Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination by Gender and Age in a Sample of Black Adults in Chicago.

Although vaccine behaviors differ greatly by gender and age, few studies have examined vaccination at the intersection of gender and age within the Black community. We examined COVID-19 vaccination by gender and age using a survey of over 500 Black adults in Chicago, Illinois, fielded from September 2021 to March 2022. Although 54% had received at least one COVID-19 vaccine, the proportion vaccinated was considerably lower for Black men (28%) and women (37%) under 40 years old than Black men (92%) and women (86%) over 40 years (p < .001). Concern about vaccine side effects was the most reported barrier for unvaccinated women (56%) and men (38%) under 40 years. Our results suggest that targeted efforts to improve COVID-19 vaccine uptake in the Black community in Chicago after the initial rollout should have focused on young adults, particularly young Black men, with emphasis on addressing concern about vaccine side effects.

Associations Between Religiosity and Medical Mistrust: An Age-Stratified Analysis of Survey Data from Black Adults in Chicago.

Medical mistrust is associated with poor health outcomes, ineffective disease management, lower utilization of preventive care, and lack of engagement in research. Mistrust of healthcare systems, providers, and institutions may be driven by previous negative experiences and discrimination, especially among communities of color, but religiosity may also influence the degree to which individuals develop trust with the healthcare system. The Black community has a particularly deep history of strong religious communities, and has been shown to have a stronger relationship with religion than any other racial or ethnic group. In order to address poor health outcomes in communities of color, it is important to understand the drivers of medical mistrust, which may include one's sense of religiosity. The current study used data from a cross-sectional survey of 537 Black individuals living in Chicago to understand the relationship between religiosity and medical mistrust, and how this differs by age group. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize data for our sample. Adjusted stratified linear regressions, including an interaction variable for age group and religiosity, were used to model the association between religiosity and medical mistrust for younger and older people. The results show a statistically significant relationship for younger individuals. Our findings provide evidence for the central role the faith-based community may play in shaping young peoples' perceptions of medical institutions.

Trusted Sources of Information and COVID-19 Vaccination Among Black Adults in Chicago.

PURPOSE: Examine trust in sources of COVID-19 information and vaccination status. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Chicago, Illinois. SUBJECTS: Convenience sample of 538 Black adults surveyed between September 2021 and March 2022. MEASURES: Trust in sources of COVID-19 information, COVID-19 vaccination. ANALYSIS: Using latent class analysis, we identified classes of trust in sources of COVID-19 information. We considered predictors of class membership using multinomial logistic regression and examined unadjusted and adjusted associations between trust class membership and COVID-19 vaccination while accounting for uncertainty in class assignment. RESULTS: Our analytic sample (n = 522) was predominantly aged 18-34 (52%) and female (71%). Results suggested a four-class solution: (1) low trust, (2) high trust in all sources, (3) high trust in doctor and government, and (4) high trust in doctor, faith leader, and family. Unadjusted odds of vaccination were greater in the high trust in all sources (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.2-3.2), high trust in doctor and government (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.4-5.3), and high trust in doctor, faith leader, and family classes (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.2, 3.9) than the low trust class. However, these associations were not significant after adjustment for sociodemographic and health status factors. CONCLUSION: Although COVID-19 vaccination varied across trust classes, our adjusted findings do not suggest a direct association between trust and vaccination, reflecting complexities in the vaccine decision-making process.

Oscillatory vs. non-oscillatory subthalamic beta activity in Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease is characterized by exaggerated beta activity (13-35 Hz) in cortico-basal ganglia motor loops. Beta activity includes both periodic fluctuations (i.e. oscillatory activity) and aperiodic fluctuations reflecting spiking activity and excitation/inhibition balance (i.e. non-oscillatory activity). However, the relative contribution, dopamine dependency and clinical correlations of oscillatory vs. non-oscillatory beta activity remain unclear. We recorded, modelled and analysed subthalamic local field potentials in parkinsonian patients at rest while off or on medication. Autoregressive modelling with additive 1/f noise clarified the relationships between measures of beta activity in the time domain (i.e. amplitude and duration of beta bursts) or in the frequency domain (i.e. power and sharpness of the spectral peak) and oscillatory vs. non-oscillatory activity: burst duration and spectral sharpness are specifically sensitive to oscillatory activity, whereas burst amplitude and spectral power are ambiguously sensitive to both oscillatory and non-oscillatory activity. Our experimental data confirmed the model predictions and assumptions. We subsequently analysed the effect of levodopa, obtaining strong-to-extreme Bayesian evidence that oscillatory beta activity is reduced in patients on vs. off medication, with moderate evidence for absence of modulation of the non-oscillatory component. Finally, specifically the oscillatory component of beta activity correlated with the rate of motor progression of the disease. Methodologically, these results provide an integrative understanding of beta-based biomarkers relevant for adaptive deep brain stimulation. Biologically, they suggest that primarily the oscillatory component of subthalamic beta activity is dopamine dependent and may play a role not only in the pathophysiology but also in the progression of Parkinson's disease. KEY POINTS: Beta activity in Parkinson's disease includes both true periodic fluctuations (i.e. oscillatory activity) and aperiodic fluctuations reflecting spiking activity and synaptic balance (i.e. non-oscillatory activity). The relative contribution, dopamine dependency and clinical correlations of oscillatory vs. non-oscillatory beta activity remain unclear. Burst duration and spectral sharpness are specifically sensitive to oscillatory activity, while burst amplitude and spectral power are ambiguously sensitive to both oscillatory and non-oscillatory activity. Only the oscillatory component of subthalamic beta activity is dopamine-dependent. Stronger beta oscillatory activity correlates with faster motor progression of the disease.

First report of Irpex rosettiformis causing white root rot in avocado trees in Michoacán, México.

In México, avocado production is an important economic source. In the last season it generated $ 3. 27 billion USD of foreign currency in the country. Irpex spp. are wood decay fungi. In the period 2019-2022, in the state of Michoacán (19°13' N; 101°55' W), México, basidiomes of Irpex sp. were observed on the base of trunks and crowns of 5-years-old and older avocado (Persea americana) trees. The trees exhibited disease symptoms that included white root rot, leaf yellowing, small leaves, branch diebacks, generalized defoliation, apical flaccidity, abundant but small sun burnt fruits due to the lack of foliage, and after 2-4 years of first disease appearance, the infected trees died. In the place where fungus was established, abundant white and cottony mycelium was formed, which caused trees decay. The incidence of the disease in the sampled orchards was estimated to be 30% per ha with 350 - 400 trees, which was determined through a simple sampling design focused on trees with signs and symptoms of the disease due to the phytopathogen. Samples of infected tissue (roots and stems) and fungal basidiomes were collected from 90 trees (5-6 per orchard). The symptomatic avocado trees studied were randomly selected from 17 orchards. For the fungal macroscopic characterization, the synoptic keys described by Gilbertson and Ryvarden (1986) and by Largent (1973) were used. The samples showed typical structures corresponding to Irpex sp., including rosettes, annual basidiomes, a system of monomitic hyphae, and subglobose basidiospores. In vitro fungal isolation from basidiomes and infected tree tissues was done according to the protocol of Agrios (2004). The fungal strains were maintained on PDA at 28 °C. At 16 days of incubation the colonies were opaque, whitish with fluffy and corky mycelium. Microscopic analysis of the fungus showed typical yellowish spores, with an ellipsoid shape of 3-4 x 4-5.5 µm (50 accounted structures per isolate [N=19]) and basidia of 20-25 x 4.5-5.5 µm (n=20 basidiomes). For molecular characterization, two molecular markers were used, the internal transcribed spacer rDNA-ITS1 5.8 rDNA-ITS2 (ITS; White et al. 1990) and the large ribosomal subunit (LSU; Vilgalys and Hester 1990). The PCR reaction was performed as described by Martínez-González et al. (2017). The consensus sequences were compared with those deposited in the NCBI-GenBank, using the BLASTN 2.2.19 tool (Zhang et al. 2000), the samples showed 99% match with the species, Irpex rosettiformis. GenBank accession numbers of the submitted isolates are summarized in supplementary Table 4. To test Koch's postulates, 3-months old avocado plants grown in greenhouse conditions were inoculated (n = 10 per each isolate [N= 19]) on the roots with 3 g of I. rosettiformis mycelium. The experiment was done twice with 20 non-inoculated plants as control. After 67 days, basidiomes (50 x 70 x 1.5 mm in average) were observed where the disease incidence was >77%, with subsequent tree decline. The pathogen was re-isolated in vitro in PDA and its identity was confirmed by morphological characteristics of mycelium. This work shows that I. rosettiformis is not only a wood decay fungus, but also a phytopathogen, the causative agent of white root rot disease in P. americana var. drymifolia, cultivar 'Hass', which establishes a precedent for monitoring and preventing its proliferation to other regions in the American continent and the world where nursery avocado seedlings are exported.

Community Cohesion, Social Support, and Mental Health among Black Individuals in Chicago: A Cross-Sectional Examination of the Effects on COVID-19 Vaccination.

The COVID-19 pandemic put a significant strain on communities, social resources, and personal relationships, disproportionately impacting Black and low-income communities in the United States. Community cohesion and social support are positively associated with numerous health outcomes and preventive health measures, yet were strained during the pandemic due to COVID mitigation measures. This study examined the relationships between social cohesion, social support, mental health, and COVID-19 vaccination to understand whether community cohesion and social support were associated with increased likelihood of receiving a COVID-19 vaccination. Data are from a cross-sectional survey of 537 Black Chicagoans that was disseminated between September 2021 and March 2022. Structural equation modeling was used to test associations between community cohesion, social support, loneliness, anxiety, stress, and having received a COVID-19 vaccination. Results demonstrated that social support mediated associations between community cohesion and loneliness, anxiety, and stress, but was not associated with COVID-19 vaccination. These results demonstrate the importance of community cohesion and social support on mental health and suggest there are other potential pathways that may link community cohesion and vaccination.

The Influence of Racism in Healthcare: COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among Black Mothers in Chicago.

Black mothers and children experience significant health disparities in the USA. These health disparities have been attributed, in part, to experiencing racism in healthcare. This study aimed to explore how experiences of healthcare discrimination and mistreatment experienced by Black mothers may influence COVID-19 vaccine beliefs and decision-making for themselves and their families. From April 2021 to November 2021, we conducted 50 semi-structured interviews among Chicago residents. Ten participants self-identified as female and with reported children; these data were extracted from the larger sample for data analysis. Interview content included perceptions and experiences with the COVID-19 vaccine and experiences with healthcare discrimination, mistreatment, and medical mistrust. Interview transcripts were transcribed verbatim and coded using the MAXQDA 2022 qualitative software. Themes were identified using a team-based thematic analysis to understand how experiences of racism in healthcare may influence COVID-19 vaccine decision-making. Four themes were generated from the data: (1) experiences of healthcare discrimination and mistreatment, (2) distrust and fears of experimentation, (3) the influence of discrimination and distrust on COVID-19 vaccine decision-making, and (4) overcoming vaccine hesitancy. The results of this study highlight the current literature; Black mothers experience racism and discrimination in healthcare when seeking care for themselves and their children. It is evident in their stories that medical racism and historical medical abuse influence vaccine decision-making. Therefore, healthcare and public health initiatives should be intentional in addressing past and present racism in healthcare to improve vaccine distrust.

A Proposal to Study the Safety and Efficacy of Psilocybe cubensis in Preclinical and Clinical Studies as a Therapeutic Alternative for Major Depressive Disorder.

The pharmacological treatment of depression consists of taking antidepressant drugs for prolonged periods; its modest therapeutic effect can often be associated with significant adverse effects, while its discontinuation can lead to relapses. Psilocybin is today a novel and breakthrough therapy for major depression. It is a natural alkaloid in Psilocybe mushrooms, which are endemic to Mexico. Research on a larger scale is lacking in various populations, including the Mexican people. This proposal contemplates the experimental design of a preclinical (toxicity and pharmacological evaluation of an extract in mice) and clinical study by including the chemical analysis of a species of Psilocybe cubensis mushroom to characterize its main constituents. The clinical study will consider the safety evaluation by exploring tolerated doses of Psilocybe cubensis by measuring pharmacokinetic parameters after oral administration in healthy adults and an open trial on a sample of patients with major depressive disorder to assess the safety and efficacy of fully characterized Psilocybe cubensis in a two-single doses treatment, (with assisted psychotherapy), compared with the traditional care model at the Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz in Mexico City. This report presents the design of a research project with preclinical and clinical experimental components.

Examining the Relationship between Anti-Black Racism, Community and Police Violence, and COVID-19 Vaccination.

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic emerged against a backdrop of long-standing racial inequities that contributed to significant disparities in COVID-19 mortality, morbidity, and eventually, vaccination rates. COVID-19 also converged with two social crises: anti-Black racism and community and police violence. The goal of this study was to examine the associations between community violence, police violence, anti-Black racism, and COVID-19 vaccination. Survey data were collected from a sample of 538 Black residents of Chicago between September 2021 and March 2022. Structural equation modeling was used to test associations between neighborhood violence, police violence, racism, medical mistrust, trust in COVID-related information, depressive symptoms, and having received a COVID-19 vaccination. In line with predictions, neighborhood violence had a significant indirect effect on vaccination via trust in COVID-related information from a personal doctor. Additionally, racism had a significant indirect effect on vaccination via trust in COVID-related information from a personal doctor, as well as via medical mistrust and trust in COVID-related information from a personal doctor. These findings add to the growing body of literature demonstrating the importance of medical mistrust when examining COVID-19 vaccination disparities. Furthermore, this study highlights the importance of considering how social and structural factors such as violence and racism can influence medical mistrust.

On the offensive alliance number for the zero divisor graph of Zn.

A nonempty subset $ D $ of vertices in a graph $ \Gamma = (V, E) $ is said is an offensive alliance, if every vertex $ v \in \partial(D) $ satisfies $ \delta_D(v) \geq \delta_{\overline{D}}(v) + 1 $; the cardinality of a minimum offensive alliance of $ \Gamma $ is called the offensive alliance number $ \alpha ^o(\Gamma) $ of $ \Gamma $. An offensive alliance $ D $ is called global, if every $ v \in V - D $ satisfies $ \delta_D(v) \geq \delta_{\overline{D}}(v) + 1 $; the cardinality of a minimum global offensive alliance of $ \Gamma $ is called the global offensive alliance number $ \gamma^o(\Gamma) $ of $ \Gamma $. For a finite commutative ring with identity $ R $, $ \Gamma(R) $ denotes the zero divisor graph of $ R $. In this paper, we compute the offensive alliance (global, independent, and independent global) numbers of $ \Gamma(\mathbb{Z}_n) $, for some cases of $ n $.

The COVID-19, racism, and violence syndemic: Evidence from a qualitative study with Black residents of Chicago.

The COVID-19 pandemic emerged in the United States in the shadows of a vast history of structural racism and community and police violence that disproportionately affect Black communities. Collectively, they have created a syndemic, wherein COVID-19, racism, and violence are mutually reinforcing to produce adverse health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to understand the COVID-19, racism, and violence syndemic and examine how structural racism and violence contributed to the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black communities. In early 2021, we conducted phenomenological qualitative interviews with 50 Black residents of Chicago. Interview transcripts were coded and analyzed using thematic analysis. We identified four primary themes in our analyses: 1) the intersection of racism and violence in Chicago; 2) longstanding inequities were laid bare by COVID-19; 3) the pervasiveness of racism and violence contributes to poor mental health; 4) and COVID-19, racism and violence emerged as a syndemic. Our findings underscore the importance of addressing social and structural factors in remediating the health and social consequences brought about by COVID-19.

SOFA Score Plus Impedance Ratio Predicts Mortality in Critically Ill Patients Admitted to the Emergency Department: Retrospective Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) is a scoring system used for the evaluation of disease severity and prognosis of critically ill patients. The impedance ratio (Imp-R) is a novel mortality predictor. AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate the combination of the SOFA + Imp-R in the prediction of mortality in critically ill patients admitted to the Emergency Department (ED). METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed in adult patients with acute illness admitted to the ED of a tertiary-care referral center. Baseline SOFA score and bioelectrical impedance analysis to obtain the Imp-R were performed within the first 24 h after admission to the ED. A Cox regression analysis was performed to evaluate the mortality risk of the initial SOFA score plus the Imp-R. Harrell's C-statistic and decision curve analyses (DCA) were performed. RESULTS: Out of 325 patients, 240 were included for analysis. Overall mortality was 31.3%. Only 21.3% of non-surviving patients died after hospital discharge, and 78.4% died during their hospital stay. Of the latter, 40.6% died in the ED. The SOFA and Imp-R values were higher in non-survivors and were significantly associated with mortality in all models. The combination of the SOFA + Imp-R significantly predicted 30-day mortality, in-hospital mortality, and ED mortality with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.80 (95% CI: 74-0.86), 0.79 (95% CI: 0.74-0.86) and 0.75 (95% CI: 0.66-0.84), respectively. The DCA showed that combining the SOFA + Imp-R improved the prediction of mortality through the lower risk thresholds. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of the Imp-R to the baseline SOFA score on admission to the ED improves mortality prediction in severely acutely ill patients admitted to the ED.

Comparison of Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis Parameters for the Detection of Fluid Overload in the Prediction of Mortality in Patients Admitted at the Emergency Department.

BACKGROUND: Fluid overload (FO) in critically ill patients is associated with increased adverse events. This study aims to compare different bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) parameters that demonstrate FO and their association with 30-day mortality in critical patients admitted to the emergency department (ED). METHODS: Five components of the BIA were obtained by multifrequency device-total body water (TBW), extracellular water (ECW), intracellular water (ICW), resistance (R), and reactance (Xc)-to calculate parameters (impedance vectors, impedance ratio, and the ratios of ECW to TBW, ECW to ICW, ECW to body surface area, TBW to height2 , ICW to height2 , Xc to height, and R to height) that have been used for the detection of FO. A concordance analysis (κ) was performed comparing every parameter with each other. Furthermore, different regression models (Cox regression) were created associating the FO for each parameter with 30-day mortality, adjusted for age, body mass index, sex, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score, and serum albumin level. RESULTS: A total of 142 patients were included in the study. Only FO by impedance vector analysis (relative risk [RR] = 6.4; 95% CI, 1.5-27.9; P = .01), impedance ratio (RR = 2.7; 95% CI, 1.1-7.1; P = .04), and R (RR = 2.6; 95% CI, 1.2-5.5; P = .02) increased the probability of 30-day mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Different parameters that determine FO by BIA were associated with the mortality of patients admitted to the ED, but the impedance vector analysis was superior to any other parameter of the BIA.

Isolation and Cytotoxic Activity of Phyllocladanes from the Roots of Acacia schaffneri (Leguminosae).

In research on natural molecules with cytotoxic activity that can be used for the development of new anticancer agents, the cytotoxic activity of hexane, chloroform, and methanol extracts from the roots of Acacia schaffneri against colon, lung, and skin cancer cell lines was explored. The hexane extract showed the best activity with an average IC50 of 10.6 µg mL-1. From this extract, three diterpenoids, phyllocladan-16α,19-diol (1), phyllocladan-16α-ol (2), and phylloclad-16-en-3-ol (3), were isolated and characterized by their physical and spectroscopic properties. Diterpenoids 1 and 2 were tested against the same cancer cell lines, as well as their healthy counterparts, CCD841 CoN, MRC5, and VH10, respectively. Compound 1 showed moderate activity (IC50 values between 24 and 70 µg mL-1), although it showed a selective effect against cancer cell lines. Compound 2 was practically inactive. The cytotoxicity mechanism of 1 was analyzed by cell cycle, indicating that the compound induces G0/G1 cell cycle arrest. This effect might be generated by DNA alkylation damage. In addition, compound 1 decreased migration of HT29 cells.

Fenton Discoloration of Ultrasonicated Purple Cactus Pear Juice.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the stability of color, betaxanthin, and betacyanin pigments in the presence of Cu(II)-dependent hydroxyl radicals (HO•) from ultrasonicated purple cactus pear juice at amplitudes of 40%, 60%, and 80%, in comparison to untreated sample. L* parameter of juice treated at 40% and 80% amplitude for 25 and 15 min, respectively (11.3 and 9.3, respectively), were significantly higher compared to the control; b* and hue parameters of juice treated at 80%, 25 min showed values of 1.7 and 0.1, respectively. Color differences (ΔE) were lower (<3) for juices treated at high amplitude (80%) and short times (3-5 min). Juice treated at 40% 15 min, 60% 25 min, 80% 15 and 25 min presented high values of betacyanins (281.7 mg·L-1, 255.9 mg·L-1, 294.4 mg·L-1, and 276.7 mg·L-1, respectively). Betaxanthin values were higher in the juices treated at 40% 5 min and 80% 15 and 25 min (154.2 mg·L-1, 135.2 mg·L-1, and 128.5 mg·L-1, respectively). Purple cactus pear juice exhibited significant chelating activity of copper ions and great stability when exposed to HO•.

Effect of Thermoultrasound on the Antioxidant Compounds and Fatty Acid Profile of Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus spp.) Juice.

Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus spp.) fruit has high antioxidant activity due to its significant content of anthocyanins and antioxidant compounds. Among emerging technologies for food preservation, thermoultrasound is a technique that reduces microbial loads and releases compounds with antioxidant properties. The objective of this study was to determine the antioxidant content and fatty acid profile of blackberry juice subjected to thermoultrasound treatment in comparison to pasteurized juice. Blackberry juice and n-hexane extracts from a control (untreated juice), pasteurized, and thermoultrasonicated samples were evaluated for antioxidant activity, fatty acid profile, and antioxidant content. The juice treated with thermoultrasound exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) higher levels of total phenols (1011 mg GAE/L), anthocyanins (118 mg Cy-3-GlE/L); antioxidant activity by ABTS (44 mg VCEAC/L) and DPPH (2665 µmol TE/L) in comparison to the control and pasteurized samples. Oil extract from thermoultrasound juice also had the highest antioxidant activity (177.5 mg VCEAC/L and 1802.6 µmol TE/L). The fatty acid profile of the n-hexane extracts showed the presence of myristic, linolenic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acids and was not affected by the treatments except for stearic acid, whose amount was particularly higher in the control. Our results demonstrated that thermoultrasound can be an alternative technology to pasteurization that maintains and releases antioxidant compounds and preserves the fatty acids of fruit juice.

Characterizatio of the adsorption process analogous peptides on alumina gel / Carcterización ddelproceso de adsorción de péptidos análogos sobree gel de alúmina / Caracterização do processo de adsorção peptídeos análogos em gel alumnaa

Peptide antigen adsorption on aluminum hydroxide gel must be characterized when formulating vaccines. In this work a peptide belonging to the amino-terminal region of Plasmodium falciparum Merozoite Surface Protein and its analogues have been characterized. The adsorption of 17 analogues on aluminum hydroxide which had greater than 10 mmol/L solubility was quantified at 298 K. Adsorption capacity and affinity constant parameters were calculated by applying the Langmuir's adsorption model. The results have been presented in three groups according to adsorption isotherm trajectory. The first group consists of analogues where the first organization of peptide molecules was presented at low concentrations, followed by a rapid increase in adsorption to high concentrations. The second group consists of analogues having an adsorption pattern showing the formation of a first layer at low peptide concentrations and a second layer at greater concentrations. The third group contains analogues whose adsorption involved the formation of two simple layers, this being differentiated from the second group in that after the second layer had been completed, the amount adsorbed grew notably with increased concentration. The results revealed a more complex pattern that monolayer or bilayer formation. This work constitutes the first approach towards establishing an adsorbed layer structure model using a peptide system.

La adsorción de un antígeno peptídico sobre gel de hidróxido de aluminio debe ser caracterizada para la formulación de vacunas. En este trabajo se caracterizó la adsorción de un péptido que pertenece a la región amino-terminal de la proteína de superficie del merozoite de Plasmodium falciparum y sus análogos. Se cuantificó la adsorción a 298 K sobre hidróxido de aluminio de 17 análogos con una solubilidad mayor de 10 mmol/L. Los parámetros de capacidad de adsorción y constante de afinidad se calcularon aplicando el modelo de adsorción de Langmuir. Los resultados se presentan en tres grupos, de acuerdo con la trayectoria de la isoterma de adsorción. El primer grupo consta de los análogos que presentaron la primera organización de las moléculas de péptido en concentraciones bajas, seguida de un rápido incremento de la adsorción a altas concentraciones. El segundo grupo de análogos tiene un patrón de adsorción que muestra la formación de una primera capa a concentraciones bajas de péptido y una segunda capa a concentraciones mayores. El tercer grupo contiene los análogos cuya adsorción muestra la formación de dos capas simples y se diferencia del segundo grupo en que después de la segunda capa, la cantidad adsorbida crece notablemente con el aumento de la concentración. Los resultados revelaron un patrón de adsorción más complejo que la formación de monocapa o bicapa. Este trabajo constituye la primera aproximación hacia el establecimiento de un modelo de estructura de la capa adsorbida en un sistema peptídico.

A adsorção de um antígeno peptídico sobre um gel de hidróxido de alumíniodeve de ser caracterizado para a formulação de vacinas. Neste estudo foi caracterizada a adsorção de um peptídeo que pertence á região amino-terminal da proteína de superfície do merozoito de Plasmodium falciparum e seus análogos. Foi quantificada a adsorção a 298 K sobre hidróxido de alumínio de 17 análogos com uma solubilidade maior de 10 mmol/L. Os parâmetros de capacidade de adsorção e constante de afinidade foram calculados aplicando o modelo de adsorção de Langmuir. Os resultados sãoapresentados em três grupos de acordo á trajectória da isoterma de adsorção. O primeiro grupo consta dos análogos que apresentaram a primeira organização das moléculas de peptídeoem concentraçõesbaixas, seguido de um rápido incremento da adsorção a altas concentrações. O segundo grupo de análogos tem um padrão de adsorção que mostra a formação de uma primeira camada a concentraçõesbaixas de peptídeo e uma segunda camada a concentraçõesmaiores. O terceiro grupo contém os análogos cuja adsorçãomostra a formação de duas camadas simples e é diferenciado do segundo grupo em que depois da segunda camada, a quantidade adsorvida cresce notavelmente com o aumento da concentração. Os resultados revelaram um padrão de adsorçãomais complexo que a formação de monocamada ou bicamada. Este trabalho constitui a primeira aproximaçãoao estabelecimento de um modelo de estrutura da camada adsorvida num sistema peptídico.

Percepción del riesgo por emisiones atmosféricas provenientes de la disposición final de residuos sólidos / Perception of risk arising from atmospheric emissions from an open solid-waste disposal site

Objetivo Identificar los factores sociales que determinan la percepción del riesgo en la población que se encuentra expuesta a las emisiones atmosféricas de un sitio de disposición final de residuos sólidos de la ciudad de Santiago de Cali en Colombia denominado Basuro de Navarro (BN). Materiales y Métodos Estudio cuantitativo con aplicación de una encuesta a una muestra estratificada de 199 personas con asignación proporcional según nivel socio-económico. Resultados Para el 73 % de los encuestados el principal problema es la inseguridad, y para el 50 % es la contaminación del aire. Para los encuestados la contaminación se manifiesta con dolor en la garganta y ardor en los ojos. El 64 % con mayor tiempo de residencia en el sector considera que la contaminación está concentrada en otros sitios de la ciudad y se encuentra por fuera de su sector. El 83,4 % considera que el BN produce contaminación y la asocia al aire en un 42 %. El 48 % calificó como grave y el 29 % como muy grave la contaminación producida por el BN. Discusión Se asocia la percepción del riesgo al tiempo de residencia en el sector y la edad de las personas. Se evidencia la necesidad de implementar programas de divulgación. Sería importante que la comunidad estuviera más informada acerca de los riesgos y medidas de mitigación de la contaminación ambiental asociada al BN.

Objective Identifying social factors determining the perception of risk in a population exposed to atmospheric emissions from a solid waste final disposal site in the city of Cali, Colombia (Basurero de Navarro - BN). Methods This was a quantitative study; a stratified sample of 199 people were surveyed, distributed according to socio-economic level. Results The main problem for 73% of the respondents was insecurity and 50% considered this to be air pollution. Respondents described pollution manifesting itself as pain in the throat and burning eyes; 64% who had lived longer in the sector believed that pollution was more concentrated in other parts of the city and did not affect their sector. 83.4% believed that the BN produced pollution and associated it with the air (42%). 48% rated the pollution caused by the BN as being severe and 29% as being very serious. Discussion Risk perception was associated with the length of residence in the sector and individuals' age. Many gaps in information and the need to implement outreach programmes were highlighted. It is important that the community become better informed about the risks of pollution caused by the BN and what mitigation measures can be taken.

[Perception of risk arising from atmospheric emissions from an open solid-waste disposal site]. / Percepción del riesgo por emisiones atmosféricas provenientes de la disposición final de residuos sólidos.

OBJECTIVE: Identifying social factors determining the perception of risk in a population exposed to atmospheric emissions from a solid waste final disposal site in the city of Cali, Colombia (Basurero de Navarro--BN). METHODS: This was a quantitative study; a stratified sample of 199 people were surveyed, distributed according to socio-economic level. RESULTS: The main problem for 73% of the respondents was insecurity and 50% considered this to be air pollution. Respondents described pollution manifesting itself as pain in the throat and burning eyes; 64% who had lived longer in the sector believed that pollution was more concentrated in other parts of the city and did not affect their sector. 83.4% believed that the BN produced pollution and associated it with the air (42%). 48% rated the pollution caused by the BN as being severe and 29% as being very serious. DISCUSSION: Risk perception was associated with the length of residence in the sector and individuals' age. Many gaps in information and the need to implement outreach programmes were highlighted. It is important that the community become better informed about the risks of pollution caused by the BN and what mitigation measures can be taken.