidad o resistencia. Las enfermedades de tipo infeccioso y la desnutrición condicionan un estado ambiguo en la relación huésped-parásito, en donde las manifestaciones clínicas son atípicas y de escasa intensidad. Esto dificulta el diagnóstico del proceso patológico y no permite concluir cuál situación dio origen a la enfermedad. Hoy día los estudios epidemiológicos han establecido la relación entre los procesos infecciosos y el estado nutricional deficiente, deduciendo que la desnutrición afecta de manera importante la eficacia de los mecanismos inmunes. Por su parte, la infección limita la energía metabólica del hospedeiro. En general morbilidad y mortalidad se relacionan en forma intrínseca con los factores del agente infeccioso, ambientes y del huésped

Nifedipina en el tratamiento de crisis hipertensivas durante hemodiálisis / Nifedipine in the treatment of the hypertensive crisis during hemodialysis

Se valoró el efecto hipotensor de la Nifedipina, agente bloqueador de la entrada de calcio, administrada en forma aguda, en 93 episodios de crisis hipertensivas durante hemodiálisis en pacientes con insuficiencia renal crónica. Obtuvimos descenso estadísticamente significativo en las cifras tensionales sistólicas, diastólicas y medias durante el período de observación de 60 minutos. Los efectos secundarios observados fueron mínimos y de corta duración, demostrándose la eficacia del medicamento en esta particular situación clínica