NCube/papyrus huggingface dataset:
La pobreza en México : evolución reciente, explicación y perspectivas

Using a very important dimension of the capabilities approach, agency freedom, we want in this work to demonstrate that poverty in Mexico can be seen as a cause of the lack of agency freedom. For this we take as a proxy of agency freedom the responsibility in its three categories: The subsequent responsibility, the previous responsibility and the otherness responsibility. And as a poverty proxy the the labor trend index proposed by the National Council for the Evaluation of Social Development Policy in Mexico (CONEVAL). Using a MCO we show that the data is significant at the level of Federal Entities. Rescatando una dimensión muy importante del enfoque de capabilities, la libertad de agencia, queremos en el presente trabajo demostrar que la pobreza en México puede ser vista como causa de la falta de libertad de agencia. Para ello tomamos como proxy de la libertad de agencia a la responsabilidad en sus tres categorías: La responsabilidad posterior, la responsabilidad anterior y la responsabilidad autrui. Y como proxy de pobreza al índice de tendencia laboral propuesto por el consejo nacional de evaluación de la política de desarrollo social en México (CONEVAL). Usando el MCO mostramos que los datos son significativos a nivel de Entidades Federativas.

Keyphrases: Philosophy, Philosophie, Ethics, Éthique, Economics, Agency, Poverty, Capabilities, Pauvreté, Capabilités, Agence, Économie, Capabilities
Sur l'amitié pleine et entière chez Aristote

Dans sa conférence sur l’amitié et la connaissance de soi donnée à Munich, le 12 juillet 1983 lors du colloque « Wissenschaft und Existenz : Ein interdisziplinäres Symposium », Gadamer, manifestement interpellé par la mise en garde heideggérienne en ce qui concerne le fait que « nous ne pensons toujours pas les Grecs de façon assez grecque », va rapprocher la question de la relation à la conception aristotélicienne de l’amitié véritable, « c’est-à-dire pleine et entière », d’où le titre de notre essai, à la lumière de la conviction d’Aristote voulant que « la condition commune de toute amitié réside dans un « attachement » authentique, ce qui veut dire, à des degrés divers, une « coexistence » ». C’est là notre point de départ et notre fil conducteur.  En tant que réflexion philosophique structurée autour d’un effort de synthèse qui correspond, on pourrait le souligner, à une leçon qui se doit d’être préparée à la fois de manière concise sur la forme et complète vis-à-vis le contenu, notre essai portera de manière encadrée sur la question de l’amitié chez Aristote. Par conséquent, dans l’optique de concrètement centrer notre analyse sur Aristote, il est pertinent de réfléchir la place d’autrui, et par extension, de soi-même, à travers précisément le lien de réciprocité qu’articule l’amitié. Pourquoi est-ce pertinent ? Parce qu’une telle réflexion nous permet de percer au cœur même de « certains paradoxes sur l’amitié, reconnus comme tels par Aristote lui-même, et dont la solution ne peut être cherchée, nous semble-t-il, que dans une réflexion plus générale sur l’anthropologie aristotélicienne »1. En fin de compte, notre réflexion sur l’amitié chez Aristote va ouvrir la voie vers une compréhension plus approfondie du refus aristotélicien de penser l’autosuffisance sans les amis : par l’amitié on s’approche aussi de la présence permanente. On conclura avec l’idée que l’« échange avec nos amis, c’est-à-dire ceux qui partagent nos opinions et nos projets, mais qui peuvent aussi les corriger ou les confirmer, nous permet de nous approcher du divin ou, pour le dire autrement, de l’existence idéale » du moment que l’amitié rend possible « ce qui autrement nous est refusé en tant qu’hommes ». Gadamer et Aubenque vont nous épauler.

Keyphrases: Aristote, Platon, Hans-Georg Gadamer, Isaiah Berlin, Hartmut Rosa, Charles Blattberg, Pierre Aubenque, Amitié, Je-Tu, Je-Cela, Altérité, Autosuffisance, Dieu, Sage
Un forum de discussion pour le soutien et l’apprentissage d’infirmières préceptrices

Le préceptorat en soins infirmiers est une responsabilité complexe qui est souvent accomplie sans aucune préparation formelle dans plusieurs milieux cliniques. Dans les écrits scientifiques en sciences infirmières, c’est un consensus international que les infirmières-préceptrices devraient recevoir de la formation sur leur rôle et être mieux soutenues. Un forum de discussion en ligne (FDL) a été développé, mis à l’essai et évalué afin de fournir du soutien et une formation continue, de manière accessible et à faible coût, à des infirmières-préceptrices. Les résultats du projet révèlent qu’avec du soutien continu en ligne et hors-ligne de même qu’une activité d’apprentissage structurée, un FDL peut favoriser l’apprentissage et la métacognition chez les infirmières-préceptrices et faciliter la gestion de leur rôle. Ainsi, les infirmières-préceptrices participantes se sont senties outillées dans leur rôle de préceptrice et ont exprimé leur volonté de continuer à participer au FDL. Preceptorship in nursing is a complex responsibility that is often undertaken without any formal preparation. Within the nursing literature, there is international consensus that nurse preceptors should be better supported and receive education regarding this role. An online discussion forum (ODF) was developed, implemented, and evaluated to provide support and continuing education to nurse preceptors in an accessible and low-cost manner. The results of this project reveal that with sustained online and offline support, and a structured learning activity, an ODF can encourage deep learning. Nurse preceptors who took part in this ODF reported feeling supported in their role of preceptor and desired to continue their participation in the ODF.

Keyphrases: Soins infirmiers, Préceptorat, Forum de discussion en ligne, Formation continue, Communauté virtuelle de pratique, Nursing, Preceptorship, Online discussion forum, Continuing education, Virtual community of practice
Prolonged and unprolonged complex febrile seizures differently affect frontal theta brain activity

Objective: Studies have identified persistent cognitive and functional deficits, which could be linked to each other, in children with complex febrile seizures (FS). Our aim was to investigate differences in brain activity in children with a history of complex FS, through a study paradigm associated with the development of learning capacities and using electroencephalographic (EEG) signal. To further increase our understanding of these differences, complex FS were studied separately depending on their type. Method: EEG was recorded in 43 children with past FS. Brain activity associated with auditory learning was investigated using a habituation paradigm, in which repetition suppression (RS) is typically found following stimulus repetition. Auditory stimuli were repeated three times, and each presentation were analysed separately in the time-frequency (TF) domain. A mixedanalysis of variance was used to assess differences in spectral power between stimulus repetition and FS type (simple vs complex prolonged; CP vs complex unprolonged; CUP). Results: Repetition effects were found in the 3-6 Hz during 150-600ms time window after stimulus onset at frontal sites (F(2, 40)=5.645, p=0.007, η2p=0.220). Moreover, an interaction effect between stimulus repetition and FS type (F(4, 80)=2.607, p=0.042, η2p=0.115) was found. Children with CP FS showed greater increase in spectral power in response to the first stimulus presentation, while children with CUP FS failed to show a RS pattern. Significance: Our results show distinct abnormalities in brain activity to a habituation paradigm. We argue that these changes suggest children with CP FS may be hyperexcitable, while children with CUP FS show impaired habituation processes. Still, these differences may be associated with other clinical features linked to complex FS as well. Hence, the role of these differences in complex FS incidence and prognosis should be the subject of future studies.

Keyphrases: Repetition suppression, Habituation, Neural attenuation, Time-frequency, Convulsion, Epilepsy
Chitosan hydrogel micro-bio-devices with complex capillary patterns via reactive-diffusive self-assembly

We present chitosan hydrogel microfluidic devices with self-assembled complex microcapillary patterns, conveniently formed by a diffusion-reaction process. These patterns in chitosan hydrogels are formed by a single-step procedure involving diffusion of a gelation agent into the polymer solution inside a microfluidic channel. By changing the channel geometry, it is demonstrated how to control capillary length, trajectory and branching. Diffusion of nanoparticles (NPs) in the capillary network is used as a model to effectively mimic the transport of nano-objects in vascularized tissues. Gold NPs diffusion is measured locally in the hydrogel chips, and during their two-step transport through the capillaries to the gel matrix and eventually to embedded cell clusters in the gel. In addition, the quantitative analyses reported in this study provide novel opportunities for theoretical investigation of capillary formation and propagation during diffusive gelation of biopolymers.

Keyphrases: Biomaterials, Chitosan, Self-assembly, Tissue engineering, Drug delivery, Microfluidics
Biocompatibility and functionality of a tissue-engineered living corneal stroma transplanted in the feline eye

PURPOSE. Corneal tissue shortage has become a major concern worldwide, which has  motivated the search for alternative solutions to eye bank human eyes for corneal  transplantation. Minimally invasive lamellar transplantation and tissue engineering may offer  new opportunities for the rehabilitation of diseased corneas. The aim of this study was to  evaluate the biocompatibility and functionality of stromal lamellar grafts tissue-engineered  (TE) in vitro and transplanted in vivo in the cornea of a feline model.  METHODS. The corneal stromas were engineered in culture from corneal stromal cells using  the self-assembly approach, without the addition of exogenous material or scaffold. Eight  healthy animals underwent two intrastromal grafts in one eye and the contralateral eye was  used as a control. Animals were followed with slit-lamp ophthalmic examination, corneal  esthesiometry and optical coherent tomography. Confocal microscopy, immunofluorescence,  histology, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were performed at 4 months.  RESULTS. Four months after transplantation, the TE-stromal grafts were transparent, functional,  and well tolerated by the eye. All grafts remained avascular, with no signs of immune  rejection, despite a short course of low-dose topical steroids. Corneal sensitivity returned to  preoperative level and reinnervation of the grafts was confirmed by confocal microscopy and  immunofluorescence. Histology and TEM of the TE-grafts showed a lamellar stromal structure  with regular collagen fibril arrangement.  CONCLUSIONS. These results open the way to an entirely new therapeutic modality. Intracorneal  filling using a biocompatible, transparent, and malleable TE-stroma could be the basis for  multiple types of novel therapeutic options in corneal interventional surgery.

Keyphrases: Tissue engineering, Corneal transplantation, Corneal stroma, Corneal substitute, Reinnervation, Cell culture
Comparison of parametric methods for modeling corneal surfaces

Corneal topography is a medical imaging technique to get the 3D shape of the cornea as a set of 3D points of its anterior and posterior surfaces. From these data, topographic maps can be derived to assist the ophthalmologist in the diagnosis of disorders. In this paper, we compare three different mathematical parametric representations of the corneal surfaces leastsquares fitted to the data provided by corneal topography. The parameters obtained from these models reduce the dimensionality of the data from several thousand 3D points to only a few parameters and could eventually be useful for diagnosis, biometry, implant design etc. The first representation is based on Zernike polynomials that are commonly used in optics. A variant of these polynomials, named Bhatia-Wolf will also be investigated. These two sets of polynomials are defined over a circular domain which is convenient to model the elevation (height) of the corneal surface. The third representation uses Spherical Harmonics that are particularly well suited for nearly-spherical object modeling, which is the case for cornea. We compared the three methods using the following three criteria: the root-mean-square error (RMSE), the number of parameters and the visual accuracy of the reconstructed topographic maps. A large dataset of more than 2000 corneal topographies was used. Our results showed that Spherical Harmonics were superior with a RMSE mean lower than 2.5 microns with 36 coefficients (order 5) for normal corneas and lower than 5 microns for two diseases affecting the corneal shapes: keratoconus and Fuchs’ dystrophy.

Keyphrases: Zernike polynomials, Bhatia-Wolf polynomials, Spherical harmonics, 3D shape, Parametric model, Corneal topography
Restoration of mitochondrial integrity, telomere length, and sensitivity to oxidation by in vitro culture of Fuchs’ endothelial corneal dystrophy cells

PURPOSE. Fuchs’ endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD), a degenerative disease of the corneal endothelium that leads to vision loss, is a leading cause of corneal transplantation. The cause of this disease is still unknown, but the implication of oxidative stress is strongly suggested. In this study, we analyzed the impact of FECD on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) integrity and telomere length, both of which are affected by the oxidative status of the cell. METHODS. We compared the levels of total mtDNA, mtDNA common deletion (4977 bp), and relative telomere length in the corneal endothelial cells of fresh Descemet’s membraneendothelium explants and cultured cells from healthy and late stage FECD subjects. Oxidantantioxidant gene expression and sensitivity to ultraviolet A (UVA)- and H2O2-induced cell death were assessed in cultured cells. RESULTS. Our results revealed increased mtDNA levels and telomere shortening in FECD explants. We also found that cell culture restores a normal phenotype in terms of mtDNA levels, telomere length, oxidant-antioxidant gene expression balance, and sensitivity to oxidative stress-induced cell death in the FECD cells compared with the healthy cells. CONCLUSIONS. Taken together, these results bring new evidence of the implication of oxidative stress in FECD. They also show that FECD does not evenly affect the integrity of corneal endothelial cells and that cell culture can rehabilitate the molecular phenotypes related to oxidative stress by selecting the more functional FECD cells.

Keyphrases: Corneal endothelial cells, Fuchs’ endothelial corneal dystrophy, Mitochondria, Oxidation, Telomere
Preventing corneal calcification associated with xylazine for longitudinal optical coherence tomography in young rodents

PURPOSE. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) is widely used in clinical ophthalmology and recently gained popularity in laboratory research involving small rodents. Its noninvasive nature allows repeated measurements, thereby decreasing the number of animals required. However, when used at a conventional dosage, xylazine (an a2- adrenoceptor) can cause irreversible corneal calcification, especially among young rodents. In the present study, we test whether corneal calcification associated with xylazine is mediated by the a2-adrenoceptor. METHODS. Our study tested Sprague-Dawley rats, Long-Evans rats, and CD-1 mice (postnatal day [P]14). Retinal images were captured by SD-OCT. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was used to study gene expression, whereas receptor localization was examined by immunofluorescent staining followed by confocal microscopy. Calcium deposits were detected via von Kossa staining. RESULTS. When used at dosages appropriate for adult animals, ketamine-xylazine anesthetics led to a high rate of respiratory failure, increased apoptotic activity in the corneal epithelium, and irreversible corneal calcification in P14 rat pups. Meanwhile, OCT image quality decreased drastically as a result of corneal calcification among animals recovering from anesthesia. a2-Adrenoceptor subtypes were highly expressed on P14, in line with rodents’ age-specific sensitivity to xylazine. Clonidine, a potent a2-adrenoceptor agonist, dosedependently induced corneal calcification, which could be prevented by an a2-adrenoceptor antagonist. CONCLUSIONS. These data suggest that a2-adrenoceptors contribute to corneal calcification in young rodents. Therefore, we developed a suitable OCT imaging protocol for this cohort, including a carefully tailored ketamine-xylazine dosage (60 mg/kg and 2.5 kg/mg, respectively).

Keyphrases: Corneal calcification, Optical coherence tomography, a2-adrenoceptor, Xylazine
Relationship between extracellular low-molecular-weight thiols and mercury species in natural lake periphytic biofilms

The uptake of mercury by microorganisms is a key step in the production of methylmercury, a biomagnifiable toxin. Mercury complexation by low molecular weight (LMW) thiols can affect its bioavailability and thus the production of methylmercury. Freshwater biofilms were sampled in the summer using artificial Teflon substrates submerged for over a year to allow natural community colonization in the littoral zone of a Boreal Shield lake. Inside biofilms, concentrations of different extracellular thiol species (thioglycolic acid, L-cysteine-L-glycine, cysteine, and glutathione) were up to three orders of magnitude greater than in the surrounding water column, potentially more readily controlling mercury speciation than in water column. All biofilm thiols except thioglycolic acid were highly correlated to chlorophyll a, likely indicating an algal origin. Extracellular total mercury represented 3 ± 1% of all biofilm mercury and was preferentially found in the capsular fraction. Levels of LMW thiols of presumed algal origins were highly correlated with total mercury in the mobile colloidal fraction of biofilms. We propose that periphytic phototrophic microorganisms such as algae likely affect the bioavailability of mercury through the exudation of LMW thiols, and thus they may play a key role in the production of methylmercury in biofilms.

Keyphrases: Thiol, Mercury, Methylmercury, Periphyton, Biofilm, Lake
Cooking and co-ingested polyphenols reduce in vitro methylmercury bioaccessibility from fish and may alter exposure in humans

Fish consumption is a major pathway for mercury exposure in humans. Current guidelines and risk assessments assume that 100% of methylmercury (MeHg) in fish is absorbed by the human body after ingestion. However, a growing body of literature suggests that this absorption rate may be overestimated. We used an in vitro digestion method to measure MeHg bioaccessibility in commercially-purchased fish, and investigated the effects of dietary practices on MeHg bioaccessibility. Cooking had the greatest effect, decreasing bioaccessibility on average to 12.5 ± 5.6%. Polyphenol-rich beverages also significantly reduced bioaccessibility to 22.7 ± 3.8% and 28.6 ± 13.9%, for green and black tea respectively. We confirmed the suspected role of polyphenols in tea as being a driver of MeHg's reduced bioaccessibility, and found that epicatechin, epigallocatechin gallate, rutin and cafeic acid could individually decrease MeHg bioaccessibility by up to 55%. When both cooking and polyphenol-rich beverage treatments were combined, only 1% of MeHg remained bioaccessible. These results call for in vivo validation, and suggest that dietary practices should be considered when setting consumer guidelines for MeHg. More realistic risk assessments could promote consumption of fish as a source of fatty acids, which can play a protective role against cardiovascular disease.

Keyphrases: Methylmercury, Bioaccessibility, Cooking, Polyphenols, Tea, Risk assessment
Freshwater sample preservation for the analysis of dissolved low
molecular mass thiols

Low molecular mass (LMM) thiols are ubiquitous organosulfur peptides that play key roles in biogeochemical element cycling. These LMM thiols, found at low concentrations in the water column, are highly sensitive to oxidation and degradation processes which may lead to problems with detection and analysis. Natural water samples should be stored and handled appropriately to reduce thiol loss in the time period from sampling to analysis. Storage temperatures were investigated for optimal preservation of four thiols species. Thiol degradation varied between species and was generally slower in samples stored at 2808C and 48C compared to 2208C and 218C. Two natural freshwater matrices were tested, one from a fluvial lake subject to agricultural inputs and one from an oligotrophic pristine lake. After 6 d of storage at 2208C, the most affected thiol species was glutathione with a degradation rate (kD) of (3.0 6 0.5) 3 1023 h21 in the fluvial lake water and Lcysteine-L-glycine (CYS-GLY) with a kD of (3.8 6 0.8) 3 1023 h21 in the oligotrophic lake water. Argon purging of samples did not prevent thiol degradation or oxidation after storage for 7 d. Pre-concentration by freeze-drying techniques led to significant loss for every thiol species tested (up to 65% for cysteine). We recommend improving storage methods by using temperatures of 2808C or 48C. The use of correction factors to estimate initial thiol concentrations is possible but should be used with caution due to highly site-specific kD in natural waters.

Keyphrases: Thiols, Thioglycolic acid, Cysteine, Cysteine-glycine, Glutathione, Degradation, Lakes, Rivers
Role of prey subcellular distribution on the bioaccumulation of yttrium (Y) in the rainbow trout

Our knowledge of the processes leading to the bioaccumulation of rare earth elements (REE) in aquatic biota is limited. As the contamination of freshwater ecosystems by anthropogenic REE have recently been reported, it becomes increasingly urgent to understand how these metals are transferred to freshwater organisms in order to develop appropriate guidelines. We exposed rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) to an REE, yttrium (Y), to either a range of Y-contaminated prey (Daphnia magna) or a range of Y-contaminated water. For the feeding experiment, the relationship between the Y assimilation by O. mykiss and the Y subcellular fractionation in D. magna was evaluated. Assimilation efficiency of Y by O. mykiss was low, ranging from 0.8 to 3%. These values were close to the proportion of Y accumulated in D. magna cytosol, 0.6–2%, a theoretical trophically available fraction. Moreover, under our laboratory conditions, water appeared as a poor source of Y transfer to O. mykiss. Regardless of the source of contamination, a similar pattern of Y bioaccumulation among O. mykiss tissues was revealed: muscles < liver < gills < intestine. We conclude that the trophic transfer potential of Y is low and the evaluation of Y burden in prey cytosol appears to be a relevant predictor of Y assimilation by their consumers.

Keyphrases: Yttrium, Subcellular partitioning, Trophic transfer, Metal, Fish, Rare earth elements