Modified Atmosphere Does Not Reduce the Efficacy of Phytosanitary Irradiation Doses Recommended for Tephritid Fruit Flies.

Phytosanitary irradiation (PI) has been successfully used to disinfest fresh commodities and facilitate international agricultural trade. Critical aspects that may reduce PI efficacy must be considered to ensure the consistency and effectiveness of approved treatment schedules. One factor that can potentially reduce PI efficacy is irradiation under low oxygen conditions. This factor is particularly important because storage and packaging of horticultural commodities under low oxygen levels constitute practices widely used to preserve their quality and extend their shelf life. Hence, international organizations and regulatory agencies have considered the uncertainties regarding the efficacy of PI doses for insects infesting fresh commodities stored under low oxygen levels as a rationale for restricting PI application under modified atmosphere. Our research examines the extent to which low oxygen treatments can reduce the efficacy of phytosanitary irradiation for tephritids naturally infesting fruits. The effects of normoxia (21% O2), hypoxia (~5% O2), and severe hypoxia (< 0.5% O2) on radiation sensitivity of third instars of Anastrepha fraterculus (sensu lato), A. ludens (Loew), Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), and Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) were evaluated and compared at several gamma radiation doses. Our findings suggest that, compared to normoxia, hypoxic and severe-hypoxic conditioning before and during irradiation can increase adult emergence and contribute to advancement of larval development of tephritid fruit flies only at low radiation doses that are not used as phytosanitary treatments. With phytosanitary irradiation doses approved internationally for several tephritids, low oxygen treatments applied before and during irradiation did not increase the emergence rates of any fruit fly species evaluated, and all treated insects died as coarctate larvae. Thus, the findings of our research support a re-evaluation of restrictions related to phytosanitary irradiation application under modified atmospheres targeting tephritid fruit flies.

Relative Tolerance of Three Morphotypes of the Anastrepha fraterculus Complex (Diptera: Tephritidae) to Cold Phytosanitary Treatment.

The Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) complex is currently comprised of at least eight morphotypes, including several that are likely to be described as new species. It is critical to evaluate whether the morphotypes differ in tolerance to phytosanitary treatments. Temperatures from 0 to 3°C are used as a phytosanitary treatment for some commodities exported from the region and at risk of infestation by the A. fraterculus complex. Description of A. fraterculus morphotypes as new species could result in the annulation of phytosanitary treatment schedules for the new species. This study compared the relative cold tolerance of five populations from three morphotypes of the A. fraterculus complex: Andean, Peruvian, and Brazilian-1. Both a laboratory and wild strain of the Brazilian-1 morphotype were studied. Differences in mortality of third instars of the five A. fraterculus populations reared on nectarines were observed only with short treatment durations at temperatures ranging from 1.38 ± 0.04°C to 1.51 ± 0.08°C (mean ± SEM). Estimated times to achieve the LT99.99682 (probit 9) showed that Brazilian-1 wild, Brazilian-1 laboratory, and Cusco population were the most cold tolerant, followed by Andean and Peruvian, the least cold tolerant morphotype (i.e., Brazilian-1 wild = Brazilian-1 laboratory = Cusco population > Andean > Peruvian). These findings suggest that the current cold treatment schedules of 15 d at ≤ 1.11°C and 17 d at ≤ 1.67°C can be applied as cold treatments to any potential new species that may arise from the A. fraterculus complex.

Representaciones sociales del cuidar mediante la prescripción enfermera en la red de atención primaria de salud / Social representations of nursing through nurse prescription in the primary healthcare network / Representações sociais do cuidado mediante a prescrição enfermeira na rede de atendimento primário em saúde

Introducción: Frente a una moción parlamentaria que pretende modificar el código sanitario para permitir a los enfermeros tener la facultad legal de prescribir fármacos y dispositivos sanitarios surge la inquietud de analizar la representación social que los enfermeros de atención primaria de salud otorgan a la temática. Objetivo: Describir los componentes figurativos (campo de representación), simbólico (información) y afectivo (actitudinal) del cuidar mediante la prescripción enfermera, que tienen los profesionales de enfermería de la red de atención primaria de salud. Materiales y Métodos: Investigación descriptiva con enfoque cualitativo y diseño de teoría fundamentada, realizada en ocho enfermeras de la red de atención primaria de salud a través de entrevista semiestructurada. Resultados: En la representación social de la prescripción enfermera surgen cinco categorías: gestionar el cuidado, beneficios sociales de la prescripción, restricción en la prescripción, formación profesional del enfermero en prescripción y valor atribuido a la prescripción. Discusión: Las enfermeras de atención primaria, entienden el fenómeno de la prescripción como una indicación de enfermería que se encuentra influenciada por factores asociados a la formación farmacológica de pregrado y la experiencia laboral, similar a lo reportado en algunos estudios en Iberoamérica. Conclusiones: Las enfermeras consideran que la prescripción es un elemento positivo para la entrega de cuidados y que contribuye a la resolutividad en la atención de salud, sin embargo, para llevarla a cabo se requiere de una formación adecuada y de un respaldo legal claro.

Introduction: Considering that a parliamentary motion seeks to modify the health code to allow nurses to have the legal power to prescribe drugs and health devices, it is necessary to analyze the social representation that primary healthcare nurses give to prescription. Objective: To describe the figurative (representation field), symbolic (information) and affective (attitudinal) nursing components by means of nurse prescription used by primary health care nursing professionals. Materials and Methods: A descriptive qualitative research with a grounded theory research design was conducted with eight nurses from the primary healthcare network through a semi-structured interview. Results: Five categories were created based on the social representation of nurse prescription: care management, social benefits of prescription, prescription restriction, professional nurse training in prescription, and value attributed to the prescription. Discussion: Primary care nurses perceive the prescription phenomenon as a nursing indication that is influenced by factors associated with undergraduate pharmacology training and work experience, similar to that reported in some studies in Ibero-America. Conclusions: Nurses consider that nurse prescription is a positive element for care delivery, contributing to the resolutive capacity of healthcare. However, adequate training and clear legal support are required to do so.

Introdução: Frente a uma moção parlamentar que objetiva emendar o código sanitário para permitir que os enfermeiros tenham a faculdade legal de prescrever fármacos e dispositivos sanitários surge a inquietude de analisar a opinião dos enfermeiros de atendimento primário em saúde sobre a sua representação social a respeito dessa questão. Objetivo: Descrever os componentes figurativo (campo de representação), simbólico (informação) e afetivo (atitudinal) do cuidar mediante a prescrição de enfermagem que os profissionais da rede de enfermagem detêm na rede de atendimento primário em saúde. Materiais e Métodos: Pesquisa descritiva com abordagem qualitativa e desenho de teoria fundamentada, realizada com oito enfermeiras da rede de atendimento primário em saúde através de uma entrevista semiestruturada. Resultados: Na representação social da prescrição de enfermagem surgem cinco categorias: administrar o cuidado, os benefícios sociais da prescrição, restrições na prescrição, formação profissional em prescrição do enfermeiro e valor atribuído à prescrição. Discussão: As enfermeiras de atendimento primário compreendem o fenómeno da prescrição como uma indicação de enfermagem influencia por fatores associados à formação farmacológica de pré-graduação e a experiência de trabalho, semelhante àquela relatada em vários estudos na Ibero-América. Conclusões: As enfermeiras consideram que a prescrição é um elemento positivo para a entrega de cuidados e que contribui com a resolutividade no atendimento em saúde, no entanto, para cumprir essa tarefa é preciso contar com uma formação adequada e um fundamento legal claro.

Malaria intensity in Colombia by regions and populations.

Determining the distribution of disease prevalence among heterogeneous populations at the national scale is fundamental for epidemiology and public health. Here, we use a combination of methods (spatial scan statistic, topological data analysis and epidemic profile) to study measurable differences in malaria intensity by regions and populations of Colombia. This study explores three main questions: What are the regions of Colombia where malaria is epidemic? What are the regions and populations in Colombia where malaria is endemic? What associations exist between epidemic outbreaks between regions in Colombia? Plasmodium falciparum is most prevalent in the Pacific Coast, some regions of the Amazon Basin, and some regions of the Magdalena Basin. Plasmodium vivax is the most prevalent parasite in Colombia, particularly in the Northern Amazon Basin, the Caribbean, and municipalities of Sucre, Antioquia and Cordoba. We find an acute peak of malarial infection at 25 years of age. Indigenous and Afrocolombian populations experience endemic malaria (with household transmission). We find that Plasmodium vivax decreased in the most important hotspots, often with moderate urbanization rate, and was re-introduced to locations with moderate but sustained deforestation. Infection by Plasmodium falciparum, on the other hand, steadily increased in incidence in locations where it was introduced in the 2009-2010 generalized epidemic. Our findings suggest that Colombia is entering an unstable transmission state, where rapid decreases in one location of the country are interconnected with rapid increases in other parts of the country.

Amperometric biosensor based on a single antibody of dual function for rapid detection of Streptococcus agalactiae.

Pathogenic bacteria are responsible for several diseases in humans and in a variety of hosts. Detection of pathogenic bacteria is imperative to avoid and/or fight their potential harmful effects. This work reports on the first amperometric biosensor for the rapid detection of Streptococcus agalactiae (S. agalactiae). The biosensor relies on a single biotinylated antibody that immobilizes the bacteria on a screen-printed carbon electrode while is further linked to a streptavidin-conjugated HRP reporter. The biotinylated antibody provides selectivity to the biosensor whereas serves as an anchoring point to the reporter for further amplification of the electrochemical signal. The resultant immunosensor is simple, responds rapidly, and allows for the selective and highly sensitive quantification of S. agalactiae cells in a concentration range of 101-107CFUml-1, with a detection limit of 10CFUml-1. The approach not only enables a rapid detection and quantification of S. agalactiae in environmental samples but also opens up new opportunities for the simple fabrication of electrochemical immunosensors for different target pathogens.

Antropología y psicología: naturalismo, minimalismo y cognitivismo / Anthropology and Psychology: Naturalism, Minimalism and Cognitivism

El análisis que se propone en este artículo tiene como objetivo ofrecer un utillaje conceptual a partir del cual aproximar la antropología y la psicología cognitiva, desde una perspectiva contemporánea. Tiene como punto de partida el presupuesto de que la situación ecológica de los individuos incluye, por definición, información de orden social que los pone en relación de manera inevitable, lo cual impide considerárseles como unidades autocontenidas. Discute críticamente la profusión de términos y abordajes para el estudio del plano subjetivo en antropología y, como un aporte singular a este tema, se describen las vinculaciones entre la habilidad de referencia social compartida y el origen de la semiosis, ámbito en el cual se ha elaborado recientemente una solución parcial a este impasse teórico.

The analysis that this paper sketches aims to offer conceptual tools to approximate anthropology and cognitive psychology from a contemporary perspective. As a point of departure, considers that the ecological situation of any individual includes -by definition- social information that puts them in relation in an inevitable way. This condition does not allow considering individuals as self-contained entities. The paper critically discusses the profusion of terms and approaches to study of subjective realm in anthropology and, as a particular contribution to this subject, describes the links between social reference and origins of semiosis. Recently a partial solution to this theoretical impasse has been drawn in this field of research.