A Learning Assessment to Increase Diversity in Academic Health Sciences.

Importance: Strategies and innovations to advance racial and ethnic equity in recruitment, promotion, and retention at academic health science institutions are needed. Objective: This learning assessment aims to isolate evidence-based strategies to advance racial equity in the academic health sciences, which have implications for policy and institution-level interventions. Evidence Review: This learning assessment used a mixed-methods approach, including a quantitative survey, qualitative in-depth interviews, and a scoping literature review. Survey respondents were recruited from outreach lists that included researchers working with racial and ethnic minoritized populations. In-depth interviews were conducted among 60 university administrators, faculty/staff, scholars, students, and individuals affiliated with governmental, nongovernmental, and identity-based professional associations. A search of the literature in PsycINFO, MEDLINE, ERIC, Education Source, Academic Search Ultimate, and CINAHL was conducted for the scoping review. The scoping review included 366 primary articles of studies evaluating strategies to advance racial and ethnic equity at academic health science institutions. Findings: The survey yielded analyzable results from 328 individuals, including faculty, students, administrators, or staff, and individuals not currently employed at or enrolled full time at a university or college. The interviews included 60 participants with a mean (SD) age of 49.3 (16.5) years, and 39 (65%) were female. The scoping review included 366 primary research articles that met inclusion criteria for analysis. Data were analyzed individually across the survey, interviews, and scoping review, and findings were triangulated. While each of the 3 assessments yielded unique findings, 13 common themes emerged across all project components. Results revealed strategies implemented and evaluated successfully, as well as challenges and barriers to advancing equity in the academic health sciences. Conclusions and Relevance: In this study, 13 meaningful strategies emerged across the survey, in-depth interviews, and scoping review. Through triangulation of findings, recommendations of actionable steps were made.

Cortical networks for recognition of speech with simultaneous talkers.

The relative contributions of superior temporal vs. inferior frontal and parietal networks to recognition of speech in a background of competing speech remain unclear, although the contributions themselves are well established. Here, we use fMRI with spectrotemporal modulation transfer function (ST-MTF) modeling to examine the speech information represented in temporal vs. frontoparietal networks for two speech recognition tasks with and without a competing talker. Specifically, 31 listeners completed two versions of a three-alternative forced choice competing speech task: "Unison" and "Competing", in which a female (target) and a male (competing) talker uttered identical or different phrases, respectively. Spectrotemporal modulation filtering (i.e., acoustic distortion) was applied to the two-talker mixtures and ST-MTF models were generated to predict brain activation from differences in spectrotemporal-modulation distortion on each trial. Three cortical networks were identified based on differential patterns of ST-MTF predictions and the resultant ST-MTF weights across conditions (Unison, Competing): a bilateral superior temporal (S-T) network, a frontoparietal (F-P) network, and a network distributed across cortical midline regions and the angular gyrus (M-AG). The S-T network and the M-AG network responded primarily to spectrotemporal cues associated with speech intelligibility, regardless of condition, but the S-T network responded to a greater range of temporal modulations suggesting a more acoustically driven response. The F-P network responded to the absence of intelligibility-related cues in both conditions, but also to the absence (presence) of target-talker (competing-talker) vocal pitch in the Competing condition, suggesting a generalized response to signal degradation. Task performance was best predicted by activation in the S-T and F-P networks, but in opposite directions (S-T: more activation = better performance; F-P: vice versa). Moreover, S-T network predictions were entirely ST-MTF mediated while F-P network predictions were ST-MTF mediated only in the Unison condition, suggesting an influence from non-acoustic sources (e.g., informational masking) in the Competing condition. Activation in the M-AG network was weakly positively correlated with performance and this relation was entirely superseded by those in the S-T and F-P networks. Regarding contributions to speech recognition, we conclude: (a) superior temporal regions play a bottom-up, perceptual role that is not qualitatively dependent on the presence of competing speech; (b) frontoparietal regions play a top-down role that is modulated by competing speech and scales with listening effort; and (c) performance ultimately relies on dynamic interactions between these networks, with ancillary contributions from networks not involved in speech processing per se (e.g., the M-AG network).

Evaluation of the impact of the intensive exploitation of groundwater and the mega-drought based on the hydrochemical and isotopic composition of the waters of the Chacabuco-Polpaico basin in central Chile.

A hydrogeochemical and isotopic study has been carried out to understand the hydrogeological functioning of a small alluvial aquifer in central Chile in a context of mega-drought and intensive exploitation of its waters. Additionally, two mine tailings dams from porphyry copper mining are situated in the area. The prolonged mega-drought, which has lasted for over thirteen years, has resulted in a significant decrease in rainfall recharge and a drop of up to 50 m in piezometric levels, although no serious groundwater contamination problems have yet been detected, except for a rise in nitrate contents (ranging between 23 and 45 mg/L NO3) attributed to return irrigation. Groundwaters are calcium-bicarbonate and calcium-sodium-bicarbonate in composition. The values of δ18O and δ2H of the alluvial aquifer indicate fractionation by evaporation that would be explained by the recirculation of water that occurs in the agricultural areas of the basin, where the excess irrigation water that go back to the aquifer presents fractionation by evaporation. The δ34S and δ18O of dissolved sulfate point to pyrite oxidation, which could be related to the pyrite present in the copper porphyry and recognized in the Andes Cordillera. The 87Sr/86Sr isotopic values of the alluvial aquifer waters are close to the isotopic fingerprint of the volcanic rocks of the Abanico Formation. However, the water from the wells located further downstream in the basin and close to the tailing dams show δ34S and δ18O of dissolved sulfate and 87Sr/86Sr consistent with Miocene intrusive mineralogies of the copper porphyry type. The groundwater chemistry does not show water seepage from the tailings dam. Therefore, a minor contribution of minerals related to the intrusive rocks is proposed, which would originate from the movement of fine particles by the wind from the dams to the valley floor. The 14C activities indicate that groundwater is recent.

Promoting health equity in HIV prevention and treatment research: a practical guide to establishing, implementing, and sustaining community advisory boards.

Over the last 25 years, community-based participatory research (CBPR) has emerged as an innovative methodological approach to break down the barriers toward health equity in biopsychosocial research. Although there are several methods one can use to conduct CBPR research, one widely used established tool that has shown to be effective for engaging community meaningfully in research is community advisory boards (CABs). CABs are formalized collaborative bodies consisting of community and research stakeholders and have been integral in engaging underserved groups experiencing HIV-related health inequities at the early stages of the AIDS crisis. Even though evidence suggests that CABs are an effective tool for conducting high-quality, rigorous, and community-centered HIV-related research, there are minimal guidelines summarizing the steps needed for developing and maintaining a CAB. Therefore, to fill this gap in the literature, this article offers a practical guide to help researchers with minimal experience, particularly graduate students and early-stage investigators, feel more comfortable with establishing a CAB for equity-focused HIV-related research. This article synthesizes already established guidelines and frameworks for CAB development while specifically outlining unique steps related to the three main stages of CAB formation - establishment, implementation, and sustainment. Throughout this article, the authors offer tension points, generated from the literature and with consultation from a CAB working alongside the authors, that researchers and community partners may need to navigate during each of these three stages. In addition, best practices from the literature are identified for each step in the guidelines so that readers can see firsthand how research groups have carried out these steps in their own practice.

Heavy metal pollution index calculation in geochemistry assessment: a case study on Playa Las Petroleras.

This work is aimed to assess potential risk associated with the presence of metals and metalloids in soil at "Playa Las Petroleras" sector, located in Antofagasta (Chile). The zone under study has been affected by four oil spill events. This sector is located in an urban area by the sea. So, it has a great social and environmental relevance. The concentrations of 15 elements in soil samples were assessed, four of them presenting potential ecological risk: As, Co, Cu, and Pb. Nine pollution indices were applied to data: four single pollution indices and five integrated pollution indices to assess soil pollution. The single pollution indices show that the site bears potential ecological and environmental risk due to the presence of Cu, the site being classified as highly contaminated owing to a severe enrichment of this metal. For Co, all the indices allow classifying the site as little or uncontaminated, while the level of As and Pb pollution could be considered as ranging from uncontaminated to moderately contaminated. The integrated pollution indices show that average concentrations are highly contaminated mainly owing to the presence of Cu.

El amor en Badiou: ontologia del vacío, la no relación sexual y la verdad / Love in Badiou: ontology of void, non-sexual relationship and truth / O amor em Badiou: ontologia do vazio, da não-sexualidade e da verdade

RESUMEN El objetivo del siguiente artículo de reflexion es ofrecer una lectura del concepto de amor en el pensamiento de Alain Badiou que medie y armonice el trasfondo abstracto y formal de su metaontología con sus conocidas intervenciones sobre este concepto dirigidas al gran público. Se llena con ello un vacío en la literatura que analiza esta region de su pensamiento. El artículo acomete esta tarea en tres momentos: primero se explica la conexión, que se asume que hay entre la teorïa del ser como multiplicidad y la teona lacaniana de la sexuación a fin de senalar la continuidad y limite entre las mismas. Tras ello, situamos el amor en las coordenadas de la teoría del acontecimiento, el sujeto y la verdad. Finalmente, interpretamos la propuesta de Badiou a la luz de algunos elementos que proceden de la teoría del amor de Platon y de lo que llamamos un comunismo de la diferencia o mínimo.

AВSTRAСT The aim of the current reflection article is to offer a reading of the concept of love in Alain Badiou's thought that mediates and harmonizes the abstract and formal background of his metaontology with his well-known interventions on this concept aimed at the general public. This fills a gap in the literature that analyzes this region of his thinking. The article undertakes this task in three moments: First the connection, which is assumed to exist, between the theory of being as multiplicity and the Lacanian theory of sexuation is explained in order to indicate the continuity and limit between them. After that, we place love in the coordinates of the theory of the event, the subject and the truth. Finally we interpret Badiou's proposal in the light of some elements that come from Plato's theory of love and what we call a communism of difference or minimum.

RESUMО O objetivo do artigo de reflexão a seguir é oferecer uma leitura do conceito de amor no pensamento de Alain Badiou que medeia e harmoniza o fundo abstrato e formal de sua metaontologia com suas conhecidas intervenções sobre este conceito dirigidas ao público em geral. Isto preenche uma lacuna na literatura que analisa esta região de seu pensamento. O artigo empreende esta tarefa em três etapas: primeiro, a suposta conexão entre a teoria do eu como multiplicidade e a teoria lacaniana da sexuação é explicada a fim de apontar a continuidade e os limites entre elas. Em seguida, situamos o amor nas coordenadas da teoria do evento, do assunto e da verdade. Finalmente, interpretamos a proposta de Badiou á luz de alguns elementos que provêm da teoria do amor de Platão e do que chamamos um comunismo de diferença ou minimalismo.

Task-modulated Sensitivity to Vocal Pitch in the Dorsal Premotor Cortex during Multitalker Speech Recognition.

It has long been known that listening to speech activates inferior frontal (pre-)motor regions in addition to a more dorsal premotor site (dPM). Recent work shows that dPM, located adjacent to laryngeal motor cortex, responds to low-level acoustic speech cues including vocal pitch, and the speech envelope, in addition to higher-level cues such as phoneme categories. An emerging hypothesis is that dPM is part of a general auditory-guided laryngeal control circuit that plays a role in producing speech and other voluntary auditory-vocal behaviors. We recently reported a study in which dPM responded to vocal pitch during a degraded speech recognition task, but only when speech was rated as unintelligible; dPM was more robustly modulated by the categorical difference between intelligible and unintelligible speech. Contrary to the general auditory-vocal hypothesis, this suggests intelligible speech is the primary driver of dPM. However, the same pattern of results was observed in pitch-sensitive auditory cortex. Crucially, vocal pitch was not relevant to the intelligibility judgment task, which may have facilitated processing of phonetic information at the expense of vocal pitch cues. The present fMRI study (n = 25) tests the hypothesis that, for a multitalker task that emphasizes pitch for talker segregation, left dPM and pitch-sensitive auditory regions will respond to vocal pitch regardless of overall speech intelligibility. This would suggest that pitch processing is indeed a primary concern of this circuit, apparent during perception only when the task demands it. Spectrotemporal modulation distortion was used to independently modulate vocal pitch and phonetic content in two-talker (male/female) utterances across two conditions (Competing, Unison), only one of which required pitch-based segregation (Competing). A Bayesian hierarchical drift-diffusion model was used to predict speech recognition performance from patterns of spectrotemporal distortion imposed on each trial. The model's drift rate parameter, a d'-like measure of performance, was strongly associated with vocal pitch for Competing but not Unison. Using a second Bayesian hierarchical model, we identified regions where behaviorally relevant acoustic features were related to fMRI activation in dPM. We regressed the hierarchical drift-diffusion model's posterior predictions of trial-wise drift rate, reflecting the relative presence or absence of behaviorally relevant acoustic features from trial to trial, against trial-wise activation amplitude. A significant positive association with overall drift rate, reflecting vocal pitch and phonetic cues related to overall intelligibility, was observed in left dPM and bilateral auditory cortex in both conditions. A significant positive association with "pitch-restricted" drift rate, reflecting only the relative presence or absence of behaviorally relevant pitch cues, regardless of the presence or absence of phonetic content (intelligibility), was observed in left dPM, but only in the Competing condition. Interestingly, the same effect was observed in bilateral auditory cortex but in both conditions. A post hoc mediation analysis ruled out the possibility that decision load was responsible for the observed pitch effects. These findings suggest that processing of vocal pitch is a primary concern of the auditory-cortex-dPM circuit, although during perception core pitch, processing is carried out by auditory cortex with a potential modulatory influence from dPM.

Vitamin Supplements as a Nutritional Strategy against Chronic Alcohol Consumption? An Updated Review.

Several studies have shown that blood vitamin levels are low in alcoholic patients. In effect, alcohol use abuse is considered a chronic disease that promotes the pathogenesis of many fatal diseases, such as cancer and liver cirrhosis. The alcohol effects in the liver can be prevented by antioxidant mechanisms, which induces enzymatic as well as other nonenzymatic pathways. The effectiveness of several antioxidants has been evaluated. However, these studies have been accompanied by uncertainty as mixed results were reported. Thus, the aim of the present review article was to examine the current knowledge on vitamin deficiency and its role in chronic liver disease. Our review found that deficiencies in nutritional vitamins could develop rapidly during chronic liver disease due to diminished hepatic storage and that inadequate vitamins intake and alcohol consumption may interact to deplete vitamin levels. Numerous studies have described that vitamin supplementation could reduce hepatotoxicity. However, further studies with reference to the changes in vitamin status and the nutritional management of chronic liver disease are in demand.

Characterization of precipitation and recharge in the peripheral aquifer of the Salar de Atacama.

To reduce uncertainty in the identification of the recharge areas in the Peripheral Aquifer of the Salar de Atacama (SdA), a few studies have investigated the isotopic characteristics and moisture sources of precipitation in the SdA basin. In the present study, the seasonal cycle of meteorological parameters and the relationships of this cycle with sea surface temperature anomalies are shown, the sources of humidity are identified, and the types of clouds producing precipitation are defined. Finally, the isotopic compositions of precipitation, surface water and groundwater in the SdA basin and the Altiplano-Puna Plateau basins are analysed to identify the area recharging the northern, eastern and southern subbasins of the SdA. In summer, when the highest temperature, relative humidity and precipitation values of the year are recorded, the precipitation is due to deep convection. The trajectories of the arriving air masses can be classified into three groups: from the North Atlantic Ocean across the Amazon basin, from the South Atlantic Ocean across the La Plata River basin and the Gran Chaco, and from the Pacific Ocean. In winter, when the temperature, relative humidity and precipitation are lower, the moisture masses come from the Pacific Ocean. Winter precipitation is more depleted in heavy isotopes than summer precipitation. The isotopic analysis of precipitation, surface water and groundwater shows that recharge of the eastern subbasins of the SdA occurs by diffuse infiltration of precipitation and concentrated infiltration of surface water, both within the hydrographic basin of the SdA. The meteoric source of the waters in the Altiplano-Puna Plateau basins is isotopically lighter than the waters found in the side basins of the SdA, so there is no significant water quantity transfer to the peripheral aquifers of the SdA from outside the hydrographic basin.

Assessment of Tacrolimus Neurotoxicity Measured by Retinal OCT.

BACKGROUND: Neurotoxicity secondary to anticalcineurinics is a prevalent side effect in transplant recipients. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans the central nervous system by direct access to the retina. OCT assesses central nervous system involvement by measuring the thickness of the retinal layers, especially the ganglion cell layer (GCL). The retinal scan divides the scanned area into affected and unaffected segments, which can be quantified for each eye. The aim of this study was to determine retinal GCL thickness by means of OCT, analyzing the proportion of affected segments in individuals exposed to tacrolimus compared with a control group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 20 renal transplant recipients exposed to tacrolimus for ≥6 months. The number of affected segments in the GCL of the retina was quantified by OCT. The control group was drawn from the general population attending routine ophthalmologic checkups. RESULTS: Patients exposed to tacrolimus had a pathologic examination in 50% of cases compared with 20% in the control group (P < .044). Furthermore, among patients with an exposure time to tacrolimus >5 years, the examination was pathologic in 80% (P < .005). Linear regression analysis showed the presence of GCL segments with decreased thickness to be associated with the duration of exposure to tacrolimus (P = .036) and the time in dialysis before kidney transplant (P = .030). CONCLUSION: Although this is a preliminary study, OCT scanning could serve to detect the neurotoxic effect of tacrolimus on the retinal GCL and central nervous system in renal transplant recipients.

Processes explaining the origin and evolution of groundwater composition in the Andean Precordillera and Altiplano of the Tarapacá Region of northern Chile.

In the arid area of northern Chile, groundwater resources in the Andean formations are essential for native populations, ecological services, mining, and other human activities. Validated conceptual hydrogeological models are required for current and future water and land management. This work aims to explain the processes controlling the origin and distribution of recharge and groundwater composition in the Andean Precordillera and Altiplano of the Tarapacá Region of northern Chile, using major solutes in spring, river, and well water, and the stable and radioactive isotopes of water oxygen, hydrogen, and dissolved inorganic carbon. The waters are mainly of the Na-Ca-SO4 type. Processes controlling the chemical evolution of waters are atmospheric dust contribution, evapo-concentration, and enhanced volcanic rock weathering, as well as halite dissolution in some locations. The isotopic composition of Precordillera eastern flank water samples follows an evaporation line, while those in the western flank, in the Altiplano, follow a line that is parallel to the local meteoric line, suggesting unsaturated zone evaporation processes of infiltrated rainfall. δ13CDIC contents (-2 to -27‰) indicate mixing processes, volcanic CO2 in the Altiplano, and calcite dissolution in some sectors. In the western depression, the only recharge is due to water infiltration in creek channels. In the highland areas, 5-25% of precipitation produces recharge. The estimated groundwater renewal time in the Precordillera was 3-14 kyr. The piezometric elevation in the Precordillera due to low-permeability intrusive rocks and local recharge prevents the east-west groundwater transfer from the Altiplano to the western depression and explains why the volcanic CO2 in the Altiplano basins is not observed on the western flank. These results provide new insights for the evolution of water quality in volcanic aquifers in arid environments and provide considerations for estimating groundwater residence times using radiocarbon in areas influenced by volcanic CO2.

Prevalence of Short Root Anomaly in a Group of Puerto Ricans.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of short root anomaly (SRA) in a group of Puerto Ricans at the Advanced Education Program in Orthodontics of the University of Puerto Rico. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with digital panoramic x-rays of 203 patients (112 females and 91 males; mean age: 17 years) in Puerto Rico. Utilizing the modified Lind's method, 406 maxillary right and left central incisors (1) were measured and evaluated for SRA. Root and crown length and R/C ratio were compared by sex and side. Linear regression was used to evaluate the associations between the R/C ratio and age, sex, and side (right/left). All the statistical analyses were evaluated using significance level of .05 (2). RESULTS: The prevalence of SRA was 0.49%. The average root and crown lengths for the maxillary right and left central incisors were 19.47 and 10.28 mm, respectively. Sex was associated with root and crown length, not with the R/C ratio. No differences were observed in the R/C ratio by the side. There were no significant associations between age, sex, and side and R/C ratio in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of SRA in our population is lower than any reported in the literature. The R/C ratio in our Hispanic population was the highest compared with those of other ethnicities. Neither the sex nor the side of the incisor was associated with the R/C ratio. These findings are contrary to those of prior reports stating that males have higher R/C ratios than females.

Corrigendum: A Meta-Analysis of the Effect of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Vaccination Against Bovine Tuberculosis: Is Perfect the Enemy of Good?

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.637580.].

Relationship between ethanol intake and insulin sensitivity metabolism in men with no comorbidities: a systematic review / Relación entre la ingesta de etanol y el metabolismo de la sensibilidad a la insulina en hombres sin comorbilidades: una revisión sistemática

SUMMARY: The association of alcohol consumption with type 2 diabetes has been explained by increased insulin sensitivity, anti-inflammatory effects, or effects of adiponectin. The aim was to launch a consistent relation between alcohol intake and insulin sensitivity. Several databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus and Web of Science) were searched from 1990 to April 2020 for studies in English, using MeSH terms and text words involving to alcohol consumption and insulin sensitivity. Protocol registered on PROSPERO CRD42020205107. A total of seven original articles were analyzed, where four collected data through cross-sectional study, two papers with randomized crossover design, and one used a non-randomized study. The protective effect of moderate alcohol consumption on type 2 diabetes has been described, where an improvement on insulin levels has been shown in adults between 26.5-57 years old. Our research shows that alcohol effects on blood insulin levels could vary depending of the type of alcoholic drink ingested; and that alcohol intake increased leptin and adiponectin levels, suggesting that alcohol consumption may increase glucose catabolism promoting insulin sensitivity via leptin and adiponectin. However, original studies should consider time of exposure, age, dosage, ethnicity, and alcohol type in order to conclude right affirmations.

RESUMEN: La asociación del consumo de alcohol con la diabetes tipo 2 se ha explicado por una mayor sensibilidad a la insulina, efectos antiinflamatorios o efectos de la adiponectina. El objetivo fue establecer una relación coherente entre la ingesta de alcohol y la sensibilidad a la insulina. Se realizaron búsquedas en varias bases de datos (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus y Web of Science) desde 1990 hasta abril de 2020 en busca de estudios en inglés, utilizando términos MeSH y palabras de textos relacionadas con el consumo de alcohol y la sensibilidad a la insulina. Protocolo registrado en PROSPERO CRD42020205107. Se analizaron un total de siete artículos originales, donde cuatro recopilaron datos a través de un estudio transversal, dos artículos con diseño cruzado aleatorizado y uno utilizó un estudio no aleatorizado. Se ha descrito el efecto protector del consumo moderado de alcohol sobre la diabetes tipo 2, donde se ha demostrado una mejora de los niveles de insulina en adultos entre 26,5 y 57 años. Nuestra investigación muestra que los efectos del alcohol sobre los niveles de insulina en sangre pueden variar según el tipo de bebida alcohólica ingerida; y que la ingesta de alcohol aumenta los niveles de leptina y adiponectina, lo que sugiere que el consumo de alcohol puede aumentar el catabolismo de la glucosa promoviendo la sensibilidad a la insulina a través de la leptina y la adiponectina. Sin embargo, los estudios originales deben considerar el tiempo de exposición, la edad, la dosis, el origen étnico y el tipo de alcohol para concluir afirmaciones correctas.

A Meta-Analysis of the Effect of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Vaccination Against Bovine Tuberculosis: Is Perfect the Enemy of Good?

More than 50 million cattle are likely exposed to bovine tuberculosis (bTB) worldwide, highlighting an urgent need for bTB control strategies in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and other regions where the disease remains endemic and test-and-slaughter approaches are unfeasible. While Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) was first developed as a vaccine for use in cattle even before its widespread use in humans, its efficacy against bTB remains poorly understood. To address this important knowledge gap, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the direct efficacy of BCG against bTB challenge in cattle, and performed scenario analyses with transmission dynamic models incorporating direct and indirect vaccinal effects ("herd-immunity") to assess potential impact on herd level disease control. The analysis shows a relative risk of infection of 0.75 (95% CI: 0.68, 0.82) in 1,902 vaccinates as compared with 1,667 controls, corresponding to a direct vaccine efficacy of 25% (95% CI: 18, 32). Importantly, scenario analyses considering both direct and indirect effects suggest that disease prevalence could be driven down close to Officially TB-Free (OTF) status (<0.1%), if BCG were introduced in the next 10-year time period in low to moderate (<15%) prevalence settings, and that 50-95% of cumulative cases may be averted over the next 50 years even in high (20-40%) disease burden settings with immediate implementation of BCG vaccination. Taken together, the analyses suggest that BCG vaccination may help accelerate control of bTB in endemic settings, particularly with early implementation in the face of dairy intensification in regions that currently lack effective bTB control programs.

An experimental and theoretical approach on stability towards hydrolysis of triethyl phosphate and its effects on the microstructure of sol-gel-derived bioactive silicate glass.

The sol-gel method is versatile and one of the well-established synthetic approaches for preparing bioactive glass with improved microstructure. In a successful approach, alkoxide precursors undergo rapid hydrolysis, followed by immediate condensation leading to the formation of three-dimensional gels. On the other hand, a slow kinetics rate for hydrolysis of one or more alkoxide precursors generates a mismatch in the progression of the consecutive reactions of the sol-gel process, which makes it difficult to form homogeneous multicomponent glass products. The amorphous phase separation (APS) into the gel is thermodynamically unstable and tends to transform into a crystalline form during the calcination step of xerogel. In the present study, we report a combined experimental and theoretical method to investigate the stability towards hydrolysis of triethyl phosphate (TEP) and its effects on the mechanism leading to phase separation in 58S bioactive glass obtained via sol-gel route. A multitechnical approach for the experimental characterization combined with calculations of functional density theory (DFT) suggest that TEP should not undergo hydrolysis by water under acidic conditions during the formation of the sol or even in the gel phase. The activation energy barrier (ΔG‡) showed a height of about 20 kcal·mol-1 for the three stages of hydrolysis and the reaction rates calculated for each stage of TEP hydrolysis were kFHR = 7.0 × 10-3s-1, kSHR = 6.8 × 10-3s-1 and kTHR = 3.5 × 10-3s-1. These results show that TEP remains in the non-hydrolyzed form segregated within the xerogel matrix until its thermal decomposition in the calcination step, when P species preferentially associate with calcium ions (labile species) and other phosphate groups present nearby, forming crystalline domains of calcium pyrophosphates permeated by the silica-rich glass matrix. Together, our data expand the knowledge about the synthesis by the sol-gel method of bioactive glass and establishes a mechanism that explains the role played by the precursor source of phosphorus (TEP) in the phase separation, an event commonly observed for these biomaterials.

Recharge and residence times of groundwater in hyper arid areas: The confined aquifer of Calama, Loa River Basin, Atacama Desert, Chile.

Groundwater recharge in hyper arid areas often depends on surface water infiltration and diffuse recharge of highly evaporated precipitation only contribute under favorable conditions. This happens in the Calama basin two-aquifer system, in the Central Andean area of northern Chile. A conceptual model of the groundwater system and its relationship with the Loa River is defined. We focus on the confined aquifer of the Calama basin, combining hydrodynamic, hydrogeochemical and isotopic methods. Radiocarbon (14C) activity data of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), in conjunction with chemical data, are applied to evaluate groundwater residence time within the confined aquifer. The Loa River recharges the Calama basin aquifers in its northeastern part, with water that has chemical and isotopic characteristics inherited from the arid environment and volcanic rocks in its upper basin. In the central and northeastern part of the confined aquifer, minor variations in chloride concentration suggest that the deep aquifer is well confined. The δ18O and δ2H values in groundwater of the confined aquifer show an increasing isotopic fractionation from the recharge area (around -10‰ δ18O) to those in the discharge area (between -8.5‰ and -8‰) in the southwestern part of the aquifer. The 14C activity continuously decreases down flow from the recharge by the Loa River. Adjusted DIC radiocarbon ages indicate a groundwater travel time between 1500 and 4000 years in the confined aquifer of Calama. Despite the limitations and uncertainties of radiocarbon in DIC to estimate groundwater transit times for the confined aquifer and considering complementary chemical and isotopic constraints, the DIC 14C provides acceptable values. The approach may be applicable in other confined aquifers in hyper-arid climates in which the formation of aquifer systems linked to river damming by geological action took place. This information is needed for sound management of the scarce groundwater resources.

First Molecular Characterization of Trichostrongylus colubriformis Infection in Rural Patients from Chile.

PURPOSE: The aim was to characterize the infection by Trichostrongylus spp. in patients from Chile using a combination of molecular detection techniques and phylogenetic analysis relating the findings to clinical and epidemiological reports of the patients METHODS: Strongylid eggs were detected in seven patients by coproparasitological techniques. From each sample a fragment of the ITS-2 ribosomal gene was amplified by PCR, sequenced and analyzed by the Neighbor-Joining method. RESULTS: All the sequences and phylogenetic clusters corresponded to T. colubriformis. Two samples presented a single nucleotide polymorphism showing two possible haplotypes. Six patients presented gastrointestinal symptoms. All of them lived on farms and used sheep manure as fertilizer. CONCLUSION: T. colubriformis was the strongylid involved in the infections of these Chilean patients associated with the presence of livestock and agricultural practices that favor infection by this type of nematode.

Polimorfismo genético ACTN3 R577X en deportistas universitarios chilenos / ACTN3 R577X gene polymorphism in Chilean college athletes

Uno de los principales factores genéticos que influenciarían el rendimiento muscular humano es el gen ACTN3, que codifica la proteína estructural del sarcómero α-actinina-3. El polimorfismo R577X (rs1815739) del gen ACTN3 ha sido asociado con varios indicadores de rendimiento muscular y físico en deportistas y población general, pero este fenómeno ha sido escasamente descrito en poblaciones de Latinoamérica y Chile. Por lo tanto, el objetivo del presente estudio fue describir la frecuencia genotípica y distribución alélica de los genotipos de ACTN3 R577X en deportistas universitarios chilenos. 129 deportistas universitarios chilenos representantes de diferentes selecciones deportivas (halterofilia, balonmano, voleibol, rugby, basquetbol, futbol y futsal) participaron como voluntarios. Los análisis moleculares del polimorfismo R577X del gen ACTN3 fueron realizados mediante reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR) y restricción enzimática (RFLP). La distribución de genotipos del polimorfismo ACTN3 R577X fue RR: 34,8 % (n=45), RX: 50,4 % (n=65), XX: 14,7 % (n=19), y la frecuencia relativa de alelos fue R: 0,601 y X: 0,399. Además, se encontró asociación entre distribución de genotipos (c2= 12,26; 2 gl; p=0,002) y frecuencia relativa de alelos (c2= 11.02; 1 gl; p=0.0009) con el sexo de los participantes. Sin embargo, no hubo asociación al realizar análisis por tipo de deporte practicado. Los hallazgos de la presente investigación sugieren que el polimorfismo R577X del gen ACTN3 está asociado con el sexo en deportistas universitarios chilenos. Además, estos resultados describen de forma inédita la distribución genotípica y frecuencia alélica de esta variante genética en población chilena, mostrando una distribución similar a otros estudios realizados en poblaciones de deportistas en Brasil, Rusia, Estados Unidos y Turquía. No obstante, también muestra diferencias con otras poblaciones generales y de deportistas.

One of the main genetic factors that influence the muscular performance is the gene that encodes the structural protein α-actinin-3 (ACTN3). The R577X polymorphism (rs1815739) of ACTN3 has been associated with indicators of muscle and physical performance in athletes and general population, but this has been scarcely described in the Latin American and Chilean population. Thus, the aim of the present study was to describe the genotypic frequency and allelic distribution of ACTN3 R577X genotypes in college athletes. A total of 129 unrelated Chilean college athletes representing various sport disciplines (weightlifting, handball, volleyball, rugby, basketball, soccer and futsal) were volunteered for the study. ACTN3 R577X gene polymorphism was analysed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). For the total sample the genotypes distribution for R577X polymorphism was RR: 34.8 % (n=45), RX: 50.4 % (n=65), XX: 14.7 % (n=19), and the relative frequency of alleles was R: 0,601 and X: 0,399. Moreover, an association was found between genotype distribution (c2= 12.26; 2 df; p=0.002) and allele frequencies (c2= 11.02; 1 df; p=0.0009) with the sex of the participants. However, there were no associations when performing analysis by type of sports. These findings suggest that the R577X polymorphism of the ACTN3 gene is associated with sex in Chilean college athletes. Furthermore, these results describe in an unprecedented manner, the genotypic distribution and allelic frequency of this genetic variant in Chilean population, showing a similar distribution to other studies conducted in populations of athletes in Brazil, Russia, the United States and Turkey. However, it also shows differences with other general and athletes populations.

The origin of solutes in groundwater in a hyper-arid environment: A chemical and multi-isotope approach in the Atacama Desert, Chile.

The major ion and the multi-isotopic composition (87Sr/86Sr, δ11B, δ34S(SO4) and δ18O(SO4)) of groundwater from the Central Depression in northern Chile is investigated to identify the origin of groundwater solutes in the hyper-arid core of the Atacama Desert. The study area is between the Cordillera de Domeyko and the Central Depression, at latitudes 24-25°S, and is characterized by near-zero air moisture conditions, rare precipitation and very limited runoff. Groundwater composition varies from Ca-HCO3 to Ca, Na-SO4 type below elevations of 3400 m a.s.l. The rCl/rBr ratio of meteoric waters and groundwater overlap, but significantly increase in the aquifer as salinity goes up due to evapoconcentration far from the Domeyko Cordillera. The wind-displaced dust originating in the Central Depression (87Sr/86Sr: 0.706558-0.710645; δ34S(SO4): 0 to +4‰) affects the precipitation composition in the highest parts of the Domeyko Cordillera (87Sr/86Sr: 0.706746-0.709511; δ34S(SO4): +1 to +6‰), whose δ34S(SO4) and δ11B values are greatly different from marine aerosols, discarding its contribution to dust at this distance inland. Sr and S isotopic values in groundwater indicate a strong relation with three main geological units: i) Paleozoic rocks contribute high radiogenic strontium isotope ratios to groundwater (0.707011-0.714862), while sulphate isotopic composition is probably acquired from atmospheric dust (>- 1.4‰), ii) Jurassic marine limestones contribute low-radiogenic strontium isotopic ratios to groundwater (<0.70784), while sulphate can be related to oxidized sulphides that change the isotopic signatures of sulphur (<-1.2‰), and iii) mixed salts in the Atacama Gravels contribute lower radiogenic strontium isotopic ratios and sulphate to groundwater (87Sr/86Sr: <0.707324; δ34S(SO4): +0.1 to +7.7). These three processes reflect water-rock interactions. The δ11B of groundwater generally up to +13‰, does not increase along the regional groundwater flow path, discarding fractionation by interaction with clays. These results improve the understanding of the groundwater evolution in hyper-arid systems through a new conceptual model.