Acogimiento en familia extensa: un estudio desde la perspectiva de los acogedores, de los niños y niñas acogidos y de los profesionales que intervienen. = Kinship foster care: a study from the perspective of the caregivers, the children and the child welfare workers

Desde hace aproximadamente dos décadas, en la mayoría de los países occidentales, los acogimientos en familia extensa han entrado a formar parte de los sistemas de protección infantil, siguiendo una evolución creciente en cuanto a número y peso especifico como recurso de acogimiento. Las investigaciones sobre este fenómeno son aún recientes y escasas como también lo son los programas dirigidos a esta población. En el presente artículo presentamos los resultados de un estudio descriptivo sobre los acogimientos en familia extensa en la ciudad de Barcelona, donde se recogen datos de los principales agentes implicados en este fenómeno. Desde la perspectiva de los estudios de la calidad de vida se analizan las percepciones, evaluaciones, y satisfacción expresada, por parte de los acogedores, los niños/as acogidos y los profesionales de los Equipos de Atención a la Infancia y Adolescencia (EAIA) que se encargan del estudio y seguimiento de estos acogimientos. La investigación presenta unos resultados acordes con los estudios que actualmente se realizan en este ámbito y sienta las bases para el despliegue futuro de programas dirigidos a los acogimientos en familia extensa

Técnicas de extrações e procedimentos de clean-up para a determinação de hidrocarbonetos policílicos aromáticos (HPA) em sedimentos da costa do Ceará

Extraction and clean-up are essential points in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) analysis in a solid matrix. This work compares extraction techniques and clean-up procedures for PAH analysis. PAH levels, their toxicological significance and source were also evaluated in the waters of the Cocó and Ceará rivers. The efficiency of PAH recovery was higher for the soxhlet and ultrasonic techniques. PAH recovery varied from 69.3 to 99.3%. Total PAH concentration (ΣHPA) varied from 720.73 to 2234.76 µg kg-1 (Cocó river) and 96.4 to 1859.21 µg kg-1 (Ceará river). The main PAH sources are pyrolytic processes and the levels were classified as medium so that adverse effects are possible.

Double-bilayer: a new phase formed by lysophospholipids and the corresponding fatty acid

The product of catalytic activity of the enzyme phospholipase A2, which resembles the core unit of animal toxins, on phospholipids is a 1:1 mixture of lysolipid and fatty acid. This mixture was studied by time-resolved simultaneous small- and wide angle x-ray diffraction over the temperature range from 23 to 53.5ºC. An unusually large lamellar structure was observed, with d = 11 nm, contradicting the complex functional dimer model between lysolipid and fatty acid. It can be explained by formation of a "double-bilayer", a new phase consisting of two different bilayers, one formed by lysophospholipid and other by fatty acid, bound together by head group interactions. Its strucutre was confirmed by simulations of the X-ray scattering pattern.

Nanopartículas de lipídios sólidos: métodos clássicos de produção laboratorial

Solid lipid nanoparticles have been extensively investigated as drug delivery systems. These colloidal systems have major advantages compared to others more traditional. Reported advantages include sustained release, ability to solubilize lipophilic drugs, increased physical and chemical stability of labile molecules, decreased unwanted side-effects showing lower toxicity, and scale up facilities. This paper aims at reviewing the traditional methods of solid lipid nanoparticles production, such as fusion-emulsification (hot and cold), solvent evaporation-emulsification and microemulsion, dealing with the main technological parameters that influence the quality properties of solid lipid nanoparticles.

Sähköinen jakokirja

Varhaisjakelu ja lehdenjakajan työ on muuttumassa yhä monipuolisemmaksi ja vaikeammin hallittavaksi. Uusien haasteiden myötä vanha paperinen jakokirja kaipaa päivitystä. Sähköisen jakokirjan sekä uudenlaisen jakelun osapuolten välisen viestinvälitysjärjestelmän käyttöönotto helpottaisi, ja nopeuttaisi jakajan jokaöistä työtä. Sähköisen jakokirjan kehityksen jarruna on ollut kannettavien päätelaitteiden kehittymättömyys sekä niiden käytön ongelmat. Sanomalehdenjakajan fyysisesti raskas työ ja kuluttava työympäristö asettavat tiukat vaatimukset käytettävälle sähköisen jakokirjan kannettavalle päätelaitteelle. Tässä diplomityössä toteutetaan automaattisesti päivittyvä sekä helposti muokattavissa oleva sähköinen jakokirja. Sen yhteyteen toteutetaan jakajalle ja jakelupäivystäjälle työympäristöt sekä viestinvälitysjärjestelmä. Lisäksi tutkitaan varhaisjakelua ja sen järjestelmiä, lehdenjakajan työtä sekä erilaisia olemassa olevia jakokirjoja. Diplomityön lopussa kartoitetaan kehitetyn sähköisen jakokirjan jatkokehitystä sekä pohditaan vaihtoehtoja tulevaisuuden sähköiseksi jakokirjaksi. Työn tuloksena on kehitetty jakelujärjestelmä, jota sanomalehdenjakaja ja jakelupäivystäjä käyttävät matkapuhelimella, ja tietokoneella Internetin kautta. Tämän jakelujärjestelmän osana toimivan sähköisen jakokirjan testauksen tulokset olivat jatkokehitystä, ja käyttöönottoa ajatellen erittäin positiiviset.

Synthesis, characterization and thermal studies on solid 3-methoxybenzoate of some bivalent transition metal ions

Solid-state M-3-MeO-Bz compounds, where M stands for bivalent Mn, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn and 3-MeO-Bz is 3-methoxybenzoate, have been synthesized. Simultaneous thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray powder diffractometry, infrared spectroscopy, and chemical analysis were used to characterize and to study the thermal behaviour of these compounds. The results led to information about the composition, dehydration, thermal stability and thermal decomposition of the isolated compounds.

Synthesis, characterization and thermal behaviour of solid-state compounds of 4-methoxybenzoate with lanthanum (III) and trivalent lighter lanthanides

Solid-state M-4-MeO-Bz compounds, where M stands for trivalent La, Ce, Pr, Nd and Sm and 4-MeO-Bz is 4-methoxybenzoate, have been synthesized. Simultaneous thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray powder diffractometry, infrared spectroscopy and complexometry were used to characterize and to study the thermal behaviour of these compounds. The results led to information about the composition, dehydration, polymorphic transformation, ligand's denticity, thermal behaviour and thermal decomposition of the isolated compounds.

Thermal decomposition of solid state compounds of lanthanide and yttrium benzoates in CO2 atmosphere

Solid-state Ln-Bz compounds, where Ln stands for trivalent lanthanides and Bz is benzoate have been synthesized. Simultaneous thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis in a CO2 atmosphere were used to study the thermal decomposition of these compounds.

Thermal stability and thermal decomposition of sucralose

Several papers have been described on the thermal stability of the sweetener, C12H19Cl3O8 (Sucralose). Nevertheless no study using thermoanalytical techniques was found in the literature. Simultaneous thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and infrared spectroscopy, have been used to study the thermal stability and thermal decomposition of sweetener.

Synthesis, characterization and thermal behaviour of solid 2-methoxycinnamylidenepyruvate of some bivalent metal ions in CO2 and N2 atmospheres

Solid State M-2-MeO-CP compounds, where M stands for bivalent metals (Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn) and 2-MeO-CP is 2-methoxycinnamylidenepyruvate, were synthesized. Simultaneous thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), elemental analysis and complexometry were used to establish the stoichiometry and to study the thermal behaviour of these compounds in CO2 and N2 atmospheres. The results were consistent with the general formula: M(L)2∙H2O. In both atmospheres (CO2, N2) the thermal decomposition occurs in consecutive steps which are characteristic of each compound. For CO2 atmosphere the final residues were: Mn3O4, Fe3O4, Co3O4, NiO, Cu2O and ZnO, while under N2 atmosphere the thermal decomposition is still observed at 1000 º C.

Studies on 68Ga-Based Agents for PET Imaging of Cancer and Inflammation

Studies on ⁶⁸Ga-Based Agents for PET Imaging of Cancer and Inflammation Positron emission tomography (PET) is based on the use of radiolabeled agents and facilitates in vivo imaging of biological processes, such as cancer. Because the detection of cancer is demanding and is often obscured by inflammation, there is a demand for better PET imaging agents. The aim was to preliminarily evaluate new PET agents for imaging cancer and inflammation using experimental models. ⁶⁸Ga-chloride and peptides, ⁶⁸Ga-labeled through 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA), targeting matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) were tested for tumor imaging. In addition, a ⁶⁸Ga-DOTA-conjugated peptide targeting vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1), was tested for inflammation imaging. The ⁶⁸Ga-based imaging agents described here showed potential features by passing the essential in vitro tests, proceeding further to preclinical in vivo evaluation and being able to visualize the target. The target uptake and target-to-background ratios of ⁶⁸Ga-based agents were, however, not optimal. ⁶⁸Ga-chloride showed slow clearance caused by its binding to blood transferrin. In the case of ⁶⁸Ga-DOTA-peptides low in vivo stability and/or low lipophilicity led to too rapid blood clearance and urinary excretion. The properties of ⁶⁸Ga-labeled peptides are modifiable, as shown with matrix metalloproteinase-9 targeting ligands. In the conclusion of this PhD thesis, ⁶⁸Ga-based agents for PET imaging of cancer and inflammation could be applied in the development of drugs, earlier diagnostics and following-up of the efficacy of therapies.

Innovations of ageing and societal transition : Dynamics of change of the socio-technical regime of ageing

The purpose of this dissertation is to examine the dynamics of the socio-technical system in the field of ageing. The study stems from the notion that the ageing of the population as a powerful megatrend has wide societal effects, and is not just a matter for the social and health sector. The central topic in the study is change: not only the age structures and structures of society are changing, but also at the same time there is constant development, for instance, in technologies, infrastructures and cultural perceptions. The changing concept of innovation has widened the understanding of innovations related to ageing from medical and assistive technological innovations to service and social innovations, as well as systemic innovations at different levels, which means the intertwined and co-evolutionary change in technologies, structures, services and thinking models. By the same token, the perceptions of older people and old age are becoming more multi-faceted: old age is no longer equated to illnesses and decline, but visions of active ageing and a third age have emerged, which are framed by choices, opportunities, resources and consumption in later life. The research task in this study is to open up the processes and mechanisms of change in the field of ageing, which are studied as a complex, multi-level and interrelated socio-technical system. The question is about co-effective elements consisting of macro-level landscape changes, the existing socio-technical regime (the rule system, practices and structures) and bottom-up niche-innovations. Societal transitions do not account for the things inside the regime alone, or for the long-term changes in the landscape, nor for the radical innovations, but for the interplay between all these levels. The research problem is studied through five research articles, which offer micro-level case studies to macro-level phenomenon. Each of the articles focus on different aspects related to ageing and change, and utilise various datasets. The framework of this study leans on the studies of socio-technical systems and multi-level perspective on transitions mainly developed by Frank Geels. Essential factors in transition from one socio-technological regime to another are the co-evolutionary processes between landscape changes, regime level and experimental niches. Landscape level changes, like the ageing of the population, destabilise the regime in the forms of coming pressures. This destabilization offers windows for opportunity to niche-innovations outside or at fringe of the regime, which, through their breakthrough, accelerate the transition process. However, the change is not easy because of various kinds of lock-ins and inertia, which tend to maintain the stability of the regime. In this dissertation, a constructionist approach of society is applied leaning mainly to the ideas of Anthony Giddens’ theory of structuration, with the dual nature of structures. The change is taking place in the interplay between actors and structures: structures shape people’s practices, but at the same time these practices constitute and reproduce social systems. Technology and other material aspects, as part of socio-technical systems, and the use of them, also take part in the structuration process. The findings of the study point out that co-evolutionary and co-effective relationships between economic, cultural, technological and institutional fields, as well as relationships between landscape changes, changes in the local and regime-level practices and rule systems, are a very complex and multi-level dynamic socio-technical phenomenon. At the landscape level of ageing, which creates the pressures and triggers to the regime change, there are three remarkable megatrends: demographic change, changes in the global economy and the development of technologies. These exert pressures to the socio-technical regime, which as a rule system is experiencing changes in the form of new markets and consumer habits, new ways of perceiving ageing, new models of organising the health care and other services and as new ways of considering innovation and innovativeness. There are also inner dynamics in the relationships between these aspects within the regime. These are interrelated and coconstructed: the prevailing perceptions of ageing and innovation, for instance, reflect the ageing policies, innovation policies, societal structures, organising models, technology and scientific discussion, and vice versa. Technology is part of the inner dynamics of the sociotechnological regime. Physical properties of the artefacts set limitations and opportunities with regard to their functions and uses. The use of and discussion about technology, contributes producing and reproducing the perceptions of old age. For societal transition, micro-level changes are also needed, in form of niche-innovations, for instance new services, organisational models or new technologies, Regimes, as stabilitystriven systems, tend to generate incremental innovations, but radically new innovations are generated in experimental niches protected from ‘normal’ market selection. The windows of opportunity for radical novelties may be opened if the circumstances are favourable for instance by tensions in the socio-technical regime affected by landscape level changes. This dissertation indicates that a change is taking place, firstly, in the dynamic interactionbetween levels, as a result of purposive action and governance to some extent. Breaking the inertia and using the window of opportunity for change and innovation offered by dynamics between levels, presupposes the actors’ special capabilities and actions such as dynamic capabilities and distance management. Secondly, the change is taking place the socio-technological negotiations inside the regime: interaction between technological and social, which is embodied in the use of technology. The use of technology includes small-level contextual scripts that also participate in forming broader societal scripts (for instance defining old age at the society level), which in their turn affect the formation of policies for innovation and ageing. Thirdly, the change is taking place by the means of active formation of the multi-actor innovation networks, where the role of distance management is crucial to facilitate the communication between actors coming from different backgrounds as well as to help the niches born outside the regime to utilise the window of opportunity offered by regime destabilisation. This dissertation has both theoretical and practical contributions. This study participates in the discussion of action-oriented view on transition by opening up of the socio-technological, coevolutionary processes of the multi-faceted phenomenon of ageing, which has lacked systematic analyses. The focus of this study, however, is not on the large-scale coordination and governance, but rather on opening up the incremental elements and structuration processes, which contribute to the transition little by little, and which can be affected to. This increases the practical importance of this dissertation, by highlighting the importance of very tiny, everyday elements in the change processes in the long run.

Mössbauer spectra of iron oxides in the bulk and nanocrystalline states

Magnetic nanoparticles are very important in modern industry. These particles are used in many different spheres of life. Nanoparticles have unusual physical and chemical properties connected both with quantum dimensional effects and with the increased role of the surface atoms. Most clearly the difference between the properties of bulk materials and nanoparticles can be seen in the magnetic properties of these materials. The most typical magnetic properties of nanomaterials are superparamagnetism with the size of the cluster from 1 to 10 nm; single-domain magnetic state of nanoclusters and nanostructures up to 20 nm; magnetization processes connected with magnetic cluster ordering and with its forms and sizes; quantum magnetic tunneling effects when magnetization changes by jumps and giant magnetoresistance effects. For research of the magnetic properties of iron-containing nanostructures, it is convenient to apply Mӧssbauer spectroscopy. In this work a number of nano-sized samples of iron oxides were examined by Mössbauer spectroscopy. The Mössbauer spectra of nanoparticles with various sizes were obtained. Mössbauer spectra of iron oxide nanoparticles were compared with the spectra of bulk samples. It was shown how the spectra of iron oxide nanoparticles change depending on the particle sizes.

First-Line Chemotherapy with Anthracycline and Taxane Combination in Metastatic Breast Cancer. Detection of bone metastases with TRACP 5b

Background: In Finland, breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer among women, and prostate cancer (PC) that among men. At the metastatic stage both cancers remain essentially incurable. The goals of therapy include palliation of symptoms, improvement or maintenance of quality of life (QoL), delay of disease progression, and prolongation of survival. Balancing between efficacy and toxicity is the major challenge. With increasing costs of new treatments, appropriate use of resources is paramount. When new treatment regimes are introduced into clinical practice a comprehensive assessment of clinical benefit, adverse effects and cost is necessary. Both BC and PC show a predilection to metastasize to bone. Bone metastases cause significant morbidity impairing the patients´ QoL. Diagnosis of bone metastases relies mainly on radiological methods, which however lack optimal sensitivity and specificity. New tools are needed for detection and follow-up of bone metastases. Aims: Anthracyclines and taxanes are effective chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) with different mechanisms of action. Therefore, evaluation of the combination of anthracyclines with taxanes was a justifiable approach in the treatment of MBC patients. We assessed the efficacy, toxicity, cost of treatment and QoL of BC patients treated with first-line chemotherapy for metastatic disease with the combination epirubicin and docetaxel. We also evaluated the diagnostic potential of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP 5b) and carboxyterminal telopeptides of type I collagen (ICTP) in the diagnosis of bone metastases in BC and TRACP 5b in PC patients. Results: The combination of epirubicin and docetaxel was effective in this phase II study, but required individual dose adjustment to avoid neutropenic infections, and the use of growth factors to maintain a feasible dose level. The response rate was 54 % (95 % CI 37-71) and the median overall survival (OS) was 26 months. Of the patients, 87 % were treated for infections. The treatment of adverse events required additional use of health resources mainly due to neutropenic infections, thereby raising direct treatment costs by 20 %. Despite adverse events, the global QoL was not significantly compromised during the treatment. Clinically evident acute cardiac toxicity was not observed. The combination of serum TRACP 5b and ICTP was at least equally sensitive and specific in detection of of bone metastases as commonly used total alkaline phosphatise (tALP) in BC patients. In contrast, TRACP 5b was less specific and sensitive than tALP as a marker of skeletal changes in PC patients. Conclusions: Treatment with epirubicin and docetaxel showed high efficacy in first-line chemotherapy of MBC. The relatively high incidence of neutropenic infections requiring hospitalization increased the treatment costs. Despite adverse events, the global QoL of the patients was not significantly compromised. The combination of TRACP 5b and ICTP showed similar activity as tALP in detecting bone metastases in MBC. In contrast, TRACP 5b was less specific and sensitive than tALP as a marker of skeletal changes in PC.

Lethal weapons : novel approaches for receptor-targeted cancer cell elimination

The currently used forms of cancer therapy are associated with drug resistance and toxicity to healthy tissues. Thus, more efficient methods are needed for cancer-specific induction of growth arrest and programmed cell death, also known as apoptosis. Therapeutic forms of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) are investigated in clinical trials due to the capability of TRAIL to trigger apoptosis specifically in cancer cells by activation of cell surface death receptors. Many tumors, however, have acquired resistance to TRAIL-induced apoptosis and sensitizing drugs for combinatorial treatments are, therefore, in high demand. This study demonstrates that lignans, natural polyphenols enriched in seeds and cereal, have a remarkable sensitizing effect on TRAIL-induced cell death at non-toxic lignan concentrations. In TRAIL-resistant and androgen-dependent prostate cancer cells we observe that lignans repress receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) activity and downregulate cell survival signaling via the Akt pathway, which leads to increased TRAIL sensitivity. A structure-activity relationship analysis reveals that the γ-butyrolactone ring of the dibenzylbutyrolactone lignans is essential for the rapidly reversible TRAIL-sensitizing activity of these compounds. Furthermore, the lignan nortrachelogenin (NTG) is identified as the most efficient of the 27 tested lignans and norlignans in sensitization of androgen-deprived prostate cancer cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. While this combinatorial anticancer approach may leave normal cells unharmed, several efficient cancer drugs are too toxic, insoluble or unstable to be used in systemic therapy. To enable use of such drugs and to protect normal cells from cytotoxic effects, cancer-targeted drug delivery vehicles of nanometer scale have recently been generated. The newly developed nanoparticle system that we tested in vitro for cancer cell targeting combines the efficient drug-loading capacity of mesoporous silica to the versatile particle surface functionalization of hyperbranched poly(ethylene imine), PEI. The mesoporous hybrid silica nanoparticles (MSNs) were functionalized with folic acid to promote targeted internalization by folate receptor overexpressing cancer cells. The presented results demonstrate that the developed carrier system can be employed in vitro for cancer selective delivery of adsorbed or covalently conjugated molecules and furthermore, for selective induction of apoptotic cell death in folate receptor expressing cancer cells. The tested carrier system displays potential for simultaneous delivery of several anticancer agents specifically to cancer cells also in vivo.