Título del artículo:

Work psychosocial conditions influencing on absenteeism: Evaluation of an explicative model

The purpose of this study is to evaluate an explanatory model of work absenteeism, based on the relationship between psychosocial risk factors and the mediation of the perception of social relationships and work stress. This was based on the predictions of theoretical models such as Demands-Con-trol, Unbalance Effort-Rewards and Social Support, implicit in the instrument used; as well as in the research background consulted. It is justified principally by the impact that absenteeism has on the stability of organizations and the relevance of its prediction for the Psychology of Work and Organizations. For the fulfillment of the objective, a modeling SEM is carried out with the psychosocial risk and absenteeism measurement data made with 252 workers of an agro-industrial company of the department of Cesar in Colombia; 96 % of participants were men, with an average age of 35 years, the majority did not complete secondary studies, 89 % were in operational positions, the majority in indefinite hiring; workers less than 6 months old had been excluded. The Psychosocial Risk Battery of Colombian researchers Villalobos, Vargas, Rondón, y Felknor (2013a, 2013b) was applied. This is one of the few validated and standardized instruments on Colombian population that measures psychosocial risk globally and conforms to the definitions legally accepted in the country regarding such occupational hazards. This battery measures workers\' perception of intra-occu-pational risk factors, in particular, demands for work, control over work, social relations and leadership, as well as rewards and recognition for work; Likewise, it evaluates the extra-labor psychosocial risk associated with working conditions, as well as symptoms of work-related stress. The path analysis was executed using statistical software SPSS v25 and AMOS v24; the goodness-of-fit for the models was verified with indicators CMIN/ DF, CFI, TLI y RMSEA; the correlations coefficients between variables and the function “modification Indices” of AMOS was operated to specify the appropriate model to the data. Based on goodness-of-fit measures, the initial theoretical model was discarded. In a second model, the mediating role of the social relations factor is ruled out and Unjustified Absenteeism, Non-Remunerated Absenteeism and Work Accident Absenteeism were excluded, but the adjustment of the model was not adequate either. In a third model, the factors Control on Work and Rewards were also excluded, although the fourth model, that inlayed correlations between de independent variables was the one who had the best goodness of fit; so, it is affirmed that only some specific forms of absenteeism are determined by work-related stress due to the arrangement of risk before interpersonal relationships and labor demands, combined with risk from extra-labor conditions. The inclusion of interpersonal relationships in the model is fully expected based on the findings of different previous investigations. On the other hand, the exclusion of the control factor over work was unexpected, since in previous studies it was more related to absenteeism than the demands of work. It is suggested that the findings should be taken with caution, given the limitations of the research, in particular, the homogeneity of the participants and the lack of comparability with other productive contexts; However, the relevance of the study is sustained in the fact that it is one of the first attempts in the country that uses explanatory models to establish the effects of psychosocial risk factors on organizational outcomes. Complementing the above, the possibility of using the Psychosocial Risk Battery together with the measurement of other important organizational outcomes such as presenteeism, motivation and job satisfaction, job performance and productivity, organizational commitment, accident rate in the workplace, among others, are also considered to empirically validate various models exposed in theory or corroborated in other countries and productive sectors.

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Interdisciplinaria

Título del artículo:

Beauty centers: An overview of their biosafety conditions in Valledupar, Colombia

Introduction: The risk of transmission of microorganisms in aesthetic and beauty centers is high when mitigation measures are not adopted; thus, it is necessary to constantly review the conditions of these centers, in order to prevent diseases and make the corresponding decisions. Objectives: To assess biosafety conditions of beauty centers in Valledupar, Colombia. Methods: This study followed a descriptive methodology and was based on the administration of a survey focused on determining which services are provided in beauty centers, on which activities are developed by their staff, and the conditions under which services are provided. Results: Study results that 93% of centers are legally constituted; furthermore, the most commonly provided service was hairdressing, with 21%. Only 9% of workers were covered by a social insurance system. In terms of social insurances, centers did not comply with minimum requirements. Conclusions: The aesthetic centers in Valledupar are not complying with requirements from biosafety protocols set forth by legislation and are thus adopting inadequate procedures.

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Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Trabalho

Título del artículo:

Reframing Technological Innovation Capabilities: Empirical Evidence and a Framework for Study

A firm’s technological innovation capabilities are dependent on the cultivation of strategic expertise and competitive technologies. Current literature does not adequately represent the wide-ranging perspectives on this topic or instill an appropriate amount of apprehension over the competitiveness of current firms’ technological innovation capabilities. This chapter contributes to the micro-foundations of technological innovation research by defining the technological innovation capabilities of both individuals and firms and clarifying their relationship to a firm’s competitiveness. First, this chapter will present a conceptual framework of the dimensions required to build competitiveness through technological innovation capabilities. Second, building on the framework, this paper will offer empirical evidence based on a case study of SMEs, providing valuable insights into their capacity for technological innovation.

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Palgrave Studies in Democracy, Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Growth

Título del artículo:

Multiple Coronary Fistulas After Several Penetrating Chest Wounds: A Rare Case of Refractory Heart Failure

Coronary artery fistulas are rare coronary abnormalities. Most of these fistulas have a congenital origin, and only a few are acquired. We report the case of a patient with late-acquired multiple coronary fistulas secondary to a stab wound, diagnosed in the setting of ischemic heart failure secondary to coronary steal syndrome. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.)

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JACC: Case Reports

Título del artículo:

Proposal of a scale for COVID-19 stigma-discrimination toward health workers

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Journal of Investigative Medicine

Título del artículo:

Detraining of specific neuromuscular qualities in elite footballers during COVID-19 quarantine

The COVID-19 pandemic forced elite football leagues into extended breaks followed by prompt resumption of competition. Inadequate periods of on-pitch football-specific training may underlie the increased injury incidence reported following restart in a non-peer reviewed report. Detraining effects from isolated training are expected, but existing models do not completely describe the unprecedented conditions imposed by COVID-19. Providing insight into specific neuromuscular qualities affected by extended absence of football-specific training, we share countermovement jump performance and kinetic data from an elite team’s assessments pre and post 15 weeks of isolated training, and to contextualise these trends, off-season changes with no training. The isolated circuit resistance and aerobic interval training maintained jump height and Reactive Strength Indexmodified, but there were moderate magnitude (p = 0.01–0.04) changes in eccentric ‘yielding’ and landing ‘loading’ phase variables. These changes suggest a compromised initiation of countermovement deceleration, impact attenuation and altered coordination/motor control strategies or muscle-tendon properties. This analysis may have revealed kinetic markers specifically stimulated by football-specific training/competition, relevant to post-quarantine monitoring. Lower landing forces may reduce overuse injury risk, while yielding phase alterations suggest a negative effect on reactive performance, therefore the overall effect on vulnerability to injury is unclear.

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Science and Medicine in Football

Título del artículo:

The corn cob gasification-based renewable energy recovery in the life cycle environmental performance of seed-corn supply chain: An Ecuadorian case study

The influence of energy recovery from corn cob residues on the environmental performance of the seed-corn supply chain was the main research purpose of this work. An experimental and theoretical analysis as research methods were considered. In this way, an experimental study of corn cob gasification by using air as gasifying agent was conducted, while syngas-based power generation was assessed in a typical gas-ICE. Additionally, life cycle assessment (LCA) of two scenarios (combustion and gasification cases of corn cob residues) for the seed-corn supply chain was accomplished. According to results, a syngas yield in the range of 1.23 and 2.35 Nm3/kg of corn cob was obtained, with LHV close to 5.32 MJ/Nm3. Specific energy recovery from corn cob residues showed, an electricity surplus index of 744 kWh/t corn cob. Moreover, the carbon footprint for both combustion and gasification cases was 913 kg CO2-eq/t seed-corn and 797 kg CO2-eq/t seed-corn, respectively. Integrated thermochemical conversion of corn cob and power generation system represents a technological alternative for its sustainable management. This study provides a holistic inventory, energy balance, and life cycle analysis of corn cob energy utilization. No similar approaches were found in the reviewed literature.

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Renewable Energy

Título del artículo:

Sprint pattern analysis of professional female soccer players on artificial and natural turf

Introduction: There is few evidence that details the behavior of each spatiotemporal variable of the running pattern of female soccer players using different surfaces. Objective: To describe the spatiotemporal variables of the sprint pattern developed on natural and artificial turf by professional female soccer players. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on nineteen (n=19) professional athletes with an average age of 22.3 years, who´s sprint spatiotemporal variables were evaluated in a natural (Bermuda 419) and artificial (Star 2) playing field through an optical measurement system (Opto Gait, Italy). The analysis of the differences of the space and time variables by turf was done with the Wilcoxon test for paired data and the differences in speed and acceleration by playing position was done using the Kruskal–Wallis test. The Spearman test was used to compare the correlation between speed, acceleration and anthropometric variables. Finally, an alpha level of 5% was considered for the whole analysis. Results: On the natural turf, the speed and cadence of the players were higher; on the artificial turf, the energy, flight time, contact phase and step angle were higher (p<0.05). On the other hand, an indirect relationship was observed between speed, contact time, percentage and fat weight (p=0.01). Conclusion: Our results suggest that the natural turf, Bermuda 419, allows for a faster sprinting patterns, characterized by lower energy use, flight time, contact phase and step angle.

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Retos

Título del artículo:

Validity of the patient health questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) for the detection of depression in primary care in Colombia

Background: The PHQ-2 is a screening test for major depressive disorder (MDD) derived from PHQ-9, which has shown to be useful in the detection of cases of clinical significance in previous studies. The psychometric properties of PHQ-2 in the Colombian population are unknown. Methods: PHQ-2 were assessed in 243 patients in general medical consultations using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) as the gold standard. Internal consistency, convergent validity and criterion validity were calculated by analyzing the Receptor Operating Characteristics (ROC) and the area under the curve (AUC). Results: Cronbach\'s alpha and McDonald\'s omega coefficients were 0.71. Spearman\'s rho coefficients for correlations with PHQ-9 and HADS-D scores were 0.63 and 0.59 (p<0.01). AUC was 0.89. The optimal cut point was ≥2 with the following indicators: sensitivity 0.87 specificity 0.74; Youden index 0.60; PPV 0.47; NPV 0.95; (LR+) 3.24; (LR-) 0.18 (95% CI 0.09-0.37). Kappa coefficient between PHQ-2 and MINI for depression was .458 and 0.46 for HADS-D. Limitations: Since this study was done with people attending hospital, which could has implications for the prevalence of depression, affecting the validity indicators of the instrument. Conclusions: PHQ-2 show an acceptable test performance in the context of the study. However, the test could yield a considerable amount of false positives that would require specialized evaluation to establish a reliable diagnosis.

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Journal of Affective Disorders

Título del artículo:

Validity of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for depression screening in adult primary care users in Bucaramanga, Colombia

The patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is one of the most widely used self-report instruments in primary care. There is no criterion validity of the PHQ-9 in Colombia. The objective was to validate the PHQ-9 as a screening tool in primary care. A cross-sectional, scale criterion validity study was performed using as reference criterion the mini neuropsychiatric interview (MINI) in male and female adult users of primary care centres. We calculated the internal consistency and convergent and criterion validity of the PHQ-9 by analysing the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) and the area under the curve (AUC). We analysed 243 participants; 184 (75.7%) were female. The average age was 34.05 (median of 31 and SD = 12.47). Cronbach\'s α was 0.80 and McDonald\'s ω was 0.81. Spearman\'s Rho was 0.64 for HADS-D (P <0.010) and 0.70 for PHQ-2 (P <0.010). The AUC was 0.92 (95% CI 0.880-0.963). The optimal cut-off point of PHQ-9 was ≥7: sensitivity of 90.38 (95% CI: 81.41-99.36); specificity of 81.68 (95% CI: 75.93-87.42); PPV 57.32 (95% CI: 46.00-68.63); NPV 96.89 (95% CI: 93.90-99.88); Youden index 0.72 (95% CI: 0.62-0.82); LR+ 4.93 (95% CI: 3.61-6.74); LR– 0.12 (95% CI: 0.005-0.270). In sum, the Colombian version of PHQ-9 is a valid and reliable instrument for depression screening in primary care in Bucaramanga, with a cut-off point ≥7.

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Revista Colombiana de Psiquiatria

Título del artículo:

Gelation kinetics of colloidal dispersion gels by viscoelasticrheological methods

Colloidal dispersion gels are one of the methodologies implemented, such as chemical recovery processes, in mature wells, their components are mainly polyacrylamide and aluminum citrate, both aqueous unlike other types of gelling, in this there is an intramolecular process, between the polymer chains and the crosslinker, generating a ball of polyacrylamide of nanometric dimensions. The usual gelling processes increase the viscosity of a fluid because of an increase in the molecular weight of the polymer, but in this case, the viscosity of the fluid decreases to the point of being close to that of the solvent, for this reason a monitoring of its gelation kinetics, in a conventional way is not possible, in view of this problem, this research implements techniques of viscoelastic characterization of fluids, to determine the loss and storage modules G\' and G?, as well as the phase angle in the time, in order to learn more about the gelling mechanism, as well as to be able to estimate a reaction speed, from the point of view of viscoelastic variables, the results obtained revealed that despite being gelling, there is a decrease in the storage modulus, to a greater extent than the loss modulus, which implies that the material loses elastic properties, that is, from solid to become a material more viscous or liquid. With this information, an equation was proposed that can be used both in the laboratory and in oil field work. In addition to being extended to fluids with similar behaviors, where the interactions between the polymeric chains and their crosslinker generate a decrease in their elastic properties.

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Journal of Physics: Conference Series

Título del artículo:

Comparative analysis between asphaltites and extra heavy oil asphaltenes

The asphaltite material receives many names depending on the country, or area of knowledge, for this reason it is also known as bitumen, asphalt and gilsonite, its composition is a mixture of high molecular weight organic substances, mainly polyaromatic compounds characterized by a black color, and they appear in a semi-solid or solid state. Asphaltenes correspond to the oil fraction with the highest molecular weight, this characteristic provides a high viscosity to hydrocarbons, which contain, in their composition, a concentration equal to or greater than 10%, although the exact structure of this is not known. molecular family, it has been possible to elucidate the functional groups present, such as carbonyl acids, thiols and pyridines, implying the presence of heteroatoms, such as nitrogen, sulfur and oxygen, but the most characteristic part of this type of molecules is their nucleus polyaromatic, which can contain up to 20 or more benzene rings. A sample of Colombian asphaltite was taken and compared with a sample of asphaltenes from a Colombian extra-heavy crude, solubility tests, a spectroscopic characterization by Ultraviolet-Visible, infrared, a thermal evaluation by Thermogravimetry and Differential Scanning Calorimetry were carried out., in addition to an analysis by X-ray diffraction, in order to determine if the behavior and composition of both The objective of this investigation is to be analyzed by comparing a traditional asphaltite and an asphaltite, if the latter has the same properties and composition, with a view to being used as an energy source. The results obtained reveal that despite the fact that both substances present a similar composition, their glass transitions are different, as well as the crystalline phases present in each of the materials.

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Journal of Physics: Conference Series

Título del artículo:

Key competences, education for sustainable development and strategies for the development of 21st century skills. A systematic literature review

Skills needed to be successful in the world have changed, and there is a gap between those learned at school and those required to function at work and in society. A broader range of skills is required to learn, communicate, collaborate, and solve problems in digital environments. Twenty-first century skills have been identified by UNESCO, OECD, and others as competences required for a sustainable future of the knowledge society. The aim was to learn the design principles involved in the incorporation of these skills into the curriculum, find out possible ways to teach and assess them, and examine how this process could be personalized using Information and Communications Technology (ICT). A literature review was carried out through a qualitative metasynthesis, which identified 43 studies that met the inclusion criteria. From the in‐depth analysis, it can be seen that although the incorporation of 21st century skills into the curriculum, teaching methodologies, and the use of ICT are all recurrent themes, there is still a need for further research into the design and implementation of new instruments for assessment and the ways in which the teaching–learning process can be personalized.

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Sustainability (Switzerland)

Título del artículo:

Association between HPV infection, presence of intraepithelial lesions in the cervix and risk factors

Objective: To establish associations between risk factors and the presence of intraepithelial lesions and human papillomavirus infection. Methods: Cross-sectional study with 1639 from the Santos Marquina municipality, Mérida, Venezuela. Cervical cytology and colposcopy, human papillomavirus detection and genotyping were analyzed using PCR and surveys to measure risk factors. Results: 477 women (31.8%) had human papillomavirus infection and 82 women (5.6%) had abnormalities in cervical cytology. Among the cases where human papillomavirus genotyping was performed, 135 (42%) correspond to low-risk types, while 177 (55%) correspond to high-risk types. A higher proportion of abnormal cytologies was found in cases with high-risk human papillomavirus with 21 cases (13.4%) compared to low-risk human papillomavirus with 9 cases (6.4%). The number of lifetime sexual partners greater than 1 (OR=2,303; p=0.001) and the history of pregnancy (OR=3,283; p=0.036) were significant independently associated with the presence of abnormal cytology. While the number of lifetime sexual partners greater than 1 (OR=1.304; p=0.026), the residence in rural area (OR=1.957; p <0.001) and the age under 35 years (OR=1,397; p=0.003) were significant independently associated with the presence of human papillomavirus infection. Conclusion: The type of human papillomavirus and other risk factors play an important role in the appearance of cervical intraepithelial lesions.

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Revista de Obstetricia y Ginecologia de Venezuela

Título del artículo:

Chemical study, antioxidant capacity, and hypoglycemic activity of malva pseudolavatera webb & berthel and malva sylvestris l. (malvaceae), grown in ecuador

Malva pseudolavatera and M. sylvestris (Malvaceae) are two species in great demand in Ecuador for their medicinal virtues. However, the chemical and biological information on M. psudolavatera is scarce. The present study aims to carry out a comparative chemical study of the antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities of the leaves of the species M. pseudolavatera and M. sylvestris to justify their traditional use. Extracts were made with 80% hydroalcoholic mixture from the leaves of M. sylvestris and M. pseudolavatera. The chemical composition was analyzed by Liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. The antioxidant capacity was performed by the Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2\'azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid techniques and the hypoglycemic activity in Wistar rats at the doses of 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg, of the extracts, were evaluated. Liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry analysis allowed the detection of similarities and differences in the chemical composition of both leaf extracts, the flavonoid gosipetin 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-8-O-β-D-glucuronopyranoside, was found in both species and for M. pseudolavatera is reported for the first time. The extract of M. sylvestris showed antioxidant capacity and hypoglycemic activity, superior to the extract of M. pseudolavatera. The results of this research report for the first time the phenolic and flavonoid composition, as well as the antioxidant and hypoglycemic activity of the extracts of the leaves of M. pseudolavatera and its comparison with that of M. sylvestris for which there were previous reports.

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Tropical Journal of Natural Product Research

Título del artículo:

Analysis of the atmospheric macro-physical using spatial methods

The central western area of Venezuela has an unequal distribution of precipitation. Due to its agricultural importance, is necessary to plan water accounting and this requires a evaluation of spatial and temporal variability of precipitation and an estimate of local geophysical effect from the relief. In this research we use an iterative computationally lattice approach to perform a confirmatory analysis of the variability and the spatial correlation structure in monthly precipitation stations. Spatial correlograms and pooled empirical semivariogram were applied to evaluate the most appropriate spatial weighting matrix to estimate the Moran\'s I. The altitude effect over monthly rainfall was estimated through spatial regression algorithm which determine the predominant spatial process in each slice. A homogeneous spatial stochastic process with positive spatial autocorrelation is evidenced. There is a trend towards a higher frequency of spatial error and spatial auto-regressive processes between the months of June and August whilst there are not dominant process between October and December. This response is caused by the dynamics of the intertropical convergence zone, which generates a seasonal effect on precipitation. These estimations allows decision-making in modeling and will lead to an improvement for analysis and forecasting in areas strongly affected by climate change and water stress.

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Journal of Physics: Conference Series

Título del artículo:

Genetic polymorphisms in multispecific transporters mitigate mercury nephrotoxicity in an artisanal and small-scale gold mining community in Colombia

In artisanal and small-scale gold mining, occupational exposure to mercury (Hg) vapor is related to harmful effects on several organs, including the kidneys. We previously reported significantly increased levels of Hg in blood and urine despite normal kidney function in individuals from Colombia occupationally exposed to Hg compared with those nonexposed. We evaluated the contribution of 4 genetic variants in key genes encoding the transporters solute carrier (SLC; rs4149170 and rs4149182) and ATP-binding cassette(ABC; rs1202169 and rs1885301) in the pathogenesis of nephrotoxicity due to Hg exposure in these groups. Regression analysis was performed to determine the association between the blood- and urine-Hg concentration with SLC and ABC polymorphisms in 281 Colombian individuals (160 exposed and 121 nonexposed to Hg). We found an enrichment of ABCB1 rs1202169-T allele in the exposed group (p ¼ .011; OR¼ 2.05; 95% CI ¼ 1.18–3.58) compared with the nonexposure group. We also found that carriers of SLC22A8 rs4149182-G and ABCB1 rs1202169-T alleles had a higher urinary clearance rate of Hg than noncarriers (b ¼ 0.13, p ¼ .04), whereas carriers of SLC22A6 rs4149170-A and ABCB1 rs1202169-C alleles showed abnormal levels of estimated glomerular filtration rate (b ¼ -84.96, p ¼ .040) and beta-2microglobulin (b ¼ 743.38, p < .001). Our results suggest that ABCB1 rs1202169 and its interaction with SLC22A8 rs4149182 and SLC22A6 rs4149170 could mitigate Hg nephrotoxicity by controlling the renal proximal tubule cell accumulation of inorganic Hg. This will be useful to estimate the risk of kidney toxicity associated to Hg and the genetic selection to aid adaptation to Hg-rich environments.

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Toxicological Sciences

Título del artículo:

Total cardiovascular or fatal events in people with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors treated with dulaglutide in the REWIND trail: a post hoc analysis

Background: The Researching cardiovascular Events with a Weekly INcretin in Diabetes (REWIND) double blind randomized trial demonstrated that weekly subcutaneous dulaglutide 1.5 mg, a glucagon like peptide-1 receptor agonist, versus matched placebo reduced the first outcome of major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE), cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction or nonfatal stroke (594 versus 663 events) in 9901 persons with type 2 diabetes and either chronic cardiovascular disease or risk factors, and followed during 5.4 years. These findings were based on a time-to-first-event analysis and preclude relevant information on the burden of total major events occurring during the trial. This analysis reports on the total cardiovascular or fatal events in the REWIND participants Methods: We compared the total incidence of MACE or non-cardiovascular deaths, and the total incidence of expanded MACE (MACE, unstable angina, heart failure or revascularization) or non-cardiovascular deaths between participants randomized to dulaglutide and those randomized to placebo. Incidences were expressed as number per 1000 person-years. Hazard ratios (HR) were calculated using the conditional time gap and proportional means models. Results: Participants had a mean age of 66.2 years, 46.3% were women and 31% had previous cardiovascular disease. During the trial there were 1972 MACE or non-cardiovascular deaths and 3673 expanded MACE or non-cardiovascular deaths. The incidence of total MACE or non-cardiovascular deaths in the dulaglutide and placebo groups was 35.8 and 40.3 per 1000 person-years, respectively [absolute reduction = 4.5 per 1000 person-years; conditional time gap HR 0.90 (95% CI, 0.82–0.98) p = 0.020, and proportional means HR 0.89 (95% CI, 0.80–0.98) p = 0.022]. The incidence of total expanded MACE or non-cardiovascular deaths in the dulaglutide and placebo groups was 67.1 and 74.7 per 1000 person-years, respectively [absolute reduction = 7.6 per 1000 person-years; conditional time gap HR 0.93 (95% CI, 0.87–0.99) p = 0.023, and proportional means HR 0.90 (95% CI, 0.82–0.99) p = 0.028]. Conclusions: These findings suggest that weekly subcutaneous dulaglutide reduced total cardiovascular or fatal event burden in people with type 2 diabetes at moderate cardiovascular risk. Clinical Trial Registration:https://www.clinicaltrials.gouv. Unique Identifier NCT01394952).

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Cardiovascular Diabetology

Título del artículo:

Physical preparation and return to performance of an elite female football player following ACL reconstruction: A journey to the FIFA Women\'s World Cup

ACL injuries are among the most severe knee injuries in elite sport, with a high injury burden and re-injury risk. Despite extensive literature on the injury and the higher incidence of injury and re-injury in female athletes, there is limited evidence on the return to sport (RTS) of elite female football players following ACL reconstruction (ACLR). RTS is best viewed on a continuum aligning the recovery and rehabilitation process with the ultimate aim-A return to performance (RTP erf). We outline the RTS and RTP erf of an elite female football player following ACLR and her journey to the FIFA Women\'s World Cup, including the gym-based physical preparation and the on-pitch/sports-specific reconditioning. We used the control-chaos continuum\' as a framework for RTS, guiding a return above pre-injury training load demands while considering the qualitative nature of movement in competition. We then implemented the RTP erf pathway\' to facilitate a return to team training, competitive match play and a RTP erf. Objective information, clinical reasoning and shared decision-making contributed to this process and helped the player to reach her goal of representing her country at the FIFA Women\'s World Cup.

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BMJ Open Sport and Exercise Medicine

Título del artículo:

Current status of prevalence and risk factors associated with liver fluke Fasciola hepatica in cattle raised in different altitudinal regions of Colombia

Fasciola hepatica is a trematode parasite with a worldwide distribution that affects mammals, including humans, and is considered a major food safety and public health problem. A research was conducted in three hundred eighty-five livestock farms located in different altitudinal regions of Colombia between February 2017 and March 2018 with the aim to determine the coprological prevalence, seroprevalence (SP) and risk factors associated with liver fluke F. hepatica. A total of 5620 fecal sample were collected from cattle and processed using sedimentation technique. Additionally, 597 blood samples were collected and processed by an ELISA test. The coprological prevalence of F. hepatica in animals and herds was 6.4% and 38.4%, respectively. Regarding the prevalence by municipalities, there was statistical association (P < .05), indicating that the prevalence was higher in those municipalities above 2000 masl (meters above sea level). Regarding risk factors, cattle raised in municipalities at 2000 to 3000 masl showed about 4 (OR = 3.96 [CI95% 3.1–5]; P < .05) times higher probability for infection than those raised at lower altitude. Cattle from 2 to 3 year of age, showed almost 4 times (OR = 3.7[CI95% 2.5–5.4]; P < .05), increased infection risk. Females and dairy breeds showed almost 2 (OR = 1.9 [CI95% 1.3–2.6]; P < .05) and 10 times (OR = 10 [CI95% 7.8–12.8]; P < .05), respectively, increased infection risk. The presence of antibodies anti- F. hepatica (SP = 37.8%; [CI95% 35.8–39.7]; P < .05) in cattle of the region under study is confirmed, which suggests an endemic behavior of this parasitosis. The present study provides current information on the prevalence of F. hepatica in different altitudinal regions of Colombia, and these findings could be useful for designing new holistic control measures for the liver fluke F. hepatica infection.

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Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports

Título del artículo:

Prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis in shelter dogs in Bucaramanga metropolitan area, Colombia

The heartworm Dirofilaria immitis is the causative agent of cardiopulmonary dirofilariosis in dogs and cats and also infects humans. The current knowledge about this parasite in South America is scarce compared to North America and Europe. Nevertheless, this parasite has been reported in some regions of Colombia. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with D. immitis infection in shelter dogs from Bucaramanga metropolitan area. We performed a cross-sectional study using blood samples from shelter dogs. Microfilariae testing of whole blood included a blood smear and modified Knott\'s test. Antigen testing of serum was performed using the Anigen Rapid HW Ag Test Kit 2.0 ®. A descriptive analysis and univariable logistic regression analysis were applied. A total of 207 whole blood samples, from 7 shelters dogs in the Bucaramanga metropolitan area, were utilized. The overall prevalence of D. immitis observed in shelter dogs in the Bucaramanga metropolitan area by blood smears and modified Knott\'s test was 6.3% (13/ 207) and 0.5% (1/207) by immunochromatography test kit. Regarding the prevalence by municipalities, there was a statistical association (P < .05), indicating that the prevalence was higher in dogs in Girón municipality. Likewise, there was a statistical association (P < .05) between the prevalence with respect to heartworm knowledge and mosquito control. For prevalence by gender, age group, dog breed, and hair length, there was no statistical association (P > .05). For Girón municipality there was a 7.1 times (OR = 7.1; CI95% 0.8–59.2; P < .05) increased infection risk. This study provides current data and the first known report of the prevalence of D. immitis microfilaremia and antigenemia in shelter dogs in the Bucaramanga metropolitan area, and these results could be useful for designing new control measures for this infection. We observed that the prevalence of both microfilaremia and antigenemia was significantly lower in these sampled dogs compared to previous reports.

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Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports

Título del artículo:

Risk of dengue virus infection according to serostatus in individuals from dengue endemic areas of Mexico

The variability in the host immune response directed against dengue virus (DENV) has demonstrated the need to understand the immune response associated with protection in incident infection. The objective was to estimate the association between serostatus and the risk of incident DENV infection. We used a prospective study from 2014 to 2016 in the localities of Axochiapan and Tepalcingo, Morelos, Mexico. We recruited 966 participants, of which, according to their infection history registered were categorized in four groups. To accomplish the objectives of this study, we selected to 400 participants older than 5 years of age were followed for 2.5 years. Blood samples were taken every 6 months to measure serological status and infection by ELISA. In individuals with at least two previous infections the risk of new infection was lower compared to a seronegative group (hazard ratio adjusted 0.49, 95% CI 0.24–0.98), adjusted for age and locality. Therefore, individuals who have been exposed two times or more to a DENV infection have a lower risk of re-infection, thus showing the role of cross-immunity and its association with protection.

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Scientific Reports

Título del artículo:

Standardized treatment to improve hypertension control in primary health care: The HEARTS in the Americas Initiative

Hypertension is the leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) worldwide. Despite the availability of effective antihypertensive medications, the control of hypertension at a global level is dismal, and consequently, the CVD burden continues to increase. In response, countries in Latin America and the Caribbean are implementing the HEARTS in the Americas, a community-based program that focuses on increasing hypertension control and CVD secondary prevention through risk factor mitigation. One key pillar is the implementation of a standardized hypertension treatment protocol supported by a small, high-quality formulary. This manuscript describes the methodology used by the HEARTS in the Americas program to implement a population-based standardized hypertension treatment protocol. It is rooted in a seamless transition from existing treatment practices to best practice using pharmacologic protocols built around a core set of ideal antihypertensive medications. In alignment with recent major hypertension guidelines, the HEARTS in the Americas protocols call for the rapid control of blood pressure, through the use of two antihypertensive medications, preferably in the form of a single pill, fixed-dose combination, in the initial treatment of hypertension. To date, the HEARTS in the Americas program has seen the improvement in antihypertensive medication formularies and the establishment of pharmacologic treatment protocols tailored to individual participating countries. This has translated to significant increases in hypertension control rates post-program implementation in these jurisdictions. Thus, the HEARTS in the Americas program could serve as a model, for not only the Americas Region but globally, and ultimately decrease the burden of CVD.

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Journal of Clinical Hypertension

Título del artículo:

Amidated Cellulose Nanofibrils as Demulsifying Agents for a Natural Water-in-Heavy-Crude-Oil Emulsion

The presence of emulsified water in heavy crude oils invariably causes processing problems and financial costs associated with an increased energy input required to handle highly viscous fluids. Thus, physical or chemical separation methods are usually applied to dehydrate crude oils before processing. Dehydration chemicals or demulsifiers are among the most widely used chemical strategies to rid heavy crude oil from water. In this work, we explore the use of amidated cellulose nanofibrils as dehydrating agents for a water-in-heavy-crude-oil emulsion. Using microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) as raw material, we extracted oxidized cellulose nanofibrils (1.25 mmol COOH/g cellulose) via ultrasound-assisted TEMPO oxidation. TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibrils (TOCNs) were rendered hydrophobic through the coupling with dodecyl- and octadecylamine through one-pot amidation reactions. The introduction of C12 and C18 alkyl moieties on the cellulose surface was enough to promote the dispersion of the materials in toluene and increase the water contact angle (CA) from 17° for TOCN to 61° and 67° for TOCN-AMDC12 and TOCN-AMDC18, respectively. HLB values of 9.6 and 9.2 for TOCN-AMDC12 and TOCN-AMDC18 are characteristic of dehydrating agents for w/o emulsions. Thus, the materials were tested as demulsifying agents for the disruption of a natural water-in-heavy-crude-oil emulsion with a water content of 55%. Conventional tests (BSW, bottle test) showed the ability of TOCN-AMDC12 and TOCN-AMDC18 to effectively dehydrate the emulsions, with a water recovery up to 74%, when used at 1500 ppm in toluene as the carrier fluid. Optical microscopy and rheological analysis were performed before and after the nanofluids\' application to determine the viscosity profile of the emulsion and to observe the types and sizes of water droplets in the oil phase after dehydration.

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Energy and Fuels

Título del artículo:

Availability and affordability of medicines and cardiovascular outcomes in 21 high-income, middle-income and low-income countries

Objectives We aimed to examine the relationship between access to medicine for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) among people at high risk of CVD in high-income countries (HICs), upper and lower middle-income countries (UMICs, LMICs) and low-income countries (LICs) participating in the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study. Methods We defined high CVD risk as the presence of any of the following: hypertension, coronary artery disease, stroke, smoker, diabetes or age >55 years. Availability and affordability of blood pressure lowering drugs, antiplatelets and statins were obtained from pharmacies. Participants were categorised: group 1-all three drug types were available and affordable, group 2-all three drugs were available but not affordable and group 3-all three drugs were not available. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazard models with nested clustering at country and community levels, adjusting for comorbidities, sociodemographic and economic factors. Results Of 163 466 participants, there were 93 200 with high CVD risk from 21 countries (mean age 54.7, 49% female). Of these, 44.9% were from group 1, 29.4% from group 2 and 25.7% from group 3. Compared with participants from group 1, the risk of MACEs was higher among participants in group 2 (HR 1.19, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.31), and among participants from group 3 (HR 1.25, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.50). Conclusion Lower availability and affordability of essential CVD medicines were associated with higher risk of MACEs and mortality. Improving access to CVD medicines should be a key part of the strategy to lower CVD globally.

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BMJ Global Health