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The problem of formulating thermodynamics in a relativistic scenario remains unresolved, although many proposals exist in the literature. The challenge arises due to the intrinsic dynamic structure of spacetime as established by the general theory of relativity. With the discovery of the physical nature of information, which underpins Landauer's principle, we believe that information theory should play a role in understanding this problem. In this work, we contribute to this endeavour by considering a relativistic communication task between two partners, Alice and Bob, in a general Lorentzian spacetime. We then assume that the receiver, Bob, reversibly operates a local heat engine powered by information, and seek to determine the maximum amount of work he can extract from this device. As Bob cannot extract work for free, by applying both Landauer's principle and the second law of thermodynamics, we establish a bound on the energy Bob must spend to acquire the information in the first place. This bound is a function of the spacetime metric and the properties of the communication channel.

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Una de las mayores complejidades que se presentan respecto de la responsabilidad civil por daños causados por sistemas de inteligencia artificial viene dada por la dificultad de atribuir la conducta que causa daño a un sujeto particular. Frente a ello, este artículo expone la importancia del principio ético de la intervención humana para la responsabilidad civil, cuya función consiste en constituir la guía para la interpretación y aplicación de sus reglas en los casos en los que, como resultado de una acción u omisión emanada de una decisión, recomendación o predicción realizada por un sistema de inteligencia artificial, se causen daños a las personas.

One of the main challenges associated with regard to civil liability for damages resulting from artificial intelligence systems is the difficulty of attributing the behavior that led to harm to a specific individual. The aim of this article is to highlight the significance of the ethical principle of human intervention for civil liability. This principle serves as a guide for interpreting and applying rules when artificial intelligence systems cause harm to individuals due to actions, decisions, recommendations or predictions.

Uma das maiores complexidades que se apresentam a respeito da responsabilidade civil por danos causados por sistemas de inteligência artificial vem dada pela dificuldade de atribuir a conduta que causa dano a um sujeito particular. Frente a isso, este artigo expõe a importância do princípio ético da intervenção humana para a responsabilidade civil, cuja função consiste em constituir uma orientação para a interpretação e aplicação de suas regras nos casos em que, como resultado de uma ação ou omissão emanada de uma decisão, recomendação ou previsão realizada por um sistema de inteligência artificial, se cause danos às pessoas.

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Abstract Introduction: Even though only a few species are considered to be dangerous, pests or vectors, the majority of invertebrates produce a feeling of aversion in humans. This has contributed to the delay in the development of ethical considerations as regards this group in contrast with vertebrates, with the exception of cephalopods. Objective: In the present study, we provide an overview of the current situation on animal ethics and welfare in order to contribute to the development of a framework for ensuring invertebrate welfare. Methods: Today, animal welfare is multidisciplinary in nature to a very high degree as it includes ethology, physiology, pathology, biochemistry, genetics, immunology, nutrition, cognitive-neural, veterinary medicine, and ethics. Animal welfare is a complex concept, difficult to achieve successfully from one perspective. Results: As a consequence, we propose to include the five domains (nutrition, environment, health, behaviour and mental state) along with the three conceptions (basic health and functioning, affective state and natural living), as well as the 5R Principle (Replace, Reduction, Refinement, Respect and Responsibility) in seeking to achieve a comprehensive welfare state. Conclusions: We consider that in both research and animal production, the individual and collective ethical concerns coexist and, in fact, the main moral concern to account for is the collective one and that, within that collective view, the individual moral concern should be applied with responsibility and respect for the individual. Finally, we propose a practical example of invertebrate welfare production in sea urchin aquaculture with the aim of including animal production of invertebrates in this important discussion.

Resumen Introducción: Aunque sólo unas pocas especies son consideradas peligrosas, plagas o vectores, la mayoría de los invertebrados producen un sentimiento de aversión en el ser humano. Esto ha contribuido al retraso en el desarrollo de consideraciones éticas respecto a este grupo en comparación con los vertebrados, a excepción de los cefalópodos. Objetivo: En el presente trabajo, proporcionamos una visión general de la situación actual en materia de ética y bienestar animal con el fin de contribuir al desarrollo de un marco para garantizar el bienestar de los invertebrados. Métodos: Hoy en día, el bienestar animal es de naturaleza multidisciplinaria en un grado muy alto, ya que incluye etología, fisiología, patología, bioquímica, genética, inmunología, nutrición, cognitivo-neural, medicina veterinaria y ética. El bienestar animal es un concepto complejo, difícil de lograr con éxito desde una sola perspectiva. Resultados: Como consecuencia, proponemos incluir los cinco dominios (nutrición, ambiente, salud, comportamiento y estado mental) junto con las tres concepciones (Salud básica y funcionamiento, estado afectivo y vida natural), así como el Principio 5R (Reemplazar, Reducir, Refinar, Respetar y Responsabilidad) en la búsqueda de alcanzar un estado de bienestar integral. Conclusiones: Consideramos que tanto en la investigación como en la producción animal coexisten las preocupaciones éticas individuales y colectivas y, de hecho, la principal preocupación moral a dar cuenta es la colectiva y que, dentro de esa visión colectiva, se debe aplicar la preocupación moral individual. con responsabilidad y respeto por la persona. Finalmente, proponemos un ejemplo práctico de producción de bienestar de invertebrados en la acuicultura de erizos de mar con el objetivo de incluir la producción animal de invertebrados en esta importante discusión.

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The regulatory EMA's reference scaled average bioequivalence (RSABE) approach for highly variable drugs suffers from some type I error control problems at the neighborhood of the 30% coefficient of variation (CV), where the bioequivalence (BE) limits change from constant to linearly scaled. This paper analyses BE inference methods based on the "Leveling-off" (LO) soft sigmoid expanding BE limits that were proposed as an appealing surrogate for the EMA's limits and compares both approaches, on the replicated and partially replicated crossover designs. The initially proposed version of the LO method also has type I error inflation problems, albeit attenuated. But given its more mathematically regular character, it is more suitable for analytical corrections. Here we introduce two improvements over LO, one based on the application of Howe's method and the other based on correcting the estimation error. They further reduce the type I error inflation, although it does not disappear completely. Finally, the effect of heteroscedasticity on the above results is studied. It leads to inflation or deflation of the type I error, depending on the design and the type of heteroscedasticity (variability of the test product greater than that of the reference product or the opposite). The replicated design is much more stable against these effects than the partially replicated design and maintains these improvements much better.

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ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze adherence to standard precautions by healthcare professionals and associated factors during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazilian university hospitals. Method: Multicenter study, with a mixed approach, with a concomitant incorporated strategy and a sample of 559 health professionals and 53 managers from five university hospitals in Southern Brazil. Data collected online from September 2020 to October 2021 with the Instrument of Variables Related to Standard Precautions and sociodemographic and pandemic-related variables. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis (Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis test) and content analysis were performed. Results: High level of adherence to standard precautions, with a significant association with having children (p = 0.014); COVID area (p < 0.001), biosafety training (p = 0.018), and social distancing (p < 0.001). The testimonies demonstrated a high risk perception and search for the use of protective equipment and biosafety knowledge. Conclusion: High adherence to standard precautions, associated with having children, working in COVID-19 care units, receiving biosafety guidance/training at the institution and practicing social distancing.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Analizar la adherencia a las precauciones estándar por parte de los profesionales de la salud y los factores asociados durante la pandemia de COVID-19 en hospitales universitarios brasileños. Método: Estudio multicéntrico, con enfoque mixto, estrategia incorporada concomitante y muestra de 559 profesionales de la salud y 53 gestores de cinco hospitales universitarios del sur de Brasil. Datos recopilados en línea de septiembre de 2020 a octubre de 2021 con el Instrumento de Variables Relacionadas con Precauciones Estándar y variables sociodemográficas y relacionadas con la pandemia. Se realizaron análisis estadísticos descriptivos e inferenciales (prueba de Mann-Whitney y Kruskal-Wallis) y análisis de contenido. Resultados: Alto nivel de adherencia a las precauciones estándar, con asociación significativa con tener hijos (p = 0,014); área COVID (p < 0,001), capacitación en bioseguridad (p = 0,018) y distanciamiento social (p < 0,001). Los testimonios indican una alta percepción de riesgo y búsqueda del uso de equipos de protección y conocimientos de bioseguridad. Conclusión: Alto cumplimiento de las precauciones estándar, asociadas con tener hijos, trabajar en unidades de atención de COVID-19, recibir orientación/capacitación en bioseguridad en la institución y practicar el distanciamiento social.

RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar a adesão às precauções padrão por profissionais da saúde e os fatores associados durante a pandemia de COVID-19 em hospitais universitários brasileiros. Método: Estudo multicêntrico, de abordagem mista, com estratégia incorporada concomitante e amostra de 559 profissionais da saúde e 53 gestores de cinco hospitais universitários do Sul do Brasil. Coleta de dados realizada de setembro de 2020 a outubro de 2021, online, com o Instrumento de Variáveis Relativas às Precauções Padrão, variáveis sociodemográficas e relacionadas à pandemia. Realizada análise estatística descritiva e inferencial (teste de Mann-Whitney e Kruskal-Wallis) e análise de conteúdo. Resultados: Alto nível de adesão às precauções padrão, com associação significativa para ter filhos (p = 0,014); área COVID (p < 0,001), treinamento sobre biossegurança (p = 0,018) e distanciamento social (p < 0,001). Depoimentos demonstraram percepção de risco elevada e busca pela utilização de equipamentos de proteção e por conhecimentos relacionados à biossegurança. Conclusão: Alta adesão às precauções padrão, associada a ter filhos, trabalhar em unidades de atendimento à COVID-19, receber orientações/capacitação sobre biossegurança na instituição e realizar distanciamento social.

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Fundamento: El puerperio es el periodo de tiempo que comienza en la finalización del parto hasta las seis semanas posparto; durante el cual, es necesario brindar atención conforme a los principios bioéticos inscritos en la normativa de salud vigente en el Ecuador. Objetivo: Analizar las percepciones que tienen las mujeres puérperas sobre la aplicación de los 4 principios bioéticos durante la atención en salud. Metodología: El estudio es de tipo descriptivo con enfoque cualitativo. Los datos corresponden a 10 mujeres puérperas mayores de edad, atendidas en el Hospital Gineco Obstétrico Pediátrico de Nueva Aurora "Luz Elena Arizmendi" de la ciudad de Quito, que respondieron a una entrevista sobre los principios bioéticos aplicados en la atención recibida. Se realizaron análisis de contenido a través del software ATLAS TI versión 23. Resultados: Se obtuvo una percepción positiva de las mujeres puérperas acerca de la aplicación del principio de justicia. Por otra parte, se evidencian dificultades en el de autonomía, sobre todo en la comprensión de la información brindada a la paciente acerca de los procedimientos durante el parto y puerperio, además de coacciones por parte del personal sanitario. Se percibe el consentimiento informado como un mero trámite administrativo. El principio de beneficencia se lo asume como parte de la vocación del personal y la no maleficencia genera malestar si no va acompañado de información clara y oportuna. Conclusiones: Los principios bioéticos son transversales en la normativa de salud vigente, pero sobresale el de justicia en la atención a mujeres puérperas.

Background: The puerperium is the period of time beginning at the end of labor until six postpartum weeks; during which it is necessary to provide attention in accordance with the bioethical principles included in the current health guidelines in Ecuador. Objective: To analyze the perceptions that postpartum women have about the 4 bioethical principles application during health care. Methodology: The study type is descriptive with a qualitative approach. The data correspond to 10 adult postpartum women assisted at the Nueva Aurora "Luz Elena Arizmendi" Pediatric Obstetric and Gynecological Pediatric Hospital in the Quito city, who responded to an interview about the bioethical principles applied in the received care. Content analysis was conducted through ATLAS TI version 23 software. Results: A positive perception was obtained from postpartum women concerning the application of the Justice principle. Furthermore, difficulties are evident in the Autonomy section, mainly in the comprehension of the information provided to the patient about the procedures during the labor and puerperium, as well as coercion by health personnel. Informed consent is perceived as a mere administrative formality. The Beneficence principle is assumed as part of the vocation of the personnel and Non-maleficence generates discomfort if it is not accompanied by clear and opportune information. Conclusions: Bioethical principles are transversal in current health guidelines, but that of Justice stands out in the care of postpartum women.

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This paper explores the ethical considerations surrounding research on echinoderms, a group of invertebrates that has recently garnered attention in the scientific community. The importance of responsible animal handling and the need for an ethical framework that encompasses echinoderms are emphasized. The 3Rs principle, advocating for the replacement of conscious living vertebrates with non-sentient material in research, is discussed as a guiding tool in current animal research practices. As invertebrates are generally classified as non-sentient animals, the replacement dimension tends to favor them as prevalent models in experimental research. While it currently lacks the means to assess the mental states of invertebrates, there is undeniable evidence of social behavior in many species, suggesting that a lack of interactions with these organisms could potentially adversely affect their wellbeing. In the last few years, considerable progress has been made in developing an ethical framework that takes invertebrates into account, particularly cephalopods, crustaceans, and echinoderms. In this context, we discuss the development of a broader conceptual framework of 5Rs that includes responsibility and respect, which may guide practices ensuring welfare in echinoderms, even in the absence of any particular normative.

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PURPOSE: To explore legal and ethical challenges related to adolescents' participation in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) research that may affect their best interests. METHODS: We analyzed the ethical principles and legal aspects of the participation of 15-17-year-old men who have sex with men and transgender women in the pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) 1519 study, a PrEP demonstration cohort study in three Brazilian cities. The analyses of ethics review committees' (ERCs) evaluations and court decisions followed ethical and human rights principles. An HIV vulnerability score was created, and descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression were performed using data from 347 participants. RESULTS: The ERCs evaluated the benefits and risks of research participation, all finding that the benefits outweighed the risks. ERCs deferred responsibility for decisions about waiving parental consent to the judiciary. State courts reached different decisions about waiving parental consent, reflecting variation in recognition of adolescents' evolving capacities and the adolescent as a subject of sexual rights and the primary agent capable of deciding on their health and best interests. The most vulnerable adolescent participants were found in sites where the blanket waiver was in place. DISCUSSION: Judicializing the ethical review process is detrimental to fulfilling the ethical principle of justice and vulnerable adolescents' access to health research. ERCs must be sufficiently independent and autonomous and have the capacity to respect, protect, and help fulfill the rights of participants while ensuring the generation of adequate evidence to inform public health practice.

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The primary (PSR), secondary (SSR) and adult (ASR) sex ratios of sexually reproducing organisms influence their life histories. Species exhibiting reversed sexual size dimorphism (RSD) may imply a higher cost of female production or lower female survival, thus generating biases in PSR, SSR and/or ASR towards males. The Harpy Eagle is the world's largest eagle exhibiting RSD. This species is found in the Neotropical region and is currently threatened with extinction. We used molecular markers to determine the sex of 309 Harpy Eagles spanning different life stages-eaglets, subadults and adults-from 1904 to 2021 within the Amazon Rainforest and Atlantic Forest. Sex ratios for all life stages revealed a female-biased deviation across all periods and regions. Our results suggest that the population bias towards females is an evolutionary ecological pattern of this species, and SSR and ASR likely emerged from the PSR. This natural bias towards females may be compensated by an earlier sexual maturation age of males, implying a longer reproductive lifespan and a higher proportion of sexually active males. A better understanding of the Harpy Eagle's life history can contribute to understanding sex-role evolution and enable more appropriate conservation strategies for the species.

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Mexico's pandemic management and the absence of measures have been harshly criticized as being disproportionate. This paper examines whether the proportionality principle was properly applied to Mexico's COVID-19 response and outlines three reasons against such an endeavor, namely (i) the content of "proportionate measures" remained insufficiently well defined, (ii) there were yet fundamental rights conflicts to resolve, and (iii) the situation was moreover characterized by epistemic uncertainty.

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BACKGROUND: Infertility is an increasingly prevalent disease in society and is considered by the World Health Organization to be a public health problem. An important ethical issue arises from the clarification of reproductive rights in a fair and equal way. The objective of this study was to deepen and update the knowledge and discussion about the difficulty of accessing infertility treatments in Brazil. METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study was carried out through the application of an online questionnaire that collected the socioeconomic characteristics of couples and identify how barriers to infertility care affect the most vulnerable populations. We included couples who sought medical assistance to achieve pregnancy at two clinics in the states of São Paulo and Minas Gerais. RESULTS: A total of 201 questionnaires were analyzed. Most couples self-declared as white and the average age of wives was 36 years and husbands 38 years. 65% (65%) of couples would proceed with the treatment in a different city to which they lived, 37% evaluated as having easy access to a medical specialist only after indication, and more than half of the participating have thought about giving up the treatment due to some difficulty in accessing it. 39% of participants sought more than one medical service to find better reception, 42% of couples sought more than one medical service to define where it would be better financially, and 67.2% referred to the high cost of treatments, that is, financial issues, as a great difficulty in accessing medical services and/or treatment. Although 72.6% of couples considered having a good quality of life, 54.2% admitted that infertility and the search for treatment generated anxiety/stress in the couple's life. CONCLUSION: There is a need for public education on reproductive health and for policymakers to raise awareness of the importance of the difficulty that many couples face in seeking treatment to become pregnant, especially in countries with less financial resources. Indeed, it is commonly accepted that there is a universal human right to access healthcare of appropriate quality as a matter of justice. Discussion of access to reproductive technologies should be considered taking into account the longstanding ethical debate regarding fertility, fecundity, and infertility, as well as reproductive care.

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Snake envenomation is a neglected tropical disease. In Brazil, the Bothrops genus is responsible for about 86% of snakebite accidents. Despite extensive evidence of the cytotoxicity of snake venoms, the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved are not fully understood, especially regarding the effects on cell cycle progression and cytoskeleton organization. Traditionally, the effectiveness and quality control tests of venoms and antivenoms are assessed by in vivo assays. Despite this, there is a rising effort to develop surrogate in vitro models according to the 3R principle (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement). In this study, we treated rat liver cells (BRL-3A) with venoms from five Bothrops species (B. jararaca, B. jararacussu, B. moojeni, B. alternatus, and B. neuwiedi) and analyzed cell viability and IC50 by MTT assay, cell cycle phases distribution by flow cytometry, and morphology and cytoskeleton alterations by immunofluorescence. In addition, we evaluated the correlation between IC50 and the enzymatic and biological activities of each venom. Our results indicated that Bothrops spp. venoms decreased the cell viability of rat liver BRL-3A cells. The rank order of potency was B. jararacussu > B. moojeni > B. alternatus > B. jararaca > B. neuwiedi. The mechanisms of cytotoxicity were related to microtubules and actin network disruption, but not to cell cycle arrest. No clear correlation was found between the IC50 and retrieved literature data of in vitro enzymatic and in vivo biological activities. This work contributed to understanding cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the Bothrops spp. venom cytotoxicity, which can help to improve envenomation treatment, as well as disclose potential therapeutic properties of snake venoms.

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The Starling principle is a model that explains the transvascular distribution of fluids essentially governed by hydrostatic and oncotic forces, which dynamically allow vascular refilling according to the characteristics of the blood vessel. However, careful analysis of fluid physiology has shown that the principle, while correct, is not complete. The revised Starling principle (Michel-Weinbaum model) provides relevant information on fluid kinetics. Special emphasis has been placed on the endothelial glycocalyx, whose subendothelial area allows a restricted oncotic pressure that limits the reabsorption of fluid from the interstitial space, so that transvascular refilling occurs mainly from the lymphatic vessels. The close correlation between pathological states of the endothelium (eg: sepsis, acute inflammation, or chronic kidney disease) and the prescription of fluids forces the physician to understand the dynamics of fluids in the organism; this will allow rational fluid prescriptions. A theory that integrates the physiology of exchange and transvascular refilling is the "microconstant model", whose variables include dynamic mechanisms that can explain edematous states, management of acute resuscitation, and type of fluids for common clinical conditions. The clinical-physiological integration of the concepts will be the hinges that allow a rational and dynamic prescription of fluids.

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Hard ticks pose a threat to animal and human health. Active life stages need to feed on a vertebrate host in order to complete their life cycle. To study processes such as tick-pathogen interactions or drug efficacy and pharmacokinetics, it is necessary to maintain tick colonies under defined laboratory conditions, typically using laboratory animals. The aim of this study was to test a membrane-based artificial feeding system (AFS) applicable for Amblyomma ticks using Amblyomma tonelliae as a biological model. Adult ticks from a laboratory colony were fed in a membrane-based AFS. For comparison, other A. tonelliae adults were fed on calf and rabbit. The proportions of attached (AFS: 76%; calf/rabbit: 100%) and engorged females (AFS: 47.4%; calf/rabbit: 100%) in the AFS were significantly lower compared to animal-based feeding (p = 0.0265). The engorgement weight of in vitro fed ticks (x¯ = 658 mg; SD ± 259.80) did not significantly differ from that of ticks fed on animals (p = 0.3272, respectively 0.0947). The proportion of females that oviposited was 100% for all three feeding methods. However, the incubation period of eggs (x¯ = 54 days; SD ± 7) was longer in the AFS compared to conventional animal-based feeding (p = 0.0014); x¯ = 45 days; SD ± 2 in the rabbit and (p = 0.0144). x¯ = 48 days; SD ± 2 in the calf). Egg cluster hatching (x¯ = 41%; SD ± 44.82) was lower in the AFS than in the other feeding methods (rabbit: x¯ = 74%; SD ± 20; p = 0.0529; calf: x¯ = 81%; SD ± 22; p = 0.0256). Although the attachment, development, and the hatching of AFS ticks were below those from animal-based feeding, the method may be useful in future experiments. Nevertheless, further experiments with a higher number of tick specimens (including immature life stages) and different attractant stimuli are required to confirm the preliminary results of this study and to evaluate the applicability of AFS for Amblyomma ticks as an alternative to animal-based feeding methods.

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Objetivo: analisar o cabimento ético-legal da sedação paliativa, distinguindo-a de condutas que possam ser consideradas eutanásicas e, portanto, penalmente vedadas pelo ordenamento jurídico pátrio e tradicionalmente rechaçadas pelos Códigos de Ética profissionais. Metodologia: mediante pesquisa exploratória bibliográfica, a partir de obras doutrinárias especializadas no tema dos conceitos associados a fim de vida e da disciplina normativa vigente, o estudo buscou cotejar o uso da sedação paliativa com outras condutas e situações relacionadas a terminalidade e morte, de sorte a procurar identificar com maior clareza a qualificação ética e jurídica da prática, sua relevância e licitude no campo dos cuidados paliativos. Resultados: verificou-se que, em meio à crise pandêmica, situações de mistanásia por carência de recursos nas unidades de saúde do estado do Amazonas levaram a uma indevida confusão na compreensão social entre sedação paliativa e eutanásia, impondo-se a necessidade de esclarecer os conceitos e limites entre as condutas. Conclusão: constatou-se a possibilidade jurídica de sedação paliativa como conduta ética e legal, desde que exercida dentro das exigências da boa prática clínica, sem intenção de deliberado encurtamento vital.

Objective: to examine the ethical-legal significance of palliative sedation and to distinguish it from acts that can be described as euthanasia and are therefore prohibited by law in the national legal system and generally rejected by professional ethical Codes. Methods:an exploratory literature review based on textbooks on end-of-life concepts and current normative discipline was conducted to further determine the ethical and legal qualifications of the practice, its relevance and legality in the field of palliative care. Results: The findings revealed that, during the pandemic crisis, misthanasia due to lack of resources in health facilities in the state of Amazonas has led to an undue confusion in social understanding of palliative sedation and euthanasia, so that clarification of the concepts and boundaries between conducts is necessary. Conclusion: the legality of palliative sedation has been confirmed as an ethical and legal behavior, provided it is used within the parameters of good clinical practice and without the intention of deliberately shortening life.

Objetivo: evaluar las implicaciones éticas y legales de la sedación paliativa, diferenciándola de acciones que podrían ser consideradas eutanásicas y, por lo tanto, prohibidas por la ley nacional y tradicionalmente rechazadas por los Códigos de Ética profesional. Metodología: a través de una investigación bibliográfica exploratoria, basada en trabajos doctrinales especializados en el tema de los conceptos asociados al final de la vida y la disciplina normativa actual, el estudio buscó comparar el uso de la sedación paliativa con otras conductas y situaciones relacionadas con la terminalidad y la muerte, con el fin de buscar identificar más claramente la calificación ético-legal de la práctica, su pertinencia y legalidad en el campo de los cuidados paliativos. Resultados: durante la crisis pandémica, las situaciones de mistanasia en las unidades de salud del estado de Amazonas debido a la falta de recursos causaron una confusión indebida en el entendimiento social entre la sedación paliativa y la eutanasia , imponiendo la necesidad de esclarecer los conceptos y límites entre conductas. Conclusión: la sedación paliativa es legal y ética si se realiza dentro de las normas de la buena práctica clínica y sin la intención de reducir deliberadamente la vida.

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The Yucatan Peninsula is the most important beekeeping region. However, the presence of hydrocarbons and pesticides violates the human right to a healthy environment twice over; it can affect human beings directly due to its toxicological characteristics, but it also constitutes a risk, not very well dimensioned, regarding the loss of biodiversity of the ecosystem via the impact on pollination. On the other hand, the precautionary principle obliges the authorities to prevent damage to the ecosystem that may be caused by the productive activity of individuals. Although there are studies that separately warn about the decrease of bees in the Yucatan due to industrial activity, this work has the novelty of presenting an intersectoral analysis of the risk that includes the soy industry, the swine industry and the tourist industry. The latter incorporates a new risk not considered until now, which is the presence of hydrocarbons in the ecosystem. Additionally, we can demonstrate that hydrocarbons, such as diesel and gasoline, should be avoided when using no genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in bioreactors. The objective of this work was to propose the precautionary principle around the risks in a beekeeping area and to propose biotechnology without using GMOs.

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Self-organized lipid monolayers at the air-water interface (Langmuir films, LF) are commonly used for measuring the catalytic properties of membrane-bound enzymes. This methodology allows to provide a consistent flat topography molecular density, packing defects and thickness. The aim of the present work was to show the methodological advantages of using the horizontal transfer method (Langmuir-Schaefer) with respect to the vertical transfer method (Langmuir-Blodgett) when mounting a device to measure catalytic activity of membrane enzymes. Based on the results obtained we can conclude that it is possible to prepare stable Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) and Langmuir-Schaefer (LS) films from Bovine Erythrocyte Membranes (BEM) preserving the catalytic activity of its native Acetylcholinesterase (BEA). In comparison, the LS films showed Vmax values more similar to the enzyme present in the vesicles of natural membranes. In addition, it was much easier to produce large amounts of transferred areas with the horizontal transfer methodology. It was possible to decrease the time required to mount an assay with numerous activity points, such as building activity curves as a function of substrate concentration. The present results show that LSBEM provides a proof of concept for the development of biosensors based on transferred purified membrane for the screening of new products acting on an enzyme embedded on its natural milieu. In the case of BEA, the application of these enzymatic sensors could have medical interest, providing drug screening tools for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

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Introducción En comparación con ciencias clínicas básicas o aplicadas, la bioética es considerada una disciplina secundaria y subutilizada en la práctica diaria. Sin embargo, el razonamiento ético es indispensable para la calidad del cuidado. Existen pocos estudios sobre bioética en unidades de emergencia pediátrica. Nuestro objetivo fue evaluar la percepción sobre la importancia y la suficiencia del conocimiento teórico adquirido y la aplicación de los principios bioéticos en casos estandarizados. Métodos Realizamos un estudio descriptivo transversal en profesionales médicos y de enfermería que se desempeñan en unidades de emergencia pediátrica de Puerto Montt. Mediante una encuesta, evaluamos la percepción de la importancia y suficiencia del conocimiento bioético obtenido y la aplicación de los principios bioéticos en casos hipotéticos, pero probables, en la atención de urgencias pediátricas. Resultados De una población total de 50 médicos y 53 enfermeras, participaron en nuestro estudio 30 médicos (60%) y 20 enfermeras (37,7%). La mayoría reportó formación ética en pregrado (84%). Una minoría reportó formación durante la práctica (20%). Sin embargo, sólo 60% percibía tener conocimientos suficientes de bioética y 72% la consideraba importante para la práctica diaria. Además, al aplicar los principios de Beauchamp y Childress a casos clínicos estandarizados, el 82,7% no reconoció el principio de justicia y solo 50% reconoció los principios de autonomía y no maleficencia. Conclusión Aunque la mayoría de los profesionales de la salud tienen formación en bioética, el aprendizaje muchas veces se considera insuficiente y no se incorpora a la práctica diaria en las unidades de emergencia pediátrica.

Background Compared to basic or applied clinical sciences, bioethics is frequently considered as a secondary discipline and underutilized in daily practice. However, ethical reasoning is indispensable for the quality of care. There are few studies on bioethics in pediatric emergency units. Our objective was to evaluate the perception of the acquired bioethical knowledge and the application of bioethical principles in standardized cases. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study in medical and nursing professionals working at pediatric emergency units in Puerto Montt. Through a survey, we assessed the perception of the sufficiency of the acquired bioethics knowledge and the application of bioethical principles on hypothetical, but probable cases in emergency pediatric care. Results Of a total population of 50 physicians and 53 nurses, 30 physicians (60.0%) and 20 nurses (38.7%) participated in our study. The majority reported ethics training in undergraduate education: 84%. A minority reported training during practice: 20%. However, only 60.0% perceived having sufficient knowledge of bioethics and 72.0% considered it important for daily practice. Further, when applying the principles of Beauchamp and Childress to standardized clinical cases, 82.7% did not recognize the justice principle and only 50.00% the principles of autonomy and nonmaleficence. Conclusion Although most health professionals undergo bioethics training, learning is often considered insufficient and not incorporated into daily practice at pediatric emergency units.

RESUMO

En relación con los procesos de reproducción, las evidencias científicas de los últimos años y la vasta y mejor información con la que se cuenta para medir y estimar los indicadores de morbilidad y mortalidad en salud reproductiva han llevado a definir nuevas estrategias en el marco del derecho a la salud que tienen las mujeres. Para algunas personas son planteamientos claros, pero para otros no tanto, generando a la luz de los principios de ética controversias que es necesario plantear y, si es posible, resolver. En ese sentido, se ha seleccionado para esta presentación el aborto, la reproducción asistida y la anticoncepción, temas actuales que suscitan opiniones diferentes o contrapuestas de personas o instituciones, no siempre producto de una reflexión, justa, honrada, no ideologizada, buscando el bienestar de las personas. A veces, es el resultado de la satisfacción de un interés personal o institucional.

In relation to reproductive processes, the scientific evidence of recent years and the vast and better information available for measuring and estimating morbidity and mortality indicators in reproductive health have led to the definition of new strategies within the framework of women's right to health. For some people these approaches are clear, but for others they are not so clear, generating controversies in the light of ethical principles that need to be raised and, if possible, resolved. In this sense, we have selected for this presentation abortion, assisted reproduction and contraception, current issues that raise different or opposing opinions of individuals or institutions, not always the product of a reflection, fair, honest, non-ideologized, looking for the welfare of people. Sometimes, it is the result of the satisfaction of a personal or institutional interest.

RESUMO

Withering syndrome (WS) is a gastro-intestinal (GI) infectious disease likely affecting all abalone species worldwide. Structural and functional changes in abalone GI microbiotas under WS-stressed conditions remain poorly investigated. It is unclear if interspecific microbiota differences, such as the presence of certain microbes, their abundance, and functional capabilities, may be involved in the occurrence of this disease. Bacterial microbiotas of healthy Haliotis fulgens and Haliotis corrugata are mainly composed by Tenericutes, Proteobacteria, Fusobacteria, and Spirochaetes. We previously reported species-specific structural and functional profiles of those communities and suggested that they are of consequence to the different susceptibility of each species to WS. Here, we address this question by comparing the structure and function of healthy and dysbiotic microbiota through 454 pyrosequencing and PICRUSt 2, respectively. Our findings suggest that the extent to which WS-stressed conditions may explain structural and functional differences in GI microbiota is contingent on the microbiota diversity itself. Indeed, microbiota differences between stressed and healthy abalone were marginal in the more complex bacterial communities of H. corrugata, in which no significant structural or functional changes were detected. Conversely, significant structural changes were observed in the less complex bacterial microbiota of H. fulgens. Moreover, structural alterations led to a significant downregulation of some metabolic activities conducted by GI bacteria. Accordingly, results suggest that gastro-intestinal bacterial diversity appears to be related with both the health of abalone and the etiology of WS.

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