How did coronavirus disease 2019 affect autonomic balance in young individuals? Analysis by heart rate variability

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to demonstrate the effect of coronavirus disease 2019 on the cardiovascular autonomic system using heart rate variability in young individuals. METHODS: The study was designed retrospectively by scanning the 24-h Holter electrocardiography records of patients who applied to the Ankara Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Oncology Education and Research Hospital Cardiology outpatient clinic. The study group consisted of 492 patients under the age of 40 years, who did not have additional comorbidities or medication use and had prolonged symptoms after coronavirus disease 2019 during the pandemic. The control group, including 401 patients, was determined during the pre-pandemic period (before December 2019). Heart rate variability parameters were evaluated by scanning the 24-h Holter electrocardiography records of the patients and compared with the non-coronavirus disease 2019 group. RESULTS: The median age of participants was 30 years. Standard deviation of normal RR intervals (SDNN) ≤100 ms was more prevalent in the study group (27 (6.7%) vs 73 (14.8%), p<0.001). In univariate logistic regression analysis, the presence of coronavirus disease 2019 [(OR 2.41, 95%CI 1.52-3.83), p<0.001] and age [(OR 1.04, 95%CI 1.01-1.07), p=0.016] had a significant effect on the probability of SDNN≤100. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, the presence of coronavirus disease 2019 [(OR 2.42, 95%CI 1.52-3.85), p<0.001] and age [(OR 2.42, 95%CI 1.52-3.85), p=0.016] had a significant effect on the probability of SDNN≤100. Frequency domain measures such as, high-frequency values were significantly higher in the study group (p=0.029). The study group's low-frequency/high frequency ratio was significantly lower (p=0.019). The low-frequency/high-frequency ratio's cut-off value was ≤2.77. for determining the differentiation between coronavirus disease 2019 positive and negative cases in the receiver operating characteristic analysis. The sensitivity rate was 80.7%. The area under the curve value is 0.546 (p=0.019). CONCLUSION: This study showed that coronavirus disease 2019 causes reduced heart rate variability and increased parasympathetic activity in young patients. This may explain the prolonged symptoms after coronavirus disease 2019 infection.

Dynamical robustness of a Boolean model for the human gonadal sex determination.

Gonadal sex determination (GSD) is a complex but poorly understood process in the early stages of embryonic development. This process determines whether the bipotential gonadal primordium (BGP) will differentiate into testes or ovaries through the activation of genetic factors related to Sertoli or Granulosa cells, respectively. The study of this developmental process remains challenging due to experimental limitations and the complexity of the underlying genetic interactions. Boolean Networks (BNs) are binary networks that simulate genetic behavior and are commonly used for modeling gene regulatory networks (GRNs) due to their simplicity when dealing with a high number of gene interactions. Reported BNs usually use a synchronous (parallel) update scheme, which means that all the nodes (representing genes) update their values simultaneously. However, the use of this update scheme has been criticized because it cannot represent biological systems that are highly regulated at a temporal scale. Asynchronous and block-sequential updating schemes appear as an alternative to tackle this issue. In the first case, the updating scheme follows a random behavior while, in the second case, the set of network nodes is partitioned into blocks such that the nodes within a block are updated simultaneously, and the blocks are considered in a specific order sequence. To assess the impact of different updating approaches in a GRN associated to GSD we first made a node reduction without losing the main dynamics of the original network which are related to the formation of testes and ovaries. Then, we tested the effect of perturbations given by the inactivation of genes on the network attractors, specifically the SRY and WNT4 genes, since the former is only present in the Y chromosome and the latter is of importance in early embryo development. We found that both genes were crucial, but WNT4 alone showed a higher percentage of attractors towards a phenotype than the SRY alone. Finally, we found that using asynchronous and block-sequential updating schemes, the attraction basins - i.e., the set of configurations that reach an attractor - remain with similar percentages to those of the original network, which supports the robustness of the model.

ASSESSEMENT OF BONE AGE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE SAUVEGRAIN AND GREULICH AND PYLE METHODS.

Objective: To evaluate the intra and inter observer agreement of the Sauvegrain, Greulich and Pyle methods. Material and methods: This is an observational, retrospective and cross-sectional study ethically approved by opinion 6,192,391. 100 radiographic images of the elbow and 100 of the left wrist and hand were collected from children whose images were selected by a researcher who did not carry out the evaluations. The Sauvegrain, Greulich and Pyle methods were used to determine bone age. We provided a detailed explanation of each method and the evaluators received a file with the study images. After three weeks, the exams were randomized and the radiograms were reevaluated. Of the 100 patients in group A, 61 (61%) were boys and 39 (39%) were girls. In group B, 67 (67%) were boys and 33 (33%) were girls. Four statistical analyzes were used: correlation; intraclass correlation; analysis using the Bland-Altman graph; differences between groups. Results: Intra and interobserver agreement between groups was considered excellent. Conclusions: Despite the excellent agreement, group A presented a significantly better value than B. Biological ages show a greater difference compared to chronological ages in group A. In group B, skeletal and chronological ages do not show statistical difference according to the accuracy test. Level of Evidence III, Cross-Sectional Observational Study.

Objetivo: Avaliar a concordância intra e interobservadores dos métodos de Sauvegrain e Greulich e Pyle. Material e métodos: Trata-se de um estudo observacional, retrospectivo e transversal, aprovado eticamente pelo parecer 6.192.391. Foram coletadas cem imagens radiográficas do cotovelo e cem do punho e mão esquerdos de crianças, selecionadas por um pesquisador que não realizou as avaliações. Utilizou-se os métodos de Sauvegrain e Greulich e Pyle para determinar a idade óssea. Uma explicação detalhada de cada método foi realizada, e os avaliadores receberam um arquivo com as imagens do estudo. Após três semanas, os exames foram randomizados e os radiogramas reavaliados. Dos cem pacientes do grupo A, 61(61%) eram meninos e 39(39%) meninas. No grupo B, 67(67%) eram meninos e 33(33%) meninas. Quatro análises estatísticas foram utilizadas: correlação; correlação intraclasse; análise pelo gráfico de Bland-Altman; e diferenças entre grupos. Resultados: A concordância intra e interobservador entre os grupos foi considerada excelente. Conclusões: Apesar da concordância excelente, o grupo A apresentou valor significantemente melhor que o B. As idades biológicas apresentam maior diferença frente as idades cronológicas no grupo A. No grupo B, as idades esqueléticas e cronológicas não apresentam diferença estatística segundo o teste de acurácia. Level of Evidence III, Cross-Sectional Observational Study .

Determination of toxicological relevant arsenic species in urine by hydride generation microwave-induced plasma optical emission spectrometry.

An analytical method for the determination of toxicological relevant species of arsenic in urine was developed and validated using hydride generation microwave-induced emission spectrometry (HG-MP-AES). This strategy can be used as an alternative to HG-HPLC-ICP-MS considered as a reference technique for arsenic speciation. This procedure is notably less expensive than other techniques and sample preparation and requires only a few steps.•Hydride generation with MP-AES detection has proven to be an effective technique for measuring arsenic metabolites in urine, which is relevant for occupational monitoring and health risk assessment purposes.•This method offers simplicity and cost-effectiveness, serving as an alternative to classical analytical procedures typically used for arsenic analysis in urine.•The methodology has been successfully applied for the purpose of workers' health surveillance.

Determining Sex from Thai Radius: Discriminant Function Analysis Including the Dry Bone Weight as an Effective Variant / Determinación del Sexo a Partir del Radio Tailandés: Análisis de Función Discriminante que Incluye el Peso del Hueso Seco como Variante Eficaz

SUMMARY: In forensic anthropology, the radius bone has been shown to determine the sex of human remains in a number of different populations. The dry mass and growth of long bones, including the radius, are associated with sex hormone levels; however, the use of bone weight to determine sex has not been sufficiently investigated. The aim of this study was to apply bone morphometric parameters, including maximum length of radius (MLR), circumference at the midshaft of radius (CMR), and weight of radius (WR), to 400 sample radii from a Northeastern Thai population. Univariate and multivariate discriminant functions of all parameters were systemically applied. Equations for calculating sex classification were also determined. Descriptive data analysis showed significant sexual dimorphism in all variables (p < 0.05). The canonical correlation was highest in CMR (0.772) and the ratio of weight to length (0.747). Multivariate discriminant function analysis showed that the measured indices of the right radius were slightly greater than those of the left radius. The parameters demonstrating the highest values of the standardized canonical discriminant function coefficients were CMR (Rt. = 0.496, Lt. 0.431) and WR (Rt. = 0.681, Lt. = 0.715). Moreover, the results of the multivariable (stepwise method) indicated that the best accuracy rates for using combinations of CMR and WR were 94 % (right side) and 92 % (left side). In conclusion, the weight of the radius (rather than the length) is an effective parameter in determining sex.

En antropología forense, se ha demostrado que el hueso radio determina el sexo de los restos humanos en varias poblaciones diferentes. La masa seca y el crecimiento de los huesos largos, incluido el radio, están asociados con los niveles de hormonas sexuales; sin embargo, el uso del peso de los huesos para determinar el sexo no se ha investigado suficientemente. El objetivo de este estudio fue aplicar parámetros morfométricos óseos, incluida la longitud máxima del radio (LMR), la circunferencia en la mitad del radio (CMR) y el peso del radio (PR), a 400 radios de muestra de una población del noreste de Tailandia. Se aplicaron sistémicamente funciones discriminantes univariadas y multivariadas de todos los parámetros. También se determinaron ecuaciones para calcular la clasificación por sexo. El análisis descriptivo de los datos mostró un dimorfismo sexual significativo en todas las variables (p < 0,05). La correlación canónica fue mayor en CMR (0,772) y la relación peso-longitud (0,747). El análisis de función discriminante multivariante mostró que los índices del radio derecho eran ligeramente mayores que los del radio izquierdo. Los parámetros que demostraron los valores más altos de los coeficientes de la función discriminante canónica estandarizada fueron CMR (Rt. = 0,496, Lt. 0,431) y PR (Rt. = 0,681, Lt. = 0,715). Además, los resultados del método multivariable (método paso a paso) indicaron que las mejores tasas de precisión al usar combinaciones de CMR y PR fueron del 94 % (lado derecho) y del 92 % (lado izquierdo). En conclusión, el peso del radio (más que la longitud) es un parámetro eficaz para determinar el sexo.

Sex Determination from the Patella in a Thai Population / Determinación del Sexo a Partir de la Rótula en una Población Tailandesa

SUMMARY: The aim of this study was to derive the equations for sex determination and to test the accuracy of discrimination between sexes using measurements of the patella in the Thai population. The sample comprised 254 Thai skeletons (134 males and 120 females) aged between 22 and 97 years, with an average age of 63.3years, obtained from the Osteology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai. Six variables were measured in 254 pairs of normal patellae. The mean values of patellar measurements in males were significantly greater than those in females for all variables (P<0.05). Statistical analysis further showed that all variables were useful in sex determination. Stepwise discriminant function analysis yielded an accuracy of 83.2 % (83.8 % male, 82.5 % female) and 85.5 % (85.3 % male, 85.8 % female) for the left and right patellae, respectively. These results suggested that measurement of the right patella is preferable for skeletal sexing. If this is not available, the forensic specialist can use the left patella instead, with an average accuracy of more than 80.0 % in giving a correct classification. The findings of this study demonstrate that the patella is an important bone in sex determination. They suggest that either the left or right patella can be used for sex determination, especially in the Northern Thai population.

El objetivo de este estudio fue derivar las ecuaciones para la determinación del sexo y probar la precisión de la discriminación entre sexos utilizando mediciones de la patela en la población tailandesa. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 254 esqueletos tailandeses (134 hombres y 120 mujeres) con edades comprendidas entre 22 y 97 años, con una edad promedio de 63,3 años, del Centro de Investigación y Capacitación en Osteología de la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad de Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai. Se midieron seis variables en 254 pares de patelas normales. Los valores medios de las mediciones patelares en los hombres fueron significativamente mayores que los de las mujeres, para todas las variables (P <0,05). Además, el análisis estadístico mostró que todas las variables fueron útiles para la determinación del sexo. El análisis de la función discriminante por pasos arrojó una precisión del 83,2 % (83,8 % hombres, 82,5 % mujeres) y 85,5 % (85,3 % hombres, 85,8 % mujeres) para las patelas izquierda y derecha, respectivamente. Estos resultados sugieren que la medición de la patela derecha es preferible para la determinación del sexo en esqueletos. En caso de no estar disponible y para dar una clasificación correcta, el especialista forense puede utilizar la patela izquierda, con una precisión promedio de más del 80,0 %. Los hallazgos de este estudio demuestran que la patela es un hueso importante en la determinación del sexo. Se sugiere que se pueda utilizar la patela izquierda o derecha para determinar el sexo, especialmente en la población del norte de Tailandia.

Machine Learning Algorithms for Sex Classification by Using Variables of Orbital Structures: A Computed Tomography Study / Algoritmos de Aprendizaje Automático para la Clasificación del Sexo Mediante el Uso de Variables de Estructuras Orbitales: Un Estudio de Tomografía Computarizada

SUMMARY: Since machine learning algorithms give more reliable results, they have been used in the field of health in recent years. The orbital variables give very successful results in classifying sex correctly. This research has focused on sex determination using certain variables obtained from the orbital images of the computerized tomography (CT) by using machine learning algorithms (ML). In this study 12 variables determined on 600 orbital images of 300 individuals (150 men and 150 women) were tested with different ML. Decision tree (DT), K-Nearest Neighbour (KNN), Logistic Regression (LR), Random Forest (RF), Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), and Naive Bayes (NB) algorithms of ML were used for unsupervised learning. Statistical analyses of the variables were conducted with Minitab® 21.2 (64-bit) program. ACC rate of NB, DT, KNN, and LR algorithms was found as % 83 while the ACC rate of LDA and RFC algorithms was determined as % 85. According to Shap analysis, the variable with the highest degree of effect was found as BOW. The study has determined the sex with high accuracy at the ratios of 0.83 and 0.85 through using the variables of the orbital CT images, and the related morphometric data of the population under question was acquired, emphasizing the racial variation.

Dado que los algoritmos de aprendizaje automático dan resultados más fiables, en los últimos años han sido utilizados en el campo de la salud. Las variables orbitales dan resultados muy exitosos a la hora de clasificar correctamente el sexo. Esta investigación se ha centrado en la determinación del sexo utilizando determinadas variables obtenidas a partir de las imágenes orbitales de la tomografía computarizada (TC) mediante el uso de algoritmos de aprendizaje automático (AA). En este estudio se probaron 12 variables determinadas en 600 imágenes orbitales de 300 individuos (150 hombres y 150 mujeres) con diferentes AA. Se utilizaron algoritmos de AA de árbol de decisión (DT), K-Nearest Neighbour, regresión logística (RL), Random Forest (RF), análisis discriminante lineal (ADL) y Naive Bayes (NB) para el aprendizaje no supervisado. Los análisis estadísticos de las variables se realizaron con el programa Minitab® 21.2 (64 bits). La tasa de ACC de los algoritmos NB, DT, KNN y RL se encontró en % 83, mientras que la tasa de ACC de los algoritmos ADL y RFC se determinó en % 85. Según el análisis de Sharp, la variable con el mayor grado de efecto se encontró como BOW. El estudio determinó el sexo con alta precisión en las proporciones de 0,83 y 0,85 mediante el uso de las variables de las imágenes de TC orbitales, y se adquirieron los datos morfométricos relacionados de la población en cuestión, enfatizando la variación racial.

Accuracy of geometric morphometrics for age estimation using frontal face photographs of children and adolescents: A promising method for forensic practice.

Age estimation is crucial in legal and humanitarian contexts. Forensic professionals may use various procedures to estimate age, including dental analysis, bone density tests, evaluation of physical characteristics including facial bone structure and development, and image-based methods. Although images are often the only material available, visual observation of photographic material is an imprecise method in age estimation, which can compromise judicial decision-making. Analyzing 4000 photographs from the Brazilian Federal Police database, representing four age groups (6, 10, 14, and 18 years), the study employed automated analysis by marking 28 photogrammetric points. Data were used to establish facial patterns by age and sex using the facial geometric morphometrics method. Performance was assessed through a Multinomial Logistic Regression model, evaluating accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity across the categorical age groups. Analyses were conducted using R software, with a 5 % significance level. The study found that facial geometric morphometrics achieved an overall accuracy of 69.3 % in age discrimination, with higher accuracy in males (74.7 %) compared to females (65.8 %) (p < 0.001). The method excelled at predicting the age of 6-year-olds with 87.3 % sensitivity and 95.6 % specificity but had lower performance at 14 years. It showed greater accuracy in distinguishing age groups with larger age gaps, achieving up to 99.5 % accuracy between certain groups, and was particularly effective in differentiating ages of 6 and 10 years in females and 10, 14, and 18 years in males. The facial geometric morphometrics emerges as a promising approach for age estimation among children and adolescents in forensic settings.

Effect of temperature on gonadal differentiation and growth of Leporinus friderici.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of temperature on gonadal differentiation, growth, survival, and sex ratio of Leporinus friderici reared at 25 °C or 29 °C from 50 to 240 days after eclosion (DAE) in a water recirculation system. A total of 110 fish at 50 DAE (6.7 ± 0.1 cm and 6.1 ± 0.3 g) were equally and randomly distributed in 10 boxes (90 L) (11 fish/box, 5 boxes/temperature). One fish from each experimental unit was randomly sampled at 50, 70, 90, 110, 130, 150, 170, 190, 210 and 240 DAE. Female gonadal differentiation started at 150 DAE (11.4 ± 0.0 cm and 16.4 ± 0.0 g) at 25 °C and at 170 DAE (10.7 ± 0.7 cm and 27.7 ± 8.5 g) at 29 ºC, while testes differentiation only occurred at 29 °C from 190 DAE (12.1 ± 0.0 cm and 38.0 ± 0.0 g). Of 50 fishes sampled in each condition, 17 (12 females and five males) and three (three females) displayed gonadal differentiation at 29 °C and 25 °C, respectively. Final biometric values at 29 °C were twice those obtained at 25 °C, reaching 13.9 ± 0.65 cm and 57.3 ± 10.12 g versus 11.2 ± 0.39 cm and 28.5 ± 2.95 g, respectively. While temperature clearly influenced gonadal differentiation and growth, it had inconclusive effects on sex ratio. The higher temperature (29 °C) has direct implications for the production of this species, as it accelerates growth without causing mortality.

Lifestyles associated with malaria in pregnancy in northwest Colombia: a mixed study from Latin American critical epidemiology.

BACKGROUND: In the scientific literature on Malaria in Pregnancy (MiP), no studies have been conducted on lifestyles based on critical theory. The objective of this study was to analyse the lifestyles or singular processes of social determination of health in MiP in northwestern Colombia. METHODS: Mixed QUAN-QUAL convergent triangulation study. In the quantitative component, a psychometric evaluation and a cross-sectional design were conducted in 400 pregnant women to whom the Pender-Walker lifestyle scale and a survey on MiP prevention were applied. In the qualitative study, a critical ethnography was conducted with 46 pregnant women in whom their narratives and practices regarding lifestyles at home and healthcare were described. RESULTS: The frequency of MiP was 9%, and a higher occurrence of the disease was identified in those who did not control stagnant water (29%), did not use insecticide-treated net (16%) and went to the hospital (14%) or the microscopist (20%) when they had fever. This coincides with the presence of unhealthy lifestyles, little knowledge about malaria, and a low perception of the risk of getting sick, as well as meanings and experiences about MiP, maternity, and pregnancy that show a high clinical, cultural, and socioeconomic burden for the women studied. CONCLUSION: This epidemiological profile and the approach to lifestyles based on the postulates of critical theory in health evidence that pregnant women exposed to malaria suffer serious social, cultural and health injustices that are not possible to impact with the current health model of malaria control in Colombia guided by aetiopathogenic, biomedical, positivist and utilitarian theories.

A qPCR Assay for the Quantification of Selected Genotypic Variants of Spodoptera frugiperda Multiple Nucleopolyhedrovirus (Baculoviridae).

Alphabaculoviruses are lethal dsDNA viruses of Lepidoptera that have high genetic diversity and are transmitted in aggregates within proteinaceous occlusion bodies. This mode of transmission has implications for their efficacy as biological insecticides. A Nicaraguan isolate of Spodoptera frugiperda multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (SfMNPV-NIC) comprising nine genotypic variants has been the subject of considerable study due to the influence of variant interactions on the insecticidal properties of mixed-variant occlusion bodies. As part of a systematic study on the replication and transmission of variant mixtures, a tool for the accurate quantification of a selection of genotypic variants was developed based on the quantitative PCR technique (qPCR). First, primer pairs were designed around a region of high variability in four variants named SfNic-A, SfNic-B, SfNic-C and SfNic-E to produce amplicons of 103-150 bp. Then, using cloned purified amplicons as standards, amplification was demonstrated over a dynamic range of 108-101 copies of each target. The assay was efficient (mean ± SD: 98.5 ± 0.8%), reproducible, as shown by low inter- and intra-assay coefficients of variation (<5%), and specific to the target variants (99.7-100% specificity across variants). The quantification method was validated on mixtures of genotype-specific amplicons and demonstrated accurate quantification. Finally, mixtures of the four variants were quantified based on mixtures of budded virions and mixtures of DNA extracted from occlusion-derived virions. In both cases, mixed-variant preparations compared favorably to total viral genome numbers by quantification of the polyhedrin (polh) gene that is present in all variants. This technique should prove invaluable in elucidating the influence of variant diversity on the transmission and insecticidal characteristics of this pathogen.

Anodic stripping voltammetry of arsenic determination with edible mushroom-nafion-modified glassy carbon electrode.

An edible Mushroom-Nafion modified glassy carbon electrode (M2N5-GCE) was prepared using a homogeneous mixture varying the concentrations of these, in addition to the origin of the mushroom (Shiitake, Lentinula edodes, M1 and Abrantes, Agariscus bisporus, M2) and applied to the As(III) determination by anodic stripping voltammetry. After choosing the optimal conditions in the preparation of the electrode, the second stage was to study the effects of various parameters such as supporting electrolyte, pH, accumulation potential, and time (Eacc, tacc). The optimum experimental conditions chosen were Britton Robinson buffer 0.01 mol L-1 pH:4.6; Eacc: -1.0 and tacc: 60 s obtaining a signal of oxidation of As(0) to As(III) about 0.08 V. Peak current was proportional to arsenic concentration over the 19.6-117.6 µg L-1 range, with a 3σ detection limit of 13.4 µg L-1. The method was validated using As(III) spiked tap water from the laboratory with satisfactory results (RE:3.0 %). Finally, the method was applied to the determination of As(III) in water samples from the Loa River (Northern Chile) in the presence of As(V) in a concentration >20 times higher (RE: 2.3 %).

Automatic segmentation and classification of frontal sinuses for sex determination from CBCT scans using a two-stage anatomy-guided attention network.

Sex determination is essential for identifying unidentified individuals, particularly in forensic contexts. Traditional methods for sex determination involve manual measurements of skeletal features on CBCT scans. However, these manual measurements are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and error-prone. The purpose of this study was to automatically and accurately determine sex on a CBCT scan using a two-stage anatomy-guided attention network (SDetNet). SDetNet consisted of a 2D frontal sinus segmentation network (FSNet) and a 3D anatomy-guided attention network (SDNet). FSNet segmented frontal sinus regions in the CBCT images and extracted regions of interest (ROIs) near them. Then, the ROIs were fed into SDNet to predict sex accurately. To improve sex determination performance, we proposed multi-channel inputs (MSIs) and an anatomy-guided attention module (AGAM), which encouraged SDetNet to learn differences in the anatomical context of the frontal sinus between males and females. SDetNet showed superior sex determination performance in the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, accuracy, Brier score, and specificity compared with the other 3D CNNs. Moreover, the results of ablation studies showed a notable improvement in sex determination with the embedding of both MSI and AGAM. Consequently, SDetNet demonstrated automatic and accurate sex determination by learning the anatomical context information of the frontal sinus on CBCT scans.

Microencapsulation of vitamins: A review and meta-analysis of coating materials, release and food fortification.

Vitamins are responsible for providing biological properties to the human body; however, their instability under certain environmental conditions limits their utilization in the food industry. The objective was to conduct a systematic review on the use of biopolymers and lipid bases in microencapsulation processes, assessing their impact on the stability, controlled release, and viability of fortified foods with microencapsulated vitamins. The literature search was conducted between the years 2013-2023, gathering information from databases such as Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science and publishers including Taylor & Francis, Elsevier, Springer and MDPI; a total of 49 articles were compiled The results were classified according to the microencapsulation method, considering the following information: core, coating material, solvent, formulation, process conditions, particle size, efficiency, yield, bioavailability, bioaccessibility, in vitro release, correlation coefficient and references. It has been evidenced that gums are the most frequently employed coatings in the protection of vitamins (14.04%), followed by alginate (10.53%), modified chitosan (9.65%), whey protein (8.77%), lipid bases (8.77%), chitosan (7.89%), modified starch (7.89%), starch (7.02%), gelatin (6.14%), maltodextrin (5.26%), zein (3.51%), pectin (2.63%) and other materials (7.89%). The factors influencing the release of vitamins include pH, modification of the coating material and crosslinking agents; additionally, it was determined that the most fitting mathematical model for release values is Weibull, followed by Zero Order, Higuchi and Korsmeyer-Peppas; finally, foods commonly fortified with microencapsulated vitamins were described, with yogurt, bakery products and gummy candies being notable examples.

Enhancing analysis of neo-formed contaminants in two relevant food global commodities: Coffee and cocoa.

Neo-formed contaminants (NFCs) are common in many foods, especially those subjected to high-temperature processing. Among these contaminants, products arising from the Maillard reaction, sugar reduction, thermal degradation of polyphenols and lipid oxidation, including acrylamide, furan, furfuryl alcohol, and hydroxymethylfurfural, are consistently linked to potential neoplastic effects. NFCs are found in globally traded commodities like coffee and cocoa, posing a significant risk due to their frequent consumption by consumers. A direct correlation exists between consumption frequency, exposure levels, and health risks. Hence, it's crucial to establish reliable methods to determine levels in both matrices, aiming to mitigate their formation and minimise risks to consumers. This review offers a comprehensive examination, discussion, and identification of emerging trends and opportunities to enhance existing methodologies for extracting and quantifying NFCs in coffee and cocoa. By presenting an in-depth analysis of performance parameters, we aim to guide the selection of optimal extraction techniques for quantifying individual NFCs. Based on the reviewed data, headspace extraction is recommended for furan, while solid and dispersive solid phase extractions are preferred for acrylamide when quantified using gas and liquid chromatography, respectively. However, it is worth noting that the reported linearity tests for certain methods did not confirm the absence of matrix effects unless developed through standard addition, leading to uncertainties in the reported values. There is a need for further research to verify method parameters, especially for determining NFCs like furfuryl alcohol. Additionally, optimising extraction and separation methods is essential to ensure complete compound depletion from samples. Ideally, developed methods should offer comprehensive NFC determination, reduce analysis time and solvent use, and adhere to validation parameters. This review discusses current methods for extracting and quantifying NFCs in coffee and cocoa, highlighting emerging trends and emphasising the need to improve existing techniques, especially for compounds like furfuryl alcohol.

La superación del profesor de Educación Física para desarrollar la autodeterminación, en educandos con discapacidad intelectual

La superación continua de los profesores de Educación Física constituye una necesidad que ha transcendido diferentes generaciones de docentes, determinada por el desarrollo creciente de la ciencia y la técnica, las exigencias del tercer perfeccionamiento educacional cubano, las demandas en la preparación y capacitación del profesorado y la necesidad de su incidencia en la formación de un egresado apto y capaz de desarrollar no solo habilidades y capacidades físicas, sino también para la vida, que les permitan actuar en el medio social, familiar y laboral. El objetivo de esta investigación consistió en diseñar una estrategia pedagógica de superación para transformar los modos de actuación de los profesores de Educación Física, en la dirección del proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje, en función del desarrollo de habilidades de autodeterminación en los educandos en situación de discapacidad intelectual. Los métodos investigativos utilizados en el orden teórico y empírico fueron el análisis y síntesis, el histórico-lógico, el inductivo-deductivo, la modelación y el sistémico-estructural-funcional; además de la entrevista, la observación, la encuesta, el análisis de documentos, el criterio de expertos y la triangulación múltiple, los que permitieron revelar las causales que inciden en el normal desarrollo de las habilidades de autodeterminación, así como elaborar la estrategia. Con su implementación se perfeccionó el desempeño profesional y personal de los profesores y los educandos, quienes egresaron con el empoderamiento de habilidades para la toma de decisiones, la realización de elecciones, la resolución de problemas y el establecimiento de metas y objetivos.

O aperfeiçoamento contínuo dos professores de Educação Física constitui uma necessidade que transcendeu as diferentes gerações de professores, determinada pelo crescente desenvolvimento da ciência e da tecnologia, pelas exigências do terceiro melhoramento educacional cubano, pelas exigências na preparação e formação de professores e pela necessidade de seu impacto na formação de um egresso qualificado, capaz de desenvolver não apenas competências e habilidades físicas, mas também para a vida, que lhe permitam atuar no ambiente social, familiar e de trabalho. Discapacidade intelectual. Os métodos investigativos utilizados na ordem teórica e empírica foram análise e síntese, histórico-lógico, indutivo-dedutivo, modelagem e sistêmico-estrutural-funcional; Além da entrevista, observação, inquérito, análise documental, peritagem e triangulação múltipla, que permitiram revelar as causas que afetam o normal desenvolvimento das competências de autodeterminação, bem como desenvolver a estratégia. Com a sua implementação melhorou-se o desempenho profissional e pessoal de professores e alunos, que se formaram com a capacitação de competências para tomar decisões, fazer escolhas, resolver problemas e estabelecer metas e objetivos.

The continuous improvement of Physical Education teachers constitutes a need that has transcended different generations of teachers, determined by the growing development of science and technology, the demands of the third Cuban educational improvement, the demands in the preparation and training of teachers and the need for its impact on the training of a qualified graduate capable of developing not only physical skills and abilities, but also for life, which allow them to act in the social, family and work environment. The objective of this research was to design a pedagogical improvement strategy to transform the modes of action of Physical Education teachers, in the direction of the teaching-learning process, based on the development of self-determination skills in students in situations of intellectual disability. The investigative methods used in the theoretical and empirical order were analysis and synthesis, historical-logical, inductive-deductive, modeling and systemic-structural-functional; In addition to the interview, observation, survey, document analysis, expert judgment and multiple triangulations, which allowed us to reveal the causes that affect the normal development of self-determination skills, as well as to develop the strategy. With its implementation, the professional and personal performance of teachers and students was improved, who graduated with the empowerment of skills for making decisions, making choices, solving problems and establishing goals and objectives.

Microwave-induced combustion for further determination of potentially toxic elements in honey by ICP-MS.

Microwave-induced combustion (MIC) was proposed in this study for honey decomposition aiming for As, Cd, Hg, and Pb determination by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Sample mass (up to 1.0 g), absorbing solution (0.5 to 14.4 mol L-1 HNO3, and H2O), heating program, and combustion aids were evaluated. The Eurachem guidelines were used for method validation. The proposed method enabled combustion of a high sample mass (0.8 g of honey, with 0.4 g of microcrystalline cellulose and 100 µL of 6 mol L-1 NH4NO3) using 6 mL of an absorbing solution consisting of 1 mol L-1 HNO3, which resulted in low residual carbon in solution (< 25 mg L-1). Honey samples from different geographical origins were analyzed. Results showed no significant difference in comparison to other two microwave decomposition methods, based on microwave-assisted wet digestion with single reaction chamber (MAWD-SRC) and microwave-assisted wet digestion (MAWD). Standard addition experiments resulted in recoveries higher than 98%. The limits of detection ranged from 1.10 (As) to 4.60 ng g-1 (Pb). In addition to using only diluted reagents and resulting in digests virtually free of interferences, the proposed method was faster (< 30 min) than most of those presented in the literature.

Association between dental age and malocclusions: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The evidence in the literature suggests that some skeletal or dental malocclusions are involved with dental development, resulting in advanced or delayed dental age (DA). The purpose of this systematic review was to investigate the association between DA and different types of malocclusions. METHODS: The search was carried out on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Virtual Health Library, and in the gray literature. Observational studies that evaluated the association between DA and sagittal, vertical, or transversal malocclusions were included. The quality assessment was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). The data from primary studies were narratively synthesized. The certainty of evidence was evaluated using the GRADE approach. The study was conducted from August 2023 to October 2023. RESULTS: One Thousand Nine Hundred Ninety-One records were identified in the initial search. Twenty (n = 20) studies were included. Most of the studies (n=15) presented a moderate quality according to NOS. Twelve studies evaluated the association between DA and sagittal discrepancies; eight studies evaluated vertical discrepancies, and only one study analyzed a transversal discrepancy. Demirjian's method for DA assessment was the most used among the studies. The primary studies observed that patients of both sexes presenting a vertical growth pattern and males with skeletal Class III malocclusion tend to have advanced DA. The study that investigated transversal malocclusion found that unilateral posterior cross-bite is associated with delayed DA. The certainty of evidence was very low for all outcomes evaluated. CONCLUSION: DA may be associated with the type of malocclusion. It is suggested that DA can be used as an initial diagnostic tool in orthodontics. Future well-designed studies should be performed in order to investigate the association between DA and different types of malocclusions in more detail. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42023454207).

Decriminalization of abortion by the Mexican Supreme Court.

In September 2021, the Mexican Supreme Court issued a decision disallowing any federal or local judicial authority to indict someone for the offense of voluntary or consensual abortion. This decision also declared unconstitutional penalties imposed on medical personnel who facilitate or assist such procedures. Furthermore, the Court decided that limiting access to abortion in cases of rape to a specific time frame was disproportionate. Later on, in September 2023, the Supreme Court confirmed that absolute criminalization of abortion was unconstitutional and declared that the rule supporting criminalization in the Federal Penal Code was without effects. Consequently, healthcare providers who work in public federal health institutions cannot be criminalized for guaranteeing the right to abortion. This article reviews the reasons advanced by the Supreme Court to guarantee the right of reproductive self-determination, as well as the effects of both decisions beyond the decriminalization of abortion by Mexican federal and state legislatures. The paper also examines the scope and limitations of these rulings and identifies the remaining challenges regarding voluntary abortion procedures in Mexico.

Biological Identification of Skulls in Indonesian and Thai Populations: Ancestry Estimation, Sex Determination, Stature Estimation, and Age Estimation / Identificación Biológica de Cráneos en Poblaciones de Indonesia y Tailandia: Estimación de Ascendencia, Determinación del Sexo, Estimación de Estatura y Estimación de Edad

SUMMARY: This review article will present an overview of biological profiles in forensic utilities. The biological profile of the skull in the existing literature can help to identify humans, especially if the condition of the victim found is a result of mutilation or a bomb explosion. When it comes to the precision of identifying skeletal remains, the human skull is frequently cited as being first in the estimation of age and ancestry and second in terms of sex and stature. It can be an alternative to assessing the following biological parameters: sex, age, stature, and ancestry. The implementation of biological profiles in the identification process is very important considering that some cases require the assistance of forensic anthropology. This review article shows the importance of the value of skulls. The method that can be applied is craniometry which can be used to determine sex, age, stature, and estimated ancestry. Different results will occur depending on the completeness of the skull. Therefore, estimation formulas have different accurate results. Discriminant function analysis has been performed on various measurement sets and its discriminant power has been validated by many researchers. Geometric morphometric analysis has become the main tool for shape analysis and many attempts have been made to use it in analyzing skulls. Several methods supported by technology have also been developed. It is hoped that the review article will show significant differences in results between studies in Thailand and Indonesia, even though they are in the same racial group.

Este artículo presenta una descripción general de los perfiles biológicos en las utilidades forenses. El perfil biológico del cráneo en la literatura existente puede ayudar a identificar a los humanos, especialmente si la condición en la que se encuentra la víctima es el resultado de una mutilación o la explosión de una bomba. Cuando se trata de la precisión en la identificación de restos óseos, el cráneo humano se cita con frecuencia como el primero en la estimación de edad y ascendencia y el segundo en términos de sexo y estatura. Puede ser una alternativa para evaluar los siguientes parámetros biológicos: sexo, edad, estatura y ascendencia. La implementación de perfiles biológicos en el proceso de identificación es importante considerando que algunos casos requieren la asistencia de la antropología forense. Este artículo de revisión muestra la importancia del valor de las cnezas óseas. El método que se puede aplicar es la craneometría para determinar el sexo, la edad, la estatura y la ascendencia estimada. Se pueden obtener diferentes resultados dependiendo de la integridad del cráneo. Por lo tanto, las fórmulas de estimación tienen resultados precisos diferentes. Se ha realizado un análisis de función discriminante en varios conjuntos de medidas y muchos investigadores han validado su poder discriminante. El análisis a través de la morfometría geométrica se ha convertido en la principal herramienta para el análisis de formas y se ha utilizado frecuentemente en el análisis de cráneos. También se han desarrollado varios métodos apoyados en la tecnología. Se espera que este trabajo muestre diferencias significativas en los resultados entre los estudios realizados en Tailandia e Indonesia, aunque pertenezcan al mismo grupo racial.