Compilation of regulations and procedures for monitoring filamentous fungi in hospital environments.

Air and surfaces in the hospital environment are a potential source of exposure to filamentous fungi (FF) that could cause invasive fungal diseases (IFD) in severely immunocompromised patients. The prevalent FF in IFD are species from the genera Aspergillus, Fusarium, Scedosporium, and those within the order Mucorales. We have compiled regulations and described the procedures used in the clinical mycology laboratory to assess the presence of FF in areas at risk for the development of IFD. The infection control committees of each establishment implement hospital policies to regulate and control processes aimed at preventing infections. Fungal load monitoring is an important step in this process to validate air quality in order to ensure a clean and protected environment for severely immunocompromised patients.

Anaerobic digestates in agricultural soils: A systematic review of their effects on antibiotic resistance genes.

Tackling the dissemination of antibiotic resistance is one of the main global challenges. Manures from animal production are a recognized source of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) requiring appropriate treatment methods. One of the main approaches for manure treatment is anaerobic digestion (AD). Meta-analyses have demonstrated that AD can significantly reduce the load of ARGs. However, antibiotics, ARGs and MGEs still remain in the final product (digestate). A sustainable agricultural use of digestates under the One Health framework requires wide assessments of their effects in the soil resistome. The objective of this review was to present the state of the art of digestate effects on ARGs of agricultural soils, focusing exclusively on digestates from animal manures. A systematic review was conducted. The examination of the resulting literature indicated that although temporal decays are observed for a variety of ARGs in single-application and repeated-applications experiments, for certain ARGs the pre-treatment or control levels are not restored. However, the low number of studies and the heterogeneous experimental conditions preclude a clear understanding of the fate of ARGs in soil and their risk for agroecosystems. The inclusion of multiple MGEs and the assessment of the long-term influence of digestates on soil properties and microbial communities could be keystones for a better understanding of the risks associated with digestate-induced changes in the soil resistome.

The relative importance of COVID-19 pandemic impacts on biodiversity conservation globally.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an enormous impact on almost all aspects of human society and endeavor; the natural world and its conservation have not been spared. Through a process of expert consultation, we identified and categorized, into 19 themes and 70 subthemes, the ways in which biodiversity and its conservation have been or could be affected by the pandemic globally. Nearly 60% of the effects have been broadly negative. Subsequently, we created a compendium of all themes and subthemes, each with explanatory text, and in August 2020 a diverse group of experienced conservationists with expertise from across sectors and geographies assessed each subtheme for its likely impact on biodiversity conservation globally. The 9 subthemes ranked highest all have a negative impact. These were, in rank order, governments sidelining the environment during their economic recovery, reduced wildlife-based tourism income, increased habitat destruction, reduced government funding, increased plastic and other solid waste pollution, weakening of nature-friendly regulations and their enforcement, increased illegal harvest of wild animals, reduced philanthropy, and threats to survival of conservation organizations. In combination, these impacts present a worrying future of increased threats to biodiversity conservation but reduced capacity to counter them. The highest ranking positive impact, at 10, was the beneficial impact of wildlife-trade restrictions. More optimistically, among impacts ranked 11-20, 6 were positive and 4 were negative. We hope our assessment will draw attention to the impacts of the pandemic and, thus, improve the conservation community's ability to respond to such threats in the future.

La pandemia de COVID-19 ha tenido un impacto enorme sobre casi todos los aspectos de la sociedad humana y sus proyectos; el mundo natural y su conservación no han sido la excepción. Por medio de un proceso de consultas a expertos, identificamos y categorizamos en 19 temas y 70 subtemas las maneras en las que la biodiversidad y su conservación han sido o podrían ser afectadas mundialmente por la pandemia. Casi el 60% de los efectos han sido claramente negativos. Posteriormente, creamos un compendio de todos los temas y subtemas, cada uno con textos explicativos, para que en agosto de 2020 un grupo diverso de conservacionistas experimentados con conocimiento de todos los sectores y geografías evaluara cada subtema de acuerdo con su probabilidad de impactar sobre la conservación de la biodiversidad en todo el mundo. Los nueve subtemas con la clasificación más alta tienen un impacto negativo. Estos temas son, en orden de clasificación: los gobiernos dejando de lado al ambiente durante su recuperación económica, reducción de los ingresos basados en el turismo de fauna, incremento en la destrucción de hábitat, financiamiento reducido del gobierno, aumento de la contaminación por plásticos y otros desechos sólidos, debilitamiento de las regulaciones en pro de la naturaleza y su aplicación, incremento en la captura ilegal de animales, disminución de la filantropía y amenazas para la supervivencia de las organizaciones de conservación. La combinación de estos impactos representa un futuro preocupante lleno de amenazas para la conservación de la biodiversidad y una capacidad reducida para contrarrestarlas. El impacto positivo con la clasificación más alta, el 10, fue el impacto benéfico de las restricciones en el mercado de fauna. De manera más optimista, entre los impactos clasificados de los lugares del 11 al 20, seis fueron positivos y cuatro fueron negativos. Esperamos que nuestra evaluación enfoque la atención hacia los impactos de la pandemia y así mejore la habilidad de la comunidad conservacionista para responder a tales amenazas en el futuro. Importancia Relativa de los Impactos de la Pandemia de COVID-19 sobre la Conservación Mundial de la Biodiversidad.

[Microbiological quality of fresh ground beef and detection of pathogens in environmental samples taken from butcher shops in the city of Tandil, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina]. / Calidad microbiológica de la carne picada y detección de patógenos en muestras ambientales de carnicerías de la ciudad de Tandil, provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the hygienic-sanitary conditions of butcher shops in Tandil, Buenos Aires Province, by estimating the risk based on good manufacturing and hygiene practices, through surveys of the establishments. The analysis was performed using a scale of 1-100, and classifying them as high risk (0-40), moderate risk (41-70) or low risk (71-100). The presence of Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) from both, ground beef and environmental samples such as countertop, cleaver, mincer and butcher's hands, taken at butcher shops was also evaluated. Sampling was performed only once and immediately refrigerated and transported to the laboratory for analysis. All butcher shops evaluated (100) were classified as "low risk" with good hygienic-sanitary conditions. However, 75% of the ground beef samples analyzed did not meet at least one of the microbiological criteria established in the Código Alimentario Argentino [Argentine Food Code], article 255. We propose to establish a strategy to identify deviations and implement a plan for continuous improvement in butcher shops of Tandil city.

Lipoatrophia semicircularis: Clinical study and follow-up of 76 cases in Madrid, Spain. Classification proposal. / Lipoatrofia semicircular: estudio y seguimiento clínico de 76 casos en Madrid, España. Propuesta de clasificación.

INTRODUCTION: The clinical presentations of Lipoatrophia semicircularis (LS) vary, and diagnostic criteria are unclear. Several etiopathogenic factors, including occupational environmental ones, have been suggested. We aimed to describe a cluster of cases of suspected LS that started to appear in May 2008 among employees of the city council of Madrid, Spain. We report the actions taken by the council's Occupational Health Service and propose clinical categories with prognostic implications. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Retrospective observational case series study including prospectively collected data from patients evaluated between 2008 and 2021 at the Madrid City Council STI/Dermatology Department. Information on measures taken by the Occupational Health Service is detailed. The recording of clinical variables for statistical analysis and the proposal of defined clinical patterns were carried out. RESULTS: We studied the cases of 75 women and one man, most of whom attended follow-up visits for a median of 37 months. Local symptoms were observed in just 14.5% of patients. The cases were classified into 4 groups: typical LS, unilateral LS, band-like lipoatrophy in the lower limbs, and nonspecific LS. Clinical outcomes were more often favorable in the first 2 groups, in which 76% of patients achieved total or partial improvement of lesions (vs. 25.8% in the last 2 groups). LS was negatively associated with the presence of hypertrophic subcutaneous adipose tissue (P<.001). DISCUSSION: Typical LS, which can often be unilateral, generally has a satisfactory outcome. The clinical characteristics of this form distinguish it from other types of lipoatrophy. Measures taken by the Occupational Health Service contributed to favorable outcomes. In this series, LS was not associated with marked subcutaneous adipose tissue hypertrophy in the thighs. Our proposed categories may help distinguish between cases of LS with a favorable prognosis and other cases presenting with skin surface depressions, which are often persistent.

Effects of sublethal application of Deepwater Horizon oil to bird eggs on embryonic heart and metabolic rate.

Following large crude oil spills, oil from feathers of brooding birds and oiled nesting material can transfer to eggs, resulting in reduced embryonic viability for heavily oiled eggs. Eggs may also be subjected to trace or light oiling, but functional teratogenic effects from sublethal crude oil exposure have not been examined. We assessed whether sublethal application of weathered Deepwater Horizon crude oil to the eggshell surface alters heart rate and metabolic rate in Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata) embryos. We first determined sublethal applications with a dosing experiment. Embryo viability for eggs exposed to 5 µL or more of crude oil decreased significantly. We conducted a second experiment to measure heart rate and metabolic rate (CO2 production) 5 and 9 d after 1 sublethal application of crude oil to eggshells on day 3 of incubation. One application of 1.0 or 2.5 µL of crude oil reduced embryonic heart rate and metabolic rate on day 12 of incubation. Using unfertilized eggs, we measured the transfer of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from the eggshell surface to egg contents 9 d after a single application of sublethal crude oil. Our results suggest avian eggs externally exposed to small amounts of crude oil may exhibit protracted embryonic development and impaired postnatal cardiac performance.

Aplicaciones Subletales de Petróleo de la Plataforma Deepwater Horizon en los Huevos de Aves y sus Efectos sobre la Frecuencia Cardíaca y la Tasa Metabólica de Embriones Resumen Después de grandes derrames de crudo, el petróleo que se encuentra en las plumas de las aves incubadoras y el petróleo adherido al material para nidos puede transferirse a los huevos, lo que resulta en la reducción de la viabilidad embrionaria en el caso de los huevos con un contacto alto con el petróleo. Los huevos también pueden estar sujetos a manchas de petróleo ligeras o por contacto, pero no se han examinado los efectos teratogénicos funcionales de la exposición subletal al crudo. Evaluamos si la aplicación subletal de petróleo crudo desgastado del derrame de la plataforma Deepwater Horizon a la superficie de los cascarones altera la frecuencia cardíaca y la tasa metabólica de los embriones de gorrión cebra (Taeniopygia guttata). Primero determinamos las aplicaciones subletales con un experimento de dosificación. La viabilidad de los embriones en huevos expuestos a 5 µL o más de crudo disminuyó significativamente. Realizamos un segundo experimento para medir la frecuencia cardíaca y la tasa metabólica (producción de CO2 ) cinco y nueve días después de una aplicación subletal de crudo a los cascarones durante el tercer día de incubación. La aplicación de 1.0 o de 2.5 µL de crudo redujo la frecuencia cardíaca y la tasa metabólica al décimo segundo día de incubación. También medimos la transferencia de hidrocarburos aromáticos policíclicos (PAHs) en huevos sin fertilizar desde la superficie del cascarón hasta el contenido del huevo nueve días después de una aplicación subletal única de crudo. Nuestros resultados sugieren que los huevos de aves expuestos externamente a pequeñas cantidades de crudo pueden tener un desarrollo embrionario prolongado y un desempeño cardíaco postnatal deteriorado.

[Nutritional composition of vending foods of public university and hospital buildings in Asturias]. / Composición nutricional de los alimentos de las vending de edificios públicos universitarios y hospitalarios de Asturias.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the nutritional composition of food vending machines (VM) located in university public buildings and hospitals in Asturias. DESIGN: Descriptive cross-sectional study. LOCATION: The analysis was made of the contents of VMs located in public buildings, hospitals, and university teaching centres in the Principality of Asturias. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: After the public buildings were mapped, each of them was visited to check for the presence of the VMs. A a photograph was then taken of the food contained in them. The variables analysed were the type of products and their nutritional composition. RESULTS: The VMs of 19 buildings (12 university and 7 hospital), contained 215 foods that were grouped into 11 categories. The most frequent were "chocolates and chocolate bars" (30,2%), "cookies" (11.6%) and "chips" (11.6%). The Kcal average was 216 (SD=133.1). The mean fat, in grams was 12.52 (SD=11.21), saturated fat 4.48 (SD=3,83), sugars 11.88 (SD=31.13), fibre 1.9 (SD=2.47), proteins 3.38 (SD=3.62), and salt 0.3 (SD=0.62). A high excess of fat, saturated fat, and salt was observed, as well as a medium excess of sugars. CONCLUSIONS: The nutritional quality of VM in hospitals and public university centres of the Principality of Asturias cannot be defined as healthy. Therefore, health promotion strategies could be developed with the aim of improving their nutritional composition or guiding the population/users towards the selection and consumption of healthier foods.

[Family environment, physical activity and sedentarism in preadolescents with childhood obesity: ANOBAS case-control study]. / Ambiente familiar, actividad física y sedentarismo en preadolescentes con obesidad infantil: estudio ANOBAS de casos-controles.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to compare the levels of physical activity and sedentary behaviours in children with obesity and normal weight through accelerometer measures, and analyze the family environment related to physical activity. DESIGN: Case-control study. LOCATION: A health center and colleges of the Community of Madrid. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 50 obese children between 8 and 12 years of age (P > 97) and their mothers were matched by age, sex and socioeconomic status of their parents (1: 1) with 50 children with normopeso (GN; P < 85). MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Physical activity levels were measured by accelerometer (ActiGraph GT3X), levels of physical activity of the primary caregiver were measured through physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ) and the environment in relation to the physical activity was measured by the Home Environment Scale (HES-S). RESULTS: The group GO showed less vigorous physical activity than their peers in the GN group. Vigorous physical activity in the GO group was associated with modeling and parental policies regarding physical activity. A multiple regression analysis revealed that 21% of the variance of weight status of children was explained by sex, vigorous physical activity and maternal body mass index. CONCLUSIONS: The levels of vigorous physical activity and the family environment differ between children with obesity and normal weight. Therefore, it is important to continue working on the awareness of illness and the promotion of healthy habits from Primary Care and the school and institutional context.

Home Environment and Self-Efficacy Beliefs among Native American, African American, and Latino Adolescents.

Context helps determine what individuals experience in the settings they inhabit. Context also helps determine the likelihood that those experiences will promote adaptive development. Theory suggests likely interplay between various aspects of home context and development of ideas about self that influence patterns of development for children. This study addressed relations between two aspects of home life (companionship and investment, modeling and encouragement) and three types of self-efficacy beliefs (enlisting social resources, independent learning, self-regulatory behavior) considered important for long-term adaptive functioning. The study focused on three groups of minority adolescents (Native American, African American, Latino). Relations were examined using regression models that also included four aspects of household risk that often hinder the development of self-efficacy. Although findings varied somewhat across the three groups, significant relations emerged between the two domains of home life examined and self-efficacy beliefs in all three groups, even controlling for overall household risk. Companionship and investment appeared particularly relevant for African American adolescents, while modeling and encouragement appeared particularly relevant for Native American adolescents. Both were relevant for Latino adolescents.

El contexto ayuda a determinar lo que las personas viven en los entornos que habitan. El contexto también ayuda a determinar la probabilidad de que esas experiencias promuevan el desarrollo adaptativo. La teoría sugiere una probable interacción entre varios aspectos del contexto hogareño y el desarrollo de ideas acerca del yo que influyen en los patrones de desarrollo de los niños. Este estudio abordó las relaciones entre dos aspectos de la vida hogareña (compañerismo e inversión, modelado y fomento) y tres tipos de creencias de autoeficacia (designación de recursos sociales, aprendizaje independiente, comportamiento autorregulado) consideradas importantes para el funcionamiento adaptativo a largo plazo. El estudio se centró en tres grupos de adolescentes de grupos minoritarios (nativo americanos, afroamericanos, latinos). Se analizaron las relaciones usando modelos de regresión que también incluyeron cuatro aspectos de riesgo doméstico que generalmente obstaculizan el desarrollo de la autoeficacia. Aunque los resultados variaron un poco en los tres grupos, surgieron relaciones significativas entre los dos ámbitos de la vida hogareña analizados y las creencias de autoeficacia en los tres grupos, aún teniendo en cuenta el riesgo doméstico general. El compañerismo y la inversión parecieron particularmente relevantes en los adolescentes afroamericanos, mientras que el modelado y el fomento parecieron particularmenete relevantes en los adolescentes nativo americanos. Ambos fueron relevantes en los adolescentes latinos.

The role of scientists in statutory interpretation of the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

Like many federal statutes, the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) contains vague or ambiguous language. The meaning imparted to the ESA's unclear language can profoundly impact the fates of endangered and threatened species. Hence, conservation scientists should contribute to the interpretation of the ESA when vague or ambiguous language contains scientific words or refers to scientific concepts. Scientists need to know at least these 2 facts about statutory interpretation: statutory interpretation is subjective and the potential influence of normative values results in different expectations for the parties involved. With the possible exception of judges, all conventional participants in statutory interpretation are serving their own interests, advocating for their preferred policies, or biased. Hence, scientists can play a unique role by informing the interpretative process with objective, policy-neutral information. Conversely, scientists may act as advocates for their preferred interpretation of unclear statutory language. The different roles scientists might play in statutory interpretation raise the issues of advocacy and competency. Advocating for a preferred statutory interpretation is legitimate political behavior by scientists, but statutory interpretation can be strongly influenced by normative values. Therefore, scientists must be careful not to commit stealth policy advocacy. Most conservation scientists lack demonstrable competence in statutory interpretation and therefore should consult or collaborate with lawyers when interpreting statutes. Professional scientific societies are widely perceived by the public as unbiased sources of objective information. Therefore, professional scientific societies should remain policy neutral and present all interpretations of unclear statutory language; explain the semantics and science both supporting and contradicting each interpretation; and describe the potential consequences of implementing each interpretation. A review of scientists' interpretations of the phrase "significant portion of its range" in the ESA is used to critique the role of scientists and professional societies in statutory interpretation.

[Survival capacity of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis biovar ovis in different soil types from Chubut, Argentine Patagonia]. / Capacidad de supervivencia de Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis biovar ovis en distintos suelos de la provincia de Chubut, Patagonia argentina.

Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is transmitted among sheep in Argentine Patagonia causing pseudotuberculosis. The bacterium penetrates the skin or mucous membrane wounds, infecting the superficial lymph nodes and viscera. When surface abscesses are cut during shearing, they drain their purulent contents and contaminate tools and the soil. The objective of this work was to evaluate the survival capacity of C. pseudotuberculosis over time, in soils from the extra-Andean Patagonia region. Five types of superficial soils were collected from different areas in Chubut province (extra-Andean Patagonia), having distinctive physicochemical properties including organic matter content (very high to nonexistent), pH (neutral to strongly alkaline), electrical conductivity (saline to non-saline) and texture (sandy, clayey, silty loam). Different aliquots of each type of soil were inoculated with C. pseudotuberculosis PAT10 strain isolated from a Patagonian sheep, and were stored at room temperature. The number of surviving bacteria was determined at various times. Sixty percent (60%) of the inoculated C. pseudotuberculosis population survived for 80 to 210 days in soils with moderate to high organic matter content respectively. Silty soils favored bacterial survival, whereas the variables pH and salinity had no effect on survival.

Environmental factors and population at risk of malaria in Nkomazi municipality, South Africa.

OBJECTIVE: Nkomazi local municipality of South Africa is a high-risk malaria region with an incidence rate of about 500 cases per 100 000. We examined the influence of environmental factors on population (age group) at risk of malaria. METHODS: r software was used to statistically analyse data. Using remote sensing technology, a Landsat 8 image of 4th October 2015 was classified using object-based classification and a 5-m resolution. Spot height data were used to generate a digital elevation model of the area. RESULTS: A total of 60 718 malaria cases were notified across 48 health facilities in Nkomazi municipality between January 1997 and August 2015. Malaria incidence was highly associated with irrigated land (P = 0.001), water body (P = 0.011) and altitude ≤400 m (P = 0.001). The multivariate model showed that with 10% increase in the extent of irrigated areas, malaria risk increased by almost 39% in the entire study area and by almost 44% in the 2-km buffer zone of selected villages. Malaria incidence is more pronounced in the economically active population aged 15-64 and in males. Both incidence and case fatality rate drastically declined over the study period. CONCLUSION: A predictive model based on environmental factors would be useful in the effort towards malaria elimination by fostering appropriate targeting of control measures and allocating of resources.

Metabolism of aceclofenac in cattle to vulture-killing diclofenac.

The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) diclofenac is highly toxic to Gyps vultures, and its recent widespread use in South Asia caused catastrophic declines in at least 3 scavenging raptors. The manufacture of veterinary formulations of diclofenac has since been banned across the region with mixed success. However, at least 12 other NSAIDs are available for veterinary use in South Asia. Aceclofenac is one of these compounds, and it is known to metabolize into diclofenac in some mammal species. The metabolic pathway of aceclofenac in cattle, the primary food of vultures in South Asia, is unknown. We gave 6 cattle the recommended dose of aceclofenac (2 mg/kg), collected blood thereafter at intervals for up to 12 h, and used liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry in a pharmacokinetic analysis of aceclofenac and diclofenac in the plasma. Nearly all the aceclofenac administered to the cattle was very rapidly metabolized into diclofenac. At 2 h, half the aceclofenac had been converted into diclofenac, and at 12 h four-fifths of the aceclofenac had been converted into diclofenac. Therefore, administering aceclofenac to livestock poses the same risk to vultures as administering diclofenac to livestock. This, coupled with the risk that aceclofenac may replace diclofenac in the veterinary market, points to the need for an immediate ban on all aceclofenac formulations that can be used to treat livestock. Without such a ban, the recovery of vultures across South Asia will not be successful.

An Evolutionary Perspective on Family Studies: Differential Susceptibility to Environmental Influences.

An evolutionary perspective of human development provides the basis for the differential-susceptibility hypothesis which stipulates that individuals should differ in their susceptibility to environmental influences, with some being more affected than others by both positive and negative developmental experiences and environmental exposures. This paper reviews evidence consistent with this claim while revealing that temperamental and genetic characteristics play a role in distinguishing more and less susceptible individuals. The differential-susceptibility framework under consideration is contrasted to the traditional diathesis-stress view that "vulnerability" traits predispose some to being disproportionately affected by (only) adverse experiences. We raise several issues stimulated by the literature that need to be clarified in further research. Lastly, we suggest that therapy may differ in its effects depending on an individual's susceptibility.

[Analysis of the intensity of professional collaboration among nurses in a critical care area]. / Análisis de la intensidad de colaboración profesional entre enfermeras en un área de críticos.

OBJECTIVE/S: To analyse the intensity of professional collaboration (IPC) between the nurses in a multidisciplinary critical area (CA) and the relationship with the workplace "intensive care unit (ICU) and special hospitalisation area (SHA)", educational level, age, and years of professional activity in CA. METHOD: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with 57 nurses from CA, recording socio-demographic data: age, educational level, speciality titles, years of professional activity and workday type, years of professional activity in the CA, and involvement in scientific works. Tool: Intensity of Inter-professional Collaboration Questionnaire. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: SPSS 20.0. RESULTS: The study included a total of 47 nurses (ICU/SHA), with a mean age of 35.91 (9.59) years. Almost three-quarters (74.46%) were nursing graduates with a posgraduate in ICU. Median and interquartile range of professional experience was 14 and 14.50 years, respectively, and years working in CA was 8.50 and 16 years, respectively. Just over half of them (51.10%) worked part-time, and 61.70% participated in scientific works. The mean IPC score was 61.68 (6.84), with 57.40% providing values of high IPC. The relationship between the workplace (ICU/SHA) and educational level with IPC was not statistically significant (p>.05). There are statistical significant differences between IPC with age and years of professional activity in CA (p<.05). CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates the existence of good IPC in the CA. Younger nurses obtain a better IPC score, as well as nurses who have been working for less time in CA. Nurses with a Degree or Masters have a higher level of IPC than the rest, as well as nurses who perform professional activity combining ICU and SHA.

[Nursing interventions on the physical environment of Neonatal Intensive Care Units]. / Intervenciones enfermeras sobre el ambiente físico de las Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos Neonatales.

The objectives of this study are to analyse nursing interventions regarding noise and lighting that influence neurodevelopment of the preterm infant in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. A review of the literature was performed using the databases: Cuiden Plus, PubMed, IBECS and Cochrane Library Plus. The inclusion and exclusion criteria were established in accordance with the objectives and limits used in each database. Of the 35 articles used, most were descriptive quantitative studies based on the measurement of sound pressure levels and lighting in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units. The countries included in this study are Brazil and the United States, and the variables analysed were the recording the times of light and noise. Based on the high levels of light and noise recorded in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units, nursing interventions that should be carried out to reduce them are described. The evidence indicates that after the implementation of these interventions, the high levels of both environmental stimuli are reduced significantly. Despite the extensive literature published on this problem, the levels of light and noise continue to exceed the recommended limits. Therefore, nurses need to increase and enhance their efforts in this environment, in order to positively influence neurodevelopment of premature newborn.

The alignment of agricultural and nature conservation policies in the European Union.

Europe is a region of relatively high population density and productive agriculture subject to substantial government intervention under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Many habitats and species of high conservation interest have been created by the maintenance of agricultural practices over long periods. These practices are often no longer profitable, and nature conservation initiatives require government support to cover the cost for them to be continued. The CAP has been reformed both to reduce production of agricultural commodities at costs in excess of world prices and to establish incentives for landholders to adopt voluntary conservation measures. A separate nature conservation policy has established an extensive series of protected sites (Natura 2000) that has, as yet, failed to halt the loss of biodiversity. Additional broader scale approaches have been advocated for conservation in the wider landscape matrix, including the alignment of agricultural and nature conservation policies, which remains a challenge. Possibilities for alignment include further shifting of funds from general support for farmers toward targeted payments for biodiversity goals at larger scales and adoption of an ecosystem approach. The European response to the competing demands for land resources may offer lessons globally as demands on rural land increase.

El Alineamiento de las Políticas Agrícolas y de Conservación de la Naturaleza en la Unión Europea Resumen Europa es una región con una densidad poblacional relativamente alta y con una agricultura productiva sujeta a una intervención gubernamental sustancial bajo la Política Agrícola Común (PAC). Debido al mantenimiento de las prácticas agrícolas a lo largo de periodos extensos de tiempo, se han creado muchos hábitats y especies de alto interés para la conservación. Estas prácticas muchas veces ya no son rentables y las iniciativas para la conservación de la naturaleza requieren del apoyo del gobierno para cubrir el costo de su continuación. La PAC se ha reformado para reducir la producción de mercancía agrícola por encima de los precios mundiales y para establecer incentivos para que los propietarios adopten voluntariamente las medidas de conservación. Una política de conservación aparte ha establecido una serie extensa de sitios protegidos (Natura 2000) que, hasta ahora, ha fallado en detener la pérdida de la biodiversidad. Se ha abogado por estrategias de escalas más generales para la conservación en la matriz más amplia de paisajes, incluido el alineamiento de las políticas agrícolas y de conservación de la naturaleza, lo cual sigue siendo un reto. Las posibilidades de alineamiento incluyen un mayor movimiento de los fondos del apoyo general para los granjeros hacia pagos enfocados en los objetivos de la biodiversidad a escalas mayores y la adopción de una estrategia de ecosistema. La respuesta europea a las demandas conflictivas por recursos de suelo puede ofrecer lecciones a nivel global conforme incrementen las demandas por suelo rural.

[Isolation of Sporothrix pallida complex in clinical and environmental samples from Chile]. / Aislamiento de Sporothrix pallida complex en muestras clínicas y ambientales de Chile.

The isolation of S. pallida complex from medical samples and home garden soil of a patient in Chile is here in reported. Fungi of the Sporothrix schenckii complex can cause various infections. In Chile, the medical and environmental isolates of these this complex are rare. The aim of this study was to identify an unusual agent in a case of onychomycosis and to detect its presence in the patient's home garden. For this purpose, clinical samples were obtained by scraping the patient's subungueal first right toe nail as well as by taking soil samples from different areas of her home garden. Species identification was performed by morphophysiology and one of the strains isolated from the patient's toe nail was sent to CBS for molecular confirmation (14.062). S. pallida complex was identified both from the patient's toe nail and samples taken from her home garden.

[Survival of VTEC O157 and non-O157 in water troughs and bovine feces]. / Supervivencia de VTEC O157 y no-O157 en agua de bebederos y materia fecal de bovinos.

Verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) is the etiologic agent of hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS), which typically affects children ranging in age from six months to five years old. Transmission is produced by consumption of contaminated food, by direct contact with animals or the environment and from person to person. In previous studies we determined that the environment of a dairy farm is a non-animal reservoir; thus, we proposed to study the survival of 4 VTEC isolates (O20:H19; O91:H21; O157:H7 and O178:H19) in sterile water troughs and bovine feces by viable bacteria count and detection of virulence genes by PCR. It was demonstrated that the survival of different VTEC isolates (O157 and non-O157) varied in terms of their own characteristics as well as of the environmental conditions where they were found. The main differences between isolates were their survival time and the maximal counts reached. The competitive and adaptive characteristics of some isolates increase the infection risk for people that are visiting or working on a farm, as well as the risk for reinfection of the animals and food contamination.

[Roles within domestic environments in Chile: the "food gatekeeper"]. / Roles dentro de los entornos domésticos en Chile: la "portera alimentaria".

Introduction: Introduction: this project studied the roles played in the food cycle within the domestic environment, revisiting the concept of the "food gatekeeper". Methods: information was obtained from 10 ethnographies and 24 in-depth interviews with people responsible for food tasks in low-income households in Santiago, Chile, during the pandemic. A thematic analysis was conducted from the framework of food environments and gender. Results: the results showed that the time allocated to the food cycle is highly unequal between genders and women are held responsible for the nutritional well-being of families. This role entails putting the feeding of others before their own. Conclusions: in conclusion, the need to consider the distribution of roles in nutritional health interventions is emphasized, avoiding reproducing risky practices for health and quality of life of food gatekeepers, by overexerting them under the justification of effectiveness in the transmission of healthy habits to families.

Introducción: Introducción: se estudiaron los roles en el ciclo alimentario dentro del entorno doméstico, revisitando el concepto de "portera alimentaria". Métodos: la información se obtuvo de 10 etnografías y 24 entrevistas en profundidad a personas responsables de las tareas alimentarias en hogares de ingresos bajos en Santiago, Chile, durante la pandemia. Se realizó un análisis temático desde el marco de entornos alimentarios y género. Resultados: los resultados mostraron que el tiempo destinado al ciclo alimentario es altamente desigual entre los géneros y se responsabiliza a las mujeres del bienestar nutricional de las familias. Este rol conlleva anteponer la alimentación de los/as otros/as a la propia. Conclusión: la discusión subraya la necesidad de considerar la distribución de roles en las intervenciones de salud nutricional, evitando reproducir prácticas riesgosas para la salud y calidad de vida las porteras alimentarias, al sobreexigirlas bajo la justificación de la eficacia en la transmisión de hábitos saludables a las familias.