Development of a new definition of maternal near miss based on organ dysfunction in Latin America and the Caribbean: A prospective multicenter cohort study.

Background: There has been debate over whether the existing World Health Organization (WHO) criteria accurately represent the severity of maternal near misses.

Objective: This study assessed the diagnostic accuracy of two WHO clinical and laboratory organ dysfunction markers for determining the best cutoff values in a Latin American setting.

Methods: A prospective multicenter cohort study was conducted in five Latin American countries.

Predicting carob tree physiological parameters under different irrigation systems using Random Forest and Planet satellite images.

Introduction: In the context of climate change, monitoring the spatial and temporal variability of plant physiological parameters has become increasingly important. Remote spectral imaging and GIS software have shown effectiveness in mapping field variability. Additionally, the application of machine learning techniques, essential for processing large data volumes, has seen a significant rise in agricultural applications.

Comparative effectiveness and duration of protection of ChAdOx1, CoronaVac, BNT162b2, mRNA-1273, and Ad26.COV2.S COVID-19 vaccines for symptomatic and hospitalized Mu, Delta, and Omicron: A test-negative case-control study.

Objective: We carried out a study to estimate the vaccine effectiveness (VE) of homologous vaccination schedules against COVID-19, using data from mandatory information systems from Bogota, Colombia.

Methods: A test-negative case-control study in adults from Bogota (Colombia), between March 1st of 2021 and February 25th of 2022. We assess VE among symptomatic COVID-19 cases during the Mul, Delta, and Omicron predominance periods in Bogota, with controls matched by sex, age (±5 years), and date of testing (±7 days), using a case:control ratio of 1:1.

Appraising water and nutrient recovery for perennial crops irrigated with reclaimed water in Mediterranean areas through an index-based approach.

The use of reclaimed water for agricultural irrigation is among the agronomic practices being increasingly valued by policy-makers, water planners, and regulators to pursue more sustainable resource management in many arid and semi-arid agricultural production areas worldwide. This practice can make additional supply available in water-scarce areas, provide crop nutrients, and reduce the disposal of wastewater to the environment, thus providing considerable agronomic and environmental benefits. However, the process for treated wastewater reuse is complex because of multiple interactions among technical, economic, environmental, and public health related aspects.

Use of remote sensing to evaluate the effects of environmental factors on soil salinity in a semi-arid area.

The global water crisis, driven by water scarcity and water quality deterioration, is expected to continue and intensify in dry and overpopulated areas, and will play a critical role in meeting future agricultural demands. Sustainability of agriculture irrigated with low quality water will require a comprehensive approach to soil, water, and crop management consisting of site- and situation-specific preventive measures and management strategies. Other problem related with water quality deterioration is soil salinization.

Gender Differences in Student Comfort Voluntarily Asking and Answering Questions in Large-Enrollment College Science Courses.

Allowing students to ask and answer questions is a common practice employed by college science instructors. However, recent literature has identified that women participate in whole-class discussions less often than men. One hypothesized reason for this gender gap is that women may be less comfortable participating.

Gelatin-Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite Hydrogels for Encapsulation: Potential Applications in Probiotics and Bioreactor Packings.

Nutraceutical formulations based on probiotic microorganisms have gained significant attention over the past decade due to their beneficial properties on human health. Yeasts offer some advantages over other probiotic organisms, such as immunomodulatory properties, anticancer effects and effective suppression of pathogens. However, one of the main challenges for their oral administration is ensuring that cell viability remains high enough for a sustained therapeutic effect while avoiding possible substrate inhibition issues as they transit through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

Call on me! Undergraduates' perceptions of voluntarily asking and answering questions in front of large-enrollment science classes.

Allowing students to voluntarily ask and answer questions in front of the whole class are common teaching practices used in college science courses. However, few studies have examined college science students' perceptions of these practices, the extent to which students choose to engage in these practices, and what discourages students from participating. In this study, we surveyed 417 undergraduates at a research-intensive institution about their experiences asking and answering questions in large-enrollment college science courses.

Experience with ospemifene in patients with vulvovaginal atrophy treated with laser therapy: case studies.

Vaginal laser therapy is a non-hormonal treatment option for vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA), a component of the genitourinary syndrome of menopause. Through a microablative and/or thermal effect on atrophic vaginal epithelium, laser therapy activates growth factors that increase vascularity and collagen production. Laser and ospemifene are complementary treatments: the laser's effects on intra- and extracellular water are supported by the activity of ospemifene at estrogen receptors to restore vaginal epithelium and natural lubrication.

Ripening Indices, Olive Yield and Oil Quality in Response to Irrigation With Saline Reclaimed Water and Deficit Strategies.

The 70% worldwide surface of olive orchards is irrigated. The evaluation of non-conventional water resources and water-saving techniques has gained importance during the last decades in arid and semiarid environments. This study evaluated the effects of irrigation with two water sources: low-cost water DEsalination and SEnsoR Technology (DESERT) desalinated water (DW) EC ∼1 dS m) and reclaimed water (RW) (EC ∼ 3 dS m) combined with two irrigation strategies: full irrigation (FI) (100% of ET) and regulated deficit irrigation (RDI, 50% of ET) on fruit yield, ripening indices, and oil yield and quality of olive trees cv Arbosana planted in Mediterranean conditions.

Tridimensional alginate disks of tunable topologies for mammalian cell encapsulation.

We have developed a protocol to produce three-dimensional matrices based on alginate hydrogels for mammalian cell encapsulation. Based on the gelation properties of this polysaccharide, we implemented a calcium ion-based diffusion method where the designed hydrogels can be obtained with well-defined mechanical properties and replicable 3D topologies. The developed protocol can be extended to different types of alginates and an ample range of concentrations.

Enhanced biosorption of Cr(VI) using cotton fibers coated with chitosan - role of ester bonds.

We report on the role of ester bonds in the enhanced removal of hexavalent chromium from water using cotton fibers coated with chitosan. Adsorption capacities up to five times higher than those of the unmodified fibers were observed when the cotton fibers were exposed to an NaOH, followed by citric acid (0.97 M), and a chitosan solution (2%).

Molecular identification of Azospirillum spp.: Limitations of 16S rRNA and qualities of rpoD as genetic markers.

Since their discovery, plant-growth promoting rhizobacteria from the genus Azospirillum have been subjected to intensive research due to their biotechnological potential as crop inoculants. Phylogenetic analysis of Azospirillum spp. is carried out by 16S rRNA sequencing almost exclusively, but inconsistencies and low confidence often arise when working with close species.

Interspecific cooperation: enhanced growth, attachment and strain-specific distribution in biofilms through Azospirillum brasilense-Pseudomonas protegens co-cultivation.

Plant-growth-promoting bacteria belonging to Azospirillum and Pseudomonas genera are major inhabitants of the rhizosphere. Both are increasingly commercialized as crops inoculants. Interspecific interaction in the rhizosphere is critical for inoculants aptness.

Gelatinization and retrogradation phenomena in starch/montmorillonite nanocomposites plasticized with different glycerol/water ratios.

This study aims to gain insights into the intermolecular interactions present in thermoplastic starch (TPS)/montmorillonite (MMT) nanocomposites prepared using water and/or glycerol as plasticizers. Specifically, the impact of using different glycerol/water proportions on the nature of gelatinization and retrogradation processes is studied. Nanocomposites were characterized by rheometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-rays diffraction (XRD).

Use of clinical practice guidelines and factors related to their uptake: a survey of health professionals in Spain.

Rationale, Aims And Objective: This study aims to assess the use of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) among health professionals and factors related to their uptake in clinical practice.

Methods: Cross-sectional study based on an online survey conducted among primary care (PC) and hospital-based care (HC) doctors in Spain in 2011. Questionnaire development included adaptation of similar surveys and contextualization through a qualitative study.

Attitudes and perceptions about clinical guidelines: a qualitative study with Spanish physicians.

Background: Clinical guidelines (CGs) are popular for healthcare decision making but their acceptability and use by healthcare providers is influenced by numerous factors. Some of these factors are professional-related, such as knowledge and perceptions of and attitudes toward CGs in general. The aim of our study was to evaluate attitudes and perceptions of Spanish physicians towards CGs.

Supervised exercise for acute coronary patients in primary care: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Functional capacity is a prognostic factor for coronary patients; accordingly, they are recommended to walk.

Objective: To assess whether an exercise program supervised in primary care increases their functional capacity more than unsupervised walking.

Methods: A randomized clinical trial was carried out at eight primary care centres of the Spanish Health Service and involving 97 incident cases of low-risk acute coronary patients, <80 years old, randomly assigned to either an unsupervised walking program (UW group; n = 51) or a 6-month cycle ergometer exercise program with gradually increasing frequency and workload intensity supervised by primary care nurses (SE group; n = 46).

Perceptions and attitudes of clinicians in Spain toward clinical practice guidelines and grading systems: a protocol for a qualitative study and a national survey.

Background: Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) have become a very popular tool for decision making in healthcare. While there is some evidence that CPGs improve outcomes, there are numerous factors that influence their acceptability and use by healthcare providers. While evidence of clinicians' knowledge, perceptions and attitudes toward CPGs is extensive, results are still disperse and not conclusive.

Vaginal hysterectomy in non-prolapsed uteruses: "no scar hysterectomy".

Introduction And Hypothesis: Traditionally, vaginal hysterectomy (VH) has been limited to cases of uterine prolapse, despite the fact that vast worldwide literature has demonstrated its applicability in other common benign diseases, such as uterine fibromatosis and abnormal uterine bleeding, with excellent outcomes.

Methods: Such outstanding results have made this procedure one of the most useful and advantageous alternatives when compared to the abdominal and laparoscopic routes.

Results: Currently, VH (an ancient procedure) does not represent a first-line alternative.

[Cardiovascular risk factors in schoolchildren of the city of Cuenca].

Objective: To calculate the levels of different cardiovascular risk factors among 9 and 10 year old schoolchildren in the city of Cuenca.

Design: An observational crossover study (cross-sectional).

Setting: The community: three state schools in the city of Cuenca.