The development of implicit leadership theories during childhood: A reconceptualization through the lens of overlapping waves theory.

Implicit leadership theories (ILTs) are people's lay theories, definitions, or conceptualizations of leadership. In adults, they determine what actions we perceive as leadership, influence to whom we grant leadership status, and shape our own behaviors when we want to be seen as leader. Naturally, there has been an enduring interest in how these ILTs develop in children. Current theorizing on the development of leadership conceptualizations in children aligns with a stepwise progression mirroring Piaget's stage-based approach to cognitive development. However, contemporary approaches to cognitive development, such as Siegler's overlapping waves theory (OWT), acknowledge that children's development is linked to cognitive success and failure. This article integrates the findings from empirical studies into children's leadership conceptualizations and reinterprets them against OWT. This reinterpretation resolves findings that align poorly with a stepwise approach and demonstrates a strong fit with OWT. As such, children's leadership conceptualizations develop by generating and testing cognitive approaches-physical-spatiotemporal, functional, socioemotional, and humanitarian-and instead of progressing through these in order and according to age, they display variation and selection, that with experience and exposure, lay down selective combinations, which often engage multiple dimensions simultaneously. Consequently, the development of children's understanding of leaders is nonlinear, can be multidimensional, and is based on trial and error largely in response to their experiences. The article concludes with a discussion of the implications for future research and practice. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

"Hg distribution and accumulation in soil and vegetation in areas impacted by artisanal gold mining in the Southern Amazonian region of Madre de Dios, Peru."

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is the primary global source of anthropogenic mercury (Hg) emissions. It has impacted the Amazon rainforest in the Peruvian region of Madre de Dios. However, few studies have investigated Hg's distribution in terrestrial ecosystems in this region. We studied Hg's distribution and its predictors in soil and native plant species from artisanal mining sites. Total Hg concentrations were determined in soil samples collected at different depths (0-5 cm and 5-30 cm) and plant samples (roots, shoots, leaves) from 19 native plant species collected in different land cover categories: naked soil (L1), gravel piles (L2), natural regeneration (L3), reforestation (L4), and primary forest (L5) in the mining sites. Hg levels in air were also studied using passive air samplers. The highest Hg concentrations in soil (average 0.276 and 0.210 mg kg-1 dw.) were found in the intact primary forest (L5) at 0-5 cm depth and in the plant rooting zones at 5-30 cm depth, respectively. Moreover, the highest Hg levels in plants (average 0.64 mg kg-1 dw) were found in foliage of intact primary forest (L5). The results suggest that the forest in these sites receives Hg from the atmosphere through leaf deposition and that Hg accumulates in the soil surrounding the roots. The Hg levels found in the plant leaves of the primary forest are the highest ever recorded in this region, exceeding values found in forests impacted by Hg pollution worldwide and raising concerns about the extent of the ASGM impact in this ecosystem. Correlations between Hg concentrations in soil, bioaccumulation in plant roots, and soil physical-chemical characteristics were determined. Linear regression models showed that the soil organic matter content (SOM), pH, and electrical conductivity (EC) predict the Hg distribution and accumulation in soil and bioaccumulation in root plants.

Global mercury concentrations in biota: their use as a basis for a global biomonitoring framework.

An important provision of the Minamata Convention on Mercury is to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the adopted measures and its implementation. Here, we describe for the first time currently available biotic mercury (Hg) data on a global scale to improve the understanding of global efforts to reduce the impact of Hg pollution on people and the environment. Data from the peer-reviewed literature were compiled in the Global Biotic Mercury Synthesis (GBMS) database (>550,000 data points). These data provide a foundation for establishing a biomonitoring framework needed to track Hg concentrations in biota globally. We describe Hg exposure in the taxa identified by the Minamata Convention: fish, sea turtles, birds, and marine mammals. Based on the GBMS database, Hg concentrations are presented at relevant geographic scales for continents and oceanic basins. We identify some effective regional templates for monitoring methylmercury (MeHg) availability in the environment, but overall illustrate that there is a general lack of regional biomonitoring initiatives around the world, especially in Africa, Australia, Indo-Pacific, Middle East, and South Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Temporal trend data for Hg in biota are generally limited. Ecologically sensitive sites (where biota have above average MeHg tissue concentrations) have been identified throughout the world. Efforts to model and quantify ecosystem sensitivity locally, regionally, and globally could help establish effective and efficient biomonitoring programs. We present a framework for a global Hg biomonitoring network that includes a three-step continental and oceanic approach to integrate existing biomonitoring efforts and prioritize filling regional data gaps linked with key Hg sources. We describe a standardized approach that builds on an evidence-based evaluation to assess the Minamata Convention's progress to reduce the impact of global Hg pollution on people and the environment.

Elevated mercury exposure in bird communities inhabiting Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining landscapes of the southeastern Peruvian Amazon.

Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) represents a significant source of anthropogenic mercury emissions to the environment, with potentially severe implications for avian biodiversity. In the Madre de Dios department of the southern Peruvian Amazon, ASGM activities have created landscapes marred by deforestation and post-mining water bodies (mining ponds) with notable methylation potential. While data on Hg contamination in terrestrial wildlife remains limited, this study measures Hg exposure in several terrestrial bird species as bioindicators. Total Hg (THg) levels in feathers from birds near water bodies, including mining ponds associated with ASGM areas and oxbow lakes, were analyzed. Our results showed significantly higher Hg concentrations in birds from ASGM sites with mean ± SD of 3.14 ± 7.97 µg/g (range: 0.27 to 72.75 µg/g, n = 312) compared to control sites with a mean of 0.47 ± 0.42 µg/g (range: 0.04 to 1.89 µg/g, n = 52). Factors such as trophic guilds, ASGM presence, and water body area significantly influenced feather Hg concentrations. Notably, piscivorous birds exhibited the highest Hg concentration (31.03 ± 25.25 µg/g, n = 12) exceeding known concentrations that affect reproductive success, where one measurement of Chloroceryle americana (Green kingfisher; 72.7 µg/g) is among the highest ever reported in South America. This research quantifies Hg exposure in avian communities in Amazonian regions affected by ASGM, highlighting potential risks to regional bird populations.

Mercury bioaccumulation in bats in Madre de Dios, Peru: implications for Hg bioindicators for tropical ecosystems impacted by artisanal and small-scale gold mining.

Mercury (Hg) endangers human and wildlife health globally, primarily due to its release from artisanal small-scale gold mining (ASGM). During gold extraction, Hg is emitted into the environment and converted to highly toxic methylmercury by microorganisms. In Madre de Dios (MDD), Peru, ASGM dominates the economy and has transformed rainforests into expansive deforested areas punctuated by abandoned mining ponds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of bats as bioindicators for mercury pollution intensity in tropical terrestrial ecosystems impacted by ASGM. We collected 290 bat fur samples from three post-ASGM sites and one control site in Madre de Dios. Our results showed a wide Hg distribution in bats (0.001 to 117.71 mg/kg) strongly influenced by feeding habits. Insectivorous and piscivorous bats from ASGM sites presented elevated levels of Hg surpassing the mercury small mammal threshold for small mammals (10 mg/kg). We observed the highest reported fur mercury concentrations for insectivorous Neotropical bats reported to date (Rhynchonycteris naso, 117 mg/kg). Our findings further confirm that Hg emissions from ASGM are entering local food webs and exposing wildlife species at several trophic levels to higher levels of Hg than in areas not impacted by mining. We also found that three bat genera consistently showed increased Hg levels in ASGM sites relative to controls indicating potential usefulness as bioindicators of mercury loading in terrestrial ecosystems impacted by artisanal and small-scale gold mining.

Mercury in Neotropical birds: a synthesis and prospectus on 13 years of exposure data.

Environmental mercury (Hg) contamination of the global tropics outpaces our understanding of its consequences for biodiversity. Knowledge gaps of pollution exposure could obscure conservation threats in the Neotropics: a region that supports over half of the world's species, but faces ongoing land-use change and Hg emission via artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM). Due to their global distribution and sensitivity to pollution, birds provide a valuable opportunity as bioindicators to assess how accelerating Hg emissions impact an ecosystem's ability to support biodiversity, and ultimately, global health. We present the largest database on Neotropical bird Hg concentrations (n = 2316) and establish exposure baselines for 322 bird species spanning nine countries across Central America, South America, and the West Indies. Patterns of avian Hg exposure in the Neotropics broadly align with those in temperate regions: consistent bioaccumulation across functional groups and high spatiotemporal variation. Bird species occupying higher trophic positions and aquatic habitats exhibited elevated Hg concentrations that have been previously associated with reductions in reproductive success. Notably, bird Hg concentrations were over four times higher at sites impacted by ASGM activities and differed by season for certain trophic niches. We developed this synthesis via a collaborative research network, the Tropical Research for Avian Conservation and Ecotoxicology (TRACE) Initiative, which exemplifies inclusive, equitable, and international data-sharing. While our findings signal an urgent need to assess sampling biases, mechanisms, and consequences of Hg exposure to tropical avian communities, the TRACE Initiative provides a meaningful framework to achieve such goals. Ultimately, our collective efforts support and inform local, scientific, and government entities, including Parties of the United Nations Minamata Convention on Mercury, as we continue working together to understand how Hg pollution impacts biodiversity conservation, ecosystem function, and public health in the tropics.

RESúMEN: La contaminación ambiental por mercurio (Hg) en los trópicos supera nuestra comprensión de sus consecuencias para la biodiversidad. Los vacíos de conocimiento que existen sobre la exposición a la contaminación podrían ocultar las amenazas para la conservación en el Neotrópico: una región que alberga a más de la mitad de las especies del mundo, pero que enfrenta una continua intensificación de las emisiones de Hg y del cambio de uso del suelo por el avance de la minería de oro artesanal y de pequeña escala (MAPE). Debido a su distribución global y su sensibilidad a la contaminación, las aves brindan una oportunidad valiosa como bioindicadores para evaluar cómo las emisiones de Hg afectan la capacidad de un ecosistema para sustentar la biodiversidad y, en última instancia, la salud global. Presentamos la más grande base de datos sobre concentraciones de Hg en aves Neotropicales (n = 2,316) para establecer una línea base para los niveles de exposición a Hg en 322 especies de aves de nueve países de América Central, América del Sur, y el Caribe. Encontramos patrones de las concentraciones de Hg en aves de los trópicos que se asemejan a los de las regiones templadas: mostrando una bioacumulación consistente a través de grupos funcionales y una alta variación espaciotemporal. Las especies de aves que ocupan posiciones más altas en la cadena trófica y en hábitats acuáticos registraron concentraciones elevadas de Hg que podrían tener efectos negativos en su éxito reproductivo. Es importante resaltar que las concentraciones de Hg en las aves de los sitios afectados por la MAPE fueron cuatro veces más altas que las de los sitios control y además difirió por temporada para ciertos nichos tróficos. Desarrollamos esta síntesis a través de una red de investigación colaborativa, la Iniciativa de Investigación Tropical para la Conservación y Ecotoxicología Aviar (TRACE), que ejemplifica un intercambio de datos inclusivo, equitativo e internacional. Si bien nuestros hallazgos sugieren una necesidad urgente de evaluar los sesgos en el muestreo, los mecanismos, y las consecuencias de la exposición al Hg en las comunidades de aves tropicales, la Iniciativa TRACE proporciona un marco para abordar estos objetivos. Nuestro esfuerzo colectivo tiene como propósito respaldar y brindar información a las entidades locales, científicas, y gubernamentales, incluyendo las Partes de la Convención de Minamata de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Mercurio, mientras continuamos trabajando juntos para comprender cómo la contaminación por Hg en los trópicos puede afectar la salud pública, el funcionamiento de los ecosistemas, y la conservación de la biodiversidad. Total mercury (THg) concentrations (µg/g) and sample sizes of birds across Central America, South America, and the West Indies from 2007­2023. Point size and color are arranged in order of increasing THg concentration and hexagonal grid cells are colored in terms of increasing sample size.

Gene Expression Changes in the Ovary Mediate Non-Anovulatory Mechanisms of Contraception with Levonorgestrel.

BACKGROUND: Emergency contraception with levonorgestrel (LNG) is a viable option to prevent unintended pregnancies. Although the efficacy of LNG as an anovulatory agent decreases as treatment approaches ovulation, it still provides some contraceptive benefits. AIM: To better understand the contraceptive mechanisms of LNG in ovulatory subjects. METHODS: We conducted a study on Wistar rats that received a single dose of LNG (0.01 or 0.05 mg/kg) on the morning of proestrus before ovulation and evaluated its effects on ovarian gene expression, ovulation, and implantation. RESULTS: Our findings showed changes in the expression of genes involved in follicular development and oocyte quality. Pregnancy rates - as an indicator of ovulation - and embryo implantation were significantly lower than those in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that LNG alters regulatory factors in the ovary that are essential for the development of competent fertilizable oocytes, highlighting the non-anovulatory mechanisms by which levonorgestrel may regulate fertility and suggesting that it could be a novel observation that contributes to the understanding of emergency contraception in humans.

Local intensity of artisanal gold mining drives mercury accumulation in neotropical oxbow lake fishes.

Driven by surges in global gold prices and additional socio-economic factors, artisanal small-scale gold mining (ASGM) in the Global South is increasing and driving emissions of significant quantities of mercury (Hg) into the air and freshwater. Hg can be toxic to animal and human populations and exacerbate the degradation of neotropical freshwater ecosystems. We examined drivers of Hg accumulation in fish that inhabit oxbow lakes of Peru's Madre de Dios, a region with high biodiversity value and increasing human populations that depend on ASGM. We hypothesized that fish Hg levels would be driven by local ASGM activities, by environmental Hg exposure, by water quality, and by fish trophic level. We sampled fish in 20 oxbow lakes spanning protected areas and areas subject to ASGM during the dry season. Consistent with previous findings, Hg levels were positively associated with ASGM activities, and were higher in larger, carnivorous fish and where water had lower dissolved oxygen levels. In addition, we found a negative relationship between fish mercury levels associated with ASGM and the occurrence of the piscivorous giant otter. The link between fine-scale quantification of spatial ASGM activity and Hg accumulation, as indicated by the result that in the lotic environment, localized effects of gold mining activities are stronger drivers (77 % model support) of Hg accumulation than environmental exposure (23 %) constitutes a novel contribution to a growing body of literature on Hg contamination. Our findings provide additional evidence of high Hg exposure risks to neotropical human and top carnivore populations subject to the impacts of ASGM, which depend on freshwater ecosystems undergoing gradual degradation. The documented spatial variation in Hg accumulation and increased Hg levels in carnivorous fish should serve as a warning to human communities in Madre de Dios to avoid the proximity of high-intensity gold mining areas and minimize local carnivorous fish consumption.

Diagnóstico de neurofibroma intraóseo solitario mandibular. Un reporte de caso / Diagnosis of mandibular solitary intraosseous neurofibroma, a case report

Introducción: el neurofbroma es una neoplasia benigna de la vaina de los nervios periféricos, eventualmente asociada a la neurofbromatosis tipo I, también llamada enfermedad de Von Recklinghausen. Su presentación a nivel de cabeza y cuello es poco común, por lo cual existen pocos reportes. Objetivo: presentar un caso clínico con diagnóstico de neurofbroma intraóseo clínico y una revisión actualizada de la literatura. Una paciente de 46 años, tratada en un servicio de cirugía oral y maxilofacial de la ciudad de Bogotá, Colombia, con un diagnóstico de neurofbroma intraóseo solitario de tres meses de evolución, a quien se le descartó neurofbromatosis de Von Recklinghausen, el cual comprometía el cuerpo y la rama mandibular derecha. El diagnóstico se realizó utilizando imágenes diagnósticas, así como bloques y láminas para la revisión de la biopsia inicial y de la resección. Esto, con el fn de interpretar y realizar el diagnóstico histopatológico en el Servicio de Patología Oral y Maxilofacial de la Facultad de Odontología de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia (FOUN), donde se efectuaron cortes en coloración de hematoxilina y eosina y marcadores de inmunohistoquímica. Conclusión: el tratamiento realizado incluyó la resección quirúrgica de la lesión, injerto óseo y recubrimiento con membrana alogénica de dermis humana.

Neurofbroma is a benign neoplasm of the peripheral nerves sheath, eventually associated with neurofbromatosis type I, also called Von Recklinghausen disease, its presentation at the head and neck level is rare, therefore, reports are scarce. A clinical case with diagnosis of "Solitary intraosseous neurofbroma" ruling out Von Recklinghausen Neurofbromatosis by genetic studies in a 46-year-old female patient, which compromises the right mandibular body and ramus of three months of evolution is presented. Diagnostic images, blocks and slides were used for revision of the initial biopsy, cuts of the resection with hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemical markers were done for interpretation and histopathological diagnosis. The treatment performed included surgical resection of the lesion, bone graft, and allogeneic human dermis membrane coverage. The aim of this article is to present a case with diagnosis

Quistes Dentígeros Asociados a Sacos Foliculares Patológicos de Terceros Molares Incluidos

Establecer la frecuencia y características de quistes dentígeros asociados a sacos foliculares de terceros molares incluidos, extraídos en las clínicas de cirugía oral de la Facultad de Odontología de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Estudio cuantitativo, se realizó el análisis histopatológico de 30 sacos foliculares de terceros molares incluidos con col oración de hematoxilina-eosina. Se analizaron 30 biopsias de sacos foliculares de terceros molares superiores e inferiores correspondientes a 21 pacientes con edades comprendidas entre los 17 a 36 años (media: 25,3). De los sacos estudiados 25 (83,3 %) se diagnosticaron como quiste dentígero y 5 (16,7 %) como saco folicular, siendo más frecuente el diagnóstico de quiste dentígero en la zona mandibular. El saco folicular asociado al tercer molar incluido tiene alta capacidad de desarrollar patolo gía odontogénica quística, siendo la más frecuente el quiste dentígero con predilección a la ubicación anatómica en la mandíbula.

To establish the frequency and characteristics of dentigerous cysts associated with follicular sacs of impacted third molars extracted in the oral surgery clinics at the School of Dentistry at Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Quantitative study, a histopathological analysis of 30 follicular sacs of impacted third molars with hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed. 30 biopsies of follicular sacs of upper and lower third molars corresponding to 21 patients aged between 17 and 36 years (mean: 25.3) were analyzed. Of the sacs studied 25 (83.3%) were diagnosed as dentigerous cysts and 5 (16.7%) as follicular sacs, with the diagnosis of dentigerous cysts being more frequent in the mandibular area. The follicular sac associated with impacted third molars has a high capacity to develop cystic odontogenic pathology, being the most frequent the dentigerous cyst with a predilection for the anatomical location in the mandible.

Impairment in Working Memory and Executive Function Associated with Mercury Exposure in Indigenous Populations in Upper Amazonian Peru.

The Matsigenka people living traditional lifestyles in remote areas of the Amazon rely on a fish-based diet that exposes them to methylmercury (MeHg) at levels that have been associated with decreased IQ scores. In this study, the association between Hg levels and working memory was explored using the framework of the Multicomponent Model. Working memory tasks were modified to fit the culture and language of the Matsigenka when needed and included measures for verbal storage (Word Span) visuospatial storage (Corsi Block Task) and a measure of executive functions, the Self-Ordered Pointing Task (SOPT). An innovation of the Trail Making Tests A & B (TMT A & B) was pilot tested as another potential measure of executive functions. The mean hair Hg levels of 30 participants, ages 12 to 55 years, from three different communities (Maizal, Cacaotal and Yomibato) was 7.0 ppm (sd = 2.40), well above the World Health Organization (WHO) limit for hair of 2.0 ppm and ranged from 1.8 to 14.2 ppm, with 98% of a broader sample of 152 individuals exceeding the WHO limit. Hair Hg levels showed significant associations with cognitive performance, but the degree varied in magnitude according to the type of task. Hg levels were negatively associated with executive functioning performance (SOPT errors), while Hg levels and years of education predicted visuospatial performance (Corsi Block accuracy). Education was the only predictor of Word Span accuracy. The results show that Hg exposure is negatively associated with working memory performance when there is an increased reliance on executive functioning. Based on our findings and the review of the experimental research, we suggest that the SOPT and the Corsi Block have the potential to be alternatives to general intelligence tests when studying remote groups with extensive cultural differences.

Evaluación de la calidad del Servicio de Estomatología General Integral. Policlínico Camilo Cienfuegos de Sancti Spíritus / Assessment of the comprehensive General Stomatology quality service. Camilo Cienfuegos Polyclinic of Sancti Spiritus

RESUMEN Fundamento: La calidad de la atención estomatológica se ha convertido actualmente en una necesidad. En Cuba, el Programa Nacional de Atención Estomatológica Integral a la Población tiene como propósito incrementar y perfeccionar la atención estomatológica. Objetivo: Evaluar la calidad del Servicio de Estomatología General Integral del policlínico Camilo Cienfuegos de Sancti Spíritus. Metodología: Se realizó una investigación observacional descriptiva de corte transversal en el Policlínico Camilo Cienfuegos de Sancti Spíritus en el período comprendido de septiembre de 2019 a enero de 2020. Se seleccionaron 19 estomatólogos de la unidad y 368 pacientes pertenecientes a los consultorios 8 y 9 del área de salud que cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión. Se utilizó la calidad como variable, la cual se operacionalizó en las dimensiones: estructura, proceso y resultados y sus criterios de medida. Se utilizaron métodos teóricos, empíricos y estadísticos y técnicas de recolección y análisis de datos. Se realizaron encuestas de satisfacción a pacientes y profesionales. Resultados: Las dimensiones estructura y proceso, con 20 y 10 puntos respectivamente, fueron evaluadas de regular, la dimensión resultado de bien por un valor alcanzado de 8 puntos. Conclusión: La calidad del Servicio de Estomatología General Integral del policlínico Camilo Cienfuegos de Sancti Spíritus fue evaluada de regular.

ABSTRACT Background: Dental care quality has become a necessity. In Cuba, the National Program for the People´s Comprehensive Stomatology Care aims to increase and improve dental care. Objective: To assess the Comprehensive General Stomatology quality service at Camilo Cienfuegos polyclinic in Sancti Spíritus. Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive observational research was conducted at Camilo Cienfuegos Polyclinic in Sancti Spíritus from September 2019 to January 2020. 19 stomatologists from the unit and 368 patients belonging to clinics 8 and 9 of the area were selected who met the inclusion criteria. Quality was used as a variable, and operationalized in the dimensions: structure, process and results and their measurement criteria. Theoretical, empirical and statistical methods and data collection also analysis techniques were used. Satisfaction surveys were conducted on patients and professionals. Results: Structure and process dimensions, with 20 and 10 points respectively, were evaluated as regular, the result dimension as good for an 8-point value. Conclusion: Comprehensive General Stomatology quality service at Camilo Cienfuegos polyclinic in Sancti Spíritus was evaluated as regular.

Acute responses of stevia and d-tagatose intake on metabolic parameters and appetite/satiety in insulin resistance.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of d-tagatose or stevia preloads on carbohydrate metabolism markers after an oral glucose load, as well as subjective and objective appetite in women with insulin resistance (IR). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Randomized controlled crossover study. Women with IR without T2DM (n = 33; aged 23.4 ± 3.8; BMI 28.1 ± 3.4 kg × m-2) underwent three oral glucose loads (3 h each) on three different days. Ten min before oral glucose load, volunteers consumed a preload of 60 mL water (control), 60 mL water with stevia (15.3 mg), or d-tagatose (5000 mg). Serum glucose and C-peptide were evaluated at -10, 30-, 60-, 90-, 120-, and 180-min. Subjective appetite was determined with a visual analog scale. Food intake was measured at ad libitum buffet after 180 min. RESULTS: C-peptide iAUC was significantly higher for stevia (median (IQR): 1033 (711-1293) ng × min × L-1) vs. d-tagatose (794 (366-1134) ng × min × L-1; P = 0.001) or control (730 (516-1078) ng × min × L-1; P = 0.012). At 30- and 60-min serum glucose was higher for stevia vs other conditions (P < 0.01). Volunteers reported greater satiety for stevia and d-tagatose vs. control at 60 min and greater desire to eat for stevia vs. control at 120- min (all P < 0.05). Objective appetite did not vary by condition (P = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that these NNS are not inert. Stevia intake produced an acute response on C-peptide release while increased serum glucose at earlier times. It is possible that NNS affects subjective but not objective appetite. This trial is registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04327245. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY: NCT04327245.

Calculation of the half life for the thermoluminescent signal of Beryllium oxide.

Half-life is one of the fundamental parameters to characterize the thermoluminescent (TL) response in ionizing radiation dosimetry. In general, there are two types of important half-lives to model the phenomenon of thermoluminescence (TL). The first type of half-life is the time required for the concentration of trapped charge carriers in a single trap to decrease to half its initial value; this type of half-life is generally denoted as τ1/2. Experimentally, the loss of charge carriers and the corresponding half-life τ1/2 are not usually measured directly, but rather the intensity of the TL signal is measured at time t after the start of the experiment. The second type of half-life is the time required for the intensity of the TL to decay to half its initial value. This second type of half-life it is denoted by t1/2. Results of calculating the t1/2 half-life of the glow peaks of gamma irradiated BeO are presented. Calculations were made using the expressions derived in previous papers. To make this, the kinetic parameters (order of kinetics, activation energy and frequency factor) were previously determined. Results obtained could be useful in practical situations encountered in medical physics dosimetry.

Analysis of Ti- and Pb-based particles in the aqueous environment of Melbourne (Australia) via single particle ICP-MS.

The analysis of natural and anthropogenic nanomaterials (NMs) in the environment is challenging and requires methods capable to identify and characterise structures on the nanoscale regarding particle number concentrations (PNCs), elemental composition, size, and mass distributions. In this study, we employed single particle inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (SP ICP-MS) to investigate the occurrence of NMs in the Melbourne area (Australia) across 63 locations. Poisson statistics were used to discriminate between signals from nanoparticulate matter and ionic background. TiO2-based NMs were frequently detected and corresponding NM signals were calibated with an automated data processing platform. Additionally, a method utilising a larger mass bandpass was developed to screen for particulate high-mass elements. This procedure identified Pb-based NMs in various samples. The effects of different environmental matrices consisting of fresh, brackish, or seawater were mitigated with an aerosol dilution method reducing the introduction of salt into the plasma and avoiding signal drift. Signals from TiO2- and Pb-based NMs were counted, integrated, and subsequently calibrated to determine PNCs as well as mass and size distributions. PNCs, mean sizes, particulate masses, and ionic background levels were compared across different locations and environments.

Chemistry of surface water, precipitation, throughfall, leaves, sediment, soil, and air near a gold mining region in Peru.

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is the primary global source of anthropogenic mercury (Hg) emissions and a large source of landscape change. ASGM occurs throughout the world, including in the Peruvian Amazon. This data set contains measurements of surface water, precipitation, throughfall, leaves, sediment, soil, and air samples from across the Madre de Dios region of Peru, in locations near and remote from ASGM. These data were collected to determine the fate and transport of Hg across the landscape. Samples were collected in 2018 and 2019. Data predominantly included total Hg and methyl Hg concentrations in surface water, precipitation, throughfall, leaves, sediment, soil, and air. Additional water and soil parameters were also measured to better characterize their chemistry. There are no copyright restrictions; please cite this data paper when the data are used in publication.

Amazon forests capture high levels of atmospheric mercury pollution from artisanal gold mining.

Mercury emissions from artisanal and small-scale gold mining throughout the Global South exceed coal combustion as the largest global source of mercury. We examined mercury deposition and storage in an area of the Peruvian Amazon heavily impacted by artisanal gold mining. Intact forests in the Peruvian Amazon near gold mining receive extremely high inputs of mercury and experience elevated total mercury and methylmercury in the atmosphere, canopy foliage, and soils. Here we show for the first time that an intact forest canopy near artisanal gold mining intercepts large amounts of particulate and gaseous mercury, at a rate proportional with total leaf area. We document substantial mercury accumulation in soils, biomass, and resident songbirds in some of the Amazon's most protected and biodiverse areas, raising important questions about how mercury pollution may constrain modern and future conservation efforts in these tropical ecosystems.

Systemic burden and cardiovascular risk to Porphyromonas species in apical periodontitis.

OBJECTIVE: Porphyromonas (P.) species (spp.) are a major etiological agent of apical periodontitis (AP), which in turn represents a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. This study explored the associations between endodontic infection with Porphyromonas species, the systemic bacterial burden, and cardiovascular risk, based on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), in young adults with AP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study. Otherwise, healthy individuals with AP and controls (n = 80, ≤ 40 years) were recruited at the University Dental Clinic. Oral parameters and classic cardiovascular risk factors were registered. Endodontic Porphyromonas endodontalis and Porphyromonas gingivalis were identified using conventional PCR. Serum concentrations of anti-P. endodontalis and anti-P. gingivalis antibodies, and endotoxins were determined through ELISA and Limulus-amebocyte assays. Serum hsCRP was determined for cardiovascular risk stratification. RESULTS: Intracanal detection of P. endodontalis and P. gingivalis in AP were 33.3% and 22.9%, respectively. Serum anti-P. endodontalis and anti-P. gingivalis IgG was higher in AP than controls (p < 0.05 and p = 0.057, respectively). Intracanal P. endodontalis associated with higher endotoxemia (p < 0.05). Among endodontic factors, the presence (OR 4.2-5.5, p < 0.05) and the number of apical lesions (OR 2.3, p < 0.05) associated with moderate-severe cardiovascular risk, whereas anti-P. endodontalis IgG were protective (OR 0.3, p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: AP and infection with P. endodontalis positively associated with cardiovascular risk based on hsCRP levels and endotoxemia, respectively, whereas anti-P. endodontalis IgG response seems to be protective against low-grade systemic inflammation. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Apical periodontitis and endodontic P. endodontalis can influence the systemic burden with impact on the surrogate cardiovascular risk marker hsCRP, providing mechanistic links.

Síndrome de Apert: alternativas de tratamiento ortodóntico - quirúrgico y tiempos de ejecución. Una revisión de la literatura / Apert Syndrome: Orthodontic - Surgical treatment alternatives and execution times. A review of the literature

Objetivo: realizar una revisión de la literatura acerca de los tratamientos ortodónticos y quirúrgicos del síndrome de Apert durante las diferentes etapas de crecimiento y desarrollo. Métodos: se llevó a cabo una búsqueda en las bases de datos MedLine (PubMed), Science Direct, Scopus y Wiley Online Library con la combinación de los siguientes términos: Syndromic craniosynostosis, Dental treatment, orthodontic treatment, Apert Syndrome, surgical treatment, dental care. Se incluyeron revisiones sistemáticas y de literatura, estudios retrospectivos, longitudinales y de cohorte, series y revisiones de caso publicados entre 1990 y 2020 en español o inglés; se excluyeron artículos relacionados con otros síndromes, así como estudios en animales. Los artículos fueron seleccionados según su pertinencia y disponibilidad de texto completo; hallazgos repetidos fueron eliminados; adicionalmente, se utilizó el sistema bola de nieve en los artículos seleccionados; la calidad de la evidencia fue evaluada mediante el sistema GRADE. Resultados: 34 artículos fueron incluidos (calidad alta: 2, moderada: 1, baja: 19 y muy baja: 12). Entre estos, se identificaron discusiones relacionadas con la etapa de crecimiento a la que se recomienda realizar los procedimientos quirúrgicos requeridos para minimizar sus impactos negativos. La mayoría de los artículos apoyan el manejo terapéutico ejecutado por equipos multidisciplinarios. Conclusiones: un plan de tratamiento combinado de ortodoncia y cirugía ortognática se presentó como la mejor opción para obtener los mejores resultados funcionales y estéticos para la población en cuestión. El momento adecuado durante el crecimiento y desarrollo de los individuos para implementar cada fase de tratamiento fue decidido por cada equipo multidisciplinario.

Objective: Carry out a literature review about the orthodontic and surgical treatments of Apert Syndrome, during the different stages of growth and development. Methods: A search was made in the MedLine (PubMed), Science Direct, Scopus, and Wiley Online Library databases with the combination of the following terms: Syndromic craniosynostosis; Dental treatment; orthodontic treatment; Apert Syndrome; surgical treatment; dental care. Types of the study included: Systematic and literature reviews, retrospective, longitudinal, and cohort studies, series, and case reviews that were published between 1990-2020 in Spanish or English; articles related to other syndromes and animal, or laboratory studies were excluded. The articles were selected according to relevance and availability of full text; repeated findings were eliminated; additionally, the snowball system was used in the selected articles; the quality of the evidence was evaluated using the GRADE system. Results: 34 articles were included (High Quality: 2; Moderate: 1; Low: 19; Very Low: 12). Controversies were found related to the stage of growth to which it is recommended to perform the required surgical procedures to minimize the negative impacts. Most of the articles support therapeutic management by multidisciplinary teams. Conclusions: A combined orthodontic and orthognathic surgery treatment plan was presented as the indicated option to obtain the best possible functional and aesthetic results for the population in question. The appropriate time during the growth and development of individuals to implement each treatment phase was decided by each multidisciplinary team.