Production of a potential multistrain probiotic in co-culture conditions using agro-industrial by-products-based medium for fish nutrition.

BACKGROUND: Probiotics are viable microorganisms that when administered in adequate amounts confer health benefits to the host. In fish, probiotic administration has improved growth, and immunological parameters. For this reason, it is necessary production of probiotic bacteria, however, commercial culture mediums used for probiotic growth are expensive, so the design of a "low" cost culture medium is necessary. Therefore, this research aimed to produce a potential multistrain probiotic preparation composed of L. lactis A12 and Priestia species isolated from Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) gut using an agro-industrial by-products-based culture medium. RESULTS: A Box-Behnken design with three factors (whey, molasses, and yeast extract concentration) was used. As the main results, a high concentration of three components enhanced the viability of L. lactis A12, however, viable cell counts of Priestia species were achieved at low molasses concentrations. The Optimal conditions were 1.00% w/v whey, 0.50% w/v molasses, and 1.50% w/v yeast extract. L. lactis A12 and Priestia species viable counts were 9.43 and 6.89 Log10 CFU/mL, respectively. L. lactis A12 concentration was higher (p < 0.05) in the proposed medium compared to commercial broth. CONCLUSIONS: It was possible to produce L. lactis A12 and Priestia species in co-culture conditions. Whey and molasses were suitable components to produce the multistrain preparation. The cost of the proposed culture medium was 77.54% cheaper than the commercial medium. The proposed culture medium could be an alternative to commercial mediums for the production of this multistrain probiotic.

The relationship between positive and negative stress and posttraumatic growth in university students: the mediating role of resilience.

BACKGROUND: Information on understanding the mediating role of resilience in the relationship between posttraumatic growth (PTG) and positive and negative stress among students is limited. The objective of this research was to evaluate the mediating role of resilience in the relationship between positive and negative stress and PTG in university students. METHODS: The research was carried out using an associative strategy with an empirical approach and explanatory design, with a sample of 507 participants whose average age was 22.38 years ([Formula: see text]= 3.758), the sample was mostly composed of women (70.4%). RESULTS: The results allow us to describe that resilience plays a complete mediating role in the relationship between negative stress and PTG. On the other hand, mediation was partial when resilience mediated the relationship between positive stress and PTG. In addition, multigroup invariance analyses according to gender and geographic context show that there is no difference in males, females, and the region where they reside. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the hypothesis that resilience fulfills the mediating function is ratified.

Evaluation of dietary single probiotic isolates and probiotic multistrain consortia in growth performance, gut histology, gut microbiota, immune regulation, and infection resistance of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, shows superior monostrain performance.

The probiotic potential of a designed bacterial consortia isolated from a competitive exclusion culture originally obtained from the intestinal contents of tilapia juveniles were evaluated on Nile tilapia alevins. The growth performance, intestinal histology, microbiota effects, resistance to Streptococcus agalactiae challenge, and immune response were assessed. In addition, the following treatments were included in a commercial feed: A12+M4+M10 (Lactococcus lactis A12, Priestia megaterium M4, and Priestia sp. M10), M4+M10 (P. megaterium M4, and Priestia sp. M10) and the single bacteria as controls; A12 (L. lactis A12), M4 (P. megaterium M4), M10 (Priestia sp. M10), also a commercial feed without any probiotic addition was included as a control. The results showed that all probiotic treatments improved the growth performance, intestinal histology, and resistance during experimental infection with S. agalactiae in comparison to the control fish. Also, the administration of probiotics resulted in the modulation of genes associated with the innate and adaptive immune systems that were non-dependent on microbial colonization. Surprisingly, L. lactis A12 alone induced benefits in fish compared to the microbial consortia, showing the highest increase in growth rate, survival during experimental infection with S. agalactiae, increased intestinal fold length, and the number of differentially expressed genes. Lastly, we conclude that a competitive exclusion culture is a reliable source of probiotics, and monostrain L. lactis A12 has comparable or even greater probiotic potential than the bacterial consortia.

Rationale, formative research, and protocol for Calma, Conversa, y Cría: A pilot mindful parenting intervention with Latina women.

Background: Latina mothers' stress is associated with their children's health behaviors and risk for obesity; however, existing pediatric health promotion programs have not focused on maternal stress reduction. Methods: Herein we describe a study design that will examine the acceptability and feasibility of Calma, Conversa, y Cría (CCC) a 6-week mindful parenting intervention designed to reduce stress. We present the results of qualitative research with Latina mothers and experts in Latinx health and mindfulness who provided culturally-relevant feedback on existing mindful parenting strategies to inform the development of CCC. Fifty Latina mothers of children ages 3-11 years will be randomly assigned to CCC or an enhanced usual care health education intervention. Acceptability will be assessed through participant satisfaction surveys and exit interviews. Feasibility will be determined through detailed tracking of recruitment, retention, and attendance rates. A signal regarding any group differences in maternal stress, health-related parenting practices, child diet, child physical activity, and child quality of life will be explored. Discussion: The development of interventions that can reduce maternal stress and risk for obesity in Latinx children is critical to significantly reduce negative health impacts in this underserved population. Our approach includes the identification of effective cultural adaptations that should improve the feasibility and acceptability of mindful parenting strategies in Latinx families, ideally reducing maternal stress and improving parenting behaviors related to child health. If successful, CCC will be examined in a larger efficacy trial involving the measurement of objective biomarkers of children's chronic disease risk.

Seasonal variation in plastic litter pollution in mangroves from two remote tropical estuaries of the Colombian Pacific.

Mangroves in estuaries are highly vulnerable to the impacts of plastic litter pollution, because their location at river mouths and the high capacity of mangrove trees to trap plastic items. Here, we present new results on the abundance and characteristics of plastic litter during high and low rainfall seasons in mangrove waters and sediments of the Saija and Timbiqui River estuaries in the Colombian Pacific. In both estuaries, microplastics were the most common size (50-100 %), followed by mesoplastics (13-42 %) and macroplastics (0-8 %). Total abundances of plastic litter were higher during the high rainfall season (0.17-0.53 items/m-3 in surface waters and 764-832 items/m-2 in sediments), with a moderately positive relationship between plastic abundances recorded in both environmental matrices. The most common microplastics were foams and fragments. Continuous research and monitoring are required for a better understanding and management of these ecosystems and their threats.

Comprehensive Characterization of Oils and Fats of Six Species from the Colombian Amazon Region with Industrial Potential.

The Colombian Amazon is a megadiverse region with high potential for commercial use in the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries, constantly expanding and looking for new alternatives from natural resources; unfortunately, few characterization reports of its profitable non-timber species in Colombia have been conducted. This work aimed to perform a comprehensive analysis of traditionally used species: Carapa guianensis (Andiroba), Euterpe precatoria (Asai), Mauritia flexuosa (Miriti), Astrocaryum murumuru (Murumuru), Plukenetia volubilis (Sacha Inchi), and Caryodendron orinocense H.Karst (Cacay). For this purpose, oil and fat quality indices, phytosterol, carotenoid, tocopherol, and tocotrienol content, as well as density and refractive index, were measured to establish their quality level. Multivariate analysis showed four groups of samples; such differences were mainly due to the composition rather than quality indices and physical properties, especially the content of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. All species reported a precise composition, which makes them noninterchangeable, and Miriti oil arose as the most versatile ingredient for the industry. The Colombian Amazon region is a promising source of quality raw material, especially for oils/fats and unsaturated fatty acids; this resulted in the most interest for pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic purposes.

Environmental risk assessment of petrogenic hydrocarbon spills in mangrove ecosystems: the Tumaco case study as a baseline, Colombian Pacific.

Petrogenic hydrocarbon spills (PHS) are harmful to mangrove ecosystems along tropical coastlines in the short and long term. The aim of this study was to assess the environmental risk of recurrent PHS on mangrove ecosystems in Tumaco municipality, Colombian Pacific. Mangrove characteristics and management aspects led to subdividing the study area into 11 units-of-analysis (UAs) for which threats, vulnerability, potential impacts, and risks were assessed based on environmental factors and the formulation and use of indicators in a rating scale with five categories, which are very low, low, moderate, high, and very high. The results showed that all UAs are highly (64%; 15,525 ha) or moderately (36%; 4,464 ha) threatened by PHS, highly (45%; 13,478 ha) or moderately (55%; 6,511 ha) vulnerable to this kind of pollution, and susceptible to high (73%; 17,075 ha) or moderate (27%; 2,914 ha) potential impacts. The environmental risk was high in 73% (17,075 ha) of the UAs, indicating likely irreversible damage to mangrove ecosystems by PHS, thus pointing to the need of urgent intervention by responsible authorities to ease their recovery and conservation. The methodology and results of this study become technical inputs that serve for environmental control and monitoring, which can be incorporated into contingency and risk management plans.

Enfermería de práctica avanzada en atención primaria de la salud / Advanced practice nursing in primary health care

Introducción: La enfermería de práctica avanzada está constituida por los cuidados de calidad que brinda una enfermera experta en conocimientos y competencias clínicas, que le permite tomar decisiones complejas en beneficio de poblaciones vulnerables, por lo que es una actividad clave en la atención primaria de salud. Objetivo: Analizar la evidencia científica relacionada a las experiencias de la implementación de enfermería de práctica avanzada en la atención primaria de salud. Métodos: Revisión sistemática de artículos publicados entre el año 2010 al 2020 en bases de datos SciELO, LILACS, Science Direct, REDALYC, PubMed y Elsevier en idioma castellano, inglés y portugués, para lo cual se utilizó la metodología de Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Se aplicó el uso de los Descriptores en Ciencias de la Salud (DeCS), Descriptores MeSH y la combinación de los operadores booleanos OR y AND. Se revisaron 405 artículos y luego de aplicar los criterios de inclusión y exclusión se seleccionaron 15. Conclusiones: La mayoría de los estudios revisados respaldan la necesidad de potenciar el progresivo desarrollo de la Enfermería de Práctica Avanzada y su incorporación en el sistema de salud para responder a las necesidades de salud de la población, pese a que existen dificultades en su implementación en especial en la regulación y la formación(AU)

Introduction: Advanced practice nursing is made up of quality care provided by a nurse expert in clinical knowledge and skills, allowing her to make complex decisions for the benefit of vulnerable populations, which is why it is a key activity in primary health care. Objective: To analyze the scientific evidence related to the experiences of the implementation of advanced practice nursing in primary health care. Methods: Systematic review of articles published between 2010 and 2020 in SciELO, LILACS, Science Direct, REDALYC, PubMed and Elsevier databases in Spanish, English and Portuguese, for which the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic methodology was used. Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA); Likewise, the use of Descriptors in Health Sciences (DeCS), MeSH Descriptors and the combination of the Boolean operators OR and AND were applied. 405 articles were reviewed and after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 15 were selected. Conclusions: Most of the reviewed studies support the need to promote the progressive development of Advanced Practice Nursing and its incorporation into the health system to respond to the health needs of the population, despite the fact that there are difficulties in its implementation in especially in regulation and training(AU)

Estrategias de aprendizaje y logro de competencias genéricas en estudiantes de enfermería / Learning Strategies and Achievement of Generic Competencies in Nursing Students

Introducción: Los cambios en la educación acaecidos en el mundo debido a la pandemia por COVID-19 conllevan a la transformación de paradigmas en docentes y estudiantes, quienes deben asumir nuevas estrategias de aprendizaje para lograr las competencias establecidas en el perfil académico-profesional de enfermería y así abordar con calidad el cuidado del paciente. Objetivo: Describir las estrategias de aprendizaje y su relación con el logro de competencias genéricas en los estudiantes de enfermería de pregrado. Métodos: Estudio de enfoque cuantitativo, descriptivo, correlacional y transversal, realizado en la Escuela Profesional de Enfermería, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima-Perú, entre agosto-noviembre de 2020. La población fue de 96 estudiantes de enfermería. La técnica empleada fue la entrevista y los instrumentos aplicados fueron la escala de estrategias de aprendizaje ACRA, confiabilidad (0,869) y una escala tipo Likert para evaluar el logro de competencias genéricas, confiabilidad (0,986). Los datos fueron procesados mediante software IBM SPSS versión 25; para el análisis se utilizó estadística descriptiva y el método de Chi cuadrado de Pearson para la relación entre variables. Resultados: La prueba del Chi cuadrado de Pearson evidenció correlación significativa y fuerte entre ambas variables (p = 0,784). Las estudiantes de enfermería utilizan poco las estrategias de aprendizaje cognitivas (71,90 por ciento), metacognitivas (62,50 por ciento), y afectivas (74,30 por ciento); las competencias genéricas sistémicas (65,60 por ciento), instrumentales (58,30 por ciento) e interpersonales (63,50 por ciento) se encuentran en proceso de logro. Conclusiones: Se encontró relación significativa y fuerte entre las estrategias de aprendizaje y el logro de competencias genéricas de los estudiantes de enfermería de pregrado(AU)

Introduction: The changes in education that have occurred in the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic lead to the transformation of paradigms in teachers and students, who must assume new learning strategies to achieve the competencies established in the nursing academic-professional profile and thus approach patient care with quality. Objective: To describe learning strategies and their relationship with the achievement of generic competencies in undergraduate nursing students. Methods: A quantitative, descriptive, correlational and cross-sectional study was conducted at the Professional School of Nursing, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima-Peru, between August and November 2020. The population was 96 nursing students. The technique used was the interview and the instruments applied were the ACRA learning strategies scale, reliability (0.869) and a Likert-type scale to evaluate the achievement of generic competencies, reliability (0.986). The data were processed using IBM SPSS version 25 software; descriptive statistics and Pearson's Chi-square method for the relationship between variables were used for the analysis. Results: Pearson's Chi-square test showed a significant and strong correlation between both variables (p = 0.784). Cognitive (71.90 percent), metacognitive (62.50 percent), and affective (74.30 percent) learning strategies are little used by nursing students; systemic (65.60 percent), instrumental (58.30 percent), and interpersonal (63.50 percent) generic competencies are in the process of achievement. Conclusions: Significant and strong relationship was found between learning strategies and the achievement of generic competencies of undergraduate nursing students(AU)

A systematic review on microplastic pollution in water, sediments, and organisms from 50 coastal lagoons across the globe.

Coastal lagoons are transitional environments between continental and marine aquatic systems. Globally, coastal lagoons are of great ecological and socioeconomic importance as providers of valuable ecosystem services. However, these fragile environments are subject to several human pressures, including pollution by microplastics (MPs). The aim of this review was to identify and summarize advances in MP pollution research in coastal lagoons across the world. We consider peer-reviewed publications on this topic published in English and Spanish between 2000 and April 21, 2022, available in Scopus and Google Scholar. We found 57 publications with data on MP abundances and their characteristics in 50 coastal lagoons from around the world, 58% of which have some environmental protection status. The number of publications on this type of pollution in lagoons has increased significantly since 2019. Methodological differences amongst studies of MPs in coastal lagoons were nevertheless a limiting factor for wide-ranging comparisons. Most studies (77%) were conducted in single environmental compartments, and integration was limited, hampering current understanding of MP dynamics in such lagoons. MPs were more abundant in lagoons with highly populated shores and watersheds, which support intensive human activities. On the contrary, lagoons in natural protected areas had lower abundances of MPs, mostly in sediments and organisms. Fiber/filament and fragment shapes, and polyethylene, polyester, and polypropylene polymers were predominant. MPs had accumulated in certain areas of coastal lagoons, or had been exported to the sea, depending on the influence of seasonal weather, hydrodynamics, anthropogenic pressures, and typology of MPs. It is advised that future research on MP pollution in coastal lagoons should focus on methodological aspects, assessment/monitoring of pollution itself, MP dynamics and impacts, and prevention measures as part of a sound environmental management.

Influence of environmental variables on the spatiotemporal dynamics of water quality in Buenaventura Bay, Colombian Pacific.

Tropical estuaries are productive dynamic ecosystems where water quality is mediated by physicochemical and biological processes and by fluvial and anthropogenic discharges. The objective of the study was to determine the influence of environmental variables on the spatiotemporal dynamics of water quality in Buenaventura Bay, which is a highly impacted estuary. Sampling was carried out during the dry and rainy season, at three depths, in four stations that represent the environmental gradient of the bay. Temperature, total dissolved solids, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and pH were determined for each sample. In addition, alkalinity, phosphates, nitrites, and nitrates as indicators of water quality were also measured. The estuary was classified as meso- and polyhaline, with appropriate oxygen and pH conditions and spatiotemporal gradients of temperature and solids mediated by river discharges. Significant variations were found in the physicochemical variables by season, with maximum salinity, pH, and solids in the dry season and oxygen and temperature in the rainy season. Likewise, most of these environmental variables were higher in the outer zone of the estuary and lower in the inner stations. Alkalinity and nitrite values were within the permitted ranges, while phosphates and nitrates indicated low water quality. There was a significant direct influence of temperature and oxygen on alkalinity and nitrites. However, for phosphates, no significant influence of environmental variables was found, suggesting a greater influence by fluvial and anthropogenic discharges, which produce a decrease in the environmental quality of the estuary.

Relación entre adicción a Internet y madurez psicológica en adolescentes del Perú / Relationship between Internet Addiction and Psychological Maturity in Adolescents from Peru

Introducción: Internet es un recurso indispensable para las personas, permite acceder a contenidos académicos, comunicacionales, sociales y otros; sin embargo, su uso indiscriminado genera conductas antisociales, bajo rendimiento académico, inadecuadas relaciones interpersonales y costo social. Los adolescentes se encuentran en riesgo por estar en el proceso de madurez y desarrollo psicoemocional. Objetivo: Describir la relación entre la adicción a Internet y la madurez psicológica en adolescentes del Perú. Métodos: Estudio cuantitativo, diseño descriptivo correlacional, transversal en colegios de Lima, Cusco, Iquitos, Pucallpa, San Martin, Tacna y Tumbes, Lima-Perú, en el año 2019. Muestra de 1707 estudiantes de tercer, cuarto y quinto de secundaria. Se usó como técnica la encuesta y como instrumentos válidos y confiables el Test de Adicción a Internet y el Cuestionario de Madurez Psicológica. Los datos fueron procesados mediante programa Excel y SPSS versión 25. Para el análisis de datos se usó la estadística descriptiva e inferencial: Coeficiente de correlación de Pearson y U de Mann Whitney. Resultados: El nivel de adicción a Internet según dimensiones alcanzó nivel promedio en Costa, Sierra y Selva: tolerancia (57,67 por ciento, 56,08 por ciento, 38,78 por ciento), uso excesivo (58,20 por ciento, 42,91 por ciento, 44,27 por ciento), retirada (58,86 por ciento, 52,03 por ciento, 40,92 por ciento) y consecuencias negativas (59,13 por ciento, 52,71 por ciento, 49,31 por ciento); igualmente para madurez psicológica: orientación al trabajo (53,44 por ciento, 37,04 por ciento, 51,59 por ciento), autonomía (43,58, 34,46 por ciento, 45,95 por ciento) e identidad (65,50 por ciento, 53,74 por ciento, 57,25 por ciento). Conclusiones: Existe relación significativa e inversa entre la adicción a Internet y la madurez psicológica de los adolescentes, al igual que en todas sus dimensiones(AU)

Introduction: The Internet is an indispensable resource for people, since it allows access to academic, communicational, social and other contents. However, its indiscriminate use leads to antisocial behavior, poor academic performance and inadequate interpersonal relationships, as well as it has social costs. Adolescents are at risk because they are in the process of maturity and psychoemotional development. Objective: To describe the relationship between Internet addiction and psychological maturity in adolescents in Peru. Methods: Quantitative study, with a descriptive, correlational and cross-sectional design, carried out in 2019 in schools from Lima, Cusco, Iquitos, Pucallpa, San Martin, Tacna and Tumbes, Lima-Peru. The sample was made up of 1707 students in their third, fourth or fifth high school years. The survey was used as a technique, while the Internet Addiction Test and the Psychological Maturity Questionnaire were used as valid and reliable tools. The data were processed using Excel and the SPSS (version 25). Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis: Pearson's correlation coefficient and Mann-Whitney U. Results: Internet addiction, according to the analyzed dimensions, reached the average level in Costa, Sierra and Selva: tolerance (57.67 percent, 56.08 percent, 38.78 percent), excessive use (58.20 percent, 42.91 percent, 44.27 percent), withdrawal (58.86 percent, 52.03 percent, 40.92 percent) and negative consequences (59.13 percent, 52.71 percent, 49.31 percent). The same phenomenon manifested for psychological maturity: work orientation (53.44 percent, 37.04 percent, 51.59 percent), autonomy (43.58, 34.46 percent, 45.95 percent) and identity (65.50 percent, 53.74 percent, 57.25 percent). Conclusions: There is a significant and inverse relationship between Internet addiction and psychological maturity in adolescents, as well as in all its dimensions(AU)

Competitive Exclusion Bacterial Culture Derived from the Gut Microbiome of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) as a Resource to Efficiently Recover Probiotic Strains: Taxonomic, Genomic, and Functional Proof of Concept.

This study aims to mine a previously developed continuous-flow competitive exclusion culture (CFCEC) originating from the Tilapia gut microbiome as a rational and efficient autochthonous probiotic strain recovery source. Three isolated strains were tested on their adaptability to host gastrointestinal conditions, their antibacterial activities against aquaculture bacterial pathogens, and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns. Their genomes were fully sequenced, assembled, annotated, and relevant functions inferred, such as those related to pinpointed probiotic activities and phylogenomic comparative analyses to the closer reported strains/species relatives. The strains are possible candidates of novel genus/species taxa inside Lactococcus spp. and Priestia spp. (previously known as Bacillus spp.) These results were consistent with reports on strains inside these phyla exhibiting probiotic features, and the strains we found are expanding their known diversity. Furthermore, their pangenomes showed that these bacteria have indeed a set of so far uncharacterized genes that may play a role in the antagonism to competing strains or specific symbiotic adaptations to the fish host. In conclusion, CFCEC proved to effectively allow the enrichment and further pure culture isolation of strains with probiotic potential.

Conceptualización y percepción de enfermería sobre el cuidado del niño / Nursing Conceptualization and Perception about Child Care

Introducción: El cuidado es la esencia de enfermería y se fundamenta en la relación terapéutica enfermera-niño-familia, con abordaje integral en el contexto hospitalario. Objetivo: Discutir en base a la literatura cómo enfermería conceptualiza y percibe el cuidado del niño. Métodos: Revisión sistemática de artículos publicados entre 2010 y 2020 en las bases de datos SciELO, BVS, REDALYC, ERIC, Science Direct y LILACS. En la estrategia de búsqueda se utilizó el diagrama de flujo Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Se revisaron 275 artículos (español, portugués e inglés), tras aplicar criterios de inclusión y exclusión, se obtuvieron 20. Conclusiones: El cuidado del niño tiene diversas dimensiones para su comprensión: significado del cuidado, las competencias de la enfermera, la participación de la madre y los factores que intervienen en el cuidado, con una visión humanística e integradora, mediante una relación empática entre la enfermera-madre-niño, con conocimientos científicos actualizados, experticia en los procedimientos, aplicación de principios éticos y valores, la comprensión de la psicología infantil, gran sensibilidad humana y manejo del estrés, sin dejar de lado la familia y el juego terapéutico(AU)

Introduction: Care is the essence of nursing and is based on the nurse-child-family therapeutic relationship, with a comprehensive approach in the hospital setting. Objective: To discuss, based on the scientific literature, how nursing conceptualizes and perceives child care. Methods: A systematic review was carried out of articles published between 2010 and 2020 in the SciELO, BVS, REDALYC, ERIC, Science Direct and LILACS databases. The PRISMA flowchart (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses) was used in the search strategy. A total of 275 articles published in Spanish, Portuguese and English were reviewed. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, twenty articles were chosen. Conclusions: Child care has several dimensions for its understanding: meaning of care, the nurse's competences, the mother's participation, and factors involved in care; with a humanistic and integrative vision, through an empathic nurse-mother-child relationship, with updated scientific knowledge, expertise in procedures, application of ethical principles and values, understanding of child psychology, great human sensitivity and stress management, without neglecting the family and therapeutic play(AU)

Microplastic pollution in water, sediments and commercial fish species from Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta lagoon complex, Colombian Caribbean.

Microplastics are emerging pollutants that have been found in different environmental matrices of marine and coastal ecosystems, where they can generate harmful ecological impacts. Little is known about the current state of microplastic pollution in fragile tropical lagoon ecosystems, such as Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta (CGSM) in the Caribbean coast of Colombia. This study assesses microplastic pollution in surface waters and sediments, and the occurrence of microplastic ingestion in commercially important fish species from CGSM. In waters, microplastic abundances ranged from 0.0 to 0.3 items L-1 while in sediments they varied from 0.0 to 3.1 items kg-1. The most abundant types of microplastics are fibers and fragments, with polypropylene, polyethylene and high-density polyethylene as the most abundant polymers. Also, 100 (i.e. 21.1%) out of 474 individuals from nine fish species had microplastics in their digestive tracts. Microplastics present in water and sediments and in the digestive tract of the analyzed fish species have similar characteristics, also showing a moderate and statistically significant association. Microplastic abundances are higher near river mouths and in urban areas with a high density of fishing activities and aquaculture infrastructures, which are important sources of contaminants. Microplastic pollution in CGSM represents a threat to the lagoon ecosystem and to local people depending on artisanal fishing. Consequently, effective actions to reduce pollution and its socio-environmental impacts are urgently required.

Probiotics in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) culture: Potential probiotic Lactococcus lactis culture conditions.

Tilapia is one of the most extensively farmed fish on a global scale. Lately, many studies have been carried out to select and produce probiotics for cultured fish. Bacteria from the genera Bacillus, Lactiplantibacillus (synonym: Lactobacillus), and Lactococcus are the most widely studied with respect to their probiotic potential. Among these microorganisms, Lactococcus lactis has outstanding prospects as a probiotic because it is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) and has previously been shown to exert its probiotic potential in aquaculture through different mechanisms, such as competitively excluding pathogenic bacteria, increasing food nutritional value, and enhancing the host immune response against pathogenic microorganisms. However, it is not sufficient to simply select a microorganism with significant probiotic potential for commercial probiotic development. There are additional challenges related to strategies involving the mass production of bacterial cultures, including the selection of production variables that positively influence microorganism metabolism. Over the last ten years, L. lactis production in batch and fed-batch processes has been studied to evaluate the effects of culture temperature and pH on bacterial growth. However, to gain a deeper understanding of the production processes, the effect of hydrodynamic stress on cells in bioreactor production and its influence on the probiotic potential post-manufacturing also need to be determined. This review explores the trends in tilapia culture, the probiotic mechanisms employed by L. lactis in aquaculture, and the essential parameters for the optimal scale-up of this probiotic.

Multispectral Imaging for Hemoglobin Estimation by PCA.

Tissular blood perfusion is helpful to assess the health condition of a subject and even monitor superficial lesions. Current state of the art is focused on developing non-invasive, quantitative and accessible methods for blood flow monitoring in large areas. This paper presents an approach based on multispectral images on the VIS-NIR range to quantify blood perfusion. Our goal is to estimate the changes in deoxygenated hemoglobin. To do so, we employ principal component analysis followed by a linear regression model. The proposal was evaluated using in-vivo data from a vascular occlusion protocol, and the results were validated against photoplethysmography measurements. Although the number of subjects in the protocol was limited, our model made a prediction with an average similarity of 91.53% with a mean R-squared adjusted of 0.8104.

Factores laborales y nivel de estrés en enfermeras de centro quirúrgico / Work Factors and Stress Level in Nurses in a Surgical Center

Introducción: El estrés laboral es una reacción frente a exigencias y presiones en el trabajo que afecta la salud psicológica y física de la enfermera y repercute en la calidad del cuidado que brinda a los pacientes. Objetivo: Describir los factores laborales y su relación con el nivel de estrés laboral de las enfermeras de centro quirúrgico. Métodos: Investigación descriptiva-correlacional, en el Hospital Guillermo Almenara Irigoyen durante 2017. Población de 92 enfermeras del centro quirúrgico y la muestra de 70. Instrumentos: cuestionario adaptado de Fornés y la escala de estrés de enfermería, válidas y confiables para evaluar factores laborales y nivel de estrés laboral respectivamente, previo consentimiento informado. Los datos fueron procesados con software IBM SPSS versión 25; para el análisis se utilizó estadística descriptiva y el método de chi2 cuadrado de Pearson. Resultados: De la muestra, 100,00 por ciento pertenecía al sexo femenino, 41,42 % más de 50 años, 60,00 por ciento eran contratadas y 47,14 por ciento contaban con más de 20 años laborando. Los factores laborales relacionados al estrés estaban presentes en 52,85 por ciento, ambientales: temperatura inadecuada (67,10 por ciento), organizativos: sobrecarga de trabajo (78,60 por ciento) y clima organizacional poco saludable (64,30 por ciento), sobre factores de presión, exigencia y contenido: supervisión y control excesivo de las tareas (74,30 por ciento) y ritmo de trabajo exigente (54,30 por ciento). La prueba de chi cuadrado (X2) dio como resultado 4,14. Conclusiones: Existe relación significativa solo entre factores laborales de presión, exigencia y contenido del trabajo con el nivel de estrés de las enfermeras(AU)

Introduction: Work stress is a reaction to demands and pressures at work, affecting the psychological and physical health of the nurse and, the quality of care provided to patients. Objective: To describe the work factors and their relationship with the level of work stress of nurses in a surgical center. Methods: This is a descriptive-correlational research of nurses from the Surgical Center at Guillermo Almenara Irigoyen Hospital during 2017. The sample was 70 nurses out a population of 92. A questionnaire from Fornes was adapted and the nursing stress scale was used, since it is valid and reliable to evaluate work factors and level of work stress respectively, with prior informed consent. The data were processed with IBM SPSS version 25 software; descriptive statistics and Pearson's chi2 square method were used for the analysis. Results: Out of the sample, 100.00 percent were female, 41.42 percent were over 50 years old, 60.00 percent were hired and 47.14 percent had more than 20 years working. Work factors related to stress were present in 52.85 percent. Inadequate temperature was the significant environmental factor in 67.10 percent, work overload as organizational factor highlighted in 78.60 percent and unhealthy organizational climate resulted in 64.30 percent. Concerning factors such as pressure, demand and content, 74.30 percent reported excessive supervision and control of tasks and 54.30 percent reported demanding work place. The chi square test (X2) gave the result 4.14. Conclusions: There is significant relationship only between work pressure factors, demand and work content with the stress level of the nurses(AU)

Sedimentary record of the impact of management actions on pollution of Cartagena bay, Colombia.

The reconstruction of pollution in aquatic ecosystems is a useful tool to evaluate the effectiveness of management actions. Cartagena Bay (Colombia, Caribbean Sea) is one of the most impacted coastal zones in Colombia by a wide variety of human activities. A sediment core was dated using 210Pb and used to reconstruct the historical input of heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and organochlorinated pesticides to the bay. The highest pollutant concentrations were observed in the deeper core layers. The maximum mercury concentration (18.76 µg g-1) was observed at 61 cm depth, corresponding to 1967, when a chlor-alkali plant was operating. Since all pollutant concentrations have decreased due to better industrial management policies, their presence is a potential contamination risk through sediment remobilization and pollutant resuspension.

Marine litter pollution in mangrove forests from Providencia and Santa Catalina islands, after Hurricane IOTA path in the Colombian Caribbean.

Marine litter in mangroves comes mainly from poor waste management practices and its abundance is increased by natural catastrophes occurrence that affects coastal settlements, as occurred in November-2020, when two hurricanes (ETA and IOTA) destroyed homes and deposited litters in mangroves of the Providencia and Santa Catalina islands, in the Colombian Caribbean. This study aims to assess the litter pollution in mangrove forests of these islands after Hurricane IOTA. Litter pollution was high in mangroves near urban areas and low in mangroves with little urban influence. In three mangrove sectors with high pollution, litter densities of 0.4-1.4 items m-2 and masses of 0.1-1.2 kg m-2 were determined; the majority were megalitter (sizes >1 m). Plastics were the most abundant (>60%). Local community is aware of the litter pollution problem and their participation in scientific research and mangroves recovery is key to understanding the impacts of natural and anthropogenic events and for ecosystem conservation.