ABSTRACT
Cultivating Limnospira maxima, renowned for its abundant proteins and valuable pigments, faces substantial challenges rooted in the limited understanding of its optimal growth parameters, associated high costs, and constraints in the procurement of traditional nitrogen sources, particularly NaNO3. To overcome these challenges, we conducted a comprehensive 4 × 3 factorial design study. Factors considered included white, red, blue, and yellow light spectra, along with nitrogen sources NaNO3 and KNO3, as well as a nitrogen-free control, for large-scale implementation. Optimal growth, measured by Optical Density, occurred with white and yellow light combined with KNO3 as the nitrogen source. These conditions also increased dry weight and Chl-a content. Cultures with nitrogen deprivation exhibited high values for these variables, attributed to carbon accumulation in response to nitrogen scarcity. Phycocyanin, a crucial pigment for nutrition and industry, reached its highest levels in cultures exposed to white light and supplemented with KNO3, with an impressive content of 384.11 g kg-1 of dry weight. These results highlight the efficacy and cost-efficiency of using a combination of white light and KNO3 for large-scale L. maxima cultivation. This strategy offers promising opportunities to address global food security challenges and enhance the production of industrially relevant pigments.
ABSTRACT
Resumen Pese a la consolidación de teorías y perspectivas críticas en las discusiones contemporáneas en materia de derechos humanos, estas siguen en gran medida limitadas a la esfera jurídico-normativa y ligadas a la narrativa occidental hegemónica del liberalismo, negando el contenido relacional de los derechos humanos y su proceso constante de reconstrucción a partir de la interacción de los sujetos que son titulares de esos derechos. Una perspectiva crítica de los derechos humanos debe apuntar a desmontar, entre otras, la idea de que los derechos humanos se constituyen de manera exclusiva por los Estados, y que son estos los únicos llamados a su respeto y garantía.
Abstract Despite the consolidation of critical theories and perspectives in contemporary human rights discussions, these remain largely limited to the legal-normative sphere and linked to the hegemonic Western narrative of liberalism, denying the relational content of human rights and its constant process of reconstruction from the interaction of subjects, who hold those rights. A critical perspective on human rights should aim to dismantle, among others, the idea that human rights are constituted exclusively by States, and that they are the only calls for their respect and guarantee.
Subject(s)
Social Welfare , Decision Making, SharedABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Decisions made by individuals with disordered gambling are markedly inflexible. However, whether anomalies in learning from feedback are gambling-specific, or extend beyond gambling contexts, remains an open question. More generally, addictive disorders-including gambling disorder-have been proposed to be facilitated by individual differences in feedback-driven decision-making inflexibility, which has been studied in the lab with the Probabilistic Reversal Learning Task (PRLT). In this task, participants are first asked to learn which of two choice options is more advantageous, on the basis of trial-by-trial feedback, but, once preferences are established, reward contingencies are reversed, so that the advantageous option becomes disadvantageous and vice versa. Inflexibility is revealed by a less effective reacquisition of preferences after reversal, which can be distinguished from more generalized learning deficits. METHODS: In the present study, we compared PRLT performance across two groups of 25 treatment-seeking patients diagnosed with an addictive disorder and who reported gambling problems, and 25 matched controls [18 Males/7 Females in both groups, Mage(SDage) = 25.24 (8.42) and 24.96 (7.90), for patients and controls, respectively]. Beyond testing for differences in the shape of PRLT learning curves across groups, the specific effect of problematic gambling symptoms' severity was also assessed independently of group assignment. In order to surpass previous methodological problems, full acquisition and reacquisition curves were fitted using generalized mixed-effect models. RESULTS: Results showed that (1) controls did not significantly differ from patients in global PRLT performance nor showed specific signs of decision-making inflexibility; and (2) regardless of whether group affiliation was controlled for or not, gambling severity was specifically associated with more inefficient learning in phases with reversed contingencies. CONCLUSION: Decision-making inflexibility, as revealed by difficulty to reacquire decisional preferences based on feedback after contingency reversals, seems to be associated with gambling problems, but not necessarily with a substance-use disorder diagnosis. This result aligns with gambling disorder models in which domain-general compulsivity is linked to vulnerability to develop gambling-specific problems with exposure to gambling opportunities.
Subject(s)
Behavior, Addictive/psychology , Compulsive Behavior , Gambling , Reversal Learning , Substance-Related Disorders/psychology , Adult , Decision Making , Female , Humans , Impulsive Behavior , Male , Reward , Severity of Illness IndexABSTRACT
This cross-sectional study was aimed at investigating the role of emotional regulation in regular gambling in a sample of 197 disordered and non-problem gamblers from Ecuador. Two proxies were used as measures of behavioral signs of generalized emotion dysregulation (UPPS-P emotion-driven impulsivity) and intentional emotion regulation strategies (ERQ), and their associations with gambling cognitions (as measured by the GRCS questionnaire), gambling behavior (SOGS), and comorbid alcohol and drug misuse (MultiCAGE), were explored. For analyses, impulsivity traits, including emotion-driven impulsivity scores, were used as inputs to predict dispositional variables (ERQ strategies and GRCS cognitions), and clinically relevant behavioral outputs, while controlling for gambling severity. Hypotheses were based on previously published work, although the analysis has been improved (using hierarchical linear mixed-effects modelling), and homogenized in covariate control, and decision threshold stringency. Results were as follows: (1) After controlling for relevant covariates, UPPS-P sensation seeking was positively associated with gambling cognitions, whereas positive urgency was positively associated with cognitive biases (interpretative bias, control illusion, and predictive control) but not with other gambling cognitions. (2) Among emotion regulation strategies, reappraisal, but not suppression, was associated with gambling cognitions. (3) Negative urgency was distinctively associated with suppression, but not with reappraisal. And (4), no impulsivity dimensions significantly predicted drug or alcohol misuse, although negative urgency fell just below the decision threshold. These results reinforce the importance of emotion regulation processes in the cognitive and behavioral manifestations of gambling. Most importantly, they suggest a dissociation between the role of model-free dysregulation of negative emotions (as measured by UPPS-P negative urgency), as a key contributor to gambling complication and general psychopathology; and the one of strategic emotion regulation, in fueling gambling-related cognitive distortions.
Subject(s)
Behavior, Addictive/psychology , Gambling/psychology , Hispanic or Latino/psychology , Impulsive Behavior , Adult , Comorbidity , Cross-Sectional Studies , Decision Making , Ecuador , Female , Humans , Male , Reward , Surveys and Questionnaires , Young AdultABSTRACT
Se realizo un estudio descriptivo, longitudinal, prospectivo presentando una serie de 8 pacientes y 11 casos individuales, con diagnóstico de Hállux Valgus, tomando en cuenta algunos pacientes se sometieron a cirugías bilaterales. El tipo morfologico de pie mas afectado fue el egipcio y las manifestaciones clínicas más evidentes fueron el dolor sobre el primer metatarsiano y en igual porcentaje callosidad sobre el mismo. Los principales hallazgos radiológicos observados fueron alteraciòn de los ángulo inter metatarsiano y ángulo de Hállux, asi como subluxación de huesos sesamoideos e incongruencia articular. Las principales tecnicas quirurgicas fueron bunionectomia, cerclaje fibroso, osteotomías de la base del primer metatarsiano, diafisiarias Scarf del primer metatarsiano con o sin osteotomía derrotadora de la falange proximal. Según la escala de la AOFAS: previo a la cirugía el 81,1% de los pacientes tenia una función mala y posterior a la misma sólo un 9.09% presentó una funciòn aceptada y el restante 90.91% buena...
Subject(s)
Hallux Valgus/surgery , Hallux Valgus/diagnosis , Osteotomy/instrumentation , Osteotomy , PainABSTRACT
Se realizo un estudio descriptivo, longitudinal, prospectivo presentando una serie de 8 pacientes y 11 casos individuales, con diagnóstico de Hállux Valgus, tomando en cuenta algunos pacientes se sometieron a cirugías bilaterales. El tipo morfologico de pie mas afectado fue el egipcio y las manifestaciones clínicas más evidentes fueron el dolor sobre el primer metatarsiano y en igual porcentaje callosidad sobre el mismo. Los principales hallazgos radiológicos observados fueron alteraciòn de los ángulo inter metatarsiano y ángulo de Hállux, asi como subluxación de huesos sesamoideos e incongruencia articular. Las principales tecnicas quirurgicas fueron bunionectomia, cerclaje fibroso, osteotomías de la base del primer metatarsiano, diafisiarias Scarf del primer metatarsiano con o sin osteotomía derrotadora de la falange proximal. Según la escala de la AOFAS: previo a la cirugía el 81,1% de los pacientes tenia una función mala y posterior a la misma sólo un 9.09% presentó una funciòn aceptada y el restante 90.91% buena...
Subject(s)
Hallux Valgus/surgery , Hallux Valgus/diagnosis , Osteotomy/instrumentation , Osteotomy , PainABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Ciguatera fish poisoning arises from consumption of any of the 400 species of tropical marine reef fish containing polyether toxins. No laboratory method is available for clinical diagnosis of acute ciguatera poisoning. The objective of this pilot study was to ascertain the potential usefulness of a bioassay to detect ciguatoxins in humans suspected of acute intoxication. We analyzed plasma of healthy volunteers (asymptomatic negative controls), participants with gastrointestinal (GI) illness but without recent fish consumption (symptomatic negative controls), and participants with GI illness who had recently consumedfish. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood samples, questionnaires, and consent forms were collected from 11 symptomatic negative controls and 86 patients that visited emergency rooms in southern Puerto Rico over a 1-year period. Patients had consumed fish within 24 hour prior to the symptoms. Plasma samples were analyzed by a neuroblastoma cell bioassay that detects seafood toxins active at the sodium voltage-gated channel in a dose-dependent fashion. Concentrations were expressed in terms of brevetoxin-1 equivalents (ng PbTx-1 equiv/mL). RESULTS: The mean plasma concentration of 14 asymptomatic negative controls was 39.4 ng PbTx-1 equiv/mL (range 2-74). Of 86 potential ciguatoxic patients who reported fish consumption, 43 had values within the range of normal volunteers, and 9 had concentrations in the nondiagnostic range (73.9-100 ng). Thirty-four patients (40%) had concentrations 3 standard deviations above asymptomatic negative controls (>100 ng PbTx-1 equiv/mL). They had a mean concentration of 1,074 +/- 244.5 ng PbTx-1 equiv/mL (range 101-7,056ng). CONCLUSION: Preliminary findings of elevated PbTx-1 equivalents in 40% of the patients with both ciguatera symptomatology and fish consumption in a geographical area where ciguatera is common suggest that the neuroblastoma bioassay may be a potential diagnostic tool for acute ciguatera intoxication.
Subject(s)
Acute Disease , Ciguatera Poisoning , Foodborne Diseases/diagnosis , Oxocins , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Animals , Biological Assay , Child , Child, Preschool , Ciguatoxins/blood , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Female , Foodborne Diseases/blood , Foodborne Diseases/epidemiology , Gastrointestinal Diseases/blood , Gastrointestinal Diseases/diagnosis , Humans , Infant , Male , Marine Toxins/blood , Middle Aged , Neurotoxins/blood , Pilot Projects , Puerto Rico/epidemiology , Tropical ClimateSubject(s)
Anesthesia , Epidemiology , Total Quality Management , Hypertension , Pharmacology , Pre-Eclampsia , Risk Factors , Seizures , EclampsiaSubject(s)
Pregnancy, Ectopic/diagnosis , Pregnancy, Ectopic/etiology , Maternal and Child Health , Perinatology , Pregnancy Complications , Pregnancy Complications, Infectious , Pregnancy in Adolescence , Pregnancy, Multiple , Pregnancy, Prolonged , Ecuador , Maternal Mortality , Maternal Nutrition , Public Health , Risk Factors , Ultrasonography , Vaginal Birth after CesareanABSTRACT
Ascorbate (vitamin C) can protect from oxidative damage to DNA and lipids that may lead to aging, cancer, and other dysfunctions. However, we find that purified human T cells deteriorate if maintained in ascorbate in culture for 18 hrs. or more; viability and Il-2 synthesis are over 90 percent curtailed by scorbate at 50 micrograms/ml. T cell proliferation and adhesion are severely suppressed at 10-25 micrograms/ml. Dihydro-ascorbate was much less toxic or suppressive. The suppressive effect of ascorbate appears irreversible, since removal of ascorbate after 18 hrs. did not restore the mitogenic response. Although moderate dietary levels of ascorbate often reach 250-1000 mg or more daily and appear beneficial, our data caution against sustained megadoses of ascorbate for treatment of patients with AIDS and cancer
Subject(s)
Humans , Ascorbic Acid/toxicity , T-Lymphocytes/drug effects , Cells, Cultured , DNA Damage/drug effects , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Interleukin-2/biosynthesis , Lipid Peroxidation , Cell Survival , Immune Tolerance , Lymphocyte ActivationSubject(s)
Child, Preschool , Child , Humans , Male , Female , Eye Health , Eye Diseases/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Se estudiaron 139 gestantes de alto, riesgo con fecha de última menstruación (FUM) conocida, a las que se les realizó ecografía y amniocentesis simultáneamente. Se estimó además la edad gestacional de los recién nascidos por el examen físico. Se realizaron correlaciones relacionando la edad gestacional calculada por FUM y las estimadas por: medida ecográfica del diámetro biparietal (DBP, parámetros del líquido amniótico (LA) y examen físico neonatal. En los recién nacidos de peso adecuado, el mejor estimador de la edad gestacional fue el DBP con un r = 0,87 y un error de estimación de 10 días. Con el examen físico neonatal se obtuvo un r = 0,80 y con LA de 0,37 con errores de estimación de 10 y 12 días respectivamente. En los recién nacisdos pequeños para su edad gestacional (PEG) los coeficientes de correlación encontrados entre edad gestacional por FUM, y LA y entre FUM y examen físico fueron de r = 0,42 y 5 = 0,67 con errores de estimación de 10 y 13 días respectivamente. El examen físico neonatal subestimó en casi 2 semanas la edad gestacional en el grupo de PEG, lo cual, puede motivar errores en la clasificación de los neonatos según peso y edad gestacional si la amenorrea que se considera es la obtenida por el examen físico en vez de la calculada por FUM