The superficial quality of the strip is a very important issue in steel production; the profile, flat-ness, and geometry of strip are indicators of supreme quality. Considering the dimensions, the thickness is one of the most important variables in the production of strip. In the present study the elastic curve of Back Up Rolls (BUR) is analyzed, considering them as simply supported beams as well as the effect of rolls on the profile of the strip, specifically in the strip edge pro-ducing edge drop. The analysis is simulated with a model in 3D using a Finite Element Method (FEM) considering +0.039mm crown on Back Up Roll and +0.101mm crown on Work Roll (WR). The results showed that there is an instability zone of 76mm in the strip edge, this geometry is symmetrical in both ends of the strip, it was validated with the results of compact X-ray thick-ness gauge from a 4-high cold mill. This study not only provides a theoretical basis for the edge drop, but also provides the basis for the understanding of deformation on rolls used in rolling mill processes and their effect on the thickness, profile, shape, and dimensional quality of strips.

In the past decades, one of the most widely reported phenomena on Caribbean reefs is the general fall in coral cover and rise in macroalgae. Reefs with low coral cover and high macroalgal abun-dances are often presumed to provide poorer ecosystem functions and services. In this study, we assessed the condition of coral reefs on the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica and determined how eight key ecosystem metrics varied in response to differential coral and fleshy macroalgae covers. Most reefs surveyed had high fleshy macroalgae and low live coral covers, with an average (± SD) of 31 ± 28% and 14 ± 13% per site. We found that the rugosity, urchin density, fish richness, total fish biomass, large fish density, and the potential fishery value of the reef were higher in sites with low fleshy macroalgae covers (>10%). The value of many of the ecosystem metrics estimated for coral reefs of the region appears to be lower than what’s been reported for other areas in the Caribbean, which may be related to the high macroalgae covers found on the reefs. Our results concur with the prevailing paradigm that an increase in macroalgae abundance could reduce the ecosystem services provided by coral reefs.

Over the years, various models have been developed in the stages of the mining process that have allowed predicting and enhancing results, but it is the breakage the variable that connects all the activities of the mining process from the point of view of costs (drilling, blasting, loading, hauling, crushing and grinding). To improve this process, we come up with an idea to develop a breakage prediction model; on the basis of the main variables involved in the drilling and blasting process. For this purpose, we design a computer model based on an Artificial Neuronal Networks (ANN), built by using the most representative variables that come into play with drilling and blasting, such as: the properties of the explosives, the geomechanical parameters of the rock mass, and the design parameters of drilling-blasting. For its experimentation and validation, we have taken the data from a copper mine as reference located in the north of Chile, because of we have the dataset of that ore deposit, which is valid and reliable to evaluate prediction problems based on ANN applied to copper mines. The ANN architecture was of the supervised type, feedforward, with 3 layers and 13 neurons in the only hidden layer, trained with the input data using a dataset with the previously mentioned variables, which then were compared with the breakage results. The model was feed backed in its learning process until it becomes perfected, and is a prediction option that can be used in future blasting of ore deposits with similar characteristics using the same representative variables. Therefore, this is a valid alternative for predicting rock breakage, given that it has been experimentally validated, and has achieved moderately reliable results, providing higher correlation coefficients than traditional models, and with the additional advantage that an ANN model provides, due to its ability to learn and recognize compiled dataset patterns. In this way, using this computer model we can obtain satisfactory results that allow us to predict breakage, providing an alternative for evaluating the costs that this entails.

The broad bean plant contains L-DOPA, a compound that is essential for patients with Parkin-son’s disease. However, little has been reported on other broad bean compounds that have bene-ficial effects on health. The objective was to evaluate plants of four Mexican broad bean varieties to determine the content and yield of total phenolic compounds (TPC), total flavonoids (TF), and L-DOPA, as well as to analyze the flavonoid profile and antioxidant (AA) and anti-inflammatory (AANTI) activity in vitro. Broad bean seeds were sown in the field and plants were harvested 20 days after emergence. The analyses were performed with visible UV spectrophotometry and HPLC. The variety José María produced the highest yield of TPC (9.30 g m-2), TF (8.08 g m-2) and L-DOPA (5.64 g m-2) per unit of area. The highest yields per plant were obtained with the Rojita variety: TPC (0.25 g plant-1), TF (0.21 g plant-1) and L-DOPA (0.17 g plant-1). This variety also had the highest antioxidant (CI50= 87.68 µg mL-¹) and anti-inflammatory (CI50= 74.40 mg mL-1) activi-ty, which was attributed to the L-DOPA compounds and to rutin and isoorientins, respectively. The flavonoid profile revealed the presence of rutin and isoorientins, which had not been previ-ously detected in the broad bean plant.

Parallel manipulators with multiple end-effectors bring us interesting advantages over conventional parallel manipulators such as improved manipulability, workspace and avoidance of singularities. In this work the kinematics of a five-bar planar parallel manipulator equipped with two end-effectors is approached by means of the theory of screws. As an intermediate step the displacement analysis of the robot is also investigated. The input-output equations of velocity and acceleration are systematically obtained by resorting to reciprocal-screw theory. In that regard the Klein form of the Lie algebra se(3) of the Euclidean group SE(3) plays a central role. In order to exemplify the method of kinematic analysis, a case study is included. Furthermore, the numerical results obtained by means of the theory of screws are confirmed with the aid of special software like ADAMS.^TM

Machine learning (ML) has a large capacity to learn and analyze a large volume of data. This study aimed to train different algorithms to discriminate between healthy and pathologic corneal images by evaluating digitally processed spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) corneal images. A set of 22 SD-OCT images belonging to a random set of corneal pathologies was compared to 71 healthy corneas (control group). A binary classification method was applied; three approaches of ML were used. Once all images were analyzed, representative areas from every digital image were also processed and analyzed for a statistical feature comparison between healthy and pathologic corneas. The best performance was obtained from transfer learning - support vector machine (TL-SVM) (AUROC = 0.94, SPE 88%, SEN 100%) and transfer learning – random forest (TL- RF) method (AUROC = 0.92, SPE 84%, SEN 100%), followed by convolutional neural network (CNN) (AUROC = 0.84, SPE 77%, SEN 91%) and random forest (AUROC = 0.77, SPE 60%, SEN 95%). The highest diagnostic accuracy in classifying corneal images was achieved with the TL-SVM and the TL-RF models. In image classification, CNN was a strong predictor. This pilot experimental study developed a systematic mechanized system to discern pathologic from healthy corneas.

Soil conditions is a major aspect of interest for farmers due to the knowing of the physicochemical properties of the same can help with any necessary restoration of soil that guarantees the quality and the production of their crop. However, technology and analysis of the soil become of difficult access mainly in developing countries, by which the present paper shows the development of a system thought to estimate physicochemical variables of soils growing sugar cane through studies of spectroscopy. Its characteristic is that it is a portable system, with low cost, easy to use and can estimate physicochemical variables in-situ with the objective of knowing the degree of degradation present in the soil and through this help the farmers define possible strategies to restore it. The device uses the frequency response of the soil determining values of magnitude and phase, which are used by algorithms of artificial intelligence capable of getting an estimation of the physicochemical properties. The obtained results show errors below 8% in the estimation of the variables compared to the analysis results of the soil at laboratories.

We study the performance of a classical and quantum magnetic Otto cycle with a quantum dot as a working substance using the Fock-Darwin model with the inclusion of the Zeeman interaction. Modulating an external/perpendicular magnetic field, we found in the classical approach an oscillating behavior in the total work that is not perceptible under the quantum formulation. Also, we compare the work and efficiency of this system for different regions of the Entropy, $S(T,B)$, diagram where we found that the quantum version of this engine always shows a reduced performance in comparison to his classical counterpart.

Dengue fever remains a persistent threat in Mexico, with cyclical outbreaks driven by the circulation of multiple dengue virus serotypes. The sudden emergence of DENV-3 in 2023 raised questions about its epidemiological significance and potential implications for disease severity. This study aimed to characterize dengue virus serotypes by age and their association with disease severity, considering sex, time, and the origin of clinical samples. A retrospective analysis was conducted on dengue laboratory results obtained from the epidemiological surveillance system in Mexico during 2023. Descriptive statistics summarized the prevalence of dengue virus serotypes, while bivariate analysis utilized an adjusted Chi-squared test to assess associations with demographic variables. Multivariate analysis using unconditional logistic regression evaluated the relationship between dengue virus serotypes and disease severity, adjusting for potential confounders. Additionally, co-infections were identified and analyzed. Results revealed DENV-3 as the most prevalent serotype (63.9%), with co-infection involving two serotypes detected in 0.75% of cases. DENV-2 exhibited a higher median age compared to other serotypes. Pregnant women in their last trimester faced elevated risks of hospitalization and mortality. Multivariate analysis indicated a stronger association between DENV-2 and hospitalization. However, co-infection did not significantly influence disease severity. The unexpected predominance of DENV-3 underscores the dynamic nature of dengue virus circulation in Mexico. Despite its prevalence, DENV-2 demonstrated a stronger association with hospitalization, highlighting the importance of serotype-specific surveillance and management strategies.

This study explores the potential of piloting desalination plants in a systematic way to evaluate energy improvements in water desalination processes. Pilot tests with the latest generation of reverse osmosis membranes in large desalination plants are becoming increasingly common, as small-scale experiments are carried out on the operation of new generation membranes with better salt rejection and lower energy consumption. This approach aims to achieve optimal water quality standard at the lowest possible cost. In this way, pilot tests are being carried out before the decision is made whether to change the reverse osmosis membranes, as this represents a significant investment. By carrying out these tests, we hope to minimize the risk of making a mistake to ensure the best results in terms of energy consumption, operating costs and reducing the environmental impact while complying with the required water quality. In this case, the Pareto analysis is used to identify the two or three most significant causes whose treatment affects more than 80% of the possible energy improvement to be implemented. This article introduces a novel approach to studying a total of 180 desalination plants at the territorial level in the Canary Islands. The global scarcity of freshwater resources has greatly contributed to the development of desalination technologies, in which reverse osmosis is one of the most widely used and highly regarded methods.

The global pandemic caused by the new SARS-COV-2 coronavirus makes it necessary to search for drugs for its control. Within of this research it has been known that the ivermectin drug, a FDA-approved drugs which is formulated as an 80:20 mixture of ivermectin B1a and B1b and used commonly for parasitic infections, has an inhibitory effect on viruses, includes SARS-COV-2 at in vitro level. In the particular case of SARS-COV-2 its mechanism of action remains elusive and controversial. Interestingly, the energy of interaction of ivermectin with any of the proteins the SARS-CoV-2 and the possible structural alterations at the protein level that this drug can cause have not been reported. In this sense, we carried out a bioinformatics study with docking strategies and molecular dynamics to predict the binding and disturbance induced by ivermectin in proteins associated with SARS-CoV-2. We use DockThor and Molegro docking scores. The DockThor server and myPresto software were used to build complexes and dynamics studies, respectively. The results obtained suggested that ivermectin is capable of docking with the 3CL protease and the HR2 domain, and may promote structural changes in these proteins by inducing unfolding/folding. Specifically, ivermectin brings protease to a significantly more deployed conformational state and the HR2 domain to a more compact state compared to the native state. Finally, it is shown that B1a and B1b macrocyclic lactones have a behavior different from to each target protein. These results suggest a possible inhibitory effect against SARS-CoV-2 due to a synergistic role of this drug to spontaneously bind to two important proteins involve in the proliferation of this virus. However, more studies are required on this possible mechanism of action.

127 “naca” fish, Dormitator maculatus from the Alvarado lagoon, were analyzed, of which 1134 microplastics (MP) were obtained: 561 found in the digestive tract and 573 in gills. The predominant MP found in D. maculatus were fibers with 97.53%, the most abundant color was blue (62%), followed by transparent (12%) and of these the MP in the form of fibers predominated. Regarding the biological parameters, there was only a positive correlation with the weight of the intestine and the weight of the gills; However, this ratio is very low. The biological parameters analyzed: weight, height, condition index and intestinal fullness, lack a relationship between the amount of MP present in the intestines and gills. The type of PM obtained indicates that they come from urban areas, a product of daily activities such as washing clothes and fishing.

The objective of the research was to evaluate the concentration of organochlorine pesticides in sediment of the Alvarado Veracruz lagoon system, Mexico. To define the risk that causes to the public health the consumption of organisms that inhabit in sediments of this ecosystem. In 20 out of 41 stations analyzed, 11 prohibited organochlorine pesticides were identified, such as hexachlorocyclohexane, lindane, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, among others. The highest concentrations were: aldrin 46.05; β-HCH 42.11; α-HCH 38.44; γ-HCH (lindane) 34.20; δ-HCH 31.61; methoxychlor 29.40; heptachlor epoxide 25.70; heptachlor 24.11; dieldrin 22.13; endrin 21.23; and endrin aldehyde 12.40 ng g-1. Concentrations reported are prohibited in international standards. In Mexico it is necessary to establish permissible limits in the environmental legislation for this matrix. There is a strong need to demonstrate, with scientific studies, the level of concentration reported by impact of compounds widely used in agricultural-livestock activities.

In the past years, consumers have increased their interest to buy healthier food products, rejecting those products with more additives and giving preference to the fresh ones. Moreover, the current environmental situation has made society more aware of the importance of reducing the production of plastic and food waste. In this way and considering the Food Industry need of reducing the food spoilage along the food chain, edible coating has been considered as an eco-friendly food packaging that can replace traditional plastic packaging providing an improvement in the product’s shelf-life. Edible coating are thin layers applied straightaway on the food materials’ surface, that are made of biopolymers that usually incorporate other elements, such as nanoparticles or essential oils, to improve their physicochemical properties. These materials must provide a barrier that can prevent the pass of water vapor and other gasses, the microbial growth, the moisture loss, and the oxidation, so the shelf-life could be extended. The aim of this review was to compile the current data available to give a global vision of the formulation process and the different ways to improve the characteristics of the coats applied in both fruits and vegetables. In this way, the suitability of compounds in by-products produced during the Food Industry chain were also considered for the edible coating production.

The diffraction-like process displayed by a spatially localized matter wave is here analyzed in a case where the free evolution is frustrated by the presence of hard-wall-type boundaries (beyond the initial localization region). The phenomenon is investigated in the context of a nonrelativistic, spinless particle with mass m confined in a one-dimensional box, combining the spectral decomposition of the initially localized wave function (treated as a coherent superposition of energy eigenfunctions) with a dynamical analysis based on the hydrodynamic or Bohmian formulation of quantum mechanics. Actually, such a decomposition has been used to devise a simple and efficient analytical algorithm that simplifies the computation of velocity fields (flows) and trajectories. As it is shown, the development of space-time patters inside the cavity depends on three key elements: the shape of the initial wave function, the mass of the particle considered, and the relative extension of the initial state with respect to the total length spanned by the cavity. From the spectral decomposition it is possible to identify how each one of these elements contribute to the localized matter wave and its evolution; the Bohmian analysis, on the other hand, reveals aspects connected to the diffraction dynamics and the subsequent appearance of interference traits, particularly recurrences and full revivals of the initial state, which constitute the source of the characteristic symmetries displayed by these patterns. It is also found that, because of the presence of confining boundaries, even in cases of increasingly large box lengths, no Fraunhofer-like diffraction features can be observed, as happens when the same wave evolves in free space. Although the analysis here is applied to matter waves, its methodology and conclusions are also applicable to confined modes of electromagnetic radiation (e.g., light propagating through optical fibers).

In this research article we solve the problem of synchronization and anti-synchronization of chaotic systems described by discrete and time-delayed variable fractional order differential equations. To guarantee the synchronization and anti-synchronization of these systems, we use the well-known PID control theory and the Lyapunov-Krasovskii stability theory for discrete systems of variable fractional order.We illustrate the results obtained through simulation with examples, in which it can be seen that our results are satisfactory, thus achieving synchronization and anti-synchronization of chaotic systems of variable fractional order with discrete time delay.

The Benford method can be used to detect manipulation of epidemiological or trial data during the validation of new drugs. We extend here the Benford method after having detected particular properties for the Fibonacci values 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8 of the first decimal of 10 runs of official epidemiological data published in France and Italy (positive cases, intensive care, and deaths) for the periods of March 1 to May 30, 2020 and 2021, each with 91 raw data. This new method – called “BFP” for Benford-Fibonacci-Perez - is positive in all 10 cases (i.e. 910 values) with an average of favorable cases close to 80%, which, in our opinion, would validate the reliability of these basic data.

The nuclear architecture describes the organization of the various compartments in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells, where a plethora of processes such as nucleocytoplasmic transport, gene expression, and assembly of ribosomal subunits occur in a dynamic manner. During the different phases of the cell cycle, in post-mitotic cells and after oncogenic transformation, rearrangements of the nuclear architecture take place, and, among other things, these alterations result in reorganization of the chromatin and changes in gene expression. A member of the tubulin family, tubulin, was first identified as part of a multiprotein complex that allows nucleation of microtubules. However, more than a decade ago, γ tubulin was also characterized as a nuclear protein that modulates several crucial processes that affect the architecture of the nucleus. This review presents the latest knowledge regarding changes that arise in the nuclear architecture of healthy cells and under pathological conditions and, more specifically, considers the particular involvement of tubulin in the modulation of the biology of the nuclear compartment.

The objective of this research was to create a Spanish-adapted version of the 30-item Multidimensional Ethics Scale (MES-30), analyze its structural validity, and create a short, valid, and culturally-adapted version. A total of 594 employees from organizations operating in different industries, primarily located in Ecuador, participated in this study. The comparison of different models using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) showed that the bifactor model proved better fit in all scenarios. The high common variance explained by the general factor (> 80%) and the high values of ωh (> .90) led to the conclusion that the explanatory model of the adapted MES-30 is essentially one-dimensional. In order to obtain a more valid and reliable measurement of the substantive common factor, a short version (Spanish MES-15) has been proposed, which contains items from all philosophical approaches and three non-redundant scenarios. The one-dimensional model for the Spanish MES-15 showed excellent goodness of fit in all scenarios. Regarding the metric equivalence between the original instrument (adapted MES-30) and the short one, the correlation between both measurements was greater than .90, the correlation of the short version with the social desirability scale was lower, and both instruments similarly predicted the intention of executing the actions described in the scenarios, the probability of executing the actions attributed to peers and supervisors, and the general ethical evaluation of those actions.

Cheese consumption provides humans with minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, and vitamins. In Mexico, several cheese varieties are produced, each with its texture, scent, and flavor. The artisanal cheeses made in the states of Tabasco and Chiapas —including, among others, the varieties named crema (cream), doble crema (double cream), oaxaca, panela, fresco, bola, poro, Cotija, and asadero— have a high demand in the domestic and foreign markets. The intensification of anthropic activity in these states causes an increased emission to the environment of contaminants like heavy metals, which could reach human foodstuffs through the food chains. In particular, heavy metal contents in cheeses consumed daily by these states' local population might represent a public health risk. Because of that, our objectives in this work were to determine the concentrations of lead, cadmium, nickel, copper, zinc, and iron in artisanal cheeses produced in the states of Tabasco and Chiapas, and to determine the values of the Hazard Quotient (HQ), Total Hazard Quotient (THQ), and Cancer Risk Total (CRT) for adult and young men and women. The results of our analyses of cheese samples from the states of Tabasco and Chiapas showed that the average concentrations (mg kg-1) of cadmium (0.0023±0.002, 0.0023±0.002 mg kg-1, respectively for each state), lead (0.0047±0.00, 0.0051±0.002), nickel (0.0039±0.0046, 0.0031±0.0039), copper (0.0199±0.021, 0.0202±0.022), zinc (0.1611±0.18, 0.194±0.21), and iron (61.84±4.23, 65.76±6.61 mg kg-1), the first three values lower than the limits established by the FAO/WHO and Codex Alimentarius. The value of THQ that we obtained was less than one, and that of CRT was within the limits established by the US-EPA, which means that the consumption of artisanal cheeses from Tabasco and Chiapas by humans does not imply a risk of disease or cancer.

ABSTRACT. In this paper, we run for all INDIA mutations and variants a biomathematical numerical method for analysing mRNA nucleotides sequences based on UA/CG Fibonacci numbers proportions (Perez, 2021). In this study, we limit ourselves to the analysis of whole genomes, all coming from the mutations and variants of SARS-CoV2 sequenced in India in 2020 and 2021. We then demonstrate - both on actual genomes of patients and on variants combining the most frequent mutations to the SARS-CoV2 Wuhan genomes and then to the B.1.617 variant - that the numerical Fibonacci AU / CG metastructures increase considerably in all cases analyzed in ratios of up to 8 times. We can affirm that this property contributes to a greater stability and lifespan of messenger RNAs, therefore, possibly also to a greater INFECTUOSITY of these variant genomes. Out of a total of 108 genomes analyzed: - None ("NONE") of them contained a number of metastructures LOWER than those of the reference SARS-CoV2 Wuhan genome. - Eleven (11) among them contained the same number of metastructures as the reference genome. - 97 of them contained a GREATER number of metastructures than the reference genome, ie 89.81% of cases. The average increase in the number of metastructures for the 97 cases studied is 4.35 times the number of SARS-CoV2 UA/CG 17711 Fibonacci metastructures. Finally, we put a focus on B.1.617.2 crucial exponential growth Indian variant. Then, we demonstrate, by analyzing the main worldwide 19 variants, both at the level of spikes and of whole genomes, how and why these UA / CG metastuctures increase overall in the variants compared to the 2 reference strains SARS-CoV2 Wuhan and D614G.

The carbapenemase OXA-244 is a derivate of OXA-48, and its detection is very difficult in laboratories. Here we report the identification and genomic analysis of an Escherichia coli isolate (28Eco12) harbouring the bla_OXA-244 gene identified in Colombia, South America. The 28Eco12 isolate was identified during a retrospective study and it was recovered from a patient treated in Colombia. The complete nucleotide sequence was established using the PacBio platform. A comparative genomics analysis with other bla_OXA-244–harbouring Escherichia coli strains was performed. The 28Eco12 isolate belonged to sequence type (ST) 38 and its genome was composed of two molecules, a chromosome of 5,343,367 bp and a plasmid of 92,027 bp, which belonged to the incompatibility group IncY and did not harbour resistance genes. The bla_OXA-244 gene was chromosomally-encoded and mobilized by an ISR1-related Tn6237 composite transposon. Notably, this transposon was inserted and located within a new genomic island. For our knowledge this is the first report of a bla_OXA-244–harbouring Escherichia coli isolate in American continent.Our results suggest that the introduction of the OXA-244-producing E. coli isolate was through clonal expansion of the ST38 pandemic clone. Other isolates producing OXA-244 could be circulating silently on the American continent.

ABSTRACT. In this paper, we suggest a biomathematical numerical method for analysing mRNA nucleotides sequences based on UA/CG Fibonacci numbers proportions. This method is used to evaluate then compare the spike genes related to the main SARS-CoV2 VARIANTS currently circulating within the world population. The 10 main results proposed to be reproduced by peers are: 1/ SARS-CoV2 genome and spike evolution in one year 2020-2021. 2/ SARS-CoV2 Origins. 3/ Comparing 11 reference variants spikes. 4/ analysing 32 CAL.20C California variant patients spikes. 5/ Toward a meta mRNA Fibonacci gene end message code. 6/ Analysing S501 UK, S484 South Africa and « 2 mutations » INDIA variants. 7/ Suggesting a possible variants spike mRNA palindrome symmetry metastructure improving mRNA stability then infectiousness. 8/ Analysing Fibonacci Metastructures in the mRNA coding for the vaccines PFIZER and MODERNA. 9/ Does the CG-rich modification of the synonymous codons of the spikes of the 2 mRNA vaccines affect the expression and quantity of SARS-CoV2 antibodies? 10/ The exceptional case of the Brazilian variant P.1. Particularly, we suggest the following conjecture at mRNA folding level : CONJECTURE of SARS-CoV2 VARIANTS: The growth of long Fibonacci structures in the shape of "podiums" for almost all of the variants studied (UK, California, South Africa, India, etc.) suggests the probable folding of the Spike mRNA in the form of a "hairpin", which can strengthen the cohesion and the lifespan of this mRNA. Finally, we show that these kinds of Fibonacci matastructures disapear TOTALLY by analysing the published mRNA sequences of PFIZER and MODERNA vaccines. One fact is certain, the two mRNAs of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines will result in a low functionality of the spike vaccine. This is because their designers by seeking greater stability, have doped to build CG rich sequences which, as soon as they are inserted into the human host, will, paradoxically, seek to mutate, like SARS-CoV2 variants, towards CG ==> UA forms in order to improve their STABILITY and LIFETIME. We conclude using new biomathematics theoretical methods (Master code and numerical standing waves), and comparing the Spikes of the two vaccines Moderna and Pfizer, that there will be very probable differences in stability and shelf life of the two respective mRNAs vaccines. However, “State of the Art” analyzes will disclose that their two protein sequences are strictly identical. By modified their synonymous codons using different strategies, no one can guarantee that the quantity of antibodies generated will be identical in the two cases. We wish to draw attention to the great ADAPTATION power - at the global scale of their genomes - of the most infectious VARIANTS, such as the BRAZIL 20J / 501Y.V3 variant (P.1). This is very worrying for the VACCINES <==> VARIANTS run: We demonstrate how the Brazilian variant P.1 which becomes uncontrollable in Brazil in April 2021 has a level of organization of long metastructures of 17,711 bases covering the genome which is 3.6 more important than that of the 2 reference genomes SARS-CoV2 and worldwide D614G. We suggest that this high level of overall structure of this variant contributes to the stability of this genome and, might explain its greater contagiousness.

Deep learning machines are computational models composed of multiple processing layers of adaptive weights to learn representations of data with multiple levels of abstraction. Their structure is mainly reflecting the intuitive plausibility of decomposing a problem into multiple levels of computation and representation since it is believed that higher layers of representation allow a system to learn complex functions. Surprisingly, after decades of research, from learning and design perspectives these models are still deployed in a heuristic manner. In this paper, deep learning feed-forward machines are modeled from a statistical mechanics point of view as disordered physical systems where its macroscopic behavior is determined in terms of the interactions defined between the basic constituent of these models, namely, the artificial neuron. They are viewed as the equilibrium states of a theoretical body that is subject to the law of increase of the entropy. The study of the changes in energy of the body when passing from one equilibrium state to another is used to understand the structure and role of the phase space of the system, the stability of the equilibrium states, and the resulting degree of disorder. It is shown that the topology of these models is strongly linked to their stability and resulting level of disorder. Furthermore, the proposed theoretical characterization permit to assess the thermodynamic efficiency with which information can be processed by these models, and to provide a practical methodology to quantitatively estimate and compare their expected learning and generalization capabilities. These theoretical results provides new insights to the theory of deep learning and their implications are shown to be consistent through a set of benchmarks designed to experimentally assess their validity.

In (Venetz et al., 2019), authors rebuilt the essential genome of Caulobacter crescentus through the process of chemical synthesis rewriting and studied the genetic information content at the level of its essential genes. Then, they reduced the native Caulobacter crescentus native Caulobacter NA1000 genome sequence real genome ( 4042929 bp ) to the 785,701-bp reduced synthetic genome. Here we demonstrate the existence of a palindromic-like mirror structure that exists in real genomes and disappears totally in the synthetic genome. This biomathematic meta-organization is based on characteristic proportions of Fibonacci numbers between DNA single strand nucleotides proportions TC / AG on the one hand and TG / AC on the other hand. In both cases, we suggest that this meta-structure enhances the three-dimensional cohesion of the two DNA strands of the genome. We then generalize this study to the different synthetic genomes and synthetic cells published by the Craig Venter Institute on Mycoplasma Mycoides JCVI-syn1.0 (in 2010), JCVI-syn3.0 (in 2016) and JCVI-syn3A (in 2019). Finally, in the discussion section, we extend this study to synthetic genomes of E-Coli and Yeast chromosome XII.

The discovery of a simple numerical formula for the projection of all the atomic mass of life-sustaining CONHSP bioatoms leads to the emergence of a set of Nested CODES unifying all the biological, genetic and genomic components by unifying them from bioatoms up to 'to whole genomes. In particular, we demonstrate the existence of a digital meta-code common to the three languages ​​of biology that are RNA, DNA and amino acid sequences. Through this meta-code, genomic and proteomic images appear almost analogous and correlated. The analysis of the textures of these images then reveals a binary code as well as an undulatory code whose analysis on the human genome makes it possible to predict the alternating bands constituting the cariotypes of the chromosomes. The application of these codes to perspectives in astrobiology, in Cancers basic research and the emergence of binary codes and regions of local stability (voting process), whose fractal nature we demonstrate, is illustrated.

In this work we present a new algorithm that achieves the perfect Shannon secret by means of the XOR function and a method that we call multiple key reuse. The algorithm has two execution modes: message authentication and data encryption. The XOR encryption scheme allows for batch encryption and exhibits Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS). Furthermore, based on our fundamental algorithm, we have developed a new strategy for blockchain implementation that does not require Proof of Work (PoW), but defines a fair mechanism for miner selection and secure addition of blocks to the chain. Since our method is mainly based on the Boolean XOR function, the strength of the cryptosystem can be directly established thanks to its mathematical properties. Due to the risk that quantum computers represent for current cryptosystems based on prime factorization or discrete logarithm, we postulate that our method represents a promising alternative in the quantum era for the security of communications between Internet of Things devices as well as Blockchain technology.

In an analogous manner as occurred during the development of a connected metabolism that at some point reached characteristics associated with what is called ‘life’ ―due mainly to a catalytic closure phenomenon when chemicals started to autocatalyze themselves forming a closed web of chemical reactions― it is here proposed that cognition and consciousness (or features associated with them) arose as a consequence of another type of closure within the nervous system, the brain especially. Proper brain function requires an efficient web of connections and once certain complexity is attained due to the number and coordinated activities of the brain cell networks, the emergent properties of cognition and consciousness take place. Seeking to identify main features of the nervous system organization for optimal function, it is here proposed that while catalytic closure yielded life, neuroglial closure produced cognition/consciousness.

The current challenges in the food packaging field are, on one side, replacing plastic from non-renewable sources with biopolymers and, on the other hand, generating a packaging material with attractive properties for the consumer. Nowadays, the consumer is concerned ecologically; the food packaging industry must ahead satisfy their needs. In this sense, incorporating several compounds with properties such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, or nutraceutical properties results attractive for the consumers. However, many of these properties can be diminished, so an encapsulation system is required. A good encapsulating system is crucial for these purposes, so polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) can be used with that finality. Nowadays, PECs are eye-catching in many fields because of their fascinating properties, which make them very attractive, mainly for being used as encapsulating systems. Hence, this paper reviews the use of PECs in food packaging where chitosan forms polyelectrolyte complexes.

Anatomical airways parameters as length, diameter and angles have a strong effect on the flow dynamics. Aiming to explore the effect of variations of the bifurcation angle (BA) and carina rounding radius (CRR) of lower human airways on the respiratory processes, numerical simulations of airflow during inhalation and exhalation were performed using a synthetic bifurcation models. Geometries for the airways models were parameterized based on a set of different BA's and several CRR's. A range of Reynolds numbers (\Reyn) relevant to the human breathing process were selected to analyzed the airflow behaviour. The numerical results show a significant influence of BA and the CRR on the development of the airflow within the airways, and therefore affecting some relevant features of the flow, namely the deformation of velocity profiles, alterations of pressure drop, the flow patterns, and finally enhance or attenuation of wall shear stresses (WSS) appearing during the regular respiratory process. Numerical results show that increases in the bifurcation angle value are accompanied by pressure increases of about 20\%, especially in the regions close to the bifurcation. Similarly, increases in the BA value lead to a reduction in peak shear stresses of up to 70\%. For the ranges of angles and radii explored, an increase in pressure of about 20\% and a reduction in wall shear stress of more than 400\% were obtained by increasing the carina rounding radius. Analysis of the coherent structures and secondary flow patterns also revealed a direct relationship between the location of the vortical structures, the local maxima of the velocity profiles and the local vorticity minima. This relationship was observed for all branches analysed, for both the inhalation and exhalation processes of the respiratory cycle.

The management of urban water has evolved from single-function systems to more sustainable designs promoting society and nature as inputs to engineer novel infrastructure. In transdisciplinary research, co-design refers to a design thinking strategy in which people jointly frame a problem-solution. This article presents a conceptual framework to assess a case study focusing on the process of co-design and implementation of green infrastructure as a prototype for stormwater management. The evaluation is carried out from a self-reflective post-implementation perspective. Research activities are translated into the framework to evaluate conditions shaping the trajectory of the prototype. As a result, key aspects driving the research regarding levels of stakeholder participation and dimensions of power are identified. Planning resilient co-design strategies to retrofit urban spaces is necessary to avoid unintended consequences, especially at the initial experimental stages. This study aims to contribute to the continuous improvement of pilot strategies in urban spaces by providing a framework for a structured evaluation of research experiences.

We analyze the humoral and B-cell mediated immunogenic response induced by GP5 lineal epitopes from porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) to explore the role of this protein in the protective response. For inoculation, pigs aged twenty-one days were allocated into six groups (seven pigs per group): control (PBS), vehicle (carrier), vaccinated (Ingelvac-PRRSV, MLV®), non-vaccinated and naturally infected, GP5-B and GP5-B3. Subsequently blood samples were collected and analyzed. Cytokine were measured by ProcartaPlex kit. Peptide-specific IgGs and cross-reactivity against peptides were analyzed by ELISA and B-cell subpopulations were analyzed by flow cytometry. At 2 days post-immunization (dpi), the GP5-B3 peptide increased the serum concentrations of cytokines associated to activate adaptive cellular immunity (IL-1β and IL-12). The concentration of IgGs anti-GP5-B increased in both cases at 21 and 42 dpi, while IgGs anti-GP5-B3 increased at 21 dpi and remained at the same level until 42 dpi. Also, antibody-forming/Plasma B cells (CD2+/CD21-) and primed B cells (CD2-/CD21+) from immunized pigs showed an increase at 42 dpi. Conversely the naïve B cells from immunized pigs decreased compared with the controls. Importantly, Both GP5-B and GP5-B3 peptides exhibited immunoreactivity against serum antibodies from vaccinated group, as well as non-vaccinated and naturally infected group. In conclusion, GP5-B and GP5-B3 peptides elicited immunogenicity mediated by antigen specific IgG´s and B-cell activation.

: For a long time, atherosclerosis has been regarded as a mere lipid deposit in the blood vessels. However, in the recent years a growing body of experimental and clinical evidence have highlighted the role of inflammation and immunity as a central mechanism of disease. Moreover, in the last decade the coming of next-generation sequencing and its application to large human population has broken the barrier between inflammation and cancer. Indeed, acquired mutation in key genes related to the control of hematopoiesis and myeloproliferation have paved the way to establish the new concept of clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential. This phenomenon is being considered not such “indeterminate”, but as an emerging cardiovascular risk factor. Thus, this may explain the mechanisms of myeloproliferation and inflammation in atherosclerosis. And in a bidirectional journey, it has helped to explain the extremely high cardiovascular risk in cancer survivors, in particular in myeloprolfierative neoplasm patients. A deeper understanding of these mechanisms may pave the way for the future early diagnosis and potential preemptive treatments of the leading worldwide cause of death.

Background: Endothelial dysfunction (ED) is a marker of vascular damage and the precursor of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, which involve inflammation and organ damage. Nitric oxide (NO) produced by eNOS, which is induced by pAKT, plays a crucial role in the function of a healthy endothelium. Methods: A combination of the subfractions SF1 and SF3 (C4) of the aqueous fraction from Cucumis sativus (Cs-Aq) was evaluated to control endothelial dysfunction in vivo, and on HMEC-1 cells to assess the involvement of pAkt in vitro. C57BL/6J mice were daily injected with Ang-II for 10 weeks. Once hypertension was established, Cs-AqC4 or losartan were orally administered along with Ang-II for another 10 weeks. Blood pressure (BP) was measured at weeks 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20. Serum creatinine was quantified; the inflammatory status was evaluated in kidney, and tissue damage and vascular remodeling were studied in liver and aorta. Cs-AqC4 was also evaluated in vitro on HMEC-1 cells stimulated by angiotensin II (Ang-II) to assess the involvement of Akt phosphorylation. Results: Cs-AqC4 decreased systolic and diastolic BP, reversed vascular remodeling, decreased IL-1β and TGF-β and increased IL-10 and decreased kidney and liver damage. In HMEC-1 cells, AKT phosphorylation and NO production were increased. Conclusions: Cs-AqC4 controlled inflammation and vascular remodeling, resulting in BP regulation; it also improved tissue damage associated with ED, probably via Akt activation.

To implement renewable energy resources, microgrid systems have been adopted and developed into the technology of choice to assure mass electrification in the next decade. Microgrid systems have a number of advantages over the conventional utility grid systems, however, it faces severe instability issues due to continually increasing constant power loads. To improve the stability of the entire system, load side compensation technique is chosen because of its robustness and cost effectiveness. In this particular occasion, a sliding mode controller is developed for microgrid system in the presence of CPL to assure certain control objective of keeping the output voltage constant at 480V. After that, the robustness analysis of the sliding mode controller against parametric uncertainties is presented. The sliding mode controller robustness against parametric uncertainties, frequency variations, and additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) are illustrated in this paper. Later, the performance of the PID and sliding Mode controller is compared in case of nonlinearity, parameter uncertainties, and noise rejection to justify the selection of Sliding Mode controller over PID controller. All the necessary calculations are reckoned mathematically and results are verified in the virtual platform such as MATLAB/Simulink with the appreciable outcome.

This study delves into the foundational aspects of electrocardiographic (ECG) lead systems, specifically focusing on Einthoven’s Triangle and Wilson’s Central Terminal. We introduce the innovative concept of a Precordial Central Terminal, a strategic arrangement of thoracic electrodes that establishes two Einthoven’s triangles within the horizontal plane, in accordance with physical-mathematical principles. Furthermore, we meticulously scrutinize Goldberger’s contributions to the field of ECG, particularly augmented leads, which shed light on the development of our theory. Additionally, we propose the implementation of a novel standardized electrocardiograph, characterized by its use of exclusively “precordial” electrodes, yet capable of providing a comprehensive three-dimensional perspective of cardiac electrical activity. By amalgamating theoretical underpinnings with empirical experimentation, our study lays the groundwork for future investigations, including the experimental validation of our innovative Precordial Terminal. This validation holds the promise of yielding substantial advancements in the realm of clinical electrocardiography.

The permeation of dioxin-like pollutants, namely, chlorinated dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans, through lipid membranes has been simulated using classic molecular dynamics (CMD) combined with the umbrella sampling approach. The most toxic forms of chlorinated dibenzodioxin and dibenzofuran, 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-p-dibenzodioxin (TCDD) and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran (TCDF), and a dioleyl-phosphatidylcholine (DOPC) lipid membrane of 50 Å wide have been chosen for our study. The free energy profile shows the penetration process is largely favoured thermodynamically (DG≈-12 kcal/mol), with a progressively decrease of the free energy until reaching the energy minima at distances of 8Å and 9.5Å from the centre of the membrane for, respectively, TCDD and TCDF. At the centre of the membrane, both molecules display subtle local maxima with free energy differences of 0.5 and 1 kcal/mol with respect to the energy minima for TCDD and TCDF, respectively. Furthermore, the intermolecular interactions between the molecules and the lipid membrane have been characterized at the minima and the local maxima using hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics energy decomposition analysis (QM/MM-EDA). Total interaction energies of -17.5 and -16.5 kcal/mol have been found at the energy minima for TCDD and TCDF, respectively. In both cases, the dispersion forces govern the molecule-membrane interactions, no significant changes have been found at the local maxima, in agreement with the classical free energy profile. The small differences found in the results obtained for TCDD and TCDF point out the adsorption and diffusion processes through the cell membrane are not related to the different toxicity shown by these pollutants.

We introduce a novel algebraic structure, termed algebra B, which generalizes Lie algebras through the definition of a non-associative and unital algebra. We demonstrate that algebra B retains essential properties such as bilinearity and antisymmetry, and satisfies both the Jacobi and Malcev identities; this occurs when the product operations of Lie and Malcev algebras are derived from the product operation defined in our algebra. By examining the connections between algebra B, Malcev algebras, and Lie algebras, we establish that algebra B effectively generalizes these structures. Furthermore, we show that algebra B can generate complex entities with a novel structure distinct from those currently known. Our findings lay the groundwork for future investigations into the practical applications and further theoretical development of this new algebraic framework.

Wearable Biosensor Technology (WBT) has emerged as a transformative tool in the educational system over the past decade. This systematic review encompasses a comprehensive analysis of WBT utilization in educational settings over a 10-year span (2012-2022), highlighting both the evolution of this field and its integration to address challenges in education by integrating technology to solve specific educational challenges, such as enhancing student engagement, monitoring stress and cognitive load, improving learning experiences, and providing real-time feedback for both students and educators. By exploring these aspects, the review sheds light on the potential implications of WBT for the future of learning. A rigorous and systematic search of major academic databases, including Google Scholar and Scopus, was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Relevant studies were selected based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The articles selected were assessed for methodological quality and bias using established tools. The process of data extraction and synthesis followed a structured framework. Key findings include the shift from theoretical exploration to practical implementation with the EEG being the predominant measurement, aiming to explore mental states, physiological constructs, and teaching effectiveness. Wearable biosensors are significantly impacting the educational field, serving as an important resource for educators and a tool for students. Their application has the potential to transform and optimize academic practices through sensors that capture biometric data, enabling the implementation of metrics and models to understand the development and performance of students and professors in an academic environment, as well as to gain insights into the learning process.

Wildfires have always been a part of the history of Mediterranean forests. However, forest regeneration after a wildfire is not certain. It depends on many factors, some of which may be influenced by land management activities. Failure of regeneration will cause a regime shift in the ecosystem, reducing the provision of ecosystem services and ultimately leading to desertification. How can we increase Mediterranean forests’ resilience to fire? To answer this question, we did a literature review, investigating chains of processes that allow forests to regenerate (which we label “regeneration mechanisms”), and assessed the impact of selected management practices documented in the WOCAT database on the regeneration mechanisms. We identified three distinct regeneration mechanisms that enable Mediterranean forests to recover, as well as the time frame before and after a fire in which they are at work, and factors that can hinder or support resilience. The three regeneration mechanisms enabling a forest to regenerate after a fire consist of regeneration (1) from a seed bank; (2) from resprouting individuals; and (3) from unburned plants that escaped the fire. Management practices were grouped into four categories: (1) fuel breaks, (2) fuel management, (3) afforestation, and (4) mulching. We assessed how and under what conditions land management modifies the ecosystem’s resilience. The results show that land management influences resilience by interacting with resilience mechanisms before and after the fire, and not just by modifying the fire regime. Our analysis demonstrates a need for adaptive – i.e. context- and time-specific – management strategies.

Autophagy is a multistep catabolic process through which misfolded, aggregated or mutated proteins and damaged organelles are internalized in membrane vesicles called autophagosomes and ultimately fused to lysosomes for degradation of sequestered components. The multi-step nature of the process offers multiple regulation points prone to be deregulated and cause different human disease, but also offers multiple targetable points for designing therapeutic strategies. Cancer cells have evolved to use autophagy as an adaptive mechanism to survive under extremely stressful conditions within tumor microenvironment, but also to increase invasiveness and resistance to anti-cancer drugs such as chemotherapy. This review collects all clinical evidences of autophagy deregulation during cholangiocarcinogenesis together with all pre-clinical reports evaluating compounds that modulate autophagy to induce cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) cell death. Altogether, experimental data suggests an impairment of autophagy during initial steps of CCA development and increased expression of autophagy markers on established tumors and in invasive phenotypes. Pre-clinical efficacy of autophagy modulators promoting CCA cell death, reducing invasiveness capacity and resensitizing CCA cells to chemotherapy open novel therapeutic avenues to design more specific and efficient strategies to treat this aggressive cancer

There is a formal analogy between the evolution of the universe, when this is seen as a trajectory in the minisuperspace, and the worldline followed by a test particle in a curved spacetime. The analogy can be extended to the quantum realm, where the trajectories are transformed into wave packets that give us the probability of finding the universe or the particle in a given point of their respective spaces: the spacetime in the case of the particle and the minisuperspace in the case of the universe. The wave function of the spacetime and the matter fields, all together, can then be seen as a super-field that propagates in the minisuperspace and the so-called third quantisation procedure can be applied in a parallel way as the second quantisation procedure is performed with a matter field that propagates in the spacetime. The super-field can thus be interpreted as made up of universes propagating, i.e. evolving, in the minisuperspace. The analogy can also be used in the opposite direction. The way in which the semiclassical state of the universe is obtained in quantum cosmology allows us to obtain, from the quantum state of a field that propagates in the spacetime, the geodesics of the underlying spacetime as well as their quantum uncertainties or dispersions. This might settle a new starting point for a different quantisation of the spacetime.

In the Mediterranean area, vegetation dynamics and phenology analyzed over a long time can have an important role in highlighting changes in land use and cover as well as the effect of climate change. Over the last 30 years, remote sensing has played an essential role in bringing about these changes thanks to many types of observations and techniques. Satellite images are to be considered an important tool to grasp these dynamics and evaluate them in an inexpensive and multidisciplinary way thanks to Landsat and Sentinel satellite constellations. The integration of these tools holds a dual potential: on one hand, allowing to obtain longer historical series of reflectance data, while on the other hand, making data available with a higher frequency even within a specific timeframe. The study aims to conduct a comprehensive cross-comparison analysis of long-time series pixel values in the Mediterranean regions. For this scope comparisons between Landsat-7 (ETM+), Landsat-8 (OLI), and Sentinel-2 (MSI) satellite sensors were conducted based on surface reflectance products. We evaluated these differences using Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and Major Axis linear regression (RMA) analysis on points extracted from over 15,000 images across the Mediterranean basin area from 2017 to 2020. Minor but consistent differences were noted, necessitating the formulation of suitable adjustment equations to better align Sentinel-2 reflectance values with those of Landsat-7 or Landsat-8. The results of the analysis are compared with the most used harmonization coefficients proposed in the literature, revealing significant differences. The root mean square deviation, the mean difference and the orthogonal distance regression (ODR) slope show an improvement of the parameters for both models used (OLS and RMA) in this study. The discrepancies in reflectance values lead to corresponding variations in the estimation of biophysical parameters, such as NDVI, showing an increase in the ODR slope of 0.3. Despite differences in spatial, spectral, and temporal characteristics, we demonstrate that integration of these datasets is feasible through the application of band-wise regression corrections for a sensitive and heterogeneous area like those of the Mediterranean basin area.

La minería es una industria intensiva en energía que requiere una fuente estable de electricidad. Con el aumento de la demanda de minerales y la disminución de las leyes, se espera que la demanda de energía aumente en un 36% para el 2035. Este aumento de la demanda depende del uso de combustibles fósiles ya que la electricidad producida y comprada en las empresas mineras se basan principalmente en el caso de los combustibles fósiles, los costos de los sistemas de almacenamiento de energía solar y eólica han caído a una escala sin precedentes, lo que alienta a las empresas mineras a probar estas tecnologías.Entre los factores que influyen en el uso de energía renovable, se encuentra el beneficio a la comunidad en la etapa de operación y cierre o post-cierre de un proyecto minero, el siguiente factor es el perfil de consumo eléctrico o demanda es importante para el cálculo de su almacenamiento o no, de las energías renovables a utilizar. Como tercer factor está el cálculo del consumo en los procesos. Los rangos de penetración determinarán si es posible su almacenamiento de energía, y si es posible utilizar control híbrido (solar - eólico), para ello es importante el uso de herramientas digitales como el programa Holmer, es una herramienta importante que técnica y económica.El gobierno debe tener una perspectiva que ayude en los temas regulatorios necesarios para impulsar proyectos de energía renovable con diferentes incentivos e intereses según el contexto minero.

Background and objectives: In the current context, the 2021 presidential elections in Peru distance from the social objective, not being objectively represented, that is why we analyze their validity, we determine the distances between the parties if they are extreme, the correspondences with the departments and their prospects, in the surveys we propose which departments influence the results. Methods: We use a mixed methodology, qualitative analysis, it will be multidimensional with the support of statistical methods and programs such as R Studio, worddj, Gephi, and Iramuteq. The quantitative analysis will be through factor analysis, correspondence and discriminant analysis to the data of the election Results and conclusions: The textual analysis mentions that there are dimensions such as the social issue, the results of the surveys and democracy that are far apart, regarding the electoral issue. This inculcates to work both on the part of the organisms that carry out these processes, as well as the initiative of the candidates, and the media. Regarding the quantitative analysis, it is detailed that the representative parties must be greater than 4.0 million voters, to make representative parties at the national level. The classification regarding the percentage of votes is given in three groups, highlighting the independence of the Peru Libre political party in these . In the correspondence analysis we can detail that both Fuerza Popular and Peru Libre are extremist parties. The vast majority of Peruvian citizens have an ideological tendency, intermediate between both parties. The prospective projections with a cross section give a victory to the Peru Libre party. In the discriminant analysis, the sample for the surveys focuses on 7 departments that does not include the Peruvian capital.

In this review, we aimed to understand the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and preeclampsia severity in infected pregnant women. Pregnant women with SARS- CoV-2 infection have been shown to have a significantly increased risk of maternal death, ICU admission, preterm delivery, and stillbirth compared with those without infection. The risk of preeclampsia also increases in pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2, particularly in those with severe symptoms. We emphasize the im-portance of specialized clinical management to prevent poor pregnancy outcomes in this situation. The association between COVID-19 and preeclampsia (PE) is likely due to multiple mechanisms, including the direct effects of the virus on trophoblast function and the arterial wall, acute atherosis, local inflammation leading to pla-cental ischemia, exaggerated inflammatory responses in pregnant women, SARS-CoV-2-related myocardial injury, cytokine storm, and thrombotic microan-giopathy. Emphasis has been placed on the potential impact of COVID-19 on pregnant women, specifically in relation to thrombotic complications, placental dysfunction, and cardiovascular dysfunction. Undoubtedly, one of the diagnostic tools to differentiate between COVID-19-induced preeclampsia-like syndrome and true preeclampsia is the use of biomarkers, such as the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio. We wish to highlight the potential for COVID-19-induced myocardial injury in pregnant women and the associated in-crease in maternal mortality rate. Vaccination against COVID-19 in the general population and in pregnant women in particular, drastically reduced the severity of the disease. There is an urgent need to continue the follow-up of these women and their children to detect the appearance of sequelae of the disease or peristent COVID 19

The La Oroya metallurgical complex reveals a process of structural or power pathology, where economic and environmental social policies lead to a citizenry without systemic freedom, characterized by environmental contamination (PAMA executed on average 67%, some processes with 0%) and sanitary (plumbosis 8.39 to 10.28 μg / dL), the economic dependence of this industry is also observed, which caused the weakening of the communities to maintain autonomy over their own destinies.The Doe Run Peru, operated the metallurgical complex, creating added value to the extractive-export chain of mineral concentrate, but also took advantage of the legal loopholes, the little coordination between the State institutions and the little authority of the supervisory institutions to get the most out of it, complying with the law in some cases, but without moral quality in some others, such as health in the oroinos.Government institutions must have strong links that provide a normative framework with prospects with sustainable development, where the beneficiary is society and not only certain interest groups. The economic benefits of the metallurgical complex operation are multiple, which begin with labor, the purchase and sale of materials and services, the collection of taxes and energy.

The ability of 2D hybrid structures formed by boron, nitrogen and carbon atoms (h-BNCs) as potential substrates for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) detection of dioxin-like pollutants is theoretically analyzed. The strong confinement and high tunability of the electromagnetic response of the carbon nanostructures embedded within the h-BNC sheets point out that these hybrid structures could be promising for applications in optical spectroscopies, such as SERS. In this work, two model dioxin-like pollutants, TCDD and TCDF, and a model h-BNC surface composed by a carbon nanodisk of ninety-six atoms surrounded by a string of borazine rings, BNC96, are employed for the simulation of the adsorption complexes and the static and pre-resonance Raman spectra of the adsorbed molecules. A large affinity of BNC96 by these pollutants is reflected on the large interaction energies obtained for the most stable stacking complexes, with dispersion being the most important contribution to their stability. The large vibrational coupling of some active modes of TCDF and, specially, of TCDD makes the Raman static spectra display a ‘pure’ chemical enhancement of one order of magnitude. On the other hand, due to the strong electromagnetic response of BNC96, confined within the carbon nanodisk, pre-resonance Raman spectra obtained for TCDD and TCDF display large enhancement factors of 108 and 107, respectively. Promisingly, laser excitation wavelengths frequently used in SERS experiments also provoke significant Raman enhancements, around 104, for the TCDD and TCDF signals. Both the strong confinement of the electromagnetic response within the carbon domains and the high modulation of the resonance wavelengths within the visible and/or UV ranges in h-BNCs should lead to a higher sensitivity than graphene and white graphene parent structures, solving one of the main disadvantages of using 2D substrates for SERS applications.

Obesity is associated with chronic low-grade inflammation. Polyunsaturated fatty ac-ids such as omega-3 (n-3), are essential in the pro-resolution of inflammation. An 8-week double-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted with a n-6:n-3, 5:1 ratio, along with daily 1.8 g of n-3 supplementation vs. placebo. A total of 40 subjects were included, 21 in omega 3 group and 19 in placebo group. The n-3 supplementation had a superior effect compared to placebo increasing levels of Resolvin D1 [129.3 (-90.1 - 193.5) vs. -16.8 (-237.8 - 92.5) pg/mL, p=0.041], IL-10 [1.4 (-0.7 - 4.6) vs. -2.0 (-5 - 0.05) pg/mL, p=0.001], and decreasing IL-6 [-0.67 (2.72 - -0.59) vs. 0.03 (-0.59 - 1.84) pg/mL p=0.015], and MCP-1 [-29.6 (-94.9 - 5.50) vs. 18.3 (-97.3 - 66.35) pg/mL, p=0.040]. In con-clusion, n-3 supplementation promoted resolution of inflammation by increasing sys-temic levels of Resolvin D1, IL-10, and decreasing IL-6 and MCP-1.

Circular Economy (CE) is a growing topic among scholars, industry and government aiming at decoupling economic growth and development from the consumption of finite resources. CE incorporates different meanings, from reduce, reuse and recycle activities to environmental degradation or resource scarcity, and supported by specific indicators to attain sustainable development. However, so far, there has been no agreement to measure how effective an industry/product is in making the transition from linear to circular approaches, particularly those affected the society. This research work aims to perform a systematic literature review (n=60) to analyze and discuss how social aspects have been considered and integrated in the CE research so far. Moreover, this review provides and overview of the literature on social impact within CE, that resulted in three main outputs: a knowledge map of the CE, an analysis of social aspects within CE, and the theories/frameworks used to evaluate social impact of CE. Finally, this study brings to light how CE implementation can affect society and highlights the importance of social dimension in the domains of CE and policy-making community, which could help moving CE towards a sustainable development.

Background: It is well known the adverse effect of mercury exposure on pregnant women and newborns. Interactions between environmental factors and individual genetic susceptibility have been identified, particularly polymorphisms of codifying genes for the Glutathione S-transferase family (GSTs). Herein, we report a case series of patients with high Hg levels in biosamples. Case Series: Fourteen cases with high Hg levels were identified. Non-occupational or home exposure risk factors were identified. All mothers reported fish consumption during pregnancy. Almost 60% of the individuals were null for either one GSTs gene. To date, in the subsequent mother-child pairs toxicology controls no signs or symptoms of poisoning were identified and most of the mercury levels decreased and are below the accepted limit. Discussion: In this case series we found some similarities with the literature; among them, the relation of Hg ratio in maternal blood and umbilical cord, a possible exposure factor is the consumption of fish during pregnancy and, the high levels of Hg may be related with susceptibility biomarkers such as GSTs gene polymorphisms. This case series highlights the need to develop studies that evaluate the interactions between environmental factors and individual genetic susceptibility. Additionally, the importance of evaluating which Colombian fish species present the highest levels of Hg.

The Chagas disease (CD) is an endemic infectious disease in a large part of Latin America. This disease is characterized by the fact of being caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Some symptoms of this disease are cardiopathies and gastrointestinal problems. Therefore, the commonly used treatment consists of nitro drugs such as benznidazole and nifurtimox, which target the nitroreductase enzyme that docks to the coenzyme flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and an oxidation-reduction reaction is generated. From this reaction, the nitro chemical function of benznidazole and nifurtimox is reduced to amine. This amine in turn interacts with the parasite´s DNA. In vitro tests experimentally help in the study of the parasite resistance to the drug benznidazole. This fact could explain how nonsynonymous mutations in the nitroreductase (NTR) enzyme do not allow the anchorage of the FMN coenzyme and as a consequence the parasite susceptibility to benznidazole decreases as the drug cannot be reduced. The structural relations from the hybrid Quantum Mechanics-Molecular Mechanics (QM/MM) allow to detect the small changes generated in the system, considering a charge distribution associated with the structure, angle changes, interaction distances, potential surface calculations between the wildtype enzyme and the mutation found.

With the current increase in the demand from animal and agricultural products, management of agrowaste has become critical to avoid greenhouse gas emissions. The present article investigates the applicability of ammonium bicarbonate synthesis via flash distillation to valorize and stabilize several types of anaerobic digestate produced from individual fermentations of amino acids. Prior to the development of the model in Aspen Plus v12, the description of the system aqua-ammonia-carbon dioxide provided by the electrolyte non-random two-liquid property method was validated with empirical data available in the literature. The content of CO₂ in the digestate was found to be responsible of the OH alkalinity (0.4 equivalents of acid/kg digestate), while the partial and total alkalinities (0.8 eq/kg digestate) were essentially derived from the content of NH₃. The most suitable conditions for the flash distillation were 95 ⁰C and 1 bar with the condensation occurring at 25 ⁰C. However, in order to attain the precipitation of NH₄HCO₃ in the distillate, it was necessary to consider digestates with a moisture content of 50 wt.%, since the minimum levels of inorganic nitrogen and inorganic carbon were not attained otherwise. Even under these conditions, few amino acids (i.e. arginine, glycine, and histidine) were able to provide an anaerobic digestate, upon fermentation, that would be suitable for NH₄HCO₃ stabilization. Despite alanine digestate and glutamine digestate presented sufficient concentrations of inorganic nitrogen and inorganic carbon, the NH₄HCO₃-stabilization was not feasible due to the limited volatilization of NH₃. The process of stabilization with a capacity of a tonne of digestate per hour was improved by adding hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide at rates 44 kg/h, leading to production of 34 kg NH₄HCO₃/h. The economic viability of this process needs to be investigated considering not only the market value of the isolated inorganic fertilizer but the carbon credits saved, resulting from handling a more stabilized organic manure. Furthermore, given the role of the volatile elements of the biogas as endogenous stripping agents, it is recommended to use a fresh and saturated digestate as feed for the flash distillation.

We have much to learn from historic buildings. The fact that they are still standing is obvious, but unfortunately often not appreciated. In this paper the results obtained from a series of parametric analyses, where the influence that geometric and mechanical parameters have in the structural response of existing cob walls within an Irish context, are presented. A design of experiments using central composite designs was implemented along with analysis of variance following two computational approaches, namely, finite element method and kinematic limit analysis. As results, a series of response surfaces and parametric equations with which it is possible to compute safety factors and collapse multipliers (within the range of values studied) are provided. Based on the results obtained, it could be concluded that traditional cob walls in Ireland are very robust. Relatively high acceleration values, unlikely to happen in a low seismic hazard region such as Ireland, would be needed to start the collapse mechanisms studied or cause yielding in typical vernacular cob walls. Furthermore, the equations generated with the refined regression models, can be used by practitioners as a first approach to estimate the safety levels of existing cob buildings with similar characteristics.

Few Sclerophyllous plants from the central coast of Chile have been systematically studied. This work describes the phytochemical composition and antimicrobial properties of Baccharis concava Pers. (sin. B. macraei), a shrub found in the first line and nearby the pacific coast between latitudes 29-38⁰S. B. concava has been traditionally used by indigenous inhabitants of today central Chile for their anthelmintic properties, wound healing properties and as a diuretic. Hydro-alcoholic extracts of B. concava were prepared from leaves and small branches. The qualitative phytochemical characterization indicated presence of alkaloids, steroids, terpenoids, flavonoids, phenolic and tannins compounds. The antimicrobial activity of this extract was assessed in a panel of microorganisms including Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria and pathogenic yeasts. The extract displayed important antimicrobial effects against Gram positive, Candida albicans, and Cryptococcus neoformans, but not against Gram negative, for which an intact Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is apparently the determinant of resistant to B. concava extracts. The hydroalcoholic extract was then fractionated through a sephadex LH-20/methanol-ethyl acetate column. Followed, the fractions were pooled according to a similar composition that was visualized by TLC/UV analysis. Fractions obtained by this criterion were assessed for their antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. The fraction presenting the most antimicrobial activity was HPLC-ESI-MS/MS analyzed obtaining a composition rich in structures derived from caffeoylquinic acid, dicaffeoylquinic acid and quercetin, among others. In conclusion, the extracts of B. concava show a strong antimicrobial activity probably due to their composition rich in metabolites derived from caffeoylquinic acid and quercetin, that in turn could be responsible for helping with wound healing, as reported from its ancient cultural use. In addition, the development of antimicrobial therapies based in the molecules found in B. concava could help to combat infection caused by pathogenic yeasts and Gram-positive bacteria, without affecting the Gram-negative microbiota.

Participatory landscape conservation is an innovative approach that weaves theory and practice to bridge the gap between theoretical models and practical applications. Intertropical regions as the case of Mexico face challenges to conciliate regional governability, social justice, and nature conservation. The State of Michoacan is one of these regions where the challenges exacerbate since nature conservation is last due to its ongoing territorial disputes. We implemented the participatory landscape conservation approach by creating a complementary form of protected areas with ongoing conflicts, drought conditions, and extreme poverty. We conducted participatory mapping and land cover/use analyses as main methodological tools to reach consensus among stakeholders. We integrated, macro, micro and social scales to provide sound arguments to integrate local, scholar and policy makers perceptions. The outcomes of the participatory mapping analyses were assessed. The present papers provide evidence of the positive outcome of using a Participatory Landscape Conservation to establish a Biosphere Reserve, safeguarding one of the most biologically diverse and delicate ecosystems consisting of seasonally dry tropical forests within a rather disputed region. We discussed the relevance of our findings and compared them to ongoing regional and global trends in the light of other forms of establishing protected areas.

A common fault in turbomachinery is rotor--casing rub. Shaft vibration, measured with proximity probes, is the most powerful indicator of rotor-stator rub. However, in machines such as aeroderivative turbines, with increasing industrial relevance in power generation, constructive reasons prevent the use of those sensors, being only acceleration signals at selected casing locations available. This implies several shortcomings in the characterization of the machinery condition, associated with a lower information content about the machine dynamics. In this work we evaluate the performance of the Continuous Wavelet Transform to isolate the accelerometer signal features that characterize rotor-casing rub in an aeroderivative turbine. The evaluation is carried out on a novel rotor model of a rotor flexible casing system. Due to damped transients and other short-lived features that rub induces in the signals, the Continuous Wavelet Transform proves being more effective than both Fourier and Cepstrum Analysis. This creates the chance for enabling early fault diagnosis of rub before it may cause machine shutdown or damage.

Forty-five male Dorper crossbred lambs (40.17 ± 0.35 kg BW) were used in order to investigate the effects of the duration of calcium propionate (CaPr) supplementation in lambs finished with zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZH) on the productive performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality. Lambs were individually housed and fed a finishing-diet for 42 d before being slaughtered. Lambs received the following treatments: 1) No additives (CTL), 2) ZH supplementation for 28 d (with 3 d ZH withdrawal before slaughter) at a dosage of at 7.2 mg/kg diet (ZH), for treatments 3, 4, and 5, lambs received ZH and 10g CaPr/lamb/d throughout the entire phase (42 d), or during the last 28 or 14 d before slaughter. Compared to CTL, ZH lambs exhibited a similar average daily gain (ADG) but had lower dry matter intake (DMI), leading to increased feed efficiency. Supplementing with ZH alone did not affect carcass traits, visceral mass, whole cuts, or meat quality. Lambs that received both CaPr and ZH exhibited quadratic increases (p &lt; 0.05) in final BW (FBW), ADG, and dressing percentage (D%). These increases were optimal at an estimated inclusion durations of 26 d for FBW, 30 for ADG, and 39 d for D%. The ADG:DMI ratio and the longissimus muscle area (LMA) both exhibited quadratic increases (p &lt; 0.05). The optimal duration of CaPr supplementation for ADG:DMI ratio was found to be 28 d, while for LMA, it was 14 d. As the period of CaPr supplementation increased, there was a linear increase (p &lt;0.05) in hot carcass weight, leg circumference, and whole cuts of breast IMPS209 and shoulder IMPS207. Cook loss percent increased quadratically (p &lt; 0.05), being higher when CaPr was included for an estimated duration of 26 d. As the duration of CaPr supplementation increased, the purge loss percentage (PLR) also increased linearly (p &lt; 0.05). In conclusion, including CaPr in the diet for a duration of 28 d in lambs improved the response to ZH supplementation on the productive performance, carcass weight and some whole cuts. However, it can also have a negative effect on PRL%.

Mpox (monkeypox) is a zoonotic disease that has been endemic in African countries for decades, with a recent outbreak in several countries around the world. A 39-year-old male with HIV-HBV coinfection and poor adherence to antiretroviral treatment, who was severely immunocompromised and had a concurrent diagnosis of Mpox infection, presented to our hospital with disseminated dermatosis (over 350 lesions), perianal ulcers, odynophagia, oral intolerance, diarrhea, and soft-tissue bacterial superinfection of the lower extremities. Laboratory results were consistent with HBV infection, with an absolute CD4 cell count of 40 cells/uL and a positive PCR result for Mpox. An abdominopelvic CT scan showed evidence of severe proctitis and perineal soft-tissue infection. After 65 days of Mpox PCR, new lesions in the vesicular stage continued to appear, eventually developing hemodynamic instability and sepsis, resulting in a fatal outcome. Our case highlights the importance of intentionally looking for risk factors such as HIV/HBV coinfection and evaluating immune status (CD4 cell count) in patients with severe Mpox infection because it could be related to higher mortality.

Less than half of e-waste plastics is sorted worldwide and this rate is likely to decline as major processing countries have banned importation of e-waste plastics. This forces the development of decentralized processing facilities, also known as microfactories. The present work investigates the recyclability of different grades of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) copolymer, polycarbonate, and polypropylene, which were found to be very abundant in a recycling site in the UK. The determination of the matrix relied on the resin identification code imprinted in the e-waste plastic and subsequent FTIR analysis. The melt-blend extrusion technology enabled the valorization of the wasted thermoplastics as 3D filament without significant degradation of the polymers. The recycled materials maintained the tensile strength around 2.5 MPa in agreement with the specifications offered by virgin polymers. Further characterization was done by means of laser microscope, thermogravimetric analysis, and XRF to determine the commercial viability of the recycled filament. A modified solvent-based method was developed with acetone to remove the brominated flame retardants: 25g/100mL, 30 minutes of contact time, and 4 extraction steps. The FTIR results show that the degradation of the rubbery dispersed phase corresponding to the butadiene can be accumulated in the less soluble fraction of the waste ABS.

Cloud platforms are widely employed in today's educational context to enhance collaborative learning and the overall quality of the teaching-learning process. In 2016, Nextcloud was im-plemented in the Faculty of Chemical Engineering at the Technological University of Havana "José Antonio Echeverría" (CUJAE), Cuba. Subsequently, an evaluative phase was conducted to ensure the continuous development of the platform. The objective was to assess the use and ac-ceptance of the Nextcloud platform from the perspective of students and professors in the Fac-ulty. An exploratory, non-experimental, and cross-sectional study was conducted. Data was col-lected through observation and a survey. Matomo Analytics tool was employed for observation, revealing low visitation numbers. The survey was based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology model. Better results were obtained in positive acceptances compared to negative ones, both for professors and students. It is concluded that the evaluation of the Next-cloud platform is infrequently used by users; however, there were higher positive acceptances than negatives from the perspectives of both students and professors.

Pregnancy-related morbidity and mortality remains high across the United States and the majority of deaths are preventable. Misdiagnosis and delay in diagnosis are thought to be contributors to preventable harm. These diagnostic errors in obstetrics are understudied. We present selected research methods to ascertain rates of and harm associated with diagnostic errors, the challenges in investigating them, and present future steps toward achieving diagnostic excellence in obstetrics.

Natural products (NPs) are a rich source of structurally novel molecules, and the chemical space they encompass is far from being fully explored. Over history, NPs have represented a significant source of bioactive molecules and have served as a source of inspiration for developing many drugs on the market. On the other hand, computer-aided drug design (CADD) has contributed to drug discovery research, mitigating costs and time. In this sense, compound databases represent a fundamental element for the CADD. This work reviews the progress toward developing compound databases of natural origin, particularly databases developed in Latin America, and their practical applications in the drug discovery area. We also survey the computational methods, emphasizing chemoinformatic approaches to profile natural product databases.

We explored an extension of the Cauchy-Riemann equations to the algebra of treons, recently described by Alejandro Bermejo, whose elements are ordered 3-tuples. We leveraged the isomorphism between the algebra of treons and algebra B, and deduced the Cauchy-Riemann equations for the algebra of treons, establishing the necessary conditions for analyticity in this algebraic structure. This work significantly broadened our horizons in complex analysis and introduced new possibilities for applications across various fields of advanced mathematics.

We present an exploration of algebra B, a recently published unital and non-associative algebra. Unique complex entities emerged from this algebra, distinct from both quaternion and complex number systems, which we termed treons. We defined the treonic number system and established an isomorphism between this system and the real vector space. Our findings revealed that the treonic representation maintained structural integrity under the defined operations. Based on this foundation, we proceed to determine Euler identity for algebra B within the treonic system. By presenting the fundamental definitions and properties of algebra B, we derived a generalized version of Euler identity applicable within this algebra. This formula revealed the emergence of hyperbolic trigonometric entities, extending the applicability of Euler identity beyond traditional complex numbers. Our results provide a theoretical foundation for a deeper understanding of the properties and behaviors of complex entities within this expanded algebraic framework, thus enabling new theoretical developments and practical applications in the realms of advanced mathematics and theoretical physics.

The strong couplings among ecological, economic, social and technological processes explains the complexification of human-made systems, and phenomena such as globalization, climate change, the increased urbanization and inequality of human societies, the power of information, and the COVID-19 syndemics. Among complexification’s essential features are non-decomposability, asynchronous behavior, components with many degrees of freedom, increased likelihood of catastrophic events, irreversibility, nonlinear phase spaces with immense combinatorial sizes, and the impossibility of long-term, detailed prediction. Sustainability for complex systems implies enough efficiency to explore and exploit their dynamic phase spaces and enough flexibility to coevolve with their environments. This in turn means solving intractable nonlinear semi-structured dynamic multi-objective optimization problems, with conflicting, incommensurable, non-cooperative objectives and purposes, under dynamic uncertainty, restricted access to materials, energy and information, and a given time horizon, aiming at enhancing the co-evolutionary power of the Biosphere and its human subsystems. Giving the high-stakes, the need for effective, efficient, diverse solutions, their local-global, present-future effects, and their unforeseen short, medium and long-term impacts, achieving sustainable complex systems implies the need for Sustainability-designed Universal Intelligent Agents, harnessing the strong functional coupling between human, artificial and nonhuman biological intelligence in a no-zero-sum game to achieve sustainability.

The wave energy converter (WEC) technology constantly develops new designs and models. To encourage its development within the energy sector, research is required to improve current designs and create durable and effective devices. However, it is also crucial to investigate the suitability of a WEC to a site-specific sea condition as this can impact its optimal power absorption and constructability. This study evaluates and compares the efficiency of a heaving buoy with varied geometries in one of the most energetic places along the Mexican coast. A statistical analysis of the wave climate on the coast of Ensenada during the last 42 years is performed to define the conditions to which the device is subjected. The location of the WEC in shallow waters is chosen using a computational model which solves the modified mild slope equation in its elliptic shape. The heaving buoy floater is studied using three distinct geometries: a semi-sphere, a cylinder, and a proposed rounded semi-rectangle. The hydrodynamic response of the three geometries is then analysed in the frequency and time domain using ANSYS AQWA. The hydrodynamic study involves the assessment of the floating body dynamics, exerted forces, the power absorbed as well as the suitability of the proposed power take-off (PTO) system. Findings reveal that the proposed geometry absorbs the most energy, with an annual power of 135.11 MW, and that the transmission PTO design is appropriate for this type of technology.

One mechanism by which fructose could exert deleterious effect in metabolism and inflammation is via its potency vis-à-vis de Maillard reaction. We employed simulated stomach and duodenum digestion of ovalbumin to test the hypothesis that indeed AGEs are formed by fructose during simulated digestion of an ubiquitous food protein with intrinsic allergenic potential and under model physiological conditions. Methods: OVA was subjected to simulated gastric and intestinal digestion using standard models, in presence of fructose or glucose (0-100 mM). Peptide fractions were analyzed by fluorescence spectroscopy and intensity at Excitation: λ370 nm, Emission: λ 440nm. Results: AGE adducts form between fructose and OVA which can be found in peptide fractions (< 5 kDa) at times (30 min) and concentration ranges (10 mM) plausibly found in the intestines, whereas no reaction occurs with glucose. The reaction is inhibited by chlorogenic acid at concentrations compatible with those found in the gut. The reaction is inhibited by AG, a specific antiglycation agent. Conclusion: Our proof of principle study shows that fructose-AGE formation on an ubiquitous allergenic protein indeed occurs in one hour and thereby may pave the way for the study of yet another mechanism by which the excess fructose in our Western diets is contributing to disease: intestinal AGE formation, absorption and RAGE engagement.

Objective. To examine the relationship between experience and knowledge acquired in research methodology (RM) courses and attitudes toward research in a sample of undergraduate psychology students from a public university in Mexico City. Methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out with 261 students. A 10-unit analog scale to assess perceived experience in RM courses and two measures of attitudes toward research were used. Between the two attitude scales, four attitude dimensions were identified: positive appraisal, negative appraisal, meaningless and boring. Four multivariate models were estimated, one for each attitude dimension. Results. A positive correlation was found between learning experiences in RM courses and positive appraisal of research (p < 0.01). Negative associations were also found between RM course experience and two of the three negative research attitudes (p < 0.01). Conclusion. Results highlight the significance of teaching in the knowledge and attitude development of students' research competencies. An approach to teaching RM at the undergraduate level that places more emphasis on encouraging evidence-based practice than on developing and carrying out research projects seems to be a promising subject for study, with implications for changing teaching methods and contents.

Rural women constitute one of the most marginalized and vulnerable groups in the world. Despite playing a critical role in sustainable development and food security, they face systemic inequalities and structural constraints that limit their access to resources, services and opportunities. The purpose of this research is to identify advances and setbacks in the formulation of 17 SDG indicators for rural women. Systematic Review Registered in PROSPERO: CRD42023420583. Sixteen articles were included. Three indicators were identified: entrepreneurship, empowerment and gender equality. Due to its relevance in rural areas where women have an active role in family income through cooperatives, associations and companies to improve quality of life and that of their community, however, aspects of discrimination are still evident in gender and inequality in participation in economic spheres and decision making.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the success of procedural conscious sedation, using inhaled equimolar nitrous oxide-oxygen (NOIS – EMONO), in patients undergoing routine dental and oral surgery procedures in a Swiss university hospital setting. Materials and methods: The authors conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients that underwent NOIS-supported procedures between 2018 and 2022 at the oral surgery department of the University Hospital of Geneva (HUG), Switzerland. The primary outcome was the measurement of the procedure success and efficacy as defined by the European Society of Anesthesiology. Secondary objectives included the analysis of the types of treatments performed, their indications, patient behavior, and the patient - clinician satisfaction score. Results: 55 patients were included in the study, 85% underwent surgical procedures, the remaining 15% underwent restorative and preventive procedures. The overall treatment success rate was 98.2%, and 97.9% for surgically treated patients. 62% of patients appeared relaxed, calm, and serene, while 16% expressed pain or fear during the procedure. Infiltrative administration of local anesthesia caused stress in 22% of patients, this was significantly lower in sub cohorts who received local topical anesthetics (0%) or a combination of systemic and local topical analgesics (7%). Patients (75%) and clinicians (91%) were satisfied with the procedure. Conclusion: Inhaled equimolar nitrous oxide-oxygen procedural sedation used during dental procedures and oral surgery results in high treatment success and satisfaction rates. The administration of additional topical anesthetics helps reduce the anxiety and stress related to infiltrative anesthesia. Further dedicated studies and prospective trials are needed to confirm these findings.

Regular inspections during construction work verify that the work completed is consistent with the plans and specifications and ensure that it is within the planned time and budget. This requires frequent physical site observations to independently measure and verify the completion percentage of the construction progress performed over periods of time. The current computer vision-based (CV) techniques for the measurement of as-built elements, predominantly use 3D laser scanning or 3D Photogrammetry modelling to determine the geometrical properties of as-built elements on construction sites. Both techniques require data acquisition from several positions and angles to generate sufficient information about the element’s coordinates making the deployment of these techniques on dynamic construction project sites a challenging task. In this paper, we propose a pipeline for automating the measurement of as-built components using artificial intelligence (AI) and computer vision (CV) techniques. The pipeline requires a single image obtained with a stereo-camera system to measure the size of selected objects or as-built components. We demonstrate our approach by measuring the size of concrete walls and columns. The novelty of this work is attributed to the fully automated CV-based method for measuring any given element using a single image only. The proposed solution is suitable for use in measuring the sizes of as-built components of built assets. It has the potential to be further developed and integrated with BIM models for use on construction projects for progress monitoring.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a condition that affects between 8.8 and 246 people in a million and, unlike many other neurological disorders, it affects mostly young people, causing deficits in sensory, motor, and autonomic functions. Promoting regrowth of axons is one of the most important goals for the neurological recovery of patients after SCI, but it is also one of the most challenging goals. A key event after SCI is the formation of a glial scar around the lesion core, which is mainly comprised of astrocytes, NG2+-glia, and microglia. Traditionally, the glial scar has been regarded as detrimental for recovery because it may act as a physical barrier for axon regrowth and release various inhibitory factors. However, more and more evidence now suggest that the glial scar is beneficial for the surrounding spared tissue after SCI. Here, we review experimental studies that used genetic and pharmacological approaches to ablate specific populations of glial cells in rodent models of SCI, in order to understand their functional role. The studies showed that ablation of either astrocytes, NG2+-glia or microglia may result in disorganization of glial scar, increased inflammation, extended tissue degeneration and impaired recovery after SCI. Hence, glial cells and glial scar appear as important beneficial players after SCI.

Regulatory agencies across the Latin American Region have strengthened the regulatory science through the development of new tools, standards and various other related parameters to evaluate and assess safety, efficacy, quality and performance. The former have been implemented to promote and incorporate new drugs and technologies, which still, are a challenge to well-established regulatory frameworks. Furthermore, in today’s environment, the existing regulatory framework protecting public’s health creates barriers for market entry of novel drugs and medical devices. This article aims to the pioneering work that Cuban Regulatory Agency (CECMED) has been developing with the aim to build a strong regulatory framework geared to accelerated innovation and the successful transition from research and development to clinical development. The Office of Innovation recently established at the CECMED is the first flagship in Latin America and the Caribbean region. Its aim is to play a leading role as a driving force for the national and regional biopharmaceutical innovation. This article will discuss the Office of Innovation its conceptualisation and management taking into account the Latin American regional and national Cuban context.

The three-dimensional structure of Gulf of Mexico’s warm-core rings, detaching from the Loop Current, is investigated using satellite altimetry and a large set of ARGO float profiles. Reconstruction of the Loop Current rings (LCRs) vertical structure from sea surface height observations is made possible by the use of the gravest empirical modes method (GEM). The GEMs are transfer functions that associate a value of temperature and salinity for each variable pair {dynamic height;pressure}, and are computed by estimating an empirical relationship between dynamic height and the vertical thermohaline structure of the ocean. Between 1993 and 2021, 40 LCRs were detected in the altimetry and their three-dimensional thermohaline structure was reconstructed, as well as a number of dynamically relevant variables (geostrophic and cyclogeostrophic velocity, relative vorticity, potential vorticity, available potential energy and kinetic energy density etc.). The structure of a typical LCR was computed by fitting an analytical stream function to the LCRs dynamic height signature and reconstructing its vertical structure with the GEM. The total heat and salt contents and energy of each LCR were computed and their cumulative effect on the Gulf of Mexico’s heat, salt and energy balance is discussed. We show that LCRs have a dramatic impact on these balances and estimate that residual surface heat fluxes of -13 Wm−2 are necessary to compensate their heat input, while the fresh water outflow of the Mississippi river approximately compensates for their salt excess input. An average energy dissipation of O[10−10−10−9] Wkg−1 would be necessary to balance their energy input.

Grafting polyethylene glycol (PEG) on polymers surface is widely used to improve biocompatibility by reducing protein and cell adhesion. Although PEG is considered to be bioinert, its incorporation to biomaterials has shown to improve cell viability depending on the amount and molecular weight (MW) used. This phenomenon was studied here by grafting PEG of three MW onto polyurethane (PU) substrata at three molar concentrations to assess their effect on PU surface properties and on the viability of osteoblasts and fibroblasts. PEG formed a covering on the substrata which increased the hydrophilicity and surface energy of PUs. Among the results it was observed that osteoblast viability increased for all MW and grafting densities of PEG employed compared with unmodified PU. However, fibroblast viability only increased at certain combinations of MW and grafting densities of PEG, suggesting an optimal level of these parameters. PEG grafting also promoted a more spread cell morphology than that exhibited by unmodified PU; nevertheless, cells became apoptotic-like as PEG MW and grafting density were increased. These effects on cells could be due to PEG affecting culture medium pH, which became more alkaline at higher MW and concentrations of PEG. Results support the hypothesis that surface energy of PU substrates can be tuned by controlling the MW and grafting density of PEG, but these parameters should be optimized to promote cell viability without inducing apoptotic-like behavior.

Based on orbital angular momentum (OAM) properties of Laguerre Gaussian beams LG(p,ℓ), a robust optical encoding model for efficient data transmission applications is designed. This paper presents an optical encoding model based on intensity profile generated by a coherent superposition of two OAM-carrying Laguerre-Gaussian modes and Machine-learning detection method. In the encoding process, the intensity profile for data encoding is generated based on selection of p and ℓ indices, while the decoding process is performed using support vector machine (SVM) algorithm. Two different decoding models based on SVM algorithm are tested to verify the robustness of optical encoding model, finding a BER =10−9 for 10.2dB of signal-to-noise ratio in one of the SVM models.

Cisplatin is an election chemotherapeutic agent for many cancer treatments. Its cytotoxicity against neoplastic cells is mirrored by that taking place in healthy cells and tissues, resulting in serious adverse events. A very frequent one is ototoxicity, causing hearing loss which may permanently affect quality of life after successful oncologic treatments. Exacerbated oxidative stress is a main cytotoxic mechanism of cisplatin, including ototoxicity. Previous reports have shown antioxidant protection against cisplatin ototoxicity, but there is a lack of comparative studies on the otoprotectant activity and mechanism of antioxidant formulations. In this paper we report that a combination of vitamins A, C, E and Mg++ (ACEMg), previously shown to protect against noise-induced hearing loss, reverses auditory threshold shifts, promotes outer hair cell survival, and attenuates oxidative stress in the cochlea after cisplatin treatment, thus protecting against extreme cisplatin ototoxicity in the rat. The addition of 500 mg N-acetylcysteine (NAC), which administered individually also shows significant attenuation of cisplatin ototoxicity, to the ACEMg formulation, results in degradation of ACEMg otoprotection. Mg++ administered alone, as MgSO4, also prevents cisplatin ototoxicity, but in combination with 500 mg NAC, otoprotection also is greatly degraded. Increasing the dose of NAC to 1000 mg, also results in dramatic loss of otoprotection activity compared with 500 mg NAC. These findings support that single antioxidants or antioxidant combinations, particularly ACEMg in this experimental series, have significant otoprotection efficacy against cisplatin ototoxicity. However, an excess of combined antioxidants and/or elevated doses, above a yet to be defined “antioxidation threshold”, results in unrecoverable redox imbalance with loss of otoprotectant activity.

(1) Background: Painful nervus intermedius neuropathy (e.g., geniculate neuralgia) involves continuous or near-continuous pain affecting the distribution of the intermedius nerve(s). The diagnosis of this entity is challenging, particularly when the clinical and demographic features do not resemble the typical presentation of this condition. To the best of our knowledge, only three case reports have described the occurrence of nervus intermedius neuropathy in young patients. (2) Case Description: A 13-year-old female referred to the Orofacial Pain clinic with a complaint of pain located deep in the right ear and mastoid area. The pain was described as a constant throbbing and dull, with an intensity of 7/10 on numerical rating scale, characterized by superimposed brief paroxysms of severe sharp pain. The past treatments included ineffective pharmacological and irreversible surgical approaches. After a comprehensive evaluation, a diagnosis of idiopathic painful nervus intermedius neuropathy was given, which was successfully managed with the use of gabapentin. (3) Conclusions and Practical Implications: The diagnosis and treatment of neuropathic pain affecting the nervus intermedius can be challenging due to the complex nature of the sensory innervation of the ear. The diagnosis can be even more challenging in cases of atypical clinical and demographic presentations, which in turn may result in unsuccessful, unnecessary, and irreversible treatments. Multidisciplinary teams and constant knowledge update are fundamental to provide good quality of care to our patients and to not overlook any relevant signs or symptoms.

The type of fertilization used influences plant compounds and pest infestation. We measured, through chemical stimuli, the preference of Melanaphis sacchari for sorghum plants fertilized by means of conventional fertilization (CF) or organic fertilization (OF). Leaves were collected from sorghum plants fertilized with 200 kg N ha-1 using ammonium sulfate and poultry manure. Extracts were obtained using Soxhlet extraction, and the compounds were identified using a gas chromatograph coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Sorghum extracts were individually tested through bioassays to determine M. sacchari preference. The abundance and number of compounds in sorghum differed depending on the type of fertilization used. M. sacchari showed a preference for the extract from CF sorghum plants (76.66%) over the extract from OF plants (23.34%). Therefore, the type of fertilization can be used as a tactic to prevent higher infestations of M. sacchari. The biological activity of the compounds identified here with M. sacchari should be determined for future pest management strategies using allelochemicals, given that the sugarcane aphid uses chemical signals to locate its host plant.

Hyperspectral images are an important tool to assess ecosystem biodiversity both on terrestrial and benthic habitats. To obtain more precise analysis of biodiversity indicators that agree with indicators obtained using field data, analysis of spectral diversity calculated from images have to be validated with field based diversity estimates. The plant species richness is one of the most important indicators of biodiversity. This indicator can be measured in hyperspectral images considering the Spectral Variation Hypothesis (SVH) which states that the spectral heterogeneity is related to spatial heterogeneity and thus to species richness. The goal of this research is to capture spectral heterogeneity from hyperspectral images for a terrestrial neo tropical forest site using Vector Quantization (VQ) method and then use the result for prediction of plant species richness. The results are compared with that of Hierarchical Agglomerative Clustering (HAC). The validation of the process index is done calculating the Pearson correlation coefficient between the Shannon entropy from actual field data and the Shannon entropy computed in the images. Terrestrial dry forest and marine coastal hyperspectral images with different resolutions have been used for spectral diversity feature validation.

The purpose of this study is to analyse the drivers and outcomes of the brand love derived from consumption experiences in the automobile retail sector. We examine the effects of consumers’ perceptions of perceived service quality and the trust they feel towards a car dealership (cognition) on emotions and brand love (affection), and the effects of brand love on consumers´ behavioural intentions (conation). This research provides insights into customer brand love in the automobile industry.

Background: and objectives: Covid-19 is a global pandemic that requires a culturally integrated response in all Latin American government systems. In this study, we investigate the multidimensional associations of actions in Latin American indigenous peoples against Covid-19 Methods: We performed a data mining analysis of scientific literature records from 19 academic journals, using the topics Covid-19, mortality, indigenous peoples, and future measures, rights and actions. The literature is analyzed in a multidimensional way, either isolated or combined. It uses switchable statistical methods, the R Studio, worddj, Gephi, and Iramuteq for both textual and multidimensional analysis. Results and Conclusions: In this analysis, the literature is classified into 4 linked groups which are the indigenous people, the rights of territorial protection, the indigenous health culture, the Covid-19 pandemic with its protection efforts. Taking the indigenous peoples as an axis, we observe that the covid pandemic and the protection of their territories do not have the same force in the current context, the indigenous people are more linked to the protection of their territory. Indigenous peoples have a link of cultural strength in traditional health independent of Covid treatment. It should be noted that government agencies are taking measures regarding the covid pandemic with an effort not marked within the health culture of indigenous peoples.

Noise induces oxidative stress in the cochlea followed by sensory cell death and hearing loss. The proof of principle that injections of antioxidant vitamins and Mg²⁺ prevent noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) has been established. However, effectiveness of oral administration remains controversial and otoprotection mechanisms unclear. Using auditory evoked potentials, quantitative PCR and immunocytochemistry, we explored effects of oral administration of vitamins A, C, E and Mg²⁺ (ACEMg) on auditory function and sensory cell survival following NIHL in rats. Oral ACEMg reduced auditory thresholds shifts after NIHL. Improved auditory function correlated with increased survival of sensory outer hair cells. In parallel, oral ACEMg modulated the expression timeline of antioxidant enzymes in the cochlea after NIHL. There was increased expression of Glutathione peroxidase-1 and Catalase at 1 and 10 days, respectively. Also, pro-apoptotic Caspase-3 and Bax levels were diminished in ACEMg-treated rats, at 10 and 30 days, respectively, following noise overstimulation, whereas, at day 10 after noise exposure, the levels of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, were significantly increased. Therefore, oral ACEMg improves auditory function by limiting sensory hair cell death in the auditory receptor following NIHL. Regulation of the expression of antioxidant enzymes and apoptosis-related proteins in cochlear structures is involved in such otoprotective mechanism.

Green Infrastructure promotes the use of natural functions and processes as potential solutions to reduce negative effects derived from anthropocentric interventions such as urbanization. In cities of Latin America, for example, the need for more nature-sound infrastructure is evident due to its degree of urbanization and degradation of ecosystems, as well as the alteration of the local water cycle. In this study, an experimental approach for implementation of a prototype is presented. The experiment took place in a highly urbanized watershed located in the Metropolitan Area of Costa Rica. Initially, understanding the characteristics of the study area at different scales was achieved by applying the Urban Water System Transition Framework to identify the existing level of development of the urban water infrastructure, and potential future stages. Subsequently, preferences related to spatial locations and technologies were identified from different local decision-makers. Those insights were adopted to identify a potential area for implementation of the prototype. The experiment consisted on an adaptation of the local sewer to act as a temporal reservoir to reduce the effects derived from rapid generation of stormwater runoff. Unexpected events, not considered initially in the design, are reported in this study as a means to identify necessary adaptations of the methodology. Our study shows from an experimental learning-experience that the relation between different actors advocating for such technologies influences the implementation and operation of non-conventional technologies. Furthermore, the perception of security associated to green spaces was found as a key driver to increase the willingness of residents to modify their urban environments. In consequence, those aspects should be carefully considered as factors of designs of engineering elements when they are related to complex socio-ecological urban systems.

The importance of diet and the gut-brain axis for brain health and cognitive function is increasingly acknowledged. Dietary interventions are tested for their potential to prevent and/or treat brain disorders. Intermittent fasting (IF), the abstinence or strong limitation of calories for 12 to 48 hours, alternated with periods of regular food intake, has shown promising results on neurobiological health in animal models. In this review article, we discuss the potential benefits of IF on cognitive function and the possible effects on the prevention and progress of brain-related disorders in animals and humans. We do so by summarizing the effects of IF which - through metabolic, cellular and circadian mechanisms - lead to anatomical and functional changes in the brain. Our review shows that there is no clear evidence of a positive short-term effect of IF on cognition in healthy subjects. Clinical studies show benefits of IF for epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis on disease symptoms and progress. Findings from animal studies show mechanisms by which Parkinson’s disease, ischaemic stroke, autism spectrum disorder and mood- and anxiety disorders could benefit from IF. Future research should disentangle whether positive effects of IF hold true regardless of age or the presence of obesity. Also, variations in fasting patterns, total caloric intake and intake of specific nutrients may be relevant components of IF success. Longitudinal studies and Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs) will provide a window into the long-term effects of IF on the development and progress of brain-related diseases.

Developing nanomaterials with the capacity to restrict the growth of bacteria and fungus is of current interest. In this study, nanocomposites of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) functionalized with primary amine, hydroxyl, and carboxyl groups were prepared, and characterized. An analysis by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that PHEMA chains were grafted to the functionalized CNTs. The morphology of the prepared nanocomposites studied by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) shows significant changes with respect to the observed for pure PHEMA. The thermal behavior of the nanocomposites studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) revels that the functionalized CNTs affects strongly the mobility of the PHEMA chains. Tests carried out by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to calculate the degree of grafting of the PHEMA chains. The ability of prepared nanocomposites to inhibit the growth of the fungus Candida albicans, and the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli was evaluated. A moderated antifungal and antibacterial capacity of the prepared nanocomposites was determined.

Guava (Psidium guajava L.) is a species is widely distributed in Córdoba, despite this, there are few studies that have been carried out to understand its genetic diversity. For this reason, the objective of this research was to evaluate the genetic diversity and variability of guava (Psidium guajava L) using microsatellite markers in Montería, Córdoba-Colombia. Forty-five accessions were evaluated. For DNA extraction, the CTAB 2x extraction protocol was used with modifications. The extracted DNA was amplified by the PCR technique using seven microsatellite markers. A total of 46 alleles were found with an average of 6.5 alleles per locus. A total of 28 private alleles were identified in the populations, possibly fixed by different evolutionary forces. The evaluated population presented an average expected heterozygosity of 0.572 and the observed heterozygosity was lower (0.058). The fixation index presented a total average of 0.906, indicating that in Montería there is an excess of homozygotes. The PIC values allowed us to determine that the markers mPgCIR9, mPgCIR11, mPgCIR13, mPgCIR16, mPgCIR19 and mPgCIR22 are highly informative, while mPgCIR23 is moderately informative. The guava population in Montería presented a low genetic diversity within the subpopulations, which could be related to inbreeding events such as self-pollination..

The isoenergetic cycle is a purely mechanical cycle comprised of adiabatic and isoenergetic processes. In the latter the system interacts with an energy bath keeping constant the expectation value of the Hamiltonian. This cycle has been mostly studied in systems consisting of particles confined in a power-law trap. In this work we study the performance of the isoenergetic cycle for a system described by the quantum Rabi model for the case of controlling the coupling strength parameter, the resonator frequency and the two-level system frequency. For the cases of controlling either the coupling strength parameter or the resonator frequency, we find that it is possible to closely approach to maximal unit efficiency when the parameter is sufficiently increased in the first adiabatic stage. In addition, for the first two cases the maximal work extracted is obtained at parameter values corresponding to high efficiency which constitutes an improvement over current proposals of this cycle.

Since December 2019, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has rapidly spread worldwide. The Mexican government has implemented public safety measures to minimize the spread of the virus. In this paper, the authors use statistical models in two stages to estimate the total number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases per day at the state and national level in Mexico. Two types of models are proposed: first, a polynomial model of the growth for the first part of the outbreak until the inflection point of the pandemic curve and then a second nonlinear growth model is used to estimate the middle and the end of the outbreak. Model selection will be performed using Vuong’s test. The proposed models show overall fit similar to predictive models (e.g. time series, and machine learning); however, the interpretation of parameters is less complex for decision-makers and the residuals follow the expected distribution when fitting the models without autocorrelation being an issue.

In the same manner that there are several statements of the second law of thermodynamics but all of them are equivalent, it is possible that most of the entropic methods applied to the nervous system and brain in particular share a similar outcome, or essence, that helps understand some aspects of the fundamentals of basic neurodynamics. In this short review focused on certain aspects of the entropic metrics some results are examined that indicate the fundamental importance of the natural tendency towards a maximal energy distribution for healthy brain activity and thus cognition to emerge.

In recent years, online social networks have received important consideration in spatial modelling fields given the critical information that can be extracted from them for events in real time; one of the most latent issues is that regarding various natural disasters such as earthquakes. Although it is possible to retrieve data from these social networks with embedded geographic information provided by GPS, in many cases this is not possible. An alternative solution is to reconstruct specific locations using probabilistic language models, more specifically those based on Name Entity Recognition (NER), which extracts names from a user’s description about an event occurring in a specific place (e.g., a collapsed building on a specific avenue). In this work, we present a methodology to use twitter as a social sensor system for disasters. The methodology scores NER locations with a kernel density estimation function for different subtopics originating from a natural disaster and that maps them into a geographic space is proposed. The proposed methodology is evaluated with tweets related to the 2017 earthquake in Mexico.

At 12:28 UTC (8:28 PM, local time) on 15 January 2023, a shallow, moderate earthquake with a magnitude (Mw) of 4.7 and a depth of one (1) kilometer shook the northern part of Leyte Island in the central part of the Philippines. The ground shaking was felt at PHIVOLCS Earthquake Intensity Scale (PEIS) VI, (very strong) equivalent to Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) VI in areas along the strike of the Leyte segment of the Philippine Fault. Even though this earthquake is classified as moderate in size, significant geologic, structural, and socio-economic impacts were documented. Most of the earthquake impacts that include surface rupture, liquefaction, and mass movements are limited near the epicentral area. The earthquake produced an 8-km-long surface rupture, the first documented rupture generated by a magnitude &lt;6 along the Philippine Fault, and is unusual in other surface rupturing earthquakes worldwide. It injured 18 persons and damaged 434 residential buildings and 26 public infrastructures which amounts to about 500 thousand US dollars. Structural damages were caused by surface rupture and/or poor engineering construction practices. Analysis of the seismic waveform and recorded peak ground acceleration (PGA) suggests that the subsurface geology influenced the ground motion amplification in an area near the epicenter. Based on the hypocenter, focal mechanism solution, aftershock distribution, and actual field observation, the causative fault for this event is the northern end of the Philippine Fault – Leyte segment. Moderate in size, this earthquake emphasizes the need and importance of documenting moderate-sized earthquakes as a tool and guide for medium and long-term earthquake risk assessment and resiliency.

In this work, we investigated for the first time the complexation of sepiapterin (SP), the natural precursor of the natural essential cofactor tetrahydrobiopterin, that displays mild water-solubility and short biological half-life, with the hydrophobic triacetyl-β-cyclodextrin (TAβCD) to improve its encapsulation within methoxy-poly(ethylene-glycol)-poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (mPEG-PCL) nanoparticles. First, TAβCD-SP complexes were produced by spray-drying of TAβCD/SP binary solutions by utilizing the Nano Spray Dryer B-90 HP. Then, dry powders were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and transmission and scanning electron microscopy (SEM and TEM, respectively) and compared to the complex components and physical mixtures (PMs). Next, SP was encapsulated within methoxy-poly(ethylene-glycol)-poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (mPEG-PCL) nanoparticles by nanoprecipitation of a SP/TAβCD complex/mPEG-PCL solution. In addition to complex nanoencapsulation, we assessed encapsulation of pure SP by nanoprecipitation with an intermediate step, which comprised the co-drying of SP, TAβCD and mPEG-PCL copolymer solution in organic solvent; this step aimed to promote the formation of molecular interactions between SP, TAβCD and the PCL blocks in the copolymer. SP-loaded mPEG-PCL nanoparticles were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and SEM. Nanoparticles with size of 74-75 nm and small polydispersity index (PDI <0.1) were obtained when SP-TAβCD equimolar spray-dried complex was used for nanoencapsulation, and SEM analysis indicated the absence of free SP crystals. Moreover, the encapsulation efficiency (%EE) and drug loading (DL) were 85% and 2.6%, respectively, as opposed to those achieved with pure SP encapsulation (14% and 0.6%, respectively). Overall, our results confirm that spray-drying of SP/TAβCD solutions at the appropriate molar ratio leads to the hydrophobization of the relatively hydrophilic SP molecule, enabling its encapsulation within mPEG-PCL nanoparticles.

Floods are one of the most wide-spread, frequent, and devastating natural disasters that continue to increase in frequency and intensity. Remote sensing, specifically synthetic aperture radar (SAR), has been widely used to detect surface water inundation to provide retrospective and near-real time (NRT) information due to its high-spatial resolution, self-illumination, and low atmospheric attenuation. However, the efficacy of flood inundation mapping with SAR is susceptible to reflections and scattering from a variety of factors including dense vegetation and urban areas. In this study, the topographic dataset height above nearest drainage (HAND) was investigated as a potential supplement to Sentinel-1A C-Band SAR along with supervised machine learning to improve the detection of inundation in heterogeneous areas. Three machine learning classifiers were trained on two sets of features SAR only (VV & VH) and VV, VH & HAND to map inundated areas. Three study sites along the Neuse River in North Carolina, USA during the record flood of Hurricane Matthew in October 2016 were selected. The binary classification analysis (inundated as positive vs. non-inundated as negative) revealed significant improvements when incorporating HAND in several metrics including classification accuracy (ACC) (+37.1%), true positive rate (TPR) (+51.2%), and negative predictive value (NPV) (+23.7%), A marginal improvement of +1.4% was seen for positive predictive value (PPV), but true negative rate (TNR) fell -15.1%. By incorporating HAND, a significant number of areas with high SAR backscatter but low HAND values were detected as inundated which increased true positives. This in turn also increased the false positives detected but to a lesser extent as evident in the metrics. This study demonstrates that HAND could be considered a valuable feature to enhance SAR flood inundation mapping especially in areas with heterogeneous land covers with dense vegetation that interfere with SAR.

In addition to their importance in statistical thermodynamics, probabilistic entropy measurements are crucial for understanding and analyzing complex systems, with diverse applications in time series and one-dimensional profiles. However, extending these methods to two- and three-dimensional data still requires further development. In this study, we present a new method to classify spatiotemporal processes based on entropy measurements. To test and validate the method, we selected four classes of similar processes related to the evolution of random patterns: dynamic colored noises ((i)~white and (ii)~red); (iii)~weak turbulence from reaction-diffusion; (iv)~hydrodynamic fully developed turbulence, and (v)~plasma turbulence from MHD. Considering seven possible ways to measure entropy from a matrix, we present the method as a parameter space composed of the two best separating measures of the five selected classes. The results highlight better combined performance of Shannon Permutation Entropy ($S^p_H$) and a new approach based on Tsallis Spectral Permutation Entropy ($S^s_q$). Notably, our observations reveal the segregation of reaction terms in this $S^p_H \times S^s_q$ space, a result that identifies specific sectors for each class of dynamic process, and can be used to train machine learning models for automatic classification of complex spatiotemporal patterns.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, Latin American cities adopted earthen construction techniques from European colonizers. As a result, rammed earth (RE) buildings now occupy an important place in Latin America's cultural heritage. However, earthquakes around the world have shown that unreinforced earthen constructions are highly vulnerable. For several years, researchers in northern South America have been proposing a technique that consists of installing confining steel plates (or wooden elements) on both sides of the RE walls forming a grid. This system has shown excellent performance in controlling seismic damage and increasing strength and ductility capacity. Although researchers have tested full-scale one- and two-story earthen walls under pseudo-static loading in the laboratory, and one- and two-story earthen walls at 1:1 and 1:2 scale on uniaxial and biaxial shaking tables, the behavior of a complete reinforced module (one- or two-story) on a shaking table has never been assessed. The present study presents the results of shaking table tests performed on two-story RE modules at 1:4 scale. The experimental data indicate that the retrofit system with confining steel strips was effective in reducing the seismic damage of earthen constructions. In addition, the comparison of the results of the 1:4 scale tests with the 1:2 and 1:1 scale tests previously conducted by the researchers, shows that the acceleration levels of the equivalent prototypes are in the same order of magnitude for the three scales.

The agricultural sector is undergoing a revolution that requires sustainable solutions to the challenges that arise from traditional farming methods. To address these challenges, technical and sustainable support is needed to develop projects that improve crop performance. This study focuses on the onion crop and the challenges presented throughout its phenological cycle. Aerial monitoring using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and digital image processing were used to identify patterns in the onion crop, including humid areas, weed growth, vegetation deficits, and decreased harvest performance. An algorithm was developed to identify the patterns that most affected crop growth, as the average local production reported was 40.166 ton/ha, but only 25.00 ton/ha was reached due to blight caused by constant humidity and limited sunlight. This resulted in the death of leaves and poor development of bulbs, with 50% of the production being of medium size. It is estimated that approximately 20% of the production was lost due to blight and unfavorable weather conditions.

Inside hippocampal circuits, neuroplasticity events that individual cells may undergo during synaptic transmissions occur in the form of Long Term Potentiation (LTP) and Long Term Depression (LTD). The high density of NMDA receptors expressed on the surface of the dendritic CA1 spines confers to hippocampal CA3-CA1 synapses, the ability to easily undergo NMDA-mediated LTP and LTD, that is essential for some forms of explicit learning in mammals. Providing a comprehensive kinetic model that can be used for running computer simulations of the synaptic transmission process is currently a major challenge. Here, we propose a compartmentalized kinetic model for CA3-CA1 synaptic transmission. Our major goal was to tune our model in order to predict the functional impact caused by disease associated variants of NMDA receptors related to severe cognitive impairment. Indeed, for variants Glu413Gly and Cys461Phe, our model predicts negative shifts in the glutamate affinity and changes in the kinetic behavior, consistent with experimental data. These results pinpoint to the predictive power of this multiscale viewpoint, which aims to integrate the quantitative kinetic description of large interaction networks typical of system biology approaches with a focus on the quality of few, key, molecular interactions typical of structural biology ones.

With confirmed COVID-19 cases surpassing the 8.5 million mark around the globe, there is an imperative need to deepen the efforts from the international scientific community to gain comprehensive understanding of SARS-CoV-2. Although the main clinical manifestations are associated with respiratory or intestinal symptoms, reports of specific and non-specific neurological signs and symptoms, both at presentation or during the course of the acute phase, are increasing. Approximately 25-40% of the patients present neurological symptoms. The etiology of these neurological manifestations remains obscure, and probably involves several direct pathways, not excluding the direct entry of the virus to the Central Nervous System (CNS) through the olfactory epithelium, circumventricular organs, or disrupted blood-brain barrier (BBB). Furthermore, neuroinflammation might occur in response to the strong systemic cytokine storm described for COVID-19, or due to dysregulation of the CNS angiotensin system. Descriptions of neurological manifestations in patients in the previous coronavirus (CoV) outbreaks have been numerous for the SARS-CoV and lesser for MERS-CoV. Strong evidence from patients and experimental models suggests that some human variants of CoV have the ability to reach the CNS and that neurons, astrocytes and/or microglia can be target cells for CoV. A growing body of evidence shows that astrocytes and microglia have a major role in neuroinflammation, responding to local CNS inflammation and/or to dysbalanced peripheral inflammation. This is another potential mechanism for SARS-CoV-2 damage to the CNS. In this work we will summarize the known neurological manifestations of SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, explore the potential role for astrocytes and microglia in the infection and neuroinflammation, and compare them with the previously described human and animal CoV that showed neurotropism. We also propose possible underlying mechanisms by focusing on our knowledge of glia, neurons, and their dynamic intricate communication with the immune system.