Characterizing domain-specific open educational resources by linking ISCB Communities of Special Interest to Wikipedia.

MOTIVATION: Wikipedia is one of the most important channels for the public communication of science and is frequently accessed as an educational resource in computational biology. Joint efforts between the International Society for Computational Biology (ISCB) and the Computational Biology taskforce of WikiProject Molecular Biology (a group of expert Wikipedia editors) have considerably improved computational biology representation on Wikipedia in recent years. However, there is still an urgent need for further improvement in quality, especially when compared to related scientific fields such as genetics and medicine. Facilitating involvement of members from ISCB Communities of Special Interest (COSIs) would improve a vital open education resource in computational biology, additionally allowing COSIs to provide a quality educational resource highly specific to their subfield. RESULTS: We generate a list of around 1500 English Wikipedia articles relating to computational biology and describe the development of a binary COSI-Article matrix, linking COSIs to relevant articles and thereby defining domain-specific open educational resources. Our analysis of the COSI-Article matrix data provides a quantitative assessment of computational biology representation on Wikipedia against other fields and at a COSI-specific level. Furthermore, we conducted similarity analysis and subsequent clustering of COSI-Article data to provide insight into potential relationships between COSIs. Finally, based on our analysis, we suggest courses of action to improve the quality of computational biology representation on Wikipedia.

4th ISCB Latin American Student Council Symposium: a virtual and inclusive experience during COVID-19 times.

Since 2014, the ISCB Latin American Student Council Symposium (LA-SCS) serves as the main biannual activity where students from all levels, postdocs and early researchers from the entire Latin American region can gather to discuss recent advances in the fields of bioinformatics and computational biology. This time we faced a major unexpected obstacle, a worldwide pandemic that has completely disrupted human activities at a planetary scale. Countless conferences have been either canceled, reprogrammed for the next year or moved to a virtual format. However, thanks to an important strengthening of the Latin American student network and the creation of several new RSGs in the continent, we were able to get together a fearless team that aimed to overcome the pandemic obstacles and still organise the 4th LA-SCS. Here we summarize our experiences in our first virtual symposium.

Estimación de casos de COVID-19 en países de Suramérica empleando modelos ARIMA (Autorregresivo Integrado de Promedio Móvil) / Estimation of COVID-19 cases in South American countries using ARIMA models

El objetivo principal de este trabajo es emplear modelos ARIMA para la estimación de nuevos contagios usando datos públicos disponibles para Venezuela y la región suramericana, actualmente foco principal de un segundo brote de la COVID-19. Se realiza la predicción a 30 días del número de casos de Covid-19 en países suramericanos usando los datos públicos disponibles. Se emplearon modelos ARIMA para estimar el impacto de nuevos contagios en las dinámicas de infección para Suramérica. Desde la aparición del primer caso de la nueva neumonía Covid-19 en China, esta enfermedad se ha convertido en un problema de salud pública global y representa un gran reto el control de la infección para los países de Suramérica. Al 24 de junio de 2020 un total de 1.866.090 casos han sido detectados en la región y en el caso particular de Venezuela un total de 4.365 casos. El rápido incremento en el número de casos y la alta tasa de contagios asociado con el virus han llevado al desarrollo de distintas aproximaciones matemáticas, tales como: modelos SIR, SEIR, redes neuronales y regresiones lineales que permitan predecir la probable evolución de la epidemia. Los modelos ARIMA han sido empleados con éxito en otras infecciones como influenza, malaria, SARS, entre otras. Los resultados de las estimaciones realizadas empleando estos modelos muestran que aún en la región hacen falta mayores esfuerzos que conlleven al control de la epidemia(AU)

The main objective of this work is to use ARIMA models for the estimation of new contagions using public data available for Venezuela and the South American region, currently the main focus of a second COVID19 outbreak. A 30-day prediction is made for the num-ber of Covid-19 cases in South American countries using available public data. ARIMA models were used to estimate the impact of new contagions on infection dynamics for South America Since the appearance of the first case of the new Covid-19 pneumonia in China, which has become a global public health problem and the great challenge that the infection has represented for the countries of South America to June 24, 2020, a total of 1,866,090 cases have been detected and in the particular case of Venezuela a total of 4,365 cases have been detected for the same date. The rapid increase in the number of cases and the high rate of contagion associated with the virus have led to the development of different mathematical approaches, such as: SIR, SEIR models, neural networks and linear regressions that allow predicting the probable evolution of the epidemic. The ARIMA model has been successfully used in other infections such as influenza, malaria, SARS, among others. In the following work, the 30 - day prediction of the number of Covid-19 cases in South American countries is made using public data available. The results of the estimates made using these models show that even in the region, greater efforts are needed to control the epidemic(AU)

Leptospira venezuelensis sp. nov., a new member of the intermediate group isolated from rodents, cattle and humans.

Three strains, CLM-U50T, CLM-R50 and IVIC-Bov1, belonging to the genus Leptospira, were isolated in Venezuela from a patient with leptospirosis, a domestic rat (Rattus norvegicus) and a cow (Bos taurus), respectively. The initial characterisation of these strains based on the rrs gene (16S rRNA) suggested their designation as a novel species within the 'intermediates' group of the genus Leptospira. Further phylogenomic characterisation based on single copy core genes was consistent with their separation into a novel species. The average nucleotide identity between these three strains was >99 %, but below 89 % with respect to any previously described leptospiral species, also supporting their designation as a novel species. Given this evidence, these three isolates were considered to represent a novel species, for which the name Leptospiravenezuelensis sp. nov. is proposed, with CLM-U50T (=CIP 111407T=DSM 105752T) as the type strain.

Valores de referencia de hierro, yodo, zinc, selenio, cobre, molibdeno, vitamina C, vitamina E, vitamina K, carotenoides y polifenoles para la población venezolana / Reference values of iron, iodine, zinc, selenium, copper, molybdenum, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, carotenoids and polyphenols for the Venezuelan population

Esta revisión de las recomendaciones de energía y nutrientes para la población Venezolana presenta los valores de hierro, yodo, zinc, selenio, cobre, molibdeno, vitamina C, vitamina E, vitamina K, carotenoides y polifenoles. Se adoptan definiciones internacionales de Ingestas Dietéticas de Referencia (DRIs por Dietary Reference Intakes) que incluyen: Ingesta Dietética Recomendada (RDA), Requerimiento Promedio Estimado (EAR), Ingesta Adecuada (AI) y Niveles de Ingesta Máximos Tolerables (UL). Las RDA para hierro: 11 mg/día para < 1 año, 7-10 mg/día niños, 8-11 mg/día para hombres, 8-18 mg/día para mujeres y 27 mg/día para embarazadas. RDA Yodo: 110-130 mg/ día recién nacidos, 90-120 mg/día niños y adolescentes y 150 mg/ día adultos, 220 mg/día embarazo y 290 mg/día lactancia. RDA Zinc: 2-3 mg/día < 1 año, 3-5 mg/día niños, 8-11 mg/día adolescentes y hombres, 8-9 mg/día adolescentes y mujeres, 12 mg/ día para embarazadas y 13 mg/día durante la lactancia. RDA Vitamina C: 40-50 mg/día recién nacidos, 15-45 mg/día niños, 75 mg/día adolescentes masculinos, 65 mg/día adolescentes femeninas, 90 mg/día hombres y 75 mg/día mujeres, 80-85 mg/día embarazadas y lactancia 115-120 mg/día. También se presentan valores de cobre, selenio, molibdeno, vitaminas E, K, carotenoides y polifenoles. Estas recomendaciones contribuirán al diseño de políticas adecuadas y eficientes que puedan ayudar a evitar o a tratar las consecuencias derivadas de la deficiencia o el exceso de estos nutrientes.

The review on iron, iodine, zinc, selenium, copper, molybdenum, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, carotenoids and polyphenols recommendations for Venezuela comprise the definitions adopted worldwide known as Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) that include Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), Estimated Average Requirement (EAR), Adequate Intake (AI) and Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (UL). The RDA for iron: 11 mg/day for infants < 1 year of age, 7 - 10 mg/day for children, 8-11 mg/day for males, 8-18 mg/day for females and 27 mg/day during pregnancy. RDA for iodine: 110-130 mg/day for infants, 90-120 mg/ day for children and adolescents, 150 mg/day for adults, 220 mg/ day for pregnancy and 290 mg/day during lactation. RDA Zinc: 2-3 mg/day for infants, 3-5 mg/day for children, 8-11 mg/day for male adolescents and adults, 8-9 mg/day for female adolescents and adults, 12 mg/day during pregnancy and 13 mg/day for lactation. RDA Vitamin C: 40-50 mg/day for infants, 15-45 mg/ day for children, 75 mg/day for male adolescents, 65 mg/day for female adolescents, 90 mg/day for adult males, 75 mg/day for adult females, 80-85 mg/day during pregnancy and 115-120 mg/ day during lactation. Recommendations for copper, selenium, molybdenum, vitamins E, K, carotenoids and polyphenols are also presented. These recommendations will help to design adequate and efficient policies that could help to avoid or to treat the consequences derived from the deficiency or the excess of these nutrients.

[Reference values of iron, iodine, zinc, selenium, copper, molybdenum, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, carotenoids and polyphenols for the Venezuelan population]. / Valores de referencia de hierro, yodo, zinc, selenio, cobre, molibdeno, vitamina C, vitamina E, vitamina K, carotenoides y polifenoles para la población venezolana.

The review on iron, iodine, zinc, selenium, copper, molybdenum, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, carotenoids and polyphenols recommendations for Venezuela comprise the definitions adopted worldwide known as Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) that include Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), Estimated Average Requirement (EAR), Adequate Intake (AI) and Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (UL). The RDA for iron: 11 mg/day for infants < 1 year of age, 7-10 mg/day for children, 8-11 mg/day for males, 8-18 mg/day for females and 27 mg/day during pregnancy. RDA for iodine: 110-130 microg/day for infants, 90-120 microg/ day for children and adolescents, 150 microg/day for adults, 220 microg/ day for pregnancy and 290 microg/day during lactation. RDA Zinc: 2-3 mg/day for infants, 3-5 mg/day for children, 8-11 mg/day for male adolescents and adults, 8-9 mg/day for female adolescents and adults, 12 mg/day during pregnancy and 13 mg/day for lactation. RDA Vitamin C: 40-50 mg/day for infants, 15-45 mg/ day for children, 75 mg/day for male adolescents, 65 mg/day for female adolescents, 90 mg/day for adult males, 75 mg/day for adult females, 80-85 mg/day during pregnancy and 115-120 mg/day during lactation. Recommendations for copper, selenium, molybdenum, vitamins E, K, carotenoids and polyphenols are also presented. These recommendations will help to design adequate and efficient policies that could help to avoid or to treat the consequences derived from the deficiency or the excess of these nutrients.

A program of nutritional education in schools reduced the prevalence of iron deficiency in students.

The objective was to determine the prevalence of iron, folates and retinol deficiencies in school children and to evaluate the changes after an intervention of nutritional education. The project was developed in 17 schools. The sample included 1,301 children (678 males and 623 females). A subsample of 480 individuals, was randomly selected for drawing blood for biochemical determinations before and after the intervention of nutritional education, which included in each school: written pre and post-intervention tests, 6 workshops, 2 participative talks, 5 game activities, 1 cooking course and 1 recipe contest. Anthropometrical and biochemical determinations included weight, height, body-mass index, nutritional status, hematocrit, serum ferritin, retinol and folate concentrations. There was high prevalence of iron (25%), folates (75%) and vitamin A (43%) deficiencies in school children, with a low consumption of fruit and vegetables, high consumption of soft drinks and snacks and almost no physical activity. The nutritional education intervention produced a significant reduction in iron deficiency prevalence (25 to 14%), and showed no effect on vitamin A and folates deficiencies. There was a slight improvement in nutritional status. This study shows, through biochemical determinations, that nutritional education initiatives and programs have an impact improving nutritional health in school children.

A single dose of vitamin A improves haemoglobin concentration, retinol status and phagocytic function of neutrophils in preschool children.

Since there is a reported interrelationship between vitamin A and Fe metabolism, and with immunological response, the objective was to evaluate the effect of a single dose of vitamin A administered to preschool children, on Fe and vitamin A nutritional status, anaemia and phagocytic function of neutrophils, 30 d after supplementation. A total of eighty children (sixty-eight supplemented and twelve controls) were supplemented orally with 200,000 IU (60 mg) vitamin A, and evaluated for nutritional, haematological and immunological responses at the beginning of the study and 30 d after supplementation. Parameters studied included Hb, serum ferritin, retinol and Fe concentrations, transferrin saturation, IL-4, interferon-gamma and phagocityc capacity of neutrophils using non-fluorescent latex microbeads. After supplementation there was a significant increase in Hb concentration (P = 0.03), mean corpuscular Hb concentration (P = 0.001) and serum retinol (P = 0.0078). Prevalences of anaemia and vitamin A deficiency decreased significantly from 17.6 % to 13.2 % and from 25 % to 13.2 %, respectively. Regarding phagocytic function, there was a significant increase in the number of microbeads engulfed by neutrophils (P < 0.05) and no significant changes in cytokine concentrations at 1 month after treatment. A single dose of 200,000 IU (60 mg) vitamin A administered orally to a group of preschool children with a high prevalence of vitamin A deficiency enhanced serum retinol and Hb concentrations, decreased the prevalence of anaemia and vitamin A deficiency and improved the constitutive phagocytic capacity of neutrophils. Vitamin A supplementation could help to decrease vitamin A deficiency, anaemia prevalence and to improve the innate immunity response in preschool children. The effects were obtained without Fe supplementation.