Unlocking the potential of self-healing and recyclable ionic elastomers for soft robotics applications.

In the field of soft robotics, current materials face challenges related to their load capacity, durability, and sustainability. Innovative solutions are required to address these problems beyond conventional strategies, which often lack long-term ecological viability. This study aims to overcome these limitations using mechanically robust, self-healing, and recyclable ionic elastomers based on carboxylated nitrile rubber (XNBR). The designed materials exhibited excellent mechanical properties, including tensile strengths (TS) exceeding 19 MPa and remarkable deformability, with maximum elongations (EB) over 650%. Moreover, these materials showed high self-healing capabilities, with 100% recovery efficiency of TS and EB at 110 °C after 3 to 5 h, and full recyclability, preserving their mechanical performance even after three recycling cycles. Furthermore, they were also moldable and readily scalable. Tendon-driven soft robotic grippers were successfully developed out of ionic elastomers, illustrating the potential of self-healing and recyclability in the field of soft robotics to reduce maintenance costs, increase material durability, and improve sustainability.

Seroconversion and Abundance of IgG Antibodies against S1-RBD of SARS-CoV-2 and Neutralizing Activity in the Chilean Population.

COVID-19 is a pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2. In Chile, half a million people have been infected and more than 16,000 have died from COVID-19. As part of the clinical trial NCT04384588, we quantified IgG against S1-RBD of SARS-CoV-2 (anti-RBD) in recovered people in Santiago and evaluated their suitability as COVID-19 convalescent plasma donors. ELISA and a luminescent SARS-CoV-2 pseudotype were used for IgG and neutralizing antibody quantification. 72.9% of the convalescent population (468 of 639) showed seroconversion (5-55 µg/mL anti-RBD IgG) and were suitable candidates for plasma donation. Analysis by gender, age, and days after symptom offset did not show significant differences. Neutralizing activity correlated with an increased concentration of anti-RBD IgG (p < 0.0001) and showed a high variability between donors. We confirmed that the majority of the Chilean patients have developed anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The quantification of anti-RBD IgG in convalescent plasma donors is necessary to increase the detection of neutralizing antibodies.

Úlcera en el escroto / Ulcer on the Scrotum

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La bioética como eje transversal en el pensum de estudio de la Facultad de Odontología de la Universidad del Zulia Venezuela / Bioethics mainstreaming in the curriculum of study at the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Zulia Venezuela

Se realizó una investigación descriptiva con el propósito de constatar la inserción de la bioética desde la perspectiva de la transversalidad curricular en las unidades curriculares de la carrera Odontología de la Universidad del Zulia, durante el periodo académico anual 2010, a través de la presencia de contenidos y objetivos bioéticos y relacionando los objetivos generales de la carrera con los terminales de las unidades curriculares. Se trata de un diseño de investigación de fuente documental, transeccional, contemporáneo y univariable; la población de estudio estuvo conformada por las unidades curriculares del primero al quinto año de la carrera; la muestra fue de tipo censal. Se emplearon técnicas de revisión documental. Para el procesamiento de los datos se utilizó el programa estadístico SPSS, versión 14. Al analizar los resultados se observó que el 80% de los programas de las asignaturas no presentan contenidos bioéticos, sólo el 20% lo expresa como propósito de la unidad curricular, el 27,5% como objetivo general de la asignatura, el 30% como objetivos terminales, el 10% de las materias presentan objetivos específicos actitudinales, el 12,5% lo presentan cognitivos y el 10% de naturaleza procedimental. En conclusión, la Facultad de Odontología de la Universidad del Zulia presenta la bioética como eje transversal, sin embargo, aun no se observa la inserción plena de la misma en todas las unidades curriculares del Pensum de Estudio

Descriptive research was conducted in order to verify the inclusion of bioethics from the perspective of the transversal axis in the curricular units of the Dentistry School of the University of Zulia, during the academic year 2010, through of contents and bioethical objectives, relating the generals and teminals objectives of the curricular units. The design of research was created from a mixed-source (field and documentary), transactional univariate contemporary, the study population consisted of curriculum units from first to fifth year of the carrer of dentistry, the sample was of census type, were used techniques of document review and interview. For data processing we used the statistical program SPSS, version 14. The analysis of the results showed that 80% of programs have no bioethical contents, only 20% expresses them as the purpose of the curricular unit, 27,5% expresses them as general objectives, 30% as terminal objectives, 10% of the subjects as attitudinal specific objectives, 12,5% has cognitive objectives and 10% procedural. In conclusion, Dentistry School of the University of Zulia presents the bioethics as a transversal axis, however, still is not observed the full insertion of the same in all curricular units of study Pensum

Molecular characterization of a patient with 3p deletion syndrome and a review of the literature.

3p deletion syndrome is a rare disorder involving developmental delay, dysmorphic physical features, and growth retardation. Molecular mapping of several cases in the literature have identified a critical region on chromosome 3p26. We present a child patient with characteristic features of 3p deletion syndrome and a de novo unbalanced translocation involving chromosomes 3 and 13. Fine mapping of this rearrangement using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) revealed an unbalanced abnormality including a 4.5 Mb terminal deletion of chromosome 3p, telomeric to ITPR1 on 3p26.2, which was not previously identified with routine cytogenetic analysis. In addition, these investigations confirmed and refined the boundaries of a 26.5 Mb deletion of chromosome 13. This study confirms the minimal candidate region for 3p deletion syndrome, provides further evidence implicating haploinsufficiency of CNTN4 in the disorder, and demonstrates the utility of high-resolution investigations of rare chromosomal rearrangements.

Por una Bolivia plurinacional e intercultural con autonomías

Esta publicación constituye un creativo desafío para escudriñar el Estado boliviano en sociedad en torno a las esenciales y aún irresueltas cuestines nacionales, regional e indígena. Precisamente estos temas fundamentales ocupan el análisis y la reflexión del Cuaderno de Futuro Nº 22 que, como parte de la agenda de investigación del Informe Nacional sobre Desarrollo Humano 2007, ponemos a su consideración en esta especial coyuntura de cambio y de toma de desiciones colectivas. El título del texto es por demás expresivo y, más que apuntalar el núcleo de la diferencia, quizás plantea un cauce de síntesis incluyente: Por una Bolivia plurinacional e intercultural con autonomías. Sus autores son tan distintos que el contenido consensuado del Cuaderno es en si mismo un fecundo resultado y, mejor aún, al demostración de que existen no solo bisagras y puentes, sino tambien plataformas viables para la unidad

Monosomía parcial 10p de novo / De novo partial monosomy 10p

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Indicadores de calidad en la gestión del personal / Quality indicators in personnel management

El desarrollo de sistemas de evaluación que midan el desempeño y motiven al cumplimiento de las metas institucionales es fundamental en la gestión del personal. Nuestro centro ha desarrollado indicadores de calidad y productividad que pueden ser utilizados con este fin. La reducción de la capacidad instalada, de dos a un tomógrafo computado y de cinco a cuatro salas de radiología convencional, además de los distintos cambios en los procesos, hicieron imprescindible un aumento en las competencias del personal de las unidades involucradas.

Increased monooxygenase activity associated with resistance to permethrin in Pediculus humanus capitis (Anoplura: Pediculidae) from Argentina.

We studied the profile of permethrin resistance in populations of head lice infesting children 6-12 yr old in schools and their homes in and around Buenos Aires, Argentina. Five permethrin-resistant populations with different levels of resistance were collected: Hogar Loyola (HL), Republica de Turquia (RT), Hogar Mitre (HM), Guardia de Honor (GH), and Ricardo Guiraldes (RG). One susceptible population, Bandera Argentina (BA), also was collected. Their level of resistance was evaluated, and results showed resistance ratios of 13 for HL, 16 for RT, 22 for HM, 61 for GH, and 69 for RG. To elucidate the possible involvement of the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase system in conferring permethrin resistance, ethoxycoumarin-O-deethylase (ECOD) activity was measured in abdomens of individual third instars and adults by using a fluorometric assay. The ECOD activity was lower in the susceptible BA population (4.7 ng per louse) than in the resistant ones (13.7 ng per louse for RG, 12.3 ng per louse for GH, 8.6 ng per louse for RT, and 8.2 ng per louse for HL). ECOD activity was significantly correlated with the level of resistance in the field populations (r = 0.97, P = 0.0009), suggesting a role for cytochrome monooxygenase P450 system in permethrin resistance by head louse, Pediculus humanus capitis De Geer.

Multinucleate cell angiohistiocytoma: a new case report.

Multinucleate cell angiohistiocytoma (MCAH) was first described by Smith and Wilson-Jones in 1985. It is an uncommon entity but probably underdiagnosed because of lack of recognition by clinicians and pathologists. We report a 47-year-old man with asymptomatic grouped violaceous papules on the dorsum of the hands for 3 years. The histopathological and immunopathological features of our case revealed characteristics of MCAH similar to the initial description of Smith and Wilson-Jones and other reports.

Política de Salud Intercultural: perspectiva de usuarios mapuches y equipos de salud en la IX región, Chile / Intercultural health care policy from the perspective of health care providers and Mapuche clients

BACKGROUND: Intercultural health is becoming an emergent topic in the design of health care programs for Mapuche people of Chile. This process faces important challenges such as the scarce theoretical support about the meaning of intercultural health and their practical consequences for providers and clients. AIM: To explore the perception in providers and Mapuche clients about intercultural health. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A survey performed in 11 counties with the highest concentration of Mapuche people, of the IX region of Chile. The perception about the development of a new health policy specially designed for Mapuche patients was surveyed in 399 Mapuche patients and 64 providers of primary health care centers. RESULTS: Mapuche clients considered, as the main regional challenges, the indifference and discrimination of health care teams towards Mapuche patients, aggravated by the indifference of authorities. Providers considered that the main problem was a lack of knowledge about Mapuche culture and skills to deal with this ethnic group. Patients and providers agreed on the need to use Mapuche dialect in health care attentions, to coordinate actions with traditional healers and to accept ethnical therapeutic practices. CONCLUSIONS: There is scarce agreement between providers and Mapuche clients about the need for an special intercultural health policy, its contents, and the regional conditions for its implementation and development.

Use of high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection after a primary drug screening in patients admitted to the emergency department.

Two hundred fifty samples of patients admitted to the Emergency Department at the Hospital Municipal de Urgencias, Córdoba, Argentina for a drug screening by HPTLC, FPIA, spectrophotometric methods, and HPLC/DAD were randomly selected. The rate of positive screens was 34.0% with the following rate distribution: 12.0% alcohol, 13.6% nonsteroid antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), 2.0% anticonvulsants, 0.8% barbiturates, 0.4% narcotics, 0.4% antidepressants, 2.8% cocaine, and 2.0% cannabinoids. Psychoactive drugs (alcohol, cocaine, and cannabinoids) were detected in 43.9% of the patients admitted for traffic accidents, namely 35.71% alcohol, 2.38% alcohol-cocaine, 2.38% alcohol-cannabinoids, 2.38% cocaine-cannabinoids, and 2.38% alcohol-cocaine-cannabinoids. These results help identify the trend of use and/or abuse of drugs and its relationship with different causes of admission (accidents, overdose, and other pathologies), age, and gender.