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Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) are a widely used approach to incentivize conservation efforts such as avoided deforestation. Although PES effectiveness has received significant scholarly attention, how PES design modifications can improve program outcomes is less explored. We present findings from a randomized trial in Mexico that tested whether a PES contract that requires enrollees to enroll all of their forest is more effective than the traditional PES contract that allows them to choose which forest parcels to enroll. The modification’s aim is to prevent landowners from enrolling only parcels they planned to conserve anyway while leaving aside other parcels to deforest. We find that the full-enrollment treatment significantly reduces deforestation compared to the traditional contract (41% less deforestation; p  = 0.01). As a result, cost-effectiveness of the PES program quadruples. This result highlights the potential to substantially improve the efficacy of conservation payments through simple contract modifications. A randomized trial in Mexico finds that requiring Payments for Ecosystem Services participants to enroll all their forest in the program quadruples cost-effectiveness compared to the standard program design that allows for partial enrollment of land.

Microalgae, as some of the oldest life forms on Earth, are of significant interest to industry and in terms of environmental policies, due to their ability to perform photosynthesis and consume atmospheric carbon dioxide. Moreover, they contain a wide variety of value-added compounds such as amino acids and proteins, carbohydrates, and fatty acids, which can be exploited in multiple fields like medicine, cosmetics, nutritional supplements, and for the production of biodiesel. In this article, Nannochloropsis gaditana, a type of microalgae that inhabits both fresh and salt water, is studied for fatty acid recovery using deep eutectic solvents (DES). This microalgae species is a natural source of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), an omega-3 compound that is commonly used in the nutritional industry. There are numerous extraction techniques and pretreatments to obtain these compounds. In this work, DES are studied as extractive agents due to their advantages as neoteric solvents. Specifically, this work focuses on an assessment of the effect of the composition of DES on the extraction yield of fatty acids from microalgae. Several DES compositions based on choline chloride, ethylene glycol, and fructose are studied to analyze the influence of water content in these phases. The results show that water content significantly influences recovery yields. The DES with higher extractive capacity were those based on choline chloride, ethylene glycol, and water at a molar ratio of 1:2:2. This composition offered 48.7% of the yield obtained with a conventional solvent like methanol for the recovery of EPA (11.2 mg/g microalgae). Furthermore, the choline chloride-fructose-based DES shows the capability of selective extractions of fatty acids with low carbon content—choline chloride:fructose:water (molar ratio 2:1:2) can extract 0.14 mg of decanoic acid/g of microalgae, indicating that this DES composition can recover 35.7% more decanoic acid in comparison to methanol.

Combined gene and cell therapy are promising strategies for cancer treatment. Given the complexity of cancer, several approaches are actively studied to fight this disease. Using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has demonstrated dual antitumor and protumor effects as they exert massive immune/regulatory effects on the tissue microenvironment. MSCs have been widely investigated to exploit their antitumor target delivery system. They can be genetically modified to overexpress genes and selectively or more efficiently eliminate tumor cells. Current approaches tend to produce more effective and safer therapies using MSCs or derivatives; however, the effect achieved by engineered MSCs in solid tumors is still limited and depends on several factors such as the cell source, transgene, and tumor target. This review describes the progress of gene and cell therapy focused on MSCs as a cornerstone against solid tumors, addressing the different MSC-engineering methods that have been approached over decades of research. Furthermore, we summarize the main objectives of engineered MSCs against the most common cancers and discuss the challenges, limitations, risks, and advantages of targeted treatments combined with conventional ones.

The COVID-19 pandemic and government responses led to a halt in economic activity. While this reduced pollution in urban areas, its effect on deforestation in areas outside of cities is unclear. Deforestation may have decreased due to the restrictions on economic activity, but, it may have increased due to the drying up of alternative income sources. We analyzed bi-weekly data on tropical forests worldwide in relation to the dates when different countries implemented lockdown restrictions. Our analysis found that while lockdowns did reduce mobility in forest municipalities, the average effect on deforestation was not significant. However, we did observe variations in the impact of lockdowns on deforestation based on the share of lockdown-vulnerable GDP and the level of government effectiveness. These results stand across tropical countries and within Colombia. These findings highlight the importance of alternative income sources and strong state capacity for effective policies aimed at reducing deforestation.

Background In patients with COVID-19-related acute respiratory failure (ARF), awake prone positioning (AW-PP) reduces the need for intubation in patients treated with high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO). However, the effects of different exposure times on clinical outcomes remain unclear. We evaluated the effect of AW-PP on the risk of endotracheal intubation and in-hospital mortality in patients with COVID-19-related ARF treated with HFNO and analyzed the effects of different exposure times to AW-PP. Methods This multicenter prospective cohort study in six ICUs of 6 centers in Argentine consecutively included patients > 18 years of age with confirmed COVID-19-related ARF requiring HFNO from June 2020 to January 2021. In the primary analysis, the main exposure was awake prone positioning for at least 6 h/day, compared to non-prone positioning (NON-PP). In the sensitivity analysis, exposure was based on the number of hours receiving AW-PP. Inverse probability weighting–propensity score (IPW-PS) was used to adjust the conditional probability of treatment assignment. The primary outcome was endotracheal intubation (ETI); and the secondary outcome was hospital mortality. Results During the study period, 580 patients were screened and 335 were included; 187 (56%) tolerated AW-PP for [median (p25–75)] 12 (9–16) h/day and 148 (44%) served as controls. The IPW–propensity analysis showed standardized differences < 0.1 in all the variables assessed. After adjusting for other confounders, the OR (95% CI) for ETI in the AW-PP group was 0.36 (0.2–0.7), with a progressive reduction in OR as the exposure to AW-PP increased. The adjusted OR (95% CI) for hospital mortality in the AW-PP group ≥ 6 h/day was 0.47 (0.19–1.31). The exposure to prone positioning ≥ 8 h/d resulted in a further reduction in OR [0.37 (0.17–0.8)]. Conclusion In the study population, AW-PP for ≥ 6 h/day reduced the risk of endotracheal intubation, and exposure ≥ 8 h/d reduced the risk of hospital mortality.

Background. The wt1 gene codes for a transcription factor that presents several protein isoforms with diverse biological properties, capable of positively and negatively regulating genes involved in proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. WT1 protein is overexpressed in more than 90% of breast cancer; however, its role during tumor progression is still unknown. Methodology. In this work, we analyzed the expression of WT1 isoforms in several breast cancer cells with different tumor marker statuses and an in vitro assay using MCF-7 cells cultured with long-term estrogen depletion (MCF-7 LTED cells) with the finality to mimic the process of switching from hormone-dependent to hormone-independent. Moreover, growth kinetics, sensitivity to tamoxifen, and relative expression analysis of ER and Her2/neu were performed. Results. Initially, the expression of 52-54 kDa protein isoform of WT1 in the breast cancer cell line ER (+) was detected by western blot and was absent in ER (-), and the 36-38 kDa protein isoform of WT1 was detected in all cell lines analyzed. The analysis of alternative splicing by RT-PCR shows that the 17AA (+)/KTS (-) isoform of WT1 was the most frequent in the four cell lines analyzed. In vitro, the MCF-7 cells in the estrogen depletion assay show an increase in the expression of the 52-54 kDa isoform of WT1 in the first 48 hours, and this was maintained until week 13, and later, this expression was decreased, and the 36-38 kDa isoform of WT1 did not show change during the first 48 hours but from week 1 showed an increase of expression, and this remained until week 27. Growth kinetic analysis showed that MCF-7 LTED cells presented a 1.4-fold decrease in cellular proliferation compared to MCF-7 cells cultured under normal conditions. In addition, MCF-7 LTED cells showed a decrease in sensitivity to the antiproliferative effect of tamoxifen (p≤0.05). Samples collected until week 57 analyzed by qRT-PCR showed an increase in the relative expression of the Her2/neu and ER. Conclusions. Modulation of protein isoforms showed differential expression of WT1 isoforms dependent on estrogen receptor. The absence of 52-54 kDa and the presence of the 36-38 kDa protein isoform of WT1 were detected in ER-negative breast cancer cell lines classified as advanced stage cells. Long-term estrogen depletion assay in MCF-7 cells increased the expression of the 36-38 kDa isoform and reduced the 52-54 kDa isoform, and these cells show an increase in the expression of tumor markers of ER and Her2/neu. MCF-7 LTED cells showed low proliferation and insensitivity to tamoxifen compared to MCF-7 cells in normal conditions. These results support the theory about the relationship of the 36-38 kDa isoform of WT1 and the absence of ER function in advanced breast cancer.

Wilms' tumor 1 (WT1) is involved in the development of the urogenital system and is expressed in podocytes throughout life. Inflammation of renal glomeruli causes renal damage-induced nephrotic syndrome and steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome have mutations in the WT1 gene. The aim of this work was to determine if the inflammatory process modulates the expression and localization of WT1 in podocytes that cause kidney damage using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated mice as a sepsis model. In investigation of renal damage, proteinuria and histology were analyzed. WT1 modulation was analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry and western blot assays, and proinflammatory cytokines were analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay. WT1 expression decreased most at 24 and 36 h after the induction of inflammation and phosphorylated WT1 was mainly localized in the cytoplasm, reduced nephrin mRNA expression and increased mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 1β. These results indicate that the immune system plays an important role in the modulation of WT1, leading to kidney damage.

Forkhead box p3 (Foxp3) expression was believed to be specific for T-regulatory cells but has recently been described in non-hematopoietic cells from different tissue origins and in tumor cells from both epithelial and non-epithelial tissues. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of Foxp3 in murine melanoma. The B16F10 cell line Foxp3 silenced with small interference Foxp3 plasmid transfection was established and named B16F10.1. These cells had lower levels of Foxp3 mRNA (quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction [0.235-fold]), protein (flow cytometry [0.02%]), CD25(+) expression (0.06%), cellular proliferation (trypan blue staining), and interleukin (IL)-2 production (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [72.35 pg/mL]) than those in B16F10 wild-type (WT) cells (P<0.05). Subcutaneous inoculation of the B16F10.1 cell line into C57BL/6 mice delayed the time of visible tumor appearance, increased the time of survival, and affected the weight of tumors, and also decreased the production of IL-10, IL-2, and transforming growth factor beta compared with mice inoculated with the B16F10 WT cell line. The B16F10.1 cells derived from tumors and free of T-cells (isolated by Dynabeads and plastic attachment) expressed relatively lower levels of Foxp3 and CD25(+) than B16F10 WT cells (P<0.05) in a time-dependent manner. The population of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes of T CD4(+) cells (CD4(+), CD4(+)CD25(+), and CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+)) increased in a time-dependent manner (P<0.05) in tumors derived from B16F10 WT cells and decreased in tumors derived from B16F10.1 cells. Similar data were obtained from spleen cells. These results suggest that, in melanomas, Foxp3 partly induces tumor growth by modifying the immune system at the local and peripheral level, shifting the environment toward an immunosuppressive profile. Therapies incorporating this transcription factor could be strategies for cancer treatment.

Este artículo analiza si la educación financiera (EF) cumple un efecto mediador entre la planeación financiera (PF) y el desempeño financiero (DF) entre los microemprendedores usuarios del programa de microfinanzas asociados al sector solidario de una cooperativa de ahorro y crédito de Antioquia. Para ello, se empleó el método de ecuaciones estructurales y la estimación por mínimos cuadrados parciales. Los resultados muestran una relación positiva significativa entre la PF y la EF, así como entre EF y DF, lo cual evidencia un efecto mediador de la EF entre PF y DF. 

Purpose This study aimed to assess the impact of a bundle of care strategy on the duration of awake prone positioning (AW-PP) and other key clinical outcomes in patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF) who require high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO). Methods In this secondary analysis of a prospective, multicenter cohort study, we included patients admitted with COVID-19-related ARF who required HFNO. The protocol encouraged AW-PP for as long as possible. The main exposure was a bundle of care including light sedation, monitoring, and information to patients about the strategy (bundle) compared to no bundle (control). The primary outcome was the duration of AW-PP (hours/day), while secondary outcomes included endotracheal intubation and in-hospital mortality. Directed acyclic graphs (DAGs) were employed to identify variables related to both exposure and outcomes. Four models were used to evaluate exposure-outcome associations: inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW), “double-robust” approximation (DR), traditional regression (TR), and mixed-effects model (MEM). Results Out of 499 patients, 197 were exposed to bundle, and 302 did not. The exposure group had a median (IQR) AW-PP duration of 16 (10–18) hours/day, compared to 10 (7–14) hours/day in the control group. Regression coefficients (95% CI) were 3.39 (1.67–5.11), 3.35 (1.55–5.14), 3.95 (2.63–5.28), and 3.72 (2.5–4.94) for IPTW, DR, TR and MEM, respectively. The odds ratios (95% CI) for intubation were 0.34 (0.15–0.76), 0.23 (0.10–0.50), 0.42 (0.23–0.77), and 0.48 (0.16–0.49), and for in-hospital mortality were 0.38 (0.11–1.27), 0.43 (0.14–1.26), 0.47 (0.22–0.91), and 0.46 (0.12–1.43) in the respective models. Conclusion In the evaluated population of patients with COVID-19-related ARF, implementing a bundle-of-care strategy was associated with a longer AW-PP exposure and a reduced risk of endotracheal intubation. Trial Registration Number ClinicalTrials.gov. Identifier NCT05178212. Date of registration: January 5th, 2022. Study Type: Observational.