Rural tourism: a risk factor for schistosomiasis transmission in Brazil

This paper reports an outbreak of acute schistosomiasis among 38 tourists who rented a country house in the district of Igarapé, the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, during a holiday period in 2006. A total number of 32 individuals were positive for Schistosoma mansoni. Results of stool examinations revealed individual S. mansoni egg counts per gram of faeces (epg) ranging from 4-768 epg with a geometric mean egg count of 45. The most frequent clinical symptoms were abdominal pain (78.1%), headache (75%), fever (65.6%), dry cough (65.2%) and both diarrhoea and asthenia (59.4%). A malacological survey of the area, where 22 specimens of Biomphalaria glabrata were collected, revealed three (13.6%) specimens eliminating Schistosoma cercariae. This investigation re-confirms a recently described pattern of schistosomiasis infection, resulting in the acute form of the disease and connected to rural tourism, which contributes to the spread of the disease among the middle-class and into non-endemic areas. The lack of specific knowledge about acute schistosomiasis among health services causes an increased number of unnecessary diagnostic procedures and delays in accurate diagnosis and treatment, resulting in considerable discomfort for the patients.

Accessibility to and utilisation of schistosomiasis-related health services in a rural area of state of Minas Gerais, Brazil

The objective of the present paper was to compare accessibility and utilisation of schistosomiasis diagnostic and treatment services in a small village and the surrounding rural area in northern part of the state of Minas Gerais Brazil. The study included 1,228 individuals: 935 central village residents and 293 rural residents of São Pedro do Jequitinhonha. Schistosoma mansoni infection rates were significantly higher in the central village than in the rural area during a survey in 2007 (44.3% and 23.5%, respectively) and during the 2002 schistosomiasis case-finding campaign (33.1% and 26.5%, respectively) (p < 0.001). However, during the 2002-2006 period, only 23.7% of the villagers and 27% of the rural residents obtained tests on their own from health centres, hospitals and private clinics in various nearby towns. In 2007, 63% of the villagers and 70.5% of the rural residents reported never having received treatment for schistosomiasis. This paper reveals considerable variation in the accessibility and utilisation of schistosomiasis-related health services between the central village and the rural area. A combination of low utilisation rates between 2002-2006 and persistently high S. mansoni infection rates suggest that the schistosomiasis control program must be more rapidly incorporated into the primary health services.

Residual effect of a micro-encapsulated formulation of organophosphates and piriproxifen on the mortality of deltamethrin resistant Triatoma infestans populations in rural houses of the Bolivian Chaco region

The Bolivian Chaco is part of the endemic region of Chagas disease and an area where pyrethroid resistant Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) populations has been reported. The World Health Organization identified these resistant populations as an important focus for research. The objective of this study was to evaluate the residual effect of a micro-encapsulated formulation containing organophosphate active ingredients and a juvenile hormone analogue (Inesfly 5A IGR) on the mortality of T. infestans. Studies took place in rural houses of the Bolivian Chaco that were treated up to 34 months before and evaluated the susceptibility to pyrethroids of the offspring of field collected insects. Thirty houses were randomly selected within three communities to carry out wall bio-assays with T. infestans nymphs. Mortality was recorded 24, 48 and 72 h after wall contact. Eggs laid by females collected in the area were used to obtain first-instar nymphs and carry out pyrethroid susceptibility tests. The wall bio-assays showed that the micro-encapsulated insecticide eliminates T. infestans populations and produces detectable mortality of insects exposed to walls treated 34 months prior to the tests. The discriminant dose of deltamethrin (0.01 mg/mL) showed 65% nymph survival, whereas at the highest tested dose (1.0 mg/mL) 14% of the nymphs survived. These results show that Inesfly 5A IGR is an appropriate tool for the elimination of intradomestic and peridomestic populations of T. infestans resistant to pyrethroids.

Estudi de la mobilitat en diferents xarxes de transport públic

Aquest projecte es centra en la realització d’un estudi de la mobilitat en diferents xarxes de transport públic. En particular, aquest estudi pretén ser una anàlisi comparativa de conceptes relacionats amb la topologia i navegabilitat de xarxes de metro de diferents països des d’un punt de vista innovador, tot realitzant una aproximació interdisciplinària a l’anàlisi de les xarxes.Es tracta d’un estudi centrat sobretot en conceptes i mètodes desenvolupats últimament en el camps de les Xarxes Complexes i de la Teoria de la Informació. Això ens ha permès focalitzar les nostres conclusions en les mesures de navegabilitat de les diferents xarxes així com en els paràmetres topològics que ens les defineixen, sense basar-nos en dades geogràfiques ni operatives. Els sistemes de metro estudiats en el present treball són els de Barcelona, Moscou, París i Nova York. Són sistemes que s’han desenvolupat en ambients històrics i culturals molt diversos fet que pot donar lloc a veure si aquesta circumstància és causant de diferències estructurals i de funcionament entre ells o bési pel contrari segueixen uns patrons de comportament semblants

Concerted action of ENaC, Nedd4-2, and Sgk1 in transepithelial Na(+) transport.

The epithelial Na(+) channel (ENaC), located in the apical membrane of renal aldosterone-responsive epithelia, plays an essential role in controlling the Na(+) balance of extracellular fluids and hence blood pressure. As of now, ENaC is the only Na(+) transport protein for which genetic evidence exists for its involvement in the genesis of both hypertension (Liddle's syndrome) and hypotension (pseudohypoaldosteronism type 1). The regulation of ENaC involves a variety of hormonal signals (aldosterone, vasopressin, insulin), but the molecular mechanisms behind this regulation are mostly unknown. Two regulatory proteins have gained interest in recent years: the ubiquitin-protein ligase neural precursor cell-expressed, developmentally downregulated gene 4 isoform Nedd4-2, which negatively controls ENaC cell surface expression, and serum glucocorticoid-inducible kinase 1 (Sgk1), which is an aldosterone- and insulin-dependent, positive regulator of ENaC density at the plasma membrane. Here, we summarize present ideas about Sgk1 and Nedd4-2 and the lines of experimental evidence, suggesting that they act sequentially in the regulatory pathways governed by aldosterone and insulin and regulate ENaC number at the plasma membrane.

Steady-state brain glucose transport kinetics re-evaluated with a four-state conformational model.

Glucose supply from blood to brain occurs through facilitative transporter proteins. A near linear relation between brain and plasma glucose has been experimentally determined and described by a reversible model of enzyme kinetics. A conformational four-state exchange model accounting for trans-acceleration and asymmetry of the carrier was included in a recently developed multi-compartmental model of glucose transport. Based on this model, we demonstrate that brain glucose (G(brain)) as function of plasma glucose (G(plasma)) can be described by a single analytical equation namely comprising three kinetic compartments: blood, endothelial cells and brain. Transport was described by four parameters: apparent half saturation constant K(t), apparent maximum rate constant T(max), glucose consumption rate CMR(glc), and the iso-inhibition constant K(ii) that suggests G(brain) as inhibitor of the isomerisation of the unloaded carrier. Previous published data, where G(brain) was quantified as a function of plasma glucose by either biochemical methods or NMR spectroscopy, were used to determine the aforementioned kinetic parameters. Glucose transport was characterized by K(t) ranging from 1.5 to 3.5 mM, T(max)/CMR(glc) from 4.6 to 5.6, and K(ii) from 51 to 149 mM. It was noteworthy that K(t) was on the order of a few mM, as previously determined from the reversible model. The conformational four-state exchange model of glucose transport into the brain includes both efflux and transport inhibition by G(brain), predicting that G(brain) eventually approaches a maximum concentration. However, since K(ii) largely exceeds G(plasma), iso-inhibition is unlikely to be of substantial importance for plasma glucose below 25 mM. As a consequence, the reversible model can account for most experimental observations under euglycaemia and moderate cases of hypo- and hyperglycaemia.

Projecte d’instal·lacions sostenibles d’una masia rural aïllada

En aquest projecte es vol donar solució a la contaminació que es produeix a les llars ja sigui en forma de gasos d’efecte hivernacle o la contaminació d’aqüífers i rius per les aigües residuals d’aquestes. Els objectius a aconseguir són la disminució del consum d’energia de la llar, reduint així el consum de combustibles fòssils, amb la conseqüent disminució de gasos d’efecte hivernacle i l’estalvi econòmic que això suposa. I per altra banda la depuració de les aigües residuals, tot i que actualment totes les grans poblacions de Catalunya de més de 10.000 habitants ja disposen de EDARS i en pocs anys en tindran totes les de més de 2000 habitants. Però en aquest cas es tracta d’una població molt petita que no disposa de xarxa de clavegueram. En primer lloc s’ha plantejat un sistema de calefacció d’energia geotèrmica que ens permet aprofitar l’energia tèrmica que es va emmagatzemant a la terra degut a l’escalfor del sol i que ens permet extreure d’aquesta fins a ¾ parts de l’energia tèrmica necessària per el sistema de calefacció. En segon lloc es planteja un sistema de producció d’energia elèctrica per panells fotovoltaics que produeixi el consum elèctric anual familiar, tot i que no de forma directe, sinó venent l’energia a la xarxa elèctrica i comprant-la després de la xarxa. Per últim es projecta un sistema de depuració d’aigües per mitjà d’un aiguamoll artificial que permetrà a la casa, que no disposa de xarxa de clavegueram, retornar les aigües residuals en bones mediambientals a l’entorn rural que envolta l’edificació, sense perjudicar la fauna i els rius que l’envolten

Entorn de simulació per a xarxes òptiques de transport

Aquest projecte final de carrera pretén investigar i experimentar una nova línia de desenvolupament d’algorismes dinàmics. A partir de l’algorisme AntNet-QoS [2] s’ incorporen noves mesures a l’algorisme (mesura de l’amplada de banda disponible i jitter), les quals combinant amb la mesura de retard ja feta servir, permet adaptar-se millor a les condicions actuals del trànsit en la xarxa i als requeriments específics de qualitat (QoS) per part del trànsit

Synthesis and transport of creatine in the CNS: importance for cerebral functions.

J. Neurochem. (2010) 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2010.06935.x Abstract Apart of its well known function of 'energetic buffer' through the creatine/phosphocreatine/creatine kinase system allowing the regeneration of ATP, creatine has been recently suggested as a potential neuromodulator of even true neurotransmitter. Moreover, the recent discovery of primary creatine deficiency syndromes, due to deficiencies in l-arginine : glycine amidinotransferase or guanidinoacetate methyltransferase (the two enzymes allowing creatine synthesis) or in the creatine transporter, has shed new light on creatine synthesis, metabolism and transport, in particular in CNS which appears as the main tissue affected by these creatine deficiencies. Recent data suggest that creatine can cross blood-brain barrier but only with a poor efficiency, and that the brain must ensure parts of its needs in creatine by its own endogenous synthesis. Finally, the recent years have demonstrated the interest to use creatine as a neuroprotective agent in a growing number of neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases. This article aims at reviewing the latest data on creatine metabolism and transport in the brain, in relation to creatine deficiencies and to the potential use of creatine as neuroprotective molecule. Emphasis is also given to the importance of creatine for cerebral function.

Disseny d’una metodologia per conèixer el perfil dels usuaris del turisme rural a les comarques de Girona

Treball final de carrera què vol determinar quins mètodes haurà de seguir l’ Associació de Turisme Rural Girona per conèixer el perfil del turista rural a les comarques gironines. En aquesta investigació es determina quin és el model d’ enquesta a seguir i la seva correcta distribució

Aproximació a la figura de l'educador/a social com a tècnic/a de joventut en l'àmbit rural

Aquest projecte es posa en marxa l’any 2005 a partir de l’elaboració del Pla Comarcal, dels Plans Locals de joventut, dels Projectes Tècnics de joventut, de les Programacions d’activitats i d’accions concretes. Aquests instruments d’intervenció, en els seus diferents nivells, han de ser coherents amb el Pla Nacional de Joventut de la Generalitat de Catalunya, el qual regeix les línies d’actuació de les polítiques de joventut al nostre país. A grans trets, aquesta és una breu descripció del servei en el qual he dut a terme les meves pràctiques d’educador social i un dels motius pels quals he escollit fer aquest treball, ja que en un primer moment, no tenia la intenció d’elaborar un treball de fi d’estudis que tractes sobre l’àmbit de la meva plaça de pràctiques

Proposta de Parc Rural a la Vall de Llémena

En aquest projecte es presenta una Proposta de Parc Rural a la Vall de Llémena, que ha de servir per definir el marc gestor del desenvolupament d’aquest espai rural. Es pretén dinamitzar el sector agroramader, forestal i de serveis per tal de millorar la situació socioeconòmica de la Vall de Llémena. Això ha d’ajudar a fixar la població al territori, i tenir en compte la integració de les accions a les potencialitats i requeriments del medi. Amb aquesta finalitat, s’han definit una sèrie de línies estratègiques on s’han proposat accions per la Producció Agrària Ecològica i la Integració del turisme a l’activitat agrària. Aquestes accions s’han basat en les opinions i els suggeriments dels llemenencs, detectats al procés de Participació Ciutadana

Distribution of phlebotomine fauna (Diptera: Psychodidae) across an urban-rural gradient in an area of endemic visceral leishmaniasis in northern Brazil

The number of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) cases has increased over the past 10 years in Brazil, especially in the North and Northeast regions of the country. The aim of this study was to evaluate the urbanisation of VL vectors in Barcarena, Pará, an area in northern Brazil where VL is endemic. Sandflies were captured using Centers for Disease Control (CDC) light traps along an urban-rural gradient. The CDC traps were installed inside hen houses at a height of 150 cm. A total of 5,089 sandflies were collected and 11 species were identified. The predominant species was Lutzomyia longipalpis (rate of 95.15%), which suggests its participation in the transmission of VL. A total of 1,451 Lu. longipalpis females were dissected and no Leishmania infections were detected. Most of the sandflies were captured at the border of a forest (88.25%) and no flies were captured in the urban area, which suggests that transmission is still restricted to rural sites. However, the fact that a specimen was collected in an intermediate area indicates that urbanisation is a real possibility and that vector monitoring is important.

Estudi de l’eficiència aerodinàmica de vehicles pesants de transport de passatgers

Estudi de l’eficiència aerodinàmica de les carrosseries de vehicles pesants de cara a reduir el consum de combustible en autocars de llarg trajecte. L’estudi es basa en tres aspectes: validació del programa de simulació, estudi aerodinàmic de diferents carrosseries d’autocar de mercat i estudi aerodinàmic de diferents complements