Study of a measles outbreak in Granada with preventive measures applied by the courts, Spain, 2010 to 2011.

Measles had practically been eliminated in Granada since the systematic vaccination of children with two doses introduced in 1984. However, in 2009 the disease returned in the form of small outbreaks. This study describes the measles outbreak that occurred in Granada from October 2010 to August 2011 and the measures imposed to control it. Information was sourced from the records of the Andalusian epidemiological surveillance system. A total of 308 cases were recorded, representing an incidence rate of 33.6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The first wave of the epidemic took place in Granada city, with the majority of cases occurring among families who lived in the Albaycín neighbourhood and were opposed to vaccination for ideological and/or religious reasons. The initial cases were in unvaccinated children aged 1 to 13 years. The outbreak later spread throughout the province. To control the outbreak, the vaccination schedule for the exposed children was brought up to date. The Regional Ministry of Health decided to take legal action in order to ensure vaccination of those in the initial nucleus of the outbreak.

Modulation of Higher-Order Olfaction Components on Executive Functions in Humans.

The prefrontal (PFC) and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) appear to be associated with both executive functions and olfaction. However, there is little data relating olfactory processing and executive functions in humans. The present study aimed at exploring the role of olfaction on executive functioning, making a distinction between primary and more cognitive aspects of olfaction. Three executive tasks of similar difficulty were used. One was used to assess hot executive functions (Iowa Gambling Task-IGT), and two as a measure of cold executive functioning (Stroop Colour and Word Test-SCWT and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test-WCST). Sixty two healthy participants were included: 31 with normosmia and 31 with hyposmia. Olfactory abilities were assessed using the ''Sniffin' Sticks'' test and the olfactory threshold, odour discrimination and odour identification measures were obtained. All participants were female, aged between 18 and 60. Results showed that participants with hyposmia displayed worse performance in decision making (IGT; Cohen's-d = 0.91) and cognitive flexibility (WCST; Cohen's-d between 0.54 and 0.68) compared to those with normosmia. Multiple regression adjusted by the covariates participants' age and education level showed a positive association between odour identification and the cognitive inhibition response (SCWT-interference; Beta = 0.29; p = .034). The odour discrimination capacity was not a predictor of the cognitive executive performance. Our results suggest that both hot and cold executive functions seem to be associated with higher-order olfactory functioning in humans. These results robustly support the hypothesis that olfaction and executive measures have a common neural substrate in PFC and OFC, and suggest that olfaction might be a reliable cognitive marker in psychiatric and neurologic disorders.

Two cases of "cannabis acute psychosis" following the administration of oral cannabis.

BACKGROUND: Cannabis is the most commonly used illegal drug and its therapeutic aspects have a growing interest. Short-term psychotic reactions have been described but not clearly with synthetic oral THC, especially in occasional users. CASE PRESENTATIONS: We report two cases of healthy subjects who were occasional but regular cannabis users without psychiatric history who developed transient psychotic symptoms (depersonalization, paranoid feelings and derealisation) following oral administration of cannabis. In contrast to most other case reports where circumstances and blood concentrations are unknown, the two cases reported here happened under experimental conditions with all subjects negative for cannabis, opiates, amphetamines, cocaine, benzodiazepines and alcohol, and therefore the ingested dose, the time-events of effects on behavior and performance as well as the cannabinoid blood levels were documented. CONCLUSION: While the oral route of administration achieves only limited blood concentrations, significant psychotic reactions may occur.

Improvement of saliva production in ENT cancer patients treated by IMRT

Intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is a conformal radiotherapy that produces concave and irregular target volume dose distributions. IMRT has a potential to reduce the volume of healthy tissue irradiated to a high dose, but this often at the price of an increased volume of normal tissue irradiated to a low dose. Clinical benefits of IMRT are expected to be most pronounced at the body sites where sensitive normal tissues surround or are located next to a target with a complex 3D shape. The irradiation doses needed for tumor control are often markedly higher than the tolerance of the radiation sensitive structures such as the spinal cord, the optic nerves, the eyes, or the salivary glands in the treatment of head and neck cancer. Parotid gland salivary flow is markedly reduced following a cumulative dose of 30 50 Gy given with conventional fractionation and xerostomia may be prevented in most patients using a conformal parotid-sparing radiotherapy technique. However, in cohort studies where IMRT was compared with conventional and conformal radiotherapy techniques in the treatment of laryngeal or oropharyngeal carcinoma, the dosimetric advantage of IMRT translated into a reduction of late salivary toxicity with no apparent adverse impact on the tumor control. IMRT might reduce the radiation dose to the major salivary glands and the risk of permanent xerostomia without compromizing the likelihood for cure. Alternatively, IMRT might allow the target dose escalation at a given level of normal tissue damage. We describe here the clinical results on postirradiation salivary gland function in head and neck cancer patients treated with IMRT, and the technical aspects of IMRT applied. The results suggest that the major salivary gland function can be maintained with IMRT without a need to compromise the clinical target volume dose, or the locoregional control.

Analysis of fatty acids in ecstasy tablets

Fatty acids are the basis of so-called stearates which are frequently used as lubricants in the production of ecstasy tablets. Being a product added at the initial tablet production step its composition does not change once the compression is performed. The analysis of fatty acids can therefore provide useful information for a drug intelligence purpose. In this context an appropriate analytical method was developed to improve results already obtained by routine analyses. Considering the small quantity of such fatty acids in ecstasy tablets (not, vert, similar3%) the research focussed on their extraction and concentration. Two different procedures were tested: (1) liquid/liquid extraction using dichloromethane followed by derivatisation and (2) in situ transesterification using bortrifluoride. Analyses were performed by GC-MS. The two procedures were optimized and applied to eight ecstasy seizures, in order to choose one of the procedures for its application to a large ecstasy sample set. They were compared by considering the number of peaks detected and sample amount needed, reproducibility and other technical aspects.

Assessment of construct validity of a virtual reality laparoscopy simulator.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess whether virtual reality (VR) can discriminate between the skills of novices and intermediate-level laparoscopic surgical trainees (construct validity), and whether the simulator assessment correlates with an expert's evaluation of performance. METHODS: Three hundred and seven (307) participants of the 19th-22nd Davos International Gastrointestinal Surgery Workshops performed the clip-and-cut task on the Xitact LS 500 VR simulator (Xitact S.A., Morges, Switzerland). According to their previous experience in laparoscopic surgery, participants were assigned to the basic course (BC) or the intermediate course (IC). Objective performance parameters recorded by the simulator were compared to the standardized assessment by the course instructors during laparoscopic pelvitrainer and conventional surgery exercises. RESULTS: IC participants performed significantly better on the VR simulator than BC participants for the task completion time as well as the economy of movement of the right instrument, not the left instrument. Participants with maximum scores in the pelvitrainer cholecystectomy task performed the VR trial significantly faster, compared to those who scored less. In the conventional surgery task, a significant difference between those who scored the maximum and those who scored less was found not only for task completion time, but also for economy of movement of the right instrument. CONCLUSIONS: VR simulation provides a valid assessment of psychomotor skills and some basic aspects of spatial skills in laparoscopic surgery. Furthermore, VR allows discrimination between trainees with different levels of experience in laparoscopic surgery establishing construct validity for the Xitact LS 500 clip-and-cut task. Virtual reality may become the gold standard to assess and monitor surgical skills in laparoscopic surgery.

Implementing NX Remote Desktop technology in the LTSP system

This project focuses on studying and testing the benefits of the NX Remote Desktop technology in administrative use for Finnish Meteorological Institutes existing Linux Terminal Service Project environment. This was done due to the criticality of the system caused by growing number of users as the Linux Terminal Service Project system expands. Although many of the supporting tasks can be done via Secure Shell connection, testing graphical programs or desktop behaviour in such a way is impossible. At first basic technologies behind the NX Remote Desktop were studied, and after that started the testing of two possible programs, FreeNX and NoMachine NX server. Testing the functionality and bandwidth demands were first done in a closed local area network, and results were studied. The better candidate was then installed in a virtual server simulating actual Linux Terminal Service Project server at Finnish Meteorological Institute and connection from Internet was tested to see was there any problems with firewalls and security policies. The results are reported in this study. Studying and testing the two different candidates of NX Remote Desktop showed, that NoMachine NX Server provides better customer support and documentation. Security aspects of the Finnish Meteorological Institute had also to be considered, and since updates along with the new developing tools are announced in next version of the program, this version was the choice. Studies also show that even NoMachine promises a swift connection over an average of 20Kbit/s bandwidth, at least double of that is needed. This project gives an overview of available remote desktop products along their benefits. NX Remote Desktop technology is studied, and installation instructions are included. Testing is done in both, closed and the actual environment and problems and suggestions are studied and analyzed. The installation to the actual LTSP server is not yet made, but a virtual server is put up in the same place in the view of network topology. This ensures, that if the administrators are satisfied with the system, installation and setting up the system will go as described in this report.

Usage analysis of the Nursing Activities Score in two Spanish ICUS

The aim of this study was to analyze the discourse of health managers on aspects related to delay in tuberculosis diagnosis. This was a qualitative research study, conducted with 16 Family Health Unit managers. The empirical data were obtained through semi-structured interviews. The analysis was based on the theoretical framework of the French school of discourse analysis. According to the managers’ statements, the delay in tuberculosis diagnosis is related to patient and health service aspects. As for patient aspects, managers report fear, prejudice and lack of information as factors that may promote a delayed diagnosis. Regarding health service aspects, structural problems and lack of professional skills were reported. The discourse of managers should be considered to qualify tuberculosis control actions and to prevent delays in diagnosis.

Use of medicinal plants by black women: ethnography study in a low-income community

Objective To explore beliefs, values and practices related to the use of medicinal plants among low-income black families. Method The research method was ethnography and the participant observation process was done in a low-income community in the peripheral area of the City of São Paulo. Twenty black women were interviewed. Results Two cultural sub-themes, I do use medicines that I learned to make with my mother and with religious practitioners to care for diseases and Home medicines are to treat problems that are not serious, and the cultural theme I do use home medicines to treat simple diseases because I always have them at my disposal, they are free and I don’t need a medical prescription represent beliefs, values, and practices related to the use of medicinal plants among low-income black families. Conclusion The development of such practices, which can hide ethnic and social vulnerability, reveals the resilience of low-income black women in the process of confronting problems during the health-illness process.

Alfabetização de crianças caboverdianas em língua portuguesa como língua não materna : o ensino da leitura

abstract: Cape Verde is a country of bilingual characteristics, where coexist two languages: the mother tongue – the Creole of Cape Verde (CCV) or the Capeverdian Language (LCV) and the Non Maternal language – the Portuguese that is the official language and, therefore, the language used in the process of education and learning. This situation generates conflicts so much to linguistic level as to cultural level. The two languages presents some lexical resemblances, what drives, many times, to misconceptions and linguistics errors that complicate children in the learning, in particular, of reading that constitute the base for the learning of others knowledge. The learning of reading, in the Non Maternal language, requires a development of the oral language in Portuguese Language, which stimulates the reasoning of the child through playful exercises and cognitivists and construtivists approaches. In this way, the competences of phonological processing in the acquisition of the competences of reading are important for the discrimination of written text and favor the learning and the development of reading. The child, through the discovery, begins to elaborate concepts in the way to obtain a relation with the written language, by functional form. Adopting a methodology of case study and through questionnaires, direct observation and collect of documentary information, this dissertation presents and analyzes connected aspects to the literacy of capeverdian children in the beginning of the schooling and to the learning of reading as basic support for the learning of Non Maternal language. The subsidies collected by the study, presented in this dissertation will contribute for the education progress of reading and, also, for implement successfully the learning of reading of the students, developing to practical of reading and the expectations in uncover the multiplicity of the dimensions of experience in that domain and contribute for a relative comprehension of written and reading modes.

Alfabetização de crianças caboverdianas em língua portuguesa como língua não materna : o ensino da leitura

abstract: Cape Verde is a country of bilingual characteristics, where coexist two languages: the mother tongue – the Creole of Cape Verde (CCV) or the Capeverdian Language (LCV) and the Non Maternal language – the Portuguese that is the official language and, therefore, the language used in the process of education and learning. This situation generates conflicts so much to linguistic level as to cultural level. The two languages presents some lexical resemblances, what drives, many times, to misconceptions and linguistics errors that complicate children in the learning, in particular, of reading that constitute the base for the learning of others knowledge. The learning of reading, in the Non Maternal language, requires a development of the oral language in Portuguese Language, which stimulates the reasoning of the child through playful exercises and cognitivists and construtivists approaches. In this way, the competences of phonological processing in the acquisition of the competences of reading are important for the discrimination of written text and favor the learning and the development of reading. The child, through the discovery, begins to elaborate concepts in the way to obtain a relation with the written language, by functional form. Adopting a methodology of case study and through questionnaires, direct observation and collect of documentary information, this dissertation presents and analyzes connected aspects to the literacy of capeverdian children in the beginning of the schooling and to the learning of reading as basic support for the learning of Non Maternal language. The subsidies collected by the study, presented in this dissertation will contribute for the education progress of reading and, also, for implement successfully the learning of reading of the students, developing to practical of reading and the expectations in uncover the multiplicity of the dimensions of experience in that domain and contribute for a relative comprehension of written and reading modes.

The genome of the fire ant Solenopsis invicta.

Ants have evolved very complex societies and are key ecosystem members. Some ants, such as the fire ant Solenopsis invicta, are also major pests. Here, we present a draft genome of S. invicta, assembled from Roche 454 and Illumina sequencing reads obtained from a focal haploid male and his brothers. We used comparative genomic methods to obtain insight into the unique features of the S. invicta genome. For example, we found that this genome harbors four adjacent copies of vitellogenin. A phylogenetic analysis revealed that an ancestral vitellogenin gene first underwent a duplication that was followed by possibly independent duplications of each of the daughter vitellogenins. The vitellogenin genes have undergone subfunctionalization with queen- and worker-specific expression, possibly reflecting differential selection acting on the queen and worker castes. Additionally, we identified more than 400 putative olfactory receptors of which at least 297 are intact. This represents the largest repertoire reported so far in insects. S. invicta also harbors an expansion of a specific family of lipid-processing genes, two putative orthologs to the transformer/feminizer sex differentiation gene, a functional DNA methylation system, and a single putative telomerase ortholog. EST data indicate that this S. invicta telomerase ortholog has at least four spliceforms that differ in their use of two sets of mutually exclusive exons. Some of these and other unique aspects of the fire ant genome are likely linked to the complex social behavior of this species.

Statistical Brief on the Agricultural Research of Cape Verde

The primary purpose of this brief is to provide various statistical and institutional details on the development and current status of the public agricultural research system in Cape Verde. This information has been collected and presented in a systematic way in order to inform and thereby improve research policy formulation with regard to the Cape Verdean NARS. Most importantly, these data are assembled and reported in a way that makes them directly comparable with the data presented in the other country briefs in this series. And because institutions take time to develop and there are often considerable lags in the agricultural research process, it is necessary for many analytical and policy purposes to have access to longer-run series of data. NARSs vary markedly in their institutional structure and these institutional aspects can have a substantial and direct effect on their research performance. To provide a basis for analysis and cross-country, over-time comparisons, the various research agencies in a country have been grouped into five general categories; government, semi-public, private, academic, and supranational. A description of these categories is provided in table 1.

Statistical Brief on the Agricultural Research of Cape Verde

The primary purpose of this brief is to provide various statistical and institutional details on the development and current status of the public agricultural research system in Cape Verde. This information has been collected and presented in a systematic way in order to inform and thereby improve research policy formulation with regard to the Cape Verdean NARS. Most importantly, these data are assembled and reported in a way that makes them directly comparable with the data presented in the other country briefs in this series. And because institutions take time to develop and there are often considerable lags in the agricultural research process, it is necessary for many analytical and policy purposes to have access to longer-run series of data. NARSs vary markedly in their institutional structure and these institutional aspects can have a substantial and direct effect on their research performance. To provide a basis for analysis and cross-country, over-time comparisons, the various research agencies in a country have been grouped into five general categories; government, semi-public, private, academic, and supranational. A description of these categories is provided in table 1.

Comparación de los impactos ambientales y aspectos socioeconómicos de las cadenas de producción de anchoveta

Se presentan los primeros resultados del programa de investigación comparativo sobre las tres flotas pesqueras dedicadas a la extracción de anchoveta en el mar peruano (industrial de acero, industrial de madera y artesanal), así como sus cadenas de suministro hasta el abastecimiento del consumidor. El presente trabajo tiene por objetivo estudiar la sostenibilidad de las actividades involucradas en el suministro de proteínas, considerándose los impactos ambientales y los aspectos socio-económicos. Se realizó un esquema simple de un ecosistema pelágico de afloramiento y de los principales flujos de materia y energía, producto de la explotación humana. El esquema representa la situación peruana y muestra el alto nivel de antropización del sistema, debido al uso de energías fósiles, así como a la explotación y transformación tecnológica de recursos naturales terrestres (minerales, madera, etc.). Por otro lado, se muestra que la explotación del ecosistema marino peruano tiene repercusiones sobre el resto del planeta, debido a la exportación de harina y aceite de pescado destinados principalmente a actividades acuícolas. La flota anchovetera peruana se caracteriza por un amplio rango de tamaño de embarcaciones (de 2 a 600 t de capacidad de bodega); las de tamaño intermedio (30-100 t) son las más numerosas, pero las más grandes (>300 t) son las que acumulan el mayor poder de pesca. Los análisis sobre precios y distribución de la renta entre tripulantes y armadores muestran que, a pesar de que la mayor pesca de anchoveta es realizada por la flota industrial de acero, dedicada a la producción de harina y aceite de pescado y que tiene mayor eficiencia de captura por tripulante, la contribución de la pesca industrial de madera es significativa, pues genera mayor empleo por tonelada capturada y, posiblemente, no ocasiona mayor uso de energía. La pesca artesanal de anchoveta es la menos eficiente energéticamente y por tripulante, pero genera mucho más empleo por tonelada capturada; esta pesca representa menos del 3% de la producción total, del cual sólo una fracción va al consumo humano directo (CHD). Desde el año 2000, los precios de harina y aceite de pescado en los mercados internacionales se han incrementado, debido al aumento de la demanda asiática y al precio del combustible. Se debe estudiar en qué medida este aumento desfavorece el consumo interno de estos productos, así como el uso de anchoveta para CHD. Este análisis deberá ser validado y complementado con información de impacto ambiental; y podrían contribuir a la toma de decisión participativa, para un balance óptimo entre los tres segmentos de la flota y las cadenas de producción asociadas.